Despite the mineral fertilization is an important factor for increasing castor beans yield, few researches has been made on this issue, mainly on the use de zinc and copper. In order to evaluate the effects of these elements on the nutritional status of castor bean plant two experiments were carried out in a greenhouse. The substrate for the pot plants was a 5 mm-sieved surface soil (Neossolo Quartzarênico). The experimental design was a completely randomized with three replications. The treatments of first composed of five levels of Zn (0; 2; 4; 6 and 8 mg dm-3) and second experiment were composed of five levels of Cu (0; 1; 2; 3; and 4 mg dm-3) which were applied at the time of planting. One plant of castor bean, cultivar BRS 188 - Paraguaçu, was grown per pot after thinning and was irrigated whenever necessary. At 90, 110, and 130 days after planting were collected the 4 th. leaves of each plant; at the end of the experimental period, all the leaves and stems were collected separately and in any plant material were determined the levels of zinc and copper. The Zn levels used affect the Zn level found in the leaves and stem, and this level is considered adequate. Cu treatments affect the Cu level found in the 4 th. leaves collected at 90 and 130 DAP, however, the Cu level in all periods and all parts of plants is low.

This paper was developed on partnerships between association of milk producers in Catingueira, Paraiba States to characterize the socioeconomic profile theses farmers. Interview with 11 farmers using semi-structure questionnaires showed 72.7% were farmer with lesser areas 100 ha, low educational level and utilizing labor family and 18.2% not had veterinary assistance. The majority farmers not did forage storage and not did utilization of mineral salt to diet animals. All farmers had PRONAF credit but not systematical technical assistance to definition of strategical program of intervention.

This study was carried out in order to evaluate the production and nutritional status yellow passion fruit plants, cultivar IAC 273/277+275 in functions of the water depths irrigation and plants number by cave. The experiment was developed in randomized blocks, using split plot with three replications. The water depths irrigation of 5.3; 7.9; 10.5 and 13.1 mm were the plots and the plants number per hole 1, 2, 3 and 4 were the subplots. The water depths irrigation and plants number by cave exercise significant effect on fruits production but without effect on mineral composition in dry matter of plant leaves. The number of plants increased the production of fruits by cave but it decreased the unitary production by plant. In treatments with four plants per hole were cropped 150 fruits. The supply of water at level of 10.61 mm day-1 induced more production by yellow passion fruits in treatments with four plants per hole.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect two hybrids of maize, cultivated on "safrinha" conditions, in different rates of 08-28-16 formula. The treatments consisted of two hybrids of maize (DKB747 e CO32) cultivated in no-tillage system (SPD) and five rates of fertilizer 08-28-16 (100, 200, 300, 400 e 500 kg ha-1). The randomized block design was used, with subdivided splots and four replications. The maize was sowed on 02/03/2006 using seeder pneumatic of mechanics traction, with four individual lines, spaced of 0.45 m During maize flowering period, morphologic components were evaluated; the harvest occurred on 150 days after the sowing, when the production components were evaluated. The hybrid of maize DKB747 showed greater efficiency, while the hybrid of maize CO32 was more responsive to rates used. NPK rates on 08-28-16 formula above 300 kg ha-1 are not necessary to the hybrid CO32 cultivated on "safrinha" conditions, in Botucatu region, state of São Paulo.

To evaluate the utilization of the biofetilizer substituting nutrient solution in hydroponic lettuce was carried out the study in greenhouse at Environmental Science Departament of the UFERSA, located in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. The statistical test was realized in randomized blocks, with thee repetitions. Treatments were composed of five nutrient solution (Biofertilizer - T1; Biofertilizer + 25% of the mineral nutrient solution - T2; Biofertilizer + 50% of the mineral nutrient solution - T3; Biofertilizer + 75% of the mineral nutrient solution - T4 and mineral nutrient solution - T5). The fresh and matter biomes, leaf area, diameter of caulis and number of leaf was analyzed. The T5 treatment showed better response in relation to growth parameters and production of hydroponic lettuce, demonstrating that in a hydroponic requires high levels of nutrients readily available to meet the rapid and high nutrient demand.

The experiment was carried out at the Embrapa Semi-Arid, Petrolina, Pernambuco State, Brazil aiming to study the behavior of five species of the genus Spondias: umbu-cajá (Spondias sp.), umbuguela (Spondias sp.), cajá (S. lutea L.), cajá-manga (S. cytherea Sonn.) e ceriguela (S. purpurea L.) grafted on umbuzeiro (S. tuberosa Cam), which presents a specialized root system bearing tubers. Five-years old plants, spaced by 10.0 m x 10.0 m were studied under rainfed conditions based on phenotypic and physiological data acquisition. The results indicated the occurrence of high levels of graft unions and good vegetative performance of all species, suggesting the occurrence of week incompatibility barriers among them and the rootstock. Consequently, all grafted species presented a internal water balance recovering similar to the umbuzeiro due to the presence of tubers in the root system. Despite the improvement on the species' water balance, the values on stomatal conductance, transpiration and photosynthesis significantly decreased along the experimental period suggesting the existing of a signal present in the root system that controls the stomatal aperture, although to the umbuzeiro, the reduction on gas exchange was less steeped.

The study propagation of non-cultivated plants aims the species domestication, and its propagation can be carried out by seeds. However exist factors that affect the germination, among them there are the size, the weight of seed and the use of chemical substances. The present work was carried out with the objective to evaluate the influence of the weight of seeds and chemical promoters on the seed germination of Hyptis pectinata. It was used seeds collected and classified of sambacaitá in blower machine, which had been placed to germinate on Petri dishes, and kept in germination chamber at 27ºC under constant light. The experimental design was the completely randomized in factorial scheme 2x4, referring two chemical seeds classification llow and heavy seeds) and three substances (GA3, KNO3 and PEG) and the control, with four replications of 50 seeds each. The variables analized were percentage, speed germination index and mean square for time of germination. The statistical analysis was carried out using the software Sanest, and the average values compared by the Test of Tukey 5%. The different classification of seeds by weight present influence on the physiological quality of sambacaitá's seeds. Heavy seeds germinate in higher percentage, and faster speed, and short time. The chemical treatment with KNO3 and GA3 increases the germination percentage, but for the speed germination index and germination do not present significant difference. The use of PEG increases the mean square time of germination of sambacaitá's seeds.

With the objective to determine the influence of the dehydration and of the size and/or weight on germination percentage and the vigor of jussara palm seeds (Euterpe edulis Mart.), 10 individuals' ripe fruits, picked in the Experimental Station of Ubatuba (IAC) they were classified by size in 5 sieves of circular sieve: 26/64¿ (10,31mm), 28/64" (11,11mm), 30/64" (11,90mm), 32/64" (12,69mm) and 34/64" (13,49mm). It was determined, the medium weight of the classified seeds. The quality of the seeds was evaluated through the following parameters: water content of the seeds; germination and vigor (first germination counting). It was evaluated the drying speed of different seed sizes for 48 hours, in dry chamber. The sizes of 28/64", 30/64" and 32/64" represented 98,7% of the total weight of the harvested seeds and showed similar drying speed, percentage of germination and vigor. With the increase of the drying period, the smaller seeds (28/64") had their germination less affected them the intermediate (30/64") and bigger sized seeds (32/64").

The present work aimed to estimate the litterfall rate accumulation in stands of Parkia pendula Benth., Caesalpinia ferrea var. ferrea Mart. ex Tul., Caesalpinia echinatta Lam., Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. and in the native forest in Nísia Floresta National Forest, in the Municipality of Nísia Floresta-RN. The biomass was collected with a metallic frame accomplished in 10 points of each stand in dry and rainy season of 2003. The material was separated in leaves, branches and miscellany fractions, washed, dried at 65ºC for 48 hours and after weighted. Larger biomass accumulation was observed in the Parkia pendula stand with 15.49 Mg.ha-1 and the smallest in Caesalpinia echinatta with 9.52 Mg.ha-1. It was verified in all the stands more leaf biomass production with high amount for Caesalpinia ferrea and Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, accumulating 10.38 and 10.25 Mg.ha-1, respectively. The branches+bark production was larger in the Parkia pendula plot with 4.95 Mg.ha-1 and in the native forest with 3.19 Mg.ha-1. The litterfall accumulation in the pure plantations was larger in the dry period, reaching 33% more than in the rainy season. The cluster analysis classified the forest typologies in two blocks, being the first formed by Caesalpinia ferrea, Mimosa caesalpiniifolia and Parkia pendula, and the second by Caesalpinia echinatta and native forest, with the leaf fraction being the main discriminatory variable.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accumulation of matter, dry matter content of Brix and two varieties of sugar cane, influenced by the phosphorus cultivated on "Zona da Mata" region, State of Alagoas. The experiment, a factorial 2 x 6, was composed of two varieties of cane; RB867515 and RB92579 and six phosphorus levels: zero, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 kg ha-1, with the source of the phosphorus triple superphosphate . Was also used nitrogen and potassium in doses equivalent to 100 and 200 kg ha-1 and K, respectively. The soil of the experimental area was set to raise the base saturation to 60%. At the beginning of the first rainfall of the rainy season of 2006 was performed with micro fertilization in coverage, in doses equivalent to 6,0; 6,0 and 7,0 kg ha-1 of Cu, Zn and Mn, respectively. Was The chemical control of weeds. Every month, from August to October 2006, samples were collected in the cane plant. There was initially the number of plants m2, followed by weighing the material. It was subsequently withdrawn a subsample containing ten plants for weighing. After weighing the material was passed in horsemanship and homogenized, again drew up a sample of approximately 300g, leading them to forced ventilation oven at 65 ºC, to obtain constant weight. Resulting in the production of natural (MN) and dry matter (DM). In July, we analyzed the levels of Brix% juice in the refractometer Brix. The average values of production of natural (MN), dry matter (DM) and contents of Brix% were subjected to analysis of variance and regression for variables. The accumulation of dry matter and were influenced by fertilization. The contents of Brix% in two varieties did not suffer significant influence of fertilization.