Optimizing water,nitrogen and crop density in canola cultivation using response surface methodology and central composite design

Abstract

Optimisation of water and nitrogen use is an effective management tool to conserve resources and reduce environmental pollutions. Response surface methodology (RSM) is defined as a collection of mathematical and statistical methods that are used to develop, to improve or to optimize a product or process. In order to determine optimum levels of water, nitrogen and planting density of canola (Brassica napus L.), a 2-year experiment (2010–2011) was carried out by central composite design as RSM at the research station of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The treatments were designed based on low and high levels of irrigation (1500 and 4000 m³ ha^?1), nitrogen (0 and 400 kg N ha^?1) and density (50 and 150 plant m^?2) as independent variables. Furthermore, seed yield, nitrogen losses, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and water use efficiency (WUE) were measured as response variables in a full quadratic polynomial model. Optimum levels of irrigation, nitrogen and planting density were suggested to achieve the target range of dependent variables based on three scenarios: economic, environmental and eco-environmental. The results showed that increasing irrigation and fertilizer led to an increase in seed yield and nitrogen losses, whereas increasing canola density resulted in an increase in seed yield but a decrease in nitrogen losses. The optimum levels of water, fertilizer and density based on environmental scenario were 1802 m³ ha^?1, 11 kg N ha^?1 and 122 plant m^?2, respectively. To achieve optimum conditions under the economic scenario, it is necessary to use 3411 m³ water ha^?1, 178 kg N ha^?1 and 119 plant m^?2. Amounts of 2347 m³ water ha^?1, 92 kg N ha^?1 and 114 plant m^?2 were found to be the optimum conditions for the eco-environmental scenario. In general, it seems that resource use based on the eco-environmental scenario may be the most favorable cropping strategy for canola production.     

Common carotid intima-media thickness in patients with late rheumatoid arthritis; what is the role of gender?

This study aimed to evaluate color Doppler sonographic findings in carotid arteries in RA patients under pharmacological treatments and to compare them with normal population. Forty nine patients with late RA and 48 healthy age and sex-matched controls were recruited. The two groups were matched for other known risk factors of atherosclerosis including serum lipid abnormalities, smoking status, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. High resolution B-mode color Doppler ultrasound with a 7 MHZ transducer was used for measuring the Common Carotid Intima-Medial Thickness (CCIMT) in both sides in all subjects. Presence of atherosclerotic plaque was also investigated. The mean left and maximum CCIMT was significantly higher in the case group (0.72 vs. 0.62 mm for the left artery; p < 0.01; 0.72 vs. 0.64 mm for the maximum reading; p = 0.01). No atherosclerotic plaque was found in common carotid arteries. There were 3 (6.1), 7 (14.3) and 9 (18.4%) plaques in left internal carotid artery, right carotid bulb and left carotid bulb in the case group, respectively with no atherosclerotic plaques in the controls (p = 0.24, 0.01 and < 0.001, respectively). Comparing the findings by gender in the case group with the controls, the mentioned significant differences were only between the male patients and the controls. The process of atherosclerosis in RA patients is similar to that in normal population. However, it is apparently accelerated and more advanced in these patients.     

Radiographic measurement of vertebral heart size in healthy stray cats

The aims of this study were to determine vertebral heart size (VHS) in stray cats and to compare different radiographic views. This study was performed on 50 adult stray cats. All cats were short-haired and non-obese and were considered to be healthy based on physical examination and electrocardiography. Left and right lateral, dorsoventral and ventrodorsal radiographs were taken. The long and short axes of the heart were measured in millimetres. The thoracic vertebral length spanned by each dimension was measured caudally from the fourth thoracic vertebra. Mean+/-SD and the correlation coefficient between the measurements were calculated with standard statistical software. The sum of the long and short axes of the heart expressed as VHS was 7.3+/-0.49 vertebrae in right lateral, 7.3+/-0.55 vertebrae in left lateral, 7.5+/-0.68 vertebrae in dorsoventral and 7.5+/-0.53 vertebrae in ventrodorsal. The differences between right and left lateral as well as dorsoventral and ventrodorsal views were not significant (P>0.05). Absolute measurements and vertebral heart scale values were slightly smaller than those reported in the literature for mixed population of cats. It is, therefore, important to take the breed in to account.     

Molecular characterization of Newcastle disease viruses isolated from rural chicken in northwest Ethiopia reveals the circulation of three distinct genotypes in the country

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious disease that affects many species of birds and causes significant economic losses to the poultry industry worldwide. Fifteen Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates obtained from rural chickens in northwest Ethiopia in 2011 and 2012 were characterized genotypically. The main functional region of the F gene was amplified and sequenced (260 nucleotides). Among the Ethiopian NDV isolates, 2 isolates had the virulent motif ¹¹²R-R-Q-K-R-F¹¹⁷ at the cleavage site of the fusion protein while 13 isolates contained the lentogenic motif ¹¹²G-G/R-Q-G-R-L¹¹⁷. Phylogenetic analysis based on the variable region of the F gene indicated that the two isolates exhibiting the virulent motif belonged to lineage 5 (genotype VII) subgenotype d and the remaining 13 isolates were grouped into lineage 2 (genotype II). The nucleotide sequences of lineage 5 isolates were genetically related to the Sudanese NDV isolates, suggesting potential epidemiological link of ND outbreaks between neighbouring countries. The lentogenic strains shared similarities with La Sota vaccine strain and probably originated from the vaccine strain either through direct exposure of birds to the live vaccine or to infectious La Sota-like strains circulating in rural poultry. This study provides genetic evidence on the existence of different NDV genotypes circulating in the rural poultry in Ethiopia. The virulent NDV continues to be a problem in poultry sector in Ethiopia, and their continuous circulation in rural and commercial poultry calls for improved surveillance and intensified vaccination and other control measures.     

Effect of mastitis during the first lactation on production and reproduction performance of Holstein cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of postpartum mastitis between first calving and subsequent conception on production and reproduction performance as well as culling of Holstein cows. A data set of 9,183 first lactation cows was used. Results showed that the first cumulative 100?days' milk production and the milk yield standardized to 305?days were affected by the interval from calving to first mastitis (P??0.05). Calving year, calving difficulty score, and cumulative first 60?days milk production had significant impacts on mastitis risk (P?相似文献   

The effect of magnesium sulfate on bleeding time and nitric oxide production in preeclamsia

Preeclampsia is a disease regarding with altered vascular reactivity leading to hypertension of the mother and metabolic alterations in the fetus. This study aimed to assess nitric oxide and bleeding time following administration of magnesium sulfate to preeclamtic patients compared to normotensive pregnant women. A total of 112 subjects (56 preeclamtic patients and 56 normotensive pregnant controls) were enrolled in this case-control study. Cases and controls were matched for age, BMI, gestational age, parity and gravidity. Total concentration of nitrite and nitrate (NOx) was measured before and during magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) treatment using a modified Griess-based method. RESULTS: Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly decreased during MgSO4 treatment in preeclamtic patients (p < 0.0001). NOx levels were significantly increased in preeclamtic women after MgSO4 administration (33.7 +/- 18.5 vs. 50.2 +/- 21.6, p < 0.0001) but it was not seen in normotensive parturients (52.4 +/- 28.9 vs. 57.3 +/- 21.7, p = 0.362). The bleeding time was scarcely increased following magnesium sulfate treatment in preeclamptic patients compared to normotensive pregnant women but it was not significant (p = 0.18). In addition, there was only a significantly reverse correlation between NOx levels and systolic or diastolic blood pressure in preeclamtic parturients after MgSO4 treatment (r = -0384; p = 0.003 and r = -0.29; p = 0.03, respectively). This study demonstrates that administrating MgSO4 to preeclamtic patients induced significant changes in NOx production which had a major role in modulating vasculature changes in preeclamsia.     

Nutrition Management and Farm’s Age Affect Saffron Daughter Corms Behavior,Nutrients Uptake and Economic Water and Fertilizer Use Efficiency: A Large Scale On-farm Experiment in Torbat Heydarieh,Iran

ABSTRACT

Evaluation of the relationships between nutritional patterns and farms’ age with the behavior of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) daughter corms based on farmers’ management (on-farm) can be crucial in improving saffron sustainable yield. Furthermore, in commercial saffron production, especially in small farms, the purchased water and fertilizers are the basis of sustainable saffron profitability, hence, recognizing the relationships between economic water use efficiency (EWUE) and economic fertilizer use efficiency (EFUE) can be important. An on-farm experiment was conducted on a large scale based on farmers’ management in Torbat Heydarieh, Iran. The farms’ age (1–6 years old) and fertilizers management approaches (organic, mineral and integrated) were considered as the first and second factors, respectively. Large-sized daughter corms number and weight and corms N and P content increased with increasing farms’ age from 1 to 4 years old. However, these parameters decreased with increasing farms’ age from 4 to 6 years old. Irrespective of saffron farms’ age, the minimum large-sized daughter corms number and weight were observed when mineral fertilizer management was practiced. By contrast, the maximum values were related to integrated fertilizer management. In each type of fertilizer management, EWUE and EFUE (based on large-sized daughter corms monetary value) increased with increasing farms age from 1 to 4 years. However, increase in farms age from 4 to 6 years caused a significant reduction in mentioned indices. Overall, if high-quality saffron corm production is needed, corms should be harvested in the fourth year to gain the maximum yield and profit.     

Induction of superoxide dismutase,malate dehydrogenase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase during enhancing resistance of common bean against Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli by exogenous salicylic acid

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Bacterial blight of common bean caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap) is one of the most devastating diseases and causes serious yield...