Tree-based intercropping: a land use for greenhouse gas mitigation in canadian agricultural systems

PosterIn tree-based intercropping (TBI) systems, the potential influence of trees in relation to carbon (C ) sequestration and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction has been documented but the mechanisms, remain poorly understood, especially for below-ground processes. Recently, several studies in this area were undertaken in Ontario, Canada under the auspices of Canada’s involvement in the Global Research Alliance. C sequestration potential, nitrous oxide reduction potential and soil voids were quantified in a 25-year-old TBI system in southern Ontario for five tree species: hybrid poplar (Populus spp.), Norway spruce (Picae abies), red oak (Quercus rubra), black walnut (Juglans nigra), and white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) which were intercropped with soybean (Glycine max). Results were compared with a conventional agricultural system in which soybean was grown as the sole crop. The net C flux for poplar, spruce, oak, walnut, cedar and the soybean sole-crop were + 2.1, + 1.6, + 0.8, + 1.8, +1.4 and – 1.2 t C ha-1, y-1, respectively. The results suggest a greater atmospheric CO2 sequestration potential for all five tree species when compared to a conventional agricultural system. DNA was also extracted from soil cores collected around four of the tree species (walnut, red oak, Norway spruce, poplar) and used for quantitative real-time PCR to determine the abundance of key functional genes in the nitrification and denitrification pathways. Results indicate that both tree species and proximity to the tree, can influence the abundance of key microbial groups associated with N2O production, particularly organisms associated with denitrification, nosZ and nirS. Soil void analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between x-ray bulk radio-density and soil bulk density, and a negative correlation between mean intra-aggregate x-ray radio-density and soil organic carbon (rs=-0.48, p=0.033), suggesting that the X-ray CT method could therefore be used to predict these soil properties

Tree-based intercropping: a land use for greenhouse gas mitigation in canadian agricultural systems

PosterIn tree-based intercropping (TBI) systems, the potential influence of trees in relation to carbon (C ) sequestration and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction has been documented but the mechanisms, remain poorly understood, especially for below-ground processes. Recently, several studies in this area were undertaken in Ontario, Canada under the auspices of Canada’s involvement in the Global Research Alliance. C sequestration potential, nitrous oxide reduction potential and soil voids were quantified in a 25-year-old TBI system in southern Ontario for five tree species: hybrid poplar (Populus spp.), Norway spruce (Picae abies), red oak (Quercus rubra), black walnut (Juglans nigra), and white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) which were intercropped with soybean (Glycine max). Results were compared with a conventional agricultural system in which soybean was grown as the sole crop. The net C flux for poplar, spruce, oak, walnut, cedar and the soybean sole-crop were + 2.1, + 1.6, + 0.8, + 1.8, +1.4 and – 1.2 t C ha-1, y-1, respectively. The results suggest a greater atmospheric CO2 sequestration potential for all five tree species when compared to a conventional agricultural system. DNA was also extracted from soil cores collected around four of the tree species (walnut, red oak, Norway spruce, poplar) and used for quantitative real-time PCR to determine the abundance of key functional genes in the nitrification and denitrification pathways. Results indicate that both tree species and proximity to the tree, can influence the abundance of key microbial groups associated with N2O production, particularly organisms associated with denitrification, nosZ and nirS. Soil void analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between x-ray bulk radio-density and soil bulk density, and a negative correlation between mean intra-aggregate x-ray radio-density and soil organic carbon (rs=-0.48, p=0.033), suggesting that the X-ray CT method could therefore be used to predict these soil properties

Tree-based intercropping: a land use for greenhouse gas mitigation in canadian agricultural systems

PosterIn tree-based intercropping (TBI) systems, the potential influence of trees in relation to carbon (C ) sequestration and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction has been documented but the mechanisms, remain poorly understood, especially for below-ground processes. Recently, several studies in this area were undertaken in Ontario, Canada under the auspices of Canada’s involvement in the Global Research Alliance. C sequestration potential, nitrous oxide reduction potential and soil voids were quantified in a 25-year-old TBI system in southern Ontario for five tree species: hybrid poplar (Populus spp.), Norway spruce (Picae abies), red oak (Quercus rubra), black walnut (Juglans nigra), and white cedar (Thuja occidentalis) which were intercropped with soybean (Glycine max). Results were compared with a conventional agricultural system in which soybean was grown as the sole crop. The net C flux for poplar, spruce, oak, walnut, cedar and the soybean sole-crop were + 2.1, + 1.6, + 0.8, + 1.8, +1.4 and – 1.2 t C ha-1, y-1, respectively. The results suggest a greater atmospheric CO2 sequestration potential for all five tree species when compared to a conventional agricultural system. DNA was also extracted from soil cores collected around four of the tree species (walnut, red oak, Norway spruce, poplar) and used for quantitative real-time PCR to determine the abundance of key functional genes in the nitrification and denitrification pathways. Results indicate that both tree species and proximity to the tree, can influence the abundance of key microbial groups associated with N2O production, particularly organisms associated with denitrification, nosZ and nirS. Soil void analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between x-ray bulk radio-density and soil bulk density, and a negative correlation between mean intra-aggregate x-ray radio-density and soil organic carbon (rs=-0.48, p=0.033), suggesting that the X-ray CT method could therefore be used to predict these soil properties

Predictors of psychological morbidity in parents of children with intellectual disabilities

peer-reviewedThis study examined predictors of excess psychological morbidity in parents of children with intellectual disabilities.ACCEPTEDpeer-reviewe

The supportive care needs of parents caring for a child with a rare disease : a scoping review

Background: Parents caring for a child with a rare disease report unmet needs, the origins of which are varied and complex. Few studies have systematically attempted to identify the supportive care needs of parents with a child with a rare disease comprehensively. We have used the widely accepted Supportive Care Needs Framework (SCNF) as the structure for this review. Objective: The purpose of the current review was to identify the supportive care needs of parents with a child with a rare disease, irrespective of condition. Methods: We conducted a scoping study review comprising 29 studies (1990–2014) to identify and examine the research literature related to the supportive care needs of parents, and to compare these needs with the seven domains outlined in the SCNF. Results: Most common needs cited were social needs (72% of papers), followed by informational needs (65% of papers) and emotional needs (62% of papers), with the most common parental needs overall being information about their child's disease, emotional stress, guilt and uncertainty about their child's future health care needs, parents own caring responsibilities and the need for more general support. Conclusion: A paucity of studies exists that explore the supportive care needs of parents of a child with a rare disease. The SCNF only partially reflects the breadth and type of needs of these parents, and a preliminary revised framework has been suggested. Further research is required in this area, particularly empirical research to amend or confirm the suggested new framework

The supportive care needs of parents with a child with a rare disease : results of an online survey

Background: Parents caring for a child affected by a rare disease have unmet needs, the origins of which are complex and varied. Our aim was to determine the supportive care needs of parents caring for a child with a rare disease. Methods: An online survey was developed consisting of 45 questions (108 items) and separated into six domains. The survey included questions about perceived level of satisfaction with receiving care, experiences and needs of providing daily care, the impacts of disease on relationships, the emotional and psychological burdens of disease, and parents overall satisfaction with the support received. Results: Three-hundred and one parents from Australia and New Zealand completed the survey; 91 % (n = 275/301) were mothers, with 132 distinct rare diseases being reported. Fifty-four percent (n = 140/259) of parents were dissatisfied with health professionals’ level of knowledge and awareness of disease; 71 % (n = 130/183) of parents felt they received less support compared to other parents. Information regarding present (60 %, n = 146/240) and future services (72 %, n = 174/240) available for their child were considered important. Almost half of parents (45 %, n = 106/236) struggled financially, 38 % (n = 99/236) reduced their working hours and 34 % (n = 79/236) ceased paid employment. Forty-two percent (n = 99/223) of parents had no access to a disease specific support group, and 58 % (n = 134/230) stated that their number of friends had reduced since the birth of their child; 75 % (n = 173/230) had no contact with other parents with a child with a similar disease, and 46 % (n = 106/230) reported feeling socially isolated and desperately lonely. Most frequent emotions expressed by parents in the week prior to completing the survey were anxiety and fear (53 %, n = 119/223), anger and frustration (46 %, n = 103/223) and uncertainty (39 %, n = 88/223). Conclusion: This study is the first to develop an online survey specifically for use with parents to investigate their supportive care needs across a large and diverse group of rare diseases. The findings highlight that parents with a child with a rare disease have common unmet needs regardless of what disease their child has. Such information may allow health providers to improve child outcomes through improving parental supportive care