流动沙丘先锋植物沙米的生态防护作用

使用野外风速廓线仪与阶梯式集沙仪,对流动沙丘先锋植物沙米及其群落的生态防护作用进行了野外实地观测研究。研究结果表明,沙米植株成塔状,基部分枝,株高变异性、可塑性大,与其他形态指标呈显著正相关,通过测定株高可掌握其基本形态特征。立枯沙米单株可降低风速90%以上,并能阻挡风沙流形成沙舌,沙舌积沙量、高度、长度与沙米体积、高度和冠幅呈显著相关。沙米群落粗糙度达到6.325 cm,是裸露流沙区的2635倍。在裸露流沙区200 cm高度风速为6.2 m/s时,裸露流沙区输沙量达到86.34 g/cm.h,而沙米群落中无风沙流发生;风速为9.5 m/s时,裸露流沙区输沙量也达到沙米群落的574倍。研究认为,在短期(2~3年)和局部空间范围(流动沙丘坡脚与两翼以及裸沙斑块),立枯沙米及其群落具有较明显的防风固沙作用;发达的生殖生长、侧枝系统和侧根系统,枯死后可保留2~3个生长季,是沙米发挥防风固沙作用的关键所在。     

毛乌素沙地巴图塔沙柳沙障对植被恢复作用的研究

以毛乌素沙地巴图塔沙柳基地为研究区域,采用野外调查和统计分析相结合的方法,对沙障设置前后的植被动态变化、物种多样性进行研究,进而分析沙柳沙障对植被恢复的影响。研究结果表明:随着沙障设置年限的增加,群落的物种数增加;群落类型由沙障设置前的沙米+沙竹群落发展成沙柳人工植被群落,在演替过程中无物种消失,物种多样性与沙障设置年限基本呈正相关关系。证明流动沙丘上植被恢复过程中沙柳沙障起着重要促进作用。     

呼伦贝尔沙地植被演替规律研究

在对呼伦贝尔沙地形成的历史背景进行系统分析的基础上,通过大量的野外调查,研究了呼伦贝尔沙地植被资源状况、特征及植被演替规律。结果表明,在过度放牧所引起的逆行演替中,固定沙地、半固定沙地和流动沙地的植物群落物种组成从31种锐减到了2种,盖度从61%降低到8%,群落的物种丰富度逐渐降低,流动沙地的物种丰富度分别是半固定沙地和固定沙地的0.25倍、0.065倍,多样性指数分别为2.464,1.584,0.554,固定沙地最大,为流动沙地的4.45倍。物种均匀度分别为0.497,0.528,0.554。流动沙地最大,是固定沙地的1.11倍。植被高度及生物量亦均呈递减趋势,优势种和建群种发生更迭,群落结构趋于简单。对不同封育年限植被进行研究,得出植被的恢复演替规律为:以沙米为优势种的一年生先锋植物群落以糙隐子草为优势种其他多年生禾草伴生的过渡型植被群落冰草 糙隐子草过渡型植被群落羊草 冷蒿亚稳定型群落,同时,土壤的结构、理化性质得到改善。     

子午岭地区近150年演替序列下植被群落组成与结构变化

[目的] 研究自然恢复条件下植物群落组成与垂直结构变化,为黄土高原的植被建设与高质量发展提供理论依据。 [方法] 以空间代时间的方法,调查分析子午岭地区从弃耕到顶级群落植被的物种组成、多样性特征;并构建反映群落垂直结构特征的指数,研究其变化趋势。 [结果] ①该地区共观察到植被种类42科98属115种,其中8个演替序列中有32科77属88种。 ②演替中群落总体的物种多样性和丰富度均呈显著增加趋势,演替初期两指数值分别为0.901与1.702,演替末期则为1.998与2.665,且在中期均表现出单峰突增态势,而均匀度变化不明显。 ③演替中,乔木各指标有增加趋势;乔木胸径初期为12.13 cm,末期增加至22.19 cm,冠幅由11.64 m²增加至41.54 m²,乔木生物量由54.07 t/hm²增加至175.13 t/hm²;而灌木各指标变化不显著,灌木生物量在演替中期呈现显著峰值,最高为9.56 t/hm²,但在随后的演替过程中呈迅速波动下降态势,演替末期生物量仅为1.82 t/hm²。由灌木群落演替至乔木群落时,枯落物层的厚度显著增加,而盖度在各演替阶段间无显著性差异。 ④演替初期的综合垂直结构指数较低且相近,为0.086～0.104,演替中期迅速增加至0.349,在演替接近末期时达到最大值0.477。林下植被垂直结构指数在演替中期最高(0.342),演替末期降低并趋于稳定(0.195～0.246)。 [结论] 随着自然演替,群落物种多样性和丰富度均得到显著提升,群落总体垂直结构向复杂化发展,林下垂直结构则在演替后期呈现退化。     

海螺沟冰川退缩区原生演替序列植被碳氮储量动态

在贡嘎山海螺沟冰川退缩区,对植被原生演替序列,选择冰川退缩后第5,27,37,47,53,59,87,127,157年9个演替阶段为对象,进行了不同演替阶段的乔木、灌木、草本及植被总体生物量和碳氮储量调查。结果显示:随着演替时间的推进,植被总生物量呈波动性增加,从0.95 t/hm~2增至163.79 t/hm~2。植被不同层次中,乔木层生物量占活体植物总生物量的比例最大,达94.5%以上。不同演替阶段植被碳氮储量的变化与其生物量的变化相似。植被总碳、氮储量从演替初期到顶级群落波动性增加,分别从0.40 t/hm~2,0.01 t/hm~2增至88.45 t/hm~2,1.76 t/hm~2。不同演替阶段乔木层碳、氮储量分别为35.27～99.85 t/hm~2,1.11～1.99 t/hm~2,占总碳、氮储量的92.8%和93.4%以上,是不同演替阶段植被碳氮储量的主体。研究表明灌木层和草本层的碳氮储量对植被碳氮总储量的贡献较低。     

黄土丘陵区典型草地演替中植物群落特征与土壤储水量关系

[目的]阐明草地植被演替过程中植被生产力、植物多样性等生态学特征与土壤储水量的关系,为探明黄土高原地区植被恢复的生态环境效应提供一定的科学依据。[方法]采用时空互代的方法对宁夏回族自治区固原市云雾山保护区自然恢复3,8,13,46,66,89a的样地进行取样,分析0—100cm土层土壤储水量的分布及其与地上地下植物生物量、物种多样性的关系。[结果]随着草地演替的进行,植被群落盖度、生物量和物种多样性指数在恢复13a之前显著增加,之后渐趋稳定;土壤含水量逐渐增加,容重逐渐降低。植被群落演替对0—40cm土层土壤储水量没有显著影响,但演替后期对40cm以下土层水分有明显消耗。植被群落生物量及物种多样性指标与表层0—10cm水分呈显著正相关。[结论]草地演替过程中,植被群落生物量和物种多样性的增加与表层土壤储水能力的提升密切相关,但深层根系生物量的增加对下层土壤储水的消耗也逐渐增大。     

桂西南退化喀斯特植被自然恢复研究

采用"空间代替时间"方法结合"相似系统原理"建立退化群落自然恢复演替系列,对桂西南退化喀斯特植被自然恢复过程中群落高度、生物量等结构功能指标的恢复度和恢复速度进行了分析.结果表明:桂西南退化喀斯特植被群落自然恢复在群落演替初期阶段速度很慢,每提高0.1恢复度需要约10.7 a时间;到演替中期出现恢复加速期,每提高0.1恢复度需要2.6～3.5 a;到演替后期恢复速度又下降,每提高0.1恢复度需要3.5～5.3 a.退化群落从草本群落阶段达到群落结构、功能的基本恢复需要30～40 a,但要达到群落结构、功能的完全恢复则需要近100 a.     

黄土丘陵区不同草本群落生物量与土壤水分的特征分析简

为阐明黄土丘陵区不同草本群落生物量与土壤水分的相关特征,通过野外调查与定点观测,对延河流域内不同演替阶段的5种草本植被（长芒草、铁杆蒿、茭蒿、白羊草、大针茅）群落地上生物量、土壤水分特征及其相关关系进行研究与分析.结果表明：在0～ 500 cm土层内,各演替阶段草本群落土壤含水量的垂直分布规律明显,均表现为浅层（0 ～ 50 cm）减少、中层（50 ～200 cm）增加、深层（200 ～ 500 cm）基本稳定的趋势;植物群落地上生物量均随着演替年限呈先增加后减小趋势,在白羊草群落阶段（退耕演替25 a左右）达到最大值;草本群落地上生物量与土壤含水量整体呈正相关关系,相关程度以0 ～ 200 cm土层较高;植被群落利用土壤水分土层深度随群落演替阶段逐渐加深,表现出对环境更强的适应性.     

模糊聚类和排序在植被演替研究中的综合应用

应用模糊聚类和主成分分析(PCA)对黄土高原丘陵沟壑区植物群落演替进行研究,以探讨该方法在植被演替研究中的可行性。研究结果表明,利用模糊聚类分析和主成分分析,可以将13个样地客观地划分为5个群系。结合不同群系的恢复时间,即可判定随时间变化而呈现出的植物群落演替序列：猪毛蒿群落一赖草群落一长芒草群落一铁杆蒿群落一沙棘群落。该演替序列与传统的研究结果基本相同,说明利用模糊聚类分析和主成分分析方法研究植被演替是可行的。同时该方法数学上较为严格,且计算简单、运算量小,精度较高、可在计算机上运算,可大大提高植物群落演替研究的定量化水平,在植被演替中具有较好的应用价值。     

黄土丘陵区铁杆蒿群落和长芒草群落地上生物量及土壤养分效应

为了明确黄土丘陵区典型植被演替过程中植被与土壤的互动效应,为植被恢复提供依据,采用野外调查和室内分析的实验方法,结合逐步回归和通径分析数据处理方法,研究该区铁杆蒿群落和长芒草群落随着恢复演替的进行,地上生物量、地下生物量、土壤养分的动态变化及其地上生物量与环境因子的关系,并对2种群落进行比较分析。结果表明:随着退耕年限的增加,铁杆蒿和长芒草群落的地上生物量、地下生物量呈逐渐增加的趋势;2种群落的土壤有机质和全氮也都呈增加的趋势,且同群落生物量的变化趋势步调基本一致;全磷和硝态氮也表现了总的增加趋势,但与生物量的变化趋势不太一致。逐步回归与通径分析表明,对铁杆蒿群落地上生物量影响较大的环境因子是有机质、黏粒质量分数和水分含量,其中有机质质量分数和水分含量表现为正效应,即生物量随有机质质量分数和土壤水分含量的增加而增大,土壤黏粒质量分数表现为负效应;对长芒草群落影响较大的是海拔、坡位、年限和全氮质量分数。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Einfluss der düngungsmethoden auf die entwicklung von zuckerrübenkrankheiten

Während neunjähriger (1994-2002) Untersuchungen in der Versuchsanstalt Ba?cyny (Fahlerde, Fall-Gleyboden, ausgebildet aus leichtem Lehmboden) wurde der Befall mit Krankheiten an der Zuckerrübe in Abhängigkeit von der Düngungsmethode bewertet. Folgende Methoden wurden angewendet: A - Mineraldünger, B - Stalldung und Mineraldünger, C - Stroh-, Gründung und Mineraldünger, D - Kompostdünger und Biopräparate (ökologische Düngung). Auf den Objekten A, B, C wurden bei konstanter Phosphor-Kalium-Düngung die Stickstoffgaben von 0 bis 180 kg.ha^?1 differenziert. Auf dem ökologischen Objekt D ohne Mineraldünger wurden statt Stickstoff die Biopräparate P₅₀₀ und P₅₀₁ verabreicht. Der geringste Befall von Krankheiten wurde an der Zuckerrübe auf jenem Objekt festgestellt, das mit Kompost und den Biopräparaten gedüngt worden war. Im Rahmen der konventionellen Düngungsmethoden wurde allgemein die höchste Intensität der Krankheiten an der mit Stroh, Gründung und Mineraldünger gedüngten Zuckerrübe beobachtet. Ausnahmen von dieser Regel bildete das Vorkommen von echtem Mehltau und Keimlingsfäule. Auf den Objekten A, B, C nahm die Intensität der Krankheiten mit der Steigerung der Stickstoffgabe zu. Auch die auf Objekt D verabreichten Biopräparate stimulierten die Entwicklung der Krankheiten. The effect of various fertilization methods on the diseases of sugar beet was estimated on the basis of nine-year studies (1994-2002) conducted in the Experimental Production Farm in Ba?cyny on loess-based, sedimentary-gley, light-clay soil. The following fertilization methods were applied: A - mineral fertilization, B - mineral and manure fertilization, C - straw, green manure and mineral fertilization, D - ecological compost and biodynamic preparations fertilization. In the objects A, B and C fertilized with phosphorus and potassium, various doses of nitrogen ranging from 0 to 180 kg/ha^?1 were used. In the ecological object D, where mineral fertilization was not used, biodynamic preparations P₅₀₀ and P₅₀₁ were applied instead of nitrogen. The lowest ratio of the diseases of sugar beet was observed in the object fertilized with the compost and biodynamic preparations. In view of the conventional fertilization methods, generally the highest incidence of diseases was noted in the sugar beet fertilized with straw, green manure and mineral fertilizers. The exception was the occurrence of powdery mildew and the black leg. In objects A, B and C the incidence of the diseases increased with the increase in nitrogen doses. The applied biodynamical preparations in the object D stimulated the development of diseases too.     

Prospects for control of Pythium damping-off of lettuce with Trichoderma,Gliocladium and Enterobacter spp.

Summary Damping-off of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) caused by Pythium ultimum was studied in pots containing a non-sterile potting mix in the glasshouse. Fifty P. ultimum sporangia g^-1 compost reduced the plant stand to 15% and shoot dry weight to 18%, but this reduction was totally prevented by applying Trichoderma harzianum at 2×10⁵ viable propagules g^-1 potting mix. Gliocladium virens and Enterobacter cloacae also alleviated the damping-off. E. cloacae did not adversely affect the action of the fungal antagonists. The co-existence of the bacterial and fungal antagonists was revealed on the root surface and inner surface of the testa by scanning electron microscopy, indicating the compatibility of the biocontrol agents.     

细菌、真菌及植物氮营养信号研究进展

氮素吸收代谢是所有生物生命活动的核心部分,因此,各种生物对氮的吸收与同化过程都有精细的调节。这种调节依赖于生物对体内氮素状况信号及体外（生长介质中）氮素信号的感受。过去几十年中,在细菌、真菌中已经对氮素营养信号有了较好的研究,而植物中则相对缓慢,但也有了一定的认识。本文重点比较细菌、真菌及植物中氮信号系统的组成,以期为进一步认识植物中的氮信号接受与转导系统提供启示。     

Aircraft operations near concentrations of birds in Antarctica: The development of practical guidelines

Aircraft operations have the potential to disturb and to impact negatively on bird life. A gradient of increasing behavioural response is evident in birds when exposed to increasing aircraft stimulus. The most major disturbance is likely to lead to impacts on the health, breeding performance and survival of individual birds, and perhaps bird colonies. A process of revision to policies on aircraft operations contained in management plans for a number of specially protected areas in Antarctica by the United Kingdom, accompanied by consultations made within the scientific community through the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and with operational interests through the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP) resulted in new guidelines being adopted by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties in June 2004. The principal recommendations of the guidelines are that bird colonies should not be overflown below 2000 ft (∼610 m) above ground level and landings within 1/2 nautical mile (∼930 m) of bird colonies should be avoided wherever possible. These guidelines are less stringent and less specific than those that were recommended by the SCAR specialist group on birds, and represent a compromise to accommodate operational needs. While the adoption of clear and consistent guidelines for the operation of aircraft in Antarctica is welcome in that this provides practical advice that is likely to reduce incidences of close aircraft/bird encounters, there remains insufficient knowledge of the interactions between aircraft and birds in Antarctica, and the consequent impacts on individual birds and on bird populations. It is important, therefore, that the guidelines adopted are considered interim, and should be kept under scrutiny with revisions made as new and improved research results appear.     

The abundance of heterocystous blue-green algae in rice soils and inocula used for application in rice fields

Summary Algal populations were quantified (as colony-forming units [CFU] per square centimetre) in 102 samples of rice soils from the Philippines, India, Malaysia and Portugal, and in 22 samples of soil-based inocula from four countries. Heterocystous blue-green algae (BGA) were present in all samples. Nostoc was the dominant genus in most samples, followed by Anabaena and Calothrix. In soils, heterocystous BGA occurred at densities ranging from 1.0 × 10² to 8.0 × 10⁶ CFU/cm² (median 6.4 × 10⁴) and comprised, on average, 9% of the total CFU of algae. Their abundance was positively correlated with the pH and the available P content of the soils. In soil-based inocula, heterocystous BGA occurred at densities ranging from 4.6 × 10⁴ to 2.8 × 10⁷ CFU/g dw (dry weight), comprising only a moderate fraction (average 13%) of the total algae. In most soils, the density of indigenous N₂-fixing BGA was usually higher than that attained by applying recommended rates of soil-based inoculum. Whereas research on the practical utilization of BGA has been mostly directed towards inoculation with foreign strains, our results suggest that attention should also be given to agricultural practices that enhance the growth of indigenous strains already adapted to local environmental conditions.Maître de Recherches ORSTOM (France), Visiting Scientist at IRRI