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Pastoralist conflicts are important global development outcomes, especially in Africa. Analysing relevant literature on this phenomenon, we identify "institutions" as a key but fragmented theme. This blurs a composite understanding of how institutions affect these conflicts and their management. Hence, this article proposes a conceptual framework that brings harmony to this discourse by analysing 172 relevant publications. The framework was then tested using evidence from interviews and policy documents collected on a typical case in Agogo, Ghana. The findings show that pastoralist conflicts in Africa are shaped from three main dimensions: institutional change, institutional pluralism, and institutional meanings. Thus, state-level institutional changes create different institutions at the community level, and stakeholders using these institutions place different evaluations on them based on obtained outcomes. These dynamics contribute to conflict management dilemmas. Hence, the study recommends that intervention efforts examine whether new institutions contradict existing ones and to resolve them before implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of present paper is to give an overview about results collected in 2012-2014 related to impact of cultivation method on the cereal field soil properties. Experiments were conducted on Estonian farmers' production fields to compare no-till and plough-based tillage practices. Studied properties were among others soil bulk density, structure, water content, microbial activity and weeds seeds content. The bulk density, gravimetric moisture content and structure of soil from 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm layers were evaluated. For microbial activity an enzyme dehydrogenase, which occurs in all viable microbial cells, was determined in soil layers 0-10 and 10-20 cm. Soil samples were taken from 0-25 cm layer to determine weed seeds content. Seeds were extracted from the soil using a flotation-method. The seeds were counted and species identified under the microscope. The cultivation method has significant impact on some soil properties and insignificant to other. Cultivation method had no significant impact on ratio of agronomically preferred soil particles (2-4.75 mm). No-tilled fields soil bulk density had no differences between layers except 0-10 layer in Pärnumaa (p < 0.05). Soil bulk density differences (p < 0.05) between layers occurred in Soth-Viljandimaa and Pärnumaa tilled soils, in which plough pan in layer 20-30 cm was noticeable. In average the abundance of weeds seeds was higher on no-tilled fields, compared to tillage accordingly 60,975 and 29,250 weed seeds m-2 (p < 0.003). Results showed higher soil dehydrogenase activity in the no-tilled soils layer 0-10 cm than in 10-20 cm layer (p < 0.05). In the tillage the dehydrogenase activity had no significant difference between soil layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comparative study of natural and mechanically mixed composting processes of marc resulting as a byproduct during the production of alcohol obtained from fermented fruits. Moisture, temperature, pH values, soluble fraction, total organic carbon, Kjeldahl nitrogen and ash content were monitored for 60 days. During this period the atmospheric temperature varied from 18°C to 21°C. The composting process could be considered a combination of three stages: mesophilic, thermophilic, and maturation. The composting process need 34 days in mechanical stirred system and 46 days in the natural system. The biodegradation processes were stimulated by the mechanical stirring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents the processing possibilities for marc resulted as still residue from the distillation of fermented fruits in view to obtain a compacted solid fuel. Initial marc composition (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen contents) determined by elemental analysis is evidenced, as well as technical characterisation (ash and moisture contents) and ash's qualitative composition, chemical characterisation of the liquid phase (pH, total phosphorus, acidity and conductivity). The biomass was initially dried in natural conditions (at 20°C and 50% humidity) and then at 105°C in a drying stove, until constant mass was reached. Dried biomass was chopped into small pieces of different sizes in the range 0÷5 mm and moistened at different moisture degrees: 15%, 20% and 25%. Cylindrical briquettes were prepared, from three types of material, using a piston press with hydraulic action at pressures of either 600 kgf⋅cm-2 or 900 kgf⋅cm-2. The obtained briquettes were characterized in order to determine the heating power, their behaviour in the presence of water and also the mechanical properties (falling and bending strengths). The good values of heating power (12.72 MJ⋅kg-1 at 15 % moisture) and bending strength (up to 150 kgf⋅cm-2) of the briquettes obtained at 900 kgf⋅cm-2 pressure recommend their use as domestic fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An on-farm experiment was conducted in several villages in the district of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT), Indonesia from June to October 2007. The experiment investigated the efficacy of a supplementation strategy to improve calf survival and performance during the dry season. A total of 258 Bali (Banteng, Bos javanicus) cow?calf pairs were used in the experiment. Calves from the 190 cow?calf pairs in the treatment groups were allocated grass hay+concentrate supplementation as follows: 1% (n=98), 2% (n=56) and 3% (n=42) of calf bodyweight. There were 62 cow?calf pairs in the unsupplemented control group. The supplement consisted of grass hay and concentrate (rice bran, cornmeal, leucaena leaf and fish meal) containing 18% crude protein. The supplement was introduced to calves in the morning while confined to calf pens when the dams were grazing. Calves were reunited with the cows during the night. Parameters measured were calf mortality, calf and cow daily gain, and milk production. Supplementation tended to reduce calf mortality (P=0.094) from 6.4% in control to 0% in calves receiving 2% and 3% supplement. Levels of supplementation significantly (P<0.001) improved calf daily weight gain. Bodyweight changes and milk production of cows were unaffected by calf supplementation. It can be concluded that supplementation at 2% calf bodyweight reduces calf mortality and improves calf weight gain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]