Forage plants cultivated in consortium with crop corn, facilitating the weed control in farming and cattle raising ecosystem, interfering not only in your biological productivity, like in your potential of distribution and infestation in area. This experiment was realized with the aim to evaluate the weed suppress by Brachiaria decumbens in intercropping with corn (Zea mays L.). The even was composed by combination of four forage plant density (0, 10, 15 and 20 kg ha-1) and three weed species (Ipomoea grandifolia, Digitaria horizontalis and Cenchrus echinatus), planted intercropping with corn. It was constated that B. decumbens was efficient in weed infestation suppress, being the most effective control for D. horizontalis. The leaf area and dry phytomass of weeds were affected (P<0.05) by forage plant presence, with variation between the density curve of Brachiaria only for weed D. horizontalis and I. grandifolia.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the development of melon seedlings grown in different substrates. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse covered with 25% screen, at the Department of Technology and Social Sciences -DTCS of the University of the State of Bahia / UNEB, Juazeiro-BA, from July to August 2005. It was used a completely randomized experimental design with six treatments and four replications, each one consisted of 50 seedlings. The treatments composed of the substrates: Plantmax HT©; soil; sterilized soil; sugarcane residue; sugarcane residue + soil (1:1) and sugarcane residue + urea. Polystyrene trays of 200 cells were used as containers, where seeds of the AF882 melon cultivar. We sowed at 1 cm depth, using one seed per cell. The emergence percentage, average emergence time and average emergence velocity were determined. Fourteen days after sowing were evaluated seedling height, shoot and toot fresh and dry masses leaf area and chlorophyll content. The results allow one to conclude that the commercial substrate Plantmax HT© and the sterilized soil were those that provided the best melon seedlings formation.

The fusariosis, caused by Fusarium gutiforme, causing losses higher than 30% on Brazilian fruits production. The present work had as objective evaluate planting integrated production commercial areas of pineapple, and study effects of inoculation methods in relation leaves base, on disease development. Evaluation disease incidence started 90 after plantation, in monthly intervals, until floral induction treatment, carried through 270 days after plantation. During period of evaluation, lower incidence than 1% during the vegetative cycle was observed. Plants that presented typical symptoms of fusariosis had been eliminated of plantation. It was used pineapple leave type D, cv. Pérola. Leaves were detached, disinfested with sodium hypochlorite at 5,0% for 10 minutes and washed with distilled water. Inoculations were done at two and five centimeters of leaf base. The method used was toothpick with fungus. Evaluations were done 15 days after inoculation, being evaluated lesions area. Higher lesions development was observed in treatment with disk of fungus colony on wound + humid cotton (leaf border). Inoculation position had not significative effects for symptoms development.

This study aimed to characterize the production and management of dairy farms in the North of Minas Gerais and to research the relevant problems pointed by cattle breeders. A total of 47 breeders were interviewed and were classified 26 farms producing only milk and 21 producing meat and milk simultaneously. The extensive system (45%) and semi-extensive (46%) were the most frequently related to these farms. The averages of cows in lactation and dairy production were 36.3 animals and 295.26 liters/day, respectively. The natural mating was the most utilized reproductive system. In the herds were used most frequently Gir (42%) and Holstein (35%) bulls and in farms with mist production, the zebu cows were more predominant. The reduced price paid for the milk and the Boophilus microplus infestations were the problems pointed with higher frequency by cattle breeders. During the dry season the forage most utilized was the sugar cane with urea and during the rainy period, continuous grazing was the most common. Acaricides were applied for 93.6% of the farms and only 15 of them have implemented strategic control. Theses results obtained are important to know and to compare the profile of dairy farms in this region, fomenting the search for alternatives to improve the productivity and sustainability of cattle breeders.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the utilization effects of two native cacti named mandacaru (Cereus jamacaru DC.) and xiquexique [Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Weber ex K. Schum.) Bly ex Rowl.] associated with sabiá (Mimosa caesalpinifolia Benth.) and flor de seda (Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br.) shrub hays on nutrient intake, milk production and composition of Saanen dairy goats¿. Eight goats averaging 43.4 kg were used in two 4x4 latin square experimental design. The experimental treatments consisted of four diets (30% native cacti + 30% shrub hay + 40% concentrate, on dry matter basis): xiquexique + flor de seda hay; xiquexique + sabiá hay; mandacaru + flor de seda hay and mandacaru + sabiá hay. The ingredients proportion of the concentrate in the diet was 57.5% algaroba (Prosopis juliflora (Sw) DC); 37.5% soybean meal and 5% mineral mixture. Significant differences were observed for voluntary intakes of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acidy detergent fiber, total carbohydrates, nonfiber carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients in relation to g/day and g/kg0.75. No significant differences were observed for milk production (averaged 1,294.39 g/day), and milk composition.

The microbiota soil has an important role as an indicator of the sustainability of agroecosystems, reflecting the environmental changes, particularly the antrophic actions. To evaluate the influence of different fertilizers in populations of Pseudomonas spp, in the common kale was conducted a field experiment with kale at the Agrobiology Embrapa National Center, in Seropédica, RJ, on a Argisol. The experimental design was random blocks in factorial 3 x 4, with treatments (home biosolid, cattle manure and urea fertilization), four dose levels (0, 100, 200 and 400 kg de N.ha-1) and four replicates. The amount of fertilizer applied was given according to the dosage of nitrogen.ha-1 desired. From the rhizosphere, at 15 and 30 days after transplanting the seedlings to the field, we selected strains showing fluorescence under UV light with a wavelength of 366 nm. For grouping the isolates were considered the main morphological characteristics. The majority being identified as Pseudomonas putida (54%) and P. fluorescens (14%), by API 20NE System (bioMérieux, Analytab Products). The results obtained from the reactions of the API 20NE test kit showed a wide variation in the utilization of carbon compounds and enzymatic inter-and intraspecific. Some groups of isolates colonized preferentially the cabbage rhizosphere of plants fertilized with biosolids and different doses of fertilizers used. There were a smaller number of groups present in treatments with urea.

The objective of this paper was to study the effects of molybdenum doses, applied on bean crop under the conventional and no-tillage systems. Two experiments were carried out in the field: one during winter- spring (winter season), sowed in July 2006, and the other one during summer-fall (dry season), sowed in March 2007. They were conducted in Experimental Station of Coimbra, MG, Universidade Federal de Viçosa. The experiments were carried out in randomized block design with four repetitions and subdivided plots. The plots were represented by the soil management system (conventional or no-tillage), and the subplots were represented by the molybdenum doses (0, 40, 80, 160 and 320 g ha-1). The number of grain per pods, the number of pods per square meter, the weight of 100 grains, grain productivity, number of plants per plot, and nutrient rates in the leaves and grains were evaluated. The number of pods per square meter and grain productivity were increased by Mo doses. The grain productivity in no-tillage system was higher than in the conventional. Productivity and production components in the winter season were higher than in the dry season. Mo rates in the bean leaves increased in response to its application. Mo leaf fertilization increased N (total and organic) rates in bean crops under both plantation systems.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effect of storage temperature on the quality of red pitaya of pulp white, produced in Itajobi city, São Paulo state. The pitayas were stored at room temperature, (21-27 ºC with 44-63% de UR), at 18 ± 1 ºC, with 86-92% RH), 13 ± 1 ºC, with 85-90% RH and at 8 ± 1 ºC, with 85-95% RH. The quality was monitored during storage time through the parameters: fresh weight loss titleble acidity; soluble solids contents; vitamin C, external appearance, pH and fruit firmness. Through the results obtained may be concluded that the temperature at 8 ± 1 ºC it was proportioned the small fresh weight loss; the acidity, soluble solids, pH and fruit firmness were influenced by the storage temperature and storage time, but the temperature at 8 ± 1 ºC it was that occasioned the small change theses parameters. In general, it can be concluded that the temperature at 8 ± 1 ºC it was the best to maintenance the quality of pitaya fruit.

An experiment was carried out at Remigio, State of Paraíba, Brazil, to assess the water requirements of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims f. flavicarpa Degener) from transplanting to fruiting irrigated with water without restriction salinity (0.5 dS m-1) and saline (4.5 dS m-1) in substrate with and without biofertilizer, with and without mulch. The experimental design was randomized blocks in factorial design 23, with three replications and three plants in lysimeters with 130 dm3 of substrate. In relation to witnesses, the use of organic raw material and the cover was reduced by 11.2% and 4.5% in water consumption of plants irrigated with water without restriction salinity and saline, respectively. In non-saline water interaction biofertilizer x mulch, plant water consumption to 2.76 mm day-1 in apical vegetative growth, 4.97 mm day-1 in growth and production of side branches and 5.65 mm day-1 on flowering and fruiting. In the periods of growth and production of side branches, flowering and fruiting, the water consumption of witnesses with water without restriction salinity are higher by 18.4% and 7.7%, respectively, of control plants irrigated with saline water. The electrical conductivity of the leached solution is enhanced by the use of saline water and the treatment without mulch. Plants irrigated with saline water present crop coefficients lower than those irrigated with water without restriction salinity.

Studies with Stegasta bosquella in peanut crop are little explored by researchers, mainly by the need of obtaining, in the field, a large quantity of closed leaflets. Therefore, it was sought a way of rearing in a natural diet that facilitates the attainment of the insect. The research was developed at the Laboratório de Resistência de Plantas a Insetos (FCAV/Jaboticabal) (T: 25 ± 2 °C, RH 60 ± 10% and photophase: 12 hours) (Runner IAC 886). The rearing stock of was carried out by collecting caterpillars from the field and keeping them in flat bottom glass tubes until adult emergence and test performance. Caterpillars were individualized in Petri dish plates, lined with moistened filter paper, which contained closed and early opened leaflets, but closed with paper clips (imitating the closed leaflet). A randomized design with two treatments and 36 repetitions was used. After the pupae formation, they were separated into five couples and the adults were kept in transparent plastic cages containing a peanut stem with leaves for oviposition, and fed with a 10% honey solution. The duration and viability of the larval and pupal periods, male and female longevity with and without food, and fertility were evaluated. The two forms of larvae rearing (closed leaflet and leaflet closed with clips) did not influence on any of the studied parameters. Therefore, the rearing of S. bosquella becomes feasible in natural diet, which means there is no need to use the enclosed leaflets for this purpose, and implies the easiness for rearing.