土壤、蔬菜的铅污染相关性分析及土壤铅污染阈限值研究

为探求土壤重金属污染和蔬菜污染的相关性,为绿色蔬菜生产提供技术支持,以郑州市常见的5种叶菜类蔬菜[油麦菜（Lactuca sativa var．Asparagina）、荆芥（Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq）、蕹菜（Lpomoea aquelica）、生菜（Lactuca sativa）、苋菜（Amaranthus hypochondriacus）]为试验材料,采用温室盆栽土培的方法研究了土壤Pb浓度与蔬菜污染的相关性,并对绿色蔬菜生产要求的土壤Pb污染阈限值进行了预测。研究结果表明：低浓度Pb污染的土壤对蔬菜生长、产量无明显影响;随着施Pb浓度的增加,5种蔬菜中的Pb含量均呈增加趋势,且与土壤中的Pb含量相关性显著;模拟得出的Pb阈限值油麦菜为39．9092±2．4469mg·kg^-1,荆芥43．8986±3．5855mg·kg^-1,蕹菜35．2934±1．7872mg·kg^-1,生菜33．6964±2．1512mg·kg^-1,苋菜34．5396±2．4254mg·kg^-1;对Pb富集能力由大到小排序为生菜〉苋菜〉蕹菜〉油麦菜〉荆芥。     

产植酸酶菌株的筛选及其产酶条件研究

本研究筛选出1株稳定的产植酸酶菌株,初步鉴定为黑曲霉,命名为Aspergullus,niger FZ41。摸索了液体发酵产酶的最佳条件,获得其最适发酵培养基（w／w）：可溶性淀粉4％,NH4NO3 0．08％,KCl 0．05％,MgSO4·7H2O 0．05％,FeSO4·7H2O 0．003％,MnSO4·7H2O 0．003％,水1L。培养基起始pH值6．0,种龄为36h,接种量为5％,装液量为50／500mL,在30℃、220r·min^-1下培养84h,酶活可达219U·mL^-1。     

维生素A对高脂饲喂小鼠脂肪降解及胆固醇清除的影响

研究维生素A（VA）对高脂饲喂条件下小鼠（Mus musculus）肝脏中脂肪降解相关基因mRNA表达和血清胆固醇含量的影响,探索其是否可促进小鼠体内脂肪降解及胆固醇清除。通过石蜡切片观察高脂饲喂小鼠肝脏中脂滴分布;利用Real-timePCR检测小鼠肝脏各相关基因mRNA表达量;采用试剂盒测定血清胆固醇含量。结果显示,第1～3天VA处理组与对照组小鼠体重差异不显著（P〉0.05）;第4、9、27天,VA处理组小鼠体重显著低于对照组（P〈0.05）;VA处理组皮下脂肪（0.1890±0.0056）g与腹膜下脂肪垫（0.3862±0.0053）g重量极显著低于对照组（0.2620±0.0020）g与（0.4867±0.0052）g重量（P〈0.01）;切片观察肝脏充脂细胞数量明显减少;VA处理组小鼠肝脏清道夫受体B族Ⅰ型（（SR-BⅠ）、激素敏感脂酶（HSL）基因mRNA表达量极显著高于对照组（P〈0.01）;过氧化物酶体增生物激活受体γ（PPARγ）、固醇调节元件结合蛋白-1c（SREBP-1c）基因表达量显著低于对照组（P〈0.05）;甘油三酯水解酶（TGH）基因表达量显著高于对照组（P〈0.05）;VA处理组小鼠血清胆固醇（CHO）及高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）浓度均极显著低于对照组CHO及HDL-C浓度（P〈0.01）。说明VA可通过SR-BⅠ促进脂肪降解和血清中HDL-C清除。     

冬季作物-双季稻轮作种植模式氮、磷、钾养分循环与产量可持续性特征

研究分析农业生态系统NPK养分循环和产量的可持续性,对实现养分资源优化管理和农业可持续发展具有重要意义。基于长期冬季作物-双季稻轮作种植定位试验,分析了2004—2017年冬闲-双季稻、马铃薯-双季稻、紫云英-双季稻、黑麦草-双季稻、油菜-双季稻等轮作种植模式早、晚稻产量的可持续性与稳定性;采用投入产出法（Input-Output Analysis）分析不同轮作种植模式NPK养分循环与平衡状况。结果表明：1）黑麦草-双季稻模式早稻产量变异系数与可持续性指数分别为0.09和0.81,说明稻田冬种黑麦草有利于促进早稻产量稳定性和可持续性的提高;油菜-双季稻模式晚稻产量变异系数与可持续性指数分别为0.07和0.82,说明稻田冬种油菜有益于晚稻产量稳定性和可持续性的提高;2）长期冬季作物-双季稻轮作种植未影响水稻产量和糙米NPK养分含量（P>0.05）;3）在稻田轮作种植周年内目前的NPK投入水平下,黑麦草-双季稻、紫云英-双季稻、油菜-双季稻、马铃薯-双季稻等模式均存在严重的K亏缺现象,K亏缺量分别为375.70 kg（K）·hm^-2、279.98 kg（K）·hm^-2、363.71 kg（K）·hm^-2、93.74 kg（K）·hm^-2;黑麦草-双季稻、紫云英-双季稻、油菜-双季稻等模式均在冬季作物种植季存在严重的K亏缺现象,K亏缺量分别为240.07 kg（K）·hm^-2、89.57 kg（K）·hm^-2、140.08 kg（K）·hm^-2,但马铃薯-双季稻模式在马铃薯种植季K盈余为255.21 kg（K）·hm^-2;同时黑麦草-双季稻模式和紫云英-双季稻模式均存在冬季作物种植季存在N亏缺,N亏缺量分别为59.47 kg（N）·hm^-2和89.17 kg（N）·hm^-2;油菜-双季稻模式和马铃薯-双季稻模式在晚稻种植季均存在严重的K亏缺现象,K亏缺量分别为45.93 kg（K）·hm^-2、124.33 kg（K）·hm^-2。冬季作物-双季稻轮作种植模式的养分循环是冬季作物和外部投入的NPK肥料共同驱动的养分循环,建议科学管理冬季作物和3季的NPK养分投入。     

不同施氮条件下杂交中籼稻的群体质量与产量形成

以超高产中籼杂交水稻“皖稻153”为材料,在大田条件下,比较了不同施氮量对杂交中籼水稻群体质量、氮肥利用和产量形成的影响。结果表明,150 kg（N）·hm^-2、187.5 kg（N）·hm^-2、225.0 kg（N）·hm^-2、262.5 kg（N）·hm^-2和300.0 kg（N）·hm^-2等5种施氮量下杂交中籼稻产量差异显著,在150-262.5 kg（N）·hm^-2范围内,产量随施氮量增加而增加,以262.5 kg·hm^-2施氮处理的产量最高（11 355 kg·hm^-2）,施氮量增加到300.0 kg（N）·hm^-2产量下降。不同施氮处理间产量差异主要是因为群体颖花量的差异,施氮量与群体颖花量呈极显著正相关（r=0.963 5^＊＊）。施氮量明显影响群体质量,适宜施氮量（262.5 kg·hm^-2）能保证杂交中籼水稻达到较高的叶面积指数（LAI）和粒叶比,在抽穗期维持较高的叶片干物质分配比例和单茎叶片重,有利于后期植株光合能力的提高和光合产物的积累,使后期物质积累的贡献率提高,从而增加产量。适宜施氮量（262.5 kg·hm^-2）的氮肥农学利用率也最高。推荐江淮稻区杂交中籼稻超高产栽培的适宜施氮量为262.5 kg·hm^-2。     

华北落叶松人工林碳汇功能的研究

以河北省木兰林管局14-59年生华北落叶松人工林为对象, 研究树木不同器官和林分不同组分水平的生物量与碳储量。结果表明, 华北落叶松树干碳储量在树木总储量中所占比重最大, 林地土壤和林木碳储量所占林分碳储量的比重最大。华北落叶松人工林林分碳密度为平均206.02 t·hm^-2;林木碳密度为27.58 t·hm^-2, 林地土壤碳密度为157.14 t·hm^-2。以林木蓄积量（M）为基础的林木生物量（W）与碳储量（C）的拟合方程为：W =10.210 1＋ 0.732 1M, C=5.188 4＋0.373 6M;以林龄（A）和优势木平均高（H）为基础的林地土壤碳密度（Soc）拟合方程为：Soc=-24.635 6-5.606 1A＋14.936 0H＋0.439 8AH。在此基础上计算得出, 木兰林管局华北落叶松人工林总碳储量约为571.43×10^4 t, 其中林木生物量约150.00×10^4 t、碳储量约为76.49×10^4 t, 土壤碳储量约435.85×10^4 t。     

黄土高原农果复合系统的能流特征

以黄土高原中南部延安市宝塔区飞马河村、南沟村和淳化县西坡村为对象,研究了农果复合系统的能流特征。研究结果表明：农业、果业、畜牧业、人类子系统和复合系统能量产投比分别为3．58、1．86、3．17、0．41和1．17;人类子系统是复合系统中最大的耗能系统,年平均净消耗能量1281×10^10J;农业子系统年均提供经济产品（粮食和饲料）能量347×10^10J,其中系统内部利用97％,系统外市场销售3％;果业子系统年均提供经济产品（果品）能量414×10^10J,其中系统内部利用45％,系统外市场销售55％;畜牧业子系统年均产能538×10^10J。占系统产能总量的14％。从能量流动角度看,黄土高原农果复合系统是一个在市场支持下的以畜牧业为纽带的自给型农业、商品型果业的初级生态农业系统。复合系统产业结构调整应遵循“稳定农业、发展畜牧业和强化果业”的发展方针。     

土地利用的生态-经济全息协调优化研究——以宁夏固原县为例

运用全息协调的理论和方法, 以黄土丘陵区宁夏固原县为例, 选择粮食总产、输沙模数为目标因子, 土地利用结构、降水量、积温为结构因子, 利用1949-2003年的生态经济数据, 对土地利用系统进行了生态-经济优化。结果表明：牧草地对粮食产量和水保效益起显著作用, 土地利用系统优化可实现粮食总产增加和输沙模数下降的“双赢”。全息协调分析表明, 粮食总产的最大值为18.92万t·a^-1, 最小输沙模数为1 052.9 t·km^-2·a^-1;目标因子相等权重条件下的土地优化利用调整方案是：在2003年基础上, 将〉25°全部和10°- 25°部分坡耕地共计3.07万hm^2退耕还林（草）, 输沙模数将由6 000 t·km^-2·a^-1降至2 000 t·km^-2·a^-1, 粮食自给率能维持在70%左右     

不同冬种模式对稻田土壤碳库管理指数的影响

长江中下游地区是我国水稻生产的重要基地,在保障我国粮食安全中占有重要地位,但该地区农田可持续性不高,稻田冬季利用率较低。本研究通过探讨不同冬季种植模式对土壤质量的影响,为冬闲田合理开发利用,提高稻田可持续性提供理论依据。设置5种冬种模式,分别为冬季休闲、冬种紫云英、冬种油菜、冬种大蒜和冬季轮作（马铃薯、紫云英、油菜）模式,通过测定不同土层土壤养分、土壤有机碳、活性有机碳和微生物生物量碳等,进一步分析不同冬种模式的土壤碳库管理指数及其综合效应。结果表明,在0~30 cm稻田土壤,与冬闲处理相比,不同冬季种植模式土壤有机碳提高6.12%~7.17%、活性有机碳提高13.56%~20.76%、微生物生物量碳提高0.13%~14.34%、可溶性有机碳提高3.49%~19.15%,土壤活性有机碳有效率提高6.74%~17.20%,冬季轮作（马铃薯、紫云英、油菜）模式能显著促进稻田土壤总有机碳及可溶性有机碳的积累;不同冬种模式提高了稻田土壤碳库活度指数和碳库指数,并且土壤碳库管理指数增加14.37%~27.29%。土壤有机碳与活性有机碳呈极显著相关（P<0.01）,土壤碳库管理指数与总有机碳呈显著相关（P<0.05）、与活性有机碳间存在极显著（P<0.01）的相关性。对土壤碳库管理指数影响因素的灰色关联度综合分析表明,冬季轮作（马铃薯、紫云英、油菜）模式排名第1。可见,不同冬季种植模式能增加土壤有机碳含量和提高土壤碳库管理指数,冬季轮作（马铃薯、紫云英、油菜）模式的综合评价最好,其次为冬种大蒜模式。     

扁核木光合特性的研究

用Li-6400光合作用测定系统对扁核木的光合特性进行了测定。结果表明：扁核木叶片光合速率日变化呈双峰曲线,最高峰分别出现在10：00和15：00,有明显的光合“午休”现象;叶片蒸腾速率和气孔导度的日变化趋势与光合速率相似,呈双峰曲线。光合速率与气孔导度、蒸腾速率呈极显著正相关;影响光合作用的主导环境因子为光合有效辐射和相对湿度。扁核木光合作用的光饱和点和补偿点分别为1020μLmol&#183;m^-2&#183;s^-1和23．8μLmol&#183;m^-2&#183;s^-1,表观量子效率为0．0569;CO2饱和点和补偿点分别为1330μLmol&#183;mol^-1和54．7μLmol&#183;mol^-1,羧化效率为0．0724;光合作用最适温是24．9℃。扁核木净光合速率的季节性变化也呈双峰曲线。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

Electron donor and pH relationships for biologically enhanced dissolution of chlorinated solvent DNAPL in groundwater

Biologically enhanced dissolution offers a method to speed removal of chlorinated solvent dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) sources such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichoroethene (TCE) from aquifers. Bioremediation is accomplished by adding an electron donor to the source zone where fermentation to intermediates leading to acetic acid and hydrogen results. The hydrogen and possibly acetic acid are used by dehalogenating bacteria to convert PCE and TCE to ethene and hydrochloric acid. Reductive dehalogenation is thus an acid forming process, and sufficient alkalinity must be present to maintain a near neutral pH. The bicarbonate alkalinity required to maintain pH above 6.5 is a function of the electron donor: 800 mg/L of bicarbonate alkalinity is sufficient to achieve about 1.2 mM TCE dechlorination with glucose, 1.7 mM with lactate, and a much higher 3.3 mM with formate. Laboratory studies indicate that in mixed culture, formate can be used as an electron donor for complete conversion to ethene, contrary to pure cultures studies indicating it cannot. Various strategies can be used to add electron donor to an aquifer for DNAPL dehalogenation while minimizing pH problems and excessive electron donor usage, including use of injection-extraction wells, dual recirculation wells, and nested injection-extraction wells.     

Enhanced establishment and growth of giant cardon cactus in an eroded field in the Sonoran Desert using native legume trees as nurse plants aided by plant growth-promoting microorganisms and compost

To evaluate the feasibility of long-term desert reforestation technology of mixed vegetation, cardon cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) seedlings from indoor and outdoor nurseries were planted in the field adjacent to one seedling of potential legume nurse trees: mesquite amargo (Prosopis articulata), yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla), and blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida). Some of the planting holes were also supplemented with common dairy compost. Additionally, the combinations of legume tree–cactus were inoculated with either a consortium of desert arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB; the diazotroph Azospirillum brasilense Cd, and the phosphate solubilizer Paenibacillus sp.), or a mixture of all. The field experiments were evaluated periodically during 30 months for survival and growth. Cardons reared in an outdoor screen house survived better in the field than those reared in a controlled growth chamber and hardened later outdoors. Association with any legume nurse tree increased survival and enhanced growth of untreated cardons. For cardons growing alone, application of either compost, AM fungi, and all the treatments combined increased survival. For these plants, no treatment affected plant growth during the first 3 months after transplanting. Later, all treatments, except for AM fungi, enhanced plant growth. However, only 2 years after transplanting the enhanced growth effect of AM fungi was also significant. In the presence of the legume nurse trees, transient positive effects on cardon growth were recorded. General evaluation after 30 months of cultivation showed that the treatments positively affected cardon growth when growing alone or in combination only with mesquite amargo but not with the other two legume trees. This study proposes that young legume trees have the capacity to enhance survival and growth of cardon cactus, depending on the legume cactus combination. Additional treatments such as compost or PGPB can either amplify the effect or else attenuate it.