紫云英还田后不同施肥下的腐解及土壤供钾特征

采用尼龙网袋法研究了紫云英翻压后不同施肥处理下在稻田的腐解和养分释放规律,以及不同施肥处理土壤钾库的变化特征。结果表明:紫云英还田后,不同施肥处理对其腐解及养分释放无明显影响。紫云英的腐解,氮、磷、钾释放量与翻压时间的关系可用一级动力学方程拟合,不同施肥处理下紫云英最大腐解率达到64.8%~68.3%,氮、磷、钾最大累计释放率分别为84.2%~86.7%、85.3%~89.3%、89.9%~98.0%,养分释放速度表现为钾磷氮。紫云英养分释放主要集中在翻压后15 d之内,应加强水稻生育后期的养分运筹管理。紫云英短期(1个生育期)内能够活化土壤中的钾,但晚稻收获后的土壤速效钾含量明显降低,说明紫云英还田不能完全替代化学钾肥效果。在连续3年不施化学钾肥的情况下,种植紫云英还田后,不会降低早稻土壤速效钾含量,但晚稻收获后土壤速效钾含量低于施用化学钾肥处理,说明紫云英还田不能完全替代化学钾肥效果。     

紫云英翻压量对单季晚稻养分吸收和产量的影响

通过2年田间试验,研究了不同紫云英翻压量对单季晚稻养分吸收、 养分利用效率和产量的影响,并以此确定紫云英鲜草的最佳翻压量。试验设CK（不施肥）,CF（常规施化肥）和4个紫云英鲜草翻压量（30、 60、 90、 120 t/hm2）共6个处理。结果表明,在所有紫云英翻压处理中,稻谷中氮、 磷、 钾吸收量,水稻氮、 磷、 钾的养分农学利用效率和稻谷产量均以翻压紫云英鲜草60 t/hm2处理最高。与不施肥处理相比,施化肥和紫云英翻压处理分别增加稻谷产量11.8% 和7.4%1~3.5%。将紫云英作为单季晚稻的唯一肥源不会产生僵苗现象,并可获得高产。     

豫南紫云英水稻轮作区减施不同比例氮肥对水稻养分吸收和转运的影响

  【目的】  研究水稻–紫云英轮作体系中,翻压紫云英并减施氮肥对不同生育期水稻养分吸收、转运特征,以及对土壤养分状况的影响,为豫南稻区紫云英–水稻轮作模式氮肥的科学管理提供理论依据。  【方法】  长期定位试验位于河南信阳,始于2008年。试验设置不施肥对照(CK)、常规施肥(N100),以及种植并翻压紫云英条件下,氮肥为常规处理用量的100% (GN100)、80% (GN80)、60% (GN60)、40% (GN40),共6个处理。测定了水稻产量、关键生育期生物量、氮磷钾养分吸收量、土壤基础养分含量,分析了水稻养分吸收及土壤养分供应对水稻产量的影响。  【结果】  与N100处理相比,GN40、GN60、GN80和GN100处理水稻产量无显著差异,GN40和GN60处理氮肥农学效率分别增加213.41%和113.70%,GN40、GN60和GN80处理氮肥偏生产力分别增加162.17%、75.69%、34.39%。与N100处理相比,GN100和GN80处理抽穗期秸秆生物量分别增加17.22%和41.06%,成熟期秸秆生物量分别增加28.22%和20.92%。与N100处理相比,GN60、GN80和GN100处理成熟期稻谷氮吸收量分别增加31.34%、31.79%和20.13%,GN60、GN80成熟期稻谷磷吸收量分别增加14.23%和14.61%,GN80处理成熟期稻谷钾吸收量增加10.64%。与N100处理相比,GN60处理氮转运量增加12.54 kg/hm2;GN40、GN60和GN80处理磷转运量分别显著增加11.32、23.02和18.09 kg/hm2,磷转运率分别增加35.92、41.22和39.91个百分点,磷对稻谷转运贡献率分别增加39.36、74.60和57.93个百分点。与N100处理相比,GN40、GN60、GN80和GN100能充分满足水稻生长过程中对土壤无机氮需求;GN60、GN80处理分蘖期、拔节期和抽穗期土壤有效磷含量显著降低;GN40、GN60、GN80和GN100处理分蘖期、抽穗期和成熟期土壤速效钾含量显著降低。随机森林分析结果表明各生育期土壤有效磷含量和水稻分蘖期氮、磷、钾吸收量对水稻产量形成有较大的贡献。线性回归分析表明,分蘖期和抽穗期土壤养分含量以及各生育期地上部氮、磷、钾吸收量与稻谷产量呈显著正相关。  【结论】  在我国豫南紫云英–水稻轮作区,翻压紫云英配合氮肥减施40%,能够培育土壤碳、氮库,满足土壤氮素供应,促进水稻对磷、钾养分的吸收和积累,增加籽粒氮、磷、钾养分转运量,提高氮肥农学效率和偏生产力,实现水稻增产稳产。     

连年翻压紫云英对早稻田土壤性质及酶活性动态的影响

依托7年定位试验,研究翻压紫云英对土壤pH值、有机质、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾及蔗糖酶、脲酶、酸性磷酸酶活性动态的影响。试验设对照(不施化肥、不翻压紫云英)、化肥、紫云英+化肥3个处理。在紫云英翻压后2、4、8、16、32 d及早稻拔节期、孕穗期、收获期取样。结果表明,翻压紫云英对土壤性质和酶活性动态影响显著,土壤有机质、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾动态变化与紫云英养分释放规律基本一致,而蔗糖酶、脲酶、酸性磷酸酶又与土壤有机质、碱解氮、有效磷等养分的动态基本一致。与化肥处理相比,紫云英+化肥显著提高了土壤pH值;在基础土壤有机质、碱解氮较高条件下,紫云英+化肥对蔗糖酶、碱解氮、脲酶等影响不显著,但在基础土壤有效磷、速效钾较低条件下,紫云英+化肥显著提升了有效磷、酸性磷酸酶活性及速效钾含量。因此,紫云英培肥土壤明显受土壤基础养分限制。     

冬种紫云英对水稻产量及其养分吸收的影响

通过始于2008年冬季的定位试验研究了不同施肥处理下冬种紫云英对水稻产量及养分吸收的影响。结果表明:相同施肥措施下,冬种紫云英后能够提高水稻产量和地上部全氮吸收量,紫云英翻压后,减少化学氮肥用量20%～40%,不会降低稻谷和稻草产量。紫云英翻压后,N、P、K化肥100%施用的处理其水稻地上部对全N、全P、全K的吸收总量最高,分别为228.6、48.6、305.6 kg/hm2,若氮肥用量减少20%,不会对水稻地上部氮素的吸收累积产生明显影响,但当水稻季化学氮肥用量减少40%,将会明显降低水稻地上部氮素的吸收总量。紫云英翻压后,水稻不施K肥处理,其稻谷产量分别较NPK(冬种紫云英)处理和NPK(冬闲)处理降低了13.0%和3.4%;没有外源钾肥的投入,使得其水稻地上部全氮、全钾吸收总量明显下降,钾素生理效率提高,说明冬种紫云英不能完全替代化学钾肥作用。     

长期施用绿肥对红壤稻田水稻产量和土壤养分的影响

通过对26年长期定位试验结果的统计分析,结果表明:绿肥与化肥长期配合施用有利于水稻稳产增产,减少化肥的使用量,提高化肥NPK养分的农学利用效率达60%以上。26年水稻平均产量以OM3处理(紫云英+猪粪)最高,比CK增产64.47%,比NPK处理增产6.86%;其化肥养分农学效率为16.33kg/kg,比NPK处理化肥养分农学效率高118.9%。绿肥与化肥长期配合施用土壤有机质、全氮和全磷均有所积累,积累的量与肥料施用量及有机肥种类相关,以紫云英+猪粪处理最优。土壤钾素均表现亏缺,土壤全钾和速效钾均低于试验前,亏缺幅度最小的是紫云英+稻草处理,其土壤全钾和速效钾分别比对照高4.28%和13.94%。通过对土壤有机质、全氮、全磷和全钾与水稻产量关性分析,相关系数最高的为土壤全钾(r=0.808**),说明缺钾已成为限制红壤稻田高产的主要肥力因子。     

减施20%化肥下绿肥翻压量对江西双季稻产量及氮素利用的影响

  【目的】  种植绿肥是实现化肥减施的重要措施,研究稻田系统中不同绿肥翻压量对土壤供氮及主作物水稻吸氮规律的影响,以期为江西双季稻区合理利用紫云英,提高水稻产量提供理论依据。  【方法】  田间试验位于江西双季稻区。在早稻氮磷钾肥用量减施20%条件下,设置冬种并翻压紫云英鲜草15000 (G₁F₈₀)、22500 (G_1.5F₈₀)、30000 (G₂F₈₀)、37500 (G_2.5F₈₀) kg/hm2,以及冬闲且水稻不施化肥对照(CK)、冬种紫云英水稻不施化肥(GM)和冬闲常规施肥(F₁₀₀)共7个处理。分析了水稻产量、植株吸氮量、氮肥利用率,以及水稻生育期土壤无机氮含量,并分析了土壤性状和水稻产量、植株吸氮量之间的关系。  【结果】  与F₁₀₀相比,G₁F₈₀处理早稻产量显著增加11.64%;G₂F₈₀处理晚稻产量显著增加7.81%;G₁F₈₀、G_1.5F₈₀和G₂F₈₀处理双季稻总产量分别显著增加5.79%、5.38%和7.17%。其余不同紫云英翻压量处理的产量相比F₁₀₀均未降低。冬种紫云英配施80%化肥可显著提高早稻稻谷吸氮量、早稻当季氮肥利用率和早稻氮肥偏生产力,提高早稻和晚稻收获期土壤全氮和有机质含量,提升土壤肥力水平。早稻孕穗期、早稻收获期和晚稻收获期,G_2.5F₈₀处理土壤铵态氮含量均显著高于F₁₀₀处理,且为各处理中含量最高。从早稻孕穗期到早稻收获期,不同紫云英翻压量处理氮素累积速率均为正值,水稻植株吸氮量增加,而冬闲常规施肥处理氮素累积速率为负值,水稻吸氮量降低。在水稻生育期,紫云英翻压量小于22500 kg/hm2时,水稻植株吸氮量随翻压量增加而增加,而翻压量大于22500 kg/hm2时,水稻植株吸氮量明显降低。土壤速效钾含量对水稻产量和吸氮量的贡献率最大,对早稻产量和早稻吸氮量的贡献率分别为35.17%和40.16%,对晚稻产量和吸氮量的贡献率分别为21.22%和25.22%,对双季稻产量和吸氮量的贡献率分别为34.83%和27.86%。  【结论】  在减施常规量20%化肥条件下,种植翻压适量紫云英可提高早稻稻谷吸氮量,促进水稻增产。翻压高量紫云英有利于培育土壤碳库和氮库,提高土壤供氮能力。综合各项分析,在江西双季稻区紫云英翻压量为30000 kg/hm2时效果最好。     

连年翻压紫云英对稻田土壤养分和微生物学特性的影响

【目的】紫云英（Astragalus sinicus L.）是南方稻区主要的冬种绿肥作物。本研究通过紫云英-化肥配施比例不同对水稻产量、 土壤养分和微生物学特性的影响探讨化肥的合理施用量,以期最大限度地减少化肥投入。【方法】紫云英水稻长期轮作定位试验始于2009年,试验设5个处理,对照（不施紫云英和化肥,CK）,全量化肥（100%F）,紫云英18000 kg/hm2+全量化肥（MV+100%F）,紫云英18000 kg/hm2+60%化肥（MV+60%F）,单施紫云英18000 kg/hm2（MV）。每个处理3次重复,小区面积15 m2。2012年10月份于水稻收获后采集土壤样品, 测定水稻产量、 土壤养分、 微生物量碳氮、 可培养微生物数量和土壤酶活性。【结果】1）与单施化肥相比,在翻压紫云英的条件下,化肥减量40%,对水稻产量没有影响,紫云英可替代部分化肥,达到减少化肥用量,保持产量的目的。2）不同施肥制度对土壤养分含量有一定的影响。与100%F处理相比,化肥结合翻压紫云英和单施紫云英处理能够提高土壤有机质和全氮含量; 施肥模式对土壤全磷和全钾含量无显著影响。与100%F处理相比, MV+100%F处理土壤的有效氮含量显著提高; 与100%F处理相比,MV和MV+60%F处理的速效磷含量显著减少; 100%F处理的土壤速效钾含量最高。不同施肥模式对土壤pH无显著影响。3）100%F、 MV+100%F处理的细菌数量较CK分别增加了102.3% 、 138.8%,而MV+60%F和MV处理与CK无显著差异,说明细菌对土壤养分有很强的依赖性。单施化肥或单施紫云英都不利于真菌和放线菌的生长,而化肥与翻压紫云英配合能显著提高其数量。4）相关性分析可以看出,细菌数量与土壤有效氮、 速效钾、 速效磷含量呈显著或极显著正相关; 真菌和放线菌的数量与铵态氮含量呈显著或极显著正相关,说明氮、磷、钾养分对土壤细菌数量的影响较大,而真菌和放线菌的数量主要受NH+4-N的影响。5) 与100%F处理相比,化肥配施紫云英可以显著提高微生物生物碳量（SMBC）和微生物生物氮量（SMBN）的含量。6) 除了过氧化氢酶,转化酶、 脲酶和酸性磷酸酶总体表现为紫云英与化肥混施大于单施化肥或紫云英。7)土壤酶活性、微生物生物量与土壤氮素的相关性最强。土壤转化酶、脲酶和酸性磷酸酶与水稻产量呈显著或极显著正相关,说明转化酶、脲酶和酸性磷酸酶活性的大小可作为衡量水稻产量多少的依据之一。【结论】MV+60%F处理在保证水稻产量的同时能够减少40%的化肥用量,是一种高效节能的培肥模式。单施化肥不利于土壤有机质、 全氮和有效氮的积累,同时不利于微生物的生长和酶活的提高。MV+60%F 培肥模式有利于改良土壤的生物学性状,值得推广并有待今后进一步观察验证。     

紫云英翻压对稻田土壤肥力和双季稻产量的影响

基于长期定位试验研究了紫云英翻压还田与化肥配施对土壤肥力以及双季稻产量的影响。结果表明,在肥力相对较低的桐城点,经过7年紫云英翻压配施70%化肥明显提高了土壤有机质(SOM)含量。在肥力相对较高的池州点,经过3年紫云英处理的土壤SOM和全氮(TN)都显著高于单施化肥处理;且紫云英配施化肥后SOM和TN分别比单施化肥提高13.08%和6.57%,但单施紫云英处理的碱解氮和速效钾含量却低于单施化肥处理。桐城点,减施30%化肥配合紫云英处理的早晚稻及周年产量高于单施化肥,早稻增产更为显著;且产量与TN呈显著正相关。池州点,单施紫云英的早晚稻及水稻周年产量与单施化肥相比,出现明显减产。综上认为紫云英翻压还田不能完全替代化肥,但与70%化肥配施既能提升土壤肥力、又能保证水稻产量。     

稻茬高度影响轮作紫云英生长及还田效应

大田试验条件下,研究了水稻机械收割不同留茬高度(15cm 、30cm 、40cm,分别标注低茬、中茬、高茬)对轮作紫云英生长、养分积累以及翻压还田后土壤养分、化学性状和微生物量等的影响。结果表明：稻茬高度显著影响轮作紫云英生长、养分积累以及翻压还田效果。紫云英单位面积株数随留茬高度的降低而显著减少；除单株分枝数外,植株株高、茎粗、单株鲜、干重均表现为高茬处理＞中茬处理＞低茬处理,高、低茬处理间差异显著或极显著。产草量受稻茬高度影响明显,单位面积鲜、干草产量均随稻茬高度的降低而显著减少,高茬处理的紫云英鲜、干草产量均最高,分别达到19.22t.hm_^-2和3.27 t.hm_^-2,较低茬处理每公顷增加15.21 t和2.53 t。不同稻茬高度处理的紫云英植株碳及氮、磷、钾含量无显著差异,植株养分积累量则随稻茬高度增加而显著增加,各养分积累量变化趋势一致；不同处理紫云英翻压还田后土壤pH值变化差异不显著,但均较试验前略有上升；土壤电导率则表现为高茬处理大于中、低茬处理,处理间差异极显著; 翻压后土壤养分变化差异较大,各养分含量均表现为随水稻留茬高度降低而减少的趋势,高留茬处理土壤的有机质、全氮、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾含量分别较低留茬处理增加41.51%、27.35%、34.96%、68.78%、82.12%。不同处理紫云英翻压还田后,土壤可培养微生物数量存在差异。三大类微生物细菌、真菌、放线菌的数量均以高茬处理最高,除放线菌外,差异均达显著水平,其中,对细菌数量的影响最为明显,高茬处理极显著大于中、低茬处理,中、低茬处理间差异显著。综上,水稻留高茬(茬高40cm)轮作紫云英可获得较高的生物量和养分积累,翻压还田后土壤培肥效果显著优于中、低茬(茬高≦30cm)收割的处理。     

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.     

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.     

Electron donor and pH relationships for biologically enhanced dissolution of chlorinated solvent DNAPL in groundwater

Biologically enhanced dissolution offers a method to speed removal of chlorinated solvent dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) sources such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichoroethene (TCE) from aquifers. Bioremediation is accomplished by adding an electron donor to the source zone where fermentation to intermediates leading to acetic acid and hydrogen results. The hydrogen and possibly acetic acid are used by dehalogenating bacteria to convert PCE and TCE to ethene and hydrochloric acid. Reductive dehalogenation is thus an acid forming process, and sufficient alkalinity must be present to maintain a near neutral pH. The bicarbonate alkalinity required to maintain pH above 6.5 is a function of the electron donor: 800 mg/L of bicarbonate alkalinity is sufficient to achieve about 1.2 mM TCE dechlorination with glucose, 1.7 mM with lactate, and a much higher 3.3 mM with formate. Laboratory studies indicate that in mixed culture, formate can be used as an electron donor for complete conversion to ethene, contrary to pure cultures studies indicating it cannot. Various strategies can be used to add electron donor to an aquifer for DNAPL dehalogenation while minimizing pH problems and excessive electron donor usage, including use of injection-extraction wells, dual recirculation wells, and nested injection-extraction wells.     

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.