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The economic crisis has had an asymmetric effect on Spanish and regional/local economies. This study aims to analyze the strategies developed by cooperative wineries in Castilla-La Mancha (CLM) and their impact on performance measurements. The paper opted for an exploratory study based on a compilation of financial statements consisting of the traditional economic-financial profitability ratios (ROA, ROI, ROS) plus a specific analysis, Return of Owner Cooperative (ROC). We have also used two financial measurements: Liquidity and Leverage. Trade dynamism is the hallmark of wine cooperatives in CLM in terms of strategic action in the face of a crisis. Their resilience is patent in the conquest of foreign markets via low unit costs, which have been transferred to sales prices. The paper has implications for the understanding of the resilience of the agricultural cooperatives during the crisis period in question. The consistency of the results provides a context to promote the cooperative model as an essential factor in the social economy. This paper fulfils an identified need to show the cooperative model as a resilient one in the agricultural field and in the context of rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential allelopathic effects of isolated or intercropped aqueous forage extracts on the physiological performance of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and corn (Zea mays L.) seeds, as well as their phytotoxicity to the weed species Bidens pilosa L. Aqueous extracts were prepared at a concentration of 5%, and the tests with soy and corn were conducted by wetting the germination papers with different treatments and performing procedures within the standards of the Brazilian Rules of Seed Analysis. Tests with the cover plant extracts on the seeds of B. pilosa used BOD-type repetitions. Fifty weed seeds were placed in a gerbox with filter paper moistened with the different treatments with five repetitions. Distilled water was used as the control in all tests. Extracts of Avena strigosa Schreb and Raphanus sativus L. (radish), cultivated individually and in combination, increased the seed germination percentage (%G) and the length of soybean seedlings. Similarly, extracts of Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br and Crotalaria spectabilis Roth, in individual and combined cultivation, provided gains in corn %G. Furthermore, all tested extracts suppressed germination and decreased the speed of the germination index of the hairy beggarticks when compared to the control, with the radish extract showing the greater reduction effect on the %G of the weed plant B. pilosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes how decision-making, management capacity and technology adoption by beekeepers, affect the technical efficiency (TE) of Argentinean beekeeping through the case study of the province of La Pampa (Argentina). The assessment of TE is currently receiving ever-growing attention as an indicator of sustainability and usage of sufficient natural resources in beekeeping activities. This study aimed to identify the key factors affecting the technical efficiency of bee farms in the province of La Pampa. The study included a sample of 40 bee farms and estimated their TE score through an input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model. In a second stage, Tobit regression was determined to evaluate the technical inefficiency determinants. This paper found that most beekeeping production units have low TE levels. Only 25 % of bee farms produce either at or close to the frontier. The Tobit model revealed that variables such as marital status, educational level, primary family income, source information usage, planning and health area, affect positively on pure technical efficiency. These results are considered to be of great interest for structured beekeeping systems on small-scale and family farms, as well as for political decision-makers, regarding a public program in apiculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing time series data with remote sensing provides a better understanding of vegetation dynamics, since previous conditions and changes that have occurred over a given period are known. The objective of this paper was to analyze the current status and recent advances in the use of time series data obtained from remote sensors for vegetation monitoring. A systematic search of scientific papers was performed and 167 papers were found, published during the period 1996 to 2017. No significant difference in the amount of years analyzed was found between time series analyzed with a single sensor and those analyzed with a combination of several sensors (i.e. Landsat and SPOT, Landsat and Sentinel, among others). However, the combination of data from different sensors (fusion of images) can improve the quality of the results. Special attention must also be given to the fusion of optical and radar data, since this offers more unique spectral and structural information for land cover and land use assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of researching and maintaining traditional knowledge is a concern within contemporary academic debates and public policies. Scientist of different disciplines have recognized this importance, indicating this is a broader interdisciplinary issue. Specifically, within the field of agroecological science, the concept of traditional knowledge is basic to the analysis of agroecosystems. This essay aims to analyze, within scientific papers, the approaches to traditional knowledge through agroecological studies. First, insights from traditional knowledge studies in socio-ecological systems are presented as a wider view. Secondly, papers that illustrate agroecological approach to traditional knowledge and the usage of participative research methodologies are systematically reviewed to the forward development of five propositions: 1) traditional knowledge dynamics, 2) importance of traditional knowledge and professional's ethics, 3) methodologies used for traditional knowledge gathering, 4) subjects of study in agroecological and traditional knowledge studies and 5) the integration of traditional knowledge with scientific knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to develop a model of sustainable added value chain (SAVC). The model i) considers consumers expectations, ii) analyses the determinant producers' factors to perform the SAVC and iii) ranks the agricultural subsectors according the SAVC. The value chain methodology was used to assess the sustainability of the agricultural value chain and develop the model. The model was tested in the Dominican Republic's agricultural value chain. The results showed i) producers' access to SAVC depends on the subsector, location and resources, ii) organic banana and avocado are the subsectors with the best potential SAVC while sweet potatoes and rice have the lowest potential and iii) producers are in an early stage to adopt the consumers' expectations endangering SAVC. Using mixed methods to investigate the SAVC this paper provides an approach that reflects the complex and iterative nature of a real supply chains and can be used by researchers, policymakers and practitioners to better understand and describe decision making and to develop informed policies and interventions beyond SAVC. This research challenges the innate complexity of local supply chains and the presence of barriers for SAVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology (NT) is focused to study the materials at the atomic and molecular scale (1-100 nm), the most studied are metallic nanoparticles (NPs) and those derived from carbon. In modern agriculture NPs are investigated because they offer the possibility to control plant pathogens and to increase the yield of plant crops. Nanotechnology provides scientific tools to design and prepare important products such as fertilizers and plant growth promoters. However, scientific literature is plenty of mix results; for example, some papers reports the benefits obtained from the application of carbon nanotubes and metal NPs, promoting plant growth effects, while others papers mention inhibition and phytotoxicity on seeds and plants. NT in agriculture to produce nanofertilizers and pesticides is still being investigated; however, derivative products and applications have been steadily increasing in recent years and are expected to continue growing. Currently, the worldwide demand for food is increasing and research and products to enhance crops yield are still insufficient. Therefore, the industry needs to generate nanoproducts for the development of a sustainable agriculture. Consequently, this review presents recent results about the use of NPs in agriculture, and its potential uses as nanofertilizers and plant growth promoters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study and use of preserved forages in the northern oasis of the province of Mendoza arise from the expansion of intensive farming in the area combined with the limited supply of forage due to the seasonal nature of perennial pasture production. Forage-type sorghums are a silage option because they adapt well to limiting edaphoclimatic conditions and have high forage yields. This paper evaluates four sorghum hybrids for whole-plant silage (ACA 558, ACA 715, ACA 740, Silero Inta-Pemán) cultivated in Mendoza's northern oasis (33°00'38" S and 68°52'28" O) during the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 crop cycles. Genotypes were characterized according to green matter (GM) and dry matter (DM) yields, plant height, and to the panicle dry weight/whole-plant dry weight ratio. No significant differences (p=0.05) were observed in GM or DM yields among the hybrids in the crop cycles under study. In the 2015-2016 crop cycle, the average GM and DM yields were 110,024 kg/ha-1 and 30,914 kg/ha-1, respectively, whereas during the 2016-2017 crop cycle, the average GM and DM yields were 115,122 kg/ha-1 and 30.752 kg/ha-1, respectively. The results obtained confirm that whole-plant sorghum silage is an interesting forage resource for intensive cattle farming in Mendoza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Spanish Committee for the Man and the Biosphere (MaB) Programme runs a programme that monitors the Spanish Network of Biosphere Reserves. The monitoring programme features a system of indicators enabling the degree of implementation and the territorial integration of the Biosphere Reserves (BRs) located on Spanish territory. This paper sets out a statistical analysis based on the results of the degree of implementation for the BRs of Andalusia (Spain) obtained for the period 2008-2014. The analysis allows the identification of the indicators that have had the most influence on the degree of implementation in the Andalusian BRs, as well as the factors that may be strengthened in order to enhance the degree of implementation. The effectiveness of the indicator system will be improved if additional work is done to redefine those conceptual aspects that tend to generate discrepancies in the interpretation of compliance with the requirements of the variables. To improve the management of the Andalusian BRs, complementary studies to allow the evaluation of the impact of the initiatives related to the implementation of the MaB Program, should be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) have been negotiating a Regional Association Agreement (RAA) since the mid-nineties. This paper aims to identify products at the level of sub-headings of the Harmonized System which would benefit from the signing of the agreement. The methodology used trade indicators combined with trade statistics from 2010 to 2012. A total of 61 subheadings were identified with potential to increase its exports to the EU with the agreement. At first glance they reproduced the traditional pattern of exports from the MERCOSUR countries, a high concentration in agrifood products due to high exported value of one product. When this product was not considered an important number of manufactures were identified as having potential to increase their exports to the EU. This finding showed a potential to decrease the dependence on primary or raw material exports. The paper focused on tariffs; therefore further research on non-tariff measures for market access is a must. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the dynamics of world wine consumption over the past 50 years in 26 countries, verifying whether or not there is a macro-tendency towards a common consumption style, despite differences in taxation, economic policies and distribution systems among countries. From an empirical point of view, the s and ß convergence hypotheses were formally tested. Model results confirm the existence of both types of convergences. Per capita consumption of wine first experienced a reduction in differences between countries and then converged toward a central value. "Traditional" countries, with historically high levels of consumption, showed a decrease in wine consumption, while emerging countries with historically lower consumption levels showed an increase. These findings not only provide further support to the theory of international convergence of wine consumption on a volume basis, as already observed by other researchers in the European market, but they also offer support for the theory in major world markets. Furthermore, convergence appears to be happening not only at a quantitative level but at qualitative level as well, and this phenomenon may very well reflect the changing tastes of worldwide consumers towards a generalized structure of wine consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Debris flows occurrence represents a potential geological hazard threatening community of the Aconcagua Park. These events are generated on steeper slopes reaching high velocities and great volume. Main historical cause of events is water saturation of sediments or rocks due to precipitation, snow thawing or permafrost degradation during warmer seasons. This paper focuses in the analysis of debris flow susceptibility considering conditioning factors such as lithology, slope, elevation, slope orientation and vegetation presence. These variables were analyzed through superposition of thematic maps and an inventory map of historical debris flows in a GIS environment. A physical model (SINMAP) and statistical methods of logistic regression and Wi were applied obtaining three different models spatially validated with inventory control map. The models showed good performance, even though the SINMAP shows differences in the zoning comparing with statistician ones, being logistical regression the more proper method for susceptibility assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes a range of experiences that when applied allow the identification and analysis of definitions, structures, dimensions-scales and key processes for the design of agro-ecological with the objective to drive the analyzes towards understanding of process that promote an important ecological, social and economic functionality. The theoretical framework-methodological built is provenances from agro ecological experiences review of agroecosystems that conserve natural resource. From the experiences analysis, it suggests that, in the context of sustainable agriculture, the agro ecological practices have evolved as a result of the local experiences of individual farmers and farmer's associations, and territorial development projects, with different territorial scale and strategist to the implementation. Based on productive activities on the agro ecological approach, was summarized indicators of functionality as well as, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, productivity, and ecological net at landscape, to reach ecological, social and economic objectives, in scales as farm, watershed, and landscape. It is under this premise that, we conclude that at varying degrees, these systems serve to integrate different approaches on the conservation of nature and human development thanks to the fact that their dynamic is determined by natural and social elements with multiple contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the effect of the various plant growth regulators of the culture medium on morphogenic processes in vitro in Cinchona officinalis L, a highly vulnerable species from southern Ecuador. To do this, different concentrations of NaOCl were used in combination with different immersion times for seed disinfection; for seed germination in vitro GA3 was added to the MS basal culture medium in different concentrations, and for morphogenic processes in vitro, different concentrations of auxins and cytokinins were combined. The decrease in the contamination rate was with high concentrations of NaOCl and an increase in the germination rate in 45 days with the addition of 1.0 mg L-1 GA3 to the culture medium the hormonal combination of 0.5 mg L-1 NAA + 2.5 mg L-1 BAP showed a high rate of shoot proliferation and with 1.0 mg L-1 NAA a high number of roots was obtained. In the callogenesis phase, the best results were obtained with 1.0 mg L-1 2,4-D + 0.5 mg L-1 BAP for callus proliferation. In vitro propagation protocols were generated in Cinchona officinalis L, for the preservation and conservation of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses vulnerability to Global Environmental Change of rural producers of Mendoza River basin, in Argentina. Vulnerability is a complex phenomenon that is generated at the intersection of environmental, social and economic dimensions. From a qualitative study based on in-depth interviews with producers of the study area, the paper explain the processes affecting actors (exposures / sensitivities) and the practices (adaptations) they develop to address these phenomena. The main idea is that hydroclimatological events act on a number of previous, long-term vulnerabilities defined by access to resources. Also it shows that resources are critical to the development of adaptive capacities, but finds that "availability of resources" and "capacity building" are not phenomena always related by a linear and direct causality. That is, sometimes the mere existence of resources is not enough to foster adaptive capacities. Noting some capacities gaps, the article identifies critical factors that could improve rural actors' capacities and could strengthen them to cope with future global climate events and other factors that affect their living conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When market performance is analyzed, a key issue to understand is the extent to which different agents in the supply chain respond to changes in price shocks. This paper explores the Mexican maize-tortilla chain through a price transmission analysis. It focus on a country-level study of the Mexican tortilla market by considering different regions and commercialization chains. Using a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) the integration of the Mexican maize tortilla market between the inter-region tortillería, interregion supermarket and intra-region tortillería-supermarket prices are investigated. The findings suggest that price transmission between tortillerías and supermarkets within a region seems to have triggered a shift in some consumers' place of purchase. Moreover, it demonstrates that cointegration level mainly depends of storage, logistics and transportation that could be the reason for the upsurge in variability of tortilla prices between states. These results appear to validate that radial transportation system in Mexico has benefited the central regions at the expense of the periphery regions, thus enabling tortillerías in Central regions to remain competitive with supermarkets and retain their market share. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat production in irrigated areas in Mendoza has increased over the last years. Corn silage emerges as an important forage alternative. This paper evaluates three corn hybrids for silage (ACA 417 RR2, ACA 485 MGRR2, ACA 498 MGRR2) cultivated in the northern oasis of Mendoza during the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 crop cycles. The study was carried out at the agricultural experiment station of the Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias of Universidad Nacional de Cuyo in Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza (33°00'38" S y 68°52'28" W). No differences were detected in green matter (GM) or dry matter (DM) yields among the hybrids during the crop cycles. In the 2015-2016 crop cycle average dry matter yields and green matter yields were 73,760 kg ha-1 and 23,493 kg ha-1, respectively, whereas during the 2016-2017 crop cycle green matter yields and dry matter yields were 58,390 kg ha-1 and 21,798 kg ha-1, respectively. Genotypes were characterized according to plant height, number of ears of corn, and the ear dry weight/whole plant dry weight ratio. The quality of the three hybrids was also determined. Results obtained suggest that corn silage is a valid forage resource for intensive cattle farming in Mendoza. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the water scarcity that affects the province of Mendoza, Argentina, information on reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0) is crucial for irrigation scheduling. Data that are not generally available is required for the determination of ET0, with the Penman-Monteith FAO56 equation (PM). The Hargreaves equation (HG), which only requires air temperature data, represents an alternative to calculate ET0, after its local or regional calibration with PM. In this paper, the Hargreaves equation was calibrated locally by means of annual (C0) and monthly (Cm,j) adjustment coefficients for the northern oasis of Mendoza. Also, a regionalisation of the C0 was performed considering environmental variables. The local adjustment with both coefficients made it possible to correct the positive bias that indicated an overestimation of HG with respect to PM in 12 meteorological stations. The mean value of the root mean square error decreased from 0.80 mm day-1 to 0.57 mm day-1 with the C0 adjustment coefficient, and to 0.55 mm day-1 with the Cm,j adjustment coefficient, while the absolute error decreased from 0.63 to 0.42 and 0.39, respectively. Wind speed was the variable that best explained the regional variability of the C0 (R² = 0.64). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interception of rainfall by vegetation greatly affects the hydrology of a basin. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the effect of annual rainfall variability on the interception in isolated individuals of two of the most common types of vegetation, Pinus pinea and Cistus ladanifer, in a Mediterranean watershed. For this, experimental data were taken for four years and the Rutter interception model was used to calculate the canopy drying time, while Rutter and Klaassen methodologies were used to determine the storage capacity of the canopy. On the whole, 29.6% of rainfall was intercepted for pine, and 17.7% for rockrose. Stemflow accounted for 0.3% for pine and 17% for rockrose, while 70.1% of the rainfall fell as throughfall for pine and 65.3% for rockrose. However, in dry years, the interception percentage almost doubled that of wet years. An average canopy drying time of 9.2 hours was established for pine, and 4.4 hours for rockrose. Approximately equal results of canopy storage capacity were obtained from both methods (1.8 mm for pine and 0.7 mm for rockrose). Both species registered higher values of canopy storage capacity in dry years than in wet years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cacao belongs to most important agricultural crops worldwide, in recent decades facing increasing demand as well as falling production capacity. The dramatically fall of production of cacao in Mexican agriculture, where it was first domesticated, is becoming a serious concern for diversity of local production, as local producers are substituting cacao plantations with more rentable crops thus giving away a rich genetic as well as agricultural legacy that could under adequate conditions provide a source of income for large region while maintaining the natural diversity. The paper tries to find the answer in studying the social capital of cacao producers of Tabasco region, coming to the conclusion that it is collective action and social capital led production set of practices that is crucial for the re-installment and prosperity of the plantations, rather than a single motive such as the recent invasion of Moniliophthora roreri fungus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the dynamics of transition in the interaction between vine (Vitis vinifera L.) and cover crop. From data obtained in a field essay, we propose a statistical model to investigate such biological interaction and we could determine that the vine-cover crop system changed from a biological interaction of commensalism type to another of amensalism type, being the vine not affected. Based on this information, we formulate a biomathematical model to describe this interaction, we estimate its parameters, and analyze the stability of the equilibrium points. It is evident, in this study, that the cover crop does not affect vine growth during the period considered in the essay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are few papers on Jerusalem artichoke postharvest storage and quality changes. This research aimed to achieve information about: a) the influence of harvest dates and varieties on tuber ˈs quality; b) the evolution of each treatment in cold storage; and c) the conservation periods and places (cold storage-field) effects on tubers quality was studied. Two varieties of Jerusalem artichoke were used, red's tubers and white's tubers. Dry matter; soluble solids; firmness; peridermis and pulp colour; sprouting and Penicillium development and fresh weight evolution of tubers were measured. It was found that the harvest period, to mantain the tuber quality and good performance in cold storage during the year, should not extend more than 49 days since the first frost for the study area (Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Latitude 33°00'30" S; Longitude 68°52'32" W). Differences between varieties were not observed. The information suggest that, for fresh consumption, tubers must be harvested till 98 days after the first frost, but these tubers are not kept properly refrigerated. Regarding method and time storage effects on tubersˈ quality, it is observed again that tubers which are keep in field beyond the second measurement date (August 30), quickly lose their commercial quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to verify whether there is a correlation between rainfall conditions that occurred in Azul, Buenos Aires (Lat 36°45' S; 59°57' W and Long altitude 137 m), between 1950 - 2015 and thermal anomalies generated in ENSO episodes in its warm phases - El Niño (EN) and cold - La Niña (LN), using a monthly series and annual rainfall. The annual rainfall showed a slight positive trend in the case of EN and below the central tendency for LN; however, these differences were not significant at 5% probability. In the monthly scale very low values were found in the Pearson Index, where only for the process LN and June (IP 0.5692), the linear relationship and t-Student analysis were slightly significant, 5%. Therefore, the existence of a change in the local rainfall regime in the years in which this process was present cannot be confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drylands are characterized among other things by low rainfall and soils with insufficient water. In these regions, agricultural production depends on irrigation, which transforms arid ecosystems into irrigated arable areas, as in the Cuyo region, in the central-western Argentina. Although these lands support the majority of the population, they are often associated with degradation processes. One of the main consequences of unsustainable agriculture is soil salinization, which occurs either because perennial deep-rooted native vegetation is replaced by annual crops or as a result of excessive irrigation and deficient drainage. Salinization is a global problem, since it reduces the productivity of large arable areas, decreases land value and leads to their abandonment. In this context, ecosystem restoration is a strategic approach to reverse the degradation of irrigated drylands, recover services and promote the conservation of arid ecosystems at the regional scale. In this paper we review the factors, both those linked to the biophysical environment and those determined by human activities, which are associated with salinization in different regions, as well as the implemented measures for rehabilitating these environments. Furthermore, the terminology associated with the practice of restoration is revised and a suitable alternative for exploring this approach in Cuyo is proposed: the productive restoration using species of the Prosopis genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study concerns a detailed review of published papers on rare-earth elements (REEs) in soil-plant system. Such studies have been carried out mainly in Europe and Asia and are relatively scarce in Latin American countries. Nevertheless, the interest in evaluating the uptake of REEs in soil-plant system is continually increasing. This is due to the fact that fertilizers contain high concentrations of these elements. Different techniques have been used for sampling, experimental work and REE determinations. However, we consider that the data handling has been rather statistically deficient. This review elaborates on the following points: (i) general characteristics of the REEs; (ii) bibliographical review of sampling and analytical techniques actually used in 37 papers with an emphasis on the statistical deficiencies; (iii) examples of the application of statistical methods (confidence interval of the mean and significance tests of Fisher F and Student t) based on two of the compiled papers. The first application showed that the original authors did not apply any statistical methodology to evaluate their data quality and that there are systematic differences between the data analyzed in their laboratory and the certified values of the reference material. The application of significance tests to the data from the second paper demonstrated that there are significant differences in the mean values of Ce and Eu (only these two elements were exemplified) in plants from different sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the salt-stress tolerance of the 75 AB Citrumelo cultivar (Citrus paradisi x Poncirus trifoliata) in comparison with the Cleopatra Mandarin (Citrus retuculata) which is known worldwide due to its high stress resistance. Seedlings of both species were incubated in between paper towels damped with distilled water or 30 mM NaCl solutions. The experimental design was completely randomized with 3 replica and the data were analyzed using ANOVA and the Tukey test. After 41 days, fresh weight, relative water content (RWC), proline concentration, and mineral composition were determined. Growth in Cleopatra was more sensitive to salinity than that of the 75 AB Citrumelo cultivar, whereas relative water content kept constant in both rootstocks. The osmotic adjustment occurred by accumulating proline in leaves being its concentration higher in the 75 AB Citrumelo. The latter excluded Na+ and Cl- ions from the aerial part of the plant and limited them to the root system while the contrary was observed for Cleopatra. The 75 AB Citrumelo cultivar is more tolerant to salinity than Cleopatra and excludes both Na+ and Cl- ions from its aerial part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A panel with dehumidifiers attachable to conventional sprayers was designed, capable of retaining the spray liquid that is lost by drift. The objectives of this study were: a) verify the recovery capacity of the panel, b) to study their influence on the characteristics of spraying, c) check the drift modification in soil and the surrounding rows. The prototype was tested in a vertical shoot positioned (VSP) trellised vineyard cv. Malbec. The application of copper oxychloride with conventional hydropneumatic equipment was defined as a control treatment. Spray quality was assessed using water sensitive papers and receptors on the treated row, in two adjacent rows and soil. In field trials, the panel recovers 37% of the volume applied for early vegetative development and 11% with maximum vegetation. The panel did not influence the amount of product deposited, nor the quality of the spray distribution on the treated canopy. In the conventional treatment it was found that drift is lost mainly in the soil adjacent to the treated rows. The panel significantly reduced drift to the soil, both the deposit of pesticide applied as the quantity of surface impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic change effects and the processes of urban growth caused environmental deterioration in the city of Buenos Aires. This situation alters the natural hydrological cycle and the hydrograph of floodwaters in urbanizing watersheds will modify, presenting flows higher peak and shorter rise times as it progresses. On the other hand, the global warming has caused an increase in mean annual precipitation and extreme values generated by storms of connective type, in the central region and North of Argentina. One of the possibilities to mitigate these effects is the implementation of extensive green roofs systems in terraces of buildings and houses built that help to reduce runoff factor. The objective of this paper was: to determine the reduction of surface runoff and water quality delivered for different types of green roofs with different types of vegetation implanted in normal rainfall in the city of Buenos Aires. The results of the study that was carried out along one year, showed that the retention capacity of the tested lots varied, depending upon precipitation, type of vegetation and coverage. For the range of 21 and 41 mm the retention ratesreached between 63% and 68%, with rainfall between 42 and 60 mm are observed percentages of retention from 31% to 39%. For the range of 61 to 80 mm the retention percentage was similarly to the range previously analyzed, 25% to 38%, and finally analyzing rainfall greater than 90 mm, the percentage of retention varies between 16% and 22%. The Aptenia cordifolia presented minors values of retention in all ranges except the first. The results of the test showed that green roofs system represent a good alternative in the integrated management of water runoff in urban watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the count of Fusarium verticillioides and fumonisins accumulation in ears covered and not covered under different conditions of moisture and temperature. Paper bags permeable to moisture were placed on female inflorescences. Female inflorescences covered did not prevent infection of maize kernels. Moreover, significant differences in fumonisins B1 and B2 were obtained between grains obtained from ears covered with respect to grains from ears uncovered. The conditions of high humidity and temperature generated in the ears covered, favored fumonisins levels significantly. The information provided on the level of infection of the pathogen and the interaction of different temperature and moisture conditions that influence the synthesis of fumonisins, allows continue evaluating the behavior of Fusarium in maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper falls within the framework of the FAO-INA Agreement that was entered into to "identify new potential irrigated and supplementary-irrigated areas in the basins of northeastern Argentina". The agreement seeks to collect information on monthly reference crop evapotranspiration (ETo), analyze its variability, and show it on isoline maps. The study comprised the central northeastern part of Argentina; the program used was CROPWAT 8.0 – FAO; and climate data were obtained from CLIMWAT 2.0. The information was plotted with ArcView 3.2ª and the variables of interest were interpolated with the Kriging method. Results show that: a) Santiago del Estero is the station with the highest annual ETo: 1767 mm.year-1, while the lowest ETo value is found in Loreto (Misiones) with 1150 mm.year-1; b) the average ETo in January ranges between 160 to 200 mm.month-1, while in July it is between 35 - 90 mm.month-1; c) the average ETo in January in the northeastern part of Cordoba ranges between 165 - 185 mm. month-1 while in July the variability is less pronounced; and d) rainfall in an average hydrological year ranges between 605 and 1825 mm.year-1 with an effective rainfall of 500 and 1400 mm.year-1 that tends to increase towards the northeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current wine marketing requires a rethinking of business strategy in order to increase the current market share and international prestige. This paper provides a comparative diagnosis of the positioning of Chilean wine in the European market, focusing on the case of Germany. The working methodology was based on the registering and market segmentation of the selection of wines on display on the shelves of supermarkets, hypermarkets and specialty stores. Subsequently, a comparative analysis was performed in order to evaluate the growth dynamism of this target market from 2001 to 2013. The results show an increase from one period to another in the prices of national wines, and both an increase in and diversification of the supply in the German market. Chile, with its share in a wide range of prices, has become a more prominent competitor, and has managed to attain higher price ranges as compared to 2001. Currently, when it comes to Carmenere and Merlot, Chile appears as it is the only country offering this varietal in the German market. This is a situation that should be strengthened using commercial strategies that allow for a more aggressive positioning of this varietal. Lastly, it is recommended to adopt a more aggressive positioning method for Chilean wine, using a country-strategy that improves its long-term competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to determine the nutritional contribution of pollen from four cultivated species (Malus domestica Borkh., Eucalyptus globulus Labill., Brassica napus L. ssp. oleifera and Vaccinium corymbosum L.) pollinated by bees (Apis mellifera L.) in Southern Chile. The pollen was collected in helicoidal pollen traps installed in hives in farms located in different parts of the Region, and was subsequently analysed at the Bromatology Laboratory. The results obtained matched the values described in the literature, with ranges of phosphorus between 0.59 and 0.80%, crude protein between 33.27 and 39.04%, ethereal extract between 1.83 and 7.72%, carbohydrates between 19.62 and 39.18% and total polyphenols contents ranging between 2,643.69 and 4,773.28 mg 100 g-1. Thus the species evaluated may be considered sources rich in proteins, carbohydrates and polyphenols; however it is important to determine the composition and concentration of amino acids, sugars and fatty acids present in the pollens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, the socioeconomic analysis of natural systems does not enter into the realms of natural science. This paper, however, estimates the human-welfare effects of possible anthropogenic-pressures on the Mendocinian piedmont by a lower provision of environmental services. The discrete choice experiment is applied to elicit the trade-offs in perceived values for three environmental services generated in the basins west of Gran Mendoza (alluvional risk, plant cover, and recreation) and for the costs of programmes designed to mitigate the intensity of such effects. Increased alluvional risk is the anthropogenic-pressure effect on the Mendocinian piedmont that most concerns the population, followed by a decrease of plant cover and recreation. An increase of 1% in alluvional risk is estimated to cost each person, on average, 24.13 pesos (2013 value) yearly in lost welfare, a figure equivalent in social welfare to a decrease of 6% in plant cover. These trade-off values may help policy makers, land managers, and ecologists to consider social preferences in the design of their programmes and activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to find a synergism between maximum solar activity and rains in Azul, Buenos Aires (36°45' S, 59°57' W and altitude. 137 m ), using a series of annual rainfalls from 1913 to 2012. The results showed that the last four solar activity maxima correspond to the years of highest rainfall. Annual rainfalls for those years recorded on average 1317mm (2.4 standard deviation above the mean), which was significantly different from the mean of the last hundred years (855.7mm ±191.1 mm). A positive relationship between years of maximum solar activity and the occurrence of extreme rainfall events that generate excess water and flooding in the rural and urban sectors of Azul was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to get to know the amount of water used by the canned tomato and peach industries in Mendoza, Argentina, at basin level. To this end, the raw material was calculated using data on cultivated area and yields provided by the Registro Permanente de Uso de la Tierra de Mendoza y del Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Water volume coefficients per unit of processed raw material ranged from 5 to 25 kg-1 of processed product (excluding irrigation water use in farms). Results were analyzed for different coefficient values related to water use efficiency under optimistic and pessimistic scenarios. It is concluded that the canned tomato and peach industries in Mendoza use between 0.66 and 6.15 hm3/year. The largest amount of water used by the tomato industry is drawn from the Northern basin, reaching 64.9% of the total volume required by such industries. The largest amount of water used by the peach industry is drawn from the Southern basin, reaching 46% of the total volume required by such industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was carried out in 7 alkaline wetlands located in the plain sector of the Azul creek basin (center of Buenos Aires province, Argentina). Such environments, due to soil limitations are used for breeding cattle. The aim of this paper is to analyze these landscape units from a perspective that allows their revaluation, considering the great diversity of plant species of medicinal value that develops in them. 150 species were identified, of which 81 (54%) had medicinal properties. The family with most species with medicinal use was Asteraceae, followed by Poaceae and, to a lesser extent, Apiaceae and Plantaginaceae. The medicinal use group most represented was that of digestive, then diuretic and hepatic. These environments should be considered as providers of ecosystem services because of the wide diversity of their flora and its medicinal potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wine sector in recent decades is experiencing a vertiginous process of changes and new dynamics that are affecting the performance and strategies of firms in the sector: growing internationalization, the fall in the domestic markets of traditional producing countries, the entrance of exogenous capital, etc. The expertise that a given organization demonstrates to adapt to the new situation will be reflected in profitability, the basic indicator for judging efficiency in business management. Starting from a representative sample of firms from Castilla-La Mancha, the greatest wineproducing region in the world, this paper poses a new econometric model consisting of the performance variables defined by the principal component technique. It is inferred from the results that business profitability comes from three variables. First is company structure with greater profitability for capitalist firms than for cooperatives. Second is size where performance is better the larger the size, taking advantage of scale economies. Third is financial structure with greater cost-effectiveness when the firm's make- up prioritizes its own resources and liquidity. On the contrary, the lack of permanent financing to address fixed assets and a trade dynamic orientated toward the sale of low-priced bulk wine significantly reduce profitability ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summer diet composition of cattle grazing in systems formed by Nothofagus pumilio forests (lenga) and flood meadows, in Northwest of Chubut, was determined. Forage availability in flood meadows and understory were estimated by cutting aboveground biomass. Cattle diet composition was assessed using faeces microhistological analysis. Diet consisted mainly of Poaceae and Cyperaceae species, which decreased in frequency at the end of summer grazing, on the other hand, frequency of woody species including lenga saplings, increased at the same period. Cattle selected grass species in both periods, and also lenga saplings in the end of summer. Livestock is an important economic activity for the inhabitants of the region. This paper provides information that can be for the elaboration of guideline for sustainable coexistence of forest and cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of arsenic (As) in soils allows migration to crops like chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). In this paper we compare contents of As in three soils of two states of the Mexican Republic, and its accumulation in C. arietinum L. The soils were moderately alkaline, non-saline, intermediate gearboxes and zeta potential (pZ) indicating moderately stable colloidal suspensions. With moderate moisture content and clay-loam textures, bulk density, field capacity, stable aggregates and cation exchange capacity, significantly different and similar infiltration rate and thickness of horizon A. Organic matter, carbon and nitrogen are significantly different and low content. There are important differences between seeds of C. arietinum L. certified or not in their ability to germinate and root development. The genotoxic effects of As in roots of C. arietinum L. appreciated by induction of micronucleus, 2.8- fold reduction of cell division in water samples treated with As, regarding control samples. As was observed increase of 9.5 times in seedlings germinated in soil El Salitre, that in Bella Vista soil, indicative of migration As. The sum effect of concentration of As in soil and water is increased 15.3 times. Among soils Bella Vista and Querétaro, the correlation was 2.9 times greater. In positive controls the IBAs are three times higher than in the experimental tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work was to determine a glyphosate formulation effects on the root length reduction (average effective concentration: EC50) using germination bioassays with lettuce and wheat seeds. For lettuce nine decreasing doses/treatments between 1,215 and 0.01215 g a.i.ha-1 (formulated as: N phosphonometyl glycine ammonium salt 40.5 [g e.a. glyphosate 36.9% p/v]) and for wheat five decreasing doses (12.15 and 1.215 g a.i.ha‑1) and their respective negative controls (distilled water) were tested. Bioassays were carried out in Petri boxes with wet filter paper with 3 ml of corresponding solution. Twenty seeds were sowed per box, treatments being distributed in blocks at random with 4 repetitions in germination chamber under alternating light and dark condition at 20°C. All seed average root length and repetition were estimated with a digital caliper. The average germination percentage of treatments and the germination index was also determined. EC50 or doses reducing 50% their radical growth for lettuce and wheat were 6.682 and 9.416 g a.i.ha-1. Plant materials tested resulted sensitive to the different glyphosate doses and they can be used as biological indicators of the specific toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to estimate, at basin level, the volume of water used by the wineries in Mendoza, which consists mainly of groundwater. This information can be used to calculate the water balance in the context of industrial water use. Estimates were based on winemaking data provided by the Instituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura. Coefficients of liters of water per liter of wine were obtained through qualified informants as well as by local and international literature; they were applied to wine production per basin. The said coefficients ranged between 1.5 and 6 liters of water/liters of wine, excluding the use of water for irrigation. To analyze the impact of water use on efficieny, consumption, the results were sensitized for three coefficient values. It has been estimated that wineries in Mendoza use between 1.66 and 6.66 hm3/year, depending on water use efficiency. Out of the total volume of water used by wineries, 85.2% is drawn from the Northern Basin of Mendoza, comprising the Mendoza river and the lower reach of the Tunuyan river [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vinal (Prosopis ruscifolia G.) is a highly-tolerant to saline stress species of forest-importance native to the Western Chaco Phytogeographical Region. The aim of this paper was to test the hypothesis that supplementing vinal seedlings with CaSO4 lowers their concentration of toxic ions and increases proline concentration allowing for osmotic adjustment. The seedlings were cultivated in a 25% Hoagland solutions whether adding 0.4 mol L-1 of NaCl or not, and whether supplementing it with 5 or 10 mmol L-1 of CaSO4 or not. Both dry matter, mineral composition, relative water content and proline and soluble sugar concentrations were determined. A totally randomized experimental design was used with five repetitions and the results analyzed with ANOVA and the Tukey test. The results obtained endorse the protecting role of Ca+2 by maintaining Ca+2, K+, and Mg+2 concentrations in tissues; the Na+ absorption inhibition; and the osmotic adjustment by synthesizing osmocompatible solutes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flower market is characterized by being both eager for novelties and highly competitive. The exploration of native species with ornamental potential represents a remarkable area of research, since it entails the introduction and development of novel promising ornamental crops. The genus Glandularia, widely distributed in Argentina, holds an enormous ornamental potential, due to the variety of colors of its inflorescences (red, violet, white, rose and lily), and extended flowering period. There is little information on tissue culture of Glandularia, thus highlighting the relevance of this research. In this work, the conditions for in vitro multiplication of G. peruviana were optimized. It was concluded that WPM supplemented with TDZ, in concentrations ranging from 1.1 to 9.0 μM, was the most adequate treatment, rendering a multiplication rate of approximately 10 de novo shoots per explant. This paper presents a protocol for the in vitro propagation of this species and introduces interesting prospects in the application of biotechnological tools to breed Glandularia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present here a real options approach as a tool for strategic decision-making in the forestry sector. We consider, in particular, an exotic option known as a knock-in barrier option. We use this approach to determine the optimal timing of harvests. The optimal time is determined by comparing at each period, the cash flow corresponding to each node (FFij(t)) in a binomial lattice with the expected value in the next year ( Xt+1xe -rΔt ). The traditional NPV indicates, in an hypothetical context analyzed in the paper, that the largest present value is obtained at the tenth year of standing. The real options approach championed here, instead, indicates that the highest value is at the eighteenth year of standing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent evolution of the foods prices has been evaluated in several studies considering: the commercial margins analysis and the prices temporal evolution although more of them have been developed using the consumer optics. In this paper, the temporal evolution of the foods prices in Spain has been analysed in the period 2000-2009 considering the farmer optics. Concretely, information in relation with the prices received by the farmers, the prices paid by them and the consumer price index (CPI) has been used. Then, using a time series analysis, the long run relationships between series have been analysed. The results show a long run balance between the prices received and paid by the farmer and between the CPI and the received prices. The main conclusions show that, in spite of the existing imbalances in the short term, in the long term the received and paid prices tend to a balance situation. An important element in the evolution of the CPI is the prices received by the products in the primary sector. Nevertheless, the inputs price fixation in the primary sector in the long term does not show a significant relationship with the CPI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New precision agriculture technologies allow collecting information from several variables at many georeferenced locations within crop fields. The spatial covariation of soil properties and crop yield data can be evaluated by principal component analysis (PCA). Nevertheless, PCA has not been explicitly developed for spatial data as other multivariate descriptive methods. Other multivariate techniques that include spatial autocorrelation among data of neighborhood sites have been recently developed. In this paper, we apply and compare two multivariate analyses, PCA and spatially constrained multivariate analysis methods (MULTISPATI-PCA). The latter incorporates the spatial information into multivariate analysis calculating Moran's index between the data at one location and the mean values of its neighbors. The results showed that MULTISPATI-PCA detected relations in the data that were not detected with PCA. The mapping of spatial variability from the first principal component was similar between PCA and MULTISPATI-PCA, but maps from the second component were different due to the variance correction by spatial autocorrelation. MULTISPATI- PCA method represents a crucial tool to map spatial variability within a field, and to identify homogeneous zones in a multivariate sense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigates the spatial market integration of the Chilean wheat market in relation with its most representative international markets by using a vector error correction model (VECM) and how a price support policy, as a price band, affect it. The international market was characterized by two relevant wheat prices: PAN from Argentina and Hard Red Winter from the United States. The spatial market integration level, expressed in the error correction term (ECT), allowed concluding that there is a high integration degree among these markets with a variable influence of the price band mechanism mainly related with its estimation methodology. Moreover, this paper showed that Chile can be seen as price taker as long as the speed of its adjustment to international shocks, being these reactions faster than in the United States and Argentina. Finally, the results validated the "Law of the One Price", which assumes price equalization across all local markets in the long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Cynara cardunculus L. primary complex we can find a globe artichoke: Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus and other botanical varieties such as C. cardunculus var. altilis (cultivated cardoon) and C. cardunculus var. sylvestris (wild artichoke). Traditionally, they varieties were grouped according to morphological and biochemical traits and more recently, based on molecular markers. The aim of the present paper was to compare the use of morphological, biochemical and molecular markers to distinguish botanical varieties of Cynara cardunculus. Three accessions of var. scolymus, two accessions of var. altilis and two accessions of var. sylvestris were used. Different morphological variables, electrophoresis seed protein pat terns by SDS-PAGE and SRAP markers were evaluated. The three kinds of markers grouped all materials in two clusters: one of them included the globe artichoke and the other the cardoons. SDS-PAGE is a valid technique for botanical varieties identification but the morphological and molecular data were more effective at discriminating botanical varieties and accessions within the scolymus group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some activities carried out in the Northern part of the province of Mendoza may affect groundwater quality: industrial effluent disposal and reuse for irrigation, fertilizer application, on-site sanitation systems, sewer leaks, etc. In this area, cut across by the Mendoza and Tunuyán rivers, two large hydro-geological units developed from Quaternary sedimentation: unconfined aquifers (area of alluvial cones) and upper water-table and underlying semiconfined and confined aquifers (where the study area is located). The objective of this paper is to identify the source of nitrate contamination in aquifers. Several physical-chemical and biological parameters were analyzed to assess groundwater quality, and isotope techniques were used to trace the origin of groundwater and the source of nitrates. Results show that nitrate contamination in semi-confined and confined aquifers does not originate in the overlying unconfined aquifer, which is affected by reuse of industrial effluents, but is caused by the horizontal groundwater flow from the greater Mendoza area contaminated by sewer leakage and on-site sanitation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New biotechnologies allow to obtain information for genetic characterization from multiple molecular and/or morphological markers. The ordination of genetic material through the exploration of variability patterns is addressed by multivariate methods. Dimension reduction techniques (DRT) and graphic representation are crucial to visualize multivariate data in low-dimensional spaces since it facilitate the understanding of relationships among individuals and/or markers. The principal component analysis, the multidimensional scaling and generalized procrustes analysis are dimension reduction techniques applicable to data from molecular and/or morphological markers. The minimum spanning trees and the biplots are techniques that allow geometrical representations of results from DRT. This paper describes such techniques and its applications are illustrated on a dataset with molecular and morphological markers characterizing fungus genetic material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]