This current paper aimed to evaluate the use of increasing levels of hydrolyzed feather meal (0, 2, 4, 6, 8%), feeding broiler females 21 to 42 days old. Cobb 480 pullets were used with 21 days of age an average weight of 938 grams, distributed in 30 experimental plots in a randomized block design with five treatments and six replicates of 16 birds each. Five experimental diets isonitrogenous and isoenergetic based on digestible amino acids for stages 21 to 35 days and 36 to 42 days. The birds were weighed for uniformity of the plots at 21 days and every seven days to assess the weight and feed consumption. The average values for weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion, respectively, 1.398 ± 59 g, 3.068 ± 130 g and 2.194 ± 0.36. The average weights of carcass, breast, thigh, drumsticks, abdominal fat, heart, liver and gizzard were, respectively, 1671 ± 81 g, 569 ± 38 g, 218 ± 13 g, 275 ± 13 g, 49.3 ± 7 g, 9.7 ± 1 g, 36.8 and 27.2 ± 2 g. The conclusion was that for each 1% inclusion of FPH was observed a decrease in carcass weight of 16.6 g in weight of the wings of 1.26 g and 1.73 g increase in abdominal fat.

The aim was to evaluate the selectivity of insecticides used to control the fall armyworm to epigeic occurring on the soil of a crop of millet. The research was conducted in field in the town of Dourados. The experiment consists of randomized blocks with eight treatments and four replications. Sampling of natural enemies in observable by traps "pitfall modified." The Belt 480 SC insecticide, was not selective family Tachinidae, but was slightly toxic to Formicidae and selective Araneidae and Calossoma granulatum. The insecticide Gallaxy 100 CE, the mortality rate obtained with 63% in the first (DAA) for Araneidae and Tachinidae families, and was selective to a DAA for C. granulatum predator. The insecticide Tracer 480 SC, was not selective to the spiders, Formicidae and Tachinidae. The insecticide Match 50 EC was the most toxic C. granulatum predator and the Spiders in the assessment a DAA, which obtained a mortality rate of 100% and 67% respectively. The effect of the insecticide Karate SC 250, had a mortality rate of families Araneidae and Formicidae, 89 and 60% mortality. The Lannate 215 S to a DAA, its mortality rate for C. granulatum and families Araneidae, Formicidae and Tachinidae 100, 78, 60 and 50%, and selectivity to Tachinidae. The insecticide Talstar 100 EC, was toxic to the Family Formicidae, Araneidae and Tachinidae in the assessment a DAA, which obtained a mortality rate of 80%, 78% and 75% and preserved population of C. granulatum predator.

The use of fertigation is becoming increasingly and common, which requires a thorough knowledge about the culture being used. Knowing the uptake is an important point, since this will determine how the split will occur. Among the nutrients of greatest importance to the development of crops are nitrogen (N) and potassium (K). The aim of this paper was to determine the uptake and accumulation of nutrients from cantaloupe melon type "Harper" within the conditions of Mossoró - RN, order for the recommended fertilizer application through drip irrigation. The experiment was in randomized blocks with two replications. The treatments were formed by the combination of increasing levels of nitrogen - N (N1 - 5, N2 - 37.78; N3 - 111.65; N4 - 237.65; N5 - 442.05; N6 - 666.41 kg ha-1) and potassium - K2O (K1 - 5; K2 - 82.86; K3 - 195.67; K4 - 364.61; K5 - 574.13; K6 - 827.54 kg ha-1). We assessed the biomass and accumulation of N, P and K in the plant. The dry matter accumulation in the plant was not affected by levels N and K applied by fertigation. The highest rate of absorption of nutrients occurred around 44 days after transplanting, indicating that this is the time when the plant has increased demand for fertilizer application. Nutrient requirements primary for melon followed the order: K> N> P. To N, the highest accumulation was observed in the vegetative parts (leaf + stem) and the P and K, the highest accumulation was observed in the fruit.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the contribution of different strains of rhizobia in the distribution of dry material and grain yield in cowpea plants, grown in cerrado in the state of Tocantins. The experiment was conducted in 2007/2008 season in cerrado in Gurupi, TO. Five treatments were studied with strains BR3301, BR3302, BR3267, BR3299 and BR3262 and treatment as a control (no inoculation and fertilizer). Plants were collected at 15, 25, 35, 45, 55 and 65 days after emergence (DAE) to determine the distribution of dry mass of leaves, stems, flowers and pods and the weight ratio of plant parts. Grain yield was determined at harvest as grain moisture reached 13%. We established the Pearson correlation coefficient of variables. The witness and BR3299 treatments promoted greater dry mass of plants at 65 DAE. The highest yield was obtained by the witness and BR3267. Further study is needed on the selection of strains of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in cowpea under various soil and climate in the state of Tocantins.

The nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) generally are the two nutrients that occur in lower levels in the soil in relation to the need of the plant and are the nutrients most required by the maize crop. With the present work aimed to define the levels of N and P2O5 associated to the maximal economical of green corn in an alkaline soil of the city of Baraúna-RN. The maize hybrid AG 1051 was planted in spacing of 0.70 x 0.23 m and harvested on the condition of green corn to 75 days after planting. Were applied 17 treatments, being 16 treatments resulting from the combination between four doses of N (30, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha-1) and four doses of P2O5 (30, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha-1) and a control treatment, in which not applied any dose of these nutrients. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with four repetitions. The characteristics evaluated were: number and total weight of cobs, number and weight of marketable covered cobs and number and weight of marketable uncovered cobs. The increase of the availability of N and P in soil, as a result of fertilizing, positively influences positively the weight of green maize ears. The culture of green corn responded better to phosphorus fertilization than nitrogen fertilization, showing that in the soil of the experimental area the P was more limiting to the production than the N. Although the majority of production of marketable covered cobs has been estimated for the application of 120 kg ha-1 N + 106 kg ha-1 P2O5, the doses of maximum economic and environmental efficiency recommended were 60 kg ha-1 N + 106 kg ha-1 P2O5.

Having to evaluate the effect of varieties and phosphorus fertilization on growth and productivity of castor beans, is an experiment conducted at the Center for Agricultural Sciences, located in Rio Largo- AL. The paper was a 5 x 2 factorial, consisting of five doses of P2O5 (0, 45, 90, 135 e 180 kg ha-1) using triple superphosphate as source, and two varieties of castor bean, (BRS 149 Nordestina and BRS 188 Paraguaçu), with the treatments distributed in a randomized block design with four replications. We determined leaf area (LA) and plant height (PH) 30, 60, 90 and 120 days after transplanting (DAT), the length of the primary racemes (LPR) and subsequent (LSR), the number of racemes throughout the cycle (NR), the seed yield (SY) and dry matter accumulation in shoot (DM). The P fertilization increased the leaf area only at 30 and 120 DAT, while for plant height, the effect was only observed at 30 DAT. There was a quadratic effect of phosphorus for the LPR, NR, SY and DM. The variety BRS 188 Paraguaçu produced more racemes, but on the other side of the racemes BRS 149 Nordestina were longer.

The goal of this paper is to evaluate the shelf-life of five yellow melon hybrids (AF-5107, AF6742, AF-9136, AF and AF-6798-7719) produced in the Mossoró-Assu agropole. The yellow melon hybrids were grown in soil fertilized and irrigated following the demand of culture. Reaching the stage of commercial maturity, fruit were harvested and brought to the Postharvest Laboratory at the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-árido, where were taken12 fruits at random for characterization of each hybrid at time zero. Afterwards the other fruits were weighed, identified and stored in cold room regulated at 10 ± 1 ºC and 90 ± 2% RH, where they remained for 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 days. At each time interval, the following analyses were realized: mass loss, external and internal appearance, pulp firmness and soluble solids. The experimental design was completely randomized in factorial scheme 5 x 7, five hybrids and seven periods of storage. We used four replications, and the experimental unit consists of three fruits. There was significant interaction between hybrid and storage period only for the soluble solids. For the other characteristics evaluated, we observed the isolated effect of the main factors. The hybrid AF-9136 stood out compared to other hybrids tested by greater pulp firmness and soluble solids.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate biochemical activities related to promotion of plant growth of isolates of the genus Bacillus originated from areas under maize cultivation, and to evaluate the genetic similarity among the isolates using PCR-based RAPD markers. Several strains of the genera Bacillus were isolated from twenty distinct maize production areas of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Forty isolates were obtained and characterized as antagonistic to plant pathogenic fungi, production of auxin (IAA), phosphate solubilization in vitro and root colonization. The potential for phosphate solubilization was not identified in any of the isolates. In addition, the majority of the isolates did not show any antagonistic effect against Fusarium oxysporum and Colletotrichum truncatum. Based on root colonization, six Bacillus isolates were selected to evaluate their growth-promotion activities in maize. All the six isolates increased root growth, while only one isolate did not promoted shoot growth and nutrient uptake in plants when compared to control. Low genetic similarity among the selected isolates was detected by RAPD analysis using eleven primers. Our results showed the utility of the in vitro selection criteria used in this study for screening of Bacillus sp. with plant growth-promoting activity, as they may reduce the number of Bacillus isolates required at the final screening stage in field.

Malabar spinach is a non-conventional vegetable propagated mainly by seeds. This research evaluated the propagation by stem cuttings as an alternative method of propagation and verified its effect on growth of the vegetable. Plantlets propagated by seeds and stem cuttings were grown in greenhouse and their growth were evaluated in five successive intervals of 21 days each, with the first evaluation carried out 60 days after the transplanting. The results showed that the propagation methods have influence on the Malabar spinach growth. Plants propagated by seeds display slow, but vigorous growth, with larger relative yield of leaves and tender leaves, while plants propagated by cuttings showed fast initial growth, with rapid fruit formation. Thus, the propagation by cuttings is more suitable for seed production, while propagation by seeds is more profitable for leaves production.

This paper aimed to evaluate the performance of hybrids of muskmelon on different substrates. Five substrates were evaluated: S1 = coconut husk fiber, S2 = sand; S3 = ½ sand and ½ crushed of sugarcane, S4 = ½ sand and ½ of peanut shell, and S5 = I sand, I of crushed sugarcane and I of peanut shell and four hybrids of muskmelon (Bonus N°. 2, Louis, Fantasy Jab and 2007 # 16). The plants were cultivated in plastic pots of 13 dm3, which were filled with these substrates; they were arranged in plants spacing of 1,0 x 0,5 m between plants. The Fertirrigation was done by dripping, using a nutrient solution for the culture. The experimental design was a randomized blocks, in a 5 X 4 factorial design with four replications. The characteristics evaluated were: total production, average transverse and longitudinal diameter of fruit, fruit shape index; mesocarp thickness; average transverse and longitudinal diameter of the locule; index format locule; mass of fresh fruit; soluble solids, pH; titratable acidity; C vitamin; firmness of flesh; tracery of shell; and maturation index. The optimal substrate for muskmelon cultivation is a combination of 50% sand + 50% peanut shell. The hybrid Fantasy performed better compared to other hybrids.