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The red palm mite

Agroindustrial wastes in southeastern Amazon are abundant and there are policies encouraging proper disposal for such wastes for sustainable agriculture. In this study we compared the chemical parameters of composts resulting from composting and vermicomposting sheep manure added to agroindustrial wastes as a bulking agent. Piles of compost were created using sheep manure, fruit waste, and a bulking agent. The treatments consisted of compost piles of: Tc - sheep manure and fruit pulp; Ta - sheep manure, fruit pulp and triturated açaí seeds; Ts - sheep manure, fruit pulp and sawdust, and Tb - sheep manure, fruit pulp and babassu coconut residue. After 50 days, a fraction of the compost from each pile was transferred to vermireactors to compare processes. At the end of the experiment, samples were taken in triplicate from all treatments in both composting and vermicomposting units for chemical analysis. The assessed variables were daily temperature of compost piles and vermireators, C/N ratio, Volatile solids (VS), total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), boron (Bo). Sawdust-based and babassu-based compost, from composting process, has the lower time for stabilization (about 40 days), pH closer to neutral and more efficient in reducing the C:N ratio than vermicomposts. Vermicomposting process increased the concentration of almost all nutrients in treatments, except for babassu-based compost.

O aumento do custo dos fertilizantes comerciais e a crescente poluição ambiental fazem do uso de resíduos orgânicos na agricultura uma opção atrativa do ponto de vista econômico devido a ciclagem de carbono e de nutrientes. Dessa forma, a compostagem surge como uma forma eficiente de se obter a biodegradação controlada dos resíduos de natureza orgânica. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho objetivou analisar o comportamento da temperatura durante o processo de compostagem de diferentes tipos de materiais, resíduos agroindustriais e agroflorestais. O experimento foi realizado na Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia – UFRA, campus Parauapebas entre 30 de outubro de 2018 e 30 de janeiro de 2019, as pilhas de compostagem foram montadas no viveiro de mudas, um galpão aberto com cobertura de sombrite. Os materiais da primeira composteira (Leira 1) foram esterco bovino não curtido + bagaço de cana de açúcar + restos de vegetais + serragem. A segunda composteira (Leira 2) esterco bovino não curtido + serrapilheira + serragem. Foi possível observar que nos primeiros 3 dias a temperatura da primeira Compostagem (Leira 1) se elevou rapidamente, caracterizando o início da atividade microbiana. Ao longo dos 90 dias as pilhas apresentaram odor devido as zonas com excesso de água e consequente anaerobiose, ou seja, o excesso da água não permitiu a passagem de oxigênio no composto. Na primeira etapa do processo da segunda compostagem (Leira 2) a temperatura máxima atingida foi de 32°C no 14° dia. A compostagem é uma alternativa que merece visibilidade sendo uma alternativa economicamente viável e ambientalmente sustentável.

O paisagismo é um dos instrumentos ambientais e estéticos que podem ser utilizados para demonstrar o quanto é importante a utilização do verde nos centros urbanos, por menor que seja o espaço disponível existe sempre a possibilidade de integrar o homem ao meio ambiente. Diante disso objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar o conhecimento da população a respeito da importância, benefícios e manutenção do paisagismo urbano em áreas públicas, na mesorregião sudeste do estado do Pará. Para a coleta de dados foi elaborado um questionário na plataforma Googleforms, o qual foi compartilhado por mídias sociais. Existe um conhecimento em relação ao conceito de paisagismo e sua relevante importância em locais públicos, bem como sua utilização para promover bem estar do meio ambiente e do ser humano, destaca-se que as maiores partes das áreas com paisagismo nas cidades estão em estado de degradação e não possuem manutenção adequada do poder público. Ainda que diante dos presentes resultados, são necessários estudos futuros e mais aprofundados e detalhados, abordando o estado real e particular das áreas de paisagismo de cada município da região.

Intercropping of maize and cowpea is widely used by Brazilian family farmers. The aim of this work is to compare the grain yield of two maize cultivars, and one cultivar of cowpea in organic system. Treatments of monoculture of cowpea (Pocos de Caldas) and maize ('BR106' and 'AG1051') and intercropping were used. A randomized block design with four replicates in an area under conversion to organic production system was used. The experiment was conducted in the period of October 2012 to March 2013, corresponding to the periods of spring/summer. The maize alone was on average, 26.5 cm taller and grain yield was 28% higher than in the intercropping. The cowpea intercropped with maize 'AG 1051' was 3.8 cm taller than the intercropped with 'BR 106'. In monoculture, the cowpea presented more (0.7 and 1.2 grain per pod when intercropped with 'AG 1051' and 'BR 106', respectively). The cowpea monoculture resulted in 2.4 pods per plant than in intercropping and productivity was 5.4 times higher than that of the intercropping. The cowpea intercropped with 'BR 106' was efficient, while that with 'AG1051' was inefficient in terms of land equivalent coefficient. Key words: Vigna unguiculata, Zea mays, land equivalent coefficient.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological quality and seed production of Fabaceae and corn in monoculture and intercropping in areas cropped under different management. The following treatments were evaluated: corn + NPK + weed control; corn + weed control; corn + NPK; corn + crotalaria; corn + jack bean. Intercropping raised the average number of corn ears of corn and the seed IVG Weed control positively influenced the final stand and average number of ears. NPK fertilization on corn sowing positively influenced the seed electrical conductivity. The yield of corn plants intercropped with crotalaria and jack bean was statistically similar. However, their absolute values should be considered for economic purposes. Corn seeds derived from intercropping with crotalaria were more effective compared with intercropping with jack bean. Crotalaria and jack bean seeds when intercropped with corn have high production, germination and vigor (IVG and emergence).

Agroindustrial activities in Southeastern Para produce many organic residues that can be recycled economically through composting processes. This study aimed to evaluate the reproduction rate, survival and density of Eisenia Andrei in different agroindustrial wastes. Pre-composting organic waste piles were implanted with ovine manure and waste from fruit pulps, being the variation source triturated acai seed (Treatment 1); sawdust (Treatment 2); and babacu coconut (Treatment 3). After 50 days of pre-composting, vermicomposting reactors with three populational levels of Eisenia Andrei for the three treatments were built, being evaluated the temperature, reproduction and survival indices of earthworms in the reactors for 35 days. Results showed that the temperature remained within the acceptable range (lower than 35 oC) during the experiment. For the reproduction, it was verified that the sawdust composting propitiated favorable conditions for increased earthworm density, while for the presence of cocoons only the initial quantities of earthworms showed positive effects; for both variables the time was significant. No treatments had earthwarms that escaped or died due to the waste composition, thus establishing the use of such residues as a viable alternative for vermiculture.

The Canga ecosystem, in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon, is a biodiversity and endemism hotspot as well a potential resource for iron mining, raising conflicts between conservation and economic development. Here, we collected data from 60 randomly selected points in the Canga ecosystem in the Carajas National Forest, Brazil, to analyze the spatial patterns of Ipomoea cavalcantei occurrence in different phytophysiognomies. Through ordinary kriging and a GLM model, we identified that this endemic species occupies a very restricted range within the Canga ecosystem, specifically in areas of Open Rupestrian Fields and Shrub Rupestrian Fields where the iron crust restricts the soil depth to a few centimeters and the vegetation is mainly herbaceous or savannah shrub vegetation, with low sparse tree canopies. These conditions increased the passage of sunlight, revealing the importance of light conditions for the species. However, because the species occurs in suitable mining sites, there is continuing conflict between environmental and economic decisions. Spatial data showed that mining has increased in Carajas National Forest over the last 32 years, reducing the potential locations for I. cavalcantei to less than 50 % of its original range. Mining will potentially occupy the entire species range over the next three decades. Restoration outside its original habitat is difficult in the short term, because there is no knowledge of the species’ capacity for growth, survival, and replication. Conservation initiatives for the Canga ecosystem should prioritize strategies that reduce regional dependence on mining and provide alternative economic activities, such as sustainable exploitation of bio-products and ecological tourism.