Ingestive behaviour of beef cattle offered different forms of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)†

A change-over design was used to establish the ingestive behaviour of twelve adult Angus cows (Bos taurus), live weight (LW) of 475 ± 18 kg, while grazing luceme (Medicago sativa L.) (T₁), eating from a swath of freshly cut lucerne (T₂), or eating wilted lucerne from a swath (T₃). In the first experiment, the herbage dry matter (DM) allowance was 4-7 kg h^?1 and in T₁ the available herbage DM mass (>5 cm) was 2892 kg ha^?1. Herbage DM intake was 2.5, 1.6 and 2.0 kg h^?1 (0.53,0.35 and 0.41 kg (100 kg LW)^?1h^?1) for T₁, T₂ and T₃, respectively. Cattle grazed at 29 bites min^?1 and ate the swathed lucerne at 6 bites min^?1. Herbage DM intake per bite was 1-2, 4-9 and 6-7 (2-5,104 and 14-4 mg(kg LW)^?1)for T₁, T₂ and T₃, respectively. The DM content of the luceme was 227, 263 and 309 g kg^?1 for the same sequence. In a second experiment with luceme of available herbage DM mass of 5321 kg ha^?1 and an allowance of 7- 3 kg h^?1 cows grazed lucerne at 2-9 kg h^?1, ate freshly cut material at 21 kg h^?1 and wilted herbage at 25 kg h^?1 (0.61, 0.45 and 0.52 kg (100 kg LW)^?1h^?1), respectively. Leaf accounted for 80%, 68% and 54% of intake for T₁, T₂ and T₃, respectively. Swathing lucerne reduced the diet selectivity by forcing cattle to take large bites that required many jaw movements to form a bolus that could be swallowed. It appeared that the mechanics of bolus formation determined ingestive behaviour of cattle eating swathed herbage.     

Ingestive behaviour of beef cattle grazing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)†

Development of simulation models of grazing beef cattle requires measurement of the components of the ingestive process and the establishment of relationships between these components and the structure of the sward. The ingestive behaviour of eight half-sib Angus steers (live weight (LW), x?= 270 kg) grazing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was studied at three stages of maturity (26, 40 and 47 days of regrowth) and at four allowances of herbage dry matter (DM) (1·0, 1·5, 20 and 2·5 kg per 100 kg LW) at each of two daily grazing sessions. A tethering system of grazing was used in which the experimental unit was a tethered steer and its plot for one grazing session. Grazing sessions commenced at 08.00 and 14.00 h EDT. Intake (DM) increased linearly from 1·98 kg per steer session at a DM allowance of 1 kg (100 kg LW)^?1 to 2 89 kg steer session at an allowance of 2·5 kg (100 kg LW) ^?1 as utilization of herbage declined linearly from 0·69 to 0·43. Herbage DM in take per bite increased from 1 0 g at 1 kg (100 kg LW) ^?1 allowance to 1·5 g at 2·5 kg (100 kg LW) ^?1 allowance. Rates of biting were not affected by herbage allowance and averaged 21 bites min^?1. Dry matter intake increased from 1·77 to 3 41 kg per steer session as the alfalfa matured and herbage mass changed from 1500 to 4656 kg ha^?1. Mean rates of biting were 24 bites min^?1 for steers grazing the youngest alfalfa and 16 bites min^?1 for steers on the oldest forage. Herbage DM intakes per bite were 1·1 g and 1·7 g at the same stages. Rates of DM intake approached 2 kg h^?1 and maximum daily DM intake was estimated at 2 75 kg (100 kg LW) ^?1. Intake of alfalfa was limited by allowance and mass of herbage above a canopy horizon of 20 cm and, to a lesser extent, by the length of fast.     

Comparative studies of ingestive behaviour and diet composition in oesophageal-fistulated and non-fistulated cows and sheep

A series of comparisons was made of the bite rates of fistulated and non-fistulated cattle and sheep, grazing four grassy hill plant communities over four years. Both bite rates and grazing times were recorded on two occasions. Comparative observations were also made on faecal cuticle concentrations on one grassy and one dwarf shrub community and on faecal ash, nitrogen (N) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) concentrations throughout one year.
Faecal N concentrations were slightly but consistently higher in fistulates than in non-fistulates, but faecal ADF and ash concentrations and the relative proportions of faecal cuticle fragments were similar and did not indicate differences in either diet composition or digestive efficiency. Bite rates did not differ significantly between fistulates and non-fistulates, except on the two occasions when fistulates carried Vibracorders to measure grazing time without preliminary training, and grazing times did not differ significantly. There were significant differences between cattle and sheep in most variables.
On the basis of this evidence, there is no reason to expect that fistulated and non-fistulated animals of similar history and nutritional background will differ in grazing behaviour or diet composition.     

Establishment of lucerne after maize in conservation tillage systems†

Extensive slug damage reported for lucerne ( Medicago sativa L.) establishment in grass sod and small grain fields when using conservation tillage prompted this 3-year study on establishing lucerne in maize ( Zea mays L.). Different crop residues were created by harvesting maize for grain and silage and including a silage+rye ( Secale cereale L.) winter cover crop treatment. Conventional tillage (ploughed in spring) following grain harvest was included as a control. In addition, a combination treatment of methiocarb bait broadcast on the surface and carbofuran granules applied in the furrow with the seed was compared with an untreated control. Finally, three planting dates, early and late April and late May, simulated the spring planting season. Planting lucerne in the different maize residues had a significant effect on lucerne yields, especially the silage+rye residue treatment, which caused the lowest lucerne yields. Highest yields of lucerne occurred when it was planted after silage, a treatment in which residue was minimal.
The earliest planting date gave the highest lucerne yields in the establishment year. Slugs did not reduce the establishment of lucerne in any maize residue, nor were lucerne yields affected by slug feeding. This was attributed to the low slug populations observed early in the growing season. Establishing and producing lucerne in maize residues was more successful in this study because of the lower slug populations than those usually encountered in grass sod or small grain residues.     

Effect of structure of a tropical pasture on ingestive behaviour, digestibility of diet and daily intake by grazing cattle

The effect of the structure of a tropical pasture, based on Dichanthium spp., on the ingestive behaviour, in vivo digestibility of the diet and herbage intake by eight Creole tethered heifers was studied. Two levels of nitrogen fertilizer (0 and 50 kg ha^?1) were applied to plots after each grazing cycle and there were 28 d between each of the three grazing cycles. Four heifers grazed individual subplots daily on each plot for 14 d in each of the successive grazing cycles. Simultaneous measurements of bite depth, bite mass, biting rate, short‐term intake rate and daily grazing time were made in two 4‐d periods at the end of each 14‐d period. The in vivo organic matter digestibility (OMD) and daily herbage organic matter intake (OMI, expressed on a kg LW^0·75 basis) were also measured at the same times. Relationships among pasture characteristics and ingestive behaviour were similar to those reported in other short‐term studies: pasture height was highly correlated with bite depth, bite mass and biting rate (r = 0·91, r =0·79 and r = ?0·68, respectively, P < 0·001). Pasture variables had lower correlations with grazing time and short‐term intake rate than with bite depth, bite mass and biting rate. Pasture structure was more highly correlated with OMD than OMI: leaf mass and length and also the extended tiller length were highly correlated with OMD (r = 0·77, r = 0·76 and r = 0·72, respectively, P < 0·001) whereas the crude protein concentration of the herbage was correlated with OMI and digestible OMI (r = 0·50 and r = 0·69, respectively, P < 0·001). Ingestive behaviour variables, as well as OMD, were correlated more with pasture characteristics than was OMI.     

The effects of variation in sward characteristics upon the ingestive behaviour and herbage intake of calves and lambs under a continuous stocking management

Groups of calves and lambs grazed on plots of S23 perennial ryegrass, in successive periods of 2, 2 and 3 weeks, at stocking rates which resulted in a slow change in herbage mass on each plot and measurements were made of ingestive behaviour (biting rate, bite size and grazing time) and herbage intake. As the green herbage mass was progressively reduced from approx. 3000 to 1000 kg OM per ha between periods, biting rate and grazing time increased, but insufficiently to offset the rapid fall in bite size so that herbage intake declined by 24% and 39% for calves and lambs respectively. Patterns of response were similar in calves and lambs, though in all parameters except biting rate the lambs appeared to be more sensitive than the calves to changes in sward conditions and there was no evidence that lambs were better adapted to grazing on short swards than calves. Intake increased in both calves and lambs up to levels of 2500–3000 kg green OM per ha, though this response may have been attributable in part to the reinforcing effects of increasing herbage mass and diet digestibility. Lambs consistently selected a more digestible diet than calves. Both calves and lambs increased grazing time substantially in response to limiting sward conditions, in contrast to results in earlier strip-grazing trials with calves, thus supporting the suggestion that the lack of response under strip-grazing is a characteristic of the management imposed.     

Intake and behaviour responses by sheep to changes in sward characteristics under continuous stocking

Perennial ryegrass pastures were maintained at sward surface heights (SSH) of 30, 60, 90 and 120 mm by continuous variable stocking using lactating ewes and their twin lambs in spring and non-lactating (dry) ewes in autumn.
The effects of SSH on ingestive behaviour, herbage intake, animal performance and sward structure and production were measured in spring, and again in autumn, when an additional SSH of 20 mm was also established.
In spring, differences in sward structure were quickly established with mean tiller numbers of 41 000, 30 000, 21 000 and 19 000 m⁻² and leaf area indices (LAI) of 1·5, 2·2, 3·3 and 4·1 at SSH of 30 to 120, respectively. By autumn the mean tiller numbers had fallen to 26 000, 26 000, 23 000, 18 000 and 13 000 m⁻² and LAI to 1·0, 1·1, 1·5. 2·0 and 1·5 for treatments 20 to 120.
The mean stocking rates for the ewes in spring were 27, 20, 22, and 19 ewes ha⁻¹ and growth rates of their lambs were 208, 275, 250 and 263 g d⁻¹ for treatments 30 to 120. In autumn the stocking rates maintained for dry ewes were 22, 15, 9, 4 and 0 for treatments 20 to 120.
In spring, both grazing times (GT) and prehension biting rate (BR) were negatively correlated with SSH, while bite mass (BM) was positively correlated with SSH. However, mean daily intakes of organic matter (OM), were reduced only for animals grazing the 30 mm sward.
In autumn, intake rate was lower only for the animals grazing the 20mm sward and GT and BR were not significantly affected by SSH.
Relationships between SSH and, components of ingestive behaviour and intake, are presented and the control mechanisms involved are discussed. The results showed that the optimum sward surface height for continuously stocked swards, grazed by sheep, Was between 30 mm and 60 mm.     

Intake and behaviour responses by sheep to changes in sward characteristics under rotational grazing

A 10-week grazing experiment was conducted on a perennial ryegrass sward with lactating ewes and their twin lambs. Three paddocks were rotationally grazed with rest periods of from 4 to 5 weeks. Sward surface heights at the start of each grazing were 145, 259 and 250mni for treatments RG1, RG2 and RG3. A further four paddocks were maintained by continuous variable stocking (CS) at sward surface heights (SSHs) of about 30, 60, 90 and 120mm. Sward and animal measurements were made on the two different grazing managements as the RG swards were grazed down, giving measurements at similar sward heights for treatments RG and CS.
There was less green leaf and the total herbage mass present under RG was less than on CS swards at the same sward heights, demonstrating the differences in structure between rotationally and continuously grazed swards.
Regression analysis of animal factors on sward factors showed that grazing behaviour was more highly correlated with green leaf mass than SSH or any of the other sward measurements. On the RG swards, maximum intake per animal was reached at about 1500 kg green leaf mass ha⁻¹. A SSH of 60mm allowed the CS ewes to achieve the highest intake rate, but at this height the ewes on treatments RG2 and RG3 were restricted to approximately half this rate. The results suggest that green leaf mass or leaf area index, rather than sward surface height, could be used as a rational basis to relate intake of herbage to sward state for swards changing rapidly in leaf to stem ratio.     

The effects of poloxalene on ingestion by cattle grazing Lucerne†

The mechanisms that terminate meals of cattle grazing lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) are not well defined. Sub-acute bloat may lead to cessation of grazing and, consequently, surface active substances used in the treatment and prevention of bloat, such as poloxalene, may extend grazing meals and increase herbage intake. Twelve mature Angus cows (Bos taurus) were offered 0, 12·5 and 25·0 g poloxalene in 0·5 kg of crushed maize (Zea mays L.) kernels each day, immediately before two consecutive 1-h measured parts of a grazing meal on 21- to 24-day-old lucerne swards with a herbage dry matter (DM) mass (> 5 cm) of 2·03 t ha^?1 and herbage DM mass allowance of 3·55 kg hd^?1h^?1. Total herbage DM intake was 2·52 kg hd^?1 during the first hour and 1·54 kg hd^?1 during the second hour of the 2-h grazing meal. Differences in herbage intake were attributable to a cessation of grazing. Mean rates of biting were 26·3 and 14·8 bites min^?1 and mean DM intakes per bite were 1·82 and 4·38 g during the first and second part of meals, respectively. Poloxalene treatments caused a small linear decline in grazing time during the first part of meals and a larger increase in grazing time during the second part of meals. Lower rates of DM intake caused by poloxalene were offset by increases in grazing time. It was concluded that poloxalene moderated ingestive behaviour within grazing meals of immature lucerne and this response may have been at least partly due to the relief of sub-acute bloat.     

Yield,nutritive value and silage fermentation of kura clover‐reed canarygrass and lucerne herbages in northern USA

Excellent winter hardiness, persistence and nutritive value of both kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) and reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) suggest that intercropping these species could substitute for lucerne (Medicago sativa L.). The dry matter (DM) yield and nutritive value of herbage, and silage characteristics of kura clover‐reed canarygrass (KC‐RCG) herbage, were compared to those of lucerne over two growth cycles near Arlington, WI, USA. First and second growths of lucerne and KC‐RCG herbage were sampled four times at 1‐week intervals and ensiled for 100 d. Yield of DM of the KC‐RCG was 0·23–0·57 greater than that of lucerne on sampling dates in the first growth cycle, with no differences in DM yield in the second growth cycle. The pH of lucerne silage was lower than that of KC‐RCG silage in the first growth, and the opposite occurred in second growth, which was attributed to maturity differences and the proportion of kura clover in the mixture. Lactate concentration was lower in KC‐RCG than lucerne silages in both growth cycles. The lucerne and KC‐RCG silages had similar in vitro DM digestibility except for the final sampling date in the first growth cycle when neutral‐detergent fibre concentration of KC‐RCG herbage exceeded 550 g kg^?1 DM. Crude protein concentration was greater in lucerne silage than in KC‐RCG silage in both growth cycles. Overall, differences in nutritive value and silage fermentation between the two herbages were minimal across growth cycles. These results suggest that a KC‐RCG sward is a viable alternative to lucerne in northern environments of the USA where lucerne production may be limited by winter injury or edaphic factors.     

Further experiences of beef production on permanent pasture in 1976–78

Between 1976 and 1978 a further 154 beef animals were grazed in separate groups on Alberts and Far field at Begbroke Hill, the former being a paddock system and the latter being set-stocked. Each year part of Alberts received complete fertilizer (147–180 kg ha^-1 N) and part did not. All of Far field received complete fertilizer (140–190 kg ha^-1 N). Drought caused a reduction in output in 1976, but in 1977 and 1978 total production of live weight was 9·07 and 8·74 t respectively from 11·65 ha grassland. Calculations of corrected outputs show that maxima of 829 kg ha^-1 in Alberts and 908 kg ha^-1 in Far field were achieved from fertilized grass. The highest output in Alberts represented 929 livestock unit grazing days per ha or 87·9 GJ ha^-1 in 1978.     

Nitrogen in the detergent fibre fractions of temperate legumes and grasses†

Data are few on concentrations of nitrogen (N) in the cell wall and lignocellulose (neutral- and acid-detergent fibre (NDF and ADF), respectively) of herbage. Herbage N can be partitioned into neutral- and acid-detergent soluble and insoluble N to crudely estimate rapidly degradable (N soluble in neutral detergent), slowly degradable (neutral-detergent fibre N (NDFN) minus acid-detergent fibre N (ADFN), herein termed available fibre N (AFN)), and indigestible N (ADFN) in the rumen. Our objective was to examine the effects of herbage species, maturity stage, and plant part on N in the NDF and ADF of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), timothy (Phleum pratense L.), and smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.). Herbage was harvested at four 2-week intervals during spring of 1984 and 1985. Leaves, stems and total herbage were analysed for total N, and N in NDF and ADF. Concentrations of N in ADF in leaves, stems, and total herbage of lucerne and clover were twice that of grass ADF. This may be due to greater lignin concentrations generally reported in legumes. Concentrations of NDFN in leaves of lucerne, clover, timothy, and bromegrass were 9–8, 26.4, 8.6, and 6.4 g kg^?1 of NDF, respectively, averaged over harvests and years, whereas stem concentrations were 4.2, 4.6, 32, and 2.4 g kg^?1 of NDF, respectively. Leaf concentrations of ADFN in lucerne, clover, timothy, and bromegrass were 4.6, 5.3, 20, and 1.6 g kg^?1 of ADF, respectively, averaged over harvests and years, whereas stem concentrations were 3.4, 33, 14, and 14 g kg-’of ADF, respectively. As a proportion of the total N, NDFN and ADFN increased with plant maturity in leaves, stems, and herbage. In stems, 49% of NDFN was ADFN, whereas in leaves only 21% of the NDFN was ADFN. The larger portion of ADFN in stems probably reflects the larger proportion of lignified xylem and other structural tissues, which have a greater proportion of lignified secondary cell walls, whereas the greater proportion of NDFN in leaves may mirror the greater amount of mesophyll cells with primary cell walls. More than 80% of the total N in leaves, stems, and herbage was in the cell solubles, which may be rapidly ruminally degradable.     

Relation between the behaviour of pectic substances and changes in firmness of horticultural products during heating

Summary and conclusions When plant tissues of a parenchymous nature are cooked at pH-values ranging from 3.0 to 6.5, a maximum firmness is retained at pH 4.0–4.5. At lower and higher pH-values a steady decrease of firmness is observed. The decrease in firmness is related to the formation of soluble pectin.During cooking in low acid or neutral milieu the formation of soluble pectin can be explained by the depolymerization of pectic substances or, especially when pectic substances with a low degree of esterification are present, by Ca-binding substances from the anionic buffer. Both effects may cause the decrease in firmness of plant tissues during cooking at pH-values ranging from 4.5 to 7.0.The formation of soluble pectin owing to a greater solubility during heating is in most cases of a limited extent.It is probable that formation of soluble pectin during cooking in acid environment (pH<4) is only a secondary effect, caused by the hydrolysis of other cell wall substances, probably hemi-celluloses, which results in a loosening of pectin molecules from cell wall structure.The de-esterification and degradation of pectin chains during boiling in neutral or low acid milieu (pH>4) is attributed to the same reaction mechanism as observed in alkaline milieu at lower temperatures.

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Beziehungen zwischen dem Verhalten von Pektinsubstanzen und dem Hartkochen von Gartenbauerzeugnissen

Zusammenfassung Wenn parenchymatische Pflanzengewebe bei pH-Werten von 3,0–6,5 gekocht werden, verbleibt im Bereich von pH 4,0–4,5 eine maximale Härte. Bei niedrigeren und höheren pH-Werten wird eine allmähliche Verminderung des Hartkochens beobachtet. Diese Verminderung steht im Zusammenhang mit der Bildung von löslichem Pektin. Während des Kochens in einem schwach-sauren oder neutralen Milieu kann die Bildung von löslichem Pektin durch eine Depolymerisierung der Pektinsubstanzen erfolgen oder — besonders wenn Pektinsubstanzen mit einem geringeren Veresterungsgrad vorhanden sind — durch Substanzen des Anionen-Puffers, die Ca binden. Beide Vorgänge dürften das Absinken des Hartkochen von Pflanzengewebe während des Kochprozesses bei pH-Werten zwischen 4,5 und 7,0 bedingen.Die Bildung von löslichem Pektin — auf Grund einer erhöhten Löslichkeit durch den Erhitzungsvorgang — hat in den meisten Fällen eine geringere Bedeutung.Es ist wahrscheinlich, daß die Bildung von löslichem Pektin während des Kochens im sauren Bereich (pH<4) nur eine sekundäre Wirkung besitzt. Sie wird verursacht durch Hydrolyse anderer Zellwandsubstanzen, wahrscheinlich von Hemizellulosen. Dies bedingt eine Lockerung der Pektinmoleküle aus dem Zellwandverband.Die Entesterung und der Abbau von Pektinketten während des Kochens in neutralem oder schwach-saurem Milieu (pH>4) ist auf denselben Reaktionsmechanismus zurückzuführen, wie im alkalischen Milieu bei niedriger Temperatur.

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Résumé Lorsqu' un tissu végétal de nature parenchymateuse est cuit à des pH s'échelonnant de 3,0 à 6,5, un maximum de résistance mécanique apparaît à des pH de 4 à 4,5. Pour des valeurs de pH plus faibles ou plus élevées, on observe une décroissance régulière de la rigidité. Cette diminution de rigidité est liée à la formation de pectines solubles.Durant la cuisson en milieu faiblement acide ou en milieu neutre, la formation de pectines solubles peut s'expliquer par la dépolymérisation des substances pectiques ou, spécialement dans le cas où des substances pectiques à faible taux d'estérification sont présentes, par l'effet des substances capables de fixer du calcium à partir du tampon anionique. Les deux effets peuvent causer la diminution de rigidité des tissus végétaux durant la cuisson à des pH variant de 4,5 à 7,0.La formation de pectines solubles, par l'augmentation de solubilité durant la cuisson est dans la plupart des cas un phénomène limité.Il est probable que la formation de pectines solubles lors de la cuisson en milieu acide (pH<4) est seulement un effet secondaire, causé par l'hydrolyse d'autres substances appartenant à la paroi cellulaire, probablement des hémicelluloses, ce qui détermine une libération des molécules de pectines à partir de la paroi cellulaire.La saponification et la dégradation des chaines pectiques au cours de la cuisson en milieu neutre ou faiblement acide (pH>4) doit s'attribuer au mème mécanisme de réaction que celui observé en milieu alcalin à basse température.

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with 4 figs.     

Effectiveness of chopped lucerne hay as a moisture absorbent for low dry‐matter maize silage: Effluent reduction,fermentation quality and intake by sheep

This study determined effects of addition of lucerne hay (LH) as moisture absorbent on effluent reduction, fermentation and subsequent intake of maize (corn) silage by sheep. Treatments included maize forage ensiled without LH (LH0), with 50 g/kg LH (LH5) and with 100 g/kg LH (LH10) on a fresh weight basis. Silages were made in 150‐kg bags in triplicate. Upon opening, representative samples from each bag were taken twice weekly during a feeding trial and used for laboratory analyses in a completely randomized design. Silages were fed ad libitum to six ewes in a duplicated 3 × 3 Latin square design with 21‐day periods for intake and digestibility determination. Lucerne hay incorporation linearly increased DM, ash, water‐soluble carbohydrates, buffering capacity and pH of silages, while it linearly decreased ammonia nitrogen, acetic acid and ethanol concentrations (p < .05). Effluent volume linearly decreased from 33 ml/kg in LH0 to 0.8 ml/kg in LH10. Addition of LH resulted in a linear increase in intakes of organic matter and fibre in ewes, while digestibilities of these nutrients linearly decreased (p < .05). Lucerne hay addition improved fermentation parameters and resulted in increased intake of maize silage without having negative impact on aerobic stability.     

Decadal changes in the rice-cropping system in the Ayeyarwady Delta using a large archive of satellite imagery from 1981 to 2020

In the last 40 years, the rice-cropping system has considerably changed in the Ayeyarwady Delta. The large archive of satellite imagery provides a history of how land and water resource managements have changed in the face of growing populations, resource demand, and climate change. This study aimed to assess the decadal changes in the rice-cropping system in the Ayeyarwady Delta by using the large archive of satellite imagery for the last 40 years (1981???2020). The long-term NDVI dataset provided various information on rice cultivation. Signal processing techniques were used to detect on the historical changes in the rice-cropping system, and the impact of climate change was assessed by using trend analysis. Until the 1980s, single-cropping of summer rice was dominant in the Delta. To enhance the grain yield of rice, the irrigation facilities were introduced in 1992 under an initiative of the Myanmar government. As a result, the annual cropping intensities increased from 1.087?±?0.390 in the 1980s to 1.422?±?0.499 in the 2010s. The information on historical change in the rice-cropping system would be useful to consider the practical and cost-effective utilization of remaining land and water resources. Moreover, the trend analysis of NDVI time-series showed negative trends in coastal areas. This indicates that the rice production in coastal areas has been constrained by the saline intrusion. The salt-affected areas are expected to expand under future climate change scenarios. Government support is highly required for sustainable rice production in the Delta.

     

2020年我国水稻产业形势分析及2021年展望

在国家政策支持下,2020年我国水稻面积恢复增长至3 007.6万hm2,比2019年增加38.2万hm2;受灾害偏重发生影响,水稻平均单产7 044.0 kg/hm2,降低15.0 kg/hm2,但仍为历史第2高;水稻总产2.1186亿t,增加225.0万t,连续10年稳定在2亿t以上.国内稻米市场价格持续上涨,特别...     

Natural Polypropionates in 1999–2020: An Overview of Chemical and Biological Diversity

Natural polypropionates (PPs) are a large subgroup of polyketides with diverse structural features and bioactivities. Most of the PPs are discovered from marine organisms including mollusks, fungi and actinomycetes, while some of them are also isolated from terrestrial resources. An increasing number of studies about PPs have been carried out in the past two decades and an updated review is needed. In this current review, we summarize the chemical structures and biological activities of 164 natural PPs reported in 67 research papers from 1999 to 2020. The isolation, structural features and bioactivities of these PPs are discussed in detail. The chemical diversity, bioactive diversity, biodiversity and the relationship between chemical classes and the bioactivities are also concluded.     

Seasonal changes in feed intake,diet digestibility and diet composition by lactating and non‐lactating goats browsing in a semi‐arid rangeland of Argentina

We determined the seasonal nutrient and secondary compound intake, in vivo diet digestibility (DD) and diet species composition of goats in different physiological states in a desert rangeland of Argentina. During the wet and the dry seasons, 24 mature female Creole goats (six non‐lactating, non‐pregnant and six lactating in each season) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design. Diet botanical composition, DD and dry‐matter intake (DMI) were estimated by the combined use of visual observation, microhistological analyses of faecal samples and n‐alkane technique. Browse species dominated the goats’ diets (>80%) in both seasons and physiological states, with a twofold increase in the proportion of forbs during the wet season (p < 0.10). Lactating goats showed greater DMI than non‐lactating animals, and they also displayed greater intakes of some tanniferous (Mimosa ephedroides) and high‐protein (Atriplex lampa) shrubs (p < 0.10). Lactating and non‐lactating goats selected diets with adequate crude protein (CP) and fibre content but insufficient energy, although lactating goats tended to increase energy and tannin content in their diets (p < 0.20). Physiological state did not influence DD, but digestibility was greater (p < 0.10) in the wet season, attributed to the greater protein content and lower tannin content of the diet. These results have important implications for managerial interventions on traditional goat production systems in the study area aiming at enhancing goat nutrition and welfare, as well as the sustainability of rangeland resources in the region.     

Nitrogen uptake by grasses: changes induced by competing neighbour plants differing in frequency of defoliation

Nitrogen uptake can be modified by both frequency of defoliation and competing neighbour plants. The objective of this study was to investigate nitrogen uptake by Lolium perenne and Festuca rubra subject to weekly or monthly defoliation with five neighbours: either none, L perenne clipped weekly, L. perenne clipped monthly, F. rubra clipped weekly or F. rubra clipped monthly. Plants were grown in sand culture with nutrients supplied as solutions. Nitrogen uptake over a I-week period commencing at the time of a defoliation event was estimated using ^l5N as a tracer. L. perenne had greater dry weight and nitrogen uptake than F. rubra. Neighbours reduced nitrogen uptake per plant. When neighbours were present, clipping them more frequently resulted in greater uptake by sample plants. Over 57% of total plant uptake was partitioned towards the two youngest leaves. In mixtures of L. perenne with F. rubra , the percentages of the total pot dry weight and N content recovered in sample L. perenne plants increased when they were clipped less frequently, compared with when the accompanying F. rubra plants were clipped less frequently.