Influence of summer legume residue recycling and varietal diversification on productivity,energetics, and nutrient dynamics in basmati rice–wheat cropping system of western Indo-Gangetic Plains

A field experiment was conducted on summer mungbean residue recycling (SMBRR) and basmati rice–wheat cropping system (BRWCS) at New Delhi, India. The SMBRR enhanced the system productivity and net returns by ～19.1% and 22.1% compared to summer fallow (SF) with highest magnitude under genotypic sequence of P 2511/HD 2967. Two genotypes each in basmati rice (PB 1 and P 2511) and wheat (HD 2967 and HD 2733) responded well to SMBRR with respect to grain yield efficiency index (GYEI) ≥ 1.0. SMBRR also registered ～13.5% higher microbial biomass carbon (MBC) than SF. Soil organic carbon (SOC) storage also increased by ～6.8% in 0–30 cm soil layer. The rice–wheat–summer mungbean system produced significantly highest energy efficiency compared to the rice–wheat–summer fallow system with highest values under genotypic sequence of P 2511/HD 2967 as a result of better yield expression. Overall, SMBRR with suitable genotypic sequence improved the system productivity, profitability, and nutrient dynamics in BRWCS, which are vital for long-term sustainability of this system.     

A novel combined recirculating treatment system for intensive marine aquaculture

This study established a pilot‐scale recirculating treatment system that coupled an ecological process with a biological process to achieve adequate water quality and to minimize the water consumption for intensive marine culture. The recirculating treatment system consisted of a settling cell, a biofilter tank, a bivalve tank and gravel beds. The toxic pollutants, threatening the growth of bivalves, were reduced by the settling cell and the biofilter tank, so that the polyculture of shrimp and bivalves could be achieved. The living bivalve tank could function well as a remover of remaining small suspended solids (SS), and other pollutants. As the SS was reduced to a very low level by bivalve tank before the water flowing into the gravel beds, the risk of clogging was prevented. The studies suggested that the system maintained high removal efficiencies of SS, ammonium nitrogen () and nitrite nitrogen () and could contribute to the increase in shrimp yield.     

水分与氮素及其互作对水稻产量和水肥利用效率的影响研究进展

了解水分、氮素及其互作对水稻产量与水、氮利用效率的影响,对协同提高水稻产量与水氮利用效率有重要意义。本文概述了水稻节水灌溉技术、氮肥利用效率与氮肥施用技术、水分与氮素对水稻产量及水氮利用效率的耦合效应、作物-土壤关系及水氮调控机制等方面取得的进展;讨论了存在的问题,这些问题包括:高产水稻作物与土壤的水氮互作效应尚不明确;高产水稻水氮耦合与高效利用的分子机理不清楚;协同提高水稻产量与水氮利用效率的调控途径尚未掌握。针对这些问题,建议今后重点研究:高产水稻作物与土壤的水氮互作效应及其机制;水氮互作调控水稻吸收利用水分和氮素的生理与分子机理;协同提高水稻产量和水氮利用效率的调控途径与关键技术。     

Seed growth of three perennial ryegrass cultivars sown on two dates and treated with trinexapac ethyl straw shortener

First‐year crops of diploid perennial ryegrass (cvs. Meridian, Bronsyn and Grasslands Impact) were sown on 1 April and 14 May 2008. Applications of trinexapac ethyl (TE) plant growth regulator at 0, 200 and 400 g a.i. ha^?1 were used to shorten stems to examine the impact of seed growth. Seed filling followed a consistent sigmoidal growth pattern with a lag phase of 127°C days, and linear duration of 390°C days. Time to 95% of final seed weight was 517°C days. Seed yield increases from TE were from higher numbers of first‐grade seeds m^?2, achieved by a higher rate of seed filling during the linear phase of 0·115 mg per °C day per spike. For all cultivars, the maximum stem dry weight occurred at 310–400°C days post‐anthesis, which suggest the stem was a strong sink. As seeds developed, their demand for assimilate increased and they drew more from the stem. At harvest, stem weights from TE treatments were 25% heavier than at anthesis, while untreated ‘Bronsyn’ and ‘Grasslands Impact’ stems were similar to those at anthesis. Thus, stems treated with TE contributed assimilates to increase seed yield but were still a net sink with assimilates in the stem at harvest. Trinexapac ethyl rate induced an inverse relationship between seed yield and stem height. This showed that competition for assimilate between stems and growing seeds limited the seed yield. Management or genetic factors that reduce stem height are likely to increase seed yields of perennial ryegrass.     

Compatibility of root growth and tuber production of potato cultivars with dynamic and static water‐saving irrigation managements

The important root characteristics of root length density (RLD) and root mass density (RMD) generally differ among irrigation managements and potato cultivars. The objective of this study was to investigate the RLD and RMD variations and their functional relationships with gross potato tuber yield for two commercial potato cultivars, Agria and Sante, under different irrigation strategies. Full irrigation and water‐saving irrigation strategies, deficit and partial root drying irrigations, were applied statically (S) and dynamically (D) based on daily crop evapotranspiration. Results showed that SPRD had significantly greater RLD (3.64 cm/cm³) and RMD (132.7 μg/cm³) than other irrigation treatments. Between the potato cultivars, Agria had significantly larger values of RLD (3.50 cm/cm³) and RMD (138.7 μg/cm³) than Sante. The functional relationship between the root growth characteristics and tuber yield showed that under water‐saving irrigations, Agria increased root mass at the expense of gross tuber yield but Sante increased root mass to maintain larger gross tuber yields. However, Agria produced more roots and gross tuber yield than Sante, and it is concluded that Agria is a more drought‐tolerant potato cultivar, which is recommended for tuber production in regions where water might be scarce. It was shown that larger root production in potatoes was associated with improved tolerance to water stress.     

上海水稻精量机械穴直播技术研究与应用

以上海地区主推水稻品种为材料,在精量机械穴直播条件下,开展了不同类型水稻品种的小区试验和示范,明确了精量机械穴直播水稻的生育特性、抗倒伏性、群体建成和产量表现,并分析了采用水稻精量机械穴直播后土壤的微生物群落结构的变化和水稻生产经济效益。试验示范结果表明,精量机械穴直播水稻生育期明显缩短,单株分蘖力强,群体结构合理,穗粒结构协调,干物质积累多,抗倒能力较强,增产优势明显,节本低耗,生产效率显著提高,是目前极具生产潜力的一种新型高效低耗种植模式,适合上海都市农业发展的需求,也顺应了水稻低碳种植发展趋势,具有广阔的应用前景。     

Effects of genes increasing the number of spikelets per panicle,TAW1 and APO1, on yield and yield-related traits in rice

The genes TAWAWA1 (TAW1) and ABERRANT PANICLE ORGANIZATION1 (APO1) increase the number of spikelets per panicle (SN). In the present study, we examined the effects of these genes on morphological traits, yield, and yield-related traits including yield components using the near-isogenic lines (NILs) in the genetic background of a japonica rice variety, Koshihikari – NIL-taw1, NIL-apo1-D3, and NIL-apo1-D4 – in a field experiment. The SN and total number of spikelets per area of the three NILs were larger than those of Koshihikari. However, the yield of the three NILs did not exceed that of Koshihikari due to their low filling ability. Interestingly, our field experiments indicated that TAW1 did not affect the diameter of internodes and the PN, whereas APO1 decreased the PN and increased the diameter of internodes. These results suggest that TAW1 and APO1 differently affect yield-related traits.     

Kernel vitreousness and protein content: Relationship,interaction and synergistic effects on durum wheat quality

Four sets of durum samples were used in this study to further understand the interrelationships among hard vitreous kernels (HVK), protein content, and pigment concentration, with a focus on the interaction and synergistic effects of protein content and vitreousness on durum quality. HVK level increases with higher protein content in the range of 9.5–12.5%, but this relationship is less evident in durum samples with high protein content (12.5–14.5%). Both protein content and kernel vitreousness can significantly affect durum milling quality. White starchy kernels (WSK) in low protein durum have a very detrimental impact on milling and pasta processing quality, but high protein content can mitigate the adverse impact of WSK on durum quality. Although protein content plays a dominant role, higher HVK might contribute positively to pasta firmness. There was no significant difference in yellow pigment content between HVK and WSK. However, pigment loss from semolina to dough was higher for WSK than HVK. Despite the difference in protein content, HVK and WSK have little difference in gluten strength. The monomeric protein was preferentially accumulated in HVK. The glutenin proteins of HVK and WSK were similar in the ratios of 1Bx/1By and HMW/LMW-GS.     

A stochastic surplus production model in continuous time

Surplus production modelling has a long history as a method for managing data‐limited fish stocks. Recent advancements have cast surplus production models as state‐space models that separate random variability of stock dynamics from error in observed indices of biomass. We present a stochastic surplus production model in continuous time (SPiCT), which in addition to stock dynamics also models the dynamics of the fisheries. This enables error in the catch process to be reflected in the uncertainty of estimated model parameters and management quantities. Benefits of the continuous‐time state‐space model formulation include the ability to provide estimates of exploitable biomass and fishing mortality at any point in time from data sampled at arbitrary and possibly irregular intervals. We show in a simulation that the ability to analyse subannual data can increase the effective sample size and improve estimation of reference points relative to discrete‐time analysis of aggregated annual data. Finally, subannual data from five North Sea stocks are analysed with particular focus on using residual analysis to diagnose model insufficiencies and identify necessary model extensions such as robust estimation and incorporation of seasonality. We argue that including all known sources of uncertainty, propagation of that uncertainty to reference points and checking of model assumptions using residuals are critical prerequisites to rigorous fish stock management based on surplus production models.     

氮素穗肥运筹对两个杂交中籼稻叶片形态、光合生产及产量的影响

【目的】为探究氮素穗肥不同促花肥和保花肥比例对水稻光合生产和产量的影响,并为水稻氮素穗肥管理提供依据,【方法】以株型和产量均存在较大差异的2个杂交中稻品种(德香4103和宜香3724)为材料,在常规施氮量(180 kg/hm2)下,研究了占总氮40%的穗肥不同促花肥和保花肥运筹比例(1∶3,2∶2,3∶1,4∶0)对水稻叶片生长、形态、光合生产及产量的影响。【结果】2个水稻品种均在低促花肥、高保花肥时(1∶3)表现出叶片直立、受光形态好,净光合速率高和群体干物质积累量大的特点,并最终获得较高产量;而在高促花肥、低保花肥下,2个水稻品种的剑叶、倒2叶叶面积和叶角增大,披垂度增加,群体质量变差,结实率和粒重下降,产量降低。德香4103因其颖花量较大,上3叶叶面积和总叶面积相对适宜,粒叶比高,且在不同穗肥运筹下叶面积和叶角变幅较小,因而受光姿态和群体质量更优,干物质积累量更大,产量更高。【结论】水稻氮素穗肥运筹应塑造良好叶片形态和群体质量,并增加花后物质积累量才能有助于产量提高;并对水稻株叶型选育进行了探讨。