The sustainable use of land constitutes a growing concern for different managements and inappropriate agricultural practices. Despite the expansion of scientific knowledge on soil it appears that the use of indicators to estimate their quality, independently does not allow a proper evaluation for the diagnosis of imbalances in production systems. This research aimed to diagnose changes on important physical and microbiological indicators in a dystrophic Red-Yellow (Oxissol) under extensive grazing conditions and native vegetation in the Brazilian Pantanal. The results showed significant deterioration in physical and microbiological environment anthropized with average reductions in indicators of 51.62%, 10.30%, 16.36%, for microbial carbon, basal respiration, percentage of wet aggregates, respectively, and increases for soil density, soil resistance to penetration, metabolic quotient of 184.68%, 142.18%, 88.31%, respectively. By inserting these results in a Qualigram allowed to obtain a quantitative index of soil quality under extensive grazing equal to -0.0814. Based on this index has qualified sustainable management of cumulative effects on pasture as a "system under collapse" compared to the native environment.

The purpose of this research was to make a floristic survey of the shrubby-arboreous stratum in three contiguous areas of Caatinga in the Cariri of Paraiba. The survey was accomplished in the "Estação Experimental Bacia Escola/UFPB", municipality of São João do Cariri, PB Brazilian Northeast. The experiment consisted of three areas of 3.2 ha, where three parallel transects had been established, in a distance of 20 m from each other, and there were marked ten parcels with equidistant systematic distribution (10 m x 10 m), having been sampled 30 parcels from each area. The floristic survey was carried through by the method of parcels. There was fulfilled a grouping analysis using the index of similarity of Jaccard. The number of parcels showed was enough to reflect the plantdiversity of the studied places; the families with highest number of species in the arboreous-shrubby stratum were Cactaceae and Euphorbiaceae; the species that had been common in the three areas, , were: Aspidosperma pyrifolium, Croton blanchetianus, Poincianella pyramidalis, Jatropha mollisssima, Malva sp., Pilosocereus gounellei, Spondias tuberosa and Opuntia palmadora. The arboreous habitat presented seven species, being higher to the shrubby component that was presented with five species. The more conspicuous arboreous elements had been: Poincianella pyramidalis (Caesalpiniaceae) and Aspidosperma pyrifolium (Apocynaceae). The most important shrubs were: Croton blanchetianus and Jatropha mollisssima (Euphorbiaceae). The analysis made by the index of floristic similarity indicated that the similarity was considered high by the three area, because they presented a Jaccard index higher than 0.25.

This study was aimed to carried out a floristic survey in four communities that are localized in the São Miguel do Gostoso municipality - RN, focusing on the Leguminosae species and its potential use. Field research was carried out between May and October/2007, for acquire information about the use of plants and samples of them in the local communities. The study registered 102 species pertaining 73 genera and 30 families. Leguminosae/Fabaceae (25), Asteraceae (10) and Euphorbiaceae (8) were the most representative families in number of species and the genus Mimosa L. and Senna Mill., with five species each. Most species of Leguminosae (68%) have economic value and are recognized seven categories of use: medicinal (8), technology (7) fuel (8), construction (6), fodder (14), veterinary (2) and other (9). Although many species have different types of utilities, Poincianella pyramidalis (Tul.) L.P.Queiroz stood out from others by being quoted in all use categories considered.

The use of phosphates fertilizers can increase the trace element concentration in the soils, with an eventual transfer to human chain food. As indispensable tool, models can be used to identify the risks and to evaluate the effects of preventive actions. The goal of this study was to applied a mass model for trace elements, developed at the University of California - Riverside, (USA) in two cerrado soils (LVdf, a clayey soil and NQ, a Sandy Soil). The model was used as an instrument to evaluate the risks of cadmium and lead accumulation in different soils and in soybean plants, upon the application of different phosphorous sources in the soils. The simulate cadmium content after ten years of application of the reactive phosphate FR3, it reached 2.97 mg kg-1 in the LVdf. The cadmium content in the RQo was more available for the soybean plants. The model showed a greater accumulation of Cd and Pb in the clayey soil (LVdf), after ten years of application high doses of these elements through the phosphates fertilizers FR3 and FN2.

Many arthropods are mentioned with whitefly natural enemies, including the green lacewings. The aim of this study is to analyses the development and the capacity of predation of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen, 1861) fed with Bemisia tabaci B biotype nymphs, rearing different vegetables (kale, broccoli, eggplant end tomato). The duration, viability end weight in each stage end phase of development of the insectpredator had been evaluated, as well as the predatory capacity of the larvae in the third instar. The larval phase of the predator presented minor duration when these had been fed with nymphs developed the broccoli (12.36 days) and minor duration of the tomato (14.36 days) phase when fed with nymphs developed in kale, broccoli, and eggplant (6.50, 7.20, 7.33 days, respectively). The lower indices of viability been found for the larvae fed with nymphs developed in the tomato (30%), and average weights have. The predatory capacity of the larvae during the third instar was not affected, independently on the plant host where the whitefly nymph fed itself.

The thermo-reflective and black screens was used for shading for plants and they has private properties that improve the microclimate conditions, it was aimed to evaluate the growth and yields in hydroponic lettuce production (Lactuca sativa L, cv. Olinda), under effect of the thermo-reflective with different percentages of attenuation of the solar radiation. The treatments were and thermo black screens 50% with four different percentages of attenuation of the solar radiation, being meshes 40, 50, 60 and 70%. It was observed significant differences in function of the treatments for all the analyzed characteristics number of leaf, diameter of stem, fresh and dry matter biomass, leaf area and distances of internodes. The meshes thermo-reflective 40 and 50%, it had provided better development for lettuce, in relation to expression of the economical characteristics, being suitable to supply shading in greenhouse conditions at Northeastern semi-arid areas. However, it's improved the most control of the solar radiation, temperature and relative humidity, with micro weather conditions the best for growth and yields of Lettuce.

This work carried out a floristic-taxonomic survey of the family Verbenaceae sensu lato in a stretch at the Ecological Station Raso da Catarina, Bahia State, Brazil. Four genera and six species were recorded: Aegiphila, with one species (A. sellowiana Cham.); Lantana, with one species (L. fucata Lindl.); Lippia, with three species (L. gracilis Schauer, Lippia cf. schomburgkiana Schauer and L. thymoides Mart. & Schauer) and Stachytarpheta, with one species (S. caatingensis S. Atkins). A key for recognition of the species, descriptions and illustrations, beyond data about flowering and fruiting, geographical distribution and habitat are provided.

The Alismataceae (excluded Limnocharitaceae) comprises twelve genera of herbaceous aquatic plants. Only two of its genera (Echinodorus and Sagittaria) are native to the Neotropics. A survey of the species of Alismataceae confirmed the occurrence of four taxa of Sagittaria and eleven of Echinodorus from the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. Analytical keys to differentiate the genera and species are provided, as well as illustrations of their taxonomic characteristics and data on their geographical distribution. Echinodorus macrocarpus to be considered synonymous with E. pubescens. Echinodorus reticulatus is considered as a different species from E. longipetalus. There are five excluded taxa from the Brazilian semi-arid region: E. grandiflorus, E. macrophyllus, E. martii, E. bolivianus, and E. decumbens.

The mobility and persistency of cadmium in the soil are determined by the intensity of adsorption by colloids. The evaluation of the free energy of cadmium adsorption by the soil is a measurement of the reaction strength. This study was carried out to evaluate the free energy of cadmium adsorption reaction in Luvisol and Cambisol samples after addition of different cadmium level. Cadmium adsorption was considered spontaneous, since free energy was negative. Free energy values decreased with increasing cadmium concentration and they were higher in samples with higher organic matter levels. Luvisol showed higher values of free energy of adsorption.

Through this research work, evaluating the chemical-bromatologic composition of in natura sugar cane as related to hydrolysis with whitewash. The work was conducted in the Forage Culture Sector of the Animal Science College at José do Rosário Vellano University (UNIFENAS), campus of Alfenas (MG). The experimental design utilized was the completely randomized in a factorial arrangement 4x5, four doses of whitewash were studied (0.0; 0.5; 1.0 and 2.0% on the basis of natural matter) in five times aerobic exposure (0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours), with four replicates. The addition of whitewash to sugar cane promoted lower temperatures till 12 hours of storage, from this point on, there no further effects of whitewash upon temperature control. The content of dry matter and ashes increased linearly with addition of whitewash, while protein content decreased. Whitewash promote no fall in the contents of water-neutral detergent-insoluble fiber and lignin, nevertheless, the contents of acid detergent insoluble fiber decreased, with more forceful when using 0.5 and 2.0% of whitewash. The use of whitewash in the hydrolysis of sugar cane alters the chemical bromatologic composition, however, the use of this additive is unjustified, because is not effect positive on the fiber content. The sugar cane in natura and hydrolyzed present the best composition immediately after the desintegration.