-The Apodi Plateau, located in the northeastern part of the state of Ceará in Brazil, has limestone as its parent material, with significant variation in the soils formed in this region, as well as the presence of iron nodules, having been identified. The iron oxides have been used as indicators for evaluating the weathering processes of some soils, with the nodules being sources of information about pedogenic processes. Seeking to evaluate the influence of the karstic parent material and of the iron nodules on soil genesis in the Apodi Plateau, the morphological, physical and chemical properties of five profiles were evaluated, as well as of the iron nodules present in some horizons. The profiles were classified as RED-YELLOW ARGISOL Abruptic eutrophic plinthosol (P1), Tb HAPLIC CAMBISOL Eutrophic latosol (P2), RED-YELLOW ARGISOL Abruptic eutrophic plinthosol (P3), Tb HAPLIC CAMBISOL Eutrophic latosol (P4) and RED ARGISOL Eutrophic nitosol (P5). Changes in chemical, physical and morphological characteristics were observed at depth in some profiles, suggesting variation in the characteristics of the parent material. Nodules of class C1 (0.053 to 0.25 mm) and C2 (0.25 to 2.00 mm) were concentrated on the surface, alternating with a sub-surface concentration of class C3 (2.00 to 4.76 mm), C4 (4.76 to 7.90 mm) and C5 (7.90 to 19.1 mm). Profile P5, considered as more evolved, showed a predominance of classes C1, C2 and C3 in the surface horizons, indicating degradation of the larger-diameter nodules with the advancing weathering process.

O presente estudo buscou descrever a situação de segurança alimentar vivenciada por famílias de agricultores agroecológicos dos municípios de Choró, Massapê e Tauá, assistidos pela ONG ESPLAR no Ceará. Utilizou-se a Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar (EBIA), que tem o fator renda como principal determinante e uma escala adaptada da EBIA que leva em consideração a produção para autoconsumo. Foram investigadas 61 famílias de agricultores agroecológicos que continham em seu núcleo pelo menos um membro menor e outra com todos os membros maiores de 18 anos. Os resultados sugerem que o fator renda não foi o único determinante na segurança alimentar e nutricional desses agricultores, enfatizando a importância da produção para autoconsumo. A verificação da insegurança alimentar pela EBIA pode ser superestimada por não considerar a produção para o autoconsumo. Os métodos agroecológicos combinados com a troca de conhecimentos podem aumentar a segurança alimentar.

to the farmers' results that confirm the importance of the practices developed by them to maintain good production and general benefits to the environment.