Alternative cropping and feeding options to enhance sustainability of mixed crop-livestock farms in Bangladesh

Timothy Joseph Krupnik Jeroen Groot (2024, [Artículo])

We investigated alternative cropping and feeding options for large (>10 cows), medium (5–10 cows) and small (≤4 cows) mixed crop – livestock farm types, to enhance economic and environmental performance in Jhenaidha and Meherpur districts – locations with increasing dairy production – in south western Bangladesh. Following focus group discussions with farmers on constraints and opportunities, we collected baseline data from one representative farm from each farm size class per district (six in total) to parameterize the whole-farm model FarmDESIGN. The six modelled farms were subjected to Pareto-based multi-objective (differential evolution algorithm) optimization to generate alternative dairy farm and fodder configurations. The objectives were to maximize farm profit, soil organic matter balance, and feed self-reliance, in addition to minimizing feed costs and soil nitrogen losses as indicators of sustainability. The cropped areas of the six baseline farms ranged from 0.6 to 4.0 ha and milk production per cow was between 1,640 and 3,560 kg year−1. Feed self-reliance was low (17%–57%) and soil N losses were high (74–342 kg ha−1 year−1). Subsequent trade-off analysis showed that increasing profit and soil organic matter balance was associated with higher risks of N losses. However, we found opportunities to improve economic and environmental performance simultaneously. Feed self-reliance could be increased by intensifying cropping and substituting fallow periods with appropriate fodder crops. For the farm type with the largest opportunity space and room to manoeuvre, we identified four strategies. Three strategies could be economically and environmentally benign, showing different opportunities for farm development with locally available resources.

Ruminant Feed Pareto-Based Optimization Farm Bioeconomic Model CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA RUMINANT FEEDING BIOECONOMIC MODELS MIXED CROPPING FARMS LIVESTOCK

Agricultural lime value chain efficiency for reducing soil acidity in Ethiopia

Moti Jaleta (2023, [Artículo])

Soil acidity is challenging agricultural production in Ethiopia. Above 43% of the farmland is under soil acidity problem and it leads to low crop yields and production losses. Ag-lime is widely considered as an effective remedy for amending soil acidity. This study assesses the current structure of ag-lime value chain and its functionality focusing on central parts of Ethiopia where lime is produced and channeled to acidity affected areas. The study uses Ethiopia as a case study and applies qualitative methods such as key informant interviews and focus group discussions to collect data from different actors in the ag-lime value chain. Key findings indicate that both public and private ag-lime producing factories are operating below their capacity. Due to limited enabling environments, the engagement of private sector in ag-lime value chain is minimal. In addition, farmers have a good awareness of soil acidity problem on their farms, and its causes and mitigation strategies in all regions. However, the adoption of ag-lime by smallholders was minimal. Overall, the current structure of the ag-lime value chain appears fragmented and needs improvement. Addressing soil acidity challenge through efficient ag-lime value chain could narrow lime supply-demand mismatches and increase widespread adoption by farmers to enhance crop productivity and food security in acidity-prone areas of the country.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA LIMES PRODUCTION COSTS VALUE CHAINS SOIL PH

Landscape and micronutrient fertilizer effect on agro-fortified wheat and teff grain nutrient concentration in western Amhara

Tilahun Amede Elizabeth Bailey Abdul Wahab Mossa Dereje Tirfessa MESFIN KEBEDE DESTA Getachew Agegnehu Tesfaye Shiferaw Sida Stephan Haefele R. Murray Lark Martin Broadley Samuel Gameda (2023, [Artículo])

Agronomic biofortification, encompassing the use of mineral and organic nutrient resources which improve micronutrient concentrations in staple crops is a potential strategy to promote the production of and access to micronutrient-dense foods at the farm level. However, the heterogeneity of smallholder farming landscapes presents challenges on implementing agronomic biofortification. Here, we test the effects of zinc (Zn)- and selenium (Se)-containing fertilizer on micronutrient concentrations of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and teff (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) grown under different landscape positions and with different micronutrient fertilizer application methods in the western Amhara region of Ethiopia. Field experiments were established in three landscape positions at three sites, with five treatments falling into three broad categories: (1) nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate; (2) micronutrient fertilizer application method; (3) sole or co-application of Zn and Se fertilizer. Treatments were replicated across five farms per landscape position and over two cropping seasons (2018 and 2019). Grain Zn concentration ranged from 26.6 to 36.4 mg kg−1 in wheat and 28.5–31.2 mg kg−1 in teff. Grain Se concentration ranged from 0.02 to 0.59 mg kg−1 in wheat while larger concentrations of between 1.01 and 1.55 mg kg−1 were attained in teff. Larger concentrations of Zn and Se were consistently attained when a foliar fertilizer was applied. Application of ⅓ nitrogen (N) yielded significantly larger grain Se concentration in wheat compared to a recommended N application rate. A moderate landscape effect on grain Zn concentration was observed in wheat but not in teff. In contrast, strong evidence of a landscape effect was observed for wheat and teff grain Se concentration. There was no evidence for any interaction of the treatment contrasts with landscape position except in teff, where an interaction effect between landscape position and Se application was observed. Our findings indicate an effect of Zn, Se, N, landscape position, and its interaction effect with Se on grain micronutrient concentrations. Agronomic biofortification of wheat and teff with micronutrient fertilizers is influenced by landscape position, the micronutrient fertilizer application method and N fertilizer management. The complexity of smallholder environmental settings and different farmer socio-economic opportunities calls for the optimization of nutritional agronomy landscape trials. Targeted application of micronutrient fertilizers across a landscape gradient is therefore required in ongoing agronomic biofortification interventions, in addition to the micronutrient fertilizer application method and the N fertilizer management strategy.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA BIOFORTIFICATION LANDSCAPE SELENIUM ZINC WHEAT

Not raised ‘to make big decisions’: young people’s agency and livelihoods in rural Pakistan

Patti Petesch Lone Badstue Dil Bahadur Rahut Akhter Ali (2022, [Artículo])

Social Norms Qualitative Research CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA AGRICULTURE GENDER LIVELIHOODS SOCIOECONOMIC ASPECTS YOUTH AGENCIES

Metodología Value Stream Mapping (VSM) aplicada a procesos de perforación de pozos petroleros en México

Value Stream Mapping (VSM) methodology applied to oil well drilling processes in Mexico

NEMIAS VASQUES MORALES CARLOS BELISARIO CASTAÑEDA CASTAÑEDA (2023, [Artículo])

Con los cambios recientes en el sector energético a nivel mundial, la industria petrolera enfrenta retos importantes en la extracción de hidrocarburos, por lo que se ha priorizado la implementación de operaciones que permitan esta actividad de forma eficiente y optimizada. En este trabajo se analizará la aplicación de una de las herramientas del Lean Manufacturing, el VSM (Value Stream Mapping) con la finalidad de identificar posibles mejoras y disminución de tiempos no productivos en los procesos de perforación de pozos petroleros, de acuerdo a las experiencias previas en campos desarrollados en México. Se pretende demostrar que herramientas de análisis de eficiencia para la manufactura pueden adaptarse a industrias pesadas como la petrolera y en particular del área de perforación.

With recent changes in the energy sector worldwide, the oil industry faces significant challenges in the extraction of hydrocarbons, which is why the implementation of operations that allow this activity in an efficient and optimized manner has been prioritized. In this work, the application of one of the Lean Manufacturing tools, VSM (Value Stream Mapping) will be analyzed with the purpose of identifying possible improvements and reduction of non-productive times in the oil well drilling processes, according to experiences. previous ones in developed fields in Mexico. The aim is to demonstrate that efficiency analysis tools for manufacturing can be adapted to heavy industries such as the oil industry and in particular the drilling area.

Lean Operaciones Tiempos no productivos Operations Non-productive times INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS ESPECIALIDADES TECNOLÓGICAS OTRAS OTRAS

Estudio de la calidad del agua de las subdivisiones del cuerpo de agua Laguna de Cuyutlán, Manzanillo, Colima

JUAN LEODEGARIO GARCIA ROJAS (2011, [Documento de trabajo])

El objetivo general del proyecto fue determinar la calidad del agua en los cuerpos de agua de la laguna de Cuyutlán, Las Garzas y San Pedrito. Los objetivos específicos, selección

Calidad del agua Lagunas Informes de proyectos Manzanillo, Colima INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA

Multi-modal deep learning improves grain yield prediction in wheat breeding by fusing genomics and phenomics

Xu Wang Sandesh Kumar Shrestha Philomin Juliana Suchismita Mondal Francisco Pinto Govindan Velu Leonardo Abdiel Crespo Herrera JULIO HUERTA_ESPINO Ravi Singh Jesse Poland (2023, [Artículo])

New Crop Varieties Plant Breeding Programs Yield Prediction CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA LEARNING GRAIN YIELDS WHEAT BREEDING FOOD SECURITY

Characterization of Mediterranean durum wheat for resistance to Pyrenophora tritici-repentis

marwa laribi Khaled Sassi Sarrah Ben M'barek (2022, [Artículo])

Tan Spot Durum Wheat Phenotypic Diversity CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA SPOTS HARD WHEAT LANDRACES PHENOTYPIC VARIATION PLANT HEIGHT DISEASE RESISTANCE

Metals pollution in El Limón lagoon, Chiapas, Mexico

MARIA TERESA LEAL ASCENCIO SAUL MIRANDA ALONSO Elena María Otazo Sanchez Francisco Prieto García (2009, [Artículo])

La laguna El Limón, en el municipio de Reforma, Chiapas, México, ha presentado mortandad masiva de peces, lo que llevó a realizar un estudio más profundo que determinara el grado de contaminación de la laguna, así como las causas posibles de los eventos. Los resultados muestran que en los sedimentos de la laguna las concentraciones promedio de Zn, Ni, Cr, Cd y Cu rebasan los límites recomendados en Canadá y Estados Unidos para evitar la aparición de efectos biológicos nocivos en especies acuáticas. Es de especial mención la acumulación de Zn, que presenta una concentración máxima de 1360 mg/kg, presumiblemente asociada al uso de este metal como catalizador en una planta procesadora de gas. Si bien las descargas industriales que vierten a la laguna cumplen con los estándares establecidos en México para metales, esto no ha sido suficiente para evitar su acumulación en los sedimentos, lo cual demuestra que las normas existentes para las descargas de aguas residual industrial deben aumentar sus restricciones y tomar en cuenta el tipo de cuerpo receptor al que vierten. En el caso del uso de agua residual o contaminada para riego, la acumulación puede darse en los suelos agrícolas, pasando eventualmente a los cultivos, lo que tampoco es deseable.

Lagunas Contaminación del agua Metales Zinc INGENIERÍA Y TECNOLOGÍA

La construcción del sujeto leproso

Yaminel Bernal Astorga (2008, [Tesis de doctorado])

La lepra es una enfermedad que hasta el día de hoy continúa entre nosotros, irrumpe en la vida de las personas transformando su existencia de manera significativa, pues en cada una ellas delinean marcas que trascienden en el cuerpo, en las relaciones, en lo que hacen y en lo que piensan. Pero, sobre todo, cuando los individuos son identificados como “enfermos de lepra”, de entrada, quedan sujetos a los significados que anteceden a este padecimiento y que, generalmente, están vinculados con las expresiones de horror y miedo debido a la deformidad, la putrefacción, la discapacidad y el contagio que puede causar. De este modo, formular que el “enfermo de lepra” es objeto del dolor, las transformaciones en el cuerpo, los señalamientos, las exclusiones… son percepciones que, prácticamente, pueden vislumbrarse de antemano. Sin embargo, me interesa ir más allá de lo que hasta ahora se tiene por sentado en relación con el “enfermo de lepra”, e incluso la forma en la que puede ser problematizado.

Lepra Piel -- Enfermedades CIENCIAS SOCIALES SOCIOLOGÍA PROBLEMAS SOCIALES ENFERMEDAD ENFERMEDAD