Blended controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer increases rice post-anthesis nitrogen accumulation, translocation and nitrogen-use efficiency.

One-time application of blended controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer (CRN) has the potential to solve the difficulty of top-dressing fertilizer in the cultivation of rice and reduce the cost of CRN fertilizer application. However, its effects on rice dry matter and nitrogen (N) accumulation and translocation, yield and N-use efficiency (NUE) remain uncertain. Field experiments were carried out at three sites (Mingguang, Chaohu, and Guichi) in the Yangtze River Delta in China to compare the effects of the conventional split applications of urea and the blended CRN and on post-anthesis dry matter and N accumulation and translocation, yield, and NUE in rice at 0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg N ha-1. The results showed that at the equal N application rates, compared under the conventional N fertilizer treatment, the blended CRN application significantly increased the rice yield by an average of 0.9-6.9%, mainly due to increase the number of spikelets per panicle. The highest yield achieved with blended CRN treatment occurred at 200 kg N ha-1, with an NUE of 45.9%. Moreover, in comparison to the conventional N fertilizer, the blended CRN treatment increased pre-anthesis N translocation (Pre-NT) by 1.0-19.8%, and the contribution of pre-NT to grain N by 0.2-8.7%, and NUE by 3.2-28.4%. Meanwhile, the blended CRN treatment reduced labor costs by 1800 Yuan ha-1 and enhanced the economic gains by 21.5-68.8%. Therefore, one-time application of blended CRN ≤ 200 kg N ha-1 application rate improved rice yield, NUE, and economic profit compared to equivalent rates of split applied conventional N fertilizers.

Investigations into Economic Returns Resulting from Foliar Fungicides and Application Timing on Management of Tar Spot in Indiana Hybrid Corn.

Tar spot, caused by Phyllachora maydis, is the most significant yield-limiting disease of corn (Zea mays L.) in Indiana. Currently, fungicides are an effective management tool for this disease, and partial returns from their use under different disease severity conditions has not previously been studied. Between 2019 and 2021, two separate field experiments were conducted in each year in Indiana to assess the efficacy of nine foliar fungicide products and nine fungicide application timings based on corn growth stages on tar spot symptoms and stromata, canopy greenness, yield, and influence on partial returns. All fungicides evaluated significantly suppressed tar spot development in the canopy and increased canopy greenness over the nontreated control. Additionally, applications of mefentrifluconazole + pyraclostrobin, metconazole + pyraclostrobin, cyproconazole + picoxystrobin at tassel, and propiconazole + benzovindiflupyr + azoxystrobin between the tassel and dough growth stages were the most effective at significantly reducing disease severity, increasing canopy greenness, protecting yield, and offered the greatest partial return. Fungicide products varied in their ability to protect yield under low and high disease severity conditions relative to the nontreated control. Consistently, positive yield increases were observed when disease severity was high, which translated to greater profitability relative to low severity conditions. On average, the yield increases across foliar fungicide products and timed application treatments were 544.6 and 1,020.7 kg/ha greater, and partial returns using a grain value of $0.17/kg were $92.6/ha and $173.5/ha greater, respectively, when high severity conditions occurred. This research demonstrates that foliar fungicides and appropriately timed fungicide applications can profitably be used to manage tar spot in Indiana under high disease severity conditions.

Production performance of Charolais crossbred steers fed total mixed ration containing a high level of dried cassava top.

Objective: The objectives were to determine the appropriate level of dried cassava top (DCT) in total mixed ration (TMR) based on production performance and carcass characteristics of fattening Charolais crossbred steers. Materials and Methods: Fifteen fattening Charolais crossbred steers were randomly assigned to a randomized complete block design with initial body weight to receive three treatments, including without DCT, 15% DCT, and 30% DCT in TMR, on a dry matter (DM) basis. The production trial lasted 120 days; then, the fattened steers were slaughtered to study the carcass characteristics. Results: The in vitro gas production from the immediately soluble fraction of TMR containing 30% DCT was higher than the others (p < 0.05). However, in vitro DM and organic matter degradability were not significantly different among treatments. Feed intake, final weight, feed cost per gain, and carcass characteristics such as warm carcass percentage, marbling score, and loin eye area of feedlot steers were not affected by the inclusion of DCT in TMR. Although steers fed TMR containing 15% DCT had body weight gain, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio lower than the control (p < 0.05); however, the use of DCT at 30% DM in TMR reduced the feed cost of feedlot beef production (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Using local ingredients such as cassava tops can increase profit margins for farmers without sacrificing product quality, but they must closely look at growth performance.

Photosynthesis Product Allocation and Yield in Sweet Potato in Response to Different Late-Season Irrigation Levels.

Soil water deficit is an important factor affecting the source-sink balance of sweet potato during its late-season growth, but water regulation during this period has not been well studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the appropriate irrigation level in late-season sweet potato, and the effect of irrigation level on accumulation and allocation of photosynthetic products. In this study, two yield-based field trials (2021-2022) were conducted in which five late-season irrigation levels set according to the crop evapotranspiration rate were tested (T0: non-irrigation, T1: 33% ETc, T2: 75% ETc, T3: 100% ETc, T4: 125% ETc). The effects of the different irrigation levels on photosynthetic physiological indexes, 13C transfer allocation, water use efficiency (WUE), water productivity (WP), and the yield and economic benefit of sweet potato were studied. The results showed that late-season irrigation significantly increased the total chlorophyll content and net photosynthetic rate of functional leaves, in addition to promoting the accumulation of above-ground-source organic biomass (p < 0.05). The rate of 13C allocation, maximum accumulation rate (Vmax), and average accumulation rate (Vmean) of dry matter in storage root were significantly higher under T2 irrigation than under the other treatments (p < 0.05). This suggests that both non-irrigation (T0) and over-irrigation (T4) were not conducive to the transfer and allocation of photosynthetic products to storage roots in late-season sweet potato. However, moderate irrigation (T2) effectively promoted the source-sink balance, enhanced the source photosynthetic rate and stimulated the sink activity, such that more photosynthate was allocated to the storage sink. The results also showed that T2 irrigation treatments significantly increased yield, WUE and WP compared to T0 and T4 (p < 0.05), suggesting that moderate irrigation (T2) can significantly promote the potential of storage root production and field productivity. There was a close relationship between economic benefit and marketable sweet potato yield, and both were highest under T2 (p < 0.05), increasing by 36.1% and 59.9% compared with T0 over the two-year study period. In conclusion, irrigation of late-season sweet potato with 75% evapotranspiration (T2) can improve both the yield and production potential. Together, these results support the use of late-season water management in the production of sweet potato.

A full-scale black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) bioconversion system for domestic biodegradable wastes to resource.

Domestic biodegradable wastes (DBW) pose a threat to environmental quality and human health. Bioconversion via black soldier fly larvae (BSFL; Hermitia illucens L.) is an expedient way for converting 'waste to resource' (insect protein and biofertilizer). Although researches abounded in laboratory-reared experiments and bioconversion mechanisms were pertinent, the void of data from actual and full-scale operation restricts the intensification of BSFL technology and its global adoption. Hence, a full-scale BSFL bioconversion system lasting 4 years in Hangzhou (China) was investigated, and the feasibility and efficiency of 15 tonnes of DBW per day were studied. Through continuous technical optimization, the average production of fresh larvae was increased from 8.5% in 2017 to 15.3% in 2020, along with bioconversion rate of final vermicompost decreased from 35.4% to 14.5%. The total biomass reduction rate in 2020 was 68.7 ± 17.4 kg/(m3 d), equivalent to 0.735 ± 0.215 kg/(kg d) in the form of fresh larvae. Crude fat in fresh larvae accounted for 13.4%, and crude protein accounted for 16.2% in which the determined amino acid profile bore a strong resemblance to fish meal only except histidine and tyrosine. Its economic benefits proved the feasibility of this technology, and the profit reached up to 35.9 US$ per tonne of DBW in 2019. In conclusion, BSFL bioconversion system under current 'insect-farm' operation was a promising solution for DBW treatment with value-added waste recycling.

The Social Economic Return of a Positive End-Expiratory Pressure-Based Lung Recruitment Clinical Trial Program in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the socioeconomic return from the value of lives saved by the protocol indicated by the Alveolar Recruitment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Trial (ART). ART was conducted through a multicenter randomized trial at 120 intensive care units from 9 countries, enrolling adults with moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. It investigated whether lung recruitment associated with positive end-expiratory pressure titration according to the best respiratory system compliance decreases 28-day mortality of patients compared with a conventional low-positive end-expiratory pressure strategy. METHODS: The value of lives saved was estimated by considering whether the trial findings were implemented in the eligible patient populations for 1 year, and then the social economic return was computed by subtracting the clinical trial costs from the gross benefit. The return was computed by subtracting the ART costs from its gross benefit. RESULTS: The ART net benefit is approximately 152 million dollars if it is implemented in 50% of eligible patients in Brazil under the baseline assumptions. For every dollar spent in the clinical trial, a return of 114 dollars was achieved in Brazil alone. If the trial findings are implemented in all eligible patients, then the trial return would be 229.5 dollars for every dollar invested with a net benefit of 304 million dollars. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the substantial economic benefit of clinical trials on acute respiratory distress syndrome treatments for society. It also points out that the public return of clinical trials can be potentialized when the new trial findings are fully implemented on eligible patients.

The recovery and resilience plan on the long-term care system. Towards a deinstitutionalization?

Introduction: After the crisis caused by Covid-19, among other socioeconomic problems, the fragility of the organizations that make up the Spanish Long-Term Care System was revealed. These events prompted the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). The aim of this study is to estimate the socioeconomic impact on Long-Term Care (LTC) of the investment delivered by the RRP. In addition, to fulfil our main aim, a secondary and necessary aim was to calculate the most current social accounting matrix (SAM) of the Spanish economy. Methods: We analyse the components of the demand linked to the RRP investment allocated to LTC, and subsequently, based on Input-Output methodology, we calculate a social accounting matrix (SAM) of the Spanish economy to estimate the overall economic return. Results: The results obtained using the SAM model proposed herein evidence the multiplier effect of the RRP invested in LTC. Every euro allocated to the RRP generates 4 euros in income for Households, Firms and the External Sector, 3.4 euros in industrial output, and returns 0.6 euros in taxes and social contributions to the Government. This also entails creating 26,410 direct and indirect jobs as well as 10,059 induced ones. Discussion: Given the severe recession scenario triggered by the consequences of COVID-19, the results of this study highlight the significant multiplier effect that RRP investment may generate to alleviate the downturn in the Spanish economy and, more specifically, in the Spanish LTC System.

Evaluation of pineapple stem starch as a substitute for corn grain or ground cassava in a cattle feedlot for 206 or 344 days: feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and economic evaluation.

The pineapple stem starch substituted for ground cassava or corn as a carbohydrate source in the concentrate diet. The experiment used 36 Holstein crossbred steers (aged 22 months) with an average initial body weight of 453.0 ± 35.3 kg. The experimental units were randomly assigned to three different starch sources of concentrate diets: ground corn (GC), ground cassava (CA), or pineapple stem starch (PS) with two different feeding periods: (1) period 1 for 206 days or (2) period 2 for 344 days with six replicates per treatment (two steers per replication), arranged in a completely randomized design. The animals were slaughtered at the end of the experimental periods. After that, the feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and economic return were evaluated. The results showed that the steers fed PS had a greater weight gain, average daily gain, and lower feed: gain ratio when fed for 206 days than when fed for 344 days, but dry matter intake, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and fatty acids profile did not differ between treatments in both periods of feeding except C14:1 and C18:0. The steers fed PS showed the greatest economic return. As a substitute for cassava or corn, pineapple stem starch had no negative impact on the feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. These results indicate that pineapple stem starch could be a useful feedstuff for the feedlot steers diets as an alternative starch source.

Decreased carbon footprint and increased grain yield under ridge-furrow plastic film mulch with ditch-buried straw returning: A sustainable option for spring maize production in China.

Ditch-buried straw returning with ridge-furrow plastic film mulch (RP+S) is a novel tillage measure in semiarid regions, but it is unclear whether RP+S can increase maize yield while reducing the carbon footprint (CF). Therefore, a six-year continuous experiment was conducted from 2016 to 2021 to quantify the effect of four straw returning and film mulching measures [conventional flat cultivation (CK), conventional flat cultivation with ditch-buried straw returning (CK+S), ridge-furrow plastic film mulch (RP), and RP+S] on soil organic carbon sequestration (SOCS), greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, CF, and economic benefits. Straw returning and film mulching measures significantly increased total GHG emissions across the six seasons. For all treatments, nitrogen fertilizer was the most important source of GHG emissions (≥73%), followed by diesel (8-11%) and plastic film (8%, RP and RP+S only). RP+S significantly increased yield and partial factor productivity of nitrogen fertilizer by 8.7-59.1%, and net economic benefit by 7.37-57.76%, but decreased CF by 34-61% and CF per net return by 33-61% relative to the other treatments. RP+S had the highest GHG emissions, increasing by 6.11-16.47% relative to the other treatments. However, compared with the initial 0-40 cm SOCS in 2016, RP+S had the highest carbon sequestration rate (678.17 kg·ha-1·yr-1), increasing by 2.29% after six years, followed by CK+S (1.78%), CK (0.89%), and RP (-0.49%). Thus, RP+S had the lowest CF and CF per net return in four treatments. This comprehensive analysis of agronomic and environmental benefits revealed that RP+S is a high-yielding, economically and environmentally friendly measure in semiarid areas.

Nutrient expert system optimizes fertilizer management to improve potato productivity and tuber quality.

BACKGROUND: Improving potato productivity and quality plays an important role in enhancing global food security and human health. However, inappropriate fertilizer management negatively affects potato growth and tuber development, especially in developing countries where there are large numbers of smallholders without modern soil testing equipment. Nutrient Expert (NE), a new and convenient fertilization decision system, was evaluated in the present study by conducting four site-years field experiments in Northeast China, aiming to determine its effectiveness and applicability for potato production relative to local farmers' practice (FP) and fertilizer recommendation based on soil testing (ST). RESULTS: The excessive fertilization at planting promoted seedling growth for potato plants in FP. Nevertheless, superior plant growth and tuber development were observed in NE at the middle and later growing stages, by optimizing fertilizer input and implementing split fertilization. Overall, compared to FP, the NE system increased total and marketable tuber yields by 12-15% and 16-26%, respectively, at the same time as obtaining 19-31% higher net returns and enhanced fertilizer use efficiencies. Moreover, NE improved tuber quality by increasing the contents of starch, soluble protein and vitamin C and decreasing reducing sugar content relative to FP, as well as increasing starch yields by 23-52%. The ST method also showed comprehensive improvements in potato performances compared to FP, although it did not show any advantages compared to NE system. CONCLUSION: The NE system improved potato productivity and tuber quality by optimizing fertilization management, which is an effective and promising alternative to the ST method for potato production in China and other developing countries. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

A New, Practical Animal Welfare Assessment for Dairy Farmers.

The Welfare Quality® assessment protocol (WQ) is the most extensive way to measure animal welfare. This study was set up to determine if resource-based welfare indicators, that are easier and faster to measure, could replace the more time consuming, animal-based measurements of the WQ. The WQ was applied on 60 dairy farms in the Netherlands, with good, moderate and poor welfare. The WQ protocol classified most farms (87%) as 'acceptable'. Several of the animal-based measures of WQ correlated well with measures in the environment. Using these correlations, an alternative welfare assessment protocol (new Welfare Monitor) was designed, which takes approximately 1.5 h for a farm with 100 dairy cows. Because the opinion of farmers about welfare assessment is important if one wants to improve conditions for the cows at a farm, another objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the new Welfare Monitor for the farmer. Over two years, the farms were visited, and advice was given to improve the conditions at the farm. After the first welfare assessment and advice, farmers improved the conditions for their cows substantially. Farms where the category score had increased made more improvements on average than those that did not upgrade.

Managing the trade-offs among yield, economic benefits and carbon and nitrogen footprints of wheat cropping in a semi-arid region of China.

It is critical to understand how farming practices affect the carbon and nitrogen footprints of agricultural production. Grain yield, economic return, and carbon and nitrogen footprints of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were examined under different tillage-mulch practices. Wheat was grown over 15 years (2002-2016) in the semi-arid region of the western Loess Plateau of China under six tillage-mulch practices: traditional plough with no straw mulching (T), no-till without straw mulching (NT), traditional plough with straw mulching (TS), no-till without straw mulching (NTS), traditional plough with plastic mulching (TP), no-till with plastic mulching (NTP). Average wheat yield over 15 years under NTS, NTP, TP and TS was increased by 28, 24, 22, and 13%, respectively, compared to T. Average net return was greatest under NTS and lowest under TP. The soils under all six tillage-mulch practices gained a considerably large amount of soil organic carbon (SOC) over the 15 yr. The increase in SOC in the 0-30 cm soil layer was greatest under NTS and lowest under T. When changes in soil C were included in the calculations, treatments of NT, TS, NTS, and NTP sharply reduced total greenhouse gas (GHG) emission compared to T. Compared to T, the carbon footprint was decreased by 180, 44, and 123% under NTS, NT, and TS, respectively, but was increased by 153% under TP. Compared to T, the nitrogen footprint was 24-26% lower in TP and NTP, but was not significantly different under NTS, NT, and TS. Therefore, NTS enhanced yield and net return, and reduced GHG and the carbon footprint without increasing the nitrogen footprint, and should be adopted to mitigate the environmental impacts of wheat production in the semiarid Loess Plateau.

Response of broilers to digestible sulfur amino acids and threonine intake: Maximum economic return / Respuesta de pollos de engorde a la ingesta de aminoácidos azufrados y treonina digestibles: máximo retorno económico / Resposta de frangos de corte ao consumo de aminoácidos sulfurados e treonina digestíveis: máximo retorno econômico

Abstract Background: The determination of amino acid supplements for broiler chicken requirements based on performance does not always reflect maximum profitability. Objective: To estimate the optimal levels of digestible threonine (Thr) and sulfur amino acids (SAA) in diets for broilers based on an economic analysis. Methods: Two dose-response assays were conducted, and each assay was divided into three phases: initial (1-14 days), grower (15-28 days), and finisher (29-42 days). Five hundred and sixty male Cobb 500® broilers were randomly distributed to seven treatments with increasing levels of the amino acid (SAA or Thr), with four replicates and 20 birds each. Bodyweight gain (BWG) and feed intake (FI) were used to fit a segmented model. Gross income (GI), total feed costs (TFC) and gross margin (GM) were calculated based on local values. Results: Increasing levels of amino acid elicited a response in BWG and FI for all evaluated phases. The estimates for maximum profit based on GI and TFC were 223, 504, and 975 mg SAA/bird/d, and 236, 696, and 1,042 mg Thr/bird/d in starter, grower and finisher phases, respectively. Conclusion: Varying the AA prices affected only slightly the economic optimal intake of Thr and sulfur amino acids. Despite market fluctuations, the economic approach presented in this study demonstrates to be a helpful tool to choose the ideal inclusion level of amino acids in the feed.

Resumen Antecedentes: La determinación de la suplementación de aminoácidos en las dietas de pollos de engorde, basados solamente en el desempeño productivo no siempre refleja la máxima rentabilidad. Objetivo: Estimar los niveles óptimos de treonina (Thr) y aminoácidos azufrados (SAA) en dietas para pollos de engorde basados en un análisis económico. Métodos: Se realizaron dos ensayos tipo dosis-respuesta divididos en tres fases cada uno: inicio (1-14 días), crecimiento (15-28 días) y finalización (29-42 días). Quinientos sesenta pollos de engorde machos Cobb 500® se distribuyeron aleatoriamente en siete tratamientos con niveles crecientes de aminoácidos (SAA o Thr) y cuatro repeticiones de 20 aves cada uno. La ganancia de peso (BWG) y el consumo de alimento (FI) fueron utilizados para ajustar un modelo segmentado. El ingreso bruto (GI), costo total de la ración (TFC) y el margen bruto (GM) se calcularon tomando como referencia valores locales. Resultados: Los niveles crecientes de aminoácidos influyeron en la respuesta de BWG y FI en todas las fases evaluadas. Los estimados para maximizar la rentabilidad según GI y TFC fueron 223, 504 y 975 mg SAA/ave/día, y 236, 696 y 1,042 mg Thr/ave/día para las fases de inicio, crecimiento y finalización, respectivamente. Conclusión: La variación de los precios de los AA tuvo solo un ligero efecto sobre el consumo óptimo de Thr y aminoácidos azufrados. A pesar de las fluctuaciones del mercado, el enfoque económico aquí expuesto demuestra ser una herramienta útil para la elección del nivel ideal de inclusión de aminoácidos en la formulación.

Resumo Antecedentes: A determinação da suplementação de aminoácidos em frangos de corte baseados somente no desempenho produtivo nem sempre reflete a rentabilidade máxima. Objetivo: Estimar os níveis ótimos de treonina (Thr) e aminoácidos sulfurados (SAA) em dietas para frangos de corte com base em uma análise econômica. Métodos: Foram realizados dois ensaios dose-resposta, divididos em três fases cada: inicial (1-14 dias), crescimento (15-28 dias) e final (29-42 dias). Quinhentos e sessenta frangos de corte machos Cobb 500® foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em sete tratamentos, representados por níveis crescentes de aminoácidos (SAA ou Thr), com quatro repetições de 20 aves cada. O ganho de peso (BWG) e o consumo de ração (FI) foram utilizados para ajustar um modelo segmentado. A receita bruta (GI), os custos totais de alimentação (TFC) e a margem bruta (GM) foram calculados com base nos custos locais. Resultados: Os níveis dos aminoácidos influenciaram as respostas de BWG e FI para todas as fases avaliadas. A estimativa para máximo lucro com base em GI e TFC para os ensaios com SAA foram 223, 504 e 975 mg/ave/d; para Thr foram 236, 696 e 1,042 mg/ave/d para as fases inicial, crescimento e final, respectivamente. Conclusão: A variação dos preços dos AA teve pouca influência sobre a ingestão econômica dos aminoácidos sulfurados e da Thr. Apesar do dinamismo de mercado, a abordagem econômica apresentada neste estudo demonstra ser uma ferramenta útil para a escolha do nível de inclusão ideal do aminoácido na ração.

An evaluation of the economic effects of bovine respiratory disease on animal performance, carcass traits, and economic outcomes in feedlot cattle defined using four BRD diagnosis methods.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) causes significant economic losses to the feedlot industry due to decreased production and increased costs associated with treatment. This study aimed to assess the impacts of BRD on performance, carcass traits, and economic outcomes defined using four BRD diagnosis methods: number of BRD treatments an animal received, pleural lesions at slaughter, lung lesions at slaughter, and clinical BRD status defined using both treatment records and lung and pleural lesions. Crossbred steers (n = 898), with an initial body weight of 432 kg (± SD 51), were followed from feedlot entry to slaughter. Veterinary treatment records were collected and lungs scored at slaughter for lesions indicative of BRD. There was an 18% morbidity rate and a 2.1% BRD mortality rate, with an average net loss of AUD$1,647.53 per BRD mortality. Animals treated ≥3 times for BRD had 39.6 kg lighter carcasses at slaughter and returned an average of AUD$384.97 less compared to animals never treated for BRD (P < 0.001). Animals with severe lung lesions at slaughter grew 0.3 kg/d less, had 14.3 kg lighter carcasses at slaughter, and returned AUD$91.50 less than animals with no lung lesions (P < 0.001). Animals with subclinical and clinical BRD had 16.0 kg and 24.1 kg lighter carcasses, respectively, and returned AUD$67.10 and AUD$213.90 less at slaughter, respectively, compared to healthy animals that were never treated with no lesions (P < 0.001). The severity of BRD based on the number of treatments an animal received and the severity of lung and pleural lesions reduced animal performance, carcass weight and quality, and economic returns. Subclinical BRD reduced animal performance and economic returns compared to healthy animals; however, subclinical animals still had greater performance than animals with clinical BRD. This information can be used to plan for strategic investments aimed at reducing the impacts of BRD in feedlot cattle such as improved detection methods for subclinical animals with lesions at slaughter and BRD treatment protocols.

Pteridophytes in phytoremediation.

Soil contamination by heavy metals and metalloids is a serious problem which needs to be addressed. There are several methods for removal of contaminants, but they are costly, while the method of phytoremediation is eco-friendly and cost-effective. Pteridophytes have been found to remediate heavy metal-contaminated soil. Pteridophytes are non-flowering plant that reproduces by spores. Pteris vittata has been reported as the first fern plant to hyperaccumulate arsenic. The Pteris species belongs to the order Pteridales. Other ferns that are known phytoremediators are, for example, Nephrolepis cordifolia and Hypolepis muelleri (identified as phytostabilisers of Cu, Pb, Zn and Ni); similarly Pteris umbrosa and Pteris cretica accumulate arsenic in leaves. So, pteridophytes have a number of species that accumulate contaminants. Many of them have been identified, while various other are being explored. The present review article describes the phytoremediation potential of pteridophytes plants and suggests as a potential asset for phytoremediation programs.

Agro-economic profitability of sweet potato cultivars as a function of the harvest age and times of cultivation in the semi-arid / Rentabilidade de cultivares de batata-doce em função da idade de colheita e épocas de cultivo no semiárido

The objective of this work was to evaluate the profitability of sweet potato cultivars, harvested at different ages and cultivated in different periods (rainy and dry) in the municipality of Mossoró, semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with four replications and treatments arranged in split plots scheme. The plots were composed of three sweet potato cultivars (ESAM 1, Paraná and Mother of Family) and the subplots for five harvest ages (90 , 105, 120, 135 and 150 days after transplanting - DAT). Productivity of commercial roots and production costs was evaluated, as well as the economic indicators: gross income, net income, rate of return and profit margin. Independently of the growing periods, the productivity of commercial roots increased with the later harvest of the crop and differentiated the cultivars. Production costs averaged R$ 6,087.97 ha-1 in the rainy season and R$ 6,181.42 ha-1 in the dry period. Labor expenditures were the most impacting of total expenditures. The cultivars ESAM 1 and Paraná presented higher productivities of commercial roots and profitability when cultivated in the rainy season, while Paraná cultivar was superior to the other cultivars in the crop in the dry season. In both growing periods, the harvest age of 150 DAT promoted higher productivities of commercial roots and profitability to sweet potato production.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a rentabilidade de cultivares de batata-doce, colhidas em diferentes idades e cultivadas em períodos distintos (chuvoso e seco) no município de Mossoró, semiárido do Rio Grande do Norte. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e tratamentos arranjados em parcelas subdivididas, sendo as parcelas formadas por três cultivares de batata-doce (ESAM 1, Paraná e Mãe de Família) e as subparcelas por cinco idades de colheita (90, 105, 120, 135 e 150 dias após o transplantio ­ DAT). Avaliaram-se produtividade de raízes comerciais e custos de produção, assim como os indicadores econômicos: renda bruta, renda líquida, taxa de retorno e índice de lucratividade. Independentemente dos períodos de cultivo, a produtividade de raízes comerciais aumentou com a colheita mais tardia da cultura e diferenciou as cultivares. Os custos de produção foram em média da ordem de R$ 6.087,97 ha-1 no período chuvoso e R$ 6.181,42 ha-1 no período seco. As despesas com mão de obra foram as mais impactantes nas despesas totais. As cultivares ESAM 1 e Paraná apresentaram maiores produtividades de raízes comerciais e lucratividades quando cultivadas no período chuvoso, enquanto a Paraná foi superior as demais cultivares no cultivo na época seca. Em ambas as épocas de cultivo, a idade de colheita de 150 DAT promoveu maiores produtividades de raízes comerciais e rentabilidade à produção de batata-doce.

Challenges to increase the AI and ET markets in Brazil.

Artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer (ET) are the most widely used biotechnologies in the world with the goal of increasing genetic gain and improving reproductive efficiency of beef and dairy herds. The protocols for ovulation synchronization for timed AI (TAI) or ET (TET) are tools that allow artificial insemination or transfer of a high number of embryos in a pre-established moment and without the necessity of estrous detection. Currently, 86% of inseminations in Brazil are performed using TAI (13.6 million TAI out of a total of 15.4 million doses of semen marketed in 2018). With the use of TAI, it was possible to verify that the percentage of artificially inseminated females in Brazil went from 5.8% in 2002 to 13.1% in 2018. The ET market also presented considerable growth in the last 20 years. There was an increase of approximately 8 fold in the number of produced embryos, escalating from 50,000 in 1999 to 375,000 in 2017. In this period, there was a significant increase on the in vitro embryo production, which represented 92.1% of embryos produced in Brazil in 2017. Also, in this period, there was an increase on the embryo production of dairy breeds and reduction on the embryo production of zebu breeds in comparison to data from the early 2000's. TET increases significantly the number of recipients suitable to receive an embryo. After synchronization, 75 to 85% of recipients present a suitable CL for ET without estrous detection. Currently, many synchronization and resynchronization protocols for TAI/TET have been studied to attend different managements, breeds and animal categories, with predictable and satisfactory results. With the intensification of the use of these biotechnologies, it is possible to obtain elevated reproductive efficiency with increase on the genetic gain, which determines greater productivity and economic return for dairy and beef farms. However, the challenge to keep the market growing in the next decade could depend on some factors, such as: increase of the extension services for producers and of the extension training for specialists, improvement of the technological advances to develop more efficient and cost-effective products and practical protocols, increase the integration between universities, research institutes, veterinarians and industries and also, asses market demand for production of animal protein with higher quality, efficiency and environmental and economic sustainability.

Optimizing coffee cultivation and its impact on economic growth and export earnings of the producing countries: The case of Saudi Arabia.

Coffee is one of the historical socioeconomic crops. It has received an increasing attention at the global level, due to its positive interlinkage with the economic growth and on the gross domestic product for most of the producing countries, particularly, developing and least developed countries. Saudi Arabia is one of the coffee producing countries that has a relative comparative advantage of coffee cultivation. Yet, coffee cultivation has not received as much attention in Saudi Arabia as that of producing countries around the world. This study aims to assess the current state of coffee cultivation in Saudi Arabia and to investigate the potential to optimize coffee cultivation in Saudi Arabia that maximizes the net national economic return and export earnings, given limitation of cultivated areas, local market activities, and international trade activities. The study statistically analyzed primary data collected from around (65) coffee farms and traders in the study regions at the south and southwest Saudi Arabia, and optimized coffee cultivation in Saudi Arabia using LINGO optimization software. Empirical results of the study revealed the great potential of Saudi Arabia to expand coffee cultivation at south and southwest regions to meet the escalating local demand and to increase its share at the world market up to 2%. Optimization of coffee cultivation in Saudi Arabia showed a high potential to meet the local demand for coffee by producing 80.07 thousand tons grown over 2861.78 hectares and to generate a net return equivalent to $395.72 million a year, which is equivalent to $138.28 thousand per hectare and $4.94 thousand per ton of coffee. Optimizing coffee cultivation will play a substantial role to increase market share of Saudi Arabia to about 1-2% of the world market by increasing its export volume, respectively, to about 69.66 and 112.56 thousand tons, the national net economic return by about $395.86 and $395.95 million a year, and the export earnings of coffee by about $219.43-354.57 million a year, which in turns, will serve the national strategic trend to diversify the economic base and lower the dependency of incomes generated from oil exportation.

An output evaluation of a health research foundation's enhanced grant review process for new investigators.

BACKGROUND: We assessed the ability of the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation (MMSF, a small not-for-profit foundation affiliated with Manitoba Blue Cross) to determine the best candidates for selection to receive research funding support among new researchers applying to the Research Operating Grants Programme (ROGP). METHODS: Using bibliometric and grants funding analyses, we retrospectively compared indices of academic outputs from five cohorts of MMSF-funded and not MMSF-funded applicants to the annual MMSF ROGP over 2008 to 2012, from 1 to 5 years after having received evaluation decisions from the MMSF enhanced grant review process. RESULTS: Those researchers funded by the MMSF competition (MMSF-funded) had a statistically significant greater number of publications, a higher h-index and greater national Tri-Council (TC) funding, versus those not selected for funding (not MMSF-funded). MMSF-funded applicants and the Manitoba research community have created a strong and rapid (within 1 to 5 years of receiving the MMSF grant) local economic return on investment associated with the MMSF ROGP that supports new investigators, of approximately nine-fold for TC grants by the principal investigator, and of 34-fold for the principal investigator on collaborative (total) TC grants. CONCLUSIONS: The use of small amounts of seed money for competitive research grants at early stages of an MMSF-funded applicant's career correlates with future short-term success of that applicant. The ability to correctly select promising candidates who subsequently demonstrate greater academic performance after the MMSF funding shows the selection process and the ROGP to be of merit. Multiple components may have contributed to this outcome, including a direct presentation and interview process of the candidate with five-person selection subcommittees, plus an assessment by an external reviewer (the enhanced grant review process). The selection methods used here may add value to the research grant selection processes of new researchers.

Coeficientes técnicos de uso direto da água em termos monetários para regiões hidrográficas nos setores da agricultura irrigada e do abastecimento urbano: o caso de uma das bacias receptoras do Eixo Norte do Projeto de Integração do São Francisco / Technical coefficients of direct use of water in monetary terms for river basin districts in areas of irrigation for agriculture and urban water supply: the case of one of the recipients of the North Basin of The North Axis of São Francisco Transboundary Project

RESUMO O Projeto de Integração do São Francisco (PISF) é uma obra do governo federal, prevendo duas captações no rio para complementar a oferta de água local no Ceará (CE), no Rio Grande do Norte (RN), na Paraíba (PB) e em Pernambuco (PE). O Eixo Norte levará água para as Bacias do Piranhas-Açu (PB e RN) e do Jaguaribe (CE), que serão as maiores receptoras das águas da transposição. Neste trabalho foram propostas metodologias para obter e obtêm-se a partir delas, nas diferentes regiões hidrográficas da Bacia do Piranhas-Açu, coeficientes técnicos de uso direto da água em termos monetários para os setores econômicos associados ao abastecimento urbano (AU) e à agricultura irrigada (AI). Esses coeficientes são uma forma alternativa de apresentar os bem estabelecidos coeficientes técnicos da teoria básica de Análise de Insumo-Produto. No caso dos setores econômicos associados ao AU, os coeficientes obtidos mostraram que, a partir de certo nível de urbanização, as quantidades de água utilizadas crescem mais que o produto econômico associado ao setor. Os coeficientes da AI obtidos são bem menores do que os do AU e quando calculados por cultura mostraram que na bacia há um mix de cultivos inadequados associados a baixas eficiências no uso, o que resulta em baixos valores econômicos por m3 de água alocado no setor. Isso demonstra que, para ambos os setores econômicos, há necessidade de incentivos para que o uso da água seja mais eficiente na bacia estudada.

ABSTRACT The São Francisco Transboundary Project (SFTP) is a Federal Government project, which includes two diversions of the River to supplement the supply of local water in Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba and Pernambuco. The North branch will deliver water to Piranhas-Açu (Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte States) and Jaguaribe (Ceará State) reservoirs, which will become the largest recipients of the transboundary. In this paper we propose methodologies by which technical coefficients of direct use of water in different hydrographic regions of the Piranhas-Açu basin under study can be stated in monetary terms for the economic sectors associated with urban supply (US) and the agricultural irrigation (AI). The technical coefficients we have calculated are a different means of presenting well-established coefficients in the basics of Input-Output Analysis. In the case of economic sectors associated with the US, the coefficients showed that at a certain level of urbanization, the amountof water used increases more than the economic product of the sector. The coefficients of AI obtained are much lower than those of the USand, when calculated by crop, showed that in the basin, trhee is an inadequate mix of crops and a low water use efficiency, resulting in low economic value per cubic meter of water allocated to the sector. This implies, for both economic sectors, a need for incentives to use water in a more efficient way in the basin.