The objective was to evaluate the horse behavior during the total time at leisure in testing of metabolism. Four male crossbred horses, with average age of eight years and alive weight of 376,09 kg, were used in an experimental delineation in Latin square (4 x 4), lodged in individual boxes. The treatments had been constituted by four diets: Alfalfa hay + Concentrated (ACSP); Tifton hay (low nutritional quality) + Concentrated (TCSP); Tifton hay (low nutritional quality) + Concentrated with Probiotic (TCCP); Alfalfa hay + Concentrated with Probiotic (ACCP). It was observed a statistical difference (P<0.05) in the percentages of total resting time, alert and head low, in the (ACSP) treatment, showing elevate value 76,85; 4,65 and 1.49%, respectively. The inquietude either showed a significative difference (P<0.05) showing values 5.29% for (ACCP) and (TCCP), respectively. The alimentary activities either showed a statistical difference (P<0.05) for (ACSP and ACCP), showing 10,45% average values. During prolonged resting times, the appeared of behavior disturbs were evident.

This study was conducted to evaluate the yield of two maize varieties cropped with organic and mineral fertilizations either associated or unassociated. The randomized experimental design was used under a factorial scheme 2 x 3 x 2, with four replicates. The first factor corresponds to two maize varieties (Nitrodent and Nitroflint), whereas the second one represents three levels of mineral fertilization: without mineral fertilizer; 300 kg/ha of 4-14-8 + 100 kg/ha ammonium sulfate (S.A.); and 600 kg/ha of 4-14-8 + 200 kg/ha S.A. The third factor represents two organic fertilization levels: without organic fertilizer; and 40 m3/ha organic compound. The experimental plot consisted of eight plant rows with 8m length each one and 1m spacing from each others, so totaling 64 m2 area. The yield of the maize grains by plot were evaluated, and the data were subjected to variance analysis (test ¿ 5%). The averages were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability level. Both varieties Nitrodent and Nitroflint only cropped under the organic system reached more than 6.500 kg/ha. The exclusive organic cropping system provided higher yields of maize grains, compared to the conventional system. No significant differences were found between the exclusive organic system and the combination of both organic and conventional systems upon the grain yield of the Nitrodent variety.

The soil fertility and plant nutrition are influenced by electrochemical reactions occurring on the surface of soil colloids. The point of zero salt effect (PZSE) is an important parameter to study the surface charge of those colloids, since, it allows to determine the net surface charge of soil particles. This paper aimed to determine the PZSE and the net electrical charge of twelve soils from Paraíba State, which samples were collected at the depth of 0-30 cm. The point of zero salt effect was determined using program computational PZSE for Windows version 1.0. The method adopted was the potentiometric titration with different ionic strength using electrolyte NaCl in concentrations 0.1; 0.01 and 0.001 M. The use of the program has a better analysis and accuracy of the values obtained for the PZSE, which ranged from 3.06 to 5.41. All soils had values of PZSE smaller than the pH in water, being, therefore, electronegative. All soils had the potential and the electrical charge negative, possibly due to the effect of organic matter once it presented significant correlation with PZSE.

In environmental studies is important to know the adsorption process of heavy metals in clay minerals, since they are able to immobilize these metals. Knowing the cations adsorption is influenced for several factors, the objective of this research was to study the zinc adsorption process by bentonite clay and to evaluate the particle size of clay and pH influence on this process. In order to quantify the adsorbed zinc, 2 g of bentonite clay, dried at room temperature and sieved at 0.5 and 2-mm-mesh, were equilibrated for 24 hours with 20 mL of water containing different quantities of zinc (10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg L-1) as background solutions of pH values 4 and 6. Langmuir's adsorption equation in its linearized form was applied and the values of the maximum capacity and those of the constant related to the bonding energy were obtained. The results showed that Langmuir equation was adequate to describe zinc adsorption at different pH values and particle size of bentonite clay. Zinc adsorption in bentonite clay depended on pH and particle size, decreasing as they increased. The maximum retention capacity, 3.24 mg g-1, was obtained in pH 4 using particle size of bentonite clay < 0,5 mm.

The work was developed in a greenhouse, with the objective to evaluate the behavior of Sudan sorghum in one normal and another saline-sodic soil treated with increasing concentration solutions of calcium chloride. Two samples of Alluvial Soil proceeding from the half-barren part of Paraíba, Brazil, with salinity and sodicity problems had been used. The physical and chemical characterization of soil samples was carried and was mounted an experiment in randomized block type, at 2 x 6 factorial arrangement, being two soils and six solutions of calcium chloride with increasing concentrations, in three replicates. The soil had been conditioned in polyethylene vases with 5,0 kg of capacity, being submitted to the ticket of the solutions during sixty days, being then made a sampling for determination of the exchangeable sodium and the calculation of ESP. After this period, was planted one sorghum tolerant cultivar to salinity, being continued the ticket of the solutions under daily irrigation. At 60 days of application of calcium chloride solutions, it was observed that it had a reduction of the ESP, which continued being reduced until the 120 days, mainly for the saline-sodic soil, correcting the sodicity partially. The effect of the salinity had been evident in sorghum cultivated in saline-sodic soil, with problems since the germination in the treatments of lesser calcium chloride concentration, with improvement in the growth of the plants in the intermediate levels and decrease in the last level, probably, for the raised saline concentration, reflecting in the height of the plants and the production of dry matter.

Hydroponics is a method of culture which offers producers a larger number of cycles throughout the year, and value aggregated to vegetables. Empiricism, however, in the use of nutritive solutions, and the non-adoption of harvest times at which lower nitrate content can be achieved, may lead to a drop in produce quality due to the accumulation of nitrate. An experiment using a hydroponic method, the NFT, was conducted in the spring of 2003, in Jaboticabal, SP, aimed at evaluating nitrogen concentration in the nutritive solution (60,8; 121,6; 182,5; 243,5 mg L-1), rocket cultivars (Cultivada, Folha Larga and Selvática) and harvest time factors (7 a.m., noon and 5 p.m.) in nitrate content of rocket. The experiment was carried out in a randomized blocks design and a 4 x 3 x 3 factorial design, with four replications. For nitrogen concentration in the nutritive solution of 93 mg L-1, which showed higher MFPA, nitrate content was 598,4 mg kg-1 NO3 - fresh matter for rocket harvested at 7 a.m.

The purpose of this study was to assess the seedling growth of cashew and tamarind rootstocks with nitrogen fertilization. To this end, two experiments were conducted in the Production Sector of the State University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UEMS), at the University Unit of Cassilândia (UUC), Brazil. Five nitrogen levels were tested: 0, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 mg/dm3 of N in the substrates. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with 4 repetitions and ten plants per parcel. 20 ml of urea solution were added to each application from each treatment containing 45% nitrogen. The application was repeated four times. Ninety days after planting, we assessed plant height (cm), number of leaves/seedling, plant diameter (mm), roots, aerial part, root and total dry matter (g/seedling). Nitrogen fertilizer in doses of up to 2000 mg/dm3 of N in the substrate ensures better cashew and tamarind rootstock seedling quality. A 3200 mg/dm3 dose of N in the substrate had a growth depression effect on the rootstock seedlings.

It was carried out, in the nursery area located at Campus of Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) Minas Gerais, an experiment aiming to evaluate different doses of simple super phosphate and two substrates in plant production of loquat tree. It was tested four doses of simple super phosphate (0; 2.5; 5; 10 kg m-3 of substrate) and two substrates: A (organic compost + sand + soil in 1:1:3 volume proportion) and B ( Plantmax + sand + soil 1:1:3 volume proportion) A randomized block design was used with a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, with four replications and four plants per plot. The following characteristics were evaluated: high of plants (cm); length of root (cm); number of leaves/plant, dry matter of above ground part, roots and total (g/plant). The results showed that for seedlings of loquat tree, it is recommended to mix to substrate the super phosphate fertilizer in doses until 6 kg m-3. Between the substrates, the one the showed more viable was the substrate A (organic compost + sand + soil in 1:1:3 volume proportions).

With the objective of analyzing the impact of the nutritional and sanitary manages bioeconomically in properties of the South of the State of Tocantins, through productivity indices, it accomplished a survey, through questionnaire, in 12 properties, of the which, it was selected intentionally six, that it were divided in two groups: group "A", containing three properties that accomplish appropriate nutritional and sanitarium manages; and group "B", also with three properties whose nutritional and sanitarium manages are deficient. After completion of the questionnaire, for gauging of the productivity indices of each group, it can be glimpsed the magnitude of the impact of the nutritional and sanitary manages on the systems of creation of animals sheep, demonstrating that the properties of the group "A", in spite of the expenses with feeding and medicines, it possess more competitive and lucrative profile in relation to the group "B". Of ownership of the data of the indexes productivity, it took place an evolution of a flock, containing 100 ewes and three reproductive, where the group "A" presented a larger number of animals to be sloughtered, proving the profitability of the systems that use an appropriate nutritional and sanitarium manages rationally.

The Brazilian northeast region is the main melon producer of Brazil, however in the rainy period there is a significant fall in the quality and amount of melon produced. This work aimed to evaluate the quality and the shelf-life of 'Frevo' yellow melon produced rainy time and stored under cold storage. The completely randomized design was used, in factorial scheme 5 x 4, with five replications. The treatments resulted of the combination of five storage times (0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days) and four storage temperatures (7, 9, 11 and 13 ºC). In each storage time the fruits were analyzed 48 hours after the withdrawal of these of the cold chambers to simulate the market conditions. The evaluated characteristics were flesh firmness, soluble solids, weight loss, chilling injury and internal and external appearances. The fruits kept at 13ºC and 11ºC temperatures had a postharvest shelf-life of 21 days, however, temperatures around 7ºC and 9 ºC favored the development of chilling injury, being apparent at 14º day. The temperatures and the time studied are not determinative for the increase or reduction in the soluble solid content.