Does post‐grazing sward height influence sward characteristics,seasonal herbage dry‐matter production and herbage quality?

Extending the grazing season through the production and utilization of high‐quality forage is a key objective in grassland‐based dairy production systems. Grazing swards to a low post‐grazing sward height (PGSH) is a strategy for improving grass utilization. A grazing experiment conducted in Ireland investigated immediate and subsequent effects of PGSH on sward production, utilization and structural characteristics. Swards were grazed to 2·7 cm (severe; S1) or 3·5 cm (moderate; M1) from 10 February to 18 April 2010 (Period 1; P1). From 19 April, each P1 paddock was halved and grazed to either 3·8 cm (S2) or 4·8 cm (M2), until 30 October (Period 2; P2). The first grazing rotation was +7 d on S1 swards compared with M1 swards (45 d), due to greater herbage utilization (+0·22). Herbage production during P1 was not affected by PGSH but a severe PGSH during this period reduced subsequent herbage production: 13·9 (S1) vs. 15·5 t dry matter (DM) ha^?1 (M1) by the end of the study. Leaf proportion was increased (+0·10) on S2 swards compared with M2 swards, but M2 swards produced 1·2 t DM ha^?1 more herbage during P2. Despite the relatively lower level of sward utilization obtained from moderate grazing in P1 (3·5 cm) and P2 (4·5–5·0 cm), such levels of PGSH increased DM production while maintaining sward quality, compared with severe grazing (2·7 cm in P1 and 3·5–4·0 cm in P2).     

Are soil‐adjusted vegetation indices better than soil‐unadjusted vegetation indices for above‐ground green biomass estimation in arid and semi‐arid grasslands?

Accurate estimation of grassland biomass has been a central focus due to its importance in ecosystem processes and carbon cycles. This study aimed to examine whether the performance of soil‐adjusted vegetation indices for estimating above‐ground green biomass was better than that of soil‐unadjusted vegetation indices in arid and semi‐arid grasslands. Above‐ground green biomass in desert steppe of Inner Mongolia and corresponding moderate‐resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) surface reflectance 8‐day composite MOD09Q1 data were collected during late September of 2013. Results showed that soil‐adjusted SAVI (soil‐adjusted vegetation index), MSAVI (modified soil‐adjusted vegetation index), OSAVI (optimized soil‐adjusted vegetation index), TSAVI (transformed soil‐adjusted vegetation index), ATSAVI (adjusted transformed soil‐adjusted vegetation index) and PVI (perpendicular vegetation index) did not improve estimation accuracy over soil‐unadjusted simple ratio (SR) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), due to low green vegetation cover (<30%) in the study area. Our results suggest that these soil‐adjusted vegetation indices may be not suitable for describing green vegetation information in arid and semi‐arid grasslands with low green vegetation cover (<30%).     

Sustainable,low‐input,warm‐season,grass–legume grassland mixtures: mission (nearly) impossible?

Grazing lands in warm‐temperate and subtropical North America have become less diverse. Pastures are typically grass monocultures, while rangelands are generally managed for the grass components. Overstocking, selective herbicides, fire exclusion and heavy rates of nitrogen fertilizer have contributed to near exclusion of native, warm‐season legumes. The simplicity of managing grass monocultures, pasture production responses to nitrogen fertilizer and profitability of grass‐only systems have limited interest in legume‐based approaches. Changing economics and ecological concerns with ecosystem accumulation of industrial inputs contribute to an increasing interest in legumes. Unlike the development of temperate pasture legumes and recent research in the tropics, legumes tolerant of both freezing temperatures and hot weather have received less attention. Poor establishment, limited persistence and potential invasiveness limit currently available introduced species. Native, herbaceous, warm‐season legume species occur throughout warm‐temperate North America, but little attention has been directed to these plants as potential forage species. Some success with a few native legume species, primarily in the genus Desmanthus, suggests potential for expanded assessment of forage value of the many species available. Current assessments of native legumes, primarily for conservation purposes, provide an opportunity to expand evaluations of these species for pasture and rangeland potential while economics of livestock production and public interest in ecosystem health are supportive. Experiences with legumes of warm‐temperate origin in North America, along with results with temperate and tropical pasture legumes globally, provide a starting point for future efforts at incorporating greater legume diversity in pastures and rangelands of subtropical and warm‐temperate regions around the world.     

棉花良种补贴，“鸡肋”还是“飨宴”

 实践证明,棉农是国家实施棉花良种补贴的最大受益者，实现了棉花良种补贴的主要目的。有人对棉花良种补贴持有不同的态度，是因为棉农、种子企业和基层农技推广部门等相对独立的利益主体，均以从项目实施中获利多少来评价政策的优劣。棉种市场混乱是制约项目实施的关键因素,要提高项目实施水平，必须采取综合措施，重点是整治棉种市场，简化补贴操作程序。     

2010上海世博会看茶

中国2010年上海世界博览会是世界博览会有史以来规模最大、参观人数最多的盛会,吸引了无数中国游客汇聚上海。在此,排队进馆几乎可以看作是一场竞赛,而获得城市名片册敲章以换取预约券就是比赛的一个关键环节。     

山东棉花生产“十一五”回顾及“十二五” 发展对策建议

 回顾了“十一五”期间山东棉花生产现状,分析了种植面积稳定、单产提高、总产增加的主要原因。在此基础上,展望了“十二五”期间山东棉花生产面临的形势,提出了稳定发展的对策建议。     

新疆兵团一四七团棉花生产“十一五”回顾及“十二五”发展对策

新疆兵团一四七团属次宜棉区,地处欧亚大陆腹地,属大陆性干旱气候,为荒漠绿洲生态农业.与全国其它产棉区相比,干旱少雨,昼夜温差大,光照充足,水源稳定,为棉花生产提供了充足的自然资源;但是土壤盐碱重,无霜期较短,春季低温风大多雨,秋季气温迅速下降,对棉花生产十分不利. 1"十一五"棉花生产回顾 1.1棉花生产对比分析."十一五"期间,一四七团棉花生产有了较大发展,植棉面积、棉花单产、总产明显提高,总体形势良好(表1).其中2010年春季降水量仅为99.8 mm,播种期比历年推迟15d左右,但子棉总产量达51300 t,创造了一四七团历史最好水平.     

2010茶叶市场展望

茶也进入了IT时代,这是潮流,与日俱增的对茶叶知识感兴趣的消费者中的大多数,就是通过互联网了解茶的.茶叶公司至今仍未放弃电视、广播、印刷品和直销等传统营销手段,但他们也在与时俱进,对一些新兴的营销方式不断尝试,诸如网站、博客、Facebook、Myspace、Twitter和iPhone.     

2010年中国茶叶博物馆大事记

1月 《来自中国的茶、艺术、茶具展》荣获＂2009年浙江省陈列展览精品评选最佳宣传推广奖＂。《黑白之美———磁州窑茶具展》荣获＂2009年浙江省陈列展览精品评选最佳综合效益奖＂。     

Shrub effects on herbs and grasses in semi‐natural grasslands: positive,negative or neutral relationships?

The present study investigated how the abundance and sexual reproduction of herbs and grasses relates to the presence of shrubs of Rosa dumalis in three semi‐natural pastures in Sweden. Shrubs may affect grassland plants negatively by competition, positively by serving as grazing refuge, or neutrally. At different distances from shrubs of R. dumalis, data were collected on plant abundance, frequency of reproductive shoots, vegetation height and litter depth. In one grassland, data were collected on seedling density and frequency of reproductive shoots in the presence and absence of grazing. The shrubs functioned as grazing refuges with taller vegetation, deeper litter and higher probability of reproduction by plants. The overall number of plant species remained the same at all distances from shrubs. Most species showed a neutral relationship with shrubs. Proportionately, 0·08–0·26 of the species showed a negative pattern to shrubs and 0·14–0·30 a positive pattern. Seedling density was negatively correlated with litter depth and peaked at 60–90 cm from shrubs. Establishment of seedlings of small‐seeded species was negatively related to shrubs probably because of thicker litter layer close to shrubs. The observed patterns were compared with different functional traits, such as Ellenberg values, plant height, growth form and Raunkiaer life form. Plant height from data in the literature was the trait that best explained the relationship of plant species to shrubs because tall species were more common in proximity to shrubs. It was concluded that shrubs increase the heterogeneity in grasslands and that intensive shrub‐clearing may negatively affect biodiversity.     

“海峡两岸禅&#183;茶&#183;乐对话”活动在杭州举行

4月21至24日，“海峡两岸禅&#183;茶&#183;乐对话”活动在浙江杭州灵隐寺举行。来自海峡两岸佛教界法师、茶学专家、学者、艺术家、音乐家及众多资深茶人等参加。     

农业科技发挥“磁性”效应

近年来,三十团加大新技术的推广应用力度,种植业按照十大主体技术和六项精准农业的要求,大力推广加压滴灌、双膜覆盖、杂交棉、大棚育苗等农业技术.2007年,全团棉花平均每公顷产皮棉3150 kg,实现国民生产总值1.75亿元,增长12%;全团职工均收入14418元,增长8%.2008年,三十团在往年的基础上,又利用国家土地整改项目和团场投资结合的办法,新增加压滴灌733 hm2,推广应用双大膜覆盖棉花种植技术,面积达667 hm2.这些技术在晚春播生产中成为亮点.特别是双大膜覆盖棉花种植技术,成为承包户争抢采用的"香饽饽".     

袁小林改行种茶成"大林"

江西省瑞金市万田乡地处偏僻山区,远离城市中心,交通不便,信息不灵,长期以来没有形成任何优势产业、特色经济。村人因穷思变,纷纷外出经商、打工,造成田地、山林荒芜,集体经济＂空壳＂,村民没有脱贫。该乡万田村村民袁小林也不例外,1991年,年仅16岁的他初中毕业后,追随着滚滚打工浪潮,离开家乡南下广东闯荡。这一干就是10年,他凭着农家子弟的精明、勤快,深受用工企业的信任和器重,     

棉田早整地有“三好”

1杀灭病菌虫卵早春破土可使底层土壤得到充分的阳光照射,紫外线可杀死隐藏在土壤中的病菌。尤其是躲在地底下越冬待醒的棉铃虫的卵,被翻出地面后,经风化、日晒,加上气温的变化,可将其杀死。2碎土蓄水保墒上年犁翻过的预留棉田,越冬期冻土坚实,坷垃多。应抓住刚刚解冻及雨后合墒期,精细耙磨,打碎坷拉,改善土壤越冬期的物理性状,将土壤坷垃整理成粉末状,使耕作层结构紧密,可减少空气光照的进透量,防止水分蒸发,提高土壤蓄水保墒的能力。据有关资料显示,开春后及早整地耙磨的预备棉田,土壤含水量比不耙磨的多3%。3活化土壤开春及早精细整地,超…     

中外合资&#183;三北种业企业简介

三北种业是一家集主要农作物种子育、繁、销于一体的现代化大型种业科技企业。经营的产品涉及玉米、水稻、油菜、棉花、油食葵、西甜瓜等作物种子,拥有自主产权和开发权的审定品种100多个,其中玉米品种50多个;拥有稳定的生产基地。     

湖北省棉花育种“十二五”研究构思

 简要分析了当前湖北省棉花生产尤其是品种选育中的问题,提出了湖北省棉花生产发展的指导思想和基本原则,并指出了棉花育种的优先发展领域。     

新疆棉花“十一五”竞争力比较研究

 利用市场占有率、生产规模、单位产量、生产成本、耕地成本等诸多研究方法,从国内竞争力层面对新疆棉花与中国其他棉花主产省份进行对比分析。分析结果表明,新疆棉花国内比较优势明显,具有较强的竞争力,但近几年棉花生产上出现一些新问题。最后,总结影响新疆棉花竞争力提升的诸多因素,并提出相应的对策建议。     

“禾康”在棉田的施用效果

"禾康"是北京飞鹰绿地科技发展有限公司推出的盐碱地改良的专利产品--盐碱土壤改良剂.它通过络合增溶作用提高土壤溶液中硫酸钙、碳酸钙的溶解度,从而大量激活被固化的钙离子.