The controlled deterioration test has frequently been used to evaluate the vigor of several species and could be an alternative for evaluation of the vigor in jilo seeds. The objective of the present work was to study the controlled deterioration to evaluate the physiological quality of jilo seeds. Five seed lots, cv. Verde Claro Comprido, were submitted to tests of germination, germination first count, seedling emergence and deterioration (19%, 21% and 24% water content, at 45ºC and 24 and 48 hour periods). The 24% water/24h at 45ºC combination, for the controlled deterioration test, was efficient to detect vigor differences among jilo seed lots.

Erosivity is the potential ability of rain to cause erosion on somewhere. With the objective of mapping the rainfall erosivity in the entire State of Pernambuco, the average monthly values of the EI30 index with were correlated with Fournier rainfall coefficient and the average monthly precipitation, as well as the yearly values of the index EI with average yearly precipitation values. Data from 11 localities representative of their distinct climatic regions were utilized. From the best regression equations found for each region, the average yearly values of the EI30 index were calculated ( Factor R of Universal Soil Loss Equation - USLE) for 96 localities in the State, based on periods of 14 to 75 years of rainfall records. The values of erosivity found varied from 1,500 to 10,000 (Mj mm ha-1 h-1 year-1), where the Zona da Mata, Agreste and Sertão regions presented a moderate erosive potential, with values from 1,500 to 3,500 (Mj mm ha-1 h-1 year-1). The litoral region, was characterized by high erosivity, with annual average values of the index EI bethween 5.500 to 10.000 (Mj mm ha-1 h-1 year-1).

This research aimed to study competition effects of legumes intercropping and weeds on seeds yield and quality of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench. The experiment was carried out in a Rhodic Nitisol, under field condition in Botucatu region, São Paulo State, Brazil. Ten treatments were tested: sorghum (cv. A-6304) intercropped with Dolichos lablab L., Mucuna aterrima (Piper et Tracy) Holland, Canavalia ensiformis D.C. or Crotalaria juncea L., that were sown in the same time of sorghum or 20 days after the sorghum sowing, and sorghum weed-free and sorghum without weeding. The experimental design employed was the completely randomized blocks with four replications. There were evaluated sorghum seeds yield and some characteristcs of seed quality: purity, hectolitric weight, 1000 seeds weight, insect infestation, germination and vigor (by first counting of germination test and accelerated ageing test). The competition caused by legumes intercropping and weeds affected the yield and the physical and physiological characteristics of sorghum seeds, but the intensity of prejudicial effects depended on the time and the species of legume intercropping.

This work it objectified determination apparent digestibility of Dry Matter (DM), of Fraction Crude Protein (CP), of Gross Energy (GE) and the Digestible Energy (DEa) and Digestible Protein (DPa) of the waste guava meal and coconut meal. 75 figerlings of Nile tilapia had used been (with initial weight of 20,00 ± 5,0g), kept per 25 days in glass aquariums (70 L of water, each one), were fed to satiation, in small fractions to each 2 hours, of the 8:00 to 17:00h, with three diets (three repetitions each one) contend 0,10% of oxide chromic (marked intern): a) the reference (half-purified); b) 30 % coconut meal and c) 30% of waste guava meal. The feces had been by "sifonagem" two times for day (in beginning of the morning and afternoon end). The values of digestibility of waste guava meal had been: DM 43,36%; CP 61,49%, GE 64,24%; DEa 3601,03 kcal/kg e DPa 6,89% and for coconut meal: MD 60,36%; CP 75,62%, GE 37,10%; DEa 1878,74 kcal/kg e DPa 15,60%. The tested ingredients present potential to be used in rations for figerlings of Nile tilapia.

The present study aimed to evaluate the interference of cows genotype and calving order on the milk production and composition during lactation period. Thirty six cow (19 Gir and 17 Guzera) were the studied population, analyzed from October 2005 to February 2008. Gir and Guzera cows showed no significant differences between daily milk production amount of milk produced in 305 days and of lactation duration. There were significant differences in milk fat for Gir and Guzer multiparous, and milk protein for Gir and Guzer primiparous and multiparous. Multiparous Gir cow showed higher lactose rate than Guzera cow. Calving order among cows that multiparous produced milk containing higher fat levels than cow at first giving birth. Total solid (TS) end nonfat dry extract (NDE) was significantly different of both primiparous and multiparous animals between genotypes, except for TS primiparous cows. It was used Student-T test to compare different milk characteristics between genotypes and calving order, setting at 5%. In conclusion, the calving order and genotype do not affect Gir and Guzera milk production, but however, milk composition was interference.

The objective of this work was to evaluate to the sowing time of the Brachiaria brizantha forage intercrop with two upland rice cultivars on the agronomics characteristics of both species. It was used randomized blocks in experimental design arranged in factorial scheme 2x2+4, with four replicates. The first factor was constituted by the upland rice cultivars (BRS Primavera e BRSMG Curinga) and the second factor by two sowing times of B. brizantha forage (simultaneous sowing between rice and forage and sowing of the forage in the flowering of the rice). The additional treatments consisted of the sole crops upland rice cultivars and B. brizantha forage for each sowing time. In rice was evaluated the height of the plants, bedding, difficulty of the harvest, the number of panicles per area, grain per panicles, percentage of full and empty grains, 100-grain mass and grain yield. In the B. brizantha forage was evaluated the height of the tillers, the total dry mass and the rate of cultural growth. It was observed that the B. brizantha forage interfered in the productivity components of both upland rice cultivars and difficult significantly the harvest of the rice. The upland rice cultivars showed small competitive capacity with the B. brizantha forage when the establishment of the forage occurred simultaneously to the rice. However, to the measure that the sowing was occurred with the established rice already, the B. brizantha forage had his growth suppressed.

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 human specie has always been developing and improving its ways of exploring the natural resources. Among these ways, farming stands out for including various activities which are moving according to the time and space where they are implemented, which makes necessary to consider and study farming as a system. In this work, the concept of farming system was set up, showing that it is formed of several parts that interact with each others and with external components, generating a dynamic. To facilitate the comprehension of the current farming systems in the semi-arid northeast of Brazil, a revision of the evolutionary paths of these systems was done, considering livestock like a subsystem of the sugarmills, and of its importance in the economy and culture of the northeast. Observations about the fragmentation of the land and the appearance of systems of family production were also conducted. This study draws the conclusion that besides the physical characteristics of the area, some socio-political and economical factors have influenced a lot the way in which the farming systems were constituted in the semi-arid northeast.

The study was to evaluate the effect of the combination of different irrigation levels and rates of potassium applied drip on parameters indicative of the banana production Pacovan Apodi (var. SH3640). The experimental design was a randomized complete block with split plot and 3 replications. The treatments consisted of a combination of five layers of irrigation and drainage lysimeter by means for four doses of potassium applied by fertirrigation. The variables were the weight of the bunch without stalk, the number of hands in the bunch, the weight of the hand of the central cluster and the number of fruits of the central cluster of the bunch. The data were obtained from the harvest of the first two cycles of the experiment, from March 2006 to September 2007. The treatments with irrigation levels influenced in all tested parameters of production, while the doses of potassium only influenced the weight of the bunch without stalk.