甘薯渣同步糖化发酵生产酒精的工艺优化

为了综合利用甘薯淀粉工业废渣,本研究以甘薯渣为原料发酵生产酒精,并对其同步糖化发酵工艺(SSF)进行优化。研究同步糖化发酵时影响酒精发酵工艺的9个因素,采用Plackett-Burman试验设计筛选出显著因素,并在筛选结果的基础上,用最陡爬坡途径逼近最大响应区域,然后利用响应面分析法确定其最佳参数。结果表明,影响酒精发酵工艺的显著因素为糖化酶、接种量和发酵温度。酒精发酵优化最佳参数为:α-淀粉酶8U/g,液化时间1.5h,液化温度90℃,硫酸铵质量分数0.15g/100g,pH值4,发酵时间36h,糖化酶151U/g,接种量0.3%,发酵温度36℃。在此条件下,验证试验得到的酒精体积分数达到17.15%,接近理论预测值16.95%。优化后的工艺可为甘薯渣同步糖化发酵生产酒精提供技术参考。     

甜高粱茎汁及茎渣同步糖化发酵工艺优化

为了提高甜高粱秸秆乙醇生产中茎汁和茎渣的利用,以甜高粱茎汁及其渣为发酵原料,对茎汁茎渣混合原料同步糖化乙醇发酵的工艺条件进行优化研究。采用Plackett-Burman(PB)筛选设计试验筛选出影响甜高粱茎秆渣汁同步糖化乙醇发酵的显著因素。采用响应面法建立了同步糖化发酵乙醇生产的乙醇产量数学模型。根据该模型进行了工艺参数的优化,以乙醇产量为指标,试验所得甜高粱茎秆渣汁同步糖化化乙醇发酵的优化工艺条件为:发酵温度36.58℃,混合纤维素酶添加量=23.5(FBU/m L)/35.25(CBU/m L),甜高粱渣汁质量体积比为8.2%,理论预测乙醇产量为89.2%,在此条件下进行验证试验,乙醇产量为88.98%,平均质量浓度,验证了数学模型的有效性,为提高甜高粱茎汁及茎渣混合原料同步糖化发酵产乙醇和提高发酵效率提供参考。     

玉米秸秆湿氧化预处理同步糖化发酵酒精

为了找到适合的玉米秸秆生产酒精工艺,该文采用碱性湿氧化预处理（195℃,15 min,Na2CO3 2 g/L,O2 1 200 kPa）与同步糖化发酵对玉米秸秆制备酒精进行了研究。结果表明：经过预处理,90%纤维素保留在固体中,回收率为95.87%。固体部分利用纤维素酶处理,在50℃ 24 h酶解率达到了67.6%。底物8%（质量分数）,经过142 h同步糖化发酵,酒精产量达到了理论酒精产量的79.0%。假定五碳糖和六碳糖都能够被利用,相当于1 t玉米秸秆能够产生262.7 kg的酒精。发酵过程中没有明显的抑制作用。该文为玉米秸秆发酵生产酒精提供了试验数据。     

草坪草糖化及发酵生产燃料乙醇

为利用草坪草生产燃料乙醇,通过粉碎和碱性氧化物浸泡预处理草坪草,采用纤维素酶和果胶酶混合糖化纤维素,研究嗜鞣管囊酵母和酿酒酵母发酵水解液生产乙醇,结果表明,碱性氧化物固液比为1:40（质量比）,浸泡48 h预处理后的木质素脱除率为70%（质量分数）;嗜鞣管囊酵母和酿酒酵母发酵30 h后乙醇的质量体积分数最高,分别为9.6 g/L和11.7 g/L,以可发酵糖减少量计算,糖醇转化率分别为25.7%和38.1%（质量分数）,为理论糖醇转化率的61.2%和74.7%。     

以菊芋粉为原料同步糖化发酵生产燃料乙醇

利用粟酒裂殖酵母（Schizosaccharomyces pombe）能发酵菊芋未水解糖液高产乙醇的特点提出了以菊芋粉为原料,同步糖化发酵生产燃料乙醇的新工艺。在摇瓶中考察了原料预处理方法、原料浓度和初始pH值对乙醇发酵的影响,进而在5 L发酵罐中考察了未调控pH值和恒定pH值与通气情况对乙醇发酵的影响。结果表明：该菌株最适pH值为4.0;100目筛分的菊芋粉发酵效果良好,115℃灭菌处理优于121℃,在此条件下,菊芋粉浓度200 g/L时,乙醇产量达到66.58 g/L,理论转化率为85.88%;发酵液pH值下降对乙醇发酵没有影响,通入适量氧气会导致乙醇产量的下降,这表明粟酒裂殖酵母进行乙醇发酵时不需要供氧;通入氮气保持厌氧环境不能显著提高乙醇产量,不通气进行乙醇发酵也达到高的转化率,因此在工业生产中,不必保持厌氧发酵环境。在此基础上,对菊芋粉补料发酵进行了试验,补料至菊芋粉终浓度为300 g/L,发酵终点乙醇浓度为94.81 g/L,理论转化率为81.54%。这些研究工作,为以菊芋为原料的燃料乙醇工业化生产提供技术依据。     

SO2蒸汽预处理对黑松制取生物乙醇的影响

以加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚省甲虫致死黑松为原料,通过SO2催化蒸汽爆破方式对其进行预处理,并对预处理后的原料进行酶水解和乙醇发酵研究,以考察预处理方式结合酶水解对黑松制取乙醇的影响。结果表明,较低的SO2吸收率和原料含水率（干基）影响了预处理效果;水洗对预处理后原料的酶水解效率没有显著的影响;当水解底物质量浓度由20 mg/mL增加到150 mg/mL时,水解率均在42%左右,底物质量浓度的增加纤维素的水解率没有受到显著影响。从发酵结果看,黑松经汽爆预处理后,不进行水洗处理更有利于后续发酵。分步糖化发酵乙醇得率可以达最大乙醇得率的66%,而同步糖化水乙醇得率为55%。由此可见,低浓度SO2催化汽爆预处理低湿度黑松不能得到较好的预处理效果,需进一步优化。     

甜高粱茎秆固态发酵生产燃料乙醇研究

该文通过研究甜高粱茎秆M-81E固态发酵生产燃料乙醇的主要影响因素,确定发酵条件为:耐高温酿酒酵母接种量为3%,发酵初始基质含水率为76%,添加0.25?Cl2,0.25%MgS04·7H2O,40℃发酵24 h,乙醇得率为6.42 g/(100g)甜高粱茎秆,转化率为90.5%,残糖含量低于0.3%;添加10 FPU/g纤维素酶和10 CBU/g β-葡萄糖苷酶,进行同步糖化固态发酵,乙醇得率为7.53 g/(100 g)甜高粱茎秆,与不添加纤维素酶和β-葡萄糖苷酶的相比,乙醇得率提高了14.6%.     

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。     

甜高粱茎汁固定化酵母乙醇发酵工艺优化的试验研究

以可溶性糖含量为113 g/L的甜高粱茎汁为试验原料,采用响应面法建立了甜高粱茎汁固定化酵母乙醇生产过程中,乙醇产量随温度、pH值和发酵时间变化的二次多项式数学模型.根据该模型进行了工艺参数的优选,以乙醇产量为指标,试验所得甜高粱茎汁固定化酵母乙醇生产优化工艺条件为:温度31.14℃,pH值4.53,发酵时间13.26 h,该条件下乙醇产量为39.51 g/L.并对模型进行了检验,验证了数学模型的有效性.     

多菌种低盐分段发酵生产豆豉工艺

为了缩短发酵时间,降低含盐量,对豆豉多菌种低盐发酵工艺进行了研究。以蛋白酶活力为指标,确定了毛霉G-1的制曲条件为：接种率4.5%,在25℃制曲60 h,在此条件下蛋白酶活力达到782.56 U/g。以氨基酸态氮为指标,研究确定了豆豉前发酵的工艺条件为50℃保温发酵10 d。添加鲁氏接合酵母AS 2.181,以感官品质为指标,确定了豆豉后发酵工艺条件为8%（质量分数）食盐,酵母接种率1.5%,25℃发酵6 d。通过这种工艺生产的豆豉不仅具有豆豉香气而且醇香、酱香和酯香浓郁,氨基酸态氮质量分数达到0.81 g/(100 g),总生产时间为19 d。通过该研究形成了多菌种低盐分段发酵生产豆豉的新工艺,发酵时间短,可为豆豉这种传统发酵食品的现代化技术改造提供参考。     

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.     

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.