黄土高塬沟壑区植被自然恢复年限对坡面土壤抗冲性的影响

为评价黄土高塬沟壑区坡面植被自然恢复对土壤抵抗径流侵蚀性能的影响,以农地为对照,通过野外原位冲刷试验研究了不同植被恢复年限（0~28 a）的坡面土壤抗冲性变化及其与土壤性质和根系密度的关系。结果表明,1）土壤各项性质均随恢复年限的增加不断改善,其中土壤容重和崩解速率随恢复年限呈递减的指数函数关系（P<0.01）,而饱和导水率、有机质含量、水稳性团聚体、MWD及各直径根系密度则随年限以线性或指数方式递增（P<0.01）。2）植被恢复3 a的坡面土壤抗冲性较农地增加不显著（P>0.05）,恢复3a后土壤抗冲性显著增加1.98～9.82倍（P<0.05）,且土壤抗冲性与恢复年限呈极显著线性关系（R2=0.98,P<0.01）。3）土壤抗冲性与容重和崩解速率呈显著的负相关关系,与饱和导水率、有机质含量、水稳性团聚体及MWD则呈极显著正相关关系;抗冲性与根系密度的关系可采用Hill曲线模拟,<0.5 mm是提高抗冲性的最有效根系直径。4）土壤抗冲性的提高与土壤性质的改善和根系密度的增加密切相关,土壤容重、团聚体稳定性（MWD）及<0.5 mm根系密度是影响土壤抗冲性的关键因子。     

民勤绿洲区撂荒农耕地抗风蚀效果

通过风洞试验,在5个风速下对民勤绿洲区5种不同撂荒年限农耕地的土壤风蚀速率、0—20cm风沙流结构进行了模拟观测研究。结果表明:农耕地撂荒20年后土壤风蚀速率明显增加,撂荒30,40年土壤风蚀速率是其他处理的2.40～4.97倍。不同撂荒年限土壤风蚀速率均随风速的增大呈指数函数递增,但在撂荒30,40年条件下递增较快。风速为14m/s是民勤绿洲农田土壤风蚀加剧的转折点,当风速>14m/s时,农耕地撂荒20年后的土壤风蚀速率明显高于撂荒20年内。0—20cm内,农耕地撂荒20年内和撂荒20年后输沙率与高度分别呈负线性和负指数关系,农耕地撂荒20年内0—4cm输沙量和输沙量百分比(Q0—4/Q0—20)均低于撂荒30,40年。随着撂荒年限的延长,农田表层不可蚀性颗粒(粒径≥1mm的团聚体及粗砂砾)的含量明显降低,且土壤风蚀速率随不可蚀性颗粒含量的增加呈非线性降低趋势。因此,增强民勤荒漠绿洲区撂荒农耕地抗风蚀能力需适当减少撂荒年限。     

黄土丘陵区生物结皮覆盖对土壤团聚体分布特征及稳定性影响

【目的】以吕梁离石区结皮覆盖（藻结皮、藓结皮、藓草混生结皮，裸地为对照）下土壤为研究对象，研究结皮种类对其下层土壤有机碳及土壤团聚体稳定性的影响。【方法】通过干筛和湿筛法对土壤团聚体分级，探究土壤容重、土壤有机碳含量和土壤静水崩解速率与团聚体稳定的相关性。【结果】在0～5 cm和5～10 cm深度，3种结皮下土壤容重与裸地间均达到显著差异；土壤有机碳含量表现为藓草混生结皮和藓结皮分别比裸地显著增加。不同深度土层，团聚体破坏率、分形维数表现为裸地>藻结皮>苔藓结皮>藓草混生结皮；平均重量直径和几何平均直径变化规律正好相反。相关性分析表明，> 0.25 mm土壤团聚体含量与土壤容重呈显著负相关关系；团聚体破坏率、分形维数与土壤容重、土壤静水崩解速率呈极显著正相关关系，与土壤有机碳含量呈极显著负相关关系；平均重量直径、几何平均直径与土壤容重呈极显著负相关关系，与土壤静水崩解速率呈显著负相关关系，与土壤有机碳含量呈极显著正相关关系。【结论】黄土丘陵吕梁随结皮层次提高，土壤团聚体形成能力和土壤团聚体水稳定性逐渐增高，对土壤水稳定性起主导作用的是土壤有机碳含量。     

黄土高塬沟壑区退耕地土壤抗冲性及其与影响因素的关系

为了评价退耕地土壤抗冲性的变化,该文以黄土高塬沟壑区自然退耕农地为研究对象,通过径流小区冲刷法对不同覆盖度塬面退耕地(TAL,table-land abandoned land)和沟头退耕地(GAL,gully-head abandoned land)土壤抗冲性进行了研究。结果表明,1)与对照(Ⅰ)相比,TAL和GAL处理水稳性团聚体、根系密度和根系生物量均显著增加(P0.05),覆盖度大于0时,崩解速率显著减小44.87%~79.16%和33.79%~70.65%,有机质显著增加70.12%~222.70%和59.20%~194.88%,覆盖度最大时,土壤容重和渗透系数才显著减小和增大。2)TAL处理0覆盖度小区抗冲系数(AS,anti-scouribility)较对照无差异,其余覆盖度则显著增大2.31~7.57倍,GAL处理AS较对照显著增大0.99~7.12倍,覆盖度越大,根系提高土壤抗冲性能的效果越显著。3)TAL和GAL处理AS分别与容重、崩解速率、水稳性团聚体含量、渗透系数均呈极显著指数函数关系,与有机质含量、根系生物量及根系密度均呈极显著线性函数关系。水稳性团聚体是影响塬面和沟头退耕地土壤抗冲性的关键因子。结果可为研究区退耕还林还草工程生态功能评价及水土流失治理提供理论依据。     

宁南山区不同年限撂荒梯田土壤碳氮磷化学计量特征

为了探究不同年限撂荒梯田对土壤碳氮磷含量及其化学计量特征的影响,为宁南山区撂荒梯田的管理利用和植被恢复提供科学依据。选择宁南山区彭阳中庄示范区不同年限撂荒梯田(2,5,15,17,20 a)为研究对象,通过野外采样与室内测定相结合的方法,对研究区5个不同年限撂荒梯田0—60 cm土壤样品中的C,N,P元素含量及其化学计量比特征进行了分析。结果表明:在0—60 cm土层,不同年限撂荒梯田的土壤C,N分布规律一致,均随土层深度的增加而减小,表层0—10 cm出现了富集现象,且随着撂荒年限增加呈先降低后升高的趋势,其他4层呈波动式下降趋势,土壤全磷含量分布比较均匀。土壤C∶N随着不同撂荒年限的增加呈波动式升高趋势,撂荒20年0—40 cm土层土壤C∶N最高,并与其他各年呈显著性变化(p0.05)。土壤C∶P和N∶P均表现为在表层0—10 cm随着撂荒年限的增加,总体呈现出先降低后升高的趋势,其他各层总体呈现下降的趋势。土壤C∶P和N∶P随土层增加呈减小趋势。土壤C∶N与全N和土壤C含量相关性不显著。土壤C∶P与土壤C含量呈极显著的正相关,与全磷含量呈显著的正相关。土壤N∶P与土壤全N含量呈极显著的正相关,与全磷含量呈显著的正相关。通过上述分析,总体反映出撂荒梯田土壤碳氮磷及其化学计量比受到不同年限和土层深度的双重影响,农地弃耕撂荒演替对土壤肥力有一定程度的改善。     

种植果树对土壤物理性状的双重效应

在渭北果区选择不同园龄(<10 年、10~20 年、>20 年)果园, 分层测定0~60 cm 土层土壤容重、土壤坚实度、土壤含水量以及表层土壤团聚体组成等物理性状, 进一步分析了果园土壤物理性状随园龄的变化特征。结果表明: 土壤容重在0~30 cm 土层随园龄增长而降低; 在30 cm 以下土层随园龄增长而增加, 超过了健康园艺土壤的质量标准1.30 g·cm^-3; 与休闲农田相比, 种植果树可降低10~30 cm 土层土壤容重; 但30 cm 以下土层土壤坚实度急剧增大, 接近或达到了限制根系延伸的土壤质量标准1 000 kPa; 与休闲农田相比, 种植果树对于降低17.5~27.5 cm 土层的坚实度具有明显作用。果园表层土壤团聚体状况整体较差, 水稳性优势团聚体直径为0.5~0.25 mm, >0.25 mm 水稳性团聚体含量随园龄增加而增大, >20 年果园比<10 年果园高1 倍。种植果树对表层土壤具有明显的保护和改善作用, 却在深层发生着紧实化和坚硬化过程。果树对土壤物理状况的双重效应体现在对0~30 cm 土层土壤结构具有改善作用, 对30 cm 以下土层土壤结构有破坏作用。果园土壤“深层的隐蔽性退化过程”影响着果树根系健康生长, 应当给予极大关注。     

臭氧污染对水稻土物理结构和氮磷钾含量的影响

利用中国稻-麦轮作O3FACE(Free-air O3 concentration enrichment)试验平台,研究了连续3年大气O3浓度升高(比周围大气高50%)对稻田表层(0~20 cm)土壤团聚体、土壤容重及孔隙度和氮磷钾养分含量的影响。结果表明,大气O3浓度升高显著增加耕层土壤0.25~0.053 mm团聚体23.5%和降低<0.053 mm团聚体24.6%。O3污染具有增大0~10 cm土层和降低10~20 cm土层土壤容重的趋势,0~10 cm土壤中气体孔隙度显著减小39.8%,10~20 cm土壤中毛管孔隙度显著增加9.1%和气体孔隙度显著减小32.4%,改变了固、液、气三相比。长期O3污染显著降低土壤全氮含量10.5%和速效钾13.3%,显著增加有效磷40.8%,但对有效氮未产生显著影响。结果表明,长期臭氧污染将改变土壤物理结构和养分物质的生物地球化学循环。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区林草植被恢复的减沙效益研究

对黄土丘陵沟壑区安塞县不同土地利用类型的土壤抗冲性和崩解速率特征进行了测试.结果表明,抗冲性指标和崩解速率在数值上均随着土层深度的增加而增大,表明其抵抗侵蚀能力减弱.不同利用类型0-10 cm表层土壤抗冲性和崩解速率强弱关系均为:灌木林＞草地＞乔木林＞果园＞农地,而在20-30 cm土层及40-50 cm土层有所变化.不同土地利用类型下,土壤崩解速率和土壤抗冲性之间存在着明显的直线递增关系,灌木林地土壤崩解性能随抗冲性变化速率较快,直线斜率达到0.352,而农地的崩解性能随抗冲性变化起伏最小,直线斜率为0.014 5,草地、乔木林地和果园位于两者之间.其中,乔木林地与草地二者直线斜率差异不大,在相同取样深度上具有相同的变化特征.     

玉米秸秆全量深翻还田对高产田土壤结构的影响

为达到玉米生产耕层最适深度(22 cm)和耕层最适土壤容重(1.1~1.3 g×cm~(-3)),解决内蒙古平原灌区耕层浅、犁底层坚硬且厚的农田土壤结构问题,分别选用连续1、2、3、4年秸秆深翻还田定位试验地,秋收后玉米秸秆全量粉碎深翻还田,秸秆年均还田量为20 034.97 kg×hm-2,形成秸秆深翻还田1~4年的4个试验处理(SF1-SF4),以不深翻秸秆还田的处理为对照(CK),研究土壤容重、土壤坚实度、土壤团聚体及其稳定性、土壤肥力及p H随不同年限秸秆深翻还田的变化规律。结果表明:1)SF1-SF4处理0~40 cm土层,土壤容重和土壤坚实度比CK显著减小。2)0~20 cm土层,SF4处理0.25 mm团聚体比例(R0.25)、几何平均直径(GWD)和平均重量直径(MWD)均比CK显著减小;SF1处理土壤团聚体破坏率(PAD)比CK显著降低9.56%,不稳定指数(SWA)随深翻年限增加而显著降低;团聚体分形维数SF4比CK显著增大7.30%。3)20~40 cm土层,SF1和SF2处理R0.25比CK分别显著增加13.69%和17.83%;SF2处理的MWD和GWD分别比CK显著增加23.92%和53.38%;SF1-SF4处理的PAD比CK显著降低,且SF2显著高于SF1和SF3;而SF1-SF4的SWA比CK显著增加,且随秸秆深翻年限的增加呈逐渐升高趋势;团聚体分形维数SF2比CK显著降低7.39%。4)土壤有机质含量SF1-SF4比CK显著增加,且SF2-SF4处理显著大于SF1;速效氮、速效磷和速效钾SF1-SF4比CK显著增加,土壤p H SF3、SF4比CK显著降低。总之,深翻秸秆还田1~4年对0~40 cm土层土壤影响显著;深翻秸秆还田2年适合土壤犁底层结构的改良,深翻秸秆还田3年和4年适合土壤耕层结构的改良。玉米秸秆全量深翻还田既能达到耕作土壤的目的,同时也增加了土壤有机质,降低土壤团聚体破坏率和土壤水稳性团聚体的不稳定系数,利于培肥耕层土壤。     

深翻－旋耕轮耕与有机肥配施对黑土农田土壤物理性质的影响

针对东北松嫩平原中南部黑土区玉米带农田长期旋耕导致耕层变浅、容重增大等问题,开展深翻-旋耕轮耕模式改善土壤物理性质的研究。试验设置连年旋耕配施化肥（RT）、连年旋耕配施化肥与有机肥（RM）、深翻－旋耕轮耕配施化肥（DT）和深翻－旋耕轮耕配施化肥与有机肥（DM）4个处理,分析0 ~ 45 cm土壤含水量、容重、紧实度、团聚体的变化及10 cm、20 cm、30 cm各深度处土壤温度变化情况。结果表明,与RT处理相比,DT处理能够显著提高玉米苗期和拔节期20 cm、30 cm深度土壤温度,增加玉米各生育时期15 ~ 45 cm土层土壤含水量,并且显著降低土壤容重和紧实度,提高了30 ~ 45 cm土层 > 0.25 mm水稳性团聚体的比例;同时DM处理能够增加苗期、收获期各土层含水量,且对0 ~ 45 cm土壤容重均有显著降低作用;而RM处理仅使0 ~ 15 cm土层容重有降低,但并不显著,且对深层土壤容重无明显影响。相关分析表明,在0 ~ 15 cm土层中,土壤含水量、紧实度、容重与温度呈负相关关系（P < 0.05）;在0 ~ 45 cm土层中,土壤容重与土壤紧实度呈极显著正相关关系（P < 0.05）。DM的耕作模式能降低土壤容重和紧实度,有效提高土壤温度、土壤含水量以及 > 0.25 mm 水稳性团聚体的比例,能够较好的改善土壤耕层物理性质。     

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.     

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.