Comparisons of the influence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza on the productivity of hedgerow woody legumes and cassava at the top and the base of a hillslope in alley cropping systems

We investigated the influence of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) inoculation on growth and nutrient relationships in two alley-cropping trials, one at the top and the other at the base of a hillslope. Each trial involved three woody hedgerow legumes with cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) as the sole intercrop. The hedgerow trees at the base of the slope showed greater survival and higher leaf dry weights than those at the top of the slope, although these parameters were not affected by VAM inoculation, either at the top or the base of the slope. In contrast to survival, the uptake of nutrients, particularly P and N, was higher for inoculated than uninoculated hedgerow trees, both at the top and at the base of slope. Increases in stem and leaf biomass and the uptake of nutrients by the trees were strongly correlated with increases in P uptake, indicating that the improvements were attributable to VAM inoculation. Cassava tuber yields at the base of the slope, from inoculated or uninoculated plants, were significantly greater than the corresponding cassava yields at the top of the slope. These increases at the base of the slope compared to the top of the slope were not attributed to available soil nutrients but to greater VAM spore density. Higher available soil moisture may have been another factor. Increasing the VAM spore density of effective mycorrhiza through proper agronomic practices at the top of a slope may bring about comparable yields on different parts of the slope.     

Legume cover cropping effects on early growth and soil nitrogen supply in eucalypt plantations in south-western India

Growth and soil N supply in young Eucalyptus tereticornis stands at two sites in Kerala, India, were examined in response to cover cropping with three legume species (Pueraria phaseoloides, Stylosanthes hamata, and Mucuna bracteata). The effects of legume residues on soil N supply were investigated in a long-term (392 day) laboratory incubation using leaching micro-lysimeters. Residues from the eucalypt and legume species had different rates of net N release during the laboratory incubation. Net N release was significantly related to residue N concentration (R² =0.94), the C:N ratio (R² =0.91), the lignin:N ratio (R² =0.83), and the (lignin + soluble polyphenol):N ratio (R² =0.95). Nitrogen release rates declined in the order Mucuna > Pueraria > Eucalyptus > Stylosanthes. There was no net N release from Stylosanthes residues during the 392-day laboratory incubation, whereas Mucuna and Pueraria released N throughout the incubation period. Net N release from mixtures of legume and eucalypt residues was not additive in the early phase of the incubation, probably because eucalypt residues initially immobilized a portion of the legume-derived N in addition to the soil-derived N. Legume establishment had no significant effect on tree growth at one site (Kayampoovam), but resulted in depressed tree growth at the lower rainfall site (Punnala) at 18 months. There were no significant treatment effects on growth at Punnala after that time. Cover cropping with legumes during the early phase of forest plantation growth may be a useful mechanism to enhance soil N supply and optimize the synchrony between N supply and tree N uptake. Although these effects did not translate into improved plantation growth in the 3 years of this study, improved soil organic matter and N fertility may help ensure sustainable productivity over several rotations in the future. This study showed that the effect of legumes on N dynamics varies markedly with legume species. This, together with other factors (e.g. competition with trees, N fixation capacity), will be important in selecting suitable species for cover cropping in forest plantations.     

Least limiting water range: A potential indicator of changes in near-surface soil physical quality after the conversion of Brazilian Savanna into pasture

The Brazilian savanna, or “Cerrado”, is an ecosystem that originally covered more than 200 Mha in Brazil. It is estimated that about 49.5 Mha in the Cerrado are now covered with cultivated pastures, which are responsible for half of Brazilian beef production. However, soil and pasture degradation represent a threat to this productive system and to the Cerrado ecosystem itself. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the least limiting water range (LLWR) as an index of near-surface soil physical quality after conversion of Brazilian savanna to continuous and short-duration grazing systems. Three sites were evaluated: native Cerrado (NC), continuous grazing (CG), and short-duration grazing (SG). Thirty soil cores (5 cm height, 5 cm diameter) were collected at each site, and used for soil bulk density, soil water retention curve, and soil penetration resistance curve determinations. The results were used for quantification of LLWR and critical bulk density (D_bc), in which LLWR equals zero. The near-surface soil physical quality, as evaluated by the LLWR, was most restrictive for potential root growth in SG. In CG, potential restriction was moderate; however, the entire soil bulk density range was below the D_bc. In NC, potential restriction was minimum. The soil structural degradation process was primarily related to the increase in stocking rates in the grazing systems. The LLWR proved to be a useful indicator of Cerrado soil physical quality, being sensitive to alterations in near-surface physical properties.     

等高植物篱模式下土壤物理性质变化与水土保持效果研究进展

等高植物篱模式就是在坡耕地上每隔4~8m的距离沿等高线将植物篱与作物种植带相间分布的一种农林复合经营模式,用于坡耕地的水土保持。已有的研究结果表明,等高植物篱技术用于坡耕地可有效地改善土壤物理性质和土壤水分状况,防治坡耕地水土流失效果显著,土壤水分的季节性再分配也有利于农作物的生长。但是该系统内植物篱和农作物相互之间的水分和养分关系有待深入研究。     

广西旱地分带间套轮作试验示范研究

于1986～1988年,在广西六个县、市进行了旱地分带种植试验、示范,已取得了预期效果。(1)经济产量比对照高187.9kg/亩,增产44.4%;(2)纯收入比对照高108.1元/亩,增收83.7%;(3)每个工日产粮、产值比对照分别高7.6 kg、2.7元/工,增54.7%、37.0%;每元投入产粮、产值比对照分别高1.2kg、0.7元,增33.3%、41.2%; (4)产/投能量效率高31%;每投一单位辅助能,产生物能,食物能比对照分剐高400kcal、120kcal;光能利用率及光能生产率此对照分别多0.17%,0.1%;(5)土地等量比率(L.E.R)为对照的4.4倍;(6)土壤肥力比对照有所提高。     

应用~(15)N研究小麦花生两熟制氮肥分配方式对小麦、花生产量及N肥利用率的影响

在小麦花生两熟制条件下 ,全年氮肥两作 3次施用 (小麦基肥、追肥和花生基肥 )氮素利用率为 3 2 52 % ,一作两次施用 (小麦基肥和追肥 )氮素利用率为 3 7 0 1 % ,但前者土壤残留多 ,损失少 ,氮肥回收率为 69 2 4% ,较后者高 1 2 0 3个百分点。且前者有利于小麦、花生产量的形成 ,是小麦花生两熟制适宜的施肥方式。小麦当茬氮肥利用率为 1 6 80 %～ 3 5 63 %。夏直播花生当茬及前茬小麦基肥和追肥 (拔节期 )的氮肥利用率分别为 2 3 70 %、6 57%～ 7 70 %和 1 0 0 3 %～ 1 2 73 % ;施肥时间和施肥量对氮肥利用率影响较大     

麦套春棉共生期间土壤温度的动态变化

严格用气象部门的观测方法，观测麦套春棉共生期间土壤温度的动态变化。结果表明：麦棉共生期由于小麦遮荫，使套种棉行的土壤温度低于纯作春棉，造成麦套春棉苗弱晚发。适当增大麦棉间距，选用株高较矮的小麦品种，可减少小麦对棉苗的遮荫，提高麦套春棉行间的土壤温度。     

杨树人工林连作效应的研究

通过对莒县沭河流域杨树人工林多代连作条件下林地土壤物理结构、养分特征、土壤酶活性、土壤微生物数量以及林分生长状况的系统研究,发现随着杨树连续栽植代数的增加,其林木的树高、胸径、材积呈明显的下降趋势。多重比较结果表明各代之间的树高、胸径、材积差异均达到了极显著的水平。连作后土壤的物理性状的变化不大,随林地代数的增加,土壤容重略有增大,毛管持水量、毛管孔隙度没有一定规律性。土壤pH值随连作代数的增加而减小。土壤养分随栽植代数的增加,总体呈逐代下降趋势。3代、4代林地与2代林地相比,林地表层土壤有机质及各层速效N、速效P、速效K及微量元素Cu,Zn大幅度下降,而Mn和Fe含量有增加的趋势。在0 2 0cm土层范围内,随连作代数增加,林地土壤脲酶、过氧化物酶、多酚氧化酶活性逐渐降低,其变化规律与土壤有机质和速效N ,P ,K含量变化规律相似。过氧化氢酶活性则有随着栽植代数的增加而增加的趋势。连作对杨树人工林土壤微生物数量有显著影响,随着连作代数的增加,土壤细菌、真菌、放线菌的数量大幅度下降     

低丘红壤花生南酸枣间作系统研究III.土壤水分

红壤水分含量随土壤深度而增加为农林间作的水分协同利用提供了可能。但土壤水分动态结果表明农林间作不会改善表层土壤水分状况。南酸枣在干旱季节主要通过吸收深层次土壤水分，与间作花生对表层土壤水分的竞争也不剧烈。与单作南酸枣相比，间作系统中南酸枣种植带土壤水分含量较低。这表明农林间作对土壤水分的影响不是促进间作南酸枣生长、抑制间作花生生长的主要原因。