Livestock farming is one of the main economic activities in the Brazilian Semi-Arid region. However, the irregularity of the rainfall regime in the region results in imbalances between the supply and demand of forage for livestock feed. To mitigate this problem, the intercropping of forage species has been widely recommended due to its numerous benefits, such as increasing both the quantity and quality of forage, reducing the need for nitrogen fertilizers, and enhancing natural mechanisms for pest and disease control. Given these advantages, it is essential to evaluate the performance of forage cactus when cultivated in association with forage tree legumes. In the context of agricultural management in the Semi-Arid region, this practice is still rarely explored on a commercial scale. Thus, this study aims to evaluate and promote improvements in the intercropped cultivation of forage cactus with legumes, investigating how this association influences forage quality. To achieve this, a field experiment was conducted, established in January 2023 at the experimental station of the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco (IPA), located in Caruaru-PE. The experimental design included five treatments, covering both the isolated cultivation of cactus and legumes, as well as three intercropping arrangements. The tested arrangements were: (T3) four rows alternating legume and cactus, (T4) five rows with legumes on the edges and cactus in the center, and (T5) five rows with cactus on the edges and legume in the center. To standardize plant density, the first pruning of the legumes will be carried out 365 days after planting when the plants reach 60 cm in height. Morphological and agronomic traits, as well as the production components of both the forage cactus and the legume, were evaluated, considering both qualitative and quantitative aspects, with measurements taken every 60 and 90 days, respectively. Additionally, bromatological analyses of the studied species were conducted. The biometric results indicated that the forage cactus did not show significant differences in height and width among the treatments. However, the legume Gliricidia sepium exhibited significant variation in plant width, with the treatment consisting of double rows of cactus and single rows of Gliricidia showing the highest value (185 cm). The green matter yield of Gliricidia, considering the stem fraction, also presented significant differences, with the highest productivity observed in the isolated cultivation of the species (T2). Overall, the most efficient treatment for producers was the one in which single rows of Gliricidia were intercropped with double rows of forage cactus. The results of this study are expected to contribute to optimizing agricultural management in the Brazilian Semi-Arid region, promoting more sustainable, economical, and efficient forage production. Moreover, reducing dependence on nitrogen fertilizers may represent a significant advancement in the productive and environmental feasibility of livestock systems in the region, addressing local demands in a more balanced and resilient manner.

Brazil is one of the world's largest producers of vegetables, with an estimated annual production of over 20 million tons, generating around 7 million jobs. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), originally from the Mediterranean, stands out for its medicinal and aromatic properties. However, the expansion of this vegetable crop faces challenges, such as attacks by insect pests, especially aphids

of the Aphididae family, especially Hyadaphis foeniculi, which compromise the production of fruits and seeds of this crop. These insects cause direct damage, by sucking sap, and indirect damage, by transmitting viruses and promoting the growth of fungi. Losses can reach up to 60%, with chemical control being the main strategy. However, the indiscriminate use of pesticides generates environmental impacts and pest resistance, demanding more sustainable management practices. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of different bioinsecticides in controlling the aphid H. foeniculi and their selectivity in relation to the natural predator Euborellia annulipes. The extract of Sophora flavescens (Matrine®), the emulsifiable oil of Azadirachta indica (Fitoneem®) and the adjuvants (Ranger® and Santara®), based on essential oil from the peel of Citrus sinensis, were tested. The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions, where the mortality rates of the aphids, survival curves and the toxicological effects and computerized behavioral ecology on the predator were analyzed. The results indicated that Matrine® provided the greatest efficacy, with a median lethal concentration (LC50) of only 609 ppm and a median lethal time (MLT) of 18 hours at a concentration of 10,000 ppm. Santara® also demonstrated good performance, with a LC50of 2008 ppm, while treatments with Ranger® and Fitoneem® showed low toxicity, with LC50above 10,000 ppm. There was an additive effect of the combination of Santara® and Matrine® on the mortality of H. foeniculi, since the observed mortality was higher than the expected mortality of 50% from the isolated effect of each of the products. The opposite was observed in E. annulipes, since the adjuvant Santara®, when mixed, nullified the slightly harmful effect of Matrine®. There is no evidence of significant impact of the products alone or in mixture on the ethological variables evaluated, i.e., average speed, resting period and continuous mobility. Thus, the S. flavencens extract with Matrine® alone or in mixture with the Santara® adjuvant stands out not only for its high toxicity to H. foeniculi, but also for its selectivity to E. annulipes, showing low impact on the predator compared to the other products.

Commercial pitaya cultivation in the Pernambuco countryside has been attracting increasing interest, and phytosanitary challenges are a major obstacle to cultivation, as there is little information about management, and the resulting infections have been causing more losses and concerns over time, such as rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum, which can affect young or old cladodes and fruits, causing rot and constituting a major epidemiological problem for the crop. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the potential of plant extracts and hydrolates in controlling Fusarium oxysporum, a pathogen of pitaya cultivation. To conduct the tests, crude extracts and hydrolates of native species of the caatinga, such as Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth, Croton tricolor Klotzsch ex Baill, and Eugenia uniflora L., were obtained. In the crude extracts, the leaves were crushed to remove the liquid in a hydraulic press, and the hydrolates were prepared by the hydrodistillation technique using the Clevenger apparatus. To perform the in vitro tests, a completely randomized design (CRD) was used with 6 treatments and a control in 5 replicates. The materials were worked in the following concentrations (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25%) of the derivatives, which were diluted in distilled and sterilized water. Then, with the aid of a pipette, 100 μl of the liquids were placed in petri dishes with Potato-Dextrose-Agar (PDA) and spread with the Drigalski loop. The plates were placed in B.O.D, and measurements of the diameter of the fungus were taken over the days. On the seventh day, the spores were counted. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis was also performed to determine the chemical components. The results indicated that for the mycelial growth rate and sporulation index, it was observed that of the materials used, only the extract of C. heliotropiifolius significantly reduced fungal growth in all its concentrations in relation to the control. However, the same did not happen with the hydrolate of the same and other species. There was also no significant difference in the crude extracts of E. uniflora and C. tricolor Klotzsch. Therefore, the results found in this research indicated that only the crude extract of C. heliotropiifolius reduced fungal development.

Bedload transport data are scarce, need time and hard work to be sampled, and have different behaviors on landscape position, as in stepped mountain channels under the gulling process. Here, the bedload flux from a stepped mountain channel was perceived as a mass wave determined by the mass addition in the quantity relationship between bedload and suspended sediment originating from the gulling process in pulses. The bedload and suspended sediment flux were determined from a mountain channel in a small watershed under a current gulling process. The expressive gulling process is associated with the high sediment concentration and high bedload contribution to the total load between 41.4 to 77% under low discharges. Thus, the obtained bedload transport flux on the Liberdade channel did not follow hydraulic transport parameters but is described as a mass wave model. The Liberdade channel stability and geometry equilibrium were reached downstream with the streamflow in low Froude numbers.

Phytosanitary management is preponderant in the management of crops, given the imminent need to increase the production and quality of agricultural products. Allied to this intense demand for productivity is the increasing use of pesticides, which, despite being efficient in reducing the pest population, has some side effects that are crucial for the maintenance of human and/or animal food health, as well as food health. environment. Excessive and indiscriminate use of these chemicals results in contamination, insect resistance and negative environmental outcomes, which together have a significant impact on human health. Faced with this dichotomy between high productivity and environmental sustainability, many studies have bioprospected new sources of biopesticides, commonly essential oils extracted from plants. Despite the intense search for new compounds, the panorama of botanical bioinputs for the control of agricultural pests still presents a certain inconsistency, both in relation to the active ingredient of the biopesticides and its formulation or obtaining. Therefore, the present work presents a well-defined, congruent and innovative hypothesis; i) the fixed oil extracted by cold pressing has a composition of distinct secondary metabolites and a beneficial and non-opportunistic microbial community, of crucial importance for assisting in integrated pest management, which is normally excluded from the process of obtaining oils or hydrolates, when used in extraction methodologies most commonly used by the scientific community.

The coffee production chain has great relevance for Brazil. The country is the world's largest exporter of the beverage; thus, seedlings with good development are necessary for good crop productivity. Beer yeast waste (BYW), known as sludge, is rich in live yeast and presents itself as a by-product with high potential for application in crops as a biofertilizer and plant growth promoter, improving the quality of cultivated plants. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the by-product of beer production containing the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its relationship with coffee growth promotion. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design in a 2X5 factorial scheme, with the first factor consisting of two ways of applying yeast to coffee plants (FA – Foliar Application and SA – Soil Application) and the second factor consisting of five levels of application (0, 2.3, 4.7, 9.4, e 11.7 x 10 8 cells mL -1). Treatments were applied when the seedlings presented their first pair of definitive leaves, being applied every seven days for 90 days. The results showed that foliar application of yeast is more efficient than soil application for improving the development of coffee seedlings. Under these conditions, the application of a solution containing about 2.3 x 10⁸ cells mL⁻¹ of yeast was recommended for significant increases in vegetative parameters, mainly fresh shoot weight (2.35 times), fresh root weight (4.22 times), dry shoot weight (2.23 times), and dry root weight (3.62 times), compared to the negative control (sterile solution). Overall, our findings expand knowledge on the reuse of waste as an alternative method to promote the development of coffee seedlings through the addition of materials rich in organic matter and yeast, aligning with the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), providing valuable information for the development of strategies that support the concept of global health.

O cultivo de uvas viníferas no brasil já tem ganhado grande destaque, mas apenas em algumas
regiões e recentemente a vitivinicultura tem se expandido para novas regiões e o agreste
meridional Pernambucano tem mostrado um grande potencial para o setor tanto em
produtividade quanto em qualidade da uva e vinhos produzidos. O terroir é um termo de
origem francesa que compreende as características do vinho com base em características
geográficas, descrevendo no vinho produzido em uma região um conjunto de características
que são endêmicas deste local. Conhecer todas as características da vitivinicultura que
compreende desde o manejo da uva no campo, as características de solo, clima, micro e
macrofauna local até que se obtenha o vinho como produto final permite detalhar e descrever
o terroir de uma região, podendo trazer destaque para suas características únicas e agregar
valor aos produtos ali produzidos. Conhecer quimicamente uma videira em processo de
produção é um passo que permite encontrar características que serão importantes para o
terroir. Com o objetivo de desenvolver e trazer mais características da vitivinicultura que está
se estabelecendo no agreste meridional pernambucano este trabalho avaliou a partir da
espectrometria de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier a composição dos principais
grupos funcionais e a partir da análise elementar CNHS-O e espectrometria de fluorescência de
raios-x por dispersão de energia, determinar em proporcionalidade a composição foliar e
assim permitir fazer um estudo dos principais grupos funcionais encontrados em função do
estado nutricional foliar. No momento de execução do estudo, três áreas na região que
vinham cultivando uva para obtenção de vinhos nobre, e a partir dessas áreas o estudo se
estabeleceu, foram as áreas de duas vinícolas privadas, vinícola Mello e vinícola Vale das
Colinas localizadas no município de Garanhuns-PE e uma área experimental do Instituto
Agronômico de Pernambuco localizada no município de Brejão-PE, ao todo foram 16
variedades avalias distribuídas nas três localidades. As analises se deram a partir de amostras
de folha coletadas no lado oposto ao cacho de uva quando na área a variedade a ser coletada
atingisse pelo menos 50% das plantas a fenofase de plena floração. A análise estatística foi
realizada no ambiente computacional R v.4.3.1 onde os dados foram avaliados a partir da
estatística multivariada. A análise das duas componentes principais explicou cerca de 46,6% da
variância total. Agrupando as amostras em função da localidade e da variedade de uva, foi
possível observar que o fator variedade foi o que mais contribuiu com as características
químicas das plantas. Quanto a importância da composição química geral das plantas, os
compostos químicos se destacaram mais do que os elementos sendo que as bandas de
absorbância de 720 cm -1 , 1245 cm -1 , 1463 cm -1 , 1061 cm -1 e 2916 cm -1 que relacionam
quimicamente com os compostos respectivamente compostos fenólicos, polissacarídeos e
pectinas e ligninas, lipídios, polissacarídeos e pectinas, ligninas e lipídios e terpenóides,
prevaleceram sobre as demais quanto ao peso relativo da variação observada o que significa
que essas variáveis oscilaram mais em função das variedades de uva e local de cultivo. Através
modelo multivariado de análise de redundância a partir dos elementos químicos encontrados
e os principais grupos funcionais observados, o modelo obtido a partir de dois eixos principais
explicaram mais de 45,2% os resultados obtidos. Neste caso os grupos funcionais foram os
principais responsáveis pela variabilidade de dados, contribuindo com cerca de 64,7% da
explicação total do modelo seguido pelo cluster formado pela intersecção entre os elementos
químicos e os grupos funcionais que compreende 31,1% da variabilidade dos dados. A análise
de correlação de Spearman entre a amplitude dos picos do espectrograma do FTir e os
elementos químicos encontrados nas variedades de uva das três localidades os elementos Fe e
Mg se mostraram altamente correlacionados com os grupos funcionais associados a banda

1061 cm -1 do FTir assim como o elemento P se mostrou altamente correlacionado com os
funcionais associados as bandas 1061 cm-1 e 720 cm-1, todos os elementos apresentaram
alguma correlação com os as bandas identificadas nos picos da análise do FTir, mas quando
agrupados em grupo de maior e menor correlação, o elemento N se mostrou com baixíssima
correlação com todas as bandas observadas no FTir.

The selection and cultivation of forage cactus genotypes that are adapted and resistant to pests, such as the carmine cochineal, as well as the main diseases, offer a viable and economical solution for producers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate 10 genotypes of Opuntia spp. and Nopalea sp. with proven resistance to the false carmine cochineal in terms of morphological, productive, and chemical-bromatological aspects under the conditions of the Agreste Meridional of Pernambuco, Brazil. To this end, a field competition trial was established in the municipality of Garanhuns-PE, containing six genotypes of Opuntia spp. (IPA-200016, IPA-200174, IPA-100661, IPA-100662, IPA-200149, and IPA-200008) and four genotypes of Nopalea sp. (IPA-200205, IPA-100004, IPA-200206, and IPA-100664) distributed in randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replicates and 20 plants per plot. Over 420 days after planting (DAP), survival percentage, vegetative phenology, growth and development, production components, fresh and dry matter productivity, and chemical-bromatological composition were evaluated. Plant mortality was higher in the first 60 days, except for IPA-200174, which was affected by the carmine cochineal after this period. The genotype IPA-200008 showed the best performance in all evaluated morphoagronomic traits (plant height, crown width, number of cladodes, and cladode area) and in production and productivity variables when compared to traditionally cultivated genotypes (IPA-200016 and IPA-100004). Additionally, IPA-200008, along with IPA-200149, had the highest crude protein contents, essential for the diet of ruminal microorganisms. The genotypes IPA-200016, IPA-100662, and IPA-100004 also showed good performance in terms of dry and organic matter, while IPA-200174, IPA-100661, and IPA-200149 presented higher mineral matter content. Choosing the right genotype, combined with appropriate management practices, can maximize the productivity and adaptability of forage cacti, making them a viable and sustainable alternative for producers in the region.

This study analyzes the acquisition of essential elements in pasture soils in Pernambuco, using enzymatic activities as indicators of soil quality and fertility. Pernambuco, with its strong vocation for livestock farming, faces the challenge of pasture degradation, a problem that compromises agricultural and environmental productivity. Soil degradation reduces the efficiency of essential nutrient cycles and negatively impacts the availability of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which are fundamental elements for plant growth and development. In this context, the soil enzymes arylsulfatase, β-glucosidase, and acid phosphatase play a crucial role in nutrient cycling and maintaining soil health, as they are sensitive to environmental changes and soil management practices. The study was conducted in 24 pasture areas distributed across four mesoregions of the state: Agreste, Zona da Mata, Vale do Pajeú, and Sertão do São Francisco. Soil samples were collected and subjected to chemical, genetic, and enzymatic analyses to understand microbial dynamics and soil responses to different management conditions. It was observed that areas with better conservation practices showed higher levels of total organic carbon (TOC), base saturation (V%), and nitrogen, along with increased activities of arylsulfatase, β-glucosidase, and urease enzymes, indicating better soil structure for nutrient cycling. In contrast, in degraded areas, acid phosphatase was the predominant enzyme, suggesting an adaptation of microbial communities to low phosphorus levels. Statistical analysis confirmed that well-conserved soils promote a more diverse and interconnected bacterial community, reinforcing the resilience and sustainability of these environments. These results demonstrate that management practices promoting soil conservation are essential for maintaining pasture productivity and environmental sustainability. The study contributes to understanding ecological processes and microbial adaptation strategies, highlighting the importance of sustainable pasture soil management for maintaining fertility and environmental quality in Pernambuco.

The conversion of native forest areas into cultivation areas causes losses in quality indices and functions in productivity, due to the reduction of plant biodiversity and the alteration of the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the soil. Studies that quantify the biological characteristics present in the soil are very important, as these are active components in various processes and nutrient cycles, and can be used as indicators of their quality. The present work aims to evaluate the chemical changes in the soil, organic carbon, microbial biomass and enzymatic activity in soil submitted to different types of management. The research was carried out at the Santa Terezinha farm in the municipality of Angelim- PE, in six different soil treatments: (1) maize (KWS 9210 Pro) + Massai grass cultivar - without soil correction, (2) maize + forage BRS Tamani , (3) maize + Massai grass cultivar – with soil correction, (4) degraded pasture, (5) deforested native area and (6) preserved native area. In each treatment area, four samples were collected with an auger, at a depth of 0-10 cm in two different periods in June and September, corresponding to the dry and rainy seasons in the region. The evaluated factors were pH, cation exchange capacity, potential acidity, organic matter, soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and determination of the enzymatic activity of the soil for β-glucosidase, urease, arylsulfatase, diacetate of fluorescein (FDA) and acid and alkaline phosphatase. The data obtained were organized in a 6x2 factorial scheme, six treatments and two seasons (rainy and dry). And they were submitted to the SNK statistical test (P = 0.05), using the SISVAR 5.6 software. The soils with the corn and grass intercropping showed a reduction in OM, SOC and microorganisms, which restored important processes related to the cycling of carbon, sulfur and nitrogen in a way that does not match those of the native forest area. The results of this study showed that the conversion of forest into an agricultural production area with a high level of human disturbance impacts on the decrease of β-glucosidase, urease, alkaline phosphatase and fluorescein diacetate activities in the soil. These findings suggest that human disturbance can cause substantial changes in enzyme activity and microbial community in soil.

Pedology defines that the soil is the product of the alteration of the parent material by climate and organisms, in a topographical condition over time. This being constituted of a marker of environmental changes in addition to preserving other biological markers. Phytoliths are hydrated silica particles that plants biomineralize, which acquire the shape of the tissue that was crystallized and when this particle is deposited in the soil, it constitutes a fossil record that remains viable for long periods and, therefore, is a proxy of past vegetation. The Spodosols in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco was reported and according to the literature, the genesis of these soils and the accumulation of carbon is not explained in a dry climate, the current context of the semiarid region. In this context, the present study aimed to use the phytolith as a paleopedological indicator associated with other biological proxies (sponge spicules, diatom frustules and freshwater algal cysts) and organic markers (thermodegradation of organic matter, stable carbon isotopes and FTIR) in understanding Spodosol formation and carbon accumulation in the semi-arid region of Pernambuco. The toposequence under study, composed of four profiles, is located in the Catimbau National Park (PNC), at the base of the escarpment of the Tacaratú Formation, where a tectonic fault is reported next to it. Samples were collected for the composition of the modern assembly of the five phytophysiognomies of the PNC, a fossil assembly for the interpretation of its paleovegetal meaning, through phytolithic indices, and characterization of organic matter. The hierarchical grouping analysis of the results of the indices calculated from the fossil assemblages, associated with the other proxies, revealed three distinct environmental periods that are associated with three processes of soil formation: a drier period associated with pyrolysis, a period of transition of conditions arid areas for increased humidity associated with podzolization and a more humid period, due to the rise in the water table caused by the tectonic fault, associated with paludization. Another hierarchical clustering analysis showed that different horizons of fossil assemblages bear similarity to current modern assemblages. The results suggest that the meaning of phytoliths was an important proxy to elucidate carbon accumulation in semiarid regions and the polygenetic genesis of these soils.

Biochar is a product rich in carbon, being considered one of the potential products used to promote significant changes in soil characteristics and in the productivity of agricultural crops. Currently, several waste materials are recommended for biochar production, however, due to its diverse composition, it may be difficult to establish a standard classification for biochar. Thus, the present work aimed to characterize three biochars produced from cashew wood (BCW), sewage sludge (BSS) and chicken litter (BCL), determining the specific surface area (SSA) through the absorption of blue of methylene (BM), as well as the adsorption and desorption of phosphate (PO₄^3-) by colorimetry. The research was carried out under laboratory conditions at the Federal University of Agreste de Pernambuco (CENLAG/UFAPE). The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three biochars: BCW; BSS and BCL, with three replications for each biochar. The values of SSA, adsorption and desorption of PO₄^3- were measured. Data were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the F test and means compared using Tukey's test at a 5% probability level. The results of the PO₄^3- adsorption and desorption tests were established, quantified and adjusted to the mathematical models of Langmuir and Freundlich. For BSS and BCL, the SSA is relatively low, and they do not fit the Langmuir model, while the BCW showed better fits with higher values. As for the adsorption and desorption capacity of (PO₄^3-), the experimental data agreed very well with the Langmuir isotherm, however the adsorption capacity for the three biochars did not reach the plateau. However, it is important to emphasize that these results are specific to the types of biochars and study conditions used, and may vary depending on manufacturing intrinsics such as pyrolysis temperature and residence time. In future research, researchers will be able to use these results as a basis for the development of further studies, deepening the knowledge on the subject and validating or refuting the results found. In this way, the experiment contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge and provides a solid basis for future research in the area.

With increasing urbanization and industrialization, sewage sludge generation in Brazil is around 370.000 metric tons. This residue contains beneficial elements, however, it presents harmful substances, pathogens and potentially toxic elements. Therefore, one of the alternatives for its sustainable use is thermochemical transformation through the pyrolysis process, reducing environmental risks and giving rise to sewage sludge biochar (SSB). The use of SSB in agriculture is a strategy from an agronomic and environmental point of view, as in addition to fertilizing arable soils, it acts in carbon sequestration, adsorption of pollutants, reduction of greenhouse gases, improvement of soil characteristics, and elevation of crop productivity. From this, the objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of SSB on the physical, chemical and microbiological activity of the soil, as well as on the production, evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency (AUE) of common bean, cultivated in the municipality from Sao Joao, Pernambuco. Two experiments were carried out, the first experiment with the common bean cultivar IAC Netuno (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and the second experiment with the cowpea cultivar BRS Tumucumaque (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.). The experimental design used was randomized blocks, with 7 treatments and 4 blocks, for both cycles. Treatments consisted of 4 doses of SSB (5, 10, 20, 40 t ha^-1), chicken manure (5 t ha^-1), sewage sludge (5 t ha^-1) and synthetic fertilizer (N, P, K). Physical characteristics were evaluated: soil density (Sd), total porosity (Tp) and field capacity (FC), chemical (pH, Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, SO₄^2- and P available, N and C:N ratio), microbiological activity (MBC and TOC stocks), as well as ET, AUE, and production components: thousand grain weight (TGW); number of grains per pod (NGP); number of pods per plant (NPP); pod length (PL) and grain yield (GY). According to the results obtained, higher doses of SSB, from 20 t ha^-1 significantly increased most of the analyzed variables. There was a positive effect of SSB and chicken manure on soil water storage, bean AUE, ET, chemical characteristics, increasing levels of available P and N in the soil and improving the C:N ratio. In the microbiological activity, SSB acted by increasing the stocks of TOC in the soil and in the production components, increasing the TGW, NGP, NPP and PL. GY was positively affected by the addition of chicken manure and SSB, the latter increased grain yield by 102% compared to the control treatment. No changes were observed in the physical characteristics of the soil. Through principal component analysis (PCA) it was possible to extinguish variables with little influence on the analysis, reducing the redundancy of the data set, enabling its better interpretation. In the PCA referring to the 0-10 cm layer, it was observed that the highest doses of biochar (20 and 40 t ha^-1) were positively correlated with the microbiological activity of the soil, mainly with the contents of MBC and TOC, with the characteristics chemical, such as the levels of available K⁺, P and SO₄^2-, and water, such as the AUE. Productivity components and N contents were influenced by the addition of chicken manure. In the 10-20 cm layer, the highest doses of biochar correlated positively with the available TOC, K⁺, P and SO₄^2- contents. Chicken manure influenced N and Mg²⁺ levels. Based on the above, it is recommended to apply SSB doses from 20 t ha^-1 on the bean crop cultivated in the Agreste Meridional of Pernambuco.

The weevil Sitophilus zeamais Mots. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is considered one of the main insects that affect stored corn grains and seeds, generating significant economic losses. The main control method used for management is the use of synthetic chemical insecticides that can cause damage to the environment and to human and animal health. In view of this, the use of endemic bioactive plant extracts has been highlighted for its low cost, insecticidal, repellent, feeding inhibitor and growth regulator effect. Thus, the objective of this work was to investigate the chemical composition of hydrolates from Tinguí (Serjania cf. lethalis A.St.-Hil.), Bálsamo (Myroxylon peruiferum L.f.), Alecrim da Caatinga (Lippia origanoides Kunth) and Sacatinga-branca (Croton heliotropiifolius Kunth), to evaluate the fumigant effect, contact and ingestion and behavioral effect on populations of Sitophilus zeamais. To obtain the essential oil, leaves of plant species in the Caatinga biome region, Pernambuco, Brazil, were collected, dehydrated, crushed and subjected to the hydrodistillation process in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The chemical characterization of the oil was performed in a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass and headspace spectrometer. To verify the fumigant effect, the concentrations (0.00; 0.0001; 0.0003; 0.0004; 0.0006; 0.0007; 0.0014; 0.0028; 0.0042; 0.0056; 0. 0069; 0.0139; 0.0278; 0.0417; 0.0556; 0.0694 μL/L of air) of the hydrolates were pipetted onto filter paper (5x2 cm) attached to the underside of the fumigation chamber lid, in the which contained 10 grams of untreated maize and 10 unsexed adults of S. zeamais. Insect mortality was evaluated after 48 hours of exposure. For the contact and ingestion bioassay, the hydrolate concentrations (0.00; 0.0028; 0.0056; 0.0083; 0.0111; 0.0139; 0.0278; 0.0556; 0.0833; 0.1111; 0.1389; 0.2778; 0.5556; 0.8333; 1.1111 and 1.3889μl/g) were pipetted into Petri dishes (90x15 mm) containing 20 grams of corn and manually shaken for two minutes. They were then infested with 10 unsexed adults of S. zeamais. Insect mortality was evaluated after 72 hours of exposure. The hydrosols presented different amounts and composition, being the marjoritates: 2-Hexenal, (E)- (49.42%), Methylal (32.77%), 1H-Pyrrole, 1-methyl- (32.47%) and Eucalyptol (14.44%). The results obtained in the mortality tests were submitted to mean tests, and those of behavior, Tukey's test (p ≤ 0.05) and (p ≤ 0.01), using the statistical program Sisvar, version 5.6. In the fumigant test, from the concentration of 0.0278 to 0.0695 μl L-1 of air, caused mortality ranging from 3 to 18%. In the contact and ingestion test, the average mortality was 3% ± 1.9, the highest percentage of mortality occurred between the concentrations 1.11 and 1.389 μl/g of corn grains treated with Bálsamo hydrolate (M. peruiferum) with 7.5% and 12.5%, respectively, and for the other concentrations used, it is possible to state that the insecticidal activity is low. When tested using a four-way olfactometer, they showed a repellent effect at concentrations of 0.1 and 10% S. lethalis, 0.01% M. peruiferum, 0.1% L. origanoides and 0.001% C. heliotropiifolius under S. zeamais. Thus, it is suggested that new studies be carried out, involving the other stages of development of S. zeamais with other concentrations of the compounds.

The bean is part of the diet of most Brazilians, its use goes beyond human food, and can be used in animal feed and as green manure. In Brazil the method of conventional planting through the use of chemicals predominates, thus the need for new alternatives that are more economical and have an increasingly high production. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of applying different doses of liquid effluent from dairy products, associated with inoculants on the yield of carioca beans variety BRS Estilo. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental farm of Agreste Federal University of Pernambuco (UFAPE). The evaluations were carried out at CENLAG (Laboratory Center for Research Support of UFAPE). The treatments were distributed in entirely randomized blocks, in a factorial scheme (4 x 2) + 1, with four doses of dairy effluent, in the absence and presence of the inoculant plus an additional control, in three repetitions. None of the variables fitted the polynomial regression model as a function of the dosage of dairy liquid effluent. The inoculant was not able to provide significant change in bean production. The association between inoculant and doses of liquid dairy effluent was not efficient for common bean under the conditions studied. No difference between organic and mineral fertilization was possible

The cultivation of grapevines in the southern region of Pernambuco has shown
positive results both in terms of productivity and for the final quality characteristics of the
grapes and wine. The soil, climate, exposure and altitude have great influence on a quality
terroir. In managing a terroir, plant nutrition is of paramount importance, as it has a great
influence on the plants, with the leaves being the greatest indicators of deficiencies. The X-
ray fluorescence technique is a method that analyzes samples non-destructively and requires
only a small amount of samples. Aiming to understand how this nutrient availability occurs in
the leaf biomass of grapevines, this study aims to evaluate plant nutrition via X-ray
fluorescence for sampling of nutritional elements in grape leaves. The experiment was
performed in the Municipality of Brejão, at the Instituto Agronômico de Pernambuco (IPA).
The experiment was set up in a randomized block design with five repetitions, and the
treatments were composed of ten grape varieties for the elaboration of fine wines (white wine
- Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Muscat Petit Grain; red wine - Cabernet Sauvignon,
Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, Merlot Noir, Malbec, Viognier and Syrah) and eight plants per plot.
The chemical elements (Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Sulfur and
Rubidium) present in the leaves were analyzed from X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF)
method. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) test and Pearson's product-moment correlation
coefficient ρ was applied in association the chemical variations. The data were submitted to
analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the means were compared using Tukey's test at 5%
probability level. The XRF method can be used as a great ally in the foliar diagnosis of
nutrients with fast and accurate response, also when in conjunction with artificial intelligence
methods is a great tool in the identification of varieties. The elements K, Mg, Fe and Ca
determined in grapevine leaves by X-ray fluorescence are strongly associated with soil
chemical and phenological variables of the plants. As for the nutrition of the plant, the Petit
Verdot variety was the one that presented the greatest balance in the concentration of the
elements Ca, Fe and Mg found in its leaves. While the other varieties showed great variation
in the determination of the concentrations. The Syrah variety had the highest degree of
deficiency found. The elements K and Mg were the ones that presented the greatest nutritional
imbalance among the varieties.
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ABSTRACT

Keywords: Agreste Pernambucano, Artificial Neural Networks,

Biochar is a by-product of the thermal decomposition of organic materials in an oxygen-limited environment through the pyrolysis process. Improvements in agricultural production are often recorded in highly degraded and nutrient-poor soils, while their application to fertile and healthy soils does not always increase crop yield. Biochar promotes an increase in pH and also an increase in organic matter concentrations, soil CEC, in addition to an increase in N, P, K, Ca and Mg. Experiments conducted with the use of biochar, found that the residual effect of the application of biochar promoted positive responses after a period of nine years. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding different doses of biochar, and its effects added to chemical and organic fertilization adopted in the rural region of Pernambuco, in common bean and cowpea plantations, as well as its residual effect. on the chemical attributes of the soil after the fallow period. For this, a field experiment was installed, with 12 treatments T1= Absolute control (T); T2 = fertilization with 5 t ha-1 of chicken manure (EG); T3 = fertilization with NPK (NPK); T4 = biochar at a dose of 10 t ha-1 (B10); T5 = biochar at a dose of 20 t ha-1 (B20); T6 = biochar at a dose of 40 t ha-1 (B40); T7 = EG + biochar 10 t ha-1 (EG+B10); T8 = EG + biochar 20 t ha-1 (EG+B20); T9 = EG + biochar 40 t ha-1 (EG+B40); T10 = NPK + biochar 10 t ha-1 (NPK+B10); T11 = NPK + biochar 20 t ha-1 (NPK+B20); T12 = NPK + biochar 40 t ha 1 (NPK+B40), arranged in completely randomized blocks, with three replications. The chemical characterization to determine the levels of Ca 2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+, P, potential acidity and the pH in H2O of the biochar used in the experiment was carried out according to methodologies contained in Embrapa (2011). After the period of 850 days after the application of the treatments, there was still a residual effect of the biochar present in the soil. The biochar decreased the potential acidity of the soil and increased the nutrients, especially calcium and magnesium. Treatments that received organic fertilization showed better results, indicating an optimal combination between poultry manure and biochar.

Ecosystems in semi-arid regions, such as the Caatinga in Northeastern Brazil, are being affected by global climate change, causing serious impacts on soils and water resources in these regions. In addition, these changes also cause changes in evapotranspiration (ET) and in the CO2 and energy fluxes, since these fluxes are interdependent. Thus, research is needed to quantify the CO2, water (evapotranspiration) and energy fluxes, in order to observe whether the Caatinga acts as a source or as a sink for atmospheric carbon and thus contribute to possible models that can simulate future scenarios of changes for the region. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the seasonal variability of these fluxes. The measures for determining these fluxes were carried out in a preserved area of Caatinga, located in the municipality of São João/PE, by means of a tower, installed in the center of the area, equipped with sensors for measurements of wind speed and direction, humidity and air temperature, rainfall, solar radiation and radiation balance. The CO2, water and energy fluxes were determined by the eddy covariance methodology, with a CO2 and H2O analyzer and a three-dimensional sonic anemometer. In addition, soil moisture was measured at depths of 10 to 50 cm. The soil water storage followed a proportional relation to rain events with an average value of 24 mm. The vapor pressure deficit (VPD) followed changes in air temperature, with higher values in the dry period. The net radiation (Rn) was quite variable, with lower values in the wet period; the soil heat flux (G) ranged from -10.1 to 10.1 W m-2 , and the latent heat (LE) and sensitive heat (H) fluxes also showed high seasonality, with LE higher than H in the wet period, with the inverse occurring in the dry period. Evapotranspiration (ET) varied between 0.4 to 4.7 mm d-1 , with an average of 2.33 mm d-1 and a total of 933 mm. ET also followed variations in rainfall, with the highest values in the wet period and the lowest values in the dry period, possibly due to the low water holding capacity in the soil. The variation of the CO2 fluxes in the Caatinga indicated that the vegetation acted both as a source and at times as a carbon sink, with values varying between -4.89 and 6.87 μmol m-2 s -1 . However, despite some positive values, which indicates CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, the Caatinga acted, in general, as a CO2 sink, sequestering, on average, over a year, 444 g of C m-2 from the atmosphere, the equivalent of 4.44 t C ha-1 year-1 . The results of net primary (NEE) and gross (GPP) productivities followed the same variation, with higher values of GPP during the wet period. Ecosystem respiration (Reco) showed an increase in the metabolic activities of vegetation during the wet period, with the highest respiration rates being observed at times of greater solar radiation. Thus, it can be concluded that, in the edaphoclimatic conditions of the Agreste Pernambuco, the Caatinga acted sequestering atmospheric CO2, further reinforcing the need to preserve this ecosystem.

Sunflower is used as a component in the food industry, and its consumption in human food occurs mainly through oils, being a culture of great expression. One of the options for reducing the use of mineral fertilizers is alternative fertilizers, in this context the by-products of the industry have gained visibility as possible alternatives. Thus, the present work aimed to evaluate the effects of the doses of sugarcane bagasse ash on the growth and development physiology of two sunflower cultivars. The experiment was carried out in the greenhouse at UFRPE / UAG, in a completely randomized design (DIC) in a factorial scheme (2 X 5), with 2 sunflower cultivars (Multisol and Catissol x 5 doses of Ash) with 5 replications. Fertilization was based on the need for P for the crop, using bagasse ash as a nutrient source. The applied doses were D1: 0.0 (absolute control), D2: 3.125, D3: 4.687, D4: 6.25 and D5: 7.812 Mg.ha-1 and performs three evaluations in the experiment at 10, 53 and 85 DAP. The variables analyzed were: first emergency count, emergency, emergency speed index (IVE), height and number of leaves, number of flower buds (NBF), stem diameter (DC) and flower buds (DBF), diameter internal (DIC) and external chapter (DEC), leaf area index (IAF), shoot dry mass (MSPA), net assimilation rate (TAL) and dry mass production rate (TPMS), growth rate relative (TCR) and absolute (TCA), electrolyte leakage (EE), relative water content (CRA), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids and a / b ratio), soluble carbohydrate, proteins and proline. The ash doses did not influence the emergence of sunflower seedlings in the different doses. The cultivar Multissol performed better in the emergency process than Multissol. At 53 DAP, height, stem diameter, number of leaves, DBF and MSPA responded linearly to the cultivar Multisol. Cultivar Catissol plants had higher MSPA and IAF than Cultivar Multissol at a dose of 6.248 Mg.ha-1. For photosynthetic pigments, C1 had a higher production of chlorophyll B at a dose of 3.90 Mg.ha-1 and C2 had a linear increase. The 3.36 Mg.ha-1 dose of sugarcane bagasse ash increases the seedling emergence percentage of the Multissol cultivar, while for the Catissol cultivar the doses reduce its emergence at 10 days after planting . Sugarcane bagasse doses do not affect the emergence of sunflower seedlings (multisol and catissol cultivar). The incorporation of ash into the soil increases the photosynthetic activity of seedlings and plants of sunflower cultivars. The doses of sugarcane bagasse ash increase the diameter of the stem, number of leaves, dry mass of plants, leaf area index, relative growth rate of plants of sunflower cultivars (Catissol and Multisol). Sugarcane bagasse ash can be used as an alternative source to complement the mineral fertilizers currently used.

Biochar is a porous and carbon-rich material. The addition of this product to the soil has been seen as an important tool in the management of diseases caused by pathogens inhabiting the soil. The biochar's mechanisms of action against these pathogens are direct and indirect, since it provides resistance to plants and acts in the same propagation site of the inoculum. However, there is still a gap as to how the biochar applied to sandy soils behaves as a management tool to mitigate the severity of bacterial and tomato wilt. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of biochars from different sources in the management of wilted bacteria, a disease that is difficult to control, caused by the bacteria Ralstonia solanacearum. For this, two experiments were set up, one in vitro to analyze the influence of biochars of cassava husk (BCM), bean straw (GMP), sugar cane straw (BPC) and corn straw (BPM), in reducing the spread of the bacteria and an in vivo in a greenhouse, using the same biochars, in order to verify the impact of its application on the soil, on the growth characteristics and severity of the symptoms of bacterial wilt in tomato plants. The variables analyzed were: plant height, stem diameter, root length, disease severity, area under the disease progress curve, chemical and enzymatic attributes of the soil. Through the in vitro test, the ability of the additives to reduce the formation of colony-forming units (CFU) of the bacteria was observed. The biochars BPF and BPM applied to the sandy soil were able to reduce the severity of bacterial wilt in tomatoes by 30%. In addition, the addition of biochar in the soil provided improvements for plant development and soil microbiota, since the biochars BCM and BPF allowed the increase in the height and number of leaves, respectively. As well as the GMP it provided the increase of the urease activity in 41.91% in the soil and the BCM of 67.5% of the acid phosphatase. Thus, biochar, in addition to providing better conditions for plant development, can also be used as a tool for managing pathogens transmitted by the soil.

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The melon (Cucumis Melo) and watermelon crop (Citrullus lanatus) belong to the family of commercially important cucurbitaceous in the world. However, the production of these crops in Brazil is very low due to; mainly on management practices the climatic instability. A way of handling that can solve some obstacles in the production is the biochar that is a conditioner of the ground and depending on the source of raw material provides nutrients essential for the cultures. In addition to this, the use of Trichoderma can bring benefits such as improving plant development, aiding in seed germination, and being an excellent biological control agent against plant pathogenic pests. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the application of biochar with and without inoculation of Trichoderma aureoviride on plant growth and on the microbial, chemical and enzymatic activities of sandy soil cultivated with melon and watermelon. Two experiments were carried out, one with each culture. The experimental design was completely randomized (CRD) in a scheme (3 x 2 + 1). Being three distinct sources of Biochar (BH - bean husk, CG - coffee grounds and CH - coffee husk); two forms of inoculation (T+) and the absence (T-) of T. aureoviride. The additional treatment was absolute control (total absence of Biochar and inoculum of the fungus). The addition of biochars to the soil promoted positive changes in soil metabolic and chemical attributes, as well as the biometric attributes of melon and watermelon plants. The treatments that received T+ via biochar each source generated a distinct pattern in the soil, mainly due to changes in pH, β-glucosidase activities, urease and Mg2+, K+ and P. The biochar of BH inoculated with T. aureviride in sandy soil showed results that are more efficient on growth in the melon crop and on soil quality. Besides that, the biochar of coffee grounds also showed efficient capacity in improving the growth and the quality of the soil cultivated with watermelon.

Cassava has economic importance in Brazil and abroad, for their food importance. The Northeast is the region that most increased this crop in Brazil, but farmers use few technologies, resulting in diseases and decline in production. The crop is attacked for numerous pathogens as Fusarium solani and Scytalidium lignicola, that causes diseases such as cassava root rot and cassava black root, affecting the commercial part of plant, the tubera. Several research, support the use of practices that enable the production and support the environment, so the use of biocontrol has been used, particularly with the use of Trichoderma spp. However, little research reporting the physiological mechanisms that are activated by plants when exposed to this interaction, pathogen-plant-antagonist such as plant response to infection diseases. Thus, the objective this work was to verify the potential antagonism of Trichoderma spp. against F. solani and S. lignicola, and evaluating the physiological response of plants exposed to the pathosystem. We analyzed in vitro inhibition of mycelial growth of F. solani and S. lignicola to select the best Trichoderma antagonist with potential direct these pathogens. By the method of use of basal medium with colloidal chitin as the only carbon source, it was used to evaluate the best Trichoderma production of chitinase. In greenhouse, the selected Trichoderma was compared against the use of plant resistance inducer in vivo inhibition assessing the severity of disease infested plants after 92 days of growth. Then we evaluated the enzyme of antioxidative complex (peroxidase ascorbate, catalase, peroxidase and polyphenyl oxidase). All strains were inhibited the growth of pathogens. However, the best strain against F. solani was T. hamatum (6656), and has been for S. lignicola was T. harzianum (3086), with values of 88.91 and 80.78% growth mycelial respectively, being designated as the best candidates for treatments in the greenhouse. For chitinase production evaluation, all Trichoderma tested were positive, highlighting the T. aureoviride (5158) to produce 6.70 U mL-1, being selected candidate for inhibiting the severity of pathogens in greenhouse. All Trichoderma selected for in vivo testing against the severities of diseases, presented efficiency compared to the control with the presence of the pathogen. However, the T. aureoviride (5158), showed the blunt values for both pathogens. The results of the enzymes of the plants, treatments that stopped inoculation of Trichoderma showed satisfactory results, collaborating with the answer in a greenhouse, however, again treating with the strain (5158), showed the best values, especially the production of the enzymes peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase. Therefore, concludes the efficiency of Trichoderma aureoviride (5158), for use as biocontrol of root rot and black rot of cassava as induced resistance to plant pathogens, contributing to the production of enzymes antioxidatives.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical changes occurring in an Ultisol planted with green manure and an Oxisol Humic after liming. In the experiment with green manure was used randomized complete blocks with plot scheme on track with 5 treatments (Crotalaria; Soybean perennial; Guandu dwarf; Calopogonio and spontaneous vegetation) and 4 replications. We performed the chemical, biochemical and biological attributes, identification and quantification of organic acids in soil after application of the treatments. The dwarf pea had the highest dry matter production and green, higher accumulation of N, P, K and C. The perennial soybean showed higher levels of P and K. The sunnhemp higher concentrations of N, and dwarf pea higher C content in its dry mass. Green manures had lower C / N ratio The microbial biomass carbon showed higher value in the treatment dwarf pigeonpea (578.12 mg kg CBM-C-1). The microbial respiration was influenced by the use of perennial legume sunn hemp and soy. The highest levels of total organic carbon were observed in treatments with perennial soybean, calopo and crude. The treatment showed the highest content of water-soluble carbon was the dwarf pigeonpea (109.34 mg kg-C 1solo dry). The use of legumes promoted the increased enzyme activity in the soil. Treatment with pigeonpea contributes to higher levels of free light fraction organic matter. Treatment with calopo was what had higher C content in fraction F4, corresponding to 34% of TOC. BMI was higher in the soil with cultivation of pigeonpea dwarf, demonstrating that this legume plant residue promoted the maintenance of carbon stocks. In all treatments was observed only the presence of acetic acid, with the highest concentration in the soil after cultivation of perennial soybean. In the experiment with dystrophic experimental design used was completely randomized block in a 2x5 factorial arrangement with four replications, with the first factor represented by the SC treatments (without liming) and CC (with lime application), and the second factor 5 evaluation periods (7, 14, 30, 45 and 60 days). The liming treatments CC was 3.35 t ha-1. We performed the chemical, biological attributes, identification and quantification of organic acids in soil after application of the treatments. Liming increased soil pH and calcium, in addition to reducing the potential acidity of the soil. The phosphorus content was higher 30 days after the application of limestone (3.50 mg kg-1). The highest levels of sodium were observed within 60 days in treatments with and without liming. The higher nitrogen content was obtained 45 days after lime application. The content of the microbial biomass was higher at 7 days in the ground where there was liming with 383.68 mg C kg-CBM-1. The largest amount of total organic carbon was observed at 14 days in water without liming. The higher respiratory activity was observed in the soil where no lime application in periods of 30 and 60 days. For treatments with lime application, detected the presence of acetic acid in all periods, with a period of 30 days at the highest concentration, with 16.21 mg kg-1. Only in the period of 7 days in the treatment without lime application was observed the presence of acetic acid.