Time‐lapse monitoring of soil water content using electromagnetic conductivity imaging

The volumetric soil water content (θ) is fundamental to agriculture because its spatiotemporal variation in soil affects the growth of plants. Unfortunately, the universally accepted thermogravimetric method for estimating volumetric soil water content is very labour intensive and time‐consuming for use in field‐scale monitoring. Electromagnetic (EM) induction instruments have proven to be useful in mapping the spatiotemporal variation of θ. However, depth‐specific variation in θ, which is important for irrigation management, has been little explored. The objective of this study was to develop a relationship between θ and estimates of true electrical conductivity (σ) and to use this relationship to develop time‐lapse images of soil θ beneath a centre‐pivot irrigated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) crop in San Jacinto, California, USA. We first measured the bulk apparent electrical conductivity (EC_a – mS/m) using a DUALEM‐421 over a period of 12 days after an irrigation event (i.e. days 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 12). We used EM4Soil to generate EM conductivity images (EMCIs). We used a physical model to estimate θ from σ, accounting for soil tortuosity and pore water salinity, with a cross‐validation RMSE of 0.04 cm³/cm³. Testing the scenario where no soil information is available, we used a three‐parameter exponential model to relate θ to σ and then to map θ along the transect on different days. The results allowed us to monitor the spatiotemporal variations of θ across the surveyed area, over the 12‐day period. In this regard, we were able to map the soil close to field capacity (0.27 cm³/cm³) and approaching permanent wilting point (0.03 cm³/cm³). The time‐lapse θ monitoring approach, developed using EMCI, has implications for soil and water use and management and will potentially allow farmers and consultants to identify inefficiencies in water application rates and use. It can also be used as a research tool to potentially assist precision irrigation practices and to test the efficacy of different methods of irrigation in terms of water delivery and efficiency in water use in near real time.     

Biochar has little effect on soil dissolved organic carbon pool 5 years after biochar application under field condition

Biochar application can improve soil properties, such as increasing soil organic carbon content, soil pH and water content. These properties are important to soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC); however, the effects of biochar on DOC concentration and composition have received little research attention, especially several years after biochar application under field conditions. This study was conducted in a long‐term experimental field where the biochar was only applied once in 2009. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of different biochar application rates (0, 30, 60 and 90 t ha^?1) on the dynamics of soil water content, DOC concentration and DOC compositions (reducing sugar, soluble phenol and aromatics) over nine samplings during a 12‐month period in 2014. Our results showed that soil water content and DOC concentration varied from 7.1% to 14.5% and 59 to 230 mg C kg^?1 soil during the 12 months, respectively. However, the biochar application rates did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect soil water content, DOC concentration and DOC composition at the same sampling period. The DOC concentration across the biochar treatments was positively correlated to soil water content. Moreover, the DOC composition (reducing sugar, soluble phenol or aromatics) and their concentrations were positively correlated to the total DOC concentration. In addition, biochar did not affect soil bulk density, pH, saturated hydraulic conductivity and crop yields. The results indicated that some benefits of biochar to soil may not persist 5 years after the application of biochar under a field condition.     

土壤中缓效钾的批量快速测定

通过对NY/T 889—2004标准中前处理方法的改进,建立了批量、快速、准确测定的土壤中缓效钾的方法。以石墨消解代替油浴消煮测定标准土中的有效钾,以验证改进后方法的可行性。结果表明,改进后的方法一次可以测定36个样品,且3 min内沸腾时间对结果无显著影响。因此,改进后的方法操作简单、条件易控制、准确快速,能实现对土壤中缓效钾的批量、快速测定。     

3,5-二硝基水杨酸法与酶法测定甜玉米还原糖和蔗糖含量的比较

针对目前测定甜玉米还原糖和蔗糖含量的3,5-二硝基水杨酸法和酶法进行比较研究,分析两者在育种中的应用。结果显示:酶法的测量准确度比3,5-二硝基水杨酸法高,且其稳定性和重现性都优于3,5-二硝基水杨酸法。通过两种方法对10个甜玉米杂交种种子的还原糖和蔗糖含量的测定,证实了两种方法在甜玉米还原糖和蔗糖含量的检测上是一致的。从育种实践考虑,酶法适于样品数较小的检测,3,5-二硝基水杨酸法更适合于大批量样品的检测。     

晋中市左权县作物土壤有效镁营养状况分析

以长治市左权县东隘口村土壤为研究对象,将48个分别来自玉米地、蓖麻地、谷子地、药材地内的不同土壤类型样品,用原子吸收分光光度计进行有效镁含量的检测。结果表明,试验区内,土壤有效镁含量处于中等水平,且有效镁含量与电导率呈现正相关关系。不同作物下的土壤有效镁含量无显著性差异,而在不同土壤类型间差异性显著。土壤缺镁时,可以施用硫酸钾镁。     

高含固率木质纤维素厌氧发酵物总DNA的4种提取方法比较

不同的样本特性和提取方法对获得微生物总DNA的质量有重要影响。文章基于高含固率木质纤维素厌氧发酵物腐殖酸、酚类物质含量高、质地均一性差、微生物浓度低的特点,研究了4种方法提取不同高含固率粪秸厌氧发酵物中微生物总DNA的效果。结果表明,常规的十二烷基磺酸钠法(sodium dodecyl sulfate,SDS)、十二烷基磺酸钠和溴化十六烷基三甲铵结合法(sodium dodecyl sulfate and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide,SDS-CTAB)和商业的粪便试剂盒法提取的DNA质量均较差,SDS法和试剂盒法未能获得聚合酶链式反应(polymerase chain reaction,PCR)扩增目的条带,SDS-CTAB法得到的条带较模糊;改进SDS-CTAB法获得的DNA杂质少、纯度高,具有较好的稳定性,A260/A280和A260/A230值分别为1.74~1.86和1.65~1.86,每克样品的DNA浓度在50 ng·μL^-1以上,电泳条带单一齐整、清晰明亮,PCR扩增的目的条带清晰度高,适宜后续分子生物学技术的分析。林格氏液洗脱、聚乙烯吡咯烷酮-40(Polyvinyl Pyrrolidone-40,PVP-40)洗涤液除杂以及裂解液和多种酶联合破壁是改进SDS-CTAB法获得该类专一性样本高质量微生物总DNA的关键步骤。     

土壤交换性铝的三种测定方法比较

为了准确高效地检测土壤交换性铝含量,探寻适宜的检测方法。比较分析了氯化钾交换-中和滴定法、铝试剂法和羊毛铬花青R比色法所测交换性铝的差异性、精密度、准确性和适用性。结果表明,3种方法所测交换性铝无显著性差异。但羊毛铬花青R比色法的精密度优于氯化钾交换-中和滴定法和铝试剂法,羊毛铬花青R比色法平均回收率达99.28%,准确性高于另2种方法。羊毛铬花青R比色法的线性范围在0~0.32 mg/L,对应吸光值范围在0~0.778;铝试剂法的线性范围在0~0.8 mg/L,对应吸光值范围在0.006~0.157;与铝试剂法相比,羊毛铬花青R比色法的线性范围小于铝试剂法,但其吸光值范围大于铝试剂法。羊毛铬花青R比色法显色剂与显色物质吸收峰间隔较远,测定背景干扰小,方法灵敏度较高。羊毛铬花青R比色法检测单个样品的平均用时为4.2 min,检测效率高于另2种方法,且操作简捷,适用性较高。因此,推荐羊毛铬花青R比色法为土壤交换性铝的测定方法。     

Soil available potassium affected by rice straw incorporation and potassium fertilizer application under a rice–oilseed rape rotation system

Data from 147 field trials were collected to study the influence of straw incorporation on soil potassium (K) under an intensive rice–oilseed rape rotation system, while pot experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of rice straw incorporation on soil K availability. A significant correlation was observed between the soil available K and the relative yield (RRY) and the relative K uptake (RKU) of oilseed rape, with R² values ranging from 0.07 to 0.08 and from 0.10 to 0.11, respectively, when data were fitted to a logarithmic equation model. In approximately 30% of trials, RRY reached 90%, while soil test available K values were below the critical limit, indicating that soil K values at the time of sampling (within 1 week of rice harvest) underestimated the actual soil K supply capacity. The pot experiment results showed that soil available K was affected by straw incorporation and soil type in the fallow period. The NH₄OAc‐K and NaBPh₄‐K concentrations of soils increased at first, and then, plateaued after 28 days. Straw incorporation significantly influenced the critical soil K concentration, which is important for making accurate K fertilizer recommendation. These results suggested that straw K should be seriously considered in making K fertilizer recommendations. Extending the sampling time from 1 to 3 weeks after the harvesting of rice to stabilize the effects of straw incorporation may help achieve a more accurate evaluation of soil available K.     

Does sand content in spawning substrate result in early larval emergence? Evidence from a lithophilic cyprinid fish

The spawning success of lithophilic salmonids is strongly influenced by the fine sediment content (“fines”) of spawning substrates, yet knowledge on the impacts of fines on the spawning of non‐salmonid lithophiles remains limited, despite their ecological and socio‐economic importance in European rivers. Consequently, the aim here was to use an ex‐situ experiment to investigate the impact of sand content on egg survival and timing of larval emergence of the surface‐spawning cyprinid European barbel Barbus barbus. Thirty incubator boxes within a recirculating system were filled with one of five experimental sediment mixtures (0%–40% sand by mass) that each contained 300 fertilised eggs at a depth of 50 mm. Emerged, free‐swimming larvae were captured and counted daily to assess grain‐size effects on larval survival and emergence. Specifically, total proportion of emerged larvae, cumulative daily proportion of emerged larvae and time required to reach 50% emergence were measured during the study. Whilst the proportion of sand in the sediments did not have a significant impact on egg‐to‐emergence survival (mean survival per treatment 75%–79%), it significantly affected the timing of larval emergence to the water column; early emergence was detected in treatments with elevated sand content (on average, 50% emergence after 12–13 days versus 19 days in the control). Similar to findings from salmonid studies, these results suggest high sand content in spawning gravels can influence timing of larval emergence and potentially cyprinid lithophilic fish survival.     

Reduction in cadmium accumulation in japonica rice grains by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of OsNRAMP5

Cadmium (Cd) intake is harmful to human health and Cd contamination in rice grains represents a severe threat to those consuming rice as a staple food. Knockout of Cd transporters is a promising strategy to reduce Cd accumulation in rice grains. OsNRAMP5 is the major transporter for Cd and manganese (Mn) uptake in rice. Nevertheless, it is uncertain whether knockout of OsNRAMP5 is applicable to produce low Cd rice without affecting plant growth and grain yield. In this study, we adopted CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing technology to knock out OsNRAMP5 in two japonica varieties. We generated three independent transgene-free osnramp5 mutants and investigated the effect of osnramp5 mutations on Cd accumulation and plant growth. Hydroponic experiments showed that plant growth and chlorophyll content were significantly reduced in osnramp5 mutants at low Mn conditions, and this defective growth in the mutants could be fully rescued by supply of high levels of Mn. Cd and Mn accumulation in both roots and shoots was markedly reduced in the mutants compared to that in wild-type plants. In paddy field experiments, although Cd in flag leaves and grains was greatly reduced in osnramp5 mutants, some agronomic traits including plant height, seed setting rate, and grain number per panicle were affected in the mutants, which ultimately caused a mild reduction in grain yield. The reduced plant growth in the mutants can be attributed to a marked decrease in Mn accumulation. Our results reveal that the manipulation of OsNRAMP5 should be treated with caution: When assessing the applicability of osnramp5 mutants, soil pH and soil water content in paddy fields need to be taken into consideration, since they might affect the levels of available Mn in the soil and consequently determine the effect of the mutation on grain yield.