Claudio Mancuso, Giulio Paolo Agnusdei, Marco De Simone
et al.
Abstract The wine sector holds substantial economic importance in the Italian agri-food production system, that is nonetheless exposed to the effects of climate change displaying heterogeneous effects between cultivated varieties and geographical regions. Using daily weather variables (maximum/minimum temperatures and precipitation) aggregated over the annual grapevine growth cycle, this paper investigates the impact of interannual growing-season weather variability on grapevine productivity in Italy at a regional level from 2006 to 2024. Moreover, an innovative reconstruction of two agro-meteorological indicators is developed, namely (a) standardized weather indexes and (b) degree days as growing degree days (GDD), killing degree days (KDD) and frost degree days (FDD), specifically designed to capture both seasonal and nonlinear responses to temperature and precipitation. Fixed-effects panel models are used to link productivity to weather variability, controlling for unobservable variables and potential nonlinearities. Results confirm nonlinear temperature effects; in particular, productivity increases with temperatures up to roughly 31–33 $$^\circ$$ ∘ C, but going over this threshold is very harmful. Moreover, the results indicate that very low minimum temperatures, captured by the FDD indicator, have a negative effect on productivity (frost damages). Precipitation has different impacts depending on the growing season. Higher precipitation in April–June tends to reduce productivity, whereas in the generally drier July–September period additional precipitation supports productivity up to a point, beyond which it becomes detrimental.
Nutrition. Foods and food supply, Agricultural industries
Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most significant crops globally. With its relatively low water productivity (WP), huge amount of water was consumed annually in soybean production. Understanding soybean WP on a global scale is useful for identifying limitations in WP improvement to reduce water use. A meta-analysis was conducted on global soybean WP, based on 2247 observations from 274 studies published from April 2000 to January 2025, with aims to quantify the current WP and its influencing factors, and estimate the boundary function for WP in the different soybean agroecological zones in the world. The global average WP was 6.4 kg ha−1 mm−1. The mean WP followed the order of Americas (mean: 8.1 kg ha−1 mm−1) > Asia (mean: 5.8 kg ha−1 mm−1) > Europe (mean: 5.6 kg ha−1 mm−1) > Africa (mean: 4.5 kg ha−1 mm−1). The boundary function model indicated that the theoretical potential WP values could reach 15.2 kg ha−1 mm−1, 9.6 kg ha−1 mm−1, 14.6 kg ha−1 mm−1 and 6.2 kg ha−1 mm−1 in Asia, Europe, the Americas and Africa, respectively. Combining machine learning and mixed effects model analysis revealed that key limiting factors of WP included mean annual precipitation (MAP), mean annual temperature (MAT)and soil organic matter (SOM). For different management measures, the meta-analysis showed that plastic film mulching played an important role in improving global soybean WP (30.6 % increase, p < 0.05), followed by nitrogen fertilizer application (24.4 % increase, p < 0.05), using irrigation (21.0 % increase, p < 0.05), and optimized irrigation management (7.4 % increase, p < 0.05). These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing field management strategies to improve soybean WP.
The construction of simple reservoirs in arid regions helps meet the water demands for agricultural irrigation, industry, and domestic use, while also alleviating local water shortages and related issues. However, environmental concerns associated with reservoir development are becoming more evident. For instance, the stored water is gradually becoming saline. Studies suggest that reducing water evaporation over extended periods can effectively lower the salt concentration in the water. Currently, there is limited research on salt migration in reservoir water when covered with anti-evaporation materials. Given the potential impact of these materials on the water environment and hydrodynamic conditions, this study seeks to examine the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of reservoir mineralization under such covering. To this end, laboratory and field experiments were conducted to analyze the impact of covering the water surface with floating high-density polyethylene spheres to reduce evaporation and its effect on water salinity. These experiments included monitoring water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, sediment resuspension, and water conductivity, as well as calculating the contribution of sediment release and evapotranspiration to the increase in salinity concentration within the water column. This study investigates the role of floating high-density polyethylene (HDPE) spheres in reducing reservoir evaporation and mitigating water salinity. Laboratory and field experiments assessed the effects of different coverage levels (0 %-74.98 %) on evaporation rates, sediment resuspension, and water chemistry. The findings indicate that covering 74.98 % of the reservoir surface led to a 28.97 % reduction in salinity (p < 0.05) over one irrigation cycle. Evaporation inhibition varied from 13.56 % to 60.19 %, depending on coverage. However, floating spheres exhibited reduced effectiveness at high wind speeds (>10.7 m/s), highlighting the need for additional containment strategies. Future research should explore long-term durability, ecological impact, and cost-effectiveness of large-scale deployment.
Pau Martí, Ramón López-Urrea, Luis A. Mancha
et al.
Models relying on limited inputs are very valuable for estimating reference evapotranspiration, and subsequently irrigation doses, but their accuracy can be very dependent from calibration. This study assessed three versions of the Hargreaves-Samani (HS) and the FAO Penman-Monteith (PM) equations to estimate reference evapotranspiration (ETo), relying respectively on three input combinations. Further the six models were adjusted each using different time windows for calculating the calibrating constants, namely global, annual, monthly, fortnightly, and weekly constants, while all the models were calibrated and tested using calculated and lysimeter benchmarks. The models relying on mean air temperature and solar radiation tended to be more accurate than those relying on mean air temperature and relative humidity, while these tended to be more accurate than those relying on air temperature difference, but there might be intra annual exceptions according to the monthly indicators. The errors of the PM estimations were just slightly higher than those of the corresponding HS estimations. The accuracy improvement in the calibrated versions was higher the shorter the time window used for averaging the calibrating parameters. Thus, the application of monthly or, at least, seasonal calibrating constant might be recommended for a suitable correction of the bias. During the year, the estimations presented markedly lower errors and lower differences within models during the summer. The error decrease in the calibrated versions was more marked during the winter. The assessment relying on lysimeter benchmarks provided similar qualitative patterns than the assessment relying on calculated benchmarks, but the corresponding error ranges were higher. Finally, 6 examples were presented for visualizing the effect of the method used to estimate ETo on the corresponding resulting average annual crop water requirements. If irrigation scheduling is based on a soil water balance using crop evapotranspiration estimates, at least, a monthly bias assessment of the ETo estimates in combination with the crop cycle lengths and dates might contribute to infer if crop water requirement infra-estimation trends are identified during crop sensitive stages to water deficit.
The increasing scarcity of natural resources, worsening global climate change, environmental degradation, and rising demand for food are forcing the biotechnology and plastics industries to seek and apply circular economy models that would lead to a sustainable transition in the production and use of bioplastics. Circular economy models can improve the economic productivity of bio-based plastics and have a positive impact on the environment by reducing conventional plastic waste and the consumption of petrochemical feedstocks for plastic production. In addition, some agricultural wastes that have the potential to be used as bioplastics can be reused. Terahertz (THz) systems are already used in the plastics and rubber industries for non-destructive testing, detection, imaging, and quality control. Several reports have highlighted the potential applications of THz spectroscopy and imaging in polymer analysis and plastics characterisation. This potential is even greater with chemometric methods and artificial intelligence algorithms. In this review, we focus on applications that support the transformation of the biotechnology sector to the circular economy, particularly via the transition from conventional plastics to bioplastics. In this review, we discuss the potential of THz systems for the characterisation and analysis of bioplastics and biopolymers. The results of previous studies on biopolymers in the THz frequency range are summarised. Furthermore, the potential of using artificial intelligence approaches such as machine learning as advanced analytical methods in THz spectroscopy and imaging, in addition to the conventionally used chemometric methods, is discussed. The results of this review highlight that THz technology can contribute to closed technological circles in important areas of biotechnology and the related plastics and rubber industries.
Neste artigo, buscamos recompor a trajetória recente dos estudos sobre juventude rural no Brasil a partir da análise de trabalhos que são referência nesse campo de pesquisas. Objetivamos discutir em que medida dois postulados fundantes desse debate ainda são atuais: o primeiro, a oposição entre “projeto individual” do jovem e “projeto familiar”; o segundo, a dicotomia campo e cidade, manifesta no binômio “ficar ou sair” do campo. Esse exercício permite, de um lado, compreender a gênese dos estudos sobre juventude rural no Brasil e as transformações vivenciadas ao longo das últimas três décadas nesse campo de estudos, do outro, apontar novos caminhos para o estudo dessa parcela da juventude brasileira.
Purpose: technical support for drip irrigation of the inter-row root-inhabited soil space in fruit garden plantations.
Materials and methods. The object of the study was the irrigation network of perennial tree-fruit orchard plantations. During the research, analysis and variant comparison were carried out, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of the structures under consideration. When improving the design of the drip irrigation facility, the methods of exploratory design were used.
Results. During the research, the experience of operating the drip irrigation systems of perennial orchards was generalized and the basic requirements for the drip irrigation network in perennial orchards were formed. As an object for further research, partially satisfying these requirements, a constructive diagram of a drip irrigation facility for moistening the soil in the inter-row root-inhabited soil space of tree-fruit orchard plantations, given in RU Patent no. 2713136, was adopted. The disadvantage of this design of a drip irrigation facility is low reliability of the elastic coupling, which should be deformed when the position of the drip console changes, have the necessary rigidity to lift the drip console from the working position to the idle position, and be a sealed conduit connecting the drip console and the tee. As a result of the research, an improved design of the irrigation structure has been proposed, which does not include deformable elements.
Conclusions. The proposed design scheme of a drip irrigation facility for perennial fruit plantations meets the requirements of manufacturability, has the ability to automatically operate in the irrigation mode and in the inter-irrigation period, and provides irrigation water supply to certain points of the location of the developed root system of perennial plants, including the inter-row root-inhabited soil space.
This research was conducted in Indonesia and Turkey. The aims of this study is to analyse the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) of trade relations in, the industry attractiveness, trade potential, strategic orientation of the palm oil commodities traded between Turkey and Indonesia, and to analyse the industry competitive forces. This research use primary and secondary data, both of quantitative and qualitative ones. The primary data obtained from deep interview by purposive sampling, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) method by online and offline communication, and from experts acquisition. The secondary data obtained from UN Comrade, FAOSTAT, IMF, World Bank, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant agencies. Descriptive data were analysed using the SWOT Matrix method, the SOR (Strategic Orientation) Matrix method, Strategic Position and Action Evaluation (SPACE), and the Porter’s Five Competitive Forces Matrix. Based on the diagram by the internal-external factor matrix, it is known that the condition of between Turkey and Indonesia were same condition on the Divest.
Industrial is one of dispersion patterns on regional geographical distribution of industrial enterprises which are approved in the process of industrial development especially in poor areas and this is what appeared in this study , Of a lot of industrial enterprises distributed geographically in the center and southern regions of Iraq through periods of time since the founding of the council of reconstruction in 1950 and until the last five – year plan comprehensive economic carried out" 1981-1986 and Iraq that have not been implemented to the completion of the Iran-Iraq war in 1980 which affected the 8 years that ended in august 8 , 1988. Economic five-year plans successive of economic development where and expanding industrial activity in order to provide job opportunities for thousands of the workforce has been able to is evident from the study of the province of quinsy as amodel , which was dependent on agricultural as an economic resouree , which led the emigration of most of the manpower into Iraq and outside Iraq possible for those responsible in following the policies of previous governments development plans and implantation of dozens of industrial projects in the five-year plan 1970-1974 and the subsequent establishment of many Almausat undustrial big and geographically distributed among the cities of the province , including the industries plant of rubber (tires diwaniya) and plant of textile and dairy plant in the city of diwaniya aswell as two plats for bricks in each of dagharah and shamiya and in addition to the role of the private sector in the development of industrial province .
Rendahnya konsumsi protein yang berasal dari ikan karena belum banyaknya penganekaragaman produk ikan yang disenangi masyarakat sehingga perlu adanya pengolahan ikan air tawar (ikan mujair) dan ikan laut (ikan gebur) menjadi kamaboko sebagai salah satu alternatifnya. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan tujuan menganalisis pengaruh perbedaan jenis ikan (ikan laut dan ikan air tawar) dan penambahan ekstrak kunyit terhadap mutu kamabako dan mengetahui jumlah perlakuan kombinasi terbaik antara jenis ikan (ikan laut dan ikan air tawar) dan penambahan ekstrak kunyit yang berkualitas baik dan disukai konsumen. Metode penelitian meliputi pengolahan kamaboko dengan perlakuan jenis ikan yaitu ikan air tawar (ikan mujair) dan ikan laut (ikan gebur) serta penambahan ekstrak kunyit 0 %, 2 % dan 4 %. Hasil analisis kadar air Kamaboko perlakuan jenis ikan yaitu ikan air tawar (ikan mujair) dan ikan laut (ikan gebur) dengan penambahan ekstrak kunyit 0 %, 2 %, dan 4 % berkisar antara 62,247 sampai dengan 68,487, sedangkan analisa protein Kamaboko berbeda tidak nyata pada taraf signifikan 5% berkisar antara 12,700% sampai dengan 13,780%. Hasil analisa tekstur kamaboko berkisar antara 62,247% hingga 70,423 g/mm2. Tingkat kesukaan panelis terhadap kamaboko perlakuan jenis ikan yaitu ikan air tawar (ikan mujair) dan ikan laut (ikan gebur) dengan penambahan ekstrak kunyit 0%, 2%, dan 4% menunjukkan berbeda tidak nyata berdasarkan parameter warna, rasa dan tekstur. Namun kombinasi terbaik untuk menghasilkan mutu Kamaboko berkualitas baik dan disukai konsumen yaitu pada perlakuan ikan mujair dengan penambahan kunyit 2%, dan perlakuan ikan gebur dengan penambahan kunyit 4%.
Kata Kunci: kamaboko, ekstrak kunyit, jenis ikan
Com narrativa envolvente e atenta a sutilezas, característica do fazer antropológico, Tania Murray Li analisa temas caros ao estudo do capitalismo no meio rural - trabalho, política, sociabilidade, subsistência, entre outros - no contexto de indígenas de uma montanhosa região da Indonésia, colocando em questão uma série de pressupostos comuns em análises tradicionais sobre o tema. Seu grande trunfo para o estudo de sociedades agrárias é descortinar formas autóctones de emergência do capitalismo, nos quais um mesmo sistema global se desdobra de modos distintos em determinados contextos. Do ponto de vista normativo, a análise oferece um contraponto importante à ilusão de soluções “prontas” de desenvolvimento, oferecidas tanto por governos e agências internacionais quanto movimentos sociais, no que tange o combate à pobreza no meio rural.
Neste sentido, a mobilização de um conjunto de elementos torna Land’s End uma obra singular: seu desenho teórico-metodológico apurado, construído em diálogo com trabalhos clássicos e recentes da economia política e antropologia, assim como o estudo de caso que contempla quase duas décadas de análise, ressignificam o que julgamos saber sobre capitalismo e comunidades rurais em um mundo globalizado. Esta obra, vencedora do Senior Book Prize da American Ethnologist (2016) e presente em diversas mesas de discussões acadêmicas internacionais, é certamente capaz de fomentar novas discussões nos estudos agrários em âmbito nacional.
Adeola Alex Adesuyi, Njoku Kelechi Longinus, Akinola Modupe Olatunde
et al.
The unsafe and indiscriminate use of pesticides in wetlands for agriculture represents a major hazard to the environment and human health globally. The hazard of pesticide exposure and farmers susceptibility is due to lack of knowledge regarding its safe use, proper pesticides handling and practices. The aim of this study was to evaluate vegetable farmers’ knowledge, practices and exposure level during pesticides preparation and application in their crop production. A total of eighty one (81) vegetable farmers were identified in these wetlands. Four (4) declined the usage of pesticides because they are organic farmers. In all, seventy seven (77) vegetable farms and farmers were sampled for this study using a structured questionnaire. Data obtained were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. The results indicate high risks of exposure of the vegetable farmers to toxicity and health hazards to pesticides. 71.4% of the farmers agreed that pesticide use poses some potential risk to human health while 63.6% agreed that it poses risk also to the environment. The majority of the farmers (48.1%) stored their pesticides in the open field. Some respondents also stored their pesticides in open shed meant just for pesticides (18.2), and locked chemical stores designated only for pesticides (14.3%). A worrying 6.5% of the farmers reported storing pesticides within their living area. Respondents with higher education levels were significantly less likely to store pesticides in their home (?2 = 24.65, p< 0.05). Over 67% of the farmers indicated using at least one PPE during handling, preparation and spraying of pesticides. Among respondents who reported using PPE, less that 11% wore all the recommended six key PPE items (coveralls, protective boots, glasses/goggles, gloves, respirator, and hat). A substantial number of respondents reported not wearing respirators/nose mask (84.6%), coveralls (59.6%), or glasses/goggles (46.1%) at all. The PPE most often used were protective gloves (71.2%), hats (44.2%), and booths (42.3%). This use of partial usage PPE and non usage by farmers during pesticides application increases the potential risk of pesticide exposure, with serious health implications. It is evident that there are high risks of exposure of the small-scale farmers in the study area to toxicity and health hazards of pesticides during preparation and application. urgent need for regular and updated training of farmers on the safe use of pesticides and safe disposal of empty pesticide containers, left over spray solutions and water used to wash sprayer equipment after spraying as this is crucial to ensure effective management of insect pests and diseases, prevention of environmental pollution and safe pesticides usage.
Supaporn Bouson, Atiweena Krittayavathananon, Nutthaphon Phattharasupakun
et al.
Although metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) or porous coordination polymers have been widely studied, their antimicrobial activities have not yet been fully investigated. In this work, antifungal activity of copper-based benzene-tricarboxylate MOF (Cu-BTC MOF), which is water stable and industrially interesting, is investigated against Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae and Fusarium oxysporum. The Cu-BTC MOF can effectively inhibit the growth rate of C. albicans and remarkably inhibit the spore growth of A. niger, A. oryzae and F. oxysporum. This finding shows the potential of using Cu-BTC MOF as a strong biocidal material against representative yeasts and moulds that are commonly found in the food and agricultural industries.
Flávio Sacco dos Anjos, Fernanda Novo da Silva, Germano Ehlert Pollnow
Este artigo se insere nos estudos sobre processos de construção social da qualidade na produção agroalimentar. Analisa uma experiência específica, qual seja, o surgimento de uma marca coletiva – Cordeiro Herval Premium – criada por produtores de ovinos da região do pampa gaúcho (Serras do Sudeste), no extremo sul do Brasil. A pesquisa se baseia em oito entrevistas em profundidade realizadas com produtores de ovinos, técnicos e lideranças do Conselho Regulador. Após viver um período de expansão, esta experiência vive hoje uma etapa de regressão e de redefinição de seus rumos. Entre os grandes problemas constam a dificuldade de controle do processo de abate e distribuição do produto final, a subordinação aos grandes frigoríficos, bem como o comportamento oportunista da maior parte dos produtores.
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the medicinal plants that contain active components and medicinal materials. Tissue culture of saffron can improve the quality and quantity of the saffron product, increase its export and the farmers’ income. In this study, 36 different types of hormone combinations in the dark and 9 different treatments of hormone combinations in cold (4°C), using different saffron explants (bulb, leaf, scales around leaf and distal parts of the leaf) were studied in tissue culture. To investigate the growth of corms, the callus formation and the regeneration rate, three replications for each treatment were used and the length of shoot (cm), the callus formation percentage and the regeneration percentage were measured and statistical analysis was performed. Among the types of explants, only explants from bulbs produced the callus on MS medium containing 2 mg.l-1 BAP and 1 mg.l-1 IBA in both the dark and cold conditions. The highest percentage of regeneration was obtained in MS medium with hormonal composition of 0.3 mg.l-1 TDZ, 1 mg.l-1 BAP, 2 mg.l-1 IBA and 0.01 mg.l-1 GA3 in the cold conditions.