Reduced tillage in temperate organic farming: implications for crop management and forage production

To promote conservation tillage in organic farming systems, weed control and ley removal within arable-ley rotations need to be optimized. A long-term field trial was thus established in Frick, Switzerland in 2002 on a clayey soil and with a mean precipitation of 1000 mm/year. The tillage experiment distinguished between conventional tillage with mouldboard ploughing (CT, 15 cm depth) and reduced tillage (RT), including a chisel plough (15 cm) and a stubble cleaner (5 cm). Results of a 2-year grass-clover ley (2006/2007) and silage maize (2008) are presented. Due to dry conditions, mean grass-clover yields were 25% higher in RT than in CT, indicating better water retention of RT soils. Clover cover and mineral contents of the fodder mixture were also higher in RT. The ley was successfully removed in autumn 2007 in RT plots, and a winter pea catch crop was sown before maize. In CT, ploughing took place in spring 2008. Maize yields were 34% higher in RT than in CT, despite a two- to three-fold higher but still tolerable weed infestation. Maize in RT plots benefited from an additional 61.5 kg of easily decomposable organic N/ha incorporated into the soil via the pea mulch. Measurement of arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization of maize roots indicated a similar mechanical disturbance of the topsoil through the reduced ley removal system compared with ploughing. It is suggested that RT is applicable in organic farming, even in arable-ley rotations, but long-term effects need further assessment.     

松嫩平原玉米带农业生态系统的研究(Ⅱ)——能流模型的建立与可持续性分析

在测试并确定农业生态系统各项参数和状态变量的基础上， 应用数学模型方法建立了松嫩平原玉米带农业生态系统的能流型， 进行了结构与功能的分析， 探讨了不同农业技术模式、土壤有机质和农田产量之间消长的关系。结果认为， 实现农业的持续发展， 应采取有机无机相结合的农业技术体系。     

稀土作添加剂对肉仔鸡生产性能的影响

选用21 日龄笼养京黄肉仔鸡240 只随机分4 组,每组60 只。对照组仅喂基础饲粮,试验1 、2 、3 组在每千克基础饲粮中分别添加400mg、600mg 有机稀土和0 .5 % 730 稀土复合饲料添加剂,进行38 天饲养试验。结果表明,三个试验组只均增重比对照组依次提高8 .6 、10.6、10.1 个百分点,成活率分别提高1.6、3.3、1.6 个百分点,每千克增重耗料( 料重比) 分别减少9 .5 、11 .4、15 .1 个百分点。经F检验和多重比较,试1 组与对照组间差异显著(P< 0 .05) 、试2 、3 组与对照组间均差异极显著(P< 0.01) 。3 个试验组经济效益均高于对照组,以试2 组鸡的最好。     

The effect of genotype,choice feeding,and season on organically reared broilers fed diets devoid of synthetic methionine

In response to the impending ban on synthetic methionine in organic poultry diets, researchers have focused on finding alternative strategies to supply this amino acid. The objectives of this study were to assess performance and carcass characteristics of broilers fed diets devoid of synthetic methionine by using 1) a slow-growing and a fast-growing genotype, 2) choice-feeding management (supplying grain and a complementary premix in 2 separate feeders), and 3) pasture access and seasonal variation. Inclusion of fish meal and high percentages of soybean meal enabled the specific genotype methionine requirement to be met. All diets were certified organic. The experiment was conducted during the grower and finisher phases in 4 different seasons: late fall, spring, summer, and early fall. Pasture access was assessed either by housing broilers on the West Virginia University Organic farm and giving them outdoor access, or by housing broilers on the West Virginia University Animal Sciences farm and giving them no outdoor access. Fast-growing genotypes were superior in performance and carcass characteristics compared with slow-growing genotypes, and choice-feeding management did not improve performance or carcass characteristics. Pasture access tended to have no effect on slow-growing broilers and decreased the performance of fast-growing broilers. Performance was decreased in late fall, likely because of cold ambient temperatures.     

陆地棉与海岛棉干物质累积分配特性

供试的四个陆地棉品种地上部分干物质累积速度和数量，从现蕾至吐絮始终高于四个海岛棉品种；陆地与棉与海岛棉的所有品种干物质累积速率最快的时间均在初期至有效花期期间。但海岛棉干物质累积最大量到８月２５日止，陆地棉则持续到９月９日；不同时期干 物质分配率的特点是；苗期；叶〉茎，苗期：叶〉茎〉蕾，花苗期：叶〉茎〉铃〉蕾〉花；铃期；铃〉茎〉叶；株铃重累积的最快速率时间，陆地棉与海岛棉均在７月２６日至８月２５日     

不同日粮对泌乳奶牛干物质采食量及消化率的影响

本试验旨在研究在不同日粮条件下对奶牛干物质采食量(DMI)及养分消化率的影响。用4头安装永久瘤胃瘘管和十二指肠瘘管的泌乳奶牛(体重为483±21kg,泌乳日龄为175±6天)通过4×4拉丁方试验设计,日粮包括30:70CW组(粗料仅由羊草组成)、30:70CCA组(粗料为玉米青贮+苜蓿+羊草)、50:50CCA组和65:35CCA组,共设4期试验,每期23天。30:70CCA组干物质采食量与有机物采食量极显著低于其它日粮组(P<0.01),30:70CCA组能量采食量显著低于其它日粮组,30:70CW组DM、OM在瘤胃消化率(P<0.05)及全肠道消化率(P<0.01)均显著低于其它日粮组;NDF、ADF瘤胃及全肠道消化率均无显著差异。65:35CCA组产奶量极显著高于其它组(P<0.01)。     

有机质配施对日光温室CO2 浓度及番茄生理的影响

 研究了有机质配施对温室内CO₂ 浓度变化以及番茄的生理效应的影响。结果表明, 稻草和膨化鸡粪按适当比例配合撒施处理可以提高叶绿素含量, 增强光合, 抑制呼吸, 加快羧化, 从而显著提高产量。同时证实了由于稻草的持续分解, 使得温室内的CO₂ 在生育后期仍然能保持较高浓度, 可以满足长节栽培条件下番茄生长发育对CO₂ 的需求。     

What the soil reveals: Potential total ecosystem C stores of the Pacific Northwest region, USA

How much organic C can a region naturally store in its ecosystems? How can this be determined, when land management has altered the vegetation of the landscape substantially? The answers may lie in the soil: this study synthesized the spatial distribution of soil properties derived from the state soils geographic database with empirical measurements of old-growth forest ecosystem C to yield a regional distribution of potential maximum total-ecosystem organic C stores. The region under consideration is 179,000 square kilometers extending from the southern Oregon border to the northern Washington border, and from the Pacific Ocean to the east side of the Cascade Mountains. Total ecosystem organic C (TEC) was measured in 16 diverse old-growth forests encompassing 35 stands and 79 pedons to a depth of 100 cm. The TEC ranged between 185 and 1200 Mg C ha⁻¹. On an average, 63% of TEC was in the vegetation, 13% in woody detritus, 3% in the forest floor, 7% in the 0–20 cm mineral soil, and 13% in 20–100 cm mineral soil. The TEC was strongly related to soil organic C (SOC) in the 0–20 cm mineral soil, yielding a monotonically increasing, curvilinear relation. To apply this relation to estimate the TEC distribution throughout the region, 211 map units of the state soils geographic database (STATSGO) were used. The SOC in the 0–20 cm mineral soil of the map units was consistent with values from previously measured pedons distributed throughout the region. Resampling of 13 second-growth forests 25 years after initial sampling indicated no regional change in mineral SOC, and supported the use of a static state soils map. The SOC spatial distribution combined with the quantitative old-growth TEC–SOC relation yielded an estimate of potential TEC storage throughout the region under the hypothetical condition of old-growth forest coverage. The area-weighted TEC was 760 Mg C ha⁻¹. This is 100 Mg C ha⁻¹ more than a previous estimate based on a coarser resolution of six physiographic provinces, and 400 Mg C ha⁻¹ more than current regional stores. The map of potential TEC may be useful in forecasting regional C dynamics and in land-management decisions related to C sequestration.     

Irrigation and Nutrient Effects on Growth and Water–Yield Relationship of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in Central India

Increasing production of wheat from a limited water supply can result from efficient irrigation and nutrient management. A 3‐year field experiment was conducted at the Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, to study the growth, yield, seasonal evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency (WUE), and the water–yield relationship of wheat in a soybean–wheat cropping system on vertisols. Three levels of irrigation, viz. I₀, no post‐sowing irrigation; I₁, two irrigations [crown root initiation (CRI) and flowering stage]; and I₂, three irrigations (CRI, maximum tillering and flowering stage) and three nutrient management treatments, viz. F₀, control (without fertilizer/manure); F₁, 100 % NPK (100–21.5–24.9 kg ha^?1); and F₂, 100 % NPK + farmyard manure (FYM‐10 t ha^?1) were tested in a split‐plot design with three replication. It has been established (through anova ) that the year effect was rather negligible and the interaction effects of irrigation and nutrient management on the growth parameters, ET, yield components, yield and WUE were significant. Plant height, progressive leaf area index, dry matter accumulation and crop growth rate were higher in I₂F₂, and I₂F₁ and I₁F₂ were statistically at par. The seasonal ET increased significantly with the increase in water supply in every nutrient treatment and it was highest in I₂F₂ and lowest in I₀F₀. The highest grain yield was obtained in I₂F₂; and a similar yield was recorded in I₃F₁ and I₂F₂. This shows a strong interaction effect between irrigation and nutrients. Yield components, viz. number of ears m^?2, number of grains ear^?1 and 1000‐grain weight were significant. The higher number of ears m^?2 containing greater number of grains with relatively heavier weights appeared to have contributed to the higher yield in I₁F₂, I₂F₁ and I₂F₂. The highest WUE obtained in I₀F₂ did not correspond to the highest yield and maximum ET, but a WUE of 10.43 kg ha^?1 mm^?1 in the I₂F₂ combination corresponded with the highest yield and the seasonal ET requirement was 391.8, which was 137 % greater than the water use at maximum WUE. The ET–grain yield relationship was linear, with a lowest regression slope (i.e. marginal WUE) and elasticity of water production (E_wp) in F₀ and a considerably higher slope and E_wp in F₁ and F₂. As the E_wp is positive and close to one in 100 % NPK treatment, the scope of improving WUE and yield with only inorganic fertilizer is very little, and relatively greater scope exists in the integrated management of organic manure and inorganic fertilizer. The results suggest that integrated nutrient management (100 % NPK + FYM) in conjunction with three irrigations maximized yield of wheat with concomitant improvement in ET and WUE under limited water availability.     

Soil steaming to reduce intrarow weed seedling emergence

Steaming the soil prior to crop establishment can be a very effective method of preventing weed seedling emergence on raised beds of vegetable crops. However, current mobile steaming technology for outdoor vegetables is characterized by an extremely high energy consumption and a low work rate. This has led to the concept of band-steaming, where only a limited soil volume is steamed corresponding to the intrarow area of a row-grown vegetable crop. Weeds growing in the intrarow area are difficult to remove by traditional non-chemical means, usually involving substantial input of manual labour in organic cropping. This paper presents the initial results from laboratory studies with steaming a limited soil volume simulating a band. The investigations describe the relationship between maximum soil temperature achieved from soil steaming for different periods and effects seen on subsequent weed seedling emergence. The relationships obtained were generally sigmoid and could appropriately be described by a common dose–response function. Seedling emergence from natural weed species was reduced by 90% when the maximum soil temperature reached 61°C, and a further 10°C rise in temperature gave 99% reduction. Added and non-imbibed seeds of Lolium perenne and Brassica napus generally required higher temperatures to achieve the same control level as the natural weeds in the soil samples.