Italian ryegrass establishment by self-seeding in integrated crop-livestock systems: Effects of grazing management and crop rotation strategies

We evaluated the re-establishment of an Italian ryegrass pasture by self-seeding on a no-till integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) in the southern region of Brazil. This work is part of a long-term experimental protocol initiated in 2003. We tested the effects of various management practices, such as summer crop systems (soybean vs. maize–soybean rotation), stocking methods (continuous vs. rotational) and grazing intensities (low vs. moderate), on Italian ryegrass pasture establishment. In addition, we tested resilience of the system by testing pasture's ability to re-establish following a year without seed head production. The experiment consisted in the rotation, on the same area, of Italian ryegrass pasture grazed by sheep during the winter and up to the end of the grass production cycle, and soybean or soybean-maize grain crops rotation cultivated during the summer. The pasture established itself by self-seeding since 2005. Data were collected in 2011 and 2012 stocking season. The soybean summer crop, continuous stocking and low grazing intensity, all positively affected the production of reproductive tillers in 2011. Grazing intensity in 2011 strongly influenced early vegetative tiller densities (before crop harvest) in 2012. However, none of the grazing intensity or the stocking method treatments affected herbage mass at the end of pasture establishment in 2011 or 2012. On the other hand, the soybean summer crop positively affected pasture establishment, both in term of tiller densities and herbage mass at the end of pasture establishment. The removal of all seed heads in 2011 (preventing seed production) resulted in the total failure of pasture establishment in 2012. Overall, Italian ryegrass establishment by self-seeding relies on the annual replacement of the soil seed bank. This experiment demonstrated that under various stocking methods, moderate grazing intensity and maize or soybean summer crop, Italian ryegrass pasture establishment by self-seeding remains successful even when the stocking periods extended up to the end of the grass production cycle. Self-seeding with moderate grazing intensity ensures successful pasture establishment, reduces labour and costs and allows to increase the stocking period and so animal live weight gain over the grazing season.     

Horse Preference,Forage Yield,and Species Persistence of 12 Perennial Cool-Season Grass Mixtures Under Horse Grazing

Cool-season grass mixtures are rarely evaluated for preference, yield, and persistence under horse grazing. The objectives of this research were to evaluate horse preference, forage yield, and persistence of cool-season grass mixtures under horse grazing. Eight commercially marketed and four experimental perennial cool-season grass mixtures were planted in 2009 in a randomized complete block with five replicates and grazed by four adult horses during 2010, 2011, and 2012. All mixtures contained four to six cool-season perennial grass species. Specie density measurements were taken in each spring and fall, and yield was mechanically measured before each grazing period. After grazing, preference was determined by visually assessing percentage of forage removal on a scale of 0 (no grazing) to 100 (100% of vegetation removed). Data were analyzed using a mixed-model analysis of variance and liner regression. Horses preferred mixtures containing tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and timothy (P < .001). Horses had less preference for mixtures containing ≥30% orchardgrass (P < .001). Mixtures had similar (P = .11) forage yields that ranged from 6,100 to 7,082 kg ha⁻¹. After 2 years of grazing, orchardgrass and tall fescue increased; Kentucky bluegrass remained stable; and festulolium, meadow fescue, and perennial ryegrass had the greatest rate of decline in mixtures. Orchardgrass became the dominate species, regardless of initial percentage in the mixture. Mixtures containing tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and timothy should be planted in midwestern US horse pastures; however, mixtures will likely transition to tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass–dominated pastures.     

基于DCCA方法分析气候变化对四川省粮食产量的影响

选取四川省23个气象台站1961-2012年的年气温距平、降水量距平数据等气象资料以及四川省粮食产量数据,应用非线性时间序列的去趋势互相关分析（DCCA）方法对四川省粮食产量与年平均气温和年平均降水量两个主要气候因子的相关性及其随时间变化特征进行分析。结果表明：四川省粮食产量与年平均气温和年平均降水量这两个主要气候因子之间均表现出强烈的长期持续的正相关性特征,标度不变区间在52a以上。进一步对1990-2012年气候变化对四川省粮食产量的影响进行DCCA滑移分析,结果显示,尽管受到区域性气候暖干化趋势的影响,四川省粮食产量出现不稳定波动现象,但粮食产量整体受气候变化的影响程度在逐渐减弱,这可能得益于近年来四川省农业资金及科技力度的大幅投入。     

花生田施用绿僵菌对土壤微生物群落的影响

昆虫病原真菌绿僵菌对地下害虫防治具有良好应用前景,而大量释放绿僵菌可能引起土著微生物群落变化,从而影响其植物保护的综合效果。本文研究了花生播种期施用绿僵菌后,在根际和根围土壤中绿僵菌自身种群及土著细菌、真菌和放线菌种群的消长和群落结构变化。结果表明,绿僵菌种群在30 d内快速下降,之后降速减缓,以低密度持续存活。随花生生长,土壤微生物自身有消长过程,施用绿僵菌对放线菌影响最大、真菌其次、细菌最小,在根际的影响大于在根围的影响。分别地,绿僵菌处理对根际和根围细菌、根围真菌无显著影响;使根际真菌种群初期的下降速度减缓,到达谷底时间由15 d推迟到30 d,但回升速度加快,达峰顶由60 d提前到45 d,峰值降低1/3;绿僵菌明显抑制了根际放线菌种群,使其消长变化周期与对照完全相反,且45 d时回落至低点后不再回升;绿僵菌减缓了根围放线菌种群下降,使达谷底时间由30 d推迟到45 d,且回升幅度减小。土壤微生物群落结构在施菌后15～30 d的幼苗至初花期有明显变化,细菌种群总体占比显著下降,但与对照相比,施菌后的根际细菌占比提高,真菌占比下降,放线菌占比显著地先抑后扬。在根围的变化相对较小。45 d即盛花期后,三类微生物结构逐渐恢复趋近原来状态。     

大豆菌核病鉴定方法研究进展

大豆菌核病在全球范围内均有发生,由于病原菌寄主范围较广,难于防治,对大豆产量和品质产生严重影响。对于大豆菌核病抗性种质资源的鉴定是抗性机理研究、基因定位及抗病育种工作的重要基础,文章对大豆菌核病资源鉴定中涉及的接种体(菌丝、孢子和菌核)的培养、植株不同部位的接种鉴定、草酸鉴定、茎中可溶性色素水平测定及田间鉴定方法进行了系统的总结和分析,并针对接种体的选择、环境条件对发病的影响及田间与温室鉴定结果不一致等问题展开讨论,为大豆菌核病抗性资源的筛选,菌核病发病机理及抗性基因的定位研究奠定基础。     

Source of mycorrhizal inoculum influences growth of Faidherbia albida seedlings

Poor land use management and practice inhibit the growth and establishment of tree seedlings in dryland areas.We assessed arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AM)status of Faidherbia albida(Del.)A.Chev.trees grown on different land uses.We quantified the growth and nutrient uptake of F.albida seedlings inoculated with AM from different sources.These efforts were based on soil and fine root samples from the rhizosphere soils of F.albida trees.AM root colonization was determined using the gridline intersect method.Spores were extracted by the wet sieving and decanting method and identified to genus level.The seedling experiment had a completely randomized onefactorial design with four treatments and five replications.Faidherbida albida seedlings were grown in a greenhouse.All in situ F.albida trees were colonized by AM fungi.AM root colonization of F.albida trees was significantly higher(P<0.0086)in area exclosures than on lands used for grazing or cultivation.Spore abundance was significantly higher(P<0.0014)in area exclosures followed by cultivated land and grazing land.Glomus was the dominant genus in all land-uses.AM-inoculated F.albida seedlings grew better(P<0.05)than non-inoculated controls.Seedlings inoculated with AM from area exclosure had significantly(P<0.05)higher growth and nutrient uptake than those inoculated with AM from grazing and cultivated land.This emphasizes the importance of the native soil AM potential for better establishment of seedlings to achieve optimum plant growth improvement and assist in rehabilitation of degraded arid lands.     

一类多时滞的离散捕食系统的持久性

研究了一类多时滞的离散捕食系统,运用差分方程的比较原理,得到了保证系统种群持续生存的充分条件,并对定理条件可实现性进行了实例数值验证.     

The effect of two different oxytetracycline treatments in experimental Ehrlichia phagocytophila infected lambs

The effect of 2 different oxytetracycline treatments in acute E. phagocytophila infected lambs was investigated. Twenty 5-month-old lambs of the Dala and Rygja breeds were used. Ten lambs were inoculated intravenously with a stabilate of an ovine E. phagocytophila strain. On the third day of fever, 4 lambs were given long-acting oxytetracycline (Terramycin prolongatum vet, Pfizer) (20 mg/kg) intramuscularly and another 4 lambs were given short-acting oxytetracycline (Terramycin vet, Pfizer) (10 mg/kg) intravenously for 5 consecutive days. The lambs were examined for the presence of Ehrlichia infection by blood smear evaluation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antibody titre against E. equi. One month after the last antibiotic treatment, 250 ml citrate blood from each of these lambs were inoculated into each of 10 susceptible lambs, which were observed during the following 6 weeks. The results indicate that oxytetracycline given in the acute stage of the infection may effectively terminate the development of fever, rickettsemia and weight reduction in E. phagocytophila infected lambs. No difference was observed between the 2 treatment groups. However, at least 3 of 8 antibiotic treated lambs (37.5%) were still infected with granulocytic Ehrlichia 3 months after treatment.     

不同秋眠类型苜蓿品种生产性能与持久性分析

通过对58份不同秋眠类型苜蓿品种再生性、持久性和产草量在呼和浩特的测定分析,结果表明:1)在全部参试材料与秋眠类型组中,苜蓿秋眠级和再生性正相关并达到极显著、显著水平;而在半秋眠类型组、非秋眠类型组中,苜蓿的再生性和秋眠级相关性很小。2)在全部参试材料、半秋眠类型组、非秋眠类型组中,首蓿的持久性与秋眠级负相关,但是在秋眠类型组中,首蓿秋眠级和持久性相关性很小。3)在全部参试材料、半秋眠类型组、非秋眠类型组中,苜蓿的产草量和秋眠级负相关;在秋眠类型组中,苜蓿的产草量和秋眠级正相关但不显著。