The objective of this research was to evaluate the profitability of the production of rocket ferti-lized in different amounts of roostertree biomass and times of incorporation of this green manure into the soil, in two cultivation seasons (spring-summer and autumn), in Serra Talhada, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The exper-imental design was a randomized block with the treatments arranged in a factorial 4 x 4, with three replications, with the first factor consisting of amounts of roostertree biomass (5.4, 8.8, 12.2 and 15.6 t ha-1 on a dry basis), and the second factor by the incorporation times into the soil (0, 10, 20 and 30 days before sowing of the rock-et). Beyond the green mass yield and production costs, were determined the following economic indicators: gross income, net income, rate of return and profit margin. The optimal agronomic performance of the rocket was obtained into monetary terms. Spending on hand labor accounted for 69% of protuction costs. Due to the increase in the daily price of rural workers, the costs of preparation of the green manure were higher in autumn. The cultivation of the rocket under fertilization with roostertree was feasible from the economic perspective, regardless the amount of green manure, time of incorporation into the soil and cultivation season. The amount of 12.2 t ha-1 of roostertree biomass promoted greater profitability for the production of rocket. The incorpora-tion of green manure at 20 days before planting the crop was considered ideal to the economic viability of the activity. The net income of the rocket was higher in the autumn season.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and the adaptive profile of de 25 steers ¶ Angus x μ Nelore (RED) and 25 steers ´ Angus x ´ Nelore (NEL), during the milking and the fattening phas-es, in an intensive system, at Rio Grande do Norte state. The body weights, anterior and posterior high, as well as the thoracic perimeter, were monthly measured to evaluate the growth pattern. As adaptive responses were registered rectal temperature and hair coat traits. The statistical analyzes were based in the minimum square method, utilized mixed models. At the beginning of the trial both of genetic groups presented the same body weight (103,03kg) and from the second sampling on the animals RED were superior in comparison with the NEL and showed higher body weight at the weaning (181,60kg RED e 158,57kg NEL) and the 13th months. On the other hand, there was no difference between the genetic groups for the final weight (slaughter body weight). There were differences in all the performance characteristics analyzed. The RED group was superior in relation to the NEL group. The hair coat characteristics didn't differ between the genetic groups, except the hair coat length, which was higher in the RED animals. We concluded that both of genetic groups were adapted to tropical weather conditions, nevertheless, despite the better performance showed by the animals RED during the suckling and the fattening phases, the NEL animal may be indicated because of the similar slaughter body weight.

There is great genetic diversity of rambutan plants, thus, to establish commercial orchards cul-ture, it is recommended the use of plants vegetatively propagated. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the best method of grafting, graft protection and type of rootstock for its propagation. The experiment was re-peated in two seasons (autumn/winter and spring/summer). The experimental design was completely random-ized in both experiments, with four replicates, each experimental unit consisted of 10 plants analyzed in a 4x2x2 factorial with four types of grafting (whip graft-WG; cleft graft –CG; wedge graft-WG; and inverted wedge graft-IWG;), 2 types of graft protection (Biodegradable and plastic) and 2 types of rootstock (without or with leaves). The variables analyzed in this study were: percentage of grafting success, number and length of buds (cm). For grafting performed in autumn / winter, both by cleft grafting as whip graft with biodegradable strip and rootstock leafless provided the best results in propagation of rambutan tree. The best results were ob-served during the autumn / winter.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the cutting frequency and levels of the manure on cactus for-age productivity. The research was conducted at Pendencia Station – The State Agribusiness Reaserch Compa-ny of Paraíba, Soledade – PB –Brazil, from August 2008 to August 2010. It was utilized a factorial arrenge-ment 4x5, 4 crop managements (M1= cactus forage harvested at 12 months after establishment; M2= cactus forage harvested at 12 months after the first regrowth; M3= harvested of the accumulated production in 24 months and M4= sum of the first production and regrowth) and five levels of goat manure: 0; 5; 10; 15 e 20 Mg ha-1. It was evaluated the fresh matter production (FMP) and dry matter production (DMP), water accumula-tion, rainfall use efficiency (RUE) and percentage of the water accumulation in the plant. The largest level of organic fertilizer promoted an increase in FMP of 275, 171, 184, 203% and DMP: 305, 175, 223, 218%, re-spectively, when comparing the highest level of fertilizer with the unfertilized treatment, and an increase in water accumulation 115.60, 102.93, 166.95, 218.53 kg of water ha-1 when comparing the highest level with the unfertilized treatment. The organic fertilization in M1, M2, M3 and M4 managements, despite of the levels, promoted a linear increase in the RUE. Fertilization increases the cactus forage productivity, and its rainfall use efficiency. The annual cut can be employed as a practice in the management of cactus forage.

Much of the cassava flour produced in northern Brazil is handmade and contains a small amount of turmeric powder, a natural colorant produced by the family producers, the colorant is added to the flour because local consumers prefer a product of intense yellow color, being therefore of interest to evaluate the effect of adding different concentrations of natural turmeric colorant in centesimal composition of tradition-al cassava flour. The flours were manufactured with different concentrations of saffron powder (without tur-meric; 0.003% turmeric; 0.03% turmeric and 1% turmeric), collected immediately after production in transpar-ent plastic bags, transported by plane and analyzed for moisture, ash, protein, lipids, fiber and total carbohy-drates content, as well as for acidity, pH, water activity and instrumental color. The increase in concentration of turmeric affected the ash content of handmade cassava flour starting from 0.03%, and at the concentration used by producers (0.003%), this level was similar to the flour without turmeric. In addition, concentrations starting from 0.03% caused a significant increase in the intensity of the yellow color.

Macroptilium martii Benth. is a native grass species of the Caatinga, used in the feeding of cattle and goats during dry periods. This study aimed to characterize the fruit and seeds, as well as evaluating the germination of the seeds of M. martii subjected to different methods of scarification. For the characterization of the seeds was carried out using biometrics a random sample of 100 seeds and 100 fruits. Mass, length, width and thickness of fruits and seeds, and number of seeds per fruit were evaluated. With and without lopping: monitoring the soaking curve using two treatments: with and without lopping. Twelve pregerminative to assess seed dormancy treatments were used: control, coating, soaking for 12, 24 and 48 hours, warm to 80 °C for 3, 6 and 12 minutes and sulfuric acid (H2SO4) for 3, 6 water 12 minutes. The seeds were germinated as substrate type germitest paper towel. The design was completely randomized with four replications of 25 seeds each. The data were submitted to Tukey test at 5% probability. The seeds of M. martii have low variation for biometric features. Furthermore, seeds respond to standard soaking phase, being verified by the dormancy coating impermeable. The most appropriate method for breaking dormancy is blunt on the side opposite the micropyle, it provides the best conditions for seed germination.

The reuse of waters served in industries is winning space in the current days, in face of possibility of its use in agriculture. It was aimed with this work to evaluate the effect of levels of available water in the soil and of effluents of industries of supply Campina Grande, Paraíba state, Brazil, on the chemical attributes of the soil and on the phytomass and production variables of the castor oil plant, variety BRS Nordestina. The experiment was in greenhouse in entirely randomized design in factorial scheme 5 x 3 with 3 repetitions, with 5 water types and 3 available soil water levels. The studied treatments promoted increase in all soil chemical attributes at the end of the experiment. The interaction types of water and levels of available water in the soil was significant for all phytomass and production variables, except for the length of the root. The largest value for the phytomass and production variables was obtained for the treatment with 100% of available water in the soil and wastewater of COTEMINAS. however, the number of male flowers didn't suffer significant effect of the levels of available water of the soil with the wastewater of COTEMINAS.

This work was carried out to investigate the effect maturity stage at harvest (M1, M2 and M3, corresponding to fruit with 20-25%, 45-50% and 70-75% of peel red color surface, respectively) of ‘Camila’ and ‘Laetitia’ plums, and then stored in conventional cold storage, on ripening and quality, especially regarding the incidence of flesh browning. Fruits were cold stored during 40 days (1±0.1 oC and 95±2% RH), followed by three days at ambient condition (23±5 °C and 60±5% RH). ‘Camila’ plums harvested at maturity stage M1 showed the poorest evolution of peel red color during cold storage. Only fruit harvested at stage M3 had a good flesh red color development. The values of flesh firmness and force for fruit compression were different be- tween maturity stages, being higher in M1 than in M2 and M3. On the other hand, fruit harvested at stage M1 had the highest force for flesh penetration. However, ‘Camila’ plums harvested with up to 50% of peel red color did not ripe satisfactory and had poor quality. ‘Laetitia’ plums showed satisfactory evolution of peel red color during cold storage, especially when harvested at stage M3. For this cultivar, the force for fruit compres- sion was different between maturity stages, in the following order: M1>M2>M3. Titratable acidity was highest in fruit harvested at stage M1, while ethylene production rate was highest for fruit harvested at stage M3. ‘Laetitia’ plums harvested at the three maturity stages had similar ripening during cold storage. However, fruits should not be harvested with 20-25% of peel red color since they will have a high intensity of flesh browning during cold storage.

The use of Silicon on the plants cultivation is one the most used strategy in order to reduce the negative effects of soils salinity. The goal of this work is to evaluate the influence of Silicon on minimizing the negative impacts due to salinity of irrigation water in the Jatropha curcas plants growth. The experiment was carried out at the National Center of Cotton Research, in a completely randomized design and treatments ar- ranged in a factorial 4 x 4 x 6, performed by four levels of salinity of irrigation water (0,43; 2,5; 5,0; and 7,5 dS m - 1 ), four levels of Silicon (0; 221,76; 443,52; and 665,28 mg L - 1 ) and six evaluation periods (40, 55, 70, 85, 100 and 115 days from emergence) with three replications. The analysis of variance, the F test and the polyno- mial regression to 0.05% significance were used to evaluate the data. hight plant, diameter stem plant, number of plant leaves, leaves plant area, total dry matter, dry matter roots plants e dry mass stem plants, dry mass of shoots and roots of Jatropha curcas were not affected by salinity of water at 115 days after sowing. The leaves number and leaf area were influenced by Silicon.

The ginger culture was planted in Espirito Santo State on a commercial scale for just over 10 years as an alternative income for farmers family based submitted high yield potential, but requires studies to their best advantage due to the great variability of climatic conditions of the State. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yield of fresh rhizomes, the dry mass of leaves and rhizomes and the extraction and accumulation of N, P and K of the culture depending on the application of increasing doses of P, in a dystrophic Ultisol . The experiment was conducted on a farm in the municipality of Santa Maria de Jetibá (ES) between the months of August 2006 and June 2007. Experimental model adopted was randomized blocks with four treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of control (no P fertilization), and doses of 60, 120 and 240 kg ha - 1 of P 2 O 5 applied at planting. The plants showed continuous growth up to 180 days after planting (DAP) and the phase of the plant where there was greater uptake of N, P and K in the flowering cycle was at 240 DAP. Analy- zing the contents of N, P and K, in the rhizome and leaves over the cultivation cycle, it was observed that, in general, most of the accumulation occurred in the rhizome.