Spatio-temporal factors influencing the occurrence of Syngamus trachea within release pens in the South West of England

Syngamus trachea is a pathogenic tracheal nematode that causes syngamiasis in wild and game birds, especially when birds are managed at high densities. Despite its pathogenic nature, very little is known about its epidemiology and relationship with ambient temperature and humidity. The spatial and temporal modelling of disease was undertaken on two pheasant estates within the South West of England from April 2014 to August 2014. Significant differences between the mean numbers of eggs per gram of soil were identified between pens at both site 1 and site 2 but did not differ significantly between sites. Egg abundance was significantly associated with soil moisture content, with greater egg survival between years in pens with higher average volumetric soil moisture content. Previous years stocking density and pen age were also associated with greater egg survival between years with more eggs being recovered in pens with greater stocking densities, and pens that had been sited longer. The greatest model to explain the variation in the numbers of eggs per gram of soil per pen was a combination of soil moisture content, stocking density and pen age.Larval recovery differed significantly between sites. Larval abundance was significantly and positively associated with temperature and relative humidity at site 1. Similarly, temperature and humidity were also positively and significantly associated with larval abundance at site 2. Rainfall did not influence larval recovery at either site 1 or site 2. The model with the greatest ability to explain larval abundance at both sites, was a combination of temperature, humidity and rainfall. Infection status (positive faecal egg counts) was significantly and positively associated with larval abundance at both sites, but rainfall was only positively associated at site 1. Temperature and humidity were positively associated with infection status at site 2, but not at site 1. The present study highlights the influence of climatic variables on both egg survival and larval abundance, and could therefore be used to develop more targeted treatment strategies around periods of higher disease risk. The frequent use of release pens is a clear factor in the epidemiology of syngamiasis, and it is recommended that pens be rested and/or rotated in order to reduce infection pressure in subsequent flocks.     

黄土高原人工灌草系统不同立地条件土壤种子库特征

本研究通过野外调查取样与室内试验相结合，连续两年对黄土高原人工灌草系统不同坡向、坡位进行取样，以期对该区土壤种子库的物种组成、密度特征及其物种多样性进行初步了解。研究结果表明：该人工灌草生态系统土壤种子库共有9科，15种，其组成因坡位、坡向以及年份而异；坡向、坡位均显著影响土壤种子库物种多样性指数、丰富度指数与土壤种子库密度（P<0.05），土壤种子库密度为3 218～5 492粒·m^-2，总体呈现为阴坡显著高于阳坡（P<0.05），下坡位显著高于上坡位（P<0.05）；坡位和坡向均对物种均匀性系数无显著影响；年份对土壤种子库无显著影响。上述研究可为黄土高原人工灌草系统的可持续利用与恢复提供参考依据。     

Impact on soil physical properties of using large-grain legumes for catch crop cultivation under different tillage conditions

In Central Europe, various plant species including large-grain legumes and their mixtures are grown as catch crops, particularly between grains harvested early and subsequent summer crops. This article investigates the question of how soil structure in the topsoil is influenced when catch cropping with large-grain legumes (experimental factor A: without catch crop, with catch crop) under different ploughless tillage conditions during catch crop seeding (experimental factor B: deep tillage/25–30 cm, shallow tillage/8–10 cm). Five one-year trials were performed using standard machinery at various sites in Germany. Soil core samples extracted from the topsoil in the spring after catch crop cultivation served to identify air capacity, saturated hydraulic conductivity and precompression stress. The above-ground and below-ground biomass yields of the catch crops were also determined at most of the sites. In addition, the soil compaction risk for the working steps in the experiments was calculated using the REPRO model.The dry matter yield of the catch crops varied considerably between the individual trial sites and years. In particular, high levels of dry matter were able to form in the case of early seeding and a sufficient supply of precipitation. The soil structure was only rarely affected positively by catch crop cultivation, and catch crops did not contribute in the short term to loosening already compacted topsoils. In contrast, mechanical soil stresses caused by driving over the ground and additional working steps used in cultivating catch crops often led to lower air capacity in these treatments. This is consistent with the soil compaction risks calculated using the REPRO model, which were higher in the treatments with catch cropping. Catch crop cultivation also only resulted in improved mechanical stability at one location. The positive effect of deep ploughless tillage on air capacity and saturated hydraulic conductivity, however, became more clearly evident regardless of catch crop cultivation. In order for catch crop cultivation with large-grain legumes to be able to have a favourable impact on soil structure, it is therefore important that cultivating them does not result in any new soil compaction. In the conditions evaluated, deep tillage was more effective at loosening compacted topsoil than growing catch crops.     

温湿度对烤烟醇化过程中各化学成分的影响

从测定与烤烟醇化相关的指标物质入手,研究醇化库的温、湿度等条件对片烟醇化的影响。高温低湿(35℃70%)条件下既能保证烟叶含水量的安全,同时也促进了烟叶中物质的转化过程,加快了醇化进程,是本研究条件下最佳的醇化条件。     

一种简易的花房温湿度无线自动监控系统

花房内的温湿度变化直接影响到花卉的健壮生长,以C8051F330为核心设计一款简易的花房温湿度无线自动监控系统,可对花房内的温湿度进行实时自动监控,当花房内温湿度指标超过设定值时,系统发出声光报警。该系统温度测量范围为-55~125℃,精度为±4℃;相对湿度测量范围为10%~90%,精度为±5%。经测试,系统运行稳定,...     

南方地区高水分玉米安全度夏技术探讨

根据水分的高低,对新收购的高水分玉米分别储存在露天囤和高大平房仓中,将露天囤里的玉米通风降水后转入高大平房仓储存,再对玉米通风降温,并采取仓房密封、悬挂防晒网、空调控温等配套措施控制粮温,期间采取磷化铝多次补药熏蒸杀灭粮堆内害虫及霉菌,使玉米安全度夏。     

毕节地区干草调制研究

中国南方喀斯特地区干草调制受限于诸多自然因素,客观上阻碍了该类地区草食畜牧业的发展,本研究在喀斯特典型地区贵州毕节撒拉溪示范区选取扁穗雀麦(Bromus cartharticus)、高羊茅(Festuca elata)、鸭茅(Dactylis glomerata)、菊苣(Cichorium intybus)、紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)、白三叶(Trifolium repens)、红三叶(T.pratense)、多年生黑麦(Lolium perenne)8种牧草进行田间自然晾晒,记录各时间段牧草的重量、空气温度和湿度,并对历年该地区气候进行浅析,重点分析近3年来4、5、6、7月份的最高温和最低温变化,通过对该地区8种主要栽培牧草的干燥过程和水分散失规律的研究,结合多年降水和气温变化规律,分析该地区调制干草的可行性,以期为喀斯特地区畜牧业的发展提供一些数据支撑。结果表明,1)4种禾本科牧草的干燥速率明显优于3种豆科牧草和菊苣;2)从外观评价角度出发,白三叶、红三叶、菊苣均不适合进行牧草晾晒;3)在选择的影响指标中,对干草晾晒的影响程度表现为晾晒时间空气湿度温度;4)综合分析各气候因子,在贵州毕节地区7月份最适合进行干草调制;5)干草调制具备可观的经济收益。     

Organic farming fosters agroecosystem functioning in Argentinian temperate soils: Evidence from litter decomposition and soil fauna

Benefits of organic farming on soil fauna have been widely observed and this has led to consider organic farming as a potential approach to reduce the environmental impact of conventional agriculture. However, there is still little evidence from field conditions about direct benefits of organic agriculture on soil ecosystem functioning. Hence, the aims of this study were to compare the effect of organic farming versus conventional farming on litter decomposition and to study how this process is affected by soil meso- and macrofauna abundances. Systems studied were: (1) organic farming with conventional tillage (ORG), (2) conventional farming with conventional tillage (CT), (3) conventional farming under no-tillage (NT), and (4) natural grassland as control system (GR). Decomposition was determined under field conditions by measuring weight loss in litterbags. Soil meso- and macrofauna contribution on decomposition was evaluated both by different mesh sizes and by assessing their abundances in the soil. Litter decomposition was always significantly higher after 9 and 12 months in ORG than in CT and NT (from 2 to 5 times in average), regardless decomposer community composition and litter type. Besides, mesofauna, macrofauna and earthworm abundances were significantly higher in ORG than in NT and CT (from 1.6 to 3.8, 1.7 to 2.3 and 16 to 25 times in average, respectively for each group). These results are especially relevant firstly because the positive effect of ORG in a key soil process has been proved under field conditions, being the first direct evidence that organic farming enhances the decomposition process. And secondly because the extensive organic system analyzed here did not include several practices which have been recognized as particularly positive for soil biota (e.g. manure use, low tillage intensity and high crop diversity). So, this research suggests that even when those practices are not applied, the non-use of agrochemicals is enough to produce positive changes in soil fauna and so in decomposition dynamics. Therefore, the adoption of organic system in an extensive way can also be suggested to farmers in order to improve ecosystem functioning and consequently to achieve better soil conditions for crop production.