Evaluation of dietary chitosan effects on growth performance,immunity, body composition and histopathology of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) as well as the resistance to Streptococcus agalactiae infection

The present investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary chitosan supplementation on growth performance, body composition, immune response and histopathology of Nile tilapia, and also the in vitro antibacterial activity of chitosan against Streptococcus agalactiae (S. agalactiae). About 180 fish (average body weight 39.3 ± 0.3 g) were randomly divided into three groups according to chitosan supplementation: control group (basal diet without chitosan), Ch3 group (3 g chitosan/kg diet) and Ch5 group (5 g chitosan/kg diet). Growth performance parameters and body proximate composition were measured before infection but biochemical parameters and lysozyme and antibacterial activities before and after experimental infection. Results of the present investigation showed dietary chitosan (5 g chitosan/kg diet) significantly (p < .05) improved growth performance parameters, body composition (dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash, and carbohydrate) and serum biochemistry (total protein, albumin, globulin, with no effect on AST, ALT, urea and creatinine) before infection in Ch5 group than the control. After infection, liver enzymes (serum AST and ALT) were maintained lower in fish fed Ch3 or Ch5 than the control. Serum lysozyme and bactericidal activities significantly increased (p < .05) in chitosan groups before and after the challenge. The mortality rate was markedly reduced in the Ch3 group and prohibited in the Ch5 group after the experimental infection. In conclusion, feeding 3 or 5 g chitosan/kg diet increased the growth rate and improved FCR of Nile tilapia. In addition, it reduced mortality by its antibacterial and immunostimulant effects.     

施肥对羊草草原土壤氮素转化的影响

施肥是常用的草地管理方式之一,对维持草地生产力和草地生态系统健康至关重要。本文以河北沽源羊草草原为对象,设置了5种施肥处理,研究了施肥对半干旱羊草草原土壤氮素形态及转化特征的影响。结果表明:在牧草整个生长季,氮磷配施处理土壤铵态氮和硝态氮含量低于相应的单施氮肥处理。氮肥施入改变了草地土壤氮矿化模式。在5-8月氮素添加各处理的土壤硝化作用强烈,明显高于其他处理,氮素添加处理土壤净氮矿化量在5-7月较大,其矿化量占整个生长季的57.58%~68.97%。土壤铵态氮含量与土壤硝态氮含量、净硝化量、净矿化量、土壤温度和土壤水分均存在显著正相关关系(P<0.05),土壤硝态氮含量与土壤温度有极显著正相关关系(r=0.491,P<0.01)。高氮添加处理增加了硝态氮淋溶损失和污染环境的风险。