Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Agricultural Development”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

The structure of a local population of phytopathogenic Pseudomonas brassicacearum from agricultural soil indicates development under purifying selection pressure.

Among the isolates of a bacterial community from a soil sample taken from an agricultural plot in northern Germany, a population consisting of 119 strains was obtained that was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing and genomic fingerprinting as belonging to the recently described species Pseudomonas brassicacearum. Analysis of the population structure by allozyme electrophoresis (11 loci) and random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR; four primers) showed higher resolution with the latter method. Both methods indicated the presence of three lineages, one of which dominated strongly. Stochastic tests derived from the neutral theory of evolution (including Slatkin's exact test, Watterson's homozygosity test and the Tajima test) indicated that the population had developed under strong purifying selection pressure. The presence of strains clearly divergent from the majority of the population can be explained by in situ evolution or by influx of strains as a result of migration or both. Phytopathogenicity of a P. brassicacearum strain determined with tomato plants reached the level obtained with the type strain of the known pathogen Pseudomonas corrugata. The results show that a selective sweep was identified in a local population. Previously, a local selective sweep had not been seen in several populations of different bacterial species from a variety of environmental habitats.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1977

Proficiency testing in agriculture.

The development and organisation of proficiency testing in agriculture in England and Wales is described. The National Proficiency Tests Council, which was established as an independent examining body in 1971, is responsible for administering the proficiency testing scheme at a national level. On passing a category based proficiency test an agricultural worker may apply for a craftsman's certificate and is then entitled to a wages premium under the Agricultural Wages Board's Wages Structure Scheme. The development and format of a series of new category based tests for livestock production, which were introduced in January 1976, is outlined.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2001

Biological and social feasibility of Sesbania fallow practice in small holder agricultural farms in developing countries: a Zambian case study.

Many small holder farmers in developing countries face problems of declining soil fertility and crop yields and insufficient money to buy expensive inorganic fertilizers. The Sesbania fallow system, an agroforestry technology, seems to hold a key to these problems. Based on field studies in eastern Zambia, this paper reports that fallow system has the potential to improve and sustain soil productivity in the small holder farms. However, the paper also reports that the ability for subsistence farmers to adopt the Sesbania fallow system is affected by gender differences in resource allocation to productive resources and institutional, cultural, and social structural settings in which farmers exist and make decisions.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2005

Respiratory allergy in agricultural workers: recent developments.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review recent evidence on the relationship between occupational exposure to allergens and asthmagens, and risk for developing allergy and asthma and the role of modifying factors in farmers and farm workers. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies identified agents that have not been associated with allergy or asthma in farming populations before. The most intriguing findings, however, are those that suggest that the development of atopy and asthma might be influenced by exposure to pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), including endotoxin. SUMMARY: The adverse and potentially protective effects of microbial exposures in the farm environment are discussed. Recent findings indicate that it is very likely that the protective effect of exposure to PAMPs such as endotoxin is not limited to childhood age. The protective effects that probably developed during childhood can still be observed at adult age. Furthermore, it even seems likely that exposures at adult age (in occupational environments), which stimulate the innate immune system, have an effect on allergy, independently of childhood exposure. It is hypothesized that reversal of atopy might occur as a result of high exposure to endotoxins and other PAMPs.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed2005

Spatial planning for adapting to climate change.

During the past decades human interference in regional hydrologic systems has intensified. These systems act as an integrating medium. They link climate, human activities and ecologic processes through groundwater and surface water interactions. For simulating these linkages an integrated regional hydrologic model has been coupled to an ecologic evaluation model. The simulated ecologic effects of climate change on mesotrophic riverine grasslands are clearly positive. Simulation results also indicate a high sensitivity of the peak discharges to the precipitation. For modelling the long-term development of land use and water management an integrated 'bio-economic' model has been constructed. It includes a model for the development of agriculture. Results for the autonomous development in reaction to climate change indicate a strong increase of field drainage by agriculture. This development would substantially reduce the predicted positive effects of climate change on riverine grasslands. The challenge is to guide regional developments in such a manner that opportunities for improving nature are not lost, but that at the same time the peak discharges are kept under control. Flow retardation in the 'fine arteries' of the upstream areas appear to be a viable option for the latter. The bio-economic model can provide help in anticipating on climate change through spatial planning.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2006

Human pathogenic microsporidia detection in agricultural samples: method development and assessment.

A detection method was developed and assessed for the sensitive recovery of microsporidia from livestock fecal and manure-impacted environmental samples. Sensitive recovery of microsporidia was achieved when samples were subjected to 1) purification by sucrose floatation, 2) DNA extraction using the Qiagen QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit, 3) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis using generic primers for microsporidia, and 4) DNA sequence analysis to identify which microsporidia were present in each sample. Livestock fecal and wastewater samples were inoculated with 1,000 and 100 Encephalitozoon intestinalis spores/g or ml of feces or wastewater. For cattle wastewater, ten of ten replicates were positive by PCR at concentrations of 1,000 spores/ml, and two of ten replicates were positive at concentrations of 100 spores/ml. For swine wastewater, ten of ten replicates were positive at concentrations of 1,000 spores/ml, and four of ten replicates were positive at concentrations of 100 spores/ml. For cattle feces, three of ten replicates were positive at the concentration of 1,000 spores/g. Several environmental samples were screened using this method, with two of 34 samples positive for human pathogenic microsporidia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Encephalitozoon cuniculi detection in swine feces and wastewater.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1999

[Lifelong heavy agricultural work and development of arthrosis of the hand--a case study].

Heavy physical work load is a known determinant of osteoarthritis of the hip, which may account for the high risk observed among farmers. On the other hand, the data on influence of heavy manual work in the pathogenesis of hand osteoarthritis are still controversial. We examined 25 retired farm laborers who strenuously worked for more than 50 years. The investigation included a history of professional activity, clinical and radiological examination of the hands, hips and knees, MRI of hand and laboratory evaluation of 4 participants. Interestingly, the farm laborers with osteoarthritis of the hands, hardly complained. In many of the proximal interphalangeal joints, a discrepancy was observed between the clinical hypertrophic changes and the radiological osteoarthritis which was weak or absent. This difference was less pronounced in the distal interphalangeal joints. Furthermore the distribution pattern of the osteoarthritis of the hand was striking with an over-proportional involvement of the metacarpophalangeal joints and less pronounced of the intercarpal joints. Most often both hands have been affected and the typical localization of the metacarphophalangeal joint osteoarthritis was the first, second and third finger. In all but one participant we found at least unilateral osteoarthritis of the hip and compared to the hands, complaints were more severe. Our findings support the hypothesis that the distribution of osteoarthritis in the hand is affected by lifelong farming. As shown by the data on proximal interphalangeal joints, the periarticular tissue can adapt to the mechanical load in the strength grip.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Resource-conserving agriculture increases yields in developing countries.

Despite great recent progress, hunger and poverty remain widespread and agriculturally driven environmental damage is widely prevalent. The idea of agricultural sustainability centers on the need to develop technologies and practices that do not have adverse effects on environmental goods and services, and that lead to improvements in food productivity. Here we show the extent to which 286 recent interventions in 57 poor countries covering 37 M ha (3% of the cultivated area in developing countries) have increased productivity on 12.6 M farms while improving the supply of critical environmental services. The average crop yield increase was 79% (geometric mean 64%). All crops showed water use efficiency gains, with the highest improvement in rainfed crops. Potential carbon sequestered amounted to an average of 0.35 t C ha(-1) y(-1). If a quarter of the total area under these farming systems adopted sustainability enhancing practices, we estimate global sequestration could be 0.1 Gt C y(-1). Of projects with pesticide data, 77% resulted in a decline in pesticide use by 71% while yields grew by 42%. Although it is uncertain whether these approaches can meet future food needs, there are grounds for cautious optimism, particularly as poor farm households benefit more from their adoption.

Agriculture↗