结晶纤维素降解细菌的筛选、分离与鉴定

采用以结晶纤维素（Avicel）为唯一碳源的平板活性筛选法,从60份森林腐殖土、腐术样品中分离得到2株在pH5．0、37℃条件下高效降解结晶纤维素的细菌菌株GXN152和GXN153。以菌株的总DNA基因为模板,用细菌的16S rRNA基因的通用引物扩增得到菌株GXN152和GXN153的16S rRNA基因序列。测序分析表明菌株GXN152的16S rRNA基因序列和洋葱假单胞菌（Burkholderia cepacia）菌株CNR22的16S rRNA基因序列的同源性最高,具有98％的同源性,生理生化特性检测表明菌株GXN152具有洋葱假单胞菌的鉴别特征,将结晶纤维素降解菌GXN152鉴定为洋葱假单胞菌。菌株GXN153的16S rRNA基因序列和类芽孢杆菌（Paenibacillus favisporus）菌株GMP01的16S rRNA基因序列的同源性最高,具有99％的同源性,生理生化特性检测表明菌株GXN153具有类芽孢杆菌的鉴别特征,将纤维素降解菌GXN153鉴定为类芽孢杆菌。     

一种简化2,4—D诱发小麦结瘤技术的方法

将富２，４－Ｄ的固氮根瘤菌接种到２－３叶期小麦根上，可诱发小形成类根瘤（Ｐａｒａｎｏｄｕｌｅｓ）经ＩＮＴ试剂检验和电镜切片观察，证明类根瘤中导入了固氮根瘤菌。为２，４－Ｄ诱发结瘤技术提供了一种简化方法。     

Sherlock MIS系统应用于土壤细菌鉴定的研究

以10种已知菌株为例，对sherlock微生物鉴定系统（Sherlock MIS）的细菌鉴定准确性及培养基、活化时间和取样区域等因素对鉴定结果的影响进行了研究。结果表明该系统对TSBA培养基培养的细菌的鉴定准确率很高，除苏云金杆菌外其他菌株均鉴定到种的水平；但选用牛肉膏蛋白胨培养基培养细菌后，系统对供试菌株鉴定效果不理想。不同活化处理中所有样品的鉴定结果均正确，但以菌种活化2次后的SI值（相似指数）更高；取菌在二区或是三区则对鉴定结果影响不大。     

牧草促生菌分离鉴定及对大豆促生性能的研究

以大豆(黔豆 1号)为研究对象，从贵州不同地区采集的根瘤样品中，挑选菌落隆起、边缘整齐、有粘液，且固氮酶活性较高的 6个菌株进行鉴定并制成复合接种剂，分析不同组合处理对大豆的株高、根长、根瘤数、地上与地下部分生物产量等的影响，测定了营养品质粗蛋白(CP)、中性纤维(NDF)、酸性纤维(ADF)、全磷(P)、钙(Ca)的含量，旨在从中筛选出与大豆植株共生匹配最佳的组合菌株。结果表明:经鉴定其中 4株是根瘤菌(R286-1、R287-3、R310-1、R325-3)，2株为内生细菌(R286-5、R287-5)。与单一接种根瘤菌处理相比，大多组合接种剂可显著促进大豆的茎粗，地上部分干物质重量 B2，D1和 D2的效果最明显，A1、B1和 D1增加根系生物量的效果最佳，根瘤数 A2、B2、C1和 D1结瘤最多。加施内生细菌能显著提高植物的 CP含量，复合菌剂比 CK提高 4.6%～13.1%，Ca含量仅 D1比 CK下降11.3%，其他组合提高 4.1%～20.8%，明显降低了ADF含量(除A1、B1、B2、D1)。综合分析，应用生产潜力最大的 4个菌组为A2、B2、C1、D2，为大豆菌肥的研制奠定试验基础。     

植物乳杆菌P158的生长曲线及其细菌素的特性

对源于醪糟的植物乳杆菌P158生长曲线分析、药敏实验检测及其细菌素特性的初步研究。结果表明：植物乳杆菌P158培养36h时生物量达到最大值,约为1011 cfu/ml,且培养40h的发酵上清液对藤黄微球菌和铜绿假单胞杆菌的抑菌效果最好,细菌素效价约为1145IU/ml,而发酵上清液pH值降至最低（pH3.53）,显示了菌株生长与细菌素的形成密切相关。该菌株对多粘菌素B、多数氨基糖苷类耐药,对青霉素类、四环素类、大环内酯类等药物敏感。细菌素对酸、热稳定,对木瓜蛋白酶、胃蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶、蛋白酶K敏感;对多数的革兰氏阴性菌和革兰氏阳性菌及一些真菌具有较强抑制作用,却对近源乳酸菌几乎无抑制效果。该细菌素可望作为食品生物防腐剂。     

三种由Erwiniaspp．引起的新的花卉细菌病害

１９９４年在深圳农科中心花卉大棚中的巴西铁、文心兰和火鹤植株上，发现国内外尚未报道的细菌病害；巴西铁叶枯病，文心兰心腐病和火鹤叶枯病。病原细菌的主要细菌学性状试验结果表明，巴西铁叶枯病菌为菠萝欧氏杆菌（ＥｒｗｉｎｉａａｎａｎａｓＳｅｒｒａｎｏ）的一个菌株，文心兰心腐病和火鹤叶枯病均为兰欧氏杆菌［Ｅ．ｃｙｐｒｉｐｅｄｉｉ（Ｈｏｒｉ）Ｂｅｒｇｅｙｅｔａｌ．］的菌株之一。     

利用15N标记研究氮素水平对大豆根瘤生长的影响

为了明确氮肥对大豆根瘤生长的影响,以东农47为试验材料,采用15N 标记和砂培的方法,进行了氮素营养水平对大豆根瘤生长及与根瘤固氮相关性的研究。结果表明,随外源氮水平增加,根瘤干重呈先增加后降低的变化趋势,当营养液氮浓度为50 mg/L时,有利于根瘤的生长;根瘤生长需要一定量启动氮,启动氮的作用维持到第3片复叶完全展开时（V3）对大豆根瘤的生长最有利;在盛荚期 （R4）和鼓粒始期 （R5）补充外源氮的供给抑制根瘤的生长。根瘤干重与植株中根瘤氮积累量、根瘤氮比例呈极显著正相关,根瘤干重与植株中氮积累量呈显著正相关。     

微生物絮凝剂的菌种分离筛选及其产生条件的选择

本研究采用根瘤菌选择性培养基和稀释平板法,从广西大学校园罗汉松和相思树植物根瘤中总共分离出20株菌落光滑型菌株,并分别对其发酵物作絮凝试验。研究结果表明,从罗汉松根瘤中筛选出一株絮凝率较高的菌株,暂编号为P2。对P2进行形态学观察结果表明:其菌落圆形、凸起、光滑、无色透明,其细胞杆状、菌体大小为0.5×(1～2)μm,该类细菌为革兰氏阴性细菌、有糖被、无芽孢,周生鞭毛;测序分析表明其16S rDNA序列与Rhizobium sp. DV816S rDNA(DQ873665.1)同源性达98%以上;生长和产絮凝剂最佳条件如下:配方为甘露醇10%,K2HPO4 0.3%,酵母膏0.03%,NaCl 0.5%,(NH4)2SO4 0.01%,脲0.03%液体培养基中,30℃,起始pH为7.0,转速为200r/min条件下培养发酵72h,产生的絮凝剂可使浓度为5000mg/L高岭土悬浮液在20min内絮凝率最高为92%。     

紫色土硅酸盐细菌的遗传多样性研究

硅酸盐细菌是土壤中一类能分解硅酸盐类矿物，破坏其晶格结构，使矿物钾转化成有效钾释放出来供植物生长的细菌。它不仅能溶磷解钾，亦有固氮的作用。目前的种类主要有，环状芽孢杆菌（Bacillus circulans）、胶质芽孢杆菌（B．rmtcilaginosus）和土壤芽孢杆菌（B．edaphicus）三个种的菌株。由于硅酸盐细菌的独特作用，已广泛应用于采矿、冶金、微生物肥料、饲料工业上。我国在硅酸盐细菌的生物学功能方面已进行了大量的工作，尤其是在硅酸盐细菌作为生物肥料方面，但是对硅酸盐细菌的分类地位和遗传多样性研究较少。贺积强等研究表明，紫色土硅酸盐细菌的理化性质和解磷解钾特性存在差异，本研究应用RAPD、TP-PCR和16S rRNA PCR-RFLP进一步分析了这些硅酸盐细菌的遗传多样性及系统发育地位，以期弄清其遗传背景。     

西北部分矿区豆科植物根瘤菌重金属抗性及16S rDNA RFLP分析

从生长在西北部分矿区的豆科植物根瘤中分离筛选到对重金属有抗性的38株根瘤菌,采用PCR-RFLP分子技术进行16S rDNA指纹图谱分析,选取每种类型的代表菌株进行16S rDNA全序列测定,建立系统发育树状图,并对38株菌进行Zn、Hg、Cu、Cd和Pb5种重金属的抗性研究。结果表明,供试菌株分别归属于中华根瘤菌属（Sinorhizobium）、根瘤菌属（Rhizobium）和土壤杆菌属（Agrobacterium）。代表菌株CCNWSX1277和CCNWSX1294可耐受2.0mmol·L-1的Zn2＋,CCNWSX1277可耐受0.25mmol·L-1的Hg2＋,多数代表菌株可耐受1.6mmol·L-1的Cu2＋,仅3株代表菌株可以耐受Cd2＋,其中CCNWSX1277能耐受1.4mmol·L-1的Cd2＋,所有代表菌株能耐受2.5mmol·L-1的Pb2＋。Agrobacterium属的2株代表菌株对5种重金属均有较强的耐受性;而Rhizobium属的4株菌和Sinorhizobium属的3株菌对5种重金属的耐受性不同,表现出较大的差异。总体来看,供试菌株对重金属的耐受性顺序为Agrobacterium〉Rhizobium〉Sinorhizobium。     

2004-2015年长江中下游地区冬油菜生产碳足迹的时空变化

长江流域是我国油菜生产的主产区,系统分析油菜生产碳足迹对促进该地区农业低碳化生产与缓解气候变化的影响具有重要的意义。本文基于油菜播种面积、产量及生产投入等统计资料数据,运用农业碳足迹理论和生命周期评价法定量分析2004-2015年长江中下游地区油菜生产碳足迹时空变化动态及其构成。研究结果表明,油菜生产的碳足迹呈先下降后上升的趋势,最低点出现在2013年,为2 177.6 kg·hm^-2;肥料和人工是长江流域油菜生产主要的温室气体排放源,分别占总碳足迹的50.9%~53.1%和5.8%~8.4%。不同省份间油菜生产碳足迹具有明显的差异,江苏省和浙江省的单位面积碳足迹（CF_a）和单位产量碳足迹（CF_y）均较高,而湖南和江西两省的CF_a和CF_y均较低。长江中下游地区油菜高产省CF_a、CF_y显著高于低产省,其中,氮肥、磷肥和复合肥产生的碳足迹值均显著高于低产省份,分别提高81.7%、81.2%和112.8%（P<0.05）。研究表明发展油菜生产节肥技术,加强机械一体化技术以减少人工成本是未来长江流域油菜应对气候变化发展低碳农业的重要举措。结果部分尽量详细些     

灌溉量和施氮量对油用亚麻茎秆抗倒性能及产量的影响

为明确灌水和施氮对油用亚麻(Linum usitatissimum L.)抗倒伏能力和产量的影响,以‘陇亚杂1号’为材料,于2012—2013年以灌溉量为主处理(W1:2 700 m3·hm-2;W2:3 300 m3·hm-2),施氮量为副处理[纯氮量分别为N0:0 kg·hm-2(CK);N1:37.5 kg·hm-2(低氮);N2:112.5 kg·hm-2(中氮);N3:225 kg·hm-2(高氮)],研究灌溉量和施氮量对与油用亚麻抗倒性能相关的形态学特性、茎秆强度、抗倒伏指数及茎秆化学组分含量、产量构成因子及产量的影响。结果表明,随灌溉量的增加,茎秆强度和抗倒伏指数下降,株高增加,重心上移,茎粗、茎壁厚度降低,地上部干重增加,根干重减少,根冠比下降,同时茎秆中纤维素、木质素、可溶性糖和淀粉的含量下降;随施氮量的增加,茎秆强度和抗倒伏指数先升高后降低,株高和重心高度增加,茎粗、茎壁厚度、根干重和根冠比先增后减,地上部干重增加,茎秆中各化学组分含量及产量也先增加后降低。进一步分析发现抗倒伏指数与茎秆强度、茎粗、茎壁厚度、根干重、根冠比、纤维素含量、木质素含量、可溶性糖含量及淀粉含量均呈正相关关系,与株高、重心高度、地上部干重呈负相关关系。低灌水处理(W1)的茎秆强度、抗倒伏指数和产量分别比高灌水处理(W2)高30.55%、41.06%和0.53%,过多灌水不利于油用亚麻茎秆抗倒伏性能和产量的提高;中氮处理(N2)的茎秆强度分别比不施氮(CK)和高氮(N3)处理高36.8%和3.95%,产量分别高15.9%和0.8%,可见油用亚麻的栽培中施氮量不能过高或过低。因此,生产上采用适宜的灌溉量和施氮量是防止油用亚麻倒伏、获得高产、提高生产效益的重要措施。在本试验区,同等肥力土壤条件下,以灌溉量2 700 m3·hm-2和纯施氮量112.5 kg·hm-2为宜。     

轮作体系下冬油菜养分利用效率的区域研究

Fertilization is essential for oilseed rape because it is sensitivity to nutrient deficiency, especially for winter oilseed rape(Brassica napus L.). To investigate regional nutrient efficiency and nutrient uptake-yield relationship of winter oilseed rape in an intensive cropping system, this study used data from 619 site-year on-farm experiments carried out in the winter oilseed rape planting area of the Yangtze River Basin, China from 2005 to 2010, with large yield in the range of 179–4 470 kg ha~(-1). Currently recommended application rates of N, P and K fertilizers increased rapeseed yield at different levels of soil indigenous nutrient supply(INS) in this region. Boundary values of plant nutrient uptake were established to analyze the nutrient uptake-yield relationship of winter oilseed rape(internal nutrient efficiency), i.e., 128 kg N ha~(-1), 24 kg P ha~(-1), and 122 kg K ha~(-1). The internal nutrient efficiency declined by 48.2%–64.1% when nutrient uptake exceeded the boundary value, resulting in excessive nutrient uptake(i.e., low yield response with high nutrient uptake), especially for K. In the intensive cropping system, agronomic efficiencies of N, P, and K were 5.9, 3.4, and3.6 kg kg~(-1), and recovery efficiencies of N, P, and K were 35.6%, 24.1%, and 36.8%, respectively. These findings showed that the fertilization rate should be optimized by considering INS, nutrient status, and nutrient efficiency of winter oilseed rape. In this study,considering the lower yield improvement to high K uptake levels and low K fertilizer efficiency, application rate of K fertilizer should be reduced since soil K deficiency has already been mitigated.     

减量施肥对湖垸旱地作物产量及氮磷径流损失的影响

为探明洞庭湖区旱地生产中的氮磷盈余问题, 利用在该区域连续两年的玉米 油菜轮作田间小区试验, 研究了常规施肥[玉米: 400 kg(N)·hm^-2, 90 kg(P₂O₅)·hm^-2, 135 kg(K₂O)·hm^-2; 油菜: 180 kg(N)·hm^-2, 65 kg(P₂O₅)·hm^-2, 60 kg(K₂O)·hm^-2]、常规施肥减氮15%、减氮30%、缓控释肥减氮30%+减磷20%、常规施肥减磷20%共5个处理下, 玉米和油菜产量、氮磷肥利用率、氮磷径流损失量以及土壤氮磷养分的变化。结果表明, 在研究区域现有施肥水平下(常规施肥), 减量施肥对玉米和油菜产量没有显著影响; 缓控释肥减氮30%+减磷20%处理下玉米和油菜对氮磷养分的利用率显著提高, 其中氮素利用率较常规施肥处理两年平均提高7.96%和4.89%、磷素利用率提高2.02%和2.56%; 同时, 减量施肥各处理下氮磷径流损失量与常规处理比较, 分别减少3.54%~29.36%和7.14%~35.71%; 试验期内, 减量施肥下土壤全量氮磷及硝态氮含量与常规施肥处理无显著差异。根据本研究结果, 各施肥处理中, 以缓控释肥减氮30%+减磷20%处理效果更佳。研究结果可以为该地区旱地作物合理施肥、区域农业面源污染防控和洞庭湖区水环境保护提供参考依据。     

Potassium‐fertilizer management in winter oilseed‐rape production in China

Optimal potassium (K) fertilization is beneficial for oilseed‐rape (Brassica napus L.) yield and quality. However, the discrepancy between the high K demand of winter oilseed rape and low soil fertility and insufficient potassium input has limited the sustainable development of oilseed‐rape production. A series of on‐farm experiments in the key winter oilseed‐rape domains of China was conducted from 2004 to 2010 to evaluate K‐fertilizer management for winter oilseed rape. Currently, the average NH₄OAc‐extractable K content in the 0–20 cm soil layer is 89.1 mg kg^–1 indicative of “slight deficiency”. In addition, farmers in China usually fail to use sufficient K fertilizer in oilseed‐rape production, the average mineral‐potassium‐fertilizer input in 2010 being only 35 kg K ha^–1, far lower than the recommended rate of potassium for winter oilseed rape. Adequate potassium fertilization significantly raises seed yield. The average yield‐increase rate for the major production regions due to K‐fertilizer application was 18.5%, and the average K fertilizer–use efficiency 36.1%. Based on the negative correlation between yield response to potassium fertilization and available soil K content, a soil‐K‐test index was established for winter oilseed rape with a threshold value for NH₄OAc‐extractable soil K of 135 mg kg^–1. When available soil K‐content is below this threshold value, more K fertilizer should be applied to achieve high seed yield and to increase soil fertility. The major challenge for K‐fertilizer management in winter oilseed‐rape production in China will be to guide farmers in the different regions in making reasonable use of K fertilizer through soil K‐testing technology in order to maintain both seed yield and soil fertility.     

Improvement of okra seed germination by drying within the fruit during development and after-ripening treatment

Abstract

The inverse linear competition model and three non-linear hyperbolic models were tested on two years' results from field experiments with barley and oilseed rape. Densities ranged from 1/9 to 3 times the normal seed rate (i.e. 350 barley plants m^?2 and 100 oilseed rape plants m^?2). A log transformation of both sides was necessary to ensure homogeneity of variance. The best precision of parameter estimates was found using the non-linear hyperbolic model:

where w is the individual plant weight and N is the plant density. A _{N 0} is the dry matter production per plant at a density N ₀, and B is the potential biomass production per unit area under the actual growth conditions. The estimated values of parameters AA _{N 0} and B agreed well with the values actually measured. The computational, as well as the biological, implications of introducing a threshold density, N ₀ are discussed.     

Rhizosphere Cadmium Speciation and Mechanisms of Cadmium Tolerance in Different Oilseed Rape Species

ABSTRACT

The role of rhizosphere processes in cadmium (Cd) uptake by plants and mechanisms of Cd tolerance is unexplored and a matter of debate. Pot experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions to investigate rhizosphere Cd speciation and mechanisms of Cd tolerance in different oilseed rape (Brassica juncea L. and Brassica napus L.) species using a sequential extraction technique. A Cd-tolerant oilseed rape, Xikou Huazi, a non-tolerant oilseed rape, Zhongyou 821, and an Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) were used in the study. The results showed that three predominant forms of Cd in the plants were NaCl-extractable Cd, acetic acid-extractable Cd, and water-extractable Cd. The concentration of water-extractable Cd in Xikou Huazi was significantly lower than in Zhongyou 821. A significant depletion of exchangeable Cd was observed in the rhizosphere soil of oilseed rapes Xikou Huazi and Zhongyou 821, as well as Indian mustard. At 60 mg kg^?1 of soil Cd concentration, the concentrations of carbonate-bound and organically bound Cd in the rhizosphere soil of Xikou Huazi were significantly higher than in the non-rhizosphere soil. The concentrations of these two Cd speciations were higher in the rhizosphere soil of Xikou Huazi than in the rhizosphere soil of Zhongyou 821. However, for Zhongyou 821, there were no significant differences in the concentrations of these two Cd speciations between the rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere at 30 and 60 mg kg^?1 of soil Cd concentrations. A significant difference existed in rhizosphere Cd speciations and Cd forms in the plants between Cd-tolerant oilseed rape and non-tolerant oilseed rape. This difference was the main reason that Cd-tolerant oilseed rapes take up and accumulate Cd.     

Importance of soil mineral N in early spring and subsequent net N mineralisation for winter wheat following winter oilseed rape and peas in a milder climate

Abstract

Nine biennial field experiments, 2000–2004, in south Sweden, 55–56°N, with winter wheat following winter oilseed rape, peas, and oats, were used to estimate the impact of a future milder climate on winter wheat production in central Sweden, 58–60°N. The trials included studies 1) on losses during winter of soil mineral nitrogen (N_min, 0–90 cm soil), accumulated after the preceding crops in late autumn, 2) on soil N mineralisation (N_net) during the growing season of the wheat (early spring to ripeness) and 3) on grain yield and optimum N fertilisation (Opt-N rate) of the wheat. Average N_min in late autumn following winter oilseed rape, peas, and oats was 68, 64, and 45 kg ha^?1, respectively, but decreased until early spring. Increased future losses of N_min during the winter in central Sweden due to no or very short periods with soil frost should enhance the demand for fertiliser N and reduce the better residual N effect of winter oilseed rape and peas, compared with oats. Their better N effect will then mainly depend on larger N_net (from March to maturity during the winter wheat year). Owing to more plant-available soil N (mainly as N_net) Opt-N rates were lower after oilseed rape and peas than after oats despite increased wheat yields (700 kg ha^?1) at optimum N fertilisation. In addition to these break crop effects, a milder climate should increase winter wheat yields in central Sweden by 2000–3000 kg ha^?1 and require about 30–45 kg ha^?1 more fertiliser N at optimum N fertilisation than the present yield levels. Increased losses and higher N fertilisation to the subsequent winter wheat in future indicates a need for an estimation of the residual N effect at the individual sites, rather than using mean values as at present, to increase N efficiency.     

A review of fertilizer, lime and organic manure use on farm crops in Great Britain from 1983 to 1987

Abstract. In 1983, an annual Survey of Fertiliser Practice in England and Wales was extended to Scotland, to provide comprehensive information on inorganic fertilizer, lime and also organic manure use in mainland Britain. It was based on an annual sample of about 1500 farms, selected from the Agricultural Census and stratified by farm type and size. Results from the first fifteen years (1983–97) show that fertilizer nitrogen (N) rates on both tillage crops and grassland peaked at 157 and 132 kg ha^–1, respectively, in the mid 1980s and subsequently decreased by c.10%. The majority of N was applied in straight form (without P or K) to tillage crops and in compound form (containing two or more nutrients e.g. NPK; NK) to grassland. Total N use on cereals showed little change but autumn‐applied N decreased on both winter cereals and winter oilseed rape. Total N rates decreased on oilseed rape and, to a smaller extent, on maincrop potatoes and sugarbeet. Between 1983–87 and 1993–97, mean phosphate (P₂O₅) rates declined by almost 10% on both tillage crops (from 58 to 53 kg ha^–1) and on grassland (from 25 to 23kg ha^–1). The corresponding mean potash (K₂O) rates decreased slightly on both tillage crops (from 64 to 62 kg ha^–1), and on grassland (from 32 to 31 kg ha^–1), although annual usage was more variable on grassland. Sulphur use increased appreciably on cereal and oilseed rape crops between 1993, when S data were first recorded in the survey, and 1997 when 13% and 30%, respectively, of these crop areas received S‐fertilizer. However, on grassland, S use remained very low. Average lime use increased on both tillage crops and grassland between the mid 1980s and mid 1990s, from 10 to 12% and 4 to 7% of the total area, respectively. The proportion of land receiving organic manures remained at c. 16% for tillage cropping but increased slightly for grassland, from a mean of 40% in 1983–87 to 44% in 1993–97. Manures were applied throughout the year but about half the applications to tillage land, and a quarter of those to grassland, were made in autumn when the risk of subsequent nitrate leaching loss is greatest.     

Nitrogenase (C2H2) Activity in Roots of Non-Cultivated and Cereal Plants: Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Populations and Activity of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria

Root samples of 11 non-cultivated monocotyledonous and 7 dicotyledonous species taken during a wet summer had low mean nitrogenase activities of 10.2 and 7.1 nmol C₂H₄·g^?1 DW·h^?1 after preincubation at pO₂ 0.02, respectively. Maxima of 139–169 nmol·g^?1·h^?1 were observed with Agrostis vulgaris and Agropyron repens on a sandy soil poor in C_org. Three of 6 early, but none of 4 late fodder maize cultivars had a very low activity up to 0.5 nmol·g^?1h^?1. Oat, rye and wheat roots from plots with organic or mineral N fertilizers had activities between 1.3 and 7.3 nmol·g^?1h^?1 at flowering, which were not correlated with their Azospirillum populations (10²-10⁷·g^?1 after preincubation). Winter wheat and barley roots given 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg. ha^?1 NH₄NO₃-N in 0–3 applications had mean activities of 0.08, 4.06, 0.09 and 0.08 nmol or 1.77, 2.67, 0.36 and 0.23 nmol C₂H₄g^?1·h^?1 after flowering, respectively. An appreciable part of this activity could be removed by root washing. In preincubated rhizosphere soil of wheat and barley populations of N₂-fixing, facultative anaerobic Klebsiella and Enterobacter spp. were 10–100 times higher than those of Azospirillum sp., both being higher in O N than in 80 kg N·ha^?1 trials.