Es necesario analizar tecnologias de bajo costo que permita incluir leguminosas forrajeras en los sistemas productivos campesinos de bajos ingresos. Con tal proposito, se evaluo la inmersion en agua caliente como metodo efectivo, sencillo de aplicar y economico para romper la latencia de semillas de cinco leguminosas. Cassia tomentosa L. f., Cassia xiphoidea Bertol., Dalea leporina (Aiton) Bullock., Medicago polymorpha L. y Melilotus indica (L.) All. Se aplico agua caliente a diferentes temperaturas, desde agua corriente (18 grados C) hasta agua en ebullicion (93 grados C) por tres minutos, como metodo de escarificacion. Las especies en cuestion, con excepcion de M. polymorpha, respondieron positivamente al metodo de escarificacion, ya que aumentaron el porcentaje de germinacion con respecto al testigo. C. tomentosa mejoro de 13 a 54 %; C. xiphoidea, de 6 a 85 %; D. leporina, de 16 a 83 %; y M. indica, de 18 a 49 %. Medicago polymorpha respondio negativamente al tratamiento, reduciendo su germinacion de 49 a 27 %. | It is necessary to study low cost technologies to incorporate leguminous fodder in the productive systems of low income farmers. Therefore, we evaluate the effect of hot water as an effective, easy to apply, and economic method to break the seed dormancy of five leguminous species: Cassia tomentosa L. f., Cassia xiphoidea Bertol., Dalea leporina (Aiton) Bullock., Medicago polymorpha L., and Melilotus indica (L.) All. Hot water at several temperatures, from 18 deg C to boiling water (93 deg C) was applied for three minutes as scarification method. The above mentioned species, except M. polymorpha responded positively to the scarification method increasing their germination percentage, in Cassia tomentosa from 13 to 54 %, in C. xiphoidea from 6 to 85 %, in D. leporina from 16 to 83 %, and in M. indica from 18 to 49 %. Medicago polymorpha showed a negative response to the treatment, since its germination was decreased from 49 to 27 %.

Con el fin de prolongar el periodo de vida útil durante la conservación frigorífica de manzanas "Red Delicious" y "Golden Delicious", éstas se trataron con radiación UV-C en tres dosis (0, 5 y 15 min de irradiación a 1,435 x 10E-4 W/cm cuadrado) y agua caliente con CaCl2 al 4% en cuatro niveles (control 0, inmersión a 25 grados C 10 min, 38 grados C 5 min ó 54 grados C 1 min), en un diseño factorial con 4 repeticiones por tratamiento. La irradiación con UV-C y la inmersión de los frutos en agua caliente permitió alargar el periodo de conservación y mejoró la calidad de manzanas "Red Delicious" y "Golden Delicious" tras el almacenamiento en frío. Ambos tratamientos aumentaron la acidez titulable y la firmeza de los frutos, también disminuyeron el pH y la relación sólidos solubles/acidez. El tratamiento con UV-C y agua caliente incrementó el contenido en calcio de los frutos durante el almacenamiento. Los resultados muestran que estos tratamientos pueden retrasar los procesos de maduración de los frutos y mantener su calidad durante el almacenamiento frigorífico, así como aumentar el contenido en Ca de la pulpa del fruto y por tanto incrementar su valor nutricional. | To increase the storage shelf life of "Red Delicious" and "Golden Delicious" apples they were treated with UV-C irradiation at doses of 0, 5 and 15 min irradiation at 1.435 x 10E-4 W/square cm and with hot water containing 4% CaCl2 at four levels (control, dipping at 25 deg C for 10 min, dipping at 38 deg C for 5 min and dipping in 54 deg C for 1 min) in a factorial design with 4 replicates. The results showed that UV-C irradiation and dipping of fruit in hot water increased the storage life and improved fruit quality factors in "Red Delicious" and "Golden Delicious" apples at the end of cold storage. Both UV-C and hot water treatments decreased pH and total soluble solids/titratable acids ratio and increased fruit titratable acids and firmness. UV-C and hot water treatment increased fruit Ca content during storage. The results showed that UV-C and hot water treatment can retard fruit ripening and maintain fruit quality in cold storage. These treatments can also increase Ca concentration of fruit flesh and thus increase the nutritional value of the apples.

Frutos de tuna (Opuntia ficus - indica (L.) Mill.), se sometieron a la aplicacion de agua caliente y cera (sin fungicidas), para estudiar su comportamiento en postcosecha. Se realizaron tratamientos sin agua, de inmersion en agua (2 minutos a 25 C), y de inmersion en agua caliente (2 minutos a 55 C) todos con y sin cera. La fruta se almaceno a 0 C y 85-90% de humedad relativa (HR). Se realizaron evaluaciones a los 28, 35 y 42 dias de almacenaje refrigerado luego de un periodo de exposicion y venta simulada (a 18 C y 50-60% HR) de 3 dias. Se evaluo: deshidratacion, pudriciones, daño por espinas (manchas rojas), apariencia externa, color de fondo, firmeza, solidos solubles, pH y acidez titulable. Adicionalmente, el grado de aceptabilidad de los distintos tratamientos fue evaluado por un panel, usando una pauta no estructurado. Los tratamientos de inmersion en agua caliente disminuyeron la incidencia de pudriciones y manchas rojas sin causar efectos perjudiciales sobre la firmeza, apariencia externa o aceptabilidad de los frutos de tuna. El encerado reduce en bajo porcentaje la deshidratacion de los frutos, pero intensifica el color y el brillo, mejorando la apariencia externa. Los beneficios conferidos por el tratamiento de imnersion de 2 minutos en agua a 55 C, permiten prolongar la vida de postcosecha, con buena calidad de la fruta, por 31 (28 + 3) dias. La aplicacion de agua caliente ayuda a la conservacion de los frutos de tuna en postcosecha

Understanding groundwater-pumpage sources is essential for assessing impacts on water resources and sustainability. The objective of this study was to quantify pumping impacts and sources in dipping, unconfined/confined aquifers in the Gulf Coast (USA) using the Texas Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer. Potentiometric-surface and streamflow data and groundwater modeling were used to evaluate sources and impacts of pumpage. Estimated groundwater storage is much greater in the confined aquifer (2,200 km3) than in the unconfined aquifer (170 km3); however, feasibility of abstraction depends on pumpage impacts on the flow system. Simulated pre-development recharge (0.96 km3/yr) discharged through evapotranspiration (ET, ∼37%), baseflow to streams (∼57%), and to the confined aquifer (∼6%). Transient simulations (1980–1999) show that pumpage changed three out of ten streams from gaining to losing in the semiarid south and reversed regional vertical flow gradients in ∼40% of the entire aquifer area. Simulations of predictive pumpage to 2050 indicate continued storage depletion (41% from storage, 32% from local discharge, and 25% from regional discharge capture). It takes ∼100 yrs to recover 40% of storage after pumpage ceases in the south. This study underscores the importance of considering capture mechanism and long-term system response in developing water-management strategies.

A hydrogeological study was conducted in northwestern New Brunswick, Canada, to improve the predictability of fracture-dominated groundwater flow within folded bedrock composed of fine-grained turbidites. Borehole televiewer logging and outcrop mapping, integrated with hydraulic packer tests revealed enhanced hydraulic conductivity associated with northeasterly striking bedding-plane fractures formed during folding and flexural slip. These fractures impart azimuthal anisotropy to the aquifer because of moderately dipping fold limbs. High-angle fractures form a well-developed non-stratabound network, comprising two open fracture sets striking NNE parallel to the current direction of principal stress, and WNW parallel to the direction of principal stress that dominated during the Acadian orogeny. The subset of fractures showing significant oxidation, deemed most important to the groundwater flow system, is dominated by bedding-plane and high-angle fractures striking near-parallel to the maximum principal stress direction, resulting in extensional opening and enhanced hydraulic conductivities. An equivalent porous media model, incorporating anisotropy and varying hydraulic conductivity with depth, indicates that horizontal flow dominates the aquifer with relatively minor exchange between different model layers. These findings have implications for understanding flow directions in the Black Brook Watershed and elsewhere in the Matapédia Basin where fractures formed under similar stress conditions.