Tag Archives: minerals

443-453 M.A. Kamberi, S. Muji, A. Kryeziu, R. Kastrati and N. Mestani
The excretion of Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu via excreta of laying hens fed low phosphorus diets and phytase
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The excretion of Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu via excreta of laying hens fed low phosphorus diets and phytase

M.A. Kamberi, S. Muji*, A. Kryeziu**, R. Kastrati and N. Mestani

University of Prishtina, ‘Hasan Prishtina’, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary, Department of Biotechnology in Zootechnics, Tahir Zajmi 34, XK10000 Prishtinë, Republic of Kosovo
*Correspdence: skender.muji@uni–pr.edu
**This author contributed equally to this work

Abstract:

An 8–week experiment was conducted to study the effect of adding phytase (Natuphos® 5000 BASF) to low and normal available phosphorus diets of laying hens on the excreta content and excretion of Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu. A total of 144 Hisex Brown laying hens that were 22 weeks old at the start of the experiment were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments. Treatments included three replicates (12 hens each) or 36 hens per treatment in total. Four corn-soybean meal-based diets were formulated to contain two levels of available phosphorus (AP; 0.12 and 0.46%) and two phytase levels (0 and 600 FTU kg–1). The results showed that there was no significant effect of added phytase on excreta Ca and Mg content (P > 0.05), but there was a significant effect of the dietary treatment on the content of Zn (P = 0.0075) and Cu (P = 0.0002). In terms of the excretion of these minerals, the dietary treatment had no effect on Ca and Zn excretion and a borderline effect (P = 0.0522) on Mg excretion measured as the amount of the mineral excreted per egg mass produced is observed. The results however showed a very strong effect of all three factors (available phosphorus, phytase and their interaction) on Cu excretion. The results indicate that adding 600 FTU to the corn-soybean meal laying hen diet with 0.12% or 0.46% AP beneficially affects the content and the excretion of Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu. Therefore, we can conclude that a laying hen diet containing 0.12% available phosphorus and 600 FTU during the first production cycle may not only satisfactorily support hens’ performance but will also beneficially affect the environment.

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837-846 I. Mountousis, K. Papanikolaou, G. Stanogias, Ch. Roukos, F.Chatzitheodoridis, and A. Papazafiriou
Mineral content of the herbage material in pastures ofMt. Varnoudas NW Greece
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Mineral content of the herbage material in pastures ofMt. Varnoudas NW Greece

I. Mountousis¹, K. Papanikolaou², G. Stanogias¹, Ch. Roukos², F.Chatzitheodoridis², and A. Papazafiriou²

¹ Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Technological Educational Institute
of Western Macedonia, Terma Kontopoulou, 53100 Florina, Greece; e-mail:
dkklinon@otenet.gr
²Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of
Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; e-mail: fchatzitheo@gmail.com

Abstract:

The effects of growing season and altitudinal zone on herbage production and mineral concentration (K, Na, Ca, P, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn Mn), were studied in herbage samples harvested from pastures in north-western Greece. Herbage production was affected (P<0.001) by the harvest month but was not affected by altitudinal zone and “month x altitude” interaction. Harvest month had significant influence (P<0.001) on Mg, Fe, and Zn contents as well as (P<0.05) on Na content. Only the trace elements were affected (P<0.05) by the altitudinal zone. The “month x altitude” interaction had no affect on either macro minerals or trace element concentration. Some of the minerals studied (P, Fe, Zn and Mn) were seasonally deficient for beef cattle while Na was deficient for both cattle and sheep in all altitudinal zones. The remainder of the minerals met the nutrient requirements of grazing animals.

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289-299 M. Järvan and L. Edesi
The effect of cultivation methods on the yield and biological quality of potato
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The effect of cultivation methods on the yield and biological quality of potato

M. Järvan and L. Edesi

Department of Plant Sciences, Estonian Research Institute of Agriculture, Teaduse St. 13,EE75501 Saku, Estonia; e-mail: malle.jarvan@eria.ee

Abstract:

The effect of organic and conventional methods on the yield and biological quality of potato in two field crop rotations was identified. The field trials were performed in Central-Estonia in Olustvere (58º 33΄ N, 25º 34΄ E) during two years and in North-Estonia in Saku (59º 18΄ N, 24º 39΄ E) during three years. In Olustvere the following cultivation methods were compared: organic I – without manure, organic II – with cattle manure (at the rate 60 t ha-1), and conventional (manure, mineral fertilizers and pesticides were used). In organic cultivation the fertilization with manure increased the potato yield on average 36.5%. At that, the dry matter content in tubers decreased and the nitrate content increased. In conventional farming the yield was 127% higher than in the variant organic II. In organic cultivation the tubers’ content of dry matter, starch and minerals was higher than in conventional cultivation. As to the content of reducing sugars, crude protein and nitrates no significant differences were found between the cultivation methods.In Saku, the yields and biochemical composition of potato were compared in trial areasfertilized with plant compost and mineral fertilizers. Equivalent rates of NPK to both trial variants were applied during three years. With compost the yield of potato was on average 32.1% lower than with mineral fertilizers. There were no significant differences in the effect of compost and mineral fertilizers on the biological quality of potato tubers.

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