Mulches and Their Impact on Floor Management and Performance of Fruit Crops: A Review

Apart from the various innovations and technologies developed, productivity of most of the fruit crops in India remains at a lower level when compared to the major producers and developed countries. In the present era of health awareness, demand of the quality fruits, classified as protective foods, has increased globally. The ever-growing demand for the quality fruits and market competition has been compelling the farmers to produce more but quality fruits. Use of mulches is an age old practice and also one the cheapest methods under protected cultivation technologies which could help the orchardists to increase the production with higher quality. Looking to the several biotic and abiotic challenges in fruit production, adoption of mulching technique at large scale might be helpful to mitigate several problems considering the advantages of mulching. Several studies have shown that mulching in fruit crops has positive impact on soil moisture status, soil temperature along with weed suppression thus on rhizosphere of the plants. These rhizospheric conditions favour the vegetative as well as yield and quality parameters of the fruit crops. In this paper, an attempt has been made to review the impact of mulching on floor management (soil moisture status, soil temperature and weed suppression) as well as growth, yield and quality characteristics in fruit crops with the help of appropriate findings available in literature.

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Use of New BTH Derivative as Supplement or Substitute of Standard Fungicidal Program in Strawberry Cultivation

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11061031 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1031

Author(s):

Maciej Spychalski ◽

Rafal Kukawka ◽

Włodzimierz Krzesiński ◽

Tomasz Spiżewski ◽

Monika Michalecka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Resistance ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Nutritional Composition ◽

Matter Content ◽

Dry Matter Content ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Amide Derivative ◽

Combined Use ◽

The Impact

Triggering the plant resistance induction phenomenon by chemical compounds, for example acibenzolar-S-methyl ester, has been known and described in scientific literature. Other benzothadiazole derivatives have been also described; however, their properties have not been sufficiently studied. The tested substance, N-methyl-N-methoxyamide-7-carboxybenzo(1.2.3)thiadiazole (BTHWA), is an amide derivative of benzothiadiazole, showing a stimulating effect on plant growth, apart from its plant resistance inducing activity. This article presents the impact of BTHWA, used solo and in the program with fungicides, on the strawberry plants development, fruits health, yield, and quality parameters of the crop. The results show that the combined use of BTHWA and fungicides had a positive impact on the plants health and fruit health and nutraceutical and nutritional composition of compounds when compared to the results obtained when strawberries were treated only with the BTHWA or the fungicide. As a result of BTHWA use, the partitioning of assimilates has changed, which directly translated into the results of the conducted experiments. A reduction in the respiration of the fruit during storage was also observed, possibly due to a reduced disease infestation and a lower dry matter content in the fruit. A correlation between the parameters determined during the experiment was found. The BTHWA mode of action was evidenced to be beneficial to strawberry plants and fruit.

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SMOS Neural Network Soil Moisture Data Assimilation in a Land Surface Model and Atmospheric Impact

10.20944/preprints201904.0216.v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Nemesio Rodriguez-Fernandez ◽

Patricia de Rosnay ◽

Clement Albergel ◽

Philippe Richaume ◽

Filipe Aires ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neural Network ◽

Soil Moisture ◽

Data Assimilation ◽

Land Surface ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Land Surface Model ◽

Surface Model ◽

Northern Asia ◽

The Impact

The assimilation of Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity (SMOS) data into the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts) H-TESSEL (Hydrology revised - Tiled ECMWF Scheme for Surface Exchanges over Land) model is presented. SMOS soil moisture (SM) estimates have been produced specifically by training a neural network with SMOS brightness temperatures as input and H-TESSEL model SM simulations as reference. This can help the assimilation of SMOS information in several ways: (1) the neural network soil moisture (NNSM) data have a similar climatology to the model, (2) no global bias is present with respect to the model even if regional differences can exist. Experiments performing joint data assimilation (DA) of NNSM, 2 metre air temperature and relative humidity or NNSM-only DA are discussed. The resulting SM was evaluated against a large number of in situ measurements of SM obtaining similar results to those of the model with no assimilation, even if significant differences were found from site to site. In addition, atmospheric forecasts initialized with H-TESSEL runs (without DA) or with the analysed SM were compared to measure of the impact of the satellite information. Although, NNSM DA has an overall neutral impact in the forecast in the Tropics, a significant positive impact was found in other areas and periods, especially in regions with limited in situ information. The joint NNSM, T2m and RH2m DA improves the forecast for all the seasons in the Southern Hemisphere. The impact is mostly due to T2m and RH2m, but SMOS NN DA alone also improves the forecast in July- September. In the Northern Hemisphere, the joint NNSM, T2m and RH2m DA improves the forecast in April-September, while NNSM alone has a significant positive effect in July-September. Furthermore, forecasting skill maps show that SMOS NNSM improves the forecast in North America and in Northern Asia for up to 72 hours lead time.

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Influence of pesticides, soil temperature and moisture on entomopathogenic nematodes from southern Benin and control of underground termite nest populations

Nematology ◽

10.1163/15685411-00002923 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 17 (9) ◽

pp. 1057-1069 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Hugues Baimey ◽

Lionel Zadji ◽

Leonard Afouda ◽

Maurice Moens ◽

Wilfrida Decraemer

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Soil Temperature ◽

Entomopathogenic Nematodes ◽

Galleria Mellonella ◽

Macrotermes Bellicosus ◽

And Control ◽

The Impact ◽

Termite Nest ◽

Southern Benin ◽

Soil Temperature And Moisture

The influence of three pesticides on the viability and infectivity of four Beninese isolates of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), Heterorhabditis indica Ayogbe1, H. sonorensis Azohoue2, H. sonorensis Ze3, and Steinernema sp. Bembereke, was determined. The impact of both soil temperature and soil moisture on the virulence of these EPN to Trinervitermes occidentalis was investigated in laboratory assays. The effect of EPN-infected Galleria mellonella larvae on underground populations of Macrotermes bellicosus was also examined. All tested Heterorhabditis species were more tolerant to glyphosate and fipronil than the Steinernema species. Heterorhabditis sonorensis Azohoue2, showed the best results with 63.2% termite mortality at a soil temperature of 35°C. The increase of soil moisture to 20% (w/w) did not negatively influence the virulence of tested EPN. The underground populations of 71% or 60% treated nests were controlled by H. sonorensis Azohoue2- or H. indica Ayogbe1-infected G. mellonella larvae, respectively.

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Agency problems and the value of advertising expenditures in an emerging market: role of product market competition

Managerial Finance ◽

10.1108/mf-08-2019-0389 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 46 (9) ◽

pp. 1123-1143

Author(s):

Omar Farooq ◽

Zakir Pashayev

Keyword(s):

Positive Impact ◽

Emerging Market ◽

Market Competition ◽

Agency Problems ◽

Product Market ◽

Product Market Competition ◽

Content Type ◽

Financial Firms ◽

The Impact

PurposeThis paper documents the impact of product market competition on the value of advertising expenditures.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use the data for non-financial firms from India and the pooled regression procedure to test their arguments during the period between 2009 and 2018.FindingsThe results show that advertising expenditures of firms operating in sectors with relatively high competition are more valuable than advertising expenditures of firms operating in sectors with relatively low competition. The results of the study are robust across various proxies of advertising expenditures and firm performance. Furthermore, the results also show that the positive impact of product market competition on the value of advertising expenditures is confined only to firms that already have lower agency problems.Originality/valueThe results of the study highlight the importance of product market competition on the value of advertising expenditure in the emerging market setting, where agency problems are supposed to be high.

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Earthworms are little affected by reduced soil tillage methods in vineyards

Plant Soil and Environment ◽

10.17221/160/2017-pse ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 63 (No. 6) ◽

pp. 257-263 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Faber Florian ◽

Wachter Elisabeth ◽

Zaller Johann G

Keyword(s):

Soil Moisture ◽

Soil Temperature ◽

Soil Tillage ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Reduced Tillage ◽

No Tillage ◽

Dry Soil ◽

The Impact ◽

Tillage Methods ◽

Erosion Prevention

Inter-rows in vineyards are commonly tilled in order to control weeds and/or to conserve water. While impacts of tillage on earthworms are well studied in arable systems, very little is known from vineyards. In an experimental vineyard, the impact of four reduced tillage methods on earthworms was examined: rotary hoeing, rotary harrowing, grubbing and no tillage. According to an erosion prevention programme, tillage was applied every other inter-row only while alternating rows retained vegetated. Earthworms were extracted from the treated inter-rows 10, 36, 162 and 188 days after tillage. Across dates, tillage methods had no effect on overall earthworm densities or biomass. Considering each sampling date separately, earthworm densities were affected only at day 36 after tillage leading to lower densities under rotary hoeing (150.7 ± 42.5 worms/m2) and no tillage (117.3 ± 24.8 worms/m2) than under rotary harrowing (340.0 ± 87.4 worms/m2) and grubbing (242.7 ± 43.9 worms/m2). Time since tillage significantly increased earthworm densities or biomass, and affected soil moisture and temperature. Across sampling dates, earthworm densities correlated positively with soil moisture and negatively with soil temperature; individual earthworm mass increased with increasing time since tillage. It was concluded that reduced tillage in vineyards has little impact on earthworms when applied in spring under dry soil conditions.

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The Lebanese Perception of the Impact of Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) on the National Economy

Journal of Economics and Public Finance ◽

10.22158/jepf.v3n3p330 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 330 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bassam Charif Hamdar ◽

Rana Najjar ◽

Kamel Karameh

Keyword(s):

Labor Market ◽

Skill Acquisition ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Vital Role ◽

Basic Study ◽

Access To Credit ◽

Entrepreneurial Spirit ◽

Small Medium Enterprises ◽

The Impact

Over the years, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) have been very significant to the economic development of most developing and developed countries. It is a major form of business and a major employer with a strong positive impact on the economic growth and labor market in Lebanon. This paper researches the impact of SMEs on the Lebanese labor market and Lebanese economy. Furthermore, the importance of SMEs, and the challenges facing the sector and makes recommendations as to how to resolve these challenges.The data was collected through a questionnaire, and several literature, publications and reports.Based on past researches and studies there is a relation between SMEs and job creation in addition to the vital role they play in a nation’s economy.This is a basic study to show the impact and importance of SMEs. Recommendations are made for governments to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit and in collaboration with banks to facilitate access to credit to ensure the growth, development and continuation of SMEs. Furthermore, owners and employees of SMEs should be provided with a skill acquisition program to boost their skills, and to ensure the development of both employees and the business.

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The Impact of Physical Activities on Cognitive Performance among Healthy Older Individuals

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci10060377 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 377

Author(s):

Blanka Klimova ◽

Radka Dostalova

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Cognitive Performance ◽

Physical Activity Intervention ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Healthy Population ◽

Alternative Programs ◽

Older Individuals ◽

Controlled Clinical Trials ◽

The Impact

The population is aging in developed countries. This aging process results in many changes, both physical and mental. Over the years, there has been a gradual decline in the level of cognitive functions closely related to the ageing process, which is most often connected with ageing diseases such as dementia. So far, pharmacological treatment has not yet been able to cure this neurological disorder. Health policies around the world seek to find alternative programs and strategies to help a healthy population prevent cognitive decline and prolong active life. One such strategy appears to be physical activity. The aim of this review is to discuss the impact of physical activity on cognitive performance among healthy older individuals. The methodology of this study is based on a systematic electronic literature search of available studies found in three databases: PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus. The findings suggest that any physical activity in older age seems to have a positive impact on the improvement of cognitive function. Furthermore, it appears that dancing, due to its multiple mechanisms, might have the biggest effect on the enhancement of cognitive performance in healthy older individuals. However, controlled clinical trials of physical activity intervention in older adults are rare. Therefore, further research in this area (particularly on the amount of physical activity, its intensity and type) is needed.

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Factors of Macroeconomic Dynamics in the Transition to the Information Economy

Scientific Research and Development Economics ◽

10.12737/article_5c5987ffa7f2c7.90521011 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 25-30

Author(s):

Леонид Басовский ◽

Leonid Basovskiy ◽

Елена Басовская ◽

Elena Basovskaya

Keyword(s):

Economic Growth ◽

Factor Analysis ◽

Growth Rates ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Principal Component ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Entire Period ◽

Annual Growth Rate ◽

Negative Effect ◽

The Impact

The study was made of the relationship between GDP growth rates and individual components of its final use by combining factor analysis using the principal component method and regression analysis. The period from 1955 to 1980 was studied using data on the average annual growth rate of components over fiveyear periods in the countries of the non-socialist world. The growth rates of the various components of the use of GDP at different stages as the fourth technical and economic structure of the fourth dominates and the development of crisis phenomena in the economy has had a variable impact on economic growth. During the crisis period, the impact of the growth of all components of using GDP on economic growth has dropped sharply. The greatest role in this period was played by the growth of current expenditures of the state. Comparison of the structure of the use of GDP using factor analysis by the method of principal components was carried out by the average annual values for the period from 1950 to 1980. As the development crisis approaches, as the models show, the influence of factors of the structure of using GDP on economic growth decreases. During the entire period, high levels of government spending had a negative effect on economic growth. The impact of exports and imports was positive for the entire period studied. Overcoming the crisis in the economies of developed countries led to a transition to a positive impact of investment on economic growth.

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Is Trade in Services Healthier than Trade in Goods?

Global Economy Journal ◽

10.1515/gej-2016-0068 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 20160068

Author(s):

Vishalkumar J Jani

Keyword(s):

Health Status ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Trade Openness ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Prima Facie ◽

Dominant Factor ◽

Trade In Services ◽

Least Developed Countries ◽

Positive Health ◽

The Impact

There has been an ongoing debate about the impact of trade openness on the health. This study aims to inform this debate by comparing health impacts of trade in services vis-à-vis trade in goods. Prima facie, the former, due to association with the higher human capital requirement and less pollution, may have a higher positive health impact. The main finding is that the trade in services has a higher positive impact on the health status compared to that of the trade in goods. However, for the least developed countries trade in goods is the dominant factor impacting the health status.

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Overcoming the Underutilisation of Peritoneal Dialysis

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2015/431092 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jernej Pajek

Keyword(s):

Peritoneal Dialysis ◽

Replacement Therapy ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Close Monitoring ◽

Home Based ◽

Constant Quality ◽

Key Aspects ◽

The Impact

Peritoneal dialysis is troubled with declining utilisation as a form of renal replacement therapy in developed countries. We review key aspects of therapy evidenced to have a potential to increase its utilisation. The best evidence to repopulate PD programmes is provided for the positive impact of timely referral and systematic and motivational predialysis education: average odds ratio for instituting peritoneal dialysis versus haemodialysis was 2.6 across several retrospective studies on the impact of predialysis education. Utilisation of PD for unplanned acute dialysis starts facilitated by implantation of peritoneal catheters by interventional nephrologists may diminish the vast predominance of haemodialysis done by central venous catheters for unplanned dialysis start. Assisted peritoneal dialysis can improve accessibility of home based dialysis to elderly, frail, and dependant patients, whose quality of life on replacement therapy may benefit most from dialysis performed at home. Peritoneal dialysis providers should perform close monitoring, preventing measures, and timely prophylactic therapy in patients judged to be prone to EPS development. Each peritoneal dialysis programme should regularly monitor, report, and act on key quality indicators to manifest its ability of constant quality improvement and elevate the confidence of interested patients and financing bodies in the programme.

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