Plantas de sisal (Agave sisalana Perr.) foram cultivadas em casa de vegetação, em vasos contendo areia lavada e irrigados com solução nutritiva completa e com soluções nutritivas com a omissão de cada macronutriente. As plantas mostraram, na ausência de cada nutriente, os sintomas típicos de sua carência, relacionados com baixos teores do respectivo elemento nas folhas, e redução no seu crescimento e desenvolvimento.

Sisal plants were cultivated in washed sand during twenty-one months. The plants were irrigated with complete nutrient solution and solutions with absence of each macronutrient (N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S). The plants, in the absence of each macronutrient, showed typical symptoms which were related to the low level of the respective element in the leaf. The growing of the leaves was reduced by the absence of the macronutrients.

Foram determinadas as densidades básicas dos caules de Crotalaria juncea e quenafe (Hibiscus cannabinus), utilizando-se os métodos do máximo teor de umidade (MTU) e deslocamento da água (DA). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que houve uma relação direta entre os diâmetros dos caules e suas densidades básicas. Quanto aos métodos de determinação, também houve diferenças significativas, sendo os maiores valores obtidos com o método do máximo teor de umidade.

The basic density of sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) and Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) stalks were determined by the Maximum Moisture Content Method and Water Displacement Method. The density of the solid substance of sunn hemp and Kenaf stalks was also determined. The results showed a direct relationship between diameter of the stalks and basic density. The density of the solid substance of sunn hemp and Kenaf stalks was similar to the density of wood substance.

Bamboo chips (Guadua flabellata Fournier) was desintegrated in presence of cold water (25°C). The starch was isolated by decantation from the material soluble in water. Regarding color, the bamboo starch is similar to the soluble potato starch but its average dimension is smaller.