scholarly journals The impact of invertebrate pests on pasture persistence and their interrelationship with biotic and abiotic factors

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 109-117
Author(s):  
S.M. Zydenbos ◽  
B.I.P. Barratt ◽  
N.L. Bell ◽  
C.M. Ferguson ◽  
P.J. Gerard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Insect Damage ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Factors ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Impact

New Zealand pastures are host to a range of native and exotic invertebrates. Many of these are pests that feed on the sown plant species, often causing plant death and deterioration in the productivity and persistence of the sward. While most research has focused on pest biology and control, studies of plant productivity show dramatic acute (short-medium term) and chronic (longterm) effects. For example, grass grub has been reported to cause 50% losses to ryegrass swards and Argentine stem weevil can cause a 20% loss of productivity, but the long term effects through loss of the sown species and changes in composition can be even more severe. Insect damage can be exacerbated by other biotic (e.g. weed invasion, grazing animals, plant pathogens) or abiotic factors (e.g. climate, soil fertility) to further reduce plant persistence. Some biotic and abiotic factors may interact with insect pests to have positive effects on pasture persistence, e.g. biocontrol agents that reduce pest density or addition of fertiliser to enable plants to recover from insect damage. For many pasture pests, knowledge of their ecology is based on research from over 20 years ago that, while still valid, needs to be updated to account for modern intensive pasture management practices, such as intensive grazing with a lack of reseeding, and new cultivars. To improve pasture persistence, integrated research programmes are needed that examine the relative importance of all factors contributing to plant survival and develop strategies to mitigate their effects. Keywords: Argentine stem weevil, black beetle, clover root weevil, drought, grass grub, grazing pressure, manuka beetle, nematodes, pasture persistence, pasture quality, pasture yield, porina, soil fertility, striped chafer.

scholarly journals Microbiomes and Pathogen Survival in Crop Residues, an Ecotone Between Plant and Soil

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 246-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lydie Kerdraon ◽  
Valérie Laval ◽  
Frédéric Suffert
Keyword(s):  
Disease Management ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Crop Residues ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Negative Contribution ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Fungal Plant Pathogens ◽  
The Impact

The negative contribution of crop residues as a source of inoculum for plant diseases is well established. However, microbial ecologists have long reported positive effects of residues on the stability of agrosystems and conservation tillage practices have become increasingly widespread. Most studies have suggested that large microbial communities should be taken into account in plant disease management, but we know little about their ecological interaction with pathogens in the crop residue compartment. This review focuses on microbiomes associated with residues within the context of other microbial habitats in cereal-producing agroecosystems such as phyllosphere or rhizosphere. We connected residue microbiome with the survival of residue-borne fungal plant pathogens, thus combining knowledge in microbial ecology and epidemiology, two disciplines still not sufficiently connected. We provide an overview of the impact of residues on cereal disease epidemics and how dynamic interactions between microbial communities of nonburied residues during their degradation, along with soil and multitude of abiotic factors, can contribute to innovative disease management strategies, including next-generation microbiome-based biocontrol strategies. Starting from the classical but still relevant view of crop residues as a source of pathogen inoculum, we first consider possibilities for limiting the amount of residues on the soil surface to reduce the pathogen pressure. We then describe residues as a transient half-plant/half-soil compartment constituting a key fully fledged microbial ecosystem: in other words, an ecotone which deserves special attention. We focus on microbial communities, the changes in these communities over time and the factors influencing them. Finally, we discuss how the interactions between the microbial communities and the pathogens present on residues could be used: identification of keystone taxa and beneficial assemblages, then preservation of these taxa by adapted agronomic practices or development of synthetic communities, rather than the introduction of a single exogenous biocontrol species designed as a treatment product. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .

INFLUENCE OF GREENHOUSE SHADING AND DIFFERENT NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ON ALLEVIATING HEAT STRESS, IMPROVING PLANT NUTRIENTS STATUS, FLOWERING GROWTH AND YIELD OF TOMATO

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 1001-1014
Author(s):  
Sulaiman & Sadiq
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Nutrient Management ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Reproductive Growth ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Nutrition Programs ◽  
The Impact

The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse during 2017 and 2018 growing seasons to evaluate the impact of the shading and various nutrition programs on mitigating heat stress, reducing the use of chemical minerals, improving the reproductive growth and yield of tomato plant. Split-plot within Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications was conducted in this study. Shading factor was allocated in the main plots and the nutrition programs distributed randomly in the subplots. Results indicate that shading resulted in the decrease of daytime temperature by 5.7˚C as an average for both seasons; thus a significant increasing was found in leaf contents of macro nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium), and micro nutrients (Iron, Zinc and Boron), except the Iron content in 2018 growing season. Furthermore, shading improved significantly the reproductive growth and tomato yield. Among the plant nutrition programs, the integrated nutrient management (INM) including the application of organic substances, bio inoculum of AMF and 50% of the recommended dose of chemical fertilizers; lead to the enhancement of nutrients content, reproductive characteristics and plant yield. Generally, combination of both shading and INM showed positive effects on plants nutrient status and persisting balance on tomato flowering growth and fruits yield.

scholarly journals Rural Roads Are Paving the Way for Land-Use Intensification in the Uplands of Laos

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 330
Author(s):  
Jean-Christophe Castella ◽  
Sonnasack Phaipasith
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Rural Roads ◽  
External Resources ◽  
Hybrid Maize ◽  
The Impact

Road expansion has played a prominent role in the agrarian transition that marked the integration of swidden-based farming systems into the market economy in Southeast Asia. Rural roads deeply altered the landscape and livelihood structures by allowing the penetration of boom crops such as hybrid maize in remote territories. In this article, we investigate the impact of rural road developments on livelihoods in northern Laos through a longitudinal study conducted over a period of 15 years in a forest frontier. We studied adaptive management strategies of local stakeholders through the combination of individual surveys, focus group discussions, participatory mapping and remote-sensing approaches. The study revealed the short-term benefits of the maize feeder roads on poverty alleviation and rural development, but also the negative long-term effects on agroecosystem health and agricultural productivity related to unsustainable land use. Lessons learnt about the mechanisms of agricultural intensification helped understanding the constraints faced by external interventions promoting sustainable land management practices. When negotiated by local communities for their own interest, roads may provide livelihood-enhancing opportunities through access to external resources, rather than undermining them.

scholarly journals Assessing the Potential of Nontraditional Water Sources for Landscape Irrigation

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 436-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raul I. Cabrera ◽  
James E. Altland ◽  
Genhua Niu
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Biological Properties ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Aesthetic Quality ◽  
The Impact

Scarcity and competition for good quality and potable water resources are limiting their use for urban landscape irrigation, with several nontraditional sources being potentially available for these activities. Some of these alternative sources include rainwater, stormwater, brackish aquifer water, municipal reclaimed water (MRW), air-conditioning (A/C) condensates, and residential graywater. Knowledge on their inherent chemical profile and properties, and associated regional and temporal variability, is needed to assess their irrigation quality and potential short- and long-term effects on landscape plants and soils and to implement best management practices that successfully deal with their quality issues. The primary challenges with the use of these sources are largely associated with high concentrations of total salts and undesirable specific ions [sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), boron (B), and bicarbonate (HCO3−) alkalinity]. Although the impact of these alternative water sources has been largely devoted to human health, plant growth and aesthetic quality, and soil physicochemical properties, there is emergent interest in evaluating their effects on soil biological properties and in natural ecosystems neighboring the urban areas where they are applied.

Evaluation of the impact of SGS on livestock producers and their practices

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Allan ◽  
W. K. Mason ◽  
I. J. Reeve ◽  
S. Hooper
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Red Meat ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
High Rainfall ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Sustainable Grazing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Improved Pasture

The Sustainable Grazing Systems (SGS) Program has assisted producers in the high rainfall zone (HRZ, annual rainfall >600 mm/year) of southern Australia, by developing and delivering more productive and sustainable grazing systems. It was evaluated by 2 external surveys — a benchmarking survey in 1994 before the start of SGS, and a follow-up survey of producers in 2001. The 2001 survey showed that SGS had assisted red meat and wool producers in southern Australia make significant and beneficial changes to their grazing systems. Substantial changes in grazing practices occurred between 1994 and 2001 in the HRZ. These changes included an increase in the number of producers who rotationally graze (25%), as well as those undertaking practices aimed at improved pasture management. Participants in SGS were more likely to have made changes to their grazing systems than non-participants. There were no overt differences between regions in producer demographics, or changes made to management practices. The survey confirmed SGS had achieved its goal. Sixty percent of producers in the target regions were aware of SGS (out of a total of 23 689 producers); 42% (9839) had some involvement with SGS and/or received the SGS magazine 'Prograzier'; while 26% (6141) actively participated in SGS through undertaking a PROGRAZE course, and/or by attending regional SGS activities. Of the estimated 9839 producers who participated in the program, up to 8000 made beneficial changes to enhance the productivity and sustainability of their grazing operations. Active participants (6141) attributed many of these benefits to their involvement in SGS.

scholarly journals The influence of the biotic and abiotic factors on the state of the parasitic fauna of the hydrobionts in natural waters of the Southern Ukraine

2019 ◽  
pp. 60-70
Author(s):  
S. Honcharov
Keyword(s):  
Natural Waters ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Esox Lucius ◽  
Total Hardness ◽  
Hydrochemical Analysis ◽  
Parasitic Fauna ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Factors ◽  
Level Of Invasion ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Southern Ukraine

The article observes the results of the scientifi c researches conducted in 2018–2019. 198 samples of the Gobiidae fi shes (Neogobius fl uviatialis Pallas, 1814, Mesogobius batrachocephalus Pallas, 1814, Neogobius melanostomum Pallas, 1814,), as well as 78 samples of other predatory fi shes (Perca fl uviatilis Linnaeus, 1758, Sander lucioperca Linnaeus, 1758, Esox lucius Linnaeus) were subjected to the ihtyopathological analysis with such an aim. The samples were caught in the waters of the Dnipro-Buh estuary near the Dniprovske village and near the Agigol Cape in the Mykolayiv Region. The average index of the invasion extensiveness among the Gobiidae fi shes of the Dnipro-Buh estuary in June counted 26.6%, and the highest level of the invasion intensiveness counted – 94 – 157 metacecaria – the cryptocotyle agents. Following the fi sh-kill in July 2018 it was possible to notice the 114.2 % – decrease of the Gobiidae fi shes population. The level; of the cryptocotyle invasion of these fi shes reached its peak in August, counting 60.3%, and the amplitude of the invasion intensiveness waved between 102 and 211 samples. In June the level of invasion of the predatory fi shes (perch, pike, sander) with eustrongylides counted 63.8%, and the invasion intensiveness reached the highest point among Esox lucius Linnaeus – from 1 to 8 nematoda larvae. The 47.8 % – decrease of the amount of the predatory fi shes caught in the waters of the DniproBuh estuary was noticed after the fi sh-kill. In August the eustrongylide invasion extensiveness counted 84.3%, and the index of the invasion intensiveness was 2–12 parasites. The impact of the fi sh-eating birds on forming the natural focuses of the cryptocotyle and eustrongylide invasions among the main commercial fi shes of the Dnipro-Buh estuary was determined. Hydrochemical analysis of the waters of the Dnipro-Buh estuary was held separately to determine the reason of the mass fi sh-kill in July 2018. The hydrochemical analysis of the waters of the DniproBuh estuary in July showed contradictions of such points as pH, oxygen, free ammonia, and total hardness to the actual normative legal documents. The inappropriate hydrochemical condition was the reason of the fi sh-kill in the aquatic biological recourses. The infl uence of biotic and abiotic factors on the condition of the parasitic fauna in the researched fi shes of the natural waters of the Southern Ukraine was determined. Key words: gobiidae fi shes, predatory fi shes, abiotioc and biotic factors, cryptocotilosis, eustrongylidosis.

Agricultural land use and N losses to water: the case study of a fluvial park in Northern Italy

2003 ◽  
Vol 47 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 275-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Morari ◽  
E. Lugato ◽  
M. Borin
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Subsurface Water ◽  
Agricultural Systems ◽  
N Losses ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Impact

An integrated water resource management programme has been under way since 1999 to reduce agricultural water pollution in the River Mincio fluvial park. The experimental part of the programme consisted of: a) a monitoring phase to evaluate the impact of conventional and environmentally sound techniques (Best Management Practices, BMPs) on water quality; this was done on four representative landscape units, where twelve fields were instrumented to monitor the soil, surface and subsurface water quality; b) a modelling phase to extend the results obtained at field scale to the whole territory of the Mincio watershed. For this purpose a GIS developed in the Arc/Info environment was integrated into the CropSyst model. The model had previously been calibrated to test its ability to describe the complexity of the agricultural systems. The first results showed a variable efficiency of the BMPs depending on the interaction between management and pedo-climatic conditions. In general though, the BMPs had positive effects in improving the surface and subsurface water quality. The CropSyst model was able to describe the agricultural systems monitored and its linking with the GIS represented a valuable tool for identifying the vulnerable areas within the watershed.

scholarly journals Suitability of the MODIS-NDVI Time-Series for a Posteriori Evaluation of the Citrus Tristeza Virus Epidemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1965
Author(s):  
Daniela Vanella ◽  
Simona Consoli ◽  
Juan Miguel Ramírez-Cuesta ◽  
Matilde Tessitori
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Citrus Tristeza Virus ◽  
Plant Diseases ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Ndvi Time Series ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Tristeza Virus ◽  
Citrus Tristeza

The technological advances of remote sensing (RS) have allowed its use in a number of fields of application including plant disease depiction. In this study, an RS approach based on an 18-year (i.e., 2001–2018) time-series analysis of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data, derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and processed with TIMESAT free software, was applied in Sicily (insular Italy). The RS approach was carried out in four orchards infected by Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) at different temporal stages and characterized by heterogeneous conditions (e.g., elevation, location, plant age). The temporal analysis allowed the identification of specific metrics of the NDVI time-series at the selected sites during the study period. The most reliable parameter which was able to identify the temporal evolution of CTV syndrome and the impact of operational management practices was the “Base value” (i.e., average NDVI during the growing seasons, which reached R2 values up to 0.88), showing good relationships with “Peak value”, “Small integrated value” and “Amplitude”, with R2 values of 0.63, 0.70 and 0.75, respectively. The approach herein developed is valid to be transferred to regional agencies involved in and/or in charge of the management of plant diseases, especially if it is integrated with ground-based early detection methods or high-resolution RS approaches, in the case of quarantine plant pathogens requiring control measures at large-scale level.

scholarly journals Evaluating The Impact of Roads On The Diversity Pattern And Density of Trees To Improve The Conservation of Species

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uzair Aslam Bhatti ◽  
Zhaoyuan Yu ◽  
Linwang Yuan ◽  
Luo Wen ◽  
Saqib Ali Nawaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Urban Forest ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Pairwise Distance ◽  
Ecological Environment ◽  
Plant Management ◽  
Diversity Pattern ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Roads have a great impact on the structure and functioning of the diversity pattern in an ecological environment and play the role of altering biotic and abiotic factors. Clusters of plants grow along the roadside due to the interplay between the arrival of propagule and seedling establishment, which depends on the road’s specifications, land pattern, and road administration and protection practices. It is very important to study the diversity pattern in a metropolitan city to improve the ecological environment. Karachi is one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing metropolitan cities; however, little is known about the urban forest of the area. In Karachi, which is in the province of Sindh, Pakistan, roadside trees along various road types (e.g., wide, medium and narrow roads) have been studied. Based on a field study, various measures of diversity were utilized to investigate the diversity of tree species on different types of paths. A total of 180 plots, divided into three primary road groups, were surveyed. The highest quantity of tree biomass per unit area was found on wide roads, followed by medium roads. On narrow roads, the least biomass was detected. A single species or a limited number of species dominated the diversity of species. Conocarpus erectus was the most dominant non-native species along all types of roads, followed by the species Guaiacum officinale. A total of 76 species (32 non-native and 44 native) that were selectively spread along the roadsides of the city were studied. There was a significant difference in phylogenetic diversity (PD), phylogenetic mean pairwise distance (MPD) and phylogenetic mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD) between wide, medium, and narrow roads. Management practices have a significant positive correlation with diversity indices. Our study identified patterns of diversity in roadside trees in Karachi. It provided the basis for future plant conservation planning, such as the conservation of plant species, the maintenance of plant habitats, and the coordination of plant management in Karachi.

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