Scientific Journals of INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria)
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Does the proposed CAP reform allow for a paradigm shift towards a greener policy?
Get PDFAim of study: The paper explores whether the legislative proposal for the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) after 2021 and the novelty of comprehensive strategic planning at Member State (MS) level can bring about a greener, more multifunctional policy paradigm. While existing research has explored long-term policy change over the entire decision-making process, this study aims to demonstrate the usefulness of conducting policy analysis at the inception of the legislative procedure.Area of study: The study applies to the European Union.Material and methods: The research employs a qualitative method of policy analysis, using a combination of three theoretical frameworks – social learning, path dependency and intergovernmentalism. Extensive document analysis and in-depth interviews were applied to evaluate the proposed reform and gauge the responses of key interest groups.Main results: The proposal holds potential for a substantial overall greening of the policy but will be strongly dependent on implementation at the MS level; the institutional framework provides space for increased environmental ambition, but does not guarantee it, as the proposed safeguards are too weak.Research highlights: More accountability is required during the formulation and implementation of Strategic Plans. Due to strong elements of path dependency and intergovernmentalism, an overall paradigm shift at EU level is unlikely. Strengthening the role of MSs is weakening the commonality of the policy that guarantees at least minimal environmental standards
Exploring rural tourism experiences through subjective perceptions: A visual Q approach
Get PDFAim of study: To explore rural tourists’ views in order to identify different market segmentation in relation to rural tourism experiences.Area of study: Spain.Material and methods: Visual Q, a personal subjectivity research methodology, was applied to present both visual and linguistic aspects so that tourists can more intuitively recognize and answer questions regarding their experiences. Thus, it enables researchers to explore rural tourism experiences from tourists’ subjective perceptions.Main results: There are three primary segments of tourist experiences in rural tourism: ‘Occasion driven visitor’, ‘Active leisure seeker’ and ‘Rural immersion pursuer’ and across all visitors, a common pursuit of ‘A pleasant break’.Research highlights: This paper suggests that rural tourism should offer a range of value propositions, thereby escaping the existing monotonous ones
Secondary forest succession in Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) southern limits in Europe, in a site of Natura 2000 network – an ecogeographical approach
Get PDFAim of the study: To investigate the secondary forest succession in the study area and the pathways of its spread and the existing environmental, autecological factors and possible inter-specific competition relationships.Area of study: The study area is a Site of Natura 2000 network in northern Greece dominated by two pioneer forest species, Betula pendula and Pinus sylvestris. Study area is the southern limit of Silver birch in Europe and genotypes of these forests may be important due to the anticipated global increase of temperature and the forthcoming climate change.Materials and methods: The main forest types studied were: pure forests of B. pendula and P. sylvestris and mixed forests of these two main species. To study the expansion of forests in the area, a spatial analysis was performed based on geographical data. To detect forest changes, the rate thereof and their specific spatial distribution and preferences, a statistical analysis was performed.Main results: Approximately 60% of the studied area in 1945 was transformed from grasslands/barelands to forests. The composition of new forests was found to be different from the old ones. The rate of forest establishment in the first years was lower than in the latter years. All factors examined played an important role to the expansion of forest exept slope.Research highlights: Distance from the old stands played the most determining role to new forest structure and composition. Inter-specific competition results to the formation of pure stands, as indicated by the older stands.Keywords: secondary forest succession; Betula pendula; GIS; spatial analysis; forest species competition; forest species distribution
The age of monumental trees. A case study of Juniperus thurifera L. in Spain
Get PDFAim of the study: To provide tree-age estimation of monumental Juniperus thurifera trees based on dendrochronological methods.Area of study: “Sabinar de Calatañazor” Nature Reserve (Calatañazor, Soria, Spain), a monumental forest of Juniperus thurifera traditionally used for grazing.Material and methods: Tree-ring width analysis of increment cores and four different methods for estimating the age of each of the trees analysed.Main results: Our estimates suggest that most of the trees in this Nature Reserve with a radius greater than 30 cm are over 300 years old. Moreover, the discussion on the constraints and accuracy of each of the four tree-age estimation methods employed can be helpful in future studies of age in many monumental trees. A well-replicated local chronology, ranging from 1738 to 2012 (275 years), was also established for its use in reconstruction studies related to management, past events and climate change.Research highlights: This study involved analyzing many trees with high percentages of rings that had disappeared as a result of rot. In this case, the age estimation models based on the classical hypotheses of constant growth in radius or basal area, as well as a new estimation method based upon biological behavior and considering two growth stages (juvenile and mature), are the ones that provided the most reliable estimates. On the contrary, regression models are less recommendable, due to being less accurate.Keywords: Dendrochronology; tree-age estimate; rot, growth stages; management and conservation measures
Regulatory patterns in international pork trade and similarity with the EU SPS/TBT standards
Get PDFAim of study: With the increasing protagonism of non-tariff measures (NTMs) in trade policy, better indexes are needed to depict the prevalence and similarity of NTMs across countries for further use in trade impact assessments.Area of study: Worldwide, with special focus on the European Union (EU)Material and methods: Using the TRAINS database on NTMs, we calculated and proposed some indicators, stressing both regulatory intensity and diversity, as well as similarity of regulatory patterns between trade partners. Our application focuses on pork trade and main importers, amongst which, the EU is singled out.Main results: We found a high level of heterogeneity in NTMs’ application, both, in the number and variety of measures. The bilateral similarity was relatively low, such as only 30% of sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) and 20% of technical barriers to trade were shared, providing ground and incentive for discussing trade policy harmonization. Our analysis suggests that SPS regulations prevail in those sectors and countries more engaged in trade, while a negative correlation with tariffs raises protectionism concerns. Our bilateral indicators rank country pairs according to the similarity of their regulatory patterns. The EU, for instance, is closer in SPS regulations to China or USA than to Canada or New Zealand, which will require actions in the context of the bilateral trade agreements in course.Research highlights: The low similarity of regulatory patterns evidence the challenges faced by policy makers to streamline technical regulations. For an accurate representation of regulatory patterns and their impact on trade, both uni- and bilateral indicators need to be considered
Effects of irrigation and shoot thinning on the size and phenolics content of developing grape berries (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Tempranillo)
Get PDF Aim of study: The concentration of phenolics in the grape berries can be influenced by cultural practices such as irrigation or thinning. The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of combinations of these practices on grape size and phenolics content. Area of study: The trial was carried out in an experimental cv. Tempranillo vineyard located in Extremadura, Spain. Material and methods: Two irrigation regimes were considered: rainfed vines (non-irrigated, NIr), and 100% ETc irrigated vines (Ir). For each irrigation treatment, two cropping levels were studied: low shoot-thinning (LT) vs high shoot-thinning (HT) implemented in winter and spring, respectively. Berry weight, and total phenolics, proanthocyanidin, and anthocyanin concentrations were determined at eight stages of berry development in three consecutive years (2014, 2015, and 2016). Main results: Specific weather conditions of each year affected phenolics accumulation differently. In 2014, where maximum temperatures were low and an important rainfall occurred at Stage II, both the NIr-LT and NIr-HT treatments led to the greatest concentrations of total phenolics, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins. In 2015, where a little rainfall was registered at Stage II, the berries from the NIr-HT and Ir-HT treatments accumulated the greatest total phenolics and proanthocyanidin contents, but the NIr-LT and NIr-HT treatments led to the greatest accumulation of anthocyanins. Finally, in 2016, where high maximum temperatures and scarce rainfall were registered, the Ir-LT and Ir-HT treatments presented the greatest concentrations of total phenolics, proanthocyanidins, and anthocyanins. Research highlights: A significant effect of irrigation and thinning was observed on berry size and phenolic content, as well as year × thinning interaction
Pollution level and risk assessment of heavy metals in sewage sludge from eight wastewater treatment plants in Wuhu City, China
Get PDFAim of study: To investigate the content, contamination levels and potential sources of five heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, As) in sewage sludge from eight wastewater treatment plants (W1 to W8).Area of study: Wuhu, located in southeastern Anhui Province, southeastern China.Material and methods: The sewage sludge pollution assessment employed the single-factor pollution index, Nemerow’s synthetic pollution index, monomial potential ecological risk coefficient and potential ecological risk index. The potential sources among the five heavy metals were determined using the Pearson’s correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA).Main results: The mean concentrations of the heavy metals were 0.27 mg/kg (Hg), 70.78 mg/kg (Pb), 3.48 mg/kg (Cd), 143.65 mg/kg (Cr) and 22.17 mg/kg (As). W1, W5 and W6 sewage sludge samples showed the highest levels of heavy metal contamination, and cadmium had the highest contamination level in the study area. Pearson’s correlation analysis and PCA revealed that Pb and Cd mainly derived from traffic emissions and the manufacturing industry and that As and Cr originated from agricultural discharges.Research highlights: The pollution of cadmium in Wuhu should be controlled preferentially. The heavy metal pollution of W1, W5 and W6 sewage treatment plants is relatively high, they should be key prevention targets
Impact of 25 years of grazing exclusion and shrub removal on plant community structure and soil characteristics in a xerophytic rangeland
Get PDFAim of study: We tested the hypothesis that long periods of grazing exclusion in areas with a history of high grazing intensity will have a positive impact on soil nutrient conditions and favor soil infiltration, increase biomass and lead to a recovery in vegetation.Area of study: Noria de Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico.Material and methods: We analyzed the impact of grazing exclusion on biomass, species richness, evenness, soil nutrient content and soil water infiltration after 25 years of exclusion during each of the four seasons by excluding two 15 × 15 m plots of grazing and compared with two control plots.Main results: Exclusion management did not lead to biomass increases; however, it did lead to an important recovery in the plant community. Moreover, soil nutrient content was more affected by the seasonality of rainfall in the study site than by 25 years of exclusion. The elimination of dominant shrubs in the excluded area led to a faster recovery in palatable shrubs and shortgrass vegetation, which was improved by better infiltration values during the end of spring and summer explaining some of the differences in nutrient avaibility.Research highlights: In our study, exclusion management can lead to an important recovery in vegetation without affecting the growth of Atriplex canescens, a valuable source of fodder. Although biomass presented a higher dependence on seasonality and was not related to the treatment, the impact on the forage quality is evident by the different plant communities established after 25 years of exclusion
Maintaining intestinal microflora balance in heat-stressed broilers using dietary creeping wood sorrel (Oxalis corniculata) powder and chromium (chromium picolinate)
Get PDFThis study aimed to determine the effect of dietary creeping wood sorrel powder (Oxalis corniculata) and chromium supplemented to broilers (1-42 days) exposed to heat stress, on their performance and on the intestinal and caecal microbiota.Area of study: Ilfov, RomaniaMaterial and methods: The feeding trial was conducted on 60, day-old Cobb 500 broilers, divided equally in two groups, each group with six replicates (5 chicks/ replicate). The broilers were housed in an experimental hall at 32° C constant temperature and 23h light regimen. Unlike the dietary control diet (C), the experimental diet (E) was supplemented with 1% creeping wood sorrel powder and 20 mg chromium picolinate/ kg premix. One bird from each replication was slaughtered on days 28 and 42, and samples of caecal and intestinal content were collected for bacteriological analysis.Main results: The dietary creeping wood sorrel powder and chromium supplements for heat-stressed broilers had no significant influence on their growth performance (1-42 d). Overall, E diet had a beneficial effect on the balance of the caecal microflora; however, in the intestine, E diet had a positive influence on the balance of the intestinal microflora, only for the samples collected at 28 days.Research highlights: Dietary creeping wood sorrel powder and chromium supplements can be an efficient tool for maintaining a proper balance of intestinal microflora in heat-stressed broilers.
S-allele frequency and genetic diversity of Malus orientalis Uglitzk along an altitudinal gradient in the Hyrcanian forest
Get PDFAim of study: The Caucasian apple (Malus orientalis Uglitzk.) is distributed throughout the Hyrcanian forest. Self-incompatibility (SI) is one of the most important plant strategies to prevent self-fertilization, but the genetic basis of this system has never been studied in Caucasian apple. Investigating the genetic diversity of Caucasian apple along an elevation gradient is the second aim of this study.Area of study: Three populations of Caucasian apple along an altitudinal gradient in northern Iran were studied.Materials and methods: Here, we evaluated the S-allele frequency and genetic diversity of three populations of Malus orientalis using SSR markers.Main results: In total, 18 S-alleles were identified in three populations, and a positive trend was detected between S-allele frequency and altitude, which is consistent with the positive correlation with genetic diversity. Overall, the genetic differentiation among populations was high, and four distinct groups were determined among three altitudinal populations.Research highlights: Despite the small number of individuals and low genetic diversity of the populations, the S-allele frequency of Caucasian apple in Hyrcanian forests is high, and these resources have potential use in apple breeding programs.Keywords: Malus orientalis; S-RNase alleles; Genetic diversity; Mate availability; Conservation strategy; Hyrcanian forest