A nutritional disorder in pistachio from near Athens,Greece

Abstract

A problem pistachio orchard near Athens, Greece had many trees with severely scorched leaves. Half or more of each leaflet v/as brown and dry but tips and edges were most affected. Affected leaves were also of lighter green color than normal leaves and slightly resembled Fe deficiency. Leaf analysis indicated low K, low Fe, and high Mg. Irrigation water contained moderate levels of Mg and Na chlorides and chloride toxicity was possibly another factor. Improvement was observed when Fe chelate was applied to the orchard but Mg‐induced K deficiency was possibly a major factor. Response to K applied to soil was not observed after four months, however.     

Agricultural Polymers Revisited: Salinity Interactions and Soil-Water Conservation

A synthetic superabsorbent polymer used to improve water-holding capacity of soils was investigated. Two water qualities, two irrigation intervals, and two application rates were administered to 24 treated soil columns. Polymer absorbance of water was proportional with time but inversely proportional to salinity levels. After a threshold period, which was longer for the lower water application rate, cumulative evaporation (E = √ct) increased with decrease in irrigation interval and the type of amendments added in order of control > peat moss > the absorbent copolymer. The value of c was largely determined by the water application rate and the type of the soil amendment. Salt and moisture distributions were governed by the amount of water conserved. Peat moss was more effective in leaching salts. The quantity of water applied per irrigation, rather than cumulative amount, seemed to affect water conservation, whereas the cumulative amount of water affected electrical conductivity–sodium absorption ratio (EC-SAR) distributions.     

Aquacrop模型在北疆棉花生育期灌溉洗盐制度优化中的适用性

为明确Aquacrop模型在北疆棉田膜下滴灌和地下滴灌方式下生长和生产模拟的适用性，并探究棉田生育期最优灌溉洗盐制度，该研究以2020和2021年的田间试验数据对模型参数进行校正和验证，并用校正好的模型揭示3种灌溉水平（100%ETc、80%ETc、60%ETc，其中ETc为作物需水量）、3种淋洗总定额（0、120和240 mm）、3种灌水频率（5、7和10 d/次）和3种降水年型（湿润年、平水年、干旱年）对棉花产量和灌溉水生产力的影响。结果表明，2021年所有处理的冠层覆盖度、地上生物量归一化均方根误差（normalized root mean square error, NRMSE）不大于20.998%，一致性指数d≥0.967，决定系数R²≥0.914，产量均方根误差（root mean square error, RMSE）、NRMSE、d和R²分别为0.389 t/hm²、6.797%、0.836和0.754，模型整体模拟效果良好。基于58 a气象数据的模型模拟表明：灌溉水平、淋洗定额、降水年型对棉花产量和灌溉水生产力的影响显著，灌水频率的影响不显著；在平均土壤含盐量范围为12～18 g/kg的植棉区域，综合考虑产量、灌溉水生产力及实际生产情况，湿润年推荐80%ETc+120 mm的灌溉淋洗总定额，平水年和干旱年推荐100%ETc+120 mm的灌溉淋洗总定额；推荐延长灌水频率至10 d/次以减少灌水次数，节约成本。研究可以为Aquacrop模型在棉田中的应用积累经验，为农业水资源高效利用提供理论指导与技术支撑。     

Interactive Effects of Salinity and Biological Nitrogen Fixation on Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Growth

The effect of salinity on the nodulation, N-fixation and plant growth of selected chickpea- Rhizobium symbionts was studied- Eighteen chickpea rhizobial strains were evaluated for their growth in a broth culture at salinity levels of 0 to 20 dS m⁻¹ of NaCl + Na₂SO₄. Variability in response was high. Salinity generally reduced the lag phase and/or slowed the log phase of multiplication of Rhizobium. Nine chickpea genotypes were also evaluated for salt tolerance during germination and early seedling growth in Petri dishes at five salinity levels (0–32 dS m⁻¹). Chickpea genotypes ILC-205 and ILC-1919 were the most salt-tolerant genotypes. The selected rhizobial strains and chickpea cultivars were combined in a pot experiment aimed at investigating the interactive effect of salinity (3, 6 and 9 dS m⁻¹) and N source (symbiosis vs. inorganic N) on plant growth. Symbiotic plants were more sensitive to salinity than plants fed mineral N. Significant reductions in nodule dry weight (59.8 %) and N fixation (63.5 %) were evident even at the lowest salinity level of 3 dS m-¹. Although nodules were observed in inoculated plants grown at 6 dS m-¹, N-fixation was completely inhibited. The findings indicate that symbiosis is more salt-sensitive than both Rhizobium and the host plant, probably due to a breakdown in one of the processes involved in symbiotic-N fixation. Improvement of salinity tolerance in field grown chickpea may be achieved by application of sufficient amounts of mineral nitrogen.     

Selective Absorption of K over Na in Sugar Beet Cultivars and its Relationship with Yield and Quality in Two Contrasting Environments of Central Greece

Selective absorption (SA) of K over Na (i.e. the preferential absorption of K over Na) has been proposed as a Na tolerance mechanism but genotypic variation for this trait has not been assessed with sugar beet in the field. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore the variation of SA in 14 sugar beet cultivars and to relate SA with yield and root quality in two sites of central Greece (Amfithea and Pyrgetos). Genotypic variation for SA was significant and the SA values were higher in Pyrgetos, the site with the lower soil K and Na concentrations. In Pyrgetos, a favourable environment for sugar beet growth, cultivars yielded more and root quality was better. In that site, a negative relationship between SA and yield (fresh root weight, sugar yield) was found indicating that strong Na exclusion from root is a disadvantage for high yielding. Negative SA–yield relationships were evident in Amfithea when five cultivars with very low SA values (<1.00) were excluded from the analysis. Combined all the cultivars, curvilinear functions were the best-fitted curves for the SA–yield relationships. In Amfithea, where sugar beets had lower water content in root (WCR), a significant, positive correlation between SA and % sucrose content in fresh root weight was found. This finding was ascribed to the dilution of sucrose in roots due to the increased WCR as a result of the increased root Na concentration. In both sites, SA was positively related with root K concentration and negatively with Na concentration. The positive correlations between SA and root α-amino N concentration indicated that sugar beet N nutrition could be affected by the genotypic ability to exclude Na from the root.     

Use of an electromagnetic technique to determine sodicity in saline-sodic soils

Soil sodicity is an increasing problem in arid‐land irrigated soils that decreases soil permeability and crop production and increases soil erosion. The first step towards the control of sodic soils is the accurate diagnosis of the severity and spatial extent of the problem. Rapid identification and large‐scale mapping of sodium‐affected land will help to improve sodicity management. We evaluated the effectiveness of electromagnetic induction (EM) measurements in identifying, characterizing and mapping the spatial variability of sodicity in five saline‐sodic agricultural fields in Navarre (Spain). Each field was sampled at three 30‐cm soil depth increments at 10–30 sites for a total of 267 soil samples. The number of Geonics‐EM38 measurements in each field varied between 161 and 558, for a total of 1258 ECa (apparent electrical conductivity) readings. Multiple linear regression models established for each field predicted the average profile ECe (electrical conductivity of the saturation extract) and SAR (sodium adsorption ratio of the saturation extract) from ECa. Despite the lack of a direct causal relationship between ECa and SAR, EM measurements can be satisfactorily used for characterizing the spatial distribution of soil sodicity if ECe and SAR are significantly auto‐correlated. These results provide ancillary support for using EM measurements to indirectly characterize the spatial distribution of saline‐sodic soils. More research is needed to elucidate the usefulness of EM measurements in identifying soil sodicity in a wider range of salt and/or sodium‐affected soils.     

7种园林植物的耐盐性研究

利用滨海盐碱土配制栽培土壤,采用大棚盆栽试验方法,对7种常见园林绿化植物的生长表现、存活率、高生长、叶绿素含量、相对含水量进行研究的结果表明:连翘、月季和四季桂的耐盐性较差,只能在含盐量不大于2.3 g/kg的土壤中正常生长;其次为金叶女贞,能在含盐量不大于4.6 g/kg的土壤中生长;雪松能在含盐量不大于4.9g/kg的土壤中正常生长;油松能在含盐量不大于5.8g/kg的土壤中正常生长;爬地柏耐盐性最强,能正常生长于含盐量高达8.7g/kg的土壤中.     

Evaluation of coastal sandy soils and their saline ground waters for afforestation: A case study from India

A study was conducted in coastal Andhra Pradesh to evaluate current practices and suitability of coastal sandy soils for raising tree plantations. Poor soil moisture retention characteristics of these soils make irrigation an essential, but costly silvicultural practice for obtaining desirable establishment and growth. Saline ground water is the only available source of irrigation. Its use seems safe and successful in such soils. The farmers have adopted a specialized manual splashing technique (Doruvu) of seepage pits for irrigating tree plantations in their establishment phase. This technique was observed to be well suited to the sandy soils. Casuarina equisetifolia and Eucalyptus tereticornis were the two most popular species being afforested. E. camaldulensis is also in an introduction phase. Comparison of growth performance and biomass accumulation by C. equisetifolia and E. tereticornis plantations at different growth stages showed the former to be significantly better than the latter. Build up of the soil organic carbon was also found to be markedly more in comparable C. equisetifolia plantations than those of E. tereticornis. Similarly, the blanketing influence of C. equisetifolia plantations was observed to modify soil temperature extremes considerably more than in the case of E. tereticornis. The findings, indicated a vast scope for utilization of coastal sandy soils for afforestation with the successful use of saline ground waters.     

土壤盐胁迫下杨树次生木质部的解剖特征

对生长在苏北沿海防护林不同土壤盐度下的主栽树种杨树(欧美杨无性系69杨)进行了解剖,描述了杨树次生木质部结构的特征,测量了次生木质部的16个数量特征：年轮宽度(ARW)、导管长度(VL)、早材和晚材的导管分子面积(VA)、导管周长(VP)、导管直径(VD)、导管单孔率(PSV)、导管频率(VF)、纤维长度(FL)、纤维宽度(FW)、射线高度(RH)和射线频率(RF)。实验结果表明,在不同的土壤盐度胁迫下：(1)杨树次生木质部形态特征的差别不明显,但是组成分子趋向于小型化。(2)次生木质部数量特征的变化比较明显,即当土壤含盐量从0．036％逐渐升高到0．289％,杨树的年轮宽度变小,0．91→0．77mm;纤维长度和宽度的变化分别为693．8→570μm和14．9→13．5μm,射线高度和频率的变化分别为284．3→249．2μm和58．9→75．5mm^-2,表明在盐胁迫下杨树的生长受到抑制。随着盐度的增加0．036％→0．289％,杨树导管长度减小,367．6→341．5μm;在早材和晚材中,导管面积变化分别为1575．6→1703．6μm^2和760．1→947．7μm^2,导管周长变化分别为167．7→195．1μm和120．8→143．7μm,导管直径的变化分别为41．8→43．4μm和29．1→33．1μm,导管频率的变化分别为141．8→144．2mm^-2和160→206．7mm^-2;导管单孔率的变化分别为65．9％→30．5％和59．4％→40．8％。这些都表明在盐胁迫下杨树的导管缩短变粗,呈聚集分布,输水效率和输水安全性都有所提高。     

高盐对缢蛏生长存活、Na+/K+-ATPase活性及能量代谢相关指标的影响

以缢蛏（Sinonovacula constricta）为研究对象,设置养殖周期为60 d的对照组（20）和高盐组（30）比较实验,分别在0、10、30和60 d进行取样,检测高盐对缢蛏生长存活、鳃组织Na+/K+-ATPase（NKA）活性及肝胰腺和血清能量代谢相关指标的影响。结果表明,高盐组缢蛏在30~60 d的养殖时间段内存活率为45.1%±2.9%,壳长、壳宽、壳高和体质量特定生长率分别为0.15%/d、0.17%/d、0.13%/d和0.61%/d,均显著低于对照组。各时间点高盐组NKA活性均显著低于对照组。10和60 d时对照组缢蛏肝胰腺己糖激酶（HK）活性显著高于高盐组,血清中葡萄糖（GLU）含量、乳酸（LA）含量和乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）活性也显著高于高盐组,高盐组缢蛏无氧代谢水平低于对照组。30 d时高盐组血清中GLU含量、LA含量和LDH活性显著高于对照组,高盐组缢蛏无氧代谢水平高于对照组。0、10和30 d时高盐组肝胰腺琥珀酸脱氢酶（SDH）活性显著高于对照组,高盐胁迫下缢蛏需氧代谢水平上升。研究表明：长期高盐养殖下,缢蛏仍能保持一定的存活率和生长速度;高盐影响了缢蛏的渗透调节和能量代谢,渗透调节增加了其能量消耗。本研究为进一步培育缢蛏耐高盐新品系提供了参考资料。