ABSTRACT Sweet sorghum has been shown to be an alternative for ethanol production in several regions. Because it is sexually propagated, the use of quality seeds becomes an important factor for obtaining an adequate plant stand and, consequently, good productivity. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the production and physiological maturation of seeds of sweet sorghum cv. BRS 511, in response to the interval between irrigations during the reproductive period and harvesting period. Two experiments were carried out in a greenhouse, the experimental design adopted was in randomized blocks, with four replications in a 3 x 2 split-plot scheme, corresponding to three intervals between irrigations during the reproductive stage (0; 4 and 8 days) and two harvest times (102 and 110 days after sowing). The following parameters were evaluated from the harvested panicles: number of seeds, weight of one thousand seeds, water content, germination, first germination count, emergence in sand and emergence speed, electrical conductivity and seedling vigor. The production of seeds per panicle and the weight of a thousand seeds were significantly influenced by the increase in the interval between irrigations in the 2nd experiment, with a reduction of 50.4 and 46.3%, respectively. Water replacement every eight days caused a reduction of up to 43.4% in the first germination count and 16.3% in germination. The production and quality of sweet sorghum seeds reduces as a function of the increase in the interval between irrigations and the harvesting time, presenting germination rates below the required for commercialization.

ABSTRACT Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) is one of the most consumed vegetables around the world. Balanced fertilization is essential for growing this vegetable. The objective of this study was to evaluate the yield and morphological attributes of bell pepper under doses and times of application of biological fertilizers. Two experiments were carried out with applications of biological fertilizers prepared from manure and enriched organic compounds with cattle manure and sheep manure. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design, in a 4 x 3 + 1 factorial scheme, with three replications, referring to doses of biological fertilizers (100, 200, 300 and 400 L ha-1), times of application (0, 30 and 60 days after transplanting - DAT) and control. The evaluated variables were: total fruit weight (TFW), number of commercial fruits (NCF), number of non-commercial fruits (NNCF), fruit weight (FW), fruit diameter (FD), fruit length (FL), resistance of fruit peel (RFP), number of flower buds (NFB) and productivity (P). Biological fertilizers caused positive effects on TFW, NCF, FW and P of bell pepper. The application of cattle manure at 60 DAT and sheep manure at 30 DAT promoted a larger fruit diameter. The FW, FL and RFP were influenced by the doses and times of application of biological fertilizers. The application of biofertilizers is efficient in the production of bell pepper.

RESUMO O feijão-caupi é uma das principais culturas de importância econômica e social para o Nordeste do Brasil. Entretanto, a crescente necessidade de aumentar a produção da cultura tem motivado a utilização de águas com elevados teores de sais na irrigação. Desta forma o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de diferentes lâminas de irrigação e doses de biofertilizante líquido sobre o crescimento e as trocas gasosas de plantas de feijão-caupi em condições salinas. O experimento foi conduzido no delineamento de blocos casualizados, utilizando o esquema de parcelas subdivididas, sendo as parcelas constituídas por quatro lâminas de irrigação com água salina (75; 100; 125 e 150% da evapotranspiração da cultura - ETc) e nas subparcelas quatro diferentes doses de biofertilizante (0; 5.000; 10.000 e 15.000 L ha-1). Aos 75 dias após a semeadura (DAS) foram realizadas leituras das trocas gasosas das plantas (fotossíntese, condutância estomática, concentração interna de CO2 e transpiração) e análises de crescimento (altura de planta, área foliar e matéria seca total). O aumento da lâmina de irrigação proporciona incremento na massa seca total e área foliar. Para as trocas gasosas, o aumento da lâmina de irrigação proporciona aumento significativo, sendo verificado comportamento quadrático para a fotossíntese e condutância estomática, e linear para concentração interna de CO2 e transpiração. A aplicação de elevadas doses de biofertilizante proporciona aumento na abertura estomática das folhas de feijão-caupi.

ABSTRACT The cowpea is one of the main crops of economic and social importance in the northeast of Brazil. However, the growing need to increase crop yield has prompted the use of irrigation water with high levels of salts. The aim of this study therefore, was to evaluate the effects of different irrigation depths and rates of liquid biofertilizer on growth and gas exchange in cowpea plants under saline conditions. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, using a scheme of split lots consisting of four irrigation depths with saline water (75, 100, 125 and 150% of crop evapotranspiration - ETc) and sub-lots of four different doses of biofertilizer (0; 5,000; 10,000 and 15,000 L ha-1). At 75 days after sowing (DAS), readings were taken of gas exchange in the plants (photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, internal CO2 concentration and transpiration), and growth analyses were carried out (plant height, leaf area and total dry matter). An increase in irrigation depth gives an increase in total dry weight and leaf area. Increasing irrigation depth causes a significant increase in gas exchange, with quadratic behavior noted for photosynthesis and stomatal conductance, and linear behavior for internal CO2 concentration and transpiration. The application of high doses of biofertilizer gives increased stomatal opening of the cowpea leaves.