Wireless sensor networks applications and inter-machine communication (M2M), called the Internet of Things, help decision-makers to control complex systems thanks to the low data-rate and cost-effective data collection and analysis. These technologies offer new possibilities to monitor environmental management and agricultural policies, and to improve agricultural production, especially in low-income rural areas. In this study, IoT is proposed with a low cost, flexible and scalable data collection and analysis system. For this purpose, open source hardware microprocessor cards and sensors are stored in the greenhouse computer database using the IEEE 802.15.4 Zigbee wireless communication protocol. The data can be analyzed by greenhouse computer analysis software, which is developed with the PHP programming language. It is possible to monitor the real time data from the greenhouse computer. Also alert rules definitions can be made and the system was tested in greenhouse conditions. It has been observed that it performs operations steadily such as data transfer, sensor measurements and data processing. The proposed system may be useful for monitoring indoor climate and controlling ventilation, irrigation and heating systems, especially for small enterprises due to the modular structure.

Abstract Mombasa grass is very demanding and responsive to soil fertility. The objective of the present study was to evaluate forage production and the correlation among crude protein and the green color index of leaves of Megathyrsus maximum cultivar Mombasa in function of nitrogen levels. The study was conducted using 5 dm-3 pots in a greenhouse at the Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, São Paulo. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with five treatments and four replications. Treatments were nitrogen rates (0, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg dm-3 of N), corresponding to 0, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 kg ha-1 of N. We evaluated the production of grass dry matter, the green color index, the accumulation of nitrogen and crude protein content in the shoot. Nitrogen fertilization increased forage production, crude protein, nitrogen accumulation and green color index of Mombasa grass. There is high correlation of the green color index with the crude protein content. | Resumo O capim Mombaça é muito exigente e responsivo em fertilidade do solo. Objetivou-se avaliar a produção de forragem e a correlação entre a proteína bruta com o índice da cor verde da folha de Megathyrsus maximum cultivar Mombaça, em função de doses de nitrogênio. O estudo foi realizado em vasos de 5 dm³ conduzido em casa de vegetação na Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, São Paulo. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos inteiramente casualizados com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos por doses de nitrogênio (0, 62,5, 125, 250 e 500 mg dm-3 de N), correspondentes a 0, 125, 250, 500 e 1.000 kg ha-1 de N. Foram avaliados a produção de matéria seca do capim, o índice da cor verde, o acúmulo de nitrogênio e o teor de proteína bruta na parte aérea. A adubação nitrogenada aumentou a produção de forragem, teor de proteína bruta, acúmulo de nitrogênio e índice da cor verde no capim Mombaça. Existe alta correlação do índice da cor verde com o teor de proteína bruta.

Mombasa grass is very demanding and responsive to soil fertility. The objective of the present study was to evaluate forage production and the correlation among crude protein and the green color index of leaves of Megathyrsus maximum cultivar Mombasa in function of nitrogen levels. The study was conducted using 5 dm-3 pots in a greenhouse at the Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, Jaboticabal, São Paulo. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with five treatments and four replications. Treatments were nitrogen rates (0, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg dm-3 of N), corresponding to 0, 125, 250, 500 and 1000 kg ha-1 of N. We evaluated the production of grass dry matter, the green color index, the accumulation of nitrogen and crude protein content in the shoot. Nitrogen fertilization increased forage production, crude protein, nitrogen accumulation and green color index of Mombasa grass. There is high correlation of the green color index with the crude protein content.

Meat is one of the main nutrition source in the human diet with its excellent protein, vitamin and mineral contents. Despite its advantages, being high-priced makes meat products open to adulteration. Meat products are mixed food types which can contain different species of meat. However, mixing two or more types of meats is not always allowed by laws. On the other hand, replacement high quality meats with cheaper meat types are a cost lowering way for the producers. The commonly consumed meat types differ from country to country, but generally economical, ethnic and religion concerns are in the foreground. In this case, species identification techniques are gaining importance. Although some techniques depending on DNA or spectroscopy have been developed for many years, choosing the best method for species identification is still among the controversial issues today. Thus, the currently used methods and promising techniques in this area were discussed in this review.

In strawberry, potassium fertilization has been little studied, which difficult management strategies for an increasing yield and understanding the use of this nutrient in strawberry crop. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of sources and rates of potassium (K) fertilizers on yield, K level and agronomic traits of strawberry cv. Camarosa fruit, carried out under greenhouse conditions. A randomized in a completely block design with four replicates in a factorial arranged 6x3 (six rates of potassium x three sources of potassium fertilizers), was performed. Fertilizers sources used were as follows: potassium sulphate, potassium nitrate and potassium chloride in 0, 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 kg ha-1 K2O doses. An increasing potassium rates have allowed a higher potassium content in leaves and fruits. A higher potassium content in leaves was obtained by KNO3 (11.70 g kg-1). Yield, fruit number per plant and potassium extraction per plant, increased linearly with the evaluated doses and fruit average weight at a dose of 183 kg ha-1. There was no significant difference among potassium content in leaves. Strawberry production is maximized through potassium fertilization, independent of the source origin. | En fresa, se ha estudiado poco la fertilización potásica, lo que complica las estrategias de manejo para aumentar la productividad, y para la comprensión de la utilización de este nutriente en el cultivo de la fresa. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la influencia de las fuentes y dosis de fertilizantes de potasio (K) en el rendimiento, la concentración de K, y las características agronómicas de la fruta de fresa cv. Camarosa, cultivada en condiciones de invernadero. El diseño experimental fue completamente al azar, con cuatro repeticiones, en un 6x3 factorial (seis tasas de K x tres fuentes de fertilizantes potásicos). Las fuentes utilizadas fueron sulfato de potasio, nitrato de potasio y cloruro de potasio aplicado en las siguientes tasas: 0, 60, 120, 180, 240 y 300 kg ha-1 de K2O. Las tasas crecientes de potasio permitieron un mayor contenido de potasio en hojas y frutos. El contenido de potasio más alto a nivel foliar más alto fue obtenido a través de KNO3 (11,70 g kg-1). El rendimiento, número de frutos por planta y la extracción de potasio por planta, aumentó linealmente con las dosis evaluadas y el peso medio del fruto a una dosis de 183 kg. ha-1. No hubo diferencia significativa entre las fuentes de potasio para el contenido foliar de potasio. La producción de fresa se maximiza mediante la fertilización potásica, independientemente del origen de la fuente.

Land use management requires controlling natural resources for sustainability. Soil erosion related to improper land use is a major issue around the world. Land degradation may harm the health of ecosystems. Defining the soil loss in a basin is the starting point in the restoration of soil quality for crop production. Reducing soil losses to a tolerable rate is one of the primary objectives for sustainability and soil conservation. Central Anatolia is under considerable risk due to an increase in the cultivation of marginal lands for food production. Cultivated lands have already been reached the final limits throughout the last 50 years. Moreover, forests and considerable areas of pasture have recently been converted to ploughed fields due to agricultural expansion. This study was conducted in the Sarısu basin to evaluate soil losses and land use management for sustainability. The Universal Soil Loss Equation model and Geographic Information System techniques were used to estimate the soil losses. The mean potential soil loss of the basin was calculated to be 1.88 t ha-1 per year with the Universal Soil Loss Equation model. These results are comparatively small when compared to the average value for Turkey of 13 t ha-1 yearly. Our calculated results are closer to the value for the Sakarya river basin, which is approximately 2.77 t ha-1 y-1. In this study, land usages in the Sarısu basin were evaluated in terms of soil losses, tolerable soil loss rates and soil conservation precautions.

En Famatina, La Rioja (Argentina) en cultivo de ajo (Allium sativum L.) en suelo franco arenoso se dispusieron melgas con los tratamientos de suelo siguientes: T1 = 2 años consecutivos sin fertilizantes ni abono después de 1 año sin cultivar; T2 = 2 años consecutivos con fertilizantes químicos (FQ) y 1 año previo con cultivo de ajo; T3 = 1 año con FQ más 23 t/ha de abono orgánico caprino precedido de un cultivo de avena (Avena sativa L.); T = 2 años consecutivos con FQ y abono caprino (23 t/ha) en suelo cultivado previamente con avena; T5 = 1 año con FQ después de 2 años cultivado con avena; T6 = 1 año con FQ y 2 años previos con cultivo de alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Se tomaron muestras de suelo a la siembra y en la cosecha hasta 80 cm de profundidad. Se empleó el análisis de componente principal (ACP) para las variables de suelo. Los contenidos de materia orgánica, NO3 -, N total, P y K fueron favorecidos por los T3 y T4 en comparación con el T2. El cultivo de alfalfa favoreció los menores valores de pH (6.2) y conductividad eléctrica (CE) asociados con valores máximos de nitratos entre 30 y 80 cm de profundidad. En esta profundidad, los T3 y T4 presentaron contenidos de nitrato similares a los de T2 y T5. En el T2, después de 2 años el pH cambió de 7.2 a 6.8, el contenido de C de 0.6 a 0.4% y aumentó la CE de 1.9 a 2.8 dS/m.

En Famatina, La Rioja (Argentina) en cultivo de ajo (Allium sativum L.) en suelo franco arenoso se dispusieron melgas con los tratamientos de suelo siguientes: T1 = 2 años consecutivos sin fertilizantes ni abono después de 1 año sin cultivar; T2 = 2 años consecutivos con fertilizantes químicos (FQ) y 1 año previo con cultivo de ajo; T3 = 1 año con FQ más 23 t/ha de abono orgánico caprino precedido de un cultivo de avena (Avena sativa L.); T = 2 años consecutivos con FQ y abono caprino (23 t/ha) en suelo cultivado previamente con avena; T5 = 1 año con FQ después de 2 años cultivado con avena; T6 = 1 año con FQ y 2 años previos con cultivo de alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Se tomaron muestras de suelo a la siembra y en la cosecha hasta 80 cm de profundidad. Se empleó el análisis de componente principal (ACP) para las variables de suelo. Los contenidos de materia orgánica, NO3 -, N total, P y K fueron favorecidos por los T3 y T4 en comparación con el T2. El cultivo de alfalfa favoreció los menores valores de pH (6.2) y conductividad eléctrica (CE) asociados con valores máximos de nitratos entre 30 y 80 cm de profundidad. En esta profundidad, los T3 y T4 presentaron contenidos de nitrato similares a los de T2 y T5. En el T2, después de 2 años el pH cambió de 7.2 a 6.8, el contenido de C de 0.6 a 0.4% y aumentó la CE de 1.9 a 2.8 dS/m. | The study was carried out with garlic (Allium sativum L.) cropped in a sandy loam soil in Famatina, La Rioja Argentine. Strips of soil were used with the following soil treatments: T1, a 2-year period with no fertilizers or manure after one year without cropping; T2, a 2-year period with chemical fertilizers (CF) preceded by garlic.); T3, combined use of CF and 23 t ha-1 of goat feces for a 1-year period preceded by oats (Avena sativa L.); T4 pooled CF and 23 t ha-1 of goat feces for a 2-year period preceded by oats; T5 a 1-year period with CF came after an oat crop of two years; and T6, use of CF following a 2-year period of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Soil samples were taken at planting and at harvest from top soil to 80 cm depth . The PCA ( principal Component Analysis) was used to analyze soil variables. The levels of OM, nitrates, total N, P and K were favored at the T3 and T4 compared to T2. The alfalfa crop showed the lowest pH (6.2) and EC( electrical conductivity) levels which were associated to the highest nitrate contents between 30-80 cm depth . At this soil depth, nitrate contents of T3 and T4 were similar to that of T2 and T5. In the 2nd year of T2, pH changed (from 7.2 to 6.8) and C content (from 0.6 to 0.4 %), and EC increased (1.9 to 2.8 dS m-1).