Physiological characteristics and irrigation water productivity of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) in response to deficit irrigation imposed at different growing stages—A field study from Southern Iran

Iran has been faced to drought during last decades, and one way to overcome this phenomenon is to improve the water productivity by introducing new crops tolerant to water stresses such as quinoa. Two-year field experiment was performed to find out the response of quinoa (cv. Titicaca) to deficit irrigation imposed at different growing stages. Hence, the effect of full irrigation (100% irrigation water requirement) and deficit irrigation (50% full irrigation) on physiological parameters, yield, irrigation water productivity and root density of quinoa was investigated during 2016 and 2017 growing seasons. The result showed that there was a significant difference between all variables in two years. Higher average air temperature in 2017 (2.0°C) resulted in a reduction of seed yield and water productivity (55% and 40% of that obtained in 2016, respectively). Application of deficit irrigation during different growing stages reduced crop height, stomatal conductance and seed yield, while it increased the root length density in both years. In conclusion, flowering stage of quinoa was very sensitive to deficit irrigation, and irrigation at grain filling stage would not help to recover the seed yield. Furthermore, the seed yield was lower than that obtained in other studies performed in other countries using same quinoa cultivar, which could be due to higher amount of applied irrigation water and different phenology under different climatic conditions. A decision on cultivating this crop under semi-arid conditions has to be made considering limited water resources.     

Pea starch meal as a substitute for cereal grain in diets for lactating sows: The effect on sow and litter performance

The major by-product from the production of pea protein concentrate is pea starch, and this starch can be an alternative source of starch compared to for instance starch from wheat in diets for pigs. However, differences in energy utilization between pea starch and cereal starch could affect the animals' production performance. In this study data from 100 Norwegian Landrace x Yorkshire sows was collected to investigate if inclusion of 20% pea starch meal (Pisum sativum L) in diets for lactating sows affected sow and litter performance. Two cereal grain based diets were formulated, but in one of the diets part of the wheat inclusion was replaced with pea starch meal. Data collection included registrations of sow daily feed consumption, individual weight and backfat measures, litter weights, measurement of blood glucose level after feeding and reproductive performance. Sows offered the pea diet had a higher average daily (P<0.0001), weekly (P<0.01) and total feed consumption (P<0.0001) during lactation. They also had a lower weight loss during the first three weeks of lactation (P<0.001). During the last two weeks of lactation sows in both groups were on average gaining weight, but the sows offered the control diet had the highest gain in this period (P<0.05). There was a tendency for a higher backfat loss in the pea group during the first three weeks of lactation (P=0.10), but no difference was found in overall backfat loss between treatments (P>0.05). Dietary treatment did not affect litter performance during lactation (P>0.05). The weaning-to-service interval was higher among the first parity sows offered the pea diet compared to the first parity sows offered the control diet (P<0.05). Blood glucose was not affected by dietary treatment within the chosen timeframe of this study (P>0.05). This study shows that pea starch meal can be used as an alternative source of starch in diets for lactating sows. The sows offered the pea diet had the highest feed consumption during lactation, and although this was not reflected in higher weaning weights, it was reflected in an improved body condition at weaning.     

Alveld-Producing Saponins: II. Toxicological Studies

The phototoxic lamb disease alveld, prevalent in South-Western Norway, is caused by ingestion of Narthecium ossifragum. Earlier studies have shown that peroral administration of large amounts of crude saponins from this plant elicits the disease. Such saponins have now been purified further by 2 different methods (A and B). Two A type preparations resulted in alveld when fed to 2 lambs. The most highly purified preparation (type B) did not cause alveld in the 2 lambs tested. Lambs vary, however, in their susceptibility to the disease. Both types of preparations led to increases in serum aspartate aminotransferase, bilirubin and 5′-nucleotidase in rats when injected intraperitoneally in amounts of 50 or 100 mg/kg body Weight. Cannulation of the bile duct showed that injected saponins reduced both the volume of bile and the amounts of bilirubin and bile acids excreted. Histological changes seen in the light microscope were, except for the most peripheral parts of the liver, hardly noticable. These observations support the view that saponins are the liver-toxic agents responsible for alveld. The possibility is discussed that the effect arises through a change in the lipid environment of carrier-mediated transport systems.     

Urban-fringe afforestation projects and taxable hedonic values

In 1989, the Danish Parliament announced a forest policy goal to double the forest area within 60–100 years. One of the objectives of this policy was to improve the recreational possibilities for the urban population. Therefore, focus has been on enhancing public afforestation projects close to urban centres with little nearby forest. We know from previous research that mature local forests possess significant amenity values; the question is whether this is also true for afforestation projects. This study examines the residents’ willingness to pay (WTP) for proximity to urban-fringe afforestation projects, using a hedonic pricing approach to estimate the effect on house prices in the neighbourhood of two afforestation projects. In both cases a significant increase in house prices in the time of afforestation is found; an increase the larger the closer the house is to the new forest. The study also examines the role of property taxes when the rise is proportional to house prices. The increased annual property tax people expect and are willing to pay in addition to the premium on the house value has to be included in the analysis to avoid serious misestimation of the total welfare economic implications of the afforestation.