Evaluating biodegradability of soil organic matter by its thermal stability and chemical composition

The stability of soil organic matter (SOM) as it relates to resistance to microbial degradation has important implications for nutrient cycling, emission of greenhouse gases, and C sequestration. Hence, there is interest in developing new ways to quantify and characterise the labile and stable forms of SOM. Our objective in this study was to evaluate SOM under widely contrasting management regimes to determine whether the variation in chemical composition and resistance to pyrolysis observed for various constituent C fractions could be related to their resistance to decomposition. Samples from the same soil under permanent pasture, an arable cropping rotation, and chemical fallow were physically fractionated (sand: 2000-50 μm; silt: 50-5 μm, and clay: <5 μm). Biodegradability of the SOM in size fractions and whole soils was assessed in a laboratory mineralization study. Thermal stability was determined by analytical pyrolysis using a Rock-Eval pyrolyser, and chemical composition was characterized by X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy at the C and N K-edges. Relative to the pasture soil, SOM in the arable and fallow soils declined by 30% and 40%, respectively. The mineralization bioassay showed that SOM in whole soil and soil fractions under fallow was less susceptible to biodegradation than that in other management practices. The SOM in the sand fraction was significantly more biodegradable than that in the silt or clay fractions. Analysis by XANES showed a proportional increase in carboxylates and a reduction in amides (protein) and aromatics in the fallow whole soil compared to the pasture and arable soils. Moreover, protein depletion was greatest in the sand fraction of the fallow soil. Sand fractions in fallow and arable soils were, however, relatively enriched in plant-derived phenols, aromatics, and carboxylates compared to the sand fraction of pasture soils. Analytical pyrolysis showed distinct differences in the thermal stability of SOM among the whole soil and their size fractions; it also showed that the loss of SOM generally involved preferential degradation of H-rich compounds. The temperature at which half of the C was pyrolyzed was strongly correlated with mineralizable C, providing good evidence for a link between the biological and thermal stability of SOM.     

云南白雪茶研究现状及开发利用

云南白雪茶是滇西北高寒地区民间特有的一种长期使用的药物和保健饮品,具有茶文化特征.从云南民间的食用经验来看,白雪茶具有显著的清热、止咳、安神等保健作用,现代药理学研究又证明,白雪茶还具有抗炎、解热、抗疲劳、抗辐射、促进免疫等药理学活性.根据雪茶的研究现状对其植物学特性、化学成分、保健作用作了简要的阐述,为以后的开发利用提供了理论依据.     

High night-time temperature during flowering and pod filling affects flower opening,yield and seed fatty acid composition in canola

Winter canola (Brassica napus L.) is highly sensitive to increasing temperatures during the reproductive and pod-filling stages. Although the impact of high day-time temperature stress on yield and quality has been documented in canola, similar information under high night-time temperature (HNT) stress is not available. Using six hybrids and four open-pollinated cultivars, we observed a marked shift in peak flowering towards earlier, cooler hours of the morning under HNT. Averaged across two independent experiments, the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II was significantly decreased (3%), with a significant increase in thylakoid membrane damage (13%) in the leaves of susceptible cultivars under HNT stress. Similarly, the susceptible cultivars also recorded significant reduction in biomass (34%), pod number (22%), pod weight (37%) and total seed weight (40%) per plant while the same set of agronomic traits were not affected among the tolerant cultivars. Quantitative impact of heat stress was confirmed with increased sensitivity to HNT exposure from gametogenesis until maturity resulting in a significantly higher yield loss compared to stress exposure from post-flowering till maturity. HNT significantly decreased oil concentration, but increased protein concentration and saturated fatty acid levels in seeds of the susceptible cultivars. However, HNT had no impact on the unsaturated fatty acids in both hybrids and the open-pollinated cultivars. Breeding targets based on fatty acid composition for enhancing canola seed quality may not be easily amenable due to the inconsistency documented with the compositional changes under heat stress. In summary, our findings conclude that canola hybrids are better suited to regions experiencing heat stress, compared to open-pollinated cultivars, indicating the possibility of a complete shift to hybrid canola cultivation under predicted hotter climates in the future.     

西藏查吾拉地区不同性别牦牛产肉性能和肉营养成分的比较

为了研究性别对查吾拉地区牦牛的产肉性能及肉营养成分的影响,随机选取8岁健康的查吾拉牦牛10头,公母各半,对不同组别间牦牛进行屠宰试验比较肉营养品质的差异。结果表明,母牦牛屠宰率、净肉率、胴体率、骨肉比均高于公牦牛,但无统计学差异。肉营养成分分析结果显示,母牦牛肉中维生素A、E、B₁₂、半胱氨酸、组氨酸、精氨酸、钙、硒、脂肪酸含量高于公牦牛(P<0.05)。研究结果表明,查吾拉牦牛富含较高的营养成分,可为人类提供优质健康的动物蛋白,具备作为优质牦牛肉源生产的潜力。相比较,母牦牛肉优于公牦牛。     

Structural,rheological and gelatinization properties of wheat starch granules separated from different noodle-making process

In this study, three typical wheat cultivars (ZM366, AK58, and ZM103) with high, medium, and low gluten strength, respectively, were selected as the raw material. The starch granules separated from different stages of the noodle-making process, including kneading, resting, sheeting, cutting, and drying, were used to explore the structure, dynamic rheology, and quality of the noodles. The D50 (median diameter) of the starch granules decreased during the noodle-making process, and the reduction was enhanced by an increase in the gluten strength of the flour. Between steps 4 and 5 of the noodle-making process, the solubility of ZM103 variety increased from 4.3% to 5.0% at 80 °C, while the peak viscosity decreased from 3626 to 3386 mPa s, which resulted in a decrease in the cooking loss of noodles. Similar trend was observed in the ZM366 and AK58 varieties. The gelatinization enthalpy was reduced, suggesting that the crystalline regions of the starch granules were destroyed during the kneading process. Between steps 4 and 5 of the noodle-making process, the elastic modulus of the starch granules significantly increased, while the temperature at which maximum elastic modulus was decreased, indicating an increase in the crystalline stability of starch during the drying process. Correlation analysis indicated that the changes occurred to the gelatinization property was primarily due to the change in the particle size.     

不同叶面肥对狐臭柴叶片生物量和主要生化指标的影响

以三年生狐臭柴为实验材料,设置自然光和遮光两种光照条件,用三种叶面肥进行喷施,分析不同肥料对狐臭柴叶片生物量和主要生化指标的影响。结果表明:喷施氮肥能显著提高狐臭柴叶片生物量,自然光及遮光下分别增加37.30%和15.02%,但果胶的积累减少,分别降低19.78%和17.35%;磷肥能显著提升叶片果胶的含量,分别增加158.08%和239.96%,但叶片生物量显著低于对照,分别降低55.83%和47.40%;复合肥对叶片生物量无明显影响,果胶含量轻微降低。各肥料均使可溶性糖含量降低,且在遮光条件下使叶片内可溶性蛋白含量增加,自然光下使可溶性蛋白含量降低。     

成都市典型农家乐植物组成特征研究

本文在成都市北湖公园、农科村、三圣乡选取了60个成都市典型农家乐,对植物群落进行了调查和分析。结果表明:成都市典型农家乐植物群落中应用的乔木种类有56种,灌木种类83种,草本种类有118种,共计257种,分属91科184属。在植物种类组成方面,成都北湖公园的乔木种类所占比例最高,达到22.39%;郫县农科村的灌木种类所占的比例是最高的,达到36.55%;而三圣乡"五朵金花"的草本种类所占的比例最高,达到47.92%。农科村主要树木的平均胸径为13.32±9.07?,平均高度为5.53±2.49 m,在3个地方中均为最高。群落外貌方面,三圣乡"五朵金花"和郫县农科村农家乐以常绿阔叶和落叶阔叶的混交林为主,针叶林少。成都北湖公园则以常绿阔叶为主,落叶和针叶林少。60个农家乐平均配置乔木5.1±2.47(N=60)种,平均配置灌木8.77±3.41(N=60)种,平均拥有草本11.83±6.75(N=60)种,超过50%的植物种类为三地或两地共有,植物配置呈现明显的相似性。     

发动机缸盖用铸造铝硅合金的成分优化与组织性能研究

采用正交试验对ZL101合金进行了成分优化设计，并分析了合金元素对铝硅合金力学性能的影响.对改良后的合金进行了热处理工艺研究，其最佳热处理工艺条件为：500 ℃×5.5 h+180 ℃×5 h.研究结果表明，改良合金在铸态下的力学性能为：抗拉强度为244.57 MPa，伸长率为5.95%，硬度为75.1 HB；在T6态下的力学性能为：抗拉强度为397.92 MPa，伸长率为4.68%，硬度为141.2 HB.     

Nutritional approaches to slow late finishing pig growth: implications on carcass composition and pork quality

Although pork producers typically aim to optimize growth rates, occasionally it is necessary to slow growth, such as when harvest facility capacity is limited. In finishing pigs, numerous dietary strategies can be used to slow growth so pigs are at optimal slaughter body weights when harvest facility capacity and/or access is restored. However, the impact of these diets on pork carcass quality is largely unknown. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dietary strategies to slow growth in late finishing pigs and evaluate their effects on carcass composition and pork quality. Mixed-sex pigs (n = 897; 125 ± 2 kg BW) were randomly allotted across 48 pens and assigned to 1 of 6 dietary treatments (n = 8 pens/treatment): (1) Control diet representative of a typical finisher diet (CON); (2) diet containing 3% calcium chloride (CaCl₂); (3) diet containing 97% corn and no soybean meal (Corn); (4) diet deficient in isoleucine (LowIle); (5) diet containing 15% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) from soybean hulls (15% NDF); and (6) diet containing 20% NDF from soybean hulls (20% NDF). Over 42 d, pen body weights and feed disappearance were collected. Pigs were harvested in 3 groups (14, 28, and 42 d on feed) and carcass data collected. From the harvest group, 1 loin was collected from 120 randomly selected carcasses (20 loins/treatment) to evaluate pork quality traits. Overall, ADG was reduced in CaCl₂, Corn, and 20% NDF pigs compared with CON pigs (P < 0.001). However, ADFI was only reduced in CaCl₂ and 20% NDF pigs compared with CON (P < 0.001). Feed efficiency was reduced in CaCl₂ and Corn pigs compared with CON (P < 0.001). Hot carcass weights were reduced in CaCl₂ pigs at all harvest dates (P < 0.001) and were reduced in Corn and 20% NDF pigs at days 28 and 42 compared with CON pigs (P < 0.001). In general, CaCl₂ and 20% NDF diets resulted in leaner carcasses, whereas the Corn diet increased backfat by 42 d on test (P < 0.05). Loin pH was reduced and star probe increased in CaCl₂ pigs compared with CON pigs (P < 0.05); no treatments differed from CON pigs regarding drip loss, cook loss, color, firmness, or marbling (P ≥ 0.117). Overall, these data indicate that several dietary strategies can slow finishing pig growth without evidence of behavioral vices. However, changes to carcass composition and quality were also observed, indicating quality should be taken into consideration when choosing diets to slow growth.     

A review of okara (soybean curd residue) utilization as animal feed: Nutritive value and animal performance aspects

Year by year, huge quantities of by-products are generated during the manufacturing process of soybean-based products. Okara is one of the by-products, and it is an insoluble portion of the soybean. It consists of high moisture (8.4–22.9%); on dry matter basis, it contains high metabolizable energy (9.0–14.2 MJ/kg) and other components that include crude protein (20.9–39.1%), crude fiber (12.2–61.3%), crude fat (4.9–21.5%), and ash (3.4–5.3%). Fermentation of okara improves its nutritional quality and reduces its anti-nutrient contents. Due to animals' palatability, okara can be used to replace the soybean meal/concentrate feed partially or completely in ruminant's diet and partially in nonruminant's diet. Okara feeding does not depress the intake, digestibility, growth, milk production, blood metabolic profiles, and meat quality of animals. However, this by-product decays quickly due to its high moisture content, and its heavy weight and sticky nature make it difficult to process and expensive to dry using conventional methods. This paper thoroughly summarizes the utilization of okara as animal feed in the cause of developing a general guideline with favorable levels of inclusion in the diets of animals for its exploitation and valorization. This review will encourage further research to develop eco-friendly and value added feed for animals.