Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) grazing on duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza)

The aims of this experiment were (1) toquantify the ability of grass carp to processduckweed and (2) to assess indirect changes inwater chemistry and phytoplankton community,caused by grass carp feeding. Yearling grass carp sized 126 ± 7.7 mm (TL) and19.6 g in weight were kept in 9 laminate tanksof 1 m³ for 14 days. Two stockingdensities (2 and 6 fish per m³) anda control without fish were used. Standard growthrate (SGR) of grass carp fed exclusively onduckweed was 0.70% body weight (BW) d^–1and food conversion ratio (FCR) reached 2.0(average water temperature =21.1 ± 3.8 °C). Daily food intakewas 0.2 g of duckweed dry weight (DW), i.e.,1% of average BW of grass carp. SGR ofduckweed growing in 20 × 20 cm floatingenclosures, differed significantly[F(6,2) = 417.9; p = 0.002] between the twostocking densities of grass carp and thecontrol tanks (without fish). Mean SGR ofduckweed was 0.02 g g^–1 day^–1 and thehighest SGR was recorded in the control tanks.Both decrease in NH₄-N and increase inNO₂-N concentrations differedsignificantly between the treatments[F(2,2) = 45.3; p = 0.02 and F(2,2) = 19.2; p = 0.04 respectively]. Changes in other nitrogenand phosphorus components (NO₃-N, TN, TPand PO₄-P) caused by stocking of grasscarp were not significant. Biomass ofphytoplankton, dominated by filamentous algaeand blue-greens, increased proportionately tostocking density of grass carp. Althoughduckweed has a large potential for nutrientremoval, the most common pathway for thenutrients released through grass carp grazingif duckweed cover is loose is theirincorporation into phytoplankton biomass.     

Insulin-like growth factor I in growing thoroughbreds

The objective of this longitudinal study was to characterize growth and plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations in pasture-raised thoroughbreds fed two sources of dietary energy. Mares and foals were randomly assigned to either a sugar and starch (SS) or fat and fibre (FF)-rich feed, and plasma IGF-I and growth were measured once a month from 1 to 16 months of age. These dependent variables were also compared with day length and ambient temperature. There was an association between plasma IGF-I concentration and average daily gain (ADG) (r = 0.32, p < 0.001). There were also clear seasonal patterns in both ADG and plasma IGF-I, with high values in June and May, and a low value in March. Plasma IGF-I and ADG were positively associated with day length and temperature. Plasma IGF-I was never higher (p > 0.10) in the FF group when compared with the SS group, and was higher in the SS group during a rapid growth phase in the spring of year 2 (p < 0.10). The results establish an association between ADG and IGF-I in the horse and indicate that environment and age may influence this relationship. In addition, plasma IGF-I is influenced by dietary energy source at particular times of year. This link has important implications in designing feeding management strategies that are aimed at addressing skeletal development.     

增温和氮添加对长江源区高寒沼泽草甸生态系统呼吸的影响

为探究高寒湿地生态系统对气候变化的响应,本研究对模拟增温（2.64℃）、氮添加（40 kg N·ha^-2·yr^-1）及其交互处理下的高寒沼泽草甸生态系统呼吸进行了2个生长季的监测。结果表明：增温显著提高了高寒沼泽草甸生态系统呼吸（约25%）,而氮添加对高寒沼泽草甸生态系统呼吸无显著影响;增温降低了高寒沼泽草甸生态系统呼吸对土壤温度变化的敏感性。在相对温暖的2015年生长季,增温和氮添加对生态系统呼吸起到协同促进作用。分析发现高寒沼泽草甸生态系统呼吸主要受表层土壤温度、植物生物量和土壤可溶性有机碳的影响;增温显著提高了植物地上和地下生物量,增强了自养呼吸,是增温提高生态系统呼吸的主要原因。本研究结果表明相比于大气氮沉降增加,高寒沼泽草甸生态系统呼吸对气候变暖的响应更加敏感。     

不同苜蓿根瘤菌固氮能力和黄酮变异研究

从重庆、安徽和新疆3个地区的宿主苜蓿上分别分离纯化出1个根瘤菌菌株。将3个菌株分别接种到WL323和阿尔冈金两个品种苜蓿上。分析不同处理的固氮能力和它们的芦丁的含量,以及黄酮含量和固氮的关系。结果表明：固氮能力、芦丁、黄酮含量都受到根瘤菌菌株、苜蓿品种和两者的相互作用影响;并且各组合的芦丁含量与固氮量之间成负相关,黄酮含量越高,固氮量越少。     

饲喂豆饼、亚麻饼和血粉氮源日粮的生长绵羊限制性氨基酸研究

本实验选用9只装有瘤胃、十二指肠和回肠瘘管的生长羯羊 ,随机分为3组 ,分别饲喂以玉米为基础的豆饼型、亚麻饼型和血粉型3种不同氮源日粮 ,以Cr2O3 为食糜标记物测定3种日粮下绵羊消化道不同部位的食糜流通量和进入十二指肠的各种氨基酸的流通量与组成。然后 ,在每种日粮下按3×3拉丁方试验设计 ,并按“递减法”由十二指肠瘘管灌注不同氨基酸。在豆饼日粮下分为减色氨酸(Trp)组、减蛋氨酸(Met)组和全量组 ;在亚麻饼日粮下分为减赖氨酸(Lys)组、减精氨酸(Arg)组和全量组 ;在血粉日粮下分为减精氨酸(Arg)组、减蛋氨酸(Met)组和全量组。测定灌注不同氨基酸对绵羊氮平衡、日增量、血浆尿素氮(PUN)和血浆游离氨基酸(FAA)浓度的影响。试验结果表明 :饲喂不同氮源日粮对绵羊瘤胃食糜流通速率(Kp)无显著影响(P=0.11) ,血粉日粮的瘤胃Kp 比豆饼日粮和亚麻饼日粮高。进入十二指肠食糜的总氮和非氨氮(NAN)在3种日粮间无显著差异(P>0.05) ;十二指肠食糜中微生物氮(MN)流通量差异不显著(P=0.72) ,其中饲喂亚麻饼日粮下绵羊十二指肠食糜中的微生物氮流量和微生物氮占非氨氮比(MN/NAN)最高(分别为7.48g/d和55.71 %) ;豆饼日粮次之 ,血粉日粮最低(39.23 %)。饲喂血粉日粮的绵羊十二指肠食糜中氨基酸总量高于豆饼和亚麻     

PERCEPTIONS OF RISK AND RISK MANAGEMENT IN VIETNAMESE CATFISH FARMING: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Although Vietnamese catfish farming has grown at a rapid rate in recent years, the industry has also faced many problems that affect its sustainability. This paper explores the perceptions of catfish farmers regarding risk and risk management strategies in their production activities. The relationships between farm and farmer socioeconomic characteristics and perceptions of risk and risk management are also examined. Data for the study were collected in 2008 from a sample of 261 catfish farmers in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam using a questionnaire survey. The results show that, in general, price and production risks were perceived as the most significant risks. Farm management and technical measures were perceived to be more effective than other kinds of risk management strategies in risk reduction. Although price risks were rated as important, price risk management strategies were not perceived as important measures for risk mitigation. The results of the study are discussed to identify the implications for various industry stakeholders, including policymakers, processors, advisors, and developers of new risk management strategies.     

香蕉不同器官中NPK含量及其积累规律

为探讨香蕉体内氮磷钾的含量及分布特点,采用整株肢解法,研究了香蕉不同生育期根、球茎、假茎、叶及果、果轴的氮、磷和钾含量.结果表明,不同生育时期,香蕉根系、假茎、球茎、叶、果实和果轴6个器官中的氮磷钾含量与分布不同.在香蕉抽蕾前,氮分布为叶＞球茎＞假茎＞根系,磷为假茎＞叶＞球茎＞根系,钾为假茎＞根系＞叶＞球茎;抽蕾后,氮...     

The effects of increasing the level of dietary wormwood (Artemisia montana Pampan) on intake, digestibility, N balance and ruminal fermentation characteristics in sheep

This study investigated the effect of replacing concentrates with dry wormwood (Artemisia montana) on the performance of sheep. Four Corriedale × Polwarth sheep (41.3 ± 1.3 kg) were fed diets with an 8 : 2 straw to supplement ratio, for four, consecutive 16 d periods (10 d adaptation, 6 d collection) in a 4 × 4 Latin square design. Supplements were made by substituting 0 (Control), 30 (LW), 50 (MW) or 100 (HW) g/kg DM of concentrate (15.6% CP, 72.1% of TDN) with dried, ground wormwood. Ruminal pH, NH₃–N and volatile fatty acids (VFA) were measured on d 6 of collection. Ether extract (EE) intake was linearly decreased (P < 0.001) with increasing wormwood inclusion, otherwise intake was unaffected. The Control diet had lower (P < 0.05) DM and CP digestibility than LW and MW diets and lower EE digestibility than the LW diet. Retained N (P < 0.05) and microbial N yield (P < 0.01) linearly increased with dietary wormwood level, but efficiency of microbial N synthesis linearly decreased (P < 0.001). Mean concentrations of rumen NH₃–N, total VFA and propionic acid were quadratically increased (P < 0.05) by increasing wormwood inclusion. Replacing concentrates with 30–50 g/kg DM of wormwood increased N retention, microbial N yield and EE digestibility.     

不同氮效率紫花苜蓿叶特征及其产量效应研究

为探讨不同氮效率紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)叶特征差异及其对产量的影响,本研究采用田间小区试验,设4个不同氮效率紫花苜蓿品种('LW6010'、'甘农3号'、'甘农7号'和'陇东苜蓿')和2个施氮处理(0,103.5 kg·hm-2),对比研究不同氮效率紫花苜蓿的叶特征及其生产性能,并采用通径分析法探讨叶...