Orientador: Sergio dos Anjos Ferreira Pinto / Banca: Antonio Marcos Machado de Oliveira / Banca: Archimedes Perez Filho / Resumo: Dentre as diversas formas de erosão, a erosão laminar é um dos principais processos de degradação do solo, acarretando sérios danos ao setor produtivo. Este processo pode ser intensificado devido ao uso inadequado que o homem faz da terra, em especial, nas áreas agrícolas. Para minimizar a degradação ambiental, bem como promover o desenvolvimento sócio-econômico, é necessário a elaboração de um planejamento territorial que vise a manutenção da qualidade do ambiente físico, biológico e social. Tendo a bacia hidrográfica como unidade natural para o planejamento, deve-se considerar que nela estão contidas propriedades rurais, que representam grande barreira ao desenvolvimento das práticas exigidas para a sua gestão, além de colaborar com o processo de erosão dos solos. Neste contexto, a presente pesquisa teve como objetivo estimar o aporte de sedimentos, resultante da erosão hídrica laminar do solo, considerando a fragmentação da área da bacia hidrográfica do ribeirão Monjolo Grande (SP), em termos das propriedades rurais nela contidas, com apoio do modelo preditivo Modificação da Equação Universal de Perda de Solo (MEUPS) e das técnicas de Sensoriamento Remoto e Sistemas de Informações Geográficas. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que a perda relativa de solo por propriedade é dinâmica no tempo e no espaço, de modo que aquela que apresenta, em relação a outras propriedades, porcentagens elevadas de perda no período chuvoso, não necessariamente manterá a taxa relativa na época de estiagem. Observou-se também que a bacia apresenta elevado grau de sensibilidade ao manejo agrícola das terras, sendo que 13 propriedades rurais (que correspondem a 72% da área da bacia) apresentaram alto potencial a processos erosivos, com perdas de solo acima de limites toleráveis, condicionado pela influência antrópica na área / Abstract: Among various forms of erosion, the laminate erosion is a major soil degradation processes, causing serious damage to the productive sector. This process can be intensified due to inappropriate use man makes of the land, especially in agricultural areas. For to minimize environmental degradation and promote socio-economic development, it is necessary to elaborate a regional planning aimed at maintaining the quality of the physical, biological and social. Considering the watershed as a natural unit for planning, one should consider that it is contained rural properities, which represent cumber to the development of the practices required to manage, and collaborate with the process of soil erosion. In this context, the goal this research has estimate yields of sediment resulting from soil erosion laminar, considering the fragmentation of the area's Monjolo Grande (SP) watershed in terms of rural properties contained therein, with support from predictive model of Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) and the remote sensing and geographic information systems. The results indicated that the relative loss of soil from properties is dynamic in time and space, so that it presents, in relation to other properties, high percentages of loss in the rainy season, not necessarily maintain the relative rate at the time of drought. It was also noted that the watershed has a high sensibility to agricultural management of land, with 13 farms (which represent 72% of the basin area) showed high potential erosion, soil losses above tolerable limits, conditioned by human influence in the area / Mestre

<p dir="ltr">This study explores the net return and risk associated with different farmland leases, focusing on the tenant’s perspectives. The types of leases investigated include cash rent, crop-share, and eight flex leases. Utilizing data from a case farm in west-central Indiana and employing the @Risk simulation software, the study assesses the financial performance and risk exposure of each lease type. The study's objectives include evaluating net return and risk through simulation models. Hypotheses suggest crop-share leases exhibit lower tenant risk, cash rent leases present higher tenant risk, and flex leases more effectively distribute risk between tenants and landlords. Results indicate that, for risk-averse operators, crop-share leases prove advantageous, while cash rent leases offer higher net returns at the expense of increased risk. Flex leases provide a balanced alternative, mitigating risk while achieving higher net returns than a crop share lease. Stochastic dominance analysis supports the suitability of crop-share and specific flex leases for various risk preferences. Downside risk analysis emphasizes the importance of considering the lower tails of net return distributions. The crop-share lease consistently demonstrates more favorable downside risk characteristics, making it an appealing choice for risk-averse tenants.</p><p dir="ltr">In conclusion, the study contributes valuable insights into the complexities of farmland leasing, offering a nuanced understanding of the trade-offs between net return and risk for different lease types. The results provide practical guidance for tenants seeking leases aligned with their risk preferences and financial goals.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Agricultural diversification stands out as a critical strategy for addressing challenges and seizing opportunities within the agricultural landscape, especially in regions like the Midwest of the U.S. This research delves into the dynamics, opportunities, challenges, and key success drivers associated with agricultural diversification in the Midwest, focusing on three primary crops: oats, peas, and wheat. Employing a case study methodology grounded in empirical and contextual inquiry principles, the research aims to grasp the nuances of diversified agriculture. Data collection integrates primary and secondary sources, including semi-structured interviews and participation in field days. The data collection period spanned from October 2022 to February 2024. Interviews with 29 stakeholders, including farmers, industry representatives, agricultural cooperatives, and non-profits, provided insights into diversified agriculture practices.</p><p dir="ltr">Each case study provides in-depth insights into the opportunities, challenges, and key drivers of success associated with promoting diversified agriculture initiatives. These case studies underscore the significance of innovation, market access, sustainability, and collaboration in driving success within the industry. The cross-case analysis offers a comprehensive examination of the potential for agricultural diversification in the US Midwest. Through a comparative analysis of the three case studies, commonalities and key themes emerge, shedding light on stakeholder dynamics, business strategies, operational aspects, and scalability factors.</p><p dir="ltr">In summary, this research significantly contributes to the body of knowledge on agricultural diversification, offering insights that can guide future decisions, agricultural practices, and research endeavors aimed at promoting sustainability and resilience in the agricultural sector in the US Midwest.</p>

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-10-08Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:17:15Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 pereira_lh_me_rcla.pdf: 2022527 bytes, checksum: 43db9492f7f5d60ef8062e4b51523fbe (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Dentre as diversas formas de erosão, a erosão laminar é um dos principais processos de degradação do solo, acarretando sérios danos ao setor produtivo. Este processo pode ser intensificado devido ao uso inadequado que o homem faz da terra, em especial, nas áreas agrícolas. Para minimizar a degradação ambiental, bem como promover o desenvolvimento sócio-econômico, é necessário a elaboração de um planejamento territorial que vise a manutenção da qualidade do ambiente físico, biológico e social. Tendo a bacia hidrográfica como unidade natural para o planejamento, deve-se considerar que nela estão contidas propriedades rurais, que representam grande barreira ao desenvolvimento das práticas exigidas para a sua gestão, além de colaborar com o processo de erosão dos solos. Neste contexto, a presente pesquisa teve como objetivo estimar o aporte de sedimentos, resultante da erosão hídrica laminar do solo, considerando a fragmentação da área da bacia hidrográfica do ribeirão Monjolo Grande (SP), em termos das propriedades rurais nela contidas, com apoio do modelo preditivo Modificação da Equação Universal de Perda de Solo (MEUPS) e das técnicas de Sensoriamento Remoto e Sistemas de Informações Geográficas. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que a perda relativa de solo por propriedade é dinâmica no tempo e no espaço, de modo que aquela que apresenta, em relação a outras propriedades, porcentagens elevadas de perda no período chuvoso, não necessariamente manterá a taxa relativa na época de estiagem. Observou-se também que a bacia apresenta elevado grau de sensibilidade ao manejo agrícola das terras, sendo que 13 propriedades rurais (que correspondem a 72% da área da bacia) apresentaram alto potencial a processos erosivos, com perdas de solo acima de limites toleráveis, condicionado pela influência antrópica na área / Among various forms of erosion, the laminate erosion is a major soil degradation processes, causing serious damage to the productive sector. This process can be intensified due to inappropriate use man makes of the land, especially in agricultural areas. For to minimize environmental degradation and promote socio-economic development, it is necessary to elaborate a regional planning aimed at maintaining the quality of the physical, biological and social. Considering the watershed as a natural unit for planning, one should consider that it is contained rural properities, which represent cumber to the development of the practices required to manage, and collaborate with the process of soil erosion. In this context, the goal this research has estimate yields of sediment resulting from soil erosion laminar, considering the fragmentation of the area’s Monjolo Grande (SP) watershed in terms of rural properties contained therein, with support from predictive model of Modified Universal Soil Loss Equation (MUSLE) and the remote sensing and geographic information systems. The results indicated that the relative loss of soil from properties is dynamic in time and space, so that it presents, in relation to other properties, high percentages of loss in the rainy season, not necessarily maintain the relative rate at the time of drought. It was also noted that the watershed has a high sensibility to agricultural management of land, with 13 farms (which represent 72% of the basin area) showed high potential erosion, soil losses above tolerable limits, conditioned by human influence in the area

This study was conducted in two shires of Laidley and Gatton in the Lockyer Valley in 1986. The research method used was a self-administered mail questionnaire sent to four hundred primary producers. The response rate received was 49.5 percent which is quite reasonable for a random sample of a non-specific interest group. The study area was divided into six zones based on the 198 respondents’ assessment of the enterprise from which they derived major income. The main approach of this project was a situational analysis o the Lockyer Valley. Central to this research was identification of the pressure and extent of problems relating to several aspects of land use, notably soil erosion, weed infestation; availability and quality of water and more general community-based problems. The characteristics of farm households, the role of family members in decision-making and tasks related to farm as well as home, were also included in this study. The Lockyer Valley is a major production area of vegetables as well as a mixed farming area. Natural pasture, which was extensively found in Zone 6, was largely used for cattle grazing. Generally, rural women were better educated than their husbands, and the ratio of educational level of husband and wife was higher than previous research findings. A large number of producers and their wives have taken off-farm work, and women tended to spend more time in off-farm employment. Only 6.1 percent of producers’ children had completed tertiary education and the majority of all sons were working on the farm. Partnership was found to be the major type of property ownership and inter-generational transfer of the property was the future plan. The producers who were from a non-farm upbringing and who had already taken up off-farm work intended to leave their properties at some time in the future. With the running of the farm business , 35 percent of rural women worked full-time in partnership with their husbands, and 42 percent worked part-time. However, 23 percent of rural women were homemakers and were not involved in running the farm business. The association between decision-making of husband and wife and situational factors such as ownership, involvement in farm tasks, record-keeping, education, on-farm upbringing and age were analysed. Joint involvement of wives in decision-making was to be related to ownership, farm tasks and record-keeping. However, husbands were more likely to take a major role in decision-making if they were more educated and had an on-farm upbringing. Age was found to be a factor affecting joint decision-making, although this result conflicted with findings of earlier research. The opinions of the farm community in identifying the problems of the specific small area in the Lockyer Valley were revealed. Lantana was the most severe weed problem in the whole catchment. The catchment area also had problems with wattle. The recommended control method of lantana was replacement by improved pasture, but it was adopted by few primary producers. Soil erosion in the form of gullies, bank erosion, sheet erosion, salinity and flooding were some of the problems perceived by the local community. Regular ‘slash and burn’ was practised by most of the producers. This is one of the causes of land degradation. Bore, creek and river, and dam were the main water sources for farm supply and irrigation. Only 60 percent of bored had adequate water supply and good water quality. Farm dam and creek/river sources were less reliable due to the inadequate availability of water. Consequently, operators at about half the cropped farms had to stop growing some vegetables which were previously commercially successful. Within the context of farm family needs, emphasis was placed on conservation of water, because of the erosion and water problems. The community’s opinion on community development activities emphasised the involvement of farm families. Finally, suggestions for the extension program which should be emphasised on rural development by means of community participation were included. The bases for further studies was also provided in this report.

This study was conducted in two shires of Laidley and Gatton in the Lockyer Valley in 1986. The research method used was a self-administered mail questionnaire sent to four hundred primary producers. The response rate received was 49.5 percent which is quite reasonable for a random sample of a non-specific interest group. The study area was divided into six zones based on the 198 respondents’ assessment of the enterprise from which they derived major income. The main approach of this project was a situational analysis o the Lockyer Valley. Central to this research was identification of the pressure and extent of problems relating to several aspects of land use, notably soil erosion, weed infestation; availability and quality of water and more general community-based problems. The characteristics of farm households, the role of family members in decision-making and tasks related to farm as well as home, were also included in this study. The Lockyer Valley is a major production area of vegetables as well as a mixed farming area. Natural pasture, which was extensively found in Zone 6, was largely used for cattle grazing. Generally, rural women were better educated than their husbands, and the ratio of educational level of husband and wife was higher than previous research findings. A large number of producers and their wives have taken off-farm work, and women tended to spend more time in off-farm employment. Only 6.1 percent of producers’ children had completed tertiary education and the majority of all sons were working on the farm. Partnership was found to be the major type of property ownership and inter-generational transfer of the property was the future plan. The producers who were from a non-farm upbringing and who had already taken up off-farm work intended to leave their properties at some time in the future. With the running of the farm business , 35 percent of rural women worked full-time in partnership with their husbands, and 42 percent worked part-time. However, 23 percent of rural women were homemakers and were not involved in running the farm business. The association between decision-making of husband and wife and situational factors such as ownership, involvement in farm tasks, record-keeping, education, on-farm upbringing and age were analysed. Joint involvement of wives in decision-making was to be related to ownership, farm tasks and record-keeping. However, husbands were more likely to take a major role in decision-making if they were more educated and had an on-farm upbringing. Age was found to be a factor affecting joint decision-making, although this result conflicted with findings of earlier research. The opinions of the farm community in identifying the problems of the specific small area in the Lockyer Valley were revealed. Lantana was the most severe weed problem in the whole catchment. The catchment area also had problems with wattle. The recommended control method of lantana was replacement by improved pasture, but it was adopted by few primary producers. Soil erosion in the form of gullies, bank erosion, sheet erosion, salinity and flooding were some of the problems perceived by the local community. Regular ‘slash and burn’ was practised by most of the producers. This is one of the causes of land degradation. Bore, creek and river, and dam were the main water sources for farm supply and irrigation. Only 60 percent of bored had adequate water supply and good water quality. Farm dam and creek/river sources were less reliable due to the inadequate availability of water. Consequently, operators at about half the cropped farms had to stop growing some vegetables which were previously commercially successful. Within the context of farm family needs, emphasis was placed on conservation of water, because of the erosion and water problems. The community’s opinion on community development activities emphasised the involvement of farm families. Finally, suggestions for the extension program which should be emphasised on rural development by means of community participation were included. The bases for further studies was also provided in this report.

<p dir="ltr">The gastrointestinal tract harbors a diverse range of microorganisms, collectively constituting the gut microbiome. <a href="" target="_blank">The maintenance of a symbiotic relationship between the host and these microorganisms is essential to gastrointestinal health. Disruption of the ecological balance within the gut microbiome can result in discomfort or pathological conditions.</a> <a href="" target="_blank">This dissertation explores these alterations within the gastrointestinal tract as potential indicators for specific gastrointestinal diseases.</a> <a href="" target="_blank">In pursuit of this, I collaborated with others to develop a smart ingestible capsule that offers a non-invasive method for enhancing the effectiveness of differential diagnosis and treatment strategies for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). </a>My contributions encompassed conducting <i>in vitro</i> protein sampling and extraction experiments, as well as enteric coating dissolution tests. Following thorough characterization of the capsule, I advanced to <i>ex vivo</i> sampling experiments. As a proof of concept, the capsule's sampling capabilities have been rigorously validated both <i>in vitro</i> and <i>ex vivo</i> using calprotectin, a key biomarker for monitoring and managing IBD. Future research may explore integrating this technology with other sensors for diverse chemical and gas sensing capabilities, aiming to refine the differential diagnostics of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and IBD.</p><p dir="ltr">Simultaneously, the potential transmission of pathogenic microorganisms from the gastrointestinal tract to the environment through fecal matter can lead to substantial public health implications if adequate surveillance is not in place. These pathogens can contaminate water and food sources from various origins, exacerbating the problem. Furthermore, conventional laboratory-based assays, while effective, have extensive turnaround times and require skilled scientists to operate them. In response to this challenge, I have undertaken the development of point-of-care assays, aiming to streamline the detection of fecal contamination. This innovation is designed to mitigate the limitations associated with traditional methods by offering a more rapid and user-friendly approach. The primary objective is to enhance the accessibility of these assays, enabling on-site personnel with varying levels of expertise to utilize them effectively. Through the widespread adoption of these point-of-care assays, the overarching goal is to ensure the consistent provision of safe and reliable water and food supplies to the public.</p>

<p>Field-edge buffers are a promising way to address nonpoint source pollution from agricultural runoff, but concentrated runoff flow often renders standard fixed-width linear buffers ineffective. AgBufferBuilder (ABB) is a tool within ESRI ArcMap Geographic Information Systems software that designs and evaluates targeted, nonlinear buffers based on hydrologic modeling and other field-specific parameters. We tested ABB on n=45 Areas of Interest (AOIs) stratified based on estimated sediment loading across three sub-watersheds within Michigan’s Saginaw Bay watershed to evaluate the effectiveness of ABB relative to existing practices across a wide range of landscape conditions. We modeled tractor movement around ABB buffer designs to assess more realistic versions of the likely final designs. ABB regularly failed to deliver the desired 75% sediment capture rate using default 9 m x 9 m output raster resolution, with Proposed buffers capturing from 0% to 68.49% of sediment within a given AOI (mean=37.56%). Differences in sediment capture between Proposed and Existing buffers (measured as Proposed – Existing) ranged from -48% to 66.81% of sediment (mean=24.70%). Proposed buffers were estimated to capture more sediment than Existing buffers in 37 of 45 AOIs, representing potential for real improvements over Existing buffers across the wider landscape. In 13 of 45 AOIs, ABB buffers modified for tractor movement captured more sediment than Existing buffers using less total buffer area. We conducted a collaborative design process with three Saginaw Bay watershed farmers to assess their willingness to implement ABB designs. Feedback indicated farmers may prefer in-field erosion control practices like cover cropping and grassed waterways over field-edge ABB designs. More farmer input is needed to better assess farmer perspectives on ABB buffers and to identify preferred data-based design alternatives. Engineered drainage systems with raised ditch berms and upslope catch basins piped underground directly into ditches were encountered several times during site visits. ABB only models surface flow and does not recognize drain output flow entering waterways. Modified ABB functionality that models buffers around drain inlets would greatly improve its functionality on drained sites. This may be accomplishable through modification of user-entered AOI margins but requires further investigation. Unfortunately, the existing tool is built for outdated software and is not widely accessible to non-expert users. We suggest that an update of this tool with additional functionality and user accessibility would be a useful addition in the toolbox of conservation professionals in agricultural landscapes.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Precision agriculture has been around for many, many years but as technology has rapidly grown with the population, farmers are looking for more ways to improve their operation with the help of these tools. These tools help farmers manage, understand, and decide when, how and what should be done regarding the tough decisions in the field based on their machinery statues. The tools that utilize GPS location and provide farm managers with useful information and feedback on large scales of value in the Harvesting and planting operation. With previous works done focusing on identify state machine activity utilizing GPS location data with the use of loggers and algorithms this study carries on from one field to the next identifying the truth data set for each and the accuracy of the algorithm. The goal is to add a more realistic view to the states identifying turning and transporting throughout the harvesting operation in truth data and from algorithm results. Also diving into truck activity with lower standard GPS tracking to see how accurately they can be predicted to complete the harvesting cycle from vehicle to vehicle. Overall, the combine and grain cart held at 88% accuracy for labeling all state activity during the harvesting operation for multiple fields, while for the model algorithm with the grain trucks having an overall accuracy of 94%.</p>

This research work concentrate on developing digital soil maps to support field based plant phenotyping research. We have developed soil organic matter content (OM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), natural soil drainage class, and tile drainage line maps using topographic indices and aerial imagery. Various prediction models (universal kriging, cubist, random forest, C5.0, artificial neural network, and multinomial logistic regression) were used to estimate the soil properties of interest.