Palavras-chave:Physalis pubescens, altura da planta, produtividade. ABSTRACTPlant growth and production of husk tomato depending on organic fertilization and mulching A field trial was carried out in Ipameri, State of Goias, Brazil, to study the effect of residual cattle manure and soil covering on plant growth and yield of husk tomato. Sowing was carried out in October 01, and seedlings were kept under greenhouse with 50% of shadow, until planting in the field in November 11, 2007, after tomato crop. The experimental design was randomized block with split-plot scheme with three replications. Cattle manure treatments were applied to the plots (30 and 60 t ha -1 ) and soil covering to subplots (black plastic, Brachiaria grass and without covering). The sub plot consisted of 20 plants arranged at space of 1.00 x 0.30 m. Black plastic covering favored plant growth and yield. Minor effects were obtained with residual cattle manure. Plant height followed cubic regression model.

In tropical climate countries, animal production faces a huge challenge, being the high solar irradiation levels an important factor that negatively influences the welfare and animal performance. The purpose of this research was to check the environment inside mobile shelters with different kinds of cover materials. This research has been developed at the State University of Goiás, Brazil, being used four different cover materials: DFPC, double-faced plastic canvas; PVC, polyvinyl chloride; VFB, tiles made with vegetable fiber and bitumen; and VFBW, tiles made with vegetable fiber and bitumen being the outer face painted white. Covers were placed up mobile shelters with the following dimensions: 1 m length × 1 m width × 1 m height and cover pitch of 30°. The environment was evaluated through thermal comfort indexes: enthalpy (H), temperature and humidity index (THI), black globe and humidity index (BGHI), mean radiant temperature (MRT) and thermal heat load (THL), and the measurement of thermal environmental variables (temperature of external (EST) and internal (IST) surface of the cover, dry bulb temperature (T db ), black globe temperature (T bg ), relative humidity (RH), and wind speedy (WS)). Data analysis was performed using PROC MIXED of SAS® by analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Tukey test, at 5% of significance level. There was observed beneficial effect of the usage of shading, with a decrease in air temperature and thermal comfort indexes when compared with the unshaded environment. The materials presented different thermal behavior, with better results for PVC and VFBW, that presented lower internal (IST) and external surface temperature (EST), in addition to lower black globe temperature, thermal heat load, and black globe and humidity index. PVC and VFBW were the best types of covers evaluated, with significant decreased thermal comfort indexes.