洞庭湖流域水体污染物变化趋势及风险分析

通过对洞庭湖流域1989,1997,1999年水质监测数据进行分析,结果表明:(1)洞庭湖流域磷污染十分严重而重金属浓度较低,除Cu外,其它重金属多年最高浓度均低于国家II类水质标准;(2)水体污染情况有逐年上升趋势,除TN外,其它各污染物数量的增长速度都非常大;(3)点源污染对洞庭湖流域水污染贡献较大,枯水期各污染物浓度均较丰、平水期高。结合国外研究得到的重金属毒性系数,引入外推法得到TN,TP的毒性危害系数,将之应用到洞庭湖流域水体污染物的风险分析中,得出TP风险仍是对洞庭湖流域的污染风险贡献率最大的污染物,而TN,Zn的污染风险相对较小;君山处的污染风险较大,已对其周边生态系统产生了潜在的生态风险,而流域内其它各监测点的风险值偏低。     

古蔺河流域古蔺县段农业非点源污染综合评价

为了能准确估算古蔺河流域古蔺县境内农业非点源污染的输出负荷,确定出农田地表径流、畜禽养殖和农村居民生活污染中TN,TP输出量对水环境不同程度的影响。基于输出系数法,对研究区内三种污染源和两种污染物进行农业非点源污染综合评价,得到以下结果:研究区内农业非点源污染的输出总量为4 051.14t/a。其中TN负荷量为3 738.50t/a,TP为312.64t/a。从污染源角度分析,农田地表径流、畜禽养殖和农村居民生活三种污染源的总等标污染负荷比分别为16.57%,37.97%,45.45%。从污染物角度分析,TN,TP两种污染物的总等标污染负荷比分别为70.51%和29.49%。结果表明,农村居民生活和畜禽养殖污染是研究区内最主要的污染源,TN负荷量远大于TP为主要污染物,根据研究区的水污染情况,有针对性地提出农业非点源污染的防控措施。     

湖北省三峡库区农业面源污染解析

湖北省三峡库区农业面源污染物类型复杂,来源不明,底数不清,导致防控措施不力。采用综合调查法对4个库区县（区）2007年农业面源污染情况进行调查,运用排污系数法测算污染物负荷量,采用等标污染负荷法进行评价与源解析。结果显示,湖北省三峡库区2007年农业面源TN、TP和COD的排放/流失总量分别为2918.08、346.22、12461.10t.a-1;主要污染物是TN和TP,其等标污染负荷量分别为5836.16、3462.20m3.a-1,两者等标污染负荷比和为91.80%;库区内主要农业污染源是种植业和畜禽养殖业,其等标污染负荷比分别为56.08%和34.37%,而农村生活污染源只有7.99%;4个县（区）污染负荷的比重为夷陵区〉巴东县〉秭归县〉兴山县。因此,针对湖北省三峡库区农业面源污染的控制策略：防控的污染物主要是TN和TP,防控的重点源为种植业和畜禽养殖业,防控的重点区域为夷陵区。     

四川山区农村面源污染负荷估算与评价

对农村面源污染物负荷的估算、来源分析及控制措施制定是当前研究的热点之一。利用输出系数模型和生态系统服务与权衡综合评价模型(Integrate valuation of ecosystem services and tradeoffs tool,In VEST模型)估算宝兴县面源污染物总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)负荷,并结合水环境功能分区标准,分析面源污染物的超标情况。旨在揭示山区农村面源污染治理的空间异质性,为农村面源污染防治规划、山区水环境治理效率的提升提供科学依据。结果表明,1)2010年宝兴县面源污染物TN、TP负荷分别为1 156.44、81.41 t/a,TN、TP负荷的空间格局整体上呈现出分布不均,局部集中,靠近水体的规律;2)不同污染源对TN、TP负荷的贡献率大小顺序均为:畜禽养殖农业用地农村生活;3)从流域尺度看,宝兴县TN、TP负荷没有超过III类水质标准规定的污染物负荷阈值;而从30 m×30 m栅格尺度看,宝兴县TN、TP超标量分别为763.63、51.16 t/a,其超标区域主要集中在耕地、草地、居民地以及靠近水体的地方,以上超标区域即为面源污染控制和治理的关键区域。     

安徽省巢湖流域众兴水库小流域农业面源污染调查与评价

[目的]对安徽省巢湖流域众兴水库小流域农业面源污染情况进行调查分析和评价,了解该地区农业面源污染的现状和特征,以期为制定针对性防控措施提供参考依据。[方法]应用等标污染负荷法,通过问卷调查形式对巢湖流域众兴水库小流域内进行实地的走访调研,对水库周边3个村域的种植、养殖及人居面源污染进行分类调查和核算分析。[结果](1)众兴水库项目区周边3个村落面源污染排放源中,养殖业污染物的排放量和污负荷率最大,污染物排放量达到109.00t,污负荷率最大为57.52%;种植业化肥施用带来的面源污染物总量达25.52t,负荷率为13.47%。生活污染源污染负荷为29.01%,污染物总量达到54.97t。(2)在化学需氧量(COD),TN,TP这3个评价因子中,以COD的污染负荷率最高,达74.26%;TN污染负荷率为21.13%;TP的污染负荷率为4.61%。[结论]小流域内养殖业的污染物排放是威胁众兴水库水源地饮用水安全的主要构成因子,也是农业面源污染防控的重点。     

2005-2019年洞庭湖平原耕地面源污染迁移轨迹及空间格局

洞庭湖平原因不合理的农业生产活动导致严重的耕地面源污染问题，揭示洞庭湖平原近10余年耕地面源污染迁移轨迹及空间格局，可为洞庭湖平原下一步科学防治耕地面源污染提供参考。该研究以洞庭湖平原湖南省部分的21个区（县、市）为实例，利用清单分析法构建农田化肥、人畜排泄物和农田固废3类污染单元，测算化学需氧量（Chemical Oxygen Demand，COD）、总氮（Total Nitrogen，TN）和总磷（Total Phosphorus，TP）3类污染物排放情况，并运用空间分析、重心模型和冷热点分析研究2005－2019年洞庭湖平原耕地面源污染轨迹迁移变化及空间格局。结果表明：1）从时序上看，2005－2019年间3类污染物排放总量和排放强度总体上均呈现下降趋势；从空间分布上看，COD排放强度等级分布更为集中，洞庭湖平原耕地面源污染程度呈现出"东部>西部>中部"的空间格局；2）从重心模型分析来看，3类污染物排放强度重心在东西方向上的移动更显著，并且重心移动速度呈现阶段变化；3）从冷热点分析来看，3类污染物空间分布格局差异性显著，COD最为明显，TP次之，TN最小，热点区域大多分布于洞庭湖平原东部，冷点区域大多分布于洞庭湖平原中部。研究说明了在生态文明建设过程中，洞庭湖平原耕地面源污染情况有所好转，并且各地区耕地面源污染程度和治理都具有差异性，为今后因地制宜治理耕地面源污染提供理论依据和思路。     

基于水环境功能区划的农业面源污染源解析及其空间异质性

通过清单分析方法和等标污染负荷法,以乡镇为单元研究了上海市化肥施用、有机肥施用、农作物秸秆、畜禽养殖、水产养殖、农村生活污水等农业面源污染来源化学需氧量（COD）、总氮（TN）、总磷（TP）等污染物的排放量及其贡献率,并根据各区域水环境功能区划分别在区县尺度和乡镇尺度分析了农业面源污染程度及其区域分布。结果表明,上海市农业面源污染COD、TN、TP实物排放量分别为4.42×104、1.13×104、0.44×104 t/a,相应的等标排放量分别为0.16×104、0.93×104、1.65×104 m3/a,最主要污染源为畜禽养殖,其等标污染负荷比达到66.31 %,最主要污染物为TP,其等标污染负荷比达到60.32 %。各区县因农业面源污染引起的COD、TN、TP排放质量浓度分别为4.16～40.91、1.30～8.71、0.23～4.94 mg/L,各区县农业面源污染水质平均指数在0.67～5.91之间,主要污染乡镇分布在上海南部以及崇明岛等农业产值相对较高且距离水源保护区较近的远郊区域。     

鄱阳湖区农村面源污染控制中最佳管理措施示范研究

鄱阳湖区农村面源污染问题日益严峻,已威胁到湖泊的水环境安全。结合该区域农村面源污染自身的变化特征,在星子县示范区内构建结构性最佳管理措施BMPs(best management practices)系统对区域内农村面源污染进行控制。结果表明,在监测期间该BMPs系统对COD,TP和TN的削减量分别为568.25,3.06和26.90kg。其中人工湿地对COD,TP和TN的单位面积削减量约达40,0.4和3.0g/m2,有较稳定的污染物去除能力;生态沟渠对各污染物单位面积削减量变化较大,与人工湿地相比虽有更强的污染物削减能力,但稳定性较弱。结合生态沟渠和三级表面流人工湿地的特点,建议通过引入适宜的植物至生态沟渠提高其处理污染物的稳定性。     

太湖流域苏州片区农业面源污染负荷研究

为了研究农业面源污染来源问题,以太湖流域苏州片区为研究对象,在分析研究区农业产业特点的基础上,展开了以太湖流域种植业、水产养殖业、规模化家禽养殖业为代表的农业面源污染氮磷污染负荷计算研究,并分别进行了氮磷污染负荷实例计算。计算结果表明:2011年苏州市种植业、水产养殖业、畜禽养殖业氮磷类污染物排放量分别为:TN 2 344.12t,TP 123.78t,TN 12 915.72×103kg,TP 2 560.76t,TN 2 348.98t,TP 460.81t。研究认为:氮磷污染物排放量为水产养殖业种植业家禽养殖业,水产养殖业氮磷污染物排放量是种植业、家禽养殖业总和的4倍以上,水产养殖业是太湖流域面源污染的主要来源,为了改善太湖流域水环境,建议减少水产养殖面积和密度,降低氮磷污染物入湖量。     

平原河网地区农村面源污染重点源和区的识别筛选——以上海青浦区为例

以地处平原河网地区的上海市青浦区为研究对象,通过清单分析方法和等标污染负荷法,以乡镇为单元研究了种植业、畜禽养殖、水产养殖和农村生活污水等农村面源污染来源,以及化学需氧量（COD）、总氮（TN）、总磷（TP）等污染物的排放量及其贡献率,并以青浦区水环境功能区划地表水环境质量标准为基准,评价及识别筛选了该区域农村面源污染主要来源及其重点区域。研究结果表明,青浦区农业面源污染COD、TN、TP实物排放量分别为2.68×103、0.85×103、0.11×103t·a-1,主要污染源为种植业,其等标污染负荷比达到53.07%,主要污染物为TN,其等标污染负荷比达到59.92%。通过农业面源污染排放强度分析,确定青浦区农业面源污染程度较重的乡镇主要为练塘镇、白鹤镇和金泽镇,建议在青东地区以农村生活污水处理和畜禽养殖污染治理为重点、在青西地区以种植业面源污染防治为重点,针对性地开展农村面源污染综合防治工作。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

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 from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

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.     

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.     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

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.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.