Impact of soil engineering by two contrasting species of earthworms on their dispersal rates

By burrowing galleries and producing casts, earthworms are constantly changing the structure and properties of the soils in which they are living. These changes modify the costs and benefits for earthworms to stay in the environment they modify. In this paper, we measured experimentally how dispersal behaviour of endogeic and anecic earthworms responds to the cumulative changes they made in soil characteristics. The influence of earthworm activities on dispersal was studied in standardised mesocosms by comparing the influence of soils modified or not modified by earthworm activities on earthworm dispersal rates.The cumulative use of the soil by the earthworms strongly modified soil physical properties. The height of the soil decreased over time and the amount of aggregates smaller than 2 mm decreased in contrast to aggregates larger than 5 mm that increased. We found that: (i) earthworm activities significantly modified soil physical properties (such as bulk density, soil strength and soil aggregation) and decreased significantly the dispersal rates of the endogeic species, whatever the species that modified the soil; (ii) the decreasing in the dispersal proportion of the endogeic species suggests that the cost of engineering activities may be higher than the one of dispersal; (iii) the dispersal of the anecic species appeared to be not influenced by its own activities (intra-specific influences) or by the activities of the endogeic species (inter-specific influences). Overall these results suggest that the endogeic species is involved in a process of niche construction, which evolved jointly with its dispersal strategy.     

Genetic divergence in two tropical maize composites after four cycles of reciprocal recurrent selection

Two tropical maize composites were subjected to four cycles of reciprocal recurrent selection to develop divergent inbred lines with good combining ability. This study was conducted to examine the extent of genetic diversity, changes in allele composition and genetic structure, of 100 randomly selected S₁ lines each from the original (C₀) and advanced (C₄) selection cycles of TZL COMP3 and TZL COMP4, genotyped using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Results revealed that the proportion of alleles at both low and high frequencies decreased from C₀ to C₄, whereas those at intermediate frequencies increased at C₄ in the two composites. More unique and other alleles were lost at C₄ in TZL COMP3 relative to those in TZL COMP4. The changes in different measures of genetic diversity were either small or negligible with selection in the two composites. The proportion of markers departing from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) decreased with selection, whereas the total number of pairs of markers in linkage disequilibrium increased with selection in the two composites. Examination of changes in population structures using a model‐based approach as well as cluster and multivariate analyses found a high degree of concordance in stratifying the 400 S₁ lines into four non‐overlapping groups corresponding to the two selection cycles each within the reciprocal composites. The observed molecular‐based divergence between cycles within the same composite and the clear differentiation between the complementary composites highlight the importance of reciprocal recurrent selection for preserving genetic diversity for long‐term selection. This increases the potential of the advanced selection cycles to sustain genetic gain in productivity of hybrids adapted to the savannas in West and Central Africa.     

湖北省宜都野生楠木资源调查

【目的】了解湖北省宜都市的野生楠木资源分布状况、种群结构及其群落特征。【方法】采用样方法分别在宜都市的王家畈镇、聂家河镇和潘家湾乡对楠木资源分布集中地段进行野外实地调查,并记录其生境条件和群落特征。【结果】调查区内发现野生楠木类植物计264株,楠属植物3种,分别为竹叶楠Phoebe faberi、桢楠P.zhennan、湘楠P.hunanensis;润楠属植物4种,分别为润楠Machilus pingii、宜昌润楠M.ichangensis、华润楠M.chinensis、刨花润楠M.pauhoi,其中华润楠、刨花润楠初步确定为宜都市新分布记录种。楠木较多分布在山地比较潮湿的阴坡,坡度为30°~40°,坡位为中坡位和下坡位,海拔在710 m左右,群落类型为常绿或落叶阔叶林的生境条件下,其楠木类植物群落的维管束植物共有71种,隶属41科60属,以樟科和蔷薇科植物比较多,被子植物中双子叶植物占有绝对的优势,高位芽植物在群落中的比重最大。【结论】该调查区内的润楠属植物种群年龄结构相比楠属更合理,大致呈稳定型,而楠属植物种群年龄结构大致呈衰退型。探讨了样地野生楠木数量及群落结构特征,为其天然林保护及种质资源保存提供理论依据,同时对城市景观树种的配置有着重要意义。     

水肥一体化中水肥混合效果数值模拟研究

为研究水肥一体化技术中的水肥混合特性,以流体力学中的两相流理论为基础,针对水肥混合过程中混合时间、混合区间长度、流速及管径对其混合效果的影响进行相应的数值模拟研究。结果表明,混合时间及混合区间长度越长有利于提高水肥混合效果及最终水肥混合均匀性;水肥流速比较低时管内水肥混合的均匀性较好,且水肥流速越大则其混合效果及均匀性越好;水肥流速较低时输水管及输肥管的管径比对水肥混合均匀性的影响较大,两者管径比越小则混合效果越好,随着流速的提高两者管径比对其混合效果的影响逐渐减弱。     

Nutrient cycling and biomass flows in a low-quality forest stand improvement system in the Lesser Khingan Range of China

The material flow and bulk internal flow analyses were used to establish a material accumulation and cycling model for a low-quality forest stand improvement system and a series of processes were considered. The model was applied in a one-hectare low-quality forest plot in the Lesser Khingan Range of China. Results showed that during 1997–2007, the stands absorbed 270.19 kg of N, 74.28 kg of P, and 124.39 kg of K from soils, 51.82 kg of N and 2.38 kg of P were directly absorbed by foliage, and 16.25 kg of K was released to soils by eluviation. Until 2007, the accumulated nutrients in the stands included 236.91 kg of N, 65.28 kg of P, and 108.55 kg of K. When horizontal strip clearcutting was applied in 2007, 50% accumulated nutrients in the stands were shifted due to harvesting operations, and 212.74 kg of N, 26.97 kg of P, and 98.88 kg of K were accumulated in soils, declining by 9.47% for N, 3.68% for P, and 17.60% for K, respectively, compared with year 1997. 94.61 t per hectare of biomass was generated, of which the biomass in stands accounted for 87.36%. The felled tree biomass was 36.89 t per hectare, of which 84.90% and 10.03% of biomass were utilized in terms of logs and other means, and the rest was left on site.     

半干旱区农田杂草的生活史对策研究

2008-2009年通过利用当地常见的10种杂草种植于不同处理的农田,研究半干早区农田杂草群落结构以及10种杂草群落组分种对环境因子的响应,结果表明,1)同一物种在不同的气候环境下,可以表现出不同的生活史策略.蝇虫实、田旋花和金荞麦2008年生活史策略分别具有竟争型(C)对策属性、胁迫忍耐型(S)对策属性和中间型(C-...     

Contrasting development of soil microbial community structure under no-tilled perennial and tilled cropping during early pedogenesis of a Mollisol

A range of agricultural practices influence soil microbial communities, such as tillage and organic C inputs, however such effects are largely unknown at the initial stage of soil formation. Using an eight-year field experiment established on exposed parent material (PM) of a Mollisol, our objectives were to: (1) to determine the effects of field management and soil depth on soil microbial community structure; (2) to elucidate shifts in microbial community structure in relation to PM, compared to an arable Mollisol (MO) without organic amendment; and (3) to identify the controlling factors of such changes in microbial community structure. The treatments included two no-tilled soils supporting perennial crops, and four tilled soils under the same cropping system, with or without chemical fertilization and crop residue amendment. Principal component (PC) analysis of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles demonstrated that microbial community structures were affected by tillage and/or organic and inorganic inputs via PC1 and by land use and/or soil depth via PC2. All the field treatments were separated by PM into two groups via PC1, the tilled and the no-tilled soils, with the tilled soils more developed towards MO. The tilled soils were separated with respect to MO via PC1 associated with the differences in mineral fertilization and the quality of organic amendments, with the soils without organic amendment being more similar to MO. The separations via PC1 were principally driven by bacteria and associated with soil pH and soil C, N and P. The separations via PC2 were driven by fungi, actinomycetes and Gram (−) bacteria, and associated with soil bulk density. The separations via both PC1 and PC2 were associated with soil aggregate stability and exchangeable K, indicating the effects of weathering and soil aggregation. The results suggest that in spite of the importance of mineral fertilization and organic amendments, tillage and land-use type play a significant role in determining the nature of the development of associated soil microbial community structures at the initial stages of soil formation.     

甘肃黄河三峡景区旅游资源空间结构研究

旅游空间结构是旅游系统功能组织方式在空间上的投影或表象,其空间结构是否合理直接影响到旅游目的地旅游业的发展态势。黄河三峡景区凭借其丰富、独特的资源优势,已成为黄河流域最著名的景区之一。受河谷地带的基础性影响,其资源类型、空间结构、游览线路等表现出典型的空间特征,深刻影响着景区旅游空间格局。借助Arc GIS空间网络分析模块和Excel平台,对黄河三峡景区旅游资源空间结构进行定量分析,发现旅游资源空间分布呈集聚态势,基尼系数高达0.755,分布均匀度仅为0.245;采用最邻近指数和Voronoi多边形的变异系数分析空间分布类型;用地理集中指数和基尼系数分析空间分布均衡性,运用β指数、γ指数和α指数刻画空间连接度。结果表明:景区内旅游资源的空间分布均匀度低,呈多中心集聚分布。这既有利于景区内各景点之间的整合和旅游规模效应的产生,又可以减弱区间屏蔽作用等外部不经济性。景区内各景点之间的交通网络密度低,空间联系较弱,通达性较低。各景点之间的直接连接较少,旅游路线多为单线往返,缺少串联各个景点的环形线路。     

A review of visual soil evaluation techniques for soil structure

Soil structure forms a key component of soil quality, and its assessment by semi‐quantitative visual soil evaluation (VSE) techniques can help scientists, advisors and farmers make decisions regarding sampling and soil management. VSE techniques require inexpensive equipment and generate immediate results that correlate well with quantitative measurements of physical and biochemical properties, highlighting their potential utility. We reviewed published VSE techniques and found that soils of certain textures present problems and a lack of research into the influence of soil moisture content on VSE criteria. Generally, profile methods evaluate process interactions at specific locations within a field, exploring both intrinsic aspects and anthropogenic impacts. Spade methods focus on anthropogenic characteristics, providing rapid synopses of soil structure over wider areas. Despite a focus on structural form, some methods include criteria related to stability and resiliency. Further work is needed to improve existing methods regarding texture influences, on‐farm sampling procedures and more holistic assessments of soil structure.     

2006—2014 年民勤4 种典型荒漠群落结构 及物种多样性变化研究

根据2006—2014 年民勤荒漠植物4 个样区36 个样方调查数据，对该区沙蒿、梭梭、麻黄和白刺4种典型荒漠植物群落结构及物种多样性进行分析。结果表明：该区群落结构简单，物种相对单一且数量较少，植物都是以较低的芽位适应生境条件；灌木层物种的变化不大，草本层物种有所增加；多样性指数沙蒿群落、梭梭群落和白刺群落的略有增加，而麻黄群落略有减小；该区群落结构和物种多样性的变化主要由于草本层的物种变化引起。了解和掌握民勤荒漠植物群落的结构和物种多样性变化规律，对于推动干旱荒漠区植被恢复和物种多样性的保护提供依据。