Effect of dietary protein on intake,nutrients utilization,nitrogen balance,blood metabolites,growth and puberty in growing Bhadawari buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) heifers

Fifteen Bhadawari buffalo heifers of 207?±?9.78 kg mean body weight were randomly distributed into three dietary groups to evaluate the effect of protein level on nutrient utilization, nitrogen (N) balance, growth rate, blood metabolites, and puberty. All animals were offered wheat straw-berseem diets supplemented with concentrate mixtures of similar energy (2.7 Mcal/kg) and different protein levels (14.3–22 %). Animals of standard-protein group (SPG) were offered protein and energy as per requirement, while animals of low-protein group (LPG) and high-protein group (HPG) were fed 20 % less and 20 % more protein, respectively, than SPG. Feed dry matter (DM) and metabolizable energy (ME) intake (% body wt. and g/kg w^0.75) were similar for all three diets; however, the crude protein (CP) and digestible crude protein (DCP) intake on percent body weight and per kilogram metabolic weight was higher (P?<?0.05) in HPG than in SPG or LPG. Digestibility of CP, cellulose, and hemicellulose was higher (P?<?0.05) in HPG versus LPG. Fecal N excretion was similar, while urinary N excretion was highest (P?<?0.05) in HPG (74.83 g/day) compared with SPG (50.03 g/day) and LPG (47.88 g/day), which resulted in lower N retention in HPG than in the other dietary groups. Level of dietary N had no effect on blood metabolites viz. glucose, urea, and N. Digestible energy (DE) and ME contents of diets were identical, while DCP contents were higher (P?<?0.05) in HPG than in LPG. Feed and nutrient (CP and ME) conversion efficiency to produce a unit kilogram weight gain was identical among the dietary groups. Dietary protein level had no effect on the heifer’s weight and age at puberty. The mean growth rate of heifers at 240 days was higher (P?>?0.05) in SPG (330.8 g/day) than in LPG (296.7 g/day), while the animals gained more weight in January to March months and the lowest weight in May to July months. Protein level had no effect on conception rate of heifers. Results revealed that 20 % higher or less protein than the ICAR requirement had no significant (P?>?0.05) on feed intake, nutrient conversion efficiency for weight gain, heifer growth, and puberty; however, 20 % more protein increased urinary N loss.

     

Drip irrigation and nitrogen fertilization alter phenological development and yield of spring maize (Zea mays L.) under semi-arid conditions

Abstract

Maize response to deficit water and nitrogen for assessing phenological development and yield was studied under semi-arid conditions. Experiment consisting three drip irrigation levels, replenish 60 (DI₆₀), 80 (DI₈₀) and 100 percent (DI₁₀₀) of cumulative pan evaporation, and four nitrogen doses 50 (RN₅₀), 75 (RN₇₅), 100 (RN₁₀₀) and 125 (RN₁₂₅) per cent of recommended nitrogen. A Furrow irrigated treatment was kept as control/check. Significant earliness in visibility of collar of 8^th leaf, tasseling, silking and significant delay in dough stage and physiological maturity was recorded under well water treatment DI₁₀₀ as compared to DI₆₀. Days to collar of 8^th leaf, tasseling and silking had significant negative correlation, and duration of yield formation phase and days to physiological maturity had significant positive correlation with grain yield. Higher DM production, longer yield formation phase and late physiological maturity led to significantly higher grain yield under DI₁₀₀. In case of nitrogen levels, phonological characteristics like collar of 8^th leaf, tasseling and silking were significantly delayed, and dough stage and physiological maturity were advanced under nitrogen deficit treatment RN₅₀ as compared to RN₁₀₀ and RN₁₂₅. Significantly higher dry matter production and longer yield formation phase observed led to significant higher SCY under RN₁₀₀ and RN₁₂₅ as compared to RN₅₀. Yield formation phase was significantly longer under drip irrigated crop as compared to control during 2^nd year of study. Crop phenological development significantly affected by drip irrigation regimes and nitrogen levels, and there was significant correlation between phenological stages development and grain yield.     

Genetics of resistance to Sesamia inferens infestation and its correlation with yield in maize

Sesamia inferens (Walker) causes 25.7–78.9% losses in maize production in South and South‐East Asia. The genetic basis of host plant resistance is the prerequisite for resistance breeding. Twenty‐four populations derived from S. inferens resistant × susceptible inbreds were used to study the genetic regulation of resistance to S. inferens in maize, to determine the importance of genetic effects through generation mean analysis (GMA) and to understand correlation between resistance and yield. Resistant and susceptible inbreds differed significantly in leaf and stem injury ratings (LSIR), a measure of host plant resistance. Mean LSIR range among resistant and susceptible parents was 2.15–2.55 and 7.83–8.22, respectively. The broad‐sense heritability ranged from 0.40 to 0.71, and the mean number of effective factors ranged from 1.9 to 2.6. The resistance against S. inferens was largely governed by additive × additive (i), followed by dominance (d) and additive (a) gene effects. Significant negative correlation (?0.27 to ?0.96) was observed between LSIR and yield. The findings suggest reciprocal recurrent selection for development of new inbreds with resistance followed by their involvement in hybrid development to exploit additive and non‐additive gene effects/variance.     

Microbial biomass and activity indices after organic substrate addition to a selenium-contaminated soil

High concentrations of Se in soil might have negative effects on microorganisms. For this reason, the effect of organic substrate addition (glucose + maize straw) on Se volatilisation in relation to changes in microbial biomass and activity indices was investigated using an artificially Se-contaminated soil. Microbial biomass N was reduced on average by more than 50% after substrate addition, but adenylate energy charge (AEC) and metabolic quotient qCO₂ were both increased. The Se content decreased by nearly 30% only with the addition of the organic substrate at 25°C. No significant Se loss occurred without substrate at 25°C or with substrate at 5°C. In the two treatments with substrate addition, the substrate-derived CO₂ evolution was about 30% lower with Se addition than without. In contrast, Se had no effect on any of the other soil microbial indices analysed, i.e. microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), AEC, ATP-to-microbial biomass C, and qCO₂.     

Evidence of a global magma ocean in Io's interior

Extensive volcanism and high-temperature lavas hint at a global magma reservoir in Io, but no direct evidence has been available. We exploited Jupiter's rotating magnetic field as a sounding signal and show that the magnetometer data collected by the Galileo spacecraft near Io provide evidence of electromagnetic induction from a global conducting layer. We demonstrate that a completely solid mantle provides insufficient response to explain the magnetometer observations, but a global subsurface magma layer with a thickness of over 50 kilometers and a rock melt fraction of 20% or more is fully consistent with the observations. We also place a stronger upper limit of about 110 nanoteslas (surface equatorial field) on the dynamo dipolar field generated inside Io.     

Impact of organic manures with and without mineral fertilizers on soil chemical and biological properties under tropical conditions

Soils receiving organic manures with and without chemical fertilizers for the last 7 yr with pearlmillet–wheat cropping sequence were compared for soil chemical and biological properties. The application of farmyard manure, poultry manure, and sugarcane filter cake alone or in combination with chemical fertilizers improved the soil organic C, total N, P, and K status. The increase in soil microbial‐biomass C and N was observed in soils receiving organic manures only or with the combined application of organic manures and chemical fertilizers compared to soils receiving chemical fertilizers only. Basal and glucose‐induced respiration, potentially mineralizable N, and arginine ammonification were higher in soils amended with organic manures with or without chemical fertilizers, indicating that more active microflora is associated with organic and integrated system using organic manures and chemical fertilizers together which is important for nutrient cycling.     

Selection of soil physical quality indicators in relation to soil erodibility

Soil quality indices based on soil characteristics can be used to assess the sustainability of soil and to assist in soil management decisions. Principal component analysis (PCA) technique was used to identify dominant soil characteristics in relation to soil erodibility in watersheds of submontane Punjab (India). Soil physical and chemical characteristics were evaluated for four locations with four land uses at each location whereas runoff, soil loss and soil erodibility were determined at two locations under natural rainfall conditions and at four locations under simulated rainfall conditions. PCA was performed on 22 physical and chemical soil characteristics, which grouped these soil characteristics into five distinct principal components (PCs). These five PCs namely soil hydraulic factor, density factor, structural factor, sand factor and cation factor, explained 86% variability in data. These PCs also explained 86, 96 and 93% variability under natural rainfall conditions and 75, 76 and 77% variability under simulated rainfall conditions in relation to runoff, soil loss and soil erodibility, respectively. Soil total organic carbon content can be considered as dynamic soil physical quality indicator and can be used to monitor temporal and spatial changes in soil quality.     

Comparison of methods for measuring heavy metals and total phosphorus in soils contaminated by different sources

The relationships between the concentrations of zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr) as measured by X-ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), aqua regia, and HNO₃ pressure digestion were studied in soil samples covering a wide range of heavy metal concentrations. The soils were contaminated by sewage sludge, exhaust depositions, river sediments of mining residues, and dump material. The question was addressed whether the source of heavy metals or other soil properties affect the relationship between these three methods. The aqua regia-digestible fraction of the five heavy metals reached on average 64% of the XRF-detectable content. The pressure accelerated HNO₃-digestible fraction of the five heavy metals was on average 71% of the XRF-detectable content; the respective phosphorus (P) fraction reached a median of 75%. This suggests that HNO₃ pressure digestion can also be used for characterizing the total P content of soils. Aqua regia extraction and HNO₃ pressure digestion gave similar values for Zn, Pb, and Cu, which dominate the heavy metal load of most contamination sources. Significantly higher Cr values were obtained by HNO₃ pressure digestion than by aqua regia extraction. Additionally, the Cr contents were affected by the source, e.g. sewage sludge had relatively high contents of aqua regia and HNO₃ pressure extractable contents in comparison to the XRF values. The element-specific relationships between the three methods were all highly significant. However, the respective multiple linear regression models were in most cases affected by soil organic carbon (C), in some cases by clay or soil pH.     

Variation in vegetation composition,biomass production,and carbon storage in ridge top forests of high mountains of Garhwal Himalaya

Abstract

The present study was aimed to anticipate how forest composition, regeneration, biomass production, and carbon storage vary in the ridge top forests of the high mountains of Garhwal Himalaya. For this purpose five major forest types—(a) Pinus wallichiana, (b) Quercus semecarpifolia, (c) Cedrus deodara, (d) Abies spectabilis, and (e) Betula utilis mixed forests—were selected on different ridge tops in the Bhagirathi Catchment Area of the Uttarkashi District of Garhwal Himalaya. The highest species richness (10 species) and stand density (804 ± 184.5 stems ha^?1) were recorded in Abies spectabilis forests, whereas lowest species richness (4 species) and species density (428 ± 144.7 stems ha^?1) were found in Quercus semecarpifolia forests. The total basal cover (TBC) values were maximum (91.1 ± 24.4 m² ha^?1) in Cedrus deodara forests and minimum (26.5 ± 11.7 m² ha^?1) in Pinus wallichiana forests. The highest total biomass density (TBD) (464.2 ± 152.5 Mg ha^?1) and total carbon density (TCD; 208.9 ± 68.6 Mg C ha^?1) values were recorded for Cedrus deodara forests; however, lowest TBD (283.4 ± 74.8 Mg ha^?1) and TCD (127.5 ± 33.7 Mg C ha^?1) values for Quercus semecarpifolia forests. Our study suggests that Abies spectabilis-dominated forests should be encouraged for biodiversity enrichment and reducing carbon emissions on ridge top forests of high mountains.