Greenhouse gas emissions in response to straw incorporation,water management and their interaction in a paddy field in subtropical central China

A field experiment was conducted to study the effects of combination of straw incorporation and water management on fluxes of CH₄, N₂O and soil heterotrophic respiration (Rh) in a paddy field in subtropical central China by using a static opaque chamber/gas chromatography method. Four treatments were set up: two rice straw incorporation rates at 0 (S1) and 6 (S2) t ha^?1 combined with two water managements of intermittent irrigation (W1, with mid-season drainage) and continuous flooding (W2, without mid-season drainage). The cumulative seasonal CH₄ emissions for the treatments of S1W2, S2W1 and S2W2 increased significantly by 1.84, 5.47 and 6.63 times, respectively, while seasonal N₂O emissions decreased by 0.67, 0.29 and 1.21 times, respectively, as compared to S1W1 treatment. The significant increase in the cumulative Rh for the treatments S1W1, S2W1 and S2W2 were 0.54, 1.35 and 0.52 times, respectively, in comparison with S1W2. On a seasonal basis, both the CO₂-equivalents (CO₂e) and yield-scaled CO₂e (GHGI) of CH₄ and N₂O emissions increased with straw incorporation and continuous flooding, following the order: S2W2>S2W1>S1W2>S1W1. Thus, the practices of in season straw incorporation should be discouraged, while mid-season drainage is recommended in paddy rice production from a point view of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.     

Finding suitable growth models for turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) in aquaculture 1 (length application)

Growth data of two different commercial turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) strains reared in recirculating aquaculture systems were analysed with the aim to determine the most suitable model for turbot. To assess the model performance three different criteria were used: (1) The mean percentage deviation between the estimated length and actual length; (2) the residual standard error with corresponding degrees of freedom and (3) the Akaike information criterion. The analyses were carried out for each strain separately, for sexes within strains and for a pooled data set containing both strains and sexes. We tested a pre‐selection of six models, containing three to four parameters. Models were of monomolecular shape or sigmoid shape with a flexible point of inflection including the special case of monomolecular shape in defined cases of their parameters. The 4‐parametric Schnute model achieved best fit in 62% of all cases and criteria tested, followed by the also 4‐parametric generalized Michaelis–Menten equation in 48% and the 4‐parametric Janoschek model (38%). The von Bertalanffy growth function achieved only 29%, Brody 24% and a new flexible function 19% best fit. In a 1–1000 day growth‐simulation sigmoid shaped curves were produced by the Schnute model in 71% of cases. The Janoschek and the Michaelis–Menten model each produced sigmoid curves in 57% of all cases. This indicates that a flexible 4‐parametric function reflects the growth curve of turbot the best and that this curve is rather sigmoid than monomolecular shaped.     

Hygroscopic salts support the stomatal penetration of glyphosate and influence its biological efficacy

The objective of this study was to better understand the role of chaotropic and kosmotropic salts in stomatal uptake, a process that occurs in parallel with cuticular penetration and affects the bioefficacy of glyphosate. In Trial 1, salt solutions of kosmotropic (NH₄)₂SO₄ and chaotropic NaClO₃, with or without the organosilicone surfactant, Break‐Thru® S233 (BT), and with or without glyphosate, were prepared. In Trial 2, sodium salts with a kosmotropic‐to‐chaotropic nature (Na₂SO₄, NaCl, NaNO₃ or NaClO₃) and BT were prepared with or without glyphosate. At very high concentrations, the salts of a kosmotropic nature induced a slight decrease in the surface tension, whereas those of a chaotropic nature triggered a significant decrease in the surface tension. Solution droplets were deposited onto the leaves of Viola arvensis and Chenopodium album. The dried deposits were analyzed with an environmental scanning electron microscope. The salts formed structures linking the exterior to the interior of the stomata in the crystalline ([NH₄]₂SO₄) or amorphous (NaClO₃) form. However, the low surface tension alone did not appear to be the unique driving force for stomatal uptake. With glyphosate, amorphous globular structures of glyphosate salt were formed in the Na₂SO₄ (kosmotropic) solution. Differently, the salts of a rather chaotropic nature (NaNO₃ or NaClO₃) formed a colloidal matrix. In general, salt residues were observed over the periclinal cell walls and inside the stomatal chamber. Neither (NH₄)₂SO₄ nor Na₂SO₄ had a significant impact on glyphosate bioefficacy. However, the chaotropic salt, NaNO₃, enhanced the bioefficacy of glyphosate the most, with a performance that was comparable to that of the solution glyphosate + organosilicone surfactant.     

Isoflucypram,the first representative of a new succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicide subclass: Its chemical discovery and unusual binding mode

Succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) have played a crucial role in disease control to protect cereals as well as fruit and vegetables for more than a decade. Isoflucypram, the first representative of a newly installed subclass of SDHIs inside the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) family of complex II inhibitors, offers unparalleled long‐lasting efficacy against major foliar diseases in cereals. Herein we report the chemical optimization from early discovery towards isoflucypram and the first hypothesis of its altered binding mode in the ubiquinone binding site of succinate dehydrogenase. © 2020 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Crop height variability detection in a single field by multi-temporal terrestrial laser scanning

Information on crop height, crop growth and biomass distribution is important for crop management and environmental modelling. For the determination of these parameters, terrestrial laser scanning in combination with real-time kinematic GPS (RTK–GPS) measurements was conducted in a multi-temporal approach in two consecutive years within a single field. Therefore, a time-of-flight laser scanner was mounted on a tripod. For georeferencing of the point clouds, all eight to nine positions of the laser scanner and several reflective targets were measured by RTK–GPS. The surveys were carried out three to four times during the growing periods of 2008 (sugar-beet) and 2009 (mainly winter barley). Crop surface models were established for every survey date with a horizontal resolution of 1 m, which can be used to derive maps of plant height and plant growth. The detected crop heights were consistent with observations from panoramic images and manual measurements (R² = 0.53, RMSE = 0.1 m). Topographic and soil parameters were used for statistical analysis of the detected variability of crop height and significant correlations were found. Regression analysis (R² < 0.31) emphasized the uncertainty of basic relations between the selected parameters and crop height variability within one field. Likewise, these patterns compared with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) derived from satellite imagery show only minor significant correlations (r < 0.44).     

Nodulation and root growth increase in lower soil layers of water‐limited faba bean intercropped with wheat

Below‐ground niche complementarity in legume–cereal intercrops may improve resource use efficiency and root adaptability to environmental constraints. However, the effect of water limitation on legume rooting and nodulation patterns in intercropping is poorly understood. To advance our knowledge of mechanisms involved in water‐limitation response, faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown as mono‐ and intercrops in soil‐filled plexiglass rhizoboxes under water sufficiency (80% of water‐holding capacity) and water limitation (30% of water‐holding capacity). We examined whether intercropping facilitates below‐ground niche complementarity under water limitation via interspecific root stratification coupled with modified nodulation patterns. While no significant treatment effects were measured in intercropped wheat growth parameters, water limitation induced a decrease in shoot and root biomass of monocropped wheat. Likewise, shoot biomass and height, and root length of monocropped faba bean significantly decreased under water limitation. Conversely, water limitation stimulated root biomass of intercropped faba bean in the lower soil layer (15–30 cm soil depth). Similarly, total nodule number of faba bean roots as well as nodule number in the lower soil layer increased under intercropping regardless of water availability. Under water limitation, intercropping also led to a significant increased nodule biomass (48%) in the lower soil layer as compared to monocropping. The enhanced nodulation in the lower soil layer and the associated increase in root and shoot growth provides evidence for a shift in niche occupancy when intercropped with wheat, which improves water‐limited faba bean performance.     

How to consider history in landscape ecology: patterns,processes, and pathways

Landscape Ecology - Landscape ecology early on developed the awareness that central objects of investigation are not stable over time and therefore the historical dimension must be included, or at...     

通过调整家禽营养改善垫料质量及其生产性能

家禽湿垫料综合征可造成重大的经济损失。据Butchers和Miles（2009）的研究,垫料质量是家禽生产的关键要素之一。如果垫料质量未被维持在一个可接受的水平上,那么垫料内细菌负荷极高和不卫生的生长条件可能会导致鸡舍内出现异味（包括氨）增加、昆虫滋生（尤其是蝇类）、羽毛脏乱、足垫病变及胸部水泡等问题。