不同类型生物炭理化特性及其对土壤持水性的影响

[目的]对比分析不同原料制备的生物炭的理化性质及其对土壤持水性的影响,为选择合适的生物炭改良和修复土壤提供理论依据。[方法]以鸡粪、浒苔及稻草为原料,分高、中、低3种不同温度制备生物炭,运用元素分析、盆栽培养等试验研究其特性。[结果]稻草中C,H及灰分的含量较高,鸡粪中N含量较高,浒苔中C含量低,O含量较高;而在制备的生物炭中,鸡粪基生物炭C和N含量较高,浒苔基生物C含量却比较低。另外,3种类型生物炭的H/C摩尔比值随着热解温度的升高而逐渐降低,C/N比随着热解温度的升高而增大。不同原料制备的生物炭pH值随着热解温度的升高而增大,pH值从6.82~8.35升高至9.33~10.29;3种类型的生物炭pH值随着灰分含量的增大而增大,但增长速率不同,稻草基生物炭浒苔基生物炭鸡粪基生物炭。并且,随着热解温度的升高,鸡粪、浒苔及稻草基生物炭引起土壤持水性逐渐增强。[结论]在土壤提供营养成分方面,鸡粪基生物炭显然更具优势,而且在促进土壤持水性方面,鸡粪生物炭也相对更强一些。     

畜禽粪便中的主要养分和重金属含量分析

为了进一步推进畜禽粪便资源化利用,推动现代化农业产业和循环经济发展。选取猪粪、牛粪、羊粪和鸡粪为主要研究对象,对其中的有机质、铵态氮、总磷、总氮和重金属元素进行了测定。结果显示:鸡粪中的有机质含量明显低于牛粪、猪粪和羊粪,而鸡粪中的铵态氮、全磷和全氮有明显高于牛粪、猪粪和羊粪。猪粪中的重金属铜和锌含量严重超标,超标率分别为69.0%和58.6%。鸡粪中镉、铬和镍金属含量超标率高于牛粪、猪粪和羊粪。在这四种畜禽粪便无害化、资源化和生态化的综合利用时,要充分考虑每种粪便中的养分和重金属含量,做到既合理又有效地综合利用。     

我国主要畜禽粪便养分含量及变化分析

取样并分析了我国20个省（市）主要畜禽粪便的养分含量。结果表明,畜禽粪便中养分含量变异很大,鸡粪和猪粪的氮（N）、磷（P2O5）、锌（Zn）、铜（Cu）含量明显高于牛粪和羊粪,而钾素（K2O）含量相当。鸡粪中N、P2O5、K2O、Zn、Cu平均含量分别为2．08％、3．53％、2．38％、306．6mg·kg^-1和78．2mg·kg^-1;猪粪中分别为2．28％、3．97％、2．09％、663．3mg·kg^-1和488．1mg·kg^-1;牛粪中分别为1．56％、1．49％、1．96％、138．6mg·kg^-1和48．5mg·kg^-1;羊粪中分别为1．31％、1.03％、2．40％、88．9mg·kg^-1、23．5mg·kg^-1。按照德国腐熟堆肥的标准,鸡粪中Zn、Cu的超标率分别为27．1％和15．3％;猪粪中Zn、Cu的超标率分别为62．5％和70．0％;牛粪中Zn、Cu的超标率分别为3．8％和9．6％;羊粪中Zn、Cu不超标。与上世纪90年代相比,鸡粪、猪粪、牛粪中P2O5的平均含量分别增加65．7％、93,7％和52．0％;鸡粪、猪粪、牛粪、羊粪K2O的平均含量分别增加138．7％、54．8％、71．9％、50．9％;鸡粪和猪粪中Zn的平均含量分别增加92．1％和383．5％,猪粪含Cu量增加近12倍。畜禽粪便的电导率（EC）值主要集中在50～150mS·cm^-1,pH主要集中在7．0—8．0。这一研究为畜禽粪便的安全合理施用提供了参考。     

制炭条件对生物炭碱性基团含量及酸性土壤改良效果的影响

采用不同粒径(0.5,0.25~0.5,0.25mm)的4种原材料(椰糠、木薯秸秆、桉树枝、猪粪),通过不同热解温度(300,400,500,600℃)炭化不同时间(1,2,3,5h)制备生物炭,探讨制炭条件对生物炭碱性基团含量的影响,并探索生物炭改良酸性土壤pH的影响因素。结果表明,不同制炭条件所制备的生物炭均呈碱性,碱性基团含量范围为0.40~1.05mmol/g。不同原材料生物炭碱性基团含量呈现猪粪木薯秸秆椰糠桉树枝的规律。随着热解温度的升高、热解时间的延长及原材料粉碎粒度的减小,生物炭碱性基团含量呈增加趋势。研究还表明,添加生物炭能显著提高酸性土壤pH,其改良酸性土壤的能力随碱性基团含量的增加而增强。原材料粉碎粒度减小、热解温度升高和热解时间延长及用量增加,均能有效提升生物炭改良酸性土壤pH的效果。     

我国商品有机肥和有机废弃物中重金属、养分和盐分状况

【目的】 分析我国主要菜区商品有机肥和有机废弃物的重金属、养分和盐分状况,为蔬菜高效安全施肥和菜田土壤质量改善提供一定的理论依据。【方法】 针对全国主要菜区包括北方6省（市）和南方12省（市）典型商品有机肥和有机废弃物展开调查,取样时间是2014年1月上旬,共采取商品有机肥样品126个和有机废弃物样品255个,对3类商品有机肥和5类有机废弃物中重金属、养分和盐分状况进行了研究。【结果】 1）按照我国现有的NY525-2012有机肥料中重金属限量标准,商品鸡粪中Cd、Pb和Cr超标率分别为10.3%、17.2%和17.2%,商品猪粪中Cd和As超标率分别为20.0%和6.7%,其它商品有机肥中Cr、Cd、As和Hg超标率分别为13.4%、2.4%、2.4%和2.4%;鸡粪中Cd、As和Hg超标率分别为2.4%、7.1%和2.4%,猪粪中Cd、Pb、As和Hg超标率分别为1.5%、3.1%、15.4%和1.5%,牛粪中Cd和Hg超标率分别为1.7%和1.7%,羊粪中Cd超标率为12.5%,其它有机废弃物中Cr和As超标率分别为4.5%和13.6%。现在的畜禽粪便与传统有机肥已经大不相同,尤其是鸡粪和猪粪中Cu、Zn含量远高于上个世纪90年代初,分别增加1.5~16.2倍和1.3~4.7倍。2）商品有机肥中全氮含量、全钾含量和氮磷钾总含量较有机废弃物平均分别高出51.2%、32.0%和15.0%,有机废弃物中全磷含量、有机质含量、C/N比值和C/P比值较商品有机肥平均分别高出23.7%、41.5%、22.7%和15.2%。商品有机肥中,商品猪粪的全磷含量、有机质含量和C/N比值均相对较高,其它商品有机肥的全氮含量、全钾含量、氮磷钾总含量和C/P比值均相对较高;有机废弃物中,鸡粪和猪粪的全氮含量、全磷含量和氮磷钾总含量均相对较高,鸡粪、羊粪和其它有机废弃物的全钾含量相对较高,猪粪、牛粪和羊粪的有机质含量相对较高,牛粪的C/N比值相对较高,牛粪和羊粪的C/P比值相对较高。3）商品有机肥的EC值（平均23.5 mS/cm,n=126）较有机废弃物（平均7.7 mS/cm,n=255）高出2.1倍。商品有机肥中其它商品有机肥的EC值很高,其次是商品猪粪,商品鸡粪的EC值相对较低;有机废弃物中鸡粪和其它有机废弃物的EC值相对较高,其次是羊粪,猪粪和牛粪的EC值相对较低。【结论】 商品鸡粪以Cd、Pb和Cr超标为主,商品猪粪以Cd和As超标为主,其它商品有机肥以Cr超标为主;猪粪、鸡粪和其它有机废弃物以As超标为主,羊粪以Cd超标为主。商品有机肥中全氮含量、全钾含量和氮磷钾总含量均高于有机废弃物,有机废弃物中全磷含量、有机质含量、C/N比值和C/P比值均高于商品有机肥。商品有机肥的EC值远高于有机废弃物。     

超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定畜禽粪便中34种抗生素含量

建立了超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法(UPLC-MS/MS)同时测定鲜羊粪、鲜牛粪、鲜猪粪、鲜鸡粪、处理猪粪及处理鸡粪等畜禽粪便中34种氟喹诺酮类、磺胺类及四环素类抗生素含量的方法。畜禽粪便采用甲醇、Na2EDTA-Mcllvaine提取液各10 mL分2次提取,超声10 min、离心5 min,固相萃取净化,LC-MS/MS外标法测定。结果表明,鲜牛粪、鲜羊粪、鲜猪粪、处理猪粪以及鲜鸡粪和处理鸡粪的基质中,34种目标物均具有良好的线性关系以及较高的精密度和准确度,加标回收率均在64.6%～117.9%之间;并且,此方法能满足畜禽粪便中喹诺酮类、磺胺类及四环素类34种抗生素含量的分析要求。     

鸡粪等有机肥料的养分释放及土壤有效铜、锌、铁、锰含量的影响

采用室内培养法研究鸡粪、牛粪和猪粪等畜禽有机肥料的矿化率和速效氮、磷、钾养分释放特性,并探讨施用有机肥料对土壤有效铜、锌、铁、锰含量的影响.结果表明,鸡粪、牛粪和猪粪等畜禽有机肥料当季(120d)有机碳矿化率分别为87.5%、71.9%和55.4%,碱解氮释放量分别为39.9%、20.6%和35.3%,速效磷释放量分别为24.6%、61.3%和34.8%,速效钾释放量分别为78.8%、36.8%和41.5%.供试条件下土壤有效铜、锰含量增加,但有效锌含量降低,施用鸡粪可使土壤有效铁含量增加,而施用牛粪和猪粪则使土壤有效铁含量降低.     

鸡粪等有机肥料的养分释放及对土壤有效铜、锌、铁、锰含量的影响

采用室内培养法研究鸡粪、牛粪和猪粪等畜禽有机肥料的矿化率和速效氮、磷、钾养分释放特性,并探讨施用有机肥料对土壤有效铜、锌、铁、锰含量的影响。结果表明,鸡粪、牛粪和猪粪等畜禽有机肥料当季(120d)有机碳矿化率分别为87．5％、71．9％和55．4％,碱解氮释放量分别为39．9％、20．6％和35．3％,速效磷释放量分别为24．6％、61．3％和34．8％,速效钾释放量分别为78．8％、36．8％和41．5％。供试条件下土壤有效铜、锰含量增加,但有效锌含量降低,施用鸡粪可使土壤有效铁含量增加,而施用牛粪和猪粪则使土壤有效铁含量降低。     

吉林省畜禽粪便自然堆放条件下粪便/土壤体系中Cu、Zn的分布规律

本文通过对不同养殖场鸡、猪、牛粪便自然堆放条件下粪便和土壤样品的采集和实验室分析,研究了吉林省部分养殖场不同类型畜禽粪便Cu、Zn含量,以及粪便自然堆放对土壤Cu、Zn含量的影响。结果表明,鸡粪、猪粪和牛粪中Cu的含量范围和均值分别为7.12～26.04mg·kg-（1风干样,下同）（均值18.24mg·kg-1）、87.99～463.7mg·kg-（1均值243.6mg·kg-1）、3.95～27.63mg·kg-（1均值12.28mg·kg-1）;Zn的含量范围和均值分别为179.2～340.8mg·kg-（1均值276.9mg·kg-1）、140.5～455.8mg·kg-（1均值381.8mg·kg-1）、150.5～292.3mg·kg-（1均值188.1mg·kg-1）。不同类型粪便中Cu、Zn含量均是猪粪〉鸡粪〉牛粪,但不论是哪种类型的畜禽粪便重金属含量均是Zn〉Cu。在自然堆放条件下,鸡粪和猪粪中的Cu可从粪便向底土迁移,迁移量随粪便中Cu含量的增加而增加,并主要积累在土壤表层,而牛粪在自然堆放过程中对底土的Cu含量影响不显著,粪底土Cu含量分布规律为猪粪底土〉鸡粪底土〉牛粪底土;鸡粪、猪粪和牛粪中的Zn也可向底土迁移,使粪底土Zn含量有不同程度的增加,但主要积累在粪底土的表层,且不同类型粪便底土Zn含量差异不明显。     

稻秸蚯蚓堆制后的物理、化学及微生物特性变化

利用水稻秸秆与畜禽粪便（牛粪、猪粪和鸡粪）等干重混合物（RCD、RPM、RCE）接种蚯蚓（Eisenia foetida）进行堆制,研究堆肥产物的物理、化学及微生物特性变化。结果表明,蚯蚓堆制30 d后,稻秸牛粪、稻秸猪粪堆肥产物MBC含量显著下降; 3种稻秸粪便混合物经蚯蚓堆制后,堆肥产物微生物代谢熵、脱氢酶和碱性磷酸酶活性增加,尤以RCD的变化明显。稻秸牛粪、稻秸猪粪及稻秸鸡粪混合物经蚯蚓堆制后,总固形物平均重量损失分别增加6.45%、4.22%和3.82%; pH值均降低,其中RCD显著降低。蚯蚓堆制有助于提高堆肥产物全氮、全磷和全钾含量,同时使碳氮比降低。水稻秸秆混入部分畜禽粪便经蚯蚓堆制可减少堆肥时间并提高堆肥质量,混入的粪便以牛粪最好,猪粪次之,鸡粪最差。     

“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.