ABSTRACT The search for techniques that maximize the use of water is becoming necessary for the sustainability of agriculture in semi-arid areas. In this sense, the present work aimed to evaluate the effects of soil protection against water loss and the use of bovine biofertilizer on fruit production and chlorophyll content in bell pepper plants. The experiment was conducted in the municipal district of Nova Floresta in the semi-arid region of the State of Paraíba during the period of August 2010 to February 2011. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four repetitions in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial scheme, corresponding to soil without and with bovine biofertilizer, without and with mulch, and without and with side coating of the grooves with polyethylene film, to reduce water loss through evaporation and lateral movement of water. The results showed that the use of side coatings of the grooves led to greater production, generating productivity gains in bell pepper cultivation. The association between side coating of the grooves and mulching of the soil resulted in increased levels of chlorophyll, but the bovine biofertilizer × side coating × mulch interaction inhibited the production of chlorophyll in the plants.

A nutrição mineral é essencial para elevar a produtividade e melhorar a qualidade dos frutos de maracujazeiro-amarelo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação de biofertilizante comum sobre os teores de macronutrientes de plantas de maracujazeiro-amarelo irrigadas com água salina em solo sem e com adubação mineral. Os tratamentos foram distribuídos em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições e quatro plantas por parcela. Foi usado o arranjo fatorial 4 × 2, relativo aos níveis de biofertilizante bovino fermentado, diluído em água, a 0,0; 33,3; 66,6 e 100%, em solo sem e com adubação mineral. A irrigação foi realizada pelo método de aplicação localizada por gotejamento com água salina, oriunda de poço amazonas, com condutividade elétrica média de 4 dS m-1. A aplicação de biofertilizante ao solo, exceto para cálcio, supriu adequadamente as plantas de maracujazeiro- amarelo em macronutrientes, mas com superioridade de valores nos tratamentos com adubação mineral.

Plant nutrition is essential to improve productivity and increase fruit quality of the passion fruit. This experiment aimed to evaluate the passion fruit nutrition under different planting densities and fertilization. A complete randomized block design was adopted with three repetitions and four plants per parcel, using factorial arrangement 4 x 2, referring to bovine in soil with and without NPK. The irrigation was performed daily, with saline water (electrical conductivity= 4,0 dS m-1), using drip irrigation. The application of liquid bovine fertilizer, except for calcium, supplied properly the passion fruit plants in macronutrientes, showing higher results in the treatments with mineral fertilizer.