长期定位施肥条件下作物光谱特征及养分吸收量预测

为了明确不同施肥条件下典型生育期冬小麦和夏玉米冠层光谱特征差异,该研究以长期定位施肥试验为研究对象,在确定典型生育期作物冠层光谱反射率与收获期作物地上部分主要养分吸收量相关性的基础上,建立收获期作物主要养分吸收量预测模型。结果表明,可见光波段相似生育期夏玉米冠层光谱反射率与冬小麦相近,但在近红外区域平均高于冬小麦8.42%。生育中期2种作物秸秆、籽粒及地上部分氮(N)、磷(P)、钾(K)吸收量与冠层光谱反射率在可见光波段普遍呈极显著负相关关系,在近红外波段呈极显著正相关关系。全生育期夏玉米冠层光谱反射率与作物吸氮量的相关系数在可见光波段基本持平,但在近红外波段平均高于冬小麦0.4152。全生育期夏玉米冠层反射率与地上部分吸磷量的相关系数在可见光波段和近红外区域较冬小麦平均分别低0.3621和0.2072。全生育期夏玉米冠层光谱反射率与地上部分吸钾量相关系数在可见光波段平均低于冬小麦0.1270,在近红外波段高于冬小麦0.0341。除夏玉米吸磷量外,基于冬小麦和夏玉米典型生育期冠层光谱反射率建立的模型均可准确预测收获期作物主要养分吸收量,且对冬小麦养分吸收量的预测精度略高于夏玉米,该结论可以为黄淮海地区冬小麦和夏玉米的长势监测和肥料管理提供科学依据。     

干旱区棉花冠层高光谱反射特征研究

为揭示棉花冠层高光谱特征,建立棉花高光谱估算模型,促进高光谱技术在棉花长势监测和估产中的应用。基于新疆棉花生长发育规律,对棉花各生育期冠层进行高光谱反射率的测定,研究不同灌水量、氮素营养条件及品种对棉花冠层光谱反射特性的影响。结果表明:在可见光区(400-700nm),适度缺氮(N1)条件下的棉花冠层光谱反射率相对较高,而氮过量(N3)条件下的冠层光谱反射率相对较低;随着灌水量的增加,在近红外波段(700-800nm),棉花冠层光谱反射率呈上升趋势,在盛蕾期和盛花期不同灌水量处理的光谱反射率差异明显;不同棉花品种冠层光谱反射率存在一定差异,在近红外区新陆早13与新陆早10只在吐絮后期光谱反射率差异不明显,在前3个生育期差异较明显。     

玉米冠层叶片光谱反射率与玉米长势空间变异的关系

为了寻找一种快捷获取玉米叶绿素空间分布信息的方法,研究了玉米苗期冠层叶片光谱反射率的变化特征,分析了不同生长阶段冠层叶片光谱反射率的空间分布和叶绿素质量浓度的空间分布.研究结果表明:玉米苗期冠层叶片叶绿素的质量浓度空间分布不均匀.冠层叶片的叶绿素质量浓度与光谱指数RVI的相关性较低,与归一化差异植被指数NDV1值和550 nm波段的反射率均有较高的相关性.分析550nm波段的反射率值与冠层叶片叶绿素质量浓度值的相关关系,显示二者成负相关变化趋势,相关系数绝对值在0.69～0.88范围随着生长期的变化而逐渐增大,五叶期前期的相关性系数绝对值达到苗期最大值,表明550 nm波段反射率值能够较好的反映玉米苗期叶绿素质量浓度的水平,分析和掌握550 nm波段反射率值的变化及其空间分布特性对快速监测玉米苗期生长状况,对指导田间施肥具有重要意义.     

高光谱反射率与大豆叶面积及地上鲜生物量的相关分析

以ASD FieldSpec光谱仪实测了不同生长季大豆的冠层高光谱,同期采集了对应大豆LAI、地上鲜生物量。逐波段分析了冠层光谱反射率、导数光谱与大豆LAI、地上鲜生物量的相关关系;采用单变量线性回归逐波段分析了冠层光谱反射率、导数光谱与大豆LAI、地上鲜生物量确定性系数随波长的变化趋势;并建立了以近红外与可见光波段的冠层光谱反射率的比值植被指数RVI与大豆LAI、地上鲜生物量的高光谱遥感估算模型。结果表明,冠层光谱反射率在350～680 nm、760～1050 nm波谱区与大豆LAI、地上鲜生物量相关性     

UV-B增强下施硅对水稻冠层反射光谱特征的影响

通过田间试验,在UV-B增强和施硅条件下,利用ASD便携式手持光谱仪在水稻分蘖期、拔节期、抽穗期和灌浆期选择典型晴天观测冠层光谱曲线,通过计算一阶导数曲线分析光谱的红边参数特征。UV-B辐射设2个水平,即对照(自然光,ambient UV-B,A)和UV-B增强(比自然光增强20%,elevated UV-B,E);施硅设2个水平,即不施硅和施硅(硅酸钠,200kg SiO_2·hm~(-2))。结果表明:UV-B增强下水稻叶面积指数(LAI)和叶绿素含量(SPAD值)降低,而施硅可提高叶面积指数(LAI)和SPAD值,缓解UV-B增强对水稻生长的抑制作用。各处理间水稻冠层光谱的差异主要体现在近红外波段,UV-B增强使水稻近红外波段反射率降低,施硅使近红外波段反射率上升。UV-B增强使水稻光谱红边位置蓝移,施硅使红边位置红移。随着生育期推移,水稻光谱红边位置、红边幅值和红边面积均呈现先增后减的趋势,且在拔节期达最大。     

典型龟裂碱土土壤光谱特征影响因素研究

为了提高基于土壤光谱特征预测土壤盐渍化程度的准确性,需要研究土壤光谱特征的因素影响。该文通过对野外、室内预处理、不同含水率、粒径和粗糙度条件下龟裂碱土表层土壤光谱的测定,系统研究了不同因素对龟裂碱土光谱特征的影响。结果表明:土壤碱化程度越强表层土壤光谱反射率越高,在450~925 nm范围内,碱土表层野外光谱反射率比重度、中度、轻度碱化土壤和非碱化土壤野外光谱反射率高7.36%、23.18%、32.10%和39.97%;765、945和974 nm附近是龟裂碱土盐渍化信息的敏感波段;相同土壤经过室内预处理后反射率明显低于野外土壤,且预处理后不同碱化程度土壤间光谱反射率差异也小于野外光谱。土壤含水率较低时,随着土壤含水率的增加土壤光谱反射率逐渐降低,但当含水率高于田间持水率时土壤反射率随土壤含水率的增加而增加,在整个研究波段含水率为26.45%时土壤反射率较含水率为22.33%和25.39%的反射率平均分别升高39.68%和19.79%。土壤粒径越小反射率越高,较大粒径土壤在760~768 nm形成独特的"双峰"现象。土壤粒径越大反射率受表面粗糙度的影响越小,且土壤表面越粗糙光谱吸收率越大。整体来讲,在450~1000 nm波段范围内,不同碱化程度的龟裂碱土野外表层土壤光谱特征差异显著;室内经过预处理后的龟裂碱土土壤光谱特征差异主要取决于土壤含水率,而碱化程度和土壤表面粗糙度的变化对其影响较小。该研究可以为龟裂碱土盐渍化信息的准确预测提供科学依据。     

苗期低温胁迫对“红颜”草莓叶绿素含量及冠层高光谱的影响

2020年9月−2021年1月以“红颜”（Fragaria×ananassa Duch “Benihope”）草莓为试材，在南京信息工程大学开展低温环境控制试验。设置21℃（日最高气温）/11℃（日最低气温）、18℃/8℃、15℃/5℃和12℃/2℃共4个低温处理，持续时间设置3d、6d、9d、12d共4个水平，以25℃/15℃为对照（CK）。测定草莓叶片叶绿素含量以及冠层高光谱反射率，研究低温胁迫对草莓叶绿素含量及冠层反射光谱的影响，筛选出叶绿素含量估算模型的敏感波段与特征参数。结果表明：（1）同一低温条件下，草莓叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素b和总叶绿素(a+b)等参数随着胁迫天数的延长而减少；同一胁迫天数下，温度越低其含量越低，即低温胁迫程度越大叶绿素含量下降幅度也越大。（2）不同温度同一胁迫天数处理草莓苗期冠层光谱反射率变化规律大致相同。在可见光区域草莓冠层反射光谱曲线均存在绿峰和红谷，在近红外反射平台随着温度降低，光谱反射率数值逐渐增大，即反射平台逐渐增高。（3）草莓冠层一阶微分光谱曲线变化较剧烈，有明显波峰和波谷，在红边范围内偶有双峰现象。随着低温胁迫程度的加深，一阶微分光谱最高峰的值越高，草莓冠层光谱的近红外反射率升高，红边位置蓝移，之后该峰值逐渐降低，红边位置红移。（4）草莓叶绿素(a+b)含量与冠层原始光谱反射率的相关系数均呈负相关，与原始光谱的近红外波段反射率的相关性明显高于可见光波段。叶绿素(a+b)含量与原始光谱反射率相关性较好，均达到显著水平，其中737nm波段相关系数达到最大，因此可以用其作为敏感波段对叶绿素含量进行预测。叶绿素(a+b)含量与植被指数中的DVI、MSAVI、PVI、RDVI、SAVI和TSAVI的相关性达极显著水平，可以选其作为特征参数对叶绿素含量进行预测。     

水稻冠层光谱反射特征及其与叶面积指数关系研究

在水稻试验小区,通过人为控制的方法造成施N水平的差异,对水稻整个生长期内冠层光谱进行了比较系统、密集的测定,并测定了水稻几个重要生育期的叶面积指数。结果表明:随着施N水平的提高,水稻冠层光谱在各生育期呈现出一定的规律性,在近红外部分(760 ~ 1220 nm),冠层光谱反射率随着施N水平的提高而升高,而在可见光部分(460 ~ 710 nm),水稻冠层的光谱反射率反而逐渐降低。冠层光谱经差异显著性检验发现:水稻灌浆期以前,对施N水平最为敏感的波段是绿光(560 ~ 610 nm)和近红外(710 ~ 760 nm)部分;转换为归一化植被指数(NDVI)以后,差异最显著的是 (R760 - R560) / (R760 R560)。对叶面积指数与冠层光谱反射率的相关分析结果表明:在水稻抽穗期以前,叶面积与冠层光谱反射率相关性较差;而抽穗期以后,二者有较好的相关性。     

大豆叶绿素含量高光谱反演模型研究

叶绿素是植物体进行光合作用、进行第一性生产的重要物质，能够间接反映植被的健康状况与光合能力，同时也能反映植被受环境胁迫后的生理状态。高光谱遥感为快速、大面积监测植被的叶绿素变化提供了可能。该研究实测了不同水肥耦合作用下，大豆冠层的高光谱反射率与叶绿素含量数据，对二者进行了相关分析；采用特定叶绿素敏感波段建立了植被指数叶绿素估算模型；最后采用相关系数较大的波段作为神经网络模型的输入变量进行了叶绿素含量的估算。经对比发现叶绿素A、B与光谱反射率在可见光与近红外波段的相关系数的变化趋势基本一致，在可见光谱波段呈负相关，近红外波段呈正相关，红边处相关系数由负变正。特定色素植被指数可以提高大豆叶绿素估算精度(R²>0.736)，但是人工神经网络模型可以大大提高大豆叶绿素含量的估算水平，当隐藏层节点数为4时，R²大于0.94，随着隐藏层节点数的增加，R²可高达0.99，表明神经网络模型可以大大提升高光谱反演大豆叶绿素含量的能力。     

不同生育期水稻叶面积指数的高光谱遥感估算模型

2011年和2012年通过大田试验,利用便携式野外光谱仪实测水稻冠层不同生育时期的高光谱数据,同时使用SUNSCAN冠层分析系统采集水稻冠层叶面积指数（LAI）;采用光谱微分技术和统计分析技术,分别分析高光谱反射率及其植被指数与LAI之间的关系,建立LAI估算模型并进行模拟结果对比。结果表明：水稻抽穗-成熟期,利用光谱值的对数形式对LAI值的模拟效果较好,分蘖-抽穗期利用光谱反射率模拟LAI变化过程的效果不理想。 在利用各种植被指数估算LAI方法中,水稻分蘖-抽穗期以修改型土壤调整植被指数MSAVI[758,805]对LAI的估算效果最好,模拟值与实测值的相关系数通过了0.01水平的显著性检验（R=0.7754）,估算精度较高。在抽穗-成熟期,也以修改型土壤调整植被指数MSAVI[758,817]对LAI的模拟效果最好,模拟值与实测值的相关系数通过了0.01水平的显著性检验（R=0.6488）,估算精度较高。说明修改型土壤调整植被指数（MSAVI）能更好地模拟水稻不同生育期的叶面积指数,按照分蘖-抽穗期、抽穗-成熟期两个生育阶段分别建立水稻冠层LAI的高光谱估算模型能够提高LAI估算的准确度,研究结果也证实了分生育阶段建模的必要性。     

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.