Complexities of nitrogen isotope biogeochemistry in plant-soil systems: implications for the study of ancient agricultural and animal management practices

We synthesise reported stable isotope values for domesticates and wild herbivores from sites spanning the Neolithic in coastal Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy (6000–3500 calBC). Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values are analyzed as proxies of diet and environment, with differences between species possibly indicating anthropogenic influence. Results are used to characterise diets and address questions of the origin and development of husbandry strategies, especially transhumance, in early farming communities. Changes in pig carbon and nitrogen isotope values through time suggest alterations in practices, whereas values remain relatively constant for cattle and ovicaprids during most of the Neolithic, despite assumptions of seasonal mobility.

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Storm Water Planning from the Ground Up—Connecting Plant–Soil System Best Management Practices to Site and Soil Conditions

Soil Horizons ◽

10.2136/sh12-03-0009 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 54 (2) ◽

pp. 0

Author(s):

T.A. Houser ◽

J.D. Storer ◽

S. Prebonick

Keyword(s):

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Storm Water ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Water Planning ◽

Soil System ◽

Best Management ◽

Plant Soil

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Dairy cow welfare: the role of research and development in addressing increasing scrutiny

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an12276 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 53 (9) ◽

pp. 924 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

A. D. Fisher ◽

J. R. Webster

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Animal Welfare ◽

Body Condition ◽

Management Practices ◽

Good Practice ◽

Stocking Density ◽

Grazed Pasture ◽

Dairy Management ◽

Animal Management ◽

Cow Welfare

Pasture-based dairying in New Zealand and Australia has come under increasing animal welfare scrutiny as a result of changing public expectations for farm animal management. Concurrently, efficiency-driven changes in dairy management practices and a broadening of the feedbase beyond traditionally grazed pasture have resulted in increased intensification and stocking density within the dairy industries. This intensification has included a higher proportion of grain concentrates in the diet (particularly in Australia), and the greater management of cows off pasture and even in housing (particularly in New Zealand). Research to assess the animal welfare implications of these changes and to recommend good practice management has concentrated on issues of cow environments and cow feeding, including body condition. Research has shown that cows may be managed for a few hours per day on concrete surfaces without compromising their lying behaviour and other indicators of welfare, but that longer periods off pasture require the provision of a well drained and comfortable lying surface. Other research has defined the extremes of hot and cold/wet conditions beyond which cows benefit from provision of adequate shade and shelter. Research on cow body condition has indicated that welfare responses are aligned with measures of health and productivity in supporting the need to maintain a minimum body condition before calving and during the subsequent weight loss period of early lactation. Continued research, extension and industry adoption will enable dairy producers to address community expectations as they continue to change their farming practices.

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Biological Suppression of Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti) in an Eastern Nebraska Soil

Weed Science ◽

10.1614/ws-d-10-00115.1 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 155-161 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jane Okalebo ◽

Gary Y. Yuen ◽

Rhae A. Drijber ◽

Erin E. Blankenship ◽

Cafer Eken ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Management Practices ◽

Reproductive Potential ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Research Field ◽

Soil Suppressiveness ◽

Plant Soil ◽

Fusarium Lateritium ◽

Heat Treated ◽

Soil Feedback ◽

Chemical Factors

Weed-suppressive soils contain naturally occurring microorganisms that suppress a weed by inhibiting its growth, development, and reproductive potential. Increased knowledge of microbe–weed interactions in such soils could lead to the identification of management practices that create or enhance soil suppressiveness to weeds. Velvetleaf death and growth suppression was observed in a research field (fieldA) that was planted with high populations of velvetleaf, which may have developed via microbial mediated plant–soil feedback. Greenhouse studies were conducted with soil collected fromfieldA(soilA) to determine if it was biologically suppressive to velvetleaf. In one study, mortality of velvetleaf grown for 8 wk insoilAwas greatest (86%) and biomass was smallest (0.3 g plant−1) in comparison to soils collected from surrounding fields with similar structure and nutrient content, indicating that suppressiveness ofsoilAwas not likely caused by physical or chemical factors. WhensoilAwas autoclaved in another study, mortality of velvetleaf plants in the heat-treated soil was reduced to 4% compared to 55% for the untreated soil, thus suggesting that suppressiveness ofsoilAis biological in nature. A third set of experiments showed that suppressiveness to velvetleaf could be transferred to an autoclaved soil by amending the autoclaved soil with untreatedsoilA; this provided additional evidence for a biological basis for the effects ofsoilA.The suppressive condition in these greenhouse experiments was associated with high soil populations of fusaria.Fusarium lateritiumwas the most frequently isolated fungus from roots of diseased velvetleaf plants collected fromfieldA, and also was the most virulent when inoculated onto velvetleaf seedlings. Results of this research indicate that velvetleaf suppression can occur naturally in the field and thatF. lateritiumis an important cause of velvetleaf mortality infieldA.

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Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis and Romano-British animal management along the Ridgeway, Oxfordshire

Journal of Archaeological Science Reports ◽

10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.103254 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 40 ◽

pp. 103254

Author(s):

Anastasia Iorga ◽

Chris Gosden ◽

Gary Lock ◽

Rick Schulting

Keyword(s):

Isotope Analysis ◽

Nitrogen Isotope ◽

Stable Carbon ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen ◽

Animal Management ◽

Nitrogen Isotope Analysis

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Agricultural Wastes and Its Applications in Plant-Soil Systems

Agricultural Waste ◽

10.1201/9781003105046-2 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 15-34

Author(s):

Zia Ur Rahman Farooqi ◽

Umair Mubarak ◽

Nukshab Zeeshan ◽

Muhammad Mahroz Hussain ◽

Muhammad Ashar Ayub

Keyword(s):

Agricultural Wastes ◽

Plant Soil ◽

Soil Systems

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Management Practices and Milk Production in Dairy Donkey Farms Distributed Over the Italian Territory

Macedonian Veterinary Review ◽

10.1515/macvetrev-2017-0016 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. 131-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Francesca Dai ◽

Giulia Segati ◽

Emanuela Dalla Costa ◽

Faith Burden ◽

Andrew Judge ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Animal Welfare ◽

Milk Production ◽

Management Practices ◽

Southern Europe ◽

Limited Information ◽

Animal Management ◽

Single Person ◽

Tactile Contact ◽

Italian Territory ◽

Production Characteristics

AbstractLimited information is available about the actual management characteristics of dairy donkeys in Southern Europe. The aim of the present study is to describe animal management of dairy donkey farms in Italy. Twelve farmers were asked to answer a questionnaire on the management of their animals and their farms distributed over the Italian territory. Six farms grouped their animals in paddocks according to the production characteristics (e.g. lactating, dry, stallions); three farms housed the stallions in single boxes. Most of the visited farms were family run and the number of animals cared for by a single person varied from five to 103 animals. All the farms but one performed mechanical milking with a modified goat milkmaid. Vaccinations were regularly performed only on two farms. All the foals received colostrum and suckled from their own mothers. Foals were nursed by their mother until 6-12 months old. During the separation period before milking, foals were usually (83%) housed in paddocks near their mothers with the possibility of visual and/or tactile contact, however such separations could be for up to 12 hours (17%). Even though the assessed sample was small, considerable differences were seen between farms, likely due to lack of uniform information available for the farmers. The adoption of scientific based procedures is suggested in order to improve both animal welfare and milk quality.

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