The value of vegetation cover for ecosystem services in the suburban context

Latin-American cities can be characterized by dynamic processes of urbanization that encroach upon the natural and semi-natural surrounding landscapes. Our study presents the effects of landscape development, transformed from semi-natural conditions into a mostly disperse suburban settlement. We explore the impact that this transformation has had on this context by three ecosystem services that regulate rainwater runoff, enhance microclimate conditions and help to improve air quality by monitoring vegetation cover. We have designed a spatio-temporal hierarchical analysis which employs remote sensing techniques to capture the structural changes of this landscape over long, medium and short term scales on two spatial levels. This methodological approach was tested in the Metropolitan Area of Santiago (MAS) as case study area. Despite of the increase in impervious surfaces due to urban processes, there has also been an increase in vegetation cover, which has led to an improvement in the provision of the above-mentioned ecosystem services. Hence, if diverse urbanization processes continue and they are coupled with an increase in vegetation cover, the provision of ecosystem services could also expand. This phenomenon can be observed in some areas, where public and private green spaces are created and maintained. Our data analyses give evidence that certain types of suburban areas which increase the share of vegetation cover can provide daily ecological benefits for urban neighborhoods, and beyond, for adjacent areas. Moreover, suburban development can successfully provide ecological benefits to citizens. Such processes can only be ecologically sustainable if the composition of vegetation is well-adapted to the regional climatic conditions.     

Yield Performance of Wheat Isolines with Different Dosages of the Short Arm of Rye Chromosome 1

Translocations of the short arm of rye (Secale cereale L.) chromosome 1 (1RS) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Pavon 76) are known to increase root biomass. Such an increase enhances water and nutrient uptake and may improve grain yield. Two greenhouse experiments and a field experiment were carried out at the University of California, Riverside, in 2012 and 2013 under well‐watered and terminal drought treatments to evaluate phenotypic characters associated with varying dosages of 1RS, including grain yield. The genotypes used were cultivar Pavon 76 (R₀), Pavon 76/Pavon1RS.1AL (F₁ hybrid) with a single dosage of 1RS (R₁A), Pavon 1RS.1AL with two dosages of 1RS (R₂A), Pavon 1RS.1DL (R₂D) also with two dosages of 1RS and Pavon 1RS.1AL‐1RS.1DL (R₄AD) with four dosages of 1RS. There was a significant positive correlation between number of dosages of 1RS and root biomass. However, no correlation was found between root biomass and grain yield per plant. Drought in the field experiment reduced grain yield significantly. Under well‐watered field conditions, grain yield of R₂A (215.9 g plant^?1) was significantly greater than those of R₂D (191.8 g plant^?1) and R₄AD (161.7 g plant^?1). Also, grain yield of R₄AD was significantly less than those of F₁, Pavon 76 and R₂D under well‐watered conditions. Under drought field conditions, no significant differences were found among the genotypes for grain yield was found between F₁ (14.7 g plant^?1) and R₄AD (12.4 g plant^?1). Harvest index was significantly greater in well‐watered (44.2 %) than in drought (34.6 %) field conditions. On average, genotypes F₁ (42.3 %) and R₂A (40.6 %) had higher harvest index than R₂D (38.3 %) and R₄AD (35.5 %) in the field. Also, Pavon 76 (40.2) and R₂D (38.3) had higher harvest index than R₄AD. Drought tolerance was lowest for R₄AD due to its relatively lower grain yield potential. In general, Pavon 1RS.1AL carrying two dosages of 1RS showed higher grain yield under wet treatments. Pavon 1RS.1AL‐1RS.1DL carrying four dosages of 1RS produced the largest shoot and root biomasses, but the least grain yield.     

Determination and Analysis of Heavy Metal Content in the Soil from Beef Cattle Farms in Three Regions of Xinjiang

In order to study and evaluate the feeding environment of the beef cattle farms in Xinjiang, the contents of heavy mentals in the soil from 8 beef cattle farms in Xinjiang Aksu, Yili and Tacheng regions were tested according to the Field of Livestock and Poultry Environment Quality Standard (NY/T 388—1999).The atomic absorption spectroscopic method was used to determine the contents of As, Hg, Pb, Cd, and Cr.The mean contents of As, Hg, Pb, Cd, and Cr in 8 beef cattle farms soil were 0.389, 0.568, 22.708, 0.573 and 149.449 mg/kg, respectively, and they were all below the upper limit of NY/T 388—1999.The comprehensive heavy metal pollution index of 8 beef cattle farms were 0.577 to 0.994, and the index were 0.7 to 1 of two observation points in Yili and one observation point in Tacheng.The soil environment quality of these 3 farms were at the level of slight cleaning.The comprehensive heavy metal pollution index of other five observation points were ≤0.7, the soil environment was in a clean level.The soil environment of beef cattle farms in these three regions conformed to the standards of livestock for environment quality and safe products.     

Response of labile organic C and N pools to plastic film removal from semiarid farmland soil

To examine the effects of plastic film removal on grain yield and soil organic matter (SOM), a spring maize (Zea may L.) field experiment was conducted for 5 yr at Changwu Agricultural and Ecological Experimental Station of Northwest China. Compared with traditional plastic film mulching during entire growing stages (FM), plastic film removal at the silking stage (RM) resulted in a 6.3% higher average maize yield. Under the RM treatment, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen significantly increased after the 5‐yr cultivation in the 0‐ to 20‐cm layer. Significant increases in extractable organic C (EOC), KMnO₄‐oxidizable C (KMnO₄‐C) and C management index (CMI) in the 0‐ to 20‐cm layer, and light fraction organic C and EOC in the 20‐ to 40‐cm layer were observed in response to plastic film removal after the 1‐yr treatment; the responses were more significant after 5 yr. Under the RM treatment, significant increases in microbial biomass C, light fraction organic N, extractable organic N, KMnO₄‐C and CMI were also observed after five years in the 20‐ to 40‐cm layer. Moreover, KMnO₄‐C and EOC were much more sensitive than other labile SOM fractions to the application of RM, even after only 1 yr of cultivation. Therefore, compared with mulching for the whole growing season, plastic film removal at the maize silking stage is an effective option for increasing yields and enhancing SOM concentration and soil sustainability in the regions with semiarid monsoon climates that have sufficient rainfall during maize reproductive stages.     

茶叶杜瓜高效立体栽培技术研究初报

茶树在进化过程中形成了喜阴喜湿和喜漫射光、怕强光直射的特性,适度遮阴的条件下,可改变茶园田间小气候,从而提高茶叶产量和品质。本研究茶叶和杜瓜立体栽培,充分利用了土地资源,提高复种指数,增加单位面积产出率。作者认为,一般茶树品种皆可套种,然白化类黄化类茶树品种尤为适应。杜瓜密度以每667m~220~30株为宜,杜瓜藤蔓在棚顶30%~40%左右的遮阴率为佳,将有利于茶树生长提高产量并改善茶叶品质。过密藤蔓造成茶园过度遮阴,茶树冠面阳光不足将影响茶树生长降低茶叶产质量。杜瓜套种使春茶开采期提早2~3天;每667 m~2茶园增收茶叶450元,杜瓜籽增收2700元,净产值增加2100元,比普通茶园增收20%~30%。     

丹江口水源涵养区退耕还草土壤线虫群落变化特征

为评估丹江口水源涵养区退耕还草的土壤生态效应，2017年9月，选取3块同一土壤类型、退耕3年的紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa）草地作为退耕还草的代表样地，以相邻未退耕的玉米（Zea Mays）田为对照，比较分析退耕还草土壤线虫群落的变化特征。结果表明：退耕还草样地0~10 cm土层含水量显著提高15.86%（P<0.05），pH值显著降低5.06%（P<0.05）；10~20 cm土层pH值显著降低4.57%（P<0.05），有效磷含量显著降低26.83%（P<0.05）。退耕种植紫花苜蓿草地共鉴定出土壤线虫18 307条，49个属，未退耕玉米田共鉴定出土壤线虫10 706条，45个属，退耕还草后土壤线虫c-p类群由短世代型向长世代型转移，土壤环境受到扰动降低，土壤线虫群落的多样性和稳定性增加，结构指数（SI）和富集指数（EI）表明退耕还草提高了土壤健康程度，同时降低了土壤所受的干扰程度。土壤线虫数量与土壤pH值、含水量、全氮和硝态氮含量呈极显著相关（P<0.01）；食细菌线虫和食真菌线虫相对丰度与土壤有效磷含量呈极显著相关（P<0.01），植物寄生性线虫和捕/杂食线虫相对丰度与有机碳和铵态氮含量呈极显著相关（P<0.01），与全氮含量呈显著相关（P<0.05）。研究表明，退耕还草改变了土壤pH值及全氮、有效磷养分含量，改变了土壤线虫群落结构和多样性，提升了土壤健康水平。     

低温胁迫对不同产地降香黄檀幼苗生理特征影响

为探讨低温胁迫下降香黄檀的生理变化，筛选降香黄檀耐寒产地和向北引种栽培推广提供依据。通过来自8个不同产地的降香黄檀幼苗进行人工模拟先降温再复温处理，测定分析降香黄檀幼苗叶片的细胞膜透性、保护酶活性和激素等10个生理生化指标的变化规律，并通过方差分析、多重比较、主成分分析等方法筛选抗寒性能力强的产地降香黄檀。结果表明，8个产地降香黄檀叶片的REC、MDA含量和POD、SOD和CAT活性随着胁迫温度的降低而升高。低温胁迫下ABA显著>对照，GA₃、IAA和ZR减少。运用主成分分析和隶属函数法综合评价结果表明，8个不同产地降香黄檀抗寒能力大小依次为四川乐山、浙江温州、贵州罗甸、广东怀集、广东韶关、广西崇左、广东高要、海南尖峰。通过低温驯化，可以适当增强降香黄檀幼苗的耐寒能力。     

东北地区春玉米临界氮浓度稀释曲线的建立和验证

过量施氮是目前玉米栽培中存在的普遍现象,基于临界氮浓度稀释曲线计算得出的氮营养指数是诊断氮营养丰缺的重要手段。基于东北地区4个生态点的试验数据,构建了东北地区春玉米临界氮稀释曲线,并在此基础上建立了氮营养指数模型和需氮量模型,结果表明,东北地区春玉米地上部临界氮浓度与生物量符合幂函数关系。利用独立试验资料对建立的临界氮浓度稀释曲线进行检验,发现基于临界氮浓度稀释模型计算的氮营养指数可以准确诊断玉米植株的氮营养状况,并计算出实时的氮素需求量。该研究建立的东北地区春玉米临界氮稀释模型可以为该地区春玉米的氮营养诊断和动态调控提供较好的理论和技术指导。     

43个柑橘品种（品系/株系）受枸橘潜叶甲为害程度调查研究

采取随机抽样法，调查枸橘潜叶甲对枳、柚、柑、桔、甜橙、枸椽、杂柑及金柑等8大类共43个品种（品系/株系）为害虫情指数，其结果表明，不同柑橘种类或不同柑橘品种或品系均可受枸橘潜叶甲为害，但为害的程度存在着差异性，枳、柚受害最重，金柑、桔、杂柑类受害最轻，对其差异产生的原因亦作了初步分析。     

Effect Of Replacing Fish Meal With Blood Meal On Chemical Composition Of Supplement For Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus)

The objective of the work was to evaluate the effect on the nutrient content of replacing fish meal (FM) with blood meal (BM) in fish supplement. Three isonitrogenous diets (35% crude protein) were formulated using FM as the main source of animal protein (BM0); 50% replacement of FM with blood meal (BM50); or 100% replacement of FM with BM (BM100). The chemical composition (ash, crude protein, crude fat and crude fibre) and amino acid composition were determined. Replacement of FM with BM did not affect the proximate composition of the diet apart from ash content which decreased with the level of substitution. Substituting fish meal with blood meal reduced the levels of methionine, lysine, isoleucine, leucine, proline, valine and increased the levels of arginine, phenylanine and alanine in the diet. Amino acid indices revealed that BM0 had more amino acids with the highest chemical scores followed by BM50 and BM100. In all the diets, methionine was the most limiting amino acid. The essential amino acid index of the diets reduced with the level of replacement of FM (0.94, 0.88 and 0.77). The study showed substitution of up to 50% FM with BM gave a useful protein diet and 100% gave almost a poor protein diet.