scholarly journals Suspected Selective Herbivory of Bioenergy Grasses by Meadow Voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

2013 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather A. Hager ◽  
Frances E. C. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Substantial Effect ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Bioenergy Grasses ◽  
Selective Herbivory

Highly productive native and non-native perennial grasses are being grown for bioenergy purposes in North America, and ecological risks of their large-scale production are being assessed to inform breeding and management practices. Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus) and Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) were introduced into an old-field habitat in Guelph, Ontario, in 2012. Seedlings of these species suffered severe selective herbivory, being severed at the plant base by an unknown herbivore. We therefore performed a live-trapping survey and mark-recapture analysis of the small mammal community in 2012 to identify the probable herbivore and estimate its population density. Meadow Voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) were the most abundant herbivore in the area, with an estimated population of 265 individuals/ha, a relatively high density. This and other evidence indicate that Meadow Voles were likely responsible for herbivory of >80% of the transplants. Such herbivory could have a substantial effect on the establishment and survival of these grasses, suggesting that future crop breeding programs and ecological risk assessments should take this into consideration.

scholarly journals Potential uses of biomass from fast-growing crop miscanthus×giganteus

2012 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nada Babovic ◽  
Gordana Drazic ◽  
Ana Djordjevic
Keyword(s):  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Water Concentration ◽  
High Water ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Cellulose Content ◽  
Production Chain ◽  
Miscanthus Giganteus

There is an increasing interest in perennial grasses as a renewable source of bioenergy and feedstock for second-generation cellulosic biofuels. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) and miscanthus (Miscanthus?giganteus), belonging to the parennial grasses group, are the major lignocellulosic materials being studied today as sources for direct energy production, biofuels, bioremediation and other. They have the ability to grow at low cost on marginal land where they will not compete with the traditional food crops. Miscanthus?giganteus possesses a number of advantages in comparison with the other potential energy crops such as are: high yields, low moisture content at harvest, high water and nitrogen use efficiencies, low need for annual agronomic inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides, high cellulose content, non-invasive character, low susceptibility to pests and diseases and broad adaptation to temperate growing environments. The main problems are low rate of survival during the first winter after the creation of plantation and the relatively high establishment costs. Miscanthus?giganteus is grown primarily for heat and electricity generation but can also be used to produce transport fuels. Miscanthus biomass has a very good combustion quality due to its low water concentration as well as its low Cl, K, N, S and ash concentrations compared to other lignocellulose plants. It is expected that miscanthus will provide cheaper and more sustainable source of cellulose for production of bioethanol than annual crops such as corn. Miscanthus has great promise as a renewable energy source, but it can only be realised when the grass production has been optimised for large-scale commercial cultivation. However, further research is still needed to optimise agronomy of miscanthus, to develop the production chain and pre-treatment as well as to optimise energy conversation route to produce heat, electricity, and/or fuels from biomass, if miscanthus is to compete with fossil fuel use and be widely produced.

scholarly journals Determinants of Landowners’ Willingness to Participate in Bioenergy Crop Production: A Case Study from Northern Kentucky

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1052
Author(s):  
Sandhya Nepal ◽  
Liem T. Tran ◽  
Donald G. Hodges
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Bioenergy Crops ◽  
Bioenergy Crop ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Southern Us ◽  
Land Use Decisions

Bioenergy crops are considered as potential biomass feedstocks to support the bioenergy industry in the southern US. Even though there are suitable areas to grow bioenergy crops, commercial scale production of bioenergy crops has not been established to meet the increasing energy demand. Establishing bioenergy crops in the region requires landowners’ participation and it is crucial to understand whether they intend to promote bioenergy crop production. This study evaluated landowners’ perception of bioenergy and their willingness to supply lands for bioenergy crops in northern Kentucky. A questionnaire survey of randomly selected landowners was administered in four selected counties. Results indicated that landowners’ land use decisions for bioenergy crop production were based on their current land management practices, socio-economic and environmental factors. Overall, there was a low willingness of landowners to participate in bioenergy crop production. Those who were interested indicated that a higher biomass price would be required to promote bioenergy crops on their land. This information could be useful to plan for policies that provide economic incentives to landowners for large-scale production of bioenergy crops in the study area and beyond. Further, results showed how landowners’ opinion on bioenergy affected their preferences for land use decisions. Younger landowners with positive attitude towards bioenergy were more willing to promote bioenergy crops. This information could be useful to develop outreach programs for landowners to encourage them to promote bioenergy crops in the study area.

Large-scale production, harvest and logistics of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) - current technology and envisioning a mature technology

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahab Sokhansanj ◽  
Sudhagar Mani ◽  
Anthony Turhollow ◽  
Amit Kumar ◽  
David Bransby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Current Technology ◽  
Large Scale Production ◽  
Panicum Virgatum L

Willingness of Nigerian Quail Farmers to Accept Japanese Quail for Large Scale Production in Ogun state, Nigeria

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adetayo K. Aromolaran ◽  
Samson O. Apantaku ◽  
Comfort I. Sodiya ◽  
Obakunle O. Kuti
Keyword(s):  
Japanese Quail ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Health Values ◽  
Ogun State ◽  
Large Scale Production ◽  
Extension Agencies

The study investigated willingness of Nigerian quail farmers to accept Japanese quail for large scale productions. Snowball sampling technique was used to select Ninety quail farmers. Only 43.3% of them were willing to accept Japanese quail for large scale production. Most (66.7%) were not aware of its health values while 3.3% had excellent knowledge in quail’s management practices. Significant relationship (r = 0.466, p < 0.05) exists between farmers’ awareness and willingness to accept Japanese quail. It is recommended that extension agencies in Nigeria should provide package training to Nigerian farmers on Japanese quails’ value and management practices so as to improve their knowledge in sustainable quail production.

Switchgrass as a biofuels feedstock in the USA

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (Special Issue) ◽  
pp. 1315-1325 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Sanderson ◽  
P. R. Adler ◽  
A. A. Boateng ◽  
M. D. Casler ◽  
G. Sarath
Keyword(s):  
Panicum Virgatum ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Biomass Energy ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Energy Crop ◽  
Genetic Enhancement ◽  
Biomass Feedstock ◽  
Panicum Virgatum L ◽  
The Usa

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) has been identified as a model herbaceous energy crop for the USA. In this review, we selectively highlight current USDA-ARS research on switchgrass for biomass energy. Intensive research on switchgrass as a biomass feedstock in the 1990s greatly improved our understanding of the adaptation of switchgrass cultivars, production practices, and environmental benefits. Several constraints still remain in terms of economic production of switchgrass for biomass feedstock including reliable establishment practices to ensure productive stands in the seeding year, efficient use of fertilizers, and more efficient methods to convert lignocellulose to biofuels. Overcoming the biological constraints will require genetic enhancement, molecular biology, and plant breeding efforts to improve switchgrass cultivars. New genomic resources will aid in developing molecular markers, and should allow for marker-assisted selection of improved germplasm. Research is also needed on profitable management practices for switchgrass production appropriate to specific agro-ecoregions and breakthroughs in conversion methodology. Current higher costs of biofuels compared to fossil fuels may be offset by accurately valuing environmental benefits associated with perennial grasses such as reduced runoff and erosion and associated reduced losses of soil nutrients and organic matter, increased incorporation of soil carbon and reduced use of agricultural chemicals. Use of warm-season perennial grasses in bioenergy cropping systems may also mitigate increases in atmospheric CO2. A critical need is teams of scientists, extension staff, and producer-cooperators in key agro-ecoregions to develop profitable management practices for the production of biomass feedstocks appropriate to those agro-ecoregions. Key words: Bioenergy, biomass conversion technologies, Panicum virgatum L., stand establishment, switchgrass improvement, USDA-ARS

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION OF CA DONG PEOPLE IN RESETTLEMENT AREA OF TRANH RIVER HYDROPOWER NUMBER 2: CURRENT SITUATION AND IMPACT FACTORS

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bùi Thị Bích Lan
Keyword(s):  
Social Relations ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Impact Factors ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Technical Application ◽  
Production Models ◽  
Role Of The State

In Vietnam, the construction of hydropower projects has contributed significantly in the cause of industrialization and modernization of the country. The place where hydropower projects are built is mostly inhabited by ethnic minorities - communities that rely primarily on land, a very important source of livelihood security. In the context of the lack of common productive land in resettlement areas, the orientation for agricultural production is to promote indigenous knowledge combined with increasing scientific and technical application; shifting from small-scale production practices to large-scale commodity production. However, the research results of this article show that many obstacles in the transition process are being posed such as limitations on natural resources, traditional production thinking or the suitability and effectiveness of scientific - technical application models. When agricultural production does not ensure food security, a number of implications for people’s lives are increasingly evident, such as poverty, preserving cultural identity, social relations and resource protection. Since then, it has set the role of the State in researching and building appropriate agricultural production models to exploit local strengths and ensure sustainability.

I. S. A. Baud. Forms of Production and Women's Labour: Gender Aspects of Industrialisation in India and Mexico. New Delhi: Sage Publications. 1992. 321 pp.Hardbound. Price: Indian Rs 295.00.

1993 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-131
Author(s):  
Naureen Talha
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Indian Society ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Female Labour ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
Commodity Production ◽  
Large Scale Production ◽  
Mexican Society ◽  
Small Production

The literature on female labour in Third World countries has become quite extensive. India, being comparatively more advanced industrially, and in view of its size and population, presents a pictures of multiplicity of problems which face the female labour market. However, the author has also included Mexico in this analytical study. It is interesting to see the characteristics of developing industrialisation in two different societies: the Indian society, which is conservative, and the Mexican society, which is progressive. In the first chapter of the book, the author explains that he is not concerned with the process of industrialisation and female labour employed at different levels of work, but that he is interested in forms of production and women's employment in large-scale production, petty commodity production, marginal small production, and self-employment in the informal sector. It is only by analysis of these forms that the picture of females having a lower status is understood in its social and political setting.

Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: A Promising Drug Delivery Technology

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 509-516
Author(s):  
S. Pragati ◽  
S. Kuldeep ◽  
S. Ashok ◽  
M. Satheesh
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Solid Lipid Nanoparticles ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Colloidal Particles ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Lipid Nanoparticles ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
New Approach ◽  
Solid Lipid

One of the situations in the treatment of disease is the delivery of efficacious medication of appropriate concentration to the site of action in a controlled and continual manner. Nanoparticle represents an important particulate carrier system, developed accordingly. Nanoparticles are solid colloidal particles ranging in size from 1 to 1000 nm and composed of macromolecular material. Nanoparticles could be polymeric or lipidic (SLNs). Industry estimates suggest that approximately 40% of lipophilic drug candidates fail due to solubility and formulation stability issues, prompting significant research activity in advanced lipophile delivery technologies. Solid lipid nanoparticle technology represents a promising new approach to lipophile drug delivery. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are important advancement in this area. The bioacceptable and biodegradable nature of SLNs makes them less toxic as compared to polymeric nanoparticles. Supplemented with small size which prolongs the circulation time in blood, feasible scale up for large scale production and absence of burst effect makes them interesting candidates for study. In this present review this new approach is discussed in terms of their preparation, advantages, characterization and special features.

Sustainable Production of Honeydew and Muskmelon in Western Mexico

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 495d-495
Author(s):  
J. Farias-Larios ◽  
A. Michel-Rosales
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Glomus Intraradices ◽  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Bare Soil ◽  
Western Mexico ◽  
First Results ◽  
Legume Cover Crop ◽  
Banana Leaves ◽  
Research Show

In Western Mexico, melon production depends on high-input systems to maximize yield and product quality. Tillage, plasticulture, fumigation with methyl bromide, and fertigation, are the principal management practices in these systems. However, at present several problems has been found: pests as sweetpotato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius), aphids (Myzus and Aphis), leafminer (Liryomiza sativae); diseases as Fusarium, Verticilium, and Pseudoperenospora, and weeds demand high pesticide utilization and labor. There is a growing demand for alternative cultural practices, with an emphasis on reducing off-farm input labor and chemicals. Our research is based on use of organic mulches, such as: rice straw, mature maize leaves, banana leaves, sugarcane bagasse, coconut leaves, and living mulches with annual legume cover crop in melons with crop rotation, such as: Canavalia, Stilozobium, Crotalaria, and Clitoria species. Also, inoculations with mycorrhizal arbuscular fungi for honeydew and cantaloupe melon seedlings production are been assayed in greenhouse conditions for a transplant system. The use of life barriers with sorghum, marigold, and other aromatic native plants in conjunction with a colored yellow systems traps for monitoring pests is being studied as well. While that the pest control is based in commercial formulations of Beauveria bassiana for biological control. The first results of this research show that the Glomus intraradices, G. fasciculatum, G. etunicatum, and G. mosseae reached 38.5%, 33.5%, 27.0%, and 31.0% of root infection levels, respectively. Honeydew melons production with rice and corn straw mulches shows an beneficial effect with 113.30 and 111.20 kg/plot of 10 m2 compared with bare soil with 100.20 kg. The proposed system likely also lowers production cost and is applicable to small- and large-scale melon production.

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