The adoption of management practices that reduce water losses is essential to conserve moisture and improve soil temperature, especially in arid and semiarid environments of the Brazilian Northeast, characterized by high evapotranspiration and the adoption of irrigation with saline water, which harms growth and yield of commercial crops. Given these factories, an experiment was conducted in Nova Floresta, Paraíba, from August 2010 to February 2011 in Oxisoil, in order to evaluate the production of bell pepper and soil moisture in grooves with side trim, and application of biofertilizer and mulch cattle. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications using a factorial 2 x 2 x 2 for the ground beef with and without biofertilizer, with and without residues of sisal fiber (Agave sisalana), with and without the side facing the grooves, to reduce lateral water losses by infiltration of water with polyethylene plastic film. From the results, the lining of the lateral grooves provided higher values of soil moisture, number of fruits, fruit mass, plant production and productivity, bell pepper plants. It was also found that the combination of biofertilizer and mulch the ground beef remained wetter in the first 15 cm depth.

This work was carried out with the objective to study the foam-mat drying of Cereus jamacaru pulp fruit with albumen (2%) and “Super Liga Neutra” (2%) with whipping time of 5 min, dried in oven with air circulation at 70; 80, and 90 °C with three different foam thicknesses (0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 cm). The drying curves were fitted with the Page, Henderson and Pabis and Cavalcanti Mata models. Drying time was influ- enced by the foam thickness and process temperature being the process faster for smaller thickness and higher temperature. He Cavalcanti Mata model presented the best fit of the experimental foam drying kinetics data.

The replacement of the natural systems by sugar cane leads to fundamental alterations in soil carbon and nitrogen stocks and consequently in the global cycle of these elements. This study was conducted in the municipality of Capim, Paraiba State, and the objective was to evaluate carbon and nitrogen stocks in soils of a natural forest in comparison to sugar cane with and without vinasse. The studied soil was a Dystrophic Gray Argisol. The soil samplings were performed in five replicates (five profiles) at the depths of 0-5, 5-10, 10- 20 e 20-40 cm. The systems were selected namely, native forest; sugar cane with vinasse and cane sugar with- out vinasse. The carbon and nitrogen contents and stocks decrease after the change of native forest to plant sugar cane. In general, there is not significant difference in the carbon and nitrogen contents and stocks be- tween the environments of cane sugar. The systems of cane sugar with and without vinasse are functioning as C -CO2 emitter when compared with the native forest.

The main goal aim of this work was study the parameters that influence in the spatial variation of the chlorophyll "a" in the surface water of the Orós reservoir, Ceará state, Brazil. It was studied the compari- son of the water in that reservoir, too. Twelve water samples were taken in seven different sites in the reservoir. They were sampled every two months from April/2008 to April/2010. Total phosphorus, water temperature, water transparency and the chlorophyll "a" production were analyzed. To assessment the eutrophication be- tween the sampled sites it was used the Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. Results showed that the eutrophicationallowed observes that the water temperature, water transparence and total phosphorus are influential in the chlorophyll "a" production. The increasing of the water temperature increase the chlorophyll "a" concentration. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis showed that the sampled sites 1 and 2 are similar in relation to water eutrophication and it separates the water in two different groups. The group 1 was formed because of the both high sedi- ment concentration and the low levels of chlorophyll “a” and the group 2 was formed because of the both highwater temperature values and high chlorophyll "a" concentration.

In the last years, as interest in recycling and waste use has increased, many researchers have studied a wide range of potential substrates alternatives. Therefore, is possible that pulp mill sludge can be used as a substrate to seedlings production, while reducing costs. The aim was to evaluate the potential of using pulp mill sludge combined or not with cattle manure as an alternative substrate component for production of seedlings of yellow passion fruit. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in factorial 2 x 3 x 5 design, begin two cultivars (Yellow Maguary FB 100 and FB Master ® 200), three doses of N-P-K (0, 21.4 and 42.8 g plant-1) and five combinations of pulp mill sludge (PMS) and cattle manure (CM). Were used the following combinations: CM 100%, 25% PMS + 75% CM, 50% PMS + 50% CM, 75% PMS + 25% CM and PMS 100%, with four replicates. After 48 days were evaluated shoot and root length, number of leaves, stem diameter, shoot fresh and dry weight and root fresh and dry weight. Observed that increasing concentration of waste in the substrate caused significant damage to seedlings in both cultivars, probably due to nutrient imbalances, therefore is detrimental to the development of seedlings; the application of N-P-K, in the tested doses, is not sufficient to avoid adverse effects in the seedlings or to correct the balance nutritional of waste; and the cattle manure is the best option for the production of quality seedlings, in the conditions studied.

Diazotrophic bacteria play important role on economy nitrogen fertilizer in forage glasses and environmental sustainability. With the objective of evaluate the occurrence of diazotrophic bacteria associated associated with native forage at two different times and identify isolates with potential for fixing N2 in the semiarid region. Was conducted in the Soil Laboratory of the Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural in Federal University of Campina Grande, Campus de Patos, Paraíba. A study was carried out at the Soil Laboratory of the Centro de Saúde e Tecnologia Rural of the Federal University of Campina Grande, in Patos, Paraíba. The objective this study was to verify in the native diazotrophic endophytic bacteria associated with forage glasses and to identify isolates in NBF hability, during the rainy and dry seasons in semiarid region. Root samples of three forage grasses [Andropogon gayanus Kunth (Andropogon), Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania (Tanzânia) and Cenchrus ciliaris L. (Buffel)] cultivated in the field experiment was utilized. The bacteria were isolated in NFb culture media free-N specific for Azospirillum spp., the isolates was quantified, phenotypically characterized, purified. From caracterized after, was evaluated for their nitrogenase activity in vitro. The resultas show diazotrophics bacteria growth in the three forage grasses tested. The ocorrency diazotrophics bacteria be influencied by genotipic plant and seasonal variation. A more density of NSDB of the genus Azospirillum associated in the root grasses were obtained in dry season. The NSDB isolates, show a high potencial for new studies on the genetic caracteristcs and avaliation the inoculo potential to (BNF) associated on grasses in semiarid region.

The objective of this work was to obtain informatio n about the best sources and doses of nitro- gen and potassium fertilizers for obtaining vigorou s rootstocks umbuzeiro in Northeastern Brazil. In s eparate experiments, we tested two sources of nitrogen, ure a and ammonium sulfate and five N rates (0, 350, 70 0, 1400 and 2800) mg.dm -3 , and two sources of potash fertilizer (potassium c hloride and potassium sulfate) in five doses of K20 (0, 1.800, 3.600, 5.400 and 7.200) mg. dm -3 substrate. The experimental design was in random- ized blocks in factorial 2 (sources) x 4 (doses), w ith ten treatments and four replications and ten pl ants per plot. Parameters were evaluated for the growth of seedlin gs. Doses of nitrogen and potassium applied to soi l had a negative influence in the survival of seedlings, shoot length, stem diameter and root fresh weight of seedlings.

Some techniques can be used in order to promote the recovery of degraded areas like riverine ecosystems, and those with low impacts present a fast regeneration, through an ecological succession with no need for human intervention. It is necessary to study the use of techniques that contribute to the recovery of these ecosystems, such as soil bioengineering, which involves the use of biologically active elements working on soil stabilization, combined with inert elements such as concrete, wood, polymers, and geotextiles made with synthetic material or plant fibers. This work was carried out in order to evaluate planted species develop- ment and endemic species in the ecological succession, along the Paramopama river margin, located at the mu- nicipality of São Cristóvão, in Sergipe State, submitted to soil bioengineering techniques. Two types of geotex- tiles (Fibrax and Syntemax and 400 TF) arranged in two blocks and three treatments were tested, and the be- havior of the vegetation and efficiency of geotextiles were observed for a period of 11 months monitored by the floristic survey. The abundance of the species Crotalaria spectabilis and Calopogonium muconoides was stud- ied, and subsequently classified according to vegetation succession stage. The study revealed that the use of geotextile Syntemax 400 TF on the left bank promoted the greatest abundance of species, resulting in a greater vegetation cover, and consequently better protection of the slope. The geotextile Syntemax 400 TF was the most appropriate among the tested types, to promote the floristic recovery in the studied area and probably in those with similar soil-climatic conditions.

Elevated productivity of castor and common bean in intercropping is obtained with the use of quality seeds, where boron plays an important role in plant nutrition. The objective of the this study was to evaluate the physiological quality of seeds of the common bean and castor grown in intercropping syste ms, subject to different sources and levels of boron. A completely randomized design was used in a 2 x 5 + 2 facto- rial scheme with four replications. Treatments cons isted of two sources of boron (borax = 11% B and bo ric acid = 17% B), combined with five boron doses (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 kg ha -1 of B in the soil) in intercropping of the common bean with castor, plus additional treatm ents of common bean and castor in monoculture. It w as concluded that boric acid permitted for acquisition of common bean seeds with the highest germination per- centage when intercropped with castor. Use of the d ose of 1.5 kg ha -1 of boron in the soil resulted in acquisition of seeds of the common bean with vigor of 79% when intercropped with castor, regardless of the boron s ource. Employing 2.3 kg ha -1 of boron, with the source being either boric acid or borax, influenced the vigor of castor seeds produced when intercropped with the common be an. The addition of boron by soil fertilization, in de- pendent of the source used, did not affect the phys iological quality of common bean seeds or castor se eds pro- duced in monoculture.

In order to determine the effect of organic fertilizer on growth of seedlings of melon inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), an experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions. The experimental design adopted was a completely randomized design with four treatments and four replications. Treatments consisted of melon plants cultivated on sterile and non sterile soil in the presence or absence of organic compost. The melon seeds were germinated in trays containing substrate formed by 70% of Soil + 30% of green coconut powder, and the mycorrhizal inoculation used a mixture of the species Glomus clarum and Glomus intraradices, applied at the time of sowing. The seedlings with the first definitive sheet were transplanted into pots with sterile or non sterile soil, fertilized or not with organic compost. After 30 days from transplanting plants were harvested for determining the weight of fresh and dry shoot, stem diameter, arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and content of macro and micronutrients. Organic compost addition did not influence arbuscular mycorrhizal activity and also increased shoot dry weight. AMF colonization of roots showed influence on macro (N, P and Ca) and micronutrients (Fe and Mn) shoot content on soil sterile with organic compost.