不同浓度和pH对茶多酚活化土壤硅、铝、铁的影响

通过浸提试验研究了不同浓度茶叶提取物、儿茶素和表没食子儿茶素没食子酸脂(EGCG)3种茶多酚(TPs)和不同p H下EGCG对漂洗水稻土和黄壤Si、Al和Fe活化的影响。结果表明:(1)随TPs浓度升高,土壤Si活化量在茶叶提取物和儿茶素作用下总体上均增加,在EGCG作用下却先增后减;Al、Fe活化量在各TP作用下均增加。同一浓度下,各TP活化Si的量均为漂洗水稻土黄壤,活化Al或Fe的量均为黄壤漂洗水稻土。(2)随EGCG溶液p H升高,Si活化量为漂洗水稻土降低,黄壤增加;Al、Fe活化量为2种土壤均增加。同一p H下,EGCG活化Si的量p H≤5.5时为漂洗水稻土黄壤,p H=6.5时为黄壤漂洗水稻土;活化Al、Fe的量均为黄壤漂洗水稻土。综上,TPs浓度和p H对不同土壤Si、Al和Fe的活化有不同影响。     

温度对EGCG和柠檬酸活化土壤硅铝铁锰的影响

通过浸提试验研究了温度对浓度均为5 mmol/L的表没食子儿茶素没食子酸脂(EGCG)和柠檬酸活化漂洗水稻土和黄壤矿质元素的影响。结果表明:随温度升高,EGCG和柠檬酸对2种土壤Si、Al、Fe和Mn的活化量均不同程度增加,表明EGCG和柠檬酸活化土壤矿质元素的能力在高温季节将得以增强。相同温度下,从元素间比较来看,EGCG和柠檬酸对2种土壤元素的活化量大小均为AlSiFe(Mn),表明EGCG和柠檬酸作用下土壤Al较Si、Fe和Mn更易活化;柠檬酸对2种土壤Fe、Mn的活化量均为FeMn,而EGCG对漂洗水稻土为FeMn,对黄壤则为MnFe;从土壤间比较来看,EGCG和柠檬酸对2种土壤Si的活化量均为漂洗水稻土黄壤,对Al、Fe和Mn的活化量则为黄壤漂洗水稻土;从酚与酸的比较来看,柠檬酸对2种土壤Si、Al、Fe的活化量均显著高于EGCG,表明柠檬酸比EGCG对土壤Si、Al和Fe有更强的活化能力。     

植茶年限对土壤团聚体中交换性盐基离子分布的影响

采用野外调查和室内分析相结合的方法,就植茶年限对土壤团聚体中交换性盐基离子分布的影响进行了研究。结果表明：（1）土壤团聚体交换性K 含量随粒径的减小先升高后降低;交换性Mg2 含量在各粒径中分布较均匀;而交换性Na 、Ca2 含量和交换性盐基总量（TEB）随粒径的减小而升高。各粒径团聚体交换性盐基离子平均含量表现为Ca2 > Mg2 > K > Na ;（2）随着植茶年限的增加,各粒径团聚体交换性K 、Na 含量逐渐降低;交换性Ca2 、Mg2 含量和TEB先升高后降低,且均在植茶23 a和31 a含量较高。其中,0～20 cm土层比20～40 cm土层的变化幅度更明显;（3）土壤团聚体（K Na ）/（Ca2 Mg2 ）含量比值随粒径的减小先升高后降低;而团聚体含量随粒径的减小则先降低再升高最后降低。随着植茶年限的增加,各粒径团聚体（K Na ）/（Ca2 Mg2 ）含量比值先降低后升高,植茶23 a和31 a含量比值较低,这与>5 mm团聚体含量的变化规律相反,0～20 cm土层表现更明显。不同粒径团聚体对交换性盐基离子的保持和供应能力存在明显差异,各粒径团聚体交换性K 、Na 含量逐年降低,交换性Ca2 、Mg2 含量在植茶23 a和31 a较高,其后有所降低。因此,在茶园管理中需平衡施用氮、钾肥,植茶23 a后应增施有机肥料,加强水土保持,防止土壤严重酸化以减少Ca2 、Mg2 淋失。     

几种低分子量有机酸淋溶对土壤铝、硅及盐基离子淋失的影响

采用50cm原状土柱进行模拟淋溶实验,比较研究了模拟酸雨和几种低分子量有机酸对红壤Al、Si及盐基离子淋失的影响。结果表明,模拟酸雨淋洗后土壤中有极少量的Al和一定量的Si及盐基离子淋出。与去离子水对照相比,pH3.5和pH4.5模拟酸雨处理Si的淋出总量分别增加了6.52%和3.26%;K 、Na 、Ca2 和Mg2 等盐基离子淋出量增加了2.41%~96.80%。100μmol/L的柠檬酸、苹果酸和草酸处理Al、Si的淋出量与模拟酸雨处理相差不大,而10mmol/L的柠檬酸、苹果酸和草酸处理则比模拟酸雨处理有显著的增加。有机酸淋洗后淋出液中各盐基离子含量均要高于模拟酸雨处理,盐基离子淋出总量是模拟酸雨处理的1.58~9.27倍。实验结果说明低分子量有机酸在酸化土壤方面比酸雨有更大的威胁。由于盐基离子的大量淋失,模拟酸雨和有机酸淋洗后淋出液pH均要高于原淋洗液pH。     

生物质炭中盐基离子存在形态及其与改良酸性土壤的关系

为研究生物质炭中盐基离子存在形态及其与改良酸性土壤的关系,通过厌氧热解的方法于300、500和700℃下制备了玉米秸秆炭。考察了热解温度对玉米秸秆炭水溶性、交换性和盐基总量的影响。采用室内培养的方法考察了添加玉米秸秆炭对酸性土壤的改良效果。结果表明:热解温度影响玉米秸秆炭各形态盐基离子含量,玉米秸秆炭总K、总Na、总Ca、总Mg、水溶性K、水溶性Na、水溶性Ca、交换性Ca和交换性Mg含量随热解温度升高显著增加;水溶性Mg和交换性K含量随热解温度升高先增加后下降。玉米秸秆炭中的K和Na主要以水溶态存在,约40%的Ca和30%的Mg以交换态存在,约50%的Ca和70%的Mg以其他形态(主要为难溶态)存在。添加玉米秸秆炭能极显著提高酸性土壤pH和降低土壤交换性Al3+含量,提高和降低幅度随热解温度升高极显著增加。总K+总Na+总Ca+总Mg含量可以作为衡量玉米秸秆炭提高酸性土壤pH能力的间接指标。添加玉米秸秆炭能极显著提高土壤交换性K、Na和Mg含量,能显著提高交换性Ca和总盐基离子含量。玉米秸秆炭总K和总Na含量是提高土壤交换性K和Na含量的决定因素,交换性Ca含量在提高土壤交换性Mg和交换性盐基总量中起决定作用。     

酸性水稻土上水稻对硅、钾、钙、镁的吸收及其动力学研究

运用盆栽试验研究了南方稻区酸性水稻土上增施硅(Si)、钾(K)、钙(Ca)、镁(Mg)肥对水稻产量的影响及其水稻对Si、K、Ca、Mg的吸收。结果表明,在酸性水稻土上增施Si、K、Ca、Mg肥及其配合施用均具有显著的增产效益,能明显地提高水稻对该种元素吸收速率和总吸收量。施Si肥主要是增加了水稻后期对Si的吸收,使水稻成熟期能保持较高的Si含量;施用K肥使水稻在移栽后能较长时间内保持较高的K吸收速率;施Ca、Mg肥能使水稻保持较高的Ca吸收速率;K和Ca之间存在不同程度的交互作用。扩散方程、Elovich方程和多项式方程均能很好地描述水稻生长期内水稻对Si、K、Ca、Mg的吸收过程。可用扩散方程和Elovich方程的参数b值来评价水稻对Si、K、Ca、Mg吸收速率。     

不同栽培管理方式下土壤交换性盐基特征差异分析

为探讨不同栽培管理方式下土壤交换性盐基含量的特征,采用NH4OAC(pH 7.0)浸提-原子吸收分光光度法测定分析了上海郊区大棚及露地栽培体系下有机和常规农业生产系统中土壤不同土层交换性盐基离子(K,Na,Ca,Mg)含量。结果表明,各盐基离子浓度为Ca>Mg>Na>K,有机园艺生产系统K、Na、Ca和Mg/K值及盐基总量(SEB)高于常规生产方式。露地有机园艺管理耕作层各盐基离子浓度高于常规管理,大棚有机生产方式下各盐基含量均显著高于常规生产方式(P<0.05),但容易引起土壤酸化。统计分析结果表明,不同园艺生产系统对Na、Ca和Mg/K值具有显著性影响,且大棚条件下更为明显。因此,不同园艺生产系统的管理方式改变了土壤盐基离子分布及其特性。     

施氮对紫色土硝酸根和盐基离子耦合迁移的影响

通过室内土柱模拟试验,研究氮肥种类及施用量对紫色土硝酸根离子和盐基离子淋溶特征的影响。结果表明:(1)施氮能增加土壤中NO3-和盐基离子(K+、Na+、Ca2+、Mg2+)的淋失量,且施氮量越大,土壤中的盐基离子淋失越多。(2)施用不同种类氮肥,土壤中NO3-淋失有一定差异,在施用浓度较低(纯氮100,200mg/kg)时,表现为硝铵>尿素>硫铵;在施用浓度较高(纯氮300,400mg/kg)时,则表现为尿素>硝铵>硫铵;在试验浓度范围内,淋溶液中盐基离子累积淋失量在3个施肥阶段均表现为硫铵>硝铵>尿素>空白。(3)3个施肥淋溶阶段,淋溶液中NO3-和K+、Ca2+、Mg2+浓度均呈极显著正相关,而NO3-与Na+的相关性只在施用100,200,300mg/kg尿素和硝铵的处理中达显著水平,在其他处理中均不显著。     

长期施用氮磷钾肥和石灰对红壤性水稻土酸性特征的影响

利用34年的长期定位施肥试验,研究不施肥(CK)、施氮磷钾肥(NPK)和氮磷钾化肥配施石灰(NPK+Ca O)对红壤性水稻土不同形态酸、土壤盐基离子及水稻植株阳离子吸收量的影响,探讨土壤交换性H+和Al3+占交换性酸的比例、土壤盐基离子、植株带出阳离子数量与土壤酸度的关系。结果表明,长期NPK处理早、晚稻土壤p H较CK处理分别降低0.2和0.3个单位,交换性酸提高2.3倍和4.2倍,水解性酸提高35.4%和40.0%;NPK+Ca O处理早、晚稻土壤p H较NPK处理分别提高0.5和0.7个单位,较CK处理分别提高0.3和0.4个单位,交换性酸、水解性酸均显著低于NPK和CK处理(p0.05)。土壤交换性H+、Al3+含量高低顺序均为NPK+Ca OCKNPK。土壤交换性盐基离子以交换性Ca2+所占比例最大(81.8%~89.3%),NPK+Ca O处理交换性Ca2+较CK和NPK处理分别提高40.1%和62.9%。交换性Ca2+、交换性盐基离子、盐基饱和度与土壤p H正相关,与交换性酸、水解性酸负相关,交换性Mg2+与交换性酸、水解性酸负相关,交换性Na+与水解性酸负相关。植株移出带走的钙、镁、钾、钠离子量及其总量对土壤p H、交换性酸和水解性酸有一定影响,但其相关性均不显著。研究表明长期施用化肥条件下通过配施石灰可有效缓解稻田土壤的酸化,促进酸性稻田土壤的生态修复与改良。     

设施蔬菜栽培对土壤阳离子交换性能的影响

以辽宁省沈阳市于洪地区设施菜地及其相邻旱田土壤为研究对象,测定土壤的有机质、阳离子交换量、交换性盐基离子组成和土壤盐基离子饱和度,分析设施蔬菜栽培对土壤阳离子交换量及交换性盐基离子组成的影响。结果表明:(1)与旱田土壤相比,设施土壤有机质含量明显增加,上下层土壤有机质平均含量分别为35.6 g kg-1和18.0 g kg-1,分别是旱田上下层土壤有机质含量的2.1倍和1.8倍;设施土壤阳离子交换量呈上升的趋势,土壤阳离子交换量与有机质含量呈极显著正相关关系(r=0.603**,n=50,r0.01=0.361)。(2)与旱田土壤相比,不同层次设施土壤交换性盐基总量均有所增加,交换性盐基离子中除交换性Ca2+含量变化不大之外,交换性K+、Mg2+、Na+含量均显著增加;不同层次设施土壤交换性K+、Mg2+、Na+饱和度显著高于旱田土壤,但交换性Ca2+饱和度和盐基饱和度呈下降趋势。     

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.