Scientific Journals of INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria)
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Vine architecture and production control measures to improve the quality of the wine from Shiraz variety (Vitis vinifera L.)
Get PDFAim of study: Six thinning treatments were studied to improve the chemical composition and quality of grapes of cv. ‘Shiraz’ under two vine architectures (vase and trellis).
Area of study: Spain, from 2015 to 2016.
Material and methods: The following thinning treatments were applied during four consecutive crop seasons: T0, control; T1, removal of 33% of the clusters (75 BBCH stage); T2, removal of 33% of the clusters (85 BBCH stage); T3, removal of the leaves at the base of the branches; T4, removal of the leaves at base of the branches together with removal of 33% of the clusters; T5, grouping of green branches; and T6, grouping of green branches and removal of 33% of the clusters.
Main results: All the treatments increased the luminosity and degree of polymerization, improving the color intensity and stability in the wines. In the musts, the levels of phenolic compounds (from 48.0 and 46.7 mg L-1 in T0 trellis and vase, respectively, to 66.8 and 68.9 mg L-1 in T6 trellis and vase, respectively), anthocyanins and sugars (from 22.0 and 22.1 mg L-1 in T0 trellis and vase, respectively, to 24.3 mg L-1 in T6 trellis and vase), were considerably improved.
Research highlights: Treatments T6 and T4 reported the best results. Branch grouping was more efficient than leaf removal regarding the contents of phenolic compounds. With respect to vine architecture, the results point out small differences, but we recommend the application of the treatments, mainly T4 and T6, under vase architecture. The season effect was mainly observed in the fourth year, probably due to the climatic conditions
Community structure of epigeic arthropods in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) soils
Get PDFAim of study: The study of epigeic arthropods provides information on how ecosystems respond to different management practices. Changes in the structure of epigeic groups reflect changes in the ecological status of habitats. We assessed the influence of semi-natural habitats and environmental variables on the dispersion of the epigeic groups.
Area of study: Southwestern part of Slovakia
Material and methods: Between 2018 and 2020, six barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) fields were selected each year. Five pitfall traps were placed on each field and environmental variables (soil pH and moisture, light conditions, soil N, P, K) were analysed. We collected 8,730 individuals belonging to 14 taxonomic groups. The variables of the study sites (habitat, locality name, cadastral area, altitude, coordinates of localities) were also analysed.
Main results: We observed a decrease in the average number of individuals in the direction from pitfall traps 1 (semi-natural areas) to 5 (barley crop) between July and August. The number of individuals was similar in May and June. The dispersion of epigeic arthropods was affected by soil moisture, pH soil, phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. In the beetles model group, which was represented by the highest number of individuals, we confirmed an increasing number of individuals with increasing values of K, P, N and soil moisture. The neutral pH of the soil was optimal for beetles.
Research highlights: The ecotone rule does not apply during all months, so we have contributed new information about the ecotone rule. Agricultural intensification affects soil arthropods, a taxonomic group with an important role in the functioning of agricultural ecosystems
The timing of pasture allocation and grass silage supplementation affect pasture intake, milk production and nitrogen partitioning of dairy cows
Get PDFAim of study: To evaluate the effect of time of pasture allocation (PA) and grass silage allocation on dry matter (DM) intake, grazing behaviour, milk production, rumen function and N partitioning of grazing dairy cows.Area of study: Valdivia, ChileMaterial and methods: Forty-five Holstein-Friesian cows were selected from the Austral Agricultural Research Station at the Universidad Austral de Chile. Cows were allocated to one of three treatments: MPA: 75% of PA and 25% of the silage allowance allocated in the morning; BPA: 50% of PA and silage allowance allocated in the morning; APA: 25% of the PA and 75% of the silage allowance allocated in the morning. All treatments received the complement of pasture and silage allowance in the afternoon. Cows received a daily PA of 21 kg dry DM, 3 kg DM of grass silage and 3.5 kg DM of concentrate.Main results: Grazing time was not affected by treatments, however, grazing time between afternoon-morning milking was longer for APA. DM intake and milk production were not modified by treatments, averaging 15.6 kg DM/cow and 22.7 kg milk/d, respectively. Rumen propionate was greater for BPA than APA (18.8 and 17.7 mmol/100 mol, respectively). N intake and N excretion throughout milk, urine and feces were not modified by treatments, averaging 458, 119, 195 and 144 g N/d, respectively.Research highlights: The combination of time of pasture and grass silage allocation is not an adequate strategy to modify pasture intake, milk production and N excretion in dairy cows
Analysis of chicken and turkey meat consumption by segmentation of Spanish consumers using food-related lifestyle
Get PDFAim of study: Commercially, chicken meat has a similar positioning to turkey meat, as both are healthy and low-fat meats. For this reason, we proposed analysing consumer behaviour with respect to each of these meats based on market segmentation.Area of study: Spain.Material and methods: We carried out a telephone survey with an error of ± 4.0% at a confidence level of 95.5%, using the food-related lifestyle (FRL) instrument as part of the questionnaire. The statistical analysis techniques employed were different depending on the objective pursued: univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis.Main results: Five segments were obtained: “Manager cook” (24.5%), “Healthy cook” (20.8%), “Concerned with food, but not cooks” (22%), “Total detachment” (11.9%) and “Rational shopper with little interest in cuisine” (20.8%). Notwithstanding the similar positioning of chicken and turkey meats, there are significant differences in purchasing and consumption habits between FRL segments. Specifically, there were significant differences in the frequency of purchase, the usual shopping location, purchasing criteria and preparation methods.Research highlights: Knowing the profile of these segments allows us to adapt the marketing mix (product, place, price and promotion) to each one. This is very useful for the companies due to the wide demand they face. First, they can choose the FRL segments to target and, second, they can define an appropriate marketing strategy according to these segments. In this way, market segmentation strategy based on food-related lifestyles may ensure companies a greater likelihood of success in the market
The impact assessment of the EU pre-accession funds on agriculture and food companies: The Croatian case
Get PDFAim of study: This paper evaluates the effect of pre-accession EU grants on beneficiaries in the agri-food sector using a quasi-experimental approach on the case of Croatia. An insight into the available literature reveals a lack of rigorous research and evaluation of the results of using these funds in Croatia as well as in other beneficiary countries.Area of study: Republic of Croatia, Europe (2006–2017).Material and methods: Two datasets were used: (1) financial and structural data on the population of Croatian enterprises for the 2003–2017 period, and (2) data on SAPARD and IPARD grants in the 2007–2016 period. Data were analyzed using counterfactual impact analysis, i.e., a combination of difference-in-difference approach and propensity score matching.Main results: The grants showed to have a positive effect on firm survival, as well as positive effects on obtaining bank loans and increasing turnover, value added, employment, and total factor productivity. Heterogeneous treatment effects show that the grants resulted in the greatest additionality for micro-sized firms located in Central Croatia. Cost-benefit analysis estimates an increase in the value added, which outweighs scheme-induced costs by 120% in the short run and 90% in the mid run.Research highlights: Pre-accession programs in Croatia had a positive impact on the beneficiaries’ growth and business performance indicators in both short and mid term. This paper also promotes the application of similar research in other EU candidate countries where the same or similar funds are implemented
Debt vs. self-financing innovation projects: An exploratory study of Spanish agri-food SMEs
Get PDFAim of study: This paper determines the preferences for debt or equity ‒ common stock and self-financing ‒ that are shown by agri-food companies to finance innovation investment strategies and identify the monitoring role that third-party funding providers can play.Area of study: A sample of 41,109 Spanish SMEs (364,020 observations).Material and methods: The information was obtained from the SABI database, using the Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) estimator and a logistic regression like contrast methodologies.Main results: Spanish agri-food companies undertake innovation projects by financing these investments through owners’ resources, mainly from current common stock, as they are independent of these companies’ capacity to generate internal funds. This may be conditioned by the problems of severe negative self-financing presented by this sector in Spain which make it difficult to use retained earnings as a source of financing for new investments; 30% of these firms have a negative self-financing level of EUR 100,000 as the losses accumulated by economic activity are higher than the reserves provided.Research highlights: Agri-food companies prefer to use owners’ funds to finance innovation projects which allows them to maintain the concentration of power, a decision that is reinforced by the limitation to credit access due to innovation creates intangible assets that are not usually accepted as collateral by financial institutions. Meanwhile, given the particularities of these companies ‒ instability and liquidity problems due to the need for funds of operations ‒ the recourse to debt is an appropriate control mechanism to prevent overinvestment decisions
Reference values and diagnostic ranges to assess the degree of nutritional balance for cacao plants
Get PDFAim of study: The interpretation of results of leaf analysis can be performed by nutritional balance methods, such as Kenworthy method (KW) and diagnostic levels of contents, whose achievements for cacao constitute the main objective of this work.Area of study: Bahia, Brazil.Material and methods: The database covered cacao trees in two cultivation systems: agroforestry systems and full sun. The reference populations were composed of plots with relative yield higher than the average plus half a standard deviation of each of these cultivation systems, in addition to a combined population of both systems.Main results: The norms of the KW method were compared by the t test, for mean, with 72% concordance; and F, for variance, 82% concordant. The diagnoses made based on specific norms per cultivation system and the general norm agreed on average of 91%. Potential response curves were obtained as a function of the Balanced Indices of Kenworthy (BIK) for each nutrient, by the boundary-line method, in addition to sufficiency ranges for BIK and for leaf contents for cacao.Research highlights: It is concluded that the general KW norms associated with the original Kenworthy ranges or the specific ranges for cacao are efficient in the nutritional diagnosis of cacao
In vitro characterisation of the rumen fermentation pattern of the cell wall fraction from several fibrous sources
Get PDFAim of study: To isolate fibre effect from other factors when comparing fibrous sources, the rumen fermentation pattern of extracted cell walls was studied.Material and methods: Cell wall fractions from soybean hulls (SH), sugarbeet pulp (BP), palm kernel cake (PK), oat hulls (OH), dehydrated alfalfa meal (DA) and barley straw (BS) were incubated in four 48 h series.Main results: Cell wall extraction efficiency was ± 0.07 units over the neutral detergent fibre content, except for PK, which recovery was 0.20. Gas produced from BP and SH was higher (p<0.05) from 6 h. PK behaved similarly to SH from 6 to 24 h but maintained constant thereafter, whereas gas volume from OH was the lowest from 24 to 48 h (p<0.05). All substrates recorded a maximum rate of gas production at 12 h, except OH, for which fermentation was constant on time. The organic matter disappearance after 48 h incubation agreed with these results, being higher with BP and SH, whereas OH was the lowest (p<0.05). The proportion of methanein total gasproduced was higher in OH than BP at 36 and 48 h (p<0.05). The highest total VFA concentration was recorded with BP (p<0.05). Propionate proportion was enhanced from BP, BS and SH, and that of butyrate was higher with PK and OH, whereas no differences among substrates were recorded in acetate proportion.Research highlights: Fermentation of the cell wall fraction of fibrous feeds is not directly linked to its chemical composition, not even to its lignin proportion.
Modeling dominant height growth using permanent plot data for Pinus brutia stands in the Eastern Mediterranean region
Get PDFAim of the study: At current, forest management in the Eastern Mediterranean region is largely based on experience rather than on management plans. To support the development of such plans, this study develops and compares site index equations for pure even-aged Pinus brutia stands in Syria using base-age invariant techniques that realistically describe dominant height growth.Materials and methods: Data on top height and stand age were obtained in 2008 and 2016 from 80 permanent plots capturing the whole range of variation in site conditions, stand age and stand density. Both the Algebraic Difference Approach (ADA) and the Generalized Algebraic Difference Approach (GADA) were used to fit eight generalized algebraic difference equations in order to identify the one which describes the data best. For this, 61 permanent plots were used for model calibration and 19 plots for validation.Main results: According to both biological plausibility and model accuracy, the so-called Sloboda equation based on the GADA approach showed the best performance.Research highlights: The study provides a solid classification and comparison of Pinus brutia stands growing in the Eastern Mediterranean region and can thus be used to support sustainable forest management planning.Keywords: site index; Generalized Algebraic Difference Approach (GADA); Sloboda equation
Vegetative propagation of Manilkara bidentata (A.DC.) A.Chev. using mini-tunnels in the Peruvian Amazon region
Get PDFAim of the study: Manilkara bidentata (A.DC.) A.Chev. (‘quinilla’) is a Neotropical tree highly threatened by extensive agricultural practices and climate change, resulting in a substantial reduction of natural stands and seed availability. Commercially, the propagation through seeds of this species is severely impeded by a low germination rate. Vegetative propagation could be an alternative tool for overcoming this limitation. This study aims to evaluate the vegetative propagation of M. bidentata by rooted cuttings using mini-tunnels in the Amazon.Study area: National University of San Martín, Tarapoto, Region of San Martín, Peru. Forested areas at three localities in the Picota province and two localities in the Bellavista province, San Martín Region, were visited for the selection of plus trees and collection of epicormic shoots from stumps.Materials and methods: the study was performed on leaf areas of 0, 50, and 100% with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) treatments of 0, 3000, and 6000 ppm, for 9 treatments combinations. The experiment consisted of 3 mini-tunnels, with 3 growth trays established on each mini-tunnel, and 16 cuttings established on each tray (and per treatment), for a total of 144 cuttings.Main results: after 55 days, the best scores in rooting rates (75%), number of roots (3.88), root length (3.26 cm), and budding percentage (94%) were obtained for the combination of 50% leaf area left with 3000 ppm of IBA.Research highlights: we propose the technique of mini-tunnel as a tool for the cloning, rescue, and germplam conservation of M. bidentata.Key words: mini-tunnel; Peruvian Amazon; quinilla; rooting; vegetative propagation.Abbreviations used: indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)