Infrastructure

TEACHING AND RESEARCH ADMINISTRATIVE INFRA-STRUCTURE

The Master’s Program in Agronomy (Plant Production) of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa – Rio Paranaíba Campus holds an infrastructure exclusively used for the development of administrative, teaching and research activities. The basic infrastructure is located in the Main Building of the Rio Paranaíba Campus, with total area of approximately 1,000 m².

The coordination of the program is linked to the Board of Research and Graduate Studies of the Campus, with an exclusive room for the secretariat of the master’s program where two  administrative technicians serve the public. The program currently counts on seven (7) research laboratories for its faculty, greenhouses, experimental field area and access to commercial areas, through technical partnerships signed with private companies. The research laboratories are also used for practical classes of the Master’s Program, both in a permanent and temporary basis. Final presentations for the completion of undergraduate progams receive support and strong encouragement to involve in scientific production.

LABORATORIES

1. INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF PESTS AND WEEDS LABORATORY

This laboratory aims to provide the basic infrastructure for the development of the following activities: study on the dynamics of populations of insect pests; insect breeding for the development of studies on biological control; selectivity tests of natural enemies; insect biology, behavioral studies, bioassays on resistance from insects to insecticides, preparation and testing of new biocides for pest control and plant resistance to arthropods; study on herbicide behavior in the environment (soil, water and food), selectivity of herbicides to agricultural crops and weed population dynamics in agricultural systems.

2. SOIL FERTILITY AND PLANT MINERAL NUTRITION LABORATORY

The Soil Fertility and Plant Mineral Nutrition Laboratory is used for analyses related to Chemistry teaching and research activities involving routine determinations in soils – pH, Ca, Mg, K, H+Al, T, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and organic matter, besides determinations of all macro and micronutrients in plant tissue samples.

3. HYDRAULICS AND IRRIGATION LABORATORY

This laboratory aims to provide conditions for studies on the main aspects of processes involving flow measurement, pressure assessment, piezometric lines and water transport in forced conduits and irrigation equipment. These procedures will support the elaboration and assessment of water conduction in forced conduits and in impulsion line and irrigation installation projects.

4. AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION LABORATORY

The Agricultural Mechanization Laboratory aims to conduct research aiming to optimize the use of agricultural machinery and implements and make mechanized agricultural operations safer, faster and more economical and ergonomic. It is formed by the Warehouse for the agricultural equipment, area for regulation and calibration of equipment and machine shop. The machine shop, in turn, is divided into the following parts: tooling, warehouse, office, bathroom, pantry and space for various activities.

5. PLANT PATHOLOGY, BIOCHEMISTRY AND PLANT BREEDING LABORATORY

This laboratory aims to develop research activities on plant pathology, plant biochemistry, genetics and breeding. The objectives of the laboratory include the analyses of biocontrol and characterization of species of the main plant pathogens. In addition, experiments are carried out with insecticidal plants and analyses of the biochemical responses in plants submitted to different stresses. The activities involve the measurement and determination of biometric data, statistical analyses of experimental data and computer simulation procedures in genetics and plant breeding. Molecular markers techniques are also used for the selection of traits of agronomic interest.

6. LABORATORY OF CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF SOILS AND FOODS – LASA

The Laboratory of Chemical Analyses of Soils and Foods aims to provide support to research projects on Chemistry and Soil Fertility and Chemistry and Food Analysis. In this laboratory, chemical analyses are conducted, including the determination of the level of phosphorus (absorption photometry), carbon, calcium, magnesium and nitrogen (titration) and pH (potentiometry). Post-harvest processing, nutritional and organoleptic quality, quantification of post-harvest losses and the development of packagings are also assessed.

7. LABORATORY OF PHYSIOLOGY AND METABOLISM OF PLANT PRODUCTION – LAFIMEPRO

LAFIMEPRO was installed at the UFV Rio Paranaíba campus to serve the academic community and the rural community close to the institution, in the conduction of scientific works for the understanding of plant processes targeting productive gains or the generation of processes of tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, besides physiological (measurements of gas exchange, biometry of the aerial part and root system) and biochemistry (analysis of antioxidant enzymatic activities: SOD, CAT, APX, protein content in plant tissues, activity of key enzymes in nutrition processes and plant defense) tests.  There is also a laboratory infrastructure for the permanent faculty working with this proposal in the Viçosa Campus. It is also important to mention that most Rio Paranaíba Campus permanent faculty members have signed partnerships with laboratories already structured in Viçosa for Graduate Programs in Plant Science, Plant Physiology, Agricultural Engineering, Genetics and Breeding, Entomology, Agricultural Biochemistry, Plant Pathology and Soils and Plant Nutrition.

EQUIPMENT

The research infrastructure of the Rio Paranaíba Campus has permanent equipment and materials obtained with the use of resources from the institution itself or projects submitted by its faculty to development and funding agencies.

UFV LIBRARY – RIO PARANAÍBA CAMPUS

The BBT collection counts with approximately 12138 units, distributed in 1292 titles and 9391 copies of books; 30 titles and 732 copies of periodicals; 1 thesis title; 50 titles and 94 copies of technical manuals; 28 titles and 76 copies of reference works. The Library also counts on 18 titles of  DVDs and 72 titles and 354 copies of CDS, etc.

The policy for the development of the library collection of Rio Paranaíba campus follows the evolution of current undergraduate programs and the implementation of graduate programs, always seeking to meet in advance the demand for new programs and activities. Its collection is fully automated and made available for online consultation via the sotware system for libraries VIRTUA, from VTLS Américas. The software system is developed in a Windows environment and follows the development of new information technologies, aiming to meet the objective of libraries under constant technological updating. The resources provided by the software system allows the collection of the UFV Campus Library of Rio Paranaíba to be known worldwide.

LIBRARY FACILITIES

The Rio Paranaíba Campus Library currently holds an area of 262.10 m² distributed as follows:

• Collection and customer service area: 185.70m²
• Librarians’ Rooms: 21.00m²
• Technical Processing Room: 26.70m²
• Area for Individual Study: 28.70m²

The library holds specific areas for:

• Book search
• Journal search
• Shelves
• Reference works
• Group and individual study
• Technical Processing Room.

In order to better serve our users, we also offer individual guidance services when necessary. This assistance is provided by a professional Librarian and includes:
Services provided:

• Book loan
• Search at the library
• Loan between libraries
• Guidance for book search
• Guidance for scientific work standard
• Guidance for using bibliographic reference
• Reserved works.

The Library of Rio Paranaíba campus offers the following online services:
COMUT – Programa de Comutação Bibliográfica (Book Exchange Program): The purpose of this program is supplying documents of interest to the university community that are not available in the library collection. This service allows searching and obtaining documents online from the collection of the main libraries in the country. It also counts on a service called Busca Monitorada (Monitored Search). It allows for the location and obtaining of documents from institutions outside the COMUT network, both in Brazil and abroad, which can be sent to users.
Access to Capes web portal of periodicals and databases: all users in the university community have access to the portal by means of a password and configuration in desktops for access to the Proxy Server of the UFV headquarters. Such configuration gives users access to the portal from anywhere.
We also have the resources at the UFV Central Library at Viçosa Campus to conduct loans between libraries to supply the materials not yet available locally. This service was created to eliminate possible hindrances and meet the demands of our users. We also point out that this Interlibrary Loan Service is open to any Library in the country for both internal and external requests.

COMPUTER RESOURCES
The campus has a computer room to give support to undergraduate and graduate programs. Students, technicians and faculty can count on speed wireless internet within the campus, besides a videoconference room for meetings, interviews and classes with individuals outside the program.

FURTHER INFORMATION
A building is under construction with resources from FINEP aiming at the expansion of the laboratories for the Master’s Program in Agronomy – Plant Production.