Root distribution patterns of peanut genotypes with different drought resistance levels under early‐season drought stress

Drought severely limits crop yield of peanut. Yet cultivars with enhanced root development enable the exploration of a greater volume of soil for water and nutrients, helping the plant survive. Root distribution patterns of three genotypes (ICGV 98305, ICGV 98324 and Tifton‐8) were compared when grown in well‐watered rhizoboxes and when grown in rhizoboxes where an early‐season drought was imposed using rain‐exclusion shelters. The treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications, and the experiment was conducted during two seasons at the Field Crop Research Station of Khon Kaen University, in Khon Kaen, Thailand. The root system of ICGV 98305, when grown under drought, had a significantly higher root length in the 30–110 cm deep soil layers and less roots in the 0–30 cm soil layers when under drought than when grown under well‐watered conditions. Roots of Tifton‐8 had the largest reductions in root length in upper soil layer and reduced in most soil layers. Tifton‐8 grown under drought was smaller than under well‐watered control for all root traits, showing negative response to drought. The peanut genotypes with high root traits in deeper soil layer under early‐season drought might contribute to drought avoidance mechanism.     

Straw mulching with fertilizer nitrogen: An approach for improving crop yield,soil nutrients and enzyme activities

Field experiments were conducted to study soil properties, soil enzymes activities, water use efficiency (WUE) and crop productivity after six years of soya bean straw mulching in the semi‐arid conditions of China. The experiment included four treatments: CK (Control), N (240 kg N ha^‐1), H (soya bean straw mulching at half rate 700 kg ha^‐1 with 240 kg N ha^‐1) and F (soya bean straw mulching at full rate 1,400 kg ha^‐1 with 240 kg N ha^‐1). Soil organic carbon (SOC), soil labile organic carbon (LOC), soil available N (AN), available P (AP) and enzyme activities were analysed after wheat harvesting in 2016 and 2017. Results show that straw amounts had positive effects on the soil fertility indices being higher for treatment F. The SOC, LOC, AN, AP and enzyme activities (i.e. saccharase, urease and alkaline phosphatase) were in the order of F > H > N > CK. High wheat grain yield and WUE were observed for F treatment. A total of six years mulching along with 240 kg ha^‐1 nitrogen fertilizer application is sufficient for wheat yield stability and improving soil properties except urease activities in the semi‐arid condition of China. However, the straw mulching amount should be further studied with minimum nitrogen fertilizer for an environment‐friendly and effective approach for improving the soil biological properties with adequate crop production on a sustainable basis in the semi‐arid region of China.     

Changes in soil and water quality at sediment–water interface of Penaeus vannamei culture pond at varying salinities

The health of the pond environment in shrimp farming is important for sustainable and profitable aquaculture, in which sediment–water interface is the most important influencing area. With this objective, the key parameters of water and sediment at the interface was studied in shrimp ponds with varying salinities and compared with the surface water and soil to understand the variations and the underlying causes. Total ammonia nitrogen and total alkalinity were higher in water at the interface as compared to surface water, whereas pH, nitrite, oxide forms of nitrogen (NO₃), phosphorus (PO₄) and oxidizing bacteria were observed to be lower. There was no significant difference with respect to macrominerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium between water at the interface and surface. These changes are profoundly influenced by the uppermost 1.0‐cm thick sediment layer, where the maximum transition of nutrients takes place with the water column. The outcome of the study highlights the effectiveness of water sampling for metabolites at the interface, which reflects at an early stage any potential deterioration of pond environment, which will help the farmer to initiate timely mitigation measures.     

Substitution of chemical fertilizer by Chinese milk vetch improves the sustainability of yield and accumulation of soil organic carbon in a double-rice cropping system

The double-rice cropping system is a very important intensive cropping system for food security in China. There have been few studies of the sustainability of yield and accumulation of soil organic carbon(SOC) in the double-rice cropping system following a partial substitution of chemical fertilizer by Chinese milk vetch(Mv). We conducted a 10-year(2008–2017) field experiment in Nan County, South-Central China, to examine the double-rice productivity and SOC accumulation in a paddy soil in response to different fertilization levels and Mv application(22.5 Mg ha~(–1)). Fertilizer and Mv were applied both individually and in combination(sole chemical fertilizers, Mv plus 100, 80, 60, 40, and 0% of the recommended dose of chemical fertilizers, labeled as F100, MF100, MF80, MF60, MF40, and MF0, respectively). It was found that the grain yields of double-rice crop in treatments receiving Mv were reduced when the dose of chemical fertilizer was reduced, while the change in SOC stock displayed a double peak curve. The MF100 produced the highest double-rice yield and SOC stock, with the value higher by 13.5 and 26.8% than that in the F100. However, the grain yields increased in the MF80(by 8.4% compared to the F100), while the SOC stock only increased by 8.4%. Analogous to the change of grain yield, the sustainable yield index(SYI) of double rice were improved significantly in the MF100 and MF80 compared to the F100, while there was a slight increase in the MF60 and MF40. After a certain amount of Mv input(22.5 Mg ha~(–1)), the carbon sequestration rate was affected by the nutrient input due to the stimulation of microbial biomass. Compared with the MF0, the MF100 and MF40 resulted in a dramatically higher carbon sequestration rate(with the value higher by 71.6 and 70.1%),whereas the MF80 induced a lower carbon sequestration rate with the value lower by 70.1% compared to the MF0. Based on the above results we suggested that Mv could partially replace chemical fertilizers(e.g., 40–60%) to improve or maintain the productivity and sustainability of the double-rice cropping system in South-Central China.     

科尔沁草甸湿地土壤碳氮剖面分布及生长季动态特征

采用定位观测的试验方法,于2016年5-10月及2017年8月对科尔沁草甸湿地0~100 cm土层土壤有机碳、全氮剖面分布及生长季动态特征进行了实验分析,旨在为科尔沁草甸湿地保护提供科学指导并为干旱半干旱地区湿地土壤碳氮储量估算提供借鉴。结果表明:1)科尔沁草甸湿地土壤有机碳、全氮含量整体随土层深度下降,0~20 cm土层间下降显著,20 cm以下趋于相对稳定,范围分别为11.9~23.5 g·kg^-1和0.66~1.50 g·kg^-1。2)各土层土壤碳氮含量月间差异显著(全氮40~60 cm土层除外),变化幅度随土层深度先减小后增大;土壤碳氮密度(100 cm)生长季变化大于年际变化,有机碳密度全生长季呈上升趋势,范围为15.44~20.82 kg·m^-2,全氮密度生长初期明显下降,之后趋于相对稳定,范围为1.01~1.16 kg·m^-2。3)土壤有机碳含量与全氮含量呈极显著正相关;植被和水文是影响其分布、变化的关键因子。科尔沁草甸湿地生长季土壤有机碳、全氮密度变化较大,且表现为潜在的碳汇和氮源,但年际间碳汇潜力未充分发挥,本研究建议禁牧力度应加大并增加氮肥投入以提高科尔沁草甸湿地生态系统功能。     

蚯蚓养殖对幼龄胶园土壤养分及橡胶树根系生长的影响

本研究旨在探讨林下蚯蚓养殖对幼龄胶园土壤养分及橡胶树根系生长的影响。以牛粪作为原料，于 2017年4—11 月在 4 年生幼龄胶园铺设粪垄养殖蚯蚓，并测定土壤养分和根系生长情况。结果表明，与对照（CK）相比，铺设粪垄无蚯蚓养殖（WQ）和铺设粪垄蚯蚓养殖（Q）处理总体上可显著提高土壤硝态氮、速效磷、速效钾和土壤水分含量以及土壤 pH，而对土壤铵态氮、有机质、微生物活性及微生物群系数量无显著影响（p<0.05）；和 CK 相比，WQ和 Q 处理显著促进根的生长，并提高吸收根的比例（p<0.05）。综上所述，在幼龄胶园养殖蚯蚓短期内（半年）可提高土壤速效养分含量，促进根系生长。     

抗旱节水小麦分子遗传育种研究进展

干旱缺水等自然灾害会导致小麦产量年度间变幅较大,尤其在小麦主产区黄淮地区更为严重。小麦抗旱节水育种是应对干旱的重大措施。本综述对小麦抗旱节水常规育种、抗旱节水分子遗传育种相关性状QTL定位、抗旱相关功能基因克隆鉴定、转基因等方面的研究进展进行了综述。水旱亲本杂交与异地交叉选择是卓有成效的常规育种方法,通过分子标记鉴定了关于根重、根长、胚芽鞘、高水分利用效率等相关性状的大量QTL;42个抗旱相关基因被克隆并进行基因功能分析和验证,均从不同代谢通路上影响着小麦抗旱性;14个来自不同供体的抗旱相关基因被研究者导入小麦品种后,转基因小麦植株的抗旱能力均得到不同程度的提高,部分植株在产量和其它抗逆性方面也得到提高。以上研究进展为抗旱节水小麦分子设计育种提供了理论依据和发展方向。     

京津冀一次区域性暴雨特征分析

利用FNL再分析资料、卫星资料和自动站资料对2019年7月22~23日京津冀一次区域性暴雨过程进行了环流形势、卫星云图、动热力结构的分析。结果表明:此次暴雨发生在500hPa两槽一脊、副热带高压北抬、低空急流的大尺度环流背景下。西南方向的水汽输送和黄渤海的补充水汽为暴雨提供了良好的水汽条件,在河北中部的水汽辐合抬升则为暴雨提供了抬升条件。此次暴雨的产生受中尺度对流云团的连续生成合并影响,降水效率高。在暴雨中心整层表现为低层辐合、高层辐散,上升速度中心明显,使得高层的抽吸作用更强,更有利于上升运动的维持与发展,为降水强度增大提供了有力的动力条件,高空弱冷空气的入侵对能量锋区不稳定能量的释放起到了触发作用。     

自然生草桃园表层土壤水分和草地地上生物量的空间分布及其关系

【目的】阐明桃树果园短期自然生草条件下土壤水分空间分布特征及其与草地地上生物量的关系。【方法】以信阳沙壤土五月鲜桃园为研究对象,在冬春季短期自然生草条件下,采用1 m×1 m网格采样法,以经典统计学和地统计学半方差函数为工具,研究表层(0~5 cm)土壤水分和草地地上生物量空间分布特征。【结果】表层(0~5 cm)土壤含水量和地上草地生物量符合正态分布,平均体积含水量为10.08%,95%置信区间为9.84%~10.32%,变异系数为16.36%,0.2 m×0.2 m草地地上生物量均值为9.17 g,变异系数为56.71%。区域田块尺度上,自然生草桃园草地地上生物量和表层(0~5 cm)土壤水分空间分布均符合指数函数模型,模型块金值/基台值分别为0.477 3和0.499 8,变程分别为7.20和2.51。即二者均具有中等程度的空间依赖性,草地地上生物量较表层(0~5 cm)土壤含水量具有更强的空间依赖性。克里格插值结果表明,表层(0~5 cm)土壤含水量和草地地上生物量空间上呈斑块状分布,且表现为距离树体越远值越大的分布特征。相关分析结果表明,地上生物量与表层(0~5 cm)土壤含水量之间极显著正相关(P<0.001)。【结论】果园短期自然生草有利于保蓄表层土壤水分,改善土壤水分条件,草地地上生物量是影响果园表层土壤水分空间分布的重要因素。     

Habitat associations of the Threatened pugnose minnow (Opsopoeodus emiliae) at the northern edge of the species range

Pugnose minnow (Opsopoeodus emiliae) is a small, reclusive species that is widespread in North America, but is one of the rarest fishes in Canada, found in less than 12 known localities in southwestern Ontario. In contrast to most pugnose minnow populations across the global range, Canadian populations are primarily found in turbid systems, potentially indicating persistence in suboptimal conditions. We used data from a multi-gear species and habitat survey in the Canard River, Ontario, a system dominated by agricultural inputs and the best-known capture site of the species in Canada, to parameterise multi-gear occupancy models for understanding the relationship between pugnose minnow occupancy and microhabitat features, including the role of turbidity. Almost 300 pugnose minnow were captured, representing the largest single collection of the species in Canadian history. The best occupancy model indicated that the probability of pugnose minnow occupancy was highest in the deepest sites with the lowest water clarity (i.e. high turbidity); however, competing models suggested that occupancy was highest at sites with wild celery (Vallisneria americana) and higher water clarity, signifying that habitats with low turbidity may be utilised if sufficient physical cover exists. Together, our results suggest that Canadian pugnose minnow populations occupy and potentially favour turbid conditions, possibly to avoid visual predators in clearer habitats. It remains uncertain whether this abiotic association represents a long-term, viable, local adaptation or whether persistence of pugnose minnow in the Canard River is at risk unless significant water quality improvements can be made.