Soil Quality Assessment after 25 Years of Sewage Sludge vs. Mineral Fertilization in a Calcareous Soil

The aim of this work was to identify the most sensitive soil quality indicators and assess soil quality after long-term application of sewage sludge (SS) and conventional mineral fertilization for rainfed cereal production in a sub-humid Mediterranean calcareous soil. The treatments included six combinations of SS at different doses (40 t ha−1 and 80 ha−1) and frequencies (every 1, 2 and 4 years), plus a control with mineral fertilization, and a baseline control without fertilization. Twenty-five years after the onset of the experiment, 37 pre-selected physical, chemical and biological soil parameters were measured, and a minimum data set was determined. Among these indicators, those significantly affected by treatment and depth were selected as sensitive. A principal component analysis (PCA) was then performed for each studied depth. At 0–15 cm, PCA identified three factors (F1, F2 and F3), and at 15–30 cm, two factors (F4 and F5) that explained 71.5% and 67.4% of the variation, respectively, in the soil parameters. The most sensitive indicators (those with the highest correlation within each factor) were related to nutrients (P and N), organic matter, and trace metals (F1 and F4), microporosity (F2), earthworm activity (F3), and exchangeable cations (F5). Only F3 correlated significantly (and negatively) with yield. From these results, we concluded that soil quality can be affected in opposite directions by SS application, and that a holistic approach is needed to better assess soil functioning under SS fertilization in this type of agrosystem.This project has received funding from the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA) through the RTA2017-00088-C03-01 project and from the European Union’s H2020 research and innovation programme under Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 80158

Yield Management/ Revenue management

El Yield Management (YM) también denominado Revenue Management (RM), lo podemos definir como el conjunto de estrategias, técnicas, políticas, procedimientos y, en definitiva, filosofía de trabajo que permite asignar el producto correcto, al precio correcto y al cliente que solicita el servicio, en el momento en que se realiza la petición, de forma que se maximice el beneficio obtenido y/o ingreso. Fue desarrollado por American Airlines como respuesta a la desregulación del tráfico aéreo en Estados Unidos a finales de los setenta (1970). Posteriormente, dadas las importantes ventajas económicas conseguidas por las empresas que lo han implantado (incrementos en la facturación 4-7%, incremento en RevPAR 4-12%) su aplicación se ha adaptado a numerosos sectores (empresas de alquiler de coches, hoteles, restauración, etc.). En el equipo de investigación DOS (Dirección de Operaciones en Servicios y Turismo) se trabaja en el estudio de la aplicación y/o implantación del YM/RM en el sector hotelero desde 1998. Los resultados de la investigación realizada incluyen la realización de una tesis doctoral (Premio Extraordinario de Doctorado 04/05), numerosos artículos publicados en revistas, participaciones en congresos, capítulos de libros, etc. Las investigaciones actuales se dedican, en general, a la aplicación de la técnica en el sector hotelero y, en particular, al estudio del software de YM/RM

Inhibition of Orobanche crenata Seed Germination and Radicle Growth by Allelochemicals Identified in Cereals

Orobanche crenata is a parasitic weed that causes severe yield losses in important grain and forage legume crops. Cereals have been reported to inhibit O. crenata parasitism when grown intercropped with susceptible legumes, but the responsible metabolites have not been identified. A number of metabolites have been reported in cereals that have allelopathic properties against weeds, pests, and pathogens. We tested the effect of several allelochemicals identified in cereals on O. crenata seed germination and radicle development. We found that 2-benzoxazolinone, its derivative 6-chloroacetyl-2-benzoxazolinone, and scopoletin significantly inhibited O. crenata seed germination. Benzoxazolinones, l-tryptophan, and coumalic acid caused the stronger inhibition of radicle growth. Also, other metabolites reduced radicle length, this inhibition being dose-dependent. Only scopoletin caused cell necrotic-like darkening in the young radicles. Prospects for their application to parasitic weed management are discussed. © 2013 American Chemical Society.This research is supported by projects FP7-ARIMNet-MEDILEG and AGL2011-22524 (cofinanced by FEDER funds).Peer Reviewe