Urban and peri-urban agricultural production along railway tracks: a case study from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region

Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) contributes to food security, serves as an opportunity for income generation, and provides recreational services to urban citizens. With a population of 21 Million people, of which 60 % live in slums, UPA activities can play a crucial role in supporting people’s livelihoods in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). This study was conducted to characterize the railway gardens, determine their role in UPA production, and assess potential risks. It comprises a baseline survey among 38 railway gardeners across MMR characterized by different demographic, socio-economic, migratory, and labour characteristics. Soil, irrigation water, and plant samples were analyzed for nutrients, heavy metals, and microbial load. All the railway gardeners practiced agriculture as a primary source of income and cultivated seasonal vegetables such as lady’s finger (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench), spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), red amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus L.), and white radish (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus) which were irrigated with waste water. This irrigation water was loaded with 7–28 mg N l^(−1), 0.3–7 mg P l^(−1), and 8–32 mg K l^(−1), but also contained heavy metals such as lead (0.02–0.06 mg Pb l^(−1)), cadmium (0.03–0.17 mg Cd l^(−1)), mercury (0.001–0.005 mg Hg l^(−1)), and pathogens such as Escherichia coli (1,100 most probable number per 100 ml). Levels of heavy metals exceeded the critical thresholds in surface soils (Cr, Ni, and Sr) and produce (Pb, Cd, and Sr). The railway garden production systems can substantially foster employment and reduce economic deprivation of urban poor particularly slum dwellers and migrant people. However this production system may also cause possible health risks to producers and consumers.

Vertical distribution, size and composition of the weed seedbank under various tillage and herbicide treatments in a sequence of industrial crops

Investigations were conducted during the 2003, 2004 and 2005 growing seasons in northern Greece to evaluate effects of tillage regime (mouldboard plough, chisel plough and rotary tiller), cropping sequence (continuous cotton, cotton-sugar beet rotation and continuous tobacco) and herbicide treatment on weed seedbank dynamics. Amaranthus spp. and Portulaca oleracea were the most abundant species, ranging from 76% to 89% of total weed seeds found in 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depths during the 3 years. With the mouldboard plough, 48% and 52% of the weed seedbank was found in the 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil horizons, while approximately 60% was concentrated in the upper 15 cm soil horizon for chisel plough and rotary tillage. Mouldboard ploughing significantly buried more Echinochloa crus-galli seeds in the 15-30 cm soil horizon compared with the other tillage regimes. Total seedbank (0-30 cm) of P. oleracea was significantly reduced in cotton-sugar beet rotation compared with cotton and tobacco monocultures, while the opposite occurred for E. crus-galli. Total seed densities of most annual broad-leaved weed species (Amaranthus spp., P. oleracea, Solanum nigrum) and E. crus-galli were lower in herbicide treated than in untreated plots. The results suggest that in light textured soils, conventional tillage with herbicide use gradually reduces seed density of small seeded weed species in the top 15 cm over several years. In contrast, crop rotation with the early established sugar beet favours spring-germinating grass weed species, but also prevents establishment of summer-germinating weed species by the early developing crop canopy.

Tillage and herbicide treatments with inter-row cultivation influence weed densities and yield of three industrial crops

Field experiments were conducted in northern Greece in 2003 and 2004 to evaluate effects of tillage regimes (moldboard plowing, chisel plowing, and rotary tilling), cropping sequences(continuous cotton, cotton-sugar beet rotation,and continuous tobacco) and herbicide treatments with inter-row hand hoeing on weed population densities. Total weed densities were not affected by tillage treatment except that of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli), which increased only in moldboard plowing treated plots during 2003. Redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus)and black nightshade (Solanum nigrum) densities were reduced in continuous cotton, while purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus), E. crus-galli, S. nigrum, and johnsongras(Sorghum halepense) densities were reduced in tobacco. A. retroflexus and S. nigrum were effectively controlled by all herbicide treatments with inter-row hand hoeing,whereas E. crus-galli was effectively reduced by herbicides applied to cotton and tobacco. S. halepense density reduction was a result of herbicide applied to tobacco with inter-row hand hoeing. Yield of all crops was higher under moldboard plowing and herbicide treatments. Pre-sowing and pre-emergence herbicide treatments in cotton and pre-transplant in tobacco integrated with inter-row cultivation resulted in efficient control of annual weed species and good crop yields. These observations are of practical relevance to crop selection by farmers in order to maintain weed populations at economically acceptable densities through the integration of various planting dates, sustainable herbicide use and inter-row cultivation; tools of great importance in integrated weed management systems. Keywords: cropping sequence, herbicide, integrated weed management, inter-row cultivation,tillage.

Amaranth bars enriched with fructans: acceptability and nutritional value

Amaranth bars enriched with fructans: acceptability and nutritional value. There is an increasing appeal for convenience foods with potential health benefits to the consumer. Raw materials with high nutritional value and functional properties must be used on the development of these food products. Amaranth is a gluten-free grain with high nutrition value. Inulin and oligofructose are prebiotic ingredients presenting effects as the enhancement of calcium absorption. Amaranth bars enriched with inulin and oligofructose were developed in the flavors: banana, Brazilian nuts and dried grape, coconut, peach, strawberry and wall nut. The proximate composition were determined and compared to commercial cereal bars, available in traditional (n=59), light (n=60), diet (n=8), with soy (n=10) and quinoa (n=1) categories. Amaranth bars present mean global acceptance values from 6.3 to 7.6 on a 9-point hedonic scale, nutritional advantages as compared to commercial cereal bars (caloric reduction and higher levels of dietary fiber). Although amaranth is an unknown raw material in Brazil, it shows good potential to be used in the manufacturing of ready-to-eat products. As they are gluten free, these amaranth bars are also an alternative product for celiacs, also contributing to the enhancement of calcium absorption, a problem frequently observed in these patients.

Effects of processing methods on amaranth starch digestibility and predicted glycemic index

Amaranth has attracted a great deal of interest in recent decades due to its valuable nutritional, functional, and agricultural characteristics. Amaranth seeds can be cooked, popped, roasted, flaked, or extruded for consumption. This study compared the in vitro starch digestibility of processed amaranth seeds to that of white bread. Raw seeds yielded rapidly digestible starch content (RDS) of 30.7% db and predicted glycemic index (pGI) of 87.2, the lowest among the studied products. Cooked, extruded, and popped amaranth seeds had starch digestibility similar to that of white bread (92.4, 91.2, and 101.3, respectively), while flaked and roasted seeds generated a slightly increased glycemic response (106.0 and 105.8, respectively). Cooking and extrusion did not alter the RDS contents of the seeds. No significant differences were observed among popped, flaked, and roasted RDS contents (38.0%,46.3%, and 42.9%, respectively), which were all lower than RDS content of bread (51.1%). Amaranth seed is a high glycemic food most likely because of its small starch granule size, low resistant starch content (< 1%), and tendency to completely lose its crystalline and granular starch structure during those heat treatments.

Effect of processing on the antioxidant activity of amaranth grain

Effect of processing on the antioxidant activity of amaranth grain. Amaranth has attracted increasing interest over recent decades because of its nutritional, functional and agricultural characteristics. Amaranth grain can be cooked, popped, toasted, extruded or milled for consumption. This study investigated the effect of these processes on the antioxidant activity of amaranth grain. Total phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity were determined according to two methods: inhibition, of lipid oxidation using the beta-carotene/linoleic acid system and the antioxidant activity index using the Rancimat (R) apparatus. The processing reduced the mean total phenolics content in amaranth grain from 31.7 to 22.0 mg of gallic acid equivalent/g of dry residue. It was observed that the ethanol extract from toasted grain was the only one that presented a lower antioxidant activity index compared with the raw grain (1.3 versus 1.7). The extrusion, toasting and popping processes did not change the capacity to inhibit amaranth lipid oxidation (55%). However, cooking increased the inhibition of lipid oxidation (79%), perhaps because of the longer time at high temperatures in this process (100 degrees C/10 min). The most common methods for processing amaranth grain caused reductions in the total phenolics content, although the antioxidant activity of popped and extruded grain, evaluated by the two methods, was similar to that of the raw grain. Both raw and processed amaranth grain presents antioxidant potential. Polyphenols, anthocyanins, flavonoids, tocopherols, vitamin C levels and Maillard reaction products may be related to the antioxidant activity of this grain.

Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 May 2009-31 July 2009

This article documents the addition of 512 microsatellite marker loci and nine pairs of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) sequencing primers to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Alcippe morrisonia morrisonia, Bashania fangiana, Bashania fargesii, Chaetodon vagabundus, Colletes floralis, Coluber constrictor flaviventris, Coptotermes gestroi, Crotophaga major, Cyprinella lutrensis, Danaus plexippus, Fagus grandifolia, Falco tinnunculus, Fletcherimyia fletcheri, Hydrilla verticillata, Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus, Leavenworthia alabamica, Marmosops incanus, Miichthys miiuy, Nasua nasua, Noturus exilis, Odontesthes bonariensis, Quadrula fragosa, Pinctada maxima, Pseudaletia separata, Pseudoperonospora cubensis, Podocarpus elatus, Portunus trituberculatus, Rhagoletis cerasi, Rhinella schneideri, Sarracenia alata, Skeletonema marinoi, Sminthurus viridis, Syngnathus abaster, Uroteuthis (Photololigo) chinensis, Verticillium dahliae, Wasmannia auropunctata, and Zygochlamys patagonica. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Chaetodon baronessa, Falco columbarius, Falco eleonorae, Falco naumanni, Falco peregrinus, Falco subbuteo, Didelphis aurita, Gracilinanus microtarsus, Marmosops paulensis, Monodelphis Americana, Odontesthes hatcheri, Podocarpus grayi, Podocarpus lawrencei, Podocarpus smithii, Portunus pelagicus, Syngnathus acus, Syngnathus typhle,Uroteuthis (Photololigo) edulis, Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvauceli and Verticillium albo-atrum. This article also documents the addition of nine sequencing primer pairs and sixteen allele specific primers or probes for Oncorhynchus mykiss and Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; these primers and assays were cross-tested in both species.

Singlet oxygen generation in the reaction centers of Rhodobacter sphaeroides

Singlet oxygen ((1)O(2)) generation in the reaction centers (RCs) of Rhodobacter sphaeroides wild type was characterized by luminescent emission in the near infrared region (time resolved transients and emission spectra) and quantified to have quantum yield of 0.03 +/- 0.005. (1)O(2) emission was measured as a function of temperature, ascorbate, urea and potassium ferricyanide concentrations and as a function of incubation time in H(2)O: D(2)O mixtures. (1)O(2) was shown to be affected by the RC dynamics and to originate from the reaction of molecular oxygen with two sources of triplets: photoactive dimer formed by singlet-triplet mixing and bacteriopheophytin formed by direct photoexcitation and intersystem crossing.

Allelopathic plants. 7. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

Sunflower is an annual dicotyledonous plant, herbaceous, erect and native of North America. It is thermo- and photo-insensitive, hence, can be grown round the year in sub-tropical and tropical countries. Only two spp. H. annuus and H. tuberosum are cultivated for food, remaining spp. are ornamentals, weeds and wild plants. However, H. annuus is allelopathic and inhibit the growth and development of other plants thus reducing their productivity. Much information is available about the allelopathic effects of sunflower crop on following crops in crop rotations. Although it is harmful to all crops, but, is less harmful to crops of Graminae family than other families. It seems that the harmful effects of sunflower in crop rotations are due to release and accumulation of root exudates during crop growth in soil. Soil incorporation of its fresh (green manure) or dry biomass in soil is inhibitory to both crops and weed spp. Several allelochemicals have been characterized from the H. annuus, which inhibit the seed germination and seedling growth of A. albus, A. viridis, Agropyron repens (Elymus repens), Ambrosia artemsiifolia, Avena fatua, Celosia crustata, Chenopodium album, Chloris barbara, Cynodon dactylon, D. sanguinalis, Dactyloctenium ageyptium, Digitaria ciliaris, Echinochloa crus-galli, Flaveria australasica, Parthenium hysterophorus, Portulaca oleracea, Sida spinosa, Trianthema portulacastrum, Veronica perisca the inhibitory effects of this crop may be used for weed management with less herbicides for sustainable agriculture.

Comunidade infestante e sua interferência no feijoeiro implantado sob plantio direto, na safra de primavera

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar os períodos críticos de interferência das plantas daninhas no feijoeiro no sistema de plantio direto, na safra de primavera. A cultura antecessora ao feijoeiro foi a de milheto, que gerou 2 t ha-1 de massa seca. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por períodos crescentes (0, 10, 17, 24, 31, 45 e 66 dias após a emergência) de convivência ou de controle das plantas daninhas. O delineamento experimental adotado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com os tratamentos dispostos no esquema fatorial 2 x 6, com quatro repetições, mais duas testemunhas: uma limpa durante todo o ciclo da cultura e outra suja, ausente de controle. A comunidade infestante foi composta por 16 espécies, sendo dez eudicotiledôneas. A espécie de maior importância foi a losna-branca (Parthenium hysterophorus). O período anterior à interferência (PAI) ocorreu até o estádio fenológico V2, e o período total de prevenção à interferência (PTPI), até o estádio V4; assim, o período crítico de prevenção à interferência (PCPI) ficou entre os estádios V2 e V4 do feijoeiro. A safra de primavera mostrou-se alternativa viável de produção. O acúmulo médio de massa e o número médio de indivíduos das plantas daninhas foram pequenos, ocasionando menor interferência na cultura e, consequentemente, um curto PCPI. Houve redução de 19% na produtividade média do feijoeiro quando a cultura conviveu durante todo o seu ciclo com a comunidade infestante.

Banco de sementes de plantas daninhas e sua correlação com a flora estabelecida no agroecossistema cana-crua

O conhecimento da composição específica do banco de sementes de plantas daninhas e a sua correlação com a flora estabelecida são importantes para nortear o manejo a ser adotado e a escolha dos herbicidas. A colheita mecanizada de cana-de-açúcar acarretou mudanças significativas na composição da flora infestante, quando proporcionou a manutenção de uma camada de palha, reduziu a movimentação do solo e dispensou a prática da queimada. Foram realizados levantamentos do banco de sementes e da flora de plantas daninhas que se estabeleceu em 28 talhões colhidos mecanicamente, sem queima prévia da palha. Com base nos dados de banco de sementes, efetuaram-se estudos fitossociológicos e de correlação entre a composição do banco de sementes e a flora emergida. As principais espécies presentes no banco de sementes foram as pertencentes à classe das dicotiledôneas anuais, com destaque para Amaranthus spp. e diversas espécies de Euphorbiaceae e Convolvulaceae. As sementes de gramíneas tradicionais da cultura tiveram pouca participação. O banco de sementes apresentou correlação não-significativa com a flora emergente, independentemente da época de colheita do talhão, da metodologia de quantificação do banco de sementes e das espécies de plantas daninhas.

Eficiência do herbicida oxyfluorfen, quando veiculado ao papel, no controle de algumas espécies daninhas

Com o objetivo de encontrar um método alternativo de aplicação de herbicidas, estudou-se a eficiência do oxyfluorfen aplicado em três doses (0, 480 e 960g/ha) sob duas formas (pulverizado e veiculado em folha de papel) no controle em pré-emergência de Bidens pilosa, Desmodium tortuosum, Eleusine indica, Sida rhombifolia Amaranthus retroflexus, Acanthospermum hispidum e Digitaria horizontalis. A pulverização do oxyfluorfen foi realizada com o auxílio de um pulverizador, e sua veiculação foi feita através da determinação prévia da capacidade de embebição do papel. Obteve-se a concentração necessária da calda quando o papel atingiu completa embebição e então, escorrido o excesso, foi posto a secar na sombra. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, com cinco repetições. Foram realizadas avaliações aos 30, 45 e 60 dias após a aplicação (DAA), e os resultados indicaram que os métodos de aplicação utilizados, assim como as doses, apresentaram excelente controle de B. pilosa, D. tortuosum, E. indica S. rhombifolia, D. horizontalis e A. retroflexus até 60 DAA, reduzindo tanto a densidade como o acúmulo de matéria seca. Quanto ao A. hispidum, ambos os métodos e doses não proporcionaram bom controle. Foi observado também que o papel utilizado como veículo do oxyfluorfen proporcionou redução na densidade de B. pilosa, E. indica, D. horizontalis e A. retroflexus e promoveu a germinação de S. rhombifolia e A. hispidum quando da avaliação aos DAA. Estes resultados demonstram a viabilidade de utilização de papel como veículo de aplicação do oxyfluorfen.

Períodos de interferência das plantas daninhas na cultura de cebola (Allium cepa) transplantada

O trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de estudar os efeitos de períodos de convivência (0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, 84 e 98 dias após o transplantio) de uma comunidade de plantas daninhas sobre a produtividade de quatro cultivares de cebola (Mercedes, Granex 33, Superex e Serrana), em sistema de transplantio de mudas. O experimento foi instalado em Jaboticabal-SP, de abril a outubro de 2000, utilizando delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial 4 x 8. As principais populações de plantas daninhas no final dos períodos de convivência foram de Coronopus didymus, Amaranthus hybridus e Cyperus rotundus. Os cultivares Mercedes (2,90 kgm-2) e Granex 33 (2,64 kgm-2) foram os mais produtivos, independentemente da interferência das plantas daninhas. A convivência com as plantas daninhas durante os primeiros 98 dias reduziu a produtividade da cebola em 95% e o peso médio de bulbos em 91%. O período anterior à interferência (PAI) foi de 42 dias, não havendo diferença entre os cultivares de cebola.

Períodos de interferência das plantas daninhas em algodoeiro de fibra colorida ‘BRS Safira’

This study aimed to determine the late-season presence of weeds in reddish brown cotton (cultivar BRS Safira) and the critical times for removing weeds. The experiment was carried out in the area of Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) in Missao Velha-CE, Brazil, located at 7 degrees 42'07" S latitude and 39 degrees 24'18" WGr. longitude, during the 2007/2008 season. The treatments consisted of two control groups: weed-free crop during the initial period after crop emergency, and crop kept with weeds during initial period after plant emergency. Both consisted, 0; 20; 40; 60; 80 e 120 days after crop emergency (DAE), the weed community was evaluated by two phytosociological indices (relative dominance and relative importance). Regression analysis was performed as the model of sigmoidal Boltzman, using data from productivity separately within each type of competition, to identify the critical periods of competition, considering 2; 5 and 10% reduction in yield. The community of weeds was composed by 21 species, standing out among them: Richardia grandiflora, Amaranthus deflexus, Eleusine indica, Merremia aegyptia, Eragrotis pilosa, Cenchrus echinatus and Waltheria indica. Considering 2; 5 and 10% reduction in yield fiber as acceptable, the critical period before weed interference were, respectively, 8; 14 and 20 DAE. The critical period of weed interference, for those same levels of losses, were respectively, 100; 82 and 60 days.

Weed interference on coffee fruit production during a four-year investigation after planting

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