Biological nitrogen fixation and growth parameters correlations of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) genotypes under organically managed fields with limited irrigation

To identify the effective characters and their relative importance in improvement of BNF, two separate field experiments were conducted under irrigated and rain-fed organic managements of dry, Pannonian region of east Austria. The experiments were laid out in an α-lattice design with two replications and 18 genotypes (eight Iranian ecotypes and ten European cultivars). Plant height was positively and significantly correlated with leaf area index (LAI) and shoot dry matter (DM) under both conditions. Positive correlations were found between biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and shoot DM (r = 0.61** and 0.87**, irrigated and rain-fed management, respectively). Regarding correlation coefficients, high yielding genotypes had taller plants and denser stands, especially under rain-fed condition. In path analysis, all direct effects of BNF components were positive in both conditions, while some of the indirect effects were negative. These can be regarded in selection models to avoid undesirable negative effects. Plant height and LAI can be considered as primary selection criteria for improving shoot DM, while crop re-growth and plant height, with antonymous effects, were more important for improving root dry matter

Carbon isotope discrimination and water use efficiency relationships of alfalfa genotypes under irrigated and rain-fed organic farming

Carbon isotope discrimination (∆) has been proposed as a method for evaluating water use efficiency (WUE) in C3 plants and as a precise technique for screening plants with higher tolerance under water deficit conditions. In this research, 18 alfalfa genotypes from different geographical origins were evaluated under irrigated and rain-fed conditions in organically manged fields in Austria. Significant differences were found amongst harvests for ∆-shoot under both conditions while genotype by harvest interaction was only significant under irrigated condition. Drought stress under rain-fed condition reduced the overall mean of water use efficiency and carbon isotope discrimination responses(up to 34%), but the ratios of reduction differed for characters and genotypes. Narrow ranges were found for all traits especially for WUE-TBY (total biomass yield) (0.78 kg m-3) and ∆-shoot (0.53 ‰) based on genotype means over locations and years, although variation and ranges were higher under irrigated condition. Regarding the variable and low correlations, simultaneous assessment of genotypes for ∆-shoot and biomass production can ensure the selection of superior genotypes and minimize potential biomass reductions that may result from using ∆-shoot as the only selection criterion to improve WUE. Sitel was the most water use efficient genotype(2.79 and 4.48 kg m-3 based on shoot dry matter and total biomass,respectively) across two condition (widely adapted genotype) followed by Mohajeran, Fix232 and Verko under irrigated condition (as specific adapted genotypes) and Vlasta, Sanditi, Ghara-aghaj under rain-fed condition

IMPACTS OF NEOLIBERALISM ON HOSPITAL NURSING WORK

ABSTRACTThis study aims to describe and analyze the implications of the neoliberal model in the dynamics of hospital work, in the view of the nursing workers. It is a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research. The scenario is a teaching hospital, and the subjects are 17 nursing workers. The collection took place in July and August 2011, through a semi-structured interview. The data treatment technique was the content analysis. The results show that neoliberalism in hospital nursing work entails several negative impacts, which focus on the inappropriate distribution of material resources, as well as the heavy use of technologies in the process of care. There is also a high turnover of workers contracted due to low wages and precarious employment conditions. We conclude that the neoliberal model has both negative and positive effects. It is considered important to approach this subject in training courses of future nursing staff