The quality of coffee can be defined as a set of physical, chemical, sensory and security attributes that meet what the consumers want. The objective of this work was to evaluate and to compare the final quality of coffee produced by using the dry-process, using several procedures such as complete drying on cement terrace, suspended terrace, or their combination with mechanical horizontal rotary type driers. There was no significant change in the coffee quality obtained from any of the drying methods, however, it is known that the high percentage of cherry fruit, up from 90%, determined the high standard of quality of the drink and that this is influenced by the unripe fruits present in the product that cause undesirable fermentations and generate off-flavor.

This work presents a simple classification method to describe and evaluate the Caatinga vegetation, one of the most fascinating biosystems of the Brazilian landscape, which has been intensively explored since colonial times. Associated to remote sensing techniques, this classification will be able to contribute as a method of reference of terrestrial control, facilitating the interpretation of space images in the inventory of vegetative cover, in studies associated with environmental monitoring and management. For a given biome of Caatinga, the Woody Vegetation Biomass Index (WVBI) is the product of the Height Index (HI) by Cover Index (CI) of vegetation. For a condition of maximum preservation the WVBI is equal to 1. By determining of a reference volume the Woody Vegetation Biomass Volume (WVBV) will be able to be estimated.

The objective was to evaluate the horse behavior during the total time at leisure in testing of metabolism. Four male crossbred horses, with average age of eight years and alive weight of 376,09 kg, were used in an experimental delineation in Latin square (4 x 4), lodged in individual boxes. The treatments had been constituted by four diets: Alfalfa hay + Concentrated (ACSP); Tifton hay (low nutritional quality) + Concentrated (TCSP); Tifton hay (low nutritional quality) + Concentrated with Probiotic (TCCP); Alfalfa hay + Concentrated with Probiotic (ACCP). It was observed a statistical difference (P<0.05) in the percentages of total resting time, alert and head low, in the (ACSP) treatment, showing elevate value 76,85; 4,65 and 1.49%, respectively. The inquietude either showed a significative difference (P<0.05) showing values 5.29% for (ACCP) and (TCCP), respectively. The alimentary activities either showed a statistical difference (P<0.05) for (ACSP and ACCP), showing 10,45% average values. During prolonged resting times, the appeared of behavior disturbs were evident.

To have high yields it is necessary that seed of good quality be sowing and, to produce them, mother plants should receive appropriate treatment, like fertilization. Aiming evaluate how copper and zinc fertilization, in three types of soil, and its influence in physiological quality of sorghum seeds, in an experiment in randomized blocks with tree replicates. The treatments were a combination of five levels of Cu (0,0; 0,26; 0,90; 1,54; 1,80 mg kg-1 of soil) and five levels of Zn (0,0; 0,32; 1,10; 1,88; 2,20 mg kg-1 of soil), resulting in nine treatments in experimental matrix Central Box. Seeds produced were analyzed of hundred seed weight, germination and vigor (germination first count, IVG, emergence, emergence first count, IVE and seedlings dry matter). The levels of copper and zinc increased hundred seed weight and vigor tests. Plants cultivated in Haplustalf produced seed with the best quality.

The experiment was carried out to determine the effect of intermittently drain tilapia ponds for vegetable irrigation. A completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement 2X3, with three replications was used in this experiment. The first factor was kind of feed: feed 1 - without animal ingredients; feed 2 - with the inclusion of shrimp meal; and feed 3 - with the inclusion of fish meal. The second factor was pond drainage scheme, where in the scheme 1, ponds were intermittently drained for irrigation and subsequently refilled; and in the scheme 2, ponds were not drained. Sexually reversed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) with average weight of 1.66 g were randomly stocked at the experimental ponds, with thirty five fish per tank, in a stock density of 1.25 fish per m2. Fish were fed two times a day in a proportion of 5% of body weight. There was a significant effect for tank drainage scheme for the variables feed conversion ratio and survival (P<0.05) where tilapias cultured on ponds intermittently drained for irrigation had higher survival and better feed conversion ratio. There was no significant effect (P>0.05) on the interaction between kind of feed and tank drainage scheme for any of the studied variables. Feed type and pond drainage scheme had no effect on weight gain (P>0.05). Therefore, it can conclude that intermittently drained fish ponds, for irrigation, results in the best tilapia's performance in terms of feed convertion and survival.

Aiming to evaluate the genetic divergence among castor bean accessions through collections of racemos with seeds of ten municipalities in the State of Alagoas in the year 2007. The variables were analyzed: weight of 100 seeds (W100), weight of the 100 seed coats (WC100); transversal (TLS) and longitudinal lengths of the seed (LLS); raceme length (LR); e content oil of the seeds (OCS). For the evaluation of genetic divergence was used the principal components analysis and the cluster were made using the Tocher method. Phenotypic correlations between the variable and the altitude (ALT) of the collection places were also carried through. Exist significant divergence between the accessions, indicated for the two first principal components, that explained 82.15% of the existing variability. The variables W100 and WC100 were those that more contributed for the observed divergence. Four groups were formed by Tocher' methodology, showing possibilities of future works to explore the variability found in castor bean accessions. The correlations were positive between some variables, like the altitude, that seems to have especially influenced the W100 variable, but not on OCS.

The experiment was conducted at "sitio cantos" of UFERSA, to evaluate the green mass production and the effect of the cut age (42, 56, 70, 84 and 98 days) on chemical-composition of the canarana erecta hay, cultivated in semi-arid climate area. The DM, CP, OM and ashes levels were affected by treatments. The age of 42 days presented production of green matter (45,88 ton/ha/year), and the CP (6,64%), EE (2,15%) and ash (14,08%) levels superior to the other ages, being therefore the more indicated for haymaking.

Stachytarpheta coccinea Schauer (Verbenaceae) is recorded for the first time to the Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazilian Northeast. This species was found in Caatinga vegetation especially at the region Western of the State. Description, geographic distribution and illustrations to the species are presented.

The effects of five levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization (0; 60; 120; 240 and 480 kg of N/ha) upon Buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris, L.) performance were evaluated. A completely random design with three replicates was used. Dry matter yield of aerial portion (DMYAP), dry matter yield of roots (DMYR), leaf/stem ratio (LSR), number of tillers (NT) and water use efficiency (WUE) were measured. The results showed a linear effect (P < 0.002) on DMYAP and DMYR and linear and quadratic effects (P < 0.02) on NT and WUE. LSR was not influenced by the nitrogen fertilization. Overall, it could be concluded that Buffel grass responded positively to nitrogen fertilization.

The present work had as objective verifies different methods for evaluation of the physiologic potential of gherkin seeds. Two lots of seeds aged were used artificially, in water, being obtained for each lot, six quality levels. The seeds aged artificially to the temperature of 41ºC by 0, 8, 16, 24, 32 and 45 hours and high relative humidity were submitted to the germination tests, first count of the germination and vigor. The first germination count, accelerated aging (41ºC/48h) and seedling emergence was efficient in evaluating physiological quality of gherkin seeds.