Shade Trees Research Articles

Experimental riparian forest gaps and increased sediment loads modify stream metabolic patterns and biofilm composition

AbstractForest management operations greatly influence stream habitats. Canopy clearing and subsequent canopy development during succession, site preparation, and ditching alter the light environment, and increase sediment inputs and nutrient exports from upland and riparian soils to streams. These physicochemical changes affect aquatic biofilms and metabolic rates, and in this study, we tested their individual and combined effects. We used 12 artificial streamside channels, together with a field survey of nine streams in and around clear‐cuts, to assess the effects of shading, substrate composition, and nutrient addition on biofilm biomass and composition, as well as metabolic rates. We found that biofilm biomass and gross primary production (GPP) were light limited in channels under 70% canopy shading. Nitrate additions at this shading level only marginally increased autotrophic biomass, while the rates of respiration increased 10‐fold when carbon was added. Open (unshaded) channels had three times higher rates of GPP compared with channels with 70% shading, and autotrophic biomass was twice as high, largely caused by the colonization of filamentous green algae. These changes to biofilm biomass, composition, and GPP were caused by differences in light alone, as temperature was not affected by the shading treatment. Notably, higher rates of GPP led to no positive effect on net ecosystem production. Further, fine‐grained substrates negatively affected GPP as compared with stone substrates in the experimental channels. In the surveyed streams, the negative effects of fine‐grained substrates exceeded the positive influence of light on biofilm biomass. Altogether, our results highlight the need for riparian management that protects headwaters from unwanted stressors by focusing on preventing sediment erosion and carbon transport in clear‐cuts, while providing variable shade conditions in second‐growth forests.

Shading Influenced Water Quality and Seed Production of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) in the Hapa-within-Pond System During Warm Months

This study evaluated the influence of shading designs on water quality and Nile tilapia seed production in hapa-within-pond system. Metal frames were installed in three 200 m2 ponds and covered with greenhouse nets. Treatments were: no shading (NoS); top portion of frame covered (TopS); half of top and side portions of frame covered (HalfS); and top and sides of frame covered (TotalS). Twenty-four conditioned breeders (6♂:18♀) were bred on each hapa (1 m x 2 m x 1 m) installed in the ponds. Seeds were collected after 14 days. In both trials, significant differences in water temperature at 1500 h were observed among all treatments, with the lowest recorded in the TopS. The spawning rates of NoS (18.1±10.5%; 2.8±5.6%) were significantly lower than those of TopS (72.2±12.0%; 65.3±10.5%), HalfS (56.9±22.4%; 58.3±13.2%) and TotalS (66.7±23.6%; 65.3±10.5%). TotalS (8,563+3769 fry) and TopS (7,305+2491 fry) had significantly higher total seed production (TSP) than that of NoS (1,219+1150 fry) during the first trial, while TSP of HalfS (5,200+3051 fry) was comparable to those of the other treatments. During the second trial, shaded treatments had comparable TSPs but were significantly higher than NoS. For economic reasons, maximum reduction of water temperature, and optimum seed production during summer, the TopS design is recommended.

Knowledge and Practice of Sustainable Land Management of Coffee Agroforestry in Community Forest Areas, West Lampung Regency

This study aims to identify knowledge and practices of sustainable land management in coffee agroforestry in community forest areas. The research was conducted from November to December 2021 in a community forest area in Air Hitam District, West Lampung Regency. The respondents are 40 coffee farmers who cultivate coffee in the community forest area. The study used the Knowledge, Attitude, and practice framework to identify knowledge and practices of sustainable land management in coffee agroforestry and analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach. The study results show that coffee farmers’ knowledge of sustainable land management is in the fairly high category. Farmers understand that sustainable land management supports forest sustainability and increases coffee productivity. Sustainable land management practices that coffee farmers have implemented include the use of organic fertilizers from livestock, the use of coffee shells as natural compost, planting shade trees to prevent erosion and increase soil fertility, and soil conservation techniques using the Rorak method (making holes for water absorption, accommodate soil sediments and sources of organic matter). The practice of sustainable land management by coffee farmers is in line with the objectives of social forestry, namely the use of forests to improve welfare without neglecting forest sustainability.

Phenology and radial growth of poplars in wide alley agroforestry systems and the effect on yield of annual intercrops in the first four years of tree age

Silvoarable agroforestry systems have the potential to combat the negative effects of climate change while also enhancing productivity per unit land. Although the growth rate of large-spaced trees remains poorly investigated and the yield of annual intercrops uncertain, silvoarable agroforestry systems with poplar are receiving an ever-growing interest. This study assessed the growth of the new HES (High Environmental Sustainability) poplar clone, Moncalvo, arranged in 40-m spaced parallel alleys with a density of 35 trees ha−1 (SA, silvoarable). Their growth was compared to those cultivated in a specialized poplar plantation (C, control) with 277 trees ha−1, and the agronomic impact on wheat and soybean as intercrops was explored. Measurements took place between 2018 and 2021 during the first 4 years, which represents the midpoint of the expected poplar rotation. Here it was demonstrated that at the end of the investigated period, diameter at breast height was significantly greater (23.8 vs. 20.5 cm, +16%) and the plant height lower (14.3 vs. 15.5 m, −8%) in poplar grown in SA as compared to those in C, likely due to reduced intraspecific competition for environmental resources. In SA, seasonal tree phenology was delayed by approximately two weeks in spring, possibly due to the high sensitivity of poplar to low soil water content and cooler night air temperatures in springtime. The grain yield of wheat was not impaired by tree shading but instead occasionally improved when neighboring the poplar alley (e.g., year 2021: +28% at 12 m from the tree row vs. full sun conditions), while soybean yield was generally reduced (maximum −38% at 6 m from the tree row). This study innovatively studied the growth response of HES poplar clones in silvoarable systems by providing valuable insights into the growth dynamics of trees grown in combination with field crops. It is concluded that poplars in wide spaced alleys of silvoarable systems in temperate climates grow faster than poplars in plantations of high population density due to enhanced access to resources, while future investigations will allow for the identification of clone-specific rotation durations. In the arable tree interrow, winter crops more readily benefit from such agroforestry system than summer crops due to reduced cycle overlap and light competition with the tree canopy.

Towards a functional understanding of rehabilitated urban road verge grasslands: Effects of planting year, site conditions, and landscape factors

Urbanization causes ecosystem degradation and losses of biodiversity. Still, urban landscapes favor organisms, depending on how well they fit the anthropogenic conditions. Creating urban green spaces of high ecological quality, such as pollinator-friendly road verges, promotes biodiversity in cities. We sowed a seed mixture consisting of 26 native plant species with diverse functional traits in 46 road verge patches along four urban roads in Munich (South Germany) in 2019/20 and monitored in 2020/21. Control were pre-existing turfgrass patches with conventional management. We assessed species richness, Shannon diversity, and Pielou's evenness, whereas functional composition was evaluated via functional richness, evenness, and divergence, based on 13 plant traits. To study urbanization effects on species and functional composition, we analyzed soil characteristics and tree shading at the local level, as well as distance to city center, imperviousness, and edge density at the landscape level. We used linear models and ordination analysis to assess treatment, local and landscape effects, and the influence of planting year on taxonomic and functional composition. Rehabilitation treatment explained most differences in species and functional composition. Species richness was lower in the city center and at sites with high soil organic matter; Pielou's evenness increased with soil pH. Trait composition differed between rehabilitated and control patches, and varied according to planting year. Soil bulk density negatively affected functional richness for all traits combined, and edge density reduced functional evenness of establishment traits. We conclude that urban filtering, in combination with planting year, shapes species and trait composition of rehabilitated road verges. Hence, local and landscape-level trait–environment interactions affect the assembly of road verge grasslands. Finally, our findings suggest that establishment traits have a pivotal role in the development of rehabilitated road verges, while the predictability of rehabilitation outcomes may be hindered even when seeding specifically designed seed mixtures.

Colored Shading Nets Differentially Affect the Phytochemical Profile, Antioxidant Capacity, and Fruit Quality of Piquin Peppers (Capsicum annuum L. var. glabriusculum)

Piquin pepper fruits, a semi-domesticated wild pepper species highly valued in Mexico, currently face the threat of unsustainable harvesting practices that endanger the species. For this reason, it is necessary to establish sustainable agricultural practices for the cultivation of these peppers. Solar radiation, a critical determinant in crop production, plays a crucial role in plant development, influencing a spectrum of physiological and morphological processes, including the synthesis of phytochemicals. Our study evaluated the effect of light manipulation through colored shading nets on the phytochemical profile, antioxidant capacity, and fruit quality of semi-domesticated piquin peppers at two maturation stages: immature and mature (green and red fruits). Our hypothesis posits that these shading treatments may induce changes in these fruits’ phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties, as well as quality. Our results indicate that the shading treatments and maturity stage have significant on capsaicinoid and carotenoid levels, with the highest levels observed in mature fruits. Notably, red fruits grown under black shading treatments resulted in the highest capsaicinoid levels. Carotenoid levels were higher in the black shading treatment during the first cycle, while in the second cycle, the blue shading treatment showed elevated carotenoid levels, suggesting that high irradiance conditions could reduce carotenoid contents. Although no significant differences were observed among the treatments in green fruits, in red fruits, both black and blue treatments exhibited the highest total phenolic compounds in both production cycles. Furthermore, the antioxidant capacity revealed that red fruits exhibited higher antioxidant levels than green fruits. Color analysis showed that red fruits had higher chroma and hue angle values, indicating their brighter and more intense red color than green fruits. The morphological changes in fruit width, length, and weight can be attributed to shading treatments and maturation stages. These results indicate the potential of piquin peppers to act as rich sources of bioactive compounds, emphasizing the benefits of shading as an effective strategy to improve the quality and quantity of phytochemical compounds in piquin peppers. Our findings provide substantial insights into the intricate relationship between maturation, shading treatments, and phytochemical composition, offering a path to improve the nutritional value and quality of piquin peppers.

Coffee Leaf Traits, Bean Quality and Biochemistry across Elevation and Shade Gradients in Ethiopia

Abstract According to model projections, coffee cultivation areas will need to move to higher elevations as suitability moves upslope to compensate for increased temperatures. However, shifting coffee-growing areas upslope may bring conflicts with land use and crops other than coffee and induce adverse socio-economic and environmental impacts associated with deforestation for new coffee cultivation. Moreover, model projections are largely limited to ex-situ experiments based on downscaled global climate models, and thus empirical data are still needed to assess climate change impacts on coffee production in Ethiopia in the future. Furthermore, conditions such as shade tree canopy closure, soil fertility and elevation may either ameliorate or exacerbate climate change impacts. In the absence of significant interventions, this could result in considerable land use change, increased vulnerability of coffee-dependent livelihoods and a potential shortage of coffee supply. Hence, to generate trustworthy and accurate information for climate-resilient Ethiopian coffee production, more field-based experiments are needed. In this PhD thesis, I used coffee plants growing at contrasting elevations using a space-for-time substitution approach for warming in south-west Ethiopia. The coffee plants were superimposed under various shade tree species with multi-strata canopy architecture. The potential of increasing canopy closure in modulating responses to increasing temperature, and the associated effect on coffee plant traits, green bean quality and biochemistry, were thoroughly explored. Based on my findings, I was able to identify potential limiting factors, to close the coffee quality gap by providing improved management recommendations tailored to the local ecological conditions while acknowledging the dynamic drivers (mainly resource availability and climatic variability) for the long-term sustainability of the coffee industry.

Shading and species diversity act as safety nets for seedling survival and vitality of native trees in dryland forests: Implications for restoration

Restoring degraded dryland requires a diverse mix of trees and shrubs with suitable characteristics. Unfortunately, many restoration projects have failed in tropical drylands due to monoculture plantations or a lack of understanding regarding specific species requirements like shading. Therefore, the central question is whether species diversity and shading can improve seedling survival and vitality in dryland conditions. We conducted a tree diversity experiment in northern Ethiopia as part of the International Diversity Experiment Network with Trees (IDENT). We used 17,280 seedlings from 9 native dry Afromontane tree and shrub species, distributed across 270 plots in three replication blocks. Each block contains a shading treatment (shaded versus non-shaded) with three levels of species richness: one-, two- and four-species mixtures with varying levels of functional diversity (FD) categorized as low, medium, and high. Survival and vitality data of the seedlings were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) and linear mixed-effects models (LMMs). After two growing seasons, the overall seedling survival rate was 84%. We found significantly higher seedling survival, vitality, and chlorophyll content (SPAD value) in shaded conditions, irrespective of the tree diversity level. However, increasing species richness did improve seedling vitality in non-shaded conditions, but its impact diminished in shaded situations. The findings from this study suggest that careful selection of tree species, appropriate shading, and optimal levels of species diversity can greatly enhance the survival and performance of seedlings. This is particularly important for the successful restoration of dryland forests.

The response of different-aged saplings to light gradients reveals new insights into the light requirements of an endangered woody plant species, Phoebe chekiangensis

Abstract Phoebe chekiangensis is endemic to China and highly valued for art ware, furniture, and timber architecture, having a special status in Chinese history. Natural sources of P. chekiangensis are being depleted, and the species was listed as ‘VULNERABLE’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 1998 (https://www.iucnredlist.org/) due to excessive anthropogenic deforestation and the plant’s weak self-regeneration ability. Most studies have attempted to elucidate this weak natural regeneration by culturing seedlings and community surveys, ignoring the different light requirements of seedlings at distinct ages. In this study, we examined five consecutive age groups of seedlings/saplings with current-year (seedling) and 1–4-year-olds exposed to four shading treatments (100%, 40%, 15%, and 5% of full sunlight) for 2 years, based on a randomized complete block design. Using analysis of variance and Duncan’s multiple comparison, the growth rate, photosynthetic response, photosynthetic pigments, and ultrastructure of chloroplasts were evaluated among the shading treatments. The results show that the light requirements of P. chekiangensis change during the development process. Moderate shading (40% of full sunlight) is beneficial for the early development of Phoebe seedlings, increasing height growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and photosynthetic pigment content and protecting the development of chloroplast structures. However, full exposure to sunlight is necessary for growing saplings (more than 2 years old) to meet the increased energy demands for growth and development. Overall, this study elucidates P. chekiangensis light utilization during the early regeneration phase, informing seedling cultivation activities and the development of silvicultural strategies of this endangered species.

Niepewność pomiarów średniej temperatury promieniowania za pomocą termometrów kulistych = Uncertainty of mean radiant-temperature measurements using globe thermometers

In the analysis of the human heat balance, the biggest problem is to precisely determine the amount of energy absorbed by a human organism under dynamically changing solar conditions and while being surrounded by many different surfaces that can absorb, emit or reflect solar radiation in different ways. Therefore, in thermal comfort studies some simplifications of the radiation field around human body are necessary and thus the concept of mean radiant temperature (Mrt) is most often used. Mrt values can be derived either from direct instrumental measurements or calculated by one of the microclimate models. The most accurate way to determine the Tmrt outdoors is by integral radiation measurements and the calculation of angular factors (i.e. the proportion of radiation received by the human body from different directions). This method involves simultaneous measurements of long- and short-wave radiation flux densities in six directions, which requires three sets of net radiometers. Although this method of Mrt determination describes the radiation environment accurately and independently of the variable wind field, it requires the use of expensive and complex measurement devices. Cheap and easy to operate alternative offers globe thermometer. In steady state conditions, readings from the air temperature sensor inside the globe thermometer (tg) will reflect the convective and radiative heat exchange around the globe thermometer. Knowing tg, as well as globe emissivity and diameter, the Mrt may be calculated. In this research three different globe thermometers were used to determine Mrt: 15-cm standard globe thermometer (SGT) and two 4-cm custom made acrylic globe thermometers (AGT) painted in black and grey. The measurements were conducted in the summer in Warsaw, on two selected green areas, under sunny and warm weather conditions. In each location Mrt measurements were taken in two spots – in the shade of trees and in the open grassy spaces, with high SVF. Our results demonstrate, that globe thermometers, although being relatively cheap and less complex instruments for determining Mrt, can be used to a limited extend, due to high instability of their indications under significant radiative loads.

Artificial Light for Improving Tomato Recovery Following Grafting: Transcriptome and Physiological Analyses.

Grafting is widely used to enhance the phenotypic traits of tomatoes, alleviate biotic and abiotic stresses, and control soil-borne diseases of the scion in greenhouse production. There are many factors that affect the healing and acclimatization stages of seedlings after grafting. However, the role of light has rarely been studied. In this study, we compared the effects of artificial light and traditional shading (under shaded plastic-covered tunnels) on the recovery of grafted tomato seedlings. The results show that the grafted tomato seedlings recovered using artificial light had a higher healthy index, leaf chlorophyll content, shoot dry weight, and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and water use efficiency (WUE) compared with grafted seedling recovered using the traditional shading method. Transcriptome analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of grafted seedlings restored using artificial light were mainly enriched in the pathways corresponding to plant hormone signal transduction. In addition, we measured the endogenous hormone content of grafted tomato seedlings. The results show that the contents of salicylic acid (SA) and kinetin (Kin) were significantly increased, and the contents of indoleacetic acid (IAA) and jasmonic acid (JA) were decreased in artificial-light-restored grafted tomato seedlings compared with those under shading treatments. Therefore, we suggest that artificial light affects the morphogenesis and photosynthetic efficiency of grafted tomato seedlings, and it can improve the performance of tomato seedlings during grafting recovery by regulating endogenous hormone levels.

Resilience against climate variability: The application of nature based solutions by cocoa farmers in Ghana

This study delves into the crucial intersection of climate resilience and sustainable agriculture by investigating the application of nature-based solutions (NBS) as adaptive strategies employed by cocoa farmers in Ghana. A total sample of 381 cocoa farmers were selected using the multi-stage sampling technique. Farmers perceive notable changes (increase) in amount of rainfall, degree of temperature and number of rainy days. While the planting of shade trees is adopted by majority of the cocoa farmers to fight climate variability, they also perceive it to be the most effective. Factors that influence cocoa farmers' extent of adopting nature-based solutions are religion, age, years of formal education, land ownership, access to climate information, farm size and income. Climate variability (temperature, rainfall, wind) makes cocoa farmers vulnerable by affecting their social, financial and physical capitals. Nature based solutions (planting shade trees, climate-resilient varieties, early warning systems, knowledge sharing and efficient water management) increase cocoa farmers' resilience against climate variability. Ultimately, the study's outcomes hold implications for both local and global efforts to enhance agricultural resilience and secure livelihoods in an era of climate uncertainty.

Evaluasi Kenyamanan Termal pada Lanskap Jalan Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra, Bali

Evaluation of Thermal Comfort in Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra Streetscape, Bali. Vegetation hold an important role in a streetscape, one of which is the amelioration of the microclimate which afffect the user comfort, especially human thermal comfort on the streetscape. Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra street has several different parts when viewed from the variation of the shade trees used. This study sought to determine the best fit composition of the shade trees to increase human thermal comfort in Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra street. Six sample of streetscape will be studied in three different composition of shade trees type. On these street, air temperature and humidity will be measured to calculate the level of human thermal comfort using Thermal Humidity Index (THI). The results showed that streetscapes with three rows of shade trees had a lower THI value compared to streetscapes with only one row of shade trees, and the streetscapes planted with spreading crowns shade trees had lower THI values than streetscapes planted with rounded crowns trees. Based on this, it is recommended to plant shade trees on the median and both sides of the road with trees that have dense leaf mass and can give a unique impression if planted in mass.

Utjecaj hrastove mrežaste stjenice Corythucha arcuata na visinu biljaka hrasta lužnjaka ovisno o načinu podmlađivanja

Oak lace bug Corythucha arcuata represents a new pest of oaks in Europe, introduced from North America in year 2000. Damage is caused by adults and larvae that feed on the underside of leaves. The paper presents the results of investigation of impact of Corythucha arcuata on pedunculate oak growth. The two variant experiment was established in 2019 and included the evaluation of the effect of oak lace bug on the height of the seedlings (i) grown under the shade of the adult trees after the intermediate felling and (ii) seedlings grown unshaded after the final felling. Both variants included eight plots of which four were treated with the insecticide thiamethoxam, while other four were untreated. Assessment of the intensity of the attack was performed in June, July and August in 2019, 2020 and 2021, while the height of the plants was measured at the end of the vegetation period in 2019, 2020 and 2021.The results indicate significant decrease in the intensity of the attack on seedlings grown unshaded by the old trees. After first year, there was no difference in average height of the treated and untreated seedlings grown after the intermediate felling, while the difference was evident after second and third year. Such results indicate cumulative effect of the oak lace bug attack on the seedlings of the penduculate oak. On the other hand, during whole experiment, the differences between treated and untreated plant average height after the final felling were not evident.

Effects of slight shading in summer on the leaf senescence and endogenous hormone and polyamine contents in herbaceous peony

Herbaceous peony is a perennial root plant that likes light and is cold-resistant. During summer, high temperature and strong light intensity advance its entry into the leaf wilting stage, which limits the accumulation of nutrients and formation of strong buds and severely affects its growth and development the following year. In this study, the wild herbaceous peony species and two main cultivars, ‘Zifengyu’ and ‘Hongfengyu’, were subjected to slight shading and strong light environments in summer, and their effects on leaf senescence and endogenous hormone and polyamine contents were explored. Slight shading treatment significantly delayed withering, increased the leaf net photosynthetic rate, and increased the chlorophyll, soluble sugar, indole-3-acetic acid, zeatin, gibberellin, spermine, spermidine, putrescine, and polyamine contents. Additionally, slight shading significantly reduced the proline and abscisic acid contents. Slight shading during summer prolonged the green period and delayed leaf senescence. The tolerance of tested materials to strong light intensity in summer was ranked as follows: ‘Zifengyu’ > ‘Hongfengyu’ > wild species. In conclusion, this study revealed that summer leaf senescence is delayed in herbaceous peony through shading and growth regulators. Additional varieties should be evaluated to provide reference for high-efficiency, high-quality, and high-yield cultivation of herbaceous peony.

Analisis Prestasi Terma Penghadang Suria Luaran Sedia Ada di Kampung Admiralty, Singapura

External Solar shadings have long been designed as an integral part of a building’s facade for functional, aesthetic and privacy reasons. From a functional aspect, it is used to reduce heat and glare, thus helping to improve the thermal as well as lighting quality of the building. In a tropical climate, the yearlong sun radiation, especially those facing the eastern and western building facades with large glazed surfaces may show severe thermal and glare discomfort issues. This paper analyses the impact of the existing shading system of the vertical and horizontal fins and green facades of The Admiralty Village building in Singapore. A thermal imaging camera was used to detect thermal readings from all of the facade’s shading systems. From the result comparison, each facade of the building requires a different shading treatment due to the different sunlight angles. The south facade is best shaded with horizontal shading. East and west facades require shading that blocks sunlight entering at low angles. The north facade can be left unshaded. Green walls with highly dense vegetation perform more effectively than thermal insulation in reducing the cooling load of the building. This study further convinced the need for solar shading devices, especially in the southern facades of tropical countries.

Sexual competition and light regimes interactively affect dimorphism and competitiveness of opposite sexes in Populus yunnanensis

Light, as the most important energy and environmental signal, exerts crucial impacts on plant-plant interactions and the composition of plant communities. However, little attention has been paid to understanding how females and males respond to sexual competition under different light conditions. In this study, we investigated morphological and physiological parameters between two sexes of Populus yunnanensis under intra- and intersexual competition in two light regimes, i.e., full light and shading conditions (equal to 55% full light). Under full-light conditions, males grown under intersexual competition exhibited greater above-ground biomass accumulation, specific leaf area (SLA), root-to-shoot ratio (R/S), non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) utilization efficiency, and a higher ability to maintain the balance of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content compared to females. These eco-physiological responses confer males with a competitive advantage over females under sufficient light conditions. In contrast, there were no significant sex-specific differences in biomass accumulation and relative competitive intensity (RCI) values under shade treatment. Under shading, the opposite sexes of P. yunnanensis exhibited mutual suppression of each other to varying degrees, showing similar competitive potential. These results demonstrate that the performance of plants in terms of morphology and physiology is strongly affected by patterns of sexual competition and light regimes. The asymmetry in sexual competition might be a crucial factor influencing the biased sex ratio of P. yunnanensis in natural habitats.

EVALUASI KUALITAS BIBIT PALA (Myristica fragrans Hout) DI DESA RUMAHKAY KECAMATAN AMALATU KABUPATEN SERAM BAGIAN BARAT

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Hout) is a plantation crop that has high economic value. Good growth of nutmeg must be started from using good seeds and to get good seeds, the seeding technique must use good quality seeds and good shade. The people of Rumahkay Village use different shelters for seeding nutmeg seedlings, for this reason it is necessary to evaluate which type of shade is better. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the type of shade on the growth of nutmeg seedlings, to determine which type of shade is the best. This research was carried out from August 2022 to September 2022 in Rumahkay Village, Amalatu District, West Seram Regency. This experiment was a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 8 levels of shade treatment (N0=no shade; N1=zeng; N2= plastic; N3= paranet; N4=roof house; N5= sago leaves; N6= mosquito net and N7= banner) which was repeated 4 times. Parameters measured were plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves and total leaf area. The results of the analysis show that the type of shade treatment has a significant and not significant effect on all observation parameters. The results of the Fisher LSD 95% test showed that the shade type N3 (70% paranet) produced the best nutmeg seeds compared to other types of shade.

The impact of urban tree shade on residential irrigation demand in a semi-arid Western U.S. City

This research examines how shade offsets residential landscape irrigation demand in a semi-arid city in the western United States. Using over 40,000 customer records from Denver Water, the relationship between residential irrigation and quantities of turf, tree canopy, and shade was studied, controlling for other factors related to the vegetation, parcel, and residence. LiDAR and imagery were used to model turf and tree canopy area and daily hours of shade falling on turf. Simultaneous Autoregression determined that each additional hour of daily building and tree shade falling on turf was associated with 18,672 and 11,683 fewer liters of irrigation per growing season, respectively, for the average parcel (turf area = 476 m2), equating to reductions of 39.2 and 24.5 liters per m2 per growing season for a single hour of shade. These numbers, incorporating spatial spillovers, suggest that for landscapes with both trees and turf—the dominant pattern in many Western US cities— mature trees could potentially be arranged to produce enough shade to reduce water demand of underlying turf by an amount equal to, or even greater than, the trees' irrigation demand. This benefit was not found for shorter and younger trees, which have higher irrigation rates per unit area.

Hepatitis C Treatment for Patients Without Insurance in a Student-Run Free Clinic: Analysis of Demographics, Cost, and Outcomes

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) predominantly affects marginalized patients, who have been reported to lack access to effective treatment. A high overlap exists between those at risk for HCV and those cared for by student-run free clinics. The purpose of this study is to present how one student-run free clinic provides accessible HCV care to patients as a model for other free clinics to offer similar services.
 Methods: Data was reviewed from the electronic medical record and MedData Services, a software for management of patient assistance program (PAP) applications. Data collected included information regarding HCV diagnosis, treatment, and medication access process.
 Results: At our clinic, there were 23 patients with a documented diagnosis or prior history of HCV infection. Treatment was initiated in 83% (n = 19) of patients, and 89% (n = 17) of these patients completed treatment. Most patients (84%, n = 16) received HCV medications directly through Shade Tree Clinic. All but three patients were treated with Harvoni®. All patients with available laboratory data (n = 13) at >12 weeks status-post treatment had achieved sustained viral response. PAP applications were successfully approved for 89% (n = 17) of submitted applications (n = 19), representing the primary avenue for our clinic to access HCV treatments.
 Conclusions: Our experience with HCV demonstrates that effective HCV treatment is feasible in a student-run free clinic setting.