Energy and water balance measurements for water productivity analysis in irrigated mango trees, Northeast Brazil

Crop water parameters, including actual evapotranspiration, transpiration, soil evaporation, crop coefficients, evaporative fractions, aerodynamic resistances, surface resistances and percolation fluxes were estimated in a commercial mango orchard during two growing seasons in Northeast Brazil. The actual evapotranspiration (E_a) was obtained by the eddy covariance (EC) technique, while for the reference evapotranspiration (E₀); the FAO Penman–Monteith equation was applied. The energy balance closure showed a gap of 12%. For water productivity analysis the E_a was then computed with the Bowen ratio determined from the eddy covariance fluxes. The mean accumulated E_a for the two seasons was 1419 mm year⁻¹, which corresponded to a daily average rate of 3.7 mm day⁻¹. The mean values of the crop coefficients based on evapotranspiration (K_c) and based on transpiration (K_cb) were 0.91 and 0.73, respectively. The single layer K_c was fitted with a degree days function. Twenty percent of evapotranspiration originated from direct soil evaporation. The evaporative fraction was 0.83 on average. The average relative water supply was 1.1, revealing that, in general, irrigation water supply was in good harmony with the crop water requirements. The resulting evapotranspiration deficit was 73–95 mm per season only. The mean aerodynamic resistance (r_a) was 37 s m⁻¹ and the bulk surface resistance (r_s) was 135 s m⁻¹. The mean unit yield was 45 tonne ha⁻¹ being equivalent to a crop water productivity of 3.2 kg m⁻³ when based on E_a with an economic counterpart of US$ 3.27 m⁻³. The drawback of this highly productive use of water resources is an unavoidable percolation flux of approximately 300 mm per growing season that is detrimental to the downstream environment and water users.     

Influence of non-cellulose structural carbohydrate composition on plant material decomposition in soil

The C mineralisation pattern during the early stage of decomposition of plant materials is largely determined by their content of different carbohydrates. This study investigated whether detailed plant analysis could provide a better prediction of C mineralisation during decomposition than proximate analysis [neutral detergent solution (NDF)/acid detergent solution (ADF)]. The detailed analysis included sugars, fructans, starch, pectin, cellulose, lignin and organic N. To determine whether differences in decomposition rate were related to differences in hemicellulose composition, the analysis particularly emphasised the concentrations of arabinose and xylose in hemicelluloses. Carbon dioxide evolution was monitored hourly in soil amended with ten different plant materials. Principal component and regression analysis showed that C mineralisation during day 1 was closely related to free sugars, fructans and soluble organic N components (R ² = 0.83). The sum of non-cellulose structural carbohydrates (intermediate NDF/ADF fraction) was not related to C mineralisation between days 1 and 9. In contrast, a model including starch and protein in addition to the non-cellulose structural carbohydrates, with the hemicelluloses replaced by arabinose and xylose, showed a strong relationship with evolved CO₂ (R ² = 0.87). Carbon mineralisation between days 9 and 34 was better explained by xylan, cellulose and lignin (R ² = 0.72) than by lignocellulose in the ADF fraction. Our results indicated that proximate analyses were not sufficient to explain differences in decomposition. To predict C mineralisation from the range of plant materials studied, we propose a minimum set of analyses comprising total N, free sugars, starch, arabinose, xylan, cellulose and lignin.     

Heavy metal and chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination of selected aquatic sediments from the Berlin area

Sediments from the Berlin area were analysed for heavy metals and chlorinated hydrocarbons. the sedimentological and hydrogeological aspects of the Holocene sediments are discussed and an adapted sampling device for muds with a high water content is described. the contamination of surface sediments and dated cores is shown back in the 19th century; the hydrological influences on the degree of contamination and potential threats to groundwater and, via remobilisation, to surface waters are considered. It is concluded that the sediments of the Berlin area are highly contaminated.     

Phosphorus saturation in soils and groundwaters

On average, crops require about 30 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ of P in humid regions. in some regions fertilizer and manure are applied in amounts that exceed this. the surplus of P in agricultural areas is about 20-45 kg ha⁻¹ y⁻¹. This implies an accumulation of P. the surplus of P estimated from the balance of agricultural soils of industrialized countries in Europe in the last four decades is between 800 and more than 1500 kg ha⁻¹ although this distribution is not even. Phosphorus accumulation is more than one order of magnitude higher than average in areas with intensive livestock farming. Consequently, The application of high levels of manure exceed the capacity of the soil to store P. This implies that P saturation May, pose a problem. Indeed, about half of the Dutch sandy soils (approximately 300 000 ha) are currently considered to be saturated with P, meaning that there is a hazard of P leaching to groundwaters in the future. Assuming current phosphate application rates, phosphate leaching is a distinct possibility over a period of decades to a century. Vulnerable areas are soils with high inputs, low sorption capacities for P, high water-tables and a low retention time for water. the possible consequence is a time-delayed increase of eutrophication of surface waters (lakes, rivers and the sea) caused by a diffuse load of P in the few next decades. Modelling the influence of different agricultural strategies shows that accumulation of P would not increase further only if the use of P increases by an amount that compensates for the increased inputs. It is proposed to change the current support system of agriculture by installing a system of financial incentives and taxes which seek to promote nutrient balances for each farm.     

Genomic Prediction of Arsenic Tolerance and Grain Yield in Rice: Contribution of Trait-Specific Markers and Multi-Environment Models

Many rice-growing areas are affected by high concentrations of arsenic(As). Rice varieties that prevent As uptake and/or accumulation can mitigate As threats to human health. Genomic selection is known to facilitate rapid selection of superior genotypes for complex traits. We explored the predictive ability(PA) of genomic prediction with single-environment models, accounting or not for trait-specific markers, multi-environment models, and multi-trait and multi-environment models, using the genotypic(1600 K SNPs) and phenotypic(grain As content, grain yield and days to flowering) data of the Bengal and Assam Aus Panel. Under the base-line single-environment model, PA of up to 0.707 and 0.654 was obtained for grain yield and grain As content, respectively; the three prediction methods(Bayesian Lasso, genomic best linear unbiased prediction and reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces) were considered to perform similarly, and marker selection based on linkage disequilibrium allowed to reduce the number of SNP to 17 K, without negative effect on PA of genomic predictions. Single-environment models giving distinct weight to trait-specific markers in the genomic relationship matrix outperformed the base-line models up to 32%. Multi-environment models, accounting for genotype × environment interactions, and multi-trait and multi-environment models outperformed the base-line models by up to 47% and 61%, respectively. Among the multi-trait and multi-environment models, the Bayesian multi-output regressor stacking function obtained the highest predictive ability(0.831 for grain As) with much higher efficiency for computing time. These findings pave the way for breeding for As-tolerance in the progenies of biparental crosses involving members of the Bengal and Assam Aus Panel. Genomic prediction can also be applied to breeding for other complex traits under multiple environments.     

The Anglesey lakes,Wales, UK—A conservation resource

1. The environment of the island of Anglesey, North Wales, UK, is described and related to the ecology of the lake systems present. 2. Estimates are given of the number and types of lakes present on the island. Sixteen biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) have standing water as a recognized habitat feature and their reasons for receiving a conservation designation are discussed. 3. Brief reviews are given of the lacustrine flora, invertebrates, fish and aquatic bird populations of Anglesey and their importance in assessing the conservation value of a site. 4. These reviews are followed by detailed accounts of the current ecology of three of the island's lake systems—Llyn Coron, Llyn Dinam and Llyn Penrhyn—which occur within biological Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Original data are presented on their physical and chemical characteristics, diatom assemblages, macrophyte communities, littoral and open water zooplankton communities and macroinvertebrate assemblages. 5. Artificial enrichment, the introduction of alien species, the legacy of metal mining operations and recreational pressures are identified as the main threats to lake conservation on Anglesey. 6. The Anglesey Wetland Strategy, an informal operational level liaison procedure, is described. Using this mechanism, broad targets and indicative strategies are highlighted by the partner organizations active in wetland conservation on the island, and opportunities for collaboration are developed.     

Field measurement of the sheltering effect of vegetation on erodible land surfaces

Natural vegetation on erodible land surfaces, such as the loose sandy soils found in the southwestern United States and in Soviet Central Asia, absorbs part of the wind momentum flux (stress) and thus protects the erodible soil to a degree that depends on the geometry of plant distribution and profile. The sheltering effect of natural plants may be expressed as the ratio, R, of threshold friction velocity for the bare soil (determined in the laboratory or in specially prepared areas of bare soil in the field) to that for the naturally vegetated surface. We used new automated instrumentation to detect erosion thresholds in locations where erosion events are widely separated in time. Measured values of R were low for our most vegetated sites and nearer unity for the sparsely vegetated site.     

人参皂苷Rg3(R),Rg3(S),Rg5/Rk1对乙醇致小鼠记忆阻碍改善作用的影响

采用被动回避穿越法研究了人参皂苷Rg3(R),Rg3(S)和Rg5/Rk1(1∶1)对乙醇致小鼠记忆阻碍改善作用的影响。结果表明:灌服人参皂苷Rg3(R),Rg3(S)和Rg5/Rk110 mg/kg后,显著延长了小鼠避暗的潜伏期,尤其以人参皂苷Rg5/Rk1作用最为显著,Rg5/Rk1处理组的潜伏期是对照组的2.97倍,Rg3(R),Rg3(S)分别为对照组的2.35和2.53倍,差异极显著(P<0.01)。说明这些化合物具有改善乙醇致小鼠的记忆障碍的能力。     

若干家蚕品种的复壮及比较试验

对浙江省夏秋蚕品种薪杭,白云,丰1和54A等进行了充血复壮改良,基本稳定后的复壮系与现行生产系进行了生产性能的比较试验。结果表明复壮系在各项性状都有一定的提高,其中龄期经过,各品种的复壮系与生产系之间差别不大,只有薪杭丙和白云丙稍有延长。全茧量和茧层量基本上复壮系都比生产系有所提高。生命率差异比较大,奠中薪杭的复壮系低下生产系,差异达到显著水平,白云复壮系略微低于白云甲,但高于白云乙,丰1的复壮系与生产系无明显差异,54A则是复壮系高于生产系。良卵数除薪杭丙比薪杭甲略低外,其他品种的复壮系都比生产系显著提高,有的甚至达到极显著水平。说明复壮系在生产性能上有较大的改良,有一定的推广应用价值。     

Effects of increased ambient temperature and supplemental altrenogest before pregnancy establishment in gilts

Heat stress (HS) mitigation strategies are critically needed to combat the substantial economic effects on animal agriculture. The manifestations of seasonal infertility include delayed puberty onset, reduced conception rates, decreased litter size, and increased wean to estrus interval. To assess the effects of HS during early gestation and evaluate the benefit of supplemental altrenogest (ALT) as a mitigation strategy, 30 crossbred postpubertal gilts (157 ± 11 kg body weight) were subjected to estrous synchronization via 14 d oral administration of ALT. Artificial insemination during estrus was performed, and gilts were then placed into one of four treatment groups: HS (35 ± 1 °C for 12 h/31.60 ± 1 °C for 12 h) with (HSALT, n = 7) or without (HSCON, n = 7) 15 mg/d ALT supplementation or thermal neutral (TN; 20 ± 1 °C) conditions with (TNALT, n = 8) or without (TNCON, n = 8) 15 mg/d ALT supplementation until 12 d post-estrus (dpe). Administrating ALT occurred at 0600 hours from 3 to 12 dpe, and rectal temperatures (T_R) and respiration rates (RR) were recorded. Blood was collected via jugular venipuncture on 0, 4, 8, and 12 dpe. Gilts were euthanized humanely at 12 dpe followed by the collection of ovarian tissue, and uterine flushing for conceptus collection. In HS compared with TN gilts, RR and T_R were increased (P < 0.01) but unaffected by ALT supplementation. Feed intake was reduced (P < 0.01) by HS but unaltered by the ALT treatment. Corpora lutea (CL) weight was reduced (P < 0.01) in HSCON gilts when compared with TNCON and HSALT gilts despite progesterone concentrations in serum and luteal tissue not being affected by treatment (P ≥ 0.10). CL diameter was reduced (P ≤ 0.05) in HSALT gilts compared with other treatments. Interleukin-1β (IL1B) uterine flush concentration was not affected (P > 0.20) by environment or ALT supplementation, although moderate (P = 0.06) interaction between environment and ALT existed, as IL1B concentration in TNALT was increased (P = 0.03) compared with TNCON gilts. While environment did not affect conceptus development (P = 0.90), ALT supplementation advanced conceptus elongation (P < 0.01). Collectively, these data demonstrate that HS may affect luteal development before pregnancy establishment, and ALT increases conceptus elongation by 12 dpe.