Nitrogen and winter cover crop effects on spring and summer nutrient uptake

Overseeded winter annuals in bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] improve annual dry‐matter (DM) yield and capture nutrients in fields receiving manure application. This study determined the DM and nutrient uptake responses of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.), cereal rye (Secale cereale), berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) and bermudagrass‐winter fallow to 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N ha^?1 applied approximately 2 months before a single spring harvest, and in addition to swine‐effluent N (258 and 533 kg ha^?1 in summer 2000 and 2001, respectively). Under drought conditions in 2000, DM yield at the spring harvest was highest in ryegrass, and summer DM yield of bermudagrass was greater at 100 and 150 kg N ha^?1 than 50 kg N ha^?1(P < 0·05). The concentration and uptake of N at the spring harvest increased linearly across N rates in both years (P < 0.05). Cover crops differed in N uptake in 2000 (P < 0.01) and values ranged from approximately 141 kg N ha^?1 in berseem clover to 86 kg N ha^?1 in rye. Per unit of N applied, uptake of N increased by approximately 0·409 kg ha^?1 in 2000 and 0·267 kg ha^?1 in 2001; uptake of P increased by 0·029 and 0·014 kg ha^?1 respectively. In 2000, uptake of P was responsive to N rate and this relationship was significant (P < 0·01) in winter fallow (slope = 0·032) and ryegrass (slope = 0·057). Increased uptake of N and P at the single spring harvest was due mainly to higher concentrations in herbage and not higher DM yield.     

Original Study: Comparison of three intraosseous access techniques in cats

Objective – To compare the placement feasibility and amount of bone trauma induced by 3 intraosseous (IO) access techniques in cats: an automatic impact penetration device (A), an automatic rotary insertion device (B), and a manual IO needle (C). Design – Prospective ex vivo study. Setting – University. Animals – Eighteen adult mixed breed feline cadavers. Interventions – Cadavers provided 72 total IO insertion locations divided equally between the right and left humerus and tibia. The 3 IO techniques were randomly allocated to these locations. Time to successful insertion, ease of insertion, and success rate were recorded. Each insertion site was analyzed for the number of bone fragments and defect diameter by computed tomography. Measurements and Main Results – Device B had lower time of insertion (P=0.01) compared with devices A and C. Device B had better ease of insertion scores (P<0.01) compared with devices A and C. No differences were detected between insertion sites (tibia versus humerus). No differences in the number of bone fragments, defect diameter, or success rate were detected among devices (P=0.06, 0.31, and 0.14, respectively). Conclusions – All 3 IO access methods evaluated yield acceptable results. Device B is significantly faster and easier to place in cat cadavers when compared with other methods.     

Response of Thawed Epidi dymal Red Deer Spermatozoa to Increasing Concentrations of Hydrogen Peroxide,and Importance of Individual Male Variability

Oxidative stress represents a challenge during sperm manipulation. We have tested the effect of increasing hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels on red deer spermatozoa after cryopreservation, and the role of male‐to‐male variation in that response. In a first experiment, eight thawed samples were submitted to 0, 25, 50, 100 and 200 μm H₂O₂ for 2 h at 37°C. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (H₂DCFDA‐CM) increased with H₂O₂ concentration, but we only detected a decrease in sperm function (motility by CASA and chromatin damage by sperm chromatin structure assay) with 200 μm . Lipoperoxidation assessed by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) method increased slightly with 50 μm H₂O₂ and above. In a second experiment, samples from seven males were submitted to 0 and 200 μm H₂O₂ for 2 h, triplicating the experiment within each male. Males differed at thawing and regarding their response to incubation and H₂O₂ presence. We found that the kinematic parameters reflected male‐to‐male variability, whereas the response of the different males was similar for lipid peroxidation and viability. A multiparametric analysis showed that males grouped differently if samples were assessed after thawing, after incubation without H₂O₂ or after incubation with H₂O₂. Red deer spermatozoa are relatively resilient to H₂O₂ after thawing, but it seems to be a great male‐to‐male variability regarding the response to oxidative stress. The acknowledgement of this individual variability might improve the development of optimized sperm work protocols.     

Pathology of congenital generalized lipodystrophy in Agpat2-/- mice

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) comprises a heterogeneous group of rare diseases associated with partial or total loss of adipose tissue. Of these, autosomal recessive Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy (BSCL) is characterized by the absence of metabolically active subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues. Metabolic abnormalities associated with lipodystrophy include insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, hepatic steatosis, and diabetes. One form of BSCL has been linked to genetic mutations affecting the lipid biosynthetic enzyme 1-acyl-sn-glycerol 3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 2 (AGPAT2), which is highly expressed in adipose tissue. Precisely how AGPAT2 deficiency causes lipodystrophy remains unresolved, but possible mechanisms include impaired lipogenesis (triglyceride synthesis and storage), blocked adipogenesis (differentiation of preadipocytes to adipocytes), or apoptosis/necrosis of adipocytes. Agpat2(-/-) mice share important pathophysiologic features of CGL previously reported in humans. However, the small white adipose tissue (WAT) depots consisting largely of amoeboid adipocytes with microvesiculated basophilic cytoplasm showed that adipogenesis with deficient lipogenesis was present in all usual locations. Although well-defined lobules of brown adipose tissue (BAT) were present, massive necrosis resulted in early ablation of BAT. Although necrotic or apoptotic adipocytes were not detected in WAT of 10-day-old Agpat2(-/-), the absence of adipocytes in aged mice indicates that these cells must undergo necrosis/apoptosis at some point. Another significant finding in aged lipodystrophic mice was massive pancreatic islet hypertrophy in the face of chronic hyperglycemia, which suggests that glucotoxicity is insufficient by itself to cause β-cell loss and that adipocyte-derived factors help regulate total β-cell mass.     

Genetic characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of Mannheimia haemolytica isolated from the nasopharynx of feedlot cattle

A surveillance study was undertaken to examine the population dynamics and antimicrobial resistance of Mannheimia haemolytica isolated from feedlot cattle. A total of 416 isolates were collected from the nasopharynx either upon entry or exit from two feedlots in southern Alberta, Canada. Isolates were serotyped, characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and tested for susceptibility to ten antimicrobial agents via disk diffusion. Resistant isolates were screened by PCR for select antimicrobial-resistance gene determinants. Isolates were highly diverse, with 335 unique pulsed-field profiles identified among 147 strongly related clusters (similarity ≥ 85%). Clonal spread of isolates throughout the feedlots was limited and no clear association was found between genetic relatedness of M. haemolytica and sampling event (entry or exit). Pulsed-field profiles sharing a common serotype and resistance phenotype tended to cluster together. The majority of isolates were identified as serotype 2 (74.5%) although both serotype 1 (11.9%) and 6 (12.7%) were detected. Only 9.54% of isolates exhibited antimicrobial resistance. Resistance to oxytetracycline was most prevalent (n=16), followed by ampicillin (n=10), and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (n=7). Multi-drug resistance was observed in five isolates. The tetH gene was detected in all but two oxytetracycline resistant isolates. Other detectable resistance determinates included ermX and bla(ROB-1). In the two feedlots examined, M. haemolytica exhibited considerable genetic diversity and limited resistance to common veterinary antibiotics. Garnering further information on the linkage between genotype and phenotype should contribute toward a better understanding of the pathogenesis and dissemination of M. haemolytica in feedlots.     

Influence of temperature on nutrient concentration and tetany potential of hardinggrass and tall fescue

Grass tetany (Hypomagnesemia) potential of TAM Wintergreen Hardinggrass and 16 tall fescue lines and varieties was estimated by determining the K, Ca and Mg concentrations in the herbage and the ratio of K/(Ca + Mg) (milliequivalent basis). Data were obtained at four dates during a two‐year period to determine the environmental conditions under which selections should be made to achieve the greatest progress in decreasing the tetany potential of tall fescue and to determine if either of the grasses have high tetany potential in the North Texas area. Hardinggrass had a greater potential to produce grass tetany than tall fescue when grown on the Northern Blackland Prairie of Texas. There were significant differences in K, Ca and Mg concentrations and K/(Ca + Mg) ratio among dates and tall fescue lines. The average temperature for the 30 days before harvest was related to the mineral content and to the K/(Ca + Mg) ratio in all varieties. The K(Ca + Mg) ratio was highest at approximately 18°C but the Mg content fell below the 0.18% required for lactating beef cows when the average temperature for the 30 days before harvest was 22.4°C. Progress could be made in breeding for low grass tetany proneness but selections should be made over a wide range of temperatures considering both the Mg content and ratio of K/(Ca + Mg).     

Effects of initial plant spacing and applied nutrients on stand development and productivity of Texas bluegrass in the Louisiana coastal plain

The native rhizomatous cool‐season perennial grass, Texas bluegrass (Poa arachnifera Torn), has recently been recognized again as a plant with considerable potential for range and pasture plantings. Throughout the first half of this century, sporadic efforts at evaluation and commercial use of Texas bluegrass were thwarted primarily by slow stand establishment and difficulties with seed processing. Subsequent advances in seed harvesting, processing, and planting equipment and selection of superior plant genotypes could reduce effects of these limitations. In much of the southern mid‐ and tall‐grass prairie regions and lower southeastern states where Texas bluegrass appears to have potential, there is no currently available sustainable cool‐season forage grass. Effects of initial plant spacing and lime, phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N) application were evaluated in a field and a green house experiment on acid infertile Louisiana Coastal Plain soils. Stands from transplanting on 10‐ and 30‐cm spacings were comparable by the third growing season as the sparsely planted stand spread aggressively. The only consistent response to soil amendment was enhanced forage production from N fertilization in the spring. A plant photoperiodic response appears to limit potential to respond to N in autumn and winter. Forage production of dense stands and responses to spring application of N indicate that Texas bluegrass has considerable potential as a productive, sustainable cool‐season forage grass for at least some soils on the southeastern Coastal Plain as well as that recently reported for the southern mid‐ and tall‐grass prairie regions.     

Effect of Mixed-Salt Salinity on Growth and Ion Relations of a Barnyardgrass Species

ABSTRACT

Recent investigations of the plant genome have revealed a large degree of similarity among cereal crops (specifically within the family Triticeae) and other related grass species. Recognition of the close genetic relationship among the grasses indicates that more exotic species, such as weedy grasses, may be exploited by plant breeders to enhance biotic/abiotic stress tolerance in cereal crops. Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) ^{1 1} Mention of company names or products is for the benefit of the reader and does not imply endorsement, guarantee, or preferential treatment by the USDA or its agents. Beauv. (barnyardgrass), a wide-spread, persistent C₄ weed species of agricultural importance, is reported to tolerate high levels of salinity. Growth and ion relations were studied in barnyardgrass using mixed-salt salinity (with final electrical conductivities (ECi) of 3 (control), 7, 11, and 19 dS m^?1 in the irrigation water) to determine whether the mechanism(s) for its salt tolerance are similar to those previously reported for other cereal crops. Such a finding would indicate that barnyardgrass may possess valuable genetic traits. Ion accumulation and ion selectivity ratios in the various treatments were determined from oven-dried shoot tissue. Significant (P < 0.01) linear regressions were obtained between either fresh weight or plant height and ECi. The point of 50% reduction (C₅₀) in fresh weight was predicted to occur at about 13.9 dS m^?1; the C₅₀ value for plant height was at about 22.9 dS m^?1. Statistical analysis of calculated Gapon constants for potassium (K)/sodium (Na) indicated that ion selectivity was not affected until after 11 dS m^?1. Calcium (Ca)/Na selectivity was not significantly affected by salinity. We concluded that, similar to some cereal crops, barnyardgrass maintains growth under saline conditions by maintaining high K/Na ratios, possibly because of better membrane integrity due to high Ca selectivity.