Winter Plants Research Articles

Distinct roles of H3K27me3 and H3K36me3 in vernalization response, maintenance, and resetting in winter wheat.

Winter plants rely on vernalization, a crucial process for adapting to cold conditions and ensuring successful reproduction. However, understanding the role of histone modifications in guiding the vernalization process in winter wheat remains limited. In this study, we investigated the transcriptome and chromatin dynamics in the shoot apex throughout the life cycle of winter wheat in the field. Two core histone modifications, H3K27me3 and H3K36me3, exhibited opposite patterns on the key vernalization gene VERNALIZATION1 (VRN1), correlating with its induction during cold exposure. Moreover, the H3K36me3 level remained high at VRN1 after cold exposure, which may maintain its active state. Mutations in FERTILIZATION-INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM (TaFIE) and SET DOMAIN GROUP 8/EARLY FLOWERING IN SHORT DAYS (TaSDG8/TaEFS), components of the writer complex for H3K27me3 and H3K36me3, respectively, affected flowering time. Intriguingly, VRN1 lost its high expression after the cold exposure memory in the absence of H3K36me3. During embryo development, VRN1 was silenced with the removal of active histone modifications in both winter and spring wheat, with selective restoration of H3K27me3 in winter wheat. The mutant of Tafie-cr-87, a component of H3K27me3 "writer" complex, did not influence the silence of VRN1 during embryo development, but rather attenuated the cold exposure requirement of winter wheat. Integrating gene expression with H3K27me3 and H3K36me3 patterns identified potential regulators of flowering. This study unveils distinct roles of H3K27me3 and H3K36me3 in controlling vernalization response, maintenance, and resetting in winter wheat.

Cold Acclimation and Deacclimation of Winter Oilseed Rape, with Special Attention Being Paid to the Role of Brassinosteroids.

Winter plants acclimate to frost mainly during the autumn months, through the process of cold acclimation. Global climate change is causing changes in weather patterns such as the occurrence of warmer periods during late autumn or in winter. An increase in temperature after cold acclimation can decrease frost tolerance, which is particularly dangerous for winter crops. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of brassinosteroids (BRs) and BR analogues as protective agents against the negative results of deacclimation. Plants were cold-acclimated (3 weeks, 4 °C) and deacclimated (1 week, 16/9 °C d/n). Deacclimation generally reversed the cold-induced changes in the level of the putative brassinosteroid receptor protein (BRI1), the expression of BR-induced COR, and the expression of SERK1, which is involved in BR signal transduction. The deacclimation-induced decrease in frost tolerance in oilseed rape could to some extent be limited by applying steroid regulators. The deacclimation in plants could be detected using non-invasive measurements such as leaf reflectance, chlorophyll a fluorescence, and gas exchange monitoring.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhanced resistance to low-temperature weak-light stress in snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L.) through physiological and transcriptomic responses.

Low temperature (LT) and weak light (WL) seriously affects the yield and quality of snapdragon in winter greenhouse. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) exert positive role in regulating growth and enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in plants. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms by AMF improve the LT combined with WL (LTWL) tolerance in snapdragon remain mostly unknown. We compared the differences in root configuration, osmoregulatory substances, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant enzyme defense systems and transcriptome between AMF-inoculated and control groups under LT, WL, low light, and LTWL conditions. Our analysis showed that inoculation with AMF effectively alleviated the inhibition caused by LTWL stress on snapdragon root development, and significantly enhanced the contents of soluble sugars, soluble proteins, proline, thereby maintaining the osmotic adjustment of snapdragon. In addition, AMF alleviated reactive oxygen species damage by elevating the contents of AsA, and GSH, and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), and glutathione reductase (GR). RNA-seq analysis revealed that AMF regulated the expression of genes related to photosynthesis (photosystem I related proteins, photosystem II related proteins, chlorophyll a/b binding protein), active oxygen metabolism (POD, Fe-SOD, and iron/ascorbate family oxidoreductase), plant hormone synthesis (ARF5 and ARF16) and stress-related transcription factors gene (bHLH112, WRKY72, MYB86, WRKY53, WRKY6, and WRKY26) under LTWL stress. We concluded that mycorrhizal snapdragon promotes root development and LTWL tolerance by accumulation of osmoregulatory substances, activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems, and induction expression of transcription factor genes and auxin synthesis related genes. This study provides a theoretical basis for AMF in promoting the production of greenhouse plants in winter.

103 Goats complement cattle in a woody-plant encroached, diverse Cross Timbers rangeland

Abstract Our objectives were to 1) determine diet selection of goats and cattle grazing woody plant-encroached tallgrass prairie, and, 2) determine the effect of the presence of goats on cattle diet selection. In 2019, pastures (n = 6) were allocated to 1 of 2 experimental grazing treatments. Pastures (n = 3) grazed by cattle only (crossbred Angus yearling heifers) were moderately grazed year-round at 4.2 ha per heifer. Pastures (n = 3) grazed by cattle (similar heifers) and goats (Boer x Spanish crossbred mature does) were moderately grazed year-round at 4.7 ha per heifer and 2.3 ha per goat simultaneously. Each pasture was burned in 6 patches (2 patches per year) to facilitate range management objectives. Every 35 d from May 2022 until June 2023, fecal samples were collected from all animals and stored frozen and later composited into 2 composites per animal species per pasture. Composites were then analyzed by a commercial lab with DNA barcoding and high-throughput sequencing. For statistical analysis, the top 50 Exact Sequence Variants (ESVs), representing species of forage, across all treatments were used for analysis. Each ESV was georeferenced to eliminate plants that did not grow in the study area, and assigned to a representative functional group: graminoid, forb, legume, and woody plant. Analysis of variance and Tukey’s post-hoc separation of estimated marginal means were performed to assess the effects of season, grazer species, and the interaction. The interaction of season and grazer species was significant (P < 0.01) for the percentage of diet selected from each functional group of plants. As expected, goats selected a greater percentage of their diet as woody plants in summer (57%) and winter (74%) compared with cattle (27%). Cattle selected more grass in winter (34%) than goats (11%). Goats selected more forbs in spring (33%) than cattle (10%). However, goats selected a lesser percentage of their diet as legumes in summer (16%) than cattle (58%), which was unexpected. Overall, these results indicate that both species of grazers select a diverse diet from these diverse pastures, and selection is dynamic over time. Goat presence in a pasture does not seem to drastically alter cattle selection, actually complementing cattle in these pastures where goats can be used to target species cattle do not prefer.

Effects of sample storage temperature and duration on the detection of foliar endophytes of tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.) in summer and winter.

Seasonal changes in the diversity of tea plant endophytic fungi and the effects of sample storage conditions on detection were analyzed. Tea leaves were collected from the Saitama Tea Research Institute in Japan during winter (January 2020) and summer (August 2020). The effects of storage temperature (5, 10, 20, 25, and 30°C) and durations (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 days) on endophytic fungal diversity and community structure were investigated. In summer, storage period and temperature did not affect the fungal colonization rate, frequency, and composition. In winter, storage temperature and period significantly affected the endophytic community structure. Fungal diversity was higher in winter than in summer. Positive relationships between diversity index and storage temperature and period were observed in winter, whereas the opposite trend was observed in summer. Our findings provide insight into the ecology of foliar endophytes of tea plants and the importance of proper sample collection and storage for microbiome studies.

Use of evergreen and deciduous plants by nocturnal-roosting birds: A case study in Beijing

With continually increasing urbanization, the land cover in urban areas continues to change, resulting in the loss of biodiversity. Birds are highly sensitive to changes in habitat. Most forest birds perch on plants that provide increased safety to reduce the risk of predation, and small birds may also consider insulation when using roosting plants in winter because of cold weather. Landscaping plants thus shape the nocturnal roosting environment of urban birds, and proper planting is essential for the survival of birds at night. The use of roosting plants by urban birds should therefore be studied to provide a reference for landscaping. In the current study, we observed 1865 nocturnal roosting birds in Beijing from 2021 to 2022, with 23 species of birds from 12 families and 45 species of plants from 22 families recorded. Juniperus chinensis exhibited the highest bird rarity-weighted richness, followed by Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Phyllostachys propinqua, Pinus tabuliformis, and Ulmus pumila. The diameter at breast height, tree height, and crown width of plants used by birds was largest in summer and smallest in winter, and the perch height of birds was the highest in spring and summer and the lowest in winter. Birds used the highest proportion of deciduous plants in summer and the highest proportion of evergreen plants in winter. A significant seasonal difference in the use of evergreen and deciduous plants by small birds was noted, with a preference for deciduous plants in summer and evergreen plants in winter, while this preference was not found in large birds. These findings indicate that evergreen plants provide a vital nocturnal roosting environment for small birds in winter. To provide a better nocturnal roosting habitat for urban birds, we recommend paying attention to the combination of evergreen and deciduous plants when carrying out landscape construction.

Topographic influence on ecohydrology in volcanic watersheds of the western Pacific monsoon area: evidence from water stable isotope composition of meteoric water, thermal water, and plants

ABSTRACT In Taiwanese volcanic watersheds, we investigated stable water isotopes in meteoric water, plants, and thermal water. Meteoric water exhibited a seasonal cycle, with heavier isotopes in winter and lighter ones in summer, especially in the southern region. The northern monsoon signal lagged the south by two weeks. In the Tatun mountains, young water fractions indicated prevalent old water sources. In the northern watershed, streamwater mainly came from the winter monsoon, while the southern one was influenced by alternating monsoons. Both indices indicated that winter plants depended on summer rainfall. Streamwater and plants had distinct sources in winter, supporting ecohydrological separation. Thermal spring water’s d-excess helped identify water–rock interactions, with low d value signaling such interactions. The topographic wetness index showed a higher summer monsoon contribution to southern streamwater but a lower one to plants. The mean linear channel direction significantly affected the monsoon contribution fraction, with northeast-oriented channels vulnerable to northeastward winter monsoons. Finally, we developed a model illustrating hydrological processes on short and long timescales. Our findings enhance our understanding of hydrological disturbances’ impact on water resources and ecosystems.

PsRGL1 negatively regulates chilling- and gibberellin-induced dormancy release by PsF-box1-mediated targeting for proteolytic degradation in tree peony.

Tree peony bud endodormancy is a common survival strategy similar to many perennial woody plants in winter, and the activation of the GA signaling pathway is the key to breaking endodormancy. GA signal transduction is involved in many physiological processes. Although the GA-GID1-DELLA regulatory module is conserved in many plants, it has a set of specific components that add complexity to the GA response mechanism. DELLA proteins are key switches in GA signaling. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify the key DELLA proteins involved in tree peony bud dormancy release. In this study, the prolonged chilling increased the content of endogenously active gibberellins. PsRGL1 among three DELLA proteins was significantly downregulated during chilling- and exogenous GA3-induced bud dormancy release by cell-free degradation assay, and a high level of polyubiquitination was detected. Silencing PsRGL1 accelerated bud dormancy release by increasing the expression of the genes associated with dormancy release, including PsCYCD, PsEBB1, PsEBB3, PsBG6, and PsBG9. Three F-box protein family members responded to chilling and GA3 treatments, resulting in PsF-box1 induction. Yeast two-hybrid and BiFC assays indicated that only PsF-box1 could bind to PsRGL1, and the binding site was in the C-terminal domain. PsF-box1 overexpression promoted dormancy release and upregulated the expression of the dormancy-related genes. In addition, yeast two-hybrid and pull-down assays showed that PsF-box1 also interacted with PsSKP1 to form an E3 ubiquitin ligase. These findings enriched the molecular mechanism of the GA signaling pathway during dormancy release, and enhanced the understanding of tree peony bud endodormancy.

Design of a low-cost active and sustainable autonomous system for heating agricultural greenhouses: A case study on strawberry (fragaria vulgaris) growth

The utilization of solar energy is a vital strategy in the agricultural sector's efforts to address and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This renewable resource can greatly decrease the industry's carbon footprint and play a significant role in combating climate change. In this context, this study examines an automatic solar system installed in a south-facing agricultural greenhouse and its effect on the growth of strawberry plants in winter. Heat is transferred from the environment during the day to the structure at night using this technology, which uses water flowing in a closed circuit that is put on the greenhouse roof. This system includes a battery, a photovoltaic solar panel to power some accessories, a copper coil placed within double glass on the greenhouse's roof, a water pump circulator, and storage tanks. Two greenhouses—one experimental with a solar heating system and the other reference without one—were used for the comparative experimental investigation. Both greenhouses are constructed on the terrace of Mohammed V University's Solar Energy and Environment Laboratory in Rabat, Morocco. An environmental monitoring system was built to automatically measure environmental parameters. Real-time data visualization and analysis may be done from any place via a website with the Internet of Things integrated into the system. The greenhouse's microclimate was improved by this low-cost technology, which also allowed for winter heating. Compared to the control greenhouse, this improvement allowed for a 17-day earlier harvest and a 30% reduction in irrigation water usage. The economic analysis findings show that the system is profitable for investments and energy savings.

Optimization of the Outlet Shape of an Air Circulation System for Reduction of Indoor Temperature Difference

This study proposes an air circulation system that can forcibly circulate the lowest cold air to the top of indoor smart farms, and it has a width, length, and height of 6, 12, and 2.5 m, respectively, to reduce the effect of temperature differences between the upper and lower parts on the growth rate of plants in winter. This study also aimed to reduce the temperature deviation generated between the upper and lower parts of the target indoor space by optimizing the shape of the manufactured outlet of the air circulation system. A table of L9 orthogonal arrays, which is a design of experiment methodology, was used, and it presented three levels of the following design variables: blade angle, blade number, output height, and flow radius. Flow analysis was performed for the experiments on the nine models to minimize the high time and cost requirements. Based on the derived analysis results, an optimized prototype was manufactured by applying the Taguchi method, and experiments were conducted by installing 54 temperature points in an indoor space to identify the temperature difference between the upper and lower parts over time for the performance experiment. Under natural convection, the minimum temperature deviation was 2.2 °C and the temperature difference between the upper and lower parts did not decrease. For a model without an outlet shape, such as a vertical fan, the minimum temperature deviation was 0.8 °C and at least 530 s were required to reach a difference of less than 2 °C. When air was circulated in the air circulation system with the proposed outlet shape, the minimum temperature deviation was 0.6 °C and the time required to reach a difference of less than 2 °C was 440 s. Using the proposed air circulation system, cooling and heating costs are expected to be reduced in summer and winter because the arrival time and temperature difference between the upper and lower parts can be reduced using the outlet shape compared with the case without the outlet shape.

Analysis on the relationships between dust retention amount and leaf stomata traits of five evergreen plants

Air pollution in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region has caused widespread concern. In winter, the combustion of fossil fuel produces a very high proportion of fine particulate matter in the air. However, the vegetation coverage is relatively low. The dust retention of evergreen plants is particularly important for improving air quality. In this study, five evergreen species were selected, and the effects of leaf stomatal characteristics (stomatal width, stomatal length and stomatal density) of greening plants in winter on leaf dust retention were explored. The results showed that: (1) The highest percentage of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 were retained by Yucca gloriosa, followed by Buxus sinica and Phyllostachys propinqua (2) There was a positive correlation between stomatal density, stomatal width and TSTP, while the correlation between stomatal length and TSTP was low. Our study can provide scientific guidance for plant planning to improve urban air pollution.

INFLUENCE OF PRESSURE IN THE TURBINE CONDENSER ON HEAT SUPPLY EFFICIENCY OF NPP WITH HEAT PUMP

The use of a heat pump for heat supply makes it possible to practically stop thermal pollution of the environment during the operation of thermal and nuclear power plants in winter. If a steam turbine condenser is used as a low-potential energy source for heat pump, the amount of released thermal energy will be equal to the sum of the thermal power of the NPP condenser and the power of the heat pump compressors. From the point of view of environmental safety, heat supply by combining power plant with a heat pump is an urgent task. But it is known that the due to the lack of steam extraction for water heating, the additional electrical power of the cogeneration heat and power plant will be less than the capacity of the heat pump compressors. Thus, in terms of thermodynamic efficiency, the use of a heat pump loses to a traditional cogeneration plant. The purpose of the work is to determine the influence of the final pressure in the turbine condenser on the thermodynamic efficiency of a nuclear power plant with a heat pump. A mathematical model of the thermal scheme of the K-1000-5.8/1500 NPP turbo-plant during summer and winter operation with heating plant has been developed. With the heating plant capacity of 230 MW, the electric capacity of NPP unit decreases by 43.5 MW. A mathematical model of a heat pump has been developed, for which a steam turbinecondenser is used as a low-potential energy source. To ensure the release of 230 MW of heat, the power of the heat pump compressor must be 48.4 MW. Thus, if the heating plant is replaced with a heat pump of the same capacity, the electric power will decrease by 4.8 MW. Calculations were made regarding the influence of the final pressure in the condenser on the exergetic efficiency of the NPP with heat pump, which uses the entire capacity of the turbine condenser. The analysis of the obtained results showed that the exergetic efficiency due to the increase in electric power released in winter increases with the increase of the final pressure in the condenser. This is explained by an increase in the heat pump coefficient of performance.

Analysis on Feasibility of Applying Low-Temperature Emission to Coal-fired Power Plant in Cold Weather

After the ultra-low emission(ULE) transformation, the emissions of ULE coal-fired power plants in China have been reduced greatly. However, considering the total amount of emissions, coal-fired power plants are still among the largest sources. And there may still have great potential in the removal of colored plume and some unconventional pollutants such as condensable particles matter (CPM) and sulfur trioxide (sulfuric acid mist). Though in cold days, hazes occur frequently. Besides, low-temperature condensation is conducive to the condensation and removal of vapor, CPM and sulfur trioxide in the flue gas. In this paper, a new method of low-temperature flue gas emission is proposed for coal-fired power plants in severe cold areas. The flue gas is cooled by ambient air, and discharged without reheating, and remarkable effects can be achieved in removing the pollutants. The technical feasibility and environmental compliance of applying this method to a power plant in cold weather have been analyzed. The results show that low-temperature emission of flue gas for coal-fired power plants in winter is effective in water-saving, emission reduction of pollutants and elimination of wet plume.

Levels, sources, and risk assessment of PAHs residues in soil and plants in urban parks of Northwest China

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) will be ingested by people through different ways to threaten their health during play, so the environmental quality of the park directly affects the health of tourists and residents. Using eight typical parks in Urumqi in Northwest China as the study area, we used GC–MS to detect the PAHs content in the park surface soil and 10 common plants in the park in different seasons. The results showed that the content of PAHs in park soil in the summer was 5–6 times that in the winter, and the monomer PAHs in some park soil sampling points were higher than the soil pollution risk screening value. And the contamination level at these sampling sites was also higher compared to other sampling sites. In summer, the plants with high PAHs content in leaves are short herbs, while in winter, they are tall arbors. The PAHs of the park soil are mainly composed of high-cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and are mainly of traffic origin. The proportion of low-ring aromatic hydrocarbons in the winter was significantly higher than that in the summer. The source of PAHs in plants in summer is similar to that in soil, but the source of PAHs in plants in winter is more complex. The toxicity equivalent concentration method values of soil PAHs in South Park, Zhiwu Park, Shihua Park and Toutunhe Park were higher than that in other parks. The lifetime carcinogenic risk (ILCRs) values of some sampling points in these four parks in the summer were relatively high. The average ILCRs of adults and children in all parks reached a low-risk level in summer. The carcinogenic risk in children is much higher than that of adults.

Behavior of snow monkeys hunting fish to survive winter

Japanese macaques, Macaca fuscata, of Kamikochi in the Japanese Alps endure one of the coldest and harshest environments during winter when scarcity of food puts them at risk. However, various behaviors have evolved to mitigate potential mortality. These macaques typically eat bamboo leaves and the bark of woody plants in winter, but our previous study using the feces of Japanese macaques collected in the winter and DNA metabarcoding analysis revealed conclusively for the first time consumption of riverine benthos and brown trout. In this paper, we investigate how Japanese macaques hunt fish and collect these riverine biota by extensively observing their behavior, including the use of infrared sensor cameras. Many researchers have tracked Japanese macaques as part of behavioral and ecological studies, but previously the techniques by which Japanese macaques capture swimming fish has not been documented. Herein, for the first time we consider how novel macaque foraging behavior traits have evolved to secure valuable animal protein for winter survival when food resources are scarce.

Biological nitrogen removal and metabolic characteristics of a novel cold-resistant heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification Rhizobium sp. WS7

For improving the poor de-nitrogen efficiency and effluent quality faced by wastewater treatment plants in winter, a novel cold-resistant strain, Rhizobium sp. WS7 was isolated. Strain WS7 presented dramatic de-nitrogen efficiencies including 98.73 % of NH4+-N, 99.98 % of NO3–-N, 100 % of NO2–-N and approximately 100 % of mixed nitrogen (NH4+-N and NO3–-N) at 15 °C. Optimum parameters of WS7 for aerobic denitrification were determined. Additionally, functional genes (amoA, napA, nirK, norB, and nosZ) and key enzymes (nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase) activities were determined. Nitrogen balance analysis suggested that assimilation played a dominant role in de-nitrogen by WS7, the NH4+-N metabolic pathway was deduced as NH4+-N → NH2OH → NO → N2O → N2, and the NO3–-N/NO2–-N metabolic pathway was deduced as NO3–-N → NO2–-N → NO → N2O → N2. The cold-resistant Rhizobium sp. WS7 has great application feasibility in cold sewage treatment.

The relative dominance of denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) under four vegetation types in a typical coastal wetland

Denitrification (DNF) and dissimilatory nitrate (NO3−) reduction to ammonium (DNRA) are the two most important biological processes during NO3− reductions in soil, which participating in the N2O production balance in ecosystem. However, the relative contribution and driving factors of these two biological processes in coastal wetlands, and their relationship with different vegetation/seasonal changes have not been well studied. We investigated the DNF, DNRA and the bacterial community structure with different vegetation belts (mudflat (no plant growth, Mud.), Spartina alterniflora (Spa.), Phragmites australis (Phr.), and the intergrowth area of Phragmites australis and Spartina alterniflora (Int.) in summer and winter at a coastal wetland in Chongming Dongtan, China in 2018. Results showed that the DNF rate was highest in the Phr. soil in summer, and in the Spa. soil in winter. In contrast, the DNRA rate was found highest in the Spa. soil than other belts in summer. Both the DNRA and DNF rates in the Spa. soil was higher in winter than those in summer. And the DNRA/DNF ratios ranged from 5 to 10 across different vegetation types and seasons. The DNRA, rather than DNF, was the dominating process in NO3− reduction in this coastal wetland. Interestingly, the DNRA/DNF ratios were positively correlated with soil NO3− concentrations. It was found that at phylum level Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria were the predominant bacteria. Clostridiales, Gammaproteobacteria and Ramlibacter were observed in summer but disappeared in winter; They were replaced by Bacillaceae, Lysinibacillus and Paenibacillus in winter. This study has important implications for facilitating N conservation in soils and alleviating N2O emissions in coastal wetlands through harvesting withered plants in winter, particularly for Spa. to reduce the input of organic C into soils and enhance DNRA rates substantially.

An ethnobiological study on traditional knowledge associated with black-boned sheep (Ovis aries) in Northwest Yunnan, China

BackgroundBlack-boned sheep is a precious genetic resource with black quality traits cultivated by the Pumi people in Tongdian Town, Lanping County, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Northwest Yunnan, China. It has been included in the “National Breed List of Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources.” The local communities have a deep understanding of black-boned sheep. The traditional knowledge of black-boned sheep is essential to their conservation and sustainable development. In spite of this, there was no information on traditional knowledge associated with black-boned sheep so far. The aim of this study wasaimed to document traditional knowledge and culture, to elucidate information about forage plants, and to investigate the conservation strategy of black-boned sheep.MethodFour field surveys were conducted from July 2019 to May 2021. A total of seven villages and the Pumi Culture Museum in Lanping County are being investigated. A semi-structured interview method was used to interview 67 key informants. During the investigation, we also participated in the grazing activities of black-boned sheep, observed the appearance characteristics and the herd structure of the black-boned sheep, and demonstrated traditional knowledge regarding black-boned sheep, including grazing methods, forage plants, and related customs and habits.ResultsWe assumed that a majority of people in the current study sites were able to could distinguish black-boned sheep from their relatives by their black bones, blue-green gums, and blue-purple anus. The local people manage their black-boned sheep based on the number of sheep by sex, age, and role in a flock in the different breeding environments. Different grazing strategies have been adopted in different seasons. Through ethnobotanical investigations, 91 species of forage plants in 30 families were identified, including herbaceous, shrubs, lianas, and trees. Among all the plant species consumed by the black-boned sheep, Rosaceae species make up the greatest number, with 16, followed by Asteraceae, with 9, and 8 species of Fabaceae and Poaceae. Considering the abundance of forage plants and the preference for black-boned sheep, Prinsepia utilis and the plants of Rubus, Berberis, and Yushania occupy dominant positions. Plants used for foraging are divided into two categories: wild and cultivated. Due to the lack of forage plants in fall and winter, the local people mainly cultivate crops to feed their black-boned sheep. In addition, the black-boned sheep is an influential cultural species in the local community and plays a prominent role in the cultural identity of the Pumi people.ConclusionSheep play an essential role in the inheritance of the spiritual culture and material culture of the Pumi ethnic group. The formation of the black-boned sheep is inseparable from the worship of sheep by the Pumi people. With a long-term grazing process, the locals have developed a variety of traditional knowledge related to black-boned sheep. This is the experience that locals have accumulated when managing forests and grasslands. Therefore, both the government and individuals should learn from the local people when it comes to protecting black-boned sheep. No one knows black-boned sheep better than them. The foremost evidence of this is the rich traditional knowledge of breeding black-boned sheep presented by key informants.

Does amount of cut vegetal residue on the canopy influence growth and the structural characteristics of marandu palisadegrass?

The pasture mowing in late winter removes the old forage, improving the pasture structure in spring and summer. However, the residue after mowing can affect tillering, thus limiting forage production and the structural characteristics of pasture. We hypothesized that the high amount of cut vegetal residues on the plants in late winter causes a decrease in forage production and modifies the structural characteristics of the forage canopy during the spring and summer. The treatments were four cut vegetal residues (0; 2,000; 4,000 and 8,000 t ha-1 of natural material) deposited on Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu canopy in late winter. After that, the forage production and structure characteristics were evaluated during the spring and summer for two years. The complete randomized block design, with four replications, was used. The defoliation management was characterized by the adoption of pre- and post-cut heights of 25 and 15 cm, respectively. For both years, there was no effect of cut vegetal residue on all the characteristics evaluated. No variable was affected by the interaction cut vegetal residue amount × year of evaluation. The dead leaf blade percentage was greater in year 2 (6.9%) than in year 1 (3.5%). The average values of variables were live leaf blade percentage = 84.2%; live stem percentage = 8.7%; dead stem percentage = 1.9%; number of vegetative tiller = 653 tiller/m2; number of reproductive tiller = 5 tiller m-2. The forage production rate presented an average value of 46 kg/ha/day of dry matter. The cut vegetal residue amount of up to 8,000 t/ha of natural material on the plants in late winter does not affect the forage production or modifies the structural characteristics of marandu palisadegrass during the subsequent spring and summer.

The impact of mineral nutrition on winter barley yields while using mustard as a precursor crop

The impact of mineral nutrition on winter barley yields while using mustard as a precursor crop