Forest regeneration capacity and its enhancement by forest management and silviculture in Cabo Delgado

SDC has been involved in rural development in Cabo Delgado for more than 30 years. Shortly after the independence of Mozambique, projects in water supply and integrated rural development were initiated. The silvoagropastoral project FO9 based in Mueda was a very early experience in forestry in Cabo Delgado. Andreas Kläy was responsible for the forestry sector in FO9 for 3 years in the early 1980s and had an opportunity to initiate an exchange of ideas and experience in rural development theory and approaches with Yussuf Adam, who was doing research in human anthropology and history in the province. 25 years later, the current situation of forest management in Cabo Delgado was reassessed, with a specific focus on concessions in the North. The opportunity for a partnership between the MITI SA, the University of Eduardo Mondlane, and CDE was created on the basis of this preliminary study1. The aim of this partnership is to generate knowledge and develop capacity for sustainable forest management. The preliminary study showed that “…we have to face weaknesses and would like to start a learning process with the main institutions, organisations, and stakeholder groups active in forest management and research in the North of Cabo Delgado. This learning process will involve studies supported by competent research institutions and workshops …” The specific objectives of ESAPP project Q804 are the following: 1. Contribute to understanding of the forestry sector; 2. Capacity development for professionals and academics; 3. Support for the private sector and the local forest service; 4. Support data generation at Cabo Delgado's Provincial Service; 5. Capacity development for Swiss academic institutions (CDE and ETHZ). A conceptual planning platform was elaborated as a basis for cooperation and research in the partnership (cf. Annex 1). The partners agreed to work on two lines of research: biophysical and socio-economic. In order to ensure a transdisciplinary approach, disciplinary research is anchored in common understanding in workshops based on the LforS methods. These workshops integrate the main stakeholders in the local context of the COMADEL concession in Nangade District managed by MITI SA, and take place in the village of Namiune. The research team observed that current management schemes consist mainly of strategies of nature mining by most stakeholders involved. Institutional settings - formal and informal - have little impact due to weak capacity at the local level and corruption. Local difficulties in a remote rural area facilitate external access to resources and are perpetuated by the loss of benefits. The benefits of logging remain at the top level (economic and political elites). The interests of the owners of the concession in stopping the loss of resources caused by this regime offers a unique opportunity to intervene in the logic of resource degradation and agony in rural development and forest management.

AN OCCUPATIONAL INJURY MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT HOUSTON

The purpose of this research and development project was to develop a method, a design, and a prototype for gathering, managing, and presenting data about occupational injuries.^ State-of-the-art systems analysis and design methodologies were applied to the long standing problem in the field of occupational safety and health of processing workplace injuries data into information for safety and health program management as well as preliminary research about accident etiologies. The top-down planning and bottom-up implementation approach was utilized to design an occupational injury management information system. A description of a managerial control system and a comprehensive system to integrate safety and health program management was provided.^ The project showed that current management information systems (MIS) theory and methods could be applied successfully to the problems of employee injury surveillance and control program performance evaluation. The model developed in the first section was applied at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSCH).^ The system in current use at the UTHSCH was described and evaluated, and a prototype was developed for the UTHSCH. The prototype incorporated procedures for collecting, storing, and retrieving records of injuries and the procedures necessary to prepare reports, analyses, and graphics for management in the Health Science Center. Examples of reports, analyses, and graphics presenting UTHSCH and computer generated data were included.^ It was concluded that a pilot test of this MIS should be implemented and evaluated at the UTHSCH and other settings. Further research and development efforts for the total safety and health management information systems, control systems, component systems, and variable selection should be pursued. Finally, integration of the safety and health program MIS into the comprehensive or executive MIS was recommended. ^

Diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections in developing nations using syndromic management: Is it working?

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major public health problem, and controlling their spread is a priority. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 340 million new cases of treatable STIs among 15–49 year olds that occur yearly around the world (1). Infection with STIs can lead to several complications such as pelvic inflammatory disorder (PID), cervical cancer, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, and even death (1). Additionally, STIs and associated complications are among the top disease types for which healthcare is sought in developing nations (1), and according to the UNAIDS report, there is a strong connection between STIs and the sexual spread of HIV infection (2). In fact, it is estimated that the presence of an untreated STI can increase the likelihood of contracting and spreading HIV by a factor up to 10 (2). In addition, developing countries are poorer in resources and lack inexpensive and precise diagnostic laboratory tests for STIs, thereby exacerbating the problem. Thus, the WHO recommends syndromic management of STIs for delivering care where lab testing is scarce or unattainable (1). This approach utilizes the use of an easy to use algorithm to help healthcare workers recognize symptoms/signs so as to provide treatment for the likely cause of the syndrome. Furthermore, according to the WHO, syndromic management offers instant and legitimate treatment compared to clinical diagnosis, and that it is also more cost-effective for some syndromes over the use of laboratory testing (1). In addition, even though it has been shown that the vaginal discharge syndrome has low specificity for gonorrhea and Chlamydia and can lead to over treatment (1), this is the recommended way to manage STIs in developing nations. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to specifically address the following questions: is syndromic management working to lower the STI burden in developing nations? How effective is it, and should it still be recommended? To answer these questions, a systematic literature review was conducted to evaluate the current effectiveness of syndromic management in developing nations. This review examined published articles over the past 5 years that compared syndromic management to laboratory testing and had published sensitivity, specificity, and positive predicative value data. Focusing mainly on vaginal discharge, urethral discharge, and genital ulcer algorithms, it was seen that though syndromic management is more effective in diagnosing and treating urethral and genial ulcer syndromes in men, there still remains an urgent need to revise the WHO recommendations for managing STIs in developing nations. Current studies have continued to show decreased specificity, sensitivity and positive predicative values for the vaginal discharge syndrome, and high rates of asymptomatic infections and healthcare workers neglecting to follow guidelines limit the usefulness of syndromic management. Furthermore, though advocate d as cost-effective by the WHO, there is a cost incurred from treating uninfected people. Instead of improving this system, it is recommended that better and less expensive point of care and the development of rapid test diagnosis kits be the focus and method of diagnosis and treatment in developing nations for STI management. ^

Efforts of hospital system wound care teams to reduce hospital acquired pressure ulcers

New reimbursement policies developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are revolutionizing the health care landscape in America. The policies focus on clinical quality and patient outcomes. As part of the new policies, certain hospital acquired conditions have been identified by Medicare as "reasonably preventable". Beginning October 1, 2008, Medicare will no longer reimburse hospitals for these conditions developed after admission, pressure ulcers are among the most common of these conditions.^ In this practice-based culminating experience the objective was to provide a practical account of the process of program development, implementation and evaluation in a public health setting. In order to decrease the incidence of pressure ulcers, the program development team of the hospital system developed a comprehensive pressure ulcer prevention program using a "bundled" approach. The pressure ulcer prevention bundle was based on research supported by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and addressed key areas of clinical vulnerability for pressure ulcer development. The bundle consisted of clinical processes, policies, forms, and resources designed to proactively identify patients at risk for pressure ulcer development. Each element of the bundle was evaluated to ensure ease of integration into the workflow of nurses and clinical ancillary staff. Continued monitoring of pressure ulcer incidence rates will provide statistical validation of the impact of the prevention bundle. ^

Project Management Learning in a Collaborative Distant Learning Context - An Actual On-going Experience

The goal of this paper is to show the results of an on-going experience on teaching project management to grade students by following a development scheme of management related competencies on an individual basis. In order to achieve that goal, the students are organized in teams that must solve a problem and manage the development of a feasible solution to satisfy the needs of a client. The innovative component advocated in this paper is the formal introduction of negotiating and virtual team management aspects, as different teams from different universities at different locations and comprising students with different backgrounds must collaborate and compete amongst them. The different learning aspects are identified and the improvement levels are reflected in a rubric that has been designed ad hoc for this experience. Finally, the effort frameworks for the student and instructor have been established according to the requirements of the Bologna paradigms. This experience is developed through a software-based support system allowing blended learning for the theoretical and individual?s work aspects, blogs, wikis, etc., as well as project management tools based on WWW that allow the monitoring of not only the expected deliverables and the achievement of the goals but also the progress made on learning as established in the defined rubric

Pinus uncinata Ramond ex DC.: Conservation and proposal of management at its southwestern limit of distribution (Castillo de Vinuesa, Soria, Spain)

Pinus uncinata forms forests in the centre and southwest of the Alps and in the subalpine Pyrenees (at around 1700 – 2600 m) (Costa Tenorio et al., 1997). The species reaches the southwestern limit of its distribution at the top of Mount Castillo de Vinuesa (Soria, Spain). The small population on this mountain occupies just 66 ha, but is very important from a geobotanical viewpoint since it is just one of two populations (the other being in the Sierra de Gúdar range in Teruel, Spain) isolated from the main area where the species is found in the Iberian Peninsula (The Pyrenees)

An architecture for a heterogeneous private IaaS management system

Cloud computing and, more particularly, private IaaS, is seen as a mature technology with a myriad solutions tochoose from. However, this disparity of solutions and products has instilled in potential adopters the fear of vendor and data lock-in. Several competing and incompatible interfaces and management styles have given even more voice to these fears. On top of this, cloud users might want to work with several solutions at the same time, an integration that is difficult to achieve in practice. In this paper, we propose a management architecture that tries to tackle these problems; it offers a common way of managing several cloud solutions, and an interface that can be tailored to the needs of the user. This management architecture is designed in a modular way, and using a generic information model. We have validated our approach through the implementation of the components needed for this architecture to support a sample private IaaS solution: OpenStack

Impact of fire and post-fire management techniques on soil chemical properties

The effects of fire ( Control burned soil) and two emergency stabilisation techniques (grass Seeding and straw Mulching ) on 20 chemical characteristics were evaluated on 0 – 5 cm top-soils sampled 1, 90, 180 and 365 days after an experimental fi re in a steep shrubland of a temperate-humid region (NW Spain). Most part of pH (in H 2 O and KCl) variance was explained by the sampling date. No clear temporal trends were identi fi able for total soil C and N content, likely due to the large SOM pool in these soils; however, changes on soil δ 13 C were explained by the deposition of 13 C-depleted ashes, followed by its progressive erosion, while those on soil δ 15 N were a consequence of fi re induced N outputs. After the fi re, NH 4 + – N, P, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Cu, Zn and B concentrations increased, while those of NO 3 − – N, Al, Fe and Co did not vary significantly. Despite a significant decline with time, concentrations of Mg, Ca and Mn at the end of the study were still higher than in unburned soil, while those of K, Cu, Zn and B were similar to the pre-fire levels and those of NH 4 + – N, P and Na were below pre-fire values. Mulching and Seeding treatments for burned soil emergency stabilisation had significant effects on soil δ 15 N and extractable K, Mg and Ca, while data were inconclusive for their possible effects on the extractable Al, Fe and Co

N-Management using Nitrification inhibitor DMPP to Reduce Nitrogen Oxide Emissions in Mediterranean Winter Barley.

Increasing nitrogen (N) use efficiency during crop production is paramount both from an economic and environmental perspective. A proposed measure to achieve it is to split the addition of fertilizers with more than on application. For a winter crop under Mediterranean climatic conditions, the most common application pattern consists of a basal fertilization (October-November) an a top-dressing (February-March).

Desarrollo de capacidades para el liderazgo en proyectos de desarrollo rural. Aplicación a comunidades Aymaras

Los proyectos de desarrollo en el medio rural han cambiado en las últimas décadas, desde un enfoque tecnocrático y descendente, que resultó insuficiente, a otro que otorga un papel principal a las personas locales. En este contexto, los nuevos modelos de planificación y gestión de los proyectos de desarrollo a menudo incluyen entre sus objetivos el desarrollo de las capacidades locales y el liderazgo, dedicándose a ellos anualmente billones de dólares. Ambos conceptos son considerados elementos indispensables para aumentar la sostenibilidad de las acciones desde un enfoque endógeno, lo que genera un gran interés tanto desde el ámbito científico como en los debates y objetivos de los organismos internacionales. Sin embargo no existe un consenso sobre el marco conceptual del desarrollo de capacidades ni sobre las metodologías adecuadas para evaluarlo. Por otra parte, en el caso del desarrollo de liderazgo, la mayoría de los estudios e investigaciones se han centrado en entornos empresariales, siendo escasos los trabajos centrados en el ámbito rural. En dicho contexto, la complejidad se incrementa debido a que a menudo la autoridad y poder de los líderes no están dados por puestos formales, sino por relaciones sociales y vínculos de confianza. Esta investigación presenta una primera fase conceptual, que aborda el marco teórico, analizando y clarificando los conceptos de desarrollo de capacidades, competencias y liderazgo en el contexto de los proyectos de desarrollo rural. Así mismo, en esta fase se clasifican los principales instrumentos para evaluar el desarrollo de capacidades, para así definir las variables que conforman el constructo de capacidades. Además se determina la multidimensionalidad del concepto de capacidades y por ello la conveniencia de abordarlo a nivel individual y colectivo. También se analizan los distintos estilos de liderazgo para llegar a una definición propia de desarrollo de capacidades y de liderazgo adaptadas al medio rural. El marco teórico anterior permite sentar, en una segunda fase de la investigación, las bases científicas del modelo que se propone: el modelo DCL de Desarrollo de Capacidades para el Liderazgo en los proyectos de desarrollo rural. Este modelo incorpora elementos del marco conceptual Working With People (Cazorla et al., 2013), fruto de 25 años de experiencia en el ámbito de la planificación de proyectos de desarrollo rural desde el grupo de investigación GESPLAN de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. El modelo DCL integra metodologías cuantitativas y cualitativas y una doble escala de análisis para promover y evaluar el desarrollo de capacidades en la población local desde tres componentes: técnico-empresarial, relacional y contextual. Además el modelo DCL incorpora un proceso metodológico para poder integrar el seguimiento y la evaluación de las capacidades a lo largo del ciclo del proyecto. Finalmente, en una fase de aplicación, se acomete la validación del modelo DCL a través del caso de estudio de un proyecto de desarrollo con una organización de mujeres artesanas de comunidades aymaras de Puno (Perú). Este proyecto, que incorpora el marco conceptual WWP, integra 5 años de experiencia con comunidades aymaras desde el grupo de investigación GESPLAN. La aplicación muestra cómo el modelo DCL permite evaluar el desarrollo de capacidades para el liderazgo. Así mismo, la incorporación de los aprendizajes tras las evaluaciones de desarrollo de capacidades permite reorientar las acciones del proyecto para mejorar su planificación y gestión y producir un verdadero empoderamiento y liderazgo de la organización local. Lo anterior se traduce en un aumento de la sostenibilidad del proyecto y de la resiliencia social de la organización. ABSTRACT Development projects in rural areas have changed in recent decades, from a technocratic and top-down approach, which proved insufficient, to another that gives a major role to local people. In this context, the new models of planning and management of development projects often include among their objectives the development of local capacities and leadership and engage billions of dollars annually. Both concepts are considered essential for enhancing the sustainability of the actions from an endogenous approach, generating great interest both from the scientific field and in the debates and objectives of international organizations. However there is no consensus on the conceptual framework of capacity development and on appropriate methodologies to evaluate it. Moreover, in the case of leadership development, most of the studies and research have focused on business environments, with few studies focusing on rural areas. In this context, the complexity is increased because often the authority and power of the leaders are not given for formal positions, but by social relationships and bonds of trust. This research presents an initial conceptual phase, which addresses the theoretical framework, analyzing and clarifying the concepts of capacity development, competencies and leadership in the context of rural development projects. Also, at this stage the main instruments to assess capacity development are classified so as to define the variables that shape the capacity construct. Besides the multidimensionality of the concept of capacity is determined and therefore the convenience of addressing it at an individual and colective level. Different leadership styles are also analyzed to propose a definition of capacity development and leadership adapted to the rural environment. The above theoretical framework allows to set, in a second research phase, the scientific basis of the proposed model: the model DCL of Capacity Development for Leadership in rural development projects. This model incorporates elements of the conceptual framework Working With People (Cazorla et al., 2013), the result of 25 years of experience in the field of project planning for rural development from the research group GESPLAN of the Technical University of Madrid. The DCL model integrates quantitative and qualitative methodologies and a double scale of analysis to promote and evaluate capacity development in the local population from three components: technical-entrepreneurial, relational and contextual. Besides the DCL model incorporates a methodological process to integrate monitoring and evaluation of capacities throughout the project cycle. Finally, in an application phase, DCL model validation is undertaken through the case study of a development project with an organization of women artisans of Aymara communities in Puno (Peru). This project, that incorporates the WWP conceptual framework, integrates 5 years of experience with Aymara communities from GESPLAN research group. The application shows how the DCL model allows to assess the development of capacities for leadership. Also, the incorporation of lessons learned after monitoring and evaluation of capacity development allows to redirect actions to improve project planning and management and produce a true empowerment and leadership of the local organization. This translates into increased project sustainability and social resilience of the organization.

Development of a management system for virtual machines on private clouds

Cloud computing and, more particularly, private IaaS, is seen as a mature technol- ogy with a myriad solutions to choose from. However, this disparity of solutions and products has instilled in potential adopters the fear of vendor and data lock- in. Several competing and incompatible interfaces and management styles have increased even more these fears. On top of this, cloud users might want to work with several solutions at the same time, an integration that is difficult to achieve in practice. In this Master Thesis I propose a management architecture that tries to solve these problems; it provides a generalized control mechanism for several cloud infrastructures, and an interface that can meet the requirements of the users. This management architecture is designed in a modular way, and using a generic infor- mation model. I have validated the approach through the implementation of the components needed for this architecture to support a sample private IaaS solution: OpenStack.

Regression analysis of top of descent location for idle-thrust descents

In this paper, multiple regression analysis is used to model the top of descent (TOD) location of user-preferred descent trajectories computed by the flight management system (FMS) on over 1000 commercial flights into Melbourne, Australia. In addition to recording TOD, the cruise altitude, final altitude, cruise Mach, descent speed, wind, and engine type were also identified for use as the independent variables in the regression analysis. Both first-order and second-order models are considered, where cross-validation, hypothesis testing, and additional analysis are used to compare models. This identifies the models that should give the smallest errors if used to predict TOD location for new data in the future. A model that is linear in TOD altitude, final altitude, descent speed, and wind gives an estimated standard deviation of 3.9 nmi for TOD location given the trajectory parame- ters, which means about 80% of predictions would have error less than 5 nmi in absolute value. This accuracy is better than demonstrated by other ground automation predictions using kinetic models. Furthermore, this approach would enable online learning of the model. Additional data or further knowledge of algorithms is necessary to conclude definitively that no second-order terms are appropriate. Possible applications of the linear model are described, including enabling arriving aircraft to fly optimized descents computed by the FMS even in congested airspace.

Improving the management of water and nitrogen resources in cropping systems by using simulation models

Los modelos de simulación de cultivos permiten analizar varias combinaciones de laboreo-rotación y explorar escenarios de manejo. El modelo DSSAT fue evaluado bajo condiciones de secano en un experimento de campo de 16 años en la semiárida España central. Se evaluó el efecto del sistema de laboreo y las rotaciones basadas en cereales de invierno, en el rendimiento del cultivo y la calidad del suelo. Los modelos CERES y CROPGRO se utilizaron para simular el crecimiento y rendimiento del cultivo, mientras que el modelo DSSAT CENTURY se utilizó en las simulaciones de SOC y SN. Tanto las observaciones de campo como las simulaciones con CERES-Barley, mostraron que el rendimiento en grano de la cebada era mas bajo para el cereal continuo (BB) que para las rotaciones de veza (VB) y barbecho (FB) en ambos sistemas de laboreo. El modelo predijo más nitrógeno disponible en el laboreo convencional (CT) que en el no laboreo (NT) conduciendo a un mayor rendimiento en el CT. El SOC y el SN en la capa superficial del suelo, fueron mayores en NT que en CT, y disminuyeron con la profundidad en los valores tanto observados como simulados. Las mejores combinaciones para las condiciones de secano estudiadas fueron CT-VB y CT-FB, pero CT presentó menor contenido en SN y SOC que NT. El efecto beneficioso del NT en SOC y SN bajo condiciones Mediterráneas semiáridas puede ser identificado por observaciones de campo y por simulaciones de modelos de cultivos. La simulación del balance de agua en sistemas de cultivo es una herramienta útil para estudiar como el agua puede ser utilizado eficientemente. La comparación del balance de agua de DSSAT , con una simple aproximación “tipping bucket”, con el modelo WAVE más mecanicista, el cual integra la ecuación de Richard , es un potente método para valorar el funcionamiento del modelo. Los parámetros de suelo fueron calibrados usando el método de optimización global Simulated Annealing (SA). Un lisímetro continuo de pesada en suelo desnudo suministró los valores observados de drenaje y evapotranspiración (ET) mientras que el contenido de agua en el suelo (SW) fue suministrado por sensores de capacitancia. Ambos modelos funcionaron bien después de la optimización de los parámetros de suelo con SA, simulando el balance de agua en el suelo para el período de calibración. Para el período de validación, los modelos optimizados predijeron bien el contenido de agua en el suelo y la evaporación del suelo a lo largo del tiempo. Sin embargo, el drenaje fue predicho mejor con WAVE que con DSSAT, el cual presentó mayores errores en los valores acumulados. Esto podría ser debido a la naturaleza mecanicista de WAVE frente a la naturaleza más funcional de DSSAT. Los buenos resultados de WAVE indican que, después de la calibración, este puede ser utilizado como "benchmark" para otros modelos para periodos en los que no haya medidas de campo del drenaje. El funcionamiento de DSSAT-CENTURY en la simulación de SOC y N depende fuertemente del proceso de inicialización. Se propuso como método alternativo (Met.2) la inicialización de las fracciones de SOC a partir de medidas de mineralización aparente del suelo (Napmin). El Met.2 se comparó con el método de inicialización de Basso et al. (2011) (Met.1), aplicando ambos métodos a un experimento de campo de 4 años en un área en regadío de España central. Nmin y Napmin fueron sobreestimados con el Met.1, ya que la fracción estable obtenida (SOC3) en las capas superficiales del suelo fue más baja que con Met.2. El N lixiviado simulado fue similar en los dos métodos, con buenos resultados en los tratamientos de barbecho y cebada. El Met.1 subestimó el SOC en la capa superficial del suelo cuando se comparó con una serie observada de 12 años. El crecimiento y rendimiento del cultivo fueron adecuadamente simulados con ambos métodos, pero el N en la parte aérea de la planta y en el grano fueron sobreestimados con el Met.1. Los resultados variaron significativamente con las fracciones iniciales de SOC, resaltando la importancia del método de inicialización. El Met.2 ofrece una alternativa para la inicialización del modelo CENTURY, mejorando la simulación de procesos de N en el suelo. La continua emergencia de nuevas variedades de híbridos modernos de maíz limita la aplicación de modelos de simulación de cultivos, ya que estos nuevos híbridos necesitan ser calibrados en el campo para ser adecuados para su uso en los modelos. El desarrollo de relaciones basadas en la duración del ciclo, simplificaría los requerimientos de calibración facilitando la rápida incorporación de nuevos cultivares en DSSAT. Seis híbridos de maiz (FAO 300 hasta FAO 700) fueron cultivados en un experimento de campo de dos años en un área semiárida de regadío en España central. Los coeficientes genéticos fueron obtenidos secuencialmente, comenzando con los parámetros de desarrollo fenológico (P1, P2, P5 and PHINT), seguido de los parámetros de crecimiento del cultivo (G2 and G3). Se continuó el procedimiento hasta que la salida de las simulaciones estuvo en concordancia con las observaciones fenológicas de campo. Después de la calibración, los parámetros simulados se ajustaron bien a los parámetros observados, con bajos RMSE en todos los casos. Los P1 y P5 calibrados, incrementaron con la duración del ciclo. P1 fue una función lineal del tiempo térmico (TT) desde emergencia hasta floración y P5 estuvo linealmente relacionada con el TT desde floración a madurez. No hubo diferencias significativas en PHINT entre híbridos de FAO-500 a 700 , ya que tuvieron un número de hojas similar. Como los coeficientes fenológicos estuvieron directamente relacionados con la duración del ciclo, sería posible desarrollar rangos y correlaciones que permitan estimar dichos coeficientes a partir de la clasificación del ciclo. ABSTRACT Crop simulation models allow analyzing various tillage-rotation combinations and exploring management scenarios. DSSAT model was tested under rainfed conditions in a 16-year field experiment in semiarid central Spain. The effect of tillage system and winter cereal-based rotations on the crop yield and soil quality was evaluated. The CERES and CROPGRO models were used to simulate crop growth and yield, while the DSSAT CENTURY was used in the SOC and SN simulations. Both field observations and CERES-Barley simulations, showed that barley grain yield was lower for continuous cereal (BB) than for vetch (VB) and fallow (FB) rotations for both tillage systems. The model predicted higher nitrogen availability in the conventional tillage (CT) than in the no tillage (NT) leading to a higher yield in the CT. The SOC and SN in the top layer, were higher in NT than in CT, and decreased with depth in both simulated and observed values. The best combinations for the dry land conditions studied were CT-VB and CT-FB, but CT presented lower SN and SOC content than NT. The beneficial effect of NT on SOC and SN under semiarid Mediterranean conditions can be identified by field observations and by crop model simulations. The simulation of the water balance in cropping systems is a useful tool to study how water can be used efficiently. The comparison of DSSAT soil water balance, with a simpler “tipping bucket” approach, with the more mechanistic WAVE model, which integrates Richard’s equation, is a powerful method to assess model performance. The soil parameters were calibrated by using the Simulated Annealing (SA) global optimizing method. A continuous weighing lysimeter in a bare fallow provided the observed values of drainage and evapotranspiration (ET) while soil water content (SW) was supplied by capacitance sensors. Both models performed well after optimizing soil parameters with SA, simulating the soil water balance components for the calibrated period. For the validation period, the optimized models predicted well soil water content and soil evaporation over time. However, drainage was predicted better by WAVE than by DSSAT, which presented larger errors in the cumulative values. That could be due to the mechanistic nature of WAVE against the more functional nature of DSSAT. The good results from WAVE indicate that, after calibration, it could be used as benchmark for other models for periods when no drainage field measurements are available. The performance of DSSAT-CENTURY when simulating SOC and N strongly depends on the initialization process. Initialization of the SOC pools from apparent soil N mineralization (Napmin) measurements was proposed as alternative method (Met.2). Method 2 was compared to the Basso et al. (2011) initialization method (Met.1), by applying both methods to a 4-year field experiment in a irrigated area of central Spain. Nmin and Napmin were overestimated by Met.1, since the obtained stable pool (SOC3) in the upper layers was lower than from Met.2. Simulated N leaching was similar for both methods, with good results in fallow and barley treatments. Method 1 underestimated topsoil SOC when compared with a 12-year observed serial. Crop growth and yield were properly simulated by both methods, but N in shoots and grain were overestimated by Met.1. Results varied significantly with the initial SOC pools, highlighting the importance of the initialization procedure. Method 2 offers an alternative to initialize the CENTURY model, enhancing the simulation of soil N processes. The continuous emergence of new varieties of modern maize hybrids limits the application of crop simulation models, since these new hybrids should be calibrated in the field to be suitable for model use. The development of relationships based on the cycle duration, would simplify the calibration requirements facilitating the rapid incorporation of new cultivars into DSSAT. Six maize hybrids (FAO 300 through FAO 700) were grown in a 2-year field experiment in a semiarid irrigated area of central Spain. Genetic coefficients were obtained sequentially, starting with the phenological development parameters (P1, P2, P5 and PHINT), followed by the crop growth parameters (G2 and G3). The procedure was continued until the simulated outputs were in good agreement with the field phenological observations. After calibration, simulated parameters matched observed parameters well, with low RMSE in most cases. The calibrated P1 and P5 increased with the duration of the cycle. P1 was a linear function of the thermal time (TT) from emergence to silking and P5 was linearly related with the TT from silking to maturity . There were no significant differences in PHINT between hybrids from FAO-500 to 700 , as they had similar leaf number. Since phenological coefficients were directly related with the cycle duration, it would be possible to develop ranges and correlations which allow to estimate such coefficients from the cycle classification.

Analyzing intergibles in rural development project management

Facing the frequent failure of projects in rural areas with top-down approaches, there has been a promotion of participation of the local people in decisions that affect their territories (bottom-up approach) to promote sustainable regional development (Chambers, 1997; Lusthaus et al., 1999; Horton, 2004; Vazquez-Barquero, 2000). In fact participation was deemed necessary to ensure the success and sustainability of projects (UNDP, 2006; WRI, 2008; Davies, 2009). Hence, the progressive strengthening of the local population should be promoted so that they can acquire a range of skills and knowledge that allow them to manage resources properly and undertake productive activities in their territory (Contreras, 2000). These are intangibles and therefore difficult to measure. Hence, in this research a model of integration of intangibles in rural development projects management is proposed. The model designed supplements and enriches the conceptual framework ?Working with People? WWP (Cazorla et al, 2013).