Water-Retaining Polymer and Planting Pit Size on Chlorophyll Index, Gas Exchange and Yield of Sour Passion Fruit with Deficit Irrigation.

Water availability is a limiting factor for the cultivation of sour passion fruit. Soil management techniques and the use of water-retaining polymers can increase soil water retention, reducing the frequency of irrigation in the crop. In this context, the objective of the research was to evaluate the gas exchange, the chlorophyll index, and the yield of the sour passion fruit cv. BRS GA1 as a function of irrigation depths, pit volumes, and doses of water-retaining polymer. The experiment was carried out in randomized blocks, in plots subdivided in a 2 × (2 × 5) arrangement, with irrigation depths of 70 and 100% of the crop evapotranspiration (ETc) as the main plot, the subplots with the volumes of pit of 64 and 128 dm3, and doses of the water-retaining polymer of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 g dm-3. The interaction of irrigation depths × pit volumes × doses of water-retaining polymer influences chlorophyll indexes, gas exchange, and water productivity, with positive impacts on yield of the sour passion fruit. The water depth of 70% of ETc increased the yield of sour passion fruit, in pits of 64 dm3. The application of doses of up to 1.1 g dm-3 of the water-retaining polymer and irrigation with water of 70% of ETc is recommended, and a dose of 2.0 g dm-3 of the water-retaining polymer in a pit volume of 128 dm3, associated with an irrigation depth of 100% ETc causes stress in sour passion fruit plants due to excess water.

Salinity and Mulching Effects on Nutrition and Production of Grafted Sour Passion Fruit.

The Brazilian semiarid region stands out in terms of sour passion fruit production. Local climatic conditions (high air temperature and low rainfall), combined with its soil properties (rich in soluble salts), increase salinity effects on plants. This study was carried out in the experimental area "Macaquinhos" in Remígio-Paraíba (Brazil). The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of mulching on grafted sour passion fruit under irrigation with moderately saline water. The experiment was conducted in split-plots in a 2 × (2 × 2) factorial scheme to evaluate the effects of the combination of irrigation water salinity of 0.5 dS m-1 (control) and 4.5 dS m-1 (main plot), passion fruit propagated by seed and grafted onto Passiflora cincinnata, with and without mulching (subplots), with four replicates and three plants per plot. The foliar Na concentration in grafted plants was 90.9% less than that of plants propagated via seeds; however, it did not affect fruit production. Plastic mulching, by reducing the absorption of toxic salts and promoting greater absorption of nutrients, contributed to greater production of sour passion fruit. Under irrigation with moderately saline water, the plastic film in the soil and seed propagation promote higher production of sour passion fruit.

Postharvest quality of yellow passion fruit produced in soil with bovine biofertilizer and nitrogen.

The use of soil conditioners as bovine biofertilizer associated with mineral fertilization affect the physical and physicochemical quality of passion fruit. For fruit growth, post-harvest quality is crucial for production chain development, as it is the characteristic most used by the fresh consumption market for this fruit. In this sense, an experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of doses of bovine biofertilizer in the soil with and without nitrogen fertilization in the cultivation of yellow passion fruit. A randomized block design was adopted, with three replications in a 5×2 factorial scheme, referring to five doses of liquid bovine biofertilizer (B) diluted in water (A): 0% - control (0B + 4A); 25% (1B + 3A); 50% (2B + 2A); 75% (3B + 1A); and 100% (4B + 0A) with and without nitrogen fertilization applied to the soil. Urea was the nitrogen source used in this study. A total of 10 g plant-1 of N was applied monthly at 30 and 60 days after transplanting, and after that age, 20 g plant-1 was applied until the end of harvest. During the final phase of production and ripening, twelve fruits were harvested from each treatment in physiological maturation for physical and physicochemical characterization. The following analyses were performed: longitudinal diameter, transversal diameter, number of seeds per fruit, peel firmness, pulp yield, fruit peel percentage, pulp pH, soluble solids content; titratable acidity and soluble solids content/titratable acidity ratio. Data underwent analysis of variance by the F test means for nitrogen were compared by Tukey's test and means for bovine biofertilizer, by regression. Nitrogen enhances the positive effect of bovine biofertilizer on the postharvest quality of yellow passion fruit. The association of biofertilizer and nitrogen improves fruit quality in comparison to plants without these inputs, except for pulp yield and fruit peel percentage, which suffered isolated effects from the factors. High doses of biofertilizer, above 75 and 100%, reduce soluble solids content and increase titratable acidity. The bovine biofertilizer has promising effects, but it does not replace nitrogen fertilization on the postharvest quality of yellow passion fruit.

Saline water and bovine biofertilizer chemically enriched on jackfruit seedlings var. soft / Água salina e biofertilizante enriquecido em mudas de jaqueira var. mole

Water scarcity and water quality is a subject of constant debate around the world, with the accumulation of salts in water and on soils causing a negative impact on food production, man and herds, especially in the arid and semi-arid regions. The use of bovine manure biofertilizers that potentiate the use of brackish water, normally restricted in agriculture due to its salinity, has been suggested for seedling formation and crop production, including jackfruit plants. An experiment was carried out from October/2012 to February/2013, in a protected environment, at Agrarian Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraíba, Areia county, Paraíba State, Brazil, to evaluate the effects of saline water and bovine biofertilizer chemically enriched with gypsum, cow's milk and molasses. The experimental design was completely randomized, with five replications of a plant, in a factorial scheme 5 × 2, corresponding at values of electrical conductivity of the water of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 dS m-1 substrate with and without bovine biofertilizer. Measurements were made of substrate salinity, height of growth, stem diameter, length mean root, leaf area, leaf area ratio, and total dry mass (root, shoots and leaves). The biofertilizer enriched with cow's milk, sugar cane molasses and agricultural gypsum increased the salinity of the soil; however, it attenuated the negative effects of the salts during establishment of jackfruit seedlings, to 95 days after emergence. All the growth variables studied were higher for seedlings developed in substrate with bovine biofertilizer chemically enriched.

A escassez e a qualidade da água são assuntos de constante debate em todo o mundo, com o acúmulo de sais na água e nos solos, causando um impacto negativo na produção de alimentos, homem e rebanhos, especialmente nas regiões áridas e semiáridas. O uso de biofertilizante de esterco bovino que possibilita o uso de água salobra, normalmente restrita à agricultura devido à salinidade, tem sido sugerido para formação demudas e produção agrícola, inclusive de jaqueira. Um experimento foi desenvolvido entre outubro de 2012 e fevereiro de 2013, em ambiente protegido, no Centro de Ciências Agrárias, da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Areia, Paraíba, Brasil, para avaliar os efeitos da água salina e biofertilizante bovino enriquecido quimicamente com calcário, leite de vaca e melaço. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com cinco repetições e uma planta, em esquema fatorial 5 × 2. Água com condutividade elétrica de 0,5, 1,0, 2,0, 3,0 e 4,0 foram aplicadas no substrato com e sem biofertilizante bovino. Foi avaliada a salinidade do substrato, crescimento em altura, diâmetro caulinar, crescimento da raiz principal, área foliar, razão de área foliar e massa seca total (raiz, parte aérea e folhas). O biofertilizante enriquecido com leite de vaca, melaço de cana-de-açúcar e gesso agrícola aumentou a salinidade do solo, no entanto, atenuou os efeitos negativos da salinidade durante o estabelecimento das mudas de jaqueira, aos 95 dias após a emergência. Todas as variáveis estudadas foram maiores nas mudas que cresceram no substrato com biofertilizante enriquecido quimicamente.

Yield and quality of cherry tomato fruits in hydroponic cultivation / Produção e qualidade de frutos de tomate cereja em cultivo hidroponia

Because of the food and industrial importance of tomato, it holds great significance, and is one of the most produced species using the hydroponic cultivation systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of nutrient solution on the production and quality of cherry tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum 'Samambaia') grown in a hydroponic system in protected conditions. The experiment was conducted in pots filled with coconut fiber substrate using a randomized complete block design with four replications and six plants per plot. Five concentrations of nutrients were evaluated (50, 75, 100, 125, and 150% of the standard nutrient solution); the solutions produced the following electrical conductivities: 1.8, 2.0, 2.6, 3.4, and 3.9 dS m-1, respectively. At 90 days after transplanting, the tomato fruits were harvested, at which time the production variables and post-harvest quality of mature fruits were determined. The best production and post-harvest quality indexes of cherry tomatoes ('Samambaia') were found when using 111% of the standard nutrient solution, corresponding to the concentrations of 9.44, 2.44, 2.22, 6.44, 4.11, 2.44, and 2.78 mmolc L-1, of NO3 - , NH4 + , P, K, Ca, Mg, and S, respectively; and 66.6, 55.5, 14.4, 1.89, 0.56, and 0.44 mmolc L -1, of Fe, B, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Mo, respectively. Nutrient solutions with electrical conductivity above 2.89 dS m-1 severely reduced the fruit yield of cherry tomatoes.

Devido à importância alimentar e industrial do tomateiro, a cultura destaca-se entre as hortaliças, sendo uma das espécies mais produzidas em sistema hidropônico de cultivo. Nosso objetivo foi avaliar os efeitos da aplicação de diferentes concentrações de solução nutritiva na produção e na qualidade dos frutos de tomate cereja (Licopersicon esculentum, cv. Samambaia) em sistema hidropônico sobre condição de ambiente protegido. O experimento foi conduzido em vasos preenchidos com substrato de fibra de coco utilizando o delineamento de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições e seis plantas por parcela. Foram avaliadas cinco concentrações de nutrientes na solução nutritiva hidropônica (50, 75, 100, 125 e 150% da solução nutritiva padrão) que, após a diluição dos nutrientes em água de torneira, estas produziram as seguintes condutividades elétricas: 1.8, 2.0, 2.6, 3.4 e 3.9 dS m-1, respectivamente. Aos 90 dias após o transplantio, os frutos de tomate foram colhidos, ocasião em que se determinaram as variáveis de produção e qualidade póscolheita de frutos maduros. A análise dos resultados indicou que os melhores índices de produção e qualidade dos frutos de tomate cereja cultivado em sistema hidropônico foram encontrados nas concentrações de macronutrientes da solução nutritiva correspondente a 9,44; 2,44; 2,22; 6,44; 4,11; 2,44 e 2,78 mmolc L-1 de NO3 - , NH4 + , P, K, Ca, Mg e S, respectivamente, e 66,6; 55,5; 14,4; 1,89; 0,56 e 0,44 mmolc L-1, de Fe, B, Mn, Zn, Cu e Mo, respectivamente. As soluções nutritivas com condutividade elétricas acima de 2,89 dS m-1 reduziram severamente o rendimento de frutos de tomate cereja

Formação de mudas de Nim com aplicação de biofertilizante bovino submetido à drenagem e estresse salino / Formation of Neem seedlings with application of bovine biofertilizer subjected to drainage and saline stress

Diversos fatores podem influenciar a formação de mudas. Entre as causas de insucesso, encontram-se a dificuldade de manutenção de drenagem e qualidade da água de irrigação. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do biofertilizante bovino e salinidade da água de irrigação na formação de mudas de nim. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com os tratamentos arranjados no esquema fatorial 5 x 2 x 2, com quatro repetições, referente aos níveis de salinidade da água de irrigação de 0,5; 1,5; 3,0; 4,5 e 6,0 dS m-1, no solo sem e com biofertilizante bovino, sem e com drenagem. As variáveis analisadas foram emergência de plântulas, número de folhas, diâmetro caulinar e área foliar. O biofertilizante bovino depois de diluído em água não salina (0,49 dS m-1) e não clorada na razão de 1:1, foi aplicado uma única vez, dois dias antes da semeadura, ao nível de 10% do volume do substrato. A irrigação das plantas com cada tipo de água foi feita diariamente fornecendo um volume de água suficiente para elevar a umidade do solo para o nível mais próxima da capacidade de campo. Pelos resultados, com o aumento da salinidade das águas houve reduções no crescimento das plantas em até 28%, mas o biofertilizante bovino e a drenagem do solo proporcionaram melhores condições de crescimento das mudas.

Several factors may influence in formation of seedlings. Among the causes of failure find discovered the difficulty of maintain of the drainage and quality of irrigation water. The objective of wok was study or evaluate the effects of bovine biofertilizer and water salinity in the formation of neem seedlings. The experimental design was in randomized block, with the treatments arranged in factorial scheme 5 x 2 x 2, with four repetitions, referring at the five salinity levels of irrigation water: 0.5, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 dS m-1, in soil without and with bovine biofertilizer, in soil without and with soil drainage. The variables analyzed were: seedlings emergence, number of leaves, stem diameter and leaf area. The bovine biofertilizer after diluted in noon-saline water (0,49 dS m-1) e not chlorinated in reason to 1:1, was applied an once two days before sowing, at level to 10% of substrate volume. The plants were irrigated daily with each type of water in volume sufficient to increase the soil moisture for the level nearest of field capacity. By results, with the increasing of salinity waters there were reductions in plant growth up to 28%, but the bovine biofertilizer and soil drainage provided better conditions for seedling growth.

Crescimento e produção do maracujazeiro amarelo, sob diferentes fontes e doses de fósforo em cobertura / Growth and production of yellow passion fruits plants under different sources and doses of phosphorus

O Brasil é o maior produtor mundial do maracujazeiro amarelo, uma cultura exigente em nutrientes, mas pouco estudada quanto à adubação fosfatada, fundamental no estabelecimento da cultura. Nesse sentido, um experimento foi desenvolvido no período de março de 2010 a abril de 2011, no município de Remígio, PB, objetivando avaliar os atributos vegetativo e produtivo do maracujazeiro amarelo cultivar IAC 273/277 + 275 sob adubação com diferentes fontes e doses de fósforo em cobertura. O ensaio foi instalado em blocos ao acaso, em três repetições e 12 plantas por parcela, num arranjo fatorial de 2 x 5, referente às fontes de superfosfato simples e triplo, nas doses de 0, 12, 18, 24 e 30 g de P2O5 cova-1. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: diâmetro do caule, número de ramos produtivos, número de frutos por planta, massa média de frutos, produção por planta e produtividade. As fontes e doses de fósforo influenciam o crescimento e produção do maracujazeiro amarelo. O superfosfato triplo é a fonte fosfatada mais eficiente para o crescimento e produção do maracujazeiro amarelo. A dose com a máxima produtividade de maracujazeiro amarelo é 42,86 g de superfosfato triplo.

Brazil is the largest world producer of yellow passion fruit, a fruit crop which is exigent in nutrients, although little studied in relation to phosphorus fertilizing, fundamental on plant establishment. An experiment was carried out during the period of March/2010 to April/2011 in Remígio County, Paraiba State, Brazil, in order to evaluate the vegetative and productive attributes of yellow passion fruit plants under different sources and doses of phosphorus. Treatments were distributed in randomized blocks in tree replications and twelve plants by plot using the factorial design 2 x 5 referring the sources of superphosphate triple and superphosphate simple at levels P2O5 of 0, 12, 18, 24 and 30 g cave-1. The following variables were recorded: stem diameter, number of productive branches, number of fruits per plant, fruit mass and fruit yield. The sources and doses of phosphorus affected growth and fruit production of yellow passion plants. The triple superphosphate is the most phosphorus efficient source for growth and fruit production of yellow passion fruit. The triple superphosphate dose which promoted the maximum yield of yellow passion fruit is 42.86 g.

Produção da batata-doce adubada com esterco bovino e biofertilizante / Yield of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) fertilized with cattle manure and biofertilizer

Objetivou-se avaliar a produção da batata-doce (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) adubada com esterco bovino e biofertilizante, conduziu-se um experimento no período de Janeiro a Junho de 2004, em NEOSSOLO REGOLÍTICO, psamítico típico, na Universidade Federal da Paraíba, em Areia-PB. O delineamento experimental empregado foi de blocos casualisados, com quatro repetições com os tratamentos distribuídos em arranjo fatorial 6 x 2, sendo seis doses de esterco bovino (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 t ha-1) e ausência e presença de biofertilizante. As parcelas foram constituídas por 80 plantas, espaçadas de 80 x 30 cm. O número de raízes comerciais por planta atingiu valores máximos estimados de 2,0 e 1,7 raízes, respectivamente, nas doses de 26 e 25 t ha-1 de esterco bovino na presença e ausência de biofertilizante. O peso médio de raízes comerciais da batata-doce aumentou com elevação das doses de esterco bovino, atingindo na maior dose 360 e 224 g na presença e ausência de biofertilizante. As doses de 25,6 e 24,4 t ha-1 de esterco bovino foram responsáveis pela máxima produção total de raízes de 21,4 e 21,2 t ha-1, respectivamente, na presença e ausência de biofertilizante. As máximas produções de raízes comerciais, 15,2 e 12,9 t ha-1 foram alcançadas com 25,5 e 21,3 t ha-1 de esterco bovino, na presença e ausência de biofertilizante, respectivamente.

Aiming to evaluate the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) yield fertilization with bovine manure and biofertilizer, an experiment was carried out from January to July, 2004, on ustipsamment soil, at Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Areia-PB. The Experimental outline used was randomized blocks, with four replications and, treatments distributed in factorial arrangement 6 x 2, being six levels of bovine manure (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 t ha-1) and absence and presence of biofertilizer. Plots were constituted by 80 plants, spaced 80 x 30 cm. Commercial roots number per plant reached maximum values estimated of 2.0 and 1.7 roots, respectively, on levels of 26 e 25 t ha-1 of bovine manure in presence and absence of biofertilizer. The medium weight of commercial roots of sweet potato increased, with elevation of bovine manure levels, with maximum weights of 360 e 224 g, in presence and absence of biofertilizer. The levels of 25.6 and 24.4 t ha-1 of bovine manure, in presence and absence of biofertilizer, presented the maximum of total yield of 21.4 and 21.2 t ha-1, respectively. Maximum yield of commercial roots, 15.2 and 12.9 t ha-1 were reached with 25.5 and 21.3 t ha-1 of bovine manure, under presence and absence of biofertilizer, respectively.

Produtividade e qualidade de frutos do mamoeiro em função de tipos e doses de biofertilizantes / Yield and fruit quality of papaya as function of types and levels of biofertilizers

Os biofertilizantes são produtos orgânicos geralmente obtidos via anaerobiose, estudados, principalmente, como fitoprotetores para a agricultura, mas que podem também incrementar a produção das plantas. Nesse sentido, um experimento de campo foi desenvolvido, no período de maio/2003 a agosto/2004, no município de Remígio-Pb, para avaliar os efeitos de dois biofertilizantes bovinos sobre a massa média, produtividade e a qualidade externa e interna dos frutos do mamoeiro Havaí (Carica papaya L.) cultivar ‘Baixinho de Santa Amália’. Os tratamentos foram dispostos em blocos casualizados com três repetições e 15 plantas por parcela, em esquema fatorial 2 x 5, sendo dois biofertilizantes: puro (água e esterco fresco de bovino) e o supermagro (além de água e esterco bovino fresco é enriquecido com macro, micronutrientes e mistura protéica), aplicados ao solo na forma líquida nos volumes 0,0; 0,5; 1,0; 1,5; e 2,0 L cova-1. A massa média, a produtividade e as variáveis referentes à qualidade externa e interna dos frutos não deferiram entre os tipos de biofertilizantes, mas responderam significativamente às doses de ambos os insumos. Os resultados, exceto quanto à firmeza dos frutos, demonstram efeitos positivos dos biofertilizantes no cultivo do mamoeiro ‘Baixinho de Santa Amália’ em termos de rendimento por área e qualidade físico-química dos frutos.

Biofertilizers are organic products usually obtained from an anaerobic process, evaluated mainly asphytoprotectors for agriculture, although they can improve fruit production. By this way, a field experiment was carried out in Remígio County, Paraiba State, Brazil, to evaluate the effects of two bovine biofertilizerson yield, medium mass and quality of papaya fruits (Carica papaya L.), ‘Baixinho de Santa Amália’cultivar. Treatments were distributed in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications and 15 plants in each parcel, in a 2 x 5 factorial arrangement, with two biofertilizers: simple (water and fresh bovine manure) and supermagro (water, fresh bovine manure, macro and micronutrients and a proteinmix), applied in soil under liquid form at five volumes, as follows: 0.0; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; e 2.0 L cave-1. There was no statistical difference between biofertilizers for fruit mass, yield and external and internal fruit quality variables, while between volumes differences were registered for both biofertilizers. The results,except for fruit firmness, registered positive effects of the biofertilizers on ‘Baixinho de Santa Amália’papaya cultivar in relation to yield and physical and chemical fruit quality.