Pilot Farm Research Articles

Profiles of local breeds of Sahelian goat and Ladem sheep and proposals for their genetic improvement in Mauritania.

Small ruminants play a significant role in Mauritanian culture and traditions. The purpose of this study was to characterize the breeding system of two locally dominant breeds, the Sahelian goat and the Ladem sheep. This characterization was based on the technical and socio-economic characteristics of the breeders, as well as the morpho-biometric features of the animals. The study was conducted between April and June 2019 and involved 45 breeders located around two small ruminant pilot farms in the Benichab and Kankoussa departments of Mauritania. A questionnaire was administered to the breeders and sixteen measurements were taken on 303 animals (185 goats and 118 sheep). Small ruminant breeding in the study sites is practiced by both men (55%) and women (45%). Breeding can be focused solely on goats (38%), solely on sheep (9%), or include both species (53%). The average herd size is 20 ± 15 for goats and 19 ± 16 for sheep. For the Sahel goat, the height at the wither ranges from 68 to 78cm in males and from 63 to 76cm in females, while the body weight ranges from 20 to 43kg. The most common morphotypes are multicolored (71%), with unicolored animals being less common (29%). As for the Ladem sheep (also known as Touabire), the height at the wither ranges from 70 to 87cm in males and from 64 to 85cm in females. The body weight ranges from 25 to 62kg. The coat is predominantly white with black spots (91%), sometimes red or grey-spotted. The survey also identified the breeding objectives of the farmers. The breeders primarily reported objectives of conformation and growth performances (68%), followed by dual-purpose milk/meat production traits (32%) for the Ladem sheep. In the case of the Sahelian goat, milk production (73%) is the predominant objective, followed by dual-purpose milk/meat production traits (27%). Based on the collected information, tailored selection schemes have been proposed for the Ladem sheep and the Sahelian goat to improve their performances, enhance their breeding, and maintain a focus on the sustainability and resilience of these two local breeds in Mauritania.

Seasonal variability of trace elements bioaccumulation in Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from an experimental pilot farm in the Calich Lagoon (Sardinia, Italy)

BackgroundMetals pollution is a worldwide environmental issue due to their persistence in the ecosystems, non-degradability, and bioaccumulation in marine biota. Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) are highly nutritious bivalve representing an important dietary constituent but may accumulate metals through feeding on suspended sediments from surrounding water, then represent a suitable tool for biomonitoring. Materials and methodsThe occurrence of trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Se, Sn, V, Zn) was investigated in Pacific Oysters (Cassostrea gigas) collected from Calich Lagoon in each season of 2019. Samples were homogenized and subjected to microwave acid digestion before being analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). ResultsThe results showed a significant seasonal variation for temperature, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, and pH. Moreover, high significant seasonal variation in concentrations of Cd, Mn, Ni, and V was recorded. The highest values were found for Fe (128 mg kg⁻1 w.w.), and Al (112 mg kg⁻1 w.w.) in October, for Zn (113 mg kg⁻1 w.w.) in March and May. ConclusionsPacific Oysters were confirmed as suitable bioindicators of the health status of coastal lagoons; trace elements concentrations were highly affected by season of collection, and according to literature the highest values were recorded in autumn and summer. The EU legal limits for Cd and Pb were not exceeded, then the farmed oysters were safe to consumers.

Supporting Measures to Improve Biosecurity within Italian Poultry Production.

This paper describes the selection and validation of supporting measures (SMs) aimed at enhancing biosecurity compliance within Italian poultry farms. A tailored methodology, based on a stakeholders' survey involving farmers and advisors, included a virtual farm tour, group discussion, and farmer coaching. Virtual farm tours and group discussions were delivered during two meetings targeting meat and egg production stakeholders, separately. Coaching was validated in 26 pilot farms (PFs) by assessing farmers' attitudes towards change (i.e., ADKAR®) and farms' biosecurity score (i.e., Biocheck.UgentTM) before and after a minimum six-month period. A total of 20 out of 26 farmers agreed to implement at least one action plan (AP). Full implementation of the agreed APs was observed in ten farms, while others only partially implemented (n = 7) or did not implement (n = 3) the improvement. Most APs focused on enhancing house hygiene locks (n = 7), followed by bacterial auto-control after cleaning and disinfection (n = 4). Scoring tools indicated minimal or no variations in farmers' attitudes towards change and farm biosecurity. Virtual farm tours and group discussions were found to be effective in fostering interaction and facilitating the exchange of experiences and knowledge among farmers and stakeholders of poultry production. Coaching indicated that farmers might prefer implementing minor changes possibly influenced by time and cost constraints associated with structural interventions. These limitations could have also impacted the scores of the farmer/farm. The findings of this study provide a foundation for further application of SMs to improve biosecurity in Italian poultry farms.

Wégoubri, an innovative agroforestry solution for rain-fed agriculture in the Sahel

The Sahelian rural environment has been deteriorating due to local agricultural practices, threatening rural populations. Terre Verte, an NGO, was established in 1989 to address this environmental degradation, by supporting the Guiè pilot farm in Burkina Faso, wherein they promoted bocage. Bocage involves creating a landscape of meadows and fields surrounded by living hedges, to form a continuous network - a linear forest - where trees, crops and livestock are integrated. These hedges store rainwater during the monsoon season, which reduces runoff and soil erosion, improving soil fertility. The hedges also prevent the problems associated with extensive agriculture including overgrazing, slash-and-burn farming and excessive firewood cutting. Bocage areas are established at the request of landowners and are managed collectively by a land-owning group, combining individual plots and common land. The implementation of bocage at the Guiè pilot farm involved experimentation with new techniques, training in these new techniques, and providing advice and support to farmers. Maintenance is managed by the land-owning group who ensure compliance with the control of livestock, of fire and of wood cutting. Early planting of crops is made possible by Zaï cultivation, a traditional cereal-growing technique that concentrates water and nutrients around cultivated plants. This regenerates the soil and ensures crops survive changes in the weather. Trees in the bocage play a crucial role in encouraging biodiversity and their fertilising functions enrich soil, desalinate it, and produce good compost. The hedges provide firewood and fodder, and the trees provide fruit for consumption, while their leaves and roots are used for local medical practices and cultural traditions. The bocage also creates a microclimate favourable to flora and fauna, conserving species on the verge of extinction. By integrating principles of agroforestry, the bocage approach has successfully increased biodiversity and agricultural productivity, making it a genuine solution for restoring degraded land in the Sahel and improving the livelihoods of rural populations.

Experimental comparison of the flow-induced loading between a ducted bottom-mounted twin vertical axis tidal turbine at still and an unducted prototype

The FloWatt project aims to demonstrate the efficiency of the HydroQuest’s 2.5 MW-rated turbine for commercial farm deployment. The project is dedicated to develop an innovative design of a turbine for high energetic sites and to deploy seven vertical axis tidal turbines on the Raz Blanchard site, France. This technology has already been successfully developed in a previous project at a smaller scale on the Paimpol-Bréhat test site.
 Along the past three years, an important amount of work has been achieved to widely characterise the behaviour of the 1/20 scale 2-VATT similar to the 1MW-rated demonstrator. The turbine was tested in many different operating conditions in the Ifremer’s wave and current flume tank to reproduce full-scale conditions and turbine response (wide range of operating points and incident velocities, facing aligned and misaligned currents, with and without vertical velocity shear, with and without bathymetry generated turbulence, with and without surface waves following and against the current). Based on that experience, we gain confidence in the design process by comparing those experimental results to numerical and in-situ ones.
 
 After a quick presentation of the industrial development for the deployment of a pilot farm with the manufacture, installation and operation of 7 turbines on the Raz-Blanchard site, we will focus on the scientific development aiming to prepare large-scale deployments of the next generation of turbine. One important step is to compare the flow-induced loading between the 2 kinds of turbine (ducted and unducted) and to analyse environmental loads during survival conditions. To investigate those points, the behaviour of a 1/20 scale 2-VATT similar to the 2.5 MW-rated demonstrator is experimentally studied in a wide range of operating conditions: with and without vertical velocity shear, and with and without surface waves following and against the current. 
 In the paper, we will compare at 1/20 scale the behaviour of the two kinds of turbine: 1 MW-rated and 2.5 MW-rated turbines. The experiments have been done in the same basin, under the same experimental conditions. The databases are being processed before launching a fine physical analysis.

Effect of Some Tillage Systems on Surface Runoff and Soil Erosion in Northern Gedarif Area, Sudan

A study was carried out for three consecutive seasons (2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08) under rain- fed condition, to investigate the effectof some tillage systems on surface runoff and soil erosion in northernGedarif. The study was conducted at the pilot farm of the Faculty ofAgricultural Sciences and Environment, University of Gedarif ,in thenorthern area of Gedarif State ( Latitude 12° 45′ N, Longitude 35° 15′ Eand 540 m above sea level ). The experimental design was randomizedcomplete block with three replications. Treatment were three tillagesystems: No tillage or zero tillage (ZT), offset disc as post harvest tillage(PHT) and wide level disc, farmers practices as control ( WLD ). Raingauge was used to measure the rainfall, whilst the surface runoff and soillosses were measured using runoff plot technique. Total recorded annualrainfall was 368.1mm (2005), 463.6 mm (2006) and 495.2 mm (2007)which was spread over 32, 30 and 32 rainy days during the first , secondand third growing seasons, respectively. The results showed that thesecond season had the best distribution and satisfaction pattern. Itrecorded 15 %, 36 %, 26 % and 5 % for July, August, September andOctober, respectively, compared to 24 % ,53 % 13 % and 2 % ; and 29% ,41 % , 21 % and 1 % for first and third seasons in the same months.Zero tillage treatment showed more runoff and soil loss than PHT andWLD. In terms of accumulation, ZT produced more runoff by 28 % and 9% and soil loss by 53 % and 28 % over PHT and WLD respectively forfirst season ,30 % and 13 % runoff and 28 % and 13 % soil loss for thesecond season and 55 % and 23 % runoff and 105 % and 24 % soil lossfor third season . The post harvest tillage reduced average annual runoffand soil loss to the lowest values compared to the Wide level disk andZ T.

Validating the Contribution of Nature-Based Farming Solutions (NBFS) to Agrobiodiversity Values through a Multi-Scale Landscape Approach

Nature-Based Farming Solutions (NBFS) are envisaged practices that still strongly demand further context-specific scientific validation for their viable deployment at the local scale. In this context, our study deals with the test of a multi-scale system of landscape ecology indicators, interpreted as surrogates for the accounting of the contributions of NBFS to agrobiodiversity values and to the consequent environmental stability and resilience capacities of agroecosystems, recognized as pivotal for facing the ongoing climate change challenges. We here present the preliminary results obtained in a first pilot case study (Po Plain context). Landscape ecology analyses were undertaken at extra-local, local, and farm scales (with different levels of analytical detail), comparing the pilot farm to the surrounding conventionally managed context. A set of structural and functional indicators were tested, allowing a preliminary screening of the most suitable ones (good sensitivity to treatment changes, informative potential). Results suggested a multi-faceted positive contribution given by NBFS implementation and were the basis for orienting further NBFS implementation strategies based on vulnerability and resilience properties analysis. Further investigations are envisaged on wider datasets coming from other pilot case studies belonging to similar pedo-climatic conditions, in order to improve the informative potential of the here presented methodology.

Assessment of soil organic carbon stocks in Alberta using 2-scale sampling and 3D predictive soil mapping

A three-dimensional predictive soil mapping approach for predicting soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks (t/ha) at high spatial resolution (30 m) for Alberta for 2020–2021 is described. A remote sensing data stack was first prepared covering Alberta’s agricultural lands. A total of 404 sampling locations were distributed across Alberta using 2-scale sampling: (1) 22 pilot farms representing main climatic zones and (2) conditioned Latin hypercube sampling at each farm. Soil samples were taken at four standard depths (0–15, 15–30, 30–60, 60–100 cm) using soil probes and analyzed for SOC. Predictive models for SOC content and bulk density were built separately and then used to predict at 0, 15, 30, 60, and 100 cm and calculate aggregated SOC stocks per pixel. The SOC content and bulk density models had R squares of 0.61 and 0.68, respectively. Based on these mapping results, grassland soils were consistently associated with higher SOC stocks across all soil types as compared to croplands. The average SOC stock increase for grassland soils compared to cropland soils was 2.1 Mg per hectare, ranging from 2.17 to 6.09 Mg per hectare depending on soil type. Results also showed that >15 % of total SOC stocks were located in subsoil, which was higher than expected.

Determinants of Tomato Farmers Participation in Agricultural Services and Training Centre (ASTC) Activities

Agricultural production have remained rudimentary despite many years’ of technology development and transfer; to reverse this declining trend, several agricultural policies and programmes aimed at ensuring sustainable production, improved income and farm expansion with added value output have become very germane. This study therefore analyzed tomato farmers’ participation in ASTC activities in Jos-south local Government Area of Plateau state, Nigeria. This study adopted multi stage sampling techniques. Primary was data collected from 80 respondents, during the 2017/2018 farming season and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, participation index, weighted average index analysis and Binary Logit regression. The result of the study revealed that 73.8% were male; 88.75% had access to extension contact. The estimated mean for educational training, household size, farm income and farming experience were 6 years; 8 people; ₦108,500/ha and 12 years respectively. Also, most (68.7%) of the farmers have low participation index of ≤0.45; this trend is responsible for the existing low farm productivity of this crop in the area. Furthermore, the benefits derived from participating in ASTC activities among the respondents were significant as indicated by their weighted average index. In addition, the estimated coefficient of multiple determination (R2) was 0.7602. Also, the coefficients of household size (0.421), education (0.559), experience (0.808), income (0.485) and extension contact (0.376) were statistically significant; implying that these factors in the regression model affected the likelihood of farmer’s decision to participate in ASTC activities. Adequate labour supply; establishment of pilot farms; capacity training; access to agricultural credit, extension services, agro service centres, agricultural information, input supply and cooperative formation are strongly recommended.

Come Out of a Hiding Place: How Are Cover Crops Allocated on Finnish Farms?

Cover crops (CCs) may provide many ecosystem services for crop production systems, and interest has increased in the cultivation of CCs among Finnish farmers. Piloting farmers applied for agricultural payments to support the cultivation of CCs (AP-CCs) in 2020. Novel data with a total of 34,515 field parcels with CCs from 5747 farms was used to assess how farmers allocated CCs depending on farm and parcel characteristics. Pioneering farmers often had conventional, large farms with cereal areas exceeding 25%, and expertise with special crop(s). Conventional farmers seemed to allocate CCs to large parcels. The allocation of CCs was not solely dictated by cash crops. Cover crops were planted more frequently in parcels close to waterways. Conventional farmers allocated CCs to parcels with a history of highly monotonous cereal sequencing. Hence, farmers seem to benefit from ecosystem services provided by CCs: increasing spatial diversity, reducing the environmental footprint, and improving soil health. This novel understanding is used to support the implementation of CCs beyond pilot farms and to develop a decision support system for their allocation. The ultimate goal is to support a transition towards more sustainable crop production systems with currently underutilized CCs in high-latitude conditions.

Determination of phytoplankton in water samples, algal biotoxins, microbiological parameters and microplastics in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819) from an experimental pilot farm in the Calich Lagoon (Sardinia, Italy).

The aims of this paper were to collect and analyse preliminary data of phytoplankton in the water, biotoxins, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Vibrio spp. and microplastic eventually present in farmed mussels, and to acquire information about the production capability from an experimental pilot farm of the Calich Lagoon. Two sampling sessions were carried out, in February and in May 2019, also monitoring the water condition (pH, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a). No potentially toxic algae were detected, and moreover no biotoxins (Paralytic Shellfish Poison, Diarrheic Shellfish Poison, Amnesic Shellfish Poison) were found in mussels. E.coli was present with the highest concentration in February (16000 MPN/100g e.p.). Salmonella and Vibrio spp. have not been detected. Almost a microplastic per grams was found, mainly fiber of different colours. Further studies, carried out for several months, will allow to better understand the possible problems related to the production of mussels in a lagoon not yet classified as a shellfish production area.

Occurrence of trace elements in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819) from an experimental pilot farm in the Calich Lagoon (Sardinia, Italy).

The present study aimed to determine trace elements in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from an experimental pilot farm of the Calich Lagoon, a typical Sardinian brackish area (Italy). Two sampling sessions were scheduled in February and May 2019 and the occurrence of 24 metals (Hg, Ag, Al, As, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, In, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Se, Sn, Ti, V, Zn) in bivalves was considered. Environmental conditions of water (temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll a) were also measured in situ. A high significant (P<0.001) difference was reported for temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. Our results showed a significant sessional variation of Mo (P<0.001); Cd, V (P<0.01); Ni, Pb and Co (P<0.05) in examined M. galloprovincialis samples; as all values were higher in February than those for May session samples, meanwhile the highest levels were reported for Mg (mean±s.d. 1151±263 mg kg-1 wet weight), Al (mean±s.d. 341±192 mg kg-1 w.w.), and Fe (mean±s.d. 212 ±75 mg kg-1 w.w.) in February samples. The European Union uppermost values (EC Reg. 1881/2006) for Cd, Hg, and Pb were never overpassed. The results confirmed the role of M. galloprovincialis as one of the most appropriate biological indexes to track the presence of trace elements in brackish environments. It could be concluded that the current ecology of the Calich Lagoon suggests that compatibly with the transitional ecosystem, the classification as a bivalves’ production area and the implementation of extensive shellfish farming can improve its production capacities. The knowledge of the lagoon ecology is an essential tool for its sustainable exploitation, preserving biodiversity, and mitigating the effects of anthropogenic activities on public health.

Картографирование защитной лесистости территорий и оценка ее оптимальности

Protective forest plantations are an integral part of agroforestry landscapes that serve as an ecological frame and contribute to the expanded reproduction of soil fertility. The problem of assessing the actual protective forest cover of territories is relevant. The solution of this issue allows you to identify the need, sequence and volume of forest reclamation work. The problem of mapping and assessing the protective forest cover of territories is closely related to the tasks of identifying the optimal forest cover of territories and substantiating approaches to the allocation of spatial-territorial complexes. The boundaries of the identified contours directly affect the values of specific indicators, which are the basis for the gradation of the need for forest reclamation work. The conducted studies demonstrate the possibilities of using the QGIS software package for the purpose of assessing the protective forest cover of the territory. The interpretation and creation of a cartographic model of protective forest plantations of the study area was carried out using QuickBird satellite images. The assessment was made on the basis of the calculation of specific indicators within the boundaries of landscapes for the territory of the Ilovlinsky District of the Volgograd region. As a standard for comparing the studied indicators, indicators of the protective forest cover of the “Kachalino” pilot farm were used. The application of the landscape-typological approach to the identification of territorial complexes made it possible to approach the issue of assessing the protective forest cover of territories in a more differentiated way than when using administrative boundaries. As a result of the study, landscape areas were identified, the protective forest cover of which is close to the normative, as well as those areas that need agroforestry measures. Cartographic work carried out in the QGIS software package confirms its effectiveness and allows us to recommend its use in agroforestry research related to the parallel application of various approaches to the allocation of territorial complexes.

The Work Assessment Method shows potential to improve performance and social sustainability on Australian dairy farms

Context Social aspects of livestock farming systems, including farm workforce and how work is organised, have received less research attention than the biophysical and technological aspects. This constrains understanding of social challenges to the sustainability of livestock systems, such as farm labour shortages, farmers’ overwork, the undesirability of farming careers, workforce and skills changes linked to new technologies, and the connections of all these to farm performance and profitability. Aims We introduce and test the applicability and utility in the Australian context of a method developed in France for assessing work organisation: The Work Assessment Method (WAM). The WAM goes beyond standard labour productivity metrics, such as total labour cost or livestock units per worker, to examine different types of work (routine, seasonal), who does the work (owner–managers, employees, contractors) and how these change seasonally. A measure of social sustainability (‘calculated time available’) is a key feature. Methods We conducted the first Australian trial of the WAM on two Victorian dairy farms. Through facilitated discussions between participating farmers and the research team, we evaluated the utility of the method, and identified requirements to adapt it for larger, pasture-based dairy systems. Key results The WAM was applied successfully on the pilot farms, despite differences in farm systems between France and Australia. The method characterised in detail the sources of overwork for each farm, enabling discussion of how the social sustainability and overall performance of the farms could be improved. The participating farmers reported that the method provided insights that were not available from current financial and physical analyses. Conclusions The WAM shows potential for supporting farmers, advisors and researchers in work aimed at improving farm social sustainability and profitability, but requires adaptation to suit Australian conditions. A larger exploratory study applying the WAM on additional dairy farms, and on mixed farms, is suggested. Implications This study provides a strong foundation for further research to develop the WAM as a useful research and advisory tool for Australian livestock production systems.

Factors influencing intention to adopt ICT among intensive shrimp farmers

Intensive shrimp production has been considered one way to increase output quantity. However, many factors need to be considered to maintain product quality, sustained practice, and environmental compliance. The adoption of monitoring technologies in shrimp farming such as monitoring important water quality parameters including temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and salinity, offers several benefits, including increasing farming processes and cost efficiency and reducing harmful environmental impacts. A sampled survey dataset comprising 184 shrimp farmers from Ca Mau, Kien Giang, and Soc Trang provinces in Vietnam, one of the world largest shrimp producers, was used to examine factors that affect farmers' adoption of aquaculture information and communication technologies (ICT). The study empirically tested an adoption model using technology acceptance model and theory of planned behavior under perceived production risks. Results suggest that farmers who both perceive the ICT as being useful in their shrimp farms and are influenced by other important peers are more likely to adopt aquaculture technologies. Farmers who feel confident to learn a new technology are likely to find the technology easier to use than someone who is not as confident. Due to the inherent risky nature of intensive shrimp production, even if Vietnamese shrimp farmers perceive a high level of technology-adoption risk, they still feel more confident towards learning to use a new ICT and its usefulness, and are therefore likely to increase their adoption. The study's results suggest ICT service providers should collaborate with local aquaculture departments to develop pilot farms to showcase new aquaculture technologies and demonstrate key features and their compatibility with existing farms' infrastructure, which will consequently entice farmers to quickly adopt shrimp monitoring technologies.

Lagrangian Vortex Computations of a Four Tidal Turbine Array: An Example Based on the NEPTHYD Layout in the Alderney Race

This study investigates the wake interaction of four full-scale three-bladed tidal turbines with different ambient turbulence conditions, in straight and yawed flows. A three-dimensional unsteady Lagrangian Vortex Blob software is used for the numerical simulations of the turbines’ wakes. In order to model the ambient turbulence in the Lagrangian Vortex Method formalism, a Synthetic Eddy Method is used. With this method, turbulent structures are added in the computational domain to generate a velocity field which statistically reproduces any ambient turbulence intensity and integral length scale. The influence of the size of the structures and their density (within the study volume) on the wake of a single turbine is studied. Good agreement is obtained between numerical and experimental results for a high turbulence intensity but too many structures can increase the numerical dissipation and reduce the wake extension. Numerical simulations of the four turbine array with the layout initially proposed for the NEPTHYD pilot farm are then presented. Two ambient turbulence intensities encountered in the Alderney Race and two integral length scales are tested with a straight flow. Finally, the wakes obtained for yawed flows with different angles are presented, highlighting turbine interactions.

-Blue mussel (Mytilus spp.) cultivation in mesohaline eutrophied inner coastal waters: mitigation potential, threats and cost effectiveness.

The EU-water framework directive (WFD) focuses on nutrient reductions to return coastal waters to the good ecological status. As of today, many coastal waters have reached a steady state of insufficient water quality due to continuous external nutrient inputs and internal loadings. This study focuses first on the current environmental status of mesohaline inner coastal waters to illustrate their needs of internal measures to reach demanded nutrient reductions and secondly, if mussel cultivation can be a suitable strategy to improve water quality. Therefore, nitrogen, phosphorus, chlorophyll a, and Secchi depth of nine mesohaline inner coastal waters in north east Germany were analyzed from 1990 to 2018. Two pilot mussel farms were used to evaluate their effectiveness as a mitigation measure and to estimate potential environmental risks, including the interactions with pathogenic vibrio bacteria. Further, estimated production and mitigation potential were used to assess economic profitability based on the sale of small sized mussels for animal feed and a compensation for nutrient mitigation. The compensation costs were derived from nutrient removal costs of a waste water treatment plant (WWTP). Results show that currently all nine water bodies do not reach the nutrient thresholds demanded by the WFD. However, coastal waters differ in nutrient pollution, indicating that some can reach the desired threshold values if internal measures are applied. The mitigation potential of mussel cultivation depends on the amount of biomass that is cultivated and harvested. However, since mussel growth is closely coupled to the salinity level, mussel cultivation in low saline environments leads to lower biomass production and inevitably to larger cultivation areas. If 50% of the case study area Greifswald Bay was covered with mussel farms the resulting nitrogen reduction would increase Secchi depth by 7.8 cm. However, high chlorophyll a values can hamper clearance rates (<20 mg m−3 = 0.43 l h−1 dry weight g−1) and therefore the mitigation potential. Also, the risk of mussel stock loss due to high summer water temperatures might affect the mitigation potential. The pilot farms had no significant effect on the total organic content of sediments beneath. However, increased values of Vibrio spp. in bio deposits within the pilot farm (1.43 106 ± 1.10 106CFU 100 ml−1 (reference site: 1.04 106 ± 1.45 106 CFU 100 ml−1) were measured with sediment traps. Hence, mussel farms might act as a sink for Vibrio spp. in systems with already high vibrio concentrations. However, more research is required to investigate the risks of Vibrio occurrence coupled to mussel farming. The economic model showed that mussel cultivation in environments below 12 PSU cannot be economic at current market prices for small size mussels and compensations based on nutrient removal cost of WWTPs.

Assessing agro-morphological diversity of chickpea accessions in western Algeria

The chickpea is a very important food species in Algeria whose cultivated type is Kabuli and it is the one of the largest seed legumes. Ten chickpea genotypes were characterized for different agro-morphological traits in order to estimate the genetic diversity. For this purpose, an experimental culture test (completely randomized block system) was conducted at the pilot farm of El Hamaddouche in Tlemcen. Analysis of variance showed a high level of significance for many traits. The Shannon and Weaver index H' (mean) of this collection (0.29) reflects a weak morphological diversity. The principal component analysis (PCA) was performed for all traits and explained 60.43% of the total variability. The genotypes were grouped into five clusters by reference to the chosen axes. Genotypes forming the same group are closely related to each other according to their common agro-morphological traits, the same pattern was observed for the Hierarchical Ascendent Classification (HAC). Cluster analysis and correspondence analysis summarizes that there is a close resemblance between genotypes from different regions, implying that there are no relationships between geographic origins and genetic diversity.

Assessing agro-morphological diversity of chickpea accessions in western Algeria

The chickpea is a very important food species in Algeria whose cultivated type is Kabuli and it is the one of the largest seed legumes. Ten chickpea genotypes were characterized for different agro-morphological traits in order to estimate the genetic diversity. For this purpose, an experimental culture test (completely randomized block system) was conducted at the pilot farm of El Hamaddouche in Tlemcen. Analysis of variance showed a high level of significance for many traits. The Shannon and Weaver index H' (mean) of this collection (0.29) reflects a weak morphological diversity. The principal component analysis (PCA) was performed for all traits and explained 60.43% of the total variability. The genotypes were grouped into five clusters by reference to the chosen axes. Genotypes forming the same group are closely related to each other according to their common agro-morphological traits, the same pattern was observed for the Hierarchical Ascendent Classification (HAC). Cluster analysis and correspondence analysis summarizes that there is a close resemblance between genotypes from different regions, implying that there are no relationships between geographic origins and genetic diversity.

Practical approaches for retrofitting plug flow digester and process control to maximize hydrolysis and methane yield from piggery waste

This study demonstrates and quantifies biomethanation improvements from practical schemes of retrofitting anaerobic plug flow (PF) digester for piggery wastewater (1% total solids concentration). First, batch assays were performed to seek the optimal scenario for substrate solubilization. By regulating micro-aeration at different levels, results showed that ORP −420 ± 10 mV promoted maximal hydrolysis efficiency (ηH), to as high as 49.5% above the control (without micro-aeration). However, organics were markedly lost by over oxidation beyond the optimal ORP. Sub-thermophilic (45 °C) was also proven as effective (p ≥ 0.05) as thermophilic (55 °C) temperature for hydrolysis with ηH 89% higher than that of the ambient (mesophilic) temperature. In continuous digestion studies, the two-stage operations, achieved by adding a pre-hydrolysis (pHY) reactor (HRT 1 day) to the main PF reactor (HRT 4 days), were assessed under four retrofitting schemes. Results showed incremental improvements of each strategy applied and suggested the best overall system configuration of pHY45C−420mV+PF45C with sludge re-hydrolysis. Methane yield was improved by 20.4% over the original PF digester operation. Next Generation Sequencing indicated significant changes in abundance and diversity of the major groups of organisms by the sub-thermophilic temperature that linked to the augmented biomethanation performance. Preliminary cost-benefit analysis is also presented. A full-scale implementation in a pilot farm in Thailand is under development.