925 research outputs found
Lentil–cereal intercropping in a Mediterranean area: Yield, pests and weeds
Introducing grain legumes into cereal-based cropping systems can enhance crop
diversification and related factors (e.g., farm N-self-sufficiency). Lentil (Lens culinaris
Medik.) is a minor grain legume species that offers nutritional and other
benefits when incorporated into diets. However, lentil production is often characterized
by low and unstable yields due to drought, pests, and high yield losses during
mechanical harvest. Intercropping is a promising agroecological-based strategy that
may overcome these drawbacks. Our objective was to determine if intercropping (i)
enhanced crop productivity and resource use efficiency, and (ii) suppressed weeds
and bruchid insect pest dynamics. To do this, two lentil–cereal intercropping mixtures
were compared in central Italy during 2020 and 2021 as follows: (i) lentil +
triticale (× Triticosecale Wittm., Forricale) and (ii) lentil + barley (Hordeum vulgare
L., ‘Cometa’). Weed biomass was reduced by 97% because of the competitive
ability of the grass component in intercrops compared to a lentil monocrop (p ≤ 0.05).
Both intercrops reduced bruchid grain loss by 16% and showed higher efficiency than
single pure stand crops (land equivalent ratio >1). Unfortunately, the highly competitive
effect of the cereal reduced lentil yield in intercrops by 59% (−40.3 g m−2, on
average). Our results indicate that cereals should be planted at low densities, or the
spatial arrangement of both species should be modified, to prevent suppression of
lentils in intercrops with barley, triticale, and other small-grain crops
Sustainable management of nitrogen nutrition in winter wheat through temporary intercropping with legumes
International audienceAbstractWheat-legume temporary intercropping with legume devitalization in late winter can increase the N self-sufficiency of cropping systems and improve the N nutrition of wheat as a cash crop. However, this practice has been scarcely investigated. In this study, carried out in a Mediterranean environment with cold winters, we compared 14 treatments over 3 years with different weather patterns: (A) pure stands of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown at 0, 40, 80, 120, 160 kg N ha−1; (B) pure stands of faba bean (Vicia faba L. minor), pea (Pisum sativum L.), and squarrose clover (Trifolium squarrosum L.); (C) temporary intercrops of wheat and faba bean, pea, or clover; and (D) permanent intercrops of wheat and the same legumes. In the temporary intercrops, all legumes improved the wheat N availability compared with the unfertilized control. The “N effect” of legumes for wheat was consistent across years and proportional to the competitive ability of the legumes, i.e., faba bean > pea > clover. The higher the legume competitive ability, the higher was its N accumulation before devitalization, and the higher/earlier was the N supplied to wheat. Our findings demonstrate that the date of legume devitalization represents a key factor to be managed each year in order to maximize legume N supply while preventing excessive legume competition, which could undermine wheat growth and yield. Such a modulation was not possible in permanent intercrops, where legume competition depressed wheat grain yield. The N supplied with legume devitalization increased wheat grain N accumulation during grain filling. This is the first work comparing temporary and permanent intercrops of wheat with different legumes and over different seasons. Overall, temporary intercropping appears to be a feasible and efficient tool for the sustainable management of N nutrition in winter wheat
Sustainable Intensification In Organic Agriculture Through The Use Of Intercropping, Cover Crops And Biostimulants: The GO.BIO Project
Taste quality traits and volatile profiles of sprouts and wheatgrass from hulled and non-hulled Triticum species
Wheat sprouts and wheatgrass represent a sort of fresh vegetable for the ready-to-eat market and are acknowledged for their bioactive compounds content. Besides nutritional properties, sensory quality is a crucial issue for consumers' satisfaction. This work reports several sensory traits of sprouts and wheatgrass from five genotypes of Triticum species. Sprouts showed higher soluble solids content (SSC) and SSC/TA (titratable acidity) ratio than wheatgrass. The prevalent volatile compounds of both sprouts and wheatgrass were 1-penten-3-ol, 1-penten-3-one, E-2-hexenal, and 1-octen-3-ol, responsible for green, solvent, earthy, and mushroom odors. Differences among samples were affected more by the growing stage than by the genotype. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Results indicate sprouts and wheatgrass have a strong flavor, which might not be acceptable to consumers. This suggests the addition of sprouts to vegetable-based products, such as salads, in order to enhance the taste complexity while providing valuable phytochemicals. Similarly, the strong flavor of wheatgrass, which is mainly used alone to make juices, could be mitigated by mixing it with other vegetable products or by using it as a garnishment. Overall, the observed sensory traits and volatile compounds represent a tool for a tailored choice of the sprout stage and genotype depending on the desired food specialty (e.g., salad, course garnishment, juice)
Clinton F and Beatrice Ward
Clinton F. and Beatrice Ward Parvin of Old Manatee (East Bradenton). She is the author of "I Remember, a family memoir." Copy on file at the Manatee County Central Library
Sprouted Grains: A Comprehensive Review
In the last decade, there has been an increase in the use of sprouted grains in human diet and a parallel increase in the scientific literature dealing with their nutritional traits and phytochemical contents. This review examines the physiological and biochemical changes during the germination process, and the effects on final sprout composition in terms of macro- and micro-nutrients and bioactive compounds. The main factors affecting sprout composition are taken into consideration: genotype, environmental conditions experimented by the mother plant, germination conditions. In particular, the review deepens the recent knowledge on the possible elicitation factors useful for increasing the phytochemical contents. Microbiological risks and post-harvest technologies are also evaluated, and a brief summary is given of some important in vivo studies matching with the use of grain sprouts in the diet. All the species belonging to Poaceae (Gramineae) family as well as pseudocereals species are included
La Croix et les idoles d'après l'apologie d'Athanase 'Contre les paiens'
Through the analysis of some significant passages of Athanasius' apology «Against the Pagans on the Incarnation of the Word», and also thanks to their comparison with other selected texts by the same author, P. F. Beatrice tries to date this still problematic work to around the middle of the fourth century. In particular, he intends to show that Athanasius did know the Neoplatonic philosophy of his time sufficiently well and that the target of his polemic was especially Porphyry. But anti-pagan criticism also supplies Athanasius with a substantial support in his struggle with the Arian heresy which had been shared by his great precursor and adversary Eusebius of Caesarea
Salt-Induced Changes in the Phenolic Content of Melon F2 Offspring Sprouts Obtained from Fruit Deseeding
This study investigated the phytochemical content of melon sprouts obtained from by-product seeds of fruit processing and the elicitation effect obtained by the application of salinity to the growing substrate. Seeds from two melon Cultivars (Thales and SV9424ML) were sprouted at 0, 12.5, 25, and 50 mM NaCl concentrations (Salt). Due to intra-lot seed variability in germination speed, sprouts were harvested at 1 and 2 weeks after sowing (WAS), included as an experimental factor (Harvest), collecting, at each harvest, only those that had reached the ready-to-eat stage. Seed germination, shoot and root lengths, fresh and dry weights, and their content in phenolic compounds were determined. Cultivar, Harvest, and Cultivar × Harvest interaction affected sprout phenolic compound content more than Salt. In general, Thales exhibited a significantly greater phenolic compound content (+67.9%, on average). Harvest influenced phytochemicals, with sprouts at 2WAS exhibiting lower flavonoid and hydroxybenzoic acid levels (−31.3% and −73.0%, respectively), yet higher hydroxycinnamic acid content (+298.6%). This was a consequence of variations in p-coumaric and ferulic acids at 2WAS and in flavonoids at 1WAS. Moreover, Salt had an appreciable effect only on Thales, at moderate levels (25 mM NaCl). Our results suggest that the sprouting of by-product seeds of vegetables should be finely modulated based on the seed intra-lot variability in germination speed and on cultivar responsiveness to salinity for phytochemical elicitation
) Wheatgrass
This work aimed to study the effect of some light spectra on the growth, oxidative state, and stress of einkorn
wheatgrass (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum). To this end, six light treatments, having the same total incident photon flux
density (PFD) of 200 μmol m−2 s−1, were applied to einkorn and compared: only blue light; only red; three blue:red combinations,
at different proportions of total PFD (75:25%, 50:50%, and 25:75%, respectively); and a wide spectrum, taken as a control
treatment, composed of blue (18% of PFD), red (18%), and intermediate wavelengths (64%). Light treatments affected the contents
of pigments (chlorophylls and carotenes), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA). These results revealed the changes in the oxidative status of wheatgrass, in response to the different light treatments. However, the dichromatic light with blue ≥50% of the total PFD appeared to be the best combination, guarantying good wheatgrass yield, increasing pigment content, and reducing H2O2 and MDA when compared to the other light treatments. Our findings also contribute to explaining the available literature on the effect of these kinds of light on the increase in phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in einkorn wheatgrass
750 years on : Beatrice of Nazareth revisited
This introductory essay to the special issue Beatrice of Nazareth (1200-1268). Milieu – Mysticism – Influence first offers a brief presentation of the life and literary legacy of the famous Cistercian nun, mystic and author who takes centre stage in the present volume. It then elucidates the emergence and subsequent international popularity of Beatrice studies, and discusses the diverse approaches that can be discerned in the current multidisciplinary scholarship on Beatrice. Finally, it explains how the five essays which are collected in this volume open up new avenues for research into the thirteenth-century Cistercian world and for future Beatrice studies
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