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This study compared four methods for defining the ideal sample size per experimental unit to estimate the overall experimental mean for the total length, shoot length, root length, and the number of leaves of cauliflower seedlings. An experiment was carried out where the number of leaves, shoot, root, and total length were measured, and the general, perpendicular distance, linear response plateau, and spline methods were tested. While the general method may under or overestimate sample size and the sampling of 10 seedlings suggested by the spline method is still too far from the stabilization point of the curve, the perpendicular distance and linear plateau response methods are recommended to obtain results corresponding to narrower confidence interval widths. Therefore, according to the perpendicular distance method, at least 15 seedlings per experimental unit are required to estimate the overall experimental mean of cauliflower seedlings reliably for the traits here measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An adequate supply of fresh, high quality and accessible vegetables is essential for a healthy food system. In Latin America, these are mostly produced by smallholder farmers. The objective of this research was to characterize the productive and commercial development of small-scale vegetable growers and to further understand and explain their attitudes on their business. A total of 335 farmers in Central Chile area were surveyed. The data was processed using descriptive and multivariate techniques. Results showed that farmers have a positive self-assessment of their technical performance, production quality and the contribution of farming to their household income. They express uncertainty about the future, as well as some disappointment with the prices they receive for their produce and their access to public support programs. There are significant differences between farmers within the sample; however, which allow two distinct clusters to be identified: "conformist" (69.05%) and "critical" (30.95%). These results suggested that these small-scale vegetable growers have certain generalizable attitudes and other divergent. The differences in attitudes coincide with differences in objective characteristics, including age, education, farm size and technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physalis ixocarpa (husk tomato) is traditionally cultivated in Mexico, and nowadays the yield is low. In this study, four cultivars of husk tomato were evaluated, under greenhouse and field conditions. It was carried out a split-plot experimental design in a 4x2 factorial arrangement. The large plot was the growth conditions and the small plot was the variety. The microclimate, soil and yield variables were recorded. In the field, the Integrated Photosynthetic Active Radiation (IPAR) was higher 12mol m-2 d-1 than in the greenhouse. The average temperature was slightly higher 1.18°C in the greenhouse and the average relative humidity was slightly higher 0.89% in the field. Plants grown in the greenhouse had lower negative values for the matric potential of the soil. Water consumption and water use efficiency were 10.31 and 53.43% higher in the greenhouse that in the field, respectively. The number of fruits and yield increased significantly in all varieties grown under greenhouse conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus is the leading fruit of Pakistan and famous worldwide especially kinnow cultivar because of its pleasant taste and remarkable quality. The yield of citrus per hectare in Pakistan is almost half of potential due to non-adoption of recommended horticultural practices by citrus growers. Adopting a decision regarding the improvement of practices is usually influenced by various factors including farmers' socio-economic attributes. In order to determine the relationship between socio-economic aspects and the awareness and adoption of recommended citrus production practices the present study was carried out in Sargodha district from central Punjab, Pakistan. The Study was based upon cross sectional survey research design due to availability of sampling frame, probability (random sampling) was applied for sample selection. Through random sampling, 120 citrus growers were selected as sample. Structured questionnaire administered through interview was used as a research instrument. Analysis of the data collected from the targeted citrus growers revealed a highly significant influence of education on awareness and adoption. Moreover, significant association was found between citrus cultivation area and awareness and adoption of improved practices. Age also showed significant association with awareness and adoption. Moreover, dominancy of middle aged farmers and illiteracyin the study area strongly point the need of provision of formal and non-formal education and training program for farmers. Young generation needs to be focused and reorientation of youth clubs may help in better way to gain the utmost outcome.

O objetivo do trabalho foi determinar o efeito do resíduo do chá preto como substrato na produção de mudas de alface, tomate e pepino. Para tal, foram conduzidos testes de germinação e ensaios de crescimento empregando, respectivamente, extrato aquoso e diferentes tipos de resíduo. Nos testes de germinação, sementes de alface, tomate e pepino foram colocadas em bandejas sobre papel de filtro umedecido com água ou extrato aquoso na concentração de 1, 5 e 10%. Nos ensaios de crescimento, sementes das mesmas espécies foram colocadas em bandejas contendo: 1. vermiculita; 2. resíduo decomposto mais vermiculita; 3. resíduo decomposto e 4. resíduo bruto lavado mais vermiculita. O resíduo decomposto foi obtido após processo de decomposição do resíduo bruto e o resíduo bruto lavado foi obtido a partir da lavagem do resíduo bruto em água. Nos testes de germinação e ensaios de crescimento, foi adotado o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e quatro repetições com 30 sementes cada. Os resultados indicaram que o extrato aquoso inibiu a germinação das sementes e o crescimento das plântulas de alface, tomate e penino. O uso do resíduo bruto lavado mais vermiculita reduziu a emergência das plântulas. O resíduo decomposto e o resíduo decomposto mais vermiculita estimularam a emergência e o crescimento das plântulas. O processo de decomposição tornou viável a utilização do resíduo da indústria de chá preto como substrato para produção de mudas de hortaliças.This research was aimed at determining the effects of black tea industry residues as substrate on germination and growth of lettuce, tomato and cucumber. For such, germination and growth assays were carried out using, respectively, aqueous extract and different types of residues. In the germination assays, seeds were placed in trays on filter paper humidified with water or aqueous extract in the concentrations of 1, 5 and 10%. In the growth assays, seeds were placed in trays containing: 1. vermiculite; 2. decomposed residue plus vermiculite; 3. decomposed residue and 4. crude residue washed plus vermiculite. The decomposed residue was obtained from crude residue decomposition process and the crude residue washed from crude residue washing in water. For the assays were adopted the randomized completely experimental design with four treatments and four repetitions of thirty seeds each. The results indicated that aqueous extract inhibited the seeds germination and seedlings growth of lettuce, tomato and cucumber. The crude residue washed plus vermiculite also reduced the seedlings emergency. On the other hand, the decomposed residue and decomposed residue plus vermiculite stimulated the seedlings emergency and growth. The decomposition process possibilited the use of black tea industry residue as substrate for seedlings growing of vegetable crops.

A presente pesquisa foi desenvolvida na Cidade de Recife-PE, com o objetivo de avaliar a ação inseticida, insetistática e repelente de extratos aquosos de duas essências florestais sobre ovos, ninfas e adultos de Bemisia tabaci biótipo B (Genn., 1889) criados em Brassica oleracea var. acephala L. Os extratos utilizados foram de Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit. e Sterculia foetida L. Sementes e folhas das duas espécies foram coletadas, secadas e trituradas. Em seguida, os extratos foram preparados na proporção de 5g de cada parte vegetal/50mL de água. Folhas de B. oleracea var. acephala foram imersas durante 30seg nos extratos e, em seguida, os insetos foram confinados na folha tratada. Os extratos de sementes de L. leucocephala e de folhas de S. foetida provocaram mortalidade de 60 e 41% sobre ovos de B. tabaci, respectivamente. Na fase ninfal, o tratamento com folhas de S. foetida apresentou o melhor resultado, com 74,6% de mortalidade. Nenhum dos extratos testados apresentou supressão para oviposição na espécie estudada. Os indivíduos tratados com os extratos de L. leucocephala tiveram menor longevidade e maior oviposição com relação aos tratamentos com S. foetida e com a testemunha. O uso de extratos aquosos de sementes de L. leucocephala e de folhas de S. foetida mostra-se promissor para o controle alternativo de B. tabaci.

Citrus is the leading fruit of Pakistan and famous worldwide especially kinnow cultivar because of its pleasant taste and remarkable quality. The yield of citrus per hectare in Pakistan is almost half of potential due to non-adoption of recommended horticultural practices by citrus growers. Adopting a decision regarding the improvement of practices is usually influenced by various factors including farmers' socio-economic attributes. In order to determine the relationship between socio-economic aspects and the awareness and adoption of recommended citrus production practices the present study was carried out in Sargodha district from central Punjab, Pakistan. The Study was based upon cross sectional survey research design due to availability of sampling frame, probability (random sampling) was applied for sample selection. Through random sampling, 120 citrus growers were selected as sample. Structured questionnaire administered through interview was used as a research instrument. Analysis of the data collected from the targeted citrus growers revealed a highly significant influence of education on awareness and adoption. Moreover, significant association was found between citrus cultivation area and awareness and adoption of improved practices. Age also showed significant association with awareness and adoption. Moreover, dominancy of middle aged farmers and illiteracyin the study area strongly point the need of provision of formal and non-formal education and training program for farmers. Young generation needs to be focused and reorientation of youth clubs may help in better way to gain the utmost outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

O objetivo deste experimento foi avaliar a resposta à adubação mineral do tomateiro cultivado no interior de estufa de plástico em solo Podzólico vermelho-amarelo de textura média e também avaliar a fertilidade do solo nas estufas da região de abrangendo da Emater Regional de Santa Maria. Os tratamentos consistiram de 0, 1, 3 e 5 vezes a recomendação de adubação, no delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. O experimento foi realizado em dois períodos, com semeaduras em 19 de agosto de 1995 (período inverno-primavera) e 3 de fevereiro de 1996 (período outono-inverno). Utilizou-se o híbrido Monte Carlo do grupo Salada, com hábito de crescimento indeterminado, conduzido com uma haste por planta e com espaçamento de l,0m entre fileiras e 30cm entre plantas. Para avaliar a fertilidade do solo no interior das estufas de 40 municípios mais representativos da plasticultura da região, amostras de solo foram retiradas a 5cm da base da planta, nas profundidades de 0-10cm e 10-20cm e, posteriormente determinou-se os teores de P, K, Ca, Mg, Al, %M.O., teor de argila e pH em água. O ajuste matemático do rendimento de frutos do tomateiro em função das doses de adubação, na análise conjunta dos experimentos, permitiu a obtenção do ponto de máxima eficiência técnica situado em 2,87 vezes a recomendação de adubação. Constatou-se que a média do pH no interior das estufas amostradas em 40 municípios, foi inferior a 5,5, nas profundidades de 0-10cm e 10-20cm.. Os teores médios de P, K, Ca e Mg, nas duas profundidades, situaram-se na classe de disponibilidade alta.An experiment under plastic greenhouse was carried out to evaluate tomato productivity in response to mineral fertilization and also to evaluate the soil fertility in greenhouse of 40 counties. The treatments tested were: 0, 1, 3 and 5 times the amount of currently recommended fertilizer. The experiment was conductedon a Hapludalf soil (red-yellow podzolic). A hibrid seed (Monte Carlo, salad group) was grown in two different dates in August 19, 1995 (Winter-Spring) and on February 03, 1996 (Autumn-Winter). One stem per plant was maintened in a 1.0m x 0.3m between plants. A soil fertility survey was conducted by taken soil samples of 40 counties. Soil samples were taken from 0-10cm and 10-20cm soil depth and 5 cm away from the plant. Concentration of P, K, Ca, Mg. pH and clay content were determined. The fitted matematical model of tomato yield and fertilizer amount indicated that the maximum technical effïciency was 2.87 times the usual recomendation. The survey indicated the pH average values lower than 5.5 in the two sampled dephts. The concentration of P, K, Ca and Mg in all location and depths were considered high.