scholarly journals Moving forward from “biochar revolution” to “biochar evolution”: Shaping a promising mitigation tool demands future research efforts

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia I. Kammann
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Future Research ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Soil C ◽  
Radiative Balance ◽  
C Storage ◽  
Terra Preta ◽  
The Cost

In February 2013, the 2nd Nordic Biochar Seminar was successfully held in Helsinki, Finland. The fruitful meeting, well organized by Priit Tammeorg, offered a broad kaleidoscope of new insights into the novel interdisciplinary research topic of biochar. The papers in this issue clearly show that biochar use in agriculture can deliver benefits such as reductions in N2O emissions or N leaching (Kettunen and Saarnio), in addition to soil C storage without negative effects (Karer et al. , Anders et al. ). However, they also demonstrate that just one biochar addition does not turn each temperate fertile soil into a fertility miracle. In Terra preta sites, the pyrogenic carbon was likely an important ingredient, but it was combined with organic waste inputs and not used pure. Thus, yield-increasing pure-biochar effects in temperate soils are likely not a low-hanging fruit to be harvested without further ado. Rather, problematic soils should be the primary target; combined biochar-organics usage also deserves further research. However, considering the lack of political efforts to restore our planet's radiative balance, or tackle the challenges associated with soil degradation and resource consumption, no emerging chances should be missed. "Biochar" is such a chance – not more, but also not less. Shaping "biochar use in agriculture" into a safe, sustainable and economically feasible tool will only come at the cost of good hard research efforts; but it offers the unique chance to turn agricultural practices from being part of the problem into being part of the solution.

scholarly journals FARMERS' PERCEPTION REGARDING CLIMATE CHANGE IN SOUTHERN TURKEY: THE CASE OF MERSIN PROVINCE

New Medit ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
The Cost

Climate change is responsible for the negative effects in human life causing a decrease in agricultural products, biodiversity, soil fertility, and forest areas. In contrast, climate change increases plant diseases and pests, the cost of agricultural production and risk in food security. This study aims to determine whether climate change is a phenomenon via the analysis of the perceptions of the farmers in the Mersin province conducted over 251 questionnaires. Farmers primarily perceive climate change over production costs and the reduction in yield. Moreover, they are highly aware of its relation to natural events such as floods, drought, and storms. Nevertheless, inappropriate agricultural practices also lead to the negative consequences caused by climate change. In this respect, this study revealed that farmers with high cooperative partnerships and experience perceived climate change significantly.

scholarly journals Air delay propagation patterns in Europe from 2015 to 2018: an information processing perspective

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisina Pastorino ◽  
Massimiliano Zanin
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Delay Propagation ◽  
Complementary Approach ◽  
Priori Information ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Cost

Abstract The characterisation of delay propagation is one of the major topics of research in air transport management, due to its negative effects on the cost-efficiency, safety and environmental impact of this transportation mode. While most research works have naturally framed it as a transportation process, the successful application of network theory in neuroscience suggests a complementary approach, based on describing delay propagation as a form of information processing. This allows reconstructing propagation patterns from the dynamics of the individual elements, i.e. from the evolution observed at individual airports, without the need of additional a priori information. We here apply this framework to the analysis of delay propagation in the European airspace between 2015 and 2018, describe the evolution of the observed structure, and identify the role of individual airports in it. We further use this analysis to illustrate the limitations and challenges associated to this approach, and to sketch a roadmap of future research in this evolving topic.

Can management practices provide greenhouse gas abatement in grain farms in New South Wales, Australia?

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeda Palmer ◽  
Peter J. Thorburn ◽  
Elizabeth A. Meier ◽  
Jody S. Biggs ◽  
Brett Whelan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Soil C ◽  
C Storage ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Abatement ◽  
Summer Crop

Greenhouse gas abatement in the agricultural cropping industry can be achieved by employing management practices that sequester soil carbon (C) or minimise nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from soils. However, C sequestration stimulates N2O emissions, making the net greenhouse-gas abatement potential of management practices difficult to predict. We studied land-management practices that have potential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions by increasing soil C storage and/or decreasing soil N2O emissions for a diverse range of broadacre grain cropping sites in New South Wales. Carbon sequestration and N2O emissions were simulated with the Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) for a baseline crop-management scenario and alternative scenarios representing management practices for greenhouse gas abatement, for 15 rainfed or irrigated sites. The global warming potential of the scenarios was quantified at 25 and 100 years after commencement of the alternative practices. Soil C and N2O emissions were predicted to increase with the use of practices that increased organic matter additions to the soil (e.g. adding a summer crop to the rotation). However, in only a few cases did the increase in soil C storage counter the N2O emissions sufficiently to provide net greenhouse gas abatement. For rainfed sites, inclusion of a summer crop and/or a pasture in the rotation was predicted to provide greenhouse gas abatement after 25 years, whereas after 100 years, only practices that included a summer crop provided abatement for some sites. For irrigated sites after 25 years, practices that reduced N fertiliser rate while retaining stubble were predicted to provide small abatement, and practices that included a summer crop provided abatement for some sites. After 100 years, practices likely to provide abatement included those that reduced N2O emissions, such as reducing N fertiliser rate. These findings suggest that a few management practices are likely to abate greenhouse gas emissions across New South Wales grain production sites and that these practices differ for irrigated and rainfed sites.

Cost-benefit analyses of employment services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A scoping review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Josh Taylor ◽  
Lauren Avellone ◽  
Rob Cimera ◽  
Valerie Brooke ◽  
Aliza Lambert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Employment Outcomes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Cost

BACKGROUND: Understanding the cost-benefit of vocational rehabilitation services is critical to improve competitive integrated employment outcomes for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this scoping review was to analyze and synthesize micro and macroeconomic analyses of various types of vocational services which promote the employment outcomes of individuals with IDD. METHODS: This scoping review searched peer-reviewed and grey literature sources published between 2000 and 2020, examining both micro and macroeconomic analyses. RESULTS: A total of 26 studies met inclusion criteria. The majority of studies reported positive effects for the cost-benefit of integrated service approaches such as supported and customized employment. Conversely, our findings show no cost-benefit for sheltered workshops, and in some cases, negative effects. CONCLUSION: Limitations to the included studies as well as implications and recommendations for practice, policy, and future research are discussed.

scholarly journals A Bacterial Consortium Interacts With Different Varieties of Maize, Promotes the Plant Growth, and Reduces the Application of Chemical Fertilizer Under Field Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalia Molina-Romero ◽  
Saúl Juárez-Sánchez ◽  
Berenice Venegas ◽  
Cindy S. Ortíz-González ◽  
Antonino Baez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Bacterial Colonization ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Bacterial Consortium ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Maize Varieties ◽  
Chemical Fertilization ◽  
The Cost

The success of beneficial bacteria in improving the crop growth and yield depends on an adequate plant-bacteria interaction. In this work, the capability of Azospirillium brasilense Sp7, Pseudomonas putida KT2440, Acinetobacter sp. EMM02, and Sphingomonas sp. OF178A to interact with six maize varieties was evaluated by both single-bacterium application and consortium application. The bacterial consortium efficiently colonized the rhizosphere of the autochthonous yellow and H48 hybrid varieties. Bacterial colonization by the consortium was higher than under single-bacterium colonization. The two maize varieties assayed under greenhouse conditions showed increased plant growth compared to the control. The effect of consortium inoculation plus 50% fertilization was compared with the 100% nitrogen fertilization under field conditions using the autochthonous yellow maize. Inoculation with the consortium plus 50% urea produced a similar grain yield compared to 100% urea fertilization. However, a biomass decrease was observed in plants inoculated with the consortium plus 50% urea compared to the other treatments. Furthermore, the safety of these bacteria was evaluated in a rat model after oral administration. Animals did not present any negative effects, after bacterial administration. In conclusion, the bacterial consortium offers a safety alternative that can reduce chemical fertilization by half while producing the same crop yield obtained with 100% fertilization. Decreased chemical fertilization could avoid contamination and reduce the cost in agricultural practices.

Erfolg der Jungwaldpflege im Schweizer Mittelland? Analyse und Folgerungen (Essay)

2013 ◽  
Vol 164 (9) ◽  
pp. 262-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Ammann
Keyword(s):  
Stand Development ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Tree Species Composition ◽  
Natural Processes ◽  
Course Of Action ◽  
Tree Thinning ◽  
Swiss Plateau ◽  
Self Differentiation ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Young Growth

Is young growth tending successful in the Swiss Plateau region? Analysis and implications (essay) The effect of the cost-intensive young growth tending used up to the present in the region of the Swiss Plateau is analysed using different approaches. It is evident that young growth tending is not only ineffective with respect to diameter growth but even hinders stand development. Negative effects on quality from young growth tending are also recognised. This is often due to premature interventions in the natural processes of self-differentiation and subsequent systematic errors in the thinning. Furthermore, the effect of tending measures on the tree species composition is often overestimated because in the first 10 to 20 years of stand development, it is primarily the rejuvenation strategy and the site which are decisive. As an alternative course of action, tending concepts are proposed which rely on biological rationalisation and future tree thinning, to achieve future trees which are as vigorous as possible. These are not only more effective, but are also significantly less expensive.

Agricultural practices and diffuse nitrogen pollution in Denmark: empirical leaching and catchment models

1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 257-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans E. Andersen ◽  
Brian Kronvang ◽  
Søren E. Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Animal Manure ◽  
Annual Runoff ◽  
N Leaching ◽  
N Loss ◽  
Total N ◽  
Model Calculations ◽  
N Removal

An empirical leaching model was applied to data on agricultural practices at the field level within 6 small Danish agricultural catchments in order to document any changes in nitrogen (N) leaching from the root zone during the period 1989-96. The model calculations performed at normal climate revealed an average reduction in N-leaching that amounted to 30% in the loamy catchments and 9% in the sandy catchments. The reductions in N leaching could be ascribed to several improvements in agricultural practices during the study period: (i) regulations on livestock density; (ii) regulations on the utilisation of animal manure; (iii) regulations concerning application practices for manure. The average annual total N-loss from agricultural areas to surface water constituted only 54% of the annual average N leached from the root zone in the three loamy catchments and 17% in the three sandy catchments. Thus, subsurface N-removal processes are capable of removing large amounts of N leached from agricultural land. An empirical model for the annual diffuse N-loss to streams from small catchments is presented. The model predicts annual N-loss as a function of the average annual use of mineral fertiliser and manure in the catchment and the total annual runoff from the unsaturated zone.

Attraction of prey

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Horner ◽  
Bartosz J. Płachno ◽  
Ulrike Bauer ◽  
Bruno Di Giusto
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Synergistic Action ◽  
Carnivorous Plants ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Acoustic Cues ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Prey Attraction

The ability to attract prey has long been considered a universal trait of carnivorous plants. We review studies from the past 25 years that have investigated the mechanisms by which carnivorous plants attract prey to their traps. Potential attractants include nectar, visual, olfactory, and acoustic cues. Each of these has been well documented to be effective in various species, but prey attraction is not ubiquitous among carnivorous plants. Directions for future research, especially in native habitats in the field, include: the qualitative and quantitative analysis of visual cues, volatiles, and nectar; temporal changes in attractants; synergistic action of combinations of attractants; the cost of attractants; and responses to putative attractants in electroantennograms and insect behavioral tests.

scholarly journals Monitoring the technological processes in the wood industry in order to make them more efficient through technical overhauling

2019 ◽  
Vol 290 ◽  
pp. 02007
Author(s):  
Radu Dan Paltan ◽  
Cristina Biriş ◽  
Loredana Anne-Marie Rădulescu
Keyword(s):  
Automotive Industry ◽  
Operating Mode ◽  
Solid Wood ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Operating Costs ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Wood Industry ◽  
Research Article ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
The Cost

Of many techniques that are used to optimize production and costs, the studies conducted within a profile company lead to our choice for testing the 6Sigma method (the most used method in the automotive industry) in view of the economic efficiency applied in the wood Industry company. This method measures how many flaws exist in a process and determines in a systematic way how to improve it by technical overhauling and eliminating or minimizing the process for efficiency. This research article aims to study the state of research on the optimization of the production process through technical overhauling for panels reconstituted from solid wood and ways to make production more efficient by cutting costs through technical overhauling. From preliminary research, we estimate that all the items founded and others that will result from further research will result in a significant decrease in production costs that are reflected in the cost of the finished product and consequently in increasing the yield of the company by maximizing its profit. At the same time it may be the basis of future research studies in the field. The easier it is to maximize profits, the lower the operating costs are and the higher recovery rate of investments are, that will result a change in the operating mode: “working smarter not harder”.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document