The four-year trial was conducted in north-western Slavonia (main arable crop producing region in Croatia) to evaluate the effects of different tillage systems on the water content of silty loam soil (Albic Luvisol) and yields of maize (Zea mays L.) and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The tillage systems compared were: conventional tillage; reduced conventional tillage; conservation tillage I; conservation tillage II (CM); no-tillage (NT). During the study period, there were one dry, two wet and one average season. Soil water content (SWC) was measured at 0-5, 15-20 and 30-35 cm depths on a monthly basis. Tillage systems had significant (P < 0.05) effects on SWC and yields. The highest average SWC in all seasons was measured under the NT system, followed by the CM system. In the second season, the highest yield was measured under the NT system while in all other seasons, it was under the CM system.
The aim of this study was to compare physical and mechanical characteristics of Hisex hen eggs collected from three different housing systems: enriched cage housing, aviary housing, and free-range systems. The following physical and mechanical characteristics if eggs were compared: dimensions, surface area, volume, sphericity, shape index, shell thickness, weight, composition, yolk to albumen ratio, rupture force, specific deformation, absorbed energy, and firmness. The largest and heaviest eggs were collected from cage housing, followed by eggs from free-range systems and aviary housing. According to shape index, eggs from aviary housing can be described as round, while eggs from cage housing and free-range systems can be characterised as normal or standard. Eggs from free-range laying hens had the highest yolk percentage and yolk to albumen ratio (26.2% and 0.427). In comparison to eggs from aviary housing and free-range systems, eggs from enriched cage housing had the thickest shells and the highest shell strength, and required the highest force to rupture those eggs. The average force required to rupture Hisex Brown hen eggs from cage housing in all three axes was 44.14 N, which was 12.1% higher than the average force required to rupture eggs from a free-range system (39.37 N) and 17.1% higher than the average force required to rupture eggs from aviary housing (37.68 N). The highest forces required to rupture eggs from all three housing systems were determined on loading along the X-front axis and the lowest forces were determined along the Z-axis. The results obtained in this study can be useful to producers when selecting hen housing systems in order to reduce egg damage during storage and transport.
The agricultural biomass classification includes the biomass obtained from fast growing energy crops. One of these crops is the perennial grass Miscanthus x giganteus, which after the third and fourth year of plantation forms a high-density stand with exceptionally high and firm shoots. Thus, special emphasis should be put on the harvesting systems. For Miscanthus harvesting, haymaking and silage making machinery is mainly used by applying single-phase or multi-phase techniques. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the Miscanthus x giganteus biomass harvesting systems with regard to the form of harvested biomass, either shredded or/and baled biomass. In addition to application of fertilizers, biomass harvest is the only agro-technical measure that is used when a plantation reaches full maturity and it should be applied with the lowest possible energy input and biomass loss. Due to increased interest in production of energy from Miscanthus x giganteus biomass, the existing machinery is being adjusted to these new requirements and new specialised machines are being developed.
Nitrate leaching through soil layers to groundwater may cause significant degradation of natural resources. The aims of this study were: (i) to estimate soil hydraulic properties (SHPs) of the similar soil type with same management on various locations; (ii) to determine annual water dynamics; and (iii) to estimate the impact of subsoil horizon properties on nitrate leaching. The final goal was to compare the influence of different SHPs and layering on water dynamics and nitrate leaching. The study was conducted in central Croatia (Zagreb), at four locations on Calcaric Phaeozem, Calcaric Regosol, and Calcaric Fluvic Phaeozem soil types. Soil hydraulic parameters were estimated using the HYPROP system and HYPROP-FIT software. Water dynamics and nitrate leaching were evaluated using HYDRUS 2D/3D during a period of 365 days. The amount of water in the soil under saturated conditions varied from 0.422 to 0.535 cm3 cm–3 while the hydraulic conductivity varied from 3 cm day−1 to 990.9 cm day−1. Even though all locations have the same land use and climatic conditions with similar physical properties, hydraulic parameters varied substantially. The amount and velocity of transported nitrate (HYDRUS 2D/3D) were affected by reduced hydraulic conductivity of the subsoil as nitrates are primarily transported via advective flux. Despite the large differences in SHPs of the topsoil layers, the deeper soil layers, having similar SHPs, imposed a buffering effect preventing faster nitrate downward transport. This contributed to a very similar distribution of nitrates through the soil profile at the end of simulation period. This case study indicated the importance of carefully selecting relevant parameters in multilayered soil systems when evaluating groundwater pollution risk.
This study was conducted to evaluate mechanical properties of ten-egg boxes, which are the most commonly used egg boxes in many countries of Central and South-Eastern Europe. Six ten-egg boxes were tested, two made of cardboard, two made of expanded polystyrene and two made of general purpose solid polystyrene, each from a different producer. There were no significant differences in basic dimensions between tested boxes of various materials, while the significant differences were occurred in weight and box wall thickness. Test included measuring of vertical forces required for deforming complete box and at particular place for each egg in a box till contact with eggs. According to the obtained results, cardboard boxes can provide the best mechanical protection for eggs. The average force required for deforming complete cardboard box was 83.6% higher than for solid polystyrene box, and even 289.5% higher than for expanded polystyrene box. The average force required for deforming cardboard box at particular place for each egg in a box was 60.8% higher than for polystyrene box, and 74.0% higher than for expanded polystyrene box. The disadvantage of cardboard boxes is that they are not resistant to the impact of moisture as polystyrene boxes and in the case of an increase in box moisture due to storage in inappropriate conditions their mechanical resistance decreases.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.