Nitrogen deficiency tolerance and responsiveness of durum wheat genotypes in Ethiopia

Tesfaye Geleta Aga Kebebew Assefa Bekele Abeyo (2022, [Artículo])

Low-Nitrogen Tolerance Yield Reduction Tolerant Genotypes Parental Donors CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA NITROGEN HARD WHEAT GENOTYPES

Synthesis of hollow carbon spheres by chemical activation of carbon nanoparticles for their use in electrochemical capacitor

Cesar Eduardo Sanchez Rodriguez EDUARDO TOVAR MARTINEZ MARISOL REYES REYES Luis Felipe Cházaro Ruiz ROMAN LOPEZ SANDOVAL (2022, [Artículo])

"Naphthalene combustion has been used to synthesize grams per hour of solid carbon spheres (CS). The carbon soot was activated by acid treatment consisting in a mixture of HNO3 and H2SO4 (1/3 v/v) to produce hollow carbon spheres (HCS). The effect of two concentrations of CSs (5 and 10 mg mL−1) in the acid mixture, on the physicochemical properties of the activated HCSs was studied. The HSCs were subjected to a thermal treatment to increase their graphitization to enhance their electrical conductivity. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirmed the formation of HCSs due to the acid treatment whereas FTIR spectra showed that the chemical activation produced functional groups on the carbon spheres surface and the heat treatment effect to remove some of them as well. A specific surface area of 300 m2 g−1 and a large density of micropores for the acid-treated CSs as well as the heat-treated CSs were estimated by analysis of N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms. A specific capacitance 70 F g−1 was calculated by cyclic voltammetry of the acid and thermally treated HCSs at 5 mV s−1, for both CS concentrations, indicating the possibility of synthesizing these HCSs using a simple method in large quantities for their use in electrochemical capacitors."

Physicochemical properties Carbon nanoparticles Chemical activation Electrochemical capacitor BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA QUÍMICA QUÍMICA

Caracterización de un sistema constructivo de bajo impacto ambiental para viviendas destinadas a poblaciones vulnerables

Alma Luisa (2022, [Tesis de maestría])

418 páginas. Maestría en Diseño Bioclimático.

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo mostrar los beneficios y la decisión de elegir un Sistema Constructivo de Bajo Impacto Ambiental para Viviendas destinadas a Poblaciones Vulnerables, como primera opción en las construcciones de viviendas, hablando de manera general en México. De manera particular este trabajo se desarrolló en el caso de estudio específico, en la Alcaldía Xochimilco, en el pueblo de Santa Cruz Acalpixca, en donde se realizaron diversos estudios de la tierra más adecuada, al igual que diversos tipos de test, para conocer las propiedades de la tierra y así poder desarrollar con este estudio de investigación de los elementos el proceso de construcción de una Vivienda de 67.24 m₂, la cual se está planeando efectuar. A su vez se realizaron los estudios pertinentes, los cuales muestran que la vivienda es segura y está garantizada su habitabilidad, para ejecutar la construcción de este proyecto. Durante los proyectos de construcción de Sistemas Constructivos convencionales, se realizan grandes procesos de inversión en la obtención de los materiales que proporcionen las características necesarias de resistencia y soporte para las estructuras de la edificación. A su vez la obtención de estos materiales, es la actividad que puede generar mayor cantidad de impactos adversos al ambiente y a la calidad de vida de las personas. Por ello uno de los principios de la construcción sostenible es la implementación de materiales amigables con el ambiente, con larga vida útil y que para su manipulación se requiere un consumo de energía menor que lo necesario para el manejo de los materiales convencionales. Derivado de este documento tenemos como primicia, la contribución de los beneficios de la construcción sostenible, comparados con la construcción tradicional que se ha venido implementando en la sociedad actual. El presente documento se enfocará en la selección del Sistema constructivo con sus materiales y los costos relacionados al hacer uso de ellos, los impactos ocasionados en cada una de las etapas del proyecto y el costo-beneficio que genera la construcción tradicional y la aplicación de la sostenibilidad en la misma.

This work aims to present the benefits and the decision to choose a Low Environmental Impact Construction System for Housing for Vulnerable Populations, as the first option in housing construction, generally speaking in Mexico. In particular, this work was developed in the specific case study, in the Xochimilco Mayor's Office, in the town of Santa Cruz Acalpixca, where various studies of the most suitable land were carried out, as well as various types of tests, to know the properties of the land and thus be able to develop with this research study of the elements the construction process of a House of 67.24 m₂, which is being planned. At the same time, the pertinent studies were carried out, which show that the house is safe and its habitability is guaranteed, to execute the construction of this project. During the construction projects of conventional Construction Systems, large investment processes are made in obtaining the materials that provide the necessary characteristics of resistance and support for the building structures. In turn, obtaining these materials is the activity that can generate the greatest number of adverse impacts on the environment and on people's quality of life. For this reason, one of the principles of sustainable construction is the implementation of environmentally friendly materials, with a long useful life and that require less energy consumption for their handling than is necessary for the handling of conventional materials. Derived from this document we have as a first, the contribution of the benefits of sustainable construction, compared to traditional construction that has been implemented in today's society. This document will focus on the selection of the construction system with its materials and the costs related to making use of them, the impacts caused in each of the stages of the project and the cost-benefit generated by traditional construction and the application of technology. sustainability in it.

Housing--Mexico--Mexico City. Low-income housing. Environmental impact analysis. Vivienda -- Ciudad de México. Vivienda de bajo costo. Análisis del impacto ambiental. HD7306.M4 HUMANIDADES Y CIENCIAS DE LA CONDUCTA CIENCIAS DE LAS ARTES Y LAS LETRAS ARQUITECTURA DISEÑO ARQUITECTÓNICO

Discovery of genomic regions associated with grain yield and agronomic traits in Bi-parental populations of maize (Zea mays. L) under optimum and low nitrogen conditions

Noel Ndlovu Vijay Chaikam Berhanu Tadesse Ertiro Biswanath Das Yoseph Beyene Charles Spillane Prasanna Boddupalli Manje Gowda (2023, [Artículo])

Grain Yield Low Soil Nitrogen CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA GRAIN NITROGEN SOIL CHEMICOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES MAIZE QUANTITATIVE TRAIT LOCI

Mulch application as the overarching factor explaining increase in soil organic carbon stocks under conservation agriculture in two 8-year-old experiments in Zimbabwe

Regis Chikowo Christian Thierfelder Marc Corbeels (2024, [Artículo])

Conservation agriculture (CA), combining reduced or no tillage, permanent soil cover, and improved rotations, is often promoted as a climate-smart practice. However, our understanding of the impact of CA and its respective three principles on top- and subsoil organic carbon stocks in the low-input cropping systems of sub-Saharan Africa is rather limited. This study was conducted at two long-term experimental sites established in Zimbabwe in 2013. The soil types were abruptic Lixisols at Domboshava Training Centre (DTC) and xanthic Ferralsol at the University of Zimbabwe farm (UZF). The following six treatments, which were replicated four times, were investigated: conventional tillage (CT), conventional tillage with rotation (CTR), no tillage (NT), no tillage with mulch (NTM), no tillage with rotation (NTR), and no tillage with mulch and rotation (NTMR). Maize (Zea mays L.) was the main crop, and treatments with rotation included cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.). The soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration and soil bulk density were determined for samples taken from depths of 0–5, 5–10, 10–15, 15–20, 20–30, 30–40, 40–50, 50–75 and 75–100 cm. Cumulative organic inputs to the soil were also estimated for all treatments. SOC stocks at equivalent soil mass were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the NTM, NTR and NTMR treatments compared with the NT and CT treatments in the top 5 cm and top 10 cm layers at UZF, while SOC stocks were only significantly higher in the NTM and NTMR treatments compared with the NT and CT treatments in the top 5 cm at DTC. NT alone had a slightly negative impact on the top SOC stocks. Cumulative SOC stocks were not significantly different between treatments when considering the whole 100 cm soil profile. Our results show the overarching role of crop residue mulching in CA cropping systems with respect to enhancing SOC stocks but also that this effect is limited to the topsoil. The highest cumulative organic carbon inputs to the soil were observed in NTM treatments at the two sites, and this could probably explain the positive effect on SOC stocks. Moreover, our results show that the combination of at least two CA principles including mulch is required to increase SOC stocks in these low-nitrogen-input cropping systems.

CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA SOIL ORGANIC CARBON CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE EXPERIMENTATION CROP MANAGEMENT

Estimating lime requirements for tropical soils: Model comparison and development

Fernando Aramburu Merlos João Vasco Silva Frédéric Baudron Robert Hijmans (2023, [Artículo])

Acid tropical soils may become more productive when treated with agricultural lime, but optimal lime rates have yet to be determined in many tropical regions. In these regions, lime rates can be estimated with lime requirement models based on widely available soil data. We reviewed seven of these models and introduced a new model (LiTAS). We evaluated the models’ ability to predict the amount of lime needed to reach a target change in soil chemical properties with data from four soil incubation studies covering 31 soil types. Two foundational models, one targeting acidity saturation and the other targeting base saturation, were more accurate than the five models that were derived from them, while the LiTAS model was the most accurate. The models were used to estimate lime requirements for 303 African soil samples. We found large differences in the estimated lime rates depending on the target soil chemical property of the model. Therefore, an important first step in formulating liming recommendations is to clearly identify the soil property of interest and the target value that needs to be reached. While the LiTAS model can be useful for strategic research, more information on acidity-related problems other than aluminum toxicity is needed to comprehensively assess the benefits of liming.

Exchangeable Acidity Aluminum Saturation Calcium Carbonate Equivalent CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CHEMICOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES LIMES TROPICAL ZONES ACID SOILS ALUMINIUM BASE SATURATION CALCIUM CARBONATE

Changes in soil organic carbon pools after 15 years of Conservation Agriculture in rice (Oryza sativa)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) cropping system of eastern Indo-Gangetic plains

C.M. Parihar Mahesh Gathala ML JAT (2023, [Artículo])

The present study was carried out at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur, Bihar during 2021-2023 to focus on examining alterations in SOC pools resulting from conservation agriculture (CA) practices in R-W system in the eastern IGP, following the collection of soil samples from a long-term trial that was initiated in rainy (kharif) season 2006. The trial included eight combinations, namely: conventional tilled rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (CTR-CTW); CT rice and zero till wheat (CTR-ZTW); direct seeded rice (DSR) and wheat on permanent raised beds (PBDSR-PBW); ZTDSR and CT Wheat (ZTDSR-CTW); ZTDSR and ZT wheat without residue (ZTDSR-ZTW-R); ZTDSR-ZT wheat with residue (ZTDSR-ZTW +R); unpuddled transplanted riceZTW (UpTR-ZTW) and ZTDSR-sesbania brown manure-ZTW (ZTDSR-S-ZTW). Results revealed that implementing zero tillage (ZT) combined with residue retention in rice and wheat cultivation led to enhanced levels of soil organic carbon (SOC) across all four fractions, namely very labile (CVL), labile (CL), less labile (CLL), and non-labile (CNL), in comparison to the continuous and rotational tillage practices. The tillage and residue management options significantly affected the lability index (LI) and C pool index (CPI), with zero-tillage and residue retention leading to lower LI and higher CPI values. The management practices significantly affected the C management index (CMI), with zero-tillage and residue retention showing the highest CMI values. Findings showed the potential of CA practices for enhancing soil C quality as well as C sequestration in soil of the Eastern IGP of India.

Carbon Management Index Soil Organic Carbon Fractions CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE SOIL ORGANIC CARBON ZERO TILLAGE

Conjuntos de dinoflagelados del Cretácico Inferior de Colombia

Assemblages of dinoflagellate from the Lower Cretaceous of Colombia

Maribel Reyes Tixteco (2023, [Tesis de maestría])

Los dinoflagelados se usan como indicadores en investigaciones ecológicas y son uno de los principales causantes de toxicidad en florecimientos algales nocivos (FANs). Estas microalgas producen quistes resistentes y fosilizables, los cuales son muy útiles como indicadores bioestratigráficos y paleoecológicos. Los dinoflagelados del Cretácico han sido ampliamente estudiados en estratos de latitudes medias y altas, pero los conjuntos tropicales casi no han sido estudiados. Para ayudar a remediar esta falta de conocimiento, se estudiaron cuantitativamente y cualitativamente el contenido de dinoflagelados de 50 muestras de núcleos de los pozos ANH-CR-MONTECARLO-1X y ANH-CON-06-ST-S, localizados en Colombia. La edad de la sedimentación en ambos pozos se interpreta como Albiano, aunque hay un poco de incertidumbre en la edad de inicio. Los taxones heterotróficos tienen menor riqueza de especies, pero presentan mayor abundancia, mientras que los autótrofos tienen mayor riqueza de especies pero menor abundancia. En el pozo ANH-CR-MONTECARLO-1X se identificaron 20 géneros y 24 especies, con altos valores de concentración total de 1,441.00 qst / gr sed, en la muestra IIES-PALY-6015 por la presencia de Subtilisphaera y 1,036.88 en la muestra IIES-PALY-6021 dominada por Muderongia. Dichas muestras son correlacionables con dos transgresiones marinas, del Albiano tardío (104.4 Ma) y el Albiano temprano (111 Ma) respectivamente. Además, indican que los ensamblajes de quistes en este pozo, están dominados por formas Peridinoideas y Ceratioideas. En el pozo ANH-CON-06-ST-S se encontraron 16 géneros y 15 especies, con un valor máximo de 3,539.62 qst / gr sed en la muestra IIES-PALY-5995 por el alto contenido de Subtilisphaera, y correlacionable con la transgresión marina del Albiano tardío (104.4 Ma). Los ensamblajes de quistes en este pozo, están dominados por las formas Peridinoideas. La litología y el contenido de palinomorfos de los pozos indican un ambiente nerítico interno (NI) a transicional (T), con mayor aporte de terrígenos en el pozo ANH-CON-06-ST-S. Se propone un clima cálido para el Cretácico Inferior por la alta diversidad de taxones autótrofos característicos de aguas cálidas y estratificadas.

Dinoflagellates produce resistant and fossilizable cysts, which are useful as biostratigraphic and paleoecological indicators. These microalgae are used as indicators in ecological studies and are one of the main causes of toxicity in harmful algal blooms (HABs). Cretaceous dinoflagellates have been extensively studied in mid- and high-latitude strata, but tropical assemblages have hardly been studied. To help remedy this lack of knowledge, the dinoflagellate content of 50 core samples from the ANH-CR-MONTECARLO-1X and ANH-CON-06-ST-S wells, located in Colombia, were quantitatively and qualitatively studied. The age of sedimentation in both wells is interpreted as Albian, although there is some uncertainty in the beginning of the depositional age. Heterotrophic taxa have lower species richness but higher abundance, while autotrophs have higher species richness but lower abundance. In the ANH-CR-MONTECARLO-1X well, 20 genera and 24 species were identified, with high total concentration values of 1,441.00 cst / gr sed, in the IIES-PALY-6015 sample, due to the presence of Subtilisphaera and 1,036.88 in the IIES sample -PALY-6021, dominated by Muderongia. These samples are correlable with two marine transgressions, from the late Albian (104.4 Ma) and early Albian (111 Ma) respectively. Furthermore, they indicate that the cyst assemblages in this well are dominated by hetrotrophic forms. In the ANH-CON-06-ST-S well, 16 genera and 15 species were found, with a maximum value of 3,539.62 qst / gr sed in the IIES-PALY-5995 sample due to the high content of Subtilisphaera, and correlated with the transgression marina from the late Albian (104.4 Ma). The cyst assemblages in this well are also dominated by the heterotrophic forms. The lithology and palynomorph content of the wells indicate an internal neritic (NI) to transitional (T) environment, with a higher terrigenous influx in the ANH-CON-06-ST-S well. A warm climate is proposed for the Lower Cretaceous due to the high diversity of autotrophic taxa characteristic of warm and stratified waters.

Dinoflagelados, Cretácico Inferior, Bioestratigrafía, Paleoambientes, Paleoecología Dinoflagellates, Lower Cretaceous, Biostratigraphy, Paleoenvironment, Paleoecology CIENCIAS FÍSICO MATEMÁTICAS Y CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA CIENCIAS DE LA TIERRA Y DEL ESPACIO GEOLOGÍA GEOLOGÍA REGIONAL GEOLOGÍA REGIONAL

Climate-smart agricultural practices influence the fungal communities and soil properties under major agri-food systems

madhu choudhary ML JAT Parbodh Chander Sharma (2022, [Artículo])

Fungal communities in agricultural soils are assumed to be affected by climate, weather, and anthropogenic activities, and magnitude of their effect depends on the agricultural activities. Therefore, a study was conducted to investigate the impact of the portfolio of management practices on fungal communities and soil physical–chemical properties. The study comprised different climate-smart agriculture (CSA)-based management scenarios (Sc) established on the principles of conservation agriculture (CA), namely, ScI is conventional tillage-based rice–wheat rotation, ScII is partial CA-based rice–wheat–mungbean, ScIII is partial CSA-based rice–wheat–mungbean, ScIV is partial CSA-based maize–wheat–mungbean, and ScV and ScVI are CSA-based scenarios and similar to ScIII and ScIV, respectively, except for fertigation method. All the scenarios were flood irrigated except the ScV and ScVI where water and nitrogen were given through subsurface drip irrigation. Soils of these scenarios were collected from 0 to 15 cm depth and analyzed by Illumina paired-end sequencing of Internal Transcribed Spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2) for the study of fungal community composition. Analysis of 5 million processed sequences showed a higher Shannon diversity index of 1.47 times and a Simpson index of 1.12 times in maize-based CSA scenarios (ScIV and ScVI) compared with rice-based CSA scenarios (ScIII and ScV). Seven phyla were present in all the scenarios, where Ascomycota was the most abundant phyla and it was followed by Basidiomycota and Zygomycota. Ascomycota was found more abundant in rice-based CSA scenarios as compared to maize-based CSA scenarios. Soil organic carbon and nitrogen were found to be 1.62 and 1.25 times higher in CSA scenarios compared with other scenarios. Bulk density was found highest in farmers' practice (Sc1); however, mean weight diameter and water-stable aggregates were found lowest in ScI. Soil physical, chemical, and biological properties were found better under CSA-based practices, which also increased the wheat grain yield by 12.5% and system yield by 18.8%. These results indicate that bundling/layering of smart agricultural practices over farmers' practices has tremendous effects on soil properties, and hence play an important role in sustaining soil quality/health.

Agriculture Management Fungal Community Diversity Indices Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA AGRICULTURE TILLAGE CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE SOIL ORGANIC CARBON

Diversifying with grain legumes amplifies carbon in management-sensitive soil organic carbon pools on smallholder farms

Regis Chikowo Sieglinde Snapp (2023, [Artículo])

Crop diversification with grain legumes has been advocated as a means to increase agroecological resilience, diversify livelihoods, boost household nutrition, and enhance soil health and fertility in cereal-based cropping systems in sub-Saharan Africa and around the world. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a primary indicator of soil health and there is limited data regarding SOC pools and grain legume diversification on smallholder farms where soils are often marginal. In Malawi, a range of legume diversification options are under investigation, including rotations and a doubled-up legume rotation (DLR) system in which two compatible legumes are intercropped and then rotated with a cereal. The impact of the DLR system on SOC has not yet been determined, and there is a lack of evidence regarding SOC status over a gradient of simple to complex grain legume diversified systems. We address this knowledge gap by evaluating these systems in comparison to continuous sole maize (Zea mays L.) at three on-farm trial sites in central Malawi. After six years of trial establishment, we measured SOC in bulk soils and aggregate fractions and in faster cycling SOC pools that respond more rapidly to management practices, including water extractable organic carbon (WEOC), particulate organic matter carbon (POM-C), potentially mineralizable carbon (C), and macroaggregate C. Cropping treatment differences were not seen in bulk SOC or total N, but they were apparent in SOC pools with a shorter turnover time. The DLR system of intercropped pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) and groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) rotated with maize had higher WEOC, POM-C, potentially mineralizable C, macroaggregate and microaggregate C values than continuous maize. Of the single legume rotations, the pigeonpea-maize rotation had more mineralizable C and microaggregate C compared to continuous maize, while the groundnut-maize rotation had similar C values to the maize system. Overall, this study shows the potential for crop rotations diversified with grain legumes to enhance C in management sensitive SOC pools, and it is one of the first reports to show this effect on smallholder farm sites.

Crop Diversification Water Extractable Organic Carbon CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA DIVERSIFICATION LEGUMES PARTICULATE ORGANIC MATTER SOIL ORGANIC CARBON