Effect of Hydroponic and Conventional Production Systems on Plant Growth Performance and Nitrate Content of Green Coral Lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. Crispa)

Overfertilization on leafy vegetables could accumulate high nitrate content. Exceeded recommended limit of nitrate content can cause detrimental effects on the environment and human health, such as methemoglobinemia and stomach cancer. Green coral lettuce (GCL) is a leafy vegetable commonly grown under various production systems. Production system and physiological age have affected the growth and accumulation of nitrate levels in most leafy vegetables. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effects of hydroponic and conventional production on the growth performance and nitrate concentration of GCL at different harvest ages. This research was conducted in a randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement of treatments. A stagnant hydroponic was prepared using stock A and B complete Hoagland nutrient solutions as liquid fertilizer. A commercial biofertilizer (NPK 8: 8: 8) was applied at the rate of 100 g per plant. Plant growth performance, including plant height, number of leaves, and leaf length, was measured at 7, 14, 21, 28, 31, 34, 41, and 44 days after transplanting (DAT). The fresh weight and nitrate content were measured at 31, 34, 41, and 44 DAT. The results showed hydroponic GCL exhibited higher plant height than conventional GCL. However, both productions were not significantly affected regarding the number of leaves, leaf length, and fresh weight. At 41 and 44 DAT, the hydroponic GCL was markedly higher in nitrate content than conventional. This study found that conventional production was recommended for GCL because lower in nitrate content compared to hydroponic and fair in growth performance.

Comparative Study of Sensory Attributes of Leafy Green Vegetables Grown Under Organic and Conventional Management

This study was carried out to compare the sensory qualities of leafy green vegetables (collard, kale, lettuce and swiss chard) grown under organic and conventional production systems. Four leafy greens were produced on an organically and conventionally managed research farm of Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN in Spring 2019 and 2020. Crops in a conventional field were grown in the open field, whereas in organic field crops were grown in the open and under three different row covers (agribon cloth, insect net and plastic). Row covers in organic systems were used to protect crops from insect damage. Plant samples were collected from all the treatments and evaluated for sensory qualities including color, texture, taste, odor and flavor following two approaches i.e., instrumental and via consumer panel perception. Consumer panel perception results showed minor differences in the sensory qualities between organic and inorganically produced leafy greens. Instrumental methods showed no differences in color parameters of kale, lettuce and swiss chard grown under organic and conventional production systems. In collard, the lightness (L*), b* (yellow-blue axis), brightness (Y) and chroma (C) values were higher in conventional, while hue angle was higher in organic (open). There were no differences in instrumental textural values of organically and conventionally grown leafy greens. Among row covers, the textural value of collard and kale was higher in open relative to row covers. The content of main quality contributors 1-Hexanol was higher in conventionally grown collard compared to organic (open). Aldehyde compound was higher in organically grown kale and trans-hex-2-enyl-acetate (Ester) compound was higher in conventionally grown kale. Monoterpenes were higher in organic lettuce and ketones were higher in conventionally grown lettuce. Overall, there were not many differences in the sensory qualities of leafy greens grown under organic and conventional production systems. Further comparative studies between organic and conventional systems on sensory qualities of leafy greens are needed.

Production Performance Analysis of Western Siberia Mature Waterflood with Prime Diagnostic Metrics

The paper shares a practical case of production analysis of mature field in Western Siberia with a large stock of wells (> 1,000) and ongoing waterflood project. The main production complications of this field are the thief water production, thief water injection and non-uniform vertical sweep profile. The objective of the study was to analyse the 30-year history of development using conventional production and surveillance data, identify the suspects of thief water production and thief water injection and check the uniformity of the vertical flow profile. Performing such an analysis on well-by-well basis is a big challenge and requires a systematic approach and substantial automation. The majority of conventional diagnostic metrics fail to identify the origin of production complications. The choice was made in favour of production analysis workflow based on PRIME metrics, which automatically generates numerous conventional production performance metrics (including the reallocated production maps and cross-sections) and additionally generates advanced metrics based on automated 3D micro-modelling. This allowed to zoom on the wells with potential complications and understand their production/recovery potential. The PRIME analysis has also helped to identify the wells and areas which potentially may hold recoverable reserves and may benefit from additional well and cross-well surveillance.

USE OF SMART 3D PRINTING TECHNOLOGY IN CONVENTIONAL ENGINEERING PRODUCTION TO DETECT AND PREVENT THE OCCURRENCE OF DEFECTS

This article aims to show how to effectively use innovation in the form of 3D printing to create simple, smart, and cheap products, which will lead to more efficient product control, reveal defects in conventional engineering production, and prevent blemishes. The article is focused on the detection and prevention of defects in classic Czech engineering manufacture using an innovative solution, which connects conventional production and SMART technology of 3D printing. The motivation of this article is to show how using SMART 3D printing technology in combination with the Poka-Yoke methodology is possible to cleverly streamline conventional engineering production and thus achieve higher productivity, which results in increasing the company's competitiveness in the market in the context of Industry 4.0.

Improving Sustainability of Technical Ceramics Production: Synergistic Approach

Sustainable development is a concept focused on preserving current resources for them to be available to future generations as well, while at the same time fulfilling current human needs and facilitating adequate levels of development. Nowadays, there are many possible applications of sustainability principles, such as in the fields of the economy, agriculture, environment, energy, transport, architecture, and production. Sustainable production of materials and goods aims at improving the processes which are less damaging to the environment, which conserve natural resources and use low levels of energy, possibly derived from sustainable sources. One of the intensive energy- and resource-consuming industries is the conventional production of technical ceramics. Although non-toxic, ceramic waste is generated during the machining of the green bodies and is typically landfilled. To improve the sustainability of technical ceramics production, methods of recycling ceramic waste need to be developed and applied. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Morphological and biochemical characteristics in fruits of Mangifera indica L. var. Ataulfo with and without conventional management

Objective: To identify the morphometric and biochemical variation in mango fruits var. Ataulfo (Mangifera indica L.) in two contrasting environments with and without conventional management. Design/methodology/approximation: Morphological and biochemical variables were studied in mango fruits var. Ataulfo in two environments, one of them (La Norteña) with Leptosol soil and Aw climate with conventional agrochemical-based management and the other (Santa Cecilia) on Acrisol soil and Am climate with agroecological management. There were 30 fruits used, all from five trees (n=150) per study garden in a state of commercial maturity. Each fruit was considered as an experimental unit, and morphological and biochemical variables were evaluated for each fruit. Results: Increase in fruit weight, higher pH and increase in total soluble solids, but decrease in pulp weight on site with conventional handling. Increase in pulp content and firmness in fruits from the site without handling. Study Limitations/implications: Changes in the amount and distribution of rainfall in both environments each year. Findings / conclusions: Morphological and biochemical modifications are presented. Greater size and weight, pH and TSS content in the conventional production system, but increased pulp and greater firmness, as well as higher citric acid content in the agroecological system. The results suggest differential effects in mango fruits according to the management and environment where they develop.

Organic agriculture – importance and development

Agriculture, as the most important strategic industry, is tasked with providing sufficient quantities of quality and safe food. Intensive and often excessive, uncontrolled, and unskilled use of the means for protection and nutrition of plants, as well as means for the prevention or treatment of animals, are carried out to increase yields in conventional production. This approach in food production has contributed to the increasingly common endangerment of the health of plants, animals and humans, as well as significant environmental endangerment. Unlike conventional production, organic food production is now increasingly attracting interest from modern consumers. However, organic agriculture involves not only producing without artificial fertilizers and other agrochemicals, but without antibiotics and hormones too. It is more of a holistic production system that functions as a sustainable unit, and unites interconnected and conditioned actors: plants, animals, microorganisms, insects, organic and mineral soil matter, and humans. In Serbia, organic agriculture has been developing for the last thirty years. However, the intensive development of organic agriculture has only happened in the last decade, with plant organic production being more developed than animal organic production.

Assessing the Impact of Water Use in LCA of Conventional and Organic Carrot Production in Poland

As global water resources are decreasing and the demand for it is constantly increasing, the problem of proper water management is becoming more pressing. Poland is one of the largest producers of vegetables in Europe, including carrots, with significant exports. However its freshwater resources are relatively small. The paper presents the results of research on the water footprint (WF) life cycle assessment (LCA) in conventional and organic carrot production. The methodology of calculating WF was used in accordance with PN-EN ISO 14046. It was found, e.g., that the water scarcity index (WSI) for organic production of carrot (WSI = 1.9 m3∙ha-1) is over five times lower, as compared to conventional production (WSI = 10.4 m3∙ha-1). In the case of conventional production, the fertilization process (67.0% - 67.7%) has the greatest impact on the shaping of WF in the individual impact categories, i.e. Human Health, Ecosystem Quality and resources. In organic production, the WF-shaping factor is carrot harvesting (41.9% - 43.1%). The research can be used to develop pro-ecological carrot production technologies, as well as to shape sustainable development plans in agricultural areas. It can also be used to outline policy directions regarding foreign trade in water-consuming agricultural products.

Organic and conventional sweetpotato production in the Southeastern of United States: a comparative analysis

Background There has been a piqued interest in alternative agricultural production systems that are environmentally friendly due to concerns on how sustainable it is to grow conventionally. However, in the producer’s point of view, economic returns are an important issue in decision-making in adaptation. The purpose of this study is to assess the economic risk of conventional and organic sweetpotato production in the Southeastern US. The primary and secondary data were used for the analysis. We identified risk variables in stochastic profit function and performed Monte Carlo simulation in analyzing profitability and economic risk of conventional and organic production systems. Results Findings from the meta-analysis suggest lower sweetpotato yields and higher selling prices, are to be expected in the organic sweetpotato production systems compared with the conventional. A higher probability of having positive net return from organically grown sweetpotato compared to conventional production systems was observed. Conclusions Increase in unit cost leads to a decrease in net profit in both conventional and organic production systems. Sweetpotato price has more effect on net return compared to its yield in conventional production systems. The higher selling price, lower yield and lower unit costs provide a higher net profit return for the organic sweetpotato production systems. Unit cost in conventional production was noted to be higher in general, inferring conventional sweetpotato production could potentially experience a higher variability in net farm income. Despite the high production cost, however, farmers are encouraged to go into sweetpotato production as it appears to be profitable. Further studies should be conducted on conventional treatments without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers as these systems perhaps, may display lower external input costs that might make them more profitable similar to organic systems.