The present work, Brachiária decumbens Stapf., to the application of lime, nitrogen and zinc in the quality of dry matter to evaluate residual the reply of the during four cuts. For this, an experiment was installed in the UNESP/FEIS, Selvíria-MS, a distrofic Red Latosol (october/1996 may/1997). The experimental design was blocks randomized, in factorial project 3x3x2, with 4 repetitions. The treatments had been composites for three rates of nitrogen: 0; 50 and 100kg ha-1, three rates of lime: 0; 267 and 556 kg ha-1 and two rates of zinc (0 and 5 kg ha-1), applied in the first year and reapplied in as the year, except the lime. In as the year of experimentation, one became fullfilled three cuts in the grass to the 10 cm of the soil, with intervals of 49 days, for the evaluation of the text of crude protein, coefficient of digestibility "in situ" of the dry matter and content neutral detergent fiber. The crude protein, increased with the fertilization nitrogen in all the cuts of the grass, however, the effect of the application of Zn and limestone, in the increment of the crude protein, was restricted only in as the cut. In as the cut it had positive interaction of N and Zn. The digestibility coefficient was increased with the application of the limestone only in the third cut, while in as cut had this increase occurred only with use of the biggest dose of N. The nitrogen fertilization diminished the neutral detergent fiber in the first cut of the grass, and increased in excessively the cuts. While, the zinc and lime application did not affect the neutral detergent fiber in the three cuts of the grass.

This work was carried out from october to december, 2005, in Agropolo Assu-Mossoró region, RN, Brazil, with the objective of evaluating the effect of nitrogen and potassium doses on fertilization efficiency of melon crop. Three simultaneous trials were performed in adjacent areas, each one receiving a different water amount (L1=0.76NTI, L2=0.9NTI and L3=1.04NTI). Experimental design was a randomized blocks in a factorial scheme with three replications. Treatments consisted of combination of three doses of both nitrogen (N1=42, N2=84 and N3=126 kg ha-1) and potassium (K1=106, K2=212 and K3=322 kg ha-1), plus two additional treatments (N2K0 e N0K2), applied only with intermediary water amount. N2 e K2 was the levels recommended for melon. Indexes of agronomic efficiency of fertirrigation were determined for nitrogen, potassium and irrigation depths. Agronomic efficiency was influenced by N and K doses, irrigation depths and by factor interaction. Treatments L3N1K1 (305.57 kg kg-1) and L3N2K1 (132.63 kg kg-1) presented higher efficiencies for fertirrigation with nitrogen and potassium, respectively.

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.

This study was conducted to evaluate the yield of two maize varieties cropped with organic and mineral fertilizations either associated or unassociated. The randomized experimental design was used under a factorial scheme 2 x 3 x 2, with four replicates. The first factor corresponds to two maize varieties (Nitrodent and Nitroflint), whereas the second one represents three levels of mineral fertilization: without mineral fertilizer; 300 kg/ha of 4-14-8 + 100 kg/ha ammonium sulfate (S.A.); and 600 kg/ha of 4-14-8 + 200 kg/ha S.A. The third factor represents two organic fertilization levels: without organic fertilizer; and 40 m3/ha organic compound. The experimental plot consisted of eight plant rows with 8m length each one and 1m spacing from each others, so totaling 64 m2 area. The yield of the maize grains by plot were evaluated, and the data were subjected to variance analysis (test ¿ 5%). The averages were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability level. Both varieties Nitrodent and Nitroflint only cropped under the organic system reached more than 6.500 kg/ha. The exclusive organic cropping system provided higher yields of maize grains, compared to the conventional system. No significant differences were found between the exclusive organic system and the combination of both organic and conventional systems upon the grain yield of the Nitrodent variety.

In environmental studies is important to know the adsorption process of heavy metals in clay minerals, since they are able to immobilize these metals. Knowing the cations adsorption is influenced for several factors, the objective of this research was to study the zinc adsorption process by bentonite clay and to evaluate the particle size of clay and pH influence on this process. In order to quantify the adsorbed zinc, 2 g of bentonite clay, dried at room temperature and sieved at 0.5 and 2-mm-mesh, were equilibrated for 24 hours with 20 mL of water containing different quantities of zinc (10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mg L-1) as background solutions of pH values 4 and 6. Langmuir's adsorption equation in its linearized form was applied and the values of the maximum capacity and those of the constant related to the bonding energy were obtained. The results showed that Langmuir equation was adequate to describe zinc adsorption at different pH values and particle size of bentonite clay. Zinc adsorption in bentonite clay depended on pH and particle size, decreasing as they increased. The maximum retention capacity, 3.24 mg g-1, was obtained in pH 4 using particle size of bentonite clay < 0,5 mm.

The work was developed in a greenhouse, with the objective to evaluate the behavior of Sudan sorghum in one normal and another saline-sodic soil treated with increasing concentration solutions of calcium chloride. Two samples of Alluvial Soil proceeding from the half-barren part of Paraíba, Brazil, with salinity and sodicity problems had been used. The physical and chemical characterization of soil samples was carried and was mounted an experiment in randomized block type, at 2 x 6 factorial arrangement, being two soils and six solutions of calcium chloride with increasing concentrations, in three replicates. The soil had been conditioned in polyethylene vases with 5,0 kg of capacity, being submitted to the ticket of the solutions during sixty days, being then made a sampling for determination of the exchangeable sodium and the calculation of ESP. After this period, was planted one sorghum tolerant cultivar to salinity, being continued the ticket of the solutions under daily irrigation. At 60 days of application of calcium chloride solutions, it was observed that it had a reduction of the ESP, which continued being reduced until the 120 days, mainly for the saline-sodic soil, correcting the sodicity partially. The effect of the salinity had been evident in sorghum cultivated in saline-sodic soil, with problems since the germination in the treatments of lesser calcium chloride concentration, with improvement in the growth of the plants in the intermediate levels and decrease in the last level, probably, for the raised saline concentration, reflecting in the height of the plants and the production of dry matter.

The pineapple in Paraíba, the fruitful of larger economical importance is considered, with an area planted with more 11.000 there are, and with one of the best productivities at national level, about 23 t/ha. This research was developed in six producing municipal districts in the State, located in the area of the Swamp and Zone of the Forest, in the months of May, June and July of 2006, with the objective to diagnose the process of production of the culture of the pineapple. The data were obtained through a structured questionnaire, approaching information on the productive and socioeconomic process of the culture, being 10 questionnaires for municipal district, which were maybe distributed to the and applied in a direct and individual way, approaching from the big to the small producer. The data were submitted to the analysis of frequency distribution and descriptive. It was verified that the pineapple of cultivating 'Pérola' was the favorite for the producing of small and big load, and most of the pineapple produced in the State he/she feels in the small production, the crop is made in a handmade way, and most of the time without application of powder-crop techniques. Good part of the producers doesn't receive technical attendance it publishes, nor matter.

In order to investigate the influence of baited-trap color on fruit fly attraction, two McPhail trap models were used to monitor the insect in peach trees. One of the models was constructed of clear plastic, while the other had a clear top and a yellow bottom (base). The traps were installed in pairs, on five plants spaced 30 m apart. Traps were monitored twice a week from 12/20/2005 to 01/13/2006, with trap rotation at each evaluation, switching trap position in the tree. The yellow-bottomed McPhail traps were not superior to the clear ones during the evaluations, and no fruit fly capture increases were observed due to the yellow color.

Soil salinity is a abiotic factor that can harmful of Rhizobium-legumes symbiosis, reducing plant nodulation and growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of saline stress on nodulation of cowpea inoculated with strain of Bradyrhizobium sp. The study was conduced out using plastic pots containing 5 kg of a Neossolo Quartzarênico typical órtico. The experimental design was randomized and the treatments consisted of five levels of salinity of irrigation water (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8 dS m-1). The seeds inoculation was made using inoculant containing Bradyrhizobium sp, strain BR 2001. The evaluations were made at 35 days after plant emergence, being determined the nodule number and dry mass and shoot mass. The analysis of variance showed that there was significant effect for salinity levels on all variables. The regression analysis showed negative linear and quadratic responses for the nodule number and dry mass, respectively. In relation to the dry mass was observed negative linear response. Nodulation of cowpea was reduced by the salinity levels showing a sensibility of symbiosis to saline stress.