No description available.

This research focused on expanding the capabilities of the Water Rights Analysis Package (WRAP) for incorporating salinity considerations in assessments of water availability. A simulation modeling approach was used to address this issue and a generalized simulation model called WRAP-SALT was developed. The Brazos River Basin served as a case study to test the simulation approach adopted by the model. The simulation model adopts a generalized modeling approach applicable to any river basin system. The model tracks salinity throughout a river basin system over different periods of time for alternative scenarios of water use, reservoir system operating policies, and salt control mechanisms. The model was applied to the Brazos River Basin considering different management scenarios and the results obtained were analyzed. Reservoir reliabilities were assessed under user imposed salinity constraints. It was observed that the water supply reliabilities decreased significantly if salinity constraints were considered. Salt control dams proposed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were also incorporated in the simulation of the river basin. It was observed that salinity in the main stem of the Brazos River was significantly reduced. However, no significant improvement was observed in water supply reliabilities.

Water availability has been of great concern in the State of Texas and many other places worldwide. During 1997-2003, pursuant to the 1997 Senate Bill 1, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), its partner agencies, and contractors developed a Water Availability Modeling (WAM) System based on the Water Rights Analysis Package (WRAP) model, developed at Texas A&M University. WAM has been widely applied in the State of Texas and because of its convenience, applications, and capabilities, it is planned to be implemented in other States and Countries. This thesis addresses different aspects of WAM, including conditional reliability modeling, firm yield analysis following classic and recently developed methodologies, evaluating the impact of different considerations on reliability analyses, simplification of complex WAM datasets and the display of WRAP results into ArcMap. Conditional reliability modeling evaluates short term diversion/storage reliabilities based on an initial storage level. WRAP-CON has been evaluated and improved, in addition a new modeling methodology has been developed, in which probabilities of occurrence for each hydrologic sequence is based on the relationship between storage and future flows. Recently developed WRAP capabilities have been evaluated, providing users new tools and increased flexibility. Some of these improvements are firm yield analysis, cycling and dual simulation. In addition to improved software, guidelines have also been developed, including a set to simplify extremely large WAM datasets, while maintaining the effect of all the other water rights in a basin.

Water is key in climate change adaptation. The impacts of climate change will primarily manifest themselves through water, with changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme hydroclimatic events such as floods and droughts. Understanding climate change influence is crucial for assessing future water availability and developing sustainable management plans. Vulnerability to these changes differs by region and community, geographic location, nature of climate change impacts, and human factors. The Nunavik region in northern Canada is experiencing some of the most rapid changes in climate in the world, with disproportionately large temperature increases, alterations in precipitation regimes, and thawing of permafrost, among others. This investigation aims to evaluate the impact of climate change on water availability in the Umiujaq community (Nunavik) and propose strategies to reduce the effects of these impacts. In order to achieve these goals, a hydrological model of the basin has been developed and calibrated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), satellite and local data, and the SWAT Calibration and Uncertainty Programs (SWAT-CUP). Due to a lack of data, a model was first developed for the Grande Riviere de la Baleine watershed (Kuujjuarapik) and then transposed to Umiujaq. The hydrological model was successfully calibrated and validated (NSE = 0.81, RSR = 0.43, PBIAS = 5.2: NSE = 0.68, RSR = 0.56, PBIAS = 0.9). Then, the model was forced with Canadian downscaled climate data (CMIP5) under three emission scenarios (RCP 2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5) to develop a quantitative analysis of the future water cycle's evolution. The results showed a slight increase in precipitation with global warming and a considerable reduction in snow content due to the higher temperatures. A faster and easier snow melting would happen yearly, bringing an earlier streamflow peak in the river. In the worst-case scenario (RCP8.5), the peak streamflow will move from June 17 to May 8 (40 days), which could result in lower water availability during the summer. To address these impacts, two strategies were analyzed: increase the storage capacity of the community and resort to an alternative water source, i.e., groundwater. The first one could be a solution in the short term, while the second one would be more reliable in the long term. However, the community is already facing difficulty in providing a reliable water supply throughout the year, so swift and concerted action from both the community and relevant authorities is of the essence in tackling this issue head-on.

In an era of global-scale climate change, agricultural production faces a unique challenge due to its reliance on stochastic natural endowments, including temperature, precipitation, and water availability for irrigation. This dissertation presents a series of essays to examine how agricultural producers react and adapt to challenges presented by climate change and scarce irrigation water allocated through the prior appropriation doctrine. The dissertation approaches the problem from three distinct perspectives: institutional differences, climate and water availability, as well as producers' expectation on future endowments. Chapter 2 presents an institutional perspective, in which I investigate how different water allocation mechanisms within the prior appropriation doctrine result in differences in producers' crop allocation decisions. I find that water users in irrigation districts are able to plant more water-intensive crops than farmers outside irrigation districts. Chapter 3 presents the interaction between nature and human systems, in which I examine how the physiological complementarity of temperature and water availability diffuses from crop yield (at the intensive margin) to crop allocation strategies (at the extensive margin). Using a theoretical model I show that the observed complementarity reflects a combination of two mechanisms: yield impact through physiological complementarity, and adaptation response through shifting crop allocation patterns. Using an empirical model, I find that farmers adapt to changing climate conditions by growing more profitable crop mixes when presented with more growing degree-days (GDD), precipitation and groundwater access. Chapter 4 presents a behavioral perspective, in which I test how producers' expectation formation processes lead to short term over-adjustments to weather and water availability fluctuations. Using a fixed-effect regression on lagged weather and water realizations, I find that agricultural producers engage in a combination of cognitive biases, including the availability heuristic and the reinforcement strategy. Adopting these alternative learning mechanisms causes farmers to significantly over-react to more recent fluctuations in weather and water availability when making ex ante acreage and crop allocation decisions. / Ph. D. / In an era of global-scale climate change, agricultural production faces a unique challenge due to its reliance on variable natural factors, including temperature, precipitation, and water availability for irrigation. This dissertation presents a series of essays to examine how agricultural producers react and adapt to challenges presented by climate change and scarce irrigation water allocated through the prior appropriation doctrine. Chapter 2 presents an institutional perspective, in which I investigate how different water allocation regimes result in differences in producers’ cropping decisions. I find that irrigation districts benefit its users by allowing them to plant more water-intensive crops than farmers outside irrigation districts. Chapter 3 presents a natural science perspective, in which I examine how temperature and water availability jointly affect agricultural production and adaptation. I find that farmers significantly adapt to changing climate conditions by growing more profitable crop mixes when presented with higher temperature, precipitation, and groundwater access. Chapter 4 presents a behavioral perspective, in which I test how agricultural decision making are affected by how producers form expectations over future climate. I find that agricultural producers engage in a combination of cognitive biases when forming expectations, and as a result over-react to more recent fluctuations in weather and water availability when making acreage and crop allocation decisions.

The number of overweight adults has risen to two-thirds of the population, thus increases in energy intake, particularly from beverages are of great concern. Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake has increased by 222 calories in recent decades, which contributes a significant source of added sugars to the American diet. It has been reported that water consumers have a lower overall energy intake (~194 kcals) as compared to non-consumers of water therefore substituting water for SSBs may facilitate weight loss and weight management. Evidence also indicates that diet quality follows a socioeconomic gradient, and that the environment has a powerful influence on beverage consumption. Thus, modifying the food environment could be a promising strategy for promoting healthier beverage consumption behavior. A large portion of the US population spends their day at a worksite making the worksite a viable setting for implementing environmental approaches to promote effective behavior change. At this time, it is unclear if a reduction of SSB intake would be a viable dietary weight management intervention strategy. Therefore, our purpose was to determine if water, SSB intake, SSB energy, total beverage intake, and total beverage energy varies with individual and environmental factors among overweight and obese employees from 28 worksites involved in a randomized controlled weight management trial. These findings may contribute to the development of tailored weight management programs aimed to improve beverage consumption patterns. / Master of Science

Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, onde a disponibilidade hídrica foi classificada como \"Crítica\", durante os anos de 2014 e 2015 ocorreu um período de seca que originou a denominada \"crise hídrica\", agravando a situação dos mananciais que abastecem a região. Os estudos sobre mudanças climáticas demonstram não ser um fenômeno isolado e, diante disso, a adoção de tecnologias para reúso de água é essencial para aumentar a disponibilidade hídrica de locais que enfrentam cenários de escassez, como a RMSP. A recarga de aquíferos com efluentes tratados para reúso de água é uma técnica que, se adotada corretamente, pode trazer benefícios como o aumento do volume de água subterrânea disponível para a população. Para estudo da tecnologia, buscou-se como referência as plantas de Shafdan (Israel), Atlantis (África do Sul), Sabadell (Espanha), Adelaide (Austrália), avaliando principalmente os processos de tratamento, métodos de recarga e características qualitativas dos efluentes utilizados para recarga de aquíferos. Foram consultadas as legislações de Estados Unidos e da Espanha sobre o assunto e, com base nestas referências, foram adotados os seguintes requisitos de qualidade do efluente para recarga de aquíferos: sólidos suspensos (35 mg/L), carbono orgânico dissolvido (125,0 mg/L), DBO5,20 (25,0 mg/L), nitrato (25,0 mg/L) e Escherichia coli (1000 UFC/100 mL). A partir dos estudos de caso e das legislações, foi definido que o requisito mínimo de tratamento para recarga é o tratamento terciário para remoção de nitrogênio. Foi avaliada a replicabilidade desta técnica na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo através de comparativos entre os requisitos definidos e as características do efluente e da água de reúso produzida na RMSP em quatro cenários: legislação aplicável ao lançamento de efluentes tratados, características do efluente tratado a nível secundário de uma das ETEs da RMSP, características da água de reúso produzida na RMSP para usos urbanos e características da água de reúso produzida para uso industrial na planta Aquapolo. Verificou-se que atualmente apenas a água de reúso produzida no Aquapolo é submetida a tratamento terciário e atende aos requisitos qualitativos para recarga adotados neste trabalho. O custo de operação de um sistema de produção de água de reúso e recarga de aquíferos foi estimado em US$ 1,41/m³, valor superior à tarifa de água potável comercializada para residências na RMSP, atualmente US$ 0,75/m³. Concluiu-se que há potencial para adoção da tecnologia de recarga de aquíferos com água de reúso na RMSP, visto que há tecnologia disponível para produzir água de reúso na qualidade requerida. Ainda assim, é necessária a avaliação da hidrogeologia local antes de praticar a recarga. Em relação ao custo, o valor da tarifa de água potável vigente é expressivamente menor quando comparado ao valor caso a tecnologia proposta nesse trabalho fosse implantada. Entretanto, deve-se avaliar a importância da adoção de alternativas para disponibilização de água para a população. Ou seja, mesmo que em primeira vista seja mais onerosa, esta técnica é uma oportunidade para obtenção de água para diversos usos em situações de extrema seca, quando o valor da água passa a ser inestimável. / In the São Paulo metropolitan region, where water availability was classified as \"critical\", during the years of 2014 and 2015 there was a period of drought that led to the \"water crisis\", aggravating the situation of the water sources that supply the region. Studies on climate change demonstrate not be an isolated phenomenon and, given this, the adoption of technologies for reuse of water is essential to increase the water availability in areas facing drought situations, like SPMR. The aquifer recharge with treated wastewater to water reuse is a technics that, if properly implemented, can bring benefits as increasing the volume of groundwater available to the population. For the study of the technology, the reference plants were Shafdan (Israel), Atlantis (South Africa), Sabadell (Spain), Adelaide (Australia), survey the treatment processes, recharge methods and qualitative characteristics of effluents to aquifer recharge. The legislation of the United States and Spain was consulted and, based on these references, the following aquifer recharge effluent quality requirements were adopted: suspended solids (35 mg/L), organic solved carbon (125,0 mg/L), BOD5,20 (25,0 mg/L), nitrate (25,0 mg/L) e Escherichia coli (1000 UFC/100 mL). From the case studies and legislation, it was defined that the minimum treatment requirement for recharge is the tertiary treatment for nitrogen removal. The replicability of this technics in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo was survey through comparisons between the defined requirements and the characteristics of the effluent and the reuse water produced in the RMSP in four scenarios: applicable legislation to treated effluents discharge, effluent characteristics at secondary level treated, reuse water produced in the SPMR for urban uses and characteristics of the reuse water produced for industrial use in Aquapolo. It was verified that currently only the reuse water produced in Aquapolo is subjected to tertiary treatment and meets the qualitative requirements for recharge adopted in this study. The operating cost of a reuse and aquifer recharge water production system was estimated at US$ 1,41 / m³, which is higher than the drinking water tariff traded for residences in the RMSP, currently US$ 0,75 / m³. It was concluded that there is potential for the adoption of recharge water reuse technology in the RMSP, because the technology is available there to produce reuse water in the required quality. Nevertheless, it is necessary to study the local hydrogeology before the recharge. About cost, the value of the current drinking water tariff is significantly lower when compared to the value in case the technology proposed in this work was implemented. However, the importance of adopting alternatives for water availability to the population should be study. That is, even if it is more expensive at first sight, this technique is an opportunity to obtain water for various uses in situations of extreme drought, when the water value becomes inestimable.

Com o quadro de escassez hídrica apresentado nos últimos anos no estado de São Paulo, cada vez é mais evidente a necessidade do planejamento e gerenciamento dos recursos hídricos de forma racional, compartilhada e sustentável. Além do aumento da demanda por água devido ao contínuo crescimento populacional, somam-se, ao desafio da gestão integrada dos recursos hídricos, as alterações climáticas que vêm sendo observadas ao longo das últimas décadas. Diante a situação apresentada, essa pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar, de forma quantitativa, as possíveis alterações no regime hidrológico no conjunto de reservatórios do Sistema Cantareira, em diferentes cenários de mudanças climáticas futuras. O simulador climático MAGICC/SCENGEN foi utilizado para estimar as alterações climáticas previstas para o ano de 2100 em dois diferentes cenários de emissões de gases de efeito estufa, A1FIMI e B2MES. As variações de temperatura e precipitação foram incorporadas às séries climatológicas observadas na região em estudo. Para simular o comportamento das bacias contribuintes ao Sistema Cantareira, foi selecionado o modelo hidrológico SMAP (Soil Moisture Accounting Procedure). As séries alteradas de temperatura e precipitação serviram como dados de entrada do modelo hidrológico calibrado. As séries de vazões originadas desse processo, referentes aos dois cenários futuros A1FIMI e B2MES, foram comparadas às séries de vazões simuladas pelo modelo hidrológico no período de 1990 a 2010. Os resultados indicam queda no regime de vazões para os dois cenários futuros analisados, com diminuição mais acentuada para o cenário A1FIMI, de alta emissão de gases de efeito estufa. A diminuição nas vazões mostra-se preocupante, principalmente por se tratar do principal sistema de abastecimento da Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, o que traz à tona a necessidade de repensar as medidas adotadas para a exploração dos recursos hídricos no Sistema Cantareira. / The recent water shortages in the state of São Paulo, highlight the increasingly need for rational and sustainable water resources management. The increase in water demand due to continuous populational growth associated with climate changes observed in the past decades challenge the integrated management of water resources. Given this context, this research aimed to evaluate possible changes in the hydrological cycle of the Cantareira System reservoirs associated to different future climate change scenarios. A climate scenario generator (MAGICC/SCENGEN) was used to estimate the climate for the year 2100 with two different greenhouse gas emissions scenarios, A1FIMI and B2MES. Variations in temperature and precipitation were incorporated into climatological series observed in the study area. The SMAP (Soil Moisture Accounting Procedure) hydrologic model was used to simulate the behavior of the Cantareira System catchment basins. The altered temperature and precipitation series were used as input data in the calibrated hydrologic model. The discharge series of the two future scenarios obtained were compared to discharges simulated in recent climate conditions (series from 1990 to 2010) with the same hydrologic model. The results show a drop in the discharge series for the two future scenarios analyzed, with more marked decrease for A1FIMI, a scenario with higher greenhouse gases emissions. The decrease in discharge rates is a concern, especially because the Cantareira System is the main water system to supply São Paulo´s metropolitan area. This highlights a need to rethink the water use and management in the Cantareira System.

Submitted by Rosimeri Vergara (rosimerivergara@unipampa.edu.br) on 2018-07-04T21:32:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Ramiro dos Santos Bohrer 2016.pdf: 1895190 bytes, checksum: 0c37646e51d88e16278f3fa87772fd5e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vera Leite (vera.leite@unipampa.edu.br) on 2018-07-10T12:19:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Ramiro dos Santos Bohrer 2016.pdf: 1895190 bytes, checksum: 0c37646e51d88e16278f3fa87772fd5e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-10T12:19:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Ramiro dos Santos Bohrer 2016.pdf: 1895190 bytes, checksum: 0c37646e51d88e16278f3fa87772fd5e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / O desenvolvimento socioeconômico e industrial ao longo dos anos levou a um consumo desenfreado de água. A mineração, processo causador de grandes impactos, tem grande necessidade do uso de água, como é o caso de uma empresa mineradora, no Projeto Três Estradas, localizado na cidade de Lavras do Sul, RS, onde se tem um projeto de implantação para uma planta de beneficiamento de fosfato, o que leva a uma grande importância do estudo hídrico desta área.Sendo assim, neste trabalho foi feita uma análise do quantitativo pluviométrico na área de estudo, supondo a construção de um barramento, a fim de se verificar o suprimento ou não da demanda de água para o empreendimento. Para isso, fez-se um cálculo do volume mensal de chuva na região e, então calculada a diferença de água entre a oferta e a demanda da empresa, utilizando-se o Método Prático Australiano (ABNT NBR 15527/2007). Com isso, conclui-se que a demanda de água será muito maior que a oferta, necessitando de outras soluções para a necessidade da empresa. / Socioeconomic and industrial development over the years has led to unbridled consumption of this element. Mining, a process that causes large impacts, has a great need for water, such as a mining company, in the Três Estradas Project, located in the city of Lavras do Sul, RS, where there is a Phosphate beneficiation plant, which leads to a great importance of the hydrological study of this area. Thus, in this work, a pluviometric quantitative analysis was performed in the study area, assuming the construction of a bus, in order to verify the supply or not of the water demand for the enterprise. For this, a calculation was made of the monthly rainfall volume in the region and then the water difference between supply and demand of the company was calculated using the Australian Practical Method (ABNT NBR 15527/2007). With this, it is concluded that the demand for water will be much higher than supply, necessitating other solutions for the company's need.

A cultura do feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) apresenta posição de destaque no agronegócio brasileiro e na alimentação da população; a manutenção de elevados índices produtivos está condicionada a utilização da irrigação de forma racional e na escolha adequada das cultivares. Diante disso, torna-se fundamental o conhecimento das respostas fisiológicas e produtiva de diferentes cultivares de feijão submetida a três níveis de disponibilidade hídrica. Tais conhecimentos ainda são pouco difundidos e necessitam de pesquisas para sua melhor compreensão. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar a resposta dos aspectos produtivos e fisiológicos de cultivares de feijão com monitoramento e manejo da irrigação diferenciados. O experimento foi conduzido em condições controladas no Instituto Agronômico do Paraná (IAPAR), em Londrina, PR com delineamento de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial e cinco repetições, constando de três cultivares de feijão e três níveis de disponibilidade hídrica no solo, monitorada por tensiômetro instalado a 0,15; 0,20 e 0,30 m de profundidade. Foram avaliados a fitomassa seca das folhas, caule, legume, parte aérea, raízes e total; rendimento de grãos e índice de colheita; fotossíntese, concentração interna de carbono no mesófilo foliar, transpiração e condutância estomática, eficiência da fotossíntese, e eficiência no uso da água instantânea e extrínseca. Os resultados indicaram variação em relação à produção de fitomassa seca de folhas, parte aérea, total, rendimento de grãos e índice de colheita, com maiores valores para a cultivar IAPAR 81 submetida à disponibilidade hídrica total de 463 mm. A cultivar IPR Tangará apresentou resultado semelhante para característica índice de colheita, nas demais não apresentou diferença com disponibilidade hídrica total de 463 e 547 mm, considerando as características citadas anteriormente. Todas as características avaliadas foram menores para a cultivar IPR Curió, a qual não apresentou diferenças com disponibilidade hídrica total de 329 e 404 mm na produção de fitomassa seca da parte aérea, total, rendimento de grãos e índice de colheita. O desenvolvimento radicular das cultivares IAPAR 81 e IPR Tangará foram semelhantes, diferentemente da cultivar IPR Curió que apresentou menor crescimento. Houve comportamento diferenciado das três cultivares avaliadas e maior capacidade de recuperação das atividades fisiológicas para as cultivares IAPAR 81 e IPR Tangará em comparação a cultivar IPR Curió; aos 62 dias após a semeadura, foi observada maior redução nos tratamentos cujo monitoramento da irrigação foi realizado a 0,30 m de profundidade para as cultivares IAPAR 81 e IPR Tangará. A cultivar IPR Curió apresentou redução gradativa dessas características ao longo do ciclo de desenvolvimento. Considerando os resultados conclui-se que as cultivares de feijão apresentaram resposta diferenciada em relação às características produtivas e fisiológicas, a maior produção de grãos ocorreu com disponibilidade hídrica monitorada a 0,20 e 0,30 m de profunidade, as cultivares IAPAR 81 e IPR Tangará apresentaram capacidade de recuperação das atividades fisiológicas após um período de maior estresse; a cultivar IPR Curió apresentou menor eficiência no uso da água. A cultivar IAPAR 81 é mais adequada para locais sujeitos à deficiência hídrica e as cultivares IPR Tangará e IPR Curió serão mais responsivas em sistemas de produção irrigados; não foram observadas alterações nocivas ao aparato fotossintético das cultivares, em função dos tratamentos. / The bean crop (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) has a prominent position in the Brazilian agribusiness and food of the population; the maintaining of high production rates is dependent upon use of irrigation rationally and in choosing suitable of cultivars. Therefore, it is necessary to know the physiological and productive responses of bean cultivars under three levels of water availability. Such knowledge is still not disseminated and need research for better understanding. The aim of this work was to study the response of productive and physiological aspects of bean cultivars with different monitoring and management of irrigation. The experiment was conducted in Agronomic Institute of Paraná State (IAPAR) in Londrina, PR with a randomized block design in a factorial arrangement with five replications, consisting of three bean cultivars and three levels of soil water availability, monitored by tensiometer installed 0.15; 0.20 and 0.30 m depth. Were evaluated: dry biomass of leaves, stems, pod, aerial part, shoots, and total; grain yield and harvest index; photosynthesis, internal carbon concentration in mesophyll, transpiration, stomatal conductance, photosynthesis efficiency, and efficiency in the use of instant and extrinsic water. The results indicated variation in relation to dry biomass production of leaves, aerial part, total, grain yield and harvest index, with higher values for IAPAR 81 cultivar with total water availability of 463 mm. The IPR Tangará cultivar showed similar results of characteristics to harvest index but in the other characteristics showed no difference in total water availability of 463 and 547 mm, considering the characteristics previously mentioned. All characteristics were smaller to IPR Curió cultivar, which no showed differences in total water availability of 329 and 404 mm in the dry biomass production of aerial parts, total grain yield and harvest index. The root development of the IAPAR 81 and IPR Tangará were similar, unlike IPR Curió cultivar which showed lower growth. There was a differential behavior of the three cultivars and greater resilience of physiological activities for IAPAR 81 and IPR Tangará cultivars compared to IPR Curió cultivar; at 62 days after seedling, greater reduction in irrigation treatments whose monitoring was carried out at 0.30 m depth for IAPAR 81 and IPR Tangará cultivars was observed. The IPR Curió cultivar showed gradual reduction of these characteristics throughout the development cycle. Considering the results it is concluded that the cultivars showed different responses in relation to the productive and physiological characteristics, the largest grain production occurred with water availability monitored at 0.20 and 0.30 m depth, the IAPAR 81 cultivars and IPR Tangará showed resilience of physiological activity after a period of increased stress; IPR Curió cultivar showed lower water efficiency use. The IAPAR 81 cultivar is more suitable for locations where the water deficit is frequent and the IPR Tangará and IPR Curió cultivars be more responsive in irrigation systems production; no changes harmful was observed to the photosynthetic apparatus of cultivars, independent of the treatments.