Impact of weedy rice populations on the growth and yield of direct-seeded and transplanted rice

To examine the impact of weedy rice ( Oryza sativa L. f. spontanea ) populations on the growth and yield of direct-seeded and transplanted rice ( Oryza sativa ), a field experiment with a random two-factor design that included cultivation methods (direct-seeding and transplanting) and the density of weedy rice (0, 5, 25, and 125 plants per m²) was conducted. The data from the experiment showed that weedy rice had a significantly poorer performance in the direct-seeded fields than in the transplanted fields in terms of its vegetative (plant height) and reproductive traits (panicle and seed production). In contrast, with the interference of weedy rice, cultivated rice showed an improved performance in the direct-seeded fields than in the transplanted fields, with a significantly higher tiller production and grain yield. The results suggest that cultivated rice can tolerate more successfully the infestation of weedy rice in direct-seeded fields because of its enhanced competitive ability compared to that in transplanted fields.     

青海东部农区小黑麦与豆科牧草的混播组合与混播比例

为筛选适宜青海省东部农区推广的小黑麦( × Triticosecale Wittmack)与豆科牧草的混播组合及比例,采用裂区设计,研究了‘甘农2号’小黑麦与两种豆科牧草[‘青建1号’饲用豌豆(Pisum sativum)和毛苕子(Vicia villosa)]不同混播比例(0?? 100、20?? 80、30?? 70、40?? 60、50?? 50、60?? 40、70?? 30、80?? 20、100?? 0)的混播效应。结果表明：从混播组合看,‘甘农2号’小黑麦与‘青建1号’饲用豌豆混播的平均鲜草产量(41.80 t·hm–2)最高;从混播比例看,‘甘农2号’小黑麦与豆科牧草50?? 50混播时平均鲜草产量(44.45 t·hm–2)最高,比小黑麦和豆科牧草单播平均分别提高了17.94%和17.53%;混播组合和混播比例间的交互作用表明,‘甘农2号’小黑麦和‘青建1号’饲用豌豆以40?? 60的比例混播时总鲜草产量(45.55 t·hm–2)最高,比小黑麦和饲用豌豆单播分别提高了20.09%和17.00%。相关分析表明,混播群体的鲜草产量与小黑麦株高呈显著正相关关系(P < 0.05),与豆科牧草株高呈极显著正相关关系(P < 0.01)。因此,在青海省东部农区推荐‘甘农2号’小黑麦与‘青建1号’饲用豌豆以40?? 60的比例进行混播。     

播种方式和行距对燕麦/饲用豌豆混播草地生产性能及种间关系的影响

为筛选出适宜于青藏高原高寒地区种植推广的播种方式及播种行距,本研究以燕麦（Avena sativa）和饲用豌豆（Pisum sativum）为试验材料,探求其在混播、间作及不同行距下的生产性能及种间竞争关系。结果表明：混播处理生产性能优于间作处理,30 cm处理优于其他行距。混播草地土地当量比均大于1,具有混播优势,混播草地中燕麦与饲用豌豆的种间相容性较好,两者间促进作用大于竞争作用,行距为30 cm与25 cm时,燕麦的竞争能力大于饲用豌豆。综合评价显示,青藏高原高寒地区燕麦/饲用豌豆混播行距30 cm时效果最佳,干草产量最高,适于建植应用。     

庞泉沟自然保护区优势种种群竞争关系及其动态预测

利用Hegyi单木竞争指数模型对庞泉沟自然保护区优势种群的种内、种间竞争关系进行了定量分析。结果表明:种内和种间竞争强度随着林木径级的增大而逐渐减小,种内竞争较之与其伴生树种间的竞争剧烈。华北落叶松种内、种间竞争强度大小顺序为:种内>云杉>红桦>白桦>关帝柳>花楸>山杨。竞争强度与对象木胸径之间存在显著的幂函数非线性回归关系,回归结果与林分实际相符,从而为庞泉沟自然保护区混交林理论研究和合理经营提供了科学依据。     

Root distribution pattern of the wild jack tree (Artocarpus hirsutus Lamk.) as studied by 32P soil injection method

Root distribution of the wild jack tree (Artocarpus hirsutus) was determined by selective placement of ³²P at various depths and lateral distances from the tree, in Kerala, India. In eight-and-a-half-year-old trees growing on a lateritic site, absorption of ³²P from a lateral distance of 75 cm and 30 cm depth was much greater than from 150 and 225 cm lateral distance and 60 and 90 cm depth. Root activity declined with increasing depth and lateral distance. Most of the physiologically active roots were concentrated within a radius of 75 cm and 30 cm depth, although the tap root might reach even deeper. Possibly, surface accumulation of feeder roots may cause considerable overlap of the tree and crop root zones in intercropping situations. However, as the tree roots seldom extend beyond 2.25 m laterally from the trunk, the effect of overlapping root zones and the associated competitive effects may not be a serious problem for intercropping during the first few years (<10 years after planting) of tree growth.     

Alley cropping and mulching withErythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O. F. Cook andGliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp.: effects on maize/weed competition

The potential of allye cropping systems to sustain a high productivity with low external inputs and the reduction of maize/weed competition through weed suppression in different alley cropping and sole-cropped mulched systems was studied in Costa Rica at CATIE. Data were recorded eight years after establishment of the experiment. Plant residues ofErythrina poeppigiana trees (10 t/ha dry matter) planted at 6 by 3 m reduced weed biomass by 52%, whileGliricidia sepium trees (12 t/ha dry matter) planted at 6 by 0.5 m reduced weed biomass by 28%, in comparison to controls.Erythrina had a considerable impact on grass weeds, whileGliricidia reduced the incidence of some dicot weeds. Weed competition significantly reduced maize yield in all systems. Nevertheless weed suppression contributed to the higher maize grain yield underErythrina andGliricidia alley cropping of 3.8 t per hectare as opposed to the unmulched control yield of 2.0 t per hectare.     

Process studies in aPinus radiata-pasture agroforestry system in a subhumid temperature environment. I. Water use and light interception in the third year

In this study we determined soil moisture storage, evapotranspiration (ET) and light interception in an agroforestry trial consisting of pine trees grown over (1) control (bare ground), (2) ryegrass/clovers (Lolium perene/Trifolium spp.), (3) lucerne (Medicago sativa), and (4) ryegrass only during the third growing season between 1992 and 1993. The results show that:

The end consumer’s choice of floorcovering in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom: a comparative pilot study of substitute competition

In order to understand the competitive situation of wood, it is essential to consider the end consumer of building materials. The knowledge of factors affecting the end consumers choice of building material for specific purposes, i.e., the mechanisms of substitute competition, is limited. Field studies of the British and Dutch floorcovering markets revealed that context, usage context as well as the general life situation, is of crucial importance in substitute competition. This contextual character severely limits the usefulness and adequacy of interviews with fixed-reply alternatives, as well as classical statistical methods of analysis. In this article, a qualitative approach to data gathering is combined with multivariate analysis. The results indicate that by using this methodology it is possible to determine which are the decisive predictors of material preferences, make cross-cultural comparisons, and apprehend the underlying motives or perspectives. The results further show that, unlike the other floorcovering materials studied, the determinant reasons for choosing wood appear to be exclusively nonfunctional in nature.     

Leaf-water potential and soil-water depletion of walnut mulched with polyethylene and intercropped with alfalfa in Central Italy

In Italy, new agroforestry cultural models could play an important role in the diffusion of plantation forestry timber species. We studied the stem growth rates and leaf water potentials () of common walnut (Juglans regia L.), and gravimetric soil moisture (_DW) depletion during the third and fourth growing seasons in an agroforestry trial in central Italy. Since the establishment of experimental plots in 1992, walnut was intercropped with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), with or without polyethylene (PE) mulching along tree rows. By the end of the study period, the unmulched-intercropped walnut was almost 68% smaller in stem diameter and height than the sole-unmulched control, demonstrating walnuts sensitivity to alfalfa competition. The competitive effect of alfalfa on walnut stem growth was effectively controlled/reduced by PE mulching. Stem growth rates of mulched-intercropped walnut were always lower than the control, but much higher (ca. 235% in stem diameter and height) than those of unmulched-intercropped walnut. The higher field performance of mulched-intercropped walnut compared to the un- mulched-intercropped treatment was associated with higher soil moisture and predawn and midday values during the summers driest periods. The presence of PE mulching was also associated with lower levels of soil moisture during the early and late growing season, but this did not negatively affect walnut and growth rates. These results suggest that in the climatic conditions of central Italy, competition for soil moisture between young common walnut trees and alfalfa can be substantially lowered, but not completely eliminated, by PE mulching.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nitrogen uptake from 15N-enriched fertilizer by four tree crops in an Amazonian agroforest

Mixed tree cropping systems have been proposed for sustainable nutrient management in the humid tropics. Yet, the nutrient interactions between intercropped trees have not been addressed sufficiently. In the present study we compare the temporal and spatial patterns of the uptake of applied ¹⁵N by four different tree crops in a mixed tree cropping system on a Xanthic Ferralsol in central Amazônia, Brazil, during one year. Most of the N uptake occurred during the first two weeks. Very little N was recovered by peach palm (Bactris gasipaes), more by cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) and annatto (Bixa orellana) and most by Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa). Due to tree pruning the total accumulation of applied ¹⁵N in the above-ground biomass of annatto decreased throughout the year. It remained constant in cupuassu and peach palm and increased in Brazil nut. Brazil nut showed an extensive root activity and took up more fertilizer N applied to neighboring trees than from the one applied under its own canopy in contrast to the other three tree crops. Therefore, trees with wide-spread root systems may not need to receive N fertilizer directly but can take up N applied to other trees in the mixed cropping system. This means that such trees may effectively decrease N leaching when intercropped with trees that have dormant periods or places with low N uptake, but also exert considerable resource competition.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.