Combining rainfall–runoff and hydrodynamic models for simulating flow under the impact of climate change to the lower Sai Gon-Dong Nai River basin

This study presented simulation results of runoff discharge combining the Mike NAM and Mike SHE models for lower Sai Gon-Dong Nai River basin (SG-DNRB). Sai Gon-Dong Nai River basin is Vietnam’s largest population center and main industrial area in Ho Chi Minh City. In recent years, the area faces flooding problems because of heavy rainfalls and high tides, as part of the impacts of climate change and sea level rise. The lower of SG-DNRB was selected as a case study to highlight the necessity to investigate combination of the rainfall–runoff model and the hydrodynamic model for long-term strategies to resource water in the future. The models were calibrated using water level and runoff discharge data during low and flood seasons in 2014. The calibrated results showed satisfactory coefficients (NASH index, R² up to 0.70 and RMSE is smaller than 0.20). The results confirmed that the combination of Mike NAM and Mike SHE models is well suitable to simulate runoff discharge in the lower SG-DNRB. Combination of the models can be considered a useful tool to help professional agency operator water resources management projects in other areas in the context of climate change and sea level rise.     

Diffusion of chemicals into archaeological waterlogged hardwoods obtained from the Thang Long Imperial Citadel site,Vietnam

This study shows a method to easily develop suitable impregnation procedure of chemicals for preserving the archaeological waterlogged wood (WW) using diffusion constant. The steady-state diffusion coefficients of polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG4000), trehalose, and keratin through eight archaeological waterlogged wood species were obtained from the total amounts of the chemicals diffused through the wood samples. The diffusion coefficients were strongly affected by the anatomical structures of the wood species and degree of wood deterioration. Within the same species of wood, the highest diffusion rates were measured in the longitudinal direction, followed by those in the radial and tangential directions. The longitudinal diffusion coefficients were 1.5- to 8.1-times higher than the radial diffusion coefficients, which were in turn approximately 1.1- to 5.7-times higher than the tangential diffusion coefficients. The diffusion rates were found to be inversely proportional to the molecular weight of the diffusing chemical. The diffusivity of trehalose through the waterlogged woods was found to be higher than those of keratin and PEG4000. This study provides a potential method to easily estimate chemical diffusion coefficients for dip-diffusion treatments.     

Viruses affecting tomato crops in Serbia

In a two-year survey (2011–2012), 3220 samples were collected and analyzed in order to determine the presence and distribution of viruses in tomato crops at 56 localities of 18 districts in Serbia. Out of 12 viruses tested, Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Potato virus Y (PVY), Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) and Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) were detected in 42.1, 40, 11, 8.6, 2.3 and 1.3% of the total tested samples, respectively. The results revealed that CMV was prevalent in 2011 and PVY in 2012. CMV and PVY, apart from being predominant, were also the most widespread viruses. In general, single infections were the most frequent type of infection. Additionally, the most common mixed infections were double infections and the most prevalent combination was CMV and PVY. In 2011, the incidence of diseases and the percentage of all infection types were significantly higher than in 2012. Furthermore, in 2011, regardless of total single infections being prevalent compared to mixed infections, two prevailing viruses were commonly detected in mixed infections. The additional molecular testing of ELISA-negative samples using virus specific primers did not reveal the presence of Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLC), Tomato infections chlorosis virus (TICV) and Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV).     

Effect of Vermicompost in Media on Growth,Yield and Fruit Quality of Cherry Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentun Mill.) Under Net House Conditions

Effects of VC application on tomato production and media properties can last for the third successive season, which was verified in this study to evaluate effects of VC application on growth, productivity and fruit quality of cherry tomato for the third season. Six treatments were designed similarly in the first and second seasons (unchanged design compared to the previous season), including: VC with rice husk ash (RHS) and coconut fiber (CF) 0% VC+ 50% RHS +50% CF (T1- control), respectively. 20%VC + 40% RHS + 40% CF(T2), 40% VC+ 30% RHS + 30% CF(T3), 60% VC + 20% RHS + 20% CF(T4), 80% VC + 10% RHS + 10% CF(T5), and 100% VC(T6). The results showed that the pH, EC, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg available in media were increased with the addition of VC. This finding revealed that the addition of VC significantly improved the physic-chemical media properties, increasing the EC and also increasing the macronutrients in the media resulting in substantial increased the yield and quality of tomato fruits. It is concluded that EC of VC was the key factor for the positive increase of the productivity and quality of tomato and the salinity (EC at 3.52 dS/m) causing restriction of water to fruits that resulted in the increase of the total soluble solids in tomato fruit and without affecting yield reduction.     

Effects of Continuously Applied Vermicompost on Media Properties,Growth, Yield,and Fruit Quality of Two Tomato Varieties

In the first and second seasons, growth and yield of tomato were also influenced by different vermicompost (VC) rates and reused VC. Obviously, increasing VC proportion led to the augmentation of electrical conductivity (EC), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in planting media in both seasons. However, in the first season, the nutrient absorbent ability of tomato was remarkably higher compared to those in the second season due to higher available nutrient in the media of the first season. This may influence the shoot dry weight as well as the yield of tomato in both seasons. In T4 treatment, the yield attained the highest value in the first season for both varieties with the values of 562.3 and 812.4 g/plant for small honey (V1) and graces (V2), respectively. In the second season, the N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in media significantly decreased compared to those in the first season (496.4 g/plant-V1 and 508.3 g/plant-V2). In comparison, the yields in the first season were higher those in second season by 13.2% and 59.8% for V1 and V2, respectively. However, in the second season, the maximum yield found in T5 (508.3 g/plant-V1 and 682.2 g/plant-V2) and declining by 10.6 and 19.1% compared to those in the first season for V1 and V2, respectively. This can be explained that amounts of nutrients from the media in the first season had supported the growth and development of tomato, resulting deficiency of nutrients in the media for the second season.     

The Perceived Value of Passive Animal Health Surveillance: The Case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Vietnam

Economic evaluations are critical for the assessment of the efficiency and sustainability of animal health surveillance systems and the improvement of their efficiency. Methods identifying and quantifying costs and benefits incurred by public and private actors of passive surveillance systems (i.e. actors of veterinary authorities and private actors who may report clinical signs) are needed. This study presents the evaluation of perceived costs and benefits of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) passive surveillance in Vietnam. Surveys based on participatory epidemiology methods were conducted in three provinces in Vietnam to collect data on costs and benefits resulting from the reporting of HPAI suspicions to veterinary authorities. A quantitative tool based on stated preference methods and participatory techniques was developed and applied to assess the non‐monetary costs and benefits. The study showed that poultry farmers are facing several options regarding the management of HPAI suspicions, besides reporting the following: treatment, sale or destruction of animals. The option of reporting was associated with uncertain outcome and transaction costs. Besides, actors anticipated the release of health information to cause a drop of markets prices. This cost was relevant at all levels, including farmers, veterinary authorities and private actors of the upstream sector (feed, chicks and medicine supply). One benefit associated with passive surveillance was the intervention of public services to clean farms and the environment to limit the disease spread. Private actors of the poultry sector valued information on HPAI suspicions (perceived as a non‐monetary benefit) which was mainly obtained from other private actors and media.     

A closer look into shrimp yields and mangrove coverage ratio in integrated mangrove-shrimp farming systems in Ca Mau,Vietnam

Shrimp aquaculture is the biggest source of export income in Vietnam. However, the development of the shrimp poses a serious threat to coastal mangroves by converting coastal mangroves into shrimp farms. Much effort has been made to replant mangroves and reduce the impacts of shrimp farming on the environment, and maintaining mangrove coverage at 30–50% of total farm area has provided the highest benefits in the integrated mangrove shrimp model. In this study, we re-examine the benefits of forest cover on the survival and yield of tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) in the integrated mangrove shrimp farming systems in Ca Mau province, Vietnam. The study found positive linear correlations of log transformed survival and yield of tiger shrimp with forest cover of the forms: Ln (survival)?=????1.39?+?0.038?×?forest coverage (r²?=?0.22; p value?=?0.0007); Ln (yield)?=?3.55?+?0.026?×?forest coverage (r²?=?0.16; p value?=?0.004). The households with high forest cover (i.e.,?>?45%) also had 1.07?±?0.29 and 1.39?±?0.36 (CI 95%, p value?=?0.000) kg ha^?1 higher yield per night harvest than those with medium and low forest cover, respectively. As a result, households with high forest cover have higher benefits than those with lower forest cover. Our findings together with previous published studies lead to the recommendation that farmers maintain mangroves in farming systems for better economic and environmental benefits.

     

Phylogeography and conservation gaps of Musa balbisiana Colla genetic diversity revealed by microsatellite markers

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Collection and storage of crop wild relative (CWR) germplasm is crucial for preserving species genetic diversity and crop improvement. Nevertheless, much of...