This study aimed to identify the similarities among hydrochemical variables describing the groundwater qualities in the Salgado watershed river (Southern Ceará), with the use of multivariate statistical analysis. Also, the groundwater hydrochemistry was investigated and classified using the Piper diagram. The study was developed from secondary data provided by the CPRM (Centro de Estudo Geológico do Brasil, previously Companhia de Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais). The geological formation of the Salgado basin has two aquifer systems, one on sedimentary rock (porous, karst and alluvial) and another on (fractured) crystalline rock. The research was conducted in 24 groundwater wells spread out over the drainage area of the basin, with data having been collected for the last 10 years. The water samples were analyzed for their content of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, CO3, HCO3 -, SO4 2- and CE. Two groups were formed by the use of cluster analysis, and both were independent with respect to their hydrological characteristics, and similar in hydro geological formation. The water quality study showed no temporal interference. The two components explained 78.30% of the total variance of the water quality. According to the Piper diagram, the waters were classified as 55.6% mixed chlorided water and 40% mixed bicarbonate water, in groups 1 and 2 respectively. The hydrochemical characterization of the studied waters implied no limitation to their human consumption.

This paper aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of herbicides [MSMA+diuron], [paraquat+diuron], metsulfuron-methyl and 2,4-D in control of volunteer plants of Roundup Ready® soybean, cultivar BRS Valiosa RR® when applied at various stages of development. The experiment was set up in Rio Verde city, in agricultural year 2007/08, using the randomized complete block experimental design in factorial scheme 5 x 3 (herbicide x application times) with four replications. The herbicide treatments were: metsulfuron- methyl (3,0 g ha-1), 2,4-D (1340 g ha-1), [MSMA+diuron] (1.800+700 g ha-1, respectively), [paraquat+diuron] (600+300 g ha-1, respectively) and control without spraying of herbicide; the second factor was the spraying of herbicides on phenological stages (V2, V6 and R2) of soybean plants. It was evaluated the percentage of controlling of volunteer soybean at 7, 14, 28 and 42 days after application (DAA) of herbicides, beyond the plant height and dry matter accumulation in shoots at 42 DAA. It was found that the herbicide treatments [MSMA+diuron] and 2,4-D provided greater control of volunteer plants of RR® soybean at stage V2 and the 2,4-D with spraying at V6. The treatment [paraquat+diuron] was more efficient in controlling at all phenologic stages. The metsufuron-methyl showed greater effectiveness of controlling when the spraying was done at stage R2.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the vegetative growth, the chemical composition, the rain use efficiency and to determine the green and dry matter production of cactus forage cv. Italian (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill.), depending on planting spacing. The research was carried out at (EMEPA), in Soledade- Pb, from April 2007 to June 2008. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four repetitions. In order to evaluate crop under the four planting spacing (1 x 1; 1 x 0.5; 2 x 1; 2 x 0.5 m ) we measured plant height, number of cladodes per plant, and the order, length, width, perimeter, thickness and area of cladodes. There were no treatment effects (P > 0.05 ) on any of the growth variables evaluated, except for plant height and cladode width. The cactus pear showed low levels of fibrous carbohydrates, and planting spacing influenced levels of neutral detergent fiber. The phytomass production per area and rain use efficiency by cactus pear increased with increases in planting densities, with higher values observed for the spacing of 1 x 0.5 m; resulting in a greater quantity of forage produced per area and per unit of rain.

The cowpea is a leguminous of great importance for human consumption, providing a source of protein for most of urban population of northern Brazil, therefore the aim of this paper was to evaluate the efficiency of strains of Bradyrhizobium out in association with phosphate and potassium fertilization (PK) in cowpea at the field level in the municipality of Capitão Poço - PA. Two experiments were carried out in randomized blocks with four replications, consisting of five treatments, being two strains of Bradyrhizobium - BR 3262 and BR 3267, a treatment only with PK, another one with NPK in the formulation (10-28-20) and a control. It was evaluated the grain yield, the number of pods and weight of 100 seeds. Fertilization with phosphorus and potassium represented a significant increase in the yield of cowpea, however inoculation with both strains did not increase production.

The cladodes size is an important feature when selecting cuttings for red pitaya (Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose) seedling production. The paper was carried out with the aim of evaluating different sizes of cladodes in the production of dragon fruit seedlings. The experimental design was randomized blocks with five treatments, which were the cladodes sizes: 5; 10; 15; 20 and 25 cm, with four replicates and four cladodes per plot. After 80 days of the experiment, there were evaluated: number of shoots per plant, percentage of rooting, length of greater root and dry weight of roots. The size of cladodes directly influences the production of seedlings. The lengths of cladodes from 15 to 25 cm are the most suitable for the dragon fruit seedlings.

This paper aimed to evaluate the initial growth of castor bean (Ricinus cummunis L.) in response to fertilization with sewage sludge and calcium and magnesium silicate. The experiment was conducted from July to August 2010 at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (ICA) in Montes Claros, UFMG - MG. The cultivation was carried out on a Cambisol, using as indicator plant castor bean (Ricinus communis) variety BRS Energy. The treatments, in factorial 2 x 4, in randomized block design with three replicates, were: two doses of calcium and magnesium silicate (0 and 1 t ha-1) and four doses of sewage sludge compost (0; 23,81; 47,62 and 71,43 t ha-1, in dry basis). In the experiment, plant height, crown diameter, stem diameter and leaf number were measurement. Calcium and magnesium silicate did not influence the growth characteristics of plant. On the other hand, the castor bean showed response to sewage sludge compost, expressing the maximum value of the growth characteristics at a dosage of 71.43 t ha-1, except for the number of leaves, which did not respond to any treatment.

The effects of thermal gradients on stem add one methodological constraint for estimating sap flow through the Granier method (thermal dissipation probe). The present work studied the effect of natural thermal gradients on estimates of sap flow by using thermal dissipation probe in mango plants. The study was carried by using mango plants of the cultivar Tommy Atkins during two development stages: (a) during the initial development phase of plants with leaf area of 0.66, 0.73, 1.78 m2 , planted in 15 and 50 liters pots. The study was carried in a greenhouse environment and in the field. Different thermal shields were used around the stem of plants in pots in order to minimize the effects of thermal natural gradients. The measurements of thermal differences were obtained from an adult plant with high leaf density and small exposition of branches to solar radiation. Sensors placed in stems of adult plant with high leaf density provided smaller thermal gradients compared to those inserted in young plant stems. It is necessary to cover the whole branch with neoprene and a shield (skirt type) of aluminum paper above and below the location of probe insertion for exposed branches. The air temperature at 2 m height may be used efficiently to correct thermal gradients. It is indispensable the correction of natural thermal gradients in the stem for adequate estimating sap flow density by the Granier method.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the effect of water availability in the initial development of maize, sorghum and millet. The experiment was carried at Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Campus Rondonopolis the period from May to June 2010. The design was completely randomized in factorial 3x3, with three water availability (30, 60% field capacity and flooded soil), three grasses (maize, sorghum and millet) and three replications. Soil moisture was maintained by the weight of the experimental plots. The variables were: plant height, dry weight of shoots, leaf number and SPAD. Maize, sorghum and millet gets greater development in water availability of 60% of field capacity, and this condition provides the highest SPAD reading. The sorghum is tolerant to flooding and drought, unlike maize which is sensitive to these conditions and millet that is tolerant to drought only.

In Brazil, postharvest diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms are a major problem that causes damage to around 80% of the total fruit production. In the lower middle São Francisco river valley numerous studies on identification and control of fungal diseases during postharvest of grapes are needed, in order to minimize losses in this step. In this context, bunches of seedless varieties 'Crimson', 'Sonaka'; 'Superior' and 'Thompson' were collected from July to November 2009, in order to identify and quantify the incidence of pathogenic fungi. The grapes were collected on five farms which specialize in the production of table grapes for export, all located in Juazeiro - BA and Petrolina - PE. During this period, 10 samples were taken. In the fruit farm five plants were used for sampling, and removal of two bunches of grapes per plant, totaling 10 bunches per variety. Subsequently, they were sent to the laboratory of Plant Pathology at UNEB/DTCS where they were placed separately in a moist chamber for 48 hours at an average temperature of 23 ºC. After this period, isolations of berries and stems in Petri plates containing PDA - potato-dextrose-agar were carried out with 10 repetitions, which were placed on benches under laboratory conditions. From the 8th day on, the presence of Aspergillus niger, Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Lasiodiploidia theobromae was observed, which presented the highest incidence, as well as Rhizopus stolonifer, Penicillium expansum.

The present study had as objective evaluates the physiologic behavior of different genetic groups of sheep created in the semi-arid paraibano in the dry and rainy times. Forty sheep were used, eight of each genetic group, distributed entirely in a randomized design. There was shift effect, for all the environmental variables and studied physiologic parameters. There were significant interactions of the factors genotypes, time and hour for the parameters, rectal temperature and breathing frequency. With relationship to the Index of tolerance to the heat (ITC) significant effect of the studied factors was not verified. With these results it can be ended that the races Santa Inês, Cariri and the products, resultants of crossings of the animals ½Dorper and ½Damara with sheep without defined race (SRD) they resemble each other in the adaptation aspect to the conditions of the semi-arid.