The Inner Quality Concept for food, based on life processes

How can we adequately express the quality of food produced by organic agriculture? To answer this research question, we defined a concept of ‘inner quality’ (formerly called ‘vital quality’) based on the life processes growth and differentiation, and their integration. Growers use management methods to influence life processes in their crops, thus optimising the quality of the final product. Traders and consumers can recognise certain product properties as being the result of these life processes. Here, we present a course of validation for the quality concept, together with appropriate quality parameters. The process of validation has been completed in part for two experimental crops, apple and carrot. This quality concept can provide a holistic context for the interpretation of individual food quality parameters as developed by different laboratories

Response of Eggplant (Solanum Melongena L.) to Combination of Inorganic-organic N and Em4

A research to reduce application of N inorganic fertilizer through combination of inorganic-organic N and EM4 on eggplant has done on paddy fieldin Poncokusumo, Malang Regency, East Java, from June to September 2013. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with two factors and three replications.The first factor was the combination of inorganic-organic N fertilizer, ie. 100% urea, 75% urea + 25% goat manure, 50% urea + 50% goat manure, and 25% urea + 75% goat manure . The second factor was dose of EM4, ie. 10, 20, and 30 liters EM4ha-1.The results showed a reduction in the proportion of urea up to 50% and replace it with goat manure resulted growth and fruit yield of eggplant better than the others. The application of 100% urea gave the lowest fruit yield. Application of EM4 on eggplant enhanced growth and increased fruit yield. EM4 application with doses of 30 litersha-1 resulted the highest fruit yield, accelerate the decomposition and mineralization of N

Predicting malting barley protein concentration

The preferred grain protein concentration (CP) of malting barley is 10.5-11.0%, but 9.5-11.5% is acceptable. It is a challenge for farmers to achieve this target with crops grown in heterogeneous fields and exposed to fluctuating weather conditions. There are also economic and environmental reasons to balance the supply of nutrients to plant requirements. This forms the basis for precision agriculture, where barley has received limited attention. The key factor for precision agriculture in malting barley is the ability to predict CP from early observations of the crop so as to control a second fertiliser application. This thesis investigates the possibility of predicting malting barley grain CP at an early stage of development and of using a second fertilisation application during growth for total nitrogen (N) adjustment. Three experiments were conducted. The first consisted of eleven field trials (1992-1994) and was used to compare broadcasting/harrowing and combi-drilling for applying full-rate fertiliser at sowing using two types of fertilisers; pure N and one also containing phosphorus (NP). The second experiment consisted of sixteen fertiliser field trials (2001-2003) and was used to examine the possibility of postponing the decision on total N. The third consisted of three evenly fertilised fields (2002-2004). In experiments 2 and 3, canopy reflectance was measured at developmental stages BBCH 32, 45 and 69. Soil macronutrients, organic matter and mechanical composition were analysed in all ex-periments. Malting barley yield was higher when fertiliser was combi-drilled into the soil and when NP fertiliser was used. Grain CP was predicted in the field (R2adj = 0.73) from soil electrical conductivity (SECa), the canopy reflection-based vegetation index (VI) TCARI/OSAVI estimated at BBCH 32 and the sum of daily maximum temperatures during anthesis and grain filling (STS). In the fertilisation trials, CP was predicted (R2adj = 0.83) by sowing day number and the VI TCARI evaluated together with solar angle at measurement. Grain yield was independent, and grain CP almost independent, of whether all fertiliser was applied at sowing or divided between sowing and BBCH 32

Growth and differentiation: Life processes in crops

This booklet discusses two basic life processes in nature:growth and differentiation.It uses the examples of apples,carrots and wheat to illustrate how growers can recognize these processes and can take practical measures to correct the balance between them in order to optimize the quality of their products.Thinking in growth and differentiation has proved valuable in the support,offered to growers by the Louis Bolk Instituut. It also speculates about the possible significance of these processes for human health

Climate Change and Thermal Comfort: Implications for Building Design in Southern Nigeria

One of the greatest challenges facing the world in this century is the twin phenomena of global warming and environmental degradation with their consequential effects. There are growing cases of ocean surge, desert encroachment, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, acid rain, heat stress, flash floods, etc. which have been claiming many lives and rendering several million homeless. Recent scientific studies have predicted that these events, rather than subsiding, would be more severe and more frequent in the future, with many of the developing countries most vulnerable. This suggests that man’s response to these challenges should not be limited to combating efforts alone but should also include adequate adaptation strategies that would minimise the impending disasters. This paper examines the science of global warming and its implications on thermal comfort in buildings in Southern Nigeria. It contends that as the area becomes warmer, the cooling potential of natural ventilation in the area would be reduced with fatal consequences. The paper closes by highlighting certain design strategies that could minimise the impending catastrophes. Keywords:  Architectural Design, Climate Change, Global Warming, Hot-Humid Climate, Thermal Comfor

Organic or mineral fertilization

To meet Swedish environmental goals organic farming will play an important role in the development of a sustainable and high quality food production system. However, several conflicts exist, such as the achievement of high yields without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides and the minimization of nutrient losses. In this thesis the effect of organic fertilizers compared to mineral fertilizers on plant product quality was investigated. Tomato yield and quality aspects such as taste and chemical composition were measured. Three greenhouse experiments were performed at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala during 2002 and 2004. Organic fertilizers, based on chicken manure or fresh grass clover mulch, were compared to mineral fertilizer nutrient solutions with ammonium or nitrate as the dominant nitrogen source. In both years yields from the mineral fertilized tomato plants were higher than from the organic fertilized ones. However, plant nitrogen status was similar for all treatments and the limiting nutrient in the organic grass-mulch treatment appeared to be sulphur, as the addition of mineral sulphur increased the yield. The effects on quality appeared to be more complex. While taste test scores and vitamin C contents in 2002 were highest in the organic or ammonium-fertilized tomatoes and lowest in the nitrate-fertilized tomatoes, in 2004 the results were contrary. Taste is a complex quality aspect, affected by sugars, acids and other secondary compounds (aromatic flavour compounds), which apart from nutrient supply are affected by environmental conditions as sunlight and temperature that are beyond the grower’s control. It was concluded that organic or mineral fertilizers are not the major factors affecting yield and product quality. A balanced nutrient supply is important for yield and quality, irrespective nutrient source. A combination of organic and mineral fertilizers should be considered in order to achieve a resource saving and balanced nutrient supply and a high quality tomato yield

Parameters for apple quality: and an outline for a new quality concept - part 1 report

In real life it is hard to distinguish between the two life processes, growth and differentiation. We cannot expect one measured parameter to represent only one aspect of vital quality. But for most parameters we can recognise emphases on one or more aspects of the vital quality concept. We made this prelimary classification both by thinking about the concept and by looking at the experimental results. Also the conventional parameters are interpreted as a result of these processes in a more holistic way than usual. We realise that various parameters all concerning the same aspect of our quality concept can show different levels of the aspect. To belong to the same aspect of the quality concept does not automatically mean that their correlation (see annex 14.2) must be high. We still have to get a lot of more experience to validate the parameters’ character. Here we present our first research on this topic, including the unanswered questions and realise that more experimental series will bring more and more certainty. After this first project we cannot say which parameters are so similar that it makes the other redundant. Until now we learned something from every parameter to develop our quality concept. Most inspiring for the new quality concept were the crystallisations, the delayed luminescence and the Bovis-value

Consumer attitudes towards hydroponic cultivation of vegetables - Specifically exploring the impact of the fertilisation strategy (using mineral origin or food waste as fertiliser)

This study explores consumer attitudes and beliefs towards hydroponics (growing without soil), as well as the willingness to eat vegetables grown using two different fertilisation strategies (mineral and food waste). The impact of food neophobia, connectedness to nature and awareness of ongoing climate change is also explored. Data were collected through a survey (October 2021) with 1,000 Swedish respondents. Less than half of the respondents were aware of hydroponics, with no differences due to gender or age. Nonetheless, education turned out to be a predictor. No differences were seen in attitude due to gender or level of education, yet a slightly more positive attitude was found among older respondents and a more positive attitude among those who had not heard about hydroponic systems before. Food neophobia and higher age only (negatively) predicted the willingness to eat food with input from food waste, whereas connectedness to nature did not predict willingness to eat vegetables from any of the two fertilising systems. A belief in climate change had a positive impact on the willingness to eat vegetables from both systems. The results revealed significant differences between the two systems, with the circular perceived as significantly more natural, environmentally friendly, more exciting, representing the future, more energy efficient, more innovative as well as more positive overall, compared to the mineral. These qualities could be used by stakeholders when communicating these new systems. The results support the understanding that hydroponics is a food technology to which consumers express positive attitudes and beliefs

Passionfruit growing guide - Second edition

This edition of 'The passionfruit growing guide' is a substantial update of the first edition, which was published in 2006. Each chapter deals with a specific aspect of the development and management of a passionfruit plantation. This guide is intended for use by prospective, new and established growers and addresses all aspects of passionfruit growing, from site selection and planning through to harvesting and marketing the fruit. It provides practical advice and propogation, fertilising, irrigation, and pest disease and control. Also, it includes information on varieties of passionfruit, financial budgets, chemicals registered for use on passionfruit and useful contacts