286 research outputs found
Co-Composting of Agro-food Industries and Vineyard wood Residues: Extractable Lipids as an Indicator of Maturity
No full textAmong several methods used to assess maturity of compost, determina-tion of diethyl ether and choloroform extractable lipids seems to be a promising tech-nique as lipids are an important portion of all organic wastes. The aim of this paper was to monitor maturity parameters of compost piles made from different organic sources (cow manure, poultry slaughterhouse, and dairy industry) using different methods. Di-ethyl ether (DEE) and chloroform (CHCl3) extractable lipids have been measured during composting and compared to other parameters commonly utilized to study compost sta-bility and maturity (organic carbon, total and inorganic N, CO2 evolution rate, microbial biomass C, and phytotoxicity test). Results suggested none of these parameters may exhaustively describe maturity of composts studie
Irrigation but not fertilization increases yields and N2 fixation in organic faba bean in temperate climates
No full textUnderstanding how to optimize water and nutrient management is crucial for improving crop productivity in organic farming systems. In this study, we examined the effects of irrigation and fertilization on yield and nitrogen fixation in organically managed faba bean crops in temperate climates in six field trials covering three sites and two years. Irrigated plots showed a 54 % yield increase and higher nitrogen fixation (up to 105 %), while fertilization with rock phosphate and potassium sulfate, with or without micronutrients, had no significant impact. Irrigation induced higher yields as well as a significant increase in pod number, grain count, and chlorophyll content of leaves, suggesting improved photosynthesis, flowering and pod filling. Despite low soil nutrient levels for P, Mo and B, mineral fertilization showed no effect on faba bean yields and nitrogen fixation, likely due to long-term organic fertilization with cattle manure. Our results also indicate that irrigation enhances farmgate nitrogen balance by increasing nitrogen fixation without depleting soil nitrogen reserves. These findings suggest that water, rather than nutrient supply, is essential for maintaining productivity and nitrogen fixation in organic faba bean cultivation also in temperate regions. Economically, however, irrigation proved cost-effective in only one of six trials, suggesting that irrigation rates need to be optimized
Carbon control and competitiveness post 2020: the cement report
No full textCement industry top management now has little confidence in the EU ETS; structural reform is needed to help investment in energy efficiency and innovation, and reduce energy costs and carbon emissions in Europe” said Karsten Neuhoff, from the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), launching a key new economic report today. Neuhoff is lead author of the report, on the European cement industry by the international research network Climate Strategies. The study looks at the experience of the European cement sector with the EU ETS and other energy and climate policy instruments
A discussion of norms for S supply in organic farming based on content in forage and ruminant performance in Norway
No full textThe content of sulphur (S) in grassland on 27 Norwegian organic farms with dairy or sheep production was investigated in 2001 and 2002. The forage content of S was below the norms (2 g S kg DM-1) for both plants and animals in a large proportion of the samples. The average S content in forage at dairy farms was 1.4 g S kg DM-1 and at sheep farms 1.5 g. Even on grasslands with low plant S content (<1 g S kg DM-1), S-fertilization did not increase yields and increased the plants’ S content only very slightly. No indications of S deficiency were observed on the dairy farms. For one sheep farm with a forage S content of 1.1 ± 0.1g S kg DM-1, brittle and short winter wool was reported
Thematic and citation structure dynamics of Food & Farming research
No full textThis paper analyses the Organic Food & Farming (OF&F) scientific domain dynamic throught a "progressive document co-citation analysis" based on peer-reviewed papers from Web of Science. The dataset of OF&F domain displayed an exponential growth and a thematic diversification pattern. Both dominant and marginal clusters in association with their main cited articles were identified. This study enables to pinpoint major themes addressed or emerging. It can feed further research work and projects, namely with the definition of information system and research policy
Effects of reduced tillage on soil organic carbon and microbial activity in a clayey soil
No full textIn a long-term field trial recently launched (2002-2011), located in Frick (878 mm mean annual precipitation) near Basle, Switzerland, the effect of reduced tillage on soil fertility indicators and crop yield was studied in a heavy soil (45% clay) in a crop rotation under organic farming conditions. We present the results of soil analyses after three cropping years (2002-2005). Soil organic carbon (Corg) increased over that period by 7.4% (+1.5 g Corg kg-1 soil) in the 0-10 cm soil layer in the reduced tillage plots, while it remained constant in the ploughed plots. Soil microbial carbon (Cmic) and dehydrogenase activity (DHA, TTC-reduction) were 28% higher in reduced-tillage plots in this soil layer. Biological soil quality as calculated by Cmic to Corg was 15% enhanced under reduced tillage. In the 10-20 cm soil layer no significant Corg, Cmic, Cmic to Corg and DHA differences between the tillage schemes were found. It is suggested that reduced tillage improves important indicators of soil fertility during the conversion period. Long-term aspects of soil fertility, crop yield and weed infestation need investigation over a prolonged experimental period
Development of animal health and welfare planning in organic dairy farming in Europe
No full textGood animal health and welfare is an explicit goal of organic livestock farming, and will need continuous development and adjustment on the farms. Furthermore, the very different conditions in different regions of Europe calls for models that can be integrated into local practice and be relevant for each type of farming context. A European project with participants from seven countries have been established with the aim of developing principles for animal health and welfare planning in organic dairy farming, based on a process where knowledge about the status within a given herd will be included as background for taking decisions and planning future improvements.
An important part of the planning process is communication with other farmers as well as animal health and welfare professionals (veterinarians and advisors). Other principles such as systematic evaluation of how the improvements work in the farm ensure the continuity of the planning process. This presentation gives an overview
over the current animal health and welfare planning initiatives in the participating countries and lines up the principles which are being gradually implemented in partner
countries in collaboration with groups of organic farmers and organisations
Effects of homeopathic and mineral treatments on dark leaf spot caused by Alternaria brassicicola on cauliflower
No full textThis research aimed at verifying the efficacy of some homeopathic and mineral treatments on Alternaria brassicicola/cauliflower interaction. Growth chamber experiments and a field trial were performed, using Brassica plants artificially inoculated with the fungus. In growth chamber experiments, infection was significantly reduced by arsenic trioxide 35 decimal potency and in field trial by both arsenic trioxide 35 decimal potency and bentonite treatments
Long-term performance of organic crop rotations in the tropics: First results from a high and a medium potential site in sub-humid Central Kenya
No full textOrganic Agriculture is perceived by many stakeholders as a promising approach to increase food security in developing countries. However, only few attempts have been made so far to assess agronomic and economic performance of Organic Agriculture in these regions in a systematic way. The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), together with its partners, is presently establishing long-term comparisons of farming systems in various agro-ecological and socio-economic contexts to study the different parameters that are essential for sustainable development. To date, three study areas have been selected: (a) a sub-humid area in Kenya where farming is subsistence-oriented; (b) a semi-arid area in India where cotton is produced for the export market; and (c) a humid area in Bolivia where cacao and other perennial products are produced for the export and domestic markets. The key elements are replicated long-term field trials. These are complemented by farm surveys and short-term trials under on-farm conditions. This network of comparison of farming systems in the tropics is expected to (1) put the discussion on the benefits and drawbacks of Organic Agriculture on a rational basis; (2) help to identify challenges for Organic Agriculture that can then be addressed systematically; (3) provide physical reference points for stakeholders in agricultural research and development and thus support agricultural policy dialogue at different levels.
In Kenya, the two trials sites are located in a high potential zone in Meru South District (Chuka) and in a medium potential zone in Maragua District (Thika). They consist of four treatments: conventional and organic, each at a low and a high input level, representing subsistence oriented and commercial farming, respectively. Maize, brassicas and maize were planted during the first, second and third season respectively in both organic and conventional plots. In the first three seasons, we found the following results: in Chuka, organic yields of the low input treatments were on average 4% lower than conventional yields. On the high input level, organic yields were 6% lower. In Thika, organic yields were on average 57% (low input level) and 33% (high input level) lower than conventional yields. It is assumed that the organic crops in Chuka could benefit from N and P mobilisation from the soil. In Thika, where N and P were probably less available, the crop depended on the easily soluble nutrients applied in the conventional treatments. The effect of lower nutrient availability in the organic treatments in Thika was possibly aggravated by serious drought spells during the second and third season. The questions of interest are a) whether the organic treatments can keep the yield level of the conventional treatments in Chuka or if they will go through a depression typical for conversion from conventional to Organic Agriculture; and b) if the organic treatments can improve soil fertility and thus the organic yield levels in Thika in the coming years
Die allerglücklichste und geruhigste Art zu sterben; Bey dem Grabe Des Wohlgebohrnen Herrn, Herrn Johann von Kuntsch, Erb- Lehn- und Gerichts-Herrn auf Langen-Leiba, Schmertzlich erwogen von D. Daniel Gottlieb Neuhoffen
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