The objective of this work was of evaluating three textures of mixed organic compost in the lettuce seedlings formation, cv. Babá de Verão, in trays of 72, 128 and 200 cells. An experiment was carried out in a greenhouse of the Plant Sciences Department at Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA). A completely randomized experimental design was used with the treatments in 3 x 3 factorial scheme with three replications. The treatments consisted of combination of three textures of mixed organic compost, obtained by passage in mesh sieves n°4 (6mm), n°8 (4mm) and n°12 (2mm), with three trays of 72, 128 and 200 cells. Evaluations for seedling height, root length, number of leaves per seedling, leaf area, shoot fresh and dry mass, root fresh and dry mass were determined. Higher mean values of root length and root fresh mass were obtained in mesh sieve n° 8 (4 mm) combined with tray of 72 cells. Higher mean value of root dry mass was obtained in mesh sieve n° 12 (2 mm) combined with tray of 72 cells. Higher mean values of seedling heigh, shoot fresh mass, leaf area and root dry mass were obtained with tray of 72 cells. Higher mean value of root dry mass was obtained in mesh sieve n° 8 (4 mm).

This work had as objective to evaluate the effect of different calcium sources in the diet of broiler chickens with 1 to 28 days of age, on the food intake, live weight gain, feed conversion, level of ashes and calcium in the tibia bone, longitudinal and transversal length of the tibia bone and retention calcium. The experiment had duration of 31 days being used 576 chicks of one day of age, with the cobb line ancestry. It was used entirely randomized design, being the sources consisting of calcium carbonate, calcium carbo quelate and limestone (calcareous rock) of two distinct deposits, A and B, respectively, being all they also evaluated to the granulometer, solubility and pH. The food intake showed significant difference for the calcium sources, however none of the calcium sources influenced the feed conversion, probably to the observed compensatory physiological effect on the live weight gain of the broiler chicks. With regard to the bone mineralization (tibia), it did not have significant influence of the calcium sources, however, with relation to the diameter and length of the tibia bone, the limestones A and B showed the best values when compared with the calcium carboquelate.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar equações do tipo y = a + bx, onde y = área foliar e x = comprimento da folha (C) x largura da folha (L), que permitam a estimação da area foliar, a partir de C e L, em nove espécies adaptadas à região Semi-Árida brasileira. Cem folhas foram coletadas do terço mediano da copa de diversas árvores de espécies de folhas simples (Auxemma oncocalyx, Ao; Bauhinia forticata, Bf; Combretum leprosum, Cl) e de espécies com folhas compostas: Azadirachta indica (Ai), Caesalpinia bracteosa (Cb), Leucaena leucocephala (Ll), Mimosa caesalpiniifolia (Mc), Schinus terebenthifolius (St), and Tamarindus indica (Ti). Nas espécies com folhas compostas, C, L e A foram medidos em folhas intactas (sem folíolos destacados) e nos folíolos destacados. O coeficiente linear foi significativo em Ao e Bf, e não significativo, com folhas intactas em Ai, Cb, St, e Ti. Todos os coeficientes angulares foram diferentes de zero, mas somente em Mc esses coeficientes não diferiram entre si, quando as equações foram ajustadas a partir de folhas intactas e a partir de folíolos destacados. O coeficiente de determinação nas espécies de folhas simples variou de 0,85 to 0,97, enquanto em folhas compostas a variação correspondente foi de 0,28 a 0,93, indicando que a variação na área foliar explicada pela regressão é maior em espécies de folhas simples. Na maioria das espécies de folhas compostas o coeficiente de determinação foi maior quando a estimação foi feita a partir de folhas intactas, exceto em ST.

Mamãozinho-de-veado (Jacaratia corumbensis O. Kuntze, Caricaceae) is used for food animal. The objective of this study was to determine a seed storage method for Jacaratia corumbensis to conserve seed viability and vigour. Seeds of Jacaratia corumbensis were put in paper (Kraft) and plastic bags (0.15 mm), and stored in three environmental conditions of temperature environment (22ºC and 65% relative humidity). The germination percentage, moisture content and vigour of seeds were evaluated at the beginning of the experiment and after the storage periods. All treatments maintained seed vigour for 180 days of storage. The best storage conditions to maintain seed viability for a 180-day period were: 1) paper bags (87% of germination) and 2) plastic bags (88% germination) in temperature environment.

The Objective this work was to evaluate the interaction of the amount and salinity of irrigation water in the floral efficiency of the Green Dwarfish coconut tree, in the area of the coastal boards of the Northeast of Brazil. The study was driven in the experimental station of EMPARN, located in Parnamirim - RN, in the period of August of 2002 to September of 2003. The studied factors were four irrigation sheets, based on the evaporation of tank class "A" (30, 60, 90 and 120% of the evaporation of the tank) and four salinity levels in the irrigation water (0,1; 5,0; 10,0 and 15,0 dS.m-1). The experimental design was entirely random with subdivided portions and regression analysis with answer surface. The number of feminine flowers grows with the increment of the irrigation amount, reducing the negative effect of the applied saline levels. The relationship flower / picked fruit reduces with the increase of the saline levels, while the interaction of the largest irrigation sheets with the smallest saline levels results in a growth in the number of flowers emitted by picked fruits. The production in biomass of the fruits grows positively with the increase of the irrigation sheets and it reduces with the increase of the saline levels and the interaction of the smaller saline levels with the largest irrigation sheets produce the largest weights of registered fruits. As reaction the water with high salinity to the plant of the coconut tree answers with the increase of the efficiency of the bloomed related the crop of fruits, in other words, it emits less flowers to obtain the same production that in appropriate conditions of cultivation.

Existe interesse em informações sobre as necessidades de fertilizantes para a cultura do meloeiro, explorada no Pólo Agroindustrial Assú/Mossoró/Baraúnas, Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, visando a obtenção níveis elevados de produtividade de frutos de qualidade, a redução do desperdício de adubos e a diminuição da degradação ambiental. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de aplicações de doses de nitrogênio (uréia, 45% de N) e fósforo (superfosfato simples, 20% de P2O5) sobre o rendimento e a qualidade dos frutos do meloeiro Gold Mine, de frutos amarelos, irrigado por gotejamento. As doses de nitrogênio (0, 50, 100, 150 e 200 kg N ha-1) foram combinadas em esquema fatorial com as doses de fósforo (0, 50, 100 e 150 kg P2O5 ha-1). Adotou-se o delineamento de blocos completos casualizados com cinco repetições. O nitrogênio aumentou as massas total e de frutos comercializáveis, reduziu a firmeza e o teor de sólidos solúveis do melão, mas não influenciou os números total e de frutos comercializáveis, nem o índice de formato do fruto. O fósforo não influenciou as características quantitativas e qualitativas do melão.

The objective of this work was to evaluate substrates compost by organic residues for production of papaya tree seedlings. This research was led greenhouse in the campus of the Federal University of Acre in the period of September to December of 2006. The experiment was installed in design completely randomized with eight treatments and four repetitions, and each experimental unit was constituted of 3 plants. The substrates evaluated were: T1 = plantimax (treatment controls), T2 = compost organic + coconut peel, T3 = compost organic + bed-of-chicken + peel-of-rice carbonized, T4 = compost organic + I manure bovine + peel-of-rice carbonized, T5 = compost organic + earthworm casting + peel-of-rice carbonized, T6 = compost organic + earthworm casting + pit of triturated açaí, T7 = compost organic + earthworm casting +peel of triturated coconut, T8 = compost organic + I manure bovine + peel of triturated coconut. In all the substrates, the representatives were used in same proportions, being still added, 10% of triturated vegetable coal, 1,0 kg.m-3 limestone and 1,5 kg.m-3 of termphosphate, except in the treatment T1 (commercial substratum). The evaluations were accomplished to the 70 days after the planting, being evaluated height of plants, mass of the fresh matter of the aerial part, mass of the dry matter of the aerial part, of the root e total. It was observed that the substrata 4 and 5 presented better acting in relation to the characteristics of the mass of the fresh and dry matter of the aerial part, dry matter of the root and dry matter total, but it didn't differ of the substrate 1 (treatment control), 2 and 8, when the seedling's height was analyzed.

The citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton is an important pest of citrus orchards either by direct damage or by favoring citrus canker contamination. The experiment was carried out inlaboratory conditions to evaluate Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) larvae preying on P. citrella egg, larval and pupalstages. It was observed that all the immature stages were preyed by first, second and third larval instars. The developmental time of the predator had direct influence on preying capacity, reaching 100% for predator larvae on the prey second instar larvae. This is the first record of C. externa preying the citrus leaf miner eggs, larvae and pupae in the world.

An experiment was carried out under greenhouse condition at orchard of Universidade Federal de Lavras, MG with aim studing the effect of different levels of organic matter in the seedling production of papaya Formosa. The experimental design used was of randomized blocks complet with four treatment and four replication. The treatments composited of four percentages of organic compost (0%; 10%; 20% and 40% of the total volume). Each plot 16 seedlings, one for each recipient. After 140 days of sowing, it was evaluated the following characteristics: plant height (cm), number of leaves/plant, shoot dry matter, root and total (g/plant). The presence of organic matter on substrate allawed a higher growth of papaya seedlings. The presence of40% of organic compost on the substrate was the best posibility alternative of organic matter for production of papaya seedlings.

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.