Effect of dietary boron on immune function in growing beef steers

Thirty-six Angus and Angus x Simmental cross steers (initial BW 269.5 +/- 22.3 kg) were used to determine the effects of dietary boron (B) on performance and immune function. Steers were fed on one of the three dietary treatments: (i) control (no supplemental B; 7.2 mg B/kg DM), (ii) 5 mg supplemental B/kg DM and (iii) 50 mg supplemental B/kg DM, from sodium borate for 78 days. Supplementation of dietary B had no effect on body weight (BW) gain, feed intake or gain:feed during the study. Jugular blood samples were collected prior to feeding on days 28, 63 and 77 for plasma-B analysis. Supplementation of dietary B increased (p < 0.001) plasma B-concentration in a dose-responsive manner. Furthermore, plasma B-concentration was correlated (p < 0.001; R(2) = 0. 95) to daily B-intake (mg B/day). Jugular blood was also collected, from an equal number of steers from each treatment, on day 42 or 44 for determination of in vitro production of interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha from isolated monocytes and assessment of lymphocyte proliferation. Dietary B did not affect T- or B-lymphocyte proliferation or in vitro cytokine production from monocytes. On day 49 of the study, the humoral immune response was assessed by i.m. injection of a 25% pig red blood cell (PRBC) solution for determination of anti-PRBC IgG and IgM titre responses. Boron-supplemented steers had greater (p = 0.035) anti-PRBC IgG titres than controls on day 7 but not on day 14 or 21 post-injection. Anti-PRBC IgM titres did not differ throughout the sampling period. Results from this study indicate that supplemental B had minimal effects on immune function and did not affect performance of growing steers.

Characterizing ammonia emissions from swine farms in eastern North Carolina: part 1--conventional lagoon and spray technology for waste treatment

Ammonia (NH3) fluxes from waste treatment lagoons and barns at two conventional swine farms in eastern North Carolina were measured. The waste treatment lagoon data were analyzed to elucidate the temporal (seasonal and diurnal) variability and to derive regression relationships between NH3 flux and lagoon temperature, pH and ammonium content of the lagoon, and the most relevant meteorological parameters. NH3 fluxes were measured at various sampling locations on the lagoons by a flowthrough dynamic chamber system interfaced to an environmentally controlled mobile laboratory. Two sets of open-path Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers were also used to measure NH3 concentrations for estimating NH3 emissions from the animal housing units (barns) at the lagoon and spray technology (LST) sites. Two different types of ventilation systems were used at the two farms. Moore farm used fan ventilation, and Stokes farm used natural ventilation. The early fall and winter season intensive measurement campaigns were conducted during September 9 to October 11, 2002 (lagoon temperature ranged from 21.2 to 33.6 degrees C) and January 6 to February 2, 2003 (lagoon temperature ranged from 1.7 to 12 degrees C), respectively. Significant differences in seasonal NH3 fluxes from the waste treatment lagoons were found at both farms. Typical diurnal variation of NH3 flux with its maximum value in the afternoon was observed during both experimental periods. Exponentially increasing flux with increasing surface lagoon temperature was observed, and a linear regression relationship between logarithm of NH3 flux and lagoon surface temperature (T1) was obtained. Correlations between lagoon NH3 flux and chemical parameters, such as pH, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) were found to be statistically insignificant or weak. In addition to lagoon surface temperature, the difference (D) between air temperature and the lagoon surface temperature was also found to influence the NH3 flux, especially when D > 0 (i.e., air hotter than lagoon). This hot-air effect is included in the statistical-observational model obtained in this study, which was used further in the companion study (Part II), to compare the emissions from potential environmental superior technologies to evaluate the effectiveness of each technology.

Characterizing ammonia emissions from swine farms in eastern North Carolina: part 2--potential environmentally superior technologies for waste treatment

The need for developing environmentally superior and sustainable solutions for managing the animal waste at commercial swine farms in eastern North Carolina has been recognized in recent years. Program OPEN (Odor, Pathogens, and Emissions of Nitrogen), funded by the North Carolina State University Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center (APWMC), was initiated and charged with the evaluation of potential environmentally superior technologies (ESTs) that have been developed and implemented at selected swine farms or facilities. The OPEN program has demonstrated the effectiveness of a new paradigm for policy-relevant environmental research related to North Carolina's animal waste management programs. This new paradigm is based on a commitment to improve scientific understanding associated with a wide array of environmental issues (i.e., issues related to the movement of N from animal waste into air, water, and soil media; the transmission of odor and odorants; disease-transmitting vectors; and airborne pathogens). The primary focus of this paper is on emissions of ammonia (NH3) from some potential ESTs that were being evaluated at full-scale swine facilities. During 2-week-long periods in two different seasons (warm and cold), NH3 fluxes from water-holding structures and NH3 emissions from animal houses or barns were measured at six potential EST sites: (1) Barham farm--in-ground ambient temperature anaerobic digester/energy recovery/greenhouse vegetable production system; (2) BOC #93 farm--upflow biofiltration system--EKOKAN; (3) Carrolls farm--aerobic blanket system--ISSUES-ABS; (4) Corbett #1 farm--solids separation/ gasification for energy and ash recovery centralized system--BEST; (5) Corbett #2 farm--solid separation/ reciprocating water technology--ReCip; and (6) Vestal farm--Recycling of Nutrient, Energy and Water System--ISSUES-RENEW. The ESTs were compared with similar measurements made at two conventional lagoon and spray technology (LST) farms (Moore farm and Stokes farm). A flow-through dynamic chamber system and two sets of open-path Fourier transform infrared (OP-FTIR) spectrometers measured NH3 fluxes continuously from water-holding structures and emissions from housing units at the EST and conventional LST sites. A statistical-observational model for lagoon NH3 flux was developed using a multiple linear regression analysis of 15-min averaged NH3 flux data against the relevant environmental parameters measured at the two conventional farms during two different seasons of the year. This was used to compare the water-holding structures at ESTs with those from lagoons at conventional sites under similar environmental conditions. Percentage reductions in NH3 emissions from different components of each potential EST, as well as the whole farm on which the EST was located were evaluated from the estimated emissions from water-holding structures, barns, etc., all normalized by the appropriate nitrogen excretion rate at the potential EST farm, as well as from the appropriate conventional farm. This study showed that ammonia emissions were reduced by all but one potential EST for both experimental periods. However, on the basis of our evaluation results and analysis and available information in the scientific literature, the evaluated alternative technologies may require additional technical modifications to be qualified as unconditional ESTs relative to NH3 emissions reductions.

Chemical climatology of high elevation spruce-fir forests in the southern Appalachian mountains

The physical and chemical climatology of high elevation (> 1500 m) spruce-fir forests in the southern Appalachian mountains was studied by establishing a weather and atmospheric chemical observatory at Mt Mitchell State Park in North Carolina (35 degrees 44' 05" N, 82 degrees 17' 15"W). Data collected during the summer and autumn (May-October) of 1986, 1987, and 1988 are reported. All measurements were made on or near a 16.5 m walk-up tower extending 10 m above the forest canopy on Mt Gibbes (2006 m msl), which is located approximately 2 km SW of Mt Mitchell. The tower was equipped with standard meteorological instrumentation, a passive cloud water collector, and gas pollutant sensors for O3, SO2, NOx. The tower and nearby forest canopy were immersed in clouds 25 to 40% of the time. Non-precipitating clouds were very acidic (pH 2.5-4.5). Precipitating clouds were less acidic (pH 3.5-5.5). The dominant wind directions were WNW and ESE. Clouds from the most common wind direction (WNW) were more acidic (mean pH 3.5) than those from the next most common wind direction (ESE, mean pH 5.5). Cloud water acidity was related to the concentration of SO4(2-), and NO3- ions. Mean concentration of H+, NH4+, SO4(2-), and NO3- ions in the cloud water varied from 330-340, 150-200, 190-200 and 120-140 micromol litre(-1) respectively. The average and range of O3 were 50 (25-100) ppbv (109) in 1986, 51 (26-102) ppbv in 1987, and 66 (30-140) during the 1988 field seasons, respectively. The daily maximum, 1-h average, and 24-h average concentrations were all greatest during June through mid-August, suggesting a correlation with the seasonal temperature and solar intensity. Throughfall collectors near the tower were used to obtain a useful estimate of deposition to the forest canopy. Between 50-60% of the total deposition of SO4(2-) was due to cloud impact.

Effects of simulated rain acidity on ectomycorrhizae of red spruce seedlings potted in natural soil

Formation of ectomycorrhizae of red spruce (Picea rubens) grown in natural soil was measured after seedlings were exposed to 25 or 50 applications of simulated rain of pH 5.5, 3.5 or 2.5. Ectomycorrhizae were quantified as the total number of ectomycorrhizal tips per centimeter, and as the number of ectomycorrhizal tips for each morphotype and for Cenococcum geophilum. Rain solutions were applied to the soil alone, to foliage and stem alone, or to entire potted seedlings. Final soil pH was linearly related to rain solution acidity. Lower base saturation, calcium and zinc content, and higher exchangeable acidity were observed after pH 2.5 treatments if the soil was exposed. Rain solutions and the subsequent changes in soil characteristics did not affect the total numbers of ectomycorrhizal tips. Four morphotypes of ectomycorrhizae observed for these seedlings were unaffected by simulated rain. However, the numbers of ectomycorrhizal tips formed by C. geophilum tended to increase with rain solution acidity after 50 applications. Method of rain deposition did not affect ectomycorrhizae, suggesting both plant and soil mediated responses may favor certain mycobionts. The results of this study indicate that short-term acidic deposition does not induce significant changes in the frequency of ectomycorrhizae, but higher numbers of C. geophilum tips suggest there may be changes in the relative occurrence of specific morphotypes of fungus species.

Dinitrogen fixation in soybean in response to leaf water stress and seed growth rate

Late season declines in N2 fixation by soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] frequently are observed under field conditions but do not always occur under glasshouse and growth chamber culture where water stress is avoided and photoperiod is manipulated to alter rate of seed growth. To evaluate the effects of water stress and photoperiod during reproductive growth declines in N2-fixation, nodulated 'Ransom' soybeans dependent entirely on N2-fixation and growing under controlled environment conditions were divided into two groups at the beginning seed (R5) stage. At R5, photoperiod was utilized to experimentally alter the rate of seed growth as a sink for photosynthate and N by imposing a short-day photoperiod (SD) on half of the plants and a long-day photoperiod (LD) on the other half. Within each photoperiod treatment, half of the plants were subjected to a single episode of leaf water stress between -1.2 and -1.8 MPa at the full seed (R6) stage, and half served as nonstressed controls. Plants were sampled at 1- to 5-day intervals between R5 and full maturity (R8) stages and analyzed for N and total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC). The rate of N accumulation from N2-fixation declined during reproductive growth for the stressed plants but not for the nonstressed plants. Thus, a water stress can actuate a late season decline in N2-fixation. When rate of seed growth was slowed under LD, N composition in leaves remained higher following water stress than when a faster rate of seed growth was promoted under SD. Dinitrogen-fixation activity and dry matter production recovered after rewatering for stressed plants under LD but not under SD. Concentration of TNC in leaflets was greater under LD for both stressed and nonstressed plants. Thus, concentration of TNC in leaflets does not appear to be as important in recovery from water stress as concentration of N.

Tomato responses to ammonium and nitrate nutrition under controlled root-zone pH

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. Mill. 'Vendor') plants were grown for 21 days in flowing solution culture with N supplied as either 1.0 mM NO3- or 1.0 mM NH4+. Acidity in the solutions was automatically maintained at pH 6.0. Accumulation and distribution of dry matter and total N and net photosynthetic rate were not affected by source of N. Thus, when rhizosphere acidity was controlled at pH 6.0 during uptake, either NO3- or NH4+ can be used efficiently by tomato. Uptake of K+ and Ca2+ were not altered by N source, but uptake of Mg2+ was reduced in NH4(+)-fed plants. This indicates that uptake of Mg2+ was regulated at least partially by ionic balance within the plant.