Vachellia karroo leaf meal: a promising non-conventional feed resource for improving goat production in low-input farming systems of Southern Africa

Among a vast number of forage trees, Vachellia karroo (Acacia karroo) remains one of the most widely distributed indigenous plant legumes in Southern Africa. The plant possesses some striking attributes, such as rapid growth rate, drought tolerance, adaptation to alkaline and acidic sterile soils, and resistance to a variety of edaphic and temperature changes. In past years V. karroo was recognised to be a major threat to rangeland productivity owing to its invasive nature. Research interest has shifted from its eradication as an unwanted plant to its utilisation as a feed resource for livestock. Extensive utilisation of V. karroo is mainly hindered by the presence of tannins and spines. Prospects to lessen the adverse effects of the anti-nutritional influences are now recognised. Vachellia karroo possesses desirable fatty acid profiles, and high protein and mineral contents that can improve animal performance. Presently, the use of V. karroo for goat production in communal areas is restricted owing to limited evidence for its nutritional value as animal feed. The present review, therefore, seeks to demonstrate the utility potential of V. karroo to improve growth performance, carcass characteristics, chevon quality, meat fatty acid profiles and as a natural anti-helminth for goats raised under an extensive system of production.     

Predicting Acceptability of Jaguars and Pumas in the Atlantic Forest,Brazil

Jaguars and pumas are threatened species in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, especially at the borders of protected areas. This article assessed the influence of emotions, attitudes, existence value, and agency credibility on acceptability of big cats among rural residents living adjacent to two protected areas in this forest. Data from self-administrated questionnaires (n = 326) indicated those with positive attitudes toward big cats (β = .28, p < .001), those who valued the existence of big cats (β = .14, p < .05), those who would feel sorrow if big cats disappeared (β = .21, p < .001), and those who considered the managing agency as credible (β = .16, p = .002) were more accepting of big cats. The model provided theoretical and practical insights into large carnivore conservation. For example, given the significance of agency credibility, a positive relationship between park authorities and residents is crucial for big cat conservation.     

青海省冬虫夏草采挖区与非采挖区土壤生态化学计量特征

为研究冬虫夏草采挖区与非采挖区的土壤生态化学计量学特征,本研究以青海省7个地区冬虫夏草生长地土壤样本为试验材料,分别采用重铬酸钾-外加热法、凯氏定氮法、碱熔法、碳酸氢钠浸提-比色法、酸溶法、1 mol·L^-1乙酸铵浸提-火焰光度计法、碱解-扩散法、邻菲啰啉比色法、火焰原子吸收分光光度法对土壤样本的养分与理化指标进行了测定,并对其化学计量特征进行了分析。结果表明,除XH(青海省海南藏族自治州兴海县)地区采挖区与非采挖区在全氮含量上存在显著性差异(P<0.05),其他各地区采挖区与非采挖区在土壤各指标含量上均无显著性差异,不同地区采挖区与非采挖区C∶N的范围是18.24~32.79,C∶P是155.53~562.78,N∶P是4.85~24.00,C∶K是4.51~11.52,K∶N是2.55~7.17,K∶P是31.44~81.86;采挖区与非采挖区的C∶P与N∶P之间均具有极显著相关性(P<0.01)。因此,本研究发现采挖冬虫夏草对其生长环境的土壤化学性质无显著性影响,为冬虫夏草采挖对生态环境的影响评估提供数据支撑。     

论乡村产业振兴

当前,全国上下正在全力推进乡村振兴战略的实施。乡村振兴,产业兴旺是重点。如何实现乡村产业振兴、产业兴旺,这是值得研究的紧迫而现实的重要问题。本文首先从乡村产业振兴在乡村振兴战略中的地位与作用入手分析,对新中国成立70年来中国乡村产业发展的历程进行了简要回顾,并将其划分为4个发展阶段：第一阶段：1949—1977年,传统产业缓慢发展;第二阶段：1978—2000年,乡镇企业异军突起;第三阶段：2001—2011年,新型产业不断涌现;第四阶段：2012年至今,乡村产业绿色“转型”。同时也指出了当前中国乡村产业存在的突出问题,即：产业门类少、生产规模小、产业层次浅、产业链条短、生产效率低、特色产业弱、品牌产业缺、产业环境差、产品质量低和缺乏竞争力。最后,针对上述存在的问题,提出了实施乡村振兴战略、实现乡村产业振兴要遵循的6大原则和10项具体措施,以期为推动实施乡村振兴战略做出积极贡献。     

半干旱区坡耕地抗旱保水技术集成对大豆水分利用效率的影响

黑龙江省西部半干旱区属典型的东北黑土区,为我国重要的商品粮生产基地。然而,由于地形地貌、气候条件的复杂多变,降水的时空分布不均,以及人类的长期干预造成的生态环境的改变,致使该区连年干旱。干旱及水土流失已成为制约该区经济发展的主要因素。根据黑龙江省西部半干旱区的自然特点,选取了坐水播种和苗期补灌2种抗旱节水技术和垄向区田保水技术,在甘南县国家863试验基地研究了该3项技术的集成对WUE的影响。结果表明,该项技术可以显著的提高大豆的WUE值。     

浙江省农村水污染成因与防治对策探讨

浙江省地表水受污染的影响因素多,城镇生活污水和工业废水排放及农村面源污染均造成了较严重的水环境污染。为此,对浙江省农村水污染治理对策进行了探索,旨在通过加强农村生态环境建设、发展污水重复利用等措施改善农村水生生态环境,为经济的可持续发展提供保障。     

推进农业产业化经营是贫困地区农业发展的现实途径

本文阐述了推进农业产为化经营是贫因地区农业发展的意义、基础、方法及途径.     

半干旱黄土丘陵区沙棘优良品种引种栽培试验研究

1994-2003年在黄土高原半干旱区的陕西吴旗县、安塞县进行中国沙棘优良类型和俄罗斯优良沙棘品种引种试验,采用家系选择法初步筛选出5个中国沙棘生态经济型优良单株,对3个俄罗斯良种沙棘的生长适应性经济性状进行了评价。前者生长迅速、树冠好、根系发达、郁闭快、水土保持效益好,果实较大、单株产量较高、Vc和含油量较高,适于在黄土丘陵区种植;后者经济性状较好,果实大、无刺或少刺,但适应性较中国沙棘差。     

Effects of a plastic cover on soil moisture change in a Mediterranean climatic regime

Water deficit is a serious problem for most agricultural crops, especially in arid–semiarid regions, and limits sustainable development. Production can be improved by reducing evapotranspiration and loss of infiltrated water by the use of a plastic cover. We monitored soil moisture fortnightly over 1 yr using a neutron probe near four trees in an olive grove (Olea europaea, var. Arbequina), two of which had a plastic cover buried in the topsoil around them. These trees were monitored using three neutron probe access tubes per tree to compare the behaviour of soil moisture over time with two other identically instrumented and nearby trees with no cover. Analysis was based on the resultant moisture profiles. The plastic cover retained moisture and increased soil water residence time. During the dry season, the amount of water retained in the plots was at most 15–20% greater in the mid‐season and at least 5–6% greater at the end of season than in the central part of the plots near the trunk. The plastic cover was effective to ca. 50 cm with maximum water content near the soil surface. During the wet season, the cover did not affect soil water. Soil moisture was greater near the tree trunk as a result of stemflow and throughfall.