ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to develop a software based on image processing and computer vision techniques for monitoring the feeding/collective behavior of broilers (Cobb) and validate it based on the results obtained from the visual analysis of an expert. The visual analysis was performed based on the observation and quantification of behaviors in the interval of 10 min at each hour of the day, in the period of 24 hours, totaling 1728 frames/day, for males and females. The software was developed using the Hoshen-Kopelman algorithm, for labeling clusters, which would basically be the grouping of similar pixels. This software is written in the 1999 standard of the C language. After this stage of programming, the Hoshen-Kopelman algorithm identified the birds in the region of interest (feeder and drinker), with removal of the background color to obtain the descriptors, using the same range of visual analysis. Then, the software was validated through linear regression analysis, using the R platform. Based on the correlation analyses, it was found that the coefficient of determination (R2) ranged from 0.74 to 0.97 for all software validation events. The number of broilers in the regions of interest showed R2 above 0.70 for females and above 0.89 for males, which allowed the characterization of the ingestive behavior of broilers by computer vision. Some factors that caused interference in the accuracy of the software were decisive for the result, especially the arrangement of the cameras, uneven lighting, obstruction caused by the lighting system, pendular movement of the feeders and drinker, and shade generated by them. Despite the highlighted interferences, the results allowed us to infer that the software identified and quantified the feeding behavior of broilers in an appropriate manner.

Em áreas onde se pratica agricultura irrigada, a recuperação das reservas hídricas do aquífero aluvial pode ocorrer devida, preferencialmente, à precipitação. A recarga pode ser avaliada a partir de informação da variação da profundidade da água. Desta forma, o objetivo do presente trabalho é estudar a recarga no aquífero aluvial formado pelo riacho temporário do Mimoso, na região semiárida de Pernambuco, utilizando o método da flutuação do nível da água. Esse sistema é típico de sistemas do semiárido do Nordeste do Brasil, com uso da água subterrânea para abastecimento de populações difusas que residem nesses vales aluviais e para irrigação em agricultura familiar ou de pequena escala. Foram utilizados dados mensais do monitoramento dos níveis potenciométricos e dados de precipitação pluviométrica. O período selecionado, janeiro de 2002 a outubro de 2009, envolveu eventos extremos de cheia, seca e anos regulares. Foi verificado que o sistema responde significativamente a eventos de precipitação. Embora haja solos com diferentes texturas, estas não provocam diferenças significativas nos fatores de recarga do aquífero. O estudo permitiu melhor conhecimento do comportamento da recarga do aquífero aluvial e suas relações com o solo e com os eventos de chuva da região.

In areas where there is irrigated agriculture, the recuperation of water reserves in alluvial aquifers may occur preferentially due to precipitation. Recharging can be evaluated from variation information of water depth measured in piezometers or observation wells. Thus, the aim of this research is to study the recharge in the alluvial aquifer formed by the Mimoso temporary stream in the semiarid region of Pernambuco (PE), Brazil, using the method of the fluctuation of the water level. This system is typical on the Brazilian Northeast semiarid region, using groundwater for domestic supply and for irrigation on small scale agriculture. Monthly potentiometric levels and rainfall data were used. The selected period for the study, from January 2002 to October 2009, involved extreme events of flooding and droughts as well as regular years, providing a better understanding of the behavior of the alluvial recharge. It was found that the system responds significantly to precipitation events. It was also observed that even with different soil textures in the study area, recharge factors were not significantly different. The study provided a better understanding of the behavior of aquifer recharge and its relationship with the soil and the rainfall events in the region.

RESUMO Quando mal-conduzida, a irrigação pode causar degradação dos solos e da água subterrânea, por potencializar o risco de salinização. Este problema é mais evidente em regiões semiáridas, nas quais as características físico-climáticas contribuem para seu agravamento. Uma das variáveis mais utilizadas para avaliar a concentração de sais solúveis na água de irrigação e no solo, é a condutividade elétrica. Neste trabalho, buscou-se avaliar a variabilidade espacial e temporal da condutividade elétrica da água subterrânea utilizada para irrigação em um assentamento rural, no semiárido pernambucano. Técnicas estatísticas descritivas e geoestatísticas foram aplicadas para identificação dos padrões de variabilidade e dependência espacial da condutividade elétrica, visando ao mapeamento da salinidade da água subterrânea. Verificou-se que a condutividade elétrica possui variabilidade média a alta, com dependência espacial moderada, em que a textura do solo e o regime pluviométrico influenciam na variação espacial e temporal da condutividade elétrica, que vem aumentando ao longo dos anos, na área estudada.

ABSTRACT Irrigation, when poorly managed, can cause soil and groundwater degradation by increasing the salinization risk. This problem is evident in semiarid regions, where the physico-climatic characteristics contribute to enhance the problem. One of the main variables used to measure the soluble salts concentration in irrigation water and soil is the electrical conductivity. This work aimed to evaluate the spatial and temporal variability of electrical conductivity of groundwater for irrigation in a semiarid rural settlement in the State of Pernambuco. Descriptive statistics and geostatistical techniques have been applied to identify patterns of variability and spatial dependence of electrical conductivity aiming to map the groundwater salinity. It was found that the electrical conductivity has medium to high variability, with moderate spatial dependence, that the soil texture and rainfall influence the spatial and temporal variation of the electrical conductivity, which has increased over the years in the study area.