Alessandra Monteiro Salviano

Qualidade do melão exportado pelo porto de Natal-RN

Brazil was studied. The post quality harvest from the melon exported from the Natal-RN port, the qualitative characteristics unfavorable to the market 2,303 fruits were analyzed from September to December of 2002 .Sampling was done according to control norms of Delegacia da Agricultura e do Abastecimento - DFA/SSV. The work was developed in the Natal port, on unit of Vigiagro/SSV/MA. The study in systematic form, using a special form “Card of Quality Control of the Melon Exported” was determined. The contents of solid solubles and pulp firmness. The yellow type were 50.33% from the fruits of the total, 19.06% of the Orange Flesh, 9.90% of the Piel de Sapo , 11.60% of the Galia , 7.03% of the Cantaloupe and 2.52% of the Charentais type. Only the melon Yellow type presented content average of solids soluble accepted for export. The Piel de Sapo melons presented the less firmness of pulp.

GROWTH AND FOLIAR CONTENTS OF Na+ AND Cl- IN GENOTYPES OF FORAGE SORGHUM IRRIGATED WITH SALINIZED WATERS

Plant efficiency in developing specific mechanisms to survive under salt stress can vary significantly among genotypes, which implies different responses in growth and yield. The aim of this study was to evaluate the salt tolerance of forage sorghum genotypes by analysis of growth variables correlated with the levels of Na+ and Cl- accumulated in the leaves. The research was carried out in a greenhouse belonging to the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) ? Semiarid, in Petrolina, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with factorial arrangement 10x6 with ten genotypes (?F305?, ?BRS 655?, ?BRS 610?, ?Volumax?, ?1,015,045?, ?1,016,005?, ?1,016,009?, ?1,016,013?, ?1,016,015? and ?1,016. 031?), salt solutions with six levels of electrical conductivity (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10 and 12.5 dS m-1) and three replications. The variables evaluated were dry mass and water content of the shoots and roots, plant height, stern diameter, leaf area and foliar concentration of Na+ and Cl-. It was found that the growth of forage sorghum genotypes is similarly affected due to the increase of Na+ and Cl- foliar contents. The growth of forage sorghum is reduced by 50% when the plants are submitted to the application of saline solution with electrical conductivity of 8 dS m-1.

FRAÇÕES HUMIFICADAS DA MATÉRIA ORGÂNICA EM FUNÇÃO DO CULTIVO DE COQUETÉIS VEGETAIS

The aim of this study was to assess the organic matter changes in quantity and quality, particularly of the humic fraction in the surface layer (0–20 cm), of a Typic Plinthustalf soil under different management of plant mixtures used as green manure for mango (Mangifera indica L.) crops. The plant mixtures, which were seeded between rows of mango trees, were formed by two groups of leguminous and non -leguminous plants. Prior to sowing, seeds were combined in different proportions and compositions constituting the following treatments: 100% non-leguminous species (NL); 100% leguminous species (L); 75% L and 25% NL; 50% L and 50% NL; 25% L and 75% NL; and 100% spontaneous vegetation, considered a control. The plant mixtures that grew between rows of mango trees caused changes in the chemical composition of the soil organic matter, especially for the treatments 50% L and 50% NL and 25% L and 75% NL, which increased the content of humic substances in the soil organic matter. However, the treatment 25% L and 75% NL was best at minimising loss of total organic carbon from the soil. The humic acids studied have mostly aliphatic characteristics, showing large amounts of carboxylic and nitrogen groups and indicating that most of the organic carbon was formed by humic substances, with fulvic acid dominating among the alkali soluble fractions.