Evolution of Vegetation Fraction Cover in Agricultural Areas Affected by Prellonged Draughts in the South Regions of Romania

The draught phenomena affecting the traditional agricultural areas in south of Romania has been increasing in intensity over the time, leading to the desertification of several thousands of hectares in the south part of the country. In this study we have computed the vegetation fraction cover for the South-West and South - East regions of Romania, based on the minimum and maximum NDVI extracted from MODIS satellite images. The time frame to refer to is 2000 - 2017, perennially, with special significance given the numerous and prolonged draught intervals these areas have been facing and the social economic evolution, from small farms to large agricultural holdings. The resulted vegetation fraction cover (fc) is correlated to the SPI values in order to determine a pattern to be used in anticipating deviations from the seasonal vegetation productivity. As a conclusion, the study presents a fair balance, indicating the most sensitive areas in soil vegetation cover, due to the SPI change.

Farms Typologies and Their Impact on the Development of Rural Areas in Moldova

For Moldova’s agriculture are characterized the existence of many small family farms and only a small number of corporate holdings (limited liabilities companies, agricultural production cooperatives etc). Most of individual farms, small by size produce only for own family consumption and cannot find their way to the market place. The accentuated poverty makes rural economy to flow more and more to a natural subsistence economy, isolating itself from the market economy. The goal of this paper is to delimitate different types of farms based on selected indicators and to appreciate their level of development. Differences in farms levels of development are appreciated through cluster analysis. The research includes the analysis of farms survey data. This research was carried as a part of the Academy of Sciences project “Sustainable rural development in Republic of Moldova in the context of EU accession”. In the project were surveyed 938 individual farms from nine districts across the country. As a result, we distinguish three types of farms: natural, family and market household. The cluster analysis allows to characterize the farms level development, to determine the main priority directions, and to elaborate measures for the individual farms further sustainable development.

Comparative Assessment of the Analytical Parameters in Ascorbic Acid and Sulphite Assay at a Spectrographic Carbon Working Electrode

The aim of this study is the comparative investigation of spectrographic carbon electrode’s viability as working electrode, in ascorbic acid and sulphite asssessment. Cyclic voltammetry involves a linear sweeping of the potential, the analytical signal being represented by the anodic oxidation /cathodic reduction peak of the analyte. For both analytes, the electro-oxidation resulted in an anodic peak, correlable with ascorbic acid / sulphite concentration. The analytical range of linear response corresponded to 0.07 - 10 mM for ascorbic acid and to 15.5 mg/L - 4 g/L for sulphite. The relative standard deviation RSD (%) was 2.71 % for ascorbic acid and 2.88 % for sulphite. The sensitivities, given by the slopes of the calibration graphs were 88.88 μA/mmole/L for ascorbic acid and 477.37 μA/g/L for sulphite.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Soil: Exposure and Health Risk

The paper presents an original research regarding the risk for human health in the area of Ploiesti city using SADA software - Spatial Analysis and Decision Assistance. Due to the high level of toxicity, international legislation provides the list of PCBs compounds to be monitored: PCB28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, 180. Sample collection was made in 22 points including public green gardens, residential areas, roadsides and industrial areas. The chemical analyses were conducted in the Laboratory of National Research and Development Institute for Soil Science, Agro-Chemistry and Environment from Bucharest, according to an own analytical method adapted after EPA. According to the Romanian standards, PCBs were elevated across industrial regions near urban and industrial sources. The concentrations of PCBs overcome the normal values in the most sampling points and the area presents a potential of risk for people. Local authorities should address the human health threats from urban and industrial soils in Ploiesti city.

Camelina Sativa Crop-Instrument for Phytoremediation or Safe Culture Grown on Contaminated Soil?

The decontamination and detoxification of pesticides-contaminated soils is a tough task, due to their persistence and mobility. Camelina sativa is resistant to pests and weeds which affect similar crops mostly due to its unique defence system, attributed tocamalexin and metoxi-camalexin. Considering this, camelina may be cultivated without input of pesticides, but what happens if camelina is cultivated on an already pesticide-contaminated soil? The purpose of the study is to analyze the Camelina sativa potential to concentrate or not the residual pesticides from the soil in its seeds.It was assessed the level of pesticides from the soil on which Camelina sativa-Mădălina variety was cultivated and from the resulted seeds. The quantification was done using a GC-MS-MS equipment. In the soil it was found a total amount of 0.03 mg/kg of pesticides consisting in: o,p-DDE, p,p-DDE, o,p-DDD, o,p-DDT, p,p-DDT, from which 81.4% was p,p-DDE. All the signals registered for camelina seeds were below the LOQ of 0.005mg/kg. Camelina sativa-Mădălina variety can be cultivated on soils contaminated with DDT and its metabolites, minimizing the risk of pesticides translocation.

Effect of Canopy Structure on Water Use of Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) During Post-Anthesis Stage

Wheat, being the main crop in Mediterranean type environments, is grown during winter under rainfed conditions and its yield potential is mostly affected by the amount and distribution of rain. This study is conducted at experimental fields of Ege University, Department of Field Crops in Izmir-Bornova which is characterized as Mediterranean type climate conditions during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 growing season. Totally 9 canopy structures were generated by different row and line distances. Plant height, total dry weight, tiller number, harvest index, spike number, grain number per spike, thousand grain weight and grain yield were determined after harvest time while digital leaf area index and soil moisture contents were monitoring during specific growth periods to evaluate changes in soil water status by different canopy closer. Increasing in sowing density by different row and in-line distance reduced tiller and spike number per plant. On the other hand, grain number per spike and thousand grain weights were significantly affected by in-line distance instead of row distance. Higher grain yield were obtained from 20x1 cm treatments. Canopy cover speed determined using with digital imaging was not remarkable correlated (r=0.06) with soil moisture content during post-anthesis stage of wheat when higher rain amount is recorded in 2012. However, there was a significant negative correlation (r=0.51) between canopy cover speed and soil water status during post-anthesis stage when the rain amount is limited in 2013. We may suggest that rapid canopy cover lead to negative effect on soil water status via higher transpiration if the rain is limited during post-anthesis stage of wheat.

Introduction and Economical Value of Some Species of the Malvaceae Family in the Republic of Moldova

The family Malvaceae includes about 243 genera and at least 4 225 species of herbs, shrubs and trees. They are widely varied and include several important crops, which are mainly used as sources of fibre, food and beverages, medicines, timber. The species of the family Malvaceae: annual, Malva crispa and Malva meluca, native to East Asia, and perennial, Sida hermaphrodita, from North America, grown in monoculture in the experimental land of the Botanical Garden (Institute), served as subjects of the research, and the traditional crop Medicago sativa was used as control. The importance of the studied species of the family Malvaceae consists in their very rapid emergence and fast growth. The analysis of the chemical composition suggested that the dry matter of the studied species, at the 1st mowing contained 15.67-21.67 % raw protein, 2.15-4.46 % raw fats, 8.35-11.53 % minerals and 34.74-40.66 % nitrogen free extract, Medicago sativa - 17.03 %, 2.30 %, 33.31 %, 8.01 % and 39.41 % respectively, making them good candidates for use as livestock feed and for biomethane production. The nutritive value of 100 kg fresh mass of the studied Malvaceae species was 14.9-16.6 nutritive units and 153-173 MJ metabolizable energy, a nutritive unit contained 154.2-191.0 g digestible protein with high concentrations of limiting amino acids, the control - 21 nutritive units, 228 MJ and 164.3 g digestible protein, respectively. The calculated capacity of biomethane production of the studied Malvaceae species can reach 231-267 l/kg organic matter, Medicago sativa - 248 l/kg organic matter. The theoretical ethanol yield from structural carbohydrates of the dry biomass of stalks averaged 437-527 L/t in Malvaceae species, as compared to 485 L/t in corn. The best results were achieved by Sida hermaphrodita, due to its high amount of structural carbohydrates. These species may serve as feed for livestock, but also as multi-purpose feedstock for biorefinery in Moldova.

The Restoration and Remodelling of Facades – A Permanent Necessity for the Conservation of History

The article presents a way of remodeling old building facades, which have been subject to degradation, with the help of common software. There are two methods of reconstruction presented: the first method is using the Adobe Photoshop software and the second method is using the Agisoft PhotoScan software. A comparative study is presented, by showing the advantages and disadvantages of methods, as well as their similarities and differences. The building that is the subject of the study is one of the oldest buildings belonging to the university. It is noted that by combining modern technology (aerial scanning) and common software solutions, there can be found a fast and reliable response to the need for restoration and conservation of historical buildings.

Influence of Different Storage Methods on Apples Chemical Proprieties

The objective of preservation is to keep fruit fresh as long as possible after harvesting, without major physical, chemical or biological changes in their composition. The experimental factors underlying it the organization scheme are: A Factor - apple varieties: ‘Idared’, ‘Goldrush’, ‘Florina’, ‘Pinova’, ‘Dalinette’, ‘Golden reinderes‘,‘Golden lassa‘,‘Ariane‘; B factor - storage methods, with three graduations: classical method - low temperature and high humidity (1-4ºC; humidity 85-90%), Janny MT box storage method (1-4 ºC; 95-100% humidity; O2 1-3%; CO2 2-5%), fruit control equipment box-pallets (1- 4ºC; 90-95% humidity; O2 1-3%; CO2 2-5%) and factor C - fruit storage period -at 3, 4 and 5 months after harvest respectively. On the average of the cultivars taken in the study, on observe the tendency to increase the total dry mater and total sugar content, and decrease the total tritrable acidity and vitamin C with the prolongation of the fruit storage period.

The Study of the Drinking Water Quality from the Local Sources, Busu Village, Dolj County and of the Physical and Chemical Determinations

In the present paper, the authors refer to a study carried out in the village of Greceşti, Busu village, Dolj County, on the quality of drinking water from local sources (wells, wells and wells) and the comparison of these results with the limit values allowed by the legislation in force, namely Law 458/2002 and Law 311/2004, as well as the Water Framework Directive and the Groundwater Directive 118/2006 / EC. Organoleptic indicators, physical and chemical indicators from 10 distinct locations as source of harvested water were determined, where organoleptic indicators were determined by determination of taste and odour; physical indicators, determining the pH, colour, turbidity and total hardness; chemical indicators: ammonium, chlorides, oxidisability, nitrites. The determinations were made in the faculty’s agro-chemistry laboratory, using appropriate methods and equipment. Following the results, the causes leading to the results were established and a series of conclusions and recommendations were drafted.