淡水鱼低温相变区热特性参数预测模型的建立

为了给淡水鱼冷冻冷藏加工、品质控制及设备开发提供基础数据,应用差示扫描量热仪（DSC）测定鲢鱼、鳙鱼、鲤鱼以及草鱼背部和腹部肌肉在低温相变区（-40～10℃）的冰点、表观比热和热焓,建立淡水鱼低温相变区热特性参数预测模型。结果表明,建立的基于淡水鱼肌肉水溶性成分含量的线性组合冰点预测模型、低温相变区表观比热的两段式预测模型和推导的淡水鱼肌肉热焓预测模型都有很高的拟合精度。鱼肌肉中含水率、可溶性固形物含量、蛋白质含量和脂肪含量等对冰点和冰点以上的表观比热有不同程度影响,其中可溶性固形物和含水率分别对冰点和常     

食盐添加量对预制鲈鱼冷藏保鲜及热加工特性的影响

为研究不同食盐添加量(0~2.0%)对鲈鱼冷藏保鲜及热加工特性的影响,采用差示扫描量热法,研究鲈鱼鱼肉的含水率、冰点、变性温度、热焓和比热容等热特性并进行分析。研究发现,预制鲈鱼的冰点和含水率随食盐添加量的增加而逐渐降低;加热温度50℃附近吸热峰的起始温度、终止温度及变性热焓随食盐添加量的增加均逐渐降低;70℃附近吸热峰仅明显存在于新鲜鲈鱼样品中,其他食盐添加量条件下70℃附近吸热峰消失;鲈鱼鱼肉的比热容随食盐添加量的增加未呈现明显的变化趋势(P0.05),当鱼肉处于冻结状态、肌球蛋白及肌动蛋白处于变性状态时,2.0%食盐添加量鲈鱼的比热容最高,当鱼肉处于未冻结状态时,1.0%食盐添加量鲈鱼的比热容最高。研究表明:在不同食盐添加量(0~2.0%)条件下,随着食盐添加量的增多,鲈鱼冰点和含水率逐渐下降,肌球蛋白变性温度向低温方向移动,峰高逐渐降低,变性热焓逐渐下降,肌动蛋白峰消失;添加食盐的鲈鱼比热容变化皆小于新鲜鲈鱼(除1.0%食盐添加量)(P0.05);在不同食盐添加量(0~2.0%)条件下,未冻结鱼肉的比热容高于冻结鱼肉(P0.05),加工后的鱼肉的比热容高于未加工的鱼肉(P0.05)。研究结果为预制鲈鱼热加工和低温贮藏的品质控制提供参考。     

水分含量对冷冻莲藕片表观比热容的影响

为研究不同水分含量冷冻莲藕片热特性的变化,采用差示量热扫描仪分析不同含水量莲藕片表观比热容的变化规律,对水分-表观比热容、温度-表观比热容进行曲线拟合得到表观比热容经验公式。结果表明,含水量87.26%、69.14%、55.61%的莲藕片在-30~15℃温度范围内表观比热容随温度升高先上升后下降,峰值分别为71.95、52.95、27.63 J·g~(-1)·℃~(-1)。莲藕片水分含量越高,熔融相变区的峰值和相变潜热越大,相变越快;在非相变区,水分含量越高,表观比热容越大,不同水分含量莲藕片的表观比热容均缓慢上升;在相变区,莲藕片的水分含量越高,峰形越尖锐,相变潜热越大,在0~1℃莲藕片中大部分冰晶融化,表观比热容达到最大值;采用分段计算拟合公式,得到以水分含量和温度为变量的表观比热容计算公式,R~2均大于0.85,拟合度较好。本研究结果为冷冻莲藕片加工和贮藏的品质控制提供了理论指导。     

采煤沉陷区冻结滞水消融过程中土壤水分变化规律

冻结滞水的倒置富水性和双向融化特性,使其消融过程中土壤水分迁移动向发生变化。采用烘干法,对采煤沉陷区不同立地类型冻结滞水消融过程中的土壤含水率进行了测定。结果表明:(1)随着融化时间的延长,采煤沉陷区阴坡土壤含水率峰值沿着垂直方向逐渐向下推移。冻结滞水融化第2天和第5天,土壤含水率峰值出现在0~10 cm土层;融化第8天土壤含水率最大值出现在20~30 cm土层;融化第11、14和17天土壤含水率最大值均出现在50~60 cm土层;(2)采煤沉陷区沟坡地冻结滞水融化第2天和第5天土壤含水率峰值均出现在20~30 cm土层;融化第8、11、14和17天土壤含水率最大值均出现在30~40 cm土层;(3)采煤区和非采煤区的冻结滞水含水率峰值在冻土层之下。     

基于营养组成的鱼饲料比热预测模型

为探究鱼饲料在加工过程中的热特性,以调控调质、膨化等工艺过程中的热量供给,同时探究现有的畜禽饲料比热模型对高脂、高蛋白鱼饲料的适应性,该研究设置3个粗蛋白水平(30%、40%、50%)和3个粗脂肪水平(5%、11%、17%)共9种配方,以代表不同食性的鱼用饲料,并使用差式扫描量热仪(Differential Scanning Calorimetry,DSC)测定9种配方分别在20～120℃温度范围和20%～26%含水率范围的比热,并分析上述4个因素对比热的影响规律,构建了比热关于4个因素的预测模型。试验结果表明,鱼饲料比热显著受含水率、温度、粗蛋白质量分数及粗脂肪质量分数的影响(P0.001),各因素的主次顺序为含水率、温度、粗蛋白质量分数、粗脂肪质量分数。比热随含水率和粗蛋白质量分数的增加均呈线性增加规律,而随粗脂肪质量分数的增加线性减小;比热与温度呈非线性关系,为二次回归关系。在所有试验中,鱼饲料比热的变化范围为1.70～2.70kJ/(kg·℃)。基于试验数据建立了比热关于加工工艺参数(温度及含水率)和营养组成(粗蛋白质量分数及粗脂肪质量分数)的多元回归模型(R~2=0.991),可以提高现有研究中畜禽饲料比热预测模型的适应性,有效预测鱼饲料在此研究变量范围内的比热。     

不同前处理对饲料玉米比热的影响

为了明确以玉米为原料的配方饲料在调质、膨化、冷却过程中传热传质的基本特性,该文利用差示量热扫描仪(differential scanning calorimeter,DSC)测比热的方法,研究了自然干燥条件下,不同的烘干温度(45～105℃)、含水率(12%～16%,湿基计)、粉碎粒度(0.2～0.6mm)等前处理因素对玉米比热的影响。采用3因素5水平2次正交旋转设计,通过回归分析和响应面分析,建立了玉米比热基于烘干温度、含水率(湿基计)、粉碎粒度的数学模型。研究结果表明:所得回归方程拟合情况良好,当烘干温度为45℃、含水率为12%(湿基计)、粉碎粒度为0.6mm时,玉米的比热值最小为2051J/(kg·K)。此模型的建立可为不同处理条件下玉米比热值的直接获得提供理论方法与依据,为不同配方饲料的湿热加工特性研究提供参考。     

不同品种、部位生鲜肉冰点和过冷点研究及预测模型构建

为明确生鲜肉的冰点、过冷点，探讨快速获取生鲜肉冰点、过冷点的方法，本试验以不同品种、部位生鲜肉为研究对象，系统分析其冰点、过冷点差异，并构建冰点、过冷点预测模型。结果表明，猪肉、牛肉、羊肉、鸡肉冰点和过冷点温度范围分别为-1.48～-1.21℃和-2.69～-2.27℃、-1.53～-1.10℃和-2.72～-2.08℃、-1.32～-0.76℃和-3.14～-1.84℃、-1.44～-1.23℃和-2.20～-2.10℃，鸭肉的冰点温度为-1.07℃，过冷点温度范围为-1.99～-1.65℃。猪、牛、羊腿肉的冰点和过冷点均高于腹肉(P<0.05)；鸡、鸭胸肉和腿肉的冰点、过冷点无显著差异(P>0.05)。生鲜畜禽肉的冰点、过冷点与水分含量呈正相关。进一步研究发现，冰点、过冷点与自由水弛豫峰面积百分比P₂₂呈显著正相关，相关系数分别为0.84和0.83,P₂₂预测生鲜猪肉冰点、过冷点的最优模型为ExpDec1、Logistic拟合模型，拟合方程分别为y=-1.427 3×exp(-x/1.515 39)-0.360 95(R     

基于伴随方程法的鱼饲料热特性参数反演

比热、导热率和导温系数是鱼饲料重要的热特性参数,其在干燥及冷却工艺参数的调整、饲料湿热传递仿真模拟研究中均有重要应用。为了探究鱼饲料的热特性,同时探究反演算法求解饲料热特性的适应性,该研究以草鱼（成鱼）膨化饲料为研究对象,建立基于伴随方程法的反演模型;利用自行搭建的热传导试验装置并配合红外热像仪（测温精度±0.1 ℃）,以获得饲料试样的温度分布规律;利用此数据可反演计算含水率为11%～17%的饲料在20～80 ℃温度范围内的比热、导热率和导温系数。使用差式扫描量热仪（Differential Scanning Calorimetry,DSC）和热特性分析仪分别测量饲料的比热和导热率,并计算导温系数,将此作为实测值;将反演算法所得值作为计算值。对二者进行线性拟合,决定系数R2均大于0.980,说明比热和导热率的计算值与实测值的误差较小,结果表明基于反演算法的鱼膨化饲料热特性参数测定方法是可行的。同时,结果表明,草鱼膨化饲料在11%～17%含水率和20～80 ℃温度范围内的比热为1.710～1.840 kJ/(kg?℃)。饲料比热随温度的增大而显著增大（P<0.05）。当含水率由11%增大至17%时,饲料的比热显著增加（P<0.05）,且呈线性规律。饲料的导热率为0.086～0.148 W/(m?K),当温度由20 ℃增大至80 ℃时,草鱼膨化饲料导热率显著增大（P<0.05）;含水率对其影响同样显著（P<0.05）。饲料的导温系数为5.701～10.003 m2/s,且受温度和含水率的影响均显著（P<0.05）。研究可为鱼饲料热特性参数的测定提供一种新思路。     

冻土-混凝土界面冻结强度特征与形成机理研究

在高寒区水利工程中,冻土与混凝土接触界面的力学特性对于衬砌的稳定性和长期服役性能有着重要的影响。为研究冻土-混凝土界面冻结强度特征与形成机理,开展了试验温度为-1～-5℃,初始含水率为9.2%～20.8%,法向压力为50～300 kPa条件下冻结黄土-混凝土界面直剪试验。通过研究界面剪切应力-位移曲线特征,结合摩尔库伦强度理论,将峰值强度分解为残余强度和界面冰胶结强度,对冻土-混凝土界面冻结强度形成机制进行解释。相应将界面黏聚力分解为峰值强度黏聚力和残余强度黏聚力,界面摩擦系数分解为峰值强度摩擦系数和残余强度摩擦系数。结果表明:界面冰胶结强度随着试验温度下降而增大,但受法向压力影响很小。在初始含水率为13.1%,法向压力100 kPa时,试验温度由-1下降至-5℃,冰胶结强度由4.4增加至111.1 kPa。界面残余强度随着法向压力增大而增加,但受试验温度影响很小。在含水率20.8%,试验温度-5℃时,法向压力由50增加至300 kPa,残余强度由34增加至177 kPa。界面峰值强度黏聚力随温度的降低呈指数增长,在含水率13.1%时,温度由-1下降至-5℃,峰值强度黏聚力由35.09增加至148.05kPa,而残余强度黏聚力变化很小。界面处摩擦系数受试验温度影响较小。该研究可为寒区衬砌工程等冻土-构筑物接触面结构建设提供参考。     

仔猪配合料比热预测模型的构建

为探究调质、制粒等热处理过程中仔猪配合粉料传热的基本特性,有效控制热量供给并实现调质温度、时间等工艺参数的优化评估,该文以4种粉碎粒度（粉碎筛片孔径：Φ1.0、Φ1.5、Φ2.0和Φ2.5 mm）的仔猪配合粉料为研究对象,采用DSC (differential scanning calorimetry,差示扫描量热法)的方法测定了其在不同含水率范围（10%～18%,湿基）和不同温度范围（25～100℃）的比热,并分析了3个变量对比热的影响规律,构建了比热关于研究变量的预测模型。结果显示：仔猪配合粉料的比热受含水率、温度、粉碎粒度的显著影响,其中含水率的影响最为显著,温度及粉碎粒度次之;比热亦受含水率与粉碎粒度及其与温度的交互作用影响。比热随含水率和温度的增加在1.533～2.881 kJ/(kg·K)范围内升高,且与含水率呈线性关系,与温度呈非线性关系。粉碎过Φ2.5和Φ2.0 mm的仔猪料比热较粉碎过Φ1.5和Φ1.0 mm的大,在高温（60～100℃）和高含水率（18%）时表现尤为明显。基于试验数据建立了比热关于含水率、温度、粉碎粒度的多元回归模型（R2>0.993）,可以有效预测仔猪配合料在此研究变量范围内的比热。研究结果为仔猪配合料调质过程传热方程的建立提供基础数据,并为其热处理工艺参数的优化提供理论依据。     

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,     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.