Hyaluronidase administered with xylazine–tiletamine–zolazepam into adipose tissue shortens recovery from anesthesia in pigs

Objective

To evaluate the effect of hyaluronidase on uptake, duration and speed of elimination of xylazine–tiletamine–zolazepam administered in the subcutaneous fat over the dorsal lumbar region of swine.

Soil and Rice Responses to Phosphate Fertilizer in Two Contrasting Seasons on Acid Sulfate Soil

Acid sulfate soils (ASS) are characterized by low pH, aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe) toxicity and are typically deficient in phosphate (PO₄). The application of phosphorus (P) fertilizer could help reduce the level of exchangeable Al and Fe, thereby improving the rice growth and yield. Five levels of P (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅)/ha) were tested with rice varieties MTL560 in the wet season and MTL480 in the dry season. The optimum rate of P was 60 kg P₂O₅/ha for rice in the dry season and 80 kg P₂O₅/ha in the wet season. Soil testing showed at the start of the season that there was sufficient P in the soil. At the end of the season there was a reduction in soil Al and Fe in plots that had P rates above 40 kg P₂O₅/ha. It is therefore likely that P application reduced Al and Fe toxicity through precipitation and formation of Al-P and Fe-P compounds, which boasted yield, rather amending a soil P deficiency.     

Root zone selenium reduces cadmium toxicity by modulating tissue-specific growth and metabolism in maize (Zea mays L.)

The effects of selenium (Se) cadmium (Cd) interactions on plant growth and metabolism are not fully clear. In the present study, we assessed whether Se could alleviate the toxic effects of Cd on growth and metabolism of maize. Seeds of maize variety FH-985 were sown in pots filled with sand treated with CdCl₂ (0, 50 and 100 µM) and Se (0, 2 and 4 mg L^?1) through Hoagland’s nutrient solution. Low Se (2 mg L^?1) increased germination percentage and rate, while high Se (4 mg L^?1) increased fresh and dry biomass under Cd stress. Interestingly, all Se concentrations were effective in alleviating the toxic effects of Cd on photosynthetic pigments, whereas higher Se mitigated the Cd-induced oxidative stress and increased flavonoids both in the shoots and roots while phenolics in the roots. The results demonstrated that root zone Se altered tissue-specific primary metabolism in maize. Furthermore, low Se mitigated the Cd-induced decrease in total proteins in the root. Overall, Se-mediated decrease in the oxidative stress in the shoots while increase of secondary metabolites in the roots helped the plants to grow faster at early growth stage and caused increase in the biomass under different Cd regimes.     

Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae): A review of conservation status

The majority of wild Sumatran tigers are believed to live in 12 Tiger Conservation Landscapes covering approximately 88 000 km². However, the actual distribution of tigers across Sumatra has never been accurately mapped. Over the past 20 years, conservation efforts focused on the Sumatran tigers have increased, but the population continues to decline as a result of several key threats. To identify the status of the Sumatran tiger distribution across the island, an island-wide questionnaire survey comprised of 35 respondents from various backgrounds was conducted between May and June 2010. The survey found that Sumatran tigers are positively present in 27 habitat patches larger than 250 km² and possibly present in another 2. In addition, a review on major published studies on the Sumatran tiger was conducted to identify the current conservation status of the Sumatran tiger. Collectively, these studies have identified several key factors that have contributed to the decline of Sumatran tiger populations, including: forest habitat fragmentation and loss, direct killing of tigers and their prey, and the retaliatory killing of tigers due to conflict with villagers. The present paper provides management authorities and the international community with a recent assessment and a base map of the actual distribution of Sumatran tigers as well as a general overview on the current status and possible future conservation challenges of Sumatran tiger management.     

Field evaluation of sweet corn varieties for their potential as a trap crop for Helicoverpa zea under tropical conditions

Corn (Zea mays) is widely cultivated for human food and animal feed and also provides an ecosystem service as a trap crop for the corn earworm Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in tomato cropping systems. To be able to use corn as a trap crop for H. zea and to prevent it turning into a source of infestation, varieties are needed that are both attractive and resistant to H. zea. The main objective of this study was to compare the attractiveness to oviposition by H. zea and the resistance to H. zea of 10 sweet corn varieties in field conditions. We found Java, Garrison, Nova and Shinerock varieties that were both attractive to H. zea with a similar or higher number of eggs laid on silks than in the susceptible corn varieties, and resistant to H. zea, with fewer larvea per ear than in susceptible corn varieties. These varieties provide favorable habitats for generalist predators, ants, spiders, minute pirate bugs and lady beetles, which may account for their “dead-end” properties. Tropical farmers now have sweet corn varieties that can serve both as cash crops and as trap crops for H. zea.     

Climatic response and impacts of drought on oaks at urban and forest sites

This study focuses on the climate and growth response of the sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) and the northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) using dendrochronological methods. Tree-ring series of street trees in the city of Dresden, Germany and in a nature reserve close to the urban area were analysed, and the climate and growth response and moving correlation functions (CF) were computed. Moreover, the impact of 13 years of drought was examined by superposed epoch analysis (SEA). Our results show that differences emerge from peculiarities of the different site conditions, indicating that city oaks contain a higher level of noise in their ring width data due to human activities that degrade the strength of growth-climate associations. Importantly, climatic conditions during the previous summer and autumn and during the current spring season display significant correlations with annual growth. The stability of the climate–growth relationship was tested via moving correlation functions. A strong increase in the correlation with the temperature and precipitation in April was found for the trees of northern red oak in forests. Drought years induced significant reductions in radial growth for the northern red oak only. Nevertheless, the long-term impact of drought years must be considered as marginal because of the fast recovery of the radial growth after one to two years. In the future, the growth of the northern red oak may be restricted by an increased frequency of droughts and warmer and drier conditions in April.     

Mehlich 3 Extraction of Boron in Boron Treated Soils as Compared to Other Extractants

Abstract

Hot water extraction (HW) is time‐consuming, highly variable, and losing popularity as the standard method for estimating plant‐available boron (B) in soil. Proposed alternatives are not widely used and guesstimation is replacing assessment at many soil test facilities. Mehlich 3 is increasingly promoted as a universal extractant, and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)–sorbitol and pressurized hot water (PHW) are effective and comparable to hot water extraction but also simpler and easier. Mehlich 3 B extraction has been compared mainly to hot water extraction. Because Mehlich 3 usage would be limited to neutral to acid soils, this study used a limed acid Darco loamy fine sand (loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Grossarenic Paleudult) from eastern Texas to which 10 rates of B were applied followed by either incubation without plants or planting to alfalfa in greenhouse pots. Mehlich 3 extraction of soils obtained from a long‐term experiment on Darco soil from which alfalfa yield response has already been related to hot water, DTPA–sorbitol, and PHW is reported. The purpose was to determine the efficiency of Mehlich 3 B extraction compared to hot water, PHW, and DTPA–sorbitol in these B‐fertilized soils. Mehlich 3–extractable B significantly correlated with the rate of B application to incubation, greenhouse, and field soils and with B concentration and total B uptake in alfalfa in a greenhouse experiment. However, yield responses to B application were not observed in the greenhouse study. In the field where B response to B application was observed, Mehlich 3–extractable B did not correlate with alfalfa yield, whereas hot water and pressurized hot water did. In considering Mehlich 3 for B extraction, be aware that some older inductively coupled plasma (ICP) models may have significant drift when B is measured in Mehlich 3 extractant. In the current study, this problem was overcome with a new model instrument. Although effective in estimating B levels imposed on soils by fertilizer application, Mehlich 3 could not predict yield and thus cannot currently be recommended as a “universal” extractant to include B.     

Evaluation of Soil Tests for Plant‐available Mercury in a Soil–Crop Rotation System

A reliable soil test is needed for estimating mercury (Hg) availability to crop plants. In this study, four extraction procedures including 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl), 1 M ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) (pH 7.0), 0.005 M diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), and 0.1 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂) (pH5.0) were compared for their adequacy in predicting soil Hg availability to crop plants of a rice–cabbage–radish rotation system. The amounts of Hg extracted by each of the four procedures increased with increasing equilibrium time. The optimal time required for extraction of soil Hg was approximately 30 min, though it varied slightly among the four extractants. The amounts of Hg extracted decreased with increasing soil/solution ratio, and a soil/solution ratio of 1:5 appeared to be adequate for soil Hg availability tests. The amounts of Hg extracted increased in the order of NH₄OAc < CaCl₂ < DTPA < HCl in silty loam soil (SLS) soil, and the order was NH₄OAc < CaCl₂ ≈ DTPA < HCl in yellowish red soil (YRS) soil. Significant positive correlations among the four extractants were obtained in SLS soil. In contrast, the correlations were poor in YRS soil, especially for HCl. There were significant correlations between concentrations of Hg in edible tissue of three plants and the amounts of soil Hg extractable to the four extractants for soil–rice system and soil–radish system, but not for soil–Chinese cabbage system. The 0.1M HCl extraction overall provided the best estimation of soil‐available Hg and could be used to predict phytoavailability of Hg in soil–crop systems.     

Determination of Major and Trace Elements in Plant Samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry

The determination of several trace elements [arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb)] in plant samples using inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS) was evaluated. It was established experimentally that moderate amounts (0.2–2%) of dissolved solids decreased the analyte signals significantly. Internal standardization with Rh was efficiently used to compensate for these matrix effects. The accuracy of the method was verified using reference materials digested according to two different procedures: dry ashing and microwave digestion. No significant differences were observed between measured concentrations and certified values. The investigation was next extended for the determination of major elements [aluminum (Al), boron (B), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), phosphorus (P), and zinc (Zn)] on the same reference materials. The ICP‐MS values agree well with the values supplied. However, it appeared that Sc was the most useful internal standard for major elements.     

Effects of Long-Term Fertilizer Application and Rainfall Distribution on Cotton Productivity,Profitability, and Soil Fertility in a Semi-arid Vertisol

Long-term fertilizer experiments were conducted on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) for 21 years with eight fertilizer treatments in a fixed site during 1987–2007 to identify an efficient treatment to ensure maximum yield, greater sustainability, monetary returns, rainwater-use efficiency, and soil fertility over years. The results indicated that the yield was significantly influenced by fertilizer treatments in all years except 1987 1988, and 1994. The mean cotton yield ranged from 492 kg ha^?1 under the control to 805 kg ha^?1 under 25 kg nitrogen (N) [farmyard manure (FYM)] + 25 kg N (urea) + 25 kg phosphorus (P) ha^?1. Among the nutrients, soil N buildup was observed with all treatments, whereas application of 25 kg N + 12.5 kg P ha^?1 exhibited increase in P status. Interestingly, depletion of potassium (K) was recorded under all the fertilizer treatments as there was no K application in any of the treatments. An increase in soil N and P increased the plant N and P uptake respectively. Using relationships of different variables, principal component (PC) analysis technique was used for assessing the efficiency of treatments. In all the treatments, five PCs were found significant that explained the variability in the data of variables. The PC model of 25 kg N (FYM) + 25 kg N (urea) + 25 kg P ha^?1 explained maximum variability of 79.6% compared to other treatments. The treatment-wise PC scores were determined and used in developing yield prediction models and measurement of sustainability yield index (SYI). The SYI ranged from 44.4% in control to 72.7% in 25 kg N (FYM) + 25 kg N (urea) + 25 kg P ha^?1, which attained a mean cotton yield of 805 kg ha^?1 over years. Application of 25 kg N (FYM) + 25 kg N (urea) + 25 kg P ha^?1 was significantly superior in recording maximum rainwater-use efficiency (1.13 kg ha^?1 mm^?1) and SYI (30.5%). This treatment also gave maximum gross returns of Rs. 30272 ha^?1 with benefit–cost ratio of 1.60 and maintained maximum organic carbon and available N, P, and K in soil over years. These findings are extendable to cotton grown under similar soil and agroclimatic conditions in any part of the world.