Antinutritive effects of galactomannan-rich endosperm of Sesbania (Sesbania aculeata) seeds on growth and feed utilization in tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted using tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L., in a recirculation system maintained at 27±0.2°C to observe the negative effects of Sesbania endosperm on growth and nutrient utilization. Five experimental diets were formulated to contain 32% protein, of which fishmeal was the major source. Endosperm separated from Sesbania seeds was included at levels of 0.0%, 2.9%, 5.8%, 8.7% and 11.6% in diets 1 (control), 2, 3, 4 and 5, respectively, equivalent to levels of 0.0%, 9.7%, 19.4%, 29.1% and 38.8%, respectively, of whole Sesbania seeds. Each treatment had two replicates, eight fish per replicate, with a mean initial live weight of 5.2±0.1 g. Fish were fed 20 g per kg metabolic body weight of fish daily. The body weight gain, metabolic growth rate, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, protein productive value and energy retention of fish fed the control and diet 2 were significantly better (P<0.05) than those of fish fed the other diets. Physical observation showed that the intestines of the fish fed diets that included endosperm contained loose, viscous and sticky material. Fish fed diets 3, 4 and 5 had a lower proportion of dry matter in their faeces, and lower apparent crude lipid and energy digestibility coefficients compared with fish fed the control diet and diet 2. They also had significantly reduced levels of muscle and plasma cholesterol, whole‐body crude protein, lipid and gross energy.     

‘n Studie van ruproteïeninhoud en verteerbaarheid van vyf eenjarige medicago‐genotipes in die sentrale oranje‐vrystaat

Uittreksel

Die bogrondse groei van Medicago truncatula, cvv. Cyprus en Jemalong, M. aculeata var. inermis, cv. SA 4438, M. orbicularis, pv. SA 2552 en M. rugosa, cv. Paragosa, afkomstig van ‘n besproeide veldproef, is vir ruproteïen en vir in vitro‐ verteerbaarheid ontleed. Die betrokke genotipes is op drie verskillende plantdatums, c. 30 dae gespasieer, van einde Februarie tot einde April, gevestig, en die gedroogde materiaal wat aan die begin van blomstadium en met die aanvang van peulverkleuring versamel is, is ontleed.

Met blom het die proteïeninhoud gewissel van 12,8% by Paragosa, wat swak genoduleerd was, tot 27,9% by SA 2552. Die gemiddelde was 21,3%. Op die peulverkleurstadium was die gemiddelde 15,2%, met ‘n wisseling van 8,5% by Paragosa tot 19,4% by SA 4438. Planttyd het feitlik geen invloed op die persentasie gehad nie. Wat proteïen‐produksie betref, was daar, met die uitsondering van Paragosa, ‘n duidelike positiewe verband tussen groeiperiode en hierdie parameter. SA 4438 met 2,3t/ha het die hoogste proteïenopbrengs op die peulverkleurstadium gelewer.

Die afgeleide verteerbaarheid op die blomstadium was gemiddeld 77,4%, met ‘n wisseling van 75,1% by SA 2552 tot 80,6% by Paragosa. Met peulverkleuring was die gemiddelde 67,9%, met ‘n wisseling van 64,9% by Cyprus tot 70,0% by SA 2552. Die invloed van plantdatum was gering.     

Soil Organic Carbon Build-up and Dynamics in Rice–Rice Cropping Systems

Intensive irrigated rice system is the most important food production system in the world. Continued population growth necessitates increased rice production to meet the increased need of food production through increased rice productivity to ensure food security. In contrast, the recent slowdown in yield growth in intensive irrigated rice‐based cropping systems as a result of deterioration of soil health and decline in productivity level is a serious cause for concern. The objective of this research was to investigate the soil organic carbon (SOC) build‐up and its dynamics in rice–rice cropping system by including a green manure (GM) crop Sesbania rostrata Berm. either during fallow and/or intercrop at 4 : 1 ratio as additive series without changing rice geometry. The results revealed that there is a gradual build‐up of SOC when S. rostrata included and in situ incorporated at flowering stage as a basic means of improving soil quality in rice–rice cropping system. Further, the soil organic matter fractions viz. humic acid and fulvic acid were also improved in all GM‐incorporated systems. In general, the proportion of fulvic acid was higher than humic acid. Cropping system involving three GMs viz. S. rostrata‐rice/S. rostrata‐rice/S. rostrata registered significantly higher SOC and was 10.63 percent higher than traditional rice–rice cropping system (A₁). This was followed by S. rostrata‐rice/S. rostrata‐rice system. Although the traditional rice–rice cropping system (A₁) also conserved SOC (0.29 and 1.69 % higher than initial during first and second annual cropping cycle, respectively), the magnitude was very low. Repeated application of S. rostrata as GM improved SOC, which formed the basis for sustainable management of soil resources. It can be concluded that S. rostrata would affect the rate of loss of SOC in cropping systems and its ultimate level in soils.     

田菁对大庆地区盐碱化土壤的改良效果

[目的]研究田菁对大庆地区盐碱化土壤的改良效果。[方法]设置种植田菁和不种田菁(CK)2个处理,于2014—2016年进行田间试验,探讨其对大庆地区盐碱化土壤的改良效果。[结果]田菁适应大庆地区气候条件和盐碱化土壤环境,种植田菁能有效促进地表其他植被生长,降低土壤pH、可溶性盐含量、电导率及土壤速效磷含量和速效钾含量,提高土壤有机质含量和碱解氮含量。[结论]田菁对大庆地区盐碱化土壤和独特气候环境具有较强的适应性,可作为盐碱土改良的先锋树种在大庆地区引种。     

The root-knot nematode problem in sesbania fallows and scope for managing it in western Kenya

Sesbania (Sesbania sesban), which is promoted as a short-duration-fallow species in eastern and southern Africa, is an alternative host to root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.). Therefore, it is important to know the extent of sesbania infection by the nematode on farms and its effects to crops grown in rotation with sesbania. A survey of 14 farms in western Kenya indicated that sesbania was infected by root-knot nematode in all the farms. The potential to build up the nematode population was much greater on farms where maize (Zea mays) was previously intercropped with a susceptible bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). Screening of 30 single plant accessions of four sesbania provenances (Kakamega, Siaya, Kisumu, and Kisii) from western Kenya in pots indicated limited scope for selecting material resistant to the nematode. All four provenances were infested by the nematode, and they increased its population in soil and root. A rangewide collection of sesbania germplasm needs to be screened to determine the scope of finding nematode-resistant material. Transplanted seedlings produced in heat-sterilized, nematode-free soil showed less nematode infection than direct-seeded plants. However, both direct seeding and transplanting seemed to increase nematode population similarly. A number of Crotalaria spp. that were found resistant to nematodes can be considered as alternatives to sesbania-planted fallows, but further field-scale testing is necessary to select appropriate species based on biomass production. Among other species suitable for short-duration fallows, only pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) and senna (Senna siamea) showed promise. Species such as neem (Azadirachta indica), casuarina (Casuarina junghuhniana), and grevillea (Grevillea robusta) that are suitable for boundary plantings were free from the root-knot nematode.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Root length and nitrate under Sesbania sesban: Vertical and horizontal distribution and variability

Measurements of root and nutrient distributions in agroforestry systems have often been obtained from unreplicated plots. We, therefore, measured the vertical and horizontal distribution of root length and soil nitrate in replicated plots of sesbania [Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr.] to assess plot-to-plot variation and identify appropriate sampling schemes. Sampling was on profile walls exposed from pits at two on-farm sites (Ochinga and Muange) in Kenya. At Ochinga, soil was sampled at 27 0.15-m depth intervals and eight 0.15-m-wide locations perpendicular to 2.25-m-wide rows of 19-month-old sesbania. At Muange, sampling was 18 months after establishment of sesbania from seedlings with a 1 m by 1 m spacing. Soil was sampled at 17 0.15-m depth intervals and nine 0.15-m-wide sampling locations – one exactly below the tree and four each on opposite sides of the tree. Root length density generally decreased with distance from sesbania and with soil depth. Soil nitrate, however, followed different trends in the four replications at Ochinga and the three replications at Muange. At Ochinga, nitrate above 2.5-m depth clearly increased with distance from the tree in two replications but followed no distinct trend in another replication. At Muange, nitrate above 1.2-m depth decreased with distance from the tree in one replication, increased with distance from the tree in another replication and followed no clear trend in another replication. The suitability of various sampling schemes for measuring root length and nitrate was accessed from percent bias between measured values at sampling locations in the scheme and actual values for an entire transect of sampling locations. Bias associated with selection of sampling locations tended to be higher within the 2.25-m-wide sesbania rows than the 1 m by 1 m sesbania spacing. Soil sampling in systems with rows of young trees should be at several locations along a transect perpendicular to tree rows in order to minimize bias. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

施氮对田菁翻压还田滩涂盐渍土碳氮及细菌群落结构的影响

为探讨不同施氮处理下田菁翻压还田对滩涂盐渍土的改良效果,通过田间小区试验研究了不同施氮水平下(CK、SN1、SN2、SN3、SN4对应的施氮量分别为0、90、135、180、225 kg/hm²)绿肥田菁还田对土壤碳氮、pH、水溶性盐和细菌群落结构的影响。结果表明:SN3处理下田菁生物量和碳、氮累积量最高,分别为41 882、3 756和101.5 kg/hm²。作绿肥翻压还田后,则以SN2处理土壤有机碳、全氮含量最高,分别为6.51 g/kg和0.637 g/kg。各施氮处理下,田菁翻压后土壤微生物生物量碳氮含量低于CK处理。随田菁翻压量的增加,土壤pH呈逐步下降趋势,而土壤水溶性盐总量则随施氮水平和翻压量的增加而上升,但较种植前明显降低。不同施氮处理田菁翻压后,土壤中具有一定有机降解功能的变形菌门、酸杆菌门、拟杆菌门、放线菌门和绿弯菌门等细菌类群占据主导地位,且相对丰度随田菁翻压量的增加呈一定变化趋势,但细菌群落结构变化不明显。土壤门水平优势菌群相对丰度与土壤碳氮含量、pH和水溶性盐总量等指标均呈一定的相关关系,其中以拟杆菌门、厚壁菌门、...     

不同植株促生菌对田菁种子萌发及生长的影响

本试验以田菁作为研究对象，探究结合包衣剂的不同菌种对种子萌发及生长的影响。选取AZ-1、AZ-2、AZ-3、AZ-4四种植物促生菌，以发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数作为种子萌发指标，株高、根长、鲜重作为生长指标，探究单一菌种和混合菌种在包衣处理后，能否有效促进田菁的发芽的生长。试验结果表明：包衣剂对田菁种子萌发、生长有一定促进作用，将包衣剂与植物促生菌结合会显著促进植株的发芽和生长。AZ-1浸泡后包衣处理对种子的萌发率的提高有显著影响。AZ-3浸泡后包衣处理，会显著促进茎的生长，AZ-1和AZ-2浸泡后进行包衣处理，会促进根的生长和鲜重的提高。     

N2 fixation in two Sesbania species and its transfer to rice (Oryza sativa L.) as revealed by 15N technology

Summary We used ¹⁵N technology to investigate N₂ fixation by Sesbania speciosa and Sesbania rostrata and its transfer to a lowland rice crop after incorporation of the Sesbania spp. into soil as green manure. During the first 50 days after establishment in November–December 1989, S. speciosa and S. rostrata produced 1126 and 923 kg dry matter ha^-1 respectively. They gathered 31 and 23 kg N ha^-1 respectively, of which 62%±5% and 55%±3% respectively, came from N₂ fixation. Both these species produced a greater biomass during September–October 1989, with S. rostrata producing more than S. speciosa. These results reflected differential responses by the plants to different day lengths at different times of the year. Furthermore, the dry matter yield and %N of ¹⁵N-labelled S. speciosa were smaller than those of the unlabelled plants, possibly due to inhibition of N₂ fixation in root nodules by the chemical N fertilizers added during labelling. These differences were not so pronounced in the stem-nodulated S. rostrata. The increased grain yield of rice fertilized with N in the form of chemical fertilizer or green manure was a result of an increased number of panicles per hill. The rice crop manured with S. speciosa produced a lower grain yield, with a lower grain weight than that manured with S. rostrata. This was due to a low uptake of soil N by rice manured with S. speciosa. Recovery of N from the green manure in rice straw with S. speciosa was significantly higher than from rice manured with S. rostrata, because of the higher applied N uptake by rice manured with the former.     

The potential of alley cropping im improvement of cultivation systems in the high rainfall areas of Zambia II. Maize production

Theee trials to evaluat the potential of alley cropping in maize production on the low fertility, acidic soils in Northern Zambia are described. Leucaena leucocephala, Gliricidia sepium, Sesbania sesban, Albizia falcataria, Fleminga congesta, and Cassia spectabilis, were grown in alley crops with hybrid maize and soybean. All trials received recommended rates of P and K fertiliser; N fertiliser was applied at three rates as a subplot treatment. One trial received lime before establishment.Only in the limed trial was there a significant improvement in maize yields through alley cropping; when no N fertiliser was applied, incorporation of Leucaena leucocephala prunings resulted in an increase of up to 95% in yields, with a smaller improvement being produced by Flemingia congesta. There was a significant correlation between the quantity of prunings biomass applied and the proportional increase in maize yields over the control treatment. It is suggested that the lack of effect of most of the tree species on crop yields was due to low biomass production.An economic analysis showed that alley cropping with limed Leucaena was only profitable when fertiliser costs were high in relation to maize prices. However, lime is both expensive and difficult to obtain and transport for most small scale farmers in the region, and is therefore not a practical recommendation. It is suggested that future alley cropping research should focus on screening a wider range of tree species, including other species of Leucaena, for acid tolerance and higher biomass production.