Search Results (5,716)

This study investigated the effects of feeding High-Moisture Corn (HMC) on meat production performance, mutton quality, muscle metabolism, and gut microbiota in Kazakh rams. Thirty-two 6-month-old Kazakh rams were divided into a control group (CT) and an experimental group (GS). Both groups received a basal diet consisting of 30% whole-plant corn silage, 30% cotton residue, and a concentrate mixture. In the CT group, the concentrate contained 24% ordinary crushed corn (on a dry matter basis). In the GS group, half of the ordinary crushed corn was replaced with HMC, resulting in a concentrate containing 12% ordinary crushed corn and 12% HMC. After a 120-day feeding period, backfat thickness was significantly higher in the GS group (p < 0.05); For meat quality, muscle shear force was significantly lower (p < 0.01) and intramuscular fat content was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in the GS group; Amino acid analysis showed that aspartic acid content was significantly lower (p < 0.01), arginine and glutamine contents were significantly lower (p < 0.05), and glycine content was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the GS group; Fatty acid analysis revealed that the contents of methyl undecanoate, methyl myristate, methyl palmitate, methyl heptadecanoate, methyl alpha-linolenate, and all-cis-4,7,10,13,16-docosapentaenoic acid were significantly higher in the GS group (p < 0.01), while the contents of ten other fatty acids, including methyl caprate, methyl laurate, and methyl tridecanoate, were significantly higher (p < 0.05); A total of 668 metabolites were detected by muscle metabolomics, and 20 of them were identified as significantly differential metabolites, with the GS group showing 15 upregulated and 5 downregulated, mainly enriched in four pathways: valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis; taurine and hypotaurine metabolism; pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis; and the citrate cycle (TCA cycle); Gut microbiota analysis showed no significant difference in alpha diversity, but beta diversity was significantly separated between the two groups (p < 0.01); Correlation analysis revealed that Firmicutes_A was significantly negatively correlated with most fatty acids, while Proteobacteria was significantly positively correlated with multiple fatty acids (p < 0.05). In conclusion, The GS group had significantly increased backfat thickness, reduced muscle shear force, increased intramuscular fat content, and significantly enriched beneficial fatty acids in Kazakh rams, thereby improving meat quality. Full article

Primary succession following glacier retreat provides a natural system for testing whether soil development simply shifts fine roots along a single acquisitive–conservative axis orinstead changes the nutrient-acquisition pathway that dominates at the community level. We hypothesized a stage-dependent sequence, from substrate-limited exploration, to transient morphological capture, and finally to rhizosphere-mediated biochemical mobilization. To test this idea, we quantified fine-root morphology, absorptive-transport partitioning, anatomy, phosphatase activity, exudation, community-scale belowground structure, and soil and rhizosphere properties across woody communities representing approximately 20, 40, and 90 years since deglaciation in the Hailuogou Glacier foreland. Across succession stages, bulk density and pH declined, whereas field capacity, soil carbon, and soil nitrogen increased, indicating rapid development of the belowground resource environment. Fine-root strategies did not fall along a single acquisitive–conservative continuum. Instead, morphological nutrient capture peaked at intermediate succession: the 40-year stage had the highest specific root length, specific root area, absorptive-to-transport root length ratio, and root nitrogen concentration. In contrast, the 90-year stage showed lower specific root length but higher dry matter content, thicker cortex, greater standing fine-root biomass, larger rhizosphere volume, higher phosphatase activity, and greater area-based carbon exudation. This late-successional syndrome coincided with stronger extracellular enzyme activity, larger dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen pools, and higher microbial biomass, despite negative net nitrogen mineralization. Species-level analyses showed that biochemical-input traits were jointly shaped by successional stage, species identity, and their interaction. Together, these results show that primary succession did not simply increase or decrease root acquisitiveness. Instead, as soils developed, it changed the nutrient-acquisition pathway that dominated, with direct implications for nutrient cycling and vegetation dynamics in rapidly developing glacier-foreland ecosystems. Full article

Hydrochar has emerged as a promising carbonaceous amendment to enhance soil quality, yet its short-term effects on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics and microbial functioning remain poorly understood. Here, a 77-day greenhouse pot experiment was conducted using a Cambisol cultivated with sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under two irrigation regimes simulating well-irrigated (WI) and water-deficit (WD) scenarios. Two doses of chicken-manure-derived hydrochar (3.25 and 6.5 t ha⁻¹, corresponding to 2.35 and 4.69 g kg⁻¹ of dry soil, respectively) and mineral fertilizer (MF) treatments providing equivalent N inputs were evaluated. Hydrochar promoted microbial growth and enhanced enzymatic and respiratory activities despite its low apparent C and nutrient input. After 77 days under WI, the addition of 6.5 t ha⁻¹ hydrochar enhanced the activity of phenol oxidase (POA) and acid phosphomonesterase (AcPA). Concomitantly, the availability of soluble C and N increased, whereas total organic C (TOC) and N decreased relative to the initial values. These responses may suggest enhanced mineralization potentially related to early-stage priming processes. The increase in POA relative to β-glucosidase is in line with a functional shift from a predominant degradation of labile compounds towards an increased oxidation of more complex structures. This interpretation is supported by solid-state ¹³C NMR data, revealing a higher degradation index of the soil organic matter. Under WD, the overall effects of hydrochar were attenuated or suppressed, particularly those related to C and N dynamics, emphasizing the interactive influence of moisture and amendment dose. Overall, our results show that hydrochar can modulate short-term soil biochemical processes, partly through enhanced microbial responses. Full article

Postbiotics are an emerging ingredient class which have promising potential to support canine gut function by delivering beneficial microbial compounds directly to the gut. We tested a canine immune health postbiotic (CIHP) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of twenty colony-housed dogs (ten per group) selected for having consistently loose stools but with no diagnosed gastrointestinal disease. After a 5-day wash-in and 5-day baseline, dogs received 12 mg/kg body weight per day of CIHP or a placebo for 28 days mixed with their normal dry diet. The primary outcome was stool consistency (Waltham fecal score), measured on Days 0, 14, and 28; secondary outcomes included fecal gut-health biomarkers and fecal microbiome composition from 16S rRNA sequencing, measured on Days 0 and 28. CIHP improved stool quality (p-value = 0.03), while placebo did not (p-value = 0.5), and CIHP showed a trend toward increasing the odds of individual dogs showing improved fecal scores by Day 28 compared to placebo (p-value = 0.07). Microbiome profiling revealed broader community remodeling with CIHP than the placebo (16 taxa significantly shifted with CIHP vs. 1 with the placebo), consistent with stool quality being impacted by both gastrointestinal and gut microbiome functions. Fecal biomarkers that reflect gut health (pH, dry matter, short-chain fatty acids, dysbiosis index, calprotectin) were within reference ranges at baseline and remained stable in both groups, indicating benefits occurred within a normal physiological window. Together, these findings show that CIHP can improve stool consistency while reshaping the gut microbiome in otherwise healthy dogs prone to loose stools. Future studies in home-environment dogs across breeds, ages, and living conditions are needed to generalize these findings to the broader canine population. Full article

In modern intensive mutton sheep farming, the high cost and limited supply of conventional feed resources necessitate the exploration of sustainable alternatives. Cotton stalks and sugar beet pulp, abundant agricultural by-products in China, have potential as ruminant feed after proper fermentation treatment, yet their systematic application in sheep production remains underinvestigated. This study evaluated the effects of replacing whole-plant corn microsilage with mixed fermented feed (cotton stalks and sugar beet pulp, 1:1 dry matter ratio) on Suffolk rams (n = 84, 4 months old). Animals were randomly assigned to four groups: control (CK, 0% replacement), MS30 (30% replacement), MS60 (60% replacement), and MS90 (90% replacement). After a 15-day adaptation, the 120-day feeding trial assessed growth performance, slaughter characteristics, meat quality, muscle metabolomics (LC-MS), and jejunal microbiota (16S rRNA sequencing). The MS60 group significantly outperformed the CK group in final body weight, carcass weight, and net weight gain (p < 0.01), slaughter rate (p < 0.05), and meat tenderness (p < 0.05). Fatty acid composition was optimized, with lower SFAs (p < 0.01) and higher MUFAs (p < 0.01). Metabolomic analysis revealed 206 differentially abundant metabolites, with significant enrichment in linoleic acid metabolism, unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and primary bile acid synthesis pathways. The MS60 group exhibited significantly altered jejunal microbiota structure (p < 0.05), including increased Patescibacteria abundance (p < 0.05) and decreased Bifidobacterium (p < 0.001). Replacing 60% of whole-plant corn microsilage with cotton stalk–beet pulp mixed microsilage effectively improved production performance, meat quality, and fatty acid profiles in Suffolk rams, while modulating muscle metabolism and intestinal microbiota structure. These findings provide a practical strategy for sustainable sheep farming utilizing regional agricultural by-products. Full article

This study aimed to investigate the impact of dietary L-citrulline supplementation on the health of mares during late gestation. Thirty-two healthy mares in late pregnancy were randomly assigned to four groups: a control group (CON, 0 g/d) and three treatment groups receiving 15, 30, and 45 g/d/head of L-citrulline, respectively. The trial spanned 72 days, including a 12-day adaptation phase and a 60-day formal feeding period. A fixed daily feeding amount of 11.2 kg/head was provided, ensuring complete consumption and consistent dry matter intake across all groups. Results demonstrated that supplementation with 30 g/d/head of L-citrulline significantly improved the apparent digestibility of crude protein and nitrogen metabolism rate (p < 0.05), while notably increasing plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (p < 0.01) and reducing plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration by 10.53% (p < 0.01). Furthermore, mares receiving 30 g/d of L-citrulline showed a 14.81% increase in plasma estradiol (E2) concentration (p < 0.01). Urinary concentrations of E2, estrone sulfate (ESS), and 17α-dihydroequilin sulfate (17α-DHEQS) were also significantly elevated (p < 0.05). This supplementation also enhanced plasma amino acid levels related to the urea cycle and improved the diversity of fecal microbiota, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria. A multi-indicator scoring system identified 30 g/d as the optimal supplemental dose of L-citrulline. These findings suggest that 30 g/d of L-citrulline may act as a nutritional regulator, offering valuable insights for enhancing the physiological and metabolic health of mares during late gestation. Full article

Post-sunset supplemental light promotes Picea seedling stem elongation, but the underlying hormonal regulation mechanisms on interspecific differences in spruce growth response to photoperiod remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the physiological mechanism underlying the response of two Picea species to different supplemental light durations. Three-year-old seedlings of P. abies and P. crassifolia were subjected to 0 (CK), 4, 8, and 12 h of post-sunset supplemental light treatments for two growing seasons, with growth characteristics and endogenous hormone contents analyzed. The results showed that species and the interaction between species and photoperiod were the principal factors driving phenotypic divergence in spruce growth traits. Supplemental light treatments significantly promoted sustained growth of P. abies, with 4 h treatment being optimal. This treatment also resulted in the highest levels of gibberellins (GAs) and zeatin riboside (ZR), as well as the highest ratios of ZR/GAs. For P. crassifolia, supplemental light treatment promoted dry matter accumulation (8 h treatment being optimal) but had no significant effect on other growth traits, most endogenous hormones (ZR, IAA), and their ratios across treatments. Correlation and causal inference mediation analysis suggest that ZR and the ZR/IAA ratio could be the main factors driving shoot elongation. Thus, the findings provide a valuable insight for optimizing species-specific supplemental light regimes for seedling production in nurseries. Full article

On the North China Plain, the winter wheat season is poorly synchronized with precipitation, making the traditional winter wheat–summer maize system heavily dependent on supplemental irrigation and associated carbon inputs. Based on a split-plot field experiment in Shenzhou, Hebei, from October 2022 to October 2025, this study evaluated the trade-off between annual system yield and area-scaled carbon emission among six cropping systems under conventional irrigation (CK) and rainfed management (R). The winter wheat–summer maize system (WM) maintained the highest grain-oriented annual system yield (22.91 t ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ under CK), but it also showed the highest area-scaled carbon emission (11.97 t CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). The winter wheat–summer maize–spring maize system (WMM) reduced area-scaled carbon cost relative to WM (8.97 vs. 11.97 t CO₂-eq ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ under CK), whereas its product-scaled carbon footprint remained comparable to or slightly higher than that of WM. Under a unified dry-matter basis, the double silage-maize system (FM) showed the lowest dry-matter-scaled carbon footprint (CF_DM; 193.85 and 175.71 kg CO₂-eq t DM⁻¹ under CK and R, respectively). Soil respiration in 2025 varied mainly with observation date and cropping-system configuration, and soil organic carbon (SOC) stock at the 2025 harvest differed among cropping systems, water-management regimes, and soil depths. Overall, WM remained the highest-yielding option under a grain-supply objective, whereas FM, the ryegrass–early-summer maize system (RM), and the forage winter wheat–early-summer maize system (FWM) were relatively more suitable under multifunctional biomass-supply and low-carbon-transition objectives. Full article

The enrichment of chocolate with healthy beneficial ingredients represents an effective strategy to create functional food with high nutritional and bioactive potential. Comparisons were made between eight treatments derived by the factorial combination of 2 types of butter (milk and cocoa) and 4 concentrations of green barley powder addition (1%, 3%; 5%; and 7%), plus 2 untreated controls (milk butter and cocoa butter with no green barley powder addition), in terms of chemical, colorimetric, physical, antioxidant, mineral and sensory characteristics of white chocolate. Increasing addition of green barley to both milk and cocoa butter led to the decrease in dry matter, soluble solids, pH and fat in the produced chocolate, with the untreated controls always showing the highest values. Opposite trends were recorded for proteins, fiber, ash and mineral substances. The ‘L’, ‘a’ and ‘b’ color components gradually decreased from the untreated control to the highest concentration of barley powder addition both to milk and cocoa butter. The increasing integration of barley powder either into milk or cocoa butter resulted in the gradual decrease in F max compression and F max cutting of the chocolate manufactured, compared to the untreated control. The addition of barley powder to milk and cocoa butter elicited a gradual increase in all the antioxidants analyzed, i.e., vitamin C, carotenes, lycopene and xanthophylls, and of chlorophyll a and b, compared to the untreated control. Vegetal flavor attributes were enhanced by the increasing addition of green barley powder. The latter incorporation into milk and cocoa butter sheds light on the interesting topic of conceiving and applying the manufacture of innovative functional chocolate with high content of fiber, nutrients and antioxidants. Full article

Upper Northern Thailand continues to face a protracted structural crisis from fine-particulate matter (PM_2.5), primarily driven by biomass burning and wildfires. Conventional mechanical capture systems, such as cyclones, often suffer a drastic efficiency drop when treating sub-micron particles. This study introduces an innovative Evaporative Condensation Growth Scrubber (ECGS) designed to bridge this technological gap by promoting the growth of fine particles through heterogeneous nucleation. Experimental testing across 10 different nozzle configurations was conducted to optimize the system’s performance. The results revealed that the ECGS system significantly outperformed the dry cyclone (Baseline) across all nine testing configurations. While the Baseline showed inherent limitations in capturing sub-micron particles, the ECGS demonstrated relative efficiency improvements ranging from 39.53% to 83.23% for PM_2.5, and 26.10% to 61.50% for PM₁₀ compared to the baseline. Optimal performance was achieved using a 90-degree injection angle and a 10 cm distance, which created a complete spray curtain and maximized collision probability. Under these conditions, the outlet PM_2.5 concentration stabilized at 11.81 µg/m³ within 180 s of water injection. Crucially, despite sensor interference caused by high relative humidity, the system’s effectiveness was confirmed by a significant difference in performance in PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 removal. The PM₁₀ collection efficiency outperformed that of PM_2.5 by 28.82%, providing empirical evidence that PM_2.5 particles successfully acted as nuclei for condensation and grew into the larger PM₁₀ size range. This particle growth enabled more effective centrifugal separation, demonstrating that the ECGS system offers a viable and efficient solution for fine particle removal in highly polluted environments. Full article

Dry soil spectral reflectance provides a stable baseline for characterizing soil optical properties and supporting the retrieval of soil attributes from remote sensing. However, despite the large number of studies on soil spectral reflectance, most existing research primarily focuses on empirical relationships between spectra and soil properties. The representation and prediction of dry soil reflectance as a baseline condition, particularly under the influence of environmental factors, remain insufficiently explored, and the generalizability of existing models still needs improvement. Therefore, this study collects 700 dry soil samples with laboratory-measured spectral reflectance from Northeast China and quantitatively analyzes the contribution of environmental covariates (soil properties, parent material, and geographical location) using the SHAP method. Then, an environmental and edaphic-factor-driven smooth dry soil reflectance model (EEDSR) model covering 400–2500 nm is developed based on gradient boosting regression (GBR), and its accuracy is evaluated using global ISRIC soil datasets. Our results indicate the following: (1) the reflectance of dry soil is closely related to the soil properties in the VIS to SWIR range. The reflectance of dry soil of 400–2500 nm is positively correlated with clay percentage, longitude, and parent material but negatively correlated with latitude, sand percentage and silt percentage. And its correlation with other variables (such as soil organic matter, pH, and EC) varies with wavelength. (2) The EEDSR model exhibited high predictive accuracy across the 400–2500 nm spectral range (R² = 0.93, RMSE = 0.018). Additionally, incorporating parent material (PM) and geographical factors into the predictor set enhanced the accuracy of dry soil reflectance prediction by 13.4%. (3) The spatial consistency between the predicted soil reflectance in Northeast China and the satellite observations indicates that the EEDSR model has good performance in predicting soil reflectance, as the bias of reflectance gradually increasing from west to east is consistent with the precipitation distribution in Northeast China. (4) The generalization ability of the EEDSR model was confirmed by global ISRIC datasets (R = 0.94), outperforming the deep learning-based Soil Optical Generative Model (SOGM) (R = 0.27). Overall, this study presents an efficient and interpretable framework for modeling dry soil spectral reflectance, providing a robust reference for soil reflectance prediction and remote sensing-based soil property retrieval. Full article

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance, ruminal fermentation, in vivo digestibility, carcass yield, and physicochemical variables of meat when bovine rumen content (BRC) was included in the diet of lambs. Thirty-six Pelibuey-Dorper crossbred lambs of both sexes, with an average weight of 19.5 ± 1.5 kg, were used in a generalized randomized block design with the sex of the lambs as a blocking factor with four treatments: BRC₀, BRC₁₅, BRC₃₀, and BRC₄₅, corresponding to 0%, 15%, 30%, and 45% BRC inclusion in the diet, respectively. The results indicate that the dietary effect was not significant for any of the evaluated variables, whereas sex showed significant differences in final body weight, average daily gain, dry matter intake, and hot and cold carcass yield. Although specific treatment-sex combinations significantly influenced productive performance variables such as average daily gain, dry matter intake and ruminal fermentation parameters, such as propionic acid, there is no consistent evidence that the inclusion of bovine rumen content promotes superior productive performance or carcass quality in fattening lambs. Full article

Compost-derived products are increasingly used to enhance soil biological activity and plant performance in perennial fruit systems, but the effects of compost tea (CT) in kiwifruit orchards remain unexplored. This study assessed root-zone applications of aerated CT from 2023 to 2025 on the yield and fruit quality of gold kiwifruit in a commercial pergola-trained orchard. Two treatments were compared: weekly CT fertigation during summer and an untreated control (Ctrl). Yield, fruit number, mean fruit weight, and fruit quality—hue angle (H°), firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), and dry matter were evaluated annually. The CT application did not significantly affect total yield or fruit number over three seasons. However, it increased the mean fruit weight and shifted fruit distribution toward larger size classes. Fruit quality responses varied: CT-treated fruits initially showed lower firmness and SSC, but in the final year, firmness and SSC matched controls. Dry matter content was higher in CT fruits (18.87%) than in controls (16.71%). These results indicate that during the early to mid-bearing phase, CT promotes fruit growth toward larger sizes and enhances dry matter accumulation. Gradual benefits appeared after three annual applications, suggesting CT is a promising tool for medium- to long-term soil and rhizosphere management in kiwifruit. Full article

A mixture of poultry litter (PL) and biochar (BC) was composted over 120 days in a bioreactor. To assess the impact on the stability of organic matter, the bioavailability of heavy metals, and ecotoxicity, the PL+BC biomass was supplemented with 0.5% (w/w) γ-polyglutamic acid (PGA), superphosphate (SPP) and smectite-silica clay (SSC) relative to the dry matter. Incorporating PGA, SPP, and SSC additives into PL+BC increased total carbon content by an average of 6%, compared to PL+BC without additives. The SSC additive proved to be more effective in increasing the humic acid carbon content, raising Cha by an average of 23% relative to PGA and SPP treatments. The incorporation of biochar into PL led to a substantial increase in nonhydrolizing carbon content, while the enrichment of composts with PGA, SPP, or SSC resulted in an escalation in this form of carbon by an average of over 7% compared to PL+BC. The lowest amounts of metals extracted with water and the lowest RAC values were obtained for PL+BC+SPP compost. The additives used stabilized the composts more quickly and reduced their toxicity. The classification of PL compost was designated as class III, whereas composts that incorporated additives were classified as class II toxicity. The study findings substantiated the necessity to incorporate additives during the biological processing of poultry litter. Full article

The attraction of neonatal piglets to sow feces and their coprophagy suggests that fecal semiochemicals promote nutrient intake and gut colonization, but their microbial origin is poorly understood. This study explored associations between gut microbiota and fecal semiochemical/metabolic profiles in prepartum and postpartum sows. Fecal samples were collected from six crossbred sows at 4 days prepartum and 3 days postpartum. Nutritional components, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), untargeted metabolomics, and gut microbiota were analyzed. Nutritional composition remained largely stable postpartum, except that sodium increased while potassium, magnesium, and cellulose decreased. Skatole and p-cresol concentrations increased postpartum even after dry matter correction. Untargeted metabolomics identified 298 differentially abundant metabolites (250 up, 48 down) postpartum, enriched in nicotinamide/nicotinate metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and others. Gut microbial alpha diversity (Shannon, Chao1, observed features) decreased postpartum. Fibrolytic and butyrate-producing bacteria (e.g., Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, Lachnospira) were enriched prepartum, whereas Escherichia-Shigella, Christensenellaceae R-7 group and Enterococcus were more abundant postpartum. Spearman correlations showed skatole and p-cresol were strongly negatively correlated with butyrate-producing bacteria and positively correlated with postpartum-enriched genera. This study uncovered prepartum-to-postpartum shifts in sow fecal components and microbiota, revealing a microbial basis for semiochemical production and offering probiotic insights using coprophagy to improve piglet health. Full article