Water Communities in the Republic of Macedonia: an empirical analysis of membership satisfaction and payment behaviour

The performance of Water Communities (WCs), a form of self-managing organisation for irrigation, in the Bregalnica region of the Republic of Macedonia is investigated. Analysis, drawing on primary survey data, focuses on the decision of farmers to join a WC (Heckman selection probit model), determinants of farmers’ satisfaction with their membership of WCs (ordered probit model) and factors associated with changes in farmers’ water payment behaviour (non-parametric CLAD model). Key determinants identified include transparency and trust with respect to the structure and operation of the WC, cost recovery rates, farm size and irrigation costs. Membership satisfaction is an important determinant of payment behaviour. Lessons for sustainable self-management are drawn.Irrigation, Self-management, Water User Associations, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

WATER COMMUNITIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA: AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF MEMBERSHIP SATISFACTION AND PAYMENT BEHAVIOUR

The performance of Water Communities (WCs), a form of self-managing organisation for irrigation, in the Bregalnica region of the Republic of Macedonia is investigated. Analysis, drawing on primary survey data, focuses on the decision of farmers to join a WC (Heckman selection probit model), determinants of farmers’ satisfaction with their membership of WCs (ordered probit model) and factors associated with changes in farmers’ water payment behaviour (non-parametric CLAD model). Key determinants identified include transparency and trust with respect to the structure and operation of the WC, cost recovery rates, farm size and irrigation costs. Membership satisfaction is an important determinant of payment behaviour. Lessons for sustainable self-management are drawn.Irrigation, Self-management, Water User Associations, Eastern Europe, Macedonia,

MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF GENES FOR QUALITY TRAITS IN MACEDONIAN WHEAT GENOTYPES (Triticum aestivum L.)

The main goal of this study was to characterize glutenin subunits with high molecular weight (HMW-GS) in Macedonian wheat genotypes by using DNA markers and to analyse the polymorphism of the Glu-A1 and Glu-D1 loci, influencing wheat bread-making quality. Polymorphysm and allelic variations in the Glu-A1 loci were determined through characterization of Ax-null, Ax1 and Ax2* alleles, and in Glu-D1 loci through characterization of Dx2+Dy12 and Dx5+Dy10 alleles. Ax null, that has a negative influence on bread-making quality, was detected in 77.66% of the genotypes. The allelic pair Dx5+Dy10 was present in 68.09% of the genotypes. Only 8.51% of the analysed genotypes had the allele Ax1. According to the identified alleles in the Glu A1 and Glu D1 loci, the genotypes were grouped in two main clusters, 64 in the first and 30 genotypes in the second cluster. Both clusters consisted of three subclusters, comprising different number of genotypes. The most of the genotypes belonged to the subgroups 1a (presence of Dx5+Dy10) and 2a (presence of Dx2+Dy12). Genotypes in the 2a subgroup had Ах-null in Glu-A1 locus and Dx2+Dy12 in Glu-D1 locus, negatively influencing the wheat bread-making quality. These genotypes are not recommended to be used in a breeding program for improving wheat bread-making quality. Genotypes from the subgroups 1b and 1c possessed the alleles Аx2* and Ax1 in Glu-A1 locus and Dx5+Dy10 in Glu-D1 locus, indicating good bread-making quality. The superior breeding lines with improved quality, good agronomic characteristics and high yield have to be evaluated for their adaptability and stability. The lines with a complex of positive characteristics may be submitted for registration of new varieties. Further investigations of the material are needed for the other loci influencing the wheat bread-making quality

Multivariate analysis of quantitative traits can effectively classify rapeseed germplasm

In this study, the use of different multivariate approaches to classify rapeseed genotypes based on quantitative traits has been presented. Tree regression analysis, PCA analysis and two-way cluster analysis were applied in order todescribe and understand the extent of genetic variability in spring rapeseed genotype by trait data. The traits which highly influenced seed and oil yield in rapeseed were successfully identified by the tree regression analysis. Principal predictor for both response variables was number of pods per plant (NP). NP and 1000 seed weight could help in the selection of high yielding genotypes. High values for both traits and oil content could lead to high oil yielding genotypes. These traits may serve as indirect selection criteria and can lead to improvement of seed and oil yield in rapeseed. Quantitative traits that explained most of the variability in the studied germplasm were classified using principal component analysis. In this data set, five PCs were identified, out of which the first three PCs explained 63% of the total variance. It helped in facilitating the choice of variables based on which the genotypes' clustering could be performed. The two-way cluster analysissimultaneously clustered genotypes and quantitative traits. The final number of clusters was determined using bootstrapping technique. This approach provided clear overview on the variability of the analyzed genotypes. The genotypes that have similar performance regarding the traits included in this study can be easily detected on the heatmap. Genotypes grouped in the clusters 1 and 8 had high values for seed and oil yield, and relatively short vegetative growth duration period and those in cluster 9, combined moderate to low values for vegetative growth duration and moderate to high seed and oil yield. These genotypes should be further exploited and implemented in the rapeseed breeding program. The combined application of these multivariate methods can assist in deciding how, and based on which traits to select the genotypes, especially in early generations, at the beginning of a breeding program

Conserving maize in gene banks: Changes in genetic diversity revealed by morphological and SSR markers

In the second half of 20th century the awareness of importance of landraces for the future, led to organized collecting missions for numerous plant species. A total of 2217 maize (Zea mays L.) landraces, collected in the former Yugoslavia, are stored at Maize Research Institute (MRIZP) gene bank. During 2014, new collecting missions were organized in the eastern and western parts of Macedonia. According to collecting site and kernel type, 14 samples from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food, R. Macedonia were chosen for the comparison and identification of possible duplicates, through coupling with the 16 MRIZP gene bank accessions from the same area and kernel characteristics. Phenotypic characterization was done for 21 traits according to International Board for Plant Genetic Resources descriptors for maize. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identifies five PCs with Eigenvalue > 1, explaining 80% of the total phenotypic variation. The most discriminative traits with the strongest positive associations were tasseling and silking dates, plant height, leaf length and ear length. Compared to the ex-situ populations, the number of alleles and the number of specific alleles, showed a significant decrease in the in situ populations. Twelve unique alleles were detected in samples from MRIZP gene bank, and only four were found in new Macedonian samples. Cluster analysis of morphological and molecular markers distinguished groups of maize accessions with distinctive morphological traits and genetic profiles that will be useful for conservation, and management of gene bank collection, as well as for possible utilization in breeding

Drought as a Factor for Cob Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.)

In this investigation the yield of dry maize cobs, cultivated underdrought conditions has been analysed. Depending on climate conditions asduring the year, as well depending on genetic characteristics of the maizehybrids, the cob yield is variable.In drought conditions, the lowest cob yield for three years ofexperiment was gained from Stira (960kg/ha), while the highest from ZP360(1460kg/ha). In irrigated conditions, the lowest yield was found in Colombahybrid (1570kg/hec), and the highest in Constanza (2650kg/ha)

The relation Seed - Cob at the Maize Hybrids (Zea mays L.) Cultivated Under Drought Conditions

In this investigations have been measured relation between the seedyield and cob yield, at the maize hybrids cultivated under drought conditions.From the results, we can note a different relation rates between percentage ofthe seed and cob each year, mostly depending on climate conditions during theyear, as well depending on genetic characteristics of the maize hybrids

Dependence of the Content of Proteins on the Seedling Dues and Sort of the Soybean Grain

The optimal due for seedling soybeans was found considering comparableresearches about growing soybeans during four different seedling dues atintervals of 10 days (21 March – 21 April ), with two different sorts and twodifferent productive lines of soybeans, the optimal due for seedling soybeanswas found by the aspect to get higher percent of proteins in the grain. Thecontent of the proteins in the grain was analysed according to Kjeldahl,considering the average exemples of grains. The average content of proteins inthe grain during a period of three-year researches (1998 - 2000 ), was 36,72 %,with the biggest percent in the grains from the fourth (37,13), and the smallestfrom the first seedling due 36,50. The biggest percent of proteins contain thegrains from the earliest sort (,,015"). In the year (1999), wich had the mostsprinkles in the vegetation period of the soybean, the percent of the proteins wasthe biggest, in the dryest (2000) it was the smallest

The Yield of the Grain in Dependence on the Seedling Dues and the Sorts of the Soybean Grown in Ovce Pole

The experiments were set up according to the block system by accidentmethod in three different repetitions on parcels of 12,5 m2 during a period ofthree years (1998, 1999 and 2000). The field was owned by the Department forExperiments, the Institute of Agriculture – Skopje in Ovce Pole.The averagebean yield of each parcel during this three- year period in all the seedling dues is2790 kg\ha and it is the highest in the second seedling period (31st March), 32 %more than the first one (21st March) and 7 % more than the fourth seedling due(11th April ). Larger quantity of the soybeans sorts and productive lines can beproduced even in the later seedling dues when the seedling is thick in theunavailable (dry) years (2000), while the most available productive year (1999)was marked by a larger yield of soybeans in thin seedling during the earlier seedling dues (the second due – 31st March), than the productive lines and thesorts with longer vegetation

Производно - економски ефекти од производството на сончоглед во Овче поле

Испитувањата беа изведени во реонот на Овче Поле, на површини од ДОО „14-ти Септември“ Свети Николе, на индустриска култура сончоглед. Со анализа на производно-економските ефекти од производството на оваа култура, е опфатено истото претпријатие (ДОО), кое е предмет на проучување во трите последователни години и тоа 1991, 1992 и 1993 година, а притоа како базна е земена 1989.Трудов, што како предмет на проучување го опфаќа обемот на трошоците и доходот на единица производ, укажува дека производните ефекти кај сончогледот, секоја година покажуваат дивергентни промени, шро се последица главно од низа влијаниа на надворешни факори, паритет-усогласеност на цените во целина, интезитет на инфлаторните движења и слично, како и од познатите отежнати економски услови во стопанисувањето на претпријатијата, рационалноста во искористување на капацитетите и воопшто од доследното спроведување и почитување на принципот на економичноста