生物质电厂灰等材料对红壤酸度和养分的改良效应

通过土培试验研究电厂灰的不同用量及电厂灰分别与石灰和磷灰石的不同配比对江西酸性红壤的改良作用。结果表明,随着电厂灰用量增加,土壤p H值升高,土壤交换性Al3+和交换性H+含量降低;土壤中有效养分含量增加,尤其是速效钾和交换性K+增加显著,最大增幅可达26.9%和66.7%,电厂灰最佳用量4500 kg hm-2。生物质电厂灰/磷灰石的配比中,综合效果以3/1为最佳,平均提高土壤p H值0.12个单位,降低土壤交换性Al3+和交换性H+的含量分别为0.68和0.10cmol(+)kg-1,对土壤中盐基离子(K+、Ca2+、Na+、Mg2+)和速效养分含量都有显著提高,其中土壤交换性Ca2+和交换性Mg2+增加最显著,增幅达58.1%和34.6%。而电厂灰/石灰的配比以1/1为最优,平均提高土壤0.2个p H单位,降低土壤交换性Al3+和交换性H+的含量分别为1.19和0.20 cmol(+)kg-1,养分方面以提高土壤速效磷含量最为突出,增幅为5.6%。因此,生物质电厂灰与石灰和磷灰石按照一定的比例组合才能达到理想的土壤改良效果。     

钢渣与生物质炭配合施用对红壤酸度的改良效果

采用厌氧热解方法制备污泥生物质炭和花生秸秆炭,研究了钢渣和生物质炭单独施用及配合施用对红壤酸度的改良效果,结果表明,钢渣、花生秸秆炭和污泥生物质炭均含有一定量的碱性物质,向红壤中添加钢渣和生物质炭可以中和土壤酸度,提高土壤pH,增加土壤交换性盐基阳离子含量,降低土壤交换性铝含量.90天培养实验结束时,这3种改良剂分别使土壤pH相对对照提高1.10、0.72和0.48.钢渣与花生秸秆炭配合施用对土壤酸度的改良效果最好,使土壤pH相对对照提高2.14,单施污泥生物质炭的改良效果最小.钢渣和生物质炭含一定量的养分元素,添加钢渣和生物质炭可以同时改善土壤肥力.钢渣含丰富的钙,添加钢渣使土壤交换性钙含量增幅最大,相对对照增加4.5倍;添加花生秸秆炭使土壤交换钾增加最显著,相对对照约增加7倍;污泥生物质炭含丰富的磷,添加污泥生物质炭使土壤有效磷增加最显著,相对对照增加5.4倍.添加钢渣和2种生物质炭均显著提高了土壤交换性镁含量,将钢渣与生物质炭配合施用,土壤交换性镁含量的增幅更大.由于钢渣和2种生物质炭的碱含量和养分含量各有特点,因此可以根据土壤酸度状况和养分含量选择将钢渣与不同生物质炭配合施用,以达到既能最大限度中和土壤酸度又能补充土壤所必需养分的目的.     

炭化生活污水污泥对酸化红壤的改良效果

从南京市、马鞍山市和丹阳市的3个污水处理厂采集污泥,在500℃下热解制备炭化污泥,测定了污泥和炭化污泥的性质和重金属含量,研究了污泥和炭化污泥对酸性红壤改良效果,并探讨了炭化污泥中重金属的环境风险。结果表明,污泥和炭化污泥中含有一定量的碱,添加炭化污泥可提高红壤的p H和交换性钙、镁和钾含量,降低土壤交换性铝和交换性H+含量。但污泥中大量铵态氮的硝化作用释放质子,抵消了污泥对红壤酸度的改良作用。添加污泥和炭化污泥提高了土壤有机碳、有效磷和速效钾的含量,提高了土壤肥力。污泥炭化后重金属含量有所增加,但大部分重金属的有效态含量下降,说明热解过程可以降低部分有毒重金属的活性。与对照相比,添加炭化污泥会增加土壤中部分重金属有效态含量,特别是有效态锌含量显著增加,因此炭化污泥农业利用存在一定的环境风险。建议将炭化污泥用于酸化的森林红壤的改良。     

生物质炭添加对重金属污染稻田土壤理化性状及微生物量的影响

分析了生物质炭添加对红壤性水稻土理化性状、重金属含量及微生物生物量的影响。通过田间小区长期定位试验,一次性施入不同量生物质炭(0,10,20,30,40t/hm2),于2017年9月采集各处理表层土样(0—15cm),研究土壤理化性状、重金属含量及微生物生物量的变化。结果表明:生物质炭添加对土壤理化性状、重金属含量及微生物生物量均有显著影响。与对照相比,供试土壤的pH、EC和有机质含量随生物质炭添加量的增加而增大,增幅分别为5.11%~18.43%,37.62%~104.31%和1.72%~22.41%,而有效磷和铵态氮含量随生物质炭添加量的增加呈先增大后减小趋势,分别在生物质炭添加量为10t/hm2和30t/hm2时达到最大值。随生物质炭添加量的增加,土壤有效态Cd和有效态Pb含量均呈降低趋势,而土壤有效态As含量呈先增加后减少的趋势,三者均在生物质炭添加量为40t/hm2时达到最小值。土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和微生物商随生物质炭添加量的增加均呈先升高后降低的趋势,均在生物质炭添加量为20t/hm2时达到最大值。相关分析表明,生物质炭添加量分别与土壤有效态Cd和Pb含量之间呈极显著负相关(P0.01);通径分析表明,生物质炭主要是通过直接作用影响土壤有效态Cd含量,而土壤pH、EC、有机质、微生物生物量碳、氮和有效磷主要是通过间接作用影响土壤有效态Cd含量。因此,添加适量生物质炭不仅可以改善土壤重金属污染现状和土壤理化性状,提高土壤养分含量,还可以改良土壤生物学性质,增加土壤微生物量。研究结果可为提高稻田土壤肥力和改善土壤重金属污染状况提供科学依据。     

生物质炭中盐基离子存在形态及其与改良酸性土壤的关系

为研究生物质炭中盐基离子存在形态及其与改良酸性土壤的关系,通过厌氧热解的方法于300、500和700℃下制备了玉米秸秆炭。考察了热解温度对玉米秸秆炭水溶性、交换性和盐基总量的影响。采用室内培养的方法考察了添加玉米秸秆炭对酸性土壤的改良效果。结果表明:热解温度影响玉米秸秆炭各形态盐基离子含量,玉米秸秆炭总K、总Na、总Ca、总Mg、水溶性K、水溶性Na、水溶性Ca、交换性Ca和交换性Mg含量随热解温度升高显著增加;水溶性Mg和交换性K含量随热解温度升高先增加后下降。玉米秸秆炭中的K和Na主要以水溶态存在,约40%的Ca和30%的Mg以交换态存在,约50%的Ca和70%的Mg以其他形态(主要为难溶态)存在。添加玉米秸秆炭能极显著提高酸性土壤pH和降低土壤交换性Al3+含量,提高和降低幅度随热解温度升高极显著增加。总K+总Na+总Ca+总Mg含量可以作为衡量玉米秸秆炭提高酸性土壤pH能力的间接指标。添加玉米秸秆炭能极显著提高土壤交换性K、Na和Mg含量,能显著提高交换性Ca和总盐基离子含量。玉米秸秆炭总K和总Na含量是提高土壤交换性K和Na含量的决定因素,交换性Ca含量在提高土壤交换性Mg和交换性盐基总量中起决定作用。     

不同产地油菜秸秆制备的生物质炭对红壤酸度和土壤pH缓冲容量的影响

  目的  明确不同产地油菜秸秆制备的生物质炭对红壤酸度的改良和土壤pH缓冲容量的提升效果。  方法  将不同添加量的油菜秸秆炭分别与两种酸性红壤混合,然后进行室内培养试验,测定培养实验前后土壤pH、pH缓冲容量、土壤交换性盐基离子和土壤交换性酸。  结果  添加油菜秸秆炭显著提高了土壤的pH、pH缓冲容量、交换性盐基离子含量,显著降低了土壤交换性酸含量。说明添加油菜秸秆炭不仅可以改良红壤酸度,还能提高红壤的抗酸化能力,因而可以减缓土壤的复酸化。生长在碱性土壤上的油菜秸秆制备的生物质炭对红壤酸度的改良效果和对土壤pH缓冲容量的提升效果均优于生长在酸性土壤上的油菜秸秆制备的生物质炭,在5%添加水平下,前者使湖南红壤pH相比对照提高37.4%,后者使该土壤的pH提高22.4%;相应地,2种生物质炭分别使该土壤的pH缓冲容量分别提高41.4%和37.3%。2种油菜秸秆炭对红壤pH和pH缓冲容量的提升效果与其碱含量和表面官能团多少相一致。  结论  碱性土壤上生长的油菜秸秆制备的生物质炭对红壤具有更好的改良效果。     

长期施用猪粪对红壤酸度的改良效应

土壤酸化严重限制了我国南方红壤区土壤的农业利用。本研究应用江西鹰潭红壤生态实验站长期猪粪养分淋失试验,分析了不同施肥处理（对照处理：N 0 kg/hm2;低量有机肥：N 150 kg/hm2;高量有机肥：N 600 kg/hm2;高量有机肥+石灰处理：有机肥N 600 kg/hm2 ＋石灰3 000 kg/(hm2·3a)）长期施用对红壤酸度的改良效应。研究结果表明,9年高量有机肥施用中土壤pH值平均每年上升0.085个单位,而低量有机肥施用对土壤pH没有显著影响。有机肥长期施用增加了土壤盐基离子浓度,其中Ca、Mg增加幅度较大,使得长期施肥后土壤盐基以Ca为主,其次是Mg,而K、Na比例较低。长期有机肥施用有效降低了红壤旱地表层土壤交换性酸含量,尤其是对交换性铝含量的降低程度较大,且随施肥量的增加而增大,在施肥4年后可基本消除铝毒。高量施肥基础上的石灰添加进一步提高了土壤pH值,加快了土壤酸度改良。红壤旱地猪粪施用显著提高了玉米产量,达到酸度改良效果的最低猪粪用量为Ca 162 kg/hm2。在施肥初期添加一次石灰,将土壤pH值迅速提高,然后通过有机肥对pH的稳定作用保持和逐步提高土壤pH,可在最短时间、用最少投入消除土壤酸害。     

长期定位施肥对亚热带丘陵地区红壤旱地质量的影响Ⅰ.酸度

研究了中国科学院红壤生态实验站长期定位施肥试验5种不同施肥处理对土壤pH、土壤交换性氢、铝的影响,及其与土壤有机质之间的相关性。结果表明,长期不同施肥处理均提高了土壤pH,降低了土壤交换性氢和交换性铝含量,改良了红壤的酸性。施用有机肥(M)、有机肥+菌剂(BM)、有机肥+菌剂+微量元素(BMT)显著优于施用化肥(F)和化肥+微量元素(TF)的处理。添加微量元素和有效菌剂后土壤交换性氢、铝含量略有提高。土壤有机质与土壤pH呈显著正相关,与土壤交换性氢含量的相关性不显著,而与土壤交换性铝含量呈显著负相关。随着土壤有机质含量的增加,土壤交换性氢占土壤交换性酸度比例越大。长期施用有机肥、提高土壤有机质含量是改良红壤酸度和减轻铝毒较好的农艺措施。     

氮、磷营养过量对土壤养分及黄瓜营养吸收的影响初探

采用土壤培养试验研究土壤氮、磷单个养分分别过量的条件下,土壤养分状况的改变以及黄瓜植株养分吸收的变化。结果表明,土壤氮素过剩使土壤交换性K、Ca、Mg含量增加6%左右,水溶性K、Ca、Mg含量成倍增加,易于形成土壤盐类障碍。土壤磷素过剩反而导致土壤交换性K、Ca含量下降,尤其是以交换性Ca下降为多,水溶性K、Ca、Mg含量减少50%左右。土壤氮素过剩抑制了黄瓜磷的吸收;相反,土壤磷素过剩时,氮吸收受抑。土壤氮、磷营养过剩在高量下均对黄瓜植株K、Ca、Mg的吸收表现出抑制作用。     

改良剂对反酸田土壤性质与水稻产量的影响

采用盆栽试验研究了不同改良剂在反酸田土壤上的应用效果。结果表明,土壤pH在3.47~4.90范围内,pH与交换性H+和交换性Al3+呈极显著线性负相关关系,而与土壤有效铁和有效硫含量呈显著正相关。不同改良处理在提高作物产量和改良土壤性质方面较对照处理与NPK处理效果明显,且钙镁磷肥、自研改良剂、石灰及碱渣等无机改良剂改良效果显著高于添加腐植酸、精制有机肥、碱性有机肥处理。其改良效果主要体现在提高土壤pH,显著降低土壤交换性H+和交换性Al3+含量,明显增加土壤有效钙和有效镁的含量,改善根系生长环境,增加水稻地上部养分吸收和水稻籽粒产量。综上,初步认为酸害(包括活性酸和潜在酸)是反酸田土壤最主要的限制因子,钙镁磷肥、自研改良剂和石灰等偏碱性且富含有效钙或磷的无机矿物质是农业生产中改良反酸田的适宜改良剂。     

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.     

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.