A European irrigation map for spatially distributed agricultural modelling

We present a pan-European irrigation map based on regional European statistics, a European land use map and a global irrigation map. The map provides spatial information on the distribution of irrigated areas per crop type which allows determining irrigated areas at the level of spatial modelling units. The map is a requirement for a European scale assessment of the impacts of irrigated agriculture on water resources based on spatially distributed modelling of crop growth and water balance. The irrigation map was compiled in a two step procedure. First, irrigated areas were distributed to potentially irrigated crops at a regional level (European statistical regions NUTS3), combining Farm Structure Survey (FSS) data on irrigated area, crop-specific irrigated area for crops whenever available, and total crop area. Second, crop-specific irrigated area was distributed within each statistical region based on the crop distribution given in our land use map. A global map of irrigated areas with a 5′ resolution was used to further constrain the distribution within each NUTS3 based on the density of irrigated areas. The constrained distribution of irrigated areas as taken from statistics to a high resolution dataset enables us to estimate irrigated areas for various spatial entities, including administrative, natural and artificial units, providing a reasonable input scenario for large-scale distributed modelling applications. The dataset bridges a gap between global datasets and detailed regional data on the distribution of irrigated areas and provides information for various assessments and modelling applications.     

The role of indigenous trees for the conservation of biocultural diversity in traditional agroforestry land use systems: The Bungoma case study: In-situ conservation of indigenous tree species

In order to precisely assess the role of agroforestry for the conservation of (agro-)biological diversity there is a need to adjust sampling methods used in plant sociology. This study is on the contribution of agroforestry land use to the in-situ conservation of indigenous trees within a typical East-African smallholder farming system in Western Kenya. A modified approach to measuring species richness and abundance is presented. The selection of tree-rich structures was done according to management patterns rather than considering syntaxonomic classifications from the vegetation science point of view. This approach, which is better suited to the strongly human-influenced vegetation of agroecosystems, employs between-management unit diversity measures to help evaluate abundance and constancy of species in particular management units. The predominant off-farm vegetation patterns are riverine forests, rocky hillsides, hedgerows, wooded grassland relicts, woodlands or colline forest relicts and tree groves whereas the noticeable tree-rich on-farm management units are homegardens, homesteads, life fences, coffee- and banana-groves and annual cropping fields. 98% out of all indigenous tree species known from Bungoma, occur in off-farm lands. 53% of the indigenous tree species occur in tree rich on-farm management units while 47% of the indigenous trees are dependent on the maintenance of off-farm lands. Hedgerows embody the most promising secondary vegetation structure that shows ample potential to accommodate a wide range of indigenous perennial species outside the natural vegetation formations. The pattern of distribution of various vegetation structures, and the mixture with diverse tree-based on-farm plots are interesting features in regard to floristic and eco-diversity on a landscape level. In this respect, three areas that show different population densities and distinct agro-historical conditions were compared. In regions of particular high population density the degree of association of various functional land use forms and woodland structures – each characterised by its own floristic make-up – is comparatively high. In contrast, in regions with less population but that were settled at a later date, one encounters fewer stands of woody plants with lower numbers of species. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris) hay harvest interval on forage quality and performance of growing calves fed mixed diets

Twelve 0.81-ha crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris [Retz.] Koel.) hay fields were harvested at 21, 35, and 49 d of regrowth (average phonological growth stage of 30, 51, and 56, respectively). Increased harvest interval exhibited a linear decrease (P < 0.01) in CP (14.1, 13.7, and 10.6% of DM, respectively) and increase (P < 0.01) in NDF (65.3, 70.6, and 70.2% of DM, respectively) and ADF (35.7, 38.9, and 42.7% of DM, respectively). Hays were incorporated into 3 diets that contained 20% (DM basis) crabgrass hay, ground corn (33%), and soybean hulls (32%). Diets contained 14.4, 14.4, and 13.6% CP; 1.83, 1.72, and 1.81 Mcal of NE(m)/kg; and 1.21, 1.10, and 1.17 Mcal of NE(g)/kg; respectively. Diets were fed to beef calves in 12 pens at a rate of 2.3% (DM basis) of BW in 1 experiment (n = 120, initial BW 210 +/- 4.4 kg) and ad libitum in another experiment (n = 60, initial BW 207 +/- 4.4 kg). To measure passage rate of the hay and concentrate portions of the diets, 12 heifer calves (BW = 145 +/- 4.5 kg) were individually fed at 2.3% of BW for 14 d and dosed with Dy-labeled soybean hulls and Yb-labeled hay. In situ DM digestibility of the hays and diets were determined using 3 ruminally cannulated steers (BW = 584 +/- 10.4 kg). Harvest interval did not affect (P > or = 0.11) ADG of limit-fed calves during the diet acclimation or growing phases (average 0.32 and 0.80 kg, respectively) or ADG of calves fed ad libitum (average 1.21 kg). Dry matter intake of calves fed ad libitum averaged 7.9 kg/d (3.28% of BW) and was not affected (P > or = 0.22) by harvest interval. Gain:feed was not affected (P > or = 0.20) by harvest interval (0.13 and 0.15 for limit-fed and ad libitum-fed calves, respectively). Increased harvest interval linearly increased (P < 0.01) ruminal retention time of the hay and tended (P = 0.06) to linearly increase ruminal retention time of the concentrate portions of the diet. Harvest interval linearly decreased (P < or = 0.05) the extent of degradability and effective degradability of DM and NDF of hays, but DM disappearance of the total diet did not differ (P > or = 0.35). In the conditions of this study, increasing harvest interval of crabgrass hay from 21 to 49 d had no deleterious impact on animal performance or efficiency of gain when fed to growing calves in a high-concentrate mixture.     

New molecular markers linked to qualitative and quantitative powdery mildew and scald resistance genes in barley for dry areas

A partial genetic linkage map was constructed on 71 doubled-haploid lines derived from a cross between the barley lines Tadmor and WI2291 with 181 molecular markers. The segregating population was used to detect markers linked to the gene Mlg conferring resistance to powdery mildew (Erysiphe graminis f. sp. hordei) and to genes for quantitative resistance to scald (Rhynchosporium secalis). The gene Mlg on chromosome 4H was flanked by two AFLP markers at a distance of 2.0 and 2.4 cM, respectively. QTLs for resistance to scald were detected on chromosomes 2H and 3H. This association of molecular markers with qualitative and quantitative disease resistance loci represents a valuable starting-point for marker-assisted selection. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Parallel patterns of evolution in the genomes and transcriptomes of humans and chimpanzees

The determination of the chimpanzee genome sequence provides a means to study both structural and functional aspects of the evolution of the human genome. Here we compare humans and chimpanzees with respect to differences in expression levels and protein-coding sequences for genes active in brain, heart, liver, kidney, and testis. We find that the patterns of differences in gene expression and gene sequences are markedly similar. In particular, there is a gradation of selective constraints among the tissues so that the brain shows the least differences between the species whereas liver shows the most. Furthermore, expression levels as well as amino acid sequences of genes active in more tissues have diverged less between the species than have genes active in fewer tissues. In general, these patterns are consistent with a model of neutral evolution with negative selection. However, for X-chromosomal genes expressed in testis, patterns suggestive of positive selection on sequence changes as well as expression changes are seen. Furthermore, although genes expressed in the brain have changed less than have genes expressed in other tissues, in agreement with previous work we find that genes active in brain have accumulated more changes on the human than on the chimpanzee lineage.     

Response to lysine in a wheat gluten diet in adult minipigs after short-and long-term dietary adaptation as assessed with an indicator amino acid oxidation and balance technique

An experiment was conducted to examine the response to wheat gluten (WG)-based diets at two lysine levels in adult minipigs (23 kg BW) using the indicator AA oxidation (IAAO) approach and N balance. Twenty minipigs (n = five per group), fitted with reentrant ileoileal cannulas allowing collection of ileal effluents, were fed restrictively two WG-based diets (WG and WG + Lys; 2.7 and 6.6 g of lysine/kg, respectively) for adaptation periods of 10 and 100 d. On d 7 and 9, for pigs fed the diets for 10 d, and on d 97 and 99, for pigs fed the diets for 100 d, primed i.v. fasted/fed tracer protocols with [(13)C]bicarbonate, and [(13)C]leucine were performed. With the WG diet, [(13)C]bicarbonate recoveries (%) were lower irrespective of the adaptation period, and higher during the fed period (fasted: WG + Lys = 82.5, and WG = 69.1; fed: WG + Lys = 90.6, and WG = 85.9; P < 0.05). Leucine oxidation rate was higher with the lower lysine intake (WG = 194.6 vs. 109.5 mg/[kg BW x d]; P < 0.05). Wheat gluten feeding resulted in a negative leucine balance independent of the adaptation period (WG = -29.1, and WG + Lys = 48.2 mg/[kg BW x d]; P < 0.05). In contrast with the IAAO method, N balance did not differ between the two lysine intakes, possibly because of an underestimation of N losses. The finding of a lower (13)C bicarbonate recovery with the lower dietary lysine intake suggests that caution should be taken in using a single recovery factor for all AA oxidation studies.     

近 50年气候变化对中国小麦生产潜力的影响分析

为了定量评估气候变化背景下中国小麦生产潜力变化主要特征和气候归因,将1961-2010年分为1961-1990年和1991-2010年2个时段,对比分析近50年气候变化背景下中国农业气候资源变化,并基于IIASA最新开发的农业生态区模型AEZ 3.0模拟气候变化对中国小麦生产潜力的影响.结果表明,由于热量、水分条件以及小麦生育期的变化,近50年中国雨养和灌溉小麦单产潜力增加的区域主要为东北、华北和四川盆地,单产潜力减少的区域为西北和东南地区.中国冬小麦的适宜区域出现较明显的北扩南收态势,而雨养春小麦适宜面积在中国半湿润半干旱的过渡带显著减少.全国雨养小麦总生产潜力减少5％,而灌溉小麦总生产潜力变化不大.东北区域雨养和灌溉小麦总生产潜力增加都最为明显,是气候变化背景下实现中国小麦增产的重点区域.中国小麦生产需要合理利用气候资源和优化布局,以适应气候变化带来的影响.     

Matching plant and animal processes to alter nutrient supply in strip-grazed cattle: timing of herbage and fasting allocation

This work aimed to assess the impact of timing of herbage allocation and fasting on patterns of ingestive behavior, herbage intake, ruminal fermentation, nutrient flow to the duodenum, and site and extent of digestion. Treatments were daily herbage allocation in the afternoon (1500 h, AHA), morning (0800 h, MHA), AHA after 20 h of fasting (AHAF), and MHA after 20 h of fasting (MHAF). Four ruminally and duodenally fistulated heifers (279 +/- 99 kg of BW) individually strip-grazed wheat pastures in a Latin-square design. Eating, rumination, and idling behavior were recorded every 2 min, and bite and eating step rates were measured hourly while the heifers were grazing (11 h MHA and AHA; 4 h MHAF and AHAF). Ruminal DM pools were measured 4 times daily (0800, 1200, 1500, and 1900 h) to estimate daily herbage DMI and its pattern. Ruminal fluid was sampled at these same times and also at 2300 h. Duodenal digesta was sampled over 2 d to determine the site of herbage digestibility. Treatments did not affect daily herbage DMI (16.5 g/ kg of BW, SE = 0.0025; P > 0.05). However, they altered the eating pattern; the evening grazing bout of AHA and AHAF was greater (P < 0.05) and more intense (P < 0.05 for bite mass and rate, eating step, and intake rates). Ruminal nonglucogenic:glucogenic VFA ratio and pH were lower (P < 0.05) for AHA and AHAF during the evening. The flow of OM, N, microbial protein, and nonmicrobial OM to the duodenum did not vary (P > 0.05) among MHA, MHAF, and AHAF; however, it averaged 970, 40, 300, and 540 g/d, respectively, greater (P < 0.05) for AHA. Total tract digestibility did not differ (P > 0.05) for MHA, AHA, and AHAF, but was lower for MHAF (P < 0.05). Apparent ruminal digestion did not differ (P > 0.05) within fasted and nonfasted treatments; however, it was greater (P < 0.05) for fasted than nonfasted treatments. True OM ruminally digested did not differ (P > 0.05) among MHA, MHAF, and AHAF, but was greater (P < 0.05) for AHA. The results demonstrate the strong link between ingestion and digestion patterns, and its impact on nutrient supply. At the same amount of resource allocation, nutrient supply to grazing cattle can be modified through strategic grazing management.