Irrigation Scheduling and Watermelon Yield Model for the Jordan Valley

A crop yield and soil water management simulation model (CRPSM) developed at Utah State University was modified, calibrated and tested using local weather data and field results from a trickle irrigation experiment with different mulching on watermelon ( Citrullus lanatus ), carried out at the University of Jordan Research Station, in the Jordan Valley.
Simulated irrigation schedules were then applied with some of the four options provided by the model. The water yield index, WYI, introduced by B attikhi and H ill (1985) to select the most efficient schedule as based on yield and water use efficiency, was then determined. WYI ranged from 27 to 87. The field schedule, WM₂, had a WYI of 62. Whereas, the model provided a much better schedule, WM₇ (WYI = 86). WM₇ requires 17 irrigations of 2.0 cm per irrigation totaling a water supply of 44.1 cm with an irrigation season starting on April 7 to give a yield equivalent to the potential yield, 80.0 MT/ha. On the other hand, the best field schedule, WM₂ under transparent mulch, required 14 irrigations to provide 45.9 cm (including rainfall and soil moisture change), with a season starting on April 28 resulted in a yield of 68.8 MT/ha. So we can see that by using the same amounts of total water supply but with different schedule we can get the potential yield. The model has, therefore, provided few better schedules that can be tested in the field at lower costs before final recommendations are made.     

国内外能源植物资源及其开发利用现状

能源危机是人类即将面临的巨大挑战，生物能源的开发利用已成为当今国际上的一大热点。本文对国内外能源植物资源培育及其开发利用现状进行了概述，并分析了我国能源植物培育和利用存在的问题，提出加强生物燃料油技术的研究与开发，有目的、有选择地引进优良的能源植物资源和先进的技术工艺及主要设备，在高起点上建立我国能源油料植物种质资源开发基地和生物燃料油生产技术体系，是我国能源可持续发展战略的关键，对于我国能源植物资源培育与利用以及培育后备能源都具有十分重要的战略意义。     

能源植物麻疯树闽东南引种试验

在福建省南安市进行麻疯树引种育苗,并开展不同海拔和不同立地条件的造林试验。结果表明:种子发芽率平均为81%,造林成活率达92.8%,试验林在冬霜期间没有受冻害,生长良好。当年生试验林9~10月份有少量植株开花结果,单株结果数最多达40粒,至12月份已陆续成熟,初试见效,可为中试和推广提供科学依据和示范。     

Energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) balance of logging residues as alternative energy resources: system analysis based on the method of a life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis

Using the method of a life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis, the energy balance and the carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission of logging residues from Japanese conventional forestry as alternative energy resources were analyzed over the entire life cycle of the residues. The fuel consumption for forestry machines was measured in field experiments for harvesting and transporting logging residues at forestry operating sites in Japan. In addition, a total audit of energy consumption was undertaken. It involved an assessment of materials, construction, and the repair and maintenance of forestry machines as well as the costs associated with an energy-conversion plant. As a result, the ratio of energy output to input was calculated to be 5.69, indicating that the system examined in this study could be feasible as an energy production system. The CO₂ emission per MWh_e (e: electricity) of the biomass-fired power generation plant was calculated to be 61.8kgCO₂/MWh_e, while that of coal-fired power generation plants in Japan is 960kgCO₂/MWh_e. Therefore, the reduction in the amount of CO₂ emission that would result from replacing coal with biomass for power generation by as much as 3.0 million dry-t/year of logging residues in Japan was estimated to be 1.66 million tCO₂/year, corresponding to 0.142% of the national CO₂ emission. This study provides evidence that Japan could reduce its domestic CO₂ emission by using logging residues as alternative energy resources.     

我国中密度纤维板生产线气力输送及除尘系统能耗浅析

单位产品综合能耗高是我国中密度纤维板工业存在的主要问题之一。气力输送与除尘装置的能耗占有相当比例。 对其高能耗状况和原因进行分析,在系统设计、使用和设备管理方面采取措施,气力输送与除尘装置具有较大的节能潜力。     

不同熟期夏玉米品种生长发育特性与产量形成的关系

【目的】研究不同熟期夏玉米品种生长发育特性与产量形成的关系,以期为早熟、高产、适应机械粒收的玉米新品种的筛选提供理论依据。【方法】2017年以早熟玉米品种登海518（DH518）、衡早8号（HZ8）和中晚熟玉米品种登海605（DH605）、郑单958（ZD958）为试验材料,2018年以早熟玉米品种登海518（DH518）、京农科728（JNK728）和中晚熟玉米品种登海605（DH605）、郑单958（ZD958）为试验材料,种植密度为75 000株/hm²,研究玉米生长发育过程中的叶片建成规律、穗部发育特性以及各生育阶段对光温需求的差异。【结果】不同熟期夏玉米品种各生育阶段的光温需求大小表现为吐丝期（R1）—生理成熟期（R6）>出苗期（VE）—吐丝期（R1）>播种期（sowing）—出苗期（VE）。不同品种花后对积温的需求高于花前,中晚熟和早熟夏玉米品种对积温需求的差异主要在拔节期—吐丝期,具体表现为第9—16片叶建成期;花后对积温的需求品种间差异不显著。相关性分析表明,不同熟期夏玉米品种的产量与穗位高、穗高系数呈极显著正相关关系。不同熟期夏玉米品种的雄穗发育特性不同,晚熟品种的雄穗长度显著低于早熟品种,但晚熟品种的雄穗分枝数、雄穗总小花数、小花败育率、有效小花数显著高于早熟品种;而雌穗分化到籽粒形成受品种基因型影响较大。【结论】不同熟期夏玉米品种生长发育特性具有较大差异,在75 000株/hm²条件下,中晚熟品种的产量显著高于早熟品种;植株总叶片数较少,拔节期—吐丝期所需时间短,后期脱水速率快是早熟宜机收玉米品种的典型特征。     

青蟹的营养需求研究及其配合饲料研制

青蟹属（Scylla）有锯缘青蟹（Scylla serrata），拟穴青蟹（S．paramamosain），紫螯青蟹（S．tranquebarica）和榄绿青蟹（S．olivacea）等4个种。我国以拟穴青蟹占绝对优势，它有个体大、生长快、适应性强、肉味鲜美、营养丰富等特点，已成为具有重要经济价值的海水养殖蟹类之一。     

Evaluation of the oral 13C-bicarbonate technique for measurements of energy expenditure in dogs before and after body weight reduction

Background

Overweight and obesity are the most common nutritional disorders in dogs and may lead to various secondary diseases and decreased lifespan. In obesity research, measurement of energy expenditure (EE) and determination of the energy requirements are essential. The objective with this study was to validate and evaluate the suitability of the oral ¹³C-bicarbonate technique (o¹³CBT) for measuring EE in dog obesity studies. A further objective was to investigate the impact of body weight (BW) reduction and changes in body composition on the EE when measured under conditions corresponding to the basal metabolic rate (BMR).

Results

The EE in five privately owned, overweight dogs was measured simultaneously with the o¹³CBT and indirect calorimetry (IC) for comparison of the results. Two measurements per dog were performed under the same standardised conditions (i.e. fasted and resting state) at the start, and after completing a 12-week BW reduction program. Additionally, measurements of body composition by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) were conducted at the beginning and at the end of the BW reduction program. There were no differences in EE results obtained by the o¹³CBT and IC. Overweight and the BW reduction did not affect the estimates for the respiratory quotient (RQ) or the recovery factor for the ¹³C-tracer (RF), both needed when using the o¹³CBT. The dogs lost 16% (SD ± 2.0) of their initial BW in reduced fat mass (P < 0.001), whereas fat free mass (FFM) remained unchanged. There was no effect of the BW reduction on the determined EE expressed in kJ/kg BW/d, or in kJ/kg BW^0.75/d. However, EE was lower (P < 0.001) after the BW reduction program when expressed in relation to FFM (kJ/kg FFM/d).

Conclusions

Results from the present study show that the o¹³CBT can be a used in obesity research to determine EE in fasted dogs and under resting conditions. Furthermore, the results suggest that the BMR does not change with reduced BW in overweight dogs as long as the FFM remains unchanged. This indicates that the BMR to maintain one gram of fat is equal to maintaining one gram of FFM in overweight dogs.     

Fluctuations of serum cortisol,insulin and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations in growing ewes over the year

Background

The physiological levels of endocrine and metabolic parameters in Slovene autochthonous breeds of sheep are not yet well known, nor are the mechanisms of their adaptability and responses to climate and environmental factors.Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate fluctuations of cortisol, insulin and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in growing ewes over an one-year period. Blood samples were collected monthly from 10 yearling Jezersko-Solchava, 10 Bovec and 10 Istrian ewes. Serum cortisol, insulin and NEFA were measured with commercial kits.

Results

Mean monthly cortisol values fluctuated with low levels in summer and high levels in autumn. Significant peaked cortisol values of 25.69 ± 6.89, 14.67 ± 2.43 and 21.11 ± 7.25 μg/L in Jezersko-Solchava, Bovec and Istrian breed, respectively, were found in September (Bovec breed) and October (Jezersko-Solchava and Istrian breed). Mean monthly insulin values increased during the observation period. The highest levels of 14.60 ± 3.15, 16.03 ± 5.35 and 12.56 ± 2.52 μIU/mL in Jezersko-Solchava, Bovec and Istrian breed, respectively, were observed in the last sample collection in May. NEFA concentrations were found to be low except in some autumn and spring months. The peak values were observed in March for Jezersko-Solchava and Istrian breed (0.60 ± 0.05 and 0.66 ± 0.10 mmol/L), and in April for Bovec breed (0.71 ± 0.11 mmol/L).

Conclusions

Monthly fluctuations of cortisol, insulin and NEFA were measured in all observed sheep breeds, but between-breed differences in monthly values of examined parameters were insignificant. Significantly increased serum cortisol levels were found in autumn for all breeds and were probably associated with the onset of puberty and low environmental temperature. A gradual increase of insulin level in the examined ewes was in parallel with their growth. Significantly higher NEFA values in spring suggest qualitatively insufficient feed supply during that period.     

Effect of Dietary Nonstructural Carbohydrate Content on Activation of 5′‐Adenosine Monophosphate‐Activated Protein Kinase in Liver,Skeletal Muscle,and Digital Laminae of Lean and Obese Ponies

Background

In EMS‐associated laminitis, laminar failure may occur in response to energy failure related to insulin resistance (IR) or to the effect of hyperinsulinemia on laminar tissue. 5′‐Adenosine‐monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a marker of tissue energy deprivation, which may occur in IR.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To characterize tissue AMPK regulation in ponies subjected to a dietary carbohydrate (CHO) challenge.

Animals

Twenty‐two mixed‐breed ponies.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting for total AMPK and phospho(P)‐AMPK and RT‐qPCR for AMPK‐responsive genes were performed on laminar, liver, and skeletal muscle samples collected after a 7‐day feeding protocol in which ponies stratified on body condition score (BCS; obese or lean) were fed either a low‐CHO diet (ESC + starch, approximately 7% DM; n = 5 obese, 5 lean) or a high‐CHO diet (ESC + starch, approximately 42% DM; n = 6 obese, 6 lean).

Results

5′‐Adenosine‐monophosphate‐activated protein kinase was immunolocalized to laminar keratinocytes, dermal constituents, and hepatocytes. A high‐CHO diet resulted in significantly decreased laminar [P‐AMPK] in lean ponies (P = .03), but no changes in skeletal muscle (lean, P = .33; obese, P = .43) or liver (lean, P = .84; obese, P = .13) [P‐AMPK]. An inverse correlation existed between [blood glucose] and laminar [P‐AMPK] in obese ponies on a high‐CHO diet.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Laminar tissue exhibited a normal response to a high‐CHO diet (decreased [P‐AMPK]), whereas this response was not observed in liver and skeletal muscle in both lean (skeletal muscle, P = .33; liver, P = .84) and obese (skeletal muscle, P = .43; liver, P = .13) ponies.