Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research
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Do increasing prices affect food deprivation in the European Union?
No full textThe rise of prices of agricultural commodities in global markets during 2007-2012 was followed by increased consumer food prices around the world. More expensive food may have an impact on consumer food access and thus on their welfare, not only in developing countries but also amongst the most vulnerable in developed countries. Using a longitudinal database from the Statistics on Income and Living Conditions and population-averaged models, we tested whether increasing food prices had an impact on household food deprivation in 26 European Union (EU) member states. Results revealed a significant relationship between food deprivation and the consumer food price index and disposable income. Households in the lowest income quintile in the member states recently acceded to the EU were the most vulnerable to food deprivation. Results also showed that low-income households in densely populated areas were more vulnerable to food deprivation. This should be taken into account when evaluating food assistance programmes that focus on the segments of the population most at risk of food deprivation
Rearing, bird type and pre-slaughter transport conditions of broilers II. Effect on foot-pad dermatitis and carcass quality
No full textA multivariable linear model was used to analyse the incidence of carcass quality defects over one year in a commercial database that included 1,856 flocks of Ross broilers (9,188 shipments, 1,975,420 carcasses inspected). The incidence of foot-pad dermatitis (FPD), scratches and wing and back haematomas was scored and analysed in terms of the effects of transport distance, arrival time to the slaughterhouse, waiting time at the slaughterhouse, maximum outside temperature on the day of transport, feed conversion rate, stocking density, bird type (yellow-skinned females or males, white-skinned females or males and roaster females), thinning (birds transported after thinning, birds remaining after thinning, and non-thinned flocks), bed litter type (rice hulls, chopped straw or wood shavings), and ventilation system (dynamic, static or tunnel). The incidence of FPD was significantly (p<0.001) lower at higher maximum temperatures and higher in flocks with a higher feed conversion rate. FPD also increased with stocking density (kg/m2) and was, on average, 5.0% higher in males than females. Regarding thinning, FPD was 13% lower in birds transported after thinning. Birds raised on chopped straw had more FPD (49.3%), followed by wood shavings (31.1%). Scratches were higher at higher temperatures and increased with transport distance. Birds transported after thinning had 5.8% more scratches than non-thinned birds, while increased stocking density (kg/m2) on the farm tended to increase scratches. Back haematomas were 32.6% higher in birds that were thinned, while wing haematomas increased with stocking density (kg/m2). Back haematomas were also 23.7% higher in males and more common in white-skinned birds
Arthropod communities within the olive canopy as bioindicators of different management systems
No full textArthropods, within the olive tree canopy, which can act as bioindicators of different management systems (conventional, integrated and organic), were collected in costal Croatia during 2007-2009. The aim of the research was to determine the arthropod orders present in each of the observed olive groves, to identify the number of individuals in each order, and to set potential bioindicators of different management systems. In order to do that, arthropods were collected from the olive canopies at three locations (Supetar, Kaštel Stari and Duilovo). After the samples were sorted according to orders, and determined according to arthropods determination keys. Olive groves were characterised by the same growth conditions and environment, with differences in agricultural management systems. In this investigation, 7882 arthropods were collected, belonging to 17 orders. It was found that Diptera, Heteroptera and other Hemiptera individuals, excluded Cicadidae and Psyllidae family individuals, could be defined as potential bioindicators of olive groves under different management systems. The number of Araneae and Coleoptera individuals significantly differed in all researched olive groves. So, these orders can be considered as bioindicators of different management systems. The knowledge obtained in this research can potentially be exploited in olive production in the future. Obtained results represent an important contribution to the inventory of arthropods in olive canopy. Also, this research significantly improves understanding of both harmful and beneficial entomofauna in olive groves and consequently contributes to better understanding of the total entomofauna in Croatia
Begomoviruses infecting common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in production areas in Cuba
No full textViral diseases caused by begomoviruses are economically important for their depressing impact on common bean production in Cuba. Mayabeque is a Cuban province where this crop is significantly grown and affectations by Bean golden yellow mosaic virus (BGYMV) have been detected in the last 30 years. Integrated pest management (IPM) programs in this crop have allowed controlling the disease for a long time. However, in prospections of the last years, an increase of the incidence of various yellowing symptoms typical of begomoviruses has been observed in common bean production areas. DNA was extracted from leaf samples taken from symptomatic plants. Non-radioactive nucleic acid hybridization and a specific PCR assay were used to detect BGYMV, Common bean severe mosaic virus, Common bean mottle virus, and Tobacco leaf curl Cuba virus. Of the 218 bean plants sampled, 89.5 % was positive to BGYMV; the presence of the rest of the begomovirus species was between 3 and 4% (3.08% of CBMoV, 3.08% of TbLCCuV and 4.32% of CBSMV). The viral DNA from some samples was analyzed by rolling circle amplification (RCA), by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using restriction enzymes, and by cloning and sequencing of the viral components. The DNA sequences from BGYMV isolates showed 98% of identity with the isolates reported in Cuba in 2003. The infection by Tobacco leaf curl Cuba virus (TbLCCuV) was confirmed also in fields in the Cuban western region. This is the first work where the DNA-B of TbLCCuV is identified. These studies will help to strengthen phytosanitary surveillance and management programs implemented in the country to control the whitefly-begomovirus complex in this economically important crop
Multi-criteria decision-making model in the strategic planning of table egg production in the Republic of Croatia
No full textUntil 2012, egg production in Croatia was mostly in cages, which was not in accordance with the European Union standards on the welfare of laying hens. Therefore, producers of table eggs could not continue their current practice and had to use those systems permitted in the EU member countries, such as organic, free-range, indoor or enriched cages. The aim of this study was to analyse and evaluate various systems of table-egg production using a method of multi-criteria analysis called the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Thus, the aim was to determine scientifically which production system was the favoured option for the Croatian poultry sector. According to the results, production of eggs using an indoor system for housing hens was the best option (priority 0.317). This was followed by a free-range system (priority 0.242). The third-ranked alternative egg production system was in cages (priority 0.237), while the fourth and the least acceptable alternative refers to egg production according to organic principles (priority 0.202). Based on the results of the multi-criteria analysis and respecting the worldwide trends that reflect changes in consumers’ habits and their concerns for food safety and quality, as well as their preference for local markets and local products, it is recommended that eggs be produced in an indoor system of keeping laying hens. In this sense, egg production on small farms provides the possibility of self-employment and creation of additional income to contribute towards overall economic and social development of rural areas
Habitat quality modelling and effect of climate change on the distribution of Centaurea pabotii in Iran
No full textClimate change resulting from increased greenhouse gases affects the distribution of weeds by commonly expanding and shifting their future distribution. In this study, habitat distribution of Behbahanian Knapweed (Centaurea pabotii) was modelled as an endemic weed of wheat fields in four provinces in the southwest of Iran. Then, the current and the predicted future distributions were compared under two scenarios based on the lowest and highest carbon dioxide emissions. Field survey was carried out during March-May of 2015-2017 to collect presence points of C. pabotii. Habitat modelling was done using MaxEnt software using eight environmental variables and 25 presence points. To predict the future distribution, modelling projection of CCSM4 was performed for the year 2070 under scenarios of representative concentration pathways (RCP) 2.6 and RCP 8.5 using the current and the projected future bioclimatic variables in MaxEnt. Our results revealed that the suitable area of distribution will be approximately doubled in the future for both scenarios and will be shifted to lower latitudes and higher altitudes. Also, in the most western province of the study area, a new isolated and large suitable area will occur in the future. Therefore, it was suspected that this plant will be expanded to the wheat fields of this province. Expanding and shifting in the distribution of C. pabotii should be taken into consideration by agricultural managers in Iran
Stationarity of seasonal patterns in weekly agricultural prices
No full textWeekly series of agricultural prices usually exhibit seasonal variations and the stationarity of these variations should be taken into account to analyse price relationships. However, unit root tests at seasonal frequencies are unlikely to have good power properties. Furthermore, movements in actual price series are often not as expected when unit roots are present. Therefore, stationarity tests at seasonal frequencies also need to be applied. In this paper, a procedure to test for the null hypothesis of stationarity at seasonal frequencies was extended to the weekly case. Once critical values were obtained by simulation exercises, unit root and stationarity tests were applied to weekly retail prices of different agricultural commodities in Spain. The most relevant finding was that many unit roots that seasonal unit root tests failed to reject did not seem to be present from the results of seasonal stationarity tests, whereas seasonal unit root tests led to the rejection of some unit roots that seemed to be present according to the results of seasonal stationarity tests. In conclusion, unit root tests should be complemented with stationarity tests before making decisions about the behaviour of seasonal patterns
A sensitive real-time RT-PCR reveals a high incidence of Southern tomato virus (STV) in Spanish tomato crops
No full textSouthern tomato virus (STV) is a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus belonging to genus Amalgavirus (family Amalgamaviridae). STV has been detected in tomato plants showing different symptoms although it has not been demonstrated that STV is the causal agent. To study the STV incidence and its pathogenic role, a sensitive and quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-qPCR) was developed. The standard curve performed with viral RNA transcripts allowed a wide dynamic range for STV quantitation from 104 to 1011 copies/ng of total RNA. STV detection by RT-qPCR was 102-fold more sensitive than conventional RT-PCR or RT-LAMP and 104-fold more sensitive than molecular hybridization. STV was detected in different tomato plant tissues, as well as in the coat and the embryo of individual seeds. Also, viral concentration remained constant over time in leaf tissues of STV-infected tomato plants. Surveys on different tomato fields from Spain revealed that STV was widespread. In addition, the virus was detected in almost every tomato variety and nursery analyzed. STV-infected tomato plants did not show any disease-related symptom suggesting that the virus was not directly the causal agent of any tomato disease. However, there is no information about the STV effect in mixed infections or in abiotic stressed conditions and further studies must be performed to clarify it. The RT-qPCR assay developed in this work could be implemented on sanitation programs in order to limit the virus spread and could be used to study the effect of STV in mix infections or abiotic stressed conditions
Optimum combination of soil amendments under drip irrigation with different water sources in coastal areas of East China
No full textThe effects of drip irrigation (DI) with fresh water (FW) and brackish water (BW) on saline-alkali soil improvement were compared under treatments of five amendment combinations. The experiment was designed using the orthogonal test method and performed using an indoor DI system. Soil electrical conductivity (EC), pH, sodium adsorption ratio and soil nutrients were analyzed after DI both before evaporation and after one month of evaporation. The results showed that after one month of evaporation, soil EC increased by an average of 97.26% and 27.76% for the FW and BW treatments, respectively. Furthermore, it was shown that soil nutrients increased greatly under the BW treatment and that cow dung proved to be a leading agent influencing soil nutrients except available soil potassium (p<0.05). Consequently, the optimum combination of soil amendments was determined as 0.03 m3/m2 of straw, 3 kg/m2 of phosphogypsum, 0.04 m3/m2 of cow dung, 0.6 kg/m2 of humic acid and 0.18 kg/m2 of microbial fertilizer under the BW treatment
Long-term straw incorporation benefits the elevation of soil phosphorus availability and use efficiency in the agroecosystem
No full textSoil pH and organic matter are important factors influencing phosphorus (P) fertilizer use efficiency. Long-term crop straw incorporation alters soil pH and soil organic matter. To explore the influence of crop straw incorporation on P fertilizer use efficiency, this research was conducted in a long-term field experiment (30 years) with a wheat-soybean cropping system and selected four treatments: no fertilization, mineral fertilization (NPK), mineral fertilization + 3750 kg/ha wheat straw (WS/2-NPK) and mineral fertilization + 7500 kg/ha wheat straw (WS-NPK). Results show that long-term straw incorporation not only accentuates soil acidification, but also elevates crop yields and soil P availability. Consequently, compared with the NPK treatment, straw incorporation contributed to higher P fertilizer use efficiency, which increased from 43% in 1983 to 72% in 2012 for WS/2-NPK, from 46% to 69% for WS-NPK, and from 34% to 60% for NPK treatments, respectively. Moreover, the P fertilizer use efficiency in all fertilization treatments could be categorized as follows: slowly increasing stage in 1982-2002, stable stage in 2003-2006, and rapidly increasing stage in 2007-2012. Correspondingly, the annual P balances of the WS/2-NPK and WS-NPK treatments ranged from positive to negative in the 1982-2003 and 2004-2012. Therefore, compared with mineral fertilization alone, long-term wheat straw incorporation has the associated benefit of elevating the P fertilizer use efficiency. However, to maintain sustainable high crop productivity, it is necessary to elevate the dose of P fertilizer input and reduce the soil acidification under wheat straw incorporation