Assessing the efficacy and impact of management of an invasive species in a protected area: Poa annua on sub‐Antarctic Macquarie Island

Plant eradication is difficult, particularly in remote, protected areas. The Southern Ocean Islands are very isolated and highly protected, but the flora contains many alien plants. Small restricted populations have been eradicated, but eradication of established species has proven difficult. A better understanding of the efficacy of control methods at sub‐Antarctic temperatures and their off‐target impacts may increase eradication success. With interest in controlling non‐native Poa annua in the region, we aimed to determine if physical and chemical methods can control P. annua (the sub‐Antarctic biotype) in sub‐Antarctic conditions and examined their impact on native plants. We quantified the effectiveness of physical control methods on P. annua in situ on sub‐Antarctic Macquarie Island through field‐based experiments and assessed their selectivity on P. annua compared with native grasses. We also quantified the effectiveness of several herbicides on P. annua at sub‐Antarctic temperatures and assessed their selectivity on native grasses. Of the four physical disturbance methods tested, none effectively reduced P. annua cover as one‐off treatments. Of the herbicide treatments, glyphosate and trifloxysulfuron sodium were effective and were less damaging to native grass species, indicating potential selectivity. Physical control was of limited effectiveness, but did not affect native species richness. An integrated weed management programme utilising the strategic use of selective herbicides with follow‐up chemical and physical intervention may balance control and biodiversity outcomes. This research highlights the importance of site‐specific testing of control methods and understanding off‐target impacts of control when managing alien plant species in protected areas.     

Impact of sampling and storage technique,and duration of storage,on the composition of fresh grass when analysed using near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of sampling technique (pluck or cut), storage duration (immediate analysis, 24‐h or 48‐h), storage temperature (ambient or chilled) and storage conditions (air present, air excluded or breathable) on the composition of fresh grass sampled from a sward managed to simulate grazing. Treatments were repeated across four sampling dates, with grass samples stored in grip seal bags prior to analysis using near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Grass sampled by ‘pluck’ had a higher crude protein and ME content, and a lower acid detergent fibre (ADF) content, compared to that sampled by ‘cut’. Grass stored for 48 h had a lower water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and ME content and a higher ADF content than for immediate analysis. Samples stored for 24 h did not differ from immediate analysis. Grass stored at ambient temperature had a lower WSC and ME content compared to immediate analysis. Grass stored under ‘breathable’ conditions had a lower ME content and higher ADF content than immediate analysis or samples stored with air present or air excluded. It is recommended that grass for analysis should be sampled by cutting, stored chilled (4°C) in a sealed bag to minimize exposure to oxygen and analysed within 24 h of harvest.     

Calibration and validation of optical chlorophyll‐measuring devices for use in predicting crude protein concentration in tropical grass herbage

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the Fieldscout CM 1000 NDVI and Yara N‐Tester as easy‐to‐use and cost‐effective tools for predicting foliar chlorophylls (a, b and total) and crude protein (CP) concentrations in herbage from three tropical grass species. Optical chlorophyll measurements were taken at three stages (4, 8 and 12 weeks) of regrowth maturity in Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and Mulato II (Brachiaria hybrid) and at 6 and 12 weeks maturity in Paspalum spp (Paspalum atratum). Grass samples were harvested subsequent to optical measurements for laboratory analysis to determine CP and solvent‐extractable chlorophylls (a, b and total) concentrations. Optical chlorophyll measurements and CP concentrations were highly correlated (Yara N‐Tester: r² = 0·77–0·89; Fieldscout CM 1000 NDVI: r² = 0·52–0·84). Crude protein prediction models from the Yara N‐Tester and Fieldscout CM 1000 NDVI accounted for 70–89% and 44–73% CP variability, respectively, in Mulato II and Guinea grass. The Yara N‐tester produced more accurate and reliable CP estimates based on very high concordance correlation coefficient [CCC (0·73–0·91)] and low rMSPE, mean and regression bias. It is concluded that the Yara N‐Tester produces more accurate and reliable CP estimates of tropical pastures.     

Dietary quercetin improved the growth,antioxidation, and flesh quality of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

To investigate the effects of dietary quercetin on growth, antioxidation, and flesh quality of grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, six diets were prepared with quercetin inclusion rates of 0 (control diet), 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 g/kg. Grass carp with a body weight of 13.3 ± 0.1 g were fed with one of the six diets for 60 days. The weight gain (WG) showed a quadratic relationship with dietary quercetin levels; the supplementation of 0.4 g/kg quercetin significantly improved WG (+4.73%) and decreased feed conversion ratio (?0.06) (p < .05) when compared to those of the control group. The intestinal fat ratio was reduced by the addition of 0.2 or 0.4 g/kg of quercetin (p < .05), and serum activities of alkaline phosphatase and superoxide dismutase were increased by the addition of 0.4 and 0.6 g/kg of quercetin (p < .05). The inclusion of 0.2–0.6 g/kg of quercetin increased the contents of delicious amino acids and decreased the cooking loss of flesh (p < .05). Flesh collagen content was increased by the addition of 0.4–0.8 g/kg of quercetin (p < .05). In conclusion, dietary quercetin could improve the growth and enhance the antioxidation and flesh quality of grass carp, with the recommended supplemental level of quercetin was 0.37 g/kg.     

灌溉和生草对猕猴桃园土壤质量的影响

为探明灌溉和生草对猕猴桃园土壤质量的影响,于2016—2017年在陕西省眉县猕猴桃园试验地分别布设地面灌溉+除草(Ⅰ)、地面灌溉+自然生草(Ⅱ)、滴灌+除草(Ⅲ)和滴灌+自然生草(Ⅳ)4种处理,对试验地0～50 cm土层的土壤机械组成、物理和化学性质进行了统计分析,并利用土壤质量综合指数对土壤质量进行了评价,结果表明:与其他处理相比,Ⅲ处理使0～30 cm土层土壤容重和砂粒质量分数分别降低了0.02～0.24g·cm~(-3)和0.36%～5.25%,使土壤孔隙度、田间持水量、黏粒质量分数和土壤粒径分形维数分别增大了0.17%～7.17%、0.59%～2.53%、0.99%～7.15%和0.01～0.13;Ⅳ处理在0～30 cm土层中的速效磷和碱解氮与Ⅰ、Ⅱ处理无差异,显著高于Ⅲ处理10.75～109.55 mg·kg~(-1)和20.74～78.91 mg·kg~(-1)(P0.05),可使0～50 cm土层的速效钾、速效磷和碱解氮分别达到猕猴桃施肥标准的丰富、中等及中等水平;与其他处理相比,Ⅳ处理可使0～50 cm土层土壤黏粒质量分数增加了1.21%～2.66%,土壤粉粒质量分数减少了0.81%～1.41%,使土壤分形维数显著增加(P0.05),土壤质量综合指数最大,达0.619。因此,滴灌+自然生草(Ⅳ)的管理方式是猕猴桃园土地可持续性利用的有效措施。     

Soil carbon increases with long-term cattle stocking in northern temperate grasslands

Grassland management aimed at enhancing carbon (C) in soil is an important tool in mitigation of rising atmospheric CO₂, yet little is known of how grassland soil C changes with livestock stocking rate (SR). We relate soil organic and inorganic C mass (t ha⁻¹ to 60 cm depth) with cattle stocking over periods of 7–27 year for 32 paddocks distributed across nine community pastures in the mixed-grass prairie of Saskatchewan, Canada. Initial analysis comparing Akaike information criterion models showed that cattle SR explained a greater proportion of variance in soil C, particularly soil organic C, than rainfall. Soil organic C mass increased with cattle SR (R² = .293; p = .001), even when the latter was normalized to account for differences in vegetation composition and growing conditions among pastures. Normalized SR varied from 0.49 to 2.30 times recommended levels, over which SOC increased from 24.7 to 57.4 t ha⁻¹. Increases in soil organic C under greater stocking coincided with increased abundance of introduced vegetation, particularly the rhizomatous grass Poa pratensis. Inorganic soil C accounted for 34.6% of total soil C, being particularly large below 30 cm soil depth, but did not vary with stocking rate. These findings indicate that both organic and inorganic C are important pools of C in northern temperate grassland soils, with soil organic C positively associated with long-term cattle SR. Further studies are recommended to understand more fully the mechanisms regulating grazing impacts on soil C mass in northern temperate grasslands.     

我国生态草牧业政策梳理及评价

草牧业是以草为基础的畜牧业,是在传统畜牧业和草业基础上提升的新型生态草畜产业。我国草原面积近60亿亩,草地畜牧业发展拥有巨大潜力,如何实现草地资源可持续利用是当前政策制定者面临的重要任务与挑战。本研究借鉴柳卸林的政策分析框架,梳理2000年以来我国政府颁布的草牧业政策,并基于呼伦贝尔地区的农、牧户调研,辨识草牧业发展的政策缺口,厘清当地生态草牧业发展中不同利益相关者的需求与困境,为长期的政策制定提供支撑。     

严格意义的无霜期统计方法探讨

根据霜冻和无霜期对农作物生长的影响及农业气候区划的指导意义,比较无霜期与严格意义上的“无冻期”的关系和区别,分析霜冻出现的初、终日与霜、结冰现象及气温、地面温度、草面温度≤0℃出现的初日、终日之间的关系,探讨“无霜冻期”的合理统计方法,并通过对鄂东地区的麻城、浠水、黄石三地的无霜期和“无冻期”的统计,总结两者的差异和特征,从而为正确理解和统计无霜冻期,提出一套新的观点和方法,为指导农业生产和农业气候区划提供依据。     

长江下游农区金花菜叶蛋白提取工艺优化及关键参数特征

为改进和优化金花菜(Medicago polymorpha)叶蛋白提取的工艺环节,并提高叶蛋白提取率及提取物纯度等参数指标,本研究选择长江下游农区广泛种植的金花菜为原料,通过设置较为合理科学的料液比、提取温度、加热时间、pH以及提取剂(酸)种类进行叶蛋白提取单因素试验。结果表明:各单因素试验最佳参数分别为料液比1∶3、提取温度70℃、加热时间15 min、pH 4、提取剂(酸)为盐酸。基于清洁安全生产角度,选择了单因素试验中提取指标同样较高的柠檬酸作为提取剂,设置了料液比、pH及提取温度的3因素3水平响应面试验,发现影响叶蛋白提取率的因素依次为pH、提取温度、料液比。得到最佳提取工艺:料液比1∶3、pH 4.1、提取温度72℃,相应的叶蛋白提取率为49.63%,提取物纯度为56.87%。本研究优化的技术工艺及相关参数指标可为农区豆科草类植物多元化利用及叶蛋白工业化生产提供一定的技术支撑和相关借鉴。     

添加芽孢杆菌对草鱼池塘中真核微生物的影响

为了研究添加芽孢杆菌对池塘中真核微生物群落结构和理化因子的影响,采用高通量测序技术分析了实验组(添加芽孢杆菌池塘)与对照组(普通池塘)水体真核微生物群落结构,同时分析了两组池塘的水体理化指标。结果表明:8、9月实验组池塘水体中TN、NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N含量显著低于对照组(P0.05)。水体中梅尼小环藻(Cyclotella meneghiniana)、红囊藻(Hedriocystis)、蓝隐藻(Chroomonas)、丝孢酵母属(Trichosporon)和小环藻属(Cyclotella)真核微生物丰度显著高于对照组(P0.05)。实验组池塘水体真核微生物Chao1指数和Shannon指数显著高于对照组(P0.05)。实验结果证实:通过向池塘添加芽孢杆菌,可以改变水体中真核微生物群落的结构,从而实现对池塘理化因子的调节。研究结果对于降低水产养殖尾水对水域环境的污染具有一定的意义。