Ökologische Sanitärlösungen in Afrika: Beitrag zu nachhaltiger Abfallentsor-gung und erhöhter Bodenfruchtbarkeit

While plant nutrient deficiencies are a major constraint to increasing crop yields in many rural parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, excess nutrients in organic wastes and wastewater cause environmental and hygienic problems in urban areas. We report on an ongoing research aimed at implementing principles of ecological sanitation on a university campus near Accra, Ghana. Alternative sanitation including dry urinals and separating toilets was installed in buildings. Pure urine, urine-water mix, greywater from baths and kitchens and faeces are treated and stored separately. Except for faeces, all materials are used to fertilise annual (urine) and perennial (urine-water, greywater) crops. Urine application significantly boosted maize and sorghum growth. Pathogens present in all fresh sanitary products, e.g. Escherichia coli, could be largely deactivated by six weeks of storage. A survey revealed no fundamental objections of farmers against the use of sanitary products. Scenario calculations suggest that recycling organic wastes and urine may contribute to alleviating nutrient deficiencies, particularly with regard to P and in densely settled areas. Future research should aim at developing hygienically safe, resource-efficient ways of urine application

How Do “Renewable Products” Impact Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services – The Example of Natural Rubber in China

This paper aims to present the implications brought by the expansion of “renewable products” plantation systems in the tropics with cultivation of rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) as a main focus. Throughout South East Asia, natural forest is being replaced by rubber or oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations, with severe consequences for the local flora and fauna. Main aspects of this review are: i) The provision of an overview over renewable resources in general and rubber in particular, with eco-physiological and agronomical information concerning rubber cultivation. ii) The effect of rubber plantations on biodiversity and species composition under different rubber farming approaches. In addition we debate the possible influences of such large scale land cover transformations on ecosystem services. iii) The conversion of natural forests into rubber plantations releases considerable amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. We estimated these values for different land cover types in southern China and assessed the carbon sequestration potential of local rubber plantations

Effects of some cereal root exudates on germination of broomrapes (Orobanche spp. and Phelipanche spp.)

Species of broomrape (Orobanche spp. and Phelipanche spp.) are among the most damaging parasitic weed species worldwide. These species reproduce through abundant seed production. Their seeds are protected by complex dormancy mechanisms, in particular a need for host-specific chemical germination cues. Broomrape seeds have been shown to remain viable in the soil for many years. While the depletion of the soil seed bank, e.g. using trap crops that induce suicide germination of broomrape seeds, could potentially be a way to control these weeds, the practical uptake of this approach has remained very limited. To explore the potential of an array of cereal species to serve as trap crop, laboratory experiments were conducted to qualitatively check for the existence of cereal-broomrape interactions and to quantify possible effects on Orobanche/Phelipanche seed banks. For this purpose, seeds of the following cereals were used: wheat, rye, barley, oats, maize, rice, sorghum and pearl millet. Several accessions of O. crenata, O. cumana and P. ramosa were used as parasite species. As host species, pea, sunflower and tomato were grown. Cereal and parasite species were crosswise-combined to assess interactions. Maize was found to be most effective in stimulating the germination of the broomrapes. Among the parasite species, P. ramosa proved most ready to germinate in the presence of cereal root exudates. The interaction was observed in various combinations of maize cultivars and P. ramosa accessions. As a result, strong evidence of germination induction in P. ramosa seeds by maize was collected.Canavar otu türleri (Orobanche spp. and Phelipanche spp.) tüm dünyada en zararlı parazit yabancı ot türleri içerisinde yer almaktadır. Bu türler çok sayıda tohum oluşturarak çoğalırlar. Tohumları, çimlenmenin gerçekleşebilmesi için konukçuya özgü kimyasal bir maddeye ihtiyaç duyan karmaşık bir dormansi mekanizmasıyla korunmaktadır. Canavar otu tohumlarının toprakta uzun yıllar canlı kalabildiği görülmektedir. Tuzak bitki kullanımı ile canavar otu tohumlarının çimlenmesi teşvik edilerek topraktaki tohum bankasının azaltılması bu tür yabancı otların mücadelesinde potansiyel bir yöntem olmakla birlikte, bu yaklaşımın pratikte kullanımı oldukça sınırlı kalmıştır. Bazı tahıl türlerinin tuzak bitki olarak potansiyelini araştırmak amacıyla bir seri laboratuar denemeleri kurulmuş ve tahıl-canavar otu arasındaki etkileşim ile birlikte, Orobanche/Phelipanche tohum bankasına muhtemel etkisi test edilmiştir. Bu amaçla tahıllardan; buğday, çavdar, arpa, yulaf, mısır, çeltik, darı ve hint darısı, parazit türlerden ise O. crenata, O. cumana ve P. ramosa ‘ya ait çeşitli populasyonlar kullanılmıştır. Bezelye, ayçiçeği ve domates konukçu bitki türü olarak yetiştirilmiştir. Aradaki etkileşimin belirlenebilmesi için tahıllar ve parazit türler çaprazlama olarak eşleştirilmiştir. Canavar otlarının çimlenmesini en fazla mısır bitkisinin teşvik ettiği bulunmuştur. Parazit türler içerisinde ise tahıl kök salgılarının çimlenmeyi en fazla teşvik ettiği tür P. ramosa olarak belirlenmiştir. Mısır çeşitleri ve P. ramosa populasyonları arasındaki interaksiyonlar gözlemlenmiştir. Sonuç olarak, mısır bitkisinin P. ramosa tohumlarının çimlenmesini teşvik ettiğine dair kuvvetli kanıtlar elde edilmiştir

Understanding the present distribution of the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica and predicting its potential future geographic distribution in the light of climate change

Parasitic weeds of the genus Striga (Orobanchaceae) are a major constraint to agricultural production in the semi-arid regions in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, Striga hermonthica’s current and future distribution needs to be estimated urgently in order to better and more efficiently target available Striga management strategies. Using innovative GIS-based modeling complemented by greenhouse and field studies, our research aims to better understand the present geographic distribution of Striga species and to predict potential future expansion areas of these dangerous weeds. Parameters determining the presence or absence of Striga were analyzed and available data complemented by new studies on Striga ecology and seed bank dynamics gained at the University of Hohenheim and ICRISAT, Mali.In order to provide managers and decision maker with a useful tool to take precautionary and palliative actions against the menace of infestation by invasive or parasitic species, it is important to assess the possible future distribution of such species, especially in vulnerable areas where the parasite has not yet appeared. Based on the present geographic distribution and the factors affecting it, different climate projections have been applied to indicate areas that will become susceptible to Striga invasion in the future. Datasets on the impact of climate change from IPCC workgroups have been used as basis for this assessment, combined with information gained from field trips, herbaria assessments and literature. The results of this study show trends in the potential future distribution of Striga hermonthica, but also indicate areas where the methodology can be improved and refined to allow more precise and reliable predictions. Keywords: Climate change, parasitic weed, potential distribution, Striga hermonthicaDie Verbreitung des parasitären Unkrauts Striga hermonthica und Voraussagen zur potentiellen zukünftigen geographischen Verbreitung unter Berücksichtigung des KlimawandelsMit dem Ziel der besseren und effizienteren Umsetzung von Unkrautbekämpfungsstrategien wurde die potenzielle zukünftige Verbreitung von Striga hermonthica analysiert. Parasitische Unkräuter aus der Gattung Striga (Orobanchaceae) stellen eine der wichtigsten biologischen Schadfaktoren in den Sahel und Sudan Regionen Afrikas dar, deren zukünftiges Verbreitungsspektrum und Reaktion auf einen möglichen Klimawandel dafür untersucht werden müssen. Um dies darstellen zu können, wurden für diese Arbeit GIS-basierte Modellierungskonzepte mit Daten aus Feld- und Gewächshausstudien hinsichtlich der ökologischen Rahmenbedingungen und Samenbank-Dynamiken kombiniert.Besonders in Regionen, in denen diese parasitäre Pflanze noch nicht aufgetreten ist, ist es wichtig, Werkzeuge für die Entscheidungsträger zu entwickeln, die in der Lage sind, besonders anfällige Gegenden zu erkennen um dort frühzeitig Quarantäne- und Bekämpfungsmaßnahmen umzusetzen. Ausgehend von der momentanen geographischen Verbreitung und den zugrunde liegenden Klimafaktoren haben wir verschiedene Klimaprojektionen benutzt, um solche Gegenden zu identifizieren. IPCC-Datensätze zu möglichen Klimawandelszenarien wurden in die Modellierung integriert und mit Datensätzen von Felderhebungen, Herbarien und Literaturrecherchen kombiniert. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie zeigen mögliche zukünftige Verbreitungsgebiete von Striga hermonthica und erlauben uns, die zugrunde liegende Methodik weiter auszuweiten und zu verfeinern, um genauere und verlässlichere Vorhersagen treffen zu können. Stichwörter: Klimawandel, parasitäres Unkraut, potentielle Verbreitung, Striga hermonthic

Health Economics of Dengue: A Systematic Literature Review and Expert Panel's Assessment

Dengue vaccines are currently in development and policymakers need appropriate economic studies to determine their potential financial and public health impact. We searched five databases (PubMed, EMBASE, LILAC, EconLit, and WHOLIS) to identify health economics studies of dengue. Forty-three manuscripts were identified that provided primary data: 32 report economic burden of dengue and nine are comparative economic analyses assessing various interventions. The remaining two were a willingness-to-pay study and a policymaker survey. An expert panel reviewed the existing dengue economic literature and recommended future research to fill information gaps. Although dengue is an important vector-borne disease, the economic literature is relatively sparse and results have often been conflicting because of use of inconsistent assumptions. Health economic research specific to dengue is urgently needed to ensure informed decision making on the various options for controlling and preventing this disease

Agroecology

X, 330 p. 201 illus.online resource

A comparison of the wild food plant use knowledge of ethnic minorities in Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve, Yunnan, SW China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Wild food plants (WFPs) contribute to the nutrition, economy and even cultural identity of people in many parts of the world. Different factors determine the preference and use of WFPs such as abundance, availability, cultural preference, economic conditions, shortage periods or unsecure food production systems. Understanding these factors and knowing the patterns of selection, use and cultural significance and value of wild food plants for local communities is helpful in setting priorities for conservation and/or domestication of these plants. Thus in this study knowledge of wild food plant use among four groups namely Dai, Lahu, Hani and Mountain Han in Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve ((NRWNNR), Xishuangbanna were documented and analyzed to find the similarity and difference among their plant use.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data on wild food plant use was collected through freelisting and semi-structured interviews and participatory field collection and direct observation. Botanical plant sample specimens were collected, prepared, dried and identified.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 173 species and subspecies from 64 families and one species of lichen (<it>Ramalina</it> sp.) are used as WFP. There were differences on the saliency of wild food plant species among four ethnic groups. Consensus analysis revealed that knowledge of wild food plant use for each ethnic group differs from others with some variation in each group. Among informant attributes only age was related with the knowledge of wild food plant use, whereas no significant relationship was found between gender and age*gender and informants knowledge of wild food plant use.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Wild food plants are still used extensively by local people in the NRWNNR, some of them on a daily base. This diversity of wild food plants provide important source of nutrients for the local communities which much of their caloric intake comes from one or few crops. The results also show the role of ethnicity on the preference and use of wild food plants. There is a big potential for harvesting, participatory domestication and marketing of WFPs especially in the tourism sector in the area.</p

Algen für die Abwasserbehandlung und ihre Verwendung in der Düngemittelproduktion

Abwässer aus Kläranlagen und (Lebensmittel-) Industrie enthalten unterschiedliche Konzentrationen von Mineralie, bspw. Stickstoff und Phosphat, die für das Pflanzenwachstum esentiel sind. Wenn diese Abwässer in die Umwelt gelangen, können sie Grund- und Oberflächengewässer verunreinigen. Algen sind effizient bei der Entfernung von Nährstoffen aus dem Wasser. Im Rahmen des Projektes "AlgaeSolarBoxes" konstruieren wir (IBG-2 und SIJ) ein mobiles System mit (i) einem Photobioreaktor zur Reinigung der Abwässer durch Algen, (ii) einem Spiegelsystem zur Versorgung des Photobioreaktors mit sichtbarem Sonnen- und LED-Licht und (iii) einem Infrarot-Photovoltaik Modul zur Erzeugung von Strom aus dem nicht für die Photosynthese verwertbaren Infrarotanteil des Sonnenlichts. Das System wird zur Wasseraufbereitung an Kläranlagen und (Lebensmittel-) Industrie verwendet werden können. Das mobile System wird sich vor allem für saisonal anfallende Abwässer mit geringen Verunreinigungen (bspw. Lebensmittelindustrie) eignen können

UMBUZEIRO (SPONDIAS TUBEROSA): A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Spondias tuberosa Arruda, a fructiferous endemic tree of semiarid Northeast of Brazil, provides several services to its ecosystem as well as to humans. It provides feed for wild animals and domestic ruminants in addition to providing fruits that are rich in vitamins for the human diet. It is an important source of additional income for family farmers and a source for traditional therapeutic medicine. Despite the importance of this tree in northeastern Brazil, limited scientific effort have been accomplished so far towards a better understanding of the tree’s physiology and interaction within the ecosystem. Earlier studies about S. tuberosa focused on phenology, physiology, population genetics, management practices, and socioeconomic aspects. Due to the lack of breeding and cloning programs, physiological studies and management trials were based on heterogenic plant material, which led to ambiguous results. In order to move forward with S. tuberosa research, especially for its genetic conservations and agro-industrial exploitation, basic breeding and intensified genetic research are urgently required. Despite the few publications on S. tuberosa, the tree can be considered scientifically neglected, particularly if compared with other members of the Anacardiaceae family