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A Long-Term Data Sequence (1960-2013) to Analyse the Sustainability of Hay Quality in Irrigated Permanent Grasslands Under Climate Change
Gihan Mohammed,
Fabienne Trolard,
Guilhem Bourrié,
Marina Gillon,
Didier Tronc,
François Charron
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 6, November 2016
Pages:
140-151
Received:
8 March 2016
Accepted:
18 March 2016
Published:
17 October 2016
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajaf.20160406.11
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Abstract: Face to climate, land and water use changes, sustainability of crop systems and quality of production is in debate. Long term database concerning hay's mineral contents, dry matter and climate dynamics (rainfall and temperature) have been collected and are used here to argue these questions. Such data are scarce, but here were made available, as they were used to obtain and maintain the certification of the crop, specifically Certified Origin Product (COP) hay. Database collected cover 1960-2013 period, in Crau area, South-Eastern France. Permanent grasslands have been established in this plain since the XVIth century and depend on border irrigation. Statistical tests show that a steady state of the total mineral content and dry matter within long-term has been reached. There is no significant correlation between rainfall and mineral content in hay. Additionally, there is no impact of temperature change on dry matter. Furthermore, the total mineral content of hay is systematically the largest in the third cut and the smallest in the first cut. Our findings suggest that irrigation plays a key role for grasslands sustainability. Irrigated grasslands in Crau area appear as a model of intensive agroecology, with COP productions of high value (hay and animal productions), a crop system, created in the XVIth century and that demonstrates its resilience face to the present global changes. It is however presently jeopardized by urban sprawl.
Abstract: Face to climate, land and water use changes, sustainability of crop systems and quality of production is in debate. Long term database concerning hay's mineral contents, dry matter and climate dynamics (rainfall and temperature) have been collected and are used here to argue these questions. Such data are scarce, but here were made available, as th...
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Early Survival Evaluation of Trees and Shrubs for Their Adaptability Planted Under Moisture Conservation Structures at Hawi Gudina District, West Hararghe Zone, Ethiopia
Desalegn Mamo,
Eshetu Ararso,
Alemayhu Diriba,
Shimelis Dekeba,
Dulo Hussen
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 6, November 2016
Pages:
152-155
Received:
12 July 2016
Accepted:
28 July 2016
Published:
11 November 2016
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajaf.20160406.12
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Abstract: The ever-increasing demand for biomass energy in developing countries like Ethiopia seeks urgent attention. Tree growth depends on genetic potential of the species and environmental conditions. A study was conducted at Hawi Gudina district during 2010-2013 to evaluate early survival of different agroforestry trees/shrubs (Meliaazedarach, Moringaoleifera, Leucaena leucocephala, Grevilia robusta and Sesbania sesban) for their adaptability planted under three different moisture conservation structures. These different trees and shrubs species were planted in randomized complete block design with unequal replications. Unbalanced analysis of variance revealed that the interaction of tree/shrubs survival with planting methods was found insignificant (P>0.05) at 1, 2 and 3 years of age after transplanting. The main effect of moisture conservation structures is also not significant. But highly significant variations among species in survival rate (P<0.01) was recorded at all three years of ages. Among the species tested, Moringaoliefera and Melia azedarach showed superior performance with survival rate of 100% followed by Sesbania sesban with survival rate of 88.9%. Though there was no significant difference in survival rate of trees/shrubs with respect to different planting methods. The mean survival of seedlings planted in half-moon (80%) is higher than in normal pit (73.33%) and trench (60%) three years after establishment. Similarly, species planted in half-moon recorded relatively higher in diameter and height size followed by trench micro catchment. Moringa oliefera, Melia azedarach and Sesbania sesban with half-moon planting method, offers much promise for future use in agroforestry practices in the area and similar agro ecologies.
Abstract: The ever-increasing demand for biomass energy in developing countries like Ethiopia seeks urgent attention. Tree growth depends on genetic potential of the species and environmental conditions. A study was conducted at Hawi Gudina district during 2010-2013 to evaluate early survival of different agroforestry trees/shrubs (Meliaazedarach, Moringaole...
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Monosaccharide Analysis of Dendrobium moniliforme Polysaccharides by High Performance Liquid Chromatography/Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Xingjun Xi,
Shangzhen Xiao,
Fei Tang,
Qiao Chu,
Tao Lan,
Genlai Dong
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 6, November 2016
Pages:
156-162
Received:
6 December 2016
Published:
7 December 2016
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajaf.20160406.13
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Abstract: To obtain monosaccharide components information of Dendrobium moniliforme polysaccharides, a HPLC-ESI-MS method was proposed. The crude polysaccharides were extracted and purified from D. moniliforme as samples (DMP). Then, the polysaccharides were hydrolyzed with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and derivated by 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP). PMP-labeled mixture of monosaccharides were separated by a reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and detected by on-line electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). With this method, the six monosaccharide derivatives have been well separated and the identification of the monosaccharides composition was carried out. The result showed that D. moniliforme polysaccharide consisted of D-mannose, D-ribose, D-glucose, D-galactose and L-arabinose, in a molar ratio of 51.83: 4.01: 38.90: 4.20: 1.65, respectively. Moreover, hydrolysis studies revealed that the monosaccharide concentrations reached the peak value at different time and it suggested that the release of DMP monosaccharides was not hydrolyzed at the same rate. These results indicated that the DMP may be a mixture of multiple polysaccharides. Finally, we used a high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) method proved that crude polysaccharides were composed by three kinds of polysaccharides (DMP-1, DMP-2 and DMP-3) with molecular weight of 153.1 kDa, 69.28 kDa and 50.14 kDa.
Abstract: To obtain monosaccharide components information of Dendrobium moniliforme polysaccharides, a HPLC-ESI-MS method was proposed. The crude polysaccharides were extracted and purified from D. moniliforme as samples (DMP). Then, the polysaccharides were hydrolyzed with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and derivated by 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP). PMP...
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Agricultural Production: Improving “Dabsha” Mango Trees Productivity and Fruit Quality by Biological Fertilizers
Ahmed Fathallah El-Shiekh
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 6, November 2016
Pages:
163-167
Received:
24 October 2016
Accepted:
13 December 2016
Published:
13 January 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajaf.20160406.14
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Abstract: Bio-fertilizers are used to improve the fertility of the land using biological wastes, hence the term bio-fertilizers and biological wastes do not contain any chemicals which are detrimental to the living soil. This study was done at Dibba Experiment Station, Eastern Region, Ministry of Environment & Water, UAE to study the effect of two types of biological fertilizers (Alnawaya and Super Alnawaya) on “Dabsha” mango trees productivity and fruit quality. The bio-fertilizers were applied at two different doses (25 Kg/tree and 50 Kg/tree) and were added in a powder form to 20 year-old mango trees. These fertilizers are formed from balanced organic manure enriched with 0.5% special marine and decomposed microbes “SUPERBAN” were added. Trees supplemented with Super Alnawaya biological fertilizer at both doses had higher yield than the control and the Alnawaya (25 kg/tree) treatments with no significant differences between the rest of the treatments. Super Alnawaya fertilizer (25 Kg/tree) increased tree yield by about 88% compared with the control in the second season and the yield increment was over 100% in the first season. In the first season, Alnawaya fertilizer increased fruit pulp (%) significantly over that of the control while in the second season, Super Alnawaya (25 Kg/tree) increased fruit pulp (%) significantly over that of the high dose of Super Alnawaya. Fruit firmness and soluble solids content (SSC) were reduced by all treatments in comparison with the control treatment, in the first season only. In both seasons, leaves mineral contents did not change radically by the treatments. Therefore, Super Alnawaya (25kg/tree) fertilizer is recommended for 20 year-old “Dabsha” mango trees growing in coarse soil under the UAE subtropical environment.
Abstract: Bio-fertilizers are used to improve the fertility of the land using biological wastes, hence the term bio-fertilizers and biological wastes do not contain any chemicals which are detrimental to the living soil. This study was done at Dibba Experiment Station, Eastern Region, Ministry of Environment & Water, UAE to study the effect of two types of b...
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Tidal Trends and Magnitude of Chwaka and Uzi Bays as a Proxy of Seawater Intrusion in Jozani Groundwater Forest, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Masoud Salum Said,
Balthazar Michael Msanya,
Johnson Mashambo Semoka,
Salim Mohamed Salim Maliondo
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 6, November 2016
Pages:
168-177
Received:
14 December 2016
Accepted:
4 January 2017
Published:
2 February 2017
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajaf.20160406.15
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Abstract: Tidal characteristics, land altitude, level of groundwater, and rainfall patterns are among the main factors determining seawater intrusions in coastal areas. As Jozani Groundwater Forest (JGWF) is a coastal forest of low altitude found between Chwaka and Uzi bays, it was assumed the forest is increasingly being intruded by seawater. This study was therefore intended to discern conditions of tidal trends and magnitude in relation to seawater intrusion into JGWF. Tidal data and rainfall patterns were collected from Tanzania Meteorological Agency, Kisauni Zanzibar. Two sets of three observation wells (OWs) were opened at two forest ends towards Chwaka and Uzi bays. The OWs were used as data collection points while Height of Instrument method with the help of SOKKIA C.3.2 level and benchmarks number 205 and 210 were used to determine elevation of ground surfaces of the OWs. GPS receiver model GARMIN etrex 10 was used for geo-referencing the OWs. Water level recorders were installed above the wells to record changes in water level (WL) around the wells. Total dissolved solids (TDS) in water samples from the OWs were measured in situ using Hanna Combo tester HI 98129. Results showed that WL in South-end OWs rises during rains and falls during dry seasons, and occasionally also rises during high water of spring tide (HWST) associated with South Easterly monsoon winds. Similar results were obtained at North-end OWs, but more frequently even during HWST that were not associated with Monsoon winds. Values of water TDS fell to a minimum of 0.7 x 103 and 4.9 x 103 ppm during rainfall and rose to a maximum of 25.5 x 103 and 34.1 x 103 ppm during dry season at South-end and North-end, respectively. It was concluded that intrusion takes place during dry seasons when seawater of HWST from Chwaka and Uzi bays through creeks reached the soil surfaces at North-end and South-end of JGWF. The water accumulated salts which were then diluted and drained off the areas by rain water.
Abstract: Tidal characteristics, land altitude, level of groundwater, and rainfall patterns are among the main factors determining seawater intrusions in coastal areas. As Jozani Groundwater Forest (JGWF) is a coastal forest of low altitude found between Chwaka and Uzi bays, it was assumed the forest is increasingly being intruded by seawater. This study was...
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