bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of ultrasound on Indian meal moth reproduction.
Authors: Huang F. N. , Subramanyam B. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

The effects of ultrasound emitted from a commercial ultrasonic device (Cix 0600) and a novel unit developed at Kansas State University (KSU) on the reproduction of Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella, were evaluated in paired Plexiglas enclosures. The commercial ultrasonic device generated peak frequencies at 21, 25 and 35 kHz, and a 94-dB sound pressure level at a distance of 50 cm. The KSU unit produced frequency, pulse duration and quiet time at random. Ultrasound emitted from both of the ultrasonic units had a similar and significant impact on the number of spermatophores transferred by males to females, the number of larvae produced, larval weight and adult distribution within enclosures. In the presence of ultrasound, each female, on average, had 1.5 spermatophores. In the absence of ultrasound, each female had 2 spermatophores. Larval numbers were reduced by 48 and 38% when moths were exposed to ultrasound produced by the Cix 0600 device and KSU unit, respectively. Therefore, the total larval biomass in the enclosures with ultrasound was significantly less than that in the enclosures without ultrasound. The distribution of larvae within enclosures was affected by ultrasound emitted by the Cix 0600 device but not by the KSU unit. Higher number of P. interpunctella moths were found on the enclosure floor in the presence of ultrasound than without ultrasound. These data suggest that use of ultrasound technology could be exploited for the management of P. interpunctella reproductive behaviours.
Study on the effects of mixtures of acetone extracts of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt) seeds on the development of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).
Authors: Haryadi Y. , Rahayu S. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Mixtures of acetone extracts from black pepper (P. nigrum) and nutmeg (M. fragrans) seeds were evaluated under laboratory conditions for their insecticidal effect on maize weevil (S. zeamais) reared on maize kernels. Mixtures of 0.0, 0.1 and 0.2% (v/w) of black pepper extract and 0.0, 1.0, and 2.0% (v/w) of nutmeg extract were incorporated into the diet to obtain nine mixture combinations. The number of F1 progenies and the developmental period were observed, and a developmental index was obtained based on these data. The presence of the extracts in the diet significantly reduced the number of F1 offsprings, prolonged the developmental period and reduced the developmental index. Progenies were still recorded for the diet with a combination of 2.0% nutmeg extract and 0.0% black pepper extract, but progenies were not recorded for all the five replicates. In all other combinations with both black pepper and nutmeg extracts, the presence of progenies was not observed. The results suggest that mixtures of acetone extracts of black pepper and nutmeg seeds have significant effects on the development of S. zeamais, and that the acetone extract of black pepper has relatively better insecticidal properties than the nutmeg extract.
Fungi control by phosphine fumigation in high-moisture maize.
Authors: Castro M. F. P. M. , Leitão M. F. F. , Oliveira J. J. do V. , Mills K. A. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Control of fungal growth by phosphine was studied in maize stored with high moisture contents. In addition to the natural microflora of the grains, the product was inoculated with an Aspergillus flavus toxigenic strain. Surface response methodology was used in order to assess the various effects of phosphine on fungal growth in the grains, at water activities from 0.85 to 0.98 (equivalent to 16.0% and 24.5% m.c., w.b.), phosphine concentrations from 0 to 4 g/m3 and exposure periods from 1 to 15 days to the fumigant. The control of fungal growth was evaluated by direct plating of the grains, the serial dilution technique and the ergosterol content. Analyses of m.c., water activity and aflatoxins were also carried out on the samples subjected to the different treatments. Phosphine concentrations were measured by gas chromatography. An analysis of the results showed that, in general, the phosphine concentration was more important than the exposure period to the fumigant for fungal control. At water activities higher than 0.92, grains should not be kept for periods longer than about seven days due to the growth of Fusarium verticillioides (a potential fumonisin producer) and yeast and yeast-like moulds which seemed to be more tolerant to this fumigant. Aflatoxins were not detected in the fumigated samples. It was concluded that phosphine can control fungal growth and the production of aflatoxins and could thus be applied to grains while they are waiting to be properly dried or rewetted during storage or transportation.
A two-dimensional model of grain storage with dynamic visualisation: predictions for temperature, moisture content, germination and respiration - a case study for rapeseed.
Authors: Xanthopoulos G. , Woods J. L. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

The development of a two-dimensional (r-z plane) simulation model of a cylindrical silo is described. The model assumes the presence of axi-symmetric conditions. The heat and mass transfer equations are solved for the case of uniform vertical flow using the "up-wind" difference technique employed in computational fluid dynamics. This describes the ventilated case and the unventilated case, when the velocity is set to zero, and the heat and mass transfer is assumed to be driven purely by diffusion. For the ventilated case, aerodynamic dispersion terms are incorporated, describing the enhancement of heat and moisture diffusion by mixing of air in its tortuous path through the grains. The programme can simulate the storage of wheat, barley and rapeseed using subroutines for each set of properties. The solution of the energy and moisture balance equations provides the temperature and moisture fields over a vertical section through the silo axis. Subroutines to predict germination (viability) and respiration (mould growth) are then used to calculate the percentage viability and cumulative dry matter loss. Using contour-mapping software, the temperature, moisture content, viability and cumulative dry matter loss are displayed in two dimensions. The programme was used to investigate the holding of high-moisture rapeseed before drying, with air flows of 0, 5, 10 and 15 m3 h-1 t-1. With no ventilation, the grain temperature increased rapidly to 50°C in approximately 12 days. On the other hand, even the lowest ventilation rate was sufficient to maintain the grain temperature to approximately 20°C. During ventilation, the mean moisture content dropped to 12.8% at approximately 30 days regardless of the flow rate. The cumulative dry matter loss was significantly reduced by ventilation.
Improving postharvest commodity quality management through training.
Authors: Longstaff B. C. , Graver J. E. van S. , Srzednicki G. S. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Application of computer-assisted learning (CAL) to training of staff involved in postharvest quality management procedures is discussed. The approach is illustrated using 2 examples that seek to achieve improved staff understanding of management options and the consequences of applying them. Grain Storage Tutor, initially developed in a collaborative project between Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Australia, is now being used to extend conventional training for people involved in grain and commodity storage. This system covers control of commodity moisture content, moulds and mycotoxins, and pest management, which are the most important issues in quality maintenance during storage in these countries. Several training courses have been conducted in each of the participating countries. This package is aimed at people working at all levels in the postharvest sector, formal educators, private and public research organizations, and private industry. The second system was developed in response to a need to ensure that Australian standards for quarantine fumigation with methyl bromide are met by exporting countries. It has been targeted specifically at fumigators and has been used in several training courses in Indonesia, where it will be incorporated into an accreditation scheme for fumigators and fumigation companies. Adoption and integration of CAL by organizations should lead to more effective training and substantial reductions in costs of training quality management staff, particularly where there are geographically distributed workforces. This will lead to improved decision making and technology transfer and to reductions in overall storage losses. The wider application of this approach to projects dealing with the safe storage of perishable commodities and the training of quarantine inspection staff is discussed.
Recent research on storage structures and control of storage pests and moulds in China.
Authors: Jin ZuXun Jin ZuXun , Yang GuoFeng Yang GuoFeng , Wang SuYa Wang SuYa 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

The structure, ecological characteristics, and the essential technical measures for safe grain storage in squat silos and large warehouses built in recent years in China are reviewed in this paper. Progress in research, and some technical problems that need to be resolved in grain storage in large bins are discussed.
A new approach, using a text processor, to a computer-based advisory system for malting barley.
Authors: Wilkin R. , Knight J. , Woods L. , Armitage D. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Several "expert systems" have been developed to assist decision making by farmers and storekeepers during grain storage. The continued decline in the number of professional advisers makes these developments vitally important. However, the costs and time inputs needed to develop a system are considerable and may not always be available. As part of a European Union funded project on the storage of malting barley, a new approach to the development of computerized advisory systems has been used. An encyclopaedia of information was built as a word processor file. Where gaps in the available knowledge were identified, target research was done to provide the necessary data. Hyperlinks were added to enable users to navigate the system quickly and to select specific topic areas. A decision-support system was devised based on primary risk (giving safe storage times before mould develops or germination declines significantly). Secondary risks, giving safe storage times based on the times taken by insects or mites to complete their life cycles, were also covered and a classification of dormancy categories made. The final system was then copied as 'read-only' files onto a CD for assessment. In developing the system, the importance of close contact between scientists and industry became apparent.
Meaning and practical value of spatial analysis for protecting retail stores.
Authors: Arbogast R. T. , Kendra P. E. , Chini S. R. , McGovern J. E. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

The risks posed by chemical pesticides have prompted initiatives to reduce pesticide use, primarily through integrated pest management (IPM). Implementation of IPM for control of stored product insects in retail stores will require regular monitoring to know when, where, and what type of control measures to apply. This need can be met by a combination of trapping and contour analysis of numbers captured in each trap. The objective of contour analysis is to determine patterns of distribution and identify foci of infestation. The principal requirements for monitoring are that contours of trap catch honour the data, predict trap-catch values between traps, and reflect the spatial distribution of the insect population monitored. Trapping studies of Plodia interpunctella in a pet store and Lasioderma serricorne in a shed were used to determine how well these requirements could be met in practice. Contours of trap catch for P. interpunctella fit the data closely and predicted trap catch values between traps well enough to locate and define a major focus of infestation, but a smaller focus of infestation was missed. Contours of trap catch for L. serricorne reflected the spatial distribution of the beetle population. Numbers captured declined with increasing distance from the source of infestation.
Organic agriculture and sustainability: environmental aspects.
Authors: Dabbert S. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

While positive effects on the environment lie at the heart of the idea of organic farming they are still surrounded by controversy. The question whether positive effects on the environment justify political support of organic farming is especially critical. The paper outlines some of the methodological difficulties in assessing the environmental costs and benefits of organic farming. It is argued that a set of physical indicators should be used to measure the environmental benefits of organic farming compared to non-organic, rather than using monetary estimates. Results from a literature review on the environmental effects of organic farming based on the OECD agri-environmental indicators are presented, which generally show a superior performance of organic farming on a per-hectare scale. The paper critically reviews the hypothesis that a combination of conventional farming plus agri-environmental measures is always more cost-effective in providing the desired public goods than organic farming. Organic farming has advantages with respect to lower transaction costs and a partial internalization of externalities. Lower per area productivity is not a relevant problem as long as set-aside schemes are used to cut surplus production, but it might be in other situations. The paper concludes that there is sufficient justification to support organic farming for environmental reasons. However, this should be combined with agri-environmental measures targeted at all of agriculture.
Productivity of organic and conventional cropping systems.
Authors: Bruulsema T. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

While it is difficult to make quantitative estimates, the productivity of organic cropping systems is considerably lower than that of conventional or integrated cropping systems. This reduced productivity could potentially lead to less land available for non-agricultural land uses such as wildlife habitat, greater negative impacts on the environment, and reduced sustainability. To ensure that the practice of organic farming aligns with its perception by the public, its conceptual definition must avoid misleading connotations regarding its ability to produce healthy and safe food in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Considerations of the environmental and animal welfare benefits of organic agriculture in the Netherlands.
Authors: Regouin E. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Policy support for organic agriculture in the Netherlands is based on the assumption that organic agriculture to a large extent fulfils the public's expectations in respect of advantages to the environment and to animal welfare, as compared to non-organic, conventional agriculture. This paper looks at the major issues in which organic agriculture differs from non-organic agriculture and identifies those issues where this difference may be considered significant. Such analysis of the performance of both systems can be done using different measuring rods. Based primarily on field research in the Netherlands, conclusions are drawn and organized in accordance with the OECD environmental indicators for agriculture. Taking those indicators that are relevant for the Netherlands, organic agriculture shows a different overall performance than does non-organic agriculture. However, quantification of their relative position is difficult and conclusions often depend on the measuring rod chosen. Moreover, environmentally and animal welfare benign non-organic production systems are approaching, or even surpass the performance of organic agriculture, by market demand or by legislative force.
Farm-level impacts of organic production systems.
Authors: Hanson J. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

This paper examines the farm-level impacts of organic agricultural production as measured in profit and risk management, when compared with the conventional alternative. Specifically, farmer perceptions regarding profit, the importance of studying farming systems rather than single crops, and the effect of labour requirements are explored. Off-farm and on-farm sources of risk are identified for the organic producer.
Economic perspectives of Korean organic agriculture.
Authors: Kim ChangGil Kim ChangGil 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Organic farming has had a tentative start as an alternative production system but now is more widely accepted in Korea. Many farmers express an interest in organic agriculture. However, farmers are reluctant to adopt organic farming practices because of many obstacles. They perceive that there are high risks involved, although the expected income from organic farming is comparable to that of conventional farming. The price premium of organic products is an important factor to induce farmers to participate in organic agriculture. The empirical findings reviewed in this paper indicate that factors of production receive a lower remuneration in organic agriculture than in conventional farming. Substantial price premiums on outputs are essential for the economic viability of organic farming. Consumers' lack of willingness to pay significant price premiums on rice and vegetables seems to be the most important obstacle to the expansion of organic farming. Finally, in order to soundly promote organic agriculture, additional public and private research is needed on many aspects of organic production and marketing in Korea, including the economic impacts and social benefits of widespread adoption of organic farming. Additional research is also needed on how to improve organic farming systems from agronomic and ecological perspectives, as well as from an economic perspective. The extent of the national research agenda on organic agriculture, along with programme and policy initiatives, will help shape the role that organic farming systems play in Korean agriculture in the decades ahead.
International and national standards and their impact on trade: the Swiss perspective.
Authors: Aebi P. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

While the Codex Alimentarius has taken steps towards international harmonization of the organic regulations and markets, a proliferation of new obstacles to trade, particularly for Switzerland and Swiss operators, are observed. Governmental labels excluding imported produce, bureaucratic obstacles, a narrow view of the equivalence concept and a lack of control of private organizations are seen as the main factors. Further efforts are necessary in order to remove these obstacles and to foster international trade in organic products.
Pollution threats to organic production and products.
Authors: Helfter M. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

The focus of attention in the organic sector has shifted away from organic farmers and production methods to consumers and their expectations regarding the specific qualities of final food products. Organic product consumers, who are willing to pay more for organically grown food, expect these products to be genuinely natural and pollution-free. The organic sector is far more sensitive than other sectors to problems of pollution (by chemical products, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), etc.), which can lead to serious crises with major negative economic consequences for the professionals involved and tarnish the image of the organic sector as a whole. In response to ever-growing consumer expectations, organic professionals must become ever-more vigilant and develop a specific approach aimed at guaranteeing the quality of final food products. However, the organic sector must not confine itself to this approach alone. It is important that consumers be fully informed of the major benefits that organic production can have for the environment, the preservation of natural balances and animal welfare. It is only by making the public more aware of these benefits that we will be able to ensure the harmonious development of organic production in the long term.
To convert or not to convert to organic farming.
Authors: Regouin E. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

At the end of 2002, the Netherlands had approximately 1500 organic primary-producers. From the mid-1970s onwards, the area under organic farming grew by about 16% annually although this growth has been slowing down since 2001. According to some studies conducted in the Netherlands, only a very small percentage of conventional farmers seriously consider conversion to organic production methods. There are even cases of organic growers returning to conventional agricultural production. This paper explores some of the many factors that influence such decisions and their consequences for the policy making process. A principal conclusion is that not just technical constraints, nor negative market perspectives, nor other limitations, should be addressed as the single main target of government policy. Only an integrated policy approach that addresses reality as it is and as conventional farmers perceive it will result in increased interest for organic agriculture. Most of the information in this paper is the outcome of various projects undertaken by the National Reference Centre, in which farmers and other stakeholders, both in the organic farming community and outside, gave their views and thoughts on the subject of conversion.
What are the key issues for consumers?
Authors: Lockeretz W. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

"Organic" is a complex term that to some producers and consumers implies fundamentally different values from those of mainstream society and conventional agriculture, whereas for others it has to do mainly with not using certain unacceptable materials, especially synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and additives. Therefore, organic foods are attractive to consumers in various ways, some related to the products themselves, some related to how they were produced, especially their presumed lower environmental impact, more humane treatment of livestock, and the shorter distance and more direct connection between producer and consumer. This means that although organic production standards are becoming more uniform both nationally and globally, as the organic market expands we can expect this expansion take different forms, not just in the kinds of products offered, but also in how they are distributed and sold.