基于地理加权回归模型的博斯腾湖湖滨绿洲土壤盐分离子含量高光谱估算

以博斯腾湖湖滨绿洲为研究区,分析HCO_3~–、Cl~–、SO_4~(2–)、Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)、Na~++K~+等主要土壤盐分离子含量与土壤高光谱反射率的分数阶微分光谱变换与RSI、DSI、NDSI等二维土壤指数的相关性优选特征波段,构建基于地理加权回归模型的土壤盐分离子含量估算模型。研究结果表明:Na~++K~+的微分变换特征波段集中在468～724 nm与1 182～1 539 nm,二维土壤指数的特征波段集中在1 742～2 395 nm,基于RSI的特征波段优选下地理加权回归模型对Na~++K~+含量的估算效果较好,建模集R~2=0.94,RMSE=0.22,验证集R~2=0.74,RMSE=0.19;SO_4~(2–)含量在1.2阶优选的位于469～636 nm波段估算效果较佳,建模集R~2=0.91,RMSE=0.02,验证集R~2=0.75,RMSE=0.33;Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)优选的特征波段主要集中在912～2 340 nm的近红外波段;Cl~–含量在1阶的近红外波段建模效果较好,建模集R~2=0.74,RMSE=0.03,验证集R~2=0.93,RMSE=0.11;含量相对较高的Na~++K~+、SO_4~(2–)、Cl~–的地理加权回归模型精度高于含量较低的Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)。     

东北典型黑土区表层土壤有机质含量高光谱反演研究

选择东北典型黑土区——德惠市、扶余市和双城市为研究区,利用便携式地物光谱仪获取土壤光谱数据,基于原始光谱值及一阶微分、倒数的对数、连续统去除变换,分别建立了黑土有机质含量的多元线性逐步回归模型、偏最小二乘回归模型和BP神经网络模型。结果表明:高光谱与土壤有机质含量在多个波段相关性较好,其中有机质与反射率一阶微分处理的相关性最好,在光谱584 nm处其相关性最强(r=-0.60,n=81)。光谱一阶微分处理数据在三种建模方法中的预测及验证精度均高于原始光谱值、倒数的对数和连续统去除变换,因此一阶微分为最佳光谱变换形式。偏最小二乘回归分析的预测效果整体优于多元线性逐步回归分析和BP神经网络分析,光谱一阶微分处理的偏最小二乘回归模型呈现出最佳预测效果,决定系数为0.71、均方根误差为2.29 g kg~(-1)(n=53)。     

利用高光谱估算博斯腾湖西岸湖滨绿洲土壤有机质含量

以新疆博斯腾湖西岸湖滨绿洲为研究区,利用实测的土壤有机质含量与高光谱数据,通过多元逐步回归与偏最小二乘回归法分别构建反演土壤有机质含量估算模型。结果表明:(1)研究区土壤有机质含量变化范围为5.09~44.00 g·kg^-1,均值为16.87 g·kg^-1,变异系数为44.69%,呈中等变异;土壤有机质含量与土壤光谱反射率呈极显著负相关(P<0.01),相关系数为0.09<|r|<0.42;(2)通过显著性检验(P<0.01)的波段主要集中在590~687、758~892、1003~1092和1171~1297 nm 4个波段,反射率(1/R)′变换下相关性最高,相关系数|r|为0.50(P<0.01);(3)研究区的土壤有机质含量高光谱估算模型为Y=30428.37X677+12738.78X775+2894.02X865+11589.35X885+5.56,建模集和验证集的决定系数(R2)分别为0.83和0.82,均方根误差(RMSE)分别为4.01和2.64 g·kg^-1,验证集统计量F=116.41(P<0.01),相对分析误差(RPD)=2.30,预测能力较好。     

土壤含水量对反射光谱法预测红壤土壤有机质的影响研究

研究土壤含水量对有机质预测的影响,可为野外红壤有机质快速测定提供理论依据。本文在实验室条件下测量了不同含水量红壤的可见光-近红外光谱反射率,运用偏最小二乘回归(PLSR)建立不同含水量的土壤有机质预测模型。结果显示,随土壤含水量的增加,有机质与一阶微分光谱的相关性先增加后下降,含水量为100～150 g/kg时相关系数最大。分380～2 400、380～1 300、1 300～2 400 nm三个波段建立不同含水量的有机质预测模型,模型预测精度均随土壤含水量增加而呈现先增加后下降的趋势。利用1 300～2 400 nm建立有机质预测模型可以有效避开氧化铁影响,建立的模型预测精度最高。本研究认为,当土壤含水量小于200 g/kg时,可以利用在室内控制条件下测定的土壤反射率,建立1 300～2 400 nm波段的PLSR模型,进行红壤土壤有机质含量预测。     

黑土土壤中全氮含量的高光谱预测分析

为实现快速、准确估测土壤氮素含量水平,推动土壤信息化管理进程,该研究利用ASD2500高光谱仪在室内条件下测定了风干土壤样品的可见—近红外光谱。结果表明,通过不同的变换,光谱反射率对数的一阶导数与土壤全氮含量相关性得到增强,以400～600 nm波段范围内相关性最好。该文确定了以反射率对数的一阶导数光谱预测黑土全氮（TN）含量的最佳回归模型,模型所用的波段为可见光波段的556 nm、近红外的1 642和2 491 nm。同时,也确定了利用由可见光波段550和450 nm组成的归一化光谱指数预测黑土TN含量的最佳预测模型。模型通过验证达到较好的效果：利用反射率对数的一阶导数、归一化光谱指数对土壤TN的预测R2分别为0.863、0.829,均方根误差RMSE分别为0.122、0.152。     

基于组合模型的庐山森林土壤有效铁光谱间接反演研究

铁是植物生长的重要微量营养元素之一,土壤有效铁含量对林地环境起着重要的影响,利用土壤光谱预测技术获取土壤有效铁含量信息具有重要意义。而要通过土壤光谱直接预测土壤有效铁含量是难以实现的,因此提出利用土壤有机质含量与有效铁含量之间的相关性,探讨间接估算土壤有效铁含量的可行性。以庐山森林土壤样本为研究对象,研究基于偏最小二乘回归(PLSR)和径向基函数(RBF)神经网络的组合模型预测土壤有机质含量的适用性,并且通过构建有机质含量与有效铁含量的二项式线性模型,对土壤有效铁含量进行间接反演,探讨不同权重下的最优组合模型。结果表明,组合模型的预测效果优于偏最小二乘回归和RBF神经网络单个模型,并且熵值组合为最优组合模型,其中,土壤有机质的反演模型验证的决定系数(R~2)为0.81,均方根误差(RMSE_p)为11.54 g kg~(-1),测定值标准差与标准预测误差的比值(RPD)为2.18;有效铁的间接反演模型R~2为0.70,RMSE_p为21.60 mg kg~(-1),RPD为1.77。通过土壤有机质构建土壤有效铁含量的光谱反演间接模型,在光谱反演模型中,组合模型能较大限度地利用各种预测样本信息,能有效减少单个预测模型中随机因素的影响,增强预测稳定性,提高模型的预测能力。因此,组合模型可对土壤有机质含量的光谱预测及土壤有效铁的间接预测发挥更好的作用。     

煤矿区土壤有机碳含量的高光谱预测模型

可见—近红外光谱已被证明是一种快速、及时、有效的土壤有机碳含量预测工具。利用Field Spec4对济宁鲍店矿区的104个土壤样品进行光谱测量,采用Savitzky-Golay卷积平滑(SG)、多元散射校正(MSC)及数学变换等多种方式组合对光谱预处理,并运用偏最小二乘回归分析建立土壤有机碳含量预测模型,进而探讨煤矿区土壤有机碳含量的高精度预测方法。结果表明:(1)不同的光谱预处理方法对建模结果影响差异较大,建模结果以SG加MSC预处理再结合光谱反射率的一阶微分变换最优,建模R~2=0.86,RMSE=2.0g/kg,验证R~2=0.78,RMSE=1.81g/kg,RPD=2.69。(2)倒数和倒数的对数与土壤有机碳含量的相关性曲线接近重合,与反射率曲线成反比,但是建模效果远低于反射率;光谱反射率的一阶微分能明显提高500~600nm波段相关性。(3)光谱反射率随土壤有机碳的含量减少而增大,当有机碳含量较低时,其波谱的近红外波段反射率响应能力也随之降低,反射率直接建模难度加大。     

基于灰度关联-岭回归的荒漠土壤有机质含量高光谱估算

为改善高光谱技术对荒漠土壤有机质的估测效果,该文采集了以色列Seder Boker地区的荒漠土壤,经预处理、理化分析后将土样分为砂质土和黏壤土2类,再通过光谱采集、处理得到6种光谱指标:反射率(reflectivity,REF)、倒数之对数变换(inverse-log reflectance,LR)、去包络线处理(continuum removal,CR)、标准正态变量变换(standard normal variable reflectance,SNV)、一阶微分变换(first order differential reflectance,FDR)和二阶微分变换(second order differential reflectance,SDR)。通过灰度关联(gray correlation,GC)法确定SNV、FDR、SDR为敏感光谱指标,采用偏最小二乘回归(partial least squares regression,PLSR)法和岭回归(ridge regression,RR)法,构建基于敏感光谱指标的土壤有机质高光谱反演模型,并对模型精度进行比较。结果表明:砂质土有机质含量的反演效果要优于黏壤土;基于SNV指标建立的模型决定系数R~2和相对分析误差RPD均为最高、均方根误差RMSE最低,所以SNV是土壤有机质的最佳光谱反演指标;对SNV-PLSR模型和SNV-RR模型综合比较得出,SNV-RR模型仅用全谱4%左右的波段建模,实现了更为理想的反演效果:其中,对砂质土有机质的预测能力极强(R_p~2为0.866,RMSE为0.610 g/kg、RPD为2.72),对黏壤土有机质的预测能力很好(Rp2为0.863,RMSE为0.898 g/kg、RPD为2.37)。荒漠土壤有机质GC-SNV-RR反演模型的建立为高光谱模型的优化、土壤有机质的快速测定提供了一种新的途径。     

基于高光谱特征的土壤有机质含量估测研究

在室内条件下,利用ASD2500高光谱仪测定了潮土和水稻土自然风干土壤样品的光谱。通过系统分析两种不同类型土壤的高光谱特征差异及其有机质含量的敏感波段区位,建立了土壤有机质含量的光谱估测模型。结果表明,具有相同有机质含量的两种类型土壤整体光谱变化趋势无明显差别,但反射率表现出明显差异,一阶导数变换能较好地显现谱图中的肩峰。潮土和水稻土有机质的敏感波段集中在相同区域,原始反射率在685 nm处相关性最高,而一阶导数光谱在554 nm处相关性最高。通过对整体样本的多元逐步回归分析,筛选出两种土壤有机质相同的敏感波段为800 nm、1 398 nm和546 nm。进一步以一阶导数为自变量,基于1 400nm和554 nm两个波段构建了土壤有机质差值指数SOMDI及估测模型,即Y=4.19 12.85×(R_FD554 R_FD1 400)。利用独立的样本对建立的光谱模型进行了检验,预测决定系数均达0.79以上。上述结果表明,利用高光谱技术可实现土壤有机质的快速监测与诊断。     

基于连续小波变换和随机森林的芦苇叶片汞含量反演

植物重金属污染是当今世界面临的重大生态环境问题之一,高光谱技术为快速、大面积监测植被重金属含量提供了可能性。本研究以重金属汞(Hg)和湿地植物芦苇为研究对象,采用连续小波变换(CWT)和随机森林(RF)算法相结合的方法建立芦苇叶片总汞含量反演模型,以期寻求一种较为精准的植物汞污染反演模型,未来可通过高光谱技术建立模型来无损、快速估测湿地植物重金属汞污染情况,为湿地生态系统的监测提供方法支持。结果表明:芦苇叶片总汞含量敏感波段主要分布在可见光波段419~522 nm、664~695 nm和724~876nm以及近红外波段1 450~1 558 nm和1 972~2 500 nm;经CWT变换后,小波系数与叶片总汞含量的相关系数绝对值提高0.04~0.18,所构建的预测反演模型拟合效果R~2提高0.107~0.177,模型精度RMSE提高0.008~0.013,其中利用经小波变换的去包络线光谱(CR-CWT)数据建立的RF模型对芦苇叶片总汞含量的反演精度和拟合效果最优(R~2=0.713,RMSE=0.127);同时在土壤总汞含量约为20 mg?kg~(-1)时,采用CR-CWT数据构建RF模型的方法来反演芦苇叶片总汞含量更为准确和可靠(R~2=0.825,RMSE=0.051)。因此,利用RF算法进行植被重金属含量的反演具有一定的现实可行性,而结合CWT后所构建的反演模型对指导植被重金属含量监测更具参考价值,应用前景广阔。     

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.     

“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.     

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.     

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     

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.