The objective ofthis work was to evaluate the chemical composition of the pool and of four speciesof caatinga herbaceous vegetation in the rainy and dry seasons. The experimentwas conducted in three selected shrub areas at different levels of conservation.Four samples of each species (Arachis pintoi, Boerhavia diffusa, Heliotropiumternatum, Aristida adscensionis) were collected in each area andfrom a pool of species for determination of bromatologic composition. In thedry season, only the pool of species and the grass Aristida adscensioniswere evaluated. There was a significant effect of the studied area on the chemicalcomposition of all analyzed species. The nutrient content found in the dry matter(DM) and the digestibility of the pool of species indicate that caatinga herbspresented improved quality in the rainy season. The qualitative variables ofthe studied species were most heterogeneous due to the variability found incaatinga. Conservation conditions in caatinga and season of theyear influence bromatologic composition of the species Arachis pintoi, Boerhaviadiffusa L., Heliotropium ternatum Vahl. Aristida adscensionisL. and of a pool of typical species found in Caatinga.
