137Cs法估算宁镇山脉地区黄棕壤侵蚀作用的初步研究

宁镇山脉地区的土壤主要是由下蜀黄土母质发育形成的黄棕壤,不合理的开发和利用导致植被覆盖坡坏严重,致使该地区长期以来遭受强烈的土壤侵蚀作用.137Cs示踪法是目前运用较多的一种有用工具,在国内外已经广泛地应用于估算中长期(50余年)以来的土壤侵蚀量.该研究采集了江苏省句容市某一小流域的土壤样品,利用137Cs技术首次确定了该地区土壤中的137Cs背景值为1 820 Bq/m2.并结合相关的非耕作土和耕作土的侵蚀模型,对该流域的土壤侵蚀量进行了初步估算.结果表明,该地区非耕作土壤侵蚀速率的大小依次为:次生林地稀疏马尾松林稀疏灌木林荒草地,耕作土壤侵蚀速率的大小依次为:菜地旱地水田.非耕作土的侵蚀强度多为轻度侵蚀,由于人类活动的干扰,耕作土的侵蚀强度为中度和强度侵蚀,实施退耕还林工程可以减轻土壤侵蚀速率.     

基于土壤~(137)Cs监测的土壤侵蚀与有机质流失——以密云水库为例

本文运用137Cs核素示踪技术,研究北京重要的水源供应地密云水库周边地区及白河上游地区土壤侵蚀状况与有机质流失状况及其相互之间的量变关系。试验结果表明:0～20cm土层中山坡上137Cs含量低于坡中、坡下,但若山顶具有缓坡或山角下具有陡坡则137Cs含量变化规律相反。根据水利部标准与土壤137Cs监测结果,密云水库周边大部分地区基本属于轻度侵蚀和中度侵蚀,部分地区侵蚀情况严重,达到了剧烈侵蚀的程度。不同土地利用方式对土壤有机质分布有很大影响,有机质含量分布为灌丛>林地>果园>农田;上游地区有机质含量高于水库周边地区土壤,表明人为活动加剧了土壤侵蚀和有机质的流失。对于景观单一,地域较小的采样区进行三次曲线数学模拟,其相关系数高达0.9左右,表明在监测土壤137Cs、210Pb含量变化的同时,可以利用小区域数学模型直接预报预测土壤有机质含量的变化。     

~(137)Cs技术研究岩溶高原湿地小流域土壤侵蚀特征

运用137Cs技术研究了威宁草海沙河小流域不同土地利用方式和地貌部位的土壤侵蚀特征。结果表明:研究区137Cs的背景值为879Bq·m2;农耕地土壤剖面中137Cs中呈均匀分布,非农耕地土壤剖面中呈指数递减分布;不同土地利用方式下,137Cs的面积活度值从大到小为灌丛地人工草地农耕地,土壤侵蚀模数值为农耕地草地灌丛地;不同地貌部位土壤中,137Cs面积活度值从大到小为下坡中坡上坡,侵蚀模数值变化为上坡中坡下坡。小流域年均侵蚀模数为:1254.9t·(km2·a)-1,灌丛地侵蚀模数为462.6t·(km2·a)-1,人工草地为630.4t·(km2·a)-1,农耕地为3311.8t·(km2·a)-1。因此,在小流域水土流失综合治理过程中,农耕地是治理的重点。     

小流域地貌部位和土地利用类型对侵蚀产沙影响的137Cs法研究

大气核爆产物137Cs能够强烈地被土壤颗粒所吸附,是一种示踪土壤运移的良好示踪剂。通过对紫色丘陵区响水滩小流域不同地貌部位和不同土地利用类型下土壤剖面中137Cs含量的测定与分析,计算了流域各地貌部位、土地利用类型的侵蚀强度。研究得出该流域137Cs含量的背景值是1870 Bq/m2;流域内坡耕地、林地的年均侵蚀强度分别是4468 t/(km2.a)和1759 t/(km2.a);丘顶、丘坡和鞍部的年平均侵蚀强度分别是2125,4676 t/(km2.a)和3625 t/(km2.a),槽土和水田则是沉积区。分析结果表明地貌部位和土地利用类型对土壤侵蚀影响巨大,坡耕地是该小流域泥沙的主要来源。     

赣南红壤丘陵区137Cs示踪土壤侵蚀对土壤养分元素的影响

赣南红壤丘陵区是我国土壤侵蚀与土地退化比较严重的地区,以南丰县为例,应用137 Cs示踪技术探讨不同土地利用方式下土壤侵蚀与养分元素的关系。结果表明:(1)湿地松林、桔园、水田3种土地利用方式作用下土壤中137 Cs与养分元素分布差异显著,在垂直剖面上,湿地松林137 Cs含量呈指数递减分布,水田与桔园137 Cs含量因人为干扰在耕层内均匀分布;有机质与137 Cs有相似的分布特征;全氮、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾含量均呈现一定表聚性。(2)位于坡地的2种土地利用方式中,湿地松林137 Cs、全氮、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾、有机质含量均表现为下坡>上坡>中坡;桔园137 Cs活度表现为中坡>下坡>上坡,全氮、碱解氮、速效磷表现为下坡>中坡>上坡,而速效钾、有机质最大值均出现在上坡。(3)相关性分析表明,土壤137 Cs与有机质、全氮、碱解氮显著正相关,表明小流域有机质、氮元素可能与137 Cs有相同的物理运移方式,pH与137 Cs显著负相关,速效磷、速效钾则与137 Cs不相关。(4)3种土地利用方式中位于小流域谷地的水田137 Cs、有机质、全氮、碱解氮含量最高,坡地上桔园坡面137 Cs与土壤养分元素含量均高于湿地松林地,表明一定程度的坡改梯桔园种植模式能有效缓解土壤侵蚀与养分流失,改善区域生态环境。     

川北山区坡耕地土壤活性有机碳对土壤侵蚀的响应

为探明侵蚀对坡耕地土壤活性有机碳的影响,利用137 Cs示踪技术,并结合土壤理化分析,研究了川北山区坡耕地土壤侵蚀所引起的土壤再分配对土壤有机碳与活性有机碳空间变异性的影响。结果表明,川北山区坡耕地土壤侵蚀是水蚀和耕作侵蚀共同作用的结果,强烈的耕作导致坡上部发生严重的土壤侵蚀;侵蚀对坡耕地土壤有机碳与活性有机碳分布影响较大,土壤有机碳与活性有机碳含量与137 Cs含量呈显著正相关,坡上部土壤有机碳与活性有机碳含量贫瘠,而在坡下部相对富集。因此,山区坡耕地土壤肥力的空间分布特征在今后的土地施肥管理中应引起关注。     

镇江地区不同地类土壤侵蚀~(137)Cs法初步研究

选择江苏镇江地区作为研究区,采集仑山水库附近的12个土壤剖面共116个土壤样品,运用137Cs示踪方法,探讨了撂荒地、油菜地、茶园、林草地、林地、水稻田6种地类的137Cs含量及其侵蚀模数。研究表明:该区土壤中的137Cs背景值为1760.48Bq/m2。在0—50cm深度范围内,137Cs含量平均值为844.03Bq/m2,土壤侵蚀模数平均值为2642.89t/(km2.a)。不同地类按137Cs含量的大小排序,非耕作土为林草地>撂荒地>林地,耕作土为水稻田>油菜地>茶园;按土壤侵蚀模数的大小排序,非耕作土为林地>撂荒地>林草地,耕作土为茶园>油菜地>水稻田。非耕作土为轻度侵蚀,耕作土多为中度到强烈侵蚀。     

阳洼流域土壤137Cs的空间分布及侵蚀研究

利用137Cs示踪技术,研究了宁南黄土高原阳洼流域土壤137Cs的空间分布和侵蚀特征.研究结果表明,流域137Cs背景值为1 966.99 Bq/m2,流域内不同土地利用方式下土壤137Cs比活度不同,且有比较明显的137Cs比活度分异.流域内林草地土壤剖面137Cs呈现指数分布模式,坡耕地剖面的137Cs则呈均匀分布模式.不同土地利用方式下土壤137Cs的面积活度表现为沟台＞林草地＞农耕坡地,其中农耕坡地、沟台地土壤侵蚀、沉积表现出较大的变异,变异系数达65%以上.阳洼流域土壤侵蚀模数与137Cs比活度呈现出相反的分布趋势,但都明显具有斑块状和条带状分布的特点.流域土壤以中、强度侵蚀为主,中、强度侵蚀面积占流域总面积的46%,在流域土壤侵蚀防治中坡耕地仍是治理的关键.     

基于FRN技术的我国不同地区典型土壤保持措施的有效性评价

选择中国西南-东北样带4个典型土壤侵蚀区,包括位于长江上游的西昌,黄土高原延安,北方风蚀区的丰宁和东北黑土区的拜泉,应用环境放射性核素(FRN)技术研究了不同土壤保持措施在减少土壤侵蚀、改善土壤质量方面的作用。在西昌,137Cs和210Pbex的测定结果表明,不同植被覆盖结构减少土壤侵蚀的作用为:灌木>有地被物的乔木>草类>无地被物的乔木;在延安,利用137Cs示踪技术对坡地景观的产沙量估算结果表明,梯田和林草地相对于坡耕地产沙量分别减少了49%和80%,林草地的土壤有机质、碱解氮和速效磷含量相对于坡耕地分别增加了255%、198%和18%,梯田土壤有机质、碱解氮和速效磷含量分别增加了121%、103%和162%,而土壤容重分别降低了1.6%和6.4%;在丰宁,对7Be的测定结果表明,与传统耕作方式相比,4年免耕+作物高留茬(50～56cm)和免耕+作物低留茬(25cm)分别使土壤侵蚀速率下降44%和33%;在拜泉,通过137Cs测定结果发现,坡改梯使土壤流侵蚀降低14%,等高耕作使土壤侵蚀量减少了34%。研究结果说明,灌木林覆盖、林草复合结构是控制西南侵蚀山地土壤侵蚀的优选生物配置措施,梯田和林草复合结构在控制黄土高原土壤侵蚀和改善土壤质量方面有重要作用,免耕+高留茬措施是我国北方风蚀区防治土壤侵蚀退化的有效措施,等高耕作应当成为防治东北黑土区土壤侵蚀的关键措施。     

紫色丘陵区小流域土壤侵蚀产沙空间分布的137Cs法初步研究

该文通过紫色丘陵区响水滩小流域不同土地利用类型、不同坡度和坡长、不同地貌部位土壤剖面中137Cs含量的测定与分析,对其侵蚀空间分布进行了估算.研究结果表明:该流域137Cs含量的背景值为1870 Bq/m2;流域内坡耕地、林地的年平均侵蚀强度分别为4468、1759 t/(km2·a);土壤侵蚀量与坡长、坡度均指数相关;丘顶、丘坡和鞍部的年平均侵蚀强度分别为2125、4676、3625 t/(km2·a).结果表明土地利用类型、坡长和坡度、地貌部位对土壤侵蚀量影响很大,坡耕地是该流域泥沙的主要来源.     

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.     

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.     

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.