Abstract With the aim of using rustic species such as pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb) for the rational management of degraded areas of Northwestern state of Rio de Janeiro, two experiments were sequentially conducted. In the first, seed dormancy breaking was evaluated in an experiment conducted in a completely randomized design, with six treatments, three replicates and 10 seeds per plot. Treatments were combinations of seeds with or without scarification + gibberellic acid (GA) or water. Forty-five days after sowing, 73% germination was observed in treatment mechanical scarification + GA (MS+GA). In the second experiment seedlings obtained from treatment MS + GA were evaluated in the field, concurrently with a control. At 20 and 44 months, both treatments presented the same biometric characteristics and sixty-one months after planting, flowering began. Scarification following by treatment with GA anticipates seedlings production and did not compromise the performance of these seedlings in the post-planting period.

A citricultura brasileira vem sendo explorada em uma diversidade de solos e climas em várias regiões do país, estando seu principal eixo de desenvolvimento localizado no Sudeste. Na Região Noroeste do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, as condições de clima e solo são favoráveis ao cultivo da laranjeira, exceto pelo volume e distribuição da precipitação pluvial durante o ano, ocorrendo períodos de déficit de água no solo. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo obter os componentes e realizar o balanço hídrico de um Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo do Noroeste Fluminense cultivado com laranjeira 'Folha Murcha', verificando, em onze períodos ao longo de 197 dias, diferenças decorrentes do local de monitoramento do solo e determinando, ainda, o coeficiente de cultura (Kc) e o nível de atendimento da demanda hídrica da cultura (fator Ks). O trabalho foi realizado no Instituto Federal Fluminense em Bom Jesus do Itabapoana-RJ, no período de 13/08/2012 e 26/02/2013. Três plantas foram monitoradas quanto aos componentes do balanço hídrico (precipitação pluvial, escoamento superficial, armazenagem, drenagem profunda e ascensão capilar). Os resultados permitiram verificar que o consumo médio de água pela planta durante todo o período foi de 2,29 mm dia-1, sendo que a maior demanda hídrica ocorreu nos meses de dezembro, janeiro e fevereiro. Obteve-se um valor médio de Kc de 0,88 e verificou-se que a disponibilidade de água no solo não atendeu de forma completa a demanda hídrica da planta, variando este atendimento de pleno (Ks = 1,0) até apenas 36% (Ks = 0,36), indicando que na Região Noroeste Fluminense o desempenho da cultura pode ser incrementado pela irrigação. Em relação ao monitoramento do solo, pôde-se concluir que, conforme a posição em que o mesmo é realizado, os resultados do balanço hídrico da laranjeira 'Folha Murcha' podem divergir.

Brazilian citriculture is carried out in a variety of soils and climates in various regions of the country, with principle development being centred in the Southeast. In the northwestern region of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the conditions of climate and soil are favourable to the cultivation of the orange, with the exception of the volume and distribution of rainfall during the year, which lead to periods of soil water deficit. This study aimed to obtain the components, and carry out the water balance, of a Red-Yellow Argisol in the north-western region of Rio de Janeiro cultivated with the 'Folha Murcha' orange, verifying, for eleven periods over 197 days, the differences arising from the various sites used for monitoring the soil. The crop coefficient (Kc) and the level of response to the water demand of the crop (Ks factor) were also determined. The work was carried out at the Fluminense Federal Institute in Bom Jesus do Itabapoana in the state of Rio de Janeiro, from 13/08/2012 to 26/02/2013. Three plants were monitored for the components of water balance (rainfall, surface runoff, storage, deep drainage and capillary rise). The results showed that the average water consumption of the plants for the whole period was 2.29 mm day-1, with the greatest demand for water occurring in December, January and February. An average value for Kc of 0.88 was obtained, and it was found that the availability of water in the soil did not fully meet the demands of the plants, ranging from 100% (Ks = 1.0) to only 36% (Ks = 0.36), indicating that in this region, crop performance can be increased by irrigation. As to monitoring the soil, it was concluded that results for the water balance of the 'Folha Murcha' orange can differ depending on the site used for monitoring.