Effects of Dietary Supplement of Fermented Tomato Pomace on Dry Matter Intake and Nutrient Apparent Digestibility of Dairy Cows

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of replacing corn silage with ensiled tomato pomace on dry matter intake and apparent digestibility of diets.Eight close up dry Holstein cows were used in 2 × 2 Latin square design.The animals were fed control(0% tomato pomace silage) and experimental(10% corn silage replaced by tomato pomace silage) diets.The result showed that dry matter intake in experimental group was 9.77 ± 0.44 kg/d,which was significantly higher than in control group(p < 0.05).Dry matter digestibility in experimental and control group was 73.9% and 70.2%,respectively,but there was no difference between two groups(p > 0.05).The substitution of tomato pomace silage in diet was associated with an increase of dry matter intake,dietary supplement of ensiled tomato pomace without any adverse effect on their health performance.

Agronomic and Physiological Responses of Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i>L.) under Different Water Management Systems, Fertilizer Types and Seedling Age

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the agronomic and physiological responses of rice under different water management systems, types of fertilizer and seedling age. This experiment was done at the farm of Agri Park, College of Agriculture, Central Experimental Station (CES), Crop Science Cluster of the University of the Philippines Los Banos, College Laguna during 2013. The strip-split plot design with three replications was used with the two types of fertilizer (vermicompost and chemical fertilizer), water management (with and without standing water) and two seedling ages (10 and 14-d old) were the treatments in the experiment. Chemical fertilizer produced the highest grain yield, total dry matter (TDM), leaf area index (LAI), net assimilation rate (NAR) and crop growth rate (CGR). Most of these characters significantly increased in 10-d old seedlings with chemical fertilizer without standing water. The shorter phyllochron and higher root pulling resistance (RPR) were observed in 10-d old seedlings without standing water. For the variety NSIC Rc 216, the use of 10-d old seedlings grown without standing water with chemical fertilizer is the optimum conditions for the better growth and high productivity.

岷江上游高山森林溪流非木质残体现存量与碳储量及其分配特征

森林溪流非木质残体的特征直接关系到流域源头水质环境以及森林生态系统碳及养分等物质的输出格局。为了解岷江上游水源源头高山森林生态系统溪流非木质残体的储量特征,于2013年8月高山森林溪流水量最大的季节,在研究区域海拔3 600 m典型高山森林范围内,沿主河道两岸调查每条森林溪流的非木质残体储量,共找到18条森林溪流汇入主河道,根据实地采样的可操作性和典型性,选择其中12条溪流详细调查非木质残体储量,每条森林溪流从尽头到源头每隔10 m设置一个长度为1 m,溪流实际宽度的样方(源头作为最后一个样方)。将样方内所有非木质残体全部采集,低温保存,迅速带回实验室,分别按照树皮、树叶和直径小于1 cm树枝分离,65℃烘干至恒重,测定各组分现存量。然后,将样品粉碎过筛,采用重铬酸钾氧化法测定凋落物有机碳含量,以不同组分现存量与其碳含量计算各组分的碳储量。结果表明:(1)该区域森林溪流非木质残体总现存量和总碳储量分别为657.25 kg和262.96 kg,单位面积现存量和碳储量为439.70 g·m-2和175.92g·m-2;(2)各溪流中直径小于1 cm树枝占非木质残体总现存量和总碳储量的69.76%和73.41%,其次为树叶,树皮比例最小且不足10%;(3)尽管溪流长度、面积和流量与非木质残体各组分单位面积现存量和碳储量均无显著相关关系,但显著影响溪流非木质残体总现存量和总碳储量及其在各组分的分配比例;(4)相对于树皮,凋落树叶现存量和碳储量所占比例在流量较小溪流中相对较大。这些结果为深入认识高山森林流域水环境及其在森林生态系统中的重要作用提供新的思路和一定的科学依据。

Effect of Growth Stage-Based Irrigation Schedules on Biomass Accumulation and Resource Use Efficiency of Wheat Cultivars

Climate and weather conditions greatly affect the performance of new wheat cultivars for yield and resource use efficiency. In order to know the effect of irrigation schedules based on growth stage (the most vital criterion in the region) on growth, yield and radiation use efficiency of wheat cultivars in Faisalabad conditions, a study was planned at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during 2009-2010. Split plot design with irrigation levels in main plots and cultivars in sub-plots was implied. Irrigation levels were: IT = irrigation at tillering stage, ITS = irrigation at tillering and stem elongation stage, ISB = irrigation at stem elongation and booting stage and ITSBG = irrigation at tillering, stem elongation, booting and grain filling stage. Cultivars selected were: Faisalabad-2008, Lasani-2008, Miraj-2008, Shafaq-2006 and Chakwal-97. Irrigation treatment ITSBG gave higher grain yield (4.23 t·ha-1) followed by ISB (3.60 t·ha-1), however ITSBG was statistically similar to ISB in radiation use efficiency (RUE) for grain yield (RUEGY). Similarly the two treatments were statistically at par in maximum leaf area index, total dry matter (TDM) accumulation, cumulative photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and RUETDM. Hence where less numbers of irrigations are available, irrigation at stem elongation and booting stage is suitable for achieving economic yield. Lasani-2008 produced maximum grain yield (4.37 t·ha-1) compared to other cultivars but it was statistically at par with Shafaq-2006 in plant height, TDM production and RUETDM. Depending on the availability, the two cultivars may be chosen under irrigated conditions of Faisalabad.

Physiological Responses of Zea mays Seedlings to Interactions Between Cadmium and Salinity

The effects of 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 pmol/L Cd^2＋（Cd（NO3）2.4H2O） and 0, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mmol/L NaCl on growth, photosynthesis and the content of some ions in maize （Zea mays L.） were investigated in the present study. With Increasing concentrations of Cd^2＋ or NaCI alone in Hoagland nutrient solution, the chlorophylls and starch content decreased. Combination treatment with salinity and cadmium increased the negative effects observed following the two stresses alone. Plants exhibiting growth retardation in response to one mild stress factor （25-50 mmol/L NaCl） became more tolerant to the other stress factor （Cd）. The exposure of plants to cadmium caused a partial reversal of the effects of salinity. Root and shoot growth, ion accumulation and levels of photosynthetic pigments were improved at moderate concentrations of the two stress factors Imposed jointly.