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Summary Climate models predict that the frequency, intensity and duration of drought events will increase in tropical regions. Although water withdrawal from deep soil layers is generally considered to be an efficient adaptation to drought, there is little information on the role played by deep roots in tropical forests. Tropical Eucalyptus plantations managed in short rotation cycles are simple forest ecosystems that may provide an insight into the water use by trees in tropical forests. The contribution made by water withdrawn from deep soil layers to the water required for evapotranspiration was quantified daily from planting to harvesting age for a Eucalyptus grandis stand using a soil water transfer model coupled with an ecophysiological forest model (MAESPA). The model was parameterized using an extensive data set and validated using time series of the soil water content down to a depth of 10 m and water‐table level, as well as evapotranspiration measured using eddy covariance. Fast root growth after planting provided access to large quantities of water stored in deep soil layers over the first 2 years. Eucalyptus roots reached the water‐table at a depth of 12 m after 2 years. Although the mean water withdrawal from depths of over 10 m amounted to only 5% of canopy transpiration from planting to a harvesting age of 5 years, the proportion of water taken up near the water‐table was much higher during dry periods. The water‐table rose from 18 to 12 m below‐ground over 2 years after the harvest of the previous stand and then fell until harvesting age as evapotranspiration rates exceeded the annual rainfall. Deep rooting is an efficient strategy to increase the amount of water available for the trees, allowing the uptake of transient gravitational water and possibly giving access to a deep water‐table. Deep soil layers have an important buffer role for large amounts of water stored during the wet season that is taken up by trees during dry periods. Our study confirms that deep rooting could be a major mechanism explaining high transpiration rates throughout the year in many tropical forests. Lay Summary

Background Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) is one of the interventions widely used in low-income countries to manage Low Birth Weight Infants (LBWIs), a global leading cause of neonatal and child mortality. LBWI largely contributes to neonatal mortality in Malawi despite the country strengthening and implementing KMC, nationwide, to enhance the survival of LBWIs. This qualitative study aimed to assess the facilitating factors and barriers to accessibility and utilization of KMC service by the parent of low birth weight infants (PLBWIs) in Mangochi District, Malawi. Methods Two focused group discussions assessed factors facilitating and hindering the accessibility and utilization of KMC service were conducted in April 2018 that reached out to ( N  = 12) participants; (n:6) PLBWI practicing KMC at Mangochi district hospital (MDH) referred from four health facilities and (n:6) high-risk pregnant mothers (HRPMs) visiting antenatal care (ANC) clinic at MDH. The availability of KMC at MDH was assessed using KMC availability checklist. The study used purposive, convenient and simple random sampling to identify eligible participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the findings. Results Sixteen themes emerged on facilitating factors and barriers to accessibility and utilization of KMC service by the PLBWIs. The identified themes included; availability of KMC providers, social factor (social support and maternal love), timing of KMC information, knowledge on KMC, health linkage systems, recognition of LBWIs, safety on the use of KMC, preference of LBWI’s care practice, lived experience on KMC practice, KMC expert clients, perceived causes of LBWI births, cultural/traditional factors, religious beliefs, health-seeking behavior, women empowerment and quality of care. Conclusions Although KMC was available in some of the health facilities, integration of KMC messages in ANC guidelines, community awareness and in sensitization of any health intervention may enhance KMC accessibility and utilization by the targeted population.

A basic understanding of nutrition effects on the mechanisms involved in tree response to drought is essential under a future drier climate. A large-scale throughfall exclusion experiment was set up in Brazil to gain an insight into the effects of potassium (K) and sodium (Na) nutrition on tree structural and physiological adjustments to water deficit. Regardless of the water supply, K and Na supply greatly increased growth and leaf area index (LAI) of Eucalyptus grandis trees over the first 3 yr after planting. Excluding 37% of throughfall reduced above-ground biomass accumulation in the third year after planting for K-supplied trees only. E. grandis trees were scarcely sensitive to drought as a result of the utilization of water stored in deep soil layers after clear-cutting the previous plantation. Trees coped with water restriction through stomatal closure (isohydrodynamic behavior), osmotic adjustment and decrease in LAI. Additionally, droughted trees showed higher phloem sap sugar concentrations. K and Na supply increased maximum stomatal conductance, and the high water requirements of fertilized trees increased water stress during dry periods. Fertilization regimes should be revisited in a future drier climate in order to find the right balance between improving tree growth and limiting water shortage.

Background: Studies have investigated burnout and compassion fatigue among nurses and effects in the nursing profession. However, there are limited investigations of burnout and compassion fatigue among undergraduate nursing students in South Africa, as nursing students may experience distressful situations during their nursing education course, which may have an impact during their training and in their profession as they graduate. Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive study was to describe compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue and burnout among undergraduate nursing students at a tertiary nursing institution. Methods: A quantitative descriptive study was conducted to describe compassion satisfaction, compassion fatigue and burnout among undergraduate nursing students at a tertiary nursing institution in KwaZulu-Natal. Convenience sampling was used. Results: Sixty-seven undergraduate students (26 third-year and 41 fourth-year nursing students) took the self-test Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL). The study results indicate that undergraduate students experienced average levels of compassion fatigue, burnout and compassion satisfaction. Conclusion: As shown in the study, some of the undergraduate students are experiencing compassion fatigue and burnout, associated with relieving suffering of others. Therefore, knowledge of compassion fatigue and burnout and the coping strategies should be part of nursing training.

Aims The improvement of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of crops allows crop nitrogen (N) demands to be met while reducing N supply, and so reducing excess N which has potential negative environmental implications. NUE is often determined destructively at the end of crop growth-cycles without considering temporal variability. Here we present a methodological study which optimises the determination of NUE throughout the sugarcane growth-cycle using minimally destructive methods, and suggest the use of these methods for non-destructive NUE determination over the growth-cycle of other giant C4 crops. Methods and results The determination of the NUE relied on the optimisation of three methods: the estimation of aboveground biomass, N content and N derived from fertiliser (NdfF). First, the ability of different allometric relationships to estimate sugarcane biomass was investigated by selecting a relationship based on height and diameter to estimate aboveground biomass along the crop growth-cycle. Secondly, we assessed the minimum number of harvested sugarcane required to construct a dilution curve to predict N content from biomass and found that a sampling of 5 sugarcane at 3 dates was sufficient to represent aboveground N content over the growth-cycle. Finally, the ability of 15 N content of individual leaves to represent the NdfF in 15 N-fertilised cane was tested. The first and second leaf below the top visible dewlap were the most representative. Based on a variance analysis, we assessed the level of influence of each method on the NUE calculation. Crop age accounted for 54% of the variance of NUE, the choice of 15 N leaf 13%, with the choice of model to estimate biomass and the number of plants harvested for the N dilution curve, each accounting for less than 2% over the four sampling dates. Conclusions This study highlighted the importance of evaluating NUE not only at the point of harvest. We propose, therefore, a set of methods to study NUE throughout the sugarcane growth-cycle by using minimally destructive sampling.

Kangaroo mother care (KMC) has been widely adopted in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) to minimise low birthweight infants' (LBWIs) adverse outcomes. However, the burden of neonatal and child mortality remains disproportionately high in LMICs. Thus, this scoping review sought to map evidence on the barriers, challenges and facilitators of KMC utilisation by parents of LBWIs (parent of low birthweight infant [PLBWI]) in LMICs. We searched for studies conducted in LMICs and published in English between January 1990 and August 2020 from SciELO, Google Scholar, JSTOR, LILACS, Academic search complete, PubMed, CINAHL with full text, and Medline databases. We adopted Arksey and O'Malley's framework for conducting scoping reviews. Potential studies were exported to Endnote X7 reference management software for abstract and full article screening. Two independent reviewers did a parallel abstract and full article screening using a standardised form. The results were analysed using thematic content analysis. We generated 22 040 studies and after duplicate removal, 42 studies were eligible for full-text screening and 22 studies, most form sub-Saharan Africa, were included in the content analysis. Eight themes emerged from the analysis: access, buy-in, co-ordination and collaboration, medical issues, motivation, social support-gender obligation and empowerment, time and timing and traditional/cultural norms. Identifying factors affecting KMC may optimise KMC utilisation. Additional studies aiming at identifying influencing factors that affect KMC utilisation amongst PLBWIs' in LMICs need to be conducted to provide evidence-based strategies to enhance practice, inform policy and decision-makers in KMC utilisation amongst the PLBWIs in LMICs and beyond.

Background The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 emphasises on reducing neonatal deaths caused by low birth weight (LBW) complications by the implementation and utilisation of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite the empirical evidence of KMC optimising low-birth-weight infants’ (LBWIs’) survival, its advantages and the LMICs implementing the service, studies have shown that LBW infant deaths occurring in LMICs are largely contributing to global child mortality. The aim of this scoping review is to map out the literature on barriers, challenges and facilitators of KMC utilisation by parents with LBWIs. Methods and analysis This scoping review will use Endnote X7 reference management software to manage articles. The review search strategy will use SCIELO and LILACS databases. Other databases will be used via EBSCOHost search engine and these are Academic search complete, CINAHL with full text, Education source, Health source: Nursing/Academic Edition, Medline with full text and Medline. We will also use Google Scholar, JSTOR, Open grey search engines and reference lists. A two-phase search mapping out process will be done. In phase 1, one reviewer will perform the title screening and removal of duplicates. Two reviewers will do a parallel abstract screening according to eligibility criteria. Phase 2 will involve the reading of full articles and exclusion of articles, in accordance with the eligibility criteria. Data extraction from the articles will be done by two reviewers independently and parallel to the data extraction form. The data quality assessment of the eligible studies will be done using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT). The extraction of the synthesised results and thematic content analysis of the studies will be done by NVIVO version 10. Discussion We expect to find studies on barriers, challenges and facilitating factors of KMC utilisation by parents with LBWIs in LMICs. The review outcomes will guide future research and practice and inform policy. The findings will be disseminated in print, electronic and conference presentations related to maternal child and neonatal health.

Description du sujet. La pression des adventices est une contrainte biotique majeure dans les systemes de culture tropicaux. Les mélanges de plantes de services ont gagné en popularité pour limiter la croissance des adventices par la compétition pour les ressources, mais la relation entre la diversité des plantes de services et la suppression des adventices est encore en débat. Objectifs. Cette étude vise a évaluer l'impact de l'augmentation de la diversité des plantes de services (une a quatre especes) sur la maîtrise des adventices pendant deux saisons de croissance (été tropical et hiver) sur l'île de la Réunion. Méthode. La maîtrise des adventices a été exprimée en fonction de la couverture du sol et de la masse seche aérienne des adventices, et la réponse de cette maîtrise aux traits des plantes de services a été testée en utilisant un modele d'équations structurelles. Résultats. Alors que les plantes de services ont réduit le recouvrement et la masse seche des adventices de 60 % et 68 % en moyenne en été et en hiver, respectivement, un nombre plus élevé d'especes dans un mélange n'a pas augmenté la maîtrise moyenne des adventices. Néanmoins, la maîtrise des adventices a été influencée par la composition du mélange et a été améliorée par l'utilisation de Guizotia abyssinica. De plus, les traits des plantes de services expliquant la maîtrise des adventices différaient selon les saisons. En été, la maîtrise des adventices a été principalement expliquée par la biomasse aérienne et la surface foliaire des plantes de services (stratégie d'« épuisement »). En revanche, en hiver, la maîtrise des adventices a été principalement expliquée par la vitesse de recouvrement des plantes de services (stratégie d'« obstruction »). Conclusions. L'utilisation de traits pour caractériser les mélanges de plantes de services nous a permis d'identifier des mélanges d'especes et de traits adaptés a différentes conditions de croissance. Notre étude suggere qu'une attention particuliere a l'identité des especes plutôt qu'a leur diversité devrait etre accordée dans les mélanges pour améliorer la maîtrise des adventices dans les conditions tropicales.

Description du sujet. L’identification et la caractérisation des semences d’adventices est un travail indispensable pour de futures recherches sur la compréhension de leur nuisibilité secondaire (capacité des adventices à se disperser dans l'espace et dans le temps). Bien que les adventices soient des bio-agresseurs majeurs en agriculture tropicale, l’identification des semences d’adventices d’espèces tropicales est encore peu étudiée. Objectifs. L’objectif de cette étude est d’élaborer une méthodologie pour identifier les semences d’adventices tropicales à partir de leurs caractéristiques morphologiques. Méthode. Les semences de 55 espèces d’adventices ont été récoltées sur l’île de La Réunion et caractérisées. Une clé d’identification polytomique et d’accès simple a été construite permettant d’aboutir à une identification de l’espèce à partir de la semence. Résultats. La clé d’identification débute par la discrimination des semences par leur forme, puis leur taille et ensuite leur couleur, texture, pilosité ou marques particulières. La clé est publiée au format PDF et inclut des liens hypertextes permettant à l’utilisateur de naviguer dans le document et d’accéder à la fiche descriptive de la semence. La clé est disponible sur le site AGRITROP (archives ouvertes du CIRAD) et sur le portail WIKTROP. Conclusions. Cette clé d’identification constitue la première de son genre pour des adventices tropicales. Elle est destinée à être enrichie au fur et à mesure de nouvelles caractérisations de semences d’adventices tropicales de La Réunion et d’autres régions. Construction of a seed identification key for 55 weeds of La Réunion Island Description of the subject. The identification and characterization of weed seeds is essential for future research on understanding their secondary harmfulness (weeds' ability to disperse in space and time). Although they are major bio-aggressors in tropical agriculture, the identification of weed seeds of tropical species is still little studied. Objectives. The aim of this study was to develop a methodology for identifying tropical weed seeds based on their morphological characteristics. Method. Seeds of 55 weed species were collected in La Réunion Island and characterized. A polytomous, single-access identification key was constructed, enabling species identification from seed. Results. The identification key begins by discriminating seeds by shape, then size, followed by color, texture, hairiness or particular markings. The key is published in PDF format and includes hypertext links enabling the user to navigate through the document and access the seed description sheet. The key is available on the AGRITROP site (CIRAD open archives) and on the WIKTROP portal. Conclusions. This identification key is the first of its kind for tropical weeds. It is intended to be enhanced as new tropical weed seeds are characterized in Réunion Island and elsewhere.

Aims Understanding the belowground interactions in multi-species intercropping agroecosystems is critical to improving the cropping system’s sustainability. This study aims to assess the sugarcane root colonization of the soil in plant crops when intercropped with legumes or spontaneous weeds in the inter-row. Methods Roots were studied in the setting of three inter-row conditions: sugarcane with full chemical weed control, sugarcane-jack bean ( Canavalia ensiformis ) intercropping, and sugarcane with spontaneous weeds in the inter-row. Root mappings were conducted at 3.5, 6, 8, and 11 months after sugarcane planting in two vertical trenches per age and experimental condition (width 1.5 m x depth 1.2 m). Fine root distribution, root length densities, and a soil colonization index were estimated from the root intersects, in relation to plant root co-occurrence. Results We found that both legumes and weeds in the inter-row decreased the total sugarcane fine root length by 17 to 30% compared to situation of chemical weed control from 6 months onwards. From 3.5 months, legumes or weeds impacted vertical and horizontal sugarcane root distribution, mainly in the topsoil. Consequently, the soil volume colonized by sugarcane roots decreased by 27% in both inter-row conditions throughout the crop cycle. This decrease was due to changes in root distribution and the co-occurrence of multi-species plant roots but not to changes in total root length. Conclusions Our study pointed out the need to consider how the presence of other plant roots affects sugarcane root extension to understand and simulate the competition processes influencing intercropping performances.