The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of goat grazing on the phenology of Croton sonderianus Müll. Arg., Caesalpinia pyramidalis Tull, Malva sylvestris L. and on Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart. in a Caatinga area in the Cariri in the state of Paraíba. The experiment was carried on the experimental farm "Bacia Escola" at the Federal University of Paraíba in São João do Cariri, state of Paraíba, in 2008. Five plants per paddock were monitorated, with weekly readings, totaling 28 in from March 5th 2008 to October19th, 2008 by observing the following variables: total number of leaves, green leaves, yellow leaves, dry leaves, fruit and flowers. The treatments consisted of three stocking rates and three pastures: T1 (3.1 an/ha), T2 (1.5 an/ha) and T3 (0 an/ha). For the analysis of the data, readings were grouped by date according to their respective weeks. It was noted effects of pasture on the observed phonological parameters, especially in the treatment with the largest stocking rate, for species of quince tree and mallow causing an early reduction of the total of leaves, flowers and fruits, promoting changes in the phenology of this species. Pasture did not affect much on the phenology of pear tree and no effect was observed for "catingueira". It was observed that rain pulses were sufficient to trigger phonological effects in the species. Rainfall interfered in the phenological behavior of the species, triggering the period of sprouting after the first rain, and the flowering and fruiting occurring in the middle of the rainy season. The fall of leaves occurs right after the end of rainy season for catingueira, quince and mallow, and it is more persistent for pear tree.
Goats; Semi-arid; Variability
