基于同位素分析研究山东禹城夏玉米水分来源

以2016年山东省禹城市夏玉米为研究对象,通过测定分析不同生长期内降水、土壤水、植物水、地下水、地表水的稳定氢氧同位素值,并利用直接对比法和多元线性混合模型,分析不同水源对夏玉米不同生长期贡献率,进而研究其水分来源。结果表明:禹城市大气降水线方程为δD=7.80δ18 O+8.61,其斜率和截距均小于全球大气降水线方程,表明降水在降落过程存在蒸发富集过程。夏玉米不同生长期水分来源存在差异,出苗期由于土壤含水量较低,植物主要利用浅层地下水且利用率为89.6%;拔节期降雨量丰富,夏玉米主要利用0—10cm表层土壤水,利用率为85.8%;抽穗期夏玉米主要利用10—60cm土壤水,利用率达62.9%;生长到灌浆期,根系分布在较深土层且20—100cm土壤含水量稳定,夏玉米主要利用20—100cm土壤水,利用率为69.7%;成熟期植物主要利用大于60cm的深层土壤水,利用率达96.1%,此时期土壤含水量较低且根系分布可达深层土壤。     

青海湖流域高寒草甸壤中流水分来源研究

通过对青海湖流域高寒草甸壤中流水分来源进行研究,以期揭示青海湖流域高寒草甸系统壤中流的产流机制。收集了大气降水、土壤水和壤中流中δ~(18)O和δD及实测降水数据,对比分析了大气降水、土壤水和壤中流的氢氧同位素特征,并使用了二源线性混合模型对壤中流进行了产流来源计算。结果表明:青海湖高寒草甸分布区大气降水线(LMWL)的斜率和截距均高于全球大气降水线(GMWL),降水较多的月份δ~(18)O、d-excess值较低;壤中流的水分来源与地形及其土壤深度密切相关,具体表现为:(1)壤中流在坡下土壤上层(0—40cm)和下层(40—80cm)产流氢氧同位素值相对聚集,并具有较明显的蒸发富集特征,表明该部分壤中流多源于降雨前储存于土壤中的水分,雨前土壤水对于壤中流在坡下土壤上层(0—40cm)和下层(40—80cm)产流的平均贡献率为85.88%和83.48%;(2)坡中壤中流水分来源因土壤深度而异,雨前土壤水对壤中流在坡中土壤下层(40—80cm)产流的平均贡献率为57.59%,表明大气降水和雨前土壤水贡献相当;壤中流在坡中土壤上层(0—40cm)产流与当地大气降水的季节变动基本一致,雨前土壤水对该层壤中流产流的平均贡献率为39.90%,表明其主要受到大气降水的驱动,与坡中金露梅灌丛根系和土壤孔隙分布有关。同时,随着雨前含水量、降水量和降水特征的不同,雨前土壤水和大气降水对于壤中流的贡献特征也会发生变化。     

基于稳定同位素的土壤水分运动特征

土壤水分受降雨和地下水的共同补给作用,是陆地水循环的重要环节。通过模拟试验,结合土壤水同位素特征,以黄土高原黄绵土为研究对象,研究降雨入渗和地下水补给方式下土壤水分的运移变化特点。结果表明:土壤体积含水量随时间的延长而增大,最终趋于稳定,土壤水分的运移有明显滞后效应;土壤水氢同位素受补给水源、交换混合以及蒸发的影响,随时间的延长,补给水源的影响逐渐减弱,水分的交换混合和蒸发作用逐渐显现,土壤水最终达到动态平衡状态;两种补给条件下,土壤水运移方式均为活塞式推进,降雨入渗方式土壤水δD随土层深度的增加先减小后增大最终趋于稳定,表层0~5cm土壤水由于蒸发富集重同位素,5~20cm土壤水滞留时间最长,保水能力最强,地下水补给方式下土壤水δD随土层深度的增加而减小,上层土壤水δD由于蒸发富集重同位素,下层受地下水补给影响贫化;两种补给方式下土壤水δD与δ18O有良好线性关系,降雨入渗方式土壤水蒸发分馏作用大于地下水补给方式,地下水补给具有较好的保水效果。     

基于稳定同位素的石漠化地区桑树根系水来源研究

土壤水分亏缺是阻碍石漠化地区植被恢复重建的主要生态因子之一。然而,桑树(MorusalbaL.)用于石漠化治理已取得良好效果,但其水分利用策略尚不清楚。该文基于氢、氧稳定同位素技术研究石漠化地区桑树根系在生长期内对不同深度土壤水分的利用程度,反映桑树根系在不同季节的吸水能力变化,揭示桑树生长期内水分利用策略。结果发现:桑树生长前期(春季,4-6月)降水中氢氧稳定同位素丰度较为偏正,比生长后期(秋季,9-11月)降水富集氢氧稳定同位素。土壤水氢氧稳定同位素随春季、秋季降雨的季节变化呈现下降趋势,并且受降雨、蒸发等影响,表现出不同的剖面垂直变化规律。桑树水与土壤水氢、氧稳定同位素变化相似,说明桑树生长所需的水分主要靠土壤水分提供。通过直观相关法和多元线性混合模型法判断出桑树在不同季节对土壤水分的吸收利用策略不同,其中春季先主要吸收10～30 cm土层水,随着降雨增多开始主要吸收利用50～60 cm深层水;进入秋季降雨量较大时亦是主要吸收利用50～60 cm的深层水,而降雨减少时转变为主要吸收利用0～10 cm的土壤水。研究可为桑树在石漠化治理中的应用提供依据。     

水温因素与夏玉米生长季节土壤矿质氮动态的关系

农田土壤的矿质氮残留和淋溶已成为大气和水体氮污染的重要来源。本文通过位于黄土高原南部的田间试验,研究了气温、土壤温度和水分、灌溉和降水等环境条件与夏玉米生长季节土壤残留矿质氮素动态变化的关系。结果表明:①0～200cm土层铵态氮残留量与耕层土壤温度的动态变化趋势一致,但土壤硝态氮残留量与土壤温度变化趋势相反。②大气温度对土壤矿质氮数量的影响趋势和土壤温度的基本相同。③在夏玉米生长季节0～200 cm土层土壤含水量平均值呈波动增加趋势,土壤铵态氮和硝态氮残留量随土壤水分的增减而增减,矿质氮素增减变化与土壤含水量相比有滞后现象。④夏玉米生长季节降水和灌水量达到720.5 mm,大量水分使得土壤硝态氮随着夏玉米生长期的后移而有明显的向下淋移趋势。玉米收获时,土壤硝态氮已被淋失到200 cm以下土层,难以再被下季作物利用。     

华北平原典型土地利用类型下包气带土壤水稳定同位素变化特征

基于华北平原典型土地利用类型(梨园、农田)包气带(>18 m)土壤水同位素测定结果, 分析了华北平原深层土壤水稳定同位素(δD、δ18O)特征, 揭示了不同土地利用类型下包气带土壤水补给过程中蒸发和入渗的规律。结果表明, 研究区大气降水线δD =6.07δ18O-5.76(R2=0.86), 土壤水δD、δ18O值均落在大气降水线下方, 表明降水入渗补给土壤水过程中经历了强烈的蒸发作用；除梨园Ⅰ, 土壤水同位素值变异系数浅层＞中层＞深层, 表明浅层土壤水δD、δ18O波动较大, 主要由于其易受到降水和蒸发的影响, 随土壤剖面深度的增加, 蒸发和降水的影响逐渐变弱；梨园Ⅰ深层土壤水同位素变异系数较大, 表明该样点深层土壤水受到地下水波动的影响；梨园浅层土壤水氘盈余(d-excess)较农田大, 说明农田浅层土壤水蒸发强度大于梨园；0.25~0.5 m深处土壤水均出现δD、δ18O的明显富集, 主要受土壤质地分层影响导致土壤水入渗受阻, 同位素较为富集的土壤水在此深度层积聚；而梨园2~5 m出现δD、δ18O的贫化现象, 主要是梨树根系埋深使得降水以优先流形式补给至此土壤层。梨园和农田包气带土壤水δD、δ18O垂直剖面上差异显著，表明了华北平原不同土地利用方式的包气带土壤水入渗过程有明显差异, 梨园包气带土壤水入渗过程主要以优先流补给影响。本研究为深入了解华北平原农田区厚包气带水分运动、氮素迁移转化与地下水水质之间的关系提供了理论依据。     

元阳梯田水源区林地降水与土壤水同位素特征

利用2014年5—11月元阳梯田水源区林地采样点上的20个降水数据和216个土壤水数据,对元阳梯田水源区大气降水及土壤水δD和δ~(18)O的变化进行了分析,明确了降水与土壤水的氢氧同位素特征,并探讨了降水对土壤水的影响。结果表明,研究区大气降水δD和δ~(18)O的变化范围分别为(-97.4‰)~(-47.5‰)和(-13.2‰)~(-6.5‰),区域大气降水线(LMWL)为δD=6.84δ~(18)O-5.69,与昆明的降水线接近,这主要与研究区和昆明所处的大气环流背景、水汽来源相同有关;0—100cm土壤剖面内,土壤水中δD值随深度的增加呈现"S"形或反"S"形,0—40cm土层土壤水的δD和δ~(18)O值分布于LMWL两侧,而60—100cm处的同位素值分布集中且偏离降水线,表明随着深度的增加,土壤水受大气降水和外界蒸发条件的影响减弱;林地坡上40cm土层比表层贫化重同位素,坡下位置植物覆盖度较小,土壤水容易受到外界环境的影响而坡中位置整个剖面δD值的变化不大。     

不同农田防护林配置结构下玉米水分来源研究

由于气候条件干旱,合理平衡防护林与农田作物水分需求是河套灌区农田防护林林网体系建设的关键问题。为研究河套灌区典型农田防护林对农田作物水分来源的影响,选择河套灌区3种典型配置的防护林系统,测定并分析附近农田距农田边缘0.3,0.4,0.6,2 H处土壤含水率、土壤和作物茎秆水氢氧同位素值。结果表明：(1)7—9月各农田样地土壤含水率普遍较低,4,5行样地在近林端处土壤含水率均低于远林端处,8行样地各处土壤含水率没有明显差异。(2)各样地土壤水氢氧同位素随着土层深度的增加而贫化,其中,8行样地距农田边缘0.4～0.6 H处40—60 cm土层的土壤出现较大的同位素富集。(3)4行样地内距农田边缘0.3～0.4 H处玉米主要利用40—80 cm土层土壤水,0.6～2 H处玉米利用0—40 cm土层土壤水。5行样地0.3 H处玉米利用20—60 cm土层土壤水,0.4～2 H处玉米利用0—60 cm土层土壤水。8行0.3,2 H处玉米主要利用0—40 cm土层土壤水,0.4～0.6 H处玉米则更多地利用20—80 cm土层土壤水。研究认为,8行配置的防护林对农田作物水分利用范围影响更广,在不影...     

黄土丘陵区植被群落水分利用策略对干旱胁迫的响应

为探讨气候变化下灌草群落中主要植物水分来源差异及动态变化。以黄土高原典型自然恢复植物(油蒿、苜蓿与藜)为研究对象,通过减少自然降水的15%(中度干旱)与30%(极端干旱)来控制干旱程度,研究植物水分利用来源与生长对干旱胁迫的响应特征。将植被群落潜在水源划分为浅层(0—20 cm)、中层(20—60 cm)与深层(60—120 cm)土壤水,采用稳定水同位素技术与MixSIAR模型定量分析不同干旱胁迫程度(减雨30%、减雨15%与对照)下植被根系水分吸收特征。结果表明：(1)土壤水与植物水中稳定氢氧同位素值(δD和δ¹⁸O)均位于当地大气降水线的右下方,说明土壤水同位素受蒸发影响发生富集;(2)3种典型植物在遭遇干旱胁迫时,其水分利用来源均可灵活转换于不同土层之间,呈浅层土壤水分利用比例减少,中层与深层土壤水分利用比例增加的规律,且随干旱胁迫程度增大愈加明显;(3)不同植被响应干旱胁迫的水分利用策略不同,平地,减雨30%、减雨15%及CK处理下油蒿均主要利用浅层土壤水(贡献率分别为48.2%,52.7%,57.6%),而藜分别主要利用来自中层(43.5%)、浅层(4...     

古尔班通古特沙漠南缘地下水深埋区幼龄梭梭春夏季土壤水分利用动态

梭梭是古尔班通古特沙漠的建群种,为研究梭梭水分利用特征及季节变化,于2014年5月和7月利用稳定性同位素技术测量幼龄梭梭小枝木质部水、冠下0—400cm不同土层土壤水δ18 O值,采用直接对比法、平均深度模型以及Iso-Source模型对幼龄梭梭春夏季的水分来源进行分析。结果表明:幼龄梭梭冠下0—70cm土壤含水量5月显著高于7月,70cm及以下土层土壤含水量5月、7月相差不大;表层土壤水δ18 O值变化较大,5月表层土壤水δ18 O值与7月相比显著偏小;5月各土层土壤水δ18 O值变化复杂,7月各土层土壤水δ18 O值变化单一,随深度增加逐渐减小;幼龄梭梭5月主要利用0—50cm土层的土壤水,利用比例达67.5%,7月主要利用250—400cm土层的土壤水,利用比例达94.2%。     

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.