Effect of planting density of maize on the progress and spread of northern leaf blight fromExserohilum turcicum infested residue source

Effect of plant density (37,037, 44,444 and 55,555 plants/ha) on the increase of northern leaf blight in time and space on two maize cultivars planted at spacings of 90, 75 and 60 between rows and 30 cm within rows was investigated.Exserohilum turcicum infested maize residue was used as an inoculum source. Maize density did not significantly affect the disease indices, but significantly influenced the grain yield of the two cultivars. In contrast, the two cultivars differed significantly (P0.01) in disease severity, but not grain yield. Higher disease severities and grain yields were associated with higher plant densities, whereas the apparent infection rate was lower in higher plant density. Distance from the maize residue (inoculum source) significantly influenced disease severity. The percentage leaf area blighted, area under disease progress curve and disease progress curve intercept decreased with distance from the maize residue area, but the apparent infection rate on EV8429-SR appeared to increase with distance. Disease gradients (b) were higher in closely planted maize and flattened with time in one location only.     

Weeding techniques in transplanted and direct wet-seeded rice in Pakistan

Field studies were undertaken to explore the weed management strategies for transplanted and direct wet-seeded rice in the Dera Ismail Khan district of North-west Frontier Province, Pakistan. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split plot arrangement. The main plots consisted of two planting techniques (transplantation and direct seeding), while weed control practises assigned to the subplots included the use of the granular herbicide Sunstar 15WG (ethoxy sulfuron), Machete 60EC (butachlor), conventional hand weeding, and the weedy check (untreated control). Data were recorded on weed dynamics and the agronomic parameters of the rice crop. Economic analyses on the data were also run. The weed density and biomass were lower in the transplantation plots than the direct-seeding plots. The herbicides ethoxy sulfuron and butachlor reduced the density over the weedy check, with a density comparable to hand weeding in 2002, but slightly higher in 2003. As a result of weed management by hand weeding and herbicides, the paddy yield and its components were significantly higher for the transplanted method compared to the direct-seeded method. The comparable yield of herbicides with hand weeding offers an option for the use of herbicides as an alternative management tool. In light of our findings, it is concluded that for good economic returns, rice crops may be transplanted rather than direct-seeded. The herbicides ethoxy sulfuron and butachlor offer a weed control cover comparable with hand weeding under the transplantation method, while butachlor is good for controlling weeds even under the direct-seeded conditions in the agroclimatic conditions of the area.     

Stress parameters and immune response of layers under different cage floor and density conditions

The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effects of cage floor and cage density on stress parameters of laying hens. A total of 162 brown laying hens (Hyline Brown), aged 34 weeks, were used in the experiment. Compact-type battery cages, with three floors, were used. Hens were allocated as one, three or five hens in each of 18 cages to obtain three different cage density groups of 1968, 656 and 393.8 cm² floor area per hen, respectively. The same number of cages with different cage density were allocated to three different battery floors (first floor=top, second=middle, third=bottom) systematically. Values for body weight, mortality rate, egg weight, egg production, egg quality characteristics, egg yolk cholesterol content, the levels of blood plasma corticosterone, serum glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides, the ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes (H-L ratio), antibody titers, claw length score, foot health score, plumage score and throat skin injuries were taken as indicators of stress. The values for egg weight (P<0.01) at the first floor were greater than the other floor levels. The group with five hens per cage had significantly lower mean estimates (P<0.01) than other groups with respects to body weight (P<0.001), egg production (P<0.001), egg weight (P<0.001) and plumage score (P<0.01), while significantly higher mean estimates for egg albumen index (P<0.01), Haugh unit (P<0.01), serum glucose (P<0.001), and H-L ratio (P<0.001). Serum cholesterol was higher in cages with one hen than that with five hens, whereas plasma corticosterone was lower. Antibody titers in cages with one hen was similar to that with three or five hens; however, those with three hens had higher titers than those with five hens. Values for egg breaking strength, yolk index, egg cholesterol content, and foot health score were not affected by cage density or floor. The results suggest that the allocation of three hens per cage had no measurable effect on health and welfare.     

摄入不同能量的围产期乳牛肝低密度脂蛋白受体mRNA丰度的比较

将30头健康、经产、处于围产期的黑白花乳牛随机分为3组，每组10头。从产前28d开始，低能量组乳牛饲喂《中国奶牛饲养标准（2000）》减少20％日粮（能量摄入80％），对照组乳牛饲喂《标准》日粮（能量摄入100％），高能量组乳牛饲喂《标准》增加20％日粮（能量摄入120％），产后各组乳牛均饲喂标准日粮。至产后第56d结束试验；采用内对照RT-PCR方法检测摄入不同能量的围产期乳牛肝活体组织低密度脂蛋白受体（LDLR）mRNA丰度。结果，不同能量组乳牛肝LDLR mRNA丰度产前至产后均呈现先升高后降低的趋势。100％和120％能量组肝LDLR mRNA丰度在产后14d达最大值，且产后均高于产前（产后56d除外，P〈0．01或P〈0．05）；而80％能量组产后1d即达到最大值，产前14d至产后14d，LDLR mRNA相对表达量显著高于100％和120％能量组；产后28～56d，120％能量组显著高于80％和100％能量组（P〈0．01）。表明围产期乳牛能量摄入水平对肝LDLR mRNA丰度有显著影响。     

高寒地区不同建植期人工草地群落垂直结构和生产力变化的研究

对高寒地区不同建植期人工草地群落垂直结构和生产力的变化研究结果表明：（1）随着人工草地建植时间的延长,人工草地群落垂穗披碱草高度异质性逐渐减小.（2） 不同建植期（1999、1998、1997年建植）人工草地垂穗披碱草和群落平均地上生物量均主要分布在0 ～20cm冠层中,约占平均地上生物量的61.03%、90.64%、84.55%和67.47%、92.54%、86.08%.（3） 不同建植期 （1999、1998、1997年建植）人工草地群落平均地下生物量均主要分布在0～10cm土层中,约占地下总生物量的85.97%、81.73%和78.47%.（4） 建植的人工草地如果其组分单一,即物种的丰富度很低时,均匀度增加,物种对环境资源的竞争力和利用率提高,导致土壤资源库中某些营养成分缺乏,草地群落初级生产力因此而降低。     

旱地保护性耕作地表径流和土壤水分平衡模型

在田间试验和对现有径流模型及土壤水分平衡模型改进的基础上，建立了适用于保护性耕作的地表径流和土壤水分平衡模型。该模型以日为步长，根据气象数据、土壤水分状况、作物生长发育及耕作管理措施，模拟不同耕作管理体系下地表径流和田间水分平衡的变化。针对保护性耕作的特点，主要对径流曲线数字(USDA—Curve Number)法进行了改进，在PERFECT模型的基础上增加了坡度和降雨强度两因素的影响，从而使模型较全面地考虑了残茬覆盖、耕作、坡度及降雨强度等多种因素对径流的影响；采用简单实用的Priestley—Taylor公式计算潜在蒸散量，并考虑作物覆盖与残茬覆盖对土壤蒸发与作物蒸腾的影响。通过田间径流试验和根层有效贮水量测定数据的验证，证明了地表径流和土壤水分的模拟值与实测值比较接近。     

陇南山区生态旅游资源评价及开发策略

陇南山区生态环境脆弱,社会经济落后,同时又是生态旅游资源富集区,正处在西安旅游区、成都旅游区和兰州旅游区的包围之中,区位条件和客源市场较佳,实施生态旅游开发将对发展地方经济和提高游客生态环境意识意义重大。在对其旅游资源、区位条件、客源市场进行定性与定量评价的基础上,提出开发森林生态游、休闲度假游、避暑消夏游、三国怀古游、长征体验游等特色旅游项目,设计出不同尺度、不同主题的若干旅游线路,并针对发展生态旅游所面临的问题提出了相关对策。     

樟子松在西北干旱沙区的光合日变化特征

在甘肃省民勤治沙站 ,用 Li- 62 0 0便携式光合仪分别测定人工栽植的 4龄、9龄和 2 0龄樟子松的净光合速率日进程 ,其结果表明 :在干旱沙区 ,9龄以上樟子松的光合速率在午前随光强和气温而上升 ,午后下降。其 4龄、9龄和 2 0龄樟子松的最大净光合速率分别为 8.7μmol· m- 2 · s- 1、62 .3μmol· m- 2 · s- 1、1 9.7μmol· m- 2 · s- 1。     

关中西部四灌区旱情规律分析

为给关中西部灌区水资源合理调控提供依据，在简述干旱及其分类的基础上，指出了关中西部各类干旱多源于气象干旱。对该区7个气象站的年降水进行分析表明，各气象站年降水量的变差系数均为0．25，偏态系数均为0．5。以兴平气象站作为代表站对不同历时的旱情进行了分析，结果显示11月到来年2月发生重旱和特旱的概率较大，在30％左右，特别是12月份，概率达54％，且以特旱为主；7、8月份以中旱和重旱为主；夏玉米播前发生特旱的概率较高，达27％，拔节孕穗和抽穗开花期以特旱为主，概率达33％；冬小麦的越冬和麦黄期以特旱为主，发生概率在30％左右。     

西北干旱半干旱地区发展苜蓿草业的优势条件及前景分析

分析了西北干旱半干旱地区发展苜蓿产业和气候资源优势、土地资源优势、苜蓿的生长特性及其与这一地区地理条件的匹配优势，同时论述了种植苜蓿对这一地区的生态效益及经济意义，全面分析了这一地区发展苜蓿草产业的可行性和广阔的市场前景。