The yellow passion fruit is grown under different edaphoclimatic conditions. Irrigation standardizes and increases the development and productivity of the plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological and productive aspects of yellow passion fruit with application of hydroabsorbent polymer at different irrigation depths. The experimental design was in randomized blocks in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement. The treatments were soil with and without polymer and five dephts of irrigation (60 to 100% of crop evapotranspiration). Initial, maximum, and variable chlorophyll fluorescence, physiology (photosynthetic rate, internal carbon concentration, transpiration, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency, and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency) and production of yellow passion fruit were the variables analyzed. The hydrogel probably retained water in its structure, reducing the ability to dissipate excess energy. Setting the irrigation depth at an estimated 82% of crop evapotranspiration increased photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and water use efficiency of yellow passion fruit plants. Maximum yield was 17.2 t ha-1 in irrigated plants at 100% evapotranspiration (ETc) in soil without hydrogel.

The common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris L., is a legume of economic and food importance in tropical and subtropical countries. Thus, the objective of this study was to define the phenological growth stages of common beans according to the Bundesanstalt Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie (BBCH) scale, as well as the degree days, to optimise common bean management practices in accordance with the plant phenology. All phenological stages, including germination, foliar development, side shoots formation, stem elongation, inflorescence emergence, flowering, pod development and plant senescence, were evaluated using the BBCH scale. The descriptions of the phenological stages, combined with illustrations, and the sum of degree days during the crop cycle improve our understanding of these phenological stages. The identification of the vegetative and reproductive stages of the common bean facilitates improved management of the crop under different environmental conditions, taking thermal accumulation into consideration. K E Y W O R D S degree days, development stages, Phaseolus vulgaris L

The intensive use of the soil, associated with the application of chemical fertilizers, contribute to degradation processes that affect soil quality and crop production. The use of techniques that contribute to soil conservation and reduction of external inputsis important for the success of the agriculture, and hedging is an alternative. The objective of this study was to evaluate the phytomass production nutrient accumulation and contents, as well as rate of decomposition of different species used as cover plants. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with nine treatments distributed in three blocks. The treatments were: Canavalia ensiformes (L.) DC., Crotalaria spectabilis Roth, Crotalaria ochroleuca G. Don., Crotalaria juncea L., Dolichos lablab L., Stizolobium niveum (Roxb.) Kuntze, Stizolobium aterrimum Piper & Tracy, Neonotonia wightii (Wight & Arn.) J.A. Lackey and Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br. The most recommended species as cover plants are C. ochroleuca and C. spectabilis for they produce more dry matter on the tops, 5.89 and 4.04 kg ha-1, in addition to greater accumulation of nutrients. C. ochroleuca and C. spectabilis had higher accumulation of N, P, K, Mg and S, and soil coverage with those species can be a good source of green manure. The recommended species for the highest coverage rate are: N. wightii; S. niveum and S. aterrimum. The recommended species for the lowest rate of decomposition are: S. aterrimum; S. niveum; P. glaucum and C. ochroleuca (0.245; 0.260; 0.264 and 0.276% month-1).

A produção de mudas de moringa é uma tecnologia pouco conhecida, mas materiais orgânicos vêm sendo utilizados na formulação de substratos. O objetivo foi avaliar o crescimento inicial e qualidade de mudas de Moringa em diferentes proporções de composto orgânico adicionado ao solo. Foi utilizado o DBC com quatro repetições, aplicando teste de média, com quatro proporções de composto bovino + solo (0:1; 1:1; 2:1 e 3:1v/v). A unidade experimental foi constituída por 10 plantas, e, aos 60 dias após a emergência, foram medidos a altura de planta, diâmetro caulinar, número de folhas, comprimento radicular, massa seca aérea e radicular e o índice de qualidade de Dickson. As diferentes concentrações de composto utilizadas influenciaram positivamente nas variáveis de crescimento e qualidade das mudas.

Guava is a perennial fruit, highly preferred by the Brazilian consumer and in increasing commercial exploitation in almost all the national territory. The most required nutrients are nitrogen, followed by potassium and calcium with great participation in the growth and physiology of guava. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of potassium doses in the soil without and with calcium in the physiology of Paluma guava plants. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design in a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement, with K 2 O of 0, 45, 90, 135 and 180 g plant-1 year-1 , without and with 120 g plant-1 year-1 calcium from calcium nitrate. The variables analyzed were chlorophyll indices (a, b and total), chlorophyll fluorescence and gas exchange. The results were submitted to analysis of variance by the "F" test and the potassium doses were submitted to regression analysis, using SAS © software version 9.3. Guava plants fertilized with only potassium in the soil had higher photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency and instantaneous carboxylation efficiency. The addition of calcium and potassium to the soil increased chlorophyll a, b, total, variable fluorescence, maximum fluorescence, quantum efficiency, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate and internal carbon concentration in guava.