A busca por alimentos saudáveis, seguros e sustentáveis tem levado a um grande aumento do consumo de alimentos orgânicos, em todo o mundo. Embora esses alimentos sejam claramente menos expostos aos perigos químicos, diversos estudos têm demonstrado contaminação microbiológica significativa em produtos como as alfaces orgânicas, as quais são amplamente comercializadas. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a cadeia produtiva de alfaces orgânicas no sul do Brasil, através de análises microbiológicas e dos sistemas de gestão da inocuidade, buscando identificar possíveis medidas de intervenção a partir do ponto de vista da segurança dos alimentos. Três propriedades rurais de alface orgânica foram analisadas, utilizando as ferramentas Horticultural Assessment Scheme (HAS) e Horticulture Safety Management System Diagnosis (HSMS-DI). Amostras de adubo, solo adubado, mudas de alface, alface, água de irrigação e lavagem foram coletadas ao longo da cadeia produtiva, seguindo a ordem de inicio do plantio, durante o crescimento e na colheita das alfaces. As análises microbiológicas foram realizadas segundo o protocolo do HAS e normas internacionais. Para avaliação dos sistemas de gestão de segurança dos alimentos a ferramenta de diagnóstico HSMS-DI, com 58 questões, foi aplicada em cada propriedade rural. As Informações obtidas no HAS e HSMS-DI foram combinadas e um diagnóstico de cada propriedade foi elaborado, assim como foram sugeridas medidas de intervenção. Os resultados do HSMS-DI indicaram que as propriedades rurais apresentavam clara organização e forte embasamento quanto à prevenção dos riscos químicos, no entanto estavam operando em um contexto de risco microbiológico moderado a elevado. Os resultados obtidos com o HAS demonstraram contaminação por microrganismos de origem fecal em diversas amostras, além disso, foi detectada a presença de E. coli O157:H7 na água de irrigação e lavagem das alfaces, e a presença de Salmonella em adubo. Estes resultados demonstraram a existência natural e inerente de fontes de contaminação microbiológica na cadeia de produção de alfaces orgânicas. Contudo, destaca-se a necessidade de maior apoio aos produtores orgânicos, principalmente na implementação de medidas de controle da compostagem dos adubos e na qualidade da água de irrigação e lavagem dessas propriedades. / The search for healthy, safe and sustainable food has led to a large increase in the consumption of organic foods worldwide. Although these foods are clearly less exposed to chemical hazards, several studies have demonstrated significant microbial contamination in products such as organic lettuces, which are widely marketed. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the production chain of organic lettuce in southern Brazil, through microbiological analyses and safety management systems in order to identify potential measures from the point of view of food safety. Three rural properties of organic lettuce were analyzed using the Horticultural Assessment Scheme (HAS) and the Horticulture and Safety Management System Diagnosis (HSMS-DI) tools. Samples of compost, fertilized soil, lettuce seedlings, lettuce, irrigation and wash water were collected along the production chain, following the beginning of the planting, the growing and the harvesting of lettuce. Microbiological analyzes were performed according to protocol HAS and international standards. For evaluation of the food safety management, the diagnostic tool HSMS-DI, with 58 questions, was administered to each farm. Information collected on HAS and HSMS-DI was combined and a diagnosis of each property was developed, as were suggested intervention measures. The results of the HSMS-DI indicate that the farms had clear and strong organizational foundation for the prevention of chemical risks, however, were operating in a context of moderate to high microbiological risk. The results obtained with the HAS showed contamination by microorganisms of fecal origin in several samples, furthermore, we detected the presence of E. coli O157: H7 in irrigation and wash water, and the presence of Salmonella in manure. These results demonstrated the existence of inherent and natural sources of microbiological contamination in the production chain of organic lettuces. However, there is a need for greater support for organic producers, especially in the implementation of control measures for fertilizer composting and in the quality of irrigation and wash water of these properties.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T14:37:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERT ABACAXI IZAIAS.pdf: 730491 bytes, checksum: e59fc0f15b881251e368e32f1ec77a50 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-26 / RESUMO - Este trabalho foi conduzido no Campus do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, localizado no município de Alegre-ES, Brasil. Teve como objetivo avaliar o crescimento das mudas micropropagadas do abacaxizeiro [Ananas comosus (L.) Merrill cv. Gold] durante a fase de aclimatação. No primeiro experimento, montado em esquema de parcela subdividida, foi testada a exposição das mudas micropropagadas às condições naturais de clima em diferentes idades de retirada da casa de vegetação (0, 1, 2, 3, e 4 meses) e a testemunha que aí permaneceu por 5 meses, consistindo-se nas parcelas e avaliações aos: 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 e 150 dias após transplantadas, formando as subparcelas. No segundo experimento, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, foi testado o efeito da adubação de solo com NPK, com base na adubação de referência para vasos (ARV), em g kg-1: 0,30 de N, 0,20 de P e 0,15 de K, utilizandose cinco dosagens dessa recomendação (0, 50, 100, 150 e 200%). No terceiro experimento, conduzido em esquema fatorial 8x3, testaram-se oito níveis de adubação foliar: uréia+KCl+H3BO3, nas dosagens em g L-1 de: 2+2+0; 5+5+0; 10+10+0; 2+2+0,5; 5+5+0,5 e 10+10+0,5, respectivamente denominados de T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 e T6; uma formulação comercial completa com macro e micronutrientes (T7), na dosagem de 3 g L-1; e a testemunha (Test) pulverização com água, combinados com três níveis de recipientes: bandeja de isopor, tubete pequeno e tubete grande. Os resultados permitem concluir que: nas condições deste experimento, as mudas micropropagadas podem ser retiradas da casa de vegetação de pré-aclimatação fase II com idades de 1 e 2 meses após transplantadas; com o aumento da ARV há decréscimo dos valores de: área foliar; massa fresca e seca da parte aérea e da raiz, e número de folhas. O comprimento da maior raiz e altura de planta cresce até 50% da ARV, diminuindo a partir deste percentual, sendo o zinco, o fero e o cobre os nutrientes que possivelmente limitam o crescimento; e os adubos foliares, em todos os recipientes utilizados, proporcionam maior crescimento das mudas do abacaxizeiro cv. Gold em área foliar, altura e massa seca da parte aérea, 2 exceto os adubos foliares T5 e T7, para massa seca da parte aérea no recipiente bandeja de isopor. Os adubos foliares não aumentam a massa seca do sistema radicular. / This work was carried at the Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, located in Alegre city, Brasil. The objective was to evaluate the growth of the of the Pineapple plantlets micropropagated [Ananas comosus (L.) Merrill cv. Gold] during the phase of acclimatation. In the first experiment, mounted in split plot, it was tested the exposition of the micropropagated plantlets to the natural conditions of climate in different ages of retreat of the greenhouse (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 months) and the witness that stayed for 5 months, consisting in plots and evaluations to the: 0, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days after transplanted, forming the sub-plots. In the second experiment, in completely randomized design, the effect of the soil fertilization with NPK was tested, based in the reference fertilization for vases (ARV), in g kg-1: 0,30 of N, 0,20 of P and 0,15 of K, being used five dosages of that recommendation (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200%). In the third experiment, conducted in factorial arrangement 8x3, eight levels of foliar fertilization were tested to: urea+KCl+H3BO3, in the dosages in g. L-1 of: 2+2+0; 5+5+0; 10+10+0; 2+2+0,5; 5+5+0,5; and 10+10+0,5, respectively denominated of T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6; a complete commercial formulation with macro and micronutrients (T7), in the dosage of 3 g.L-1 and the witness (Test) pulverization with water, combined with three levels of containers: isopor tray, small tubete and big tubete. The results allow to end that: in the conditions of this experiment, the micropropagated plantlets can be removed of the greenhouse of pre-acclimatation phase II with ages of 1 and 2 months after transplanted; and with the increase of ARV there is decrease of the values of: foliar area; fresh and dry mass of the aerial part and of the root; and number of leaves. The length of the bigger root and plant height grows up to 50% of ARV, decreasing starting from this percentile one, being zinc, iron and cooper the nutrients that possibly limited the growth; and the foliar fertilizers, in all of the containers used, provide larger growth of the pineapple cv. Gold plantlets in foliar area, height and dry mass of the aerial part, except the foliar 4 fertilizers T5 and T7, for dry mass of the aerial part in the isopor tray container. The foliar fertilizers don't increase the dry mass of the root system. Key words: pineapple, Ananas comosus, horticulture, micropropagation, fertilization.

Este projeto consiste em um estudo das ocupações de horticultores ceramistas na Província Cárstica do Alto São Francisco, na porção sudoeste do Estado de Minas Gerais. Através de um levantamento sistemático de aspectos topográficos e paisagísticos foram selecionados dois sítios arqueológicos para sofrerem intervenções. Partindo de um estudo técnico e estilístico dos materiais cerâmicos coletados em cada um deles foi possível levantar uma série de fatores comuns entre as chamadas tradições cerâmicas Una e Sapucaí. Datações radiocarbônicas obtidas a partir de carvões, coletados nestes sítios, também foram importantes no sentido de situar cronologicamente estas manifestações culturais. Foi feito um levantamento etnohistórico para a região a fim de encontrar pistas dos portadores destas tradições que, porventura entraram em contato com os exploradores europeus, visto que vários trabalhos acadêmicos, nacionais e internacionais, apontam o Alto São Francisco como área de domínio da \"temível nação Cataguá\", que teria ocupado este território ao longo dos séculos XVI e XVII. Com base nesta série de dados obtidos com estas diferentes etapas de trabalho, defendo uma unicidade entre as duas tradições ceramistas / This project makes a study about the prehistoric occupations of making pottery groups of the Upper São Francisco Carstic Province, in the southwest portion of the Minas Gerais State. Two archaeological sites had been selected for excavations, this selection was preceded by systematic surveys which attempted to the topographic and landscapes aspects of each place visited. A range of commons characters between the so called pottery traditions Una and Sapucaí, emerges from a technical and stylistic study of the potsherds collected in each one of these sites. Radiocarbon dates gained from collected charcoals in both sites were very important in a way of situate these cultural manifestations in a chronological scale. We made a etnohistory survey for the region, thence a number of national and international studies presents the Upper São Francisco as an area under the domination of the \"dreadful Cataguá nation\", which had been occupied along the XVI and XVII centuries. I claim for a straight connection between these two pottery traditions, based on a rank of data achieved with such different stages of investigation.

Submitted by Gabriela Lopes (gmachadolopesufpel@gmail.com) on 2016-10-13T14:17:26Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Tese CARI REJANE FISS TIMM.pdf: 1890245 bytes, checksum: 3dd97e2c8ea44f66e16d8dc12f151fc0 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-01-04T14:54:11Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese CARI REJANE FISS TIMM.pdf: 1890245 bytes, checksum: 3dd97e2c8ea44f66e16d8dc12f151fc0 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-01-04T14:54:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Tese CARI REJANE FISS TIMM.pdf: 1890245 bytes, checksum: 3dd97e2c8ea44f66e16d8dc12f151fc0 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-31 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Existem muitas informações referentes à cultura do pessegueiro. Entretanto, como o dinamismo da pesquisa, da fruticultura e do mercado consumidor causa mudanças, estas irão exigir um sistema moderno e tecnificado de produção de mudas de qualidade genética e sanitária para obtenção de frutos de qualidade e uma alta produtividade. Com o objetivo de adequar uma metodologia de propagação para a produção de mudas de qualidade, foram desenvolvidos vários experimentos com cultivares copa e porta-enxertos de Prunus spp. para avaliar os efeitos de diferentes concentrações de ácido indolbutírico e do tipo de miniestaca no enraizamento, determinar o tempo ótimo de enraizamento de miniestacas e identificar nas fases de estabelecimento e multiplicação o meio de cultura e a concentração de BAP adequados, na propagação in vitro para obtenção de mudas. Os experimentos foram realizados em casa de vegetação e no Laboratório de Micropropagação de Plantas Frutíferas do Departamento de Fitotecnia da Faculdade de Agronomia Eliseu Maciel da Universidade Federal de Pelotas, no período de março de 2014 a fevereiro de 2016. Para os experimentos de enraizamento foram utilizados os porta-enxertos das cultivares Nemaguard, Flordaguard, Okinawa, umezeiro, Mr.S 2/5 e as cultivares copa Capdeboscq, Bonão e Maciel, testando-se os tipos de miniestacas, as diferentes concentrações de AIB e determinando o tempo ótimo de enraizamento das miniestacas. No estabelecimento e na multiplicação foram utilizados os portaenxertos umezeiro e Marianna para determinar o meio de cultura e a concentração de BAP. No enraizamento, as miniestacas apicais, medianas e basais resultaram com a maior porcentagem utilizando-se 1.000 mg L-1 de AIB e determinando o tempo ótimo de enraizamento Flordaguard obteve 70% aos 50 dias de cultivo. Na fase de estabelecimento observou-se que o meio de cultivo WPM acrescido de 1.0 mg L-1 de BAP demonstrou ser o mais adequado. Na multiplicação, verificou-se que a cultivar Marianna com 1.5 mg L-1 de BAP foram superiores para altura da brotação, número de gemas, número e comprimento das brotações massa fresca e taxa de multiplicação. / There are many information regarding the peach crop. However, as the dynamism of research, horticulture and consumer market causes changes, these will require a modern and technified production of genetic and health quality system to obtain seedlings of fruit quality and high productivity. In order to adapt a method of propagation for the production of quality seedlings, they were developed several experiments with cultivars crown and rootstock Prunus spp. to evaluate the effects of different indolebutyric acid concentration and type of minicuttings rooting, determining the optimum time of cuttings rooting and identify the establishment and multiplication stage culture medium and concentration of appropriate BAP in vitro propagation in obtaining seedlings. The experiments were conducted in a greenhouse and Fruit trees Plant Micropropagation Laboratory of the Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agronomy Eliseu Maciel, Federal University of Pelotas, from March 2014 to February 2016. For rooting experiments were used rootstocks of Nemaguard cultivars Flordaguard, Okinawa, mume, Mr.S 2/5 and cultivars Capdeboscq, Bonao and Maciel, testing themselves the types of cuttings, different concentrations of IBA and determining the optimum time for rooting of cuttings. In the establishment and multiplication were used the rootstocks mume and Marianna to determine the culture medium and the concentration of BAP. In the rooting cuttings apical, middle and basal resulted with the highest percentage using 1,000 mg L-1 IBA and determining the rooting great time Flordaguard obtained 70% after 50 days of cultivation. In the establishment phase it was observed that the WPM culture medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L-1 BAP proved to be the most suitable. In multiplying it was found that cultivating Marianna 1.5 mg L-1 BAP were superior to the height of the time of budding e, number and length of shoot fresh weight and multiplication rate.

The thesis examines the potential for sequestration of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) in Sweden based on small-scale agriculture and horticulture. The essay is written from a perspective where climate change has reached a level where it is no longer enough to limit emissions, the earth must in addition serve as a sink for carbon dioxide and thus long-term storage of carbon (IPCC 2014). The initiative of 4 per mille (4 ‰ initiative, 4p1000.org) was initiated during the COP21 climate summit in Paris, which was seen as a step to move to concrete action in the context of agriculture in collaboration with civil society. The initiative is based on the knowledge that terrestrial systems hold far more carbon than the atmosphere, and that plants potential to facilitate carbon sequestration in soil is an underutilized potential in mitigating climate change. An additional and long term carbon storage of 0,04%  annually of the already existing SOC would not only drastically mitigate climate change, but also contribute to increased food security and adaptation to climate change as an increase in SOC means an increase of Soil Organic Matter (SOM), soil health, fertility and resilience. Literature studies support an analysis of carbon sequestration as a concept, and serves as a base from which questions related to carbon sequestration in Swedish farmland are formulated. The potential for carbon sequestration in Sweden is examined from the perspective of the 4 ‰ initiative, with a review of methods advocated within the initiative; eg.  cover crops, mulch, no-till/low-till, polyculture, intercropping, crop rotation and succession, agroforestry systems and perennial crops, buffer zones, organic residue amendments and optimized grazing. Relevant methods and concepts such as biochar, conservation agriculture, regenerative agriculture and holistic management are also described. This is complemented with descriptions of four practical examples of horticulture and farming in Sweden in order to anchor the theory into practice. All practitioners have been selected on the basis that they have a conscious desire to promote carbon sequestration in soil. Rather than describing these practitioners solely from the perspective of carbon sequestration, a broader view is presented mirroring the need to address carbon farming from an angle of holistic context and agroecology. With the support of scientific references and qualitative interviews, the study highlights the importance of; multifunctional approaches; established root biomass and ground coverage; increased net primary production (NPP) through plant available nitrogen; the potential of biochar as well as mycorrhiza for long term carbon sequestration. The study also highlights the great need for research in Swedish contexts in bringing clarity to questions around soil saturation of SOC in cases when rare methods such as agroforestry are used. Finally, the need for a more radical change within agricultural practices is highlighted as well as the need of support to practitioners who want to explore new regenerative ways of managing soils which promote carbon sequestration, food sovereignty and climate resilience. / Examensarbetet undersöker potentialen för kolinlagring i jord utifrån småskaligt jordbruk och trädgårdsodling i Sverige. Uppsatsen skrivs utifrån en värld där klimatförändringarna har nått en nivå där det inte längre räcker att begränsa utsläpp, jorden måste därtill verka som en sänka för koldioxid och därmed långsiktigt lagra in kol (IPCC 2014). 2015 togs Initativet om 4 ‰ ( 4p1000.org ) under klimatmötet COP21 i Paris, med ambitionen om att gå till konkret handling inom ramen för jordbruk i samarbete med det civila samhället. Initiativet baseras på vetskapen om att terrestra system håller långt mer kol än atmosfären, och att växters kapacitet till kolinlagring är en underutnyttjad potential i begränsandet av klimatförändringar. En långsiktig kolinlagring av ytterligare 4 tusendelar av det befintliga markkolet (Soil Organic Carbon, SOC) skulle enligt initiativet inte endast drastiskt dämpa klimatförändringar, utan även bidra med ökad matsäkerhet och klimatanpassning. En ökning av organiskt markkol betyder en ökning av jordens organiska material (Soil Organic Matter, SOM), dess mikroliv, näringshalt och resiliens. Litteraturstudier ligger till grund för analys av kolinlagring som begrepp där huvudsakliga frågetecken relaterade till kolinlagring i svensk trädgårdsodlings och jordbruksmark adresseras. Potentialen för kolinlagring i Sverige undersökts utifrån perspektivet av 4 ‰ initiativet med utgångspunkt i de metoder som det förespråkar; minskad jordbearbetning; marktäckning; samodling, succession och växtföljd; agroforestrysystem och perenna grödor; kantzoner; näringstillförsel och optimerat bete. Relevanta metoder och koncept såsom biokol, conservation agriculture, regenerativt jordbruk och holistic management beskrivs också. Detta kompletteras med beskrivningar av fyra praktiska exempel på odling och jordbruk i Sverige i syfte att förankra teori i praktik. Samtliga praktiker har valts utifrån att de har en medveten ambition att gynna kolinlagring i jord. I beskrivningarna vävs en större helhet av dessa verksamheter in, exempelvis i form av agroekologiska och socio-ekonomiska mervärden som exempelvis ökning av näringsrika jordar, biologisk mångfald samt lokala ekonomier och nätverk. Utifrån insamlad data visar examensarbetet på betydelsen av; multifunktionella tillvägagångssätt inom markanvändning; perenn etablerad rotmassa och långliggande marktäckning; ökad nettoprimärproduktion (NPP) genom växttillgänglig kväve; samt potentialen i biokol och mykorrhiza för långsiktig kolinlagring. Studien belyser också det stora behovet av forskning i svensk kontext för att skapa klarhet i frågor som exempelvis rör jordars mättnadsgrad av kol när mer "radikala" metoder såsom agroforestry används. Slutligen lyfts behovet av en mer radikal förändring inom jordbruk och matproduktion liksom behovet av stöd till praktiker som vill utforska regenerativa metoder inom markanvändning som främjar kolinlagring, matsuveränitet och klimatresiliens.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources / Richard H. Mattson / Medical and psychological responses of patients recovering from surgery were evaluated in hospital rooms with ornamental indoor plants. Three clinical studies were conducted in two hospitals with 80 thyroidectomy patients, 90 appendectomy patients, and 90 hemorrhoidectomy patients. Patients in each surgical procedure were randomly assigned to either control or plant rooms. Eight species of foliage and flowering plants were placed in the hospital rooms during the recovery period following surgery until discharge. Data collected from each patient included length of hospitalization, analgesics used for postoperative pain control, vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate), ratings of pain intensity, pain distress, anxiety and fatigue (PPAF), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y-1 (STAI-Y1), the Environmental Assessment Scale (EAS), and the Patient’s Room Satisfaction Questionnaire (PRSQ). Effects were assessed by analysis of covariance and the exact chi-square test. Patients in the plant rooms had significantly more positive health outcomes than those in the control group with no plants. Patients exposed to plants experienced shorter hospitalizations, fewer intakes of postoperative analgesics, more positive physiological responses, and less pain, anxiety, and fatigue than patients in the control group. Patients with plants also felt more positively about their rooms and evaluated them with higher satisfaction as compared to those in the control group. Based on patients’ comments, plants brightened up the room environment, reduced stress, and also conveyed positive messages of the hospital caring for patients. Findings of this study confirmed the therapeutic value of plants in the hospital environment as a noninvasive, inexpensive, and effective intervention for surgical patients in a general hospital ward. Outcomes of this study will substantially affect patients’ and hospital administrators’ decisions that indoor plant intervention can foster improved medical outcomes, increase satisfaction with providers, and be acceptably cost effective as compared to other alternatives.

Master of Science / Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources / Richard H. Mattson / With the advancement of urbanization, many children today have limited or no experiences with nature or survival instincts as described by the nature (Biophilia) hypothesis. Today, children's preference toward landscapes may be more reflective of cultural experiences learned from family, teachers, or classmates, and referred to as the nurture hypothesis. In this research study, two visual surveys were used to investigate the nature vs. nurture hypotheses. In the first survey, 93 multicultural American children were asked to identify their preferred colors for symbols of bananas, tulips, birds, and trees. In the second survey, 202 children from American and Japanese schools were asked their visual preferences and emotional responses to photographs of landscapes, trees, homes, and nature scenes. Subjects were first, third, and sixth grade elementary school students in America and Japan. The effects of culture, age, and gender were evaluated. In addition, the relative preference and emotional impact of plants and landscapes were examined. In the first study, younger children preferred all colors that exist in nature. However, responses of the older children would support the nurture hypothesis. Older children selected fewer and more appropriate colors, such as yellow bananas, reflecting a learned behavior. Also, boys preferred blue symbols while girls selected red with higher frequency than other colors. In the second study, American children preferred the Japanese landscape and tree scenes, and reported more positive emotion than Japanese children toward the American and Japanese tree scenes. Younger American children showed more positive emotions toward the American home scene. Although first and third grade Japanese children preferred Japanese scenes, more sixth grade Japanese children preferred American scenes. In conclusion, visual preferences and emotional responses are influenced by content of photographs, and evidence supports both the nature and the nurture hypothesis among Japanese and American children.

Pollination-dependent fruit trees grown in home gardens play an important role in the agricultural based economy of Central Asian countries, yet little is known about the status of pollinator communities, the cultivated plant composition or the factors that influence management practices in Kyrgyz home garden agroecosystems. As agricultural systems are human created and managed, a logical approach to their study blends anthropological and ecological methods, an ethnoecological approach. Over three years, I investigated how species richness and abundance of Hymenoptera, cultivated plants, and home garden management were related using quantitative and qualitative methods in the Issyk-kul Man and Biosphere reserve. Structured surveys were undertaken with heads of households using a random sample stratified by village. Gardens were then mapped with participation of household members to inventory edible species in gardens, most of which are pollinator-dependent, and to compare home garden diversity as reported by respondents during interviews. Apple diversity was studied to the variety level to understand respondents’ classification system in the context of in situ agrobiodiversity conservation. Household members identified 52 edible plant species when mapping the garden, compared with 32 reported when interviewed. The proportion of plant species received from others through exchange and the number of plots cultivated significantly explained the variation in edible plant diversity among gardens. Insects were sampled in gardens and orchards to determine potential pollinator community composition and the effect of different management practices on Hymenoptera richness and abundance. I collected 756 Hymenoptera individuals (56 bee; 12 wasp species); 12 species were new records for Kyrgyzstan or within Kyrgyzstan. Economic pressures to intensify cultivation could impact management practices that currently promote diversity. A home garden development initiative was undertaken to study management practice improvement. Participants in the initiative had higher adoption rates than controls of management practices that improve long-term yield, ecological sustainability and stability of home gardens. Home gardens, as currently managed, support abundant and diverse pollinator communities and have high cultivated plant diversity with few differences in community composition between garden management types.

Saprophytic fungi can be paired with companion crops in interplant systems to increase production efficiency. However, fungal species/strain, substrate, and inoculation rate can affect the growth of companion crops. This project investigated the viability of open-field mushroom production by interplanting three strains of Pleurotus ostreatus (Elm A, Elm B, and 8801) with kale (B. oleracea var. acephala) and forage radish (Raphanus raphanistrub sub. sativus), and measured the effect of interplanting on plant yield over two field seasons. In the field, Elm A showed an increase in plant yield at a low inoculation rate and decrease in plant yield at a high inoculation rate, compared to the untreated. Conversely, 8801 showed a reduction in plant yield at high and low inoculation rates in the field. Elm B at a high rate showed a reduction in plant yield both in the field and greenhouse. Kale was grown in hydroponics with fungal secretions added at a range of concentrations (10, 100, 1,000 and 10,000 ppm). Elm A showed an overall increase in plant yield in hydroponics, and Elm B showed an overall decrease in plant yield, compared to the untreated. Mushroom production was low in field plots and was not a commercially viable option. Pleurotus ostreatus interplanting methods with companion crops need improvement to make this a commercially viable practice.

Throughout time nature has been a prescribed healer of stress on the human condition. Its vital integration into our daily lives has been proven by scientific evidence. The majority of Americans spend approximately 1/3 of their life working, whatever that job may entail. Therefore, it makes sense that the environments that we spend so much of our life in for work at extremely important to our physical and mental health, however, current workplace models are not acknowledging that. Redefining the workplace to integrate nature would start to change work life in this country and how work itself is viewed. This thesis focuses on creating healthy and holistic production spaces for workers in areas like Western Massachusetts. Because this area shares urban and rural qualities while being primarily suburban of major Northeastern cities such as Boston and New York, it provides unique ground for a wide array of work occupations and work types. On a chosen site of Northampton, MA, a new work model will be developed around the exposure to nature integral to a collaborative co-op/ incubator space for small businesses in the area who need office and production spaces in a community setting. The progression of this research will lead to a developed incubation space with a positive environmental impact. Precedent research of archetypes such as Michael Singer’s Alterra Atria, and Miller Hull’s Bullitt Center exemplify sustainable criteria in relation to office architecture. By using concepts underlying an even further integration with the community ideas from John Dinkeloo & Kevin Roche’s Ford Foundation Headquarters, Candilis, Josic and Woods’ Freie University Berlin and BIG & Heatherwick’s New Google Headquarters. By creating a building that addresses the diverse makeup of the larger community of Northampton, MA, this co-op space would become an example of how a workplace can work with nature towards a greater impact on the environment post-occupancy.