All seniors develop an original study project and write a thesis as part of their final year at Zamorano. Seniors write theses on a wide variety of topics and often produce new research that address issues and problems in their area of specialization – agriculture, food science, agribusiness, socioeconomic development, or environmental management.
Over 200 original theses projects were produced by the Class of 2009, with the following five judged to be the best:
Dania Oliva (Honduras, 2009), a major in Agriculture Science and Production (CPA) with a specialization in horticulture, selected 100 representative soil samples from the Pacific coast of Central America — in El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua — to analyze and map the variation in acidity (pH) and other soil characteristics as indicators of fertility. Before her work, there was no record of the pH variation for this region. Oliva was an invited speaker at the Latin American Soil Conference in Costa Rica in November 2009, where she presented her findings.
For his thesis in Agriculture Science and Production (CPA) with a specialization in animal science, Miguel Verdezoto (Ecuador, 2009) evaluated the differences between chemically castrated and physically castrated boars for use in meat production. Verdezoto demonstrated that chemically castrated pigs experience less stress, and absorb nutrients more effectively (thus growing bigger, faster) than surgically castrated piglets. At the same time the meat of chemically castrated pigs retains the desirable flavor characteristics of surgically castrated animals.
To develop a hydrological model to show the relationship between precipitation and the local water table, Miriam Arrueta (Bolivia, 2009) of the Socioeconomic Development and Environmental Science (DSEA) major, examined and documented rainfall, evaporation, water flow rates and spillage from water sources (small streams), as well as human consumption patterns, in a watershed area near Zamorano known as El Gallo. Using equipment and procedures developed by the U.S. Geological Survey, Arueta succeeded in creating a tool Zamorano and others can use to better predict water availability in the area.
As Agribusiness Management (AGN) majors, Juan Carlos Brito (Ecuador, 2009) and Erick Corado (Guatemala, 2009) developed a color key card to use as a diagnostic instrument to determine the optimal amount of nitrogen to use to fertilize corn. While it sounds simple, an effective tool for use by farmers in the field had never been developed before, and as fertilizer is usually the greatest expense incurred by small farmers, the tool reduces costs (as well as the waste and environmental contamination caused by unneeded nitrogen applications). The key card is currently being reviewed for patent protection, and with Zamorano’s help Brito and Corado are seeking funding to distribute the tool in rural areas of Central America.
Carlos Moreno (Ecuador, 2009), a major in Food Science and Technology (AGI), studied Dulcamara (Solanum dulcamara L.) for his thesis and evaluated ways to blend the supplement into chocolate. Dulcamara, a plant valued for its ability to boost the human immune system, is marketed regionally as a dietary supplement. Moreno identified the physical, chemical, and sensorial qualities of the enhanced chocolate and evaluated both powder and liquid forms to identify the most effective way to combine dulcamara with sweetened cocoa to create a candy bar. Regional industry has expressed interest in pursuing further research to incorporate this supplement into chocolate and other food stuffs.
