Influence of the N/K ratio on the production and quality of cucumber in hydroponic system

The objective of this work was to evaluate the quality of fruits and the nutritional status of cucumber CV. Aodai cultivated in nutrient solutions with different N:K ratios. The hydroponic cultivation was initially performed, during the vegetative growth, in nutrient solution with 1:2.0 mmol L-1 N:K, and, later, during fruit setting, in four different nutrient solutions with N:K (w/w) at the ratios 1:1.4, 1:1.7, 1:2.0 and 1:2.5. An additional treatment with a nutrient solution containing the ratio 1:2.2 (w/w) N:K during the vegetative growth and N:K 1:1.4 (w/w) during fruit setting, both with 10% ammonium (NH4+) was included. The treatments were arranged in a randomized design with six replicates. Irrigation was carried out with deionized water until seed germination, and then with nutrient solution until 30 days after germination, when plants were transplanted. Plants in the hydroponic growing beds were irrigated with the solutions for vegetative growth, and, after 21 days, the solutions were replaced by solutions for fruit setting. At 45 and 60 days after transplanting, the fresh weight, length, diameter, volume and firmness of the fruit were evaluated, and, at 45 days after transplanting, the macronutrient concentrations in the leaves were determined. The use of different N:K ratios during fruit setting influenced the cucumber production. The ratio of 1.0:1.7 N: K (w/w), with 10% of N in the form of ammonia, is recommended for the whole cycle.

Efficiency of water use in sunflower grown in hydroponic system under saline stress

In order to identify alternatives for the use of saline water in agricultural production, the effects of the use of brackish water in the preparation of the nutrient solution for the cultivation of sunflower (cv. EMBRAPA 122-V2000) were studied in hydroponic system on consumption and efficiency of water use for the production of achenes and biomass. A completely randomized design was used, analyzed in a 5x2 factorial scheme with three replications. The factors studied were five levels of salinity of nutrient solution (1.7 - control; 4.3; 6.0; 9.0; and 11.5dS m-1) and two plant densities - one or two plants per vessel. It was concluded that the water consumption of sunflower is a variable sensitive to the salinity of the nutrient solution, especially after the fourth week of crop, and that the efficiency of water use in the production of achenes and biomass of sunflower is greater when the plant density increases from one to two plants per vessel, even under saline stress.

Consumo hídrico da rúcula em cultivo hidropônico NFT utilizando Rejeitos de dessalinizador em Ibimirim-PE

O consumo de águas salinas pelas plantas na maioria dos casos afetam o rendimento das culturas em suas diversas fases prejudicando desenvolvimento e produção. O trabalho avaliou o consumo hídrico da rúcula (Eruca sativa) em sistema hidropônico NFT com águas salinas. Foram analisados seis níveis crescentes de salinidade da água (CEa), quais sejam: 0,2; 1,2; 2,2; 3,2; 4,2 e 5,2 (dS m-1) utilizaram-se duas fontes de sais: águas salobras (AS) e NaCl. Foi determinado o volume evapotranspirado por planta (VETc) no sistema durante o cultivo. O consumo hídrico nos primeiros dias após transplantio foi de 250 mL dia-1 aproximadamente para ambas as testemunhas e decresceram com o aumento da salinidade, a eficiência de utilização da água foi reduzida revelando uma resposta linear decrescente em função da salinidade ocorrendo uma resposta negativa das plantas que apresentaram uma redução na quantidade de folhas de 3,34%.

Avaliação de cultivares de alface crespa produzidas em hidroponia tipo NFT em dois ambientes protegidos em Ribeirão Preto (SP)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito da concentração de nitrogênio na solução nutritiva e do número de frutos por planta sobre a produção do meloeiro

O trabalho foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, na UNESP em Jaboticabal (SP), de junho a novembro de 2001, com o objetivo de avaliar a produção do melão (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus), híbrido Bônus nº2, cultivado em sistema hidropônico NFT, em função da concentração de nitrogênio na solução nutritiva (80, 140, 200 e 300 mg L-1) e número de frutos por planta (2, 3, 4 e livre). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, em parcelas subdivididas, com seis repetições. Aos 80 dias após o transplantio, foram observados 2, 3, 4 e 5,1 frutos por planta e, posteriormente na colheita, 2, 2,9, 3,0 e 3,4 frutos por planta, respectivamente para os tratamentos com 2, 3, 4 e fixação livre, sendo esta redução atribuída ao abortamento de frutos. Houve redução no peso médio do 1º, 2º e 3º fruto colhido, com o aumento da concentração de nitrogênio. Plantas com o menor número de frutos, apresentaram maior peso médio dos mesmos, porém com menor produção por planta. A maior produção (2.474 g/planta) foi obtida com 80 mg L-1 de nitrogênio na solução nutritiva.

Acúmulo de nitrato e produtividade de cultivares de almeirão em cultivo hidropônico-NFT

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

Desempenho de cultivares de alface crespa em dois ambientes de cultivo em sistema hidropônico

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido em Ribeirão Preto-SP, de 06/02 a 07/04 de 2006. O objetivo foi avaliar o desempenho de cinco cultivares de alface (Pira Roxa, Belíssima, Locarno, Crespona Gigante e Verônica) em dois ambientes de cultivo (casa de vegetação climatizada e não climatizada) em sistema hidropônico NFT. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados para cada ambiente com três repetições sendo cinco cultivares. Os ambientes foram comparados por meio de análise conjunta. Avaliaram-se a massa fresca e seca da parte aérea, massas fresca e seca do caule, massa fresca e seca da raiz, número de folhas maiores que 10 cm e número total de folhas. Não houve efeito significativo da interação cultivares e ambientes, demonstrando que as cultivares tiveram comportamento similar em ambos os ambientes.

Análise do resfriamento da solução nutritiva para cultivo hidropônico do morangueiro

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

Nutrient contents and production of rocket as affected by nitrogen concentrations in the nutritive solution

O empirismo no uso das soluções nutritivas é freqüente. Muitas vezes a mesma solução nutritiva é usada para diferentes espécies baseando-se apenas em semelhanças morfológicas. No entanto esta situação pode proporcionar desequilíbrio nutricional prejudicando tanto a produção quanto a qualidade do produto face o acúmulo de nitrato. Foi conduzido um trabalho em sistema hidropônico - NFT, com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da concentração de nitrogênio na solução nutritiva na produção, nos teores de nutrientes e de nitrato em folhas de rúcula (Eruca sativa). O trabalho foi conduzido na primavera de 2003. Foram avaliadas quatro concentrações de nitrogênio na solução nutritiva (60,8; 121,6; 182,5; 243,5 mg L-1) e três cultivares de rúcula (Cultivada, Folha Larga e Selvática), sob delineamento de blocos ao acaso, fatorial 4 x 3, com quatro repetições. A cv. Cultivada apresentou maior estatura e fitomassa fresca de folhas, não diferindo da 'Folha Larga' quanto a número de folhas, teor de nitrato nas folhas e fitomassa seca e fresca da raiz. Houve incremento de NO3-, N, Ca e P e diminuição de Mg, K e S com o aumento da concentração de N na solução nutritiva. O cultivo da cv. Cultivada na concentração de 93 mg L-1 é a mais recomendada em função da maior produtividade e baixo teor de nitrato.

Análise do comportamento da cultura do morangueiro (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) em condições de cultivo hidropônico

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Sintomas de deficiências de macronutrientes em pimentão

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

Biological control of root rot caused by Pythium aphanidermatum and growth promotion in hydroponic cucumber with microorganisms from mangrove

The prospection of biological control agents in similar environments to the microbe application improves the chances of microorganisms establishment added to the environment. The low survival of these beneficial microorganisms added to hydroponic environment is a problem for the growth promotion and root rot biological control success in hydroponic crops. Because of the environmental similarity between hydroponic systems and mangrove ecosystems, the aim of this work was to evaluate the ability of mangrove microbes to control root rot caused by Pythium aphanidermatum and to improve plant growth in hydroponic cucumbers. Among the 28 strains evaluated for disease control in small-hydroponic system using cucumber seedlings, Gordonia rubripertincta SO-3B-2 alone or in combination with Pseudomonas stutzeri (MB-P3A- 49, MB-P3-C68 and SO-3L-3), and Bacillus cereus AVIC-3-6 increased the seedlings survival and were subsequently evaluated in hydroponic cucumbers in a greenhouse. Bacillus cereus AVIC-3-6 protected the plants from stunting caused by the pathogen and Gordonia rubripertincta SO-3B-2 and Pseudomonas stutzeri MB-P3A-49 increased the plant growth. We concluded that microorganisms from mangroves are useful as biocontrol agents and for improving plant growth in hydroponic crops.

Ecophysiological responses of water hyacinth exposed to Cr(3+) and Cr(6+)

Due to its wide industrial use, chromium (Cr) is considered a serious environmental pollutant of aquatic bodies. in order to investigate the ecophysiological responses of water hyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms] to Cr treatment, plants were exposed to 1 and 10 mM Cr(2)O(3) (Cr(3+)) and K(2)Cr(2)O(7) (Cr(6+)) concentrations for two or 4 days in a hydroponic system. Plants exposed to the higher concentration of Cr(6+) for 4 days did not survive, whereas a 2 days treatment with 1 mM Cr(3+) apparently stimulated growth. Analysis of Cr uptake indicated that most of the Cr accumulated in the roots, but some was also translocated and accumulated in the leaves. However, in plants exposed to Cr(6+) (1 mM), a higher translocation of Cr from roots to shoots was observed. it is possible that the conversion from Cr(6+) to Cr(3+), which immobilizes Cr in roots, was not total due to the presence of Cr(6+), causing deleterious effects on gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence and photosynthetic pigment contents. Chlorophyll a was more sensitive to Cr than chlorophyll b. Cr(3+) was shown to be less toxic than Cr(6+) and, in some cases even increased photosynthesis and chlorophyll content. This result indicated that the F(v)/F(0) ratio was more effective than the F(v)/F(m) ratio in monitoring the development of stress by Cr(6+). There was a linear relationship between qP and F(v)/F(m). No statistical differences were observed in NPQ and chlorophyll a/b ratio, but there was a tendency to decrease these values with Cr exposure. This suggests that there were alterations in thylakoid stacking, which might explain the data obtained for gas exchanges and other chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

IBA application for rooting of Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden and Cambage x Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden minicuttings

IBA application for rooting of Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden and Cambage x Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden minicuttings. Eucalyptus has great importance in the forestry sector and many advances in the area of improvement have been achieved with the advent of biotechnological techniques. However, some promising genotypes still do not have multiplication protocols with cloning techniques, such as minicutting. The study aimed to evaluate IBA concentrations for survival, rooting and vegetative vigor of E. benthamii x E. dunnii minicuttings, and determine the maximum technical efficiency dose. Ministumps H12, H19 and H20 clones were cultivated in a clonal minigarden under a semi-hydroponic system. For rooting, the rninicutting basal portion was plunged in hydro-alcoholic solutions, whose concentrations were: 0; 2,000; 4,000; 6,000 and 8,000 mg L(-1) of IBA. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with the factors consisting of three clones and five IBA concentrations, with five replications, containing 10 minicuttings per replication. IBA positively influenced the minicutting rooting processes, with differentiated behavior between the clones, with 30.32 to 55.45% rooting variation. The positives increments occurred until the highest IBA concentration for H12 and H19 clones. However, the range between 4,000 and 6,000 mg L(-1) of IBA treatments promoted the best rooting results for the H20 clone.

Production and photosynthetic activity of Mimosa Verde and Mimosa Roxa lettuce in two farming systems

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is the most commonly consumed leaf vegetable in the Brazilian diet, and it is a good source of vitamins and minerals. It is widely grown in the conventional farming system. However, the hydroponic farming system has been gaining importance in the market, wining confidence from consumers, who are becoming increasingly more demanding on food quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of two lettuce cultivars on hydroponic and conventional farming systems for the production of fresh mass (FM) and dry mass (DM), photosynthesis, contents of chlorophyll and anthocyanin. The following two experiments were carried out: hydroponics farming (HF) and conventional farming (CF), performed in protect and unprotect environments, respectively, in Florianópolis, SC. Mimosa Verde cultivar (MV) showed greater fresh mass than Mimosa Roxa (MR), in both farming systems and the two cultivars presented better performance in the hydroponic system (287.7 g MV and 139.1 g MR) than the conventional system (129.7 g MV and 111.8 g MR). Mimosa Verde cultivar presented lower average contents of total chlorophyll (7.7 mg g-¹ FM) than Mimosa Roxa (11.8 mg g-¹FM), and both cultivars displayed higher means for this variable in the hydroponic farming system. Mimosa Roxa presented higher contents of anthocyanin in the conventional system (88.24 mg g-¹ FM) than the ones in the hydroponic system (36.89 mg g-¹ FM). The best results for CO2 net assimilation rate regarded to photosyntheticaly active photon flux density were found in the hydroponic system, for both lettuce cultivars. Variation in the contents of chlorophyll were also found. Those variations were higher in the protected system than in the hydroponic system and contents of anthocyanin were higher in the conventional system.