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The objective of this paper is to assess the impact of complementary irrigation on maize dry matter yield. A randomized complete design with 5 treatments and 4 replications was used. In order to schedule irrigations, the crop cycle was divided in three stages (pre-critical, critical and post-critical). Irrigation scheduling was based on a water balance calculated from weather data furnished by the meteorological station at the experimental field site. Irrigation was performed using lateral move pressurized systems. Maize matured in 138 days with all treatments and took 1660,6 degree days to attain physiological maturity. Dry matter yield showed significant differences (α = 0.05) among plots irrigated with the different treatments and between irrigated and control plots. Maximum production values ranged between 34,628 kg.ha-1 with T1 and 20,414 kg. ha-1 in the rain fed plots. The amount of water applied ranged between 360 and 300 mm; total crop water use, according to the water balance, was 575 mm ± 15 mm in the case of irrigated treatments, and 308 mm with the control treatments. Dry matter water use efficiency showed significant differences (α = 0.05) between irrigated treatments (5.7 kg.m-3) and rain fed (control) plots (6.6 kg.m-3). The harvest index was 0.49. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a case-study perspective, the paper analyses two agroindustrial initiatives aiming at finding a «local» solution to the crisis faced by goat-rearing production in Central Argentina: i) the «Goat Milk Project» led by the Cooperative of Got Farmers of Punilla, that seeks to develop a network for milk collection; and ii) the «Goat Farming Regulation Agency» which proposes to set up a slaughterhouse for goats. Even though both projects aim to promote regional development fostering goat rearing, they are very different since they draw upon different stakeholders networks, and have devised different strategies to reach their aims. Both experiences were studied considering the same analytical dimensions: origin of the initiative, trajectory of the project and of the stakeholders' network, and evaluation of the experiences considering their objectives. A systematic follow up of each case study allowed to understand their underpinning logics and their strengths and weakness. Finally, the causes explaining the scarce relationship between projects that should be closely linked are analysed, and some predictions are made about their possible trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]