芦苇生物质炭对镉的吸附及机制

为解决重金属废水处理问题,寻求芦苇的新型资源化利用途径,采用限氧热解方法在不同温度下制备芦苇生物质炭(RBC)。在对芦苇生物质炭进行元素分析的基础上,进行吸附动力学实验和等温吸附实验,并通过扫描电镜(SEM)、傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)和X射线衍射(XRD)等表征方法,探究不同热解温度对RBC吸附Cd~(2+)的影响及吸附机制。结果表明:RBC对Cd~(2+)的吸附过程更符合准二级吸附动力学方程,Langmuir等温吸附模型能更好描述RBC对Cd~(2+)的吸附;500℃下制备得到的RBC产率较高,Cd~(2+)吸附量最大,理论吸附量可达39.05 mg·g~(-1);吸附Cd~(2+)后,RBC表面生成粒状结构,XRD谱图出现CdCO_3和CdSiO_3晶型的峰,推断Cd~(2+)分别能与CO_3~(2-)与SiO_3~(2-)形成沉淀。研究表明,芦苇生物质炭的最优热解温度为500℃,此温度下产率最高,对Cd~(2+)的吸附能力最强,吸附Cd~(3+)的机制可能为阳离子交换、沉淀吸附、络合和Cd~(2+)-π金属键合共同作用。     

水洗处理对不同原料生物质炭吸附解吸Cd~(2+)行为的影响

以水稻、小麦、玉米和猪粪为原料,比较秸秆类生物质炭和畜禽粪便类生物质炭对溶液重金属Cd~(2+)的吸附解吸特点及其水溶性盐分含量的影响。结果表明,生物质炭对Cd~(2+)的吸附结果均很好地符合准二级动力学方程和Langmuir方程,猪粪炭的Cd~(2+)最大吸附量达20.7 mg g~(-1),为秸秆炭吸附量的1.37~1.72倍。洗脱去除可溶性盐分显著降低生物质炭对Cd~(2+)的吸附。水洗后秸秆炭对Cd~(2+)的最大吸附量为猪粪炭的2~4.3倍,水稻、小麦、玉米和猪粪炭对Cd~(2+)的最大吸附量分别降低52.6%、72.7%、72.8%和91.9%。洗脱作用提高了生物质炭对Cd~(2+)的解吸率,其中猪粪炭提高幅度最大,由原来的1.76%~7.96%提高到12.00%~27.49%。因此,可溶性盐分在生物质炭吸附Cd~(2+)过程中具有重要作用。所以,在污染土壤治理中需要考虑不同原料的组分差异,以制备高效修复土壤重金属污染的生物质材料。     

改性油菜秸秆生物质炭吸附/解吸Cd2+特征

该研究选用蒸汽爆破油菜秸秆,对其进行羟基磷灰石和KMnO4浸渍处理,再用壳聚糖和NaOH溶液改性所获得的生物质炭改性,以比较表面特性变化和吸附/解吸Cd~(2+)的特征。结果表明,改性处理可有效地在生物质炭表面负载相应官能团,如羟基磷灰石处理使生物质炭表面磷酸盐增多,比表面积提高至225.68 m2/g;而壳聚糖、KMnO4和NaOH处理,则引入了-NH2和-OH、-COOH等酸性含氧官能团。尽管改性生物质炭表面电荷减少,但Cd~(2+)吸附容量却提高了13%～315%,其吸附行为可用Langmuir等温吸附式拟合,并符合Pseudosecondorder吸附动力学方程。改性后,生物质炭对Cd~(2+)的吸附主要为专性吸附,其初始吸附速率提高了65%～379%,而解吸率降低了17%～91%,表明对Cd~(2+)的吸附更快且更加稳定,具有良好的应用潜力。     

纳米Fe_3O_4负载酸改性炭对水体中Pb~(2+)、Cd~(2+)的吸附

为探讨纳米Fe_3O_4负载联合硝酸改性椰壳炭对Pb~(2+)、Cd~(2+)单一及复合溶液的吸附特性,通过静态吸附实验,针对吸附剂的表面特性、投加量、溶液初始pH、吸附时间、重金属初始浓度等影响因素进行了探讨,应用等温吸附模型及吸附动力学模型对吸附特性进行了研究。结果表明,纳米Fe_3O_4负载酸改性炭比表面积较未改性椰壳炭增加了221.03 m~2·g~(-1),表面含氧官能团如O-H、C=O、C-O-C增加,芳香性增强,等电点提高至5.68。从经济效率角度考虑5 g·L~(-1)为合理吸附剂用量,pH为5.0时,吸附效果最好,吸附在4 h达到平衡。准二级动力学模型对吸附的拟合度更高,吸附主要是化学吸附,吸附由快速外扩散和颗粒内扩散共同作用,Pb~(2+)、Cd~(2+)的吸附分别更符合Langmuir和Freundlich等温吸附模型。纳米Fe_3O_4负载酸改性椰壳炭对Pb~(2+)、Cd~(2+)的最大吸附量(Qm)分别达42.54 mg·g~(-1)和25.79 mg·g~(-1),为未改性椰壳炭的1.87倍和2.23倍,复合溶液中Pb~(2+)、Cd~(2+)的Qm分别为单一溶液的65.16%和54.21%,这揭示了离子共存条件下的吸附竞争现象。研究表明,纳米Fe_3O_4负载联合硝酸改性提高了椰壳炭对Pb~(2+)、Cd~(2+)的吸附能力,且Pb~(2+)的吸附性能及吸附竞争性优于Cd~(2+)。     

不同质地土壤对镉的吸附特性及影响因子研究

通过Cd~(2+)吸附解吸试验,探究了初始Cd~(2+)浓度、p H、有机质、土壤质地和枯草芽孢杆菌-生物质炭复合体对土壤吸附Cd~(2+)影响。结果表明:土壤对Cd~(2+)的吸附能力随着溶液浓度、p H的升高而增加,土壤有机质可显著提高土壤对Cd~(2+)的固定能力,壤土对Cd~(2+)的吸附能力显著高于砂质壤土。土壤施加枯草芽孢杆菌-生物质炭复合体后,土壤对于Cd~(2+)的吸附能力显著提高,并且施加枯草芽孢杆菌–生物质炭复合体为20 ml/kg时对Cd~(2+)的吸附量提高11.7%;Freundlich模型(R~2=0.997)可以很好地拟合Cd~(2+)吸附过程。枯草芽孢杆菌–生物质炭复合体的施加降低了土壤表面Cd~(2+)的解吸能力,进一步证明复合体能加强土壤对Cd~(2+)的固定稳定化,具有作为钝化剂修复土壤重金属污染、降低食品污染风险的潜力。     

褐煤基材料对Cd~(2+)的吸附机制

为筛选稳定、高效、环境友好的重金属污染修复材料,利用批吸附试验研究了不同温度下褐煤、腐植酸、活性炭对镉(Cd~(2+))的吸附特征,采用非线性χ~2检验辅助决定系数判断等温线模型拟合度,用红外光谱对材料功能团进行了识别。结果表明,Temkin模型能最好拟合3种材料对Cd~(2+)的等温吸附过程,Langmuir和Freundlich模型也能较好拟合但与温度有关。吸附热力学参数表明,3种材料对Cd~(2+)的吸附为优惠发生的物理吸附,并且是自发的吸热过程,3种材料与Cd~(2+)之间均有较强的作用力。在温度294.55~313.15 K时腐植酸、褐煤和活性炭对Cd~(2+)的最大吸附量分别为36.14~44.09、29.63~38.20 mg·g~(-1)和21.04~30.34 mg·g~(-1),吸附量随温度升高而升高,吸附自由能随着温度升高而降低,说明升温吸附更容易发生。准二级动力学拟合数据最好,表明3种材料对Cd~(2+)的吸附存在着化学过程。褐煤基活性炭和褐煤基腐植酸具有丰富的孔隙结构。红外光谱图表明腐植酸和褐煤较大的吸附量与其含氧功能团种类较多以及在波数2 360 cm~(-1)和2 342 cm~(-1)附近吸收峰有关。因此,褐煤基3种材料对Cd~(2+)的吸附是自发的吸热过程,腐植酸对Cd~(2+)的最大吸附量和吸附能力最大,用Temkin等温方程和准二级动力学曲线能最适宜描述褐煤基材料对Cd~(2+)的吸附特征。     

热裂解温度对生物质炭吸附解吸Cd~(2+)行为的影响

以玉米秸秆、水稻秸秆、稻壳为原料分别在350℃、450℃、550℃、650℃热裂解温度下制备玉米秸秆炭(MSB)、水稻秸秆炭(RSB)和稻壳炭(RHB),比较不同热裂解温度下三种生物质炭对溶液中重金属离子Cd~(2+)的吸附解吸特性。利用准一级、准二级和颗粒内扩散模型对吸附过程进行拟合,结果表明三种生物质炭对Cd~(2+)的吸附满足颗粒内扩散方程。随着热裂解温度的升高,同一种原料制备的生物质炭达到吸附平衡的时间缩短。Langmuir方程和Freundlich方程拟合结果显示,三种生物质炭对溶液中Cd~(2+)的吸附更符合Langmuir方程。单位数量的RSB在一定浓度Cd~(2+)溶液中对Cd~(2+)的吸附量显著高于MSB和RHB。三种生物质炭对Cd~(2+)的吸附量随制备生物质炭的热裂解温度的升高而降低。三种生物质炭中玉米秸秆炭的解吸率最小。因此评价生物质炭对溶液中重金属的去除效果需要考虑原料、热裂解温度等多种因素的影响。     

羟基磷灰石对铅锌矿区土壤吸附Zn2+、Cd2+的影响

为探究羟基磷灰石(HAP)对矿区土壤重金属的固化效果,采用吸附试验,研究施加HAP的铅锌矿区土壤对Cd~(2+)、Zn~(2+)的动力学吸附和等温吸附效果。结果表明:土壤对Cd~(2+)、Zn~(2+)的吸附量随Cd~(2+)、Zn~(2+)初始浓度的增加而增加;在酸性条件下,其吸附量随pH上升而上升;准二级动力学方程能很好地描述两者的吸附过程,土壤吸附能力随HAP的添加量增大而增强;在Zn—Cd共存体系中,当初始浓度为20mg/L时,土壤对Zn~(2+)、Cd~(2+)的吸附无明显差异,2种金属离子竞争力度小,随着初始浓度上升,竞争明显,对Zn~(2+)的最大吸附量能达到单一体系中的79%～87%,而Cd~(2+)的最大吸附量只有单一体系中的57%～72%,Zn~(2+)的竞争力优于Cd~(2+),Zn~(2+)对Cd~(2+)吸附产生严重的抑制。综上可知,HAP能提高矿区土壤的吸附性能,在Zn、Cd污染土壤中,更能提升土壤对Zn~(2+)的吸附固持能力。     

油料作物秸秆生物炭对水体中铅离子的吸附特性与机制

为探索利用废弃生物质资源制备生物炭去除水体中Pb~(2+)污染的可行性,以农业废弃物胡麻秸秆和油菜秸秆为原材料,采用限氧裂解法在700℃条件下制备油菜秸秆(rape straw)生物炭和胡麻秸秆(flax straw)生物炭,通过2种生物炭对Pb~(2+)的批量吸附试验,利用4种吸附动力学模型(拟一级动力学、拟二级动力学、Elovich模型和颗粒内扩散模型)和4种等温吸附模型(Langmuir、Freundlich、Temkin和D-R模型)研究了胡麻和油菜秸秆生物炭对Pb~(2+)的吸附行为。同时,通过(brunauer emmett teller,BET)比表面积和孔径分析、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)和傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)等手段对生物炭的结构和性质进行了表征,初步探讨了2种生物炭对Pb~(2+)的吸附机制。结果表明,胡麻和油菜秸秆生物炭分别在4 h和10 h达到吸附平衡,理论最大吸附量分别达到220.07和307.59 mg/g;2种生物炭对Pb~(2+)的吸附符合拟二级动力学模型,吸附等温线符合Langmuir等温吸附模型,表明其吸附过程为单分子层吸附;2种生物炭对Pb~(2+)的吸附作用为物理-化学复合过程,吸附机制主要包括静电作用、离子/配体交换、阳离子–π作用。研究结果可为油料作物秸秆的资源化利用和生物炭对水中重金属污染防治提供理论依据。     

载镁香蕉秆基生物炭对氮磷的吸附性能研究

以香蕉秸秆为原料,氯化镁(MgCl_2)为改性剂,通过限氧热解法(温度673 K)制备生物质炭。利用扫描电镜、傅里叶红外光谱、X射线衍射等技术分析了镁改性生物质炭对氮、磷的吸附机理。结果表明,通过镁改性,生物质炭对氮、磷的吸附量得到显著提高,最大吸附量分别达13.80、18.21 mg·g~(-1);对氮、磷的等温吸附曲线均符合Langmuir曲线,为单层吸附,吸附机理主要以化学吸附为主;吸附平衡时间约为150 min,氨氮和磷的吸附动力学均符合准二级动力学拟合方程,吸附过程受多步骤控制。该载镁生物质炭可以作为潜在吸附剂去除废水和富营养化水体中过量的氮、磷。     

“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.