棉花膜下滴灌施肥技术的研究

通过试验表明，棉田膜下滴灌施肥，氮肥在土壤中移动性大，可以随水移动到耕层湿润峰的各个部位，而磷肥易被土壤固定，主要集中分布在0～10cm表层，向下层移动量较小。氮肥当季利用率为47．77％～53．15％。与常规施肥相比提高显著；磷肥当季利用率为18．73％～26．33％，其中磷肥采用基施配合滴施肥料当季利用率最高，比全部基施或全部滴施提高3．87～4．66个百分点；在生产中氮肥全部采用滴施是可行的，而磷肥应坚持基施为主、滴施为辅的施肥原则，基滴肥比例应根据土壤情况具体确定。     

水磷一体化对膜下滴灌棉花磷素有效性和磷肥利用率的影响

探究水肥一体化下磷肥种类和施用方式对棉花产量、磷素积累量、土壤磷素有效性和磷肥利用率的影响,以期为棉田优化磷肥施用方式提供理论依据和技术参考。田间试验于2021年在新疆昌吉州棉花主产区进行。试验设不施磷肥对照(CK)、基施重过磷酸钙(TSP)、基施磷酸一铵(MAP-B)、基施+滴施磷酸一铵(50%基施,25%+25%分别在蕾期和花铃前期)(MAP-D)、基施+滴施磷酸一铵(50%基施,25%+25%分别在蕾期和花铃前期)和聚谷氨酸(MAP-P)5个不同施肥处理,测定指标包括土壤有效磷、植株生物量、植株磷积累量和籽棉产量,并计算磷肥利用率。在棉花盛花期和盛铃期,磷肥滴施显著提高0～20 cm土层有效磷含量,0～5 cm土层尤为显著,MAP-P处理有效磷含量比CK处理分别提高136.27%和113.99%。TSP、MAP-B、MAP-D和MAP-P处理产量比CK处理分别提高17.65%、16.25%、19.37%和31.88%。棉花生育期内,磷肥滴施植株累积吸磷量高于基施,各处理植株累积吸磷量在盛铃期达最大,MAP-P处理植株累积吸磷量整体高于其余处理,在苗期、蕾期、盛花期和盛铃期比CK处理分别提高50.92%、55.38%、81.33%和84.69%。在等量施磷条件下,磷肥滴灌追施的磷肥利用率高于基施。MAP-P处理磷肥利用率、磷肥累积利用率、磷肥农学效率和磷肥偏生产力均高于其余处理,磷素表观平衡低于其余处理,磷肥利用率达33.94%,比TSP、MAP-B和MAP-D处理分别提高20.23%、25.28%和16.71%。水磷一体下,磷肥结合活化剂(聚谷氨酸)滴施显著提高土壤磷素有效性和棉花产量。MAP-P处理提高了棉花产量和磷肥利用率,减少了土壤磷素的盈余。     

荔枝钾氮肥滴施比例及施肥方式对土壤pH和盐分的影响

灌溉施肥引起的土壤酸化和次生盐渍化问题是限制其可持续应用的重要因素。2013 ~ 2018年在海南省澄迈县进行了荔枝滴灌施肥试验,探讨在磷肥土施条件下以不同比例滴施钾氮肥（K₂O/N = 0.6、0.8、1.0和1.2）及在K₂O/N = 1.0条件下以不同方式施肥（磷肥土施而钾氮肥滴施、全部肥料滴施及全部肥料土施）对砖红壤荔枝园0 ~ 30和30 ~ 50 cm土层土壤pH和盐分的影响。结果表明,连续5年以不同比例滴施钾氮肥,土壤pH、盐分及盐分阳离子（K+、Ca2+和Mg2+）和阴离子（Cl?、NO₃?、SO₄2?和HCO₃?）含量变化与钾氮肥比例之间均缺乏密切关系。然而,在试验结束时,偏施氮肥（钾氮肥滴施比例为0.6）由于促进Ca2+在两个土层的淋失而降低土壤pH,而合理滴施钾氮肥（钾氮肥比例为1.0）则稍提高土壤pH,对盐分及盐分阴阳离子含量影响则未达显著水平。全部肥料土施比全部肥料滴施有利于盐分阳离子的保存,对盐分阴离子的影响则不大,从而也有利于维持土壤pH。在荔枝滴灌施肥中,可将钾氮肥以1∶1的比例滴施且将磷肥土施,即使在降雨丰沛的荔枝产区长期应用,也可避免土壤酸化及次生盐渍化。     

化肥配施添加剂NAM对棉花干物质、产量及养分吸收的影响

通过田间小区试验,研究化肥配施添加剂NAM对棉花干物质、产量及养分吸收的影响。结果表明,与常规施肥相比,常规施肥配施NAM处理均能够显著提高棉花干物质量,增加单株铃数,皮棉产量增加9.62%~10.20%,氮肥利用率提高9.76~10.52个百分点,磷肥利用率提高11.46~13.15个百分点,但在添加NAM情况下,氮肥全部基施与70%氮肥基施+30%氮肥追施2种施肥方式间没有显著差异。常规施肥量的80%配施NAM与常规施肥处理产量相当,但提高氮磷肥的利用率。     

冬小麦节水灌溉制度下不同施氮量的氮素平衡

用15N示踪技术研究了节水灌溉条件下冬小麦对不同施氮量的氮素吸收和氮素平衡 ,并比较了两种灌溉制度下小麦对节肥施氮量的吸收动态。结果表明 ,与常规施氮量处理相比 ,节水灌溉条件下节肥施氮量处理的氮肥损失率降低 ,氮肥当季利用率和土壤残留率提高 ;基施氮肥的利用率高于追施氮肥 ;土壤肥料氮的残留率在 2 9%～ 41 %之间 ,分布于 1m土层中 ,其中60 %以上集中在 0～ 2 0cm土层 ;在整个小麦生长季内 ,肥料氮并没有淋洗到 1 30m以下。节肥施氮量在常规灌溉下的当季利用率比在节水灌溉下降低 1 6 6%。     

施肥对大豆产量、效益及养分平衡影响的研究

采用田间小区试验方法研究了平衡施肥对宝清县大豆产量、效益、土壤-作物养分收支平衡状况的影响。试验结果表明,磷肥是限制宝清县大豆高产的第一要素,其次是钾肥和氮肥。与最佳施肥处理相比,不施氮肥大豆减产16.4%,少收入1 801元/hm2;不施磷肥减产30.0%,少收入3 288元/hm2;不施钾肥减产25.9%,少收入2 940元/hm2;不施肥处理减产21.9%,少收入1 729元/hm2。最佳施肥处理大豆产量最高,虽与农民习惯施肥处理比较,未达到显著差异水平,但经济效益显著。在该试验条件下氮肥利用率为39.8%,磷肥利用率为25.7%,钾肥利用率为49.5%。平衡施肥是提高作物产量、效益及肥料利用率的必要措施。     

盐渍化灌区不同水肥条件向日葵氮磷利用率及淋失规律

针对内蒙古河套灌区水肥利用率低、土壤盐渍化严重的现状,采用田间试验研究不同处理(常规灌水施肥、节水节氮、常规灌水不施肥)对向日葵产量、株高、生物量、氮肥利用率、磷肥利用率的影响,分析土壤剖面N、P分布情况及田间N、P流失途径、流失量。结果表明,葵花田在当地常规灌水施氮的基础上节氮节水各20%后,向日葵氮的利用率提高了36.15%,流失的氮素显著低于常规灌水施氮处理。因此,试验区具有很大的节氮空间,优化施氮技术应大力推广。氮肥在淋洗过程中大部分会随渗漏液淋失,而磷肥随渗漏液流失量较小。     

氮肥减施对稻-麦轮作体系作物氮素吸收、利用和土壤氮素平衡的影响

田间试验研究了稻-麦轮作体系中减施氮肥对作物氮素吸收、利用和土壤氮素平衡的影响。结果表明,与当地习惯施肥(小麦:N 225 kg/hm2,基肥与分蘖肥各半;水稻:N 210 kg/hm2,基肥和分蘖肥为3∶2)相比,减氮20%～30%处理产量并没有降低,而氮肥当季利用率、氮素农学利用率以及氮素偏因子生产力则有所增加;而且,氮肥分次追施,能增加子粒产量,并减少氮肥成本。虽然减氮20%～30%处理0—40 cm土层无机氮含量较习惯施肥处理降低,但是并没有降低植株地上部对氮素的吸收。在小麦和水稻收获期,减施氮肥处理0—100 cm土壤无机氮残留量低于习惯施肥处理;且稻-麦轮作系统中氮的表观损失主要发生在水稻季。初步认为,在长江中下游平原稻-麦轮作体系氮素过量施用地区,第一个轮作周期减施氮肥20%～30%不仅不影响产量,而且可提高氮素利用率,有利于保护环境。     

黄土塬区旱作农田长期定位施肥对冬小麦水分利用的影响

对长期定位施肥试验第22年度的测定数据进行了分析,探讨了旱地施肥对冬小麦水分利用的影响。试验结果表明,测定年份冬小麦的耗水深度受播种前雨季降雨入渗深度的影响位于地下200 cm左右。长期施肥单施磷肥处理,播种期土壤有效贮水量与不施肥的对照接近,而单施氮肥,氮磷配施和氮磷钾配施均显著低于对照;在施P2O5 90 kg/hm2配施氮肥或施N 90 kg/hm2配施磷肥,随着施氮量或施磷量从0增加到180 kg/hm2,播种期土壤有效贮水量均逐渐降低,但前者作物的土壤水分消耗表现出降低趋势,而后者表现出增加趋势。与对照相比,各施肥处理均提高了土壤有效底墒的利用率。氮磷配施比单施磷肥降低了土壤供水占作物耗水的比例,使得作物生长和产量的形成对当季降水的依赖性增加。与对照相比,氮磷配施及氮磷钾配施显著提高了冬小麦收获指数、产量和水分利用效率,而单施磷肥和氮肥使收获指数、产量和水分利用效率显著降低。施P2O5 90 kg/hm2的条件下,不同施氮量之间收获指数差异较小,而产量和水分利用效率均高于单施磷肥;施N 90 kg/hm2的条件下,不同施磷量作物的收获指数、产量和水分利用效率均得到提高。     

棉花高产和磷高效的磷肥基施追施配合技术研究

【目的】 本文比较了不同磷肥基施、追施比例对棉花生物量、产量及养分吸收的影响，以优化新疆膜下滴灌棉花的磷肥施用技术。 【方法】 2009—2011年连续三年进行了田间试验。试验共设3个处理:不施磷肥，磷肥全部基施，磷肥滴灌追施 (2009、2010年为磷肥50%基施和50%滴灌追施，2011年为磷肥65%基施和35%滴灌追施)，追施的磷肥分2次在棉花蕾期和初花期随水施入。各处理的氮、钾肥用量相同，氮肥全部滴灌追施，钾肥全部基施。棉花成熟期测定了棉株生物量、籽棉产量和磷肥的利用率。 【结果】 施用磷肥显著提高了棉花地上部生物量，与不施磷肥相比，磷肥基施显著增加了棉花的叶、茎、籽和纤维的生物量，分别增加15%、9%、9%和11%，磷肥滴灌追施显著增加了叶、茎、壳、籽和纤维的生物量，分别增加21%、23%、21%、12%和13%。施用磷肥能够显著提高棉花产量，与不施磷肥相比，磷肥全部基施籽棉平均增产8%，磷肥滴灌追施籽棉平均增产13%，而磷肥滴灌追施的产量比磷肥全部基施提高5%。施用磷肥显著增加了棉花的磷素吸收量，磷肥全部基施的磷肥平均利用率为18%，而磷肥滴灌追施的磷肥平均利用率为23%。磷肥35%滴灌追施的增产率和磷肥利用率分别为18%和24%，50%滴灌追施处理两者分别为11%和22%。 【结论】 与不施磷肥相比，磷肥全部基施与部分磷肥滴灌追施都能显著提高棉花生物量和产量，增加磷素吸收量，而磷肥部分滴灌追施的效果优于磷肥全部基施，磷肥65%基施和35%滴灌追施的增产效果好于50%基施和50%滴灌追施。      

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Effect of some fungicide seed treatments on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybean [Glycine max. (L) Merr.]

Several commercial fungicide seed treatments were evaluated for their possible effect on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum on seeds and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans in a greenhouse and a field experiment. quinolate Pro (carbendazim and oxine copper), Vitavax 200FF (carboxin and thiram), and Monceren (pencycuron) had a small effect or no effect on the survival of B. japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans. They can thus be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation. Germipro UFB (carbendazim and iprodione), Apron 35J (metalaxyl), and Tachigaren (hymexazol) decreased B. japonicum survival and the nodulation and yield of soybeans and thus cannot be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation.