Increasing farmers’ skills towards a sustainable agriculture

De modo a praticar uma agricultura sustentável, os agricultores devem adotar práticas corretas e respeitadoras do ambiente, utilizando a tecnologia adequada e cumprindo a regulamentação da UE para uma agricultura sustentável. Os desenvolvimentos recentes da ciência e da tecnologia, que poderiam ser um valor acrescentado para a gestão das culturas e da terra, continuam a não ser utilizados em muitas situações por não terem chegado ao conhecimento dos agricultores ou estes não terem sido treinados para os utilizar. O objectivo deste estudo foi o de definir competências no domínio da tecnologia agrícola, em áreas onde ocorreram avanços tecnológicos que podem ajudar os agricultores a praticar uma agricultura mais sustentável. Foram identificadas seis áreas principais: 1) Agricultura de precisão; 2) Proteção integrada; 3) Reutilização agrícola de resíduos orgânicos; 4) Rega gota-a-gota e tecnologias de conservação da água; 5) Energias renováveis e 6) Bioenergia e culturas energéticas. Para cada uma destas áreas foram definidas competências específicas com enfâse na sensibilização sobre os aspectos da sustentabilidade na agricultura e na introdução aos principais desenvolvimentos tecnológicos. Estas competências foram depois utilizadas no desenvolvimento de um novo programa de formação profissional para agricultores, cujos cursos de formação decorreram durante o ano de 2019 na Grécia, Itália e Portugal, para um total de cerca de 600 agricultores

Correlations among microfibril angle, density, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture and shrinkage in 6-year-old Eucalyptus urophylla × E. Grandis

The cellulose microfibril angle (MFA) in the cell wall is known to have major effects on wood stiffness and shrinkage. However, its influence on juvenile wood traits is not fully understood, especially in Eucalyptus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships among MFA, density (ρ), dynamic modulus of elasticity (E), modulus of rupture (MOR), and shrinkage (δ) in 6-year-old Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis. Small clear specimens (L 410 mm x R 25 mm x T 25 mm) were cut from central boards for the determination of E and MOR. Cubic samples (25 mm³) were removed after the dynamic and static tests to evaluate ρ and δ. MFA was finally measured by X-ray diffraction on small strips coming from the cubic samples. A quasi-absence of statistical link was found for MFA - δ and MFA - ρ (R²<0.20). The parameter ρ/MFA was used to estimate E (R²=0.66) and MOR (R²=0.37). In a next step, the additive and interaction effects were investigated using multiple linear regressions with a forward selection method. The property E was found to be linked only with the additive effects of ρ and 1/MFA (R²=0.76). The additive and interaction effects were all significant for MOR (R²=0.54). This study showed that a general model including both additive and interaction effects should be used for the prediction of the modulus of elasticity and the modulus of rupture

Correlations among microfibril angle, density, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture and shrinkage in 6-year-old Eucalyptus urophylla × E. Grandis

The cellulose microfibril angle (MFA) in the cell wall is known to have major effects on wood stiffness and shrinkage. However, its influence on juvenile wood traits is not fully understood, especially in Eucalyptus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships among MFA, density (ρ), dynamic modulus of elasticity (E), modulus of rupture (MOR), and shrinkage (δ) in 6-year-old Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis. Small clear specimens (L 410 mm x R 25 mm x T 25 mm) were cut from central boards for the determination of E and MOR. Cubic samples (25 mm³) were removed after the dynamic and static tests to evaluate ρ and δ. MFA was finally measured by X-ray diffraction on small strips coming from the cubic samples. A quasi-absence of statistical link was found for MFA - δ and MFA - ρ (R²<0.20). The parameter ρ/MFA was used to estimate E (R²=0.66) and MOR (R²=0.37). In a next step, the additive and interaction effects were investigated using multiple linear regressions with a forward selection method. The property E was found to be linked only with the additive effects of ρ and 1/MFA (R²=0.76). The additive and interaction effects were all significant for MOR (R²=0.54). This study showed that a general model including both additive and interaction effects should be used for the prediction of the modulus of elasticity and the modulus of rupture

Sensitivity and validity of a functional test for agility performance in water polo players

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and validity of the Functional Test for Agility Performance (FTAP) in water polo players. Six elite junior (aged 16.33±0.82 years) male players and 65 competitive men (aged 18.1±4.3 years) who were classified in three groups (G1-3), participated in different phases of the test. The scores accomplished in FTAP at two periods (initial and final) were compared. They were correlated with the scores in Sprint/Agility Test and differences between standards of competition (G1-3) were assessed. Performance differences were assessed using the paired t-test and Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the association with agility time in the Speed/Agility Test. Differences between standards of competition were assessed using ANOVA. The final Functional Test for Agility Performance was performed in fewer seconds compared to initial (p=.002, r=.94). No significant correlation was found between Functional Test for Agility Performance and Speed/Agility Test (r=.42, p=.40), as expected and evidencing the discriminant validity. Differences were found between G1 and G3 (p<.001) and G2 and G3 (p=.008). The Functional Test for Agility Performance showed adequate sensitivity and validity, and thus is a decision-making test that can be used to assess training and expertise

Teaching precision farming and entrepreneurship for European students: Sparkle online course

Within the framework of the European project named ‘SPARKLE’, an online course was created after studying educational needs on precision agriculture (PA), state of the art of technologies and a prospective study of the commercial sector. Five educational and research institutions, high-tech farms and enterprises specializing in technology transfer created the syllabus of the course and the platform contents. The course was designed to provide 30 h of student dedication, via online presentations, documents and videos for each topic. A free pilot course started in April 2020 and 385 students from Italy, Portugal, Greece & Spain enrolled. To trace performance and acquisition of competences, questionnaires were completed by students for each topic and a final overall test. Students’ opinions about the course were also registered using anonymous polls, and results evaluated, to be able to enhance the Sparkle course for subsequent editions. Students also took part in a business model competition, to solve real challenges proposed by farms, related to the use of these technologies