Simulation of 1D surface and 2D subsurface water flow and nitrate transport in alternate and conventional furrow fertigation

Increasing water and fertilizer productivity stands as a relevant challenge for sustainable agriculture. Alternate furrow irrigation and surface fertigation have long been identified as water and fertilizer conserving techniques in agricultural lands. The objective of this study was to simulate water flow and fertilizer transport in the soil surface and in the soil profile for variable and fixed alternate furrow fertigation and for conventional furrow fertigation. An experimental data set was used to calibrate and validate two simulation models: a 1D surface fertigation model and the 2D subsurface water and solute transfer model HYDRUS-2D. Both models were combined to simulate the fertigation process in furrow irrigation. The surface fertigation model could successfully simulate runoff discharge and nitrate concentration for all irrigation treatments. Six soil hydraulic and solute transport parameters were inversely estimated using the Levenberg–Marquardt optimization technique. The outcome of this process calibrated HYDRUS-2D to the observed field data. HYDRUS-2D was run in validation mode, simulating water content and nitrate concentration in the soil profiles of the wet furrows, ridges and dry furrows at the upstream, middle and downstream parts of the experimental field. This model produced adequate agreement between measured and predicted soil water content and nitrate concentration. The combined model stands as a valuable tool to better design and manage fertigation in alternate and conventional furrow irrigation.     

Nursery performance of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei Boone, 1931) cultivated in a biofloc system: the effect of adding different carbon sources

Effect of different carbon sources on nursery performance of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) cultivated in biofloc system was investigated. Shrimp postlarvae (98.47 ± 8.6 mg) were fed for 32 days in tanks with water volume of 130 L and density of 1 individual L^?1. One control treatment and four biofloc treatments (BFT1, BFT2, BFT3 and BFT4) with adding different carbon sources including molasses, starch, wheat flour and mixture of them, respectively, were considered at equal weight ratios. According to the results, salinity, dissolved oxygen and pH were not significantly different among the biofloc treatments (P > 0.05). Maximum pH (8.27) and maximum dissolved oxygen (6.35 mg L^?1) were recorded in the control. Maximum (0.43 mg L^?1) and minimum (0.09 mg L^?1) ammonia were recorded in the control and BFT2, respectively (P < 0.05). Using simple carbohydrates (molasses and starch) lowered the ammonia concentration significantly. The highest increase in body weight (1640.43 ± 231.28 mg), growth rate, specific growth rate (8.97 ± 0.42% per day) and biomass (190.29 ± 26.83 mg) were found in BFT1 and the highest survival (90 ± 0.77%) was found in BFT4. The highest feed conversion (1.52 ± 0.23) and the lowest feed efficiency (66.81 ± 7.95) were observed in the control (P < 0.05). The proximate composition analysis revealed an increase in lipid and ash in biofloc treatments. Results indicated that using biofloc technology with zero‐water exchange system and adding carbon sources could help to recycle waste and improve the water quality. Moreover, the type of carbonaceous organic matter as a substrate for heterotrophic bacteria would be effective in degradation and metabolization of ammonia and nitrite.     

Synergistic effect of sodium selenite and Pediococcus acidilactici on growth,intestinal bacterial counts,selenium bioavailability,hepatic enzymes and non‐specific immune response in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have a crucial role in inorganic selenium metabolism as well as their known desirable effects on fish. In this study, the synergistic effects of dietary sodium selenite and Pediococcus acidilactici on growth performance, intestinal bacterial counts, selenium bioavailability, hepatic antioxidant enzyme thioredoxin reductase activity and hepatic glycolytic enzyme activity that is hexokinase, phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase, and non‐specific immune response such as serum lysozyme and complements C₃, C₄ and ACH₅₀ activity in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were investigated. Thus, a 3 × 3 factorial design experiment was conducted with nine purified diets including three levels of sodium selenite (0, 1 and 2 mg/kg) and three levels of P. acidilactici (0, 7 and 9 log CFU/g). After 8 weeks of feeding, weight gain and specific growth rate were increased by increasing dietary sodium selenite and P. acidilactici levels compared to control (p < .05), whereas feed conversion ratio and condition factor was decreased by increasing dietary sodium selenite and P. acidilactici amounts in comparison with control (p < .05). Survival rate was not significantly affected among the experimental treatments (p > .05). Total cultivable bacterial populations after 4 and 8 weeks of the feeding trial were not significantly different among the dietary treatments, while LAB levels were higher in P. acidilactici‐fed groups than in control and selenium‐fed groups (p < .05). Selenocysteine, methylselenocysteine and selenomethionine levels in the intestine of rainbow trout were increased by increasing the sodium selenite and P. acidilactici levels (p < .05), and selenocysteine was found the most selenium species in the trout intestine. The quantity of total selenium in the whole body, intestine, blood, liver and muscle of rainbow trout were increased by increasing the amounts of sodium selenite and P. acidilactici compared to control (p < .05). Hepatic thioredoxin reductase and hexokinase activity were increased by increasing dietary selenium and P. acidilactici levels in comparison to control (p < .05), whereas phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase activity in the liver of rainbow trout were not significantly different between the dietary treatments. Serum lysozyme, complements C₃, C₄ and ACH₅₀ activity were enhanced by increasing dietary selenium and P. acidilactici levels compared to control (p < .05). The most synergistic effects of dietary supplements on growth and metabolism of rainbow trout were obtained at 2 mg/kg sodium selenite and 7 log CFU/g P. acidilactici. The findings revealed the synergistic effect of dietary selenium and P. acidilactici on growth and metabolism in rainbow trout (O. mykiss).     

Metallothionein biosynthesis as a detoxification mechanism in mercury exposure in fish,spotted scat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Scatophagus argus</Emphasis>)

It is of crucial importance to study on the biomarkers types to assess the specification of the pollutants and health status of marine ecosystems in environmental evaluation projects. In this respect, total metallothionein biosynthesis and mercury bioaccumulation in the liver and gills under acute mercury exposure were investigated in fish, Scat (Scatophagus argus). Spotted scat was exposed to different mercury concentrations (0, 10, 20, 30) for 24, 48, 72 h. Total MT levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Mercury contents were determined through cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). Induction of MT during exposure was tissue specific, displaying different response pattern in gills and liver. Mercury accumulated in liver much higher than in gills and the latter also showed lower MT level (P < 0.05). MT biosynthesis in liver showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase after exposure to different mercury concentration with increase in exposure time, whereas total MT content did not significantly (P > 0.05) change in gills except for 72 h exposure at 30 μg l⁻¹. Nonetheless, the relationship between MT biosynthesis and Mercury bioaccumulation in both tissues was significant (P < 0.05). The results suggest that this form of MT in S. argus was Hg inducible and could be extended as a biomarker of mercury pollution in marine ecosystems.     

Comparative effect of Freund's adjuvant and Aloe vera L. gel on the expression of TNF‐α and IL‐1β in vaccinated Cyprinus carpio L. with Aeromonas hydrophila C. bacterin

The comparative effects of Freund's and Aloe vera gel as adjuvants on the expression of IL‐1β and TNF‐α genes were studied in vaccinated common carp (Cyprinus carpio) with Aeromonas hydrophila bacterin. Fishes were intraperitoneally immunized with A. hydrophila bacterin in combination with Aloe vera gel or Freund's and also without any adjuvant. At day 28 after immunization, all groups were challenged by lethal dose of A. hydrophila (10⁷ cells/fish). Changes in the expression of IL‐1β and TNF‐α genes were evaluated in anterior kidney before challenge and 12, 24, 72 and 7 days postchallenge using quantitative real‐time PCR. Higher expression levels of both genes were observed in all vaccinated groups compared with non‐immunized group. Fishes which received Aloe vera gel showed higher expression of IL‐1β and TNF‐α in relation to animals which vaccinated with or without Freund's adjuvant. We concluded that Aloe vera gel in compared with Freund's adjuvant had a more stimulatory effect on the expression of immune‐related genes in vaccinated common carp and it can use as a novel adjuvant in aquaculture.     

Antioxidative Activitiy of Protein Hydrolysate from the Muscle of Common Kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia) Prepared Using the Purified Trypsin from Common Kilka Intestine

Trypsin from the intestine of common kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia) was purified using ammonium sulfate precipitation (30–50% saturation), Sephadex G-75, and DEAE-cellulose chromatography with the purity of 30-fold and the yield of 12%. The molecular weight of trypsin was estimated to be 23.2 kDa based on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The trypsin had optimal activity at pH 8.0 and 60°C using N-α-benzoyl-DL-arginine-ρ-nitroanilide hydrochloride (BAPNA) as a substrate and showed high stability in the pH range of 7.0–10.0. It was stable up to 50°C. Soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) and N-ρ-tosyl-L-lysine-chloromethylketone (TLCK) significantly inhibited trypsin activity (p < 0.05). Protein hydrolysate from common kilka muscle with different degrees of hydrolysis (DHs; 20, 30, and 40%) was prepared using the purified trypsin, and antioxidative activities were determined. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and ferrous chelating activity of hydrolysate increased with increasing DH up to 40% (p < 0.05). Therefore, trypsin from intestine of common kilka could be used as a processing aid for production of fish protein hydrolysate with antioxidative activity.     

Gelatin Films Containing Hydrolysates from Whitecheek Shark (Carcharhinus dussumieri) Meat

The effect of adding different concentrations of freeze-dried (FD-WCPH) and spray-dried (SD-WCPH) whitecheek shark (Carcharhinus dussumieri) protein hydrolysate to the physical properties (solubility in water, contact angle, water vapor permeability, and opacity), mechanical properties (tensile strength, elongation at break, and elastic modulus) and color of gelatin films has been studied. The results showed that FD-WCPH and SD-WCPH led to an increase in water solubility and water vapor permeability and a decrease in contact angle and opacity of gelatin films (P < 0.05). Fish protein hydrolysate concentration showed a linear relation with elongation at break and an inverse relation with the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the films (P < 0.05).     

Influence of the Dietary Addition of Butylated-Hydroxytoluene and Lipid Level on the Flesh Lipid Quality of Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso) During Frozen Storage

The main aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of dietary butylated-hydroxytoulene (BHT as an antioxidant) and dietary lipid level on flesh lipid quality of Beluga sturgeon during frozen storage. An initial 135-day feeding trial evaluated practical-type diets containing 0 or 250 mg BHT kg^?1 with two lipid levels (12 and 24% diet on dry matter basis) in a factorial arrangement. Fillet samples were analyzed fresh or after storage at ?18 ± 1°C for 12 months. Dietary antioxidant supplementation had no significant effect on fat content and fatty acid composition in the studied fish muscle, but increasing the lipid concentration in the feed increased muscle lipid concentration. Lipid oxidation in fish muscle is related to increasing lipid concentration in the feed. In addition, oxidation was reduced for fish fed BHT. Results showed that dietary BHT supplementation can slow down the level of lipid oxidation in Beluga sturgeon muscles during frozen storage, but it had a direct relationship with dietary lipid level.     

Application of SALTMED and HYDRUS-1D models for simulations of soil water content and soil salinity in controlled groundwater depth

Salinization is a gradual process that should be monitored. Modelling is a suitable alternative technique that saves time and cost for the field monitoring. But the performance of the models should be evaluated using the measured data. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the SALTMED and HYDRUS-1 D models using the measured soil water content, soil salinity and wheat yield data under different levels of saline irrigation water and groundwater depth. The field experiment was conducted in 2013 and in this research three controlled groundwater depths, i.e., 60(CD60), 80(CD80) and 100(CD100) cm and two salinity levels of irrigation water, i.e., 4(EC4) and 8(EC8) d S/m were used in a complete randomized design with three replications. Soil water content and soil salinity were measured in soil profile and compared with the predicted values by the SALTMED and HYDRUS-1 D models. Calibrations of the SALTMED and HYDRUS-1 D models were carried out using the measured data under EC4-CD100 treatment and the data of the other treatments were used for validation. The statistical parameters including normalized root mean square error(NRMSE) and degree of agreement(d) showed that the values for predicting soil water content and soil salinity were more accurate in the HYDRUS-1 D model than in the SALTMED model. The NRMSE and d values of the HYDRUS-1 D model were 9.6% and 0.64 for the predicted soil water content and 6.2% and 0.98 for the predicted soil salinity, respectively. These indices of the SALTMED model were 10.6% and 0.81 for the predicted soil water content and 11.0% and 0.97 for the predicted soil salinity, respectively. According to the NRMSE and d values for the predicted wheat yield(9.8% and 0.91, respectively) and dry matter(2.9% and 0.99, respectively), we concluded that the SALTMED model predicted the wheat yield and dry matter accurately.     

Prioritizing woody species for the rehabilitation of arid lands in western Iran based on soil properties and carbon sequestration

Plants are an important component in many natural ecosystems. They influence soil properties, especially in arid ecosystems. The selection of plant species based on their adaptations to site conditions is essential for rehabilitation of degraded sites and other construction sites such as check-dams. Other factors to be considered in species selection include their effects on soil properties and their abilities to meet other management objectives. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of native (Populus euphratica Oliv. and Tamarix ramosissima Ledeb.) and introduced (Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. and Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC.) woody species on soil properties and carbon sequestration (CS) in an arid region of Iran. Soil sampling was collected at three soil depths (0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm) at the sites located under each woody species canopy and in an open area in 2017. Soil physical-chemical property was analyzed in the laboratory. The presence of a woody species changed soil characteristics and soil CS, compared with the open area. For example, the presence of a woody species caused a decrease in soil bulk density, of which the lowest value was observed under E. camaldulensis (1.38 g/cm³) compared with the open area (1.59 g/cm³). Also, all woody species significantly increased the contents of soil organic matter and total nitrogen, and introduced species had more significant effect than native species. The results showed that CS significantly increased under the canopy of all woody species in a decreasing order of P. euphratica (9.08 t/hm²)>E. camaldulensis (8.37 t/hm²)>P. juliflora (5.20 t/hm²)>T. ramosissima (2.93 t/hm²)>open area (1.33 t/hm²), thus demonstrating the positive effect of a woody species on CS. Although the plantation of non-native species had some positive effects on soil properties, we recommend increasing species diversity in plantations of native and introduced woody species to provide more diversity for the increased ecosystem services, resilience, health and long-term productivity.