Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal activity responses to winter cover crops in a sunflower and maize cropping system

The symbiosis between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) benefits the health, nutrition and abiotic stress tolerance of the host plant. The maintenance of potential AMF inoculum in the winter is important because it will affect the colonization process in the subsequent crop. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of winter cover crops (CC) on AMF parameters (root colonization, length of hyphae and number of AMF spores), other variables indirectly related to AMF (the easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EE-GRSP) and the enzymatic activity of b-glucosaminidase), along with water-stable aggregates (WSA) as a soil quality indicator. In addition, the effect of two sampling dates on the variables in maize and the relationships among all of the variables were studied. The samples were obtained from a field experiment established in 2006 located in Aranjuez (Central Spain) under a Mediterranean semiarid climate. The treatments were winter cover crops of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) or vetch (Vicia villosa L.) and fallow as a control. The study covered two seasons in 2011–12 and 2012–13 with sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) as the main crop, respectively, with both sown in the spring. The main crops were irrigated according to the crop demand. Compared with the bare fallow conditions, cover crops improved most of the variables, maintaining the benefits of CC on AMF under the semiarid conditions of the Mediterranean climate. Barley as a cover crop gave the best results, whereas the performance of vetch was poorer. In sunflower, barley increased by 80% the hyphae length and b-glucosaminidase activity and by 30% other variables compared with the fallow; whereas in maize, 60–70% increments were found in AMF spores and the hyphae length and 2-fold in the enzyme activity. The sampling date affected all of the variables analyzed in the maize crop, except for the EE-GRSP and the WSA. Positive relationships were found between the variables directly related to AMF, EE-GRSP content and b-glucosaminidase activity. This suggests that the variables indirectly related to AMF, mainly the EE-GRSP, could be used as indicators of AMF. Finally, the enhancement of soil aggregate stability by the CC via AMF promotion was corroborated

Utilización de los sistemas de información geográfica para la estimación automática de la escorrentía directa

[ES] En este trabajo se utilizan los Sistemas de Información Geográfica SIG como herramienta en la modelización hidrológica. La automatización del proceso de modelado permite la rápida ejecución y actualización; ofreciendo una objetivación en el tratamiento de los datos, a la vez que introduce la posibilidad, una vez creada la base de datos, de calibrar el modelo. El objetivo del presente artículo es la generación de un programa informático compatible con un SIG en formato raster IDRISI (para Windows, versión 2.1) con el fin de desarrollar un modelo distribuido que permita definir la variabilidad espacial y temporal del volumen de escorrentía de una cuenca, mediante la simulación del sentido de desplazamiento del flujo de escorrentía directa en combinación con su velocidad. El programa se ha aplicado en un área situada en el noroeste de la Comunidad de Madrid que coincide con la cuenca vertiente a la estación de aforo 03002. La utilización de los SIG para la estimación automática de la escorrentía directa hace posible una rápida y eficaz calibración de los parámetros de la modelización hidrológica para su evaluación, a la vez que permite la caracterización de una cuenca y la estimación de caudales máximos. El programa, que se ha denominado HIDROGIS, supone una alternativa en el desarrollo de modelos distribuidos espacio-temporales.Este trabajo se ha realizado en el marco del proyecto financiado por la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid Modelización de sistemas hidrológicos en pequeñas cuencas vertientes mediante sistemas de información geográfica (A9701) de la OTT-UPM. También quisieramos agradecer al CEDEX,y a la Confederación Hidrográfica del Tajo (Ministerio de Medio Ambiente) su atención y amabilidad al aportar los datos aplicados.Almorox Alonso, J.; Hontoria Fernández, C.; Saa Requejo, A. (2001). Utilización de los sistemas de información geográfica para la estimación automática de la escorrentía directa. Ingeniería del Agua. 8(3):295-304. https://doi.org/10.4995/ia.2001.2868SWORD29530483Barnes, H.H. (1967). Roughness Characteristics of Natural Channels. U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1899.Barredo, J.I. y Bosque, J. (1996): Delimitación de unidades homogéneas del relieve a partir de un modelo digital de elevaciones. Estudios Geográficos. LVII, nº 225. Madrid.Eastman, J.R., Kyem, P.A.K., Toledano, J. y Jin, W. (1993). GIS and Decision Making. UNITAR. Explorations in Geographic Information Systems Technology. Volume 4. UNITAR European Office. Suiza.Eastman, J.R. (1997). IDRISI for Windows. Version 2.0. Clark Labs for Cartographic Technology and Geographic Analysis. Clark University. Worcester. EE.UU.Engman, E.T. (1986). Roughness coefficients for routing surface runoff. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering 112 (1). p. 39-53.ESRI (1989). PC-ARC/INFO. Environmental Systems Research Institute. Inc. EEUU.Ferrer, M.; Rodriguez, J. y Estrela, T. 1995. Generación Automática del Número de Curva con Sistemas de Información Geográfica. Ingeniería del Agua. Vol. 2. Nº 4. p. 43-58.Francés, F. y Benito, J. 1995. La Modelación Distribuida con Pocos Parámetros de la Crecidas. Ingeniería del Agua. Vol. 2. Nº 4. p. 7-24.Llamas, J. (1993). Hidrología General. Principios y Aplicaciones. Servicio Editorial del País Vasco.Meijerink, A.M.J.; Brouwer, H.A.M.; Mannaerts, C.M. y Valenzuela, C.R. 1994. Introduction to the use of Geographic Information System for practical hydrology. UNESCO-International Hydrological Program y International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences (ITC). Publicación Nº. 23. Holanda.Pilgrim, D.H., y Cordery, I. (1993). Flood Runoff. In Handbook of hydrology. D.R. Maidment, ed., McGraw-Hill, Inc.Ponce, V.M. y Hawkins, R.H. (1996). Runoff curve number: has it reached maturity?. Journal of hydrologic engineering. 1 (1). 11-19.Robredo, J.C. y Mintegui, J.A. 1994. Diseño de un modelo distribuido elemental para el análisis del comportamiento hidrológico de una cuenca vertiente. Ingeniería del Agua. Vol. 1. Nº 4. p. 79-100.SCS. Soil Conservation Service. (1984). Engineering Field Manual for Conservation Practices. Fourth Printing. Chapter 2. Estimating Runoff

Ca-amendement and tillage: medium term synergies for improving key soil properties of acid soils. Soil and tillage research, 134: 195-206

Ca-amendments are routinely applied to improve acid soils, whilst no-tillage (NT) has been widely recommended in soils where traditional tillage (TT) has led to losses of organic matter. However, the potential interactions between the two treatments are only partially known. Our study was conducted on an annual forage crop agrosystem with a degraded Palexerult soil located in SW Spain, in order to assess if the combination of NT plus a Ca-amendment provides additional benefits to those of their separate use. To this end we analysed the effects of four different combinations of tillage and Ca-amendment on selected key soil properties, focusing on their relationships. The experimental design was a split-plot with four replicates. The main factor was tillage (NT versus TT) and the second factor was the application or not of a Ca-amendment, consisting of a mixture of sugar foam (SF) and red gypsum (RG). Soil samples were collected from 3 soil layers down to 50 cm after four years of treatment (2009). The use of the Ca-amendment improved pH and Al-toxicity down to 25 cm and increased exchangeable Ca2+ down to 50 cm, even under NT due to the combined effect of SF and RG. Both NT and the Ca-amendment had a beneficial effect on total organic carbon (TOC), especially on particulate organic carbon (POC), in the 0–5 cm layer, with the highest contents observed when both practices were combined. Unlike NT, the Ca-amendment failed to improve soil aggregation in spite of the carbon supplied. This carbon was not protected within the stable aggregates in the medium term, making it more susceptible to mineralization. We suggest that the fraction of Al extracted by oxalate from solid phase (AlOxa-Cu-K) and the glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSPs) are involved in the accumulation of carbon within water stable aggregates, probably through the formation of non-toxic stable Al-OM compounds, including those formed with GRSPs. NT alone decreased AlK in the 0–5 cm soil layer, possibly by increasing POC, TOC and GRSPs, which were observed to play a role in reducing Al toxicity. From our findings, the combination of NT and Ca-amendment appears to be the best management practice to improve chemical and physical characteristics of acid soils degraded by tillage

Estudio para la implantación de Programas en Inglés en los títulos de grado de la ETSI Agrónomos de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Universities are offering more and more courses and programmes in an additional language. At HEPCLIL, therefore, we would like to debate the methodological im - plications of these changes, giving voice to practical classroom experiences and initiatives. We would also like to act as a platform for cutting-edge research on CLIL in higher education. What impact does teaching in an additional language have on content or language learning? What are the effects on teachers and stu - dents in higher education

Estudio para la implantación de Programas en Inglés en los títulos de grado de la ETSI Agrónomos

El proceso actual de convergencia entre instituciones universitarias europeas ha promovido los Programas Académicos en Inglés como un marco fructífero para su internacionalización con el fin de desarrollar la movilidad de estudiantes y la cooperación institucional dentro y fuera del EEES. El objetivo es alcanzar la Internacionalización de la Universidad a través de dos ejes de actuación: la mejora del nivel de inglés de los alumnos egresados y la captación de alumnos extranjeros. En España, la práctica totalidad de las Universidades Públicas ofrecen algún tipo de Programa en Inglés, existiendo una variada tipología de propuestas. En este contexto, se realizó un estudio para la implantación de Programas en Inglés en los títulos de grado de la ETSI Agrónomos de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Para ello se analizaron las diferentes experiencias existentes en Programas en Inglés en las Universidades Españolas, haciendo especial hincapié en los estudios del ámbito agrario. Se evaluó la opinión de alumnos y profesores de la ETSI Agrónomos sobre tres cuestiones: interés en participar en un Programa en Inglés, tipo de programa en el que estaría dispuesto a participar y autoevaluación del nivel de inglés. También se examinó el interés de los alumnos de bachillerato y del mundo laboral, empresas e instituciones del ámbito agroalimentario, en los Programas en Inglés. Por último, se exploraron las implicaciones administrativas y necesidades de recursos que conlleva la implantación de un Programa Académico Universitario en Inglés. Las conclusiones del trabajo destacan la dispar oferta nacional en programas en inglés y en requerimientos lingüísticos a profesores y alumnos. Existe un gran interés tanto por parte de profesores y alumnos de la ETSI Agrónomos como de alumnos de Bachillerato por participar en este tipo de programas

Assessment for English language education on the programs at the Agricultural Engineering School of Madrid

The convergence process among European academic degrees pursues the exchange of graduate students and the adaptation of university programs to social demand. Within the framework of the European Higher Education, European universities will need to be more competitive not only by increasing or maintaining the student enrolment, but also in their academic performance. Thus, the reinforcing of English language education within the University Programs might play an important role to reach these objectives. In this sense, a complete survey was accomplished at the Agricultural Egineering School of Madrid (ETSIA ) addressing issues such as: identification the needs for bilingual instruction at ETSIA, identification resources needed and interest and background in English language of students and professors (San José et al., 2013). The conclusions and recommendations to promote the bilingual instruction in the ETSIA, taking into account the approaches followed by other Spanish universities, are presented in this work

Challenges of adapting English médium instruction into the Spanish university curricula and some novel solutions

The integration of the Spanish university system in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) demands a series of concrete proposals. As we advance in the implementation of the process of Bologna, it is necessary to contemplate a new paradigm of teaching/learning. Central to this new paradigm is the adaptation of the curricula into the English language medium (EMI). Among many strategies for internationalization of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) under adoption, this university has funded a project TechEnglish intends to facilitate the conversion of subjects and eventually degree programs into the delivery in the English Language. This paper details a work in progress and describes the collaboration between content teachers and applied linguistics. The three collaborative actions are currently underway: observation of classes by applied linguists, seminar delivery on topics requested by the content teachers, and materials development with the help of teaching assistants. We are convinced that this collaboration is the necessary ingredient to promote teaching and learning through English at our university

Fostering English-taught higher education programs in a Spanish university: the "TechEnglish" innovative project

In recent years, coinciding with adjustments to the Bologna process, many European universities have attempted to improve their international profile by increasing course offerings in English. According to the Institute of International Education (IIE), Spain has notably increased its English-taught higher education programs, ranking fifth in the list of European countries by number of English-taught Master's programs in 2013. This article presents the goals and preliminary results of an on-going innovative education project (TechEnglish) that aims to promote course offerings in English at the Technical University of Madrid (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, UPM). The UPM is the oldest and largest of all Technical Universities in Spain. It offers graduate and postgraduate programs that cover all the engineering disciplines as well as architecture. Currently, the UPM has no specific bilingual/multilingual program to promote teaching in English, although there is an Educational Model Whitepaper (with a focus on undergraduate degrees) that promotes the development of activities like an International Semester or a unique shared curriculum. The TechEnglish project is an attempt to foster courses taught in English at 7 UPM Technical Schools, including students and 80 faculty members. Four tasks were identified: (1) to design a university wide framework to increase course offerings, (2) to identify administrative difficulties, (3) to increase visibility of courses offered, and (4) to disseminate the results of the project. First, to design a program we analyzed existing programs at other Spanish universities, and other projects and efforts already under way at the UPM. A total of 13 plans were analyzed and classified according to their relation with students (learning), professors (teaching), administration, course offerings, other actors/institutions within the university (e.g., language departments), funds and projects, dissemination activities, mobility plans and quality control. Second, to begin to identify administrative and organizational difficulties in the implementation of teaching in English, we first estimated the current and potential course offerings at the undergraduate level at the UPM using a survey (student, teacher and administrative demand, level of English and willingness to work in English). Third, to make the course offerings more attractive for both Spanish and international students we examined the way the most prestigious universities in Spain and in Europe try to improve the visibility of their academic offerings in English. Finally, to disseminate the results of the project we created a web page and a workspace on the Moodle education platform and prepared conferences and workshops within the UPM. Preliminary results show that increasing course offerings in English is an important step to promote the internationalization of the University. The main difficulties identified at the UPM were related to how to acknowledge/certify the departments, teachers or students involved in English courses, how students should register for the courses, how departments should split and schedule the courses (Spanish and English), and the lack of qualified personnel. A concerted effort could be made to increase the visibility of English-taught programs offered on-line

El régimen de humedad de los suelos de la España peninsular

El objeto de la Tesis es el régimen de humedad de los suelos de la España Peninsular, cuya determinación a partir de datos climáticos se ha realizado de acuerdo con la metodología incluida en la taxonomía norteamericana de suelos (Soil Survey StafF 1975, 1994). Esta metodología presenta algunas indefiniciones, que se pretenden solventar. La investigación ha consistido en la clasificación de los regímenes de humedad del suelo de la España Peninsular y su representación cartográfica. Se han considerado varios métodos de determinación de la evapotranspiración y varios modelos de estimación del régimen de humedad. La clasificación numérica de los regímenes de 467 localidades ha permitido su agrupamiento en clases y su subdivisión natural. El contraste de esta información con la aportada por la cartografía de series de vegetación, mediante un sistema de información geográfica tipo reticular, ha servido para afinar los mapas. El resultado revela que un modelo modificado sirve para subsanar las indefiniciones y posibilita la adaptación de los grupos a las condiciones naturales. SUMMARY The soil moisture regime defined by the Soil Taxonomy (Soil Survey StafF, 1975, 1994) has been determined by Newhall's simulation model from climatic data. This classification presents some diffículties as gaps and overlaps in the definitions, that we have tried to solve. The soil moisture regimes have been determined by different methods and the results have been classified and mapped. We have compared differents methods of evapotranspiration estimation. A simple modification of Newhall's model matchs better the natural conditions of Spain when comparing with the potential vegatation. A ráster geographical information system has been used to overlay the information layers. As result of the numerical classification of soil moistures regimes of 467 sites, the regimes have been grouped in classes adapted to the natural conditions of Spain. We have compared the results with the potential vegetation map in order to tune the soil moisture regime boundaries. We propose a new soil moisture regimes classification divided in two categories. This classification is adapted to Spanish natural conditions

Data supporting the cover crops benefits related to soil functionality in a 10-year cropping system

In this data article we provide different field parameters of an agricultural irrigated system under Mediterranean conditions. These parameters represent the response of variables related to soil functionality to different cover crops. Soil and plant samples were taken from fallow and cover crops treatments over the course of 10 years, with most variables measured every other year. This ample database provides reliable information to design sustainable agricultural practices under Mediterranean conditions. Researchers, policy makers and farmers are interested in the final outcome of this dataset. The data are associated with the research article entitled “Cover crops to mitigate soil degradation and enhance soil functionality in irrigated land” (García-González et al., 2018) [1]