Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research
Not a member yet
2067 research outputs found
Sort by
Consumers’ acceptability and sensory evaluation of a traditional local fresh potato variety
No full textAim of study: This research explores consumers’ acceptance and sensory evaluation, and measures the willingness to pay (WTP) for the most important attributes of a locally grown fresh potato variety.
Area of study: Aragon, Spain.
Material and methods: Data were collected from two experiments. Experiment 1 (shopping stage) explored the product positioning and reveals consumers’ acceptance using three measurements: visual appearance rating, purchase intent, and WTP. Experiment 2 (consumption stage) corresponds to a sensory ranking task (e.g., taste, smell, texture) conducted at home once the local potato was fried.
Main results: Consumers positively valued the visual appearance and were willing to purchase the local potato. The higher the ratings of visual appearance, the higher the consumers’ intention to purchase the product. Women and participants who purchased food from supermarkets were more likely to buy the local potato. Conversely, consumers over 55 years old and those who belong to a lower level of household monthly income were willing to pay less for the local potato. After tasting, the participants’ rating of the product remained unchanged; however, there was a negative rating of the odor once the local potato was fried.
Research highlights: Potato producers and vendors should consider that consumers associate the local origin label with observable (e.g., appearance of color, shape) and unobservable (e.g., taste, smell, texture) attributes. Therefore, in addition to promoting the local origin and the benefits of purchasing and consuming local food, further consideration should be given to featuring physical quality aspects such as the sensory properties of the food that are important to consumers
Effects of dietary supplementation with garlic powder (Allium sativum L.) on broiler performance, carcass traits, lymphoid organ development and intestinal biometrics
No full textAim of study: To assess the effects of dietary supplementation with garlic (Allium sativum L.) powder as a growth-promoting additive on the productive performance, carcass traits, intestinal biometrics, and lymphoid organ development of broilers.
Area of study: Machado, Minas Gerais, southeast region of Brazil.
Material and methods: A total of 660 one-day-old chicks were used in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 g/kg garlic powder), 6 replications, and 22 animals per experimental unit during 42 days of production, divided into phases: initial (1 to 7 days), growth (8 to 22 days), and finishing (23 to 42 days).
Main results: In the total production period, the birds that were fed rations containing 5, 7.5 and 10 g/kg garlic powder showed increased weight gain and feed conversion ratio (p<0.05). Among the carcass yield variables, live weight and carcass yield showed a positive linear effect (p<0.05). Birds supplemented with garlic powder showed increased weight (p<0.05) and relative length of the small intestine (p<0.05). The absolute weight of the lymphoid organs, thymus and bursa of Fabricius, and the relative weight of the thymus, bursa of Fabricius and spleen also increased linearly with the level of dietary supplementation with garlic powder (p<0.05).
Research highlights: Dietary supplementation with 5 g/kg and higher concentrations of garlic powder is recommended as a growth promoter for broilers because this feed additive enhances lymphoid organ development, improves intestinal biometric variables and consequently maximises the productive performance and carcass yield of broilers from 1 to 42 days of age
Commercial maps of the main Latin American countries in the international olive oil market
No full textAim of study: World trade in olive oil is undergoing structural changes, with the emergence of new relevant actors, notably South American countries. The objective of this study was to analyze the performance of emerging Latin American countries in the world olive oil market during the period 2010–2019.
Area of study: Major Latin American countries within an international context.
Material and methods: The study was conducted through an analysis of trade networks, the application of the export growth decomposition method, the index of import dependence, and competitiveness matrices developed from the statistical evolution of import share and market share indicators.
Main results: European countries continue to dominate international trade in olive oil, however, Chile and Argentina have managed to widen their role. Chile was the country with the highest growth rate in olive oil exports in terms of value and volume in the period analyzed, whereas Argentina was below the world average. Prices in general have been stagnant, although price variability between countries can be distinguished. This may be due to the re-export policy of some countries, the qualities, the format, and some intrinsic characteristics of the markets.
Research highlights: Chile and Argentina figure prominently for their commercial capacity, with the former focusing mainly on the USA and Brazilian markets, and the latter on the Spanish
A hydroponic greenhouse fuzzy control system: design, development and optimization using the genetic algorithm
No full textAim of study: The design and development of a hydroponic greenhouse fuzzy control system.
Area of study: The evaluation was performed using experimental data obtained from the literature. The construction and evaluation of the fuzzy control hydroponic greenhouse system was carried out in a greenhouse in Tehran, Iran.
Material and methods: The greenhouse environmental conditions, including temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide, were controlled. The design of a fuzzy controller begun with the selection of linguistic variables, process status, and input and output variables. The fuzzy control system consisted of three modules: 1) fuzzy module, 2) cost function, and 3) genetic algorithm for the adjustment of the greenhouse environmental conditions.The next step was to select a set of linguistic rules and the type of fuzzy inference process. The rules were set once, and the fuzzy set and output value needed to be specified after the inference, along with the development of a non-fuzzy strategy.
Main results: The mean temperatures provided by the fuzzy control system during the day and night were 34.25°C and 23.22°C, respectively, which were improved to 31.17°C and 21.96°C after optimization. The mean humidity was 39.4% and 56.5% during the day and the night, respectively, which turned 60.22% and 74.59% after optimization. The control system also achieved desirable conditions in terms of CO2 amount.
Research highlights: The results showed that the measured values of temperature and relative humidity of the greenhouse were improved after optimization with genetic algorithm
Animal welfare of embryos and newly hatched chicks: A review
No full textThe welfare of farm animals is a hotly debated issue today. There are few technical materials available focused on hatcheries that address and incorporate practices adopting the welfare level required by civil society. However, about 33% of the production period of a broiler chicken occurs on the hatchery. Recent studies have shown that day-old chick production has points that need to be improved. Technical standards indicate that the process of welfare should begin during egg storage such that the best conditions are provided for embryos prior to incubation. Storage until 28 days at temperatures above 12ºC can kill embryos, while exposure of eggs to 30 ºC until 14 days causes a negative impact under the hatchability. The available results regarding in ovo nutrition show that it should be considered for benefit neonate quality since inoculation of substances such vitamin E (60.4 IU) promote better incubation results. Feeding immediately after hatching is a management for welfare because animals feed-fed soon after hatch perform better up to 35 d. The most criticized point in hatcheries is the slaughter of neonates, for which some strategies are being investigated, including the use of dual-purpose aptitude strains, in ovo sexing by different methodologies, sex inversion and hormonal-based sexing. It is noted that procedures involving bird incubation require greater attention to welfare. Therefore, it is necessary to align theoretical knowledge with practical applications so that the demands of society, as well as those of industry, are met
Development of a laboratory setup simulating cabbage harvesting mechanism and optimization of torque requirement for harvesting cabbage
No full textAim of study: To develop a new type of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) harvesting mechanism in the laboratory that can be used in small-scale cabbage harvester in Indian conditions with minimum power requirement.
Area of study: Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India
Material and methods: The mechanism consisted of a cutting unit, a pushing unit and a conveying unit. Two counter-rotating disc cutters were used as cutting devices. Cutting speed, forward speed and cutting position were considered as influential parameters for torque required to carry out the harvesting of cabbage. A full factorial design was followed for the experiment and response surface methodology was used to optimize these parameters for minimizing torque requirement for cutting and pushing the cabbage.
Main results Torque decreased when cutting speed increased and when cutting height from the cabbage head decreased. Statistical analysis showed that cutting speed and cutting position affected the total torque significantly. The optimized cutting speed, forward speed and cutting position were found as 590 rpm, 0.25 m s-1 and 0 cm, respectively with a desirability of 0.995. A regression model was developed to predict the total torque for cutting the cabbage stem and it was validated against 10 datasets with a percentage of bias within 10%.
Research highlights: The mechanism developed for cabbage harvesting could successfully cut and lift the cabbage heads in the laboratory. These optimized parameters are to be followed in the field prototype cabbage harvester for its successful operation in the field
Methodology of stem water potential measurement on hedgerow olive orchards
No full textAim of study:To evaluate the effect of leaf covering, leaf position, leaf age, time and sample size in measurements of stem water potential (Ψstem) in olive hedgerow orchards.
Area of study: The experimental orchards were located in the Centre of Spain (Toledo)
Material and methods: Midday Ψstem was measured using a pressure chamber in two super-intensive olive hedgerow orchards subjected to various water status.
Main results: Measurements were taken at solar noon on shaded leaves at mid canopy height following at least 1 hour of covering. Such measurements on 5 trees were sufficient to define the water status of individual homogeneous irrigation blocks. This combination of techniques is essential for repeatable measurements of Ψstem required to establish critical irrigation points and manage deficit irrigation strategies seeking to control vegetative growth and reduce water use with minimal effect on oil yield in olive hedgerow orchards and maximum oil quality. Part of our results weren’t previously reported: 1) Covering leaves with aluminium doesn’t completely stop transpiration and leaves must be covered and located in the shaded part of the canopy. 2) Ψstem depends on leaf height on olive hedgerow. 3) Ψstem of young leaves was less variable than in older ones. 4) Ψstem at solar noon presented larger differences with previous hours than later.
Research highlights: Leaves for measurements of stem water potential must be previously covered and located in the middle height of the shaded part of the canopy
Effect of heat stress and body condition score on the occurrence of puerperal disorders in Holstein cows
No full textAim of the study: To evaluate the association between temperature-humidity index (THI) and body condition score (BCS) at calving and retained placenta (RP), puerperal metritis, clinical ketosis, and mastitis in Holstein cows in a hot environment
Area of study: Northeastern Mexico.
Material and methods: This is a retrospective cohort study (n= 12,102 lactations from January 2017 to December 2021) using univariate logistic regressions. The outcome variables were periparturient diseases, and the predictor variables were BCS and thermal stress at calving.
Main results: Cows calving with a THI > 82 were 30% more likely (prevalence 16.8% vs 13.7%; p < 0.01) to have RP than cows whose parturition occurred with moderate or low thermal stress (THI < 82 units). Cows calving with THI > 82 had significantly increased chances of having metritis than cows calving with THI < 82 (prevalence 15.6 vs 13.4; p < 0.01). Cows calving with a THI > 82 were 1.8 times more likely to have clinical ketosis (7.6% vs 4.4%; p < 0.01) than cows calving with THI < 82 units. Cows with BCS at calving ≥ 3.5 had half the risk of having RP (prevalence 10.4 vs 19.1%, p < 0.01) than cows with BCS < 3.5. Likewise, the risk of metritis decreased (p < 0.01) with BCS ≥3.5 at calving (prevalence 10.9 vs 17.4%).
Research highlights: Heat stress at calving was associated with an increased risk for RP, puerperal metritis, and clinical ketosis compared to cows undergoing mild or no heat stress at parturition. Also, cows with BCS ≥ 3.5 were less likely to present RP and metritis, but high body fatness was associated with an increased risk for clinical ketosis
Modelling seedling emergence of Amaranthus retroflexus affected by soil depth
No full textAim of study: To determine and quantify the effect of seed burial depths on the seedling emergence pattern of Amaranthus retroflexus in field conditions.
Area of study: West of Iran (Ilam).
Material and methods: The seedling emergence of A. retroflexus was studied in an outdoor pot experiment, burying the seeds at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 cm in the soil in Ilam (Iran) in two consecutive years, 2010 and 2011. Different models were tested to predict the cumulative seedling emergence, and the log logistic model was found to be the best for this A. retroflexus population. Newly estimated Tb values, slightly different each year, but lower than those of the references, were estimated and set at 2.6 ºC and 0 ºC in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
Main results: The seedling emergence in the west of Iran take place over a period from early February to late May. The level of seed dormancy can be reduced during autumn and winter burial in the soil or after a dry storage. Seed dormancy reduction resulted in a lower base temperature for germination/emergence followed by increase of the seedling emergences. Moreover, light in the soil surface and higher fluctuation in temperature at shallower soil depths may stimulate the seed germination and seedling emergence of A. retroflexus.
Research highlights: Total emerged seedlings and emergence pattern are affected by soil depth and the level of dormancy. The results obtained in this study can be used to optimize the timings of the weed management activities
Influence of organic matter management on the activity and structure of soil microbial community in intensive tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) greenhouse farming
No full textAim of study: Intensive agriculture impacts physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of soil; therefore, the addition of organic matter (OM) to soil can have significant implications for crop production. This study investigated the impact of three crop management systems on tomato production and soil microbial communities in intensive greenhouse farming.
Area of study: Province of Almería (Spain).
Material and methods: The three crop management systems included: (1) conventional management, using synthetic chemical fertilizers without OM application (CM); (2) conventional management, using synthetic chemical fertilizers with at least one OM application in the last three years (CMOM); and (3) fully organic management, featuring yearly OM applications and no use of synthetic chemical fertilizers (ORG).
Main results: Compared to CM soils, OM addition in CMOM and ORG led to higher soil NO3- and NH4+ content, which in turn increased nitrogen (N) availability, leading to an increase in soil respiration. The addition of OM also altered the composition of prokaryotic and fungal soil communities. Besides, the addition of OM reduced the presence and abundance of potential fungal pathogenic organisms, like Sclerotinia sp. and Plectosphaerella cucumerina. OM addition to conventionally managed greenhouses (CMOM) led to higher crop yields compared to CM greenhouses, resulting in an overall increase of 880 g m-2. Production under fully organic management (ORG) was lowest, possibly due to the nutrient and pest management practices used.
Research highlights: Our data show the importance of organic matter management in shaping microbial communities in intensive greenhouse systems, which can be a key factor in developing a more sustainable agriculture to feed a growing human population