辐射聚合离子性水凝胶固定化酵母细胞

在低温(-78℃)下,通过辐照使2-丙烯酰胺2-甲基丙磺酸(TBAS)和聚乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸醇系列单体聚合,获得了具有离子性的水凝胶载体。用这些载体固定化酵母细胞的乙醇生产力均比游离细胞高,其中用poly TBAS-14G固定化细胞的乙醇生产力是游离细胞的4.5倍,每小时糖的转化率达50％。固定化酵母的活性随聚乙二醇二甲基丙烯酸分子中乙二醇数目的增加而增加。固定化酵母具有较高活性的原因是这些高分子载体具有一定的多孔性、膨胀性,载体带有电荷并具有一定的机械强度,固定化细胞能较好地繁殖,使载体内具有较高的细胞密度。     

温度对固定化酵母酒精分批发酵的影响及动力学模型

该文以甜高粱茎秆汁液为原料,探讨了温度（25～37 ℃）对甜高粱汁固定化酵母酒精分批发酵的影响,并对不同温度下固定化酵母乙醇发酵的动力学模型进行了研究。结果表明：温度的升高可以提高细胞生长速率,但过高的温度却阻碍了细胞的生长,从而影响了酒精的产量。应用Hinshelwood模型,分别对酒精发酵过程中细胞生长动力学和酒精合成动力学进行了模拟,得到25～34℃范围内不同温度下各种动力学参数。在此基础上,进一步研究了温度同细胞生长动力学参数之间的内在联系,得到酒精分批发酵过程中酵母细胞质量浓度的变化同温度以及底物质量浓度之间的一般关系式,验证试验结果表明,该模型具有很好的适用性。     

吸附法固定化绿色木霉(Trichoderma reesei)生长细胞

本文应用辐射技术,在纸表面复盖不同性质的高分子,以此作为固定化生长细胞的载体,吸附绿色木霉细胞,并测定了固定化绿色木霉细胞的纤维素酶活性。当纸复盖有3种亲水性均聚体poly-HEA、poly-HEMA,poly-HPMA和一种疏水性均聚体poly-A4G时,细胞被吸附在这4种载体上,并能产生纤维素酶,但是只有复盖poly-HPMA的载体固定化细胞的纤维素酶活性(FPA)高于游离细胞。当纸复盖不同组成的HEA-A-TMPT、HEMA-A-TMPT.HPMA-A-TMPT和A4G-A-TMPT的共聚体时,用这些载体固定化细胞的FPA均比复盖均聚体的增加。用复盖不同组成的poly(HPMA-A-TMPT)载体固定化细胞,其FPA均比游离细胞增加,最高的增加了60％。用复盖有50％:50％和75％:25％的poly(HEA-A-TMPT)共聚体载体固定化细胞,其FPA分别比游离细胞增加了70％和60％。FPA增加是由于吸附的细胞重量增加,而固定化细胞的重量与复盖于纸上的高分子的性质(例如含水量)有关,复盖的高分子含水量10％左右时,固定化细胞重量最高,在载体表面复盖适宜的高分子有利于细胞的吸附和生长。     

固定化酵母发酵甜高粱茎秆汁工艺参数对酒精得率的影响

以甜高粱茎秆汁为原料，在摇瓶和反应器上对固定化酵母发酵甜高粱汁制取酒精过程中温度、pH值及固定化酵母粒子填充率三个主要工艺参数对酒精得率的影响进行了试验研究。摇瓶单因素试验结果表明：固定化酵母发酵甜高粱茎秆汁液制取酒精过程中，较优的温度、pH值和粒子填充率分别为34℃、4.5和25%。摇瓶的验证试验结果表明，总发酵时间为6h，发酵结束时酒精得率和总糖利用率分别为95.15%和88.65%；反应器放大验证试验结果显示，总发酵时间10 h，发酵结束时，酒精得率和总糖利用率为96.72%和99.86%。该研究为甜高粱制取酒精技术提供了有益的参考。     

里氏木霉Trichoderma reesei固定化细胞酶液水解辐射预处理稻麦秸秆的研究

用1×10~5、3×10~5、5×10~5和10×10~5 Gy的电子束和电子束加4％NaOH复合预处理稻麦秸秆。预处理稻秆200目以上粉末随辐照剂量的增加而增中。用1％纤维素酶水解电子束预处理稻麦秸秆48小时,葡萄糖得率随辐照剂量的增加而增加,10×10~5 Gy照射的比未预处理的增加了70％—80％;而复合预处理稻麦秸秆的葡萄糖得率在5×10~5 Gy以内,随辐射剂量增加而增加,分别为36％和35％,比未处理的10.2％增加了约2.5倍,而用10×10~5 Gy的反而下降。通过辐射聚合在纱布表面覆盖高分子poly(HEA)、poly(HEMA)、poly(HPMA)、poly(A-4G)和poly(A-TMPT),并以此作为固定化里氏木霉细胞的载体。这些载体均能较好地固定化里氏木霉细胞,固定化细胞的滤纸活性(FPA)均高于游离细胞,其中覆盖poly(HPMA)的载体固定化细胞的效果最好,FPA为3.5U/ml,比游离细胞增加了近40％。用这些固定化细胞的酶液水解NaOH和电子束复合预处理的稻麦秸秆,其葡萄糖得率随辐照剂量和水解时间的增加而增加,其中4％NaOH和10×10~5 Gy处理的稻麦秸秆第6天的葡萄糖得率为19％和22％。     

固定化唾液链球菌生产γ-氨基丁酸的研究

以唾液链球茵嗜热亚种(Streptococcus salivarius subsp.thermophilus Y-2)为供试菌株,考察了卡拉胶、明胶和海藻酸钙等材料将此菌株固定化的效果,并通过比较固定化细胞的谷氨酸脱羧酶(glutamatedecarboxylase,GAD)活性及γ-氨基丁酸的产量和载体机械强度,确定了海藻酸钙作为固定化细胞的适宜载体.优化后得到的最适固定化条件(W/V)为:海藻酸钠2%,CaCl_2 14%,茵体25%,凝胶平均颗粒直径1.64 mm,在此条件下测得固定化细胞的GAD活性为游离细胞的1.2倍.细胞多批次应用稳定性试验证明:固定化细胞较游离细胞有着更稳定的GAD活性,反复使用60 h后,固定化细胞GAD活性仍能保持其初始活性的90%以上,γ-氨基丁酸的积累量达到7.97 g/L.     

固定化酵母流化床生物反应器的设计方法

介绍了制取酒精用的固定化酵母流化床生物反应器的设计方法,阐述了流化床生物反应器的设计程序与计算公式、主要部件图和工艺流程。年产30t酒精的反应器系统试运转证明,反应器的设计计算正确、工艺合理。     

热带假丝酵母产生子囊孢子的条件及单倍体分离的研究

本文研究了诱导热带假丝酵母子囊孢子产生和子囊破壁的条件,以及单倍体分离和鉴别方法。结果表明：NaAc、KCl这两种成分即可满足热带假丝酵母的产孢营养要求,在含有NaAc8．2gm、KCl1．8gm的琼脂培养基中,28℃培养7d,热带假丝酵母细胞的产孢率可达到47．5％;单纯使用蜗牛酶对破除热带假丝酵母子囊壁的效率甚低,酶解液加入适量的石英砂同时振荡处理4h左右,可以显著提高对热带假丝酵母子囊破壁速率。用这种方法处理,绝大多数子囊壁均可破除。子囊破壁处理后再以52℃处理10min杀死残余的营养体细胞,分离物的单倍体孢子比例可由灭活处理前的48％,提高到76％以上。     

甜高粱茎秆液态发酵制取乙醇工艺技术

甜高粱茎秆液态发酵制取乙醇工艺技术是国家高技术研究发展计划(863计划)《甜高粱茎秆制取乙醇》(课题编号:2001AA 514040)项目中关键技术之一,本文简要的论述了该项技术的工艺流程、工作原理和性能指标。该项研究成果主要以甜高粱茎秆汁液为原料,采用固定化酵母流化床快速发酵工艺,并克服了固定化细胞技术中普遍存在的载体机械强度低、使用寿命短等技术难题,同时根据乙醇酵母的生理、生化特性制定了一套适用于高技术的乙醇生产新工艺。该项技术具有发酵速度快、发酵率高,成熟醪酒份高、残糖低、能耗低。     

固定化酵母粒子强化及其对甜高梁茎秆汁液乙醇发酵的影响

采用正交试验设计开展了三亚乙基四胺(TTA)和戊二醛(GLU)的浓度和处理时间对海藻酸钙固定化酵母粒子的化学强度影响的试验研究,并以甜高粱茎秆汁液为原料,在5 L的反应器中进行乙醇发酵试验,考察强化后的固定化酵母粒子对乙醇发酵的影响.结果表明,最优的固定酵母粒子强化处理的方案为TTA浓度为0.5%,处理时间为120 min;GLU浓度为0.5%,处理时间为8 min.连续8批次的甜高粱茎秆汁液乙醇发酵试验结果表明,最优组合强化后固定化酵母粒子用于乙醇发酵时,平均乙醇得率和变异系数(CV%)分别为84.78%和8.08%,而未强化的固定化酵母籽子为84.32%和9.68%,可见,最优组合强化后的固定化酵母粒子的发酵性能略优于未强化的固定化酵母籽子.该文为固定化酵母发酵甜高粱茎秆汁液制取生物乙醇技术的研究提供了参考.     

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.