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Effect of increasing the time between slurry application and first rainfall event on phosphorus concentrations in runoff
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 26 May 2021; Published online - 12 August 2021.Minimizing slurry phosphorus (P) losses in runoff requires careful management in the context of both soil P surpluses and changing patterns in rainfall. Increasing the time interval between slurry application and the first rainstorm event is known to reduce P loss in runoff although the risk period for elevated P concentrations in runoff can extend for weeks. This study investigated the impact of increasing the time interval between slurry application and first rainstorm event on P concentrations in runoff. Simulated rainfall (40 mm h−1) was applied at 2, 4, 10, 18, 30 and 49 days after dairy slurry was surface-applied to a grassland sward in Ireland. Increasing time to runoff resulted in a decrease in dissolved reactive P concentrations from 5.0 to 1.0 mg P L−1 and a P signal in runoff for 18 days. Beyond 18 days, elevated P concentrations were observed in runoff collected from natural rainfall that preceded the day 49 rainstorm event. A published surface phosphorus and runoff model (SurPhos) was used to understand the slurry P dynamics controlling P interactions with runoff. Dissolved reactive P in runoff was predicted with accuracy by SurPhos, R2 = .89. The SurPhos model implied that slurry P mineralization occurred during the experimental period that resulted in a small spike in P concentrations beyond the defined risk period. This study shows that the experimental data have the potential to be extrapolated to different weather scenarios using SurPhos and could test when and where slurry P could be most safely spread.Open access funding provided by IReL.
WOA Institution: University College
Dublin Blended DEAL: IReL
Diagnosis of sheep fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica using cathepsin L enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA)
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 3 July 2021; Published online - 6 July 2021.Fasciolosis, a global parasitic disease of agricultural livestock, is caused by the liver fluke Fasciola hepatica.
Management and strategic control of fasciolosis on farms depends on early assessment of the extent of disease so
that control measures can be implemented quickly. Traditionally, this has relied on the detection of eggs in the
faeces of animals, a laborious method that lacks sensitivity, especially for sub-clinical infections, and identifies
chronic infections only. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) offer a quicker and more sensitive
serological means of diagnosis that could detect early acute infection before significant liver damage occurs. The
performance of three functionally-active recombinant forms of the major F. hepatica secreted cathepsins L,
rFhCL1, rFhCL2, rFhCL3, and a cathepsin B, rFhCB3, were evaluated as antigens in an indirect ELISA to serologically
diagnose liver fluke infection in experimentally and naturally infected sheep. rFhCL1 and rFhCL3 were
the most effective of the four antigens detecting fasciolosis in sheep as early as three weeks after experimental
infection, at least five weeks earlier than both coproantigen and faecal egg tests. In addition, the rFhCL1 and
rFhCL3 ELISAs had a very low detection limit for liver fluke in lambs exposed to natural infection on pastures and
thus could play a major role in the surveillance of farms and a ‘test and treat’ approach to disease management.
Finally, antibodies to all three cathepsin L proteases remain high throughout chronic infection but decline
rapidly after drug treatment with the flukicide, triclabendazole, implying that the test may be adapted to trace
the effectiveness of drug treatment.This work was supported by a European Research Council Advanced
Grant (HELIVAC, 322725) and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Professorship grant (17/RP/5368) awarded to J.P. Dalton
Achievable agricultural soil carbon sequestration across Europe from country-specific estimates
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 9 September 2021; Published online - 20 September 2021.The role of soils in the global carbon cycle and in reducing GHG emissions from agriculture has been increasingly acknowledged. The ‘4 per 1000’ (4p1000) initiative has become a prominent action plan for climate change mitigation and achieve food security through an annual increase in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks by 0.4%, (i.e. 4‰ per year). However, the feasibility of the 4p1000 scenario and, more generally, the capacity of individual countries to implement soil carbon sequestration (SCS) measures remain highly uncertain. Here, we evaluated country-specific SCS potentials of agricultural land for 24 countries in Europe. Based on a detailed survey of available literature, we estimate that between 0.1% and 27% of the agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can potentially be compensated by SCS annually within the next decades. Measures varied widely across countries, indicating differences in country-specific environmental conditions and agricultural practices. None of the countries' SCS potential reached the aspirational goal of the 4p1000 initiative, suggesting that in order to achieve this goal, a wider range of measures and implementation pathways need to be explored. Yet, SCS potentials exceeded those from previous pan-European modelling scenarios, underpinning the general need to include national/regional knowledge and expertise to improve estimates of SCS potentials. The complexity of the chosen SCS measurement approaches between countries ranked from tier 1 to tier 3 and included the effect of different controlling factors, suggesting that methodological improvements and standardization of SCS accounting are urgently required. Standardization should include the assessment of key controlling factors such as realistic areas, technical and practical feasibility, trade-offs with other GHG and climate change. Our analysis suggests that country-specific knowledge and SCS estimates together with improved data sharing and harmonization are crucial to better quantify the role of soils in offsetting anthropogenic GHG emissions at global level.This study has been funded and supported by the Horizon 2020 European Joint Programme SOIL (EJP-SOIL), grant agreement: 862695; Funding source: H2020-SFS-2018-2020/H2020-SFS-2019-1
Estimating maximum fine-fraction organic carbon in UK grasslands
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 24 November 2021; Published - 27 January 2021.Soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration across
agroecosystems worldwide can contribute to mitigate the effects
of climate change by reducing levels of atmospheric
CO2. Stabilisation of organic carbon (OC) in the fine soil
fraction (<20 μm) is considered an important long-term
store of SOC, and the saturation deficit (difference between
measured OC and estimated maximum OC in the fine fraction)
is frequently used to assess SOC sequestration potential
following the linear regression equation developed by Hassink
(1997). However, this approach is often taken without
any assessment of the fit of the equation to the soils being
studied. The statistical limitations of linear regression have
previously been noted, giving rise to the proposed use of
boundary line (BL) analysis and quantile regression (QR)
to provide more robust estimates of maximum SOC stabilisation.
The objectives of this work were to assess the
suitability of the Hassink (1997) equation to estimate maximum
fine-fraction OC in UK grassland soils of varying
sward ages and to evaluate the linear regression, boundary
line and quantile regression methods to estimate maximum
fine-fraction OC. A chronosequence of 10 grasslands was
sampled, in order to assess the relationship between sward
age (time since the last reseeding event) and the measured
and predicted maximum fine-fraction OC. Significantly different
regression equations show that the Hassink (1997)
equation does not accurately reflect maximum fine-fraction
OC in UK grasslands when determined using the proportion
of the fine soil fraction (<20 μm, %) and measured finefraction
OC (g C per kg soil). The QR estimate of maximum
SOC stabilisation was almost double that of the linear
regression and BL analysis (0.89 0.074, 0.43 0.017
and 0.57 0.052 gC per kg soil, respectively). Sward age
had an inconsistent effect on the measured variables and potential
maximum fine-fraction OC. Fine-fraction OC across
the grasslands made up 4.5% to 55.9% of total SOC, implying
that there may be either high potential for additional C
sequestration in the fine fraction of these soils or that protection
in aggregates is predominant in these grassland soils.
This work highlights the need to ensure that methods used to
predict maximum fine-fraction OC reflect the soil in situ, resulting
in more accurate assessments of carbon sequestration
potential.This research has been supported by SRUC’s
postgraduate studentship programme and the Global Academy of
Agriculture and Food Security, University of Edinburgh. Funding
has also been provided by Business Environment, Industry and
Strategy (grant no. TRN1133); Ricardo-AEA; and the Rural & Environment
Science & Analytical Services Division of the Scottish
government
Protection of drinking water resources from agricultural pressures: Effectiveness of EU regulations in the context of local realities
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 22 February 2021; Published online - 15 March 2021Over the last decades, nutrients and pesticides have proved to be a major source of the pollution of drinking water resources in Europe. Extensive legislation has been developed by the EU to protect drinking water resources from agricultural pollution, but the achievement of water quality objectives is still an ongoing challenge throughout Europe.
The study aims to identify lessons that can be learnt about the coherence and consistency of the application of EU regulations, and their effects at the local level, using qualitative expert data for 13 local to regional governance arrangements in 11 different European countries.
The results show that the complexities and inconsistencies of European legislation drawn up to protect drinking water resources from agricultural pollution come forward most explicitly at local level where cross-sectoral measures have to be taken and effects monitored. At this local level, rather than facilitate, they hamper efforts to achieve water quality objectives. The upcoming revision of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) should strengthen the links between the different directives and how they could be applied at local level.
In addition, a more facilitated cross-sectoral approach should be adopted to improve stakeholder networks, between institutional levels and hydrological scales, to attain policy objectives at local level.This research was carried out under the H2020 Fairway project, funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 72798
Identifying the drivers and constraints to adoption of IPM amongst arable farmers in UK and Ireland.
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 2 May 2021; Published online - 15 May 2021.BACKGROUND
Arable crops in temperate climatic regions such as the UK and Ireland are subject to a multitude of pests (weeds, diseases and vertebrate/invertebrate pests) that can negatively impact productivity if not properly managed. Integrated pest management (IPM) is widely promoted as a sustainable approach to pest management, yet there are few recent studies assessing adoption levels and factors influencing this in arable cropping systems in the UK and Ireland. This study used an extensive farmer survey to address both these issues.
RESULTS
Adoption levels of various IPM practices varied across the sample depending on a range of factors relating to both farm and farmer characteristics. Positive relationships were observed between IPM adoption and farmed area, and familiarity with IPM. Choice of pest control information sources was also found to be influential on farmer familiarity with IPM, with those who were proactive in seeking information from impartial sources being more engaged and reporting higher levels of adoption.
CONCLUSION
Policies that encourage farmers to greater levels of engagement with their pest management issues and more proactive information seeking, such as through advisory professionals, more experienced peers through crop walks, open days and discussion groups should be strongly encouraged.We acknowledge the financial and logistical support of the: Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme; Rural Business Research (England); Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Ireland) (RSF 14/S/879); and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland) in enabling the study reported here
Energy requirements of beef cattle: current energy systems and factors influencing energy requirements for maintenance
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 28 May 2021; Published online - 1 June 2021.The present review compared features of the UK system for predicting energy requirements in beef cattle with a number of feeding systems developed from research institutes consortiums around the world. In addition, energy requirements for maintenance calculated from studies conducted at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) in Northern Ireland since the 1990s were compared with compiled data from recent peer-review papers published over the last decade (2009–2020). The mean metabolisable energy requirement for the maintenance (MEm) of growing cattle was 0.672 MJ/kg0.75 according to values obtained from calorimetry studies conducted at AFBI. This value is respectively 8.2 and 19.5% greater than the MEm values obtained by the Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC), and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) equations, but it is in close agreement with the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) approach, when assuming a Bos taurus bull (300 kg LW) and an efficiency for converting energy for maintenance (km) of 0.65. Most of the literature data on energy requirements for the maintenance for this animal category were obtained from studies conducted with Bos indicus animals and their crossbreds in Brazilian conditions with this confirming lower requirements of these animals when compared to pure Bos taurus cattle. A simulation of the total ME requirements calculated for an Angus × Friesian steer (LW = 416 kg) offered good quality grass silage, indicated that both AFRC and NASEM systems overestimate (38.5 and 20.5%, respectively) the observed efficiency of converting ME for growth (kg). When the total ME requirements (maintenance + growth) were assessed, both systems underpredicted total ME requirement in 15.8 and 22.1 MJ/d. The mean MEm requirements for suckler cows obtained from the literature (0.596 MJ/kg0.75) is on average 19.1% greater than predictions given by both AFRC and INRA (lactation) equations when considering a 550 kg cow and a km value of 0.72. Although no differences in net energy requirements for maintenance (NEm) were detected between dry and lactating suckler cows, as expected the later displayed greater variation as a result of differences in milk production. On this regard, the INRA model recognise increased NEm requirements for lactating animals compared to dry cows. The re-evaluation of the concept of diet metabolisability and the analysis of existing data on compensatory growth responses are recommended for future updates of the British system (AFRC) having in to account the particularities of grass-based systems in the UKThis research was funded by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)
as part of the Feed into Beef Nutrition Project (FiBNUT)
Modelling and experimental investigation of small-scale gasification CHP units for enhancing the use of local biowaste
No full textPublication history: Accepted - 10 October 2021; Published online - 21 October 2021.Small-scale gasification Combined Heat and Power systems, fed by biowaste resources, have the potential to
enhance local renewable energy production, reduce carbon emissions and address the challenges of waste
disposal. However, there is a lack of understanding on the influence of challenging feedstocks, such as, for
example, digestate, poultry litter and municipal solid waste, on the syngas quality and the incidence of the drying
stage in the overall process. This paper addresses this gap by analysing and comparing 40 samples of the most
common biowaste feedstocks. We developed a stoichiometric-thermodynamic one stage equilibrium model that
was experimentally validated and calibrated by laboratory results, with a maximum error of 15% between real
and predicted values. Simulation results show that the low heating value of the syngas produced from biowaste
resources analysed ranges from 3.1 to 5.4 MJ/Nm3 on a dry basis. Working at the optimal equivalence ratio
increases the electricity and thermal output by up to 20%. To achieve a feedstock moisture content of 10%, the
drying process may require up to 60% of the heat produced. Furthermore, results show that downdraft gasification
based combined heat and power, is a feasible and interesting option to deal with biowaste resources which
can potentially avoid the cost, risk and externalities of landfilling while it contributes to the increase of local
electricity and heat production from renewable energy sources, both for grid and off-grid applications.The authors acknowledge the support of the Bryden Centre project.
The Bryden Centre project is supported by the European Union’s
INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes
Body (SEUPB)
Catalogue of pests and pathogens of trees on the island of Ireland
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 19 October 2020; Published online - 19 April 2021The health and sustainability of trees are increasingly under threat from biotic and abiotic sources, including rising incidences of non-native invasive plant pests and pathogens. The island of ireland (Ireland and Northern Ireland) is generally understood to have a high plant health status, due to its Island status and because of the national and international regulations aimed at protecting plant health. To establish a baseline of the current pest and pathogen threats to tree health for the Island of ireland, the literature and unpublished sources were reviewed to produce a dataset of pests and pathogens of trees on the island of Ireland. The dataset contains 396 records-the majority of pests and pathogens being arthropods and fungi-and indicates potentially more than 44 non-native pest and pathogen introductions. The reliability of many (378) of the records was judged to be high, therefore the dataset provides a robust assessment of the state of pests and pathogens of trees recorded on the island of Ireland. We analyse this dataset and review the history of plant pest and pathogen invasions; in doing so, we discuss (i) notable native and non-native pests and pathogens of trees, (ii) interceptions at borders and (iii) pests, pathogens and climate change. The dataset establishes an important baseline for the knowledge of plant pests and pathogens on the island of Ireland, and will be a valuable resource for future plant health research and policy making.ROH and AKM were funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural
Affairs, Northern Ireland
Effect of immunized egg proteins on the performance and neonatal diarrhea incidence in newborn calves
Get PDFPublication history: Accepted - 5 November 2020; Published online - 19 January 2021The aim of this study was to assess the effects of feeding immunized egg proteins (IEP) on the health and performance of newborn dairy calves. Sixty‐four Holstein calves, both male and female, were divided over two treatments. Calves either received IEP or a placebo (PCB) in their colostrum and calf milk replacer (CMR) for the first 14 days of their life. Until day 49, CMR was offered at 15% of birth weight (BW), at 10% on days 49–57 and at 5% on days 57–63. In addition, calves received starter concentrate, chopped straw and water from 3 days old until 70 days old at the end of study. Individual CMR and concentrate intake were measured daily whilst BW was recorded weekly. Visual faecal scoring and health observations were conducted daily. Faecal samples were collected weekly up to 4 weeks and during the first 4 days of scouring to screen for presence of Cryptosporidium parvum, rotavirus, coronavirus, E. coli and Salmonella. Results indicated that feeding IEP increased BW (p < .05) at 42 and 56 days old, and BW also tended (p = .06) to be higher after weaning at 63–70 days old compared to the PCB group. When analysed using a repeated measures model, compared to feeding PCB, feeding IEP increased total concentrate consumption (p = .001) by 3.6kg/calf. Over the entire study, daily water intake was higher (p = .002) for the IEP group when compared with the PCB group. In the IEP group, 12 calves were scored as scouring whereas there were 14 calves in the PCB group. There were no significant differences between treatments in faecal pathogen load of neither healthy nor scouring calves. In conclusion, supplementing IEP during the first 14 days of calf life improved the performance of newborn calves. Further work is warranted to understand the mode of action of IEP in calves