Efectos del déficit hídrico sobre el flujo de savia y la conducta estomática en frutales

Sap flow sensors based on heat pulse techniques enable a semi-continuous estimation of transpiration, which makes them promising devices for studying water relations in woody species. Furthermore, high expectations have been created for the role that these sensors might play in the development of irrigation scheduling strategies in fruit trees. The general objective of this thesis is to contribute to explore the full potential and limitations of heat pulse techniques, illustrating how they can yield information both about water relations and the effects of water stress on tree functioning. As first outputs, new methodologies to estimate net assimilation at the canopy level and xylem water content dynamics from sap flow measurements are presented. The validity of such methodologies was tested on several experiments, some of them carried out in mature olive orchards under different irrigation regimes. Besides, this thesis assesses the extent to which the accuracy of heat pulse techniques are compromised both by changes in xylem water content and by the method applied to determine its thermal properties. Finally, based on sap flow and water potential measurements conducted in a mature olive orchard during two consecutive winters, it is evidenced that chilling temperatures lead to a disturbance in water relations similar to those occurring under drought stress conditions in that species.Los sensores de flujo de savia basados en técnicas de pulso de calor permiten obtener estimas casi continuas de la transpiración, lo que los convierte en dispositivos prometedores para el estudio de relaciones hídricas en especies leñosas. Además, se han creado grandes expectativas sobre el papel que estos sistemas podrían jugar en el desarrollo de estrategias de programación de riego en árboles frutales. El objetivo general de esta tesis es contribuir a explorar el máximo potencial y las limitaciones de las técnicas de pulso de calor, ilustrando como éstas pueden proporcionar información sobre las relaciones hídricas y el efecto del déficit hídrico en el funcionamiento de los árboles. Como primeras aportaciones, se presentan dos nuevas metodologías que permiten estimar la asimilación neta a nivel de cubierta y la dinámica del contenido de agua del xilema a partir de medidas de flujo de savia. La validez de dichas metodologías fue analizada en varios experimentos, algunos de ellos llevados a cabo en olivares adultos bajo distintos regímenes de riego. Por otra parte, esta tesis evalúa el grado en el que la precisión de las técnicas de pulso de calor se ven comprometidas por cambios en el contenido de agua del xilema y el método aplicado para determinar sus propiedades térmicas. Finalmente, en base a medidas de flujo de savia y potencial hídrico realizadas durante dos inviernos consecutivos en un olivar adulto, se evidencia que las bajas temperaturas resultan en alteraciones en las relaciones hídricas que se asemejan a las que ocurren en condiciones de sequía en esa especie

Pre- and post-harvest evapotranspiration, carbon exchange and water use efficiency of a mature peach orchard in semi-arid climate

Better knowledge of the evapotranspiration and carbon exchange of fruit trees is needed to optimize the trade-off between water use and carbon assimilation and to better understand the role of agriculture in the biogeochemical cycles. In this work we measured water and carbon fluxes with eddy covariance and transpiration with sap flow in a drip irrigated peach orchard of 70% ground cover located in southern Spain for two years. The empirically measured crop coefficient (Kc) under good watering conditions in the summer ranged from 1 to 1.1. The daytime Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) flux of the orchard averaged 30 g CO2 m2 day-1 during the period of maximum activity in July. The daytime ecosystem water use efficiency (WUE) of the orchard reached a minimum in late June, flattened around 4 g CO2 L-1 throughout the summer, and increased in autumn, but was unaffected by fruit removal or post-harvest irrigation reduction imposed by the farm (30% reduction). The response of instantaneous peach ecosystem WUE to VPD was also investigated. Both Kc, NEE, leaf water potential and stomatal conductance decreased sharply after harvest. Transpiration data from some purposely over-irrigated experimental trees demonstrated that the post-harvest alterations we found were not caused by fruit removal, but are result of mild water stress originated by the irrigation reduction. Hence, the often-observed alterations in water relations after harvest in well-watered trees were not observed in this experiment. This work adds insight on peach irrigation efficiency and on the contribution of orchards to agricultural carbon budgets

The pitfalls of water potential for irrigation scheduling

The water potential (Ψp), has been widely used as an indicator of plant water status for irrigation management purposes. The simple infrastructure needed for its measurement and its direct relation to basic plant physiological processes, have contributed to the popularity of the methodology. When used for irrigation scheduling, it is commonly assumed that an unavoidable relationship exists between plant transpiration (T), soil water content and Ψp. Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that variations in Ψp are not solely related to changes in soil water content, but are also an expression of the interaction between the plant and its environment. We used a soil-plant-atmosphere-continuum (SPAC) model to highlight the importance of considering such interactions through a series of in silico experiments. Our analysis shows that evaporative demand, the hydraulic architecture of the plant, and the texture and depth of the soil play key roles in the final Ψp observed. To establish irrigation programs based on Ψp, without considering the environmental and plant factors that influence it, can create the paradox of having a plant that suffers greater water stress even when high irrigation volumes are applied. The conclusions from our in silico analysis provide some warnings that should be considered when using Ψp to schedule irrigation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Studying and modelling winter dormancy in olive trees

The abundance of scientific papers dealing with olive reproductive phenology contrasts with the scarce information available in relation to the winter dormant state of olive vegetative structures. In this study, three experiments with young olive trees were performed in Southern Spain, aiming to provide insight into some features of the winter rest period in this evergreen species. Experiment 1 evaluated the environmental cues triggering dormancy induction by measuring leaf appearance rates in trees subjected to different conditions of temperature and daylength over the course of the 2012 autumn. In Experiment 2, several sets of plants were placed into a greenhouse at different dates along the 2013/2014 winter, testing the ability of dormant plants to resume growth upon the return of favourable temperatures. Finally, Experiment 3 was carried out during the autumns of 2016 and 2017 in two locations, and was devoted to assess differences between five cultivars in the onset of dormancy under natural conditions. Our findings revealed that dormancy induction is not controlled by photoperiod, but by low temperatures. The subsequent winter rest state seems to be easily reversed after 1–2 weeks of exposure to warm conditions, irrespective of the initial date of exposure. With regard to cultivar variability, differences in the timing of growth cessation was found to be rather small. Finally, two simple models for predicting the onset of dormancy based on the accumulation of a certain amount of chilling (either considering or not a reversal of chilling by warm temperatures) are presented. Calibration and validation was performed with independent datasets from Experiments 1, 2 and 3. Validation tests highlighted the reliability of both models in reproducing the date of growth cessation.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Fase de caracterización de los residuos sólidos no peligrosos en el Plan Institucional de Gestión Ambiental de la UMNG

This document describes the methodology for the characterization of non-hazardous solid waste in the Nueva Granada Military University (UMNG), with the aim of establishing the conditions for implementing its management within the Institutional Environmental Management Institutional Plan (PIGA), at street 100 headquarters, which was launched from the amount of waste reported in the appraisals of the Company LIME Consortium Cleaning Service Provider, serving the collection service in the city, with a design at the university. This identified areas of waste generation as cafeterias, lounges and hallways, bathrooms, offices and other common areas. Entered the waste collection center (collection) identified in separate bags and arranged in containers for this. Regarding the sample characterized organic waste equivalent to 23% of the total sample, 41% potentially recyclable and the remaining waste is not recyclable, corresponded to 36%. The results obtained are analyzed that there are potentially exploitable waste.El presente documento describe la metodología para la caracterización de los residuos sólidos no peligrosos en la Universidad Militar Nueva Granada (UMNG), con el objetivo de establecer las condiciones para implementar su manejo dentro del Plan Institucional de Gestión Ambiental (PIGA), en la sede Calle 100, al cual se dio inicio a partir de la cantidad de residuos reportada en los aforos de la Empresa LIME, Consorcio Prestador del servicio de Aseo, que atiende la recolección de basura en la ciudad, haciendo un diseño muestral en la Universidad. En éste se identificaron las zonas de generación de residuos como: cafeterías, salones y pasillos baños, oficinas y otras áreas comunes. Los residuos ingresaron al Centro de Acopio (recolección), identificados en bolsas independientes y dispuestas en los contenedores adecuados para ello. Respecto a la muestra caracterizada, los residuos orgánicos equivalieron al 23% del total de la muestra, los potencialmente reciclables al 41% y los restantes, residuos no aprovechables, correspondieron al 36%. De los resultados obtenidos se analizó que existen desechos potencialmente aprovechables

Enabling Process Mining in Aircraft Manufactures: Extracting Event Logs and Discovering Processes from Complex Data

Process mining is employed by organizations to completely understand and improve their processes and to detect possible deviations from expected behavior. Process discovery uses event logs as input data, which describe the times of the actions that occur the traces. Currently, Internet-of-Things environments generate massive distributed and not always structured data, which brings about new complex scenarios since data must first be transformed in order to be handled by process min ing tools. This paper shows the success case of application of a solution that permits the transformation of complex semi-structured data of an assembly-aircraft process in order to create event logs that can be man aged by the process mining paradigm. A Domain-Specific Language and a prototype have been implemented to facilitate the extraction of data into the unified traces of an event log. The implementation performed has been applied within a project in the aeronautic industry, and promis ing results have been obtained of the log extraction for the discovery of processes and the resulting improvement of the assembly-aircraft process.Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología RTI2018-094283-B-C3

Is new olive farming sustainable? A spatial comparison of productive and environmental performances between traditional and new olive orchards with the model OliveCan

Olive (Olea europaea L.) is a widely spread tree species in the Mediterranean. In the last decades, olive farming has known major management changes with high economic and environmental impacts. The fast track expansion of this modern olive farming in these recent years casts doubts on the sustainability of such important tree plantation across the Mediterranean. In this work, we performed a spatial modelling analysis to investigate the implications of climate variability and farming management on the productivity and environmental performances of olive orchards around the Mediterranean. Implementation of this research is based on the use of OliveCan; a process-based model able to illustrate responses of water and carbon balances to weather variables, soil characteristics and management techniques enabling the comprehension of olive orchard dynamics under heterogeneous conditions of climate and agricultural practices. Four main intensification levels were adopted to reflect the main olive grove types from traditional to new intensive plantations: low density LD (100 trees ha−1), medium density MD (200 trees ha−1), high density HD (400 trees ha−1) and super high density SHD (1650 trees ha−1). Managements tested were intensification, water supply (rainfed, deficit and full irrigated) and the fate of pruning residues (exported or left on the soil). Two cases studies in two of the main Mediterranean olive-growing regions with contrasting environmental conditions, Tuscany and Jaen regions, focused on mitigation alternative managements for carbon sequestration. Results showed that olive orchards responses in terms of yield and Net Ecosystem Productivity (NEP) vary along with climatic conditions. Water supply was the main driver with a production function that varies for different atmospheric demands. Application of deficit irrigation proved to boost water use efficiency. Besides, intensification from LD to SHD, presented the greatest improvements, 28–73% for yield and 50–100% for NEP. The C sequestration potential of olive orchards was confirmed. In fact, soil organic carbon (SOC) increased continuously over 400 years of simulation, reaching a state of equilibrium. Moreover, intensification and irrigation improved total carbon sequestration. Management of incorporating pruning residues in the soil increased SOC of 10.5 t C ha−1 for Tuscany and 10.8 t C ha−1 for Jaen. Findings of this research enabled the identification of the main drivers influencing the productive and environmental performance of olive groves in the different Mediterranean sub-climates. Impacts of management innovations on olive farming sustainability were also quantified which may help improve production systems for a more sustainable olive cultivation

Trastornos alimentarios en menores de 5 años y su relación con la funcionalidad familiar: Eating disorders in under 5 years old and their relationship with family functionality

Introduction: Eating disorders under 5 years old may cause development and grow problems. Disorders in family functionality can be associated. Objective: To describe non-organic eating disorders in children under 5 years of age and their association with family functionality in a second-level hospital in Puebla. Methods: It was a descriptive, cross-sectional study. Children under 5 years old with non-organic eating disorders were included. A questionnaire to study eating disorders (IMFED) and other one to describe family functionality (FACES III) were applied to their parents who previously signed informed consent. Descriptive statistics and Spearman test were used. Results: 105 patients were evaluated, 57 men and 48 women, medium age 3.042, minimum 2, maximum 60, ± 16.68 months old. Children 12-23 months old were more frequent. Parents reported chaotic family adaptability in 45.71%, and 39.04% related cohesion. The most frequent eating disorder was sensorial aversions to food. More than 60% had two or more eating disorders. Family adaptability and eating disorders were correlated in 0.248(p=0.011), and family cohesion and eating disorders 0.87 (p=0.38). Conclusion: Most frequent eating disorders were sensorial aversion to food and infant anorexia. They softly correlate with family adaptability. Children under 5 years old with 2 or more eating disorders are more frequent.Introducción: Los trastornos alimentarios en menores de 5 años pueden causar alteraciones en el desarrollo y crecimiento. Pueden asociarse con trastornos de la funcionalidad familiar. Objetivo: Describir los trastornos de alimentación de tipo no orgánico en menores de 5 años y su asociación con la funcionalidad familiar en un hospital de segundo nivel en Puebla. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo y transversal, en el que se incluyeron niños menores de 5 años con trastornos alimentarios no orgánicos. A los padres que previamente firmaron el consentimiento informado se les aplicó la herramienta IMFED para estudio de los trastornos alimenticios, y FACES III para describir la funcionalidad familiar. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva y coeficiente de Spearman. Resultados: Se evaluaron 105 pacientes de los cuales 57 fueron hombres y 48 mujeres. La edad media fue 30,42 mínimo 2, máximo 60, ± 16,68 meses. El grupo etario predominante fue de 12-23 meses. 45,71% de los padres reportaron adaptabilidad familiar caótica y 39,04% cohesión relacionada. El trastorno de alimentación más frecuente fue aversiones sensoriales al alimento. Más del 60% presentaron dos o más trastornos de alimentación. La correlación entre adaptabilidad familiar y trastornos de alimentación fue 0,248 (p=0.011), y entre cohesión familiar y trastornos de alimentación 0,87 (p=0,38). Conclusión: Los trastornos de alimentación más frecuentes fueron aversión sensorial al alimento y anorexia infantil. Se correlacionan levemente con adaptabilidad familiar. Son más frecuentes en familias con adaptabilidad caótica. Los menores de 5 años con dos o más trastornos alimentarios son los más frecuentes

A windows application that supports the teaching of the calculation of fertilizer requirements

En el actual contexto de rápidos e incesantes desarrollos tecnológicos, existe una necesidad creciente de incorporar nuevas herramientas basadas en las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC) en los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje en ingeniería. Este artículo describe las principales características de FertiliCalc, una novedosa aplicación Windows concebida como herramienta de apoyo en la docencia del cálculo de necesidades de nutrientes y fertilizantes de los cultivos. La aplicación permite al usuario determinar las cantidades estacionales requeridas de nitrógeno, potasio y fósforo y la combinación más barata de fertilizantes comerciales para 149 cultivos. Más aún, se han desarrollado versiones de FertiliCalc y videos tutoriales de uso en hasta 25 idiomas, haciendo posible su empleo en diferentes universidades alrededor del mundo y que cualquier estudiante pueda aprender la terminología relacionada en otros idiomas. Las primeras evaluaciones del uso de la aplicación en un curso reducido perteneciente al Grado de Ingeniería Agroalimentaria de la Universidad de Córdoba han revelado mayores tasas de éxito por parte de los estudiantes en el cálculo de las necesidades de fertilizantes en relación a ediciones pasadas del mismo. Se concluye que FertiliCalc representa una prometedora y potente herramienta para la docencia.Under the current context of fast and constant technological developments, there is a major call for the introduction of new tools based on the new available Information and Communication Technologies (TIC) in the processes of teaching-learning in engineering. This article describes the main characteristics of FertiliCalc, a novel Windows application conceived as a support tool for teaching the calculation of nutrient and fertilizer requirements of crops. The application allows the user to calculate the seasonal amounts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous needed and the most cost-effective combination of commercial fertilizers for up to 149 crops. Moreover, versions of FertiliCalc and video tutorials have been developed in up to 25 languages, so that it can be used in different universities across the world and allows students to learn the related terminology in foreign languages. The first assessments of the use of the application in a course belonging to the Degree on Agricultural Engineering of the University of Córdoba revealed a higher success rate among students in the calculation of fertilizer requirements in relation to past editions of that course. It is concluded that FertiliCalc represents a promising and powerful tool for teaching

Use of Sentinel-2 Derived Vegetation Indices for Estimating fPAR in Olive Groves

Olive tree cultivation is currently a dominant agriculture activity in the Mediterranean basin, where the increasing impact of climate change coupled with the inefficient management of olive groves is negatively affecting olive oil production and quality in some marginal areas. In this context, satellite imagery may help to monitor crop growth under different environmental conditions, thus providing useful information for optimizing olive grove management and final production. However, the spatial resolution of freely-available satellite products is not yet adequate to estimate plant biophysical parameters in complex agroecosystems such as olive groves, where both olive trees and grass cover contribute to the vegetation indices (VIs) signal at pixel scale. The aim of this study is therefore to test a disentangling procedure to partition the VIs signal among the different components of the agroecosystem to use this information for the monitoring of olive growth processes during the season. Specifically, five VIs (GEMI, MCARI2, NDVI, OSAVI, MCARI2/OSAVI) as recorded by Sentinel-2 at a spatial resolution of 10 m over five olive groves in the Montalbano area (Tuscany, Central Italy), were tested as a proxy for olive tree intercepted radiation. The olive tree volume per pixel was initially used to linearly rescale the VIs signal into the relevant value for the grass cover and olive trees. The models, describing the relationship between rescaled VIs and observed fraction of Photosynthetically Active Radiation (fPAR), were fitted and then validated against independent datasets. While in the calibration phase, a greater robustness at predicting fPAR was obtained using NDVI (r = 0.96 and RRMSE = 9.86), the validation results demonstrating that GEMI and MCARI2/OSAVI provided the highest performances (GEMI: r = 0.89 and RRMSE = 21.71; MCARI2/OSAVI: r = 0.87 and RRMSE = 25.50), in contrast to MCARI2 that provided the lowest (r = 0.67 and RRMSE = 36.78). These results may be related to the VIs’ intrinsic features (e.g., lower sensitivity to atmosphere and background effects), which make some of these indices, compared to others, less sensitive to saturation effects by improving fPAR estimation (e.g., GEMI vs. NDVI). On this basis, this study evidenced the need to improve the current methodologies to reduce inter-row effects and select appropriate VIs for fPAR estimation, especially in complex agroecosystems where inter-row grass growth may affect remote sensed-derived VIs signal at an inadequate pixel resolution