A review of soil acidity problems with regards to causes, extent and management in Ghana shows that the extent of soil acidity has changed within a period of 2–3 decades. In the 1970s' soil acidity was a major problem in the Western region and the lowlands. Oxisols and Ultisols are common soils found in this area. However, anthropogenic causes have augmented natural causes resulting in more low pH soils. Soil acidity has therefore become a serious problem throughout the country. Anthropogenic causes identified include general agronomic practices such as tillage, use of mineral fertilizers and continuous cultivation. Rates of 1–2 t ha−1 lime on ultisols and oxisols in Ghana are more than adequate to meet the calcium demands and sufficient to neutralize residual acidity of any nitrogen fertilizer. Addition of organic amendments on low pH soils was also found to be beneficial and resulted in increased yields. The adoption of the "sawah" technology for lowland rice production has also resulted in improved water management, increased nutrient availability and significant increases in rice yields. 相似文献
Forty female goats in the third parity were randomly divided into four similar groups. The experiment was started 20 days before mating and lasted until the end of the suckling period for 60 days and weaning their kids. The first group were fed diet without supplementation and kept as control while in the second, third and fourth groups, each doe was fed diets with rumen protected choline (RPC) at the rate of 10, 20 and 40 g/day, respectively. Results showed that number of doe kidding twins and triplets and litter weight of kids born per group increased with increasing the level of RPC in the diet of goats and viability rate of born kids during the suckling period improved due to RPC supplementation in the diets of their mothers. Duration of estrous, days from weaning to estrous, days from kidding to estrous and kidding interval decreased significantly, while conception rate increased due to adding RPC. Milk choline concentrations and total choline secretion though milk were progressively increased significantly with increasing the level of RPC supplementation. Live body weight and daily body gain of their suckling male and female kids at weaning increased significantly with increasing RPC levels in the diets of their mothers. 相似文献
This study evaluated the impact of dietary ginger and liquorice supplementation on growth performance, physiological and histopathological profiles and heavy metal accumulation in Nile tilapia fingerlings. Fish (n = 1,800, 17.5 ± 0.11 g BW) were randomly distributed into four treatment groups in triplicates and received no supplementation (control group), 5 ml aqueous ginger extract/kg feed (ginger group), 4 ml aqueous liquorice extract/kg feed (liquorice group) or 2.5 ml ginger plus 2 ml liquorice aqueous extracts/kg feed (mix group). The ginger‐liquorice mix supply improved the growth performance and feed efficiency (p < .05), increased the haematocrit and haemoglobin (p < .05), leucocytes (p = .108), neutrophils (p = .054), serum total protein (p < .05), albumin (p = .011) and globulin (p = .094) but decreased (p < .05) the blood urea nitrogen and creatinine than feeding liquorice or ginger lonely compared to the control. Heavy metal loads in pond water induced lamellar telangiectasis of gills and necrosis with sloughing of intestinal villi tips. These detrimental effects were alleviated, and the intestinal villus length (p = .041) and crypt depth (p = .069) were increased with liquorice supply. In all treatment groups, heavy metal contents in fish flesh were lower compared to the control. Thus, using ginger and/or liquorice aqueous extracts can decrease heavy metal accumulation in the fish flesh and exert positive effects on growth performance, metabolic profile and the intestinal and gill morphology of Nile tilapia. 相似文献
Effects of exposing quail eggs to high temperature on the heat tolerance ability and productivity of birds were investigated. Four groups of 600 fertile eggs were randomly selected; the first group was incubated under 37.5 °C and the hatched chicks were reared under a gradual decrease in temperature from 35 to 24 °C (Control). The second group was exposed to 39.1 °C for 2 h/day during 4–14 days of embryogenesis and the hatched chicks were reared under a gradual decrease in temperature from 35 to 24 °C. The third group was incubated under 37.5 °C and the hatched chicks were exposed to 39?±?1 °C for 2 h/day during 4–14 days of age. The fourth group was exposed to 39?±?1 °C for 2 h during 4–14 days of embryogenesis and the hatched chicks were exposed to 39?±?1 °C for 2 h/day during 4–14 days of age. The temperature applied changed (P?<?0.01) embryo weight and incubation period. Birds exposed to high temperature during brooding had superior growth performance, dressed carcass, body temperature and health traits. Birds subjected to 39?±?1 °C during brooding exhibited decreased feed consumption and body weight gain. Finally, this work suggests that thermal acclimation during embryogenesis might offer a practical method for easing heat stress.
An explanatory survey was conducted to assess the contribution of plant diversity to the ecological and socio-economic condition of the rural household in the offshore island of Bangladesh.Assessment was done by means of multistage random sampling.The homestead sizes of the study area were classified into 3 groups viz,large (>0.25 ha),medium (0.05-0.25 ha) and small (<0.05 ha) based on the result obtained from a preliminary survey,and a total of 45 homesteads,15 from each group,were selected randomly for the study.The average annual income from homestead's plant diversity varied from Tk 5730.00 (US$95.5) to Tk 17500.00 (US$291.67).The rural people were mainly dependent on their homegarden for woodfuel and nutritional requirement as forest was unavailable in the island.The rural people here also cultivated the plant species as a safety measure from frequent cyclone.Constraints hindering the development of homestead plantation were identified and suggestions were given such as the adequate supply of seedlings of fast growing native species and conservation of endangered species to meet the demand of the household as well as to keep ecological balance. 相似文献
Photosynthetic light acclimation in red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) seedlings was examined in a greenhouse study to better understand the physiological response of this species to increased light intensity following release from competition. Seedlings grown in a high (HL), medium (ML) or low (LL) light environment for 12 weeks were transferred to high light. Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence of ML and LL seedlings were measured prior to and following transfer and compared with the HL control treatment. Photosynthetic characteristics were related to initial light treatment and time after transfer. Acclimation of gas exchange features to high light in shade formed ML and LL foliage was relatively rapid, with similar values among light treatments within 57 days of transfer. Acclimation of net photosynthetic rate was similar in ML and LL seedlings, and was associated primarily with increased mesophyll conductance to CO2. The ratio of variable to maximal chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) decreased initially after transfer, especially in LL seedlings, but recovered to normal values after 57 days. Red pine seedlings appear to be well adapted for photosynthetic acclimation to high light intensity, consistent with that reported for other early successional tree species. 相似文献
Reasons for performing study: The success of combined prosthetic laryngoplasty with ipsilateral ventriculocordectomy (LPVC) has not been compared to that of partial arytenoidectomy (PA) in a clinical population. Hypotheses: In Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses: 1) earnings after LPVC are unaffected by the severity of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) (laryngeal grade III vs. grade IV); 2) LPVC and PA yield similar results in the treatment of grade III RLN; 3) performance outcome following PA is independent of diagnosis (RLN vs. unilateral arytenoid chondritis [UAC]); and 4) neither LPVC nor PA returns horses to the level of performance of controls. Methods: Medical and racing records of 135 TB racehorses undergoing LPVC or PA for the treatment of grade III or IV RLN or UAC were reviewed. Racing records of age and sex matched controls were also reviewed. Results: After LPVC, horses with grade III RLN performed better compared to those with grade IV RLN. Furthermore, horses treated for grade III RLN by LPVC showed post operative earnings comparable to controls. Rate of return to racing were similar for PA and LPVC, although LPVC resulted in higher post operative earnings. Performance after PA was similar regardless of diagnosis (UAC or RLN). Finally, neither LPVC when performed for grade IV RLN, nor PA performed for either diagnosis restored post operative earnings to control levels. Conclusions: Thoroughbred racehorses treated by LPVC for grade III RLN show significantly better post operative earnings compared to horses treated for grade IV disease. In grade III RLN, LPVC returns earning potential to control levels. PA and LPVC lead to similar success in terms of rate of return to racing, but PA leads to inferior earnings after surgery. Potential relevance: Laryngoplasty should be recommended for all TB racehorses with grade III RLN to maximise return to racing at a high level. This contradicts the common approach of waiting for complete paralysis. 相似文献