Análise geoambiental da plataforma continental Rasa Equatorial, por meio de sensoriamento remoto e dados sedimentológicos: parrachos de Rio do Fogo-RN, Brasil

In the shallow continental shelf in Northeastern Rio Grande do Norte - Brazil, important underwater geomorphological features can be found 6km from the coastline. They are coral reefs, locally known as “parrachos”. The present study aims to characterize and analyze the geomorphological feature as well as the ones of the benthic surface, and the distribution of biogenic sediments found in parrachos at Rio do Fogo and associated shallow platforms, by using remote sensing products and in situ data collections. This was made possible due to sedimentological, bathymetric and geomorphological maps elaborated from composite bands of images from the satellite sensors ETM+/Landsat-7, OLI/Landsat-8, MS/GeoEye and PAN/WordView-1, and analysis of bottom sediments samples. These maps were analyzed, integrally interpreted and validated in fieldwork, thus permitting the generation of a new geomorphological zoning of the shallow shelf in study and a geoenvironmental map of the Parrachos in Rio do Fogo. The images used were subject to Digital Image Processing techniques. All obtained data and information were stored in a Geographic Information System (GIS) and can become available to the scientific community. This shallow platform has a carbonate bottom composed mostly by algae. Collected and analyzed sediment samples can be classified as biogenic carbonatic sands, as they are composed 75% by calcareous algae, according to the found samples. The most abundant classes are green algae, red algae, nonbiogenic sediments (mineral grains), ancient algae and molluscs. At the parrachos the following was mapped: Barreta Channel, intertidal reefs, submerged reefs, the spur and grooves, the pools, the sandy bank, the bank of algae, sea grass, submerged roads and Rio do Fogo Channel. This work presents new information about geomorphology and evolution in the study area, and will be guiding future decision making in the handling and environmental management of the region

Diagnóstico geoambiental com uso do geoprocessamento visando a determinação de potencialidades de uso do solo para a área estuarina do Rio Curimataú - Canguaretama(RN)

The activities developed in the coastal zone always arise the researchers interest, mainly when it is developed in fragile ecological areas, not observing the sustenable development laws. In this context, the analysis presented developed around the estuary of Curimatau river, located in the Eastern coast of Rio Grande do Norte state, integrates information provided by high resolution images of orbital remote sensing (IKONOS II, dated of July of 2003) and images of not-orbital remote sensing (Air photographs of DPU, dated of March of 1997) in a multitemporary perspective, diagnosising patterns of use and occupation, evaluating the main area´s impacts, together with the estuarian region fisiograph of Curimatau river. The use of high resolution images consequently allowed generates a precision cartography, facilitating the quantification of the evolution of the landscape and supporting decisions. Was possible yet, the definition of use areas, conservation areas and preservation areas; that were inserted in the concept of Potentialities: a fundamental element to management of vulnerable areas of the natural point of view. The information provided during the research had been stored in an Enviromental Georreferenced Data Base, constructed under the optics of Geographical Information Systems (GIS), that they facilitate the environment management Through fast access to information. The results were satisfactory, because permits the quantification of evolution of the landscape and the mapping. Beyond the geoenviromental diagnosis, was possible develop maps and matrixes that support the Rio Grande do Norte state costal Management.

Caracterização de minerais pesados ao longo do Rio Piranhas-Açu/RN distribuição e proveniência

This dissertation deals with the characterization, distribution and provenience of heavy minerals along the Piranhas-Açu River, from the City of Parelhas (Seridó River) to your mouth at the City of Macau-RN. Many heavy minerals species were recorded in this study: clinoamphibole, epidote (including zoisite), garnet, sillimanite, tourmaline, staurolite, andalusite, zircon, rutile, augite, ilmenite, hematite and magnetite. Major transparent minerals, those forming more than 5% of some assemblages, are hornblende, epidote, tourmaline, staurolite and zircon. Predominant opaque mineral is ilmenite. Six assemblages were identified along the river: (i) Garnet-hornblende-tourmaline with sillimanite, when cutting rocks of the Seridó Formation; (ii) Hornblende-garnet-zircon, when crossing rocks of the Caicó gnaisse-migmatitic Complex; (iii) Hornblende-zircon-epidote-staurolite, when draining rocks of the Jucurutu Formation; (iv) Hornblende-zircon-epidote, when cutting rocks of the Açu Formation; (v) Hornblende-zircon-staurolite, on the lowermost Açu River, when crossing limestones of the Jandaíra Formation and (vi) Zircon-tourmaline-staurolite in the Açu River mouth (Cenozoic rocks) where coastal process dominate. Mineral ratios that reflect differences in grain shape, density, and selective chemical decomposition were used in an attempt to isolate the effects of source and process as controls of mineral variability. Reworking of the sediments was regionally effective in selective sorting; the more equant minerals (e.g. epidote) and heavier minerals (e.g. opaques) had a higher probability of being selected for permanent deposition during reworking. The processes of selective decomposition stand out at the river mouth. A priori knowledge of provenance, associated with the assemblage distribution and effects of process were utilized to the interpretations, that points to the follow provenances: hornblende comes from micashists of the Seridó Formation, orthognaisses and amphibolites of the Caico Complex, paragnaisses and paranphibolites of the Jucurutu Formation and granites intrusions; epidote comes from paragnaisses and calciosilicatics of the Jucurutu Formation, granites intrusions (-Npy3al/ca and -Npy3mz, gravels deposits and Açu Formation; Andalusite and staurolite come from the Seridó Formation; Sillimanite, tourmaline and garnet come from micashists of the Seridó Formation, as well as from quartzites of the Equador Formation; Zircon comes from Precambrian rocks (pink and prismatic zircon) and from sediments of several cycles (round zircon); Opaques come from all rocks cutted for the Piranhas-Açu River; Rutile comes from metamorphic rocks, in general; Augite comes from the Ceará-Mirim, Serra do Cuó and Macau volcanisms. The texture of gravels deposits reveals a sediment transport mechanisms by traction-current processes, together with a diagenetic clay matrix suggests a hot-humid environments for deposition. The presence of unstable heavy minerals assemblages, as well as pebbles of different composition and degrees of rounding and esfericity, indicate more than one source. The occurrence of calcio/alkaline granites suites, in areas closed to the gravel deposits, suggests that these intrusions are the main source of sediments. This could explain for instance, the significant amounts of epidote and presence of unstable heavy minerals (e.g. hornblende). The analyses of heavy minerals also show significante variability between the modern (Piranhas-Açu) and ancestral (Açu Formation) river sediments. In general, these variations reflect relatively higher unstable and lower stable heavy minerals contents of the modern Piranhas-Açu sediments. The absence of significant compositional differences probably reflects uniform weathering conditions

Estudo multitemporal da dinâmica espacial do estuário Potengi/RN, utilizando como base os dados de Sensoriamento Remoto.

This work was developed in the Potengi river estuary, northern coastal city of Natal, located in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. The objective was to study the dynamics of Multitemporal Space in that estuary, however, analyze how this environment has behaved during the years 1988, 1994 and 2006. The definition of that, there was the fact that during that period, which occurred in that area and more intensive space exploration to practice economic activities as well as a greater and more rapid expansion of urban area. This study was supported by the Remote Sensing, who have been shown today, as an efficient analysis of the environmental studies, through geoprocessing techniques. From the performed analysis it was found that occurred during the period of study (1988 to 2006), a huge change in the design of the estuary of Potengi river. The figures showed the area of vegetation was decreased 65.22%, the deforested area increased by 70.44% and the shrimp activity grow 452.07% and the urban area was increased in 52.65% along that period described. Considering the numbers shown there that the process of occupying space in that area requires attention, because it is an environment that represents a huge contribution to the ecological balance.

Variação no conteúdo protéico e pigmentar em variantes cromáticas de Gracilaria domingensis nas populações naturais de Rio do Fogo-RN, BRASIL

The seaweed Gracilaria domingensis is a common species in the coast of Rio Grande do Norte. This species lives in the intertidal zone, where colour strains (red, green and brown) co-occur during the whole year. Seaweeds that live in this region are exposed to daily changes and to the rhythm of the tide. During the low tide they are exposed to dissection, hiper-or hipo-osmotic shock, high temperatures and high irradiance. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the pigment and protein content of the colour strains of G. domingensis is affected by some environmental parameters in a temporal scale. The seaweeds were collected during 10 months in the seashore of Rio do Fogo (RN). The total soluble proteins and the phycobiliprotein were extracted in phosphate buffer and the carotenoids were analyzed by a standardized method through HPLC-UV. The pigments analysis showed that phycoerithrin is the most abundant pigment in the three strains. This pigment was strongly correlated with nitrogen and the photosynthetically active radiation. Chlorophyll presented higher concentrations than carotenoids during the whole, but the ratio carotenoid/chlorophyll-a was modified by incident radiation. The most abundant carotenoid was ß-carotene and zeaxanthin, which had higher concentrations in the higher radiation months. The concentration increase of zeaxanthin in this period indicated a photoprotective response of the seaweed. The three strains presented a pigment profile that indicates different radiation tolerance profile. Our results pointed that the green strain is better adapted to high irradiance levels than the red and brown strains

Avaliação da qualidade da água do Rio Piranhas-Açu/RN utilizando a comunidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos

The biomonitoring technique for water quality in water bodies has been incorporated increasingly in management of the natural resources, using mainly indices of its aquatic community characteristics. In Brazil the first efforts to use this technique was restricted to the South and the Midwest region of this country. Located in the northeast region, this study was conducted at Rio Grande do Norte state and had as main objective the assessment of water quality in the Piranhas-Açu river using benthic macroinvertebrates community as biological indicators. Thus, were applied two biotic indices, the BMWP (Biological Monitoring Working Party score system) and the IBF (Family Biotic Index). According the requirements of these indices, two periods of sampling were determined as basic methodology, in dry seasons of 2006 and 2007. The sampling sites were around the municipalities of Açu, Ipanguaçu, Alto do Rodrigues and Pendências. Physical-chemical measurements; a protocol of rapid assessment of diversity of habitats, and determination of the degree of tolerance of each taxon to organic pollution were also performed. The most abundant organisms found in the river were tolerant with the prevalence of Chironomidae (Diptera) and Melanoides tuberculata. This results, together with those ones got in indices application, showed a considerable organic pollution in the four sample places and the reaches were classified as modified to impacted. According to the used indices, this study suggest that this river have significant alteration in the biotic community and water quality on the organic pollution, and this fact, occurs in the reach of the river further downstream, where were expected a good water quality. Considering these results, measures aiming the conservation of this water body are needed regarding as it is inserted into a fragile ecosystem with dry season phenomenon, and the water of this river has extremely importance for the local economy

Diagnóstico ecotoxicológico dos efluentes lançados no complexo estuarino do Jundiaí/Potengi, Natal/RN

Untreated effluents that reach surface water affect the aquatic life and humans. This study aimed to evaluate the wastewater s toxicity (municipal, industrial and shrimp pond effluents) released in the Estuarine Complex of Jundiaí- Potengi, Natal/RN, through chronic quantitative e qualitative toxicity tests using the test organism Mysidopsis Juniae, CRUSTACEA, MYSIDACEA (Silva, 1979). For this, a new methodology for viewing chronic effects on organisms of M. juniae was used (only renewal), based on another existing methodology to another testorganism very similar to M. Juniae, the M. Bahia (daily renewal).Toxicity tests 7 days duration were used for detecting effects on the survival and fecundity in M. juniae. Lethal Concentration 50% (LC50%) was determined by the Trimmed Spearman-Karber; Inhibition Concentration 50% (IC50%) in fecundity was determined by Linear Interpolation. ANOVA (One Way) tests (p = 0.05) were used to determinate the No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) and Low Observed Effect Concentration (LOEC). Effluents flows were measured and the toxic load of the effluents was estimated. Multivariate analysis - Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Correspondence Analysis (CA) - identified the physic-chemical parameters better explain the patterns of toxicity found in survival and fecundity of M. juniae. We verified the feasibility of applying the only renewal system in chronic tests with M. Juniae. Most efluentes proved toxic on the survival and fecundity of M. Juniae, except for some shrimp pond effluents. The most toxic effluent was ETE Lagoa Aerada (LC50, 6.24%; IC50, 4.82%), ETE Quintas (LC50, 5.85%), Giselda Trigueiro Hospital (LC50, 2.05%), CLAN (LC50, 2.14%) and COTEMINAS (LC50, IC50 and 38.51%, 6.94%). The greatest toxic load was originated from ETE inefficient high flow effluents, textile effluents and CLAN. The organic load was related to the toxic effects of wastewater and hospital effluents in survival of M. Juniae, as well as heavy metals, total residual chlorine and phenols. In industrial effluents was found relationship between toxicity and organic load, phenols, oils and greases and benzene. The effects on fertility were related, in turn, with chlorine and heavy metals. Toxicity tests using other organisms of different trophic levels, as well as analysis of sediment toxicity are recommended to confirm the patterns found with M. Juniae. However, the results indicate the necessity for implementation and improvement of sewage treatment systems affluent to the Potengi s estuary

Aspectos clínicos e imunológicos da infecção por Leishmania Infantum Chagasi em cães do Rio Grande do Norte / Paula Vivianne Souza de Queiroz. Natal/RN

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Estrutura populacional e aspectos reprodutivos do Octopus insularis Cephalopodas: Octopodidae: implicações para o manejo da pesca de polvo no município de Rio de Fogo-RN

In northeastern Brazil, Octopus insularis is the most commercially important cephalopod species and its capture has been performed for several years by the lobster fishermen in the region. In order to obtain information about the reproductive biology, 1108 specimens were collected between November 2009 and September 2011 in the landings and fish markets of Rio do Fogo (RN). For each specimen the mantle length (CM) and total fresh weight (PT) were recorded. Gonads of 264 males and 295 females were examined macroscopically and histologically to assess sexual maturation and determine reproductive indices. Four reproductive stages were determined for males (immature, maturing, mature and post-mature) and females (immature, early maturing, late maturing and mature). The average of eggs recorded in the female s gonads was 93.820 and 39 was the average of spermatophores found in male Needham s complex. Spermathecae with sperm were found in females with 69 mm CM (immature). Males and females become sexually mature at 64.41 and 98.50 mm of CM, respectively. The weight at sexual maturity was 270 g for males and 630 g for females. The values of the size and weight at sexual maturity found in this study show that males mature at smaller sizes than females. For both sexes the maturation peaks occurred in February and November 2010 and also in September 2011. The periods of maximum reproductive activity lasted about 3 months and it seems to occur every 7 10 months. Only one spent female (stage V) was found and the number of mature females was low. Presumably, mature females migrate to deep waters with complex habitat to protect the offspring, indicating that fishery by snorkeling with maximum depth of 15 meters is not reaches this part of the stock. Finally, it is noticeable the importance of the establishment of management strategies for the exploitation of O. insularis different of the ones used for O. vulgaris, once the species have distinct biological features

Acesso e permanência na universidade federal do rio grande do Norte sob o ponto de vista do docente e do estudante com deficiência Natal-RN

Inclusion of students with disabilities is a recent case that has been discussed in school contexts, but the current policy of inclusion for access and retention of students in higher education is still a problem face there is much to do, therefore, are incipient studies in which this student body is involved. Accordingly, what is happening is that the most studies deal with on these students and little is said about them. For inclusive education thus the institution should prepare to receive students, having as one of its premises their point of views about what actually experience aiming at promoting education for all. Therefore, this study deals with the process of inclusion of students with disabilities regularly enrolled in undergraduate courses at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte - UFRN.They were used the assumptions of qualitative research enabled by the case study method and semi-structured interviews. It has been analyzed by guiding actions and teaching practices, under the views of disabled students and teachers, the conditions of access and permanence offered by UFRN. Twelve students with physical, visual, hearing disabilities participated and five teachers from the acedemic centers that in academic year 2008 taught to these students. For data analysis it was used the technique of content analysis. It was extracted two themes: access and retention of students with disabilities in UFRN, in which emerged the categories described and analyzed in the course of this work. The results show the difficulties of access and retention of students with disabilities within the UFRN, such as attitudinal, pedagogical and architectural barriers. However, as it has also turned out, initial advances in the quest for achieving more effective actions to guarantee access and permanence of these students in UFRN. It has concluded that the scope for the exercise of citizenship in the pupils with disabilities who need this Higher Education Institution has an inclusive education Project, wide and consolidated, for the actions undertaken by the Ministry of Education - MEC, by itself, are not guaranteed to all students due to mobility, autonomy and security. It has hoped this work will bring benefits for new studies to develop features that were located, but were not our focus, because then the UFRN may advance the inclusive process of disabled students

A construção da ponte metálica sobre o Rio Pontengi: aspectos históricos, construtivos e de durabilidade - Natal/RN, Brasil (1912-1916) - estudo de caso

It is a case study that reports the construction of metal truss bridge in the river Potengi in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, between the years 1912 and 1916. From testimonials on steel bridges in Brazil and worldwide including foundations. Documentary research from procurement of projects and contracts was performed. A chronology of construction, with a description of the equipment used and its original budget with the Brazilian government. Still, we used interviews and surveys with experimental sampling / testimonies, laboratory tests. This study aims to analyze historically and technically the Bridge over the River Potengi, emphasizing primarily the construction process, the qualities and characteristics of the materials used and the technological, chemical, mineralogical and microstructural properties of cement and concrete used in its construction. Taking as conclusions that cements pozolônicos ensured a good durability to the concrete in a hundred-year period and that the solution employed with the compressed air caissons was right

Análise crítica dos produtos de mobilidade sentada - cadeiras de rodas - utilizados por crianças e adolescentes com paralisia cerebral em Natal/RN e outros municípios do Rio Grande do Norte

The objective of this work is to critically analyze the seated mobility adaptive equipment, wheelchair, used by non-ambulatory children/adolescents diagnosed with cerebral palsy of the quadriplegy type with ages in between 0-18 years old in the municipal city of Natal/RN and of other ones in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. This study is characterized as descriptive as it took into consideration the individualized conditions of each child/adolescent and of their home environment, and also evaluates the condition of the used seated mobility devices such as wheelchairs or strollers. Thirty three (33) subjects which had a wheelchair prescribed by a healthcare professional specialist in adaptive equipment within the past 3 years were selected. A questionnaire was applied through a phone with the patient s primary care giver or parents. The results obtained showed that all the equipment being used had an anatomical seat and back and the tilt system mechanism and even though most of the patients required small individual adjustments upon receiving the wheelchair in order to accommodate to the patients characteristics. From the point of view of the caregiver/parents interviewed, 97% described satisfied with the equipment and report assistance with mobility (97%), comfort (82%) and good posture (82%) as the main positive aspects from the equipment. The results also describe the aspects related to the maintenance, time used and activities developed that were reported by the patients. The conclusion therefore is that in order to select the equipment to meet the needs of the consumer it is necessary that: an appropriate wheelchair prescription takes place, the up-to-date knowledge of equipment available in the market, the appropriate use of the resources from the concession programs of the government that purchase equipment and the establishment of link in between the manufacturers, patients and the caregivers

Avaliação da eficiência da remoção de matéria orgânica e microbiológica de três sistemas de lagoas de estabilização em série na Grande Natal-RN: Beira Rio, Jardim Lola I e Jardim Lola II

Waste stabilization ponds are the main technology in use for domestic sewage treatment in Rio Grande do Norte State (RN), northeast Brazil. The are around 80 systems, constructed mainly by municipal city halls, being series comprised by a primary facultative pond followed by two maturation ponds the most used configuration. Due to problems related with the production and destination of sludge and generation of bad odors, the designers have avoided the use of anaerobic lagoons. The majority of systems are rarely monitored to verify their efficiencies and to get new project parameters for future designing. This work has as purpose to make a diagnosis of efficiency of three series of waste stabilization pond series (WSPS) of Jardim Lola 1, Jardim Lola 2 and Beira Rio, located in the North Zone of the city of the Natal/RN, treating domestic raw sewage, on the removal of organic matter and thermotolerant coliform, comparing the operational conditions of the systems this inside of the bands foreseen in the project, through parameters BOD5, QOD, thermotolerant coliforms, dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, ammoniac nitrogen, total and suspended solids. The work was carried through in the WSPS, all constituted by a primary facultative pond followed by two maturation ponds. Socioeconomic characteristics of population are predominantly low and all the plants are very near of the contributing basins. The series were monitored from of May the November of 2002, totalizing 20 collections of grab samples of raw sewage and ponds effluents between 8:00 and 9:50 h. The main aspect to be detached by the results was the great concentration of organic matter (BOD and COD) and microorganisms the raw sewage which were around two times more concentrated than those values foreseen one in project. Considering all series the highest removals of organic matter were observed in system Beira Rio (84 and 78% of BOD and COD, respectively), which presented high hydraulic detention time (TDH = 89 days). On the other hand, Jardim Lola 1 and Jardim Lola 2 presented a much lower values of HDT (36 days and 18 days respectively) and their removals of BOD and COD were the same (76% and 60%, respectively). The Beira Rio WSPS, was the most efficient verified in relation to solids and ammonia, proving the great influence of the operational variables such as HDT and applied surface organic loadings on the performance of pond series. Although the treatment plants have reached efficiencies of thermotolerant coliforms around 99,999%, the concentrations in the final effluent can be considered very high for launching in aquatic bodies, particularly those produced by Jardim Lola 1 and Jardim Lola 2 series

Implicações socioambientais da construção de um parque eólico no município de Rio de Fogo-RN

The purpose of this study was to investigate the social-environmental implications of the first large scale wind farm recently built in Brazil (2006), Parque Eólico de Rio do Fogo (PERF), to the nearby communities. The research was base on the adjustment of the DIS/BCN tool to analyze social impact and it was linked to the multi-method approach. Applying the autophotography strategy, cameras were given to five children from the district of Zumbi, the nearest location to PERF, and they were asked to individually photograph the six places they liked the most and the six places they liked the least in their community. Then, these children were interviewed individually and collectively about the photographs. Adult locals in Zumbi, residents of Zumbi/Rio do Fogo settlement, members of the State and Municipal government and representatives of the PERF were also interviewed with the aid of some of the pictures taken by the children and others that might trigger something to say, as a strategy called sample function. The five children presented positive image towards PERF; all of them chose to photograph it as one of places they liked. Adult population of Zumbi presented positive visual evaluation towards PERF. A small number of the interviewees were aware of the environmental and social benefits of wind energy production. Residents did not participate of the decision making process regarding PERF. They approved the project, especially because of the jobs provided during construction. Nowadays, PERF is something apart from their lives because it no longer provides jobs or any other interaction between the facility and the locals. Residents relate to the land, not with the facility. However, there is no evidence of rejection towards PERF, it is simply seen as something neutral to their lives. The low levels of education, traditional lack of social commitment and citizenship, and the experience accumulated by PERF´s planners and builders in other countries, may be contributing points to the fact that Zumbi residents did not oppose to PERF. It is clear that the country needs a legislation which seriously considers the psycho-social dimension involved in the implementation of wind farms

Influência espaço-temporal e fisiológica na absorção de nutrientes e elementos tóxicos por Eichhornia crassipes visando o uso adequado da sua biomassa: o caso do Rio Apodi/Mossoró - RN

This study aims to determine the amount of nutrients and toxic elements in aquatic macrophytes of species Eichhornia crassipes present in River Apodi/Mossoró - RN and check some of the possibilities of using the biomass produced, based on the influence of space - temporal and physiological absorption of nutrients by plants. For this, was determined: Leaf area, Leaf wet mass, Leaf dry mass, Real humidity, Apparent humidity, Ash, Total nitrogen, Crude protein, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Total phosphorus, Sodium, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Zinc, Nickel, Cobalt, Aluminum, Cadmium, Lead and Total chromium at different times, 2 sampling points and 2 parts of plants (leaves and roots). The results show that the levels of nutrients, protein and toxic elements present in plant tissue of Eichhornia crassipes are influenced by spatial, temporal and physiological variability. In general, because the maximum values in the dry matter for total nitrogen (4.4088 g/100g), crude protein (27.5549 g/100g), total phosphorus (0.642 g/100 g), calcium (1.444 g/100g), magnesium (0.732 g/100 g), potassium (7.51 g/100 g), copper (4.4279 mg/100g), manganese (322.668 mg/100g), sodium (1.39 g/100g), iron (194.169 mg/100g) and zinc (3.5836 mg/100g), there was the possibility of using biomass of Eichhornia crassipes for various purposes such as in food animal, products production for human consumption, organic fertilizers, fabrication of brick low cost, and crafts. For all these applications requires a control of the levels of substances in plant tissue. Based on the levels of nutrients and crude protein, the younger plants (0 Month) would be best to have their biomass used. Moreover, one factor that contributes to the use of larger plants (6 Months), the levels of toxic elements which have significantly small or below the detection limit. Therefore, further studies quantifying the biomass produced/m2 at 0 and 6 months are needed for a more correct choice for the best time of harvest