Napier grass performance under agroforestry systems of upland area on Tuntang watershed, Indonesia

The success of forage cultivation effort extremely depends on several factors, such as kinds of forage, climate, water, and soil fertility. A research on napier grass in agroforestry system conducted to find out soil fertility, growth, production, and quality of forage in agroforestry system in headwaters of Tuntang watershed. This research used factorial plan 2 x 2 which was repeated five times. The first factor was agroforestry system (AFS-1 and AFS-2) and the second factor was defoliation in wet and dry season. Parameter observed were height of plants, forage production, dry matter content, crude protein, and crude fibre. In addition, agroforestry soil samples comprised specific weight of soil, pH, and N total. Height of plant in AFS-1 was higher (85.1 cm) than AFS-2 system (71.5 cm). Season had an affect on plants growth which was shown by height of plant that was lower during dry season (66.8 cm) than during wet season (89.8 cm). AFS-1 system had a better forage yield than AFS-2. Dry matter of forage varied between agroforestry system and season. The lowest dry matter during wet season could be found in AFS-1. The highest protein content in AFS-1 could be found during wet season (11.27%), and the lowest protein content in AFS-2 was during dry season (6.0%). Crude fibre of napier grass in AFS-2 was higher than AFS-1. Crude fibre content during dry season was higher than during wet season. The napier grass in AFS-1 has a better growth, production, and quality than in AFS-2. The growth, forage yield, crude protein and fibre contents during wet season in the upland area of Tuntang watershed are better than during dry season. The best dry matter content is in AFS-2 during dry season and the highest crude protein content of napier grass lies in AFS-1 during wet season. Keywords : Agroforestry, napier grass, crude protein, crude fibe

Report on the forage and feed product flow in Kenya (Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega and Siaya Counties)

Kenyan economy expanded 4.7% in 2017 and 6% in 2018 (World Bank, 2018). This growth was mainly supported by growth in agricultural output, among other steady economic growths such as industrial activity and service sectors. Agriculture is a huge contributor in terms of GPD with livestock taking a key position in this contribution. There is high demand for livestock products, which in turn creates a high demand for forage and feed. The availability of forage and feed is challenged by inadequate rainfall, overstocking, lack of knowledge and technology among others. However, famers are becoming persistent by using various ways in order to counter these challenges; among them production, conservation and purchase of forage and feed. This study examines the flow of forage and feed in selected counties in Kenya. A mixed research technique was applied using questionnaire as instrument of choice to conduct interviews with livestock farmers. The study found that most of the forage and feed consumed by livestock in these areas comes from respondents’ family lands. The study also found that most of the livestock diet is comprised of crop residues. Almost all the respondents in the counties agreed that planning forage and feed is not an expensive endeavor. Almost all the respondents said that buying forage and feed is an expensive engagement across the four counties. There is therefore room to increase productivity in terms of quality and quantity of forage and feed in these counties, through forage and feed farming

Object grasping and manipulation in capuchin monkeys (genera Cebus and Sapajus)

The abilities to perform skilled hand movements and to manipulate objects dexterously are landmarks in the evolution of primates. The study of how primates use their hands to grasp and manipulate objects in accordance with their needs sheds light on how these species are physically and mentally equipped to deal with the problems they encounter in their daily life. We report data on capuchin monkeys, highly manipulative platyrrhine species that usually spend a great deal of time in active manipulation to search for food and to prepare it for ingestion. Our aim is to provide an overview of current knowledge on the ability of capuchins to grasp and manipulate objects, with a special focus on how these species express their cognitive potential through manual behaviour. Data on the ability of capuchins to move their hands and on the neural correlates sustaining their actions are reported, as are findings on the manipulative ability of capuchins to anticipate future actions and to relate objects to other objects and substrates. The manual behaviour of capuchins is considered in different domains, such as motor planning, extractive foraging and tool use, in both captive and natural settings. Anatomofunctional and behavioural similarities to and differences from other haplorrhine species regarding manual dexterity are also discussed

Understanding residents’ capacities to support evacuated populations : A study of earthquake and tsunami evacuation for Napier Hill, Napier, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Due to a large regional subduction zone (the Hikurangi subduction zone) and localised faults, Napier City located on the East Coast of Aotearoa/New Zealand is vulnerable to earthquake and tsunami events. On feeling a long or strong earthquake people will need to evacuate immediately inland or to higher ground to avoid being impacted by a tsunami, of which the first waves could start to arrive within 20 minutes (based on the Hikurangi earthquake and tsunami scenario presented in Power et al., 2018). Napier Hill is one such area of higher land, and it is estimated that up to 12,000 people could evacuate there in the 20 minutes following a long or strong earthquake. To understand the capacity of Napier Hill residents to support evacuees, three focus groups were held with a diverse sample of residents from Napier Hill on 21 and 22 July 2019. A follow up email was sent to all participants a week after the focus groups, containing a link to a short six question survey, which was completed by 68 people, most of whom were additional to the focus group attendees. Data from the focus groups and the survey was analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis. The findings highlight that in general people were happy to host evacuees and offer support if they were in a position to do so. However, key issues in being able to offer support included the likely lack of resources available after a disaster, ranging from basic needs though to agency support. The research findings will directly inform Napier City Council and Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group’s planning for future readiness and response by providing valuable insights for evacuation planningfalseWellingtonHawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Grou

Teacher-stress and present day grading practices

Includes bibliographical references

Hotspots: Modelling capacity for vector-borne disease risk analysis in New Zealand: A case study of Ochlerotatus camptorhynchus incursions in New Zealand

This Hotspots case study of Oc. camptorhynchus in New Zealand forms part of the wider aims and objectives of the Hotspots project. The overall aims of the case study were: 1. To evaluate the performance of the Hotspots model as a risk analysis tool for Oc. camptorhynchus; 2. To use and learn from the experience of the various incursions of Oc. camptorhynchus in order to critically assess and improve the model; 3. To gain experience in using the model for risk analysis for Oc. camptorhynchus in particular, and in so doing, also develop experience applicable to risk analysis for other vectors of concern (Table 1); and, 4. To develop an experience and knowledge base as well as guidelines for future use of the model in its various applications related to biosecurity, surveillance and risk assessment and management

In-situ upgrading of Napier grass pyrolysis vapour over microporous and hierarchical mesoporous zeolites

This study presents in-situ upgrading of pyrolysis vapour derived from Napier grass over microporous and mesoporous ZSM-5 catalysts. It evaluates effect of process variables such catalyst–biomass ratio and catalyst type in a vertical fixed bed pyrolysis system at 600 °C, 50 °C/min under 5 L/min nitrogen flow. Increasing catalyst–biomass ratio during the catalytic process with microporous structure reduced production of organic phase bio-oil by approximately 7.0 wt%. Using mesoporous catalyst promoted nearly 4.0 wt% higher organic yield relative to microporous catalyst, which translate to only about 3.0 wt% reduction in organic phase compared to the yield of organic phase from non-catalytic process. GC–MS analysis of bio-oil organic phase revealed maximum degree of deoxygenation of about 36.9% with microporous catalyst compared to the mesoporous catalysts, which had between 39 and 43%. Mesoporous catalysts promoted production olefins and alkanes, normal phenol, monoaromatic hydrocarbons while microporous catalyst favoured the production of alkenes and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. There was no significant increase in the production of normal phenols over microporous catalyst due to its inability to transform the methoxyphenols and methoxy aromatics. This study demonstrated that upgrading of Napier grass pyrolysis vapour over mesoporous ZSM-5 produced bio-oil with improved physicochemical properties