Nutrient uptake requirements with increasing grain yield for rice in China

Improved estimates of nutrient requirements for rice （Oryza sativa L.） in China are essential to optimize fertilization regulation for increasing grain yields and reducing the potential of environmental negative influences, especially under high-yielding intensive systems. A database involving rice grain yields, nutrient concentrations and accumulations collected from on-field station experiments in the literatures published from 2000 to 2013 in China was developed to understand the relationships between grain yields and plant nutrient uptakes, and to quantify nutrient requirements for different yield levels. Considering all data sets, rice grain yield ranged from 1.4 to 15.2 t ha^-1 with the mean value of 7.84 t ha^-1, and ca. 10.4% of yield observa- tions were higher than the yield barrier level of 10 t ha^-1. N requirement to produce one ton grain was 21.10 kg for the yield range 〈4.0 t ha^-1 with a high variation of 45.8%. Except of the yield range 〈4.0 t ha^-1, the values of N requirement, firstly increased from 18.78 kg for yield range 4.0-5.5 t ha^-1 to 20.62 kg for yield range 7.0-8.5 t ha^-1, then decreased slightly to 19.67 and 19.17 kg for the yield range 8.5-10 and 〉10 t ha^-1, respectively. Phosphorus （P） and potassium （K） requirements showed increasing trends, from 3.51 and 19.87 kg per t grain for 〈4.0 t ha^-1 yield range to 4.10 and 21.70 kg for 〉10.0 t ha^-1 range. In conclusion, nutrient requirement varied with increasement of grain yield, and N, P and K presented various response trends, increasing, declining or stagnating, which would be of great benefit for improving fertilizer strategies.

Advances in the Study on Nutrient Requirements of Grouper (Epinephelus sp.): a Review

The paper reviews the recent advances in studying grouper nutrition requirement for the development of cost-effective and environmentally friendly artificial diets. It consists of seven parts: protein and amino acid, lipid and essential fatty acid, carbohydrate, vitamin, mineral, alternative protein source, broodstock and larval nutrition. The review provides some basic information for further investigation of nutrient requirements of groupers.

Targeted yield concept and a framework of fertilizer recommendation in irrigated rice domains of subtropical India

Soil test crop response （STCR） correlation studies were carried out in Vindhyan alluvial plain during 2001 to 2004 taking IR-36 as test crop to quantify rice production in the context of the variability of soil properties and use of balanced fertilizers based on targeted yield concept. The soils were developed on gently sloping alluvial plain with different physiographic settings and notable variation in drainage condition. Soil properties show moderate variation in texture （loamy to clay）, organic carbon content （4.4 to 9.8 g/kg）, cation exchange capacity （10,2 to 22.4 cmol （p＋）/kg） and pH （5.3 to 6,4）, Soil fertility status for N is low to medium （224 to 348 kg/ha）, P is medium to high （87 to 320 kg/ha） and K ranges from medium to high （158 to 678 kg/ha）. Database regarding nutrient requirement in kg/t of grain produce （NR）, the percent contribution from the soil available nutrients [CS （%）] and the percent contribution from the applied fertilizer nutrients [CF （%）] were computed for calibrating and fbrmulating fertilizer recommendations. Validity of the yield target for 7 and 8 t/ha was tested in farmers＇ fields and yields targets varied at less than 10%. The percent achievement of targets aimed at different level was more than 90%, indicating soil test based fertilizer recommendation approach was economically viable within the agro-ecological zone with relatively uniform cropping practices and socio-economic conditions.

Iteration Linear Programming Method and Livestock Ration Optimization

Iterative linear programming methods are proposed for optimum balanced animal diet in this paper. According to ＂wooden bucket theory＂ of the nutritional balance, each nutrient in the feeding standard has equal importance. It＇s unreasonable to use common goal programming to attach different weighted value to different nutritional parameters. This paper introduces an effective algorithm to deal with this kind of problem. When the permitting cost of livestock ration is given, we can design a ration formula with linear program-this is the first round. Then, according to the differences between the permitting cost and the formula cost gained in the first round, adjust the feeding standard and the feeding raw materials, and conduct the second round of linear programming for ration formula. If there is still a very big difference between the formula cost and the permitting cost, the third round will be taken, and so on. In this iteration course the formula cost gradually approaches the permitting cost. It is the key that the feeding standard and feeding raw materials are modified in each round. This method ensured the nutritive equilibrium with the formulation of least-cost ration. This is an especially important method when the primary goal of the optimization tool is to improve economic and nutritive efficiency.

Coupling changes of soil functional gene abundances and extracellular enzyme activities across the diagnostic horizons of agricultural Isohumosols

Soil functional microbial taxa and extracellular enzymes are involved in a variety of biogeochemical cycling processes.Although many studies have revealed the vertical change patterns of microbial communities along soil profile,the general understanding of the coupling changes in the functional gene abundances(FGAs)and extracellular enzyme activities(EEAs)in soil profiles is still limited,which hinders us from revealing soil ecosystem processes.Herein,we comparatively investigated the FGAs and EEAs in the diagnostic A,B,and C horizons of soil profiles obtained from two suborders of Isohumosols(Mollisols),Ustic and Udic Isohumosols,in Northeast China based on quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and standard fluorometric techniques,respectively.The distribution patterns of both FGAs and EEAs significantly distinguished by the two soil suborders and were also separated from A to C horizon.Additionally,the variations of EEAs and FGAs were greater in Udic Isohumosols compared to Ustic Isohumosols along soil profiles,and greater changes were observed in C horizon than in A horizon.Both FGAs and EEAs correspondently decreased along the soil profiles.However,when normalized by soil organic carbon,the specific EEAs significantly increased in deep soil horizons,suggesting that microorganisms will input more resources to the production of enzymes to ensure microbial nutrient requirements under resource scarcity.More importantly,we revealed that soil microbial nutrient demands were limited by carbon(C)and phosphorus(P),and the C and P limitations significantly increased along soil profiles with a greater C limitation observed in Ustic Isohumosols than in Udic Isohumosols.Overall,our findings provided solid evidence showing the links between FGAs,EEAs,and microbial nutrient limitations,which would be helpful for a better understanding of the ecosystem processes in soil profiles.

Nutritional modulation of health, egg quality and environmental pollution of the layers

World egg production and consumption have been increasing for the past decades. Traditional strategies in poultry nutrition have made vital contributions to this great growth in quantity. However, current global issues should be considered in modern egg production such as growing populations and food security, food safety and quality, limited resources and environmental problems. The development of knowledge of poultry nutrition and modern biotechnology provides novel nutritional approaches to closely fit the requirement of pullets and laying hens, which will consequently decrease the nutrition excretion and maintain the lower cost of feed. Nutrition has also been widely accepted as a strategy to influence health and diseases of laying hens. The maintenance of good health is an important prerequisite for improving productivity and egg quality. In addition, there are many measures and strategies for minimizing the incidence of egg defects and providing a choice of lifestyle to enhance human health. This paper reviews current research progress on developing innovative technologies and strategies to maximize animal health and performance, improve the quality of egg products and minimize pollution caused by poultry production.