8 pp.

Darbo tikslas: Išsiaiškinti koks augimo spartumas pasiekiamas girdant veislines telyčaites pienu ir pieno pakaitalu, nustatyti jų kūno išsivystymo skirtumus ir išsiaiškinti, individualaus ir grupinio laikymo įtaką telyčaitėms. Bandymas buvo atliktas 2006 m. spalio–gruodžio mėnesiais, ŽŪB “Bernatoniai“ Kauno rajone. Bandymui buvo atrinkta 20 holšteinų veislės telyčaičių, kurios susirtytos į keturios grupės po 5 telyčaites. Dvi telyčaičių grupės laikytos individualiuose gardeliuose, kos dvi grupės – grupėmis. Iš kiekvienos grupių poros viena telyčaičių grupė buvo girdoma natūraliu šviežiu pienu, o kita – CELTILAIT FITMILK pieno pakaitalu. Pirmomis amžiaus dienomis visos telyčaitės gavo krekenų ir Hokostar vitaminų. Nuo 4 amžiaus dienos visos telyčaitės gavo neribotai, AB “Kretingos grūdai“ veršelių startinio kombinuotojo koncentruotojo pašaro ir šieno. Telyčaičių kūno masės ir išsivystymo kitimas buvo nustatomas jas sveriant ir matuojant atelyčaičių suvartotų pašarų apskaita. Telyčaičių priaugimas buvo nustatomas jas sveriant gimus, o vėliau kas dvi savaites. Tuo pat metu jos buvo matuojamos ir nustatomas jų išsivystymo kitimas. Bandymo metu gauti rezultatai parodė, kad telyčaičių laikomų grupėmis ir individualiuose gardeliuose vystymasis buvo skirtingas, įtakos turėjo ir girdomas produktas. Sparčiausiai augo ir geriau vystėsi grupėje laikytos ir natūraliu pienu girdytos telyčaitės. Jų prieaugis per bandomąjį laikotarpį buvo vidutiniškai 0,486 g (pakaitalu girdytų – 0,465 g)... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Goal of the paper: To clarify how quick growth can be achieved watering calves with pedigree heifer milk and milk substitute, to determine the differences in their body development and to find out the influence of individual and group keeping to heifers. This experiment was performed during October-December 2006, at UAB “Bernatoniai”, Kaunas region. 20 heifers of Holstein pedigree were selected for this experiment; they were divided into four groups of five heifers. Heifers from two groups were kept in separate stalls and the other two groups were kept in groups. One of these two groups of heifers was watered with natural fresh milk, and the other group – with milk substitute “CELTILAIT FITMILK”. During the first day of their lives, heifers received first milk and “Hokostar” vitamins. Starting from the forth day of their lives, all heifers were given starting combined concentrated feed of AB “Kretingos grūdai” and hay without any restrictions. The alteration of the heifers’ body mass and development was determined by weighting them and performing the accounting of the feed, consumed by heifers. The gain of heifers was determined by weighting them when they were born and every two weeks. At the same time they were measured and the alteration of their development was determined. The results, achieved during this experiment, showed that development of heifers kept in separate stalls and in groups differed; also it was influenced by the watered product. The most rapid... [to full text]

Many national parks in Australian rangelands were formerly grazing properties. Even after domestic stock has been removed, the landscapes, especially those near artificial watering points, remained degraded with little or no regeneration of native plants. Congregating large macropods have often been blamed for impeding regeneration of plant communities and rehabilitation of these degraded landscapes. Following a severe drought which reduced densities of large macropods very significantly in Idalia National Park, central-western Queensland, I investigated whether closure of watering points would hamper their recolonisation and influence their grazing distribution and forage selection in the park. I also determined the spatial and temporal pattern of degradation around the watering points, using a suite of indicators. A BACI (Before After Control Impact) type experiment was conducted using two replicate watering points each for impact (fenced) and control (unfenced) treatments. Two watering points were fenced off behind a kangaroo-proof fence in August and December 2002, respectively, in the deepening drought. Walked 4 km line transects were used to estimate densities of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) and wallaroos (M. robustus) in areas within a 4 km radius of each watering point. The accumulation of dung pellets was used to estimate the grazing distribution of large macropods around water. Abundance and composition of vegetation were monitored on fixed transects using a 0.5 * 0.5 m quadrat 0.5 to 4 km from each watering point. Herbivore offtake was monitored using a movable cage technique. Measures of landscape function (stability, infiltration and nutrient rating) and ant composition were monitored at various distances from each watering point. Monitoring was commenced two to six months before the closure of watering points and completed 21 and 25 months following the closure, every two to five monthly to follow changes in large macropod densities and vegetation communities. Prior to the drought, densities up to 130 large macropods km-2 were recorded in the park. The average density of wallaroos declined by 97.7% during the drought whereas that of red kangaroos declined by 83.8%. The first substantial rain fell in January 2003, but rainfall throughout the study period continued to be much lower than the long-term median, except for January 2004 when more than half the average annual rainfall fell, causing major flooding. Closure of watering points coincident with the drought inhibited red kangaroo recolonisation by 40% in the areas surrounding fenced watering points for up to 21 months following the closure, with distances to alternative watering points being 3.8-6.6 km. Red kangaroos in an area surrounding one of the unfenced watering point recovered to the pre-drought average density. The grazing distribution of large macropods within 4 km from the watering points, however, was determined primarily by where plentiful food resources were, not by the location of water. Large macropods in the areas without access to water did not select forage with higher water contents, compared to those in the areas with water access. Differences in their forage preference between the two areas appeared to reflect the difference in vegetation composition between the areas. Sida filiformis, Cynodon dactylon and Tragus australianus, were identified as grazing sensitive plant species. In some cases, closing watering points helped these plants to increase their abundance following the drought. Most indicators (the percentage of bare soil, biomasses of perennial grasses and round-leaved chenopods, ant functional groups and the measures of landscape function) showed that the exclusion of mammalian grazing for more than a decade from long-term exclosures had facilitated regeneration of perennial grasses and landscape rehabilitation at least at some sites. At one long-term exclosure, where topsoil and seed bank had presumably been lost already, no regeneration occurred. When several indicators were used to determine land conditions around watering points, their responses were not always consistent. Nevertheless, the overall spatial patterns of degradation did not match the spatial pattern of grazing distribution by large macropods around water. Therefore, the current degradation appears to be a legacy of the livestock overgrazing that had continued for more than 100 years prior to the park establishment. The large drought-induced reduction in the large macropod densities did not result in any conspicuous reversal of the patterns of degradation around the watering points.

Community gardens are places where people gather to share the experience of gardening. However, users often struggle to find time in their busy schedules to care for their plots and crops. This research explores the impact of different watering systems on gardening based on plant quality, cost, labor, and time for. The study analyzed the inputs and outputs of hand watering, automated, and subsurface irrigation treatments in hopes of identifying how to design community gardens for the most efficient application of water, ultimately striving to increase crop production, crop quality, and community interest. Results indicate that subsurface irrigation systems are more likely to save time, reduce water use, and produce a higher quality crop when application and setting is adequate.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Melbourne, 2002. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 6, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (p. 108-125).

2 p. / Originally Published: 2006 / Techniques and tips on watering trees and shrubs efficiently. Topics include weather, plant type, soil type and signs of under and over watering. Originally published 2006

4 pp. / This publication contains guidelines for watering, cultivating and fertilizing roses. It also contains Monthly check sheet for rose care.

M.Sc. / Boreholes in the Kruger National Park (KNP) was at first developed to increase the number of animals that were at low densities because of poaching, diseases, fencing and low permanent water availability. This development of artificial waterholes without managerial measures or knowledge of possible consequence led to negative impacts on the environment. These included that the higher concentration of herbivores around artificial waterholes led to a change in vegetation; secondary vegetation growth did not support the feeding habits of water dependent species; the infiltration rate of water in the soil surrounding waterholes changed and animal distribution patterns also changed, in turn changing the predatory base. Due to the above the KNP developed a new water policy. The policy states that all artificial waterholes that are open should be part of natural ecosystem principles. This led to the closure of many artificial waterholes that did not conform to the requirements of the new water policy. This study aimed to determine the ecological implications of artificial waterholes and whether tourism will be affected by the closure of these artificial waterholes. The following two hypothesis were thus tested in this project: i) Artificial waterholes have ecological implications on the environment. ii) The closure of artificial waterholes will have a negative response from tourists and thus affect tourism to the KNP. The results from this project indicated that both these hypothesises can be accepted as the available literature clearly showed that artificial waterholes do have a negative impact on the environment and that the majority of the tourist questioned asked for the waterholes to be opened again. The latter reaction was mainly due to the tourist‟s concern that the animals will suffer and die without water. Furthermore the visitors are concerned they won‟t see animals anymore. This result can partly be due to the low awareness of the visitors on the subject. No effort was made to communicate these decisions, and the reasons it‟s based on, to the public. Although a certain number of artificial waterholes were closed according to the new KNP policy, it is still important to keep a number open due to fact that KNP is not a natural system. It is suggested however that the closure of the artificial waterholes take place differently, following a principle of rotational opening and closing of patches of waterholes to allow recovery of vegetation and facilitate migration between waterholes.

In order to tend to the world’s dwindling freshwater supplies, sustainable alternative methods need to be integrated in order to keep up with the world’s increasing demand. Reclaimed water (RW) is one of the sustainable methods adopted by some Floridian cities such as Tampa, Tallahassee, and St. Pete that provide an alternative water source for non-potable uses. However, despite this alleviating effect RW has on freshwater supplies, it is crucial to recognize the potential harm it poses on neighboring waterbodies due to the residual contaminants it still contains, including Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P). As such, studying residents’ knowledge and behavior about RW provides an insight into certain behavioral trends that potentially explain elevated levels of N and P in certain waterbodies. This study surveyed households living in the vicinity of Joe’s Creek Watershed and are using RW in irrigation provided by Pinellas County Utilities Department (PC) and the City of St. Pete Water Resources Department (SP). After looking at these residents’ yard practices, no harmful behavioral trend was observed to explicate the health of neighboring waterbodies. RW users are aware of the irrigation regulations set for them. However, weakness in information communication between city and County officials and RW users on fertilizer use and regulations was recorded. It is recommended that the city of St. Pete revisits their loose regulations on RW and the irrigation schedule set for their customers. More outreach material on fertilizer application and regulations need to be made available and accessible to the public.

Since pastoralism began in Australia???s rangelands, the number of artificial watering points (AWPs) has increased dramatically, such that today, few areas of rangeland are further than 10 km from water. This increased availability of water has caused many ecological impacts. Unfortunately, such impacts are poorly understood in the context of an Australian conservation reserve, thus hindering strategic management. This study examined the spatial distribution of vertebrate (kangaroos, small mammals, lizards and avifauna) and vegetative variables around open AWPs as well as AWPs that have been closed since pastoralism (sheep-grazing) ceased nearly thirty years ago in Sturt National Park, arid New South Wales. The study also examined vertebrate use of AWPs, with a particular emphasis on kangaroos and avifauna. The study revealed that most variables showed few differences in spatial distribution with distance from open and closed AWPs, thus suggesting that the observed piospheric impacts were primarily attributable to historical sheep-grazing. Indeed, piospheric patterns were weak suggesting some recovery over the last thirty years. That kangaroos did not exhibit water-focused grazing is no surprise, since despite their regular use of AWPs, particularly during hot, dry times, the current spatial arrangement of AWPs facilitates regular travel to, and from, such resources allowing kangaroos, like much other fauna, to distribute themselves in relation to food and shelter preferences rather than in relation to water supply. In contrast, the majority of avifaunal groups (excluding ground-dwelling species) were clustered around open AWPs, often irrespective of season, because of food and water requirements. Such spatial concentrations of avifauna are thought to cause a range of interspecific effects. Experimental AWP closure and GIS modelling showed that whilst closure of AWPs will increase the average distance to water, which will have key benefits, the majority of areas in Sturt National Park would still be accessible to most water-dependent species even if all unused AWPs were closed. Strategic retention of AWPs to replace water sources lost since European settlement, aid threatened and migratory species??? conservation and enhance nature-based tourism opportunities is thus recommended and an example of a strategic management and monitoring plan outlined.