施用生物炭对燥红土基本理化性质及酶活性的影响

  目的  为探究燥红土对不同类型生物炭及施入量的反应,对其基础理化特性及酶活性进行测定,以期为热带地区燥红土的改良提供理论支撑和依据。  方法  以燥红土为研究对象,设置水稻壳(A)、花生壳(B)两种生物炭类型,生物炭施用量设置为10、20、40和60 t hm?2,以不施生物炭为对照(CK),共计9个处理,27个小区。在生物炭施用一年后对0 ~ 30 cm土壤进行取样,用于土壤有机碳、全氮、有效磷、速效钾和含水量以及酶活性的测定。  结果  水稻壳生物炭和花生壳生物炭施用后燥红土养分含量和酶活性有显著改变,其中土壤养分含量和含水量在所有土层均随施用量的增加呈明显升高趋势, 60 t hm?2生物炭处理对燥红土有机碳、全氮、有效磷、速效钾和土壤含水量显著高于其他处理,分别比对照处理高56.84% ~ 140.22%、19.06% ~ 62.92%、26.57% ~ 54.57%、46.31% ~ 135.12%和27.95% ~ 55.28%;土壤蔗糖酶、酸性磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶活性随施用量增加都有不同程度升高,特别是60 t hm?2花生壳生物炭处理对土壤蔗糖酶活性提升尤为显著。土壤脲酶活性在10 ~ 20 cm和20 ~ 30 cm土层随生物炭施用量增加呈显著降低趋势。  结论  施用生物炭对燥红土养分含量、土壤含水量和酶活性有明显改善,可施入40 t hm?2以上的生物炭到0 ~ 30 cm土层作为燥红土改良的重要添加剂。     

生物质炭对旱地红壤理化性状和作物产量的持续效应

以江西进贤旱地红壤为供试土壤,连续3a观测施用生物质炭(0t/hm2,2.5t/hm2,5t/hm2,10t/hm2,20t/hm2,30t/hm2和40t/hm2)后土壤容重、孔隙度、饱和导水率、土壤pH、有机碳、阳离子交换量及油菜和红薯产量的变化。结果表明:生物质炭连续3a降低土壤容重,提高了土壤孔隙度和土壤饱和导水率,提升了土壤pH,增加了土壤有机碳和阳离子交换量;油菜和红薯产量均随生物质炭施用量的增加而增加,且红薯产量增幅大于油菜。随种植年限的延长,作物产量增幅越大。高施用量(40t/hm2)处理在旱地红壤上的改良效果和增产效应最好,施用生物质炭后第3a其土壤容重下降了0.17g/cm3,土壤孔隙度和饱和导水率分别增加了11.71%和126.57%,土壤pH、有机碳和阳离子交换量分别提高了7.25%,47.88%和44.61%,油菜和红薯产量分别增加了1.23t/hm2和14.83t/hm2。在连续3a内,旱地红壤施用生物质炭对改善土壤理化性状,维持作物增产具有持续效应,为生物质炭在红壤地区的大规模推广应用提供了科学依据。     

烟杆生物炭对砒砂岩与沙复配土壤理化性状及玉米生长的影响

为明确施用生物炭对砒砂岩与沙复配土壤水分保持及肥力提升的影响,采用盆栽试验,研究了不同生物炭施用量(0,10,20,30,50g/kg(以风干土计))对砒砂岩与沙复配土壤理化性状及玉米生长的影响。结果表明:在种植玉米一季后,施用生物炭可显著降低复配土壤容重,尤其当生物炭施用量达到30g/kg时,土壤容重可降低至1.37g/cm3,但当生物炭施用量增加到50g/kg时,土壤容重又出现增加的趋势;土壤田间持水量随生物炭施用量的增加呈显著增加趋势,但当施用量增加到50g/kg时又会出现下降趋势;土壤pH、全盐量随生物炭添加量的增加显著增加,尤其当生物炭添加量为50g/kg时,土壤pH可达8.80,全盐量可达2.51g/kg;土壤有机质、有效磷、速效钾含量也随生物炭施用量的增加而显著增加,但有效磷在生物炭施用量增加至50g/kg时出现下降趋势。进一步分析不同生物炭处理对玉米生物量的影响,发现玉米根干重、地上部分干重、百粒重、单株产量均随生物炭施用量的增加呈显著增加趋势,但当生物炭施用量增加到50g/kg时,上述各指标反而显著降低。生物炭对于砒砂岩与沙复配土壤理化性状、水分保持、肥力提升、作物生长及产量等诸多方面都有明显改善效果,在施用过程中需要注意使用量,在本试验条件下,生物炭推荐施用量为30g/kg干土。     

秸秆生物炭对潮土作物产量和土壤性状的影响

将秸秆转化为高碳含量和稳定性的生物炭施入土壤无疑可提升碳库,但也会影响土壤性状和作物生长。为评估秸秆生物炭在北方潮土(p H 8.30)的应用潜力,设每季生物炭施用量为0(对照)、2.25(低量)、6.75(中量)和11.3 t hm-2(高量)(四季后总施炭量分别为0、9、27、45.2 t hm-2)4个处理,通过2年小麦-玉米轮作小区试验,观测了作物产量、籽粒品质、氮素吸收和土壤矿质氮、p H、容重、水分的变化。结果显示,中量生物炭处理下第四季玉米产量增加8.43%;中、高量生物炭处理下四季作物总产量提高4.54%~4.92%。生物炭对小麦和玉米籽粒蛋白质、小麦湿面筋含量及容重无负面影响。作物地上部分氮素吸收、土壤矿质氮含量和p H各处理间无明显变化。中、高量处理下四季作物后土壤容重降低2.99%~10.4%,含水量增加10.3%~20.2%,最大持水量提高14.5%~15.0%。表明中、高量秸秆生物炭每季还田对作物有小幅增产作用,且不影响籽粒品质。土壤容重、水分、持水量等物理性状的改善可能是作物增产的重要原因。     

生物质炭对旱地红壤理化性状和水力学特性的影响

[目的]研究生物质炭对旱地红壤基本理化性质及水分特征曲线的影响,为红壤地区土壤改良提供依据。[方法]分层测定不同生物质炭施用量水平下的土样容重、孔隙度和有机碳含量,采用原状土压力膜法分层测定土壤的水分特征曲线。[结果]施用生物质炭能显著降低土壤的容重,提高土壤的孔隙度及有机碳含量,且随着施用量的增加,土壤容重逐渐降低,孔隙度及有机碳含量逐渐提高;随着生物质炭施用量的增加,土壤饱和含水量、田间持水量和有效水含量逐渐增加,凋萎系数逐渐减小,施用生物质炭30t/hm2的土壤处理饱和含水量、田间持水量和有效水含量最高;生物质炭施用量与土壤饱和含水量、田间持水量和有效水含量呈极显著正相关关系,与凋萎系数呈极显著负相关关系。[结论]施用生物质炭能显著提高红壤田间持水量和有效水含量。     

土壤属性和作物生长对生物炭施用的响应和反馈研究进展

生物炭作为一种土壤改良剂,近年来在提升土壤质量和作物产量方面效应良好。在全面梳理生物炭施用效果方面的最新研究基础上,总结了土壤理化性质、作物生长和产量对生物炭施用的响应和反馈规律。结果表明:(1)生物炭的来源、是否酸化、施用年限及施用量决定了施用后的土壤属性及作物产量变化幅度。一般来说,施用量增加、土壤容重降低,土壤孔隙度增加、土壤水力性质及入渗性能改善,土壤温度也增加。(2)由于土壤物理性质改变,施用生物炭最终降低了土壤表层的盐分表聚。生物炭对土壤pH的调节效果取决于两者pH的差异。此外,随着生物炭施用量增加,有机质含量呈线性增加趋势,而有效氮、有效钾和有效磷呈先增加后减小的趋势。(3)适宜施用生物炭使作物长势更好、产量更高;而过高的施量既不经济、增加成本,又对作物产量提升无益,适宜生物炭施用量为10~40 t/hm²。(4)总体上,虽然土壤属性和作物生长对生物炭施用的响应和反馈因试验条件、土壤质地和作物类型、气候条件差异而表现出响应幅度不同,但大部分结果证实,土壤属性和作物生长对生物炭施用具有正面响应。今后在生物炭施用的科学认识和生产实践中需因地制宜制定施用策略。     

添加秸秆及生物质炭对风沙土有机碳及其活性组分的影响

以宁夏贺兰山东路风沙土为研究对象,分析秸秆、生物质炭等碳量添加下土壤有机碳及活性碳组分的变化,为确定该地区最佳施肥措施提供科学理论依据。结果表明:添加生物质炭和秸秆均显著增加了土壤有机碳含量,与对照相比土壤有机碳含量分别增加了7.7%、7.5%。添加生物质炭有利于土壤易氧化有机碳、颗粒有机碳的积累,二者含量分别比对照增加49.6%、17.5%;而添加秸秆更有利于土壤微生物生物量碳、可溶性有机碳的积累,其含量分别比对照分别增加25.8%、59.9%。秸秆与生物质炭添加均显著增加了土壤速效氮、容重和黏粒含量,且以添加生物质炭增加作用更为明显,显著降低了土壤全盐、砂粒含量。土壤有机碳、可溶性有机碳、颗粒有机碳、易氧化有机碳与速效氮含量极显著正相关,与全盐、砂粒含量极显著负相关;土壤可溶性有机碳、颗粒有机碳、易氧化有机碳与容重极显著负相关;而土壤微生物生物量碳与理化性质之间无显著相关性。综上,在风沙土中添加生物质炭更有利于土壤活性碳库提升和理化性质改善,且以年添加量7 t/hm2以上为宜。     

生物炭与氮肥对稻田甲烷氧化菌和产甲烷菌数量和潜在活性的影响

基于稻田中氮肥配施生物炭的田间定位试验,研究了施用生物炭与氮肥对旱季稻田土壤理化性质、甲烷氧化与产生潜势及甲烷氧化菌和产甲烷菌丰度的影响。田间试验共设置5个处理：单施生物炭、单施氮肥、氮肥配施生物炭（生物炭设置两个水平）以及对照。结果表明：施用生物炭三年后显著提高了有机碳和微生物生物量碳含量（p﹤0.05）,与单施氮肥处理相比,氮肥配施生物炭后可显著提高土壤pH。与对照相比,单施生物炭显著提高土壤甲烷氧化潜势。在施氮条件下,甲烷氧化潜势与生物炭施用量之间存在正相关关系,与氮肥配施20 t hm-2处理相比,40 t hm-2生物炭处理甲烷氧化潜势增长53.8%。氮肥配施高倍生物炭与配施低倍生物炭处理相比产甲烷潜势由0.001提高至0.002 mg kg-1 h-1;氮肥施用一定程度上抑制了甲烷氧化菌数量的增长,单施氮肥处理中产甲烷菌数量较对照处理显著增加了3.0%;单施或配施低水平生物炭显著增加土壤甲烷氧化菌数量。氮肥显著降低了甲烷氧化菌与产甲烷菌基因丰度比（pmoA/mcrA）。而在同氮肥水平下施加生物炭显著增加了土壤pmoA/mcrA比值,即生物炭对甲烷氧化菌的促进作用显著高于产甲烷菌,提高了旱季稻田土壤的甲烷氧化能力,因此有助于减少稻田土壤甲烷的排放。     

生物炭对砂质潮土养分及玉米产量的影响

为了探索生物炭对砂质潮土中低产田的改良效果,采用田间小区试验,设三个生物炭梯度8 thm-2、16 thm-2和32 t hm-2,研究了生物炭施用对砂质潮土养分,微生物数量及玉米产量的影响。结果表明:施生物炭后土壤含水量显著高于空白对照(P0.05),其中以32 thm-2施用量含水量最高,最高比不施生物炭对照(CK)高5.4%。施用生物炭显著增加了土壤pH值,施用量越大pH增加值越高,开花期后pH开始缓慢下降;施用生物炭土壤铵态氮含量总体变化不明显,硝态氮含量显著低于CK,施用量越高,硝态氮含量越低;施生物炭明显提高了土壤中速效钾含量(P0.05),而对速效磷影响较小,后期有降低土壤速效磷的趋势;各梯度施用生物炭对试验土壤细菌数量没有显著影响(P0.05),较大施用量16 t hm-2和32 t hm-2显著提高了真菌数量(P0.05)。施用生物炭16 thm-2和32 thm-2可显著提高玉米地上部干物质积累量和产量,二者之间差异不显著(P0.05)。     

生物炭用量对东北黑土理化性质和溶解有机质特性的影响

以典型东北黑土为研究对象,连续3年（2016—2018）开展田间定点试验,研究生物炭施用量0、10、30和50 t hm?2（分别简称为B0、B10、B30和B50）对黑土理化性质和溶解有机质（DOM）含量及其光谱特性的影响。结果表明:与B0处理相比,施用生物炭显著提高玉米产量、土壤饱和导水率和DOM的生物利用度,显著降低土壤DOM的腐殖化指数;B10处理显著降低激发波长为355 nm时,发射波长为440 ~ 470 nm范围内最大荧光强度（Fn（355））和有色溶解有机质,降幅分别达18.7%和33.1%;而B30处理显著增加活性有机碳含量、碳库管理指数以及速效磷含量,增幅分别达35.6%、36.5%和39.9%。此外,B50处理显著提高土壤电导率、亮氨酸氨基肽酶（LAP）活性以及（LAP + N-1,4-乙酰葡糖胺糖苷酶）/碱性磷酸酶比值,增幅分别为21.7%、22.7%和27.3%。总之,适当施用生物炭（即在本研究区域施用10 ~ 30 t hm?2）可以通过改善土壤透水性和碳有效性,提高作物产量和土壤质量,并且降低DOM芳香度和腐殖化程度,提高DOM活性;而过量施用生物炭（即在本研究区域施用50 t hm?2）则可能增加土壤盐分含量,促进氮素转化和限制土壤磷矿化。     

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,     

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.     

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.     

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.