Intensive organic vegetable production increases soil organic carbon but with a lower carbon conversion efficiency than integrated management

Intensive vegetable production in greenhouses has rapidly expanded in China since the 1990s and increased to 1.3 million ha of farmland by 2016, which is the highest in the world. We conducted an 11‐year greenhouse vegetable production experiment from 2002 to 2013 to observe soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics under three management systems, i.e., conventional (CON), integrated (ING), and intensive organic (ORG) farming. Soil samples (0–20 and 20–40 cm depth) were collected in 2002 and 2013 and separated into four particle‐size fractions, i.e., coarse sand (> 250 µm), fine sand (250–53 µm), silt (53–2 µm), and clay (< 2 µm). The SOC contents and δ¹³C values of the whole soil and the four particle‐size fractions were analyzed. After 11 years of vegetable farming, ORG and ING significantly increased SOC stocks (0–20 cm) by 4008 ± 36.6 and 2880 ± 365 kg C ha^?1 y^?1, respectively, 8.1‐ and 5.8‐times that of CON (494 ± 42.6 kg C ha^?1 y^?1). The SOC stock increase in ORG at 20–40 cm depth was 245 ± 66.4 kg C ha^?1 y^?1, significantly higher than in ING (66 ± 13.4 kg C ha^?1 y^?1) and CON (109 ± 44.8 kg C ha^?1 y^?1). Analyses of ¹³C revealed a significant increase in newly produced SOC in both soil layers in ORG. However, the carbon conversion efficiency (CE: increased organic carbon in soil divided by organic carbon input) was lower in ORG (14.4%–21.7%) than in ING (18.2%–27.4%). Among the four particle‐sizes in the 0–20 cm layer, the silt fraction exhibited the largest proportion of increase in SOC content (57.8% and 55.4% of the SOC increase in ORG and ING, respectively). A similar trend was detected in the 20–40 cm soil layer. Over all, intensive organic (ORG) vegetable production increases soil organic carbon but with a lower carbon conversion efficiency than integrated (ING) management.     

Modern wheat cultivars have greater root nitrogen uptake efficiency than old cultivars

The availability of nitrogen (N) contained in crop residues for a following crop may vary with cultivar, depending on root traits and the interaction between roots and soil. We used a pot experiment to investigate the effects of six spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (three old varieties introduced before mid last century and three modern varieties) and N fertilization on the ability of wheat to acquire N from maize (Zea mays L.) straw added to soil. Wheat was grown in a soil where ¹⁵N‐labeled maize straw had been incorporated with or without N fertilization. Higher grain yield in three modern and one old cultivar was ascribed to preferred allocation of photosynthate to aboveground plant parts and from vegetative organs to grains. Root biomass, root length density and root surface area were all smaller in modern than in old cultivars at both anthesis and maturity. Root mean diameter was generally similar between modern and old cultivars at anthesis but was greater in modern than in old cultivars at maturity. There were cultivar differences in N uptake from incorporated maize straw and the other N sources (soil and fertilizer). However, these differences were not related to variation in the measured root parameters among the six cultivars. At anthesis, total N uptake efficiencies by roots (total N uptake per root weight or root length) were greater in modern than in old cultivars within each fertilization level. At maturity, averaged over fertilization levels, the total N uptake efficiencies by roots were 292?336 mg N g^?1 roots or 3.2?4.0 mg N m^?1 roots for three modern cultivars, in contrast to 132?213 mg N g^?1 roots or 0.93?1.6 mg N m^?1 roots for three old cultivars. Fertilization enhanced the utilization of N from maize straw by all cultivars, but root N uptake efficiencies were less affected. We concluded that modern spring wheat cultivars had higher root N uptake efficiency than old cultivars.     

System for quasi‐continuous simultaneous measurement of oxygen diffusion rate and redox potential in soil

Oxygen diffusion rate (ODR) and redox potential (E_H) are quantitative indices representing oxygen availability and redox status in soils, which is valuable information for better understanding causes and effects of soil aeration. Because these indices are spatially and temporally highly variable, continuous measurements and adequate numbers of repetitions are essential for accurate in situ monitoring. Here, we present a new, fully automated recording system for in situ measurements where ODR and E_H are measured at the same platinum electrode. The conflict between electrode polarization for ODR and the resulting biased E_H readings is solved by reducing the polarization time and introducing a recovery interval between two consecutive measurement cycles. The shorter polarization time ensures accurate E_H readings. It also results in moderately overestimated ODR readings, but this can be corrected before data analysis. The recovery interval restricts temporal resolution of the E_H‐ODR data pairs to 8 h. We illustrate the use of the system with measurements in a field experiment in Zürich, Switzerland. ODR curves at different depths ran roughly parallel to the corresponding curves of O₂ concentration in soil air but ODR was much more sensitive to precipitation. Low ODR was a necessary but not a sufficient condition for declining E_H. E_H ran parallel to O₂ concentration in soil air rather than to ODR. The fully automated system allows for time series of replicate measurements in multifactorial field studies with reasonable labor requirements. It may be particularly suitable for studies examining the effects of soil tillage, compaction, and irrigation, where structure‐related soil properties such as porosity, gas permeability, and soil aeration play a dominant role.     

滴灌下氮盐交互对加工番茄荧光特性及产量品质的影响

【目的】新疆有着全中国最大面积的盐碱地和加工番茄的种植基地。在新疆开展两年试验以研究加工番茄在氮盐交互下生长、生理、产量和品质的变化规律,获得适宜新疆盐碱地种植加工番茄的合理施氮量和土壤盐分范围,为新疆扩大加工番茄种植面积和合理施氮提供科学的理论依据及技术途径。【方法】试验于2017和2018年在石河子大学现代节水灌溉兵团重点实验基地进行,以当地主栽品种3166为试验材料,2017年试验共设置4个土壤含盐量水平：1.5、4.0、7.0和10.0 g·kg ^-1及4个氮素水平：201、166、131和96 kg·hm ^-2,2018年在2017年的基础上去除10.0 g·kg ^-1的土壤含盐量,增加5.0 g·kg ^-1的土壤含盐量和不施氮量处理。试验测定和分析加工番茄的荧光叶绿素参数、产量和品质指标。【结果】在氮盐交互下,加工番茄荧光参数及产量等指标均呈现出复杂的变化规律。绝大多数的荧光参数及产量受土壤盐分的主导作用较氮素强,在同等氮素水平下,7.0 g·kg ^-1和10.0 g·kg ^-1的土壤盐分对加工番茄荧光指标抑制程度最大;低盐分水平下,166 kg·hm ^-2的中等偏高的施氮量对加工番茄的荧光指标促进作用最大,其次是施氮201 kg·hm ^-2的处理;在中等偏高的盐分水平下,96 kg·hm ^-2的低氮对加工番茄的最好,其次为不施氮水平。加工番茄的鲜果产量总体上符合“盐高产低”的规律,但低氮高盐处理的产量明显高于其他同盐度的氮素水平下的产量。可溶性固形物、VC、可溶性糖和可滴定酸均随着土壤含盐量的增大逐渐增大,糖酸比的最大值均出现在低盐处理,盐分对加工番茄品质的影响远高于氮素,二者交互对加工番茄的品质并无显著性影响。通过图形叠加分析方法,得出了加工番茄获得相对最优产量和品质的合理施氮范围和土壤含盐量区间。【结论】在盐碱程度偏高的土壤可通过少施氮素来提高加工番茄产量;加工番茄获得相对最优产量和品质的合理施氮范围和土壤含盐量区间为N：98.12—119.60 kg·hm ^-2,S：3.57—5.58 g·kg ^-1。     

三唑酰草胺在不同类型土壤中的降解特性

为科学评价除草剂三唑酰草胺在土壤环境中的生态风险，采用室内模拟方法，研究了三唑酰草胺在吉林黑土、江西红土和安徽水稻土中的降解特性。结果表明:三唑酰草胺在土壤中的降解符合一级动力学方程。好氧条件下三唑酰草胺在3种土壤中的降解半衰期分别为86.5、106和91.4 d；厌氧条件下半衰期分别为106、130和127 d；水稻田厌氧条件下半衰期分别为162、219和188 d。研究表明，三唑酰草胺在水稻田厌氧条件下的降解速率明显慢于其他2种试验条件下。     

不同地下水埋深土壤水分入渗规律研究

【目的】分析农田土水势的分布对作物的生长状况和农田水分循环的影响。【方法】采用观测室内层状长土柱(土柱长L=335 cm)在上边界条件为薄层积水、下边界控制不同地下水埋深时的水分入渗及蒸发过程的试验,分析了不同地下水埋深时土水势与零通量面的变化特征。【结果】入渗率随时间总的变化趋势是减小,入渗率随时间的变化一般经历3个阶段:迅速减小、缓慢减小和稳定阶段;累积入渗量随时间增加,与时间呈幂拟合关系;入渗初始阶段湿润锋运移速率较快,之后随着时间的推移,湿润锋运移速率逐渐减小,至某一时间后趋于稳定。【结论】湿润锋运移距离与时间的平方根呈线性关系     

生物有机肥部分替代化肥对莴笋生长、产量及品质的影响

为了改善因化肥过量施用导致的蔬菜品质下降、肥料利用率降低和环境污染等问题,通过化肥减量配施生物有机肥,探讨菜田减肥潜力和生物有机肥增效作用。采用随机区组试验,研究不同施肥处理对莴笋产量、品质、光合特性及肥料贡献率的影响。试验共设置6个施肥处理:不施肥(CK1)、100%常规施肥(CK2)、80%常规施肥+200 kg·667m~(-2)生物有机肥(T1)、80%常规施肥+400 kg·667m~(-2)生物有机肥(T2)、70%常规施肥+400 kg·667m~(-2)生物有机肥(T3)、70%常规施肥+200 kg·667m~(-2)生物有机肥(T4)。结果表明:生物有机肥部分替代化肥可使莴笋的株高、茎长及茎粗不同程度的增加,其中T2效果最优;在相同的生物有机肥施用量下,化肥减施20%较减施30%有助于根系的生长和根系活力的增强;T2处理莴笋叶绿素总量分别比CK1处理和CK2处理提高17.32%和1.74%;T2处理的净光合速率和蒸腾速率最高,分别高于其他处理6.90%～49.35%和6.26%～58.64%;与CK2相比, T1、T2、T3和T4分别增产4.76%、15.31%、11.06%和4.11%,其中T2产量最高,达8 277.00 kg·667m~(-2),其经济效益比CK2增长11.64%;化肥减施并配施生物有机肥的处理肥料贡献率均显著高于CK2处理, 100%常规施肥供大于求,供需平衡破坏,导致肥料的浪费;随着化肥用量的减少,莴笋硝酸盐含量降低, T3处理降低幅度最大,茎、叶中硝酸盐含量较CK2分别降低26.53%和20.96%;配施生物有机肥可提高莴笋茎、叶中可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖和维生素C的含量,其中配施400 kg·667m~(-2)时效果更优。化肥减施20%的条件下配施400 kg·667m~(-2)生物有机肥可增强莴笋叶片光合能力,提高产量和改善可食用部分品质,是实现肥料资源合理配置的良好施肥模式。     

Ridge-furrow plastic mulching with a suitable planting density enhances rainwater productivity,grain yield and economic benefit of rainfed maize

Soil surface mulching and planting density regulation are widely used for effective utilization of limited rainwater resources and improvement of crop productivity in dryland farming.However,the combined effects of mulching type and planting density on maize growth and yield have been seldom studied,especially in different hydrological years.A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of mulching type and planting density on the soil temperature,growth,grain yield(GY),water use efficiency(WUE)and economic benefit of rainfed maize in the drylands of northern China during 2015-2017.Precipitation fluctuated over the three years.There were four mulching types(NM,flat cultivation with non-mulching;SM,flat cultivation with straw mulching;RP,plastic-mulched ridge plus bare furrow;RPFS,plastic-mulched ridge plus straw-mulched furrow)and three planting densities(LD,low planting density,45.0×10^3 plants/hm^2;MD,medium planting density,67.5×10^3 plants/hm^2;HD,high planting density,90.0×10^3 plants/hm^2).Results showed that soil temperature was higher with RP and lower with SM compared with NM,but no significant difference was found between RPFS and NM.More soil water was retained by soil mulching at the early growth stage,but it significantly varied at the middle and late growth stages.Maize growth was significantly improved by soil mulching.With increasing planting density,stem diameter,net photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll content tended to decline,whereas a single-peak trend in biomass yield was observed.Mulching type and planting density did not have significant effect on evapotranspiration(ET),but GY and WUE were significantly affected.There were significant interacting effects of mulching type and planting density on biomass yield,GY,ET and WUE.Compared with NM,RPFS,RP and SM increased GY by 57.5%,50.8%and 18.9%,and increased WUE by 66.6%,54.3%and 18.1%,respectively.At MD,GY increased by 41.4%and 25.2%,and WUE increased by 38.6%and 22.4%compared with those of at LD and HD.The highest maize GY(7023.2 kg/hm^2)was observed under MD+RPFS,but the value(6699.1 kg/hm^2)was insignificant under MD+RP.Similar trends were observed for WUE under MD+RP and MD+RPFS,but no significant difference was observed between these two combinations.In terms of economic benefit,net income under MD+RP was the highest with a 9.8%increase compared with that of under MD+RPFS.Therefore,we concluded that RP cultivation pattern with a suitable planting density(67.5×10^3 plants/hm^2)is promising for rainwater resources utilization and maize production in the drylands of northern China.