河北省表层土壤有机碳和全氮空间变异特征性及影响因子分析

【目的】在陆地生态系统中, 土壤全氮和有机碳是重要的生态因子。本研究基于土壤调查获得大量土壤剖面的空间和属性信息,研究河北的土壤有机碳和全氮的空间分布特征,为河北的土壤养分监测和管理提供科学依据,同时也为其他类似地区土壤采样提供参考,减少采样成本。【方法】运用传统统计学和地统计学分析方法,以变异函数为工具,初步分析了河北土壤全氮和有机碳的空间变异特征,并应用普通克立格法和回归克里格法进行插值, 得出全氮和有机碳含量的分布格局。【结果】研究区土壤有机碳和全氮的平均值分别为15.25 g/kg和1.23 g/kg,变异系数分别为0.73和0.63,属于中等强度变异。经对数转换后,土壤有机碳和全氮均符合正态分布。选择球状模型作为土壤有机碳和全氮的半方差函数理论模型,土壤有机碳和全氮的块金值/基台值的比值分别为1.8%和1.2%,有机碳和全氮的块金系数均小于25%,表明有机碳和全氮具有强烈的空间相关性。有机碳和全氮空间变异的尺度范围不同,分别为50.400 km和59.200 km。研究区的有机碳总体空间分布规律是有机碳在北部较高、南部较低,呈自北向南递减趋势,土壤全氮与有机碳的空间分布趋势相似,但有机碳的空间变异特征较全氮明显,这种空间分布格局主要受环境因子、 土壤质地、 土壤类型以及土地利用类型等的影响,其中环境因子中的气温和海拔对有机碳和全氮的影响较大。通过比较普通克里格和回归克里格的预测结果,回归克里格能较好地反映东南部有机碳和全氮较低地区的局部变异外,对于西北部的山区也能更好地反映碳、 氮与地形及气候等因素的关系。【结论】河北土壤有机碳和全氮的空间变异和分布特征较为类似,受地形地貌、 气候等因素的影响。通过比较普通克里格法和回归克里格法的空间预测结果,回归克里格法可以消除环境因子的影响,从而得到更准确的空间预测结果,因此建议使用回归克里格法进行预测,以期获得一个更为准确的土壤有机碳和全氮的空间预测结果。     

黄土高原沟壑区小流域土壤有机碳空间变异

通过对砖窑沟流域不同地貌部位62个点的取样分析,运用地统计学方法研究了流域土壤有机碳的空间变异性特征,初步探讨了影响空间变异的复杂因素。结果表明:流域内土壤有机碳非常低,存在土壤养分贫瘠化现象。各层土壤有机碳含量的变异为中等程度,该变异主要是由空间自相关部分引起的。同层次内,沟坝地土壤有机碳含量比梁峁地高。垂直剖面上,土壤有机碳含量随深度增加而减少,表层含量值明显高于下部各层,60cm以上含量值随深度增加递减迅速,60cm以下含量值变化不大。不同地貌部位剖面土壤有机碳含量的变幅是:在80cm以上,沟坝地明显大于梁峁地;80cm以下,二者大体相当。土壤有机碳含量在空间上的分异主要受土壤动植物在土体中的分布、土壤含水量、水土流失及人类生产活动等因素的影响。     

小流域土壤有机碳含量的空间变异特征研究——以内蒙古赤峰市黄花甸子流域为例

选择内蒙古赤峰市敖汉旗黄花甸子流域为研究对象,运用地统计学和ArcGIS空间分析工具相结合的方法研究流域内土壤有机碳含量的空间变异特征以及地形因子对其的影响,旨在为半干旱区土壤碳库的研究提供参考。结果表明:研究区表层（0—20 cm）与全剖面（0—100 cm）土壤有机碳平均含量分别为7.54 g/kg和6.19 g/kg,二者块金基台比均较小,为22.77%～28.36%,说明流域土壤有机碳的空间变异主要是由结构性因素引起的,随机因素对其变异影响较小。地形因子对土壤有机碳的影响表现为:土壤有机碳含量随坡度的增加而降低;不同坡向土壤有机碳含量由高到低呈现出阴坡 > 半阴坡 > 半阳坡 > 阳坡的明显分布规律;土壤有机碳含量随海拔增加呈现先增加后降低的抛物线走势。     

杭州湾南岸土壤有机碳空间异质性研究

应用地统计学与地理信息系统相结合的方法,研究了杭州湾南岸慈溪市域内不同土层(0～20、20～40、40～60、60～80、80～100、0～100 cm)的土壤有机碳含量空间变异特征。结果表明:研究区各土层土壤有机碳平均含量变化范围为3.49～7.95 g kg-1,变异系数介于54.51%～67.34%之间,属中等程度变异;地统计分析得出块金效应变化范围为0.141～0.372,表现为较强空间自相关性;自表层至底层最优半方差模型依次为高斯、指数、指数、高斯和球状模型;Kriging插值结果显示各土层土壤有机碳含量自滩涂向内陆呈递增趋势,其中0～20 cm土层土壤有机碳含量呈平行于海岸线的带状分布;土壤有机碳含量随剖面深度增加呈递减规律;不同土地利用方式和不同围垦时期均增加了土壤有机碳的空间变异性。从研究结果看,慈溪市土壤有机碳空间异质性主要由结构性因素引起,研究结果可为了解杭州湾南岸土壤有机碳分布特征提供参考。     

中天山北坡垂直带土壤有机碳密度分布特征

以乌鲁木齐河流域为重点研究区,利用实测典型土壤剖面特征数据估算土壤有机碳密度,就剖面有机碳和表层有机碳之间,剖面有机碳、表层有机碳和海拔高度之间,土壤剖面有机碳密度与发生层深度之间以及不同土壤类型土壤有机碳密度的分布特征进行相关分析,结果表明:在中海拔区域,土壤有机碳的密度最大且含量最高。发生层越厚,土壤的发育程度就越高,土壤有机碳密度也就越大,有机碳的含量就越高。全剖面和表层土壤有机碳密度值分别为46.91,13.95 kg/m²。不同土壤类型的土壤有机碳密度存在着显著差异。     

毛乌素沙地沙层剖面理化性状及其气候指示意义

在陕北神木县各丑沟流域,研究了沙漠湖泊外围和干涸沙漠湖底50 cm厚剖面的土壤机械组成、有机碳和全氮的分布规律.结果表明:①两剖面自下而上的发育特征为,浅色砂层→深褐色泥炭层→浅色砂层→深褐色泥炭层;浅色砂层有机碳、全氮含量较低,土壤颗粒粗质化,说明该时期植被稀少,气候干燥少雨,沙漠湖泊消失或退缩,土地沙漠化不断扩大.相反,深色泥炭层黏粉粒比例显著增加,有机碳、全氮含量也明显增大,说明此时气候适宜,温暖湿润.降水较多,沙漠湖泊湖面扩大,植被丰富,土壤生物活性高,有利于养分聚集,沙化环境得到改善;②不同层次土壤黏粉粒与土壤有机碳、氮呈显著的正相关关系,随沙漠化进程,C/N比值呈减小趋势,土壤有机碳含量的衰减显著于全氮含量;粗砂粒与土壤有机碳、氮呈负相关关系.     

四川省仁寿县土壤有机碳空间分布特征及其主控因素

准确地获取区域尺度内土壤有机碳含量信息对土壤碳调控及全球环境变化具有重要意义。本研究基于野外实地采集的555个表层(0~20 cm)土样,探讨四川省仁寿县土壤有机碳空间分布特征及其主控因素。运用方差分析和回归分析对比了成土母质、土壤类型和土地利用方式对仁寿县土壤有机碳空间分布的影响。结果表明:研究区表层土壤有机碳含量为3.36~37.10 g·kg-1,平均13.46 g·kg-1,变异系数为48.87%,属中等强度的空间变异性。块金效应C0/(C0+C)为66.7%,空间分布受结构性因素和随机性因素的共同影响,总体呈现北高南低的趋势。土地利用方式和土壤类型对土壤有机碳的影响极显著(P0.01),而成土母质的影响不明显(P=0.256)。土类能够独立解释23.7%的土壤有机碳空间变异;亚类和土类的解释能力接近,分别为27.0%和27.1%,土壤亚类可作为探讨该区域土壤有机碳空间变化的最小土壤分级单元。土地利用方式能独立解释53.0%的土壤有机碳空间变异,远大于土壤类型,是研究区土壤有机碳空间分布的主控因素。     

区域土壤有机碳密度及碳储量计算方法探讨

土体中有机碳含量在纵向和横向上都具有空间相关性。本文利用曲周县四疃乡30个土壤剖面的有机碳含量数据,采用常见的纵向拟合方法建立了基于30个土壤剖面有机碳测定数据的对数函数拟合模型,计算得到研究区的土壤有机碳密度和碳储量分别为5.60kg C m-2和4.72×108kgC;又根据研究区土壤剖面中有机碳含量分布的不规则性特点,通过对土壤剖面层次的归一化处理,利用地统计横向插值方法,计算得到该区的土壤有机碳密度和碳储量分别为3.95kg Cm-2和3.33×108kgC。由于两种算法对数据的组织方式不同,得到的土壤有机碳密度和碳储量存在较大差异。两种方法适用于土壤有机碳在剖面中分布形式不同的土壤类型。     

基于生态化学计量学的秦岭林地养分特征初探

以秦岭典型林地土壤为对象,分析了夏、秋两季锐齿栎、油松、华山松、云杉4种典型林分下林地不同土层土壤的生态化学计量学特征。结果表明:5个林地腐殖质层(O层)、表层(A层)土壤有机碳含量分别在76.23~260.70,26.60~44.81g/kg之间;全氮含量在4.19~8.76,1.46~3.29g/kg之间;全磷含量分别在0.38~0.61,0.33~0.63g/kg之间。5个林地O层、A层C/N范围分别为16.48~29.76,12.31~19.39;C/P范围分别为144.93~465.52,44.63~107.42;N/P范围分别为7.97~18.37,2.58~6.23。土壤有机碳和全氮及C/N,C/P,N/P均表现为O层大于A层,且O层碳氮含量动态变化较大。阔叶林地土层间差异小于针叶林地。华山松林地土壤碳氮磷含量及C/N、C/P均高于其他林地。土壤C/P和N/P的空间变异性较大,C/N相对稳定。土壤碳氮磷含量及化学计量比值大多表现为夏季高于秋季。     

不同经营模式对毛竹土壤活性有机碳的影响

以起始于1984年的长期不同经营模式毛竹林为研究对象,探讨了夏季毛竹林集约经营后土壤有机碳的变化。结果表明:(1)集约经营后0~80 cm土层毛竹林土壤总有机碳平均增加了5.48%,易氧化碳含量平均增加了15.14%,水溶性有机碳含量平均下降了3.98%,三者均未达到显著差异。(2)两种毛竹林土壤总有机碳、易氧化碳、水溶性有机碳的剖面特征均随土层深度的增加而呈现下降趋势,但下降速度不同。集约经营在一定程度上影响毛竹土壤易氧化碳剖面特征。(3)土壤总有机碳、易氧化碳与土壤养分之间相关性均达到极显著水平,而水溶性有机碳与土壤养分之间相关性不显著。(4)集约经营提高了土壤易氧化碳占总有机碳的比例、土壤碳库活度,并在土壤剖面部分土层差异达到显著水平。但其水溶性有机碳占总有机碳的比例3.74%,低于粗放经营毛竹林的4.10%。因此,集约经营的毛竹林,通过配施恰当比例的有机无机肥,结合土壤垦复、除草、合理的竹株留养和采伐等综合竹林经营技术,以达到改善土壤质量和实现毛竹林可持续经营的目的,也可改善土壤生物化学活性。     

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