生长因子对卵母细胞体外成熟及早期胚胎体外发育的影响

为了探讨生长因子（ＥＧＦ，ＰＤＧＦ）对牛卵母细胞体外成熟与早期胚胎体外发育的影响，本研究进行了两个实验。实验１：在卵母细胞体外成熟（ＩＶＭ）中，将卵母细胞平均随机的放入表皮生长因子浓度为０，２．５，２５，５０μｇ／Ｌ的成熟培养液和对照组中。实验２：在早期胚胎体外培养（ＩＶＣ）过程中，将受精卵平均随机分配入５个不同培养液的处理组：（１）ＴＣＭ－１９９＋１０％阉公牛血清（ＳＳ）；（２）ＴＣＭ－１９９＋ＥＧＦ＋ＰＤＧＦ；（３）ＴＣＭ－１９９＋ＥＧＦ；（４）ＴＣＭ－１９９＋ＰＤＧＦ；（５）ＴＣＭ－１９９＋无生长因子、其中ＥＧＦ：５０μｇ／Ｌ，ＰＤＧＦ：０．１μｇ／Ｌ。２，３，４，５组有０．１％ＰＶＡ和０．３％ＢＳＡ，并与颗粒细胞单层协同培养。卵母细胞的体外成熟（ＩＶＭ）、体外受精（ＩＶＦ）和早期胚胎体外培养（ＩＶＣ）的方法与Ｌｕ等（１９８７）报道的相同。结果表明：浓度为５０μｇ／Ｌ的处理组分裂率与对照组无差异（８９．０％，９２．４％，Ｐ＞０．０５），而浓度为０，２．５，２５μｇ／Ｌ的处理组分裂率均显著低于对照组（７８．６％，８２．３％，８４．３％，Ｐ＜０．０５），在囊胚率和第７ｄ一级胚胎率上各组均无差异。ＥＧＦ在体     

低剂量γ射线辐照对鸡胚胎发育的刺激效应

用０．５，１．０，Ｇｙ＾６０Ｃｏγ射线孵前辐照滨白蛋鸡和ＡＡ肉鸡商品代种蛋，孵化试验表明，低剂量γ射线照射对鸡胚胎发育有明显的刺激效应，使一些在孵化中不能发育的受精卵得到正常发育，滨白蛋鸡辐照组种蛋胚胎发育的卵数比对照组高５．４６％～６．７２％（Ｐ〈０．０１），孵化率比对照组高４．４％（Ｐ〈０．０１）。ＡＡ肉鸡种蛋辐射组胚胎发育的卵数比对照高５．４６％～５．５４％（Ｐ〈０．０１），孵化率０．５Ｇｙ     

GnRH－A诱导泰和鸡母鸡排卵的生殖内分泌机制

本试验研究了促性腺激素释放激素类似物───［Ｄ－Ｌｅｕ￣６，Ｐｒｏ￣９］－ＧｎＲＨＮ－乙酰胺（ＧｎＲＨ－Ａ）诱导泰和鸡母鸡排卵的生理效应，藉此探讨其生殖内分泌机制。结果表明：（１）ＧｎＲＨ－Ａ具有显著刺激母鸡生殖器官发育的效应，导致母鸡卵巢、输卵管以及肝重增加（Ｐ＜０．０１），但对鸡体重没有显著的影响（Ｐ＜０．０５）；产蛋停止前１周施用ＧｎＲＨ－Ａ可维持母鸡正常产蛋的生殖生理状态。（２）ＧｎＲＨ－Ａ给药后最初２０ｄ诱发出两个鸡血浆促黄体生成素（ＬＨ）释放峰，处理组（ＧｎＲＨ－Ａ组）血浆ＬＨ浓度在此期间显著高于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０１）；然而与对照组相比较，处理组鸡血浆促卵泡素（ＦＳＨ）却没有明显变化（Ｐ＜０．０５）。（３）鸡血浆孕酮（Ｐ４）浓庆在施用ＧｎＲＨ－Ａ后明显上升，显著高于尚处休产期的对照组（Ｐ＜０．０１）。与此相反，给药后的囊初８ｄ内，鸡血浆雌二醇（Ｅ２）浓度明显降低，虽然随后略有回升，但仍低于对照组（Ｐ＜０．０１）。据此可以认为，ＧｎＲＨ－Ａ诱导卵巢和输卵管发育与鸡血浆ＬＨ、Ｐ４以及Ｅ２浓度变化密切相关，ＧｎＲＨ－Ａ是一种有效的制剂，可应用于诱导卵巢和输卵管发育及换羽前产蛋力的改善     

家兔超数排卵的研究

为了寻求家兔合理的超排方案,构建获得家兔卵子和胚胎的实验平台,进行3个试验:Ⅰ比较不同剂量(40、50、60、70、80和90 IU)的孕马血清促性腺激素(PM SG)对家兔超排效果的影响;Ⅱ比较不同的促卵泡素(FSH)处理方法(恒量法和递减法)对超排效果的影响;Ⅲ比较手术后重复超排对家兔超排效果的影响。结果显示:(1)经过80 IU的PM SG超排处理后,日本长耳白兔卵巢平均排卵点数和平均回收卵子数都显著高于40、50、60、70和90 IU组(P<0.05);(2)用FSH递减法、恒量法和80 IU PM SG超排处理时,日本长耳白兔卵巢平均排卵点数和平均回收卵子数的差异不显著(P>0.05);(3)进行一次手术后重复超排,手术后重复超排的新西兰兔与术前超排效果相比,卵巢平均排卵点数和平均回收卵子数的差异不显著(P>0.05);(4)激素处理不同品种的家兔,左右两侧卵巢排卵点数和平均回收卵子数的差异均不显著(P>0.05)。结论:(1)应用PM SG进行母兔超排处理时,80 IU剂量的超排效果比较好;(2)应用FSH时,采用递减法和恒量法得到的结果差异不显著,在实践中两种方法均可用;(3)适宜的PM SG剂量(80 IU)对兔子的超排效果与FSH相似,在兔子超排处理时,可用PM SG代替FSH;(4)两次手术过程并不会影响超排效果。     

苄嘧黄隆及甲黄隆的气相色谱分析方法研究

本文研究了苄嘧黄隆和甲黄隆的气相色谱分析方法。采用（１）５％ＯＶ－１０１／Ｃｈｒｏ－ｍｏｓｏｒｂＧＡＷＤＭＣＳ（０．２５～０．１８ｍｍ）；（２）５％新戊二醇己二酸聚酯／ＣｈｒｏｍｏｓｏｒｂＧＡＷＤＭ－ＣＳ（０．２５～０．１８ｍｍ）的两条色谱柱，邻苯二甲酸二戊酯为内标，氢火焰离子化检测器，标准偏差（ＳＤ）≤０．０６４％，变异系数（ＣＶ）≤２．１％，平均回收率为９６．７％～９８．８％。     

不同血清种类及其浓度对牛卵母细胞体外受精的影响

以３个试验探索能否用自行采集、价廉的成年牛血清（发情母牛血清ＯＣＳ和阉公牛血清ＳＳ）来代替犊牛血清（ＦＣＳ）。试验１，比较ＯＣＳ和ＦＣＳ及其２种浓度（１０％和２０％）对牛卵母细胞体外成熟的影响。结果表明，ＯＣＳ影响牛卵母细胞体外成熟的效果与ＦＣＳ的效果无显著差异（均达到９０％以上）。同时，２种浓度间亦无显著差异。试验２，比较不同浓度的ＯＣＳ（０，１％，５％，１０％，２０％，５０％）对牛早期胚胎体外发育的影响。结果表明，早期胚胎的总囊胚率及７天龄囊胚率随着ＯＣＳ浓度从０到２０％的增加而提高。但当浓度增至５０％时囊胚率则有下降之趋势，然而与２０％浓度比较，差异不显著。试验３，探讨能否利用采集简单且价廉的ＳＳ来代替ＯＣＳ，进行了ＳＳ与ＯＣＳ在卵母细胞体外成熟及早期胚胎体外培养两阶段的效果比较。结果表明，ＳＳ亦完全可以替代ＯＣＳ。     

牛细胞核移植研究简报

本研究探讨了用体外受精胚胎作供体、体外成熟卵母细胞作受体进行核移植的可能性，比较了两种不同核移植方法的效果。本研究结果在我国首次获得牛核移植的成功。从屠宰场回收的黄牛卵巢中抽取未成熟的卵母细胞，采用以前报道的方法（Ｓｈｉｅｔａｌ，Ｔｈｅｎ－ｏｙｅｎｏｌｏｙ，１９９１，３５；２７１）进行体外成熟（ＩＶＭ）和体外受精（ＩＶＦ），获得ＩＶＭ如母细胞和ＩＶＦ胚胎。体外受精用精液为奶牛精液。在ＩＶＭ２３～２４ｈ＄母细胞去核后用作受体卵，体外发育到８～３２细胞期的ＩＶＦ胚胎用作核供体．去核后的卵母细胞分两组：！．在Ｗ２６ｈ（或３０ｈ）用８０Ｖ／ｍｍ４０μｓ电激活两次，然后注入供体胚胎卵裂球，ＩＶＭ３２ｈ（或３６ｈ）进行电融合；Ⅱ．注卵裂球前不激活，在ＩＶＭ３１ｈ进行电融合。两组融合条件相同（８０Ｖ／ｍｍ４０μｓ×２，间隔１ｓ），融合液为０．３Ｍ甘露醇＋０．０５ｍＭＣａＣｌ２＋０．１ｍＭＭｇＳＯ４＋１０ｍＭ组氨酸。融合印在颗粒细胞单层培养滴内共培养，体外培养２４ｈ后观察卵裂结果。经体外培养５～８ｄ后发育到桑椹和囊胚的核移植胚胎移植到同期发情的受体奶牛子直角内。２个月后直检妊娠情况。本研究结果如下：Ⅰ组操作后存活率（９０．     

牛卵泡液对牛卵母细胞体外成熟的影响

本研究系统探讨了牛卵泡液（ＢＦＦ）对牛卵母细胞体外成熟的影响。在成熟培养液中添加１０％的ＢＦＦ，明显提高牛卵母细胞体外成熟后的囊胚发育率（４５．１％比２８．２％，Ｐ＜０．０５），虽然该处理对牛卵母细胞体外成熟后的受精分裂率无明显影响（８７．５％比８７．５％）。然而，当ＢＦＦ在成熟培养液中的浓度提高到４０％时，卵母细胞体外成熟后的受精分裂率（６８．６％）和囊胚发育率（１６．６％）均明显下降（Ｐ＜０．０５）。来自不同大小卵泡（２～５ｍｍ，５．１～８ｍｍ和大于８ｍｍ）ＢＦＦ的卵母细胞体外成熟培养效果无明显差异，只是来自大于８ｍｍ卵泡的ＢＦＦ将卵母细胞粘在一起，明显地降低成熟培养后的可用卵母细胞数。在成熟培养液中加入激素（２．５×１０３ｉｕ／Ｌ促性腺激素（ＨＣＧ），５０ｉｕ／Ｌ促乳素，０．０５ｍｇ／Ｌ胰岛素、睾酮和雌二醇）对ＢＦＦ的卵母细胞成熟培养效果无影响。这些结果表明，在成熟培养液中添加一定浓度的ＢＦＦ可促进牛卵母细胞获得胚胎发育能力，ＢＦＦ的这一作用与其来源的卵泡大小和激素的存在与否无关。     

受精温度对牛卵母细胞体外受精及随后胚胎发育的影响

将经过２０～２４ｈ体外成熟培养后的牛卵母细胞在含５％ＣＯ２，９５％空气，最大相对饱和湿度和温度分别为３７℃（Ｇ１），３８℃（Ｇ２）和３９℃（Ｇ３）的培养条件下进行体外受精，以观察受精温度对牛体外受精及其随后胚胎发育的影响。结果显示，不同受精温度对牛卵母细胞体外精子入卵率（９３．６％～１００％）及受精卵裂率（７８．５％～８０．３％）无明显影响；而早期胚胎卵裂发育速度、体外囊胚发育速度及体外囊胚发育率和孵化率均随着受精温度的升高呈上升趋势。在ＩＶＦ４２～４６ｈ，Ｇ３发育到５细胞以上卵裂周期阶段的早期胚胎比率（４０．３％）非常显著地高于Ｇ２（２４．３％）和Ｇ１（１８．８％，Ｐ＜０．００１）；而相应处于２细胞阶段的胚胎比率（Ｇ３为１４．６％）则十分显著地低于Ｇ２（２５．２％）和Ｇ１（３０．１％，Ｐ＜０．０１）。Ｇ３的囊胚体外孵化率（７５．８％）也非常明显地高于Ｇ２（５１．９％）和Ｇ１（４７．９％，Ｐ＜０．００）。结果表明，受精温度（３７～３９℃）主要影响早期胚胎的质量，从而影响到其随后的囊胚发育率、发育速度及其孵化率，而对卵母细胞的受精、卵裂率无明显影响。     

一次注射3H-Leu测定肉仔鸡内源氨基酸排泄量的方法学研究

给强饲无氮饲粮（ＮＦＤ），ＮＦＤ＋３．２０％酶解酪蛋白（ＥＨＣ），以豆粕为唯一氮源粗蛋白（ＣＰ）为５％及２０％半合成饲粮的肉仔鸡，静脉注射３０μＣｉ／ｋｇ体重＾３Ｈ－Ｌｅｕ注射后５ｍｉｎ，４ｈ，２４ｈ，３６ｈ及４８ｈ测定血浆游离Ｌｅｕ比放射性强度（ＳＲｐ）及４８ｈ内排泄物比放射性强度（ＳＲ）。结果表明，不同饲粮排泄物内源Ｌｅｕ比放射性强度（ＳＲｅ）与ＳＲｐ定积分值与之比恒等，证明我们提出的一次注射     

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。     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

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.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

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,     

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,     

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.     

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.