Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research
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Oral and contact toxicity of the extract obtained with hexane from Achyrocline satureioides on larvae and adult honey bees
No full textAim of study: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the hexanic extract (HE) of Achyrocline satureioides on Paenibacillus larvae - a gram-positive spore-forming bacillus that affects the larval stage and causes American Foulbrood (AFB) - and its oral and contact toxicity on larvae and adult honey bees.Area of study: A. satureioides plants were collected in Santa Monica (32° 05’ 29” S, 64° 36’ 54” W, Córdoba. Argentina). The larvae and adults of Apis mellifera were obtained from the experimental apiary of the University of Córdoba, Spain.Material and methods: P. larvae 9 was previously isolated and identified in the Laboratory of General Microbiology (Dept. of Microbiology, National University of Río Cuarto, Argentina). The HE was obtained by liquid-liquid extraction. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of HE was determined by a microdilution method. This concentration and 2 ½ MIC were used for in vitro toxicity tests. Oral toxicity was tested on larvae, feeding them with both concentrations of the HE, while on adult bees the HE was spread to determine contact toxicity.Main results: The HE showed antimicrobial activity, the MIC obtained was 0.4 μg/mL. The HE presented very low toxicity at the MIC and 2 ½ MIC, with survival percentages to be around 95% for adult bees and larvae.Research highlights: The results show that this extract could be used for the development of an alternative product for a safe and effective treatment of AFB
The impact of alternative feeding strategies on total factor productivity growth of pig farming: Empirical evidence from EU countries
No full textAim of study: To investigate the impact of adopting new feeding precision technology on pig production.Area of study: Four EU countries (Germany, France, Poland and Spain) during the period 2010–2015.Material and methods: The Färe-Primont index was used to estimate total factor productivity change and its components, technological change and efficiency change.Main results: German, French and Spanish farms experienced total factor productivity (TFP) progress, while Polish farms did not for both feeding strategies. Our empirical findings suggest a high impact on the productivity of ad libitum feeding technique compared to the restricted one for all countries.Research highlights: Precision feeding strategies provide another avenue to more sustainable livestock production and further evidence that implementing individual ad libitum feeding systems for pigs could enhance farm’s productivity
Influence of overliming vineyard acid soils on the macro-nutritional status of grapevines
No full textAim of study: The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of overliming with dolomitic lime on the topsoil and grapevine macro-nutritional levels (both petiole and grape tissues), as well as on berry weight and must quality properties in grapevines growing on an acid soil.Area of study: The study was carried out in the viticultural region of El Bierzo (Spain), one of the main wine protected designation of origin in the northwest of Spain.Material and methods: The effects of overliming were studied in soil parameters, petiole and grape tissues, as well as in must quality during three years (2014-2016). Data analysis was performed using factorial ANOVA (both parametric and non-parametric tests have been used).Main results: The results found on the soil levels of magnesium and phosphorus were mirrored by those shown in petiole and grape tissues. Data suggest that insufficient Mg supply in vineyard acid soils could lead to a lower P vascular movement in vines. Additionally, our findings suggest that a great decrease of K levels in vine tissues as a consequence of overliming, could lead to changes in harvest quality.Research highlights: Overliming with dolomitic limestone in large quantities decreased soil exchangeable K, as well as improved supply of exchangeable Mg and available P. Additionally Mg and P levels in both petiole and grape tissues were significantly affected by overliming
Optimizing precision agricultural operations by standardized cloud-based functions
No full textAim of study: An approach to integrate knowledge into the IT-infrastructure of precision agriculture (PA) is presented. The creation of operation relevant information is analyzed and explored to be processed by standardized web services and thereby to integrate external knowledge into PA. The target is to make knowledge integrable into any software solution.
Area of study: The data sampling took place at the Heidfeld Hof Research Station in Stuttgart, Germany.
Material and methods: This study follows the information science’s idea to separate the process from data sampling into the final actuation through four steps: data, information, knowledge, and wisdom. The process from the data acquisition, over a professional data treatment to the actual application is analyzed by methods modelled in the Unified Modelling Language (UML) for two use-cases. It was further applied for a low altitude sensor in a PA operation; a data sampling by UAV represents the starting point.
Main results: For the implemented solution, the Web Processing Service (WPS) of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) is proposed. This approach reflects the idea of a function as a service (FaaS), in order to develop a demand-driven and extensible solution for irregularly used functionalities. PA benefits, as on-farm processes are season oriented and a FaaS reflects the farm’s variable demands over time by origin and extends the concept to offer external know-how for the integration into specific processes.
Research highlights: The standardized implementation of knowledge into PA software products helps to generate additional benefits for PA
Replacing soybean meal with Narbon vetch (Vicia narbonensis L.) in pig diets: composition of subcutaneous fat and fresh loin, and sensory attributes of dry-cured product
No full textAim of the study: To evaluate the consequences for pork quality traits of replacing soybean meal with Narbon vetch in pig diets.Area of study: Castilla-Leon, Spain.Material and methods: 48 Duroc × Iberian barrows were fed diets with 0% (V0), 5% (V5), 10% (V10) and 20% (V20) inclusion of Narbon vetch. Pork quality traits investigated were 1) intramuscular fat, protein and moisture content of fresh loin, 2) fatty acid composition of subcutaneous fat, and 3) sensory attributes (Triangle test and a Simple Difference Test with a non-trained taste panel) of cured loin.Main results: Inclusion of Narbon vetch in the diet showed no significant effect on intramuscular fat, protein and moisture in fresh loin samples. Stearic acid was higher in subcutaneous fat of V5 than in V0 and V10 (p < 0.05), and oleic acid was higher in V10 than in V0, V5 and V20 (p < 0.05); no other differences in fatty acid composition were observed. Taste panelists tended to be able to distinguish V10 from V0 cured loins (p < 0.10), and were able to distinguish V20 from V0 loins (p < 0.05), in particular due to a perceived difference in taste, texture and marbling. No differences in intensity of the texture, marbling, aroma and color of cured loins were found between V0 and V5.Research highlights: Inclusion of Narbon vetch in pig diets did not significantly affect fresh loin composition or fatty acid composition of subcutaneous fat. Consumers perceived a difference in sensory characteristics of cured loin with replacement of soybean meal with Narbon Vetch, but they did not characterize this as more favorable
Nutraceutical profiles of apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) as a source of fruit quality traits for breeding
No full textAim of study: In a social context of increasing concern about healthy diets, the development of new varieties with enhanced content in nutraceutical compounds is an important objective of the fruit breeding programs currently developed. In this sense, apricot is a fruit crop very appreciated by consumers worldwide due to its organoleptic characteristics, but also plays an important role in human nutrition due to its content of phytocompounds as sugars, organic acids, vitamins and polyphenols.
Area of study: The identification of sources of variation for these traits could be useful for apricot breeding worldwide.
Material and methods: New selections from the apricot breeding program carried out at the Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA, Spain) and traditional varieties have been analysed aimed at identifying sources of genetic variation for fruit quality. For this purpose, sugar content, organic acids and ascorbic acid were studied during three crop years.
Main results: Results revealed sucrose and glucose as the major sugars, malic and citric acid as the main organic acids, and diverse ascorbic acid content among the cultivars studied.
Research highlights: Some accessions point as potential sources to increase fruit quality. In addition, the study showed that apricot peel is an excellent source of nutraceutical compounds. Moreover, this study opens up new possibilities to study the genetic control of these traits in apricot in the future
Effect of Lidia bulls training on the falling syndrome and the physical activity developed during the show
No full textAim of study: The aim of this work was to study the effect of different length of physical activity carried out by the bull prior to the show during the final performance of the animal, analyzing the behavior and physical activity displayed in the ring.Area of study: There is no clear scientific evidence of physical capacity improvements during the lidia show or “corrida”, in Lidia cattle, as a result of previous training.Material and methods: A total of 233 bulls from eight farms were studied and classified, on each farm, into three groups according to the length of the training period: group 1 (no training), group 2 (training for 3 months prior to the show) and group 3 (training for 6-9 months prior to the show). Locomotion times or percentage of time the animals moved were quantified, and number of falls, their severity and distribution during the show were registered.Main results: Trained animals performed last phase of the “corrida” show with a significantly longer length compared to untrained animals. Furthermore, they remained longer in motion during the initial phase of the “corrida”. However, trained animals experienced more falls of type 1 and 2 during the last phase (“muleta”).Research highlights: A training period of up to 3 months before the show is positive, providing animals a greater physical performance, improving the quality of the lidia show. However, longer training periods over 3 months prior to the show, can negatively affect the performance of these bulls during the “corrida”
Modelling global solar radiation to optimise agricultural production
No full textAim of study: To present a complete global radiation model that includes direct, diffuse sky and ground-reflected radiation, and compare the values with those obtained by the pyranometers.Area of study: The data were analyzed at the meteorological station network in Extremadura, Spain, to validate the results calculated by the model.Material and methods: The method uses the maps from meteorological station data are based on a single piece of daily solar radiation data for an area of 8,000 to 9,000 ha, whereas the maps created by the models are obtained using the spatial resolution of the digital elevation model, in this case 25 × 25m.Main results: The analytical model used in the study obtained global radiation values with a difference of 1.44% relative to the values captured by the meteorological stations in Extremadura. Analysis of the data indicates that on days with a specific type of fog or very diffuse cloud, the global radiation captured by sensors is greater than it would be on clear-sky days in the same area. The method was suitable for calculating global solar radiation on any type of terrain with its corresponding diversity of crop types.Research highlights: The research highlights the importance of understanding and modelling solar radiation for efficient use of water resources in agriculture. Adding these global radiation models to a GIS would provide a very valuable tool for developing regions
Economic valuation of rangelands in the north of Mexico: A study for its conservation
No full textAim of study: To estimate grazing fee and the economic value of the communal rangelands of two groups of ranchers.Area of study: Ejido Tanque de Arenas (ETA) and ejido Tanque de Dolores (ETD) in Catorce, San Luis Potosí, Mexico.Material and methods: The contingent valuation method with referendum format was used to propose a grazing fee that would allow conservation and continuity in the use of the common resource. The field information was collected by interviews and was processed in the PASW Statistics 22 software NLOGIT Version 5.0.Main results: Perception of rangeland deterioration, age, size of the herd, and level of income are characteristics of ranchers that influence the willingness to pay. From the coefficient of rangeland of the region (24.2 ha/AU) a monthly grazing fee of USD 7.18 per animal was calculated.Research highlights: Estimation and payment of grazing fees are an alternative to avoid the deterioration of communal rangelands, without incurring land parcelization
Optimizing wheat seed treatment with entomopathogenic fungi for improving plant growth at early development stages
No full textAim of study: Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) are biocontrol agents, plant growth promoters, and increase tolerance to biotic-abiotic stresses. In this study we investigated the factors associated to the application method, which are crucial for the interaction between the fungus and the host plant at initial crop growth stages.
Area of study: The study was performed in Cordoba (Spain)
Material and methods: Three experiments were performed to investigate: (i) the effect of different concentrations of the surfactant Tween® 80 (0, 0.5, 1, 5, and 10%) on wheat seed coating with conidia of Metarhizium brunneum and seed and conidia viability; (ii) the performance of wheat seedlings at first growth stages after their inoculation with Beauveria bassiana or M. brunneum via seed coating or soil drenching; and (iii) the role of soil sterilization and seed disinfection on leaf concentration of chlorophyll (SPAD) and B. bassiana or M. brunneum colonization.
Main results: Tween® 80 concentration linearly improved seed coating (up to 127%) without altering wheat seeds and fungal conidia germination. Seedling length of inoculated plants was significantly increased with B. bassiana and M. brunneum (67% and 46%, respectively) via seed coating. Seed disinfection was key to achieve an enhancement in wheat SPAD (10-18%) with B. bassiana or M. brunneum concerning Control, that combined with sterilization of soil showed the highest endophyte colonization rates (up to 83.3% with both fungi)
Research highlights: The surfactant concentration, application method, seed disinfection, and soil sterilization are key parameters to improve the potential benefits on the EPF-plant relationship