水培条件下CO2与NH+4/NO-3配比对番茄幼苗生育的影响

升高CO₂浓度能够促进作物的光合作用，提高作物的生物量和产量，但关于CO₂与NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比及其交互作用对作物影响的研究较少，为探索番茄幼苗生长发育对CO₂浓度升高的响应是否对NH⁺₄/NO^-₃配比有较强的依赖关系，本试验在营养液栽培条件下，以番茄(Lycopersicun esculentum Mill)为试材，研究正常大气CO₂浓度(360 μL/L)和倍增CO₂浓度(720 μL/L)与不同NH⁺₄/NO^-₃配比的交互作用对番茄幼苗生长的影响。结果表明：CO₂浓度升高提高了低NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例处理中番茄叶片的光合速率和水分利用率，提高幅度随NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例的降低而增强，光合速率增强最大达55%。在同一CO₂浓度处理下净光合速率与水分利用率均随NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例的增加而显著降低。这说明CO₂浓度升高对番茄幼苗生长发育的促进作用随NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例的降低而提高，但并没有减弱全NH⁺₄-N处理中番茄幼苗的受毒害作用。综上所述，CO₂浓度升高能提高植物生产的节水能力和水分生产力；水培条件下，NO^-₃-N是最适合番茄幼苗生长发育的氮源，其它NH⁺₄/NO^-₃比例对番茄幼苗的生长发育有一定的抑制作用，仅以NH⁺₄-N作氮源则番茄幼苗很难生长。     

铁和不同形态氮素对玉米植株吸收矿质元素及其在体内分布的影响——Ⅰ.对氮、磷、钾、钙、镁等营养元素的影响

用营养液培养方法研究了铁和两种形态氮素(NO₃^--N和NH₄⁺-N)对玉米植株吸收氮、磷、钾等大量元素和钙、镁等中量元素及其在体内分布的影响。结果表明:与NO₃^--N相比,供应NH₄⁺-N促进了玉米对氮的吸收,在缺铁条件下,降低了对磷、钾、钙及镁的吸收。铁和NH₄⁺-N都显著提高了玉米植株各器官中氮的含量。与NH₄⁺-N处理相比,NO₃^--N处理的新叶中磷含量显著增加,但铁的供应对植物体内磷的含量无显著影响。使用NO₃^--N显著提高了玉米新叶和老叶中钾的含量,根和茎中钾的含量无明显影响。铁的供应降低了新叶和老叶中钾的含量。供铁时,NH₄⁺-N处理的玉米新叶中钙和镁的含量显著低于NO₃^--N处理,而在缺铁时则无显著差异。     

长期种植苜蓿对土壤氮素营养的作用

13年长期施肥和轮作试验结果表明，连续种植苜蓿时N肥、P肥、有机肥的配合施用(NPM)较单施P肥对提高土壤硝态氮(NO^-₃-N)含量水平有较好效果；而无论施肥与否，种植苜蓿对土壤深层NO^-₃-N均造成不同程度的亏缺。苜蓿(NPM)连作较小麦(NPM)连作土壤NO^-₃-N利用率高；种植苜蓿对土壤铵态氮(NH⁺₄-N)分布影响与NO^-₃-N不同，深层土壤CK、NPM配施处理NH⁺₄-N含量明显高于施P和裸地处理，不同作物种植系统中以苜蓿连作土壤剖面中NH⁺₄-N含量最高。与其他轮作相比，苜蓿连作在提高土壤剖面供N能力方面有较好作用。     

不同铵硝配比对弱光下白菜氮素吸收及相关酶的影响

以黑色遮阳网覆盖模仿弱光环境, 使光照强度为自然光的20%左右, 以自然光照为对照, 采用精确控制水培溶液氮素营养, 研究NH₄⁺-N/NO₃^--N 比例分别为0/100、25/75、50/50、75/25、100/0 对弱光下白菜氮代谢及硝酸还原酶和谷氨酰胺合成酶活性的影响。结果表明, 弱光下, 白菜的鲜重及叶片总氮量以NH₄⁺-N/NO₃^--N 比为25/75 时最大, NH₄⁺-N/NO₃^--N 比为100/0 时最低。随弱光处理的进行, 白菜叶片中硝酸还原酶活性及谷氨酰胺合成酶活性均呈下降趋势, 但NH₄⁺-N/NO₃^--N 比为25/75 时, 可维持叶片内较高的硝酸还原酶活性及谷氨酰胺合成酶活性。试验表明, NH₄⁺-N/NO₃^--N 比25/75 是白菜在弱光下生长的较适宜氮素形态配比。     

不同氮素形态配比对网纹甜瓜干物质分配和氮代谢的影响

该文研究了4种氮素形态配比(NO^-₃-N∶NH⁺₄-N分别为100∶0，75∶25，50∶50和25∶75)对基质栽培网纹甜瓜(品种为“春丽”和“蜜玲珑”)干物质积累和氮代谢的影响。结果表明,不同氮素形态配比影响了植株各器官干重占全株干重的百分比。随氮素形态中氨态氮比例的增加，叶片中硝酸还原酶、硝酸盐含量和可溶性蛋白质含量逐渐降低，而游离氨基酸含量则在NO^-₃-N∶NH⁺₄-N为50∶50的处理中最高。     

猪粪堆肥过程中NH3和H2S的释放及除臭微生物的筛选研究

为了治理粪便臭气污染，测定了猪粪好氧堆肥过程中NH₃和H₂S的释放量以及堆肥温度、pH值、含水率、水溶性铵态氮等指标。结果表明，NH₃在前20天释放量占总释放量的84.6%、H₂S在前13天释放量占总释放量的100%。因此，在堆肥初期的前20天是控制臭气的最佳时期。并从畜禽粪便、垃圾、土壤和堆肥中分离、纯化了一些微生物，经过初筛得到能利用NH₃的微生物41株，经过复筛得到脱除H₂S较好的细菌一株，与对照相比其去除率达85.7%，经鉴定该菌是松鼠葡萄球菌。     

宁夏引黄灌区稻田氮素浓度变化与迁移特征

过量施氮与不合理灌水是农田面源污染加剧的主要原因。为了寻求较优的水氮管理模式以促进农业生产和减少农田退水对黄河水体的污染, 在宁夏引黄灌区典型稻田中开展了不同水氮条件下稻田氮素迁移转化规律研究。结果表明: 不同水氮条件下稻田田面水NH₄⁺-N 与NO₃^--N 浓度伴随施肥出现明显峰值, NO₃^--N 峰值出现时间较NH₄⁺-N 晚, 且变化较平缓。3 次追肥时期和整个生育期田面水NH₄⁺-N 平均浓度与施氮量和灌水量都呈显著相关, 田面水NO₃^--N 平均浓度与施氮量呈显著正相关, 与灌水量相关性不显著。稻田30 cm与60 cm 深度的直渗水NH₄⁺-N 浓度受施肥影响较大, 与田面水NH₄⁺-N 浓度变化规律相似, 90 cm 处直渗水NH₄⁺-N 浓度峰值出现较为滞后, 且浓度较上层土体低, 120 cm 处直渗水NH₄⁺-N 浓度大体呈现持续上升趋势,整个生育期直渗水NH₄⁺-N 平均浓度与施氮量呈显著相关, 仅30 cm 处NH₄⁺-N 平均浓度与灌水量呈负相关, 其他土层深度不显著。30 cm 与60 cm 直渗水NO₃^--N 浓度在首次灌水后急剧下降, 在施肥后有较小幅度上升, 90 cm 与120 cm 直渗水NO₃^--N 浓度下降缓慢, 仅30 cm 处NO₃^--N 平均浓度与施肥量显著正相关。总的结果表明减少施肥或灌水均可达到减少农田氮素淋失的目的。     

铁和不同形态氮素对玉米植株吸收矿质元素及其在体内分布的影响 Ⅱ.对铁、锰、铜、锌等营养元素的影响

用营养液培养方法研究了铁和两种形态氮素对玉米植株吸收铁、锰、铜、锌等微量元素及其在体内分布的影响。结果表明:与硝态氮(NO₃^--N)相比,铵态氮(NH₄⁺-N)显著提高了玉米对铁的吸收,降低了对锰、铜及锌的吸收。供铁也明显提高了植株地上部铁的吸收总量,降低了锰及锌的吸收量,尤其是在供应No₃^--N时这种作用更为明显。在缺铁条件下,NH₄⁺-N处理的玉米新叶中铁的含量明显高于NO₃^--N处理;而新叶、老叶、茎中锰、锌、铜含量以及根中锰、锌含量都明显低于NO₃^--N处理。但使用NH₄⁺-N时,根中铜的含量较高。在供铁条件下,NH₄⁺-N处理的玉米植株四个不同器官中锰和锌的含量显著低于NO₃^--N处理的植株,而铜的含量正好相反。在缺铁条件下,玉米新叶中活性锰、活性锌的含量显著高于供铁处理;与NO₃^--N相比,NH₄⁺-N的供应也显著降低了玉米新叶中活性锰以及活性锌的含量。     

模拟潜流人工湿地处理猪场废水的实验研究

采用盆栽试验模拟潜流型人工湿地，研究了土壤、蛭石、煤渣和碎石四种人工湿地基质不同组合净化养猪场污水的能力。结果表明：以上层蛭石土混合物、下层煤渣和碎石的组合处理效果最佳，14d内COD_Cr、NH₄⁺-N、T-P的去除率分别达到了95.3%、90%、91.6%。试验前期，四种不同组合基质的COD_Cr、NH₄⁺-N、T-P去处率有明显差异，但试验后期除T-P的去除率仍有明显差异外，COD_Cr和NH₄⁺-N去除率已无明显差异。     

微塑料输入与秸秆添加对潮土和黄棕壤氮淋溶的影响

为探究微塑料输入与秸秆添加对农田土壤氮淋溶的影响，以潮土和黄棕壤为研究对象，每种土壤各设置8个处理，包括对照（CK）、低量微塑料（PE1）、中量微塑料（PE2）、高量微塑料（PE3）、秸秆（S）、秸秆+低量微塑料（S+PE1）、秸秆+中量微塑料（S+PE2）、秸秆+高量微塑料（S+PE3），研究了添加秸秆与不添加秸秆条件下，不同微塑料输入量对土壤氮淋溶的影响。结果表明，仅添加微塑料条件下，与对照（CK）相比，潮土PE1、PE2、PE3处理总氮（TN）淋溶量均无显著差异，黄棕壤仅PE1处理显著增加了TN淋溶量。在添加秸秆（S）处理中，与对照（CK）相比，潮土添加秸秆后显著降低了硝态氮（NO₃^--N）、铵态氮（NH₄⁺-N）、TN淋溶量，分别降低了31.15%、13.45%、15.26%，黄棕壤添加秸秆后显著增加了TN淋溶量，增加了22.56%。添加秸秆处理相较于不添加秸秆处理，潮土各浓度微塑料输入下NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N、TN的累计淋溶量呈降低趋势，而黄棕壤低量微塑料输入降低了TN淋溶量，高量微塑料输入增加了TN淋溶量。偏最小二乘路径模型（PLS-PM）分析表明，在潮土中添加秸秆主要通过影响淋溶液pH和NO₃^--N淋溶量影响氮素淋溶，微塑料添加量对氮淋溶无显著影响；在黄棕壤中添加秸秆主要通过影响淋溶液NO₃^--N、NH₄⁺-N淋溶量影响氮淋溶，微塑料添加量主要通过影响淋溶液NH₄⁺-N淋溶量影响氮淋溶。研究结果可为农田土壤微塑料污染风险的管控及减少土壤氮素的淋失提供依据。     

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,     

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.     

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.     

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.