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The rainfed mountain plantations in semiarid areas of the Mediterranean region with conventional practices register soil erosion values much higher than soil formation rates, affecting their long-term sustainability. The objective of this study during four-year monitoring period was to evaluate the response of soil erosion and runoff to different soil-management strategies (SMS) for the most representative rainfed fruit crops: almond, olive, and vineyard. The SMS based on conservation agriculture techniques were: minimum tillage, minimum tillage with plant strips, and no-tillage with plant strips. Soil erosion and runoff patterns were examined in erosion plots on a mountain slope under each SMS. The results demonstrated that the SMS investigated reduce runoff and soil erosion compared to conventional tillage in the study area. The combination of minimum tillage with plant strips in almond and vineyard showed to be more valuable strategy in soil control than unique minimum tillage, averaging a reduction of soil erosion and runoff of 36 and 39%, respectively. As for olive, the minimum tillage with plant strips with respect to no-tillage was able to lessen both soil erosion and runoff by 36%. Likewise, this strategy proved to be the most efficient for minimizing the adverse impact of heavy rains on water erosion development on hillslopes. Since an increase of high-intensity rainfalls in the Mediterranean semi-arid areas is expected, the implementation of sustainable strategies is urgent in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have demonstrated that the rat adipose tissue expresses some of the components necessary for the production of angiotensin II (Ang II) and the receptors mediating its actions. The aim of this work is to characterize the expression of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) components in perivascular adipose tissue and to assess differences in the expression pattern depending on the vascular bed and type of adipose tissue. We analyzed Ang I and Ang II levels as well as mRNA levels of RAS components by a quantitative RT-PCR method in periaortic (PAT) and mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT) of 3-month-old male Wistar–Kyoto rats. PAT was identified as brown adipose tissue expressing uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1). It had smaller adipocytes than those from MAT, which was identified as white adipose tissue. All RAS components, except renin, were detected in both PAT and MAT. Levels of expression of angiotensinogen, Ang-converting enzyme (ACE), and ACE2 were similar between PAT and MAT. Renin receptor expression was five times higher, whereas expression of chymase, AT1a, and AT2receptors were significantly lower in PAT compared with MAT respectively. In addition, three isoforms of the AT1areceptor were found in perivascular adipose tissue. The AT1breceptor was found at very a low expression level. Ang II levels were higher in MAT with no differences between tissues in Ang I. The results show that the RAS is differentially expressed in white and brown perivascular adipose tissues implicating a different role for the system depending on the vascular bed and the type of adipose tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]