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Evaluating the accuracy–labour trade-off between alternative grassland monitoring methods by rising plate meters
No full textProduction efficiency of pasture-based livestock production systems is primarily driven by the level of pasture utilisation and, as such, regular monitoring of herbage mass (HM) provides essential information to assist on-farm decision making. Unfortunately, this practice is seldom carried out on commercial farms, likely due to the time commitment required across the entire grass growing season. Recent studies have shown, however, that even moderately inaccurate HM data can improve the system-side profitability compared to enterprises with no data, warranting further investigations into the trade-off between the accuracy and cost associated with HM measurements. Using a weekly multi-paddock dataset from the North Wyke Farm Platform research site in Devon, UK, this study evaluated the technical validity and labour-saving potential of a simplified ‘pasture walk’ protocol for rising plate meters, under which only data along the diagonal transect — rather than the industry-standard W-shaped pathways — of the paddock are collected. Across 234 temporal-paddock combinations, the mean absolute difference in HM estimates between diagonal and W-transects was 106 kg DM/ha, a scale far too small to alter sward or animal management. The presented statistical analysis, together with a supplementary spatial simulation experiment, supported the generality of the findings across the full grass growing season. With a 51.2% reduction in labour time (1.2 min/ha rather than 2.5 min/ha) across paddocks of various sizes and shapes, the proposed method is likely to facilitate uptake of evidence-based grazing management amongst farmers who currently do not quantify HM at all
The role of volatile cues in mediating tree host-bacteria-insect interactions in acute oak decline
No full textAcute oak decline (AOD) is a decline syndrome affecting native oaks in the UK, characterized by bacterial stem lesions and larval galleries of the beetle Agrilus biguttatus. In similar tree host-bacteria-insect systems, volatile organic compound (VOC) semiochemicals—naturally occurring behavior- and development-modifying compounds—govern biotic interactions between insects and associated bacteria. However, the role of these VOCs in AOD has not yet been established. We demonstrate that leaves of declining oaks produce different VOCs compared with asymptomatic trees and that virgin female A. biguttatus prefer the odor of foliage from declining oaks compared with that from asymptomatic oaks. Moreover, in olfactometry tests, gravid females move toward VOCs emitted from pure cultures of AOD-associated bacteria (Brenneria goodwinii, Gibbsiella quercinecans, and Rahnella victoriana), and this preference is further enhanced by VOCs from oak bark. We identified three putative attractants from pure bacterial cultures and confirmed their presence in headspace extracts of necrotic bark lesions in situ. Two of these VOCs are newly discovered natural products characteristic of B. goodwinii, the bacterial species responsible for the majority of stem tissue necrosis in AOD. Moreover, bacterial VOCs did not induce A. biguttatus oviposition, suggesting their role in beetle behavior is only to provide olfactory cues for gravid females to locate suitable egg-laying sites on oak stems. We propose that adult A. biguttatus exploits systemically induced leaf and bacterial volatile cues to locate host trees for mating and egg-laying
The North Wyke Farm Platform: Data Guide
No full textThis document serves as a user guide to the freely available data that can be downloaded from the data portal or accessed via API. It also indicates where other supplementary or complementary datasets, not available via the data portal / API routes, may be obtained.
This document is associated with other user guides that detail the design, establishment and development of the NWFP, dataset collection, field events, low and high spatial resolution field surveys, and the quality control process
Shade provision and its influence on water intake and drinking behaviour of Nellore cattle in feedlot in a tropical environment
No full textHeat stress is a significant challenge in tropical beef production systems, affecting feed intake, water consumption, and overall animal welfare. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of shade provision on the water consumption and drinking behaviour of Nellore (Bos indicus) steers in a tropical feedlot environment. A total of 47 steers (~450 kg liveweight) were allocated to two groups: one with access to shade (+S) and another without (-S). Individual water intake, drinking behaviour (e.g., frequency, daily patterns), and animal performance were monitored over 83 days using automated recording systems. Results showed that -S steers consumed 8% more water per day (p0.05). Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and solar radiation influenced water intake in both groups, with higher air temperatures increasing water intake due to greater drinking frequency and higher relative humidity reducing water intake by decreasing visit frequency. Shade provision reduced water requirements per unit of weight gain, improving water-use efficiency. These findings suggest that while shade may not directly enhance liveweight gain, it can optimise drinking behaviour, reduce water consumption, and improve animal welfare in tropical beef production systems
Unlocking the agro-physiological potential of wheat rhizoplane fungi under low P conditions using a niche-conserved consortium approach
Full text linkPlant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) hold promise for enhancing crop yield. This study delves into the fungal diversity of the wheat rhizoplane across seven Moroccan agricultural regions, employing a niche-conserved strategy to construct fungal consortia (FC) exhibiting higher phosphorus (P) acquisition and plant growth promotion. This study combined culture-independent and culture-dependent methods exploring taxonomic and functional diversity in the rhizoplane of wheat plants obtained from 28 zones. Twenty fungal species from eight genera were isolated and confirmed through internal transcribed spacer (ITS) Sanger sequencing. P solubilization (PS) capacity was assessed for individual species, with Talaromyces sp. (F11) and Rhizopus arrhizus CMRC 585 (F12) exhibiting notable PS rates, potentially due to production of organic acids such as gluconic acid. PGPF traits and antagonism activities were considered when constructing 28 niche-conserved FC (using isolates from the same zone), seven intra-region FC (different zones within a region), and one inter-region FC. Under low P conditions, in planta inoculation with niche-conserved FC (notably FC14 and FC17) enhanced growth, physiological parameters, and P uptake of wheat, in both vegetative and reproductive stages. FC14 and FC17, composed of potent fungi such as F11 and F12, demonstrated superior plant growth benefits compared with intra- and inter-region constructed FC. Our study underscores the efficacy of the niche-conserved strategy in designing synthetic fungal community from isolates within the same niche, proving significant agro-physiological potential to enhance P uptake and plant growth of wheat
Stream Invertebrate Responses to Fine Sediment Depend on the Organic and Inorganic Components
Full text linkABSTRACT
1. Excess fine sediment (<2mm) is a pervasive stressor of aquatic systems at a global scale. To date, most research quantifying ecological response to deposited fine sediment has been conducted without distinguishing between the organic and inorganic components of fine sediment, leaving mechanistic understanding of how fine sediment affects macroinvertebrates lacking.
2. To address this research gap, we examined the ecological responses of macroinvertebrates to various components of fine
sediment stress (inorganic, organic and total mass). Using data collected from field surveys, first, we quantified invertebrate responses to fine sediment in two countries: New Zealand and the United Kingdom and second, we quantified whether ecological responses to the fine sediment components differed in spring and autumn in the United Kingdom.
3. Results indicated that the response of invertebrates varied dependent on both the component of fine sediment and the facet of community quantified (i.e., taxonomic or functional). The organic component was highly influential in structuring aquatic communities, particularly in New Zealand, whilst in the United Kingdom, there were less pronounced differences between the relative importance of organic and inorganic sediment. Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera and Plecoptera taxa (and derived indices) were consistently found to be strongly related to all fine sediment gradients. Further, according to threshold analysis, changes in taxonomic measures of the community in the United Kingdom occurred at lower quantities of fine sediment in autumn than in spring, particularly for the organic component. However, individual taxon and trait responses were more evident in spring.
4. Our study highlights several implications for the global monitoring and management of fine sediment. We have demonstrated that macroinvertebrates have distinctive responses to individual components of fine sediment (i.e., inorganic, organic and total mass) which may be missed from qualitative assessments of gross fine sediment coverage on streambeds alone. Further, aggregating multiple seasons into annual assessments may overlook important nuances in invertebrate responses to the different fine sediment components exhibited in individual season
Changes in the potato rhizosphere microbiota richness and diversity occur in a growth stage-dependent manner - Author correction
Full text linkChanging patterns of global nitrogen deposition driven by socio-economic development
Full text linkAdvances in manufacturing and trade have reshaped global nitrogen deposition patterns, yet their dynamics and drivers remain unclear. Here, we compile a comprehensive global nitrogen deposition database spanning 1977-2021, aggregating 52,671 site-years of data from observation networks and published articles. This database show that global nitrogen deposition to land is 92.7 Tg N in 2020. Total nitrogen deposition increases initially, stabilizing after peaking in 2015. Developing countries at low and middle latitudes emerge as new hotspots. The gross domestic product per capita is found to be highly and non-linearly correlated with global nitrogen deposition dynamic evolution, and reduced nitrogen deposition peaks higher and earlier than oxidized nitrogen deposition. Our findings underscore the need for policies that align agricultural and industrial progress to facilitate the peak shift or reduction of nitrogen deposition in developing countries and to strengthen measures to address NH3 emission hotspots in developed countries
Make African grasslands climate-change resilient
Full text linkClimate change has negatively impacted grassland productivity in Africa. Climate-smart technologies such as forage grass, legume, and herb mixtures could enhance grassland productivity and resilience, offering a sustainable solution for African pasture-based livestock systems
In Perspective: Separating Myths from Facts about Bread and Health
No full textWhite bread remains a staple food in many countries and global consumption continues to increase. However, there is an increasingly contentious debate, carried out particularly in the social media and popular press, about adverse effects on health of factory-produced sliced white bread, as opposed the whole grain breads made with traditional processes, with the classification of factory-produced sliced bread as “ultra-processed” adding to these concerns. We therefore examine the scientific basis for this debate and conclude that, despite the loss of bran and germ components during milling and the use of additives, factory-produced white bread is not intrinsically unhealthy. We therefore conclude that while wholegrain bread is generally recommended as a healthier choice, both white and wholegrain breads have a place in a healthy diet when consumed in moderation and as part of an overall nutrient-rich eating pattern