长效氮肥一次基施对覆膜冬小麦的肥效研究

针对地膜覆盖栽培作物因追肥困难引起的生育后期脱肥问题 ,对不同种类的长效氮肥在覆膜冬小麦上一次基施的肥效进行了田间试验。结果表明 ,两种长效尿素一次基施分别比普通尿素增产1 0 .5 %和 1 2 .4 % ,籽粒氮素利用率提高 1 0 .1和 1 0 .9个百分点 ,氮素生产指数提高 3.9kg和 4 .6kg。长效碳铵的肥效和普通尿素相当 ,比普通碳铵增产 6.6% ,籽粒氮素利用率提高 5 .8个百分点 ,氮生产指数增加2 .3kg。在收获前 2周进行的部分生物学性状调查结果表明 ,两种长效尿素处理的小麦绿叶指数和旗叶面积分别比普通尿素增加 1 8.5 %、2 5 .9%和 34 .8%、34 .5 % ;长效碳铵比普通碳铵增加 1 2 .3%和 4 2 .9%。长效氮肥通过缓慢释放氮素 ,延缓叶片衰老和增大功能叶面积 ,从而提高小麦籽粒产量和对化学氮肥的氮素利用率。     

包膜尿素与保水剂配施对冬小麦生长和氮素利用的影响

采用田间小区试验方法,研究了树脂包膜尿素(CRU)和保水剂(SAP)配施对冬小麦产量、氮素利用及经济效益的影响。试验采用裂区设计,两裂区分别为施用SAP(120 kg hm~(-2))和不施用SAP,施肥裂区设对照(N0,不施氮)、普通尿素(U,施氮180kg hm~(-2))和包膜尿素(CRU,施氮180 kg hm~(-2),包膜尿素和普通尿素各占70%和30%)3个氮肥处理;共6个处理。结果表明:相同SAP用量下,等氮量的CRU一次基施较尿素分次追施处理平均增产4.9%,氮素利用率提高9.4%。施用SAP显著提高了土壤最大持水量。相同施氮条件下,施用SAP处理较不施SAP处理冬小麦穗数和穗粒数显著增加,籽粒增产9.6%～12.1%。CRU与SAP配合施用优于SAP或CRU单独施用。CRU配施120 kg hm~(-2)SAP处理冬小麦产量和氮素利用效率最高,较CRU或SAP单施处理处理增产4.9%～53.3%;氮素利用效率提高8.6%～35.6%。因此,保水剂和包膜尿素配施可协同增效,显著提高冬小麦产量及氮素利用效率。     

华北平原冬小麦–夏玉米轮作体系秋季一次基施牛粪氮素损失与利用研究

为对我国华北平原冬小麦-夏玉米轮作体系秋季一次基施有机肥的氮素环境效应提供评估依据,本文分别在山东陵县和天津蓟县以不施肥、分次施用硫酸铵为对照,对秋季一次基施牛粪的产量水平、氮素损失及利用等进行了研究。其中,山东陵县试验采用15N示踪技术。结果表明,秋季一次基施牛粪15N在冬小麦夏玉米轮作周期的损失率为30%～38%,与硫酸铵15N损失率无显著差异。牛粪氮施用N 300 kg/hm2时,损失量为N 89 kg/hm2;牛粪氮施用量增加50%,其氮损失量增加91%。冬小麦、夏玉米收获后,施牛粪处理080cm土壤硝态氮含量分别为N 38～95、18～28 kg/hm2,低于分次施用硫酸铵处理。长期施用有机肥农田,秋季一次基施牛粪处理冬小麦、夏玉米子粒产量与分次施硫酸铵处理无显著差异,因此从环境角度分析,秋季一次基施有机肥可继续应用和大力推广,但施用量以不超过N 300 kg /hm2为宜。     

不同农艺措施对缩小冬小麦产量差和提高氮肥利用率的评价

基于中国冬小麦区14个站点近25a（1990?2015）农业气象站冬小麦观测资料、气象资料和土壤资料,利用DSSAT作物生长模型,模拟研究改变土壤养分条件、播期、种植密度和施氮量对缩小冬小麦产量差和提高N肥利用效率的影响,探索冬小麦高产高效的技术途径。结果表明：不同冬小麦站点的潜在产量区域间差异较大,其范围在7617～14242kg·hm-2。不同农艺措施对产量影响程度不同,其中提高土壤养分含量的增产潜力为53～3124kg·hm-2,对缩小产量差（缩差）的贡献率在8%以下,氮肥利用效率提高1.1～20.82kg·kg-1;播期提前的增产潜力为?327～2292kg·hm-2,其缩差贡献率为7%～17%,氮肥利用效率在?2.18～15.28kg·kg-1;增加种植密度的增产潜力为?255～699kg·hm-2,其缩差贡献率小于5%,氮肥利用效率在?1.7～4.66kg·kg-1;增施氮肥的增产潜力为0～4491kg·hm-2,其缩差贡献率为11%～33%,氮肥利用效率在?32.04～0kg·kg-1。表明增施氮肥和调整播期的增产潜力及缩差贡献率较大,提高土壤养分含量和增加种植密度次之,但是增加土壤施氮量使氮肥利用效率明显下降。     

施氮模式对玉-麦周年轮作系统产量和氮吸收利用的影响

为明确适宜豫北平原夏玉米-冬小麦一体化种植的高效施氮管理模式,2016—2017年分别在豫北典型高产田区河南省鹤壁市和中产田区河南省原阳县开展了夏玉米-冬小麦周年轮作不同施氮模式对夏玉米与冬小麦产量、氮素吸收和利用效率影响的田间试验。共设5种处理:不施氮肥(T1)、普通尿素按210 kg(N)?hm?2一次性基施(T2)、普通尿素分次施用且总施氮量同T2(T3)、控释尿素与普通尿素配比氮素减量施用(T4)和控释尿素与普通尿素配比氮素足量施用(T5)。分别于夏玉米和冬小麦关键生育期测试叶片SPAD值、植株与籽粒氮含量及生物量等氮营养指标,并于成熟期测定产量和产量构成因子,分析计算植株氮积累量与吸收利用特征。结果表明,处理间,高、中产区夏玉米与冬小麦产量、产量构成因子及氮素营养指标整体变化趋势均为T5T4T3T2T1。产区间,各处理夏玉米和冬小麦产量性状及氮营养指标均表现为高产区显著优于中产区。综合各处理平均值,高产区夏玉米产量、植株氮含量和氮素积累量相比于中产区分别平均提高58.0%、19.2%和47.1%,冬小麦增幅则分别为34.7%、33.3%和85.9%。氮利用效率方面,高、中产田在氮肥表观利用率、氮肥农学效率和100kg籽粒需氮量变化趋势均表现为T5T4T3T2T1,处理间差异显著;氮素收获指数则与此相反。豫北平原夏玉米-冬小麦周年轮作制在作物稳产甚至增产条件下,采用尿素与缓释氮肥掺混配施的氮肥优化施用模式不仅可有效减少肥料用量,还能显著提升肥料利用率,降低氮肥损失。     

施氮量对冬小麦氮素吸收、转运及产量的影响

2004至2005年在田间条件下,研究了施氮量0、105、2103、15.kg/hm2对冬小麦氮素吸收、累积、转运、产量及氮肥利用率的影响。结果表明,施用氮肥可显著提高冬小麦的子粒、秸秆产量及成熟期地上部总吸氮量,但过量施用氮肥对子粒和秸秆增产不显著;各施氮处理的氮肥利用率在34.2%～38.3%之间,随施氮量增加而略有降低。植株中氮素含量随生育期的延长而降低,氮素累积量总体呈增加趋势。施氮量对冬小麦氮素吸收有显著影响,同一生育时期,氮素含量和累积量都随着施氮量增加而提高。施氮可显著地促进氮素在子粒中累积,其中69%～87%的氮素是靠营养体的转运而来的。施氮量影响氮素的转运效率,随施氮量增加,转运效率降低。本试验条件下,冬小麦的合理施氮量应控制在105～210.kg/hm2之间。     

冬小麦-夏玉米适宜氮磷用量和平衡施肥效应

在河北衡水对冬小麦-夏玉米适宜氮、磷用量及高产高效平衡施肥效应的研究表明,在土壤中等肥力水平下,冬小麦-夏玉米施用氮肥和磷肥均能显著增加产量和效益,冬小麦和夏玉米施用氮肥分别增产11.1%～32.2%(平均22.5%)和12.5%～24.1%(平均19.2%),分别增收853.50～2 775.00元/hm2(平均1 876.60元/hm2)和1 352.33～2 293.77元/hm2(平均1 651.04元/hm2);施用磷肥分别增产8.1%～14.0%(平均11.7%)和2.5%～13.2%(平均9.1%),分别增收563.4～1 380.6元/hm2(平均974.7元/hm2)和189.74～1 458.39元/hm2(平均765.31元/hm2).冬小麦-夏玉米适宜N用量范围分别为220～260 kg/hm2和220～280kg/hm2,适宜施氮水平的氮肥利用率分别为36.5%和26.3%;适宜P2O5用量分别为90～110 kg/hm2和95～115kg/hm2,适宜施磷水平的磷肥利用率分别为16.8%～17.3%和11.8%～20.5%.冬小麦-夏玉米高产高效平衡施肥较农民习惯施肥增产5.3%～9.0%,增收454.19～992.5元/hm2,提高氮肥利用率5.0～15.2个百分点.     

保氮复合碳铵的肥效及增产机理研究

本研究研制出一种保氮复合碳铵 ,它与碳铵相比能提高氮肥利用率 5 2 %～ 1 5 % ;减少氨挥发损失 5 %～ 1 2 % ,使水稻增产 5 %～ 1 0 % ,棉花增产 6%～ 2 0 %。而且具有不结块、氨臭味减少、生产成本降低、施用方便、实用性广等特点。经 1 3.3hm2 大田示范 ,均获良好增产效果。     

优化缓释氮肥与尿素配施比例提高冬小麦产量和氮肥利用效率

为探究匹配冬小麦氮素需求规律的最佳缓释氮肥与尿素配施比例,优化施肥结构,达到氮肥高效利用与经济效益“双赢”的目标,该研究以冬小麦为研究对象,通过2 a(2019—2020年和2020—2021年)田间试验,设置7个施肥处理：仅施尿素(U)、仅施缓释氮肥(S)、缓释氮肥与尿素1:3配施(SU1)、缓释氮肥与尿素1:1配施(SU2)、缓释氮肥与尿素3:1配施(SU3)、不施氮肥(N0)和不施肥(CK),研究缓释氮肥配施比例对冬小麦干物质积累和转运、产量和氮肥利用效率的影响。结果表明,冬小麦干物质快速生长期和最大累积速率随缓释氮肥配施比例的增加而增加,缓释氮肥与尿素配施的冬小麦干物质平均累积速率比普通尿素提高1.90%～19.91%。缓释氮肥与尿素配施可在改善花前干物质转运量的同时提高花后生产量,花后干物质生产量对籽粒贡献率达53.18%～71.83%。产量随缓释氮肥配施比例的增加而显著提高,SU3处理2 a产量分别为7 243和8 021 kg/hm²,较S和U处理分别提高了7.25%和16.07%,其经济效益较S和U处理提高了15.18%和25.67%。与仅施尿素相...     

控释氮肥与普通尿素配施比例和方法对冬小麦灌浆特性的影响

[目的]控释氮肥施用模式影响小麦的灌浆和产量构成因素,利用Richards模型模拟陕西关中地区冬小麦灌浆进程并分析产量构成参数,探究控释氮肥掺混尿素的施肥方式和配施比例对冬小麦增产机理及灌浆特性的影响。[方法]以小麦品种‘小偃22’为供试作物,供试控释尿素的释放期为180天,于2017、2018年在陕西农林科技大学旱区灌溉站进行控释氮肥与尿素配合施用田间试验。共设置3个控释氮肥和普通尿素氮配施比例,依次为8:2 (N2)、7:3 (N3)和6:4 (N4);2种施肥方式,即掺混肥料一次性基施(B,简称基施)和基施控释氮肥+拔节期追施普通尿素(T,简称追施);同时设不施氮肥(CKO)、单施普通尿素(基追比4:6,CK1)和单施控释氮肥(一次性基施,CK2) 3个对照。在分蘖期和返青期统计分蘖数;在成熟期统计穗数,测量穗长、穗粒数、千粒重。从冬小麦开花结束第5天开始,每隔5天取1次样,共取9次,计算千粒重。以花后时间t为自变量,以该时间测得的千粒重(W)为因变量,采用方程W=A/(1+Be~(-Kt))~(1/E),计算灌浆参数和生长势。[结果]施氮能显著提高籽粒千粒重和产量,追施氮可保证灌浆物质来源更加充分,追施氮比例增加,起始生长势增大。适量追氮能延长灌浆持续时间,最大延长11.83天,促使最大灌浆速率出现日提前,最早提前3.791天;各处理在快增期均获得最大生长比率(P_(w2)),与基施处理相比,追施增加了快增期(P_(w2))和缓增期(P_(w3))的持续时间和生长比率,持续时间分别延长1.28～2.27天(T_2)、4.46～7.49天(T_3),生长比率分别增加4.69%～7.80%(P_(W2))和20.12%～37.25%(P_(W3))。基施处理的单位面积分蘖数和有效穗数均高于追施处理,与追施处理相比平均分别增加204.1～264.0个/m~2、29.0～97.1穗/m~2。施肥方式和配施比例的交互作用对产量和单位面积有效穗率具有极显著影响,TN2和BN3产量最高,与CK1相比产量分别提高14.54%和13.09%,与CK2相比产量分别提高11.46%和10.85%;其中,TN2处理千粒重较高,为41.32 g,BN3处理单位面积有效穗数较高,为546.5穗/m~2。[结论]控释氮肥配施普通尿素的比例和施用方法能有效调控灌浆动态和产量构成。本试验条件下,以控释尿素和普通尿素7:3混合后全部基施(BN3)和比例为8:2时追施普通尿素(TN2)的效果最为理想。BN3主要通过增加最大灌浆速率和推迟最大灌浆速率出现日期提高籽粒物质量,并通过单位面积分蘖数保证较高的单位面积有效穗数以提高产量。TN2主要通过保证较高的有效穗率,在灌浆期通过延长灌浆持续时间和提高缓增期的生长比率提高籽粒物质量累积,并获得较高的千粒重以提高产量。在冬小麦生产过程中,优先推荐BN3处理的施氮模式,可在获得高产的同时节约劳动力和成本,但从千粒重角度考虑,TN2处理为较优施氮模式。     

Soybean preference for Bradyrhizobium japonicum for modulation

Abstract

Caldwell and Vest (1968) planted soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr.) with various genotypes at Beltsville, USA, without inoculating them with Bradyrhizobium japonicum, and showed that soybeans preferred certain serotypes of rhizobial strains for nodulation. Recently, the authors have reported that soybeans carrying nodulation-conditioning genes preferred appropriate strains showing specific behavior for nodulation (Ishizuka et al. 1991). For instance, nodulation of soybean cv. Hardee which carries the nodulation-conditioning genes, Rj ₂ and Rj ₃, does not occur with B. japonicum USDA122, USDA33, Is-1, etc. Nodulation of cv. Hill which carries the Rj ₄ gene, does not occur with B. japonicum USDA61, Is-21, etc. while A62-2 which carries a recessive gene rj ₁, does not nodulate with almost any of the strains of B. japonicum. Therefore, the B. japonicum strains can be classified into three nodulation types based on the compatibility with these Rj-cultivars, that is, type A strains which effectively nodulated both Rj ₂ Rj ₃-cultivars and Rj ₄-ones, type B strains which did not nodulate the Rj ₂ Rj ₃-cultivars and type C strains which did not nodulate the Rj ₄-cultivars. When the nodulation types of the isolates from nodules of field-grown soybeans were examined, it was suggested that the Rj ₂ Rj ₃-cultivars and Rj ₄-cultivars preferred the type C and type B strains, respectively (Ishizuka et al. 1991).     

Soybean preference for Bradyrhizobium japonicum for nodulation

For examining the probability of increase in the occupation ratio of inoculated rhizobium in nodules, various Rj-soybean cultivars including the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-lines of soybean were grown in a field of the Kyushu University Farm. Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110 that carries uptake hydrogenase (Hup⁺) was used as an inoculum. The relative efficiency of nitrogen fixation generally increased by the inoculation. However, there were no significant differences in the effects among the genotypes of the host plants. The occupation ratio of serogroup USDA110 in the nodules on the taproot of the inoculated plants was in the range of 77–100%, suggesting that the B. japonicum strain USDA110 infected taproots immediately after inoculation. The occupation ratios in the nodules on the lateral roots were 53–67, 40–86, 63–83, and 62–77% in inoculated plants of the non-Rj-, Rj ₂ Rj ₃-, Rj ₄-, and Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotypes, respectively, and they decreased in all the genotypes with the progression of growth. At the time of the first sampling, the occupation ratios on the lateral roots of these Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotypes showed values intermediate between those of IAC-2 (Rj ₂ Rj ₃) and Hill (Rj ₄) , which were the parent cultivars of the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-lines, B340, B349, and C242. The reduction in the occupation ratio of the serogroup USDA110 for about 1 month after the first sampling was the lowest (0.13–0.16) in the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotypes, excluding B349, followed by the non-Rj- and Rj ₂ Rj ₃-genotypes and highest (0.52–0.69) in the Rj ₄-genotypes, excluding Hill. Therefore, it was considered that the population of compatible rhizobia with host soybean plants increased in the rhizosphere with the progression of the development and growth. The results showed that with the expansion of the root area of host plants, the occupation ratio of type A rhizobia including the serogroup USDA110 was high. Therefore, the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotypes were superior to other Rj-genotypes in terms of the inoculation effects of nodulation type A rhizobium, B. japonicum USDA110. However, the preference of the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotype for serogroup USDA110 is not sufficient to rule out the competition with the other serogroups in this study. Therefore, the study should be centered on the isolation of more efficient (Hup⁺) and highly compatible rhizobial strains with the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄- genotypes.     

干制黄花菜工业化生产工艺技术

为改进干制黄花菜传统生产方法并实现工业化生产,采用带式汽蒸生产线对黄花菜进行前处理,在干制过程中将全自动隧道式干燥生产线与工业微波生产线相结合,利用正交试验设计对干制黄花菜工业化生产工艺技术条件进行了较为详尽的研究。结果表明,在蒸汽温度95℃,汽蒸时间60s;隧道式干燥生产线装载量5.0kg/m2,热风温度85℃,风速1.5m/s;微波干燥生产线铺料厚度15mm、干燥功率16kW、干制时间90s的条件下,所生产的干制黄花菜经农业部食品质量监督检验测试中心检测其感官、理化和微生物指标均达到了《无公害食品—干制金针菜》NY5186-2002所规定的一级品标准。     

Soybean preference for Bradyrhizobium japonicum for nodulation

For the increase of the occupation ratio of inoculum strain in the competition with indigenous rhizobia, the relationship between Rj-genotypes of soybean and the preference of Rj-cultivars for various types of rhizobia for nodulation was investigated by using the Rj ₂ Rj ₄-genotype of soybean isolated from the cross between the Rj ₂ Rj ₃-cultivar IAC-2 and Rj ₄-one Hill (Ishizuka et al. 1993: Soil Sci. Plant Nutr., 39, 79-86). Firstly, these Rj ₂ Rj ₄-genotypes were found to harbor the Rj ₃-gene. The Rj ₂Rj₃Rj₄-genotypes of soybean were considered to exhibit a more narrow microsymbiont range for nodulation than the Rj ₂ Rj ₃-and Rj₄-cultivars. Therefore, rhizobia were isolated from the nodules of various Rj-genotypes of soybeans grown in soils, and the preference of the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotype for indigenous rhizobia was examined. The nodule occupancy of serotype 110 was significantly higher in the bacteroids of the nodules from the Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-rgenotypes than in those from the other genotypes, non Rj-, Rj ₂ Rj _3-, and Rj ₄-cultivars. These results demonstrated that the Rj ₂ Rj ³ Rj ⁴-genotype prefers more actively serogroup USDA110 to the others of rhizobia. Thus, Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄-genotype is superior to non- Rj-, Rj ₂ Rj ₃-, and Rj ₄-genotypes for the formation of efficient nodules for nitrogen fixation.     

Critical loads for nitrogen deposition for Great Britain

There is currently much interest in mapping critical loads for nitrogen deposition as part of a strategy for controlling nitrogen emissions. While nitrogen deposition may cause acidification and excess nutrient effects, the former were considered previously in studies of sulphur deposition. In the UK, work on developing nutrient nitrogen critical loads maps has used several methods and databases. Two approaches are described here, one a steady state calculation using a nitrogen saturation limit for soil systems, the other an empirical estimate of critical loads set to prevent changes to vegetation communities. The empirical method uses national species records and land cover data derived from satellite imagery. Maps drawn from the available data are dependent upon a number of factors which reflect the approach used. To apply the nutrient critical loads to a strategy for future abatement measures, the nutrient nitrogen values for soils have been incorporated within a “critical loads function” which takes into account both acidity and nutrient effects as related to deposition loads for sulphur and nitrogen. This function may be used with deposition data to identify the need for sulphur and nitrogen emission reductions.     

Recommendations for preparing test samples for AOAC collaborative studies of microbiological procedures for foods

Preparation of test samples for microbial collaborative studies poses problems not encountered in studies on chemical analytes. For Associate Referees who are considering a collaborative study of a microbiological procedure for food analysis, these problems have not been adequately addressed. Types of contamination (natural or artificial), number of test samples required, analyte selection, proper controls, and container selection are addressed herein. The discussion is a supplement to the guidelines contained in the Handbook for AOAC Members.     

Soil protection for a sustainable future: options for a soil monitoring network for Ireland

The increased recognition of the importance of soil is reflected in the UN Post‐2015 Development Agenda with sustainable development goals that directly and indirectly relate to soil quality and protection. Despite a lack of legally binding legislation for soil protection, the European Commission remains committed to the objective of soil protection. However, the achievement of a legally binding framework for soil protection relies on the implementation of a soil monitoring network (SMN) that can detect changes to soil quality over time. As beneficiaries do not pay for the provision of soil information, the options for soil monitoring are limited. The use of existing data sets should be considered first. Using Ireland as an example, this research explored the opportunities for a SMN for Ireland considering three existing national data sets. The options for a SMN are considered in terms of their spatial and stratified distribution, the parameters to be measured and an economic analysis of the options proposed. This research finds that for Ireland, either a 10 or a 16 km² grid interval stratified by land use and drainage class offers the best potential in relation to the spatial distribution of existing data sets to reflect local data at a national level. With existing data, the stratified SIS data using the 16 km² grid offers the best value for money, with baseline costs for analysis, excluding field costs, of between €706 481 and €2.8 million. Acknowledging the impossibility of measuring all parameters with ideal frequency, this study proposes a two‐tier system for optimized monitoring frequency. Parameters must anticipate future policy requirements. Finally, the implementation of a SMN must be accompanied by standardized methods, defined thresholds and action mandates to maintain soil quality within allowable limits.     

Rational basis for the logistic model for forage grasses

The logistic model has proven very useful in relating dry matter yields and plant N uptake of forage grasses to applied N. In the past the model has been treated simply as a regression model. This article provides a more rational mathematical foundation for the model. Differential response of dry matter to applied N was related to the product of filled and unfilled dry matter capacity of the system. Characteristics of the logistic and gaussian distributions were compared and refection symmetry of both noted. Symmetry in the logistic model was related to conservation of potential dry matter yield. At lower yields the logistic model approximates exponential behavior, while at higher yields it approximates the Mitscherlich model. Dry matter was coupled to plant N uptake through a hyperbolic equation. As a consequence, plant N uptake was also shown to follow logistic response to applied N with the same N response coefficient as for dry matter. In addition, plant N concentration exhibited linear dependence on plant N uptake. Field data were used to confirm all of these characteristics of the logistic model and to affirm its continued use to model forage grasses.     

Evaluation of soil extractants for silicon availability for sugarcane

Adequate evaluation and interpretation of silicon (Si) phytoavailability in soil is a key to fertilizer recommendation. This study was conducted to determine the effect of soil texture on the choice of Si extractant, and provide baseline data on the relationship between extractable Si and sugarcane Si accumulation. The effects of soil texture and extractant solutions of Si were investigated on soil of nine areas of sugarcane cultivation. Si contents in clayey soils were higher than in sandy soils only in the extraction with standard calcium chloride, acetic acid, potassium chloride (KCl), and sodium acetate buffer. Other extractants failed to reveal differences in the Si availability among the three soil textures. The choice of the extractant should consider soil texture for the determination of adequate Si contents in soils planted with sugarcane, and the extractants that proved to be more efficient in the three soil textures was acetic acid and KCl.     

Soil conservation for DNA preservation for bacterial molecular studies

The aim of this study was to select a method for preserving bacterial DNA in soil samples in cases where there are no possibilities of using freezing or cooling methods. To overcome this difficulty, we hypothesized that adding absolute ethanol to soil samples could be as successful to preserve bacteria as it is to preserve insect or tissue samples for molecular studies. In an attempt to test this assumption, we compared four conservation conditions. After inoculation of soil samples with Escherichia coli, they were either kept at 28 °C, stored in the cold (4 °C), dried at 60 °C, or treated with absolute ethanol. The relative effectiveness of the methods was evaluated by using both DNA recoveries and bacterial 16S rDNA amplification as criteria. Two kinds of soils, i.e. sandy clay and clayey soil, were used. Soil conservation was tested for seven time periods ranging from 2 d to 1 year after bacterial inoculation. Results showed that cold conservation or addition of absolute ethanol to the samples yielded similar DNA recoveries. For these treatments, successful amplifications are still obtained after one year of conservation. The ethanol conservation of soil samples appears to be the easiest method to preserve the bacterial DNA because of its reliability and field convenience.