An artificial capillary barrier to improve root zone conditions for horticultural crops: physical effects on water content

Capillary barriers (CBs) occur at the interface of two soil layers having distinct differences in textural and hydraulic characteristics. The objective of this study was to introduce an artificial CB, created by a layer of gravel below the root zone substrate, in order to optimize conditions for the cultivation of horticultural crops. Potential root zone formats were analyzed with and without the gravel CBs for variables including the following: depth of CB; barrier separating the root zone from the surrounding soil; and root zone soil texture. Field and simulated results revealed that artificial CBs increased root zone water content and changed water flow dynamics. Volumetric soil water content was increased by 20–70%, depending on the soil texture and depth of the barrier. Sandy soil texture and shallower placement resulted in relatively higher water content. For sandy soil without plants, a shallow (0.2 m depth) CB increased water content of the overlaying soil by 50% compared to the control. The introduction of a gravel CB below the root zone of pepper plants (Capsicum Annum L.) lead to 34% higher matric head, 50% lower diurnal fluctuations in matric head and 40% increase in pepper fruit yield. Increasing water content by way of artificial CBs appeared to improve the water use efficiency of pepper plants. Such an improvement could lead to reduced water and fertilizer application rates and subsequent reduction in contamination below the root zone. This is especially relevant for substrates of low water-holding capacity typically used in horticulture crop production.     

补播禾草对玛曲高寒沙化草地各经济类群地上生物量的影响

为研究补播禾草对玛曲高寒沙化草地各经济类群地上生物量的影响,于2006年和2007年在甘肃玛曲高寒沙化草地进行了禾草补播试验。结果表明:补播禾草可增加高寒沙化草地草群高度和植被盖度。补播当年,莎草类地上生物量降低,禾草类地上生物量增加。补播第二年,各经济类群地上生物量都增加,禾草类的地上生物量增加最多,占到总生物量的50%左右。其中,中华羊茅(Festuca sinensis)、草地早熟禾(Poa pratensis)和垂穗披碱草(Elymus natans)混播的处理,禾草类和豆科类比对照分别高出34.56%和96.37%,是玛曲高寒沙化草地较好补播处理。补播作为改良天然草场的有效措施,对增加草群高度、覆盖度和提高草地地上生物量具有积极作用。     

Soil infiltration, runoff and sediment yield from a shallow soil with varied stone cover and intensity of rain

Stones on the surface of the soil enhance infiltration and protect the soil against erosion. They are often removed in modern mechanized agriculture, with unfortunate side‐effects. We evaluated experimentally the influence of surface stones on infiltration, runoff and erosion under field conditions using a portable rainfall simulator on bare natural soil in semi‐arid tropical India, because modernization and mechanization often lead to removal of these stones in this region. Four fields with varied cover of stones from 3 to 65% were exposed to three rainfall intensities (48.5, 89.2 and 136.8 mm hour^?1). Surface stones retarded surface runoff, increased final infiltration rates, and diminished sediment concentration and soil loss. The final infiltration ranged from 26 to 83% of rainfall when the rainfall intensity was 136.8 mm hour^?1. The reduction in runoff and soil erosion and increase in infiltration were more pronounced where stones rested on the soil surface than where they were buried in the surface layer. The sediment yield increased from 2 g l^?1 for 64.7% stone cover with rainfall of 48.5 mm hour^?1 to 70 g l^?1 for 3.5% stone cover with rain falling at 136.8 mm hour^?1. The soil loss rate was less than 2 t ha^?1 hour^?1 for the field with stone cover of 64.7% even when the rainfall intensity was increased to 136.8 mm hour^?1. The effects of stones on soil loss under the varied rainfall intensities were expressed mathematically. The particles in the sediment that ran off were mostly of silt size.     

Cool Season C3-Grasses (Wheat,Rye, Barley,and Oats) Differ in Shoot: Root Ratio When Applied With Different NPK Sources

Shoot:root (S:R) response in four winter C₃-grasses (cereals) viz. wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), rye (Secale cereale L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and oats (Avena sativa L.) was investigated under eight different NPK sources (S₁ = 20-20-20, S₂ = 20-27-5, S₃ = 7-22-8, S₄ = 10-10-10-20S, S₅ = 11-15-11, S₆ = 31-11-11, S₇ = 24-8-16, and S₈ = 19-6-12) in pot experiment at Dryland Agriculture Institute, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas, USA during winter 2009–2010. The experiment was performed in completely randomized design (CRD) with three repeats. The objective of this experiment was to investigate whether the S:R of winter cereals differ or not when applied with different NPK sources. Considerable variations in the shoot: root was noticed in the four grasses at different growth stages, i.e., 30, 60 and 90 days after emergence (DAE) when applied with different NPK fertilizers sources. Wheat had the highest S:R of 3.4 at 30 days after emergence (DAE), barley at 60 DAE (6.5), while oats at 90 DAE (3.9). Among the NPK sources, crops had the highest S:R of 3.6, 6.2 and 3.7 when applied with S₃, S₂, and S₆ at 30, 60 and 90 DAE, respectively. Shoot to root ratio showed positive relationship with increase in shoot weight and negative relationship with increase in root weight. The NPK fertilizer S₆ (31: 11: 11), an acid loving fertilizer had negative effects on the shoot and root development of cool season cereals, but among these cereals under study, barley and oats roots were affected more than wheat and rye. It was concluded from this present study, that the four cool season cereals responded differently in terms of shoot: root to different NPK fertilizers at different growth stages.     

用自动盘式吸渗仪测定土壤导水率

盘式吸渗仪已成为测定田间土壤水力参数的重要工具之一，自动监测装置的应用将进一步提高试验的精确度并加快试验进程。该文介绍了一种试验装置，通过连接在储水管上下两端的传感器实时压差监测，以此确定入渗水量的变化过程，并通过一系列试验，对试验装置的可靠性进行了验证，将试验装置应用到实际测定土壤水力参数中。试验结果表明：自动监测装置通过测定储水管的压差，并通过相应关系代换为储水管水位变化来采集试验数据的方法是可靠的。通过与人工读数方法测定的结果对比表明，其精度可以达到试验要求；对于本试验土壤，用自动监测装置采集的数据来确定吸渗率的时间可以控制在30 s～4 min之间。     

氮素对小麦幼苗叶片气体交换和能量转化特性的调控

利用LI-6400光合仪和Mini-PAM型便携式荧光仪检测不同氮素水平对旱地(定西35号,耐旱)和水地(宁青4号,不耐旱)小麦幼苗光合与荧光及瞬时水分利用效率(IWUE)的影响。结果表明,耐旱品种对氮素处理比较敏感。耐旱和不耐旱小麦幼苗叶片光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、电子传递速率(ETR)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)和光化学猝灭系数(qP)、气孔限制值(Ls)对3个氮素水平的响应基本一致:2个品种N15(15mmol.L-1)处理的Pn、Gs、ETR显著高于N5(5mmol.L-1)和N30(30mmol.L-1)处理;N5处理的Ci和qP高于N15和N30处理,且3个氮素处理间差异极显著;N30处理的Ls高于N5和N15处理,各处理间差异极显著。2个品种的PSⅡ总光化学量子产量(Yield)和IWUE对3个氮素的响应不同:水地品种N15处理的Yield和N30处理的IWUE最高,而旱地品种N5处理的Yield和N15处理的IWUE最高。     

Moderate sheep grazing in semiarid shrubland alters small-scale soil surface structure and patch properties

We investigated whether long-term moderate livestock grazing by sheep (ca. 10 animal unit days/ha) in a semiarid shrubland with a long-term average annual rainfall of 200 mm causes changes in soil surface structure and dimensions of shrub and intershrub patches. We examined grazing-induced changes in landscape patchiness, patch structure, and soil moisture in three grazed and three ungrazed plots of 4 m × 4 m on a south-facing slope and the opposite, more productive north-facing slope. The measurements were done in early spring 2001 and 2002 before grazing started, in two surveys, one using two parallel transects and one using sample quadrats of 20 cm × 30 cm under three shrubs per plot and on an adjacent part of the intershrub matrix. On the north-facing slope, the sheep reduced shrub patch size as they trampled the soil mounds under the shrubs and browsed the shrub canopy. Reduced shrub patch size decreases the area and resources available for plant production. On the south-facing slope, the sheep mainly disrupted the soil crust in the intershrub area. This may increase soil erosion, but also seedling establishment. The contrast in impacts on the two slopes is due to the interaction between environment (productivity, exposure and vegetation) and sheep behavior (herbivory and trampling). On both slopes, the changes due to grazing are significant, though small. Changes in patch size and properties induced by moderate grazing can have positive and negative effects on productivity and diversity, but may also be viewed as early signs of landscape degradation as is often caused by heavy grazing.     

高次指数组合非线性模型在土壤侵蚀中的应用

土壤侵蚀是全球性的严重环境问题。揭示土壤侵蚀过程，建立土壤侵蚀模型将为土地合理利用规划、水土保持措施优化配置、水土流失监测及水土保持减水减沙效益评价等生产实践提供重要科学依据和技术工具。土壤侵蚀预报模型按建模方法可分为经验模型与物理模型等，其中，经验模型主要是基于土壤侵蚀观测资料，采取统计分析的方法模拟侵蚀产沙量与降雨、植被、土壤、地形等影响因子之间的关系。自1953年刘善建在国内首次建立了坡面土壤侵蚀预报方程以来，不同学者根据各地的实际情况，建立了诸多不同的土壤侵蚀经验模型。由于国内土壤侵蚀物理模型研究起步晚，还很不成熟，而经验模型在侵蚀预报中一直处于重要地位，继续强化对它的研究，无疑可以进一步满足水土流失定量评价及水土保持决策等不同生产实践的迫切需求。     

制种玉米种子乳线发育的水氮效应

乳线是判定玉米成熟度的重要指标之一,为明确灌水和施氮对制种玉米种子乳线发育的影响,以‘郑单958’和‘先玉335’制种玉米为研究对象,设置充分灌溉(6 000 m3·hm?2,W6000)、中度胁迫(4 500 m3·hm?2,W4500)、重度胁迫(3 000 m3·hm?2,W3000)3个灌水梯度,不施氮[0 kg(N)·hm?2,N0]、中氮[225 kg(N)·hm?2,N225]、高氮[450 kg(N)·hm?2,N450]3个施氮水平,研究不同水氮应用对制种玉米种子乳线发育进程、籽粒含水量、百粒重、籽粒脱水和灌浆速率的影响。结果表明,不同制种组合在不同水氮条件下种子乳线发育表现出明显差异;不同水氮条件下‘郑单958’乳线发育进程历时18~24 d,较‘先玉335’的33~36 d短;随灌水量增加,‘郑单958’种子乳线发育有延迟趋势,而‘先玉335’种子乳线受灌水量影响不显著;在乳线同一发育阶段,灌水和施氮均对籽粒含水量无显著影响,百粒重均表现为施氮处理显著高于不施氮;不同灌水处理间,‘郑单958’种子在重度胁迫条件下的脱水速率显著高于中度胁迫和充分灌溉,施氮量间无显著差异,‘先玉335’种子脱水速率各灌水量间无显著差异;‘郑单958’种子的灌浆速率各灌水处理间无显著差异,充分灌水条件下,不施氮处理灌浆速率显著高于施氮处理,而‘先玉335’灌浆速率随灌水量增加而增加,同一灌水条件下均是中氮处理高于不施氮和高氮处理;‘郑单958’种子每脱水1%,籽粒百粒重增加幅度在0.37~0.88 g,而‘先玉335’在0.43~1.34 g。因此,‘郑单958’种子乳线发育受灌水影响显著,水分亏缺致使种子脱水加速,乳线进程加快;‘先玉335’种子乳线发育受氮素影响显著,氮素不足和过量均影响种子灌浆,延迟乳线发育。     

黄土高原典型土壤有机氮矿化过程中非交换性铵态氮的变化

以黄土高原从北向南不同地区典型土壤类为对象，采用Bramner淹水培养法，研究黄土高原不同生境条件下土壤有机氮矿化过程中非交换性铵态氮的变化。结果表明：土壤非交换性NH4^＋ -N随Bremner法淹水培养时间延长，含量增加。不同土壤类型在培养20d时非交换性NH4^＋ -N的增加量存在显著差异（p=0．0229），而培养40d和60d时差异不显著（P分别为0．1379和0．1159）。培养期间非交换性NH4^＋ -N的增加量均表现为以土垫旱耕人为土最大，其次是黄土正常新成土，简育干润均腐土和干湿砂质新成土较小；添加有机物料极显著影响培养期间的非交换性NH4^＋ -N增加量（培养20d、40d和60d时P分别为0．0002，0．004和0．0003），表现为紫花苜蓿和长芒草土壤非交换性NH4^＋ -N的增加量均极显著高于不添加有机物料的对照土壤；在培养20d、40d和60d时，加（NH4）2SO4土样非交换性NH4^＋ -N的增加量显著大于不加（NH4）2SO4土样（户分别为0．0037，0．0033和0．0027），这是土壤对（NH4）2SO4中NH4^＋ -N固定的必然结果；不同植被类型土壤培养20d时的非交换性NH4^＋ -N增加量差异显著（P=0．0434），培养40d和60d时差异不显著（p分别为0．7378和0．5375）；长期秸秆和氮肥配施土壤非交换性NH4^＋ -N增加量大于不施肥对照土壤，但差异不显著土壤黏粒、全氮和有机质与培养0d、20d、40d和60d时土壤的非交换性NH4^＋ -N含量均呈极显著正相关；而非交换性NH4^＋ -N的增加量与粘粒无相关性，但与全氛和有机质呈显著正相关。