Nutrient release pattern of organic and inorganic resources used in cassava production (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

The major constraint in the promotion of organic farming, a safe and sustainable alternative, is lack of availability of quality organic resources in sufficient quantities. The quality of resources can be ascertained by monitoring its nutrient release pattern, which has not yet been attempted. A controlled condition pot experiment was conducted at ICAR-Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, India, in completely randomized design to study the nutrient dynamics of various organic and inorganic resources, commonly used in cassava production, at monthly intervals up to six months. The release of almost all nutrients and activity of soil enzymes were higher at the middle (3 or 4?months) of the incubation period. The pH showed an increasing trend and electrical conductivity, organic C and Fe content declined from initial. Averaging over stages, organic practice favored the activity of soil enzymes and release of almost all nutrients over conventional system significantly, except N.     

覆盖作物多样性对猕猴桃园土壤微生物群落功能的影响

以丹江口水源涵养区猕猴桃园为研究对象,运用Biolog微平板技术,研究不同种类覆盖作物处理(2、4、8种和清耕对照)下土壤微生物群落功能多样性的差异。结果表明,覆盖作物处理土壤微生物群落对碳源的利用程度、功能多样性指数和丰富度指数均高于清耕对照。覆盖作物及清耕对照处理土壤微生物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、丰富度指数与土壤含水量、有机碳、pH、微生物量碳氮呈显著正相关关系。主成分分析与碳代谢图谱分析表明,猕猴桃园增加覆盖作物种类提高了土壤微生物对碳源的利用能力,且对D-甘露醇、L-精氨酸、L-天门冬酰胺、L-苯丙氨酸、γ-羟丁酸、α-丁酮酸、4-羟基苯甲酸、吐温40的利用能力显著高于清耕对照。此外,4种覆盖作物处理对猕猴桃园土壤生态环境的影响优于2种和8种。研究表明,猕猴桃园增加覆盖作物多样性改变了土壤环境因子,影响了土壤微生物群落的代谢活性和功能多样性。     

喷灌不同施肥量对‘宝岛’香蕉生产效果影响

为给‘宝岛’香蕉生产提供适宜的施肥方式,试验采用低压微喷灌研究不同施肥量对香蕉生长发育的影响,以传统施肥(干撒肥料,CK)为对照,设置3个低压微喷灌施肥量处理,依次为传统施肥量的100%(T1)、80%(T2)和60%(T3)。试验结果表明:较CK相比,T1和T2表现为生长势强,抽蕾期提前约30 d,产量分别提高8.80%和6.87%以上,每公顷经济效益分别提高11.84万和12.03万元。因此,T2是为生产中较好的施肥模式。     

Roughness of biopores and cracks in Bt‐horizons assessed by confocal laser scanning microscopy

In structured soils, water and reactive solutes can preferentially move through larger inter‐aggregate pores, cracks, and biopores. The surface roughness of such macropores is crucial for describing microbial habitats and the exchange of water and solutes between macropores and the soil matrix together with other properties. The objective of this study was to compare the roughness of intact structural surfaces from the Bt‐horizons of five Luvisols developed on loess and glacial till and to test the applicability of confocal laser scanning microscopy. Samples of 5 to 10 cm edge length with intact structural surfaces including cracks with and without clay‐organic coatings, earthworm burrow walls, and root channels were prepared manually. The surface roughness of these structures was determined with a confocal laser scanning microscope of the type Keyence VK‐X100K. The root‐mean‐squared roughness (R_q) the curvature (R_cu) and the ratio between surface area and base area (R_A) were calculated from selected surface regions of interest of 0.342 mm² with an elevation resolution of 0.02 µm. The roughness was smaller for coated as compared to uncoated cracks and earthworm burrows of the Bt‐horizons. This reduction of roughness by the illuviation of clayey material was similar for the structural surfaces of the coarser textured till‐Bt and the finer‐textured loess‐Bt. This similarity suggested a dominant effect of pedogenesis and a minor effect of the parent material on the roughness levels of structural surfaces in the Bt‐horizons. An expected “smoothing” effect of burrow wall surfaces by earthworm activity was not reflected in the roughness values compared to those of uncoated cracks at the chosen spatial scale. However, for root channel walls from one loess‐Bt, the roughness was reduced as compared to that of other structures. These results suggest that the surface roughness of the structural surface types should separately be considered when describing preferential flow and macropore‐matrix exchange or analysing root growth, microbial habitats, and colloidal transport in structured soils. The confocal laser scanning microscopy technique was found useful for characterizing the roughness of intact structural surfaces.     

Establishment of optimal scan delay for multi-phase computed tomography using bolus-tracking technique in canine pancreas

To establish a protocol for a multi-phase computed tomography (CT) of the canine pancreas using the bolus-tracking technique, dynamic scan and multi-phase CT were performed in six normal beagle dogs. The dynamic scan was performed for 60 sec at 1-sec intervals after the injection (4 ml/sec) of a contrast medium, and intervals from aortic enhancement appearance to aortic, pancreatic parenchymal and portal vein peaks were measured. The multi-phase CT with 3 phases was performed three times using a bolus-tracking technique. Scan delays were 0, 15 and 30 in first multi-phase scan; 5, 20 and 35 in second multi-phase scan; and 10, 25 and 40 sec in third multi-phase scan, respectively. Attenuation values and contrast enhancement pattern were analyzed from the aorta, pancreas and portal vein. The intervals from aortic enhancement appearance to aortic, pancreatic parenchymal and portal vein peaks were 3.8 ± 0.7, 8.7 ± 0.9 and 13.3 ± 1.5 sec, respectively. The maximum attenuation values of the aorta, pancreatic parenchyma and portal vein were present at scan sections with no scan delay, a 5-sec delay and a 10-sec delay, respectively. When a multi-phase CT of the canine pancreas is triggered at aortic enhancement appearance using a bolus-tracking technique, the recommended optimal delay times of the arterial and pancreatic parenchymal phases are no scan delay and 5 sec, respectively.     

Prevalence of incidental humeral intracondylar fissures in brachycephalic breed dogs in CT studies

Humeral intracondylar fissures (HIF) have been predominantly reported in spaniel breeds and proposed to be possible risk factors for humeral condyle fractures (HCF). We hypothesized that the prevalence of incidental HIF in French Bulldogs may be greater than that of other brachycephalic breeds. A retrospective, observational, prevalence study was performed using CT examinations of French bulldogs and other brachycephalic breed dogs presenting for an unrelated condition. Two European College of Veterinary Diagnostic and Imaging-certified radiologists reviewed the images of the humeral condyles of these dogs. A classification system was devised to grade the findings. We considered a Score 1 to be normal, Score 2 to have centralised sclerosis, Score 3 to have a partial fissure and Score 4 to have a complete fissure. A total of 228 elbows were reviewed from 122 dogs. Of this population, 145 elbows were from French Bulldogs, 54 were from Pugs, and the remainder were from a mix of other brachycephalic breeds. The prevalence of HIF (score 3 or 4) in elbows of the French bulldog, pug and other breed groups was 6.9% (CI 2.8–11%), 5.6% (CI 0–11.7%), and 3.4% (CI 0–10.15%), respectively. At a dog level, the prevalence of HIF (score 3 or 4 present in at least one elbow) was found to be 11.8% (CI 4.6–19%) in French Bulldogs, 11.1% (CI 0–22.9%) in Pugs, and 5.26% (CI 0–15%) in the other breed group. There was no significant difference between the breed groups. The inter-reviewer reliability for CT scoring of HIF based on Cohen's weighted kappa was low at 0.19.     

The role of head computed tomography in equine practice

This retrospective study describes the computed tomography (CT) findings in 59 horses presented with diseases of the head over 8 years that underwent CT examination of this region, including dental or sinonasal diseases (Group A) (n = 42), osseous and/or articular diseases (Group B) (n = 11) and soft tissue diseases (Group C) (n = 6). For Group A, radiographic and CT findings comparison was possible. Computed tomography had higher sensitivity (100%) and specificity (96.7%) than radiography in diagnosing dental disease. Compared to CT, radiographic identification of sinus involvement was less sensitive, particularly for ventral conchal and sphenopalatine sinuses and presented an overall sensitivity of 43.5 and 16.7%, respectively. In Group B CT allowed identification of a higher number of bone fragments and fractures in the maxillary, lacrimal, sphenoidal, temporal and zygomatic bones not identified radiographically. Accurate identification of CT changes in the temporomandibular joint and temporohyoid articulation was also possible. Group C included both intra‐ and extra‐cranial disease, retrobulbar masses being the most representative pathology (n = 3). In this group, CT was considered the gold standard for detection of periorbital diseases. We conclude that CT is an imaging technique with high diagnostic value for evaluating the equine head, yielding additional information over multiple radiographic views, which may alter the outcome of the case. Additionally, this paper reports several conditions not previously described using CT.     

DIAGNOSTIC SENSITIVITY OF ULTRASOUND,RADIOGRAPHY AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY FOR GENDER DETERMINATION IN FOUR SPECIES OF LIZARDS

Gender determination is frequently requested by reptile breeders, especially for species with poor or absent sexual dimorphism. The aims of the current study were to describe techniques and diagnostic sensitivities of ultrasound, radiography, and computed tomography for gender determination (identification of hemipenes) in four species of lizards. Nineteen lizards of known sex, belonging to four different species (Pogona vitticeps, Uromastyx aegyptia, Tiliqua scincoides, Gerrhosaurus major) were prospectively enrolled. With informed owner consent, ultrasound, noncontrast CT, contrast radiography, and contrast CT (with contrast medium administered into the cloaca) were performed in conscious animals. Imaging studies were reviewed by three different operators, each unaware of the gender of the animals and of the results of the other techniques. The lizard was classified as a male when hemipenes were identified. Nineteen lizards were included in the study, 10 females and nine males. The hemipenes were seen on ultrasound in only two male lizards, and appeared as oval hypoechoic structures. Radiographically, hemipenes filled with contrast medium appeared as spindle‐shaped opacities. Noncontrast CT identified hemipenes in only two lizards, and these appeared as spindle‐shaped kinked structures with hyperattenuating content consistent with smegma. Hemipenes were correctly identified in all nine males using contrast CT (accuracy of 100%). Accuracy of contrast radiography was excellent (94.7%). Accuracy of ultrasound and of noncontrast CT was poor (64.3% and 63.1%, respectively). Findings from the current study supported the use of contrast CT or contrast radiography for gender determination in lizards.