scholarly journals Effects of topsoil treatments on afforestation in a dry-Mediterranean climate (southern Spain)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Hueso-González ◽  
J. F. Martínez-Murillo ◽  
J. D. Ruiz-Sinoga
Keyword(s):  
Soil Amendment ◽  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Sheep Manure ◽  
Semiarid Areas ◽  
High Level ◽  
Survival Of Seedlings

Abstract. Revegetation programs in semiarid areas are associated with a high level of sapling mortality. Therefore, the development of alternative low cost and low environmental impact afforestation methods that ensure the survival of seedlings is necessary for the effective management of Mediterranean forest environments. This study assessed the effects of five types of soil amendment on the success of afforestation processes. The amendments tested were: i) straw mulching (SM); ii) mulch containing chipped branches of Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis L.) (PM); iii) sheep manure compost from a wastewater treatment plant (SH); iv) sewage sludge (RU); and v) TerraCottem hydroabsorbent polymer (HP). We hypothesized that in the context of dry-Mediterranean climatic conditions, the use of organic amendments would enhance plant establishment and ensure successful afforestation. The results showed that afforestation success varied among the various soil amendment treatments in the experimental plots. The amendments had no effect on soil organic carbon, pH, or salinity, but the results indicate that the addition of mulch or hydroabsorbent polymer can reduced transplant stress by increasing the soil water available for plant growth throughout the hydrological year, and potentially improve the success of afforestation by reducing plant mortality.

scholarly journals Effects of topsoil treatments on afforestation in a dry Mediterranean climate (southern Spain)

Solid Earth ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 1479-1489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paloma Hueso-González ◽  
Juan Francisco Martínez-Murillo ◽  
Jose Damian Ruiz-Sinoga
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Sheep Manure ◽  
High Level ◽  
Survival Of Seedlings

Abstract. Afforestation programs in semiarid areas are associated with a high level of sapling mortality. Therefore, the development of alternative low-cost and low-environmental-impact afforestation methods that ensure the survival of seedlings is crucial for improving the efficiency of Mediterranean forest management. This study assessed the effects of five types of soil amendments on the afforestation success (e.g., plant growth and survival) of a Mediterranean semiarid area. The amendments tested were (i) straw mulch; (ii) mulch containing chipped branches of Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis L.); (iii) sheep manure compost; (iv) sewage sludge from a wastewater treatment plant; and (v) TerraCottem hydroabsorbent polymer. We hypothesized that in the context of dry Mediterranean climatic conditions, the use of organic amendments would enhance plant establishment and ensure successful afforestation. The results showed that afforestation success varied among the various soil amendment treatments in the experimental plots. The amendments had no effect on soil organic carbon, pH, or salinity, but the results indicated that the addition of mulch or hydroabsorbent polymer can reduce transplant stress by increasing the soil water available for plant growth throughout the hydrological year, and potentially improve the success of afforestation by reducing plant mortality.

scholarly journals Beneficios de los acolchados de paja y poda como prácticas para la gestión forestal de los montes mediterráneos

2017 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Hueso-González ◽  
J.F. Martínez-Murillo ◽  
J.D. Ruiz-Sinoga
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Available Water Content ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Minimal Environmental Impact

In semiarid conditions, re-vegetation programs are associated with a high level of sapling mortality. For the proper management of Mediterranean forest environments, alternative low cost afforestation methods that ensure the survival of seedlings and have minimal environmental impact are needed. One way to improve soil conditions is to apply organic amendments to the soil. This study assessed the effects of two types of organic mulching on the afforestation success of a degraded Mediterranean semiarid area. The soil treatments tested were: i) afforestation in soil amended with straw mulch (10 Mg ha-1); ii) afforestation in soil amended with mulch containing chipped branches of Aleppo Pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) (10 Mg ha-1); iii) control plots with no amendments were used and considered as afforested in natural conditions. The afforestation plan was performed following the same species and pattern of plantation in each plot. We hypothesized that in the context of dry-Mediterranean climatic conditions the use of organic amendments would enhance plant establishment and ensure successful afforestation. The results showed that afforestation success increased when soils were amended with straw and pine tree mulch. The amendments had no effect on soil organic carbon. However, both treatments showed an increase in the average soil water content respect to the control conditions. Thus, the available water content in soils amended with mulch was higher than in the control during most of the duration of the experiment, and, consequently, there was less water stress following afforestation. This was well related with the increment in sapling survival rates founded in straw and pine mulch treatments.

DESIGN PLANNING WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OF NATA DE COCO INDUSTRY WITH THE ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinda Rita K. Hartaja ◽  
Imam Setiadi
Keyword(s):  
Waste Water ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Waste Water Treatment ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Water Treatment Plant ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
Waste Water Treatment Plant ◽  
Activated Sludge Process ◽  
High Level

Generally, wastewater of nata de coco industry contains suspended solids and COD were high, ranging from 90,000 mg / l. The high level of of the wastewater pollutants, resulting in nata de coco industry can not be directly disposed of its wastewater into the environment agency. Appropriate technology required in order to process the waste water so that the treated water can meet the environmental quality standards that are allowed. Designing the waste water treatment plant that is suitable and efficient for treating industrial wastewater nata de coco is the activated sludge process. Wastewater treatment using activated sludge process of conventional (standard) generally consists of initial sedimentation, aeration and final sedimentation.Keywords : Activated Sludge, Design, IPAL

scholarly journals Hybrid mosquitoes? Evidence from rural Tanzania on how local communities conceptualize and respond to modified mosquitoes as a tool for malaria control

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marceline F. Finda ◽  
Fredros O. Okumu ◽  
Elihaika Minja ◽  
Rukiyah Njalambaha ◽  
Winfrida Mponzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Malaria Control ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Community Leaders ◽  
Community Perceptions ◽  
Novel Technologies ◽  
Control Programmes ◽  
High Level ◽  
Interpretive Frames

Abstract Background Different forms of mosquito modifications are being considered as potential high-impact and low-cost tools for future malaria control in Africa. Although still under evaluation, the eventual success of these technologies will require high-level public acceptance. Understanding prevailing community perceptions of mosquito modification is, therefore, crucial for effective design and implementation of these interventions. This study investigated community perceptions regarding genetically-modified mosquitoes (GMMs) and their potential for malaria control in Tanzanian villages where no research or campaign for such technologies has yet been undertaken. Methods A mixed-methods design was used, involving: (i) focus group discussions (FGD) with community leaders to get insights on how they frame and would respond to GMMs, and (ii) structured questionnaires administered to 490 community members to assess awareness, perceptions and support for GMMs for malaria control. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings and thematic content analysis was used to identify key concepts and interpret the findings. Results Nearly all survey respondents were unaware of mosquito modification technologies for malaria control (94.3%), and reported no knowledge of their specific characteristics (97.3%). However, community leaders participating in FGDs offered a set of distinctive interpretive frames to conceptualize interventions relying on GMMs for malaria control. The participants commonly referenced their experiences of cross-breeding for selecting preferred traits in domestic plants and animals. Preferred GMMs attributes included the expected reductions in insecticide use and human labour. Population suppression approaches, requiring as few releases as possible, were favoured. Common concerns included whether the GMMs would look or behave differently than wild mosquitoes, and how the technology would be integrated into current malaria control policies. The participants emphasised the importance and the challenge of educating and engaging communities during the technology development. Conclusions Understanding how communities perceive and interpret novel technologies is crucial to the design and effective implementation of new vector control programmes. This study offers vital clues on how communities with no prior experience of modified mosquitoes might conceptualize or respond to such technologies when deployed in the context of malaria control programmes. Drawing upon existing interpretive frames and locally-resonant analogies when deploying such technologies may provide a basis for more durable public support in the future.

scholarly journals Experiments on Energy-Efficient Evaporative Cooling Systems for Poultry Farm Application in Multan (Pakistan)

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2836
Author(s):  
Khawar Shahzad ◽  
Muhammad Sultan ◽  
Muhammad Bilal ◽  
Hadeed Ashraf ◽  
Muhammad Farooq ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Evaporative Cooling ◽  
Thermal Exposure ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
The Body ◽  
Dew Point ◽  
Sweat Glands ◽  
Cooling Systems ◽  
Humidity Index

Poultry are one of the most vulnerable species of its kind once the temperature-humidity nexus is explored. This is so because the broilers lack sweat glands as compared to humans and undergo panting process to mitigate their latent heat (moisture produced in the body) in the air. As a result, moisture production inside poultry house needs to be maintained to avoid any serious health and welfare complications. Several strategies such as compressor-based air-conditioning systems have been implemented worldwide to attenuate the heat stress in poultry, but these are not economical. Therefore, this study focuses on the development of low-cost and environmentally friendly improved evaporative cooling systems (DEC, IEC, MEC) from the viewpoint of heat stress in poultry houses. Thermodynamic analysis of these systems was carried out for the climatic conditions of Multan, Pakistan. The results appreciably controlled the environmental conditions which showed that for the months of April, May, and June, the decrease in temperature by direct evaporative cooling (DEC), indirect evaporative cooling (IEC), and Maisotsenko-Cycle evaporative cooling (MEC) systems is 7–10 °C, 5–6.5 °C, and 9.5–12 °C, respectively. In case of July, August, and September, the decrease in temperature by DEC, IEC, and MEC systems is 5.5–7 °C, 3.5–4.5 °C, and 7–7.5 °C, respectively. In addition, drop in temperature-humidity index (THI) values by DEC, IEC, and MEC is 3.5–9 °C, 3–7 °C, and 5.5–10 °C, respectively for all months. Optimum temperature and relative humidity conditions are determined for poultry birds and thereby, systems’ performance is thermodynamically evaluated for poultry farms from the viewpoint of THI, temperature-humidity-velocity index (THVI), and thermal exposure time (ET). From the analysis, it is concluded that MEC system performed relatively better than others due to its ability of dew-point cooling and achieved THI threshold limit with reasonable temperature and humidity indexes.

A new automated stem CO2 efflux chamber based on industrial ultra-low-cost sensors

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Brändle ◽  
Norbert Kunert
Keyword(s):  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Co2 Efflux ◽  
Diurnal Changes ◽  
Lowland Forest ◽  
Stem Respiration ◽  
Stem Co2 Efflux ◽  
Gas Exchange System ◽  
Controlling Processes

Abstract Tree autotrophic respiratory processes, especially stem respiration or stem CO2 efflux (Estem), are important components of the forest carbon budget. Despite the efforts to investigate the controlling processes of Estem in the last years a considerable lack in our knowledge remains on the abiotic and biotic drivers affecting Estem dynamics. It has been strongly advocated that long-term measurements would shed light into those processes. The expensive scientific instruments needed to measure gas exchange has prevented from applying Estem measurements on a larger temporal and spatial scale. Here, we present an automated closed dynamic chamber system based on inexpensive and industrially broadly applied CO2 sensors reducing the costs for the sensing system to a minimum. The CO2 sensor was cross-calibrated with a commonly used gas exchange system in the laboratory and in the field, and we found very good accordance of these sensors. We tested the system under harsh tropical climatic conditions, characterized by heavy tropical rainfall events, extreme humidity, and temperatures, in a moist lowland forest in Malaysia. We recorded Estem of three Dyera costulata trees with our prototype over various days. The variation of Estem was large among the three tree individuals and varied by 7.5-fold. However, clear diurnal changes in Estem were present in all three tree individuals. One tree showed high diurnal variation in Estem and the relationship between Estem and temperature was characterized by a strong hysteresis. The large variations found within one single tree species highlights the importance of continuous measurement to quantify ecosystem carbon fluxes.

scholarly journals Potential Use of Organic- and Hard-Rock Mine Wastes on Aided Phytostabilization of Large-Scale Mine Tailings under Semiarid Mediterranean Climatic Conditions: Short-Term Field Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Santibañez ◽  
Luz María de la Fuente ◽  
Elena Bustamante ◽  
Sergio Silva ◽  
Pedro León-Lobos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Hard Rock ◽  
Mine Waste ◽  
Organic Amendments ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Goat Manure ◽  
Site Rehabilitation

The study evaluated the efficacy of organic- and hard-rock mine waste type materials on aided phytostabilization of Cu mine tailings under semiarid Mediterranean conditions in order to promote integrated waste management practices at local levels and to rehabilitate large-scale (from 300 to 3,000 ha) postoperative tailings storage facilities (TSFs). A field trial with 13 treatments was established on a TSF to test the efficacy of six waste-type locally available amendments (grape and olive residues, biosolids, goat manure, sediments from irrigation canals, and rubble from Cu-oxide lixiviation piles) during early phases of site rehabilitation. Results showed that, even though an interesting range of waste-type materials were tested, biosolids (100 t ha-1dry weight, d.w.) and grape residues (200 t ha-1d.w.), either alone or mixed, were the most suitable organic amendments when incorporated into tailings to a depth of 20 cm. Incorporation of both rubble from Cu-oxide lixiviation piles and goat manure into upper tailings also had effective results. All these treatments improved chemical and microbiological properties of tailings and lead to a significant increase in plant yield after three years from trial establishment. Longer-term evaluations are, however required to evaluate self sustainability of created systems without further incorporation of amendments.

scholarly journals When Density Matters: The Spatial Balance between Early and Latewood

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 818
Author(s):  
Maria Royo-Navascues ◽  
Edurne Martinez del Castillo ◽  
Roberto Serrano-Notivoli ◽  
Ernesto Tejedor ◽  
Klemen Novak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Distribution ◽  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Environmental Gradients ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Western Mediterranean ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Distribution Area ◽  
Mediterranean Forests ◽  
Climatic Influence

Understanding the influence of the current climate on the distribution, composition, and carbon storage capacity of Mediterranean tree species is key to determining future pathways under a warmer and drier climate scenario. Here, we evaluated the influence of biotic and environmental factors on earlywood (EW) and latewood (LW) growth in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.). Our investigation was based on a dense dendrochronological network (71 sites), which covered the entire distribution area of the species in the Iberian Peninsula (around 119.652 km2), and a high-resolution climate dataset of the Western Mediterranean area. We used generalized linear-mixed models to determine the spatial and temporal variations of EW and LW across the species distribution. Our results showed an intense but differentiated climatic influence on both EW and LW growth components. The climatic influence explained significant variations across the environmental gradients in the study area, which suggested an important adaptation through phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation to varying climatic conditions. In addition, we detected a clear spatial trade-off between efficiency and safety strategy in the growth patterns across the species distribution. Additionally, in more productive areas, the trees presented a higher proportion of EW (more efficient to water transport), while, in more xeric conditions, the LW proportion increased (more safety to avoid embolisms), implying an adaptation to more frequent drought episodes and a higher capacity of carbon depletion. We therefore concluded that Mediterranean forests adapted to dryer conditions might be more efficient as carbon reservoirs than forests growing in wetter areas. Finally, we advocated for the need to consider wood density (EW/LW proportion) when modeling current and future forest carbon sequestrations.

Cost-Effective Directional Drilling and Logging-While-Drilling Operational/Maintenance Model Aids an East Africa Operator to Deliver Its Remote Location Exploration Campaign

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iain Lunney
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Commodity Prices ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Directional Drilling ◽  
Remote Maintenance ◽  
Support Team ◽  
High Level ◽  
Remote Assistance ◽  
Level Of Experience ◽  
Maintenance Model

ABSTRACT In a cost-sensitive market driven by depressed commodity prices, significant capital challenges exist for operators interested in pursuing exploration activities in remote environments to define their producible reserves. This paper explores the organizational and operational model developed by a service company over several remote area mobilizations; this model resulted in an optimized low-cost service delivery model characterized by top quartile operational key performance indicators (KPIs). The model centralizes critical functions of an operational organization into discrete service units that are located near the operational location or that provide remote assistance with communication and reporting lines in place to function effectively. Top quartile operational performance and tool availability is a result of placing a remote repair and maintenance facility that includes containerized specialty modules near the operational area. The upfront bottomhole assembly engineering, 24/7 monitoring, and proactive feedback of logged data, drillstring dynamics, and wellbore hydraulics are performed by a core team of subject matter experts in their respective disciplines from an established centralized operating center. The operational KPIs over the course of the six well exploration campaign provided substantial evidence to support the reliability of the model and the high level of experience used in both the remote maintenance facility and the operations center support team.

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