Linkage of Physiological Processes and Ecosystem Processes by Integrating Gas Exchange Chamber and Eco-Physiological Computer Simulation Model

ABSTRACT

One of the major global trends linked to the process of globalization is the expansion of agro-industry into the humid tropics. Although agro-industry is an important source of income for Brazil, it is also leading to the displacement of local populations and extensive clearing of native vegetation. In this context, we focus on a second trend resulting from globalization in which financial institutions have demonstrated increasing concern with environmental and social responsibility, notably through the inclusion of environmental and social conditions in loans to the agricultural sector. In this article, we provide an assessment of the potential for this type of economic instrument to help reduce the negative impacts of agro-industrial expansion, and how the different actors who are shaping this debate (non-governmental organizations, industries, the finance sector, government) can best help to realize this potential. We evaluate this broader question through the lens of two International Finance Corporation loans to Brazil's Grupo Maggi, the world's largest independently-held soybean exporter. We identify four areas in which private sector self-regulation can improve to realize environmental and social performance goals: (a) Financial institutions and firms can increase the clarity, quality, timeliness, and regularity of monitoring and reporting; (b) Civil society can develop a more sophisticated approach to distinguishing between companies and initiatives that essentially maintain the status quo and those that are trying to improve; (c) Civil society can help to develop simple, standard measures of environmental and social performance of agricultural lands for use by financial institutions and firms in establishing environmental and social management systems; and (d) Governments can develop strong regulations that capitalize on voluntary regulation mechanisms' flexibility and efficiency, as well as developing incentive systems for producers and firms that demonstrate high social and environmental performance in their operations.     

Association of 3-methyleneindolenine, a toxic metabolite of 3-methylindole, with acute interstitial pneumonia in feedlot cattle

OBJECTIVE: To compare concentrations of 3-methyleneindolenine (3MEIN) in lung tissues obtained from feedlot cattle that died as a result of acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) and cattle that died as a result of other causes and to compare blood concentrations of 3MEIN in healthy feedlot cattle and feedlot cattle with AIP. STUDY POPULATION: Blood samples and lung tissues collected from 186 cattle housed in 14 feedlots in the western United States. PROCEDURE: Samples of lung tissues were collected during routine postmortem examination and submitted for histologic, microbiologic, and toxicologic examination. Blood samples were collected from cattle with clinical manifestations of AIP and healthy penmates. Histologic diagnoses were categorized as AIP, bronchopneumonia (BP), control samples, and other disorders. Concentrations of 3MEIN were determined in lung tissues and blood samples, using an ELISA. RESULTS: Concentrations of 3MEIN in lung tissues were significantly greater in AIP and BP samples, compared with control samples. Absorbance per microgram of protein did not differ between BP and AIP samples. Blood concentrations of 3MEIN were significantly greater in cattle with AIP, compared with healthy cattle or cattle with BP. Odds of an animal with AIP being a heifer was 3.1 times greater than the odds of that animal being a steer. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Increased pulmonary production of 3MEIN may be an important etiologic factor in feedlot-associated AIP.     

Application of the end-of-season stalk nitrate test for a high-yield maize production system in Northwestern China

Excessive nitrogen application has caused serious environmental pollution under high-yield maize system in China. Our objective was to evaluate critical stalk nitrate (NO₃^?) levels that support high yield (>13 Mgha^?1), but are not in excess. Optimal stalk NO₃^? concentration was determined by conducting seven nitrogen levels experiments in two high yield maize regions: Dongyang County (DY) and Wenshui County (WS). Optimal stalk NO₃^? concentration category range to obtain maximum yield in DY (sandy loam, higher accumulated temperature and solar radiation compared with WS) was 0.44–1.19, which similar to the criteria of US (0.70–2.0 g kg^?1). While for WS (loam soil, lower accumulated temperature and solar radiation compared with DY), optimal stalk NO₃^? concentration category range to obtain maximum yield was 1.95–4.15, greatly higher than the US criteria. These results suggested thatit is necessary to establish matching optimal stalk NO₃^? category ranges for different ecological regions in China.     

A long-term precision agriculture system sustains grain profitability

Precision Agriculture - After two decades of availability of grain yield-mapping technology, long-term trends in field-scale profitability for precision agriculture (PA) systems and conservation...     

A cross-sectional study of Tritrichomonas foetus infection in feral and shelter cats in Prince Edward Island,Canada

A cross-sectional study examined the occurrence of Tritrichomonas foetus, and other intestinal parasites, in feral and shelter cats in Prince Edward Island (PEI). Fecal samples were collected from 100 feral cats, 100 cats from the PEI Humane Society, and 5 cats from a private residence. The occurrence of T. foetus, based on fecal culture, was 0% in feral and shelter cats. A single positive sample was obtained from an owned Abyssinian cat that was imported to PEI. Intestinal parasites were identified via fecal flotation in 76% of feral cats and 39% of cats from the humane society. Feral cats had a higher incidence of Toxocara cati than cats from the humane society (P < 0.001), conversely, shelter cats had a higher incidence of Cystoisospora spp. (P < 0.001). These results suggest that while T. foetus is not of importance in feral and shelter cats in PEI, imported cats could serve as reservoirs.     

Existence of two serological subclusters of Plum pox virus, strain M

A large-scale serological characterisation of Plum pox virus (PPV) isolates was carried out with 19 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), including the universal MAb5B and the following strain-specific MAbs: AL (specific to PPV-M), 4DG5 (specific to PPV-D), TUV and AC (specific to PPV-C), and EA24 (specific to PPV-EA). The study involved 108 PPV isolates of different geographical origin (Albania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey and Yugoslavia) and hosts (almond, apricot, peach, plum and cherry). The inter- and intra-strain serological relationships of PPV isolates were evaluated by DASI-ELISA. High serological variability was detected, not only between strains, but also among isolates of the same strain. Computer-assisted analysis of serological data support the hypothesis of the existence of two distinct subclusters, denoted PPV-M₁ and PPV-M₂, which seem to prevail in Mediterranean and Eastern–Central European countries, respectively.     

Demonstration that Feeds Containing <1% Fishmeal Can Support Grow‐out of Large Juvenile Red Drum,Sciaenops ocellatus,and Reduce Nutrient Waste

We conducted a 16‐wk feeding trial with large juvenile red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus. Four diets were randomly assigned to six replicate tanks per treatment. Three isonitrogenous (ca. 44.5% protein) and isolipidic (ca. 14.1% lipid) extruded diets were formulated to compare a fishmeal‐based diet with diets using alternative protein sources. Diet 1 contained 19.60% fishmeal and 21.42% poultry meals as primary protein sources. Two alternative diets were formulated reducing the fishmeal to 0.61% by substituting poultry meals (33.85%) and soybean protein concentrate (11.55% in Diet 2 and 11.70% in Diet 3). Diet 3 also included Allzyme Vegpro® and Allzyme® SSF at 0.04%. Diet 4, a natural diet consisting of chopped cigar minnows, squid, and shrimp, was used as a positive control to compare growth rates of formulated feeds to near maximum growth under these culture conditions. We found that reducing the amount of fishmeal to <1% by using alternative protein sources did not affect the growth rate, survival, or health of red drum but improved assimilation of phosphorus, reduced potential release of P to the environment, and significantly lowered the amount of feeder fish needed in feed. The control diet identified performance benchmarks for future feeds development work.     

Nitrogen Dynamics of Strawberry Cultivation in Vermicompost-Amended Systems

The use of vermicompost as a soil amendment is suggested as a method to reduce nitrogen (N) losses in crop production; however, it is unclear whether and how vermicompost can affect water quality after a significant irrigation or rainfall event. Bare-root strawberry plugs were grown in 1-gallon plastic pots. The treatments consisted of two media: (1) a peat:perlite soil-less mix and (2) a fine sand soil. Each media was amended with three levels of dairy manure vermicompost: 0, 10, and 25% by weight, and a biweekly synthetic fertilizer treatment of 150 mg N-P-K L^?1 evaluated in a full factorial randomized block design. Drainage water from each plant was collected each week for 18 weeks and analyzed for NO₃^? concentration. In the first 2 weeks, high (1000–5000 mg L^?1) amounts of NO₃^? leaching occurred in all vermicompost-amended media relative to non vermicompost-amended media, but this leaching significantly (p < 0.01) decreased over time across all vermicompost treatments. Strawberry growth response to 10% vermicompost was similar to synthetic fertilizer only treatments. Plants grown with vermicompost at 25% with synthetic fertilizer had the highest above-ground vegetative biomass (15.3 g) relative to plants with synthetic fertilizer only (5.3 g). These data suggest vermicompost addition rates of 10 and 25% by weight promote high vegetative biomass in greenhouse strawberry but may facilitate high initial nitrate leaching, which can negatively affect water quality and environmental health.