我国各地区农业气象灾害演变进趋势分析

对我国各地区1953～1966年和1978～1996年2个时段的主要农业气象灾害进行比较分析.结果表明,我国绝大部分地区农业气象灾害存在发生频率增加、发生面积扩大及灾害发生趋于平稳等3种演变趋势.同时根据灰色系统理论诊断出各地区影响农业生产的主导气象灾害,并按照各种灾害对总受灾面积的影响序列将全国各地区粗略划分为8种类型,为制定区域农业发展战略,合理安排农业生产提供参考依据.     

气候变化背景下中国农业干旱时空变化特征分析

基于1951−2018年各省（自治区）农作物播种面积、干旱受灾面积、干旱成灾面积等数据,构建了干旱影响强度和干旱成灾强度特征指标,并分析近70a各省（自治区）空间尺度的农业干旱灾害的分布、发生次数、变化趋势和气候变暖背景下的阶段性变化特点。研究表明：（1）内蒙古自治区、山西省和河北省等省（自治区）的干旱受灾面积、干旱成灾面积、干旱影响强度和干旱成灾强度的多年平均值均位于前列;（2）中度及以上干旱等级发生次数最多的前10位均为北方省份（自治区）,总次数均≥25次,其中内蒙古自治区、山西省和陕西省位居农业干旱发生次数最多前三位;（3）16省（自治区）的干旱受灾面积和干旱影响强度存在减小趋势,但大部分地区即23个省（自治区）的干旱成灾面积和27个省（自治区）的干旱成灾强度存在增加趋势;（4）受气候变化影响,各省（自治区）在气候较冷的I阶段（1951−1984年）农业干旱较轻,在气候增暖明显的II阶段（1985−1997年）农业干旱大幅加重,在气候增暖趋缓的III阶段（1998−2018年）农业干旱受灾面积、成灾面积和干旱影响强度普遍减小,但其成灾强度在加重。总之,农业干旱具有明显的南轻北重特征,且北方农业干旱更加频繁,因此北方地区仍需加强防御,减轻重大干旱对农业的影响。     

新疆化肥利用的空间特征及增产潜力分析

根据1989～2005年新疆各地州农用化肥施用量、农作物播种面积和粮食单产数据,采用聚类分析法对研究区进行区域划分,并运用回归分析计算出各区域化肥的顷均施用量和增产效率.结果表明:根据施用化肥情况可将新疆分为3大区域,即低施肥量地区,平均施肥量115.88 kg·hm-2,增长量5.78 kg·hm-2·a-1:中施肥量地区,平均施肥量175.93 kg·hm-2,增长量10.41 kg·hm-2·a-1;高施肥量地区,平均施肥量219.59kg·hm-2,增长量11.22 kg·hm-2·a-1.这3个地区的单位面积施肥量均低于全国平均水平.同时,中施肥量地区的化肥增产效率[kg(粮食)·kg-1(化肥)]居新疆最高,为21.45;低施肥量地区的化肥增产率为13.88;高施肥量地区的化肥增产效率为10.80,为新疆最低;但3个地区的化肥增产效率均高于全国平均水平.新疆应重点加强中,低施肥量地区的施肥强度,以发挥其最大的增产潜力.     

1992年度全国农业气象条件评述(1991年12月至1992年11月)

1992年度干旱灾害相对较重,其中以北方冬旱、黄淮地区初夏旱及南方伏秋旱范围较大,部分地区和时段旱情较重;洪涝灾害相对偏轻,汛期大范围或持续性暴雨天气少,几大主要江河水势平稳.年内气温变幅较大,热量条件明显不如往年,其中北方以东北的夏季低温尤为突出,其降温幅度之大,持续时间之长为近几年所少见.南方以春播及初夏的低温连阴雨较为明显,前者对华南早稻育秧及江南油菜生长影响较大,后者对江南早稻产量形成有不利影响.本年度有8个台风或热带风暴在我国登陆,比1991年多2个,局部地区受灾较重.风雹灾害少,程度轻;病虫害以棉铃虫危害相对较重.总的来看,1992年度农业生产的气象条件并不优越,除冬小麦为丰收年景外,春小麦、早稻、一季稻、晚稻均为一般年景,而油菜、玉米、棉花等作物为偏歉年景.     

1961－2014年中国干湿气候时空变化特征及成因分析

利用全国701个气象站点1961-2014年逐日地面观测资料,基于降水量和参考作物蒸散量(ET0)计算的湿润指数研究了近54a中国干湿气候时空变化特征,并利用敏感性和贡献率法分析了气候变化背景下主要气象因子对ET0的影响,对干湿气候变化的成因进行了探讨.结果表明:全国气候在3个时间段(时段1:1961-1980;时段2:1981-2000;时段3:2001-2014)中经历了变湿到变干的过程;不同地区干湿状况变化差异很大,干旱趋势主要发生在中国的半干旱半湿润气候区;1961-2014年降水量变化趋势不显著,ET0呈显著下降的趋势,61.6%的站点出现"蒸发悖论"现象.南方大部分地区和新疆的西北部由于降水量增加和ET0减少,气候变湿;西北和西南大部分地区由于年降水量减少和ET0增加,气候呈显著变干的趋势.ET0对相对湿度的变化最敏感,风速的负贡献率是引起ET0变化的主导因子.研究时段内风速和日照时数的减少对ET0的负效应超过温度上升对ET0的增大作用,导致全国ET0总体呈下降趋势.     

宁夏气象灾害变化及其对粮食产量的影响

利用宁夏23个站点1961-2004年的年降水量、冰雹发生次数和无霜期数据,1991-2006年宁夏水稻、小麦、玉米、马铃薯产量数据,粮食总产量和干旱、冰雹、冷冻害的受灾成灾面积数据,分析了宁夏干旱、冰雹和霜冻三种主要气象灾害的变化趋势及其对粮食生产的影响.结果表明:近年来,宁夏地区的旱灾指数在波动中增加,干旱发生的强度和频率有增加趋势,干旱的影响加重;冰雹的年均发生次数有明显减少趋势,但冰雹影响的程度和范围有所增大;无霜期天数增加,霜期缩短.干旱是影响宁夏主要粮食作物产量和粮食总产量的最主要的灾害;对于冷冻害和冰雹对粮食作物产量的影响,一方面与灾害的发生时间和发生区域有关,另一方面还与作物的主要生育期及作物种植的地理位置有关.     

陕北丘陵区水坝地粮食高产栽培技术研究

根据最优设计的原理 ,采用了组合设计的思想 ,接近于正交设计、旋转设计和饱和设计 ,故称为最优混合设计。 1998年小区最高产量为 12 919.5kg·hm-2 ,1999年小区最高产量达到 13815kg·hm-2 ,2 0 0 0年小区产最高产量达 15 0 18.0kg·hm-2 。由电脑筛选出 343个方案 ,其中 ,15 0 0 0～ 176 2 5kg·hm-2 的最优组合方案是 :施有机肥 6 0 0 0 0kg·hm-2 ,追肥N素 46 2～ 483kg·hm-2 ,播前浇底墒水 6 0 0t·hm-2 ,补灌 1377～ 145 8t·hm-2 ,密度 :马铃薯套种高粱 ,马铃薯 72 70 5～ 83415株·hm-2 ,高粱 6 5 2 0 5～ 75 915株·hm-2 。     

洛阳孟津冬小麦生产潜力长周期定量模拟与评价

以洛阳孟津地区气象数据库、土壤数据库、作物数据库和多年田间试验数据库为基础, 应用DSSAT作物生长模型估算了当地冬小麦光温生产潜力和光温水生产潜力, 并对节水潜力及途径进行了分析.结果表明, 洛阳孟津地区46年冬小麦光温生产潜力为7 571～10 965 kg·hm-2, 平均9 209 kg·hm-2, 此值可作为当地补灌区产量的上限参考值; 光温水生产潜力为3 957～7 450 kg·hm-2, 平均5 510 kg·hm-2, 仅占光温生产潜力的59.8%, 此值可作为雨养冬小麦产量的上限参考值.冬小麦生育期内平均降水量为226.29 mm, 不及需水量的一半, 平均水分亏缺量占生育期降水量比例高达72.5%, 平均水分满足率为66.4%, 生育期水分亏缺成为影响洛阳孟津地区旱作冬小麦生产发展的首要障碍.不同土壤类型及不同降雨年型冬小麦潜在水分利用效率变幅较大, 波动范围为12.06～22.94 kg·hm-2·mm-1, 46年均值为16.94 kg·hm-2·mm-1.近8年旱作冬小麦现实水分利用效率仅占潜在水分利用效率的58.5%, 平均光温水生产潜力开发度为60.5%.结果表明, 洛阳孟津地区冬小麦节水潜力较大, 采用合理的节水农业措施, 加强农田建设, 改善地力, 增强土壤储水蓄水能力, 高效利用降水资源, 提高水分利用效率是今后提高冬小麦产量的重要途径.     

华北平原冬小麦产量变异的气象影响因子分析

采用1988-2015年华北平原冬小麦种植区46个市的统计产量和相应46个气象站点的逐日气象资料,通过Logistic曲线和双曲线方法分离出气象产量,并构建气象产量与生长季主要气象因子的多元统计关系,以明确华北平原冬小麦产量变异的气象影响因子。结果表明：（1）1988-2015年华北平原冬小麦产量在3200～6800kg·hm-2,中部地区产量最高,南部地区产量的变异高于中部和北部地区。（2）生长季日照时数、温度和降水平均值的年际变化影响了17%～78%的气象产量的变异,其中54%的地区达到显著水平（P＜0.05）。影响程度较高的地区主要分布在河北南部、山东西部和河南的东北部地区。（3）播种-返青阶段的降水显著影响产量变异,降水量每增加1%,天津、驻马店及山东西北部等地产量将上升13～74kg·hm-2,而河北北部、河南南部、山东南部等地产量将下降16～80kg·hm-2。返青-成熟阶段对产量变异影响较大的因子为最低气温,平均最低气温每上升1-C,天津和石家庄、山东东部和西部及河南东部等地产量将增加50～295kg·hm-2,而北京、唐山和枣庄等地将减少76～124kg·hm-2。总体来看,温度对华北平原冬小麦产量变异影响范围更广且更加显著,但气象因子对产量变异的影响受局地品种和管理措施等影响呈现较大的空间差异。     

基于大比例尺数据库的福建省耕地土壤固碳速率和潜力研究

明确土壤固碳速率和潜力是制定耕地固碳减排措施的基础。以我国典型亚热带地区—福建省不同地理位置的闽侯、浦城、同安、武平和永定5个县为研究区,运用生物地球化学过程模型DNDC（DeNitrification and Decomposition）,模拟这5个县在目前区域尺度最详细的1:5万土壤数据库下1980─2009年和2010─2039年有机碳动态变化,并运用尺度上推的方法估算出全省耕地土壤固碳速率和潜力。结果表明,福建省耕地土壤1980─2009年的固碳总量为7.37 Tg,而2010─2039年的固碳潜力为7.04 Tg,两个时段的年均固碳速率分别为：190 kg·hm-2和176 kg·hm-2,说明目前的农田管理措施有利于研究区长期固碳。其中,水稻土和盐渍水稻土分别在土类和亚类级别中固碳速率最大,不同时段均大于175 kg·hm-2·a-1;而红壤在土类和亚类级别中固碳速率皆最小,不同时段均小于3 kg·hm-2·a-1。总体来看,1980─2009年和2010─2039年水稻土的固碳总量均占全省耕地固碳总量的92%以上,是今后制定固碳减排措施的重点。     

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.     

Electron donor and pH relationships for biologically enhanced dissolution of chlorinated solvent DNAPL in groundwater

Biologically enhanced dissolution offers a method to speed removal of chlorinated solvent dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) sources such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichoroethene (TCE) from aquifers. Bioremediation is accomplished by adding an electron donor to the source zone where fermentation to intermediates leading to acetic acid and hydrogen results. The hydrogen and possibly acetic acid are used by dehalogenating bacteria to convert PCE and TCE to ethene and hydrochloric acid. Reductive dehalogenation is thus an acid forming process, and sufficient alkalinity must be present to maintain a near neutral pH. The bicarbonate alkalinity required to maintain pH above 6.5 is a function of the electron donor: 800 mg/L of bicarbonate alkalinity is sufficient to achieve about 1.2 mM TCE dechlorination with glucose, 1.7 mM with lactate, and a much higher 3.3 mM with formate. Laboratory studies indicate that in mixed culture, formate can be used as an electron donor for complete conversion to ethene, contrary to pure cultures studies indicating it cannot. Various strategies can be used to add electron donor to an aquifer for DNAPL dehalogenation while minimizing pH problems and excessive electron donor usage, including use of injection-extraction wells, dual recirculation wells, and nested injection-extraction wells.     

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.