Lourival Ferreira Cavalcante

Saline water and liquid bovine manure in seedlings formation of guava cultivar Paluma

The salinity of the soils and of the waters, in a lot of arid and semi-arid areas of the Brazilian northeast constitutes a serious obstacle for the system of agricultural production. During the period from November 2007 to February 2008 an experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the effects of the irrigation water salinity and liquid bovine manure during the seedlings formation of guava cv. Paluma. The treatments were distributed in a randomized block design, in a factorial scheme 5 x 2, referring to levels of water salinity (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 dS m-1) in soil without and with liquid bovine manure in six replications and six plants per plot. Soil salinity was markedly elevated with an increasing salinity of irrigation water reflecting on decline of plant growth in height, stem diameter, leaf area, growth of roots and biomass production by guava plants, but with less intensity in plants with liquid bovine manure. The plants under irrigation with saline water and the organic product exceeded those treatments without the product at 86.9, 72.4, 11.0, 252.4, 351.0 and 39.7% of growth in height, stem diameter, length of roots, leaf area and biomass of roots and shoots respectively.

Comportamento morfofisiológico da mamoneira BRS Energia submetida à irrigação com água salina

An experiment was conducted at the experimental station of Irrigation and Drainage of the Instituto Federal Baiano, to evaluate the growth variables of the castor bean BRS Energia as a function of salinity of irrigation water in lysimeters. The treatments were constituted of water salinity levels of 0.12; 0.8; 1.6; 2.4; 3.2; 4.0 and 4.8 dS m-1, disposed in a completely randomized design, with three replications and four plants per treatment. Fortnightly from 20 to 80 days after emergence, the growth variables and the absolute and relative growth rates of plant height, stem diameter and leaf area of plants were evaluated. The growth measured by height, stem diameter, leaf area and the rates of absolute and relative growth of each variable, decreased with increase in irrigation water salinity in all periods. The restrictions were in response to increase in soil salinity levels from non saline soil to slightly, moderately and strongly saline soil.

Soil salinization and maize and cowpea yield in the crop rotation system using saline waters

A utilizacao de aguas salinas bem como o reuso de aguas de drenagem na irrigacao dependem de estrategias de longo prazo que garantam a sustentabilidade socioeconomica e ambiental dos sistemas agricolas. Neste trabalho, avaliaram-se os efeitos da irrigacao com agua salina na estacao seca e com agua de baixa salinidade na estacao chuvosa sobre o acumulo de sais no solo e a produtividade de milho e feijao-de-corda em sistema de rotacao. O experimento foi conduzido em campo, utilizando-se do delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com cinco repeticoes. O primeiro cultivo foi instalado durante a estacao seca de 2007, com a cultura do milho irrigada com agua de diferentes salinidades (0,8; 2,2; 3,6 e 5,0 dS m-1). As plantas foram coletadas aos 90 dias apos a semeadura (DAS), sendo realizadas as avaliacoes: crescimento vegetativo, producao de graos por planta, materia seca de 1.000 graos e produtividade. Durante a estacao chuvosa de 2008, foi cultivado o feijao caupi nas mesmas parcelas que foram cultivadas com milho. Ao final do ciclo, as plantas foram coletadas, sendo realizadas avaliacoes de crescimento vegetativo e produtividade. Amostras de solo foram coletadas antes e apos o cultivo do milho e ao final do cultivo com feijao caupi. A salinidade da agua de irrigacao acima 2,2 dS m-1 reduziu a produtividade do milho durante o periodo seco. Os elevados totais de precipitacao pluviometrica durante a estacao chuvosa proporcionaram a lixiviacao dos sais acumulados durante o cultivo na estacao seca e eliminaram os possiveis efeitos negativos da salinidade sobre o feijao caupi. Porem, o feijao caupi apresentou um comportamento atipico com uma expressiva proporcao de massa vegetativa e baixa producao de vagens, o que reduziu a eficiencia dessa estrategia de rotacao de culturas, nas condicoes do presente estudo.

Produção do pimentão adubado com esterco bovino e biofertilizante

With the objective of evaluating bell pepper fertilized with cattle manure with and without biofertilizer, an experiment was carried out from January to June 2004, in Quarts Psamment at UFPB, Areia, PB, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized block, with three replications in sub-divided plots. The plot was constituted by 32 and the sub-plot by 16 plants, spaced at 1.00 x 0.50 m. In the plots, six levels of cattle manure (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 t ha-1) were appraised, while in the sub-plots the forms of application of the biofertilizer (with and without application of biofertilizer in the soil and spraying on the leaves) and an additional treatment with mineral and organic fertilizer. In the absence of biofertilizer, 28 t ha-l estimated level of cattle manure was responsible for maximum yield of fruits per plant (389 g) and for commercial fruits (7.8 t ha-l), while biofertilizer used in spray application, the levels of 14.5 and 14.0 t ha-l of cattle manure, respectively, promoted maximum production of fruits per plant of 485 g and maximum productivity of commercial fruits of 9.6 t ha-1. The biofertilizer presence into the soil, promoted mean production of 410 g of fruits per plant and productivity of 8.3 t ha-1 of commercial fruits, in function of cattle manure. The combination cattle manure and biofertilizer in the leaves was the best organic fertilization form in the bell pepper, with additional of 1.8 and 1.3 t ha-1 in the productivity of commercial fruits, comparing with those obtained with cattle manure and biofetilizer used in the soil, respectively. There is no significance difference among organic treatments and conventional fertilization in the bell pepper productivity.

Yield of sweet potato fertilized with cattle manure and biofertilizer.

In Northeastern Brazil, the sweet potato is cultivated in small farms, in a family farming systems, constituting themselves an alternative way for the generation of food, employment and income. This study aimed to assess the effect of cattle manure levels and biofertilizer concentrations on the sweet potato cultivar White Queen productivity. The experiment was carried out from March to September 2007 at the EMEPA Experimental Station in Lagoa Seca, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in split split plot 6 x 4 x 2 + 1 scheme, with four replications. The plots consisted of cattle manure levels (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 t ha -1 ), the subplot of biofertilizer concentrations (0, 15, 30 and 45%) and the sub subplots consisted of methods of biofertilizer application, to the soil or leaves. Also, there was an additional control treatment using N, P and K mineral fertilizer. Commercial and total root productivity was evaluated. The levels of 30.8 and 31.2 t ha -1 of cattle manure were responsible for the highest commercial and total sweet potato root productivity (17.4 and 13.1 t ha -1 , respectively). Biofertilizer concentrations of 29 and 28%, applied to soil and to leaves provided, respectively, the greatest productivities of total roots (15.4 and 13.1 t ha -1 ), whereas concentrations of 30 and 27%, also applied to soil and leaves were responsible, respectively, for the highest commercial root productivity (11 and 9.7 t ha -1

Desenvolvimento e qualidade nutricional de mudas de mangabeiras cultivadas em substratos contendo fibra de coco e adubação fosfatada

In order to produce good quality seedlings it is necessary to use a mixture that presents appropriate physical, chemical and biological properties, which supplies the necessary conditions for the germination and the seedlings establishment. This experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Sciences Center, Paraiba Federal University (Brazil), whose objective was to evaluate the growth and the mineral composition of Hancornia speciosa seedlings in substrata composed by concentrations of coconut fiber from 0% to 40%, manure bovine from 0% to 25%, soil from 25% to 70%, sand 15% and triple superphosphate between 0 and 11 g dm-3. The soil and coconut fiber had beneficial effects on the H. speciosa seedlings with the increase of its concentrations in the mixture. The addition of the manure and the doses of triple superphosphate provoked a decrease in the matter and in the foliate area in the H. speciosa seedlings. There was an increase of the nutrients content in the seedlings in which there was an increase of the manure concentration in the mixture. It is recommended to use the concentrations of 14% of manure, 56% of soil, 15% of coconut fiber, 15% of sand and 4 g dm-3 of triple superphosphate, for the maximum estimated values of growth and nutritional composition.

Impact of Biofertilizers on Mineral Status and Fruit Quality of Yellow Passion Fruit in Brazil

Biofertilizers, liquid cattle manure obtained from anaerobic processes, have emerged as an important component of the integrated nutrient supply system. Thus, an experiment was carried out from May 2002 to February 2004 to evaluate the fruit quality and macronutrient foliar contents of biofertilized yellow passion plants in Brazil. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with treatments distributed in a factorial arrangement (2 × 5) referring to two biofertilizers [one simple and another enriched with macro- and micronutrients] and five doses of each biofertilizer (0.0, 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, and 2.4 L plant−1). Fruit quality and nutritional status of yellow passion fruit are affected by biofertilizer doses applied. Fruit length, width, pulp percentage, skin diameter, mass, soluble solids, and titratable acidity were improved with biofertilizer application. Simple biofertilizer promotes optimum supplies of potassium, calcium, and sulfur, while enriched biofertilizer promotes optimum supplies of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.

Rendimento do inhame adubado com esterco bovino e biofertilizante no solo e na folha

The objective of this study was to evaluate the yam yield, cultivar Da Costa, fertilized with bovine manure doses and biofertilizer. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in subdivided plots 6 x 2 + 1 with three repetitions. In plots six doses of cattle manure (0; 6; 12; 18; 24 and 30 t ha-1) were tested, factorially combined with the presence and absence of biofertilizer and in subplots, two forms of application of biofertilizer in the soil and by spray on the leaf and an additional treatment with conventional fertilization (animal manure and NPK). The doses of 30 t ha-1 of bovine manure and the biofertilizer which was applied in the soil and leaf produced tubers with ideal average weight for the commercialization. The bovine manure in doses of 19.2 t ha-1 and in the absence of biofertilizer provided maximum productivity of 20.3 t ha-1 of commercial tubers. Subplots in which the biofertilizer was applied to the soil and leaf, the dose of 30 t ha-1 of cattle manure was responsible, respectively, for maximum yields of 22.8 and 24 t ha-1 of commercial tubers. The organic and conventional fertilizations did not cause any significant change in the mean tuber weight, but the conventional fertilization increased the productivity of commercial tuber.

LEAF-MACRONUTRIENT STATUS AND FRUIT YIELD OF BIOFERTILIZED YELLOW PASSION FRUIT PLANTS

Biofertilizers instead of synthetic chemicals are known to improve plant growth through the supply of plant nutrients and they may help sustaining environmental health and soil productivity. An experiment was carried out to evaluate fruit yield and macronutrient foliar contents of yellow passion fruit plants (Passiflora edulis) as a function of biofertilizers and nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P-K) fertilizing in Brazil (2005–2007). The experimental design was randomized in blocks with treatments, which were distributed in a factorial arrangement (3 × 2) referring to biofertilizer application [without biofertilizer, simple biofertilizer and enriched biofertilizer] and mineral fertilizing with NPK (fertilized and non-fertilized), with three replications of nine plants. Nutritional status of yellow passion fruit is affected by biofertilizer. Simple biofertilizer promotes optimum supplies of phosphorus, calcium and sulfur, while enriched biofertilizer promotes optimum supplies of phosphorus, potassium, calcium and sulfur. Both biofertilizers stimulated fruit yield, with results above Brazilian average.

Mineral nutrition and extraction of nutrients by corn plant irrigated with saline water

The use of saline water in irrigated agriculture can cause nutritional imbalance and competitive inhibition in the absorption of nutrients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of salinity of irrigation water on the accumulation, the total absorption, and the distribution of mineral elements in maize plants. The study was conducted under field conditions in an Yellow Red Argisol in the dry season, in the randomized blocks design with five replicates during September to December 2007 in Fortaleza - CE. The maize plants were collected at 90 days after sowing, and the following assessments were made: content, extraction and distribution of mineral elements in the plant parts (leaf, stem, grain and elderberry). The increase of salinity of irrigation water at 90 days after sowing inhibited the accumulation of potassium in leaves, and corn stan and phosphorus in the grains. The extraction of nutrients and sodium by plants irrigated with saline water ranging from 0.8 to 3.6 dS m-1 had the following decreasing order: K > Mg > Ca > P > Na; the treatment of higher salinity (5.0 dS m-1) the sequence extraction was: K > Ca > Na > P > Mg.