Effects of various feed additive strategies on broilers given 10× live coccidiosis vaccine

Currently, there is a need to investigate feed additive application strategies, especially those used in conjunction with live coccidiosis vaccines (LCV). The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the inclusion strategies of several commercially available feed additives using broilers sprayed with 10× live coccidiosis vaccines (LCV) throughout a 49 d grow-out. All birds received 10× LCV on d of hatch, excluding treatment (Trt) 1, the unmedicated negative control (NC). The positive control (PC; Trt 2), was also unmedicated, but birds were sprayed with 10× LCV. Birds assigned Trts 3 to 8 also received LCV, and diets consisted of the following additives: Virginiamycin (VA) at 20 g/t throughout with Salinomycin (SAL) at 40 g/t from d 14 to 28 (Trt 3); VA at 20 g/t throughout d zero to 49 (Trt 4); a Bacillus subtilis probiotic (PRO) with Bacitracin Methylene Disalicyalte (BMD) at 50 g/t from d zero to 49 (Trt 5); an herb and essential oil blend (EB) from d zero to 49 (Trt 6); BMD at 50 g/t throughout with an increased dose (200 g/t) from d 14 to 28 (Trt 7); and BMD at 50 g/t throughout with SAL (40 g/t) from d 14 to 28 (Trt 8). In general, birds fed Trts 3 and 7 demonstrated increased BW and BW gain when compared to those fed Trt 2 (NC). Birds fed Trt 5 exhibited similar d 49 BW to that of birds fed Trt 3 and 7 — however, better than those fed Trt 2. Of these Trts, birds fed Trt 3 demonstrated at d 17 increased ileal digesta viscosity and reduced lesion scores caused by Eimeria acervulina, although overall scores were low. Gastrointestinal organ measurements and morphology at d 17 were not significantly affected by Trt. Overall, these data suggest that feed additive strategies utilized in Trts 3, 5, and 7 are a viable option with using LCV.     

不同表土利用方式对核桃幼树生长的影响

为确定太行山低山丘陵区核桃栽植过程中的有效整地方法,采用表土作埂和表土回填2种方式研究了整地过程中不同表土利用方式对核桃树体生长的影响,结果表明:表土回填和表土作埂的核桃幼树平均树高分别为106.8cm、63.6cm,平均单株长枝数量分别为10个、4个,均为表土回填极显著高于表土作埂的;表土回填和表土作埂的1a生核桃幼树平均基径分别为2.13cm、1.22cm,表土回填显著大于表土作埂的。在0~20cm土层中,表土回填和表土作埂的核桃幼树≤1mm的根系数量分别为77.7条、45.3条,表土回填极显著高于表土作埂的;1~3mm的根系数量分别为10条、6条,表土回填是表土作埂的1.67倍。在20~40cm土层中,表土回填和表土作埂的核桃幼树≤1mm的根系数量分别为126条、87.9条,3~5mm的根系数量分别为13条、8条,均为表土回填显著高于表土作埂的;在40~60cm土层中,表土回填和表土作埂的核桃幼树≤1mm的根系数量分别为134条、75条,表土回填极显著高于表土作埂的。因此,在整地的过程中,采用表土回填的土壤利用方式有利于核桃幼树和根系的生长。     

滑县土壤养分变化动态研究

滑县第二次土壤普查以来进行四次土壤耕层养分调查的结果表明,耕层土壤养分含量总体呈上升趋势;土壤养分含量的变化由第二次土壤普查时受土壤质地的主导转变为受人为耕作施肥的主导,在土壤—作物系统养分年循环中,土壤氮、磷元素总体上处于盈余状态,土壤钾素总体上处于亏缺状态。增加有机肥和化肥投入,能够提高土壤养分含量,保持地力常新。     

冻融交替作用对表层黑土结构的影响

通过室内实验模拟冻融交替作用,研究冻融交替作用对表层黑土结构的影响。结果表明:1)冻融作用使表层黑土体积增大,导致表层黑土密度降低,土壤大团聚体破碎为小团聚体,团聚体的平均质量直径减小,团聚体稳定性能降低;2)土壤含水率大小、冻融循环次数是土壤结构破坏程度的重要影响因素;3)冻融作用破坏了表层黑土物理性状,降低了黑土黏聚力和抗冲能力,致黑土区春季产生严重的冻融侵蚀。     

Microbial community composition and enzyme activities in a sandy loam soil after fumigation with methyl bromide or alternative biocides

A sandy loam soil was fumigated in microcosms for 24 h with methyl bromide and chloropicrin (MeBr+CP), propargyl bromide (PrBr), combinations of 1,3-dichloropropene and CP (InLine), iodomethane and CP (Midas), an emulsifiable concentrate of CP (CP-EC), or methyl isothiocyanate (MITC). The effects of these pesticides on fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles and selected enzymatic activities were evaluated in fumigated soils and a nonfumigated control at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 90 days post-fumigation. Bacterial (a15:0, i15:0, i16:0, cy17:0, a17:0 and i17:0) and fungal (18:2ω6, 18:3ω6, 18:1ω9) FAMEs were initially (1 day post-fumigation) reduced by fumigation with CP-EC, InLine, and Midas. Microbial communities of soils fumigated with MeBr+CP, MITC, and PrBr resembled those of the control soil. At 14-28 days post-fumigation, FAME profiles were changed in all fumigated soils relative to the control, with the exception of soils treated with MITC. At 90 days post-fumigation, FAME profiles suggested that actinomycetes (10 Me 16:0, 10 Me 17:0, 10 Me 18:0) and Gram-positive bacteria may recover preferentially after fumigation with most of the pesticides studied. Among the fumigants tested, InLine, Midas, and CP-EC had a higher potential to alter the microbial community structure in the longer term than MeBr+CP, PrBr and MITC, with MITC having the least effect. Soil enzyme activities in fumigated microcosms were significantly (P≤0.037) different from the nonfumigated soil, with the exception of β-glucosidase in soils treated with PrBr and MITC, and dehydrogenase in MeBr+CP-fumigated soils. Over the 90-day study, soil fumigation (average of all fumigants and sampling dates) reduced the activities of arylsulfatase (62%), dehydrogenase (35%), acid phosphatase (22%), and β-glucosidase (6%), suggesting that S mineralization in soils and the total oxidative potential of microorganisms were more affected by fumigation than P and C mineralization. This study also indicates that soil fumigation with MeBr+CP alternative biocides has the potential to alter microbial communities and important key reactions involved in nutrient transformation.     

Experiences with Novel Approaches in Earthworm Testing Alternatives (7 pp)

Goal, Scope and Background   The earthworm avoidance test is a sensitive screening test. Currently, two test designs, a two-chamber system and a six-chamber system, are under standardization. In the scope of the present study, the two test systems are compared. To assess the results, two procedures are applied, which are based on a threshold value and a statistical method. Moreover, the sensitivity of the avoidance test is compared with the sensitivity of the reproduction test. Methods   The avoidance behaviour of E. fetida towards five chemicals (Cd, Cu, PCP, TBT, TNT) was tested in a sandy and a loamy soil. The ecotoxicological test was performed according to the draft guideline ISO/DIS 17512-1. The results were compared with the number of offspring determined in the reproduction test carried out according to ISO 11268-2. Results and Discussion   The results demonstrate that the avoidance behaviour towards organic chemicals and heavy metals is a suitable screening method showing first tendencies of a chemical's effects on the habitat function of soils. Effects caused by chemical substances become visible at low concentrations and within short test periods. The sensitivity of the reproduction test and the avoidance test is principally comparable; in some cases, the avoidance test showed more sensitive reactions. The dose-response-relationships were more pronounced in the two-chamber test than in the six-chamber-system. Recommendation and Outlook   The two-chamber-system proved to be more feasible than the six-chamber-system. As the sensitivity of the avoidance test and the reproduction test is comparable, the avoidance test can be considered as a suitable screening test as well. A possible field of application may be the selection of soil samples for which the reproduction assay seems necessary. To assess contaminated or remediated soils, the earthworm reproduction test is recommended as an indicator for the habitat function of the soils. To reduce costs, the labour intensive reproduction test could be largely replaced by the avoidance test in performing the earth-worm reproduction test only for relevant samples. Before the Draft International Standard of the guideline will be adopted as an ISO Guideline, there will be sufficient time left to gain further international experience required to finalize the method.     

Evaluating innovative technologies for multistage fish growth processes: Case study of an eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) farm

A new method for evaluating innovative technologies for multistage fish growth processes was developed. An earlier economic model was adapted to meet the real-world requirements of a commercial eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) farm. The economic benefits of different innovative technologies at the farm level were evaluated where the technology included multiple production alternatives at various intensities and several growth stages. Data were gathered into “bio-economic” tables that take into account the biological parameters of each production alternative and the costs related to its development and implementation. The adjusted data were then divided into groups of production alternatives and feasible combinations of alternatives for each of three growth stages were evaluated to determine the best technology for the overall growth process. A computer program enabled us to enumerate all potential innovative technologies, collect information on biological parameters and costs by growth stage, and compare additional profit expected after implementation of each innovation. Results reveal the most profitable innovative technologies by growth stage for the 5-year eel culture. Comparison of the 10 best technologies shows that combining the alternatives with the best biological parameters for each growth stage does not necessarily result in the maximum additional profit for the farm.     

Enzyme activities in agricultural soils fumigated with methyl bromide alternatives

Pre-plant fumigation of agricultural soils with a combination of methyl bromide (MeBr) and chloropicrin (CP) to control nematodes, soil-borne pathogens and weeds has been a common practice in strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa Duchesne) production since the 1960s. MeBr will be phased out by 2005, but little is known about the impacts of alternative fumigants on soil microbial processes. We investigated the response of microbial biomass and enzyme activities in soils fumigated over two years with MeBr+CP and the alternatives propargyl bromide (PrBr), InLine, Midas and CP. Results were compared to control soils, which were not fumigated for the last 4-5 years for Watsonville and Oxnard, respectively, but had a 10 year history of MeBr+CP fumigation (history soils). Soil samples (0-15 cm) were taken from two sites in the coastal areas of California, USA, in Watsonville and Oxnard, at peak strawberry production after two years of repeated application. In addition to the soil enzymes, the activities of purified reference enzymes of β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase and arylsulfatase were assayed before and after fumigation with MeBr+CP and alternative biocides. At the Oxnard site, microbial respiration significantly decreased in soils fumigated with MeBr+CP (P=0.036), while microbial biomass C and N showed no response to fumigation at both sites. These results may indicate that fumigation promotes the growth of resistant species or that soil microorganisms had recovered at the time of sampling. Repeated soil fumigation with MeBr+CP significantly decreased the activities of β-glucosidase and acid phosphatase at the Watsonville site, and dehydrogenase activity at the Oxnard site. Although, enzyme activities in soils fumigated with PrBr, InLine, Midas and CP were lower compared to the control soil, effects were, in general, not significant. Fumigation with MeBr+CP and alternatives reduced the activities of purified reference enzymes by 13, 76 and 28% for acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase and arylsulfatase, respectively. Mean enzyme protein concentrations in fumigated agricultural soils were 2.93, 0.105, and 2.95 mg protein kg⁻¹ soil for acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase and arylsulfatase, respectively, all lower than in control soils. Organic matter turnover and nutrient cycling, and thus, the long-term productivity of agricultural soils seem unaffected in soils repeatedly fumigated with PrBr, InLine, Midas and CP.     

禽用微生态制剂的应用现状及存在问题

随着饲料用抗生素在世界范围内的逐步淘汰,微生态制剂作为功效甚优的替代品之一,以其无污染、无残留、无毒副作用和高效环保、低成本的特点,在近年的研究中备受关注,在家禽产业中的应用也日益广泛。文章综述了近年来国内外禽用微生态制剂的研究应用现状,阐述了目前家禽常用微生态制剂的种类、功能及影响应用效果的因素,并就存在问题和前景进行了探讨和展望。     

Microbial biomass and respiration in soils derived from lignite ashes: a profile study

Microbial biomass C and soil respiration measurements were made in 17–20 yr old soils developed on sluiced and tipped coal‐combustion ashes. Topsoil (0–30 cm) and subsoil (30–100 cm) samples were collected from three soil profiles at two abandoned disposal sites located in the city area of Halle, Saxony‐Anhalt. Selected soil physical (bulk density and texture) and chemical (pH, organic C, total N, CEC, plant available K and P, and total Cd and Cu) properties were measured. pH values were significantly lower while organic C and total N contents and the C : N ratio were significantly higher in the topsoil than in the subsoil indicating the effects of substrate weathering and pedogenic C accumulation. Likewise, microbial biomass C, K₂SO₄‐extractable C, and soil respiration with median values of 786 μg biomass C g^–1, 262 μg K₂SO₄‐C g^–1, and 6.05 μg CO₂‐C g^–1 h^–1, respectively, were significantly higher in the topsoil than in the subsoil. However, no significant difference was observed in metabolic quotient between the topsoil and the subsoil. Metabolic quotient with median values of 5.98 and 8.54 mg CO₂‐C (g biomass C)^–1 h^–1 for the 0–30 cm and 30–100 cm depths, respectively, was higher than the data reported in the literature for arable and forest soils. Microbial biomass C correlated significantly with extractable C but no relationship was observed between it and total N, Cd, and Cu contents, as well as plant‐available K and P. We conclude that the presence of the remarkable concentration of extractable C in the weathered lignite ashes allowed the establishment of microbial populations with high biomass. The high metabolic quotients observed might be attributed to the heavy‐metal contamination and to the microbial communities specific to ash soils.