Climate change impact on a wine-producing region using a dynamical downscaling approach: Climate parameters, bioclimatic indices and extreme indices

Climate change is of major relevance to wine production as most of the winegrowing regions of the world are located within relatively narrow latitudinal bands with average growing-season temperatures (GSTs) limited to 13–21 C. This study focuses on the incidence of climate variables and indices that are relevant both for climate change assessment and for grape production, with emphasis on grapevine bioclimatic indices and extreme events (e.g., cold waves, storms, heatwaves). Dynamical downscaling of European Reanalysis-Interim and Max Planck Institute Earth System low-resolution global simulations forced with a Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) greenhouse gas emission scenario was performed with the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) model to a regional scale including the Douro Valley of Portugal for recent-past (1986–2005) and future periods (2046–2065, 2081–2100). The number, duration and intensity of events were superimposed over critical phenological phases estimated by using a specific local grapevine varietal phenological model in order to assess their positive or negative implications for wine production in the region. An assessment of the relevance of climate parameters and indices and their progression in recent-past and future climate scenarios with regard to the potential impact on wine production was performed. Results indicate a positive relation between higher growing-season heat accumulations and greater vintage yields. A moderate incidence of very hot days (daily maximum temperature above 35 C) and drought from pre-véraison phenological conditions have a positive association with vintage ratings. However, the mid- and long-term WRF-MPI RCP8.5 future climate scenarios reveal shifts to warmer and drier conditions, with the mean GST not remaining within range for quality wine production in the long-term future climate scenario. These results indicate potential impacts that suggest a range of strategies to maintain wine production and quality in the region.The authors wish to thank the DOUROZONE project (PTDC/AAG-MAA/3335/2014; POCI-01-0145-FEDER- 016778) for financial support through Project 3599 – Promoting the Scientific Production and the Technological Development, and Thematic Networks (3599-PPCDT) – and through FEDER, and the national funds from FCT-Science and Technology Portuguese Foundation for the doctoral grant of D. Blanco-Ward (SFRH/BD/139193/2018). Thanks are also due for the financial support to CESAM (UID/AMB/50017 - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007638), to FCT/MEC through national funds, and the co-funding by FEDER within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Velocity-space sensitivity of the time-of-flight neutron spectrometer at JET

The velocity-space sensitivities of fast-ion diagnostics are often described by so-called weight functions. Recently, we formulated weight functions showing the velocity-space sensitivity of the often dominant beam-target part of neutron energy spectra. These weight functions for neutron emission spectrometry (NES) are independent of the particular NES diagnostic. Here we apply these NES weight functions to the time-of-flight spectrometer TOFOR at JET. By taking the instrumental response function of TOFOR into account, we calculate time-of-flight NES weight functions that enable us to directly determine the velocity-space sensitivity of a given part of a measured time-of-flight spectrum from TOFOR

Nitrogen fertilization strategies for xaraes and tifton 85 grasses irrigated in the dry season

An experiment was carried out to assess rates and nitrogen fertilization strategies on the forage yield using irrigation to supply the water deficit during the dry season. The grasses Cynodon spp cv. tifton 85 and Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés were cultivated with nitrogen (N) at levels of 200 and 400 kg/ha according to strategies: 1) half dose applied during the rainy season (RS) and half during the dry season (DS); 2) 1/3 during the RS and 2/3 during the DS; 3) 2/3 during the RS and 1/3 during the DS; 4) all doses applied during the DS. In each season the dose was divided in three applications. Eleven harvests were conducted: six in the RS and five in the DS. When 2/3 of N was applied in the DS, forage yield in this period was statistically equivalent to those obtained in the RS in three of the five harvests for both 200 and 400 kg/ha of N. With 100% of N applied in the DS, the yield of four of five cuts of forage was similar to that obtained in the RS for both rates of N. The strategy of applying more N in the DS rather than in the RS was effective, keeping the yield steadily throughout the year. The application of 100% of the dose of 200 kg/ha N and 2/3 of the dose of 400 kg/ha N both in the dry period, under irrigation, promote uniform productions per harvest throughout the year

Composição química de capim-tanzânia adubado com nitrogênio e fósforo

Avaliaram-se os teores de matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT), cálcio (Ca), fósforo (P) e magnésio (Mg) na parte aérea do capim-tanzânia (Panicum maximum) adubado com nitrogênio e fósforo durante o período de verão/outono. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 4 × 3, com quatro doses de nitrogênio (0, 100, 200 e 300 kg/ha/ano) e três doses de pentóxido de difósforo (P2O5) (0, 50 e 100 kg/ha/ano), com três repetições. Foram realizados três cortes a 40 cm do solo, a cada 35 dias. Após cada corte, foi realizada adubação, aplicando-se o P2O5 de uma só vez no corte de uniformização e o nitrogênio parcelado em três vezes. As doses de nitrogênio não afetaram os teores de magnésio e reduziram os teores de matéria seca, cálcio e fósforo, enquanto a adubação fosfatada aumentou o teor de fósforo. A adubação teve efeito quadrático nos teores de PB, FDN e NDT, melhorando a qualidade da forragem conforme aumentaram as doses, principalmente de nitrogênio. Nas condições edafoclimáticas estudadas, recomenda-se que o capim-tanzânia seja adubado com 300 kg de N/ha e 100 kg de P2O5/ha.It was evaluated in this work the contents of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total digestible nutrients (TDN), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) in the aerial section of the Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum), fertilized with nitrogen and phosphorus during the summer and autumn. The experimental design was complete randomized, with a 4 × 3 factorial scheme, and four N rates (0, 100, 200, and 300 kg/ha/year), and three pentoxide diphosphorus (P2O5) rates (0, 50, and 100 kg/ha/year), with three replicates. Three cuts were made at 40 cm of the soil, every 35 days. After each cut, the fertilization was accomplished, and P2O5 was applied only once on the uniformed cut and N was parceled in three times. Nitrogen rates did not affect contents of magnesium and they reduced contents of dry matter, calcium and phosphorus, while phosphate fertilization increased levels of phosphorus. Fertilization had a quadratic effect on the levels of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrients providing a forage of better quality as doses increased, mainly nitrogen doses. In the studied edaphoclimathic conditions, it is recommend fertilization of Tanzania grass with 300 kg of N/ha and 100 kg of P2O5/ha

Características de carcaça e cortes comerciais de tourinhos Red Norte e Nelore terminados em confinamento

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar as características de carcaça e o peso dos cortes comerciais da carcaça de tourinhos Red Norte e Nelore terminados em confinamento. Utilizaram-se 44 animais, sendo 22 Red Norte com peso vivo médio inicial de 367±30 kg e 22 Nelore com peso vivo médio inicial de 361±30 kg. Os animais receberam ração à vontade com relação concentrado:volumoso de 50:50 durante 112 dias, sendo 28 dias de adaptação, e foram abatidos aos 519 e 482 kg para Red Norte e Nelore, respectivamente. A espessura de gordura subcutânea (EGS) e a área de olho-de-lombo (AOL) no músculo longissimus dorsi foram medidas entre a 12ªe 13ª costelas. Observou-se maior rendimento de carcaça nos animais Nelore (57,7 vs 54,7%). Entretanto, não houve diferença no peso de carcaça quente e fria entre os grupos. Os animais Red Norte apresentaram maior AOL, maiores pesos e rendimentos de traseiro e ponta-de-agulha, e menor peso e rendimento de dianteiro. O grupo genético Red Norte apresentou maior peso de picanha e contrafilé, enquanto o Nelore apresentou maior peso de paleta e coxão duro. Animais Nelore apresentam maior rendimento de carcaça em relação aos Red Norte, o que favorece o peso de carcaça quente, principal forma de remuneração paga aos produtores. Todavia, animais Red Norte apresentam maior rendimento de traseiro e maior peso dos cortes de maior valor comercial.The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of carcass and weight of the commercial meat cuts from carcass of Red Norte and Nellore young bulls finished in feedlot. Forty four animals - 22 Red Norte with initial average weight of 367±30 kg and 22 Nellore at initial average weight of 361±30 kg - were used. The animals received feed ad libitum with concentrate:roughage ratio of 50:50 during 112 days, from which 28 days were for adaptation. Red Norte and Nellore animals were slaughtered at 519 and 482 kg, respectively. The subcutaneous fat thickness (FT) and longissimus muscle area (LMA) were measured between 12th and 13th ribs. Higher carcass yield of the Nellore breed was observed (57.7 vs 54.7%). However, there was no difference for weight of hot and cold carcass between the groups. Red Norte animals showed greater LMA, and hindquarter and spare ribs with higher weight and yield, and forequarter with lower weight and yielding. The Red Norte genetic group showed higher weight for cap and rump and striploin, while Nellore showed higher weight for shoulder and flatround. Nellore animals had better carcass yield, which contributes to hot carcass weight. Nevertheless, the group Red Norte have higher hindquarter yield and more weight from cuts of highest commercial value