Comparative study on dietary protein requirements for juvenile and pre‐adult gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS III)

Two 8‐week growth trials were conducted in indoor recirculation system to evaluate the protein requirements for juvenile (3.70 ± 0.20 g) and pre‐adult (85.2 ± 0.70 g) gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio var. CAS III. Six isoenergetic diets were formulated for each trial using fish meal and casein as protein sources, and protein level was 250–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 and 200–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 2. With the increasing dietary protein, feeding rate (FR) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) significantly decreased (P < 0.05). Weight gain (WG) increased first and then reached a plateau in 330–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 (P > 0.05), while decreased after the maximum value in 350 g kg^?1 in Trial 2 (P < 0.05). Productive protein values (PPVs) were lower in 370–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 and 400–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 2 (P < 0.05). Increasing dietary protein level increased protein content and decreased lipid content in whole fish body and white muscle (P < 0.05). Apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matters (ADC_d) decreased, while apparent digestibility coefficient of protein (ADC_p) increased in 370–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 and 250–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 2 (P < 0.05). Trypsin activity significantly increased in 370–450 g kg^?1 in Trial 1 (P < 0.05) and was not affected in Trial 2 (P > 0.05). Hepatic alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in both trials increased when dietary protein was above 400 g kg^?1 (P < 0.05). Based on quadratic regression of WG, it was estimated that dietary protein requirement for maximum growth was 414 g kg^?1 (digestible protein of 376 g kg^?1) and 365 g kg^?1 (digestible protein of 324 g kg^?1) for juvenile (3.70 g) and pre‐adult gibel carp (85.2 g).     

The effect of orifice shape and the injection pressure on enhancement of the atomization process for pressure-swirl atomizers

The following paper presents results of studies on the atomization process of water in pressure-swirl atomizers with different shapes of orifice using a laser diffraction technique. The effect of the shape of the orifice and the injection pressure on the droplet size distributions and mean droplet diameters was analyzed. The results obtained showed that droplet size decreases with an increasing injection pressure and droplet size distributions are expanded. The smallest droplet diameters were obtained by atomization in profiled and conical shaped orifice atomizers, however the largest droplet diameters were achieved for plain orifice atomizers. The analysis of the interfacial surface produced by the atomizers has shown that the greater enhancement of the atomization process had occurred using profiled and conical shaped orifice atomizers compared with plain orifice atomizers. The correlation for the Sauter mean diameter as a function of the Reynolds number and the ratio of orifice length to diameter has been proposed. The paper is related to agricultural water management. The data obtained are important from the point of view of the design of atomizers, agricultural treatments and crop protection.     

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.     

Physico‐chemical characterization and in vitro digestibility of commercial feeds used in weaning of marine fish

Six different commercial feeds used in weaning and postweaning of marine fish were analysed from the perspective of some of their main physico‐chemical features and in vitro digestibility. While the range of particle sizes in dry state closely agreed to those claimed by the producing companies, dramatic changes were observed after suspension in water. Sedimentation rates measured in some of the feeds with higher particle sizes may be too high to ensure intake by young fish. The label claims of the products overestimate the amount of total protein but underestimate that of lipids. The analysis of amino acid profiles evidenced important differences in total amino acid composition between feeds of the same company but a great similitude in the profile of free amino acids (FAA). The evaluation of leaching evidenced that the fraction of FAA, which represented <2% of dry matter of the feeds, is quickly released in water, acting mainly as attractants. The in vitro digestibility assay evidenced significant differences in the bioaccessibility of the nitrogen fraction in some of the feeds by the digestive proteases of the sea bream (Sparus aurata).     

A meta‐analysis of the effects of dietary marine oil replacement with vegetable oils on growth,feed conversion and muscle fatty acid composition of fish species

The effects of the replacement of marine oils (MO) with canola oil (CO), linseed oil (LO) and soybean oil (SO) on growth, feed conversion and major muscle fatty acid (FA) classes were quantified using a meta‐analysis of published results. There was an absence of relationships between levels of MO replaced and effect sizes for all outcomes. High heterogeneity when combining effects sizes according to fixed effects models imposed the stratification of values in MO replacement categories and the use of random effect models to calculate the summary statistics. Limited values at 50% and 60% hampered clear tendencies when compared to 100% MO replacement. A medium mean effect size (?0.3773, 95% confidence intervals = ?0.7325 to ?0.0222, n = 22) for growth was obtained when replacing all MO with CO, whereas LO (?1.5609, 95% confidence intervals = ?2.3584 to ?0.7633, n = 19) and SO (?1.0589, 95% confidence intervals = ?1.7197 to ?0.3980, n = 22) resulted in high negative effect sizes. This study quantified the extent of differences in production parameters caused by dietary MO replacement with VO and could serve as reference for future experimental studies.     

Assessing the deposition and canopy penetration of nozzles with different spray qualities in an oat (Avena sativa L.) canopy

Consistent spray coverage that is evenly distributed throughout the canopy is necessary to control pest populations that can negatively affect yield. As applicators are switching to Coarser spray quality nozzles to reduce risk and liability of pesticide spray drift, concerns about efficacy loss are growing. Previous research has indicated that small droplets are the most effective at penetrating through crop canopies, but newer nozzle technologies have improved the effectiveness of larger droplet or Coarser sprays. Research was conducted to assess the canopy penetration of nozzles that produce Coarse, Very-Coarse and Extremely-Coarse spray qualities compared to nozzles that produce Fine and Medium spray qualities. Kromekote collectors were positioned in four configurations in an oat (Avena sativa L.) var. ‘Yarran’ (AusWest Seeds, Forbes, NSW, Australia) crop to quantify the coverage and droplet number densities (droplets cm⁻²) across three application carrier volume rates: 50, 75 and 100 L ha⁻¹. Applications were made in the field in 30 cm tall, tillering oats, with collectors arranged in a randomised complete block design with three replications. The entire study was repeated on the following day. Results showed that droplet number densities were inversely related to the droplet size produced by the nozzles, yet coverage was increased more by application volume rate than droplet size. Thus, both spray drift reduction and improved canopy penetration can be achieved with proper nozzle selection and operation parameters for the control of agronomic pests.     

塑料温室内的雾滴沉积分布研究

为了开发设施农业病虫害防治的常温烟雾施药技术，在密闭温室内进行了常温烟雾喷雾雾滴沉积试验，对4种机型、3种温室的试验结果作了分析比较，从而探讨了雾滴粒径与沉积密度的相关关系，喷射部件上设置的轴流风机对雾滴分布均匀性的提升作用，作物不同部位的雾滴沉积差异，并推导出施药时喷雾量的测算方法。     

3MG-30型果园弥雾机的研制与试验

研制了一种与小四轮拖拉机配套的、适用于标准化果园植保作业的机载果园型弥雾机，对该机各项性能指标进行了试验与分析。试验结果表明，与其他类型喷头相比，按一定排列组合的空心雾锥喷头在与风机配合使用进行药液的2次雾化时具有更好的喷雾量分布和雾滴分布均匀性；小于35m/s的风机出口风速所产生的梯度气流使枝叶扭转与退让，并使雾滴的穿透性和树内沉积量增加，提高了作业质量和机组生产率。     

罩盖喷杆喷雾机的设计与防飘试验

在机动背负式喷杆喷雾机的基础上设计了一台适合大田作业的手扶式罩盖喷杆喷雾机,分别进行了田间和室内防飘性能试验。结果表明,罩盖喷雾能增加雾滴在冠层中的穿透性,尤其使用小流量喷头时防飘效果更加明显。罩盖能够显著增加药液在喷头附近的沉积,减弱雾滴向下风向的运动能力,减少飘失。使用ST110-015型喷头,喷雾压力0.4MPa时罩盖的防飘效果最好。在相同风速下,罩盖对雾滴的防飘失效果不同,对较小雾滴的防飘失效果优于较大雾滴。     

基于高速图像的雾滴尺寸分布统计与运动分析

针对植保机械雾滴尺寸分布统计及运动分析方法存在的不足,提出了利用高速摄像机结合数字图像处理技术对雾化场的空间雾滴尺寸分布和雾滴的运动进行分析的方法。实现了空间雾滴尺寸分布的快速统计分析,避免了对雾化场的干扰。利用图像序列中的时间差信息对雾滴在水平和垂直方向上的速率进行了分析,为进一步分析雾滴的沉降及漂移特性提供了有效方法。