EVALUATION OF EXPORT PROMOTION PROGRAMS ON TRADE OF HIGH-VALUED AND PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR NORTH CAROLINA AGRIBUSINESS

International Relations/Trade,

External electric field effect on electron transport in carbon nanotubes

Electronic transport properties of carbon nanotubes are studied theoretically in the presence of external electric field E(t) by using the Boltzmann's transport with constant relaxation time. An analytical expression for the current densities of the nanotubes are obtained. It is observed that the current density-electric field characteristics of the CNs exhibit total self-induced transparency and absolute negative conductivityComment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Yields and qualities of pigeonpea varieties grown under smallholder farmers’ conditions in Eastern and Southern Africa

Pigeonpea is one of the few crops with a high potential for resource-poor farmers due to its complementary resource use when intercropped with maize. A three year comprehensive comparative study on the performance of six pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) varieties on farmers’ fields in Eastern and Southern Africa where intercropping with maize is normal practice, was undertaken. The varieties were tested for accumulation of dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in all above-ground organs for three years under farmers’ conditions. The study revealed that the latest introduced ICEAP 00040 outperformed all the other tested varieties (ICP 9145; ICEAP 00020, ICEAP 00053, ICEAP 00068, and a local variety called “Babati White”) under farmer-managed conditions. The harvest indices (HI), ranging from 0.08-0.15 on dry matter (DM) basis, were relatively low and unaffected (P>0.05) by the environmental variation. The N harvest index (NHI) was 0.28 and P harvest index (PHI) was 0.19. The better responses of ICEAP00040 to favourable conditions could however only be realised in a minority of cases as yields generally were low. These low yields are still a major challenge in African smallholder agriculture as pulses play an important role in soil fertility maintenance as well as in the household diets

The influence of shade and organic fertilizer treatments on the physiology and establishment of Theobroma cacao clones

Aims: This experiment aimed to determine whether the soil application of organic fertilizers can help the establishment of cacao and whether shade alters its response to fertilizers. Study Design: The 1.6 ha experiment was conducted over a period of one crop year (between April 2007 and March 2008) at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana. It involved four cacao genotypes (T 79/501, PA 150, P 30 [POS] and SCA 6), three shade levels (‘light’, ‘medium’ and ‘heavy’) and two fertilizer treatments (‘no fertilizer’, and ‘140 kg/ha of cacao pod husk ash (CPHA) plus poultry manure at 1,800 kg/ha). The experiment was designed as a split-plot with the cacao genotypes as the main plot factor and shade x fertilizer combinations as the sub-plots. Methodology: Gliricidia sepium and plantains (Musa sapientum) were planted in different arrangements to create the three temporary shade regimes for the cacao. Data were collected on temperature and relative humidity of the shade environments, initial soil nutrients, soil moisture, leaf N, P and K+ contents, survival, photo synthesis and growth of test plants. Results: The genotypes P 30 [POS] and SCA 6 showed lower stomatal conductance under non-limiting conditions. In the rainy seasons, plants under light shade had the highest CO2 assimilation rates. However, in the dry season, plants under increased shade recorded greater photosynthetic rates (P = .03). A significant shade x fertilizer interaction (P = .001) on photosynthesis in the dry season showed that heavier shade increases the benefits that young cacao gets from fertilizer application in that season. Conversely, shade should be reduced during the wet seasons to minimize light limitation to assimilation. Conclusion: Under ideal weather conditions young cacao exhibits genetic variability on stomatal conductance. Also, to optimize plant response to fertilizer application shade must be adjusted taking the prevailing weather condition into account

African rainforests: past, present and future

In recent decades, there has been a surge of interest in tropical forests, as there is increased appreciation of the rich biodiversity they host and the many roles they play in the functioning of the Earth system at local, regional and global scales. Of the world’s major tropical forest regions, most research and policy attention has focused on the Amazon region, the world’s largest tropical forest bloc, and to a lesser extent on South East Asia, the third largest tropical forest region. By contrast, the world’s second largest tropical forest region, the tropical forests of Central and West Africa (termed the Guineo-Congolian region) have been relatively neglected. This has been for a number of reasons, including challenging and fragmented politics, civil conflicts and logistical as well as infrastructure challenges. Nevertheless, there is an extensive amount of research activity in the African rainforest zone that has rarely been compiled in a single interdisciplinary volume. This review paper synthesizes the insights emerging from the theme issue on ‘African rainforests: past, present and future’ of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.JRC.H.5-Land Resources Managemen

Tinjauan Pengembangan Landasan Pacu Bandar Udara Kasiguncu Kabupaten Poso

Means of airport for landing and take off of aircraft is runway. This writing to determine the direction of runway according to aircraft that serviced, geometric requirements of existingrunway conditions in 2011 and the development of phase II stage 2 in 2030 and runway pavement thickness existing conditions in 2011 and the development of phase II stage 2 in 2030. Method that used to determine the direction of the runway using the wind rose and for geometric runway using the ICAO and FAA as well as for runway pavement thickness using the FAA.From the wind analysis result using the wind rose, the direction of the existing runway 03-21 can be used safely. From the calculation result of the geometric condition of existing runway length obtained in 2011 by ICAO runway at for the Fokker F-28 aircraft while the width of the runway by ICAO and FAA at 30,48 m. The condition of the existing runway has a runway length 1.617 m and a width 30 m, so that the runway has been unable to serve the aircraft.For the conditions of the development of phase II stage 2 in 2030 acquired by the FAA runway length at 2.070 m and width 30,48 m while the length of the runway by ICAO at 2.704 m and a width 45,72 m. Conditions runway geometric phase II development stage 2 has a length 2.100 m and a width 45 m, so the runway is capable of servicing Boeing 737-300 aircraft safely compared with FAA planning method. From the calculation result of runway pavement thickness existing conditions in 2011 earned a total pavement thickness is 38 cm with aircraft plan Xian MA-60. Condition of existing runway has a total pavement thickness is 87 cm so that the Xian MA-60 aircraft can be served safely. For the conditions of the development of phase II stage 2 obtained after the equivalent total pavement thickness is 69,5 m for model 1 and 68,8 cm for the model 2 with aircraft plan Boeing 737-300. Conditions runway development phase II stage 2 has a totalpavement thickness after the equivalent is 77,5 cm, so the Boeing 737-300 aircraft can be served safely

The past, present and future of Africa's rainforests

The Africanwet tropics contain the second largest area of tropical rainforest in the world (second only toAmazonia), accounting for roughly 30% of global rainforest cover, the lush green heart of an otherwise generally dry continent. These rainforests have global significance and value as reservoirs of biodiversity, as stores and sinks of atmospheric carbon, as regulators of flow of mighty rivers, as sources of moisture to the atmosphere and engines of the global atmospheric circulation, as a key component of the Earth system and its biogeochemical cycles, and as providers of resources and ecosystem services to local communities and the region’s nations. They also have a unique and particular history of changes in climate and human pressure, and face a range of contemporary pressures. Over the twenty-first century, the African rainforest realmhas the potential to witness massive change, both through an expansion of deforestation, hunting and logging, and through the effects of global climate change. This Theme Issue presents a multidisciplinary perspective on the nature and ecology of the African rainforest biome, and examines the current pressures and future threats to this biome. Compared with the other major rainforest regions, Amazonia and Southeast Asia, the African rainforest realm remains understudied, and in particular there have been very few attempts at interdisciplinary synthesis. This Theme Issue is an attempt to address this deficit, and explores what we know about the African rainforests and the threats they face, and what we need to know is this century of rapid change. In some ways, this can be viewed as a complement to similar Theme Issues of this journal focused on the rainforests of Amazonia [1,2] and Southeast Asia [3].JRC.H.5-Land Resources Managemen