Agricultura Scientia

The Effects of Hedgerows Shading on Soil Temperature and Gravimetric Soil Water Content

Andreja Borec; Tina Lešnik, Tadeja Kraner Šumenjak, Mateja Muršec — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0100

This study sets out to examine the effects of hedgerow shading on soil physical properties, specifically soil gravimetric water content and soil temperature. Analyses of both soil parameters were conducted at two locations with different shade proportion. The aim of the study was to address the links between hedgerow shading and basic physical soil properties which could be significant both for agricultural production and for ecological processes in agroecosystems. At both locations, soil samples and measurements were taken at different distances from hedgerow and in different time intervals. Diurnal shading variation at certain distances from the hedgerow on Location 1 and 2 was calculated with the software toll for Arboriculturists. At Location 1 shading is consistently high throughout the year, ranging from 76 to 100%. In contrast, shading at Location 2 varies from 1 to 25%. The results reveal that hedgerows at Location 1, do not have a statistically significant impact on gravimetric soil water content and soil temperature across the entire plot surface. Additionally, the percentage of shading is only marginally decreases with distance. Conversely, Location 2 exhibits an increase in soil temperature and a slight but (non-significant) decrease in soil gravimetric water
content as the distance from the hedgerow increases., The total mean shading at Location 2 is considerably lower compared to Location 1, and the shading percentage declines more at the distance from the hedgerow increases. Overall, lower soil temperatures and higher gravimetric soil water content where observed at the more shaded Location 1. The research outcomes are helpful in agricultural production planning as well as in the evaluation of hedgerows for the needs of agricultural policy.

Investment Plan and Evaluation of the Transition of a Farm to a Wellness Tourist Farm

Tatjana Klakočar, Karmen Pažek, Lazar Pavić — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 20:06:28 +0100

This study aimed to develop a commercial concept for transforming farms into wellness tourist destinations. The proposed scenario involved the renovation of a hayrack into a highend tourist accommodation, comprising relaxation rooms with panoramic glass walls and the renovation of the barns, as well as an outdoor swimming pond. The research methods included
description, compilation, and synthesis to explore the legislation in Slovenia related to investment performance and trends in wellness tourism to support the realisation of the proposed investment. Furthermore, the study used the method of financial estimation of investment using cost-benefit analysis to facilitate the transition. Four datasets were used for the estimation: investment income, investment costs, end value of the investment, and annual interest rate. The estimated investment cost was €530,000 and the total estimated revenue was €192,720, with total costs amounting to 50% of the total income, as well as an annual cash flow of €96,360, which was used in the assessment of the investment return period. According to the findings, the investment return period is 15 years with the lowest annual cash flow and interest rate of 3.5%. However, caution is advised due to uncertainties in the long-term costs of raw materials and energy.

Overview of Communication Activities and a Plan to Improve Public Perception of Food Additives

Ana Starman, Elizabeta Mičović, Tomaž Langerholc — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 20:16:27 +0100

Food additives are considered a high-risk factor by the EU and Slovenian consumers, although they are strictly regulated by the authorities and pose a low risk to consumers. However, risk communication about food additives is challenging and involves the interactive exchange of information about hazards, taking into account the risk perception of the target groups. A plan for communication activities aimed at improving public perception of food additives was structured based on the review of scientific literature and the overview of previous communication efforts communicated by various information sources to raise awareness among the Slovenian public from January 2015 to January 2022. The overview included governmental and nongovernmental organizations that are credible sources of information on food safety for Slovenian consumers at the national and EU level. The objective was to develop an effective communication plan on food additives with defined objectives, target groups, key communication messages, communication activities, tools, and channels. The proposed plan can serve as a good basis for launching an effective awareness campaign on food additives to reduce public concern and improve the knowledge of average
consumers about the use of additives in food.

Expressing Added Value in Food Supply Chains

Nejc Zidar, Jernej Turk, Jernej Prišenk — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 20:25:44 +0100

Value-added food supply chains are chains that maintain positive social, environmental, and community values which are integrated into the production process from the primary producer to the final consumer, ensuring economic, social, and environmental sustainability, thus forming a sustainable agricultural and food production system. The evaluation of the value added in each chain is based on indicators, which are a tool to measure changes in the actual situation or to show performance trends in achieving the progress set by the objectives. The presented indicators are based on publicly available statistics and foreign literature that allow measuring value added in specific livestock chains at aggregate level (beef production, pork production and dairy production) and are based on publicly available statistics in the Republic of Slovenia. The need to produce indicators of value added in livestock food supply chains arises from the large differences in structural changes in the sector itself and in the development and economic performance of the various livestock industries.

Diversity Analysis of Adult Chironomidae in the Lake Victoria Basin of Kenya

Walter Odhiambo Otieno, Reuben Oyoo Mosi, Peter Bulli — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 20:37:05 +0100

Chironomidae commonly inhabits most aquatic habitats and often dominate aquatic insect communities in abundance and species richness. Despite their ecological importance, the diversity and distribution of chironomids in the Lake Victoria ecosystem of Kenya have not been studied to date. Here we report on the diversity and distribution of adult Chironomidae in Usenge, Mbita and Ogal beaches of the Lake Victoria ecosystem in Kenya using morphological features and sequence data of Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Wing venation-based microscopic characterization identified four genera, Tanypus, Coelotanypus, Dicrotendipes and Chironomus. The COI gene barcoding further revealed several species, including Kiefferulus brevibucca, Chironomus flaviplumus, Polypedilum fuscovittatum, Polypedilum sp. and Dicrotendipes sp. The identified species were grouped into three clusters based on neighbor-joining phylogenetic approach. Differences in species richness were observed among the three study sites, with Mbita exhibiting the highest species richness. The evolutionary analysis revealed relatedness among all the identified species, suggesting a shared recent common ancestor. Unlike previous studies, this study represents the
first report on detailed characterization of Chironomidae in the Lake Victoria ecosystem of Kenya. Moreover, this study serves as a first step towards a comprehensive understanding of the range of species of Chironomidae inhabiting this ecosystem.