Edible Wattle Seeds of Southern Australia

This book identifies 47 Acacia species which have potential for cultivation in the southern semi-arid region of Australia as a source of seed for human consumption. Eighteen species are regarded as having the greatest potential. Botanical profiles are provided for these species, together with information on the natural distribution, ecology, phenology, growth characteristics and seed attributes. Two species, Acacia victoriae and Acacia murrayana, appear particularly promising as the seeds of both these have good nutritional characteristics and were commonly used as food by Aborigines. Acacia victoriae is currently the most important wattle used in the Australian bushfood industry. This book is a useful reference for the bush food industry.

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Uncertainties of the rainfall regime in a tropical semi-arid region: the case of the State of Ceará

Revista Agro mbiente On-line ◽

10.18227/1982-8470ragro.v10i2.3500 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 88 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Eunice Maia de Andrade ◽

Maria Gina Torres Sena ◽

Antonio Givanilson Rodrigues da Silva ◽

Francisco Jairo Soares Pereira ◽

Fernando Bezerra Lopes

Keyword(s):

Rainy Season ◽

Arid Region ◽

Rain Gauge ◽

The State ◽

Annual Rainfall ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Rainfall Regime ◽

Rainfed Agriculture ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

The rural population of a tropical semi-arid region such as the northeast of Brazil is directly dependent on rainfall for agricultural production, pasture for livestock, and the storage of drinking water for human consumption. The region is characterised by the frequent occurrence of dry years and consecutive dry days (CDD) during the rainy season, demonstrating the vulnerability of rainfed agriculture. The aim of this study therefore, was to identify homogeneous regions of the State of Ceará where there is greater or lesser uncertainty of the rainfall regime. Accordingly, the occurrence of dry and very dry years were investigated as uncertainties between years, together with the occurrence of two classes of CDD (10-20 and 21-30 days) during the rainy season. To define similar regions as to the uncertainty of the rainfall regime, the technique of Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) was used. The study considered time series of least 30 years, from 77 rain gauge stations around the state of Ceará. The use of HCA resulted in the formation of seven homogenous groups in both of the phenomena being investigated. Municipalities in the Central Backlands, the Inhamuns Backlands and the Jaguaribana Region displayed a higher frequency of both inter-annual (dry years) and intra-annual (CDD) uncertainty, demonstrating the greater vulnerability of rainfed agriculture. The occurrence of a CDD event is not dependent on the total annual rainfall, as several stations with an average rainfall higher than that of the state showed potential for the occurrence of CDD. The number of CDD events recorded in the 11-20 day class was higher than in the 21-30 day class.

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Aerosol iron solubility in a semi-arid region: temporal trend and impact of anthropogenic sources

Tellus B ◽

10.3402/tellusb.v62i2.16519 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 62 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Ashwini Kumar ◽

M. M. Sarin

Keyword(s):

Arid Region ◽

Temporal Trend ◽

Anthropogenic Sources ◽

Iron Solubility ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

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The Molecular Characterization and Biological Assessment of the Leaves Extracts of Loofah Reveal their Nutraceutical Potential

Recent Patents on Food Nutrition & Agriculturee ◽

10.2174/2212798411999201110211931 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Takoua Ben Hlel ◽

Feten Belhadj ◽

Fatih Gül ◽

Muhammed Altun ◽

Ayşe Şahin Yağlıoğlu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Phenolic Compounds ◽

Hela Cell ◽

Arid Region ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Biological Assessment ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Hela Cell Lines ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

Background:: Luffa cylindrica is a plant that is widely distributed in Africa and Asia and it can be grown in regions with tropical or subtropical climates. Few patents dealt with Loofah biological properties, including some functional foods formulated from its leaves. Objective:: This study aimed to structurally and functionally characterize the bioactive compounds of L. cylindrica leaves grown in two different environments. Methods:: The extracts of L. cylindrica leaves collected from two Tunisian locations: Essouasi (LE), a semi-arid region and Medenine (LM) an arid region, were investigated for their phenolic compounds and fatty acids using HPLC/TOF-MS and GCMS techniques respectively. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity was evaluated with DPPH, Chelating effect, Hydroxyl radical and Superoxide anion scavenging activities while the anticancer activity against HeLa cell lines was assessed using xCELLigence real time cell analyzer and lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assay. Results:: The antiproliferative capacity of both extracts was time and dose-dependent with LE presenting the lowest HeLa cell index (CI = 0.035 ± 0.018, 250 μg/ml). LE also showed the best cytotoxic capacity (56.49 ± 0.8%) and antioxidant potential (IC50 = 54.41 ± 1.12 μg/ml for DPPH and 12.12 ± 0.07 μg/ml for chelating effet). 14 phenolic compounds were detected in LE with ferulic acid being the major compound (5128.5 ± 4.09 μg Phenols/g) while LM had only 6 phenolics. GCMS analysis showed the presence of omega-3 fatty acids in LE. Conclusions:: Our findings suggest that L. cylindrica leaves, especially when collected from semi-arid regions, are promising for formulating nutraceuticals of interest.

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Space-time monitoring of soil organic carbon content across a semi-arid region of Australia

Geoderma Regional ◽

10.1016/j.geodrs.2021.e00367 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

pp. e00367

Author(s):

Patrick Filippi ◽

Stephen R. Cattle ◽

Matthew J. Pringle ◽

Thomas F.A. Bishop

Keyword(s):

Organic Carbon ◽

Soil Organic Carbon ◽

Carbon Content ◽

Arid Region ◽

Space Time ◽

Organic Carbon Content ◽

Soil Organic Carbon Content ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

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An investigation of the relationship between surface albedo and urban cover types in a semi-arid region

IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering ◽

10.1088/1757-899x/1067/1/012021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1067 (1) ◽

pp. 012021

Author(s):

Mustafa N Hamoodi ◽

Zainab R Mahdi

Keyword(s):

Arid Region ◽

Surface Albedo ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

The Relationship ◽

Semi Arid

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Effect of Temperature on Sowing Dates of Wheat under Arid and Semi-Arid Climatic Regions and Impact Quantification of Climate Change through Mechanistic Modeling with Evidence from Field

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12070927 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 927

Author(s):

Jamshad Hussain ◽

Tasneem Khaliq ◽

Muhammad Habib ur Rahman ◽

Asmat Ullah ◽

Ishfaq Ahmed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Arid Region ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Seasonal Temperature ◽

Sowing Dates ◽

Rcp 8.5 ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

Rising temperature from climate change is the most threatening factor worldwide for crop production. Sustainable wheat production is a challenge due to climate change and variability, which is ultimately a serious threat to food security in Pakistan. A series of field experiments were conducted during seasons 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 in the semi-arid (Faisalabad) and arid (Layyah) regions of Punjab-Pakistan. Three spring wheat genotypes were evaluated under eleven sowing dates from 16 October to 16 March, with an interval of 14–16 days in the two regions. Data for the model calibration and evaluation were collected from field experiments following the standard procedures and protocols. The grain yield under future climate scenarios was simulated by using a well-calibrated CERES-wheat model included in DSSAT v4.7. Future (2051–2100) and baseline (1980–2015) climatic data were simulated using 29 global circulation models (GCMs) under representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5. These GCMs were distributed among five quadrants of climatic conditions (Hot/Wet, Hot/Dry, Cool/Dry, Cool/Wet, and Middle) by a stretched distribution approach based on temperature and rainfall change. A maximum of ten GCMs predicted the chances of Middle climatic conditions during the second half of the century (2051–2100). The average temperature during the wheat season in a semi-arid region and arid region would increase by 3.52 °C and 3.84 °C, respectively, under Middle climatic conditions using the RCP 8.5 scenario during the second half-century. The simulated grain yield was reduced by 23.5% in the semi-arid region and 35.45% in the arid region under Middle climatic conditions (scenario). Mean seasonal temperature (MST) of sowing dates ranged from 16 to 27.3 °C, while the mean temperature from the heading to maturity (MTHM) stage was varying between 12.9 to 30.4 °C. Coefficients of determination (R2) between wheat morphology parameters and temperature were highly significant, with a range of 0.84–0.96. Impacts of temperature on wheat sown on 15 March were found to be as severe as to exterminate the crop before heading. The spikes and spikelets were not formed under a mean seasonal temperature higher than 25.5 °C. In a nutshell, elevated temperature (3–4 °C) till the end-century can reduce grain yield by about 30% in semi-arid and arid regions of Pakistan. These findings are crucial for growers and especially for policymakers to decide on sustainable wheat production for food security in the region.

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