太湖地区稻麦轮作农田氮素淋洗特点

通过排水采集器模拟试验研究了太湖地区不同施肥水平下农田N素淋洗特点.结果表明,N的渗漏损失以硝态氮(NO-3-N)为主,并发生在麦季,铵态氮(NH+4-N)淋洗量则很少,NO-3-N的量占渗漏液总N量的43%～72%,浓度为20～110mg/kg;渗漏水中N的含量与土壤N的淋洗量随施肥量的增加而增加,麦季土壤中NO-3-N的总淋洗量为17.8～58.5kg/hm2,平均为39.2kg/hm2,净淋洗量为5.5～40.7kg/hm2,平均为21.4kg/hm2,占施肥量的3.7%～12.2%;与纯化肥处理比较,化肥+猪粪处理增加了农田N的淋失,化肥+秸秆处理减少了土壤中N的淋失.与麦田渗漏水相比较,稻田渗漏水除水稻生长早期的部分样品外,NO-3-N和NH+4-N含量均很低,分别在1mg/kg和0.5mg/kg以下.     

灌溉对黄土层中全氮含量淋失的试验研究

通过室内土柱渗透试验及氮平衡分析,研究一定施氮水平、不同灌溉水平条件下黄土层中氮素的运移规律和淋失强度。试验结果表明:土壤水分是氮素淋失的运载介质和主控因素,当施氮水平为6mg/cm2时,渗透层土壤含氮量与灌水量呈负相关关系;土壤含水量及土壤层氮淋失率与灌水量呈正相关关系、与氮素浓度呈负相关关系;当灌水量大于229.3mm时,51cm深处土壤层氮淋失率将大于37.18%。因此,在黄土地区,为防止氮素流失和地下水污染,应严格控制灌水量。     

施肥对设施番茄-黄瓜养分利用与土壤氮素淋失的影响

以宁夏引黄灌区设施番茄-黄瓜为研究对象,利用田间定位试验,研究了不同施肥措施对蔬菜产量、养分吸收利用及淋溶水产生和氮素淋失动态的影响,并对氮素淋失量及淋失率进行了分析。结果表明,常规施肥和优化施肥间番茄和黄瓜果实产量差异都不显著,养分吸收量顺序为:K＞N＞P。两季蔬菜的N、P肥利用率都不到7%,而K肥利用率最高仅12.3%。氮素淋失量与施肥灌水和蔬菜生育时期密切相关。同一施肥处理下,黄瓜季氮素淋失量高于番茄季;氮素淋失以硝态氮为主,占总氮比例70%以上。番茄季总氮、硝态氮淋失率分别为2.95%～6.65%和2.50%～5.56%;黄瓜分别为3.40%～6.96%和2.89%～5.70%。两季蔬菜铵态氮淋失率都低于1%。通过优化化肥用量和施用高C/N比有机肥或秸秆调节土壤C/N,有利于降低氮素的淋失量,从而减少氮素的损失。     

日光温室番茄灌水量与根层硝态氮淋溶特征及渗漏关系研究

针对蔬菜灌溉水肥渗漏问题,采用田间试验和室内分析相结合,研究了番茄膜下沟灌灌水量与土壤硝态氮的根层外渗漏关系,分析了灌水量与不同根层土壤硝态氮的淋溶和保蓄特征,结果表明:灌溉不施肥条件下灌水量与土壤硝态氮淋溶量和淋溶率、灌溉施肥条件下灌水量与土壤施入硝态氮的保蓄率和渗漏率均呈直线关系;灌溉均会引起浅根层(0—20 cm)硝态氮淋溶,灌溉施肥条件下7.5～15 mm灌水量范围硝态氮积累有一个峰值,而22.5～45 mm范围则有两个峰值;灌水量在7.5～15mm之间,灌溉不施肥条件下根层土壤硝态氮淋溶率为0,灌溉施肥条件下土壤硝态氮渗漏率为0～5.19%;灌水量在22.5～45 mm之间,灌溉不施肥土壤硝态氮淋溶率为5.38%～19.08%,灌溉施肥条件下根层土壤硝态氮渗漏率为21.91%～61.96%。日光温室番茄膜下沟灌能减少肥料淋溶与渗漏的节水灌水量为15 mm。     

太湖地区稻麦轮作农田氮素淋洗特点

通过排水采集器模拟试验研究了太湖地区不同施肥水平下农田N素淋洗特点。结果表明,N的渗漏损失以硝态氮（NO3^--N）为主,并发生在麦季,铵态氮（NH4^ -N)淋洗量则很少,NO3^--N的量占渗漏液总N量的43%-72%,浓度为20-110mg/kg;渗漏水中N的含量与土壤N的淋洗量随施肥量的增加而增加,麦季土壤中NO3^--N肥量的3.7%-12.2%;与纯化肥处理比较,化肥 猪粪处理增加了农田N的淋失,化肥 秸秆处理减少了土壤中N的淋失,与麦田渗漏水相比较,稻田渗漏水除水稻生长早期的部分样品外,NO3^--N和NH4^ -N含量均很低,分别在1mg/kg和0.5mg/kg以下。     

农业区环境-经济综合效益模型构建及应用

农业经济发展与环境保护是既有矛盾又紧密联系的2个重要问题。为了客观科学地进行农业环境效益和经济效益的评价,该文以位山灌区为例,构建了农业区环境-经济综合效益模型,以农业净收益最大化为目标函数,以环境限制(氮淋失量)为约束,利用Hydrus-1D模型模拟计算了不同灌溉和施肥情景下的氮淋失量、根系吸氮量和作物产量,得出作物产量、氮淋失量与灌溉量和施肥量之间的回归方程系数,再利用Matlab优化工具得出不同的氮淋失量控制条件下的灌区优化施肥和灌溉方案。结果表明,农作物净收益随着环境限制条件的放松(即允许氮淋失量的增大)而增加,但增加速度逐渐减缓,表明以牺牲环境达到农业增收的边际效益呈递减趋势。位山灌区在允许氮淋失量为500 kg/hm2(以N计)时的净收益达到最大,相应的灌溉量为240 mm,施肥量为732 kg/hm2(以N计)。如需更严格控制氮淋失量,施肥量将受到限制,可能导致农民净收益减少,政府可通过农业环境补贴的方式进行经济补偿,以鼓励更环保的生产活动。通过科学合理的灌溉量和施肥量指导,可以实现经济效益和环境效益的双赢。研究结果可为灌区农业环境管理和政府环境保护补偿方式的制定提供参考。     

热带亚热带酸性土壤硝化作用与氮淋溶特征

通过室内好气培养和土柱模拟淋洗培养试验,研究了氨基氮肥加入对热带亚热带4种不同性质和利用方式酸性土壤硝化、氮及盐基离子淋溶、土壤及淋出液酸化的影响。4种土壤分别为采自花岗岩发育的海南林地砖红壤(HR)、玄武岩发育的云南林地砖红壤(YR)、第四纪红黏土发育的江西旱地红壤(RU)和第四纪下蜀黄土发育的江苏旱地黄棕壤(YU)。结果表明:4种土壤硝化作用大小表现为YURUYRHR。HR主要以可溶性有机氮(DON)和NH_4~+-N形态淋失,YU土壤的氮淋溶形态以NO_3~–-N为主,YR和RU土壤的氮淋溶形态NO_3~–-N、NH_4~+-N和DON兼而有之。盐基离子总淋失量与NO_3~–-N淋失量显著正相关,但各盐基离子淋失由于离子本性和土壤性质差异并不完全一致。Ca~(2+)在缓冲外源NH_4~+-N硝化致酸和平衡NO_3~–-N淋失所带负电荷过程中起重要作用。在阳离子交换量小、盐基饱和度低的土壤(如RU土壤),外源NH_4~+-N的硝化和淋失不仅导致盐基离子淋失,而且引发NH_4~+-N、甚至是H~+淋失。综上,热带亚热带地区土壤上外源氮输入的增加可能会在更短的时间内导致氮素向系统外的流失,引发环境问题。     

污水灌溉对稻田土壤氮磷淋失动态变化的影响

通过模拟稻田灌溉大型淋洗柱试验,在污染河水灌溉条件下对太湖地区水稻生长季两种主要类型的稻田土壤--黄泥土和乌珊土的氮磷淋洗特征进行了研究.结果表明,在灌溉淹水初期,不同形态氮素的淋失量均比较高,并达到峰值,以后淋失量逐渐降低,说明淹水初期淋失的氮素不是来源于灌溉河水,而是主要来自土壤氮.到淹水后期,NO3--N和NH4 -N淋失量接近零值,但仍能观测到可溶性有机氮淋失现象,这表明可溶性有机氮是污水灌溉稻田土壤主要的氮素淋失形态.而磷素的淋失动态与氮素的淋失动态截然相反,在灌溉淹水后很长一段时间内均观测不到土壤磷素淋失,但在淹水灌溉的淹水后期,发现土壤磷素有淋溶损失现象,这可能是利用富营养化的河水长期淹水后,土壤对磷的吸持已达到饱和状态,土壤不能继续固持多余的磷素所致.     

基于氮收支平衡的河套灌区春小麦农田灌溉和施氮策略

针对中国黄河中上游河套灌区不合理灌溉和施肥造成的土壤氮素流失严重及氮收支不平衡等问题,该研究于2019－2021年开展田间试验,探讨不同灌溉和施肥策略对土壤氮损失、作物氮吸收及氮收支的影响。试验设置了3个灌溉水平（高水I1：450 mm,中水I2：315 mm,低水I3：180 mm）和2个施氮水平（高氮N1：340 kg/hm2,低氮N3：170 kg/hm2）,此外,2020和2021年在中等灌溉水平I2下补充了中等施氮水平（250 kg/hm2,N2）,对不同处理的土壤氮损失、作物氮吸收及氮收支等指标进行了对比分析。结果表明,肥料氮是农田氮输入的主要来源,其次是灌溉水、大气沉降和非豆科作物固定。作物吸氮占土壤氮输出的比例最大,其次是NO3--N淋失、NH3挥发和N2O排放。对于氮输入而言,其值随着灌水量和施氮量的减少而降低。对于土壤氮输出而言,减少灌水量和施氮量可显著降低土壤总氮损失量,但过低的灌水量和施氮量将导致小麦吸氮量的降低。传统的N1施氮处理可导致土壤氮素盈余,而施氮量降低50%的N3处理则导致土壤氮素大量亏缺。对照处理（I1N1）的土壤氮损失量最高,该处理氮损失占土壤氮输出的比例高达23%～41%,其中NO3--N淋失和NH3挥发占总氮损失的95%以上。与对照处理相比,I2N2处理可减少21%～29%的氮损失,且作物吸氮几乎未受到影响。同时,该处理土壤氮素处于轻度亏缺状态,其亏缺量为28～50 kg/hm2,占总施氮量的11%～20%。若在收获后将4～8 t/hm2的小麦秸秆还田,则可保持麦田土壤的氮收支平衡。因此,通过改善灌溉和施肥策略并配合适当的秸秆还田可以有效缓解河套灌区春小麦农田的氮损失且实现土壤氮平衡,该研究可为干旱半干旱地区春小麦农田可持续生产和氮污染物减排提供科学依据。     

灌溉水平对■土磷素淋失的影响

利用渗漏池设施,研究了3个灌溉水平（600、900和1200 m3/hm2）对土磷素淋失的影响。结果表明, 淋溶到120 cm土体的磷量随灌溉量而增加,尤其是在耕层土壤Olsen-P含量达到约70 mg/kg 时有明显增加,但渗滤液中磷浓度在高灌溉时较低。在施化肥和有机肥条件下,各灌溉水平磷淋失的形态均以可溶性磷为主,3个灌溉水平可溶性全磷分别占总淋失磷量的66%、72%和75%; 颗粒磷约为总磷的30%。可溶性磷中可溶性有机磷和钼酸盐反应磷贡献各占约50%。适量施肥,控制灌溉量是防止磷素淋失的有效手段。     

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