The response of potato crop to the spatiotemporal variability of soil compaction under centre pivot irrigation system

Precision agriculture techniques were employed to study the impact of the spatiotemporal variations of soil compaction on the performance of potato crop during its various growth stages. The study has been conducted on a 30 ha centre pivot irrigated potato field, located in Wadi Al-Dawasir area in Saudi Arabia. In situ soil compaction measurements were collected, in conjunction with Sentinel-2A satellite data, and correlated spatiotemporally against potato crop growth and yield parameters. The univariate and bivariate Moran's function (Moran's I), the linear regression and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) techniques were used to analyse the data and examine the interrelationships. The spatial correlations between the measured variables revealed high clustering, producing Moran's I of 0.87, 0.79 and 0.57 for soil compaction, yield and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), respectively. Compaction-yield relationship revealed a relatively high significant negative spatial correlation (Moran's I = 0.68). While, the spatial correlation between the average values of compaction and NDVI has negatively produced a Moran's I value of 0.45 (at 0.001 significance level), when 999 permutations were tested for all relationships. A significant positive correlation was observed between high compaction and high proportion of small size tubers, with R² and P > F values of 0.65 and .0001, respectively. In contrast, a significant negative correlation has been obtained between high compaction and high proportion of large size tubers, with R² and P > F values of 0.57 and .0001, respectively. Understanding the causes of disparity in the productivity of agricultural fields will help decision-makers and farmers to take proactive actions towards better agricultural practices.     

Survey of ovine and caprine toxoplasmosis by IFAT and PCR assays in Sardinia, Italy

During the period 1999-2002, we have analyzed 9639 serum samples and 815 aborted samples (670 fetuses and 145 placenta) from 964 ovine and caprine farms distributed over all Sardinia island. After abortion notification, sera collected at random from adult animals were examined to detect simultaneously IgG and IgM antibodies specific to Toxoplasma gondii by indirect immunofluorescence assay, whereas fetuses and placenta were analyzed by a single tube nested PCR assay. Specific IgG antibodies were detected in 2048 (28.4%) sheep and 302 (12.3%) goats, specific IgM antibodies were found in 652 (9%) sheep and 139 (5.6%) goats. From a total of 2471 ovine and 362 caprine fetal samples including muscle, liver, abomasum, spleen, brain and placenta, 271 (11.1%) ovine and 23 (6.4%) caprine samples were T. gondii PCR-positive. Although T. gondii DNA was amplified from different types of tissues, placenta was the tissue with the highest detection rate. On the one hand, these results indicate that the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep and goats is relatively high, on the other PCR results demonstrate that T. gondii has a significant role in ovine and caprine abortion. Adequate management might be useful and essential to control the toxoplasmosis in the sheep and goats herds of Sardinia.     

Role of Chlamydophila abortus in ovine and caprine abortion in Sardinia, Italy

Between 1999-2003, 14321 sera and 646 abortion samples (498 foetuses and 148 placentae) were analysed from 807 sheep and goat farms distributed all over the island of Sardinia. After notification of abortion in a flock, sera collected at random from adult animals were examined to detect antibodies specific to Chlamydophila (C.) abortus by ELISA, whereas foetuses and placenta were analysed by PCR assay. Specific IgG antibodies were detected in 611 (4.8%) sheep and 106 (5.8%) goats. From a total of 2050 ovine and 151 caprine fetal samples including muscle, liver, abomasum, spleen, brain and placenta, 29 (1.4%) ovine and 1 (0.6%) caprine samples were C. abortus PCR-positive. Placenta was the tissue with the highest detection rate. These results indicate that the seroprevalence of C. abortus infection in sheep and goats is very low in Sardinia, and PCR results demonstrate that C. abortus has no significant role in abortion, especially in goats.     

基于高速摄影的冬枣果实振动脱落规律分析

为研究冬枣振动采收过程中果实的运动规律和脱落轨迹,采用改装的电动往复锯连接自制振动采摘头对树枝进行高速振动,用高速相机记录不同振动频率(15、20、25 Hz)下冬枣果实的运动轨迹,对高速视频进行分析,计算在振动过程中的枣果脱落类型、脱落时间和运动轨迹,以及果实脱落时的速度、加速度和惯性力。结果表明:1)冬枣果实的主要脱落类型是旋倾型,15、20和25Hz时,旋倾型脱落的果实个数比例分别为81%、66%和78%,参考已有研究经验,冬枣机械收获宜选用连续式振动设备;2)随着振动频率的增大,果实的平均脱落时间减小,3个频率的果实脱落时间分别为1.71、0.54和0.43s,15Hz时果实脱落时间与20和25Hz时的果实脱落时间存在显著性差异,而20与25Hz时的果实脱落时间无显著性差异;3)果实的速度和加速度随着振动频率的增大而增大,但不同频率的果实平均脱落惯性力不存在显著性差异,3个频率下分别为0.48、0.43和0.49N。本研究结果可为机械收获装备的设计选型与研发提供理论依据。     

Effects of dietary phospholipid level and fraction on the feed intake of non‐fish meal diet in yellowtail,Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck & Schlegel, 1845

Three feeding studies were conducted to investigate whether dietary soybean lecithin (SBL) enhanced feed intake of non‐fish meal, SPC‐based diet, in yellowtail, and also to clarify which fraction of phospholipid (PL) was effective to enhance feed intake. In experiments 1 and 2, fish were fed SBL level at 0%–5%, and it was revealed that the daily feeding rate (DFR) of fish was significantly higher for SBL 2% than for SBL 0%, while a further increase of SBL in the diet did not additionally increase the DFR. Moreover, the DFR of fish fed a diet without feeding stimulants (FS) was the lowest among the dietary treatments, indicating that the SBL does not have an effect of enhancing feed intake in yellowtail. In experiment 3, fish were fed a diet with several products containing PL at 2%. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol concentrations in these products positively correlated to the DFR of fish. This result revealed that these two fractions in the SBL are effective for enhancing feed intake of yellowtail when FS is present in the diet.     

Occurrence, distribution, and role in abortion of Coxiella burnetii in sheep and goats in Sardinia, Italy

Between 1999 and 2002, 9349 sera and 517 aborted samples (422 foetuses and 95 placenta) were analysed from 675 sheep and 82 goat farms distributed all over the island of Sardinia. After abortion notification, sera collected at random from adult animals were examined to detect antibodies specific to Coxiella burnetii by ELISA, whereas foetuses and placenta were analysed by PCR assay. Specific IgG antibodies were detected in 255 (38%) sheep farms and in 39 (47%) goat herds whereas 40 ovine (10%) and 3 (6%) caprine foetuses were C. burnetii PCR-positive. Although C. burnetii DNA was amplified from different types of tissues, placenta was the tissue with the highest detection rate. Seroprevalence analysis indicates that C. burnetii distribution in sheep and goats is very high, but PCR results demonstrate that C. burnetii has a relatively low role in abortion, especially in goats.