Agricultural studies of GM maize and the field experimental infrastructure of ECOGEN

Within the ECOGEN project, long-term field experiments with genetically modified maize, Zea mays L. were conducted to study agro-ecological effects on the soil fauna and agro-economic implications of the technology. Here, we describe the study-sites, experimental layout and results of agro-economic relevance. Experiments were conducted during 2002–2005 in Denmark (Foulum), northern France (Varois) and the Midi-Pyrenees region of southern France (Narbons). MON810 Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-varieties expressing the Cry1Ab protein, and a T25 glufosinate-ammonium (Basta) tolerant variety expressing the pat-gene encoding phosphinotrinacetyl-transferase were compared with near-isogenic non-Bt varieties, and conventional maize varieties. At Foulum, the maize was harvested for silage. There were no significant differences in yield between Bt-maize and a near-isogenic non-Bt variety, while a small difference in N-concentration of dry matter was detected in 1 year in a range of a measured quality parameters. Similar yield and quality were found in ploughed and reduced tillage treatments in all varieties. At Varois, the maize was harvested at ripeness and no significant differences in grain yield between Bt-maize and near-isogenic non-Bt varieties were found. These results were expected, as only Narbons harbours significant corn-borer populations. At Narbons, the number of Sesamia and Ostrinia corn-borer larvae were significantly lower in the Bt-maize than in a near-isogenic non-Bt variety and for Sesamia even less than in conventional varieties sprayed with pesticides to control corn-borer infestation. Here, Bt-maize produced a higher grain yield and grain size than a near-isogenic non-Bt variety or allowed a significant reduction in pesticide use. Concentrations of Cry1Ab in the Bt-varieties were sufficient to effectively control corn-borer larvae. In soil, Cry1Ab was close to the limit of detection and the protein did not accumulate in the soil year on year.     

不同比例尺DEM提取地面坡度的精度研究——以在黄土丘陵沟壑区的试验为例

以陕北绥德县韭园沟流域为试验样区 ,采用高精度 1∶ 1万 DEM所提取的坡度为准值 ,应用多层面复合分析和比较分析的方法 ,研究该地区 1∶ 5万 DEM提取地面坡度的误差特征与纠正方法。试验结果显示 ,所获得的不同空间尺度下 DEM所提取坡度值的转换图谱 ,可对 1∶ 5万 DEM计算的地面坡度统计值进行有效修正。该成果对于 DEM数据在水土保持领域若干应用标准的制定 ,提供了重要的理论依据与技术路线     

嘉陵江上游低山暴雨区不同水土保持林结构模式水源涵养效益研究

水土保持林的水源涵养效益是研究森林防止水土流失的一个热点问题。以20世纪80年代末期营造和自然恢复的湿地松林、桤柏混交林、刺槐(灌木)林 、刺槐林 和桤木林为研究对象,选择林冠截留、土壤容重、土壤孔隙度、土壤贮水能力、土壤渗透性和枯落物持水性,作为研究不同水土保持林结构模式水源涵养效益的指标,对不同水土保持林的水源涵养机理和水源涵养效益进行了较深入的研究。结果表明,各水土保持林的水源涵养能力均明显高于农耕地;不同水土保持林结构模式的水源涵养效益也有较大差异。最后提出了桤柏混交林、湿地松林、桤木林等优良水土保持林结构模式,为当地的生态环境建设,特别是当前正在进行的退耕还林工程的模式选择提供了依据。     

不同地貌类型区1∶25万比例尺DEM的建立方法

以在 3个不同地貌类型区的试验为例证 ,研究探讨建立栅格化 DEM的技术要点和技术方法 ,并对所建立 DEM的精度进行评价。研究结果表明 ,在平原区可以直接利用 Terlk层及水系要素建立 DEM;在山区 ,则首先需要进行构造地形结构线的预处理 ,而在黄土丘陵沟壑区 ,不仅需要构造地形结构线 ,而且需借用大比例尺的高程数据进行高程加密处理 ,以最大限度地减少地貌特征信息的损失 ,为区域水土流失的动态监测基础地理数据库的建立提供重要的技术方法     

Biochemical composition and kinetics of C and N mineralization of animal wastes: a typological approach

Forty-seven different animal wastes were characterized using chemical and organic matter fractionation methods (water extraction and Van Soest method) and 224-day incubation studies to assess their decomposition in soil. Simple correlation and multiple factor analysis were performed to establish relationships between the composition of these wastes and C and N mineralization. Carbon and N contents ranged from 101 to 469 mg C kg⁻¹ dry matter (d.m.) and from 4 to 39 mg N kg⁻¹ d.m. Soluble C and N represented less than 9% of organic C and 1.5% of total N at 20°C, respectively. The C fractions soluble at 100°C or in neutral detergent were larger and represented 14 and 32% of the organic C, respectively. The hemicellulose-like (HEM) and cellulose-like (CEL) fractions contained about 16.5 and 6% of the organic N, respectively. The C distribution in the lignin-like (LIG) and CEL fractions was comparable, but the former contained more N. Carbon mineralization varied from 5 to 62% of the organic C added during the 224-day incubation; 70% of the wastes induced net N mineralization at the end of incubation (from 3 to 51% of organic N). Other wastes induced net soil inorganic N immobilization, from −1 to −31% of the organic N added. Most highly significant correlations were established between the C mineralization and the C present in the water-soluble fraction at 20°C, and the HEM and LIG fractions. Relationships between N mineralization and biochemical characteristics were weak, except with the soluble Van Soest fraction, and highly significant correlations were observed between N mineralization rates calculated at 224 days of incubation and the organic N content or C/N ratio of wastes. Finally, an objective hierarchical classification based on composition criteria and C and N mineralization led to the definition of six different classes of wastes. It permitted differentiation between four composted wastes and intrinsically different wastes (i.e., cattle manures, pig manures, and poultry manures) which could not be objectively regrouped. It also placed some very different types of waste (solid phase from pig slurry separation, pig manures, and composted pig mixtures) in the same class.     

Degradation Kinetics of an Aged Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soil

PM2.5 and PM10 samples were collected in the urban atmosphere of Elche (southeastern Spain) between December 2004 and November 2005. The samples were analyzed for mass and water-soluble inorganic ions (Na⁺, an class="a-plus-plus inline-equation id-i-eq1"> an class="a-plus-plus equation-source format-t-e-x">${\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}}$an> an>, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl^?, an class="a-plus-plus inline-equation id-i-eq2"> an class="a-plus-plus equation-source format-t-e-x">${\text{NO}}^{{\text{ - }}}_{{\text{3}}}$an> an> and an class="a-plus-plus inline-equation id-i-eq3"> an class="a-plus-plus equation-source format-t-e-x">${\text{SO}}^{{{\text{2 - }}}}_{{\text{4}}}$an> an>) with the aim of investigating the influence of the climatic and geographic features of a coastal semiarid area on the contribution of these species to PM levels. Secondary inorganic ions (an class="a-plus-plus inline-equation id-i-eq4"> an class="a-plus-plus equation-source format-t-e-x">${\text{SO}}^{{{\text{2 - }}}}_{{\text{4}}}$an> an>, an class="a-plus-plus inline-equation id-i-eq5"> an class="a-plus-plus equation-source format-t-e-x">${\text{NO}}^{{\text{ - }}}_{{\text{3}}}$an> an>, an class="a-plus-plus inline-equation id-i-eq6"> an class="a-plus-plus equation-source format-t-e-x">${\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}}$an> an>) were the major components in the fine fraction (PM2.5), accounting for 40% of the total mass. The relationship between non-marine an class="a-plus-plus inline-equation id-i-eq7"> an class="a-plus-plus equation-source format-t-e-x">${\text{SO}}^{{{\text{2 - }}}}_{{\text{4}}}$an> an> and an class="a-plus-plus inline-equation id-i-eq8"> an class="a-plus-plus equation-source format-t-e-x">${\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}}$an> an> indicated that fine sulfate particles were completely neutralized by ammonium. In the coarse fraction (PM10–2.5), nitrate (as NaNO₃ and Ca(NO₃)₂), together with crustal (CaCO₃) and marine species (NaCl) accounted for almost 50% of the total mass. Fine sulfate and coarse nitrate showed summer maximums. In contrast, the concentrations of fine an class="a-plus-plus inline-equation id-i-eq9"> an class="a-plus-plus equation-source format-t-e-x">${\text{NO}}^{{\text{ - }}}_{{\text{3}}}$an> an> were lowest in the warm period. Ammonium presented both winter and summer maximums. The levels of marine ions, except for coarse Cl^?, were highest in summer when the dominant wind flow is from the sea. No significant seasonal variations were observed for coarse Ca²⁺ and an class="a-plus-plus inline-equation id-i-eq10"> an class="a-plus-plus equation-source format-t-e-x">${\text{SO}}^{{{\text{2 - }}}}_{{\text{4}}}$an> an>. The concentrations of all inorganic ions increased during Saharan dust events, in particular, fine an class="a-plus-plus inline-equation id-i-eq11"> an class="a-plus-plus equation-source format-t-e-x">${\text{NH}}^{{\text{ + }}}_{{\text{4}}}$an> an> and an class="a-plus-plus inline-equation id-i-eq12"> an class="a-plus-plus equation-source format-t-e-x">${\text{SO}}^{{{\text{2 - }}}}_{{\text{4}}}$an> an> and coarse an class="a-plus-plus inline-equation id-i-eq13"> an class="a-plus-plus equation-source format-t-e-x">$NO_3^ - $an> an>. Coarse calcium was proved not to be a good tracer for this type of episode in our region since the average levels of this cation are elevated and the relative increase in its concentrations during African events was not as high as expected.     

Spatial and vertical distribution of <Superscript>137</Superscript>Cs in soils in the erosive area of southeastern Serbia (Pčinja and South Morava River Basins)

Purpose

The area of southeastern Serbia, the P?inja and South Morava River Basins, is under the influence of very strong erosion, and the aim of this study was to investigate the vertical and spatial distribution of the ¹³⁷Cs in the eroded soils of this area.

Materials and methods

Vertical soil profiles were collected with 5-cm increments from the uppermost layer down to 20, 25, 30, 40, and 50 cm of depth, depending on the thickness of the soil layers, i.e., down to the underlying parent rocks. Measurements of ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration were performed by using the HPGe gamma-ray spectrometer ORTEC-AMETEK (34 % relative efficiency and high resolution 1.65 keV at 1.33 MeV for ⁶⁰Co), from its gamma-ray line at 661.2 keV.

Results and discussion

The mean ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration across all 18 soil profiles (for all soil layers) was found to be 20 Bq kg^?1. In the greatest number of soil profiles, the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration was generally highest in the first soil layer (0–5 cm) and decreased with soil depth, while in a few soil profiles, the peak of either the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration occurred in the second soil layer (5–10 cm) or the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration was almost equal throughout the entire soil profile. The mean ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration in the first soil layer (0–5 cm) was found to be 61 Bq kg^?1, and the high coefficient of variation of 92 % pointed out high spatial variability and large range of the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in the study area.

Conclusions

The obtained results indicate that in the greatest number of soil profiles, ¹³⁷Cs is present in the upper layers, with concentration decreasing with depth, as is typical in uncultivated soil. Its spatial distribution was very uneven among the surface soil layers of the investigated sites. One of the main reasons for such pattern of ¹³⁷Cs in the study area may be soil erosion. Additional investigations which would support this hypothesis are required.

     

首都圈典型区土地退化的原因分析

 根据野外工作,在地理信息系统和遥感技术的支持下,探讨以防止风蚀为目的的首都圈的范围及主要特征,着重分析首都圈典型地区土地退化的机制、分布状况和防治的季节。结果表明,土地退化的主要原因是近年持续干旱少雨,土地利用的强度过大,以及在干旱季节里没有适当的防护措施等。建议采用适宜于首都圈的封育和垄耕等防治措施。     

耕作侵蚀研究项目进展

土壤侵蚀是全球性的严重环境问题，而农耕地则是全球土壤侵蚀最严重的地区。农地上存在的水力等侵蚀早已被研究者认识到，并且已进行了大量的研究，但农地上存在的另一种侵蚀，也是从根本上导致农地土壤退化及产生严重水土流失的侵蚀，却在以往的土壤侵蚀研究中被大大地忽视，这就是耕作侵蚀。 　　耕作侵蚀是土壤物质在耕作机具的作用下发生分散、搬运、沉积的过程。在耕作侵蚀过程中，土壤物质主要在农地内发生再分布，在坡地上，这种再分布则主要表现为坡面土壤的从上向下运动。 　　耕作侵蚀作为一种新近认识到的重要侵蚀过程，已引起国际上的广泛关注。耕作侵蚀研究也已在各大洲迅速开展起来。1997年起，欧共体将耕作侵蚀列为大型研究项目，组织了7个国家的科学家协作攻关，研究范围包括到全部欧共体国家；1997年7月在加拿大多伦多（Toronto）举行了第1次耕作侵蚀国际会议；1999年4月在比利时鲁汶（Leuven）举行了第2次耕作侵蚀国际会议；2001年8月将在英国埃克塞特（Exeter）再次举行关于耕作侵蚀影响的重要国际会议。 　　我国是一个幅员辽阔，农业人口众多，耕种历史悠久的农业大国，坡耕地面积大，尤其与西方发达国家相比，坡耕地普遍较短，较陡，较崎岖，且各地的耕作机具与耕作方式差异较大，因此，耕作侵蚀是在我国广泛存在、形式多样的一种重要类型的土壤侵蚀。为了认识我国坡耕地的耕作侵蚀规律，进而发展科学的坡耕地保护性耕作技术，我们从1999年开始，在我国黄土高原开展了耕作侵蚀研究。 　　我们在主持的国家自然科学基金项目“黄土地区耕作侵蚀评价”（1999—2001）、中国科学院水土保持研究所知识创新工程项目课题“耕作侵蚀过程与模拟”（1999—）及陕西省人事厅留学回国人员科技活动择优资助项目“农地耕作侵蚀研究”（2000—2002）的资助下，通过前两年的研究，已获得了黄土地区耕作侵蚀过程中的土壤再分布规律、黄土地区耕作侵蚀模型，黄土地区耕作侵蚀强度及其空间分布特征，以及黄土地区耕作侵蚀在总土壤侵蚀中的重要性及其空间变化规律。目前，我们正在对该地区耕作侵蚀其它方面的内容进行研究，各个项目进展顺利。 (王占礼，中国科学院 水利部 水土保持研究所， 陕西 杨凌 712100)     

The sensitivity of water extractable soil organic carbon fractions to land use in three soil types

Soil organic carbon (SOC) has a high impact on the sustainability of ecosystems, global environmental processes, soil quality and agriculture. Long-term tillage usually leads to SOC depletion. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of different land uses on water extractable organic carbon (WEOC) fractions and to evaluate the interaction between the WEOC fractions and other soil properties. Using an extraction procedure at 20°C and 80°C, two fractions were obtained: a cold water extractable organic carbon (CWEOC) and a hot water extractable organic carbon (HWEOC). The results suggest that there is a significant impact from different land uses on WEOC. A lower relative contribution of WEOC in SOC and a lower concentration of labile WEOC fractions are contained in arable soil compared to forestlands. Chernozem soil was characterized by a lower relative contribution of WEOC to the SOC and thus higher SOC stability in contrast to Solonetz and Vertisol soils. Both CWEOC and HWEOC are highly associated with SOC in the silt and clay fraction (<53 µm) and were slightly associated with SOC in the macroaggregate classes. The WEOC fractions were highly and positively correlated with the SOC and mean weight diameter.