Water availability in the Brazilian semiarid is restricted and often the only water source available has high salt concentrations. Hydroponics allows using these waters for production of various crops, including vegetables, however, the water salinity can cause nutritional disorders. Thus, two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse at the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, to evaluate the effects of salinity on the mineral nutrition of crisphead lettuce, cultivar Taina, in a hydroponic system (Nutrient Film Technique), using brackish water in the nutrient solution, which was prepared by adding NaCl to the local water (0.2 dS m-1). A randomized blocks experimental design was used in both experiments. The treatments consisted of water of different salinity levels (0.2, 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.2 and 5.2 dS m-1) with four replications, totaling 24 plots for each experiment. The water added to compensate for the water-depth loss due to evapotranspiration (WCET) was the brackish water of each treatment in Experiment I and the local water without modifications in Experiment II. The increase in the salinity of the water used for the nutrient solution preparation reduced the foliar phosphorus and potassium contents and increased the chloride and sodium contents, regardless of the WCET. Foliar nitrogen, calcium, magnesium and sulfur contents were not affected by increasing the water salinity used for the nutrient solution preparation.

Resumo No semiárido brasileiro a disponibilidade hídrica é restrita e muitas vezes a única fonte de água disponível possui altas concentrações de sais. A hidroponia permite o uso dessas águas para a produção de diversas culturas, dentre elas as hortaliças, entretanto, a salinidade pode ocasionar distúrbios nutricionais. Diante disso, foram conduzidos dois experimentos em ambiente protegido no Departamento de Engenharia Agrícola da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, objetivando-se avaliar os efeitos da salinidade sobre a nutrição mineral da alface americana cv. Tainá em sistema hidropônico Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), utilizando águas salobras no preparo da solução nutritiva, sendo essas águas obtidas pela adição de NaCl a água de abastecimento local (0,2 dS m-1), e a reposição da lâmina evapotranspirada realizada usando a respectiva água salobra utilizada no preparo da solução no Experimento I e, com água de abastecimento local no Experimento II. Para ambos os experimentos o delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com seis tratamentos (0,2; 1,2; 2,2; 3,2; 4,2 e 5,2 dS m-1), e quatro repetições, totalizando 24 parcelas experimentais para cada experimento. O aumento da salinidade da água utilizada no preparo da solução nutritiva, independente da estratégia de reposição da lâmina evapotranspirada, proporcionou redução nos teores foliares de fósforo e potássio e aumento nos teores de cloreto e sódio. Os teores foliares de nitrogênio, cálcio, magnésio e enxofre não foram influenciados pelo aumento da salinidade da água utilizada no preparo da solução nutritiva. | ABSTRACT Water availability in the Brazilian semiarid is restricted and often the only water source available has high salt concentrations. Hydroponics allows using these waters for production of various crops, including vegetables, however, the water salinity can cause nutritional disorders. Thus, two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse at the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, to evaluate the effects of salinity on the mineral nutrition of crisphead lettuce, cultivar Taina, in a hydroponic system (Nutrient Film Technique), using brackish water in the nutrient solution, which was prepared by adding NaCl to the local water (0.2 dS m-1). A randomized blocks experimental design was used in both experiments. The treatments consisted of water of different salinity levels (0.2, 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 4.2 and 5.2 dS m-1) with four replications, totaling 24 plots for each experiment. The water added to compensate for the water - depth loss due to evapotranspiration (WCET) was the brackish water of each treatment in Experiment I and the local water without modifications in Experiment II. The increase in the salinity of the water used for the nutrient solution preparation reduced the foliar phosphorus and potassium contents and increased the chloride and sodium contents, regardless of the WCET. Foliar nitrogen, calcium, magnesium and sulfur contents were not affected by increasing the water salinity used for the nutrient solution preparation.

The aim was to evaluate the replacement of soybean meal by inactive dry yeast ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae ) from sugar cane on nutritive value of diets for Saanen goats in the peripartum. Twenty - four Saanen goats (nine primiparous, 55.35 ± 4.55 kg and fifteen multiparous, 73.12 ± 8.51 kg) in prepartum and postpartum periods were distributed in a completely randomized design with a 3 × 2 (diet × parturition order) factorial arrangement. Diets were composed of soybean meal, soybean meal plus dry yeast or dry yeast as protein source, and other ingredients: ground corn, mineral supplement and limestone. The roughage source used was the whole plant corn silage (40% of the total diet). Diets were evaluated as dry matter intake and digestibility of nutrients. The diet with total dry yeast inclusion promoted a reduction on the ether extract intake (postpartum) and ether extract digestibility (prepartum and postpartum), due its lower ether extract content when compared to the other diets. Multiparous goats presented higher intakes for dry matter, nutrients and total digestible nutrients in both evaluated periods due their higher intake capacity. Primiparous goats in postpartum had better coefficients of digestibility for dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and total carbohydrates, and so a higher energetic value, attributed to total digestible nutrients compared to multiparous ones. Dry yeast can replace soybean meal with no changes on nutritive value of diets for Saanen goats.

ABSTRACT: The aim was to evaluate the replacement of soybean meal by inactive dry yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) from sugar cane on nutritive value of diets for Saanen goats in the peripartum. Twenty-four Saanen goats (nine primiparous, 55.35 ± 4.55 kg and fifteen multiparous, 73.12 ± 8.51 kg) in prepartum and postpartum periods were distributed in a completely randomized design with a 3 × 2 (diet × parturition order) factorial arrangement. Diets were composed of soybean meal, soybean meal plus dry yeast or dry yeast as protein source, and other ingredients: ground corn, mineral supplement and limestone. The roughage source used was the whole plant corn silage (40% of the total diet). Diets were evaluated as dry matter intake and digestibility of nutrients. The diet with total dry yeast inclusion promoted a reduction on the ether extract intake (postpartum) and ether extract digestibility (prepartum and postpartum), due its lower ether extract content when compared to the other diets. Multiparous goats presented higher intakes for dry matter, nutrients and total digestible nutrients in both evaluated periods due their higher intake capacity. Primiparous goats in postpartum had better coefficients of digestibility for dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and total carbohydrates, and so a higher energetic value, attributed to total digestible nutrients compared to multiparous ones. Dry yeast can replace soybean meal with no changes on nutritive value of diets for Saanen goats. | RESUMO: O objetivo foi avaliar a substituição do farelo de soja por levedura seca inativa (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) de cana-de-açúcar sobre o valor nutritivo de dietas para cabras Saanen no periparto. Vinte e quatro cabras Saanen (nove primíparas, 55,35 ± 4,55 kg e quinze multíparas, 73,12 ± 8,51 kg) durante os períodos pré-parto e pós-parto, foram distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com arranjo fatorial 3 × 2 (dieta × ordem de parto). As dietas foram compostas por farelo de soja, farelo de soja e levedura seca ou levedura seca como fonte de proteína e os demais ingredientes: milho moído, suplemento mineral e calcário. A fonte de volumoso utilizada foi a silagem de milho de planta inteira (40% da ração total). As dietas foram avaliadas quanto a ingestão de matéria seca e digestibilidade dos nutrientes. A dieta com inclusão total de levedura seca promoveu redução na ingestão de extrato etéreo (pós-parto) e na digestibilidade de extrato etéreo (pós-parto e pré-parto), devido ao seu menor teor de extrato etéreo quando comparada as demais dietas. As cabras multíparas apresentaram maiores ingestões de matéria seca, nutrientes e nutrientes digestíveis totais, em ambos os períodos avaliados, devido a sua maior capacidade de ingestão. As cabras primíparas em pós-parto apresentaram melhores coeficientes de digestibilidade para matéria seca, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta e carboidratos totais, e, portanto, maior valor energético, atribuído aos nutrientes digestíveis totais, comparado as multíparas. A levedura seca pode substituir o farelo de soja sem alterar o valor nutritivo das dietas para cabras Saanen.

Soil is an important water compartment into a watershed scale, mainly due to its role in providing water to plants and to the influence of antecedent moisture on the runoff initiation. The aim of this research is to assess the permanence of water effectiveness in the soil under preserved-vegetation constraints in the Caatinga biome, in the semiarid northeastern Brazil. For this purpose, hourly soil moisture measurements were collected with TDR and analyzed between 2003 and 2010 for three soil-vegetation associations in the Aiuaba Experimental Basin. The results showed that in nine months per year soil moisture was below wilting point for two associations, whose soils are Chromic Luvisol and Haplic Lixisol (Abruptic). In the third association, where the shallow soil Lithic Leptosol prevails, water was found non-effective four months per year. A possible reason for the high water permanence in the shallowest soil is the percolation process, generating sub-surface flow, which barely occurs in the deeper soils. In situ observations indicates that the long period of soil moisture below the wilting point was not enough to avoid the blooming season of the Caatinga vegetation during the rainy periods. Indeed, after the beginning of each rainy season, there is a growth of dense green vegetation, regardless of the long period under water shortage.

RESUMO O solo é um dos compartimentos de água de maior importância em uma bacia hidrográfica. A vegetação depende majoritariamente da água retida pelo solo para atender às suas demandas; e o início do escoamento superficial depende fortemente da umidade inicial do solo. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a permanência da efetividade da água no solo sob condições de vegetação preservada no bioma Caatinga, Semiárido do Nordeste brasileiro. Para isso, foram analisados dados horários de umidade do solo através de sensores TDR obtidos entre os anos de 2003 e 2010 para três associações solo-vegetação presentes na Bacia Experimental de Aiuaba. Os resultados indicam que, durante nove meses ao ano, a água no solo encontra-se abaixo do ponto de murcha permanente para duas associações, cujos solos são Argissolo Vermelho -Amarelo e Luvissolo Hipocrômico. Na terceira associação, cujo solo é raso (Neossolo litólico), a água encontra -se não efetiva durante quatro meses ao ano. Avalia-se que a maior permanência de água neste solo dê-se pela limitação de percolação profunda, induzindo o escoamento sub-superficial; o que não se verifica nos solos mais profundos. Verificou-se in situ que o longo período de umidade abaixo do ponto de murcha permanente não comprometeu a vida das espécies da Caatinga. Após o início de cada período chuvoso, observa -se o crescimento de uma densa massa de vegetação, apesar do longo período sob estresse hídrico. | ABSTRACT Soil is an important water compartment into a watershed scale, mainly due to its role in providing water to plants and to the influence of antecedent moisture on the runoff initiation. The aim of this research is to assess the permanence of water effectiveness in the soil under preserved-vegetation constraints in the Caatinga biome, in the semiarid northeastern Brazil. For this purpose, hourly soil moisture measurements were collected with TDR and analyzed between 2003 and 2010 for three soil-vegetation associations in the Aiuaba Experimental Basin. The results showed that in nine months per year soil moisture was below wilting point for two associations, whose soils are Chromic Luvisol and Haplic Lixisol (Abruptic). In the third association, where the shallow soil Lithic Leptosol prevails, water was found non-effective four months per year. A possible reason for the high water permanence in the shallowest soil is the percolation process, generating sub-surface flow, which barely occurs in the deeper soils. In situ observations indicates that the long period of soil moisture below the wilting point was not enough to avoid the blooming season of the Caatinga vegetation during the rainy periods. Indeed, after the beginning of each rainy season, there is a growth of dense green vegetation, regardless of the long period under water shortage.

Considering the potential and importance of biodiversity of the Caatinga biome, studies on endemic species are relevant to conservation of its natural resources. The objectives of this work was to evaluate seed viability and physical methods for overcoming seed dormancy in juazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.) and assess the influence of different types of soil on the initial growth of juazeiro plants. The experiments were conducted in three stages. In the first stage, the viability of seeds from different lots was evaluated using the tetrazolium test. The second stage was conducted in a plant nursery, evaluating the application of physical processes (scarification with sandpaper and hammer) in overcoming seed dormancy, and the initial growth of the plants. In the third step, the chlorophyll a and b contents, gas exchange and dry matter accumulation were evaluated in young juazeiro plants in three types of soil (Oxisol, Entisol and Vertisol). The results indicate that the viability of juazeiro seeds is greatly influenced by differences between the progenitor plants and by storage conditions, which enable a longevity of two years when stored at 22°C and 16% of relative humidity. The scarification methods with sandpaper and hammer are not efficient to reduce the time and uniform seed germination. The juazeiro plants have high growth potential in different edaphic environments, adapting well to soils of different textures and chemical compositions.

RESUMO: Considerando as potencialidades e importância da biodiversidade do bioma Caatinga, estudos sobre espécies endêmicas são relevantes para conservação de seus recursos naturais. Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a viabilidade e a superação de dormência de sementes de juazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.) e seu o crescimento inicial em diferentes tipos de solo. Os experimentos foram conduzidos em três etapas. Na primeira, avaliou-se a viabilidade de diferentes lotes de sementes, utilizando o teste de tetrazólio. A segunda etapa foi conduzida em viveiro, avaliando-se as aplicações de processos físicos, escarificação com lixa e com martelo, para superação da dormência das sementes e determinação do crescimento inicial das plantas. Na última etapa foram avaliados os índices de clorofila a e b, as trocas gasosas e o acúmulo de matéria seca em plantas jovens de juazeiro em três tipos de solo (Latossolo, Neossolo e Vertissolo). A partir dos resultados obtidos pode-se afirmar que a viabilidade das sementes de juazeiro é bastante influenciada pelas diferenças existentes entre plantas matrizes e pelas condições de armazenamento, apresentando longevidade de dois anos, quando armazenadas a 22 oC e 16% de umidade relativa. Os métodos de escarificação com lixa e martelo não são eficientes para reduzir o tempo e uniformizar a geminação das sementes. As plantas de juazeiro apresentam elevado potencial para se desenvolver em diferentes ambientes edáficos, adaptando-se bem a solos com diferentes texturas e composições químicas. | ABSTRACT: Considering the potential and importance of biodiversity of the Caatinga biome, studies on endemic species are relevant to conservation of its natural resources. The objectives of this work was to evaluate seed viability and physical methods for overcoming seed dormancy in juazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.) and assess the influence of different types of soil on the initial growth of juazeiro plants. The experiments were conducted in three stages. In the first stage, the viability of seeds from different lots was evaluated using the tetrazolium test. The second stage was conducted in a plant nursery, evaluating the application of physical processes (scarification with sandpaper and hammer) in overcoming seed dormancy, and the initial growth of the plants. In the third step, the chlorophyll a and b contents, gas exchange and dry matter accumulation were evaluated in young juazeiro plants in three types of soil (Oxisol, Entisol and Vertisol). The results indicate that the viability of juazeiro seeds is greatly influenced by differences between the progenitor plants and by storage conditions, which enable a longevity of two years when stored at 22°C and 16% of relative humidity. The scarification methods with sandpaper and hammer are not efficient to reduce the time and uniform seed germination. The juazeiro plants have high growth potential in different edaphic environments, adapting well to soils of different textures and chemical compositions.

The ramularia leaf spot (RLS) disease causes cotton yield losses. Choosing a less susceptible cultivar and a sowing time that are less favorable to the pathogen contribute to the management of this disease. The objective of this work was to evaluate the severity of ramularia leaf spot on cotton cultivars sowed in two different times. The experiment was conducted in a triple factorial design (4x3x2), consisted of four cultivars, the three thirds of the plant and two sowing times, with four replications. Each plot was divided in two twin plots, one with fungicide application (with disease control) and the other without fungicide application (without disease control). The severity assessments were performed every seven days, considering each third of the plant with a diagrammatic scale. Yield was evaluated in each plot. There was a significant interaction between sowing times and the thirds of the plant in the plots without disease control for RLS severity, with the highest values of area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) in the first sowing time (ST1) and in the lower third of the plant. The FMT705 cultivar had the highest and FM951LL the lowest value of AUDPC. The AUDPC of these cultivars were no statistically different in the second sowing time (ST2), but they had higher AUDPC values in the lower third. Highest yields were found with ST1 in plots with disease control, with no differences between the cultivars, however, lower yields were found in plots without disease control.

ABSTRACT The ramularia leaf spot (RLS) disease causes cotton yield losses. Choosing a less susceptible cultivar and a sowing time that are less favorable to the pathogen contribute to the management of this disease. The objective of this work was to evaluate the severity of ramularia leaf spot on cotton cultivars sowed in two different times. The experiment was conducted in a triple factorial design (4x3x2), consisted of four cultivars, the three thirds of the plant and two sowing times, with four replications. Each plot was divided in two twin plots, one with fungicide application (with disease control) and the other without fungicide application (without disease control). The severity assessments were performed every seven days, considering each third of the plant with a diagrammatic scale. Yield was evaluated in each plot. There was a significant interaction between sowing times and the thirds of the plant in the plots without disease control for RLS severity, with the highest values of area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) in the first sowing time (ST1) and in the lower third of the plant. The FMT705 cultivar had the highest and FM951LL the lowest value of AUDPC. The AUDPC of these cultivars were no statistically different in the second sowing time (ST2), but they had higher AUDPC values in the lower third. Highest yields were found with ST1 in plots with disease control, with no differences between the cultivars, however, lower yields were found in plots without disease control. | RESUMO A mancha de ramulária promove perdas de produtividade do algodoeiro, em que a escolha da cultivar menos suscetível e a época de semeadura menos favorável ao patógeno contribuem para o manejo da doença. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a severidade da mancha de ramulária em cultivares de algodão conduzido em duas épocas de semeadura. O experimento foi conduzido em esquema fatorial triplo (4x3x2), sendo quatro cultivares, três terços da planta e duas épocas de semeadura, com quatro repetições. Cada parcela foi dividida em duas parcelas gêmeas, onde uma parcela recebeu aplicação de fungicidas (com controle) e a outra parcela não recebeu aplicação de fungicidas (sem controle). As avaliações de severidade foram feitas a cada sete dias, considerando cada terço da planta com auxílio de uma escala diagramática. A produtividade foi avaliada na área útil de cada parcela gêmea. Houve interação significativa entre as épocas de semeadura e terços da planta nas parcelas sem controle, onde os maiores valores da área abaixo da curva de progresso da severidade (AACPS) da mancha de ramulária foram observados na primeira época de semeadura (ES1) e no terço inferior da planta. As cultivares FMT 705 e FM 951 LL apresentaram menor e maior valor de AACPS, respectivamente. Na segunda época de semeadura (ES2), as cultivares não diferiram estatisticamente para AACPS, porém apresentaram maior valor no terço inferior. A maior produtividade ocorreu na ES1 nas parcelas gêmeas com controle, não diferindo entre as cultivares, porém foi menor quando não houve tratamento com fungicidas.

Climate variations over the year and plant density tend to strongly affect the agronomic performance of carrot crops. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of the cultivar Brasilia in crops under mild (winter) and high (summer) temperatures. An experiment was conducted from May 2011 to February 2012, using a randomized block design and treatments arranged in split plot, with three replications. The plots consisted of planting seasons (winter and summer) and the subplots of plant spacing (4, 6, 8 and 10 cm). The height of plants presented a linear decrease, from 53.4 to 51.0 cm, with an increase in spacing in summer planting, while in winter the greatest height (50.7 cm) was obtained with spacing of 8.0 cm between plants. The lowest commercial yields were found in summer crops and with the widest spacing between plants. The smallest spacing between plants (4 cm) had yields of 45.9 Mg ha-1 in summer and of 63.1 Mg ha-1 in winter crops. The winter planting had higher fresh root weight (89.9 g root-1) compared to the summer (81.4 g root-1), reaching higher weight with increasing plant spacing. Higher yields are achieved with plant spacing of 4 cm during winter. The carrot can be grown throughout the year in the Submiddle of the São Francisco Valley.

RESUMO As variações climáticas ao longo do ano e a densidade de plantas tendem a influenciar de forma acentuada o desempenho agronômico da cultura da cenoura. Com o objetivo de avaliar o desempenho produtivo da cultivar Brasília em cultivo sob temperaturas amenas (inverno) e mais elevadas (verão) conduziu - se um experimento no período de maio de 2011 a fevereiro de 2012. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos casualizados, sendo os tratamentos dispostos em parcelas subdivididas, com três repetições. A parcela foi constituída pelas épocas de plantio (inverno e verão) e as subparcelas pelos espaçamentos entre plantas (4, 6, 8 e 10 cm), sendo utilizada a cultivar Brasília. A altura de plantas apresentou redução linear com o aumento do espaçamento no cultivo de verão de 53,4 para 51,0 cm, enquanto no inverno a maior altura foi obtida no espaçamento de 8 cm entre plantas com 50,7 cm. Menor produtividade comercial foi obtida no cultivo de verão e nos maiores espaçamentos. O menor espaçamento de 4 cm entre plantas obteve nos cultivos de verão e inverno produtividades de 45,9 e 63,1 t ha-1, respectivamente. Com relação à massa fresca de raiz o plantio de inverno mostrou-se superior com maior massa fresca de raiz (89,9 g raiz-1) comparativamente ao verão que alcançou 81,4 g raiz-1, observando-se maior massa com o aumento do espaçamento entre plantas. Maiores produtividades são alcançadas no espaçamento de 4 cm entre plantas, em condições de inverno, podendo a cenoura ser cultivada durante todo o ano nas condições do Submédio do Vale do São Francisco. | ABSTRACT Climate variations over the year and plant density tend to strongly affect the agronomic performance of carrot crops. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of the cultivar Brasilia in crops under mild (winter) and high (summer) temperatures. An experiment was conducted from May 2011 to February 2012, using a randomized block design and treatments arranged in split plot, with three replications. The plots consisted of planting seasons (winter and summer) and the subplots of plant spacing (4,6, 8 and 10 cm). The height of plants presented a linear decrease, from 53.4 to 51.0 cm, with an increase in spacing in summer planting, while in winter the greatest height (50.7 cm) was obtained with spacing of 8.0 cm between plants. The lowest commercial yields were found in summer crops and with the widest spacing between plants. The smallest spacing between plants (4 cm) had yields of 45.9 Mg ha-1 in summer and of 63.1 Mg ha-1 in winter crops. The winter planting had higher fresh root weight (89.9 g root-1) compared to the summer (81.4 g root-1), reaching higher weight with increasing plant spacing. Higher yields are achieved with plant spacing of 4 cm during winter. The carrot can be grown throughout the year in the Submiddle of the São Francisco Valley.