Because there is a close relationship between plant physiological response and crop performance, the current study aims to evaluate the photosynthetic efficiency and productive performance of vegetable versus conventional soybean cultivars for edamame production. The study was conducted at the School of Agriculture (FCA UNESP), Botucatu-SP, Brazil. The treatments in this study included soybean cultivars: vegetable-type BRS 267, vegetable-type BRSMG 790A), and type soybean cultivar grain 58HO124 EP RR, with ten repetitions per treatment in a completely randomized block design. Gas exchange and the response of the cultivars to light were evaluated for photosynthetic characterization. The first pod insertion height, plant height, number of pods per plant, and production in immature grains were all assessed for cultivar productive performance. The type of soybean cultivar grain and vegetable types of soybean showed different behaviors on physiology and yield. The vegetable-types BRS 267 and BRSMG 790A had the highest average for first pod insertion height. The vegetable type BRS 267, whose photoassimilates were designated for vegetative development, had the greatest average plant height. The conventional type 58HO124 EP RR showed greater assimilation of CO₂; however, the photoassimilates were directed to floral emission because such features are inherent in its ability. Finally, vegetable-type BRSMG 790A produced the most immature grains per plant while also having the greatest first pod insertion height, being the best in converting photoassimilates for edamame production.

Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are essential elements for human health and their deficiencies cause reduced work capacity, physiological and immune system disorders, anemia and even death, being considered primary global public health problems. Agronomic biofortification aims to increase the concentration of these nutrients in the edible part of the plant and, consequently, increase human intake of these nutrients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Fe and Zn concentrations on the growth, biofortification and quality of lettuce grown in hydroponics. Six treatments corresponding to the combinations of Zn (0.06 and 0.24 mg L^-1) and Fe (2, 4 and 8 mg L^-1) concentrations were evaluated. Increase of Zn in the nutrient solution positively influenced only leaf Zn contents at 18 days after transplanting the seedlings and ascorbic acid at harvest. On the other hand, the increase in Fe concentration positively influenced the contents of photosynthetic pigments, ascorbic acid and Fe; however, it negatively affected the leaf Zn content, leaf area and leaf dry mass of lettuce. Greater biofortification of lettuce for Fe was observed with the Fe concentration of 8 mg L^-1 in the solution.

Red cabbage microgreens, with high nutraceutical value and peculiar sensory characteristics, has been one of the most studied microgreens for cultivation in plant factories, especially under red and blue light irradiance. However, under white light, it is necessary to know the effect of sowing density on their physiology, yield, and quality, which is the objective of the present study. Five sowing densities (60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 g·m–2) were evaluated in an indoor environment under photosynthetic photon flux density of 250 μmol·m–2·s–1 of white light + 20 μmol·m–2·s–1 of red light, and photoperiod of 20 h. Increase in sowing density caused greater competition among seedlings, which increased hypocotyl length and reduced cotyledon area and shoot dry mass of the microgreens. However, the perceived decreases in the individual plant mass were offset by an increase in the number of plants, which resulted in higher yields as sowing density increased. Efficiency of photosystem II, initial fluorescence, and maximum fluorescence were not influenced by sowing density. As for the quality of microgreens, increasing the sowing density resulted in an effect contrary to that observed for yield and reduced contents of calcium, iron, pigments, and ascorbic acid.

Compared to monoculture, vegetable intercropping allows the optimization of environmental resources and inputs, with positive effects on the yield and profitability of the crop. This study aimed to evaluate the yield of lettuce and arugula in intercropping and intercrop evaluation indexes according to cattle manure doses. The experiment was conducted in Aquidauana, MS, Brazil. Five doses of cattle manure (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 t ha^-1) were evaluated with four replications in a randomized block design. Higher growth and yield of the intercropped species were observed when the intercrop received 60 t ha^-1 of cattle manure. However, the maximum values of the variables were not reached, so better performances can be obtained with higher doses. The indexes of actual yield loss and advantage of intercropping presented higher values starting at doses of 26 and 30 t ha^-1 of manure, respectively. The highest land use efficiency (1.28) was obtained with 60 t ha^-1 of cattle manure, indicating the agronomic viability of the lettuce and arugula intercrop when fertilized only with cattle manure.

A forragem hidropônica é uma tecnologia de produção de período curto, produção contínua, cultivo em todas as estações do ano, produtividade elevada, baixo consumo de água. Buscando reverter as adversidades climáticas sofrida pelos produtores para alimentar seus animais, objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade e a qualidade da forragem hidropônica no ecótono Cerrado-Pantanal, buscando determinar a espécie e a solução mais adequada para a região. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos na Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, no município de Aquidauana – MS, em casa de vegetação com tela de sombreamento de 50%. O primeiro experimento foi implementado no mês de março e o segundo no mês de setembro, ambos sendo conduzido por 15 dias. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, em parcelas subdivididas. A parcela foi formada pelas soluções (mineral e orgânica) e as subparcelas foram as populações (100% milho, 100% milho + 8 sementes de mucuna, 100% milheto, 50% milho + 50% milheto, 75% milho + 25% milheto e 25% milho + 75% milheto) com quatro repetições totalizando 12 tratamentos. As parcelas continham 1 m2 e receberam 4 litros de sua respectiva solução durante 11 dias. A população constituída de 25% milho e 75% milheto irrigada com solução mineral apresentou melhor qualidade de forragem quanto a proteína bruta. A população de milho e milho + mucuna obtiveram maior matéria seca independente da solução.