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Environmental and economic aspects of nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency on intensive grass-based dairy farms in the South of Ireland
Get PDFThe large use of nitrogen (N) and the finite nature of global phosphorus (P) resources
have led to increasing concerns about balancing agronomic, environmental and
economic gains from N and P use on dairy farms. Nitrogen and P inputs, in the form of
fertiliser and concentrates, are key drivers of increased herbage yields and milk saleable
output on most dairy farms. However, N and P inputs typically exceed N and P outputs
in milk and livestock exported off the farms. Increased N and P use efficiency (NUE
and PUE) may be considered as a strategy to reduce the expenditures on the main N and
P inputs on dairy farms. Data from a 3 year (2009-2011) survey were used to assess
farm-gate N and P balances and NUE and PUE on 21 intensive grass-based dairy farms
operating under the Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) regulations in Ireland, as well as
the economic implications of NUE and PUE on 19 of these farms and the sensitivity of
net profit to changes in milk and fertiliser N prices. Comparative profitability and
sensitivity to changes in milk and fertiliser N prices of ten N fertilised grass (FN) and
eight grass-white clover-based (WC) dairy systems were also investigated. Mean
balances for the 21 farms were 175 kg N ha-1 and 5.09 kg P ha-1, respectively, or 0.28
kg N kg MS-1 (milk solids), and 0.004 kg P kg MS-1, respectively. Mean NUE was 0.23
and mean PUE was 0.70. Comparison to similar studies carried out before the
introduction of the GAP regulations in 2006 indicates that N and P balances have
significantly decreased (by 40 and 74 %, respectively) and NUE and PUE increased (by
27 % and 48 %, respectively), mostly due to decreased inorganic fertiliser input and a
notable shift towards spring application of organic manures. Mean net profit was €598
ha-1 and was driven mainly by milk receipts and to a lesser extent by expenditure on
mineral fertilisers. Net profit was indirectly related to N and P surplus and N and P use
efficiency. The results of this study generally indicate that Irish dairy farms, as low
input production systems, have the potential to achieve both economic (as indicated by
net profit per ha) and environmental (as indicated by N and P balances per ha, N and P
use efficiency and N-eco-efficiency) sustainability. The results of the sensitivity
analysis indicated that milk price was the main driver for changes in net profit between
2009 and 2011 both in high and low milk price situations investigated across nine price
scenarios. Net profit was similar for FN and WC (€1,274 ha-1) mainly due to €148 ha-1
lower expenditure on mineral N fertiliser on WC. Net profit of WC was found to be
comparably less sensitive than FN in low milk price situations. A wider adoption of WC
on farms offers potential to meet the twin goals of a sustainable income for dairy
farmers in the context of rising fertiliser N price while decreasing N surpluses on
pasture-based dairy farms
The TEQ experience: Professional Development Programmes for Further and Adult Education Teachers.
No full textKT Force – Towards Innovative Regions. Regional Studies Conference on the Role of Universities in Regional Development
No full textThe Irish Working Group on Information Literacy - edging towards a national policy
Get PDFThe authors of this paper provide an overview of the activities of the Irish Working Group on Information Literacy (WGIL) and its role in advancing a national policy for information literacy in the Republic of Ireland.
The study focuses on the work of the group during its lifetime including the various activities, marketing and advocacy initiatives and some of the challenges and issues the group faced, in particular, the diversity of the Irish library and information sector and the lack of an integrated approach for information literacy development.
The study presents the findings of the report produced by WGIL entitled Library Association of Ireland: Working Group on Information Literacy: Review of Cross-Sector Activity 2006–2008 and Initial Recommendations for Further Action which reviewed best practices and information literacy activities in the various LIS sectors in the Republic of Ireland during a two-year period. The key recommendation of this report is for the leadership of the Library Association of Ireland to develop a national information literacy strategy that advocates for the importance of information literacy as a lifelong and transferable skill
Integrating Sustainability into Civil Engineering Education: Curriculum Development & Implementation
Get PDFThe role of the civil engineer as a specialist, expert or generalist in society is constantly evolving to meet the changing demands of government and industry to achieve a global sustainable world. Consequently, it is imperative that third level institutions meet the challenge of embedding sustainability into curriculum, providing students with generic competencies required for future employment.
This paper describes the development and implementation of a curriculum for a new level 8 degree in Sustainable Civil Engineering in Ireland. The programme maintains the core outcomes essential for a civil engineering degree, reinforced by programme accreditation, while providing engineering graduates of tomorrow with the new technical and non-technical competencies to become active drivers for sustainable global innovation. The paper outlines how a number of complexities, including limited resources, lower enrolment figures and a changing student demographic were addressed to attract prospective students and provide quality assuranc
Higher Education and Regional Economic Development in the South East
Get PDFThis presentation was delivered at a South East Regional Economic Conference hosted by Wexford County Council in August 2012. It examines the conceptualisation of regional development and the role higher education can play in it. It analyses the nature of partnerships in this context and the significance of regional leadership in the establishment of regional goals and pathways towards them. It highlights the phenomenon of economic and social ecosystems in nurturing economic development. It recognises the link between resource deployment, resource alignment, and progress assessment. It concludes with observations on the challenge that meaningful partnership represents and calls for from stakeholders
Correlates and Implications of High Screen Time among High and Low Active Irish Nine-Year Olds
Get PDFAn Investigation into Mechanisms of Metal Tolerance and Accumulation by Seaweed at the Phycospheric and Genomic Levels
No full textThis thesis outlines the characterization of a novel metallothionein (MT)-like gene-encoded protein from the red seaweed Polysiphonia lanosa. The bioinformatic analysis of a cDNA library identified a 90 bp putative open reading frame (G3AORF1) encoding a 29 amino acid protein exhibiting several characteristic features of MT proteins, including 9 cysteine residues, no aromatic residues and a 60% amino acid sequence identity to two MTs. Relative Quantification by real-time PCR confirmed its increase in expression in response to Copper (Cu) exposure. Genomic DNA (gDNA) sequence data obtained by a T/A-based cloning protocol of PCR-amplified gDNA fragments proved this coding region to be a novel DNA sequence uninterrupted by introns. Southern blot analysis demonstrated the target sequence to be located on an EcoRI restriction fragment of approximately 3.5 kb in length, suggesting either (i) a single copy of this sequence, (ii) multiple copies of the target clustered on a single restriction fragment, or (iii) multiple copies of the target located on fragments of equal size. Inductive coupled plasma (ICP) optical emission spectroscopy determined Escherichia coli cells expressing His•tagged and untagged forms of the recombinant protein to remove a greater amount of Cu from solution than host and non-recombinant control cultures. A qualitative indirect Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay indicated stabilization and protection against proteolysis of the recombinant protein by Cu-binding. Recombinant bacterial clones acquired an enhanced tolerance to ≤ 20 mg.L-1 of Cu, Nickel (Ni) and Lead (Pb) when cultured on solid media. The role of seaweed surface-bound bacteria and their contribution to metal accumulation by the algal host was also investigated in this study. The growth and accumulation capability of cultured bacterial isolates was seen to reduce upon increases from 2.0 to 3.0 mg.L-1Cu and Ni in the growth medium. Maximum removal of Cu was recorded at 22-38% and 6-12% for Ni. The growth of two isolates was not affected by ≤ 10.0 mg.L-1 Ni possibly indicating the presence of Ni resistance genes or a Ni efflux system within these strains. The construction of 16S rRNA gene libraries from DNA isolated from the surfaces of Ulva sp. and P. lanosa harvested from a polluted site indicated host-specific bacterial communities but with common -Proteobacteria group dominance. Bacterial community members identified were related to species known to possess a range of significant traits that would be of clear benefit to the defense and physiological state of the algal hosts in polluted marine environments. The production of Mn oxides by these surface-bound bacteria was also highlighted as a potential mechanism of heavy metal accumulation