Mapping soil salinity and pH across an estuarine and alluvial plain using electromagnetic and digital elevation model data

Increasing pressures from agriculture and urbanization have resulted in drainage of many floodplains along the eastern Australian coastline, which are underlain by sulphidic sediments, to lower water tables and reduce soil salinity. This leads to oxidation of the sediments with a rapid decline in pH and an increase in salinity. Accurately mapping soil salinity and pH in coastal acid sulphate soil (CASS) landscapes is therefore important. One required map is the extent of highly acidic (i.e. pH < 4.5) areas, so that the application of alkaline amendments (e.g. lime) to neutralize the acid produced can be specifically targeted to the variation in pH. One approach is to use digital soil mapping (DSM) using ancillary information, such as an EM38, digital elevation models (DEM – elevation) and trend surface parameters (east and north). We used an EM38 in the horizontal (EM38h) and vertical (EM38v) modes together with elevation data to develop multiple linear regressions (MLR) for predicting EC_1:5 and pH. For pH, best results were achieved when the EM38 EC_a data were log‐transformed. By comparing MLR models using REML analysis, we found that using all ancillary data was optimal for mapping EC_1:5, whereas the best predictors for pH were north, log‐EM38v and elevation. Using residual maximum likelihood (REML), the final EC_1:5 and pH maps produced were consistent with previously defined soil landscape units, particularly CASS. The DSM approach used is amenable for mapping saline soils and identifying areas requiring the application of lime to manage acidic soil conditions in CASS landscape.     

Effect of cryogel on soil properties

Samples from the A1 and A1A2 horizons of sandy loamy gray forest soil containing 3.1% organic matter have been mixed with a 5% solution of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) at a ratio of 7 : 1 under laboratory conditions. The samples were frozen at ?20°C in a refrigerator; after a freezing-thawing cycle, the evaporation of water from their surface, their thermal conductivity coefficient, their elasticity modulus, and other properties were studied. It has been experimentally found that the thermal conductivity coefficient of cryostructured soil is lower than that of common soil by 25%. It has been shown that the cryostructured soil retains water for a longer time and that the water evaporation rate from its surface is significantly lower compared to the control soil. Cryogel has no negative effect on the catalase activity of soil; it changes the physical properties of soils and positively affects the population of indigenous soil microflora and the growth of the sown plants.     

热处理对马尾松蓝变材颜色的影响

热处理选取了5个温度(170、185、200、215、230℃)和4个时间(2、4、6、8 h)。在热处理前后分别测量蓝变点与未蓝变点的颜色,分析了蓝变材颜色的均匀性,对比了蓝变点与未蓝变点的颜色差异和变化规律。实验结果表明:热处理后,蓝变材颜色参数的标准差逐渐降低,蓝变点与未蓝变点明度差、黄蓝色品指数差减小,其色差可以从17.57降低到小于1。均值比较结果显示,经过200℃以下的热处理,蓝变点与未蓝变点间的颜色参数仍然具有显著性差异。为了使蓝变色斑达到肉眼不容易识别的程度,最低的热处理条件为200℃下处理6 h。     

SALTIRSOIL: a simulation model for the mid to long‐term prediction of soil salinity in irrigated agriculture

The SALTIRSOIL model predicts soil salinity, sodicity and alkalinity in irrigated land using basic information on soil, climate, crop, irrigation management and water quality. It extends the concept of the WATSUIT model to include irrigation and crop management practices, advances in the calculation of evapotranspiration and new algorithms for the water stress coefficient and calculation of electrical conductivity. SALTIRSOIL calculates the soil water balance and soil solution concentration over the year. A second module, SALSOLCHEM, calculates the inorganic ion composition of the soil solution at equilibrium with soil calcite and gypsum at the soil’s CO₂ partial pressure. Results from comparing predicted and experimentally determined concentrations, observations and predictions of pH, alkalinity and calcium concentration in calcite‐saturated solutions agree to the second significant figure; in gypsum‐saturated solutions the standard difference between observations and predictions is <3% in absolute values. The algorithms in SALTIRSOIL have been verified and SALSOLCHEM validated for the reliable calculation of soil salinity, sodicity and alkalinity at water saturation in well‐drained irrigated lands. In simulations for horticultural crops in southeast Spain, soil solution concentration factors at water saturation, quotients of electrical conductivity (EC₂₅) at saturation to electrical conductivity in the irrigation water, and quotients of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) are very similar to average measured values for the area.     

Single and Interactive Effects of Temperature and Light Quality on Four Canola Cultivars

Combined effects of temperature and light quality on plants have received little attention. We investigated the single and interactive effects of temperature and light quality on growth and physiological characteristics of four canola (Brassica napus) cultivars – Clearfield 46A76 (cv₁), Clearfield 45H72 (cv₂), Roundup Ready 45H24 (cv₃) and Roundup Ready 45H21 (cv₄). Plants were grown under lower (24°/20 °C) and higher (30°/26 °C) temperature regimes at low red/far‐red (R/FR), normal R/FR and high R/FR light ratios in environment‐controlled growth chambers (16 h light/8 h dark). Higher temperature reduced stem height and diameter; leaf number and area; dry matter of all plant parts; and specific leaf weight, but increased leaf area ratio; and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence (Y). Low R/FR increased stem height; Y; and ethylene, but decreased stem diameter; F_v/F_m; Chl a; Chl b; and carotenoids. Among cultivars, plants from cv₄ were tallest with thickest stems and greatest dry matter. None of the main factors affected gas exchange. Higher temperature at high R/FR caused cv₃ to be shortest, whereas lower temperature at low R/FR caused cv₄ to be tallest. We conclude that heat and other stress factors will adversely affect sensitive crops, but tolerant genotypes should perform well under future climate.     

The Humus Content and Soil Biological Properties as a Function of Organic and Mineral Fertilization

There is a growing recognition for the need to develop sensitive indicators of soil quality that reflect the effects of land management on soil and assist land users in promoting sustainability of agro-ecosystems. Three soil enzymes (dehydrogenase, phosphatase and invertase) microbial biomass as biological variables and soil organic matter content (SOM) were investigated relative to fertilization and soil fertility (estimated by crop yield) at a long-term fertilization trial (Keszthely, Hungary). 0-34.7-69.4-104.1t farmyard manure (FYM) ha m 1 5 yr m 1 and the corresponding amount of mineral fertilizers (NPK) were applied in two different crop rotation systems. There were four straw and/or stalk incorporating treatments in the second crop rotation 'B'. Enzyme activities, microbial biomass and the amount of SOM were generally higher in the fertilized soils than in the unfertilized soils. The type of amendments (mineral, FYM or mixed) had significant effects only on the amount of SOM. The correlations among the biological variables and the crop yield were generally low (r < 0.250. The differences in field management resulted only in the invertase activity.     

Comparison of nuclear and capacitance‐based soil water measuring techniques in salt‐affected soils

A field calibration experiment was carried out on salt‐affected clayey soil in Syria, to compare the sensitivity to soil electrical conductivity (ECe), and bulk density (ρ_b) of two instruments for estimating soil moisture: the neutron probe (NP) and the Diviner 2000 capacitance probe (CP). The results showed that the values of the correlation coefficient of the calibration were decreased when the ECe and ρ_b values increased; this decrease was more pronounced for the Diviner 2000, indicating that it was more sensitive to ρ_b and ECe than the NP. When only scaled frequency was used in the fitted equation, the Diviner 2000 in wet soil underestimated soil water content significantly at all depths, but especially in the top layer, by up to 0.09 cm³/cm³ compared with gravimetric determinations. However, in dry soil, the Diviner 2000 overestimated the volumetric water content by up to 0.05 cm³/cm³ in the top 15 cm, and by 0.03 cm³/cm³ at 30‐45 cm depth. The performance of the neutron probe was better overall; using a factory calibration curve no significant differences were observed between NP estimates and the gravimetric values. Including both ρ_b and ECe in the calibration equations improved the fits, although the regression coefficient (R²) for the Diviner 2000 remained low.     

A Preliminary Ichthyoplankton Survey of the Tsitsikamma National Park

An ichthyoplankton survey using bongo nets was conducted within the Tsitsikamma National Park over an 18-month period between January 1991 and July 1992. Four sampling stations along the coast were chosen, approximately 5 km apart. At each station four samples were taken along a transect perpendicular to the coast, between 0,35 km and 3,8 km offshore. Horizontal tows were taken at three and 15 m below the surface over reef and sand substrata respectively. Larvae belonging to 24 of the 35 families and 55 of the 97 species known to occur in the area were captured. Engraulid larvae completely dominated the catches while amongst the reef-associated taxa sparids and blenniids were prominent. Seasonally occurring cold upwelling events impacted negatively on egg and larval abundance. Mean values for egg and larval abundances were 1207 and 282 per 100 m³ respectively. A relationship between larval number and plankton volume was revealed. Most larvae captured were between 2,0 and 20,3 mm (SL), and in the preflexion condition. The absence of larger size classes in samples was attributed to net avoidance.     

大麦杂种优势利用研究,Ⅲ.大麦异棱型和同棱型F1杂种的杂种优势特征

研究了大麦4种杂交类型（含二棱×二棱、二棱×六棱、六棱×二棱和六棱×六棱）的F₁杂种的性状表现和优势特征，比较了同棱型相配组（二棱×二棱和六棱×六棱）和异棱型相配组（二棱×六棱和六棱×二棱）的超高亲优势（H_h）组合数及其出现率。研究性状包括株高、穗长、穗下节间长、穗数、粒数、粒重、籽粒产量、籽粒蛋白质含量和赖氨酸含量等13个.结果表明,(1)二棱×二棱杂种的穗长较长、每株穗数较多、千粒重较高；六棱×六棱杂种的每穗粒数、每株粒数较多、籽粒产量较高；而异棱型相配杂种则比同棱型相配组有较高的株高、穗下节间长和千粒重。（2）4种杂交类型杂种的类型内杂种间变异，在大多数性状上均为同质，仅有株高、穗长和主穗粒数在六棱×六棱杂种中变异增大，有较大的选择潜力。（3）在13个数量性状中，有9个性状的H_h优势出现率与杂交类型显著关联；株高、穗下节间长和千粒重的H_h优势出现率在二棱×六棱和/或六棱×二棱杂种中最高，而主穗粒数、每穗粒数、每株粒数、每粒重和每株干重的H_h优势出现率则在六棱×六棱和/或六棱×二棱杂种中最高。（4）异棱型相配组杂种的株高、穗下节间长和千粒重的Hh优势率显著高于同棱型相配组杂种，依次为20/30对8/33、30/30对18/33和22/30对5/33；但同棱型相配组杂种籽粒产量的H_h优势率显著高于异棱型相配组杂种，为10/33对2/30。说明异棱型杂种易产生生物量和千粒重优势，而同棱型杂种易产生籽粒产量优势。     

Evaluation of concurrent perineal hernia in adult male dogs presenting with nontraumatic,acquired inguinal hernias

A possible association between the development of nontraumatic, acquired inguinal hernias (NAIH) and perineal hernias (PH) has been postulated in adult dogs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of concurrent diagnosis of PH in dogs presented with NAIH and determine potential risk factors for concurrent PH and NAIH. Medical records of adult male dogs presented for NAIH to 4 hospitals between 2007 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Twenty-one dogs with NAIH were included, 8 of which had concurrent PH. There were no significant differences between dogs with and without PH; however, among dogs with both conditions, intact dogs (8.1 ± 1.4 years) were younger than neutered dogs (11.7 ± 1.0 years; P = 0.007). Thirty-eight percent of male dogs presenting for NAIH had concurrent PH, indicating that these conditions commonly occur together. Dogs presenting for NAIH should be carefully evaluated for concurrent PH before surgical intervention.