Abstract The cultivation of aromatic species to obtain essential oils has great economic importance, presenting an increasing demand from different industrial sectors, especially to menthol mint (Mentha arvensis L.) essential oil, rich in menthol (70-80%). Consortium cultivation has been an important practice in agricultural systems whose land use is necessary, consequently promoting strong competition for light in reduced space. Thus, this study aimed verifying if different light intensities might promote chemical, metabolical and anatomical alterations in menthol mint. Plants were grown in greenhouse at different average of light intensities (137, 254, 406 and 543 µmol photons m2 s1). Samples were collected 43 days after germination and submitted to following analyses: Gravimetric test, photosynthetic pigments, soluble fractions, enzymatic activity, N-total, trichome density and histochemistry and chemometric test based on essential oil chemical profile. Fresh mass gain, trichome density, essential oil content and soluble sugars were positively influenced by light intensity increase. On the other hand, total-N, NO3−-N and pigments content have decreased influenced by light intensity increase. In the secretion from the trichomes, phenolic substances were reported, as well as lipophilic ones in the peltate ones. The increase of oxygenated monoterpenes was favored by light intensity decrease.

O lodo de esgoto pode ser uma alternativa viável na adubação orgânica da alface, em solos arenosos. Avaliou-se a produtividade e a qualidade dessa cultura por meio de um experimento de campo, comparando a aplicação de lodo de esgoto da cervejaria Equatorial, com a de esterco de galinha. Os tratamentos consistiram de adubações com lodo de esgoto, lodo de esgoto + NPK, esterco de galinha, esterco de galinha + NPK, NPK e controle. A produção e a qualidade comercial da alface cultivada com lodo de esgoto de cervejaria não diferiram em comparação ao tratamento com esterco de galinha. Não houve diferença no teor de macronutrientes nas folhas dessa cultura, com a utilização do esterco ou lodo de esgoto de cervejaria. Os teores de micronutrientes e metais pesados nas folhas da alface dos tratamentos não diferiram daqueles observados no controle. Desses resultados depreende-se que o lodo de esgoto de cervejaria pode substituir o esterco de galinha em adubações da cultura de alface, sem prejuízos na produtividade, qualidade e sem afetar os teores de metais pesados nas folhas.

Sewage sludge can be a viable alternative as organic manure for lettuce culture in sandy soils. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the yield and quality of lettuce fertilized with sewage sludge in comparison with poultry manure. The treatments were sewage sludge, sewage sludge + NPK, poultry manure, poultry manure + NPK and control (without fertilizer). The yield and commercial quality of lettuce fertilized with sewage sludge did not differ from the treatments with poultry manure. Macronutrients content in lettuce leaves did not differ from sewage sludge or poultry manure. The micronutrients and heavy metal contents in lettuce leaves did not differ between organic manure and control. The sewage sludge derived from brewery can substitute the poultry manure in organic fertilization of the lettuce, without reducing the yield and quality of this culture and did not affect heavy metal content in the leaves.