Abstract

The consumption of arugula is low compared to lettuce and coriander. However, it has been increasing, and there is a lack of information on fertilization and culture times. Growth and development characteristics of arugula were assessed. It was fertilized with different amounts of rooster tree biomass, at different times in the soil. It was cultured at two planting times (spring-summer and fall), in the municipality of Serra Talhada, PE, Brazil. The experimental design was randomized block, with treatments arranged on a 4 × 4 factorial, with three replications. The first factor is the amounts of rooster tree biomass (5.4, 8.8, 12.2 and 15.6 Mg ha^-1 on a dry base), and the second one is times of incorporating in the soil (0, 10, 20 and 30 days before the planting of arugula). The characteristics of arugula assessed were: Plant height, number of leafs per plant, yield of green and dry mass of the above-ground part. The maximum yield of arugula was obtained at a dose of 15.6 Mg ha^-1 of green fertilizer. Some synchronicity between the supply of nutrients (green fertilizer) and the period of maximum demand by the arugula plants was observed when they were incorporated 20 days before planting. The culture increased the cycle of arugula during the fall, offering greater green and dry mass yields to the culture.

Key words: Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br., Eruca sativa L., green fertilizer, meteorological conditions, organic fertilization.