AIMS The release of heavy metals (such as Pb and Cd) from foliar litter play an important role in element cycling in alpine forest ecosystems. Although natural forest gaps could play important roles in the release of heavy metals from foliar litter by affecting the snow cover during the winter and solar irradiation during the growing season, few studies have examined these potential roles. The ...

Intensive selection of broiler breeders in the direction of rapid growth rate and increased final body weight has led to the appearance of a number of metabolic diseases in broilers. The most important among them include sudden death syndrome (SDS) and ascites which are directly associated with cardiovascular and respiratory system failure of rapidly growing birds (KRANEN et al., 1998; IMAEDA, ...

In this study, six poultry buildings, consisting of four layer hen houses and two broiler houses located in Manisa Province in Turkey, were examined to find out the effects of planning systems on indoor environmental conditions where the age of litter for broiler ranged from 4-18 weeks and the age of commercial layer hens ranged from 22-43 weeks. Air quality parameters, as concentrations of amm...

The aim of this research was to evaluate the quality and photosynthetic metabolism of "uvaia" seedlings (Eugenia pyriformis Cambess.) on different substrates and water regimes. The seeds were sown in tubes of 50 x 190 mm in the following substrates: Sand (S), Latosol + Sand (L + S) (1:1), Latosol + Sand + Semi Decomposed Poultry Litter (L + S1 + PL) ( 1:1:0.5), Latosol + Sand + Semi Decomposed ...

Commercial poultry production management practices have been under increased public scrutiny driven by concerns for food safety and animal welfare. Within the United States, wood shavings and raised plastic floors are common flooring systems used in duck production. It is intuitive that each flooring type would present different management challenges influencing physical characteristics of grow...

Implementing a suite of best management practices (BMPs) can reduce non-point source (NPS) pollutants from various land use activities. Watershed models are generally used to evaluate the effectiveness of BMP performance in improving water quality as the basis for watershed management recommendations. This study evaluates 171 management practice combinations that incorporate nutrient managemen...

BACKGROUND Previous studies have shown that plants often have species-specific effects on soil properties. In high elevation forests in the Southern Rocky Mountains, North America, areas that are dominated by a single tree species are often adjacent to areas dominated by another tree species. Here, we assessed soil properties beneath adjacent stands of trembling aspen, lodgepole pine, and Engel...