玉米秸秆酶解上清液厌氧发酵产氢工艺优化

该文主要以粒度小于0.088 mm秸秆粉的酶解上清液为底物与热预处理后的活性污泥进行厌氧发酵产氢试验,以累积产氢量为考察指标,基于响应面Box-Behnken模型研究不同影响因素对玉米秸秆酶解上清液厌氧发酵产氢的影响,对玉米秸秆酶解上清液厌氧发酵产氢工艺进行优化。结果表明:温度、初始p H值和还原糖浓度三因素中,温度和还原糖浓度对玉米秸秆酶解上清液厌氧发酵产氢的影响最大。采用Box-Behnken模型获得的最佳产氢条件为:温度38.32℃,初始p H值4.93,还原糖浓度20.70 mg/m L,最大产氢量685.59 m L,此时最大产氢率为57.13 m L/g(玉米秸秆)。通过试验验证,实际最大产氢量为659.24 m L,产氢率为54.94 m L/g(玉米秸秆),与模型预测值相比,相对误差为3.84%,说明该模型具有较好的拟合性。该优化工艺可为后期连续流状态下的生物制氢系统提供参考。     

光合细菌协同产气肠杆菌联合发酵制氢试验

暗-光联合生物制氢是提高底物利用率和产氢潜力的有益探索。该文以玉米秸秆酶解液为产氢底物,采用光合细菌(HAU-M1)与产气肠杆菌(AS1.489)混合培养工艺,进行了同步糖化暗-光联合生物制氢试验研究。以累积产氢量为主要指标,利用单因素试验考察了底物质量浓度、初始pH值、光照强度、发酵温度对HAU-M1与产气肠杆菌混合培养条件下联合产氢的影响,并在单因素试验的基础上通过正交试验对产氢工艺参数进行了优化。结果表明:各工艺参数对HAU-M1与产气肠杆菌联合产氢影响的主次顺序为:发酵温度初始pH值底物质量浓度光照强度。发酵温度和初始pH值是影响HAU-M1与产气肠杆菌联合产氢的显著因素。HAU-M1与产气肠杆菌混合培养联合产氢的较佳工艺条件为:底物质量浓度35 g/L、初始pH值6.5、光照强度3 500 1x、发酵温度30℃,在此条件下,72 h的累积产氢量达到332.6 mL,单位产氢量为47.5 mL/g。该试验研究可为基于秸秆类生物质的暗-光细菌混合培养联合产氢的进一步研究提供参考。     

厌氧污泥发酵制氢工艺试验研究

试验研究了酸处理、碱处理、热处理、超声波预处理厌氧污泥发酵产氢的产氢量，选择产氢量最高的热预处理后的污泥作为混合微生物系，以葡萄糖为基质，研究了温度、pH值、底物浓度对厌氧污泥发酵产氢量的影响。结果表明，发酵的温度、pH值、底物浓度是影响热处理污泥发酵产氢的3个重要因素。厌氧污泥发酵产氢的最适pH值为6.0，最适葡萄糖浓度为5 g/L，最适温度为45℃。     

磷酸盐和碳酸盐对秸秆类生物质光发酵产氢的影响

为研究磷酸盐和碳酸盐对光发酵产氢过程的影响,该文主要以酶解预处理后的玉米秸秆为产氢基质,对不同浓度的磷酸盐(K_2HPO_4)和碳酸盐(NaHCO_3 )下的氢气产量、pH值、ORP值和产氢动力学结果进行分析。结果表明,当K_2HPO_4的浓度为10 mmol/L时,氢气产量为(40.65±0.35)m L/g,比对照组显著提高了28.48%,对光发酵产氢的促进效果最好;终pH值为6.37±0.02,显著高于对照组的6.06±0.03,能够有效缓冲反应体系的pH值。不同K_2HPO_4浓度下的产氢动力学特性结果表明,适当的K_2HPO_4浓度提高了最大产氢潜能和最大产氢速率,缩短了产氢延迟时间,当K_2HPO_4的浓度为10 mmol/L时,最大产氢潜能最大,和最大产氢速率较大,产氢延迟时间较短,分别是40.81 m L/g、1.87 m L/(h·g)和2.85 h。当NaHCO_3 浓度为5 mmol/L时,氢气产量为(37.46±1.40)m L/g,比对照组显著提高了18.39%,对光发酵产氢的促进效果最好;终pH值为6.26±0.04,显著高于对照组的6.06±0.03,能够有效缓冲反应体系的pH值。不同NaHCO_3 浓度下的产氢动力学结果表明,适当的NaHCO_3 浓度能够提高最大产氢潜能和最大产氢速率,但却会延迟光合细菌的产氢,当NaHCO_3 浓度为5 mmol/L时,最大产氢潜能和最大产氢速率最大,产氢延迟时间相对较短,分别是37.26 m L/g、1.92 m L/(h·g)和5.11 h。该研究可为秸秆类生物质光发酵生物制氢工艺提供参考。     

外加电压改善微生物电解池内稻秸同步酶解发酵产氢性能

该文以稻草秸秆等为原料研究了微生物电解池(microbial electrolysis cell,MEC)内外加电压(0、0.4、0.6、0.8、1.0 V)对木质纤维素同步酶解发酵产氢特性的影响,得到MEC利用木质纤维素产氢的最优电压,实现可再生资源综合利用与清洁能源开发的双重目的。试验结果表明,MEC的产氢速率、产氢得率、基质消减量及总能量得率皆呈逐渐增加的趋势,但相对电能消耗的能量得率则呈逐渐下降的趋势。当外加电压为0.4 V时,得到试验条件下最大的相对电能消耗的能量得率(377.59%),当外加电压为1 V时获得最大的氢气产量为44.8 m L和总能量得率2.84%;在发酵产氢过程中,阳极室p H值呈先逐渐下降后略上升的趋势,有机酸分析测试表明,在MEC内的发酵产氢为丁酸发酵型。本研究对探索MEC内木质纤维素原料的同步酶解发酵产氢,提高纤维素基质酶解糖化和发酵产氢效率具有一定的指导意义。     

复合菌系MC1预处理对玉米秸秆厌氧发酵产甲烷效率的提高

采用高效纤维素分解菌复合系MC1对玉米秸秆进行预处理,以提高玉米秸秆厌氧甲烷发酵的效率和产气量。复合菌系预处理的结果表明,预处理发酵液的pH值呈先下降后升高的趋势,与以往的复合菌系发酵产物pH值特性相似。在14 d的预处理过程中,秸秆质量减少了59.0%,其中纤维素减少了53.1%,半纤维素减少了76.4%。发酵液中的可溶性糖含量最大值出现在第2 d,为1.44 g/L。化学需氧量（COD）和挥发性产物最大值均出现在第4 d,监测到的5种挥发性产物的量分别为乙醇2.38 g/L、乙酸0.57 g/L、丙酸0.11 g/L、丁酸0.62 g/L和甘油0.22 g/L,因此,处理4 d后最适合甲烷发酵。厌氧发酵的结果表明,与未处理的玉米秸秆的厌氧发酵相比,预处理后的秸秆总产气量和总甲烷量分别了提高了33.0%和58.1%。结果表明,MC1对玉米秸秆预处理后,可明显提高甲烷产量,具有较高的利用潜力。     

玉米秸秆厌氧消化预处理方法及工艺优化

为提高玉米秸秆厌氧消化性能,该文采用碱液、酸液、沼液等方法对玉米秸秆进行预处理,比较不同预处理方式对秸秆成分、含量以及厌氧消化能力的影响。试验结果表明,经超声波辅助碱预处理后,秸秆的木质素和半纤维素总含量显著降低,产气量显著提高。基于Box-Behnken(BBK)试验设计,选择碱液预处理的固固比(Na OH/秸秆,下同)、预处理温度、预处理时间为试验因素,结合响应面分析法对碱液预处理条件进行响应面优化,结果表明,最佳玉米秸秆预处理条件为固固比22.4%,预处理温度37.9℃,预处理时间39.7 h,在此条件下还原糖产量的试验值为738.6 mg/g,沼气累积产量的试验值为661 m L/g,试验值与预测值误差不到0.5%,证明了响应面优化法的准确性和可行性。     

猪粪与马铃薯皮渣混合厌氧发酵产氢特性

为了提高厌氧产氢菌利用复杂物料的产氢能力和稳定性,该文研究了猪粪与马铃薯皮渣混合质量比对厌氧发酵产氢的比产氢率、挥发性固体去除率、液相末端产物组成等发酵特性的影响。试验结果表明,底物组成显著影响产氢发酵的发酵类型。以单纯马铃薯皮渣为底物时,体系的比产氢率最高达31.55mL/g,挥发性固体去除率为29.43%,发酵类型为丁酸型;当猪粪在发酵底物中的质量比从10:70提高至40:40后,体系的发酵类型由丁酸型转变为乙酸型,同时维持了较高的比产氢率(22.48～24.18mL/g)和挥发性固体去除率(28.31%～32.93%)。但是当猪粪逐渐变为主要发酵底物(猪粪与马铃薯皮渣质量比为50:30、60:20、70:10、80:0)时,发酵逐渐受到抑制,系统的比产氢率和挥发性固体去除率都明显下降。采用Modified Gompertz模型可以很好地拟合累积产氢量随时间的变化,其动力学参数最大产氢量、最大产氢速率和停滞时间可以作为混合物料产氢发酵代谢过程的重要评价指标。该研究为优化混合物料厌氧产氢发酵过程提供参考和依据。     

汽爆预处理青玉米秸秆厌氧发酵特性

为了研究青玉米秸秆未汽爆和汽爆预处理后厌氧发酵产沼气特性,该文采用汽爆压力为2.5MPa,保压时间为90s,加入质量分数为30%的沼液,未气爆青玉米秸秆的TS(总固体物)质量分数为6%,汽爆预处理青玉米秸秆厌氧发酵的TS质量分数分别为1%、2%、3%、4%、6%、8%、10%和15%,考察了厌氧发酵过程中pH值和产气量随时间和TS质量分数的变化。结果表明:未汽爆秸秆在TS质量分数为6%时能够顺利厌氧发酵,但汽爆秸秆厌氧发酵液极易酸化,且无法调节,适宜的TS质量分数最大为4%;未汽爆秸秆挥发性固体产气率为214.6mL/g,汽爆秸秆在TS质量分数为3%时产气率最大,为334.8mL/g,比未处理秸秆提高了56%;未汽爆秸秆的产气速率为3.3mL/(g·d),汽爆秸秆产气速率随TS质量分数增大而减小,在TS质量分数为1%时最大,为14.8mL/(g·d)。青玉米秸秆经汽爆预处理后其厌氧发酵产沼气的产气率和产气速率大大提高,可以节约发酵时间,缩短发酵周期,有利于秸秆能源化利用的工业化生产。     

以猪粪为发酵底物厌氧发酵产氢工艺的优化

为了建立发酵工艺参数与氢气产量之间的数学模型, 以期获得较优的工艺参数,从而提高氢气产量,该文在单因素试验的基础上,采用三因素三水平的二次回归正交旋转组合设计及响应曲面分析法,建立了厌氧发酵产氢工艺中氢气产量的二次多项式数学模型,并以氢气产量为响应值作响应面和等高线,考察了以新鲜猪粪为发酵底物发酵产氢时初始pH值、水力停留时间和发酵底物中猪粪浓度3个因素及其交互作用对氢气产量的影响。分析结果表明,猪粪厌氧发酵产氢的较优工艺条件为：初始pH 5.98,水力停留时间4.123 d,猪粪干物质浓度 51.98 g/L;在此工艺条件下,氢气产率为32.4 mL/g。     

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.