Weed flora survey in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) fields of Shabestar (northwest of Iran)

Alfalfa is one of the most widely grown forage crops in Iran, especially in Shabestar county. Weeds play a significant role in reducing the feeding value of alfalfa. Weed survey was done in order to determine environmental factors on weed species distribution in alfalfa fields at Shabestar, Iran (2010–2011). The family dominance index (FDI) and relative dominance (RD) were used to find dominant families and species for infestation of Shabestar's alfalfa fields. Data were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). A total of 130 weed species belonging to 28 families were observed. The most dominant families, based on the FDI, were Asteraceae, Poaceae, and Brassicaceae with 66.3, 61.8, and 41.1 FDI, respectively. Alopecurus myosuroides and Convolvulus arvensis were the most dominant species according to the RD index, measuring 26.4 and 21.8, respectively. PCA showed that some weed species only infested specific areas, but a few species with broader environmental tolerances were found near origin. Most variation in species distribution was explained by altitude, which was followed by soil potassium and salinity content of the soil. Our results suggest that the effect of altitude was more important than other environmental factors.     

Precision Weed Detection using Terrestrial Laser Scanning Techniques

Weeds compete with cultivated plants for nutrients and water in agricultural fields and orchards. Site-specific precision plant protection requires optimal plant-specific pesticide combinations and quantities. The first step in precision weed control is to map and detect weeds. Active and passive remote-sensing tools are available for weed detection. This article presents a study of precision weed detection using three-dimensional terrestrial laser scanning in an apple (Malus domestica) orchard. The laser scanner was able to identify two monocotyledonous (Digitaria sanguinalis, Echinochloa crus-galli) and two dicotyledonous (Galinsoga parviflora, Portulaca oleracea) weed species. In addition to weed identification, weed coverage was also determined using three algorithms. The results indicate that laser scanning has the potential for fast, accurate weed detection and could support the development of a plant-specific, selective, precision weed-control system that reduces water and pesticide use in orchards.     

The effect of natural weed buffers on soil and nitrogen losses in Japan

In Japan, heavy rains from June to October cause severe erosion in the agricultural fields. Natural weed buffers may help conserve the soil and water. We measured the mass balances of the water, soil and nitrogen components in a plot of 159 m² (7.2 m wide and 22.1 m long). Plant growth in the plot was dominated by the weeds Humulus scandens Merrill and Poa annua L. We also evaluated the ability of the natural weed buffer to reduce soil and nitrogen losses.Measurements of the mass balances of the water, soil and nitrogen components showed that 93.1% of the total water received by the plot was lost through percolation. The weed buffer captured 99.6% of the soil introduced into the plot. The plot stored 80.0% of the total nitrogen input, while 13.4% percolated through the soil and 1.8% flowed off the plot from the surface. Only 0.1% of the nitrogen was taken up by plants.Because 99.6% of the soil and 80.0% of the nitrogen components were captured, we concluded that the natural weed buffer was very effective in minimizing soil and nitrogen losses. As Japanese farmers grow older and more agricultural fields in the semi-mountainous regions of Japan fall into disuse, the natural weeds that grow on those fields may become efficient tools for conserving the soil and water in these regions.     

耕作方式对新垦沙地农田杂草群落结构的影响

通过田间调查的方式,研究了黑河中游边缘绿洲新垦沙地农田杂草分布状况,并对不同耕作方式下农田杂草群落结构特征进行了分析。调查中共记录杂草16种,隶属10科。新垦沙地农田杂草群落基本组成为藜(Chenopodium album)+牛筋草(Eleusineindica)+狗尾草(Setaria viridis)+反枝苋(Amaranthus retroflexus)。与当地传统的地膜覆盖、秋耕和玉米连作耕作方式相比,秸秆覆盖、减少秋耕和玉米-大豆轮作均可增加农田杂草物种丰富度、多样性指数和群落优势度(P0.05)。与当地传统耕作方式相比,秸秆覆盖可增加杂草群落中牛筋草优势度比,降低藜和反枝苋优势度比;减少秋耕可增加狗尾草、反枝苋、灰绿藜(C.glaucum)和米瓦罐(Silene conoidea)优势度比,降低牛筋草优势度比;玉米-大豆轮作可增加米瓦罐优势度比。不同耕作方式对偶见种杂草在田间的分布和组成影响不明显。可以看出,新垦沙地农田杂草物种较少,群落组成单一;不同耕作方式对新垦沙地农田杂草物种多样性和群落结构组成有明显影响,进一步深入研究对沙地农田杂草合理防除具有重要的指导意义。     

施肥模式对晚稻田杂草群落的影响

【目的】长期不合理施化肥对生态环境的影响已经引起学者和公众的关注,有机肥的施用越来越受到重视。揭示有机肥对农田杂草群落影响的机制、预测有机农业环境下杂草群落的演替趋势十分困难。本文对比研究不同施肥模式下农田杂草的群落特征,探索晚稻田杂草群落结构演变趋势,以期为现代农业中有机肥的合理施用和农田生物多样性保护提供科学依据。【方法】通过田间长期定位施肥试验,运用群落生态学方法研究了晚稻种植季五种施肥处理区杂草群落的结构特征及其生物多样性。在每个小区随机设置5个面积为0.25 m2的样方,记录各样方内杂草物种种类、每个种类杂草的数量,调查杂草的盖度与频度;测定稻谷理论产量;使用照度计测量地表与水稻冠层顶部的光照强度,计算光照透过率;测定耕作层土壤的有机质、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾含量。计算杂草的重要值,采用物种丰富度(S)和Shannon-Wiener指数(H)测定杂草群落的生物多样性;以15个处理小区中的11种常见杂草的重要值构成原始数据矩阵,应用SPSS16.0软件进行主成分分析和典范对应分析。【结果】晚稻田不同施肥处理土壤养分以及光照透过率差异显著,施有机肥的处理晚稻稻谷产量高于CK与NPK纯化肥处理。CK处理区优势种为野荸荠-节节菜-异型莎草-鸭舌草,NPK处理区优势种为双穗雀稗,NPK5/5和NPK3/7处理区优势种为双穗雀稗-鸭舌草,NPK7/3处理区优势种为双穗雀稗-鸭舌草-稗。主成分分析结果表明15个施肥处理小区的杂草群落可以分为三大类:第一类是CK处理;第二类是NPK3/7处理;第三类是NPK、NPK5/5、NPK7/3三个处理。主成分Factor 1与有机质、碱解氮以及有效磷呈极显著负相关(P0.01),与光照透过率呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。典范对应分析结果显示,节节菜、野荸荠与牛毛毡比较适宜生长在CK处理区,双穗雀稗适宜在NPK7/3处理区生长,鸭舌草、陌上菜以及四叶萍适宜生长在NPK3/7处理区。有机肥处理区的物种丰富度与物种多样性指数处于NPK与CK之间,且随着有机肥比例的增加物种数增加。物种丰富度以及物种多样性指数与有机质、碱解氮以及有效磷呈极显著正的"U型"相关(P0.01),与速效钾呈显著负相关(P0.05),与群落光照条件呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。【结论】晚稻田杂草群落特征与土壤有机质、碱解氮、有效磷含量以及地表光照透过率关系密切。均衡施用有机和无机肥可以显著降低杂草群落的优势种数量,将杂草群落的优势种数量以及生物多样性维持在不施肥与纯施化肥处理区之间。因此,可以通过调整有机肥的施用量来调控农田杂草生长及群落特性,实现农田杂草的科学综合管理。综合考虑晚稻稻谷产量和杂草群落生物多样性状况,NPK3/7(化肥30%+有机肥70%)施肥模式既可以保证作物的优质高产,也可以较好地维持杂草群落的生物多样性。     

强还原土壤处理对再植龙牙百合生长不利因子的消减作用

病害和草害是再植龙牙百合生长的两大关键制约因素。以强还原土壤处理（Reductive soil disinfestation,RSD）为技术手段,以湖南省栽培过龙牙百合的土壤为研究对象,通过设置液体有机物料RSD处理（6 t·hm–2,MO）、固体有机物料RSD处理（15 t·hm–2,SB）和不做任何土壤处理的对照（CK）,研究该技术手段对龙牙百合栽培土壤中土传病原菌和杂草种子库的影响。结果表明,与CK对照相比,RSD处理均能有效杀灭土壤中的尖孢镰刀菌、腐皮镰刀菌和立枯丝核菌等病原真菌,显著降低镰刀菌属在真菌类群中的占比,其杀菌率高达98.8%。同时,RSD处理还能有效抑制土壤杂草种子库中大部分杂草的萌发,显著降低田间杂草的密度和生物量,其对杂草数量和干质量的抑制率分别为94.1%～96.0%和71.0%～94.7%,且MO处理对杂草的防除效果优于SB处理。此外,RSD处理还能显著改变田间杂草的群落结构,并降低其多样性、丰富度和优势度。因此,强还原土壤处理能够显著消减土传病原菌、杂草等再植龙牙百合生长不利因子,是一种具有同时降低田间病害和草害发生潜力的农业措施,且可以为减少农药施用量...     

What Characteristics of Soil Fertility Can Improve in Mixed Stands of Scots Pine and European Beech Compared with Monospecific Stands?

According to the current trends in forest management, endeavors are made to adjust the species composition to the site conditions and to increase the biodiversity. Changes in the species composition of forest stands lead to modifications of soil properties and nutrients cycle. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of monocultures (beech and pine) and mixed-species stands (pine-beech) on soil properties, particularly accumulation of soil organic carbon. We aim to demonstrate how different vegetation types influence soil properties in surface horizons of soil. The study sites are located in Germany and Poland under different tree stands Pinus sylvestris L., Fagus sylvatica L., and mixed-species stand. Contents of organic carbon and nitrogen, pH, and soil texture were analyzed. The studies conducted confirmed the positive effect of beech and mixed-species stands on acidification of surface soil horizons. We ordered the stands tested according to acidification effect on soils: pine stand > mixed stand > beech stand, which is consistent with previous studies. The most beneficial impact on the accumulation of organic carbon was observed in mixed-species stands in which beech and pine were found. Lower carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios confirm the high rate of organic matter decomposition and lower C/N ratio was reported in soil under beech stand in comparison to pine stands.     

Assessing soil quality under intensive cultivation and tree orchards in Southern Italy

Concerns about groundwater contamination as well as pesticide residues in food and soil have fuelled vigorous debates about the sustainability of chemical-intensive agriculture. Search has been prompted for agronomic strategies with lower environmental hazards. In this multidisciplinary study we compared the characteristics of soils from 20 agricultural farms selected in five geographical areas of Southern Italy with different soil types. In each farm, fields with management regime classified as high-input (HIMR, intensive cultivation under plastic tunnels) or low-input (LIMR, tree orchards) were selected. Soil samples were analyzed for 31 parameters including physical and chemical properties (bulk density, water holding capacity, texture, pH, limestone, electrical conductivity, organic C to a depth of 0–20 and 20–40 cm, total N, P₂O₅, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, cation exchange capacity), enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, arylsulphatase, β-glucosidase, phosphatase and urease) and microbiological features (potential respiration, functional diversity of microbial populations by BIOLOG EcoPlates™, microbial biomass, fungal mycelium, culturable actinomycetes, bacteria and fungi, pseudomonads and bacterial species richness by 16S rDNA-DGGE). Finally, a soil bioassay was performed in order to evaluate the plant growth of a biotest plant (Lactuca sativa) and soil suppressiveness of the Rhizoctonia solani–L. sativa pathosystem.Results showed that many soil properties were influenced by management regime more than by the sampling area. Compared to LIMR, HIMR soils consistently had reduced soil organic C (−24%), enzymatic activities, microbial biomass and fungal mycelium (−40% and −18%, respectively), functional diversity (−18%) and bacterial species richness (−14%). On the contrary, the same soils showed a remarkable increase in the values of the parameters related to the mineral soil fraction (electrical conductivity +370%; P₂O₅ +72%; Na⁺ +86%). Management regime did not affect cation exchange capacity, pH, limestone and soil texture. The lettuce bioassay showed a higher plant growth (+17%) in the LIMR compared to HIMR soils, despite the lower content of mineral nutrients. Suppression of R. solani was not influenced by management regime, but significant differences were recorded among farms. Differences among the assessed soil parameters indicate a trend of soil quality deterioration under the high-input management regime.     

Contribution of fallow weed incorporation to nitrogen supplying capacity of paddy soil under organic farming

ABSTRACT

We studied soil nitrogen (N) management in a farmer’s organic rice farming in Japan, where the farmer applied no external N but incorporated gramineous fallow weeds and rice residues as in situ N sources. We focused on the effect of fallow weed incorporation on N-supplying capacity of the paddy soil by tracking decomposition of ¹⁵N-labeled fallow weeds after incorporation. The result fits well to the first order kinetics with the decomposition rate of 34.3% a year. A model of soil N accumulation and mineralization based on the first order kinetics showed that soil organic N originated from the incorporated weed would become saturated at the level 1.92 folds the annual input of weed N after several consecutive years of the incorporation. Mineralizable soil N (Min-N) of the weed origin would also become saturated after several years accounting for 21.2% of the total Min-N which includes the indigenous soil N from plow layer. We suspended weed incorporation (SWI) in a sub-plot of the fields for two consecutive years to compare Min-N therein with that in another subplot in the same fields subjected to continued weed incorporation (CWI). After 2 years of the suspension treatment, Min-N in SWI decreased to a similar extent as estimated with the soil-N model based on the first-order kinetics, with which we estimated that 16.9% of annual N uptake by the rice plants originated from the weed including 5.9% from the weed incorporated in the same year and 11.0% from that in the past years. N inflow to soil organic N from the weed was very close to N outflow attaining the steady state. The rice yield could thus be sustained by maintaining the soil N-supplying capacity via the internal cycling of fallow weed N.     

Influence of selected soil properties,soil management practices and socio‐economic variables on relative weed density in a hand hoe‐based conservation agriculture system

Weeds are problematic to the smallholder farmers, who practise conservation agriculture (CA) in sub‐Saharan Africa, owing to an apparent lack of appropriate weed management strategies. We investigated weed dynamics under the planting basin (PB) system (hand hoe‐based CA) to assist the design of appropriate weed management options. On‐farm experiments were conducted under semi‐arid conditions in Zimbabwe to determine the effects of 11 selected soil properties, four socio‐economic variables and two soil management practices on relative weed density. Weed counts were made according to species at 3, 6 and 9 weeks after crop emergence. Multivariate ordination techniques and a quadratic model, developed with partial least squares, showed that Richardia scabra increased with sand content in the soil. Density of R. scabra and Melinis repens also increased with topsoil potassium content. When ranked according to importance, relative weed density was most dependent on sand content followed by topsoil potassium, nitrate, clay and silt content, and training related to crop production. Soil physico‐chemical properties, therefore, had greater influence on relative weed density than socio‐economic variables and soil management practices. We concluded that variability in weed density under the PB system was not necessarily determined by tillage alone, but was also a consequence of soil properties and to a lesser extent of socio‐economic variables and soil management practices. Understanding soil properties and management practices, which determine weed variability, helps in the design of general weed management recommendations that can be used by smallholders, most of whom do not have access to field‐specific advice.     

湖北省水稻主产区稻田杂草种类及群落特点

采用七级目测法调查了湖北省3个水稻主产区25个样点稻田杂草的种类及危害程度,分析了各水稻主产区稻田杂草群落的特点.结果表明,湖北省水稻主产区稻田杂草有23科43种,据综合草害指数优势种杂草依次为稗、双穗雀稗、水花生、鸭舌草、千金子、丁香蓼、鳢肠、浮萍.其中襄樊－随州地区以稗、水花生为优势种类,江汉平原以稗、双穗雀稗为优势种类,黄冈地区以稗、鸭舌草为优势种类.江汉平原与黄冈地区稻田杂草群落相似性较大,Sфrenson相似性指数为0.774 1,二者均与襄樊－随州地区的相似性较小.总体上看,湖北省水稻主产区稻田杂草的丰富度较低,可能与长期施用除草剂有关.     

Effects of residue coverage on the characteristics of soil carbon pools in orchards

The effects of organic waste coverage on the quality of soil carbon (C) pools in orchards remain unclear. In this study, we performed a 3-year experiment in an 8-year-old Fuji apple orchard to investigate the effects of inter-row weed growing/inner-row pruning residue coverage (PRC), weed coverage (WC), and inter-row weed growing/inner-row non-coverage (used as a control) on the contents of soil water, available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, organic C components, glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP), soil microbial biomass C, and the number of microorganisms at different soil depths. PRC increased the percentage of readily oxidizable C (ROC), whereas WC improved the percentage of soil humin (HM). Thus, PRC enhanced SOC activity, whereas WC promoted SOC stability. Moreover, soil water, available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents increased in WC in 0–20-cm soil depths as compared to that in PRC, and the correlation between total GRSP (T-GRSP) and HM (r = 0.92) was higher than that between T-GRSP and ROC (r = 0.79). Therefore, T-GRSP is important in HM formation and maintaining stability of C pools. Overall, these results improve our understanding of the positive effect of organic waste coverage on soil internal C cycling and energy flow within an orchard ecosystem.     

Preliminary Evaluation of Seaweed Application Effects on Soil Quality and Yield of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L.)

The practice of applying seaweed to agricultural fields may provide plant nutrients and improve soil quality in coastal agroecosystems, but little is known about its effects on soil properties or crop production. We conducted a preliminary evaluation of changes in soil biological and chemical properties and sweet corn (Zea mays L.) production using seaweed as a partial source of nitrogen (N) (40–55%) for one growing season, using a preformulated organic fertilizer treatment for comparison. Soil electrical conductivity, potassium (K⁺), sulfate (SO₄^2-), and active carbon (C) increased with seaweed addition relative to the organic fertilizer, whereas potentially mineralizable N and pH decreased, with effects varying over time. Sweet corn yield and quality were either equivalent to that with the organic fertilizer or improved. The short-term positive (e.g., increased active C) and negative (e.g., increased salt levels) effects on soil quality suggest further evaluation of this practice is justified.     

Spatial stability of a plant-feeding nematode community in relation to macro-scale soil properties

Understanding the spatial stability of the plant-feeding nematode (PFN) community in agrosystems represents a fundamental step in the integrated control of some damaging species because modifications of soil properties in intensively managed agrosystems may allow growers to manipulate the balance between pathogenic and non-pathogenic species.In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that a community of four PFN species (Criconemella onoensis, Helicotylenchus erythrinae, Hemicriconemoides cocophillus, and Pratylenchus zeae) in a sugarcane agrosystem is spatially structured according to macro-scale soil properties. This hypothesis was studied by using a sugarcane field in Martinique in which soil properties had been heavily modified by hillock-leveling in the 1970s, resulting in a great variation in soil properties over a small area (20.8 × 16.0 m). The goal of the study was to measure the temporal stability of the PFN community spatial structure and to identify the soil parameters associated with differences in nematode abundance. A systematic sampling design was used to collect data in the field that were analyzed using co-inertia and STATIS-Coa. The field study was complemented by a greenhouse experiment.The field study documented the existence of a stable spatial pattern of the PFN community, a pattern that was structured in relation to macro-scale soil factors such as soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content and soil texture. The constant spatial pattern of the PFN community results from the differences in distributions among C. onoensis and the three other PFN species. C. onoensis was consistently more abundant in the deeply-leveled areas of the field, while the other PFN species were more abundant in the non-leveled areas. H. erythrinae was consistently more abundant in those parts of the field with higher soil pH and sodium content. These results suggested that soil properties can affect permanently the competitive balance among PFN species.The observed relationships between PFN and these macro-scale factors were validated in a greenhouse experiment with different ratios of soil from the leveled and non-leveled areas of the field site.Modification of some major soil properties (pH, Na⁺ content, soil organic content) by cultural practices such as hillock-leveling, fertilization, and liming, could greatly affect the balance among PFN species in agricultural fields.     

Within-Field Variability of Winter Wheat Yield and Grain Quality versus Soil Properties

Within-field variability in wheat grain yield and its quality always exists in production fields and depends, among other factors, mainly on various soil properties related to nutrients and water availability. The aim of the research was to examine the relationships between selected soil properties such as texture; pH; content of the available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), and organic carbon; and winter wheat grain yield and quality under rainfed conditions. Six crop fields with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) in three sites located in different regions of Poland were examined during two seasons. The grain yield was mainly determined by the soil texture, and the majority of the chemical soil properties did not have a significant effect on grain yield. The grain quality traits were determined by the examined soil properties to a smaller degree than grain yield. The relationships were not consistent across sites and years.     

水稻秸秆-薄膜连续叠加覆盖对三叶鬼针草的控制效果

入侵植物三叶鬼针草(Bidens pilosa L.)严重危害我国农林畜牧业的生产。为探究生态高效控制三叶鬼针草的方法,开展了水稻秸秆与塑料薄膜相结合覆盖控制入侵杂草的研究。试验在以三叶鬼针草和马唐[Digitaria sanguinalis(L.)Scop.]为主的自然杂草荒地进行,设置不同稻秆覆盖量(0kg·m~(-2)、1kg·m~(-2)、1.5kg·m~(-2)),于冬季进行稻秆覆盖,春季在稻秆覆盖的基础上覆盖薄膜。通过测定秸秆覆盖中期(2月12日)和薄膜覆盖中期(4月12日)的午间土壤温度、土壤相对含水量和近地表空气温湿度等环境指标和杂草生物量、种子萌发量、杂草群落结构和土壤种子库等群落指标,探究该方法控制入侵杂草的效果和机制。结果表明:冬季水稻秸秆覆盖显著降低了草地午间土壤温度、近地表空气温度、三叶鬼针草生物量和种子萌发量、优势杂草盖度和从属种的种类和数量;覆盖1.5 kg·m~(-2)稻秆的处理对各类指标的影响程度均大于1 kg·m~(-2)的处理。春季叠加薄膜覆盖导致浅层土壤高温干燥、近地表空气高温高湿;叠加薄膜覆盖处理使三叶鬼针草的土壤种子密度在0～5cm的土层内显著低于未做覆盖处理的对照,降低了79.49%;叠加薄膜覆盖处理的入侵杂草全部死亡且无种子萌发。说明冬季采用水稻秸秆覆盖,春季再叠加覆盖薄膜能有效防控三叶鬼针草的生长蔓延,在薄膜覆盖之前,覆盖1.5 kg·m~(-2)稻秆的处理对三叶鬼针草的防控效果要好于1 kg·m~(-2)的处理,在薄膜覆盖处理后,两个稻秆覆盖量处理对三叶鬼针草的防控效果均达到100%。本研究结果可为不同季节采用不同的控制方法及其组合模式防控入侵杂草的扩散提供参考。     

长期有机–无机肥配施对农田杂草土壤种子库的影响

为揭示长期有机-无机肥配施处理下农田杂草土壤种子库的特征变化规律,本研究通过田间长期定位施肥模式试验,运用群落生态学方法研究了小麦-大豆轮作制度下大豆种植季7种施肥处理区杂草土壤种子库的结构及其生物多样性特征。结果表明,土壤样品中共检出杂草种子16种,隶属于10科; 土壤种子库总密度分布在15995~106300 grain/m2范围。长期有机-无机肥配施处理区的杂草土壤种子库优势物种组成较为简单,优势种为12种,配施麦秸处理区主要以栗米草为主,配施粪肥处理区主要以水苋菜为主; 土壤种子库的密度显著降低至15995~41900 grain/m2范围; 物种丰富度降低至7.67~9.33范围,并且将物种多样性和均匀度指数维持在休闲与纯化肥处理区之间（1.5~2.0和0.6~0.8）。长期配施麦秸、 粪肥均显著影响土壤杂草土壤种子库的结构特征,且麦秸与粪肥品种间差异的影响大于麦秸施用量差异的影响。因此,本研究认为有机-无机肥配施既有利于作物的优质高产,也可以通过调整有机肥种类以及与施用量来调控杂草土壤种子库,实现经济效益和生态效益的双赢。     

Effects of different land use on soil chemical properties, decomposition rate and earthworm communities in tropical Mexico

The effects of land use on soil chemical properties were evaluated, and earthworm communities and the decomposition rate of three typical land use systems in tropical Mexico, namely banana plantations (B), agroforestry systems (AF) and a successional forest (S) were compared.The study was carried out from November 2005 to April 2006. A completely randomized sampling design was established in six sites (B1, B2, AF1, AF2, S1 and S2). Soil properties and chemical characteristics (texture, pH, organic carbon (Corg), nutrients, and available Zn and Mn), earthworm communities and the decomposition of Bravaisia integerrima and Musa acuminata litter were analyzed over a period of 8 weeks.All soils were loamy clays with a medium to high content of nutrients. Three principal clusters were generated with the soil chemical properties: a first cluster for forest soils with high Corg and Ntot and low available Zn content, a second cluster for AF1 and a third cluster for B1, B2 and A2.The decomposition of B. integerrima litter was significantly faster (half-life time: 1.8 (AF2)–3.1 (B1) weeks) than that of M. acuminata (4.1 (AF2)–5.8 (S2) weeks). However, the decomposition rates did not differ significantly among the different sites.The greatest earthworm diversities were observed in AF2 and B1. Native species were dominant in the forest soils, whereas exotic species dominated in AF and in the banana plantations. The abundance and biomass of certain earthworm species were correlated to physical and chemical soil parameters. However, litter decomposition rates were not correlated with any of the soil physical–chemical parameters.While none of the land use systems studied led to a decrease in nutrient status, earthworm biodiversity and abundance, or in litter decomposition rate, they did result in a change in earthworm species composition.     

规模化稻鸭生态种养对稻田杂草群落组成及物种多样性的影响

为探索规模稻鸭生态种养稻田杂草群落的变化动态,运用植物群落生态的方法研究了规模稻鸭生态种养、常规稻鸭生态种养和水稻单一种植稻田杂草的群落变化特点及控草效果。结果表明:规模稻鸭生态种养杂草密度显著降低,与水稻单一种植比较防效为94%;水稻分蘖到孕穗期稻田杂草主要由看麦娘(Alopecuruspratensis)、稗草(Echinochhloa crausgalli)、狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)、水花生(Alternanthera philoxeroides)、鸭舌草(Mouochoria vaginalis)、水竹叶(Murdannia triquetra)和鳢肠(Eclipta prostrata)组成,抽穗期到成熟期主要由水花生、稗草、狗牙根和水竹叶组成。研究还表明,规模稻鸭生态种养水稻分蘖期物种丰富度、Simpon指数、Shannon-Wiener指数略高于水稻单一种植,Pielou指数低于水稻单一种植;孕穗期到成熟期物种丰富度、Simpon指数、Shannon-Wiener指数低于水稻单一种植,Pielou指数显著高于水稻单一种植。水稻全生育期规模稻鸭生态种养与常规稻鸭生态种养比较稻田杂草密度、杂草生物量和多样性指数差异不显著,但杂草生物多样性指数略有提高。说明规模稻鸭生态种养显著改变稻田杂草的群落结构和组成,可抑制杂草发生危害,达到有效控草目的。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lantana camara</Emphasis> L. (Verbenaceae) invasion effects on soil physicochemical properties

Lantana camara is a recognized weed of worldwide significance due to its extensive distribution and its impacts on primary industries and nature conservation. However, quantitative data on the impact of the weed on soil ecosystem properties are scanty, especially in SE Australia, despite the pervasive presence of the weed along its coastal and inland regions. Consequently, mineral soils for physicochemical analyses were collected beneath and away from L. camara infestations in four sites west of Brisbane, SE Australia. These sites (hoop pine plantation, cattle farm, and two eucalyptus forests with occasional grazing and a fire regime, respectively) vary in landscape and land-use types. Significant site effect was more frequently observed than effect due to invasion status. Nonetheless, after controlling for site differences, ~50% of the 23 soil traits examined differed significantly between infested and non-infested soils. Moisture, pH, Ca, total and organic C, and total N (but not exchangeable N in form of NO₃^-) were significantly elevated, while sodium, chloride, copper, iron, sulfur, and manganese, many of which can be toxic to plant growth if present in excess levels, were present at lower levels in soils supporting L. camara compared to soils lacking the weed. These results indicate that L. camara can improve soil fertility and influence nutrient cycling, making the substratum ideal for its own growth and might explain the ability of the weed to outcompete other species, especially native ones.