An experiment was carried out from September to November 2001 in the greenhouse of the Plant Science Departament of Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, to evaluate the use of different organic composts on growing of bell pepper seedlings. The experimental design used was of group balanced blocks with four replications. The groups of composts tested were: Plantmax, compost of cashew tree leaves and mixed compost. Within each group of compost was tested a mixture with sandy and/or soil. The cultivar of bell pepper used was All Big. Evaluations were made for number of leaves per plant, plant height, shoot fresh and dry matter, root length and root fresh and dry matter taken 25 days after sowing. Pure organic composts had the best performance on the growing of the bell pepper seedlings than those in mixture with sand and/on soil. Seedlings had better quality as cultivated in pure organic composts as compared to those in commercial substrate Plantimax.

Objectified in this study to determine the composition of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in the perennial soy (Neonotonia wightii), leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) and guandu (Cajanus cajan). The samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after the acid hydrolyses or preoxidation. The higher and lower levels of soluble crude protein (A fraction) were obtained with leucaena and guandu (33.92 and 16.87%, respectively) and the higher and lower levels of acid detergent insoluble protein (ADIP) were obtained with guandu and rami (26.68 e 2.83%). It were registered higher concentration of essential amino acids in rami (48.06%) and lower concentration in cassava (42.20%), being verified with it the higher level in lysine and methionine to the rami (6.41e 2.66%, respectively), and lower level to the cassava (5.49%) and to the guandu (2.02%) respectively. It were registered too higher concentration of non-essential amino acids to the rami (47.11%) and the lower level to the perennial soy (42.20%). Therefore, it can be concluded to the correct evaluation of these foods, should be considered the amino acid composition and fractionation of the crude protein, because the simply analysis of crude protein don't represent precisely and don't propitiate the correct estimative of the profile and biodisponibility of amino acids that them escape and flow to the intestinal tract of the animal and your metabolism.

This study evaluated the effect of bovine manure in the agronomic performance of salad rocket cv. Cultivada. The completely randomized design was used, with six treatments and four repetitions, with each recipient constituting a parcel. The treatments had consisted of differents amounts of bovine manure incorporated to the soil (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 t.ha¯¹), and the witness. The evaluated characteristics had been: height of plant (cm), leaf number for parcel, mass of the green substance (g) and mass of the dry substance (g) for parcel. The amount of 60 t.ha¯¹ promoted greater height of plants, greater leaf number, greater mass of the green substance and greater of mass of the dry substance.

The study of the family Hydrophyllaceae senso latu in the state of Pernambuco, Brazilian Northeastern is presented. It was found only one species, Hydrolea spinosa L., being provided description, besides illustrations, comments based on its morphology, distribution and flowering and fruiting data.

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the entomophauna associated to pigeonpea in the Reconcave Region of Bahia, Brazil. Fifteen day period collections were carried out between September 2004 and October 2005. A total of 4,799 samples represented by 58 species and distributed in six orders and 25 families were collected in experimental plantations. The richest order in species was Hemiptera with 30 species represented by 57.43% of the total of the individuals collected. The Membracidae family was the most abundant with 36.72% of the total of the samples whereas the Enchenopa gracilis species was the most featured with 9.38% of the total. Hymenoptera was the second order regarding richness with 14 species being represented by 37.03% of the individuals. Among the species identified, the Atta and Acromyrmex species were the most damaging to the pigeonpea crop leading to significant losses in the early stages of the crop.

This work was done in order to characterize the water holding capacity and availability to plants in three soils of coastal tablelands in the state of Paraíba using tensiometry in areas cultivated with sugarcane. The water retention curves were determined for the Neossolo Quartzarenico, Latossolo Amarelo, Latossolo Coeso soils in the depths of 0 - 30cm and from 30 - 60 cm, by the Richards extractor method and by tensiometens in PVC columns in a greenhouse in the first phase and in a battery of field tensiometers in the second phase, in the tensions of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 cm Hg. The water retention in the soils was significantly affected (p<0,01) as a function of the tensions (TS) applied. The same effect (p<0,01) was seen for the factor soil (S) and for the interaction (TS x S) both for the extractor and the greenhouse methods as well as for the field method. According to the study of the regression analysis, the mathematical model that showed the best adjustment was the decreasing quadratic. The values of moisture content found showed the most abrupt variations at the lowest tensions. The moisture content for the Neossolo Quartzarenico demonstrated under field conditions the importance of the structure for soils retaining more moisture in the tensions studied in relation to the laboratory and greenhouse methods. Even though the clay content were similar for the Latossolo Amarelo and the Latossolo. Coeso the greatest moisture retentions were observed in the Latossolo Coeso.

The objective of this trial was to economically compare a sugarcane plus soybean meal diet with diets containing sugarcane supplemented with increasing levels of a 9:1 premix of urea and ammonium sulphate (0.4, 0.8% and 1.2%). Cows were maintained in tie stalls and were fed ad libitum twice a day. The forage to concentrate ratio in the beginning of the experiment was 55:45 supplemented with 1 kg/day of concentrate for each 2 kg of milk produced. Animals were blocked by days in milk and randomly assigned to treatments in three replicated 4 x 4 Latin squares. The average prices of feedstuffs in the state of Minas Gerais during the year of 2004 were used in the economical analyses. Supplementation of sugarcane with 1.2% of urea plus ammonium sulphate appears to be best the best economical compromise for lactating dairy cows producing up to 20 kg of milk per day.

The objective of that research is to observe the reproductive capacity of earthworms of the species Eisenia foétida in different substrate, as well as your importance in the agriculture. The work was accomplished in the Center of Agrarian Sciences of the Federal University of the Paraíba-Areia/PB. In that research the following treatments were used: T1 - Compost of homelike Garbage (50kg); T2 - Compost of homelike garbage and culture remains (25 + 25 Kg); T3 - Compost of homelike garbage, culture rest and manure (35+10+5 Kg); T4-compost of homelike garbage with manure biodigested (35+10+5Kg); T5-compost of garbage, rest of cultures and manure biodigested (35+10+5Kg); T6 - Humus coming from bovine manure (50kg); T7-soil (witness). During the first forty six days of composting the temperature was verified twice a day (9 A.M and 15:00 P.M). In this same period, it was controlled the humidity and the aeration twice a week, being turned over the whole material. All the treatments show that the earthworms are capable of reproduce in the most several substrate, although the T5-composed of garbage, rest of cultures and manure biodigested (35+10+5Kg) it has overcome the others.

The quality of irrigation water is one of the environmental factors that can affect the initial growth of the culture of gherkin. Therefore, the aim of this work to evaluate germination in different levels of salinity of irrigation water. The study was carried out at the Seed Analysis Laboratory of the Department of Crop Science of the UFERSA, Mossoró, RN, between September and October 2007. The treatments were organized in a completely randomized design whit six levels of water salinity (0.00; -0.04 MPa; -0.08 MPa; -0.12 MPa; -0.16 MPa and -0.20 MPa) and four replications. Percentage of germination, speed of germination index and dry weight were evaluated. Results showed that the gradual reduction of the osmotic potential of substrate is harmful to seed germination of gherkin seeds. Osmotic potentials lower than -0.04 MPa were considered as critical.

The effect of residual organic fertilization is an essencial tool for maintaining the sustainability of soil fertility in the semi-arid region. This study objectives assess the effect of residual organic fertilization on the income of mass drought and absorption of nutrient by sorghum grown in Entisol which for six years has received application of caprine manure or green fertilization with crotalaria and cultivated with potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). In the cultivation of potato annually the treatments consisted of planting and incorporation of the Crotalaria juncea L. at the time of flowering (C); addition of 15 t ha-1 of caprine manure (E); Planting and incorporation of crotalaria + 7,5 t ha-1 manure (CE); and witness without crotalaria or manure (T) with four repetitions. The treatments receiving application of manure provided the largest accumulations of N, P and K by sorghum. The effect of residual organic fertilization favored larger increase in the production of dry sorghum in the crops first and second. The annual organic fertilization of potato increased the levels of P and K in the soil swappable which influenced the growth of sorghum in subsequent cultivation. The manure shows high potential to be used as organic fertilizer in the region. However the planting and the incorporation of biomass of crotalaria without the addition of manure in addition to nitrogen not contributed the nutrient content of soil.