Technical efficiency of different farm sizes for tilapia farming in China

China is the world's largest tilapia producer. This study uses the stochastic frontier function in the Cobb–Douglas model to evaluate a production frontier for tilapia aquaculture and analyses the relationship between farm size and production efficiency in China. A random sample of 300 tilapia farmers was surveyed in the main tilapia‐producing areas to study their economic efficiencies. The percentage distribution of tilapia farm technical efficiency was determined, with an average efficiency of 79%, which showed that the sample tilapia farmers operate at 21% below the production frontier and hence that they still have a chance to achieve targeted yields. The technical efficiencies of two categories (≤1 ha and >1 ha) were 78.82% and 79.27% respectively. A second‐stage analysis investigated the relationship between farm size and technical efficiency and showed a positive relationship between farm size and production efficiency based on the ordinary least‐squares model. The optimal farm size was found to be 7.50 ha. This study proposes strategies such as enlarging the farming scale moderately, thereby achieving the advantage of economies of scale, and enhancing the competitiveness of the tilapia industry in China.     

林木氮素吸收偏好性及其形成机制研究进展

森林土壤中可被林木吸收利用的氮（N）素主要以铵态氮（NH₄+-N）和硝态氮（NO₃--N）的形态存在。受全球气候变暖、氮沉降和人类活动等因素的影响，NH₄+和NO₃-的分布存在很大的时间波动性和空间异质性，且NH₄+-N和NO₃--N亏缺已成为限制林地生产力的主要因素。在森林土壤N亏缺和N异质分布的逆境中，在林木长期进化过程中形成了对不同形态N素的吸收偏好，且这种吸收偏好会随生长环境条件而发生改变。特别是对于NH₄+和NO₃-这2种主要形态的偏好选择性已被证明是决定林木生产力、竞争、共存和生态演替的重要因素之一。对不同树种在N异质分布环境下的N吸收偏好和形成机制的研究，是揭示林木N素营养遗传特性和提高林地N素利用效率的关键。文中从森林土壤中N的主要形态及其分布特征、林木对不同形态N素的吸收偏好和形成机制、林木N吸收偏好的影响因素3个方面进行总结阐述，并对未来研究方向进行展望，以期为我国人工林培育中不同树种的造林配置和合理N素施肥技术提供理论依据和参考。     

泰州地区稻田综合种养模式水稻病虫害绿色高效防控技术

本文介绍了泰州地区稻田综合种养模式采用的水稻病虫害绿色高效防控技术,主要包括物理防治、化学防治、生物防治等措施,并结合当地生产实践情况,推荐出低毒安全高效的药剂使用组合,实现了稻田环境的可持续发展。     

芝麻不同生育阶段需水特性与干旱灌溉应用研究

探讨芝麻不同生育阶段需水特性与干旱灌溉水分生产效率,为芝麻高产栽培的合理灌溉和水分管理提供科学依据,2013-2018年在安徽、新疆等不同地域,选用6个芝麻主栽品种,开展芝麻不同生育阶段需水特性和灌溉水利用研究。结果表明：盆栽芝麻的全生育期蒸腾需水量平均为283.59mm,品种间差异大,形成100kg芝麻籽粒蒸腾需水量为263.56mm(175.7t/666.7m²),苗期、蕾期、初花期、盛花期、终花期、成熟期的蒸腾需水量分别为18.76mm、21.91mm、21.03mm、149.28mm、71.21mm和34.79mm,蒸腾模系数为5.89%、7.21%、6.85%、47.07%、23.93%和9.05%；盛花期最大,出苗期最小。池栽芝麻全生育期需水量531.36mm,其中株间蒸发量、蒸腾量分别占全生育期需水量的46.1%和53.9%；株间蒸发量最大的时期为苗期；蒸腾量最大的时期为花期。芝麻苗期、花期和成熟期需水模系数平均为18.65%、66.79%和14.56%。合肥基地出苗期、临泉基地花期遇旱喷灌,水分生产效率高达0.61kg/m³和0.65kg/m³；新疆精河基地按需滴灌处理比传统滴灌方式的水分生产效率提高43.28%,节水19.61%,这对水资源匮乏的新疆干旱区来说意义重大。芝麻需水量与栽培条件、品种、气温(r＝0.99)等密切相关。在芝麻不同生育阶段遇旱灌溉是提高水分生产效率和产量的关键措施之一。     

杂色蚕豆新品种“清蚕2号”选育初探

2010年夏在慈溪市白沙路鲜食白花大粒蚕豆大田中发现因小黑蚕豆和白花大粒蚕豆自然杂交而产生变异的F0代变异单株，然后经F1到F5代的连续单株选择，经过F6代的株系选择和F7代的优系繁育，育成了杂色蚕豆新品种——清蚕2号。其株高约90 cm，分枝6～7个，花瓣上部白色，花托处红色，每荚1～3粒， 3粒荚占比仅10%，干豆形状短圆，干豆色泽底色为淡黄色，其侧面有八字形棕褐色条带，豆眼黑色，百粒质量为100 g。“清蚕2号”株型紧凑，植株中等，整齐度高，田间性状稳定，长势较旺盛，抗病性较强，适应性、抗逆性强，结荚多，产量高，品质好。     

太原市森林公园林带对空气PM2.5的净化效率

开展城市绿地滞尘效应研究对指导城市绿地建设具有重要科学意义。为了研究城市交通主干道周边绿地的滞尘效应，以太原市森林公园西侧紧邻滨河东路南北长600 m，东西宽100 m的针叶混交林带为研究对象，在林带最西侧与道路交界处设对照点（0 m），由西向东垂直于路面在林带内分别设置20、40、60、80 m 4个监测点，用中流量大气PM2.5采样器（100 L/min）在各点对PM_2.5进行日间采样，分析林带内PM_2.5浓度的变化特征并计算林带对PM_2.5的净化效率。结果表明:1）林带宽度影响其对大气PM_2.5的净化效率，从20~60 m的净化效率逐渐提高，80 m处略低于60 m；2）林带对局部空气PM_2.5净化效率与区域空气质量呈负相关，当空气质量为优良时，林带可以有效地降低局部PM_2.5，当空气质量为中重度污染时，林带20~40 m宽处会聚集较高浓度的PM_2.5；3）林带内分时段净化效率显示，9:30-11:00的净化效率最低，12:30-17:00净化效率较高，且15:30-17:00林内PM_2.5质量浓度最低，提示该时段适宜市民在公园内活动。     

An investigation into the grazing efficiency of perennial ryegrass varieties

The objective of this study was to compare the grazing efficiency of 30 perennial ryegrass varieties, differing in ploidy and heading date. Plots were grazed by lactating dairy cows and managed under a rotational grazing system with 19 grazing events occurring over two years. Pre-grazing and post-grazing compressed sward heights were measured with a rising plate meter. A mixed model was used to predict the post-grazing sward height of each variety based on year, grazing event, block and pre-grazing sward height. Residual grazed height (RGH) was derived as the difference between the actual and predicted post-grazing sward height and was used as the measure of grazing efficiency. Negative RGH values indicated that the actual herbage removed was greater than that predicted and so indicated a superior grazing efficiency. Varieties differed in their level of grazing efficiency (p < .001), with RGH values ranging from −0.38 to +0.34 cm. Tetraploid varieties exhibited significantly greater grazing efficiency performance than diploids (p < .001), with average RGH values of −0.13 and +0.13 cm respectively. A significant difference in grazing efficiency was found among recommended perennial ryegrass varieties that are not being recorded by mechanically harvested simulated grazing protocols. A variety reappraisal that included grazing efficiency could identify varieties capable of improving on-farm livestock productivity from grass.     

Phenotypic and allelic variation for wort protein Z in Australian and Canadian barleys

Protein Z is a major component in beer foam. Two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to analyze wort proteins of two Australian (Buloke and Commander) and two Canadian (CDC Meredith and Bentley) varieties. The Canadian barley contained more abundant proteins from MW 40–45 kDa (pI 5 to 7). These proteins were identified as either protein Z4 or protein Z7 using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Full-length gene of protein Z4 and Z7 were sequenced from Canadian and Australian barleys. Sequence differences were identified in the coding region and upstream regions of the two genes, resulting in protein sequence and expression variations. Molecular markers were designed according to the indels in the upstream regions of protein Z4 and Z7 genes. These markers were highly correlated to wort protein Z content in Canadian and Australian varieties. The Canadian barleys contained ‘high level’ genotypes for protein Z4 and Z7 while most Australian barleys had ‘low level’ genotypes for protein Z4, Z7 or both. The markers identified in this study provide a valuable tool for the selection of protein Z alleles in marker-assisted breeding. Total protein Z content was assessed using different steeping conditions, and increasing air-rest time increased protein Z content in 15 varieties.     

Identification of sorghum genotypes suitable for specific end uses: Semolina recovery and popping

There has always been an interest in devising breeding programs for designer foods that would benefit both the producer and consumer. The challenge today is transformation of agriculture from “subsistence farming” to “market and income generation oriented” production system for which sorghum with its diverse end uses can assume significant role. Breeding for end-use identity-specific genotypes is needed for increased profitability to the farmers. In the present study, 60 sorghum genotypes were evaluated over two years to identify genotypes suitable for semolina recovery and popping properties, i.e. popping efficiency and pop volume expansion. Semolina recovery ranged from 20.7% to 48.3%, while popping efficiency ranged from 0 to 77.5%. Semolina recovery had positive and significant association with endosperm texture (r = 0.62), grain density (r = 0.49) and grain hardness (r = 0.55) indicating that genotypes with corneous endosperm yield high semolina. Also, semolina recovery had significant positive correlation with popping efficiency (r = 0.49) indicating that genotypes suitable for semolina can also be used for popping. Genetic divergence studies indicated that out of three clusters formed, cluster II having guinea race germplasm lines are suitable for semolina and popping. The information generated and the genotypes identified will help in enhancing the demand for sorghum as an industrial crop.     

Over 40% of 450 registered wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum) worldwide are composed of multiple biotypes

Many of 450 common wheat cultivars bred and registered during the twentieth century in 12 countries were proved, due to seed-by-seed analysis, to be composed of two or more biotypes differing in their alleles at the gliadin (Gli) loci. These multiple biotypes may be regarded as authentic progeny of the respective parent lines, as evidenced by the gliadin composition of the respective parents. Therefore, the official claim for each cultivar to be uniform is commonly not maintained in practice. The most frequent was a non-uniform cultivar composed of two biotypes differing at one Gli locus, but there were cultivars represented by a large set of related genotypes differing at several Gli loci. The proportion of the multi-biotype cultivars was never less than 15% for a country collection, exceeding 50% in other countries. This proportion differed significantly between neighbouring countries. In Australia, all multi-biotype cultivars were found in eastern states; in the state of Victoria, their frequency was statistically higher than in the rest of the country. The proportion of multi-biotype cultivars among newly-released cultivars decreased with time in Australia and the UK. Thus, the non-uniformity of registered cultivars represents a general and important phenomenon of common wheat as a crop.