An integrated pest management program outperforms conventional practices for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Cambodia

For several years, pest management in tomato production in Cambodia has generally focused on the use of synthetic pesticides. We compared conventional pest management (farmers’ traditional practices) with an IPM program on 12 farms in the northwestern part of Cambodia. The IPM program combined cultural, biological, and chemical practices. We found that IPM practices reduced aphid damage by 46% and diseases such as Fusarium wilt and damping-off were substantially reduced. Our results indicate that the IPM package increased tomato yield and income by an average of 23% and 34%, respectively, compared to conventional practices during both dry and rainy seasons.

Changes in the Physico-Chemical Properties of Degraded Soils in Response to the ReviTec Approach Applied at Gawel (Far-North Cameroon)

A heavily degraded hardé area in the community of Gawel (Extreme Nord) was rehabilitated with a ReviTec approach. To evaluate the efficiency of introduced plants for rehabilitation, the site was monitored with the BioSoilPlot experiment over two years during the dry and rainy seasons (January 2018/2019, June 2018/2019, respectively). ReviTec was applied to accelerate ecological succession and improve the establishment of vegetation on these degradation-prone sites (Gawel 1 and Gawel 2). Growth volume, height and percentage cover of the herbaceous plants and soil physical and chemical parameters were assessed. Growth volume increased in both sites between 2018 and 2019 with Pennisetum pedicellatum exhibiting the highest values (Gawel 1: 3.41 dm3/m2 and 3.50 dm3/m2; Gawel 2: 3.47 dm3/m2 and 3.62 dm3/m2). Bunds were suitable for herbaceous growth, Sesbania sesban having the highest growth height (Gawel 1: 1.91 cm and 1.95 cm; Gawel 2: 1.95 cm and 1.97 cm) and Pennisetum pedicellatum the best percentage cover (Gawel 1: 53% and 58.33%; Gawel 2: 40.67% and 56.67%). Soil changed from sandy and strongly acid to clay-loam and slightly acid at Gawel 1, and from sandy and strongly acid to clay-loam and alkaline at Gawel 2. Soil water content and soil nutrient had increased within the ReviTec site compared to the outside with the application of compost-biochar-mycorrhiza treatment as the most promising over the two years of monitoring. Such results suggest that ReviTec approach can be used in sustainable restoration of soil hardé.

Estructura del pasto forrajero con cultivares de Urochloa brizantha bajo sombra

This study evaluated the structure of swards planted with Urochloa brizantha cv. BRS Paiaguas and BRS Piata under the eucalyptus shading system, fertilized via foliar at the beginning of the dry and rainy seasons. The experiment followed a randomized block design with a 4×2×2 (4 leaf fertilizer levels × 2 systems × 2 seasons) factorial arrangement. The results were analyzed using the GLIMMIX PROC of SAS University while means were compared by the T-test at 5%. Foliar fertilizer had a significant (P≤0.05) effect on cv. BRS Paiaguas stem mass under shading while the 3 and 6 L/ha levels produced the lowest (P≤0.05) masses. The forage and root masses were not significantly affected (P≥0.05) by the systems and seasons whereas the dead material mass was not influenced by the seasons. The shading system resulted in (P≤0.05) significantly lower dead material mass for both cultivars and higher (P≤0.05) leaf and stem masses for the cv. BRS Piata. In the rainy season, leaf and stem masses were greater (P≤0.05). Foliar fertilization up to 6 L/ha favored the stem control in cv. BRS Paiaguas under shading. The resulting masses of forage, dead material, and root allow concluding that the cultivars adapted well to the shading and dry season.

WILDLIFE ROADKILL IN THE SURROUNDINGS OF EMAS NATIONAL PARK, CERRADO BIOME, BRAZIL

Roadkill is a serious threat to biodiversity conservation especially when roads are near natural habitats of wildlife, such as the Emas National Park (ENP), a Protected Area in Mid-west Brazil in the Cerrado Biome. We aimed to identify the species killed on a stretch of the GO-341 highway that is tangent to the ENP. We investigated if roadkills were influenced by seasonality, sugar cane harvest and by the activity pattern of the animals (diurnal/nocturnal). We also analyzed if roadkills were aggregated in space, where the roadkill hotspots were located, if they were influenced by seasonality, and if they were different for the most abundant species. The highway was monitored with a vehicle, in the morning, at a speed of 40 to 60 km/hour, daily, with two observers. We covered a total of 4,230 km during the 90-day monitoring period, which included dry and rainy seasons. We recorded 132 wild animals’ roadkills: 67 birds (51 %), 60 mammals (45 %) and 5 reptiles (4 %). We identified 22 vertebrate species, including 13 birds, six mammals and three reptiles. The roadkill rate was 0.03 animals/km/day. During the dry season, the blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna) had higher roadkill rates. The crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) was the only species with higher roadkill rates during the sugarcane harvest. Most birds killed had diurnal habits, for mammals, no difference was observed concerning the activity pattern. Bird roadkills were aggregated considering the entire data set, as well as for the dry and rainy seasons separately. Mammal roadkills were aggregated only when considering the entire data set. The location of bird roadkill hotspots differed between seasons. The roadkill hotspot location of birds and mammals highly overlapped those observed for the two most abundant species of these taxa, respectively, Ara ararauna and Euphractus sexcinctus.

Carcass Traits, Meat Characteristics, and Economic Viability of Grazing Nellore Cattle Produced Under Different Supplementation Strategies in the Tropics

This study explored the effects of different supplementation strategies in the dry and rainy seasons in the tropics on the carcass traits, meat quality, and economic viability of Nellore cattle produced under grazing conditions. For this purpose, twenty-eight non-castrated male animals (18 months) with an initial body weight of 327.93 ± 4.22 kg were used. The animals were equitably distributed in a randomized complete design thorough four supplementation strategies as follows: i) mineral supplementation (MS) in both dry and rainy seasons (MS/MS), ii) MS in the dry season and concentrate supplementation (CS) in the rainy season (MS/CS), iii) CS in the dry season and MS in the rainy season (CS/MS), and iv) CS in both dry and rainy seasons (CS/CS). Thereafter, carcass traits, primary carcass cut yields, meat quality traits, chemical composition of meat, and economic viability of cattle production across different supplementation strategies were determined. Data revealed that animals under CS/CS showed the greatest (P < 0.01) hot carcass weights among the other supplementation strategies evaluated. Conversely, supplementation strategy did not affect (P > 0.05) carcass traits (the ribeye area, final pH, and forequarter), meat quality traits (shear force, myofibrillar fragment index, sarcomere length, and color), and meat chemical composition (crude protein, fat, and moisture) of the animals. The effective operational cost, total cost, gross revenue, and profit of animals under CS/CS showed the greatest values, whereas the lowest ones were obtained for the animals under MS/MS. In conclusion, data suggest that concentrate supplementation during at least one season (dry or rainy) produces similar meat quality traits and chemical composition of meat, but different hot carcass weight, backfat thickness and hindquarter proportion to those observed when animals were supplemented with concentrate in both seasons. Additionally, CS/CS animals, despite having a higher total cost, have greater profitability when raised in tropical pasture.

Caatinga Albedo Preserved and Replaced by Pasture in Northeast Brazil

The caatinga is considered South America’s largest seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) and one of the most vulnerable endemic biomes in relation to climate change. The surface albedo in caatinga is relevant to understanding the role of this biome in the climate of the Northeast region of Brazil. Thus, a comparative analysis was conducted between the albedos of preserved and anthropized caatinga (pasture). Data were collected using CNR4-type net radiometers during the dry and rainy seasons. The mean albedo values were higher in the Pasture both in the dry and rainy season, with values of 0.181 and 0.177, respectively. In the caatinga, the mean albedo values were 0.137 in the dry season and 0.146 in the rainy season. The hourly average values for albedo, taken between 6:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., with intervals of 30 min, were also higher in the pasture. For convenience, this study uses local standard time (LST), which is 3 h behind from coordinated universal time (UTC). The greatest dispersions in the frequencies of the mean hourly albedo values occurred in the early morning and late afternoon. Some of the consequences of this study is the confirmation that there is an increase in albedo in caatinga replaced by pasture and this causes a reduction in the net radiation and also the finding that a region where there is adequate pasture management also enables albedo management and from solar radiation. And that further studies can indicate the impacts on temperature and precipitation, especially in warmer periods during the dry season.

COMPOSITION AND FREQUENCY OF FLOWER VISITORS IN SOME VARIETIES OF MELON UNDER DIFFERENT CROP CONDITIONS1

ABSTRACT Previous investigations showed that diverse varieties of melon may have different attractiveness for bees. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the composition, frequency and behavior of flower visitors of some melon (Cucumis melo) cultivars (Amarelo, Pele de Sapo, Cantaloupe, Gália) in different conditions (conventional and organic farming, dry and rainy seasons, with and without mulching and introduction or not of honey bee hives) in the main production poles in the Brazilian Northeast (Petrolina-PE/Juazeiro-BA, Pacajus-CE and Mossoro-RN). Observations and collections of flower visitors occurred from 5p.m. to 6p.m, in non-consecutive days. We recorded 12 species of insects, mostly bees. The most frequent was Apis mellifera (99.68%), but other species appeared sporadically (less than 0.5%): Xylocopa grisescens, Trigona spinipes, Plebeia sp., Melipona mandacaia, Frieseomelitta doedereleini, Halicitidae. Apis mellifera was present in all studied cultivars and sites. Xylocopa grisescens appeared in two poles, but not in Pacajus-CE, Amarelo cultivar. In addition, Trigona spinipes, although present in the three poles, was not recorded on Pele de Sapo. The Amarelo cultivar, under organic farming, without the use of mulching, and presence of honey bee hives, in the Petrolina-PE/Juazeiro-BA pole, in the dry season, was the combination of factors showing the largest number of Apis mellifera as the main visitor of melon flowers.

Nutritional composition, nitrate and nitrite levels of Kikuyo grass and its influence on milk production.

Objetive. Establish variations of nutritional composition and the contents of nitrates and nitrites in the Kikuyo grass (Cenchrus clandestinus (Hochst. Ex Chiov.) Morrone) from four veredas in the municipality of San Miguel de Sema: Peña Blanca, Sirigay, Sabaneca, and Quintoque, during dry and rainy seasons. were dairy production is the most significant economic activity. Material and methods. Nutritional characterization parameters, were associated a two-way ANOVA, using Tukey's as a multiple comparison test. Results. The results revealed in dry matter a high average content of total protein (TP) (23.48% +/- 3.71), neutral detergent fiber (60.86% +/- 3.03), with important DM degradability values at different time points (62.97% +/- 3.74 after 48 Hours). The report indicated decreased values of lignin (4.25% +/- 0.5), non-structural carbohydrates (11.44% +/- 2.43) and of the ratio of non-structural carbohydrates: rumen degradable protein (NSC:RDP) of 0.84 +/- 0.16. The levels of nitrates reached an average of 2977 ppm +/- 2061, which differed significantly according to the seasons and veredas, for the dry season in the different veredas the level of nitrated remained at 4728 ppm, a value 3.9 higher in comparison to the rainy season. The levels of nitrites showed average contents of 2.97 pm of DM, contents highly decreased to be potentially toxic. Conclusions. These results allowed us to establish a difference in the protein:energy relation as the limiting factor for milk production. Nitrate levels indicated as potentially toxic.

Rainwater harvesting for fish farming water requirements in Boyolali Regency, Indonesia

<p>Climate change causes dry and rainy seasons to shift. Hydrology also shows that the number of rainwater changes with the uncertainty of its potential occurrence. In catfish farming and hydroponic farming, ensuring water availability is important for the sustainability of the project. Existing research is about managing rainwater, which can help partially supply water for both projects' benefit. The research location is in Jeron Village, Nogosari District, Boyolali Regency. Boyolali Regency is a 22 % residential area of the total area. It means 570 m³ potential storage. However, the result shows that only 17% of the roof area can collect rainfall for residential houses. In this study's residential case example, 17% of the roof area gives 97.8 m³ / year. The problem is that currently, there is no Rain Water Harvesting (RWH). A system capable of supporting the water supply. Using RWH provides a benefit based on the potential supply. This study highlights the potential benefits of using RWH. This pool yields a profit of up to (Indonesian Rupiah) IDR. 36,643,718 / month or IDR. 439,724.61 / year, with a probability of 80%. It means that in 5 years, it failed once. Moreover, water needs can supply from RWH.</p>

Species list of ground-dwelling ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Nhecolândia, Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

This study provides a list of the ground-dwelling ant species in Nhecolândia, Pantanal, Mato Grosso Sul, Brazil. The Pantanal is the largest tropical wetland in the world and is currently under strong anthropic pressure. Ground-dwelling ants were collected in three sites: (1) a forest regeneration area; (2) a pasture area; and (3) an area of secondary native vegetation. In each site, 120 samples were collected using pitfall traps in the dry and rainy seasons of 2016. Additional samplings were performed with Winkler extractors (30 leaf-litter samples) and manually, also in dry and rainy seasons of 2016. In total, we collected 172 species, which, summed with the additional records from literature, raise the number of ant species recorded in Nhecolândia to 184 in 42 genera and nine subfamilies. Eleven species were recorded for the first time in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Also, the survey adds two new species records to Brazil. Besides contributing to the inventory of the ant species present in the Pantanal biome, the present study provides an important resource for future conservation plans for this threatened ecoregion.