the research was installed in an experimental area (latitude 6º54'59,88"S, longitude 35º09'17,86"O and altitude of 121,00 m) of Capim II Farm, located in the Municipal of Capim/PB, with objective of evaluating the behavior of the culture of the sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), variety SP 79 1011, as for Leaf Area Index submitted to two factors: sheets of irrigation water and manuring levels with zinc. The experimental design consisted of randomizered blocks (DRB), with three repetitions in factorial outline 5 x 5 analyzed jointly. The irrigation sheets were: without irrigation, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the Etc considering the respective effective precipitations. The levels of zinc were 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 kg ha-1. The irrigation equipment used in the research was of the type central pivot fasten. The irrigation sheets influenced the area index significantly to foliate along the cultivation period. The maximum leaf area index of sugarcane it happens to the five months of age; at the end of the year of cultivation the variety SP 79 1011 of sugarcane answered, in a significant way, to the sheets of irrigation water. The differences in relation to the cane irrigated with 100% of the ETc they are respectively: 41,12; 23,37; 22,07 and 24,67%.

Surveys of the intensity of soft rot in plantations of lettuce and Chinese cabbage were performed from January to May 2004 in mesoregions of the Mata and Agreste of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Disease prevalence of 42.9% was observed in lettuce and 100% in Chinese cabbage. The incidence of soft rot ranged from 0 to 22% in lettuce and 1 to 67% in Chinese cabbage. In lettuce higher intensity of soft rot was observed in areas with more than 17 years of cultivation; planted with cultivars "Cacheada", "Elba" and "Tainá"; with clay soil type; irrigated by hosing; and having poor drainage. Lower disease intensity was detected in areas of cultivars "Verdinha" and "Salad Bowl"; when coriander was the previous crop; and when seedlings wereproduced in trays. In Chinese cabbage higher intensity of soft rot was found in areas having more than 10 years of cultivation, and in plantations with more than 50 days of growth. The sole subspecies detected causing soft rot in all areas of lettuce and Chinese cabbage was Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum.

Prickly pear has great potential for biomass production in agroecosystems of the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. However, this crop has a relatively high cost of planting, therefore, studies have aimed at management practices that optimize its fodder production for the greatest possible period of time. The present work was conducted within a 19-year old prickly pear field and had the objective of evaluating the effects of different planting densities (5,000 and 10,000 plants ha-1) and harvest intensities (preservation of primary or secondary cladodes during harvest) on biomass production and soil fertility. However, the preservation of secondary cladodes during harvest led to greater biomass production within the density of 5,000 plants ha-1. Fertilization with 20 t ha-1 of manure at 2-year intervals, increased ( P < 0.05 ) soil total N content ( Nt ) and also soil P extracted by the Mehlich-1 method, in relation to soil under native vegetation in an area adjacent to the prickly pear field. However, soil K extracted by Mehlich-1 the method, was lower in the area cultivated with prickly pear, in spite of the manure applications, showing that there is a need to add K from another source, as a way of maintaining long term levels of this nutrient in the soil.

A phytosociological comparative study was performed in two "caatinga" areas (A - productive pasture and B - degraded pasture), in the eastern "Cariri" microregion of Paraíba State, Northeast of Brazil. The multiple plots method was used, where 40 plots were established in each area, being measured living trees and shrubs with diameter at base height (DAB) ³ 3 cm and plant height (At) ³ 1 m. Eight botanic families, ten genera, and ten species were identified in area A. The Cactaceae and Mimosaceae were the best-represented families in number of individuals in this area. Six families, eight genera, and nine species were identified in area B, where Cactaceae, Mimosaceae and Euphorbiaceae were the best-represented families. The following parameters, total number of sampled individuals (N), basal area (BA), and total density (TD) had in area A 438 individuals, 12.22 m2.ha-1, and 2737 individuals per hectare, respectively, which were higher than area in B, that had the following values: 308 individuals, 11.31 m2.ha-1 e 1925 individuals per hectare, respectively. These results allow to postulate that the uncontrolled grazing practiced in that microregion of Paraíba State, is leading to an environmental degradation of the "caatinga" phytocenosis (a set of plants with ecological similar preferences, living in the same biotope).

The aim of this work was to verify the effects of Lithothamnium (Concinal Fertilizador®) in different substrates. The experiment was carried out at plant formation area at Federal University of Lavras orchard, testing the following doses of Lithothamnium: 0; 2; 4; 6; and 8 kg m-3 in two compositions of substrates: A (organic compost + sand + soil at 1:1:3 volume proportion) and B (Plantmax + sand + soil at 1:1:3 volume proportion). The randomized blocks was 5 x 2, with 4 repetititons, and 5 plants for plot. The following characteristics had been evaluated: length of the aerial part (CPA), length of the system to radicular (CR), leaf number (NF), dry substance of the aerial part (MSPA) and dry substance of the root (MSR). For seedling production of passion fruit, Lithothanium was good option for growth of passion fruit seedling, and the substrate B promoted best plants.

This work makes a approach of the familiar agriculture of the Assentamento Redonda in the City of Icapuí in the State of the Ceará, objectifying tytisy to identify, to classify the familiar agriculturists having for base the survival strategies put in practical for these actors in the process of local development. The methodology adopted in the work searched to make possible adequate knowledge of the agricultural activity and the agricultural agriculturist, through the analysis of economic performance and parameters that they make possible to measure the stimulus to the investment in the production, as well as the degrees of integration to the market and specialization of the production. In accordance with the gotten results, in the studied locality, the properties are considered integrated to the market and possess greater specialization in the cattle production and of cashew chestnut. Between the studied producers, it has low stimulus to invest in the farming production; this if must to the fact from that the majority of the income of the seated ones is proceeding from other sources as: retirements, pensions, stock market family (bolsa família), wages and others, what it becomes the agricultural activity relatively less attractive. Words Key: Tipificação, Familiar Agriculture, System of Production, Icapuí-ce.

In order to evaluate the response of Nitrogen and Simple super phosphate fertilization in the growth of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Deneger) seedling an experiment was carried out at shady chamber (50%) at Agricultural Department of Universidad Federal de Lavras (UFLA). A randomized block design was used with factorial scheme 4x4, with four replications and five plants by plot. It was used 4 doses of Nitrogen (0; 800; 1600 and 3200 mg N dm-3 of substrate) and 4 SS doses (0; 2,5; 5,0; and 10,0 kg m-3 of substrate. It was evaluated the characteristics: high of plants ( cm), root length (cm) number of leaves/plants, dry matter of aerial part and root (g/plant). ). It was verified that the nitrogen fertilization in cover warranty best quality in production of plants of yellow passion fruit. The simple super phosphate not showed good results substrate formulation to formation of seedlings of yellow passion fruit.

The experiment was carried for 12 months in the Rabbit Unit of Departamento de Zootecnia at the Universidade Federal do Ceará. The aim of this work was to evaluate the rabbit reproductive parameters and ponderable performance of the races New Zealand (NZ) and Califórnia(CA) , in Ceará, Northeast Brazil. Animals were fed with a commercial feed of 2500 kcal DE/kg for rabbit in reproduction. Thirty does (50% of each race) were distributed at random in experimental cages, such that each ¿treatment¿ (race) had 15 replications. Data were analyzed in a complete randomized design. Does were selected by weight and age, being included in the expeiment with 3,0 kg and 4,5 months of age, approximately. The male/female ratio was 1:10. Pregnancy check was done by palpation 15 days after mating. Reproductive management adopted was mating 10 days after delivery and weaning at 30 days of age (semi-intensive). Productivity in maternity was similar between races. Numeric productivity for both races was 31.3 rabbits weaned/cage/year. Does CA showed greatest maternal ability as compared with NZ does, with heavier offspring at birth, at 21 days, and at weaning. Finally, it is suggested that to produce a rabbit for slaughtering, it should use females CA with males NZ, in single or industrial mating.

The search to exotic fruits by the consumers and producers have in creasing in the latest years. The commercialization in CEAGESP is being similar to the flowers, that are an important part. The dovialis can be used in this way and the present research was conduced due the ausence of technical information about this culture. Evaluate the influence of the temperature on percentage of germination of seeds of this plant. The experiment was conduced in the Laboratory of Seeds, located in the Department of Vegetable Production, of FCAV - UNESP - Campus of Jaboticabal/SP, using seeds that were extracted from ripe fruits of dovialis trees, washed, placed to dry on shade and so conditioned in gerbox, being realized 4 replications with 10 seeds in each one and the treatments were composed by 4 temperatures: 15, 20, 25 and 35ºC, in a experimental delineation entirely randomized. The values of percentage of germination were transformed in arc sen x/ 100 . The averages were compared by the test of Tukey, with 5% of probability. Were realized daily evaluations of the number of germinated seeds, being the percentage of germination represented by the adding of the obtained plants, and the VIG was calculated according to Maguire (1962). Through the obtained results in this research, can be concluded that the temperatures of 20 and 25ºC were the most appropriated to a higher and faster germination for the specie in study.

This work was carried out to measure the adaptability on the heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (RF) and rectal temperature (RT) in Boer and Anglo-nubiana goats at Meio-Norte, Brazil. Fourteen male goats were used (7 = Boer and 7 = Anglo-nubiana) in the same conditions. In the same days and times were too collected the temperature and (TA) and relative humidity of the air (UR). The SNK test was used to compare the means. The results obtained to Bôer and Anglo-nubiana was, in dry period, HR (beats/minutes) = 79.3±16.1 and 97.0±18.3; RF (mov.min-1.) = 25.5±5.9 and 34.4±13.3; TR (oC) = 39.2±0.4 and 39.4±0.4. In rain period, in the same breed order HR = 75.1±6.9 and 82.5±6.0; RF (mov./min.-1) = 27.7±4.47 e 26.7±5.5; TR (oC) = 39.3±0,4 and 39.4±0,4. The TA, in oC, and UR, in %, were in the dry period 33.0±1.5 and 55.0±7.43; and in the rain period, 30.0±2.02 and 81.2±6,99. The Anglo-nubiana goats showed the highest HR, RF and RT relative to the Boer goats in the dry and in the rain periods that indicate the Boer goats are better adaptable in the hot stress conditions.