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.

The measures of leaf area for methods no destructive to evaluate the growth certain plants during the whole cycle. The experiment aimed at to establish a mathematical model to esteem the leaf area of cowpea, through measures maximum of length and width of the foliole. The measures were accomplished in collected leaflets of plants cultivated in vases. The real leaf area was certain through a leaf integrator (model LI 3100 LICOR.) and in the choice of the models they were appraised the types: lineal and potential, with measures of the length (L), width (W), product LxW and it adds L+W. The mathematical models obtained by regression were applied to the destructive methods and no destructive, and compared to the dear leaf area and too real. Measures of leaf area of cowpea can be dear starting from equations potential and lineal with good precision. The equations that involve two measured biometrics, for adds and the product, present better adjustment in the potential equation. Measures of leaf area starting from mathematical models, for being a method no destructive, they allow analysis of growth of vegetables with reduced number plants. The leaf area cowpea can be dear for the equations: LA=¿(0.9915(LxW)0.9134) and LA=¿(0.6597(LxW)+2.1745).

The work was carried out in order to evaluate the distribution of water applied to the plots, pointing out possible causes of waste and suggest solutions to the optimal use of irrigation water. Worked up with flow tests to determine the coefficients of Distribution Uniformity (CUD) and Christiansen (CUC). Obtained is then the graph of uniformity in the profiles of three-dimensional distribution of water in the plots. It also studied the relationship between the flow rates and actual project and the possible causes that led to problems. The results showed that the highest flow rates were observed at the beginning of the lines of issuers and end of the line of derivation. It was also observed that the sheet of water applied is largely of times greater than blade of water designed, presenting, however, points of disability where the blade was less than required in the project.

This work had the purpose evaluate physiological quality and incidence of fungi in twelve cowpea seeds cultivars, produced in the state of Ceará, Brazil, in 2005. The physiological quality was evaluated through the germination standard and vigour tests (First germination count) and sanity quality was evaluated through the method paper filter (blotter test) being used four repetitions of 100 seeds. In relation physiological potential of cultivars, it was observed that the cultivars presented low vigour, like Galanjão (0 %), Costela de Vaca (11,49 %) and Parambú (16,6 %). The germination index were low too, except Sempre Verde with 70,33 % the germination of seedlings normal. In respect the incidence of fungi in the seeds, the Fusarium spp. was detected in 0,5 a 0,6 %, Colletotrichum only in Corujinha (0,5 %), Pingo de Ouro 3 (2 %) and Macrophomina phaseolina was detected only in Costela de vaca and Pingo de ouro (0,5 %) and Galanjão (7 %). The incidence of Aspergillus spp. was verified in all you cultivars and Penicillium sp. was detected only in Galanjão, Pingo de Ouro and Costela de Vaca (12 %). Others fungi like Curvularia sp., Phoma sp., Trichoderma sp. and Alternaria sp. were detected in low incidence. The seeds evaluated shown a low physiological quality and the most frequent fungi were those of storage.

Is a native species of the Brazilian half-barren, pertaining to the family Anacardiaceae Lindl., being of importance socioeconomic for the populations of these regions. With intention to supply subsidies that contribute for optimum knowledge of the species, the present work has for objective the histochemistry characterization of leaflets of Spondias tuberosa Arruda. For this study cuts of the transversal from medium portion of leaflets, submitting them later the diverse reagents and corantings. The analyses had evidenced the starch granule presence, oxalate of calcium crystals, greasy composites, resins, phenolic composites and tannins. Mucilages peptics and reducing sugars had not been found in no tissues to leaflet. One expects that the results of the histochemistry tests serve as elements to qualitative comparison for identification of phytotherapeutics drugs and to the prospection of the principle(s) active(s) of the vegetable.

The hulls and the presscake, the two most important residues of castor processing and industrialization, are traditionally used as organic fertlizer. This study aimed to evaluate these residues as organic fertilizers in vases in order to optimize doses and promove the best use of their chemical properties. A trial was run in a randomized block design with four replications and eight treatments: four doses of castor presscake (0,5; 1,0; 1,5 e 2,0 t/ha) and four doses of castor hulls (0,5; 1,0; 1,5 e 2,0 t/ha) with addition of nitrogen fertilizer. Seeds of CSRN 393 castor bean line were planted in 22 liters vases. At 60 days after emergence, values of height, stem diameter, leaf area and total dry weight were taken. Castor bean presscake was showed to be a good organic fertilizer, mainly due to its high N content, however castor hulls was showed to be inappropriate as organic fertilizerdue to its high C/N ratio that cause nitrogen deficiency.

The lack of adequate management practices favors the reduction of the soil organic matter and fertility. The broad bean (Phaseolus lunatus) is a leguminous plant appropriate to human and animal feeding that is also cultivated to biomass production and soil incorporation as green manure. The objective of this work was to evaluate the rate of decomposition of broad bean leaves. Broad bean leaves (10 g) in nylon bags were set on the surface or 15 cm deep in the soil and leaf decomposition were evaluated every 15 days from October to December 2002, with the 2 x 5 factorial treatments, replicated three times and randomly assigned to the plots according to a completely random design. Buried leaves showed higher decomposition rate (96.7%) at day 75, while decomposition rate was higher (65.2%) at day 60 when the leaves were on the surface of the soil. Thus, as a result it is concluded that broad bean plants can be recommended for green manuring, being decomposed faster when incorporate to the soil.

The research was carried out to evaluate the quality of waters used in the irrigation of agricultural areas of Congo region, Paraíba State, Brazil. The water samples were collected in Cordeiro dam, in wells and in river, in two periods of the year, rainy (May/2006) and dry period (December/2006) and analyzed under the qualitative aspects of salinity, sodicity and toxicity of ions. For the studied conditions and in agreement with the evaluated parameters in both periods, most of the samples of water, as for the salinity, were considered normal for the use in the irrigation since special practical of soil and water management are adopted; as the toxicity of the ion sodium, more than 40% didn't present restriction to the use. In relation to the toxicity of the ion chloride, in the rainy period, 61% of the samples didn't indicate restriction to the use for irrigation and in the dry period, 44% presented restriction varying from low to moderate.

In the cemented plots, between July/93 and August/94, in the campus of the Federal University of Paraíba, in João Pessoa (lat 7o 02' 30'' S and long 3o 45' 06' W), experiments were carried out as follows: in the plots A, B and C podzolic soil was put into them and amended with 25kg of sugarcane bagass and added 80 earthworms (A), 10kg of bagass and 80 earthworms (B) and unamended and added 40 earthworms (C). The results showed that the sugarcane bagass improved same soil properties, by raising the pH and Ca++, organic C, S.O.M., and N levels. Microbial biomass (BM), in mg CO2-C.100g-1 of soil and microbial activity (MA), in g.year-1, showed a means: (A) BM= 7.88mg and AM= 1.54g; (B) BM= 10.44mg and AM= 1.59g; (C) BM= 3.29mg and AM= 1.25g. Ratio Cmic : Corg were higher in the plots with greater amount of sugarcane bagass (0.84% in A, 0.64% in B, and 0.33% in C). Earthworms population density (individuals.m-2) was initially 13 in the three plots and increased to 35 in A, 40 in B, and to 30 in C respectively. The results obtained here suggest that 10kg of sugarcane bagass enhanced soil microbial biomass and activity, and the earthworm population assayed.

In function of the low availability, due the precipitation and specific adsorption, the phosphorus is very required in fertilization programs. The availability of the phosphorus can be evaluated through chemical extractors, aiming simulate the soil-plant system. The aims of this work are: to determine the available phosphorus in a Quartzarenic Neosol through Mehlich -1, Mehlich -3 and Bray -1 extractors and to observe the relationship between the absorbed and accumulated phosphorus in the melon crop. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse at Federal Rural University, Pernambuco state, Brazil, in casualizated blocks with three replications and six doses of phosphorus (0, 37, 74, 148, 222 and 370 mg dm-3). The plants were collected at 37 days after seedling, determining the dry mass and the content of phosphorus in the shoot biomass and were collected soil samples to determine available phosphorus with Mehlich - 1, Mehlich - 3 and Bray - 1 extractors. The extractors didn't present differences to the available phosphorus. The increase of soil phosphorus doses increased the phosphorus content in the dry mass, without to cause changes in the production of dry mass.