Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) (jurema preta) is a xerophytic species of the shrub-arboreal habit, indicative of secondary succession stage of recovery or progressive, widely disseminated by different caatinga physiognomies of northeastern Brazil, bringing great potential. For the few studies that address their environmental performance, this study aimed to investigate structural and ecological aspects of its population, based data in diameter and height, and characterize the spatial distribution pattern of this species in the study areas. The phytosociological survey was conducted in two areas with 2 and 80 hectares of caatinga at the Experimental Station of Embrapa Semiarid, Petrolina - PE. 10 units were plotted on a random sample measuring 8.0 x 40m, and included all individuals living in diameter at soil level K 3 cm, and measured the total height of the same. Were sampled 283 and 61 individuals in 100 and 80% of plots in areas I and II respectively, inserted mostly in the first diameter classes (3.0 - 6.0 cm and 6.1 - 9.0 cm) and height (2.0 - 3.0 m and 3.1 - 4 m), without trend to standard reverse-J-shape in areas. The spatial distribution, measured by the Payandeh index, reached a value of 2.4 in area I and 7.8 in area II, indicating that the species has a aggregated distribution in both areas. The calculated values for the of Liocourt quotient in areas I and II respectively, got an average of 0.67 and 1.12 with great variation, showing unbalance, despite being in progressive process of natural regeneration.

Sewage sludge, waste from the stations of wastewater treatment, has high contents of organic matter and nutrients and, when stabilized, it presents enormous potential for agricultural use. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of doses of sewage sludge on growth and yield of castor bean. The experiment was conducted in Cambisol, using the cultivar Guarany AL 2002. The treatments in a randomized block design with four replicates, corresponding to a treatment with chemical fertilizer (90 kg ha-1 of P2O5 and 30 kg ha-1 K2O at planting and 40 kg.ha-1 N, 40 days after planting), and five doses of dry sewage sludge (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 t ha-1). At the end of the cycle, the assessments were made of stem diameter, plant height and productivity. The productivity of seeds and the biometric characteristics of castor bean increased with increasing doses of sewage sludge applied to soil, and the dose from 15 t ha-1 is sufficient for replacement of mineral fertilization of culture without the risk of soil contamination with heavy metals.

In order to evaluated the impact of the high salinity reject brine from reverse osmosis desalination on hydroponics lettuce cultivated in greenhouse an investigation was carried out in Mossoro, Northeast of Brazil (5º11'S, 37º20'O and 18m above sea). Two lettuce cultivars ('Verônica' and 'Babá de verão') were cultivated with a basic nutrient solution with 1.1 dS m-1 (control) during the crop cycle (1-28 days after transplanting - DAT) - T0 and with basic nutrient solution containing 50% of the reject water from desalinization with 4.8 dS m-1 exposed during 1-7, 21-28, 7-14 e 1-28 DAT (T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively). The addition of 50% of brine reject from desalination into the hydroponic nutrient solution allows grow only 'Verônica' lettuce with no reduction in fresh biomass. This lettuce cultivar shows to be more tolerant to salinity for all exposure time with reject brine in the nutrition solution, despite the fact that 'Babá de Verão' cultivar is more productive.

This study aimed to identify the similarities among hydrochemical variables describing the groundwater qualities in the Salgado watershed river (Southern Ceará), with the use of multivariate statistical analysis. Also, the groundwater hydrochemistry was investigated and classified using the Piper diagram. The study was developed from secondary data provided by the CPRM (Centro de Estudo Geológico do Brasil, previously Companhia de Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais). The geological formation of the Salgado basin has two aquifer systems, one on sedimentary rock (porous, karst and alluvial) and another on (fractured) crystalline rock. The research was conducted in 24 groundwater wells spread out over the drainage area of the basin, with data having been collected for the last 10 years. The water samples were analyzed for their content of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, CO3, HCO3 -, SO4 2- and CE. Two groups were formed by the use of cluster analysis, and both were independent with respect to their hydrological characteristics, and similar in hydro geological formation. The water quality study showed no temporal interference. The two components explained 78.30% of the total variance of the water quality. According to the Piper diagram, the waters were classified as 55.6% mixed chlorided water and 40% mixed bicarbonate water, in groups 1 and 2 respectively. The hydrochemical characterization of the studied waters implied no limitation to their human consumption.

This paper aimed to evaluated the effect of the use of potassium nitrate on the reduction of stress on the melon plants exposed to excess salt in the irrigation water. The experiment was carried out at the Centro de Ciências e Tecnologia Agroalimentar (CCTA/UFCG) Pombal-PB, from 19/09/2009 to 20/10/2009, using the hybrid melon 'Hales Best Jumbo'. The treatments consisted of two levels of of salinity of the irrigation water (0.3 and 5.0 dS m-1) and rates of N in the form of potassium nitrate (5.5; 6.25; 7.0 and 8.5g per plant). The experimental design was randomized blocks, on the factorial scheme 2x4, with four replications. The highest rates of photosynthesis, stomatic conductivity, transpiration, leaf area, total dry mass and the fruit yield per plant were observed on melon plants irrigated with low salinity water (0.3 dS m-1) compared to the ones with the high saline water (5.0 dS m-1), and on rates of N between 6.10 and 7.8g of N per plant for both levels of salinity. The supply of N in the form of potassium nitrate was effective on reducing the melon plant the stressing effect caused by the salinity of the irrigation water up to the rate of 6.85g of N per plant. On absolute terms we can affirm that the best performance of the melon plant was achieved with the rate of 7.0g of N per plan when irrigated with normal water and 6.25 of N per plant when irrigated with saline water.

The irregular offer of cupuaçu pulp in the harvest time, the high endable of the fruits and the form of conservation by freezing, are factors that cause difficulties in the offer of this product in the market of Rio Branco/AC. The purpose of this work was to dehydrate the cupuaçu pulp and evaluate the shelf life in a period of 90 days. The experiment was conducted in the Unity of Technology and Foods (UTAL) of Federal University of Acre (UFAC). Cupuaçu fruits came broked, despolped and sanitized. Portions of 300 g of pulp were submitted in the process of dehydration in oven with air circulation by a temperature of 60 °C for 46, 52 e 58 hours. After the dehydration, the samples were submitted to the following analysis titratable acidity, pH, totals solids soluble (oBrix), moisture determination, ascorbic acid and water activity (aw). The microbiologycal analysis involved of Salmonella, thermotholerant coliforms at 45 °C, mesophilic bacteria and yeasts and moulds, all for triplicats. The results showed significant effect of interaction between dehydration time and storage to variables ºBrix and ascorbic acid. The water activity and the pH kept stable during all the period of storage, while the level of ascorbic acid reduces by the dehydration time and storage. The dehydration of in natura cupuaçu pulp in conventional oven is a practicable method of conservation and storage for 90 days.

The fusariosis, caused by Fusarium gutiforme, causing losses higher than 30% on Brazilian fruits production. The present work had as objective evaluate planting integrated production commercial areas of pineapple, and study effects of inoculation methods in relation leaves base, on disease development. Evaluation disease incidence started 90 after plantation, in monthly intervals, until floral induction treatment, carried through 270 days after plantation. During period of evaluation, lower incidence than 1% during the vegetative cycle was observed. Plants that presented typical symptoms of fusariosis had been eliminated of plantation. It was used pineapple leave type D, cv. Pérola. Leaves were detached, disinfested with sodium hypochlorite at 5,0% for 10 minutes and washed with distilled water. Inoculations were done at two and five centimeters of leaf base. The method used was toothpick with fungus. Evaluations were done 15 days after inoculation, being evaluated lesions area. Higher lesions development was observed in treatment with disk of fungus colony on wound + humid cotton (leaf border). Inoculation position had not significative effects for symptoms development.

This study aimed to characterize the production and management of dairy farms in the North of Minas Gerais and to research the relevant problems pointed by cattle breeders. A total of 47 breeders were interviewed and were classified 26 farms producing only milk and 21 producing meat and milk simultaneously. The extensive system (45%) and semi-extensive (46%) were the most frequently related to these farms. The averages of cows in lactation and dairy production were 36.3 animals and 295.26 liters/day, respectively. The natural mating was the most utilized reproductive system. In the herds were used most frequently Gir (42%) and Holstein (35%) bulls and in farms with mist production, the zebu cows were more predominant. The reduced price paid for the milk and the Boophilus microplus infestations were the problems pointed with higher frequency by cattle breeders. During the dry season the forage most utilized was the sugar cane with urea and during the rainy period, continuous grazing was the most common. Acaricides were applied for 93.6% of the farms and only 15 of them have implemented strategic control. Theses results obtained are important to know and to compare the profile of dairy farms in this region, fomenting the search for alternatives to improve the productivity and sustainability of cattle breeders.

The net radiation is of great importance in studies related to energy and mass exchanges between the land surface and atmosphere, although it is not measured routinely in a meteorological network. In this sense, the use of satellite images over the last decade has been increasingly used for its determination. The present study aimed at determining the radiation balance in the Irrigated São Gonçalo Project - PISG and surrounding areas based on satellite images and a few meteorological data measured within the PISG. Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper images available in 2008 and procedures of SEBAL - Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land were used for mapping albedo and net radiation. Three selected areas into the study scene were used to discuss the behavior of different components of the radiation balance under different soil cover types. It was observed that the waters of São Gonçalo dam presented albedo in the range of 3.3 to 7,5%, while in the soil with low vegetation cover the albedo ranged between 32 and 38,7% over the studied period. In the irrigated coconut orchard the albedo ranged between 15.0 to 18.7%, while the net radiation values over the dam and the coconut orchard were consistently higher than those in other areas. It was concluded that the irrigated areas have lower albedo and surface temperature and thus increased net radiation, contributing to reduce the air temperature locally.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the utilization effects of two native cacti named mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru DC.) and xiquexique [Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Weber ex K. Schum.) Bly ex Rowl.] associated with sabiá (Mimosa caesalpinifolia Benth.) and flor de seda (Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br.) shrub hays on nutrient intake, milk production and composition of Saanen dairy goats¿. Eight goats averaging 43.4 kg were used in two 4x4 latin square experimental design. The experimental treatments consisted of four diets (30% native cacti + 30% shrub hay + 40% concentrate, on dry matter basis): xiquexique + flor de seda hay; xiquexique + sabiá hay; mandacaru + flor de seda hay and mandacaru + sabiá hay. The ingredients proportion of the concentrate in the diet was 57.5% algaroba (Prosopis juliflora (Sw) DC); 37.5% soybean meal and 5% mineral mixture. Significant differences were observed for voluntary intakes of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acidy detergent fiber, total carbohydrates, nonfiber carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients in relation to g/day and g/kg0.75. No significant differences were observed for milk production (averaged 1,294.39 g/day), and milk composition.