La escisión vertical del voto en la competición electoral multinivel: elecciones generales y autonómicas en Andalucía

Esta investigación estudia las causas de la escisión del voto en sistemas de gobierno multinivel, con eleccionesconcurrentes. Hasta la fecha, la discrepancia entre los resultados de las elecciones concurrentes en España hasido frecuentemente interpretada como el producto de la naturaleza de elecciones de segundo orden de las eleccionesautonómicas. En este artículo se comprueba —a nivel individual— la posible implicación del conjuntode mecanismos asociados a las llamadas elecciones de segundo orden en la escisión del voto en Andalucía. Losresultados ofrecen evidencia en contra de la mayoría de ellos; sosteniéndose únicamente la noción de castigoa bajo coste para el partido en el gobierno central, y sólo para uno de los patrones de transferencia de votos.Complementariamente, se comprueban otras explicaciones alternativas, como la teoría del equilibrio de MorrisFiorina o la explicación accidental de Gary Jacobson, poniéndose de manifiesto que la oferta diferencialde candidatos, la moderación ideológica de los electores y la configuración de partidos en el gobierno juegandistintos papeles como antecedentes de la escisión del voto en sistemas de gobierno multinivel

Multi-exposure adaptive threshold technique for cloud detection with sky imagers

Sky imagers have been used for cloud detection and classification in the last years, and one of the applications of these instruments is the use of cloud information in forecast algorithms for solar power technologies. These algorithms depend on an accurate classification of the complete sky dome cloud cover, but most system fail in the proximity of the sun due to saturation in the images. This work proposes a new method for cloud detection with sky imagers using images taken with different exposure times and applying an adaptive threshold to each one. The use of multiple exposure times avoids the saturation of the image in the vicinity of the sun position, while the adaptive threshold applied to the images helps in the accurate detection of cloud coverage, especially in the circumsolar area. The method is tested with a commercial sky imager, paying special attention to the detection of clouds close to the sun position. A case study is analyzed, showing an accurate detection of clouds in the vicinity of the sun. The method is also validated using statistical values for data recorded during almost one month which cover a great variety of cloudiness cases. For this purpose, the detection of clouds in the sun position is compared against the reduction of the direct normal irradiance (DNI) with respect to a modeled DNI.This work was supported by the Andalusia Regional Government through projectsP10-RNM-6299 and P12-RNM-2409,Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through projectsCGL2013-45410-R.EU through ACTRIS project (EU INFRA-2010-1.1.16-262254)

Zn-Promoted Selective Gas-Phase Hydrogenation of Tertiary and Secondary C4 Alkynols over Supported Pd

We have investigated the gas-phase (P = 1 atm; T = 373 K) hydrogenation of (tertiary alkynol) 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol (MBY) and (secondary) 3-butyn-2-ol (BY) over a series of carbon (C), non-reducible (Al2O3 and MgO), and reducible (CeO2 and ZnO) supported monometallic [Pd (0.6–1.2% wt) and Zn (1% wt)] and bimetallic Pd–Zn (Pd:Zn mol ratio = 95:5, 70:30, and 30:70) catalysts synthesized by deposition–precipitation and colloidal deposition. The catalysts have been characterized by H2 chemisorption, hydrogen temperature-programmed desorption (H2-TPD), specific surface area (SSA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission (TEM) and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analyses. Reaction over these catalysts generated the target alkenol [2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol (MBE) and 3-buten-2-ol (BE)] through partial hydrogenation and alkanol [2-methyl-butan-2-ol (MBA) and 2-butanol (BA)]/ketone [2-butanone (BONE)] as a result of full hydrogenation and double-bond migration. The catalysts exhibit a similar Pd nanoparticle size (2.7 ± 0.3 nm) but a modified electronic character (based on XPS). Hydrogenation activity is linked to surface hydrogen (from H2 chemisorption and H2-TPD). An increase in H2:alkynol (from 1 → 10) results in enhanced alkynol consumption with a greater rate in the transformation of MBY (vs BY); H2:alkynol had negligible effect on product distribution. Reaction selectivity is insensitive to the Pd site electron density with a similar response (SMBE = 65 ± 9% and SBE = 70 ± 8%) over Pdδ− (on Al2O3 and MgO) and Pdδ+ (on C and CeO2). A Pd/ZnO catalyst delivered enhanced alkenol selectivity (SMBE = 90% and SBE = 96%) attributed to PdZn alloy phase formation (proved by XRD and XPS) but low activity, ascribed to metal encapsulation. A two-fold increase in the consumption rate was recorded for Pd–Zn/Al2O3 (30:70) versus Pd/ZnO with a similar alloy content (32 ± 4% from XPS), ascribed to a contribution due to spillover hydrogen (from H2-TPD) where high alkenol selectivity was maintained.This research was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPRSC; grant number EP/L016419/1; Ph.D. studentship to A.G.-F., CRITICAT program), the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia Innovación y Universidades, Generalitat Valenciana and FEDER (RTI2018-095291-B-I00, MAT2017-87579-R MINECO/FEDER and PROMETEO/2018/076)

Study of the relative humidity dependence of aerosol light-scattering in southern Spain

This investigation focuses on the characterisation of the aerosol particle hygroscopicity. Aerosol particle optical properties were measured at Granada, Spain, during winter and spring seasons in 2013. Measured optical properties included particle light-absorption coefficient (σap) and particle light-scattering coefficient (σsp) at dry conditions and at relative humidity (RH) of 85±10%. The scattering enhancement factor, f(RH=85%), had a mean value of 1.5±0.2 and 1.6±0.3 for winter and spring campaigns, respectively. Cases of high scattering enhancement were more frequent during the spring campaign with 27% of the f(RH=85%) values above 1.8, while during the winter campaign only 8% of the data were above 1.8. A Saharan dust event (SDE), which occurred during the spring campaign, was characterised by a predominance of large particles with low hygroscopicity. For the day when the SDE was more intense, a mean daily value of f(RH=85%)=1.3±0.2 was calculated. f(RH=85%) diurnal cycle showed two minima during the morning and afternoon traffic rush hours due to the increase in non-hygroscopic particles such as black carbon and road dust. This was confirmed by small values of the single-scattering albedo and the scattering Ångstrom exponent. A significant correlation between f(RH=85%) and the fraction of particulate organic matter and sulphate was obtained. Finally, the impact of ambient RH in the aerosol radiative forcing was found to be very small due to the low ambient RH. For high RH values, the hygroscopic effect should be taken into account since the aerosol forcing efficiency changed from −13 W/m2 at dry conditions to −17 W/m2 at RH=85%

Estimating the urban atmospheric boundary layer height from remote sensing applying machine learning techniques

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through projects CGL2015- 73250-JIN, CGL2016-81092-R, CGL2017-83538-C3-1-R ,CGL2017-90884-REDT and PID2020-120015RB-I00 and by the University of Granada through “Plan Propio. Programa 9 Convocatoria 2013. The financial support for EARLINET in the ACTRIS Research Infrastructure Project by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program through project ACTRIS-2 (grant agreement No 654109). The authors thankfully acknowledge the FEDER program for the instrumentation used in this work and the University of Granada that supported this study through the Excellence Units Program. COST Action TOPROF (ES1303), supported by497 COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), is also acknowledged.This study proposes a new methodology to estimate the Atmospheric Boundary Layer Height (ABLH), discriminating between Convective Boundary Layer and Stable Boundary Layer heights, based on the machine learning algorithm known as Gradient Boosting Regression Tree. The algorithm proposed here uses a first estimation of the ABLH derived applying the gradient method to a ceilometer signal and several meteorological variables to obtain ABLH values comparable to those derived from a microwave radiometer. A deep analysis of the model configuration and its inputs has been performed in order to avoid the model overfitting and ensure its applicability. The hourly and seasonal values and variability of the ABLH values obtained with the new algorithm have been analyzed and compared with the initial estimations obtained using only the ceilometer signal. Mean Relative Errors (MRE) between the ABLH estimated with the new algorithm and microwave radiometer show a daily pattern with their highest values during the night-time (stable situations) and their lowest values along the day-time (convective situations). This pattern has been observed for all the seasons with MRE ranging between −5% and 35%. This result notably improves those ABLH values derived by applying the gradient method to ceilometer data during convective situations and enables the Stable Boundary Layer height detection at night and early morning, instead of only Residual Layer top height. Finally, the model performance has been directly validated in three particular cases: clear-sky day, presence of low-clouds and dust outbreak event. In these three particular situations, ABLH values obtained with the new algorithm follow the pattern obtained with the microwave radiometer presenting very similar values, thus confirming the good model performance. In this way it is feasible by the combination of the proposed method with gradient method, to estimate Convective, Stable and Residual Boundary Layer height from ceilometer data and surface meteorological data in extended network that include ceilometer profiling.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through projects CGL2015-73250-JIN, CGL2016-81092-R, CGL2017-83538-C3-1-R, CGL2017-90884-REDT and PID2020-120015RB-I00COST Action TOPROF (ES1303), supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology

Sensitivity of UV Erythemal Radiation to Total Ozone Changes under Different Sky Conditions: Results for Granada, Spain

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Antón, M.; et al. Sensitivity of UV Erythemal Radiation to Total Ozone Changes under Different Sky Conditions: Results for Granada, Spain. Photochemistry and Photobiology, 92(1): 215-219 (2016), which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/php.12539 . This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-ArchivingThis paper focuses on the analysis of the sensitivity of UV erythemal radiation (UVER) to variations of the total ozone column (TOC) under different sky conditions at Granada (southeastern Spain). The sensitivity is studied both in relative terms by means of the Radiation Amplification Factor (RAF) and in absolute terms using the Ozone Efficiency (OE). These two variables are determined for diverse sky conditions characterized by the cloud cover information given by a sky camera (in oktas) and the cloud optical depth (COD) estimated from global solar radiation measurements. As expected, in absolute terms, the TOC variations cause substantially smaller UVER changes during completely overcast situations than during cloud-free cases. For instance, the OE (SZA=30º, TOC=290 DU) decreases from 0.68 mW/m2 per unit of TOC (0 oktas) to 0.50 mW/m2 per unit of TOC (8 oktas). However, the opposite is observed when the analysis is performed in relative terms. Thus, the RAF (determined for SZA cases below 80º) increases from 1.1 for cloud-free cases (0 oktas) to 1.4 for completely overcast situations (8 oktas). This opposite behavior is also found when both RAF and OE are analyzed as functions of COD. Thus, while the OE strongly decreases with increasing COD, the RAF increases as COD increases.European Commission Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Framework Programme through ACTRIS 2 project (H2020-INFRAIA-2014-2015-654109).Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through projects CGL2011-29921-C02-01, CGL2013-45410-R, CGL2014-56255-C2-1-R.Andalusia Regional Government through projects P10-RNM-6299 and P12-RNM-2409

The recombinant cysteine proteinase B (CPB) from Leishmania braziliensis and its domains: promising antigens for serodiagnosis of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in dogs.

Leishmaniasis represents a group of parasitic diseases caused by a protozoan of the genus Leishmania and is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Leishmaniasis is one of the major tropical neglected diseases, with 1.5 to 2 million new cases occurring annually. Diagnosis remains a challenge despite advances in parasitological, serological, and molecular methods. Dogs are an important host for the parasite and develop both visceral and cutaneous lesions. Our goal was to contribute to the diagnosis of canine cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) using the recombinant cysteine proteinase B (F-CPB) from Leishmania braziliensis and its N- and C-terminal domains (N-CPB and C-CPB) as antigens in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera from dogs from Northwest Argentina diagnosed with CL were tested by ELISA against a supernatant of L. braziliensis lysate, the F-CPB protein, and its domains. We found values of sensitivity (Se) of 90.7%, 94.4%, and 94.3% and specificity (Sp) of 95.5%, 90.9%, and 91.3% for F-CPB and its N- and C-terminal domains, respectively. In sera from dogs diagnosed with VL from Northeast Argentina, we found Se of 93.3%, 73.3%, and 66.7% and Sp of 92.3%, 76.9%, and 88.5% for F-CPB and its N- and C-terminal domains, respectively. These results support CPB as a relevant antigen for canine leishmaniasis diagnosis in its different clinical presentations. More interestingly, the amino acid sequence of CPB showed high percentages of identity in several Leishmania species, suggesting that the CPB from L. braziliensis qualifies as a good antigen for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis caused by different species.Fil: Bivona, Augusto Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Czentner Colomo, Lucas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Sanchez Alberti, Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Cerny, Natacha. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Cardoso Landaburu, Alejandro Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Nevot, María Cecilia. Veterinaria del Oeste; ArgentinaFil: Estevez, José Octavio. Veterinaria del Oeste; ArgentinaFil: Marco, Jorge Diego. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Patología Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Instituto de Patología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Basombrío, Manuel Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Patología Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud. Instituto de Patología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Malchiodi, Emilio Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Cazorla, Silvia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentin

Retrieval of aerosol properties from ceilometer and photometer measurements: long-term evaluation with in situ data and statistical analysis at Montsec (southern Pyrenees)

Given the need for accurate knowledge of aerosol microphysical and optical properties with height resolution, various algorithms combining vertically resolved and column-integrated aerosol information have been developed in the last years. Here we present new results of vertically resolved extensive aerosol optical properties (backscattering, scattering and extinction) and volume concentrations retrieved with the GRASP (Generalized Retrieval of Aerosol and Surface Properties) algorithm over a 3-year period. The range-corrected signal (RCS) at 1064 nm measured with a ceilometer and the aerosol optical depth (AOD) and sky radiances from a sun/sky photometer have been used as input for this algorithm. We perform a detailed evaluation of GRASP retrievals with simultaneous in situ measurements performed at the same height, at the Montsec mountaintop observatory (MSA) in the Pre-Pyrenees (northeastern Spain). This is the first long-term evaluation of various outputs of this algorithm; previous evaluations focused only on the study of aerosol volume concentration for short-term periods. In general, our results show good agreement between techniques although GRASP inversions yield higher values than those measured in situ. The statistical analysis of the extinction coefficient vertical profiles shows a clear seasonality as well as significant differences depending on the air mass origin. The observed seasonal cycle is mainly modulated by a higher development of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) during warm months, which favors the transport of pollutants to MSA, and higher influence of regional and North African episodes. On the other hand, in winter, MSA is frequently influenced by free-troposphere conditions and venting periods and therefore lower extinction coefficients that markedly decrease with height. This study shows the potentiality of implementing GRASP in ceilometer and lidar networks for obtaining aerosol optical properties and volume concentrations at multiple sites, which will definitely contribute to enhancing the representativeness of the aerosol vertical distribution as well as to providing useful information for satellite and global model evaluation.This research has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (grant nos. CGL2012-39623- C02/00 and CGL2016-78594-R), the Generalitat Catalunya (grant no. AGAUR 2017 SGR0041) and the H2020 Research Infrastructures (ACTRIS-2, grant no. 654109)

Technical Note: Determination of aerosol optical properties by a calibrated sky imager

The calibrated ground-based sky imager developed in the Marine Physical Laboratory, the Whole Sky Imager (WSI), has been tested with data from the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program (ARM) at the Southern Great Plain site (SGP) to determine optical properties of the atmospheric aerosol. Different neural network-based models calculate the aerosol optical depth (AOD) for three wavelengths using the radiance extracted from the principal plane of sky images from the WSI as input parameters. The models use data from a CIMEL CE318 photometer for training and validation and the wavelengths used correspond to the closest wavelengths in both instruments. The spectral dependency of the AOD, characterized by the A° ngstro¨m exponent in the interval 440–870 nm, is also derived using the standard AERONET procedure and also with a neural network-based model using the values obtained with a CIMEL CE318. The deviations between the WSI derived AOD and the AOD retrieved by AERONET are within the nominal uncertainty assigned to the AERONET AOD calculation (±0.01), in 80% of the cases. The explanation of data variance by the model is over 92% in all cases. In the case of , the deviation is within the uncertainty assigned to the AERONET (±0.1) in 50% of the cases for the standard method and 84% for the neural network-based model. The explanation of data variance by the model is 63% for the standard method and 77% for the neural network-based model.This work was supported by the Centro de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CICYT) of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology through projects CGL2007- 66477-C02-01 and CSD2007-00067 and the Andalusian Regional Government through project P06-RNM-01503 and P08-RNM-3568). First author has been funded by the Andalusian Regional Government and his research stay at University of California at San Diego has been also funded by the Andalusian Regional Government

Cultivos de cobertura disminuyen el impacto ambiental mejorando propiedades biológicas del suelo y el rendimiento de los cultivos

Los cultivos de cobertura (CC) representan una práctica potencial para reducir el uso de herbicidas y el impacto sobre el ambiente. Además de controlar malezas y aumentar el rendimiento de los cultivos, incrementan la biomasa microbiana mejorando la actividad del suelo a través del aporte adicional de residuos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar los efectos de la inclusión de CC y aplicación de herbicida sobre la actividad microbiana, materia orgánica lábil del suelo y el rendimiento de los cultivos. El ensayo consistió de una rotación soja-maíz bajo siembra directa. El diseño fue en parcelas divididas con 3 repeticiones, donde el factor principal fue un antecesor al cultivo estival, un cultivo de cobertura y un testigo barbecho (B). El factor secundario fue el control químico en posemergencia del cultivo estival, con y sin aplicaciones de glifosato. Los muestreos de suelo fueron realizados en las campañas 2013/2014, 2015/2016; 2016/2017 y 2017/2018 hasta los 15 días de haber aplicado la última dosis de glifosato a los 10 cm de profundidad. Se determinaron variables biológicas: respiración (R), fluoresceína diacetato (FDA), fosfatasa ácida (FA); y químicas de suelo: contenidos de C y N particulados (COP y NOP), Nan (Nitrógeno anaeróbico) y los rendimientos de soja y maíz. Además, se calculó el índice de impacto ambiental para cada manejo. En general, la inclusión de CC aumentó la R un 51% la FDA y 21% la FA; mientras que las aplicaciones de herbicida disminuyeron los contenidos de COP un 36%, NOP 40% y Nan en un 25% durante la campaña 2015/2016; aparentemente influenciadas por las temperaturas y precipitaciones. Los rendimientos de soja y maíz fueron mayores con las aplicaciones, independientemente del cultivo antecesor. Sin embargo, las parcelas con CC sin aplicar superaron los rindes en un 30% a las de B sin aplicar. Los CC favorecieron las propiedades biológicas del suelo sin afectar el rendimiento de los cultivos, disminuyendo el riesgo ambiental un 64% aun realizando aplicaciones. Por su parte, las aplicaciones de herbicida afectaron las fracciones lábiles de la materia orgánica del suelo aumentando el riesgo ambiental con respecto al manejo sin aplicaciones. A partir de las condiciones de suelo evaluadas, en sistemas agrícolas continuos se recomienda la utilización de CC para favorecer propiedades biológicas del suelo y el rendimiento de los cultivos disminuyendo el impacto ambiental aun en combinación con la aplicación de herbicida.Cover crops (CC) represent a potential practice to reduce the use of herbicides and the impact on the environment. In addition to controlling weeds and increasing crop yields, they allow to increase microbial biomass and activity through the addition of crop residues. The objective of this work was to determine the effects of the inclusion of CC and herbicide application on microbial activity, labile organic matter and crop yield. The assay was done under a soybean - corn rotation system without tillage. It was made on a split plot design with three replicates, where the main factor was the previous crop of the summer crop, a cover crop, and bare fallow (B). The secondary factor was the post-emergence chemical control of weeds during the summer crop, with and without glyphosate applications. The soil sampling was carried out at 10 cm depth during four consecutive crop seasons (2013/2014, 2015/2016; 2016/2017 and 2017/2018), until 15 days after applying the last dose of glyphosate. The biological variables Respiration (R); Fluorescein diacetate (FDA), Acid Phosphatase (AF); and chemical soil variables, particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON), Anaerobic nitrogen (AnN), and soybean and corn yields were measured. In addition, the environmental impact index for each management was calculated. In general, the inclusion of CC increased R, 51% the FDA and 21% AF; and the applications of herbicide decreased contents of POC by 36%, PON 40% and AnN by 25% in one crop seasons apparently influenced by the temperatures and rainfall. Soybean and corn yields were higher with applications, regardless of the previous crop. However, the plots with CC without herbicide application exceeded the levels of B without application by 30%. The CC favored the biological properties of the soil without modify crops yields, reducing the environmental risk 64% even making applications. On the other hand, the applications of herbicide affected the labile soil organic matter fractions increasing the environmental risk respect to the management without applications. From the evaluated soil conditions, CC used in agricultural systems to promote soil biological properties and crop yields is recommended. This practice reduces environmental impact even in combination with herbicide application.EEA Marcos JuárezFil: Boccolini, Monica Fabiola. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Marcos Juárez; ArgentinaFil: Cazorla, Cristian Roman. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Marcos Juárez; ArgentinaFil: Galantini, Juan Alberto. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiarida; ArgentinaFil: Belluccini, Pablo Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Marcos Juárez; ArgentinaFil: Baigorria, Tomás. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Marcos Juárez; Argentin