Eggplant growth as affected by bovine manure and magnesium thermophosphate rates

Plant growth is influenced by nutrient availability. The objective of this research was to study, under greenhouse conditions, eggplant growth as affected by rates of bovine manure and magnesium thermophosphate (g kg-1 and mg kg-1, respectively), according to a "Box central composite" matrix: 4.15-259; 4.15-1509; 24.15-259; 24.15-1509; 0.0-884; 28.3-884; 14.15-0,0; 14.15-1768; 14.15-884. Potassium sulfate (170 mg kg-1) and 200 mL per pot of cow urine solution were applied four times, but the concentration of the last two applications (200 mL/H2O L) was twice of that of the first two. Additional treatments: magnesium thermophosphate without cow urine and triple superphosphate with urea, both with nutrient levels equivalent to the bovine manure, P2O5 and potassium sulfate to the combination 14.15-884. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with four replicates. Leaf area (LA) and LA ratio increased as quadratic functions with manure rates, with negative interaction for thermophosphate. Leaf dry matter mass (DMM) had an increasing quadratic function with rates for both fertilizers. The higher combined rates of both fertilizers resulted in the smallest specific leaf area, but also the highest values of shoot and root DMM, total DMM and, with positive interaction in relation to root shoot dry matter ratio. The relative growth rate in stem height, and also in diameter, increased with manure, according to quadratic and linear functions, respectively. The cow urine effect was, in general, lower than that of urea. The plant's overall growth was more influenced by manure. Root DMM and shoot DMM were greater with high K and P.O crescimento em plantas é influenciado pela disponibilidade de nutrientes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar, em abrigo telado, o crescimento da berinjela em função de doses de esterco bovino e termofosfato magnesiano (g kg-1 - mg kg-1, respectivamente), conforme a matriz "composto central de Box": 4,15-259; 4,15-1509; 24,15-259; 24,15-1509; 0,0-884; 28,3-884; 14,15-0,0; 14,15-1768; 14,15-884. Acrescentaram-se sulfato de potássio (170 mg kg-1) e quatro parcelas de 50 mL por vaso de solução de urina de vaca, as duas últimas possuindo concentração de 200 mL L-1 de H2O, o dobro da inicial. Tratamentos adicionais: termofosfato magnesiano sem urina de vaca e superfosfato triplo com uréia, iguais em esterco, P2O5 e sulfato de potássio, à combinação 14,15-884. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições. A área foliar (AF) e a razão de AF aumentaram, quadraticamente, com as doses de esterco, porém, a interação com o termofosfato foi negativa. A massa de matéria seca (MMS) de folhas incrementou, quadraticamente, com as doses dos dois insumos. Na combinação das maiores doses de ambos ocorreram a menor AF específica e os maiores valores da MMS da parte aérea, MMS de raízes, MMS total e, por interação positiva, da relação raiz parte aérea. A taxa de crescimento relativo em altura caulinar, e em diâmetro, aumentaram, quadrática e linearmente, somente com o esterco, respectivamente. A urina de vaca teve efeito, em geral, inferior ao da uréia. O crescimento geral da planta foi mais responsivo ao esterco. A MMSR e a MMSPA foram maiores com elevada disponibilidade de K e P no substrato

Utilização de substratos orgânicos na produção de mudas de mamoeiro Formosa.

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito de substratos orgânicos sobre o crescimento inicial do mamoeiro ‘Formosa’. O experimento foi conduzido em casa-de-vegetação em delineamento em blocos ao acaso com quatro tratamentos: solo, composto orgânico, húmus de minhoca e esterco bovino, e quatro repetições. O húmus de minhoca proporcionou valores mais elevados para número de folhas, altura de plantas, diâmetro caulinar, área foliar, massa seca do caule, massa seca da raiz e massa seca das folhas. Não houve diferenças significativas entre húmus de minhoca e composto orgânico para as três últimas variáveis. O esterco bovino não diferiu da testemunha para número de folhas, diâmetro caulinar, massa seca do caule, massa seca das folhas, comprimento da raiz e área foliar. Este substrato foi mais responsivo apenas para comprimento da raiz, não diferindo do composto orgânico. Sendo assim, o substrato preparado com húmus de minhoca foi o que proporcionou os maiores valores para o crescimento inicial do mamoeiro

A NON-DESTRUCTIVE METHOD FOR ESTIMATING LEAF AREA OF Ceiba glaziovii (Kuntze) K. Schum.

The determination of leaf area is of fundamental importance in studies involving ecological and ecophysiological aspects of forest species. The objective of this research was to adjust an equation to determine the leaf area of Ceiba glaziovii as a function of linear measurements of leaves. Six hundred healthy leaf limbs were collected in different matrices, with different shapes and sizes, in the Mata do Pau-Ferro State Park, Areia, Paraíba state, Northeast Brazil. The maximum length (L), maximum width (W), product between length and width (L.W), and leaf area of the leaf limbs were calculated. The regression models used to construct equations were: linear, linear without intercept, quadratic, cubic, power and exponential. The criteria for choosing the best equation were based on the coefficient of determination (R²), Akaike information criterion (AIC), root mean square error (RMSE), Willmott concordance index (d) and BIAS index. All the proposed equations satisfactorily estimate the leaf area of C. glaziovii, due to their high determination coefficients (R² ≥ 0.851). The linear model without intercept, using the product between length and width (L.W), presented the best criteria to estimate the leaf area of the species, using the equation 0.4549*LW

Growth of citrus rootstocks under aluminium stress in hydroponics

As plantas apresentam diferentes graus de tolerância aos efeitos tóxicos do alumínio (Al), e a exploração dessa característica pode ser uma opção viável para a utilização dos solos ácidos. Este experimento teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de cinco concentrações de alumínio (0, 50, 100, 200 e 400 mimol L-1 de Al) sobre o crescimento dos porta-enxertos limoeiros 'Cravo' (Citrus limonia Osbeck) e 'Volkameriano' (Citrus volkameriana Hort. ex Tan.), e tangerineiras 'Cleópatra' (Citrus reshni Hort. ex Tan) e 'Sunki' (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tan.) em cultivo hidropônico. Os tratamentos foram distribuídos no delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições e duas plantas por parcela. Em todos os porta-enxertos, a taxa relativa de crescimento da matéria fresca total da planta aumentou na presença de baixas concentrações de Al e decresceu na presença de maiores concentrações. O crescimento da parte aérea, a relação de área foliar e a relação de massa foliar diminuíram em todos os porta-enxertos na presença do Al. No limoeiro 'Cravo' verificou-se decréscimo de crescimento do sistema radicular a partir de 23 mimol L-1 de Al. Nos demais porta-enxertos, esse crescimento atingiu valores máximos na presença de 91 a 117 mimol L-1 de Al, respctivamente. Considerando-se todas as características avaliadas do crescimento de planta, o limoeiro 'Cravo' foi o porta-enxerto mais sensível ao Al.Plants present different degrees of adaptation to aluminium (Al) concentrations in the soil, and the understanding of this characteristic can lead to a viable option for the utilization of acid soils. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of five Al concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, and 400 mumol L-1) on the growth of 'Rangpur' lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck) and 'Volkamer' lemon (Citrus volkameriana Hort. ex Tan.), and tangerine rootstocks 'Cleópatra' (Citrus reshni Hort. ex Tan) and 'Sunki' (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tan.), in hydroponic culture. The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design, with four replications. For all rootstocks, the relative growth rate in terms of plant total fresh matter increased under low and, decreased under large Al concentrations. Growth of the shoot, leaf area ratio and leaf weight ratio decreased for all rootstocks in the presence of Al. The 'Rangpur' lime had a decrease of the root system growth, starting from 23 mumol L-1 of Al. For the remaining rootstocks, this growth reached maximum values at 91 to 117 mumol L-1 of Al, respectively. Considering all the evaluated characteristics of plant growth, the 'Rangpur' lime was the most susceptible to Al

Relative planting times on the production components in sesame/cowpea bean intercropping in organic system.

Aiming at better land use, small farmers usually plant sesame and cowpea bean intercropped with other crops. The aim of this work was to analyze and quantify the influence of four relative planting times of the cowpea bean in intercropping with sesame from the standpoint of their production components, plant productivity and the index of land equivalent ratio (LER). The field experiment was conducted in a randomized blocks with four treatments and four replicates. The treatments were the sesame and the cowpea bean in intercropping with the cowpea bean planted at the same time, 7, 14 and 21days after than the sesame. A greater part of the production components of both the sesame as well the cowpea bean was affected by the intercropping and significant differences were noted among the treatments in a larger part of the parameters. As the planting of the cowpea bean became more distant from that of the sesame, the yield of the Pedaliaceae increased and the yield of the Fabaceae decreased. The results for LER findings on the other hand suggest that in the sesame/cowpea bean intercropping, when the Fabaceae is planted seven days after the sesame, there is better use of the land and a largest possibility to the producer earning a profit

Crescimento inicial de mudas de Spondia tuberosa irrigadas com água salina

Spondias tuberosas have roots that allow storage of water, minerals and organic solutes, favoring their survival in drought. The objective was to evaluate the effect of sodium chloride on the growth of umbuzeiro seedlings in response to different salt concentrations, between the months of June/2020 and January/2021, in the municipality of Lagoa Seca (PB). A randomized block design with four repetitions and five salt concentrations was used. Every 10 days the relative growth rate in height was calculated and at 45 days the dry matter mass (root, stem and leaf) was evaluated. Analysis of covariance was performed considering initial height as a covariate, and regression analysis using the F test, with the software R, 4.0. There was a significant effect of salinity on the seedling growth variables, except for root dry matter mass. The height varied between 30.34 and 24.54 cm, with a linear decreasing effect of NaCl concentration. The relative growth rate in height was fitted to a linear regression model and a significant effect of salinity on the plants was evidenced, with a 97% growth reduction. The dry matter of leaves and stems followed the linear regression model, with a reduction of 89.1% and 58.2%, respectively. The dry matter mass of the stem also had a linear decrease of 1595.6 mg/muda (58.2%). Root dry matter averaged 713.23 mg/muda. The total dry matter mass had a linear decrease of 39% (2536 mg/seedling), ranging from 4157.29 mg/seedling (controls) to 1621.29 (for 200 mM). The height of seedlings and their relative growth rate decreased linearly as a function of NaCl concentration in the nutrient solution at 45 days. The increase of salinity reduced the accumulation of dry mass in the aerial part of the plants. The roots of umbuzeiro present adaptability to salt stress.Spondias tuberosas apresentam raízes que permitem armazenar água, minerais e solutos orgânicos, favorecendo sua sobrevivência na seca. Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do cloreto de sódio no crescimento de mudas de umbuzeiros em resposta às diferentes concentrações salinas, entre os meses de junho/2020 e janeiro/2021, no município de Lagoa Seca (PB). Empregou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições e cinco concentrações do sal. A cada 10 dias, calculou-se a taxa relativa de crescimento em altura e aos 45 dias, avaliou-se a massa da matéria seca (raiz, caule e folha). Fez-se análise de covariância considerando-se a altura inicial como covariável, e análise de regressão usando o teste F, com emprego do software R, 4.0. Houve efeito significativo da salinidade sobre as variáveis de crescimento das mudas, exceto para massa da materia seca das raízes. A altura variou entre 30,34 e 24,54 cm, tendo efeito linear decrescente da concentração de NaCl. A taxa relativa de crescimento em altura, ajustou-se ao modelo de regressão linear e evidenciou-se o efeito significativo da salinidade sobre as plantas com redução de crescimento de 97%. A matéria seca das folhas e caules seguiram o modelo de regressão linear, com redução de 89,1 % e 58,2%, respectivamente. A massa da matéria seca do caule, também teve diminuição linear de 1595,6 mg/muda (58,2%). Já a massa seca da raiz teve média de 713,23 mg/muda. A massa da matéria seca total teve redução linear de 39% (2536 mg/muda), variando entre 4157,29 mg/muda (testemunhas) e 1621,29 (para 200 mM). A altura das mudas e sua taxa relativa de crescimento diminuíram linearmente em função da concentração de NaCl na solução nutritiva, aos 45 dias. O aumento da salinidade reduziu o acúmulo de massa seca na parte aérea das plantas. As raízes do umbuzeiro apresentam adaptabilidade ao estresse salino

Allometry and morphophysiology of papaya seedlings in a substrate with polymer under irrigation with saline water

The availability and quality of the irrigation water are among the limitations for the development of agriculture in the semiarid. Aiming at gathering information on these limitations, this work aimed to evaluate the association between a water-absorbing polymer and water salinity in irrigation frequencies, as well as container volumes on the allometric and morphophysiological indices of seedlings of the papaya (Carica papaya) cultivar ‘Sunrise Solo’. The treatments were obtained from the combination between the water-absorbing polymer (0.0; 0.2; 0.6; 1.0, and; 1.2 g dm-3), the electrical conductivity of the irrigation water (0.3; 1.1; 2.7; 4.3, and; 5.0 dS m-1), and irrigation frequencies (daily and alternate), plus two additional treatments (0.75 and 1.30 dm3) to study the effects of the container volume, distributed in a randomized block design. At 55 days after sowing, the following characteristics were evaluated: ratio between stem height and diameter; ratio between shoot and root dry matter; root density; leaf blade area; ratio between total leaf area and root dry mass; specific leaf area; leaf area ratio; leaf mass ratio; and Dickson quality index. The allometric and morphophysiological indices were damaged by the increase of water electrical conductivity and favored by the application of the polymer and a higher irrigation frequency. In the production of papaya seedlings, a daily irrigation frequency must be prioritized, using containers of 0.75 or 1.30 dm-3, water with electrical conductivity up to 2.6 and 1.9 dS m-1 when irrigated daily or in alternate days, respectively, and 0.6 g dm-3 of polymer.The availability and quality of the irrigation water are among the limitations for the development of agriculture in the semiarid. Aiming at gathering information on these limitations, this work aimed to evaluate the association between a water-absorbing polymer and water salinity in irrigation frequencies, as well as container volumes on the allometric and morphophysiological indices of seedlings of the papaya (Carica papaya) cultivar ‘Sunrise Solo’. The treatments were obtained from the combination between the water-absorbing polymer (0.0; 0.2; 0.6; 1.0, and; 1.2 g dm-3), the electrical conductivity of the irrigation water (0.3; 1.1; 2.7; 4.3, and; 5.0 dS m-1), and irrigation frequencies (daily and alternate), plus two additional treatments (0.75 and 1.30 dm3) to study the effects of the container volume, distributed in a randomized block design. At 55 days after sowing, the following characteristics were evaluated: ratio between stem height and diameter; ratio between shoot and root dry matter; root density; leaf blade area; ratio between total leaf area and root dry mass; specific leaf area; leaf area ratio; leaf mass ratio; and Dickson quality index. The allometric and morphophysiological indices were damaged by the increase of water electrical conductivity and favored by the application of the polymer and a higher irrigation frequency. In the production of papaya seedlings, a daily irrigation frequency must be prioritized, using containers of 0.75 or 1.30 dm-3, water with electrical conductivity up to 2.6 and 1.9 dS m-1 when irrigated daily or in alternate days, respectively, and 0.6 g dm-3 of polymer

Fruit production and quality of guava ‘Paluma’ as a function of humic substances and soil mulching

The uses of humic substances and organic residues for soil mulching have been more common during last years. This way, an experiment was carried out to evaluate the fruit quality and yield of guava cv. Paluma as a function of humic substances and organic soil mulching in Brazil. The experiment was performed from January 2012 to June 2013 (first trial) and from July to November 2013 (second trial) using a randomized blocks with treatments distributed in a factorial arrangement (5 × 2 × 2) of five humic substances doses (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 mL of Humitec plant-1), two organic mulching use (with and without organic mulching) and two consecutive harvests, with four replications of two plants each. Humic substances enhance fruit production more efficiently in guava plants grown without soil mulching. Guava fruit production increases from the first to the second harvest. Fruit quality for titratable acidity, soluble solids, vitamin C and soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio is adequate independently of soil mulching use. Humic substances improve fruit quality of guava cv. Paluma. Under soil and climate conditions, and considering the first two production cycles of guava, it is possible to recommend about 20 mL L-1 of humic substances for production of high quality guava fruits.Key words: Humic acids, post-harvest, Psidium guajava

Aspectos morfofisiológicos de mudas de Erythroxylum pauferrense Plowman submetidas ao sombreamento

Sunlight directly influences on the development of forest species by affecting the attributes of plant growth and physiology. Among these species, Erythroxylum pauferrense Plowman is considered a rare species, as its distribution is restricted only to the state of Paraíba. Therefore, studies are needed that seek to evaluate the adaptation, development and propagation of the species under different environmental conditions. This study aimed to evaluate morphophysiological aspects of Erythroxylum pauferrense seedlings submitted to different levels of shading. The experiment was carried out under greenhouse condition in a completely randomized design with five treatments (0, 30, 50, 70, and 90% shading) and eight replicates. Growth characteristics, morphofunctional attributes, gas exchange, chlorophyll (Chl) a fluorescence, and Chl content were evaluated. Data were submitted to analysis of variance followed by polynomial regression analysis. Results showed that plants grown under 30 to 50% shading showed higher plant height, stem diameter, absolute growth rate for plant height, leaf dry mass, stem dry mass, total dry mass, Dickson’s quality index, leaf area, and leaf area index, as well as net assimilation rate of CO2, stomatal conductance, transpiration, instantaneous water use efficiency, and Chl a, b, and a+b contents. Therefore, levels from 30 to 50% shading are the most recommended for the production of Erythroxylum pauferrense seedlings. We recommend using Erythroxylum pauferrense to reforest the understory in disturbed areas in Brejos de Altitude and large-scale production of seedlings under intermediate levels of shading.A luz solar influencia diretamente no desenvolvimento das espécies florestais, afetando os atributos de crescimento e fisiologia das plantas. Dentre essas espécies, Erythroxylum pauferrense Plowman é considerada uma espécie rara, pois sua distribuição é restrita apenas ao estado da Paraíba. Diante disso, são necessários estudos que busquem avaliar a adaptação, desenvolvimento e propagação da espécie em diferentes condições ambientais. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os aspectos morfofisiológicos de mudas de Erythroxylum pauferrense submetidas a diferentes níveis de sombreamento. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos (0, 30, 50, 70 e 90% de sombreamento) e oito repetições. Foram avaliadas as características de crescimento, atributos morfofuncionais, trocas gasosas, fluorescência da clorofila (Chl) a e teor de Chl. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância seguida de análise de regressão polinomial. Os resultados mostraram que as plantas cultivadas sob 30 a 50% de sombreamento apresentaram maior altura da planta, diâmetro do caule, taxa de crescimento absoluto para altura da planta, massa seca da folha, massa seca do caule, massa seca total, índice de qualidade de Dickson, área foliar e índice de área foliar, bem como a taxa de assimilação líquida de CO2, condutância estomática, transpiração, eficiência instantânea do uso da água e conteúdo de Chl a, b e a+b. Portanto, níveis de 30 a 50% de sombreamento são os mais recomendados para a produção de mudas de Erythroxylum pauferrense. Recomenda-se o uso de Erythroxylum pauferrense para reflorestar o sub-bosque em áreas perturbadas nos Brejos de Altitude e a produção em larga escala de mudas em níveis de 30 a 50% de sombreamento

Changes in quality during maturation of physalis fruit

The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in quality of fruits of two species of physalis (P. angulata and P. pubescens) harvested from family farmer orchards in different maturity stages, comparing with fully ripen fruits to those of the commercial species (P. peruviana) of similar maturity. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, in five maturity stages for P. angulata and in four for P. pubescens. Data were submitted to variance analysis and means of the maturity stages compared by the Tukey test at 5 % probability. For the comparison of fully ripen fruits of P. peruviana with the two species produced in different locations were used six replications and the means compared by Dunnett's test at 5 % probability. The fruit diameter varied from 15.1 to 18.0 mm that classifies it as of caliber B. During maturation the color of the fruit evolved from green to totally yellow (P. angulata) and to yellow-brown with purplish features (P. pubescens). The soluble solids (SS) contents of the fruits of P. angulata were superior to those of P. pubescens and the commercial species. Comparing with commercial species, the SS/AT ratio was higher in locally produced fruits, indicating more palatable fruits. Fruits of P. angulata present favorable characteristics for fresh consumption, with potential for extensive cultivation and trade in family horticulture