Influence of liquid cattle manure on reduction processes in soil

Summary Reduction processes in cultivated soil during the decomposition of liquid cattle manure were studied in laboratory experiments. Anoxic slurries of soil and manure in different proportions or alone were followed over 5 weeks. Upon NO _inf3 ^sup- depletion, ferrous Fe appeared in solution in soil-manure slurries. Sulfide levels were generally low in the presence of both soil and manure, probably because of precipitation by Fe²⁺; Fe thereby counteracted the production of free hydrogen sulfide. Methane formation was the quantitatively most important electron sink under prolonged anoxic conditions. When extra sulfate was added to soil-manure slurries, the concentration of Fe²⁺ remained low and less methane was produced. The detection of Fe²⁺ was examined in a model system with a gel-stabilized soil-manure mixture sandwiched between two soil phases with a water content near field capacity. Large methodological problems made it impossible to quantify Fe²⁺ in this oxic-anoxic environment, but the results indicated that reducing conditions were maintained in the manure-saturated zone for the 20-day period of this experiment.     

从无定河流域“94·8·4”暴雨洪水看林草措施的减蚀作用

典型调查表明,在无定河流域绥德县80年—遇日降雨量120多mm条件下,林草措施具有显著的减蚀作用:农坡地一次降雨侵蚀模数达36660t/km~2,而一般草地侵蚀模数为5000～12000t/km~2,草地减少侵蚀70%～90%;坡度35°、被覆度70%的林地,加上工程整地措施,侵蚀模数为2000～5000t/km~2,减少侵蚀85%～95%;在相同自然条件下,林地减水效益为27.5%,减沙效益为47.7%,在有整地措施条件下,林地径流量较自然荒坡减少42.2%～77.1%.     

Molybdenum reserves of seed,and growth and N2 fixation by Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Summary Plants grown from seed with high (1.5–7.3 g Mo seed^-1) and low (0.07–1.4 g Mo seed^-1) Mo contents were grown in the presence and absence of Mo in growth media (perlite) or in a flowing-solution culture, in a controlled environment. Neither the high (1.5 g Mo seed^-1) nor the low (0.1 g Mo seed^-1) Mo content in seed from a small-seeded genotype (BAT 1297) was able to prevent Mo deficiency (reduced shoot, root and nodule dry weight, N₂ fixation and seed production) in growth media without an external supply of Mo, whereas both the high (7.3 g Mo seed^-1) and the low (0.07 g Mo seed^-1) contents in seed were able to prevent Mo deficiency in a large-seeded genotype (Canadian Wonder). Responses to Mo treatment by the Two genotypes were inconsistent between the growth media and solution culture experiments. Seed with a large Mo content (3.5 g Mo seed^-1) from the Canadian Wonder genotype was unable to prevent Mo deficiency (reduced shoot and nodule dry weight and N₂-fixation) in a solution culture without an external source of Mo, whereas both the large (1.7 g Mo seed^-1) and the small (0.13 g Mo seed^-1) contents in seed prevented a deficiency in BAT 1297. Growing plants from seed with a small Mo content, without additional Mo, reduced the seed Mo content by 83–85% and seed production by up to 38% in both genotypes. Changes in seed size and increases in shoot, root and nodule dry weight occurred, but varied with the genotype and growth conditions. These effects were also observed in some cases where plants were grown with additional Mo, demonstrating that the amount of Mo in the seed sown can influence plant nutrition irrespective of the external Mo supply. Nodule dry weight, total N content of shoots and seed production were improved by using seed with a small Mo content (1.64–3.57 g Mo seed^-1) on acid tropical soils in Northern Zambia. Plants of both the large- and small-seeded genotypes grown from seed with a small Mo content (<1.41 g Mo seed^-1) had a smaller nodule weight, accumulated less N and produced less seed. The viability of seed with a small Mo content was lower (germination up to 50% less) than that of seed with a large Mo content.     

Spatial modeling of wind speed around windbreaks

This paper presents a model to integrate windbreak shelter effects into a Geographic Information System (GIS). The GIS procedure incorporates the 1999 version windbreak sub-model of the Wind Erosion Prediction System (WEPS). Windbreak shelter is modeled in terms of friction velocity reduction, which is a function of wind speed and direction, distance from the barrier, windbreak height, porosity, width, and orientation. A first application of the model was conducted at a study area with an extensive windbreak network in England (Thetford, East Anglia). Windbreak characteristics (windbreak type, height, width, porosity, and location) were recorded. Porosity was estimated from digitized B/W silhouettes. To evaluate the network effectiveness, a windbreak network shelter index (SI) was proposed in terms of average reduction of friction velocity over the area due to network shelter. The network was found to give good protection, but the windbreak distribution was not optimal in relation to the wind vector distribution.     

Effect of high temperature on growth,nitrogen fixation,and chlorophyll content of five species of Azolla Anabaena symbiosis

Summary Cultures of Azolla sp. ST-SI, A. microphylla BR-GI, A. mexicana BR-GL, A. caroliniana WT-V, and A. filiculoides BR -H were grown in N-free International Rice Research Institute growth medium in the glasshouse at 38±1 °C (day) and 25±1 °C (night) under a light intensity of 350 Em²s^–1 for 27 days. Biomass, chlorophyll contents and nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction assay) were recorded on the 19th and 27th day. For comparison the same parameters were studied in Azolla spp. under normal growth conditions at 26±1 °C (day) and 19±1 °C (night). Azolla sp. STSI and A. microphylla BR-GI had produced a larger biomass by the 19th and the 27th day of incubation than A. caroliniana WTV and A. filiculoides which showed poor growth. Under normal growth conditions A. caroliniana WTV and A. filiculoides BRH produced less biomass than the other Azolla spp. cultures tested. A. mexicana BR-GL had a higher total chlorophyll content in both incubation periods than A. caroliniana WT-V and A. filiculoides BR-H. The N content was high in Azolla sp. ST-SI, A. microphylla BR-GI, and A. mexicana BR-GL compared with the low N content of A. filiculoides BR-H and A. caroliniana WT-V. At the higher temperature (38±1 °C/25±1 °C) Azolla sp. ST-SI and A. microphylla BR-GI consistently showed a higher growth rate than A. filiculoides BR-H and A. caroliniana WTV, while the growth rate of A. mexicana BR-GL was intermediate.The study was carried out at C.F. Kettering Research Laboratory, Yellowsprings, OH - 45387, USA     

Estimation of associative nitrogen fixation in relation to water regime and plant nutrition in a long-term pot experiment with rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary The contribution of associative N₂ fixation to the N nutrition of lowland rice was estimated in a long-term pot experiment with ten consecutive crops of rice. The experiment comprised two N and two K levels with wet (WF) and dry fallow (DF) between the cropping seasons. Growth of N₂-fixing cyanobacteria was prevented. Greatest yields were obtained in the high NK fertilizer treatment, but with continuation of the experiment yields responsed more to DF than to WF. Nitrogenase activity, however, was favoured by WF. Higher K application increased and higher N application decreased nitrogenase activity. Under WF treatments the organic C and total N contents of the soil remained unchanged during the experimental period, but alternate drying and flooding in DF treatments caused a decline. Lower N fertilizer rates in the second five-crop period did not affect yields, but increased the ratio of N removed to N applied. For the ten-crop period the estimated N balance was positive in the low-N and negative in the high-N treatments. N balances were also established separately for both the first and the second halves of the ten-crop period. In the first period N losses were higher, and the N balance was mostly negative. In the second period only high-N combined with low-K fertilization resulted in a negative N balance. DF favoured N losses in the first but not in the second period. The highest N gain in the second period was found in the DF treatment with low-N and high-K application. In this treatment, nearly one-quarter of the N taken up by the above-ground parts of the plants could be ascribed to associative N₂ fixation. In the corresponding treatment with the higher N level and a 49% higher yield, the contribution of fixed N declined to less than 5%. When harvested straw contained more than 10 mg N g^–1, the N balance was mostly negative, while at N contents less than 10 mg N g^–1, the N balance was generally positive.     

MnSO_4浸种对马铃薯幼苗质量及产量形成的影响

以"克新13"马铃薯为材料,通过盆栽试验,利用不同浓度的硫酸锰浸种处理,通过测定马铃薯幼苗的地上部干重、地下部干重、壮苗指数、叶片叶绿素含量、根系活力及产量等指标的变化,研究硫酸锰对马铃薯幼苗质量及产量的作用效应。结果表明:适宜浓度硫酸锰(0.06%~0.09%)浸种处理能有效地提高叶绿素含量和根系活力,促进幼苗地上部和地下部干物质积累,提高壮苗指数,从而提高幼苗质量和产量;硫酸锰过量,则抑制了马铃薯幼苗的正常生长,从而影响了产量的形成。     

Nitrogen fixation by Azospirillium brasilense in soil and the rhizosphere under controlled environmental conditions

Summary Acetylene reduction activity by Azospirillum brasilense, either free-living in soils or associated with wheat roots, was determined in a sterilised root environment at controlled levels of O₂ tension and with different concentrations of mineral N. In an unplanted, inoculated soil nitrogenase activity remained low, at approximately 40 nmol C₂H₄ h^-1 per 2kg fresh soil, increasing to 300 nmol C₂H₄ h^-1 when malic acid was added as a C source via a dialyse tubing system. The N₂ fixation by A. brasilense in the rhizosphere of an actively growing plant was much less sensitive to the repressing influence of free O₂ than the free-living bacteria were. An optimum nitrogenase activity was observed at 10 kPa O₂, with a relatively high level of activity remaining even at an O₂ concentration of 20 kPa. Both NO _inf3 ^sup- and NH _inf4 ^sup+ repressed nitrogenase activity, which was less pronounced in the presence than in the absence of plants. The highest survival rates of inoculated A. brasilense and the highest rates of acetylene reduction were found in plants treated with azospirilli immediately after seedling emergence. Plants inoculated at a later stage of growth showed a lower bacterial density in the rhizosphere and, as a consequence, a lower N₂-fixing potential. Subsequent inoculations with A. brasilense during plant development did not increase root colonisation and did not stimulate the associated acetylene reduction. By using the ¹⁵N dilution method, the affect of inoculation with A. brasilense in terms of plant N was calculated as 0.067 mg N₂ fixed per plant, i.e., 3.3% of the N in the root and 1.6% in the plant shoot were of atmospheric origin. This ¹⁵N dilution was comparable to that seen in plants inoculated with non-N₂-fixing Psudomonas fluorescens.     

集中排水甘蔗地酸性硫酸盐土壤酸化的减缓

Recent research results suggest that acidification of acid sulfate soils may be inhibited in well-drained estuarine floodplains in eastern Australia by the absence of natural creek levees,The lack of natural levees has allowed the inuudation of the land by regular tidal flooding prior to the construction of flood mitigation work.Such physiographical conditions prevent the development of pre-draingae pyrite-derived soil acidifica-tion that possibly occurred at many levee-protected sites in eastern Australian estuarine floodplains during extremely dry spells.Pre-drainage acidification is considered as an important condition for accumulation of soluble Fe and consequently,the creation of favourable environments for catalysed pyrite oxidation.Under current intensively drained onditions,the acid materials produced by ongoing pyrite oxidation can be rapidly removed from soil pore water by lateral leaching and acid buffering,resulting in low concentrations of soluble Fe in the pyritic layer,which could reduce the rate of pyrite oxidation.     

水稻土中铁氧化物的厌氧还原及其对微生物过程的影响

采用厌氧泥浆恒温培养实验 ,测定了添加 6种外源氧化铁后土壤中Fe(Ⅱ )和Fe(Ⅲ )浓度的变化 ,探讨了不同氧化铁的还原能力及其对土壤产H2 、产CO2 、产乙酸和产CH4 过程的影响。结果表明 :无定形氧化铁和纤铁矿易于被还原 ,两者的最终还原程度大体相同 ,但无定形氧化铁存在还原滞后现象 ;针铁矿、赤铁矿、Al取代针铁矿和Al取代赤铁矿难以被还原 ,表现出与对照相同的还原特征 ;铁还原能导致土壤中H2 和乙酸稳态浓度的降低 ,有效抑制了甲烷产生 ;添加Fe(OH) 3和纤铁矿后 ,Fe(Ⅲ )还原占总电子传递的贡献率由对照的 1 8.3 0 %增至 63 .3 2 %和 46.90 % ,而形成甲烷的电子传递贡献率由对照的 80 .92 %降至 3 5 .85 %和 5 2 .3 2 % ,Fe(Ⅲ )还原对电子的竞争消耗 ,使土壤产甲烷过程被强烈抑制