Long-term variation in brown trout, Salmo trutta L., stocking success in a large lake: interplay between availability of suitable prey and size at release

Abstract –  Factors affecting long-term variation in brown trout, Salmo trutta L., stocking success were examined in a large lake, Lake Oulujärvi, in central Finland. Brown trout were stocked in spring (late May to early June) in 1974–1991 and in summer (late June to early July) in 1992–2001. The biomass of the vendace, Coregonus albula (L.), population (prey) at release time had the largest positive effect on stocking success within both periods: biomass of adult vendace in spring and both 0+ and adult vendace in summer. Increasing the size of stocked fish had a positive effect if the vendace available at release were only adults. The increasing trend of predator-catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) [combined CPUE of northern pike Esox lucius L., burbot Lota lota (L.), and pike-perch Stizostedion lucioperca (L.)] through the study period and its negative effect on trout stocking success suggested an increasing effect of predation within the entire time series.     

Long-term application of animal slurries to grassland alters soil cation balance

Abstract. Soil samples from a 32-year grassland field experiment were taken from 0–5, 5–10, and 10–15 cm soil depths in February 2002. Plots received annual treatments of unamended control, mineral fertilizer, three rates of pig slurry and three rates of cow slurry, each with six replicates. Samples were analysed for cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺), pH and Olsen P. Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) was calculated as a sodicity indicator. Mean ESP was generally greater for slurry treatments than the control, with a trend of increasing ESP with application rate. This was particularly marked for cow slurry. At 0–5 cm depth ESP increased from 1.18 in the control to 1.75 at the highest rate of pig slurry and 5.60 at the highest rate of cow slurry. Similar trends were shown for CEC, exchangeable Na⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺ and Olsen P. The build-up of soil P due to slurry applications, together with this combination of physical and chemical factors, may increase the risk of P loss to surface waters, particularly from soils receiving high rates of cow slurry.     

外源阿魏酸抑制鲜切苹果褐变机制研究

苹果在鲜切过程中易因遭受机械损伤而引发褐变,严重影响其感官品质、风味和商品价值。采用不同浓度外源阿魏酸溶液对鲜切‘红富士’苹果进行浸泡处理,以研究其抑制鲜切苹果褐变的机制。结果表明：1、5、8、10 g/L 的阿魏酸浸泡处理均能有效抑制鲜切苹果褐变,10 g/L 阿魏酸浸泡处理10 min 对鲜切苹果褐变的抑制效果最优;10 g/L 阿魏酸处理显著提高了鲜切苹果超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性及1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼（DPPH）自由基、2,2-联氨-双-3-乙基苯并噻唑啉-6-磺酸（ABTS）阳离子自由基的清除率,抑制了贮藏后期多酚氧化酶（PPO）活性,降低了表儿茶素等单一酚的含量,提高了对香豆酸的含量;添加5 mg/mL 表儿茶素会促进苹果浆液褐变,而添加5、10、20、40 mg/mL 对香豆酸均能抑制苹果浆液褐变。综上所述,外源阿魏酸处理可通过提高SOD 活性、抗氧化能力、内源褐变抑制物含量以及降低褐变底物含量来减轻鲜切苹果褐变。     

利用平原水库实现地表水与地下水联合调蓄的研究——以海河流域东南段为例

海河流域东南段地下水系统调蓄潜力大,调蓄能力强,由于调蓄水源欠缺,地下水的人工调蓄研究停滞不前。研究区近年修建的大量平原水库,为地下水的人工调蓄提供了水源条件。由于单纯依靠平原水库调蓄地表水,不仅侵占大量农田,还将产生诸如水资源浪费、土壤次生盐渍化等环境地质问题。利用地下水巨大的调蓄空间和有利的调蓄途径,凭借一定的回灌工程,将平原水库蓄存的地表水回灌至地下蓄存,同时解决了地下水调蓄的水源问题和地表水调蓄空间、蒸发及其他环境地质问题,是水资源可持续利用的有效途径之一。     

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.     

科尔沁草地的畜草平衡与草业发展途径的研究

根据实地调查和历年的统计资料，系统分析研究了科尔沁草地多年来草业发展速度落后于牲畜增长速度、畜草供需严重失衡的现状。结果表明，草地退化４５．９％，超载率达３６．１％。该地区发展草业的自然和社会经济条件优越，但必须采取以下措施才能达到畜草平衡的目的：加强合理利用和改良天然草地；发展人工饲草料基地，迅速增加种植畜牧业比例；大力发展秸秆及农副产品饲草料加工业     

Radiosensitivity and capacity for radiation-induced sublethal damage repair of canine transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cell lines

Understanding the inherent radiosensitivity and repair capacity of canine transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) can aid in optimizing radiation protocols to treat this disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the parameters surviving fraction at 2 Gy (SF(2) ), α/β ratio and capacity for sublethal damage repair (SLDR) in response to radiation. Dose-response and split-dose studies were performed using the clonogenic assay. The mean SF(2) for three established TCC cell lines was high at 0.61. All the three cell lines exhibited a low to moderate α/β ratio, with the mean being 3.27. Two cell lines exhibited statistically increased survival at 4 and 24 h in the dose-response assay. Overall, our results indicate that the cell lines are moderately radioresistant, have a high repair capacity and behave similarly to a late-responding normal tissue. These findings indicate that the radiation protocols utilizing higher doses with less fractionation may be more effective for treating TCC.     

Effects on animal performance and sward composition of mixed and sequential grazing of permanent pasture by cattle and sheep

Previous experiments have shown that mixed or conjoint grazing, when two or more animal species are grazed together, can lead to improved performance of one or more of the species and a higher total output per unit area. Sequential grazing systems, when different animal species graze an area in succession, also have the potential to improve productivity. This experiment directly compared these two approaches for integrating the grazing of cattle and sheep when pastured on improved permanent pasture. Four treatments were compared: 1) sheep only from May to October (S/S); 2) cattle only from May to July followed by sheep only from August to October (C/S); 3) cattle and sheep from May to July, sheep only for the rest of the growing season (C + S/S); and 4) cattle and sheep from May to October (C + S/C + S). Each treatment was replicated three times. From May until weaning at the end of July the plots were grazed by steers and ewes and lambs, and from weaning until October by steers and lambs. Sward heights were maintained at 6 cm using a “put and take” stocking system. Animal performance and sward composition data were collected during three growing seasons, 2001–2003. During the pre-weaning period lambs grazing plots which were grazed only by sheep had significantly poorer growth rates than those grazing plots where there was mixed grazing. Lambs grazing the sheep only plots also had lower liveweight gain during the post-weaning period, with the highest growth rates being recorded on the C + S/C + S treatment. Carrying capacity and total liveweight gain per unit area post-weaning were also consistently higher for the C + S/C + S treatment, while carrying capacity pre-weaning was highest for the C/S treatment. Measurements of clover content in the grazed horizon and botanical separation of material from quadrat cuts indicated that even under relatively controlled conditions choice of grazing system can influence sward composition. However, there was no clear link between any single sward change and the growth of the animals, indicating that the improved performance of cattle and sheep under mixed grazing is the result of a combination of factors, rather than a response to a particular sward parameter.     

Towards the development of a bioeconomic stocking model for the semi‐arid savanna of KwaZulu‐Natal

Abstract

Rainfall variability is a major determinant of system dynamics and profitability of livestock enterprises in arid and semi‐arid environments. Range managers consequently require detailed information on the financial and ecological implications of various stocking strategies in order to formulate viable management systems. Data collected over seven seasons (1986–1993), from a series of extensive grazing trials in the semi‐arid savanna of KwaZulu‐Natal with cattle stocked at three rates (0.17, 0.23 and 0.30 LSU ha^?1) were used to develop a bioeconomic stocking model (LOWBEEF). The model comprised two biological sub‐models (BEEF and GRASS), and an integrated economic component. The BEEF sub‐model related seasonal live mass gain to stocking rate and rainfall. The GRASS sub‐model related residual herbage at the end of summer to summer stocking intensity, range condition (indexed as the sum of proportions of three key forage species, Themeda triandra, Panicum maximum and P. coloratum) and rainfall. The period over which supplementary feeding would be required to maintain cattle mass was related to residual summer herbage mass. The biological sub‐models were linked to an economic component model (ECON) to reflect the influence of various environmental and economic parameters on profitability.