Breeding dynamics of rodent species inhabiting farm–fallow mosaic fields in Central Tanzania

The breeding dynamics of three species of rodents, Mastomys natalensis, Aethomys chrysophilus and Gerbilliscus vicina were investigated in a seasonal environment (wet versus dry) in Berega in the eastern parts of central Tanzania. Berega has a distinct unimodal rainfall pattern, with most rainfall from November to April/May. We hypothesized that breeding of rodents in central Tanzania would be confined to the wet season, when unlimited resources would be available for reproduction. We provide evidence of breeding discontinuity in the three species, showing that breeding was seasonally restricted to the wet season and early in the dry season. The observed discontinuity could largely be ascribed to variation in primary productivity between the wet and dry seasons. Reproductively active females were found in the population as early as November, a month into the rainy season, but when early rains occurred, some individuals were already breeding in October. Breeding was more intensive in the latter part of the wet season (March–May) and completely ceased during the dry season. For M. natalensis, survival was highest in the wet period and low in the dry season. The study provides knowledge on the breeding dynamics of rodents in central Tanzania, which can help farmers to take proactive rodent management decisions to prevent high rodent densities and reduce crop damage in the fields. Application of control measures by the community early in the season when populations of reproductive females is lowest will be most rewarding.     

不同直播方式与杂草防除时期对稻田杂草发生及早籼稻产量的影响

为探明不同直播方式下稻田杂草最佳防除时期,本试验以杂交稻柒两优2012为供试材料,设置旱直播、湿直播和水直播3种直播方式与播后2叶1心前除草(C₁)、2叶1心至3叶1心除草(C₂)、全生育期除草(C₃)及全生育期不除草(CK)4个处理,研究不同直播方式与杂草防除时期对稻田杂草发生及早籼稻产量的影响。结果表明,与水直播和湿直播相比,旱直播方式可显著提高早籼稻出苗率,且土壤中稗草、千金子等禾本科杂草发生严重,而水直播和湿直播方式下水莎草、鸭舌草等水生性杂草发生严重;在播后3~29 d左右,旱直播方式下杂草发生相对较严重,但在播后43 d杂草发生量显著低于水直播和湿直播处理;对于水稻全生育期来说,旱直播杂草发生密度总体下降12.57%~15.72%,且杂草生物量显著低于水直播和湿直播,鲜、干重分别平均下降65.83%、57.45%及69.73%、59.04%。相关分析表明,杂草生物量与直播稻产量及其构成因素呈极显著负相关,其中播后15~22 d杂草的发生对早籼稻产量降低影响显著。与CK相比,各杂草防除处理均显著提高早籼稻产量,表现为C₃>C₁>C₂>CK,增产17.91%~31.21%,且C₁是杂草防除的最佳时期,其中旱直播增产效应高于湿直播和水直播处理,产量的增加主要得益于单位面积有效穗数的提高。总体来说,不同直播方式杂草发生因生育期而异,旱直播有利于降低直播田杂草发生量,且在播后至2叶1心期前防除杂草利于水稻增产增效,其中旱直播方式明显。     

The stadium effect: rodent damage patterns in rice fields explored using giving‐up densities

Rodents are globally important pre‐harvest pests of rice. In Southeast Asia, rodent damage to growing rice crops is commonly concentrated towards the center of rice fields, away from the field edge, resulting in a clear pattern known as the “stadium effect.” To further understand this behavior of rodent pests and to develop recommendations for future research and management, we examined the relation between giving‐up densities (GUDs) and damage patterns. In Tanay, Luzon, Philippines, GUD trays containing pieces of coconut in a matrix of sand were placed at 4 different distances from the field edge to quantify the perceived risk of predation in a rice field pest, Rattus tanezumi. GUDs were recorded during a dry and wet season crop at the reproductive and ripening stages of rice. In addition, assessments of active burrows, tracking tile activity and rodent damage to the rice crop, were conducted in the dry season. GUDs were significantly lower in the center of the rice fields than on the field edges, suggesting that rodent damage to rice is greater in the middle of rice fields due to a lower perceived predation risk. Furthermore, this perception of predation risk (or fear) increases towards the field edge and was greatest on the rice bund, where there was no vegetation cover. We discuss the implications for rodent management and rodent damage assessments in rice fields. This is the first documented use of GUDs in a rice agro‐ecosystem in Asia; thus we identify the challenges and lessons learned through this process.     

The effect of seeding rate and weed control on the establishment of Rhodes grass in the Eastern Cape

Abstract

The effect of four seeding rates (3; 6; 12 and 24 kg/ha), four methods of weed control (nil, mowing, 4 l/ha of 2,4‐D amine and hand weeding) and two times of cutting (late boot stage and end of season) on the establishment and yield of a Rhodes grass pasture was investigated. The experiment was first sown in 1980 and repeated in the same form in 1982.

Mother and daughter plants were counted and the canopy cover of Rhodes grass was estimated a year after seeding. Subsequently, the experiments were harvested a number of times.

Seeding rate, weed control and cutting affected the density of plants. The higher densities affected the yield of the pasture initially only. The value of using more than 3 kg/ha of commercial certified seed is doubtful. The use of adequate measures to control weeds does seem to be economically justified.     

不同施肥模式下水稻生育期间杂草群落特征

利用中国农业科学院红壤实验站1982年布置的红壤稻田长期定位试验,于2011年研究了在无机肥和有机肥含有等量氮磷钾养分的条件下,长期施用有机肥、化肥和有机无机肥混施模式下水稻生育期间杂草种类和生物量变化。结果表明,施肥30年后,有机无机肥混施处理早稻和晚稻杂草种类最少,有机肥处理早稻杂草种类最多,不施肥处理晚稻最多,且后两者比前者依次分别高出34.4%和39.3%;有机肥处理两季杂草总量最高,比无机有机混施、化肥和不施肥处理分别高出10.7%,4.5%和37.7%,早稻杂草总量和湿生杂草生物量有机肥处理最多,晚稻不施肥处理最多,早稻和晚稻浮水杂草生物总量有机无机肥混施处理最多。土壤碱解氮、有效磷与杂草总干物质量显著正相关(相关系数分别为0.465和0.517),与湿生杂草生物量显著正相关(相关系数分别为0.482和0.542),土壤有效磷与浮水杂草生物量极显著正相关(相关系数为0.666),pH与之极显著负相关(相关系数为0.516)。土壤有效磷受土壤pH 和碱解氮及其他因子的共同作用对杂草总干物质量产生影响。通过各种施肥措施维持土壤适宜 pH及碱解氮、有效磷含量,能有效控制南方红壤稻田中湿生和浮水杂草生长,使杂草种类与总生物量达到有益的动态平衡。     

Die beheer van Amaranthus spp. en die invloed daarvan op Digitaria eriantha gedurende die vestigingsjaar

The control of Amaranthus spp. and the influence thereof on Digitaria eriantha during the season of establishment. Chemical control of Amaranthus spp. in newly established Smuts finger grass (D. eriantha) was investigated. A mixture of 800 ml 2,4‐D Amine+1200 ml Atrazine per ha was applied. This treatment produced a total yield of 6,1 t/ha of which 4,6 t/ha (75,4%) consisted of Smuts finger grass. The rest were weeds. In the case of no chemical control total yield amounted to 4,5 t/ha dry matter of which only 0,7 t/ha (15,5%) was Smuts finger grass. Chemical control clearly had economic advantages.     

江苏麦田杂草群落的数量分析

用七级目测法调查江苏150个样点麦田草害情况,应用主成分分析对江苏省麦田杂草群落进行了研究。结果表明,决定江苏麦田杂草发生、分布和危害的主要因素是地带性气候 土壤性质因素。将150个样点划分为5个聚类群,即江南稻茬麦田、宁镇扬丘陵旱茬麦田、沿海旱茬麦田、徐淮旱茬麦田和沿江及苏北稻茬麦田聚类群,根据综合草害指数和发生频率明确了各聚类群相应的优势杂草,并就该地区麦田杂草发生的特点提出了治理的建议。     

Ecology of rodents at an old quarry in Zambia

An old quarry, 2,5 hain size near Livingstone in southern Zambia was kill-and live-trapped between September 1974 and December 1976 to determine ecological relations among. rodent species inhabiting it. Seven species were found to comprise the old quarry rodent community. Praomys natalensis was by far the most common although Saccostomus campestris and Lemniscomys griselda were also abundant. Four species (Tatera leucogaster, Steatomys pratensis, Mus minutoides and Aethomys chrysophilus were rare. Food and micro-habitat preferences of S. campestris and P. natalensis appeared similar. Seasonal fluctuations characterized the P. natalensis population while L. griselda was absent from the site during the latter part of the rainy season and early in the dry season. Pre-weaning survival of P. natalensis was very low, particularly early in the breeding season. The survival of the trappable population was good but declined following a burn at the study site. P. natalensis recruited into the population from May-July, lost between 20 and 35% of their body mass during the August-October period. Body mass increased as rodents attained sexual maturity early in the rainy season.     

Tiller population dynamics in eight cultivars of elephant grass during undisturbed growth

The aim of the study was to assess tiller population dynamics of aerial and basal tillers in eight cultivars of Pennisetum purpureum (Schumach.), syn. Cenchrus purpureus (Schumach.) Morrone, in a warm humid climate in Veracruz, Mexico. This is a pioneer study on tiller population dynamics in elephant grass under conditions of undisturbed growth. The tiller population assays included data from 14 days after cutting until 154 and 182 days after cutting for the dry and wet seasons, respectively. On each sampling date, a distinctive ring was placed on every new tiller, and rings were removed from dead tillers. Tiller density, mortality and appearance were determined. In wet seasons, copious tillering occurred on initial regrowth (by day 42, mostly aerial tillers, with a ratio of 2:1 to 4:1 for aerial to basal tiller appearance), and on day 98 (a higher proportion of basal tillers, with an aerial to basal tiller ratio of 1.5:1). Aerial tillers showed a higher overall mortality rate than basal tillers (29.0 vs 14.4). Younger basal tillers showed higher mortality than older tillers. Higher tiller density occurred during the dry season, where it increased gradually until day 70 and then declined. The cultivars ‘Cameroon‘, ‘CT115‘ and ‘OM22‘ showed remarkably high tillering ability. The findings indicate that harvesting a forage bank is possible from day 70 during a dry season.     

深圳市公园绿地暖季型草坪春夏季杂草的调查

对深圳地区暖季型草坪台湾草及假俭草春夏季草坪进行普查，发现春夏季草坪杂草共66种，分属22科55属，其中台湾草草坪杂草63种，假检草草坪杂草38种。阔叶杂草种类占全部杂草种类的79％。通过抽样、统计，分析了台湾草、假俭草草坪精细管理区、粗放管理区春夏季杂草的优势种和对草坪构成危害的主要杂草种类。结合秋季草坪杂草的调查，总结了深圳地区草坪杂草的发生规律。     

退耕还林还草地鼠类调查及控制对策研究

2002-2003年对青海省大通县退耕还林还草地鼠类组成进行调查研究,捕获鼠类6种728只,以根田鼠Microtus oeconomus和高原鼢鼠Myospalax baileyi为绝对优势种.4种方法进行退耕还林还草地害鼠控制的结果表明:人工置夹和药物控制是地上害鼠控制的有效方法,人工地箭与灭鼠雷可有效控制地下高原鼢鼠的数量.但从长远来看,控制退耕还林还草地鼠害应采取生态治理的原则和方法.     

Studies on Thysanura. III. Some Factors Affecting the Distribution of South African Thysanura

To evaluate the impact of climatic change on rodent sahelian communities, we analysed the contents of over 2500 barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets collected along the Senegal river between 1989 and 2003, and from the Ferlo sahelian area in 2003. These results are compared with data from the 1970s and 1980s in the same zones. Rodents were the most common prey (over 90%). Gerbillinae were most common in dry areas (84 to 96%) whereas in wetlands and rice fields murines were most common (77 to 88%). Nowadays, the genus Gerbillus constitutes the main prey in dry areas (77% to 88%). The genus Taterillus, which was the most abundant rodent in the Ferlo in the 1970s, now represents only 7% of rodents. Gerbils were not present in Senegal before the 1980s: G. tarabuli and G. henleyi were trapped for the first time in 1989 at the northern border of Senegal, and G. nigeriae 10 years later at the same place. The latter is now present a hundred kilometres southwards and as abundant in owl pellets as the two other gerbils.     

Emerging feed markets for ruminant production in urban and peri-urban areas of Northern Ghana

Feed shortage in urban and peri-urban areas has triggered the emergence of feed markets in Northern Ghana. These markets were surveyed at three locations (Tamale, Bolgatanga, and Wa markets) to determine types and prices of feedstuffs sold across seasons; early dry (November–January), late dry (February–April), early wet (May–July), and main wet (August–October). Semi–structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Three samples of each feed type in the markets were bought from three different sellers per market in each season. The samples were oven dried to constant weight and price/kg DM of each feed determined. The total respondents were 169. Out of this number, 41% were feed sellers, 46% buyers, and 13% retailers. The feedstuffs found were crop residues (groundnut haulm and cowpea haulm), agro-industrial by-products (bran of maize, rice, and sorghum), fresh grasses (Rotteboellia cochinchinensis), and local browses (Ficus sp. and Pterocarpus erinaceous). Prices of feeds differed (P < 0.05) among markets and were higher in Bolgatanga than Tamale and Wa markets. Prices of cereal bran were not different (P > 0.05) in all seasons but that of crop residues were higher (P < 05) in early to late dry season than the wet season. Majority (90%) of respondents opined that the feed market will expand due to increasing number of livestock population in the peri-urban areas.

     

Prevalence of parasites of the local scavenging chickens in a selected semi-arid zone of Eastern Kenya

A study to identify and estimate the prevalence of parasites of local chickens in a semi arid area of Kenya was conducted between March 2005 and August 2006. Three hundred and sixty (360) local chickens purchased from Yathui division of Machakos were examined. Of those, 93.3% had helminths. Nematodes were recovered in 268 (74.4%) chickens whereas 245 (68.1%) had cestodes. Tetrameres americana (37.7%), Ascaridia galli (33.3%) and Heterakis gallinarum (22.8%) were the most important nematode species identified. Raillietina echinobothrida (33.3%) and Davainea proglottina (19.4%) were the two most important cestode species identified. Two coccidia species, namely Eimeria necatrix (6.7%) and E. tenella (16.7%) were isolated and identified as per location in the digestive system. Important ecto-parasites identified included Echidnophaga gallinacea (76.7%), Menacanthus stramineus (79.4%) and Dermanyssus gallinae (60.0%). Endo-parasites (helminths and coccidia) occurred in significantly (p < 0.05) higher frequencies during the wet season than during the dry season. On the contrary, ecto-parasites were significantly (p < 0.05) more fequent during the dry season. Male chickens generally exhibited increased odds for the occurrence of parasites than female birds. Further investigations are required to establish a plausible explanation for this. Overall, parasitism was a big constraint to chicken productivity in the study area. Urgent integrated parasite control approaches should be initiated to address parasitism in chickens in the Yathui cluster.     

马蹄金草坪杂草发生特点及防除方法研究

研究了马蹄金草坪杂草的发生特点及采用人工除草和复配喷施马蹄净和大杀禾,防除杂草的方法,结果表明:(1)昆明地区新建马蹄金草坪秋冬季节杂草种类共有19种,其中,发生普遍且危害严重的杂草有金荞麦、荠菜、牛膝菊、鬼针草、马唐、狗尾草和紫苏,以荠菜和金乔麦发生密度和频度最高;(2)不同除草措施的除草效果及安全性分析,人工除草,复配喷施马蹄净195g/hm2和大杀禾750mL/hm2,马蹄净240g/hm2+大杀禾825mL/hm2是较适宜马蹄金草坪杂草的防除方法,若用药量增加为复配喷施马蹄净300g/hm2+大杀禾900mL/hm2,会使马蹄金草坪出现矮化、黄化,甚至死亡等药害症状。若采用化学除草剂进行马蹄金草坪杂草防除,应本着"先试验,后推广"的原则用药,以保证用药安全。     

Waterfowl abundance and diversity in relation to season,wetland characteristics and land-use in semi-arid South Africa

We studied waterfowl abundance and diversity in relation to season (wet vs dry), wetland characteristics (vegetation and morphometrics) and land-use in a semi-arid agricultural region of South Africa to determine how waterfowl respond to various wetland characteristics, particularly those of permanent agricultural ponds.Wetlands were visited during the wet (n = 215) and dry (n = 178) seasons of 1997 and species' abundances, and wetland and upland characteristics were recorded. Canonical correspondence analyses and multiple regressions determined which wetland and upland characteristics were most strongly associated with waterfowl density and species richness for both the wet and dry season. Overall, diving ducks were not abundant in the wet season, and were rare to absent in the dry season. Divers only responded positively to the characteristics of natural wetlands, including greater surface area, percent coverage of emergent vegetation, and high (ungrazed) shoreline vegetation. Of six species of dabbling ducks present during the wet season, occurrence of three co-varied with wetland and upland characteristics associated with agriculture, namely permanent water, and agricultural grains in the dry season. Being largely grazers, geese responded positively to the higher proportions of bare shoreline, characteristically surrounding agricultural ponds. Because only a few species associated with artificial waterbodies, natural wetlands should be conserved to protect waterfowl diversity in semi-arid South Africa.     

Effect of Balanites glabra canopy cover on grass production,organic matter and soil moisture in a southern Kenyan rangeland

A study was undertaken in Kenya's southern savanna rangelands to determine the seasonal effect of Balanites glabra canopy cover on aboveground grass biomass, grass species composition, soil organic matter and soil moisture content. The study was conducted during the period June to December 1999 in order to capture both the dry and wet season effects. The grass biomass in the sub-canopy zone (2-4m from tree trunk) was found to be significantly higher than in the mid-canopy (0-2m from tree trunk) and open grassland zones (4-6m from tree trunk) during the dry season. However, the difference between the sub-canopy and the open grassland was not significant during the wet season, implying that the role of a tree canopy in enhancing grass biomass is greater during the dry than the wet season. Variations in percent grass species composition from the mid-canopy to the adjacent open grassland were observed, indicating that while B. glabra canopy cover favours certain grass species, other species find the micro-climatic conditions under the canopy unfavourable. Soil organic matter in the mid-canopy zone was significantly higher than in the sub-canopy and adjacent open zones during both dry and wet season. Although the sub-canopy zone exhibited significantly higher soil moisture content than the mid-canopy and open grassland zones during the dry season, the difference between the sub-canopy and the adjacent open grassland during the wet season was not significant, suggesting that the tree canopy influence on soil moisture is more pronounced in the dry than the wet season.     

尖扎县草地鼠虫害现状及防治对策

尖扎县草地害鼠约6种,常见的为高原鼠兔、中华鼢鼠两种,危害面积达3.2×104hm2,占总面积的18.7%。害虫主要有宽须蚁蝗、小翅雏蝗、狭翅雏蝗。由于鼠虫的挖掘和啃食,致使优良牧草减少、水土流失加剧,形成了大面积的次生裸地和寸草不生的“黑土滩”,从“七五”开始,全县累计灭治鼠虫害1.44×105hm2,挽回牧草损失达2.575×105kg,有效地控制了鼠虫害的危害和蔓延。     

Effect of Season on the Productivity of Camels (Camelus dromedarius and the Prevalence of Their Major Parasites in Eastern Ethiopia

The productivity and the prevalence rates of the major parasites of camels (Camelus dromedarius) kept under traditional management conditions at Errer valley, Ethiopia were assessed for a year (October 1997–September 1998). The daily milk offtake was significantly higher (p<0.05) during the wet season (3.12±0.03 L) than during the dry season (1.49±0.04 L). Likewise, significantly higher (p<0.05) daily weight gains (50.68±0.54 g) were observed during the wet season than during dry season in immature camels aged 1–4 years. Trypanosoma evansi, Sarcoptes scabiei and strongyle parasites were present throughout the year, but their prevalence rates were higher during the rainy months than during the dry months. The minimum and maximum point prevalence rates for T. evansi were 5.4% and 20.6%, respectively. Similarly, the point prevalence rates for S. scabiei also varied from 4.7% during the dry season to 21.7% during the rainy months. The highest strongyle egg counts per gram of faeces and highest point prevalence rate (85.7%) were observed in October, a rainy month, whereas the lowest number of eggs per gram of faeces and the lowest point prevalence rate (61.5%) were recorded in April, a dry month.     

利用观赏植物物候预测草坪杂草发生

杂草影响草坪美观,还会使草坪丧失功能,防治杂草的关键是要掌握杂草的发生时间,但由于草坪杂草植株矮小,生育期短导致其不易辨认及观察。本研究以探究常见观赏植物物候与杂草爆发之间的对应关系为前提,自2012年11月至2014年4月间,采用样线样方结合的方法调查了广州地区草坪杂草发生情况,以及常见观赏植物的物候特点。结果显示:样地中,杂草群落具有类似的分布模式,以多年生杂草为主,一年生杂草次之,二年生杂草最少;与草坪草具有相似生活型或具有类似的生物学特性的杂草,容易在环境选择过程中被保留下来,成为主要杂草;夏季是杂草爆发的高峰时期。木棉(Bombax malabaricum)初花期可以预测白花蛇舌草的(Hedyotis diffusa)爆发;猫尾木(Dolichandrone cauda-felina)初花期可以预测红花酢浆草(Oxalis corymbosa)、黄花酢浆草(Oxalis pes-caprae)、黄鹌菜(Youngia japonica)爆发;杜英(Elaeocarpus decipiens)盛花期、葱兰(Pouzolzia zeylanica)盛花期可以预测雾水葛(Pouzolzia zeylanica)的2个爆发期等。