Caracterização das atividades agropecuárias da comunidade rural São Francisco no município de Sobral-CE.

Resumo: Objetivou-se caracterizar as atividades agropecuárias da comunidade rural São Francisco atendida pelo Projeto Cabra Nossa de Cada Dia, no município de Sobral, Ceará, por meio da participação dos agricultores familiares no reconhecimento de seus agroecossistemas. A agricultura apresentou-se diversificada, porém praticada sob regime sequeiro sendo totalmente dependente do regime pluviométrico da região, demonstrando elevado risco para a segurança alimentar e inclusão socioprodutiva das famílias, principalmente devido às perturbações relacionadas às secas. Na pecuária, embora a predominância da caprinocultura e da avicultura fosse de 100%, verificou-se que a comunidade apresentou seis formas de pecuária, demonstrando que sua diversificação é um dos elementos de resiliência da agricultura familiar no meio rural. Conclui-se que os agroecossistemas da comunidade são diversificados, contribuindo para alternativa de renda e como segurança alimentar, permitindo a fixação e manutenção do homem no campo. [Characterization of the agricultural activities of the San Francisco rural community in Sobral-CE]. Abstract: This study aimed to identify the agricultural activities of San Francisco rural community, assisted by Cabra Nossa de Cada Dia project in Sobral, Ceara, through the participation of farmers in recognition of their agroecosystems. The agriculture presented diversified, however practiced under rainfed being totally dependent on rainfall of the region, showing high risk to the food security and social and productive inclusion of the households, mainly due to disturbs related to drought. In relation to the livestock, although the goats and aviculture have been 100% predominant, it was verified that the community had more than six forms of livestock, showing that the agricultural diversification is an element of resilience of the family farming of the rural environment. We concluded that the community agroecosystems are diversified, contributing to alternative source of income and food security, allowing the fixation and maintenance of peasant

Caracterização de atividades agropecuárias de comunidades do semiárido sobralense participantes do Projeto Cabra Nossa de Cada Dia.

Resumo: Objetivou-se caracterizar as atividades e sistemas agropecuários de comunidades rurais do semiárido atendidas pelo Projeto Cabra Nossa de Cada Dia em Sobral, Ceará, pela participação dos agricultores familiares no reconhecimento de seus agroecossistemas. As avaliações foram realizadas por meio da utilização de metodologias participativas, como uso de diálogo semiestruturado e técnicas de visualização, com a elaboração de mapas e caminhada transversal. As comunidades apresentaram diferenças em relação as freqüências de participação nas atividades e sistema agropecuários. A comunidade do Cedro apresentou maior diversidade de olerícolas e tuberosas, forragens cultivadas, práticas agrícolas, sistemas integrados e captação de água. [Description of activities agricultural the communities semiarid sobralense forming part of Project Foat Our Every Day]. Abstract: This study aimed to characterize the activities of agricultural systems and rural communities in the semiarid region served by Project Cabra Nossa de Cada Dia in Sobral, Ceará, the participation of farmers in recognition of their agroecosystems. The evaluations were performed by using participatory methods, such as use of semi-structured dialogue and visualization techniques, with the mapping and transect walk. The communities differ regarding the frequency of participation in activities and agricultural system. The community of Cedro showed greater diversity in tuberous and vegetable crops, forage crops, agricultural practices, integrated systems and water harvesting

Produção vegetal e custos de produção de diferentes processos de transição agroecológica em comunidade rural do Semiárido brasileiro.

Resumo: Objetivou-se comparar diferentes processos de transição agroecológica sobre a produção vegetal e custos de produção em módulos agrícolas da comunidade rural do Cedro, no município de Sobral-CE. O processo de transição agroecológica foi composto por três módulos de 0,143 ha cada. O módulo 1 (testemunha) representou as práticas agrícolas comumente utilizadas pelos agricultores da região, com o uso do fogo. O módulo 2 representou o acréscimo do esterco animal à área de agricultura, na dose equivalente a 25 t/ha. No módulo 3, houve a introdução de uma espécie arbórea (leucena), com espaçamento entre linhas e entre fileiras de 3 m e com adição de esterco. Foram avaliados diferentes processos de transição agroecológica baseados nos custos de implantação em áreas de 1,0; 3,0 e 5,0 ha. Observou-se que a produção de biomassa de forragem por área foi muito abaixo do esperado para a obtenção de retorno financeiro, decorrente da baixa precipitação pluviométrica ocorrida na região. O item que mais onerou o custo de implantação dos módulos foi o cercamento da área, com média de 83,99% do custo total. O módulo 3 apresentou maiores custos de implantação, com 43,26 e 3,41% a mais de custos em relação aos encontrados nos módulos 1 e 2, respectivamente. A utilização de processos de transição agroecológicas com uso do esterco e leucena são práticas que têm potencial de serem aplicadas no Semiárido brasileiro, carecendo de maior tempo de avaliação para a obtenção de resultados concretos. [Plant biomass yield and production costs of the different agroecological transition process in rural community in Brazilian semiarid]. Abstract: This study aimed to compare different agroecological transition process on the plant biomass yield and production costs in Cedro agricultural module, in Sobral-CE. The agroecological transition process was compound by three modules of 0.143 ha each one. The module 1 represented the agricultural practices utilized by the farmers, with fire use practices. The module 2 represented the manure added in agricultural soil, in dose equivalent to 25 t/ha. In module 3, it was planted the Leucaena leucocephala, 3 meters spacing between plants and rows and manure added. It was evaluated the different agroecological transition process based in implantation costs in three size areas (1,0; 3,0 and 5,0 ha). The forage biomass production per area was mucho lower than expected to obtain financial return, due to low precipitation occurred in region. The fencing was the more expensive item from the implementation cost, averaging 83.99% from the total cost. The module 3 presented the higher implementation cost, with 43.26 and 3.41% more costs in relation to the module 1 and 2, respectively. The utilization of the agroecological transition process with manure and Leucaena leucocephala use are potential practices to be applied in Brazilian semiarid lands, needing more evaluation time to obtain concrete results

Intake, digestibility and nitrogen balance in sheep fed diets containing detoxified castor cake.

Abstract: The effect of substituting soybean meal (SM) with four levels (0, 33, 67 and 100%) of detoxified castor cake (DCC) on intake, nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance was evaluated in uncastrated, male, crossbred sheep in a randomised complete block design with four treatments and five replications. There was a decreasing linear effect from the levels of substitution on dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) intake, total carbohydrates (TC), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) and total digestible nutrients (TDN), and on DM, OM and TC digestibility, for reductions of 2.04, 1.70, 0.35, 1.56, 1.89 and 1.67 g dia-1 and 0.34, 0.53 and 0.51 g kg-1 DM respectively, for each 1% SM substituted with DCC. DMI and NDFap expressed, in %BW and g kg-0.75, showed a quadratic response, with a maximum value of 3.85 and 1.73%BW, and 95.15 and 42.47 g kg-0.75, for 25.00, 65.00, 20.75 and 61.50% SM substituted with DCC respectively. There was a linear increase in the intake of acid detergent fibre and in ether extract digestibility. The nitrogen balance was not affected by the substitution of SM with DCC. Substituting soybean meal with castor cake detoxified by autoclaving in lamb diets alters nutrient intake and digestibility without affecting the nitrogen balance. [Consumo, digestibilidade e balanço nitrogenado em ovinos alimentados com rações contendo torta de mamona destoxificada]. Resumo: Avaliou-se a influência de quatro níveis de substituição (0; 33; 67 e 100%) do farelo de soja (FS) pela torta de mamona destoxificada (TMD) em rações sobre o consumo, digestibilidade dos nutrientes e balanço de nitrogênio em ovinos mestiços, machos, não castrados em delineamento em blocos completos ao acaso com quatro tratamentos e cinco repetições. Observou-se efeito linear decrescente dos níveis de substituição do FS pela TMD sobre o consumo de matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), carboidratos totais (CT), carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF), nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT), digestibilidade da MS, MO e CT com reduções respectivas de 2,04; 1,70; 0,35; 1,56; 1,89 e 1,67 g dia-1 e 0,34; 0,53 e 0,51 g kg-1 de MS, para cada 1% de substituição do FS pela TMD. O CMS e FDNcp expressos em %PC e g kg-0,75 apresentaram resposta quadrática com valor máximo de 3,85 e 1,73%PC e 95,15 e 42,47 g kg-0,75 com 25,00; 65,00; 20,75 e 61,50% de substituição do FS pela TMD, respectivamente. Houve aumento linear no consumo de fibra em detergente ácido e digestibilidade do extrato etéreo. O balanço de nitrogênio não foi influenciado pela substituição do FS pela TMD. A substituição do farelo de soja pela torta de mamona destoxificada por autoclavagem na ração de cordeiros altera o consumo e digestibilidade dos nutrientes sem influenciar o balanço de nitrogênio

Optimizing hydropower dam location and removal in the São Francisco River basin, Brazil to balance hydropower and river biodiversity tradeoffs

To support eco-friendly hydropower planning in developing regions, we propose a spatial optimization model for locating dams to balance tradeoffs between hydropower generation and migratory fish species richness. Our model incorporates two special features. First, it is tailored to the dispersal of tropical migratory fishes, which require long, unimpeded river stretches to complete their life-cycle. To model fish with this type of dispersal pattern, we introduce the concept of a river pathway, which represents a novel way to describe river connectivity. Second, it combines decisions about dam placement and removal, thus facilitating opportunities for hydropower offsetting. We apply our model to the São Francisco River basin, Brazil, an area of hydropower-freshwater biodiversity conflict. We find that dams have reduced weighted migratory fish richness 51% compared to a pre-dam baseline. We also find that even limited dam removal has the potential to significantly enhance fish biodiversity. Offsetting the removal of a single dam by the optimal siting of new dams could increase fish richness by 25% above the current average. Moving forward, optimizing new dam sites to increase hydropower by 20%, rather than selecting the fewest number of dams, could reduce fish species losses by 89%. If decisions about locating new dams are combined with dam removal, then a win-win can even be achieved with 20% greater hydropower and 19% higher species richness. Regardless of hydropower targets and dam removal options, a key observation is that optimal sites for dams are mostly located in the upper reaches of the basin rather than along the main stem of the São Francisco River or its main tributaries

Organic inputs and soil cover effects on seedlings establishment in the formation of an agroforestry system in degraded soil in the Caatinga biome.

The use of organic inputs and/or soil cover promotes beneficial effects, mainly for crops, and this is one way to alleviate the problem of environmental degradation in the Brazilian semiarid region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of organic fertilizers and soil cover, in degraded soil, on the surveillance and variables of development of cashew (Anacardium occidentale) and “Sabiá” (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia) seedlings in the establishment of an agroforestry system in the Brazilian Semiarid

Performance and grazing behavior of growing goats supplemented with palm tree fruit.

Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the performance and ingestive behavior of growing goats grazing on Tanzania guinea grass and fed diets containing 40% carnauba or tucum fruits. Twenty-one male castrated goats were distributed into three groups, one exclusively on pasture and the other two on pasture and fed diet supplemented at the level of 1.5% body weight (BW) in a completely randomized design. The intake of the supplements was obtained by difference between the amount supplied and the leftovers, with weighing performed every seven days, while pasture intake was determined using titanium dioxide (TiO2) as external indicator. Ingestive behavior was evaluated for three days. The supplement containing carnauba fruit resulted in a greater intake of neutral detergent fiber (0.137 kg NDF/day), with a reduction of 8.61% in the pasture dry matter (DM) intake of goats. Associated with the intake of pasture nutrients, the tucum fruit diet met the protein (0.103 kg CP/day) and energetic (0.547 kg TDN/day) requirements of goats with intake set at 0.124 kg CP/day and 0.572 kg TDN/day, with higher weight gain (0.111 kg/day) and larger loin eye area (12.76 cm2). The supplementation with fruits influenced the grazing behavior of goats, increasing the idle time by 1 h in relation to animals not supplemented. The supplementation of growing goats grazing on Tanzania guinea grass pasture with a diet containing 40% tucum fruit, in the proportion of 1.5% BW, did not meet the nutritional requirements for gain of 150 g/day; however, it met requirements for maintenance and average gain of 111 g/day. Energy supplementation reduces the grazing time of goats; thus, it is necessary to consider the level and formulation of supplements, with the possibility of increasing the stocking rate and productivity per unit area