Revista Verde de Agroecologia e Desenvolvimento Sustentável

Macronutrient concentrations in stems of red pitahaya [Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton and Rose] in Ecuador

Christian Mauricio Palacios, Ramón Eduardo Jaimez Arellano (Author) — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0300

The white-fleshed red pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton and Rose) is a perennial cactus with relevance in the international fruit trade, due to its physical and nutritional characteristics. This research provides information on macronutrient concentrations in pitahaya stems, based on stem samples from six production sites with different plant densities (low and high). A completely randomized design with five replicates in each treatment was employed. The results revealed significant differences in macronutrient concentrations between production sites and plant densities. The most relevant nutrients were potassium, calcium and nitrogen. The mean potassium concentration among production sites was 3.82% on dry matter, while for calcium it was 2.91% and nitrogen 1.12%. The maximum concentrations of potassium and nitrogen were recorded in San Jacinto (6.58 and 1.72%, respectively) and that of calcium in San Eloy (5.65%). In addition, the results analyzed between densities showed that the highest accumulation of nutrients in the stems occurred in the low planting density zone. These results are the first reported in Ecuador and establish a reference for crop management, particularly in nutritional diagnosis for the efficient use of resources and soil preservation.

Fruit quality of strawberry genotypes grown in different containers in an organic system

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Physical and chemical characteristics of strawberry fruits are influenced by several factors such as planting period and harvest months. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the post-harvest of fruits from strawberry genotypes throughout the months of evaluation and the different cultivation containers. As plant material, two genotypes called DC-09 (short day) and DN-03 (neutral day) were used, grown in two genotypes of containers. The plant materials were grown outside the soil in substrate during ten months of production. The experimental design adopted for each genotype was a three-factorial randomized block design with two plots subdivided into three replications, consisting of 15 fruits. The evaluations carried out on the fruits were mass, length, diameter, color and soluble solids. The results indicate interaction between containers and harvest months. For the short-day genotype DC-09, there was an interaction between the factors of cultivation container and harvest months, with redder strawberries and higher brix being harvested in the vase-type container in all months evaluated. For the day-neutral genotype DN-03, larger fruits (mass, length and diameter) were harvested in the trough-type container and strawberries with greater color intensity and higher brix were obtained from the vase-type container.

Effect of acerola pulp on the quality of witbier beer

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0300

This research focused on the analysis of Witbier-style craft beers with the addition of different concentrations of acerola pulp: 0% (T1), 5% (T2), 10% (T3), and 20% (T4) (v/v). The brewing process included milling, mashing, boiling, fermentation with hops, coriander, and acerola pulp, followed by carbonation, bottling, and maturation. The physicochemical analyses conducted included soluble solids, pH, acidity, dry matter, ash content, foam stability, color, total phenolic content, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity. The addition of acerola pulp significantly influenced apparent attenuation, alcohol content, and soluble solids. The T3 formulation exhibited the highest attenuation (87%) and alcohol content (6.17% alcohol by volume (ABV)) exceeding the expected range for Witbier (4.5-5.5% ABV). Soluble solids decreased with increased pulp addition, while total acidity increased and pH decreased, indicating higher acidity. Visually, all samples maintained the characteristic light tone of Witbier. In terms of foam stability, the T4 sample showed the best results. Biochemical analysis revealed an increase in total phenolic content and antioxidant activity with acerola addition, with T4 being the richest in these compounds. Flavonoid content remained stable across all samples, indicating less influence of the pulp in this aspect. It is concluded that the addition of acerola pulp enriches Witbier, enhancing its functionality with higher acidity, foam stability, and antioxidant properties, making it a unique option in the craft beer market.

Agroecology in peasant territories: A vision from farmers

Christian Vicente Tamayo Ortiz, Julio Cesar Alegre Orihuela (Author) — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0300

The development of agroecology was evidenced from the peasant perspective in the lower basin of the Pachanlica River in Ecuador. The evaluation process consisted of field trips and a survey directed at 175 users with irrigation management who are distributed in different agricultural areas. Farmers who produce short cycle crops had a low level of familiarity with the term agroecology. However, once the dimensions of this approach and the main associated techniques were explained, the farmers considered that their farms could meet some of its postulates, because they carry out some practices such as the use of animal fertilizer and diversified production. Nevertheless, they are aware of its low integration and limited application in vegetable production. In spite of this, producers considered this agroecological approach as important to obtain healthier products and conserve natural resources, mainly soil. The lack of knowledge and technical support were the most limiting factors to implement agroecology and the proposals to promote its adoption were identified as training, specialized technical assistance and the socialization of the principles on the subject. The results show limited development of agroecology in the study area and the need for comprehensive actions to strengthen this productive approach.

Problems of horticultural activity in proximity to the city of Córdoba, Argentina

Ornela Paz Ruggia (Author) — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0300

The Horticultural Activity in Proximity to the City of Córdoba (HAPCC) refers to the production of fresh food that occurs in areas surrounding large marketing centers. During the last 30 years, the productive units that comprise it have suffered a process of reduction and intra-regional migration to locations far from the marketing centers. The objective of this work was to analyze the problems of the AHPCC, with the purpose of understanding what were the factors that led to this situation. The starting point is a qualitative methodology, through which 27 interviews based on a script were carried out with five groups of social actors recognized in the territory. The identified problems were grouped into five themes: territorial planning, access to land, calculation of costs and profits of products, inadequate regulations and precarious living and working conditions. The productive profiles affected by each identified problem were differentiated. It concludes about the need for a State that exercises its protectionist role to guarantee the rights of access to land of those who produce local fresh food. At the same time, emphasis is placed on the need to improve the working conditions of producers and a generational change that guarantees the continuity of the activity. Evidencing the urgent need to strengthen the HAPCC in particular and to transform the agri-food system from an agroecological perspective.

Organic fertilization and osmoregulators as strategies to mitigate salt stress in watermelon

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0300

Irrigation has been considered as an alternative to the socioeconomic development of semi arid regions. However, when used improperly can favor the salinisation and degradation of water and soil resources. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate management techniques, such as the effect of organic fertilizer, nitric and exogenous application of proline in reducing the negative effects of the crop irrigated with saline water watermelon. The experiment was conducted under field condition in the municipality of São João do Rio do Peixe – Paraiba, using the hybrid watermelon 'Quetsali'. The experimental design was a randomized block design in a factorial 2 x 2 x 2 design with four replications. The treatments consisted of two doses of cattle manure (0 and 20 t ha^{- 1}), two levels of salinity of irrigation water (0.3 and 4.0 dS m^-1) and doses of proline (5 mmol L^{- 1}) and N in the form of potassium nitrate. The use of water with low electrical conductivity (0.3 dS m^-1) was more effective in improving the physiology, growth and yield on watermelon in relation to water with high salt concentration (4.0 dS m^-1). Proline was more efficient than KNO₃ in the osmoregulation of watermelon process by providing higher performance in photosynthesis, intercellular CO₂ concentration, leaf number and production. The manure provided physiological, morphological changes and production in watermelon plants subjected to irrigation with saline water.