This study aimed to evaluate the insecticidal activity of eight medicinal plants on Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Plant powder from Rosmarinus officinalis (L.) leaves, Peumus boldus (Mol) leaves, Matricaria chamomilla (L.) flowers, Baccharis trimera (Less.) leaves, Camellia sinensis (L.) leaves, Thea sinensis (L.) leaves, Ilex paraguariensis (St. Hil.) leaves, and fruits of Pimpinella anisum (L.) were used in the experiment. Bioassays were carried out under constant conditions of temperature (28±2 °C), relative humidity (70±5%) and scotophase of 24 hours. Experimental units consisted of 20 grams of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) grains with 13% wet basis moisture content, 2 g plant powder and ten adult insects, both placed in plastic containers (60 mm in diameter x 60 mm high). The analyzed variables included: insect mortality, oviposition (egg number) and instantaneous rate of population growth (ri). The number of dead insects was recorded 5 days after bioassays were started, the egg number was recorded after 12 days, and ri was estimated on the 60th day. All the tested plants had toxicity to C. maculatus. The highest mortality was found in insects treated with P. boldus and I. paraguariensis. Number of eggs and ri also varied significantly among the powders. The lowest mean values for these parameters were recorded in the plots treated with P. boldus, P. anisum and R. officinalis.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito dos componentes dos substratos em diferentes misturas submetidos à adubação fosfatada sobre a composição mineral de mudas de mangabeira. Este experimento foi executado no Centro de Ciências Agrárias, UFPB, localizado no município de Areia-PB. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com 17 tratamentos, três repetições, e unidade experimental constando de quatro mudas. Os substratos testados foram acondicionados em sacos de polietileno preto, composto de fibra de coco, com valores variando de 0 a 40 %, esterco bovino de 0 a 25,5 %, terra vegetal de 25 a 70 %, 15 % de areia e superfosfato triplo, nas doses de 0,0; 5,5 e 11,0 g L-1. Foi avaliada a composição mineral dos sistemas radiculares e na parte aérea das mudas aos 150 dias após a germinação das sementes, para os teores de macronutrientes e cobre. Aadição de esterco bovino e de superfosfato triplo provocaram o incremento dos teores de macronutrientes no sistema radicular e na parte aérea das mudas de mangabeira, ao contrário do efeito da adição de terra vegetal e fibra de coco. O teor de cobre na parte aérea das mudas aumentou com o incremento da concentração de terra vegetal e da fibra de coco no substrato. Recomenda-se a utilização das concentrações de 24 % de esterco, 51 % de terra vegetal, 10 % de fibra de coco, 15 % de areia e 8 g dm- 3 de superfosfato triplo, para obtenção dos máximos teores estimados de macronutrientes e de cobre no sistema radicular e na parte aérea de mudas de mangabeira.

The objective of this present study was to evaluate the productive performance and carcass traits of kids goats receiving rations containing four ratios of concentrate and roughage using the Elephant grass in natura chopped as roughage. The ratios evaluated were: 80:20; 60:40; 40:60 and 20:80% of concentrate and roughage in dry matter basis of rations. Twenty eight Saanen male goats with 9.3 kg of initial body weight distributed in four groups with seven animals in collective pens were used. The experimental design adopted was a completely randomized with seven replicates. The increase of concentrate in rations promoted higher average daily gain, final body weight, total weight gain. Besides, there were obtained higher hot and cold carcass weight and dressing using highest concentrate levels. Thus, technically is viable the use of high concentrate based rations for finishing male goats. However, the concentrate to be used depends to bioeconomic performance promoted.

Seed hydration is considered the most important external factor interfering on germination. This study evaluated the tolerance of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud seeds to water and salt stresses during germination. Seed germination was observed in four 100-seed replications, in polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) or sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions with four osmotic potentials levels (0; -0.5; -1.0 and -2.0 MPa), arranged according to a completely random design, simulating water and salt stresses, respectively, using four replications of 100 seeds. The germination percentage and germination velocity index were estimated. Percentage germination of the control seeds averaged 94%, and reduced to 77.6% and 44.3% in -1.0 MPa NaCl and PEG solutions, respectively. No germination was observed in -2.0 MPa. Germination velocity index showed the same trend. Gliricidia sepium seeds showed less tolerance to water than to salt stress, and in this condition they are not tolerate to osmotic stress up to -0,5 MPa.

An experiment was carried out at a greenhouse of Plant Science Department of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró-RN, in the period of May to June of 2008, with the evaluate the agronomic performance of rocket in function of their times of decomposition of Ipomoea asarifolia incorporated. A completely randomized desing with six treatments and four replications. The treatments consist of: T1 (45 days incorporated); T2 (30 days incorporated); T3 (15 days incorporated); T4 (0 days incorporated); T5 (336g vaso-1bovine manure); T6 (Control no fertilized soil). The rocket cultivar grown was cv. Cultivada. The evaluated traits were: plant height, number of leaves per pot, dry mass and yield of grains. All the times traits were significantly affected by the amounts of Ipomoea asarifolia incorporated. Height mean value for plant height, dry mass and yield of grains were obtained in the time 11,8 days incorporated of 18,3 days for number of leaves.

The process of water erosion soil involves the detachment of particles soil by raindrop impact, the transport and consequently your deposition, by overland flow of water on the soil. This drainage happens in the flow form to laminate shallow what characterizes the interrill erosion. The work evaluated the efficiency in the different ways of soil cover provided by the sugarcane in the control of the losses of water and of the rates of detachment of the soil. The appraised treatments were: bary soil, residue under surface; dossal of the sugarcane and the added effect of the residue + dossal. The regime of found drainage, to laminate slow, it characterizes the interril erosion. The vegetable covering promoted by the culture of the sugarcane it promoted reduction in the rates of detachment of the soil. The residue in direct contact with soil and with the drainage it was responsible for the increment of the rugosidade, however, it provided low infiltration rates with consequent increase of the rates of loss of water, for constituting in a vegetable layer that hindered the infiltration. The dossal of the cane of suugarcane promoted a larger interception of the rain, delaying the beginning of the drainage, checking the largest infiltration rates obtained.

Honey samples produced in Limoeiro do Norte, state of Ceará, were stored during 180 days in two types of container, plastic and metallic, and its characteristics were monitored during the storage period by means of moisture content, HMF, reducers sugars, apparent sucrose, ash, free acidity, insoluble solids in water, diastatic activity, pH and oBrix. Moisture and free acidity have been determined matching the methodology recommended by AOAC. HMF, reducers sugars and apparent sucrose have been determined by LANARA methodology. Ash, insoluble solids in water have been determined according to CAC. The experimental data were appraised through factorial analysis 2 x 7 (two packings and seven times of storage 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days). The analyses of the stored samples lead to the conclusion that the physical chemical variables have matched the standards established by the effective legislation, except for HMF, which after 180 days of storage revealed values superior to those demanded by the brazilian legislation for both types of containers. The plastic container provided a better conservation of the honey as for the HMF content.

Cotton seeds require special care during storage to maintain their physiological and sanitary quality. The present work evaluated the physiological and sanitary quality of seeds of three varieties of herbaceous cotton stored for three (Lot 1) and twelve months (Lot 2). Analyses were performed in the Laboratório de Análise de Sementes e de Fitopatologia of the Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Areia-PB, and included tests for: emergence (E), vigor (IVE), green weight (PV), dry weight (PS) and the "Blotter test". Tests for physiological quality were performed in a randomized manner using a (3x2) factorial scheme, with four replicates with 25 seeds. Data on sanitary quality are presented according to the fungus index expressed as percentages. Seeds of the varieties CNPA 7H and BRS Verde demonstrated good levels of emergence after up to 12 months of storage, while seeds of the variety BRS Verde initially demonstrated dormancy, although this was overcome during storage. The fungus most commonly observed among the seed varieties in both storage lots was Rhizopus sp. The variety Aroeira do Sertão demonstrated the greatest incidence and variety of fungal species, a large majority of which were classified as storage fungi.

The castor bean is a demanding culture in fertility of the soil, especially of phosphorus, that is one of the nutrients more limitation the agricultural production. This experiment was carried with the objective of evaluating the answer of the castor bean during her initial development to different phosphorus doses. The used design was it entirely randomized, with five treatments and three repetitions, where the treatments consisted of different phosphorus doses (0, 3, 6, 9, 13 e 15 g planta-1). The plants were collected at 65 days after sowing for evaluation. The evaluated characteristics were: the number of leaves, leaf area, height, stem diameter, matter dries of the aerial part, of the system roots and total. The castor bean showed response to phosphate fertilizer in all characteristics evaluated, presenting consider increasing the parameters of growth. The best results were found with a dose of 9 g planta-1 P.

The ground pods of mesquite (GPM) was submitted to different thermal treatments for two hours after wanted temperature stabilization, for making of the treatments: A = ground pods of mesquite without heat treatment (approximately 30ºC); B = The ground pods of mesquite treated at 60ºC; C = The ground pods of mesquite treated at 80ºC; D = The ground pods of mesquite treated at 100ºC and E = The ground pods of mesquite treated at 120ºC. Soon after, samples were collected for accomplishment for chemical analyses and in vitro digestibility. A completely randomized design with three replications was utilized. The DM, CP, NFE, CF, ADF, celluloses, lignin, ash and CE values, did not were affected (P>0.05) by temperature. It was observed a quadratic effect (P<0.01) on the contents of EE, decreasing linear effect (P<0.01) on the CC and increasing linear effect on the NDF (P<0.01) and Hemicellulose (P<0.05) contents. The in vitro dry matter digestibility and the in vitro organic matter digestibility were not affected (P>0.05) by temperature. On the other hand the in vitro protein digestibility level, showed a quadratic effect (P<0.05), decreasing after 54ºC.