The economic benefits of providing shelter to reduce the mortality of twin lambs in south-western Victoria

2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 773 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Young ◽  
G. Saul ◽  
R. Behrendt ◽  
F. Byrne ◽  
M. McCaskill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Financial Benefits ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Stocking Rates

Achieving higher lamb weaning percentages by reducing lamb mortality can improve the profitability of sheep enterprises. In this paper we estimated the financial benefits from providing shelter to reduce the mortality of twin lambs in self-replacing Merino or dual-purpose Merino flock enterprises in south-west Victoria. A whole-farm bio-economic model (MIDAS) was initially used to estimate the increase in profit from reducing mortality of twin lambs and a second analysis included the costs of using perennial grass hedges to provide the shelter during lambing. The economic value of providing shelter was tested at three rates of twinning (10, 30 and 50%), three rates of mortality without shelter (70, 50 and 30%) and two levels of reduction in lamb mortality by providing shelter (25 and 50% reduction). A sensitivity analysis to wool and lamb prices, costs of establishing the grass hedges and stocking rates in the shelter area were also tested. Overall, more than 2500 scenarios were tested. Across the range of twinning rates and levels of twin mortality tested, at standard wool and meat prices, providing shelter to the dual-purpose Merino ewe flock was always profitable ($0.05 to 11.35/ewe) and the profits from providing shelter to the self-replacing Merino ewe flock were generally lower ($0.15 to $6.35/ewe). The impacts of changing wool and lamb prices depended on enterprise type, whereas the costs of establishment of the hedges or stocking rate of ewes in the hedge area during lambing had little impact on profitability. The main factor that determined the economic return from shelter was the reduction in mortality provided by the shelter but the proportion of twin-bearing ewes in the flock and the base rate of lamb mortality without shelter was also important. Overall, based on the assumptions used, we conclude that the profitability of many sheep enterprises lambing during frequent high chill weather conditions in temperate areas of south-eastern Australia could be improved by providing low cost shelter for twin-bearing Merino ewes lambing from July to September.

scholarly journals Smoke Patterns around Prescribed Fires in Australian Eucalypt Forests, as Measured by Low-Cost Particulate Monitors

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1389
Author(s):  
Owen Francis Price ◽  
Hugh Forehead
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Statistical Model ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Fire Size ◽  
Prescribed Burns ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Generalised Linear Mixed Model

Prescribed burns produce smoke pollution, but little is known about the spatial and temporal pattern because smoke plumes are usually small and poorly captured by State air-quality networks. Here, we sampled smoke around 18 forested prescribed burns in the Sydney region of eastern Australia using up to 11 Nova SDS011 particulate sensors and developed a Generalised Linear Mixed Model to predict hourly PM2.5 concentrations as a function of distance, fire size and weather conditions. During the day of the burn, PM2.5 tended to show hourly exceedances (indicating poor air quality) up to ~2 km from the fire but only in the downwind direction. In the evening, this zone expanded to up to 5 km and included upwind areas. PM2.5 concentrations were higher in still, cool weather and with an unstable atmosphere. PM2.5 concentrations were also higher in larger fires. The statistical model confirmed these results, identifying the effects of distance, period of the day, wind angle, fire size, temperature and C-Haines (atmospheric instability). The model correctly identified 78% of hourly exceedance and 72% of non-exceedance values in retained test data. Applying the statistical model predicts that prescribed burns of 1000 ha can be expected to cause air quality exceedances over an area of ~3500 ha. Cool weather that reduces the risk of fire escape, has the highest potential for polluting nearby communities, and fires that burn into the night are particularly bad.

Uptake of Heavy Metals by Trees: Prospects for Phytoremediation

2013 ◽  
Vol 743-744 ◽  
pp. 768-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Tao Liu ◽  
Jun Cheng Ni ◽  
Qi Xing Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
High Biomass ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Biomass Plant ◽  
Cultivation Techniques ◽  
Local Weather

It is known that heavy metals are taken up and translocated by plants to different degrees. Phytoremediation, the use of plants to decontaminate soil by taking up heavy metals, shows considerable promise as a low-cost technique and has received much attention in recent years. However, its application is still very limited due to low biomass of hyperaccumulators, unavailability of the suitable plant species and long growing seasons required. Therefore, to maximize phytoextraction efficiency, it is important to select a fast-growing and high-biomass plant with high uptake of heavy metals, which is also compatible with mechanized cultivation techniques and local weather conditions. Trees in particular have a number of attributes (e.g. high biomass, economic value), which make them attractive plants for such a use. This paper reviews the potential for the phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated land by trees. In summary, we present the research progress of phytoremediation by trees and suggest ways in which this concept can be applied and improved.

scholarly journals Real-Time Implementation of Greenhouse Monitoring System Based on Wireless Sensor Network

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2S2) ◽  
pp. 215-219
Keyword(s):  
Wireless Sensor Network ◽  
Embedded System ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Sensor Network ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Wireless Sensor ◽  
Main Role

The climate change has brought about unpredictable weather conditions that have resulted in the global food shortage being experienced. This issue can be solved by greenhouses, they play a main role in increasing the crop yield per unit area and represent the suitable environment for off-corps yields. Managing and continuous monitoring the green house environment can be done using a wired sensor network, but the high cost, wiring complexity, fixed sensor locations and the restricted distances are the big problems of this type of a networking. To solve these problems, we implemented a real time embedded system using Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) based on ZigBee technology to control and monitor the environmental of greenhouses. The WSN can be adopted as the best solution to apply in greenhouse because of its good properties, long distances, low-cost, low power consumption, high security and high reliability. The constructed system is implemented based on simple components, ATMEGA328P microcontroller and ZigBee are represented the kernel of sensor node, collect data from various sensors and present them to a coordinating station where data can be stored and processed, then actuators will be operate depending on the processed data. The captured data will be displayed for monitoring in a real time manner. The monitor system was developed using GSM technology. The simulation results show that the system is more efficient in the manpower saving and raising the economic value of products. Furthermore, the developed system is simple, and easily installable.

scholarly journals Does establishing lucerne under a cover crop increase farm financial risk?

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (12) ◽  
pp. 1149
Author(s):  
T. L. Nordblom ◽  
T. R. Hutchings ◽  
R. C. Hayes ◽  
G. D. Li ◽  
J. D. Finlayson
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crop ◽  
Financial Risk ◽  
Commodity Prices ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Financial Outcomes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
The Face ◽  
Stocking Rates

Rainfed farms in south-eastern Australia often combine annual cropping and perennial pasture phases with grazing sheep enterprises. Such diversity serves in managing diseases, pests and plant nutrition while stabilising income in the face of wide, uncorrelated variations in international commodity prices and local weather over time. We use an actuarial accounting approach to capture the above contexts to render financial risk profiles in the form of distributions of decadal cash balances for a representative 1000-ha farm at Coolamon (34°50ʹS, 147°12ʹE) in New South Wales, Australia. For the soil and weather conditions at this location we pose the question of which approach is better when establishing the perennial pasture lucerne (Medicago sativa L.): sowing with the final crop of the cropping phase, or sowing alone following the final crop? It is less expensive to sow lucerne with the final crop, which can provide useful income from the sale of grain, but this practice can reduce pasture quantity and quality in poorer years. Although many years of field research have confirmed that sowing lucerne alone is the most reliable way to establish a pasture in this area, and years of extension messages to this effect have gone out to farmers, they often persist in sowing lucerne with their final cereal crops. For this region, counting all costs, we show that sowing lucerne alone can reduce farm financial risk (i.e. probability of negative decadal cash balances) at stocking rates >10 dry sheep equivalents (DSE)/ha, compared with the practice of sowing lucerne with a cover crop. Establishing lucerne alone allows the farmer the option to profitably run higher stocking rates for higher median decadal cash margins without additional financial risk. At low stocking rates (i.e. 5 DSE/ha), there appears to be no financial advantage of either establishment approach. We consider the level of equity, background farm debt and overhead costs to demonstrate how these also affect risk-profile positions of the two sowing options. For a farm that is deeply in debt, we cannot suggest either approach to establishing lucerne will lead to substantially better financial outcomes.

scholarly journals The effects of health shocks on family status: do financial incentives encourage marriage?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andree Ehlert
Keyword(s):  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Health Shocks ◽  
Family Status ◽  
Female Partners ◽  
Political Implications ◽  
Financial Benefits ◽  
German Socioeconomic Panel ◽  
Unobserved Effects ◽  
Traditional Marriage

AbstractThis paper asks whether marriage decisions of unmarried mature couples are driven by the prospect of financial advantages for the later widowed after one partner has suffered a serious health shock. We hypothesize that, in contrast to traditional marriage models, such health shocks may induce unmarried couples to obtain economic benefits, such as survivors’ pensions in particular, through marriage in advance of one partner’s death. This question has not yet been studied empirically. Hazard models capturing unobserved effects are applied to longitudinal data of the German Socioeconomic Panel. It turns out that the probability of marriage after male partners’ health shocks can increase significantly depending on the amount of expected survivors’ pensions for the (likely) surviving female partners. In contrast, an increased probability of marriage after health shocks to women (depending on the expected financial benefits to men) was not found. These findings are supported by various robustness checks. Economic and political implications are discussed and the results are placed in an international context.

scholarly journals Mechanisms and adsorption capacities of biochar for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from industrial wastewater

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. G. Ambaye ◽  
M. Vaccari ◽  
E. D. van Hullebusch ◽  
A. Amrane ◽  
S. Rtimi
Keyword(s):  
Organic Contaminants ◽  
Pyrolysis Temperature ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Industrial Effluents ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Inorganic Pollutants ◽  
Solution Ph ◽  
Adsorption Mechanisms ◽  
Adsorption Capacities ◽  
Temperature Solution

AbstractCurrently, due to the rapid growth of urbanization and industrialization in developing countries, a large volume of wastewater is produced from industries that contain chemicals generating high environmental risks affecting human health and the economy if not treated properly. Consequently, the development of a sustainable low-cost wastewater treatment approach has attracted more attention of policymakers and scientists. The present review highlights the recent applications of biochar in removing organic and inorganic pollutants present in industrial effluents. The recent modes of preparation, physicochemical properties and adsorption mechanisms of biochar in removing organic and inorganic industrial pollutants are also reviewed comprehensively. Biochar showed high adsorption of industrial dyes up to 80%. It also discusses the recent application and mechanism of biochar-supported photocatalytic materials for the degradation of organic contaminants in wastewater. We reviewed also the possible optimizations (such as the pyrolysis temperature, solution pH) allowing the increase of the adsorption capabilities of biochar leading to organic contaminants removal. Besides, increasing the pyrolysis temperature of the biochar was seen to lead to an increase in its surface area, while it decreases their amount of oxygen-containing functional groups, consequently leading to a decrease in the adsorption of metal (loid) ions present in the medium. Finally, the review suggests that more research should be carried out to optimize the main parameters involved in biochar production and its regeneration methods. Future efforts should be also carried out towards process engineering to improve its adsorption capacity to increase the economic benefits of its implementation.

scholarly journals Turning Base Transceiver Stations into Scalable and Controllable DC Microgrids Based on a Smart Sensing Strategy

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1202
Author(s):  
Miguel Tradacete ◽  
Carlos Santos ◽  
José A. Jiménez ◽  
Fco Javier Rodríguez ◽  
Pedro Martín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electricity Market ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Storage System ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Energy Storage System ◽  
Electricity Grid ◽  
Dc Microgrids ◽  
Smart Sensing ◽  
Battery Energy

This paper describes a practical approach to the transformation of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) into scalable and controllable DC Microgrids in which an energy management system (EMS) is developed to maximize the economic benefit. The EMS strategy focuses on efficiently managing a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) along with photovoltaic (PV) energy generation, and non-critical load-shedding. The EMS collects data such as real-time energy consumption and generation, and environmental parameters such as temperature, wind speed and irradiance, using a smart sensing strategy whereby measurements can be recorded and computing can be performed both locally and in the cloud. Within the Spanish electricity market and applying a two-tariff pricing, annual savings per installed battery power of 16.8 euros/kW are achieved. The system has the advantage that it can be applied to both new and existing installations, providing a two-way connection to the electricity grid, PV generation, smart measurement systems and the necessary management software. All these functions are integrated in a flexible and low cost HW/SW architecture. Finally, the whole system is validated through real tests carried out on a pilot plant and under different weather conditions.

Distribution of the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in the Portland region of south-western Victoria

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Rees ◽  
David Paull
Keyword(s):  
Local Population ◽  
Historical Records ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Potential Habitat ◽  
Specimen Collection ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Spatial Isolation ◽  
Observational Bias ◽  
Western Victoria

The southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) occurs across the periphery of southern and eastern Australia as a series of isolated regional populations. Historical records and recent surveys conducted for I. obesulus indicate that it has disappeared or decreased significantly from many parts of its former range. Vegetation clearance, habitat fragmentation, feral predators and fire have all been implicated in the decline of the species. This paper examines the distribution of I. obesulus in the Portland region of south-western Victoria. Historical records of I. obesulus were compiled from the specimen collection of Museum Victoria, the Atlas of Victorian Wildlife, Portland Field Naturalists’ Club records and anecdotal sources. Field surveys were conducted to determine the current distribution of I. obesulus in the study area based on evidence of its foraging activity. The historical records reveal limited information: most are clustered around centres of human activity, indicating observational bias. The field surveys demonstrate that I. obesulus occurs in the Portland region as a series of local populations. Each local population is associated with a patch of remnant native vegetation separated from neighbouring patches by dispersal barriers. Within these habitat remnants the occurrence of the species is sporadic. Approximately 69% of the potential habitat is managed by the Forests Service, 31% is managed by Parks Victoria, and less than 0.5% is held under other tenures. Spatial isolation of habitat remnants, fires and feral predators are the main threats to I. obesulus in the Portland region.

Forage and grain yield of grazed or defoliated spring and winter cereals in a winter-dominant, low-rainfall environment

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison. J. Frischke ◽  
James R. Hunt ◽  
Dannielle K. McMillan ◽  
Claire J. Browne
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Cereal Crops ◽  
Grain Production ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Dual Purpose ◽  
Winter Cereals ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Grain Yield And Quality

In the Mallee region of north-western Victoria, Australia, there is very little grazing of crops that are intended for grain production. The success of dual-purpose crops in other regions in south-eastern Australia with higher and more evenly distributed rainfall has driven interest in assessing the performance of dual-purpose cereals in the region. Five experiments were established in five consecutive years (2009–13) in the southern Mallee to measure the forage production and grain yield and quality response in wheat and barley to grazing by sheep or mechanical defoliation. The first three experiments focused on spring cultivars sown from late April to June, and the last two on winter cultivars planted from late February to early March. Cereal crops provided early and nutritious feed for livestock, with earlier sowing increasing the amount of dry matter available for winter grazing, and barley consistently produced more dry matter at the time of grazing or defoliation than wheat. However, the grain-production response of cereals to grazing or defoliation was variable and unpredictable. Effects on yield varied from –0.7 to +0.6 t/ha, with most site × year × cultivar combinations neutral (23) or negative (14), and few positive (2). Changes in grain protein were generally consistent with yield dilution effects. Defoliation increased the percentage of screenings (grains passing a 2-mm sieve) in three of five experiments. Given the risk of reduced grain yield and quality found in this study, and the importance of grain income in determining farm profitability in the region, it is unlikely that dual-purpose use of current cereal cultivars will become widespread under existing grazing management guidelines for dual-purpose crops (i.e. that cereal crops can be safely grazed once anchored, until Zadoks growth stage Z30, without grain yield penalty). It was demonstrated that early-sown winter wheat cultivars could produce more dry matter for grazing (0.4–0.5 t/ha) than later sown spring wheat and barley cultivars popular in the region (0.03–0.21 t/ha), and development of regionally adapted winter cultivars may facilitate adoption of dual-purpose cereals on mixed farms.

scholarly journals Analisis Kandungan Klorofil Pada Anak Daun Tanaman Kelapa (Analysis of Chlorophyll Content in Children Leaves of Coconut Plants)

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
Muhammad Tawary ◽  
Julius Pontoh ◽  
Lydia Momuat
Keyword(s):  
Chlorophyll Content ◽  
Chlorophyll A ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Chlorophyll B ◽  
Solvent Extraction Method ◽  
Chlorophyll A And B ◽  
The Right ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Chlorophyll A Content

Analisis Kandungan Klorofil Pada Anak Daun Tanaman Kelapa (Analysis of Chlorophyll Content in Children Leaves of Coconut Plants) Muhammad Tawary1*), Julius Pontoh1), Lydia I.Momuat1)1)Jurusan Kimia, FMIPA UNSRAT Manado*Email korespondensi: [email protected] Diterima 7 Juli 2019, diterima untuk dipublikasi 10 Agustus 2019 Abstrak Tanaman kelapa banyak dibudidayakan sebagai tanaman pertanian. Tanaman kelapa memiliki nilai ekonomi yang tinggi karena hampir semua bagian tanaman kelapa memiliki manfaat ekonomis. Penelitian bertujuan untuk  mengembangkan metode analisis klorofil pada daun dan menentukan bagian anak daun yang memiliki kandungan klorofil tertinggi. Analisis kandungan klorofil dilakukan dengan metode ektraksi pelarut yang absorbansinya dibaca pada spektrofotometer UV-Vis. Kandungan klorofil a dalam daun bervariasi pada setiap bagian anak daun tanaman kelapa. Kandungan klorofil a pada posisi tengah anak daun kelapa (763.19 µmol/m2) dan kandungan klorofil b (196.22 µmol/m2). Kandungan klorofil a dan b pada setiap bagian anak daun dan posisi kanan dan kiri anak daun memiliki nilai yang relatif sama.Kata kunci: Kelapa, klorofil a, klorofil b Abstract Many coconut plants are cultivated as agricultural crops. Coconut plants have high economic value because almost all parts of coconut plants have economic benefits. The study aims to develop a method of chlorophyll analysis on leaves and determine the part of leaflets which have the highest chlorophyll content. Analysis of chlorophyll content was carried out by a solvent extraction method in which the absorbance was read in a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The content of chlorophyll a in leaves varies with each part of the leaves of the coconut plant. Chlorophyll a content in the middle position of coconut leaf child (763.19 µmol / m2) and chlorophyll b content (196.22 µmol / m2). The content of chlorophyll a and b in each part of the leaf child and the right and left positions of the leaves have relatively the same value.Keywords: Coconut, Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b

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