升温速率对椰壳热解特性的影响及动力学分析

利用热重分析仪对椰壳在不同升温速率（5、20、40℃/min）下的热解特性及动力学进行了研究,探讨了热解机理。结果表明：椰壳热解过程主要分为脱水、快速热解和缓慢失重;对比不同升温速率下的失重曲线表明,升温速率对热解失重率有明显影响,其最终热解产物的得率随升温速率的增加而减少。运用氮吸附仪测定其吸附等温线,获得不同热解温度对炭化料的孔结构,结果表明：热解温度越高,微孔越发达。使用TG曲线数据,利用分布活化能模型求出相应的活化能,失重率在0.1～0.8之间时,活化能在146～444 kJ/mol,呈“N”形变化。活化能的分布函数,反映了椰壳热解过程中不同阶段反应性能的变化规律,有助于了解椰壳的热解机理。     

核桃壳热解特性及动力学分析

利用热重分析技术对核桃壳在高纯N2条件下的热解进行了分析,研究不同升温速率（5、10、20和40 K/min）对热解过程的影响,探讨了热解机理。研究表明,核桃壳非等温热解过程可分为失水干燥、快速热解和缓慢分解3个阶段,其中第二阶段是整个过程的主要部分,析出大量挥发分造成明显失重,随着升温速率的增加,最大热解速度提高,对应的峰值温度升高,差热热重分析（DTG）曲线肩峰中侧峰有所弱化,热滞后现象加重,热解各阶段向高温侧移动。快速热解阶段热解机理满足三维扩散Jander方程。不同升温速率下的活化能变化为102.28～117.73 kJ/mol,指前因子变化为4.13×10⁶～2.42×10⁸ min^-1。     

木屑及其水热炭的热解特性和动力学对比

为全面了解木屑及其水热炭的差异,获取更多关于水热炭作为化工燃料的使用特性。该文使用热重分析仪和傅里叶红外光谱仪对比研究了木屑及其水热炭在热解过程(10℃/min升温速率)中的失重特性及其官能团变化,分析了升温速率(10、20、30℃/min)对2种样品热解失重过程的影响,采用DAEM(分布活化能模型)计算了2种样品不同转化率下的活化能。结果表明:1)在200℃反应6 h得到的木屑水热炭,化学结构与木屑相似。2)在热解过程(10℃/min升温速率)中,木屑与水热炭最大失重速率分别为0.817%/℃和1.224%/℃,温度为353.57℃和363.42℃;不同终温下半焦红外光谱分析发现,水热炭更易解聚,其碳化速度更快。3)对比3种不同升温速率下2种样品的失重曲线可知,水热处理没有影响热滞后现象,样品焦炭生成量与升温速率无关,焦炭生成量平均值水热炭大于木屑。4)DAEM模型适用于2种样品热解反应活化能的求解,木屑及其水热炭活化能分别为99.33~252.72 k J/mol和63.77~211.68 k J/mol,当转化率在0.30到0.80范围时,木屑的活化能高于水热炭。研究结果为木屑水热炭热化学转化制备焦炭提供理论依据。     

玉米秸秆与市政污泥混合热解特性及动力学分析

为探究玉米秸秆与市政污泥的混合热解特性,基于热重分析法,在不同升温速率(10、20和30℃/min)下对玉米秸秆、市政污泥及混样进行热重试验,同时采用Coats-Redfern积分法进行了动力学分析。结果表明:玉米秸秆与市政污泥相比热解特性差异大,残余率相差18.57%,综合热解指数相差35.73×10^-5,活化能E相差35.31~46.88 kJ/mol。随市政污泥的从10%到90%,热解起始温度由277.7℃下降至256.1℃,残余率由33.69%增加至45.83%,最大失质量速率由7.88%/min下降至3.11%/min,综合热解指数由8.5×10^-5下降至1.7×10^-5。表明市政污泥虽改善了混样的热解起始温度,但同时也使残余率增加,失质量速率变缓,综合热解指数降低。混样综合热解指数显示二者共热解整体存在抑制作用。动力学参数显示,升温速率升高使活化能增加,玉米秸秆单独热解过程所需活化能E大于市政污泥,市政污泥的质量分数从10%提高到90%,热解活化能由66.01~46.16 kJ/mol降低至44.47~17.04 kJ/mol。该研究可为玉米秸秆和市政污泥的利用提供基础支撑。     

向日葵籽壳热解反应动力学的研究

采用热重分析法(TG)在不同升温速率下(5、10、20、30℃/min)对粒径为0.154～0.280 mm向日葵籽壳热解的热失重行为进行了研究。结果表明，向日葵籽壳热解分为四个阶段，随着升温速率的提高，各个阶段的起始和终止温度向高温侧稍微移动，并且主反应区间也略有增加。Ozawa法和Starink法计算得出的向日葵籽壳在热解过程中不同失重率下的活化能(E)都集中在140～178 kJ/mol范围内。用积分法Coats-Redfern方程、微分法Achar方程以及热分析动力学三因子求算的比较法得出该反应过程的机理函数表达式。经过对41种常用机理函数一一代入得出Jander方程能较好地描述向日葵籽壳热解反应过程，机理为三维扩散，球形对称，反应级数n=2。该研究可为生物质热解装置的工艺参数优化提供参考。     

水热生物炭燃烧特性与动力学分析

采用热重法对锯末、玉米秸秆水热生物炭燃烧特性及动力学进行了研究,考察了不同升温速率(10、20、40℃/min)对燃烧特性的影响,分析了它们的燃烧特性及动力学参数。结果表明:1)水热炭化前后生物质燃烧质量损失集中在挥发分和固定碳燃烧阶段,升温速率快,着火温度、燃尽温度高,整体向高温区转移,综合燃烧特性指数越大;2)40℃/min时,锯末水热生物炭综合燃烧特性指数远大于玉米秸秆,在其余升温速率下区别不明显;3)以20℃/min相同升温速率时,锯末、玉米秸秆水热生物综合炭燃烧特性相对于未炭化生物质下降27%、13%;4)采用一级反应动力学模型和积分法对水热生物炭燃烧动力学进行了研究,一级反应动力学能很好的描述2种生物炭的燃烧动力学,相关系数(R2)均高于0.9,挥发分阶段活化能大于固定碳阶段的活化能。研究结果可为水热生物炭的燃烧应用能提供理论指导。     

玉米秸秆热解动力学分析(简报)

该文采用耐驰STA449同步热分析仪,研究了玉米秸秆在升温速率为5、10、15、20、30 K/min,反应终止温度1273K的热分解反应,结果表明玉米秸秆热解过程可分为失水预热解、热解和碳化3个阶段,随着升温速率增加,反应的特征温度和最大失重速率增加,差示扫描（DSC）曲线整体向下倾斜,升温速率过大时,出现失水滞后现象。分别用FWO法、FRL法和Kissinger法对玉米秸秆热解进行了动力学计算,其热解活化能为（161±23）kJ/mol,通过Malek法确定了玉米秸秆热解满足J-M-A方程,反应机理为随机成核随后生长,确定了反应级数n和指前因子对数lgA的范围,并利用Matlab软件对实验数据进行拟合,验证了机理的正确性,并确定了玉米秸秆热解反应的动力学参数。该文结果对工程应用有指导意义。     

玉米秸秆致密成型燃料燃烧动力学分析

为近一步实现秸秆致密成型燃料高效燃烧的合理利用,该文选用玉米秸秆致密成型燃料进行燃烧动力学分析,通过对玉米秸秆在不同粒度（1、0.25 mm）和不同升温速率（10、20、40℃/min）进行热重分析,采用一级反应动力学模型,得出不同实验水平下的热重、热重变化率及差热,利用热重和热重变化率计算出动力学参数——活化能和频率因子, 最后得到玉米秸秆的热解动力学方程。研究表明：玉米秸秆致密成型燃料的燃烧过程大致可以分为燃料吸热失水反应、挥发分析出和燃烧反应及固定碳的燃烧反应3个阶段,升温速率和样品细度的变化对燃料的活化能及最大失重速率有一定影响,玉米秸秆致密成型燃料的活化能在升温速率为20℃/min时最大。该研究为进一步研究生物质成型燃料的实际热解过程分析以及燃烧设备的设计参数选择提供理论依据。     

生物质三组分燃烧特性及动力学分析

采用热重分析法对纤维素、木聚糖和木质素的燃烧特性及动力学进行研究,考察了不同升温速率(20、40、60、80℃/min)对燃烧特性的影响,求出了生物质三组分的燃烧特性参数和动力学参数。研究表明:纤维素和木质素的燃烧失重分别集中在挥发分和焦炭的燃烧阶段,而木聚糖的燃烧在这2个阶段失重都比较大。纤维素和木质素在低温段和高温段燃烧的最佳反应级数分别为1和2,而木聚糖在这2个温度区间燃烧的最佳反应级数都为1。     

蔬菜品质相关酶高温瞬时失活动力学

为了对蔬菜的超高温杀菌过程进行有效的控制,利用“胶囊式”时间-温度积分器（TTIs,time-temperature integrator）对蔬菜中品质相关酶——过氧化物酶（POD）、多酚氧化酶（PPO）进行了高温（100～140℃）、瞬时（10～150 s）失活动力学研究,并运用数学模型测算了温度对该TTIs升温时间的影响。 研究结果显示,TTIs的最长升温时间不超过0.5 s,相对于热处理时间基本可以忽略;马铃薯中的POD和PPO为4种常见蔬菜中最耐热的酶,测定得到动力学参数,POD：Z= 66.76 ℃,D121.1=61.88 s,Ea =66.348 kJ/mol;PPO：Z= 37.55℃,D121.1=152.65 s,Ea =63.800 kJ/mol。该试验为超高温瞬时杀菌过程控制提供了关键参数,也为国内此领域研究补充了部分参考数据。     

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,     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Karyotypic and genome size variation in Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. (pigeonpea) and some wild relatives

Detailed karyotypes and 4C DNA amounts have been studied in five cultivars of Cajanus cajan and 20 species belonging to Cajanus, Rhynchosia, Dunbaria, Flemingia and Paracalyx. C. cajan shows intraspecific variability and its karyotype is most similar to that of C. cajanifolius (sect. Cajanus) in the morphology and number of satellite chromosomes and the lack of any correlation between chromosome size within the complement and asymmetry. Karyotypes of C. lineatus and C. sericeus belonging to sect. Atylia are similar with respect to maximum r-index and the ratio of longest and shortest chromosomes in their respective complements. C. acutifolius (sect. Frutocosa) is distinct in having a very low ratio (1.44) between the longest and the shortest chromosomes, while in C. albicans, C. goensis, C. scarabaeoides (sect. Cantharospermum) there is no chromosome pair with r-index >2.0. C. mollis and C. volubilis (sect. Volubilis) show similarity with regard to ratio between the longest and the shortest chromosomes and a distinct chromosome pair with an arm ratio of 2.7 and C. platycarpus is distinct (sect. Rhynchosoides) in having the smallest ratio (1.36) between the longest and the shortest chromosomes. 4C DNA amounts in Cajanus and Rhynchosia vary between 3.28 pg to 11.69 pg and 4.92 pg to 11.13 pg respectively, while in Dunbaria, Flemingia and Paracalyx these vary between 4.70 and 7:06 pg. In the genus Cajanus karyotypic features and 4C DNA amounts agree with the sectional classification and bring out a close relationship between C. cajan and C. cajanifolius. This is supported by studies based on seed protein patterns, isozyme analysis, trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor patterns, RFLP and RAPD data and crossability relationships. A clear relation between DNA amount and abnormalities effecting the extent of pairing and recombination in interspecific hybrids shows the importance of this study in developing future breeding programme involving C. cajan and its wild relatives that are of potential value.     

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.