Soil salinity is a abiotic factor that can harmful of Rhizobium-legumes symbiosis, reducing plant nodulation and growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of saline stress on nodulation of cowpea inoculated with strain of Bradyrhizobium sp. The study was conduced out using plastic pots containing 5 kg of a Neossolo Quartzarênico typical órtico. The experimental design was randomized and the treatments consisted of five levels of salinity of irrigation water (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 dS m-1). The seeds inoculation was made using inoculant containing Bradyrhizobium sp, strain BR 2001. The evaluations were made at 35 days after plant emergence, being determined the nodule number and dry mass and shoot mass. The analysis of variance showed that there was significant effect for salinity levels on all variables. The regression analysis showed negative linear and quadratic responses for the nodule number and dry mass, respectively. In relation to the dry mass was observed negative linear response. Nodulation of cowpea was reduced by the salinity levels showing a sensibility of symbiosis to saline stress.

The experiment was carried out at Plant Health Department of the Escola Superior de Agricultura de Mossoró, ESAM during the period of October to November of 2003, with the objective of evaluating the effect of different saline solution leveis on seed germination and development of seediings of song-thrush (Mimosa caesalpiniiflolia Benth.). A completely randomized experimental design was used with four treatments and four replicatíons of fifty seeds. The treatments consísted ofthree saline solutions (of 10, 20 and 30 dS/m) pius a control (0.614 dS/m). The seeds were incubated in sterilized sand into wood packing-case. The evaluated traits were emergency percentage, Índex of emergency speed, seediing height, number of leaves and seedlings fresh and dry mass. The increase of the leveis of solution salinity decreased the seediing height and Índex of emergency speed, besides of influencing on seed emergency percentage.

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).

A Caatinga vegetation was submitted to various grazing intensities (GI) by steers (1981-84) to verify their effect on ligneous stratum degradation. The study involved four GI: Heavy (1 steer/6.7 ha); Moderate (1 steer/10.0 ha); Light (1 steer/13.3 ha); Exclosure (no grazing). Areas under grazing varied from 40 to 80 ha, whereas exclosure had 20 ha. The research had two replications, occupying a total area of 400 ha. Data of woody species new plants density (NP) were determined annually in 1 m2 plots, and data of shrubs and trees density were determined by Point-Centered Quarter Method in 1982 and in 1984. NP density (Mean = 3.38 plants/m2) was neither affected by GI, nor by years, although it was highest in 1984 (3.83 plants/m2), the rainiest year. Taking into account the eight areas, there was linear relation (P<0.01) between 1982 and 1984 tree densities. There was linear relation between tree density and density of tree species in shrub stages in 1982, but not in 1984, because the drought probably affected shrubs but not trees. There was, for some tree and shrub species, linear relation between adult plant and NP densities. This fact occurred more in 1982. There was in 1983 a very high germination of the tree Tabebuia spongiosa (22.14 seedlings/m2), there being a linear relation (P<0.01) between NP and tree density.

The present work aimed to study the environment genotype interaction and estimate the componentssimple and complex of interaction as well as identify watermelon cultivars with phenotypic stability. Seven cultivars of watermelon were evaluated in six environments during the years of 1996, 1997 and 1998 in two location of Rio Grande do Norte State. The trait evaluated was the commercial fruits yield. The interaction Cultivar x Year wasn¿t significant, amount only to 3, 26 % of the total sum of square sum total of the source of variation. There wasn't interaction Cultivar x Location significant, however it explained 11,68 % of the total variation. The triple interaction was significant and explained 13,67 % of the total observed variation. The simple component was responsible for the most part of Cultivar x Environment interaction with about 61% of the total variation. The hybrid Jetstream had the best perfeormance with linear regression coeficient equal to unit, with regression deviation not significant, high coeficient of determination and average yield above the check.

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.

To the evaluate the different alternative foods identify like an agroindustrial by-products through on the total apparent digestibility and digestible nutrients determinations five Criole adult horses were housed in individual metabolism cages. From the reference diet (DR) contained peletized ration and tifton-85 hay, was made the substitution in 30% with weight basis (kg/kg) for each one of the agro industrial by-products, soybean residue (RS), soybean hulls (CS), wheat hulls (CT) and corn hulls (CM). In the digestibility obtained with each one of the alternative foods, the best values were obtained with CT (45.31% crude protein), with RS (78.86% ethereal extract), with CS (82.53% neutral detergent fiber), with CS (85.75% acid detergent fiber), CM (96.92 % non structural carbohydrate), CM (57.18 % total carbohydrate) e CS (57.67 % crude energy). In the determination of nutritional value with each one of the alternative foods, the best values were obtained with CT (7.53 % DCP), RS (5.11 % DEE), CS (53.04 % DNDF), CS (40.77 % DADF), CT (35.82 % DNSC), CM (48.12 % DTC), CM (2101 DEB kcal/kg). It was suggest that all alternative foods tested in this study can be used in the feeding horse, more over, the inclusion level and combination of these by-products in the diets to maximize feed efficiency and mantence of the digestive tract health will be depend on the readiness and regional cost.

The quality of coffee can be defined as a set of physical, chemical, sensory and security attributes that meet what the consumers want. The objective of this work was to evaluate and to compare the final quality of coffee produced by using the dry-process, using several procedures such as complete drying on cement terrace, suspended terrace, or their combination with mechanical horizontal rotary type driers. There was no significant change in the coffee quality obtained from any of the drying methods, however, it is known that the high percentage of cherry fruit, up from 90%, determined the high standard of quality of the drink and that this is influenced by the unripe fruits present in the product that cause undesirable fermentations and generate off-flavor.

This work presents a simple classification method to describe and evaluate the Caatinga vegetation, one of the most fascinating biosystems of the Brazilian landscape, which has been intensively explored since colonial times. Associated to remote sensing techniques, this classification will be able to contribute as a method of reference of terrestrial control, facilitating the interpretation of space images in the inventory of vegetative cover, in studies associated with environmental monitoring and management. For a given biome of Caatinga, the Woody Vegetation Biomass Index (WVBI) is the product of the Height Index (HI) by Cover Index (CI) of vegetation. For a condition of maximum preservation the WVBI is equal to 1. By determining of a reference volume the Woody Vegetation Biomass Volume (WVBV) will be able to be estimated.

The area of the extreme North of Minas, due to your character ecotone, involves a large number of physiognomies and floristic complexes, but presumably unknown. Thus, the aim of this research was to determine the structure and the floristic composition of an area of arboreal caatinga in Juvenília, Minas Gerais. Hopes to contribute with information that allow, in the future, that is arrived to a classification it aims at and coherent of this vegetation. A sample of 10 (20x20m) plots was allocated (400m2), distributed on a parallel transect to the largest axis of the fragment, and to each 20 meters in this transect two plots were allocated, distanced 10 meters to each other, totaling 0.4ha. All the individuals were registered with CBH (circumference at breast height) > 10cm. In the structure, 36 species with diversity of H' = 2.4 and eqüability of J' = 0.67 were sampled, values middlemen if compared with results of other works developed at Brazilian deciduous seasonal forests. Acacia martii, Caesalpinia pluviosa, Eugenia uniflora and Tabebuia impetiginosa presented the largest values in all the structural parameters analyzed. This links with the high abundance of those species. The community's diameter distributions tended to the normality with smaller amount of individuals in the classes smaller and larger diametric.