BS-12改性不同磁性黏土矿物对苯酚的吸附

采用共沉淀法制备磁性海泡石(MST)、磁性沸石(MZT)和磁性凹凸棒石(MAT),并以两性表面活性剂十二烷基二甲基甜菜碱(BS-12)对其进行改性,以X射线衍射(XRD)对不同吸附剂材料进行表征分析,通过批处理法比较不同磁性黏土矿物经BS-12改性后对苯酚的吸附特征,同时考察温度、pH和离子强度对BS-12改性磁性黏土矿物吸附苯酚的影响。结果表明,三种黏土矿物原样和磁化样对苯酚的吸附能力分别呈NATNSTNZT、MATMSTMZT的大小顺序,磁化对凹凸棒石的苯酚吸附能力影响最大,这与Fe3O4在凹凸棒石上的覆盖度较高有关。经BS-12改性后,三种改性磁性黏土矿物对苯酚的吸附量均随改性比例的增大而增加,具有一致性;三种磁性黏土矿物中,BS-12改性对磁性海泡石的苯酚吸附能力提升最多,这与BS-12在磁性海泡石的改性率较高有关。温度和溶液初始pH的升高不利于BS-12改性磁化样对苯酚的吸附,但离子强度的增加对BS-12改性磁化样吸附苯酚具有促进作用。BS-12改性磁性黏土矿物对苯酚的吸附以疏水分配作用为主,吸附能力取决于有机碳含量。三种改性磁性黏土矿物中,BS-12改性磁性凹凸棒石上的有机碳含量最高,对苯酚的吸附能力最强,且吸附受温度、pH和离子强度的影响最小。     

不同浓度酸改性对凹凸棒石黏土磷吸附性能的影响

比较分析了不同浓度酸改性凹凸棒石黏土对不同程度磷污染水体的吸附净化性能,并初步探讨了酸改性影响凹凸棒石黏土磷吸附性能的作用机制。结果发现,3%～30%酸改性可以不同程度地提高凹凸棒石黏土的磷吸附性能,其中以3%酸改性效果最好,在1%投加量下,其对Ⅴ类(P0·4mgL-1)和劣Ⅴ类(P1·0mgL-1)水磷的去除率分别达到95%和15%,而原土对磷污染水体基本无吸附净化能力。不同浓度酸改性不同程度地降低了凹凸棒石黏土的pH,可由原土的8·6降至3·86～3·35;3%～30%酸改性凹凸棒石黏土的zeta电位呈折线形变化,其中以3%酸改性凹凸棒石黏土的zeta电位最高,可达到-28·1mV。结果表明,酸改性可以通过改变凹凸棒石黏土的表面电荷和吸附活性位点等来提高它的磷吸附净化性能,且最适酸改性浓度不超过3%。     

BS-18两性修饰膨润土对Cd（II）的吸附

为探讨两性修饰剂的结构效应,搞清不同碳链长度的两性修饰土对有机、重金属污染物的吸附特征。本文以膨润土为基质,以两性修饰剂十八烷基甜菜碱（BS-18）进行修饰,以批处理法研究BS-18两性修饰膨润土对Cd（II）的平衡吸附特征和机理。结果表明, BS-18修饰膨润土在修饰比例小于100?C时,其对Cd2 的平衡吸附量随修饰比例的增加而减小,超出100%修饰比例后对Cd2 吸附能力则增强且高于未修饰膨润土。不同碳链长度两性修饰剂修饰膨润土吸附性能上的差异主要体现在超出100%修饰比例上。BS-18修饰膨润土样对Cd2 吸附呈现“感温钝化”现象。苯酚的共存对低修饰比例土样吸附Cd2 具有抑制作用,而对高修饰比例土样吸附Cd2 具有促进作用。pH升高和离子强度的降低均可促进Cd2 吸附。机理讨论认为,以电性引力形式修饰在的膨润土表面上的BS-18不利于Cd2 吸附作用,而以疏水键形式吸附膨润土表面上的BS-18却促进了Cd2 吸附,与BS-12修饰膨润土吸附效应的比较证实了这一机制。     

不同改性黏土矿物吸附净化磷污染水体的性能比较

比较了酸、热及其复合改性对凹凸棒石黏土、膨润土和高岭土等3种黏土矿物吸附净化不同程度磷污染水体能力的影响。结果发现,2%浓度酸处理、300℃热活化及酸热复合改性均可以显著提高凹凸棒石黏土的磷吸附净化能力,且以复合改性效果最好,Ⅴ类和劣Ⅴ类水的磷去除率均比原土提高30%以上;酸、热改性均能显著提高膨润土的磷吸附净化能力,但综合不同程度磷污染水体来看,热活化略优于酸改性,但酸热复合改性没有呈现更佳的效果;热改性显著提高高岭土的磷吸附净化能力,而酸改性却不同程度地降低了高岭土的磷吸附净化能力,酸热复合改性的效果亦不如热单独改性。结果表明,在针对不同程度磷污染水体时需根据黏土矿物特性选用酸处理、热活化或酸热复合改性方法来提高污水的吸附净化效率。     

BS-12+DAS复配修饰膨润土对苯酚、菲的不同吸附模式和机理

为探究阴离子型表面修饰剂对两性修饰膨润土吸附不同类型有机污染物的影响,采用阴离子型表面修饰剂正十烷基磺酸钠(DAS)对两性修饰剂十二烷基二甲基甜菜碱(BS-12)修饰膨润土进行复配修饰,恒温浸泡处理法研究复配修饰膨润土对疏水性不同的有机污染物苯酚和菲的吸附模式差异及原因,并对比了不同温度、pH和离子强度条件下供试土样吸附苯酚及菲的吸附量及表观热力学参数。结果表明:BS+DAS复配修饰土样对苯酚及菲的吸附量随DAS修饰比例的增大而减小,且苯酚吸附量变化更为显著,复配修饰土样对苯酚的吸附模式为"无限"型分配吸附,对菲为"有限"型分配吸附;供试土样对苯酚及菲的吸附均为物理吸附,呈现增温负效应;pH升高促进了供试土样对苯酚的吸附,抑制了菲的吸附;离子强度在0.001~0.1 mol L~(-1)范围内,可促进供试土样对苯酚及菲的吸附;热力学参数结果表明,BS+DAS两性复配修饰膨润土对苯酚及菲的吸附是自发的物理吸附过程,DAS增大了土样表面正辛醇/水分配系数的对数(logP),造成了苯酚及菲吸附模式的不同,结果证实,以化学修饰方式增强土样有机碳含量以增加对不同疏水性有机污染物的吸附,不但要考虑有机碳含量的影响,同时也要考虑土样表面有机相和污染物之间"相溶性"的差异。     

高岭土对BS-12的吸附特征及影响因素的研究

采用两性表面活性剂十二烷基二甲基甜菜碱(BS-12)对高岭土进行修饰,以批处理法研究了在不同温度、p H和离子强度条件下,高岭土对BS-12的吸附特征。结果表明,高岭土对BS-12的吸附符合Henry方程。温度的升高不利于高岭土对BS-12的吸附;总体上p H对BS-12的吸附影响不大;离子强度增加,吸附量下降。通过X射线衍射(XRD)和总有机碳(TOC)分析表明,50BS、100BS、150BS高岭的XRD图谱没有明显变化,BS-12修饰高岭土的有机碳含量随修饰比例的增加而增加,BS-12的吸附率在53.5%~64.1%之间,BS-12主要以静电引力方式吸附在高岭土表面。     

几种吸附剂对阿特拉津的吸附及其 Zeta 电位特性研究

通过振荡吸附平衡试验,研究了蒙脱石、凹凸棒石、竹炭、木炭对阿特拉津的吸附行为,讨论了pH值、离子强度对吸附的影响,并考察了吸附剂表面的Zeta电位变化。结果表明,几种吸附剂对阿特拉津的吸附均符合Freundlich方程;竹炭、木炭的吸附能力明显高于蒙脱石和凹凸棒石。吸附剂对阿特拉津的吸附量随着悬液离子强度的增加而增加,在悬液pH一定(pH=6),离子强度为10-3mol/L NaNO3时,蒙脱石、凹凸棒石对阿特拉津的吸附量分别为538.30、609.68 mg/kg,当离子强度增加为10-2mol/L时,吸附量分别增至611.26、731.63 mg/kg;当离子强度由10-3增至10-1mol/L NaNO3时,竹炭、木炭对阿特拉津的吸附量有较多增加。当悬液pH在3~8范围时,几种吸附剂表面均带负电荷,其Zeta电位值随着pH的增加而增加,随离子强度的增加而减小。悬液离子强度一定时,随着pH的增加,吸附阿特拉津后吸附剂表面Zeta电位变化不显著。研究结果有助于从机理上解析吸附剂对有机污染物的吸附行为。     

改性塿土对土壤有机污染物苯酚运移的阻滞模拟

为了防止和控制污染物在土壤中纵向迁移,保护地下水免受污染。该研究通过饱水土柱运移试验,用非反应性离子Cl-探求土柱参数弥散系数,并运用平均孔隙水流速和弥散系数求算反应性溶质苯酚的运移参数阻滞系数,探究十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(cetyltrimethylammonium bromide,CTMAB)改性土和原土对苯酚运移的阻滞效应,以及改性比例、pH值、离子强度等因素对苯酚在土柱中运移的影响。结果表明:以CTMAB改性黏化层塿土,显著增强了土壤对苯酚运移的阻滞能力。改性土对苯酚运移的阻滞能力随着改性比例的增加而增强,苯酚在100%改性土中运移的阻滞系数值是在原土中的26.06倍;pH值在6.0~8.0变化时,对苯酚在改性土中运移的阻滞作用影响不大;当离子强度在0.001~0.1 mol/L范围内,随着离子强度的增加,原土和改性土对苯酚运移的阻滞能力均减弱,原土对苯酚的阻滞系数由0.56降至0.37,100%改性土由17.57降至8.71。以100%改性比例制备的改性土在中性环境,离子强度为0.001 mol/L环境中对苯酚的阻滞效果最好。     

几种土壤及黏土矿物对多氯联苯吸附特性的研究

采用批量平衡试验,研究了不同土壤及长黏土矿物对多氯联苯吸附特性。结果表明:多氯联苯浓度范围为0.25~5.0mg L-1时,不同土壤及黏土矿物对多氯联苯的吸附均能用Freundlich方程很好地拟合,随着溶液中多氯联苯浓度的增加,土壤及黏土矿物对多氯联苯的吸附量增加;几种土壤对多氯联苯吸附量大小顺序为:红壤>黄褐土>砂姜黑土,土壤有机质、粘粒等对多氯联苯吸附起主要作用,土壤更易吸附高氯代PCB77;黏土矿物对多氯联苯吸附量大小顺序为:纳米蒙脱石>纳米SiO2>凹凸棒石,黏土矿物吸附多氯联苯能力的大小与黏土矿物的比表面积、粒径、层状结构等有关;多氯联苯本身分子的大小影响其在黏土矿物上的吸附;土壤中添加黏土矿物可以提高对多氯联苯的吸附。     

有机黏土矿物修复有机污染研究进展

本文综述了有机黏土矿物对环境中有机污染物吸附的研究进展.具体介绍了黏土类型,改性剂种类,改性条件以及有机污染物性质对吸附性能的影响,有机黏土矿物对有机污染物的吸附机理,并就溶液pH和温度的影响机制进行了分析.文章最后对有机黏土在环境污染治理方面的作用研究作了展望.     

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.     

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.