ALBERT

Beschreibung: The objective was to elucidate the effects of dietary supplementation with guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) on performance, egg quality and the liver antioxidant activity of laying hens. A total of 128, 72-week-old ISA Brown laying hens were randomly divided into four equal groups (32 birds), and each subgroup had eight replicates (four birds/cage). The control group (GAA0) fed the basal diet with no supplements, while the other experimental groups fed the basal diets supplemented with 0.5 (GAA1), 1.0 (GAA2) and 1.5 (GAA3) g of GAA/kg diet. The experiment lasted for 6 weeks. The addition of GAA at a rate of 1.5 g kg−1 significantly increased the hen-day egg production and egg mass as compared to the control group (P = 0.016 and 0.003, respectively). Although the egg weight was not affected (P = 0.521) by the dietary supplements, the shell ratio, shell thickness, yolk index and Haugh units increased linearly with the increase in the dietary supplements of the GAA (P = 0.036, 0.001, 0.012 and 0.004, respectively). The liver MDA levels decreased linearly with the increment in the dietary levels of the GAA (P = 0.012). Birds in the GAA2 and GAA3 showed a significantly higher liver nitric oxide level (52.50 and 54.21 mg/g, respectively) when compared with GAA0 and GAA1 groups (P = 0.029). Compared to the GAA0 group, all GAA-supplemented groups showed significantly higher liver ATP levels (P = 0.047). In conclusion, the dietary GA supplements at doses of 1.0 or 1.5 g kg−1 may improve the laying performance, antioxidant activity and the status of cellular energy metabolism in laying hens.

Beschreibung: Organic carbon (C) plays an essential role in the denitrification process as it supplies energy for N2O, N2 and CO2 producing reactions. The objectives of this study were to: (i) rank the reactivity of different C compounds found in manures based on their availability for denitrification and (ii) explore C-quality in different C sources based on their capacity to promote denitrification. Evaluation of different C-sources in promoting denitrification was conducted based on the molar ratio of CO2 production to NO3− reduction after incubation. Results of the first experiment (a 12-day investigation) showed that glucose and glucosamine were highly reactive C compounds with all applied NO3− being exhausted by day 3, and glucosamine had significantly high amount of NH4+-N present at end of the experiment. The glucose and glucosamine treatments resulted in significantly greater cumulative CO2 production, compared to the other treatments. In the second experiment (a 9-day investigation), all NO3− had been depleted by day 6 and 9 from acetic acid and glucose, respectively, and the greatest cumulative CO2 production was from acetic acid. The CO2 appearance to NO3− molar ratios revealed that glucose and glucosamine were compounds with highly available C in the first experiment. In the second experiment, the pig slurry and acetic acid were found to be C-sources that promoted potential denitrification. The application of slurry to soil results in the promotion of denitrification and this depends on the availability of the C compounds it contains. Understanding the relationship between C availability and denitrification potential is useful for developing denitrification mitigation strategies for organic soil amendments.

Beschreibung: Plant cyclophilin (CYP) is related to chloroplast photoprotection, redox and other growth and developmental regulatory processes and responds to stress and improves tolerance to saline–alkali stress. Besides, it exerts peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase activity to participate in protein synthesis and folding. In this study, Northern blot was used to analyse the CsCYP1A gene (a CYP gene isolated from a Chlorella species) (accession number: KY207381) of tolerant Chlorella vulgaris in soda saline–alkali soil. The result showed that the expression of the CsCYP1A gene was induced by NaHCO3, NaCl and sorbitol. Additionally, Agrobacterium tumefaciens was used to infect the callus of rice (Oryza sativa var. Longjing11) for genetic transformation. Molecular detection confirmed that transgenic seedlings overexpressing CsCYP1A were obtained by hygromycin selection. Treatment with NaCl and NaHCO3 at the five-leaf stage was performed in the seedlings, and the results showed that there were significant differences between the CsCYP1A overexpressed rice lines and non-transgenic (NT) Longjing11 in terms of plant height, fresh weight, chlorophyll content, malondialdehyde content and ascorbate peroxidase activity. The CsCYP1A overexpression rice lines had higher tolerance to NaCl and NaHCO3 than NT. The current findings indicate that CsCYP1A can enhance the tolerance of rice to saline–alkali stress possibly through its involvement in reactive oxygen scavenging pathways.

Beschreibung: Biodegradation of chlorpyrifos under the influence of fertilizer application and climate factors such as elevated CO2, temperature and moisture was studied. Soybean was grown in control, inorganic, organic and integrated (both inorganic and organic) fertilized fields. Rhizospheric soils collected during the vegetative growth phase were amended with chlorpyrifos (10 μg/g soil) and incubated under different climate factors. The climate factors were CO2 concentration (400, 800 ppm), temperature (25, 45°C) and moisture-holding capacity (60, 100%). Chlorpyrifos degradation rate varied from 0.28 to 0.65 μg/g soil/d. The abundance of 16S rRNA gene copies of eubacteria varied from 13 × 106 to 7 × 105/g soil. Actinomycetes-specific 16S rRNA gene copies were in the range of 62.5 × 105 to 18.5 × 103/g soil. Microbial abundance was high in organic amended soil and low in control soil irrespective of climate factors. Elevated CO2 and high temperature inhibited (P 〈 0.05) chlorpyrifos degradation rate and the abundance of 16S rRNA genes of eubacteria and actinomycetes. Chlorpyrifos degradation followed as: organic 〉 integrated 〉 inorganic 〉 control. The degradation rate was positively correlated (P 〈 0.01) with the soil organic C, available N, water-stable aggregates and mean weight diameter of the soil aggregates of soil. Principal component analysis denoted temperature and fertilizer as the major components of variation. The study highlights that elevated CO2 and temperature affect chlorpyrifos biodegradation; however, the effect can be alleviated by the amendment of organic fertilizer.

Beschreibung: An experiment was conducted to evaluate: (1) the effects of ensiling maize or sorghum grains after reconstitution on readily soluble fraction (a), potentially degradable fraction in the rumen (b) and rate constant for degradation of b (c) of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and starch (STA); and (2) an appropriate incubation time for in situ or in vitro procedures to estimate in vivo digestibility. Four rumen-cannulated Nellore bulls (body weight = 262 ± 19.6 kg) distributed in a 4 × 4 Latin square were used. Diets were based on dry ground maize (DGM); or dry ground sorghum (DGS); or reconstituted ground maize silage; or reconstituted ground sorghum silage. In vitro and in situ incubations of the individual grains and diets were simultaneously performed with in vivo digestibility. In general, reconstituted grains and diets based on reconstituted grains presented greater (P 〈 0.05) fraction a and lower (P 〈 0.05) fraction b of DM, OM and STA compared to dry grains and diets based on dry grain. However, the magnitude of response of the reconstitution and ensiling process on DM and OM degradability parameter was greater for maize than that for sorghum. Moreover, no differences (P 〉 0.05) were observed between DGM- and DGS-based diets for c estimates. The results suggest that the reconstitution process promotes grains protein matrix breakdown increasing STA availability. The incubation times required for in vivo digestibility estimations of DM, OM and STA are 24 h for in situ and 36 h for in vitro procedures.

Beschreibung: In the present study, a new method for a decision-support system for fungicide administration against the pathogen Botrytis cinerea in vineyards was developed based on Integrated Pest Management principles which identified an infection risk before the appearance of disease symptoms. The proposed method is based on the combination of (i) the phenological observations of the main susceptible stages to infection, (ii) the airborne spores monitoring, (iii) the forecasting of the suitable meteorological conditions for B. cinerea spore germination during the subsequent 4–6 days after the spore detection. Aerobiological, phenological and meteorological analyses were carried out using data from 2008 to 2015 in a vineyard of Northwestern Spain. Aerobiological spore data were obtained using a Lanzoni VPPS-2000 pollen-spore trap. Phenological observations were conducted on 22 plants of Treixadura cultivar following the BBCH (Biologische Bundesanstalt für Land und Forstwirtschaft, Bundessortenamt und CHemische Industrie) scale. The Magarey generic fungal model was applied for the identification of the main meteorological suitable periods for infection within the susceptible phenological stages of flowering and ripening of berries. Our results showed that climatic conditions favoured fungal development during flowering, although a higher incidence of B. cinerea infection risk-periods occurred during the prior-to-harvest stage of ripening of berries, the most susceptible phenological stage to B. cinerea infection obtained by the proposed methodology. This approach enables more precise targeting in pesticide spraying and reduction in pesticide application from 4–5 to 2–3 times per year at our commercial study. It also illustrates the real-world benefits of integrated disease risk modelling.

Beschreibung: The determination of livestock growth patterns is important for meat or milk production systems, and nonlinear models are used to summarize and interpret the information. The aim of this study was to more accurately estimate growth curve parameters in buffalo cows by evaluating and selecting nonlinear mixed models that employ different types of residuals and include or not contemporary groups (CG) as a covariate. Weight records from 720 animals obtained over a period of 60 months were used. The growth curves were fit using nonlinear mixed-effects models. The Bertalanffy, Gompertz and Logistic models were evaluated. Modelling residuals using four structures (constant, combined, exponential and proportional) and the inclusion or not of CG in the models were also evaluated. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) were used to select the model. In addition to estimating the parameters of the nonlinear growth models and their correlations, the instantaneous growth rate and inflection point were obtained. The Bertalanffy model with a combined residual structure and CG exhibited the lowest AIC and BIC values. Asymptotic weight (A) estimates ranged from 621.8 to 742.1 kg, and the maturity rate (k) ranged from 0.068 to 0.115 kg/month. The correlation between A and k ranged from −0.32 to −0.82 among the models evaluated. The selection criteria indicated that the Bertalanffy model was the most suitable for growth curve analysis in buffaloes.

Beschreibung: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are usually employed as alfalfa silage inoculants to obtain high-quality feed for animal husbandry. However, the effects of these inoculants are still unclear and need to be studied extensively. Therefore, the objective of this meta-analysis was to quantitatively summarize published research studies that assess the effects of homofermentative (HoLAB) and heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (HeLAB) on fermentation parameters, nutritive value, microbiological composition and aerobic stability of alfalfa silage. PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus have been screened for articles published from 1980 to 2018. The criteria for inclusion were: randomized and controlled trials using alfalfa silage and published in peer-reviewed journals. It was found that inoculation with LAB decreased silage pH, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and ammoniacal nitrogen, while it increased dry matter and crude protein compared to control in the pooled raw mean difference random-effect model. Additionally, LAB inoculation decreased acetate, propionate, ethanol and butyrate concentrations, whereas it increased lactate. In addition, inoculants reduced the counts of yeasts and moulds. Lastly, LAB inoculation improved aerobic stability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis that aims at comparing the application of HoLAB and HeLAB for alfalfa silage. In the pool estimate, positive effects attributable to the application of microbial silage inoculants were found in most of the evaluated parameters; supporting the importance of applying both types of inoculants to improve forage preservation for the livestock industry.

Beschreibung: Changes in soil bulk density (BD), soil organic carbon (SOC) content, SOC stocks and soil labile organic C fractions (mineralizable C (Cmin), microbial biomass C (MBC), dissolved organic C (DOC), particulate organic C (POC), light fraction organic C (LFOC) and permanganate oxidizable C (KMnO4-C)) were explored over 3 years in a double-cropping rice system of southern China. Five organic and inorganic nitrogen (N) inputs were used: (1) 100% from chemical fertilizer (M0), (2) 30% from organic manure, 70% from chemical fertilizer (M30), (3) 50% from organic manure, 50% from chemical fertilizer (M50), (4) 100% from organic manure (M100) and (5) without N fertilizer input, as control (CK). All organic manure treatments decreased BD significantly in the 0–20 cm soil layer compared with CK. The SOC content and stocks with organic manure were significantly higher than in M0 or CK; also, the cumulative amount of SOC stocks in M30 and M50 increased at the plough layer, compared with CK. The non-labile C content increased significantly and the percentage of labile C were significantly higher with organic manure application than in M0 or CK. The soil carbon management index (CMI) also increased significantly under the application of organic manure. Therefore, application of organic manure can increase the pool of stable C in surface layers, and increase content and percentage of labile C. Based on soil carbon storage and CMI, the combined application of 30 or 50% N of organic manure with chemical fertilizer improves carbon cycling services and soil quality in southern China paddy soil.

Beschreibung: The current research investigated the present and future projected distribution of rice (Oryza sativa L.) based on climatic suitability under three representative concentration pathways (RCPs) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change using maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modelling. The MaxEnt models predict that rice distribution in Bhutan will undergo major changes in terms of spatial range shift of varying magnitudes by 2060. Under the anthropogenic radiative forcing of RCP2.6, RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, ecological space of rice is predicted to change between 1 and 43%. Major changes are likely to take place in major rice-growing ecological zones of the country. This is likely to have a negative impact on the livelihood and food security of the people as crop production might start declining due to unfavourable climatic factors. Therefore, the findings of this study could prove beneficial for forecasting focus sites requiring interventions, including future climate research, planning, policy formulation and conservation of natural resources.

Beschreibung: Seed priming is a pre-sown treatment and it is often used to improve the performance of plants in any environment, especially germination. In the current study, various concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) were used to evaluate its role for the induction of physiological variations within seven different wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes. Two experiments were conducted during 2013 and 2014 and the data were statistically analysed for significance. All these genotypes after treatment with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as NO donor at 10−4 and 10−5 M concentrations were sown following randomized complete block design with triplicates in the fields of District Muzaffarabad, Pakistan. The concentration of NO at 10−4 M showed promising results and most of the studied characters were found improved compared to control. Wheat varieties primed with 10−4 M SNP showed highest germination speed and germination percentage. NARC-2011 and Uqab-2002 showed much improvement in physiological attributes at both concentrations of NO priming. However, Uqab-2002 and Punjab-2011 showed a significant increase in chlorophyll contents and leaf moisture content with 10−4 and 10−5 M SNP priming compared to control. Highest relative water content was observed within unprimed Lasani, whereas the relative injury was found to be decreased at 10−4 M SNP primed Faisalabad-2008. Wheat varieties Punjab-2011 and Faisalabad-2008 showed the highest increase in grain yield and biological yield by 10−4 M SNP. Hence, it is concluded that sowing of crops after priming at 10−4 M NO concentration can improve the germination, biochemistry and physiology that ultimately lead to an increase in crop yield.

Beschreibung: Tropical soils tend to harden during drying due to the generally low content of free-iron and organic carbon, combined with high fine sand and silt proportions. It was hypothesized that the change in soil physical condition induced by the addition of a leguminous mulch in cohesive tropical soil enriched with calcium may mitigate soil hardening through wetting and drying cycles by rain or irrigation, thereby improving the soil rootability. A leguminous mulch was added in different concentrations to a structurally fragile tropical soil enriched with calcium, which then had different irrigation intervals. The treatments were with or without mulch (10 t/ha), with or without added nitrogen (100 kg/ha at 2 intervals) and two irrigation intervals. In 2015 the irrigation intervals were either 4 or 8 days, and in 2016 they were either 6 or 9 days. Two years were used in the attempt to achieve greater differences, as for tested variables, between treatments. Maize planted in these soil treatments was measured for physiological performance, water use efficiency and yield. Mulch used on structurally fragile tropical soil enriched with calcium was found to delay increased penetration resistance from hardening by wet/dry cycles. In this context, an improved soil rootability led to an enlargement of the leaf area index, greater nitrogen uptake and increased CO2 assimilation. This had important physiological consequences due to the positive effect on increased dry matter production and maize yield. In addition, these results suggested that mulch, used with urea, can delay the water supply for 3 or 4 days due to improvements in soil rootability caused by calcium and organic matter interactions. This may be crucial to a region where small intervals without rain are increasingly common due to global climate change. Therefore, due to a greater water use efficiency, this strategy may be a profitable way to increase crop productivity in tropical conditions rather than increasing water and nutrient application alone.

Beschreibung: Understanding the mechanisms underlying net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) in mountain grasslands is important to quantify their relevance in the global carbon budget. However, complex interactions between environmental variables and vegetation on NEE remain unclear; and there is a lack of empirical data, especially from the high elevations and the Mediterranean region. A chamber-based survey of CO2 exchange measurements was carried out in two climatically contrasted grasslands (montane v. subalpine) of the Pyrenees; assessing the relative contribution of phenology and environmental variables on CO2 exchange at the seasonal scale, and the influence of plant functional type dominance (grasses, forbs and legumes) on the NEE light response. Results show that phenology plays a crucial role as a CO2 exchange driver, suggesting a differential behaviour of the vegetation community depending on the environment. The subalpine grassland had a more delayed phenology compared to the montane, being more temperature than water constrained. However, temperature increased net CO2 uptake at a higher rate in the subalpine than in the montane grassland. During the peak biomass, productivity (+74%) and net CO2 uptake (NEE +48%) were higher in the subalpine grassland than in the montane grassland. The delayed phenology at the subalpine grassland reduced vegetation's sensitivity to summer dryness, and CO2 exchange fluxes were less constrained by low soil water content. The NEE light response suggested that legume dominated plots had higher net CO2 uptake per unit of biomass than grasses. Detailed information on phenology and vegetation composition is essential to understand elevation and climatic differences in CO2 exchange.

Beschreibung: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of protein reduction, with or without the supplementation of limiting amino acids, on the performance and carcass characteristics of meat quails from 22 to 42 days of age in a thermoneutral environment. A total of 324 European quails were randomly allocated into nine diets. The diets were formulated based on the recommended requirement (control) and were differentiated according to crude protein (CP) reduction levels into moderate reduction (10%) and severe reduction (20%). The diets were supplemented or not with limiting amino acids. The diets with severe and moderate protein reduction meeting the methionine + cystine, lysine and threonine requirements led to weight gain equivalent to that of the control quails. The diet with a moderate reduction in CP, with or without meeting the methionine + cystine requirement or meeting the methionine + cystine and lysine requirement, led to the greatest carcass yield and a greater leg weight and were similar to the control treatment. It is observed that supplementation with the crystalline sources of the amino acids is able to improve the performance of the quails, in addition, the attendance of methionine + cystine requirement important factor when the CP levels are reduced. In our studies, diets with 17.5% CP and supplemented with methionine + cystine, lysine and threonine meet the requirements of quails, thus generating a limiting amino acid requirement, so they are recommended for meat quails from 22 to 42 days old housed in thermoneutral environment.

Beschreibung: This study, conducted at the São Paulo State University feedlot, Dracena campus, Brazil, was designed as a completely randomized block with 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effects of adding functional oils (FO) or sodium monensin (MON) on feedlot performance, carcass traits, feeding behaviour and rumen morphometrics of Nellore cattle. Ninety-six 20-mo-old Nellore bulls (365.52 ± 39.19 kg) were randomly allocated to 24 pens (n = 4/pen), which were assigned to the treatments: (1) Control (no feed additives); (2) FO (500 ppm); (3) MON (27 ppm); and (4) MON + FO (27 + 500 ppm, respectively). Each treatment was replicated 6 times, and cattle were fed for 105 days. From 0 to 28 days on feed, cattle fed FO had lower dry matter intake (DMI) variation, sorted for medium particles and presented smaller papillae width. The feeding of FO did not negatively impact feedlot performance overall. When MON was added to the diet, cattle had lower DMI overall and 12th rib fat daily gain, and improved gain to feed ratio. The addition of MON to diets improved feedlot performance but reduced the rate of carcass fat deposition. The few effects observed when FO was added to diets were not sufficient to impact feedlot performance.

Beschreibung: Recently, Echinacea purpurea and its extracts have gained much interest due to their improvement on meat quality, but little information is available on the application of the purified Echinacea purpurea polysaccharide (4-O-methyl-glucuronoarabinoxylan, 4OMG). Thus, this trial aimed at assessing the effects of dietary supplementation of 4OMG on growth performance, thigh meat quality and small intestine development of broilers. A total of 240 1-day-old female broiler chicks were randomly distributed to four groups with three replicates of 20 within each group. Each group received either 0, 15, 20 or 25 g 4OMG/kg DM of diet. During the entire experiment, broilers had ad libitum access to water and feed, and the feed intake was recorded daily. All broilers were weighed before and end of the experiment. For each group, three pens with a total of 20 broilers were randomly selected to slaughter after 30 days. Increasing dietary supplementation of 4OMG linearly increased final live weight and daily body weight gain (P = 0.013) of broilers, Gain-to-Feed ratio (P 〈 0.001), muscle pH (P = 0.024) and redness (P = 0.001), but decreased drip loss (P = 0.033), shear force value (P = 0.004) and hardness (P = 0.022) of the thigh meat. Broilers fed diet with higher 4OMG had greater weight index, villus height and ratio of villus height to crypt depth in both duodenum and jejunum. These results indicated that increasing dietary supplementation of 4OMG was beneficial for growth performance, meat quality and development of the small intestine of broilers.

Beschreibung: Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.) is an important crop for rainfed production systems and can play a significant role as a feed source for ruminants owing to its high yield and drought tolerance. It is well-established that the maturity stage can influence the chemical composition as well as the nutritional value of crops traditionally used for silage production, although quantitative evidence that this occurs with pearl millet under rainfed conditions is lacking. The current research assessed the agronomic characteristics, ensilability, intake and digestibility of a Brazilian pearl millet cultivar (IPA BULK1-BF) harvested at four different growth stages. Forage was harvested at 35, 50, 65 and 80 days after sowing and ensiled under laboratory and farm conditions. Apparent digestibility of the silages was determined using 24 male lambs. The results showed that dry matter (DM) and panicle and stem proportions increased with the advancement maturity. The silage evaluations showed that DM, total and non-fibrous carbohydrates and lignin concentrations increased, while crude protein, ADF and in vitro DM digestibility decreased with the increase in plant maturity. Additionally, the fermentation characteristics were improved with the increasing maturity. The digestion study showed that intake of DM and N as well as digestibility of DM and fibre fractions decreased, while lignin intake increased. The results obtained for the production of dry and digestible DM, the ratio of plant fractions and fermentation parameters indicate the possibility of harvesting pearl millet forage after 50 days after sowing for silage production in the Brazilian semi-arid region.

Beschreibung: Methane (CH4) consumption in agricultural soil is imperative for the mitigation of climate change. However, the effect of tillage and cropping systems on CH4 consumption is less studied. Experiments were carried out in Madhya Pradesh, India with soybean-wheat (SW), maize-wheat (MW) and maize-gram (MG) cropping systems under conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT). Soybean/maize was cultivated during the kharif season (July–October) and wheat/chickpea in the rabi season (October–March) for 9 years consecutively. Soil samples were collected during vegetative growth stages of soybean and maize from different cropping systems. Methane consumption, the abundance of methanotrophs as particulate methane monooxygenase (pmoA) gene copies, soil and crop parameters were estimated. Methane consumption rate was higher in NT and upper soil layer (0–5 cm) than CT and 5–15 cm depth. Methane consumption rate k ranged from 0.35 to 0.56 μg CH4 consumed/g soil/d in the order of MW〉SW〉MG in 0–5 cm. The abundance of pmoA gene copies ranged from 43 × 104/g soil to 13 × 104/g soil and was highest in MW-NT and lowest in MG-CT. Available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were higher in 0–5 cm than in 5–15 cm depth. Soil and plant parameters and abundance of pmoA genes correlated significantly and positively with CH4 consumption rate. No-tillage stimulated CH4 consumption compared to CT irrespective of cropping system and CH4 consumption potential was highest in MW and lowest in MG. However, the magnitude of the positive effect of NT towards CH4 consumption was higher in SW and MG than MW.

Beschreibung: The development of resilient cropping systems with high yield stability is becoming increasingly important due to future climatic and agronomic challenges. Consequently, it is essential to compare the effects of different agronomic management practices, such as cropping sequences and nutrient supply, on the stability of crop yields. Long-term experiments are a valuable resource for investigating these effects, as they provide enough time to accurately estimate stability parameters. The objective of the current study was to compare the effects of different cropping sequencing (#1: continuous v. rotational), fertilization (#2: mineral v. organic) and straw management techniques (in the case of continuous wheat; #3: removal v. incorporation) on the yield stability of winter wheat; yield risk (the probability of yield falling below a threshold yield level) and inter-annual yield variability were used as stability indicators of the effects. Long-term yield data from the Broadbalk Wheat Experiment (Rothamsted, UK) were analysed using a mixed model. Overall, the results showed that rotational cropping combined with sufficient mineral N fertilizer, with or without organic manure, ensured stable wheat yields while reducing yield risk. In contrast, higher yield risks and inter-annual yield variabilities were found in continuous wheat sections with less mineral N fertilizer or with organic manure only.

Beschreibung: This research paper addresses the effect of different grouping strategies of fresh cows on total lactational and reproductive performance. Hundred-sixty multiparous Holstein cows were enrolled in a completely randomized design and assigned to one of following treatments: 21 days in fresh pen with 12.5 kg/day concentrate (C21, n = 60), 10 days in fresh pen with 12.5 kg/day concentrate (C10, n = 50) and 10 days in fresh pen with 10 kg/day concentrate (L10, n = 50). Although there were no differences among treatments within the first 10 days in milk (DIM), C10 and L10 cows tended to produce more milk than C21 from 10 to 21 DIM. In addition, greater milk yield was obtained in C10 and L10 cows during 22–28 DIM and 29–70 DIM. Higher production in early lactation resulted in a tendency for greater milk production for C10 and L10 cows throughout a 305 days lactation. There was no difference in productivity between C10 and L10 groups at any time point. No blood metabolites (Ca, P, non-esterified fatty acids and β-hydroxy butyrate) were affected by treatments. Pregnancy at first, second and third service was 38, 39 and 40%, respectively, which were not influenced by the days in fresh pen or concentrate allowance. Collectively, our results for the first time suggest that fresh cow grouping strategy has a long-term effect on productivity but that adding 2.5 kg/day concentrate has no effect on milk yield in fresh pen.

Beschreibung: A 2-year fertilization experiment was conducted to study the effect of different ratios of organic (pig) manure on wheat yield and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). The four treatments were no nitrogen (N) (CK); 100% chemical fertilizer N (urea; T1); 70% chemical fertilizer N + 30% organic manure N (T2) and 50% chemical fertilizer N + 50% organic manure N (T3), with the same amount of applied nitrogen (120 kg/ha). The results showed the maximum grain yield (3049 kg/ha), crop nitrogen uptake (216 kg/ha), NUE (65.4%) and accumulated nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N in 0–200 cm, 142 kg/ha) were observed in the T1 among all treatments in the first year. However, the largest grain yield (5074 kg/ha), crop nitrogen uptake (244 kg/ha) and NUE (82.5%) were under T2 treatment in the second year. Furthermore, T2 had the maximum NO3−-N content in 0–100 cm layer (116 kg/ha), especially 0–40 cm layer, and the lowest NO3−-N content in 100–200 cm (58.8 kg/ha). However, 50% organic manure N in T3 increased apparent nitrogen loss by 39.0% compared to that in T2. Therefore, 30% organic manure N application was more conducive for enhancing wheat yield and NUE and promoting environmental safety after 1-year fertilization time.

Beschreibung: The aim of the study was to analyse the influence on tail-biting in undocked pigs during the rearing period of crude fibre in piglets' rations. All pigs were fed the same pre-starter until weaning. The study comprised two trials with four experimental groups each. The first trial contained: a control group (CG1) with conventional feed (up to 40 g/kg crude fibre), two groups with an increased crude fibre content of up to 50 g/kg (G5) and 60 g/kg (G6), respectively, and one group with conventional feed and crude fibre provision ad libitum (AL). The second trial consisted of a control group (CG2) which received the same conventional feed as CG1 and three treatment groups with either soya hulls (SS), dried sugar beet pulp (DP) or oat fibre (OF) admixed to their ration, to achieve a crude fibre content of 60 g/kg in all three groups. The rearing week, the batch, the treatment group (only in trial one) and the interaction between batch and treatment group had a significant influence on tail-lesions (P

Beschreibung: Owing to its contribution to the maintenance of carbon stocks, soil nitrogen and nutrient cycling for subsequent crops, the integrated systems become increasingly important for agricultural conservation. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the biomass production of and total nutrient in Brachiaria spp. and Panicum maximum forage grasses used as mulch and soybean yields in an integrated crop–livestock system and second-crop maize succession system. The treatments consisted of the following cropping systems: Xaraes palisadegrass intercropped with soybean, Congo grass intercropped with soybean, Mombaça guinea grass intercropped with soybean, Tamani guinea grass intercropped with soybean and a soybean/maize succession system. The forage grasses were established during the soybean R6–R7 stage. Compared with Congo grass, Xaraes palisadegrass, Mombaça guinea grass and Tamani guinea grass produced more biomass and equivalent amounts of fertilizer returned to the soil and resulted in greater nutrient cycling, indicating the benefits of these grasses for use as mulch in integrated production systems. Maize had a greater C/N ratio, but the forage grasses also exhibited high potential by protecting the soil until the end of the soybean development cycle. The use of an integrated crop–livestock system combined with a forage cropping system provided greater soil nutrient cycling than the maize cropping system did, which resulted in increased soybean yields, thus contributing to the sustainability of agricultural systems.

Beschreibung: There is a fundamental concern regarding the prediction of kiwifruit yield based on the concentration of nutrients in the leaf (2–3 months before fruits harvesting). For this purpose, the current study was designed to employ an artificial neural network (ANN) to evaluate the kiwi yield of Hayward cultivar. In this regard, 31 kiwi orchards (6–7 years old) in different parts of Rudsar, Guilan Province, Iran, with 101 plots (three trees in every plot) were selected. The complete leaves of branches with fruits were harvested, and the concentration of nitrogen, potassium, calcium, and magnesium measured. After fruit harvesting in late November, the fruit yield of each plot was evaluated along with the fresh and dry weights of the fruit. The ANN analyses were carried out using a multi-layer perceptron with the Langburge-Marquardt training algorithm. Using calcium (Ca) as input data (Ca-model) was more accurate than using nitrogen (N-model). The maximum R2 and the lowest root mean square error was obtained when all nutrients and related ratios were considered as input variables. Since the difference between the proposed model and the model fitted by the calcium variable (Ca-model) was only about 6%, the Ca-model is recommended.

Beschreibung: Plant breeding has brought about improvements in the herbage yield potential, forage quality and functional traits of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Under conditions of low external inputs, grassland swards based on perennial ryegrass often contain dicotyledonous species (legume and non-legume). Cultivar-specific functional traits such as growth form or phenology affect the competitive ability and yield in mixtures, but the extent to which cultivars with different functional traits affect forage quality in mixtures compared with pure stands is unknown. Therefore, we analysed four perennial ryegrass cultivars, each representing a combination of two functional traits with respect to phenology (early v. late heading) and growth form (upright v. prostrate) on forage quality, in a field experiment over 5 years. Each cultivar was grown in binary-mixtures with Trifolium repens L., as four-species mixtures with Taraxacum officinale L. and Plantago lanceolata L., and as grass monocultures. The effect of functional traits was dominant in the primary growth and persisted in pure stands but not in the mixtures from the third year onwards. Prostrate cultivars allowed the development of a greater proportion of clover and forbs within the mixtures, resulting in increased protein and energy and reduced fibre contents. In mixtures, forage quality was generally higher in the last regrowth. In conclusion, the indirect effects of growth form on forage quality due to modifications of botanical composition were more important than direct effects on forage quality.

Beschreibung: In recent years, banded leaf sheath blight in maize (Zea mays L.) has become an important disease that seriously affects quality and yield. This paper aims to evaluate the sensitivity of Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn to thifluzamide on maize, to clarify the effect of seed coating using a thifluzamide suspension agent on safety and physiological indicators and to determine the effectiveness of control of banded leaf sheath blight in the field. In this study, the thifluzamide sensitivity of 102 strains of R. solani in maize from Shandong was determined using the mycelial growth rate method; the average half-maximal effective concentration value (EC50) was 0.086 ± 0.004 μg/ml and displayed a unimodal frequency distribution, indicating that thifluzamide had strong inhibitory activity on the mycelial growth of R. solani in maize. In an indoor pot test, the root activities under 24 g a.i./100 kg seed were found to increase by 78.01%, compared with the control. Similarly, chlorophyll content increased most significantly at this dose, by 32.3%. Thifluzamide (FS) could significantly increase the per-plot yield. Among the examined dosages, 48 g a.i./100 kg seed had the most significant treatment effect, with the yield rate increasing by 15.7% and 14.1%, respectively, in 2017 and 2018 compared with the control. The field effectiveness against banded leaf sheath blight in maize was highest at the dosage of 48 g a.i./100 kg seed for a seed dressing with thifluzamide (FS). These results indicate that thifluzamide has enormous potential for controlling banded leaf sheath blight in maize.

Beschreibung: Durum wheat culture requires a high level of N fertilization to achieve ideal protein concentration for semolina and pasta quality, contributing to N losses. Optimizing plant N use efficiency could improve agro-environmental balance. In the current paper, we studied the impact of the marine (DPI4913) and fungal (AF086) extracts (biostimulants) applied on leaves on growth, N absorption and N fluxes in durum wheat in field and greenhouse experiments. In the field, 15NO3− and 15NH4+ were injected into the soil; in the greenhouse, N of the flag-leaf was labelled with 15NH4+. Flag-leaf senescence was studied by estimating leaf chlorophyll concentration. In greenhouse, biostimulants increased grain yield, total N in plant and the proportion of plant N in ears. When water was limited in greenhouse experiment, neither biostimulants had any effect. In the field, DPI4913 increased soil fertilizer-derived 15N accumulated in grains. In the greenhouse, biostimulants increased the proportion of 15N applied to the flag-leaf recovered in grains and accelerated leaf senescence. For plants treated with biostimulants, flag-leaf N resorption increased. Biostimulants had a larger positive impact on mineral N root uptake than on N remobilization. In conclusion, our study has shown that DPI4913 and AF086 can promote plant growth and grain yield, N uptake and remobilization. Thus, these biostimulants could be used to optimize durum wheat N fertilization and contribute to reduced N losses.

Beschreibung: The successful ensiling of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) depends on a rapid acidification in the silo and consequently relies on a sufficient proliferation of, particularly homofermentative, lactic acid bacteria. Similarly, growth of spoilage bacteria, such as enterobacteria and clostridia, must be suppressed and silage additives are therefore frequently applied to promote favourable conditions during ensiling. Three silage additives or soil were applied during lucerne ensiling and investigated for their effects on silage quality characteristics and abundances of total bacteria as well as the bacterial key players Lactobacillus spp., homofermentative Lact. plantarum, heterofermentative Lact. buchneri, Clostridium spp. and Enterobacteriaceae after 30 days of storage. Inoculation with viable Lact. plantarum resulted in highest concentration of this species and excellent silage quality, i.e. high lactic acid concentration coupled with low acetic acid and ammonia-nitrogen concentrations. A sodium nitrite and hexamine-based additive did not support growth of lactic acid bacteria, which was also apparent by higher pH and low lactic acid concentration. No effect of treatments was found on spoilage-related enterobacteria and clostridia, even not when adding soil to lucerne to increase initial clostridial contamination. However, soil treatment resulted in increased ammonia-nitrogen and acetic acid concentrations. Consequently, among the bacterial key players, lactic acid bacteria concentrations were related to silage quality. Regarding spoilage bacteria, however, alterations in silage quality characteristics were not reflected in the abundances of enterobacteria and clostridia. Future investigations should underpin the present findings and help to understand how silage additives affect microbial key players and silage fermentation.

Beschreibung: The supplementation of ruminant diets with exogenous cellulolytic enzymes can improve their digestibility and feeding value. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of supplementing roughage (rice straw) and concentrate with inoculants containing four fungal strains (Pleurotus ostreatus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Trichoderma reesei and Trichoderma viride) and four bacterial strains (Paenibacillus polymyxa, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus circulans and Bacillus subtilis), given separately or as a mixture, as a source of exogenous cellulolytic enzymes, on basic rumen parameters in vitro, including digestibility and methane production. A batch culture trial was used to select the best supplements, and a long-term rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) was used to evaluate the effects of P. chrysosporium, B. subtilis, and a 1 : 1 mixture of these two on dietary component digestibility and fermentation parameters. In the batch culture evaluation, there were significant increases in the organic matter (OM) digestibility, the total gas production expressed as ml/g of dry matter, the OM, the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and the acid detergent fibre (ADF) of the supplemented rations, as compared to the control, excluding the rations supplemented with T. viride and B. circulans. In the RUSITEC, the ration supplemented with mixed inoculants showed significantly higher digestibility of crude protein, ether extract, NDF and ADF than did the ration supplemented with the P. chrysosporium and B. subtilis inoculants. It can be concluded that the simultaneous use of fungal and bacterial exogenous cellulases on rice straw roughage improves its digestibility, without negative effects on other rumen parameters.

Beschreibung: Identifying the role of colonial-sponsored institutions and written texts produced by local scholars, this article argues that, although Cambodian scholars’ intellectual orientation was not necessarily restricted to French scholarship, French colonial rule had played the key role in introducing modern historiography and creating the platforms for the epistemological transition in Cambodia which underwent different categories of knowledge adoption and various projects of translation of local individuals. Capturing the dynamic of the epistemological transition allows us to highlight a broader picture of the interplay between a long-existing body of knowledge and more contemporary scholarship under Western colonisation.

Beschreibung: Japan's Second World War occupation of Singapore was marked by acute shortages of food and basic consumer goods, malnutrition, rampant black markets and social breakdown. We argue that the exploitation of Singapore was extreme and fully accorded with pre-war Japanese policy. Japan used Singapore mainly as a communications centre and port to ship Indonesian oil. Mid-1943 attempts to add manufacturing to the city's role had limited success. Acquiescence of Singaporeans to Japanese rule was a notable aspect of occupation. While part of the explanation is that the occupation was a reign of terror, the economics of shortage conferred on the Japanese considerable leverage in maintaining social control.

Beschreibung: This study aimed to evaluate the fermentation profile and nutritional quality of silages composed of cactus pear and maniçoba. Two experiments were performed: the first evaluated the fermentation characteristics, chemical composition and determined the organic acids in cactus pear silages with the inclusion of five levels of maniçoba (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) in six opening times (1, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days). The second experiment determined the nutrient intake, digestibility, water balance and nitrogen balance in Canindé goats fed diets based on cactus pear silage with the inclusion of four levels of maniçoba (25, 50, 75 and 100%), with six animals per treatment. The increase in maniçoba levels in cactus pear silage provided a linear increase in the butyric acid, dry matter (DM), ether extract, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose, water intake via drinking fountain and metabolic water, and reduced the pH, lactic acid, acetic acid, mineral matter, total carbohydrates, non-fibrous carbohydrates, water intake via food, total water intake, water excreted in the faeces, water excreted in the urine, total water excretion and water balance. Quadratic behaviour was observed for N-NH3, DM recovery and propionic acid, with an increase in maniçoba levels in cactus pear silages. Regarding the different opening times, there was a significant effect in pH, N-NH3, acetic acid, lactic acid and butyric acid (P 〈 0.050). The inclusion of maniçoba in cactus pear silage improved the fermentation characteristics and nutritional quality to be used in diets for goats.

Beschreibung: Feeding fodder beet (FB) to dairy cows in early lactation has recently been adopted by New Zealand dairy producers despite limited definition of feeding and grazing management practices that may prevent acute and sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA). This modelling study aimed to characterize changes of rumen pH, milk production and total discomfort from FB and define practical feeding strategies of a mixed herbage and FB diet. The deterministic, dynamic and mechanistic model MINDY was used to compare a factorial arrangement of FB allowance (FBA), herbage allowance (HA) and time of allocation. The FBA were 0, 2, 4 or 7 kg dry matter (DM)/cow/day (0FB, 2FB, 4FB and 7FB, respectively) and HA were 18, 24 or 48 kg DM/cow/day above ground. All combinations were offered either in the morning or afternoon or split across two equal meals. Milk production from 2FB diets was similar to 0FB but declined by 4 and 16% when FB increased to 4 and 7 kg DM, respectively. MINDY predicted that 7FB would result in SARA and that rumen conditions were sub-optimal even at moderate FBA (pH 〈 5.6 for 160 and 90 min/day, 7FB and 4FB respectively). Pareto front analysis identified the best compromise between high milk production and low total discomfort was achieved by splitting the 2FB diet into two equal meals fed each day with 48 kg DM herbage. However, due to low milk response and high risk of acidosis, it is concluded that FB is a poor supplement for lactating dairy cows.

Beschreibung: Polyhalite is a multi-nutrient mineral ore containing potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulphur (S). Historically, it has enjoyed minor use as a fertilizer, but the opening of a new mine in the UK will make larger quantities available. Therefore, an examination of the performance of crops fertilized with polyhalite, or selected commercial alternatives, was pertinent and is reported here.Four field trials were carried out between 2013 and 2016 to investigate the response of winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and forage maize (Zea mays L.) to different application rates of polyhalite, potassium chloride (muriate of potash, MOP) and potassium sulphate (sulphate of potash, SOP) fertilizers. Potassium and S nutrition were the focus of these trials as they limit field production more often than Mg and Ca.Polyhalite was found to be an effective source of both K and S for crop production. In three out of four trials, application of polyhalite resulted in similar or greater K offtake compared with both MOP and SOP; MOP application resulted in greater K offtake in one trial. In three out of four trials, application of polyhalite resulted in similar or better S offtake compared with both MOP and SOP; SOP application resulted in greater S offtake in one trial. Polyhalite and MOP treatments produced similar total dry weight in all four trials, but were slightly inferior to SOP treatment.

Beschreibung: By the 1890s the Dutch had noticed the escalation of opium addiction in colonial Indonesia. They believed that opium consumption had brought about health problems and other negative socioeconomic effects. Yet, the profitability of opium took precedence over its negative social effects in the Dutch East Indies government's policy, which until the end of the 1920s made almost no substantial efforts to address addiction. It was nongovernmental organisations which took the initiative to install medical facilities for addicts and launch diverse anti-opium campaigns. These organisations marked the rise of modern philanthropic activism in the field of public health as part of the flourishing sociopolitical movements of that time. They also represent the nascent civil society in late colonial Indonesia.

Beschreibung: This comparative study examines the complex, changing configurations of the relationships between the state and mediumship cults, under different regimes and histories in three Southeast Asian states and China. Spirit mediums are endowed with charismatic authority, owing to their access to the supernatural sphere, which stands in implicit tension with the authority of the state. This tension underlies state–mediumship relationships in Southeast Asia, but leads to diverse dynamics, according to the place of religion in each state. In the atheist, communist/post-communist states (China and Vietnam) mediumship is primarily approached as a political issue; in Buddhist Thailand as a religious issue, and in multicultural Malaysia, where Islam is the official religion, as a legal issue. Tensions prevail particularly in the communist/post-communist states, where there has been a resurgence of mediumship cults, even as these are officially proscribed as ‘superstitions’. In Thailand tensions have been ameliorated by a gradual amalgamation of the cults and popular Buddhism, while in Malaysia tensions are prevented by controls over religious practices. Further research on the relatively neglected issue of the relationship between the state and mediumship cults in the emergent regions of the world is suggested.

Beschreibung: The study was conducted to investigate the effects of fish or palm oil diets with different roughage levels on dairy performance, milk physicochemical composition and apparent transfer efficiency of fatty acids (FA) in goat milk. The experiment was conducted with 40 Aleppo goats with a mean parity of 2.53 ± 0.8 (multiparous), mean initial body weight of 47.23 kg and 25 ± 5 days in milk which were allocated to four (2 × 2) experimental diets with two oil sources (fish or palm oil) at 25.6 g/kg of dietary dry matter and forage levels (400 or 600 g/kg). The experimental data were analysed by repeated measures analysis, using the MIXED procedure. The concentrations of saturated FA decreased with high forage level and fish oil diets; however, the fish oil diets caused an increase in C14 saturated FA. Fish oil diets with high roughage levels more efficiently increased conjugated linoleic acid, n-6 (18 : 2), and n-3 (20 : 5). The apparent transfer efficiency of 18 : 1, 18 : 2, 18 : 3 and 20 : 5 decreased and the transfer efficiency of 22 : 6 increased with the use of fish oil in the diet. The roughage level did not affect the apparent transfer efficiency of 18 : 1 and 18 : 2, but the low roughage level increased the apparent transfer efficiency of 20 : 5. High roughage diets improved milk quality parameters through increasing eicosapentaenoic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), PUFA/saturated FA and atherogenicity index, thus it was concluded that dietary roughage level could be considered as an important designator of milk quality when a supplement of fish oil and palm oil was supplied to goats.

Beschreibung: Confucian revivalism swept over China, the Straits Settlements and the Netherlands East Indies in the late nineteenth century. Rather than perceiving China as the single foundational centre for Confucian ideas, this article argues that pioneering Confucian revivalists who undertook to translate, interpret and spread Confucian knowledge in Java did not simply follow mainstream ideas that prevailed in China, or the lead of the Straits Settlements. Considered as the first Malay language translation of the ‘Great Learning’ and the ‘Doctrine of the Mean’, with accompanying commentaries, Yoe Tjai Siang and Tan Ging Tiong's Kitab Tai Hak–Tiong Iong (1900), contained an eclectic blend of Hokkien/Chinese, Malay, Javanese, Dutch/Christian and Arabic/Islamic concepts and vocabulary. Analysis of the translators’ aims and the work itself, shows that Java's peranakan Chinese initially developed a unique, creolised interpretation of Confucianism, while being connected to other reformers and revivalists in China and the Straits Settlements. As these connections and formal educational exchanges intensified, this creolised interpretation of Confucianism in Java would give way to a more orthodox version.

Beschreibung: This article attempts to illuminate Duncan McCargo's influential yet ambiguous concept of ‘network monarchy’ — the source of political power wielded by Thailand's royalist establishment. Drawing on Thai-language primary sources, especially cremation volumes, I argue, first, that many individuals who have made up various institutional components of the network monarchy come from a constellation of traditional royalist families that have intermarried with each other. Contrary to what McCargo suggests, these people are not just bound by their devotion to the monarchy alone, but also by their families’ pervasive intermarriage ties forged over many decades. These ties have given the network monarchy additional resilience, even though not all its members toe the ideological line all the time. My second argument concerns the temporal context in which the network monarchy has come into being. Although McCargo makes it seem that the late King Bhumibol developed the network monarchy — his personal patronage network — as a political tool from scratch in the post-1973 period, it has actually grown, in part, out of the pre-existing elite family networks. I develop these twin arguments by using the case of one royalist prime minister — Anand Panyarachun — as a focal point of analysis.

Beschreibung: Based on fieldwork conducted among the Buddhist population living in Rakhine State, Myanmar, between 2005 and 2011, this article elucidates how people deal with health and illness and related uncertainties by relying on a multiplicity of conceptions and practices associated with Buddhism, astrology, spirit cults, as well as indigenous and Western medicine. This article unpacks this plurality to show how different components contribute to the healing process in complementary and yet hierarchical ways which hold to a nexus of political, social, medical, economic, cosmological, biological, and environmental factors. It also questions the boundaries between the religious and medical, Buddhist and non-Buddhist, worldly and otherworldly, and natural and supernatural.

Beschreibung: This article explores the social and moral implications of Duterte's war on drugs in a poor, urban neighbourhood in Manila, the Philippines. Drawing on long-term ethnographic fieldwork, surveys, and human rights interventions, the article sheds light on policing practices, social relations, and moral discourses by examining central perspectives of the state police implementing the drug war, of local policing actors engaging with informal policing structures, and of residents dealing with everyday insecurities. It argues that the drug war has produced a climate of ambiguous fear on the ground, which has reconfigured and destabilised social relations between residents and the state as well as among residents. Furthermore, this has led to a number of subordinate moral discourses — centred on social justice, family, and religion — with divergent perceptions on the drug war and the extent to which violence is deemed legitimate.

Beschreibung: Phạm Quỳnh (1893–1945), twentieth century Vietnamese intellectual and politician, is a contentious figure in Vietnamese colonial history in terms of his collaboration with the French administration. Much of the mixed opinions on his role, though gleaned from his essays and political positions, have not yet been connected to the ambiguities of the colonial reforms concurrent with his budding career. Informed by Homi Bhabha's framework of ‘mimicry’, this study offers a reading of Phạm Quỳnh's attachment to language, both tongue and discourse, to nuance his character and reveal the ambiguous articulations of French colonial policy in Vietnam.

Beschreibung: This article considers the literary curiosity from the Mạc–Lê dynastic wars in the sixteenth century of a poem written by a Mạc-dynasty partisan being interpreted by later generations as having been written to praise the Lê dynasty. It uses textual and contextual analysis to argue that the poem was written to praise the Mạc dynasty but was later revised by scholars of the Lê dynasty.

Beschreibung: A century ago, research on the Malay world was experiencing major breakthroughs on several fronts, but the greatest achievement at the time was without doubt George Coedès’ ‘rediscovery’, based on Asian sources, of a forgotten kingdom named Srivijaya. His book, published in 1918, saw a wave of publications follow in its wake. Sources were trawled in the hope of finding answers to unresolved issues and unidentified place names. Attention invariably also fell on Melaka. In a long article published by the French academic and diplomat Gabriel Ferrand in the same year, the question of Melaka's founding date came under the spotlight. What do the different surviving sources tell us? What about Gaspar Correia's claim that Melaka was a thriving port city for centuries before the arrival of the Portuguese? Was the city — just as in the case of Temasek (Singapore) — known by a different name in earlier times? Ferrand's publication provoked a response from the Dutch academic Gerret Pieter Rouffaer, director of the KITLV. What he planned to be a 20-odd page response to Ferrand swelled into a multifaceted argument running into hundreds of pages. The debate between Ferrand and Rouffaer that touched on Melaka and Temasek-Singapura's early history probably eluded most of their academic contemporaries who were not proficient in both Dutch and French, especially in the English-speaking world. The present article reconstructs the main points of this debate together with their echo in historiography. It makes a contribution to the ongoing discourses, especially in Malaysia, concerning the founding date of Melaka.

Beschreibung: Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) is capable of adapting to multiple environments and tolerating abiotic stresses including saline, drought and frost stress conditions. However, the introduction of quinoa into new environments has disclosed adaptation challenges. The principle factor affecting crop pollination is heat stress at flowering, which leads to sterile plants. To investigate the effect of high temperatures during the sensitive phenological phases, flowering and seed germination, a Danish-bred cultivar (cv. Titicaca) was grown in climatic chambers. Selection of the cv. Titicaca was based on the fact that it is the most extensively used cultivar in the Sahel and Middle East and North African region. The results of this research demonstrated that temperatures exceeding 38 °C hindered seed germination and pollination, and therefore, seed yield at harvest. At 38 °C, seed yield losses were 30%, whilst seed germination percentage declined below 50%. In addition, the results of the present research were compared with field observations from Burkina Faso in order to determine the spatiotemporal suitability of this crop with respect to temperature stress. Although many other abiotic stresses need to be considered when defining crop calendars (e.g. heavy precipitation in July and August), this research proposes the following growing periods to avoid heat-stress conditions at flowering: Sahel (July–September and November–February), Soudano–Sahel (June–February) and Soudanian zone (all year round).

Beschreibung: The fascinating yet still underexplored world of manuscripts hailing from Southeast Asia, including the nation-state of Indonesia, has received some impetus in recent years, thanks to the new appreciation for this written heritage by state and non-state actors both within and without the country. Traditionally perceived as a dry (and hardly scientific or ‘intellectual’) subject that was the preserve of a small circle of specialist librarians, codicology (and Asian codicology in particular) has become a vibrant discipline, with several teams of scholars and projects worldwide focusing on manuscripts as objects, as well as on ‘manuscript cultures’. These projects and approaches duly recognise the role of manuscripts (and not only texts) as prime carriers of cultural and civilisational values across time and space, as well as their relevance for the culture and identity of contemporary societies. This essay reviews some recent publications on Indonesian manuscripts catering to researchers as well as the wider public.

Beschreibung: Sheep are grazers and goats are intermediate feeders. By employing O2 consumption and heart rate measurements, resting metabolic rate (RMR) and field metabolic rate (FMR) were determined in four male fat-tailed Awassi sheep (44.0 ± 3.94) and four male Baladi goats (35.5 ± 5.42 kg) that were co-grazing natural pasture in the Negev Desert. There were 67.7 ± 3.75 g DM/m2 of herbaceous vegetation biomass, which was rapidly becoming senescent and more fibrous. We hypothesized that FMR of these desert-adapted ruminants would be relatively low when compared to other sheep and goat breeds, as animals in arid areas tend to have low metabolic rates. Both sheep (n = 6) and goats (n = 6) foraged 71% of the allotted 11 h free-pasture period; however, sheep grazed more than goats (P 〈 0.001); whereas goats browsed more than sheep (P 〈 0.001). RMR was higher (P = 0.007) in sheep than in goats (529 ± 23.5 v. 474 ± 25.4 kJ/kg0.75 BW/d), but FMR did not differ between species (618 ± 55.7 v. 613 ± 115.2 kJ/kg0.75 BW/d). In addition, the cost of activities, as a proportion of FMR, did not differ between sheep and goats; FMR increased by 89 kJ/kg0.75 BW/d or 17% in sheep and by 138 kJ/kg0.75 BW/d or 29% in goats. In comparing FMRs of sheep and goats in this study with these species in other studies, differences were inconsistent and, therefore, our hypothesis was not supported.

Beschreibung: Low soil nitrogen (low N) threatens maize production in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). We examined the mode of gene action conditioning grain yield of intermediate maturing inbreds and evaluated lines in hybrid combinations for high yield, stability and tolerance to low N. Thirty-two sets of inbreds were crossed to three elite testers (87036, 1368 and 9071) to generate 96 F1 hybrids. The testcrosses plus four hybrid checks were evaluated under low (30 kg/ha) and high (90 kg/ha) N environments at three locations for 2 years in Ghana. Significant general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were detected for grain yield and most measured traits across test environments, indicating that both additive and non-additive gene action governed the inheritance of the traits. GCA effects were greater than SCA effects, indicating that most traits were controlled predominantly by additive gene action and that inbreds with positive significant GCA effects for grain yield and other traits would contribute favourable alleles to progenies across environments. Hybrid CZL 0001 × 9071 possessed high GY, increased EPP, desirable EHT and PLHT and was the highest yielding under each of two research conditions. Significant genetic correlations were observed between GY and PLHT, EPP, EHT, CA and PA implying that improvement of these traits would lead to significant gains in grain yield under low-N conditions. Hybrids CLWN 247 × 9071, ZM523B-29-2-1-1-B*6 × 9071, TZD II 68 × 1368 and P43SCRq Fs100-1-1-8 × 9071 were high-yielding, stable and low-N tolerant and should be tested on-farm and commercialized.

Beschreibung: A set of durum wheat genotypes from New South Wales (NSW, Durum Breeding Australia (DBA) Northern Program), South Australia (SA, DBA Southern Program and Australian Grain Technology), ICARDA and CIMMYT (International Centre for Research in Dryland Agriculture and International Centre for Maize and Wheat Improvement) was evaluated over 3 years (2012–2014) in field trials containing rainfed and watered blocks in Narrabri, NSW, Australia. Data on yield and other agronomic traits were analysed using a multi-environment trial approach that accommodated the factorial treatment structure (genotype by irrigation regime) within individual trials. Considerable variation was observed in the durum germplasm for productivity and grain quality traits. DBA Bindaroi (NSW) and 101042 (ICARDA) were the top yielders in watered and rainfed blocks, respectively. The yield was positively and strongly related to both harvest index and grains/m2, but grains/m2 was negatively related to thousand grain weight (TGW) and positively related to screenings. TGW and screenings were strongly negatively related and TGW and grains/m2 showed a weak positive relationship. Promising genotypes were identified, with superior traits to both the bread wheat check, EGA Gregory and the durum check, Caparoi. Overall, lines from SA and ICARDA were superior for yield but those from NSW were superior for quality parameters including TGW and screenings. These results suggested the possibility of developing high yielding high-quality durum varieties by crossing NSW lines with SA, CIMMYT and ICARDA lines through simultaneous selection for yield, TGW and low screenings. The results also suggested that productivity in rainfed conditions was positively related to productivity under watering, but further research is required to establish this.

Beschreibung: Data of 2780 Markhoz kids originated from 1216 dams and 211 sires during 1993–2016 in Markhoz Goat Breeding Station, located in Sanandaj, Iran, were used. Traits investigated were body weights at birth, weaning, six-month age [six months weight (6MW)], nine-month age and yearling age [yearling weight (YW)]. Two considered multivariate models including standard multivariate model (SMM) and fully recursive multivariate model (FRM) were compared using deviance information criterion (DIC) and predictive ability measures including mean square of error (MSE) and Pearson's correlation coefficient between the observed and predicted values $(r(y,hat{y}))$ of records. Spearman's rank correlation coefficients between posterior means of direct genetic effects of the studied traits of kids under SMM and FRM were also calculated across all, 50, 10 and 1% top-ranked animals. In general, FRM performed better than SMM in terms of lower DIC and MSE and also higher $rlpar ycomma ;hat{y} par$ . For all traits, the lowest MSE and the highest $rlpar ycomma ;hat{y} par$ were obtained under FRM. All structural coefficients estimated under FRM were statistically significant except for that of 6MW on YW. Comparisons of Spearman's rank correlations between posterior means of direct genetic effects of kids for growth traits under SMM and FRM revealed that taking the causal relationships among the studied growth traits of Markhoz goat into account may cause considerable re-ranking for the animals in terms of estimated breeding values, especially for the top-ranked animals. It may be concluded that FRM had more plausibility over SMM for genetic evaluation of the studied growth traits in Markhoz goat.

Beschreibung: The corporate responsibility to respect human rights was formally introduced in 2011 with the unanimous endorsement of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) by the UN Human Rights Council. It is grounded in social expectations and forms part of the companies' “social license to operate.” This paper argues that this responsibility is progressively turning into a legal duty for lead companies to respect human rights in those types of value chains which are characterized by a high level of control by a lead company over its business partners. Our argument rests on two recent legal developments. Firstly, the article analyzes the judicialization of the corporate responsibility to respect in the case law on parent company liability in various jurisdictions, which, we argue, is highly likely to have some implications in relation to certain types of value chains so as to trigger the liability of lead companies for the human rights harms arising out of the activities of entities over which they exercise sufficient control. Secondly, the article delves into the legislative developments which increasingly require lead companies to exercise due diligence so as to prevent and address adverse human rights impacts in their own activities and global value chains.

Beschreibung: Most scholarship on corporate political activity assumes that market forces wholly motivate firms’ political strategies. However, this conventional wisdom overlooks the role of employee groups in encouraging corporate activism. To evaluate whether employee groups are associated with firm social activism, we gathered all public statements in support of LGBT rights made by the five hundred largest publicly-traded US corporations from 2011 to 2017. In an exploratory observational analysis, we found robust evidence that in highly-educated workforces LGBT employee groups persuade management to take public stances in support of LGBT rights. Our findings suggest that internal pressure promotes activism on LGBT issues, and market, political, or social forces are insufficient to fully explain firm social activism. Although each does play an important role, since employee groups will use political, social, and especially market-based arguments to convince their managers to engage in activism.

Beschreibung: American discontent with offshore production features heavily in trade policy debates. But Americans more typically encounter offshore production in apolitical contexts as consumers. We argue that these ostensibly apolitical encounters with offshore production are, in fact, freighted with political consequences. This paper asks: When and for whom does consumer-based exposure to offshore production reduce support for free trade? This is an important in its own right, but also sheds light on the contexts in which more overtly political references to offshore production are likely to find the most fertile ground. We answer these questions using a survey experiment that embeds an offshoring “prime” into an advertisement for pet furniture, varying the location of production across different treatment groups. We find that our experimental exposure to offshore production depressed enthusiasm for free trade, but only when production occurred in China, and mainly among white men living near trade-related job loss. That heterogeneity resonates with work on the economic and social aspects of the decline in American manufacturing employment.

Beschreibung: After the subprime financial crisis, the countries who were worst affected set about reforming legacy financial regulations. Given multiple similarities in the way they experienced the crisis and the similar complexions of their post-crisis economies and politics, the contrast between the UK and the Netherlands' approaches to breaking up their largest banks presents a puzzle for prevailing theories in the politics of financial regulation. Both countries explored a range of reform options using similar expert committees, but while UK policymakers determined that commercial and investment operations should be ring-fenced in the largest British banks, the Dutch reform program centered on the banks’ own recommendations to change banking culture from the bottom up by developing a code of conduct and banker's oath. The paper traces this divergence to two related effects produced by the countries’ contrasting majoritarian and consensus party systems: power sharing and coalition formation. Under conditions of high issue salience, both worked to encourage British policymakers to prioritize reform, while in the Netherlands each factor reduced party political responsiveness and de-emphasized alternatives to the banks’ own reform prescriptions. The paper ultimately suggests that institutional democratic variables are worthy of greater recognition among scholars of business power and financial regulation.

Beschreibung: The globalization of production is changing the political economy of trade policymaking: Traditional supporters of free trade (exporters seeking market access in foreign countries) are joined by new actors (companies needing intermediates from abroad for their production processes) in their lobbying efforts for trade liberalization. Multinational corporations (MNCs) play a crucial role in this new alliance due to their strong involvement in international trade and endowment with resources that can be used to lobby policymakers. We derive an argument from these premises that leads to the expectation of variation in trade policy outcomes across industries depending on their degree of integration in a global network of multinational corporations. Disaggregated data on the level of tariffs and speed of tariff cuts in preferential trade agreements, international mergers and acquisitions at the firm level, and MNC imports of intermediates by sector allow us to test the argument. The findings support our theoretical expectations. The paper sheds light on the processes and outcomes of trade policymaking in a globalized economy by further developing an existing argument about GVCs and trade policy outcomes as well as expanding on it by adding data on international corporate connections.

Beschreibung: This paper examines the determinants of financial industry actors’ regulatory preferences—examining why some financial industry actors prefer less stringent financial regulations while others prefer more stringent regulations. The determination of preferences, we argue, can be understood as mutually dependent. How an organization is connected to other organisations through network ties may help to explain its regulatory preferences. Our empirical point of focus is financial industry lobbying in the context of the European Union (EU). Using data from nearly nine hundred lobbying letters related to legislation on banking, insurance, and securities regulation, we map out a “socialization network” that models connections between financial industry firms, their associations, as well as a broad range of other organisations and actors that are auxiliary to this community of organizations. Using these data we find evidence that organizations’ preferences are informed by their location within this socialization network. Controlling for a range of other plausible factors, we find that 1) those connected via common associational ties, 2) those closer to one another in the network and 3) those more “embedded” in this network are all less likely to diverge in terms of their preferences from one another.

Beschreibung: Despite much commentary in the media and the popular assumption that the banking industry exerts undue influence on government policy-making, the academic literature on the role of the banks since the 2008 financial crisis remains theoretically and empirically under-specified. In particular, we argue that different forms of financial power are often conflated, while favorable policy outcomes are too-readily assumed to be evidence of regulatory capture. In short, we still know relatively little about how bank influence varies over time and in different national contexts, the extent to which banking interests are unified or divided, and the conditions under which banks are capable of producing meaningful variation in policy outcomes. This article has three objectives: 1) to explain why the debate on bank influence matters; 2) to examine the evidence of bank influence since the international financial crisis; and 3) to set out a range of conceptual tools for thinking about bank power.

Beschreibung: This paper compares the economic efficiency of firm-agency governance structures for pollution reduction using transaction costs economics. Two governance structures are analyzed with the transaction costs approach: command and control regulation (CCR) and negotiated agreements (NAs). We propose that the choice of governance structure depends on the strategies firms pursue given the attributes of their transactions and their market opportunities. The application of transaction cost economics analysis leads to different choices of regulatory instruments. Firms in more mature, stable industries are likely to choose command and control, while firms in new, dynamic sectors are more likely to opt for negotiated agreements. Frequency of transactions is a key factor in firm choice.

Beschreibung: This article examines the evolution of U.S. chemical firms' corporate strategies in Asia over the past decade. Prior to the Asian financial crisis, these firms treated the Asian market as an expansion outlet due to a persistent lack of growth in Western markets. Since the crisis, U.S. firms have reformulated their market and organizational strategies to better withstand disruptions of business or product life cycles, specifically through refocusing core competence and establishing regional production networks. Meanwhile, their nonmarket strategies have lagged behind market strategies in specificity and sensitivity to the Asian context. This article explores the early effort in safety and environmental self-governance of the chemical firms in Asia, and argues that the history of domestic competition and government-business relations in the home market has to a large degree determined the transnational strategies of U.S. firms. Finally, U.S. chemical firms strategies are increasingly dependent on the behavior of their Asian competitors - in particular whether Asian producers enter into alliances with U.S. firms or resist liberalization and regional market interpenetration.

Beschreibung: The extent of business support for democracy in Latin America may determine whether the transitions from authoritarian rule since the 1980s lead to the consolidation of democratic regimes. While some analysts see business support for democracy as firm, others regard its as precarious, and still others believe it is contingent upon whether elected governments contest the economic interests or political dominance of the bourgeoisie. The difficulty of generalizing about the political orientations of business underscores the need for well-documented case studies. This study focuses on Peru, a country where democracy has been at grave risk, and it offers insight into the underlying forces and conditions that determine whether business supports or undermines democratic governance.

Beschreibung: This article analyzes the early-1980s Israeli bank-share crash at different points of its development to demonstrate the vital contribution of managers' professional and personal ethical norms to a fruitful collaboration between government authorities and the business sector. After presenting the case and discussing pertinent problems of external versus internal business regulation, this article provides a phase model of ethical decisionmaking in business that reconstructs the moral problems faced by the major players and probes appropriate responses to these problems. The application of the model to the bank-share affair shows how different stages in the evolution of the crisis introduce different ethical problems, inviting different moral considerations and calling for different solutions.

Beschreibung: This paper examines the development of EU regulations in the car distribution sector. In the span of approximately fifteen years, the sector has shifted from being regarded by its critics as being one of the most protected havens of European industry to one faced with open competition. The paper claims that the inability of the car industry to resist liberalization in this sector is related to several factors. First, there was declining support from member states for their national producers, in part explained by global shifts in ownership and production which rendered concepts of “national producer” problematic. Second, technological changes combined with the impact of globalization on in the industry undermined the case for a link between sales and service of cars. Third, DG competition, led by Mario Monti, wished to push through the ability of consumers to make cross-border purchases of cars. Fourth, a more general logic embedded in the Single European Market programme (SEM) had led to several decisions to prosecute EU car producers for infringing SEM rules and thereby undermining the ability of EU member states to protect their “national producers.” This has implications more broadly: will increasing globalization of industrial ownership further undermine the state-firm nexus in the EU, thus reducing the propensity of national industries to resist liberalization? In this context, will member states be prepared to give the EU Commission a freer hand in forcing through liberalization in the remaining sectors that remain problematic?

Beschreibung: In “The Allocation of Resources by Interest Groups: Lobbying, Litigation and Administrative Regulation,” (hereafter referred to as LLAR), John and Rui de Figueiredo make an important contribution to our understanding of how interest groups choose between lobbying and litigation strategies in the regulation game. Their work demonstrates the value of formally modeling the regulation game by distinguishing between lobbying and litigation. Drawing upon my own related work, in this brief comment I will focus upon some of the implications of formal models of lobbying and litigation for our understanding of how regulatory incentives are affected by judicial review and alternative statutory regimes. I hope to atleast suggest that in addition to illuminating many crucial issues in political science—such as the theory of lobbying and theories of political disadvantage—the sort of approach taken by the de Figueiredos has great significance for the analysis of some fundamental issues in administrative law and public law more generally.

Beschreibung: This paper examines the relationship between interest group membership, source of authorization, and meeting closure in federal advisory committees. Using observed correlations, it seeks to identify the ultimate source of “inappropriate influence” wielded in advisory committees. The worst offenders in recent years are those committees created jointly by Congress and agencies, and especially certain committees in USDA and DOC. However, these findings may be unique to the last six years, during which the number of closed meetings has tripled.

Beschreibung: The Center for Responsive Politics reports that U.S. lobbying expenditures substantially exceed interest group campaign contributions, without including the lobbying that is not required to be reported to the government. Although it has grown in Europe, particularly with respect to the European Union, lobbying is less important than in the United States. Bennedsen and Feldmann (BF) provide an important and insightful explanation for the difference in terms of the institutional structure of governments. They present a model of informational lobbying in client politics where an interest group provides information to a majority-rule (three-member) legislature. The legislature chooses the scale of a program whose benefits can be distributed among legislative districts. The legislative agenda setter has a vote buying problem and allocates benefits to one other legislator to obtain her vote. BF compare legislatures operating with and without a confidence procedure that allows the agenda setter to tie passage of its proposal the continuation of the government. This commentary considers the method for comparing these two institutions, assesses the implications of the theory, and considers future research related to the theory.

Beschreibung: The battle between the recording industry and those illegal sharing music over the Internet has gripped headlines over the last few years like few others related to the digital age. At its core, it is a battle about the meaning of property and thus a battle over the heart of the emerging information economy. This article critically examines the double punch of law and technology – the simultaneous and interwoven deployment of legal and electronic measures to protect digital content – and asks whether it is merely a defense strategy against piracy, as the industry asserts, or rather an attempt to fundamentally redefine the producer-consumer relationship. Based on some initial evidence for the latter proposition, the article analyzes reasons for concern, outlines the current politics of copyright policymaking that have given producers the upper hand, and sketches elements of a strategy to fight music piracy that does not infringe on basic consumer rights.

Beschreibung: This paper analyzes congressional voting on tobacco issues over two decades. Contrary to existing claims, the analysis shows that the tobacco industry's legislative success is more a function of representatives' regulatory and pro-business ideologies than of tobacco PAC money or a geographically-based tobacco voting bloc. In most cases, the tobacco voting bloc—representatives and senators from major tobacco producing districts and states—is not strong enough to protect and sustain the tobacco price support system, let alone affect the outcome of commercial issues such as cigarette taxes and regulation. The industry's campaign contributions also have sporadic and limited impact on commercial issues affecting tobacco. Only on agricultural issues do tobacco PAC contributions exhibit any influence.

Beschreibung: Despite recent currency crises, most of the Asia-Pacific economies continue to be among the most attractive markets in the world and now appear to be recovering rapidly. An important element in understanding the dynamics of firm strategies in Asia is the nature of nonmarket strategies, which concern efforts to respond to and influence the political-economic-social environment. To examine such nonmarket strategies and how they fit with other firm tasks, this article first focuses on “positional analysis”—that is, how market forces, firm competencies, and the nonmarket environment influence the choice of trade, investment, or some mix, at the national, regional, or global level. It then considers the nature of “strategic analysis,” consisting of a firm's choices of market arena, a transaction cost analysis of organization forms for market penetration, and a distributive politics analysis of nonmarket issues. These factors combine to influence the firm's integrated strategic choice. Implementation of this choice is based on “tactical analysis” that focuses on the market, organizational, and nonmarket tactics that firms must pursue to succeed with their chosen strategy.

Beschreibung: This study explores sources of variation in the efficacy of constituency building as corporate political strategy. The theoretical focus is on the persistent agency problems inherent in the principal-agent relationship between constituents and legislators. Analysis of data from key congressional respondents indicates that the nature of these agency problems significantly determines the relative effectiveness of corporate constituency building as a means to influence legislative decisionmaking. Corporate constituency building appears to be more effective for influencing legislators' voting behavior than for influencing the specific content of legislation; more effective in the House than the Senate; contingent on party affiliation; contingent on the types of feedback corporate stakeholders use to communicate with legislative offices; contingent on the types of corporate stakeholders involved. This paper discusses these findings in the context of the existing literature and makes suggestions for further inquiry into the use, efficacy, and evolution of constituency-based lobbying as corporate political strategy.