ABSTRACT Favorable soil conditions are essential to the proper growth and production of any crop worldwide. Only 9 % of the Ecuadorian Amazon Region (EAR) territory is suitable for agriculture and/or livestock farming, due to limitations imposed by physio-edaphoclimatic factors. This study evaluated the soil potential suitability for coffee, cocoa and tropical pastures to determine optimal, moderate and marginal areas in three provinces in the EAR (Orellana, Sucumbios and Pastaza) under different agroecological conditions. On-site field work was carried out to analyze the soil profile to determine the mineral composition. Eight environmental variables were evaluated through the integration of GIS-based modeling to determine the agroecological zoning of the crops. The results showed that the main determining factors for optimal areas of soil suitability within the three provinces included soil depth (30 cm), organic matter content (5.3 %), concentration of macronutrients (2,700 mg kg–1), and slope (< 10 %), whereas annual temperature (18-26 °C), annual precipitation (1200-3000 mm), altitude (0-500 m), and pH (4.38) were included for moderate and marginal areas. Depending on the crop and the province, soil suitability was classified into two or three classes (optimal, moderate, and marginal areas), relying on the agroecological conditions specific to each crop. This study highlights that all crops showed mostly optimal soil suitability for proper development under the agroecological conditions analyzed, which contributes to the provision of valuable information to decision-makers about key limiting factors, land-use planning and mapping soil suitability when considering the best location for a specific crop.

Abstract This study evaluated different concentrations of inclusion of betaine supplied in the drinking water for the control of acute heat stress in broiler chickens Ross 308 Line and its effect on the productive parameters and economic benefit in two production cycles. In two poultry houses, the experiment began with 2672 and 2304 broiler chickens that were distributed in the third week in 16 quadrants with four pseudo-replicates of 167 and 144 chickens each quadrant. Three treatments of betaine (1.5, 2 and 2.5 g/l) and one control treatment (without betaine) distributed at random were supplied in the drinking water during the last week of breeding (seven week). The supply of 1.5 g/l (T2) of betaine level showed the highest average weight (2441 ± 52.2 g) and lowest mortality (2.96%) during the first cycle, whereas T4 exhibited highest average weight (2925 ± 60.2 g) and lowest mortality (3.43%) during the second cycle. All treatments revealed acute thermal stress with no significant differences in body temperature. In the economic analysis T2 and T4 showed the highest net income with about 60.44% and 67.36% with reasonable cost-benefit ratio (1.42 and 1.93) during first and second cycle, respectively. This study suggests the supply of betaine between 1.5-2.5 g/l in the water during the last week of rearing period in Mediterranean areas along with good management practice to mitigate the acute thermal stress in commercial chicken broilers Line Ross 308.

Resumen Este estudio evaluó diferentes concentraciones de inclusión de betaína suministrada en el agua de bebida para el control del estrés térmico agudo en pollos de engorde de la línea Ross 308 y su efecto sobre los parámetros productivos y el beneficio económico en dos ciclos de producción. El experimento se inició en dos galpones con 2672 y 2304 aves que fueron distribuidas en la tercera semana en 16 cuadrantes con cuatro pseudo-réplicas de 167 y 144 aves en cada cuadrante. Tres tratamientos de betaína (1,5; 2 y 2,5 g/l) y un tratamiento control (sin betaína) distribuidos al azar se suministraron en el agua de bebida durante la última semana de crianza (séptima semana). El suministro de 1,5 g/l (T2) de betaína mostró un mayor peso promedio (2441 ± 52,2 g) y menor mortalidad (2,96%) durante el primer ciclo, mientras que el T4 (2,5g/l) mostró el mayor peso promedio (2925 ± 60,2 g) y menor mortalidad (3,43%) durante el segundo ciclo. Todos los tratamientos revelaron un estrés térmico agudo sin diferencias significativas en la temperatura corporal. En el análisis económico, los T2 y T4 mostraron los ingresos netos más altos de alrededor del 60,44% y 67,36%, con una relación costo-beneficio de 1,42 y 1,93 durante el primer y segundo ciclo, respectivamente. Este estudio sugiere el suministro de betaína entre 1,5-2,5 g/l en el agua de bebida durante la última semana de crianza en zonas mediterráneas junto con buenas prácticas de manejo para mitigar el estrés térmico agudo en los pollos de engorde Línea Ross 308.

Resumo: As aceleradas mudanças de uso e cobertura do solo levaram à perda e fragmentação de habitat das florestas naturais, principalmente devido a uma intensa e rápida expansão de áreas urbanas e ao intensivo manejo agrícola. Esses processos ameaçam fortemente a manutenção da biodiversidade e os serviços ecossistêmicos associados. Entre os serviços ecossistêmicos ameaçados, a polinização tem sido amplamente estudada, pois se trata de um serviço essencial para a produção de alimentos e, consequentemente, para o bem-estar humano. Em um cenário de crescentes mudanças no uso e cobertura do solo, é crucial entender a interação entre essas mudanças, a demanda de polinização por culturas dependentes de insetos e a disponibilidade de polinizadores para garantir que esse serviço ecossistêmico atenda o aumento da demanda produtiva de alimentos. Neste estudo, desenvolvemos um modelo conceitual para evidenciar as relações homem-natureza, especialmente as consequências das mudanças de uso e cobertura do solo sobre a prestação do serviço de polinização. Nós também apresentamos um estudo de caso no estado brasileiro de São Paulo, onde modelamos os efeitos de mudanças de uso e cobertura do solo associados à expansão de agricultura entre os anos de 2012 e 2030 e as demandas e oferta de polinizadores por cultura, para quatorze culturas economicamente importantes. Além disso, sistematizamos uma matriz de serviços ecossistêmicos baseada em conhecimento de especialistas para estimar as influências das mudanças de uso e cobertura do solo na provisão do serviço de polinização. Nossos resultados mostraram que até 2030, a demanda por polinização aumentará em média 40%, enquanto a oferta de polinizadores estimada, usando valores de adequação para as diferentes classes de uso e cobertura do solo, terá uma redução média de 3%. Nossos resultados destacam a importância do diálogo entre agricultores e outros importantes agentes impulsionando as mudanças de uso do solo, governos, instituições e cientistas para encontrar alternativas e estratégias para promover práticas favoráveis aos polinizadores e salvaguardar a prestação de serviços de polinização em cenários futuros de mudanças de uso e cobertura do solo.

Abstract: Rapid land-use/land cover changes (LULCC) have led to habitat loss and fragmentation in the natural forest areas, which are mainly due to the intense and rapid expansion of urban areas and intense agricultural management. These processes are strongly threatening biodiversity maintenance and the ecosystem services provided by them. Among the ecosystem services under threat, pollination has been widely studied since this service is essential to promote food production and, therefore, human well-being. In a scenario of increasing LULCC it is crucial to understand the interplay between these changes, pollination demand by insect-dependent crops and pollinator availability to ensure these ecosystem services meet the increased demand for food production. In this study, we developed a conceptual model to disentangle the relationships between human-nature, especially LULCC, and its consequences, to the delivery of pollination service. We also presented a case study in the Brazilian São Paulo state, where we modeled the effects of predicted LULCC associated to agriculture expansion between the years 2012 and 2030 on pollinator demand by crops and pollinator supply, for fourteen economically important crops. Additionally, we systematized an expert-based Ecosystem Service matrix to estimate the influences of LULCC on the provision of pollination. Our results showed that by 2030, the demand for pollination will increase by 40% on average, while pollinator supply, estimated using suitability values for the different land-use/cover classes, will show, on average, a 3% decrease. Our results highlight the importance of considering the dialogue among stakeholders, governments, institutions, and scientists to find alternatives and strategies to promote pollinator-friendly practices and safeguard the provision of pollination services in a future under LULCC.