耕作对坡耕地水土流失和冬小麦产量的影响

在模拟降雨和自然降雨条件下研究长期（6年）定位耕作措施对豫西早区坡耕地水分保持、土壤流失以及冬小麦产量的影响。耕作措施包括少耕、免耕覆盖、深松覆盖和常规耕作。田间模拟降雨试验用来测定不同耕作措施对径流和土壤流失的影响，自然降雨小区主要用来验证模拟试验结果，同时测定不同耕作措施对冬小麦产量的影响。模拟试验结果表明：不同耕作措施下的土壤饱和导水率没有明显差异，雨前土壤含水量和降雨强度均显著影响地表径流。在试验条件下，免耕覆盖处理未产生径流和土壤流失，水土保持效果最好。与常规耕作比较，深松覆盖处理分别减少径流和土壤流失50％和90％。尽管少耕可以有效降低土壤流失，但其产生的径流量和常规耕作相近。在自然降雨条件下，免耕覆盖和深松覆盖的水土保持效果从第3年开始显著。深松覆盖在任何年型均能够显著提高冬小麦的产量。相比较常规耕作，深松覆盖平均增产9．4％。免耕覆盖除丰水年也能显著提高冬小麦产量．但增产效果不如深松覆盖显著。少耕无明显增产效果。由于产量对农民来说是评判一个耕作措施效果的重要依据，同时考虑到深松覆盖显著的水土保持效果，我们认为深松覆盖是适合当地早作农业的一个有效耕作措施。     

保护性耕作对豫西黄土坡耕地降水产流、土壤水分入渗及分配的影响

利用长期定位试验(1999~2007年),在豫西旱区坡度为8°的黄土坡耕地上,研究了免耕覆盖、深松覆盖和传统耕作不同耕作措施对降水产流、土壤水分入渗及分配的影响。结果表明:(1)免耕覆盖和深松覆盖延迟产流时间,缩短降水结束后径流持续时间,径流系数较传统耕作分别减少了97.49%和81.20%,径流量和土壤侵蚀量减少80%以上。免耕覆盖水土保持效果最好,在降雨强度为123 mm/h、历时40 min产生微弱水土流失。(2)传统耕作的土壤水分入渗速率初始最大,随后急剧下降,至4 min降至最低。在3~60 min入渗速率稳定过程,免耕覆盖和深松覆盖平均入渗速率相同,为0.07 mm/s,是传统耕作的1.40倍。免耕覆盖土壤水分入渗速率变化比较平缓,稳定入渗速率最大。(3)在土壤初始含水量较高、降水(74.2 mm)结束1 h后,2种保护性耕作水分下渗的土层深度比传统耕作的高出30~40 cm,160 cm土体降水的贮蓄量增量是传统耕作的2倍多。     

残茬覆盖与耕作方式对土壤性状及夏玉米水分利用效率的影响

采用田间和小面积模拟降水试验的方法,对小麦机械收获后残茬覆盖与不覆盖两种条件下免耕、翻耕和间隔深松3种土壤耕作方式夏玉米田的土壤物理性状和水分利用效率进行了研究。结果表明,残茬覆盖与深松相结合,可平衡和改善耕层土壤温度状况,在土壤温度较低时具有保温作用,在土壤温度较高时具有降温作用;可以增加土壤的蓄水和保水能力,模拟降水后24 h测定1 m土层含水量比免耕不盖多26.1 mm,全生育期平均耕层土壤含水量比免耕不覆盖高9.37%;土壤通透性也得到改善;最终水分利用效率比免耕不盖提高25.26%。     

黑土坡耕地不同水土保持措施的土壤水蚀特征研究

针对北方干旱地区坡耕地严重的水土流失问题,采取垄向区田、深松、横坡种植、免耕播种等水土保持耕作措施,于2010年,以黑龙江省齐齐哈尔市东兴村5°坡耕地径流场为研究对象,研究了不同耕作措施对地表径流、土壤侵蚀和降雨入渗的影响。结果表明,这几种水土保持耕作措施均有不同程度的减流减沙作用,其中横坡种植效果最为明显,地表径流量和土壤流失量较常规耕作分别减少了92%和90%,稳定入渗率较常规耕作提高了41.2%。不同耕作措施的径流系数过程线的变化、径流含沙率变化以及产流量、产沙量的变化均符合横坡免耕>横坡种植>深松+区田>垄向区田>少耕深松>免耕>常规耕作>裸地这一变化规律。     

保护性耕作冬小麦产量及土壤水分变化研究

利用长期定位试验(1999~2009年),在豫西旱区坡度为8°的黄土坡耕地上,研究了连续10年来免耕覆盖、深松覆盖和传统耕作不同耕作措施对冬小麦产量及土壤水分变化的影响。结果表明:(1)保护性耕作的实施随着年份的增加表现出增产效果,欠水年增产显著,丰水年增产较少,免耕覆盖和深松覆盖增产效应不同。其中免耕覆盖在5年以后表现稳定增产,产量幅度为3857~5547 kg hm-2,10年间平均增产4.42%。深松覆盖在所有年份均表现增产,10年间有9年较传统显著增产,增产幅度为5.2%~20.9%,产量幅度为4593~5844 kg hm-2,10年间平均增产8.67%。(2)在半湿润的豫西北旱区年降水量总体呈下降趋势的情况下,夏休闲期和小麦生育期免耕覆盖和深松覆盖下土壤含水量均高于传统耕作,在干旱年份差异更明显。(3)免耕覆盖和深松覆盖下土壤水分垂直变化的变异系数高于传统耕作,且有随着土层深度的增加而增加的趋势,说明二者有利于降水的入渗和蓄水保墒。(4)深松覆盖和免耕覆盖可有效提高土壤水分利用效率,干旱年份其水分利用效率提高的幅度也较大。10年免耕覆盖水分利用效率平均提高0.02 kg m-3,深松覆盖水分利用效率平均提高0.05 kg m-3。     

中国北方保护性耕作条件下深松效应与经济效益研究

保护性耕作技术是适应中国北方农业发展的一种新型耕作技术，它可以通过深松作业来消除因多年免耕出现的土壤变硬问题。目前对保护性耕作条件下深松的效应和经济效益缺乏深入的研究，在玉米深松过程中还出现的伤苗，功耗大和经济效益低等问题。该文试验研究了在中国北方保护性耕作示范基地上，从1993年开始，通过10多年的时间对保护性耕作条件下的深松效应，测定了传统耕作、深松覆盖和免耕覆盖3种不同耕作方式下的土壤容重、含水率，水分利用率和产量等数据，试验结果表明，在保护性耕作条件下，每4年对土壤深松一次可以解决土壤变硬问题，持续保持作物高的水分利用率和产量，并不需要年年深松。相对深松覆盖(年年深松)，4年免耕覆盖＋1年深松的耕作方式能提高25%左右的经济效益。同时，针对玉米深松过程中的问题，提出了玉米免耕播种和深松联合作业的方案，试验表明，玉米免耕播种和深松联合作业能有效解决玉米深松过程中出现的一系列问题，促进玉米生长，提高玉米产量，建议在中国北方玉米产区推广这一联合作业技术。     

不同地表覆盖下冻融土壤入渗能力及入渗参数（英）

为了研究不同地表覆盖下冻融土壤入渗能力的差异和入渗参数的变化规律,进行了一系列裸地、地膜覆盖地和秸秆覆盖地土壤田间入渗试验。研究表明,冻土的入渗能力主要受冻层的控制,冻层是入渗水分的控制界面,土壤冻融特征差异是影响不同地表覆盖下土壤入渗能力大小的主导因素。冻融土壤的水分入渗过程可用三参数考斯加科夫土壤入渗经验模型描述。水分入渗开始 1 min内的累积入渗量大小随着冻层厚度和密实度的增加而减小,随着土壤冻融循环次数增加而增大;入渗能力的衰减率随着冻层厚度和密实度的增加而减小;稳定入渗率大小主要取决于土壤冻结状态和入渗锋面处的水力特性。三入渗参数均与土壤含水率和冻结深度有关,不同地表覆盖下的土壤入渗参数随着冻层深度的增加而减小,随着土壤的消融解冻而增大。该研究成果对农业生产实际和水土保持具有重要的指导意义。     

季节性冻融条件下草地入渗特性的试验研究

通过对比分析季节性冻融条件下草地与裸地入渗试验结果,得到了草地冻融条件下的入渗规律。结果表明,在冻融各阶段,地表0~40 cm深度范围内,草地地温均高于裸地,但土壤含水率低于裸地;在土壤初冻和融化阶段,草地入渗90 min累积入渗量大于裸地,但其初始入渗强度小于裸地初始入渗强度;在土壤完全处于冻结状态时,草地与裸地的入渗过程、入渗量基本相同。研究结果为草地冻融土壤入渗特性的进一步研究奠定基础,为区域水土保持与生态修复工程及季节性冻土区冬春灌溉提供参考。     

不同轮耕模式对旱地土壤结构及入渗蓄水特性的影响

为了探索免耕与深松隔年轮耕对土壤结构及入渗蓄水性能的影响,2007-2010年在宁南旱区采用免耕/深松/免耕、深松/免耕/深松与连年翻耕3种耕作模式,对土壤体积质量、团聚体、入渗率及水分利用效率等方面的影响进行了研究。结果表明:与连年翻耕相比,免耕/深松/免耕、深松/免耕/深松处理使0～60cm各土层土壤体积质量平均降低3.5%、6.2%(P<0.05);使0～20cm土层>0.25mm机械稳定性团聚体数量平均分别增加10.3%(P<0.05)和20.3%(P<0.01),>20～40cm土层分别平均增加17.2%(P<0.05)和23.6%(P<0.01)。免耕/深松/免耕处理0～10cm和>30～40cm土层的水稳性团聚体稳定率分别比连年翻耕提高35.1%和45.8%(P<0.05),深松/免耕/深松处理>10～20cm和>20～30cm土层水稳性团聚体稳定率分别提高101.7%和61.7%(P<0.01)。不同轮耕模式显著增强了土壤的入渗性能,提高对土壤水分的有效利用及降水利用率,免耕/深松/免耕、深松/免耕/深松处理降雨入渗率较连年翻耕分别提高35.2%和15.3%(P<0.05),水分利用效率平均提高7.2%和7.7%(P<0.05),降水生产效率平均提高9.6%和10.7%(P<0.05)。     

免耕覆盖玉米秸秆对旱塬地土壤环境的影响

免耕覆盖试验结果表明,免耕覆盖玉米秸秆４５００ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２以上的处理比传统耕作玉米增产２２．１５％～２５．６５％,土壤水分利用效率提高２．９６２５ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２;ｍｍ。春播前０～２００ｃｍ支速动易效水含量比传统耕作增加１７．０２～４７．９ｍｍ,距地表５ｃｍ、１０ｃｍ、１５ｃｍ处的地积温与秸秆覆盖量呈极显著直线负相关关系。０～１０ｃｍ圭层土壤容竽 随秸秆覆盖量增加而砬小,土壤有机质、全Ｎ、速效磷与     

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.