黄河源区人工草地植被群落和土壤养分变化

[目的]研究黄河源区不同年限人工草地植被群落特征和土壤养分的动态变化,揭示高寒地区人工草地稳定机制与演替规律,为退化高寒草甸(湿地)的近自然恢复和缩短退化草地恢复时间提供理论依据。[方法]选择黄河源区青海省玛沁县3,11,17 a单播垂穗披碱草人工草地,对植被与土壤养分特征进行调查。[结果]随着种植年限增加,人工草地优势种垂穗披碱草盖度降低,植物总盖度、生物结皮盖度、杂类草盖度以及生殖枝数量呈倒"V"型变化,而原生植被莎草科植物盖度、物种多样性逐渐增加,17 a人工草地中莎草科植物的盖度是3,11 a的10倍;人工草地土壤养分中全氮、全钾、速效氮、速效钾以及有机质随年限增加呈现积累趋势,土壤pH值逐渐趋于中性。土壤全氮含量在不同恢复年限之间差异最大,平均准确率降低度为25.71,有机质含量次之,其平均准确率降低度为18.55,而全钾含量及均匀度指数最小,平均准确率降低度均小于5。[结论]高寒地区人工草地群落结构和土壤营养随着建植时间的延长在逐渐恢复,建植17 a的人工草地土壤全氮、有机质含量仅是原生高寒草甸土壤的50%左右,因此,17 a人工草地土壤养分完全恢复还需要较长时间。     

浑善达克沙地飞播区植物多样性的变化——以内蒙古正蓝旗为例

[目的]对内蒙古境内浑善达克沙地植被恢复过程中植物群落的物种组成以及多样性的变化规律进行分析,为该地区的植被恢复提供理论依据和科学指导。[方法]采用样带法对植物群落进行调查。[结果](1)沙地植被恢复5年后群落内共有33种植物,分属于10科27属;(2)随着恢复年限的延长,物种丰富度指数、物种多样性指数、物种均匀度指数和群落盖度均逐渐增大,而生态优势度指数则逐渐减小。植物群落物种由6种(未治理)增加到21种(治理5a),物种多样性指数由1.20增加至2.77,物种均匀度指数由0.67升高至0.91,群落盖度从2.06%增加到75.58%,生态优势度指数由0.57减少至0.32。[结论]浑善达克沙地飞播区植被得到明显恢复,沙地恢复到一定阶段后群落趋于稳定,风沙化得到一定程度的遏制。     

乌海矿区矸石山边坡植被重建初期物种多样性及群落稳定性

[目的]针对西北干旱区煤矸石山边坡植被重建初期,探究不同建植年限群落特征的变化规律,为乌海市矿区生态重建的中、后期工作提供依据。[方法]以乌海市矿区美方煤矸石山为研究对象,采用野外样方调查取样的方法,对比分析了矸石山植被重建初期的植物生长状况与群落稳定性。[结果]①研究区植被重建过程中,物种数量明显增加。自然侵入植物种在重建2 a时仅有4种,建植3 a增加至6种,建植4 a已增加至7种。不同植被重建年限群落中白茎盐生草(Halogeton arachnoideus)均处于优势地位,表明群落正在进行正向演替过程。②随重建年限从2 a增加至4 a,植被平均盖度、地上生物量、群落丰富度指数均增加了1.5倍左右,表明群落结构逐步稳定。③煤矸石山,在植被重建2~4 a时,群落正处于演替初期,群落相似性系数逐年降低,群落结构趋于复杂化,但仍处于不稳定状态。[结论]在矸石山后续的恢复中,在种植矿区典型复垦植物种,例如豆科、禾本科、菊科等植物时,应适当促进适应当地条件的本地物种自然定植,并且通过种植演替后期的本土植物种类在煤矸石山保留当地基因库。     

黄土丘陵区退耕草地群落盖度与地上生物量关系

揭示黄土丘陵区退耕草地群落盖度与地上生物量的关系,对系统评价草地群落恢复潜力和水土保持效益具有重要意义。以黄土丘陵区5个退耕年限(5 a,10 a,15 a,20 a,30 a)草地群落为对象,通过照相法、群落调查和刈割法测定了草地群落盖度、物种组成和地上生物量。结果表明:群落高度、盖度与地上生物量呈显著正相关关系,与物种丰富度和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数呈显著负相关关系。群落盖度与地上生物量随退耕年限增加总体呈增加趋势,不同退耕年限草地群落间物种丰富度和多样性指数无显著差异。退耕20 a群落的植物密度、高度和单位盖度地上生物量值均最低,盖度和地上生物量与退耕15 a相比显著下降。各退耕年限草地群落优势种分别为:5 a是狗尾草(Setaria viridis)和达乌里胡枝子(Lespedeza davurica),10 a和15 a是达乌里胡枝子和铁杆蒿(Artemisia gmelinii),20 a是铁杆蒿和菊叶委陵菜(Potentilla tanacetifolia),30 a为长芒草(Stipa bungeana)。当草地群落盖度低于84.6%时,盖度与地上生物量呈极显著线性正相关关系,当盖度大于84.6%后,群落盖度不随地上生物量增加而变化。群落盖度84.6%和地上生物量285.17 g/m~2可作为黄土丘陵区退耕草地植被恢复评价和调控措施的参考值。     

封育年限对干旱河谷灌丛土壤理化性质的影响

[目的]探讨不同封育年限对干旱河谷灌丛土壤理化性质的影响,为该地区的天然植被恢复与管理提供理论依据。[方法]采用野外调查和实验室分析相结合的方法开展研究。[结果](1)封育后灌木层的盖度、密度、平均冠幅、高度明显升高,而草本层则相反。(2)随着封育年限的增加,土壤容重呈V形变化,封育13a达到最小值,而群落植被特征、土壤孔隙度、土壤持水量、土壤养分,呈倒V形变化,封育13a达到最大值。0—40cm,封育13a的土壤平均速效N,P,K较未封育草地分别增加26.42%,107.35%,33.92%;全量N,P,K含量分别增加了168.42%,47.62%和31.12%。(3)封育后,土壤理化性质有所改善,具有明显的表聚现象,土壤固碳能力有所提高,土壤有机碳密度表现为:F_(13)F_(22)F_(30)F_5CK;土壤有机碳储量表现为:F_5F_(13)F_(22)F_(30)CK,说明在狼牙刺群落封育恢复过程中,土壤环境有较为明显的改善。(4)采取封育措施后,外界干扰减少,狼牙刺灌丛覆盖度增加,从而增加地上生物量,使生产力得到提升,生物量与封育年限存在线型关系。[结论]采取封育措施后,干旱河谷地带的狼牙刺群落植被特征和土壤理化性质及有机碳密度和储量均优于未封育,植被自然恢复状态良好。     

造林密度对科尔沁沙地奈曼沙区小叶杨防护林林下植被的影响

[目的]探明科尔沁沙地南缘的奈曼旗沙区小叶杨(Populus simonii)防护林造林密度对林下植被的影响，提出适宜植被群落多样性恢复与稳定性发展的造林密度。[方法]以自然恢复状态下，林龄相近的3种典型造林密度类型(867～1 022株/hm²,1 444～1 667株/hm²,2 177～2 322株/hm²)的小叶杨防护林为研究对象，开展每木检尺、物种组成与多样性、植被群落结构等调查，对野外采集数据进行统计分析。[结果]造林可以显著提高植被恢复与演替速度，造林密度的大小对林下植被多样性与群落稳定有显著影响，随着造林密度的减小，林下草本生物量、物种组成丰富度、物种多样性指数增大，植物恢复程度、群落稳定性上升；造林密度与林下物种多样性指数、物种数量、林下植被盖度、林下草本生物量等植被特征指标均呈现极显著负相关关系(p<0.01)。[结论]当小叶杨防护林造林密度为867～1 022株/hm²时，群落与未经开垦的草地样地的群落相似性最高，植被群落演替逐渐向地带性植被发展，与其他造林密度相比更有利...     

围封年限对沙化草地群落结构及物种多样性的影响

[目的]了解围封年限对宁夏回族自治区盐池县沙化草地群落结构及物种多样性的影响,揭示围封沙化草地植被变化规律。[方法]在半干旱区运用空间代替时间法选取不同围封年限区(5,10,20a)和未封育区(对照)的沙化草地为研究对象,进行群落结构及物种多样性的对比研究。[结果]1年和2年生草本是未封育区的优势种。灌木是封育5a区的优势种,而封育10a区的优势种是灌木和多年生草本,在封育20a区,优势种是多年生草本。与未封育区相比,围封5a,10a区植被数量特征值均有显著提高,而围封20a区特征值稍高,但相差不大。[结论]并不是围封时间越长,植被生长状况就越好。小于5a的封育年限可以提高群落的物种多样性,封育年限大于10a,反而使物种多样性下降。围封措施对植被恢复起到了先促进后抑制的作用。     

白草塬植被恢复后沟头草本植物多样性与土壤因子的关系

[目的] 探究黄土塬沟头在植被恢复后的草本植物多样性变化与土壤因子间的关系,为该区沟头水土保持效益评估提供科学依据。[方法] 以农地沟头为对照,选择不同植被恢复年限(5,13,18,22 a)的白草塬草地沟头,调查和测定了各植被恢复年限沟头的草本植物多样性和表层土壤(0—10 cm和10—25 cm)的土壤性质因子。[结果] 随植被恢复年限的增长,Patrick丰富度指数呈现先增大后稳定的变化趋势;Shannon-Wiener指数呈现持续上升的趋势,植被恢复18 a和22 a时的Shannon-Wiener指数高于恢复13 a,但没有显著性差异;Pielou均匀度指数呈现增加—降低—再增加的波动趋势,且在恢复22 a时达到最大值(0.89)。白草塬沟头0—10 cm和10—25 cm的土壤容重均在恢复22 a时达到最小值,较农地分别显著降低13.1%和17.8%(p＜0.05);0—10 cm和10—25 cm的土壤有机质含量、水稳性团聚体含量、团聚体平均重量直径和饱和导水率均随植被恢复年限的增加而显著增加,两土层的土壤因子在各植被恢复年限上呈现出显著性差异。相关性分析显示草本植物多样性指标与容重间呈负相关关系,与土壤有机质、水稳性团聚体、团聚体平均重量直径以及饱和导水率呈显著正相关(p＜0.05)。冗余分析表明土壤团聚体含量与草本植物多样性变化密切相关。[结论] 植被恢复显著提高了沟头草本植物多样性,可改善表层土壤性质,在稳固沟头过程发挥重要作用。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区退耕地植被自然恢复过程——以吴起县双树沟流域为例

采用TWINSPAN分类法对黄土丘陵沟壑区吴起县双树沟流域30个自然恢复草地植被进行分类,并对分类后各植被群落特征和地上生物量进行统计分析。结果表明：在自然恢复条件下,随着退耕年限的不断增加,退耕地植被自然恢复依次经历了猪毛蒿群落-赖草＋长芒草群落-赖草＋铁杆蒿群落-铁杆蒿群落-铁杆蒿＋茭蒿群落5个发展阶段,地带性植被类型铁杆蒿＋茭蒿群落在研究区内开始出现,并且已经占有一定优势;随着退耕地植被自然恢复的不断进行,Margalef等丰富度指数以及Shannon-wiener等多样性指数、Pielou等物种均匀度指数和地上生物量都呈现出先减小后增大的发展趋势;在植被自然恢复的稳定阶段,虽然物种丰富度指数和物种多样性指数有一定的增加,但是相对恢复初期来讲还是有所下降,并且有达到与初期相当水平的趋势;物种丰富度指数均在第1恢复阶段最大,而均匀度指数Jsw以及Shannon-wiener指数在第5恢复阶段最高。随着退耕地植被自然恢复的不断进行,植被群落总盖度随着退耕年限的延长而不断增大。     

大兴安岭兴安落叶松林火烧后人工恢复植被演替过程

为了研究大兴安岭地区重度火烧区火烧迹地森林植被人工恢复规律,采用由植被空间序列推断时间系列的方法,分析大兴安岭地区重度火烧后人工恢复兴安落叶松林的植被恢复演替过程。结果表明:火后初期,林分灌木和草本物种数迅速增多,随着火后年限的推移,灌木和草本物种数均减少,草本物种数减少较多;乔木和灌木盖度随火烧年限的增加而增加,草本盖度呈下降趋势。对物种相似度研究发现,火烧后不同年限样地灌木相似度较大,而草本植物年限相近样地相似度较高,年限相距较大的不同样地相似度较低,而且随着年限的增加,不同样地间的相似度降低。重度火烧后,人工恢复对林分恢复起到加速作用,经研究,火后25年人工恢复兴安落叶松人工林基本恢复到未火烧落叶松天然林水平。     

“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.