中国农业绿色发展指标体系的构建与例证

构建指标体系是开展不同尺度农业绿色发展定量分析的基础,可为农业绿色发展的度量评价、系统设计和实现路径探索等科学研究提供方法支撑。本文立足农业和整个食物"生产-加工-消费"系统,以农业绿色发展的科学内涵和实现目标为导向,围绕社会、经济和生态环境3个维度,以"食物生产-加工-消费"全链条为边界,构建了1套适合开展定量研究和评价中国农业绿色发展的指标体系。在收集统计数据和文献资料、计算社会和经济类指标的基础上,引入食物链养分流动模型(NUtrientflowsinFoodchains,Environmente and Resources use, NUFER),实现了对生产、资源与环境类指标的定量计算;此外,本研究还确立了指标选取原则、计算过程和分级标准等。基于该指标体系,采用"自上而下"的研究思路,从全国尺度,通过定量分析氮素,描述了中国农业绿色发展的总体特征,揭示了存在的问题,并探讨了未来的优化策略;从省域尺度,解析了海南省热带岛屿农业绿色发展的特色问题;从县域尺度,分析了河北省各县域农业发展的现状及资源环境代价,为农业绿色发展提供科学支撑和依据;通过对标分析剖析了中国奶业产业发展的差距,探讨了产业挖潜的路径。上述实证研究表明,利用本研究建立的农业绿色发展指标体系与分析模型,能够定量解析不同尺度的农业绿色发展水平和特征,进行农业绿色发展的资源环境代价定量分析;通过对标分析明确产业发展的差距,阐明产业绿色发展的瓶颈问题和限制因素,进而挖掘产业绿色发展的潜力。此外,该指标体系还可用于系统设计农业绿色发展实现路径的研究,为区域农业绿色发展关键技术的开发以及相关政策的制定提供科学支撑。     

农业绿色发展理论框架和实现路径的思考

农业绿色发展作为一种全新的发展理念、技术模式和系统工程,将成为我国未来农业的发展方向,但仍有许多理论和科学问题亟待解决与回答。本文阐述了农业绿色发展理论框架与实现路径,认为与国际农业可持续发展相比,我国农业绿色发展更注重绿色和发展的协同,强调以发展带动绿色、用绿色促进发展,因此农业绿色发展面临更为艰巨的挑战。本文提出农业绿色发展科学的10大要素,即着眼1个食物系统,坚持绿色和发展2个主题,牢固社会、经济和生态环境3大支柱,聚焦资源、生产、消费、环境等之间4个界面,协调好政府、农民、企业、经销商和消费者5个利益主体的关系,遵循投入控制、循环增效、综合挖潜、减排环保、融合增值、优膳减压、机制保障和区域落地8项原则,依据食物系统物质、能量、信息和价值等流动规律,通过绿色政策、资本、服务、技术、产品、知识、工程7种调控措施的创新,实施基于绿色阈值的生态环境管控机制、全产业链政策激励机制和技术落地、食物供应与需求结构优化与调控的"转绿、促发、协同"3条路径及9种途径,实现与农业相关的社会、经济、生产力、生态、环境、资源等6类目标协同提升,促进可持续发展目标(SDGs)的实现。建议国家强化农业绿色发展理论、技术和战略研究,尽快实施"创建一套基础数据库、创制一批技术装备、搭建一组科技平台、打造一批示范工程和凝练一系列智库成果"等五个"一"的农业绿色发展科技工程,助推国家农业绿色发展转型。     

能值方法在农业系统应用中的常见问题及其纠正思路探讨

能值方法是美国生态学家H.T. Odum在20世纪80年代创立的生态经济系统分析方法,近年来被广泛应用于农业系统分析当中。但是,目前已发表的大量论文中对于能值评价过程中的重要细节常会出现不同的处理方式,造成评价结果不确定性增加、可比较性降低,影响了能值评价方法在农业研究领域的深入应用和发展。因此,本研究梳理了国内外农业生态系统能值研究的基本概况,并总结了相关研究中常见的五大问题,包括:全球能值基准变化所引发的能值转换率选择混乱问题、农业生态系统评价边界界定的问题、农业生产过程环境资源贡献的不合理计算问题、农业生态系统投入资源的分类问题和系统能值投入与产出不守恒问题。在此基础上,基于我们目前的认识提出了相关问题的解决思路:第一,规范能值评价中的能值转换率(UEV)参数的选择原则;第二,基于"四维时空尺度"标准界定系统边界;第三,构建公式合理体现土壤、农业用水在农业系统能值分析中的能量贡献;第四,基于农业生态系统能值常用指标设定4组标准规范农业生态系统投入资源的分类;第五,遵循能值代数规则保证能值守恒。通过以上分析,以期引起广大学界的讨论和批评,共同促进能值方法在全球农业系统分析中的规范化应用。     

中国食物链养分流动与管理研究

为寻求食物生产与消费系统中粮食安全、资源高效和环境友好的协调和农业绿色发展途径,研究团队构建了"土壤-作物-畜牧-家庭-环境"(简称食物链系统)研究体系,运用物质流动和养分代谢理论方法创立了养分流动模型,深入研究了该系统养分流动规律及调控机理,经过近十多年系统研究,获得结果如下:(1)提出食物链养分流动金字塔概念模型,创建了食物链系统养分流动模型。通过分析养分在"土壤-作物-畜牧-家庭-环境"系统的行为特征,发现养分从"土壤-作物-畜牧"向"家庭"的流动呈金字塔状,其形状决定了系统生产力、养分效率和环境效应。处于金字塔顶端的"家庭"消费驱动了系统养分流动,决定了养分效率;"土壤-作物-畜牧"位于金字塔底层,支撑顶层"家庭"消费,决定了系统养分通量,也是养分调控的核心。在此基础上,开发了食物系统养分流动模型——UFER,构建了参数体系,实现了国家和区域尺度食物链氮磷流量、利用效率和环境排放的定量分析。(2)揭示了食物链系统氮磷养分流量、利用效率及其资源环境代价的时空变化特征。阐明了我国土壤-作物系统、农牧系统和整个食物链系统氮磷养分流量、养分效率和环境排放的时空分异特征;明确了土壤作物、畜牧和家庭各子系统对整个食物链养分环境排放的贡献;提出了食物氮(磷)代价概念,发现我国食物生产和消费的资源环境代价增速很快,已远远超过发达国家。(3)明确了食物链系统养分流动的驱动因素,阐明了提高养分效率和降低环境排放的调控机理。明确了决定食物链系统养分效率的关键环节,发现城镇化、食物结构变化和畜牧业发展是食物链养分流动加速的主要驱动因子;阐明了增加粮食和饲料进口、优化膳食结构和改善农牧业养分管理技术等对食物链系统优化的效应及作用机制。发现农牧结合和粪尿资源化利用是大幅度减少化肥需求和环境排放的关键途径,是实现农业绿色发展和食物链养分优化管理的重要突破口。     

丹江口水源涵养区绿色高效农业技术创新集成与示范——模式设计、技术集成与机制创新

2017年5月,中国农业科学院科技创新工程协同创新任务"丹江口水源涵养区绿色高效农业技术创新集成与示范"正式启动。项目在农业绿色高效生产、种养耦合、生态循环、面源污染控制、多功能田园生态系统构建等方面开展协同创新。按照单一技术规范化、复合技术集成化、体系技术系统化的思路,任务创新集成水源涵养区生物多样性利用与农业种植结构调整、主要农产品全产业链绿色高效生产、种养循环新模式、生态型高效设施农业、农村生活污染物控制等环节的十大关键技术,总结形成一套水源涵养区绿色高效农业全域综合性的技术解决方案,可为其他同类地区提供可复制、可推广的经验、模式和示范样板,为保障南水北调水质安全,推动水源涵养区农业绿色发展、农民增收及区域脱贫攻坚提供有效的科技支撑。     

农业农村部启动现代农业全产业链标准化试点工作

正近日,农业农村部印发通知,正式启动现代农业全产业链标准化试点工作。通知提出,"十四五"期间全国将试点构建30个农产品全产业链标准体系及相关标准综合体,制修订相关标准200项,遴选命名现代农业全产业链标准化基地300个,按标生产培训5万人次,培育一批全国知名的绿色、有机和地理标志农产品,全产业链标准化协同推进机制基本形成。     

绿色智能肥料：从原理创新到产业化实现*

肥料作为粮食安全的物质基础，在支撑我国粮食产量、农产品品质、人类营养健康等方面发挥了至关重要的作用。迈入新时代，在全国社会经济特别是工农业绿色转型的大好形势下，肥料创新面临着协同实现粮食安全、资源高效、环境友好、营养健康、绿色低碳的巨大挑战。为破解这一重大难题，本文提出了绿色智能肥料概念与产业化途径，通过系统阐述土壤-植物-微生物-肥料-环境之间的协同原理，构建了匹配土壤、匹配作物、匹配气候环境条件的绿色智能肥料创制新学术思路，提出了绿色智能肥料的理论框架、关键科学问题、研发路径以及未来突破的重点，为多学科交叉创新、工农融合全产业链绿色发展的解决方案设计与实现提供借鉴，旨在推动我国化肥产业绿色转型升级，支撑农业绿色发展。     

土壤健康指标体系与评价方法研究进展

健康土壤能够保障健康食物生产,维持土壤生态系统多功能性,是农业绿色发展的基础。明确土壤健康现状,系统开展土壤健康诊断是培育健康土壤和提高土壤生产力的基础。然而,以往人们基于单一土壤功能即土壤生产力开展了大量的指标选择和评价工作,忽视了其他土壤功能,评价指标中土壤生物学特性未引起足够重视,对土壤过程的动态监测少。随着对可持续发展的关注以及农业绿色发展的需求,土壤健康指标体系和评价方法正在不断完善。针对不同空间尺度和不同作物体系,建立多目标协同的土壤健康评价体系成为土壤可持续利用的热点和前沿。本文总结了土壤健康指标体系的选择原则,分析了生物学指标在土壤健康评价中的重要性,重点阐述了我国、美国、新西兰等国家土壤健康评价方法以及基于土壤功能和土壤管理等评价方法的进展、优缺点和应用区域,提出了完善土壤健康评价系统的途径。未来需要构建基于区域自然禀赋环境特征的土壤-作物管理大数据平台,发展生物学指标,建立长期和全程动态监测体系,并与快速无损测试技术、智能化信息技术相结合,形成多目标协同、适用于不同区域和作物体系的土壤健康评价方法,通过多主体参与,为农业绿色发展提供重要支撑。     

土壤健康与农业绿色发展：机遇与对策

农业绿色发展是农业现代化的必由之路,土壤健康是农业绿色发展的基石。本文系统总结了国内外有关土壤健康的内涵、研究进展和发展趋势,探讨了提升土壤健康的途径和对策,并对我国未来健康土壤培育工程提出了建议和展望。健康土壤培育的核心是消除土壤障碍因子,深入挖掘土壤生物学潜力,增碳提高资源效率,强化生物学过程,协同地上和地下生物互作。通过优化土壤内部调节过程,最小化外部的投入,以实现土壤生产功能和其他生态服务的同步提升。健康土壤的培育是一个系统工程,需要对投入品-生产过程-产品品质-产品加工-废弃物循环等全产业链进行系统综合考虑,多学科交叉创新,政产学研用一体化联合攻关,同时还需要政策保障和激励措施,需要全社会行动起来。     

农业利益系统分析与有效性评价

农业利益系统分析与有效性评价是一个复杂的农业系统工程问题。该文在分析农业利益及其春系统构成的基础上,根据现有统计资料,从不同角度对吉林省农业利益进行了系统分析,指出了存在的问题,提出了相应的对策。在明确农业投入产出构成的农业利益系统的基础上,分析了ＤＥＡ方法及其春模型,确定了模型的输入输出指标,进行了中国农业利益系统有效性评价,获得了许多信息。为农业利益系统分析与有效性评价提供了思路和依据。     

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