The measurement,prediction, and development of soil management zones in low-relief sodic soils

Inexpensive, accurate, and rapid measurements of sodicity are required to identify the restoration options for degraded sites. This study determined the spatial variability of the percent of ammonium acetate extractable Na (%Na), apparent electrical conductivity (EC_a), pH_1:1, elevation and topographic wetness index, and used this information to create %Na management zones. In an 8.1 ha North Dakota field that contained Natraquolls and Calciaquolls, 1088 soil samples from the 0–0.3 and 0.3–0.6 m were collected from a 12.2 by 12.2 m geo-referenced grid. At each grid point, the elevation and ECa was determined using a differential corrected global positioning system and EM38m, respectively. Soil samples were analyzed for the %Na, EC_1:1, pH_1:1, and soil dispersion. Exponential semi-variogram models explained 96.7% of the ln-transformed %Na data in the 0–0.3 m soil depth, and %Na was correlated to EC_1:1 (r = 0.54), pH_1:1 (r = 0.68), clay dispersion (r = 0.68), ECav (r = 0.49), and ECah (r = 0.57). Forward stepwise regression models based on elevation, EC_1:1, pH_1:1, and ECah explained 64 and 74% of the %Na variability in the surface 0.3 m and subsurface 0.3–0.6 m, respectively. Management zones were identified that reduced the %Na variability up to 82%.     

Effect of anaerobic soil disinfestation amendment type and C:N ratio on Cyperus esculentus tuber sprouting,growth and reproduction

Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a cultural technique primarily targeted for control of soilborne plant pathogens, but can also impact weed propagules. A repeated pot study was conducted to evaluate ASD treatment impact on sprouting and growth of introduced Cyperus esculentus (yellow nutsedge) tubers using dry molasses‐based and wheat bran‐based amendment mixtures at four carbon‐to‐nitrogen (C:N) ratios (from 10:1 to 40:1) and compared with a non‐amended control. The mean percentage of sprouted tubers recovered after ASD treatment was lower for wheat bran‐based (42%) than dry molasses‐based (65%) amendments, and tuber production was 1.6‐fold higher in dry molasses‐based than wheat bran‐based treatments. The highest percentage of sprouted tubers (79%) and the highest mean production of large tubers (threefold higher than wheat bran‐based and 1.7‐fold higher than molasses‐based amendments) were observed for the non‐amended control. Tuber sprouting was significantly lower from all ASD treatments (regardless of amendment C:N ratio) compared with the non‐amended control at a 15 cm burial depth. New tuber production was lowest at C:N ratios of 10:1 and 20:1 and more than twofold higher in the non‐amended control. Wheat bran‐based amendments reduced above‐ground C. esculentus biomass compared with the non‐amended control and ASD treatments with molasses‐based amendments, and reduced below‐ground biomass compared with molasses‐based amendments. Above‐ground biomass was highest at amendment C:N ratio of 10:1, and below‐ground biomass was highest at amendment C:N ratio of 40:1 and the non‐amended control. ASD treatment with wheat bran‐based amendments at lower C:N ratios reduced tuber sprouting and reproduction compared with the non‐amended control, but not at rates high enough to use as a primary weed management tactic.     

Mulching potatoes: Aspects of mulch management systems and soil erosion

Intensive potato production occupies much of the sloping arable land of Prince Edward Island, Canada, and is at the center of soil erosion concerns in this province. Corrective considerations have turned recent attention to mulching, but there is limited knowledge of its workability or effectiveness in potato systems. This study looks at the effect of mulching on soil loss from potatoes grown on standard erosion plots, and examines a relatively simple approach to assessing soil-surface splash detachment (splash erosion) under mulch-management systems with potatoes. Three sizes of splash cup (25, 50, and 100 mm in diameter) were used under simulated rainfall at 150 mm·h^?1 for 10 minutes to measure splash erosion on potato plots under mulch-management systems which, respectively, left surface coverage of ～ 5%, ～ 15%, and ～20%. The lowest straw coverage gave up to 56% more erosion than either of the two higher coverages. The 25-mm splash cup yielded 14% more sediment splash than the 100-mm splash cup on the basis of unit surface area of soil in the splash cup (unit area). Regression modeling of unit-area splash against straw cover showed an exponential decay in splash detachment with increasing straw cover. On the erosion plots, soil loss with mulching was half of what it was without mulching; and soil water retention was 5% greater with mulching.     

Expanding the Repertoire of Spongian-16-One Derivatives in Australian Nudibranchs of the Genus Goniobranchus and Evaluation of Their Anatomical Distribution

Extracts of the mantle and viscera of the Indo-Pacific nudibranchs Goniobranchus aureopurpureus and Goniobranchus sp. 1 afforded 11 new diterpenoids (1–11), all of which possess a tetracyclic spongian-16-one scaffold with extensive oxidation at C-6, C-7, C-11, C-12, C-13, and/or C-20. The structures and relative configuration were investigated by NMR experiments, while X-ray crystallography provided the absolute configuration of 1, including a 2′S configuration for the 2-methylbutanoate substituent located at C-7. Dissection of animal tissue revealed that the mantle and viscera tissues differed in their metabolite composition with diterpenes 1–11 present in the mantle tissue of the two nudibranch species.     

Using underwater cameras to describe the reproductive behaviour of the endangered eastern freshwater cod Maccullochella ikei

Abstract –  Underwater cameras were used to observe the breeding behaviour of the endangered eastern freshwater cod, Maccullochella ikei , over 3 years and across three areas in the Mann and Nymboida rivers, Australia. The annual breeding season for M. ikei was short and succinct, lasting only 8–10 weeks. Spawning commenced each year in the lowest altitude area during the first week of spring, and approximately 1 week later in the closest upstream area. Day-length is the primary spawning cue for M. ikei , but increasing water temperature may also be of importance. Nesting sites were located in slow-flowing pools, under cover such as large boulders and bedrock shelves, at depths of 0.9–4.0 m, and with one or two entrances only. The nesting site was vigorously cleaned by the male up to 1 week prior to spawning and was only entered by the female for spawning. Paternal care of eggs and larvae was undertaken for up to 24 days, after which larvae dispersed. Greater protection of breeding M. ikei must be a management priority to ensure long-term conservation of the species.