Unravelling the relationship between a seasonal environment and the dynamics of forage growth in grazed swards

It is well reported in the scientific literature that pastures can have similar net forage accumulation when managed with contrasting structures. However, we hypothesized that the dynamics of forage accumulation in grazed swards is linked to seasonal-environmental conditions. Marandu palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha [Hochst. ex A. Rich.] was used as the forage species model. The experimental treatments were four grazing heights (10, 20, 30 and 40 cm) allocated to experimental units according to a randomized complete block design with four replicates and evaluated throughout four contrasting environmental seasons (summer, autumn, winter–early spring and late spring). Under rainy and warm periods, greater net forage accumulation was observed in pastures maintained taller; on the contrary, during the mild and dry periods, net forage accumulation rate reduced as grazing height increased. Such patterns of responses were related to compensations between tiller population density and tissues flows during summer and late spring and the reduced capacity of taller canopies to compensate lower population with greater growth rates during autumn and winter–early spring. Grazed swards changed their patterns of forage growth as they transitioned from favourable to more abiotic stressful conditions, suggesting that seasonal adjustments in grazing intensities are necessary in order to maximize forage production.     

Relationship of Icelandic cattle with Northern and Western European cattle breeds,admixture and population structure

ABSTRACT

Icelandic cattle is believed to have been brought from Norway during the settlement of Iceland around AD 870-930. Previous research on genetic relationships has indicated that Icelandic cattle is most related to northern Nordic indigenous breeds. Using single nucleotide polymorphism genotype data from Icelandic cattle and 29 Northern and Western European cattle breeds, we studied relationships and admixture among these breeds, and assessed population structure in Icelandic cattle. Population structure analysis through principal component analysis, estimation of ancestry, and analysis of patterns of population splitting and mixing revealed that Icelandic cattle are most related to three Finncattle breeds (Eastern, Northern and Western Finncattle), and Swedish Mountain cattle. Icelandic cattle has very low levels of admixture. We observed very limited population structure in Icelandic cattle. The observed structure was due to variable sire contributions. Over 1000 years of almost complete isolation has made Icelandic cattle highly genetically distinct from other cattle breeds.     

Influence of Aguamiel (Agave atrovirens) as a Natural Feed Additive on Cecal Fermentation Kinetics of Some Forage Species in Horse Feeding

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different dose levels of aguamiel (Agave atrovirens) on in vitro cecal gas, methane (CH₄), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) productions of five forage species (Avena sativa [hay]), Moringa oleifera, Caesalpinia coriacea, Salix babylonica, and Eichhornia crassipes using inocula from the horse. The forage samples were incubated with three doses of aguamiel: 0, 34, and 68 μg of aguamiel/g dry matter (DM) of substrate. Cecal inocula were collected from four adult female Criolla horses (3–4 years of age and weighing 300 ± 15.0 kg) grazed on native grasses for about 8 hours without supplementation. Forage type affected (P < .001) cecal asymptotic, rate and lag time of gas, CH₄ and CO₂ productions (mL/g DM), pH and DM degradability. Aguamiel dose had linear and quadratic effects (P < .05) on the asymptotic and rate of CH₄ productions and rate and lag time of CO₂ productions (mL/g DM). Forage type × aguamiel dose interactions were significant (P < .05) for asymptotic, rate and lag time of gas, and CH₄ and CO₂ productions (mL/g DM). Forage species effects were pronounced (P < .05) on CH₄ and CO₂ productions (mL/g incubated and degraded DM) and proportional CH₄ production at all hours of incubation, except for CO₂ production (mL/g incubated DM). Aguamiel dose affected (P < .05) CO₂ production (mL/g incubated DM) and proportional CO₂ production at the incubated hours. Forage type × aguamiel dose interactions were observed (P < .05) for CO₂ production (mL/g incubated DM) and proportional CO₂ production at the incubated hours but had no impact on CH₄ production. It is concluded that addition of aguamiel to five forage species affected fermentation kinetics of gas production resulting in different in vitro cecal gas, CH₄ and CO₂ productions from these substrates.     

湖南粮食生产区域布局优化战略

在综合分析资源禀赋、技术条件、市场区位、生产规模、产业基础及布局指向等方面因素，兼顾相对集中连片原则，结合粮食生产现状、市场前景与产业发展趋势的基础上，提出了将湖南划分为“一区一圈两带”的粮食生产区域布局优化战略。对“一区一圈两带”4个片区的粮食生产特征进行了总结，并提出了各片区的功能定位和主攻方向。     

劳动力老龄化对我国农业生产效率的影响

针对我国农村人口老龄化现象不断加剧,致使农业劳动力供给质量下降等问题,以2009年农村固定观察点数据为依据,分析我国农业劳动力老龄化现状,并利用柯布道格拉斯生产函数研究劳动力老龄化对农业生产效率的影响。结果表明:我国农业生产中存在严重的老龄化现象,60岁以上的劳动力占18.42%;与年轻劳动力相比,老龄劳动力的生产效率明显较低,老龄农户不仅主要生产要素的边际产值低于非老龄农户,而且耕种面积以及其他各生产要素的投入水平也均低于非老龄户,这说明农业老龄化严重制约着我国农业的发展。     

Optimisation of fertiliser rates in crop production against energy use indicators

Optimising mineral nitrogen (N) use in crop production is inevitable target as mineral fertilisers reflect one of the highest inputs both in terms of economy and energy. The aim of the study was to compare the relationship between the rate of N fertiliser application and different measures of energy parameters exemplary data for spring-wheat in boreal climate condition in Estonia in 2006–2010. The effect of mineral N with rates 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg N ha⁻¹ was studied on the background of composted cow manure and without organic fertilisers. Univalent parameters, energy gain (EG) (energy output − energy input) and energy ratio (ER) (energy output/energy input) were calculated. To aggregate parameters with different units (ER and EG) we proposed two standardisation approaches for combined indices. ER maximisation gave both organic fertilisation background optimum N norms significantly lower than EG (p < 0.05) optimisation. Both the new combined indices gave optimum N norms in between the rate of ER an EG. Composted cow manure background did not affect mineral N optimisation significantly. We suggest optimisation of mineral N according to bi-dimensional parameters as they capture important features of production efficiency and are more objective using as advisory tool for sustainable production systems.     

刨花计量料仓在刨花板生产中的应用

分别从工艺流程、结构和工作原理以及使用中的注意事项等方面介绍了刨花计量料仓在刨花板生产线中施胶前及铺装前的应用情况。     

Summer drought decreases Leymus chinensis productivity through constraining the bud,tiller and shoot production

Extreme drought events can directly decrease productivity in perennial grasslands. However, for rhizomatous perennial grasses it remains unknown how drought events influence the belowground bud bank which determines future productivity. Ninety‐day‐long drought events imposed on Leymus chinensis, a rhizomatous perennial grass, caused a 41% decrease in the aboveground biomass and a 28% decrease in belowground biomass. Aboveground biomass decreased due to decrease in both the parent and the daughter shoot biomass. The decreases in daughter shoot biomass were due to reductions in both the shoot number and each individual shoot weight. Most importantly, drought decreased the bud bank density by 56%. In addition, drought induced a bud allocation change that decreased by 41% the proportion of buds that developed into shoots and a 41% increase in the buds that developed into rhizomes. Above results were supported by our field experiment with watering treatments. Thus, a 90‐day‐long summer drought event decreases not only current productivity but also future productivity, because the drought reduces the absolute bud number. However, plasticity in plant development does partly compensate for this reduction in bud number by increasing bud development into rhizomes, which increases the relative allocation of buds into future shoots, at the cost of a decrease in current shoots.     

茶叶生产格局演变及空间集聚效应研究——以广东省为例

明确茶叶生产格局的演变特征和集聚效应,对广东省茶叶产业规划布局具有重要意义。引入空间重心模型,运用GIS技术和空间自相关分析方法分析广东省茶叶生产格局的演变过程、演变特征,采用空间自相关分析探究茶叶生产的空间集聚效应,研究结果表明：（1）1992—2017年广东省茶叶种植面积和茶叶产量稳步提升,2008年以后增速较为明显;（2）茶叶生产空间差异明显。粤北和粤东地区茶叶种植总面积占到广东全省的85%以上,茶叶产量占到83%以上,粤西和珠三角缩减较为明显;（3）广东省茶叶生产重心具有整体向东偏北迁移的趋势。茶园面积和茶叶产量重心的东移反映出广东省茶叶生产已呈现逐渐向粤东和粤北地区集聚的态势;（4）广东省茶叶生产空间极化和空间溢出作用显著,已经形成了以饶平、潮安、大埔、丰顺、五华、兴宁、英德、东源等县区的茶叶生产集聚区,构成了广东省茶叶生产的“热点区”,并对周边县市产生带动和刺激效应;（5）地理环境等自然因素是茶园规模扩张的基础,政府的政策激励和支持是茶叶产业形成的重要驱动力,巨大的市场消费力是茶叶产业迅速发展的直接因素,新品种和新技术的应用和推广是茶园面积扩张的重要原因。广东省茶叶生产空间集聚效应进一步增强,应根据地区自然资源、地理条件、种植传统等因素,推进茶叶生产区域集群化发展,提升广东茶叶的市场竞争力。