Revista de Investigación Agraria y Ambiental

8-9

Authors: Reinaldo Giraldo Díaz

El proyecto editorial de RIAA (que consiste en fomentar la comunicación y colaboración entre investigadores nacionales e internacionales a través de la divulgación y transferencia de conocimiento relacionado con las ciencias agrarias y del medio ambiente, con el fin de fortalecer la generación de nuevo conocimiento), con el apoyo de autores, evaluadores, usuarios y demás colaboradores, ha logrado posicionarse en el ámbito nacional e internacional.

27-35

Authors: Liliana Vence Márquez, Massiel Rivera González , Yudis Osorio Bayter y Adriana Beatriz Castillo Sarabia

Among the functions of evaluation, the control and environmental monitoring of the uses of existing water sources in Cesar was studied by the Corporación Autónoma Regional del Cesar, CORPOCESAR, to evaluate the quality of groundwater located in 93 wells in the municipalities of La Paz and San Diego (Cesar) in 2009 in accordance with decree 1575/07 and resolution 2115/07 of the Ministerio de Protección Social (Ministry of Social Protection) and the Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial (Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development). Were characterized microbiological properties (determined from Psuedomona aeruginosa and protozoan pathogens) and physiochemical properties (conductivity, pH, temperature, total dissolved solids, salinity, acidity,basicity, turbidity, chlorides, ammonia, nitrites, iron, magnesium, sodium and calcium; the last three elements being necessary for the calculation of the viability of irrigation, with the end of quantifyingthe quality of the water supplying the inhabitants of these lands). The Detection of P. aeruginosa was achieved via filtration through a membrane and protozoa through the flotation technique by centrifugation with zinc sulfate. Of the samples analyzed, 84.94% contained P. aeruginosa. Were identified five genera of protozoa, Giardia sp being the pathogen of highest prevalence at 46.1 %, followed by Cryptosporidium sp at 22.18%. Respecting the physiochemical results, only 4.3% of the wells sampled were determined to be suitable for irrigation without jeopardizing public health and safety.

49-62

Authors: Darío Alonso Martin Gordo , Oswaldo Cárdenas Gonzalez y José Constantino Pacheco

The cultivation of plant fibers is achieved through the implementation of a group of techniques widely used for the propagation of plants in vitro. However, one disadvantage of these techniques is the high cost of components used for the crop’s medium, among these, the agar (primary gelling agent), has seen a price increase due to high demand. This article consults several studies regarding substances that have been utilized as alternative gelling agents, among which highlight starches (native or modified) and several plant gums and bacterial excretions that have been used in processes of organogenesis, embryogenesis and vegetative proliferation. The starches and gums studied showed favorable results in the in vitro cultivation of some plant species. The study demonstrates that both gums and starches may be potential substitutes (either partial or total) for agar, achieve a decrease in costs associated with starches, and have an ability to be chemically modified to improve gelling capacity.

73-84

Authors: Fritz Hammerling Navas Navarro y Luz Mila Peña Torres

Modules for Vertical Urban Gardens (MHUG) are a hybrid of vertical gardens and urban agriculture. Vertical gardens have been recognized for the past 2500 years, mainly in the form of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, while urban agriculture is being practiced today by more than 700 million people worldwide. The benefits that MHUV offers are multiple, but perhaps the most significant is the consumption of foods free of chemicals, free of GMO’s, irrigated with potable water, and that are 100% organic. It is presented a “culinary and medicinal module” that can be implemented in the kitchen area, on roofs, terraces, balconies or patios, where species such as thyme, mint, peppermint, parsley, lemon balm and rosemary can be at hand when preparing dishes. The module consists of three plastic baskets that are recyclable and resistant to decay. Each basket has four rows with space for fourteen seedlings. The baskets are first lined on the interior with a black geotextile, and then are covered with a mesh (polisombra) which helps support the substrate and seedlings. Each basket rests on a structure made of recycled wood (from pallets or crates) that both holds the basket vertically and serves as a rain cover. The cages measure 0.33m by 0.55m by 0.14m. Each module comes with hosing and connectors for a drip irrigation system, and an instructional manual. The modules demonstrate the benefits of urban agriculture combined with the beauty and modality of vertical gardens, leading to useful applications for food production and decoration in the spaces where vertical urban gardens are possible

99-107

Authors: Henry Hurtado Bolaños y Shirley Andrea Rodríguez Espinosa

The study aims to identify the causes and consequences of the floods of 2011 and 2012 in the village of Bocas de Tulua, Valle del Cauca in order to determine if local governments have disaster prevention plans in place, if these plans have the necessary resources to evade floods, and to determine the effects of the recurring floods on the community. The study population is rural and comprised of 657 people. The investigation begins with a characterization of the study population, explains the methodology used, and presents data from a sample of 111 persons who were given a structured interview. The study raises discussion points and proposes conclusions.

123-129

Authors: Alberto García Jerez y Lucas Fernando Quintana Fuentes

Environmental social responsibility goes beyond the various international treaties, current regulations, and stringency of the environmental authorities. It implies not only compliance with the law, but also the extra effort which aims to clean production, reduce environmental impacts on ecosystems and human communities they support. All human activities that pollute and destroy the planet’s life can be changed or corrected by implementing new technologies or simply by changing attitudes. Amongst the parties responsible for finding solutions to this problem, the university fulfills its social environmental development in order to permeate communities, industries and the state itself according to local or regional necessities of a population.