2008 NOV 17 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to a study from Zagazig, Egypt, "Plant foods contain different classes and types of antioxidants and knowledge of their total antioxidant potential (TAP), which is the cumulative capacity of food components to scavenge free radicals, would be useful for epidemiological purposes. To accomplish this, a variety of fruit juices, hot drinks and beverages commonly consumed in Egypt were analyzed using in vitro DPPH assay. ...read more

  2008 NOV 17 - (VerticalNews.com) -- "Precision Agriculture (PA) can be regarded as a means of increasing the chance that the inputs to production are applied in the right amounts in the right place at the right time. Intuitively, if farmers adopting PA are successful in achieving this objective, the likelihood of negative environmental impacts arising should be reduced," scientists in Australia report.

  "Conversely, where the likelihood of a negative environmental impact is shown to be high, the opportunity for reducing the amount of inputs used, and/or increasing their efficiency of use, should be apparent. This paper explores these issues using examples from the Australian sugar and dairy industries. We conclude that the use of spatial data to better inform agricultural management can make a valuable contribution to reducing the risk of negative environmental impact whether applied in the implementation of PA (field and within-field scales) or at whole farm or regional scales. However, for the maximum environmental benefit to accrue through PA, the existing regional or whole-of-industry management guidelines need to be replaced by guidelines for site-specific management," wrote R.G.V. Bramley and colleagues ...read more

  2008 NOV 17 - (VerticalNews.com) -- According to recent research from the United States, "Intensification of agricultural systems represents one of the most significant land use changes of the last century. High fertilizer inputs have been a key component of intensification and have contributed to increases in crop yield in most areas, but they can also cause profound alterations in the biogeochemical functioning of the soil, water, and air resources of these systems, particularly with regard to the nutrient nitrogen (N). ...read more