Interactions between rodents and weeds in a lowland rice agro‐ecosystem: the need for an integrated approach to management

Rodents and weeds are important pests to rice crops in Southeast Asia. The interaction between these 2 major pests is poorly documented. In temperate cereal systems, seeds of grass weeds can be an important food source for rodents and weed cover along crop margins provides important refuge for rodents. In 2012 and 2013, a replicated study (n = 4) in Bago, Myanmar compared 4 treatments (rodents and weeds; no rodents and weeds; rodents and no weeds; no rodents and no weeds) each of 0.25 ha in transplanted rice. Weeds were managed with hand weeding in the wet season, and hand weeding and herbicides in the dry season. Plastic fences were installed to exclude rodents. We examined the weed cover and relative abundance of weed species, rodent damage, rodent population dynamics and rice yield loss caused by rodents and weeds. The dominant rodent species was Bandicota bengalensis. In the dry season, Cyperus difformis was dominant at the tillering stage and Echinochloa crus‐galli was the dominant weed species at the booting stage. In the wet season E. crus‐galli was a dominant weed throughout the season. Damage by rodents was higher in the dry season. There were larger economic benefits for best weed management and effective rodent control in the dry season (258 US$/ha) than in the wet season (30 US$/ha). Concurrent control of weeds in and around rice fields combined with coordinated community trapping of rodents during the early tillering stage and ripening stage of rice are recommended management options.     

CO2浓度升高及降水变化对红砂植物碳氮特征的影响

本研究以荒漠优势植物红砂（Reaumuria soongorica） 1年生幼苗为研究对象,采用开顶式生长箱（Open top chambers,OTCs）模拟CO₂浓度变化（350和700 μmol·mol^-1）,研究了降水变化（-30%,-15%,0,+15%和+30%）及其协同作用对红砂地上和地下部分碳、氮含量与积累量的影响。结果发现：CO₂浓度倍增和降水对红砂地上和地下部分有机碳、全氮含量和有机碳积累量以及地上全氮积累量影响极显著,并且表现出极显著的交互作用。CO₂浓度倍增下,红砂地上和地下部分有机碳、C/N和有机碳积累量以及地下部分全氮显著增加。随着降水增加,红砂地上和地下部分有机碳含量和积累量以及地下部分全氮均呈增加趋势,地上和地下部分C/N呈先降后升趋势,而地上部分全氮先升后降。综上所述：未来CO₂升高时,降水增加协同高CO₂浓度有助于红砂植株有机碳积累,从而促进红砂植株对氮素的吸收,降水减少则有利于红砂调节自身碳氮平衡从而提高其抗旱性。     

Survey of disc diffusion antimicrobial sensitivity testing in avian bacteriology laboratories and the evaluation of a standardised method

A survey was conducted in which 15 laboratories involved in avian bacteriology tested the antimicrobial sensitivity of cultures of Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Alcaligenes faecalis and Salmonella typhimurium, using the disc diffusion test as routinely practised in each laboratory. Up to 28 different antimicrobials or antimicrobial combinations were used. The most commonly tested agents were ampicillin, benzylpenicillin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, furazolidone, neomycin, streptomycin, sulphonamide, tetracycline and trimethoprim/sulphonamide. Results between laboratories were compared according to the width of the zone of inhibition (annular radius) where 5 or more laboratories used the same disc content of a particular antimicrobial agent, and on whether a culture was interpreted as being sensitive or resistant to a particular agent. The variation in annular radii about the mean values were less than +/- 2 SD in 39.5% and greater than +/- 3 SD in 32.6% of 43 different antimicrobial/culture combinations involving 8 different agents. The range of annular radii measurements was greatest with trimethoprim/sulphonamide and streptomycin discs and with the S. epidermidis culture. Variation in the interpretation of test results was greatest with the Gram-negative bacteria, where for each of the more frequently tested agents at least one, commonly 2 and sometimes all 3 cultures were reported as sensitive and resistant to the same agent by different laboratories. The calibrated dichotomous sensitivity (CDS) test of Bell (1975, 1984) was evaluated as a standardised disc diffusion procedure and was found to be reproducible and accurate. Results obtained using antimicrobial agents calibrated for use in the CDS test were compared with results obtained in the survey using the same agents or agents showing identical resistance patterns.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

太湖地区水稻季氮肥的作物回收和损失研究

在太湖地区水稻土上,采用田间微区15N示踪试验研究了不同氮磷肥配合下水稻季氮肥去向以及残留肥料氮在麦季的吸收利用。结果表明,水稻当季作物对肥料氮的回收率为29%～39%,土壤残留肥料氮的后效很低,后季冬小麦仅利用土壤残留肥料氮的2.4%～5.2%。经过连续两个稻麦轮作,0—60cm土壤中残留肥料氮占施氮量的11%～13%,绝大多数在0—20 cm表层土中。水稻季施用的肥料氮向耕层以下移动很少,20—60 cm土层中累积肥料氮仅占施氮量的0.6%～1.1%,主要发生在小麦季及水稻泡田时期,肥料氮损失占施氮量的47～54%,氨挥发和硝化反硝化气态损失是主要途径。高氮和高磷处理没有增加作物产量和氮肥利用率,过量施氮或施磷无益于作物增产和氮肥吸收利用。     

Effects of Integrated Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Yield and Growth Parameters of Rice Varieties

We investigated the effects of integrated organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of indica rice variety Manawthukha and japonica rice variety Genkitsukushi. In a split-plot design, the two rice varieties were assigned as main plot factors, and the integrated treatments were the subplot factors, including no-N fertilizer(N_0), 50% chemical fertilizer(CF)(CF_(50)), 100% CF(CF100), 50% CF + 50% poultry manure(PM)(CF_(50)PM_(50)), 50% CF + 50% cow manure(CM)(CF_(50)CM_(50)), and 50% CF + 50% compost(CP)(CF_(50)CP_(50)). CF100 was equivalent to N at 85 kg/hm~2. Manure was applied based on the estimated mineralizable nitrogen(EMN) level, which is dependent on total N(%) of each manure type. Manawthukha rice plants were taller with higher tiller number and dry matter content. However, higher soil-plant analysis development(SPAD) values were measured in Genkitsukushi throughout the crop growth period, resulting in higher seed-setting rate(%) and greater yield. At the same N level, CF_(50)PM_(50) application in both rice varieties resulted in higher SPAD values, plant height and tiller number than CF_(100). CF_(50)PM_(50) containing total N more than 4% supplied synchronized N for the demands of the rice plants, resulting in maximum dry matter, yield and yield components. CF_(50)CM_(50) and CF_(50)CP_(50) treatments containing total N less than 4% resulted in lower yields which were similar to CF_(100). These results indicated that integrating organic and inorganic fertilizers enhanced growth parameters and yields of Manawthukha and Genkitsukushi, while reducing the dose of chemical fertilizer.