Significant Differences In Yield Research Articles

The impact of the long-term application of mineral nitrogen and sewage sludge fertilizers on the quality of soil organic matter

BackgroundSoil fertility is substantially influenced by soil organic matter quality and quantity. Much attention has also been given to glomalin content as one of the qualitative parameters of soil fertility. Glomalin content is considered an indicator of soil fertility due to its positive correlation with soil organic carbon.AimThis study aim to (i) determine the influence of different fertilization systems on maize yield and soil organic matter quality parameters, (ii) ensure that changes in total glomalin content (TG) and easily extractable glomalin (EEG) content are sensitive enough to reflect changes in the SOM quality resulting from long-term fertilization, and (iii) determine whether both forms of glomalin must be determined or if the easily extractable glomalin (EEG) content is sufficient, even for a fertile chernozem.Materials and methodsLong-term field experiments with silage maize monocultures were used to study relationships under different rates of mineral nitrogen and sewage sludge fertilization. The trials comprised 5 treatments: (i) no fertilization control (Con), (ii) and (iii) two different calcium ammonium nitrate rates (N120 and N240 at doses of 120 and 240 kg N ha−1 year−1, respectively), and iv) and v) two different sewage sludge rates (S120 and S240 corresponding to mineral N doses). Topsoil (0–30 cm) analysis was performed 28 years after the onset of the experiment to determine soil organic carbon, the fractions of humic substances, potentially mineralizable carbon and dissolved organic carbon, the potential wettability index, soil aggregate stability, EEG, and total glomalin (TG).ResultsThe control treatment, which did not include fertilization, showed significantly lower average yields (9.76 t DM ha−1 year−1) than the fertilization treatments (on average 12.3 DM ha−1 year−1). Significant differences in yields were not found between the fertilization treatments. A positive correlation between glomalin (EEG, TG) content and soil organic matter carbon content was observed. A periodic application of sewage sludge increased the content of glomalin. However, the highest quality of SOM was found in the control treatment (nonfertilized). This treatment had the highest values for the humic/fulvic acid ratio and the highest contents of humic acids and potentially mineralizable carbon. Furthermore, the Con treatment showed the highest soil aggregate stability and potential wettability index. Mineral N fertilization significantly reduced soil aggregate stability values.ConclusionsThe unfertilized control showed the highest SOM quality but the lowest yields. The data on glomalin content can be used to study soil organic matter quality. Because the EEG extraction method is easy to apply, uses lower quantities of chemicals and consumes less time, it presents a better option than TG extraction. The sensitivity of the methods for SOM quality determination decreases with increasing SOM content.Graphical

Chicory Taproot Production: Effects of Biostimulants under Partial or Full Controlled Environmental Conditions

Two trials were conducted on chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) grown under greenhouse and growth chamber conditions with the aim to evaluate the potential of three biostimulants (seaweed extract (SWE), animal-derived protein hydrolysate (APH), and vegetal-derived protein hydrolysate (VPH) on improving quali-quantitative traits of taproot, in short and out-of-season production cycles. In the greenhouse trial, VPH biostimulant promoted the inulin yield on a per-hectare basis with respect to the untreated control and APH. Taproot fresh weights, dry weights, and diameter in VPH-treated plants increased in comparison with APH-treated ones. SWE-treated plants showed intermediate values of the root production parameters and the inulin yield, with no statistical difference with VPH, APH, and control. In the growth room trial, SWE, VPH, and control showed no significant differences in growth, root yield, and quality. The results demonstrated that VPH can be useful for improving root production and inulin yield of chicory under partial controlled conditions such as in a greenhouse, whereas no benefits of biostimulant applications on crop yield and quality traits were recorded in growth chambers under full control of micro-climate conditions.

Helical CT versus intermittent CT fluoroscopic guidance for musculoskeletal needle biopsies: impact on radiation exposure, procedure time, diagnostic yield, and adverse events.

Image-guided percutaneous needle biopsies are essential in the workup of musculoskeletal (MSK) lesions. While helical CT (HCT) is well established, intermittent CT fluoroscopy (iCTF) is an increasingly used alternative. The purpose of this study is to establish whether differences in subject radiation exposure, procedure time, yield, or adverse events exist between HCT and iCTF guidance. This retrospective cohort study included consecutive MSK needle biopsies performed on a single-CT scanner over a 12-month period at a tertiary academic center. Subject demographics, radiation dose, and outcomes were abstracted from the medical record. Comparisons between the two cohorts were performed using Student's t-test for continuous data and using Fisher's exact test for categorical data and a two-tailed p value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Two hundred sixteen adults (115 (53.2%) females) with a mean age of 58.8 ± 18.4years, underwent 216 biopsies (109 (50.5%) HCT guided, 107 (49.5%) iCTF guided) between June 2017 and June 2018. Dose-length product (DLP) and volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) were significantly higher for the HCT cohort (HCT 698.9 ± 400.8 mGycm vs iCTF 312.8 ± 170.8 mGycm; p < 0.005 and HCT 19.1mGy ± 8.8 vs iCTF 6.9mGy ± 1.5, p < 0.001). No significant difference in diagnostic yield, procedure time, or adverse event rate was identified. For CT-guided MSK needle biopsies, iCTF decreases subject radiation dose compared to HCT without negatively affecting outcomes. iCTF should be strongly considered by radiologists performing MSK biopsies given the reduced patient radiation exposure.

Susceptibility of invasive tunicates Clavelina oblonga to reduced seawater salinities

The intensive colonial tunicate Clavelina oblonga invasion was observed in the summer of 2020 at shellfish farms located on the western and eastern coasts of the Istrian peninsula (NE, Adriatic, Croatia). Aquaculture facilities create an ideal environment for ascidians, therefore, as a possible environmentally friendly eradication measure, laboratory experimental exposure of C. oblonga to different reduced seawater salinities of 37, 30, 20 and 11 was examined in November 2020. During the total observation time (14 days exposure + 14 days of recovery at 37) at all seawater salinities, there was no sexual reproduction of Clavelina specimens and larvae settlement in general. Salinities of 37 and 30 didn’t provoke any significant effect in colonial corpus weight change and morphology. Salinities of 20 and 11 caused disorder in specimens feed uptake and feeding itself which led to change of colour, tissue necrosis and finally body fragmentation. Similar separate laboratory exposure of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis specimens did not provoke significant differences in meat yield between control 37 salinity (14.0 %) and reduced salinities of 30 (14.2 %), 20 (14.6 %) and 11 (15.3 %) measured at the end of the recovery experiment. Based on our experimental results of C. oblonga salinity susceptibility and field observations (2020–2021), we can assume that field translocation of overgrown mussels and infrastructures to locations of seawater < 20 salinities could be a natural way for its eradication.

Impact of controlled drainage on corn yield under varying precipitation patterns: A synthesis of studies across the U.S. Midwest and Southeast

Controlled drainage (CD) is a valuable management practice for reducing drainage volume and nutrient loss, but its impact on corn (Zea mays L.) production is not completely understood. The objectives of this study were to investigate the regional effect of CD on corn grain yield compared to free drainage (FD), investigate the factors influencing corn yield response to CD, provide management recommendations for optimizing corn yield under CD, and identify future research needs for corn production on poorly drained soils with subsurface drainage systems. This synthesis included data collected from 13 field sites where corn was planted under both FD and CD in six U.S. Midwestern states and North Carolina totaling 55 site-years of data from 2006 to 2017. On average, there was no statistically significant difference in corn grain yield between CD (10.62 Mg/ha) and FD (10.53 Mg ha−1). However, 42% of the dataset indicated that CD either increased or decreased corn yield by 4% or more compared to FD. Further analysis was conducted on this subset of data in order to evaluate underlying factors (i.e., weather conditions during the season, soil type, and drainage system design and management) influencing corn yield response to CD. Results of this analysis showed that CD was effective in alleviating plant stress caused by mild to moderate drought conditions and subsequently increased corn grain yield by 4–14% in 12 site-years. In contrast, CD reduced corn grain yield by 4–10% during wet growing seasons (6 site-years). Variability in growing season precipitation has been identified as a key factor influencing corn grain yield under CD, and more active management or CD system automation is recommended. General recommendations are provided for managing manually operated CD systems in the U.S. Midwest to improve growing season water management and corn yield. Additional research to develop technologically advanced water management systems for crop production on poorly drained soils is needed in order to adapt to changing weather patterns.

Advancing Sowing Time and Conservation Tillage - The Climate-Resilient Approach to Enhance the Productivity and Profitability of Wheat.

Field experiments consisting of two sowing time (early and timely), two tillage options (conventional tillage and conservation tillage) and ten genotypes were conducted with the aim to maximize the wheat productivity and profitability. The early sowing (second fortnight of October) produced 16.0% higher grain yield compared to timely sowing (mid-November) in northern Indian Plains. However, no significant yield differences were observed between conventional tillage (CT) and conservation tillage (CST) practices. Among genotypes, the better yielders were PBW 723, BISA 927 and HD 2967. The interaction of sowing time and genotype had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on wheat yield. However, the interaction of genotype and tillage did not produce any significant response on wheat yield. The experiments conducted at farmer's fields also demonstrated similar performance of wheat under CT and CST systems but CST offered the savings of more than Rs. 3500 (US $ 47) along with 125kg ha- 1 lesser CO2 emissions over CT due to reduction in fuel consumption associated with tillage and seed bed operations. At farmers field also, early sown wheat yielded 5.5% higher over wheat sown in November. The results of present studies show that early sowing of high yielding wheat genotypes under CST practice enhanced the productivity and profitability of wheat under rice-wheat cropping system along with lesser noxious impact on the environment. Amidst climate vagary and its menace on the agriculture, the adoption of climate-resilient management practices such as advancing the sowing time and conservation tillage can improve the productivity of long duration wheat cultivars in sub-tropical humid conditions besides lesser deleterious consequences on the environment.

Interactive effects of reduced irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on resource use efficiency, forage nutritive quality, yield, and economic benefits of spring wheat in the arid region of Northwest China

In arid regions, supplemental irrigation and fertilization are the major driving factors for sustaining crop production. With the increasing water scarcity, rising fertilizer costs, and growing environmental concerns, identifying appropriate irrigation and nitrogen (N) amounts for simultaneously improving resource use efficiency and yield benefits is essential for sustainable crop production in arid regions. A two-year field study was conducted in the arid region of Northwest China to evaluate the effects of reduced irrigation and N treatments, including W80F75 (600 mm irrigation and 225 kg N ha−1), W80F50 (600 mm irrigation and 150 kg N ha−1), W60F75 (450 mm irrigation and 225 kg N ha−1), and W60F50 (450 mm irrigation and 150 kg N ha−1) on resource use efficiency, forage yield (DM), forage nutritive values, grain yield, and economic benefit of spring wheat in comparison with the farmers' management practice (W100F100, 750 mm irrigation and 300 kg N ha−1). Results indicated that moderately reduced irrigation and N (W80F75) significantly improved the forage nutritive quality, evident by high crude protein yield, relative feed value, digestible dry matter, dry matter intake, total digestible nutrients, and net energy for lactation. No significant difference in DM yield was observed between W100F100 and W80F75 treatments during both years. However, the grain yield for W80F75 treatment was 12.9 % greater than that of W100F100 in 2015. In addition, W80F75 treatment increased the resource use efficiency, net returns, and cost-befit ratios by reducing the input amounts while maintaining comparable yields to that of W100F100. However, the W80F50, W60F75, and W60F50 treatments significantly decreased the DM, grain yield, nutritive values, resource efficiency and economic benefits of spring wheat compared to W80F75. Therefore, the application of 600 mm irrigation and 225 kg N ha−1 to spring wheat is an appropriate management practice for reducing inputs while achieving high resource use efficiency, forage quality and economic benefits without compromising the yield of spring wheat in the arid region of Northwest China.

A cadmium-tolerant bacterium (Cupriavidus taiwanensis KKU2500-3) reduces cadmium accumulation in grains of KDML105 rice cultivated in a contaminated paddy field

Cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soil is an important environmental issue affecting the global production of economically important plants, such as rice. This study assessed the effects of Cd-tolerant Cupriavidus taiwanensis KKU2500-3 on the growth and yield of and Cd accumulation in KDML105 rice grown in a Cd-contaminated paddy field. The plots were divided into a no-Cd plot and plots with 2.44 and 2.73 (LOW), 7.43 and 9.60 (M1), and 10.69 and 14.17 (M2) of available and total Cd (in ppm), respectively. The physicochemical properties of paddy soils varied among the plots. No significant differences in yield and related parameters were found between noninoculated and KKU2500-3-inoculated rice, but the panicle number, 1000-grain weight, and filled-grain percentage were higher in the KKU2500-3-inoculated rice. An analysis of the total Cd-tolerant bacteria that colonized KKU2500-3-inoculated rice revealed 99% similarity to KKU2500-3. The Cd content in inoculated rice roots at 30, 60 and 120 DAT was 7.9–8.7%, 0.4–82.9%, and 13.0–81.8% higher than that in noninoculated rice, respectively, but was significantly lower than those in shoots and leaves. In addition, the root-to-shoot translocation of Cd in inoculated rice was lower than that in noninoculated rice, and the Cd content in KKU2500-3-inoculated rice grains was 41.14% (0.162 ppm), 24.76% (0.255 ppm) and 83.20% (0.316 ppm) lower in the LOW, M1, and M2 plots, respectively. In summary, C . taiwanensis KKU2500-3 effectively colonized and reduced Cd accumulation in KDML105 rice grains, and KKU2500-3 inoculation into rice at the early growth stage successfully produced low-Cd KDML105 rice grains in Cd-contaminated paddy fields. • Bacterium was highly competitive and successfully colonized rice tissues. • Colonized bacteria restricted Cd in roots and reduced translocation of Cd to shoots. • Cd contents in rice grains were below the CODEX standard of 0.4 ppm Cd.

Melatonin regulates material transport to reduce carbon emissions and increase yield under different nitrogen in rice

Carbon and nitrogen metabolism regulates yield formation and greenhouse gas emissions in rice. Melatonin can promote stress resistance under abiotic stress, but its ability to regulate carbon and nitrogen transport remains unclear. Therefore, this study explored the response mechanism of melatonin in rice under reduced nitrogen application. To further understand whether melatonin regulates carbon and nitrogen transport to increase production and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. At the heading stage, 100 μmol L−1 melatonin was sprayed under normal fertilization, 85% nitrogen, 50% nitrogen, and 0% nitrogen treatments. Physiological detection, metabolomics analysis, and gas chromatography were used to study the response mechanism of melatonin to carbon and nitrogen metabolism accumulation and transport, and its effect on greenhouse gas emissions under different nitrogen fertilizer conditions was studied. The results revealed that melatonin could improve the genes related to sucrose transporter and nitrogen uptake under the condition of a 15% reduction of normal nitrogen application, thereby increasing the content of non-structural carbohydrates and nitrogen, promoting their transport to grains, and reducing rhizosphere transport to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There was no significant difference in yield between the melatonin treatment and normal fertilization under 15% nitrogen fertilizer reduction, but methane and nitrous oxide emissions were significantly reduced. The results of this study provide preliminary evidence for the response mechanism of exogenous melatonin to carbon and nitrogen metabolism in rice under different nitrogen treatments.

Effective farm management promotes native AMF and benefit organic farming systems

Using soil inoculants containing naturally occurring beneficial microorganisms has become a popular practice in sustainable agriculture. However, an understanding of the environmental variables that affect plant-microbe interactions and the benefit of using commercial inoculum is relatively sparse. To address this, we examined the efficiency of three different methods to inoculate AMF (Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi) in organic vegetable farms in south Texas: cover cropping, application of farm-produced (indigenous) AMF inoculum, and use of commercially available AMF inoculum. We examined these different application methods on growth of jalapeno pepper (Capsicum annuum), and bunching onions (Allium fistulosum). We found that abundance of AMF could be significantly augmented using cover crops such as sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea), sorghum (Sorghum drummondii), and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) during the summer fallow periods. These cover crops were associated with a 2.5–3-fold increase in spore abundance in the rhizosphere. In addition, on-farm produced inoculum had a higher root colonization rate in cash crops compared to the commercial inoculum. Pepper plants treated with indigenous AMF flowered and produced fruits 5 days earlier on average compared to the commercial inoculum and control, but there was no significant difference in the total yield across the different treatments. However, for bunching onions, plants treated with on-farm produced indigenous AMF resulted in bigger plants, with about 5 g more total biomass, resulting in higher yield, and with no significant difference between commercial AMF treatment and control. Taken together, our study shows that the on-farm produced inoculum has the potential to provide greater agronomic benefits than commercial AMF inoculum in organic agriculture systems.

Irrigation Management Based on Theoretical Requirements Reduces Water Consumption in Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) Orchards without Effects on Fruit Yield and Components

This research examines the effects of two irrigation strategies on water use efficiency and fruit yield components of ‘Royal Gala’ and ‘Brookfield Gala’ apple orchards in south-central Chile. The study was carried out during the 2008–2009 and 2009–2010 growing seasons at two sites. A randomized block experimental design was established with two water application treatments: theoretical volume required by the plant (T1) and farm protocol (T2). Soil water content, plant water potential and yield components were evaluated. The soil water content in T2 was near field capacity while T1 was between the permanent wilting point and field capacity for both seasons and varieties. With T1, the seasonal volume applied was 21 to 28% less compared to T2, with season savings of 1600 m3 ha−1. No effect on plant water potential was observed. In ‘Royal Gala’ the lower volume applied in T1 did not lead to significant differences in fruit diameter, weight, or yield in either season as compared to T2. In ‘Brookfield Gala’, yield during the 2008–2009 season increased significantly, by 22.9% in treatment T1, and in the 2009–2010 season, significant reductions (p &lt; 0.05) in fruit diameter (5.3%) and weight (12.9%) were observed in T2. Productivity per volume of applied water in T1 was 32% to 56% greater than that obtained with T2. The results show the effectiveness of the irrigation strategy considering the theoretical volume of water required by the plant.

Çanakkale Kıyılarında Dağılım Gösteren Holothuria (Roweothuria) poli (Delle Chiaje, 1823)'nin Besin ve Mineral Kompozisyonlarındaki Mevsimsel Değişimler

Sea cucumbers are soft-bodied echinoderms and some species are highly economic thanks to their unique biochemical compositions. Holothuria (Roweothuria) poli is an economically important species in Turkey and has been extensively exploited in the Mediterranean to meet the international market demand in the last decade. In this study, meat yield, proximate and mineral compositions of H. poli from the coasts of Çanakkale,Turkey, were investigated to determine the effect of seasons on food product quality and safety. The lowest meat yield was determined in the autumn samples, whereas the highest levels were in the samples from the spring to summer. The percent levels of moisture, protein, fat, ash, and carbohydrate levels were in the range of 80.8 - 84.0, 7.6 - 10.1, 1.4 - 1.8, 6.2 - 7.1, and 0.2 - 0.8, respectively. The levels of minerals were found in declining order; Na &amp;gt;Ca&amp;gt;Mg&amp;gt; K &amp;gt;S&amp;gt; P&amp;gt;Si&amp;gt; B&amp;gt; Mn&amp;gt; Zn&amp;gt; Fe&amp;gt; Cu&amp;gt; Hg&amp;gt; Pb&amp;gt; Sn&amp;gt; Se&amp;gt; Cr&amp;gt; As&amp;gt; Co&amp;gt; Sb&amp;gt; Ni&amp;gt; Cd&amp;gt; Pt. Apart from macro minerals, Si and B were determined as the most abundant minerals. The important minerals in human nutrition were found to be at desirable levels, whereas toxic minerals were found under the threshold levels. Our findings indicated significant seasonal differences in meat yield, proximate and mineral compositions of H. poli, but more importantly, this species tends to accumulate some minerals regardless of seasons. Further studies to better understand the optimal utilization season by determining the mineral accumulation tendency and product quality will be valuable for future research.

Combining humic acid with NPK fertilizer improved growth and yield of chili pepper in dry season

This research aimed to study the effect of humic acid and NPK fertilizer (15:15:15) on growth and yield of red chili, and to obtain the most suitable composition of humic acid and NPK fertilizer which gave the best growth and yield. The study used a randomized block design with five replications. The treatments tested were the composition of humic acid and NPK fertilizer: 100% humic acid; 75% humic acid + 25% NPK; 50% humic acid + 50% NPK; 25% humic acid + 75% NPK; and 100% NPK. Data on plant growth and yield were processed by Analysis of Variance, and means were compared using Fisher’s Least Significant Difference test. In addition, data on plant biochemical and soil chemical parameters were determined compositely by mixing leaves taken from sample plants or soil samples into one homogenous sample. Results showed that there was no significant difference in growth and yield of plants treated with 100% humic acid in comparison with those plants treated with 100% NPK. However, in comparison with 100% humic acid, the application of different ratios of humic acid/NPK increased plant chlorophyll contents by 65% - 82% and total sugar by 28% - 71%. The application of humic acid/NPK increased soil fertility by improving soil pH as well as N, P and K. In the combination of humic acid/NPK, the best growth and yield were obtained with the application of 25% humic acid + 75% NPK fertilizers. Therefore, for the sustainability of chili cultivation, the use of humic acid needs to be accompanied with NPK fertilizers at a reduced amount, along with the increase in the dose of humic acid.

Water-Salt Thresholds of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under Film Drip Irrigation in Arid Saline-Alkali Area

Crop models are valuable tools for exploring the responses of crops to changes in environmental factors, and have been widely used to analyze the response of crops to varying soil water content and salinity levels in extreme drought and high salinity conditions. To obtain suitable water-salt thresholds and the total irrigation amount for cotton in the arid oasis of southern Xinjiang, the AquaCrop model was calibrated and validated using measured data from 2020 and 2021 (total irrigation amount: 255–480 mm; initial soil salinity levels: 0.2–0.6%). With the same initial soil water content, when the initial soil salinity &lt; 7 dS/m, cotton yield did not significantly change under different levels of total irrigation amount, while when the initial soil salinity was 10 dS/m, there was a significant difference in cotton yield with a total irrigation amount &gt; 300 mm. The total irrigation amount of 375 mm is the threshold for cotton at the low-salinity treatment, while it increases to 450 mm at the high-salinity treatment. Based on cotton performance with the AquaCrop model, the threshold values of soil salinity were 7, 9.3, 8.2 and 9.3 dS/m (ECe) during the cotton stage of seedling, squaring, flower-boll and maturity, respectively. The total irrigation amount of 450 to 500 mm could achieve a win-win scenario for both cotton yield and water use efficiency under sandy loam soil. In summary, this study can serve as a reference for regulating water and salt in arid saline-alkali regions.

Diagnostic yield and technical performance of the novel motorized spiral enteroscopy compared with single-balloon enteroscopy in suspected Crohn's disease: a prospective study (with video)

Both single-balloon enteroscopy (SBE) and the novel motorized spiral enteroscopy (NMSE) are effective techniques for device-assisted enteroscopy (DAE). To date, no study has prospectively compared both modalities in suspected Crohn's disease (CD). Patients with suspected CD undergoing either SBE or NMSE between March 2021 and December 2021 in a high-volume tertiary center were prospectively compared for technical success (ability to reach the lesion), diagnostic yield, depth of maximal insertion (DMI), procedure time, and total enteroscopy rates. One hundred seventy-seven patients (37.2% female; aged 7-75 years) with suspected CD underwent 201 DAEs. Technical success was 83% (SBE 81.5% vs NMSE 87.3%, P= .61) and impacted subsequent management in 92% (SBE 88.5% vs NMSE 97.8%, P= .2). Technical success with antegrade NMSE was significantly higher (81.4%) than antegrade SBE (33.3%, P= .007) for lesions in the proximal ileum and beyond. There was no significant difference in the diagnostic yield (SBE 80.8% vs NMSE 83.6%, P= .65). Median procedure time was significantly lower in both antegrade (NMSE, 40 minutes [range, 10-75]; SBE, 60 minutes [range, 20-180]; P< .0001) and retrograde (NMSE, 25 minutes [range, 20-60]; SBE, 60 minutes [range, 20-180]; P< .0001) NMSE. Median DMI was higher with antegrade NMSE (NMSE, 400 cm [range, 70-600]; SBE, 180 cm [range, 60-430]; P< .0001). The total enteroscopy rate was higher with NMSE (37% vs .7% with SBE, P< .0001). All adverse events were mild. Both NMSE and SBE are safe and effective for small-bowel evaluation in suspected CD. NMSE is superior to SBE with regard to deeper small-bowel evaluation with complete small-bowel coverage and shorter procedure time.

Growth, Physiology, Weed Abundance and Yield in Rice (&lt;em&gt;Oryza Sativa&lt;/em&gt; L.) Under Three Nutrient Input Systems in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka

A field experiment was conducted to compare the growth, physiology, weed abundance and yield in rice under three input systems; organic, conventional and integrated, during the 2019 <em>Yala </em>season as the second season of a long-term cropping systems trial. The design used a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), with six (6) replicates for each treatment. The rice variety used in the experiment was Bg 300 and three treatments were based on three input systems such as T1 – Conventional input system (100% Department of Agriculture (DOA) inorganic fertilizer recommendation), T2 – Integrated system (50% of Department of Agriculture (DOA) inorganic fertilizer recommendation+50% of the rate of compost added to organic input system) and T3 – Organic system (No inorganic fertilizers and only compost with the rate of 10000 kg ha -1). At the panicle initiation and harvesting stages, there was a (p&lt;0.05) significant difference (in rice shoot biomass across the three input systems, with the organic system having the lowest values compared to the other two. At panicle initiation, 50 % heading, and harvesting phases, a significant difference (p&lt;0.05) in plant height was noted among the three input systems, with the organic system showing the lowest values at all stages. The organic system had the highest weed count at all three crop stages and no significant difference between integrated and conventional systems. The three input systems had a significant difference in final grain yield at 14 percent moisture. At 14% moisture, there was no difference in final grain yield between conventional and reduced systems (4.85 and 4.67 tonnes/ha) with the organic system having the lowest value (2.74 tonnes/ha). Overall results indicate that reducing inorganic fertilizers by 50% with the combination of organic manure as in the integrated system gives similar final grain yields as the conventional system of new improved varieties like Bg 300 in high potential areas like Anuradhapura. Also, organic systems can show low crop growth and yields due to inadequate nutrient supply through organic materials and high weed density during the first year of transition.

Feed tossing behaviour of Holstein cows: evaluation of physiological stress state and rumen fermentation function

BackgroundAbnormal or stereotyped behaviours in dairy cows are common in large-scale indoor farms and are usually accompanied by high physiological stress levels. Feed tossing is an abnormal behaviour commonly seen in cows while being fed, making farm management difficult. However, the reasons behind this behaviour have not been sufficiently reported. The objective of this study was to explore the changes in rumen fermentation, serum indicators, inflammatory conditions and the performance of cows with feed tossing behaviour. Holstein cows with similar lactation stages in the same barn were subjected to behaviour observations two times per day for 21 consecutive days. Ten cows with feed tossing behaviour (FT) and ten cows without abnormal behaviours (CON) were selected for further sampling. Plasma samples, rumen fluid, milk yield data of cows, and an indoor environment temperature-humidity index (THI) were collected.ResultsThere was no significant difference in average daily milk yield during the observation period between feed-tossing cows (n = 68) and the other cows (n = 112). The number of cows showing FT behaviour had a moderately strong negative linear correlation with the THI of the environment. Compared to the CON cows, the FT cows had higher cortisol, norepinephrine and urea nitrogen levels in plasma, as well as higher plasma levels of inflammatory indicators, including total protein, lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase levels, and the ratio of aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase. The FT cows had no significant variations from the CON cows regarding their rumen fermentation indicators, such as pH, ammonia nitrogen, and volatile fatty acids. In addition, 16S rRNA analysis revealed that there might be no clear association between the diversity and abundance of rumen bacteria and feed tossing behaviour.ConclusionsOur findings suggested that cows might have suffered from high levels of physiological stress and immune state for a long period when they exhibited FT behaviour. The environmental THI could affect the FT behaviour of cows; as the THI increases, the willingness of cows to throw decreases. This work provided the first evidence that feed tossing might be a response associated with high levels of physiological stress and immune. It also explored our insights into a commonly observed behavioural response to cow welfare traits.

​Effect of Hoof Trimming Intervention on Milk Yield and Composition in Dairy Lame Cows

Background: Hoof lesions and lameness in cattle is currently a serious problem in the dairy industry and significantly affects the health and welfare of animals. High milk yield has been associated with lameness and claw lesions. It was found that 87.5% of lame animals were suffered from claw lesions and hoof lesions were present in all the cows having lameness. Hoof trimming is performed to prevent hoof lesions and improve gait by correction and maintenance of the hoof symmetry and shape. Lameness caused by hoof disorders can be treated by correct hoof trimming. The aim of this study was to know the production performance in dairy cattle before and after hoof trimming. Methods: In this study twenty lame cows were selected and lameness index score was given to them (0-5 score). The nutrient requirements of the animals were met as per ICAR (2013) through concentrate feed and ad libitum green fodder. Care was taken to ensure that feed was provided at same levels throughout the study period and to nullify any effects of feed on lameness. Milk yield in kg/day were recorded before week of hoof trimming (HT) and after hoof trimming intervention it was recorded on 0th day, 3rd day, 6th day, 8th day, 11th day, 14th day. Result: Our results showed that significant difference (P≤0.05) in milk yield was on 0th day, 3rd day, 6th day and 8th day when compared with before week of HT (13.25±0.83). Significant increase in milk Fat % (P≤0.05) was observed on 11th day and 14th day (4.10±0.04), significant decrease (P≤0.05) in milk SNF % was observed on 0th day, 3rd day, 6th day and 8th day (8.45±0.03), whereas significant difference (P≤0.05) in milk protein % was observed on 0, 3 and 6th day (2.64±0.04) when compared with before week of HT. From this study it was concluded that the hoof trimming intervention has an immediate effect on production performance of dairy cows. Further this is a novel improved intervention using angle cutter modified to trim the hoof which is safe and painless compared to conventional Hoof cutter which caused a lot of cutting and bleeding hooves.

Effect of Different Cover Crops on Suppression of the Weed Oxalis pes-caprae L., Soil Nutrient Availability, and the Performance of Table Olive Trees ‘Kalamon’ cv. in Crete, Greece

Winter cover crops are used in organic olive production to increase N-supply and yields, and to reduce weed competition. However, there is limited information on the effect of different cover crops on weed suppression, soil fertility and productivity of organic olive orchards. Here, we compared the relative effect of four contrasting cover crops established from (i) untreated vetch seed, (ii) vetch seed inoculated with a commercial Rhizobium seed inoculum, (iii) an untreated vetch/barley/pea seed mixture and (iv) untreated seed of Medicago polymorpha L. (a native legume species which establishes naturally in olive orchards in Crete) in a 35-year-old experimental table olive orchard. The use of a vetch/barley/pea mixture resulted in the greatest suppression of the dominant weed species Oxalis pes-caprae. Rhizobium inoculation of vetch seed resulted in significantly lower vetch establishment and significantly higher Oxalis suppression but had no significant effect on the root nodulation of vetch plants. There was no significant difference in fruit yield between cover crop treatments, but the fruit weight was significantly higher when cover crops were established from un-treated vetch seeds and the vetch/barley/pea seed mixture compared with the cover crops based on inoculated vetch or Medicago seed. However, although Medicago establishment was very low (&lt;10 plants/m2), fruit yields were numerically 20% higher in the Medicago plots. These findings suggests that, overall, legume cover crops had no effect on fruit yields. This conclusion is supported by the results of the olive leaf analyses which detected no significant differences in nitrogen and other mineral macro- and micronutrient concentration between treatments, except for B (highest in olive leaves from Medicago and lowest in untreated vetch plots) and Mo (highest in olive leaves from Medicago and lowest in vetch/barley/pea mixture plots). Overall, our results suggest that the current recommendation to establish legume-based cover crops in organic olive orchards every year, may need to be revised and that establishing cover crops every 2–4 years may reduce costs without affecting olive fruit yields.

Cultivation of Inonotus hispidus in Stirred Tank and Wave Bag Bioreactors to Produce the Natural Colorant Hispidin

Hispidin (6-(3,4-dihydroxystyrl)-4-hydroxy-2-pyrone) production in submerged cultured mycelia of the basidiomycete Inonotus hispidus was doubled in shake flasks through irradiation with white light. The daily addition of 1 mM hydrogen peroxide as a chemical stressor and a repeated supplementation of the shake flask cultures with 2 mM caffeic acid, a biogenetic precursor, further increased the hispidin synthesis. These cultivation conditions were combined and applied to parallel fermentation trials on the 4 L scale using a classical stirred tank bioreactor and a wave bag bioreactor. No significant differences in biomass yield and colorant production were observed. The hispidin concentration in both bioreactors reached 5.5 g·L−1, the highest ever published. Textile dyeing with hispidin was successful, but impeded by its limited light stability in comparison to industrial dyes. However, following the idea of sustainability and the flawless toxicity profile, applications in natural cosmetics, other daily implements, or even therapeutics appear promising.