Post-dispersal seed predation of non-target weeds in arable crops

Field experiments were conducted to quantify the natural levels of post-dispersal seed predation of arable weed species in spring barley and to identify the main groups of seed predators. Four arable weed species were investigated that were of high biodiversity value, yet of low to moderate competitive ability with the crop. These were Chenopodium album, Sinapis arvensis, Stellaria media and Polygonum aviculare. Exclusion treatments were used to allow selective access to dishes of seeds by different predator groups. Seed predation was highest early in the season, followed by a gradual decline in predation over the summer for all species. All species were taken by invertebrates. The activity of two phytophagous carabid genera showed significant correlations with seed predation levels. However, in general carabid activity was not related to seed predation and this is discussed in terms of the mainly polyphagous nature of many Carabid species that utilized the seed resource early in the season, but then switched to carnivory as prey populations increased. The potential relevance of post-dispersal seed predation to the development of weed management systems that maximize biological control through conservation and optimize herbicide use, is discussed.     

ENABLING CROP DIVERSIFICATION TO SUPPORT TRANSITIONS TOWARD MORE SUSTAINABLE EUROPEAN AGRIFOOD SYSTEMS

• Crop diversification is a dynamic pathway towards sustainable agrifood systems.• Technological and institutional barriers restrict uptake of crop diversification.• More coordination and cooperation among agrifood system stakeholders is required.• The European Crop Diversification Cluster calls for multiactor networks.European cropping systems are often characterized by short rotations or even monocropping, leading to environmental issues such as soil degradation, water eutrophication, and air pollution including greenhouse gas emissions, that contribute to climate change and biodiversity loss. The use of diversification practices (i.e., intercropping, multiple cropping including cover cropping and rotation extension), may help enhance agrobiodiversity and deliver ecosystem services while developing new value chains. Despite its benefits, crop diversification is hindered by various technical, organizational, and institutional barriers along value chains (input industries, farms, trading and processing industries, retailers, and consumers) and within sociotechnical systems (policy, research, education, regulation and advisory). Six EU-funded research projects have joined forces to boost crop diversification by creating the European Crop Diversification Cluster (CDC). This Cluster aggregates research, innovation, commercial and citizen-focused partnerships to identify and remove barriers across the agrifood system and thus enables the uptake of diversification measures by all European value-chain stakeholders. The CDC will produce a typology of barriers, develop tools to accompany actors in their transition, harmonize the use of multicriteria assessment indicators, prepare policy recommendations and pave the way for a long-term network on crop diversification.     

应用神经网络和统计模型预测大豆生长发育阶段

预测大豆的物候期对指导大豆生产、安排农事活动等具有重大意义。本研究构建了一种简单、但有效的预测模型,使大豆种植者能够较准确地预测大豆各生育阶段的具体日期。试验地位于美国密西西比Delta研究推广中心(经度: 90°55''W,纬度: 33°25''N)。试验进行了5年,以前4年(1998—2001)数据构建模型,第5年(2002)的数据验证模型。为简化模型,杂草、病虫害、干旱等干扰因素被优化排除。采用逐步回归(SR)、神经网络(ANN)以及内插法构建模型。营养(V-stage)和生殖(R-stage)生长阶段分别建模。结果表明,通过播期(PD)和从播种到某阶段的相对平均天数能很准确地预测营养生长各阶段的具体日期;可通过播种日期和成熟期组数值(MG)准确预测生殖生长各阶段的具体日期。3种方法中,神经网络所构建的模型准确度最高,具有较好的推广应用价值。     

生物除草菌-小菌核菌(Sclerotinia minor)液体发酵培养基研究

筛选出4种小菌核菌液体发酵培养基:酵母浸出物培养基、V8蔬菜汁培养基、酪蛋白水解物培养基和大豆蛋白培养基。小菌核菌在这4种培养基(125mL)重的菌丝产量(干重)分别为:1.2478,1.1729,1.7652,0.9971g。用上述4种培养基生产的除草菌的活力分别为:68.6,64.4,63.1,66.8mm。毒性分别为:49.1,48.7,47.3,45.4mm。     

Survey on small animal anaesthesia

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain anaesthetic practices currently for dogs and cats in Australia. METHODS: A questionnaire was distributed to 4,800 veterinarians throughout Australia, seeking data on numbers of dogs and cats anaesthetised per week; drug preferences for anaesthetic premedication, induction and maintenance; use of tracheal intubation, supplemental nitrous oxide and anaesthetic antagonists; and types of vaporisers, breathing systems and anaesthetic monitoring devices used or available. Additional questions concerned proportions of different animal types seen in the practice, and the respondent's university and year of graduation. RESULTS: The response rate was 19%; 95% of respondents graduated from Australian universities, about half since 1985. Most responses (79%) came from mainly small animal practices. On average 16 dogs and 12 cats were anaesthetised each week. Premedication was used more often in dogs than cats, with acepromazine and atropine most favoured in both species. For anaesthetic induction, thiopentone was most preferred in dogs and alphaxalone/alphadolone in cats. Inhaled agents, especially halothane, were preferred for maintenance in both species. Most respondents usually employed tracheal intubation when using inhalational anaesthetic maintenance, but intubation rates were lower during injectable anaesthetic maintenance and a minority of respondents provided supplemental O2. Nitrous oxide was administered regularly by 13% of respondents. The agents most frequently used to speed recovery from anaesthesia were doxapram and yohimbine. The most widely used vaporisers were the Fluotec Mark III and the Stephens machine. Most (95%) respondents used a rebreathing circuit for large dogs and a non-rebreathing system was used for small dogs by 68% of respondents. Most respondents (93%) indicated some form of aid was available to monitor general anaesthesia: the three most mentioned were an apnoea alarm, oesophageal stethoscope and electrocardiogram. CONCLUSION: Diverse approaches were evident, but there appeared to be less variation in anaesthetising dogs: premedication was more frequent and less varied in type, while thiobarbituates dominated for induction and inhalants for maintenance. Injectable maintenance techniques had substantial use in cats, but little in dogs. Evident disparity between vaporisers available and circuits used suggested either confusion in terminology or incorrect use of some vaporisers in-circuit. While most respondents used monitoring equipment or a dedicated observer to invigilate anaesthesia, the common reliance on apnoea alarms is of concern, because of unproven reliability and accuracy.