This study was conducted in the Morro Alto community, municipal district of Acauã (PI), located in Serra da Parreira, 620 m altitude. The objective was to evaluate the growth and production of the cassava in the intercropping with guandu, sorgo, caupi, cotton and sunflower in an agroecological production system. The height, foliar retention and survival of the cassava plants did not present significant differences considering the consortium types. A difference was only observed among varieties in relation to the survival of the plants, the variety "Do Céu" (BGM 537) showing the greatest survival percentage. The species intercropping maintained different soil humidity contents, guandu standing out as the crop that maintained the largest soil humidity content (10%), even so the consortium type did not modify the productivity of roots. It was observed that the production of roots varied from 13 to 26 t ha-1, depending on the variety used. This productivity, considered above average for the region (12 t ha-1), shows that intercropping, mainly with legumes such as the bean caupi and guandu, can improve not only farmer's revenue but also soil characteristics in rainfed areas.
rainfed agriculture; liming of soil; consortium; shoot forage
