Multiobjective optimization of economic balances of sugarcane harvest biomass

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chemical treatment of post-harvest Marandu grass seed residues with different moisture contents

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do tratamento químico com ureia (3 ou 5% na MS) e amônia anidra (3% na MS) no feno de resíduo pós-colheita de sementes de Brachiaria brizantha, cv. Marandu, contendo diferentes teores de umidade (15, 25 ou 30%). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com oito tratamentos e quatro repetições (camadas de fardos dentro das pilhas). O feno tratado com 3% de amônia anidra com 15% de umidade ocasionou redução de 84,3 para 79,1% nos teores de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e elevação de 37,3 para 55,5% na digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (MS) em relação ao grupo controle. A variação na umidade não alterou de maneira significativa a ação da amônia, cujos valores médios foram 77,6% de FDN e 57,3% de digestibilidade in vitro da MS. O feno com 5% de ureia reduziu os teores de FDN de 84,3 para 79,6% em relação ao feno não-tratado, o que tornou necessário o aumento da umidade para 30% para maior efeito sobre a digestibilidade da MS, que aumentou 12 unidades percentuais.

Change in the ascorbic-acid content of acerolas (Malpighia-glabra L) as function of harvest maturation degree and storage-temperature

The content of ascorbic acid was assayed in acerolas harvested in three phases of maturation: green-yellow fruits (I); light red (II) and wine-coloured (III). Phase I and Phase II fruit were packed in aluminium sheets and stoppered flasks and stored in freezer (-10o.C) and in refrigerator (8o.C). Samples of 8 fruits from each experimental condiction were analysed for ascorbic acid determination by 2-chlorophenol indophenol discolouration method. The averages of 1.393,5 mg./100g. for Phase I sample, 1024,9 for Phase II and 756,5 for Phase III fruits, showed a statistically significative linear decreasing of the ascorbic acid content related with the maturation extent Phase I samples stored in freezing showed statitically significative decreasing of that vitamin at 408 hours of storage in both: aluminium sheet and stoppered flask package; in chilling temperature there was significative reduction of ascorbic acid content after 240 and 312 hours, respectively, for fruits packed in aluminium sheet and stopped flasks. Phase Il samples showed significative lost at 72 hours of storage when maintained in freezing temperature either, in aluminium sheet or in stoppered flasks: When stored in chilling temperature showed progressive lost of ascorbic acid in all measuring periods in every package. After 144 hours suffered deterioration suggested by colour changes.

Genotypic evaluation of Dent composite (Zea mays L) half-sib progenies in late harvest crop conditions

The present work was conducted at FCAV-UNESP, Campus de Jaboticabal, in late harvest crop time of 1991. One hundred interpopulational hybrids obtained from a top-cross between Dent Composite and Flint Composite populations were evaluated. The analyzed characteristics were: Spodoptera frugiperda damages, lodging, damaged ears percentage, and productivity. Estimates of heritability, variance between progenies and genetical gain for each character of available population were determined. Estimates of the progenies variance, like those from heritability for the different analysed characters, indicate that there is an adequate genetical variance for the utilization of that material on subsequent genetic breeding programs, though allowing genetical gains, on the following selection cycles for the characteristics: grain weight, lodging and damages caused by armyworm larvae, whereas for the other characteristics the obtained results were not satisfactory.

Refuse production in leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and its relationship with leaf harvest

We examined the relationship between fungal refuse production and vegetation input in a laboratory colony of the leaf-cutting ant Acromyrmex coronatus. We found only a strong 6-day time-delay in the production of refuse with variation in substrate intake.

Identification and characterization of Colletotrichum spp. affecting fruit after harvest in Brazil

Colletotrichum spp. cause anthracnose in various fruits post-harvest and are a particularly important problem in tropical and subtropical fruits. The disease in fruits of avocado, guava, papaya, mango and passion fruit has been reported to be caused by C. gloeosporioides, and in banana by C. musae. In subtropical and temperate crops such apple, grape, peach and kiwi, the disease is caused by C. acutatum. The variation in pathogenic, morphological, cultural and molecular characteristics of Brazilian isolates of Colletotrichum acutatum Simmonds and isolates from post-harvest decays of avocado, banana, guava, papaya, mango and passion fruit was evaluated. The fruits were inoculated with mycelium of C. acutatum, Colletotrichum spp. and C. musae on a disc of potato dextrose agar. The morphological, cultural and molecular characteristics studied were conidia morphology, colony growth at different temperatures, colony coloration and PCR with primers CaInt2 and ITS4 for C. acutatum and CgInt and ITS4 for C. gloeosporioides. C. acutatum was pathogenic to avocado, guava, papaya, mango and passion fruit, but it was not pathogenic to banana. The morphological, cultural and molecular studies indicated that the avocado, papaya, mango and passion fruit isolates were C. gloeosporioides. The natural guava isolate was identified as C. acutatum, which had not been found previously to produce anthracnose symptoms on guava in Brazil.

Action of auxins, boron and harvest season on the rooting of kiwi fruit stem cuttings (Actinidia chinensis Pl cv Monty)

Action of auxins on the rooting of stem cuttings of kiwi (Actinidia chinensis P. cv Monty). This work studies the effects of some synthetic auxins and B in the rooting of kiwi (Actinidia chinensis Planch cv Monty) stem cuttings. The treatments used were as follows: T1 (H2O); T2 (NAA 300 ppm); T3 (IBA 300 ppm); T4 (NAA 300 ppm + B); T5 (IBA 300 ppm + B); T6 (NAA 0,5%-talc) and T7 (IBA 0,5%-talc), applied to the bases of the cuttings. These were then placed in rooting dishes with pure vermiculite in a misty nebulization chamber until collection day (120 days). The evaluation of auxin and boric acid effects on kiwi stem cuttings were made based on the following observations: 1. The percentage of rooted stem cuttings; 2. reducing sugars and total sugar analyses (in g/100 g of dry matter); and 3. tryptophan analyses (in mu g/100 mg of dry matter). The results show that summer is the best season for rooting Actinidia chinensis Planch cv Monty stem cuttings. The use of IBA talc 0,5% on the bases of the cuttings shamed positive results too.

Greenhouse gas balance due to the conversion of sugarcane areas from burned to green harvest in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Greenhouse gas balance due to the conversion of sugarcane areas from burned to green harvest, considering other conservationist management practices

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Use of Natural Products for Post-Harvest Preservation of 'Vega' Cut Roses

Use of natural products as floral preservatives has helped to reduce the indiscriminate use of chemical products in flower preservation. In this study, we tested the ability of certain natural products to maintain the quality and to increase the commercial durability of 'Vega' cut roses. We employed a randomized factorial design with six post-harvest treatments and four evaluation dates. The following treatments were tested: 1) distilled water; 2) methyl jasmonate (350 mu M) applied in a four-hour pulse; 3) methyl jasmonate (500 mu M) spraying; 4) mint oil (100 ppm); 5) ginger oil (100 ppm); and 6) propolis (0.05%) as a maintenance solution. Flowers were kept at 20+/-2 degrees C and 67+/-3% RH. Physiological and qualitative evaluations were conducted. Natural products had a beneficial effect on the shelf life of the flowers. However, for all evaluated parameters, the methyl jasmonate spray was the most efficient treatment to maintain floral quality, resulting in less fresh-mass loss and a lower flower respiratory rate. Methyl jasmonate spray also improved the maintenance of coloration, relative water content and concentration of reducing sugars, thus extending the shelf life of roses.

Total and harvest-date yield of processing tomato cultivars

The productivity of 28 tomato cultivars was evaluated over three stages of harvest. The study was carried out during from June to December of 1999 in an open field at the experimental area of the Section of Olericulture and Aromatic Medicinal Plants, Department of Crop Production at FCAV-UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. The cultivars studied were H 7155, Hypeel, Andino, U 573, H 9036, IPA 6, H 9494, AG 33, Yuba, RPT 1294, AG 72, Pelmeech, Curico, Hypeel 45, RPT 1478, H 9492, H 9498, H 2710, Hitech 45, Halley, Botu 13, H 9553, U 646, NK 1570, AG 45, RPT 1095, RPT 1570, and PSX 37511. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four repetitions, with five plants per plot. Productivity was evaluated at three stages of harvest at 119, 149 and 179 days after seeding. There were no significant differences among the cultivars at the first harvest (119 days). The majority of the cultivars produced their highest yield at the second harvest; the most productive cultivars were Curicó and AG 72, which yielded 4.69 and 4.67 kg/plant, respectively, although they did not differ statistically from the cultivars Hypeel 45 (4.35 kg/plant) and H 9498 (4.16 kg/plant). Yields of the cultivars Andino and H 9494 were evenly distributed between the second and third harvests. At the third harvest, cultivar IPA 6 had the highest yield (2.9 kg/plant) and was statistically different from all other cultivars except H 9036 (2.34 kg). These two cultivars had the most delayed and concentrated maturity, making them suitable for mechanical harvesting, although at a later time. Cultivar AG 72 had the greatest total yield (5.76 kg/plant), but it was not statistically different from cultivars Hypeel 45 (5.43 kg), Curico (4.17 kg), H 9498 (4.83 kg), H 7155 (4.58 kg) and Halley (4.55 kg). All of the cultivars, with the exception of cultivars H 9036, IPA 6, Andino and H 9494 showed in the second harvest concentrated maturity, making it suitable for mechanical harvesting.

Optimal energy generation with biomass of sugarcane harvest

The aim of this work is the application of the Interior Point and Branch and Bound methods in multiobjective optimization models related to sugarcane harvest residual biomass. These methods showed their viability to help on choosing the sugarcane planting varieties, searching to optimize cost and energy balance of harvest residual biomass, which have conflitant objectives. These methods provide satisfactory results, with fair computing performance and reliable and consistent solutions to the analyzed models. © 2011 IEEE.

Pre-harvest sugarcane burning: Determination of emission factors through laboratory measurements

Sugarcane is an important crop for the Brazilian economy and roughly 50% of its production is used to produce ethanol. However, the common practice of pre-harvest burning of sugarcane straw emits particulate material, greenhouse gases, and tropospheric ozone precursors to the atmosphere. Even with policies to eliminate the practice of pre-harvest sugarcane burning in the near future, there is still significant environmental damage. Thus, the generation of reliable inventories of emissions due to this activity is crucial in order to assess their environmental impact. Nevertheless, the official Brazilian emissions inventory does not presently include the contribution from pre-harvest sugarcane burning. In this context, this work aims to determine sugarcane straw burning emission factors for some trace gases and particulate material smaller than 2.5μm in the laboratory. Excess mixing ratios for CO2, CO, NOX, UHC (unburned hydrocarbons), and PM2.5 were measured, allowing the estimation of their respective emission factors. Average estimated values for emission factors (g kg-1 of burned dry biomass) were 1,303 ± 218 for CO2, 65 ± 14 for CO, 1.5 ± 0.4 for NOX, 16 ± 6 for UHC, and 2.6 ± 1.6 for PM2.5. These emission factors can be used to generate more realistic emission inventories and therefore improve the results of air quality models. © 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.