秸秆全量还田条件下配施化肥对沿淮砂姜黑土培肥及玉米产量的影响

通过2010年玉米季田间试验,初步探讨了秸秆全量还田下配施化肥对沿淮砂姜黑土培肥效果和玉米产量的影响.结果表明:秸秆全量(7 500kg/hm2)还田配施化肥条件下,耕层土壤有机质和土壤氮磷钾养分相对不施肥CK显著提高(P＜0.05),且相对单施化肥有一定程度的提高.产量上,单施化肥相对CK增产玉米50.7％;秸秆全量还田配施氮肥处理的玉米单产为6644.4～7 562.9 kg/hm2,较单施化肥处理增产11.51％ ～ 26.92％.值得一提的是,玉米单产以秸秆全量还田下配施化肥(N-P2O5-K2O为135-60-90 kg/hm2)最高,且显著高于单施化肥处理(P＜0.05).     

长期施肥下潮土全氮、碱解氮含量与氮素投入水平关系

通过长期肥料定位试验,对不同施肥处理下潮土全氮和碱解氮含量演变特征及其与氮素投入水平的关系进行研究。结果表明,不施氮肥处理,土壤全氮和碱解氮含量基本保持平衡或者缓慢增加;长期施用化学氮肥处理,土壤全氮和碱解氮含量均有所增加;施用有机肥和秸秆还田处理,土壤全氮和碱解氮含量均显著提高。单施化学氮肥处理每投入氮素1 kg/hm2,土壤全氮含量增加0.017 mg/kg;而氮磷钾化肥配施有机肥和氮磷钾化肥并秸秆还田处理每投入氮素1 kg/hm2,土壤全氮含量分别增加0.049和0.035 mg/kg。施氮磷钾处理每投入氮素1 kg/hm2,土壤碱解氮含量增加0.001 mg/kg;而化肥配施有机肥或玉米秸秆处理每投入氮素1 kg/hm2,土壤碱解氮含量均增加0.004和0.004 mg/kg。总的来说,施用化学氮肥、有机肥配施化肥及秸秆还田处理增加氮素投入量均可以提高土壤全氮及碱解氮含量,且有机肥配施化肥及秸秆还田处理优于单施化肥。综上所述,增施有机肥及秸秆还田对于提升土壤肥力及实现农业可持续发展具有深远意义。     

施用生物炭和秸秆对石灰性褐土氮肥去向的影响

为明确秸秆直接还田和秸秆炭化为生物炭后施入土壤对氮肥转化(植株吸收、土壤残留及损失)的影响,采用大田微区试验,运用15N标记示踪技术,分析了石灰性褐土施用生物炭和秸秆后氮肥的去向,并阐明其影响机制。试验共设3个处理,单施化肥(NPK)、施化肥并施生物炭(NPK+B)以及施化肥并施秸秆(NPK+S)。结果表明:石灰性褐土上高粱植株当季的氮肥吸收率、土壤残留率和损失率分别是18.41%～24.94%、22.67%～35.47%和46.12%～52.40%;与NPK处理相比,NPK+B和NPK+S处理高粱植株的氮肥利用率分别降低2.20个百分点和6.53个百分点(P0.05),土壤残留率分别增加5.58个百分点(P0.05)和12.80个百分点(P0.05),氮肥损失率分别降低3.40个百分点和6.28个百分点(P0.05);施用秸秆显著提高了土壤活性有机碳含量、土壤微生物数量及代谢活性,增强了氮肥转化过程中土壤微生物对肥料氮的固定,从而减少氮肥损失。因此,与施用生物炭比较,秸秆直接还田是提高石灰性褐土氮肥有效性及秸秆资源合理利用的更有效途径。     

生物炭与氮肥对稻田甲烷氧化菌和产甲烷菌数量和潜在活性的影响

基于稻田中氮肥配施生物炭的田间定位试验,研究了施用生物炭与氮肥对旱季稻田土壤理化性质、甲烷氧化与产生潜势及甲烷氧化菌和产甲烷菌丰度的影响。田间试验共设置5个处理：单施生物炭、单施氮肥、氮肥配施生物炭（生物炭设置两个水平）以及对照。结果表明：施用生物炭三年后显著提高了有机碳和微生物生物量碳含量（p﹤0.05）,与单施氮肥处理相比,氮肥配施生物炭后可显著提高土壤pH。与对照相比,单施生物炭显著提高土壤甲烷氧化潜势。在施氮条件下,甲烷氧化潜势与生物炭施用量之间存在正相关关系,与氮肥配施20 t hm-2处理相比,40 t hm-2生物炭处理甲烷氧化潜势增长53.8%。氮肥配施高倍生物炭与配施低倍生物炭处理相比产甲烷潜势由0.001提高至0.002 mg kg-1 h-1;氮肥施用一定程度上抑制了甲烷氧化菌数量的增长,单施氮肥处理中产甲烷菌数量较对照处理显著增加了3.0%;单施或配施低水平生物炭显著增加土壤甲烷氧化菌数量。氮肥显著降低了甲烷氧化菌与产甲烷菌基因丰度比（pmoA/mcrA）。而在同氮肥水平下施加生物炭显著增加了土壤pmoA/mcrA比值,即生物炭对甲烷氧化菌的促进作用显著高于产甲烷菌,提高了旱季稻田土壤的甲烷氧化能力,因此有助于减少稻田土壤甲烷的排放。     

不同培肥措施对银北灌区土壤盐碱特性、玉米生长及产量指标的影响

为探究银北灌区盐碱地不同培肥措施下的土壤盐碱特性和作物生长情况，通过3年定位试验开展了不同量化肥、秸秆、生物有机肥应用后对土壤盐碱特性、春玉米生长及产量指标的影响研究。结果表明:(1)玉米播前土壤表现为对照脱盐碱化现象最明显，而高量生物有机肥和高量化肥有增加耕层土壤盐分含量的趋势，秸秆还田在降低玉米生长前期耕层土壤pH值方面较显著；(2)高量秸秆还田在提高玉米株高和增加玉米茎粗方面优于施用生物有机肥和中低量化肥，玉米株高、茎粗随着有机肥和秸秆用量的增加而提高；(3)在增加玉米穗长、穗粗和穗粒重方面，单施化肥措施优于单施秸秆或生物有机肥；在增加玉米百粒重方面，秸秆还田与化肥措施效果相当；培肥第3年各处理玉米产量表现为:施用生物有机肥T4>T3>T2，施用秸秆T6>T7=T5，施用化肥T10>T9>T8，配施处理T11>T12，玉米产量随生物有机肥和化肥施用量的增加而提高，秸秆还田在提高玉米产量方面优于生物有机肥，而中量秸秆还田在提高玉米产量方面优于高量和低量秸秆还田。与施用化肥相比，试验区连续3年配施生物有机肥在提高玉米产量方面已表现出优势，而配施秸秆在提高玉米产量方面尚未发挥优势，秸秆还田相对生物有机肥在提高作物产量方面存在滞后效应。     

烟秆生物质炭与化肥配施对植烟土壤有机碳组分及微生物的影响

研究烟秆生物炭配施化肥条件下，对土壤有机碳组分及土壤微生物群落的影响，为解决植烟土壤碳库不足，质量下降等问题提供理论依据。采用盆栽试验，设置空白对照（CK）、化肥（F）、烟秆生物炭（B）、烟秆生物炭配施化肥（BF）四个施肥水平，配施化肥参考烟草专用肥养分配比N:P2O5:K2O=12:7:22与烟秆生物炭混合施用，探究烟秆生物炭与化肥配施对植烟土壤有机碳组分及微生物的影响。结果发现与单施烟秆生物炭相比，烟秆生物炭与化肥配施土壤pH值显著降低6.59 %；同时，土壤有机碳（SOC）和易氧化有机碳（EOC）含量显著增加，但土壤可溶性有机碳（DOC）含量显著降低29.63 %，对土壤颗粒有机碳（POC）和微生物量碳（MBC）影响不显著；此外，与单施化肥相比，烟秆生物炭与化肥配施使得土壤脱氢酶活性大幅提高近2倍，而与单施烟秆生物炭相比，土壤蔗糖酶、脱氢酶和过氧化氢酶活性则显著降低；烟秆生物炭与化肥配施，能够提高土壤细菌群落丰富度及物种多样性，而与单施烟秆生物炭相比，配施化肥则使参与土壤有机质分解的土壤绿弯菌门相对丰度提高了16.79 %，但土壤细菌α、β多样性显著降低；RDA分析表明，土壤SOC、EOC、POC、MBC是影响土壤有机质分解和参与碳循环细菌分布的主要因素。综上所述，烟秆生物炭与化肥配施用能够提高土壤SOC、POC、EOC、MBC含量，降低土壤DOC含量，提高土壤酶活性和细菌多样性，增加一些主要参与碳循环相关细菌如绿弯菌门、芽单胞菌门的相对丰度，促进有机碳循环，提升土壤质量，优化土壤生态环境，为烟秆废弃利用及烟草种植施肥管理提供参考依据。     

生物质炭和秸秆长期还田对红壤团聚体和有机碳的影响

要 ：秸秆还田和施用生物炭是提高土壤有机碳含量和改良土壤团聚体结构的有效方法,但长期施用生物炭与秸秆还田改良土壤的效率研究仍然缺乏比较。本研究针对中亚热带典型的旱地红壤,基于等碳量不同碳源投入的5年野外定位试验,研究秸秆还田、秸秆-猪粪配施和生物炭还田对红壤团聚体组成、稳定性和有机碳分布的影响,为建立红壤地力快速提升的有机培肥措施提供科学依据。本试验共设置对照、单施化肥、秸秆还田、秸秆-猪粪配施和生物炭还田五个处理,采用干筛和湿筛法分析了连续施用不同碳源5年后对土壤团聚体组成、稳定性和有机碳分布的影响。研究表明,施用等碳量的不同有机碳源5年后显著增加了土壤有机碳含量,其增幅顺序为：生物炭还田>秸秆-猪粪配施>秸秆还田。干筛法分析结果表明：与单施化肥处理相比,秸秆-猪粪配施和生物炭还田处理显著增加>0.25 mm机械稳定性团聚体含量(R_0.25)、平均重量直径(mean weight diameter, MWD)和几何平均直径(geometric mean diameter, GMD);秸秆还田和生物炭还田处理显著增加了0.25-2 mm团聚体对土壤有机碳的贡献率。湿筛法分析结果表明：与单施化肥处理相比,秸秆还田和秸秆-猪粪配施处理显著增加R_0.25、MWD和GMD,但生物炭还田处理和单施化肥处理相比差异不显著;秸秆还田和秸秆-猪粪配施处理显著降低团聚体破坏率(PAD),生物炭还田处理显著增加了PAD;秸秆配施猪粪处理和秸秆还田处理显著增加了>2mm团聚体对土壤有机碳的贡献率。总体上,秸秆配施猪粪协同提高团聚体有机质含量和团聚体稳定性的作用比秸秆还田和生物炭还田要强。     

稻草还田对烟田追肥气态氮损失及相关微生物的影响

研究不同农业措施下N2O和NH3的排放，对减缓温室效应及雾霾治理有重要意义。针对烟田追肥浇施的特殊管理方式，以水稻烤烟轮作定位试验为平台，于2017年选择单施化肥（NPK）、化肥+稻草还田（NPKS）、化肥+稻草还田+饼肥（NPKSB）3个处理，研究稻草还田对追肥气态氮损失及其相关微生物群落结构的影响。研究显示，烤烟追肥后土壤NH3挥发和N2O排放速率开始上升，2～3d达到最大，之后开始下降。NPK处理追肥氨挥发氮量为1.45±0.04 kg/hm2、N2O排放氮量为2.49±0.23 kg/hm2，气态氮损失中以N2O排放为主。与单施化肥相比，稻草还田配施化肥提高了土壤含水量、改变了氧化亚氮还原酶基因（nosZ）和氨氧化细菌（AOB，Ammonia Oxidizing Bacteria）的微生物群落结构，其根瘤菌目相对丰度显著降低、红螺菌目相对丰度显著升高；同时N2O排放量增加了55.35%、氨挥发氮量显著降低了11.43%，气态氮损失显著增加。与单施化肥相比，化肥+稻草还田+饼肥处理提高了土壤含水量、改变了nosZ和AOB基因的微生物群落结构，其伯克尔霍尔德氏菌目相对丰度显著提高。化肥+稻草还田+饼肥处理N2O排放量与单施化肥差异不显著，氨挥发氮量显著降低了8.91%，但两者气态氮损失差异不显著。化肥+稻草还田+饼肥处理N2O排放量较化肥+稻草还田处理降低27.82%，但两者氨挥发量差异不显著。综上所述，秸秆还田抑制了土壤氨挥发、激发了N2O排放，稻草还田配施饼肥能够降低土壤氨挥发、抑制稻草还田引起的N2O排放。     

不同有机物料与化肥配施对土壤真菌群落结构和生态功能的影响

为减少土壤土传病害,保障农田土壤健康,指导有机物料合理利用,在有机物料用量和化肥用量一致的基础上,设置单施化肥（CK）、羊粪+化肥（A）、木薯渣+化肥（P）、木本泥炭+化肥（M）、味精废浆料+化肥（I）5个处理,以玉米为供试作物进行了有机物料与化肥配施试验,观察了不同处理下土壤真菌群落结构的变化。结果表明：施用有机物料降低了土壤真菌群落多样性,但提高了真菌群落丰富度,其中味精废浆料配施化肥处理的真菌群落丰富度最高,各处理土壤中优势真菌门类均为子囊菌门、担子菌门和被孢菌门。施用有机物料后,木薯渣、木本泥炭和味精废浆料处理的子囊菌门的相对丰度均增加,担子菌门的相对丰度均降低;而羊粪处理表现出相反趋势,子囊菌门的相对丰度降低,担子菌门的相对丰度增加。冗余分析结果表明,土壤pH是影响真菌群落的主要环境因子,其次为有机质、电导率和速效钾,而碱解氮和有效磷的影响较小。另外,有机物料与化肥配施可以提高腐生营养型和共生营养型真菌的比例,减少病原菌的数量,其中以木本泥炭与化肥配施的效果更显著,这有利于维持土壤生态系统的稳定,为作物生产提供健康的土壤条件。     

稻田土壤真菌群落结构与功能对化肥 减量配施紫云英还田的响应

为探明长期化肥减量与紫云英还田配施对稻田土壤真菌群落组成结构及功能特性的影响,以豫南稻区紫云英- 水稻田间定位试验为研究对象,选取了空白对照(CK)、单施化肥(F100)、80% 化肥和22.5 t/hm² 紫云英还田量配施(MV1F80)、80% 化肥和45 t/hm² 紫云英还田量配施(MV2F80)、60% 化肥和22.5 t/hm² 紫云英还田量配施(MV1F60)、60% 化肥和45 t/hm² 紫云英还田量配施(MV2F60)6 个处理。通过采用高通量测序方法比较不同施肥处理对土壤真菌群落多样性、组成和结构特性的影响;采用FUNGuild 功能预测的方法分析不同施肥处理间功能类群的丰度差异。结果表明,化肥减量与紫云英还田配施较CK 处理显著提高了Shannon 指数和Shannoneven指数,且Shannon 指数和Shannoneven 指数均与全氮呈显著正相关。门分类水平上,化肥减量与紫云英还田配施较CK 显著降低了子囊菌门(Ascomycota)相对丰度,增加了担子菌门(Basidiomycota)相对丰度;属分类水平上,化肥减量与紫云英还田配施处理的翅孢壳属(Emericellopsis)和无色穗孢属(Achroiostachys)相对丰度显著低于CK,镰刀菌属(Fusarium)相对丰度显著低于F100 处理。此外,冗余分析(RDA)发现,影响土壤真菌群落结构和组成的主要环境因子为土壤容重、有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾。从真菌功能预测分析来看,化肥减量与紫云英还田配施较F100 处理显著降低了动物病原菌- 内生菌- 地衣寄生菌- 植物病原菌- 土壤腐生菌- 木质腐生真菌功能类群丰度。由此可见,化肥减量与紫云英还田配施通过改善土壤肥力属性,改变了稻田土壤真菌群落组成、结构、多样性及功能特性,在一定程度上降低了土壤潜在致病菌丰度,有助于豫南稻区土壤健康和可持续发展。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

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 from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

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.     

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.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

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.