Harper Adams University Repository
Not a member yet
1466 research outputs found
Sort by
Carbon footprints of greenhouse gas mitigation measures for a grass-based beef cattle finishing system in the UK
Get PDFPurpose
Agri-food systems across the globe are faced with the challenge of reducing their supply-chain emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4). For instance, 10% of the UK’s GHG emissions are generated by agriculture, and ~ 56% of these are generated by livestock production. Numerous mitigation measures are being proposed to reduce GHG emissions from ruminants (representing 70 to 80% of total livestock emissions), particularly from beef cattle (presenting 30–40% of total livestock emissions).
Methods
To explore such potential, first, a business-as-usual (BAU) partial cradle-to-finishing farmgate scale modelling framework was developed. The BAU systems (i.e. steady-state productivity based on primary data from the North Wyke Farm Platform) were built using ensemble modelling wherein the RothC process-based soil organic carbon (SOC) model was integrated into the life cycle assessment (LCA) framework to conduct a trade-off analysis related to mitigation measures applicable to the study system. Potential mitigation measures were applied to the BAU scenario. The interventions assessed included: (i) extensification; (ii) adopting anaerobic digestion technology; and (iii) the use of the nitrification inhibitor DCD and substitution of fertiliser nitrogen with symbiotically fixed nitrogen from legumes.
Results
The partial carbon footprint for 1 kg of beef liveweight gain leaving the farmgate could be reduced by 7.5%, 12%, or 26% by adopting nitrification inhibitors, white clover introduction (pending establishment success), and anaerobic digestion for manure management, respectively.
Conclusions
The findings highlight the importance of including emissions beyond the farmgate level to analyse the carbon footprint of different management scenarios in order to assess the sustainability of agri-food production systems
A multi-spectral and hyperspectral image dataset for evaluating chemical traits and the water status of avocado, olive and grape through leaf dehydration under laboratory conditions
No full textAssessing the health status of vegetation is of vital importance for all stakeholders. Multi-spectral and hyper-spectral imaging systems are tools for evaluating the health of vegetation in laboratory settings, and also hold the potential of assessing vegetation of large portions of land. However, the literature lacks benchmark datasets to test algorithms for predicting plant health status, with most researchers creating tailored datasets. This work presents a dataset composed of multi-spectral images, hyper-spectral reflectance values, and measurements of weight, chlorophyll, and nitrogen content of leaves at five different drying stages, from avocado, olive, and grape trees, which are common crops in the Valparaíso region of Chile. This dataset is a valuable asset for developing tools in the field of precision agriculture and assessing the general health status of vegetation
Effects of different feeding strategies on egg production, eggshell quality, tibial mass and intestinal calcium transporter expression in laying hens
No full text1. This study examined feeding practices that could affect the expression of intestinal calcium transporter gene, tibial mass, eggshell quality and production performance in 25-week-old Hy-Line Brown Laying Hens.
2. In this study, 360 healthy 25-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were divided into three treatment groups with 10 replicates of 12 hens per group. The groups were fed as follows: 1) Twice a day, 50% of the standard breeder diet was fed at 8:00 and 15:00 (CFG); 2) Two-thirds of the standard breeder diet was fed at 8:00 and 15:00 (UFG), respectively; 3) Two different diets were fed separately, 50% at 8:00 and 50% at 15:00 (SFG)
3. The feed-to-egg ratios of the CFG and SFG groups were significantly higher than those of the UFG group. The eggshell weight of the UFG group was numerically reduced (p > 0.05) compared to the CFG and SFG groups. The papilla, barrier, effective layers and the thickness of the particular eggshell layers were different in each group. The amount of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in the bones, eggshells and excreta varied by group. According to gene expression analysis, PMCA and CaBP-28K expression in the duodenum and jejunum differed significantly
4. The results suggested that segmented feeding may enhance Ca deposition in eggshells, reduce bone Ca loss and improve its utilisation efficiency. This feeding strategy results in enhanced performance in layers and improves eggshell qualit
Both pond creation and restoration provide long term biodiversity gains in agricultural landscapes: implications for conservation
Get PDFPonds are globally recognised for their unique contribution to freshwater biodiversity. However, due to agricultural intensification and urban development, many ponds within human-dominated landscapes have been lost, while many remaining ponds in such environments have become heavily terrestrialised, which has significantly reduced landscape-scale freshwater biodiversity. To reverse such trends, two main conservation approaches have been employed: pond creation and pond restoration. However, there remains a limited understanding on the longer-term effectiveness of these conservation techniques. This study aimed to quantify and compare long term responses of aquatic macrophyte communities among 56 created (28) and restored (28) ponds across an agricultural landscape in eastern England (United Kingdom). For both approaches, alpha and gamma richness were significantly higher 11+ years after intervention compared to 1–2 years following intervention, but their temporal trajectories differed. Plant colonisation was faster at restored compared to created ponds, with the former displaying a significantly higher taxonomic richness 1–2 and 3–6 years post-intervention. At 11+ years after pond creation or restoration, similar alpha and gamma diversity was recorded for the two conservation approaches. Successive time periods generally demonstrated more similar macrophyte communities within restored and created ponds, and macrophyte compositional differences between created and restored ponds decreased with time. Pond restoration and creation should be used as complementary approaches to create broader abiotic and biotic gradients, in turn supporting different species and community compositions across the landscape. Both approaches are urgently needed to bend the curve on global freshwater biodiversity losses
Lines in the landscape
Get PDFDitches (linear constructions which store and/or move water where humans prefer it to go), via irrigation, drainage, and power, have helped drive the development of human societies. Now, ditches and other linear channels, typically carrying water, are numerous and found on every continent. Their form varies widely with use, which includes land drainage, irrigation, transportation, and boundary marking. Ditches support and shape biogeochemical cycles, biotic communities, and human societies, at multiple spatiotemporal scales. However, ditches are frequently overlooked by researchers in many disciplines. Here, we review the largely unrecognized role that ditches play in environmental processes and human societies. The effects of ditches can be both positive (e.g., biodiversity refuges, water for food production, nutrient retention) and negative (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, dispersal of pollutants). We call for future management to consider and enhance the multifunctional role that ditches can deliver at the landscape-scale
Physiological Responses of Wheat to Drought and Antitranspirants and Transcriptomic Changes in Anthers
Get PDFClimate change is affecting wheat production, prompting scientists to find alternative ways to improve drought tolerance. Antitranspirants applied at the critical growth stages of wheat have shown promising results in conserving water and improving crop yield in various studies, possibly by enhancing pollen viability. However, the molecular mechanisms behind these improvements are not yet well understood. Therefore, in this thesis, two field experiments (in rain shelters), one glasshouse experiment and the transcriptomic study of early meiotic anthers (leptotene-zygotene), were conducted to understand the effects of the film (Vapor Gard (VG), di-1-p-menthene) and metabolic (Abscisic acid (ABA), 20% S-ABA) antitranspirants at different growth stages: VG at stem elongation (GS31), VG or ABA before the start of meiosis (GS39) and ABA at grain filling stage (GS71-73). Field and the glasshouse experiments revealed no significant effects from antitranspirants, assessed via different physiological parameters (mainly relative water content, pollen viability, yield and most of the yield components) when droughted unsprayed and antitranspirants sprayed plants were compared. The main reason for this might be low soil moisture levels when antitranspirants were applied. However, significant variations at the gene expression level were observed in anthers, and most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were downregulated under drought stress and applying antitranspirants further downregulated these genes (3,959 downregulated genes in both VG and ABA samples), with fewer upregulated genes (830 genes). The number of downregulated genes was higher in VG-treated plant anthers (3,325 genes) compared to ABA-treated anthers (634 genes). DEGs involved in biological processes, especially related to carbohydrate/sugar metabolism, were mainly affected. Overall, the results suggest that plants are more sensitive to antitranspirants at the molecular level as observed in anthers, than at the whole plant level, and less severe drought stress may be needed for the altered gene expression responses to significantly impact crop yield
Influence of Sucrose Levels and Encapsulated Extracts on Sensory Perception: Bitterness Masking and Turmeric Flavor Balance in Functional Instant Drinks
Get PDFTaste is crucial for food acceptance, with sweetness generally preferred and bitterness often rejected. Encapsulated green tea and turmeric extracts (COE) previously retained undesirable turmeric aroma, flavor, and bitterness, reducing consumer acceptance. This study evaluated the effect of sucrose (5–15%) in masking these attributes in COE-enriched instant peach drinks. Sensory tests included Generic Descriptive Analysis (GDA) with 13 trained panelists and consumer acceptance testing with 50 Thai consumers. A factorial experiment assessed drinks containing COE (1.0–2.0%), sucrose (5–15%), and peach freeze-dry powder (8%) in 100 mL water. Sucrose levels significantly influenced the physicochemical and sensory properties (p < 0.05). Increasing sucrose improved pH, TSS, and liking scores (e.g., turmeric aroma, flavor, sweetness, bitterness, astringency, overall liking), while decreasing color and GDA-rated turmeric attributes. Higher COE levels increased catechin and curcuminoid content but intensified bitterness and reduced flavor acceptance. Turmeric flavor liking was significantly lower at 2.0% COE than at 1.0% and 1.5%. Principal component analysis (79.59% variance explained) identified 15% sucrose and 1.5% COE as the optimal formulation (overall liking: 7.6 ± 1.0). These findings underscore the importance of cross-modal interactions in sensory modulation and offer a sustainable formulation strategy for functional beverages targeting both health benefits and consumer preference
Transcriptomic Responses of Wheat Anthers to Drought Stress and Antitranspirants
Get PDFDrought severely impacts crop yields, especially wheat. Antitranspirants, which reduce water loss, have been shown to improve crop yield under drought, possibly by increasing pollen viability. To understand the mechanisms, transcriptomic responses were studied in early meiotic wheat anthers extracted from polytunnel-grown plants: well-watered, droughted unsprayed, and droughted plants treated with antitranspirants. Film (Vapor Gard (VG), di-1-p-menthene) and metabolic (Abscisic Acid (ABA), 20% S-ABA) antitranspirants were applied at the flag leaf stage (GS39). Well-watered (WW) plant anthers had more upregulated genes (626 genes) than downregulated ones (226 genes) when compared to droughted unsprayed ones. Most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were transcriptionally downregulated (3959 genes) in droughted, treated-plant anthers (ABA and VG) compared with unsprayed (US), and the number of genes with upregulated expression was lower (830 genes). VG-treated plant anthers had more downregulated genes (3325 genes) than ABA-treated ones (634 genes). Carbohydrate or sugar metabolism and related processes were affected in antitranspirant-treated plant anthers with significant downregulation of genes compared to droughted unsprayed ones; in contrast, these processes were upregulated in well-watered anthers, suggesting broad differences in the transcriptional response. However, antitranspirants did not significantly affect pollen viability or yield in treated plants compared to unsprayed plants, suggesting that anthers are more sensitive at the transcriptomic level than subsequent physiological processes determining yield
Species richness, diversity and abundance of insect flower visitors of Coffea arabica and Coffea fadenii in Taita hills, Kenya
No full textPollination is a vital ecosystem service underpinning the production of both global food crops and wild plants. Although coffee (Coffea arabica) is capable of self-pollination, animal-mediated pollination is essential for maximizing yield and maintaining cup quality. This study investigated insect flower visitors of cultivated C. arabica and the endangered wild species Coffea fadenii in the Taita Hills, Kenya. Specifically, we compared species richness, diversity, abundance, and community overlap of flower visitors between the two coffee species to inform management and conservation strategies. Coloured pan traps and limited time searches were employed to sample for insect flower visitors. A total of 2,931 individual insect visitors, representing 153 species across four insect orders (Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera), were recorded on both species. Species richness and diversity were greater in C. arabica than C. fadenii, though overall visitor abundance did not differ. The dominant visitor on C. fadenii was Melyridae sp. 1, a soft-winged flower beetle (37.12%), whereas C. arabica was primarily visited by Apis mellifera (19.31%) and Rhyncomya soyauxi (11.50%). Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination of flower visitor communities found significant differences between the two species, suggesting limited potential for pollen exchange. These findings highlight the distinct partitioning of pollinator assemblages between cultivated and wild coffee, emphasizing the ecological importance of insect pollinators for both the in-situ conservation of C. fadenii and the enhancement of C. arabica yields. Moreover, the prominent roles of beetles and flies alongside bees suggest that maintaining taxonomic diversity of flower visitors may be crucial for functional redundancy and effective pollination
Towards Equity? Advancing Rural Consideration in Flood Risk Management
Get PDFFlood risk management (FRM) in England and Wales predominantly follows a utilitarian approach guided by cost–benefit analysis, with a corresponding focus on urban areas. This approach has been criticised for being unjust, as it neglects vulnerabilities that cannot be readily monetised, resulting in some of the most vulnerable flood-affected communities being excluded from FRM provision. This issue is especially pronounced in rural areas. Ironically, rural communities are often overlooked despite many contributing to the protection of urban settlements. In response to increasing research on social injustices in FRM and policy calls for more equitable approaches, greater consideration of rural flooding is required. Using the River Severn catchment as a case study, this paper employs a questionnaire survey of 176 rural residents to gather perspectives on their engagement with FRM agencies. Their responses were then discussed with FRM organisations active in the region through interviews. The combined perspectives of rural communities and FRM organisations reveal challenges and opportunities for achieving just consideration of rural areas in FRM. The findings emphasise the need for a more inclusive approach to FRM in the River Severn catchment and offer valuable lessons for other rural areas in the United Kingdom and beyond