Enhancing multi-functionality of agriculture through rainwater harvesting system

The multi-functionality of agriculture was studied from June to December 2005 in an upland community in Central Luzon, Philippines, by looking across the entire basin of two small water impounding systems or SWIP (Maasin and Buted II). Several sub-studies were undertaken, namely (a) the role of dominant vegetative cover on the rate of surface runoff and erosion; (b) rainfall–runoff analysis in a sub-watershed (i.e., through runoff experimental plot) and within the main watershed (i.e., reservoir inflow analysis); and (c) the environmental functions of agriculture across the entire watershed. The results indicated that about 85% (i.e., throughfall) of rainfall could reach the ground as vegetations intercept the rest. The runoff experimental plot covering a sub-watershed revealed a good correlation between throughfall and runoff. On the other hand, monitoring of reservoir inflows through which surface runoff was measured indicated similar behavior. Integrating the result of runoff experimental plot studies and reservoir inflow analysis resulted to a rainfall–runoff relation which can be applied in the development of rainwater harvesting scheme. The result also showed the dominance of surface runoff as the main component of reservoir inflow, confirming the soil and water conservation, and flood prevention functions of the system. Flood analysis conducted in both SWIP confirmed their flood prevention function by reducing flood peak discharge. The difference between with and without the reservoir was also highlighted in the process. In the paddy field, a 5-cm water depth was consistently maintained, contributing in retaining about 0.543 and 0.272 MCM of rainwater in Maasin and Buted II, respectively. The value of fostering groundwater recharge throughout the entire system was almost equivalent to the value of flood prevention function. Moreover, SWIP also trapped sediments, thereby preventing offsite impact downstream and in surrounding areas.This paper is part of the progress report of the project “Multi-functionality of Agriculture in Selected Sites in the Philippines” presented in the 6th Meeting of the Working Group for the ASEAN-Japan Project on Multi-functionality of Agriculture in ASEAN Countries.     

Woodland and floral richness boost bumble bee density in cranberry resource pulse landscapes

Landscape Ecology - Native pollinators provide an important ecosystem service for many pollination-dependent fruit crops, but require nesting and foraging resources in proximity to target crop...     

Effect of left vs. right recumbency on the vertebral heart score in normal dogs

The effect of right vs. left recumbency on computation of the vertebral heart score (VHS) was assessed in 63 healthy dogs. The VHS was significantly higher in right lateral recumbency (9.8 +/- 0.6 vs. 9.5 +/- 0.8; P < 0.0004). Gender and dog size did not significantly influence VHS values while there was m oredifference between left and right side measurements when considering the type of thorax (P = 0.055).     

Dose–response effect of a pine bark extract on in vitro ruminal ammonia and methane formation kinetics

ABSTRACT

This study assessed the potential of a pine bark extract (PBE) to decrease methane (CH₄) and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) production in vitro. Dietary substrates, mixed hay, soybean meal and corn grain, were supplemented 0, 2, 4 and 6% of PBE and incubated in an in vitro batch culture for 24-h. Incubations were run three times. Total gas production (GP) was determined at 6, 12 and 24-h and gas samples were analysed for CH₄. Samples were collected for volatile fatty acids (VFA) and NH₃-N analysis. Treatments were compared by polynomial contrasts for PBE concentration. Increasing PBE caused linear decreases in NH₃-N, microbial biomass production and digestibility, whereas the degradation rate was quadratically reduced. Total VFA were decreased but total GP and CH₄ production and kinetics were unaffected. The inclusion of 2% PBE in ruminant feed has the capability to reduce NH₃-N concentration by 50%, without affecting diet digestibility or CH₄ production.     

Evaluation of changes in antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Pasteurella multocida subsp multocida isolates from pigs in Spain in 1987-1988 and 2003-2004

OBJECTIVE: To determine the susceptibility of strains of Pasteurella multocida subsp multocida isolated from lung specimens of pigs with pneumonia to 20 antimicrobials and to evaluate the emergence of resistance to those antimicrobials in Spain during the past 2 decades. SAMPLE POPULATION: 63 isolates recovered from 1987 to 1988 and 132 isolates recovered from 2003 to 2004. PROCEDURE: A broth microdilution method was used to determine minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) range and values for MIC50 and MIC90. Resistance of a strain to an antimicrobial agent was determined by use of the breakpoint value when available. RESULTS: Isolates were generally susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, ceftiofur, gentamicin, apramycin, neomycin, spectinomycin, chlortetracycline, erythromycin, tilmicosin, enrofloxacin, and florfenicol, and most isolates were resistant to clindamycin, tylosin tartrate, and tiamulin regardless of the time period. A substantial increase in resistance to sulfa-chlorpiridazine, sulfadimethoxine, sulfathiazole, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was observed, and a minor increase in resistance to oxytetracycline was also detected. Several multiresistance patterns were observed, most frequently among isolates recovered in the 2003 to 2004 interval. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ceftiofur, florfenicol, and enrofloxacin are recommended for treatment of infections caused by P multocida subsp multocida in Spain. Increased frequency of resistance to oxytetracycline and sulfonamide drugs may be a contraindication for their use.     

Floral resource partitioning by ants and bees in a jambolan Syzygium jambolanum (Myrtaceae) agroforestry system in Brazilian Meridional Amazon

The fruit production of flowering plants critically depends on the pollination services provided by animals that compete for flower resources. The output of competitive interactions between ants and bees for inflorescences of jambolan Syzygium jambolanum (Myrtaceae) in an agroforestry system in Brazilian Meridional Amazonian are an interesting system of investigation due the possibility to control variables experimentally. In 20 S. jambolanum individuals we performed 300 treatments in different inflorescences of two strata (upper and lower) as follows: (1) ants exclusion, (2) bees exclusion, and (3) control group where ants and bees could access the inflorescences. There was no difference in the number of inflorescences, volume of nectar and sugar concentration between the strata. Also the visitors considered are distributed equally in the tree??s stratum. When bees were prevented from access the inflorescences, ants dominated more inflorescences only in the lower stratum. On the contrary, when ants were excluded, bees visited more inflorescences only in the upper stratum. We conclude that ants prevent the access to bees and vice versa as the result of different ability of resource utilization and foraging strategies. Thus, preventing the access of ants to the floral nectar could increase the level of nectar available to pollinators of S. jambolanum, thereby increasing productivity and reducing economic losses.