Pasture diversification to combat climate change impacts on grazing dairy production

Among livestock systems, grazing is likely to be most impacted by climate change because of its dependency to feed quality and availability. In order to reduce the impact of climate change on grazing livestock systems, adaptation measures should be implemented. The goal of this study is to identify the best pasture composition for a representative grazing dairy farm in Michigan in order to reduce the impacts of climate change on production. In order to achieve the goal of this study, three objectives were sought: (1) identify the best pasture composition, (2) assess economic and resource use impacts of pasture compositions under future climate scenarios, and (3) evaluate the resiliency of pasture compositions. A representative farm was developed based on a livestock practices survey and incorporated into the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM). For the pasture compositions, four cool-season grass species and two legumes were evaluated under both current and future climate scenarios. The effectiveness of adaptation measures based on economic and resource use criteria was evaluated. Overall, the pasture composition with 50% perennial ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and 50% red clover (Trifolium pratense) was identified as the best. In addition, the increase in precipitation and temperature of the most intensive climate scenario could significantly improve farm net return per cow (Bos taurus) and whole farm profit while no significant impact was observed on resource use criteria. Finally, the overall sensitivity assessment showed that the most resilient pasture composition under future climate scenarios was ryegrass with red clover and the least resilient was orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) with white clover (Trifolium repens).     

Sensitizing technical experts to public concerns about industrial hazards using theory, guided imaging and focused group discussion

A major reason for the discrepancy between expert and lay perceptions of risk is that risk does not mean the same thing to each group. When referring to risk, experts generally mean the probability of a serious accident occurring multiplied by the magnitude of the resulting incidence of mortality, morbidity or environmental damage, which has been referred to as hazard. When lay persons refer to risk, they generally mean hazard as well as and, often, more significantly many other outrage factors that concern them. According to one study, when carrying out a risk assessment most experts ignore outrage whereas most lay persons ignore hazard. If this is so, there is an obvious need to address these omissions through carefully designed educational and training activities. Twelve major outrage factors which come into play, independently or in combination, when lay persons are assessing risk, have been selected by the authors and are expressed in the form of 12 risk propositions. It is suggested that as well as familiarizing experts with these risk propositions it is also necessary to sensitize them to the emotional content of the outrage factors. This can best be done through the medium of experiential exercises specifically designed for this purpose. Two examples of such exercises are presented.     

Probing the potential of polyester for CO2 capture

Global warming, the major environmental issue confronted by humanity today, is caused by rising level of green house gases. Carbon capture and storage technologies offer potential for tapering CO2 emission in the atmosphere. Adsorption is believed to be a promising technology for CO2 capture. For this purpose, a polyester was synthesized by polycondensation of1,3,5-benzenetricarbonyl trichloride and cyanuric acid in pyridine and dichloromethane mixture. The polymer was then characterized using FT-IR, TGA, BET surface area and pore size analysis, FESEM and CO2 adsorption measurements. The CO2 adsorption capacities of the polyester were evaluated at a pressure of 1 bar and two different temperatures（273 and 298 K）.The performance of these materials to adsorb CO2 at atmospheric pressure was measured by optimum CO2 uptake of 0.244 mmol/g at 273 K. The synthesized polyester, therefore, has the potential to be exploited as CO2 adsorbent in pre-combustion capture process.     

Appraisal of kinetin spraying strategy to alleviate the harmful effects of UVC stress on tomato plants

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Increasing ultraviolet (UV) radiation is causing oxidative stress that accounts for growth and yield losses in the present era of climate change....