保护性耕作对农田地表径流与土壤水蚀影响的试验研究

在黄土坡地建立天然降雨径流小区,采用翻斗式自动测试系统同步动态地监测降雨—径流的过程,试验研究了保护性耕作农田水土保持的效果和耕作、覆盖及压实3种因素对农田水土流失的影响。2年的试验表明,雨强和雨型与坡地水土流失密切相关,在暴雨情况下,由秸秆覆盖与少免耕相结合的保护性耕作具有明显的保持水土作用;采用少免耕而无秸秆覆盖配合的情况下,水土流失甚至高于传统翻耕。在试验的6种处理中,免耕覆盖不压实的保水保土效果最佳,相对传统翻耕年径流量减少52.5%,年土壤流失量减少80.2%。在覆盖、压实及耕作3因素中,秸秆覆盖对保持水土的作用最大,可减少年径流量47.3%,减少年土壤水蚀77.6%;压实次之,地表耕作的影响较小。     

旱地小麦保护性果作对土壤水分的影响

 为检验保护性耕作技术在我国北方干旱地区的适应性,采用覆盖免耕、覆盖深松等方法,研究了保护性耕作对地表径流、水分蒸发、0～50cm土层贮水量、水分利用效率和小麦产量的影响。结果表明:保护性耕作比传统耕作径流强度减少57.3%,降雨入渗量提高98.6%,土壤蓄水量提高10.5%,蒸发量减少11.2%,供作物生长的有效水分增加19.7mm,小麦单产提高12.2%;因此,保护性耕作是北方干旱地区控制水土流失,提高小麦产量的有效耕作法,是宜于推广的一项技术措施。     

玉米秸秆覆盖对坡面产流产沙过程的影响

通过室内土槽模拟试验,研究不同降雨条件下玉米秸秆覆盖对沙坡地产流时间和产流产沙过程的影响。处理分为8种降雨强度和5个水平的秸秆覆盖度:0、15%、30%、60%和90%。40组模拟降雨结果表明:华北保护性耕作研究区域沙壤土条件下的产流时间与降雨强度符合幂函数关系;秸秆覆盖能延缓地表径流的产生,自然降雨(雨强10~80 mm/h)过程中,15%、30%、60%和90%秸秆覆盖较无覆盖分别推迟产流时间1.0~15.4、2.1~22.1、3.4~48.2和5.9~73.6 min;秸秆覆盖对地表径流和产沙影响显著,降雨历时1 h,30%秸秆覆盖减少径流总量17.9~/o~38.7%,减少产沙总量34.1%~48.0%0 30%秸秆覆盖水土保持效果显著,考虑到过多的秸秆覆盖(80%)会造成播种机堵塞,所以在保护性耕作研究实践中,建议保持30%~60%(1 400~3 100 kg/hm~2)的玉米秸秆覆盖,以达到较好的水土保持效果和播种质量,该研究可为保护性耕作研究区域适宜的玉米秸秆覆盖量提供依据。     

秸秆覆盖对黄土坡面矿质氮素径流流失的影响

利用室内模拟降雨试验，研究了秸秆覆盖对坡面土壤矿质氮素径流流失和入渗的影响。结果表明：秸秆覆盖可使侵蚀量显著减少，减沙效应十分明显。由于秸秆覆盖使坡面径流流速减弱，增加了表层土壤与地表径流的作用强度，使溶解和解吸于径流中的矿质氮素含量增加，但由径流显著减少，矿质氮流失总量仍减少。与裸地相比，秸秆覆盖可显著地增加土壤水分和硝态氮的入渗深度和入渗量。     

坡耕地保护性耕作措施的水土保持效应

为探索不同保护性耕作技术在黑龙江省西部半干旱区坡耕地的水土保持效应,于2007、2008年在甘南县东兴村坡耕地径流小区进行不同耕作措施的降雨径流、土壤储水量和土壤流失量试验研究。结果表明：土壤储水量的动态变化趋势与天然降雨趋势一致;与常规耕作措施相比,所研究的3种耕作措施均可不同程度地增加土壤储水量、减少地表径流和土壤流失量,其中,垄向区田措施减少径流效果最好,覆膜＋垄向区田技术集成措施增加土壤储水和减少土壤流失效果最好,免耕秸秆覆盖措施在以上3方面的效果均为最差;垄向区田和覆膜＋垄向区田措施具有增加土壤储水深度的作用。研究结果可为黑龙江省西部半干旱区坡耕地水土保持措施的合理选择提供参考。     

耕作对坡耕地水土流失和冬小麦产量的影响

在模拟降雨和自然降雨条件下研究长期（6年）定位耕作措施对豫西早区坡耕地水分保持、土壤流失以及冬小麦产量的影响。耕作措施包括少耕、免耕覆盖、深松覆盖和常规耕作。田间模拟降雨试验用来测定不同耕作措施对径流和土壤流失的影响，自然降雨小区主要用来验证模拟试验结果，同时测定不同耕作措施对冬小麦产量的影响。模拟试验结果表明：不同耕作措施下的土壤饱和导水率没有明显差异，雨前土壤含水量和降雨强度均显著影响地表径流。在试验条件下，免耕覆盖处理未产生径流和土壤流失，水土保持效果最好。与常规耕作比较，深松覆盖处理分别减少径流和土壤流失50％和90％。尽管少耕可以有效降低土壤流失，但其产生的径流量和常规耕作相近。在自然降雨条件下，免耕覆盖和深松覆盖的水土保持效果从第3年开始显著。深松覆盖在任何年型均能够显著提高冬小麦的产量。相比较常规耕作，深松覆盖平均增产9．4％。免耕覆盖除丰水年也能显著提高冬小麦产量．但增产效果不如深松覆盖显著。少耕无明显增产效果。由于产量对农民来说是评判一个耕作措施效果的重要依据，同时考虑到深松覆盖显著的水土保持效果，我们认为深松覆盖是适合当地早作农业的一个有效耕作措施。     

自然降雨条件下秸秆还田对巢湖流域旱地氮磷流失的影响

本文通过野外径流小区观测试验,开展了自然降雨条件下秸秆覆盖对巢湖流域旱地地表径流、泥沙和氮磷流失影响的研究。试验结果表明,秸秆覆盖能有效减少地表径流量、侵蚀产沙量以及因地表径流引起的土壤氮磷流失。在整个玉米生长期间,秸秆覆盖小区的总产流量与产沙量比传统耕作小区分别减少30.47%和22.88%,表现出显著的水土保持作用。与传统耕作小区相比,秸秆覆盖小区随地表径流迁移的氮、磷流失总量分别降低27.42%和32.29%,但秸秆覆盖对径流中氮磷浓度的影响却不明显。溶解态氮是氮素流失的主要形态,颗粒态磷是磷素流失的主要形态。秸秆覆盖可以作为源头控制农业面源污染的较好措施之一加以推广。     

玉米-小麦一年两熟保护性耕作体系试验研究

采用将夏玉米、冬小麦两季作物作为整体来研究适合华北一年两熟地区保护性耕作技术体系，确定了耕作和覆盖两个因素，包括免耕、深松、耙地、翻耕4种耕作方法，以及100%秸秆覆盖，50%秸秆覆盖和0覆盖3种秸秆覆盖水平。筛选设计了8种保护性耕作和2种传统翻耕共10种体系的试验方案。试验中测定了土壤含水量、容重、地温等参数和根系、产量等作物指标。试验结果表明，我国华北地区实施保护性耕作有利于节约用水，提高水分利用效率，增加作物产量。试验得出最适合的两种保护性耕作体系是：玉米-小麦全程免耕100%秸秆覆盖体系、玉米深松100%秸秆覆盖+小麦免耕100%秸秆覆盖体系。     

深松条件下不同地表覆盖对马铃薯产量及水分利用效率的影响

水分不足是限制旱区作物生长的主要因素,覆盖耕作能够改善土壤的微环境,从而显著提高作物的产量和水分利用效率。为探讨深松结合地表覆盖对土壤物理性状、马铃薯生长、产量及水分利用效率的影响,2013-2015年在宁南旱区采用深松覆盖秸秆、深松覆盖地膜、深松不覆盖3种覆盖耕作模式,以传统耕作不覆盖为对照,对土壤体积质量、团聚体、水分、马铃薯产量和水分利用效率等方面的影响进行了研究。结果表明,与传统耕作相比,深松结合地表覆盖可有效降低耕层土壤体积质量,改善土壤孔隙状况,以深松覆盖秸秆处理效果最佳,深松覆盖秸秆处理0~40 cm平均土壤体积质量较传统耕作降低17.1%。与传统耕作相比,深松覆盖地膜和深松覆盖秸秆处理可使0~40 cm土层0.25 mm机械稳定性团聚体数量显著增加30.7%和17.4%。深松结合不同覆盖方式能有效改善马铃薯生育期0~200 cm土层土壤水分状况,深松覆盖地膜对作物生育前期土壤水分保蓄效果较好,深松覆盖秸秆对生育中后期土壤水分状况的改善效果最佳。深松结合不同覆盖方式下马铃薯植株株高、茎粗及地上部生物量均显著高于传统耕作。作物生育前期以深松覆盖地膜处理效果最佳,中后期以深松覆盖秸秆处理促进作用明显。深松结合地表覆盖能明显提高马铃薯的产量和水分利用效率,深松覆秸秆处理的马铃薯产量、商品薯率和水分利用效率分别较传统耕作处理平均提高37.3%、93.3%和41.2%。通过两年试验研究,在宁南旱区采用深松结合地表覆盖措施具有良好的蓄水保墒效果,对马铃薯生长有利,以深松覆盖秸秆处理的增产和提高水分利用效率效果最为显著。     

保护性耕作对豫西黄土坡耕地降水产流、土壤水分入渗及分配的影响

利用长期定位试验(1999~2007年),在豫西旱区坡度为8°的黄土坡耕地上,研究了免耕覆盖、深松覆盖和传统耕作不同耕作措施对降水产流、土壤水分入渗及分配的影响。结果表明:(1)免耕覆盖和深松覆盖延迟产流时间,缩短降水结束后径流持续时间,径流系数较传统耕作分别减少了97.49%和81.20%,径流量和土壤侵蚀量减少80%以上。免耕覆盖水土保持效果最好,在降雨强度为123 mm/h、历时40 min产生微弱水土流失。(2)传统耕作的土壤水分入渗速率初始最大,随后急剧下降,至4 min降至最低。在3~60 min入渗速率稳定过程,免耕覆盖和深松覆盖平均入渗速率相同,为0.07 mm/s,是传统耕作的1.40倍。免耕覆盖土壤水分入渗速率变化比较平缓,稳定入渗速率最大。(3)在土壤初始含水量较高、降水(74.2 mm)结束1 h后,2种保护性耕作水分下渗的土层深度比传统耕作的高出30~40 cm,160 cm土体降水的贮蓄量增量是传统耕作的2倍多。     

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