Direct contribution by soil arthropods to nutrient availability through body and faecal nutrient content

Summary The direct contribution made by soil arthropods to nutrient dynamics was investigated in pine forests that differed in soil nutrient status. Nutrient concentrations (K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, PO ₄ ^3– , N, C) in the most abundant species and groups of arthropods in two Pinus nigra forests were compared, and distinct differences were found among taxonomic groups. In the rank order: collembolans, oribatides, isopods, diplopods, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ concentrations increased, while N and C concentrations decreased. The nutrient concentrations in individuals of the same species but originating from the different forests were similar, except for the isopod Philoscia muscorum. The total and available nutrient concentrations in food and faeces of the collembolan Tomocerus minor and the isopod Philoscia muscorum were compared. The isopod faeces contained relatively less K⁺ and Mg²⁺, and more Ca²⁺, PO ₄ ^3– , and greater N availability, compared with the food material. The collembolan faeces showed a higher availability of all nutrients measured. The N species appeared to be changed by collembolans; their faeces contained high NO ₃ ^– concentrations, while their food contained relatively high concentrations of NH ₄ ⁺ . These findings were examined in relation to their significance for ecosystem functioning. It was concluded that about 12% of the total K⁺, PO ₄ ^3– , N and 2% of the Ca²⁺ in the organic layer was found in the mesofauna. It was calculated that faeces production by the collembolans resulted in a 2.4 times higher NO ₃ ^– availability in the forest floor.     

糯米糍荔枝叶片矿质养分含量充足范围的确定

对深圳市4个典型丰产园糯米糍荔枝叶片7种矿质养分(氮、磷、钾、钙、镁、锌和硼)含量的统计分析表明:采样地点和生育时期均对叶片营养元素含量有显著的影响。四个关键生育时期(末次秋梢老熟期、花芽形态分化期、谢花期和果实成熟期)的单株样与混合(多株)样的供试矿质养分含量之间大部分没有显著差异。本研究根据丰产园糯米糍荔枝叶片混合样的分析结果提出了7种矿质养分的充足含量范围。     

稻壳炭对红壤理化特性及芥菜生长的影响

本文探讨了不同热解温度制备的稻壳炭的基本性质,并通过盆栽试验研究了500℃热解稻壳炭添加量对南方红壤理化性质和芥菜产量的影响。结果表明:稻壳炭添加量3%、5%和10%三个处理显著改善了红壤的理化性质,土壤体积质量较对照处理依次降低0.11、0.28和0.42 g/cm~3,p H由4.5分别增加到7.5、7.8、8.4,CEC依次增加52.16%、187.02%和214.35%,土壤有机质、速效磷和速效钾显著增加,但稻壳炭添加量10%处理的土壤碱解氮含量降低。稻壳炭对芥菜的养分含量、产量等指标影响较为显著,随着施炭量的增加,芥菜的生物量增加,叶片全氮从1.63 g/kg增加到2.44 g/kg,全磷从2.32 g/kg增加到3.09 g/kg,全钾从47.1 g/kg增加到56.7 g/kg,产量由108.37 g/盆增加到608.7 g/盆。总之,添加5%的500℃热解稻壳炭有效改善了酸度较强的红壤的理化性质,促进了芥菜的生长和增收以及对氮磷钾养分的吸收和储存。在红壤改良上,稻壳炭的最佳添加比例为5%。     

华北半干旱区土壤养分和植被特征的小尺度空间异质性研究

A field experiment was conducted at Kezuohouqi County, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China, which was located on the southeastern edge of the Horqin Sandy Land, to study the spatial variability of soil nutrients for a small-scale, nutrient-poor, sandy site in a semi-arid region of northern China; to investigate whether or not there were ＂islands of fertility＂ at the experimental site; and to determine the key nutrient elements that sustained ecosystem stability. Results obtained from geostatistical analysis indicated that the spatial distribution pattern of soil total nitrogen （STN） was far different from those of soil organic matter （SOM）, total phosphorus （STP）, and total potassium （STK）. Compared to SOM, STP, and STK, STN had a lower structural heterogeneity ratio and a longer range, while other elements were all similar. In addition, STN had an isotropic spatial structure, whereas the others had an anisotropic spatial structure. The spatial structure patterns of herbage species, cover, and height also differed, indicating that spatial variability was subjected to different ecological factors. Differences in the spatial variability patterns among soil nutrients and vegetation properties showed that soil nutrients for a small-scale were not the primary limiting factors that influenced herbage spatial distribution patterns. Incorporating spatial distribution patterns of tree species, namely, Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv. and shrub Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. in a research plot and using fractal dimension, SOM, STP, and STK were shown to contribute to the ＂islands of fertility＂ phenomenon, however STN was not, possibly meaning that nitrogen was a key limiting element. Therefore, during restoration of similar ecosystems more attention should be given to soil nitrogen.     

Drought and salinity: A comparison of their effects on mineral nutrition of plants

The increasing frequency of dry periods in many regions of the world and the problems associated with salinity in irrigated areas frequently result in the consecutive occurrence of drought and salinity on cultivated land. Currently, 50% of all irrigation schemes are affected by salinity. Nutrient disturbances under both drought and salinity reduce plant growth by affecting the availability, transport, and partitioning of nutrients. However, drought and salinity can differentially affect the mineral nutrition of plants. Salinity may cause nutrient deficiencies or imbalances, due to the competition of Na⁺ and Cl^– with nutrients such as K⁺, Ca²⁺, and NO . Drought, on the other hand, can affect nutrient uptake and impair acropetal translocation of some nutrients. Despite contradictory reports on the effects of nutrient supply on plant growth under saline or drought conditions, it is generally accepted that an increased nutrient supply will not improve plant growth when the nutrient is already present in sufficient amounts in the soil and when the drought or salt stress is severe. A better understanding of the role of mineral nutrients in plant resistance to drought and salinity will contribute to an improved fertilizer management in arid and semi‐arid areas and in regions suffering from temporary drought. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on plant nutrition under drought and salinity conditions. Specific topics include: (1) the effects of drought and salt stress on nutrient availability, uptake, transport, and accumulation in plants, (2) the interactions between nutrient supply and drought‐ or salt‐stress response, and (3) means to increase nutrient availability under drought and salinity by breeding and molecular approaches.     

纳米-亚微米级复合材料对褐潮土有机无机复合体含量及各粒级复合体中C、N、P含量与分布的影响

通过盆栽试验研究了纳米-亚微米级复合材料对褐潮土各粒级复合体组成及其中C、N、P含量与分配的影响。结果表明,1)施入纳米-亚微米级复合材料后,褐潮土各粒级复合体的含量较对照发生了改变,F1(2m)和F3(10～50m)粒级含量降低,F2(2～10m)和F4(50～100m)粒级含量增加。2)纳米-亚微米级复合材料可提高土壤及各粒级中C、N、P的含量,而增加幅度因材料而异;蒙脱土纳米-亚微米级复合物高岭土纳米-亚微米级复合物塑料纳米-亚微米级复合物。3)F3(10～50m)粒级中有机碳、全氮、全磷含量较低,但该粒级复合体含量占土壤固相的比重最大,因此该粒径中C、N、P对土壤肥力的贡献较大。4)纳米-亚微米级复合材料使土壤的有机碳、氮、磷在各粒级复合体中分配系数的增加以F2(2～10m)粒级最高,说明各养分进入F2粒级最多,表明该粒级对土壤养分的转化和平衡起着重要的调节作用。     

秦岭火地塘林区倒木及其土壤化学元素含量特征

以秦岭火地塘林区油松和漆树倒木为研究对象,采用国际倒木腐烂等级划分方法,测定其 5 个腐烂等级的6种化学元素( C,N,P,K,Ca,Mg) 的含量,分析倒木对土壤化学元素的影响。结果表明: 油松倒木5个腐烂等级间 C 含量没有显著差异,而漆树倒木 C 含量随着分解显著递减; 漆树和油松Ⅴ级倒木的 N 含量随着分解显著递增; Mg 含量在油松倒木分解过程中无显著差异,在漆树倒木分解后期显著增加; P,K,Ca 含量在漆树和油松分解过程中都无显著差异,但 P 和 Ca 含量随着油松和漆树倒木的腐烂呈线性增加,K 含量随油松和漆树倒木分解呈线性下降。油松和漆树倒木下土壤 C 含量随着土层加深而显著减少,K,Ca,Mg 含量随土层加深无显著差异; 土壤 C含量随倒木腐烂显著递增,N,P,Ca,Mg 含量随倒木分解无显著差异。该研究揭示倒木分解过程中各种化学元素的变化规律,对促进秦岭森林生态系统物质循环和制定林木更新措施有重要的参考价值。     

Effects of rainwater harvesting on herbage diversity and productivity in degraded Aravalli hills in western India

Over-exploitation and rural growth have severely damaged native vegetations of Aravalli hills in Rajasthan, India. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different restoration practices (i.e., rainwater harvesting (RWH) and planting of tree seedlings) on improve- ment in soil water and nutrients and growth and biomass of herbaceous vegetation. Contour trench (CT), Gradonie (G), Box trench (BT), V-ditch (VD) and a control were imposed on 75 plots (each of 700 m 2 ) in natural slope gradient defined as <10%, 10% 20% and >20% slopes in 2005. Each plot had three micro-sites of 1-m 2 at up (USP), middle (MSP) and lower (LSP) part of the plot for observation in 2008. The existed gradient (due to soil texture and topographic features) of soil pH, EC, SOC, NH 4 - N, NO 3 -N and PO 4 -P in June 2005 between >20% to <10% slopes were decreased in 2008 after applying RWH techniques. Such improvement in soil status promoted vegetation growth and biomass in higher slope gra- dients. Soil water, species diversity and herbage biomass increased from USP to LSP, and RWH techniques had positive role in improving SOC, nutrients, vegetation population, evenness and growth at MSP. Despite of lowest SWC, regular rain and greater soil water usage enhanced green and dry herbage biomasses in 10% 20% and >20% slopes, compared with <10% slope. The highest diversity in CT treatment was related to herbage biomass, which was enhanced further by highest concentrations of SOC and PO 4 -P. Further, CT treatment was found to be the best treat- ment in minimizing biomass variance in different slopes. Conclusively, soil texture and topographic features controlled soil water and nutrients availability. Rainwater harvesting techniques increased soil water storage and nutrient retention and also enhanced vegetation status and biomass by minimizing the effects of hillslopes. Thus depending upon the site conditions, suitable RWH technique could be adopted to increase herb- age biomass while rehabilitating the degraded hills.     

DRIS norms and limiting nutrients in banana cultivation in the South of Ecuador

Abstract

Foliar analysis is an effective method to diagnose the nutritional status of plants. However, the mineral concentration in foliar tissue has traditionally been evaluated by assessing the activity of each element, without considering the interactions between them. To address this, dual interactions were calculated using the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) to identify which crop nutrients are most influential in nutrient imbalances and which are the most limiting nutrients for the nutritional status of banana crops in Ecuador. To achieve this, a regional survey of the nutritional status and its productivity levels was conducted for 188 different sites during the crop season in 2017–2018, involving banana cultivars ‘Vallery’ and ‘Williams’, from the Cavendish subgroup. The DRIS calculation method was combined with Beaufils and Jones functions. From the initial 188 foliar samples, 83 samples (representing 44% of the population) were considered to represent the high-yield reference population, with yields of 38–60 t ha^?1. The DRIS method defined the mean nutritional balance index, which was not found to be statistically correlated (p?>?0.05) with productivity, revealing that there was no significant association with the nutritional status of the plants. Specific DRIS norms were obtained and indicated that deficiencies in K, N, Ca, and Fe, and excesses in Mn, B, Cl, Zn, S, Cu, and Mg were the most limiting nutrients for banana cultivars in the south of Ecuador.     

AB-DTPA浸提法研究上海中心城区绿地土壤有效态养分特征

采用AB-DTPA浸提剂联合电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法研究上海9个中心城区的509个绿地土壤的10种有效态养分含量。结果表明:上海中心城区绿地土壤有效态钾、钙、镁、锰和铁含量丰富;有效态磷、硫和钼普遍缺乏,部分土样有效磷、硫的含量超标与大量施用有机改良材料有关;有效态锌和铜均发生不同程度的累积,有些土样超标。不同时空的绿地土壤有效态养分含量与成土因素和人为活动有关。随着绿地建成年限延长,土壤有效锌和有效铜含量显著增加,但其他养分变化不显著。就上海不同区域而言,杨浦区、闸北区、浦东新区和徐汇区有效态养分含量相对较低;长宁区、静安区和黄浦区有效态养分含量较高;虹口区和杨浦区锌、铜累积程度高。公共绿地与公园土壤养分含量相当;道路绿地的有效态钾、硫、镁显著高于前两者,但有效态锌、铜和铁含量显著低于前两者。随着土壤剖面加深,土壤有效态硫、镁和钼含量呈增加趋势,而有效态磷、钾、锰、锌含量稍许降低。AB-DTPA浸提法适用于土壤中大部分有效态养分的快速分析,建议在全国推广应用。