Improved techniques for rearing mud crab Scylla paramamosain (Estampador 1949) larvae

A series of rearing trials in small 1 L cones and large tanks of 30–100 L were carried out to develop optimal rearing techniques for mud crab (Scylla paramamosain) larvae. Using water exchange (discontinuous partial water renewal or continuous treatment through biofiltration) and micro‐algae (Chlorella or Chaetoceros) supplementation (daily supplementation at 0.1–0.2 million cells mL⁻¹ or maintenance at 1–2 millions cells mL⁻¹), six different types of rearing systems were tried. The combination of a green‐water batch system for early stages and a recirculating system with micro‐algae supplementation for later stages resulted in the best overall performance of the crab larvae. No clear effects of crab stocking density (50–200 larvae L⁻¹) and rotifer (30–60 rotifers mL⁻¹) and Artemia density (10–20 L⁻¹) were observed. A stocking density of 100–150 zoea 1 (Z1) L⁻¹, combined with rotifer of 30–45 mL⁻¹ for early stages and Artemia feeding at 10–15 nauplii mL⁻¹ for Z3–Z5 seemed to produce the best performance of S. paramamosain larvae. Optimal rations for crab larvae should, however, be adjusted depending on the species, larval stage, larval status, prey size, rearing system and techniques. A practical feeding schedule could be to increase live food density from 30 to 45 rotifers mL⁻¹ from Z1 to Z2 and increase the number of Artemia nauplii mL⁻¹ from 10 to 15 from Z3 to Z5. Bacterial disease remains one of the key factors underlying the high mortality in the zoea stages. Further research to develop safe prophylactic treatments is therefore warranted. Combined with proper live food enrichment techniques, application of these findings has sustained a survival rate from Z1 to crab 1–2 stages in large rearing tanks of 10–15% (maximum 30%).     

Scale and scope economies in small household rice farming in Vietnam

The Vietnamese agricultural sector has experienced a dramatic structural change based on increased specialization in rice cultivation. However, small-scale rice-farmers have continued to grow multiple crops, especially in less developed provinces. While the literature advocates crop diversification for reasons of both economic and ecological sustainability, there lacks empirical evidence as to whether crop diversification brings efficiency and productivity gains to small farms. The present study is the first applications of the input-oriented stochastic distance function approach in estimating scale and scope economies using data of multi-crop farming households in Vietnam. We find strong evidence of product-specific economies of scale. Scope economies are also present for rice, vegetable, and other annual crop production. This suggests that crop diversification enhances efficiency and productivity. However, there still exists significant technical inefficiency in crop production, indicating opportunities to expand farm output at the existing level of inputs and technologies. More specifically, our empirical results indicate that it is desirable to expand vegetable and other annual crop production in mountainous areas while rice cultivation can be further expanded in delta and coastal regions.     

Application of unsteady flow analysis in designing a multiple outlets sprinkler irrigation system

A simplified method has been developed for designing and calculating sprinkling systems by cutting lines across laterals at points next to the first sprinkler with a view to divide the system into two separate parts; field and basic. Equations of lateral pressure heads were used to express the relationship between inlet pressure head and velocity of the flow pumped to laterals on the field part. The above equations were then used to set up calculating conditions for the Basic part by unsteady flow method in order to define head and discharge at downstream end of the pipe in the Basic part. The forward step method was used for determining distributions of the pressure head and the emitter discharge along each lateral. A calculating schema on computer has been carried out in order to apply the method to any sprinkling system. The procedure of analysis and calculation showed that this method is generally accurate, simple and rapid.     

Hot water treatment prevents Aphelenchoides besseyi damage to Polianthes tuberosa crops in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam

Polianthes tuberosa is a commercially valuable flower crop in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam that is propagated by the harvesting and planting of bulbs. Cultivation of P. tuberosa is infected by an endemic Aphelenchoides besseyi nematode that damages a high proportion of plants and persists within the bulbs. Here we report on the comparison of hot water and pesticide treatments as control methods to protect P. tuberosa from A. besseyi damage, and conclude that a hot water treatment consisting of soaking bulbs in water for 30 min at 57 °C is the most efficacious method to produce healthy flowers in a cost effective manner.     

Enhanced repellency of binary mixtures of Zanthoxylum piperitum pericarp steam distillate or Zanthoxylum armatum seed oil constituents and Calophyllum inophyllum nut oil and their aerosols to Stomoxys calcitrans

BACKGROUND: The repellency to stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), of Zanthoxylum piperitum (L.) DC pericarp steam distillate (ZP‐SD), Zanthoxylum armatum DC seed oil (ZA‐SO) and their constituents alone or in combination with Calophyllum inophyllum L. nut oil (CI‐NO), as well as six aerosol formulations containing ZP‐SD or ZP‐SO and CI‐NO, was compared with that of a synthetic repellent, DEET, using an exposed human hand bioassay. RESULTS: At 0.20 mg cm^?2, ZP‐SD treatments resulted in 91 and 68% repellency following 30 and 60 min exposure respectively, while DEET gave 100 and 84% repellency. ZA‐SO was less effective than ZP‐SD. At 0.2 mg cm^?2, the most active constituents, cuminaldehyde, cuminyl alcohol, limonene and methyl cinnamate, gave 82, 74, 74 and 64% repellency at 30 min respectively, but DEET gave 100 and 87% repellency at 30 and 60 min. An increase in effectiveness and duration of repellency was produced by binary mixtures of ZP‐SD, ZA‐SO or bioactive constituents (each 0.01 mg cm^?2) and CI‐NO (0.99 mg cm^?2). The repellency of aerosols containing 2.5% ZP‐SD or 2.5% ZA‐SO and 2.5% CI‐NO was comparable with that of 5% DEET aerosol. CONCLUSION: Mixtures formulated from ZP‐SD, ZA‐SO or bioactive constituents and CI‐NO could be useful as potential repellents for the control of stable fly populations in light of global efforts to reduce the level of highly toxic synthetic repellents. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Comparative studies on lipid profiles and amino acid composition of wild and cultured Dojo loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus obtained from southern Japan

The aim of this study was to determine the differences in the nutritional properties of wild and cultured loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus obtained from southern Japan. Major parameters, such as whole-body proximate composition, lipid classes, and fatty acid and amino acid composition, were investigated. The whole-body total lipid content of cultured loach was twofold higher than that of wild loach and the proportion of neutral lipids was significantly higher in cultured loach than in wild loach. However, the polar lipid content was two- to threefold lower in cultured loach than in wild loach. Compared to the wild loach, higher contents of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 were detected in cultured loach, but much lower contents of 20:4n-6. In terms of whole-body amino acid composition, wild and cultured loach showed similar profiles. In conclusion, the consumption of cultured loach will contribute to dietary n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids intake, with a benefit to human health.     

黄土高原利用牧草枯落物防治刺槐纯林土壤极化的效应

以黄土高原广泛分布的人工刺槐(Robinia pseudoacia)纯林为研究对象,通过采集林地腐殖质土壤并与7种常见豆科牧草的枯落物进行120 d混合分解培养试验,分析牧草枯落物对刺槐纯林土壤性质的改良和土壤极化的防治效应.结果表明:对于黄土丘陵区(黄陵)刺槐纯林土壤,苜蓿(Medicago sativa)具有明显的改良作用,其次为草木樨(Melilotus officinalis);而胡枝子(Leapedeza bicolor)具有明显的恶化作用,其次为毛苕子(Vicia villosa)、红豆草(Onobrychis viciifolia)和沙打旺(Astragalus adsurgens);对于黄土残塬沟壑区(淳化)刺槐纯林土壤,草木樨和沙打旺具有明显的改良作用,其次为毛苕子;而小冠花(Coronilla varia)具有明显的恶化作用,其次为红豆草.     

A Natural Forest of Commercial Timber Species: Logging or Not Logging

Most tropical forests outside protected areas have been or will be selectively logged because the timber industry is a main income-generating resource for many developing countries. Therefore, understanding the composition of commercial timber species and logging types is key for sustainable forest management in countries like Vietnam as they move toward fulfilling Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) agreements. Seven 1-ha plots were surveyed in the Central Highland of Vietnam, and 18 commercial tree species from these plots, whose timber is widely used by local people for housing and furniture making and timber is easily sold at local markets for high prices, were analyzed. In total, 151 tree species with a diameter at breast height (DBH) of ≥?10 cm were recorded. The 18 commercially valuable species assessed in this study accounted for 33.2% of all stems (total of 524 stems ha^?1 for all species), 47.1% of basal area (total of 34.35 m² ha^?1 for all species), and 50.8% of aboveground biomass/AGB (total of 262.68 Mg ha^?1 for all species). Practicing diameter-limit harvesting of all commercially valuable species with DBH of ≥?40 cm, which is widely performed in Vietnam, will reduce the number of stems by 7%, basal area by 31.6%, and AGB by 38.2%. Because such harvesting practices cause severe ecological impacts on the remaining forest, logged forests may require >?40 years to recover the structure status of a pre-logged forest. In addition, the recovery of the 18 commercially valuable species may require a much longer time because they comprised 33.2% of stems. Permission for logging natural forests should be given in Vietnam to sustain lives of local communities, where logging has been prohibited. However, alternative harvesting systems, such as reduced-impact logging systems, should be considered. The systems selected must simultaneously generate economic returns for local people and respect the REDD+ agreements with regard to protecting biodiversity and reducing carbon emissions.