Indices of competition and bio-agroeconomic efficiency of lettuce and tomato intercrops in greenhouses

Intercropping is a cropping system for the production of greenhouse vegetables. It uses space more efficiently, thus reducing the cost of production. Intercropping tomato and lettuce has not been studied, but knowledge of the competitive and agroeconomic indices of these vegetables can help in the management of the intercropping system. The objectives of this study were to assess, through biological and agroeconomic indices, the competition between species and the profitability of intercropping tomato and lettuce at different times of transplantation over two growing seasons (autumn-winter and summer-winter) in greenhouse conditions. In autumn-winter, two experiments were conducted with a randomised complete-block design and five replicates. Tomato and lettuce were the main crops in the individual experiments. Treatments were arranged in a factorial of two cropping systems (intercropping and individual crops) with four transplants of the secondary crop (0, 10, 20 and 30 days after) plus an additional treatment (individual main crop). These two experiments were repeated in summer-winter. Tomato was the dominant crop regardless of transplant order. Intercropping systems established with transplants of both species on the same day had higher values of indices of competition and bio-agroeconomic efficiency than systems with longer periods of transplants between main and secondary crops. The intercropping of lettuce and tomato in greenhouses, regardless of transplant time or order, had bio-agroeconomic advantages over individual crops. The transplantation of tomato after lettuce is recommended for greater profitability.

Comparing submerged and solid-state fermentation of agro-industrial residues for the production and characterization of lipase by Trichoderma harzianum

Lipase production by Trichoderma harzianum was evaluated in submerged fermentation (SF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) using a variety of agro-industrial residues. Cultures in SF showed the highest activity (1.4 U/mL) in medium containing 0.5 % (w/v) yeast extract, 1 % (v/v) olive oil and 2.5 C:N ratio. This paper is the first to report lipase production by T. harzianum in SSF. A 1:2 mixture of castor oil cake and sugarcane bagasse supplemented with 1 % (v/w) olive oil showed the best results among the cultures in SSF (4 U/g ds). Lipolytic activity was stable in a slightly acidic to neutral pH, maintaining 50 % activity after 30 min at 50 C. Eighty percent of the activity remained after 1 h in 25 % (v/v) methanol, ethanol, isopropanol or acetone. Activity was observed with vegetable oils (olive, soybean, corn and sunflower) and long-chain triacylglycerols (triolein), confirming the presence of a true lipase. The results of this study are promising because they demonstrate an enzyme with interesting properties for application in catalysis produced by fermentation at low cost. © 2012 Springer-Verlag and the University of Milan.

Effects of dietary clinoptilolite and calcium levels on uric acid and calcium blood concentrations and bone quality of commercial layers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Thermophysical properties of cotton, canola, sunflower and soybean oils as a function of temperature

Vegetable oils are used in the industry of processed food, including deep-fat frying. This work determined data on the thermophysical properties of cotton, canola, sunflower, corn, and soybean oils. Thermal conductivity, heat capacity, density, and viscosity were measured within the temperature range of 299.15-433.15 K. The data showed that the temperature influenced the thermophysical properties of the oils studied. The developed correlations could be used to predict these properties within the range of temperatures studied. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Effects of dietary clinoptilolite and calcium levels on the performance and egg quality of commercial layers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Características quanti-qualitativas da silagem de milho no sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FMVZ

Adubação nitrogenada no feijoeiro irrigado em sucessão à milho e braquiária em plantio direto

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Adubação em cultivares de milho consorciado com braquiárias em cultivo de safrinha

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efeito residual do consórcio de milho e Urochloa ruziziensis com inoculação de Azospirillum brasilense e adubação nitrogenada em cobertura no cultivo do feijão e trigo irrigado em sistema plantio direto

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

Consorciação de braquiárias com milho outonal em sistema plantio direto como cultura antecessora da soja de verão na integração agricultura-pecuária

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Consorciação de Urochloas com milho em sistema plantio direto como cultura antecessora da soja de verão

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Ciência do Solo) - FCAV

Custos energéticos e econômicos do agroecossistema milho em consórcio com pinhão-manso

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Nutrient intake and digestibility of the lipid residue of biodiesel from palm oil in sheep

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of lipid residue of biodiesel originated in the processing of palm oil (Elaeis guineensis) in the diet on the digestibility of feedlot lambs. Twenty-five crossbred male castrated lambs, weighing 20±1.61 kg, were distributed in randomized blocks with five treatments and five replications. The experimental period lasted 22 days; 15 for diet adaptation, 2 for the adaptation to the indicator LIPE (lignin from Eucalyptus grandis isolated, purified and enriched, UFMG, Minas Gerais) and 5 for fecal sampling. Diets were formulated with 64% concentrate based on corn and soybean meal, 31% Massai grass (Panicum maximum cv. Massai) hay and 5% lipid supplementation from increasing levels of substitution of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of palm oil for biodiesel oil from palm residue. The lambs were offered two meals a day, at 7h00 and 16h00. There was linear effect of inclusion of the residue from palm oil biodiesel on dry matter intake. There was no change in digestibility of nutrients except for ether extract. The use of biodiesel from palm oil residue up to 100% replacement for the lipid supplementation of sheep positively influences the consumption without altering the digestibility of nutrients.

Plantas de cobertura em rotação com soja e milho

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Decomposição da palhada de forrageiras em função da adubação nitrogenada após o consórcio com milho e produtividade da soja em sucessão

The objective of this study was to evaluate the straw decomposition of the Urochloa and Panicum after intercropped with corn and nitrogen fertilization, as well as, the agronomic performance of soybean in succession. The experiment was conducted in an Oxisol in Cerrado conditions under no-tillage eight years ago. After the corn harvest intercropped with grass and cutting of forage homogenization were applied N rates (0, 50, 100 and 200 kg ha-1 of N - urea source) in coverage. The plots consisted of Urochloa brizantha,Urochloa ruziziensis and Panicum maximum Tanzânia and Mombaça sown at the time of corn sowing and subplots composed by accumulated amounts of nitrogen applied in forage plants prior to the soybean cultivation (0, 250, 500 and 1000 kg ha-1 of N, after five cuts). The experimental design was a randomized block with four replications in a split plot. Soon after the last cut of the forage, proportionate amount of fresh mass of the species of each subplot was wrapped in nylon bags called Litter Bags, these being deposited in direct contact with the soil, to determine the time of decomposition of the dry mass during a period of 150 days. The nitrogen doses, as well as, the corn intercropped with forages (except with Mombaça) interfere similarly in the straw decomposition of forage and in the soybean yield in succession. All the consortiums of corn and nitrogen fertilization predecessors determined that, at 60 days after desiccation and cutting, still remained between 50 and 60% of the initial straw for no-tillage system.