基于稳定同位素和矿质元素的决明子产地特征与溯源判别研究

为了更加精确高效地对中药决明子产区进行判别,本研究采用稳定同位素比质谱(IR-MS)和电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)技术分别检测不同产地决明子稳定同位素比值和多种矿质元素含量特征,并结合化学计量学模型主成分分析(PCA)和人工神经网络(ANN)对决明子产地进行判别。方差统计结果表明,在优质产区(浙江新昌)决明子区别于普通产区决明子方面,19种矿质元素含量存在显著差异(P<0.05);PCA分析(同位素+矿物元素)显示,前2个主成分累计方差贡献率为45.23%,且该模型可显著区分道地产区决明子;ANN模型分析对浙江新昌产区的决明子判别正确率高达100%,且产地判别总体正确率高于90%。以上结果表明,稳定同位素比值和矿质元素含量结合化学计量学模型分析可有效判别决明子不同产区。本研究结果为决明子产地溯源提供了一种新的方法。     

不同烘干方式对茶叶中稳定同位素特征及其产地溯源的影响

茶叶中稳定同位素特征检测和溯源技术是政府职能部门市场监管和保护地理标志产品的重要手段,为评估不同烘干方式对茶叶中稳定同位素特征的影响,考察茶叶产地溯源的有效性及判别模型的稳定性,本试验通过元素分析仪联用同位素比质谱(EA-IRMS)测定5种烘干方式(烘箱直接杀青烘干、微波杀青扁形机烘干、微波杀青烘箱烘干、扁形机杀青直接烘干和扁形机杀青摊晾烘干)下西湖龙井茶(龙井群体种)中4种稳定同位素比值(δ~(13)C、δ~(15)N、δ~2H和δ~(18)O),采用单因素方差分析(one-way ANOVA)和椭圆置信区间(EJCR)测试探讨不同烘干方式下西湖龙井茶中单个和多个稳定同位素比率的差异性。单因素方差分析结果表明,不同的烘干方式可能导致茶叶中单个稳定同位素比率出现较大变化,但多因素椭圆置信区间测试表明5种烘干方式西湖龙井茶间并不存在显著性差异。基于此,建立西湖龙井茶与山东、重庆产区茶叶δ~(13)C、δ~(15)N、δ~2H和δ~(18)O的线性判别分析(LDA)模型,2 000次随机循环,3个产区茶叶判别准确度均高达90.0%以上,充分验证了溯源的有效性及判别模型的稳定性。本研究结果为茶叶原产地保护提供了理论基础与应用可行性。     

基于矿物元素指纹图谱的黑龙江黄豆产地溯源

该研究探讨了矿物元素指纹分析技术对黑龙江黄豆产地溯源的可行性,筛选出判别黑龙江黄豆产地溯源的有效指标。利用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry,ICP-MS)测定来自齐齐哈尔和北安2个地域50份黄豆样品中52种矿物元素的含量,并对数据进行了方差分析、主成分分析和判别分析。研究表明,46种矿物元素含量在地域间存在显著差异,通过逐步判别分析筛选出8项元素指标建立黄豆产地判别模型,所建立的模型对黄豆产地整体交叉检验判别率为95.7%。As、Ru、Gd含量在黄豆与土壤间呈显著正相关(P0.05),Tb含量在黄豆与土壤间呈极显著正相关(P0.01),由4种元素建立的判别模型对产地判别准确。因此,上述元素是黄豆矿物元素产地鉴别较可靠的指纹信息指标。     

稻米中同位素与多元素特征及其产地溯源PCA-LDA判别

通过探究谷物中同位素与多元素的地域特色及其产地溯源的可能性,本研究采用稳定同位素质谱和等离子发射光谱质谱法测定稻米中同位素比率和多元素含量,并结合化学计量学中主成分分析(PCA)和线性判别分析(LDA)法建立模型,对不同省份的稻米进行产地溯源判定。结果表明,各地产的稻米中稳定同位素δ15N、δ13C、δD、δ18O数值范围不同,而且Li、Be和Na等其他矿物元素的含量变化较大,Pb、Sr同位素比率也各不相同,具有一定的地域特征。PCA法能够初步辨别各稻米地产,本研究进一步采用PCA-LDA法能够对大区域(黑龙江省、江苏省和辽宁省)的稻米进行产地判别,通过对23个样本进行判别验证,正确率为91%。对于黑龙江省4个地产的稻米样品,由于地理差异性比较小,同时样本数比较少,故只对其中2个产地稻米进行判别。通过同位素比率和多元素的含量的测定再结合化学计量学分析,一定程度上能够区分不同产地的稻米,为稻米产地溯源的可行性提供了方法依据。     

新疆红枣营养品质与稳定同位素及矿物元素特征产地溯源比较

为开发基于营养品质、稳定同位素及矿物元素分析的不同产地新疆红枣地理标志产品溯源新方法,本研究采集了2016年新疆不同产区(若羌、和田、阿克苏、麦盖提等15个县市)97个红枣种植地块的50份灰枣和47份骏枣样本,测定其果肉中13类营养品质指标(蛋白质、还原糖、自由氨基酸、总黄酮等),稳定碳、氮、氢、氧同位素比率(δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N、δ²H和δ¹⁸O)及21种微量矿物元素含量(Na、Mg、K、Fe和Zn等)用于其产地溯源分析与建模。采用单因素方差(one-way ANOVA)法比较不同产区间营养品质、稳定同位素比率及矿物元素特征的差异,利用偏最小二乘判别分析(PLS-DA)分别对两类红枣内在品质特征建立产地判别模型,对比其溯源准确度。结果表明,红枣稳定同位素及矿物元素产地特征差异比营养品质特征更明显,溯源判别准确度得到明显提升。灰枣和骏枣营养品质参数建模总体判别准确度分别为86.00%和85.11%,稳定同位素及矿物元素参数判别准确度分别为94.12%和95.74%,且两种地理标志保护的红枣品牌(若羌灰枣和和田玉枣)产地判别准确度高达100%,而其他产地误判为这两个产地红枣的概率为0%。因此,该策略有望作为新疆红枣产地溯源与地理标志农产品保护的可靠技术。     

基于Sr稳定同位素和矿物元素的鲍鱼产地溯源技术研究

为探究Sr稳定同位素和矿物元素结合鉴别鲍鱼地理起源的可行性，本试验以辽宁大连、山东长岛、山东荣成及福建连江4个产地皱纹盘鲍(Haliotis discus hannai)为研究对象，利用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP-MS)测定鲍鱼不同组织(壳肌、裙边、消化腺性腺、外套膜)中⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr、⁸⁸Sr/⁸⁶Sr和20种矿物元素特征及差异，通过3种化学计量学方法构建鲍鱼产地溯源模型并筛选优质指标。结果表明，4种组织的22种指标(除消化腺性腺Li元素)在4个产地间有显著性差异(P<0.05)；通过主成分分析(PCA)降维处理，22种指标可在一定程度上区分不同产地鲍鱼，但依然有重叠现象；采用两种判别分析方法建立鲍鱼壳肌、裙边、消化腺性腺、外套膜产地判别模型，利用偏最小二乘法判别分析(OPLS-DA)得出4个组织的正确判别率分别为99.0%、97.0%、99.0%和95.5%，利用线性判别分析(LDA)得出4个组织交叉验证的正确判别率分别为97%、97.5%、99.0%和96.0%，两种模型均展现了...     

浦江葡萄同位素与矿物元素特征及地理标志保护模型构建

为探讨稳定同位素与矿物元素在葡萄产地鉴别上的可行性,本研究分别从浦江、浙江其他产地(慈溪、温岭)、上海和安徽4个不同产地采集代表性葡萄样品;通过稳定同位素比率质谱(EA-IRMS)元素分析仪和电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)测定其同位素比率与矿物质元素含量,结合化学计量学统计工具对浦江葡萄开展原产地判别研究.结果表...     

杨梅中稳定同位素和多元素特征在其产地溯源中的应用

为探讨杨梅稳定同位素与多元素的特征及其产地溯源应用的可能性,采用稳定同位素质谱(EAIRMS)和等离子发射光谱质谱法(ICP-MS)测定杨梅中稳定同位素比率(如δ~(15)N、δ~(13)C、δD和δ~(18)O等)和多元素(如Li、Be、Na、K和Fe等)含量,并结合化学计量学主成分分析(PCA)和线性判别分析(LDA)建立判别模型,对浙江、福建、云南、贵州和江苏等省份的杨梅进行产地溯源技术研究。单因素方差分析(One-way ANOVA)表明,各产地杨梅中稳定同位素比率和其他矿物元素的含量具有一定的地域特征,但并不具有显著性差异,利用单指标无法区分各省份杨梅。PCA分析中,前3个主成分(累计方差贡献率仅为42.77%)的得分分布散点图均有部分重叠,不能有效区分杨梅产地。PCA-LDA方法将所有样本分为浙江类、福建类、其他省类(包括云南、贵州、江苏省样品)3类,利用蒙特卡洛随机法随机产生训练集和测试集分别用于建模和模型准确度验证,经过2 000次的循环计算,该模型对浙江省杨梅判别结果的准确率高达99.6%,福建省杨梅判别结果的准确率为90.3%,其他省份判别结果的准确率为98.4%。综上,利用稳定同位素和多元素检测并结合PCA-LDA法能够初步对杨梅进行产地溯源和判别,具有一定的可行性和应用价值。     

稳定同位素和元素指纹分析在白术产地溯源中的应用

为解决道地药材白术的产地溯源问题,本研究采用稳定同位素比质谱仪(EA-IRMS)和电感耦合等离子质谱仪(ICP-MS)测定了6个产地168种白术中δ¹³C、δ¹⁵N、δ²H、δ¹⁸O和δ³⁴S值及41种矿质元素含量,并结合化学计量学对不同产地白术进行鉴别。结果表明,线性判别分析(LDA)可以区分6个产地的白术。基于不同变量共建立7种不同判别模型,其平均交叉验证率分别为:稳定同位与素(88.17%)、矿质元素(98.67%)、常量矿物元素(41.83%)、 痕量矿质元素(99.33%)、稳定同位素与矿物质元素(100%)、稳定同位素与常量矿质元素(91.83%)以及稳定同位素与痕量矿物质(98.83%)。其中,δ¹⁸O、 δ³⁴S值以及Li、Dy、Sm、Er等稀土元素是影响判别的主要因素,主要由产地地理位置、气候条件和土壤类型决定。综上,基于稳定同位素、矿质元素和化学计量学的方法可对不同产地白术进行产地溯源。     

基于矿物元素指纹的羊肉产地溯源技术

为探讨矿物元素指纹对羊肉产地溯源的有效性,找寻表征地域特性的元素指标,利用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪分析中国内蒙古自治区阿拉善盟、锡林郭勒盟和呼伦贝尔市3个牧区,及重庆市和山东省菏泽市2个农区脱脂羊肉和土壤样品中4种常量元素(K、Ca、Na、Mg)和13种微量元素(V、Mn、Fe、Cr、Ni、Cu、As、Be、Sb、Zn、Se、Ba、Tl)的含量,对其进行方差分析、相关分析和判别分析。结果表明,羊肉中矿物元素含量组成在地域间有明显差异,农区元素含量普遍高于牧区。脱脂羊肉中Ca、Zn、Be、Ni、Fe、Ba、Sb、Mn和Se9种元素含量的地域差异与土壤相关,它们对农牧区的正确判别率达90%以上,对5个地域的正确判别率在70%～100%之间。利用羊肉中矿物元素指纹分析技术可鉴别和追溯羊肉的产地来源,为羊肉及其他食品的产地溯源研究提供方法参考。     

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.     

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.