不同施肥模式对玉米各器官碳氮累积和分配的影响

以长期定位试验为依托,选取:1)不施肥(CK);2)农民习惯施肥(FP);3)推荐施肥(OP);4)有机肥氮替代100%化肥氮(OM);5)有机肥氮替代50%化肥氮(MF)5个处理,研究不同施肥模式对玉米植株及各器官碳氮含量、碳氮分配比例及C/N的影响,为西南紫色土地区合理施肥、作物增产提供科学依据。结果表明,与FP处理相比,MF处理显著增加了玉米植株生物量,达26.2%。相比OM和OP处理,MF处理显著增加玉米苞叶和根茬中碳浓度,分别增加5.4、4.2 g·kg^-1和7.4、21.3 g·kg^-1,同时增加玉米苞叶、根茬、穗轴和籽粒中的碳储量,玉米茎秆和籽粒中的氮储量也有增加。此外,相比FP处理,MF处理能显著增加玉米整株的碳储量和氮储量,达29.1%和16.9%。等氮水平下,MF、OP处理均能增加玉米苞叶和籽粒中碳同化物的分配比例,MF处理玉米籽粒中氮素的分配比例较OP和OM处理分别增加1.7%和3.6%,同时MF处理能使玉米维持较高的C/N。综上,有机肥氮替代50%化肥氮能增加玉米植株的生物量,同时提高玉米对氮素的吸收和碳素的累积,增加玉米籽粒中碳同化物和氮素的分配比例,同时,有机肥氮替代50%化肥氮能使玉米植株维持较高的C/N,有利于产量的形成,该施肥方式不仅能够促进氮素的高效利用,减少化肥的投入,还能够减少化肥损失,降低氮素损失引发的环境风险。     

不同轮作序列对旱地胡麻土壤有机碳稳定性的影响

为了探索陇中黄土高原半干旱丘陵沟壑区胡麻轮作序列对土壤碳库的影响,2012-2016年通过4年定位试验,以连作为对照,研究了不同胡麻频率下的轮作序列(F:休闲;PWFW:25%Flax、马铃薯-小麦-胡麻-小麦;WFWP:25%Flax、小麦-胡麻-小麦-马铃薯;FWPF:50%Flax、胡麻-小麦-马铃薯-胡麻;WPFF:50%Flax、小麦-马铃薯-胡麻-胡麻;FFFF:100%Flax、胡麻-胡麻-胡麻-胡麻)对土壤团聚体、总有机碳(TOC)、土壤颗粒有机碳(POC)、土壤微生物碳(MBC)和氮(MBN)的影响。结果表明,休闲、不同轮作序列和低胡麻频率显著增加了030 cm土层<0.25 mm粒级的土壤团聚体含量、TOC和POC含量,而随胡麻频率的增加三者的含量呈下降趋势。其中,25%Flax处理下土壤团聚体含量较播前和休闲处理分别显著增加了2.02%4.04%和9.56%11.73%;土壤有机碳(SOC)较连作显著增加5.95%7.48%。50%Flax处理下胡麻位置对土壤SOC影响显著,且轮作(FWPF)显著高于连作(WPFF)。060 cm土层土壤SOC含量表现为休闲>播前≈25%Flax>50%Flax>100%Flax。与连作相比,轮作显著提高了010 cm土层土壤TOC和POC含量,呈现表层富集现象。土壤POC含量表现为25%Flax≈休闲>50%Flax>100%Flax。此外,轮作换茬显著增加了土壤MBC含量,且随着胡麻频率的增加,030 cm土层土壤MBC含量逐渐降低。与播前、休闲、轮作相比,连作显著降低土壤微生物碳氮比,50%Flax(WPFF)轮作序列和土层深度对土壤有机碳和微生物量的互作效应显著。综合来看,休闲可以显著改善土壤理化性状,25%胡麻频率的轮作序列利于保持土壤团聚体稳定性,增加土壤TOC、SOC和POC含量,而50%Flax轮作序列(WPFF)能够提高土壤微生物量和微生物碳氮比。表明25%胡麻频率的轮作序列均可维持土壤有机碳的稳定性,是旱地胡麻比较理想的轮作序列。     

土壤易氧化有机碳与溶解性有机碳对荒漠草地沙漠化过程中土壤碳库变异的表征

以干旱、半干旱地区荒漠草地不同沙漠化阶段土壤为研究对象,研究不同沙漠化阶段土壤易氧化有机碳与溶解性有机碳含量和分配比例变异规律,分析不同沙漠化阶段土壤碳库指数变化,探讨荒漠草地沙漠化过程中土壤易氧化有机碳与溶解性有机碳对土壤碳库的表征作用。结果表明,随着荒漠草地沙漠化程度的加剧,易氧化有机碳含量表现出一定的波动性,但整体呈下降趋势,溶解性有机碳含量呈线性下降。易氧化有机碳和溶解性有机碳分配比例均在荒漠草地达到最大值,在半固定沙地达到最小值。利用易氧化有机碳含量计算的土壤碳库管理指数随荒漠草地沙漠化程度增加表现出先下降后上升趋势,利用溶解性有机碳含量计算的土壤碳库管理指数呈线性下降趋势。易氧化有机碳、溶解性有机碳含量与土壤有机碳均显著正相关,但溶解性有机碳的相关系数略高于易氧化有机碳。通过比较活度敏感指数和碳库管理指数敏感指数发现,荒漠草地逆向演替至固定沙地过程中,易氧化有机碳的各项敏感指数均高于溶解性有机碳。固定沙地演替至流动沙地过程中,溶解性有机碳的各项敏感指数均高于易氧化有机碳,表明易氧化有机碳能够较好地表征荒漠草地沙漠化前期土壤碳库变化,而荒漠草地沙漠化中期和后期利用溶解性有机碳表征效果更好。     

Early and 24 h post-mortem thigh (ilio tibialis) muscle metabolism and meat quality in two genetic types of turkeys and their reciprocal crosses,raised under semi-confined conditions

1. The experiment was conducted in order to determine the effect of the direction of turkey crossing on quality traits of their thigh muscle.

2. In total, 1358 turkeys of slow- (SG) and fast-growing (FG) lines as well as SF crosses (SG × FG) and FS crosses (FG × SG) were reared with access to free range to 21 weeks of age in the case of males and 15 weeks of age in the case of hens.

3. After slaughter of 15 males and 15 hens from each genetic line, their thigh muscles were examined and the following traits were measured after 5-min, 45-min, 2-h and 24-h post-mortem: temperature, pH, glycogen content (G), lactate content (L) and electrical conductivity (EC). Quality attributes were evaluated based on chemical composition, water holding capacity, cooking loss (%) and colour.

4. The rate of post-mortem changes in temperature, G, L and pH in muscles differed among the 4 lines of turkeys, with the highest metabolic rate determined for muscles of SG turkeys, followed by muscles of SF, FS and FG birds. A more beneficial muscle water holding capacity of both sexes of turkeys and better results of cooking loss in male muscles were found in SG and SF turkeys. The thigh muscles of the crosses were characterised by a higher content of protein and a lower content of fat compared to the muscles of FG turkeys, and in the case of the males also by a higher protein content compared to the muscles of SG birds.

5. Owing to the faster post-mortem metabolism, better water holding capacity, lower cooking loss and fat content at a similar content of protein, the thigh muscles of SF crosses raised in the free range system represent a better quality of meat for consumers compared to the thigh muscles of FS turkeys.     

Branched‐chain amino acid ratios in low‐protein diets regulate the free amino acid profile and the expression of hepatic fatty acid metabolism‐related genes in growing pigs

Liver metabolism is affected by nutrients. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of low‐protein diets (17% crude protein, CP) supplemented with branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val), on hepatic amino acid profile and lipid metabolism in growing pigs. The ratio of Leu : Ile : Val in all groups was 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (20% crude protein, CP), 1 : 1 : 1 (17% CP), 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 (17% CP), 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (17% CP) and 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 (17% CP) respectively. Results revealed that compared to the positive control group (1 : 0.51 : 0.63, 20% CP), the low‐protein diets significantly augmented the concentrations of most essential amino acids and non‐essential amino acids (p < .05), with the greatest values observed in the 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 group. Moreover, relative to the control, the low‐protein diets with the Leu : Ile : Val ratio ranging from 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 to 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 markedly downregulated the mRNA abundance of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid‐binding protein 4 (FABP‐4) (p < .05), and upregulated the mRNA expression of hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐g coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) and liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (L‐CPT‐1) (p < .05). Therefore, our data suggest that protein‐restricted diets supplemented with optimal BCAA ratio, that is, 1 : 0.75 : 0.75–1 : 0.25 : 0.25, induce a shift from fatty acid synthesis to fatty acid oxidation in the liver of growing pigs. These effects may be associated with increased mitochondrial biogenesis.     

Effect on Rendement Napole genotype on metabolic markers in Ossabaw pigs fed different levels of fat

We investigated effects of Rendement Napole (RN ) genotype on metabolic markers in Ossabaw pigs fed diets with different levels of dietary fat. Thirty‐two pigs, belonging to either the wild‐type (WT , rn⁺/rn⁺) or carrier (CAR , RN ^?/rn⁺) genotypes (n  = 16/genotype), were divided into two dietary groups, (high fat [HF ] or low fat [LF ]) diets, for 12 weeks (n  = 8 pigs/genotype/diet) after which pigs were killed for gene expression analysis by RT ‐PCR . Feeding HF diet caused increased daily gain (ADG , p  <  .05) and final body weight (BW ) (p  <  .05) in comparison with the LF diet (p  <  .05). Feed efficiency (gain:feed) was higher (p  <  .05) in pigs on the HF and was higher (p  <  .05) in CAR pigs compared to WT . There was genotype × diet interaction (p  =  .05) on final BW such that CAR animals on LF diet had the same final BW as animals of both genotypes on HF diet. Carrier pigs on LF diet had higher (p  <  .05) average daily gain and gain:feed than WT pigs. There was a trend (p  <  .08) for a higher feed consumption in pigs on the LF diet. Backfat thickness was higher (p  <  .01) in pigs on the HF diet. Serum triglyceride was higher (0.62 vs. 0.33 mg/dl, p  <  .01) in pigs on HF diet. Serum insulin was higher (p  <  .05) in CAR versus WT pigs (0.40 vs. 0.015 μg/ml). Pigs on the HF diet had a higher (p  <  .05) serum insulin compared to those on the LF diet (0.032 vs. 0.023 μg/ml). Carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1‐alpha was higher (p  <  .05) in the longissimus dorsi and semitendinosus muscles of pigs on HF diet. Acyl‐CoA oxidase I was elevated (p  <  .05) in the liver of pigs on HF diet. Fatty acid synthase was lower in the longissimus dorsi muscle, liver and mesenteric fat (p  <  .05) of carrier pigs. The RN gene regulates specific metabolic markers in the Ossabaw pigs.     

β‐hydroxy‐β‐methyl butyrate promotes leucine metabolism and improves muscle fibre composition in growing pigs

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of excess leucine (Leu) vs. its metabolites α‐ketoisocaproate (KIC) and β‐hydroxy‐β‐methyl butyrate (HMB) on Leu metabolism, muscle fibre composition and muscle growth in growing pigs. Thirty‐two pigs with a similar initial weight (9.55 ± 0.19 kg) were fed 1 of 4 diets for 45 days: basal diet, basal diet + 1.25% L‐Leu, basal diet + 1.25% KIC‐Ca, basal diet + 0.62% HMB‐Ca. Results indicated that relative to the basal diet and HMB groups, Leu and KIC groups exhibited increased Leu concentrations and decreased concentrations of isoleucine, valine and EAAs in selected muscle (p < 0.05) and had lower mRNA levels of MyHC I and higher expression of MyHC IIx/IIb (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the basal and HMB‐supplemented groups. Moreover, the mRNA expression levels of AMPKα and UCP3 were higher but the myostatin mRNA levels were lower in the soleus muscle of the HMB group than those from other groups (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrated that doubling dietary Leu content exerted growth‐depressing effects in growing pigs; dietary KIC supplementation induced muscular branched‐chain amino acid imbalance and promoted muscle toward a more glycolytic phenotype; while dietary HMB supplementation promoted the generation of more oxidative muscle types and increased muscle growth specially in oxidative skeletal muscle, and these effects of HMB might be associated with the AMPKα‐Sirt1‐PGC‐1α axis and mitochondrial biogenesis.     

Increasing selenium supply during the close-up dry period improves nutrient metabolism and attenuates inflammatory response after calving in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to investigate whether feeding selenium (Se)-replete cows a Se-yeast supplement in late pregnancy affects nutrient metabolism and inflammatory response during the periparturient period. Twenty cows were randomly assigned to two groups with 10 cows each. Cows in one group received Se-yeast at 0.3 mg Se/kg DM during the last 4 weeks before calving in addition to fed a TMR containing supplemented sodium selenite at 0.3 mg Se/kg DM (Se-yeast), while cows in another group were only fed a TMR containing supplemented sodium selenite at 0.3 mg Se/kg DM (Control). Blood samples were collected and analyzed for nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), glucose, insulin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), and albumin. In control cows, plasma NEFA, IL-1β, IL-6, SAA, and Hp levels increased after calving, but glucose, insulin, and albumin levels decreased after parturition. Se-yeast supplemental cows had lower postpartum concentrations of NEFA, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, SAA, and Hp, and higher postpartum levels of glucose, insulin, and albumin compared with control cows. The results indicate that feeding Se-replete cows a Se-yeast supplement in late pregnancy improves nutrient metabolism and attenuates the inflammatory response after calving.     

Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes and Lipid Metabolism Signaling Pathways between Muscle and Fat Tissues in Broiler Chickens

In this study, signaling pathways and key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in lipid metabolism in muscle and fat tissues were investigated. Muscle and abdominal fat tissues were obtained from 35-day-old female broilers for RNA sequencing. DEGs between muscle and fat tissues were identified. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses of DEGs were performed. A total of 6130 DEGs were identified to be significantly enriched in 365 GO terms, most of which were involved in biological processes, cellular components, and molecular functions in muscle and fat tissues. Three important lipid signaling pathways (pyruvate metabolism, the insulin signaling pathway, and the adipocytokine signaling pathway) were identified among the fat and muscle tissues of broilers. The key common DEGs in these pathways included phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 (PCK2), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 alpha and beta (ACACA and ACACB), and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (AMPK) gene family. Hence, our findings revealed the pathways and key genes and gene families involved in the regulation of fat deposition in the muscle and fat tissues of broilers.