Selecting the hologenome to breed for an improved feed efficiency in pigs—A novel selection index

Most traits in animal breeding, including feed efficiency traits in pigs, are affected by many genes with small effect and have a moderately high heritability between 0.1 and 0.5, which enables efficient selection. Since the microbiota composition in the gastrointestinal tract is also partly heritable and was shown to have a substantial effect on feed efficiency, the host genes affect the phenotype not only directly by altering metabolic pathways, but also indirectly by changing the microbiota composition. The effect of the microbiota composition on the breeding value of an animal is the conditional expectation of its breeding value, given the vector with microbiota frequencies, that is The breeding value of an animal can therefore be decomposed into a heritable contribution that arises from an altered microbiota composition and a heritable contribution that arises from altered metabolic pathways within the animal, so Instead of selecting for breeding value , an index comprising the two components and with appropriate weights, that is , can be used. The present study shows how this breeding strategy can be applied in pig genomic selection breeding scheme for two feed efficiency traits and daily gain.     

Time‐lapse monitoring of soil water content using electromagnetic conductivity imaging

The volumetric soil water content (θ) is fundamental to agriculture because its spatiotemporal variation in soil affects the growth of plants. Unfortunately, the universally accepted thermogravimetric method for estimating volumetric soil water content is very labour intensive and time‐consuming for use in field‐scale monitoring. Electromagnetic (EM) induction instruments have proven to be useful in mapping the spatiotemporal variation of θ. However, depth‐specific variation in θ, which is important for irrigation management, has been little explored. The objective of this study was to develop a relationship between θ and estimates of true electrical conductivity (σ) and to use this relationship to develop time‐lapse images of soil θ beneath a centre‐pivot irrigated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) crop in San Jacinto, California, USA. We first measured the bulk apparent electrical conductivity (EC_a – mS/m) using a DUALEM‐421 over a period of 12 days after an irrigation event (i.e. days 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 12). We used EM4Soil to generate EM conductivity images (EMCIs). We used a physical model to estimate θ from σ, accounting for soil tortuosity and pore water salinity, with a cross‐validation RMSE of 0.04 cm³/cm³. Testing the scenario where no soil information is available, we used a three‐parameter exponential model to relate θ to σ and then to map θ along the transect on different days. The results allowed us to monitor the spatiotemporal variations of θ across the surveyed area, over the 12‐day period. In this regard, we were able to map the soil close to field capacity (0.27 cm³/cm³) and approaching permanent wilting point (0.03 cm³/cm³). The time‐lapse θ monitoring approach, developed using EMCI, has implications for soil and water use and management and will potentially allow farmers and consultants to identify inefficiencies in water application rates and use. It can also be used as a research tool to potentially assist precision irrigation practices and to test the efficacy of different methods of irrigation in terms of water delivery and efficiency in water use in near real time.     

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.     

几种杀虫剂对香蕉花蓟马的田间防治试验

选用60 g/L乙基多杀菌素悬浮剂、5%啶虫脒乳油、480 g/L毒死蜱乳油、450 g/L吡虫啉微乳剂、240 g/L螺虫乙酯悬浮剂、1%甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐乳油和200 g/L氯虫苯甲酰胺悬浮剂等7种杀虫剂对香蕉花蓟马进行了田间防治试验。结果表明: 当采用每间隔两天施药时，7种供试药剂对香蕉花蓟马都具一定的防治效果，其中以240 g/L螺虫乙酯悬浮剂0.25ml/L对该虫的防效最高，为87.92%，其次为60 g/L乙基多杀菌素悬浮剂0.67 ml/L，其防效为86.02%，再次是450 g/L吡虫啉微乳剂0.33 ml/L，防效为72.00%；5%啶虫脒乳油0.67ml/L、200 g/L氯虫苯甲酰胺悬浮剂0.33 ml/L、480 g/L毒死蜱乳油0.5 ml/L、1%甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐乳油0.33 ml/L对该虫的防效分别为：62.63%、54.48%、51.47%和45.91%，显著低于240 g/L螺虫乙酯悬浮剂和60 g/L乙基多杀菌素悬浮剂。     

Maize harvest index and water use efficiency can be improved by inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis

Possibilities to improve maize harvest index and nutrient utilization efficiency by application of plant growth regulators were investigated. In container experiments, the effects of different growth regulators on the development of the maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars Pioneer 3906 and Fabregas were tested. Paclobutrazol (PAC) and chlorocholine chloride (CCC), two inhibitors of gibberellin biosynthesis, as well as gibberellic acid (GA₃) were applied at growth stage V5. Three weeks after application of PAC, shoot growth of both maize cultivars was strongly affected with a significant decrease in plant height in the PAC treatment by 44% and 36% for Pioneer 3906 and Fabregas, respectively. The growth‐retarded plants had higher leaf areas and reduced transpiration rates. The higher shoot growth after GA₃ application was accompanied by a reduction in leaf area and an increase in transpiration rate during 1 week before anthesis. CCC treatment showed no significant effects on plant height, leaf area and transpiration rate. The PAC‐treated cultivar Pioneer 3906 produced several cobs per plant, which were mainly barren at maturity. However, PAC application to Fabregas resulted in just one cob per plant with good kernel development and a grain yield, which was not significantly reduced in comparison with the control. With this similar grain yield in combination with a straw yield decrease of 32%, the harvest index was significantly improved by 12%. In addition, with PAC‐treated Fabregas plants, a 19% increased water use efficiency of the grain (WUE_grain) during the critical period of kernel setting was achieved. In this maize cultivar, CCC application also improved harvest index by 5%, but no effect on WUE_grain occurred. GA₃ treatment decreased harvest index of both maize cultivars, and it either reduced WUE_grain (Pioneer 3906) or showed no effect (Fabregas). Utilization efficiencies of N, P and K were not increased with growth regulator application, even in the PAC‐treated Fabregas plants with a significantly improved allocation of assimilates to the grain, mirrored by the higher harvest index. The results indicate that fertilizer applications must be adjusted to the reduced demand of growth‐retarded plants, most likely leading to higher nutrient utilization efficiencies.     

劳动力老龄化对我国农业生产效率的影响

针对我国农村人口老龄化现象不断加剧,致使农业劳动力供给质量下降等问题,以2009年农村固定观察点数据为依据,分析我国农业劳动力老龄化现状,并利用柯布道格拉斯生产函数研究劳动力老龄化对农业生产效率的影响。结果表明:我国农业生产中存在严重的老龄化现象,60岁以上的劳动力占18.42%;与年轻劳动力相比,老龄劳动力的生产效率明显较低,老龄农户不仅主要生产要素的边际产值低于非老龄农户,而且耕种面积以及其他各生产要素的投入水平也均低于非老龄户,这说明农业老龄化严重制约着我国农业的发展。     

Optimisation of fertiliser rates in crop production against energy use indicators

Optimising mineral nitrogen (N) use in crop production is inevitable target as mineral fertilisers reflect one of the highest inputs both in terms of economy and energy. The aim of the study was to compare the relationship between the rate of N fertiliser application and different measures of energy parameters exemplary data for spring-wheat in boreal climate condition in Estonia in 2006–2010. The effect of mineral N with rates 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg N ha⁻¹ was studied on the background of composted cow manure and without organic fertilisers. Univalent parameters, energy gain (EG) (energy output − energy input) and energy ratio (ER) (energy output/energy input) were calculated. To aggregate parameters with different units (ER and EG) we proposed two standardisation approaches for combined indices. ER maximisation gave both organic fertilisation background optimum N norms significantly lower than EG (p < 0.05) optimisation. Both the new combined indices gave optimum N norms in between the rate of ER an EG. Composted cow manure background did not affect mineral N optimisation significantly. We suggest optimisation of mineral N according to bi-dimensional parameters as they capture important features of production efficiency and are more objective using as advisory tool for sustainable production systems.     

不同施钾方式对吉林省东部玉米钾素吸收积累的影响

旨在探讨超高产玉米钾肥的最佳施用时期和分配比例,为吉林省东部超高产玉米钾肥高效施用方式提供理论依据和技术支撑。通过田间试验的方法,在氮、磷、钾施用量相同的条件下探讨钾肥不同施用时期和分配比例,对玉米产量、钾素吸收积累及钾吸收利用效率的影响。结果表明:本试验条件下,吉林省东部玉米各处理之间产量基本达到差异性水平,最高产处理的产量为15535.6 kg/hm~2,其中3个处理达到了超高产水平,分别较不施钾处理增产30%以上。植株干物质积累量呈线性增长,钾素积累则呈现先增加后减少的趋势,并在灌浆期达到峰值,分析得出玉米在生育后期干物质积累的同时,钾素并不在植株体内大量储存,而是随时间延长逐渐淋失。产量最优处理的钾肥利用率、钾素吸收效率和钾肥偏生产力分别为66.9%、1.7 kg/kg和111.0 kg/kg,各指标均高于其他试验处理。即适宜的施钾方式可以有效提高植株各阶段营养器官的钾素吸收积累量,并使得生育后期植株各营养器官钾素分配比例达到最佳,从而获得较高的钾肥利用率、钾素吸收效率和钾肥偏生产力。在氮、磷、钾施用量一定的条件下(N 300 kg/hm~2、P2O5140 kg/hm~2和K_2O 140 kg/hm~2),吉林省东部超高产玉米钾肥最佳施用方式为:钾肥总量的75%作基肥,25%作大喇叭口期追肥,此时可获得较高的钾素利用效率和最高产量。     

调亏度及调亏历时对苜蓿生物量分配与水分利用效率的影响

本研究的目的在于探讨紫花苜蓿营养生长期调亏滴灌对其节水效果的影响,增加其产量的作用。在北京对分枝期苜蓿品种"皇冠"进行调亏程度和调亏历时对其生长的研究。结果发现,秋播苜蓿进行调亏灌溉应把握适当的调亏度,在调亏度达60%FC、调亏历时为14d时,土壤水分对苜蓿形成干旱胁迫;在调亏度达80%FC时,光合同化物更多向苜蓿地上部分配,同时适当增加调亏历时改变苜蓿根系形态可塑性,有利于其根系伸长生长,提高其水分利用效率。适当的将调亏度与调亏持续时间分别维持在80%FC左右和14~21d,更能实现北京地区苜蓿节水促生长的目的。