Predicting the Classes and Distribution of Salt-Affected Soils in Northwest Libya

Sodicity and salinity can adversely affect soil structure and are common constraints to plant growth in arid regions. Current remote sensing techniques cannot distinguish between the various classes of salt-affected soils. Field and laboratory measurements of salt-affected soils are time-consuming and expensive. Mapping of the salt-affected soils can be used in soil conservation planning to identify regions with different degrees of limitations. There is a need to use existing field and laboratory measurements to create maps of classes of salt-affected soils. The objectives of this study are to classify salt-affected soils, use existing field data to interpolate and validate geospatial predictions of the classes of salt-affected soils using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and create maps showing the different classes and distribution of salt-affected soils. The classification framework for salt-affected soils is based on electrical conductivity (ECe), soil pH and the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and provides four degrees of limitations to salt-affected soils: slight (normal soils), moderate (saline soils), severe (sodic soils), and extreme (saline-sodic soils). Spatial interpolation of the field data from northwestern Libya was verified by cross-validation, and maps of the salt-affected soils in the region were created. The majority of soils in this region of Libya are normal (slight degree of limitation). Twenty percent of the topsoil is saline-sodic (extreme degree of limitation). Land use recommendations and rehabilitation strategies can be developed from such maps of salt-affected soil classes. The methodology followed in this study can be applied to other arid regions around the world, particularly in developing countries where budgetary constraints limit detailed field and laboratory measurements of sodicity and salinity.     

黄土区坡沟系统容重、饱和导水率和土壤含水量变化分析

切沟是黄土高原侵蚀沟的重要类型之一,对流域水文、植被、地貌和生态等地表过程具有深刻影响。为明确土壤物理参数对切沟地形、坡位和深度的响应,在陕北黄土高原选择典型切沟,根据其走向设置沟道、沟缘及坡面3条样线,对40个样点按照10 cm深度间隔采集0~30 cm各土层原状土样,利用定水头法和烘干法对土壤容重、饱和导水率和土壤含水量进行测定并分析。结果表明:(1)地形对容重、饱和导水率和土壤含水量具有显著或极显著影响,3个参数随坡位自下而上均呈波浪式变化趋势;沟缘和坡面位置容重随坡位上升总体呈微弱减小趋势,沟缘表层坡下土壤含水量较其他坡位明显偏低;(2)沟缘和坡面位置不同土层深度饱和导水率及容重的大小变化规律与沟道恰好相反;(3)对于各土层深度而言,沟缘和坡面土壤含水量均与沟道内差异显著,且沟缘土壤含水量总是低于坡面。以上结果表明,切沟分布改变了土壤容重、饱和导水率和土壤含水量在坡面的空间格局,在黄土区坡沟系统内不同地形条件对相关土壤物理参数的影响不应忽视。     

北疆麦壳砂浆砌块填充蓄热材料复合墙体日光温室热性能

针对新疆戈壁沙漠区日光温室在冬季严寒条件下,传统墙体在夜间难以满足作物生长对热环境需求的问题,该文研究新型的保温蓄热墙体材料和结构。将墙体主体结构采用麦壳砂浆砌块,砌块中间空格填充蓄热材料,对麦壳砂浆砌块进行配比试验和性能测试,筛选出抗压强度、导热性能较优的砌块建造温室墙体,把麦壳砂浆砌块+红砖复合墙体日光温室和37 cm砖混墙体日光温室进行热性能对比试验,并种植番茄验证。试验结果表明:在相同外界环境下,室外最低温-20.8℃时,麦壳砂浆砌块复合墙体日光温室内温度为7.5℃,而砖混墙体日光温室内温度为3.2℃,砌块复合墙体日光温室内夜间出现最低室温时间较砖混墙体日光温室延迟42 min;相同条件下砌块复合墙体日光温室栽培的番茄收获期早16 d,单棚产量高18.4%,验证了砌块复合墙体日光温室的保温蓄热性能优于砖混墙体日光温室,且满足果蔬生长对热环境需求。该文提出的适应戈壁沙漠区日光温室麦壳砂浆砌块复合墙体及构造条件,为新型复合墙体在日光温室中的应用研究、设计提供理论参考。     

Soil Hydraulic Properties: Influence of Tillage and Cover Crops

Understanding the effects of cover crops and tillage on soil physical properties is important for determining soil productivity. This study was conducted at Lincoln University's Freeman Center, USA to evaluate the effects of tillage and cover crop management on soil hydraulic properties. The field site included three replicate blocks in a randomized complete block design with each plot measuring 21.3 m in length and 12.2 m in width. Treatment factors were tillage at two levels(moldboard plow tillage vs. no tillage) and cover crop at two levels(cereal rye(Secale cereal) cover crop vs. no cover crop). Soil samples were collected in late spring/early summer from each treatment at 10-cm depth increments from the soil surface to a depth of 40 cm using cores(76.2-mm diameter and 76.2-mm length). Soil bulk density was 13% lower with tillage compared with no-tillage. Volumetric water content was significantly higher at 0.0 and -0.4 k Pa pressures with tillage compared with no tillage. Tillage increased the proportion of coarse mesopores by 32% compared with no tillage, resulting in 87% higher saturated hydraulic conductivity(K_(sat)). Cover crop increased the proportion of macropores by 24% compared with no cover crop; this can potentially increase water infiltration and reduce runoff. As a result of higher macroporosity, Ksat was higher under cover crop compared with no cover crop. This study demonstrated that tillage can benefit soil hydraulic properties in the short term, but these effects may not persist over time. Cover crops may slightly improve soil hydraulic properties, but longer term studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects.     

Feline Temporal Lobe Epilepsy: Review of the Experimental Literature

Accumulating evidence suggests that epileptic seizures originating from the temporal lobe (TL) occur in cats. Typically, affected animals have clinically focal seizures with orofacial automatisms including salivation, facial twitching, lip smacking, chewing, licking, and swallowing. Motor arrest and autonomic and behavioral signs also may occur. Many affected cats have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes within the hippocampus or histopathologically confirmed hippocampal sclerosis or necrosis. From the 1950s to the 1980s, cats frequently were used as animal models for neurophysiological experiments and electrophysiological studies, from which important basic knowledge about epilepsy originated, but which has been rarely cited in clinical veterinary studies. These studies were reviewed. Experimental research on cats showed the widespread anatomical connections among TL structures. The ictal clinical signs originating from the hippocampus, amygdala, or lateral temporal cortex are similar, because of their dense interconnections. The ictal signs can be divided into autonomic, somatic, and behavioral. For research purposes, a 6‐stage system was established, reflecting the usual sequential progression from focal to generalized seizure: attention response (1), arrest (2), salivation, licking (3), facial twitching (4), head turning or nodding (5), and generalized clonic convulsions (6). Knowledge of this data may help in recognizing low‐stage (stage 1 or stage 2) epileptic seizures in clinical practice. Early experimental research data are in accordance with recent clinical observations regarding ictal clinical signs of TL epileptic seizures in cats. Furthermore, the research data supports the idea that TL epilepsy represents a unique clinical entity with a specific seizure type and origin in cats.     

酸枣荆条耗水特征及其茎木质部解剖构造

[目的]研究酸枣和荆条耗水特征与其茎木质部解剖构造之间的关系,为中国北方干旱区造林树种的选择提供技术支持。[方法]采用热扩散式液流探针(TDP)法对酸枣和荆条的树干液流进行监测,并于监测完成后,采用切片法,观察其茎木质部解剖构造。[结果](1)不同季节2树种的耗水特征存在差异,与湿润季节相比,干旱季节两树种树干液流变化均具有较强的波动性,其日均液流速度和日均耗水量均较小;2树种相比,干旱季节时酸枣的最大液流速度、日均液流速度以及日均耗水量均显著大于荆条,而湿润季节与之相反。(2)就其茎木质部解剖构造而言,酸枣的导管形状大小比较均一,而荆条的导管形状大小参差不齐;酸枣的导管直径、长度、面积平均值及边材相对输导面积均小于荆条,而其导管密度大于荆条。(3)酸枣的相对输导率和脆性指数均小于荆条,说明酸枣的水分输导的有效性小于荆条,而其安全性和抗旱性大于荆条;另外,在湿润季节,二者的耗水特征主要取决于其水分输导的有效性,而在干旱季节,主要取决于其安全性和抗旱性,进而阐明了二者在不同季节表现出不同耗水差异的原因。[结论]与荆条相比,酸枣的茎解剖构造更有利于其在干旱季节维持较高的树干液流,进而得以正常的生长,因此更适合于干旱区造林。     

施肥和地膜覆盖对黄土旱塬土壤理化性质和冬小麦产量的影响

【目的】研究黄土高原旱作农业区施肥等措施对耕层土壤理化性质和作物农艺性状的影响,为保持土壤适度生产力,选择适合黄土塬区可持续发展的新型增产措施提供理论基础。【方法】通过设在渭北旱塬的多年田间定位试验,选取不施肥空白对照、施氮磷肥、施氮磷钾肥、氮磷肥加生物炭、氮磷肥加生育期地膜半覆盖和氮磷肥加夏闲期地膜半覆盖共6个处理,所有处理均在冬小麦收获后和播种前进行翻耕。分析了不同处理耕层土壤理化性质、冬小麦产量及农艺指标。【结果】与对照相比,施氮磷肥显著提高了耕层土壤饱和导水率,降低耕层土壤紧实度,显著增加冬小麦生育期耗水量,提高水分利用效率和降雨利用效率,显著提高了耕层土壤中有机质、全氮、硝态氮、铵态氮、全磷、有效磷等养分的含量,连续三年提高冬小麦的产量均在一倍左右。与氮磷肥处理相比,增施钾肥处理增加了冬小麦拔节期耕层土壤紧实度,却显著降低了收获期土壤容重、增加了总孔隙度,并显著提高了水分利用效率,在一定程度上增加了耕层土壤全氮、有机质含量,使冬小麦的叶面积指数显著增加,连续三年冬小麦平均产量达4500 kg/hm2;增施生物炭处理耕层土壤容重降至最低为1.16 g/cm3,增加了土壤总孔隙度,导致饱和导水率最大为0.049 cm/min,提高了水分利用效率;耕层土壤中的有机质、全氮、全磷、有效磷的含量有一定增加,冬小麦的产量有所提升;施氮磷肥基础上的生育期地膜半覆盖与夏闲期地膜半覆盖,均显著降低了耕层土壤饱和导水率,增加了土壤紧实度,提高了冬小麦水分利用效率,耕层土壤中有机质、铵态氮、速效钾的含量有所增加,全磷含量降低,土壤pH下降,除去受灾年份,冬小麦平均产量在4700～4800 kg/hm2之间。【结论】与对照相比,长期施用氮磷化肥显著提高冬小麦的产量,却导致土壤pH下降。在施氮磷肥的基础上增施生物炭,可以显著改善土壤物理化学性质,增加冬小麦产量,但其经济投入过高。在施氮磷肥的基础上,增施钾肥与生育期地膜半覆盖,改善了耕层土壤养分状况,有一定的经济效益,是适宜黄土塬区的冬小麦增产措施。     

黄芩苷对大肠杆菌细胞通透性的影响

本试验旨在探索黄芩苷对大肠杆菌的抑菌机制。在测定黄芩苷对大肠杆菌的最小抑菌浓度和生长曲线的基础上,通过测定菌液电导率和碱性磷酸酶含量,研究黄芩苷对大肠杆菌细胞通透性的影响。试验结果表明,黄芩苷对大肠杆菌具有明显的抑菌效果,其最小抑菌浓度为6.25 mg/mL;黄芩苷可引起大肠杆菌菌液的电导率和碱性磷酸酶含量明显升高。证实了黄芩苷通过增加大肠杆菌细胞膜与细胞壁通透性,从而发挥抑菌作用。     

微润灌对作物产量及水分利用效率的影响

为探明微润灌对作物生长及产量的影响,以夏玉米和冬小麦为研究对象,采用完全随机试验设计,对比研究微润灌不同毛管间距布置(20 cm、40 cm、60 cm)、地下滴灌和无灌溉对大田作物产量、水分利用效率和土壤电导率的影响。结果表明:与地下滴灌相比,微润灌用水量约为地下滴灌的1/4~4/5;由于灌水差异较大,作物产量有所降低,夏玉米产量显著下降(P0.05),冬小麦产量下降,但未达显著水平(P0.05);两作物水分利用效率有所提高,但差异不显著(P0.05);灌溉水分利用效率均显著提高(P0.05)。随微润管布置间距的减小,作物产量呈增加趋势,作物水分利用效率与灌溉水分利用效率均呈减小趋势。综合考虑分析,在较为缺水的塿土区微润管最佳布置间距60 cm,此时可不显著降低产量同时提高水分利用效率。此外,微润灌布置间距对土壤电导率的影响较小。采用微润灌与地下滴灌处理时,随土层深增加,作物各生育期土壤电导率无显著差异(P0.05)且变化趋势基本一致,表明微润灌与地下滴灌对土壤的影响具有一致性。微润灌下作物产量与灌浆成熟期10~20 cm土层土壤电导率和10~80 cm土层土壤平均电导率之间相关性显著。因此,采用灌浆成熟期10~20 cm土层土壤电导率或10~80 cm土层土壤平均电导率预估微润灌下的作物产量具有可行性。上述研究可为微润灌技术推广应用提供依据。     

鹤望兰新株系耐寒性鉴定

自主选育的鹤望兰新株系与普通栽培株系相比,在福州极端低温下(-2℃)表现为耐寒性。为进一步验证,通过不同梯度的人工低温处理(0、-2、-3、-4、-5、-6℃),测定2株系叶片相对电导率并配合logistic回归方程计算低温半致死温度(LT50)。结果表明,2个株系相对电导率随处理温度的降低均呈"S"型变化,在试验低温范围内,与温度间极显著负相关,且新株系低温半致死温度为-4.8℃,栽培株系低温半致死温度为-3.6℃,新株系的半致死温度高于栽培株,进一步证实新株系具有耐寒性。