植保无人机喷施雾滴沉积特性的荧光示踪分析

航空施药雾滴沉积特性的准确检测对施药参数选择和施药质量优化至关重要。该研究以3WQF-80-10型植保无人机为试验对象,选取典型飞行工况,通过水敏纸和基于荧光示踪的航空施药沉积检测系统同步获取展向雾滴沉积覆盖率,研究对比了该机型在典型飞行工况条件下的雾滴沉积离散性和连续性分布,评估基于荧光示踪的沉积检测系统对雾滴沉积检测效果与适用性。试验结果表明:荧光示踪法与水敏纸法所得雾滴沉积率分布曲线整体趋于一致,2种方法的检测结果相关性拟合优度(R2)为0.88~0.96;由于植保无人机旋翼下洗风场胁迫细小雾滴沉降至非水敏纸布样位置,致使荧光示踪法测得的平均雾滴覆盖率曲线出现更多峰值,覆盖率值高于水敏纸法测量结果。植保无人机飞行速度为2 m/s,飞行高度为3 m的作业条件下,与水敏纸离散布样方式相比,荧光示踪连续布样方式测得雾滴覆盖率提高16.92%,当飞行速度为4 m/s,飞行高度为9 m时,后者较前者提高97.77%。植保无人机作业工况对施药雾滴沉积覆盖率影响方面,飞行速度2 m/s,飞行高度3 m的工况下,雾滴沉积覆盖率最高,为8.34%和7.14%;随着植保无人机飞行高度和速度增加,雾滴沉积覆盖率降低。针对植保无人机下洗风场作用下施药雾滴沉积质量检测,与离散布样方式相比,连续性样品采集可获取更丰富的雾滴空间沉积分布细节。该研究可为无人机低空低量施药雾滴沉积检测和无人机下洗风场对雾滴沉积分布影响研究提供方法参考。     

双极性接触式航空机载静电喷雾系统荷电与喷雾效果试验

该文针对航空施药植保无人机设计了双极性接触式航空机载静电喷雾系统,分别对该系统喷施静电油剂和水的荷电与雾化效果进行了测试。将该航空静电喷雾系统搭载于3WQF120-12型油动单旋翼植保无人机喷施静电油剂,并使用该植保无人机自带喷雾系统分别喷施静电油剂和常规水基化药剂,对比了3种施药方式的沉积分布均匀性和对小麦蚜虫、锈病的防治效果。试验结果表明:当喷雾液为水时,静电喷雾系统的静电电压和极性不会改变水的雾滴谱;当喷雾液为静电油剂时,正电荷使雾滴粒径减小,负电荷使雾滴粒径增大,且静电喷头的雾滴相对粒谱宽度随静电电压的增加而增大;喷雾液的荷质比与静电电压正相关,相同静电电压和输出电极下水的荷质比大于静电油剂,同一静电电压下负输出雾化喷头药液的荷质比高于正输出。小麦大田试验表明:使用静电喷雾系统喷施静电油剂的雾滴沉积分布均匀性最好,其单位面积沉积量为0.048 6?g/cm2,沉积量的标准偏差为0.015?g/cm2,变异系数为30.43%;使用无人机自带喷雾系统喷施静电油剂和常规水基化药剂的单位面积沉积量分别为0.051 3和0.035 6?g/cm2,标准偏差分别为0.019和0.016?g/cm2,变异系数分别为42.57%和45.54%;喷施静电油剂的2个处理对麦蚜和锈病的防治效果和药效期均明显高于水基化药剂,使用静电喷雾系统的测试在药后7 d对蚜虫防治效果为87.92%,明显高于无人机自带喷雾系统喷施静电油剂76.43%的防治效果。该静电喷雾系统配合喷施静电油剂可提高沉积分布均匀性,增加防治的持效期和效果。     

不同侧风和静电电压对静电喷雾飘移的影响

为研究不同侧风和静电电压对静电喷雾雾滴飘移的影响规律,设计不同侧风(恒速风1、2、4 m/s及0~4 m/s变化的模拟自然风)及静电电压(0,2,4,6,8 k V),进行喷杆式静电喷雾机的雾滴飘移试验,测定不同静电电压下的雾滴粒径与荷质比,并对比分析雾滴飘移质量中心距和飘失率。结果表明:随着静电电压的增大,雾滴粒径减小,雾滴荷质比增大,0~8 k V电压下电极干燥和电极打湿对雾滴荷质比没有显著影响。在侧风风速为1 m/s时,0~8 k V静电喷雾的雾滴飘移中心距小于0.55 m,雾滴飘失率低于15%。在侧风风速2 m/s时,非静电喷雾的雾滴飘失率为11.9%,6~8 k V静电喷雾的雾滴飘失率超过20%,其中静电电压8 k V的雾滴飘失率(23.9%)比非静电喷雾增加100.8%。在侧风风速4 m/s时,4~8 k V静电喷雾的雾滴飘移中心距在0.9 m以上,雾滴飘失率在30%以上,其中静电电压8 k V下的雾滴飘移中心距为967.2 mm比非静电喷雾下增加了13.7%,雾滴飘失率为35.4%比非静电喷雾下增加了59.5%。相同静电电压下,2 m/s的恒速风和0~4 m/s变化的模拟自然风之间对雾滴飘失率无显著差异。该研究为优化喷雾技术参数和提高雾滴抗飘移的能力提供参考。     

基于仿真果园试验台的植保无人机施药雾滴飘移测试方法与试验

植保无人机(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle,UAV)果树飞防植保作业中飞行高度较高并且采用低容量细小雾滴喷雾,飘移风险极高。但是,无人机果园施药雾滴飘移特性研究尚处于初步开展阶段,缺乏全方位综合测试方法以及对不同无人机机型和喷头类型的评价。该研究在前期研究基础上,提出一种基于仿真果园试验台的植保无人机果园施药雾滴飘移测试方法,设计并制作仿真葡萄园试验台和空中飘移收集装置,结合地面飘移收集装置和冠层沉积收集带,首次通过雾滴空间飘移指数ADX定量分析评价不同机型的喷雾过程中农药雾滴空间飘移特性,并采用田间近地飘移测试平台进行无人机喷雾飘移试验,使用荧光示踪法探究4种典型植保无人机(油动单旋翼、电动6旋翼及2种电动8旋翼无人机)分别搭载IDK 120-015空气射流喷头和TR 80-0067空心圆锥喷头喷雾作业的雾滴冠层沉积分布、地面飘移、近地飘移及空中飘移特性,进而对不同喷雾飘移测试收集装置进行评估。结果表明:在侧风速2.2～3.6 m/s,温度29.8～34.3℃,相对湿度10.7%～30.6%的环境条件下,IDK空气射流喷头在作业高度1.5 m、速度2.0 m/s参数下可显著降低无人机喷雾下风向飘移水平,优化沉积分布均匀性,提高农药雾滴利用率;4种机型飘移特性无显著差异,旋翼下洗气流产生的卷扬涡流是影响无人机喷雾飘移的重要因素;葡萄园喷雾作业缓冲区至少应设置为15 m;冠层沉积率越小(P0.05,r0)、沉积分布变异系数越高(P0.01,r0)、田间飘移平台平均均值飘移率和90%累积飘移距离越大(P0.01,r0)以及ADX值越大(P0.01,r0)均表明雾滴飘移风险越高,3种收集装置及其评价指标均可有效评估下风向飘移特性;植保无人机喷雾飘移率与下风向距离满足指数函数关系。研究结果以期为新型果树专用植保无人机研发、植保无人机果园作业喷雾飘移测试方法的标准制定和田间作业参数选择提供参考和数据支持。     

油动单旋翼植保无人机雾滴飘移分布特性

为了研究油动单旋翼植保无人机在精准作业参数(速度、高度)条件下的雾滴飘移分布特性,该文建立了雾滴飘移收集测试平台,分别用雾滴飘移测试框架、等动量雾滴收集装置和培养皿收集3WQF80-10型油动单旋翼植保无人机在作业时空中及地面飘移的雾滴。将测试结果分别与侧风风速、飞行高度、飞行速度进行相关分析和回归分析,结果表明:在平均温度31.5℃、平均相对湿度34.1%的条件下,侧风风速为雾滴飘移的主要影响因素;侧风风速与等动量雾滴收集器和培养皿测得的雾滴飘移率呈正相关(相关系数r分别为0.97、0.93);而与雾滴飘移测试框架测得的雾滴飘移率无相关性;侧风风速为0.76~5.5 m/s时,90%飘移雾滴沉降在喷雾区域下风向水平距离9.3~14.5 m的范围内,因此在作业时要预留至少15 m以上缓冲区(安全区)以避免药液飘移产生的危害。研究结果可为低空低量植保无人机施药技术研究和建立植保无人机低空低量施药田间雾滴沉积与飘移测试标准提供参考。     

雾化网格在果树植保喷雾中的应用与试验

针对目前一些植保机械在喷洒农药的过程中难以兼顾低飘移和高沉积的问题,该研究将雾化网格应用在果树植保喷雾作业中,使喷头喷出的大粒径雾滴在接近靶标处撞击网格二次雾化为小雾滴。为了研究雾滴撞击网格后的粒径和速度分布以及沉积特性,以网格孔径、喷头与网格的距离为变量,以二次雾化后雾滴的速度和粒径分布、喷雾角、雾滴覆盖率、沉积量和飘移量为指标进行试验研究。试验结果表明：放置孔径为461、350和227 μm网格时测量点的雾滴平均速度比没有网格时的2.35 m/s分别降低23.40%、13.90%、29.00%,最大平均粒径比没有网格情况下的192.5 μm分别降低19.5%、14%、10%;随着网格孔径的减小,二次雾化后雾滴的喷雾角有逐渐降低的趋势;放置350和227 μm 孔径网格时果树冠层各层内沉积均匀性相近,沉积量变异系数最高分别为88.08%和74.22%,远低于461 μm 孔径网格的162.98%;放置350 μm 孔径网格时雾滴穿透性较好,各层之间沉积量变异系数最高为10.08%,低于461和227 μm 孔径网格的44.09%和18.25%。在该研究试验条件下,350μm 孔径网格的沉积效果优于461和227 μm 孔径网格,喷头与网格的距离对雾滴覆盖率和沉积量没有显著影响,使用雾化网格的雾滴飘移较少,非靶标区平均雾滴飘移量为靶标区沉积量的6.64%。研究结果可为果园无人机喷雾作业优化提供参考。     

小型无人直升机喷雾参数对杂交水稻冠层雾滴沉积分布的影响

为了初探小型无人直升机航空喷施雾滴在水稻冠层沉积分布规律,主要通过不同的飞行参数研究了不同喷雾作业参数对水稻冠层的雾滴沉积分布的影响。该试验以HY-B-10L型单旋翼电动无人机搭载北斗定位系统UB351绘制作业轨迹,以质量分数为5‰的丽春红2R水溶液模拟生长调节剂喷施沉积情况,以图像处理软件DepositScan来分析靶区和非靶区的雾滴沉积参数得出雾滴的沉积分布结果。结果表明：3次试验中的雾滴沉积分布趋势均相似,且飞行高度和飞行速度对靶区内采集点上雾滴平均沉积量影响均显著,对雾滴沉积均匀性影响并不显著。3次试验中靶区的雾滴沉积量随着高度的增加而减少,总雾滴沉积量分别为2.380、1.905、1.156μL/cm2,采集点的平均沉积量分别为0.198、0.159、0.064μL/cm2;在作业高度为1.92 m时雾滴沉积平均均匀性最佳,且非靶区的雾滴漂移总量最少,为0.174μL/cm2。另外,第1、2条采集带上靶区内的雾滴沉积量均明显多于作业速度较大的第三条采集带上的雾滴沉积量,3次试验中,第一、2条采集带上雾滴沉积总量的平均值分别高于第3条采集带上雾滴沉积总量的184.27%、53.51%、72.31%;且由于外界风场的影响,作业航线下风向的雾滴沉积量和漂移距离均大于作业航线上风向的雾滴沉积量和漂移距离;以及由于飞行速度的影响,非靶区航线下风向第3条雾滴采集上的雾滴漂移量均大于第1、2条雾滴采集带上的雾滴漂移量。该结果较好地全面揭示了作业参数对航空喷施雾滴沉积分布结果的影响,并从风场因素方面推测了对雾滴沉积的影响,对药液的合理喷施、提高喷施效率具有十分重要的指导意义。     

植保无人机飞行参数对油茶授粉雾滴分布及坐果率的影响

为了探究植保无人机授粉喷施时对油茶坐果率的影响,该文采用大疆T20型无人机开展授粉试验研究。通过设置植保无人机不同飞行高度和飞行速度,比较分析各试验组的雾滴分布情况,探究植保无人机飞行参数对油茶授粉雾滴分布的影响,以及雾滴分布对油茶坐果率的影响。结果表明：油茶树冠层对于植保无人机喷施的雾滴有较强的阻碍作用;植保无人机授粉喷施的雾滴沉积量随着飞行速度的增加而逐渐减少;随着植保无人机飞行高度增加,雾滴沉积量呈现先升后降的趋势;当飞行速度为3m/s、飞行高度为2.5m时,植保无人机授粉效果最好,油茶树上层平均坐果率达到42.67%,油茶树下层平均坐果率为36.00%;油茶坐果率与雾滴沉积量之间呈正相关,斜率K为25.267,修正后的R²为0.806。该研究结果可为植保无人机开展油茶林授粉喷施作业提供重要的数据支撑,为提高油茶产量提供理论依据。     

3WQ-400型双气流辅助静电果园喷雾机设计与试验

为解决农药雾滴难以沉积到果树叶片背面,克服荷电雾滴荷电量在环境空间中快速衰退的难题。该文提出双气流辅助系统与静电喷雾系统相结合的方法,以拖拉机动力输出轴为液压传动系统动力源,研制了牵引式双气流辅助静电果园喷雾机。试验结果表明,19 kW 的拖拉机动力配置可以满足系统动力要求,轴流风机和离心风机的转速分别为1400、1800 r/min 可以满足所选试验对象对气流速度的要求;单个喷头喷出的雾滴在0.2 m 处的荷质比为1.0 mC/kg,且在喷雾距离为1.8 m 处依然带电;风送喷雾系统的垂直雾量分布规律、气流速度分布规律与纺锤型果树生物量分布规律相一致,其最大雾量与气流速度均出现在0.5～1.5 m 范围内;在施药量为3.5 L/min,作业速度为0.84 m/s 条件下,单侧喷雾时果树叶片正反面雾滴覆盖密度分别为115和47个/cm2,可以满足防治害虫的要求;冠层前部静电喷雾雾滴覆盖密度比非静电喷雾提高了20%,而冠层后部雾滴覆盖密度仅提高了7.2%。该研究为风送静电喷雾机设计与使用提供了参考。     

基于CFD离散相模型雾滴沉积特性的模拟分析

为分析三维空间中气流对雾滴飘移的影响,该文基于计算流体力学(computational fluid dynamics,CFD)离散相模型的粒子跟踪技术,研究了不同喷雾条件下的雾滴特性。该文在条件为3m×2m×2m的长方体计算区域,喷嘴置于长方体顶端(上表面的几何中心),在合适的边界条件参数下,对喷雾高度为0.25～2m,风速为0～3m/s变化范围内的雾滴沉积特性进行了分析。结果显示,雾滴的分布趋势(偏移量)随风速和喷雾高度大小而变化:雾滴的沉积量随喷雾高度和风速的增加逐渐减小,其最大值为100%(喷雾高度为0.25m,风速为0),最小值为7.2%(喷雾高度为2m,风速为3m/s),其沉积率最大值和最小值分别为79.07%和3.98%,并基于该方法建立了雾滴沉积量和沉积率的预测模型。该研究为精量施药提供参考。     

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,     

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.