Effects of stocking density on the performance of brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus californiensis co‐cultured with the green seaweed Ulva clathrata

The brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus californiensis and the seaweed Ulva clathrata, both native to north‐west Mexico, were co‐cultured in lined ponds during 18 weeks. The aim of this study was to evaluate different stocking densities (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 per m²) in terms of shrimp yield to see if the co‐culture method results in shrimp yields suitable for commercial production. The presence of Ulva results in good water quality and allows culture of brown shrimp with low water exchange (10% weekly) and with low nitrogen and phosphorus content in discharged water. The final weight and specific growth rate (SGR) in shrimp between 10 and 30 per m² were significantly higher (12.5–12.0 g and 4.56–4.53% day⁻¹ respectively) than 40 and 50 per m² (9.1 and 8.6 g, and 4.31% and 4.26% day⁻¹ respectively). Total shrimp biomass generated in 30 or more shrimp per m² was significantly higher (2.7–3.1 t ha⁻¹) compared with 10 and 20 shrimp per m² (1.0 and 2.0 t ha⁻¹ respectively). The lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) (0.97) was shown in the 10 shrimp per m² case, and the highest FCR was seen with 50 shrimp per m² (1.37). Shrimp survival ranged between 71% and 81%, where the highest mortality was shown in 50 shrimp per m². The results show that the co‐culture method can result in commercially interesting yields, suggesting that 30 shrimp per m² is the best stocking density for co‐culturing F. californiensis with U. clathrata, based on the shrimp performance.     

Current Knowledge of Equine Water Treadmill Exercise: What Can We Learn From Human and Canine Studies?

Equine water treadmills (WTs) are increasingly being found in research and therapy centers and private competition yards. However, the programs incorporating WT exercise for training and rehabilitation of horses are mainly based on anecdotal evidence due to the lack of scientific evidence available. This review aims to evaluate what is currently known about WT exercise for horses drawing on what is known from human and canine investigations. Studies of WT exercise have demonstrated that water depth, temperature, and speed have a significant effect on physiological responses in humans. The physiological studies in horses show many similarities to human responses with much evidence demonstrating that WT exercise is an aerobic form of exercise which does not appear to induce improvement in aerobic capacity when used within training programs. Equine and canine studies have shown that water depth can have a significant effect on the biomechanical responses to WT exercise, but little is known about the effect of different speeds at the various water depths. Key areas we would recommend for future research are as follows: how combinations of water depth and speed alter equine biomechanics compared to overland exercise, determination of long-term benefits of WT exercise, and how to use WT for rehabilitation for horses with specific injury.     

上海水稻精量机械穴直播技术研究与应用

以上海地区主推水稻品种为材料,在精量机械穴直播条件下,开展了不同类型水稻品种的小区试验和示范,明确了精量机械穴直播水稻的生育特性、抗倒伏性、群体建成和产量表现,并分析了采用水稻精量机械穴直播后土壤的微生物群落结构的变化和水稻生产经济效益。试验示范结果表明,精量机械穴直播水稻生育期明显缩短,单株分蘖力强,群体结构合理,穗粒结构协调,干物质积累多,抗倒能力较强,增产优势明显,节本低耗,生产效率显著提高,是目前极具生产潜力的一种新型高效低耗种植模式,适合上海都市农业发展的需求,也顺应了水稻低碳种植发展趋势,具有广阔的应用前景。     

The efficiency of nitrogen in cattle manures when applied to a double‐annual forage cropping system

The use of cattle manure (CM) for fertilization presents challenges for optimizing nitrogen (N) use. Our work aimed to assess N efficiencies, in a 6‐year experiment with three biennial rotations of four crops: oat–sorghum (first year) and ryegrass–maize (second year) in a rainfed humid Mediterranean area of Spain. Fertilization treatments included the following: control (no N), 250 kg mineral N ha^?1 year^?1 (250MN), three CM rates (supplying 170, 250 and 500 kg N ha^?1 year^?1) and four treatments where the two lowest CM rates were complemented with either 80 or 160 kg mineral N ha^?1 year^?1. Treatments were distributed randomly in each of three blocks. Maximum dry‐matter yield (~44–49 t ha^?1 rotation^?1) was achieved in the third rotation, and only the control and the 170CM yielded significantly less. Within the limitations of the EU Nitrate Directive, the N steady state supply of 170CM always requires a complement of mineral N (80 kg N ha^?1) to maximize N agronomic efficiency. The maximum N‐fertilizer replacement value (250CM vs. 250MN) was 0·67, without significant differences between the two treatments in other N‐related efficiency indexes, which indicates that plants took advantage of residual‐N effects. Nitrogen losses by leaching in the 250CM treatment were around 5–7% of the N applied. This reinforces the sustainability of manure recycling in long cropping seasons.     

Soil physical changes and maize growth in a structurally fragile tropical soil due to mulching and duration between irrigation intervals

Under tropical meteorological conditions, the volume of soil explored by plant roots is crucial for crop growth as it allows increased water and nutrient use efficiency. We hypothesized that, under different irrigation intervals, leguminous mulch can extend the duration between irrigation events but maintain crop performance, because decreased evaporative fluxes also reduce constraints to root exploration imposed by mechanical stress. We evaluated the combined effects of leguminous mulch and irrigation intervals on soil physical properties to determine whether the growth and productivity of maize were modified in a structurally fragile tropical soil. The experiment involved the following treatments: 4‐day irrigation intervals with soil mulched (4C) or bare (4S), 6‐day irrigation intervals with soil mulched (6C) or bare (6S), 8‐day irrigation intervals with soil mulched (8C) or bare (8S) and 10‐day irrigation intervals with soil mulched (10C) or bare (10S). Mulch decreased soil penetration resistance and increased to 4 days the favourable time for root development in drying soil. Relative to bare soil, mulch with a 6‐day irrigation interval almost doubled nitrogen uptake post‐tasselling, which decreased nitrogen remobilization and increased the crop growth rate during this stage. These conditions had a positive effect on the transpiration rate and stomatal conductance as well as on the growth and yield of maize. A 6‐day irrigation interval with mulch compared to 4 days with bare soil resulted in similar conditions for root development, but greater uptake of nitrogen (102.73–78.70 kg/ha) and better yield (6.2–5.3 t/ha), which means greater efficiency in nitrogen and water use.     

我国特大城市建成区土地集约利用研究

运用因子分析法对我国16个特大城市建成区的土地集约利用水平进行综合评价和排序.结果表明：我国特大城市建成区土地集约利用效率呈现总体水平偏低、地区差异明显及各大城市影响因素侧重点不同等3大特征.因此,需合理调整各大城市产业结构,以促进城市经济可持续发展;积极开展城市土地整理,以提高土地利用效率;加大城市生态环境保护力度,以优化土地利用生态效益.     

建设用地集约利用评价指标的权重确定方法研究

基于建设用地集约利用评价指标,应用文献统计法和综合分析法,阐述了中国建设用地及建设用地集约利用评价指标权重赋权方法的现状,着重研究了各种权重确定方法在建设用地集约评价中的实践应用,并对其进行总结和讨论,探讨了建设用地集约利用评价指标权重确定方法的发展趋势.     

江苏1204拖拉机液压输出功率不足问题的解决

江苏1204拖拉机液压输出功率,在试验时,出现输出功率不足的问题。对实验数据分析,影响液压功率的两个因素流量和压力,从元件品质来看,可能是齿轮泵的容积效率以及系统低压区漏气的问题,从设计角度分析,则可能是吸油管及其管路元件结构参数的选择问题。如何确定系统元件的参数即吸油管等元件的参数,按规范设计是基本的要求;之后,才是根据实际情况,再优化设计和超越规范设计。对试验中出现的问题,查找应遵守逻辑原则,涉及到实物分解时,则是先易后难,最终找到问题的原因予以解决。     

环保视阈下恩施州肥料利用问题及对策

指出了提高肥料利用率,减少肥料损失和对农业环境的污染是目前农业生产中急需解决的重要问题,针对恩施州有机肥用量不足、肥料投入结构不合理、肥料流失量较大、农业环境污染加重和边际效益下降等问题,提出了有机肥资源高效利用、采用新型科学施肥技术和减少环境污染的施肥技术等提高肥料利用率的建议。     

Azospirillum brasilense mitigates water stress imposed by a vascular disease by increasing xylem vessel area and stem hydraulic conductivity in tomato

Water stress, with its negative consequences on plant growth and survival, can be mitigated by Azospirillum brasilense inoculation. In tomato, A. brasilense delays wilting caused by a vascular pathogen, Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, by yet unknown mechanisms. We studied morphological, anatomical and physiological changes induced by A. brasilense in tomato that relate to water stress tolerance, which could explain the deferral in symptom expression. For this purpose, tomato seeds were treated or not with A. brasilense BNM65, and 5 weeks later plants were challenged with C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis or mock inoculated with water. There was a large growth promotion associated to Azospirillum: treated plants had higher total biomass and leaf area. In relation to water stress tolerance, Azospirillum treated plants had larger xylem vessel area, higher stem specific hydraulic conductivity, thicker stems, and lower shoot/root dry matter and specific leaf area. These changes were opposite to those induced by C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. We conclude that A. brasilense favoured a better adjustment of plant-water relations by several mechanisms, and thus, transitorily alleviated symptoms expression of a vascular disease.