Economic profit from increased litter size,body weight and pelt quality in mink (Mustela vison)

Economic benefits of improving litter size, body weight (i.e. pelt length) and pelt quality were estimated in mink. Effects of the size of the litter in which the kit was born, on pelt length and pelt quality, were also assessed. The traits were recorded during a selection experiment involving the traits litter size, body weight and underfur density. Skins originating from litters of ≥10 kits tended to be smaller and sold at a lower price, compared with pelts from smaller litters. Litter size did not seem to affect fur quality. Pelt quality score decreased with increasing September weight. Pelts of animals with September weights of < 2000 g and pelting weights of < 2300 g had a lower sales price than pelts of heavier animals. Pelt quality had only a small effect on the price The highest economic gain was achieved by increasing litter size. The net revenue from each extra kit per litter was, in Swedish Kronor, SEK 70, 122 and 170 at an average sales price of SEK 150, 200 and 250, respectively.     

Can You Ensure that ICT for Development Apps Are Downloaded and Used? A Case Study of the Plantwise Data Collection App for Plant Health in Kenya

This study used a field experiment and the means-end chain approach to examine the effect of providing information on the biofortification process on consumers' acceptance of orange-fleshed sweetpotato (OFSP). Negative, positive, and neutral information about the biofortification were verbally provided. Images were used to reinforce the verbal information. Meaning representation (mental models) of various constructs relating to OFSP was assessed. We found that the structure of mental constructs differed depending on the type of information provided and concluded that the type of information consumers receive about the biofortification process affects OFSP acceptance. Implications of the findings for policy and development practice are discussed.     

Accuracy of COD Test for Landfill Leachates

COD (chemical oxygen demand) has historically been considered to be an estimate of organic matter, and though this is no longer the case, for most kinds of water it is still a fair approximation. Landfill leachates may, however, be one of the exceptions. Landfill leachate contains many inorganic substances and, in certain circumstances, high concentrations of volatile organic compounds like acetic acid; the COD value may be affected by these conditions. Designed experiments were performed to determine how COD could be affected by the composition of landfill leachates. The factors studied include the content of iron(II), manganese(II), sulphide, ethanol, acetic acid, ammonia, and chloride as well as different aspects of the COD analysis design. The results show that up to about one-third of COD may be due to the inorganic components of leachates. The main conclusion from the experiments is that COD cannot be used solely as a measure of the organic matter of landfill leachate since inorganic substances as well as interactions between substances may interfere with the COD results.     

Effects of Leachate Irrigation on Landfill Vegetation and Subsequent Methane Emissions

Short-rotation tree forests are irrigated with landfill leachate to reduce both leachate volume and nutrient content. It is of interest both for leachate treatment and energy recovery to optimise the productivity of such plantations. This study's aim was to investigate the effects of irrigation on soil quality, tree growth and on emissions of landfill gas (LFG) produced in the wastes. Soils irrigated with leachate had a higher average nutrient and organic matter contents, and a lower dry solids content. Larger trees occur on plots irrigated with leachate, presumably due to the positive effect of water and nutrient supply. The willows used in this experiment seemed to be tolerant of high carbon dioxide concentrations, as no statistically effect arising from LFG emissions could be linked to tree growth. Methane oxidation levels between 50 and 950 mol m^-2 yr^-1 were observed. The positive correlation between soil methane oxidation capacity and tree presence is an interesting perspective on reduction of methane emissions by landfill's top cover vegetation type. Optimising methane oxidation using vegetation as a ‘cover crop’ could reduce the amount of methane discharged into the atmosphere.