云南甘蔗主产区土壤有机质和速效养分分布研究

对2005年10月至2008年12月在云南甘蔗主产区的1450份土壤养分的分析研究,结果表明:云南甘蔗主产区土壤有机质、碱解氮、速效磷处在中等偏低水平,速效钾处在中等偏高水平;90%以上的有机质含量在4～40 g kg-1之间,碱解氮含量在15～160 mg kg-1,速效磷含量在0.5～29 mg kg-1,速效钾含量在30～210 mg kg-1。在集中分布区,土壤有机质、碱解氮呈近似正态分布,速效钾、速效磷呈近似偏正态分布。土壤有效养分的变异程度PKN。     

云南省宜良县26年来耕地土壤养分状况及变化特征

2006年宜良县土壤养分调查结果表明:全县耕地土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾含量分别为32.41g kg-1、1.77 g kg-1、128.4 mg kg-1、35.5 mg kg-1、161.7 mg kg-1,与1980年相比较,水稻土有机质、速效磷、速效钾含量分别增加了1.61 g kg-1、13.0 mg kg-1、87.0 mg kg-1,旱地土分别增加了3.75 g kg-1、21.3 mg kg-1、162.8 mg kg-1。然而,汤池镇、耿家营乡和竹山乡的水稻土有机质含量,耿家营乡和狗街镇的旱地土有机质含量,南羊镇旱地土速效磷含量与1980年相比都发生了不同程度的减少。     

阜平县不同海拔梯度下耕地土壤养分现状与分布特征

为在太行山区阜平县对耕地土壤提出科学合理的施肥理论依据,利用2018年阜平县耕地测土配方施肥调查数据,运用统计学和克里金插值方法研究了阜平县耕层土壤有机质、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾及pH等养分含量现状及分布特征。结果表明:当前阜平县耕地土壤pH、有机质、碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾的均值含量分别为7.08,21.84 g/kg,70.53 mg/kg,22.43 mg/kg,75.43 mg/kg,土壤pH值主要为中性水平,占比65.42%; 土壤有机质含量、碱解氮含量和速效钾含量均表现为以中等含量水平为主,占比分别为45.55%,43.19%和59.86%,处于中等及以上的占比分别为98.76%,64.42%和75.96%; 土壤有效磷含量主要处于高等含量水平,占比29.99%,而高等及以上水平占比74.15%。从空间分布上耕地土壤有机质、碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾大体均呈现由东南向西北逐渐增长的趋势,而从海拔梯度分区下有机质和有效磷呈现丘陵区(21.85 g/kg)<低山区(21.92 g/kg)<中山区(22.70 g/kg)趋势,碱解氮呈现中山区(64.72 mg/kg)<丘陵区(70.53 mg/kg)<低山区(70.71 mg/kg),速效钾呈现低山区(74.75 mg/kg)<丘陵区(75.21 mg/kg)<中山区(83.78 mg/kg)趋势,土壤pH均不呈现明显规律。土壤有机质、碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾与海拔地形要素均呈现极正相关关系。结果可为阜平县耕地科学合理施肥提供理论依据,并推动精准农业发展,促进乡村振兴。     

宁德市耕地土壤养分空间分布特征分析和甘薯施肥建议

利用福建省宁德市9县(市、区)近9年测土配方施肥34 998个土样测定分析结果和序贯高斯模拟,分析宁德市耕地土壤pH值、有机质和速效氮、磷、钾空间分布特征,并提出甘薯施肥建议。结果表明:土壤pH值、有机质和速效氮、磷、钾指标的半变异函数均为指数模型。宁德耕地土壤以pH值≤5.5、土壤有机质≥20 g/kg、碱解氮100~250 mg/kg、有效磷15 mg/kg、速效钾80 mg/kg为主。随着海拔高度下降,宁德耕地土壤pH值均值随之上升,土壤有机质含量均值和碱解氮含量均值随之下降,土壤有效磷含量均值和速效钾含量均值随之呈先降后升的趋势。应根据土壤测定值与推荐施肥量关系表,或海拔与施肥量的回归关系式,在甘薯田酌情施用石灰、氮肥、磷肥、钾肥,还应增施有机肥。     

云南省高原特色香蕉主产区土壤肥力状况评价

为了探明云南省香蕉主要种植区土壤肥力状况,对云南省德宏州、西双版纳州、红河州等香蕉主要种植区蕉园土壤进行田间调查和取样分析。结果显示,64.52%蕉园土壤pH低于5.5;64.52%蕉园土壤有机质含量低于20 g·kg-1;45.16%蕉园土壤全氮含量低于1.0 g·kg-1,51.2%蕉园土壤碱解氮含量大于120mg·kg-1;64.52%蕉园土壤有效磷含量高于40 mg·kg-1;64.52%蕉园土壤速效钾含量高于250 mg·kg-1;61.29%蕉园土壤有效钙含量高于1000mg·kg-1;67.74%蕉园土壤有效镁含量高于200 mg·kg-1;80.64%蕉园土壤有效铜含量高于1.0mg·kg-1;96.77%蕉园土壤有效铁含量高于20 mg·kg-1;90.33%蕉园土壤有效锰含量高于20 mg·kg-1;9.68%蕉园土壤有效锌含量低于1.0 mg·kg-1。土壤酸性强,有机质含量低是云南省主要香蕉种植区面临的主要问题。     

湘西植烟土壤pH和主要养分特征及其相互关系

为了解湘西烟区植烟土壤pH和主要养分特征及其相互关系,于2015年采集烟区1 242个土壤样本,研究了植烟土壤pH、有机质、碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾的适宜性分布、县域分布以及pH与这些养分指标的量化关系。结果表明:1湘西烟区植烟土壤pH平均值为6.12,有20.77%样品偏酸和18.20%的样品偏碱;有机质和碱解氮含量的平均值分别为28.42 g/kg和145.63 mg/kg,总体上处于适宜水平;有效磷含量的平均值为28.94 mg/kg,有近40%样品偏高;速效钾含量平均值为198.76 mg/kg,有近45%的样品偏低。2主产烟县植烟土壤pH和养分差异极显著。3土壤主要养分含量与pH之间呈现曲线关系;当pH5.5时或pH8.0时,随土壤pH变化,主要养分含量变化较大;当pH在5.5~8.0时,随土壤pH变化,主要养分含量变化平缓。当pH5.5时,随土壤pH升高,有机质、碱解氮、有效磷和速效钾含量快速下降;当pH在5.5~8.0时,随土壤pH升高,有机质、有效磷和速效钾含量缓慢升高,碱解氮含量缓慢下降;当pH8.0时,随土壤pH升高,有机质、碱解氮、有效磷含量快速下降,速效钾含量快速升高。     

辽南葡萄主产区土壤养分特征研究

为了给辽南规模化葡萄园的养分管理和科学施肥提供依据,2016年在辽南葡萄主产区采集91个葡萄园土壤样品,分别测定土壤pH、有机质、全氮、碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾含量,对该葡萄主产区土壤养分状况进行研究。研究结果表明:辽南葡萄主产区土壤pH平均值为6.2;有机质平均含量为11.0 g kg?1,处于缺乏水平的样点占总样点的97.8%;土壤全氮、碱解氮平均含量分别为0.08 g kg?1和73.3 mg kg?1,处于缺乏水平的土壤样点分别占样本总数的85.8%和74.8%;土壤速效磷平均含量为70.4 mg kg?1,90.1%样点属于丰富水平,但变异系数较大;速效钾平均含量为158.0 mg kg?1,总体含量属于中等以上,处于中等以上和缺乏水平的样点占总样点的比例分别为68.2%和31.8%。不同地区、不同树龄和不同产量水平的葡萄园土壤养分状况存在较大差异;李官镇葡萄园养分状况好于许屯镇;随着种植年限的增加,葡萄园土壤pH、有机质、全氮、碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾含量均呈现显著升高趋势;不同产量葡萄园有机质、全氮、碱解氮和速效钾含量变化趋势为高产园 > 中产园 > 低产园。建议根据产量和树龄情况,分区域进行葡萄园养分管理,适当减少磷肥和钾肥、增加有机肥用量,以保证养分的高效利用。     

东北黑土农田养分时空演变分析

通过东北黑土农田的广泛采样、化验分析,目前黑土农田有机质含量平均为33.9 g kg-1,全氮1.91 g kg-1,速效磷24.85 mg kg-1,速效钾159.95 mg kg-1。1979年~2002年期间黑土农田土壤有机质下降了3.76 g kg-1~4.14 g kg-1,平均每年下降0.16 g kg-1~0.18 g kg-1;而土壤速效磷含量大幅度上升,已是原来1979年的2倍以上,23年里土壤速效磷上升了12.66 mg kg-1~14.66 mg kg-1,平均每年上升0.55 mg kg-1~0.64 mg kg-1。认为土壤速效磷是过去的20多年里人为生产活动改变最大的肥力因子,其他土壤养分指标的空间分布有较明显的地带性,存在显著的空间变异,尤其是土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮与地理纬度高程度相关,受气候等自然因素影响较大。     

河北省农地土壤肥力特征时空变异分析及其质量评价

本文选取pH、有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾、有效磷、速效钾、碱解氮构成河北省农地土壤肥力评价指标;并采用层次分析法确定土壤肥力评价指标的权重,运用模糊数学法对河北农地土壤肥力进行了综合评价。经与第二次土壤普查比较,研究发现:土壤pH值较高,有机质、全氮、碱解氮含量中等偏上,全磷、有效磷、全钾、速效钾含量较高,速效钾含量呈下降趋势;河北农地土壤肥力综合隶属度在0.739～0.862之间,其中唐山、衡水、石家庄、邯郸土壤综合肥力较高,廊坊、邢台土壤综合肥力有待提高。     

稻鸭生态种养系统直播水稻根表和根际土壤营养特性研究

采用田间小区试验对比分析了直播方式下稻鸭生态种养系统和水稻单一种植系统水稻根表和根际土壤的氮、磷、钾和有机碳含量及pH的变化。结果表明:与水稻单一种植系统相比,稻鸭生态种养系统水稻根表和根际pH分别升高4.41%、0.85%,全氮含量分别降低0.11g·kg-1、0.11g·kg-1,全磷和全钾含量变化不明显。水稻根表速效氮和速效钾含量分别增加30.80mg·kg-1、17.93mg·kg-1,速效磷含量降低8.66mg·kg-1;水稻根际速效氮和速效钾含量分别减少15.13mg·kg-1、7.61mg·kg-1,速效磷增加9.66mg·kg-1。稻鸭生态种养系统水稻根表活性有机碳和高活性有机碳分别增加2.17g·kg-1、0.56g·kg-1,全有机碳含量减少0.99g·kg-1;根际土壤全有机碳、活性有机碳和中活性有机碳含量分别减少2.39g·kg-1、2.64g·kg-1、0.72g·kg-1。稻鸭生态种养改变了速效磷、速效钾和活性有机碳在水稻根域土壤的相对富集部位,即速效钾和活性有机碳富集部位主要在根表土壤,速效磷则主要在根际土壤。表明稻鸭生态种养明显改善了水稻根表和根际土壤营养状况,这可能对水稻根系吸收和利用土壤养分具有积极意义。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Effect of some fungicide seed treatments on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybean [Glycine max. (L) Merr.]

Several commercial fungicide seed treatments were evaluated for their possible effect on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum on seeds and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans in a greenhouse and a field experiment. quinolate Pro (carbendazim and oxine copper), Vitavax 200FF (carboxin and thiram), and Monceren (pencycuron) had a small effect or no effect on the survival of B. japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans. They can thus be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation. Germipro UFB (carbendazim and iprodione), Apron 35J (metalaxyl), and Tachigaren (hymexazol) decreased B. japonicum survival and the nodulation and yield of soybeans and thus cannot be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation.