Chemical Composition, in situ Degradability and in vitro Gas Production of Tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis) Forage Harvested at Different Stages

The leguminous tree tagasaste is highly productive in the Ethiopian highlands. However, its nutritional value, as affected by the different agronomic practices is not fully understood under the tropical highland conditions. This study investigated the quality profile of tagasaste forage harvested at different re-growth stages by measuring the chemical composition, in situ degradability and in vitro gas production. Tagasaste re-growths after one year of establishment was harvested and the re-growths starting from the main rainy season (July) was harvested at 4, 6, 8 and 10 months. The harvested forages were fractionated into leaves and edible branches. Chemical composition, in situ degradability using rumen fistulated steers and in vitro gas production using rumen fluid from rumen fistulated dry cows were evaluated. The average crude protein (CP) content of tagasaste in the leaves ranged between 189 and 242 g kg-1 dry matter (DM) was not significantly affected by harvesting stage regrowth. The neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin and ether extract contents of tagasaste increased with length of re-growth. The amino acid profile of tagasaste protein showed high contents of the essential amino acids leucine and lysine but lower contents of methionine and histidine. Tagasaste grown under Ethiopian highland conditions was found deficient in phosphorus, sulphur, and sodium, but had adequate amounts of calcium, potassium, zinc and iron. The average in situ potential and effective degradability of leaves were 795 and 518 g kg-1 DM respectively and was lowest at the 10 months harvesting stage. The in vitro gas production declined with length of re-growth. Gas production was higher for leaves followed by branches with mean value of 43.7 and 39.1 ml 200-1 mg DM at 24 h respectively. The high CP content, degradability and in vitro gas production of tagasaste forage reveals its high potential to be used as a protein supplement for ruminants. The studied quality parameters should be further verified using animal performance

Crude protein, amino acid and alkaloid contents of annual sweet lupin (Lupinus spp. L.) forages and seeds grown in Ethiopia

This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Though bitter white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) is a traditional crop in Ethiopia, sweet lupins are new to the country. As a result, the nutritional value of low-alkaloid lupins has not been evaluated under Ethiopian conditions. Crude protein, amino acid and alkaloid contents of 16 cultivars of three annual lupin species grown in four lupin growing locations (Merawi, Finoteselam, Kossober-1 and Kossober-2) of Ethiopia were evaluated. Location × cultivar interaction was a significant source of variation for all traits (p < 0.0001). In all locations, blue entries had either similar (p ≥ 0.0584) or higher (p ≤ 0.0235) forage crude protein content than the Local Landrace, white group and yellow entry. Compared with the Local Landrace, white and blue entries, the sole yellow entry had higher (p ≤ 0.0148) seed crude protein content at all locations except at Kossober-2, where it had similar (p = 0.8460) crude protein content as white entries. The Local Landrace had the highest forage and seed alkaloid contents. However, sweet blue Vitabor and Sanabor entries had the lowest forage and seed alkaloid contents, respectively. Low alkaloid and higher crude protein contents of sweet lupins grown in Ethiopia show the possibility to use sweet lupin forage and seeds as cheap home-grown protein source for livestock feed and human food in the country. However, for more reliable information, the laboratory results need to be verified by animal and human evaluations of the crop.Peer Reviewe

Field performance of tagasaste (Chamaecytisus Palmensis) under different harvesting management in a tropical highland area of Ethiopia

Tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis) is one of productive multipurpose tree species grown in the tropical highlands of Ethiopia. Despite its potential role as a source of forage and natural resource conservation, adequate studies were not made on agronomic practices such as establishment, harvesting managements and utilization. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effect of establishment and subsequent harvesting managements on biomass (BM) yield, crude protein (CP) content, botanical fractions of total biomass and persistency of tagasaste. Establishment of tagasaste was undertaken for three consecutive years at Holeta Research Center (HRC) in the highlands of Ethiopia. The two harvesting management trials, harvesting stage and growing season were arranged separately in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In harvesting stage study, four treatments of harvesting stage including HS1 (3 harvests per year at 4 months interval), HS2 (2 harvests per year at 6 months interval), HS3 (one harvest at 8 months and the 2nd harvest after 4 months) and HS4 (one harvest at 10 months and the 2nd harvest after 2 months) were compared annually. In the growing season study, tagasaste was allowed to regrow for 6 months so that exposed to the main rain, dry and short rainy seasons of the area. Planting and harvesting year had a significant (

CAN EFFECTIVE STREET LIGHTING CHANGE GDAŃSK?

Główną potrzebą dynamicznie rozwijających, a zarazem rozrastających się miast jest zachowanie zasad zrównoważonego rozwoju. Już dzisiaj istotnym czynnikiem jest troska o to, by nasze decyzje nie miały negatywnego wpływu na przyszłe pokolenia. Zgodnie z raportem Międzyrządowego Panelu ds. Zmiany Klimatu (dalej IPCC) w przypadku niepodjęcia odpowiednich działań, skutki globalnego ocieplenia będą nieodwracalne. Stanowisko IPPC jasno mówi o zmniejszeniu emisji dwutlenku węgla, (który jest główną przyczyną ocieplenia), o 45% do roku 2030 (względem wartości z 2010 roku), natomiast do 2050 roku bilans emisji gazów cieplarnianych powinien zredukować się do 0. W związku z tym, poszczególne państwa, a w tym również miasta muszą podjąć realne kroki dotyczące wdrożenia powierzonych im wytycznych. Realizowanie ich generuje zupełnie nowe rozwiązania i doprowadza nas do idei miasta przemyślanego. Miasta, w którym procesy są monitorowane i analizowane przez wzgląd na jak najbardziej efektywne wykorzystanie czasu, przestrzeni, materiałów i energii. Inteligentne systemy oświetlenia miejskiego są kluczowym elementem szerszej inicjatywy Komisji Europejskiej „Inteligentne miasta”. Zastosowanie tej metody niesie za sobą oszczędności energii oraz dodatkowe korzyści w postaci inteligentnego sterowania, komunikacji sieciowej oraz w pełni zintegrowanej infrastruktury sterującej. Umożliwia to na przykład bezpośrednią komunikację z systemami zarządzania energią. Wprowadzenie inteligentnej, energooszczędnej technologii SSL1 to pierwszy krok na drodze do realizacji koncepcji inteligentnego, zrównoważonego miasta.The main need of dynamically developing, and at the same time growing cities is to maintain the principles of sustainable development. An important factor today is the care that our decisions do not have a negative impact for future generations. According to the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (hereinafter the IPCC), if the appropriate measures are not taken, the effects of global warming will be irreversible. The IPPC position makes clear about the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, which is the main cause of global warming, by 45% by 2030 (compared to 2010), while by 2050 the greenhouse gas emissions balance should be reduced to 0. Accordingly, individual countries , including individual cities, must take real steps to implement the guidelines entrusted to them. The energy sector plays a key role here. Such a system of values generates completely new solutions and brings us to the idea of a thoughtful city. Cities, whose processes are monitored and analyzed for the sake of the most effective use of time, space, materials and energy. Intelligent urban lighting systems are a key element of the broader initiative of the European Commission "Smart Cities". The use of this method brings energy savings and additional benefits in the form of intelligent control, network communication and fully integrated control infrastructure. This enables, for example, direct communication with energy management systems. The introduction of intelligent, energy-saving SSL technology2 is the first step on the way to implementing the concept of an intelligent, sustainable city

Conference on International Agricultural Research for Development Study on the effects of incorporating various levels of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) on the performance of sheep

Abstract Poor feed quality and lack of water are the major constraints for livestock production under arid conditions. To solve these problems, looking for potential plants is mandatory (0.008, 0.016 and 0.006 l, respectivel

On-farm evaluation of Cachama blanca and Nile tilapia fed fermented aquatic plants in a polyculture

Juveniles of Cachama blanca and Nile tilapia averaging 86.7 g and 39.6 g, respectively, were co-stocked in 12 experimental units (18m² in area) at a total density of three fish m-².The species mixture consisted of 25% Cachama blanca and 75% tilapia. The fish were fed with a commercial aquafeed (24% crude protein) as control diet. Fermented duckweeds (DW), Lemna minor and Spirodela polyrhiza, and fermented water fern (WF), Azolla filiculoides, at 15% substitution level of the commercial aqua feed were offered as experimental diets for a total of three treatments with four replicates per treatment. The experiment was carried out during a period of 120 days of rearing. Growth performance and productive parameters were evaluated. Results on Cachama blanca showed that no significant differences were found for FCR (from 2.7 to 3.0), total Biomass (5536 to 6444 g) and yield (from 3076 to 3580 kg/ha) among treatments. Mean final weight (from 423 to 494 g), weight gain and specific growth ratio (SGR) were higher for Cachama blanca fed on control and DW diets than for those fed on WF diets. Similar results were observed for Nile tilapia. Mean final weight, weight gain and SGR of Nile tilapia fed on DW do not differed significantly from the control diet, but for those fed on WF, which performance was significantly lower. Yield for Nile tilapia varied from 3124 to 3829 kg ha-1 and did not differ between the treatments. Average FCR was calculated for Nile tilapia between 2.1 and 2.5 and was better than for Cachama blanca. Results indicated that fermented duckweeds (Lemna minor and Spirodela polyrhiza) can effectively replace commercial aqua feed at a 15% level for rearing juveniles of Cachama blanca and Nile tilapia in a traditional polyculture.Juvenis de Pirapitinga e Tilápia do Nilo com uma média de 86.7 e 39.6 g, respectivamente, foram cultivadas em 12 unidades experimentais (18m²) com uma densidade global de três peixesm². A mistura de espécies consistiu de 25% de Pirapitinga e 75% Tilápia do Nilo. Os peixes foram alimentados com uma ração comercial (24% de proteína bruta) como dieta de controle. As lentilhas da água fermentada (duckweeds: DW), Lemna minor e Spirodela polyrhiza, e Azolla fermentada (water fern: WF), Azolla filiculoides, foram oferecidas como dietas experimentais a 15% de nível de substituição para um total três tratamentos com quatro repetições por tratamento. O experimento foi realizado durante um período de 120 dias. Foram avaliados os parâmetros de crescimento e de produção. Resultados para a Pirapitinga não mostraram diferenças significativas para o FCR (2.7-3.0), a biomassa total (5536-6444 g) e rendimento (3.076-3.580 kg/ha) entre os tratamentos. O peso final (423-494 g), ganho de peso e taxa de crescimento específico (TCE) foram maiores para a Pirapitinga alimentada com a dieta controle e dieta DW do que para aqueles alimentados com a dieta WF. Resultados similares foram observados para a Tilápia do Nilo. O peso médio final, ganho de peso e taxa de crescimento específico (TCE) da Tilápia do Nilo alimentada com a dieta DW não diferiu significativamente da dieta controle, mas, sim, daqueles peixes alimentados com dieta WF, que mostraram significativamente menos desenvolvimento. O desempenho da Tilápia do Nilo variou de 3124-3829 kg/ha e não houve diferenças entre os tratamentos. A FCR média calculada para a Tilápia do Nilo foi dentre 2.1 e 2.5 e foi melhor do que para a Pirapitinga. Os resultados indicaram que a lentilha de água fermentada (Lemna minor e Spirodela polyrhiza) pode efetivamente substituir até 15% do alimento comercial em uma policultura tradicional de Tilápia do Nilo e Pirapitinga.Juveniles de Cachama blanca y Tilapia del Nilo con un promedio de 86.7 y 39.6 g, respectivamente, fueron cultivados en 12 unidades experimentales (18m²) con una densidad total de tres pecesm². La mezcla de especies consistió en 25% Cachama blanca y el 75% Tilapia. Los peces fueron alimentados con un pienso comercial (proteína bruta 24%) como dieta de control. La lenteja de agua fermentada (Duckweeds: DW), (Lemna minor y Spirodela polyrhiza), y la Azolla fermentada (Water fern: WF), (Azolla filiculoides), fueron ofrecidas como dietas experimentales al 15% de nivel de sustitución para un total de tres tratamientos con cuatro repeticiones por tratamiento. El experimento se llevó a cabo en un período de 120 días. El crecimiento y los parámetros productivos fueron evaluados. Los resultados de Cachama blanca mostraron que no se encontraron diferencias significativas para el FCR (2,7-3,0), la biomasa total (desde 5536 hasta 6444 g) y el rendimiento (3076 a 3580 kg/ha) entre los tratamientos. El peso final (423-494 g), la ganancia de peso y la tasa de crecimiento específico (SGR) fueron mayores para la Cachama blanca alimentada con la dieta control y la dieta DW que para aquellos alimentados con la dieta WF. Resultados similares fueron observados para la Tilapia del Nilo. El peso final medio, la ganancia de peso y la tasa de crecimiento específica (SGR) de la Tilapia del Nilo alimentados con la dieta DW no diferían de manera significativa de la dieta control, pero sí de los peces alimentados con la dieta WF, lo cuales mostraron un desarrollo significativamente menor. El rendimiento de la Tilapia del Nilo varió de 3124 a 3829 kg/ha y no hubo diferencias entre los tratamientos. El FCR promedio calculado para la Tilapia del Nilo fue entre 2.1 y 2.5 y resultó mejor que para la Cachama blanca. Los resultados indicaron que la lenteja de agua fermentada (Lemna minor y Spirodela polyrhiza) puede reemplazar efectivamente hasta un 15% del alimento comercial en un policultivo tradicional de Tilapia del Nilo y Cachama blanca