Effect of DDGS manure on soil and plant: preliminary results of the greenhouse study

Non-Peer ReviewedThe use of dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) in feedlot cattle diets is increasing as the bio-ethanol industry expands. Manure derived from dried distiller’s grain with solubles (DDGS) fed cattle seem to have higher amounts of N and P than manure from regular grain fed cattle. This study investigates how DDGS manure affects soil fertility and nutrient uptake by barley grown in a controlled greenhouse environment. Both DDGS and regular manure were applied at 30, 60, 120 and 180 Mg ha-1 yr-1 to a sand soil. The results of the first 3 harvest cycles indicate that both types of manure resulted in similar increase in plant total P content. However, soil TP and available P concentrations in DDGS manure treatments were higher. Soil available in DDGS treatments was twice as much of that in regular manure. Increase in soil TN and available N contents was similar with both types of manure. Plant TN content did not seem to be influenced by manure application. This study indicates that the main concern with the use of DDGS manure is its high P solubility. However, no significant increase in soil available P was observed at a manure rate of 30 Mg ha-1 yr-1

Row spacing of annual peanut (Arachis Hypogaea l.) and the conservation of peanut haulm as hay or silage: Effects on nutritive value and growth performance of sheep

This study investigated the effects of planting annual peanut at inter-row spacings of 30, 45, 60 or 75 cm on haulm yield and nutritional quality (Experiment I), in vitro digestibility (Experiment II) and growth performance of sheep fed peanut hay or silage diets (Experiment III). At harvest, pea-nut haulms were either sun-dried as hay or ensiled and used to formulate two diets that were fed to sheep. Twenty West African Dwarf ram-lambs (29.7±0.99 kg) were randomly assigned to these two dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. Grain (P=0.033) and haulm (P=0.045) yields were highest at 30 cm as compared to the other spacings; whereas yeasts populations, and butyric acid and ammonia N concentrations were higher in the silage than hay (Experiment I). In vitro NDF digestibility linearly decreased (P=0.001) with increasing row space (Experiment II). In experiment III, the DM intake of the silage-based diet was depressed (P=0.069) by 235.8 g/d com-pared to the hay-based diet; whereas feed efficiency (P=0.053) and average daily gain (P=0.012) were lower for the silage- than hay-based diet. In conclusion, in vitro NDF digestibility of peanut haulm was higher at narrow row spacing whereas growth performance was superior for sheep fed the hay-based rather than the silage-based diet

Quantifying fluorescent glycan uptake to elucidate strain-level variability in foraging behaviors of rumen bacteria

Gut microbiomes, such as the microbial community that colonizes the rumen, have vast catabolic potential and play a vital role in host health and nutrition. By expanding our understanding of metabolic pathways in these ecosystems, we will garner foundational information for manipulating microbiome structure and function to influence host physiology. Currently, our knowledge of metabolic pathways relies heavily on inferences derived from metagenomics or culturing bacteria in vitro. However, novel approaches targeting specific cell physiologies can illuminate the functional potential encoded within microbial (meta)genomes to provide accurate assessments of metabolic abilities. Using fluorescently labeled polysaccharides, we visualized carbohydrate metabolism performed by single bacterial cells in a complex rumen sample, enabling a rapid assessment of their metabolic phenotype. Specifically, we identified bovine-adapted strains of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron that metabolized yeast mannan in the rumen microbiome ex vivo and discerned the mechanistic differences between two distinct carbohydrate foraging behaviors, referred to as “medium grower” and “high grower.” Using comparative whole-genome sequencing, RNA-seq, and carbohydrate-active enzyme fingerprinting, we could elucidate the strain-level variability in carbohydrate utilization systems of the two foraging behaviors to help predict individual strategies of nutrient acquisition. Here, we present a multi-faceted study using complimentary next-generation physiology and “omics” approaches to characterize microbial adaptation to a prebiotic in the rumen ecosystem

Physics of Solar Prominences: II - Magnetic Structure and Dynamics

Observations and models of solar prominences are reviewed. We focus on non-eruptive prominences, and describe recent progress in four areas of prominence research: (1) magnetic structure deduced from observations and models, (2) the dynamics of prominence plasmas (formation and flows), (3) Magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) waves in prominences and (4) the formation and large-scale patterns of the filament channels in which prominences are located. Finally, several outstanding issues in prominence research are discussed, along with observations and models required to resolve them.Comment: 75 pages, 31 pictures, review pape

Diving into the vertical dimension of elasmobranch movement ecology

Knowledge of the three-dimensional movement patterns of elasmobranchs is vital to understand their ecological roles and exposure to anthropogenic pressures. To date, comparative studies among species at global scales have mostly focused on horizontal movements. Our study addresses the knowledge gap of vertical movements by compiling the first global synthesis of vertical habitat use by elasmobranchs from data obtained by deployment of 989 biotelemetry tags on 38 elasmobranch species. Elasmobranchs displayed high intra- and interspecific variability in vertical movement patterns. Substantial vertical overlap was observed for many epipelagic elasmobranchs, indicating an increased likelihood to display spatial overlap, biologically interact, and share similar risk to anthropogenic threats that vary on a vertical gradient. We highlight the critical next steps toward incorporating vertical movement into global management and monitoring strategies for elasmobranchs, emphasizing the need to address geographic and taxonomic biases in deployments and to concurrently consider both horizontal and vertical movements