基于系统动力学模型的扬州市土地利用结构多情景模拟与实现

[目的]对江苏省扬州市未来土地利用结构进行多情景预测模拟,并探索不同情景下各目标土地利用结构的实现路径,为土地利用规划方案制定与管理提供科学依据。[方法]采用系统动力学(SD)模型模拟土地利用系统开展研究。[结果]在不同情景下几类主要用地差异明显,耕地面积在耕地保护情景下较高,而在生态保护与经济发展情景下耕地缓慢下降;城镇工矿用地与交通水利用地面积在3种情景下均获得稳定增长,但经济发展情景下的增长快于其他2个情景;林地面积在生态保护情景下出现大幅上升,在另外2个情景下则基本保持不变甚至小幅下降。结合各情景指标设定可得出,耕地保护情景下,除控制城镇扩张占用耕地外,还要加强未利用地开发与农村居民点整理以补充耕地;生态保护情景下,则需加强植树造林、保护好具有丰富生态服务价值的水域、滩涂用地。[结论]SD模型不仅可模拟不同情景下土地利用变化,还可将土地利用与社会经济系统之间的复杂非线性关系显化,有利于土地资源可持续利用调控。     

基于Markov-FLUS模型的广西土地利用变化模拟预测

耕地保护是确保粮食安全和社会经济稳定的头等大事,土地利用变化预测分析则是调整耕地保护政策的重要依据。为了探究广西耕地保护工作成效、促进土地资源合理配置,围绕耕地保护,运用Markov-FLUS模型,分别基于非限制性与耕地保护两类情景,预测2025年广西土地利用数量及空间变化状况,对比了两类情景下耕地变化差异。结果表明:(1)广西城市建设效果明显,2005—2015年,城镇用地、交通基础设施用地等其他建设用地面积增长了893 km²,增长率达77.25%。两类不同土地利用情景模拟预测下,至2025年,城镇用地面积均保持增长趋势,但耕地保护情景下,其扩张速度受到限制;(2)广西生态保护成效良好,两类不同土地利用情景模拟预测下,至2025年,林地、草地、水域等生态用地面积均保持增长趋势;(3)广西耕地保护任重道远,2005—2015年,耕地面积减少626 km²,两类不同土地利用情景模拟预测下,至2025年,耕地面积均延续减少趋势。但耕地保护情景下,耕地面积减少态势得到一定程度遏止;(4)不同发展阶段,影响广西耕地保护的主导因素各异:2005—2015年,交通道路等基础设施建设是影响广西耕地保护的主要因素; 2015—2025年,随着社会经济加速发展,南宁市、桂林市、柳州市以及“钦北防”沿海城市建设用地的扩张和桂西北、桂南地区林业用地的增长,将成为广西耕地减少的主要原因。     

基于CLUE-S模型的矿业城市土地利用变化情景模拟

为了对矿业城市的土地利用情景进行预测,该文以典型矿业城市武安市为例,将 GIS 技术和 CLUE-S （conversion of land use and its effects at small regional extent）模型应用到武安市土地利用变化情景模拟研究中,通过土地利用结构变化、矿业城市土地利用空间分布和驱动因子的定量关系对武安市土地利用变化进行相应约束,设计了趋势发展情景、耕地保护情景、生态安全情景3种模式,生成2020年不同情景方案下土地利用预测图,并对预测结果进行比较分析。研究结果表明：在趋势发展情景下,林地、建筑用地呈现上升趋势,体现了经济发展和环境保护双管齐下的成效,这也与实际情况相吻合;耕地保护情景下,耕地分布制约了建设用地的适度扩张;生态安全情景下,受生态环境政策影响,林地增长趋势明显,工矿用地急剧减少。综合考虑到武安市社会、经济、生态以及耕地保护等多方面的协调发展,研究认为趋势发展情景更为合理,其他2种情景可为趋势发展情景进行适度的修正和补充。该研究为区域土地资源的优化配置提供决策依据,同时研究结果也进一步验证了CLUE-S模型能够较好地模拟预测不同约束条件下矿业城市土地利用空间变化。     

基于PLUS与InVEST模型的昆明市土地利用变化动态模拟与碳储量评估

[目的]评估不同情景下的土地利用变化与碳储量变化,为优化生态服务与可持续性发展提供科学依据。[方法]基于PLUS模型与InVEST模型,模拟和预测不同情景下的土地利用变化与碳储量。[结果](1)在自然发展与生态保护情景下,土地利用变化相似,耕地、草地、水域减少,建设用地急剧扩张,其中建设用地在自然发展情景下扩张更快,变化率达27.70%;在耕地保护情景下,土地利用变化与其他两种情景不同,这是由于林地面积的减少与建设用地的迅速扩张造成的;(2)昆明市2000,2010,2020年的碳储量分别为3.37×10⁸,3.34×10⁸,3.28×10⁸ t,呈现逐年下降的趋势。到2030年,耕地保护与生态保护相较于自然发展情景碳储量较高,说明采取保护措施,能有效控制碳储量的减少;(3)土地利用变化导致碳储量减少9.15×10⁶ t,土地利用变化与碳储量变化呈现高度一致性。[结论]落实耕地保护、生态保护政策,控制建设用地向耕地、林地的扩张,优化土地利用结构,有利于减缓区域碳储量损失。     

基于Logistic-CA-Markov耦合模型的彬州市LUCC多情景模拟

土地利用变化多情景模拟可为区域的土地规划、生态城市建设和区域生态环境保护提供科学的参考依据。基于彬州市2009年和2019年土地利用数据,运用GIS软件空间分析功能和土地利用动态模型对研究区土地利用变化进行时空分析,从自然因素和社会经济因素中选取7种驱动因子,用Logistic模型进行回归分析,再运用Logistic-CA-Markov耦合模型,以研究区2009年土地利用为基期,模拟2019年土地利用变化并对预测结果精度验证。最后以2019年为基期数据,在自然发展、生态保护和限制城市过度开发3种情景下,预测了2029年研究区土地利用类型的空间格局。结果表明:研究区10年间的土地利用综合动态度为5.57%,土地利用变化显著; 驱动因子的回归分析通过有效性检验,预测2019年土地利用变化的Kappa系数值为0.761 2,预测结果可信。在自然发展情景下,2029年彬州市建设用地面积增长40.54%,耕地和水域面积分别减少27.31%,3.84%,或对研究区的生态平衡造成威胁; 在生态保护和限制城市过度开发两种情景下,建设用地面积得到控制,水域、耕地等生态用地得到保护,有利于彬州市的可持续发展。     

基于马尔柯夫模型的漾濞江流域土地利用变化预测

为了掌握漾濞江流域土地利用的演变趋势,优化土地利用结构,实现土地的可持续利用,在遥感和地理信息系统技术的支持下,利用1990年和2001年的遥感影像作为信息源,获取漾濞江流域土地利用类型数据,结合马尔柯夫模型确定相应的转移概率矩阵,据此分析土地利用各类型间的相互转化情况,并应用马尔柯夫模型和单一土地利用动态度对土地利用的演变趋势进行分析。结果表明:土地利用类型之间的相互转化突出表现为耕地、林地、草地之间的相互转化以及耕地向城乡工矿居民用地的转化;林地面积将趋于稳定,仍为研究区的主要土地利用类型,耕地、草地面积继续减少,水域、城乡工矿居民用地面积稳步增加;必须采取有效措施,解决好耕地保护和城乡发展之间的矛盾,实现当地的可持续发展。     

基于CA-Markov模型的宁夏沿黄生态经济带土地利用变化及模拟研究

[目的]研究宁夏沿黄生态经济带2009—2017年土地利用变化特点,并模拟2025年土地利用空间格局,为宁夏沿黄生态经济带土地开发、利用与保护提供引导,为国土空间规划编制提供参考。[方法]基于时间尺度和空间尺度,对宁夏沿黄生态经济带2009—2017年各类用地变化情况进行了分析,计算得出了各类用地转移概率矩阵,并基于CA-Markov模型,对自然发展情景、土地规划情景、耕地和生态保护情景下宁夏沿黄生态经济带2025年土地利用格局进行了模拟研究。[结果] 2009—2017年,宁夏沿黄生态经济带土地利用整体呈现出耕地、其他农用地及各类建设用地不断增加,园地、林地、草地、水域及自然保留地均有所减少的特点;除水域、其他建设用地外,其他各类用地转为城乡建设用地概率普遍较高,特别是耕地转为城乡建设用地概率最高,达到10.65%。[结论]在自然发展、土地规划、耕地和环境保护3种情景下,宁夏沿黄生态经济带2025年土地利用结构仍然以牧草地、耕地、自然保留地为主,但随着城镇化进程加快和基础设施持续完善,城乡建设用地和交通水利用地增加幅度较大。     

耦合InVEST与FLUS模型的海南岛生态系统碳储量时空演变与预测

[目的] 通过研究海南岛城市化扩张下土地利用变化对碳储量的影响,揭示碳储量时空格局演变和预测未来发展趋势,为优化国土空间布局和生态敏感区的保护提供科学依据。[方法] 基于1980—2020年土地利用数据,采用InVEST模型碳储量模块反演1980—2020年海南岛碳储量时空变化,并耦合FLUS模型和InVEST模型模拟自然发展情景、快速发展情景和生态保护情景3种发展情景下2030年海南岛的土地利用和碳储量变化情况。[结果] ①海南岛土地利用类型以林地、耕地为主。1980—2020年耕地、草地、林地和未利用地面积均有不同程度减少。建设用地和水域面积增加,尤以建设用地面积增长最快,增幅为83.4%。②海南岛碳储量总体呈“中间高,四周低”的特点,1980—2000年碳储量变化较小,降幅约0.03%。2000—2020年海南岛城镇化进程加快,碳储量损失也随之加剧,年均损失约372 t,累计损失碳储量7 439 t。③未来建设用地仍会继续扩张,受此影响3个情景下2030年海南岛碳储量均呈现降低的趋势。其中,快速发展情景下建设用地土地利用变化量最大,碳储量最易流失,自然发展情景次之,生态保护情景变化最小。[结论] 在海南自由贸易港未来的土地利用规划中,应加强中部山区、自然保护地等重点生态区位的保护力度,优化土地利用格局,严格控制林地、耕地和湿地向建设用地转变,提高固碳增汇效能,实现区域可持续发展。     

基于景观安全格局的城镇建设用地扩张多情景模拟研究——以扬州市为例

城镇建设用地多情景模拟有利于实现土地资源优化配置,保障区域可持续发展。本文以扬州市为例,以2005年、2013年土地利用变更数据为训练数据,借助景观安全格局与ANN-CA模型模拟城镇建设用地扩张趋势,并利用城镇建设用地转移矩阵与景观格局指数分析2013—2020年城镇建设用地模拟结果。研究结果表明:(1)不同情景下的城镇建设用地模拟扩张占用其他景观规模不同,但均占用农村居民点规模最多,其中,惯性发展情景下,模拟新增城镇建设用地以布局在低景观安全格局为主,占用耕地、水域、林地规模较高;基本保障情景下,模拟新增的城镇建设用地主要布局在中景观安全格局区域,较惯性发展情景占用耕地规模增加,占用水域、林地规模减少;与惯性发展情景、基本保障情景相比,最优保护情景下占用耕地规模略高但集中于高景观安全格局区,新增占用水域规模、林地规模降低。(2)不同情景下的景观格局也存在差异,惯性发展情景下,景观格局变化一定程度有利于促进城镇化发展,但不利于耕地机械化生产,影响林地、水域生态服务功能;基本保障情景下,景观格局变化一定程度上有利于城乡社会经济发展,对非人工景观的破坏程度较惯性发展情景降低;最优保护情景下,景观格局变化更有利于区域社会、经济及生态发展。(3)惯性发展情景下,应适当规划生态基础设施,严格划定永久性基本农田;基本保障情景下,应充分发挥景观安全格局的生态底线功能,引导城镇建设用地合理开发与布局;最优保护情景下,可通过存量建设用地挖潜等措施提高土地集约利用水平。     

新疆玛纳斯河流域土地利用变化特征及影响因素研究

以2000、2005、2010和2015年四期遥感影像解译为基础,从土地利用变化幅度、变化速率、转移方向及利用程度等方面,分析了玛纳斯河流域2000~2015年的土地利用变化特征、影响因素及保护对策。结果表明:(1)2000~2015年,玛纳斯河流域以未利用地、草地和耕地为主。耕地面积扩张较为明显,但增加速度在2010~2015年有所下降;未利用地和草地面积以减少为主,其中草地的减少速率不断提升,未利用地在2010~2015年单一土地利用动态度(0.17%)为正值,有增加趋势;建设用地面积有一定程度的增加,单一土地利用动态度先下降再上升;(2)耕地呈内外双向扩张,新增面积主要来自草地和未利用地;建设用地的增加主要来自耕地和草地;草地和未利用地以转出为主,草地的主要转出方向是耕地,未利用地向耕地和草地转移。随着未利用地的开发利用,玛纳斯河流域的土地利用综合指数逐渐增加,土地利用程度处于稳步发展阶段;(3)在人口、经济和政策等因素的影响下,耕地和建设用地等生产、生活用地面积增加,草地、未利用地等生态用地面积减少,因此对流域内"三生用地"的保护应着重加强生态用地的恢复和管控,合理划定生态用地红线,保护耕地和基本农田,集约利用已开发的存量建设用地。     

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.     

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.