The characterization of litterfall in forest and agroforest systems is important to better understand the cycling of nutrients, however, few studies on litterfall of fruit trees, such as banana, are found. Therefore, the objective of this work was assess the production and decomposition and chemically characterize the litterfall of banana genotypes cropped in a dystrophic typical Red-Yellow Latossol, with weak A horizon, medium texture in a hypo-xerophytic Caatinga in the Southwest of Bahia, Brazil. A completely randomized experimental design was used, with twelve treatments (genotypes) and five replications. The genotypes Preciosa, Pacovan-Ken and Maravilha presented the greatest dry weight. The genotype Fhia18 showed the longest half-life of litterfall decomposition. The banana genotypes Preciosa, Maravilha and Pacovan-Ken produce the greatest contents of litterfall, and their chemical characterization shows the descending order Ca>N>Mg>K>S>P for macronutrients and Fe>Mn>B>Zn>Cu for micronutrients. The banana genotypes PV-79-34, Garantida, Pacovan, JV-42-135, Prata-Anã, Pacovan-Ken, Preciosa and Maravilha present the lowest number of days for decomposition of the litterfall accumulated.

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of bovine biofertilizer on passion fruit production and fruit quality. We carried out an experiment in the city of Nova Floresta, Paraíba State, Brazil. It was carried out in a randomized block design with three replications and three plants per plot. We adopted a 3 x 5 factorial scheme, which evaluated three passion fruit genotypes and five cattle biofertilizer doses. The assessed genotypes consisted of a local one (Guinezinho - LG) and two hybrids (BRS Gigante Amarelo - GA and BRS Sol do Cerrado - SC). We applied five rates of cattle biofertilizer (B) monthly at a constant volume of 5 L plant-1, after diluting in irrigation water (W) at an electrical conductivity of 1.4 dS m-1. The evaluated rates were 0% (100% irrigation water - 0B + 5W), 10% (1B + 9W), 20% (2B + 8W), 30% (3B + 7W) and 40% (4B + 6W). Every week, we sampled, counted and weighed fruit to gather data on fruit number per plant, pant production, and yield. At peak production, we also sampled two fruit randomly from each plot floor area. These fruits were used for determinations of the average mass in fruit, peel and pulp (seeds + juice), peel thickness, fruit diameter and length, pulp yield, soluble solid content, titratable acidity, vitamin C, pH and pulp electrical conductivity. As a result, we observed that the biofertilizer did not compromise both LG and GA production capacity. Overall, the biofertilizer doses provided quality characteristics superior to those required by the fruit market.

The intensive cultivation of vegetables with frequent chemical fertilization may cause accumulation of nutrients in the soil. This, in turn, may reduce crop yields and damage the environment due to contamination of ground water and rivers. Thus, to increase the effects of P (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 kg ha - 1 of P 2 O 5 ) and K (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg ha - 1 of K 2 O) doses on the growth and productivity of radish cultivars (Sakata 19 and Sakata 25) in a soil with high levels of these nutrients, two experiments were conducted in randomized blocks with the factors cultivars and doses arranged in a 2 x 5 factorial design with three replications. Number of leaves per plant, leaf area, shoot and root dry mass, total and commercial productivity, percentage of cracked roots and P and K contents in the plant and in the soil were evaluated. The Sakata 19 cultivar performed better than the Sakata 25 in both experiments. The fertilization with P or K did not influence the growth and the productivity of both radish cultivars. Therefore, both cultivars of radish evaluated do not need to be fertilized with P and K when planted in a Latosol with high levels of these nutrients.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the adsorption of phosphorus (P) and changes in the concentrations of organic and inorganic forms of P in a Neossolo Quartzarênico (Typic Quartzipsamment) after 9 years of successive cultivation with sugar cane without burning to harvest. Therefore, two areas, one in which cane sugar was planted and a native forest reference area, located in the municipality of Paraipaba - CE, were selected. In each area, samples were collected at depths of 0−0.025, 0.025−0.05, 0.05−0.10, 0.10−0.20, and 0.20−0.30 m, and the levels of organic (Po) and inorganic (Pi) phosphorus obtained by sequential extraction, the remaining phosphorus, and the maximum adsorption capacity of phosphorus by the soil were determined. In general, the permanence of straw on the soil surface under sugarcane cultivation promoted the maintenance of Po levels in the surface layers of the profile. The Po accumulated predominantly in the Po fraction extracted with sodium bicarbonate in both areas. Regarding the Pi content, changes were more evident during cultivation due to the effect of successive phosphate fertilizer applications. The fraction extracted with 0.1 mol L - 1 sodium hydroxide was the most representative, with the highest levels of P uptake. P adsorption was influenced by the initial content of the nutrient in the soil and no relationship between P adsorption and organic matter content was observed. The highest level of adsorption was observed in the bottom layer of the forest area (133.3 mg kg - 1 ) and the lowest level of adsorption was observed on the surface layer of the area under sugarcane cultivation (59.5 kg mg - 1 ).

Cassava wastewater is the liquid residue of the cassava flour processing and its application to the soil as fertilizer for agricultural crops is a good alternative to sources of nutrients for plants. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the growth and seed yield of sunflower on soil fertilized with cassava wastewater. A randomized block experimental design with four replications was used, with six cassava wastewater rates (0, 8.5, 17, 34, 68 and 136 m3 ha-1) and six plant sampling times (15, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90 days after sowing), using the sunflower cultivar Helio-250. The evaluated variables were total leaf area, leaf area index, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, leaf weight ratio, shoot dry mass and sunflower seed yield. The use of cassava wastewater rate of 136 m3 ha-1 increases the seed yield, leaf area, leaf area index and shoot dry mass, and results in lower leaf area ratio, specific leaf area and leaf weight ratio of sunflower (cv. Helio-250) crops.

The use of elicitors in plants for disease control is demonstrated by the accumulation of phytoalexins. Among these elicitors, metabolic products from fungi have been shown to be effective in the activation of mechanisms of induced resistance. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of filtrates from the saprobic fungi Curvularia inaequalis, Pseudobotrytis terrestris, Memnoniella echinata and Curvularia eragrostidis in inducing phaseolin, glyceolin and deoxyanthocyanidins. For this, fungal mycelial disks were liquid-subcultured in potato dextrose (BD) media and maintained in BOD at 25 °C and 12 h of light and darkness. After 20 days, the cultures were filtered and, the filtrates were used in the experiments. Phaseolin was measured in etiolated hypocotyls of bean. For glyceolin evaluation, cotyledons of soybean were used. The deoxyanthocyanidin accumulation was evaluated in etiolated mesocotyls of sorghum. The results were subjected to analysis of variance and compared by regression tests (p < 0.05). The filtrates of the saprobic fungi C. eragrostidis, C. inaequalis, P. terrestris and M. echinata promoted 9, 8, 9 and 7% greater increases in the concentration of phaseolin accumulations, respectively. The glyceolin accumulation varied with the concentration of C. eragrostidis, C. inaequalis and P. terrestris by adjusting the behavior to a cubic model. The deoxyanthocyanidin accumulation increased with concentration, while the filtrates of M. echinata and C. eragrostidis promoted 2 to 3 times more increases than the application of water. The filtrates of P. terrestris, C. eragrostidis, C. inaequalis and M. echinata induced accumulations of phytoalexins in soybean, beans and sorghum.

The ‘Roxo de Valinhos’ fig is one of the most widely grown varieties in the world, however, there are still few studies on the phenology and yield of fig trees, especially in semi-arid regions. This study evaluated the phenology and yield aspects of the ‘Roxo de Valinhos’ fig cultivar in Western Potiguar. The experiment was carried out from July to December 2015 in the didactic orchard of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid, UFERSA. The following phenological aspects were analyzed: pruning at the beginning of budding, emergence and maturity of the first fruit, beginning of harvest, length and diameter of branches, number of fruits per branch, length and diameter of fruits, absolute growth rate, yield per plant, number of fruits per plant, and fruit weight. We used descriptive statistics; for quantitative and qualitative characteristics, we used regression analysis and means test, through Tukey´s test at 5% probability. Fig trees showed good adaptability to semi-arid regions and precocity when compared to fig trees from temperate regions, in all phenological stages; the studied cultivar showed promising results for cultivation in this region.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of Trinexapaque-ethyl (TrixE) and benzyladenine (BA) on the fertility of buds and the quality of bunches of „Thompson Seedless‟ grapes grafted onto „Ramsey‟ rootstock, in the Vale São do Francisco. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with 16 treatments (doses and number of applications of the plant regulators TrixE and BA), with four replications, each composed of three plants, with one plant per plot. The variables analyzed were: overall potential bud fertility, potential of the basal, median and apical branches of the plant; fertility of potential buds from the basal region of the basal and median branches; fertility of overall real buds, and of the median and apical branches; diameter of the basal, median and apical branches; Falker chlorophyll index a, b and total; sprouting buds, number of clusters per branch, clusters per plant, branches per plant; berry diameter, length, volume; fresh material mass; soluble solids content (SS), titratable acidity (AT) and SS/AT relationship; diameter, length, mass of fresh material from the clusters; shatter, fresh material mass of the rachis and rachis diameter . It was shown that the TrixE applied in isolation , one, two or three times in doses of 20 mg L-1, or associated with BA in a single application of 120 or 240 mg L-1, increased the rate of real fertility, but did notaffect the length of the clusters or the vegetative vigor of the plants.

The control of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. SMITH) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has been carried out mainly with pyrethroids and organophosphates insecticides. The continuous and indiscriminate use of synthetic insecticides, for decades, has led to the selection of resistant populations and has caused concerns for human health and the environment. An alternative is the use of botanical insecticides, including through the mixtures with synthetic insecticides. This study aimed to investigate the toxicity of copaiba oil-resin mixtures (COR) with deltamethrin, beta-cyfluthrin, beta-cypermethrin, methomyl, triazophos and chlorpyrifos for S. frugiperda. Bioassays were performed in the laboratory using newly hatched caterpillars on a contaminated surface (filter paper). Initially, concentration-mortality curves were established for each insecticide and COR. Based on the results, experiments were conducted to verify the effect of the COR mixtures with synthetic insecticides in the proportions of 1:1 (LC25 + LC25) on larvae of S. frugiperda. Additionally, COR concentration-response curves were established by adding 1/8 of the recommended rate of each insecticide. Notably, the use of this concentration for all insecticides was previously determined in bioassays, and no significant toxicity was found for S. frugiperda caterpillars. It was found that the toxicity of COR increased substantially by adding synthetic insecticides, especially with lower mixtures with beta-cypermethrin, methomyl and triazophos.

The objective of this study was to evaluate combinations of coriander and salad rocket cultivars in bicropping systems intercropped with carrot cultivars in strips under the conditions of Mossoró-RN. The work was conducted at the Experimental Farm Rafael Fernandes from July to December 2014. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with four replications and treatments arranged in a factorial design with additional treatments of type 2 x 2 x 2 + 2. The treatments consisted of the combinations of two coriander cultivars (Verdão and Português) and two rocket cultivars (Cultivada and Folha Larga), intercropped with two carrot cultivars (Brasília and Esplanada) plus two additional treatments, where the first are the cultivars in monocropping and the second the types of cropping (single and intercropped). We evaluated fresh and dry shoot mass in coriander and rocket and fresh and dry shoot mass as well as dry root mass, commercial and total root productivity, and classified root productivity in carrot. In the intercropping systems we evaluated land equivalent ratio, productive efficiency index, and score of the canonical variable, besides the indicators of economic efficiency (gross income, net income, rate of return and profit margin). Highest agroeconomic efficiency in intercropping systems was achieved with the combination of the coriander cultivar 'Verdão' and the rocket cultivars 'Folha Larga' or 'Cultivada' as well as the carrot cultivars 'Brasília' or 'Esplanada'. Regardless of the tested cultivar combinations, systems with coriander and salad rocket intercropped with carrot showed higher efficiency than monocropping systems.