Showing papers on "Polyculture published in 2014"
TL;DR: It is shown that well-designed polycultures can produce win-win outcomes between per-plant, and potentially per-unit area, primary crop yield and biocontrol and polyculture management that focuses on yield optimization is likely to be the best strategy for maximizing both services.
Abstract: Summary
Agriculture comprises the largest global land use, makes it a leading cause of habitat loss. It is therefore critical to identify how to best construct agricultural systems that can simultaneously provide food and other ecosystem services. This challenge requires that we determine how to maximize win-win relationships and minimize trade-offs between services.
Through meta-analysis, we tested whether within-field crop diversification (polyculture) can lead to win-win relationships between two ecosystem services: yield of a focal crop species and biocontrol of crop pests. We selected only studies that recorded both services (N = 26 studies; 301 observations), allowing us to better determine the underlying mechanisms of our principal findings. We calculated log-response ratios for both ecosystem services in mono- and polycultures.
We found win-win relationships between per-plant yield of the primary crop and biocontrol in polyculture systems that minimized intraspecific competition via substitutive planting. Additionally, we found beneficial effects on biocontrol with no difference in per-unit area yield of the primary crop in polyculture fields at high cropping densities (additive planting) where legumes were used as the secondary crop. These results suggest that there is a strong potential for win-win relationships between biocontrol and per-unit area yield under certain scenarios. Our findings were consistent across geographical regions and by type of primary crop. We did not find evidence that biocontrol had an effect on yield, but rather, both were independently affected by polycultural cropping.
Synthesis and applications. We show that well-designed polycultures can produce win-win outcomes between per-plant, and potentially per-unit area, primary crop yield and biocontrol. Biocontrol services are consistently enhanced in polycultures, so polyculture management that focuses on yield optimization is likely to be the best strategy for maximizing both services. In doing so, we suggest that practitioners utilize polycultures that decrease plant–plant competition through a substitution of relatively large quantities of the primary crop for compatibly harvestable secondary crops. Additionally, if planting at high cropping densities, it is important that legumes be the secondary crop.
159 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that species differences in root foraging strategies increase total soil exploration, with consequent positive effects on the growth and yield of these ancient polycultures.
88 citations
TL;DR: It was shown that shrimp survival was higher in T3 and T4 than in T1 and T2, which also had the lowest feed conversion ratio and best economic performance, and the levels of nitrite-N were significantly lower at the end of the experiment than in other treatments.
63 citations
TL;DR: The evidence from this study suggests that monoculture and polyculture farming were able to maintain farmland biodiversity in smallholdings, at least for birds, but differed in richness, population, and feeding guild.
49 citations
TL;DR: Compared to natural forest, rubber monoculture after 15–20 years reduced nematode taxa richness by as much as 33%.
Abstract: Fifty years after the introduction, rubber monoculture now covers more than 400,000 ha of previously tropical seasonal rainforest, representing 20% of the land in Xishuangbanna, southwest China. However, little is known about effects of this widespread rubber monoculture on soil ecosystems. Here, we used soil nematodes as indicator species to assess effects of different rubber plantation types on soil ecosystems. Four land-use types (rubber monoculture, rubber and tea mixture, rubber polyculture and natural forest) at three sites were selected to compare soil nematode communities. Nematode communities were significantly different among the four land-use types. Natural forest had highest nematode abundance and taxa richness, followed by rubber polyculture, rubber and tea mixture and rubber monoculture. Compared to natural forest, rubber monoculture after 15–20 years reduced nematode taxa richness by as much as 33%. This was accompanied by reduced soil C and N, indicating loss of soil nutrients and ecological functioning. Nematode ecological indices (H′, MI and PPI) suggested a common pattern that natural forest was the most stable and undisturbed ecosystem, followed by rubber polyculture, rubber and tea mixture and rubber monoculture. Nematode trophic groups and SI indicated that food-web structures changed from complex in natural forest to much more simple in rubber monoculture. Finally, based on our results, two protective measures have been proposed to local government and farmers for rubber plantation and management in Xishuangbanna: 1. plant various cash crops such as tea, coffee, and cocoa into rubber monocultures; 2. decrease the management intensity and adjust strategies to restore surface vegetation, and ultimately convert rubber monoculture to rubber polyculture.
47 citations
TL;DR: Diurnal dynamics of water quality parameters were investigated in Nile tilapia monoculture and polyculture with Clarias gariepinus in earthen ponds and dissolved oxygen concentrations during the past midnight and pre-dawn hours were significantly lower than the levels in the morning and afternoon hours.
Abstract: The overall performance of an aquaculture system is partly determined by its water quality parameters. Poor water quality stresses and adversely affects fish growth causing low production, profit and product quality. Diurnal dynamics of water quality parameters were investigated in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) monoculture and polyculture with Clarias gariepinus in earthen ponds. Dissolved oxygen, temperature and pH were measured and monitored for 24 h. Water samples for nutrient analysis were collected from the middle of ponds in triplicate at about 30–35 cm below the water surface using a plastic bottle. Nitrite–nitrogen (NO2–N), nitrate–nitrogen (NO3–N), unionised ammonia (NH3–N), soluble reactive phosphorus and free carbon dioxide were analysed following standard methods and procedures. The results show that dissolved oxygen concentrations during the past midnight and pre-dawn hours were significantly lower than the levels in the morning and afternoon hours (ANOVA, F = 45.709, P 0.05). Fish yield was relatively higher in polyculture (45.74 ± 0.44 tons/ha) than monoculture (30.77 ± 0.54 tons/ha). During fish farming, optimum fish growth and hence economic benefits can be accrued by devoting some efforts on monitoring the fish pond water at regular intervals. This quality assurance process will ensure that fish farmers produce fish with maximum growth and yield without polluting pond water and the surrounding environment.
41 citations
TL;DR: No significant differences in the levels of nitrogen and phosphorous compounds of water body were observed between 3 fish ponds after the half-year feeding trial, while pond receiving Diet A had the highest density of plankton.
36 citations
TL;DR: The results of health risk assessments based on raw and digestible concentrations showed that the fish fed with food waste feed pellets were safe for consumption from the OCP perspective.
27 citations
Patent•
16 Apr 2014
TL;DR: In this article, an ecological breeding method for efficient polyculture of river crabs, freshwater shrimps and pseudorasbora parva is proposed, which comprises preparing conditions of a pond, constructing escape-preventing facilities, airing and sterilizing the bottom of the pond, applying fertilizer, planting water plants, putting in snails, putting out fingerlings, regulating and controlling water quality, throwing in feed and the like.
Abstract: The invention discloses an ecological breeding method for efficient polyculture of river crabs, freshwater shrimps and pseudorasbora parva. The method comprises preparing conditions of a pond, constructing escape-preventing facilities, airing and sterilizing the bottom of the pond, applying fertilizer to the pond, planting water plants, putting in snails, putting in fingerlings, regulating and controlling water quality, throwing in feed and the like. According to the ecological breeding method, the situation that siniperca chuatsi feed on freshwater shrimps in the breeding mode of shrimps, crabs and siniperca chuatsi in the past is avoided, so that the output of the freshwater shrimps is increased greatly, and the recapture rate of the freshwater shrimps is high; the pseudorasbora parva play a role as a scavenger by feeding on residual feed, so that water quality pollution is reduced greatly, water quality is improved, and the growth of river crabs, freshwater shrimps and pseudorasbora parva is boosted. According to the ecological breeding method, the output and quality of river crabs, freshwater shrimps and pseudorasbora parva are improved remarkably, death rate is lowered, feed waste is reduced, breeding cost is lowered, breeding benefit is improved, income of fishermen is increased, and efficiency improvement of the fishery industry is realized.
24 citations
TL;DR: It was found that increasing the number of plant species did not promote the development of microbial communities with a more active and diverse catabolic capability, but rather specific plant selection and plant/plant interactions were important.
24 citations
TL;DR: Alley cropping provides suitable conditions for establishment of short-rotation woody and certain herbaceous biomass crops, and that some of these crops may be well suited to the alley cropping environment.
Abstract: In May 2010, alley cropping systems consisting of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata Bosc ex Link), an alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium [Host] Barkworth and Dewey) mixture, and a native tallgrass-forb-legume polyculture, planted between multi-row strips of poplar hybrid ‘NM6’ (Populus maximowiczii x P. nigra) and willow cultivar ‘Fish Creek’ (Salix purpurea) were established at Empire and Granada, Minnesota, USA. Crop establishment and productivity were characterized for each species over two growing seasons and at two distances from the tree-crop interface. Prairie cordgrass and the native polyculture were among the most productive herbaceous crops at both sites, averaging between 7.1 and 11.9 Mg DM ha−1, and have shown no evidence of competition for resources along the tree-crop interface thus far. Basal area (BA) was similar at Empire for NM6 (1,744 mm2 tree−1) and Fish Creek (1,609 mm2 tree−1), but was greater for NM6 (1,045 mm2 tree−1) than Fish Creek (770 mm2 tree−1) at Granada. Despite this, stand basal area (SBA) was greater for Fish Creek at both sites due to greater planting density. Across species, BA and SBA were greater for trees along the alley than those in center rows at Empire, whereas no difference was observed at Granada. Results suggest that alley cropping provides suitable conditions for establishment of short-rotation woody and certain herbaceous biomass crops, and that some of these crops may be well suited to the alley cropping environment. However, continued research is needed to evaluate crop persistence and productivity as crops and trees mature and the potential for interspecies competition increases.
TL;DR: In this article, the carbon stocks in organic polyculture coffee plantations, non-organic polyculture plantations, and organic Inga spp.-shaded coffee systems in northern Chiapas, Mexico were investigated.
Abstract: Agroforestry systems contribute to the maintenance of ecosystem functions, especially agrisilvicultural systems such as shade coffee systems. However, the role of organic crops to store carbon has been scarcely investigated. This study aimed to quantify carbon stocks in organic polyculture coffee plantations, non-organic polyculture plantations, and organic Inga spp.-shaded coffee systems in northern Chiapas, Mexico. Vegetation inventories were carried out in 1,000 and 100 m 2 circular plots from six agroforestry communities. Carbon stocks were estimated from living biomass and roots through allometric formulas; dead biomass and soil organic matter (0- 0.3 m- in depth) were collected, dried, weighted and processed for laboratory analysis. Firstly, results showed that living biomass contributed about 30% of total carbon; soil organic carbon particularly contributed between 56 and 70%; while dead organic matter represented between 3 and 5% of total carbon in the system. Organic polyculture coffee plantations stored significantly more carbon in soil (0.1-0.3 m in depth) and tree biomass than non-organic polyculture coffee plantations. These stocks were intermediate in organic Inga spp. - shaded coffee system. Secondly, dead organic matter was statistically similar between systems. Thus, organic polyculture coffee plantations, non-organic polyculture, and organic Inga spp.-shade system stored 194.7, 134.9, and 154.3 Mg C ha -1 of total carbon, respectively. In the same order, these systems stored in live aboveground biomass 57.5, 53.0, and 46.9 Mg C ha -1 , respectively. Dead organic matter had similar amounts of C stored in the three studied systems (6.3 Mg C ha -1 ). The amounts of total carbon stocks in organic coffee were higher than those reported for others in coffee plantations in Central America and, particularly, similar to some dry and semi-humid forests and other agrisilvicultural systems in Mexico. The results highlight the importance of coffee, especially organic coffee to provide the environmental function of carbon sequestration.
Patent•
01 Jan 2014
TL;DR: In this article, a polyculture method of river crabs, crayfish and mandarin fish is described. But the method is not suitable for the cultivation of agricultural fields, and the quality of the water quality of a pool is not controlled.
Abstract: The invention discloses a polyculture method of river crabs, crayfish and mandarin fish. The polyculture method of the river crabs, the crayfish and the mandarin fish comprises the following steps of building a pool, cleaning and disinfecting the pool, planting aquatic plants, putting snails into the pool, disinfecting seeds, putting the seeds into the pool, feeding fodder, regulating and controlling the water quality of the pool, and catching products. According to the polyculture method of the river crabs, the crayfish and the mandarin fish, which is provided by the invention, the effective control on the kinds, the total quantity and the specification of cultivation can be realized, the cultivation cost is reduced, and the economical benefit of the cultivation is increased.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors examined the technical, allocative and economic efficiency of the most widely practiced fish-producing polyculture system in the coastal area of Yancheng city, China, which deals mostly with the production of crucian carp alongside silver carp and bighead carp.
Abstract: Polyculture is commonly practiced in pond aquaculture where several fish species are reared together, creating a multioutput production structure. This study examines the technical (TE), allocative (AE) and economic efficiency (EE) of the most widely practiced fish-producing polyculture system in the coastal area of Yancheng city, China, which deals mostly with the production of crucian carp alongside silver carp and bighead carp. Data envelopment analysis is used to measure the efficiencies, while Tobit regression is applied to identify the factors affecting efficiencies. The estimated TE, AE and EEs are 0.92, 0.96, and 0.88 respectively. Crucian carp polyculture is characterized by moderate technical inefficiencies, necessitating the development and dissemination of new technology to increase the productivity of these farmers. On average, small ponds were found to be more technically efficient while large ponds were found to have higher allocative and scale efficiencies. Additionally, Tobit regression revealed a positive effect between farm size and efficiencies. These findings provide some support for the current standardized pond program in China. The use of hired labor decreased technical efficiencies of fish farmers. Fingerling size had a significant positive effect on efficiencies. In order to manage constantly expanding crucian carp polyculture, farmers should be provided with information on sizable fingerlings, economic pond sizes, and employee supervision, among other factors.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the effect of green manure crops [Canavalia ensiformis (jack beans), Crotalaria spectabilis (sunn hemp), Pueraria phaseoloides (tropical kudzu), Arachis pintoi (peanut forage) and spontaneous plants] and distance between espaliers on the yields of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa (passion fruit), Ananas comosus (pineapple), Zea mays (maize), Manihot esculenta (c
Abstract: The organic fruit crop should incorporate the principles of sustainable agriculture, with a guarantee of productivity coupled with ecological diversity, using techniques of policultive with regional species. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the green manure crops [Canavalia ensiformis (jack beans), Crotalaria spectabilis (sunn hemp), Pueraria phaseoloides (tropical kudzu), Arachis pintoi (peanut forage) and spontaneous plants] and distance between espaliers on the yields of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa (passion fruit), Ananas comosus (pineapple), Zea mays (maize), Manihot esculenta (cassava) and biomass in organic polyculture in the state of Acre, Brazil. The randomized block design experiment comprised plots encompassing the space between the rows of passion fruits (espaliers located 3 m or 4 m apart), and subplots that contained the green manure crops. Green biomass yield by jack beans, sunn hemp and tropical kudzu was greater than that provided by peanut forage and spontaneous plants. The polyculture of passion fruit, pineapple, maize and cassava presented a high overall yield (44462 kg ha-1). The land-use efficiency of the polyculture system was between 2.45 (with sunn hemp) and 2.77 (with tropical kudzu) times greater than that achieved by individual monocultures. The yields of passion fruit (with tropical kudzu as cover crop) and pineapple (with spontaneous plants as green manure) were enhanced by some 72 and 34%, respectively, when cultivated in plots comprising 3 m-spaced espaliers in comparison with plots containing 4 m-spaced espaliers.
TL;DR: The results indicated that the polyculture system was an efficient culture system of animals and a remediation system of coastal environment as well; it scavenged 14.3% and 70.8% of N and P, respectively.
Abstract: The nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) budget and the ecological efficiency of a polyculture system of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus), jellyfish (Rhopilema esculenta) and shrimp (Fenneropenaeus chinensis) were studied in a cofferdam, 120.2 ha in size. The nutrients were supplied by spring tide inflow. In total, 139600 kg N yr−1 and 9730 kg P yr−1 input to the system; while 118900 kg N yr−1 and 2840 kg P yr−1 outflowed from the system concurrently, thus the outflow was 85.7% (N) and 29.2% (P) of inflow. The production of N and P was 889.5 kg yr−1 and 49.28 kg yr−1 (sea cucumber) and 204 kg yr−1 and 18.03 kg yr−1 (jellyfish and shrimp), respectively. The utilization rate of N and P by polycultured animals was 7.8‰ and 6.9‰, respectively, 21.9% and 38% higher than that of monocultured sea cucumber. Our results indicated that the polyculture system was an efficient culture system of animals and a remediation system of coastal environment as well; it scavenged 14.3% and 70.8% of N and P, respectively. Such an ecological efficiency may be improved further by increasing either the stocking density or the size of sea cucumber or both.
Patent•
30 Apr 2014
TL;DR: In this article, an ecological breeding method of efficient polyculture of pseudorasbora parva, crab larva and loach is presented, which consists of the steps of: pond conditions, disinfection, breeding water preparation, grass planting, fry breeding, water level adjustment, water quality adjustment and control, feeding management, disease control, daily management and the like.
Abstract: The invention discloses an ecological breeding method of efficient polyculture of pseudorasbora parva, crab larva and loach. The method comprises the steps of: pond conditions, disinfection, breeding water preparation, grass planting, fry breeding, water level adjustment, water quality adjustment and control, feeding management, disease control, daily management and the like. The breeding method provided by the invention focus on the breeding of crab larvae; the pseudorasbora parva is mainly used as cleaners for residual feeds, so that the pollution to water quality can be greatly reduced, the water quality can be improved, the growth of crab larvae and loaches is promoted, and meanwhile, blue-green algae outbreak in the crab larva pond can be biologically controlled by the polyculture of the pseudorasbora parva; the loaches play a role in loosening the soil, and eliminates hazardous substances in the soil in time, so as to avoid the water quality becoming bad due to the high temperature in summer, in addition, loaches do not need additional feeding and management, are beneficial supplement to the breeding of the crab larvae, and thus the pond benefit is greatly increased.
Patent•
27 Aug 2014
Patent•
16 Apr 2014
TL;DR: In this article, an ecological breeding method of paddy field polyculture of pseudorasbora parva and procambarus clarkii is proposed. But the method is not suitable for the management of a large number of benthos.
Abstract: The invention discloses an ecological breeding method of paddy field polyculture of pseudorasbora parva and procambarus clarkii The method includes the steps of paddy field selection and treatment, disinfection and field cleaning, fertilization, water injection, water plant cultivation, shrimp seed stocking, fry stocking, paddy planting, shrimp seed breeding, daily management and the like According to the method, during fertilization, fermented organic fertilizer is buried in a paddy field and field furrows, so that the fertilizer efficiency can be released slowly and conveniently, and rapid growth of water plants is promoted; meanwhile a large amount of benthos can be bred to serve as baits of the procambarus clarkii, and the breeding yield is improved easily; meanwhile the fed granulated fertilizer is comprehensive in nutrition and good in palatability and can enhance the disease resistant capacity of the pseudorasbora parva and the procambarus clarkii, promote rapid growth of the pseudorasbora parva and the procambarus clarkii and improve the survival rate of the pseudorasbora parva and the procambarus clarkii The ecological breeding method can obviously improve the yield and the quality of the pseudorasbora parva and the procambarus clarkii, reduce the death rate, lower breeding cost, improve breeding benefits, realize income increase of fishermen and improve the fishing efficiency
TL;DR: The inclusion of sterlet decreased the labor intensity of pikeperch rearing since the tanks did not need cleaning as frequently, and obtaining the additional value of the sterlet biomass using the same quantity of feed.
Abstract: The experiment examined the possibility of rearing juvenile pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (L.) in polyculture with sterlet Acipenser ruthenus L. in a recirculating system. Three variants of pikeperch rearing were tested: monoculture (group S), with the addition of sterlet at 10% (group S10) and 20% (group S20) of the initial pikeperch biomass. After 56 days of rearing, no differences in the growth rates or survival of the pikeperch were noted. The value of the feed conversion ratio in the monoculture group was 1.19 and was significantly statistically higher than in the polyculture groups, the values of which were 0.84 (S10) and 0.74 (S20). The mean oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion values did not differ significantly statistically among the studied groups. Including the sterlet stock with the pikeperch permitted obtaining the additional value of the sterlet biomass using the same quantity of feed. Additionally, the inclusion of sterlet decreased the labor intensity of pikeperch rearing since the tanks did not need cleaning as frequently.
TL;DR: Adult B. tabaci females fed on a mixture of tomato, cabbage, cotton, cucumber, and kidney bean survived longer and laid more eggs than those fed exclusively on one of these plant species and were positively correlated with polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities in plants.
Abstract: Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a highly polyphagous herbivore. This research was conducted to compare the development of B. tabaci reared in a multi-plant treatment (polyculture) with those in single-plant treatments (monocultures). Adult B. tabaci females fed on a mixture of tomato, cabbage, cotton, cucumber, and kidney bean survived longer and laid more eggs than those fed exclusively on one of these plant species. Egg numbers per plant laid in the polyculture treatment were positively correlated with those laid on the same plant species in the monoculture treatments, and egg numbers per plant laid on tomato, cotton, and cucumber in the polyculture were significantly higher than those laid on the same plants in the monocultures. Concentrations of total protein and trehalose in B. tabaci were not significantly different after 7 days of feeding in the respective treatments, but activities of superoxide dismutases (SOD) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) of B. tabaci in polyculture were lower than those in monoculture. Conversely, activities of trehalase, sucrase, and amylase in B. tabaci kept in polyculture were higher than those of insects from the monoculture. In each of the monoculture treatments, there was a negative correlation between AKP in B. tabaci and oviposition, and also between AKP and amylase. SOD and sucrase activities in B. tabaci were positively correlated with polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities in plants. In the plants damaged by whiteflies in the polyculture treatment, activities of SOD in cucumber, PPO in cotton and kidney bean, and POD in tomato and cucumber were lower than those in the monoculture treatments, whereas SOD in cabbage and catalase (CAT) in tomato in the polyculture treatment were higher than those in the monoculture treatments.
Patent•
02 Apr 2014
TL;DR: The results indicated that the use of high feeding frequency (96 meals/day) improved FCR of frogs’ production with consequent reduction of feed waste.
TL;DR: This study aimed to evaluate water pollution generated by wastewater from a polyculture system of tilapia and shrimp and discuss the management employee and their relation to the quality of the effluent released.
Abstract: From the estimation of the mass balance model, which can also be
classified as “black box” model, it is possible to infer the impact of
management on the system considered This study aimed to evaluate water
pollution generated by wastewater from a polyculture system of tilapia and
shrimp and discuss the management employee and their relation to the quality of
the effluent released It used a pond measuring 1500 m2, average
depth 16 meters, where 12 cages of 1 m3 populated with tilapia
juveniles were installed 33 days after the shrimps’ population The tilapia
juveniles were distributed in densities from 200 to 400 fish per cubic meter,
reaching the density of 24 fish per square meter within the total pond area
Shrimp post-larvae were released outside the cages within the pond area in a
density of 33 organisms per square meter Total density considering fish and
shrimps was of 57 organisms per square meter in the pond area Water samples
were taken weekly in affluent and effluent of the pond (January-August/2009)
The mass balance model was calculated from the difference between the estimated
load for the output and input of the pond The average flow rate was 446 L/s
The average loads nitrogen was 0072 Kg/day (affluent) and 0179 Kg/day
(effluent) and phosphorus 00136 Kg/day (affluent) and 0031 Kg/day (effluent)
The mass balance resulted in mean values of 011 ± 006 Kg/day for total
nitrogen and 0017 ± 0010 Kg/day for total phosphorus indicating that the
system exported nutrients The use of Best Management Practices (BMP) likes
better feed and water management as a way to minimize nutrient export
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In the absence of any harmful effects of ammonia on the survival of fish, the fish yields can be quite easily enhanced with an application of broiler manure at low or no cost.
Abstract: - Effect of broiler droppings has been studied on primary productivity, and net fish yield of major carps for one year in four earthen fish ponds Catla catla, Labeo rohlita and Cirrhinus mrigala were stocked with a ratio of 40:30:30 to test the input of broiler droppings Based on its nitrogen contents (462%) broiler excreta was applied at a rate of 015 g nitrogen / 100 g of fish weight daily The input of this nitrogen source significantly increased the fish weight, fork and total length Statistically the differences were non-significant between Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala for an increase in their body weight The plankton productivity, phyto- and zooplankton abundance and phytoplankton/ zooplankton ratios were significantly different in treated and control ponds Increase in fish yield and nitrogen incorporation efficiency of fish was found to be correlated with water temperature and plankton productivity in treated and control ponds The plankton biomass was found to depend on the water temperature The net fish yield of 395142 and 82864 kg/ha/year of major carps were secured from broiler manure treated and control ponds, respectively The suitable environment in a manured pond resulted in a significantly better growth of major carps than the control pond In the absence of any harmful effects of ammonia on the survival of fish, the fish yields can be quite easily enhanced with an application of broiler manure at low or no cost
TL;DR: This research suggests that higher tree diversity in polyculture plantations promotes increased use by honeybees for nesting, the better it could conserve natural honey bees populations.
Abstract: Natural cavities in polyculture plantations are important for the conservation of honeybees. This study was aimed to determine the diversity, nest sizes, and fluctuations in the use of sites for nesting by Apis cerana Fabr. in polyculture plantations in two altitudes in West Sumatra. A census method was used to obtain the data variables in 10 plantations (five locations for each altitute). Polyculture plantations used as the study sites were dominated by coconut in lowland areas and coffee in highland areas. The results showed that nesting sites of Apis cerana were found amongst 18 species of plants belonging to 15 families (12 species in lowlands and seven species in highlands). Most of the nests were placed on Cocos nucifera (coconut) trees in lowland sites, and on Erythria variegata (dadap) in highland sites. Nests were also found to be located mostly in the cavities of trees with diameter 21-60 cm. Nest entrances were located at 228.31 cm above ground surface (ags) in highland and at 116.04 cm ags in lowlands. The nest entrances in highlands measured 12.21 by 3.73 cm (height and width), and in the lowlands 14.93 by 7.36 cm. The percentage of tree cavities used for nesting was statically higher in lowland (40.73%) compared to high land (17.86%), but it fluctuated very slightly in both high or lowland areas during observation. The percentage of trees with nests decreased in December and January but increased in February, with the same patterns found in both high and lowlands. Our research suggests that higher tree diversity in polyculture plantations promotes increased use by honeybees for nesting. Thus, the more tree diversity in polyculture plantations the better it could conserve natural honey bees populations.
Patent•
24 Sep 2014
TL;DR: In this article, an ecological polyculture method of river cabs, freshwater shrimps and rhodeus sinensis was proposed, in which the river cab, the freshwater shrimp, and the rhodes sinensis were cultured in a mixed mode.
Abstract: The invention discloses an ecological polyculture method of river cabs, freshwater shrimps and rhodeus sinensis, wherein the river cabs, the freshwater shrimps and the rhodeus sinensis are cultured in a mixed mode. The method includes the steps that stocking of crab species is conducted in the middle of March, the specification of young crabs ranges from 40 per jin to 50 per jin, and the stocking density ranges from 600 per mu to 800 per mu; the freshwater shrimps serve as shrimp species, a mode of mixed breeding for two times in one year is adopted, the first breeding is conducted in the middle of February, the stocking specification is that the size of the fresh shrimps ranges from 2 cm to 3 cm, the stocking density ranges from 15 kg/mu to 25 kg/mu, the second breeding is conducted in the end of June, the stocking specification is that the size of the fresh shrimps ranges from 0.7 cm to 1 cm, and the stocking density ranges from 50,000 per mu to 60,000 per mu; stocking of the rhodeus sinensis is conducted in February, the stocking density ranges from 350 per mu to 450 per mu, the male-female ratio ranges from 1:1.1 to 1:1.2, and meanwhile matched stocking of 200-300 anodonta woodianas is conducted. According to the method, the ecological complementarity of the river cabs, the freshwater shrimps and the rhodeus sinensis is adopted to conduct polyculture, the river cabs are mainly bred, the rhodeus sinensis is mainly used for removing residual feeds, the baits are fully utilized, the algae are the objects devoured by the river cabs and the freshwater shrimps, and the rhodeus sinensis is bred in a mixed mode to control the blue-green algae outbreak in the river cab pool.
TL;DR: It was concluded that the polyculture of blue shrimp with goldlined rabbitfish is technically possible without degradation of the environment in the culture system.
01 Jan 2014
TL;DR: In this article, the amount of damages to crops is determined by weeds and the amount available decreases for use weed in intercropping systems use resources more effectively than a monoculture are and that's why decreases the amount for use weeds.
Abstract: One way to increase agricultural production. Reduce losses due to pests and plant diseases. The amount of damages to crops is determined.45% by weeds. Although is effective the chemical control on more But the cost and adverse effects on the environment and quality of agricultural products has led to greater attention to the ways which they have little or no need to use chemicals. In order to reduce the adverse effects have emerged revision of policy and move toward agricultural production of crops without synthetic and chemical inputs. One of important to control weeds sustainable agriculture using intercropping of different farm products together. So in intercropping systems use resources more effectively than a monoculture are and amount available decreases for use weed. Also intercropping will reduced weed dry and fresh weight and weeds number compared with monoculture. So in intercropping systems use resources more effectively than a monoculture are and that's why decreases the amount available for use weeds.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Based on lessons learned from field trials, carp-small indigenous fish species (SIS)-prawn polyculture technology was improved to a ''carp-SIS polyculture'' technology suitable for small scale farmers in Terai, Nepal as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Based on lessons learned from field trials, carp-small indigenous fish species (SIS)-prawn polyculture technology was improved to a \"carp-SIS polyculture\" technology suitable for small scale farmers in Terai, Nepal. In December 2008, the project was initiated to improve income and nutrition of Tharu women in Chitwan (100 farmers) and Kailali (26 farmers) districts. SIS dedhuwa, Esomus danricus (Hamilton, 1822) and pothi, Puntius sophore (Hamilton, 1822) were intended to improve household nutrition through increased consumption due to their high micronutrient content whereas large carps rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton, 1822); mrigal, Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton, 1822); silver carp, Hypopthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes, 1844); bighead carp, Aristichthys nobilis (Richardson, 1845); common carp, Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) and grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella (Valenciennes, 1844) were grown mainly for sale. The farmers consumed 48.7% of the production and raised their fish consumption to twice the national average of 1.85 kg.caput.year. Farmers earned NPR 3,025 (USD 34.23) per household in 270 days which helped them economically. A women fish farmers' co-operative was established. Altogether 156 women directly benefited from the project. The training and project experiences improved their self-confidence. Micro-nutrient analysis of common SIS showed that vitamin A was higher in mara, Amblypharyngodon mola (Hamilton, 1822) whereas iron and zinc were higher in dedhuwa. The approach was found to be a more economic and sustainable, and is being replicated in other districts.