Cultural Management Practices Research Articles

Cultural Routes as a Source for New Kind of Tourism Development: Evidence from the Council of Europe's Programme

Europe offers a wide variety of cultural itineraries that, crossing several regions or countries, provide a living example of the rich and impressive European common heritage. For more than two decades 24 of such itineraries have been jointly collaborating under the Council of Europe's (CoE) Cultural Routes Programme aimed at preserving the diversity of European culture and heritage, and to promote understanding of Europe's history. Today, when cultural heritage is more and more often viewed as a new form of good -cultural good, - methods of heritage management are changing to incorporate new elements, which could help local communities to draw more obvious benefits from their cultural legacy while preserving and maintaining its uniqueness. Often these elements come from tourism: a new kind of tourism, which is respectful of the environment, of the natural and cultural heritage and of the local traditions. This article offers an overview of the Study on the CoE Cultural Routes Impact on Tourism SMEs (Khovanova et al., 2011) that demonstrated how the need for implementing sustainable tourism management practices is growing within the CoE cultural routes. One of the breaking findings of the Study was that, even though founded on social and cultural principles, CoE routes today serve as a source of innovation, small business creation, local income generation, and cultural tourism products development. These potentials are now been reinforced by building in sustainable tourism elements in cultural routes management practices, and by bringing the benefits of ICT and digitalization, following the Study recommendations. The findings of the Study could also help cultural heritage managers and policy makers around the globe to better understand tourism potential of cultural heritage sites, while encouraging respectful and sustainable management approaches.

INNOVATIVE NON-DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE FOR FRUIT QUALITY ASSESSMENT

Maturity at harvest greatly affects kiwifruit storage potential and quality at consumption: if fruits are picked too early, they undergo a precocious softening during storage, and do not reach full flavour and aroma when ripe. In Actinidia deliciosa, soluble solids content and dry matter has been proposed as maturity indexes. In Actinidia chinensis, the optimal harvest time is determined on the basis of flesh colour (Hue Angle= °H). In the last decade, non-destructive techniques, such as NIRs (Near Infrared Spectroscopy) have been used for evaluating kiwifruit quality. However, these devices require time consuming calibrations and they are used to measure the same parameters which are determined by traditional techniques (SSC; DM, °H). As a consequence, they do not give any added values as compared to the traditional methods to assess fruit quality. Recently, the University of Bologna patented innovative and simplified NIRs equipment (DA-Meter and Kiwi-Meter) which allows to define fruit maturity stage by means of an index based on the difference in absorbance between specific wavelengths (IDA). This index correlates with the main traditional parameters as well as with changes in flesh colour. In addition the availability of simple and portable instrument allow their use on the fruit attached to the trees to monitor the maturation and the ripening evolution, and determine the best cultural management practices (such as pruning, thinning, nutrition, etc) that allow to reduce the fruit ripening heterogeneity and simplify post-harvest management of the fruits. In the present work, results on different cultivars of Actinidia deliciosa and Actinidia chinensis are reported.

Nitrogen and Cutting Height Influence Root Development during Warm‐Season Turfgrass Sod Establishment

Effective water conservation in the landscape requires identification of cultural management practices that maximize the genetic rooting potential of establishing turfgrass sod. Nitrogen is critical for successful turfgrass establishment; however, there has recently been debate over whether to restrict N fertilization during summer periods in parts of Florida and the United States. This study was undertaken to examine within four warm‐season turfgrass species, the relative influences of cutting height and N fertility on the (i) rate of root extension and (ii) root biomass produced over a 10‐wk period. ‘Tifway 419’ bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy), ‘Empire’ zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.), ‘Argentine’ bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge), and ‘Floratam’ St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum Walt. Kuntze) were established from 10‐cm diam. by 5‐cm deep plugs of turfgrass sod into 90‐cm tall, clear acrylic tubes. Experimental treatments were arranged in a complete factorial that was repeated over two growing seasons. Rates of root extension were calculated from weekly measures of the deepest visible root in each column. Root extension rates ranged from ∼1.0 to 1.8 cm d−1 during the studies, with bahiagrass exhibiting the most rapid root extension of the four species. The results demonstrated that increasing N fertility during establishment increased rates of root extension into deep soil, particularly in bermudagrass. Height of cut had no effect on rate of root extension for most species, but higher cutting height did promote more rapid root extension in bermudagrass. Although not significantly accelerating vertical root extension in most species, maintaining sod at the higher cutting heights resulted in significantly greater root proliferation within both upper and lower soil depths for all species. The results emphasize the importance of proper N fertility and cutting heights for optimizing root development of different turfgrass species during sod establishment.

The social production of ‘attractive authenticity’ at the World Heritage Site of Røros, Norway

This paper examines how authenticity and its use as a way of conceptualising the past participates in processes of heritage production, which are here defined as both the social construction of heritage sites and the uses of heritage sites as resources to achieve social goals. We argue that the social production of place and the social values generated by place are linked by a common approach based on the use of ‘place attraction’ as a unifying social concept. The World Heritage Site of Røros has as an attractive place become a resource for the production of cultural capital among various stakeholders, taking the form of a large body of ‘heritage knowledges’. However, a symbolic capital production of ‘attractive authenticity’ has today generated an idealised past and a purified iconic image of Røros as World Heritage. The discourse of ‘attractive authenticity’ reveals a conflict of interests where symbolic capital unfolds and makes power relations evident. This exposes a discussion about cultural heritage management practices at World Heritage Sites.

A simple model for chickpea development, growth and yield

Chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) yield is unstable and low in major producer countries. A robust crop model can assist in evaluation of possible genetic improvements and cultural management practices to improve yield. The objectives of this study were to develop and test a chickpea simulation model that could be used across a wide range of environments. This model simulates phenological development, leaf development and senescence, mass partitioning, plant nitrogen balance, yield formation and soil water balance. Responses of crop processes to environmental factors of solar radiation, photoperiod, temperature, nitrogen and water availability, and genotype differences were included in the model. The model uses a daily time step and readily available weather and soil information. The model was tested using independent data from a wide range of growth and environmental conditions. In most cases, simulated grain yield were similar to observed yield (ranging from 20 to 379 g m −2) with a root mean square root of 26 g m −2 (15% of average measured yield). It was concluded that the model generality, i.e., constant parameters for genotypes across locations, and applicability to a wide range of environmental conditions factors made this model especially useful.

Anomie and culture management: reappraising Durkheim

This research investigates how recent approaches to culture management have tacitly assimilated Merton’s and Mayo’s reformulations of Durkheim’s theory of anomie.This reformulation legitimates an instrumental focus upon the need for ‘experts’ to regulate the means by which naturalized utilitarian ends are pursued by developing culture management practices that aim to (re)integrate the mal-socialized. In contrast to this technocratic approach, we explore how Durkheim’s original formulation of anomie, far from accepting utilitarian ends as givens, articulated concerns about the unfettering of egoism he saw to be engendered by the classical liberal free market assumptions at the heart of utilitarianism. How this free market ethos, articulated by recent neoliberal discourses, guides the content and processes of post-bureaucratic culture management manoeuvres is then investigated. This article concludes by showing how, from Durkheim’s stance, such managerial processes paradoxically serve to express and propagate the incidence of anomie. In stark contrast, as a means of re-establishing social cohesion as a bulwark against anomie whilst protecting individual freedoms, Durkheim’s communitarian agenda emphasized the need to establish an organic solidarity, knowingly agreed by all on an equal basis, thereby potentially legitimating a more democratic approach to organizational governance that has contemporary relevance.

Potential Synergistic Effects of Cereal Rye Biomass and Soybean Planting Density on Weed Suppression

Increasing crop density is a cultural weed management practice that can compliment the use of cover crops for weed suppression. In this research, we created a range of cover crop biomass and soybean densities to assess their weed-suppressive ability alone and in combination. The experiment was conducted in 2008 and 2009 in Maryland and Pennsylvania using five levels of cereal rye residue, representing 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 times the ambient level, and five soybean densities ranging from 0 to 74 seeds m−2. Weed biomass decreased with increasing rye residue and weeds were completely suppressed at levels above 1,500 g m−2. Weed biomass also decreased with increasing soybean density in 2 of 4 site–years. We evaluated weed suppression by fitting an exponential decay model of weed biomass as a function of rye biomass and a hyperbolic model of weed biomass as a function of soybean density at each of the five tactic levels. We multiplied these individual tactic models and included an interaction term to test for tactic interactions. In two of the four site-years, the combination of these tactics produced a synergistic interaction that resulted in greater weed suppression than would be predicted by the efficacy of each tactic alone. Our results indicate that increasing soybean planting rate can compensate for lower cereal rye biomass levels when these tactics are combined.

Icy heritage – managing historic sites in the Antarctic: Pristine wilderness, anthropogenic degradation or cultural landscape?

While best‐practice guidelines and policies in cultural heritage management had been established at both an Australian domestic as well as at an international level in the 1970s they did not appear to be reflected in the Madrid Protocol or Australian (as well as other ATCPs) cultural heritage management practice in Antarctica in the intervening period. There are a number of reasons why this delay in the adoption of best practice in cultural heritage management in Antarctica occurred and also why the adoption of best practice in this area since that time has been so slow. One of those reasons relates to perceptions – the perception of Antarctica as a “pristine wilderness” which needs to be conserved (or restored to a virginal state), free of the traces of past human interactions with the environment, which is the one this paper focuses on; and the strongly held perceptions relating to links between historic sites and territorial claims, which is the subject of a separate paper. This paper presents, as an idea for further discussion and examination, the thesis that while visions of pristine, uninhabited nature led to the conservation of Antarctica, they have also inspired practices and policies of environmental management which resulted in heritage destruction and removal in the past, and which, it can be argued, continue to influence management decisions made about Antarctic heritage today.

Managing diversity: Impact of religion in the Indian workplace

Religious diversity in India stems from centuries of foreign traders and invaders ranging from the Mongols to the Mughals, French and British who came with their faiths. Religious diversity has created much political conflict and bloodshed in society at large (e.g. the recent blasts in Mumbai), but many differences have been reconciled in the workplace over time. MNCs seeking to engage in the Indian economy are attracted by the intellectual capital of this diverse nation. I examine the presence of religion in the Indian workplace through cultural values, beliefs and management practices and their impact on IHRM practices in managing diversity.

Factors Influencing the Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Dogwood Borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) Infestations in Newly Planted Apple Orchards

The temporal and small-scale spatial patterns of infestation by larval dogwood borer, Synanthedon scitula (Harris) were studied from 2002 to 2004 in two newly planted apple orchards in West Virginia and Virginia. Rootstock, tree variety, and cultural management practice were significantly associated with the presence and extent of dogwood borer infestation. In West Virginia, infestation was significantly greater on trees planted on M.26 rootstock compared with M.7 rootstock, and on trees fitted with tree guards compared with other trunk treatments. In Virginia, the proportion of infested trees was significantly greater for ‘Idared’ tree varieties compared with ‘Buckeye Gala’, and on trees fitted with tree guards compared with other trunk treatments. Median polishing technique was used to separate variability in the infestation data into large-scale variation (trend) induced mainly by treatments and small-scale variation. Variography was used to study the median-polished residuals of infestation that represent the small-scale variation. The results of variogram analysis of the median-polished residuals indicated that there were moderate to high degrees of aggregation in dogwood borer infestations on neighboring apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.) with ranges of spatial autocorrelation from 2.8 to 17.0 m. The spatial patterns of the aggregation of infestation in the West Virginia and Virginia orchards were best described by the spherical and exponential semiovariogram models, respectively. Interpolated surface maps of the median-polished residuals revealed local hot spots, which were generally more prevalent within tree guard treatments, and were typically found where dogwood borer infestations originated. Results are discussed in relation to the sampling and management of dogwood borer larvae.

Leadership behaviors, organizational culture and knowledge management practices

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between leadership behaviors and knowledge management (KM) practices. More specifically, it aims to examine the influence of transformational and transactional leadership behaviors on KM, and the moderating effect of organizational culture on this relationship, in the context of small‐to‐medium sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in Australia.Design/methodology/approachA total of four hypotheses were proposed for testing. It also provides is a succinct review of KM basics relevant to the study, the relationship between leadership and KM, and leadership and organizational culture.FindingsThe results suggest that both transformational and transactional leadership are positively related to KM practices. They also reveal that charismatic leadership and contingent reward leadership behaviors have greater influence on all the dimensions of KM practices.Research limitations/implicationsA key limitation of this study is its cross‐sectional nature. It is possible that at least certain aspects of leadership and organizational culture, and its impact on KM practices emerge with some kind of time lag. A longitudinal treatment of data might yield additional insights into the impact of leadership behaviors and organizational culture. This study was also unable to actually observe managers interacting with followers.Practical implicationsThe results of the study are generally consistent with theoretical predictions based on extant research.Originality/valueThe results of this study provide compelling evidence in support of the moderating role of organizational culture on the relationship between transactional leadership and KM and will be of interest to those in the field.

Spatial Distribution of Enhanced Atrazine Degradation across Northeastern Colorado Cropping Systems

Reports of enhanced atrazine degradation and reduced residual weed control have increased in recent years, sparking interest in identifying factors contributing to enhanced atrazine degradation. The objectives of this study were to (i) assess the spatial distribution of enhanced atrazine degradation in 45 commercial farm fields in northeastern Colorado (Kit Carson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, and Yuma counties) where selected cultural management practices and soil bio-chemo-physical properties were quantified; (ii) utilize Classification and Regression Tree (CART) Analysis to identify cultural management practices and (or) soil bio-chemophysical attributes that are associated with enhanced atrazine degradation; and (iii) translate our CART Analysis into a model that predicts relative atrazine degradation rate (rapid, moderate, or slow) as a function of known management practices and (or) soil properties. Enhanced atrazine degradation was widespread within a 300-km radius across northeastern Colorado, with approximately 44% of the fields demonstrating rapid atrazine degradation activity (laboratory-based dissipation time halflife [DT50] < 3 d). The most rapid degradation rates occurred in fields that received the most frequent atrazine applications. Classification and Regression Tree Analysis resulted in a prediction model that correctly classified soils with rapid atrazine DT50 80% of the time and soils with slow degradation (DT50 > 8 d) 62.5% of the time. Significant factors were recent atrazine use history, soil pH, and organic matter content. The presence/absence of atzC polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product was not a significant predictor variable for atrazine DT50. In conclusion, enhanced atrazine degradation is widespread in northeastern Colorado. If producers know their atrazine use history, soil pH, and OM content, they should be able to identify fields exhibiting enhanced atrazine degradation using our CART Model.

SOIL FERTILITY EVALUATION OF COFFEE (Coffea spp.) PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE BARAHONA PROVINCE, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Reported yields in most coffee farms of the Barahona province in the Dominican Republic are relatively low (< 290 kg ha -1 parchment coffee). In general, coffee producers do not use diagnostic techniques such as soil testing. This fact prevents them from identifying the limiting factors (especially nutrients), complicates the work of coffee cultural management practices, and potentially reduces productivity and coffee quality. This study was designed to diagnose the fertility level of soils in coffee farms in the area of Barahona in 96 farms within an area of 637 hectares and design a nutrient management strategy. Soils from each farm were sampled and analyzed for soil fertility parameters. A survey was provided to farmers that permitted the collection of information regarding yields, management practices, and landscape features. Soils in the area were predominantly clayey. Soil pH varied between 4.61 and 7.69 and soil organic matter ranged between 3.29 and 10.9%. Exchangeable potassium levels were classified as deficient in all areas. The clustering of results identified two main components, which accounted for 76% of the variability of the data and the grouping into five communities by similarity of features. The results show that soil testing of this coffee coffee-growing region can be used as a tool to diagnose the soil fertility status and guide them in implementing management and fertilization recommendations.

‘LEADERISM’: AN EVOLUTION OF MANAGERIALISM IN UK PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM

This paper argues that ‘leaderism’– as an emerging set of beliefs that frames and justifies certain innovatory changes in contemporary organizational and managerial practice – is a development of managerialism that has been utilized and applied within the policy discourse of public service reform in the UK. The paper suggests that ‘leaderism’ is an evolution of entrepreneurial and cultural management ideologies and practices. An analysis of the articulation of leaderism with public service reform in the UK is presented. The paper problematizes the construals of leadership contained within these texts and reflects on their promotion of leadership as a social and organizational technology. ‘Leaderism’ is argued to be a complementary set of discourses, metaphors and practices to those of managerialism, which is being utilized in support of the evolution of NPM and new public governance approaches in the re-orientation of the public services towards the consumer-citizen.

Close Encounters: Lessons From an Indigenous MBA Program

Entrepreneurship is perceived to be a key to revitalizing the economies of American Indian communities. Gonzaga University offers an MBA specifically designed to prepare tribal college instructors to teach entrepreneurship. Beginning with the relevant background on the need for and benefit of indigenous management education, this article describes the elements of this unique program such as the cohort system, on-line and on-campus courses, and culturally appropriate curriculum changes. The program is analyzed through a qualitative examination of an alumni survey. The survey reveals that the foremost challenge for the program is the integration of indigenous cultural values and management practices with mainstream business curricula. The most prominent success factor the survey reveals is the fit between the program’s goals and the mission of the Jesuit institution in which the program resides. Finally, the survey results provide some insight into the impact the program is having on indigenous communities.

The Need for Improved Nursery Management Practices and Marketing in the Tree Nurseries of Northern Mindanao

Tree growing is recognized to provide economic and environmental benefits, and this has resulted in tree growing initiatives in Northern Mindanao. However, tree growing is faced with constraints including high field mortality and poor timber stands, with low merchantable height and diameter. This paper seeks to discern the quality differences of seedlings grown in three nursery types in Northern Mindanao, and to investigate the influence of nursery facilities and cultural management practices on seedling quality. Seedling quality was assessed through random sampling of planting materials. Information about nursery facilities and cultural management practices were obtained through interviews with nursery operators and through visual observations. It was found that private, communal and government nurseries have facilities designed for low-cost production of seedlings. The lack of hardening beds and raised benches used for seedling acclimatization explains the inability of seedlings to survive when outplanted. Seedlings were found to be of low quality in all nursery types, with weak stems, unbalanced root-shoot ratio and with J-root formation. It was also found that most nurseries did not apply soil treatment which is one of the basics for growing seedlings. There is an urgent need to improve nursery management practices by employing best management practices including proper hardening techniques using effective but non-expensive hardening beds and soil sterilization to improve seedling quality.

Organic Agriculture: The logical sequence to modern chemical agriculture in the Philippine context

Organic agriculture, which is also described as less fossil fuel-dependent and agrochemical-free agriculture, is now perceived as the logical sequence to the food production systems which are dependent on agro-chemical inputs from production to processing. This paper discusses the situations and factors that should be considered in the crucial process of shifting approaches to food production systems to achieve food security in the new millennium. In the past, farmers shifted with government support to chemical agriculture to produce the food requirements of the burgeoning population. Soils are badly degraded from the use of chemical fertilizer and pest populations are so complex and crop failures associated with no application of pesticides are widely known. Withdrawal from agrochemical use will mean huge yield reduction without soil fertility restoration and any further yield decline is unacceptable both to the farmers and the consumers. The shift to organic agriculture requires soil fertility restoration, breeding/selection of seeds for organic agriculture, adoption of cultural management practices and shifting monocropping to diverse planting, integrated nutrient management and ecological pest management systems, among others. Farmers need full government support to shift to organic agriculture. Moreover, the society or the consumers need to realize that the shift to organic agriculture is for their own benefit, hence, they need to appreciate, understand, cooperate, patronize and put premium value to organic agriculture products. The superior quality of organic products should be appreciated and should be translated to higher price. Organic agriculture production should be complemented with a change in consumer preferences or consumption patterns. It should be translated into a demand that will lead to changes in the supply side thereby changing the agricultural production systems that our Filipino farmers currently adopt.

Reproductive Traits of Northern Corn Rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Relation to Female and Male Body Size

AbstractDiabrotica spp. are serious pests of maize, Zea mays L., and have evolved resistance to cultural and chemical management practices. Transgenic maize producing a rootworm-toxic protein derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner provides a new approach to Diabrotica spp. management. Its use requires a refuge of nontransgenic maize to produce susceptible beetles able to mate with any resistant individuals developing on the transgenic variety to slow the evolution of resistance. Such evolution may simultaneously affect fitness related traits such as longevity, fecundity, and body size. We examined the mating behavior and reproductive biology of Diabrotica barberi Smith &amp; Lawrence in relation to male and female body size. Large and small males were reciprocally paired to large and small females for comparison with average sized beetles. Neither the proportion of pairs that copulated nor the precopulation duration varied significantly with size category; however, the duration of copulation was shortest for large males crossed with small females and longest for the reciprocal cross. Large females lived the longest regardless of mating partner. Although small females mated to small males tended to lay the fewest eggs, size category did not significantly affect egg numbers per week of life during a 12-wk oviposition period. Egg production peaked during the first 4 to 5 wk and then steadily declined. These results suggest that resistance to transgenic maize, if associated with small body size, could provide a reproductive disadvantage for resistant females but not males that could prolong efficacy of the transgenic maize.

ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE IN AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST ECOSYSTEMS IN CHILE

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) association plays a key role in the sustainability of terrestrial plant ecosystems, in particular those presenting limitations for the establishment and subsequent growth of plants. In Chile, more than 50% of arable soils are originated from volcanic ashes, showing in general several constraints to crop production, such as low pH, high exchangeable aluminum content and low levels of available P. Under these conditions, the management of AM fungal propagules using adequate cultural management practices emerges as a successful alternative in order to maximize the positive effects of AM symbiosis on plant growth in these types of soil. This review presents the results of several years of research about the effect of different agronomic and forest management practices on the density and functionality of the native fungal populations in volcanic soils from Southern Chile, and their subsequent effect on the improvement of soil characteristics. These investigations have contributed to a better understanding of the role played by AM symbiosis in such soils and provide guidance on the most appropriate alternatives to increase its presence and functionality.

Flooding to manage dodder (Cuscuta gronovii) and broad-leaved weed species in cranberry: An innovative use of a traditional strategy

AbstractThe implementation of new uses for traditional cultural and pest management practices has been prompted by renewed interest in sustainable approaches for farming. The use of floods (for various durations) has been an inexpensive and historical cultural practice in cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarponAit.) horticulture. The onset of a serious economic crisis in the cranberry industry in 1999–2000 brought about an urgent need to find inexpensive methods of pest control that would allow growers to remain fiscally solvent. Initially, anecdotal evidence from several farms indicated that holding short-term spring floods suppressed dodder infestations. Based on these findings, a 2-year demonstration-style project was initiated in 2002 to determine the efficacy of short-term floods (24–48 h) for the management of dodder in cranberry in Massachusetts. The project was expanded to include evaluating a 10-day summer flood for control of broad-leaved weed species at one commercial cranberry farm. Species richness and diversity and percentage weed coverage were lower after the implementation of the 10-day flood period compared to pre-flood assessments. Weed species dead or not detected after the 10-day flood included ground nut, asters, narrow-leaved goldenrod, chokeberry and poison ivy. Comparison of paired sites (flooded and nonflooded bogs) indicated dodder stem dry weights were lower on flooded areas in three out of the seven locations in year 1. At two additional locations, the flooded bog had higher stem weights when paired with a historically low-infestation bog, which may have masked any dodder reduction from the flooding practice. In year 2, no differences in the number of germinated seedlings between any treatment pairs were noted. Data from a cranberry company representing 12% of the cranberry acreage in Massachusetts indicated a 65–89% reduction in pesticide use when short-term spring floods were implemented during 2001–2003 compared to the previous 3-year period. Short-term flooding may offer a sustainable option that can be integrated into the overall management plan for several problematic cranberry weed species, especially dodder. Additional research is warranted to further define the most effective environmental conditions needed and to validate the efficacy of short flooding events for effective cranberry weed management.