Glyphosate-induced impairment of plant growth and micronutrient status in glyphosate-resistant soybean (Glycine max L.)

This investigation demonstrated potential detrimental side effects of glyphosate on plant growth and micronutrient (Mn, Zn) status of a glyphosate-resistant (GR) soybean variety (Glycine max cv. Valiosa), which were found to be highly dependent on the selected growth conditions. In hydroponic experiments with sufficient Mn supply [0.5 μM], the GR cv. Valiosa produced similar plant biomass, root length and number of lateral roots in the control treatment without glyphosate as compared to its non-GR parental line cv. Conquista. However, this was associated with 50% lower Mn shoot concentrations in cv. Conquista, suggesting a higher Mn demand of the transgenic cv. Valiosa under the selected growth conditions. Glyphosate application significantly inhibited root biomass production, root elongation, and lateral root formation of the GR line, associated with a 50% reduction of Mn shoot concentrations. Interestingly, no comparable effects were detectable at low Mn supply [0.1 μM]. This may indicate Mn-dependent differences in the intracellular transformation of glyphosate to the toxic metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) in the two isolines. In soil culture experiments conducted on a calcareous loess sub-soil of a Luvisol (pH 7.6) and a highly weathered Arenosol (pH 4.5), shoot biomass production and Zn leaf concentrations of the GR-variety were affected by glyphosate applications on the Arenosol but not on the calcareous Loess sub-soil. Analysis of micronutrient levels in high and low molecular weight (LMW) fractions (80% ethanol extracts) of young leaves revealed no indications for internal immobilization of micronutrients (Mn, Zn, Fe) by excessive complexation with glyphosate in the LMW phase

Seismic performance evaluation framework considering maximum and residual inter-story drift ratios:application to non-code conforming reinforced concrete buildings in Victoria, BC, Canada

This paper presents a seismic performance evaluation framework using two engineering demand parameters, i.e. maximum and residual inter-story drift ratios, and with consideration of mainshock-aftershock (MSAS) earthquake sequences. The evaluation is undertaken within a performance-based earthquake engineering framework in which seismic demand limits are defined with respect to the earthquake return period. A set of 2-, 4-, 8-, and 12-story non-ductile reinforced concrete buildings, located in Victoria, British Colombia, Canada, is considered as a case study. Using 50 mainshock and MSAS earthquake records (two horizontal components per record), incremental dynamic analysis is performed, and the joint probability distribution of maximum and residual inter-story drift ratios is modeled using a novel copula technique. The results are assessed both for collapse and non-collapse limit states. From the results, it can be shown that the collapse assessment of 4- to 12-story buildings is not sensitive to the consideration of MSAS seismic input, whereas for the 2-story building, a 13% difference in the median collapse capacity is caused by the MSAS. For unconditional probability of unsatisfactory seismic performance, which accounts for both collapse and non-collapse limit states, the life safety performance objective is achieved, but it fails to satisfy the collapse prevention performance objective. The results highlight the need for the consideration of seismic retrofitting for the non-ductile reinforced concrete structures

Climate Services for Resilient Development (CSRD) Technical Exchange in Eastern Africa Workshop Report

In 2005, the International Research Institute for Climate and Society published its assessment of key gaps in the use of climate information for health, agriculture, water and other sectors in countries across Africa. The results from the report were less than stellar. After an extensive review of use of climate information in the development sectors of Africa, the authors concluded that the continent suffered from “market atrophy” – the reinforcing effect of zero effective supply of climate information and zero effective demand. Twelve years later, organizations such as the IRI, CSRD, CCAFS, ICPAC, and UKMO have made enormous strides at increasing both climate information supply and demand through the implementation of climate data platforms and the organizing of capacity-building seminars. In order to capitalize on the presence of the many climate and sector experts from across the IGAD region, the organizations above held a joint event, the Climate Services for Resilient Development (CSRD) Technical Exchange workshop, in Zanzibar on August 23-25, 2017, immediately after the 47th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF47). The workshop was designed to offer potential and existing users a platform to voice their needs for the development and better use of historical, monitored and forecast information for the management of drought across climate-sensitive sectors

Savings and Credit Cooperatives in Ethiopia: Development and Challenges

Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs) in Ethiopia are playing an active role both in rural and urban areas. Their number has increased from 5,437 in 2006 to 14,453 in May 2014 showing a compound growth rate of 28% per year. The aggregate number of membership during the same period increased from 0.38 million to 1.7million and their capital increased from one billion birr to 5.2 billion birr. These figures indicate that financial cooperatives have had the support of the people in undertaking activities contributing to their economic development. SACCOs are considered to have immense potential in financing short term loans for agricultural production technologies and undertake off-farm income generating activities in areas where both the state and the private sector have failed. Serious efforts are being made to strengthen capital resource of SACCO’s base through increasing members’ subscription and mobilization of savings in rural and urban areas. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to examine the current status and challenges of SACCOs in Ethiopia. The study is based on review of pertinent literature on SACCO operations, policy and regulatory framework documents as well as secondary data obtained from various sources. The paper identifies challenges such as, absence of financial cooperatives policy and regulatory environment, weak institutional capacity, narrow product range and inappropriate loan security requirements. Finally, it suggests that the establishment of cooperative bank is required to combat the problems. Keywords: Financial cooperative, savings, regulatory environment, cooperative ban