scholarly journals Quantification of the Starling Population, Estimation and Mapping of the Damage to Olive Crops in the Apulia Region

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1119
Author(s):  
Francesco Bozzo ◽  
Simona Tarricone ◽  
Alessandro Petrontino ◽  
Prospero Cagnetta ◽  
Giacomo Maringelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural System ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Apulia Region ◽  
Damage Quantification ◽  
Cash Compensation ◽  
Compensation Claims ◽  
Potential Damage ◽  
Local Farmers

The presence of wildlife in areas with a high concentration of farming activities can create a conflict between conservation objectives and productive purposes. Near Brindisi (Apulia, S-E Italy), a substantial amount of cash compensation claims for damages reported by local farmers and attributed to starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) has been registered. The aim of this study was to quantify the starling population wintering in the Apulia region, in order to assess the potential damage to crop production caused by this species. Our analysis was conducted over three years and included three main activities: a study of starling abundance and movements, the identification of areas and crops affected by damages, and a determination of the damage to the agricultural system in terms of quantity and concentration (heatmap). The study showed a loss of expected production that was coherent with the eating capacity of starlings wintering in the region. This means a loss, in terms of gross profitable production, of around 550,000 euros concentrated in a few narrow areas close to the roosts. Results on species behavior, damage quantification, and mapping are useful elements aimed to activate trade-off measures to preserve production and protection objectives, and to allow policymakers to address enforcement interventions and to establish parameters for financial compensation.

scholarly journals Morais Ultramafic Complex: A Survey towards Nickel Phytomining

Resources ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana R. A. Alves ◽  
Eduardo F. Silva ◽  
Luís A. B. Novo
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Additional Source ◽  
Aerial Parts ◽  
Ultramafic Complex ◽  
Nickel Accumulation ◽  
Alyssum Serpyllifolium ◽  
Local Farmers

Ultramafic areas are critical for nickel (Ni) phytomining due to the high concentration of this element in their soils and the number of hyperaccumulators they harbor. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of the Morais massif, an ultramafic area in Portugal, for phytomining using the hyperaccumulator species Alyssum serpyllifolium subsp. lusitanicum. Soil samples and A. serpyllifolium specimens were collected in four locations of the Morais massif. After determination of Ni concentrations in the samples, the results show that soil pseudo-total Ni concentrations in sites number 1 and 2 are significantly higher than in the soil samples collected in the other two locations, with 1918 and 2092 mg kg−1, respectively. Nickel accumulation is significantly greater in the aerial parts of plants collected at sites 1, 2, and 4, presenting Ni harvestable amount means of 88.36, 93.80, and 95.56 mg per plant, respectively. These results suggest that the sites with highest potential for phytomining are sites 1, 2, and 4. A nickel agromining system in these locations could represent an additional source of income to local farmers, since ultramafic soils have low productivity for agriculture and crop production.

Comparative Advantage of Using Biopesticides in Ukrainian Agroecosystems

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hasrat Arjjumend ◽  
Konstantia Koutouki ◽  
Olga Donets
Keyword(s):  
Shelf Life ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Plant Protection ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Soil Biology ◽  
Chemical Contamination ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Irreversible Damage

The use of unsustainable levels of chemical fertilizers and plant protection chemicals has resulted in a steady decline in soil and crop productivity the world over. Soil biology has undergone irreversible damage, coupled with a high concentration of toxic chemical residues in plant tissues and human bodies. Agricultural practices must evolve to sustainably meet the growing global demand for food without irreversibly damaging soil. Microbial biocontrol agents have tremendous potential to bring sustainability to agriculture in a way that is safe for the environment. Biopesticides do not kill non-target insects, and biosafety is ensured because biopesticides act as antidotes and do not lead to chemical contamination in the soil. This article is part of a larger study conducted in Ukraine by researchers at the Université de Montréal with the support of Mitacs and Earth Alive Clean Technologies. The responses of farmers who use biofertilizers (“user farmers”) and those who do not (“non-user farmers”), along with the responses of manufacturers or suppliers of biofertilizers, and research and development (R&D) scientists are captured to demonstrate the advantages of applying microbial biopesticides to field crops. Participants reported a 15-30% increase in yields and crop production after the application of biopesticides. With the use of biopesticides, farmers cultivated better quality fruits, grains, and tubers with a longer shelf life. Moreover, while the risk of crop loss remains high (60-70%) with chemically grown crops, this risk is reduced to 33% on average if crops are grown using biopesticides. The findings indicate that a large proportion of farmers would prefer to use biopesticides if they are effective and high quality products. In this context, the quality and effectiveness of products is therefore very important. Despite their benefits to soil, human health, and ecosystems, biopesticides face significant challenges and competition vis-à-vis synthetic pesticides for a variety of reasons. Therefore, the development of biopesticides must overcome the problems of poor quality products, short shelf life, delayed action, high market costs, and legal/registration issues.

UV-Visible Spectrophotometric Determination of Lambda-Cyhalothrin Insecticide in Vegetables, Soil and Water Samples

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Deepak Kumar Sahu ◽  
Joyce Rai ◽  
Chhaya Bhatt ◽  
Manish K. Rai ◽  
Jyoti Goswami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Molar Absorptivity ◽  
Agricultural Field ◽  
Limit Of Quantification ◽  
Yellow Colour ◽  
Modern Age ◽  
Lambda Cyhalothrin

In modern age pesticide is used widely in agriculture. Lambda-cyhalothrin (LCT) is one of the most used pesticides which are used as a insecticide to kill pest, tricks, flies etc in agricultural field and it is also used for crop production. We have developed new method to detect LCT insecticide in agriculture field and reduce its uses. In this method we found the maximum absorbance at 460 nm for yellow colour dye. We also calculated limit of detection and limit of quantification 0.001 mg kg-1 and 0.056 mg kg-1 respectively. Molar absorptivity and Sandell’s sensitivity was also calculated and obtained 1.782 ×107 mol-1 cm-1 and 9.996 ×10-6 µg cm-2 respectively. The obtained yellow colour dye obeyed Beer’s law limit range of 0.5 µg ml -1 to 16 µg ml-1 in 25 ml. This method is less time consuming, selective, simple, sensitive and low cost. Present method is successfully applied in various soil, water and vegetable samples.

scholarly journals Determination of critical pH and Al concentration of acidic Ultisols for wheat and canola crops

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdulaha-Al Baquy ◽  
Jiu-Yu Li ◽  
Chen-Yang Xu ◽  
Khalid Mehmood ◽  
Ren-Kou Xu
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Soil Acidity ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Southern China ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Hydrated Lime ◽  
Dry Land

Abstract. Soil acidity has become a serious constraint in dry land crop production systems of acidic Ultisols in tropical and subtropical regions of southern China, where winter wheat and canola are cultivated as important rotational crops. Regardless of other common existing concerns in acidic Ultisols of southern China, it needs to be investigated whether soil acidity has any effect on wheat and canola growth. There is little information on the determination of critical soil pH as well as aluminium (Al) concentration for wheat and canola crops. The objective of this study was to determine the critical soil pH and exchangeable aluminium concentration (AlKCl) for wheat and canola production. Two pot cultures with two Ultisols from Hunan and Anhui were conducted for wheat and canola crops in a controlled growth chamber, with a completely randomized design. A soil pH gradient ranging from 3.7 (Hunan) and 3.97 (Anhui) to 6.5, with three replications, was used as a treatment. Aluminium sulfate (Al2(SO4)3) and hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) were used to obtain the target soil pH levels. Plant height, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, and chlorophyll content (SPAD value) of wheat and canola were adversely affected by soil acidity in both locations. The critical soil pH and AlKCl of the Ultisol from Hunan for wheat were 5.29 and 0.56 cmol kg−1, respectively. At Anhui, the threshold soil pH and AlKCl for wheat were 4.66 and 2.36 cmol kg−1, respectively. On the other hand, the critical soil pH for canola was 5.65 and 4.87 for the Ultisols from Hunan and Anhui, respectively. The critical soil exchangeable Al for canola cannot be determined from the experiment of this study. The results suggested that the critical soil pH and AlKCl varied between different locations for the same variety of crop, due to the different soil types and their other soil chemical properties. The critical soil pH for canola was higher than that for wheat for both Ultisols, thus canola was more sensitive to soil acidity. Therefore, we recommend that liming should be undertaken to increase soil pH if it falls below these critical soil pH levels for wheat and canola production.

scholarly journals UPLC-MS/MS Determination of Linezolid and Heme in Plasma of Infected Patients and Correlation Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Yingying Wang ◽  
Xuemei Ye ◽  
Qin Lan ◽  
Xiaofang Ke ◽  
Lufeng Hu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Correlation Analysis ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Haematological Toxicity ◽  
Diagnostic Value ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
High Positive Correlation ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Early Diagnose ◽  
The Relationship

Linezolid can cause serious haematological toxicity, such as thrombocytopenia and aneamia. Heme, composed of iron and porphyrin, is an important component of hemoglobin. In order to investigate the relationship between the concentration of linezolid and heme in the plasma of infected patients, a UPLC-MS/MS method that can determine the concentrations of linezolid and heme simultaneously was developed and validated. A total of 96 healthy subjects and 81 infected patients, who received blood routine blood tests, were included and determined by the UPLC-MS/MS method. The results showed that the concentration of linezolid was 5.08 ± 3.46   μ g / mL in infected patients who were treated with linezolid. The heme in healthy subjects was 7.05 ± 8.68   μ g / mL , and it was significantly decreased to 0.88 ± 0.79   μ g / mL in infected patients ( P < 0.01 ). Spearman correlation analysis showed that linezolid had a high negative correlation with platelet (PLT) ( R = − 0.309 ). Heme had a high positive correlation with hemoglobin (Hb) ( R = 0.249 ) in healthy subjects and infected patients. The ROC analysis showed that heme had diagnostic value to distinguish low Hb (110 g/L). In conclusion, there was a positive correlation between heme and Hb, and this correlation was also observed in infected patients. A high concentration of linezolid was inclined to decrease PLT. Monitoring of heme and linezolid helps in the early diagnose of low Hb and PLT.

scholarly journals A Social Network-Based Examination on Bid Riggers’ Relationships in the Construction Industry: A Case Study of China

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 363
Author(s):  
Liang Xiao ◽  
Kunhui Ye ◽  
Junhong Zhou ◽  
Xiaoting Ye ◽  
Ramadhani Said Tekka
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Market Shares ◽  
The Social ◽  
Network Method ◽  
Solid Foundation

Collusive bidding has been an insidious issue in the construction industry. Bidders initiate collusive networks of various sizes to win market shares. The popularity of collusive bidding networks affects market fairness and erodes the interests of market players. Although considerable research efforts were made to diagnose collusive bidding networks, there remains a gap in knowledge regarding the relationships bid riggers use to engage in the networks. Therefore, this study used the social network method, where two hundred sixteen collusion cases were collected from China to test these relationships. The results show that collusive bidding networks were characterized by sparseness, a small scale, a high concentration, and strong randomness. Three types of collusive bidding networks were also detected: contractual, spontaneous, and shadow. Furthermore, these collusive bidding networks had discrepancies regarding participants’ identities, forms of collusive bids, and the determination of bid winners. It was found that the proposed social network model of deliberating bid riggers’ relationships lays a solid foundation for the detection of collusive bidding in the construction sector.

scholarly journals Macrophytes as a potential tool for crop production by providing nutrient as well as protection against common phyto pathogen

2021 ◽  
pp. bs202103
Author(s):  
Yachana Jha
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Leaf Extract ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Mineral Nutrient ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Maize Crop ◽  
Agar Disc ◽  
Chemical Inputs

Applications of synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides lead to several environmental hazards, causing damages to entire ecosystem. To reduce damage caused by such chemical inputs in agriculture and environment required a serious attention for replacement of chemicals input with eco-friendly options. In this study decaying macrophytes were selected as an option for organic agriculture, by analyzing its ability to provide important mineral nutrient to the maize crop grown in low nutrient soil as well as for providing resistant towards many common phyto-pathogens to enhance yield. The results of the study showed that decaying macrophytes have high concentration of stored important mineral nutrient in their body mass, which get released in the soil during its decay and to be used by the maize plant. The decaying macrophytes leaf extract have considerable amount of phenolic and flavonoids also having antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity of the leaf extract has been analyzed against the common phyto-pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and S. aureus by agar disc method and the formation of clear zone indicate its potential as bio-control agent. So under intensive agricultural practices, application of such biological waste is of particular importance for enhancing soil fertility without chemical input, to ensure sustainable agriculture.

scholarly journals TRANSPORT BEHAVIOR OF Cr(III), Cd(II), Pb(II), AND Ag(I) IONS THROUGH BULK LIQUID MEMBRANE CONTAINING p-tert-BUTYLCALIX[4]ARENE–TETRADIETHYLACETAMIDE AS ION CARRIER

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 300-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maming Maming ◽  
Jumina Jumina ◽  
Dwi Siswanta ◽  
Hardjono Sastrohamidjojo ◽  
Keisuke Ohto
Keyword(s):  
Optimum Condition ◽  
Liquid Membrane ◽  
Bulk Liquid ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Bulk Liquid Membrane ◽  
Transport Efficiency ◽  
Transport Behavior ◽  
Source Phase ◽  
Ion Carrier

The study on the transport behavior of Cr(III), Cd(II), Pb(II), and Ag(I) through bulk liquid membrane using p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-tetradiethylacetamide as ions carrier has been conducted. The aims of this work are to determine the optimum condition, efficiency, and transport selectivity of the carriers for those ions. Both optimum condition and transport efficiency were obtained by determination of the concentration of transported ions with variation of the source phase pH, ion carrier concentration, the nature of decomplexant agent in the receiving phase, and transport time. The transport selectivity of the ion carrier was obtained from the ions competition transport experiments. The amount of Cr(III), Pb(II), Cd(II), and Ag(I) transported across liquid membrane were 11.6, 25.5, 39.5, and 42.1% respectively. The ion carrier is selective for Cd(II), Pb(II), Ag(I), and strongly depends on the nature of decomplexant agent as well as transport mechanism. The remarkable selectivity was shown by the ion carrier to Ag(I) when the transport process was carry out under high concentration of acid in the source phase.   Keywords: transport, p-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-tetradiethylacetamide, efficiency, selectivity, bulk liquid membrane, heavy metals

scholarly journals Precision Farming Development Centre Hyderabad: The Boon for Local Farmers

2020 ◽  
pp. 167-177
Author(s):  
M. Uma Devi ◽  
Ibrahim Kaleel ◽  
K. Chaitanya ◽  
. Deepika ◽  
B. Srinu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Precision Farming ◽  
External Input ◽  
Environment Friendly ◽  
Yield Improvement ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Development Centre ◽  
Input Use ◽  
The Right ◽  
Local Farmers

Precision farming is the technique of applying the right amount of input (fertilizer, pesticide, water etc.) at the right location at the right time to enhance production, decrease input and/or protect the environment, Site-Specific Crop Management (SSCM), Farming by-the-foot, Farming soils and not fields, Prescription farming, Environmentally-friendly farming & Information-based crop production. Thus, precision farming is an appealing concept and its principles quite naturally lead to the expectation that farming inputs can be used more effectively, with subsequent improvements in profits and environmentally less burdensome production. The precision farming developments of today can provide the technology for the environment friendly agriculture of tomorrow. Especially in the case of small farmers in developing countries like India, precision farming holds the promise of substantial yield improvement with minimal external input use. In order to achieve optimal production with less inputs, Precision Farming Development Centre (PFDC), Hyderabad, Telangana, India, plays important role in Precision farming by reaching local farmers to introduce precision farming techniques. PFDC Hyderabad attracts local farmers with tailor made annual action plans which includes both research and extension part. This study shows how PFDC Hyderabad uplifts both financial and social status of local farmers by introducing them to Precision Farming.

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