长期施肥条件下灰漠土磷的吸附与解吸特征

通过等温吸附与解吸试验,研究了长期施肥条件下不同磷素含量水平的灰漠土耕层0~20 cm土壤磷素吸附与解吸特征。结果表明,在实验浓度范围内,不同Olsen-P水平的灰漠土土壤,随外源磷量的增加,磷的吸附量、解吸量及解吸率均逐渐增大,吸附率逐渐减小。土壤Olsen-P含量水平与土壤磷素吸附饱和度（DPS）的大小呈正相关关系。处理间比较,土壤最大吸附量（Xm）值为CK>NPK≈NPKM>PK≈NPKS、且处理间达到极显著差异水平;NPK处理的吸附常数（K）值与土壤最大缓冲容量（MBC）值均极显著地大于CK、PK、NPKM和NPKS处理。该4个处理间比较：K值无显著差异,MBC值CK极显著大于PK和NPKS处理、CK与NPKM、PK与NPKS处理间差异不显著。化肥配施有机肥或秸秆的处理土壤易解吸磷（RDP）值极显著大于单施化肥的处理,释磷效果以化肥有机肥配施为最优。     

红壤长期肥料定位试验中土壤磷素肥力的演变

研究了长期施肥对土壤全磷、有效磷年份变化和剖面磷组分、土壤对磷吸附解吸性能、土壤需磷指数等方面的影响。结果表明:长期施用化学磷肥和化肥加有机肥,均可提高土壤全磷、有效磷数量。施用有机肥料(M)和有机肥料加化学肥料处理(NPKM),土壤中的磷组分变化以Ca-P和Al-P积累为主要表现形式,化学磷肥能够提高土壤的全磷含量,其无机磷组分变化以Al-P增幅为最大,在所有处理中均表现为土壤O-P相对稳定。随着施肥时间延长,土壤磷组分以有效性较高Ca-P和Al-P增加为特征。施肥对土壤的耕层磷组分影响最为显著,对深层土壤影响相对为弱,长期施用磷肥和有机肥料促使磷的下移,增加深层磷的含量。施用有机肥料(M)和有机肥料加化学肥料处理(NPKM)土壤,对外源磷的吸附强度明显小于施用化学肥料(N,NPK,NPKS)和不施用肥料处理(CK),有机肥料能够显著提高吸附磷的再利用,其中有机肥料加化学肥料处理(NPKM)中解吸磷可占吸附磷的47.72%,单施有机肥处理(M)占42.89%,而施用化学肥料(N,NPK,NPKS)和不施用肥料(CK)中解吸磷数量占吸附磷数量一般小于8%。有机肥料加化学肥料处理(NPKM)和单施有机肥处理(M)的PFI显著低于施用化学肥料(N,NPK,NPKS)和不施用肥料对照处理(CK)。     

长期不同施肥对黄壤磷素吸附–解吸特性的影响

  【目的】  磷吸附–解吸特性对土壤磷素有效性和环境流失风险有重要影响。研究长期不同施肥对黄壤旱地磷吸附–解吸特性的影响,可为黄壤区合理施用磷肥提供理论依据。  【方法】  供试黄壤肥力长期定位试验位于贵阳,始于1995年。设有对照 (CK)、施氮钾肥 (NK)、施氮磷钾肥 (NPK)、单施有机肥 (M) 和有机肥化肥配施 (MNPK) 5个处理。采用恒温平衡方法,研究了磷最大吸附量 (Q_m)、磷吸附常数 (K)、磷吸附自由能 (|ΔG|)、磷最大缓冲容量 (MBC)、磷吸附饱和度 (DPS)、磷固定量 (PI)、磷解吸率 (DR),不同施肥处理土壤对外源磷的吸附和解吸特征,并分析土壤磷吸附解吸特征参数与土壤理化性质之间的关系。  【结果】  M和MNPK处理显著降低了土壤中的黏粒含量,提高了有机质含量和pH,提高了土壤全磷和有效磷及微生物量磷含量;NK和NPK处理对土壤黏粒含量没有显著影响,但是降低了有机质和pH,NK处理降低了土壤的磷含量和有效性。Langmuir吸附等温线方程能很好地拟合土壤吸附磷和相应的平衡溶液磷浓度曲线 (R2为0.9532～0.9950,P < 0.01)。与CK相比,NK、NPK处理Q_m分别显著增加了39.2%、40.9%,M处理Q_m显著降低了20.0%,MNPK处理Q_m无显著差异,说明施用化肥可增加土壤对磷素的吸附位点,而施用有机肥则减少了土壤对磷素的吸附位点,有机无机肥配施时则吸附位点无显著变化;各处理K、|ΔG|、MBC、PI表现为MNPK≤ M < CK < NPK < NK,DPS则表现为MNPK > M > NPK > CK > NK,DR均值表现为MNPK>M>CK>NPK>NK。当加入外源磷浓度 < 10 mg/L时,NK和NPK处理的磷固液比为85.8～100.3,CK为4.2～28.8,M和MNPK处理为2.5～7.7,说明当施用的外源磷浓度较低时,长期施用化肥处理中的磷大部分被土壤吸附,难以被作物利用,而长期施用有机肥处理中磷则大部分留存在液相中,有利于作物的吸收利用。相关分析表明,Q_m、K、|ΔG|、MBC、PI等磷吸附特征参数与土壤黏粒含量、pH、有机质相关系数基本大于与土壤磷的相关系数,说明土壤黏粒含量、pH和有机质对土壤磷素吸附解吸特性的影响大于土壤磷素水平的影响。  【结论】  黄壤磷素吸附–解吸特性受磷肥性质的影响大于施磷量,长期施用有机肥可降低土壤对磷素的吸附,促进土壤磷素解吸,提高土壤磷素有效性,长期施用化肥效果则相反。长期有机无机肥配施可综合有机肥和化肥优势,在土壤磷浓度较低时,可降低土壤对磷的吸附,促进磷素解吸,提高土壤磷素的有效性;在土壤磷浓度较高时,可以降低土壤磷素解吸率,减小磷素环境流失风险,是黄壤旱地上最佳的施肥模式,但本研究中MNPK处理施磷量过高导致土壤磷素大量累积,磷素流失风险较大。     

长期不同施肥下南方黄泥田有效磷对磷盈亏的响应特征

【目的】黄泥田为南方主要中低产田类型之一。通过研究长期施肥条件下南方黄泥田土壤磷素累积盈亏与有效磷的关系,为黄泥田科学施用磷肥提供理论依据。【方法】基于连续33年水稻长期定位试验,研究了不施肥 (CK)、单施化肥 (NPK)、化肥配施牛粪 (NPKM)、化肥配施秸秆 (NPKS) 四个处理土壤有效磷的变化规律及土壤磷累积盈亏状况,计算有效磷–磷盈亏响应系数。【结果】各施肥处理双季稻年份 (1983～2004年) 土壤有效磷与全磷含量呈年际上升趋势,以NPKM增幅最为明显,改为单季稻后 (2005～2015年) 则呈下降趋势,也以NPKM降幅最为明显。试验至2015年,NPK、NPKS处理有效磷含量分别为9.7 mg/kg、8.7 mg/kg,较试验初期分别下降8.3 mg/kg、9.3 mg/kg,NPKM处理与试验初期持平。CK、NPK、NPKM、NPKS处理的磷素活化系数 (PAC) 总体呈年际下降趋势,其多年平均磷素活化系数值 (PAC) 分别为2.9%、3.5%、4.7%、4.1%,其中NPKM与NPKS处理显著高于NPK与CK处理。除双季稻NPKS处理外,不同施肥模式下双季稻与单季稻年份的土壤有效磷增减与土壤累积磷盈亏均呈显著正相关,其中双季稻年份土壤磷素 (P) 每盈余100 kg/hm2,NPK、NPKM处理有效磷分别增加4.5 mg/kg与11.2 mg/kg,而单季稻年份土壤磷素每亏缺100 kg/hm2,NPK、NPKM、NPKS处理有效磷分别减少14.6 mg/kg、23.9 mg/kg、25.9 mg/kg。双季稻磷肥年施用量 (P) 为26.2 kg/hm2时,土壤磷素呈盈亏持平状态。【结论】有机无机肥配施比单施化肥能够显著提高黄泥田土壤有效磷、全磷含量和磷素活化系数,有效磷含量与磷素累积盈亏密切相关,等磷素盈亏量下,有机无机肥配施的有效磷响应系数要高于单施化肥,而磷累积亏缺下,有效磷降幅响应比磷累积盈余下有效磷增幅响应大。     

不同施肥模式对南方黄泥田耕层有机碳固存及生产力的影响

【目的】探讨南方丘陵黄泥田不同施肥对耕层土壤有机碳固存及生产力的影响,促进区域农田固碳减排和作物高产。【方法】基于32年的长期定位试验,研究不施肥(CK)、单施化肥(NPK)、化肥+牛粪(NPKM)、化肥+全部稻草还田(NPKS)处理下,历年水稻产量、代表性年份耕层土壤有机碳含量及固碳速率的变化。【结果】NPK、NPKM、NPKS处理下水稻历年平均产量分别较CK高67.1%、88.1%和84.2%,差异显著,且NPKM、NPKS处理与NPK处理间亦具有显著差异。NPK、NPKM与NPKS处理耕层土壤有机碳历年平均含量比CK高8.9%~36.8%其中NPKM最高且亦显著高于NPKS与NPK处理。与初始土壤相比各处理有机碳含量增加1.84~5.26g/kg。以每10年为评价周期,NPKM、NPKS处理的固碳速率与CK及NPK差异均显著,其中双季稻年份NPKM与NPKS处理固碳速率分别是CK的2.38倍和1.98倍,是NPK处理的1.59倍与1.32倍但NPK处理与CK间差异不显著。稻田系统年均有机碳输入与有机碳固存间存在极显著幂函数关系,施肥土壤有机碳含量变化与籽粒产量变化间亦呈极显著正相关。【结论】南方黄泥田化肥配施有机肥或配合秸秆还田较单施化肥稳步提升水稻产量。长期不施肥土壤有机碳仍可维持低幅度增长,随着土壤有机碳含量升高,固碳效率逐步降低。化肥配施有机肥或配合秸秆还田较单施化肥明显提高了土壤的固碳速率二者均是提高黄泥田生产力与固碳能力的双赢措施。     

长期定位施肥对土壤磷素吸持特性与淋失突变点影响的研究

通过对黄土旱塬地区长期(26a)定位施肥条件下的不同施肥处理的土壤磷素及其吸持参数的测定,以及通过室内模拟试验对土壤磷素淋失突变点的测定,研究了土壤磷素吸持参数、土壤磷素淋失突变点和部分土壤性质之间的关系。结果表明,经过26年的长期施肥,M75P60和M75N120P60处理的Olsen-P含量比CK处理的提高了10.7和9.8倍,全磷(T-P)含量比CK处理的提高了60.4%和57.7%。长期磷肥和有机肥投入可以减低土壤磷素的最大吸附量(Qm),而提高土壤磷素的吸附饱和度(DPSS),M75N120P60处理的Qm比CK的减低了49.92%,而DPSS比CK的提高了21.5倍。相关分析表明,黄土旱塬土壤的Qm与Olsen-P、T-P和CaCl2-P呈极显著的负相关关系(P<0.01),与土壤有机质呈显著负相关关系(P<0.05)。零净吸附浓度磷(EPC0)与Olsen-P和CaCl2-P呈极显著正相关关系,与T-P和SOM也达到显著正相关,而与pH值的关系不显著,但土壤磷最大缓冲能力(MBC)与pH值的关系达到极显著。DPSS与Olsen-P、T-P、CaCl2-P和SOM呈极显著正相关关系。土壤磷素淋失的Olsen-P突变点值与土壤吸持参数Qm呈极显著正相关,与MBC也达到显著正相关,与DPSS、Olsen-P、T-P和CaCl2-P呈极显著负相关关系。该地区土壤磷素淋失的Olsen-P突变点值与DPSS15%的值极为吻合,即可以用DPSS15%值作为该地土壤磷素淋失的突变点值。     

长期施用化肥有机肥下我国典型土壤无机磷的变化特征

为阐明长期施用氮磷钾化肥(NPK)以及化肥有机肥配施(NPKM)对土壤无机磷组分的影响,采用蒋柏藩-顾益初无机磷分级体系,观测了我国6种典型农田土壤-红壤、紫色土、潮土、塿土、灰漠土和黑土15年长期施肥土壤无机磷形态和Olsen-P含量的变化。NPKM能比NPK更显著地增加土壤中全磷含量;能显著提高土壤Ca2-P的含量,在塿土中其提高量是NPK处理的4.07倍。施肥主要是增加了Ca8-P、Al-P和Fe-P含量,红壤Al-P、Fe-P增加量最大,分别达到237.7 mg kg-1和277.7 mg kg-1;NPKM对增加土壤Olsen-P含量的效果更加显著,在黑土和红壤中,其含量分别高达121.4 mg kg-1和98.4 mg kg-1;塿土和黑土Olsen-P含量比试验开始时分别增加了18.4和9.1倍。化肥有机肥配施对增加无机磷各组分和速效磷含量效果显著,主要增加Ca8-P、Al-P和Fe-P等活性较高的无机磷,黑土和红壤中Olsen-P含量达到较高水平,Ca8-P、Al-P或Fe-P为Olsen-P的主要磷源。     

柠檬酸对不同施肥处理灰漠土遗留磷的活化特征

明确土壤磷的活化潜力及释放特征是土壤遗留磷资源化利用的前提，以长期定位施肥的灰漠土为试验材料，选取不施肥（CK）、施氮磷钾化肥（NPK）、氮磷钾化肥与有机肥配施（NPKM）3种处理，以高浓度（10 mmol·L^-1）和低浓度（2 mmol·L^-1）柠檬酸对土壤遗留磷进行多次浸提，探究柠檬酸对长期不同施肥处理灰漠土遗留磷的活化潜力及特征。研究发现：不同施肥处理土壤遗留磷的活化总量为NPK > NPKM > CK，与土壤总磷含量变化一致；高、低浓度柠檬酸对供试灰漠土遗留磷的活化潜力基本相当（>80%）。供试土壤遗留磷的急剧释放伴随土壤pH的大幅下降，说明酸溶解是主要活化机制。高浓度柠檬酸活化整个阶段，NPK处理土壤磷的释放量均高于NPKM处理；而在低浓度柠檬酸处理前期，NPKM释放的磷量大于NPK，相关元素中仅与镁元素的释放一致，可见低浓度柠檬酸活化前期NPKM处理土壤磷的活化很可能来自镁磷。高浓度柠檬酸对灰漠土遗留磷的活化前期以无机Ca₈-P活化为主，后期以无机Ca₁₀-P活化为主。综上，柠檬酸可显著促进不同施肥处理灰漠土遗留磷的活化，鉴于灰漠土遗留磷的高活化潜力，可通过适当减量施肥及土壤磷高效利用管理等措施促进作物再利用。     

长期施磷黑土中磷的吸附–解吸特征及其影响因素

  【目的】  比较长期不施磷与施磷黑土对外源磷的吸附–解吸特征,为黑土区磷素管理提供理论基础。  【方法】  供试黑土长期定位试验位于吉林省公主岭市,始于1990年。2018年选择其中不施肥(CK),施氮钾肥(NK),施氮磷钾肥(NPK)和氮磷钾+有机肥(NPK+M) 4个处理小区,采集0—20、20—40和40—60 cm土层的土壤样品,分析了土壤理化性质,采用恒温平衡法测定了土壤磷的吸附–解吸特征,并由此计算得到磷最大吸附量(Q_m)、吸附亲和力常数(K_Q)、最大缓冲容量(MBC)、磷吸附饱和度(DPS)、最大解吸量(D_m)和解吸率(D_r)。  【结果】  随着平衡溶液中磷浓度的增加,磷的吸附量与解吸量均呈先快速增加后逐渐趋于平衡的过程。与不施磷处理(CK和NK)土壤相比,施磷处理(NPK、NPK+M)减少了磷的吸附量,增加了磷的解吸量。与不施磷处理相比,施磷处理在0—60 cm剖面上的Q_m和MBC值分别降低了4.94%～63.46%和15.90%～75.18%,D_r值增加了8.52%～474.0%,以NPK+M处理变化量最大。施磷处理比不施磷处理在0—60 cm土壤剖面上全磷和有机质含量分别增加了34.40%～145.5%和12.77%～50.07%,游离态铁铝氧化物(Fe_d+Al_d)含量降低了5.14%～11.35%。冗余分析表明,不施磷处理土壤的有机质、Fe_d+Al_d和全磷,以及施磷处理中的Fe_d+Al_d、络合态铁铝氧化物(Fe_p+Al_p)、pH和有机质是影响磷吸附解吸特征参数的主要土壤因子,分别解释了不施磷和施磷处理全部变异的77.59%和90.62%。土壤有效磷(Olsen-P)与磷吸附饱和度(DPS)相关关系表明,所研究的黑土DPS环境界限值为8%左右,NPK+M处理中3个土层的DPS_M-P值(由Mehlich-3 浸提的磷、铁和铝计算)为7.77%～25.96%,DPS_O-P值(由Olsen-P和Q_m计算)为17.24%～24.75%,均高于此环境界限值,具有磷素流失的风险。  【结论】  长期施磷降低了黑土对外源磷的吸附量,增加了磷解吸量。长期不施磷肥,土壤对磷的吸附和解吸主要受有机质、游离态铁铝氧化物的影响。而长期施肥,特别是有机肥与化肥配合处理,土壤中游离态和络合态铁铝氧化物、有机质及pH是影响磷吸附解吸特征的主要因素。     

长期施肥下新疆灰漠土有机碳及作物产量演变

为明确长期不同施肥下新疆灰漠土有机碳和作物产量演变特征,依托始于1990年的灰漠土肥力长期定位监测试验,选择对照(CK,不施肥)、施氮磷肥(NP)、氮磷钾平衡施肥(NPK)、氮磷钾配合常量有机肥(NPKM)、氮磷钾配合高量有机肥(h NPKM,有机肥施用量为NPKM的2倍)、氮磷钾配合秸秆还田(NPKS)6个处理,分析不同处理下土壤有机碳和小麦、玉米产量演变特征,探讨碳投入及有机碳与作物产量的关系。结果表明:1)长期耗竭种植(CK)、连续施用NP或NPK肥,灰漠土有机碳含量持续下降,年均下降速率分别为0.094 g·kg~(-1)、0.043 g·kg~(-1)和0.053 g·kg~(-1),表明施化肥(NP、NPK)不能维持土壤有机碳含量,不利于土壤肥力的保持。NPKM和h NPKM处理,土壤有机碳显著增加,年均增加0.360 g·kg~(-1)和0.575 g·kg~(-1),增施有机肥是快速提高灰漠土肥力的重要措施。秸秆还田处理(NKPS),土壤有机碳年均增幅0.006 g·kg~(-1),与NPK处理对比,秸秆还田虽没有大幅度提高土壤有机碳,但维持了土壤肥力。2)较CK,长期化肥有机肥配施(NPKM、h NPKM)显著增加了作物产量(P0.05)。与NP和NPK比较,长期化肥有机肥配施显著提高了小麦产量(P0.05),但玉米产量与施化肥处理差异不显著(P0.05),玉米产量以平衡施肥(NPK)的增幅最高,达到220 kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)。小麦的产量变异系数(29.1%~43.9%)高于玉米产量变异(19.0%~32.7%)。化肥配合秸秆还田(NPKS)处理的小麦增产幅度与高量施用有机肥(h NPKM)处理接近,喻示了秸秆还田对作物增产的作用不可忽视。3)碳投入与土壤有机碳和小麦、玉米产量有显著线性正相关(P0.05)。基于以上分析,在干旱区灰漠土增加土壤碳投入(有机肥或秸秆)仍然是最基本的土壤培肥措施。     

“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.     

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     

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.     

Collection and preliminary evaluation of native turfgrass accessions in Italy

Despite a raising interest on turfs in Italy, all theavailable varieties of this kind in the Country are of foreign origin, and areoften poorly adapted to the prevailing climatic conditions. This prompted tobegin a collection activity of indigenous turfgrass species, with the ultimategoal of identifying promising materials for future breeding based on localgenetic resources. The collection was carried out in three areas of Italy, viz.the northern Po Plain, the coastal region of Liguria, and the island of Sardiniathat are characterised, respectively, by subcontinental, warm temperate, andtypical Mediterranean climate. Altogether, 141 sites were visited, yielding 226accessions belonging to eight species of potential interest for turfs:Poa pratensis, Poa trivialis,Festuca rubra, Festuca arundinacea,Lolium perenne, Agrostis stolonifera,Agrostis tenuis, and Cynodon dactylon,this last being a warm-season grass. Poa pratensis andCynodon dactylon were mostly collected in northern Italyand Sardinia, respectively, whereas Festuca arundinacea andLolium perenne were rather ubiquitous. The collection sitesranged from 0 to 1040 m asl, but sites over 750 m wereonly visited in the inner part of Sardinia. All the accessions, collected aswhole plants, were transplanted at Lodi, northern Italy, where they are beingevaluated. Their preliminary evaluation for traits of importance for turf use,such as sward colour and overall quality, highlighted the great variation andthe occurrence of interesting accessions in all species. Other characters wererecorded, bearing specific importance in individual species, and in all casespromising accessions were identified. The germplasm of Festucarubra, Festuca arundinacea, and Loliumperenne proved highly infected by endophytic (symbiotic) fungi of thegenus Neotyphodium.     

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.     

Leaf position and genotype differences for mineral element concentrations in sorghum grown on tropical acid soil 1

Mineral element deficiencies and toxicities are common problems associated with sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] production on acid soils. To better understand some of the mineral element problems and the analysis of plant tissue of sorghum plants grown on acid soils, four sorghum genotypes were grown on an acid Oxisol at Carimagua, Colombia limed with dolomite at 2 and 6 Mg ha^‐1.

Samples for mineral element analyses were obtained from leaves at different positions on the four genotypes. Concentrations of P and Mg were highest in the flag leaf (Leaf No. 1) and decreased as the position on the plant declined from the top of the plant for plants grown at 2 Mg lime ha^‐1. Similar decreases in P, Mg, K, and Zn concentrations occurred in plants grown with 6 Mg lime ha^‐1. Concentrations of Ca, S, Si, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Al increased as leaf position declined from the flag leaf for plants grown at 2 and 6 Mg lime ha^‐1. The higher lime supply enhanced Ca and reduced Mn and Fe concentrations in leaves. Differences in mineral element concentrations for the four genotypes used were fairly extensive. The elements to show the greatest range among genotypes were Al and Si and the elements to show the least range among genotypes were P, K, and S. Care should be used in collecting leaf samples for plant analysis and genotypic differences for accumulation of mineral elements should be considered in interpretation of results.