Management targets for continuously stocked mixed oat × annual ryegrass pasture in a no-till integrated crop–livestock system

Feeding livestock with cover crops can improve the efficiency and sustainability of integrated crop–livestock systems under no-till. However, no-till systems are based on permanent soil cover by organic material, so grazing livestock can compete for soil cover. Hence, managing stocking rates during the grazing period of the cultivated forage species is a key factor to assure enough herbage mass for maintaining long-term sustainable no-till systems. In this context, the objective of this study was to determine sward management targets for a continuously stocked mixed oat (Avena strigosa) × annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) pasture in rotation with soybean in a no-till integrated crop–livestock system to determine the optimum balance between animal production and herbage mass for soil cover. The effects of sward height management on animal performance and herbage mass covers were evaluated. Treatments corresponded to four sward heights: 10, 20, 30 and 40 cm, maintained throughout the experimental period through continuous stocking and variable stocking rate, plus a no-grazing control area. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Herbage mass and animal performance increased linearly with sward height, but weight gain per hectare decreased. Grazing efficiency fitted to a quadratic regression and conversion efficiency a logarithmic model. Equilibrium between grazing and conversion efficiencies was reached on swards managed at 20 cm, indicating that this sward height provided enough herbage mass to allow both animal performance and no-till crop demand for soil cover.     

Knot attributes and occlusion of naturally pruned branches of Fagus sylvatica

The aim of this study was to develop models on occluded branch characteristics for Fagus sylvatica (beech) based on 41 sample trees. A total of 717 beech branches were sampled; this information was then used to predict (1) the time for a complete occlusion, (2) the total radius of the occluded branch inside the trunk, (3) the branch insertion angle at the year of its death and during branch development, and (4) the dead branch portion of the occluded branch (loose knot). Generalized hierarchical mixed models with nonlinear forms were used in this analysis. The models explained between 6.3 and 52.2% of the total variance (including random effects 23.8–77.1%). The diameter of the occluded branch and the stem radial increment played dominant roles as predictors. Larger branches showed a significantly longer occlusion time, a larger occluded branch radius, a steeper insertion angle, and a higher loose knot portion. Simulations showed a biologically reasonable overall behavior of the models. The residual variation was tolerable for integrating the models into a growth simulation system.     

十和田近等基因系糙米锌含量QTL定位

以十和田为轮回亲本,丽粳2号为供体亲本培育出糙米锌含量近等基因系群体BC5F6为材料,从遍布水稻12条染色体上的600对引物中筛选到一个与糙米锌含量有关的SSR标记RM4608.根据其在水稻染色体上的位置,结合PCR扩增结果又发现了与糙米锌含量有关的4个SSR标记(RM19491,RM19489,RM6119和RM19487).用MAPMAKER3.0软件做出了这5个标记的连锁群,最后采用混合线性模型定位法找到了糙米锌含量的QTL位点.QTL分析结果显示:该位点位于6号染色体上RM4608和RM6119标记之间,贡献率为5%,为新发现的与糙米锌含量有关的微效基因位点,暂命名为qZINC-6.同时与糙米铬和镁含量有关的QTL位点也被发现,其中糙米铬含量QTL位于标记RM19489和RM19491之间,贡献率为9%,是一个主效基因;糙米镁含量QTL位于标记RM4608-RM6119之间,是一个微效基因,贡献率为4%.     

基于网络的鸡病防治与诊断专家系统的设计

目前中国鸡病防治中存在一些暂时无法解决的难题,如基层中鸡病诊断专家缺乏、鸡病防控不及时等。基于现状,利用计算机网络技术和人工智能技术,将SQL数据库和ASP.NET技术相结合,设计并开发了基于网络的鸡病防治与诊断专家系统。该系统将鸡病诊断和鸡病防治知识进行集成,采用基于规则的模糊化的混合推理策略,实现了鸡病诊断和防治的数字化和智能化,用户可通过网络实现鸡病诊断、鸡病防治、鸡群管理、知识查询和统计分析等功能。经验证性试验和专家评测,该系统结构合理,功能完善,可以满足广大基层用户的需求,具有一定的推广应用前景。     

烤烟生物复合肥的应用研究进展

烟草作为中国一种重要的经济作物,而施肥是烤烟栽培的关键技术。通过对近年来生物复合肥在烤烟生产上的应用研究进展的综述,指出了目前烤烟生物复合肥研究中存在的问题。     

Italian ryegrass establishment by self-seeding in integrated crop-livestock systems: Effects of grazing management and crop rotation strategies

We evaluated the re-establishment of an Italian ryegrass pasture by self-seeding on a no-till integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) in the southern region of Brazil. This work is part of a long-term experimental protocol initiated in 2003. We tested the effects of various management practices, such as summer crop systems (soybean vs. maize–soybean rotation), stocking methods (continuous vs. rotational) and grazing intensities (low vs. moderate), on Italian ryegrass pasture establishment. In addition, we tested resilience of the system by testing pasture's ability to re-establish following a year without seed head production. The experiment consisted in the rotation, on the same area, of Italian ryegrass pasture grazed by sheep during the winter and up to the end of the grass production cycle, and soybean or soybean-maize grain crops rotation cultivated during the summer. The pasture established itself by self-seeding since 2005. Data were collected in 2011 and 2012 stocking season. The soybean summer crop, continuous stocking and low grazing intensity, all positively affected the production of reproductive tillers in 2011. Grazing intensity in 2011 strongly influenced early vegetative tiller densities (before crop harvest) in 2012. However, none of the grazing intensity or the stocking method treatments affected herbage mass at the end of pasture establishment in 2011 or 2012. On the other hand, the soybean summer crop positively affected pasture establishment, both in term of tiller densities and herbage mass at the end of pasture establishment. The removal of all seed heads in 2011 (preventing seed production) resulted in the total failure of pasture establishment in 2012. Overall, Italian ryegrass establishment by self-seeding relies on the annual replacement of the soil seed bank. This experiment demonstrated that under various stocking methods, moderate grazing intensity and maize or soybean summer crop, Italian ryegrass pasture establishment by self-seeding remains successful even when the stocking periods extended up to the end of the grass production cycle. Self-seeding with moderate grazing intensity ensures successful pasture establishment, reduces labour and costs and allows to increase the stocking period and so animal live weight gain over the grazing season.     

微灌技术对环湖区退化人工草地的影响

旨在采用微灌技术对环湖区混播人工草地进行节水灌溉试验的观测研究,探索环湖区人工草地对灌溉条件响应,为环湖区混播人工草地管理和持续高效利用提供参考依据。采用光伏扬水系统进行微喷灌节水灌溉试验,调查群落结构,计算地上和地下植物量。研究表明：植物群落多样性、均匀度、生态优势度指数均为灌溉区大于对照区;水分充足条件下能促进植物茎叶的生长,而干旱有利其根部的发育;灌溉可有效提高环湖区人工草地的优良牧草产量。可见水分的增加抑制了退化草地指标种生长,有利于草地恢复,环湖区人工草地对灌溉条件具有较好响应。     

农民工未来阶级、阶层走向解析

"民工"从语词上界定可以理解为:农民和工人双重身份,本文放在传统农业向现代农业转变的大背景下,着重考察了游离在城乡之间的农民工主题身份的认定,及其未来的阶级、阶层走向,按照断裂社会的运作逻辑,经过分化重组的当下社会必定会出现新的阶级、阶层.这些阶级、阶层与传统阶级、阶层有什么区别和联系,农民工如果被假定为工人阶级而客观存在.那么这些生活在城市里农民能否获得市民身份的认同?对这些问题的回答有利于我们走出"城乡二元格局"的困境,有利于构建更加稳定、和谐的社会主义新农村.     

Effects of silvopastoral areas on milk production at dual-purpose cattle farms at the semi-humid old agricultural frontier in central Nicaragua

In extensive cattle production systems, the composition of grazing areas may significantly influence productivity. In dual-purpose cattle production systems in the lowland tropics, pasture lands with trees, so-called silvopastoral areas, are considered as being important, particularly to facilitate the management of crossbred European native cattle. The aim of the study was to quantify the effects of silvopastoral areas on production at dual-purpose cattle farms in the semi-humid lowlands of central Nicaragua. The relationships between seasonal milk production and herd data, and the proportions of land use types were examined for 74 farms by stepwise regression analysis.     

A comparative study on chemical characteristics of tropical soils from volcanic material under forest and agriculture

Abstract

An investigation was conducted to compare differences in chemical characteristics of Costa Rica soils under continuous cultivation and under forest vegetation. Inceptisols from young volcanic material under forest, sugar cane, coffee and pasture, respectively, were sampled in the San Carlos region of Costa Rica, and analysed for pH, organic matter, N, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Al, Fe, Zn and Mn contents. Indications were obtained that continuous cropping for 1 to 22 years with sugar cane resulted in a decrease in Ca and Mg content and an increase in acid extractable Al concentrations, compared to amounts found in forest soils. In soils under coffee the only significant changes were a reduction in soil organic matter, N and Al contents. Exchangeable bases decreased slightly during the first two years, but in fields 15 years under coffee, the content of exchangeable bases was affected slightly, except for a relatively marked decrease in amounts of Mg. Conversion into pasture maintained soil fertility at a level comparable to that found in the forest soil ecosystem. It was concluded that differences in vegetational ecosystems caused soil chemical changes, but deforestation in the tropics did not necessarily result in rapid soil degradation processes. The magnitude of the data showed that the soil in the San Carlos region of Costa Rica had been cultivated for at least 10 to 20 years without producing evidence of excessive deterioration.