东北黑土有机硫矿化动力学特征及其影响因素

利用开放培养系统分别在20℃和30℃条件下,研究了不同地区(北安、海伦、公主岭)黑土和黑土在不同施肥条件下有机硫的矿化特征。结果表明:在好气培养条件下,黑土有机硫累积矿化量随培养时间的增加不断增加,两者之间的数量关系遵从一级动力学模式,前4周的矿化量占14周矿化总量的50%~62%。公主岭黑土有机硫的供硫潜力最大,且矿化速率快,供硫强度较北安、海伦高。温度越高土壤有机硫矿化势值越大,矿化化学反应速率常数也越大,半衰期越短。长期肥料定位试验地土壤有机硫的矿化势依次为施用有机肥(M)>有机肥+NPK(MNPK)>NPK(NPK)>未施肥(CK),表明施用有机肥可提高土壤供硫潜力。可见,施用有机肥对维持黑土有机硫肥力具有重要作用。     

土壤水分和植物残体对紫色水稻土有机碳矿化的影响

采用为期62.d的实验室恒温(281)℃培养方法,研究了土壤水分和植物残体对紫色水稻土有机碳矿化的影响。结果表明,紫色水稻土有机碳矿化速率在培养30.d后基本达到稳定,好气条件下土壤有机碳累积矿化量高于淹水条件,且差异达到极显著水平。用一级动力学方程对植物残体的矿化速率进行拟合表明,好气条件下,植物残体的分解速率常数(k值)大小顺序为蚕豆秸秆玉米秸秆水稻秸秆,而淹水条件则为水稻秸秆蚕豆秸秆玉米秸秆。水分状况和植物残体化学组分的差异影响紫色水稻土中有机碳的动态变化,最终导致碳累积矿化量差异。     

土壤中不同形态硫的生物有效性研究

在温室条件下连续种植 4茬玉米和水稻幼苗 ,分别研究好气和淹水条件下土壤无机硫(MCP-S)和有机硫包括酯键硫 (C-O-S)、碳键硫 (C-S)和未知态有机硫 (UO-S)的转化及生物有效性。结果表明 ,植物吸硫总量和植株含硫量从第一茬至第四茬逐渐下降 ,这与土壤MCP-S含量下降有关 ,而与土壤有机硫各组分的变化无关。种植期间土壤MCP-S的含量也是逐渐下降 ,种植水稻时下降的幅度小于种植玉米 ;土壤有机硫组分如C-O-S、C-S和UO-S从第一茬到第四茬逐渐下降 ,种植 4茬后 ,玉米和水稻的吸硫总量远大于土壤MCP-S的下降量 ,其高出部分来源于土壤有机硫的矿化。C-O-S、C-S和UO-S对植物都是有效的 ,各组分有机硫对玉米和水稻幼苗吸硫的表观贡献为:C-O-SC-SUO-S。淹水条件下有机硫对水稻的贡献大于好气条件下对玉米的贡献     

有机碳含量对黑土区水稻土有机碳短期分解行为的影响

采用东北黑土区的水稻土(起源土壤为黑土),通过野外实地调查取样和室内短期淹水培养(73 d)试验,研究有机碳含量为高(H)、中(M)、低(L)的3种土壤有机碳矿化过程,并分析矿化过程中日均矿化量与水溶性有机碳(DOC)、微生物量碳(MBC)和易氧化有机碳(ROC)含量的关系。结果表明,(1)在淹水培养73 d内,H、M和L土壤有机碳的矿化过程大致相同,在培养2周内为快速矿化阶段,在培养2~9周内为缓慢矿化阶段,在培养9周后为相对稳定矿化阶段;淹水培养73d时,H、M和L土壤有机碳的累积矿化量分别为1269.5 mg kg-1、1047.4 mg kg-1和873.0 mg kg-1,占土壤有机碳的比率分别为32.1 mg g-1、37.5 mg g-1和50.0 mg g-1。(2)在培养7~56 d内,3种土壤有机碳的日均矿化量与MBC含量之间呈显著线性正相关(P<0.01),微生物量碳组分含量是影响土壤有机碳短期分解行为的关键因素。     

可溶性有机碳的含量动态及其与土壤有机碳矿化的关系

采用我国东部地区的黑土、潮土、黄泥土和红壤水稻土,通过室内分析和培育试验,研究了不同水分条件下可溶性有机碳含量及土壤有机碳矿化量的动态变化,分析了淹水导致可溶性有机碳含量的变化程度及其对土壤有机碳矿化量的可能影响.结果表明,可溶性有机碳含量与水土比呈直线相关关系,累计提取量随浸提时间增加,单次提取量随提取次数降低.在8周的培养期内,淹水处理的可溶性有机碳含量均显著高于好气处理,黄泥土一号高46%～117%(p＜0.05),黄泥土二号高112%～285%(p＜0.001),潴育黄泥田高21%～73%(p＜0.05).在培养的前3周(黄泥土一号)或前4周(黄泥土二号),不同水分处理的日均土壤有机碳矿化量有极显著差异(p＜0.01),其后,差异不显著;但在整个培养过程中,淹水处理的累计土壤有机碳矿化量均极显著高于好气处理(p＜0.01).培养过程中,土壤有机碳的矿化速率动态与可溶性有机碳含量的变化趋势相一致,特别是黄泥土二号,可溶性有机碳含量与土壤有机碳日均矿化量达到极显著的相关关系(好气相关系数0.942,淹水相关系数0.975).结果还表明,两种黄泥土有机碳矿化量(包括日均矿化量和累计矿化量)的差异并不与全土有机碳含量相关,而主要是其可溶性有机碳含量明显不同所致.因此,对于原土可溶性有机碳含量较高的土壤,淹水显著提高可溶性有机碳量是导致其土壤有机碳矿化量高于好气处理的主要原因.     

水热对三峡水库消落带退耕稻田土壤有机碳矿化的影响

采用模拟培养的方法,研究了不同水热条件对三峡水库消落带退耕稻田土壤有机碳(SOC)矿化的影响。试验共设3个培养温度(10、20和30℃)和4个水分梯度(40%田间持水量(WHC)、70%WHC、100%WHC和浅层淹水)。结果表明:1在66天培养期内,各培养温度(10~30℃)下,70%WHC、100%WHC和浅层淹水处理之间的SOC累积矿化量均无明显差异,其中10℃培养时40%WHC处理下的累积矿化量要显著低于70%WHC和100%WHC水分处理(P0.05),但与浅层淹水无明显差异,而20℃和30℃培养时40%WHC处理下的累积矿化量则要显著低于其他水分处理,表明相较于70%WHC的水分处理,40%WHC水分处理会抑制消落带退耕稻田SOC矿化,而高水分(100%WHC和浅层淹水)对SOC矿化则无明显促进和抑制作用。2在相同水分条件下,消落带退耕稻田SOC累积矿化量均随培养温度升高而增加。3高温下各水分处理之间的温度敏感性无显著差异,而低温下水分对温度敏感性有显著影响,低温浅层淹水处理下的Q10为2.33,显著高于40%WHC处理,与70%WHC和100%WHC处理之间无明显差异。且随着温度升高,浅层淹水下消落带退耕稻田SOC矿化的温度敏感性显著降低,而在土壤含水量≤100%WHC下则无明显变化。温度和水分均能显著影响SOC矿化,但二者无明显的交互效应。4双库一级矿化动力学模型拟合结果表明,水分和温度通过影响消落带退耕稻田土壤易分解有机碳含量和难分解有机碳的矿化速率,从而影响SOC矿化。     

长期施肥棕壤有机硫矿化特征及其驱动力

  【目的】  探究长期不同施肥对土壤有机硫矿化量、动力学特征和酶活性的影响,揭示玉米–大豆轮作体系中棕壤有机硫矿化特征及其主要驱动因子。  【方法】  沈阳农业大学长期定位试验于1979年建立,为玉米–玉米–大豆 (一年一熟) 轮作模式。试验设置15个处理,本研究选取了其中7个处理,分别为:CK (不施肥)、N₁ (低量化学氮肥)、N₂ (高量化学氮肥)、N₁P (低量化学氮肥+磷肥)、N₁PK (低量化学氮肥+磷钾肥)、M₁ (低量有机肥) 和M₁N₁PK (低量有机肥配施化学氮磷钾肥)。不同作物有机肥投入量相同,氮磷钾化肥投入量不同。选取2014和2015年的耕层 (0—20 cm) 土壤样品,测定土壤基本理化指标 (pH、有机碳和全氮含量)、有机硫矿化量、土壤中性蛋白酶及土壤芳基硫酸酯酶活性。同时,进行矿化培养试验,分析不同温度下有机硫矿化特征。于玉米、大豆收获后测定产量。  【结果】  长期施肥处理均提高了土壤有机硫的矿化量,7个处理总体表现为M₁N₁PK > M₁ > N₁PK、N₁、N₂ > N₁P > CK。单施化肥条件下,增加氮肥用量对有机硫矿化作用无显著影响;单施有机肥或有机肥与化肥配施均可明显促进土壤有机硫矿化。与CK相比,M₁N₁PK处理有机硫矿化量提升幅度最大,提高了57.30%。利用一级动力学方程进行拟合,长期施肥均提高了有机硫矿化势,无机肥处理 (N₁、N₂、N₁P和N₁PK) 的提升幅度均较低,提升效果最优的是M₁处理,比CK提高了45.27%。环境温度和作物种类均显著影响有机硫矿化量和矿化势,随着环境温度的升高,有机硫的矿化量和矿化势均明显增加;玉米种植季有机硫矿化量和矿化势均高于大豆种植季。土壤中性蛋白酶活性和芳基硫酸酯酶活性均以M₁N₁PK处理最高,与单施化肥相比分别提高了96%～220%、264%～986%。有机硫累积总矿化量在种植玉米的年份与土壤有机碳 (r = 0.7693) 含量和全氮 (r = 0.7554) 含量呈显著正相关 (P < 0.05)。  【结论】  土壤的有机碳和全氮含量是棕壤有机硫矿化的主要驱动力。只施用无机肥对土壤有机硫的矿化没有显著影响,而有机无机肥配合施用可显著提高土壤芳基硫酸酯酶、中性蛋白酶活性,进而提高有机硫矿化势和矿化量。玉米因其较高的生物量也成为有机硫矿化的主要驱动力。     

氧化铁辅助农业固碳减排的技术探索

通过选取水稻秸秆、猪粪、污泥和颗粒有机肥,添加氧化铁后分别进行室内好气培养（25℃）和田间填埋矿化（夏季）,以探索农业固碳减排的技术途径。结果表明,室内好气培养条件下,氧化铁明显降低了水稻秸秆、猪粪、污泥和颗粒有机肥的CO2释放速率,整个培养期间的CO2累积释放量分别由未添加氧化铁的10934．45、5426．12、5288．43和794．90mgCO2-C·kg^-1降低为添加氧化铁的125．47、1535．15、1473．36和498．72mgCO2-C·kg^-1,以水稻秸秆的效果最为显著。田间填埋条件下,除了颗粒有机肥的有机碳降解速率基本未受氧化铁影响外,其余3种有机物料在每一取样阶段的有机碳降解速率均受到了氧化铁的有效抑制。填埋90d后,水稻秸秆、猪粪和污泥的有机碳降解速率分别由未添加氧化铁的34．06％、14．91％和19．90％降低为添加氧化铁的24．25％、9．45％和14．24％,也以水稻秸秆的效果最为显著。可见,无论是室内好气培养还是田间填埋矿化,氧化铁均表现出对有机物料矿化降解的有效抑制作用,具有明显的有机碳固持能力。     

地下水位和长期施肥对红壤性水稻土有机碳矿化特征的影响

以1982年开始的长期定位试验红壤性水稻土为对象,采用室内模拟培养试验方法,对耕层土壤有机碳矿化特征进行分析,以探究两个地下水位(20 cm、80 cm)下,长期不同施肥处理(高量有机肥+化肥(2/3OM)、常量有机肥+化肥(1/3OM)、单施化肥(NPK))红壤性水稻土有机碳矿化特征和差异。结果表明,较高的地下水位促进土壤有机碳累积,提高了高量有机肥和常量有机肥处理的土壤有机碳矿化速率,且增加了其有机碳累积矿化量(C_t)及潜在可矿化有机碳量(C_0),但土壤有机碳累积矿化率在施用化肥的条件下表现为减少。长期不同施肥的红壤性水稻土土壤有机碳矿化特征在不同地下水位条件下变化明显,2个地下水位的土壤有机碳含量、土壤有机碳矿化速率及有机碳累积矿化量高低排序均表现为:2/3OM1/3OMNPK;20cm地下水位长期施用2/3OM和1/3OM土壤有机碳累积矿化率分别较NPK高出53.32%(P0.05)、15.44%,80 cm地下水位则分别低出5.56%、17.95%(P0.05);20 cm地下水位2/3OM和1/3OM处理的土壤潜在可矿化有机碳量(C_0)显著高于NPK处理,而80cm地下水位C_0表现为1/3OM处理显著低于NPK处理;地下水位对相同施肥处理土壤有机碳周转常数(k)影响不明显,而在同为80 cm的地下水位条件下,长期施用有机肥可显著提高k。因此,长期不同施肥对红壤性水稻土有机碳累积矿化率、潜在可矿化有机碳量及周转常数的影响在不同地下水位条件下发生变化。     

植烟黄壤氮素矿化动态模拟研究

研究不同温度和水分条件下植烟土壤有机氮的矿化动态,为田间土壤氮素矿化的预测提供依据。采用好气间歇淋洗方法,探求不同温度培养模式[恒温20℃,恒温35℃,变温(5、10、15、20、25、30、35、30、25、20℃)],不同温度(5~40℃)与不同土壤含水量(风干土~53%)交互作用下的土壤有机氮矿化动态,并建立回归方程。运用田间土壤氮素矿化数据,进行模型验证。结果显示,变温培养下土壤氮素矿化动态与恒温培养显著不同,变温下土壤矿化氮的累积动态以积温模型的拟合效果最好;指数模型能够较好描述土壤有机氮矿化对土壤水分含量的反应。在土壤氮素矿化积温模型和水分函数的基础上,建立了变化温度与水分条件下的土壤氮素矿化模型。田间实测矿化数据验证了此模型的可行性。因此,可以利用有效积温和土壤含水量来估测田间土壤氮素矿化量。     

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.