Influence of basin‐based conservation agriculture on selected soil quality parameters under smallholder farming in Zimbabwe

The research was carried out to determine the effect of basin‐based conservation agriculture (CA) on selected soil quality parameters. Paired plots (0.01 ha) of CA and conventional tillage based on the animal‐drawn mouldboard plough (CONV) were established between 2004 and 2007 on farm fields on soils with either low (12–18% – sandy loams and sandy clay loams) or high clay levels (>18–46% – sandy clays and clays) as part of an ongoing project promoting CA in six districts in the smallholder farming areas of Zimbabwe. We hypothesized that CA would improve soil organic carbon (SOC), bulk density, aggregate stability, soil moisture retention and infiltration rate. Soil samples for SOC and aggregate stability were taken from 0 to 15 cm depth and for bulk density and soil moisture retention from 0 to 5, 5 to 10 and 10 to 15 cm depths in 2011 from maize plots. Larger SOC contents, SOC stocks and improved aggregate stability, decreased bulk density, increased pore volume and moisture retention were observed in CA treatments. Results were consistent with the hypothesis, and we conclude that CA improves soil quality under smallholder farming. Benefits were, however, greater in high clay soils, which is relevant to the targeting of practices on smallholder farming areas of sub‐Saharan Africa.     

Evaluation of optical sensor measurements of canopy reflectance and of leaf flavonols and chlorophyll contents to assess crop nitrogen status of muskmelon

Nitrogen losses from intensive vegetal production systems are commonly associated with contamination of water bodies. Sustainable and optimal economic N management requires correct and timely on-farm assessment of crop N status to detect N deficiency or excess. Optical sensors are promising tools for the assessment of crop N status throughout a crop or at critical times. We evaluated optical sensor measurement of canopy reflectance and of leaf flavonols and chlorophyll contents to assess crop N status weekly throughout a muskmelon crop. The Crop Circle ACS 470 was used for reflectance measurement, the SPAD 502 for leaf chlorophyll, and the DUALEX 4 Scientific for leaf chlorophyll and flavonols. Four indices of canopy reflectance (NDVI, GNDVI, RVI, GVI), leaf flavonols and chlorophyll contents and the nitrogen balance index (NBI), the ratio of chlorophyll to flavonols contents, were linearly related to crop N content and to crop Nitrogen Nutrition Index (NNI) throughout most of the crop. NBI most accurately predicted crop N status; in five consecutive weekly measurements, R² values were 0.80–0.95. For NDVI during the same period, R² values were 0.76–0.87 in the first three measurements but R² values in the last two measurements were 0.39–0.45. Similar relationships were found with the three other reflectance indices. Generally, the relationships with NNI were equal to or slightly better than those with crop N content. These optical sensor measurements provided (i) estimation of crop N content in the range 1.5–4.5%, and (ii) an assessment of whether crop N content was sufficient or excessive for optimal crop growth for NNI ranges of 0.8–2.0. Composite equations that integrated the relationships between successive measurements with the optical sensors and crop N content or NNI for periods of ≥2 weeks (often 2–3 weeks) were derived for most indices/parameters. Overall, these results demonstrated the potential for the use of these optical sensor measurements for on-farm monitoring of crop N status in muskmelon.     

西瓜果实糖分含量遗传特性研究

以低糖西瓜(籽瓜)与高糖西瓜杂交的F1代、F2代、F1代与双亲的回交代及其亲本为材料,在西瓜果实成熟期测定果实可溶性固形物、可溶性糖(蔗糖、葡萄糖和果糖)含量,分析研究果实葡萄糖、果糖、蔗糖含量的遗传规律.结果表明:西瓜果实葡萄糖、果糖含量属数量性状遗传,即多基因决定的性状,蔗糖含量可能由一对显性或不完全显性的主效基因决定着低水平的含量,还有数对基因决定着高蔗糖或低蔗糖的含量.     

基坑监测技术及其应用研究

基坑的有效监测是保证工程建设协调进行、确保工程质量的关键。介绍基坑监测技术的内容与方法,以实例说明基坑监测在工程项目中的应用及需要注意的问题,为基坑监测工作的不断完善提供有益的建议。     

Antioxidant,anti-amylase and anti-glycation potential of brans of some Sri Lankan traditional and improved rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties

Brans of 23 traditional and 12 improved (both red and white) rice varieties in Sri Lanka were screened for anti-amylase and anti-glycation activities in vitro. Varieties which showed the highest inhibitory activities at screening were further investigated for anti-glucosidase and glycation reversing as anti-diabetic properties. The same varieties were studied for selected antioxidant properties. Significantly high anti-amylase and anti-glycation activities were observed for bran extracts of red varieties compared to white varieties at screening. Traditional red rice varieties, Masuran, Sudu Heeneti, Dik Wee and Goda Heeneti, exhibited significant and dose dependent anti-amylase, anti-glycation and glycation reversing activities. These varieties also showed marked antioxidant properties. It is concluded that brans of Sri Lankan traditional red rice varieties Masuran, Sudu Heeneti, Dik Wee and Goda Heeneti may be potential food supplements for diabetes.     

磺胺间甲氧嘧啶钠注射液含量测定的能力比对结果分析

为加强兽药检验检测机构能力建设,进一步提升检测技术水平,组织开展了全国省级兽药检验机构磺胺间甲氧嘧啶钠注射液含量测定的能力比对。依据《中国兽药典》2020年版一部附录0701电位滴定法与永停滴定法以及中国合格评定国家认可委员会（CNAS）规定的程序进行本次能力比对。分别采用单因子方差分析法和Ss≤0.3σ准则对测试样品进行均匀性检验,采用t检验方法和■准则对样品进行稳定性考察,采用Z比分数评价各参加实验室的测试结果。参加本次能力比对的36家兽药检测实验室中,33家结果为满意,满意率91.7%。     

Methylation of free-floating deoxyribonucleic acid fragments in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of dogs with chronic bronchitis exposed to environmental tobacco smoke

Background

The etiology of canine chronic bronchitis (CB) is not completely understood, although exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) affects the airway inflammatory responses in some dogs with CB. The mechanism by which this occurs is unknown.

Findings

We investigated the concentrations and methylation rates of free-floating DNA fragments in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from dogs with chronic bronchitis. Based on serum cotinine levels, dogs with CB were divided into 2 groups: dogs that either had or had not been exposed to ETS. Our results demonstrated that the total nucleated cell and macrophage numbers increased in BALF of ETS-exposed dogs with CB. There were no significant differences in DNA concentrations and methylation rates in BALF between the 2 groups. However, 3 out of 8 dogs exposed to ETS had high DNA methylation rates in their BALF samples.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that ETS exposure leads to epigenetic modifications of cellular components in BALF in dogs diagnosed with CB.     

多梯度氮磷添加对高寒草甸植物群落生物量与氮磷含量的影响

为研究不同梯度氮、磷单独及混合添加对高寒草甸植物群落生物量、植物养分含量及化学计量比的影响,本实验分析了青海省门源县典型高寒草甸植物群落地上总生物量,功能群水平地上生物量,植物全氮、全磷含量及氮磷比对多梯度氮、磷添加的响应情况。结果表明：氮、磷添加均对群落地上生物量影响极显著(P<0.001);氮添加对禾草类和豆科生物量影响极显著(P<0.001);磷添加对禾草类和莎草类生物量影响极显著(P<0.001);氮磷交互作用对豆科和莎草类生物量影响显著(P<0.05)。群落水平上,氮添加显著提高了植物全氮含量,对植物氮磷比(N∶P)有正效应,磷添加显著提高了植物全磷含量,对植物N∶P有负效应,植物全磷对N∶P的负效应大于全氮对N∶P的正效应。本研究表明氮、磷添加可能会使高寒草甸植物群落组成和植物养分含量发生改变,植物群落逐渐向禾草类发展;此外,高寒草甸植物生长趋向于受氮磷共同限制。     

生物多样性与地形及土壤因素对坡面产流产沙的耦合影响

生物多样性关系到生态系统的功能,而坡度和土壤因素是影响坡面产流产沙的重要因子。本研究基于黄土丘陵区生物多样性,并引入坡度、降雨前土壤含水量和土壤容重,探究其与坡面产流产沙总量的耦合关系。通过野外人工降雨试验,记录草本、灌木和乔木群落下的产流时间和产流产沙总量,并开展土壤植被调查。结果表明,与草本和乔木群落相比,灌木群落在延长产流开始时间和降低产沙总量上表现更优;植被群落功能离散度指数(FDiv)对产沙总量影响最大,Simpson指数(D)对产流总量影响最大,坡度仍然是不可忽视的第二重要影响因素;产流总量与坡度、土壤容重、D和功能丰富度指数(FRic)的回归关系优于产流总量分别与其的回归关系;产沙总量与坡度和FDiv指数的回归关系优于产沙总量分别与其的回归关系。植被保护与坡度改善将是该区水土保持规划工作的重点。