Reduction In Total Production Research Articles

The potential impacts of an EU-wide agricultural mitigation target on the Irish agriculture sector

ABSTRACT The Irish Climate Action Plan published in 2019 outlines the significant role that agriculture will have to take to achieve a national reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland. Recent growth in the agricultural sector, especially of the bovine population, however, has led to a continuous increase of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. For the agricultural sector to meet its potential, greenhouse gas emission targets could be challenging. The agricultural sector model CAPRI is used to investigate the impact of a 20 per cent EU-wide agricultural greenhouse gas mitigation target on the Irish agriculture sector. Three scenarios, allowing the endogenous implementation of mitigation technologies, show the possible impact range of such a policy target. The research indicates that the Irish agriculture sector can achieve the set mitigation target by adapting livestock production systems, resulting in agricultural efficiency gains, and by implementing specific mitigation technologies. Without a mandatory mitigation target but with subsidies granted, changes in the level of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions are marginal, and voluntary adoption is limited. Subsidising the implementation of mitigation technologies can buffer the impact that a mitigation target will have on the agriculture sector in Ireland while achieving the set greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Total agricultural income increases if a mandatory target is set due to strong structural changes. As the analysis shows, the emission reduction is partly achieved through a reduction in total production and strong competitors outside of the EU appear to fill the occurring supply gap. This could potentially lead to a carbon leakage effect with production and emissions shifting towards strong ruminant-based producing countries.

First report of Botryosphaeria dothidea as a causal agent to stem rot disease on plumcot trees in Korea.

Botryosphaeria dothidea (B. dothidea) is a fungal pathogen commonly associated with stem canker, dieback, and rot disease in a variety of woody plants worldwide (Dong and Guo, 2020). In Korea, B. dothidea was reported to cause a disease problem to serval crops such as apple and blueberry (Kim, 1995; Choi, 2011). In early 2020, a typical symptom resembling the stem rot disease was spotted to occur at a plumcot cultivation area around Wanju (35.827870, 127.030380) province, Korea. At the early stage of infection, a small blister appeared on the plumcot branch and stem. However, as the blister extended, a light brown canker was observed appeared on the infected area and in some cases a sticky sap oozed from the branch bark crack. If not managed or treated properly, all leaves beyond the infection site will turn brown, wilt, and the whole plumcot tree eventually dies. A survey in the affected area showed that approximately 5% of the plumcot trees were infected which cause up to 10% reduction in total production. To identify the causal agent, symptomatic tissues were excised and surface sterilized with 70% ethanol for 30 sec followed by 1% NaClO for 30 sec before rinsing with sterile water, thrice. The samples were then dried with a piece of filter paper and later air-dried before being placed on a potato dextrose agar (PDA). The PDA plates were then incubated at 25°C for 5 days with 12 hours light/dark cycles period. Among several fungal isolates obtained, four were selected for further analyses. Morphological identification revealed that the fungal conidia were hyaline, ovoid, fusiform (type that rarely form a septum) and unicellular with an average size of 18 - 20 μm × 4.5 -5.5 μm (n = 50). These morphological characters have a strong resemblance to B. dothidea that described by Slipper et al., (2004). For molecular identification, Internal transcribed spacer (ITS), beta-tubulin (β-tubulin) and elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1α) were amplified and sequenced using universal primer pairs ITS1/ITS4 (White et al., 1990), Bt2a/Bt2b (Glass and Donaldson, 1995) and EF1/EF2 (O'Donnell et al. 1998) respectively. Alignment analysis showed that ITS (LC602817), β-tubulin (LC602820) and EF-1α (LC602821) sequences were 99-100% identical to the orthologous genes identified in B. dothidea infecting soybean in China [MW130133 (identity 537/536 bp), MW147482 (identity 394/394 bp) and MW147481 (identify 250/250 bp) respectively] (Chen et al. 2021). However, phylogenetic analysis of concatenated ITS, β-tubulin and EF-1α genes sequence established the identity of these isolate as B. dothidea. Due to the 100% identical at the molecular level, isolate NIHHS 20-262 was selected as a representative for further analysis. For the pathogenicity test, fungal mycelium (via PDA plug) was used as a source of inoculum for both intact and detached plumcot stems trials. For the intact trial, mycelium was inoculated on the wounded spots of ten plumcot stems that grew at the NIHHS trial farm. Ten days post-inoculation (dpi), disease symptoms i.e. stem colour turn from greenish to dark brown was observed at the inoculated sites. For the detached trial, mycelium was inoculated on the wounded spots of ten detached plumcot stems. The inoculated stems were kept in a closed container to maintain 90% humidity before incubated at 25ºC in the dark. Interestingly, on the detached stems, disease symptoms (greenish colour turn to dark brown) were observed to appear seven days early compare to intact stems. A sterile PDA plug replacing fungal mycelium served as a negative control and the result shows no symptoms were observed on either intact or detached control stems. For consistency purposes, pathogenicity tests on intact stems were performed on three different plumcot trees, whereas three biological replicates for detached stems. Isolation and re-identification of two colonies from the infected sites (intact and detached stems) were attempted and the results obtained were identical to the original isolate, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. Local farmers described this disease as a "certain death disease" in plumcot. Therefore, accurate identification of B. dothidea as the causal agent is critical for effective disease management to minimise qualitative and quantitative losses in the plumcot industry. Although has been reported to cause dieback disease in blueberry in Korea (Choi, 2011), to our knowledge, this is the first study to report B. dothidea causing stem rot diseases on the plumcot trees in Korea.

Canal delivery and irrigation scheduling optimization based on crop water demand

Conventionally, canal water is distributed empirically regardless of soil water status at the time in irrigation districts of China, and the mismatch between the timing of water delivery and crop water demand often leads to the reduction in total production and irrigation water efficiency. In the study, an optimization model with minimizing both the difference between the time of water delivery and water demand, and fluctuation of discharge of the main canal as objectives was developefd for a two-stage canal system. The genetic algorithm was used to solve the problem. The irrigation time to meet the water demand in the optimization model was determined using a field water balance model for the command area of secondary canals. The optimization model was applied to the Xixun irrigation district located at Zhangye, Gansu Province, Northwest China. The performance of the model was evaluated by comparing crop water consumption and water productivity (WP) between optimized with conventional scheduling. The results showed that the optimized scheduling could achieve greater total production, less water loss, higher water use efficiency (WUE) and irrigation water productivity (IWP) under both full and reduced capacity conditions. Specifically, the optimized scheduling led to 20% greater total production, 33% less water loss, and more than 20% larger IWP than the conventional scheduling under both conditions. The optimization model could be a valuable tool in improving WP over the command area by adjusting water delivery and irrigation scheduling for irrigation districts.

Poboljšanje osetljivosti na vruće prsline i produktivnost upotrebom Super-TIG zavarivanja čelika sa 9% nikla

9% Nickel steel has been widely used for storage of liquefied gases, oxygen, and nitrogen in competition with aluminium and austenitic alloys due to its low cost. The development of 9% nickel steel with low ductile-brittle transition temperatures reformed the LNG industry by extensive storage and transportation. In recent years, the demand for 9% nickel steel fuel tanks increasing due to the International Maritime Organization regulations on the reduction of sulphur oxides from 3.5% to 0.5%. Hence, the LNG fuel tanks made with 9% nickel steel became a major part of the international energy industry. However, the weldability, fabrication cost, and productivity of these steels are one of the major concerns for manufacturers. Flux cored arc welding (FCAW) process is the most commonly used joining method for 9% nickel steel with Hastelloy fillers. In FCAW, the loss of deposited metal due to inter pass cleaning by grinding action caused to a reduction in total productivity. Demands for higher production, low cost, better mechanical properties, and reliability are the main driving forces for new developments in this area. To achieve these, the most recently developed "Super-TIG Welding" with C-type filler was successfully applied to improve the 9% Nickel steel weldability, productivity and, mechanical and metallurgical properties of the butt welds. In SuperTIG welding, alloy 625 filler was used, which is cheaper and good weldability over the Hastelloy fillers. The weldability evaluation tests resulted in improved resistance to hot cracking susceptibility using Super-TIG welding. The mechanical properties of the Super-TIG welded joints performed better than the FCAW joints. Most importantly, the productivity of the welding dramatically improved by Super-TIG welding. Super-TIG welding is capable of producing higher feeding rates with clean beads. Therefore, the alloy 625 C-Filler and avoidance of inter pass cleaning in Super-TIG welding resulting in increased productivity. The newly developed Super-TIG welding achieved many things to obtain satisfactory products in the recent welding industry.

Deep sequencing identified potential miRNAs involved in defence response, stress and plant growth characteristics of wild genotypes of cardamom.

Cardamom has long been used as a food flavouring agent and in ayurvedic medicines for mouth ulcers, digestive problems and even depression. Extensive occurrence of pests and diseases adversely affect its cultivation and result in substantial reductions in total production and productivity. Numerous studies revealed the significant role of miRNAs in plant biotic stress responses. In the current study, miRNA profiling of cultivar and wild cardamom genotypes was performed using an Ion Proton sequencer. We identified 161 potential miRNAs representing 42 families, including monocot/tissue-specific and 14 novel miRNAs in both genotypes. Significant differences in miRNA family abundance between the libraries were observed in read frequencies. A total of 19 miRNAs (from known miRNAs) displayed a twofold difference in expression between wild and cultivar genotypes. We found 1168 unique potential targets for 40 known miRNA families in wild and 1025 potential targets for 42 known miRNA families in cultivar genotypes. The differential expression analysis revealed that most miRNAs identified were highly expressed in cultivars and, furthermore, lower expression of miR169 and higher expression of miR529 in wild cardamom proved evidence that wild genotypes have stronger drought stress tolerance and floral development than cultivars. Potential targets predicted for the newly identified miRNAs from the miRNA libraries of wild and cultivar cardamom genotypes involved in metabolic and developmental processes and in response to various stimuli. qRT-PCR confirmed miRNAs were differentially expressed between wild and cultivar genotypes. Furthermore, four target genes were validated experimentally to confirm miRNA-mRNA target pairing using RNA ligase-mediated 5' Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (5'RLM-RACE) PCR.

The Consequences of Electronic Health Record Adoption for Physician Productivity and Birth Outcomes

The authors use a mixed-methods approach to investigate how the integration of electronic health records between ambulatory and hospital practices affected physician productivity and birth outcomes at a large health network. Physicians and staff were interviewed during a five-year staged integration of electronic health records, and a direct measure of physician productivity, relative value units, was analyzed concurrently with several measures of birth outcomes. The regression analyses show an 11% reduction in total productivity following the installation of the new system at primary-care sites. The qualitative findings indicate the reduction is attributable to the additional time physicians and staff needed to learn new processes, adopt work practice changes, and develop coordination. Nevertheless, users value the additional integration, especially as information flows back to the ambulatory practices from the hospital. This is supported by increases in treatment intensity over time and a 37% reduction in the severity of adverse birth events.

Assessing the importance of terrestrial organic carbon in the CHUKCHI and Beaufort seas

The western Arctic Ocean is a unique part of the world's oceans, and is an area undergoing significant climate changes. The effects and possible climate feedbacks of these changes are not yet fully understood. Decreased sea ice cover could lead to increased productivity in the water column, or a reduction in total productivity through the loss of sea ice algal contributions. Climate change could also alter the patterns of terrestrial inputs from rivers and coastal erosion.In order to better understand the balance of organic material inputs in the western Arctic Ocean, this report presents carbon and nitrogen elemental and isotopic compositions from 19 surface sediment samples and 7 cores from 4 shelf to basin transects as evidence of the sources of organic matter buried in the sediments of the Chukchi and Alaskan Beaufort Seas. The C:N ratios for surface sediments were between 5.3 and 11.5 (mean 9.0 ± 1.3). The mean %TOC was 1.2 ± 0.3% and mean %TN was 0.16 ± 0.02%. The highest %TOC contents were observed in the Barrow Canyon transect, likely reflecting heightened overlying productivity. The δ13C of this preserved material varied from −22.1 to −16.7‰ (mean −19.4 ± 1.3‰). A trend to depletion in 13C and higher C:N in eastern sites was observed. Among the surface samples, δ15N varied from 4.1 to 7.6‰ (mean 5.7 ± 1.1‰).An evaluation of the inputs of organic matter to the western Arctic sediment was accomplished using δ13C and δ15N values with the novel technique of a Bayesian analysis multi-source mixing model. This model was used to estimate proportional contributions of sea ice algae, water column phytoplankton and terrestrial organic matter. We conclude that water column productivity is the source of between 50 and 70% of the organic carbon buried in this portion of the western Arctic. The remaining 25–35% of carbon is mainly supplied by sea ice algal productivity, with at most 15% of sedimentary carbon derived from terrestrial inputs.

Photosynthetic parameters and cut-flower yield of rose ‘Eurored’ (H.T.) are adversely affected by mild water stress irrespective of substrate composition

The aim of the present study was to provide a better insight into the adaptive processes within rose plants ‘Eurored’ (Hybid Tea), grown in soilless cultivation, when exposed to water deficit. Rose plants were grown in three different substrates (perlite, pine bark–almond shells 1:1, and perlite–pumice 1:1) and under two water regimes (100 and 67% of the irrigation needs). Photosynthetic parameters, water relations, leaf chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence and cut-flower production were determined. Mild water stress caused: (a) a negative effect on photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance but no reduction in intercellular CO 2, (b) a decline in leaf chlorophyll and chlorophyll fluorescence, (c) a decrease in transpiration rate, leaf water potential (LWP) and relative water content (RWC) but an increase in water use efficiency (WUE), (d) a reduction in total production of flower stems, though the number of extra-quality flower stems was not affected. Substrates did not affect the physiological, biochemical or growth parameters. The reduction in photosynthetic rate without being followed by any change in intercellular CO 2 concentration indicates, in addition to stomatal, the involvement of non-stomatal factors in the process, leading to a limited supply of metabolic energy and therefore to plant growth restriction.

Effect of Grafting on Growth, Yield, and Verticillium Wilt of Eggplant

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) seedlings (`Tsakoniki') were grafted by hand on the Verticillium dahliae Kleb. resistant wild species Solanum torvum Sw. (GST) and Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. (GSS). Grafted and nongrafted eggplants were transplanted to a fumigated soil with methyl bromide and to infested soil with microsclerotia of V. dahliae. Grafted plants were more vigorous, as measured by plant height, main stem diameter, and root system weight, than the nongrafted `Tsakoniki'. This resulted in an increased early production (GST, 45.5%; GSS, 18.4%) and late production (GST, 69.3%; GSS, 59.2%) as compared to the noninfected controls. The mean yield reduction (over years) in early production caused by the disease, as compared to the controls grown in fumigated soil, was 29.4%, 36.6%, and 77.9% for eggplant grafted on S. torvum, S. sisymbriifolium, and nongrafted plants, respectively. This yield reduction in total production was 6.9%, 20.5%, and 56.8%, respectively. The disease incidence in ungrafted plants was 96% and 100% during early and late harvest periods. In contrast, the disease incidence in grafted plants was significantly lower, averaging 28.1% (GST) and 52.6% (GSS) in early production, and 37.6% and 79.3%, respectively, in late production. Solanum torvum was found more resistant than S. sisymbriifolium, because grafted infected plants developed mild symptoms, as indicated by significantly lower leaf symptom index (average value 1.2 and 2.22) and disease index (average value 1.55 and 3.38), respectively. In conclusion, grafting of eggplant on either wild species had positive effects on growth, production, and verticillium wilt control.

Developmental stage‐specific life‐cycle bioassay for assessment of sediment‐associated toxicant effects on benthic copepod production

AbstractIn chronic bioassays of sediment organic compounds, toxicant exposures often decline through time, such that the beginning of a test yields disproportionately higher exposures than the end. Thus, those life stages initiating a test often are exposed to the highest concentrations, and for rapidly maturing test fauna, this may lead to varying conclusions regarding compound toxicities depending on the initial life stage chosen. This problem can be addressed by comparative full life‐cycle tests initiated with different test‐organism life stages. Thus, a full life stage‐to‐life stage toxicity test was developed for the rapidly maturing meiobenthic copepod Amphiascus tenuiremis to assess the importance of developmental stage at the onset of sediment toxicant exposure relative to reproduction, net population growth, and sex and age structure. Tests were conducted with a model spiked‐sediment insecticide, chlorpyrifos, for each of the major life stages (P1) of A. tenuiremis (nauplius, copepodite, and adult). Each P1 stage was allowed to mature and reproduce in low chlorpyrifos concentrations (6–33% of stage‐specific 96‐h LC50s; 4–22 ng chlorpyrifos/g dry sediment) for 26 d. Test endpoints were numbers of surviving adult females, males, eggs per female (clutch), first generation (F1) nauplii, F1 copepodites, F1 total production, and realized F1 production per surviving female. Only the copepodite P1 test showed a significant decline in survival of an adult age class: females declined by 28% at 22 ng/g. Reductions in total production ranged from 33–96% of controls from nauplius to adult. The P1 naupliar stage was most sensitive, with F1 production being 33–47% of that in controls. However, on a realized production per female basis, both the copepodite and naupliar P1 yielded significantly reduced F1S of 23 and 40% of controls at 11 and 22 ng/g.

Developmental stage-specific life-cycle bioassay for assessment of sediment-associated toxicant effects on benthic copepod production.

In chronic bioassays of sediment organic compounds, toxicant exposures often decline through time, such that the beginning of a test yields disproportionately higher exposures than the end. Thus, those life stages initiating a test often are exposed to the highest concentrations, and for rapidly maturing test fauna, this may lead to varying conclusions regarding compound toxicities depending on the initial life stage chosen. This problem can be addressed by comparative full life-cycle tests initiated with different test-organism life stages. Thus, a full life stage-to-life stage toxicity test was developed for the rapidly maturing meiobenthic copepod Amphiascus tenuiremis to assess the importance of developmental stage at the onset of sediment toxicant exposure relative to reproduction, net population growth, and sex and age structure. Tests were conducted with a model spiked-sediment insecticide, chlorpyrifos, for each of the major life stages (P1) of A. tenuiremis (nauplius, copepodite, and adult). Each P1 stage was allowed to mature and reproduce in low chlorpyrifos concentrations (6-33% of stage-specific 96-h LC50s; 4-22 ng chlorpyrifos/g dry sediment) for 26 d. Test endpoints were numbers of surviving adult females, males, eggs per female (clutch), first generation (F1) nauplii, F1 copepodites, F1 total production, and realized F1 production per surviving female. Only the copepodite P1 test showed a significant decline in survival of an adult age class: females declined by 28% at 22 ng/g. Reductions in total production ranged from 33-96% of controls from nauplius to adult. The P1 naupliar stage was most sensitive, with F1 production being 33-47% of that in controls. However, on a realized production per female basis, both the copepodite and naupliar P1 yielded significantly reduced F1s of 23 and 40% of controls at 11 and 22 ng/g.

Erosion‐Crop Productivity Relationships for Soils of Africa

AbstractSoil erosion and land degradation are severe problems in Africa. Some quantitative information on the magnitude of soil erosion for different soils and ecoregions is available. However, quantitative data on effects of erosion on crop yields under different systems of management are available only for a few sites. The objective of this review is to use existing data on erosion rates and productivity relationships to estimate losses in crop yield due to past erosion at the continental level. The available information is also used to predict losses during the next 30 yr. Analyses of the available data indicate that yield reductions due to past erosion may range from 2 to 40%, with a mean of 8.2% for the continent and 6.2% for sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). If accelerated erosion continues unabated, yield reductions by the year 2020 may be 16.5% for the continent and 14.5% for SSA. Annual reduction in total production for 1989 due to accelerated erosion in the continent was estimated at 8.2 million Mg for cereals, 9.2 million Mg for roots and tubers, and 0.6 million Mg for pulses. The reduction in total production in 1989 for SSA was estimated at 3.6 million Mg for cereals, 6.5 million Mg for roots and tubers, and 0.36 million Mg for pulses.

The reproductive success of the dipper Cinclus cinclus in relation to the acidity of streams in south‐west Scotland

SUMMARY1. The breeding success of dippers Cinclus cinclus was assessed in south‐west Scotland over 3 years and related to the acidity of the streams along which they bred.2. At sites of high acidity, clutch and brood sizes were significantly smaller than those at sites of lower acidity.3. Egg weight and the incidence of second clutches increased significantly with pH, but there was no evidence to suggest an effect of acidity on hatching success.4. The rate at which food was delivered to individual nestlings was significantly lower at acidic than non‐acidic sites. Nestling weights and survival were lower at more acidic sites.5. Reduced brood sizes, low nestling survival and the low incidence of second brooding attempts resulted in a significant reduction in total productivity (number of fledglings produced, per pair, per year) at acidic compared with non‐acidic streams.6. It is suggested that pH‐related differences in the invertebrate fauna of streams result in low prey availability for dippers on acidic streams, leading to reduced productivity.