Evaluating eddy covariance cotton ET measurements in an advective environment with large weighing lysimeters

Eddy covariance (EC) systems are being used to assess the accuracy of remote sensing methods in mapping surface sensible and latent heat fluxes and evapotranspiration (ET) from local to regional scales, and in crop coefficient development. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the accuracy of EC systems in measuring sensible heat (H) and latent heat (LE) fluxes. For this purpose, two EC systems were installed near large monolithic weighing lysimeters, on irrigated cotton fields in the Texas High Plains, during the months of June and July 2008. Sensible and latent heat fluxes were underestimated with an average error of about 30%. Most of the errors were from nocturnal measurements. Energy balance (EB) closure was 73.2–78.0% for daytime fluxes. Thus, daylight fluxes were adjusted for lack of EB closure using the Bowen ratio/preservation of energy principle, which improved the resulting EC heat flux agreement with lysimetric values. Further adjustments to EC-based ET included nighttime ET (composite) incorporation, and the use of ‘heat flux source area’ (footprint) functions to compensate ET when the footprint expanded beyond the crop field boundary. As a result, ET values remarkably matched lysimetric ET values, with a ‘mean bias error ± root mean square error’ of −0.03 ± 0.5 mm day⁻¹ (or −0.6 ± 10.2%).     

Response of apricot trees to deficit irrigation strategies

During four growing seasons, 10-year-old apricot trees (Prunus armeniaca L., cv. ‘Búlida’) were submitted to three different drip irrigation regimes: (1) a control treatment, irrigated at 100% of seasonal crop evapotranspiration (ETc), (2) a continuous deficit irrigation (DI) treatment, irrigated at 50% of the control treatment, and (3) a regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) treatment, irrigated at 100% of ETc during the critical periods, which correspond to stage III of fruit growth and 2 months after harvest (early postharvest), and at 25% of ETc during the rest of the non-critical periods in the first two growing seasons and at 40% of ETc in the third and fourth. Soil–plant–water relation parameters were sensitive to the water deficits applied, which caused reductions in leaf and soil water potentials. The longer and severer deficits of the RDI treatment decreased fruit yield in the first two seasons. The RDI treatment pointed to two threshold values that defined the level at which both plant growth and yield were negatively affected with respect to the control treatment: (1) a predawn leaf water potential of around −0.5 MPa during the critical periods, and (2) a 22% drop in irrigation water. The total yield obtained in the DI treatment was significantly reduced in all the years studied due to the lower number of fruits per tree. No changes in the physical characteristics of fruits were observed at harvest. RDI can be considered a useful strategy in semiarid areas with limited water resources.     

FSWM: A hybrid fuzzy-stochastic water-management model for agricultural sustainability under uncertainty

A hybrid fuzzy-stochastic water-management (FSWM) model is developed for agricultural sustainability under uncertainty, based on advancement of a multistage fuzzy-stochastic quadratic programming (MFSQP) approach. In MFSQP, uncertainties presented in terms of fuzziness and randomness can be incorporated within a multilayer scenario tree, such that revised decisions are permitted in each time period based on the realized values of the uncertain events. Moreover, fuzzy quadratic terms are used in the objective function to minimize the variation of satisfaction degrees among the constraints; it allows an increased flexibility in controlling the system risk in the optimization process. Results of the case study indicate that useful solutions for the planning of agricultural water management have been obtained. In the FSWM model, a number of policies for agricultural water supply are conducted. The results obtained can help decision makers to identify desired water-allocation schemes for agricultural sustainability under uncertainty, particularly when limited water resources are available for multiple competing users.     

Estimating reference evapotranspiration with atmometers in a semiarid environment

Reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) estimations require accurate measurements of meteorological variables (solar radiation, air temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity) which are not available in many countries of the world. Alternative approaches are the use of Class A pan evaporimeters and atmometers, which have several advantages compared to meteorological stations: they are simple, inexpensive and provide a visual interpretation of ET₀. The objectives of the study were to compare the evaporation from atmometers (ET_gage) with the evapotranspiration estimated by the FAO-56 Penman-Monteith equation (ET_0PM) and to evaluate the variability between three modified atmometers of a commercial model. Comparison between daily ET_gage measured by the atmometer and ET_0PM showed a good correlation. However, ET_gage underestimated ET_0PM by approximately 9%. Differences between ET_gage and ET_0PM ranged from −2.4 to 2.2 mm d⁻¹ while the mean bias error was −0.41 mm d⁻¹. Underestimations occurred more frequently on days with low maximum temperatures and high wind speeds. On the contrary, atmometer overestimations occurred on days with high maximum temperatures and low wind speeds. Estimates of ET₀ using the atmometer appeared to be more accurate under non-windy conditions and moderate temperatures as well as under windy conditions and high temperatures. Atmometers 2 and 3 overestimated the evaporated water by atmometer 1 with a maximum variability of cumulative water losses of 4.5%. A temperature-based calibration was performed to improve the atmometer accuracy, using maximum temperature as an independent variable, with good results.     

Mineral content of three olive cultivars irrigated with treated industrial wastewater

The reuse of saline treated industrial wastewater generated by textile firms mixed with municipal domestic effluent for irrigation was used to asses its effect on the mineral content of three olive (Olea europaea L.) cultivars under greenhouse and field conditions during two complete vegetative cycles. Chemical analysis of the treated wastewater indicated that the element concentrations fall within the permissible range of irrigation water used for plants. However, little impermissible accumulation of Na and Mg higher than the recommended maximum concentration was observed. Irrigation water with six electrical conductivities (EC = 0.78, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 dS m⁻¹ in treatments T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃, T₄, T₅, respectively) were compared in the greenhouse experiment. The olive trees in the field experiment were trickle irrigated with potable water and treated wastewater (average EC = 4.2 dS m⁻¹). The results of the greenhouse experiment showed that leaf N, Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb, and Na contents increased with increasing salinity of the treated wastewater. This increase was accompanied with a decrease in K and Mg contents. Leaf Ca and Cl concentrations were not considerably affected. Ion analysis in roots indicated that the contents of P, Na, Cl, Mn, and Pb increased while K decreased as treated wastewater salinity increased. Consequently, in most cases T₄ and T₅ gave a highly significant increase or decrease in accumulation of the previously mentioned minerals. A considerable variation in the studied cultivars was noticed. ‘Nabali’ was considered the most tolerant cultivar for the high salinity levels of the treated wastewater; its transporting selectivity of Na from root to leaf was higher and more Na was retained in the roots. Tissue analysis of leaves indicated that the element concentrations were within the adequate levels except those of Fe in ‘Nabali’ and ‘Manzanillo’, Na in ‘Improved Nabali’ and Cu in ‘Nabali’ and ‘Manzanillo’. In view of these findings, the negligible accumulation of minerals in leaves and roots indicated that this kind of textile effluent can be used as a valid alternative for irrigation of olive orchards with continuous monitoring of mineral levels.     

三种沙棘浆果成熟过程中的糖、有机酸、黄酮醇和类胡萝卜素组分的变化

在Askola、Hergo和Leikora三个德国沙棘品种的浆果中,根据不同采集时间来测定其可溶性固形物,糖,有机酸,黄酮醇和类胡萝卜素的含量,用以提供一个更为完善的浆果成熟期内沙棘品质变化的情况。沙棘浆果成熟期内主要有机酸是苹果酸（1940-4660mg／100g）,奎宁酸（810～2820mg／100g）,维生素C（180～370mg／100g）和柠檬酸（90～160mg／100g）。在这3个沙棘品种中所有有机酸的浓度在成熟过程中呈现显著下降趋势。而其糖类如葡萄糖（0．26～2．10g／100g）和果糖（0．14～0．54g／100g）在3个品种中成分变化略有不同。所有3个沙棘品种维生素C浓度在成熟过程中呈现下降趋势。含有的主要黄酮醇是异鼠李素（350-660mg／kg）,槲皮素（30～100mg／kg）和山奈酚（2-5mg／kg）。在3个沙棘品种中黄酮醇浓度在成熟过程中显示出不同的变化趋势。主要类胡萝卜素是玉米黄素（30～150mg／kg）,β-胡萝卜素（3～50mg／kg）和β-隐黄质（5～19mg／kg）。基因型对类胡萝卜素的收集和类胡萝卜素的形态都有影响,但在3个沙棘品种成熟期间类胡萝卜素浓度呈现增加趋势。在成熟期间抗氧化剂的分类表现出不同的组成变化,最大浓度也出现在不同的收获期。     

Changes in epidemiological patterns of sea lice infestation on farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Scotland between 1996 and 2006

Analyses of a unique database containing sea lice records over an 11 year period provide evidence of changing infestation patterns in Scotland. The data, collected from more than 50 commercial Atlantic salmon farms, indicate that both species of sea lice commonly found in Scotland, Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus, have declined on farms over the past decade. Reductions for both species have been particularly marked since 2001 when more effective veterinary medicines became available. Treatment data were also available in the database and these show a growing trend towards the use of the in-feed medication emamectin benzoate (Slice), particularly in the first year of the salmon production cycle. However, this trend towards single product use has not been sustained in 2006, the latest year for which data are available. There is some evidence of region to region variation within Scotland with the Western Isles experiencing higher levels of infestation. However, compared to the levels observed between 1996 and 2000, all regions have benefited from reduced lice infestation, with the overall pattern showing a particular reduction in the second and third quarters of the second year of production.     

Salmonid fish viruses and cell interactions at early steps of the infective cycle

A flow cytometric virus-binding assay that directly visualizes the binding and entry of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and virus haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) to several cell lines was established. The highest efficiency of binding was shown by the BF-2 cell line and this was used to study, at the attachment level, the interactions of these cells with salmonid fish viruses in coinfections, and to further determine if the earliest stage of the viral growth cycle could explain the previously described loss of infectivity of IHNV when IPNV is present. Our results demonstrated that IPNV binds to around 88% of cells either in single or dual infections, whereas IHNV attachment always decreased in the presence of any of the other viruses. VHSV binding was not affected by IPNV, but coinfection with IHNV reduced the percentage of virus-binding cells, which suggests competition for viral receptors or co-receptors. Internalization of the adsorbed IHNV was not decreased by coinfection with IPNV, so the hypothetical competence could be restricted to the binding step. Treatment of the cells with antiviral agents, such as amantadine or chloroquine, did not affect the binding of IPNV and VHSV, but reduced IHNV binding by more than 30%. Tributylamine affected viral binding of the three viruses to different degrees and inhibited IPNV or IHNV entry in a large percentage of cells treated for 30 min. Tributylamine also inhibited IHNV cytopathic effects in a dose-dependent manner, decreasing the virus yield by 4 log of the 50% endpoint titre, at 10 mm concentration. IPNV was also inhibited, but at a lower level. The results of this study support the hypothesis that IHNV, in contrast to VHSV or IPNV, is less efficient at completing its growth cycle in cells with a simultaneous infection with IPNV. It can be affected at several stages of viral infection and is more sensitive to the action of antiviral compounds.     

Allometric and ontogenetic patterns related to feeding of a neotropical fish, Satanoperca pappaterra (Perciformes, Cichlidae)

Abstract –  This study aims to analyse whether Satanoperca pappaterra changes its feeding habit throughout ontogenetic development, and whether morphological ontogenetic patterns are related to its feeding habit and food capture. We collected 258 individuals in the Cuiabá river basin (Brazil) for analyses. There was a weak relationship between diet and body size, as evidenced by size class and multivariate analyses, and niche breadth did not vary strongly during ontogenetic development. Eight morphometric variables were measured in each individual. We found an isometric relationship for mouth height and width, and for head length. We found positive allometry for snout length and body height in relation to body length, whereas this relationship for intestine length and eye diameter showed negative allometry. These results suggest that morphology and consequently diet vary weakly during ontogenetic development of S. pappaterra .     

Foraging specialisms, prey size and life-history patterns: a test of predictions using sympatric polymorphic Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

Abstract –  We use arguments based on optimal foraging theory to predict body size constraints and the consequences of these on a range of life-history traits in three trophic specialist morphs of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus , living in sympatry in Loch Rannoch, Scotland. As predicted, foraging specialists feeding on small prey items with a narrow size range showed evidence of deterministic growth; the ultimate body size of macrobenthos feeders being larger ( L _∞ = 238 mm) than that of planktivores ( L _∞ = 216 mm). In contrast, the piscivorous morph showed no evidence of reaching a maximal body size.
The two size-constrained morphs (benthivores and planktivores) matured earlier and died younger (living for up to 11 and 7 years, respectively, in this study) than did the piscivorous charr which showed continuous growth up to at least 17 years.
The pattern of annual reproductive investment in maturing individuals was complex. Planktivores invested in larger eggs than the other two forms, but benthivores produced a greater number of eggs than planktivores, which in turn produced more than piscivores. Planktivorous males had a greater investment in mean testis weight than the other two forms.
Lifetime reproductive output was the greatest in the benthivorous charr, intermediate in planktivorous and the lowest in the piscivorous charr when measured either as fecundity or as gonadal weight. We conclude that constraints imposed upon foraging specialists by foraging efficiency is a significant driver of body size and ultimately reproductive investment in gape-limited foraging salmonids.