The present epizootological situation in intensively bred cattle in relation to the morbidity and mortality of calves during their rearing

The rise and mass incidence of intestinal and respiratory infections in calves kept in large herds depend on a joint influence of infective agents and numerous endogenous and exogenous factors, mostly with non-specific action. Therefore, purely medical approach fails to provide efficient prevention. Detailed epizootological analysis is needed for taking actual measures; the analysis should concern potential respiratory and intestinal pathogens and should also cover the persistent infections such as IBR, BVD-MD and others. The immunological profile of herd, very unfavorable with the high culling rate, will improve as a result of the introduction of a purpose-oriented vaccination programme, higher level of colostral nutrition, and separate rearing of calves, isolated from the dams, in calf houses managed by the all-in-all-out system.     

The impact of topography on soil properties and yield and the effects of weather conditions

Quantitative knowledge of the factors and interactions affecting yield is essential for site-specific crop management. One of the factors that frequently affects yield is topography. The aims of this study were to compare elevation data obtained from a combine harvester yield monitor and a hand RTK-GPS, and to evaluate the relationships between the spatial variation of cereal yield, selected crop nutrient concentration and topographic attributes derived from the two sources of elevation data. Simple models of elevation, slope and flow accumulation were created from the data of an experimental field in the Czech Republic, and the relations between yield and soil nitrogen and organic carbon contents and topography were determined over a four-year period. The models of elevation, slope and flow accumulation were compared with the yield, and soil nitrogen and organic carbon contents during the growing seasons of 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 in relation to total precipitation and temperature. The relationship between yield and topographic attributes was evaluated with the help of geostatistical methods. The results of correlation analysis among the variables were evaluated statistically by forward stepwise linear regression. No significant differences between elevation data from the combine harvester yield monitor and RTK-GPS were found. There was a significant relation between yield and crop nutrient concentration with topography. The correlation coefficients between flow accumulation and yield were weak for the wetter years and strong for the drier years.     

The effect of tillage practice,input level and environment on the grain yield of winter wheat in the Czech Republic

The response of winter wheat grain yield to four variants of treatment (two input levels, combined with either conventional or reduced tillage) was tested over six seasons at three locations. These experiments with 10 and 12 winter wheat varieties were analysed within three experimental series. The environmental (location and season) effects on grain yield were large in all combinations of input level and tillage type, and the varieties responded differentially to both season and location. However, there was no varietal response either to the tillage system used, or to the level of nitrogen (and other inputs) supplied. The high input reduced tillage system (surface stubble-ploughing to a depth of 8–10 cm) resulted in all series in significantly higher grain yields than the equivalent conventional tillage system. The reduced tillage system combined with high input level delivered a yield advantage for all of the wheat varieties tested.     

Irrigation water management with water deficit index calculated based on oblique viewed surface temperature

In this study, the relationship between water deficit index (WDI) and a number of parameters related to soil water status, crop monitoring and yield were investigated with regard to drip irrigated dwarf green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, humilis) in Ankara, Turkey during the 2004 and 2005 growing seasons. Three different WDIs were calculated based on three different spectral indexes and oblique viewed surface temperature. Soil water status was quantified by soil water content (SWC) and soil water deficit index (SWDI). Crop evapotranspiration (ET_c), leaf water potential (LWP), spectral indexes and crop water stress index (CWSI) were determined. Although the WDIs have statistically significant relationships with the parameters, it is hard to use WDIs based on oblique viewed surface temperature for irrigation scheduling purposes. However, total yield estimation and monitoring of seasonal crop water use status could be achieved through this kind of WDI.     

Estimation of dwarf green bean water use under semi-arid climate conditions through ground-based remote sensing techniques

Determination of temporal and spatial distribution of water use (WU) within agricultural land is critical for irrigation management and could be achieved by remotely sensed data. The aim of this study was to estimate WU of dwarf green beans under excessive and limited irrigation water application conditions through indicators based on remotely sensed data. For this purpose, field experiments were conducted comprising of six different irrigation water levels. Soil water content, climatic parameters, canopy temperature and spectral reflectance were all monitored. Reference evapotranspiration (ET₀), crop coefficient K_c and potential crop evapotraspiration (ET_c) were calculated by means of methods described in FAO-56. In addition, WU values were determined by using soil water balance residual and various indexes were calculated. Water use fraction (WUF), which represents both excessive and limited irrigation applications, was defined through WU, ET₀ and K_c. Based on the relationships between WUF and remotely sensed indexes, WU of each irrigation treatments were then estimated. According to comparisons between estimated and measured WU, in general crop water stress index (CWSI) can be offered for monitoring of irrigated land. At the same time, under water stress, correlation between measured WU and estimated WU based on CWSI was the highest too. However, canopy-air temperature difference (T_c − T_a) is more reliable than others for excessive water use conditions. Where there is no data related to canopy temperature, some of spectral vegetation indexes could be preferable in the estimation of WU.     

长江下游及太湖流域优质水稻 品种特性表现差异初探

筛选长江下游及太湖流域优质水稻品种12个,在浙江北部长兴县开展了比较试验,了解其品种间的特性差异,为优质稻米品种的推广提供依据。试验结果显示,综合性状表现较好的参比品种有软香2号、秀水香1号、青香软粳、润香5号、润香3号、长农粳1号和宁香粳11品种,较符合浙北地区不同生产主体在优质米开发上对品种的需求,其中宁香粳11品种在产量、熟期搭配上表现出明显的优势,可作为浙北地区冬种免耕直播油菜的前茬水稻品种开发利用,建议进入下年续试和开展小区域试种示范,进一步扩大试验示范。