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.

In order to evaluate the effects of chemicals amendments sulphuric acid and gypsum to decrease sodicity in a saline-sodic soil of Irrigated Perimeter of Condado, Paraiba State, Brazil, an experiment was carried out in a green house of the Departamento de Solos e Engenharia Rural, Centro de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidade Federal da Paraiba, Areia, Paraiba State, Brazil. The experiment was conducted in 2x5 factorial design referring to chemical amendments sulphuric acid and gypsum at levels equivalent to 0; 1.8; 3.6; 5.4 and 7.2 g kg-1 of sulphate (SO4 -2). The chemical amendments exercised positive effects on reduction of exchangeable sodium percentage and pH in saturation extract evidencing improvement in relation to sodicit and alkalinity of the soil. The gypsum was superior to sulphuric acid in reduction of exchangeable sodium percentage and soluble sodium content in the soil solution.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of Freshwater Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) in different stocking densities in cages polycultured with Amazon River Prawn (Macrobrachium amazonicum). Four treatments were evaluated (1; 2; 3 and 4 fish.10 L-1) using two ponds and 24 experimental units. Water quality parameter reached adequate levels for the species. Production data were submitted to ANOVA. Fish produced in the lowest density showed higher values of final weight and standard length, and lower total biomass in comparison with the others treatments. Feed conversion rate, survival, batch uniformity and body factor were not significant different among treatments. The highest density tested produced more fish and gross yield than the others treatments. The density 20 fish.10L-1 is recommended to produce Freshwater Angelfish in cages polycultured with Amazon River Prawn.

At present, the preference of the internal and external markets is for small fruits. Therefore the size, other aspects equally are important and considered to determining harvest point how soluble solids, coloration and format. The objective of the present work was determined the physical-chemical changes during the development of watermelon 'Quetzali' with support for the harvest in the size demanded by the extern market. Six harvests were made, the first occasion of marks made on fruits with fresh weight of 2 g and the other at 10, 15, 20, 15 and 30 days of development. Next, the fruits were transported for the laboratory of Irrigated Agriculture of the UFERSA, in Mossoró-RN-Brazil. The experiment was installed in design entirely at random composed by five treatments (days of development), five replications and a fruit for replication. Fresh mass was analysed (g), growth rate of the fruit (g.day-1), length and diameter of fruit (cm), firmness of the pulp (N), vitamin C (mg.100 mL-1 ascorbic acid), soluble solids (SS, %) and titratable acidity (AT, g.100 mL-1 acid malic). The watermelon variety Quetzali obtained the very growth rate of 178.64 g to 20 days and the very diameter of 19.57 cm to 25 days, when size adapted for harvest. To 25 days of development the fruits had firmness of pulp 15 N, soluble solids 8.9%, titratable acidity 0.1289 mg.100 mL-1 acid malic and vitamin C 7.3 mg.100 mL-1 ascorbic acid.

The goals of this work consisted of identifying the prevalence of helminth eggs in household organic wastes generated in the urban zone of cities of the semiarid of the Paraíba. The work was accomplished from June to December of 2006 in 30 homes in the urban center of Cabaceiras, 30 in Caraúbas and 50 in Queimadas. Organic solid residues were collected during in three consecutive weeks and alternate days (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) in the generating source. For quantification of the helminth eggs three composed samples were picked up by city, resultants of ten fractions of organic solid residues collected in the homes. The amount of helminth eggs varied from 12.82 to 14.39 eggs/gST, with viability of 95.42%. In prevalence order, they enrolled Ancylostoma sp., Enterobius vermiculares, Fasciola hepatica and Ascaris lumbricoides. The eggs of Ancylostoma sp. were identified in 100% of the examined samples. The terrible sanitary quality verified for the household organic waste solid in three cities, located geographically in the area of the paraiban semiarid they suggest that these residues constitute important source of contamination to the environment and the human being, requesting the appropriate management.

This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of weeds and the performance of common bean grown on different types of plant residues managed with herbicides, in a no-till system. The treatments were arranged in split plots in a randomized block design with three replications. Prior to sowing common bean in the no-till system, plant residues of sorghum, maize, jack bean, sunflower, stylosanthes, rice, soybean and weeds were spread on the plots. Common bean was sown after chemical drying of the cover species. The two secondary treatments in split plots after bean sowing consisted of herbicide absence and the use of a mixture of the herbicides fomesafen (applied at a rate of 100 g ha-1 , 20 days after bean emergence-DAE) and quizalofop-p-ethyl (applied at a rate of 70 g ha-1, 25 DAE). Sorghum produced highest amounts of straw as well as the best soil cover. The plant residues did not influence the establishment of common bean. Herbicide application controlled weeds efficiently. However, the effects of mulch on weed control did not influence bean yield. The treatments influenced the number of pods per plant and grain yield of the bean yield components, with higher values in herbicide-treated plots.

Excessive salt can to promote water soil retention, reducing your availability to plants. Besides, they can interfere in protoplasm metabolism. The plants ability to survive in salinity conditions is an important factor to geographic distribution and agriculture in salinized regions. The objective of this work was to verify the effects of the NaCl in the growth, dry matter distribution and N, K, Ca, Mg, Na, and Cl content in young plants. The experiment was conducted in 'Leonard' pots, with nutrient solutions, with NaCl (0, 25, 50 and 100 mmol L-1). Increasing of NaCl concentration reduces growth and total dry matter. There was an increase of N and K content, in shoots, and N and Mg content in roots. There was an reduction in Mg content in shoots, and reduction of Ca content in roots with increasing of NaCl. Leucaena plants were inefficient to exclude Na and Cl, in shoots principally.

The Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is one of the main plague-insect specie of Brassicaceae plants in Brazil and all over the world. The resistant genotypes use to its control is a promising alternative. This work aimed evaluates the eggs distribution along the plant, the adults' density per plant, and determine the cauliflower genotypes effect in the P. xylostella oviposition. The experiment was carried out at FCAV/UNESP - Jaboticabal Campus Phytossanity Department (Departamento de Fitossanidade). It was evaluated the eggs distribution, the P. xylostella adults density effect using Sharon hybrid, and tests with or without choose choice to determine the P. xylostella nonpreference in the Teresópolis Gigante, Verona, Barcelona, Sharon, Silver Streak, and Piracicaba Precoce genotypes. It is possible conclude that P. xylostella has higher willingness to oviposits in the stem than in the basal leaves. The three couple density of P. xylostella per plant is the best to discriminate cauliflower genotypes regarding the resistance grade to nonpreference choose choice to oviposition. During the P. xylostella oviposition preference tests with choose choice, the genotypes Sharon, Piracicaba Precoce, Barcelona, Verona e Teresópolis Gigante are less desirable to oviposition; while during the no choose choice tests the genotypes did not differ among them.

The objective of this study was to compare the weather data obtained from both conventional (CWS) and automatic (AWS) weather stations, in Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil (latitude: 21º14'05" S, longitude: 48º17'09" W and altitude: 613,68m), from July 1997 to June 2002. Daily data were collected and analyzed statistically by regression analysis. The results showed a good relationship between CWS and AWS, specially for air mean temperature, minimum temperature, maximum temperature and rainfall. Air humidity and atmospheric pressure showed the highest errors, respectively equal to 5,69% and 3,64 hPa. Wind velocity at 2m did not show good precision and accuracy because its estimation for CWS.

Beginning with the observed rainfall data and the potential evapotranspiration for normal, dry and rainy years, the best period for the vegetable cultivation was evaluated for Ipojuca, Pernambuco, Brazil. The potential monthly evapotranspiration (ETP) data was computed using Hargreaves' method and transformed into ten-day averages. The sum total of rainfall over a ten day period, full evapotranspiration and half of the potential evapotranspiration data are used to characterize of the growth phase, along with the determination of the pre-humid, humid and post-humid periods. The results show that the best period for the initial growth phase in Ipojuca for dry years is from the 01st of March to the 06th of October spaning 223 days and with a total rainfall of 1414 mm. Results demonstrated that the best initial growth phase for sugar cane during normal years is from the 20th of February to the 06th of October, spaning 236 days and with a total rainfall of 1864 mm. And for the rainy years, the best period for the initial growth phase of sugar cane is from the 23th of January to the 20th of October, spanning a period of 267 days and with a total rainfall of 2578 mm.