Biomass Estimation

Methods of estimating the total amount of above-ground biomass (AGB) in crop fields are generally based on labourious, random, and destructive in situ sampling. This study proposes a methodology for estimating herbaceous crop biomass using conventional optical cameras and structure from motion (SfM) photogrammetry. The proposed method is based on the determination of volumes according to the difference between a digital terrain model (DTM) and digital surface model (DSM) of vegetative cover. A density factor was calibrated based on a subset of destructive random samples to relate the volume and biomass and efficiently quantify the total AGB. In all cases, RMSE Z values less than 0.23 m were obtained for the DTM-DSM coupling. Biomass field data confirmed the goodness of fit of the yield-biomass estimation (R2 = 0,88 and 1,12 kg/ha) mainly in plots with uniform vegetation coverage. Furthermore, the method was demonstrated to be scalable to multiple platform types and sensors.

This research has demonstrated the importance of earthworm in agriculture. The survival rate was diminished due to the toxic impact of cation and dieldrine was found to be important as compared to control. The cythion and dieldrin affected on the biomass of the crawler. We had taken acute test for effects of selected pesticide on the earthworms Eisenia foetida. We were using different concentrations of pesticide like 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 mg/kg of dieldrin and 3, 6, 9, 12 and15 mg/kg of cythion.

Using the chloroform fumigation-extraction (CFE) method for determining microbial biomass in soils, a presumption is followed, i.e., that chloroform becomes fully evacuated from the fumigated soil before extraction. Otherwise, the C-containing fumigant may comprise an unknown part of the extractable C flush, resulting in certain overestimation of soil microbial biomass. A quantitative assessment of extractable residual chloroform levels in fumigated soils was performed, testing soils varying in clay and organic matter contents. The tests were performed over a broad range of soil moisture conditions as to facilitate a mechanistic interpretation of possible chloroform interactions in the studied soils (i.e., dissolution, sorption). The results support the validity of the CFE method's application in agricultural soils, demonstrating the insignificance of biomass overestimation arising from residual chloroform.

Resumo -Com a criação do Mecanismo de Desenvolvimento Limpo (MDL), foi gerado um amplo debate global sobre o potencial da silvicultura e da agrossilvicultura como atividades elegíveis para sequestro de carbono. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar o estoque de biomassa e carbono em um sistema silvipastoril misto com Eucalyptus grandis e Acacia mangium, implantado na Zona da Mata Mineira. O sistema apresenta uma densidade de árvores de 105 plantas por hectare, sendo 60 árvores de eucalipto e 45 árvores de acácia. Para tanto, primeiramente, foi feita a quantificação do volume do fuste das árvores aos 10 anos de idade, por meio do ajuste de equações alométricas e a quantificação da biomassa residual média da pastagem durante o período de 4 anos. Para o eucalipto, foi estimado um total de 24,8 Mg.ha -1 de biomassa e 11,17 Mg.ha -1 de carbono, para a acácia foi estimado um total de 6,94 Mg.ha -1 de biomassa e 3,12 Mg.ha -1 de carbono, totalizando 31,74 Mg.ha -1 de biomassa e 14,29 Mg.ha -1 de carbono. Para o componente pastagem, foi estimado um acúmulo de 1,28 Mg.ha -1 de biomassa e 0,58 Mg.ha -1 de carbono somente no resíduo do pastejo.

We describe a continuous culture system related to the turbidostat, but using a feedback
system based on biomass estimation from the dielectric permittivity of the cell suspension
rather than its optical density. It is shown that this system provides an excellent method of
maintaining a constant biomass level within a fermentor. The computer-controlled system was
able to effect the essentially continuous registration of growth rate by monitoring the rate of
medium addition via the time-dependent activity of the pump. At some biomass setpoints for
aerobically grown cultures of baker's yeast substantial time-dependent fluctuations in the
growth rate of the culture were thereby observed. At some biomass setpoints, however, or
under anaerobic conditions, or when using a non-Crabtree yeast, the growth rate was constant,
indicating that the fluctuations were inherent to the biological system and not simply a
property of the fermentor and control system. A variety of time series analyses (Fourier
transformations, Hurst and Lyapunov exponents, the determination of embedding dimension,
and nonlinear time series predictions based on the methodology of Sugihara and May) were
used to demonstrate, for the first time, that as well as stochastic and periodic components these
fluctuations exhibited deterministic chaos. "Trivial predictors" were unable to give accurate
predictions of the growth rate in these cultures. The growth rate fluctuations were studied
further by means of offline measurements of changes in percentage viability, bud count, and in
the external ethanol and glucose concentrations; these data and other evidence suggested that
the growth rate fluctuations were closely linked to the primary respiro-fermentative
metabolism of this organism. The identification of chaotic growth rates in cell cultures
suggests that there may be novel methods for controlling the growth of such cultures.

This paper was summarized to epitomize biomass and carbon dispositions of dry oak forests in Mediterranean area by furtherance Spatial Data mining from Remote Sensing tools in the year of 2013−2014. The final crop evaluated uneven aged stand of Q. ilex, Q. coccifera and Q. suber with brush-growing stock. Coverage reputation of case study is composed; Xerophyte hardwood -mixed needle-leaved species, medium to closure conglutinated, indigenous, propensity to bio constancy, with old age infection, forest pasture and cordwood acquisition. The digital determination of interferometric coherence of ALOS PALSAR images from total volume demonstrated biomass equilibrium and carbon storage varied from 48.02 to 67.19 m 3 ·ha -1 , 51.46 to 74.01 Mg·ha -1 , and 34.92 to 41.83 Mg·ha -1 , among three uneven forest stands. The Regression-Kriging of outstanding volumes of biomass enclaves and carbon storage per (ha); were constituted in the stands closure and lowest in the forest pasture and farm forest. Consequently sure be concluded that extensive stands and enclave of dry oak forest in the case study located on Mediterranean region possess high potential to carbon sequestration and in particular assiduity to execute liner programming, severance and mitigation sketch is postulated.

In light of the devastating loss of forest cover, biodiversity, and ecosystem services in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, people are endeavoring to restore this fragmented forest system. The afforestation of abandoned or degraded land is a practical approach to restore regional ecological functions and to sequester atmospheric carbon to help mitigate the global imbalance of atmospheric carbon associated with climate change. Large gaps, however, remain in understanding the dynamics of afforested tree communities. In this study, the effect of topographical relief and soil properties on growth performance of planted trees has been assessed. Above ground dry biomass (AGB dry) accumulation was estimated to evaluate the performance of afforested tree communities on formerly abandoned pastures at the Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The study revealed large discrepancies in AGB dry and respective organic carbon accumulationThe afforested tree community located on the sloped terrain stored only half the carbon (21.70 AE 7.3 Mgha À1) that the planted trees on the flat terrain stored. (46.67 AE 8.7 Mgha À1). Our results suggest that differences in tree growth performance are complex, depending largely on topography and related soil conditions. These circumstances should be considered to prevent misleading carbon sink estimates when developing regional strategies for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) that promote afforestation activities. 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Above-ground biomass estimation of successional and mature forests in moist tropical regions is attracting increasing attention. Because of complex stand structure and abundant vegetation species, rarely has remote-sensing research been successfully conducted in biomass estimation for moist tropical areas. In this paper, two study areas in the Brazilian Amazon basin—Altamira and Bragantina — with different biophysical characteristics were selected. Atmospherically corrected Thematic Mapper (TM) images and field vegetation inventory data were used in the analysis, and different vegetation indices and texture measures were explored. Multiple regression models were developed through integration of image data (including TM bands, different vegetation indices, and texture measures) and vegetation inventory data. These models were used for biomass estimation in both selected study areas. This study concludes that neither TM spectral bands nor vegetation indices alone are sufficient to est...

The challenge of modern day business is the increased awareness on the part of employees about their rights and privileges. The rise in this awareness has become a pain in the neck of growing management to such concerns that it attempts to diminish the glory of capitalistic mindedness that once bestride the pathway to managing like a colossus. Workplace harmony seems to be affected by this development that the frequency of management-workforce conflicts is fast raising in many sectors of world economies. The Nigeria workplace context had for decades been embattled in the demands for increased wage and earnings as means of incentivization as well as bonuses, awards, health packages etc which form the components of financial motivation. (Akinwade (2011). Inspite of these provisions, there is still manifest disaffection between employees and employees on the one strand and between management and employees on the other. This failure is the essence of this investigation that necessitated the operationalization of employee engagement as a non-financial index to address the problems of workplace harmony in the Nigerian civil service. Employee engagement, also called worker engagement, is a business management concept. An "engaged employee" is one who is fully involved in, and enthusiastic about their work, and thus will act in a way that furthers their organization's interests. According to Brickner et al (1996) Survey, "Employee Engagement is a measurable degree of an employee's positive or negative emotional attachment to their job, colleagues and organization which profoundly influences their willingness to learn and perform at work". Thus engagement is distinctively different from employee satisfaction, motivation and organisational culture. It is the extent to which employee commitment, both emotional and intellectual, exists relative to accomplishing the work, mission, and vision of the organisation. Engagement can be seen as a heightened level of ownership where each employee wants to do whatever they can for the benefit of their internal and external customers, and for the success of the organization as a whole. (Aina, 2000). The variable called employee engagement is described as a modernised version of job satisfaction. It indicates an employee's involvement with, commitment to, and satisfaction with work. Employee engagement is a part of employee retention." This integrates the classic constructs of job satisfaction and organizational commitment (Reeves 1995). Most recent meta-analysis can be useful for understanding the impact of engagement. Several contemporary research received significant attention in the business community because of correlations between employee engagement and desirable business outcomes such as retention of talent, customer service, individual performance, team performance, business unit productivity, and even enterprise-level financial performance(McCabe et al, 2001). Schneider (2003) opined that employee engagement is derived from the value the organisation places on workforce commitment. An engaged workforce does get engaged in the philosophy and vision of an organisation and ensures that the spirit of getting things done strives across board. With the advent of the knowledge worker and emphasis on individual talent management (stars), a term was