CLDAS融合土壤湿度产品在东北地区的适用性评估及订正

通过计算CLDAS的0-20cm土壤相对湿度融合产品与农业气象观测站逐旬10cm土壤相对湿度观测值的相关性和偏差,综合分析CLDAS在东北地区的适用性。结果表明：CLDAS融合土壤相对湿度能较合理地反映东北地区10cm深度土壤相对湿度的空间分布,但是在对极值的描述上有所欠缺,其中CLDAS对辽宁西部和黑龙江西南部的土壤相对湿度模拟偏高较明显,而在黑龙江的东北部地区对实际土壤相对湿度的模拟偏低;总体上,CLDAS融合土壤相对湿度资料在东北地区的适用性由西南向东北方向递减,在吉林和辽宁省的适用性更好。回归订正和7旬滑动平均订正法对CLDAS产品的误差订正表明,订正结果大大提高了CLDAS产品的精度,其订正后产品可以应用于土壤湿度干旱监测业务。     

三江平原土壤湿度变化及其对气象条件的响应

了解土壤湿度的时空变化特征与规律,对充分利用土壤水分资源及应对气候变化有重要意义。基于三江平原23个农业气象站1982—2017年土壤湿度、同期气温、降水等数据,采用统计分析、M-K突变检验等方法,分析了0—50 cm土壤湿度的趋势变化特征及其与气温、降水气候因子的关系。结果表明:(1)近37年来三江平原地中0—30 cm,40—50 cm土壤相对湿度呈显著降低趋势,并呈阶段性变化,突变年在1997年;30—40 cm土壤相对湿度无显著变化;各层土壤相对湿度垂直方向呈现中间层(30—40 cm)土壤相对湿度最大,上下层递减的趋势。土壤相对湿度的空间分布存在差异,土壤相对湿度由北到南、由东到西递减趋势。(2)三江平原气温、降水量对各层土壤相对湿度影响程度不同。0—20 cm土壤相对湿度主要受4—9月生长季气温、降水量的协同作用影响,20—30 cm和40—50 cm土壤相对湿度分别受4—9月生长季的气温和降水作用的影响;而30—40 cm土壤相对湿度受气温和降水作用的影响不大。总之近37年来三江平原土壤相对湿度的变化存有差异,1982—1996年、1997—2013年、2014年后各层土壤相对湿度分别处于相对较高(偏湿)、较低(正常)、较高(偏湿)阶段。4—9月生长季的气温和降水是影响三江平原土壤相对湿度变化的主要气象因子。     

通量及其不确定性对农业区高塔CO_2浓度模拟的影响

利用WRF-STILT模型模拟玉米种植区生长季(6-9月)小时CO_2浓度,并基于美国最大农业种植区‘玉米带’100m高塔CO_2浓度观测数据,对WRF-STILT模型的模拟能力及CO_2通量的不确定性对模拟结果的影响进行分析。结果表明:(1)WRF-STILT能够模拟高塔观测的CO_2浓度日变化特征,模拟值与观测值的均方根误差为13.70mmol×mol~(-1),模拟结果偏高7.26mmol×mol~(-1)。(2)EDGAR和Carbon Tracker两种典型化石燃料的CO_2通量,其区域平均值相差6%,但两者对CO_2浓度增加值的模拟结果相差约10%;(3)CO_2通量空间分辨率的差异会导致模拟结果产生偏差,使用区域边长为1o的EDGAR化石燃料CO_2通量模拟的浓度贡献值仅为0.1o的0.4倍,且空间分辨率越低,模拟误差越大;(4)白天和夜晚Carbon Tracker模拟的植被生态系统净交换数据是高塔涡度相关方法观测结果的2.26和1.56倍,下垫面分类的误差以及相应的通量模拟误差使模拟的CO_2浓度贡献出现12mmol×mol~(-1)的差异,这是模拟结果偏高7.26mmol×mol~(-1)的潜在误差来源。研究认为,WRF-STILT模型和高空间及时间分辨率的CO_2通量能够较好模拟出农业区生长季的CO_2强日变化特征,CO_2通量的误差是模拟结果误差的主要来源,研究结果表明该方法具有评估和优化通量的巨大潜力。     

晋西黄土区苹果园生长季土壤水分动态

为了揭示黄土残塬沟壑区苹果园剖面土壤含水量的变化,对晋西黄土区苹果园的可持续发展提供科学依据,试验以17龄苹果树果园土壤为研究对象,通过ECH_2O土壤水分探头对50,100,150,200,250,300 cm处深度土壤体积含水量进行一个生长季的定位观测,分析了土壤水分的空间分异及动态变化。结果表明:(1) 6个层次土壤含水量差异显著,平均值分别为:22.27%,21.38%,18.92%,17.94%,10.60%,9.55%,表现出自上而下降低的趋势。(2)观测期内,150 cm,200 cm,250 cm,300 cm深度土壤含水量对降雨无响应,且100 cm层次土壤含水量对降雨的响应远远滞后于50 cm层次。随着土层深度的增加,土壤体积含水量表现出自上而下依次降低的趋势;降雨仅能影响100 cm以内深度的土壤含水量;晋西黄土高原残塬沟壑区苹果果园土壤在200 cm的土层深度以下已有土壤干化现象产生。     

小麦-玉米轮作体系不同旋耕和深耕管理对潮土微生物量碳氮与酶活性的影响

【目的】通过研究黄淮平原潮土区两年不同轮耕模式下土壤微生物量碳氮、酶活性的差异和变化特征,为该地区选择适宜的耕作制度提供理论依据。【方法】2016-2018年采用裂区设计进行田间小麦–玉米轮作系统下的轮耕试验。主处理为小麦季旋耕(RT)和深耕(DT),3个副处理为玉米季免耕(NT)、行间深松(SBR)、行内深松(SIR),共6个处理。2017、2018年玉米收获后,每10 cm一个层次,测定了0-50 cm土层土壤有机质、全氮、速效养分、微生物量碳(SMBC)、微生物量氮(SMBN)和脲酶、蔗糖酶、中性磷酸酶活性。【结果】各处理土壤有机质、全氮、速效养分、SMBC、SMBN及酶活性均随土层深度的增加而降低,40-50cm土层不受耕作方式的影响。小麦季深耕和玉米季深松对表层土壤有机质和全氮影响不明显,但显著提高了深层土壤有机质和全氮含量。小麦季旋耕显著增加了玉米季0-10 cm土层中速效养分含量,而小麦季深耕条件下的DT-SBR和DT-SIR处理则显著增加了20-40 cm土层中的速效养分含量。在0-20 cm土层,小麦季旋耕条件下的RT-NT、RT-SBR和RT-SIR处理的SMBC明显高于小麦季深耕条件下的DT-NT、DT-SBR和DT-SIR处理,但在20-40 cm土层,SMBC和SMBN均表现为小麦季深耕处理显著高于旋耕处理,且以DT-SIR处理SMBC (67.99 mg/kg)和SMBN (45.96 mg/kg)最高。小麦季深耕处理提高了深层(30-40 cm)土壤微生物量氮/全氮值,但降低了表层(0-20 cm)土壤中的微生物熵。玉米季深松处理(RT-SBR、RT-SIR、DT-SBR和DT-SIR)较免耕处理(RT-NT和DT-NT)均提高了土壤酶活性,其中,在0-20 cm土层,RT-SBR和RT-SIR处理土壤脲酶活、蔗糖酶和中性磷酸酶活性较高;而DT-SBR和DT-SIR处理则提高了深层(20-40 cm)土壤中这三种酶的活性。【结论】在本试验期内,小麦季旋耕–玉米季深松处理(RT-SBR和RT-SIR)能明显提高0-10 cm土壤速效养分含量、0-20 cm土壤微生物量碳含量,而小麦季深耕–玉米季深松处理(DT-SBR和DT-SIR)则提升了20-40 cm土层土壤有机质、全氮、速效养分、微生物量碳和氮含量;小麦季深耕处理提高了深层(30-40 cm)微生物量氮/全氮比,但降低了表层(0-20 cm)土壤微生物熵。     

陕北黄土区人工刺槐林地土壤水势特征

为了研究黄土区人工林地土壤水分特征曲线及土壤水势特征,以陕北黄土区人工刺槐林地为研究对象,利用中子水分仪和中国科学院地理科学与资源研究所设计的负压计,对其2015年4月1日—2015年10月31日0—200cm土层的土壤含水量和土壤水势进行了连续观测,并运用灰关联法分析了表层(0—40cm)、中层(50—120cm)、深层(130—200cm)及4—10月土壤水势灰关联度。结果表明:(1)陕北黄土区人工刺槐林地各土层土壤水分特征曲线可用Gardner模型幂函数方程θ=aS-b进行拟合,拟合参数a值大小为表层土壤(0.103 8)中层土壤(0.094 4)深层土壤(0.086 0);b值大小为表层土壤(0.284)中层土壤(0.291)深层土壤(0.298)。(2)通过土壤水分特征曲线求得人工刺槐林地土壤水分常数,田间持水量和凋萎系数的平均值分别为25.53%和8.42%,最大有效水范围平均达17.11%。通常用土壤水吸力为0.1 MPa时,比水容量值来表征土壤供水能力,人工刺槐林地该值的大小表现为表层土壤(56.73%)中层土壤(53.74%)深层土壤(50.84%)。(3)人工刺槐林地土壤水势垂直空间分布表现为表层土壤水势从-0.21 MPa逐层增加到-0.08 MPa,中层土壤水势动态波动较大,整体呈下降趋势,深层土壤水势稳定在-1.14 MPa附近。灰关联度分析得出R12(0.899 8)R23(0.711 5)R13(0.702 8),人工刺槐林地土壤水势表层与中层关系较为密切,深层与中层关系次之,表层与深层关系最差。(4)人工刺槐林地0—200cm土层土壤水势,4—6月呈下降趋势,7—8月显著上升,9—10月再次下降。从各月土壤水势灰关联度来看,R_(10)(0.868 9)R_(05)(0.806 7)R_(09)(0.780 4)R_(07)(0.676 3)R_(06)(0.654 8)R_(08)(0.611 4),人工刺槐林地土壤水势10月,5月,9月变化态势与4月关联度较高;土壤水势7月,6月,8月与4月关联度较差。     

冬小麦物候期对土壤水分胁迫的响应机制与模拟

作物模型在农业生产管理和决策中发挥着重要作用,而物候期模拟是作物模型正确模拟作物生长发育和产量形成过程的基础。作物模型模拟物候发育的常用算法一般是基于积温的计算,同时也考虑光周期和春化作用的影响,但是水分胁迫对物候发育的次级影响却较少被考虑在内。该研究以连续2季(2013-2014和2014-2015)的遮雨棚下土柱试验和连续3季(2012-2013、2013-2014和2014-2015)的遮雨棚下大田试验数据和前人研究成果为基础提出了冬小麦物候期对水分胁迫的响应机制理论假设,并以土壤相对有效含水率为水分胁迫指标校正冬小麦物候期水分胁迫响应函数。该研究以2014-2015生长季土柱试验各处理试验数据来建立冬小麦物候期水分胁迫响应函数,确定发育加速点A、发育减速点D和发育停止点S所对应的相对有效含水率值分别为0.30、0.10和0。结果发现拔节期和开花期模拟值和观测值之间的均方根误差(root mean square error,RMSE)分别为0.8和1.7 d,绝对相对误差(absolute relative error,ARE)分别低于0.68%和2.09%。然后用2013-2014生长季土柱试验各处理数据进行验证,结果发现拔节期和开花期模拟值和观测值之间的RMSE分别约为0.9和1.1 d,ARE分别在1.37%和1.68%以下。最后再用3年独立大田试验数据对上述修正后的冬小麦物候期算法进行验证,结果发现开花期和成熟期的模拟值与观测值之间的RMSE分别约为2.4和2.0 d,ARE分别低于4.21%和2.67%;与DSSAT-CERES-Wheat模型的模拟结果进行比较,发现修正算法能反映出水分胁迫对冬小麦物候期造成的差异(有提前也有推迟),而DSSAT-CERES-Wheat模型无法体现这种差异,且开花期和成熟期的模拟值与观测值之间的RMSE分别约为4.0和5.5 d,误差最大分别为8和6 d。这表明校正后的冬小麦物候期算法模拟精度得到了较大提高,能在一定程度上描述和量化水分胁迫对冬小麦物候期的影响机制,可用来模拟不同水分胁迫条件下不同品种冬小麦的物候期。     

六盘山华北落叶松林坡面的土壤含水量时间稳定性

在宁夏六盘山选择华北落叶松林坡面,利用TRIME-PICO土壤水分测定仪,在2015年5—11月对48个测点分12次测定了不同厚度土层(0—20,0—40,0—60cm)的体积含水量的时间动态,并采用累积概率函数、相对偏差及Spearman秩相关系数等方法,分析评价了坡面土壤体积含水量的时间稳定性。结果表明:土壤体积含水量在时间和空间上均存在中等变异,且变异程度随土层加厚而逐渐降低,表现为0—40,0—60cm土层体积含水量的累积概率在干旱和湿润2种极端条件下的变化均小于0—20cm土层。0—20,0—40,0—60cm土层体积含水量的平均相对偏差的变化范围分别为(-43.5%)~(47.9%),(-42.9%)~(49.9%)和(-46.9%)~(40.0%);平均相对偏差的标准差(SDRD)呈现出随土层加厚而逐渐降低的变化趋势,在0—20,0—40,0—60cm土层依次为11.1%,8.3%,7.8%。在整个研究期间,Spearman秩相关系数在不同土层厚度条件下始终保持较高水平(0.7以上),且呈极显著相关,坡面上不同土层的体积含水量具有较高的时间稳定性。基于土壤含水量的时间稳定性特征,确定了研究坡面上不同土层厚度的体积含水量平均值的代表性测点,可利用这些代表性测点的土壤体积含水量测定值估计相应土层厚度的坡面平均值。     

六盘山华北落叶松林坡面的土壤水分时间稳定性

在宁夏六盘山选择华北落叶松林坡面,利用TRIME-PICO土壤水分测定仪,在2015年5—11月对48个测点分12次测定了不同厚度土层(0—20,0—40,0—60cm)的体积含水量的时间动态,并采用累积概率函数、相对偏差及Spearman秩相关系数等方法,分析评价了坡面土壤体积含水量的时间稳定性。结果表明:土壤体积含水量在时间和空间上均存在中等变异,且变异程度随土层加厚而逐渐降低,表现为0—40,0—60cm土层体积含水量的累积概率在干旱和湿润2种极端条件下的变化均小于0—20cm土层。0—20,0—40,0—60cm土层体积含水量的平均相对偏差的变化范围分别为(-43.5%)~(47.9%),(-42.9%)~(49.9%)和(-46.9%)~(40.0%);平均相对偏差的标准差(SDRD)呈现出随土层加厚而逐渐降低的变化趋势,在0—20,0—40,0—60cm土层依次为11.1%,8.3%,7.8%。在整个研究期间,Spearman秩相关系数在不同土层厚度条件下始终保持较高水平(0.7以上),且呈极显著相关,坡面上不同土层的体积含水量具有较高的时间稳定性。基于土壤含水量的时间稳定性特征,确定了研究坡面上不同土层厚度的体积含水量平均值的代表性测点,可利用这些代表性测点的土壤体积含水量测定值估计相应土层厚度的坡面平均值。     

未来30年川东平行岭谷区县域农田SOC动态模拟

以位于川东平行岭谷的典型县——垫江县为研究对象,探讨在特定气候模式下未来30 a研究区农田土壤有机碳(SOC)及其动态变化,为研究区未来耕地可持续利用与管理提供数据支持和科学依据。利用生物地球化学模型DNDC,选取IPCC AR4报告中的BCCR_BCM 2.0的B1模式,在基于研究区土壤性质和农业管理制度等建立的GIS区域数据库的支持下,模拟研究区2011—2041年SOC动态变化。结果表明:1)DNDC模型能够较好地模拟特定气候条件下SOC及其动态变化,模拟值和观测值的相关系数r为0.981,达到0.01水平下的极显著相关关系;模拟值和观测值的RMSE值为16%,模拟结果较好。2)未来30 a研究区农田0~20 cm土层SOC密度和储量均呈显著增加态势,单位面积碳增量2 637.07~8 091.55 kg(C)·hm~(-2),增幅为10%~34%,新增固碳量2.7×10~5~8.3×10~5 t,年均增速87.9~269.7 kg(C)·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)。3)未来30 a川东平行区县域农田土壤总体呈持续碳增汇状态,研究区固碳、丢碳以及相对平衡三者间的差异将逐渐凸显。     

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.