scholarly journals Novel Slow Release Nanocomposite Fertilizers

Author(s):  
Muthuraman Yuvaraj ◽  
Kizhaeral Sevathapandian Subramanian

Nanotechnology deals with atom-by-atom manipulation and the strategies and products developed are quite precise. Despite the fact that the nanotechnology is noticeably exploited in the subject of energy, environment and health, the research is agricultural sciences had just scratched the surface. However, the potentials of nanotechnology in agricultural sciences had been reviewed. Among the applications, nanofertilizers technology is very revolutionary and known to exhibit economic advantage if the products advanced are economically feasible and socially sustainable. These nano fertilizers are pronounced to reduce nutrient loss due to leaching, emissions, and long-term incorporation by soil microorganisms.

Author(s):  
O. D. Golyaeva ◽  
O. V. Kurashev ◽  
S. D. Knyazev ◽  
А. Yu. Bakhotskaya

The main goal of the scientific institution was and remains to improve the assortment of fruit and berry crops for the development of domestic horticulture. Black currant breeding at VNIISPK was started by A.F Tamarova and continued by the doctor of agricultural Sciences T.P.Ogoltsova and doctor of agricultural Sciences S.D. Knyazev. A long-term breeding program has been developed. The main goals of the program are to create black currant cultivars with continuous resistance to diseases, first of all powdery mildew, as wells resistance to pests, i.e. bud mite. As a result of the long-term work, over 40 black currant cultivars have been developed, 14 of them are zoned. Red currant breeding was led by the candidate of agricultural Sciences L.V. Bayanova; since 2001 the work has been continued by the candidate of agricultural Sciences O.D. Golyaeva. ‘Heinemanns Rote Spӓtlese’, the descendant of R. multiflorum Kit., was involved in the red currant breeding for the first time in Russia. On its genetic basis, a series of late maturing cultivars with long and dense racemes was created. At the Institute, in total 21cultivars of red currants have been developed, 13 of them are zoned. At present, red currant cultivars make up 25.5% of the zoned assortment in Russia. The first research on gooseberries was stated by V.P. Semakin and A.F Tamarova; since 1992 the systematic gooseberry breeding has been carried out by the candidate of agricultural Sciences O.V. Kurashev. On the basis of Grossularia robusta, we have created gooseberry forms that are resistant to powdery mildew and leaf spots. These forms are highly productive, weakly thorned, having bush habit suitable for mechanized harvest. The result of breeding activities was the transfer of 6 gooseberry cultivars to State agricultural testing: ‘Solnechny Zaychik’, ‘Nekrasovsky’, ‘Yupiter’, ‘Zemlianichny’, ‘Moryachok’ and ‘Discovery’.


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1472
Author(s):  
Ilaria Piccoli ◽  
Felice Sartori ◽  
Riccardo Polese ◽  
Maurizio Borin ◽  
Antonio Berti

Agri-environmental indicators such as nutrient balance may play a key role in soil and water quality monitoring, although short-term experiments might be unable to capture the sustainability of cropping systems. Therefore, the objectives of this study are: (i) to evaluate the reliability of long-term experimental N and P balance estimates to predict real field (RF) (i.e., short-term transitory) conditions; and (ii) to compare the sustainability of short- and long-term experiments. The LTE-based predictions showed that crops are generally over-fertilised in RF conditions, particularly maize. Nutrient balance predictions based on the LTE data tended to be more optimistic than those observed under RF conditions, which are often characterised by lower outputs; in particular, 13, 44, and 47% lower yields were observed for winter wheat, maize, and soybean, respectively, under organic management. The graphical evaluation of N and P use efficiency demonstrated the benefit of adopting crop rotation practices and the risk of nutrient loss when liquid organic fertiliser was applied on a long-term basis. In conclusion, LTE predictions may depend upon specific RF conditions, representing potential N and P use efficiencies that, in RF, may be reduced by crop yield-limiting factors and the specific implemented crop sequence.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 287-291
Author(s):  
Annette L. Gardner ◽  
Peter Bishop

The subject of evaluating foresight work has been around for almost as long as the professional practice itself has, but the field has done little to move closer to a systematic evaluation of its work. This special issue marks the second collection of articles on that project after a special issue of Futures in 2012 (Van Der Duin and Van Der Martin 2012). This issue takes a three-part approach: Part 1: evaluation of foresight in general and evaluation approaches and methods that can support designing an appropriate evaluation; Part 2: evaluation of foresight work in organizations and its impact on long-term thinking and decision-making; and Part 3: evaluation of specific foresight activities—an undergraduate learner foresight experience and a health sector scenario development exercise. The foreword ends with a reflection on the continuing issue of foresight and evaluation.


2011 ◽  
Vol 279 (1733) ◽  
pp. 1560-1566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Koren ◽  
Shinichi Nakagawa ◽  
Terry Burke ◽  
Kiran K. Soma ◽  
Katherine E. Wynne-Edwards ◽  
...  

Potential mechanistic mediators of Darwinian fitness, such as stress hormones or sex hormones, have been the focus of many studies. An inverse relationship between fitness and stress or sex hormone concentrations has been widely assumed, although empirical evidence is scarce. Feathers gradually accumulate hormones during their growth and provide a novel way to measure hormone concentrations integrated over time. Using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, we measured testosterone, corticosterone and cortisol in the feathers of house sparrows ( Passer domesticus ) in a wild population which is the subject of a long-term study. Although corticosterone is considered the dominant avian glucocorticoid, we unambiguously identified cortisol in feathers. In addition, we found that feathers grown during the post-nuptial moult in autumn contained testosterone, corticosterone and cortisol levels that were significantly higher in birds that subsequently died over the following winter than in birds that survived. Thus, feather steroids are candidate prospective biomarkers to predict the future survival of individuals in the wild.


2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-332
Author(s):  
Malcolm Abbott

Throughout much of the history of the electricity industry in Australia and New Zealand the industry has been the subject of safety regulations. Although this regulation has been a constant throughout the life of the industry the organizational approach to regulation has changed over the years. Periodically in Australia and New Zealand history these questions have been raised in a political context, although notably the structure of safety regulators does not get much attention in the standard histories of the industry. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to discuss some of the general issues that have arisen in the reform of regulation in the case of electricity safety over the longer term and how it relates overall to the development of the electricity industry.


2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 68-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laryssa Chomiak

In their search for explanations for the so-called Tunisian paradox under Ben Ali –a country with comparatively high levels of socio-economic development, yet plagued by the absence of a civil society that could push for political liberalization–analysts primarily investigated the gradual co-optation of political institutions and actors. As research and analytical agendas were consumed by the robustness of Ben Ali’s authoritarian state, little attention was paid to the development of informal and extra-institutional political activities that existed even under deepening political repression. In hindsight, many of these informal activities clearly contributed to the December 2010-January 2011 nation-wide campaign, which eventually led to the Arab World’s fi rst bottom-up revolution ousting an unpopular and illegitimate ruler. Th is article will engage two stories about the Tunisian Revolution that later inspired protests and contentious activities across the Middle East and North Africa. First, it will tell a back-story of contentious activities preceding the January 2011 events that surprised observers, scholars and analysts–even those familiar with the Tunisian case. Second, this article will discuss some of most pressing political dynamics that have emerged in the post-revolutionary (and pre-October 2011 election) environment. The concluding section will subsequently identify avenues for short and long-term research on the subject of contestation, resistance, and the construction of a new political order.


2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-80
Author(s):  
Wolfgang S. Heinz

Abstract: This article approaches the matter of institutional reform of the United Nations Human Rights Council from an international relations perspective. A well-known tension exists between State representatives acting for their governments in international organisations, but whose decisions are presented as UN policies. The latter should be guided primarily by the UN Charter and public international law. However, in reality, different worldviews and foreign policy considerations play a more significant role. In a comprehensive stock-take, the article looks at four major dimensions of the Council, starting with structure and dynamics and major trends, followed by its country and thematic activities, and the role of key actors. Council reform proposals from both States and civil society are explored. Whilst the intergovernmental body remains the most important authority responsible for the protection of human rights in the international sphere, it has also been the subject of considerable criticism. Although it has made considerable progress towards enlarging its coverage and taking on more challenging human rights crises, among some of its major weaknesses are the election of human rights-unfriendly countries into its ranks, the failure to apply stronger sanctions on large, politically influential countries in the South and North, and lack of influence on human rights crises and chronic human rights problems in certain countries. Whilst various reform proposals have emerged from States and NGOs, other more far reaching propositions are under sometimes difficult negotiations. In the mid- to long-term, the UN human rights machinery can only have a stronger and more lasting impact if support from national/local actors and coalitions in politics and society can be strengthened.


Author(s):  
Николай Алексеевич Коломытцев

Наличие значительного уровня рецидива в стране напрямую связано с весьма низкой (до 47 %) раскрываемостью преступлений. Кроме того, высокий уровень рецидива преступлений свидетельствует о том, что применяемое к осужденным уголовное наказание в виде лишения свободы не всегда оказывает на них должное воспитательное и принудительное воздействие. Эта ситуация обусловлена недостатками деятельности администрации учреждений уголовно-исполнительной системы. Пробелы в законодательстве, ошибки в избрании судом вида и срока наказания сказываются на его эффективности. Рост рецидива преступлений связан и с неблагополучной жизненной ситуацией, в которой часто оказываются освобожденные от отбывания наказания. Все сказанное убедительно подтверждает актуальность и научную новизну данной работы. Целью написания данной статьи является попытка определения комплексной реализации борьбы с рецидивом преступлений. Предмет изучения рецидива преступлений определяется важностью существующих ценностей, причиняемым им ущербом и общественным резонансом в отношении этого явления. Методологическую основу работу составил метод познания, общенаучные и частнонаучные методы изучения. При этом использовались труды отечественных и зарубежных правоведов. В статье автор рассматривает историко-правовой, криминологический, уголовно-правовой и уголовно-исполнительный аспекты рецидива преступлений, анализирует законодательство и судебную практику за длительное время. Приводится понятие указанного социально-правового явления, предлагаются определенные направления его предупреждения. Статья представляет интерес для курсантов, слушателей, студентов юридических вузов, преподавателей и сотрудников правоохранительных органов. The high level of relapse in our country depends on the low crime detection rate (less than 47 %). In this context, ineffective penalization measures for offenders in prison can have an impact on recidivism rates. This fact revealed serious deficiencies in the administration of detention facilities. Gaps in legislation, judicial errors in the sentencing proceeds, incorrect type of punishment and penalty negatively affect the itseffectiveness. Difficult circumstances for discharged prisoners might cause the growth of resurgence. Thus, this article devoted to the topical and innovative issue. The aim of this article is to combat and prevent criminal activities in the area of resurgence. The subject matter of recidivism is determinated by the importance of social values, the harm inflicted, and public outcry provoked with this phenomenon. A methodological framework for this research includes the cognition method, common and private methods. The author used native and foreign scholarly writings. The author researches a historical and legal, criminological, criminal and penal reviews of relapse. He analysis legal rules and case law over a long term. “Resurgence of crimes” is defined. Some means of relapse prevention are supposed. The article might be meaningful for the students and tutors of law faculties, and also for the law enforcement officials.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minu Mathews

BackgroundCreating a conducive environment for learning cultivates engaged and independent learners, allowing for high-level learning (Warren, 2004). When assessing the diverse Psychology courses that exist, the evaluation of Research Methods (RM) teaching and its associated pedagogies is high on the agenda of college based Higher Education (Burton & Schonfield, 2011). ObjectiveThis study aimed at exploring what range of teaching and learning activities (TLA’s) promote effective learning of RM among Psychology students. Additionally, it aimed to understand, from a student perspective, what ‘effective learning’ meant in the context of RM. MethodA mixed methods approach comprising of both surveys as well as focus groups was conducted with undergraduate Psychology students. Thematic analysis and basic frequencies were used to analyse data. Results Results demonstrated that both student and teacher-led activities were beneficial and worked complementarily for students in their understanding of the subject whilst serving different purposes. Practical labs and class exercises were the top activities highlighted (student-led) followed by lectures and flow chart concept checks (teacher-led). Furthermore, ‘effective learning’ encapsulated not just a long-term knowledge acquisition of concepts but the ability to apply one’s knowledge to the wider context. Conclusion and teaching implication Findings are in line with the Conception of Learning which has a nested hierarchy consisting of both surface learning elements and deep learning (Marton,Dall’Alba & Beaty, 1993). RM has been identified as a difficult subject to teach as well for students to learn (Gray et al., 2015) and as a result this study teases apart some of the most beneficial techniques from a student perspective to be considered when designing the structure and delivery of RM courses.


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