Intercropping maize and wheat with conservation agriculture principles improves water harvesting and reduces carbon emissions in dry areas

In arid and populated areas or countries, water shortage and heavy carbon emissions are threatening agricultural sustainability with food security severely, and becoming a major issue. It is unclear whether improved farming systems can be developed to tackle those issues through a sustainable agriculture. Here three farming practices that have proven to be essential and successful, which were: (a) crop intensification through strip intercropping, (b) water harvesting through conservation tillage; and (c) carbon sequestration through improved crop residue management options, were integrated in one cropping system. We hypothesize that the integrated system allows the increase of crop yields with improved water use efficiency, while reducing carbon emissions from farming. The hypothesis was tested in field experiments at Hexi Corridor (37°96′N, 102°64′E) in northwest China. We found that the integrated system increased soil moisture (mm) by 7.4% before sowing, 10.3% during the wheat–maize co-growth period, 8.3% after wheat harvest, and 9.2% after maize harvest, compared to the conventional sole cropping systems. The wheat/maize intercrops increased net primary production by 68% and net ecosystem production by 72%; and when combined with straw mulching on the soil surface, it decreased carbon emissions by 16%, compared to the monoculture maize without mulch. The wheat/maize intercrops used more water but increased grain yields by 142% over the monoculture wheat and by 23% over the monoculture maize, thus, enhancing water use efficiency by an average of 26%. We conclude that integrating strip intercropping, conservation tillage as well as straw mulching in one cropping system can significantly boost crop yields, improve the use efficiency of the limited water resources in arid areas, while, lowering the carbon emissions from farming. The integrated system may be considered in the development of strategies for alleviating food security issues currently experienced in the environment-damaged and water-shortage areas.     

覆盖方式对夏玉米土壤水分和产量的影响

为探索半湿润偏旱区不同覆盖栽培模式夏玉米田土壤蓄水保墒和增产效果,于2014年6-10月在陕西杨凌节水灌溉试验站,通过设置垄覆地膜沟覆秸秆（PSM）、全覆膜平作（PM）、覆秸秆平作（SM）、露地平作（CK）4种栽培模式进行玉米种植试验,对0-200cm土壤不同深度土层含水率进行全生育期动态监测,分析比较各种模式下土壤含水率、土层贮水量以及作物耗水量的变化规律,并结合产量资料计算各种种植模式的水分利用效率。结果表明：一次30.5mm降水过程结束后,PSM处理的集水作用最明显,降水2d后,垄沟中40cm土层土壤含水率最高,达35.8%。与降水2d后相比,降水6d后,CK、PSM处理沟中（PSM-F）、PM和SM处理40cm土层土壤含水率分别下降10.3%、2.9%、1.8%和0.2%,而PSM处理垄下（PSM-B）含水率则提高10.4%。PSM处理在干旱季沟中和垄下土壤含水量差异明显,降雨较多时,沟垄土壤含水率基本达到平衡。PSM、PM和SM处理能显著提高玉米生育期0-20cm土层贮水量,其中以PSM处理最为显著;各处理苗期以后20-100cm土层贮水量均低于对照;100-200cm土层贮水量以SM处理最高,PSM处理最低。夏玉米产量与拔节-灌浆期耗水量呈显著正相关（r=0.98*）。PSM、PM和SM处理的玉米产量较CK分别提高95.3%、83.1%和55.4%,水分利用效率较对照分别提高75.7%、71.0%和58.8%。研究结果表明垄覆地膜沟覆秸秆栽培模式能够显著提高玉米产量和水分利用效率,适宜在半湿润偏旱区夏玉米生产中应用。     

Vertical Distribution and Seasonal Dynamics of Fine Root Parameters for Apple Trees of Different Ages on the Loess Plateau of China

The vertical distribution pattern and seasonal dynamics of fine root parameters for the apple trees of different ages （3, 10, 15, and 20 years old） on the Loess Plateau of China were studied. Soil coring method was used to determine the vertical distribution and seasonal dynamics of fine roots at different root radial distances （1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 m from the main tree trunk）. The fine root biomass density （FRD）, fine root length density （RLD）, and specific root length （SRL）, as well as soil water content and soil temperature were also measured. The FRD and RLD for the 10, 15, and 20 years old trees reached peak values in the 20-30 cm soil layer. For the 3 years old tree, the highest FRD and RLD were observed in the 10-20 cm soil layer. The FRD and RLD decreased with increased soil depth from the 10-20 or 20-30 cm soil layer for all age apple trees. The SRL declined with the increase of tree age. The FRD at the 1.0 m radial distance from the main tree trunk was higher than that at other radial distances in the 3 and 10 years old orchard. However, in the 15 and 20 years old orchards, especially the 20 years old orchard, the FRD at the 2.0 m radial distance was nearly equal to or higher than that at the 1.0 and 1.5 m radial distances. For all the root radiuses or the tree ages, the FRD, RLD, and SRL were the highest in spring and the lowest in autumn. The age of an apple tree does not affect the vertical distribution pattern but the biomass of fine roots and the SRL. Radial distance affects the root horizontal distribution of 3 and 10 years old trees but the 15 and 20 years old trees. Additionally, effects of soil temperature and soil moisture on fine root distribution or seasonal dynamics are not significant.     

夏玉米苗期对不同时长干旱-复水的生理响应机制

为探究干旱-复水环境下夏玉米苗期的生理调节机制，采用桶栽的方式，设置3个水分处理：正常处理(CK) :75%~85%θ_f（田间持水量），轻度胁迫(W₁) :60%~70%θ_f，中度胁迫(W₂) :50%~60%θ_f；设置3个胁迫时长，7 d(T₁)、10 d(T₂)、13 d(T₃)；于胁迫与复水期间测定夏玉米苗期叶片的渗透调节物质、抗氧化酶及光合指标。结果表明：在轻度和中度胁迫下，脯氨酸(Pro)含量呈先增大后减小趋势，第3天达到峰值，相较于CK分别提高32.7%、44.1%；复水后，胁迫10 d处理的Pro累积量高于胁迫7 d的处理，而胁迫13 d无明显累积效应。超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性在胁迫期间呈先增大后减小趋势，第3天达到峰值，相较于CK分别提高22.0%、12.4%；复水后活性增强，且胁迫13 d处理的SOD活性高于胁迫10 d和胁迫7 d处理。过氧化物酶(POD)活性在轻度胁迫处理下呈先增大后减少趋势，在第3天达到峰值，相较于CK提高28.5%，而在中度胁迫处理下POD活性呈减小趋势，且低于CK；复水后酶活性均恢复至正常处理水平。丙二醛(MDA)含量在胁迫期间呈增高趋势，且胁迫时长越长，增幅越大，在胁迫13 d处理下，中度和轻度胁迫下的MDA含量相较于CK分别提高140%和281%；复水后胁迫缓解，所有处理组的MDA含量均恢复至正常处理水平。在轻度和中度胁迫下，夏玉米的净光合速率、气孔导度以及蒸腾速率分别为CK的92.5%和77.7%、93.9%和74.3%、87.9%和74.5%，光合作用受到限制；复水后，中度胁迫处理表现出光合补偿效应，光合指标值均高于其他处理。研究表明，持续10 d维持土壤50%~60%θ_f较利于夏玉米生长，其复水后出现显著的光合补偿效应。     

河套灌区粮食水足迹与虚拟水净输出时空演变

为了正确评价灌区内水资源使用对改善现有水资源管理的影响,文中引入水足迹与虚拟水概念,同时考虑降雨和灌溉用水,计算了1960—2008年内蒙古河套灌区粮食水足迹与虚拟水净输出量的时空变化,进一步评价了灌区水资源在区域内和区域间的分配.结果表明：1960—2008年河套灌区粮食水足迹由3.534×109m3减小为1.634×109m3,自2000年灌区粮食虚拟水净输出量呈下降态势,两者构成均以蓝水为主（90%）;空间分布上,河套灌区中部地区（杭后、临河和五原）的粮食水足迹和虚拟水净输出量较大,而其他地区（磴口和前旗）较小;1960—2008年,粮食生产用水在灌区用水总量中所占比例呈显著下降趋势,年均下降1.07%.粮食生产用水的大部分以虚拟形式输送到灌区外部,该比例近年有所降低,但2008年仍高达76.22%.未来河套灌区应注重绿水和蓝水资源利用效率的提高.该研究为灌区水资源管理宏观政策的制定和可持续发展的实现提供理论依据.     

塿土介电特性与水分检测频率及温度影响

为了确定基于介电特性的土壤含水率传感器的合适检测频率,并降低温度对介电参数的影响,以陕西关中地区的塿土为对象,利用矢量网络分析仪和同轴探头技术研究了信号频率(10～4 500 MHz)、土壤含水率(9%～25%)和温度(5～50℃)对土壤相对介电常数ε’和介质损耗因数ε″的影响,分析了介电参数变化的原因及频率、含水率和温度对电磁波穿透深度的影响规律.研究结果表明,在10～4 500 MHz频段内,随着频率的增大,土壤的ε’单调递减,而ε″先增大,后减小,进而再增大;ε’和ε″均随含水率和温度的增大而增大;穿透深度随频率、含水率和温度的增大而减小;频率、含水率和温度是影响土壤介电参数及穿透深度的主要因素.50～100MHz是基于介电特性检测土壤含水率的最佳频段.     

Puroindoline grain hardness alleles in CIMMYT bread wheat germplasm

Grain hardness is an important quality parameter of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) with importance for wheat classification and end use properties, and is controlled by the genes puroindoline a (Pina) and puroindoline b (Pinb). The presence of known hardness alleles was studied in a representative sample of 373 bread wheat lines from the breeding program at CIMMYT. The PINA-null mutation (Pina-D1b) was the most frequent hardness allele and present in 283 of the 328 lines with hard endosperm. All other hard wheat had the glycine to serine mutation in PINB (Pinb-D1b). A study of historically important CIMMYT bread wheat lines showed that Pina-D1b has been the dominating hardness allele since the inception of the wheat breeding program in Mexico. New puroindoline alleles have recently been introduced through the extensive use of synthetic hexaploid wheat, and the textural effects of various Aegilops tauschii-derived Pina and Pinb alleles were studied in 92 breeding lines derived from various crosses with synthetic wheat. Progeny lines with Pina-D1j/Pinb-D1i were on average 10 SKCS hardness units softer than those carrying the allelic combination Pina-D1c/Pinb-D1h. Further investigation is needed to validate the potential of such minor allelic differences for the improvement of soft wheat quality.     

Hydraulic design procedure for drip irrigation submain unit based on relative flow difference

The combined effects of hydraulic variation and manufacturing variation on the relative flow difference in drip emitters were analyzed for a drip irrigation submain unit. Emitter manufacturing variation is a random variable and follows a normal distribution, which can be expressed by emitter coefficient of manufacturing variation (v) and a random variable (u) following a standardized normal distribution. Emitter flow rate equation can be expressed by two parts: (1) emitter discharge coefficient (k) and discharge exponent (x) determine the flow rate (kh ^x ) from an emitter at pressure head (h) and (2) the unknown random term (uvkh ^x ), taking into account emitter manufacturing variation. Next, the formula for relative flow difference in a drip irrigation submain unit is derived based on (1) hydraulic variations due to head loss and elevation differences and (2) emitter manufacturing variation. A new hydraulic design procedure for drip irrigation submain unit is proposed based on the formula.     

再生水灌溉对土壤斥水性的影响

深入探求再生水灌溉条件下不同土壤中水分和溶质的分布及斥水性变化规律,能为再生水灌溉条件下土壤斥水性产生原因及其影响因素的研究提供一定的参考。选用砂土、砂姜黑土、塿土和盐碱土进行土柱再生水灌溉试验,取样测定不同灌水量条件下剖面土壤的潜在斥水性、含水率、Cl-、有机质(organicmatter,OM)含量及电导率(electrical conductivity,EC)等。结果表明:再生水灌溉后,塿土及盐碱土分别出现0～2,1～3级斥水性,砂土及砂姜黑土为0级斥水性,4种土表层表现出较强的斥水性。土壤斥水性随再生水灌水量和灌溉时间的增加而显著增强,并且灌水量越大,斥水性差异性越显著。4种土有机质含量OM与土壤斥水持续时间变化值TR呈正相关关系,Cl-含量、EC值与土壤斥水持续时间变化值TR呈负相关关系。相比较其他3种土而言,砂土更适合再生水灌溉。     

低压微灌多孔软管水力特性试验研究

为了进一步探索低压微灌多孔软管的水力性能,采用室内试验方法,研究了低压(1～5m)条件下多孔软管的出流规律、沿程压力分布规律以及水头损失分布规律,结果表明,在低压条件下,多孔软管的水力特性受进口压力、出流孔孔距、铺设长度等因素影响,且受到管壁塑性变形的影响;沿程出流表现出单峰性,随管长及孔距增大,最大值点前移,随压力增大,沿程出流更为均匀;沿程压力一直减少,前半段减幅约为后半段的4倍,且随孔距增大,递减幅度变小;水头损失随孔距减小和压力增大而减小,且进口压力为1～3m时的减幅与4～5m时的比值在管长为40m时,其值约为管长为30m时的2倍。研究结果可为低压微灌技术的完善和发展提供理论依据。