Effects of concentrate‐to‐forage ratios and 2‐methylbutyrate supplementation on ruminal fermentation,bacteria abundance and urinary excretion of purine derivatives in Chinese Simmental steers

This study evaluated the effects of dietary concentrate levels and 2‐methylbutyrate (2MB ) supplementation on performance, ruminal fermentation, bacteria abundance, microbial enzyme activity and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD ) in steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers (12 months of age; 389 ± 3.7 kg of body weight) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Moderate‐concentrate (400 g/kg diet [MC ]) or high‐concentrate (600 g/kg diet [HC ]) diets were fed with or without 2MB (0 g/day [2MB ?] or 15.0 g/day [2MB +]). Dry matter intake and average daily gain increased, but feed conversion ratio decreased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Ruminal pH decreased, but total volatile fatty acid increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Molar proportion of acetate and acetate‐to‐propionate ratio decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Propionate molar proportion and ruminal NH ₃‐N content increased with the HC diet, but decreased with 2MB supplementation. Neutral detergent fibre degradability decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Crude protein degradability increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Abundance of Ruminococcus albus , Ruminococcus flavefaciens , Fibrobacter succinogenes and Bufyrivibrio fibrisolvens as well as activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, cellobiase, xylanase and pectinase decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. However, abundance of Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus as well as activities of α‐amylase and protease increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Total PD excretion also increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. The results suggested that growth performance, ruminal fermentation, CP degradability and total PD excretion increased with increasing dietary concentrate level from 40% to 60% or 2MB supplementation. The observed diet × 2MB interaction indicated that supplementation of 2MB was more efficacious for improving growth performance, ruminal fermentation and total PD excretion with promoted ruminal bacteria abundance and enzyme activity in the MC diet than in the HC diet.     

The value of vegetation cover for ecosystem services in the suburban context

Latin-American cities can be characterized by dynamic processes of urbanization that encroach upon the natural and semi-natural surrounding landscapes. Our study presents the effects of landscape development, transformed from semi-natural conditions into a mostly disperse suburban settlement. We explore the impact that this transformation has had on this context by three ecosystem services that regulate rainwater runoff, enhance microclimate conditions and help to improve air quality by monitoring vegetation cover. We have designed a spatio-temporal hierarchical analysis which employs remote sensing techniques to capture the structural changes of this landscape over long, medium and short term scales on two spatial levels. This methodological approach was tested in the Metropolitan Area of Santiago (MAS) as case study area. Despite of the increase in impervious surfaces due to urban processes, there has also been an increase in vegetation cover, which has led to an improvement in the provision of the above-mentioned ecosystem services. Hence, if diverse urbanization processes continue and they are coupled with an increase in vegetation cover, the provision of ecosystem services could also expand. This phenomenon can be observed in some areas, where public and private green spaces are created and maintained. Our data analyses give evidence that certain types of suburban areas which increase the share of vegetation cover can provide daily ecological benefits for urban neighborhoods, and beyond, for adjacent areas. Moreover, suburban development can successfully provide ecological benefits to citizens. Such processes can only be ecologically sustainable if the composition of vegetation is well-adapted to the regional climatic conditions.     

不同温度下圆叶决明降解过程红壤可溶性氮及氮水解酶动态变化研究

为了探明圆叶决明（Chamaecrista rotundifolia）降解过程果园红壤供氮水平的变化规律，本研究采用模拟培养试验，研究15℃和25℃培养果园红壤硝态氮、铵态氮、可溶性总氮、可溶性有机氮含量的变化及脲酶、蛋白酶、天冬酰胺酶活性的变化。结果表明，圆叶决明降解过程果园红壤4种可溶性氮含量均显著提高，且在培养140 d达到最大值，25℃培养的效果更佳。其中，可溶性总氮、可溶性有机氮和硝态氮含量随时间的动态变化可用三次曲线方程来拟合。圆叶决明降解过程还能显著提高脲酶、蛋白酶和天冬酰胺酶的活性，其中蛋白酶活性和脲酶活性的变化可用指数方程和三次曲线方程来拟合。本研究认为圆叶决明降解过程可提高果园红壤可溶性氮含量，因此可通过翻压圆叶决明提高土壤的供氮水平。     

热带海岸次生林群落主要乔木的种间关联分析

对热带海岸次生林群落主要乔木种群的重要值、方差比率、χ~2统计量和Ochiai(OI)指数等种间联结性指标进行测定,旨在揭示该群落优势种群之间相互作用的内在关联及种对间关联性的内在规律。结果表明:香蒲桃是热带海岸次生林群落的主要建群种;热带海岸次生林群落19个主要种群总体关联性表现为不显著正关联,反映了该群落尚未达到稳定的演替阶段;χ~2检验结果显示该群落优势种群正关联种对与负关联种对数量相当,无关联种对数较少,分别占总对数的42.7%、43.3%和14.0%,显著正关联种对数为1对,极显著和显著负关联种对数为2对;Ochiai(OI)指数显示66对种对的OI值落在[0.6,1],反映出热带海岸次生林主要种对间关联程度较为紧密。综上所述,热带海岸次生林群落优势种群种对间种间关联明显,物种之间存在一定的独立性,整体趋向稳定发展,实践中为加快热带次生林演替的进程,应重点保护正联结性较强的树种。     

Effect of Different Concentrate-roughage Ratios on Rumen Degradability of Cassava Stems and Leaves Total Mixed Ration in Goat

The rumen degradations of TMR were studied in this experiment,in which cassava stems and leaves were used as roughage and formulated with concentrate in different proportions.The purpose of this study was to formulate the available TMR for finishing goat,and provide a theoretical basis for the applications of cassava stems and leaves in goat production.Six Hainan Black goats with permanent rumen fistulas were selected,the rumen degradabilities of DM,CP,NDF and ADF of TMR with 6 different concentrate to forage ratio（2:8,3:7,4:6,5:5,6:4 and 7:3）were tested using nylon bag method.The results showed that,the DM effective degradabilities at the ratio of 4:6,5:5,6:4,7:3 were significantly higher than that of 2:8 and 3:7（P<0.05).CP effective degradabilities at the ratio of 2:8,3:7,4:6 were significantly higher than that of 5:5,6:4 and 7:3（P<0.05).The NDF effective degradation at the ratio of 5:5 was significantly higher than that in the other groups（P<0.05).The ADF degradation at the ratio of 3:7 was significantly higher than that of 4:6,5:5, 6:4 and 7:3（P<0.05).The results indicated that,the nutrient degradation in rumen were higher when the concentrate to forage（cassava stems and leaves）ratio in TMR were 3:7,4:6 and 5:5,and the recommended ratio range were 4:6 to 5:5 in production practice.     

Evaluation of Cold Tolerance in NERICAs Compared with Japanese Standard Rice Varieties at the Reproductive Stage

New Rice for Africa (NERICA) is a general name for interspecific rice varieties derived from a cross between the high‐yielding Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) between locally adapted African rice (Oryza glaberrima Steud.). Eight NERICAs were evaluated for cold tolerance (CT) at the reproductive stage and compared with their O. sativa parents and three Japanese standard rice varieties over 3 years. Cold tolerance was evaluated based on the filled grain ratio (FGR) after cold water irrigation. The FGR was greatly reduced by cold water irrigation. NERICA 1, 2 and 7 had higher FGR (51.9–57.9 %), while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 had lower FGR (6.2–14.5 %). NERICA 1, 2 and 7 were less affected by cold stress, with a 31 % mean reduction in FGR, while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 were greatly affected, with their FGRs being reduced by more than 80 %. NERICA 3 and 4 were moderately affected by cold stress, with about 45 % reduction rate in FGR. FGR significantly influenced the grain weights of the varieties with strong positive correlations (r = 0.83–0.91; P < 0.001), and thus, similar trends in grain weights were observed. Grain weights were reduced by 61.7–96.4 % under cold stress. NERICA 1, 2 and 7 showed significantly better performance than NERICA 3 and 4, while NERICA 6, 15 and 16 performed poorly under cold water irrigation. The Japanese varieties Koshihikari (very tolerant) and Ozora (moderately tolerant) were more affected by cold water irrigation than NERICA 1, 2 and 7. On the basis of the mean reduction rate (%) in FGR under cold stress, the varieties were classified as follows: NERICA 1, 2 and 7 as tolerant; NERICA 3 and 4 as moderately tolerant; and NERICA 6, 15 and 16 as susceptible to cold stress. However, NERICA 7 grain yields were lower under cold stress due to both greatly reduced number of panicles per plant and number of spikelets per panicle. Therefore, NERICA 1 and 2 are suitable candidates for production in the highland regions of East Africa and should be promoted for production.     

速生林木材液化及其产物应用研究

[目的]为速生桉树木材液化及其产物的应用提供参考。[方法]以硫酸为催化剂,苯酚为液化剂,对速生人工林桉树木材进行液化,并取液化产物与甲醛进行树脂化反应制备液化木基酚醛树脂LWPF,研究液比对液化反应效率、液化产物重均分子量及LWPF树脂胶合性能的影响。[结果]随着液比的提高,液化产物的残渣率及重均分子量均降低,而LWPF树脂制得的胶合板的木破率提高;当液比提高到一定程度后,液化产物的残渣率和重均分子量及LWPF树脂所制胶合板的木破率变化不明显。[结论]对速生桉树木材的液化工艺及其液化产物的树脂化合成工艺进行了优化。     

不同钙磷配比及浓度对多花黑麦草生长特性的影响

为揭示多花黑麦草（Lolium multiflorum Lamk）对不同钙磷环境的适应机制，设置3个不同钙磷比（1∶1、2∶1、5∶1），每个钙磷比下设置两种钙磷浓度，以不添加钙和磷的营养液处理为对照，探讨不同钙磷水平下多花黑麦草形态和生理指标的变化；并利用隶属函数综合评价法来筛选适宜多花黑麦草生长的钙磷配比及浓度。结果表明：①Ca/P比为1∶1时，随Ca2+、P浓度的增加，株高、叶宽、光合色素和脯氨酸（proline, Pro）含量均呈下降趋势，丙二醛（malondialdehyde, MDA）和超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase, SOD）活性呈升高趋势；②Ca/P比为2∶1时，随Ca2+、P的增加，株高、叶宽存在一定的下降，叶绿素含量、MDA含量和SOD活性差异不显著，类胡萝卜素和Pro含量升高；③Ca/P比为5∶1时，随Ca2+、P浓度的增加，株高、叶宽、光合色素含量升高，MDA含量下降，Pro含量和SOD活性变化不明显；④P浓度相同时，随着Ca2+浓度的增加，叶绿素、类胡萝卜素含量和SOD活性呈降低趋势；⑤通过隶属函数综合评价，多花黑麦草适宜生长的Ca、P浓度分别为50和10 mg·kg-1。以上结果为多花黑麦草的栽培种植和钙磷响应机理研究提供理论依据。     

Effects of dietary lipid-to-carbohydrate ratio on growth and carbohydrate metabolism in juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum)

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary lipid-to-carbohydrate ratio on growth and carbohydrate metabolism in juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum). Six isonitrogenous diets were prepared to vary in lipid-to-carbohydrate ratio (g/g) as follows: D1, 2.26; D2, 1.31; D3, 0.78; D4, 0.47; D5, 0.34; and D6, 0.23. Cobias were fed to satiety for 8 weeks. The weight gain and protein efficiency ratio in D1 group were significantly lower than those in other groups (P < 0.05), accompanied by a lower level of feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05). Protein retention efficiency in D4 and D6 and whole body protein in D4 and D5 were significantly higher than those in D1 group (P < 0.05). Survival rate in D4 group was the highest among all groups and was significantly higher than that in D1, D2 and D5 (P < 0.05). In terms of serum triglyceride, D1 and D2 were significantly higher than D6 (P < 0.05). Hepatosomatic index in D3 and D4 was significantly lower than that in D1 (P < 0.05). Fructose-1,6-diphosphatase in D4 was significantly higher than that in D1 and D3 (P < 0.05). Phosphofructokinase in D3 and D4 and malic enzyme in D4 and D5 were significantly higher than those in other groups (P < 0.05). Results indicate that cobia utilizes carbohydrates as energy source more efficiently than it utilizes lipids. The optimal lipid-to-carbohydrate ratio in juvenile cobia diets is 0.47.