The objective of the present work was to evaluate the entomophauna associated to pigeonpea in the Reconcave Region of Bahia, Brazil. Fifteen day period collections were carried out between September 2004 and October 2005. A total of 4,799 samples represented by 58 species and distributed in six orders and 25 families were collected in experimental plantations. The richest order in species was Hemiptera with 30 species represented by 57.43% of the total of the individuals collected. The Membracidae family was the most abundant with 36.72% of the total of the samples whereas the Enchenopa gracilis species was the most featured with 9.38% of the total. Hymenoptera was the second order regarding richness with 14 species being represented by 37.03% of the individuals. Among the species identified, the Atta and Acromyrmex species were the most damaging to the pigeonpea crop leading to significant losses in the early stages of the crop.

Currently, the concern on different poultry market has increased and among several native species, partridge, (Rhynchotus rufescens) is good option as source of avian protein, showing excellent carcass performance. The aims of this paper were to study environmental and genetic factors those affect body weight on different ages in partridges, raised in captivity. Data were collected in the Wild Animal Section of Departamento de Zootecnia, located at Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (UNESP), at Jaboticabal - SP. Partridges were raised in a commercial avian barn and families were kept using 1 sire to 2 or 5 dams. Mattings were through natural ride. Eggs were collected daily, weighted, measured and identified by box and sire for pedigree control. Chick were identified and weighted at birth and weekly til get 30 weeks of age. Data set had 13,164 weights taken from 2000 to 2004. The statistical analyses were performed by least squares method and heritability estimated y the Maximum likelihood method. The overall means of 3(W3), 7 (W7), 14 (W14), 21 (W21), 28(W28), 35 (W35), 42 (W42), 49 (W49), 56 (W56), 63(W63), 70(W70), 77 (W77), 84 (W84), 91 (W91), 98 (W98), 105 (W105), 112 (W112), 119 (W119), 126 (W126), 133 (W133), 140 (W140), 147 (W147), 154 (W154), 161 (W161), 168 (W168), 175 (W175), 182 (W182), 189 (W189), 196 (W196), 203 (W203) and 210 (W210) days weight were 38.92g, 52.23g, 76.40g, 105.61g, 137.79g, 208.38g, 208.56g, 249.99g, 293.71g, 335.45g, 373.86g, 408.53g, 440.83g, 467.92g, 503.29g, 522.36g, 548.70g, 564.21g, 582.71g, 593.59g, 603.69g, 613.85g, 629.08g, 642.44g, 637.03g, 646.91g, 637.81g, 653.86g, 662.63, 663.19g and 667.385, respectively. The estimates of heritability to egg weight and weight at birth showed large genetic variability among birds and selection for weight at these ages could be done. The genetic and environmental effects are difficult to estimate in old ages and require more information to provide best estimates.

An experiment was carried out at a greenhouse of Plant Science Department of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró-RN, in the period of May to June of 2006, with the objective of determing the best treatment with scarlet starglory (Merremia aegyptia L.) incorporated to with soil on rocket performance cv. Folha Larga. A completely randomized desing with six treatments and four replications. The treatment consist of: T1 - 19g pot-1 of scarlet starglory in green base plus; T2 - 28g pot-1 of scarlet starglory in green base plus; T3 - 37g pot-1 of scarlet starglory in green base; T4 - 46g pot-1 of scarlet starglory in green base; T5 - 55g pot-1 of scarlet starglory in green base; T6 - Fertilization with NPK at the recommended dose for the crop and. The rocket cultivar grown was Folha Larga. The evaluated traits were: plant height, number of leaves per pot, shoo fresh and dry mass. All the evaluated traits were significantly affected by the amounts of scarlet starglory incorporated. Height mean value for plant height, shoo fresh, dry mass and number of leaves were obtained in the amount of scarlet starglory incorporated of 19 g pot-1.

To evaluate litter production monthly, a experiment was carried in RPPN Fazenda Tamanduá, Santa Terezinha (PB), from august/2005 to july/2006. The litter collectors of 1m x1m were distributed in a well preserved Caatinga forest sister. Litter was fractioned into leaves, stems, reproductive structures and miscellany, and then dried and weighed. Estimated total litter production in the twelve month was 2.283,97 kg ha-1, being 65,09% leaves, 25,41% stems, 8,72% reproductive structures and 0,87% miscellany. The magnitude of litter deposition was leaves > stems > reproductive structures > miscellany, with deposition seasonality, with deposition peacs in the sainy season begin.

With the objective of evaluate the changes in the physical-chemistry characteristics of the soil cultivated with bell pepper, fish effluent, natural phosphate and cow manure, an experiment was accomplished in the vegetable garden of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-árido-UFERSA. A randomized complete block design in split plot scheme with two replications within of block. In the plot the water types were designated (well water and fish effluent), in the subplot the treatments of the factorial 2x2, resulting from the combination of two match levels (with and without natural phosphate) with two cow manure levels (with and without cow manure), and in the sub-plot the evaluation times (before and after the bell pepper culture). Soil samples were collected before and after the bell pepper cultivation of 0-20 cm depth. After the assembly of the overhead irrigation and distribution of the treatments, it was collected of each plot a soil sample for the accomplishment of the physiochemical analyses. To verify the alterations happened in the soil with the treatments, after the last crop, to the 100 days after culture. Two sources of irrigation waters were used. The first originating from of a tubular well. And second of a Orecochomis niloticus cultivation. The appraised characteristics in the soil before and after the cultivation they were: chemical analysis of the soil (nitrogen, match, organic matter).

The work was conducted in Acauã site, in Caucaia - Ceará State, in a "semi-árida" coast region. The objective was to evaluate thermal stress occurrence and his possible impact on ovulation induction treatment efficiency, onset of estrous behavior of dairy Goats from different breeds. Twenty two adult goats were utilized: 10 Saanen, 4 American Alpines and 8 ½ Murciana x undefined breed, raised in installations with high floor, side windows and sunny areas. The estrous induction treatment was conducted using vaginal sponges with MAP, intramuscularly Cloprostenol and eCG. In the environment were registered air temperature and humidity, Radiant Heat Load and Black-Globe Humidity Index. Rectal temperature was similar between breeds and partum order. Respiratory rate was higher in Alpine goats. The induction treatment and estrous behavior interval was similar in ½ Murciana x undefined breed goats and Saanen goats and higher in Alpines and multiparous goats. The fertility rate at 1st AI was lower in ½ Murciana x undefined breed goats and multiparous goats.

In order to evaluate the effects of two doses of organics composts of two different origins in the lettuce yield was conduced this work. The composts, originated from mixture of straw brachiaria seed, cattle manure and chicken manure. The composting was conduced by 35 days with monitoring of temperature. Lettuce yield was evaluated in experiment carried during 30 days. The chicken manure compost increased lettuce yield in the two doses evaluated. The cattle manure compost didn¿t increased the growth of lettuce in the larger dose. The chicken manure compost, with 35 days, was recommeded for utilization in the fertilization of lettuce with increments in the yeld.

This study aimed at knowing the diversity of fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) and discussing the influence of abiotic factors on the population fluctuation of these species on a guava (Psidium guajava L.) orchard in Russas, CE. Two McPhail traps baited with protein hydrolisate at 5% were set up on the orchard. The traps were serviced weekly and all the insects captured were transported to the laboratory where the fruit flies were separated from other insects, counted and preserved in alcohol (70%). The survey was carried out from January to December 2003. Tephritids were identified at the Laboratório de Moscas-das-Frutas at UFERSA, in Mossoró (RN). Population fluctuation was calculated based on the number of flies/trap/day, considering the total number of males and females of Anastrepha and Ceratitis. Climate data used in this study were obtained from CENTEC weather station. The correlation between population fluctuation and abiotic factors was analyzed using Spearman correlation coefficient at the 5% level. A total of 1,164 fruit flies belonging to four species were captured - Anastrepha zenildae Zucchi (77.45%), A. sororcula Zucchi (18.69%), A. obliqua (Macquart) (0.15%) and Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) (3.71%). Among the abiotic factors, temperature and relative humidity were the ones that most indirectly influenced the population fluctuation of fruit flies. However, the availability of host fruits is the preponderant factor that determines the populational peaks of fruit fly species throughout the year on this guava orchard in Russas (CE).

The water and soil natural resources in the semi-arid tropics are under pressure and are inclined to degradation due to the severe environment and shallow soils, in ecologically sensitive regions to anthropic actions. In view of the above, this work aimed to characterize the structure and the hydraulic evaluation of the surface water typical of interrill erosion, in a caatinga area of Serra Talhada country in Brazil. For this the quadrant point method was used in the structural characterization of the vegetation of caatinga for trees and shrubby species. Laminar surface regime was generated from a rain simulator in 2 m2 plots with caatinga in the humid and dry seasons. The differentiations of the flow rates, average surface water speed and the Reynolds number, had demonstrated the significant effect of seasonality on the characteristic laminar surface water of the interrill erosion. The observed tree-shrub structure of caatinga contributed to the low values of runoff coefficient of the interrill areas, demonstrating the efficiency of caatinga, and its resulting vegetated cover in the interception of rain and, in the delay of the surface water. The low values runoff also observed also contributed to the high rates of infiltration of water.

Corn yield losses caused by weeds may reach up to 80%. Reducing the use of herbicides is one of agriculture's major goals and several alternatives are currently being investigated, including intercropping. In the Brazilian Northeast, corn intercropping with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is extensively practiced, and there is interest in evaluating weed control under this type of intercropping. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different cowpea planting times, intercropped with corn, on green ear yield of two corn cultivars. The experiment was carried out under randomized design blocks with four replications. AG 1051 and AG 2060 corn cultivars were submitted to the following treatments: no hoeing, two hoeings (20 and 40 days after planting), and cowpea planting (BR 4 - Mulato cultivar, with indeterminate growth) at corn planting and at 5, 10, and 15 days later. Twenty-eight weed species were found in the experiment area. In all characteristics evaluated, except for plant height, ear height, and total number of green ears, where no difference occurred between treatments, the lack of weeding determined the smallest means, while weed control determined the highest. In plots where cowpea was sown, intermediate means were obtained for number and weight of marketable unhusked green ears and for number and weight of marketable husked ears. This suggests that cowpea controlled weeds to a certain extent, especially when it is planted earlier, which was, however, insufficient to avoid green ears yield loss. The corn cultivars evaluated were not different among themselves, except with regard to ear height. The cowpea grain yields were practically null in all plots.