Francisco Bezerra Neto

Aspectos produtivos e de qualidade de híbridos de melão cultivados no agropolo Mossoró-Assu

Two experiments were carried out with the objective of evaluating the quality and yield performance of hybrids of melon in agropolo Mossoro-Assu, Brazil. In both experiments a randomized complete blocks design with four replications was used. In the first experiment six Galia and two Cantaloupe hybrids were used and in the second experiment seven Yellow hybrids, one Piel del Sapo and three Orange Flesh hybrids were evaluated. Evaluations of productivity, average fruit weight, internal cavity, pulp thickness, external and internal appearance, weight loss, total soluble solids and pulp firmness were made. Variation among the hybrids in both experiments for the assessed characteristics were observed. Among Galia melons, the hybrids DRG 1531 and DRG 1537 were the most promising while among Orange Flesh melons, the Red Flesh and AFX 700 hybrids were the best. Among Yellow melons, the hybrids Gold Mine, Gold Pride and Gold Star were the most promising.

Desempenho agroeconômico do consórcio cenoura x alface lisa em dois sistemas de cultivo em faixa

ABSTRACT Agroeconomic performance of carrot x looseleaf lettuceintercrops in two strip arrangements The experiment was carried out from October to December 2000,in Mossoro, Brazil. The experimental design was of randomizedcomplete blocks in a 3 x 4 + 1 factorial scheme with four replications.The treatments consisted of the combination of three cropping systems(S 1 = sole crop; S 2 = three carrot rows alternated with three lettucerows; and S 3 = four carrot rows alternated with four lettuce rows), withfour looseleaf lettuce cultivars (Baba de Verao, Karla, Verdinha andElisabeth), plus an additional treatment (carrot, cv. Brasilia, in solecrop). Evaluations of plant height and diameter, number of leaves perplant and leaf dry matter and yield were made for lettuce crop. Plantheight, shoot fresh matter, total, commercial and classification of rootswere obtained for the carrot crop. Agroeconomic indices were used tomeasure the efficiency of intercropping systems. No significantinteraction between cropping systems and lettuce cultivars for anylettuce and carrot characteristic was obtained. The cropping systeminfluenced all lettuce and carrot traits and lettuce cultivars affectedonly the leaf number/plant, being higher for cultivar ‘Karla’. The yieldof lettuce in the intercropping systems, although lower than for thesole crop, represented an additional income source. The intercroppingof ‘Brasilia’ carrot x lettuce cultivar ‘Verdinha’ in the strip arrangementof four carrot rows alternated with four lettuce rows showed a greateragroeconomic efficiency, with a land equivalent ratio of 1.19 and a3,0 as return rate.

Acúmulo de nutrientes por três cultivares de alface cultivadas em condições do Semi-Árido

The objective of this work was to determine the accumulation of nutrients by lettuce cultivars in conditions of Semi-arid. The experiment was carried in the field of University Federal Rural do Semi-Arido, in Mossoro, Rio Grande do North State, Brazil, in soil Alfissol. The experimental design was of randomized complete blocks, with four replications, in a 3 x 5 factorial scheme, being evaluated the cultivars of lettuce: Baba de Verao, Taina and Veronica and sampling times 7, 12, 17, 22 and 27 days after transplanting (DAT). The maximum accumulation of dry mass occurred at 27 DAT, being of 8.9; 6.9 and 6.4 g/plant, respectively to cultivars Baby de Verao, Taina and Veronica. The period of larger demand for N, P, K and Mg occurred from 22 to 27 DAT and for Ca of 17 the 22 DAT in all to cultivars. The nutrients in decreasing order of accumulation by the lettuce cultivars were: K, N, P, Mg e Ca.

Qualidade de híbridos de melão amarelo em diferentes densidades de plantio

The aim of this work was to evaluate the fruit quality of yellow melon hybrids. The experiment was carried out at the Fazenda Santa Julia Agro Comercial Exportadora de Frutas Tropicais Ltda in Mossoro, Brazil. The experimental design was a randomised complete block with four replicates, in a 3 x 4 factorial scheme, with the following factors: hybrids (Gold Mine, AF 646 e XPH 13096) and plant density (10,000; 20,000; 30,000 and 40,000 plants/ha). Firmness, total soluble solids, total titratable acidity, total sugars and shape ratio were evaluated. Shape ratio was affected by plant density. The hybrid AF 646 had highest total soluble solids (10.33%) and total sugars (8.45%). Gold Mine presented the best firmness (40.50 N) and shape ratio. Hybrid XPH 13096 had the highest total titratable acidity (14.38 mg/100 ml suco). In general, the three hybrids had oblong fruits. Fruits tended to become rounded with increasing plant density.

Coeficientes de variação de algumas características do meloeiro: uma proposta de classificação

A proposal for classifying the coefficients of variation of melon yield, fruit weight, fruit number, soluble solids content, pulp firmness, total sugars, pH and total titrable acidity was established in data from melon experiments carried out in Mossoro, Brazil. The CV values came from 98 works, mostly from theses and monographs submitted to the faculty of Mossoro. The variation coefficients (CV) were classified according to Garcias (1989) proposal and sample quantiles. A disagreement in the observed frequencies between these two methodologies proposed in this paper and that of Pimentel Gomes (1985) for total sugars, soluble solids content, fruit weight, pH, yield and number of fruits was observed. Small differences were observed in the low, medium and high CV bands for total titrable acidity. However, very high CV band for any assessed characteristic, based on the Pimentel Gomes (1985) classification was not observed. A very good agreement between the classifications proposed by Garcia (1989) and sample quantiles, and that of Pimentel Gomes (1985) for pulp firmness was observed. In general, the classifications proposed by Garcia (1989) and sample quantiles were more appropriate to evaluate the melon yield and quality traits than that of Pimentel Gomes (1985).

Produtividade de alface em função de condições de sombreamento e temperatura e luminosidade elevadas

The effect of three types of polyethylene screens (white, green and black) under four heights from the soil surface (20; 30; 40 and 50 cm) was evaluated on the yield of lettuce (Great Lakes cv) under high temperature and luminosity conditions of Mossoro, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. The control treatment consisted of the cultivation of the lettuce under open sky. The experimental design was of randomized complete blocks in a 3x4+1 factorial scheme, with four replications. Three types of shading-net colors (white, green and black) and four heights in the bed (20; 30; 40 and 50 cm above soil surface) besides a control (without net) were evaluated.Plant height and diameter, number of leaves/plant, yield, shoot dry matter and plant growth rate were obtained from plants. A higher number of leaves/plant and lettuce yield was observed using the white screen. The highest lettuce yield (80,5 t.ha-1) was obtained with the screen placed 44,6 cm from the soil surface. There was a significant interaction between types of screen and screen heights from the soil surface on the quantity of shoot dry matter and plant growth rate. The highest economic indicators were registered with the white screen at 40 cm from the soil surface.

Produção de alface em função de cultivares e tipos de tela de sombreamento nas condições de Mossoró

Two experiments were carried out in the Escola Superior de Agricultura de Mossoro, in Brazil. The first experiment, from October to November 1999, evaluated the performance of three lettuce cultivars grown at the nursery stage under shading and three types of polyethylene net, and the second experiment, from December 1999 to January 2000, compared the lettuce yield under shading and no shading. The experimental design in both experiments was a randomized complete block. Treatments in the first experiment were factorial combinations of three types of polyethylene net (2 x 2 mm white and green nets and half-shade black net) and three lettuce cultivars (Great Lakes, Veronica and Regina) replicated four times. Treatments in the second experiment were these three types of polyethylene net plus one where lettuce cultivar Veronica was grown under no shading (control) replicated three times. The lettuce spacing in both experiments was 0.20 x 0.20 m. The performance of lettuce was evaluated through plant height and diameter, leaf number per plant, shoot dry matter content, yield, relative growth rate, gross and net incomes and rate of return. Shading and cultivar interaction affected plant height. Plant diameter and leaf number per plant were affected only by cultivars. Shoot dry matter content and yield were affected by shading as well as cultivars. White polyethylene net shading associated with lettuce cultivar Great Lakes provided the highest economic indices when compared to no shading.

Effects of lettuce cultivars and spacings on lettuce leaf yield under high temperature and sunlight

O comportamento de tres cultivares de alface em seis diferentes espacamentos de plantio sob temperatura e luminosidade elevadas foi avaliado no periodo de 8 de junho a 24 de julho de 1998, na Horta do Departamento de Fitotecnia da ESAM em Mossoro (RN). O delineamento experimental usado foi blocos casualizados completos com quatro repeticoes em um esquema fatorial 3 x 6 + 1 (tratamento adicional). Os tratamentos consistiram da combinacao de tres cultivares de alface (Great Lakes, Elisa e Baba de Verao) com seis espacamentos de plantio (20 x 20 cm, 20 x 25 cm, 20 x 30 cm, 25 x 25 cm, 25 x 30 cm e 30 x 30 cm) mais um tratamento adicional que foi a cultivar Great Lakes, no espacamento 20 x 20 cm, sombreada durante todo o ciclo cultural. As caracteristicas avaliadas foram altura e diâmetro de plantas, numero de folhas por planta, massa seca da parte aerea, produtividade, renda bruta, renda liquida e taxa de retorno. A cultivar Great Lakes foi a que apresentou melhor produtividade e melhores indicadores economicos. O espacamento que apresentou maior producao de massa seca da parte aerea, produtividade e os maiores indicadores economicos foi 20 x 20 cm. O numero de folhas por planta foi superior para a cultivar Elisa, mas nao foi afetado pelos espacamentos.

Utilization of different materials for mulching in bell pepper

The effect of different mulching materials on bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L. cv. Yolo Wonder) fruit characteristics was evaluated in an experiment carried out in Mossoro (Brasil), from June to November of 1994. The local climate is semi-arid, dry and very hot, with a dry season (June to January) followed by a rainy one (February to May). The experimental design was of randomized complete block with seven treatments and four replications. Cowpea pod straw, sliced carnauba dried leaves, wood chips, corn straw, sorghum straw and elephant-grass straw were used as mulching. The treatment using carnauba dried leaves as mulching was superior when compared to the other mulchings with regard to the diameter, fruit number and weight, and yield of fruits. The length of the fruits was not affected by treatments. Weed population was greater when cowpea pod straw was used as mulching.

Performance of lettuce cultivars with and without intercropping with carrot in Mossoró

An experiment was carried out between December 1997 and March 1998, in the Escola Superior de Agricultura de Mossoro, Brazil, to evaluate the performance of five lettuce cultivars in two cropping systems (with and without intercropping with the carrot cv. Brasilia) as well as the performance of carrot treatments in these cropping systems, under high temperature and ample sunlight of Mossoro. This experiment was carried out in an Eutrophic Yellow Red Argissolo. The experimental design was of randomized complete blocks in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme with five replications. The planting systems were the first factor and the lettuce cv. (Baba de Verao, Elisa, Great Lakes, Regina and Taina) were the second factor. There was, in each block, a plot with carrot without intercropping to assess the combined indices of the intercropping systems. Two types of univariate analyses of variance were performed, one to evaluate the lettuce traits and another for the carrot characteristics. Crop production was considered suitable for the marketing. Independently of the cropping system used, higher lettuce yield was observed in the cultivar Baba de Verao. The intercropping system which gave the best economic performance and greater land equivalent ratio (1.16) was carrot plus cultivar Regina. Carrot root yield was not affected by the competition of lettuce cultivars.