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.     

Application of urease inhibitor improves protein composition and bread‐baking quality of urea fertilized winter wheat

Background: Nitrogen losses is an economic problem for wheat production and a high risk to the environment. Therefore, improved N fertilizer management is a key to increasing the N efficiency and minimizing N losses. To increase N efficiency, enhanced fertilizers such as urea combined with urease inhibitor can be used. Aims: The aim of present study was to evaluate the effects of different N forms on grain storage protein subunits in winter wheat and to examine whether the observed changes correlate with parameters of baking quality. Methods: The investigation was performed over two consecutive years at two locations in Germany. Protein subunits were analyzed by SDS‐PAGE. Results: Protein concentrations were similarly increased after fertilization with ammonium nitrate and urea + urease inhibitor. Analysis of the individual storage protein fractions indicated that both fertilizers specifically enhanced ω‐gliadins and HMW glutenins, but the effect was more pronounced in the ammonium nitrate treatment. Application of urea + urease inhibitor had greater influence on the protein composition and resulted in higher specific baking volume as well as the best fresh keeping ability, in comparison with urea treatment. Conclusion: Considering that the urea + urease inhibitor treatment resulted in almost comparable improvements of NUE and baking quality, with the additional benefit of reduced N losses in combination with easy handling, urea + urease inhibitor can be recommended as a viable alternative to both urea alone and ammonium nitrate treatments. This opens up an opportunity for the reduction of N loss in wheat production when use of urea is preferred.     

华北平原地下水压采区冬小麦种植综合效应探讨

华北平原冬小麦-夏玉米一年两熟种植模式为维护国家粮食安全发挥了重要作用。但冬小麦生长期正处于华北平原降水较少的干旱季节,实现高产依赖于灌溉,是华北平原地下水超采的主导因素之一。随着国家地下水限采政策的实施,在地下水超采区如何稳定冬小麦的种植面积和产量是面临的一个重要问题。本文通过综述以往研究并结合典型地点田间试验结果,从冬小麦种植可减少休闲期土壤蒸发损失、具有的深根系系统可充分利用土壤储水、可利用微咸水替代淡水灌溉、通过限水灌溉发展优质麦生产、冬春形成覆盖层美化和防沙尘效应等方面论述了华北平原种植冬小麦的优势,提出华北平原冬小麦生产需要转变传统高耗水高产量理念,充分发挥冬小麦抗旱、耐盐能力强的特点,在不实施大规模压缩冬小麦种植面积条件下,通过冬小麦限水灌溉和微咸水利用满足对地下水压采需求,充分发挥华北平原冬小麦种植冬春防风沙、美化环境的生态功能,同时满足区域口粮安全的保障功能。     

中国不同地区‘富士’苹果品质评价

【目的】确定‘富士’苹果核心品质指标,建立‘富士’苹果品质综合评价模型。【方法】从河北、河南、辽宁、宁夏、山东、山西、陕西、新疆等8个苹果主产省（区）68个市（县）的代表性果园采集176份‘富士’苹果样品进行品质测定,共测定单果重、带皮硬度、去皮硬度、可溶性固形物含量、可溶性糖含量、可滴定酸含量、维生素C含量、山梨醇含量、葡萄糖含量、果糖含量、蔗糖含量、甜度、固酸比、糖酸比、甜酸比等15项指标。通过主成分分析和聚类分析法确定‘富士’苹果核心品质指标,运用层次分析法确定指标权重,采用灰色关联度法建立‘富士’苹果品质综合评价模型。【结果】不同产区间‘富士’苹果品质指标存在差异性,新疆‘富士’苹果硬度、维生素C含量、可溶性固形物含量、可溶性糖含量、山梨醇含量、果糖含量、蔗糖含量、甜度值等8项品质指标均高于其他省（区）‘富士’苹果。维生素C含量、山梨醇含量、蔗糖含量和甜酸比的变异系数均大于30%,可溶性糖含量的变异系数最小（仅为9.8%）。‘富士’苹果某些品质指标间存在极显著的相关性,可滴定酸含量与固酸比、糖酸比之间相关系数分别为-0.844、-0.854,果糖和甜度值之间相关系数达0.963,固酸比与糖酸比之间相关系数为0.941。通过主成分分析和聚类分析,确定单果重（X₁）、去皮硬度（X₂）、可滴定酸含量（X₃）、固酸比（X₄）和果糖含量（X₅）为‘富士’苹果核心品质指标。通过灰色关联度法建立了‘富士’苹果品质综合评价模型Y=0.2601X₁+0.1378X₂+0.0819X₃+0.2601X₄+0.2601X₅。【结论】单果重、去皮硬度、可滴定酸含量、固酸比和果糖含量为‘富士’苹果核心品质指标,以其建立的评价模型可用于‘富士’苹果品质的综合评价。     

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。     

添加槐花粉对白三叶青贮发酵品质的影响

采用单因子随机设计，研究添加不同比例的槐(Sophora japonica)花粉对白三叶 (Trifolium repens)青贮发酵品质的影响，以期为槐花应用于青贮饲料生产提供科学依据。分别设置白三叶单独青贮(C)、95%白三叶 + 5%槐花粉青贮(T1)、90%白三叶 + 10%槐花粉青贮(T2)、85%白三叶 + 15%槐花粉青贮(T3)、80%白三叶 + 20%槐花粉青贮(T4)共5个处理。结果表明，白三叶单独青贮品质较差，添加槐花粉提高了青贮原料的干物质、水溶性碳水化合物含量和发酵系数，降低了缓冲能值，使得青贮后的感官评分、乳酸、乳酸 ? 乙酸、干物质、水溶性碳水化合物、粗蛋白质含量显著提高(P ≤ 0.05)，pH、氨氮 ? 总氮、乙酸、丁酸含量显著降低(P ≤ 0.05)。综合考虑，80%白三叶 + 20%槐花粉青贮能获得良好的青贮品质。