杉木人工林凋落物添加与去除对土壤碳氮及酶活性的影响

为了解未来气候变化过程中森林生产力增加的背景下,凋落物增加如何影响土壤碳氮过程,在杉木人工林中通过模拟实验研究凋落物添加(一倍)与去除对土壤中碳氮、碳氮同位素(δ~(13)C、δ~(15)N)、微生物生物量碳氮(MBC、MBN)及酶活性的影响。结果表明:凋落物添加后土壤中氮获得酶(β-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶)活性显著上升,加速对土壤中有机质的分解获取氮素;凋落物添加与去除处理对土壤碳的影响较小,土壤有机碳(SOC)与可溶性有机碳(DOC)均未发生显著变化;土壤中δ~(13)C丰度与凋落物处理之间未呈现出相关规律性,而δ~(15)N丰度在凋落物添加处理后显著上升。这些结果说明,凋落物处理对杉木林土壤中氮的影响较为敏感,对土壤碳的影响较小。因此,未来气候变化导致森林生产力提高、凋落物输入增加,可能会导致土壤中氮素的损失,迫使土壤微生物分泌更多的氮获得酶同植物竞争土壤氮,最终可能会造成土壤碳氮循环的不平衡,对整个生态系统造成严重影响。     

杉木凋落物及其生物炭对土壤微生物群落结构的影响

以福建建瓯万木林自然保护区内的杉木人工林土壤为研究对象,设置单独添加生物炭、单独添加凋落物以及混合添加凋落物和生物炭处理,进行一年的室内培养实验,研究不同添加物处理对土壤性质及微生物群落结构的影响。结果表明:与对照(S)相比,单独添加凋落物与混合添加凋落物和生物炭均使土壤磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)总量、真菌丰度以及真菌/细菌比值显著增加;单独添加生物炭与混合添加凋落物和生物炭均使革兰氏阳性细菌/革兰氏阴性细菌比值显著增加。混合添加凋落物和生物炭处理的放线菌丰度显著高于单独添加凋落物处理的。主成分分析表明,不同添加物处理的土壤微生物群落结构存在显著差异;典范对应分析表明,不同添加物处理通过改变土壤p H、全碳、全氮、C/N、可溶性有机碳(DOC)和可溶性有机氮(DON)等性质,进而影响土壤微生物群落结构。     

不同凋落物质量对杉木人工林土壤微生物群落结构的影响

凋落物是森林生态系统的重要组成部分。对福建南平峡阳林场7年生二代杉木人工林生态系统进行添加8种不同凋落物处理3年后，分析不同质量凋落物对土壤微生物群落组成的影响。结果表明：(1) 添加高质量的桉树凋落物会使土壤磷脂脂肪酸总量、革兰氏阳性、阴性细菌生物量比添加杉木凋落物分别增加了27%、35%和19%，而添加低质量的樟树凋落物使得土壤磷脂脂肪酸总量和革兰氏阴性细菌较杉木显著降低29%和10%。(2) 桉树凋落物添加下土壤真菌/细菌比(0.14)显著高于其他凋落物添加的比值，樟树凋落物添加下土壤的革兰氏阳性细菌/革兰氏阴性细菌比(1.64)显著高于其他凋落物添加处理的比值。(3) 不同质量凋落物添加处理对土壤pH和碳氮比无显著影响。毛竹凋落物添加下土壤中硝态氮含量最高。(4) 相关性分析表明，凋落物碳含量与土壤中脂肪酸总量、革兰氏阳性细菌、革兰氏阴性细菌、真菌和菌根真菌具有正相关关系。烷基碳(Alkyl C)与脂肪酸总量、革兰氏阳性、阴性细菌、细菌、真菌及真菌细菌比均有正相关性。甲氧基碳(N-alkyl C)、氧烷基碳(O-alkyl C)和芳碳(Aryl C)与革兰氏阳性阴性细菌比呈显著正相关。冗余分析表明，烷基碳(Alkyl C) 与16:1ω7c,18:1ω7c ,18:2ω6c,18:1ω9显著正相关，对土壤微生物群落结构有显著影响。可见，不同树种之间凋落物烷基碳组分的差异是影响土壤微生物生物量和群落组成的重要指标。     

桉树凋落物对土壤微生物群落的影响:基于控制实验研究

全面认识桉树种植对土壤微生物群落结构和功能的影响及机制,对于阐明单一物种对生态系统服务功能的影响具有重要意义。通过室内小盆模拟控制试验,采用随机区组设计,以土壤碳、氮含量有显著差异的3种天然次生林土壤为对象,以不添加凋落物的处理和添加天然次生林混合凋落物的处理为对照,研究桉树凋落物对土壤微生物群落结构及功能的影响。结果表明:(1)与天然次生林的混合凋落物相比,桉树凋落物具有较高的碳含量和较低的氮含量,其碳氮比也较高;(2)添加桉树凋落物的土壤中细菌、真菌、放线菌以及磷脂脂肪酸的总丰度显著高于不添加凋落物的土壤,但是显著低于添加天然次生林混合凋落物的土壤,并且不同凋落物处理下土壤微生物群落的磷脂脂肪酸组成存在显著差异;(3)不同凋落物处理下土壤微生物群落的碳代谢方式差异显著,添加桉树凋落物的土壤微生物群落的碳代谢功能优于未添加凋落物的处理,但是显著低于天然次生林混合凋落物处理的土壤,包括:碳代谢的活性和多样性。综上所述,与天然次生林本身的凋落物相比,桉树凋落物影响下的土壤微生物群落的生物量、多样性和代谢活性均较低,表明桉树凋落物为土壤微生物群落提供生境和食物的能力较弱。     

改变凋落物和根系输入对米槠天然林土壤微生物群落的影响

伴随气候变化下亚热带地区米槠天然林净初级生产力变化,凋落物以及植物根系输入亦会发生改变,这将显著影响土壤微生物群落。于2019年7月在设置7年的米槠天然林植物残体添加和去除试验（the detritus input and removal treatments,DIRT）样地采集不同处理（对照、去除地上凋落物、去除地下根系、无凋落物输入、添加双倍地上凋落物）的2个土层土壤（0—10,10—20 cm）,测定微生物磷脂脂肪酸（phospholipid fatty acid,PLFA）含量,计算各微生物群落比值以及多样性,进一步揭示凋落物和植物根系输入对亚热带米槠天然林土壤微生物群落组成和多样性的影响。结果表明：（1）不同处理下0—10 cm土层微生物磷脂脂肪酸含量约为10—20 cm土层的2倍;（2）地上凋落物变化均使得革兰氏阳性菌、阴性菌及放线菌等细菌含量出现不同程度的下降,但不会对丛枝菌根等真菌含量产生影响,而去除根系处理显著降低丛枝菌根真菌含量;（3）微生物群落Shannon-wiener、Simpson多样性指数不受凋落物输入的影响,凋落物去除降低表层土壤微生物群落的Margalef丰富度,提高Pielou均匀度,表明0—10 cm土层微生物群落含量与分布状况受凋落物输入变化影响较大;（4）地下植物根系存在可提高真菌（如丛枝菌根真菌）含量,而地上凋落物输入主要改变细菌丰度以及群落结构。可溶性有机碳以及矿质氮是影响不同处理土壤微生物群落组成和多样性的主要因素。可见,凋落物和根系输入通过土壤理化性质的变化而影响了微生物群落,研究结果可为全面认识植物、土壤与微生物间的相互作用对森林生产力的影响提供科学依据。     

不同凋落物质量对杉木人工林土壤微生物群落结构的影响

凋落物是森林生态系统的重要组成部分。对福建南平峡阳林场7年生二代杉木人工林生态系统进行添加8种不同凋落物处理3年后,分析不同质量凋落物对土壤微生物群落组成的影响。结果表明:(1)添加高质量的桉树凋落物会使土壤磷脂脂肪酸总量、革兰氏阳性、阴性细菌生物量比添加杉木凋落物分别增加了27%、35%和19%,而添加低质量的樟树凋落物使得土壤磷脂脂肪酸总量和革兰氏阴性细菌较杉木显著降低29%和10%。(2)桉树凋落物添加下土壤真菌/细菌比(0.14)显著高于其他凋落物添加的比值,樟树凋落物添加下土壤的革兰氏阳性细菌/革兰氏阴性细菌比(1.64)显著高于其他凋落物添加处理的比值。(3)不同质量凋落物添加处理对土壤pH和碳氮比无显著影响。毛竹凋落物添加下土壤中硝态氮含量最高。(4)相关性分析表明,凋落物碳含量与土壤中脂肪酸总量、革兰氏阳性细菌、革兰氏阴性细菌、真菌和菌根真菌具有正相关关系。烷基碳(Alkyl C)与脂肪酸总量、革兰氏阳性、阴性细菌、细菌、真菌及真菌细菌比均有正相关性。甲氧基碳(N-alkyl C)、氧烷基碳(O-alkylC)和芳碳(ArylC)与革兰氏阳性阴性细菌比呈显著正相关。冗余分析表明,烷基碳(AlkylC)与16︰1ω7c、18︰1ω7c、18︰2ω6c、18︰1ω9显著正相关,对土壤微生物群落结构有显著影响。可见,不同树种之间凋落物烷基碳组分的差异是影响土壤微生物生物量和群落组成的重要指标。     

氮磷添加对毛竹林土壤有机碳矿化及其激发效应的影响

摘 要：【目的】养分输入会显著影响土壤有机碳矿化,但毛竹林土壤有机碳激发效应对不同类型养分输入的响应及其机制尚不明确。【方法】选用尿素和磷酸二氢钠作为外源养分,通过80 d的培养试验,研究氮素、磷素及两者联合添加对毛竹林土壤有机碳矿化及其激发效应、微生物功能以及土壤理化性质的影响。【结果】氮素、磷素及两者联合添加均显著提高了土壤原有有机碳矿化累积CO2排放量（增幅分别为91.3%、19.2%和94.9%）,产生显著的正激发效应,其中氮素及其与磷素联合添加诱导的正激发效应强度显著大于磷素添加处理。上述三种养分添加处理均显著提高了土壤pH、活性有机碳库（微生物量碳、可溶性有机碳和烷氧碳组分）、碳降解酶（?-葡萄糖苷酶和蔗糖酶）活性以及cbhI和GH48功能基因丰度,但抑制了多酚氧化酶和RubisCO酶活性;另外,土壤无机氮含量（NH4+-N和NO3--N）在氮和氮磷添加下增加却在磷添加下降低。相关性分析表明,累积激发效应与土壤pH、活性有机碳库、无机氮含量、碳降解酶活性以及cbhI和GH48功能基因丰度呈显著正相关,而与多酚氧化酶和RubisCO酶活性显著负相关。【结论】氮磷养分添加可能是通过影响土壤pH、活性碳氮含量,并提升微生物的活性和功能,从而显著提高土壤原有有机碳的矿化速率。     

氮添加和凋落物增减对华西雨屏区常绿阔叶林土壤团聚体及其碳氮的影响

大气氮沉降可通过改变土壤氮素可利用性(直接影响)和改变凋落物输入量(间接影响)对森林土壤碳氮动态产生影响.土壤团聚体是森林表层土壤最具代表性的基本结构单元,对于稳定贮存有机碳氮具有重要意义.通过氮添加和凋落物增减试验设计,探索氮添加和凋落物增减对土壤团聚体及其碳氮组分的影响.结果 表明:(1)凋落物增加(+L)和减少(...     

氮添加对马尾松人工林凋落物分解及其微生物活性的影响

对马尾松人工林凋落物进行了12个月的模拟氮沉降试验[对照CK,0 kg N/(hm~2·a)]、低氮[(LN,50 kg N/(hm~2·a)]、中氮[MN,100 kg N/(hm~2·a)]和高氮[HN,150 kg N/(hm~2·a)],研究了凋落物分解特征、土壤微生物活性及其对模拟氮沉降的响应。结果表明:(1)随着氮浓度的增加,马尾松凋落物的分解系数呈先增加后降低趋势,MN处理下马尾松凋落物的分解系数达到最高,之后有所下降;与对照相比,LN,MN,HN凋落物分解系数分别增加了15.36%,56.89%和12.97%;(2)模拟氮沉降促进了微生物量碳、氮、磷,相同月份微生物量碳、氮、磷均随着氮浓度的增加呈先增加后降低趋势,在MN处理下微生物量碳、氮、磷达到最大,HN处理下微生物量碳、氮、磷有所降低;(3)模拟氮沉降增加了大部分土壤酶的活性,HN处理下有所抑制,土壤中与碳(纤维素酶、纤维二糖水解酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶和β-木糖苷酶)、氮(硝酸还原酶)、磷(酸性磷酸酶和碱性磷酸酶)元素循环相关的酶均随着时间的增加呈增加趋势,相同月份在MN处理下达到最大,HN处理下有所降低。(4)不同氮处理下土壤微生物活度、微生物代谢熵、自养呼吸、异养呼吸、总呼吸变化趋势基本保持一致,随着时间的增加呈增加趋势,相同月份在MN处理下达到最大,HN处理下有所降低;(5)相关性分析表明纤维素酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶、β-木糖苷酶、硝酸还原酶与凋落物分解系数呈显著正相关(p0.05),土壤微生物量碳、氮、微生物活度、微生物代谢熵和微生物总呼吸与凋落物分解系数呈显著正相关;PCA排序表明:土壤微生物呼吸和土壤微生物代谢熵很大程度上反映了其微生物特性,其中土壤碳循环酶、微生物活度、土壤微生物代谢熵对凋落物分解贡献最大。     

外源氮素和凋落物添加对温带森林土壤氨基糖转化特征的影响

【目的】温带森林土壤氨基糖的转化特征对外源氮素和凋落物加入的响应研究,对于温带森林土壤氮素管理和缓解氮沉降所带来的负面影响具有重要的意义。【方法】采用室内恒温恒湿模拟培养的方法,研究了外源氮素和凋落物添加条件下温带森林土壤有机层中3种微生物来源的氨基糖含量的变化特征,并利用真菌和细菌来源氨基糖的比值（氨基葡萄糖/胞壁酸）,分析了外源物质添加条件下真菌和细菌残留物对土壤氮素转化和积累的相对贡献。【结果】温带森林有机层土壤中不同微生物来源氨基糖对外源物质加入的响应不同。单施氮素以及氮素与凋落物同时添加均有利于细菌残留物胞壁酸的积累,但是单施氮素添加对真菌残留物氨基葡萄糖含量的积累没有影响,且氮素与凋落物同时添加不利于氨基葡萄糖含量的积累。氨基半乳糖对外源物质添加的响应较小。真菌残留物的稳定性高于细菌残留物,氮素与凋落同时加入时不利于土壤微生物残留物的稳定性。此外,土壤中真菌和细菌来源氨基糖的比值受到外源物质加入的影响,单施氮素以及氮素与凋落物添加降低了氨基葡萄糖/胞壁酸比值（分别降低28.3%和30.5%）,两种外源物质加入时细菌残留物对氮素转化的相对贡献大于真菌残留物。【结论】外源氮素和...     

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.