La fertilización nitrogenada aumenta a corto plazo la calidad del suelo en sistemas intensificados de maíz en regadío

Aim of study: This study had a double objective that consisted of: (i) assessing the effects of N fertilisation on soil quality under different cropping systems (monocropping vs. double-annual cropping systems) under irrigated maize conditions; and (ii) identifying soil parameters related to soil quality that respond quickly to short-term management changes in Mediterranean irrigated maize systems. Area of study: Zaragoza province, Spain Material and methods: The field experiment involved a strip plot design with three growing systems – maize monoculture (MM), pea-maize (PM), and barley-maize (BM)– and three fertilisation levels: unfertilised (0N), medium nitrogen (MN), and high nitrogen (HN). After two years, soil samples were collected at two depths (0-10 cm and 10-30 cm). Soil parameters measured related to soil quality were total soil organic carbon (SOC), water-stable macro aggregates (WSM), macroaggregate C concentration (Macro-C), particulate organic matter carbon (POM-C), permanganate-oxidisable organic carbon (POxC), soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and enzyme activity: dehydrogenase (Dhns) and ß-glucosidase (Gds). Main results: Our research showed that in intensified systems, the highest fertilisation rate improved soil parameters in the topsoil by enhancing all the soil parameters tested except for the dehydrogenise enzyme activity. In contrast, in the monoculture, the highest fertilisation rate only increased SOC and Macro-C. Fertilisation had a higher impact on soil quality in the BM system compared to the PM system, probably related to greater quantities of crop residues in the BM system under a high fertilisation rate. Research highlights: Nitrogen fertilisation improves soil parameters related to soil quality in intensified systems and the magnitude of the fertilisation impact may depend on crop species and residues. The impact of N fertilisation on soil quality can be detected in the short term when testing early indicators of soil quality.Objetivo del estudio: Este estudio busca un doble objetivo que consiste en (i) evaluar los efectos de lafertilización nitrogenada en diferentes sistemas de cultivo (monocultivo vs sistemas de doble cultivo) en lacalidad del suelo de un sistema de maíz en regadío; e (ii) identificar parámetros de calidad del suelo conrespuesta rápida ante cambios a corto plazo en sistemas mediterráneos de maíz en regadío.Área de estudio: Provincia de Zaragoza, EspañaMaterial y métodos:: El diseño experimental fue un strip plot con tres sistemas de cultivo: monocultivo de maíz (MM), doble cultivo guisante-maíz (PM) y doble cultivo cebada-maíz (BM) y con tres dosis de fertilización: sin fertilizar (0N), media (MN) y alta (HN). Después de dos años de estudio, se muestreó el suelo a dos profundidades (0-10, 10-30 cm). La calidad del suelo se determinó analizando carbono orgánico del suelo (SOC), macroagregados estables al agua (WSM), carbono de los macroagregados (Macro-C), carbono orgánico particulado (POM-C), carbono orgánico oxidable al permanganato (POxC), carbono de la biomasa microbiana (MBC) y actividad enzimática (deshidrogenasa, Dhns; y ß-glucosidasa, Gds). Principales resultados: Nuestra investigación mostró que los sistemas intensificados con altas dosis de fertilización nitrogenada mejoraron la calidad del suelo en la capa más superficial, incrementando todos los parámetros medidos excepto la actividad enzimática de la deshidrogenasa. En cambio, en el monocultivo de maíz con alta dosis de fertilización sólo aumentó el SOC y el Macro-C. El impacto de la fertilización en la calidad del suelo fue mayor en el sistema BM comparado con el sistema PM, probablemente relacionado con un mayor contenido de residuos en el sistema BM con dosis de fertilización alta. Aspectos destacados de la investigación: La fertilización nitrogenada mejora los parámetros relacionados con la calidad del suelo en sistemas intensificados. No obstante, este impacto puede depender de los cultivos seleccionados y la producción y calidad de los residuos de estos cultivos. El impacto de la fertilización en la calidad del suelo se puede detectar a corto plazo seleccionando indicadores tempranos de calidad del suelo.We acknowledge the field and laboratory assistance of Fernando Gómez and Leticia Pérez. This research was supported by the EU Horizon 2020 Programme for Research & Innovation project “Crop diversification and low-input farming across Europe: from practitioners’ engagement and ecosystem services to increased revenues and value chain organisation (DIVERFARMING)” (grant agreement no. 728003) and partially by the Spanish State Agency for Research (AEI) (Grant AGL2017-84529-C3-1-R) and the European Union (FEDER funds).cropping diversificationdouble-annual cropping systemsenzyme activitiesirrigated maizeMediterranean agroecosystemsnitrogen fertilizationsoil organic carbonactividades enzimáticasagrosistemas mediterráneoscarbono orgánico del suelodiversificación de cultivosfertilización nitrogenadamaíz en regadíosistemas de doble cultivoPublishe

Mechanical characterization of blends containing recycled paper pulp and other lignocellulosic materials to develop hydromulches for weed control

Spreading of hydromulch as a crop management technique might show important advantages over plastic films for weed control, because it can be applied anywhere in a field, even in orchard and vineyard rows. In the present work, 24 blends were prepared by mixing paper pulp, from recovered paper and cardboard coming from paper mills, with different additives: (a) wheat straw, rice hulls, and substrate used for mushroom cultivation on the one hand as fillers, and (b) rice bran, white glue, sodium silicate, and powered gypsum on the other hand as agglomerating agents. The blends were tested with a texture analyser to evaluate their mechanical properties, testing the puncture resistance (24 blends) and the tensile strength (15 blends). Scanning electron photomicrographs of some blends were obtained in order to explore the relationship between their components and the mechanical properties. The results indicate that a blend prepared with paper pulp, wheat straw sieved at 2.5 mm and gypsum attained the highest stress resistance and tensile strength. An environmentally controlled experiment was performed on this and another hydromulch in which rice husk substituted wheat straw to evaluate their efficiency for reducing weed seedling emergence, using propagules of four common summer weeds. Compared with the control treatment performed, the hydromulches reduced seedling emergence from 64.6% to 95.9%. In general, the percentage of dead seedlings underneath was greater than that which passed through the barrier, making the hydromulches promising tools for preventing seedling emergence and for managing the weed seed bank in field conditions.This work was supported by the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias of the Spanish Government [grant numbers RTA2015-00047-C01 and RTA2015-00047-C04]. We would like to thank S. Alcal a, R. Baquero, M. Juli a, A.I. Marı´, I. Morales, M. Mic o, and J. Pueyo for their technical assistance. We are indebted to the companies that supplied the raw materials used to develop the prototypes of the hydromulchesMulchingStrengthPunchingCrop residuesSeedling emergenceSeed bankIn pres

Ganadería de pequeños rumiantes de razas locales: ¿qué factores económicos, sociales y ambientales determinan su resiliencia?

(Proyecto PID2020-120312RA-I00) financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia, Investigación y Universidades y la Agencia Estatal de Investigació

Fotografías de la Jornada sobre emprendimiento en Apicultura y venta de miel

Actuación subvencionada por el Gobierno de España y el Gobierno de Aragón con cargo al Fondo de Inversiones de Terue

Effect of nanocomposite packaging containing different proportions of ZnO and Ag on chicken breast meat quality

This study reports the antimicrobial capacity, nanoparticle migration properties and the influence on some meat quality traits of a packaging based on a low density polyethylene (LDPE) blended with a nano-antimicrobial master batch composed of Ag and ZnO (5% and 10% w/w). Meat was aged for storage times of 0, 7, 10, 15 or 21 days. Composition of the package atmosphere, some microbiological analyses, meat sensorial quality, meat color, visual appearance score and lipid oxidation index (TBAR) values were determined. Irrespective of the packaging, the O-2 concentration decreased and the CO2 concentration and count for all types of microbe increased with storage time. Redness, yellowness and Chroma of the breast meat increased until to 7 days whereas maximum lightness values were found at 15 days. Visual appearance scores decreased and lipid oxidation increased with storage time. It was found that adding ZnO + Ag nanoparticles to LDPE packaging has an antimicrobial effect whilst migration amounts were well within those allowed by law. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This study was funded by project IPT-060000-2010-019. We thank the sensorial panelists for their valuable help.Publishe

Screening for genetic resistance in advanced selections of almond rootstocks for the recognition of genotypes resistant to fungal root pathologies

hybrid rootstockFungal diseasesphenotypingartificial inoculationroot-associated pathogensPublishe

Impacto inmediato del laboreo sobre la calidad del suelo en un viñedo en la D.O.P. Somontano (Huesca, Aragón) manejado con cubierta espontánea

En viñedos, el manejo del suelo con cubiertas vegetales puede generar una competencia por agua y nutrientes, lo que podría disminuir el rendimiento. A medio–largo plazo, la implantación de una cubierta vegetal en el viñedo puede mejorar las propiedades del suelo, pero dicho impacto es muy dependiente de las condiciones edafoclimáticas de cada parcela. Por ello, este trabajo tiene como objetivo determinar el efecto de un laboreo superficial sobre diversos indicadores de salud del suelo y el estado hídrico en un viñedo del Somontano (Huesca) gestionado con una cubierta espontánea durante los cinco años previos. Las propiedades físico–químicas del suelo apenas se alteraron con el laboreo, mientras que las biológicas (actividad microbiana y diversidad de artrópodos) se redujeron drásticamente. Además, la cubierta vegetal no tuvo un impacto negativo sobre el estado hídrico de la vid. Esto sugiere que la cubierta vegetal puede ser una alternativa sostenible frente al laboreo en la zona de estudio.Immediate impact of tillage on soil health in a D.O.P. Somontano (Huesca, Aragón) vineyard previously managed with spontaneous vegetation. In vineyards, soil management using plant covers might cause a competition for water and nutrients, which could lead to reductions in yield. In the medium to long term, establishing a vegetal ground cover in the vineyard may enhance soil properties, but this impact strongly depends on the edaphoclimatic conditions of each plot. Consequently, this work aims at determining the effect of a surface tillage on several soil health indicators and the water status in a vineyard located in Somontano (Huesca) that has been managed with spontaneous vegetation during the previous five years. Soil physical and chemical properties were not altered by tillage; however, biological properties (microbial biomass, diversity of arthropods) were considerably reduced. Moreover, spontaneous vegetation did not affect grapevine water status. This suggests that establishing a plant cover is a sustainable alternative to tillage under the conditions of this studyEste estudio forma parte del programa AGROALNEXT y ha sido financiado por MCIN con fondos de la Unión Europea NextGenerationEU (PRTR–C17.I1). Se agradece al Director de Viticultura de la bodega Viñas del Vero por facilitar la realización de este trabajo en uno de sus viñedos.Biología del sueloCubierta vegetalEstado hídrico de la vidViticultura sostenible.Soil biologyCover cropGrapevine water statusSustainable viticulturePublishe

Physiological and biochemical parameters controlling waterlogging stress tolerance in Prunus before and after drainage

Waterlogging is associated with poor soil drainage. As a consequence oxygen levels decrease in the root environment inducing root asphyxia and affecting plant growth. Some plants can survive under these conditions triggering complex anatomical and biochemical adaptations, mostly in the roots. Long- and short-term responses to waterlogging stress were compared in two trials using a set of two myrobalans (Prunus cerasifera Erhr), P.2175 and P.2980, as tolerant rootstocks and two almond x peach [Prunus amygdalus Batsch x Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] interspecific hybrids, Garnem and Felinem, as sensitive ones in two consecutive years. Stomatal conductance and chlorophyll content were measured in the long-term trials to assess survival performance, while the enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), guaiacol peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7), and catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) were measured in the short-term trials to study early antioxidant response. The incidence of the stress in the root environment was different as a result of the different plant development at the moment of the treatment, as a consequence of different environmental conditions both before and during the treatment between the 2 years. The activity of the different enzymes was higher in the sensitive genotype Felinem than in the tolerant P.2175. This result shows an activation of the antioxidant system and has been observed to depend of the different nature of the roots between the 2 years. As the antioxidant enzymes seem to work more efficiently when roots are more aerated, we cannot conclude that they are responsible for the higher tolerance observed in the myrobalan plums.This work was supported by RTA- 08-0086 and A12 research group from the Government of Aragon.Publishe