Propôs-se, neste trabalho, avaliar o desempenho agronômico da cebola em diferentes densidades de plantio, em Mossoró, RN. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados completos em esquema fatorial 2 x 5, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram da combinação de duas cultivares de cebola (Vale Ouro IPA 11 e Bella Dura) e cinco densidades de plantio (80, 120, 160, 200 e 240 plantas m-2). As características avaliadas foram: classificação dos bulbos em função do diâmetro transversal; produtividade total, comercial e não comercial; massa média dos bulbos; massa seca dos bulbos e relação do formato de bulbos. A cultivar mais produtiva foi a IPA 11, com produtividade total de 26,76 t ha-1. A densidade que proporcionou maior produtividade total (30,48 t ha-1) foi a de 204 plantas m-2 e comercial (24,74 t ha-1) foi a de 161 plantas m-2. O incremento da densidade reduziu a massa média e seca de bulbo, percentagem de bulbos das classes 2 e 3, mas aumentou a produtividade não comercial, percentagem de bulbos classe 1 (refugo) e relação de formato de bulbo. A cultivar Vale Ouro IPA 11 foi superior ao híbrido Bella Dura com relação à produtividade total de bulbos, massa média de bulbos comerciais e relação de formato, independentemente da densidade de plantio.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance of onions in different planting densities in Mossoró, RN. The experimental design used was a complete randomized blocks in factorial scheme 2 x 5, with four replications. The treatments consisted of the combination of two onion cultivars (Vale Ouro IPA 11 and Bella Dura) and five planting densities (80, 120, 160, 200 and 240 plants m-2). The evaluated characteristics were: classification of bulbs according to the transverse diameter; total, commercial and noncommercial productivity; mean mass of bulb, dry mass of bulb and relative format of bulbs. The most productive cultivar was IPA 11, with total productivity of 26.76 t ha-1. The density that provided the greatest total productivity (30.48 t ha-1) was the 204 plants m-2 and commercial (24.74 t ha-1) was the 161 plants m-2. The increase in density reduced the average of medium and dry bulb mass, bulbs percentage of classes 2 and 3 as well as increased non-commercial yield, percentage of bulbs class 1 (waste) and relation of bulb shape. The cultivar Vale Ouro IPA 11 was superior to the hybrid Bella Dura regarding total bulb yield, average weight of commercial bulbs and format relations, regardless of plant density.

Rural communities have accumulated knowledge about survival techniques in the midst of difficulties, such as ecological, economic or social, and one of the transformation spaces and extraction of resources to these communities is the natural vegetation and homegarden. The aim of this study was to list medicinal plants and characterize the use of these plants at the Sítio do Gois, Apodi-RN, Brazil. Open-interview, semi-structured and guided tours by local experts (field guide person, foresters, herb doctors, healers, farmers, housewives) were realized. Medicinal plants are distributed in 34 families, 46 genera and 52 species. The family with the greatest number of individuals was Lamiaceae (seven species). The species most mentioned were Amburana cearensis (77%) followed by 69% de citation of Myracrodruon urundeuva, Sideroxylon obtusifolium, Ximenia americana. Informants are aware of specific uses of native medicinal plants of the caatinga and homegardens. The most common preparations are teas and syrups, used part is the leaf and stem bark and great number of citations for disorders of the digestive and respiratory systems. The most important species with greater use agreement were A. cearensis M. urundeuva, S. obtusifolium and X. americana they deserve pharmacological studies and validation.