不同类型土壤－柠条根系复合抗剪力学特性的比较

为揭示柠条根系固土抗蚀机理,以柠条锦鸡儿与低液限粘土、砒砂岩风化土、含细粒土砂3种土壤类型的根土复合体做为对象进行室内直剪试验,研究3种土壤类型的柠条根土复合体抗剪强度及强度指标,分析其差异性。结果表明:3种不同土壤类型下柠条根土复合体剪切规律均服从摩尔－库仑强度破坏准则。0.05显著水平下,12.5 kpa下根系提高土体抗剪强度优于25 kpa。抗剪强度、残余抗剪强度及二者的强度指标均为柠条根与3种土壤类型根土复合体优于相应素土。抗剪强度、残余抗剪强度、粘聚力及残余粘聚力大小排序为:低液限粘土根土复合体 > 砒砂岩风化土根土复合体 > 含细粒土砂根土复合体,内摩擦角和残余内摩擦角大小排序为:含细粒土砂根土复合体 > 砒砂岩风化土根土复合体 > 低液限粘土根土复合体。粘聚力、残余粘聚力的增长率区间为9.97% ~ 45.78%,内摩擦角和残余内摩擦角的增长率区间为?4.09% ~ 2.40%。根会增强土壤抗剪强度及残余抗剪强度。柠条根系对提高低液限粘土的抗剪特性作用效果最明显,提升效果最好。粘聚力在根土复合体抗剪强度、残余抗剪强度的增加中起主要作用。     

重塑黄土抗剪强度的环剪试验研究

[目的]研究大应变条件下黄土强度的影响因素及规律,为黄土地区发生滑坡等大变形破坏提供理论依据。[方法]利用环剪仪对重塑黄土进行大剪切位移下的剪切试验,探究不同正应力及剪切方式对不同含水率的重塑黄土其残余强度的影响。[结果]正应力越大,残余强度越大,达到残余强度所需的剪切位移越小;随着含水率的增大,残余黏聚力浮动值不大,残余内摩擦角逐渐减小,并据此拟合出残余内摩擦角与含水率的参考公式;从脆性指数的角度得出所研究的重塑黄土的应变软化都不明显,且脆性指数随着正应力和含水率的增加而降低。[结论]重塑黄土的峰值强度和残余强度受含水率、正应力的影响规律相似,可通过含水率对残余强度进行估算。     

根系及裂隙角度对基材原位剪切特性的影响

[目的] 研究岩体裂隙角度对不同植物根系下基材原位剪切特性的影响,旨在为水土保持与生态修复工作提供科学参考。[方法] 设置无植物、狗牙根和多花木兰3种条件,对试样养护90 d后,在岩体裂隙与剪切垂直方向为15°,30°,45°,60°,75°和90°下开展基材原位剪切试验。[结果] ①狗牙根和多花木兰根—基材复合体的抗剪强度和残余抗剪强度均明显大于无根基材,抗剪强度平均增幅分别为33.87%～65.18%,44.94%～73.65%。②无植物基材试样在位移量为8～11 mm时抗剪强度达到峰值,狗牙根根—基材复合体和多花木兰根—基材复合体则在20～36 mm时达到峰值位移,根系能够滞后植被混凝土的峰值位移,含根基材试样能够承受更大的变形。③同种植物,不同的岩隙分布形式对根系的固土能力影响不同。随着裂隙角度的增加其抗剪强度呈先增加后减小的趋势,在裂隙角度为60°时其抗剪强度达到最大值。[结论] 根系能显著增强植被混凝土基材的抗剪强度,提高残余剪切应力,不同裂隙的分布方式对提高基材的抗剪强度的作用呈现差异性,但对于残余抗剪强度,裂隙分布影响不明显。     

紫色页岩发育土壤的颗粒特性及其对抗剪强度的作用机制

土体发生破坏最开始往往是从内部的土壤颗粒破坏开始,而抗剪强度是反映土体抵抗剪切破坏能力的重要指标。本文以紫色页岩发育的坡耕地土壤为研究对象,通过测定土样颗粒组成以及不同含水率和垂向压力下的抗剪强度,研究页岩发育的土壤颗粒特性及其对抗剪强度的作用机制。结果表明从坡顶至坡脚,土壤颗粒组成与其母岩颗粒组成具有显著相关性;土壤中0.25 mm颗粒累计含量在995.65～998.62 g/kg之间,其中以0.25～2 mm岩石碎屑存在的土壤颗粒含量为439.80～510.40 g/kg,以0.25～2 mm团聚体存在的土壤颗粒含量为6.01～80.50 g/kg,随着位置高程的降低,土壤中岩石碎屑和团聚体的含量并没有显著变化。在含水率从7%增加到25%的过程中,土壤水分与内摩擦角呈负相关关系且对内摩擦角的影响随着高程的降低缓慢减小,而对黏聚力的影响是随着含水率的增加单一坡位黏聚力呈现先增加后减少的趋势,但是随高程降低变化并不明显。因此,在紫色页岩发育的土壤颗粒组成中存在大量2 mm的岩石碎屑,这些大量致密坚硬的岩石碎屑提高土壤抗剪强度同时减弱了抗剪强度的水敏性。     

砒砂岩区坡位环境梯度下土壤微生物活性及其环境影响因素

[目的] 开展砒砂岩区土壤微生物活性及其环境影响因素研究，为发掘本土微生物资源及区域生态环境保护和建设奠定基础。[方法] 以鄂尔多斯砒砂岩区为研究对象，通过实地考察取样，测算土壤微生物数量、酶活性、理化性质以及植被相关指标，分析坡面环境梯度土壤微生物数量分布特征、土壤生态功能、植被多样差异之间的相互影响。[结果] ①砒砂岩区土壤微生物区系中细菌为优势类群，放线菌次之，真菌很少。坡位环境梯度间土壤微生物各生理类群数量差异显著。②不同坡位土壤磷酸酶、蔗糖酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶活性各异但含量极低。真菌数量与酸性磷酸酶显著正相关，细菌数量与脲酶显著负相关，放线菌数量与磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶显著或极其显著正相关。③研究区土壤水稳性团聚体粒径多集中于0.25~0.5 mm；阴坡0.25~0.5 mm土壤粒径比例大，0.106~0.25 mm粒径比例小，而阳坡和沟底与之相反；土壤含水率呈现：阴坡 > 沟底 > 阳坡；土壤的pH值、铵态氮、有效磷、全碳、全钙含量均为阳坡顶大于其他坡位。细菌数量与含水率、钙含量，放线菌数量与酸碱度均极显著负相关。④环境因子可解释土壤微生物数量差异的90%，其中坡位和土层影响最大（37.31%），植被次之（29.83%），土壤理化性质影响最小（22.86%）。在土壤理化性质中，团聚体粒径、含水率及pH值影响较大。[结论] 砒砂岩区坡位加剧土壤微生物数量和生理类群的分化，微生物的生存能力随着环境条件的下降而下降；生存环境适中的沟底孕育着该区生态修复关键的本土植被及土壤微生物资源。     

剪切方式对重塑黄土残余强度的影响

[目的]探究剪切方式对重塑黄土残余强度的影响,为黄土滑坡工程评价及治理提供科学依据。[方法]利用环剪仪对泾阳重塑黄土进行环剪试验。[结果]重塑黄土的峰值强度及残余强度均随着有效法向应力的增加而增大。随着有效法向应力的增加,土体达到残余强度所需的剪切位移减小;重塑黄土的变形表现为受剪压缩。单级剪得到的残余强度指标值与多级剪切得到的残余强度指标值的均值相近。[结论]剪切方式建议首选单级剪切。     

不同剪切方式下崩岗红土层抗剪特征随水分变化规律

崩壁土体抗剪强度随水分变化的规律是研究崩岗发生机理的关键,但不同剪切方式得出的抗剪特性可能存在差异。该研究采用直接剪切和三轴剪切试验方法,在100、200、300和400 k Pa 4个围压下,测量10%~30%之间5个不同体积含水率下崩岗红土的抗剪应力和内摩擦角,确定典型崩岗土体抗剪特征随水分变化规律。结果表明:直接剪切试验中当土壤体积含水率在10%~15%之间时,黏聚力的最高值达80 k Pa,随着土壤含水率增加,黏聚力和内摩擦角逐渐降低到最小。三轴剪切试验得出的结果与直接剪切试验相似,但黏聚力总体接近或大于直接剪切试验结果,而内摩擦角小于直接剪切试验结果,这与2种试验的土样制备方法、试验原理等密切相关。研究可为花岗岩崩岗区崩岗土体抗剪强度测定方法合理选择提供依据。     

不同配比的煤矸石与垃圾筛分土抗剪试验

以自制的土壤剪切仪作为剪切强度测定的仪器,对不同煤矸石与垃圾筛分土的混合体进行抗剪试验,并采用模拟降雨方法研究降雨强度对混合体稳定性的影响。结果表明:煤矸石与垃圾筛分土的混合比在30%～70%区间内,随着煤矸石体积分数的增加,抗剪强度增加;煤矸石体积分数小于30%或大于70%,煤矸石的体积分数与抗剪强度相关性不大。混合体中土壤含水率与抗剪强度成反比,降雨因为会降低混合体的抗剪强度,从而会降低坡面的稳定性。从坡体稳定,有利植物生长角度考虑,煤矸石与垃圾筛分土体积比以50%左右为宜。     

蒋家沟砾石土不同含水率直剪强度特征

蒋家沟流域内大量泥石流由滑坡引发,在滑坡转化为泥石流的3个过程中,首先是在斜坡体内大范围剪切破坏。在其物源区与沉积区内分布大量砾石土,其强度特征对于蒋家沟泥石流的起动机理以及流域内土壤侵蚀具有重要意义。由于降雨过程中,坡体内砾石土含水率逐渐增大,影响其力学性质特征,加之砾石土颗粒粗大,粗细粒配比和试验尺寸对强度特征有一定的影响。为此,在室内和现场两用大型直剪仪下进行蒋家沟砾石土不同含水率下的直剪强度试验,结果表明,试样在ρd=1.9 g/cm3不同含水率下,剪应力-水平位移关系没有明显峰值,应力-应变曲线为应力硬化型;同一含水率试样在γ=0.02时的剪切模量G0.02随垂直压力增加而增大;含水率7.07%试样各级压力下G0.02最大;φ值与含水率w符合二次函数关系式:φ=-0.471w2 6.7462w 3.9262;试样C值与含水率w符合二次函数关系式:C=-0.7307w2 8.4784w 1.462。     

冻融作用对原状棕壤抗剪强度的影响

为揭示冻融循环作用对棕壤抗剪强度的影响,采集沈阳地区5 cm和25 cm 2个深度原状棕壤(分别为H 5和H 25)为研究对象,通过室内冻融循环模拟和土壤直剪试验,研究冻融循环次数和土壤含水率对土壤抗剪强度的影响。结果表明:(1)土样含水率越高,初次冻融作用的破坏效果越强,1次冻融循环后,含水率为25%的H 5和H 25土样黏聚力分别下降50.00%和25.87%;含水率35%的H 5和H 25土样黏聚力分别下降75.61%和50.77%。15次冻融循环后,含水率10%的H 5和H 25土样黏聚力分别增加74.36%和60.08%;含水率35%的H 5和H 25土样黏聚力分别增加14.63%和26.15%。但在2个不同含水率条件下,黏聚力的增大机制不同。(2)含水率为15%,20%,25%条件下,H 5和H 25土样内摩擦角在多次冻融循环中始终在一定范围内波动,说明这3个含水率下冻融作用对土壤内摩擦角影响具有不确定性。35%含水率的H 5和H 25土样内摩擦角受冻融作用的影响较小,分别在(18.57°±0.88°)和(12.86°±1.14°)变化。(3)平均抗剪强度主要受土壤含水率影响,随着含水率的增加呈指数函数减小。受黏粒含量影响,含水率低于25%时,H 25土样平均抗剪强度高于H 5土样;含水率高于25%时,H 25土样平均抗剪强度偏低。     

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.