João Batista Santiago Freitas

Avaliação da qualidade das sementes de Moringa oleifera lam. durante o armazenamento

A moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.; Moringaceae), especie perene originaria do noroeste indiano, que se adapta tanto as condicoes irrigadas quanto as de sequeiro, pouco exigente em solos e fertilizantes, encontra-se disseminada na regiao nordeste, particularmente no Ceara, gracas a sua utilizacao na clarificacao de aguas turvas. A despeito do seu reconhecido valor medicinal e como hortalica nao-convencional rica em vitamina A, ainda carece de estudos que focalizem a viabilidade das sementes durante o armazenamento. Baseado nessa premissa, conduziu-se um ensaio com os tratamentos dispostos num arranjo fatorial 2x4, correspondendo a combinacao de dois ambientes (natural e câmara fria) e quatro tempos de armazenamento (0, 6, 12 e 24 meses), segundo um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repeticoes. As amostras de sementes correspondentes aos tratamentos investigados foram acondicionadas em garrafa plasticas tipo PET de 600 mL. As variaveis de observacao foram: teor de agua, germinacao, comprimento da raiz, massa seca de plântula e condutividade eletrica. Pela analise dos resultados, evidenciou-se que, aos 12 meses de armazenamento em embalagem plastica sob ambiente natural, as sementes perdem a sua viabilidade, enquanto na câmara aos 24 meses, as sementes apresentam reducao na qualidade fisiologica.

Biometria e efeito da temperatura e tamanho das sementes na protrusão do pecíolo cotiledonar de carnaúba

This work aimed to evaluate the biometry of carnauba seeds and the effect of temperature and seeds size on the protrusion of cotyledonary petiole. It was realized the biometric analysis with a sample of 100 seeds, evaluating length and diameter, what allowed to classify the seeds in three diameter classes. It was used a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement 4 x 4: four seeds sizes (small - Φ 14.24 mm and mixture - seeds that were not classified) and four temperatures (20, 25 and 30 °C and environmental temperature - 28.8 °C). Were used four replications of 25 seeds per treatment and each experimental unit was packed in recipients containing 250 mL of water, maintained under different temperatures, realizing daily counting of the seeds that presented the protrusion of the cotyledonary petiole. The results allowed the conclusion that the length and the diameter of the carnauba seeds analyzed present an asymmetric behavior to the left. Under the temperatures of 20 and 25 oC occurred the highest percentages of protrusion of cotyledonary petiole in all the seeds sizes, except for the large seeds, that expressed the best result only under 25 oC. Seed of sizes medium, large and mixture presented highest protrusion speed. The temperature of 25 oC is the one that promotes the highest protrusion speed. When maintained under 20 oC, the seeds took 32 days to obtain maximum protrusion of the cotyledonary petiole.

Aspectos morfológicos da unidade de dispersão de cajazeira

Morphological features of endocarps of five Brazilian yellow mombin plants were assessed. Plants selected to this study were as follow: Plant 1 (from Caucaia) and plant 2 (from Itaitinga), both in the State of Ceara; plants 3, 4 and 5 (from Areia, State of Paraiba). A total of 500 mature fruits were harvested from each plant, peeled, dried under shade and stored in paper bags. Random samples of 50 endocarps were taken from each batch, and the following charac- teristics were evaluated: weight, length and diameter in the median part, and the number of loci and seeds. Number of loci and seeds per endocarp ranged from two to five, and from zero to five, respectively. Highest frequencies observed were four loci and one seed. Endocarps of yellow mombin exhibit high frequency concerning the presence of more than one seed as well as low sterility.

Maturidade fisiológica e germinação de sementes de macela (Egletes viscosa (L.) Less.) submetidas à secagem

The influence of harvesting date and the effects of drying on the physiological quality of macela seeds was evaluated. The harvesting dates of 93; 100; 107; 114; 121; 128 and 135 days after transplanting (DAT) were evaluated. Half volume of the harvested seeds was taken to a dryer (40oC for 72 h), while the other half was packed in plastic bags and stored in a cold room (20oC) during the same period. A complete randomized design in a 2 x 7 factorial, with four repetitions, was used. The seeds reached the physiological maturity about 121-128 DAT. The drying process had no influence on the macela seeds physiologic quality.

Evaluation of different concentrations of organic fertilizer produced from wastes of fish and vegetables in developing the culture of chives (Allium schoenoprasum)

Population growth in urban centers has worsened the problem of management of solid waste generated by residents, caused mainly by the volume of waste produced and the consumer lifestyle. In this context waste recycling, whether agricultural or industrial origin, originating from diverse supply chains, whose improper disposal can cause negative impacts to the environment, such as waste from the fishing industry, presents itself as an important tool for minimize the deficit of organic fertilizers to ecological production systems. Thus, this study aimed to propose a sustainable alternative for disposal of fish waste generated from kiosks and beach huts in Fortaleza Ceara, thus producing organic compost made from discarded material (viscera, head , spine and scales), thus adding, value to this waste, helping to break the dependence on chemical fertilizers by farmers and reducing the environmental impacts caused by its disposal in the city of Fortaleza. The chemical analysis of organic fertilizer from fish showed positive results, with rich Fe, Ca, P, K, Mg, Mn and N, claiming that this organic compound is an excellent alternative to get good yields in agriculture.