未来气候变化情景下海南岛绿橙种植气候适宜性分析

基于海南岛主岛19个气象站点连续40a（1980-2019年）逐日气象数据及地形等要素，建立空间分析模型，综合确定海南岛绿橙种植气候适宜区指标。在气候适宜度模型基础上构建海南岛绿橙种植温度、日照、降水以及综合适宜度模型，采用地理信息系统（GIS）技术综合分析，利用自然点断法对绿橙种植气候适宜性进行精细化区划，并利用RCP4.5未来气候情景模式模拟数据探讨未来30a（2020-2049年）气候变化情景下海南岛绿橙种植适宜区变化趋势。结果表明：现阶段海南岛绿橙种植最适宜区主要分布于中部地区，面积0.87×10⁴km²，气候适宜度为0.9～1.0；适宜区主要分布于东部局部地区及中西部大部地区，面积1.83×10⁴km²，气候适宜度为0.7～0.9；次适宜区主要分布于西部沿海及中西部海拔较高地区，面积0.51×10⁴km²，气候适宜度为0.4～0.7；不适宜区主要分布于中部山区，面积0.17×10⁴km²，气候适宜度为0～0.4。未来气候变化情景下海南岛气温、降水分布呈较大变化，温度适宜区由四周向中部逐渐缩小，降水适宜区由东部逐渐迁移至中部地区。未来绿橙种植气候最适宜区主要分布于琼中、屯昌和保亭县大部分地区、万宁市西部及白沙县中东部等地。     

基于GIS的甘肃省纹党种植的气候区划

根据纹党生长所需的气候条件,选取≥0℃积温、最热月平均气温、干燥度、年日照时数4项气候要素作为甘肃省纹党种植的气候区划指标。按照气候分区,分别建立区划指标的空间分析模型,对区划指标按照100m×100m的细网格点进行推算。用GIS软件制作完成细网格的甘肃省纹党种植气候区划,划分出最适宜、适宜和不适宜种植区。区划结果表明,甘肃省陇南山区的文县、武都、宕昌、舟曲的大部分地区,礼县、西和的部分地区,成县、康县的少部分地区,是纹党种植的最适宜或适宜气候区,是发展纹党生产潜力最大的区域。     

气候变暖对天水市国有林区林业产值的影响

通过对1971-2000年天水气候及林业产值变化分析,得出影响天水市国有林区林业产值的主要气象条件是4-8月降水量和≥0℃积温;建立了天水林业气候产值的数学模型,得出了适宜天水林业生长的水热匹配规律,水热匹配指标为R年≥0.12∑T年≥0℃.     

气候变化背景下中国苹果适宜种植区北移西扩：基于高分辨率格点气象数据的区划分析

利用1981-2010年5km×5km格点气象数据,基于前人研究指标,采用气候倾向率、ArcGIS空间插值等方法,对影响苹果种植的气温、降水、相对湿度等主要气候指标分布特征进行分析。首先利用一票否决式指标剔除不能满足苹果生长基本要求的不可种植区域,然后结合苹果气候区划因子评分标准,对可种植区进行适宜性评价,并分析年际间适宜区的变化特征。结果表明,总体来看,苹果可种植区为华北、西北、西南以及华东、华南的部分地区。在可种植区中,适宜区主要位于黄土高原大部分地区和环渤海地区,次适宜区主要位于华北平原和黄土高原少部分地区以及塔里木盆地和云贵高原地区,不适宜区主要分布在东北地区、长江以南大部分地区、青藏高原地区以及新疆北部部分地区。与20世纪80年代相比,90年代、21世纪00年代山东半岛、黄土高原南部由适宜种植区转变为次适宜种植区,辽蒙交界地区、云贵川交界地区、黄土高原北部以及陕甘交界处由次适宜种植区转变为适宜种植区,苹果适宜种植区变化呈现明显北移西扩的特点。     

内蒙古气候变化及其对主要农作物的影响

了解气候变化对内蒙古种植业结构的影响,是有效制定应对措施和政策的重要依据。本文以全区4个主要产粮区为代表,利用近50a的气候资料和近27a作物生育期资料,分析了当地气候变化特征及其对主要作物物候期和种植面积的影响。结果表明：近50a来,内蒙古主要农业区温度明显升高,≥10℃积温增加了350-570℃.d,河套灌区和大兴安岭东麓地区增温幅度大于阴山北部丘陵区和科尔沁地区。东西部地区的降水量变化差别较大,科尔沁和大兴安岭东麓地区生长季降水量减少了44.0mm和55.0mm,河套灌区和阴山北部丘陵区则增加了10.4mm和2.4mm。玉米春季物候期提前,秋季物候期推后,物候期延长了10-20d,大兴安岭东麓延长最为明显;春小麦和大豆则由于温度升高加快了发育进程,表现为全生育期缩短;马铃薯全生育期变化不明显,但可收期普遍延迟。玉米、马铃薯种植面积扩大,春小麦种植面积减小,玉米种植界限向北延伸等与气候变暖的关系密切。     

川西高原错季草莓种植的适宜度分析

基于1986−2015年川西高原48个气象观测站点逐日气象数据，结合草莓的生物学特性和2018年分播期试验观测结果，根据气候生态适宜度理论和模糊数学方法，建立气温、水分以及综合适宜度评价模型，对川西高原草莓生长的逐旬适宜度进行分析，确定适宜草莓生长的时间段，并分析草莓各生育期的生长适宜度，利用综合打分的方法完成草莓综合适宜种植区的区划，以探究川西高原气候条件错季大规模种植草莓的可行性。结果表明：（1）川西高原错季草莓生长气温较适宜期集中在4−10月，同期水分适宜度及综合适宜度均达到次适宜水平及以上，能够满足草莓种植的基本需求，同时也满足草莓鲜果在夏季错季上市的时令需求。（2）川西高原错季草莓的适宜种植区主要集中在凉山州的甘洛、越西、冕宁、喜德、西昌、布施、普格、宁南等地；次适宜区主要覆盖凉山州东部和中西部等海拔3000m以下地区，以及阿坝州中南部和甘孜州东部等海拔2000−5000m地区，并从中部向西侧的高海拔地区呈带状延伸；而石渠、色达、红原、若尔盖等高纬度地区和巴塘、理塘、得荣、乡城、稻城等高海拔地区则不适宜错季草莓的种植。因此，在适宜播期和覆膜等农业技术措施的补充下，川西高原大部分地区的气候条件适宜进行错季草莓的种植栽培。     

三江平原大豆种植的土地适宜性评价

受全球气候变化、二氧化碳施肥效应以及市场需求的影响,国内一系列旨在促进大豆种植的政策,可能导致三江平原大豆种植面积的增加。在此大背景下,充分利用当地气候条件和肥厚的土壤资源,促进农业用地的合理配置的关键问题在于对大豆种植进行土地适宜性评价。作者依据FAO/IIASA发布的GAEZ研究框架:首先根据大豆对气候、土壤的需求,对三江平原气象资料进行气候清查,评价大豆种植的气候适宜性;再考虑地形因素对气候条件的影响,使用Fourier指数和坡度条件对评价结果进行修正;然后,进行土壤清查,选取土层厚度、质地、pH、排水级与淹水情况等作为评价指标,对三江平原大豆种植进行土壤适宜性评价,并对含白浆层的各类土壤进行适宜性降级处理;最后,在栅格像元尺度上进行图层叠加,得到三江平原大豆种植的土地适宜性评价结果。另外引入了适宜度指数(S_I),对三江平原23个县市大豆种植的土地适宜度进行了空间上的比较。结果表明:(1)除了坡度大于30%的山区外,三江平原大部地区适宜大豆种植,面积达8.5×10~4 km~2,约占总面积的78.75%;(2)沿松花江、倭肯河、穆棱河等两岸的平缓(2%~5%)和微起伏(5%~8%)地区,土壤质地和排水状况良好,最适宜大豆种植;(3)勃利、依兰、汤原、佳木斯、集贤、桦川、友谊、绥滨和富锦9个县市,适宜度指数均超过70%;其次是同江、桦南、虎林、宝清、抚远、七台河、萝北、鸡东、饶河和双鸭山10个县市;鹤岗、密山、鸡西、穆棱4县市,适宜度一般;(4)GAEZ模型流程化评价方法能够在区域尺度上有效实现大豆种植适宜性的空间差异分析,为土地资源的合理配置提供科学依据。     

东北地区近46年玉米气候资源变化研究

利用东北3省70个基本气象站1961—2006年逐日日平均气温、日最低气温资料,计算分析各年代80％保证率下≥10℃初日、初霜日、生育期天数、≥10℃有效积温及玉米不同品种的布局变化。结果表明：与20世纪60年代相比,玉米气候资源在2001—2006年增加较显著。≥10℃初日除大兴安岭漠河外其它地区普遍提前了2～10d;初霜日除大兴安岭地区提前5～20d,小兴安岭和辽宁省变化不明显,其它地区普遍推迟5～10d;生育期天数除大兴安岭北部减少10d左右,吉林省北部变化不明显,其它地区普遍增加了10d左右;≥10℃有效积温除大兴安岭变化不明显,其它地区普遍增加200～400℃·d。在玉米适宜生长区域内适宜播种期较60年代普遍提前了2～10d;不同品种熟型玉米分布界线在2001—2006年北移东扩很显著,小兴安岭可以种植极早熟品种,三江平原成为中熟和中晚熟品种区域,松嫩平原南部亦可种植晚熟品种,长白山地带以前不能满足玉米生育热量条件的区域,也可以种植早熟品种了。     

贵州山区红心猕猴桃种植气候区划

基于贵州西部红心猕猴桃种植区2005-2014年逐日气温、降水资料,依据贵州85个气象观测站1981-2010年逐旬、逐月、逐年平均气温、降水量、日照时数和极端最高、最低气温以及观测站和1462个乡镇的地理信息数据,应用经验正交函数分解法和模糊聚类法,通过分析贵州省西部红心猕猴桃各生育期的气候条件,得到红心猕猴桃种植的气候适宜性区划指标,采用GIS技术对红心猕猴桃种植进行气候适宜性区划。结果表明：年平均气温、历年极端最低气温（80%保证率）、1月平均气温、3月平均气温、7月平均气温、8月昼夜温差、年降水量、年日照时数可作为红心猕猴桃种植的气候适宜性区划指标,每个指标分4级,对应最适宜、适宜、次适宜和不适宜,红心猕猴桃种植最适宜区在贵州西部地区,适宜种植区在贵州中部偏西地区,次适宜种植区在贵州中部,不适宜种植区主要分布在遵义市、铜仁市、东南部局部和西部边缘。调查表明,贵州山区红心猕猴桃实际种植情况与气候适宜性区划结果基本吻合。     

河南省棉花精细化农业气候区划

利用河南省114个气象站点1971-2000年气候资料和台站地理信息,采用梯度距离平方反比法分别对棉花各发育期的平均气温、降水总量和日照时数等气候资料进行了网格推算。根据棉花生产的气候适宜度函数和不同生育阶段的参数,计算了棉花不同生育期内光、温、水的气候适宜度,采用相对权重法计算了综合适宜度。根据河南省棉花的农业气候区划指标,将全省划分为最适宜区、适宜区和次适宜区3个分区。区划结果显示河南省棉花最适宜种植区在豫北、豫东和豫西南等地,中南部是棉花种植适宜区,豫西丘陵、豫北山区及淮河以南地区是棉花种植的次适宜区。最后对各区域的特点及建议进行了评述。     

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.