马别河流域石漠化影响因素分析

影响岩溶地区石漠化发生发展的因素有自然因素与人为因素两种。以贵州省马别河流域石漠化现状的遥感调查数据为基础,叠加该流域的坡度图进行空间分析,揭示了岩溶地区石漠化的发生率与发育程度随坡度而变化的规律,指出坡度是石漠化发生的重要驱动力,随着坡度的变陡石漠化发生率与发育程度都显著增加。结合前人的研究成果,提出石漠化的发生以自然因素影响为主,人类活动起到了促进的作用。25°坡度带是人类活动与自然因素影响作用的转换带,坡度>25°时,自然因素对石漠化的发生起主导作用。根据地形变化合理地限制人类活动,能有效地减少石漠化带来的危害。     

短时强降雨对岩溶坡面土壤地表流失/地下漏失的影响

为研究岩溶地区雨强变化对水土地表流失和地下漏失的影响,对中国西南典型岩溶石漠化地区30年来的降雨特征进行了分析,并采用室内模拟试验,通过控制不同降雨时间和强度,研究其对土壤地表流失/地下漏失的影响。结果表明：(1)降雨强度与土壤地表流失量/地下漏失量均呈正比关系,但降雨强度的大小交替顺序对土壤地表流失/地下漏失量的影响存在差异,雨强大的降雨发生在降雨过程的后期更易发生土壤地下漏失。(2)短时多次降雨之间的时间间隔对土壤地表流失量和地下漏失量影响显著,集中性大雨比间断性大雨更易引发岩溶坡面土壤地表流失及地下漏失。短时多次降雨之间无雨的时间越长越不易发生水土流失和漏失。(3)降雨前期,降雨强度与土壤地表流失速率之间呈正相关关系,降雨中后期,土壤地表流失速率不受降雨强度的变化影响。降雨过程中,土壤地下漏失速率随着降雨强度的增大而升高。研究成果可为岩溶石漠化地区水土流失精准防治提供技术支撑。     

喀斯特典型坡耕地模拟降雨条件下的土壤侵蚀响应

为了定量研究不同降雨强度、坡度和孔(裂)隙度条件下坡耕地土壤侵蚀响应和空间分布特征,采用人工模拟降雨试验,通过模拟喀斯特典型坡耕地耕作层和微地貌特征以及孔裂隙构造特征,研究土壤侵蚀响应和空间分布特征。结果表明:(1)15,30mm/h降雨强度时地表不产流,水土流失形式为地下漏失;50mm/h降雨强度时地表产流产沙,水土流失也以地下漏失为主,地下径流出现最大值。50mm/h以上降雨强度时,土壤侵蚀逐渐向地表侵蚀转变,地表、地下径流泥沙分配呈负相关;(2)在一定条件下,坡度增大,地表径流泥沙量增加,地下径流量减小,当坡度在10°~15°时地表径流泥沙量急剧增加,25°时坡面产流产沙量达到最大值,其中20°坡面径流泥沙与25°接近;地下泥沙与坡度、孔(裂)隙度间变化规律不明显。(3)径流空间分配特征以地下径流为主,其中90 mm/h降雨强度以地表侵蚀为主。(4)降雨强度、坡度和孔(裂)隙度等因子对地表径流及地下径流的影响程度依次为降雨强度坡度孔(裂)隙度。总之,喀斯特坡耕地以地下漏失为主,地表产流之前随雨强增大而增大,地表径流产生后则反之,极端暴雨(90mm/h)下以地表侵蚀为主;降雨强度对水土流失影响程度最大,其次坡度,再次孔(裂)隙度。     

地形因子对喀斯特坡面水土流失影响的机理研究

[目的]通过对贵州喀斯特高原山地、盆地和峡谷3种典型地貌单元水土流失机理的研究,揭示坡度、坡长、坡形、坡位、坡向和微地形等地形因子对区域水土流失的影响,为综合防治喀斯特地区水土流失提供理论依据。[方法]基于标准径流场监测和侵蚀基线法对3种地貌单元进行多年水土流失监测,运用Excel和SPSS统计软件对数据进行分析。[结果]坡度是最直接影响坡面水土流失的态势因子,土壤侵蚀量是随坡度增加而增大,25°为临界坡度;喀斯特坡面的坡长对水土流失的影响并不明显;坡形通过坡位和坡向来影响水土流失,坡位对水土流失的影响规律表现为:坡面下部坡面中部坡面上部,向阳坡的土壤侵蚀大于背阴坡;微地形对水土流失的影响非常明显,凸出地段常被侵蚀,凹陷带常形成堆积。[结论]影响喀斯特地区水土流失的机理是多种因素联合作用,地形因子相互影响共同控制着喀斯特坡面水土流失的发生与变化趋势。     

喀斯特坡耕地块石出露对土壤水分入渗的影响

块石出露是喀斯特石漠化地区典型的地貌景观特征之一。为探索喀斯特坡耕地中块石出露对土壤水分入渗的影响，通过野外人工模拟降雨试验，研究3个坡度（15°、20°、25°）、3个面积（小、中、大）、5种形状（斜条形、横条形、近圆形、三角形、竖条形）块石出露下的土壤水分入渗特征。结果表明：1）3种坡度下，各形状块石出露下和裸露坡的入渗率均随着坡度增加而减少。总体上，块石面积越小坡度越缓，入渗过程变化越平稳且入渗率高，块石面积越大坡度越陡，入渗过程变化波动大且入渗率低。2）初始、稳定、平均入渗率的最大值均出现在15°坡面，最小值均出现在25°坡面。总体上坡度和块石面积越大，土壤的稳定入渗率越高。3）与裸露坡面相比，块石出露下，15°、20°、25°坡度对入渗增量的贡献率为2.63%、20.88%、76.49%。小、中、大面积块石对入渗增量的贡献率为46.39%、32.88%、20.73%。形状对入渗增量的贡献率为31.50%（斜条形）>27.66%（横条形）>27.08%（近圆形）>10.81%（三角形）>4.36%（竖条形）。4）3种模型的拟合结果，裸露坡拟合度最高，均大于0.89，而斜条形块石拟合度都最低，均为0.60左右。Horton模型的拟合度最好，Kostiakov模型的拟合度良好，Philip模型的拟合度一般，故Horton模型更适用于喀斯特坡耕地不同块石出露下土壤水分入渗过程的拟合。研究结果有助于了解喀斯特坡耕地块石出露下的土壤水分入渗特征，促进农业水土资源的管理保护和利用，为该区水土流失和石漠化工程治理提供借鉴。     

坡度对坡面侵蚀产沙响应的研究

坡度是影响坡面土壤侵蚀的重要因素,在一定条件下,坡面土壤侵蚀随着坡度的增大而增加,但存在一个临界坡度,当超过这个坡度后,坡面土壤侵蚀量反而随着坡度的增大而减少。国内多数学者认为这个临界坡度介于25°~29°之间,这对我国25°以下坡耕地水土保持措施的配置以及超过25°坡耕地退耕还林还草计划的实施具有一定的理论指导意义。在坡面上不同坡度范围内配置合适的水土保持措施可以削弱坡度对坡面土壤侵蚀强度的影响,即在缓坡上实施保护性耕作措施,在25°以下坡耕地合理布设水平梯田及植物篱,25°以上的坡耕地实行退耕还林还草,可以有效地控制坡面土壤侵蚀的发生,促进坡耕地的可持续利用和改良。     

喀斯特山地石漠化过程中地表地下侵蚀产沙特征

喀斯特地区特殊的地表、地下侵蚀产沙是引发石漠化发生发展的重要物理过程。以喀斯特山地石漠化过程中不同石漠化状况的裸坡面为研究对象,通过模拟其地表微地貌及地下孔(裂)隙构造特征,采用人工模拟降雨试验研究其地表及地下侵蚀产沙特征。结果表明:无石漠化、潜在石漠化和轻度石漠化的裸坡在相同条件下的地表产沙量总体上高于地下产沙量,且10 min降雨时段内地下产沙量在0~100 g之间。不同石漠化强度的裸坡地表、地下侵蚀产沙量均随雨强的增大而增加;小雨强(30~80 mm h~(-1))下,随着石漠化强度加剧其地表越不易发生侵蚀,而石漠化强度达到一定程度时(基岩裸露率40%)土壤流失以地下流失为主;大雨强(150 mm h~(-1))下,地表产沙量及其分配比例随基岩裸露率变化不明显,而地下产沙量则呈先增加后减小的变化且在基岩裸露率为30%时达到最大。不同石漠化强度的裸坡地表产沙量及其分配比例随地下孔(裂)隙度变化不明显,地下产沙量及其分配比例总体上随地下孔(裂)隙度增加而增加;在不同地下孔(裂)隙度下(1%~5%),地表、地下产沙量及其分配比例随基岩裸露率变化(10%~50%)差异较大。研究结果对认识喀斯特地区石漠化发生发展机制、揭示土壤侵蚀特征、防治地表地下水土流失具有重要的理论和现实意义。     

石漠化区薄土层坡地雨水转化及土壤侵蚀影响因素分析

为了探究影响喀斯特坡地雨水转化及土壤侵蚀的影响因素,该研究采用人工模拟降雨方法,降雨强度选取50、75和100 mm/h,降雨次数为相同降雨强度下的连续3次降雨,坡度为5°、15°和25°,坡地包括地下基岩具有裂隙的地下裂隙坡地和地下基岩无裂隙的无地下裂隙坡地,研究了不同降雨强度、降雨次数和坡度下喀斯特坡地地表-地下的径流和土壤侵蚀变化。结果表明：1）两种坡地的地表径流率随降雨强度、降雨次数和坡度的增加而增加;壤中流率随降雨强度和坡度的变化也呈相同的趋势,但随降雨次数增加,两种坡地的壤中流率减少;岩土界面流率和地下裂隙流率随坡度和降雨次数增加而减少,随降雨强度增加先增大后减小。2）在降雨强度（50和75 mm/h）、降雨次数（第1场）和坡度（5°和15°）较小时,坡地径流以岩土界面流和地下裂隙流为主,分别占总雨水的24%～39%和28%～51%;随着影响因素增强,两坡地径流转变为以地表径流为主,分别占总雨水的30%～50%和25%～43%。3）降雨强度和坡度是驱动两个坡地地表土壤侵蚀的主要驱动力（P<0.01）,但降雨强度、降雨次数和坡度对两坡地地下土壤侵蚀的影响较小（R2<0.3,P>0.05）;总体上,无地下裂隙坡地和地下裂隙坡地土壤侵蚀以地表土壤侵蚀为主,分别占总侵蚀量的54%～97%和39%～96%;以岩土界面侵蚀或地下裂隙侵蚀为辅,分别占总侵蚀量的1%～45%和2%～60%。研究结果可为理解识别喀斯特坡地雨水转化和土壤侵蚀驱动因素以及喀斯特石漠化防治提供参考。     

多场次降雨条件下不同土岩镶嵌坡面土壤侵蚀特征

为探究多场次降雨条件下喀斯特区不同土岩镶嵌坡面土壤侵蚀特征,采用人工模拟降雨方法,研究了四场次（每场间隔24 h）降雨条件下,三类土岩镶嵌坡面（岩石嵌入土层,未露出地表（全埋）;岩石嵌入土层,露出地表（半埋）和岩石未嵌入土层,覆盖在地表（覆盖））的土壤侵蚀特征。试验坡度为25°,降雨强度为50 mm·h-1,降雨历时为90 min。结果表明：（1）随降雨场次增加,全埋、半埋和覆盖地表径流量增大,而壤中流量和地下径流量则呈先增大后减小的特征。在前两场降雨中,三类土岩镶嵌坡面的地表径流量无明显规律,但后两场降雨中地表径流量呈现为半埋>全埋>覆盖;（2）随降雨场次增加,全埋、半埋和覆盖地表产沙量增大。除第一场降雨外,后三场降雨中半埋产沙量是全埋和覆盖的1.04倍~4.82倍;（3）在多场次降雨条件下,受前期降雨影响土壤含水量增大,后续降雨中地表径流和壤中流产流时间提前5~16 min。总之,在多场次降雨条件下,岩石嵌入土壤可以增加地表产流产沙。研究结果为进一步认识喀斯特石漠化坡地水土流失过程对气候变化的响应提供了科学依据。     

放水冲刷条件下工程边坡产流产沙及氮磷输出特征

为揭示工程堆积体平台汇流造成的水沙及氮磷养分流失特征,以矿区堆土场为研究对象,采用室内放水冲刷试验,研究不同上方来水流量(1.7,2.3,2.9 L/min)和坡度(25°,30°,35°)下地表径流、壤中流及侵蚀泥沙产生过程,分别测定氮磷养分浓度并计算流失量及贡献占比。结果表明:蒙东地区覆土排土场边坡产流方式主要为地表径流,随坡度和冲刷流量的增大,地表径流量增大,壤中流量减小。产沙量随坡度的增大先增大后减小,侵蚀产沙的临界坡度在30°附近。地表径流中铵态氮及磷酸盐流失浓度均大于壤中流,硝态氮浓度在冲刷流量较大(2.9 L/min)时低于壤中流。径流中磷酸盐及侵蚀泥沙中氮磷损失均随坡度的增大先增大后减小。冲刷流量越大,地表径流及侵蚀泥沙中的氮、磷流失量越多。径流中养分流失量表现为硝态氮＞铵态氮＞磷酸盐。侵蚀泥沙是磷酸盐的主要输出途径,占流失总量的59.69%以上;氮素流失量仅在坡度30°时表现为侵蚀泥沙中最大,在25°,35°坡面,地表径流为氮素的主要流失途径,小流量(1.7,2.3 L/min)时壤中流输出的氮素次之。     

“绿色革命”以来大气CO2浓度升高对C3作物营养品质的影响

自20世纪60年代"绿色革命"以来,育种技术和农耕技术的发展促进了农作物产量的大幅提升,然而作物的营养品质出现下降趋势。在相似的遗传背景下,大气CO_2浓度升高会使单位体积农作物产品的营养元素含量下降,因此"绿色革命"至今,农作物产品的营养元素下降可能受大气CO_2浓度升高影响。通过植物生长箱模拟"绿色革命"初期和目前的大气CO_2浓度水平(310μmol/mol和400μmol/mol),针对主要C_3作物水稻、小麦和大豆,研究"绿色革命"以来大气CO_2浓度升高对其籽粒的C、N、Fe、Zn元素含量的影响,结果表明:CO_2浓度升高对3种作物籽粒的C元素含量几乎没有影响,变化幅度在±1.5%之间;籽粒的N、Fe、Zn元素含量普遍呈现下降趋势,但均未达到显著水平。     

Potential of wild species for genetic enhancement of some semi-arid food crops

Discovery and incorporation of genes from wild species provide means to sustain crop improvement, particularly when levels of resistance in the cultigens are low and virulent strains of pests and pathogens overcome the host plant resistance. The extent of utilization and the potential of the wild genepool for genetic enhancement were reviewed in five important food crops viz. sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut grown in the semi-arid tropics. Introgression from compatible wild germplasm in the primary gene pool resulted in transfer of new cytoplasmic male sterility systems in pearl millet and pigeonpea, development of high protein, cleistogamous flower and dwarf pigeonpea lines and foliar disease resistant groundnut cultivars. Utilization of wild species in secondary and tertiary gene pools has been generally limited due to sterility, restricted recombination or cross incompatibility. Nevertheless, these species are extremely important as they contain high levels of resistance to several important biotic and abiotic stresses. Several of them, like those belonging to the Parasorghum section and the rhizomatous Arachis species are sources of multiple resistances and hold great promise to sustain crop productivity.     

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     

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.     

Collection and preliminary evaluation of native turfgrass accessions in Italy

Despite a raising interest on turfs in Italy, all theavailable varieties of this kind in the Country are of foreign origin, and areoften poorly adapted to the prevailing climatic conditions. This prompted tobegin a collection activity of indigenous turfgrass species, with the ultimategoal of identifying promising materials for future breeding based on localgenetic resources. The collection was carried out in three areas of Italy, viz.the northern Po Plain, the coastal region of Liguria, and the island of Sardiniathat are characterised, respectively, by subcontinental, warm temperate, andtypical Mediterranean climate. Altogether, 141 sites were visited, yielding 226accessions belonging to eight species of potential interest for turfs:Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis,Festuca rubra, Festuca arundinacea,Lolium perenne, Agrostis stolonifera,Agrostis tenuis, and Cynodon dactylon,this last being a warm-season grass. Poa pratensis andCynodon dactylon were mostly collected in northern Italyand Sardinia, respectively, whereas Festuca arundinacea andLolium perenne were rather ubiquitous. The collection sitesranged from 0 to 1040 m asl, but sites over 750 m wereonly visited in the inner part of Sardinia. All the accessions, collected aswhole plants, were transplanted at Lodi, northern Italy, where they are beingevaluated. Their preliminary evaluation for traits of importance for turf use,such as sward colour and overall quality, highlighted the great variation andthe occurrence of interesting accessions in all species. Other characters wererecorded, bearing specific importance in individual species, and in all casespromising accessions were identified. The germplasm of Festucarubra, Festuca arundinacea, and Loliumperenne proved highly infected by endophytic (symbiotic) fungi of thegenus Neotyphodium.     

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.     

Leaf position and genotype differences for mineral element concentrations in sorghum grown on tropical acid soil 1

Mineral element deficiencies and toxicities are common problems associated with sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production on acid soils. To better understand some of the mineral element problems and the analysis of plant tissue of sorghum plants grown on acid soils, four sorghum genotypes were grown on an acid Oxisol at Carimagua, Colombia limed with dolomite at 2 and 6 Mg ha^‐1.

Samples for mineral element analyses were obtained from leaves at different positions on the four genotypes. Concentrations of P and Mg were highest in the flag leaf (Leaf No. 1) and decreased as the position on the plant declined from the top of the plant for plants grown at 2 Mg lime ha^‐1. Similar decreases in P, Mg, K, and Zn concentrations occurred in plants grown with 6 Mg lime ha^‐1. Concentrations of Ca, S, Si, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Al increased as leaf position declined from the flag leaf for plants grown at 2 and 6 Mg lime ha^‐1. The higher lime supply enhanced Ca and reduced Mn and Fe concentrations in leaves. Differences in mineral element concentrations for the four genotypes used were fairly extensive. The elements to show the greatest range among genotypes were Al and Si and the elements to show the least range among genotypes were P, K, and S. Care should be used in collecting leaf samples for plant analysis and genotypic differences for accumulation of mineral elements should be considered in interpretation of results.