The effect of plant extracts (PE; artichoke, celery, beet, onion, garlic, spinach, avocado, oats, and parsley) in the diet of growing pigs under heat stress was investigated. Parameters included growth performance, blood constituents, carcass characteristics, organ percentage, quality and sensory appraisal of the pork. The study was performed during the Mexican summer, using 60 pigs. Treatments included the control, to which 0.1% PE, and 0.15% PE were added. The use of PE (0.1 and 0.15%) generated an increase in the average daily gain (ADG, by 10.0% for both treatments), and final live weight (LW, by 6.3% and 6.8%) (p < 0.05). The level of blood albumin at 95 kg was higher when supplementing with 0.1% PE (p < 0.05). At 120 kg LW, creatine kinase values showed a tendency to be different (p = 0.07). Carcass weight increased (p < 0.05) when adding PE. Supplementation with 0.1% PE decreased (p < 0.05) the red/green (a *) hue of the meat, whereas supplementation with 0.1% and 0.15% PE increased the yellow/blue (b *) hue (p < 0.05). The addition of PE improves pig growth performance, and carcass weight by reducing the negative effects of heat stress, without markedly modifying blood constituents, meat quality, and sensory attributes of the pork.

No abstract

No abstract

In arid and semiarid lands worldwide, vegetation cover is being transformed to savannas dominated by exotic grasses. However, the ecohydrological and biogeochemical changes associated with this process es remain little understood. For more than three years, we studied soil moisture dynamics in natural semiarid shrubland patches, and compared those with changes in an adjacent site that had been transformed to an exotic Buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris) savanna. We found that volumetric soil moisture was higher in patches with some kind of cover. For both tree and bare patches, volumetric soil moisture and plant-available water in the 60-to 100-cm depth interval were significantly lower in the savanna than in the natural site. In Buffelgrass patches, volumetric soil moisture and plant-available water were This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.higher at almost all depths, and in wet years increased significantly during the summer monsoon season, suggesting rapid infiltration mechanisms under Buffelgrass. During years with wet winters, these mechanisms also led to brief accumulations of water in the soil profile (0-200 cm). Such changes in soil-profile water dynamics brought about adaptive responses in perennial plant species. The ability of species to change their patterns of soil water use in the profile may be an important mechanism enabling them to compete when novel tree-grass interactions are established by invasion of grasses. Our results provide new insights for understanding the changes caused by grass invasion in arid and semiarid lands, as well as how these changes may impact ecohydrological dynamics in global change scenarios.

The food needs by the human population is increasing; In that sense, having a new crop can contribute to ameliorate the demand for food. The zaya (Amoreuxia palmatifida DC.) has been used as food both before and after the arrival of the European settlers in several states of northwest Mexico and southwestern United States. Over a hundred years ago there are authors recommending the zaya as a native plant with potential to be cultivated, being one of the problems to overcome the difficulty of its seeds to germinate. The study objectives were to evaluate germination treatments of zaya seeds and measure plantula grow under two systems. It was found that seeds physically scarified by sanding were those that germinated (73%; p <0.0001), compared to treatments control, of soaking for 24 hours and addition, of boiling water, were does not germinate any seed. The results of zaya growth were greater (p <0.0001), for plants in open field under drip irrigation, compared to the plants planted in pots under shadehouse, for all variables evaluated. The results obtained in this work, about the germination and growing of zaya, can be used to multiply their propagules and restore natural populations affected in northwest of Mexico. It is necessary to continue research on agronomic aspects of the zaya cultivation, a plant with great potential for both human and animal feeding, ornamental, and possibly medicinal use.