Agriculture and Agricultural Science Procedia最新文献

This study aimed to assess the welfare level of dairy cows in a farm from the South-Eastern Romania, in a mixed house with free-stalls inner space division. The welfare level was established by using an integrative numerical assessment system – the Austrian Animal Needs Index 35L/2000. There were scored 26 objective welfare indicators within the five areas of influence: locomotion, social interactions, flooring, light and air, stockmanship. In order to assess and score some indicators, there were used modern devices (LX 1102 light meter, Drager Pac 7000 ammonia analyzer, Testo 405 V1 thermo-anemometer, SL 4012 sound meter). Moreover, for increasing the objectivity in measuring and scoring animal cleanliness within the fifth area on influence there was used Hygiene Score Card. Analyzing the results, it could be noticed that the highest scored indicators were those within the Locomotion and Social interactions areas (as expected, considering the loose-system applied in the studied farm). The lowest scored areas were Flooring and Light and air, the critical indicators being light (uneven lighting and some low intensity values: 28-30 Lx) and outdoor areas cleanliness, resulting in poor animal cleanliness. In spite of the mentioned negative aspects, the overall ANI 35L score (30.5 points) reflects a good welfare, but the score could be validated on the condition that the light in the shelter is corrected. Addressing this issue along with the cleanliness of the outdoor areas may improve the welfare level to the excellent rating and may also increase the milk production.

Several red grapevine varieties like Feteasca neagra, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot noir, Merlot, Burgund and Cadarca were investigated during 2014-2015 in the vineyard Minis-Maderat. Following research, correlations and mathematical models were made differentiated between crop load, leaf area and grapes quality (sugar content, titratable acidity, sugar-acidity index and anthocyanins). Optimal crop load varies from one variety to another, depending on each of them. The effect of four crop load (20, 30, 40 and 50 buds/vine) was study for their influence on yield and grape quality. The quality of production is an indicator that can be best optimized by proper pruning. From this point of view, Feteasca neagra and Merlot varieties had the best behaviour, while the Burgund and Cadarca recorded smaller qualitative differences between experimental variants. Correlations and mathematical methods vary from one variety to another; superior quality indices were recorded at different crop load, determined with precision by statistical and mathematical methods and interpretation. Although pruning is a technological stage extensively studied, it can be optimized for each variety according to the production destination, environmental conditions and vineyard management. Statistical analysis showed that the Cabernet Sauvignon variety perform the best concerning the grape quality parameters while Burgund and Merlot are varieties with week results in both experimental years. The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of crop load on grape quality, grape yield and photosynthetic efficiency.

The new shape of competition is pushing wine firms to invest into new technologies. Given the growing interests in this area, we provide evidence on the determinants of the adoption of the new technologies industry. On the basis of a survey on Italian companies, the main investments in innovations and their key drivers are investigated. We tested whether firm characteristics impact the adoption as well as absorptive capacity, networking and shared knowledge among firms and research institutions and demand factors. Drivers are explored throughout an econometric model. Results lead to policy implications that could be useful to develop supportive actions to innovation.

Soybean meal is an agro-industrial residue which is used as a substrate to produce the enzyme phytase by Aspergillusniger in solid-state fermentation. Phytase is a biocatalytic enzyme widely used in the animal feed industry. The aim of this study was to investigate the growth of A. niger and its production of phytase in two systems: 500 mL Erlenmeyer flasks (EF) and a 600 L rotating drum bioreactor (RDB). The highest phytase activity found was about 1,200 unit/g substrate dry weight in EF and 580 unit/g substrate dry weight in RDB. In solid-state fermentation it is necessary to control temperature and substrate moisture content to optimize A. niger growth and its production of phytase. This study confirmed that temperature and moisture content of substrate could be controlled to optimize the result during fermentation in a 600 L RDB. In this study, inlet air velocity was controlled at 1.5 m/s and the rotational speed at 1.0 rpm in solid-state fermentation. The crude enzyme produced by A. niger in solid-state fermentation was achieved in a 600 RDB after 36 h of fermentation. This crude enzyme was dried in a hot air oven at 50^oC for 3 d prior to use in animal feed. Phytase activity was found to be 1.5-fold lower than the activity obtained before drying the crude enzyme.

A comprehensive study of interactive processes between soil, water, plant, animal and atmosphere to protect the natural resources requires knowledge of parameters and processes in different scales. Soil hydrological studies in North-East Germany were carried out in different scales, starting with laboratory, lysimeter measurements and in the field. The measurements of soil hydrological properties were executed with the Extended Evaporation Method (EEM) and the HYPROP device. A method for quantifying deep seepage and solute leaching under field conditions was developed, tested and applied at more than 40 soil hydrological field plots in NE Germany. The hypothesis was confirmed that arable land constitutes the main source of deep drainage and groundwater recharge in Northeast Germany. Deep seepage was strongly reduced under forest. For decision support on landscape renovation and land rededication by afforestation in NE Germany the seepage reduction under forest is to be taken into consideration, especially with respect to the conservation or restoration of wetlands in regions with negative climatic water balance. The EEM and the soil hydrological field method so called “virtual lysimeter” have the potential for the improvement of soil hydrological studies in Asia as a whole.

In this paper, authors collective present effect of two pesticides applied on maize seeds (Olt variety), Gaucho 600 FS (8.0 l/tonne) and Nuprid 600 FS (8.0 l/tona) and two insecticides applied in vegetation, Calypso 480 SC (90 ml/ha) and Decis Mega (150 ml/ha) against maize leaf weevil attack, at NARDI Fundulea. Also, it performed productivity elements and seeds yields and chemical compozition on Laboratory of Yields Quality of Plant Science Department, Bucharest Faculty of Agriculture. The higher insecticides effectiveness fluctuated between 4.56 when it was applied Nuprid 600 FS and 8.33 when it was applied Calypso 480 SC.

The largest attack was recorded to control plots where there is no treatment was applied. The density of plants ranged between 116 and 118 plants/plot, respectively over 65% of saved plants by treatment on seeds with both insecticides. In case of spraying insecticides in vegetation, their effect were insignificant, 31 plants/plot density and 17% saved plants in case of Calypso 480 SC and 16.75 plants/plots density and 9.31% saved plants in case of Decis Mega. The largest yields was of 7,778 kg/ha at insecticides variant with the best effectiveness and density of 65,690 plants/ha. Insecticides showed no influence on chemical composition of seeds at harvesting. But due to high temperatures and drought, the maize seeds accumulated: 12.31% protein; 70.18% starch; 5.05% oil; 1.46% ash; 5.24% fibre.

The present work aimed to investigate the main quality attributes that influence the purchase decisions of fresh berries. To this regard, an empirical survey has been conducted by interviewing 200 consumers of fresh berries at the exit of the main centers of the large scale retail trade in the city of Munich (Germany). An econometric model has been adopted to examine the relationship that single attributes has on the purchase frequency of fresh berries. Results showed that nutraceutical properties and health benefits of berries have a strong appeal to the consumers and confirmed that intrinsic attributes are determinants of consumer purchase decision

Genetic engineering is a technique that allows to detect, isolate, multiply and transplant specific genes in another living organism. The introduction of genes in another living organism or other species is a process unstable and insecure with side effects and consequences difficult to predict on the recipient genome and interaction with the surrounding environment.

The main proponent are big business owners of patents in the field of GMOs and other stakeholders, including some GMO growers and scientists, as well as international trading partners.

The potential economic interests in relation to GMOs in the field of plant breeding are considerable, the world annual turnover of the seed market has now exceeded 35 billion Euros. Today the world market is dominated by only a handful of large operators. The same multinational companies operating in the food, plant protection chemicals, energy and pharmaceutical industries. This concentration allows a small group of corporations to exercise considerable control over the entire production chain of food and related products, thus putting at risk the freedom of choice, the accessibility of prices, open innovation and diversity genetics.

The development and dissemination of GMOs through these centuries-old-traditions have been called the Green Revolution. The greater use of chemicals in agriculture offers the possibility of a higher gain, but requires a greater dose of herbicides over time, which makes it necessary to look for a more aggressive chemical solution.

However, on the basis of objective evidence one can conclude that genetic engineering is not fundamentally new to these historical applications. The advent of genetic engineering marks a definitive break between the biotechnology of “old” and the “modern” conception.

Among the arguments used more frequently to support the use of GMOs, is the need to fight hunger, to ensure the supply of food to a growing world population and the fight against climate change. The majority of genetically modified varieties currently on the market are grown for forage and feed for livestock, for meat and milk consumed in the Western World, or to produce biofuel or plastics.

The increase in non-food use of edible agricultural products has pushed-up the prices of raw materials and foodstuffs on the world market, which has done nothing but exacerbate food insecurity and poverty in the world. The problems of the global food supply difficulties arise not so much from production to distribution since global production is equivalent to over 150% of global consumption. Consequently this requires a political and economic solution rather than agricultural innovation.

Nutrition related diseases have reached epidemic proportions in Western Countries. Because of the huge economic costs and the impact on human well-being, nutrition and related disease have become a major public health concern. In this research paper we analyse the factors determining obesity, starting from the ISTAT multipurpose survey “Aspects of italian daily life” on the households, carried out in 2012. The analysis was based on multiple correspondence analysis and using logistic regression models. Starting from the main variables related to nutritional habits, eating habits and eating out, sedentary lifestyle, socio-economic status indicators that imply a different diet we have tried to shed light on the main factors responsible for obesity. From this evidence we tried to suggest the policy interventions can be implemented in order to act on the problem.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of soybean lecithin and egg yolk on semen quality of Boer goats. Semen of the three Boer bucks was collected using artificial vagina. In the first experiment, the semen samples were preserved in liquid state and subsequently were diluted with Tris-fructose-citric acid (TFC), Tris-fructose-citric acid + 1.5% soybean lecithin (TFCSL) and Tris-fructose-citric acid + 2.5% egg yolk (TFCEY). In the second experiment, the semen samples were cryopreserved in various freezing media as the same treatment with experiment 1. The results from the first experiment indicated that sperm motility and viability in TFCEY were significantly greater than those of TFCSL (P<0.05). In the second experiment, there was no difference in post-thawing quality of semen in TFCEY and TFCSL. In conclusion, extender containing 1.5% soybean lecithin is an alternative for the preparation for freezing goat semen.