ABSTRACT In the Prata watershed there are units corresponding to the Pleistocene Terraces and the Fluvium-Lagoon Sediments. This watershed is inserted almost entirely in the area of plateaus (Tabuleiros) with altitudes of 10 to 100 meters, and in areas with altitudes of 2 to 10 meters in the area of floodplains and fluvio-lagoon terraces. The present work aimed to characterize and classify soils in the Brazilian Soil Classification System - SiBCS and correlate them with the IUSS Working Group WRB-FAO (in parentheses), besides evidence some soil-landscape relations, that occur in Pleistocene terraces and fluvium-lagoon sediments in the Prata watershed, located in the ecological reserve of Dois Irmãos State Park in Recife – PE, Brazil. Soil samples were used to perform physical, chemical and mineralogical analysis in laboratory. Watershed delimitation, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), slope map, soil map and slope x soil map were obtained and studied. The soils are quite acidic and have a very low natural fertility, with the Latossolos (Ferralsols) predominating in the landscape. The silt and clay fractions of the studied Argissolos (Acrisols) and Latossolos (Ferralsols) presented quartz and kaolinite as the main component. In the profile of Neossolo Quartzarênico (Arenosols) only quartz was identified as a component of the silt and clay fractions. The kaolinitic mineralogy of the clay fraction is consistent with the environment of its formation, that is, hot and humid. There is no relationship between the colors of soils and their exposure to the sun on the slopes where they occur. The occurrence of a sandy and whitish horizon between the litter and the A horizon, is not foreseen in the norms and criteria adopted in the Brazilian Soil Classification System - SiBCS.

Abstract: One of the most serious problems in areas indicated for irrigation projects in the Brazilian Northeast region is the occurrence of sandy soils, known to have low moisture retention, but occurring in strategic locations in terms of water supply and geographical situation, and which can be used for agricultural purposes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of particle size distribution and porosity on the water retention capacity of sandy soils in the semiarid area of the Northeast region. Soil bulk and particle densities, total porosity (macro, meso and microporosity), field capacity, permanent wilting point and soil-water retention curve were determined in samples of surface (A) and subsurface (C or Bw) horizons of ten sandy soil profiles. Particle size was determined subdividing the sand fraction into five classes. Higher amounts of the medium and fine sand fractions of the studied soils oriented their physical and hydric characteristics, being responsible for their great water retention. The arrangement of the fine silt, clay, fine sand and very fine sand particles may have provided a diversity of pore sizes and a good pore distribution, being responsible for the large proportion of micropores in the soils, allowing great water retention capacities.

Propõe-se, com o presente trabalho, realizar o zoneamento agroclimático da cultura do pinhão-manso (Jathopra curcas L.) no estado de Pernambuco, motivo pelo qual foram utilizados dados climáticos de temperatura do ar média e precipitação pluviométrica de 146 postos meteorológicos, dos quais 73 com série histórica de dados acima de 30 anos e outros 73 com série abaixo de 30 anos porém maior que 20 anos de observações. A escolha do pinhão-manso foi motivada pelo potencial desta cultura como fonte de energia renovável em substituição aos combustíveis fósseis, tanto quanto pela sua rusticidade, tornando-se uma nova opção para regiões de clima semiárido, como ocorre em grande parte da região Nordeste. A seleção da região de estudo está relacionada à variabilidade climática apresentada por esse estado e ao potencial que a referida cultura tem em se desenvolver em regiões nas quais a chuva é escassa. De acordo com o estudo, o Estado de Pernambuco apresenta 14,92% de áreas aptas ao cultivo do pinhão-manso, 44,26% de áreas restritas por deficiência hídrica e 40,82% de áreas inaptas.

This study aimed to realize the agroclimatic zoning of Jathopra curcas L. crop in the State of Pernambuco. For this, climatic data of air temperature and mean rainfall of 146 meteorological stations and 73 series with historical data over 30 years and another 73 with less than 30 years but more than 20 years of observations were used. The choice of Jatropha has been motivated by the potential of this crop as a source of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels as well as for its rusticity and a new option for regions of semi-arid climate, as it occurs in the Northeast region. The selection of the study area is related to climate variability in the State and the potential that this crop has in regions where there is low precipitation. According to the study, the State of Pernambuco has 14.92% of areas suitable for production of Jatropha, 44.26% of the restricted areas by water deficit, and 40.82% of unsuitable areas.

Propõe-se, com este trabalho, caracterizar a variabilidade espacial da temperatura do ar na sala de pré-ordenha a partir de diferentes tempos de operação do sistema de resfriamento adiabático evaporativo automatizado. A variável temperatura do ar foi registrada em 35 pontos equidistantes 1 m, na forma de malha, para o estudo da variabilidade espacial e a construção de mapas por krigagem. Foram considerados diferentes tempos de exposição dos animais a climatização no curral de espera, 20, 30, 40 min e controle (0 min). Por meio dos resultados obtidos foi possível verificar que o uso da geoestatística possibilitou definir áreas com diferentes variabilidades espaciais para temperatura do ar, definindo áreas específicas na sala de pré-ordenha que apresentaram valores acima do recomendado para o conforto térmico animal. O sistema de climatização garantiu melhor acondicionamento térmico no tempo de exposição de 40 min, obtendo temperatura média dentro da condição de conforto térmico para vacas em lactação.

The objective of this study was to characterize the spatial variability of air temperature in pre-milking room for different operation times of the automated adiabatic evaporative cooling system. The air temperature was monitored at 35 points, in regular intervals of 1 m, as a grid, to study the spatial variability and construction of kriging maps. Different times of exposure of the animals to the cooling system in the waiting room (20, 30, 40 min and control - 0 min) were considered. Through the results, it was observed that use of geostatistics enabled to define areas with different spatial variability for temperature, identifying specific areas in the pre-milking room that showed values above the recommended levels for the thermal comfort. The cooling system ensured the better thermal condition with the 40 min exposure, obtaining on average temperature within the thermal comfort condition for lactating cows.