Soil management practices: chemical and spectroscopic characterization

The aim of this study was to evaluated the facility to apply spectroscopic analysis coupled with chemometrics analysis as a rapid method for soil analysis. Soil samples from different depths (0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm) and treatment sites (area of fallow land for 5 years, area of no-tillage for 10 years and native forest) were applied in this study. Soil chemical characterization based on the concentration of macro-, micronutrients and the level of the toxic element showed significant different among to the samples under differences management systems. PCA and HCA analysis evaluated with soil chemical characterization showed that the samples were grouped according to the management systems. Similar results were obtained in the PCA and HCA analysis developed with FTIR spectra. The results support the application of FTIR to evaluate the quality of soil providing a simple, rapid, and nondestructive method for the soil science.The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility to apply chemical and spectroscopic analysis, coupled with chemometric tools, as a rapid method for soil characterization. Soil samples from different depths (0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm) and sites (fallow area for 5 years, area of no-tillage for 10 years and native forest) were applied in this study. Soil chemical characterization based on the concentration of macronutrients (P, K Ca, and Mg), micronutrients (Mn, Fe, Zn, and Cu), the level of aluminum, pH, organic matter (OM) and humification degree. For spectroscopic characterization, only the humic acid (HA) fraction was analyzed in the mid infrared spectrometer. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Clustering Analysis (HCA) showed clusters based on the management systems. These results support the application of chemometric toolls to evaluate the quality of soil providing a simple and rapid method for the soil science

Low-cost GNSS technology for monitoring grazing sheep

Extensive livestock production is supported by natural and biodiverse pastures, characterized by marked seasonal variation of biomass, plant species and growth stage. The use of the food resources and the occupation of grazing space can be very heterogeneous in such conditions due to ruminants grazing behaviour. Successful grazing and pasture management requires an understanding of the adjustment mechanisms behind the grazing behaviour that enables adaptation to grazing conditions. Use of GNSS technology allows a quick and effective grazing data collection which is, however expensive, limiting its application to research purposes. This paper reviews the principles for the application of GNSS technology and evaluates the use of inexpensive commercial GNSS receivers (commercial of the shelf - COTS: CatTrackTM”). Six receivers were used for six data collection period over two months of continuous grazing on a natural pasture. The measured static and dynamic accuracy of the receivers is 14m and 40m, respectively. The precision was 3m and the reliability 80%. The tested equipment allows the differentiation between animal activities (grazing, resting and transit). It also determines sheep locations, allowing the characterization of patterns, pathways and preferred areas. It is concluded that the COTS equipment has a high quality / price ratio, so it can become an important support decision tool essential to a more precise pasture management

Precision grazing: spotting animal locations should enhance pasture management

Successful grazing and pasture management requires an understanding of the adjustment mechanisms behind the grazing behaviour that enable adaptation to grazing conditions. Use of GNSS technology allows the characterization of grazing behaviour, including grazing patterns, paths and favoured areas. Grazing activities can also be differentiated based on speed of movements. The main objective of the study is to understand how grazing behaviour is affected by biomass availability and nutritive value of pasture across the sward growing season. Commercial GNSS receptors (commercial of the shelf - COTS: CatTrackTM") were carried six ewes and used during 6 periods collection data over two months of continuous grazing on a natural pasture. Pasture samples were collected in spots defined by a regular grid covering the total paddock area (7ha). Biomass availability, crude protein content and neutral detergent fibre were determined in all pasture samples. Relations were established between the pasture attributes and the tracks and locations used by the animals. Irrespective of the collection period, animals graze for about 12 h per day. However, when the nutritive value of pasture decays, towards the end of the growing season, animals increase the transit time at expense of the resting time. This increased transit, results in a shift of the feeding areas to patches not previously grazed and with a higher pasture crude protein content. The increased knowledge conveyed by the use of GNSS receptors in grazing sheep can become an important tool to support the decisions that are essential to a more precise pasture management

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P < 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)