ORNAMENTAL VEGETABLE GARDEN DESIGN POSSIBILITIES USING MODULAR RAISED BEDS
By: Ana-Maria-Roxana HANGAN, Mirela COJOCARIU, Doina-Mira DASCĂLU, Elena-Liliana CHELARIU and Vasile STOLERU
ABSTRACT
Ornamental vegetable gardens have many benefits. They are aesthetic, educational, ecological, economical, sanitary, and are a source of fresh food. Small allotments in urban and peri-urban areas do not allow the implementation of utilitarian gardens. Thus, ornamental vegetable gardens are the best choice. Raised beds can be used to enhance the decorative effect of the entire vegetable garden. This type of construction presents, in turn, several advantages both for the user and crop: reduced effort for maintenance work, early heating of the substrate, loose substrate, reduced volume of weeds, efficient use of space for plants, etc. Establishing ornamental vegetable gardens on raised beds is easily achieved using geometric modules, as they can be adapted to various designs. This paper presents several design options for a decorative vegetable garden on private properties. The case studies presented showed different methods of using modular raised beds depending on the property’s area, the owner’s wishes, and the desired area to be planted. Also, depending on the results obtained from the experimental batch, three other variations of modular layouts with different purposes were proposed: focal point, physically closed but visually open space, and relaxation space.
Keywords:
edible landscape; vegetable garden; raised beds; design.
CITE
ALSE and ACS Style
Hangan, A.-M.-R.; Cojocariu, M.; Dascălu, D.-M.; Chelariu, E.-L.; Stoleru, V. Ornamental vegetable garden design possibilities using modular raised beds. Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment 2023, 56 (1), 1-14.
https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-561081
AMA Style
Hangan AMR, Cojocariu M, Dascălu DM, Chelariu EL, Stoleru V. Ornamental vegetable garden design possibilities using modular raised beds. Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment. 2023; 56 (1): 1-14.
https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-561081
Chicago/Turabian Style
Hangan, Ana-Maria-Roxana Mirela Cojocariu, Doina-Mira Dascălu, Elena-Liliana Chelariu, and Vasile Stoleru. 2023. “Ornamental vegetable garden design possibilities using modular raised beds” Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment 56, no. 1: 1-14.
https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-561081
INDICATORS OF PRE-SLAUGHTER STRESS IN PIGS AND THEIR IMPACT ON MEAT QUALITY
By: Vlad Nicolae ARSENOAIA and Răzvan Nicolae MĂLĂNCUȘ
ABSTRACT
The pre-slaughter handling and transport of pigs can cause stress and negatively affect the quality of meat. This article aims to investigate the impact of pre-slaughter stress on meat quality. The literature suggests that pre-slaughter stress has a significant impact on meat quality, resulting in lower meat pH, increased drip loss, and decreased meat tenderness. When the body experiences stress, cortisol triggers the liver to release glucose into the bloodstream, which provides energy for the body to respond to the stressful situation. Both serum cortisol and blood glucose levels increased post-slaughter, with a post-slaughter mean value of 7.28 µg/dl for serum cortisol (compared to the initial mean value of 6.08 µg/dl), while the blood glucose values revealed a highly catabolic state, with mean post-slaughter values of 143.24 mg/dl compared to 129.11 mg/dl mean pre-slaughter results. The study highlights a direct relationship between increased serum cortisol levels and blood glucose values when comparing the pre- and post-slaughter values with the normal reference ranges, with a highly significant correlation between the mentioned parameters (p<0.01). The article also explores potential pre-slaughter indicators such as cortisol and blood glucose levels for predicting stress and meat quality in pigs. Improving pre-slaughter handling and reducing stress can lead to improved meat quality and economic benefits for the pork industry. In terms of pH24, a trust coefficient of 5.46–5.50 revealed the impact of pre-slaughter stress on meat pH, resulting in possible inferior meat in terms of quality. The study results showed a highly significant correlation between the cortisol and blood glucose values recorded post-slaughter and pH24 (p<0.05), emphasizing the impact of stress on meat quality and suggesting that both serum cortisol and blood glucose values can be used as specific indicators of meat pH and ultimately meat quality.
Keywords:
blood glucose; carcass evaluation; cortisol; pork; post-slaughter processing; stress.
CITE
ALSE and ACS Style
Arsenoaia, V.N.; Mălăncuș, R.N. Indicators of pre-slaughter stress in pigs and their impact on meat quality. Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment 2023, 56 (1), 15-23.
https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-561082
AMA Style
Arsenoaia VN, Mălăncuș RN. Indicators of pre-slaughter stress in pigs and their impact on meat quality. Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment. 2023; 56 (1): 15-23.
https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-561082
Chicago/Turabian Style
Arsenoaia, Vlad Nicolae, and Răzvan Nicolae Mălăncuș. 2023. “Indicators of pre-slaughter stress in pigs and their impact on meat quality” Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment 56, no. 1: 15-23.
https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-561082
GROWTH ANALYSIS OF Cineraria maritima PLANTS IN GREEN FAÇADE SYSTEMS: NORTHEASTERN ROMANIA CLIMATE STUDY
By: Mirela COJOCARIU, Elena Liliana CHELARIU and Ciprian CHIRUŢĂ
ABSTRACT
Green facades are gradually gaining popularity and may become a modern architectural solution for higher microclimate quality and better urban comfort in densely populated urban areas. This study aimed to monitor the behaviour of Cineraria maritima planted in green facade systems oriented towards four cardinal points in the specific climatic conditions of northeastern Romania in order to test its adaptability and growth in this system. Comparisons were made of its behaviour between the facades of the experimental structure, and between the facades of the experimental structure and the traditional ‘planted in soil’ variant (control variant). Cineraria maritima exhibited good adaptability to vertical cultivation, maintaining its aesthetic properties throughout the growing season. All specimens that overwintered on the facades successfully survived the cold season of 2021–2022 without requiring any cutting or protection measures.
Keywords:
Cineraria maritima; urban design; green facades; vertical decor.
CITE
ALSE and ACS Style
Cojocariu, M.; Chelariu, E.-L.; Chiruță, C. Growth analysis of Cineraria Maritima plants in green façade systems: Northeastern Romania climate study. Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment 2023, 56 (1), 25-39.
https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-561083
AMA Style
Cojocariu M, Chelariu, E-L, Chiruță C. Growth analysis of Cineraria Maritima plants in green façade systems: Northeastern Romania climate study. Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment. 2023; 56 (1): 25-39.
https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-561083
Chicago/Turabian Style
Cojocariu, Mirela, Elena Liliana Chelariu, and Ciprian Chiruţă. 2023. “Growth analysis of Cineraria Maritima plants in green façade systems: Northeastern Romania climate study” Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment 56, no. 1: 25-39.
https://doi.org/10.46909/alse-561083