Drivers,challenges and opportunities of forage technology adoption by smallholder cattle households in Cambodia

Forage technology has been successfully introduced into smallholder cattle systems in Cambodia as an alternative feed source to the traditional rice straw and native pastures, improving animal nutrition and reducing labour requirements of feeding cattle. Previous research has highlighted the positive impacts of forage technology including improved growth rates of cattle and household time savings. However, further research is required to understand the drivers, challenges and opportunities of forage technology for smallholder cattle households in Cambodia to facilitate widespread adoption and identify areas for further improvement. A survey of forage-growing households (n = 40) in July–September 2016 examined forage technology adoption experiences, including reasons for forage establishment, use of inputs and labour requirements of forage plot maintenance and use of forages (feeding, fattening, sale of grass or seedlings and silage). Time savings was reported as the main driver of forage adoption with household members spending approximately 1 h per day maintaining forages and feeding it to cattle. Water availability was reported as the main challenge to this activity. A small number of households also reported lack of labour, lack of fencing, competition from natural grasses, cost of irrigation and lack of experience as challenges to forage growing. Cattle fattening and sale of cut forage grass and seedlings was not found to be a widespread activity by interviewed households, with 25 and 10% of households reporting use of forages for these activities, respectively. Currently, opportunities exist for these households to better utilise forages through expansion of forage plots and cattle activities, although assistance is required to support these households in addressing current constraints, particularly availability of water, if the sustainability of this feed technology for smallholder cattle household is to be established in Cambodia.     

Calcium carbonate accumulations in Technosols of Moscow city

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Complex phenomena of the precipitation and accumulation of calcium carbonate in urban soils and sediments have been studied. They are linked to the interactions...     

The importance of manual white blood cell differential counts and platelet estimates in elephant hematology: blood film review is essential

Unique features of elephant hematology are known challenges in analytical methodology like two types of monocytes typical for members of the Order Afrotheria and platelet counts of the comparatively small elephant platelet. To investigate WBC differential and platelet data generated by an impedance-based hematology analyzer without availability of validated species-specific software for recognition of elephant WBCs and platelets, compared to manual blood film review. Blood samples preserved in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) of 50 elephants (n = 35 Elephas maximus and n = 15 Loxodonta africana) were used. A Mann-Whitney test for independent samples was used to compare parameters between methods and agreement was tested using Bland-Altman bias plots. All hematological variables, including absolute numbers of heterophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, and platelets, were significantly different (p < 0.0001) between both methods of analysis, and there was no agreement using Bland-Altman bias plots. Manual review consistently produced higher heterophil and monocyte counts as well as platelet estimates, while the automated analyzer produced higher lymphocyte, eosinophil, and basophil counts. The hematology analyzer did not properly differentiate elephant lymphocytes and monocytes, and did not accurately count elephant platelets. These findings emphasize the importance of manual blood film review as part of elephant complete blood counts in both clinical and research settings and as a basis for the development of hematological reference intervals.     

PG99S智能型喷灌机的调试及维护

在蔬菜、花卉的工厂化育苗生产中,准确控制肥水的浓度和喷洒的均匀性显得尤为重要,而喷灌设备作为智能型连栋育苗温室的主要浇灌设备,被广泛应用于现代化育苗温室中。该设备自动作业,水量控制精准。本文就PG99S型智能喷灌机介绍其调试方法和故障维修。     

施用竹炭对卷心菜叶绿素含量和荧光参数的影响

为探究人工施用竹炭对卷心菜叶绿素含量和荧光参数的影响,进而明确卷心菜的最适竹炭有机肥施用量,在田间试验条件下设置了无碳(CK)、中碳(MC)和高碳(SC)3个处理,对卷心菜莲座期和结球期的叶绿素含量及荧光参数进行测量研究.结果表明:(1)结球期的卷心菜叶绿素含量极显著高于莲座期(p0.01),且随着竹炭量的增加,两个时期的叶绿素含量变化趋势一致,从高到低依次为:MC,CK,SC.(2)结球期的卷心菜初始最小荧光Fo、初始最大荧光Fm、PSⅡ的最大光化学效率Fv/Fm,PSⅡ的潜在活性Fv/Fo、非光化学猝灭系数qN均低于莲座期,而PSⅡ实际光化学效率ΦPSⅡ、光化学猝灭系数qP高于莲座期,且随着竹炭量的增加,两个时期的这些参数均表现出一致的变化趋势,Fo和qN均呈"V"型变化,而Fm,Fv/Fm,Fv/Fo,ΦPSⅡ和qP均呈现倒"V"趋势,但对ΦPSⅡ和qP没有显著影响(p0.05).说明结球期的卷心菜光合作用高于莲座期;当竹炭量由CK增加到MC,有利于提高叶片叶绿素含量,增强光能利用率,减少植株热耗散,提高植株光合作用;但随着竹炭量进一步增加到SC,卷心菜叶片叶绿素含量降低,光能利用率减弱,热耗散增加,光合作用受到抑制,即中炭(MC)处理条件下,此卷心菜长势最优,表明中炭是该卷心菜生长的最适竹炭有机肥施用量.