The aim of this work was to determine the effect of saturating the irrigation solution with air (MNBA) or oxygen nanobubbles (MNBO) on relevant agronomic, productive, and postharvest parameters of tomato crops (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in greenhouses. As a control, conventional management was established, without nanobubbles, under the best possible agronomic conditions used in commercial greenhouses in southeastern Spain. No significant differences were found in the soil properties analysed or in the ionic concentration of the pore water extracted with Rhizon probes. Both MNBA and MNBO modified the root distribution and improved the N uptake efficiency and field water uptake efficiency compared to the control. MNBA had the highest harvest index. The total or marketable production was not affected, although it did increase the overall size of the fruit and the earliness with which they were produced compared to the control. MNBA significantly decreased titratable acidity and soluble solids content compared to the control in the last harvests. Both nanobubble treatments improved postharvest storage under room-temperature (20–25 °C) conditions.

In this work, the drying of amaranth and quinoa seeds using microwave technology has been studied for the first time. The main objective of this study was to analyze the influence of the power density of the microwave oven on the drying time, germination rate and field survival of these seeds. The tests were performed in a domestic microwave oven at three power densities (0.875, 1.75 and 3.50 W/g for amaranth seeds, and 1.75, 3.50 and 7 W/g for those of quinoa). It was observed that as the power density increased, the germination rate of the amaranth seeds decreased slightly (∼9%), as did the height of the plant (3.5%); whereas their survival rate in the field, 30 days after sowing, remained almost unchanged. In contrast, the germination rate of quinoa seeds was significantly affected by microwave drying at these power densities, with germination percentages of less than 25% being achieved. In order to increase the germination rates of both types of seed, after the drying process, it is necessary to employ power densities of less than 1.75 W/g and, in the case of quinoa seeds, the temperature of the drying process also needs to be carefully controlled.

This work shows the results derived from a project focused on improving the socioeconomic empowerment capacity of women in the rural community of Yugsiloma, Ecuador. It was conducted a case study of a biographical-narrative nature. The results show how a large number of barriers are derived from situations of violence, sociocultural expectations, contexts of insecurity and lack of support and infrastructure in the community, while as driving factors, the main productive role of women in the communities stands out, along with the existence of community and collaborative practices related to Andean culture. It concludes by highlighting the need to make the participants' "world of life" visible in order to include components ethnography, psychoeducation, community and sociocultural approaches in cooperation projects with pathways to socioeconomic empowerment of the participants in the community