Prototype agricultural land evaluation systems for Canada: I. Overview of systems development

Abstract. Information on land resources and the capacity of land to support agricultural production is a prerequisite for the formation of sound agricultural policies. This paper summarizes Canadian experiences in developing national and regional land evaluation systems. Potential users expected the system to estimate the degree to which changes in biophysical and socio-economic conditions would alter options for land use and production, and to provide a context for more detailed analysis.
A broad-scale land evaluation system was designed to serve the needs identified by representative user groups. Two prototype systems were developed from available information to test the major features of the system design. Neither prototype was complete; one was national in extent and capable of addressing issues of national and provincial importance, the other covered a sub-provincial area but allowed for more detailed evaluation of the effects of soil modifying processes. A full range of applications was demonstrated using one or other of the prototype systems. As a result of this project, the broad-scale land evaluation system design was improved and verified, ongoing research and data collection activities were adjusted to ensure that they meet the needs of a macroscale land evaluation system, and approaches were developed to overcome problems of land evaluation system development.     

Mitigation of N2O emissions from grassland by nitrification inhibitor and Actilith F2 applied with fertilizer and cattle slurry

Abstract. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is involved in both ozone destruction and global warming. In agricultural soils it is produced by nitrification and denitrification mainly after fertilization. Nitrification inhibitors have been proposed as one of the management tools for the reduction of the potential hazards of fertilizer-derived N₂O. Addition of nitrification inhibitors to fertilizers maintains soil N in ammonium form, thereby gaseous N losses by nitrification and denitrification are less likely to occur and there is increased N utilization by the sward. We present a study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) and of the slurry additive Actilith F2 on N₂O emissions following application of calcium ammonium nitrate or cattle slurry to a mixed clover/ryegrass sward in the Basque Country. The results indicate that large differences in N₂O emission occur depending on fertilizer type and the presence or absence of a nitrification inhibitor. There is considerable scope for immediate reduction of emissions by applying DCD with calcium ammonium nitrate or cattle slurry. DCD, applied at 25 kg ha^–1, reduced the amount of N lost as N₂O by 60% and 42% when applied with cattle slurry and calcium ammonium nitrate, respectively. Actilith F2 did not reduce N₂O emissions and it produced a long lasting mineralization of previously immobilized added N.     

The Effect of Diet on the Biochemical Composition of Juvenile Artemia: Potential Formulations for Rock Lobster Aquaculture

The lipid class and fatty acid (FA) composition of juvenile Artemia fed continuously on four diets—the microalga Tetraselmis suecica , a mix of oat bran-wheat germ-lecithin (OWL), OwL-eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and OWL-EPA-arachidonic acid (AA)—were examined over a 9-d experiment in an attempt to approximate the FA profile of phyllosoma larvae of wild southern rock lobster Jasus edwardrii . The main difference in lipid class composition of Artemia fed the four diets was the relative level of polar lipid (PL) and triacylglycerol (TAG). By day 9, the algal-fed Artemia were highest in PL (95% of total lipid) and lowest in TAG (2%), whereas the remaining diets resulted in Artemia with 16–30% PL and 41–82% TAG. After 2 d, the relative FA composition of all Artemia treatments closely reflected those of the diets, with no marked change after further feeding (to day 9). In terms of the content of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), by day 5 Artemia fed: 1) with the algal diet contained 7 mg/g FA dry mass (0.3% DHA, 6.3% EPA, 3.4% AA of total FA); 2) with the OWL diet contained 3 mg/g (0.3% DHA, 0.9% EPA, 0.7% AA); 3) with the OWL-EPA diet contained 55 mg/g (6.2% DHA, 11.6% EPA, 1.1% AA); and 4) with the OWL-EPA-AA contained 83 mg/g (3.8% DHA, 7.5% EPA, 17.4% AA). The PUFA profiles of Artemia using the OWL-oil diets were similar to wild rock lobster phyllmmata, although levels of doco-sahexaenoic acid (DHA) were lower (10% DHA) than in J. edwardsii larvae. On the basis of PUFA composition data alone, the results suggest the suitability of the OWL-oil mixed diets for consideration for feeding to Artemia used in the culture of southern rock lobster larvae, particularly if the level of DHA can be further enhanced.     

Experimental and natural infection with the enzootic leukosis virus of cattle

A trial was performed with heifers at the age of six to seven months. The animals were experimentally infected with the lymphocytes of a virus-productive donor. Infection was produced in all the nine cases, as demonstrated by means of the positive syncytial test. As indicated by the results of the trial, the antibodies to the enzootic bovine leucosis virus (BLV) were produced soon after experimental infection. A high sensitivity of the serum-neutralization test and the ELISA method was demonstrated in this connection: by these methods, the antibodies were identified already two to three weeks after experimental infection whereas by the immunodiffusion test they could be detected only after five weeks. Twenty-four animals were exposed to natural contact infection. Within 270 days of the trial, the disease after contact was recorded only in one heifer out of the four that were in close contact with the experimentally infected animals. In this case, as compared with experimental infection, the antibodies were produced much later--after 85 to 93 days. Leucosis was recorded in none of the remaining animals. The reasons why such a favourable result was obtained were the thorough disinfection of the stables after blood collections and the strict observance of the aseptic conditions. The results of experimental infection in three cows were identical with those obtained in young cattle. In the experimentally infected dairy cows, antibodies in milk were determined by the ELISA method. As found, in milk the antibodies to BLV appear two to three weeks later than they do in serum. The ELISA method of BLV antibody detection can be used for the identification of infected animals in herds where enzootic bovine leucosis occurs.     

P‐20 Clinical,cytopathological and histopathological evaluation of sporotrichosis in experimentally infected cats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathological aspects of experimental sporotrichosis in cats and compare the sensitivity of cytopathology, histopathology and culture as diagnostic tools in different phases of the infection. Twenty adult, mixed‐breed cats (10 males and 10 females) were inoculated subcutaneously with 10⁶ fungal microorganisms. Clinical examination was performed weekly. Cytopathologic, histopathologic and culture examinations were performed at 15, 30 and 60 days postinoculation. Culture of multiple organs was performed after euthanasia at 30 (10 cats) and 60 (10 cats) days postinoculation. Friedman parametric and nonparametric statistical analysis were applied to the results. The nodular, tumoral and necrotic lesionsprogressed significantly until day 30 postinoculation, and partial spontaneous regression occurred at day 60, particularly in males. An intense inflammatory pyogranulatomous and lymphocytic infiltrate with rare giant cells and sparse fibrosis associated with numerous, pleomorphic, intra‐ and extracellular fungal cells were observed on day 30. These findings gradually decreased by day 60. Despite the inflammatory granuloma associated with feline sporotrichosis, a tendency for dissemination was observed, with fungal isolation in the lymph nodes, spleen and liver at the 30 and 60 days postinoculation. No significant differences were observed between cytopathology, histopathology and fungal culture during the different phases of the disease. Therefore, cytological examination was considered a simple, rapid and inexpensive diagnostic method at all stages of this disease. Funding: Self‐funded.     

Localization of extracellular matrix receptors in ICGN mice, a strain of mice with hereditary nephrotic syndrome.

Fibrotic degeneration was examined in the kidneys of ICR-derived glomerulonephritis (ICGN) mice, a novel inbred mouse line with a hereditary nephrotic syndrome of unknown etiology considered to be a good model of human idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. In the present study, we histochemically revealed changes in accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components and in localization of integrins, cellular receptors for ECM, in the kidneys of ICGN mice with the progression of renal failure. Excessive accumulation of basement membrane (laminin and collagen IV) and interstitial (type III collagen) ECM components were demonstrated in the glomeruli and tubulointerstitum of ICGN mice. Marked deposition of type I collagen and tenascin was seen only in the glomeruli of ICGN mice but not in those of ICR mice as normal controls. Increased expression of integrin alpha1-, alpha2-, alpha5- and beta1-subunits in glomeruli with fibrotic degeneration and abnormal distribution of alpha6-subunit were noted in the kidneys of ICGN mice. Excessive laminin, a ligand of alpha6beta1-integrin, was demonstrated on the tubular basement membrane, but alpha6-subunit diffusely disappeared on the basal side of the tubular epithelial cells. We presumed that abnormal integrin expression in renal tubules causes epithelial cell detachment, and consequently tubular nephropathy, and results in disorder of ECM metabolism causing excessive accumulation of ECM components in the kidneys of ICGN mice.     

Tumors of the hypophysis as the cause of both Cushing's syndrome and diabetes insipidus in dogs]

Invasive tumors of the pituitary gland associated with Cushing's disease and diabetes insipidus are described in ten dogs. All patients showed typical clinical symptoms including polyuria/polydipsia and acanthosis nigricans. All tumors led to compression und partial destruction of the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland and the infundibular stalk; two of them infiltrated the hypothalamic region. All tumors produced ACTH and caused hyperadrenocorticism. In six cases, additional expression of beta-lipoprotein and MSH were found: in pars intermedia adenomas many cells stained strongly for MSH and/or beta-lipoprotein, whereas in tumors of the pars distalis only occasional cells stained positive. The purpose of the present study was to describe the neuropathological findings and the immunohistochemistry of hormone excretion in pituitary tumors in dogs resulting in Cushing's disease associated with D.i., to review the literature and to discuss the pathogenesis.     

Artificial Spawning of Tilapia Eggs1

A stripspawning methodology was evaluated for tilapia (oreochromid) species. This technique achieved an average hatching success of 68.6 ± 3.6% (N= 31). Female fecundity and spawning frequency were dependant on both genetical and husbandry factors. Egg yields for Oreochromis niloticus, O. mossambicus, and O. niloticus±O. mossambicus hybrids averaged 4.54, 10.86 and 10.36 eggs/g female/spawn, respectively. Female broodstock that were adapted to an intensive spawning regime exhibited a significant increase in fecundity. Additionally, egg survival was not affected by hydration for up to 15 minutes prior to fertilization. Results suggest that the strip spawning of tilapia species may be an efficient method of providing viable gametes for hatchery purposes.