Search results for "farming"
showing 10 items of 302 documents
Screening of ecotoxicological, qualitative and reproductive variables in male European sea bassDicentrarchus labrax(L.) reared in three different fis…
2013
The aim of this work was to do a preliminary seasonal screening of ecotoxicological biomarkers in European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax in three different fish farms, to know if the different location and typology can discriminate them. A set of selected biomarkers of xenobiotic exposure, such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, Glutathione (GSH) and gonad morphology were investigated seasonally in male European sea bass D. labrax (L.) reared in three different intensive farms: a land-based farm of cement tanks (T), an in-shore sea cages farm (C1) and an off-shore sea cages farm (C2). The results showed that both location and typology can discriminate AChE activity, GSH content and go…
Initial Fish-Farm Impact on Meiofaunal Assemblages in Coastal Sediments of the Western Mediterranean
1999
We studied the initial impact of organic loads due to the biodeposition of a new fish farm in a non-impacted coastal area of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean). Sediment chemistry and meiofaunal assemblages were investigated from July 1997 to February 1998 on a monthly basis at two stations: the first was located under the fish farm, while the second was at about 1 km distance, and served as control. Variations in the biochemical composition of the sedimentary organic matter and meiofaunal community structure were also related to changes in reared fish biomass. The presence of the cage-induced rapid changes in the benthic compartment: the sediments reached rapidly (i.e., after only …
Polyculture as a tool to increase the economic income: a study case in the Gulf of Castellammare
2010
Polyculture is a practice involving integration between organisms of different trophic levels (i.e. fish with low-trophic-level organism like molluscs and/or algae). This paper, reporting on a field experiment carried out during 2004 in the Gulf of Castellammare (South Tyrrhenian), showed that mussels transplanted in areas under fish farm influence grew up better than mussels transplanted far from fish farm. Thus, results pointed out polyculture as a reliable tool for i) increasing local bivalve production, ii) obtaining the reduction of importation from other countries and iii) increasing the environmental sustainability of fish aquaculture.
Growth of Mytilus galloprovincialis (mollusca, bivalvia) close to fish farms: a case of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture within the Tyrrhenian Sea
2009
A current practice of marine aquaculture is to integrate fish with low-trophic-level organisms (e.g. molluscs and/or algae) during farming to minimise effects of cultivation on the surrounding environment and to potentially increase economic income. This hypothesis has been tested in the present article experimentally, by co-cultivating fish and mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) in the field. Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) experiments were started in July 2004 by transplanting mussel seed at two depths (-3 and -9 m) within 1,000 m downstream to fish cages and at 1,000 m upstream from cages. Mussels were cultured in nylon net bags for 12 months and the growth recorded biometri…
Levels of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) and metals in European sea bass from fish farms in Italy
2012
The study evaluated the levels of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) and metals in the fillet of medium (468 ± 92 g) and large (708 ± 135 g) European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) from 11 Italian fish farms using different rearing systems. DL-PCB contamination was higher in fish grown in extensive coastal lagoons compared with intensive inland basins and intensive sea cages (28.5 vs. 9.13 and 13.1 pg Toxic Equivalents (TEQ)/g fat; P < 0.001). Copper concentrations were lower (0.810 vs. 0.993 and 1.071 mg/kg fw) and mercury was higher (0.025 vs. 0.006 and 0.003 mg/kg fw) (P < 0.001) in sea bass from extensive farms than from intensively farmed fish in inland or sea cage system…
Effects of fish farming waste to sedimentary and particulate organic matter in a southern Mediterranean area (Gulf of Castellammare, Sicily): a multi…
2004
Abstract Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis was used to investigate the dispersion area of waste material coming from fish farming activities in the western Mediterranean. Tests were conducted to see if uneaten feed and faecal material isotopic signals, originating from fish farms, could be detected in particulate organic matter (POM) and sedimentary organic matter (SOM). The detectable dispersion distance (from under cages as far as 1000 m) of cage-derived organic material was also examined. To do this, carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) composition in POM and SOM collected around the cages, in some control areas and in the waste material, was measured. Mean POM δ13C was −22.9±0.2‰…
A Survey on LoRa for Smart Agriculture: Current Trends and Future Perspectives
2023
This paper provides a survey on the adoption of LoRa in the agricultural field, and reviews state-of-the-art solutions for Smart Agriculture, analyzing the potential of this technology in different infield applications. In particular, we consider four reference scenarios, namely irrigation systems, plantation and crop monitoring, tree monitoring, and livestock monitoring, which exhibit heterogeneous requirements in terms of network bandwidth, density, sensors’ complexity, and energy demand, as well as latency in the decision process. We discuss how LoRa-based solutions can work in these scenarios, analyzing their scalability, interoperability, network architecture, and energy-efficiency. Fi…
Study on Consumer Attitudes for Sheep Meat Consumption
2018
Abstract This paper presents data on sheep breeding in Romania and on a international level. The main objectives of the national breeding program will be presented. A study has been conducted to find out how consumers perceive buying sheep meat and their attitudes towards it. Strong effort is needed to promote the consumption of sheep meat, which will lead to the support of the sheep sector. It is necessary to form a strong consumer preference for sheep meat by communicating the positive (natural product) and durable characteristics of the product.
Empowered by stigma? Pioneer organic farmers' stigma management strategies
2019
Abstract Pioneers of organic farming often faced social challenges as their innovative ideas on agriculture not only encountered opposition in the conventional farming community, but led to stigmatization of organic farmers as social deviants. In this study, we examine what kind of stigma management strategies pioneer organic farmers engage with in order to cultivate an alternative positive image of themselves. Our research is based on the interviews with 14 pioneer organic farmers. Based on a qualitative analysis of the interviews, we provide a model of those strategies that the creation from a stigmatized to valued identity requires. Our study increases the understanding of the institutio…
Changes in soil microbial community structure influenced by agricultural management practices in a mediterranean agro-ecosystem.
2013
Agricultural practices have proven to be unsuitable in many cases, causing considerable reductions in soil quality. Land management practices can provide solutions to this problem and contribute to get a sustainable agriculture model. The main objective of this work was to assess the effect of different agricultural management practices on soil microbial community structure (evaluated as abundance of phospholipid fatty acids, PLFA). Five different treatments were selected, based on the most common practices used by farmers in the study area (eastern Spain): residual herbicides, tillage, tillage with oats and oats straw mulching; these agricultural practices were evaluated against an abandon…