Resistência natural de nove madeiras do semi-árido brasileiro a fungos xilófagos em condições de laboratório

Objetivou-se avaliar a resistência natural de nove madeiras do semi-árido brasileiro a fungos xilófagos, em condições de laboratório. As madeiras estudadas foram a algaroba (Prosopis juliflora), o angico (Anadenanthera macrocarpa), a aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva), a braúna (Schinopsis brasiliensis), a cássia (Senna siamea), a craibeira (Tabebuia aurea), o cumaru (Amburana cearensis), o ipê (Tabebuia impetiginosa) e o pereiro (Aspidosperma pyrifolium). De cada espécie foram retirados corpos-de-prova de 2,54 x 2,00 x 1,00 cm, com a maior dimensão na direção das fibras, em quatro posições na direção medula-casca. As amostras foram submetidas, por 14 semanas, à ação dos fungos Postia placenta e Neolentinus lepideus. A resistência natural, com exceção da algaroba e do angico (P. placenta), da craibeira (N. lepideus) e da cássia (P. placenta e N. lepideus), foi afetada pela posição na direção medula-casca, sem estar relacionada à densidade das madeiras ensaiadas. A madeira de ipê e a madeira de cerne da aroeira e braúna foram as mais resistentes aos fungos testados. As diferenças entre a resistência natural, exceto para a aroeira e braúna, não estavam associadas à concentração de extrativos solúveis em água quente.

Resistência natural de nove madeiras do semi-árido brasileiro a fungos causadores da podridão-mole

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a resistência de nove madeiras de ocorrência no semi-árido brasileiro a fungos de podridão-mole, em condições de laboratório. As madeiras estudadas foram algaroba (Prosopis juliflora), angico (Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil), aroeira (Myracrodruon urundeuva), braúna (Schinopsis brasiliensis), cássia (Senna siamea), craibeira (Tabebuia aurea), cumaru (Amburana cearensis), pau-d'arco (Tabebuia impetiginosa) e pereiro (Aspidosperma pyrifolium). De cada espécie foram retirados corpos-de-prova de 3,0 x 1,5 x 0,5 cm, com a maior dimensão no sentido das fibras, em quatro posições na direção medula-casca do tronco. As amostras permaneceram por 120 dias sob a ação da microflora natural existente em solo orgânico. A resistência ao apodrecimento da aroeira, braúna e cássia não foi afetada pela posição na direção medula-casca, não esteve relacionada à densidade das madeiras ensaiadas. As madeiras de aroeira e braúna (cerne), pereiro e pau-d'arco apresentaram melhor desempenho. A resistência natural não esteve associada à concentração de extrativos solúveis em água quente.

Impactos de sistemas agroflorestais e convencional sobre a qualidade do solo no semi-árido cearense

Os benefícios gerados pelos sistemas agroflorestais (SAFs) ao ambiente são comprovados nas mais diversas regiões do mundo. No entanto, na região semi-árida cearense, são poucos os trabalhos desenvolvidos englobando as vantagens atribuídas a este tipo de sistema quanto ao uso do solo. Objetivou-se avaliar o impacto de quatro SAFs e um convencional sobre a qualidade do solo, comparativamente à condição natural (caatinga nativa), após cinco anos de uso na região semi-árida cearense. Os tratamentos testados foram: agrossilvipastoril (AGP); silvipastoril (SILV); tradicional cultivado em 1998 e 1999 (TR98); tradicional cultivado em 2002 (TR02); e cultivo intensivo (CI) e duas áreas de mata nativa (MN-1 e MN-2), que foram usadas como referência de um estado de equilíbrio. O impacto dos sistemas de manejo sobre a qualidade do solo foi medido pelas seguintes variáveis: a granulometria; argila dispersa; a estabilidade e distribuição porcentual dos agregados; os teores de Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+ trocáveis; a acidez potencial; o pH do solo; e o teor de carbono orgânico total (COT), considerando-se as profundidades de 0-6, 6-12, 12-20 e 20-40 cm. Os tratamentos AGP, TR98 e CI promoveram maior revolvimento do solo provocando a redução nos teores de COT. Os atributos químicos, como bases trocáveis, capacidade de troca catiônica, pH e acidez potencial nos tratamentos SILV e MN-2, variaram em função dos teores de argila, enquanto nos tratamentos TR98 e CI a redução nesses atributos foi devido ao maior revolvimento do solo. O tratamento AGP mostrou-se eficiente na ciclagem de nutrientes, entretanto, o revolvimento do solo e a concomitante redução do teor de COT, geraram também diminuição na estabilidade de agregados. Os resultados obtidos permitem recomendar o tratamento SILV para a manutenção da qualidade do solo e produção de alimentos na região do semi-árido cearense.

Produção e distribuição de biomassa de espécies arbóreas no semi-árido brasileiro

Com o objetivo de avaliar a produção e distribuição de biomassa de algumas espécies arbóreas de múltiplo uso em condições de sequeiro do submédio do São Francisco, instalou-se um experimento no Campo Experimental da Caatinga da Embrapa Semi-Árido, Município de Petrolina, PE. Foram realizadas medições de altura e diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP) de 16 árvores centrais, em três parcelas de cada espécie: Leucaena diversifolia, Caesalpinia velutina, Caesalpinia coriaria, Mimosa tenuiflora e Ateleia herbert-smithii. A biomassa foi estimada com base na árvore de altura média de cada parcela, avaliando-se, separadamente, cada componente (folhas, galhos, cascas e lenho). A biomassa nos diferentes componentes arbóreos das espécies foi distribuída na seguinte ordem: folha

Planting density and initial growth of two tree species adapted to the semi-arid region

Planting densities influence several aspects of forest formation, including management practices, timber yield, quality, and extraction, and consequently its production costs. The objective of this study was to evaluate Mimosa caesalpiinifolia and Gliricidia sepium growth as a function of planting density (400, 600, 800, 1000, and 1200 plants ha-1) and plant age. The species were evaluated every 90 days for plant height (PH), crown diameter (CD) and root collar diameter (RCD) (10 cm above the ground), with the first evaluation performed at 90 days and the last at 720 days. When plants were one year of age and beyond, evaluations were conducted also for stem diameter at breast height (DBH) (1.30 m above the ground). A randomized block design with split-plots and three replicates was adopted. Species were assigned to plots, planting densities were assigned to subplots, and evaluation ages were assigned to subsubplots. The four traits in both species had their values decreased as planting density increased, but continually increased as plant age increased. For PH and RCD there was an alternation between species superiority, with gliricidia being superior to sabiá at some ages, while the opposite occurred at other ages. As to CD the species only differed in the last measurement, gliricidia being superior. With regard to DBH, gliricidia was superior starting from the second measurement. There was an effect of the species × ages interaction for the four traits and also an effect of the densities × ages interaction for CD and DBH.

Desempenho de lisímetro de pesagem hidráulica de baixo custo no semi-árido nordestino

Medidas diretas de evapotranspiração de referência são importantes na avaliação e na calibração de métodos indiretos. Avaliou-se o desempenho de lisímetro de pesagem hidráulica de baixo custo, visando à determinação direta da evapotranspiração de referência (ETo), em área de assentamento rural no Semi-Árido nordestino. O lisímetro é de concepção simplificada, com travesseiros hidráulicos confeccionados com mangueira flexível de butil e revestida em náilon, interligados a um sistema manométrico com mercúrio e água. O equilíbrio do lisímetro foi estável, sendo o maior erro médio posicional de 3,93%. As calibrações geraram coeficientes de correlação superiores a 0,9993 e resoluções de leituras entre 0,095 e 0,134 mm. As leituras lisimétricas foram comparadas com estimativas da ETo obtidas, utilizando-se dos métodos de Penman-Monteith, Blaney-Criddle-FAO, Jensen-Haise e do Tanque Classe A-FAO. Adicionalmente, avaliou-se o desempenho de um tanque evaporimétrico simplificado, construído a partir de material reciclado, o qual vem sendo utilizado no manejo da irrigação em áreas de agricultura familiar. Todos os métodos analisados apresentaram bom desempenho, com medidas bem correlacionadas aàs do lisímetro, para o período estudado.

Effects of thermal environment and supplementation levels on the physiological parameters of moxotó goats in confined and semi-confined rising systems

The objective of this work was to determine the effect of environmental variables and supplementation levels on physiological parameters of Moxotó goats in confined and semi-confined rising systems, in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The semi-confined individuals were kept on a grass based diet during the day and arrested in the end of the afternoon. The confined animals were kept in a management center, receiving two diets composed by forage cactus and maniçoba hay into two different levels (0.5 and 1.5% of the body weight). Inside the management center and in the external environment the environmental comfort parameters were set high during the afternoon period characterizing a situation of thermal discomfort for the animals. During the morning the semi-confined animals presented an average respiratory frequency (69.5 mov min-1) and rectal temperature (39.5 ºC) higher than the confined ones (62.6 mov min-1 and 39.0 ºC, respectively). The confined and semi-confined animals were able to maintain their rectal temperature within normal limits, with increase in the cardiac beatings rate and respiratory frequency. The greater percentage of the used supplementations (1.5%) seemed to increase rectal temperature in the two studied rising systems.

Perdas de solo e de água em sistemas de captação in situ no Semi-Árido brasileiro

Os sistemas de cultivo utilizados no semi-árido brasileiro apresentam riscos de perda devido à irregularidade das chuvas, devendo-se associá-los a práticas que propiciem maior infiltração e, conseqüentemente, menor erosão, o que pode ser obtido por meio de técnicas de captação de água de chuva in situ. Neste trabalho, teve-se o objetivo de avaliar as perdas de água e de solo em área cultivada com milho (Zea mays L.), submetida a diferentes sistemas de preparo do solo, correspondendo aos tratamentos Guimarães Duque (T1); aração profunda (T2); aração parcial (T3) e sulcos barrados (T4), comparados com o sistema tradicional (T5), que corresponde ao plantio sem preparo do solo. Após cada evento de chuva, a água e o solo escoados foram coletados e medidos. A umidade do solo em diferentes profundidades foi monitorada durante o ciclo de produção da cultura e avaliada a produtividade dos grãos por meio da análise de variância. A partir dos resultados, pode-se observar que o método Guimarães Duque (T1) proporcionou maiores perdas de água (6.696 L) e de solo (15.225 kg ha-1), enquanto as menores perdas foram obtidas com os sulcos barrados (T4), correspondendo a 1.066 L e 1.022 kg ha-1, respectivamente. Nesse tratamento (T4), também foi obtida a maior produtividade de grãos (606 kg ha-1), apresentando-se como o sistema mais indicado para as condições analisadas.

Operational performance of the mechanized and semi-mechanized potato harvest

Potato is an important crop plant throughout the world. Harvesting is a fundamental step in its production system. Maybe, it is the most complex and expensive operation. Thus, the objective of this work was to compare the cost of the mechanized and semi-mechanized harvest, the operational capacity and the production losses during the potato harvest process. The work was accomplished in a commercial farming, cultivated under pivot system, in the municipal district of Perdizes - MG, Brazil. A completely randomized design with two treatments was used: mechanized and semi-mechanized harvest. The mechanized harvest used a self-propelled harvester. In the semi-automated harvest, a digger mounted on tractor was used and the potato was manually harvested. It was concluded that the cost of mechanized harvest was 49.03% lower than the cost of semi-mechanized harvest. On average, the harvester had a work for 23 workers in manual harvest. Mechanized harvest showed losses of 2.35% of potato yield, while the semi-mechanized harvest showed losses of 6.32%.

Regulated deficit irrigation and tommy atkins mango orchard productivity under microsprinkling in brazilian semi arid

This study aimed to test controlled levels of water deficiency in soil in mango trees, under microsprinkling irrigation, in semi-arid conditions, and to evaluate its effect in the productivity and fruits quality. The deficits were applied in the phases I, II and III of growth of the fruit, during the productive cycles of the mango tree in 2006 and 2007. The experiment in both cases was arranged in an entirely random design with 10 treatments and 3 repetitions, in the year I, and with 8 treatments and 3 repetitions in the year II. The values of soil water potential, of the treatments submitted to regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), were placed in the range of 0 to -0.011 MPa, showing that the soil humidity varied between the saturation and the field capacity, not characterizing deficit water condition. The average values of stem water potential (Ψstem) varied between -0.90 and -1.74 MPa, evidencing significant effect (p <0.05) just for T1 (without irrigation), T7 and T8 (RDI with 30% of the ETc in the phases II and III, respectively). Through the variance analysis, significant differences were not verified among productivity, number of fruits per plant and size of the fruit, in none of the experiments, what indicates the possibility of reduction of the water use in the irrigation of the mango tree without significant losses of productivity and fruit quality.

Anaerobic biodigestion of pigs feces in the initial, growing and finishing stages fed with diets formulated with corn or sorghum

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality and the production of biogas and biofertilizer obtained from biodigester supplied with pig feces in the initial, growing and finishing stages, fed with diets formulated based on corn or sorghum. Twenty bench biodigesters were used with hydraulic retention time of 30 days and daily loads that contained 4 to 6% of total solids (TS) and 3.6 to 5.2% of volatile solids (VS). In the effluent of the biodigesters, mean levels of TS were observed ranging between 1.6 and 2.0% and of VS between 1.2 and 1.6%. The mean reductions of TS were 57.7 to 64.7% and of VS from 61.7 to 69.0%, and there was only difference in the finishing phase, in which the major averages reductions were produced by the biodigesters supplied with feces from animals fed with diets based on corn. In biodigesters supplied with feces from animals in the initial and growing stages fed with diets based on corn, were observed higher average productions of biogas and the greatest average potentials of biogas production. The average potentials obtained were 0.033; 0.181; 0.685; 0.788 and 1.132 m³ per kg of affluent, manure, TS added, VS added and VS reduced, respectively. No differences were found on the average content of methane in the biogas between diets and stages. The average concentrations of nutrients N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in the biodigester affluent and effluent, ranged between diets and stages.

Nocturnal thermal comfort in facilities for growing swines

In most of Brazilian pig farms, the environmental acclimatization systems run manually. For night and early morning periods, this practice isn't appropriate, because, in general, there are not employees available to run these manual systems. This research aimed to compare the bioclimatic profile of two differently constructed facilities to the external environment, considering the period from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. during the spring, in order to show that night and early morning temperatures do not coincides with growing pig's thermoneutral zone. For this reason, acclimatization must be also carried out at these periods. It was analyzed the dry bulb temperature, relative air humidity, temperature-humidity index (THI) and enthalpy data of the sheds and external areas. Under the studied conditions, it was possible to conclude that the constructively appropriate shed appeared to be less influenced by the external environment, allowing better thermal control for growing pigs. Further research must be conducted to verify if automatic cooling systems is needed during night and early morning.

Broiler breeder hen performance and egg hatchability during rainy season in Brazilian semi-arid region

Henhouse thermal comfort and bird age influence broiler breeder hen productivity; this way, the present research aimed to assess thermal comfort indexes and broiler breeder hen performance during winter in North East semi-arid region from Brazil, using a Cobb Avian 48 broiler strain at the age of 38 and 50 weeks. We measured the following bioclimatic indexes: air temperature and relative humidity, black globe temperature and humidity, CO2 concentration and sound pressure levels at henhouse facility. Data analysis design was complete randomized in a 3 x 3 factorial scheme with three treatments (months) and three replications (week number of collection by month). A number of 25 climatic data were observed. Bioclimatic indexes at the most warm hours throughout the day promoted bird discomfort yet sound pressure and carbon dioxide levels were under the Brazilian standards. Even in thermal comfort zone at some hours, the productivity indexes were in compliance with those recommended by the strain creation guidebook.

Energetic sustainability of three arabica coffee growing systems used by family farming units in Espírito Santo state

Three growing systems of Arabica coffee were evaluated under the energy perspective, in the state of Espírito Santo in Brazil. The systems are conventional cultivation (CC), cultivation with good agricultural practices (CGP) and organic farming (OF). It was made a comparison of the energy flows within these three systems to show sustainable levels of each one based on production average data of several family-farming units. Therefore, we analyzed crop yield, total energy efficiency reverse (TEER), energy efficiency of ripe coffee (EERC) and non-renewable energy efficiency (NREE). OF system had values for TEER, EERC and NREE of 3.3 4.7 and 7.9 respectively. Yet CC showed values of 1.8, 1.9 and 1.6 for TEER, EERC and NREE respectively. Furthermore, CGP presented values for TEER, EERC and NREE of 0.7, 1.3 and 1.4 respectively. The highest yield was observed in CGP, reaching an amount of 1794 kg ha-1(17,455 MJ); however, this system expends more energy than it converts. Thus, over those points, OF is the most sustainable system.

Deficit irrigation in grapevine cv. Syrah during two growing seasons in the brazilian semiarid

Irrigation plays an important role for grape’s yield as well as on its quality for winemaking. Thus, the effects of deficit irrigation strategies on yield and quality of wine grapes cv. Syrah were evaluated in Petrolina, State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Evaluations were carried out throughout the second and third growing seasons, which were from November 2010 to February 2011 (rainy season) and from May to September 2011 (dry season), respectively. Vines were drip irrigated and the experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments and four replications. The treatments were full irrigation (FI), performed according crop evapotranspiration; regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), in which irrigation was interrupted in phenological growth stage of bunch closure, but was occasionally performed according soil water monitoring of the root zone; and deficit irrigation (DI), when irrigation was interrupted from bunch closure to harvesting. Differences on leaf water content among treatments were observed in both growing seasons and RDI and DI treatment plants presented moderate water stress. The number of bunches did not differ among treatments in both growing seasons; however, bunch weight per plant, average bunch weight and soluble solid content were higher in FI treatment during the dry season. Deficit irrigation strategies promoted water saving.