Genesis and dynamics of an oxic dystrochrept and a typic haploperox from ultrabasic rock in the tropical rain forest climate of south-east Brazil

Oxisols are a product of long and intense weathering. Their actual characteristics can neither be traced back to a certain climatic period, nor do they reveal the present soil-forming factors. In this paper, therefore, a reconstruction of the soil genesis of a strongly weathered Oxisol is attempted by comparing the present mineralogical status and the recent dynamics of selected elements with a nearby Inceptisol from the same catena. The parent rock of both soils is serpentinized dunite with nepheline-syenitic veins; the soil moisture regime is udic. Chemical and mineralogical parameters, as well as the concentration of elements in the soil solution of a Typic Haploperox and an Oxic Dystrochrept from the same catena were analyzed for one year. The dynamics of Si and Mg strongly depended on the state of weathering. In the saprolite of the Dystrochrept, Si is partially removed and partially fixed by the formation of quartz and mixed layer minerals. Mg is first fixed in mixed layer minerals, but is during consecutive weathering leached from the transition zone from saprolite to the oxic horizon. Due to the high redox potential, Fe is not soluble, forming goethite in the upper part of the saprolite. Al is also not removed and is finally fixed in kaolinite. In the weathered upper part of both profiles the concentration of Al, Si, Mg and Fe in the soil solution is too low to perceive a further weathering. The present dynamics of Fe, Al, Mg and Si and the mineralogical status of the Dystrochrept indicate that these processes are similar to those that have led to the formation of the Haploperox. The soils, therefore, developed exclusively by the relative enrichment of Al and Fe, the partial loss of Si and the almost complete loss of Mg. Desilification and ‘laterisation’ are hence processes occurring also presently under a tropical rain forest climate.     

Another Look at Bayesian Analysis of AMMI Models for Genotype-Environment Data

Linear–bilinear models are frequently used to analyze two-way data such as genotype-by-environment data. A well-known example of this class of models is the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction effects model (AMMI). We propose a new Bayesian treatment of such models offering a proper way to deal with the major problem of overparameterization. The rationale is to ignore the issue at the prior level and apply an appropriate processing at the posterior level to be able to arrive at easily interpretable inferences. Compared to previous attempts, this new strategy has the great advantage of being directly implementable in standard software packages devoted to Bayesian statistics such as WinBUGS/OpenBUGS/JAGS. The method is assessed using simulated datasets and a real dataset from plant breeding. We discuss the benefits of a Bayesian perspective to the analysis of genotype-by-environment interactions, focusing on practical questions related to general and local adaptation and stability of genotypes. We also suggest a new solution to the estimation of the risk of a genotype not exceeding a given threshold.     

Einfluß variierter Temperatur und Feuchte auf mikrobielle Aktivitäten im Boden unter Laborbedingungen

Influence of varied soil temperature and moisture on microbial activities under laboratory conditions Under laboratory conditions the influence of temperature (10°C, 20°C, fluctuation from 5° to 30°C within 12 h with additional freezing for 3 days) and soil moisture (30%, 60% w.h.c., remoistening to 60% for 1 week) on several microbial activities was investigated. The biomass-related, glucose-induced short-term respiration and the dehydrogenase activity (TTC reduction) were higher at 10°C in most cases as compared to 20°C. Independent of freezing fluctuating temperature caused the lowest activities. The nitrogen mineralization (including nitrification), however, was affected in the opposite way. No marked influences were observed with β-glucosidase, arylsulfatase, and alkaline phosphatase. In the sandy loam nearly no effects of the soil moisture occurred and in the loamy sand especially the dehydrogenase activity was higher at 30% w.h.c., whereas the nitrogen mineralization was lower. From the results it can be concluded, that ecological conditions favouring mineralization without substrate addition may even reduce microbial biomass by decomposition.     

Niederschlags-Chemismus und atmosphärische Element-Deposition in einem an der Nordseeküste von Schleswig-Holstein gelegenen Agrarökosystem

Precipitation chemistry and atmospheric element-deposition in an agroecosystem at the North-Sea Coast of Schleswig-Holstein The objective of this study was to examine the chemistry of bulk precipitation and atmospheric element inputs in an arable soil near the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein, North Germany. Bulk precipitation was collected at weekly intervals from November 1989 to October 1991. Precipitation amount, pH, electrical conductivity, and concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl^?, NO₃^?, and SO₄^2? were recorded. The average volume-weighted pH was 5.5 and the average EC was 92 μS cm^?1. Sodium and Cl^? were with 64% and 76% the dominant ions (equivalent concentration) in bulk precipitation indicating the influence of the North Sea. The contribution of marine alkalinity to neutralization reactions of bulk precipitation was negligible (1%). The neutralizing substances NH₃ (63%) and Carbonate (36%) were more important. Deposition rates were in 1990 and 1991 97.0 and 51.7 kg Na⁺ ha^?1, 6.2 and 4.0 kg K⁺ ha^?1, 15.0 and 8.4 kg Mg²⁺ ha^?1, 13.2 and 10.4 kg Ca²⁺ ha^?1, 12.3 and 9.5 kg NH₄⁺-N ha^?1, 8.0 and 5.9 kg NO₃^?-N ha^?1, 168 and 83.1 kg Cl^? ha^?1 and 19.1 and 12.7 kg SO₄^2?-S ha^?1. In 1990 both more westerly winds and stronger wind-forces occurred than in 1991 and resulted in higher inputs of marine origin. Calculated on Cl^? basis 93% of Na⁺, 55% of K⁺, 74% of Mg²⁺, 24% of Ca²⁺, and 36% of SO₄^2? were of marine origin. Atmospheric input of marine origin supplied 39–72% of Mg and 21–37% of S requirement for crop production. The North Sea is an important source providing significant amounts of these elements to agricultural crops.     

Can the sample variance estimator be improved by using a covariate?

Variance componentsare quantities of central interest in many applications, e.g., in cultivar yield stability analysis and in the analysis of measurement errors. In some applications, the feasible sample size is rather limited, leading to estimates of variance components that are subject to considerable sampling variation. For example, new crop cultivars are tested in only a few environments before release to the market, so the sample size for the variance across environments is small. Similarly, testing a new measurement instrument for some chemical compound may be costly, allowing only a limited number of replications. This article investigates the potential for improving the usual sample variance estimator by exploiting covariate information. In a cultivartrial, yield data may be available for only a few environments while meteorological data or data on a standard cultivar has been recorded for a very large number of environments. Likewise, in the analysis of measurement errors, there may be long-term data on a standard measurement procedure that can be used as a covariate to improve the variance estimate for a new instrument. It is shown in this article that the gain in accuracy achieved by using a covariate can be considerable, provided there is sufficient correlation between the covariate and the variable of interest.     

Zur Definition von Humusformen ackerbaulich genutzter Böden. II. Quantität und Qualität der organischen Bodensubstanz

The definition of humusforms from soils under cultivation. II. Quantity and quality of soil organic matter In the new edition of the German textbook “Practical Studies in Soil Science” the authors presented a proposal of mapping humusforms in arable soils in order to characterize soil and site ecology (Schlichting et al., 1995). This proposal was developed from the definitions “Ochric”, “Mollic” and “Umbric” of the Soil Taxonomy and the FAO classification. The characterization of humusforms in 45 arable surface soils was carried out according to this proposal while soil organic matter (SOM) composition was investigated by means of wet chemistry and CPMAS ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. “Mollic” in contrast to “Umbric” humusforms could be characterized by a higher carbonyl/carboxyl carbon content probably deriving from proteins, polysaccharides and humic substances. In addition the mollic epipedon contains 10% more litter compounds, whereas in the umbric epipedon humic acids are of major importance. The humin fraction in the mollic epipedon is thought to be raised by the formation of Ca-humates. Our data suggest, that with regard to microbial decomposition a surplus of available organic matter is present in the mollic horizons. The ochric-like epipedon has a much lower humus content compared to “Mollic” and “Umbric” horizons and exhibits the highest amounts of soluble organic matter as well as aromatic and carboxylic C-compounds in the humic fraction. Our data suggest, that SOM quantity and quality of the mollic, umbric and ochric epipedons differ substantially. These findings suggest that the proposal of Schlichting et al. (1995), which was extended by Blume & Beyer (1996), should be regarded as a useful basis to discuss the development of humusforms in soils under cultivation and facilitate soil survey in order to improve site characterization.     

Limited winter survival and compensation mechanisms of yield components constrain winter faba bean production in Central Europe

A substantial deficit of protein sources for livestock and expected changes in agro-climatic conditions are two challenges for European agriculture. Both can be addressed by introducing more autumn-sown legumes into Central European farming systems. Therefore, a three-year field experiment was conducted under Pannonian climate conditions in eastern Austria in which several winter faba bean varieties from different European countries were compared to a spring faba bean variety. Winter faba bean was susceptible to frost damage. Best overwintering was observed with the German variety Hiverna and the French variety Diva. Regarding overwintering, the first winter allowed for a clear differentiation between varieties, in the second winter, severe frost caused loss of almost all winter faba bean plants and in the third winter, which was mild, most varieties showed good overwintering. Grain yield of winter faba bean was mainly determined by variations of plants m^?2 (i.e. by overwintering) whereas compensatory mechanisms between yield components had a minor influence on yield formation. No grain yield advantage could be observed for winter faba bean varieties compared to the spring faba bean variety even in the year with good overwintering. Regarding yield components, winter faba bean had generally more shoots plant^?1 and a higher thousand kernel weight but spring faba bean tended to have more pods shoot^?1 and grains shoot^?1 whereas pods plant^?1, grains plant^?1 and grains pod^?1 generally did not differ. In conclusion, limited winter hardiness together with the minor influence of compensatory mechanisms between yield components on yield formation are serious constraints for increasing the cultivation of winter faba bean in Central Europe.