  The HIJING and VENUS models of relativistic hadron-nucleus and
nucleus-nucleus collisions are used to study interactions of proton and nuclei
with nitrogen, specific for the extensive air shower developments initiated by
cosmic rays in the atmosphere. The transverse energy,transverse momenta and
secondary particles produced spectra as well as their energy and mass
dependence were investigated in detail. Results are presented with particular
emphasis on the contributions of minijets in HIJING model and validity of
superposition models in this energy range .
