竹粉/聚丙烯发泡复合材料加速老化性能的研究

为改善木塑复合材料密度大、韧性差的缺陷,采用注塑法制备竹粉/聚丙烯(polypropylene,PP)发泡复合材料;同时为加强木塑材料的生产和质量管理,采用氙灯加速老化方式,研究老化对发泡复合材料力学性能、材色、流变性能的影响,并采用环境扫描电镜(environmental scanning electronic microscopy,ESEM)和傅里叶红外光谱(Fourier transform infrared spectrum,FTIR)对材料进行分析。结果表明:历时1 200 h氙灯加速老化后,材料的弯曲强度、弯曲模量和缺口冲击强度的保留率仅分别为79.4%、68.3%和75.6%;产生的色差ΔE*和白度变化值ΔL*分别为49.0和48.4。频率扫描结果显示,老化后,复合材料的模量和黏度下降。ESEM显示,老化后材料表面出现孔洞和裂缝,且部分竹粉暴露在材料表面。FTIR结果表明,老化过程中,复合材料发生了光氧化降解反应。该研究可为进一步探索竹塑发泡复合材料的老化规律,制定产品标准提供试验数据和理论参考。     

竹粉/聚丙烯发泡复合材料的增韧效果

为研发可代替聚丙烯(polypropylene,PP)应用于汽车内饰件的木塑复合材料,减少白色污染,节约化石能源,同时提高木塑复合材料的附加值,拓宽其应用领域。该文以注塑法制备竹粉/聚丙烯发泡复合材料,并分别采用乙烯-1-辛烯共聚物(polyolefin elastomer,POE)和马来酸酐接枝POE(maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin elastomer,POE-g-MAH)增韧复合材料。研究了增韧填料对发泡复合材料力学性能的影响,用环境扫描电镜(environmental scanning electronic microscopy,ESEM)对复合材料的冲击断面进行观察,并进行了频率扫描的动态流变测试。结果表明:添加POE和POE-g-MAH在略微降低材料拉伸和弯曲强度的同时,可明显提高材料的缺口冲击强度,二者最佳用量分别为15%和8%;8%POE-g-MAH增韧的复合材料的缺口冲击强度为8.55kJ/m2,提高了35.7%,可很好地应用于汽车内饰件。ESEM显示,增韧后,复合材料的断裂形式转变为韧性断裂。动态频率扫描结果显示,POE对复合材料流变性能的影响较小,而POE-g-MAH增韧的复合材料的储能模量和复数黏度明显增大,且"第二平台"现象更为明显。     

茶粉/聚丙烯复合材料加速老化性能

为高值化利用茶产业剩余物资源,拓宽木塑复合材料中植物纤维来源,以废弃茶梗(tea stalk,TS)为有机填料,与聚丙烯(Polypropylene,PP)制备了TS/PP复合材料;同时为研究其户外应用和老化机制,考察了冻融循环老化对TS/PP复合材料力学性能、材色及热性能的影响,并用傅里叶红外光谱(Fourier transform infrared spectrum,FTIR)、扫描电镜(scanning electronic microscopy,SEM)等分析了复合材料的化学结构、表面形貌及老化机制。结果表明:在经历12次冻融循环老化后,复合材料的弯曲强度、缺口冲击强度、弯曲模量及硬度值保留率分别为28.9%、40.1%、34.5%和86.5%,复合材料的亮度变化值(△L*)、红绿轴色品指数变化值(△a*)、黄蓝轴色品指数变化值(△b*)及色差值△E分别为16.41、2.80、9.03和18.93;复合材料维卡软化点(vicat softing point,VSP)下降了2.9℃,茶粉组分的最快热降解温度降低了4℃;茶粉中木素苯环结构红外吸收峰强度减弱甚至消失,表明在冻融循环老化中茶粉中木素成分发生了降解。SEM显示随冻融循环次数增加,TS/PP复合材料表面裂纹数量增多,裂纹深度和宽度增大,甚至出现交叉裂纹。该研究结果可为进一步探索茶塑复合材料制备及老化规律,提供试验数据和理论参考。     

冻融循环老化降低竹粉/聚丙烯发泡复合材料性能

竹粉/聚丙烯(polypropylene,PP)发泡复合材料具有密度低、比强度高等优点,为了探讨期老化规律,该文研究冻融循环对不同竹粉含量(0,20%,33%和42%)的发泡复合材料的材色、物理力学性能、热学性能的影响,并结合环境扫描电镜(environmental scanning electronic microscopy,ESEM)和傅里叶红外光谱(fourier transform infrared spectrum,FTIR)对复合材料的表面形貌及化学结构进行分析。结果表明:随着竹粉含量增加,冻融循环老化对复合材料的材色和物理力学性能影响越明显,且随着冻融循环次数的增加,复合材料产生的色差越大,力学性能降低越多。9次冻融循环后,0、20%、33%和42%竹粉/PP发泡复合材料产生的色差ΔE*分别为0.9、2.4、7.0和9.9,弯曲模量、弯曲强度、拉伸强度和缺口冲击强度的保留率分别为95.2%~99.1%、97.3%~98.9%、94.9%~97.5%和92.0%~95.6%。热重分析(thermogravimetric analysis,TG)结果表明,9次冻融循环老化后,0和33%竹粉/PP发泡复合材料的初始热分解温度分别下降了19和8℃。ESEM显示,老化后复合材料表面出现少量的裂纹以及褶皱,且少量的表层高分子层脱落。FITR测试结果发现,冻融循环过程中复合材料的木材指数减少,表明材料表面的竹粉颗粒损失,且基体PP的基团峰强度减弱。该研究可为进一步探索竹塑发泡复合材料的老化规律,制定产品标准提供试验数据和理论参考。     

适宜共混速度改善低密度聚乙烯/竹粉复合材料力学与流变性能

该文主要研究共混速度对(low density polyethylene,LDPE)/竹粉木塑复合材料、流变性能和吸水率的影响。采用熔融共混方法制备LDPE/竹粉复合材料,通过旋转流变仪、扫描电镜(scanning electron microscope,SEM)和材料试验机等详细研究了共混速度(40,75和100 r/min)对LDPE/竹粉复合材料的复合材料动态力学性能、形态、吸水率和力学性能的影响。在LDPE/竹粉复合材料,LDPE、增容剂马来酸酐接枝聚乙烯(maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene,MAPE)和竹粉的质量比控制在65∶5∶30。共混温度和时间分别设定为170℃和10 min。结果表明,添加竹粉可有效增强LDPE的力学性能。LDPE/竹粉复合材料的拉伸强度和弯曲强度随着共混速度的增加而呈现下降趋势,但是与纯LDPE相比,LDPE/竹粉复合材料(40 r/min)的拉伸强度和弯曲强度分别增加了28%和115%;弯曲模量从48.45 MPa降低到40.75 MPa。与LDPE相比,LDPE/竹粉复合材料(40 r/min)的弯曲模量最高增加了238%;缺口冲击强度则从12.8 k J/m2提高到18.27 k J/m2,但仍低于纯LDPE。在相同频率下(1.0 Hz),随着共混速度的增加,LDPE/竹粉复合材料的储能模量和复数黏度也逐渐下降,加工性能得到了改善;同时复合材料的吸水率也从0.89%(40 r/min)下降至0.59%(100 r/min)。SEM结果表明,竹粉能均匀分布在LDPE中,提高共混速度使得竹粉表面被大量树脂覆盖,改善了界面性能,使得材料断裂面产生大量的塑性形变,提高了材料韧性和冲击强度。试验结果证实共混速度为100 r/min时,LDPE/竹粉复合材料具有较好的冲击强度和较低的吸水率,这为木塑复合材料力学性能和吸水率的改善提供有意借鉴。     

竹粉/高密度聚乙烯复合材料动态流变特性

为了了解木塑复合材料的动态流变特性,从而更好地提高产品的生产效率以及揭示界面复合机理,该文以竹粉/高密度聚乙烯(HDPE)复合材料为研究对象,分别考察了铝钛偶联剂、硬脂酸钙润滑剂对复合材料流变特性的影响。利用密炼机对高密度聚乙烯与竹粉进行密炼混合,在此过程中根据情况添加适量的偶联剂或润滑剂,得到的复合块状材料经冷却破碎后注塑成型,并对注塑试样进行了系列动态流变测试,包括应变扫描、频率扫描,对比了2种温度下的应变扫描下的流变行为。应变扫描结果表明,添加助剂的复合体系比单纯竹粉/HDPE体系在更大的应变范围内属于线性弹性行为,通过低频区域的模量与频率关系的斜率分析表明,添加偶联剂和润滑剂有助于促进竹粉在塑料基体中的均匀分散,动态黏度与损耗黏度之间的关系揭示了偶联剂以及润滑剂均在一定程度上促进了竹粉与聚乙烯塑料之间的界面结合,为木塑复合材料生产过程助剂的使用提供了一定的理论参考依据。     

采用主成分分析抗冻剂对冷冻虾肉糜3D可打印性的影响

针对冷冻虾肉糜的蛋白质易发生冷冻变性而失去3D可打印性的问题,该研究以添加不同抗冻剂的虾肉糜为研究对象,对虾肉糜冷冻贮藏过程中3D打印精确性和稳定性、流变和质构特性的变化开展试验研究,采用相关性和主成分分析虾肉糜3D打印精确性和稳定性与流变和质构特性之间的关系。研究结果表明,随着冻藏天数的延长,所有处理虾肉糜的3D打印精确性和稳定性、黏性常数、流变单元之间的连接强度、硬度、弹性、黏附性、持水性等均呈下降趋势;添加抗冻剂的处理可以减缓虾肉糜这些指标的下降;3D打印精确性和稳定性与虾肉糜的黏性常数、流变单元之间的连接强度、弹性、硬度、黏附性、持水性等呈正相关。添加8%海藻糖+0.3%多聚磷酸盐（即TP处理）抑制虾肉糜肌原纤维蛋白冷冻变性的效果最好,冻藏30 d后虾肉糜仍具有较好的3D可打印性,打印精确性和稳定性分别为96.64%和97.61%,该研究结果为保障虾肉糜3D打印的原料供应提供了理论参考。     

四种植物纤维粉/聚丙烯复合材料应用性能

为了充分利用农作物及农业废弃物中的植物纤维,研究环境友好材料,研究了4种植物纤维粉/聚丙烯复合材料的拉伸强度、弯曲强度、弯曲弹性模量等力学性能,并对其吸水和热变形性能进行了分析。结果表明：麦秆粉与稻壳粉混合纤维粉填充聚丙烯时,复合材料有较好的性能;稻壳粉、混合纤维粉及松木粉分别填充聚丙烯复合材料的拉伸强度和弯曲强度相差不大;竹粉填充聚丙烯复合材料的力学性能较低,吸水性及加热后尺寸变化率较大,综合性能较差。稻壳粉与聚丙烯相容性较好,竹粉和松木粉与聚丙烯的相容性较差。稻壳粉、混合纤维粉能与聚丙烯制备性能较好的木塑复合材料。     

不同表面处理麦秸秆对木塑复合材料性能的影响

为提高麦秸秆纤维与聚丙烯(polypropylene,PP)基体的界面结合力,采用复合处理法对麦秸秆纤维进行表面处理:先分别用NaOH、乙酸溶液浸泡、水热处理、蒸汽爆破和微波等方法对麦秸秆纤维进行预处理,再复合偶联剂法处理麦秸秆纤维;用熔融共混、模压成型方法制备麦秸秆/废弃PP木塑复合材料,探讨了麦秸秆不同表面处理方法制备PP木塑复合材料力学性能和吸湿吸水性能;用体视显微镜对不同处理的麦秸秆及木塑复合材料拉伸断面进行观察。结果表明:经复合处理的麦秸秆与PP木塑复合材料力学性能和吸湿吸水性能均优于单纯使用偶联剂处理的麦秸秆与PP木塑复合材料;NaOH和乙酸复合处理的复合材料力学性能和抗吸湿吸水性能较好,水热和蒸汽爆破复合处理的复合材料次之。麦秸秆经复合处理后,表面变粗糙,秸秆纤维和PP基体的界面黏合性得到改善。该文研究结果对通过麦秸秆纤维表面处理提高麦秸秆/废弃PP木塑复合材料的性能有重要的实际意义。     

丙烯酸酯木塑复合材料增容剂的性能及应用

该文以含有双键官能团的硅氧烷和丙烯酸酯类为原料,通过自由基聚合方法,制备了丙烯酸酯类木塑增容剂,采用模压成型工艺制备了甘蔗渣/聚乙烯木塑复合材料,利用万能电子试验和冲击试验机测试其拉伸及冲击性能,结果表明,采用硅烷偶联剂KH-570和甲基丙烯酸缩水甘油酯等丙烯酸酯类的共聚物是较好的木塑复合材料增容剂,其共聚单体中引入的环氧基团可以和氨基硅烷偶联剂的氨基或纤维素中的羟基进行开环交联反应,使木粉纤维和丙烯酸酯类共聚物之间形成交联互贯网络,在甘蔗渣、增容剂和塑料之间形成均匀稳定的微观分散体系,降低了纤维素极性,     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.