Efeitos do solo e clima numa vinha de uva de mesa com cultura de cobertura. Gestão da rega utilizando redes de sensores

[ENG] TThe use of mulches in vineyards and orchards is a traditional agricultural practice used with the aim of saving moisture, reducing weed growth and improving organic matter content in the soil. In table grape vineyards trained to overhead system in Puglia region (Southeastern Italy), plastic sheets covering the canopy are often used to either advance ripening or delay harvest. In this environment, the living mulches could contribute to the modification of the microclimate around the canopy below the plastic sheets. This condition has an influence on the climatic demand and on both the vegetative and productive activities, mainly in stages with a high evapotranspiration. However, the presence of living mulches could increase the demand of available water and nutrient resources and this could cause a lower yield. The aim of this study was to acquire a suitable knowledge to manage irrigation and verify the influences of living mulches on the vine by using wireless sensor networks to measure the vapor pressure deficit, soil water potential and content.[POR] A utilização de coberturas do solo em vinhas e pomares é uma prática agrícola tradicional, utilizada com o objetivo de preservar a humidade do solo, reduzir o crescimento de infestantes e melhorar o teor de matéria orgânica no solo. Em vinhas de uva de mesa, conduzidas em sistema de pérgula na região de Puglia (sudeste da Itália), são frequentemente usadas coberturas de plástico para promover o avanço da maturação ou o atraso da colheita. Neste ambiente a utilização de enrelvamentos pode contribuir para a modificação do microclima do copado. Esta condição pode influenciar a demanda atmosférica, bem como a atividade vegetativa e reprodutiva da videira, principalmente em períodos de elevada evapotranspiração. No entanto, a presença do enrelvamento pode originar um aumento da demanda dos recursos disponíveis, nomeadamente água e nutrientes, o que poderá provocar uma quebra de produção. O objetivo deste estudo foi adquirir conhecimento para a gestão da rega e, simultaneamente, verificar a influência dos enrelvamentos na atividade da videira, usando para o efeito redes de sensores “sem fio” para medir o déficit de pressão de vapor, o potencial e o conteúdo de água no solo.The development of this work was supported by: The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the project RIDEFRUT (ref. AGL2013-49047-C2-1-R), the “Fundacion Seneca, Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnologia” of the Region of Murcia under the “Excelence Group Program”, and the Technical University of Cartagena under the PMPDI Program

Development of an autonomous subersible profiler with the ability to stop at specific depths for measurement of marine parameters

Understanding marine pollution problems is a complex topic that has led to a wide range of research over the last decades. In this research, an autonomous submersible profiler with controlled depth detention for the measurement of parameters of interest in shallow marine environments -is presented. The device has been designed to carry on several sensors including dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, electrical conductivity and temperature among others. The profiler includes the performance for sampling, collecting and wireless sending reliable real-time data in marine environments. In addition, its ability to stop at a given depth allows for more accurate and stable measurement of marine parameters at different depth levels. This research describes the design of the profiler as well as the different control assumptions made to achieve zero buoyancy at a given depth. The results show that the submersible profiler is a valuable tool for continuous monitoring of marine parameters relevant to study the causes leading to critical environmental situations.Peer Reviewe

Vegetative and reproductive response of 'Prime Giant' sweet cherry trees to regulated deficit irrigation

The agronomic response of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) 'Prime Giant' to a 4 year-long experiment involving deficit irrigation strategies in a Mediterranean climate was studied in a commercial orchard located in the southeast of Spain (Jumilla, Spain). Four drip irrigation treatments were imposed: (i) control treatment (CTL), irrigated without restrictions at 110% of seasonal crop evapotranspiration (ETc); (ii) sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) treatment irrigated at 85% ETc during pre-harvest and post-harvest periods and at 100% ETc during floral differentiation; (iii) regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) treatment irrigated at 100% ETc during pre-harvest and floral differentiation and at 55% ETc during post-harvest, and (iv) farmer treatment (FRM), irrigated according to the farmer's normal practice. The crop's response to the different irrigation treatments was analyzed in relation to tree water status. Soil water deficit reduced tree midday stem water potential (Psi(stem)), stomatal conductance (gs) and net photosynthesis (Pn). Branch maximum daily shrinkage (MDS) responded rapidly to irrigation changes during pre-harvest and post-harvest. The lowest Psi(stem), values were reached by SDI during pre-harvest and by RDI and FRM during post-harvest. RDI did not lead to Psi(stem),, water potentials falling to below the threshold of -1.6 MPa in any season, although, FRM caused, Psi(stem) to fall below 1.8 MPa in 2017. RDI reduced vegetative growth and did not cause significant lower yields or fruit quality. However, with SDI there was a trend towards smaller fruits and a slightly higher soluble solid content. Post-harvest deficit irrigation increased water productivity without penalizing fruit yield or the quality parameters studied, and allowed water savings of 39% compared to CTL at a time when other fruit tree species require more water. Moreover, RDI and SDI led to significantly less cracking incidence and a lower cracking index, which could extend fruit shelf life.This work was supported by the Spanish Economy and Competitiveness Ministry (MINECO) and the European Agricultural Funds for Rural Development. Reference: AGL2013-49047-C2-1-R, AGL2016-77282-C3-3-R and the "Fundacion Seneca, Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnologia" of the Region of Murcia under the Excelence Group Program 19895/GERM/15. Victor Blanco acknowledges the research initiation grant received from the Technical University of Cartagena (UPCT). The authors are grateful to Pedro and Agustin Carrion-Guardiola, "Finca Toll." farm owners, for letting them use their facilities to carry out the tests

Development of scales to study barriers and needed measures to address gender-based violence in schools

El personal docente cumple un rol clave en la prevención de la violencia de género (VG) en el ámbito educativo. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo validar al contexto local dos escalas para indagar cómo el personal docente y directivo valoran los obstáculos para abordar la VG y conocer su valoración respecto a las medidas propuestas para mejorar la prevención y la forma de abordarla. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal y multicéntrico con personal docente y directivo de escuelas públicas de Córdoba, Argentina. Para ello, se utilizó un cuestionario autoadministrado que incluyó dos escalas, una sobre obstáculos y otra sobre medidas. Se realizó análisis descriptivo, bivariante, factorial exploratorio y alfa de Cronbach y se construyó un modelo de regresión múltiple utilizando cada factor como variable dependiente. La escala validada de obstáculos se compone de diez preguntas y la escala de medidas incluye trece. Los resultados de regresión múltiple indican que los vínculos y prejuicios funcionan como obstáculos importantes para el nivel primario. La importancia otorgada a la ayuda especializada, como medida para prevenir la VG, se asocia a los equipos educativos que han manifestado necesidad de formación en este tema. Quienes han realizado actividades de prevención en las escuelas de nivel primario valoran más la transversalización de la perspectiva de género como medida. Las escuelas con personal en situación de VG consideran la formación en VG como medida de gran relevancia. Las escalas validadas en este estudio son fiables y recogen dimensiones empíricas de las valoraciones sobre obstáculos y medidas en relación con el abordaje de la VG en las escuelas.Teachers play a key role in the prevention of gender violence (GBV) in the educationalfield. However, studies evaluating the opinionsof teaching and management staff regardingthe necessary measures to prevent GBV or theobstacles they must face when addressing thisproblem in the educational field in our contextare incipient. This work aims to validate twoscales to know the opinions and evaluationsof the educational personnel on the obstaclesand the measures they consider necessary to tackle and prevent GBV in schools. A descriptive,cross-sectional and multicenter studywas carried out to an intentional non-probabilitysampling. The study population wasthe directing and teaching staff of schoolsin the Province of Córdoba, Argentina. Thestudy variables were: sex, years of experiencein the position, age, educational level of thecenter (initial / primary / middle / tertiary),area (urban / rural), locality where the faceto-face training was carried out, preventionactivities carried out in the educational centerfocused on: students, families, and the educationalteam; GBV training activities carriedout by the educational team, women and/orfamilies identified in GBV situation, familieswith judicial restraining order, team interventionseducation before GBV of the studentsand/or families, staff of the educational teamthat has lived or is experiencing a situationof GBV, meetings of the educational teamwith local community organizations to articulateactivity to prevent and/or address GBV,need for training on GBV manifested by theteaching team. To measure opinions on theobstacles and measures necessary to addressGBV in schools, we applied a self-administeredquestionnaire with two scales, one onobstacles and the other on measures, based onSpanish scales. A descriptive, bivariate analysisof the relationship of all variables withsex, exploratory factor and Cronbach’s alphawas performed. Finally, a multiple regressionmodel was constructed to test the convergentvalidity using each factor as the dependentvariable. The first scale of ten itemsidentifies a dimension of obstacles relatedto family ties and existing prejudices in theeducational community. The second dimension,values aspects related to the scarcityof resources. For its part, the thirteen itemscale of measurements has three dimensions.The first dimension, groups measures relatedto specialized help to address GBV, such asprevention programs, materials, and coordinationwith external organizations. The secondgroups the measures related to the need to have gender mainstreaming measures in theapproach to GBV at school. The third dimensionreflects the importance of staff trainingon these topics. Bonds and biases function asmajor obstacles for the elementary level. Theimportance given to specialized help, as ameasure to prevent GBV, is mainly associatedwith educational teams that have expressed aneed for training in this area. Those who havecarried out prevention activities and primaryschools, value more the mainstreaming ofthe gender perspective as a measure. Schoolswith staff who have lived or are experiencinga GBV situation consider GBV training as ahighly relevant measure. The scales validatedin this study are reliable and include empiricaldimensions of the assessments of obstaclesand measures in relation to the GBV approachin schools.Fil: Saletti, Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad; ArgentinaFil: Aizenberg, Lila. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Victor Eduardo Roque. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez, Lucía Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad; Argentin

Real-time monitoring system for shelf life estimation of fruit and vegetables

The control of the main environmental factors that influence the quality of perishable products is one of the main challenges of the food industry. Temperature is the main factor affecting quality, but other factors like relative humidity and gas concentrations (mainly C2H4, O2 and CO2) also play an important role in maintaining the postharvest quality of horticultural products. For this reason, monitoring such environmental factors is a key procedure to assure quality throughout shelf life and evaluate losses. Therefore, in order to estimate the quality losses that a perishable product can suffer during storage and transportation, a real-time monitoring system has been developed. This system can be used in all post-harvest steps thanks to its Wi-Fi wireless communication architecture. Several laboratory trials were conducted, using lettuce as a model, to determine quality-rating scales during shelf life under different storage temperature conditions. As a result, a multiple non-linear regression (MNLR) model is proposed relating the temperature and the maximum shelf life. This proposed model would allow to predict the days the commodities will reduce their theoretical shelf-life when an improper temperature during storage or in-transit occurs. The system, developed as a sensor-based tool, has been tested during several land transportation trips around Europe.The authors are grateful to Fruca Marketing S.L. for providing the lettuce used in this research, and to Transportes Directos del Segura SL and Transportes Mesa SL for the logistic support. We also are grateful to Miriam Montoya Gómez for the translation services

Measurement of the broadband complex permittivity of soils in the frequency domain with a low-cost Vector Network Analyzer and an Open-Ended coaxial probe

The performance of a handheld Vector Network Analyzer (VNA), the nanoVNA, a low-cost, open-source instrument, was evaluated. The instrument measures the complex permittivity of dielectric media from 1-port reflection parameters in the 1 – 900 MHz bandwidth. We manufactured an open-ended coaxial probe using a SMA-N coaxial adapter to perform dielectric measurements. The accuracy of the nanoVNA was comparable to that of a commercial VNA between 1 and 500 MHz according to tests in reference organic liquids, while a lack of stability was found beyond 700 MHz. The self-manufactured open-ended coaxial probe was subjected to a Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis and its electromagnetic (EM) field penetration depth was determined to be 1.5 mm at 100 MHz, being reduced to 1.3 at 900 MHz and thus demonstrating a frequency-dependent support volume. The broadband complex permittivity of three mineral soils of varied textures was obtained for a range of bulk densities and water contents from dry to water-saturated conditions. The dielectric response of the soils approximated the well-known Topp et al. (1980) equation at high frequencies. At lower frequency however, higher permittivities were exhibited due to dielectric dispersion, which emphasizes the importance of EM-based soil moisture sensor operating frequency when considering sensor calibration or comparing the response of different sensors.This research was funded by Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), project numbers: AGL2016-77282-C3-3-R and PID2019-106226-C22 AEI/https:///https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033 | Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional, grant numbers: FPU17/05155 and FPU19/00020. Funding for David A. Robinson was provided by a Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) award number NE/R016429/1 as part of the UK–ScaPE Programme Delivering National Capability. We also acknowledge funding from the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, grant number: PPI/APM/2018/1/00048/U/001. The authors wish to thank Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) for the funding provided. The authors also wish to thank Juan Antonio Albaladejo for his help in machining the experimental OE coaxial probe

Intelligent thermal image-based sensor for affordable measurement of crop canopy temperature

Crop canopy temperature measurement is necessary for monitoring water stress indicators such as the Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI). Water stress indicators are very useful for irrigation strategies management in the precision agriculture context. For this purpose, one of the techniques used is thermography, which allows remote temperature measurement. However, the applicability of these techniques depends on being affordable, allowing continuous monitoring over multiple field measurement. In this article, the development of a sensor capable of automatically measuring the crop canopy temperature by means of a low-cost thermal camera and the implementation of artificial intelligence-based image segmentation models is presented. In addition, we provide results on almond trees comparing our system with a commercial thermal camera, in which an R-squared of 0.75 is obtained.This research was funded by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) under project numbers: AGL2016-77282-C3-3-R, and PID2019-106226-C22 AEI/https://doi.org//10.13039/501100011033. FPU17/05155, FPU19/00020 have been granted by Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional. The authors would like to acknowledge the support of Miriam Montoya Gómez in language assistance

Analysis of plant and soil water status indicators and its application to automatic deficit irrigation scheduling of fruit trees

[SPA] En regiones áridas y semiáridas donde el principal factor limitante de la producción es el agua, la utilización de estrategias de riego deficitario unido al uso de las nuevas tecnologías puede contribuir a la mejora de la eficiencia de uso y sostenibilidad de la agricultura de regadío. La presente propuesta de tesis doctoral pretende profundizar en el estudio de los diferentes indicadores del hídricos del suelo y planta a diferentes regímenes hídricos, establecimiento de valores umbrales para la optimización y programación automática y remota del riego en árboles frutales, así como la relación de los indicadores estudiados con la respuesta agronómica del cultivo. [ENG] In arid and semiarid regions where water is the main limiting factor of production, the use of deficit irrigation strategies linked to the use of new technologies can contribute to improving the efficiency and sustainability of irrigated agriculture. The present PhD Thesis’ proposal aims at analysis of the different soil and plant status indicators in different water regimes, establishing threshold values for the optimization and automatic and remote scheduling of irrigation in fruit trees, just as the relationship of indicators studied with the agronomic response of the crop.Este trabajo será financiado por el Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad del Gobierno de España, MINECO (Ref. AGL2016-77282-C3-3-R) y la Fundación Séneca de la Región de Murcia (Grupo de excelencia 2016-2019 Ref. 19895/GERM/15)

Changes in the photosynthetic capacity of cherry trees during drought-recovery cycles

[SPA] La fotosíntesis neta (An) de los cultivos está supeditada a las variables climáticas y disponibilidad hídrica. Con el objetivo de evaluar la capacidad fotosintética de cerezos ‘Lapins’ sometidos a distintos niveles de estrés hídrico se llevó a cabo un ensayo de supresión-reanudación del riego en 2019 que constó de dos tratamientos: i) un control, CTL, regado para satisfacer las necesidades hídricas y ii) otro de déficit hídrico severo, SS, regado como CTL hasta finales de junio, momento a partir del cual se alternaron 2 ciclos consecutivos de supresión-reanudación del riego. El potencial hídrico de tallo (stem) y An se vieron afectados por la intensidad y duración de los periodos de supresión - recuperación. Durante el estudio, no se observó fotoinhibición; sin embargo, An requirió menor radiación para saturar los cloroplastos que los árboles CTL. Los árboles de SS precisaron de un periodo de recuperación de 7-10 d después de cada ciclo de supresión para alcanzar valores de stem similares a árboles CTL. [ENG] Net photosynthesis (An) in plants is conditioned by meteorological variables and soil water availability. With the aim of assessing the photosynthetic capacity of 'Lapins' sweet cherry trees exposed to cycles of drought - recovery, an irrigation study was carried out in 2019. The study involved two irrigation treatments: i) control, CTL, irrigated to ensure non-limiting soil water conditions, and ii) severe water deficit, SS, irrigated as CTL until the end of June, and from that moment on, two consecutive drought - recovery cycles were applied. Stem water potential (stem) and An were affected by both intensity and duration of the two drought - recovery cycles. Although during the study photoinhibition was not observed in SS trees, their chloroplasts resulted light-saturated at lower An values than those of CTL trees. Regarding stem, SS trees required a recovery time of 7-10 days after each drought event to reach similar stem values to those measured in CTL trees.Este trabajo fue financiado por el Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad del Gobierno de España, MINECO (Ref. AGL2016-77282-C3-3-R) y la Fundación Séneca de la Región de Murcia (Grupo de excelencia 2016-2019, Ref. 19895/GERM/15)

Estimating stomatal conductance in sweet cherry trees using thermal imaging

[SPA] Durante el verano de 2019 se realizó un ensayo de supresión-reanudación del riego en cerezos jóvenes (Prunus avium L.), con el objetivo de evaluar el uso de la termografía infrarroja para detectar estrés hídrico y estimar el nivel de conductancia estomática a partir de medidas de temperatura de copa. Para ello, se ensayaron tres tratamientos de riego: un control, regado para asegurar condiciones no limitantes de agua en el suelo, y dos tratamientos de riego deficitario. Ambos tratamientos deficitarios se sometieron a dos ciclos de supresión-reanudación del riego con diferente duración e intensidad de modo que uno alcanzase un nivel de estrés moderado (MS) y otro de estrés severo (SS). Los árboles sometidos a MS y a SS respondieron diferente, aunque en ambos casos disminuyeron la conductancia estomática (gs), y aumentaron la temperatura de copa (Tc), la diferencia de temperaturas copa-aire (ΔT) y el índice de estrés hídrico del cultivo (CWSI). La estimación de gs fue más precisa al realizarla a partir de los índices ΔT y CWSI que de la variable Tc. [ENG] An experiment of withholding and resuming irrigation was carried out in young cherry trees (Prunus avium L.) during the summer of 2019. The aim of this experiment was to assess the use of infrared thermography to detect water stress and estimate stomatal conductance based on canopy temperature. Three irrigation treatments were evaluated: a control treatment, irrigated to ensure non-limiting soil water conditions, and two deficit irrigation treatments. Both deficit treatments were subjected to two withholding and resuming irrigation cycles of different duration and intensity, up to reach moderate water stress (MS) and severe water stress (SS). The trees submitted to MS and SS resulted in different response, however, both deficit treatments decreased stomatal conductance (gs), and increased canopy temperature (Tc), canopy-air temperature difference (ΔT) and crop water stress index (CWSI). gs estimation based on ΔT and CWSI indices was more accurate than the one based on Tc.Este trabajo fue financiado por el Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad del Gobierno de España, MICIIN (Ref. AGL2016-77282-C3-3-R) y la Fundación Séneca de la Región de Murcia (Grupo de excelencia 2016-2019, Ref. 19895/GERM/15)