Existe interesse em informações sobre as necessidades de fertilizantes para a cultura do meloeiro, explorada no Pólo Agroindustrial Assú/Mossoró/Baraúnas, Estado do Rio Grande do Norte, visando a obtenção níveis elevados de produtividade de frutos de qualidade, a redução do desperdício de adubos e a diminuição da degradação ambiental. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de aplicações de doses de nitrogênio (uréia, 45% de N) e fósforo (superfosfato simples, 20% de P2O5) sobre o rendimento e a qualidade dos frutos do meloeiro Gold Mine, de frutos amarelos, irrigado por gotejamento. As doses de nitrogênio (0, 50, 100, 150 e 200 kg N ha-1) foram combinadas em esquema fatorial com as doses de fósforo (0, 50, 100 e 150 kg P2O5 ha-1). Adotou-se o delineamento de blocos completos casualizados com cinco repetições. O nitrogênio aumentou as massas total e de frutos comercializáveis, reduziu a firmeza e o teor de sólidos solúveis do melão, mas não influenciou os números total e de frutos comercializáveis, nem o índice de formato do fruto. O fósforo não influenciou as características quantitativas e qualitativas do melão.

The objective of this work was to evaluate substrates compost by organic residues for production of papaya tree seedlings. This research was led greenhouse in the campus of the Federal University of Acre in the period of September to December of 2006. The experiment was installed in design completely randomized with eight treatments and four repetitions, and each experimental unit was constituted of 3 plants. The substrates evaluated were: T1 = plantimax (treatment controls), T2 = compost organic + coconut peel, T3 = compost organic + bed-of-chicken + peel-of-rice carbonized, T4 = compost organic + I manure bovine + peel-of-rice carbonized, T5 = compost organic + earthworm casting + peel-of-rice carbonized, T6 = compost organic + earthworm casting + pit of triturated açaí, T7 = compost organic + earthworm casting +peel of triturated coconut, T8 = compost organic + I manure bovine + peel of triturated coconut. In all the substrates, the representatives were used in same proportions, being still added, 10% of triturated vegetable coal, 1,0 kg.m-3 limestone and 1,5 kg.m-3 of termphosphate, except in the treatment T1 (commercial substratum). The evaluations were accomplished to the 70 days after the planting, being evaluated height of plants, mass of the fresh matter of the aerial part, mass of the dry matter of the aerial part, of the root e total. It was observed that the substrata 4 and 5 presented better acting in relation to the characteristics of the mass of the fresh and dry matter of the aerial part, dry matter of the root and dry matter total, but it didn't differ of the substrate 1 (treatment control), 2 and 8, when the seedling's height was analyzed.

The citrus leafminer Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton is an important pest of citrus orchards either by direct damage or by favoring citrus canker contamination. The experiment was carried out inlaboratory conditions to evaluate Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) larvae preying on P. citrella egg, larval and pupalstages. It was observed that all the immature stages were preyed by first, second and third larval instars. The developmental time of the predator had direct influence on preying capacity, reaching 100% for predator larvae on the prey second instar larvae. This is the first record of C. externa preying the citrus leaf miner eggs, larvae and pupae in the world.

An experiment was carried out under greenhouse condition at orchard of Universidade Federal de Lavras, MG with aim studing the effect of different levels of organic matter in the seedling production of papaya Formosa. The experimental design used was of randomized blocks complet with four treatment and four replication. The treatments composited of four percentages of organic compost (0%; 10%; 20% and 40% of the total volume). Each plot 16 seedlings, one for each recipient. After 140 days of sowing, it was evaluated the following characteristics: plant height (cm), number of leaves/plant, shoot dry matter, root and total (g/plant). The presence of organic matter on substrate allawed a higher growth of papaya seedlings. The presence of40% of organic compost on the substrate was the best posibility alternative of organic matter for production of papaya seedlings.

Prickly pear has great potential for biomass production in agroecosystems of the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil. However, this crop has a relatively high cost of planting, therefore, studies have aimed at management practices that optimize its fodder production for the greatest possible period of time. The present work was conducted within a 19-year old prickly pear field and had the objective of evaluating the effects of different planting densities (5,000 and 10,000 plants ha-1) and harvest intensities (preservation of primary or secondary cladodes during harvest) on biomass production and soil fertility. However, the preservation of secondary cladodes during harvest led to greater biomass production within the density of 5,000 plants ha-1. Fertilization with 20 t ha-1 of manure at 2-year intervals, increased ( P < 0.05 ) soil total N content ( Nt ) and also soil P extracted by the Mehlich-1 method, in relation to soil under native vegetation in an area adjacent to the prickly pear field. However, soil K extracted by Mehlich-1 the method, was lower in the area cultivated with prickly pear, in spite of the manure applications, showing that there is a need to add K from another source, as a way of maintaining long term levels of this nutrient in the soil.

An experiment was carried out in the Botanical Laboratory of the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró-RN, aiming to evaluate the efficiency of dormancy breaking methods on seed germination of scarlet starglory in hypochloride sodium. A completely randomized desing was used with five treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of T1 - Seed immersion in hypochloride sodium for 15 minutes, T2 - Seed immersion in hypochloride sodium for 25 minutes, T3 - Seed immersion in hypochloride sodium for 35 minutes, T4 - Seed immersion in hypochloride sodium for 45 minutes, T5 - No mechanical scarification and no seed immersion in hypochloride sodium. The seeds in all treatments were submitted to the immersion in boiling water for one minute for posterior process of steeping in cold water for 24 hours. All seeds were mechanically scarifield for 30 minutes before the immersion in hypochloride sodium. Evaluations for plant height, root length, shoot fresh and dry mass, seed germination percentage and germination speed index (GSI) were made. It was observed that the increase in immersion time in hypochloride sodium increased the percentage in the first seed couting, seed germination percentage and germination speed index, reaching maximum values of 94.07%, 98.49% and 17.48, respectively.

The aim of this work was to verify the effects of Lithothamnium (Concinal Fertilizador®) in different substrates. The experiment was carried out at plant formation area at Federal University of Lavras orchard, testing the following doses of Lithothamnium: 0; 2; 4; 6; and 8 kg m-3 in two compositions of substrates: A (organic compost + sand + soil at 1:1:3 volume proportion) and B (Plantmax + sand + soil at 1:1:3 volume proportion). The randomized blocks was 5 x 2, with 4 repetititons, and 5 plants for plot. The following characteristics had been evaluated: length of the aerial part (CPA), length of the system to radicular (CR), leaf number (NF), dry substance of the aerial part (MSPA) and dry substance of the root (MSR). For seedling production of passion fruit, Lithothanium was good option for growth of passion fruit seedling, and the substrate B promoted best plants.

This review objective to show the importance of the rural administrator to the perfect development of the familiar agriculture. In this situation, we observed the inclusion of experimented administrative theories in others areas, has the capacity of increase the production of the little cultivators or familiar agriculturalist, maintaining them in yours regions and increasing the lucratively with less degradation ofthe ambient. So we conclude who so important than the agricultural techniques is the rural administrator to promote the development of the familiar agro industry, because he is holder of important knowledge, but he considerate the specific particularity of our region.

Surveys of the intensity of soft rot in plantations of lettuce and Chinese cabbage were performed from January to May 2004 in mesoregions of the Mata and Agreste of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Disease prevalence of 42.9% was observed in lettuce and 100% in Chinese cabbage. The incidence of soft rot ranged from 0 to 22% in lettuce and 1 to 67% in Chinese cabbage. In lettuce higher intensity of soft rot was observed in areas with more than 17 years of cultivation; planted with cultivars "Cacheada", "Elba" and "Tainá"; with clay soil type; irrigated by hosing; and having poor drainage. Lower disease intensity was detected in areas of cultivars "Verdinha" and "Salad Bowl"; when coriander was the previous crop; and when seedlings wereproduced in trays. In Chinese cabbage higher intensity of soft rot was found in areas having more than 10 years of cultivation, and in plantations with more than 50 days of growth. The sole subspecies detected causing soft rot in all areas of lettuce and Chinese cabbage was Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum.

With The effect of replacing conventional corn-soybean based diet by maniçoba hay on the performance and carcass quality of colonial broiler chicken was evaluated. The economical viability of the diet with maniçoba hay was also evaluated. It was used 160 naked-neck chickens with 28 days of age that were distributed according to a completely randomized design, with four treatments, four repetitions and 10 broilres in each experimental unit (five females and five males). The treatments consisted of substituting 0, 5, 10 and 15% of the basal diet for maniçoba hay. It was evaluated feed intake, final weight, weight gain, feed:gain ratio, absolute and relative weigth of the nobles cuts, abdominal fat pad and visceras eatable (heart, gizzard and liver) and relative gross margin (MBR) in relation to the prices of maniçoba hay, prices of others ingredients and those related to chicken live weight. Two males and two females per repetition were slaughtered at 70 days of age. The feed intake with Maniçoba hay diets had no significant effects on the final weight, weight gain, feed:gain ratio, abdominal fat, absolute and relative weight of the noble cuts, while the substitution levels had influenced the feed intake, the absolute and relative weight of gizzard. The MBR reduced when 15% of replacement was used. Utilization of 10% of replacement can be viable, mainly when ingredients prices are elevated or colonial broiler market price is low.