The population growth not only demands further exploration and use of water, but generates different types of wastewater, such as sewage which is dumped directly into watercourses. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the use of wastewater from domestic sources on the growth of plants of physic nut during the third year of production under protected ambient. A randomized block design in a 5 x 2 factorial scheme was used, the factors being five levels of water replacement - WR (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 times water consumed by the plant) and two levels of phosphorus (135 and 200 g plant-1 year-1) with four replications. Plants were grown in recipients with a capacity of 200 L and in the beginning of the 3rd year of production (present study) a drastic pruning was performed. The variables plant height, stem diameter; leaf number and leaf area of the physic nut were influenced by the depth of water replacement from 30 days after pruning (DAP). The leaf number and stem diameter were affected by phosphorus dose at 30 and 90 DAP, respectively. The plant height and leaf area were influenced by the interaction (WR x phosphorus dose) at 30, 60 and 90 DAP. The weight of the fruit and water use efficiency of physic nut were affected by the depth of water applied but were not influenced by phosphorus dose.

Aiming to evaluate gas exchange and concentration of macro and micronutrients in leaves of physic nut grown under saline conditions, an experiment was conducted in protected ambient adopting a randomized block design in factorial scheme combining five levels of irrigation water salinity ECw (0.6; 1.2; 1.8; 2.4 and 3.0 dS m-1) and two levels of phosphorus (135 and 200 g plant-1) and with four replications. Each plant was grown in pots with a capacity of 200 L. The gas exchange rates (leaf temperature, transpiration, stomatal conductance and photosynthesis) were obtained using a portable photosynthesis meter (IRGA), in the fourth expanded leaf from the apex of the plant. To determine the nutrient content of the plant, the limbo located between the fourth and fifth leaf below the inflorescence was used. The determination of nutrients followed the methodology described by Silva (1999). It was found that the salinity level of irrigation water affected the variables of gas exchange and accumulation of the minerals which has following sequence: K > N > Ca > Cl > Na > Mg > P > S > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu. With the exception of copper all evaluated nutrients and increased with increasing salinity of irrigation water. The lowest dose of P2O5 used was sufficient to allow the development of the plant during the experimental period, there was no effect of its increase in photosynthetic parameters evaluated.

The riparian forests, belonging to the permanent preservation areas, are of fundamental importance for the preservation of water quality and minimize the effects of erosion on soil and thus the sedimentation of river. The land use of these areas cause environmental risks, especially to water resources. The geospatial technologies are, in the current scenario, as a tool that shows the real situation of the area, identifying the critical points, thus contributing to better management of these areas. Therefore, this study aimed to establish a spatial study of APP of the Mossoró river in urban area of municipal district of Mossoró, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, identifying the main causes of degradation and it's consequences to environment, especially the water resource, through geoprocessing's techniques. Geographic Information System (GIS) were used to spatially delimitate the area and image processing. Deforested areas comprised 310 ha, being more concentrated among the East-West Bridge and Barrocas's dam. Edification areas were more concentrated in Santa Luzia's Island and between Castelo Branco and Jerônimo Rosado's Bridges, occupying 78 ha. The areas covered by vegetation comprised 70 ha, which more concentrated in the area of Genesio' dam. There was enough sources of water pollution, especially domestic sewage.

The sustainable management of savanna reduces the devastation of semiarid and aims based agricultural guided by systematic principles of agroecology. In that connection we evaluated the effects of cropping systems and management of savanna through the analysis of chemical indicators of soil quality in agricultural production in Apodi, RN. . The systems were evaluated: 1 - management area of savanna with 5 (five) years (MAS5), 2 - management area of savanna with 7 (seven) years (MAS7), 3 - conventional system (CSA) and 4 - native forest (NF). The chemical analysis revealed that the management of savanna for five to seven years is a beneficial way contributed to conservation of soil.

Studies on the floristic diversity including climbers and also research directed to survey of these species are rare in Northeastern Brazil. With the aim of contributing to the knowledge of this component in the Northeast region and provide data on the flora of Rio Grande do Norte, a floristic study was carried out in a fragment of the Semideciduous Seasonal Forest in the municipality of Parnamirim and an identification key was created for the species. 20 species were registered belonging to 19 genera and 11 families. Eight of these species are new records for the state. The richest families in species were Fabaceae (05), Dilleniaceae (03), Bignoniaceae (02), Convolvulaceae (02) and Passifloraceae (02). The sum of the representatives of these families corresponded to 60% of the total number of species recorded. Comparative analysis suggests that studies be conducted focusing the diversity of climbing in northeastern Brazil, especially because these indicate the state of conservation of forests.

This paper aimed to investigate the factors of influencing milk consumers of Natal city, state of Rio Grande do Norte, in their buying decision. The methodology was a descriptive and exploratory type Survey, with 385 questionnaires applied on the four geographical areas of Natal city. Sample size was found according to the county inhabitant number, and survey was applied through questionnaire applied at randomized suburbs, streets and houses from four geographical city zones. The statistical analyses were: descriptive analysis, comparison test of means and Cluster analysis. Results were that milk quality had high average, in contrast with the price and brand which had the lowest ones. Milk quality and image of the store were the factors most stable for the consumer make its purchase decision, while price and brand were those of least importance. Comparisons among variables showed significance (P<0,05) except for price importance, visual appearance, no product on the market shelves, easy of buying and product status. As conclusion, milk quality is the main factor for consumers to make a decision to purchase milk, whereas price and brand were of least importance.

The fertilization of the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis L.) is few studies in the Northeast, where soils are generally poor in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). This work aimed to define the doses of N and P2O5 associated with maximum economic production of castor beans cultivar BRS Energia and critical levels of N and P in castor bean leaf and the critical level of P available in an Oxisols. The experimental design was a randomized block in factorial 4 x 4 with four replicates, combining four N rates (0, 45, 70 and 120 kg ha-1) with four P2O5 rates (0, 30, 60 and 120 kg ha-1). The castor bean plant was planted at a spacing of 0,90 x 0,50 m under rainfed conditions with supplementary irrigation. At the end of the experiment, was evaluated the overall productivity and productivity racemes primary, secondary and other. The higher net income was estimated to productivity of 2.304 kg ha-1 grain, obtained by applying the doses of 120 kg ha-1 of N + 120 kg ha-1 of P2O5. The critical levels of N and P in the leaf were 37,5 g kg-1 and 2,4 g kg-1, respectively, and the critical level of available P in soil by Mehlich-1 extractor was 7,0 mg dm-3.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the chemical composition and microbial of biofertilizers at different decompositions times. For this, we used biofertilizers two. The experimental designused was entirely randomized in factorial scheme 2x7 two sources of manure (cattle and chicken) and seven times of decomposition (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 days), with three replications. We evaluated the chemical parameters (pH, CE, dry mass, N, P, K, Ca and Mg) and microbiological (bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes total). The chicken manure gave significant increase of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, dry mass and electrical conductivity. The highest concentration was within 15 to 20 days of decomposition, with the exception of nitrogen, with the highest concentration on the preparation of biofertilizer. In the microbiological analysis, the chicken manure resulted in higher total population of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes total) compared to beef. The decomposition periods of biofertilizers influence on nutrient levels, diversity and populations of microorganisms.

The inoculation of seeds with the bacterium Azospirillum has been carried out in maize culture and other grasses. The application of growth bio-regulators is another technology whose results in maize culture have yet to become more widespread. Current study evaluates the agronomic effectiveness of seed inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense in maize, associated with the use of the growth regulator Stimulate ®. Triple hybrid maize CD 304 underwent the following treatments: 1 - control without nitrogen and without Azospirillum brasilense; 2 - Treatment without nitrogen but with Azospirillum brasilense; 3 - Treatment without nitrogen but with Azospirillum brasilense + Stimulate ®; 4 - Treatment with 50% of nitrogen dose recommended for maize culture; 5 - Treatment with 50% of nitrogen dose and inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense; 6 - Same as 5 but with Stimulate ®; 7 - Total N recommended; 8 - Total N recommended + Azospirillum brasilense ; 9 - Total N recommended + Azospirillum brasilense + Stimulate ®. The inoculation of maize seeds with Azospirillum brasilense increases plant height and grain yield when compared with rates in control. The use of 50% of N dose in sowing, associated with the inoculation of maize seeds with Azospirillum brasilense at 200 mL ha-1 (mixed to the seeds) and associated with Stimulate ® (in foliar application), is viable.

The aim of this paper was to determine resistance types of snap beans genotypes under infestation of bruchins Zabrotes subfasciatus (Bohemann, 1833) of Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say, 1831) in a no choice and free choice tests. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with four and five replications, respectively. In no choice test, it was evaluated the total number of viable and unviable eggs, dry weight of the consumed food, percentage of emerged insects, weight of insects, longevity of adults and biological cycle of egg to adult. In a free choice test, the number of attracted insects for each genotype and total number of eggs were evaluated. The genotype ARFVI047 presents oviposition non-preference resistance type to Z. subfasciatus. The genotype ARFVI008 presents resistance type of the antibiosis to Z. subfasciatus. The genotypes ARFVI006, ARFVI008 and ARFVI029 present resistance of non-preference for oviposition type to Z. subfasciatus and the genotype HAV 56 black seed presents resistance of non-preference type for feeding of A. obtectus.