The Alismataceae (excluded Limnocharitaceae) comprises twelve genera of herbaceous aquatic plants. Only two of its genera (Echinodorus and Sagittaria) are native to the Neotropics. A survey of the species of Alismataceae confirmed the occurrence of four taxa of Sagittaria and eleven of Echinodorus from the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. Analytical keys to differentiate the genera and species are provided, as well as illustrations of their taxonomic characteristics and data on their geographical distribution. Echinodorus macrocarpus to be considered synonymous with E. pubescens. Echinodorus reticulatus is considered as a different species from E. longipetalus. There are five excluded taxa from the Brazilian semi-arid region: E. grandiflorus, E. macrophyllus, E. martii, E. bolivianus, and E. decumbens.

The mobility and persistency of cadmium in the soil are determined by the intensity of adsorption by colloids. The evaluation of the free energy of cadmium adsorption by the soil is a measurement of the reaction strength. This study was carried out to evaluate the free energy of cadmium adsorption reaction in Luvisol and Cambisol samples after addition of different cadmium level. Cadmium adsorption was considered spontaneous, since free energy was negative. Free energy values decreased with increasing cadmium concentration and they were higher in samples with higher organic matter levels. Luvisol showed higher values of free energy of adsorption.

Through this research work, evaluating the chemical-bromatologic composition of in natura sugar cane as related to hydrolysis with whitewash. The work was conducted in the Forage Culture Sector of the Animal Science College at José do Rosário Vellano University (UNIFENAS), campus of Alfenas (MG). The experimental design utilized was the completely randomized in a factorial arrangement 4x5, four doses of whitewash were studied (0.0; 0.5; 1.0 and 2.0% on the basis of natural matter) in five times aerobic exposure (0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours), with four replicates. The addition of whitewash to sugar cane promoted lower temperatures till 12 hours of storage, from this point on, there no further effects of whitewash upon temperature control. The content of dry matter and ashes increased linearly with addition of whitewash, while protein content decreased. Whitewash promote no fall in the contents of water-neutral detergent-insoluble fiber and lignin, nevertheless, the contents of acid detergent insoluble fiber decreased, with more forceful when using 0.5 and 2.0% of whitewash. The use of whitewash in the hydrolysis of sugar cane alters the chemical bromatologic composition, however, the use of this additive is unjustified, because is not effect positive on the fiber content. The sugar cane in natura and hydrolyzed present the best composition immediately after the desintegration.

This work has, as its goal, to evaluate the effect of diverse concentrations of salt in irrigation water in the germination and initial growth of seedling of Jucá. The experiment was developed in the greenhouse of the Vegetable Sciences Department of the Federal Rural University of the Semiarid (UFERSA). The statistic delimitation was entirely casualized, with four treatments. To obtain the concentrations, we added NaCl and the electric conductivities (C.E.) T2-1.5; T3-3.0; T4-4.5 dS m-1 which, along with the standard (wellwater, T1-0,5 dS m-1) formed the treatments. The variables we analysed were: percentage of emergency (E), levels of emergency speed (IVE), the seedling's height (AP), and the seedling's dry matter mass (MSP). It was not possible to obtain an expressive result to the seedling dry matter mass variable. On the results, it appears that the salinity interferes in all the evaluated parameters, except dry matter, proportionally to the increase in salinity on the irrigation water. The evaluated characteristics are more sensible to salinity levels of 3dS m-1 or higher.

Liming is an alternative to correct the consolidated surface acidity and gypsum allows the supply of calcium and reduction of aluminum saturation in subsurface layers of soils in Brazilian Cerrado. The objective of this study was to evaluate the correction of acidity of ground the effects of superficial liming and gypsum on Ultisol cultivate. The experiment was carried out at the greenhouse of Soil Laboratory, at Federal University of Tocantins (Brazil) to evaluate of application of limestone and gypsum, during three periods of collection (30, 90, and 150 days after correction) and three depths of collection (0-5, 5-10 and 10-15 cm) in Ultisol of Tocantins State (factorial 2x3x3), with four repetitions. After the collections had been analyzed the soil chemical properties (pH, K, Here, Mg, H, Al, CTC, and V%). The surface applied lime was effective in neutralizing soil acidity, at a depth proportional the time. The application of gypsum improved the ground in depth, increasing the Ca, beyond diminishing aluminum.

The present study was carried out aiming to evaluate the effects of potassium, copper and zinc on the growth and seed yield of castor (Ricinus communis L.), cultivar BRS Nordestina and BRS Paraguaçu. Two experiments were conducted in a greenhouse, in Campina Grande, Paraiba State, Brazil. The experimental was conducted 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design completely randomized amounting in each experiment, a total of 24 experimental units, subjected to the following levels of fertilization: potassium (150 and 250 kg ha-1), copper (16 and 32 mg dm-3) and zinc (32 and 64 mg dm-3). Plant height, stem diameter, number and length of leaves were measured at 21, 42, 62, 82, 102 e 123 days after planting (DAP). Number and weight of seeds were measured. Potassium, copper and zinc did influence BRS Paraguaçu and BRS Nordestina growth and BRS Paraguaçu production. The highest yield of seed weight of BRS Paraguaçu corresponded to 250 kg ha-1 K2O, 16 and 32 mg dm-3 Cu and Zn, respectively.

This work aimed to identify the sustainability indicators of the producers in the river Faé, Ceará, watershed. The field analysis was carried out in September 2006, with the application of cross-over forms to the 237 small producers. Through the employment of the Factor Analysis/Principal Component Analysis AF/ACP it was identified that the model of better adjustment to express the sustainability of the watershed Faé was that composed of six factors, explaining 80.25% of the total variance, dissolved before in 12 dimensions. The first factor explained 21.73% of the total variance and it is related with the health of the farmers. The second and third factors presented a close relation with the soil vegetation cover and the irrigation management, responding for 15.57% and 14.82% of the total variance, respectively. The forth factor, explaining 10.18% of the total variance, presents itself as an indicator of the water preservation. The both remaining factor explain, together, 17.95% of the total variation and express the family organization and the agricultural production techniques of the region, respectively. The sustainability of the producers was determined mainly by the health, vegetation coverage conservation and irrigation indicators, expressing the need of practical courses and the action of the rural extension, where the producer will learn agricultural production techniques by doing them.

The caatinga biome covers around 70% of the North-Eastern territory and nevertheless the studies carried out about its natural riches are still insufficient especially tackling the floristics diversity of the biome as a whole, particularly in the state of Paraiba. For this reason the current study aimed to carry out the floristics survey of an area of caatinga in the municipality of Boqueirão, Paraiba State. In the area of study, it was registered 47 species distributed in 39 genera and 20 families of flowering plants. The families that stood out in number of species were: Fabaceae, with 12 species; Cactaceae, with five; Euphorbiaceae and Malvaceae, with four species each one and Convolvulaceae with three species, while the other families (15) showed one to two species each one. The woody component dominated over the shrubby, herbaceous, subshrubby and the woody vines components of the area studied. Based on the data obtained in this study, it was possible to correlate the taxa shown with the flora of different areas of caatinga, especially in the Northeast region, showing up the priority of carrying out floristics studies including other areas of the caatinga of Paraiba as well as of different states of the Brazilian Northeastern.

In Brazil, the production of watermelon with seeds is highly representative. However, available information about fruit quality of different varieties grown in the same environment is still rare, which makes it necessary to carry out trials that can fill this gap. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the postharvest quality of different varieties of watermelon (Crimson Sweet, Charleston Gray, Sugar Baby, Fairfax and Tendersweet), grown under conventional conditions in Mossoró - RN. The experiment was carried out from September to November 2008 in the experimental field of the Federal Rural University of the Semiarid (UFERSA). The data for the fruit quality were recorded in the Laboratory of Postharvest of UFERSA. The experiment was set under a completely randomized design with six replications and each replication consisted of a fruit. The quality characteristics were analyzed: fruit fresh mass (kg), fruit dimensions (greater length and width), overall appearance, pulp yield in percentage, seed characteristics, pH, acidity, vitamin C, soluble solids and SS/TA ratio. The physical determinations showed variations for fruit fresh mass (4.2 to 9.7 kg), pulp yield (42.0 to 58.5%), rind thickness (1.1 to 2.5 cm), as well as to the number and mass of seeds. In the physical-chemical determinations it was observed phenotypic uniformity among the varieties for almost all variables and, although all of them favorable to consumption, this result indicates narrowing of the genetic basis of varieties, which makes it necessary the evaluation of other genotypes.

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of the use of calcium nitrate on the reduction of stress in the melon plants exposed to excess salt in the irrigation water. The experiment was carried out at the Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia Agroalimentar (CCTA/UFCG), Pombal-PB, from 09/19/2009 to 11/20/2009, using the hybrid melon 'Hales Best Jumbo'. The treatments consisted of the use of two levels of salinity of the irrigation water (0.3 and 5.0 dS m-1) versus rates of N in the form of calcium nitrate (5.5; 6.25; 7.0; 8.5 g N per plant). The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in factorial scheme 2x4, with four repetitions. The highest rates of photosynthesis, stomatic conductivity, transpiration, leaf area, total dry mass and the fruit yield per plant were observed in melon plants irrigated with water of low salinity (0.3 dS m-1) compared to the ones with the saline water (5.0 dS m-1), and for the rates of N between 6.10 and 8.5g of N per plant for both levels of salinity. The suply of N in the form of calcium nitrate was effective on reducing the stress in melon plant the caused by the salinity of the irrigation water up to the rates of 6.20g of N per plant. In absolute terms we can affirm that the best performance of the melon plant was achieved with the dose of 6.25g of N per plant when irrigated with water of low salinity.