This study aimed to investigate the effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens LFB112 on the growth performance, carcass traits, immune response, and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 396 1 day old, mixed-sex commercial Ross 308 broilers with similar body weights were allotted into six treatment groups. The assigned groups were the CON group (basal diet with no supplement), AB (antibiotics) group (basal diet + 150 mg of aureomycin/kg), C+M group (basal diet + 5 × 108 CFU/kg B. amyloliquefaciens LFB112 powder with vegetative cells + metabolites), C group (basal diet + 5 × 108 CFU/kg B. amyloliquefaciens LFB112 vegetative cell powder with removed metabolites), M group (basal diet + 5 × 108 CFU/kg B. amyloliquefaciens LFB112 metabolite powder with removed vegetative cells), and CICC group (basal diet + 5 × 108 CFU/kg Bacillus subtilis CICC 20179). Results indicated that chickens in the C+M, C, and M groups had higher body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) (p < 0.05) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p = 0.02) compared to the CON group. The C+M group showed the lowest abdominal fat rate compared to those in the CON, AB, and CICC groups (p < 0.05). Compared to the CON group, serum IgA and IgG levels in the C+M, C, and M groups significantly increased while declining in the AB group (p < 0.05). B. amyloliquefaciens LFB112 supplementation significantly reduced the serum triglyceride, cholesterol, urea, and creatinine levels, while increasing the serum glucose and total protein (p < 0.05). In conclusion, B. amyloliquefaciens LFB112 significantly improved the growth performance, carcass traits, immunity, and blood chemical indices of broiler chickens and may be used as an efficient broiler feed supplement.

No abstract

The use of controlled-release urea (CRU) is recommended to improve crop productivity without compromising environmental quality, but the overall effects on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) growth are not well studied. A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and potential role of CRU in improving cotton productivity in China. The results indicated that CRU increased cotton yield by 9.8% and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by 19.4% relative to urea at equal N rates, although the increase in yield was not statistically significant. Cotton yield increases were greater in sandy-textured soil than in loam or clay soil, and in experiments sustained for more than 2 yr than in experiments sustained for 1 yr. In addition, the increase in NUE with CRU was enhanced at medium (170 < N ≤ 220 kg N ha −1 ) and high N rates (>220 kg N ha −1 ), at high CRU blending ratios (≥70%) and in soils with pH >7.5. These results demonstrate that CRU should be more widely used for cotton production in China, especially in sandy-textured soil with increased N application.

No abstract