Due to continued machinery, soil mobilization has caused considerable changes in both soil bulk density (physical attributes) and organic C content, risking crop yield reduction and negative environmental effects. In this context, this work aimed at assessing changes in both physical attributes and in organic C content of a Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo surface horizon, subjected to no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage with disk plow (DP), heavy harrow (HG), and disc plow plus harrow (DP+HG) for 23 years. A natural forest fragment (NF) was used as reference area. A randomized-block design with 8 x 12 m plots and four replications was used. Soil samples were collected at 0-5, 5-10, 10-20, and 20-40 cm depths in order to assess soil density, total organic carbon content, porosity, saturated hydraulic conductivity, and aggregate stability. Results showed that continued cultivation increases soil physical degradation, as evidenced by both macro porosity and total porosity reduction, aggregate stability, saturated hydraulic conductivity, total organic carbon, and soil density increase. The NT was found to best contribute to soil physical properties improvement and total organic carbon recovery in 0-5 cm surface layer.

Secondary metabolite produced in some plants can provoke alterations in the development of other plants or even other organisms. The aim of this paper was to identify possible allelopathic effects and biologic control of Achatina fulica Bowdich with aqueous extracts of Morus rubra L. leaves. For obtaining the aqueous extract, we used previously dried leaves in concentration of 1g 10 mL-1. Five concentrations of each aqueous extract were tested (10, 30, 50, 70 and 100%) and compared to control (0.0%), distilled water. The aqueous extracts of Morus rubra showed up allelopathic potentialities on the seed germination and in the growth of the shoot and the root system of the tested species, considering that the reduction in the germination and initial growth increased with the rising of the aqueous extracts concentrations used and, in the biologic control, only in the final mass of A. fulica. The results indicated the existence of allelopathic effect, but not molluscicide of M. rubra.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the influence of different methods of dormancy breaking and substrates in the emergence and early growth of seedlings canafístula (Peltophorum dubium (Sprengel) Taubert). The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design in a factorial 5 x 4, with five substrates, Bioplant®; 75% Bioplant® + 25% bagasse from sugar cane (75B+25BC); 50% Bioplant® + 50% bagasse from sugar cane (50B+50BC); 25% Bioplant® + 75% bagasse from sugar cane (25B+75BC); bagasse from sugar cane (100%) and four methods of breaking dormancy (control, mechanical scarification using sandpaper, immersion in hot water and scarification with concentrated sulfuric acid) with three replications of 12 seeds. We evaluated the index of emergency speed; average time of emergency; emergence percentage at 7, 14 and 28 days after sowing, the dry mass of shoot and root dry mass. Immersion in hot water and chemical scarification with sulfuric acid (98%) are efficient methods to overcome seedcoat dormancy in seeds of canafístula. The substrates Bioplant® and 75B +25BC provide higher initial growth of seedlings.

This paper aimed to evaluate the performance of hybrids of muskmelon on different substrates. Five substrates were evaluated: S1 = coconut husk fiber, S2 = sand; S3 = ½ sand and ½ crushed of sugarcane, S4 = ½ sand and ½ of peanut shell, and S5 = I sand, I of crushed sugarcane and I of peanut shell and four hybrids of muskmelon (Bonus N°. 2, Louis, Fantasy Jab and 2007 # 16). The plants were cultivated in plastic pots of 13 dm3, which were filled with these substrates; they were arranged in plants spacing of 1,0 x 0,5 m between plants. The Fertirrigation was done by dripping, using a nutrient solution for the culture. The experimental design was a randomized blocks, in a 5 X 4 factorial design with four replications. The characteristics evaluated were: total production, average transverse and longitudinal diameter of fruit, fruit shape index; mesocarp thickness; average transverse and longitudinal diameter of the locule; index format locule; mass of fresh fruit; soluble solids, pH; titratable acidity; C vitamin; firmness of flesh; tracery of shell; and maturation index. The optimal substrate for muskmelon cultivation is a combination of 50% sand + 50% peanut shell. The hybrid Fantasy performed better compared to other hybrids.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of the biochar as a substrate conditioner for the production of eucalyptus seedlings. The work was lead in nursery and the experimental design was randomized blocks arranged in factorial 5 x 2, being the factors composed of five concentrations of biochar (0; 7.5; 15; 30 and 60% v/v) added to the Germinar® commercial substrate and two species of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora and Eucalyptus urophylla), with four repetitions. At 75, 90 and 120 days after sowing (DAS) evaluated the stem diameter and plant height and at the end of the experiment (120 DAS) assessed fresh biomass of shoot and root, dry mass of shoot and root morphological parameters relative the plant height/stem diameter, dry mass of shoot/dry mass of roots and index of quality of Dickson. In general, the substrates that was added 7.5% of biochar promoted greater growth of seedlings, especially E. citriodora showed the best results for the evaluated characteristics. Evaluating the morphological parameters that act as key components in the quality of seedlings E. citriodora was superiors than E. urophylla. Concentrations of biochar above 30% harm the development of seedlings.

The goal of this present paper was to evaluate the productive performance of feedlot goats fed with wild cassava silage based rations and growing levels of whole cottonseed. Whole cottonseed levels evaluated were: 10.0%; 20.0%; 30.0% and 40.0% of dry matter. Twenty four male goats, non castrated, non defined genotype, weighting 9.4±2.0 kg of body weight were used. Experimental design was a completely randomized with four whole cottonseed levels and six replicates. Increasing whole cottonseed levels was observed higher average daily gain and total weight gain of goats. On the other hand, final body weight and total water intaked were not affected by whole cottonseed levels in rations. Besides, water intake from ration corresponded for the most part of total water intaked daily by animals. Increasing whole cottonseed level until 40% of dry matter for feedlot kids goats may promote higher average daily gain and total weight gain, without affect water intake.

Agricultural activity changes the soil physical properties, making them unfavorable for plant development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the soil physical properties and total carbon stocks in the layers of 0 to 0.10 and 0.10 to 0.20 m depth, in areas under different management, and compare with the native forest soil. The study was conducted between May and December 2009, at University of Oeste Paulista, Presidente Prudente (SP). The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with four replicates in a 4x2 factorial, with four soil management systems (no tillage (NT), conventional tillage (CT), pasture and native forest) and two sampling depths (0 to 0.10 and 0.10 to 0.20 m). We evaluated the parameters of soil bulk density, porosity, organic matter content and total carbon stocks in soil. Human intervention through agricultural practices reduces the stock of carbon in soil to levels well below the conditions found in native forest, besides providing the soil physical conditions worse than that of the soil kept under forest.

This paper aimed to evaluate the use of cactus pear as the main substrate for the production of amiloglucosidase by solid state fermentation with the aid of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger. The experiments were conducted at the Laboratory of Agro-industrial wastes at the State University of Southwest Bahia - UESB. The cactus pear was dried up to about 2% moisture. The variables in the fermentation process were water activity (0.891, 0.964, 0.976 and 0.983) and fermentation time (24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h and 120 h). The results showed high enzyme production by the third day of fermentation, irrespective of water activity in all trials, after the fermentation time reduction of enzyme activity was observed, with the highest activity was 60.32 U/g in 72 hours and the water activity of 0.891. During the fermentation process the fungus synthesized and excreted the enzyme without the need for any other inducer addition to forage cactus and water, thus demonstrating the viability of using the palm as raw materials for bioprocesses.

The goal of this paper is to evaluate the shelf-life of five yellow melon hybrids (AF-5107, AF6742, AF-9136, AF and AF-6798-7719) produced in the Mossoró-Assu agropole. The yellow melon hybrids were grown in soil fertilized and irrigated following the demand of culture. Reaching the stage of commercial maturity, fruit were harvested and brought to the Postharvest Laboratory at the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-árido, where were taken12 fruits at random for characterization of each hybrid at time zero. Afterwards the other fruits were weighed, identified and stored in cold room regulated at 10 ± 1 ºC and 90 ± 2% RH, where they remained for 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 days. At each time interval, the following analyses were realized: mass loss, external and internal appearance, pulp firmness and soluble solids. The experimental design was completely randomized in factorial scheme 5 x 7, five hybrids and seven periods of storage. We used four replications, and the experimental unit consists of three fruits. There was significant interaction between hybrid and storage period only for the soluble solids. For the other characteristics evaluated, we observed the isolated effect of the main factors. The hybrid AF-9136 stood out compared to other hybrids tested by greater pulp firmness and soluble solids.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the no-preference for feeding and biological aspects of Spodoptera eridania fed on cowpea cultivars BR17 Gurgueia, BRS Urubuquara, BRS Nova Era, Sempre Verde, BRS Milênio and BR3 Tracuateua. In free-choice test, leaf discs were placed in Petri dishes where one third instar larvae per cultivar was released, whereas in no-choice test one leaf disc was placed per Petri dish where one caterpillar per cultivar was released, evaluating their attractiveness after 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120, 360 and 720 minutes, as well as the leaf area consumed. Randomized blocks and complete randomized blocks design were used for free-choice and no-choice tests, respectively, with six treatments and 10 replications. The evaluation of the biological parameters of S. eridania was carried out in Petri dishes where recently hatched caterpillars were transferred in the proportion of one per dish, and the leafs of the cultivars were offered to them during the whole larval period, and we evaluated: periods and viabilities of larvae and pupae, overall viability, weight of larvae and pupae, sex ratio, longevity and overall cycle. Complete randomized design was used with six treatments and 30 replications. In no- preference for feeding free-choice test the cultivars Sempre Verde and BR17 Gurgueia were the most and the least consumed, respectively. Regarding the effects of cowpea cultivars on larval viability we can infer that BRS Urubuquara and Sempre Verde show antibiosis-type resistance to S. eridania.