Faculty of Agriculture and Environment

Permanent URI for this community

http://localhost:4000/handle/20.500.14270/1

Browse

Filter results by year or month

Now showing 1 - 20 of 147

Improving nutrition-sensitive value chains of African indigenous vegetables: current trends in postharvest management and processing
(Frontiers sustainable food systems, 202-06-15) Elolu, Samuel; Byarugaba, Rachel; Opiyo, Arnold Mathew; Nakimbugwe, Dorothy; Mithöfer, Dagmar; Huyskens-Keil, Susanne
The value chains of African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) are highly constrained by high postharvest losses (up to 50%) along the chain, largely occasioned by poor postharvest management and a lack of optimized processing technologies. The technologies and practices are key technical aspects that can transform the capacity of the chain by enhancing the overall value generated from the system. AIVs have recently experienced an increase in demand due to their high nutritional value and the opportunity they present to enhance rural incomes, since they are predominantly produced by smallholder farmers in rural and peri-urban areas. This implies that they can positively contribute to increased availability and hence supply of nutritious food within local food systems. Furthermore, the fact that half of the economic value of AIVs is potentially lost due to inappropriate postharvest management and inadequate processing demonstrates the potential that related interventions and transformations could have in enhancing and preserving value along AIV value chains. Currently, the approaches applied to reduce food waste, preserve nutritional quality, and add value to AIVs are largely traditional in nature. They require upgrading and need to be aligned toward achieving a nutrition-sensitive value chain. By looking at these as value creation processes, this mini-review examines the current postharvest management practices, highlights relevant new and innovative technologies and related challenges, and suggests potential options to improve the benefits for AIV value chain actors and thus contribute to a sustainable transformation of nutrition-sensitive food systems.
Experimental Evaluation of Manure Evaporation in The Paddock for a Management Algorithm Development
(Academia, 2012-07) Pindozzi, Stefania; Faugno, Salvatore; Okello, Collins; Boccia, Lorenzo
The aims of this study was to evaluate the possibility of reducing the weight of manure in paddocks by natural evaporation according to an appropriate management plan. The weight of buffalo manure was recorded by an experimental platform equipped with load cells and installed within the paddock. The data was used for assessing the real evaporation of manure in situ. A model for predicting manure evaporation was developed by adapting a soil evapotranspiration model. On the basis of the model an optimal management strategy was established, which corresponds to minimizing the use of the scraper from the 100th day of the year (DOY) to the 250th DOY. This lead to a potential reduction in weight of the manure by 650 kg/m2/year which corresponds to management cost reduction of about 30%. This approach is effective for reducing the bulkiness of buffalo manure for which the spreading costs per kg of nitrogen and the fuel needs for land application is very substantial considering its low nitrogen content of about 2 mg/m3.
Assessment of nitrogen content in buffalo manure and land application costs
(Page Press, 2012-08-29) Faugno, Salvatore; Pindozzi, Stefania; Infascelli, Roberta; Okello, Collins; Ripa, Maria Nicolina; Boccia, Lorenzo
Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) livestock for mozzarella cheese production plays a fundamental role in the economy of southern Italy. European and Italian regulations consider nitrogen content in buffalo manure to be the same as that of cattle manure. This study aimed to assess whether this assumption is true. The first aim of the study was to assess nitrogen con tent in buffalo manure. Samples were taken from 35 farms to analyse nitro gen and phosphorous concentration in the manure. Analysis confirmed a lower nitrogen concentration (2%) in buffalo manure. A secondary aim of the study was to evaluate whether manure application techniques that are apparently less suitable, e.g. splash plate spreader, could be feasible. The cost of different methods of land application of manure and their charac teristics were evaluated on the basis of one operational cycle. Considering losses for volatilisation, and taking into account cost assessment, the immediate incorporation of buffalo manure (nitrogen content 2%) is a suitable method of ammonia volatilisation. However, it is expensive and involves high fuel consumption in relation to the environmental benefit.
Boer goat production in Kikatsi Sub County, Kiruhura District, Uganda
(Livestock Research for Rural Development, 2013-06-02) Arineitwe, I; Ndyomugyenyi, E K
A study was conducted to assess the contribution of Boer goats to household incomes in Kikatsi Sub County, Kuruhura District. A total of 60 households were used for the study in five different parishes in the sub county. Data were collected using structured questions, observations, and interviews. Secondary sources of data were also reviewed. Respondents (93.4%) who kept between 1and 60 Boer goats were more than those (86.7%) who kept a similar number of indigenous goats. However, there was a small difference of 1.6% between respondents who kept 21 - 40 indigenous goats (43.3%) and those (41.7%) who kept a similar number of Boer goats. The number of Boer goats (78.3%) heavier than 26 kg was higher than that of indigenous goats (51.7%) with similar weights. The market price of the goats was dependent on the weight of the individual goat but not the breed type. Respondents (93.3%) who sold 1 - 4 Boer goats per month were more than those (86.7%) who sold a similar number of indigenous goats indicating that Boer goats contributed more to farmers’ income than indigenous goats. The main limitations to Boer goat production were lack of capital (95%), shortage of established cultivated pasture and fodder crops (90%), poor goat management skills (81.7%), and lack of veterinary services (75%). The other source of income for farmers was cattle keeping (75%) although some farmers (13.3%) also grew crops such as bananas for income generation. The study showed that Boer goats contributed to household incomes and people adopted the new intervention of Boer goat production.
Experimental tests on a new harvesting system for Burley tobacco
(Page Press, 2013-09-12) Faugno, Salvatore; Okello, Collins; Infascelli, Roberta; Audino, Francesca; Ardito, Luca; Pindozzi, Stefania
The globalization of the tobacco production has led to a drop in com petitiveness of the Italian tobacco on the world market. Burley is the main variety of tobacco cropped in Campania region of Southern Italy. Its leaves have to be sewn, in the curing phase. Aim of this work is to show the results of the implementation of a new harvest machine pro totype. Basically, the machine used for Bright tobacco, totally mechan ical harvested, which doesn’t need to be sewn because it requires an indirect-fire treatment into the curing furnaces. The machine was modified in order to mechanize harvesting of Burley tobacco, and test ed on four cultivars of Burley tobacco under three different planting layouts. The Burley tobacco leaves can be harvested mechanically by pulling individual leaves off the stalk; leaves are then sorted and tied in bundles prior to sewing. A mechanical burley tobacco harvesting system was evaluated. This machine consists in realizing a leaves ori entation system based on the different weight between the leaf blade and the stalk enhanced by an air flow. The measurements taken were harvest timing, work capacity, and quality standards of the work car ried out. The results, in terms of user time, range from 6.67 h/ha to 7.80 h/ha while in terms of operational efficiency are between 88% and 89%. The average user capacity recorded for the four cultivars is equal to 0.14 ha/h, a value far from the one recorded for the same harvesting machine used for Bright tobacco (0.25 ha/h). The harvest timing capacity, range from 0.51 t/h to 0.99 t/h. The work productivity goes from 0.17 t to 0.33 t per hour of human unit respectively. The average number of detached leaves, depending on the cultivar, has been between 523 and 744. Concerning the leaf orientation, a general per centage of 73% was achieved.
Indirect field technology for detecting areas object of illegal spills harmful to human health: application of drones, photogrammetry and hydrological models
(PAGEPress Publications, 2014) Capolupo, Alessandra; Pindozzi, Stefania; Okello, Collins; Boccia, Lorenzo
The accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils is a serious environmental problem. The Campania region in southern Italy has higher levels of cancer risk, presumably due to the accumulation of geogenic and anthropogenic soil pollutants, some of which have been incorporated into organic matter. The aim of this study was to introduce and test an innovative, field-applicable methodology to detect heavy metal accumulation using drone-based photogrammetry and micro rill network modelling, specifically to generate wetlands wetlands prediction indices normally applied at large catchment scales, such as a large geographic basin. The processing of aerial photos taken using a hexacopter equipped with fifth-gen eration software for photogrammetry allowed the generation of a digital elevation model (DEM) with a resolution as high as 30 mm. Not only this provided a high potential for the study of micro-rill processes, but it was also useful for testing and comparing the capability of the topographic index (TI) and the clima-topographic index (CTI) to predict heavy metal sedi mentation points at scales from 0.1 to 10 ha. Our results indicate that the TI and CTI indices can be used to predict points of heavy metal accumulation for small field catchments.
Financial performance and technical efficiency differentials for apicultural technologies in Nakaseke district, Uganda
(College of Business, Tennessee State University, 2014-01) Kalule, Stephen W.; Ssebbale, Edrisa
Despite apiculture being potentially a large income earner, the financial performance of various apicultural technologies at farm-level is still poor yet very few studies have delved in this sub sector. Using a representative sample of 69 respondents from Nakaseke District, the Ordered Probit analysis revealed that farming experience, apiary plot size, shortness of distance of water source and hive colonization levels were the major positive determinants of apicultural financial performance. A Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) suggested that 62% and 76% of the total variation in honey output in traditional and improved technologies was due to technical inefficiency. The high efficiency levels in traditional technology seemed to suggest that more honey output would only be realized through introduction of improved technologies rather than focusing on technical skills while the low efficiency in improved technology would be improved using technical training. The study recommended policy incentives ranging from specific commodity-targeting extension messages, provision of low interest rate credit products and baiting materials to enhence efficiency.
Appraising Bioenergy Alternatives in Uganda Using Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT)-Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and a Desirability Functions Approach
(MDPI, 2014-02-26) Okello, Collins; Pindozzi, Stefania; Faugno, Salvatore; Boccia, Lorenzo
Poor access to clean and reliable energy technologies is a major challenge to most developing countries. The decision to introduce new technologies is often faced by low adoption rates or even public opposition. In addition, the data required for effective decision making is often inadequate or even lacking, thus constraining the planning process. In this study, a methodology for participatory appraisal of technologies, integrating desirability functions to the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT)-analytical hierarchy process (AHP) methodology was developed. Application of the methodology was illustrated with an example for participatory appraisal of four bioenergy technologies in Uganda. Results showed that the methodology is effective in evaluating stakeholder preferences for bioenergy technologies. It showed a high potential to be used to identify and rate factors that stakeholders take into consideration when selecting bioenergy systems. The method could be used as a tool for technology screening, or reaching consensus in a participatory setup in a transparent manner.
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF VALORISING CATTLE MANURE FOR HOUSEHOLD COOKING ENERGY IN UGANDA
(CISA Publisher, 2014-11-20) Okello, C.; Pindozzi, S.; Faugno, S.; Boccia, L.
This study employed the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate the environmental impacts of utilizing cattle manure as a substrate for biogas generation for cooking energy in Uganda. Results of the study showed that biogas energy systems based of cattle manure has potential environmental benefits in comparison to charcoal produced from natural forests. Under baseline scenario, without recycling of slurry as fertilizer, the biogas system leads to total environmental impacts of over 80% less than that of charcoal system. When slurry is utilized as substitute mineral fertilizers, the environmental impact of biogas system was found to be less than that of charcoal by close to 95%. The study further showed that that use of biogas could lead to considerable reduction on human health impacts compared to charcoal. In conclusion, utilization of cattle manure for biogas production has potential benefit of reducing the environmental impacts due to charcoal production and use in Uganda.
Characterization of the Chemical Composition of Raw and Treated Jackfruit (Artocarpus Heterophyllus) and Java Plum (Syzygium Cumini) Beans for Poultry Feeding
(Journal of Animal Science Advances, 2014-11-30) Ndyomugyenyi, E. K.; Okot, M. W.; Mutetikka, D.
The chemical composition of Jackfruit beans (JFB) and Java plum beans (JPB) was investigated to establish their nutritive value for poultry. The beans were soaked in water before subjecting them to the following treatments: fermented in presence of wood ash (SFWA); boiled (SB); roasted (SR); autoclaved (SA); fermented after boiling (SBF); roasted after fermentation (SFR); and a combination of boiling, fermentation and roasting (SBFR). Screening to identify phytochemical compounds and quantify anti-nutrients in the raw beans; determining the content of anti-nutrients in treated beans were conducted. Additionally, proximate composition, minerals, and metabolisable energy (ME) of raw and treated beans were determined. Most (>70%) phytochemical compounds in raw JFB and JPB were anti-nutrients and included sterols, triterpenes, courmarins, tannins, cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, saponins and steroid glycosides. Raw JFB and JPB had 1.11, 2.44% tannins; 1.00, 1.54 % oxalates; 0.754, 0.714% phytates respectively. Tannins in raw JFB were reduced by 88.7, 88.5, 85.9 and 84.5% in SFR, SBF, SB and SBFR treatments respectively. Oxalates in JFB were reduced by 85.3% and 81.2% in SBF and SBFR treatments respectively. Proximate composition, minerals, and ME of raw JFB and JPB was 92.5, 91.0% DM; 15.1, 4.42% CP; 0.983, 0.400% EE; 4.20, 3.44% CF; 3.78, 2.17% ash; 74.0, 88.6% NFE; 13.3, 13.2 MJ/kg ME; 0.456, 0.430% Na; 0.611, 0.481% Ca; 0.222, 0.088% P; 1.53, 0.895% K respectively. The method of treatment had no effect (P˃0.05) on CF of JFB. Method of treatment had a significant (P˂0.05) effect on CP, NFE, ME, DM, ash, P, K, Na, and Ca for JFB. Method of treatment had no significant (P˃0.05) effect on CF and CP for JPB but DM, ash, EE, NFE, ME, P, K, Na, and Ca were affected (P˂0.05). The SBF and SBFR reduced tannins and oxalates from raw JFB by more than 80%. The major nutrient in JFB and JPB is energy.
Study and set-up of a wind tunnel for assessing ammonia emissions from the field
(Italian Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2015) di Pertaa, E. Scotto; Bocciaa, L.; Faugno, S.; Okello, C.; Sorrentino, G.; Agizza, M.A.; Pindozzi , S.
The nutritional value of soaked-boiled-fermented jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) seed meal for poultry
(Journal of Animal and Poultry Sciences, 2015) NDYOMUGYENYI, E. K.; OKOT, M. W.; MUTETIKKA, D.
Chemical analysis, apparent metabolizable energy and one feeding trial were conducted to assess the nutritional value of jackfruit seeds that had been subjected to a combination of soaking, boiling, followed by fermentation. In the feeding trial, five broiler starter diets were formulated with the processed jackfruit seed meal constituting 0, 80, 160, 240 and 320 g/kg of the diet. The jackfruit seeds before and after processing contained 151, 140 g crude protein; 740, 747 g total carbohydrates; 11.1, 1.28 g tannins; 10.0, 1.47 g total oxalates per kg respectively. The apparent metabolizable energy value of the processed jackfruit seed meal was 2368±315 Kcal/kg. Inclusion of the processed jackfruit seed meal affected chick growth, nutrient utilization and organ weights relative to body weight. At 80 and 320g/kg inclusion, weight gain and feed/gain were depressed by 5.2, 42.1%; 6.2, 40.7% respectively. Feed intake was not affected up to 240 g/kg inclusion but reduced by 18.3% at 320 g/kg. Except for gizzard; weights of liver, caecum, heart, intestines and pancreas were affected. At 80 and 320 g/kg inclusion; weights of caecum, intestine, pancreas and gizzard increased by 69.4, 113.9%; 4.5, 43.2%; 7.3, 46.3%; 11.3, 14.6%, while liver and heart were reduced by 7.7, 22.2%; 27.9, 34.2% respectively. Apart from nitrogen retention; nitrogen digestibility, dry matter digestibility and excreta water content were not affected. Nitrogen retention increased by 38.5% at 320 g/kg inclusion. Processing reduced tannins and oxalates from jackfruit seeds by over 85%. The processed jackfruit seed meal can be included in poultry diets at levels up to 80 g/kg without compromising with: feed intake, feed efficiency, daily weight gain and nutrient utilization. Although the cost per kg gain of birds increased with jackfruit seed meal inclusion, the seeds will eventually be readily available at low or no cost. However, for economic efficiency the cost of collection and treatment should be put intconsideration.
Testing the application of an automatic milking system on buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
(PAGEPress, Italy, 2015-01-08) Faugno, Salvatore; Pindozzi, Stefania; Okello, Collins; Sannino, Maura
The automatic milking systems (AMS) have been deeply studied in dairy cows applications, but not in the case of buffaloes; although, a few applications to the species can be found in literature. The objec tive of this study is to compare some important functional aspects of AMS with the conventional milking systems. Aspects such as adapta tion of buffalo to AMS and the possible relationship between milking frequency and daily milk yield were evaluated. Two groups of Bubalus bubalis were reared in the same barn, in a farm located in Piana del Sele (SA) southern Italy. Fourty primiparous buffaloes were milked using an AMS, and at the same time another herd of 40 were milked twice a day using traditional milking system (tandem). The adaptation period of buffaloes to AMS was 2 months. Milking frequency with the AMS was significantly higher compared to the one of traditional meth ods (2.3±0.17 times/d vs 2 times/d). Daily milk yield with the AMS was observed to be significantly higher than with traditional milking sys tem (7.9±1.3 kg/d vs 6.9±1.06 kg/d). In this study, there was no signif icant relationship between the increase of daily milking frequency and daily milk yield. We can conclude that a positive AMS effect on daily milk yield and milking frequency is possible and so we can expect suc cessful applications of the AMS to dairy buffalo farms.
Genetic Characterization of Alupe Napier Grass Accessions Based on Simple Sequence Repeat Markers
(American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 2015-02-24) Kawube, Geofrey; Kabirizi, Jolly; Namazzi, Clementine
Genetic variability of 23 Napier grass clones, 22 of which were collected from Kenya Agricultural Research Institute – at Alupe in Kenya was determined using 17 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. All markers were polymorphic with the most discriminative being PSMP2267. Average gene diversity among the Napier grass clones was 0.54 with an average heterozygosity of 0.63. Total number of alleles across all loci was 90 with mean number of alleles per locus of 5.29 and a mean polymorphic information content of 0.50. Results also indicate a high genetic distance among the Napier grass clones with the most distant clone being 16814 while the closest was between kakamega1 and kakamega2 and kakamega2 and kakamega3. Principal Co-ordinates Analysis did not group the clones in a definitive structure, with most clones scattered. However, the SSR markers grouped the clones into two clusters derived from a dendogram generated by Neighbour joining analysis with clone 16814 being alone in a cluster. Clone Kakamega1, Kakamega2 and Kakamega3 as very closely related. These findings are key in guiding selection of clones for inclusion in breeding programs and conservation of Napier grass
Napier grass stunt disease prevalence, incidence, severity and genetic variability of the associated phytoplasma in Uganda
(Elsevier Ltd., 2015-04-30) Kawube, Geofrey; Talwana, Herbert; Nicolaisen, Mogens; Alicai, Titus; Otim, Michael; Kabirizi, Jolly; Mukwaya, Anthony; Nielsen, Steen Lykke
The prevalence, incidence and severity of Napier grass stunt disease (NGSD) caused by phytoplasma on Pennisetum purpureum, the main fodder for livestock under intensive and semi-intensive management systems in Uganda were determined following a field survey carried out in 17 districts. A total of 298 Napier grass fields were visited and NGSD status visually assessed and 1192 samples collected for identification and confirmation of the phytoplasma by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays using universal primers P1/P6 nested with R16F2n/R16R2n and, tuf primers 890/340 nested with 835 and 400. From these, 221 PCR products were sequenced and sequences aligned. Napier grass stunt disease is widely spread at an epidemic proportion, with the districts at different risk levels. The most affected districts are in central, East and North parts of the country while those in the west are least affected. Sequence alignments and Blast searches showed that the phytoplasma causing NGSD in Uganda belonged to the phytoplasma group 16SrXI, with single nucleotide sequence variants in a few districts. Therefore, there is a need for development of an area wide NGSD management strategy to contain the disease.
Temporal Dynamics of Napier Grass Stunt Disease as Influenced by Napier Grass Clones and Initial Inoculum
(merican Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 2015-05-09) Kawube, Geofrey; Talwana, Herbert; Alicai, Titus; Otim, Michael; Mukwaya, Anthony; Kabirizi, Jolly
Napier grass stunt disease (NGSD) is the main biotic factor limiting Napier grass production in the East African region. Its management is, however, hampered by inadequate epidemiological information. This study determined the temporal spread of NGSD in Napier grass fields. A field experiment was setup at National Crops Resources Research Institute, Namulonge in Uganda to determine the influence of initial inoculum and clones on the spread of NSD in the field. The experiment was arranged in a randomized Complete Block Design and replicated 4 times. The initial inoculum levels used were 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% while the clones included KW4, local/wild type and P99, respectively. Napier grass stunt disease incidence data was recorded at 60 days intervals starting 90 days after planting up to 450 days. Napier grass was cut back to a height of 5 cm above ground after each data collection. Gompertz model was found to adequately describe NGSD temporal spread, the basis on which all incidence data was transformed. Results indicate that NGSD symptoms appeared in the field after 150 days after planting. However, NGSD incidence at the time was influenced by initial inoculum levels and type of clone. Plots with higher levels of initial inoculum density reached epidemic levels faster than those without. Disease incidence increased with increase in levels of initial inoculum and time, doubling after every 13.8 to 29.8 days, as such the rate of disease spread is moderate. The disease progression was fastest in clone P99 followed by KW4 and least in local. Final NGSD incidence and Area Under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) were linearly related with the NGSD incidence at the time the disease was first detected; indicating that incidence at NSD detection can be used to predict the final disease and AUDPC in the field. Therefore, deployment of measures that reduce initial inoculum is important in control of the disease.
Dynamics of Cyanogens and In-Vitro Degradability of Cassava Peels as an Indicator of its Nutritional Value as Animal Feed
(Livestock Research for Rural Development, 2015-06-03) Taabu, H.L.; Ndyomugyenyi, E.K.; Mutetikka, D.; Wasswa, D.
The in-vitro degradability of cassava peels and its relationship with the cyanogenic potential of five cassava varieties grown in Uganda was investigated to study the potential of cassava peels as an energy source in animal feeds. The cassava varieties included NASE 3, NASE 4, NASE 10, TME 14 and Tongolo. The first four varieties were considered to be of low to medium cyanogenic potential (CNp), while the last one contained high CNp. Cassava peels had 25.5 ± 6.6% dry matter (DM), 86.6 ± 0.9% organic matter (OM) and 56.8 ± 5.8% neutral detergent fibre (NDF). Degradability of DM, OM and NDF was 74.8± 4.2%, 74% ± 7.5% and 44.2 ± 7.5% respectively. Total cyanogenic potential and free hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in the fresh peels ranged from 923 to 2815 and 33 to 676 mg HCN equivalent kg-1 DM respectively. These levels dropped by 27- 88% and over 90% respectively, when the peels were dried. For all varieties, the residual cyanogenic potential after drying the peels fell within the safety limits recommended by FAO/WHO for food and feed. The study showed that using fresh peels in sufficient amounts for feeding animals, particularly monogastrics, is potentially harmful due to high cyanogenic potential. Drying the peels can, however, reduce the cyanide toxicity risks. The low NDF degradability reduces the nutritional value of cassava peels if they are used as a sole source of energy in ruminant diets.
Genetic Diversity in Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum) Assessed by SSR Markers
(Canadian Center of Science and Education, 2015-06-15) Kawube, Geofrey; Alicai, Titus; Wanjala, Bramwel; Njahira, Moses; Awalla, Juma; Skilton, Robert
Understanding of genetic diversity among Napier grass is very important for selection and improvement of Napier grass breeding population. This study determined the genetic diversity among the farmer preferred, wild(local) and selected ILRI gene-bank Napier grass clones using 23 SSR markers selected from pearl millet, maize and sorghum. The results indicated polymorphism among the SSR markers, revealing a total of 339 alleles of which 27.1% alleles were unique, occurring either only in local, farmers-preferred or ILRI clones. Similarly, genetic diversity and observed heterozygosity were highest in the local than in farmers’ preferred and least in the ILRI gene-bank clones. The clones clustered in two groups with a few overlaps, although most of the farmer’s grown Napier grass clones grouped with those from ILRI genebank and clone P99, emphasizing their genetic relatedness. Therefore, the unique alleles revealed in the local clones may be associated with adaptability to local environments. These alleles could, therefore, be exploited for genetic improvement of the farmer-preferred Napier grass.
Study and set-up of a wind tunnel for assessing ammonia emissions from the field
(Italian Society of Agricultural Engineering, 2015-06-23) di Pertaa, E. Scotto; Bocciaa, L.; Faugnoa, S.; Okello, C.; Sorrentinod, G.; Agizzad, M. A.; Pindozzia, S.
Using historical maps to analyze two hundred years of land cover changes: case study of Sorrento peninsula (south Italy)
(Taylor & Francis, 2015-08-14) Pindozzi, Stefania; Cervelli, Elena; Capolupo, Alessandra; Okello, Collins; Boccia, Lorenzo
Historical maps are effective sources of geographical information and useful for historical and territorial research. In this study, the examination of landscape dynamics on the basis of historical maps over a period of more than 200 years was conducted. The study area is Sorrento peninsula and part of the near Sarno river basin in South Italy. This study provides a general framework for the assessment of the overall quality and accuracy of historical maps. The application of the methodology used in this specific case study can contribute to a better understanding of the dynamics of the landscape in the long term. The derived knowledge can be applied in the planning of the landscape in order to implement correct conservation strategies. The comparison was made on four maps 1817, 1875, 1960, and 2006. Geodetic accuracy of the sheet maps of 1817 and 1875 offer a right basis for a macro analysis of land cover dynamics, evaluating conversion from one land cover category to another. Main trans formation, identified in the period between 1875 and 1960, was the disappearance of vineyards, which covered 25% of the total study area in 1875. Agricultural areas increased in this period to cover 57% of the total area.

Browse

Browsing Faculty of Agriculture and Environment by Issue Date

Results Per Page

Sort Options