Application of hairy Woodrose (Merremia aegyptia L.) plant matter in coverage in the agronomic characteristics of arugula

The use of plant resources available in production areas is of paramount importance for farmers who work in the production of horticultural plants. The experiment was conducted at the Rafael Fernandes experimental farm of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Arid Region (UFERSA), Mossoró-RN-Brazil, with the objective of evaluating the application of hairy woodrose (Merremia aegyptia L.) plant matter as topdressing on the agronomic characteristics of arugula. The experimental design used was a randomized complete block design with six treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of applying doses of hairy woodrose (Merremia aegyptia L.) plant biomass as topdressing during the following periods of plant residue retention. (0 days of residue permanence in cover; 14 days of residue permanence in cover; 28 days of residue permanence in cover; 42 days of residue permanence in cover and 56 days of residue permanence in cover). The arugula cultivar used was Cultivada. The characteristics evaluated were plant height, number of leaves per plant, yield, and dry mass. Application of hairy woodrose as a top dressing provided an increase in all agronomic characteristics of arugula, with a maximum yield of 1,109.32 g/m2, 56 days before planting the crop. The use of fertilizers present in agricultural areas is of paramount importance for horticultural plant farmers.