晋西黄土区雨养果园土壤水分动态及对降雨的响应

通过对晋西黄土区雨养苹果园土壤水分进行连续定位观测,研究土壤水分的动态规律及其对降雨的响应。结果表明:春季土壤含水率变化幅度不大,CV在0.02~0.27范围内波动;雨季降雨增多,0-170cm土层CV均大于0.2;冬季土壤表层蒸发强烈,0-60cm土层CV均大于0.1,而60cm以下土壤水分能够继续向下运移,180-190cm土层CV为0.11。2011年苹果园土壤水分亏缺度为30.89%~58.68%,补偿度为3.88%~57.37%,降雨能够补充0-70cm土层的土壤亏缺量,但是深层土壤一直处于亏缺状态,需要科学合理的管理措施防治山地雨养果园的缺水问题。果园0-10cm的土壤含水率对降雨的响应极其明显,能够有效反映出土壤水分对降雨的响应特征,随着土壤深度的增加,土壤含水率对降雨的响应逐层滞后并且减弱。     

草地植被恢复对次降雨土壤水分动态的影响分析

通过对宁南典型草原植被恢复过程次降雨土壤水分动态的研究,阐明植被恢复对次降雨后土壤水分的影响及机理.结果表明.次降雨提高了土壤含水率和贮水量,均表现出1 d>3 d>7 d.草地封育能够提高次降雨资源化效率,随封育时间延长,次降雨后0-60 cm土壤含水率和0-100 em土壤贮水量不断提高.降雨对封育草地土壤水分的影响范围在100 cm土层内,100 cm以下不能得到降雨的补充.封育时间延长土壤水分活跃层加深,坡耕地仅为40 cm,封育17 a后达到60 cm.土壤持水能力越强,表层土壤饱和导水率越大,雨后1 d在0-100 cm土壤贮水量越大.地上生物量愈大,雨后1～7 d在0-200 cm土壤耗水量越大.     

干旱半干旱区退化草地土壤水分变化及其对降雨时间格局的响应

降雨是干旱半干旱地区的主要水分来源,降雨量、降雨时长和降雨强度等共同影响降雨入渗,进而影响降雨对地表下不同土层的补充。研究干旱半干旱区退化草地生态系统不同土层土壤水分对不同量级降雨时间格局的动态响应变化,对于揭示水土关键要素、草地荒漠化防止及应对气候变化的影响均具有重要意义,基于2018年连续对锡林郭勒盟正镶白旗额里图牧场的降雨及地表下5,15,30,60,100 cm的土壤体积含水率数据的观测,探讨了各土层土壤水分变化及其对降雨事件大小的响应。结果表明:对于干旱半干旱区草地而言,降雨可以显著影响5-60 cm的土层土壤水分;随着土层加深,相同降雨过程引起的土壤水分增量呈降低趋势,0-10,10-20 cm土层土壤水分增量明显,小于3,6,20,50 mm的降雨不能到达地表以下5,15,30,60 cm土层;高降雨强度、降雨前较高的土壤含水率有利于雨水的下渗,5-60 cm土层的土壤水分增量与降雨强度、土壤初始含水率以及二者交互作用均呈显著或极显著线性关系,100 cm土层的土壤水分增量与降雨强度、土壤初始含水率以及二者交互作用均无显著线性关系,且30,60 cm土层土壤水分增量只在无雨日间隔极短且降雨量很大的情况下有明显波动。     

降雨特性和覆盖方式对麦田土壤水分的影响

为探明不同降雨特性和覆盖方式对冬小麦土壤水分的影响,利用人工模拟降雨器,模拟40和60mm/h2种降雨强度,在大田设置地膜覆盖(PM)、秸秆覆盖(覆盖量分别为1500、4500、7500和10500kg/hm2,即SM15、SM45、SM75和SM105),同时设置无覆盖处理作为对照(CK),研究不同降雨强度和覆盖方式对雨后冬小麦0～60cm土层土壤水分分布和降雨土壤蓄积量的影响。结果表明:模拟降雨前各覆盖处理土壤含水率均比CK高,其中0～20cm土层土壤含水率差异显著(P<0.05),而20cm以下各处理土壤水分相差较小,除SM105与CK差异显著外(P<0.05),其他处理与CK差异不显著;同一覆盖处理,60mm/h降雨强度条件下降雨入渗深度和入渗量明显高于40mm/h。在相同雨强条件下,不同覆盖处理可以不同程度的增加耕层土壤含水率,其中秸秆覆盖量越大,效果越明显,而PM效果最差;2种雨强条件下各处理0～60cm土层降雨土壤蓄积量规律表现一致,即SM105>SM75>SM45>SM15>CK>PM,其中SM105和SM75均显著高于CK(P<0.05),PM则显著低于CK(P<0.05);受植株冠层降雨截留的影响,同等降雨条件下,同一覆盖处理拔节前降雨土壤蓄积量大于拔节后的;相比60mm/h降雨强度,40mm/h降雨强度下各处理拔节前、后降雨土壤蓄积量变化幅度较大。     

采煤塌陷裂缝对降雨后坡面土壤水分的影响

为探究采煤塌陷裂缝对坡面储蓄降水的影响,本文对降雨后不同坡向上裂缝两侧的不同土层水分动态变化特征进行了研究。结果表明:降雨主要补充坡面地表0~20 cm土层土壤水分,且在雨后0~20 cm土层土壤水分散失也较为严重;雨后阴坡土壤含水率最高,0~10cm、10~20cm和20~40 cm土层土壤水分差异显著(p0.05)。降雨结束8 d后,裂缝附近的土壤水分变化幅度较大,尤以坡面裂缝上部边缘处最为明显,裂缝处与远离裂缝的土壤水分之间差异显著(p0.05);阳坡土壤水分损失最高,阳坡裂缝周边土壤水分平均损失量高达3.31%。可见,裂缝的出现会在一定程度上打破坡面储蓄降水的格局,加剧坡面局部土壤水分散失,这一点在植被恢复与建设过程中不容忽视。     

降雨强度与微地形塑造对露天煤矿排土场边坡土壤水分的影响

土壤水分是制约黄土高原地区生态恢复与重建的关键性因子,探究土壤水分的增加和储存是排土场边坡土地复垦和生态系统重建的重要内容。通过塑造水平阶(阶宽1 m,阶长2 m,每个水平阶间距1 m)、鱼鳞坑(长60 cm,宽40 cm,深30 cm,每个鱼鳞坑横排间距1 m,行间距1 m)工程措施,并以未塑造地形作为对照组进行人工模拟降雨试验,选择山西平朔安太堡露天煤矿南排土场边坡为研究区,在模拟降雨期间对土壤剖面不同土层深度(0—10,10—20,20—40 cm)的水分进行动态监测,采用描述性统计分析和方差分析方法,讨论提供降雨强度和微地形塑造方式的土壤水分动态变化和垂直变化特征,并将降雨强度、微地形塑造方式和土层深度对土壤水分的影响大小进行多因素方差分析研究。结果表明:(1)相同微地形塑造下,降雨强度越大,导致土壤含水率的变化量越大,但变化幅度随雨强增大而逐渐减小;高强度降雨使表层土壤含水率变化明显,低强度降雨使深层土壤含水率变化明显。(2)相同降雨强度下,不同微地形塑造能够有效增加土壤水分,且水平阶对土壤水分的增加效果优于鱼鳞坑。(3)随着土层深度的增加,土壤含水率的变异系数逐渐减小,且都属于中等变异。(4)降雨强度、微地形塑造及土层深度对土壤水分的影响极显著(p＜0.01),且对土壤水分的影响大小为微地形塑造＞降雨强度＞土层深度。研究结果表明,在露天煤矿排土场进行微地形塑造有利于土壤水分的补给和存储,对排土场土地整治与生态修复具有积极意义。     

蚯蚓粪覆盖对降雨后黄土区土壤水分影响的室内模拟研究

通过室内模拟试验研究蚯蚓粪覆盖对降雨后黄土区土壤水分的影响,以蚯蚓粪覆盖厚度和雨强为试验变量,试验处理设置如下:降雨强度设置为大雨、中雨、小雨;蚯蚓粪覆盖厚度分别为1 cm、2.5 cm、4 cm,覆盖面积为土柱表面积的90%,以裸土作为对照。分别测定降雨完成后10 h内的湿润锋迁移过程和48 h内0～5 cm(上层),5～10 cm(中层)和10～15 cm(下层)的土壤含水率变化情况。结果表明:蚯蚓粪覆盖对降雨后黄土区土壤水分分布具有一定影响,降雨入渗结束后,覆盖蚯蚓粪处理的土壤含水率在较短时间内低于裸土,但5～15 cm土层含水率不断增加,并逐渐高于裸土,表明蚯蚓粪覆盖能够延缓降雨入渗,并影响黄土区土壤水分再分配过程,对降雨后表层以下的水分增加具有促进作用,有利于提高黄土区降水的利用率。     

深耕对黑土水分特征及动态变化影响

水分特征曲线是反映土壤持水性、供水性和水分有效性的重要参数。为明确深耕对黑土土壤水分特征及有效性的影响,通过田间多点取样,比较研究了深耕与常规耕作对土壤水分特征曲线、孔隙组成及水分动态变化影响。研究结果显示:深耕提高土壤饱和含水量和田间持水量,土壤水分特征曲线符合Van Genuchten模型,相关显著;深耕提高土壤有效孔隙比例,有效孔隙增加5.48%~82.00%;深耕提高了0~40 cm土层有效水储量,其中速效储水量和迟效储水量分别比对照增加1.54和1.21倍;深耕改变了作物整个生育期间土壤水分动态变化,5 cm土层土壤受降雨影响波动性大,对照、深耕无差异,15 cm、25 cm土层对照水分高于深耕,60 cm土层土壤水分含量对照低于深耕;对照0~30 cm土层土壤耗水量高于深耕7.8 mm,30~60 cm土层低于深耕7.2 mm,深耕深层土壤水分利用率高,是对照的1.74倍。黑土深耕可提高土壤水分有效性和总储量。     

宁夏盐池不同草地类型的土壤水分平衡研究

以位于农牧交错地带盐池县的6种不同草地类型土壤含水量为研究对象,通过监测各种类型草地0—100cm土层质量含水量的动态变化情况,运用Surfer制图软件分析牧草生育期土壤水分的空间分布特征;利用土壤水分平衡方程和土壤分层贮水量公式计算不同草地0—100cm土层总贮水量变化情况,结合试验地生长季降水量变化,分析了不同草地类型土壤贮水量动态变化与蒸散量的变化规律,结果表明:降雨和植被类型是不同类型草地土壤水分动态变化的主要原因,沙丘土壤水分随降雨量变化较为明显;移栽柠条地土层剖面生育期水分变异系数最大,表明干旱时土壤失水较多,降雨充足时蓄水最多。因此应增加沙丘植被覆盖,对柠条、苜蓿、草地应适度进行放牧和刈割,控制植被生长,减少植被蒸腾蒸发,提高土壤水分固持能力,维持土壤水分的可持续发展。     

毛乌素沙地杨柴灌木林土壤水分对不同降雨格局的响应

[目的] 研究不同降雨格局下,土壤水分的动态变化特征,对判断群落结构的稳定性和为群落结构进行优化调控提供理论依据。[方法] 选择毛乌素沙地典型飞播杨柴灌木林地不同深度土壤为研究对象,使用Watchdog自动水分监测系统连续监测不同深度土壤水分含量动态变化,研究不同降雨事件下10,30,50,70,90和110 cm土层水分的时空变化,分析土壤水分入渗、再分配及水分补给特征。[结果] ①杨柴群落0—110 cm深度土壤水分含量变化受降雨的影响具有明显的垂直特征,10 cm深度土层为变化剧烈层,30 cm深度土层为弱变化层,50 cm以下深度土层为稳定层。②10 cm深度土壤水分对降雨和温度的响应明显,降雨强度和土壤初始含水量对浅层土壤的补给影响较大同时对入渗的深度有一定影响。30 cm以下土层随着深度的增加对降雨的响应滞后,30—50 cm土层主要受初始含水量和降雨量影响较大,50 cm以下深度水分变化主要受降雨量的影响。③>8.8 mm的降雨对10 cm及以下土层具有补给作用,>40 mm的降雨量可通过降水再分配至少达到110 cm深度土层。[结论] 杨柴群落根系主要分布在0—40 cm深度处,>8.8 mm降雨可供杨柴群落有效利用,>40 mm的降雨量可有效对地下水进行补给,有利于群落结构的稳定性和应对下一年度植被生长初期需水时降雨量较小的干旱月份。     

“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.