A degradação ambiental dos últimos anos tem motivado a preocupação a respeito da sustentabilidade das atividades humanas. O manejo inadequado da irrigação e adubação, e baixas precipitações, para lixiviar o excesso de sais aplicados via água de irrigação, podem acarretar a salinização dos solos. A hidroponia se constitui em uma alternativa, para a conservação do solo e preservação dos mananciais de água. A rúcula (Eruca sativa Mill) foi a cultura escolhida para este estudo, pois a sua produção vem se destacando entre as hortaliças. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo determinar a tolerância da rúcula à salinidade da solução nutritiva. O experimento foi conduzido em ambiente protegido localizado na área experimental do Setor de Hidráulica do Departamento de Engenharia Rural da Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz - ESALQ/USP, no município de Piracicaba-SP. O delineamento experimental foi blocos ao acaso. Avaliaram-se nove níveis de salinidade obtidos com a adição de NaCl sendo estes 1,8; 3,5; 4,5; 5,5; 6,5; 7,5; 8,5; 9,5; 10,5 dS m-1. Os resultado obtidos demonstram que o aumento nos níveis de salinidade proporcionou redução em todos os parâmetros avaliados, exceto o número de folhas que não sofreu influência significativa e a relação raiz/parte aérea foi influenciada de forma crescente. A salinidade limiar encontrada foi de 2,57 dS m-1, com redução de 5,57% na produção para cada aumento unitário na salinidade. A cultura da rúcula foi classificada, como moderadamente sensível à salinidade. É possível obter produções satisfatórias utilizando águas salinas no cultivo hidropônico da rúcula. / The environmental degradation in recent years has motivated the concern about the sustainability of human activities. The inadequate management of irrigation and low rainfall fertilization, to leach the excess salts applied through irrigation water, can lead to soil salinization. Hydroponics constitutes an alternative to soil conservation and preservation of water sources. The rocket (Eruca sativa Mill) was the culture chosen for this study because its production has been increasing among the vegetables. This study aimed to determine the tolerance of the rocket to the salinity of the nutrient solution. The experiment was carried out in protected enviroment on the experimental area of the Hydraulics Section of the University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized blocks. It were evaluated nine levels of salinity obtained with the addition of NaCl and these 1.8, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5 dS m-1. The results obtained show that the increased levels of salinity caused a reduction in all parameters except the number of leaves was not affected and the ratio root/shoot was influenced incrementally. The salinity threshold was found to be 2.57 dS m-1, a reduction of 5.57% in production for each unit increase in salinity. The rocket press was classified as moderately sensitive to salinity. It is possible to obtain satisfactory production using saline water for hydroponic cultivation rocket press.

No description available.

Soilless substrates, such as peat, pine bark, and coir, are widely used as growing media in containerized crops for their favorable characteristics, including low bulk density, balanced air exchange and water retention, disease resistance, and low pH and salinity. However, improper irrigation of these media can have negative outcomes such as root asphyxia, pathogen development, and reduced plant growth. Understanding pore size distributions, water dynamics, and gas diffusivity of these substrates is essential to promote plant growth. The effects of different particle sizes of soilless media on processes such as infiltration, hydraulic conductivity, and gas diffusivity are also not well understood. The characterization of these effects is important for the overall improvement of container crop production. This thesis presents three studies that aimed to characterize the physical and hydraulic properties of pine bark substrates, both unamended and amended with peat or coir. The first study looked at three substrate types: unamended, unscreened pine bark, peat-amended pine bark, and coir amended pine bark. Three methods were employed to quantify pore distributions: non-equilibrium infiltration measurements, equilibrium water retention characterization, and scanning electron microscopy. We characterized pore distributions during wetting and drainage for the three substrates. Coir-amended bark had the largest water-conducting porosity, highest hydraulic conductivity, and most water retention. Unamended pine bark had the highest microporosity, and the addition of peat and coir lowered macroporosity, with peat having the greater effect. The total porosity inferred from the infiltration method was significantly smaller than that inferred from drainage experiments due to assumptions related to pore shape. The second study focused on defining hydraulic conductivity and water retention for pine bark substrates of five different particle sizes, <1 mm, 1-2 mm, 2-4 mm, 4-6 mm, and an unscreened fraction. We utilized the same methods from the first study. The resulting data showed that the smallest particle sizes (i.e., <1 mm and 1-2 mm) had the highest hydraulic conductivity and greatest water retention. The three larger sizes had lower hydraulic conductivity and poor water retention, including the unscreened fraction, which more closely followed the results of the 2-4 mm size. The final study examined gas diffusivity of the five pine bark particle sizes at different moisture levels: 60% moisture content (initial conditions), saturated at the bottom of the sample, near-saturated at the sample bottom, and drained from saturation to container capacity. We used a one-chamber gas diffusion setup to find gas diffusion coefficients (Ds). The results displayed an inverse relationship between Ds values and substrate water content. In addition, the larger particle sizes were less sensitive to changes in water content due to their well-draining large pores. Proper balance of aeration and water retention is necessary for the success of soilless growing media. Overall, the smaller particle size fractions had the best water retention and hydraulic conductivity rates while the larger fractions had the largest Ds coefficients. This work contributes valuable knowledge on the physical and hydraulic properties of different size fractions of pine bark substrates, which can assist nursery growers in optimizing water usage for sustainable container crop production. / Master of Science / Since the 1950's soilless substrates have been an important resource for growing a variety of fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants. Soilless growing media have become more popular choices for containerized plant production compared to natural soils due to improved air exchange, increased disease resistance, and more plants per acre. They are also favored because they help conserve resources, reduce agricultural waste, and minimize transportation requirements as compared to traditional cropping methods. The most popular types of soilless media include peat, coir, compost, and pine bark. In the U.S., pine bark is the main substrate used, as it is renewable and widely available. Growers still face many issues when using containerized crop production. For example, pine bark is susceptible to water runoff which can cause environmental problems and increase costs from this loss of water and fertilizer. Further characterizing of water and gas dynamics in of pine bark growing media is important for conserving water and fertilizer resources while optimizing plant growth in this container cropping industry. Pore characteristics, aeration, and water movement are key factors of substrates to be described to solve these challenges. This project aimed to apply soil physics strategies to soilless media, focusing on describing pore sizes, water movement, water holding capacity, and air movement in pine bark substrates. We utilized three methods throughout this study. For the first method, we took infiltration measurements to examine how water moved into the media, while the second utilized controlled drainage experiments to observe how water moved out of the media. The final method was characterizing gas movement through the substrates at different water contents and particle sizes. The results found showed that the smaller particle sizes and pine bark mixed with peat and coir had increased ability to retain water and allow water movement as compared to the larger particle sizes and unamended pine bark. In contrast, the larger particles had less water retention but improved gas movement. These results could be applied by stacking different particle sizes or mixes over one another could optimize water retention in the top of the container and drainage and gas movement in the bottom of the container. Overall, the application of this work is to create best management practices for growers to be able to balance water retention and gas movement in order to optimize plant growth.

One of the motivating reasons for the development of hydroponics was avoidance of root pathogens. Hydroponics involves growing crops in relatively sterile media, isolated from the underlying soil which may have disease pressure. However, even when hydroponics is coupled with controlled environments such as high tunnels and climate-controlled greenhouses, soil-borne pathogens can enter the growing area and proliferate due to optimal environmental conditions for pathogen growth. Control of root pathogens is difficult and usually achieved through synthetic fungicides since few biocontrol options are available. Compost water extracts (CWE) have recently been gaining the attention of greenhouse growers because they may be a low-cost, environmentally friendly approach to control root disease. CWE are mixtures of compost and water incubated for a defined period of time, either with or without aeration, and with or without additives intended to increase microbial populations, which in turn suppress disease. Much anecdotal, but very little scientific, evidence exists describing CWE effect on suppressing soil-borne pathogens. The present study 1) examined the effect of an aerated CWE on disease suppression at the laboratory scale and in container studies using different soilless substrates, 2) investigated a phenotypic change at the root level caused by CWE that may be associated with disease suppression, and 3) isolated some factors in the production of CWE that affect the ability of a CWE to suppress disease. The common model pathogen-host system of Fusarium solani f.sp. pisi and pea was used to examine CWE-induced disease suppression, with information then being translatable to similar patho-systems involved in greenhouse crop production. In the first study, laboratory-based root growth and infection assays resulted in 100% suppression of F. solani when roots were drenched in CWE. These protected seedlings were then taken to a greenhouse and transplanted into fine coconut coir, watered with hydroponic nutrient solution, and grown for five weeks. At the end of the experiment, 23% of the shoots of the pathogen-inoculated, CWE-drenched seedlings remained healthy while only 2% of the inoculated seedlings without CWE drench remained healthy. All of the roots of the inoculated seedlings developed lesions, even those drenched in CWE. However, 29% of the CWE drenched roots were able to recover from disease, growing white healthy roots past the lesion, while only 2% recovered naturally. A shorter-term container study was conducted in the laboratory to determine the effects of CWE-induced suppression when peas were grown in different substrates and to determine if the hydroponic nutrient solution had an effect on the suppression. Peas were grown in sterilized fine and coarse coconut coir fiber and sand irrigated with water, with a second set of fine coir irrigated with hydroponic nutrient solution. Pea seeds with 20-25mm radicles were inoculated with pathogen and sown directly into CWE-drenched substrate and grown for three weeks. At the end of the experiment, 80%, 60%, 90%, and 50% of the shoots of the inoculated, CWE-drenched seedlings remained healthy when grown in fine coir, coarse coir, sand, and fine coir irrigated with hydroponic nutrient solution, respectively. Nearly 100% of the roots grown in coconut coir substrates again developed necrotic lesions but 83%, 87%, 100%, and 87% grew healthy roots beyond the disease region. The hydroponic nutrient solution had a negative effect on suppression, with a reduction of at least 30 percentage points. Sand demonstrated a natural ability to suppress F. solani. Only 23% of inoculated seedlings had dead or dying shoots by the end of the experiment (compared to 77-80% in coir substrates) and although all but one of the roots developed lesions, all were able to recover on their own with CWE. CWE further increased shoot health and also prevented 57% of the roots from developing lesions. In a second study, two different CWE were used to examine the effect on root border cell dispersion and dynamics in pea, maize, cotton, and cucumber and its relation to disease suppression. Dispersal of border cells after immersion of roots into water or CWE was measured by direct observation over time using a compound microscope and stereoscope. Pictures were taken and the number of border cells released into suspension were enumerated by counting the total number of cells in aliquots taken from the suspension. Border cells formed a mass surrounding root tips within seconds after exposure to water, and most cells dispersed into suspension spontaneously. In CWE, >90% of the border cell population instead remained appressed to the root surface, even after vigorous agitation. This altered border cell phenomena was consistent for pea, maize, and cotton and for both CWE tested. For most cucumber roots (n=86/95), inhibition of border cell dispersal in both CWE was similar to that observed in pea, maize, and cotton. However, some individual cucumber roots (8±5%) exhibited a distinct phenotype. For example, border cells of one root immersed into CWE remained tightly adhered to the root tip even after 30 minutes while border cells of another root immersed at the same time in the same sample of CWE expanded significantly within 5 minutes and continued to expand over time. In a previous study, sheath development over time in growth pouches also was distinct in cucumber compared with pea, with detachment of the sheaths over time, and root infection was reduced by only 38% in cucumber compared with 100% protection in pea (Curlango-Rivera et al. 2013). Further research is needed to evaluate whether this difference in retention of border cell sheaths plays a role in the observed difference in inhibition of root infection. In the third study, a series of investigations were conducted to isolate different factors that contribute to the suppression ability of a CWE by changing incrementally changing some aspect of the CWE production process. The basic aerated CWE recipe (with molasses, kelp, humic acid, rock phosphate, and silica) provided 100% protection of pea from root disease while the non-aerated basic recipe CWE provided 72% protection. Aerated CWE made of only compost and water resulted in 58% protection. It was found that molasses did not contribute to the suppression ability of the ACWE, while kelp contributed strongly. When soluble kelp was added by itself to the compost and water, the CWE provided 80% suppression. However, when all additives were included except molasses and kelp, suppression remained high (93%) indicating that humic acids, rock phosphate, and/or silica were also major contributors toward the suppression effect. Optimal fermentation time for ACWE was 24 hr to achieve 100% suppression, with increased time resulting in inconsistent suppression results. Optimal fermentation time for NCWE was 3 days or 8 days. These studies are important contributions to understanding the differences that might be expected in CWE suppression when growing in different substrates, some of the factors in the production of CWE that affects the ability of a CWE to suppress disease, and the phenotypic effect CWE has on the root zone of plants and the possible relationship between that effect and disease suppression.

A range of Proteaceous shrubs and other nursery plants were grown in containers with soilless media and various N levels. Plants demonstrated a range of responsiveness. Supplying soilless media with Osmocote (26% N) and other short term fertilisers proved to be a satisfactory method of studying the comparative nutrition of a wide range of container grown nursery plants using factorial experiments incorporating N, P, K and lime. Nutrient response surfaces were obtained using a central composite incomplete block design. Most Proteaceous shrubs were intolerant of high P levels due to excessive luxury consumption resulting in toxic foliar nutrient levels, especially in the presence of high N. Phosphorus sensitivity in plants appeared to correspond with the soil nutrient levels in their native habitat. This applied to species studied in the 2 main sub-families in the Proteaceae while similar findings were indicated for other Australian genera. A range of optimum N requirements in the Proteaceae was found – lowest needs for Protea which also had the greatest tolerance of very low fertiliser additions, compared to Grevillea robusta with much higher N requirements and strong foliage growth inhibition if nutrient levels are very low. Proteoid root growth on Grevillea rosmarinifolia only occurred at low nutrient levels and was not required for satisfactory foliage growth of container grown plants. Pot plants and seedlings, especially tomato, responded strongly to N and often there were positive NK interactions influencing foliage growth. Lime requirements were studied and in erica increasing lime rates depressed foliage growth. Comparative nutrition studies indicate that general or broad spectrum container media may be unsuitable for some groups of nursery plants and that they could be replaced by potting mixes designed to meet the widely differing needs of the species often grown. The number of specialist mixes would depend on the range of plants and be governed by management considerations.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Alnarp : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Submitted by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br) on 2016-11-10T13:25:48Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ItaloSRQ_DISSERT.pdf: 1374361 bytes, checksum: 464a0c5cca8e4e174467ec34d53703fc (MD5) / Rejected by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br), reason: corrigir on 2016-11-14T13:30:17Z (GMT) / Submitted by Socorro Pontes (socorrop@ufersa.edu.br) on 2016-11-14T13:42:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ItaloSRQ_DISSERT.pdf: 1374361 bytes, checksum: 464a0c5cca8e4e174467ec34d53703fc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-01-24T14:33:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ItaloSRQ_DISSERT.pdf: 1374361 bytes, checksum: 464a0c5cca8e4e174467ec34d53703fc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vanessa Christiane (referencia@ufersa.edu.br) on 2017-01-24T14:35:23Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ItaloSRQ_DISSERT.pdf: 1374361 bytes, checksum: 464a0c5cca8e4e174467ec34d53703fc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-21T14:50:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ItaloSRQ_DISSERT.pdf: 1374361 bytes, checksum: 464a0c5cca8e4e174467ec34d53703fc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-15 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In northeastern Brazil, the main producing and exporting region melon, the yield exceed 40 tons per hectare. Potassium affects the concentration of sugars and nutrient relating to the maturation and the quality of the melon fruit. The semi-hydroponic system is an alternative for the growing melon, which enables efficient production and water consumption, in addition to the favorable fruit quality results. This study aimed to evaluate the growth, production and postharvest quality of melon Galia (Cucumis melo L. cultivar "Babilonia RZ F1-Hybrid"), grown in semi-hydroponic system under different levels of potassium in the nutritious solution. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse from Department of Environmental Sciences and Technology of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA) from October to December 2015. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with five treatments, randomized in five blocks with six plants per plot. The effect of concentrations of potassium in the nutrient solution (50, 75, 100, 125 and 150% of the quantity of nutrients in 50% solution proposed by Furlani for melon cultivation) was analized. During the experiment variables were analyzed: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, fruit weight, transversal and longitudinal diameter, transverse and longitudinal inner cavity, thick peel and pulp, soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, total sugars and fruit maturation ratio. The change in potassium concentration influenced the behavior of the growth variables, production and post-harvest. The concentration of 100% potassium caused greater increase in fruit weight, productivity and pulp thickness; with significant results for titratable acidity, total sugars and soluble solids / No nordeste brasileiro, principal região produtora e exportadora de melão, a produtividade pode ultrapassar 40 toneladas por hectare. O potássio afeta a concentração de açúcares e relacionam o nutriente com a maturação e a qualidade do fruto de melão. O cultivo semi-hidropônico é uma alternativa para o cultivo do meloeiro, que permite eficiência na produção e no consumo hídrico, além de resultados de qualidade do fruto favoráveis. Este trabalho teve como objetivo de avaliar o crescimento, a produção e a qualidade pós-colheita do melão Gália (Cucumis melo L., cultivar "Babilonia RZ F1-Hybrid”), cultivado em sistema semi-hidropônico sob diferentes doses de potássio na solução nutritiva. A pesquisa foi realizada em casa de vegetação, no Departamento de Ciências Ambientais e Tecnológicas da Universidade Federal Rural do Semiárido – UFERSA, no período de outubro a dezembro de 2015. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com cinco tratamentos, aleatorizados em cinco blocos, com seis plantas por parcela. Foi avaliado o efeito de cinco concentrações de potássio na solução nutritiva (50, 75, 100, 125 e 150% do quantitativo de nutrientes na solução 50% proposto por Furlani para o meloeiro). Durante o experimento foram analisadas as variáveis: altura de plantas; diâmetro da haste; número de folhas, peso do fruto, diâmetro transversal e longitudinal, cavidade interna transversal e longitudinal, espessura de casca e polpa, sólidos solúveis, acidez total titulável, pH, açúcares totais e relação de maturação dos frutos. A variação da concentração de potássio influenciou o comportamento das variáveis de crescimento, produção e pós-colheita. A concentração de 100% de potássio proporcionou maior incremento no peso dos frutos, produtividade e espessura de polpa; com resultados significativos para acidez titulável, açucares totais e sólidos solúveis / 2016-10-31

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources / Kimberly A. Williams / The use of calcined clays contributes properties of nutrient and water retention to soilless root media, which varies greatly depending on the parent clay and calcining treatment. This research characterized phosphate (PO[subscript]4) sorption of various calcined clay products, including low volatile and regular volatile material (LVM and RVM) 2:1 Attasorb clays (Engelhard Corp.), 2:1 Terra Green LVM clays (Oil-Dri Co.), and Turface (Profile Products LLC) at various particle sizes; 1:1 kaolin clays (Thiele Kaolin Co.) in powder form, and diatomaceous earth (Diatomite, Eagle Picher Minerals, Inc.). Three of the calcined materials, Terra Green montmorillonite and Attasorb attapulgite (which had high PO[subscript]4-sorption based on isotherms), and diatomaceous earth (which had negligible PO[subscript]4-sorption) were evaluated as components of soilless root media in two separate greenhouse experiments. The effect of the calcined materials, rate of incorporation (0%, 5%, 10% and 20% by volume in a mix with peat and perlite), and PO[subscript]4-P application rate (0, 5, 15, 45 mg.L[superscript]-1 PO[subscript]4-P) on plant growth, effluent P content and water use were determined during production and post-production of Impatiens wallerana Hook f. 'Tempo Rose'. The calcined materials varied in their ability to adsorb PO[subscript]4-P and generally yielded L-type isotherms. Laboratory results indicated potential for substantive P retention by several of the calcined materials when used in container production. For most materials, PO[subscript]4-P sorption did not show pronounced pH dependence. During production and post-production, the test materials not only improved PO[subscript]4-P retention but also water retention and water use efficiency while still maintaining optimal physical properties at incorporation rates of 5 to 10%. Diatomaceous earth resulted in PO[subscript]4-P retention not significantly different from the calcined clays.

Agriculture is one of the most carbon-intensive sectors in today’s world. With demand for food soaring to feed an ever-increasing population, many methods are employed to produce food, ranging from open-field to greenhouse systems. However, due to their large environmental footprint, urban agriculture methods such as soilless culture systems are increasingly becoming a preferred method for food production. A case study has been performed at Hollbium in Stockholm, Sweden for the purpose of evaluating potential environmental impacts of Hollbium Loop, a vertical hydroponic system used for food production. This is achieved by carrying out a stand-alone assessment of Hollbium Loop, to identify potential environmental hotspots over the product’s lifetime of 10 years. Furthermore, Hollbium Loop’s system is compared to the production of lettuce in a horizontal open-field, a greenhouse farming system and nutrient film technique located in Spain, to identify potential trade-offs. Attributional life cycle assessment (ALCA) has been employed as a methodology with an explicit focus on eight impact categories at a midpoint level. The results of the study indicate that hotspots of environmental impacts in Hollbium Loop’s life cycle are due to the use of an internal combustion engine vehicle for maintenance, production of electronic components and the consumption of electricity in the use phase. In contrast, the results from the comparative scenarios indicated that Hollbium Loop from a life cycle perspective had the highest impacts under all impact categories in relation to the other three systems of food production. When the distance for transportation within the maintenance phase is reduced to a reasonable figure, Hollbium Loop no longer had the highest impacts within global warming and fossil resource scarcity, showing that the distance traversed plays a key role in mitigating the impacts. Other aspects and assumptions are also analyzed further using a sensitivity analysis, which shows that there is scope for decreasing Hollbium Loop’s environmental footprint. It is therefore recommended that Hollbium puts its efforts into optimizing the distance and modes of transport utilized and increasing the outer frame thickness of the Loop to make it sturdy and robust. Finally, it is also advised to increase the Loop’s vertical length to increase the yield per cycle, thereby reducing the overall impacts per kilogram of lettuce produced. / Jordbruket är en av de mest kolintensiva sektorerna i dagens värld. Med en efterfrågan på livsmedel som stiger för att föda en ständigt ökande befolkning, används många metoder för att producera livsmedel. Dessa metoder omfattar allt från öppna fält till växthussystem. På grund av deras stora miljöpåverkan blir emellertid stadsnära jordbruksmetoder, såsom system för hydroponiska odlingar (odlingar utanför jorden) en alltmer föredragen metod för livsmedelsproduktion. En fallstudie har genomförts hos Hollbium i Stockholm, Sverige med syfte att genomföra en utvärdering av den potentiella miljöpåverkan för Hollbium Loop, ett vertikalt hydroponiskt system som används för livsmedelsproduktion. Detta uppnås genom att först utföra en fristående bedömning av Hollbium Loop och på så sätt identifiera potentiella riskområden under produktens livslängd på tio år. Dessutom jämförs Hollbium Loops system med produktionen av sallad i ett horisontellt öppet fält, ett växthusodlingssystem och en näringsfilmsteknik i Spanien för att identifiera potentiella avvägningar. Attributiv livscykelanalys (ALCA) har använts som metod med ett tydligt fokus på åtta karakteriseringsfaktorer för mittpunkt. Resultaten i studien indikerar att riskområden för miljöpåverkan i Hollbium Loops livscykel beror på en användning av fordon med förbränningsmotor i underhållsfasen, produktion av elektroniska komponenter och elförbrukning i användningsfasen. Däremot visade resultaten från de jämförande scenarierna att Hollbium Loop ur ett livscykelperspektiv har den högsta miljöpåverkan i alla påverkanskategorier i jämförelse med de tre andra systemen för livsmedelsproduktion. När avståndet för transport inom underhållsfasen reduceras till en rimlig nivå så hade Hollbium Loop inte längre den högsta påverkan inom global uppvärmning och knappa fossila resurser, vilket visar att det avståndet spelar en nyckelroll för att mildra effekterna. Andra aspekter och antaganden analyseras också vidare med hjälp av en känslighetsanalys, som således visar att det finns utrymme för att minska Hollbium Loops miljöavtryck. Det rekommenderas därför att Hollbium satsar på att optimera avståndet och de transportsätt som används, men att även öka tjockleken av den yttre ramen för att göra den stabil och robust. Slutligen rekommenderas det även att öka systemets vertikala längd för att öka avkastning och därmed minska de totala effekterna per kilo producerad sallad.

A doença vassoura-de-bruxa reduziu expressivamente a produtividade dos cacauais da região sul da Bahia, maior produtora nacional. O controle genético da enfermidade, com o uso de plantas tolerantes e com alto potencial produtivo, tem sido a principal estratégia para o convívio com essa doença. O plantio de mudas clonais, provenientes de estacas enraizadas, tem mostrado ser uma prática promissora para a renovação da lavoura. O Instituto Biofábrica de Cacau (IBC), criado em 1999, tem como um de seus objetivos produzir e comercializar essas mudas. Estudos preliminares mostraram a necessidade de aprimoramento do protocolo, pois foram observados distúrbios nutricionais, apesar do uso elevado de fertilizantes. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: avaliar a perda de nutrientes; comparar metodologias de extração de nutrientes em substratos; identificar a folha mais adequada para ser utilizada como diagnóstica; comparar formas de adubação; definir níveis críticos (NC) e doses recomendáveis de P e de N. Foram realizados dois experimentos, ambos em viveiro de produção de mudas do IBC, onde se utilizou o clone PH 16, com 12 mudas por parcela útil (uma muda por tubete de 288 cm3), sendo avaliados: diâmetro, altura, área foliar, matéria seca, concentração e conteúdo de nutrientes na planta. O primeiro experimento, implantado em julho de 2005, foi um fatorial 5x5+1: cinco substratos (misturas de fibra de coco &#150; FC e Plantmax&#174;), cinco doses de P no plantio (de zero a 0,8 g dm-3) e um tratamento adicional (P aplicado aos 30 dias); o segundo experimento, instalado em julho de 2006, foi um fatorial 2x5: duas formas de adubação, no substrato e foliar, e cinco doses de uréia, aplicadas semanalmente após o 82º dia. A análise do lixiviado do primeiro experimento identificou variações do pH, da condutividade elétrica e dos nutrientes de acordo com os tratamentos e com o tempo. A terceira folha do primeiro lançamento maduro foi a mais indicada para ser utilizada como folha diagnóstica. Para a maioria dos nutrientes, não foram encontradas correlações significativas entre os teores extraídos dos substratos, por metodologias distintas, com os absorvidos pelas plantas, exceto para P, K, Ca e Cu. A adubação com P em cobertura aumentou sua disponibilidade e absorção, mas não afetou o crescimento das mudas. Os melhores substratos foram os que continham entre 30 a 55% de FC. As doses recomendáveis, calculadas para obtenção de 99% da produção máxima da matéria seca da parte aérea, variaram de 136 a 275 g m-3 de P, aplicadas em préestaqueamento, de acordo com o substrato; e, para N, em aplicação semanal pósenraizamento, foi de 63 mg dm-3 para a adubação no substrato ou de 11,7 g L-1 para a adubação foliar. Para o N, a adubação no substrato foi superior à foliar. O NC de P no substrato variou de acordo com o extrator e o substrato e os NCs foliares foram de: 1,75 g kg-1 de P e 23,1 g kg-1 de N. / The witches&#39; broom disease decreased expressively the cocoa productivity in Bahia south region, the biggest national producer. The disease genetic control, using tolerant plants with high potential productivity, has been the main strategy to cope with this disease. The cloned cutting breeding, originated from rooted cuttings, has proved to be a promising practice for crop renovation. The &#34;Instituto Biofábrica de Cacau&#34; (IBC) or Cocoa Biofactory Institute, founded in 1999, has one of its aims to produce and commercialize these rooted cuttings. Preliminary studies have shown the need of protocol improvement, as it was observed nutritional problems, despite the high use of fertilizers. The objectives of this work were: Evaluate nutrients losses; compare nutrient extraction methodologies in potting mix; identify the most suitable leaf to be used as diagnostic; compare different fertilization practice; define P and N critical levels (CL) and recommendable doses. It was carried out two experiments, both in cloning breeding nurseries of IBC, where it was used clone PH 16, with 12 cuttings by useful plot (one cutting by container of 288 cm3), being evaluated: diameter, height, foliar area, dry matter, concentration and nutrient content in plants. The first trial, implanted in July 2005, was a factorial 5x5+1: five potting mix (mix of coconut fiber &#150; CF and Plantmax&#174;) five doses of P in the planting (from 0 to 0.8 g dm-3) and an additional treatment (P applied on the 30th day); the second experiment, installed in July 2006, there was a factorial 2x5: two fertilization treatments, in potting mix and foliar, and five urea doses, applied weekly after the 82nd day. The first experiment leaching analysis identified variations of the pH, electric conductivity and nutrients according to treatments and time. The third leaf from first ripen sprout was the most indicated to be used as the diagnostic leaf. For most nutrients were not found significant correlation between substrate extract levels by distinct methodologies and the absorbed ones by plants, except for P, K, Ca and Cu. The P fertilization in covering increased its availability and absorption, but did not affect cutting growth. The best substrates were those contained between 30 and 55% of CF. The recommendable doses, assessed to obtain 99% of the maximum production of shoot dry matter, varied from 136 to 275 g m-3 of P, applied in the precutting, according to the substrate; and for N, in weekly pos-rooting application, was 63 mg dm-3 for the substrate fertilization or 11.7 g L-1 for foliar fertilization. For the N, the substrate fertilization was superior to foliar. The CL of P in the potting mix varied according to extractor and substrate and the foliar CLs were: 1.75 g kg-1 of P and 23.1 g kg-1 of N.