• Authors:
    • Torrallardona, D.
    • Geraert, P.
    • Devillard, E.
    • Badiola, I.
    • Willamil, J.
  • Source: Journal of Animal Science
  • Volume: 90
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Thirty-six pigs (22 kg of BW) were used to evaluate a carbohydrase preparation, with xylanase and beta-glucanase as main activities, added to either wheat-barley-rye- (WBR) or corn-based diets on performance, intestinal environment, and nutrient digestibility. Pigs were offered 1 of 4 different dietary treatments for 27 d according to a factorial arrangement of treatments (a 2*2) with 2 cereal types (WBR or corn) and 2 levels of supplemental carbohydrase (0 or 0.01%). Pig growth and feed intake were individually measured every week until the end of the experiment when pigs were slaughtered to obtain samples of digesta and tissues. Cereal type affected performance only during wk 1, in which WBR improved ADG (590 vs. 440 g/d; P=0.008) and G:F (0.61 vs. 0.43; P=0.045) compared with corn. The WBR also increased the viscosity of the digestive contents in stomach (1.95 vs. 1.23 mPa.s; P=0.001) and ileum (6.53 vs. 2.80 mPa.s; P=0.001) and resulted in greater cecal starch digestibility (95.7 vs. 93.9%; P=0.012). However, trends for a reduction in digestibility were observed for glucose in the nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP) fraction in the ileum (64.4 vs. 75.8%; P=0.074) and galactose in the NSP fraction in the cecum (1.4 vs. 1.8%; P=0.055). The use of the enzyme preparation increased ADFI during wk 2 (1,328 vs. 1,215 g/d; P=0.028), and increased villus height (423 vs. 390 m; P=0.045) and tended to reduce relative pancreas weight (0.16 vs. 0.17% BW; P=0.079) at d 27. The enzyme also improved cecal starch digestibility (95.5 vs. 94.1%; P=0.043) and tended to improve ileal energy digestibility (61.3 vs. 53.7%; P=0.090) and cecal glucose digestibility in the NSP fraction (76.0 vs. 54.5%; P=0.055). However, it reduced the cecal digestibility of mannose in the NSP fraction (27.0 vs. 50.5%; P=0.016). Interactions ( P
  • Authors:
    • Wan, Y.
    • Chen, X.
    • Xiang, D.
    • Yang, W.
    • Yong, T.
  • Source: Acta Prataculturae Sinica
  • Volume: 21
  • Issue: 1
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The aim of this paper was to study the variation of interspecies competitiveness in two relay strip intercropping system; wheat-maize-soybean and wheat-maize-sweet potato. The character of biomass accumulation and nitrogen uptake were examined for five cropping systems using years of field experiment. The cropping systems included three sole cropping systems (wheat-soybean, wheat-sweet potato and maize) and two relay strip intercropping systems (wheat/maize/soybean and wheat/maize/sweet potato). Land equivalent ratio (LER), aggressiveness (A), and nutrition competition ratio (NCR) were introduced as indexes to evaluate the interspecies competitiveness in each treatment. The results showed that there was obvious relay strip intercropping advantage ( LER >1, Awc 1) in the wheat-maize-soybean relay strip intercropping system, maize occupied the dominant niche for the whole growing stage in the relay strip intercropping systems, and the interspecies competitiveness of wheat and soybean were lower than that of the maize. Comparing with the sole cropping systems and wheat-maize-sweet potato relay strip intercropping system, the grain yield and nitrogen uptake, total biomass and total nitrogen uptake above ground of crops were increased significantly at both flowering (or spinning) and maturity stages in the wheat-maize-soybean relay strip intercropping system. The values of biomass and nitrogen uptake for the relay strip intercropping system were greater than the sole cropping systems, and that of soybean stubble were greater than sweet potato stubble. The total economic returns of crops in the wheat/maize/soybean relay strip intercropping system was higher 28.02% than those of crops in the wheat/maize/sweet potato relay strip intercropping system.
  • Authors:
    • Zhu, Z.
    • Xiang, D.
    • Yang, W.
    • Yong, T.
  • Source: Acta Agronomica Sinica
  • Volume: 38
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between diversity of rhizosphere bacterial community and nitrogen uptake of crops in two relay strip intercropping systems: wheat/maize/soybean and wheat/maize/sweet potato. We analyzed the diversities of rhizosphere bacterial community in five cropping systems using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) based on 16S rDNA. The cropping systems included wheat-soybean (A1), wheat-sweet potato (A2), maize single cropping (A3), wheat/maize/soybean (A4), and wheat/maize/sweet potato (A5). Compared to the sole cropping systems (A1, A2, and A3 treatments), the A4 treatment showed increases in grain nitrogen uptake and total nitrogen uptake amounts of aboveground of crops at both flowering (or silking) and maturity stages, and the Shannon-Weiner indices for rhizosphere bacterial community diversity was also increased significantly. The values of nitrogen uptake and the Shannon-Weiner index in the relay strip intercropping systems were greater than those in sole cropping systems, and the values in the treatment with soybean stubble were greater than those in the treatment with sweet potato stubble. The number and strength of the DNA bands from DGGE profiles varied with the cropping systems, especially for the distinguished bands. The comparability of rhizosphere bacterial community composition was low among different cropping systems. The similarity coefficient ( Cs) was higher between two relay strip intercropping systems than between relay strip intercropping system and sole cropping system, but the Cs value was low between A4 and A5 treatments. However, there was obvious difference of rhizosphere bacterial community composition between A4 and A5 treatments, and the A4 treatment was propitious to enhancing rhizosphere bacterial community diversity and increasing nitrogen uptakes of crops.
  • Authors:
    • Dramicanin, T.
    • Lenhardt, L.
    • Zekovic, I.
    • Dramicanin, M.
  • Source: Food Analytical Methods
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue: 5
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy, a technique that measures both the absorption and the emission properties of a sample in a single measurement, was used for the analysis and classification of intact cereal flours (wheat, corn, rye, buckwheat, rice, and barley). Total synchronous fluorescence spectra recorded in constant wavelength mode show clear differences in the emission spectra of different flours due to variances in intrinsic fluorophore concentrations and their microenvironments. Principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and partial least squares discriminant analysis are used to assess the ability of synchronous fluorescence measurements to differentiate and classify intact samples of different flour types. The flour specimens were obtained directly from a market in Belgrade and had different expiration dates to provide a more representative set of samples. The results of the current analysis suggest that chemometric methods applied on synchronous fluorescence data can discriminate and classify flour types and that the best results are achieved using a combination of synchronous fluorescence measurements at synchronous intervals of 7 and 20 nm. The quality of results, the high speed of measurements, and the avoidance of extensive sample preparation make synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy a promising technique for cereal research.
  • Authors:
    • Xu, Z.
    • Wu, H.
    • Rui, Y.
    • Lu, S.
    • Chen, C.
    • Zhou, X.
  • Source: Biology and Fertility of Soils
  • Volume: 48
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Little information is available about the effects of cover crops on soil labile organic carbon (C), especially in Australia. In this study, two cover crop species, i.e., wheat and Saia oat, were broadcast-seeded in May 2009 and then crop biomass was crimp-rolled onto the soil surface at anthesis in October 2009 in southeastern Australia. Soil and crop residue samples were taken in December 2009 to investigate the short-term effects of cover crops on soil pH, moisture, NH 4+-N, NO 3--N, soluble organic C and nitrogen (N), total organic C and N, and C mineralization in comparison with a nil-crop control (CK). The soil is a Chromic Luvisol according to the FAO classification with 48.42.2% sand, 19.52.1% silt, and 32.12.1% clay. An exponential model fitting was employed to assess soil potentially labile organic C ( C0) and easily decomposable organic C for all treatments based on 46-day incubations. The results showed that crop residue biomass significantly decreased over the course of 2-month decomposition. The cover crop treatments had significantly higher soil pH, soluble organic C and N, cumulative CO 2-C, C0, and easily decomposable organic C, but significantly lower NO 3--N than the CK. However, no significant differences were found in soil moisture, NH 4+-N, and total organic C and N contents among the treatments. Our results indicated that the short-term cover crops increased soil labile organic C pools, which might have implications for local agricultural ecosystem managements in this region.
  • Authors:
    • Xu, Z.
    • Wu, H.
    • Chen, C.
    • Zhou, X.
  • Source: Journal of Soils and Sediments
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Purpose: Cover crop residue is generally applied to improve soil quality and crop productivity. Improved understanding of dynamics of soil extractable organic carbon (EOC) and nitrogen (EON) under cover crops is useful for developing effective agronomic management and nitrogen (N) fertilization strategies. Materials and methods: Dynamics of soil extractable inorganic and organic carbon (C) and N pools were investigated under six cover crop treatments, which included two legume crops (capello woolly pod vetch and field pea), three non-legume crops (wheat, Saia oat and Indian mustard), and a nil-crop control (CK) in southeastern Australia. Cover crops at anthesis were crimp-rolled onto the soil surface in October 2009. Soil and crop residue samples were taken over the periods October-December (2009) and March-May (2010), respectively, to examine remaining crop residue biomass, soil NH 4++N and NO 3--N as well as EOC and EON concentrations using extraction methods of 2 M KCl and hot water. Additionally, soil net N mineralization rates were measured for soil samples collected in May 2010. Results and discussion The CK treatment had the highest soil inorganic N (NH 4+-N+NO 3--N) at the sampling time in December 2009 but decreased greatly with sampling time. The cover crop treatments had greater soil EOC and EON concentrations than the CK treatment. However, no significant differences in soil NH 4+-N, NO 3--N, EOC, EON, and ratios of EOC to EON were found between the legume and non-legume cover crop treatments across the sampling times, which were supported by the similar results of soil net N mineralization rates among the treatments. Stepwise multiple regression analyses indicated that soil EOC in the hot water extracts was mainly affected by soil total C ( R2=0.654, P
  • Authors:
    • Chen, C.
    • Xu, Z.
    • Koetz, E.
    • Wu, H.
    • Zhou, X.
  • Source: Applied Soil Ecology
  • Volume: 53
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The conservation farming systems coupled with stubble retention are now widely adopted in southern Australia to improve soil fertility. However, little information is available about the effects of winter crops on soil labile organic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools, especially in an arid agricultural ecosystem. In this study, eight winter cover crop treatments were used to investigate their effects on soil labile organic C and N pools and microbial metabolic profiles and diversity in temperate Australia. These treatments included two legume crops (capello woolly pod vetch and field pea), four non-legume crops (rye, wheat, Saia oat and Indian mustard), and a mixture of rye and capello woolly pod vetch as well as a nil-crop control. At the crop flowering stage, soil and crop samples were collected from the field and we examined aboveground crop biomass, soil NH 4+-N, NO 3--N, extractable organic C (EOC) and N (EON) concentrations using methods of 2 M KCl and hot water, microbial biomass, biologically active organic C (C Bio), and substrate-induced respiration (SIR) using the MicroResp method. Results showed that the crop treatments had lower soil moisture content, NO 3--N and the ratios of EOC to EON, but higher pH, NH 4+-N, EOC, EON, C Bio, microbial metabolic diversity index ( H) and evenness index compared with the control. There were no significant differences in microbial biomass C and N among the treatments. Although no pronounced differences in EOC and EON concentrations were found between the legumes and non-legumes, the legume treatments had lower SIR and higher H than the non-legume treatments. Principal component analysis showed that soil microbial metabolic profiles under the crops were different from those of the control, and the crop treatments had a clear separation along principal component 2. In addition, redundancy analysis showed that soil pH and moisture content were the most important influencing factors, along with EON and crop biomass, determining the patterns of microbial metabolic profiles under the crops.
  • Authors:
    • Shivakoti, G.
    • Nawaz, R.
    • Perret, S.
    • Ahmad, S.
  • Source: Journal of Food Agriculture & Environment
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: This paper investigated the farm level diversity in operation and farm performances under two different governance situations in irrigation systems of Punjab Province of Pakistan: Farmer-Managed (FMIS) and Government-Managed Irrigation Scheme (GMIS). Questionnaire surveys and multivariate analyses were conducted. Farms typology was developed based on farm size. Results reveal a water-land-farming strategy nexus. Larger farms perform better in both schemes. Wheat cropping is a strategic choice, specialized, and exclusive, with low input, and low income. Conversely, maize and rice cropping tit well in diversification and intensification strategies, leading to higher farm income. Also poor financial basis and extension services for smaller farms do not support intensification and diversification. The paper shows that productivity of production factors, level of intensification, farm size are closely interlocked, in a general context of poor performances and institutional reforms. Groundwater access is also a key to success, since canal irrigation only cannot sustain an intensification-diversification process. The paper concludes that transfer of canal irrigation management to farmers will not solve all issues, and yet remains probably the only long-term solution. Areas for public intervention on, inter alia, land, finance, extension, markets remain necessary in FMIS and towards smaller farms.
  • Authors:
    • Hussain, A.
    • Chattha, T.
    • Ahmad, Sh.
    • Tariq, N.
    • Ali, H.
  • Source: Journal of Food Agriculture & Environment
  • Volume: 10
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: A field study was conducted during 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 at Central Cotton Research Institute, Multan, Pakistan, on silt loam soils to evaluate the effect of irrigation at different growth stages and phosphorus application methods on agronomic traits of wheat. The field experiments were laid out in a split plot design with three replications. The irrigation treatments, i.e. control - no irrigation (I-1), two irrigations at crown root and booting stage (I-2), three irrigations at crown root, booting and grain development (I-3), four irrigations at crown root, booting, anthesis and grain development (I-4) and live irrigations at crown root, booting, caring, anthesis and grain development (I-5) were kept in main plots. The subplots were allocated to three phosphorus application methods viz. side dressed, 3 inches aside seed (I-1), broadcasting at the time of seedbed preparation (P-2), and top dressing alter first irrigation (P-3). Data on yield components such as tiller number m(-2), spikelet number spike(-1), number of grains spike(-1) and 1000-grain weight as well as grain and total dry matter (TDM) yields were collected. Full irrigation (I-4, I-5) treatments significantly affected yield and yield components. A reduction in all studied characters of wheat crop was subjected to water stress at low or greater degree (e.g. I-1, I-2, and I-3). Phosphorus application as side dressed (P-1), 3 inches aside seed, was more beneficial for increasing yield and yield components of wheat compared to other methods of P application.
  • Authors:
    • Burke, I.
    • Snyder, A.
    • Pittmann, D.
    • Gallagher, R.
    • Koenig, R.
    • Borrelli, K.
    • Hoagland, L.
    • Fuerst, E.
  • Source: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
  • Volume: 36
  • Issue: 4
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: The nitrogen (N) dynamics of nine rotation systems designed to transition dryland cereal to organic production in eastern Washington State were examined. Systems combined cereal and legumes for grain, forage (FOR), and green manure (GRM). Few differences in N balances and soil inorganic N levels were found among transition systems when poor spring crop establishment resulted in competition from weeds. However, FOR and winter GRM crops produced adequate stands that were competitive with weeds and increased residual soil inorganic N in the final year of the transition. Winter legumes and continuous FOR systems demonstrated the greatest potential to provide a sustainable inorganic N source to subsequent organic cereal crops.