Residue management for reducing evaporation in relation to soil type and evaporativity1

Abstract. Usual residue-management options are to remove the residue, use it as mulch with or without undercutting or to incorporate it into the soil. While the role of surface mulch in evaporation has been widely studied, the information on the effect on evaporation of mulch with undercutting or residue incorporated into soil, particularly in relation to soil type and evaporativity (E_o) is lacking. We studied the effect of wheat straw used in various ways on the course of evaporation loss from soil columns with three soils at Ludhiana, India and one soil at Bushland, Texas, USA, under two E_o's Energy-limited evaporation rates under mulch (E_om) followed the soil-specific relation E_om/E_o= a e^(bRes+cEo), where Res is residue rate t/ha and a, b and c are constants; E_o, is expressed in mm/d. In an effort to model the total evaporation (CE) during the energy-limited stage ‘U’ was obtained from appropriate CE versus time curves and (CE-U) was regressed over (t - ti)^0.5 to obtain the slope ‘α’ (Ritchie 1972) for the soil-limited evaporation stage. The observed ‘U’ was independent of mulch rate and E_o but was strongly affected by soil type, Values of ‘α’ decreased with increase in mulch rate and decrease in E_o and coarseness of soil. The otherwise short lived benefit of evaporation reduction with mulch per se, which peaked after a few days was maintained when residue was mixed with soil at the stage when evaporation reduction reached a maximum; this benefit continued for several weeks. Cumulative evaporation values computed from ‘U’ and ‘α’ agreed closely with the observed values under straw mulch for loamy sand and clay loam soils and for ‘undercut’ and ‘residue mixed’ treatments on all soils regardless of E_o, and for all situations under small E_o. However, for sandy loam and silt loam soils under E_o of 10 mm/d, the modified square root of the time function of Jalota et al. (1988) gave a better fit.     

An analysis of age and body weight at first calving for Holsteins in the United States

In a national survey of US dairy producers, only 2.7 ± 0.5% of Holstein dairy operations reported achieving recommended target ranges of age ≤ 24 months and body weight (BW) ≥ 550 kg at first calving. Allowing for wider target ranges, still only 14.6 ± 1.3% of Holstein dairy operations reported achieving age ≤ 25 months and BW ≥ 544.3 kg at first calving. Ages of individual first-calf heifers observed at calving were heavily skewed toward older individuals. Dairy producers reported an average age at first calving that was 1.3 months lower than the mean and 1.0 months lower than median age of first-calf heifers' observed calving on the operations. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify the herd characteristics associated with producers reporting first calvings within the wider age and BW target ranges for Holsteins. Rolling herd average milk production ≥ 7711 kg/yr, using a computer for recordkeeping, and not tying preweaned heifers in a barn with cows, were associated with achieving the target BW and age at first calving.     

In vitro properties of diffuse cytoplasmic esterase-positive canine mononuclear leukocytes

Depletion of cytoplasmic esterase-positive canine peripheral blood monocytes from mononuclear cell suspensions was attempted using plastic adherence, carbonyl iron ingestion and/or Sephadex G-10 filtration. An esterase-positive, nonadherent, nonphagocytic subpopulation was identified and further characterized by the presence or absence of cell membrane receptors for the Fc portions of immunoglobulin and the activated third component of complement. The majority of these nonadherent cells lacked these receptors. The data suggests that canine peripheral blood monocytes are a heterogenous cell population.     

Investigations on live vaccines against infectious bursal disease of chicks

Summary

Four live virus vaccines against Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) were studied with regard to their safety, immune response and applicability. None of the vaccines caused clinical symptoms or had an adverse impact on bodyweight. Differences between these vaccins were observed in their effect on the Bursa/ Bodyweight Ratio and the severity of the microscopical lesions of the bursa Fabricii. The immunosuppressive effect of IBD vaccination at one day of age on the response to Newcastle disease vaccine applied was rather low.

Three of the four vaccines induced antibodies associated with protection against challenge. Vaccination of SPF rearing chickens by drinking water at an age of 15 weeks produced an antibody response (Agar Gel Precipitin Test) whereas at an age of 23, 32 and 60 weeks it did not. Chickens of all age groups responded serologically to an intramusculair vaccination.

A correlation was found between the immunological response and the effect of the vaccines on the bursa Fabricii.     

Isolation of Pasteurella haemolytica and correlation with serum antibody response in clinically normal beef calves

Bacteria from the nasal cavity and trachea were cultured, and serum antibody titers determined for Pasteurella haemolytica serotype 1 in 164 beef calves obtained from a closed herd on range pasture. At the first sampling, P. haemolytica serotype 1 was cultured from 16.4% of the calves. Antibody titers were determined by a quantitative fluorimetric method and the mean titer was 9.5 +/- 5.8. Fifty-seven randomly selected calves were used to study the correlation of serum antibody response and positive culture of P. haemolytica under natural conditions. Clinical signs of respiratory disease were not observed in those calves. During the observation periods, there was a two-fold increase in the percentage of calves that were culture positive. There was no significant difference between mean serum antibody titers or frequency distribution of antibody titers from the two samplings. Comparisons between serum antibody titers, rise in titers, and P. haemolytica isolation failed to reveal any significant correlation. Of the 9 calves that had a decline in antibody titer to P. haemolytica, none was culture positive. Seroconversion to respiratory viruses did not correlate with P. haemolytica related variables.     

赴美国肉牛规模化生产技术考察团考察报告（二）——释惑美国肉牛生产技术之妙

美国是世界肉牛业最发达的国家之一,其肉牛产业链较健全、组织化程度较高。美国的肉牛品种有100多个,但常用的只有10个左右,其中,安格斯牛占全关登记注册种牛的40％。美国有95％的肉牛进行本交,只有5％的肉牛开展人工授精;商品牛群充分利用杂交优势来提高经济利益。美国在肉牛育肥方式上特别是高能量饲料和高蛋白饲料的应用上是非常科学合理的。     

Field measurement of the sheltering effect of vegetation on erodible land surfaces

Natural vegetation on erodible land surfaces, such as the loose sandy soils found in the southwestern United States and in Soviet Central Asia, absorbs part of the wind momentum flux (stress) and thus protects the erodible soil to a degree that depends on the geometry of plant distribution and profile. The sheltering effect of natural plants may be expressed as the ratio, R, of threshold friction velocity for the bare soil (determined in the laboratory or in specially prepared areas of bare soil in the field) to that for the naturally vegetated surface. We used new automated instrumentation to detect erosion thresholds in locations where erosion events are widely separated in time. Measured values of R were low for our most vegetated sites and nearer unity for the sparsely vegetated site.     

欧盟、美国农产品可追溯系统对吉林省的启示

目前,欧盟和美国的农产品可追溯系统走在世界前列,在识别、预警、限制、召回、管理等方面均有许多值得借鉴之处.分析欧盟和美国实施农产品可追溯系统的成功经验和做法,对指导吉林省建设农产品可追溯系统具有重要意义.     

中国对美国农产品贸易的经济效率

为促进中国对美国农产品贸易的发展提供参考,通过对比2010－2012年与2000－2002年的中美农产品贸易数据,归纳分析了我国加入世贸组织以来与美国的农产品贸易状况,并运用经济效率指数测算,比较中国对美国的农产品进出口经济效率。结论：中国对美国农产品进口的经济效率明显优于出口经济效率。进口经济效率较高的主要原因是美国农产品相对于我国农产品的竞争力比较优势以及中国大幅削减进口关税并扩大进口配额,农产品出口经济效率低的主要原因是美国农产品贸易的技术壁垒、绿色壁垒以及对农业的高度补贴。建议：我国政府应加强对农产品生产和出口的支持力度,加快我国农产品的生产技术创新和质量提高,并大力整顿进出口市场秩序。     

美国加州园林漫游散记

加利福尼亚州位于美国西部,受自然和社会因素影响,园林植物种类丰富,以常绿植物种类为主,亦有不少落叶种类。园林绿地类型多样,包括公共绿地、道路绿化带、建筑物周围绿地以及众多壮丽的植物公园和典雅的私家花园。加州全民绿化和环保意识较高,值得国人借鉴。