The red rice in Brazil is cultivated mainly in the Northwester region and practically unknown for major of the Brazilian population. This culture have a great importance for small farmers, but needs more studies. The objective of this research was evaluate agronomics traits, the seed physiological quality and the crude protein content of selected cultivars of red rice, Vermelho Pequeno and Vermelho Virgínia, from cultivation and selection in the UFRRJ, contrasting with the commercial cultivars, Caiapó and BRS Primavera, of white rice. The experiment was installed in November of 2004, in Seropédica, RJ, in the experimental design of randomized blocks with four repetitions. It was evaluated: plant height; harvest index; number of viable tillers/ m²; number of spikiest/panicle; percentage of fertile spikelets/panicle; weight of a thousand spikelets; seed water content; weight of 1000 spikelets; productivity; germination; first counting of the germination test and crude protein content. The Vermelho Pequeno cultivar presented higher productivity of grain, higher tillering capacity, higher spikelets production, medium size, index of harvest, crude protein content and quality seed to similar to that of commercial cultivars.

It was evaluated the influence of doses of KCl applied to soil and to the leaf axil of the the quality of the fruit and on the concentration of K in the water and peel of the fruit. The experiment was carried out at a commercial orchard of green dwarf coconut tree (Cocos nucifera L.) in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, in a typical Ortic Quartzarenic Neossol, during one year, using a randomized complete block design with five treatments and sixteen replicates. The treatments consisted in two application ways (in the soil and in the axil of the leaf number nine) and two manuring levels (1666 and 3333 g of KCl plant-1 year-1 in the soil and 833 and 1666 g plant-1 year-1 in the leaf axil, with three month intervals), besides a control, without KCl. The application of KCl resulted in the increase of the concentration and of the content of K in the waterand in the peel of the fruit. There was no influence of potassium fertilization on the mass, the volume, the pH, C.E. and SST of the coconut water. The application of high doses of K should be reviewed in view of the low recovery rate of the potassium fertilizer.

The aim of this paper was to conduct a temporal evaluation of the deposition of litter in a human- disturbed area of caatinga in a process of natural regeneration for 16 years. The study was conducted at the Institute for Agronomical Research - IPA station in Caruaru, state of Pernambuco. Litter was collected monthly throughout the year on a total area of 5.48 m2. The total litter was kg ha yaer-1 9158.93, consisting of 28.90%, 16.82%, 16.95% and 37.33% of leaves, twigs, seeds and miscellaneous, respectively. There were seasonal differences in the deposition of litter, with higher deposition in the dry season. However, there was no monthly variation in the deposition of litter between the months of the season and, and with the exception of the miscellaneous fraction precipitation, it did not maintain connection with the deposition of litter. The paper concluded that after 16 years of regeneration, the area has anthropogenic litter deposition pattern similar to that recorded in other areas of scrub and other factors related to seasonal work, modeling the deposition of litter and influencing the cycling of matter in dry environments.

"Caatinga", dominant vegetation in Brazilian semiarid, has suffered severe degradation process, triggered, among other reasons, by the traditional agricultural and extractive activities. The need to conserve the environment and natural resources in agricultural and forestry activities, led to search for alternatives to conventional production. In this context, agroforestry systems, that integrate trees with crops and livestock, are an alternative operating sustainably. With the aim of studying the potential for preservation tree species of the "Caatinga" in an agrosilvopasture system in semiarid, in Sobral-CE, was evaluated the relatives density, frequency and dominance, the importance value index and the Shannon e Wiener index, of the woody component of this system. It was found that the vegetation management practices of trees and shrubs used in the system decrease density, and interfered in height and diameter distribution of individuals in relation to the original vegetation of the Caatinga. However, these practices were effective in preserving the wealth of flora species of trees and shrubs, similar to the area of native vegetation reserve. Cordia oncocalyx was the species with the highest number of individuals in the system, also showing highest importance value, followed by Mimosa caesalpiniifolia. The family Leguminosae was the most representative. The Shannon index shows that this agrosilvopasture system has the potential to promote an intermediate level of conservation among the "Caatinga" vegetation remnants and disturbed areas in this biome.

The fusariosis, caused by Fusarium gutiforme, causing losses higher than 30% on Brazilian fruits production. The present work had as objective evaluate planting integrated production commercial areas of pineapple, and study effects of inoculation methods in relation leaves base, on disease development. Evaluation disease incidence started 90 after plantation, in monthly intervals, until floral induction treatment, carried through 270 days after plantation. During period of evaluation, lower incidence than 1% during the vegetative cycle was observed. Plants that presented typical symptoms of fusariosis had been eliminated of plantation. It was used pineapple leave type D, cv. Pérola. Leaves were detached, disinfested with sodium hypochlorite at 5,0% for 10 minutes and washed with distilled water. Inoculations were done at two and five centimeters of leaf base. The method used was toothpick with fungus. Evaluations were done 15 days after inoculation, being evaluated lesions area. Higher lesions development was observed in treatment with disk of fungus colony on wound + humid cotton (leaf border). Inoculation position had not significative effects for symptoms development.

This study aimed to characterize the production and management of dairy farms in the North of Minas Gerais and to research the relevant problems pointed by cattle breeders. A total of 47 breeders were interviewed and were classified 26 farms producing only milk and 21 producing meat and milk simultaneously. The extensive system (45%) and semi-extensive (46%) were the most frequently related to these farms. The averages of cows in lactation and dairy production were 36.3 animals and 295.26 liters/day, respectively. The natural mating was the most utilized reproductive system. In the herds were used most frequently Gir (42%) and Holstein (35%) bulls and in farms with mist production, the zebu cows were more predominant. The reduced price paid for the milk and the Boophilus microplus infestations were the problems pointed with higher frequency by cattle breeders. During the dry season the forage most utilized was the sugar cane with urea and during the rainy period, continuous grazing was the most common. Acaricides were applied for 93.6% of the farms and only 15 of them have implemented strategic control. Theses results obtained are important to know and to compare the profile of dairy farms in this region, fomenting the search for alternatives to improve the productivity and sustainability of cattle breeders.

This study aimed to identify the similarities among hydrochemical variables describing the groundwater qualities in the Salgado watershed river (Southern Ceará), with the use of multivariate statistical analysis. Also, the groundwater hydrochemistry was investigated and classified using the Piper diagram. The study was developed from secondary data provided by the CPRM (Centro de Estudo Geológico do Brasil, previously Companhia de Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais). The geological formation of the Salgado basin has two aquifer systems, one on sedimentary rock (porous, karst and alluvial) and another on (fractured) crystalline rock. The research was conducted in 24 groundwater wells spread out over the drainage area of the basin, with data having been collected for the last 10 years. The water samples were analyzed for their content of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, CO3, HCO3 -, SO4 2- and CE. Two groups were formed by the use of cluster analysis, and both were independent with respect to their hydrological characteristics, and similar in hydro geological formation. The water quality study showed no temporal interference. The two components explained 78.30% of the total variance of the water quality. According to the Piper diagram, the waters were classified as 55.6% mixed chlorided water and 40% mixed bicarbonate water, in groups 1 and 2 respectively. The hydrochemical characterization of the studied waters implied no limitation to their human consumption.

The bromeliads are hardy plants with exotic beauty, appreciated by consumers worldwide. The species Ananas porteanus Hort ex C. Veitch Koch, in particular, shows great potential for floriculture. These plants acclimate easily to adverse environmental conditions like those found in semi-arid areas. To assess the salinity tolerance of A. porteanus there were two treatments, one without the addition of NaCl (control) and the other with 80 mmol L-1 NaCl. The experiment lasted 90 days and were evaluated in the shoot: shoot dry matter, chloride, sodium and potassium contents, Na + / K + rate, proline content, total soluble carbohydrates, total soluble proteins, total phenols, peroxidase activity, levels of chlorophyll "a" and "b" and membrane damage. Plants of A. porteanus treated with sodium chloride were able to maintain the integrity of the membrane at levels similar to those found in control plants and the maintenance of membrane integrity result in part from increased activity of peroxidase. The increase in proline and protein content also appears to be one of the strategies of this species to cope with damage caused by the excess of NaCl as well as the increase in levels of chlorophyll. Soluble carbohydrates are not used to adjust the osmotic potential in plants subjected to 80 mmol L-1 NaCl. The metabolic changes occurring in plants of A. porteanus treated with sodium chloride led to a new homeostasis that resulted in the plant tolerance to salt stress imposed.

This paper presents the results of a taxonomic study of the family Poaceae held in Parque Nacional Serra de Itabaiana, with the objective of contributing to the knowledge of species richest of the Park. The PARNA Serra de Itabaiana (10 45'15''S and 37 25'15''O) is located in the state of Sergipe and covers an area of 7966 ha which includes three units, the serra do Cajueiro, Comprida and de Itabaiana. Collections were made between April 2006 and April 2008 and deposited in UFP, ASE, MO, and RB. Information on distribution have been raised from herbaria, literature and databases available on the Internet. We identified 40 species in the PARNA classified into 19 genera, the richest of which is Paspalum L., with eight species. Five species had their distribution extended in this work. A key to identify the species is presented, as well as comments on distribution and ecology.

The present study had as objective evaluates the physiologic behavior of different genetic groups of sheep created in the semi-arid paraibano in the dry and rainy times. Forty sheep were used, eight of each genetic group, distributed entirely in a randomized design. There was shift effect, for all the environmental variables and studied physiologic parameters. There were significant interactions of the factors genotypes, time and hour for the parameters, rectal temperature and breathing frequency. With relationship to the Index of tolerance to the heat (ITC) significant effect of the studied factors was not verified. With these results it can be ended that the races Santa Inês, Cariri and the products, resultants of crossings of the animals ½Dorper and ½Damara with sheep without defined race (SRD) they resemble each other in the adaptation aspect to the conditions of the semi-arid.