Scientific Journals of INIA (Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria)
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Impact of farm protectionism on the use of agricultural inputs in Chile
Get PDFDespite evidence highlighting the multiple benefits that liberalization can have in the agricultural sector, agricultural protectionism is abundant, especially in developing countries. Chile provides an interesting case on this topic because it implemented an aggressive liberalization in the agricultural sector during the 1970s and 1980s. This paper analyzes the impact of farm protectionism on the use of agricultural inputs in Chile. To do this, we estimated partial elasticities of substitution by incorporating government protectionism as a factor for agricultural production. Our findings reveal that increased protectionism decreases agricultural labor and promotes the use of fixed capital. In contrast, protectionism has no effect on the use of working capital and land. This information shows a clear transference from the government to farmers. Furthermore, our results are useful for anticipating the effects that varying levels of government protectionism can have on the Chilean agricultural sector over time
Quality assessment of composts officially registered as organic fertilisers in Spain
Get PDFComposting of organic wastes is a management strategy linked to circular economy models through the transformation of these wastes into an organic product, compost, which can be used as fertiliser, soil amendment or growing media. However, the concept of ‘compost quality’ is not enough defined to take a technical decision about which is its best use or application. In the last decade, different guidelines and regulations about organic fertilisers have been developed. For instance, in Spain the Fertilisers Regulation categorises compost under five kinds according to the raw materials used - organic amendment compost (OaC), manure compost (MaC), green compost (GrC), vermicompost (VC), ‘alperujo’ compost (AlC) -, and under three quality levels (A, B or C) depending exclusively on the heavy metals content. This work analyses the national database of all composts (307) marketed in Spain, considering the analytical parameters declared, with the objective of proposing a methodology to define a global quality index. For this assessment, two indicators are employed: a fertility indicator, related to the nutrients content, and a clean indicator, related to the heavy metals content. Results show an average compost formulation 2.5:2.5:2.5 (N:P2O5:K2O). MaC and OaC present the highest fertility indicator, whereas VC the lowest. Regarding the clean indicator, GrC, MaC and VC are cleaner than OaC. In the future, this new quality assessment should be completed by including other indicators related to physical and biological characteristic (e.g. porosity, stability/maturity, phytotoxicity) that could determine the most proper use of compost
Harvest chronological planning using a method based on satellite-derived vegetation indices and artificial neural networks
Get PDFAim of study: Wheat appropriate harvest date (WAHD) is an important factor in farm monitoring and harvest campaign schedule. Satellite remote sensing provides the possibility of continuous monitoring of large areas. In this study, we aimed to investigate the strength of vegetation indices (VIs) derived from Landsat-8 for generating the harvest schedule regional (HSR) map using Artificial Neural Network (ANN), a robust prediction tool in the agriculture sector.Area of study: Qorveh plain, Iran.Material and methods: During 2015 and 2016, a total of 100 plots was selected. WAHD was determined by sampling of plots and specifying wheat maximum yield for each plot. The strength of eight Landsat-8 derived spectral VIs (NDVI, SAVI, GreenNDVI, NDWI, EVI, EVI2, CVI and CIgreen) was investigated during wheat growth stages using correlation coefficients between these VIs and observed WAHD. The derived VIs from the required images were used as inputs of ANNs and WAHD was considered as output. Several ANN models were designed by combining various VIs data.Main results: The temporal stage in agreement with dough development stage had the highest correlation with WAHD. The optimum model for predicting WAHD was a Multi-Layer Perceptron model including one hidden layer with ten neurons in it when the inputs were NDVI, NDWI, and EVI2. To evaluate the difference between measured and predicted values of ANNs, MAE, RMSE, and R2 were calculated. For the 3-10-1 topology, the value of R2 was estimated 0.925. A HSR map was generated with RMSE of 0.86 days.Research highlights: Integrated satellite-derived VIs and ANNs is a novel and remarkable methodology to predict WAHD, optimize harvest campaign scheduling and farm management
Short communication: Estimation of genetic trends for body weight traits in Markhoz goat at different ages
Get PDFThe objective of the present study was to estimate genetic trends for body weight at different ages in Markhoz goat, including birth weight (BW, n = 4758), weaning weight (WW, n= 3685), 6-month weight (6MW, n = 3420), 9-month weight (9MW, n = 3032) and 12-month weight (12MW, n = 2697). Data and pedigree information were collected from 1992 until 2014 at the Breeding Center of Markhoz goat, Sanandaj, Iran. The GLM procedure of SAS was used for selecting the variables and identifying significant fixed effects in the equation of model. Various animal models were applied for genetic analysis and the best model was determined based on Akaike information criteria (AIC). Breeding values of animals were predicted using Wombat program. Genetic trends were obtained by regressing the average predicted breeding values on birth year for each trait. Based on the best model, direct estimated genetic trends were positive and significance for WW, 6MW, 9MW and 12 MW were 15.51, 26.28, 58.36 and 76.70 g/year, respectively (p<0.001). Maternal genetic trend for BW and WW were 0.61 and 5.47 g/year, respectively (p<0.01). The low and moderate generic trends obtained in the present study, indicated the possibility of growth traits improvements through genetic selection at all ages in Markhoz goat
Improvement of cryopreservation protocol in both purebred horses including Spanish horses
Get PDFThere is a widely held belief that the semen of Purebred Spanish Horses (PRE) is of generally poorer quality than that of other breeds, and survives cryopreservation less well. To determine whether this is the case, sperm concentration, viability and morphological abnormalities were examined in a total 610 fresh ejaculates from 64 healthy PRE (N=47) and non-PRE stallions (N=17). Sperm concentration and viability were then re-examined after pre-freezing centrifugation, and once again after freezing-thawing. No differences were observed between the PRE and non-PRE stallions in terms of any sperm quality variable at any observation point. When considering all PRE and non-PRE samples together, differences in sperm viability were observed between fresh and fresh-centrifuged sperm viability (70.1±12.5% compared to 76.3±10.9%; p<0.01). After centrifugation the samples were also more homogeneous in terms of the total number of recovered sperm cells. Centrifugation also improved frozen-thawed sperm viability, reducing differences in sperm quality between individual stallions. For all centrifugations, a sperm:extender ratio of 1:5 was used. This would appear to provide better final results than those reported in the literature for the 1:1 ratio commonly used for PRE stallion sperm cryopreservation. In conclusion, obtained results show that the quality and frozen/thawed results of PRE stallion sperm are not lower than that of non-PRE breeds. In addition, using a 1:5 sperm:extender dilution ratio when selecting sperms by centrifugation prior to freezing, seems to provide better results than those usually reported when using a 1:1 ratio
Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil as an effective antifungal and herbicidal agent
Get PDFIn order to reduce the use of chemical pesticides, great interest has been focused on environment-friendly biological control agents and botanicals that preserve biodiversity. In this context, our study aimed to assess the antifungal and herbicidal activities of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil (EO) to find an alternative to synthetic pesticides. The chemical composition of R. officinalis essential oil was determined by gaz chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis (GC-MS). Results showed that R. officinallis EO was rich in monoterpenes and the major constituents were 1,8-cineole (54.6%), camphor (12.27%) and α-pinene (7.09%). However, under laboratory conditions, two tests were carried out. The first one consisted on the study of EO antifungal activity using ELISA microplates and the second one consisted on evaluating the effect of EO on seedling growth of weeds. It was confirmed that this EO significantly inhibits spore germination of Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium culmorum, Penicillium italicum and at 6 mM, the percentage of inhibition reached 100% on Fusarium oxysporum. Indeed, EO slows down seedling growth of Trifolium incarnatum, Silybum marianum, and Phalaris minor. In fact, EO at 5 mM completely inhibits seed germination. On the other hand, another experiment was carried out to evaluate the herbicidal activity by spraying EO on weeds. This showed that a novel herbicide formulation was set up for the first time to improve the activity of R. officinalis EO on post-emergence. Overall, R. officinalis EO can be suggested as a potential eco-friendly pesticide and suitable source of natural compounds potentially usable as natural pesticides
Film mulching combined with cow manure increases soil C and N
Get PDFAim of study: A field study was conducted to assess responses of soil organic C (SOC) and total N (TN) to film mulching and manure, which were important in identifying the changes of SOC and TN.Area of study: A semiarid area in northwestern China.Material and methods: The field (soil classified as CumuliUstic Isohumosol) has been planted with spring maize (Zea mays L.) for years. Three treatments were: 1) NPK fertilization and no film mulching (CK), 2) NPK fertilization and film mulching (PF) and 3) film mulching and NPK fertilization combined with cow manure (OMF).Main results: Compared with CK, OMF significantly increased SOC and TN, while no significant effect was observed under PF. The average increases of SOC storage in OMF were 39.2% in 0-10 cm layer and 34.3% in 10-20 cm layer. The average increases of TN storage were 37.6% in 0-10 cm layer and 31.3% in 10-20 cm layer, relative to CK. Compared with the initial SOC (8.86 g/kg) and TN (0.99 g/kg), CK and PF decreased 1.4% and 6.9% of SOC, and 9.1% and 17.2% of TN, whereas OMF increased SOC and TN. The SOC/TN was not affected by treatments but slight increase was observed since the beginning of experiment. Both PF and OMF significantly increased maize grain yields (on average 45.8% and 75.7%, respectively) compared with CK.Research highlights: Manure combined with film mulching significantly increased soil C and N, ameliorating harmful effects of plastic film mulching, improving soil fertility in the long term and increasing crop yields
Susceptibility of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma achaeae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) to selected insecticides used in tomato greenhouses
Get PDFThe South American tomato moth Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a pest species of great economic importance in tomatoes, both in greenhouses and in open-air crops. This importance has increased in recent years because it has been introduced in many countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Insecticides different active ingredients and biological control agents are being used in the control of this pest species. This implies the need to make both groups compatible within IPM programmes. Therefore, the objective of this work was to study the compatibility between different insecticides and the use of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma achaeae Nagaraja and Nagakartti (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). Three groups of trials were carried out under laboratory and greenhouse conditions. Ten insecticides with the following active ingredient were evaluated: abamectin, azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, chlorantraniliprole, emamectin, flubendiamide, indoxacarb, methomyl, spinosad, and spiromesifen. In the results, three groups of insecticides were established based on their compatibility with the use of biological control: The first group (abamectin, B. thurigiensis, flubendiamide, indoxacarb and spiromesifen) showed a high degree of compatibility with egg parasitoid releases. The second group (azadirachtin and chlorantraniliprole, and methomyl) presented compatibility problems. Finally, the last group (emamectin, methomyl, and spinosad) did not apper to be compatible. The results found will allow a better application of IPM programmes in tomato crops for the control of this pest species
Effects of Cry toxins on non-target soil bacteria during a 2-year follow up study
Get PDFGenetically modified (GM) plants with insecticidal Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) genes are widely accepted but their commercial utilization highlights the biosafety issues worldwide. The risk assessment of GM crops demonstrates their impact on the ecosystem as well as non-target organisms (NTOs). Among the NTOs, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) demand more critical experimental studies as they play a significant role in plant growth. A comparative study of Bt with non-Bt cotton rhizosphere was conducted, on selected bacterial strains. During the course of the study, biochemical characterization, auxin biosynthesis and molecular characterization was done to assess the effect of Bt toxins (Cry1Ac and Cry2A) on non-target PGPR strains. A significant decrease (p<0.05) in phosphatase activity was recorded in some of the experimental bacterial strains as compared to those of control strains. However, no significant differences (p>0.05) were observed in other parameters like bacterial population, colony morphologies as well as biochemical activities. Thus, our study demonstrates the safe plantation of Bt crops with respect to soil bacteria
Phytohormone effect on seedling quality in Hungarian oak
Get PDFAim of study: to find out the effects of four phytohormones, including Indole Butyric Acid (IBA), Indole Acetic Acid (IAA), and Gibberellic acids (GA3, GA4) on seedling growth of Hungarian oak which has a natural distribution in the northwestern of Turkey.Area of Study: Mature acorns of Hungarian oak were collected from a natural stand in Zonguldak-Ereğli at northwestern region of Turkey.Material and Methods: Collected acorns of the species were pretreated with 300 ppm of each phytohormone for 24 hours and sown in Yenihan State Forest Nursery of Bartin, Turkey. Two years old bare-root seedlings were used for the measurements of seedling height, root collar diameter, stem, root and seedling fresh weights, and stem, root and seedling dry weights of two bare-root seedlings for each phytohormone treatment.Main results: Best performance of all studied seedling traits with the exception of root collar diameter was revealed in seedlings with IBA. In contrast, treatment of seeds with GA3 reduced all seedling traits apart from seedling height and root collar diameter. According to Dickson quality index, IBA was displayed to be the most beneficial phytohormone application for generating Hungarian oak seedlings with better mechanical resistance during transplanting.Research Highlights: IBA should be adopted in planting the seedlings of Hungarian oak for plantation activities.Keywords: Field performance; Morphology; Phytohormone, Quality; Quercus frainetto.Abbreviations used: Dickson quality index (DQI), gibberellic acid (GA), indole acetic acid (IAA), indole butyric acid (IBA), root collar diameter (RCD), root dry weight (RDW), root fresh weigh (RFW), seedling dry weight (SEDW), seedling fresh weight (SEFW), seedling height (SH), Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), stem dry weight (STDW), stem fresh weight (STFW)