Sugar beet rotation effects on soil organic matter and calculated humus balance in Central Germany

In order to quantify the influence of land use systems on the level of soil organic matter (SOM) to develop recommendations, long-term field studies are essential. Based on a crop rotation experiment which commenced in 1970, this paper investigated the impact of crop rotations involving increased proportions of sugar beet on SOM content. To this end, soil samples were taken in 2010 and 2012 from the following crop rotation sequences: sugar beet–sugar beet–winter wheat–winter wheat (SB–SB–WW–WW = 50%), sugar beet–sugar beet–sugar beet–winter wheat (SB–SB–SB–WW = 75%), sugar beet–grain maize (SB–GM = 50%) and sugar beet-monoculture (SB = 100%); these were analysed in terms of total organic carbon (TOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) content, MBC/TOC ratio and the TOC stocks per hectare. In addition, humus balances were created (using the software REPRO, reference period 12 years) in order to calculate how well the soil was supplied with organic matter. In the field experiment, harvest by-products (WW and GM straw as well as SB leaves) were removed. After 41 years, no statistically significant differences were measured between the crop rotations for the parameters TOC, MBC, MBC/TOC ratio and the TOC stock per hectare. However, the calculated humus balance was significantly affected by the crop rotation. The calculated humus balance became increasingly negative in the order SB–SB–WW–WW, SB–SB–SB–WW, SB monoculture and SB–GM, and correlated with the soil parameters. The calculated humus balances for the reference period did not reflect the actual demand for organic matter by the crop rotations, but instead overestimated it.     

Estimation of phenotypic variability in symbiotic nitrogen fixation ability of common bean under drought stress using 15N natural abundance in grain

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important food legume, cultivated by small farmers and is usually exposed to unfavorable conditions with minimum use of inputs. Drought and low soil fertility, especially phosphorus and nitrogen (N) deficiencies, are major limitations to bean yield in smallholder systems. Beans can derive part of their required N from the atmosphere through symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). Drought stress severely limits SNF ability of plants. The main objectives of this study were to: (i) test and validate the use of ¹⁵N natural abundance in grain to quantify phenotypic differences in SNF ability for its implementation in breeding programs of common bean with bush growth habit aiming to improve SNF, and (ii) quantify phenotypic differences in SNF under drought to identify superior genotypes that could serve as parents. Field studies were conducted at CIAT-Palmira, Colombia using a set of 36 bean genotypes belonging to the Middle American gene pool for evaluation in two seasons with two levels of water supply (irrigated and drought stress). We used ¹⁵N natural abundance method to compare SNF ability estimated from shoot tissue sampled at mid-pod filling growth stage vs. grain tissue sampled at harvest. Our results showed positive and significant correlation between nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) estimated using shoot tissue at mid-pod filling and %Ndfa estimated using grain tissue at harvest. Both methods showed phenotypic variability in SNF ability under both drought and irrigated conditions and a significant reduction in SNF ability was observed under drought stress. We suggest that the method of estimating Ndfa using grain tissue (Ndfa-G) could be applied in bean breeding programs to improve SNF ability. Using this method of Ndfa-G, we identified four bean lines (RCB 593, SEA 15, NCB 226 and BFS 29) that combine greater SNF ability with greater grain yield under drought stress and these could serve as potential parents to further improve SNF ability of common bean.     

Critical comparison of the vanadomolybdate and the molybdenum blue methods for the analysis of phosphate in plant sap

Abstract

The performance of the vanodomolybdate and molybdenum blue methods for the routine determination of phosphate in plant sap were compared in order to assess their suitability for the detection of P deficiency at an early stage of plant growth. The molybdenum blue method was ca 10 times more sensitive than the vanadomolybdate one and required less sap to give a successful test. Recoveries of phosphate added to both sap and solution samples were close to 100% with both methods. The methods were in good agreement over a wide range of phosphate concentrations using sap samples from all leaves during the early stages of P deficiency, but increases in sap background colour caused the vanadomolybdate method to overestimate phosphate concentrations as the deficiency became more acute. Measurements on solutions of similar absorbance showed that the vanadomolybdate method was not significantly more variable than the molybdenum blue method but tended to overestimate phosphate concentration when very small volumes of sap were available. It was concluded that the molybdenum blue method was the most reliable for routine measurements of phosphate in plant sap.     

Soil CO2 emission in sugarcane management systems

Sugarcane management systems affect soil attributes such as the carbon cycle. This fact has stimulated the sugar and alcohol industry to refine the sugarcane production systems by replacing the pre-harvest burning (PB) and manual harvest with mechanized harvesting followed by residue deposition. The aim of this study was to evaluate different management systems with respect to C cycling carbon dioxide and soil parameters (chemical, physical and biological) which were determined over the season. Three sugarcane cultivation systems were evaluated at the following periods: (a) PB, (b) 5-year green harvest and (c) 10-year green harvest. The results indicated that CO₂ emission was 36% greater in the 10-year sugarcane green harvest system than in the PB system. The bulk density and macroporosity were the factors that were most affected by the different sugarcane management systems and that significantly influenced soil CO₂ emissions. The principal component analysis showed that soil CO₂ emission was 18% influenced by base saturation (V%) and 14% by pH, especially in the PB area. Additionally, 19% was affected by carbon and macroporosity in the 5- and 10-year green harvest areas, respectively. From our results, it can be concluded that the most CO₂ emissions are in the areas of sugarcane green, this is due to the higher carbon concentration when compared with the area of burning sugarcane. The parameters that most influenced the CO₂ emissions were bulk density, porosity, macroporosity, pH and V%.     

Shelf-Life of Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) from Northern Australian Waters

Abstract

The shelf-life of Spanish mackerel caught by line fishing in Northern Australian waters was evaluated. Spiked fish were stored in ice either headed and gutted or left uncut and subjected to sensory, nucleotide, pH, histamine and microbial analysts and the rigor pattern recorded. There was little difference between the two product forms. Rigor in uncut fish lasted for 14 ± 9.8 hours and in headed and gutted fish for 19.6 ± 16.3 hours. Spanish mackerel retained good sensory quality for up to 14 days. The bacterial load reached 105 cfu/g by 18 days. K values were low for most of the storage time, < 40%. Histamine levels did not develop more than 10 mg/kg during storage. The pH of Spanish mackerel did not change much even though bacterial levels become high.     

Identification and characterization of the enzymes responsible for the metabolism of the non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs,flunixin meglumine and phenylbutazone,in horses

The in vivo metabolism and pharmacokinetics of flunixin meglumine and phenylbutazone have been extensively characterized; however, there are no published reports describing the in vitro metabolism, specifically the enzymes responsible for the biotransformation of these compounds in horses. Due to their widespread use and, therefore, increased potential for drug–drug interactions and widespread differences in drug disposition, this study aims to build on the limited current knowledge regarding P450‐mediated metabolism in horses. Drugs were incubated with equine liver microsomes and a panel of recombinant equine P450s. Incubation of phenylbutazone in microsomes generated oxyphenbutazone and gamma‐hydroxy phenylbutazone. Microsomal incubations with flunixin meglumine generated 5‐OH flunixin, with a kinetic profile suggestive of substrate inhibition. In recombinant P450 assays, equine CYP3A97 was the only enzyme capable of generating oxyphenbutazone while several members of the equine CYP3A family and CYP1A1 were capable of catalyzing the biotransformation of flunixin to 5‐OH flunixin. Flunixin meglumine metabolism by CYP1A1 and CYP3A93 showed a profile characteristic of biphasic kinetics, suggesting two substrate binding sites. The current study identifies specific enzymes responsible for the metabolism of two NSAIDs in horses and provides the basis for future study of drug–drug interactions and identification of reasons for varying pharmacokinetics between horses.     

抗菌肽粗提物对肉鸡生长性能、粪便微生物菌群结构及经济效益的影响

为分析抗菌肽粗提物对肉鸡生长性能、粪便微生物菌群结构及经济效益的影响,试验选择体重相近的21日龄白羽肉鸡600只,随机分成4组,每组15个重复,每个重复10只,1组为空白对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验2、3、4组在基础日粮中分别添加1.0%、1.5%、2.0%的抗菌肽粗提物,试验期为21 d。结果表明：（1）试验2、3、4组的平均采食均高于1组（P > 0.05）|试验3、4组的平均日增重较1组比分别提高11.0%、9.4%（P ＜ 0.05）,料重比较1组比分别降低18.5%、15.2% （P ＜ 0.05）|（2）试验3、4组粪便中大肠杆菌的含量较1组分别降低14.3%、18.0%（P ＜ 0.05）,试验3、4组粪便中乳酸杆菌、双歧杆菌的含量较1组比分别提高4.6%、6.7%、14.5%、12.3%（P ＜ 0.05）|（3）试验3、4组每只肉鸡经济效益较1组比分别提高19.3%、17.7%。综上,1.5%抗菌肽粗提物添加可以提高白羽肉鸡生长性能,改善粪便微生物菌群结构,提高其经济效益。 [关键词] 抗菌肽粗提物|白羽肉鸡|生长性能|粪便微生物菌群结构|经济效益     

新疆草地优势种植物相对生物量沿海拔梯度变化特征

优势种作为草地生态系统中地上生物量的主要贡献者,其生物量既受到环境因素的影响,也受到共存种种间关系的影响。然而,由于物种的不同和环境梯度的差异,目前有关优势种生物量与环境因素关系的研究,尚未获得一致性的结论。基于此,本研究以2011-2013年对新疆9种草地类型397个样地中优势种相对生物量的调查数据为基础,首先统计了不同草地类型中优势种组成,其次通过一般线性模型分析了优势种相对生物量随海拔梯度变化特征,以及共存优势种相对生物量之间的关系。结果显示：1）新疆草地共有169个优势种,隶属31科120属。这些优势种主要以禾本科植物为主,占据了优势种的19.53%。其中,高寒草原、温性草甸草原、温性草原、温性荒漠草原和温性草原化荒漠中,最主要的优势种均为针茅。而在高寒草甸、山地草甸和温性荒漠中,最主要的优势种则分别为珠芽蓼、千叶蓍和角果藜;2）优势种相对生物量与海拔的关系可以归为5类,分别呈现无显著关系、先降低后升高的U型变化趋势、显著正相关关系、显著负相关关系和先增加后降低的单峰型关系。这5类关系所对应的优势种数量分别为50、9、8、6和4个,分别占优势种总数的64.9%、11.7%、10.4%、7.8%和5.2%;3）24个共存优势种之间,其相对生物量共存在19对显著关系,且大多数共存优势种相对生物量之间主要表现为负相关关系。本研究表明,优势种相对生物量与海拔的关系,因物种不同呈多种变化格局且受到共存优势种的影响,结果可对未来新疆草地地上生物量的维持和管理,提供一定的参考依据。     

Investigations of the maintenance system of the Konik Polski horse and its effects on fecal microbiota activity during the winter and summer seasons

Gastrointestinal microbiota play a key role in the nutrients digestion and hence maintaining animal health and welfare. The diet offered to the animals in captivity may differ considerably from that on natural pastures. In a stabled maintenance system, horses have a limited choice of habitat and feed. Time spend for feeding is relevant for equine welfare because the reduction of the time devoted for foraging may be responsible for inducing gastric inflammation and ulceration. Therefore, in the present study, it was hypothesized that fecal bacterial fermentative processes differ between free-roaming and stabled Konik Polski Horses (KPHs) with respect to microbial enzymatic activity, and thus the fecal concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which can be further utilized for assessing the feeding behavior and welfare in free-roaming versus stabled horses. The SCFA concentration and profile, as well as the extracellular and intracellular activities of selected bacterial enzymes, were characterized in horse feces collected during the winter and summer feeding seasons. The results showed higher enzymatic activity and SCFA production in the feces excreted by free-roaming versus stabled horses, especially during summer. An increase in pasture plant diversity may be beneficial for the gastrointestinal microbiota and hence for maintaining health and welfare.     

“1237”P氏生物安全立体非洲猪瘟防控体系

在目前非洲猪瘟疫苗毒株、变异毒株、野毒株并存背景下,只做好外部生物安全已不足以达到防控非洲猪瘟的目的。因疫苗毒株隐蔽性强、检测难度大,不知道通过引种是否会将疫苗毒株带到猪场。因此,未来猪场生物安全不能只关注场外生物安全,更重要的是要运用“以猪为本”的“1237”P氏生物安全立体非洲猪瘟防控体系,即在做好“控五流”等外部生物安全的同时,更要关注饮水安全、注重猪的自身健康度、提高猪的非特异性免疫力,才能实现“与非共存,与蓝共舞”。所谓“立体防控”是指全方位的防控,而不是仅仅针对猪场大门的传统生物安全防控。