Soil carbon and nitrogen mineralization under different tillage systems and Permanent Groundcover cultivation between Orange trees

The objective of this work was to evaluate the alterations in carbon and nitrogen mineralization due to different soil tillage systems and groundcover species for intercropped orange trees. The experiment was established in an Ultisol soil (Typic Paleudults) originated from Caiuá sandstone in northwestern of the state of Paraná, Brazil, in an area previously cultivated with pasture (Brachiaria humidicola). Two soil tillage systems were evaluated: conventional tillage (CT) in the entire area and strip tillage (ST) with a 2-m width, each with different groundcover vegetation management systems. The citrus cultivar utilized was the 'Pera' orange (Citrus sinensis) grafted onto a 'Rangpur' lime rootstock. The soil samples were collected at a 0-15-cm depth after five years of experiment development. Samples were collected from under the tree canopy and from the inter-row space after the following treatments: (1) CT and annual cover crop with the leguminous Calopogonium mucunoides; (2) CT and perennial cover crop with the leguminous peanut Arachis pintoi; (3) CT and evergreen cover crop with Bahiagrass Paspalum notatum; (4) CT and cover crop with spontaneous B. humidicola grass vegetation; and (5) ST and maintenance of the remaining grass (pasture) of B. humidicola. The soil tillage systems and different groundcover vegetation influenced the C and N mineralization, both under the tree canopy and in the inter-row space. The cultivation of B. humidicola under strip tillage provided higher potential mineralization than the other treatments in the inter-row space. Strip tillage increased the C and N mineralization compared to conventional tillage. The grass cultivation increased the C and N mineralization when compared to the others treatments cultivated in the inter-row space.

Oospores of Phytophthora infestans in soil provide an important new source of primary inoculum in Finland

Selostus: Perunaruton munaitiöt maassa ovat uusi merkittävä epidemian alkulähde Suomessa

Fruit size and quality of pineapples cv. Vitória in response to micronutrient doses and way of application and to soil covers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of foundation and leaf fertilization with micronutrients on fruit size and quality of pineapple cv. Vitória under the environmental conditions of the Baixo Acaraú irrigated perimeter in Northern Ceará State, Brazil, under two covers (bagana and black plastic) of the sandy soil of low fertility. The experimental design was a randomized split blocks one with four levels of soil dressing and four levels of foliar fertilization, with five replications. Micronutrient soil dressing was studied as FTE-12 at doses of 0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1. The four levels of foliar fertilization were: LF0 (without fertilizer), LF 1 (15 leaf fertilization, using the amount of 1158.75 g Fe ha-1, 844.65 g Mn ha-1, 391.5 g ha-1 Zn, 322.65 g ha-1 Cu and 216 g ha-1 B), LF2 (15 leaf fertilization, using twice the quantities of level LF1) and LF3 (15 leaf fertilization, using three times the amount of level LF1). At 13 months after planting the micropropagated plantlets was carried out the floral induction treatment and five months later the fruit harvest determining the following variables: fruit weight and median diameter, soluble solids content (SS) and titratable acidity (TA). Both fruit weight and diameter increased with increasing doses of micronutrients applied to the soil and to the leaves, of plants grown both on bagana soil cover and plastic mulch. On the other hand fruit pulp quality was little affected by the treatments studied. There were a small increase of SS contents for plants grown on bagana soil cover and a small decrease of titratable acidity for those grown on plastic mulch, in both cases just in response to micronutrient foliar application.

Yield mapping, soil fertility and tree gaps in an orange orchard

The current high competition on Citrus industry demands from growers new management technologies for superior efficiency and sustainability. In this context, precision agriculture (PA) has developed techniques based on yield mapping and management systems that recognize field spatial variability, which contribute to increase profitability of commercial crops. Because spatial variability is often not perceived the orange orchards are still managed as uniform and adoption of PA technology on citrus farms is low. Thus, the objective of the present study was to characterize the spatial variability of three factors: fruit yield, soil fertility and occurrence of plant gaps caused by either citrus blight or huanglongbing (HLB) in a commercial Valencia orchard in Brotas, São Paulo State, Brazil. Data from volume, geographic coordinates and representative area of the bags used on harvest were recorded to generate yield points that were then interpolated to produce the yield map. Soil chemical characteristics were studied by analyzing samples collected along planting rows and inter-rows in 24 points distributed in the field. A map of density of tree gaps was produced by georeferencing individual gaps and later by counting the number of gaps within 500 m² cells. Data were submitted to statistical and geostatistical analyses. A t test was used to compare means of soil chemical characteristics between sampling regions. High variation on yield and density of tree gaps was observed from the maps. It was also demonstrated overlapping regions of high density of plant absence and low fruit yield. Soil fertility varied depending on the sampling region in the orchard. The spatial variability found on yield, soil fertility and on disease occurrence demonstrated the importance to adopt site specific nutrient management and disease control as tools to guarantee efficiency of fruit production.

Guavira emergence and seedling production with substrates containing organic compost and soil under different screen environments

This study aimed to evaluate different proportions of organic compost and soil as a substrate for the guavira emergence and seedling formation under different protected environments, in the high Pantanal region of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The seeds were placed in polyethylene bags (15 x 25 centimeters) filled with four percentages of organic compost (0%, 20%, 80%, and 100% of total volume) mixed with soil. These substrates were tested in agro-nurseries covered with black screen and 50% thermo-reflecting shade cloths. The substrate with 20% soil and 80% organic compost and the black screen shade cloth promote the best performance in the seedling production.

Protective behavioral strategies and future drinking behaviors: Effect of drinking intentions.

Alcohol use is common among United States and Swedish high school students and is related to negative consequences. Whereas drinking intentions are associated with future drinking behaviors, the use of protective behavioral strategies (PBS) is associated with decreased alcohol-related harm among young adults. The interactive effect of PBS and drinking intentions in predicting alcohol outcomes has not been examined. Further, because most PBS studies have been conducted among U.S. college students, PBS research among other populations is needed. The aims of this study were to evaluate longitudinally (a) the relationships between drinking intentions, PBS and alcohol outcomes, and (b) the moderating roles of drinking intentions and country in these relationships among United States and Swedish high school drinkers. Data were collected at baseline, 6- and 12-month follow-ups on 901 Swedish and 288 U.S. high school drinkers. Drinking intentions were associated with more alcohol use and consequences, and use of certain PBS was related to fewer alcohol-related consequences over time. Additionally, the negative prospective relationship between use of PBS and alcohol use, but not alcohol-related consequences, was moderated by intentions, such that the relationship was stronger among participants endorsing high drinking intentions. Country did not moderate these relationships. These results provide initial support for the generalizability of PBS college research to United States and Swedish high school students and suggest that interventions targeting the use of PBS may be most effective among high school drinkers endorsing high drinking intentions. (PsycINFO Database Record

Water consumption and soil moisture distribution in melon crop with mulching and in a protected environment

Mulching has become an important technique for land cover, but there are some technical procedures which should be adjusted for these new modified conditions to establish optimum total water depth. It is also important to observe the soil-water relations as soil water distribution and wetted volume dimensions. The objective of the present study was to estimate melon evapotranspiration under mulching in a protected environment and to verify the water spatial distribution around the melon root system in two soil classes. Mulching provided 27 mm water saving by reducing water evaporation. In terms of volume each plant received, on average, the amount of 175.2 L of water in 84 days of cultivation without mulching, while when was used mulching the water requirement was 160.2 L per plant. The use of mulching reduced the soil moisture variability throughout the crop cycle and allowed a greater distribution of soil water that was more intense in the clay soil. The clayey soil provided on average 43 mm more water depth retention in 0.50 m soil deep relative to the sandy loam soil, and reduced 5.6 mm the crop cycle soil moisture variation compared to sandy loam soil.

Discrepancies between clinical needs and helpseeking behaviors in co-occurring posttraumatic stress and alcohol use disorders.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare subjects dually diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) to those with only one or none of these conditions regarding helpseeking needs and behaviors. METHOD: Data from a large community sample (N=3694) were used to assess the associations among lifetime PTSD and AUD, other psychiatric disorders, clinical characteristics and lifetime helpseeking behaviors derived from a semi-structured interview. RESULTS: Comorbid individuals had more severe clinical profiles and were more impaired than individuals with either PTSD or AUD alone or those with no/other psychiatric conditions. However, they did not differ in overall helpseeking behavior from any other group. Those with comorbid PTSD/AUD were even less likely than the other groups to seek help for depression and anxiety disorders through specific treatment facilities or the use of prescribed psychotropic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a greater need for treatment the comorbid group did not seek more help than the others. Their lower use of prescribed drugs supports the self-medication hypothesis, suggesting that those individuals relieve their symptoms through higher alcohol use instead. Our findings underline the need for health care facilities to encourage helpseeking behavior in the aftermath of stressful life events.

SOIL ATTRIBUTES THREE YEARS AFTER MAKING RIDGES AND OR DRAINS FOR PLANTING GRAPEVINE ROOTSTOCK

RESUMO Os atributos do solo estão relacionados com o desenvolvimento e a produção das culturas, tanto anuais como perenes. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo determinar os atributos químicos e físicos do solo três anos após a aplicação de sistemas de manejo para implantação de porta-enxertos de videira, em um Nitossolo Vermelho com textura muito argilosa. Os sistemas de manejo consistiram na confecção ou não de camalhões e/ou de drenos antes da implantação das mudas de porta-enxertos Dog Ridge. Os atributos químicos (pH em água e teores de matéria orgânica e de macronutrientes) foram determinados em amostras coletadas na linha da cultura, nas camadas de 0-0,1; 0,1-0,2; 0,2-0,3 e 0,3-0,4 m de profundidade. Os atributos físicos do solo (teor de argila, densidade, porosidade, resistência à penetração e estabilidade dos agregados) foram determinados em amostras coletadas com estrutura preservada nas camadas de 0,025-0,075; 0,125-0,175; 0,225-0,275 e 0,325-0,375 m de profundidade. Também foram determinadas a massa seca de raízes do portaenxerto nas camadas de 0-0,2 e 0,2-0,4 m de profundidade e suas correlações com os atributos do solo. A confecção de camalhões alterou significativamente a maioria dos atributos químicos do solo e proporcionou maior uniformidade nos valores em profundidade, criando condições mais favoráveis ao crescimento radicular nas camadas mais profundas. Os atributos físicos foram menos afetados do que os químicos pela confecção de camalhões ou drenos, e não foram observados valores restritivos ao crescimento radicular nas camadas amostradas após quatro anos da aplicação dos sistemas de manejo do solo. A confecção de drenos alterou menos os atributos químicos e físicos do solo do que a confecção de camalhões.

GROWTH AND NUTRITION OF CACAO SEEDLINGS INFLUENCED BY ZINC APLICATION IN SOIL

ABSTRACT Levels of Zn in tropical soils profoundly influences growth and nutrition of tree crops. Research was undertaken to assess the effect of soil Zn on growth and nutrition of clonal cacao tree seedlings of PH 16. Three acidic Oxisol soils differing in texture were used with nine doses of Zn (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 48, and 64 mg dm-3). Rooted clonal seedlings were grown in plastic pot with 11 dm-3 of the soils at varying Zn levels for 240 days. At harvest growth (dry matter mass of leaves, stems, shoots, roots, and total) and nutrient concentrations were determined. The clonal cacao seedlings showed differences for production of dry matter mass and foliar nutrient concentrations for P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu. There was Zn toxicity in all soils.

Biological contamination of barley and carrots by pathogens in soil fertilized with anthropogenic nutrients

Conference publication in Kalmar ECO-TECH’07. International Conference on Technologies for Waste and Wastewater Treatment, Energy from Waste, Remediation of Contaminated Sites and Emissions Related to Climate November 26-28 2007, Kalmar, Sweden.

Do therapist behaviors differ with Hispanic youth? A brief look at within-session therapist behaviors and youth treatment response.

Brief addiction treatments, including motivational interviewing (MI), have shown promise with youth. One underexamined factor in this equation is the role of therapist behaviors. We therefore sought to assess whether and how therapist behaviors differ for Hispanic versus non-Hispanic youth and how that may be related to treatment outcome. With 80 substance-using adolescents (M age = 16 years; 65% male; 59% Hispanic; 41% non-Hispanic), we examined the relationship between youth ethnicity and therapist behaviors across two brief treatments (MI and alcohol/marijuana education [AME]). We then explored relationships to youth 3-month treatment response across four target outcomes: binge drinking days, alcohol-related problems, marijuana use days, and marijuana-related problems. In this study, therapists showed significantly more MI skills within the MI condition and more didactic skills in the AME condition. With respect to youth ethnicity, across both conditions (MI and AME), therapists used less MI skills with Hispanic youth. Contrary to expectations, therapists' use of MI skills was not connected to poorer outcomes for Hispanic youth across the board (e.g., for binge drinking days, marijuana use days, or marijuana-related problems). Rather, for Hispanic youth, therapists' use of lower MI skills was related only to poorer treatment outcomes in the context of alcohol-related problems. The observed relationships highlight the importance of investigating salient treatment interactions between therapist factors and youth ethnicity to guide improvements in youth treatment response. (PsycINFO Database Record

Moral Disengagement in the Legitimation and Realization of Aggressive Behaviors in Soccer and Ice Hockey

The aim of the present study was to test the effect of moral disengagement on the tolerance and realization of aggressive acts in male soccer and ice hockey players in Switzerland. One hundred and four soccer and 98 ice hockey players evaluated the legitimacy of four videotaped aggressive behaviors and completed a questionnaire that included a moral disengagement scale and self-reported aggression. The level of moral disengagement, which mediates the effects of perceived coach and ego attitudes toward transgressions, largely explains the tolerance of hostile aggression within teams, as well as the level of high aggressive acts reported by the participants.

Response of the Thermal Conductivity as a Function of Water Content of a Burnt Mediterranean Loam Soil

The purpose of this research is to explore the variability on the soil thermal conductivity -λ- after a prescribe fire, and to assess the effects of the ashes on the heat transfer once it"s were incorporated into the soil matrix. Sampling plot was located in the Montgrí Massif (NE of Spain). A set of 42 soil samples between surface and 5 cm depth was collected before and after the fire. To characterize the soil chemical and physical variables were analyzed. To determine the vari-ability on the soil λ a dry-out curve per scenario (before and after fire) was determined. SoilRho® method based on ASTM D-5334-08 which was validated by LabFerrer was used. Soil thermal conductivity has shown changes in their values. Indeed, in all moisture scenarios the values of soil λ decreased after soil was burnt. The critical point in the rela-tionship ϴ (λ) for the soil after fire which always was stronger than soil before to be burnt. Soil with"white" ashes showed a high thermal conductivity. An X-Ray diffractometry analysis allowed to clarify and to verify these results. To sum up, we could say that thermal conductivity presents changes when the scenario changes, i.e. before and after to be burnt. On the other hand, the volume of ashes incorporated on the soil increased the differences between no burnt and burnt soil, showing even some improvements on the heat transfer when water content started to govern the process.