The work was carried out in order to evaluate the distribution of water applied to the plots, pointing out possible causes of waste and suggest solutions to the optimal use of irrigation water. Worked up with flow tests to determine the coefficients of Distribution Uniformity (CUD) and Christiansen (CUC). Obtained is then the graph of uniformity in the profiles of three-dimensional distribution of water in the plots. It also studied the relationship between the flow rates and actual project and the possible causes that led to problems. The results showed that the highest flow rates were observed at the beginning of the lines of issuers and end of the line of derivation. It was also observed that the sheet of water applied is largely of times greater than blade of water designed, presenting, however, points of disability where the blade was less than required in the project.

The experiment was carried out at Plant Health Department of the Escola Superior de Agricultura de Mossoró, ESAM during the period of October to November of 2003, with the objective of evaluating the effect of different saline solution leveis on seed germination and development of seediings of song-thrush (Mimosa caesalpiniiflolia Benth.). A completely randomized experimental design was used with four treatments and four replicatíons of fifty seeds. The treatments consísted ofthree saline solutions (of 10, 20 and 30 dS/m) pius a control (0.614 dS/m). The seeds were incubated in sterilized sand into wood packing-case. The evaluated traits were emergency percentage, Índex of emergency speed, seediing height, number of leaves and seedlings fresh and dry mass. The increase of the leveis of solution salinity decreased the seediing height and Índex of emergency speed, besides of influencing on seed emergency percentage.

This study was conducted to evaluate the yield of two maize varieties cropped with organic and mineral fertilizations either associated or unassociated. The randomized experimental design was used under a factorial scheme 2 x 3 x 2, with four replicates. The first factor corresponds to two maize varieties (Nitrodent and Nitroflint), whereas the second one represents three levels of mineral fertilization: without mineral fertilizer; 300 kg/ha of 4-14-8 + 100 kg/ha ammonium sulfate (S.A.); and 600 kg/ha of 4-14-8 + 200 kg/ha S.A. The third factor represents two organic fertilization levels: without organic fertilizer; and 40 m3/ha organic compound. The experimental plot consisted of eight plant rows with 8m length each one and 1m spacing from each others, so totaling 64 m2 area. The yield of the maize grains by plot were evaluated, and the data were subjected to variance analysis (test ¿ 5%). The averages were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability level. Both varieties Nitrodent and Nitroflint only cropped under the organic system reached more than 6.500 kg/ha. The exclusive organic cropping system provided higher yields of maize grains, compared to the conventional system. No significant differences were found between the exclusive organic system and the combination of both organic and conventional systems upon the grain yield of the Nitrodent variety.

In order to investigate the influence of baited-trap color on fruit fly attraction, two McPhail trap models were used to monitor the insect in peach trees. One of the models was constructed of clear plastic, while the other had a clear top and a yellow bottom (base). The traps were installed in pairs, on five plants spaced 30 m apart. Traps were monitored twice a week from 12/20/2005 to 01/13/2006, with trap rotation at each evaluation, switching trap position in the tree. The yellow-bottomed McPhail traps were not superior to the clear ones during the evaluations, and no fruit fly capture increases were observed due to the yellow color.

The experiment was executed to evaluate the temperature and pH influence on activity of peroxidase (POD) in two sweet basil (Ocimum sp.) genotypes, grown in Viçosa, MG, Brazil, the 'Large Leaf' or 'Basilicão' and 'Purple'. It was evaluated the peroxidase activity at pH's 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, and the remaining activity at 80 oC treated for 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes. Each experiment was repeated three times. The 'Purple' genotype had higher POD specific activity. Higher and lower activities, for both genotypes, were present at pH 5 to 7 and pH 3 and 9, respectively. The heat treatment at 80 oC for 20 minutes reduced the enzyme activity by 86.28% and 100% for the genotype 'Pulple' and 'Large Leaf', respectively.

The State of Rio Grande do Norte is the largest exporter of muskmelons in Brazil and producers, in general, use irrigation water of different levels of salinity (ECw). However, in the region there is little information available on the effect of salinity of the water on the absorption of nutrients by the melon crop. Therefore, objective of this research was to study the extraction and accumulation of nutrients to in two varieties of melon (Orange Flesh and Goldex), irrigated with water of low (0.80 dS m-1) and high (3.02 dS m-1) salinity. The study was conducted from October to December, 2003, in Red Latosol of medium texture at the Fazenda Santa Julia (Latitude 5o 02' 0,0" S, Longitude 37o 22" 33,6" WGr.), in the municipality of Mossoró, RN, Brazil. The experimental design adapted was in random blocks with four replications. Largest accumulation of dry matter was found in the fruit in the aerial part after 63 days of sowing, representing 59.17% and 74.53 (Orange Flesh and Goldex) in the condition of low electrical conductivity (0.80 dS m-1) and 70.50 and 67.27% in cultivars Orange Flesh and Goldex, respectively, for high electrical conductivity (3.02 dS m-1). The application of saline water (3.02 dS m-1) reduces the content of potassium in cultivar Goldex by 39%.

Yellow passion fruit crop (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa Deg.) and natural insume use on agriculture are increasing in Remígio county Paraíba State, Brazil. In this direction was carried out an experiment, during July 2005 to December 2006 in randomized blocks in order to evaluate the effects of absence and presence of biofertilizers comum (bovine manure fertilizer fresh and water) and supermagro (bovine manure, water, macronutrients and micronutrients), applied to soil on liquid form, in level of 2.4 L plant-1, 30 days before and two months after transplanting, in the absence and presence of mineral fertilizer with NPK, with three repetition and six plantas per set using a factorial designs 3x2. The biofertilizers show more reliable to growth than fruit production of yellow passion fruit. Biggest production corresponded to treatments with the use of mineral fertilizer, specially in the first production. Comum and supermagro biofertilizer gave significative effects on vegetative growth of plants of yellow passion fruit plant but had no influence on fruits production.

The design of a lateral line was an applied tool with the objective of determining, accurately, the lateral line final pressure, considering the presence of a hydraulic cannon or not in the final extremity of the piping; so that the irrigation planner has the exact science of the entrance pressure in the central pivot. Being able to like this, design projects more optimized in terms of energy. The evaluation of the system provided the rebuilding of the curve of control of the equipment taking to the producer the reality of his/her overhead irrigation. The hydraulic project of the system provides the visualization of the theoretical behavior of the system that, when compared, to the real behavior, position in execution, it can serve as auditing for ends of correction of the possible flaws, be of project and production or of execution.

This work was developed with the objective of evaluating the development of the rocket fertilized with different organic fertilizers and irrigated with water of different salinity levels. The design was used randomized entirely in a factorial scheme 5 x 4, resulting in 20 treatments with 3 repetitions, being the experimental unit acted by a plant/vase. The first factor was composed by 5 levels of salinity of the irrigation water and the second by 4 different compositions of the substrates (S1 - Soil, S2 - Soil + Manure bovine (3: 1), S3 - Soil + Manure ovino/caprino (3: 1) and S4 - Soil + earthworm Humus (3: 1)). They were appraised the number of leaves, leaf area and matter dries of the aerial part. The number of leaves, leaf area and matter dries of the aerial part were reduced with increment of the salinity of the irrigation water. The sources of organic fertilizer studied influenced significantly in the answer of the rúcula the salinity, being an alternative for the cultivation of this vegetable under saline condition. The bovine manure presented the best acting in the development of the plants.

The study area covers all the territory of the municipality of Boa Vista, located in the Microrregião Homogênia dos Cariris Velhos, semi-arid region of the State of Paraíba. The main objective of this study was to elaborate space-temporal thematic maps of the land degradation expansion in the municipality of Boa Vista for the period 1987/2004, based on TM/Landsat-5 image analysis and field work data. The Landsat images digital processing was carried on the SPRING, v.4.2. The results had shown that in the study area are presented degradation levels varying from low to the very serious. The degradation levels very low, low, moderate and serious had their occurrence diminished in 2.59%, 11.80%, 12.86% and 0.88%, respectively during the period since 1987 to 2004. In opposing way, the areas of moderate serious and very serious degradation levels had increased in the period, with increments of 20.14% and 7.65%, respectively. The process of land degradation is more present in the neighborhoods of the rural houses and along the rivers, where the humidity of the ustifluvents soils guarantees better security for dry land agriculture and for the fodder plants for feeding live stocks in dry period. In the municipality the land degradation is resultant of a lack of conservation practical in the use of agricultural soils by the farmers, of a lack of an infrastructure for mitigating the drought effects and of a lack of public polices for a sustainable life in the semi-arid region.