Film fully-mulched ridge-furrow cropping affects soil biochemical properties and maize nutrient uptake in a rainfed semi-arid environment

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of plastic mulched ridge-furrow cropping on soil biochemical properties and maize (Zea mays L.) nutrient uptake in a semi-arid environment. Three treatments were evaluated from 2008 to 2010: no mulch (narrow ridges with crop seeded next to ridges), half mulch (as per no mulch, except narrow ridges were mulched), and full mulch (alternate narrow and wide ridges, all mulched with maize seeded in furrows). Compared to the no mulch treatment, full mulch increased maize grain yield by 50% in 2008 and 25% in 2010, but reduced yield by 21% in 2009 after low precipitation in early growth. Half mulch had a similar grain yield to no mulch in the three cropping years, suggesting half mulch is not an effective pattern for maize cropping in the area. Mulch treatments increased aboveground nitrogen (N) uptake by 21?34% and phosphorus (P) uptake by 21?42% in 2008, and by 16?32% and 14?29%, respectively, in 2010; but in 2009 mulching did not affect N uptake and decreased P uptake. Soil microbial biomass and activities of urease, β-glucosidase and phosphatase at the 0?15 cm depth were generally higher during vegetative growth but lower during reproductive growth under mulch treatments than no mulch. Mulching treatments increased carbon (C) loss of buried maize residues (marginally by 5?9%), and decreased light soil organic C (15?27%) and carbohydrate C (12?23%) concentrations and mineralizable C and N (8?36%) at harvest in the 0?20 cm depth compared with no mulch, indicating that mulching promotes mineralization and nutrient release in soil during cropping seasons. As a result of these biological changes, mineral N concentration under mulch was markedly increased after sowing in upper soil layers compared with no mulch. Therefore, our results suggest that mulched cropping stimulated soil microbial activity and N availability, and thus contributed to increasing maize grain yield and nutrient uptake compared with no mulch.     

Soil fertility ‐ crop genotype associations and interactions 1

This paper discusses the opportunities to combine the efforts of plant geneticists and soil scientists to develop crop varieties adapted to the existing soil conditions and techniques used for production. Such research should result in improved varieties for the best as well as poorest of soil and production situations.     

Studies on post‐reddening changes in amino acid content leaves of hirsutum cotton and its control with chemicals

The aspartic acid,tyrosine and serine contents of leaves were found reduced in prematurely reddened leaves of hirsutum cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) as compared to healthy green leaves. Amino acids other than those listed above were higher in the affected red leaves. Amino acids threonine and proline increased 63.7 and 2.3 fold over green leaves respectively. Chemical sprays not only maintained the levels of various amino acids at par with green leaf but tended to increase the concentration above the levels obtained in normally found green leaf. However, threonine level was dropped in treated leaves as compared to partly affected red leaf and chemical sprays significantly reduced the leaf reddening when it was sprayed before flowering. It can be suggested that the leaf reddening can possibly be arrested by monitoring threonine content in leaves of hirsutum cotton ov. L‐147.     

四季柚生育期叶片和果实中矿质元素含量变化的研究

本研究以四季柚为试材,定期测定果实发育周期内叶片与果实的矿质元素含量,研究四季柚叶片和果实矿质养分需求特征与相关性,为树体营养科学调控,优质高效施肥提供理论依据。结果显示,叶片生长过程中N、 P元素含量呈逐渐下降趋势,K、 Ca、 Mg、 B、 Zn含量呈先增后降趋势,S含量总体保持上升趋势,Fe含量呈现先降后稳再上升趋势,Cu含量总体较稳定,Mn含量呈现出先上升后下降再上升趋势; 果实生长过程中,N、 P、 K、 Ca、 S含量呈下降趋势,Mg含量呈现先升后降的趋势,微量元素中Fe、 Mn元素含量变化幅度较小,B、 Zn、 Cu元素含量变化趋势略有不同。叶片与果实之间矿质元素协同吸收作用较弱,而果实与果皮之间作用较强。研究表明,萌芽前应适当增施氮、 磷肥,6月中旬增施钙肥,7月中旬增施钾肥和镁肥,以及重视微量元素肥料的应用。     

Prediction of grain protein content in winter wheat through leaf color measurements using a chlorophyll meter

A field trial was conducted over a 3-year period at the Hokkaido Kitami Agricultural Experiment Station to examine whether the grain protein content (GPC) of a winter wheat cultivar (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Chihokukomugi) suitable for Japanese noodle-making could be predicted before harvest. The prediction of the GPC was accurate based on the color of the second leaf (just below the flag leaf) at the end of the emergence of the inflorescence, when nitrogen application was graded. In order to evaluate the reliability of this test, a survey of 95 wheat fields in the eastern part of Hokkaido was also carried out during a 3-year period. The prediction of the GPC for this cultivar based on the color of the second leaf was less accurate across many sites. The results of this survey, however, suggested that the leaf color could be used as an index for ranking the GPC as low or high in relation to processing requirements. When the leaf color value of the second leaf measured with a chlorophyll meter at the end of the emergence of the inflorescence was less than 40, it was predicted that the GPC would be lower than the processing requirement. This index could be applied to the cultivars grown in the eastern part of Hokkaido, except for those grown on peat soils.     

不同母质发育土壤的中红外吸收光谱特征

选取湘东丘陵区四种典型母质发育土壤(酸性紫色土、花岗岩红壤、板岩红壤和第四纪红土红壤),采集剖面(深至母岩/母质层)样品,应用傅里叶变换红外光谱仪研究灼烧去除有机质处理、土层深度和母质类型对土壤中红外吸收光谱特征的影响,分析吸收光谱与土壤理化性质的关系。结果表明,去除有机质后,特征区的中红外吸收值升高,反映矿物质对红外吸收谱线的强烈影响。在剖面上,底土(60~80 cm或100~120 cm)的中红外吸收值高于表土(0~20 cm),与土壤有机质含量的剖面分布相反。四种土壤的中红外光谱均属典型的高岭石图谱。砂粒、粘粒含量与红外吸收值的相关性最好,砂粒含量的最大相关系数(0.51)出现在3700、913和720~540 cm~(-1)附近,粘粒含量的最大相关系数(0.54)出现在1100~694 cm~(-1);本研究表明,原土的中红外吸收光谱特征主要受矿物质的支配,可以很好地反映土壤质地的状况,指示土壤质量变化。     

豫西地区红富士苹果叶片营养诊断

通过22个有代表性果园苹果叶片矿质营养分析,采用诊断施肥综合法（DRIS）对豫西红富士苹果进行了叶片营养诊断。结果表明,豫西红富士苹果叶片N、P、K、Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn的适宜含量分别为:22.54±3.00 g/kg、2.42±0.28 g/kg、9.31±1.40 g/kg、104.47±15.03 mg/kg、33.89±5.77 mg/kg、3.38±0.39 mg/kg、29.71±4.91 mg/kg,N:P:K的适宜比例为1:0.08～0.14:0.31～0.55。DRIS诊断参数确定为N/P、K/N、K/P、Cu/N、P/Mn、Cu/P、P/Zn、K/Fe、K/Cu、Zn/N和K/Zn,这11种比例关系的变异程度均表现出低产园（变异系数范围为20.44％～40.82％）明显高于高产园（变异系数范围为8.69％～23.95％）;高产园和低产园的营养不平衡指数（NII）分别为39和88。对Fe、Mn和Zn元素需求强度较大的果园分别占供试果园的86％、82％和50％。相对于高产园,低产园元素间关系较不平衡;总体而言,豫西红富士苹果园需求强度较大的元素是Fe、Mn或Zn,其次是N或P。     

Landscape,Soil, and Plant Analysis of Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) Invasion in the Piedmont Region,SC

Japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum), an exotic invasive plant, is native to Southeast Asia. This study was conducted to determine the chemical composition of Japanese stiltgrass as well as soil and landscape characteristics that correlate with invasion of Japanese stiltgrass around Lake Issaqueena in the upper Piedmont of South Carolina. Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) were used to determine the spatial pattern of invasion with respect to the aspect, slope, canopy cover, soils, and distance to roads and trails. Japanese stiltgrass was distributed on both sides of Lake Issaqueena in Pacolet and Madison soil map units (Fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kanhapludults) on the average slopes of 21%, but it was particularly common on the eastern shore of the lake in low-lying wet and shaded areas (mean canopy cover 51%). In addition, invasion by Japanese stiltgrass was correlated with the proximity to roads and trails. Plant tissue analysis revealed many differences in the distribution of macronutrients, macrominerals, and micronutrients in the leaves, stems, and roots of Japanese stiltgrass, although those differences were not always statistically significant. Concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca) were the highest in leaves while zinc (Zn) concentrations were the highest in stems and concentrations of magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), and sodium (Na) tended to be higher in roots. Carbon (C), sulfur (S), and potassium (K) concentrations were generally higher in above-ground tissues versus roots. Soil chemical analysis revealed no statistical differences between control and invaded plots. Our findings suggest that watershed areas surrounding lakes may be particularly susceptible to the invasion of Japanese stiltgrass due to their microclimates, low-lying wet pathways for seed distribution and recreational uses.     

Potassium behavior and clay mineral composition in the soil with low effectiveness of potassium application

ABSTRACT

Increasing exchangeable potassium (ExK) content in soil to an appropriate level is important to mitigate the transfer of radioactive cesium to crops. We focused on a buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) field with a low ExK content, despite the application of K, in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan (Field A), following the Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Dai-ichi (No. 1) Nuclear Power Plant accident in March 2011. We examined the relationship between K concentration and clay mineral composition in the soil of Field A and compared the findings with another field in Fukushima Prefecture (Field B) to clarify whether K applied to the soil was leached or remaining fixed. Pot experiments showed that K concentration in water seepage from pots following irrigation was significantly lower in pots from Field A than in those from Field B. Soil ExK content after soybean cultivation was lower in soils of Field A than those of Field B. These results indicate that K applied to Field A was fixed in the soil. Analysis of clay mineral composition confirmed the distinctive vermiculitic nature of Field A soils. This clay mineralogy would be associated with the higher K fixation ability of Field A than Field B soils. This study demonstrated that K fixation in vermiculite was a factor preventing the increase in ExK content from K application to Field A.     

Is PLOS ONE Attracting Highly Cited Papers in the Food Sciences? Comparing Authors' Most Cited Work to Their PLOS ONE Articles Published 2006–2016

Since 2007, the Open Access journal PLOS ONE has published 194,622 expert-reviewed scientific papers, including 85 related to the human food sciences such as food safety, general food science, and nutrition. Seventy-five of their corresponding authors had previously published. Their most cited articles in other journals were identified and citation counts compared against those earned by their PLOS ONE papers. No PLOS ONE food sciences paper has yet been cited more than an author's best effort in the field in other journals. More than half (38) of the 75 PLOS ONE papers studied remain uncited even by their own authors.