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Faktorer före skörd som påverkar kvalitén hos grön sparris (Asparagus officinalis)
Get PDFAsparagus officinalis is an edible immature shoot cultivated all over the world and sold as a seasonal delicacy. Harvest season in Sweden stretches from between 8 to 12 weeks and these local spears are often considered to be of hight quality among consumers. However, clarification as to how different factors affects asparagus spear quality can be beneficial to maintain acceptable standards, and to solve future challenges which may arise with changed weather patterns due to climate change. This paper is a literature study, discussing factors before harvest that can affect quality of green asparagus from a Swedish perspective. How climate change may alter future field conditions in Sweden and hence spear quality is also included.
Asparagus physiology affected mostly textural quality since the bottom section was more fibrous and lignified than the immature top section. Harvested spear diameter affected quality by having more portions of fibrous and lignified tissue in relation to volume, while tall spears had more concentration of fibre compared to shorter ones, and higher rate of respiration which reduced shelf life after harvest. Hence, thick and short spears were more desirable according to literature. However, it was unclear at what height and thickness the textural quality would become undesirable from a consumer perspective, since there seems to be a market even for thin spears.
Agronomical factors such as plant age, root crown depth and density influences quality. Plants produce thinner spears as the plants ages if fern growth and carbohydrate accumulatio is not optimised. Spear diameter would increase with crown depth, spear diameter, while adding more plants per field area had an opposite effect. However, future weather patterns with increased precipitation during fall could require a shallower planting of crowns for optimal drainage, with the possible cost of reduced thickness. Meanwhile, an expected increase of hot summers and periods of drought could require producers to utilise field irrigation in the future, an uncommon practise in Sweden. Shoots need adequate moisture for optimal quality since this adds to spear weight, reduced wilting and contributes to textural tenderness.
Cold field temperatures would also increase the fiber to volume ration, adding to textural toughness, but shelf life as a function of respiration rate, wilting, and tip rot, was prolonged in spears grown during mild weather. Respiration and elongation rate accelerates as field temperature rises, and increases the occurrences of spears with feathered tips, while reducing textural toughness. Spears grown during warm weather are taller and thinner, which contributes to the faster loss of water and sugars, leading to less days of shelf life. Hence, a higher frequency of hot summers could lead to spears of poor visual quality and reduced shelf-life, requiring producers to better monitoring stalks on the field and harvest more often to prevent lanky shoots
Understanding circular economy: analysing the concept of a circular phosphorus economy in the Baltic Sea region : a frame analysis of stakeholder perspectives on a circular phosphorus economy and collaboration between involved actors
Get PDFIn the last 50 years the issue of eutrophication has become more and more prevalent. The increasing input of phosphorus into the Baltic Sea had led to an increase of algae and plant growth which caused an oxygen depletion, changes in the composition of species as well as increased grime. Furthermore, the algae growth has favoured the development of dead zones across the Baltic Sea. To stop the excess input of nutrients into the Baltic Sea many strategies have been discussed, one being the concept of circular economy. This concept is defined as economic system that focuses on a restorative and regenerative design. It replaces the ‘end-of-life’ concept with restoration, shifts towards the use of renewable energy, eliminates the use of toxic chemicals, which impair reuse, and aims for the elimination of waste through the superior design of materials, products, systems, and, within this, business. In 6 semi-structured interviews various stakeholders involved in the phosphorus economy in the Baltic Sea region with connection to the Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea in have been asked to give their perspective on certain topics to gather information the answer the research questions:
Q1: How is the concept of a circular phosphorus economy within the Baltic Sea region understood and made sense of by members and partner organizations of the Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission?
Q2: How do these stakeholders frame collaboration regarding the establishment of a circular phosphorus economy and possible difficulties that might hinder a successful implementation?
To make sense of the findings a frame analysis has been conducted to understand how the stakeholders view the concepts resulting in the formulation of two frames, defining circular phosphorus economy as a system based on processes that recycle and reuse nutrients rather than import new ones as well as focusing on how responsibly use existing phosphorus sources and apply measurements to determine where which amount of phosphorus needed and where waste can be avoided. Furthermore, the framing process has been examined, showing that the professional environment greatly impacts the understanding of circular economy. Regarding the framing of possible challenges regarding establishing collaboration between stakeholders it could be concluded that the main hindrances perceived by the actors include lack of trust and motivation as well as language barriers. Future research is recommended to focus on examining the perspectives of a wider range of stakeholders
Kan bevattningsuttag ur en modifierad sjö öka motståndskraften vid torka på ett hållbart sätt?
Get PDFSveriges jordbruksmark är till stor del beroende av regn för sin vattenförsörjning. Vilket gör dess skördar och därmed livsmedelsproduktionen beroende av regn i rätt tid och mängd. Historiskt har bevattning genomförts i låg utsträckning. Detta kan dock ändras som följd av de pågående klimatförändringarna som förväntas leda till förändrade nederbördsmönster. Studien genomfördes vid Vansjön, där en fördämning planerats med mål om att skapa god vattenförsörjning, hög vattenkvalité, biologisk mångfald och bättre motståndskraft mot klimatförändringar, delvis genom möjlighet till bevattningsuttag. Studien syftar till att undersöka om det är möjligt att göra ett bevattningsuttag av en tillräcklig storlek för att öka lantbrukens motståndskraft vid torka utan att motverka regleringens resterande mål.
Bevattningsbehovet simulerades för medel och torrår med mjukvaran Cropwat 8.0, som baseras på FAO:s Irrigation and Drainage Paper no. 56. Simuleringarna baserades på indata från tidigare studier av Vansjön, intervjuer av lokala experter, väderdata och bevattningslitteratur. Hur mycket parametrar med osäkra indata påverkade resultaten testades. Resultaten visar att det ansökta bevattningsuttaget inte räcker för att täcka det simulerade bevattningsbehovet, varken för medelår eller torrår. Motståndskraften vid torka skulle än dock kunna ökas genom bevattning för att undvika torkstress. Simuleringsresultaten bedömdes dock innehålla stora osäkerheter till följd av få simuleringar, användandet av konstruerade typår och modellens känslighet för mängden totalt växttillgängligt vatten, vilket gjorde frågeställningen svår att besvara med säkerhet. För en minskad osäkerhet i framtida simuleringar bör data från flera år användas, mätningar för totalt växttillgängligt vatten göras och bevattningsstrategin anpassas.Sweden's agricultural land largely depends on rainfall for water supply, making harvests and food production reliant on timely and sufficient precipitation. The implementation of irrigation has historically been low in Sweden. However, this may change as a result of ongoing climate change which is expected to change precipitation patterns. The study was carried out at Vansjön, where a damming is planned with the aim of creating good water supply, high water quality, biodiversity and better resilience to climate change, partly through irrigation withdrawal. The study aims to investigate whether it is possible to make an irrigation withdrawal of sufficient size to increase agricultural resilience to drought without counteracting the remaining objectives of the regulation.
Irrigation demand was simulated for average and dry years using Cropwat 8.0 software, based on FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper no. 56. The simulations were based on data from previous studies of the lake, interviews with local experts, weather data and irrigation literature. How much parameters with uncertain inputs affected the results was tested. Results indicate that the applied irrigation withdrawal is insufficient to meet simulated demand in both average and dry years. Drought resilience could still be increased by irrigation to prevent drought stress. However, the simulation results contain large uncertainties due to a small number of simulations, the use of constructed typical years and the model's sensitivity to the amount of total plant-available water. This making definitive conclusions challenging. To reduce uncertainty in future simulations, data from several years, measurements of total plant available water, and adapting the irrigation strategy are recommended
En flik av vår stad
Get PDFDetta examensarbete i landskapsarkitektur, En flik av vår stad – ett gestaltningsförslag med kajkanten
i fokus undersöker hur en tidigare hamnmiljö kan omvandlas till en trivsam boendemiljö och attraktiv
besöksmiljö, där platsens historia, havsnära läge och hållbarhetsaspekter beaktas.
Smörkajen, beläget i Nyhamnen, är en del av Malmös stadsomvandling, där ett tidigare industri- och
hamnområde omformas för att möta behovet av fler bostäder och arbetsplatser. Centrala frågeställningar i arbetet är hur Smörkajen kan gestaltas för både boende och besökare, vilka utmaningar och möjligheter som uppstår vid omvandlingen av en övergiven hamnmiljö samt hur vattnet
kan tillgängliggöras för att stärka platsens upplevelsevärden och naturvärden. Genom olika typer av
utforskande analyser, sinnliga och rationella, av platsens kontext, vattnets roll och stadsrummets
fysiska aspekter, samt titta på andra stadsutvecklingsprojekt i Malmö och Köpenhamn, föreslås
gestaltningskonceptet Flikigheten. Flikigheten tar avstamp i kustlinjens historiska formgivning och
vattnets rörelse in i staden, men kan tolkas in på många olika sätt i förslaget. Det betyder emellertid i
stort, att fokus i planeringen och formgivningen ska sträva efter en variation av upplevelser som skapar
lekfullhet och spänning men behåller en enhetlig och sammanhållen karaktär.
Slutresultatet är ett konkret gestaltningsförslag för Smörkajens utemiljöer, i gränslandet mellan stad och
natur, med rum för olika sociala utbyten och aktiviteter. Genom att tillgängliggöra havet på olika sätt
strävar förslaget efter att bidra till en levande och inkluderande stadsmiljö i Malmö.This master’s thesis in landscape architecture, Harbour to neighborhood - a design proposal focused on
the waterfront, explores how a former harbor area can be transformed into a comfortable and pleasant
residential and attractive visitor environment while considering the site’s history, waterfront location, and
sustainability aspects.
Smörkajen, located in Nyhamnen, is part of Malmö’s urban development, where a former industrial and
harbor area is being transformed to meet the need for more housing and workplaces. Key questions
in this thesis include how Smörkajen can be designed for both residents and visitors, what challenges
and opportunities arise when transforming an abandoned harbor area, and the how water can be
made accessible to enhance both the site’s experiential and ecological qualities. Through various
exploratory analyses, both sensory and rational, of the site’s context, the significance of water, and the
physical aspects of urban space, as well as studying other urban development projects in Malmö and in
Copenhagen, the design concept Flikigheten is proposed. Flikigheten is inspired by the shaping of the
coastline and the water that comes into the city in canals, but can be interpreted in many ways in the
proposal. Overall, it refers to a planning and design that focuses on creating a variety of experiences that
add playfulness while maintaining a coherent design.
The final result is a design proposal for Smörkajen’s landscape, blending urban and natural
environments, with areas for social interaction and different activities. By making the waterfront more
accessible in different ways, the proposal aims to contribute to a vibrant and inclusive
urban environment in Malmö
Alnarp Nature Educational Park
Get PDFThe way cities grow and expand has a huge impact on what we leave to our children. Today,
urban challenges require projects and actions focusing on practices that integrate sustainable
development into urban planning.
This study examines the potential of green spaces within Alnarp Park, to promote outdoor
learning for children aged 6–12, focusing on teaching biodiversity and sustainability, and
aligned with the Swedish school curriculum.
The work combines different methods including literature review, and an overview of Alnarp
Park together with maps and features, observation, field notes and informal interviews that
also identified five spots that are suitable for outdoor learning.
In summary, this study aims to evaluate how green areas can serve as a space for
environmental education, further highlighting the potential of learning trails within Alnarp
Park, inspiring environmental awareness among children and recognizing their role in
shaping the future
The influence of tree species on ant communities: A comparison of fast-growing broadleaf forests and oak forests
Get PDFForestry is an important part of the Swedish economy, and fast-growing broadleaf (FGB) plantations are likely to increase their contribution due to the increasing interest in bioenergy. However, these plantations might not be as valuable for natural assets like biodiversity and support fewer forest specialist species. Ants play major roles in ecosystems and can serve as bioindicators. In this study, I investigate differences in ant community makeup between FGB (Betula pendula, Populus tremula × P. tremuloides and Populus sp.) stands and oak (Quercus robur) stands with longer rotation in Scania. I expect more forest specialist (forest guild) species in oak stands compared to FGB stands.
My results showed (A) no difference between the total number of forest specialist species found and whether a stand was an oak stand or an FGB stand. However, using abundance data from vacuum and bait samples, I found (B) significantly different ant communities in oak stands compared to FGB stands. I also found (C) that a larger dominance of forest specialist species at each sample was seen in oak stands compared to FGB stands, and that the proportion of forest specialised species between oak and FGB stands not homogenous is.
Secondly, I tested whether results from vacuum sampling were different from bait sampling. The only significant difference was that the vacuum sampling process took considerably more time to carry out.
I advise that further research replace vacuum sampling with pitfall traps or more extensive free catch searches. My conclusions partly substantiate the consensus that Quercus is a highly valuable genus, with Quercus forests providing the most species-rich forest type. And I affirm the value of Quercus robur by finding a stronger forest specialist species presence than in FGB forest stands. It would, nevertheless, be worthwhile to broaden this research by including multiple stands across Sweden, natural reserves, and coniferous stands. This is to provide a comprehensive overview of the impacts on ant communities
Future imaginaries of pesticides
Get PDFPesticides are part of today’s farming practices all over the world. In France, pesticides are still heavily used and quite controversial. Policies to frame pesticide use, are elaborated at European and national levels. Practices such as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) are encouraged and other alternatives have been researched during the past years. In France several plans have been established with the aim to drastically reduce pesticide use. Different groups of persons seem to have a say in the “pesticide debate”. Two major groups would be the farmers and scientists. How they imagine pesticides within today’s society and whether these imaginaries can influence practices and policies are interesting questions to address. This study aims at investigating farmers’ and scientists’ future imaginaries in France about pesticides. For both groups, imaginaries are understood as specific to the interviewee with recurring subjects between them such as consumers’ role, the need of food production, or the deep-rooted place of pesticides within farming practices. The construction of these imaginaries could be due to different socio-economical factors and external social imaginaries/discourses. Even if this study cannot clearly conclude if and how these imaginaries will have impact on policy, I would argue that such impact is possible. Finally, this study aims at contributing to the understanding of future imaginaries of farmers and scientists in France about pesticides and its construction and influence on today’s society
“What am I doing for my community?”
Get PDFIndigenous peoples are increasingly recognized as initiators of innovative solutions and carriers of crucial knowledge to address sustainability challenges. However, many people from urban environments often lack opportunities to engage with and learn from indigenous communities. In this study, I explore the sustainability-driven initiative that facilitates cross-cultural learning: the Experience Program (EP) in La Guajira, Colombia. In this community-based ecotourism (CBET) program, the participants from the big cities get to immerse themselves in several communities of the Wayúu people. By using a qualitative research approach, this study combines participant observations and interviews, in order to investigate the Experiential Learning (EL) and the participants’ changes in perspectives derived from the EP, with the help of Jack Mezirow’s theory on transformative learning (TL) as well as Pierre Walter’s categorization of EL in CBET. The findings from this study reveal how nature, adventure and culture experiences gave the participants several opportunities for reflections, which were not only generated from conversations, but also from communication with non-humans. The EP also made the participants critically reflect on their previous assumptions and formed new points of views regarding the Wayúu people’s a) reputation, behavior and way of life, b) women leaders, c) environmental work and d) community and pride. This highlights the potential of CBET initiatives to foster self-awareness and critical thinking, which are some of the key competencies in education for sustainable development. To further deepen our understanding of learning in CBET, future research could assess participants’ long-term transformations or interview community hosts in the context of La Guajira
Återta stadens gaturum för lek genom deltagande design med barn
Get PDFChildren and their play are disappearing from the urban public realms of the street. This change is driven by increased presence of motor driven vehicles,
built environment as well as changing attitudes about childhood and notions of street functions. Thus, a change that is mirrored in cities that become absent from children. The absence of children in the streets reflects a loss of cultural identity and practices, as children’s collective free plays, environmental exploration and freedom of mobility have been marginalized in cities. Furthermore, this loss can become extended to generations of children with less opportunity for building social and environmental skills. There has been a change from streets that once harboured play to isolated playground islands in the urban fabric. Contemporary cities are not planned or built considering the most vulnerable citizens such as the children. With this in mind, this study explores the role of streets in relation to play and the potential of participatory approaches to contribute to street designs supporting children’s play and presence in the city. Based on a design case of the Analia Franco school in Santos Brazil, studied through fieldwork, interviews and a workshop with children of 5 years of age, participatory design methods are tested and a redesign of an adjacent local street is proposed. Drawn from this experience the participatory design process is discussed, as well as ideas on how the development of playful streets can be supported through participatory design. The study’s results outline opportunities and challenges of working with participatory design with children as a method of reclaiming streets for play in the field of landscape architecture. The study argues that Participatory design is a valuable approach to redesign the streets for play with children as it allows the process to be grounded on local culture and wishes, thus providing local relevance for design proposals.Barn och deras lek försvinner från gatans offentliga stadsrum. Denna förändring drivs av ökad närvaro av motordrivna fordon, byggd miljö samt förändrade attityder kring barndomen samt föreställningar om gatans olika funktioner. Följaktligen, en förändring som speglas i städer som blir frånvarande av barn. Frånvaron av barn på gatorna återspeglar en förlust av kulturell identitet och erfarenhet. Som kollektiva fria lekar har utforskande av omvärldsmiljö och rörelsefrihet marginaliserats i städerna. Därtill kan denna förlust utökas till generationer av barn som får mindre möjlighet att bygga sociala och miljömässiga färdigheter. Det har skett en förändring från gator som en gång hyste lek till öar av isolerade lekplatser i stadsväven. Samtida städer planeras eller byggs inte med tanke på de mest utsatta medborgarna som barn. Med detta i åtanke undersöks i studien gatans roll i förhållande till lek och potentialen hos deltagande tillvägagångssätt att bidra till gestaltningen av gaturum som stödjer barns lek och närvaro i staden. Baserat på exemplet Analia Franco-skolan i Santos Brasilien, studerat genom fältarbete, intervjuer och en workshop med barn i 5-årsåldern, testas deltagande designmetoder och en omgestaltning av en intilliggande lokalgata föreslås. Erfarenheter av den deltagande designprocessen diskuteras, samt idéer kring hur utvecklingen av lekfulla gator kan stödjas genom deltagande design. Studiens resultat beskriver möjligheter och utmaningar med att arbeta med deltagande design med barn som en metod för att återta gator för lek inom landskapsarkitekturen. Studien argumenterar för att deltagande design är ett värdefullt tillvägagångssätt för att göra om gatorna för lek med barn eftersom det gör att processen kan grundas på lokal kultur och önskemål, vilket ger lokal relevans för designförslag
Harmonizing aesthetics and function : a naturalistic design proposal for a woodland garden in Östra Ljungby
Get PDFThis thesis explored how naturalistic planting design and site analysis can be combined to create a sustainable woodland garden that will harmonize function with aesthetics. The aim has been to develop a woodland garden design that is based on ecological understanding of woodlands and naturalistic planting. It tries to keep the functions of aesthetic appeal and low-maintenance in mind, while still offering ecological and recreational benefit as well.
To achieve this, the project has integrated three core bases: the woodland knowledge base, the naturalistic planting design knowledge base and a site analysis that has informed the environmental base. The synthesis of these elements has helped inform the design development. The key principles included the use of edges, layering, native and non-native balance, human connection, low maintenance and dynamic nature.
The design was tested and developed through an iterative process of sketching, spatial analyses and plant selection, which has led to a design of a dynamic and multifunctional woodland garden that incorporates layered planting, seasonal interest, uniformity and gradual spatial transitions. The woodland garden consists out of different rooms that have been created and informed by the key principles while addressing challenges from the site.
The result has been a resilient, dynamic and flexible garden that incorporates multiple functions such as encouraging biodiversity, offering recreational opportunities and integrating edible species. This project highlights the importance of a site-specific approach when theory is combined with practice in landscape design. It has shown that successful naturalistic woodland gardens are not static, but should be adaptive and evolving landscapes that go further beyond design, since it remains an ongoing interaction between plants, people and place