An economically based evaluation index for perennial and short‐term ryegrasses in New Zealand dairy farm systems

Grazed pastures based on ryegrass species provide most of the feed for dairy cattle in New Zealand. There are many cultivars of perennial (Lolium perenne), annual and Italian (L. multiflorum), and hybrid (L. boucheanum) ryegrasses available for dairy farmers to use in pasture renewal. This study describes an index which ranks ryegrass cultivars relative to a genetic base according to the estimated economic value (EV) of seasonal dry matter (DM) traits. A farm system model was used to derive EVs (Grazed pastures based on ryegrass species provide most of the feed for dairy cattle in New Zealand. There are many cultivars of perennial (Lolium perenne), annual and Italian (L. multiflorum), and hybrid (L. boucheanum) ryegrasses available for dairy farmers to use in pasture renewal. This study describes an index which ranks ryegrass cultivars relative to a genetic base according to the estimated economic value (EV) of seasonal dry matter (DM) traits. A farm system model was used to derive EVs ($ ha^?1 calculated as change in operating profit divided by unit change of the trait) for additional DM produced in different seasons of the year in four regions. The EV of early spring DM was consistently high across all regions, whereas EV for late spring DM was moderate to low. Genotype × environment analysis revealed significant reranking of DM yield among ryegrass cultivars across regions. Hence, separate performance values (PVs) were calculated for two mega‐environments and then combined with the corresponding season and region EV to calculate the overall EV for twenty‐three perennial ryegrass and fifteen short‐term ryegrass cultivars. The difference in operating profit between the highest ranked and lowest ranked perennial ryegrass cultivar ranged from $556 ha^?1 to $863 ha^?1 year^?1 depending on region. For short‐term ryegrasses used for winter feed, the corresponding range was $394 to $478 ha^?1 year^?1. Using PV for DM yield, it was estimated that plant improvement in perennial ryegrass has added $12–$18 ha^?1 year^?1 (depending on region) operating profit on dairy farms since the mid‐1960s.     

A new lean no time test baking method with improved discriminating power

In response to customer concerns related to gluten strength in commercial baking, the Canadian Grain Commission assessed whether the Canadian Short Process (CSP) test bake method was generating useful data related to intrinsic strength of wheat varieties. Assessment of CSP loaf volume data for Canadian variety trials spanning 2003 to 2013 showed very little correlation with dough strength parameters as measured by farinograph and extensigraph. A lean no time (LNT) test baking method was developed that can better discriminate genotypes and provide objective indicators of the effect of intrinsic dough strength on baking quality. From early method development, through method validation and verification using diverse sets of samples targeting different Canadian wheat classes and grown in three different crop years, results showed the LNT method to be more discriminating and easily adopted by other laboratories. In 2015, the LNT method was adopted as the method of choice in future Canadian variety registration trials. The LNT method is fast, simple and well-suited to high throughput test baking conditions encountered in the evaluation of large numbers of breeder lines. A new objective parameter, loaf top ratio, was also introduced and found to correlate well with dough strength and dough handling properties.     

灌水量对不同年代宁夏春小麦光合特性及产量构成因素的影响

为揭示不同灌水量对不同年代春小麦光合特性及产量的影响,以5 个不同年代宁夏春小麦品种（系）为试验材料,在宁夏灌区4 种水分处理条件下,研究了灌水时期对不同年代宁夏春小麦品种光合生理指标及产量因子的影响。结果表明,不同时期灌水对春小麦叶绿素含量、净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、水分利用率(WUE)等生理指标均产生明显影响;T1、T2 处理,‘毛火麦’和‘宁春27 号’的叶绿素含量、Pn、WUE较高,在T1、T2 和T3 处理下其产量与其他品种（系）差异不显著。随着灌水量的增加,灌区品种（系）‘宁春4 号’、‘宁春50 号’和‘J63’的叶绿素含量、Pn、WUE高于‘毛火麦’和‘宁春27 号’且产量正常灌水条件下显著高于其他处理。因此,宁夏灌区在保证分蘖期和拔节期灌水,增加抽穗期灌水,各品种（系）既保持较高水分利用效率,又可以获得较高的产量。     

草原生态环境发展与创新——由“补助奖励”到“精确放牧”

为增进草原生态保护政策的有效性,本研究考察了国内草原"补助奖励"政策的实施效果与存在问题。具体以268个牧区半牧区县牧业人口、牲畜超载率和农牧民纯收入变化情况为研究对象,运用比较分析对比"补助奖励"政策前后全国草畜平衡状况,并结合BGLI模型计算"补助奖励"政策的实施对草原超载问题的改善情况。结果表明"补助奖励"政策对全国的超载现状有很好的改善作用,增加了牧区半牧区县的人口和牧民纯收入,尤其对半牧区县的正面影响更加突出,牧区半牧区县整体对该政策的满意度很高。但无差别化的补助标准在一定程度上造成了"补助奖励"政策实施效率的低下,预期效果并不理想。因而本研究认为,应通过建立数据库的办法实施"精确放牧"政策,并提出先减后补,根据超载程度做好多补,中小牧户为补贴主体等建议。     

Responses of subshrub sagebrush rangeland in North-Western China to changes in livestock numbers and rainfall over 10 years (2004–2013)

Seriphidium transiliense, or subshrub sagebrush, is one of the most important forage resources for livestock in many arid lands, but such resources have been threatened by overgrazing for a long time. A 2013 vegetation survey of an original sagebrush rangeland (2400?ha) in the Tianshan Mountains revealed that nearly half of the area once under sagebrush has been replaced by annual species. This is due to the continual and rapid increase in livestock numbers over the past 30?years. Three smaller sites with different grazing scenarios: no grazing (Site N), a decline (Site 1), and an increase (Site 2) in livestock numbers, were selected to monitor recent changes (from 2004 to 2013) in vegetation biomass and the degree of dominance by sagebrush. Supplanting happened at Site 2 but little occurred at Site 1. There were significant differences between Site 2 and Site 1 in standing biomass in Spring and Summer, but no significant differences in Summer between Site 1 and Site N. The supplanting of sagebrush marks the completion of a dynamic process – in which rainfall plays a crucial role – of damage to sagebrush from heavy grazing in drought years and its rehabilitation by light grazing in some good years. Plant biomass loss was greatest when the land was first subjected to heavy grazing. Sagebrush tends to exist as a sole-dominant species rather than a companion species in sagebrush communities. This suggests that sagebrush continued to survive in pockets where grazing pressure had declined.     

我国北方半干旱草原沙漠化防治中压力转移模式的检讨——以内蒙古巴林右旗为例

以内蒙巴林右旗为例,详细分析了目前我国北方半干旱草原沙漠化防治中所主要采用的几种方法——围封禁牧、生态移民、舍饲和小草库伦。提出这些方法都属“压力转移模式”,并指出了其失效的各种表现。进而通过分析我国北方半干旱草原沙漠化的主要原因和根本矛盾,指出其失效的根本原因。据此,提出要将“压力转移模式”转向“攻坚模式”才是解决问题的根本出路的见解。     

放牧对小嵩草草甸土壤酶活性及土壤环境因素的影响

观测了放牧对高寒小嵩草草甸土壤酶活性及土壤环境因素的影响,结果表明:①随着放牧压力的增大,植被盖度、地上生物量、土壤有机质、全氮、硝态氮、全磷、有效磷、土壤水分明显下降,而地下生物量、土壤容重、pH及根土比呈现增大趋势,不同放牧处理间植物群落特征及土壤理化特性显示出明显的差异(P0.05);②纤维素分解酶、多酚氧化酶、脲酶、蛋白酶、碱性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶活性均随放牧压力增大而下降,只有过氧化氢酶以轻牧最高,各处理间上述土壤酶活性差异程度不同;③随着土壤深度的增加,土壤水分含量、地下生物量、根土比、土壤有机质及氮、磷养分等明显下降,而土壤容重和pH逐渐增大,且不同层次之间存在显著的差异(P0.05);④除过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶外,其它土壤酶活性随土壤深度的加深显著减小。     

夏季休牧对高寒矮嵩草草甸温室气体排放的影响

以高寒矮嵩草草甸为研究对象，利用密闭箱－气相色谱法，对夏季休牧8a的围栏草地(休牧草地)和全年放牧的草地(放牧草地)的温室气体排放通量、土壤特性和生物量进行了对比研究。结果表明：与放牧草地相比，休牧草地植被盖度较之高41％，单位面积生物量较之高53％。同时，土壤特性也有较大不同；休牧草地的植被－土壤系统CO₂排放通量比放牧草地低20.7％，测定期间两者CO₂排放通量以每天每公顷排放C的质量计分别为30.7和38.7 kg·(hm²·d)^-1；试验期间高寒矮嵩草草甸植被－土壤系统是大气CH₄的弱汇，休牧后草地土壤对CH₄的吸收能力增强，休牧和放牧草地CH₄的平均吸收强度分别为28.1和21.9 g·(hm²·d)^-1；休牧草地土壤N₂O排放通量比放牧草地低，两者排放通量分别为4.5和7.6 g·(hm²·d)^-1。可见，夏季休牧措施降低了草地对大气中温室气体浓度增加的贡献。     

Dynamics of soil microbial biomass C and soil fertility in cropland mulched with plastic film in a semiarid agro-ecosystem

Microbial biomass C (MBC) is one of the soil properties used as an indicator for the fertility status of a soil. A study was conducted on a semi-arid Loess Plateau in China. The field was planted with spring wheat and mulched with plastic film for various lengths of time. Our primary objectives were to (i) explore the influence of film mulching on soil MBC and soil fertility, and (ii) seek an effective approach of maintaining and improving sustainability of cropland mulched with plastic film in two growing seasons. Four treatments were tested, non-mulching (M0), mulching for 30 days after sowing (M30), mulching for 60 DAS (M60) and mulching for the whole growing period (Mw). An increasing air temperature with time within the growing season promoted soil MBC in the two growing seasons, but a severe drought led to a lower MBC in 2000 compared with the wet year of 1999. Film mulching promoted MBC significantly in the 2 years, but decreased soil organic carbon (SOC). SOC is very low in the experimental soil, accounting for the higher MBC/SOC ratio compared with ratios reported by others. The SOC is greatly reduced in the non-mulched and the Mw treatments compared to the M30 and M60 treatments. In conclusion, the benefits of film mulching in semi-arid agricultural systems are enormous but realizing their full potential depends on how long the mulching material is maintained during the growing season. In the system tested, it is desirable to mulch the plots for 30-60 DAS in order to enhance microbial biomass and cycling of nutrients and also to provide a more stable soil micro-environment that generates more residues in the rhizosphere.