scholarly journals Application of Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe Mass Spectrometry for the Taxonomic Analysis of Pollen

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adelina Latinovic ◽  
David S. Nichols ◽  
Vanessa M. Adams ◽  
Peter B. McQuillan
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Comparison Method ◽  
Floral Trait ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Taxonomic Analysis ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
Solids Analysis ◽  
Plant Pollinator

Globally, both managed and wild pollination services are unable to meet current rates of crop production and pollination demand. Wild pollination services could be improved through the reforestation of agricultural land margins, however plant–pollinator networks remain poorly understood and the collection of key floral traits a complex process. Herein, we consider the merits of pollen as a floral trait and the application of a rapid pollen comparison method in assessing whether pollen traits are conserved at a taxonomic level. Reporting the previously unstudied, pollen fingerprints of 18 Australian plant species, these are compared against the seed crop Daucus carota L. and two naturalised Brassica hybrids. Applying atmospheric solids analysis probe mass spectrometry (ASAP-MS) for rapid pollen fingerprinting, pollens are compared through non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), Jaccard index correlation and hierarchical clustering. Demonstrating the merits of this analytical method for the grouping of potential revegetation flora, we identify key pollen similarities and differences that could correlate with wild pollinator preferences.

A Method for Evaluating and Principles for Developing a Map of the Productive Potential of Agricultural Land

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Podciborski
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Graphical Form ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Anthropogenic Element ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
Comprehensive Knowledge ◽  
Productive Potential

Crop production is a highly complex process. It requires comprehensive knowledge about natural phenomena and agronomic treatments that provide plans with optimal conditions for growth and development. Crop yield is influenced by a variety of environmental factors, including availability of water, temperature and light. The main anthropogenic element in crop production is the shape of the plot which is determined by the land division plan. Farmers also have to undertake the relevant measures to ensure the appropriate soil pH, soil structure, nutrient content and microbial activity. The main objective of this study was to develop a method and principles for evaluating the productive potential of agricultural land, and to compile a map presenting the productive potential of agricultural land. The main aim was achieved through detailed goals. Model evaluation indicators and criteria, the sources of information used in the evaluation process as well as the stages of and principles for developing a map of the productive potential of agricultural land were described. The results of an evaluation performed on a selected research site were presented in graphical form in the Conclusions section.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Approaches to Regional Land-Use Capability Analysis for Agricultural Land-Planning

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 458
Author(s):  
Tara A. Ippolito ◽  
Jeffrey E. Herrick ◽  
Ekwe L. Dossa ◽  
Maman Garba ◽  
Mamadou Ouattara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Agricultural Activity ◽  
Field Samples ◽  
Agricultural Potential ◽  
Fertility Data ◽  
Using Data

Smallholder agriculture is a major source of income and food for developing nations. With more frequent drought and increasing scarcity of arable land, more accurate land-use planning tools are needed to allocate land resources to support regional agricultural activity. To address this need, we created Land Capability Classification (LCC) system maps using data from two digital soil maps, which were compared with measurements from 1305 field sites in the Dosso region of Niger. Based on these, we developed 250 m gridded maps of LCC values across the region. Across the region, land is severely limited for agricultural use because of low available water-holding capacity (AWC) that limits dry season agricultural potential, especially without irrigation, and requires more frequent irrigation where supplemental water is available. If the AWC limitation is removed in the LCC algorithm (i.e., simulating the use of sufficient irrigation or a much higher and more evenly distributed rainfall), the dominant limitations become less severe and more spatially varied. Finally, we used additional soil fertility data from the field samples to illustrate the value of collecting contemporary data for dynamic soil properties that are critical for crop production, including soil organic carbon, phosphorus and nitrogen.

scholarly journals First Evidence of “Earth Wax” Inside the Casting Molds from the Roman Era

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (14) ◽  
pp. 4259
Author(s):  
Klára Jagošová ◽  
Jan Jílek ◽  
Pavel Fojtík ◽  
Ivan Čižmář ◽  
Miroslav Popelka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Intermediate Stage ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Organic Residue ◽  
Organic Residues ◽  
Pyrolysis Gas ◽  
Main Component ◽  
Solids Analysis ◽  
Ceramic Casting

This research was focused on the analysis of material composition and organic residues present in three molds found in the Moravian region (Czech Republic) belonging to the Roman era. X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy pointed out the possible remelting of Roman objects in Barbarian territory. The analysis of organic residues retrieved from the internal part of mold #2 by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry proved the presence of ozokerite wax (“earth wax”). Consequent analysis of this organic residue by Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe–ion mobility spectrometry–high-resolution mass spectrometry (ASAP-IMS-HRMS) confirmed the presence of ceresin, the main component of ozokerite. Ceresin was also detected in a sample of the organic residue from mold #1. Note that this is the first application of ASAP-IMS-HRMS in archaeological research. The remains of earth wax in molds suggest the production of wax models as an intermediate stage for the production of lost-wax ceramic casting molds.

scholarly journals Is Cut-Flower Industry Promotion by the Government Negatively Affecting Pollinator Biodiversity and Environmental/Human Health in Uganda?

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-52
Author(s):  
Bin Mushambanyi Théodore Munyuli
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Toxicological Studies ◽  
The Government ◽  
Small Scale Farmers ◽  
The Impact

A study was conducted from 2010 to 2012 around the flower growing areas in central Uganda to generate baseline information on the status of pollinators. Primary data were gathered using a questionnaire that aimed at determining farmers and flower farm officials’ perceptions on the impact of activities carried out inside greenhouses on pollinators, human health, and on crop production in the surroundings. Results indicated that the quantity of pesticides and fertilizers applied daily varied among the different flower farms visited. Bee species richness and abundance varied significantly (P<0.01) according to flower farm location, to the landscape vegetation type, and to field types found in the surrounding of flower farms. Bee richness found around flower farms varied in number from 20 to 40 species in total across seasons and years. Bee density increased significantly with the increase in flower density. Small-scale farmers were aware of the value and importance of pollination services in their farming business. There was no clear evidence of a direct effect of agrochemicals application on bee communities living in the surrounding habitats. There is a need for further research to be conducted on human health risks and for toxicological studies on soils, plants, flowers, and bees in the farm landscape.

scholarly journals Learning of a mimic odor combined with nectar nonsugar compounds enhances honeybee pollination of a commercial crop

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Cecilia Estravis-Barcala ◽  
Florencia Palottini ◽  
Walter M. Farina
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Floral Scent ◽  
Seed Mass ◽  
Hybrid Seed Production ◽  
Memory Retention ◽  
Foraging Activity ◽  
Pollination Services ◽  
Floral Odor ◽  
Commercial Crop ◽  
Increasing Demand

AbstractThe increasing demand on pollination services leads food industry to consider new strategies for management of pollinators to improve their efficiency in agroecosystems. Recently, it was demonstrated that feeding beehives food scented with an odorant mixture mimicking the floral scent of a crop (sunflower mimic, SM) enhanced foraging activity and improved recruitment to the target inflorescences, which led to higher density of bees on the crop and significantly increased yields. Besides, the oral administration of nonsugar compounds (NSC) naturally found in nectars (caffeine and arginine) improved short and long-term olfactory memory retention in conditioned bees under laboratory conditions. To test the effect of offering of SM-scented food supplemented with NSC on honeybees pollinating sunflower for hybrid seed production, in a commercial plantation we fed colonies SM-scented food (control), and SM-scented food supplemented with either caffeine, arginine, or a mixture of both, in field realistic concentrations. Their foraging activity was assessed at the hive and on the crop up to 90 h after treatment, and sunflower yield was estimated prior to harvest. Our field results show that SM + Mix-treated colonies exhibited the highest incoming rates and densities on the crop. Additionally, overall seed mass was significantly higher by 20% on inflorescences close to these colonies than control colonies. Such results suggest that combined NSC potentiate olfactory learning of a mimic floral odor inside the hive, promoting faster colony-level foraging responses and increasing crop production.

scholarly journals Optimizing Rotavator Design Towards Enhancing Agricultural Crop Productivity

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-52
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Pigeon Pea ◽  
Chemical Fertilizer ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Seedbed Preparation

By continuous and rapid growth in industrialization as well as population, the agricultural lands are also becoming less and less continuously day by day which results in increase in the population of small land holders. In addition to this, because of continuous decreasing production the youth of the villages are also migrating in big cities for the employment, resulting decreasing manpower essential to perform various seedbed operations in the villages. Hence, it is the need of time for small farmers having small agricultural land and having less crop production to introduce the cost-effective farm mechanization so that they can improve production rate. Rotavator is the best option available to achieve this landmark as it is already proved that seedbed prepared by using rotavator gives highest benefit to cost ratio. For this experimental study the whole land of 9 acre area is divided into 18 plots of equal size in area. The combination of method of seedbed preparation and use of fertilizers were the preliminary criteria. The categories of fertilizer according to quantity are discussed earlier which are 50kg, 35kg and 65kg per acre respectively. The quantities of organic fertilizer used are 45kg and 60kg per acre of agricultural land for both seedbeds which are prepared manually and by using rotavator. The highest production of Pigeon Pea was obtained of 814kg was from the plot whose seedbed is prepared by using agricultural machine called rotavator and organic fertilizer; next highest production is obtained of 802 kg from the plot whose seedbed is prepared by using rotavator and the fertilizer used was chemical fertilizer. The minimum production of Pigeon Pea which is 690 kg was obtained in the plot whose seedbed was prepared manually and chemical fertilizer was used.

scholarly journals Economic Analysis on Desalination Technology for Saline Agricultural Land on the Basis of Crop Production

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 40-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Do-Hyung Kim ◽  
Jeong-Hee Choi ◽  
Lee-Yul Kim ◽  
Chang-Mo Nam ◽  
Ki-Tae Baek
Keyword(s):  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Desalination Technology

scholarly journals Analysis of Areas and Prospects for the Use of Agrobiomass for Energy Production in Ukraine

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Zheliezna ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Development Strategy ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Agricultural Residues ◽  
Energy Crops ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Energy Wood ◽  
Biomass Potential

Purpose of the study is to assess the current and prospective energy potential of agribiomass (agricultural residues and energy crops) in Ukraine, to determine its main components and the most effective areas of their use. Methods. The assessment of the current potential of agribiomass is performed using official statistics on crop production in Ukraine. Based on these data, the total amount of crop residues formed and their share available for energy needs is determined. When assessing the potential of energy crops, it is assumed that they are grown on 2 million hectares of unused agricultural land, the total area of which is up to 4 million hectares in Ukraine. The study of the prospective potential of biomass is performed for 2050, based on key growth factors, such as increasing yield of crops, especially cereals; doubling the area under energy crops and increasing their yields, etc. Results of the assessment show that according to 2018 data, the total bioenergy potential in Ukraine is more than 23 Mtoe (the economic potential). Its largest components are agricultural residues (44%) and energy crops (32%). Expert estimates suggest that by 2050, the biomass potential could increase to more than 47.5 Mtoe/yr, in other words almost to double. Forecasting the structure and directions of use of biomass potential by 2050 shows that about 20 Mtoe of biomass/biofuels of the following types will be consumed for energy: wood biomass, primary and secondary agricultural residues, energy crops, biogas/biomethane from different types of raw materials, liquid biofuels (biodiesel, bioethanol). Conclusions. Areas of use of biomass/biofuels include the production of heat and electricity from solid biofuels, obtaining of biogas and biomethane, as well as the production of motor biofuels (biomethane, biodiesel, bioethanol). In the near future, it is considered necessary to develop a long-term strategy for the development of bioenergy in Ukraine, taking into account results of the study. In turn, the basic figures of the bioenergy development strategy can be used for the elaboration of the updated Energy Strategy of Ukraine until 2050.

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