改性生物炭对重金属污染修复研究进展及其机制分析

土壤重金属污染严重威胁农业安全。近年来,生物炭作为一种土壤重金属污染修复的新型材料受到广大学者的关注,如何通过改性方法强化生物炭吸附能力,提高生物炭的安全性、高效性和环境友好性是近年来的研究热点。论文综述了生物炭的基本特征,改性生物炭的原料来源,常见改性方法,吸附固定重金属的作用机制,并对改性生物炭功能及其应用拓展进行了展望,以期为土壤重金属修复材料的筛选提供理论依据。     

生物炭修复重金属污染农田土壤的机制及应用研究进展

将生物质转化为生物炭并用于重金属污染农田土壤修复中,是有效利用生物质资源、保障粮食安全的有效途径之一。然而,生物炭的应用效率受其特性和土壤环境影响极大。该研究综述了生物炭特性,并探讨了生物质和热解温度对其影响规律,阐明了生物炭对重金属的直接固定作用,以及通过影响土壤p H值、阳离子交换量(Cation Exchange Capacity,CEC)、矿物组分和有机质等,进而间接固定重金属的作用机制。同时,该文系统总结了国内外生物炭在田间试验中的应用,从土壤重金属迁移性和生物有效性、作物累积重金属和作物产量等3个方面阐明了生物炭的应用效果和作用规律。针对田间试验条件区别于室内试验的特殊性,探讨了生物炭施撒方式及用量、施肥等田间管理和气候环境等现场条件对生物炭应用的影响,并对今后完善生物炭在土壤修复中作用机制、扩大研究尺度和长期土壤监测等方面研究进行了展望。     

大豆秸秆生物炭对铅锌尾矿污染土壤的修复作用

采用盆栽空心菜的方法,研究了大豆桔杆生物炭对铅锌尾矿污染土壤的修复作用。污染土壤中Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd含量分别为50,400,1 119,3.4mg/kg。结果表明:土壤无论是否受到铅锌尾矿污染,添加3%生物炭(w/w)均能显著提高土壤pH;3%生物炭能够抑制铅锌尾矿污染导致的土壤pH降低。大豆桔杆生物炭对尾矿污染土壤和未污染土壤中重金属有效态的影响不同,与未污染土壤相比,3%生物炭的钝化作用不能抵消铅锌尾矿污染导致的重金属有效态含量的增加。铅锌尾矿污染抑制空心菜生长;施加3%生物炭可以消除铅锌尾矿污染对空心菜生长的抑制作用。生物炭显著降低污染土壤空心菜根部重金属含量,而对地上部分的影响,不同元素表现出不同的特点;3%生物炭能够阻控铅锌尾矿污染土壤中Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd向空心菜地上部迁移富集。大豆桔杆生物炭对空心菜吸收重金属的影响,在铅锌尾矿污染土壤和未污染土壤上表现不同,存在元素之间的拮抗作用以及由于生物炭提高空心菜生物量所产生的稀释作用。在研究设置条件下,与未污染土壤相比,从空心菜生物量和可食部分吸收重金属含量来评价,施加3%大豆桔杆生物炭可以修复铅锌尾矿导致的土壤污染。     

生物炭复配矿物质钝化修复重金属复合污染土壤的研究

选取稻壳生物炭、木屑生物炭、羟基磷灰石及蒙脱石作为钝化材料,按钝化剂5:土壤100的重量比添加到重金属复合污染土壤中,通过测定土壤重金属形态变化,研究了钝化材料修复重金属复合污染土壤的效果及其机理。结果表明:生物炭和矿物质均能有效固定土壤中重金属,其中羟基磷灰石的钝化效果最好,对土壤镉、铜和铅的固定化率分别为76.24%、74.26%和98.13%。蒙脱石的钝化效果最差。添加钝化剂后土壤重金属中的酸可提取态和可还原态向着更加稳定的可氧化态和残渣态转化,土壤重金属活性态比例下降。生物炭复配矿物质处理对土壤重金属的钝化效果介于单一生物炭处理和单一矿物质处理之间。此外,生物炭及矿物质均能有效地提高土壤pH,pH可能是影响土壤修复效果的关键因素。     

生物炭吸附重金属机理及其应用技术研究进展

生物炭是以动植物残体等有机物料为原料,在缺氧的条件下经过高温热解得到的高度碳化的物质;因其具有优良的过滤和吸附特性而被应用于水体净化和重金属污染土壤修复。论文对不同原料加工而成的生物炭的物理化学性质差异、生物炭吸附重金属的机理及其在净化污水和修复重金属污染土壤上应用的研究进展进行综述,并对未来这一领域研究的发展方向进行了展望;指出生物炭具有巨大的利用价值和广阔的应用前景,但生物炭本身特别是改性后在吸附性能改变的同时是否会造成二次污染问题值得关注。     

生物炭对铜矿区污染土壤微生物活性及香根草富集铜、镉、铅的影响

矿区土壤易发生重金属污染,是土地资源利用和维护的一大难题。以铜矿区污染土壤为研究对象,按质量比添加0,1%,2%,4%,10% (w/w)的生物炭,进行香根草室内盆栽试验。研究添加生物炭对土壤pH和微生物活性、香根草富集与转运重金属的影响,探明重金属形态含量与生物炭、微生物活性的相关性,旨在为生物炭与香根草联合修复矿区重金属污染土壤提供理论参考。结果表明:生物炭的添加能提高土壤pH,显著提高土壤FDA水解酶、蔗糖酶和脲酶活性,显著促进土壤基础呼吸,但对土壤微生物量碳无显著影响;生物炭的添加使香根草生物量显著增大,降低土壤Cu和Pb的有效态占比,Cd的变化与此相反;添加生物炭促进香根草对Cd和Pb的富集,降低香根草对Cu的富集,减少Cu、Cd和Pb在香根草体内的转运,因此香根草可作为Cu、Cd和Pb的稳定化植物。土壤蔗糖酶活性与香根草叶片Cu、Cd和Pb含量、有效态和残渣态Cu含量呈显著正相关,土壤基础呼吸与叶片Cu、Cd和Pb含量、有效态Cu、Pb含量呈显著负相关,而与有效态Cd含量呈显著正相关。总之,生物炭可减弱矿区土壤重金属对香根草生长的毒害作用,并促进香根草对重金属的富集,两者结合可改善铜矿区污染土壤的理化性质和微生物活性,有利于重金属污染土壤修复,改善土壤质量。     

中碱性镉污染农田原位钝化修复材料研究进展

农田土壤重金属污染威胁人类健康,其修复成为环境领域的研究热点。钝化修复因具有修复速率快、成本低、操作简单、不影响农业生产等特点,广泛应用于大面积重金属污染农田尤其是酸性农田修复治理中。相应,针对酸性重金属污染土壤的钝化修复材料也得到了广泛研究,然而,针对中碱性重金属污染土壤的钝化材料研究相对较少。从无机类、有机类以及复合型3种类型的修复材料概述了钝化修复材料在中碱性Cd污染土壤中的研究进展。总结了中碱性重金属污染土壤钝化修复材料以选用复合型材料为宜,且以钙镁磷肥、椰壳生物炭、油菜秸秆生物炭、腐殖酸形成有机-无机复合效果较好且经济环保。其次,从钝化剂的合理施用、风险评估等方面提出展望,以期为中碱性农田土壤重金属污染修复提供参考。     

农业废弃物基生物炭的应用效应研究进展

生物炭因结构和理化性质独特、原材料丰富及应用前景广阔等特点,在农业及环境污染治理等领域的应用较为广泛。基于相关文献,综述了农业废弃物基生物炭在改善土壤理化性质、提高土壤养分、改善土壤微生态环境、促进作物生长、修复污染土壤及缓解连作障碍等方面的效应,旨在为农业废弃物基生物炭在农业生产中的应用提供参考。     

生物炭及炭基硝酸铵肥料对土壤化学性质及作物产量的影响

为了促进生物炭研究和农用,采用盆栽试验研究了两种生物炭基氮肥及相应生物炭对土壤部分化学性质、养分状况及作物产量的影响。试验结果表明：施用生物炭基氮肥可显著提高土壤有机碳含量,提高土壤pH值、阳离子交换量、土壤速效磷、速效钾和矿质态氮含量,增强土壤保肥能力,促进作物增产。生物炭对土壤化学性质和养分状况虽有一定改善作用,但作物增产效应不明显甚至减产。因此,将生物炭与肥料复合制成生物炭基肥料不但可以保持生物炭改良土壤的功能,还可促进作物生长和增产,有利于生物炭农用效益的提升。     

生物炭对不同酸化水平稻田土壤性质和重金属Cu、Cd有效性影响

针对南方稻田土壤酸化严重,导致养分流失有毒重金属活化,严重影响稻米质量安全的重大现实问题。以水稻秸秆和谷壳等农业废弃物为原料制备生物炭(分别记为RSC和RHC),研究不同原料生物炭对酸化土壤改良及其对重金属有效性的影响。设置3个生物炭用量(0,20,50 g/kg,分别记为CK、C1、C2),4种土壤酸化水平(pH 4.01,4.25,4.33,4.58,分别记为L1、L2、L3、L4),生物炭与重金属污染土壤共同培养60天后测定土壤pH、全氮、有机质、有效磷、速效钾和有效态Cu、Cd含量。结果表明:RSC对酸化土壤pH的改良效果明显优于RHC,且施炭量越高提高幅度越大,RSC的C2处理使4种酸度水平的土壤pH分别提高了0.68,0.97,1.29,1.71个单位。2种生物炭均能提高土壤的全氮、有效磷、速效钾和有机质含量,其中各施炭处理有机质显著提高,尤以速效钾的增幅最为显著,RSC对4种养分的提高均优于RHC。RHC对土壤有效态Cu含量无显著影响;RSC的C2较C1处理更能降低土壤中有效态Cu含量,使4种酸度水平的土壤分别降低了13.62%,6.57%,4.36%,7.88%。RHC处理的L3、L4土壤中有效态Cd含量显著降低,最大分别降低了13.79%,19.23%。RSC使4种酸度土壤有效态Cd含量最大分别降低了20.00%,25.81%,20.69%,19.23%。相关分析表明,土壤pH与有效态重金属含量呈显著负相关关系。水稻秸秆炭用于改良酸化土壤、降低重金属Cu和Cd有效性的效果更佳,且降低污染土壤中Cd的有效性较Cu好;生物炭对酸化程度越低的土壤pH和有效磷含量的提高以及有效态Cd含量的降低效果较好,而有效态Cu含量的降低效果则在酸化程度越高的土壤中表现更佳;土壤pH是生物炭调控重金属Cu、Cd有效性的主要影响因素。     

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,     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.