PTFE基复合材料的土壤粘附与磨料磨损的研究

研究了Al₂O₃颗粒填充PTFE和PTFE+50％(wt)PPS基复合材料表面上水的润湿及土壤粘附和磨料磨损特性。加入适当含量和一定尺寸的Al₂O₃粒子可提高水的前进接触角θ_a并使减粘性能保持在较高水平。PTFE(+PPS)—Al₂O₃复合材料表面在憎水性和非光滑性方面与某些土壤动物体表有相似特性。适量Al₂O₃粒子的弥散可明显提高复合材料的耐磨料磨损性能,且PPS可进一步改进复合材料的耐磨性。     

化学非光滑表面和几何粗糙表面的润湿性

研究了弥散Al₂O₃粒子的尼龙1010基复合涂层和喷涂T8钢—浸渍聚有机硅氧烷的复合涂层两类化学非光滑表面及聚乙烯、聚苯乙烯、尼龙6、尼龙1010、T8钢、45钢和Al₂O₃粗糙表面的润湿性。导出了弥散球形粒子型化学非光滑表面上液体接触角与其组成相固有接触角关系的方程,该方程与尼龙1010—Al₂O₃粒子复合涂层表面接触角试验结果吻合良好。在尼龙1010基体中加入适量Al₂O₃粒子后,液体接触角未发生明显变化;T8钢喷涂层浸渍聚有机硅氧烷后,表面憎水性明显增强;材料的固有接触角越远离90°,表面粗糙性对接触角的影响越明显。     

无芒雀麦与苜蓿混播草地生产力提升的水氮调控模式

针对西北干旱草原区天然草地退化、水土流失严重以及人工草地生产力低下等问题,研究种植模式和水氮调控对牧草产量、品质和水氮利用效率的影响,以期获得高产高效的草地管理模式。以3年生紫花苜蓿和无芒雀麦(2018年播种)为试验材料,分析种植模式(无芒雀麦与苜蓿混播D1,无芒雀麦单播D2)、施氮(纯氮)量(N1:60 kg/hm²;N2:120 kg/hm²)和灌水量(以灌水下限占田间持水量θ_f的百分比计,轻度亏水 65%θ_f、中度亏水 55%θ_f、重度亏水 45%θ_f分别记为W1、W2、W3,灌水上限均为85%θ_f)3个因素对牧草产量、品质和水氮利用效率的影响。结果表明:(1)增加灌水量和施氮量有利于牧草株高和茎粗的生长,与W3N1处理相比,W1N2处理混播苜蓿、混播无芒雀麦和单播无芒雀麦三茬平均株高分别增加27.41%,20.26%和26.55%,茎粗分别增加11.32%,4.11%和20.98%;混播对无芒雀麦株高有促进作用,对茎粗有抑制作用。(2)灌水量和施氮量的增加有利于提高牧草产量和品质,W1N2处理牧草年产量和粗蛋白(CP)含量最高,与W3N1处理相比,W1N2处理下混播牧草年产量、CP含量分别增加42.16%,27.00%,单播牧草年产量、CP含量分别增加38.59%,37.26%,混播牧草ADF和NDF分别降低19.56%和33.86%,单播牧草ADF和NDF分别降低21.29%和25.53%。(3)随着灌水量的增加,IWUE和WUE减小,PFP_N增大;增加施氮量,混播模式IWUE、WUE和PFP_N均减小,单播模式IWUE和PFP_N减少,WUE增大。(4)基于主成分分析得出,混播模式轻度亏水(灌水下限65%θ_f)高氮量(120 kg/hm²)处理综合得分最高,为适宜的水氮管理模式。研究结果可为西北干旱半干旱草原区牧草的种植管理提供理论依据。     

淮北主要土壤持水性能及其与颗粒组成的关系

本文研究了淮北主要耕作土壤的持水曲线、颗粒组成和微团聚体组成等物理性质,发现经验方程θ=AS^-B在中、低吸力段对土壤持水曲线有良好的模拟性,F检验都达到0.001的显著性水平。由此推导出比水容量为:C_θ=-(dθ/ds)=ABS^-(B+1),用解析法计算出各吸力值下不同土壤的比水容量,并认为AB值可作为土壤持水性能好坏的评价指标。同时尝试了以对数S型曲线的I型:P=1/a₂+b₂c^-lgD拟合土壤的颗粒大小分配曲线,以Ⅱ型:N(μ,σ)=a₂+b₂ lgD拟合微团聚体分布曲线,得到了较好的结果。并分析了土壤水分性质与其它物理性质的关系,以及这三个拟合方程中各参数的意义与相互关系,说明该区域土壤持水性能与颗粒组成、微团聚体有密切相关。     

非饱和水分运动参数空间变异的研究

田块尺度土壤特性的空间变异性对水分与溶质运移具有明显的影响。该研究在野外30m×30m面积、土壤类型为砂壤土的田块的100个空间点上,分别利用张力计和取土样室内测定的方法测定了30cm土层深处土壤水张力、土壤容重ρ、饱和含水率θ_s,与初始含水率θ_i,同时利用圭尔夫仪,测定了该田块同样深度108个空间点上的饱和水力传导度K_s与孔隙大小分布参数α。利用经典统计分析与地质统计分析方法分析上述参数的空间变异特征,研究结果表明:ρ,θ_i,θ_s,K_s和容水度C遵从正态分布,而α具有对数正态分布;K_s,α和C具有较大的空间变异性,而ρ和θ_s的空间变异性则较小;K_s和logα是空间统计相关的;土壤水张力的空间变异具有时不变特征,且土壤水张力方差是其均值的二次函数     

赤子爱胜蚓Eisenia foetida体表形貌及润湿性的研究

以东北蚯蚓常见种赤子爱胜蚓（Eisenia foetida）为实验样本,对其处于收缩、静息和舒张三种状态下的体前部及体中部的体表形貌进行观察拍照和三维扫描,并对其体表接触角进行测量。结果表明收缩态、静息态和舒张态具有不同的非光滑单元密度及表面粗糙度,其接触角也存在显著性差别。收缩态非光滑单元密度和表面粗糙度最大,接触角也最大,即润湿性最差;舒张态非光滑单元密度和表面粗糙度最小,接触角同样最小,即润湿性最好;静息态各参数则处于中间水平。据此,初步建立了蚯蚓体表非光滑单元密度及表面粗糙度与表面润湿性之间的关系,进一步证实了波纹形非光滑结构模型所提出的波形比与润湿性之间的反比关系。     

控制性根系分区交替灌溉对冬小麦水分与养分利用的影响

以移栽小麦为试验材料，采用盆栽的方法研究了3种不同灌水方式：全面积均匀灌水(对照)、控制1/2区域交替灌水(CRDI)和控制固定1/2区域灌水对冬小麦水分与养分利用的影响。研究结果表明：在同一灌水方式中土壤含水率下限小的冬小麦根冠比大，且根系总的干重也大；CRDI对根系生长有显著促进作用，使根均匀分布在土壤中，且根长密度较对照大；对于CRDI，当控制土壤含水率下限由65％θ_F变化为55％θ_F时，耗水量下降了35％，节水效果明显；土壤含水率较高，有利于冬小麦根系对土壤中离子态养分的吸收；土壤含水率下限相同时，3种不同的灌水方式中，土壤中H₂PO^-₄和NH⁺₄-N离子浓度均呈现出递减的趋势，而NO^-₃-N离子浓度却呈现出明显的递增趋势，在同一土壤含水率下，CRDI对养分离子的吸收优于其它两种灌水方式。     

不同复水方式对大豆拉丝蛋白复水品质的影响及动力学模型构建

大豆拉丝蛋白（textured fibril soy protein,TFSP）是经螺杆挤压技术生产的具有类似肉纤维结构的高密度植物蛋白,复水处理后常被用来加工仿真肉产品。为了提高TFSP的复水品质,该研究在40 ℃条件下,采用不同的超声功率和NaHCO₃浓度对TFSP 进行复水处理,通过对复水动力学模型的构建预测其复水过程,并探究不同复水方式对TFSP理化性质及微观结构的影响。结果显示,与纯水组相比,TFSP复水至120 min时,500 W超声组的最终含水率提高27.14 %、复水时间缩短20 min;2.000 %NaHCO₃组的最终含水率提高23.41 %,复水时间无明显变化。Weibull模型可较好的拟合对照组（R²≥0.993 3）、超声组（R²≥0.990 5）和NaHCO₃组（R²≥0.986 7）的TFSP复水过程。超声和NaHCO₃处理均略微降低了复水TFSP的色泽,但提高了其持水能力和不易流动水含量。复水TFSP的硬度、咀嚼性、组织化度发生变化,弹性无明显差异。400 W超声组的组织化度最大,较对照组提高41.80 %;0.250 %NaHCO₃组的硬度达到最小,较对照组减小54.17 %。扫描电镜（scanning electron microscope,SEM）观察显示,超声和NaHCO₃处理改变了复水TFSP的微观结构,使其孔隙增大,加速水分传输速率,提高了容纳水的能力。因此,若以最大组织化度为主要评价指标,应选择超声辅助TFSP复水,而若以最低硬度为主要评价指标,则选择NaHCO₃辅助复水效果为好。该研究结果可为采用不同复水方式、开发不同品质的TFSP制品提供理论基础和参考。     

两种夏威夷热带土壤的表面电荷特征

本文研究了典型三水铝矿腐殖质氧化土(Hadii Soil)和水化不饱和火山灰始成土(Maile Soil)的表面电荷特征。测出Maile粉砂壤土的比表面比Halii粉砂粘土的比表面将近要大一倍。Maile粉砂壤土的表面电荷零点(pH₀)为5.90,Halii粉砂粘土的pH₀为4.55;钙离子的吸附使土壤的pH₀移至较低值,硫酸根离子的吸附使pH₀移至较高值。Maile粉砂壤土的pH₀>ZPNC(净电荷零点),Halii粉砂粘土的pH₀<ZPNC。根据Uehara和Gillman^[12]表面电荷模式,Halii粉砂粘土带永久净正电荷,Maile粉砂壤土带永久净负电荷。     

脱硫石膏与聚谷氨酸配施对盐碱化土壤的改良效果

[目的] 探究脱硫石膏与聚谷氨酸（γ-PGA）配施对盐碱化土壤的改良效果,为改良西北地区盐碱化土壤提供理论和技术依据。[方法] 通过土柱模拟淋溶试验和盆栽模拟生长试验,从促进盐分淋洗,降低土壤含盐量,降低土壤pH值,改善土壤养分状况,促进作物生长的角度对脱硫石膏和γ-PGA配合施用对盐碱地的改良效果进行研究。[结果] 脱硫石膏与γ-PGA配施能进一步降低淋后土壤的pH值,提高Na⁺淋洗;可降低淋洗后HCO₃^-和Cl^-的含量,但提高淋洗后土壤SO₄^2-,Ca²⁺和Mg²⁺含量;有效降低淋后土壤钠吸附比（SAR）值。盆栽试验表明脱硫石膏与γ-PGA配施可显著增加玉米的株高、叶面积和干重,其中生长30 d时该处理玉米干重达到最大值,较对照处理增加了54.40%,较单施脱硫石膏和γ-PGA处理分别增加了40.27%和29.47%。此外,脱硫石膏与γ-PGA配施植株收获后土壤的pH值更低,且土壤N,P,K养分含量和土壤酶活性更高。[结论] 脱硫石膏和γ-PGA配施能起到较好的互补增效作用,进一步促进了土壤离子交换,降低了pH值,提高了土壤养分含量,促进了作物生长。     

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