不同碳氮比猪粪堆肥及其产品肥效

为有效处理规模化猪场养殖粪污,确立猪粪堆肥的原辅料最佳配比,建立高效堆肥工艺。通过工厂化堆肥试验,以猪粪为原料,稻壳和蘑菇渣为辅料,设置3个C/N分别为10、25和35的处理(Z1、Z2、Z3),比较不同碳氮比猪粪、稻壳及蘑菇渣混合物高温堆肥过程中堆体温度、pH值、EC、C/N、养分等指标差异和黄瓜盆栽促生试验中不同处理所得猪粪堆肥的促生效果。3个处理的高温期平均温度为Z2Z3Z1,堆肥结束时各处理的pH值为7.51、7.63、6.96,EC值为1.31、1.65、1.54 m S·cm-1;NH_4~+-N的含量为Z3Z2Z1;NO-3-N含量为Z1=Z2Z3,各处理C/N分别下降了18.24%、47.56%、30.47%,Z1、Z2、Z3的氮、磷、钾(N、P_2O_5、K_2O)总养分含量分别达50.25、51.66、48.43 mg·kg-1。3个堆体的发芽指数显示其均已腐熟,三维荧光图谱则显示Z1、Z2腐熟程度较高于Z3。两季盆栽促生试验结果显示化肥处理与Z2处理肥效最佳,Z1、CK处理次之,Z3处理效果最差。C/N为25是堆肥适宜的C/N初始设定值,有利于堆体的快速腐熟和养分保持,其堆肥产品肥效优异。     

添加小麦秸秆生物质炭对猪粪堆肥腐熟程度及温室气体排放的影响

以猪粪堆肥为对象,研究添加小麦秸秆生物质炭对猪粪高温好氧堆肥腐熟程度和温室气体排放的影响。结果表明,在整个堆肥腐熟过程中,纯猪粪、猪粪与生物质炭分别以12∶1、5∶1和2.3∶1比例混合的堆体达到的最高堆肥温度分别为44℃、58℃、63℃、60℃,其中5∶1和2.3∶1比例混合的处理均比12∶1处理提前2天进入高温腐熟阶段,并且提前5天完成腐熟过程;12∶1和5∶1生物质炭处理可显著降低堆体的EC值,但高比例(2.3∶1)添加下EC值超出堆肥安全施用范围;与CK相比,添加生物质炭处理堆体NH4+-N含量较对照提前11天降到最低值并趋于稳定;堆肥结束时,生物质炭添加比例为12∶1、5∶1和2.3∶1堆体的NO3--N含量分别比对照提高了53.70%、148.36%和27.61%。且堆肥结束后添加生物质炭12∶1、5∶1和2.3∶1比例的堆体全氮损失率较对照分别降低32.07%、60.78%和50.18%;添加生物质炭显著降低堆体CH4排放总量82.03%~96.93%;5∶1和2.3∶1处理的CO2排放总量较对照显著降低20.21%和41.10%,而12∶1处理与CK相比无显著性差异;12∶1和5∶1处理的N2O的排放总量较CK显著提高66.61%和50.11%,而2.3∶1处理比CK显著降低了40.87%。     

猪粪比例对烟草废弃物高温堆肥腐熟进程的影响

以烟草废弃物为基本原料进行堆肥试验,研究了不同比例猪粪与烟草废弃物混合堆肥体系中温度、pH、全氮、C/N比、水溶性NH＋4-N和种子发芽指数（GI,germination index）的动态变化规律,探讨了不同猪粪比例对烟草废弃物高温堆肥腐熟进程的影响。结果表明,在烟草废弃物中加入猪粪能缩短进入高温分解阶段的时间,增加高温分解持续时间,增加全氮含量,加快物料NH＋4-N和C/N比降低的速率,加快烟草废弃物堆肥腐熟化进程。添加一定比例猪粪的处理（烟草废弃物∶猪粪=7∶3、烟草废弃物∶猪粪=8∶2和烟草废弃物∶猪粪=9∶1）,分别在堆肥第3、4、5 d进入高温分解阶段（〉50 ℃）,高温持续时间分别为11、10、8 d;而纯烟草废弃物处理,最高温度为43 ℃,未进入高温分解阶段;至堆肥26 d,NH＋4-N含量分别比纯烟草废弃物对照降低47.7%、61.9%和25.6%;GI分别达到81.4%、84.1%和83.7%。     

不同碳氮比下牛粪高温堆肥腐熟进程研究

为有效处理奶牛场养殖粪污,建立以之为原料的牛粪有机肥高效堆肥工艺,本文通过工厂堆肥试验,以牛粪为主料,以蘑菇渣、稻壳为辅料,设置C/N=15、C/N=25、C/N=35三个处理,研究不同碳氮比原料高温堆肥过程中堆体温度、pH值、EC、C/N和养分等理化指标的变化。结果表明,C/N=25堆体达到的温度最高,达到最高温度所需时间最短且保持65℃以上时间最长。堆肥过程中各处理pH值变化基本一致,均是先升高后降低再升高最后趋于稳定,各处理EC都是先波动上升后在波动中逐渐下降并趋于稳定。各处理堆体在堆肥过程中,C/N也都呈现逐步减小的趋势,并最终保持稳定。至堆肥结束时,各处理C/N分别11.7、15.0和21.3。各处理铵态氮含量逐渐下降,硝态氮含量逐渐增加,至堆肥结束时,铵态氮的损失量分别为80.7%、36.6%和46.7%,硝态氮含量分别增加到0.61 g kg~(-1)、0.50 g kg~(-1)、0.41 g kg~(-1)。堆肥结束时,各处理胡敏酸类、富里酸类等物质成为DOM的主体部分,N1、N3处理发芽指数大于50%但小于85%,N2处理发芽指数大于85%。各处理堆肥全磷、全钾含量在堆肥结束时比堆肥初始均有所增加。因此,牛粪高温堆肥能有效处理奶牛场养殖废弃物,且C/N=25时堆肥效果最佳。     

条垛堆肥 -袋装堆肥联合处理过程中肥料性状的变化规律

条垛堆肥 -袋装堆肥联合处理可以节省厂房和占地,并免去后期翻抛设备、运行和维护费用,同时大幅度提高养殖场的粪便无害化效率,然而袋装堆肥对肥料属性的影响却不明确。本文选用人元发酵菌对牛粪和蘑菇渣先进行高温好氧堆肥处理(体积比 2︰1),待堆体经过高温期后(温度降到 50℃以下)进行袋装堆肥,待堆体温度最终与环境温度一致后,对各处理堆肥进行理化性质分析。结果表明:联合堆肥温度、NH 4+-N含-量、NH4+-N/ NO3 -N、T值、pH值、EC值、种子发芽指数均符合堆肥腐熟要求。联合堆肥显著提高了全磷含-量、全钾含量、NO 3 -N含量、EC值( P<0.05),增幅分别达到12.2%、20.0%、2177.8%、108.3%;而有机质含量、pH值显著降低( P<0.05),分别降低33.4%、6.3%;另外,联合堆肥降低了全氮含量,降幅达到 16.2%(P>0.05)。     

条垛堆肥 -蚯蚓堆肥联合处理对堆肥产品性状的影响

蚯蚓粪逐渐成为一种优质的有机肥,然而蚯蚓处理对有机肥属性影响的机制和过程并不清楚。本文选用Rw发酵菌对牛粪和蘑菇渣先进行高温好氧堆肥预处理,然后接种蚯蚓,监测了蚯蚓处理前后堆肥中关键质量属性的变化。结果表明:联合堆肥温度、NH4+-N含量、NH4+-N/NO3--N、T值、pH值、EC值、种子发芽指数均符合堆肥腐熟要求。联合堆肥显著提高了全磷含量、NO3--N含量(P0.05),增幅分别达到16.8%、1 286.1%;显著降低了有机质含量、全钾含量、pH值、EC值(P0.05),分别降低35.9%、77.4%、12.6%、56.1%;但未显著降低NH4+-N含量、全氮含量;显著提高了堆肥的品质,如T值从0.64降低到0.58,种子发芽指数从82.6%提高到90.6%(P0.05)。     

适宜猪粪与菌渣配比提高堆肥效率

为摸索猪粪和菌渣堆肥生产有机肥技术,在自然发酵条件下,设计猪粪和菌渣9:1、8:2、7:3、6:44种不同比例(湿质量比)进行高温堆肥试验,研究了堆肥过程中温度、pH值、有机碳、发芽指数及养分氮、磷、钾的动态变化。结果表明,堆体温度在第3天即达50"C以上,保持高温25~32 d后开始下降,其中6:4处理高温期比9:1处理长7 d;4个处理pH值都呈先快速上升、之后下降并趋于稳定的趋势,pH值在6.83~8.62间变化;有机碳(质量分数)总体上呈下降之势,至堆肥结束4个处理分别下降了16_3%、14.5%、13.6%和11.9%,菌渣比例提高可减少堆体有机碳的损失:除6:4处理外,其他处理发芽指数分别于23、33和47 d达80%以上,同一时期菌渣比例越高堆体提取液对植物的毒害作用越强;氮磷钾总养分(质量分数)前期(约19 d)呈基本持平或少量下降,随后持续上升,堆肥结束4个处理分别为5.93%、5.57%、5.64%和5.13%。6:4处理氮磷钾总养分在堆肥大部分时期(45 d内)≤5.0%,其他处理在21~25 d后均≥5.0%。综合考虑堆肥质量和堆期等因素,利用猪粪和菌渣为原料规模化生产机肥,猪粪和菌渣适宜的比例为8:2。同时,因猪粪和菌渣C/N均较低,建议适当增加米糠等C/N高的添加料,进一步提高堆肥效率。     

接种微生物菌剂对猪粪堆肥的效果研究

研究了接种微生物菌剂对猪粪堆肥的效果。结果表明,添加菌剂堆肥温度第4 d达到50℃,50℃以上持续时间达10 d,第25 d粪大肠菌群值减少到102个/g,种子发芽指数达89%,NH4 -N含量为64.9 mg/kg,C/N下降为18.6∶1,上述指标均达到腐熟要求;对照堆肥温度第7 d达到50℃,50℃以上持续时间为4 d,第25 d粪大肠菌群值为9.6×103个/g,NH4 -N含量为916 mg/kg,C/N为21.0∶1,种子发芽指数为46.5%,均未达到腐熟要求。说明接种微生物菌剂能明显加速堆肥的腐熟进程。     

添加硫酸对羊粪堆肥进程及氮素损失的影响

为研究不同浓度硫酸对羊粪堆肥进程及氮素损失的影响,以羊粪和小麦秸秆为堆肥材料,分别配置浓度为1、2、3 mol/L的硫酸作为添加剂,采用条垛式堆肥进行50 d的试验,监测堆肥过程中的温度、pH值、EC值、种子发芽指数、C/N及氮损失率。结果表明:添加硫酸处理的堆体温度升到50℃以上需要的时间比未添加硫酸的CK处理缩短4～6 d,堆体的高温保持时间随加入硫酸浓度的升高而延长,EC值、种子发芽指数随硫酸浓度的升高而增大,硫酸浓度为2和3 mol/L处理的种子发芽指数分别为83.0%和84.2%,堆肥产品的全氮含量分别比CK处理提高16.32%和13.16%。硫酸浓度为2 mol/L时,总氮损失率最低为24.03%,保氮效果最好。羊粪条垛堆肥过程中,分别在第0、10、20 d添加浓度为2 mol/L的硫酸2 L/m3,不仅可以加快堆肥腐熟进程,而且可以提高堆肥产品的全氮含量,保氮效果显著。本研究为硫酸添加剂应用于畜禽粪污堆肥生产优质有机肥提供理论依据。     

两种微生物菌剂对烟草废弃物高温堆肥腐熟进程的影响

以烟草废弃物为主要原料,添加合适比例猪粪进行高温堆肥试验,研究了烟草废弃物堆肥体系中加入两种微生物菌剂（NNY、FB）后的温度、总氮（T-N）、NH4＋-N、C/N、种子发芽指数（GI）的动态变化及其对烟草废弃物堆肥产品品质的影响。结果表明,添加微生物菌剂缩短了烟草废弃物堆肥达到高温的时间,延长了高温分解持续时间,增加全氮含量,加快物料NH4＋-N和C/N比的降低速率,提高种子发芽指数（GI）,加快了烟草废弃物堆肥腐熟化进程。纯烟草废弃物单独堆肥,最高温度为43℃,GI最高为78.4%。添加微生物菌剂NNY、FB的堆肥处理都在堆肥2d后进入高温分解阶段（〉50℃）,高温持续时间分别为15、12d,较仅添加合适猪粪比例处理进入高温分解阶段时间提前2d,高温持续时间分别延长5、2d。至堆肥11d,添加微生物菌剂NNY和FB的堆肥处理种子发芽指数较纯烟草废弃物处理分别增加了185.5%和117.7%,较仅添加合适比例猪粪处理分别增加了41.4%和7.6%。添加NNY、FB微生物菌剂的处理可以显著增加烟草废弃物堆肥产品的N、P、K养分含量,降低堆肥容重,提高堆肥总孔隙度和持水孔隙度,改善了堆肥产品的品质。两种微生物菌剂对烟草废弃物高温腐熟效果较优。     

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.