Composition of Pig Manures and Wastewaters under the Gan Qing Fen System in China

A large scale pig farm located in the North West of Beijing that applies the gan qing fen manure management system was selected and a continuous sampling of manures and wastewaters was performed from June to October 2009. Samples were collected once a week based on the pig production cycle, namely gestation, farrowing, weaning and fattening. Analysis of nutrients and heavy metals were determined by means of Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy （ICP）. Total Nitrogen （TN） was determined by the Kjeldahl method. The main results showed that pig manures were characterized by high nutrients and heavy metals contents that might be due to the solid fraction separation from the liquid fraction under the gan qing fen manure management system. Further, piggery wastewaters were characterized by very low concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals as result of their dilution with flushing water mainly used for cleaning the pigsties. Manure and wastewaters samples from weaning pigs contained the highest concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals that could be due to high supplementation rates of these minerals in the weaner diets. In general, it seems that the manual daily collection of pig manures in the gan qing fen system is an efficient practice in order to maintain nutrient contents in pig manures but the use of flushing water should be reduced as it can lead to further environmental pollution.     

Gender Relations in the Masculine Area of Farming： A Case Study of Croatian Farmwoman and Their Entrepreneurial Abilities

A case study of 350 farmwomen in Croatia was conducted to contribute the understudied area of farming and entrepreneurship. The study considered the sociodemographical features of farmwoman and its influence on entrepreneurial and organization skills. Field research was conducted through a questionnaire and interviews. Results showed that farmwoman were keen to start innovations, use new technologies and start new income generating farm activities but their gender roles and process of socialization hinders them in such attempts. High statistical correlations were significant for sociodemographic status to entrepreneurial abilities like farm work organization, actual professional status to involvement in decision making and farm economic status to farm economical position （income）.     

Verification of Drainage Sterilization System Uses Low-Voltage Pulsed Electric Field in a Prawn Farm

It is necessary to take measures against infectious diseases in the Southeast Asian prawn farming industry. In giant tiger prawn （Penaeus monodon） aquaculture, diseases caused by viruses such as white spot syndrome virus （WSSV） and bacteria such as Vibrio have become a menace. Appropriate treatments of prawn culture pond＇s waters are advocated for preventing and controlling pathogens. The purpose of this study was to conduct an antimicrobial water treatment using a low-voltage pulsed electric field sterilization. Here we prepared a mechanical low-voltage pulsed electric field system with copper wire coiling around a titanium ring. The viability of WSSV in seawater was examined by prawn infectivity experiments. We inoculated healthy prawns （approximately 10-15 g） with the WSSV master sample that passed 0-3 times through the system. WSSV infection in prawns decreased according to the number of passes through the system. Healthy prawns survived for〉 10 days without feeding, where as prawns inoculated with the WSSV master sample showed symptoms of white spot and died in about 4 days. Two-thirds of the prawns inoculated with the WSSV master sample that was passed once through the system developed WSSV symptoms and were polymerase chain reaction （PCR） positive. However, no symptoms were observed and prawns were PCR negative when the WSSV master sample was passed three times through the system. Based on these results, we purpose that a low-voltage pulsed electric field system will serve as an efficient pond drainage sterilization system and will replace conventional treatments using chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite.     

Advantages and Disadvantages of Transgenic Animal Technology with Genetic Engineering

Transgenic animal technology has been one of the fastest growing biotechnology areas. The exogenous genes have been introduced into the animal genome by genetic engineering, so that these genes can be inherited and expressed by offspring to produce desired traits or evaluate function in elite livestock breeds. There are several methodologies for the production of transgenic animals, i.e., （1） microinjection of genes into pronuclei of fertilized ova; （2） DNA transfer by retroviruses; （3） injection of embryonic germ （EG）/embryonic stem （ES） cells previously treated with foreign DNA; （4） DNA transfer into cells and embryos with using liposomes; （5） exogenous DNA transfer while in vitro fertilization by using sperm; （6） electroporation of DNA into sperm, embryos or ova; （7） biolistics; （8） nuclear transfer （NT） with somatic cells, EG or ES cells; （9） germ line stem cell-mediated; （10） gene targeting; （! 1） gene silencing technology with RNA interference; （12） induced pluripotent stem cell; （13） zinc-finger nuclease gene targeting technology. Gene farming is one of the newest and most promising areas in modern biotechnology. Cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and rabbits are the main farm livestock species and fish is also used in transgenic technology. The question of ＂why make transgenic animals？＂ is very important. Some of the answers to this question are： （1） to obtain new knowledge; （2） to solve the genetic code; （3） to create genetic disease models; （4） to study the genetic control of physiological systems; （5） to improve animal production traits; （6） to produce new animal products. Transgenic technology is one of the main and important tools in the finding solutions to problems of growing population with their applications to different organisms, and takes more attention and interest every day. Transgenic technology creates opportunities and areas to play with organisms to fulfill the demands of people. Because of this, this paper based on mainly transgenic applications to take people＇s attention and exhibit its importance.     

Surface Morphology Investigation of Tunisian Dromedary Hair

In raw materials of dromedary hair, there are two distinct fibre populations： The fine one is of textile relevance and the coarse one is rather worthless and must be as a rule separated prior to spinning and subsequent processing. The fibre surface morphology and fibre fineness of Tunisian dromedary hair has been investigated by means of scanning electron microscope （SEM）. SEM microscopic method provides the fibre diameter, the scale shape, the scale frequency and scale height. The results show that dehaired dromedary fibre presents a relatively low mean fibre diameter （≈ 17 μm） with a high coefficient of variation （CV ≈ 25%）. The scales of the dromedary fibre are on average extremely long and quite visible, they tend not to protrude from the fibre, appear almost convex, and provide a wavy appearance in profile of the relatively coarse fibre. On counting the scale frequency, that is, the number of scale margins within a determined fibre length of 100 μm on the surface of a fine （diameter 〈 30 μm） and coarse （diameter 〉 30 μm） dromedary fibre, comes out roughly five at eight and eight at twelve scale margins, respectively. The mean height of the cuticle scale is 0.12μm and 0.24 μm, respectively, for fine and coarse dromedary fibre. These explain why dromedary fibres present a soft touch due to the prominence of the scale edges. This aspect of the surface structure has a high correlation with the felting capacity of the matter, and contributes to the concepts of handle and gloss.     

Analysis and Countermeasure on Excrement Pollution of Animal Present Conditions in Heilongjiang Province

Attaching more importance to the problem of animal excrement pollution is the premise of realizing the sustainable development of animal husbandry in Heilongjiang Province. With the constant expansion of the scale of breeding industry, the amount of animal excrement will increase greatly, corresponding to the increasing pressure on water and land. Therefore, for the sake of promoting the coordinated development of animal husbandry and the environment, this paper analyzed the status of animal excrement pollution in Heilongjiang Province. On this base, the paper suggested that we must control animal excrement pollution proceeding from reality by using administrative means, legal means, economic means and technical means.     

Davana： A New Host Plant for Ralstonia solanacearum from India

Ralstonia solanacearum infecting Davana （Artemisia pallens Wall.） from commercial nurseries in India was isolated on modified semi selective media （SMSA）. Here, we report a new host for Ralstonia solanacearum i.e. davana. It has huge demand in medicinal and aromatic industries. Isolate was confirmed as race-l, biovar-3 by morphological, physiological, biochemical and pathogenicity studies. Two sets of primers （OLI 1 ＆ Y2 and Y 1 ＆ Y2） were used in this study. Further, the identity of the isolate was confirmed by serological diagnostic kit obtained from International Potato Research Center, Lima, Peru and single chain variable fragment antibody specific to Ralstonia solanacearum used to confirm the casual organism.     

Improvement of Markov Chain Model for Occurrence Degree Prediction of Myzus persicae （Sulzer） and Its Application

For long-term prediction of occurrence degree of tobacco aphid Myzus persicae （Sulzer）, Markov chain method was used to establish prediction model for occurrence degree of tobacco aphid. With 4 levels of occurrence degree, Markov chain model was established based on the data in 1987-2004. The results indicated that the accuracy for total prediction in 2005-2007 and the back prediction in 1987-2004 reached 88.89% and 85.12%, respectively. The method is simple and feasible for long-term prediction of occurrence degree of tobacco aphid.     

Effects of Elemental Sulphur and Farmyard Manure on pH and Salinity of Calcareous Sandy Loam Soil and Some Nutrient Elements in Tomato Plant

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of elemental sulphur （S） and farmyard manure on soil pH, EC and N, S, P concentrations of tomato grown in a calcareous sandy loam soil. For this purpose, a pot experiment was conducted in greenhouse conditions. Sulphur was applied at 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 400 mg kg~ and farmyard manure at 0, 3 ton da^-1 to the soil. Three weeks after applications, tomato seedlings were planted and 8 weeks later, the plants were harvested to determine N, S, P concentrations and dry matter yield. Soil pH and EC were determined in the soil samples taken at 3 different periods. Effects of sulphur and farmyard manure applications were not significant on N, P concentrations and dry matter yield of tomato plant. S concentration of tomato plant was increased by sulphur alone. Soil pH was decreased and soil EC was increased in both 2^nd and 3^rd soil sampling period by the sulphur applications. As a result of farmyard manure application, soil pH decreased in the 2^nd soil sampling period but increased in the 3^rd soil sampling period. Also, soil EC was significantly increased in 1^st and 3^rd soil sampling period. Farmyard manure had no significant effect on S supply to tomato plant. The N：S ratio of tomato plant was decreased by sulphur alone. However, the sulphur with farmyard manure applications decreased N：S ratio in lesser extend compared to the S applications.     

Isolation and Purification of Bovine Colostrum slgA and IgG

To further utilize bioactive substance such as bovine colostrum sIgA and IgG, sIgA and IgG were isolated and purified simultaneously by salting out, ultrafiltration and gel chromatography, etc. The analysis of results were showed quantitatively by nonhydrogenized SDS-PAGE, and quanlities of sIgA and IgG were respectively detected by Western Blot. The results showed that the purity and yield of bovine colostrum sIgA were 85.3% and 42.8%, respectively, while the purity and yield of bovine colostrum IgG were respectively 97.2% and 64.4%. This preparative method provides theoretical and experimental foundation for sIgA industrial production.     

Comparison of Antioxidant Activity and Antioxidant Components in Lettuce,Onion and Tomato Obtained with Different Levels and Forms of Nitrogen Fertilization

The effect of N levels and sources on the antioxidant components in vegetable is not completely understood. Therefore, greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the changes in antioxidant capacity diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl （DPPH） and ferric reducing antioxidant power （FRAP）, total phenolics, ascorbic acid, total carotene and lycopene contents in edible portions of lettuce, onion and tomato due to different nitrogen levels and sources. The experiment included three N levels （20, 40 and 60 kg/ha for lettuce trial and 60, 120 and 180 kg/ha for either onion or tomato） and four nitrogen sources （calcium nitrate, ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate and urea）. The antioxidant capacity and phenolic contents in lettuce was enhanced under low nitrogen level, while the antioxidant capacities, phenolics, carotenoids and lycopene in tomato fruits were not significantly affected by the nitrogen dose applied. Application of calcium nitrate caused 50% increase in DPPH and 20% in FRAP of lettuce compared to other nitrogen forms. Tomato treated with calcium nitrate or ammonium sulphate had higher phenolic and ascorbic acid contents than treated plants with ammonium nitrate or urea. Antioxidant tested parameters of onion were not significantly affected by the nitrogen treatments. Nitrogen concentration in tomato fruits significantly correlated with FRAP antioxidant capacity, phenolics, ascorbic acid, carotene and lycopene contents.     

Comparing the Impact of a Neonicotinoid and Biorational Agroneem on Herbivorous and Beneficial Arthropods on Cowpea and Tomato

Cowpea （Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.） and tomato （Lycopersicum esculentum L. Karst） are attacked by a wide range of insect pests worldwide. In many cases, pesticides are used to control the pests. In 2010 and 2011, we conducted field experiments to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of a biorational （Agroneem~） and conventional pesticide （imidacloprid or thiamethoxam） on insect pests of these crops. In the first year, two varieties of cowpea （Mississippi Silver and Pinkeye Purple Hull） and two of tomato （Mariana and German Johnson） were used; in the second year, the better performing of each group （Mississippi Silver and Mariana） were used for the study. A split-plot design with four replications in Year 1, and a randomized complete block design with six treatment combinations in Year 2. In the first year, both pesticide groups were applied following manufacturer＇s recommendation （10-14 d cycles）; and in the second year, the application of the pesticides was driven by economic thresholds level （ETL） of insect pests. The most prevalent species of insects recorded in both crops were in the families： Chrysomelidae, Pentatomidae, Cicadellidae, Vespidae, Sarcophagidae, Thripidae and Sphingidae. In both years, the diversity of insects on cowpea was greater than on tomato and more insects were observed in the second year compared to the first, despite the absence of significant difference （P 〉 0.05） between varieties in the treated plots. The yield of cowpea and tomato was comparable in all sprayed plots.     

Responses of Lowland NERICA and Improved Oryza sativa Rice to Phosphorus and Nitrogen in Sudan Savanna Agroecosystem

The responses of five inter-specific lowland rice cultivars （NERICA-L-19, NERICA-L-20, NERICA-L-41, NERICA-L-42, and NERICA-L-60） and four improved Oryza sativa cultivars （FKR 19, BW 348-1, WITA 4, and SIPI 6923033） to levels of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilization were compared on a Typic Natrustalfat Kadawa in the Nigerian Sudan Savanna in 2006 and 2007 The responses of the NERICA-L eultivars to N and P fertilization were similar to the O. sativa cultivars. In a dry year （2007）, the NERICA-L cultivars gave higher yields than O. sativa cultivars. Phosphorus level did not significantly affect crop physiology, yield, and yield components of all the cultivars. Pooled across cultivars, N and P levels, days to panicle initiation, mid-flowering and maturity were, respectively delayed by 17.0, 15.6 and 6.4 days in 2007 compared to 2006. NERICA-L-42 and NERICA-L-41 were the most stable, exhibiting the least difference in duration to maturity between the two years （3.5 and 4.4 days, respectively）, and could therefore be more adapted to rain-fed environments prone to frequent droughts. Increasing N levels from 0 to 120 kg hal produced yield increments of 62.9 and 37.2% in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Cultivars FKR 19 and WITA 4 gave higher yields in 2006 （3940 and 3542 kg ha^-1, respectively）, while in 2007, NERICA-L-42, NERICA-L^-19 and NERICA-L-20 ranked among the highest in grain yield （3935, 3807 and 3726 kg hal, respectively） and could be recommended to resource-poor farmers. a     

Do Land Characteristics Affect Farmers’ Soil Fertility Management？

Soil fertility management （SFM） has important implications for sustaining agricultural development and food self-sufifciency. Better understanding the determinants of farmers’ SFM can be a great help to the adoption of effective SFM practices. Based on a dataset of 315 plots collected from a typical rice growing area of South China, this study applied statistical method and econometric models to examine the impacts of land characteristics on farmers’ SFM practices at plot scale. Main results showed that in general land characteristics affected SFM behaviors. Securer land tenure arrangements facilitated effective practices of SFM through more diversiifed and more soil-friendly cropping pattern choices. Plot size signiifcantly reduced the intensities of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer application. Given other factors, 1 ha increase in plot size might reduce 3.0 kg ha-1 P2O5 and 1.8 kg ha-1 K2O. Plots far from the homestead were paid less attention in terms of both chemical fertilizers and manure applications. Besides, plots with better quality were put more efforts on management by applying more nitrogen and manure, and by planting green manure crops. Signiifcant differences existed in SFM practices between the surveyed villages with different socio-economic conditions. The ifndings are expected to provide important references to the policy-making incentive for improving soil quality and crop productivity.     

家畜及其肉产品质量可追溯信息链特点及设计对策

本文阐述家畜及其肉产品质量可追溯信息链的特点,提出完整信息链设计的有效对策,根据家畜养殖、屠宰、分割、包装、运输等不同生产加工阶段的对象和环境特征,提出针对性建议,特别是畜体标识的选型建议,对于肉品运输冷链追溯也提出了初步的解决方案.介绍了在提出的追溯对策理念基础上,运用条码技术、无线射频技术、信息网络技术进行可追溯系统原型构建范例,为中国畜产品可追溯系统建设提供参考,最终实现畜产品安全生产和消费.     

Tillage and Poultry Manure Effects on Soil Physical Properties,Nutrient Status,Growth, Dry Matter and Grain Yield of Sorghum

The effects of different tillage systems and poultry manure on soil physical properties, performance and nutrients in sorghum were studied for three years at Owo, southwest Nigeria. There was factorial combinations of herbicide-based zero tillage （ZT）, manual clearing （MC）, disc ploughing （P）, ploughing plus harrowing （P＋H） and ploughing plus double harrowing （P＋2H）, and two rates of poultry manure at 0 and 7.5 Mg ha^-1. Herbicide-based zero tillage and manual clearing reduced soil temperature and conserved more water than mechanized tillage techniques. Poultry manure reduced soil bulk density and temperature and increased soil water and porosity. There was a percentage decrease of leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg concentrations, plant height, leaf area, stem girth, root dry weight, dry matter and grain yield in ascending order for herbicide-based zero tillage, manual clearing, ploughing, ploughing plus harrowing and ploughing plus double harrowing while percentage increases were recorded in a descending order for all the various combinations of tillage with poultry manure in that order. Poultry manure in combination with tillage increased dry matter and grain yield by 33.1 and 39.5%, respectively in comparison with tillage only. The manure-zero tillage methods increased dry matter and grain yield by 8% and 15%, respectively when compared with manure-mechanized tillage methods. Zero tillage or manual clearing in combination with 7.5 Mg ha^-1 poultry manure was most suitable for sorghum cultivation.     

Genetic and Association Mapping Study of English Grain Aphid Resistance and Tolerance in Bread Wheat Germplasm

English grain aphid （EGA） is a destructive insect pest of wheat. To identify the loci associated with EGA resistance and tolerance, 70 bread wheat accessions mainly from central Asia were evaluated for EGA resistance and tolerance traits at two locations, and genotyped with 51 SSR markers. Totally, three accessions showed high or moderate levels resistance and 17 genotypes displayed highly or moderately tolerate to EGA. Genetic diversity of these lines was investigated also. After 97 SSR loci which evenly covered all wheat chromosomes were scanned for association, four SSR loci were significantly associated with EGA resistance and four with EGA tolerance. After association analysis was conducted with dynamic aphid densities, we found four loci Xgwm192b, Xgwm391, Xbarc98, and Xgwm613b were detected continuously at different growing stages of wheat. In addition, the loci of EGA resistance/tolerance and Russian wheat aphid resistance were compared. The results generated in this study would be helpful for utilization of the EGA resistance/tolerance germplasm, and for development of mapping populations in EGA resistance breeding programs.     

Low Root Zone Temperature Exacerbates the Ion Imbalance and Photosynthesis Inhibition and Induces Antioxidant Responses in Tomato Plants Under Salinity

The combined effects of salinity with low root zone temperature （RZT） on plant growth and photosynthesis were studied in tomato （Solanum lycopersicum） plants. The plants were exposed to two different root zone temperatures （28/20℃, 12/8℃, day/night temperature） in combination with two NaC1 levels （0 and 100 mmol L-l）. After 2 wk of treatment, K＋ and Na~ concentration, leaf photosynthetic gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf antioxidant enzyme activities were measured. Salinity significantly decreased plant biomass, net photosynthesis rate, actual quantum yield of photosynthesis and concentration of K＋, but remarkably increased the concentration of Na＋. These effects were more pronounced when the salinity treatments were combined with the treatment of low RZT conditions. Either salinity or low RZT individually did not affect maximal efficiency of PSII photochemistry （Fv/Fm）, while a combination of these two stresses decreased Fv/Fm considerably, indicating that the photo-damage occurred under such conditions. Non-photochemical quenching was increased by salt stress in accompany with the enhancement of the de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle, in contrast, this was not the case with low RZT applied individually. Salinity stress individually increased the activities of SOD, APX, GPOD and GR, and decreased the activities of DHAR. Due to the interactive effects of salinity with low RZT, these five enzyme activities increased sharply in the combined stressed plants. These results indicate that low RZT exacerbates the ion imbalance, PSII damage and photosynthesis inhibition in tomato plants under salinity. In response to the oxidative stress under salinity in combination with low RZT, the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD, APX, GPOD, DHAR and GR were clearly enhanced in tomato plants.     

Carbon and Nitrogen Contents in Typical Plants and Soil Profiles in Yanqi Basin of Northwest China

Carbon and nitrogen are the most important elements in the terrestrial ecosystem. Studying carbon and nitrogen distributions in plant and soil is important for our understanding of the ecosystem dynamics and carbon cycle on arid lands. A study was conducted in a typical arid area, the Yanqi Basin, Northwest China. Carbon and nitrogen distributions in plant tissues and soil profiles were determined at 21 sites with typical native plants and crops. Our results indicated that carbon content was similar between crops and native plants, and the average carbon contents in aboveground （42.4%） and belowground （42.8%） tissues were almost the same. Average nitrogen contents in crops were nearly the same （~0.7%） in aboveground and belowground tissues whereas mean nitrogen content was approximately 100% higher in aboveground （2.2%） than in belowground （1.2%） tissues for native species. Soil organic carbon （SOC） and total nitrogen （TN） in cropland （9.4 and 0.9 g kg^-1） were significantly higher than those in native land （6.2 and 0.7 g kg^-1）. Multiple regression analyses indicated that carbon content in belowground tissue and nitrogen content in aboveground tissue were key factors connecting plant and soil in native land. However, there was no significant relationship for carbon or nitrogen between soil and crop, which might reflect human disturbance, such as plowing and applications of various organic materials.     

Effect of Season,Location, Cultivar and Spacing on Yield and Quality of Sugarcane in Western Kenya

In Kenya almost all sugarcane grown is under rainfall conditions that are planted in different locations during both long and short rainy seasons. Effect of season, location, cultivar and spacing on yield and quality of sugarcane is not clearly understood. The research was conducted at Kibos and Mumias to determine if the yields and quality of three sugarcane cultivars were affected by season, location and row spacing. Cultivars CO 945, EAK 73-335 and KEN 83-737 were manually planted during June and September in 2011. The trial was laid out as split-split plot arranged in a randomized complete block design （RCBD） replicated three times. Data collected at harvest, 17 months after planting （MAP） including cane yields, cane yield components and cane quality. The results revealed that cane length differed significantly between June and September. Stalk population and cane yields were significantly more at Mumias compared to Kibos. Cultivar EAK 73-335 showed significantly more cane yield （t/ha） than KEN 83-737 and CO 945. Both row spacing 1.2 m and 1.5 m did not affect cane yields. Brix%, Sucrose% and Purity% differed significantly between cultivars. The relationship between cane yield and stalk population was positive and significant, which indicated stalk population is a strong determinant of cane yield. The results showed that cane yield was significantly affected by location and cane quality by cultivars. Therefore Mumias is a better zone for sugarcane cultivation for both June and September seasons compared to Kibos.