The reference evapotranspiration (ETo) by Class A pan (TCA) is an indirect method and widely used in Brazil because of its low cost and easy handling. This work it had as objective to determine, for differ- ent methodologies of determination pan coefficients (Kp) that they are proposed in literature, the ETo gotten with the aid of the evaporation Class A pan (ECA), and to compare such results of ETo of Class A pan with the ETo estimated by the FAO Penman-Monteith method which is considered the standard fort the FAO, with his- torical series data of 15 years. There was a good performance of the Class A pan method to estimate the monthly values of ETo, considering the different ways of calculating Kp, and the methodology proposed by Snyder showed the highest rate of concordance (d = 0.80475) and lower mean absolute error (MAE = 0.28452 mm day-1), indicating its potential for practical use on the estimating of daily ETo in the region of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

In massal rearing of natural enemies with the goal of biological control, the procedures adopted for establishment and maintenance of the individual founders of the colonies may have undesirable effects on population genetic structure of laboratory. This situation influences the success of rearing and effectiveness in the field. The objective of this study was to evaluate, along of generations two laboratory populations (Jaboticabal and Piracicaba) of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), founded with different numbers of adults (1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 couples), the frequency of morphological variants, size of wings and eye color, such as parameters for inferences about the homozygosity degrees. For eye color were assessed the frequency, while for the size of wings was measured the width and the length of the right mesothoracic wings. The eye color variants for C. externa populations may be monitored in the laboratory aiming at detecting inbreeding, whereas the measurements of length and width of wings should not be adopted for this purpose.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of soil management systems in no - tillage system (NTS) and crop rotations and on soil chemical properties. The experiment was conducted for six con- secutive years, during which were made 12 crops (summer and winter). The experimental design was com- pletely randomized in a split plot scheme. Treatments included four soil management (plots): P 1 = NTS fol- lowed annually for a plowing in the winter; P2 = NTS followed biennially for a plowing in the winter; P3 = NTS followed every three years for a plowing and P4 = continuous NTS. Subplots were crop rotation with crops in the summer and winter: R 1 = millet - common bean - millet - common bean - rice - common bean - millet - common bean - millet - common bean - rice - common bean; R 2 = Soybean - common bean - soybean - wheat - rice - soybean - common bean - soybean - wheat - rice - common bean; R 3 = corn - common bean - corn - tomato - rice - common bean - corn - common bean - corn - tomato - rice - common bean; R 4 = millet - soybean - common bean - rice - common bean - millet - soybean - common bean - rice - common bean; R 5 = millet - common bean - corn - common bean - rice - common bean - millet - common bean - corn - common bean - rice - common bean; R 6 = Soybean - common bean - corn – common bean - rice - soybean - corn - common bean - rice - common bean. Each rotation cycle of three years crop season was repeated twice. Systems of soil management and crop rotations significantly affected soil chemical properties. The chemical attributes Ca, Mg, organic matter, P, K, Mn and Zn concentrated in the top- soil regardless of the crop rotation used in the managements of less soil disturbance. The pH values were simi- lar during the 12 seasons in six years. The crop rotations used in different soil managements under NTS provid- ed the improvement of soil fertility with values of organic matter, P, K, Cu, Mn and Zn contents equal to or higher than the initial values.

This study was developed with the purpose of evaluating the protein fractionation and in vitro di- gestibility of the dry matter (IVDMD) of millet genotypes for grazing, managed at different heights and sub- jected to several cuts. The experiment had a randomized complete block design, with repeated measures over time, four replications in a 3x3 factorial arrangement, with three cultivars of millet (ADR 500, LAB 1542 and LAB 1838) and three average cutting heights (60; 80 and 100 cm). Evaluations were undertaken through cuts in the same plots during four months. Results showed that millet genotypes were similar as for the values of pro- tein fractionation and IVDMD. The forage quality is affected by the management of cutting height, thereby it is not recommended to manage millet genotypes at 100 cm height for providing lower fraction A, B1, B2 and digestibility and higher fraction B3 and C of the forage.

The fruits and seeds of tucumã-of-Goiás have important nutritional properties and are used in human consumption and feed. Thus, the study of the thermodynamic properties in the drying process is critical to project analysis equipment, preservation and packaging process of seeds. The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate the thermodynamic properties for different hygroscopic moisture contents of seeds tucumãof- Goiás. For the experimental data we used the static indirect at temperatures of 10, 20, 30 and 40 °C and moisture content of 12.8; 8.9; 5.8 and 3.6% dry base (d.b). The model Copace was that got the best fit to hygroscopic equilibrium moisture content. The thermodynamic properties are affected by moisture content, and the latent heat of vaporization of water from the seeds increases with the decrease in the equilibrium moisture content ranging from 3049.00 to 2666.73 kJ kg-1 for moisture content of 3.6 to 12.8% d.b., respectively. The enthalpy and differential entropy are strongly related to the moisture content of seeds. The isokinetic temperature of 210.93 K confirms the chemical linear compensation between differential entropy and enthalpy seeds of tucumã-of-Goiás, the desorption process being controlled by the enthalpy of seeds.

This study was developed with the aim of evaluating the performance and land use efficiency of different arrangements of intercropping with maize and forage. The field experiment was conducted in Tangará da Serra/MT. The experimental design was a randomized block in factorial scheme 3x2 +1, were as three arrangements of intercropping, two species of forage and an additional treatment with maize monoculture in four replication. In maize monoculture and intercropping were evaluated: plant height and ear insertion height, plant population, weight of 100 grains, productivity, number of grain rows and number of grain per row. In forages intercropping with maize were evaluated plant population and dry matter accumulation. The arrangements with Maize + Forage sown in the line and Maize + Forage sown in two rows between rows with the species Urochloa hybrid promoted best corn yields. The modality and species affect both the productivity of maize as forages species. Grain yield of maize is higher in monoculture. The higher dry matter accumulation of Urochloa hybrid occurs in the Maize + Forage sown in one row between rows, while, for the Urochloa brizantha the arrangements studied do not affect their yields. The arrangement with best land use efficiency is Maize + Forage sown in two rows between rows for both study forage species.

The establishment of pastures in Amazonia is made to replace the woody vegetation by slash and burn process in chemically poor and low available phosphorus soils. The recovery of degraded areas is required and can contribute to reducing deforestation in the region. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of doses of Arad and NPK combinations in the management of maize in soil with low productive capacity. The experiment was conducted in Santo Antonio do Taua, Pará State, in an area with degraded pasture, in a dys- trophic Oxisol. The experimental design was a randomized block split plot design with four replications. The plots were four phosphate: 50, 100, 200 and 300 kg ha-1 of P2O5 as Arad and sub-plots combination with NPK, NK, NK liming, and control ( no match ). We evaluated the growth characteristics and productivity of corn. Doses of Arad influenced the plant height and number of kernels per row cob. The application of Arad com- bined with NPK increased grain yield.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the agronomic and technological performance of common-bean crop following three straw mulch production system (sole corn, corn-Urochloa ruziziensis inter- crop and sole U. ruziziensis) and topdressing nitrogen fertilization (0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg ha-1 of N) in the fourth year after the no-tillage system implementation. A randomized block design, in a splitplot array, with three replications was used. The use of U. ruziziensis intercropped with maize allowed a greater straw mulch formation and a more adequate coverage of the soil surface aiming the beans cultivation in succession. The nitrogen fertilization influenced the common-bean productivity in succession to U. ruziziensis unique and maize intercropped with U. ruziziensis. The common-bean crop in succession to the straw mulch production system with U. ruziziensis allowed higher grain production and sieve yield. The grain cooking time decreased due to the rates of N used in the dry bean crop in succession of maize exclusive.

Considering the potential of castor beans as an alternative for the production of renewable en- ergy and the lack of information regarding management techniques for its cultivation, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of irrigation water salinity (ECw) associated with nitrogen fertilization rates (DN) on growth, water consumption and efficiency of water use by castor bean cv. BRS Energia. The experiment was conducted in lysimeters under field conditions, atCCTA/UFCG, adopting a randomized block designin 5x5factorial scheme with three replications. Treatments consisted of five levels of ECw (0.4, 1.4, 2.4, 3.4 and 4.4 dS m-1) associated with five doses of nitrogen (50, 75, 100;125 and 150 mg kg-1). The increase in water salinity from 0.4 dS m-1 caused linear decrease in the absolute growth rate(TCAap), total leaf area(AF)at 35 days after sowing (DAS), the water consumption and water use efficiency (EUA) for castor bean cv. BRS Energia. Increasing levels of water salinity promoted increase in relative growth rate (TCRap). Nitrogen rate of 114 mg kg-1 increased TCRap and 150 mg kg-1of N promoted greater EUA. Increasing levels of nitrogen at- tenuated at 120 DAS, the effect of electrical conductivity up to salinity level of 2.4 dS m-1 on the leaf area pro- moting higher specific leaf area. There was a significant interaction between ECw and nitrogen levels on elec- trical conductivity and pH of drainage water. Keywords: Ricinus communis L. Quality of water. Mineral nutrition.

This study evaluated the effects fungicides with or without association with potassium phosphite on the control of the Asian rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) of soybean. Two field tests (‘Coodetec- 219RR’ and ‘Emgopa-313’) were conducted (12/2005-4/2006) in Cristalina (Goiás, Brazil), in a complete ran- domized block design (Nine treatments; five replications). The treatments were with one and two applications of phosphite-K (1192 g a.i. ha-1 P2O5 + 596 g a.i. ha-1 K2O) + vegetable oil (VO - 0.5% v v-1), two applications of traditional fungicides (TF) [pyraclostrobin+epoxyconazole (66.5 + 25 g a.i. ha-1); methyl- thiophanate+flutriafol (300+60 g a.i. ha-1); tebuconazole (100 g a.i. ha-1)], and, one application of TF+phosphite and a second application of phosphite+VO. For ‘Emgopa-313’, product applications were made on V8 and R2 soybean growth stage, while for Coodetec-219RR on R1 and R5. Evaluations of disease severity (%DS) were made each seven days after product applications. After the first product application, all treatments significantly reduced DS. At the end of evaluations only treatments with TF significantly reduced DS. Yield and mass of 1000 seeds were significantly higher for treatments with TF. Phosphite-K applications decreased DS, but did not increase yield and mass of 1000 soybean-seeds.