A cultura da bananeira (musa sp.) Como fonte alternativa de néctar para a apicultura em períodos de escassez de alimento.

Abstract

The study was carried out in farm Frutacor, district of Lagoinha, in the county of Quixeré, state of Ceará, Brazil, from September 2004 to January 2005. The aim of this research was to evaluate irrigated banana (Musa paradisiaca.) plantation as a substitute source of food to honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies during the dearth period in caatinga (typical scrub vegetation of NE Brazil). Three apiaries of 10, 20 and 30 hives were installed within a banana plantation and colonies were inspected every 14 days over a period of 140 days. Data on brood area, honey and pollen stores in the nest and honey stores in supers were collected and analyzed by ANOVA. Means obtained to each apiary at each date were compared a posteriori by Tukey tests (5%). Results showed no significant differences (P>0.05) among apiaries to brood area, and that brood area was reduced to half of its initial size by the end of the experiment, probably due to pollen shortage within the banana plantation. There was also no significant differences (P>0.05) among honey store areas in nest and supers among apiaries. It was concluded that banana plantations can be used to keep Apis mellifera colonies during caatinga’s dearth period, that apiaries can bear up to 30 hives and that there is potential to honey production in these areas, provided that colonies be kept under adequate nutritional conditions.