Effects of dietary tryptophan levels and fish stocking density on immunological and antioxidant responses and bactericidal activity against Aeromonas hydrophila in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was reared under low (LD) and high (HD) stocking densities for 70 days, during which they were fed with diets supplemented with 0, 5 and 10 g tryptophan (Trp) per kg. At the end of the experiment, there were significant interaction effects of the stocking density and Trp levels on plasma Trp, globulin, lysozyme, catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), and bactericidal activity and blood leucocyte count. However, there was no difference in plasma complement (ACH50), total immunoglobulin (Ig), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and blood differential leucocyte count. Trp at 5 g per kg diet significantly increased lysozyme and bactericidal activity, and decreased MDA under both the LD and HD conditions. Moreover, it significantly increased plasma CAT and blood leucocyte under the LD and HD conditions respectively. Trp at 10 g per kg diet significantly increased blood leucocyte and plasma bactericidal activity under the LD condition, but significantly decreased plasma globulin and bactericidal activity under the HD condition. In conclusion, the present results showed that the effects of Trp on immune and antioxidant systems depend on Trp levels and stressful conditions. As 5 g Trp per kg diet is beneficial for rainbow trout well‐being under both the LD and HD conditions, higher level of Trp (10 g/kg) is not beneficial and even causes some negative effects under the HD condition.     

The application of proximal visible and near-infrared spectroscopy to estimate soil organic matter on the Triffa Plain of Morocco

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a fundamental soil constituent. The estimation of this parameter in the laboratory using the classical method is complex time-consuming and requires the use of chemical reagents. The objectives of this study were to assess the accuracy of two laboratory measurement setups of the VIS-NIR spectroscopy in estimating SOM content and determine the important spectral bands in the SOM estimation model. A total of 115 soil samples were collected from the non-root zone (0–20 cm) of soil in the study area of the Triffa Plain and then analysed for SOM in the laboratory by the Walkley–Black method. The reflectance spectra of soil samples were measured by two protocols, Contact Probe (CP) and Pistol Grip (PG)) of the ASD spectroradiometer (350–2500 nm) in the laboratory. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) was used to develop the prediction models. The results of coefficient of determination (R²) and the root mean square error (RMSE) showed that the pistol grip offers reasonable accuracy with an R² = 0.93 and RMSE = 0.13 compared to the contact probe protocol with an R² = 0.85 and RMSE = 0.19. The near-Infrared range were more accurate than those in the visible range for predicting SOM using the both setups (CP and PG). The significant wavelengths contributing to the prediction of SOM for (PG) setup were at: 424, 597, 1432, 1484, 1830,1920, 2200, 2357 and 2430 nm, while were at 433, 587, 1380, 1431, 1929, 2200 and 2345 nm for (CP) setup.     

Inhibiting soil loss and runoff from small plots induced by an individual freeze-thaw cycle using three rangeland species

This study investigated the role of three rangeland species viz. Agropyron trichophorum, Medicago sativa, and Lolium prenne on mitigating of effects of a freeze-thaw (FT) cycle on runoff generation and soil loss from small experimental plots. Small plots (0.5 × 0.5m) were prepared in three replicates for control (i.e., under a FT cycle only) and treatments (i.e., individually planted with the study species and subject to a FT cycle). The treated plots were then placed at a slope of 20% and subjected to simulated rainfall with intensity of 70 mm h⁻¹ and 30 min duration. The results of the study showed a significant effect (P < 0.05) of the plants on controlling runoff and soil loss after a FT cycle. Also, the detrimental effects of the FT cycle due to performance of ice lenses and formation of an active melting layer in the soil surface were ameliorated by the presence of litter on the soil and root-binding effect of the plants. Time to runoff increased by 54, 111 and 10%, runoff volume decreased by 27, 68 and 0.4% and soil loss changed by −34, −62, and +6.5% in the plots planted with A. trichophorum, L. prenne and M. sativa, respectively. The results of the current study indicated that L. prenne had the maximum benefit on reducing runoff and soil loss from the plots undergoing a FT cycle.     

Effect of time resolution of rainfall measurements on the erosivity factor in the USLE in China

Rainfall erosivity, one of the factors in the Universal Soil Loss Equation, quantifies the effect of rainfall and runoff on soil erosion. High-resolution data are required to compute rainfall erosivity, but are not widely available in many parts of the world. As the temporal resolution of rainfall measurement decreases, computed rainfall erosivity decreases. The objective of the paper is to derive a series of conversion factors as a function of the time interval to compute rainfall erosivity so that the R factor computed using data at different time intervals could be converted to that computed using 1-min data. Rainfall data at 1-min intervals from 62 stations over China were collected to first compute the ‘true’ R factor values. Underestimation of the R factor was systematically evaluated using data aggregated at 5, 6, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 60-min to develop conversion factors for the R factor and the 1-in-10-year storm EI₃₀ values. Compared with true values, the relative error in R factor using data at fixed intervals of ≤10min was <10% for at least 44 out of 62 stations. Errors increased rapidly when the time interval of the rainfall data exceeded 15 min. Relative errors were >10% using 15-min data for 66.1% of stations and >20% using 30-min data for 61.3% of stations. The conversion factors for the R factor, ranging from 1.051 to 1.871 for 5 to 60-min data, are higher than those for the 1-in-10-years storm EI₃₀, ranging from 1.034 to 1.489 for the 62 stations.     

Study on a soil erosion sampling survey in the Pan-Third Pole region based on higher-resolution images

Soil erosion is one of the most severe global environmental problems, and soil erosion surveys are the scientific basis for planning soil conservation and ecological development. To improve soil erosion sampling survey methods and accurately and rapidly estimate the actual rates of soil erosion, a Pan-Third Pole region was taken as an example to study a methodology of soil erosion sampling survey based on high-spatial-resolution remote sensing images. The sampling units were designed using a stratified variable probability systematic sampling method. The spatiotemporal characteristics of soil erosion and conservation were taken into account, and finer-resolution freely available and accessible images in Google Earth were used. Through the visual interpretation of the free high-resolution remote sensing images, detailed information on land use and soil conservation measures was obtained. Then, combined with the regional soil erosion factor data products, such as rainfall-runoff erosivity factor (R), soil erodibility factor (K), and slope length and steepness factor (LS), the soil loss rates of some sampling units were calculated. The results show that, based on these high-resolution remote sensing images, the land use and soil conservation measures of the sampling units can be quickly and accurately extracted. The interpretation accuracy in 4 typical cross sections was more than 80%, and sampling accuracy, described by histogram similarity in 11 large sampling sites, show that the landuse of sampling uints can represent the structural characteristics of regional land use. Based on the interpretation of data from the sample survey and the regional soil erosion factor data products, the calculation of the soil erosion rate can be completed quickly. The calculation results can reflect the actual conditions of soil erosion better than the potential soil erosion rates calculated by using the coarse-resolution remote sensing method.     

Assessing spatial variability and erosion susceptibility of soils in hilly agricultural areas in Southern Italy

Soil erosion is one of the main environmental problems in the Mediterranean area. This problem is becoming even more important especially in Italy, in the Apennines, where severe erosive processes occur due to the action of concentrated running water. The erodibility (K-Factor) of a soil, estimated using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), is a measure of its susceptibility to erosion and depends on several soil properties such as organic matter, texture and permeability and structure.To assess the spatial variability of soil properties and soil erodibility in hilly agricultural areas and to investigate the relationships between soil features and landscape morphodynamics, a detailed study in Molise region (southern Italy), in a small drainange basin located along its hilly Adriatic flank, was carried out. In this catchment, 63 topsoil samples (A horizons) were collected and 10 soil profiles, forming a catena crossing 3 land units, were sampled. The calculated K-Factors ranges between 0.012 and 0.048 t ha h ha⁻¹ MJ⁻¹ mm⁻¹ indicating a complex spatial distribution, due to the several local pedological and geomorphological factors affecting soil erodibility. The results give clear evidence about the relationships among soil characteristics, soil erodibility and landscape morpho-dynamics (land units).Comparing the soil loss rates estimated for the study area with those reported in literature, a good correspondence can be observed only for the more stable land unit, not characterized by intense erosive processes. The proposed methodology is suitable to highlight areas characterized by similar morphodynamics features, and comparable soil erodibility, for a more effective spatialization of K factor.     

The use of remote sensing to detect the consequences of erosion in gypsiferous soils

Tillage practices on sloping ground often result in unsustainable soil losses impairing soil functions such as crop productivity, water and nutrients storage, and soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. A sloping olive grove (10%) was planted in shallow gypsiferous soils in 2004. It was managed by minimum tillage; the most frequent management practice in central Spain. The consequences of erosion were studied in soil samples (at 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm depths) by analyzing SOC, available water and gypsum content, and by detecting spectral signatures using an ASD FieldSpecPro® VIS/NIR-spectroradiometer. The Brightness index (BI), Shape index (FI), and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were derived from the ASD spectral signatures and from remote sensing (Sentinel-2 image) data. The development of these young olive trees was estimated from the measured diameter of the trunks (17 ± 18 cm diameter). In 20–30 cm of the soil, the carbon stock (38 ± 18 Mg ha⁻¹) as well as the available water content (12 ± 6%) was scarce, affecting the productivity of the olive grove. The above-mentioned indices obtained from the laboratory samples and the pixels of the Sentinel-2 image were significantly (p < 0.01) correlated, with a correlation coefficient of around 0.4. The BI was related to the gypsum content and the slope of the plot. The FI was related to the carbon and water contents. The NDVI derived from the satellite image identified the influence of soil degradation on the trees and the carbon content. The spatial-temporal changes of the indices might help in tracking soil changes over time.     

Estimating the level of disease risk and biosecurity on commercial poultry farms in New Zealand

ABSTRACT

Aims: To collect baseline data on the contact risk pathways and biosecurity practices of commercial poultry farms in New Zealand, investigate the relationship between the farm-level disease contact risks and biosecurity practices, and identify important poultry health concerns of producers.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of all registered New Zealand commercial poultry operations was conducted in 2016 collecting information on farm demographics, biosecurity practices, and contact risk pathways. Survey responses were used to generate an unweighted subjective disease risk score based on eight risk criteria and a subjective biosecurity score based on the frequency with which producers reported implementing seven biosecurity measures. Producer opinions towards poultry health issues were also determined.

Results: Responses to the survey response were obtained from 120/414 (29.0%) producers, including 57/157 (36.3%) broiler, 33/169 (19.5%) layer, 24/55 (44%) breeder, and 6/32 (19%) other poultry production types. Median disease risk scores differed between production types (p?<?0.001) and were lowest for breeder enterprises. The greatest risk for layer and broiler enterprises was from the potential movement of employees between sheds, and for breeder enterprises was the on- and off-farm movement of goods and services. Median biosecurity scores also differed between production types (p?<?0.001), and were highest for breeder and broiler enterprises. Across all sectors there was no statistical correlation between biosecurity scores and disease risk scores. Producers showed a high level of concern over effectively managing biosecurity measures.

Conclusions: The uptake of biosecurity measures in the commercial poultry farms surveyed was highly variable, with some having very low scores despite significant potential disease contact risks. This may be related to the low prevalence or absence of many important infectious poultry diseases in New Zealand leading farmers to believe there is a limited need to maintain good biosecurity as well as farmer uncertainty around the efficacy of different biosecurity measures. Further research is needed to understand barriers towards biosecurity adoption including evaluating the cost-effectiveness of biosecurity interventions.