Scientific Journals of INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria)
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Agronomic, leaf anatomy, morphology, endophyte presence and ploidy characterization of accessions of Festuca group rubra collected in northern Spain
Get PDFFifteen accessions of Festuca group rubra collected in northern Spain were characterized and grouped into four Festuca taxa on the basis of leaf anatomy, morphology and ploidy; seven were identified as F. heteromalla; two as F. trichophylla ssp. asperifolia; two as F. nigrescens ssp. microphylla and four as F. rubra ssp. pruinosa. All the accessions and one commercial cultivar ‘Wilma’ (F. nigrescens ssp. nigrescens), used as control, were established at the Mabegondo Agronomical Research Centre, A Coruña (Galicia) in a completely randomised block design with three replicates of 10 plants per accession. The plants were agronomically characterized for seven traits during 2004 and 2005. Cluster analysis was useful in identifying four clusters that described 66.5% of the phenotypic variation. Cluster 1 consisted of nine accessions with early heading, intermediate values of green colour and tolerance to crown rust in autumn and the highest seasonal growth. Cluster 2 contained two accessions with intermediate values of heading, green colour, good tolerance to crown rust in autumn and intermediate seasonal growth. Cluster 3 contained two accessions and the cultivar Wilma, which showed early heading, dark green colour, good tolerance to crown rust in autumn and spring and intermediate seasonal growth. Cluster 4 consisted of two late heading accessions with dark green colour, and the best tolerance to crown rust in autumn and intermediate seasonal growth. Thirteen of the 15 accessions (86.6%) were infected by fungal endophytes, with the degree of infection ranging from 2 to 73%
Extending the limits of paper recycling - improvements along the paper value chain
Get PDFAim of study: The purpose of this study is to analyze how paper recycling activities in Europe can be extended through different improvements along the paper value chain. The importance of this study lies in the identification of the present barriers in paper recycling and how they can be overcome.Area of study: Europe.Material and Methods: All the main stages along the paper value chain have been analyzed for possible improvements: collection of recovered paper (availability and quality), sorting of recovered paper, paper production, and printing and converting activities.Main results: To increase paper recycling in Europe the following improvements are necessary. First, it is mandatory to increase the availability of recovered paper through more efficient collection systems (avoiding the use of commingled collection systems) and limiting the competition with energy purposes and the exports. Second, it is necessary to extend sorting activities, which can be achieved by reducing sorting costs by the use of automatized sorting systems. Third, there is a need to increase the recyclability of paper products by the commitment of printing and converting industries to use recycling-friendly printing inks and adhesives. Finally, environmental awareness of the citizens is still an important driver for increasing recycling activities, affecting not only recovery but to all the stages along the paper recycling chain.Research highlights: Although the recycling rate in Europe is already very high (68.9%), there is still room to further extend paper recycling activities through different improvements along the paper value chain.Keywords: paper recycling; sustainability; paper value chain; recovered paper; environmental awareness
Forest Attributes Estimation Using Aerial Laser Scanner and TM Data
Get PDFAim of study: The aim of this study was performance of four non-parametric algorithms including the k-NN, SVR, RF and ANN to estimate forest volume and basal area attributes using combination of Aerial Laser Scanner and Landsat-TM data.Area of study: Data in small part of a mixed managed forest in the Waldkirch region, Germany.Material and methods: The volume/ha and basal area/ha in the 411 circular plots were estimated based on DBH and height of trees using volume functions of study area. The low density ALS raw data as first and last pulses were prepared and automatically classified into vegetation and ground returns to generate two fine resolution digital terrain and surface models after noise removing. Plot-based height and density metrics were extracted from ALS data and used both separated and combined with orthorectified and processed TM bands. The algorithms implemented with different options including k-NN with different distance measures, SVR with the best regularized parameters for four kernel types, RF with regularized decision tree parameters and ANN with different types of networks. The algorithm performances were validated using computing absolute and percentage RMSe and bias on unused test samples.Main results: Results showed that among four methods, SVR using the RBF kernel could better estimate volume/ha with lower RMSe and bias (156.02 m3 ha–1 and 0.48, respectively) compared to others. In basal area/ha, k-NN could generate results with similar RMSe (11.79 m3 ha–1) but unbiased (0.03) compared to SVR with RMSe of 11.55 m3 ha–1 but slightly biased (–1.04).Research highlights: Results exposed that combining Lidar with TM data could improve estimations compared to using only Lidar or TM data.Key words: forest attributes estimation; ALS; TM; non-parametric algorithms
Variation in growth traits and survival of landraces of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. in the Ethiopian highlands
Get PDFAim of study: Eucalyptus globulus Labill. is the most planted tree species in the Ethiopian highlands due to its potential to satisfy the increasing wood demand of the population. The objectives of this study are to assess the variation in growth traits and survival among E. globulus landraces and clones and to evaluate correlations between growth traits on saplings established in the field.Area of study: The study was performed in the central highlands of Ethiopia.Material and Methods: A landrace trial with Ethiopian seedlings and Spanish cuttings (Sancho and Tinto clones) of E. globulus was carried out. Root collar diameter, height and survival were evaluated on saplings one year after outplanted in the field.Main results: The Spanish landrace showed an improved field performance with 35% higher root collar diameter, 35% taller saplings and 27% higher survival rates as compared to the Ethiopian plants. Sancho clone attained 10% higher root collar diameter than Tinto clone. Strong positive correlation between root collar diameter and height for all saplings was observed (r=0.8785).Research highlights: The present study can be considered as a starting point to implement a breeding program for E. globulus, which is nowadays of great importance in Ethiopia. The introduction of a new Spanish landrace may contribute to broadening the genetic base of this species in Ethiopia. Further tree breeding efforts with E. globulus should be undertaken to raise such genetic base and to increase the productivity of eucalypt plantations in the Ethiopian highlands.Keywords: clone; rural development; tree breeding
Short Communication. Recruitment and early growth of Pinus pinaster seedlings over five years after a wildfire in NW Spain
Get PDFAim of study: The main aim of this study was to analyse the post-fire recruitment and growth of Pinus pinaster seedlings during the first five years after wildfire and also to analyse the effects of climatic conditions on the survival of P. pinaster seedlingsArea of study: The study area was located in a P. pinaster stand in León province (NW Spain) burned in 1998.Material and Methods: Three sites in the burned area were selected. In each site three permanent transects of 20m x 1m were placed. In each transect, twenty 1m2 sampling units were marked and the number and height of each pine seedlings was recorded at 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 months and 2, 3, 4 and 5 years after the wildfire. The soil of study area is Cambisol.Mean results: Mean Pinus regeneration densities varied between 33.2 seedlings/m2 after 7 months and 6 seedlings/m2 five years after wildfire. In this P. pinaster stand, maximum mortality appeared during the summer months in the first year of regeneration. There was a significant increase in seedling height associated with a decrease in density.Research highlights: The post-fire recruitment is considered enough to ensure good natural Pinus pinaster forest regeneration. In the short term post-fire management strategy in this type of forest could be the remaining branches with cones of burned trees that allow the dissemination of the seeds during the first few years after fire and ensure natural regeneration.Keywords: Fire effects; natural regeneration; León province (NW Spain); seedlings density; growth and survival
Descriptive study of production factors affecting performance traits in growing-finishing pigs in Spain
Get PDFThe objective of this study was to build up a data set including productive performance and production factors data of growing-finishing (GF) pigs in Spain in order to perform a representative and reliable description of the traits of Spanish growing-finishing pig industry. Data from 764 batches from 452 farms belonging to nine companies (1,157,212 pigs) were collected between 2008 and 2010 through a survey including five parts: general, facilities, feeding, health status and performance. Most studied farms had only GF pigs on their facilities (94.7%), produced ‘industrial’ pigs (86.7%), had entire male and female (59.5%) and Pietrain-sired pigs (70.0%), housed between 13-20 pigs per pen (87.2%), had 50% of slatted floor (70%), single-space dry feeder (54.0%), nipple drinker (88.7%) and automatic ventilation systems (71.2%). A 75.0% of the farms used three feeding phases using mainly pelleted diets (91.0%), 61.3% performed three or more antibiotic treatments and 36.5% obtained water from the public supply. Continuous variables studied had the following average values: number of pigs placed per batch, 1,515 pigs; initial and final body weight, 19.0 and 108 kg; length of GF period, 136 days; culling rate, 1.4%; barn occupation, 99.7%; feed intake per pig and fattening cycle, 244 kg; daily gain, 0.657 kg; feed conversion ratio, 2.77 kg kg-1 and mortality rate, 4.3%. Data reflecting the practical situation of the Spanish growing and finishing pig production and it may contribute to develop new strategies in order to improve the productive and economic efficiency of GF pig units
Effect of different dietary strategies on gas emissions and productive performance in post- weaned piglets
No full textThe objective of this study was to assess the effects of different dietary strategies in post-weaned piglets on gas emissions and animal performance. Eighty piglets were allotted in ten environmentally-controlled chambers. Piglets were fed with five different isoenergetic diets: control, low protein (LP), inclusion of sugar beet pulp (SBP), addition of benzoic acid (BA) and a combination of LP, SBP and BA (LP+SBP+BA). The gases analyzed were ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). For NH3, the most effective treatment was LP, with a reduction of 61%. The LP+SBP+BA reduced NH3 emission by 51%, the inclusion of SBP by 43% and the least effective technique was BA, which decreased by 9.5%, compared to control. The CH4 emission was reduced by 30% for LP, but was increased by 23% for SBP and 24.6% for LP+SBP+BA. Benzoic acid did not differ from control group. The N2O emission did not show statistically differences, and CO2 and carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) emission increased with LP+SBP+BA (14 and 15% respectively), but were not affected by other diets. No effect of dietary treatment was observed on the growth performances compared with control group (p >0.05). We can conclude that the best technique to reduce NH3 emission was LP. Inclusion of SBP decreases NH3 emission, but can increase greenhouse gas emissions. It would be interesting to evaluate the effect of higher percentages of BA because the promising results. Combining techniques is not a good strategy to obtain an additive effect in gas emissions reduction.The objective of this study was to assess the effects of different dietary strategies in post-weaned piglets on gas emissions and animal performance. A total of 80 piglets were allotted in ten environmentally-controlled chambers located in Quebec, Canada. Piglets were fed with five different isoenergetic diets: control, low protein diet (LP), inclusion of sugar beet pulp (SBP), addition of benzoic acid (BA) and a combination of LP, SBP and BA. The gases analyzed were ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2).For ammonia, the most effective treatment was LP, with a reduction of 61%. The LP+SBP+BA reduced ammonia emissions by 51%, the inclusion of SBP by 43% and the least effective technique was BA, which decreased by 9.5%. Methane emissions were reduced by 30% for LP, but were increased by 23% for SBP and 24.6% for LP+SBP+BA. Acidifying components did not make a statistically significant difference. Nitrous oxide emissions did not have statistically differences and CO2 and CO2eq emissions increased with LP+SBP+BA (14 and 15% respectively), but were not affected by other diets. No effect of dietary treatment was observed on the performances of the piglets (p >0.05). We can conclude that the best technique to reduce ammonia emissions is LP. Inclusion of SBP decreases ammonia emissions, but can increase greenhouse gas emissions. It would be interesting to evaluate the effect of higher percentages of BA because the promising results. Combining techniques is not a good strategy because it does not have an additive effect in gas reduction
Growth of citrus production among the Euro-Mediterranean countries: political implications and empirical findings
Get PDFThe agricultural matter has always played an important role in holding back the Euro-Mediterranean integration process due to the strong complementarity of the agricultures of the coastal countries which share excellent products including citrus fruits. The main goal of this paper is to understand the growth dynamics of the citriculture in the countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Through the application of the dynamic formulation of the Shift and Share Analysis it has been possible to analyse the trend of the amount of harvested citrus production, in physical and economic terms, in the last fifteen years, and above all which components, structural and competitive, have mainly influenced these performances. The results of the analysis highlight on the whole a positive trend of the citrus fruits sector in the Mediterranean coastal countries which, although characterized by an adequate productive structure, suffer in some cases from competitiveness limits. A clear dualism emerges among the coastal countries: on the one hand, the North-African and the Near-East countries –extra-EU members– show a dynamic and competitive citrus production mainly thanks to the implementation of effective government policies consistent with the aim to increase the competitiveness of the sector; on the other hand, other countries, mainly EU members, are significantly late in competitiveness, showing their inability to reorganize themselves in the direction shown by the demand trend and the agricultural policies
Nota corta. Primera detección de Eggplant mottle dwarf virus en hibisco en el sur de España
No full textEggplant mottled dwarf virus (EMDV, genus Nucleorhabdovirus, family Rhabdoviridae) is transmitted in nature by leafhoppers and its natural host range includes vegetable crops (eggplant, tomato, potato, pepper), ornamentals (pittosporum, honeysuckle, pelargonium) and wild plants (caper, Solanum nigrum). The prevalence of infections is generally very low. EMDV has been demonstrated to be the causal agent of a vein yellowing disease of China rose (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) in southern Italy. In this work, four locations from Málaga and Granada provinces (southern Spain) were surveyed in 2011 to study the prevalence of EMDV infections in China rose by serological and molecular methods. Overall, EMDV was detected in 77.3% of the samples (33 out of 45 samples tested). Mechanical transmission tests and immunoelectron microscopy confirmed the presence of EMDV. The possible causes of such a high and unexpected prevalence are discussed. The use of molecular hibridization with an EMDV specific riboprobe is proposed for early screening of vegetative propagated China rose plants to avoid dissemination of infected material.En el verano de 2011 se llevó a cabo una prospección de Eggplant mottle dwarf virus (EMDV, género Nucleorhabdovirus) en plantas de hibisco (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) en cuatro localidades del sur de España. Se utilizaron métodos serológicos y moleculares para la detección en extractos de hoja. Los resultados obtenidos pusieron de manifiesto una alta prevalencia de EMDV (77,3% de las muestras analizadas). Las posibles causas de esta inesperada alta tasa de infección se analizan y discuten en este trabajo. Asimismo se propone el uso de métodos de diagnóstico molecular (ribosonda específica para EMDV) para la detección precoz del virus en hibisco para evitar la difusión de material de propagación infectado
Heterogeneity of farms entering export supply chains: the case of fruit growers from central-south Chile
Get PDFThe increasing stringency of world food markets requires farmers to adjust farm structure and commercial strategies to remain integrated in export supply chains. The goal of this study was to identify and characterize different types of fresh fruit farms with regard to farm structural and commercial strategies for a representative sample of fresh fruit growers from central-south Chile exporting to world markets. A typology of farms was constructed based on multivariate analysis, according to which five types of farms were differentiated from five distinct factors. Cluster I comprised the smallest and uncertified farms (14.3% of the sample). The remaining four clusters comprised certified farms, but with different farm structural and commercial characteristics. Cluster II (15.1%) was composed of farms located further from market connections. Cluster III (23.9%) comprised farms with the highest number of fruit species, and consequently, more diversified in fruit production. Cluster IV (8.8%) was the smallest group, and comprised the largest firms. Finally, Cluster V (37.8%) was composed of highly specialized fruit farms, with the highest proportion of hectares dedicated to the production of a single fruit species. The results show the heterogeneity among fresh fruit farms and support the need for differentiated incentives and technological transfer schemes from the public sector and fruit companies in order to successfully keep farmers within export supply chains