Although the potential of Alternative Jet Fuels (AJF) to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions has been widely reported upon in the literature, there are still discrepancies among the results. These may be due to the different GHG accounting methods, including those used by different Low-Carbon Policies (LCPs). To have a clearer understanding of the life cycle performance of AJF, the carbon footprint of ten pathways was estimated, comprising promising feedstocks – such as soybean, palm, sugarcane, sugarcane residues, forestry residues, used cooking oil, beef tallow, and steel off-gases – and ASTM-approved technologies: Hydroprocessed Fatty Acids, Alcohol-to-Jet, and Fischer-Tropsch. Six methodological approaches were used: the attributional and the consequential life cycle assessment, as well as guidelines for the four LCPs: Renovabio (Brazil), CORSIA (aviation sector), RFS (United States), and RED II (Europe). Soybean-based pathway (24 to 98.7 gCO2e/MJ) had the low to no potential for reducing GHG when compared to their fossil counterparts, mainly due to land use change. Of all food-based pathways, AJF produced from sugarcane performed the best (-10.4 to 43.7 gCO2e/MJ), especially when power surplus was credited. AJF from palm oil could present significant GHG reduction for palm expansion in degraded pasturelands. By contrast, Fischer-Tropsch of lignocellulosic residues showed the highest potential for reducing GHG (-95% to -130%). Different from food-based pathways, the potential GHG reduction of residues-based pathways converged within a narrower range (-130% to -50%), except when residual feedstocks have to be redirected from their current economic use. It could lead to GHG emissions higher than fossil fuel.

The carbon footprint of alternative jet fuels produced in Brazil: exploring different approaches

Intercropping improves land-use efficiency under conditions of limited land and resources, but no information is currently available pertaining to land-use efficiency and silage quality based on whole-plant utilization. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conducted with the following conditions: three maize–soybean strip intercropping patterns, comprising two maize rows along with two, three, or four soybean rows (2M2S, 2M3S, and 2M4S, respectively); and two sole cropping patterns of maize (SM) and soybean (SS). The aim was to evaluate the biomass yield and silage quality under each condition. Our results showed that all SIPs had a land equivalent ratio (LER) of over 1.6 based on both fresh and dry matter yield, and a higher whole plant yield, compared to sole cropping. Specifically, 2M3S exhibited the highest whole crop dry matter LER (1.8–1.9) and yield (24.6–27.2 t ha−1) compared to SM and SS (20.88–21.49 and 3.48–4.79 t ha−1, respectively). Maize–soybean mixed silages also showed better fermentation quality with higher lactic acid content (1–3%) and lower ammonia-N content (2–8%) compared to SS silages, and higher crude protein content (1–1.5%) with lower ammonia-N content (1–2%) compared to SM silage. Among the intercropping patterns, 2M3S had the highest fermentation quality index V-score (92–95). Consequently, maize–soybean strip intercropping improved silage quality and biomass yield, with 2M3S being recommended, due to its highest LER and biomass yield, and most optimal silage quality.

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Silage Quality and Output of Different Maize–Soybean Strip Intercropping Patterns

Intercropped maize-soybean silage: Effects on forage yield, fermentation pattern and nutritional composition

The corn and soybean intercropping can increase the quality of the silage and result in higher animal productivity. This research aimed to evaluate the agronomic aspects of intercropped corn + soybean, fermentative and bromatological profile of the intercropping silage, in function of the plant spatial arrangement, and types of fertilization. Two tests were performed; test 1: being in simple arrangement (a corn line alternated with a soybean line); test (2) in double arrangement (two corn lines alternated with a soybean line). The experimental design was a randomized block design in a 2x2 + 1 factorial scheme, with four replications. The first factor was constituted of two sowing fertilization modalities in the line: only in corn, and in total area; the second factor, were the seeding fertilization types: 100 and 70 kg ha-1 P2O5 and K2O, respectively (Dose 1) and 150 and 95 kg ha-1 of P2O5 and K2O, respectively (Dose 2). The additional treatment corresponded to corn monoculture. After harvesting, the material was ensiled for 60 days. There was no statistical difference in the yield of silage between treatments, only increases in the production of soybean pods and in the quality of the silage in the higher doses of fertilization. The results show that the soybean addition in corn silage causes greater losses during the fermentation process, but in contrast increases the protein and ether extract contents and digestibility. Pointing out that a roughage with these characteristics may supply protein supplementation in ruminant diets.

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Perfil agronômico, fermentativo e bromatológico da silagem obtida do consórcio entre milho e soja

Introdução O Brasil apesar de ser o terceiro maior produtor de milho (Zea mays L.), ainda possui uma média de produtividade classificada como baixa (3.352 kg ha), quando comparada com os dados da China (4.933 kg ha) e Estados Unidos (8.672 kg ha) (DUARTE, 2002). Em pesquisas recentes, têm-se constatado um expressivo incremento na produtividade de grãos na cultura do milho (HORBE et al., 2013). Porém, um fato visto na prática é que as produtividades ainda são baixas e irregulares e acredita-se, que a fertilidade do solo esteja relacionada como um dos principais fatores responsáveis na baixa produção de grãos e forragem (COELHO; FRANÇA, 2009). Os baixos níveis de nutrientes presentes no solo ou a utilização inadequada de adubação e calagem são alguns dos parâmetros que podem estar veiculados à essa baixa produtividade. Contudo, surge a necessidade de avaliar a eficiência de fertilizantes fosfatados em diferentes formas, no sentido de proporcionar maior desenvolvimento e produtividade da cultura. Uma outra grande importância, é a utilização de micronutrientes, em que a existência de resultados experimentais vem demostrando a grande variabilidade de resposta à sua

/pdf/caracteristicas-agronomicas-do-milho-sob-a-aplicacao-de-3wv6e91hw2.pdf

Características agronômicas do milho sob a aplicação de fontes fosfatadas e micronutrientes

The success of maize + soybean intercrop depends on the plant arrangement. An experiment was carried out to evaluate different row arrangements on intercrop forage yield, silage quality and maize grain yield in relation to maize as a sole crop. The experiment was set up with a randomized complete block design with eight row arrangements between maize and Soybean. Maize biomass yield among crop arrangements were similar, although, lower than the maize sole crop. On the other hand, these treatments showed higher soybean biomass yield, which in turn increased silage crude protein and crude protein yield per unit area. Maize thousand grain weight, grain yield per plant and per area was affected by the intercrop arrangements. The use of two corn rows + two soybean rows (2M+2S-30 cm) and four corn rows + four soybean rows (4M+4S-30 cm) showed higher crude protein yield per area associated with similar maize grain yield in relation to the sole maize crop. In conclusion, alternating four maize rows with four soybean rows was the optimum row ratio in maize + soybean intercrop, though this needs to be further confirmed by more trials.

https://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jas/article/download/0/0/38103/38593

Row arrangements of maize and soybean intercrop on silage quality and grain yield.

This work aimed to evaluate the physiological and biochemical performance of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seeds treated with essential oils (EOs) of citronella (Cymbopogon sp.), guaçatonga (Casearia sylvestris Sw.), melaleuca (Melaleuca sp. L.), patchouli (Pogostemon sp. Benth), and pitangueira (Eugenia uniflora L.). The experimental design was completely randomized in double factorials (5 oils × 4 doses) at different doses (10, 20, 30, and 40 μL), with an additional treatment that served as growth control (without EOs, 0 μL). In other words, the experimental design entails 5 oils × 4 doses + 1 control, with 4 replicates of 100 Grand Rapid lettuce seeds without industrial chemical treatment. The response variables were: first germination count (FGC, %), last germination count (LGC, %), germination rate (GR), normal seedlings (NS, %), abnormal seedlings (AS, %), aerial part length (APL, cm), fresh mass (mf, g), total soluble proteins content (mg•g-1), and enzyme activities of β-1,3-glucanase (UA•mg-1) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, UA•mg-1). The lettuce plant proved to be a good reference plant for evaluations related to physiological and biochemical performance when treated with EOs. However, although treatment of lettuce seeds with EOs did not cause undesirable damages, it positively altered the physiological parameters APL and mf. All EOs affected the total proteins content and enzyme activities of PAL and β-1,3-glucanase. Therefore, EOs demonstrated the potential to activate the plant's defense mechanism to control phytopathogens. More specifically, 10 μL of citronella EO activated two plant defense mechanisms: PAL and β-1,3-glucanase activities. In addition, EOs of melaleuca (10 and 40 μL) and patchouli (20 and 30 μL) also activated PAL enzyme activity.

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Physiological and biochemical performance of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seeds treated with essential oils used to control phytopathogens

In agriculture, weeds tend to compete with the crop for scarce resources like water, light and nutrients, which incurs losses to farmers. Consequently, farmers must deal with weeds to derive maximum benefits for their crops and the environment. The aim of this paper was to assess the competitiveness of common bean crops in the presence of hairy beggarsticks (Bidens pilosa) at different population densities. The treatments were arranged in replacement series using five proportions (0:16, 4:12, 8:8, 12:4 and 16:0) of common bean and hairy beggarsticks in a fully randomized design, with four replicates. The analyzed variables were dry mass of the aerial part and height of plants. Competitive analysis was performed using diagrams applied to substitute experiments and indices of competitiveness. With regard to the two evaluated variables, the common bean was more resourceful  than the hairy hairy beggarsticks.

	 

	Key words: Replacement series, competition, shoot dry mass, stature, Bidens pilosa, beans.

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Pedro Valério Dutra de Moraes

Papers

Row arrangements of maize and soybean intercrop on silage quality and grain yield.

Physiological and biochemical performance of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seeds treated with essential oils used to control phytopathogens

Relative competitiveness of Phaseolus vulgaris with Bidens pilosa