• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제32권5호
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• pp.637-647
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• 2019

Objective: The study aimed at quantifying seasonal and spatial variations in availability and nutritive value of herbaceous vegetation on native pastures and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in Western Kenya. Methods: Samples of herbaceous pasture vegetation (n = 75) and local supplement feedstuffs (n = 46) for cattle, sheep, and goats were collected in 20 villages of three geographic zones (Highlands, Mid-slopes, Lowlands) in Lower Nyando, Western Kenya, over four seasons of one year. Concentrations of dry matter (DM), crude ash (CA), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), gross energy (GE), and minerals were determined. Apparent total tract organic matter digestibility (dOM) was estimated from in vitro gas production and proximate nutrient concentrations or chemical composition alone using published prediction equations. Results: Nutrient, energy, and mineral concentrations were 52 to 168 g CA, 367 to 741 g NDF, 32 to 140 g CP, 6 to 45 g EE, 14.5 to 18.8 MJ GE, 7.0 to 54.2 g potassium, 0.01 to 0.47 g sodium, 136 to 1825 mg iron, and 0.07 to 0.52 mg selenium/kg DM. The dOM was 416 to 650 g/kg organic matter but differed depending on the estimation method. Nutritive value of pasture herbage was superior to most supplement feedstuffs, but its value strongly declined in the driest season. Biomass yields and concentrations of CP and potassium in pasture herbage were highest in the Highlands amongst the three zones. Conclusion: Availability and nutritive value of pasture herbage and supplement feedstuffs greatly vary between seasons and geographical zones, suggesting need for season- and region-specific feeding strategies. Local supplement feedstuffs partly compensate for nutritional deficiencies. However, equations to accurately predict dOM and improved knowledge on nutritional characteristics of tropical ruminant feedstuffs are needed to enhance livestock production in this and similar environments.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.61-72
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• 2019

Background: Organic carbon stored in coastal wetlands, which comprises the major part of oceanic "blue carbon," is a subject of growing interest and concern. In this study, organic carbon storage in coastal wetlands and its economic value were estimated using the raw data of 25 studies related to soil carbon storage. Data were collected from three tidal flats (one protected and two developed areas) and two estuarine salt marshes (one protected and one restored area). Bulk density, soil organic matter content, and standing biomass of vegetation were all considered, with Monte Carlo simulation applied to estimate the uncertainty. Results: Mean carbon storage in two salt marshes ranged between 14.6 and $25.5kg\;C\;m^{-2}$. Mean carbon storage in tidal flats ranged from 18.2 to $28.6kg\;C\;m^{-2}$, with variability possibly related to soil texture. The economic value of stored carbon was estimated by comparison with the price of carbon in the emission trading market. The value of US $ $6600\;ha^{-1}$ is ~ 45% of previously estimated ecosystem services from fishery production and water purification functions in coastal areas. Conclusions: Although our study sites do not cover all types of large marine ecosystem, this study highlights the substantial contribution of coastal wetlands as carbon sinks and the importance of conserving these habitats to maximize their ecosystem services.

• 한국유기농업학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.357-368
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• 2012

탄질비가 다른 유기자재 시용이 토양중 무기태질소의 시기별 변화와 수수${\times}$수단그라스 교잡종의 질소이용률에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위해서 2009년부터 2011년까지 수행되었다. 처리구는 질소함량 210kg/ha 수준으로 축분퇴비, 알팔파, 유박, 포함하였다. 유박은 가장 낮은 탄질비를 나타내었고, 축분퇴비는 3년 동안 가장 낮은 질소의 무기화가 관찰되었다. 토양 무기성분과 수수${\times}$수단그라스 교잡종의 건물중은 처리에 따라 일관성 있게 영향을 받지 않았고, 건물중은 재배기간인 5월부터 9월까지의 강수량과 부의 상관관계를 나타내었다. 화학비료는 2009년과 2010년에 질소이용률을 크게 증가시켰고, 축분퇴비는 3년간 가장 낮은 질소이용률을 보였다. 6월부터 8월까지의 강수량 증가는 퇴비로 처리된 수수${\times}$수단그라스 교잡종의 질소이용률을 다소 증가시켰으나 양분의 무기화가 빠른 화학비료는 반대의 양상이 관찰되었다. 본 시험에서는 유기자재의 탄질비 보다는 강수량의 변동이 클 때 작물의 건물중과 질소이용률에 영향을 끼치므로 이를 고려하여 밭토양에 시비를 해야 할 것으로 판단되었다.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권5호
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• pp.672-676
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• 2018

Objective: An experiment was conducted to study the effect of a blend of essential oils (BEO) on enteric methane emission and growth performance of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). Methods: Twenty one growing male buffaloes (average body weight of $279{\pm}9.3kg$) were divided in to three groups. The animals of all the three groups were fed on a ration consisting of wheat straw and concentrate mixture targeting 500 g daily live weight gain. The three dietary groups were; Group 1, control without additive; Group 2 and 3, supplemented with BEO at 0.15 and 0.30 mL/kg of dry matter intake (DMI), respectively. Results: During six months feeding trial, the intake and digestibility of dry matter and nutrients (organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre, and acid detergent fibre) were similar in all the groups. The average body weight gain was tended to improve (p = 0.084) in Group 2 and Group 3 as compared to control animals. Feeding of BEO did not affect feed conversion efficiency of the animals. The calves of all the three groups were in positive nitrogen balance with no difference in nitrogen metabolism. During respiration chamber studies the methane production (L/kg DMI and L/kg digestible dry matter intake was significantly (p<0.001) lower in Group 2 and Group 3 as compared to control animals. Conclusion: The results indicated that the BEO tested in the present study have shown potential to reduce enteric methane production without compromising the nutrient utilization and animal performance and could be further explored for its use as feed additive to mitigate enteric methane production in livestock.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.371-374
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• 1996

Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of time intervals between collecting and use of cattle faeces as a source of micro-organisms in in vitro digestibility assays of forages. The results suggested that temperature conservation capacity by faeces depended on the size of the sample. There was no significant difference(p>0.05) between the first (T1 or 08:30 h) and second using time (T2 or 10:30 h). In vitro organic matter digestibility was significantly lower when faeces was used 5 h (T3 or 13:30 h) after collection. However, the organic matter digestibility determined at the second using time (T2) and third using time (T3) were highly correlated ($R^2=0.99$) with the first using time. It was concluded that faeces can be used as a source of microorganisms for in vitro digestibility assays of forages even 5 h after being voided.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.115-131
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• 1993

Six nutrient cycles involving terrestrial plants are identified and characterized. Plants affect biotic and abiotic cycles through their effects on soil properties. They determine their internal nutritional status and nutrient concentrations in their environment via internal and external cycles. Contributions of organic matter to mycorrhizal, trophic, and detrital mediated external cycles and alterations of nutrient concentrations by plants can promote positive feedbacks leading to increased availability and retention of soil nutrients in open systems. Recognizing alternative cycles through plants leads to a definition of nutrient use efficiency for ecosystems: the ratio of system production to nutrient content of organic matter. A simple graph model to predict changes of nutrient use efficiency during primary succession is then presented.

• Advances in environmental research
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• 제6권4호
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• pp.255-264
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• 2017

This work investigated the use of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) generated by an energy cogeneration process in sugarcane mill as an alternative raw material in soil-cement brick. The SCBA obtained from a sugarcane mill located in southeastern Brazil was characterized with respect to its chemical composition, organic matter content, X-ray diffraction, plasticity, and pozzolonic activity. Soil-cement bricks were prepared by pressing and curing. Later, they were tested to determine technical properties (e.g., volumetric shrinkage, apparent density, water absorption, and compressive strength), present crystalline phases, and microstructural evolution. It was found that the SCBA contains appreciable amounts of silica ($SiO_2$) and organic matter. The results showed that the SCBA could be used in soil-cement bricks, in the range up to 30 wt.%, as a partial replacement for Portland cement. These results suggest that the SCBA could be valorized for manufacturing low-cost soil-cement bricks.

• 한국관개배수논문집
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.25-32
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• 2011

The 21 livestock farms considering future installation of biogas systems were studied. These farms were examined how to raise the livestock, to treat manure, to operate facility with respect to manure characteristics. The 15 farms out of 21 farms have applied to the marine dumping and consignment treatment for treating manure and even farms which have equipped liquid fertilizing system have less capacity facility than legal standards. Characteristics of manure were affected by the scale of swine barn, clean water usage, frequency of cleaning, cleaning method, feces-urine separating method, etc. Retention time in storage (over 20 days) has resulted in lower concentration of organic matter which could reduce biogas production. This indicates that systematic barn management system is required. Inhibition tests showed that disinfectant and citric acid did not affected digestion rates at 10 times higher concentration than recommendation. However hypochlorous acid is likely to affect the anaerobic microbial activity.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.198-207
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• 1983

The dry-matter production, the litter decomposition and the nutrient cycle were studied on Quercus serrata and Carpinus laxiflora forests at Piagol in Mt. Jiri. With the growth curves of the annual ring, the time schedules for the maximum productivities and maximum yields were measured. In Q.serrata forest, the maximum productivity was 11.36 tons $ha^-1 yr^-1$ at the 49th year and the maximum yield was 115.78 tons $ ha^-1$ at the 73th year, and in C. laxiflora 7.24 tons $ha^-1 yr^-1$at the 35th year and 82.5 tons $$ha^-1 $$at the 53th year, respectively. The maximum productivities and the maximum yields of the leaves, stems and roots of the trees were calculated. The contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and organic carbon were measured.. While inorganic materials were the most abundant in the leaves, organic materials in stems. The maximumproductivities and the maximum yields of the constituents of the trees were calculated, assuming that the constituents of the trees increase allometrically. The decomposition rates were as follows: k = 0.301 for Q.serrata forest, and k = 0.364 for C. laxiflora forest. The litter of the former was decayed more slowly than that of the latter. The halftimes for decomposition were 3.2 and 1.9 years, respectively.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.21-25
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• 1988

The rumen degradability of rice straw (untreated, urea-sprayed, urea-treated), grasses (Panicum maximum, Pennisetum clandestinum) and rice bran was compared. The mean in vivo organic matter digestibility of the untreated (US), urea-supplemented (SS) and urea-ammonia treated (TS) rice straw were 50.9, 53.9 and 57.4%, respectively. Rice bran contained extremely high levels of acid-insoluble ash (25.2% DM), and its OMD was 36.1%. Grasses had OMD values around 66%. Degradability measurements were performed with buffaloes using the nylon bag technique. The organic matter (OM) disappearance data were fitted to an model which was used to describe degradation pattern. The mean potentially degradable fraction for US, SS and TS was 61.5, 61.9 and 69.4%, respectively. Urea-ammonia treatment increased both the amount of OM degraded and the rate at which it was degraded in the rumen. Both grasses had similar values for degradable fraction (around 65%) and for rate constant for degradation (0.04). Rice bran contained high proportions of readily soluble material (23.9%), but the degradable OM fraction was only 13.2%. The low quality of rice bran is attributed to the contamination of rice hulls during processing.