北方农牧交错带气候变化与旱涝响应特征

依据北方农牧交错带1961-2012年46个气象站气温、降水数据,采用气候倾向率、Mann-Kendall检测及Kring插值法,对该区气候变化及旱涝时空特征进行了分析。结果表明:(1)近52 a,北方农牧交错带气候呈现暖干化趋势,1986年后暖干化趋势有所加强。(2)不同区域不同时段,气温、降水表现出不同的变化特征。(3)全区及3个子区旱涝等级均呈上升趋势,不同区域旱涝等级变化趋势差异显著。(4)北方农牧交错带大涝呈"片状"分布,大旱呈"斑点状"分布。全区整体相对较易发生大旱,东北段相对更易发生大涝,华北段更易发生大旱。     

东北农牧交错带旱涝特征对气候变化的响应

[目的]从旱涝灾害角度分析气候变化对东北农牧交错带的影响,对该区的气候变化和旱涝特征进行研究,为充分利用气候资源,合理调配水资源,提高灾害应变能力提供科学依据。[方法]统计1960—2011年东北农牧交错带21个气象台站的逐月气温、降水资料,应用Mann—Kendall气候突变检验法、标准化降水指数(SPI)、样条函数插值法对该带旱涝状况的时空分布进行了分析。[结果](1)东北农牧交错带气候呈现出明显的暖干化趋势,SPI3表明春、夏、秋三季干旱事件增多,21世纪以来,春旱事件较为频繁,冬季降水略微增加;(2)气温突变发生在1988年,突变后,干旱的比例增加了20.7%,涝的比例增加了9.3%,降水处于"正常"的年份则大幅度减少,对该区极为不利;(3)SPI12低值中心由科尔沁沙地向东北延伸到松嫩平原,干旱面积有大幅度增加的趋势,东北农牧交错带中南部旱化较为严重。[结论]东北农牧交错带暖干化的趋势给该区农牧业带来不利影响,受旱地区应及时启动干旱预警紧急方案,开展抗旱工作。     

宁夏地区气候暖干化与旱涝灾害趋势的关系

依据宁夏地区11个气象站点1961—2012年实测气象数据,利用趋势线法、Z指数法、Mann—Kendall突变检验法及马尔科夫模型对宁夏地区气候变化特征和旱涝趋势进行了分析和预测。结果表明:(1)近52a来宁夏地区气候经历了冷湿—暖湿—暖干的转变,气温呈显著波动上升趋势(0.36℃/10a),远高于西部平均变暖率(0.2℃/10a);降水呈波动下降趋势,下降速率为9.94mm/10a。(2)旱涝灾害发生频次与气温变化具有一定的同步性。20世纪60—80年代中期气温变化不明显,旱涝趋势稳定;80年代中期到2006年气温大幅上升,旱涝灾害同步增加;2006—2012年增温趋势有所减缓,旱涝灾害相应减少。(3)运用马尔可夫模型对未来5a的旱涝状态进行了预测,结果表明,2013—2017年该地区降水处于"正常"的概率较大。在气候暖干化的大背景下,未来宁夏地区旱涝灾害发生频率有可能进一步增加。     

气候暖干化背景下环渤海地区旱涝时空响应

[目的]在全球变暖背景下,为深入认识环渤海地区区域响应特征,进而制定防灾减灾政策,提高旱涝灾害应变能力。[方法]利用环渤海地区60个气象台站1961—2012年的实测气温、降水资料,采用线性趋势法、Mann—Kendall检验以及空间插值法揭示环渤海地区气候的时空变化特征;应用Z指数旱涝等级标准和区域旱涝指标分析该区域旱涝灾害的时空响应特征。[结果](1)环渤海地区近52a气候总体呈现暖干化趋势,年平均气温显著上升,增温速率为0.25℃/10a,且于1988年前后发生增温突变;年平均气温南高北低,大部分地区呈增温趋势,且南北增温程度差异不大。(2)降水量呈减少趋势,下降速率为10.37mm/10a;降水自东南向西北递减,沿海多于内陆,差异逐渐减小;(3)1988年后,环渤海地区旱涝灾害频率明显增加,其中旱灾显著增加,涝灾略有减少;空间上旱灾比例高于涝灾,且呈现出明显的干旱趋势。[结论]环渤海地区气候对全球气候变化有所响应,尤其是旱涝灾害,表现出一定的区域特征。     

1960-2018年河南省短周期旱涝急转事件演变特征

[目的]阐明河南省旱涝急转灾害的时空演变规律及趋势,为河南省旱涝急转事件的定量识别、时空演变及灾害风险评估提供依据。[方法]利用河南省17个国家基准气象台站1960—2018年逐日降水、气温资料,采用月尺度短周期旱涝急转指数,对河南省旱涝急转时空演变进行了多尺度、系统性地分析。[结果](1)旱涝急转指数绝对值大于1.0可作为旱涝急转事件的识别阈值,绝对值越大,旱涝急转强度越大。(2)旱涝急转事件年际波动变化显著,具有明显阶段性特点。轻度旱转涝事件发生频次略呈增多趋势,中度旱转涝事件发生频次趋势性不明显,其他旱涝急转事件则略呈减少趋势,但旱转涝与涝转旱事件强度分别以0.011/a, 0.021/a的线性倾向率略呈增强趋势,且强度在未来将会持续增大。(3)旱涝急转事件及其强度变化存在15.0 a的第一主周期与3.0 a的第二周期,但同一周期下旱转涝与涝转旱两类事件呈显著反相变化。(4)旱涝急转事件多发区及其强度较大区域主要集中于豫东、豫南平原区以及豫西山区,其中豫东、豫南平原区受地理、生态因素影响致灾风险较大。(5)前期大气环流、太阳黑子活动是旱涝急转现象预测预警的重要信号。[结论]河南省...     

南方农牧交错带降水变化及旱涝多时间尺度特征

[目的]分析南方农牧交错带降水变化及旱涝多时间尺度特征,为该区旱涝灾害防治决策、牧区生态重建及保护提供科学参考。[方法]基于南方农牧交错带1960—2017年20个气象站点逐月降水量资料,采用标准化降水指数(SPI)、反距离权重插值、M-K突变检验等方法对南方农牧交错带近58 a的降水特征及旱涝灾害时空格局进行研究。[结果]①近58 a以来南方农牧交错带年平均降水量以3.98 mm/10 a的速率在增加,降水主要集中在夏季,用M-K方法检测出该区域年平均降水量在1990年发生突变;②受气候、大气环流、地形、海拔高差、下垫面等因素的影响,降水量在空间分布上以维西—理塘—若尔盖为界,西北部降水量少,东南部降水量多,降水量呈现出由东南向西北递减的趋势;③研究区年降水量的增减变化以松潘—马尔康—新龙—理塘—稻城一线为界线,该线以东地区的年降水量均呈显著增长趋势发展,以西地区的年降水量呈显著减少趋势;[结论]研究区20世纪60—70年代旱灾发生的频率略高,80—90年代涝灾发生的频率较高,2000年以来旱涝灾害呈明显的减弱趋势发展。     

渭河流域百年尺度水旱特征及其影响因素

[目的]分析渭河流域在气候变化下百年尺度的旱涝特征及其影响因素,为区域水资源规划管理、生态环境建设与保持、气候预估及防灾减灾工作提供科学支持。[方法]通过收集1800—2017年历史资料重建旱涝序列,采用小波变换、滑动t检验、滑动相关等方法探究渭河近200 a来的旱涝规律,并探讨引起旱涝的可能原因。[结果]渭河流域近200 a来轻旱出现频率最高,大涝出现频率最低,前100 a上游以旱为主,下游以涝为主,后100 a则相反,中游旱涝变化波动较小。旱涝变化第一主周期上游为18 a,中游62 a,下游10 a,以中小周期为主。ENSO指数与渭河旱涝序列的滑动相关系数与ENSO方差下降的一致性,表明渭河旱涝与ENSO之间的遥相关机制。对比发现太阳黑子与旱涝存在显著相关关系,旱涝周期与降水分析表明两者在短周期下变化较为趋同。[结论]渭河旱涝前后突变有很高的继承性,与气候环境变化密切相关;旱涝空间差异明显,且太阳黑子谷值时更应注意防灾减灾。     

秦巴山地气候变化特征与旱涝区域响应

[目的]气候变化对自然环境和人类活动产生重要影响,厘清全球变化背景下极端气候灾害发生的频次和强度对于维护人民生命财产安全具有重要意义。[方法]根据1970—2017年秦巴山地内102个气象站点的逐日数据,运用线性回归、Mann-Kendall非参数检验、反距离权重法(IDW)、Z指数法和Morlet小波变换等方法,分析近48年秦巴山地气候变化特征及西部大起伏高山区、秦岭大起伏高中山区、大巴山大起伏中山区和豫西汉中中山谷地4个地貌单元上的区域旱涝灾害响应研究。[结果]近48年来秦巴山地气温以0.3℃/10 a增加,降水以0.87 mm/10 a的速率增加,全区气候朝暖湿化趋势发展。研究时段内,不同地形区气温都呈上升趋势,但增加速率不同,大巴山大起伏中山区增速最大(0.7℃/10 a)、豫西汉中中山谷地最低(0.2℃/10 a),从降水量及变化趋势来看,大巴山大起伏中山区降水量明显高于其他地形区,变化倾向率最大(13.45 mm/10 a),西部大起伏高山区变化倾向率最低为0.06 mm/10 a。秦巴山地旱涝灾害发生的程度年际差异明显,且1970—2017年有加剧的趋势,4个区域旱涝灾害...     

近60年东北地区春玉米旱涝趋势演变研究

区域作物旱涝趋势的演变是区域应对气候变化、制定防灾减灾决策的理论依据,是保证我国粮食安全的基础。本文以东北地区为研究区,依据春玉米的生长特征将其划分为14个分区,利用研究区1958—2017年78个站点的逐日气象数据,计算春玉米生育期内的累积水分盈亏指数(CWSDI?),并将其划分为8个旱涝等级,结合M-K趋势检验和突变检验法及GIS空间分析技术,揭示了东北地区春玉米生长期旱涝趋势的时空演变规律。结果表明:在春玉米生育期内,播种—抽穗期的3个生育阶段, CWSDI?值大体呈上升趋势,抽穗—成熟期CWSDI?值呈下降趋势,其中乳熟—成熟阶段的下降趋势最重,但无明显区域性。研究区内春玉米干旱的发生频率远高于洪涝的发生频率,干旱自20世纪90年代逐渐加重,洪涝情况无明显变化趋势;拔节—抽穗阶段和乳熟—成熟阶段分别是旱涝灾害最轻和最重的阶段,春玉米各生育阶段各旱涝等级的发生频率大体上是特旱轻旱其余旱涝等级;吉林省西部和辽宁省西部的中旱及重旱频率高于其他地区,特旱主要集中在研究区西部,轻涝集中在黑龙江省中、南部,吉林省东部和辽宁省东部,研究区内几乎不发生中、重涝。应在春玉米的生育初期和后期注意旱涝灾害的预防,研究区西部的旱情较重应重点防范,做到适时有效灌溉。研究结果可为区域预测农业旱涝灾害、优化水资源配置提供决策依据。     

日照市旱涝变化特征分析

基于1955—2007年日照市的月降水资料,利用距平百分率和z指数旱涝指标,确定日照市降水的旱涝等级,分析了旱涝发生的时问演变特征及对农业的影响。结果表明：Z指数旱涝指标能较好地反映日照市的旱涝演变情况,近53a来日照市旱年有14a,出现频率为26．4％,涝年有12a,出现频率为22．6％。年降水量呈下降趋势,变化倾向率为41．4mm／10a,向干旱化趋势发展。四季的Z指数变化趋势不同,冬、春季略上升,为洪涝增强趋势但不明显;夏、秋季为下降趋势即干旱增强,夏季最明显,秋季次之。近53a来发生季节性旱涝的频率较高。旱涝灾害是导致农作物损失的主要因素,研究结果对旱涝趋势预测和防灾减灾具有参考作用。     

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.     

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.     

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,     

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.