生物质炭对土壤-水稻系统中Cd迁移累积的影响

探究生物质炭添加对Cd污染土壤中Cd形态、植株对Cd的吸收分配及土壤肥力的影响,为污染稻田粮食安全提供科学依据。在湖南省长沙市Cd污染稻田进行田间定位试验,设置5个生物质炭添加量处理(0,10,20,30,40t/hm^2),分析生物质炭对Cd在土壤中形态转化和水稻器官中分配的影响。结果表明:生物质炭通过将土壤中酸溶态Cd钝化为可还原态Cd以减少在水稻器官中的累积,钝化量随着生物质炭增加而增加,土壤酸溶态Cd较CK降低3.83%～19.08%;且茎对根和糙米对茎的转运系数随生物质炭的添加分别降低4.23%～9.30%和1.39%～8.33%;土壤酸溶态Cd含量直接影响糙米中Cd含量,且受土壤pH和土壤有机碳的调控。Cd污染稻田添加生物质炭可以提高土壤肥力,降低土壤Cd生物有效性,20t/hm^2生物质炭添加量可以作为研究区周边Cd污染稻田修复的参考标准。     

稻草生物质炭对3种可变电荷土壤吸附Cd（Ⅱ）的影响

按土重的3%和5%向采自海南和广西的3种可变电荷土壤中添加由稻草制备的生物质炭,混合培养30 d后用一次平衡法研究了生物质炭对土壤吸附Cd（Ⅱ）的影响及其与土壤表面电化学性质的关系,旨在阐明生物质炭促进可变电荷土壤吸附和固定Cd（Ⅱ）的机制。结果表明,添加稻草炭显著提高了3种土壤的阳离子交换量（CEC）和土壤pH,并使土壤胶体Zeta电位向负值方向位移。因此,添加稻草炭增加了土壤表面的负电荷量,土壤表面对Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附容量增强,使3种可变电荷土壤对Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附量增加,且Cd（Ⅱ）吸附量的增幅随稻草炭添加水平的提高而增加。Freundlich方程和Langmuir方程可以拟合3种土壤对Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附等温线,但Freundlich方程拟合效果更好,该方程表征吸附容量的常数k也随着稻草炭添加水平提高而增大。研究表明在pH3.0~5.0范围内,稻草炭均增加土壤对Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附量。添加稻草炭提高土壤pH,促进Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附,因为Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附量随pH升高而增加。解吸实验表明,添加稻草炭处理Cd（Ⅱ）的解吸量高于对照处理,说明生物质炭提高了土壤对Cd（Ⅱ）的静电吸附量。     

不同温度下镉在典型农田土壤中的吸附动力学特征

按土重的3%和5%向采自海南和广西的3种可变电荷土壤中添加由稻草制备的生物质炭,混合培养30 d后用一次平衡法研究了生物质炭对土壤吸附Cd（Ⅱ）的影响及其与土壤表面电化学性质的关系,旨在阐明生物质炭促进可变电荷土壤吸附和固定Cd（Ⅱ）的机制。结果表明,添加稻草炭显著提高了3种土壤的阳离子交换量（CEC）和土壤pH,并使土壤胶体Zeta电位向负值方向位移。因此,添加稻草炭增加了土壤表面的负电荷量,土壤表面对Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附容量增强,使3种可变电荷土壤对Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附量增加,且Cd（Ⅱ）吸附量的增幅随稻草炭添加水平的提高而增加。Freundlich方程和Langmuir方程可以拟合3种土壤对Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附等温线,但Freundlich方程拟合效果更好,该方程表征吸附容量的常数k也随着稻草炭添加水平提高而增大。研究表明在pH3.0~5.0范围内,稻草炭均增加土壤对Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附量。添加稻草炭提高土壤pH,促进Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附,因为Cd（Ⅱ）的吸附量随pH升高而增加。解吸实验表明,添加稻草炭处理Cd（Ⅱ）的解吸量高于对照处理,说明生物质炭提高了土壤对Cd（Ⅱ）的静电吸附量。     

不同原料生物质炭复配对土壤镉的赋存形态及小白菜镉吸收的影响

通过生物质炭复配,降低治理成本,为提高秸秆生物质炭对镉污染土壤的治理效果,将秸秆生物质炭（大豆秸秆炭（SSB）、油菜秸秆炭（RSB））与动物屠宰废弃物炭（SWB）复配,设置2.22 g kg?1（B1）、4.44 g kg?1（B2）两个施用量,通过小白菜盆栽试验,研究生物质炭对原位污染土壤镉赋存形态及小白菜镉吸收的影响。研究表明,与对照（CK）相比,生物质炭显著降低小白菜根系和地上部的镉含量。在4.44 g kg?1施炭水平下,SSB2和RSB2处理的小白菜根系镉含量较SWB2处理显著降低、降幅分别达 33.40%和 20.49%。SSB2处理小白菜根系镉的富集系数较SWB2处理显著降低、降幅达31.68%。与 SSB2处理相比,SSB与SWB复配（SSWB2）处理根系和地上部镉含量分别降低22.57%和 36.14%。生物质炭显著降低土壤中镉的生物有效性,其中RSB2和SSB2处理的土壤交换态镉占比（F2）较SWB 2处理分别降低 9.31%和 3.63%,强有机结合态镉占比（F6）分别提高 16.11%和 9.74%。复配生物质炭SSWB2 处理的F2较SSB2 处理降低 11.05%,铁锰结合态镉占比（F5）提高13.50%。因此,秸秆生物质炭与屠宰废弃物炭复配可有效降低污染土壤镉的生物有效性及小白菜对镉的吸收和富集。     

小麦秸秆生物质炭对碱性土壤中油菜生长和镉吸收的影响

为探讨小麦秸秆生物质炭对镉(Cd)污染碱性土壤的修复效果,采用序批式吸附试验和Cd污染土壤盆栽试验,研究了小麦秸秆生物质炭施用(1%,m/m)对碱性土壤吸附Cd的影响,以及对Cd污染土壤中油菜生长和Cd吸收的影响。结果表明:Cd在生物质炭上的吸附等温线非线性较强,生物质炭对Cd的表面吸附起主导作用,Cd在生物质炭上的分配系数(a)是在土壤上的1.5～3.0倍。生物质炭施用可促进土壤对低浓度Cd的吸附,0.1 mg·L~(-1)平衡浓度下K_d值提高了19.5%;生物质炭施用可抑制土壤对高浓度Cd的吸附,在10 mg·L~(-1)条件下K_d值降低了37.2%。生物质炭施用对土壤pH值影响不显著,但缓解了Cd污染对油菜生长的抑制作用,油菜生物量最高提高了45.0%,也抑制了油菜对Cd的富集,油菜富集Cd的量最高降低了40.6%;CaCl_2、Mg(NO_3)_2、NH_4OAC、HCl、DTPA和BCR1作为提取剂提取出土壤中Cd的量与油菜地上部分吸收Cd的量相关性较强(线性回归方程决定系数R~20.8),而Mg(NO_3)_2萃取出土壤中Cd的量更能预测油菜地上部分吸收Cd的量。研究表明,小麦秸秆生物质炭有利于降低碱性土壤中Cd的生物有效性,但并非通过提高土壤pH值和吸附能力来实现。     

生物质炭和果胶对再生水灌溉下玉米生长及养分、重金属迁移的影响

利用根箱试验方法比较了生物质炭和果胶对再生水灌溉下土壤—植物系统养分和重金属迁移特征的影响及差异性。结果表明,再生水灌溉不利于植物的生长,果胶和生物质炭两个处理相比,虽然植株生长无显著差异,但果胶处理植株的生长状况优于生物质炭处理;再生水灌溉时,果胶处理地上部生物量比对照增加了59.32%。与蒸馏水灌溉相比,再生水灌溉增加了根际土壤pH;灌溉水源相同时,果胶处理根际土壤pH略低于生物质炭处理。生物质炭和果胶都增加了土壤养分的含量,果胶对土壤碱解氮、有效磷和有机质的增加效果优于生物质炭,生物质炭对土壤有效钾的增加幅度大于果胶。生物质炭增加了植株的养分含量,果胶提高了养分的转运能力。生物质炭降低了土壤有效态Fe、Mn、Cu、Ni的含量,果胶增加了土壤有效态Fe、Mn、Cu、Pb、Ni的含量。果胶处理植株根系重金属含量普遍高于生物质炭处理,如蒸馏水灌溉下果胶处理根系Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Ni含量分别比生物质炭处理增加了165.29%,113.01%,21.16%,92.74%,14.61%,26.86%和53.43%,但Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Ni等元素在果胶处理的转运系数最低。该研究可为再生水灌溉下生物质炭和果胶在北方碱性土壤的农业安全利用提供理论依据。     

干湿交替下生物炭对复合污染土壤中镉砷有效性的影响

为了明确活性炭工业的副产品——杏壳生物炭和水分管理模式对石灰性土壤重金属有效性的钝化效果,采用重度Cd、As复合污染的农田土壤,通过土壤培养方法探索了干湿交替水分管理模式下,添加不同用量生物炭对土壤中Cd、As有效性的影响。结果表明:从土壤溶液中Cd、As浓度的变化来看,干湿交替培养条件下,添加2%~10%生物炭处理的土壤溶液中Cd浓度均显著低于对照(P<0.05),降幅为33.1%~62.2%,说明干湿交替模式下添加生物炭显著促进了Cd由土壤液相向土壤固相的转移,而添加生物炭对土壤溶液中砷浓度的影响不稳定,其主要受土壤水分管理模式的影响;从土壤固相Cd、As提取态的变化来看,添加生物炭(6%,8%,10%)处理与CK相比,可显著降低土壤中DTPA提取态Cd和NH4H2PO4提取态As的含量(P<0.05),降幅分别为8.7%~16.8%,5.1%~7.9%,表明干湿交替下添加生物炭显著降低了土壤Cd、As有效性;土壤连续分级提取的结果显示,施用生物炭促进了土壤Cd由酸可提取态和可氧化态向残渣态转化,土壤As由专性吸附态和无定形—弱结晶铁铝或铁锰水化氧化物结合态向残渣态转化,显著降低了污染土壤Cd、As活性。因此,在重度Cd、As复合污染的石灰性土壤区,施用6%生物炭并保持干湿交替的水分管理模式能显著降低土壤镉砷的有效性。     

有机物料对农田土壤肥力及镉有效性的影响

明确有机物料对土壤肥力及Cd有效性的影响,对南方中轻度Cd污染农田的安全利用具有重要意义。本研究以我国南方两种不同程度Cd污染农田土壤为研究对象,通过不同有机物料（猪粪、商品有机肥、水稻秸秆和生物炭）施肥处理来探究土壤肥力水平及Cd有效性的变化,并对施用有机物料情况下土壤Cd有效性与土壤养分进行了关联分析。结果表明,施用有机物料显著提高了土壤氮磷钾含量及其有效性,商品有机肥提高了土壤全N含量,施用猪粪处理土壤的全P和有效P含量显著升高,商品有机肥和生物炭明显提高了土壤全K和速效K含量。水稻秸秆和生物炭处理轻污染土壤SOM均达土壤肥力1级（> 40 g/kg）。与CK相比,施加有机物料对轻污染土壤有效态Cd含量的影响不大,但中污染土壤有效态Cd含量显著下降,最高降幅达20.00%。土壤有效态Cd含量与全N、全P和全K和有效P均成显著负相关关系。轻污染土壤施加猪粪和生物炭处理上海青地上部Cd含量均低于0.20 mg/kg。施加商品有机肥处理两种土壤肥力综合指数（SNI）最高,是其他处理的1.50~3.18倍,但其上海青地上部Cd含量存在较高风险。因此,针对南方Cd污染农田土壤的培肥及安全利用可考虑施用猪粪。     

生物炭和菌肥对土壤镉形态和棉花镉吸收的影响

  目的  为了明确生物炭和菌肥修复石灰性土壤镉（Cd）污染的效果,探寻适宜石灰性土壤重金属Cd修复技术。  方法  采用盆栽的试验方法,研究施用3%的生物炭（B3）和1.5%的菌肥（M1.5）对不同外源Cd浓度（0、1、2、4 mg kg?1）石灰性土壤的pH值、Cd形态分布、酶活性以及棉花各器官Cd含量的影响。  结果  结果表明,生物炭和菌肥均能显著提高土壤的pH,但随着培养时间的延续添加改良剂处理的土壤的pH值呈现出下降的趋势:生物炭和菌肥的施用均能降低土壤可交换态Cd比例,提高土壤残渣态Cd比例,与对照相比,生物炭和菌肥处理下可交换态Cd的含量分别下降了18.42% ~ 48.46%和15.21% ~ 50.19%。生物炭和菌肥的添加显著提高土壤酶活性,其中蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶的最大增幅分别为89.1%、140.1%、39.7%和38.1%,菌肥处理总体优于生物炭处理。生物炭和菌肥的施用降低了植株各器官Cd含量,其中生物炭处理各器官中Cd含量最大降幅为34.0%,菌肥处理下最大降幅为39.5%。相关性和主成分结果表明,可交换态Cd与土壤酶活性呈显著负相关（P < 0.05）,与植株根、茎和叶Cd含量呈现出显著的正相关（P < 0.05）。  结论  生物炭和菌肥作为土壤重金属钝化剂能够通过影响Cd的形态分布,从而缓解Cd对土壤酶活性的影响,降低棉花对Cd的吸收。总体来看,施加1.5%菌肥较3%生物炭在石灰性土壤Cd污染修复的效果更优。     

生物炭对复合污染土壤—作物中镉砷累积和转运的影响

针对镉砷复合污染土壤中小麦籽粒重金属积累问题,采用生物模拟方法,以镉砷复合污染区土壤为研究对象,探究杏核生物炭(C1和C2分别表示3%和6%生物炭添加量)对复合污染土壤—小麦/玉米系统中镉砷累积和转运的影响。结果表明:添加生物炭(C1、C2)显著降低了小麦季根际/非根际土壤Cd、As有效性,并且小麦籽粒中Cd、As含量分别比CK平均降低19.25%和50.70%,但前者差异不显著。对玉米而言,生物炭C1、C2处理显著降低穗中Cd和As含量,降幅分别为85.67%,61.28%和98.36%,96.48%;此外,施用生物炭显著降低了小麦—玉米体系中镉砷的转运和累积,但对小麦镉由秸秆向籽粒转运及籽粒中镉累积的影响未达显著水平。总之,添加3%生物炭可降低小麦籽粒和玉米穗中镉、砷含量,且对玉米穗中重金属镉、砷降低效果更明显,综合分析生物炭对镉、砷在复合污染石灰性土壤—小麦/玉米体系中迁移和累积的阻控效应,推荐施用3%生物炭为宜。     

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,     

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.