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The application of humic substances, stimulates biochemical, physiological mechanisms, investigations have been carried out that reveal the properties and functions of these substances. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of Liplant® applied foliarly (1/10, 1/20, 1/30 v/v and a control-distilled water-) in the growth, production and quality of fruit of tomato, and economic feasibility. Carried out under field conditions and using a design of complete blocks at random, 5 days after the transplant was measured height, diameter of stem; 65 days later, we considered fresh and dry fruit weight, polar and equatorial diameter, number of fruits, yield, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, maturity index, vitamin C content, pH of the fruit juice, moisture loss and firmness of fruits. The economic feasibility was made considering yield, value and cost of production, net profit, cost and the benefit/cost ratio. Analysis of variance and multiple comparisons of means were made (Tukey HSD p= 0.05). The juice pH did not show significant differences between Liplant® concentrations. Height, stem diameter, number of fruits, polar and equatorial diameter, fresh and dry fruit weight, yield, fruit firmness, total soluble solids, vitamin C and fruit moisture loss showed higher values when the plants were sprayed with the dilution of Liplant® 1/30 (v/v). The dilution of 1/30 (v/v) of Liplant® generated a benefit of $36 753.9 thousand Cuban pesos per hectare, a benefit/cost of $3.6 Cuban pesos and a cost per weight of $0.21. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The habanero pepper is widely used in a variety of commercial food products. The increase in the cultivation area of the habanero pepper has increased the use of agricultural inputs, mainly inorganic fertilizers, which have high economic costs and cause negative effects to the soil and water. In recent years, the use of beneficial soil microorganisms has been studied as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers. In the present study, the effect of three strains ofPseudomonas putidaon the growth and productivity of King Pakal hybrid habanero pepper with limited inorganic fertilizer in a greenhouse. It was found that a reduction of inorganic fertilizer application of 25% withP. putidarhizobacteria strains increased or maintained growth and productivity of King Pakal hybrid habanero pepper. Before these rhizobacteria can be used in the field, results will first need to be confirmed under more natural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Any improvement in agricultural systems that results in higher production should also reduce negative environmental impacts and enhance sustainability. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of two different production systems, one open-field and the other shade-enclosure with four bocashi doses, in order to find the best environmental option in terms of yield, physiological and morphometric characteristics in one oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) cultivar. In this study a completely randomized block design was used with four replications and evaluated for photosynthetic and transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll, leaf area and temperature, aerial and roots fresh and dry biomass, fresh and dry yield. The results showed that oregano adapted best to the shade-enclosure with increase yield of fresh and dry leaf weight of 165% and 118%, respectively, when compared to open-field. Also, higher doses of bocashi improved yield in both environments but more so in shade-enclosure. Soil moisture retention was higher in shade-enclosure which was reflected in physiological variables for soil matric potential, transpiration, stomatal conductivity, photosynthesis being significantly higher in shade-enclosure compared to open-field, thus improving yield. It seems that oregano plants can be grown and perform better under shade-enclosure than open-field and bocashi is a suitable organic fertilizer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From November 2006 to February 2007 year, were carried out field experiment in "Las Celias" vegetable garden of Guisa in Granma province with objective to study the effect of drought condition of the region over the yield and its component in four cubaine variety of tomatoe. The variety were evaluated in two condition of humidity: irrigation in all vegetative growth and three establishment irrigation and withholdig of this in all vegetative growth (drought). A split plot designs with four replication was used and the greather plot belonged to irrigation treatment and a little plot to variety. The variety obtained different yield and Amalia and Vyta variety to standed out for its yield in average fruit, and were most suitable to production in location with drought condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A drip irrigation system was installed above ground at 30, 45, and 60% of the weekly-accumulated evaporation depth to evaluate productivity of harvested green cladodes (leaf-like stem segments) of the prickly pear cactus. Results showed that irrigating above 30% does not increase crop production. This percentage represents an annual irrigation depth of 0.74 m, which is one of the lowest in the regional irrigation district of “La Laguna” in the state of Coahuila. Nopal Opuntia ficus indica cv. C-69 showed the highest green cladode “nopalitos” yield, with 108 tonnes (ha-1 year-1) and sustained growth except during the cold season. Leaf area index was 80, net assimilation rate was 0.178 g (dm-2 day-1), and dry-weight at maximum productivity was 9.2 g for the confidence parameters for the week representing average green cladodes growth [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present study was carried out at the Comarca Lagunera Region, Coahuila, Mexico, with the objective of assessing both nutritional value and yield of three varieties of alfalfa at three different doses of fertilization with cattle manure, with subsurface drip irrigation. N, P, K, Ca and Mg content in plant tissue was used as indicator of nutrient withdrawal. The following varieties were evaluated: CUF 101, Sandor and Altaverde. Five different cattle manure treatments were applied: 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 t ha-1. Control was fertilized with a chemical fertilizer at 30 to 100 kg ha-1 for N and P, respectively. Significant differences were found in dry matter between treatments but not between varieties. The greater yields were found in the March, April and June cuts in the 80, 120 and 160 t manure treatments, yielding more than 4 t ha-1. No significant differences were found in forage nutritional value variables (crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber and energy) between either varieties or treatments. With reference to mineral nutrient withdrawal, the greater values were found from the 5th to the 8th cut, approximately 160 kg ha-1 N, 12 -- 14 kg ha-1 P and 125 kg ha-1 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Effective use of saline groundwater is needed to produce more food in drylands. • Use of high-Na fish wastewater was evaluated for hydroponic growth of Swiss chard. • Relative to the control, fish wastewater was low in microelements and high in NO 3. • Adding 50% of control microelements to fish wastewater produced sufficient yield. • NO 3 in fish wastewater did not cause unacceptably high NO 3 levels in Swiss chard. Saline soil and saline groundwater reduce agricultural productivity on drylands. We are developing a new aquaponics system to improve food productivity on such lands while effectively utilizing saline groundwater. In this study, cultivation of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. spp. cicla cv. Seiyou Shirokuki) was carried out using fish wastewater with a high salt concentration (1150 mg L−1 NaCl). The levels of microelements (e.g., Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) in the fish wastewater were very low, so we added microelements at 100% (W100), 50% (W50), 25% (W25), and 0% (W0) of the levels in the standard hydroponics solution to the fish wastewater and investigated the effects on growth of Swiss chard. At the first harvest, yields in all wastewater treatments were as high or higher than in the control. At the second harvest, yields in W100, W50, and W25 were not significantly different from the control, while in W0 the yield was significantly lower and chlorosis was evident. At the third harvest, the yield in all wastewater treatments was less than in the control, and chlorosis symptoms were observed in W25 and W0. Since leaf Mn and Zn concentrations in W25 and W0 had decreased to below the critical values for those microelements, Mn and Zn deficiency might have contributed to the observed chlorosis and yield loss. For the cultivation of Swiss chard with fish wastewater, sufficient yield (i.e., comparable to or better than the control) without chlorosis was obtained when microelements were added at 50% of the level of the control solution. In addition, since sufficient yield was obtained even in W0 at the first harvest, it is suggested that longer-term cultivation and higher yield could be achieved by applying 50% microelements after the first harvest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]