New approach for olive trees irrigation scheduling using trunk diameter sensors

Trunk diameter fluctuations (TDFs) have been suggested as an irrigation-scheduling tool for several fruit trees, but the works in olive trees has not obtained successful results with any of the indicators (maximum daily shrinkage (MDS) and trunk growth rate (TGR)) that are calculated from the daily TDF curves. No studies of olive trees have ever used reference trees to reduce the influence of the environment, as in work for other fruit trees. In this work, we compare different continuous and discrete water status measurements in a drought cycle. We suggest the calculation of a new and related indicator (DTGR), the difference between the TGR of stressed trees, and the TGR of reference trees. Negative DTGR values always indicate water stress conditions. The current work describes the variations of this new indicator (DTGR) in relation to water stress, and compares DTRG to the midday stem water potential, maximum leaf conductance and to the MDS. The midday stem water potential and the maximum leaf conductance describe the stress cycle clearer than the trunk diameter fluctuation indicators. No significant differences were found in the values of MDS between stressed and reference trees. On the other hand, the DTGR pattern values were near that of the stem water potential, though positive values were recorded in some dates during the water stress cycle. These variations indicate that DTGR is not a cumulative water stress indicators, as is water potential. Therefore, according to our data, water potential is a better indicator than the TDF parameters when no deficit irrigation scheduling is performed in olive trees. DTGR seems to be a good indicator of water stress from a threshold value around −1.4 MPa in olive trees. In addition, higher variability of DTGR than stem water potential may also be reduced with the increase in the number of sensors.     

高校图书馆提高纸质外文期刊利用率之探讨

分析了图书馆外文期刊利用率低的现状及出现此类现象的原因，对提高外文期刊利用率提出合理的建议。     

Assessing grain crop water productivity of China using a hydro-model-coupled-statistics approach: Part I: Method development and validation

Identifying and quantifying the links between water resources and food production is crucial in addressing the intensified conflicts between water scarcity and food security. We proposed an integrated framework for quantifying relationships between food and water based on the concept of green water (GW), blue water (BW) and crop water productivity (CWP). An estimation method coupling hydrologic model and crop and water statistics was developed and validated to quantify basin-scale GW, BW and CWP in breadbasket basins of China. A basin-scale GW and BW assessment method was developed by using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Monthly-step calibration and validation were performed at 15 discharge flow stations in seven first-order river basins of the country. The coefficient of determination (r²) and Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) in calibration stage ranged from 0.18 to 0.95, and −4.22 to 0.93, respectively; while in validation period, r² ranged from 0.02 to 0.97 and NSE ranged from −266.7 to 0.96. The simulated available soil water was validated against the observed soil moisture data, and the results showed that the model can reflect the yearly average values of soil water storage. Overall, the modeling performance for river basins with 4.94 million km² of drainage areas in total was acceptable. The simulated hydrologic components were then coupled with crop-and-water-statistics-based estimation method for assessing basin-scale CWP on four staple grain crops, i.e. rice, wheat, maize, and soybean. The results were validated by comparing with the similar investigations in China and around the globe. It was concluded that the overall performance of the estimation method was acceptable, and the method can be applied in assessing basin-scale GW, BW and CWP in China.     

Soil organic matter fractionation as a tool for predicting nitrogen mineralization in silty arable soils

After decades of searching for a practical method to estimate the N mineralization capacity of soil, there is still no consistent methodology. Indeed it is important to have practical methods to estimate soil nitrogen release for plant uptake and that should be appropriate, less time consuming, and cost effective for farmers. We fractionated soil organic matter (SOM) to assess different fractions of SOM as predictors for net N mineralization measured from repacked (disturbed) and intact (undisturbed) soil cores in 14 weeks of laboratory incubations. A soil set consisting of surface soil from 18 cereal and root‐cropped arable fields was physically fractionated into coarse and fine free particulate OM (coarse fPOM and fine fPOM), intra‐microaggregate particulate OM (iPOM) and silt and clay sized OM. The silt and clay sized OM was further chemically fractionated by oxidation with 6% NaOCl to isolate an oxidation‐resistant OM fraction, followed by extraction of mineral bound OM with 10% HF (HF‐res OM). Stepwise multiple linear regression yielded a significant relationship between the annual N mineralization (kg N/ha) from undisturbed soil and coarse fPOM N (kg N/ha), silt and clay N (kg N/ha) and its C:N ratio (R² = 0.80; P < 0.01). The relative annual N mineralization (% of soil N) from disturbed soils was related to coarse fPOM N, HF‐res OC (% of soil organic carbon) and its C:N ratio (R² = 0.83; P < 0.01). Physical fractions of SOM were thus found to be the most useful predictors for estimating the annual N mineralization rate of undisturbed soils. However, the bioavailability of physical fractions was changed due to the disturbance of soil. For disturbed soils, a presumed stable chemical SOM fraction was found to be a relevant predictor indicating that this fraction still contains bio‐available N. The latter prompted a revision in our reasoning behind selective oxidation and extraction as tools for characterizing soil organic N quality with respect to N availability. Nonetheless, the present study also underscores the potential of a combined physical and chemical fractionation procedure for isolating and quantifying N fractions which preferentially contribute to bulk soil N mineralization. The N content or C:N ratio of such fractions may be used to predict N mineralization in arable soils.     

精准施药技术现状分析

在分析精准施药技术重要性的基础上,从信息获取方式、喷雾技术和控制系统3个环节对国内外精准施药技术进行了分析。首先,详细阐述了基于实时传感器和基于地理信息技术的信息获取方式;其次,分析了风送液力式喷雾技术、静电式喷雾技术、超低量和低量喷雾技术和仿形喷雾技术;最后对控制系统进行了阐述和分析,旨在为我国精准施药技术的发展提供借鉴。     

灌溉方式对大豆光合性状及土壤水分利用率的影响

设置均匀灌溉、固定隔沟灌溉、交替隔沟灌溉3种灌溉方式,分别在大豆开花期、结荚期和鼓粒期进行灌溉,每次单沟灌水量分为60、45和30 mm 3个水平,以不灌溉为对照,研究了灌溉方式对大豆光合特性的影响.结果表明:灌溉可极显著提高大豆叶片的光合速率和大豆产量,交替隔沟灌45 mm的R4期光合速率、产量与交替隔沟灌60 mm差异不显著,而且土壤水分利用效率最高,从节水增产增效角度分析,交替隔沟灌溉45 mm的灌溉方式最佳.     

Development of buffer methods and evaluation of pedotransfer functions to estimate pH buffer capacity of highly weathered soils

The pH buffer capacity of a soil (pHBC) determines the amount of lime required to raise the pH of the soil layer from its initial acid condition to an optimal pH for plant growth and the time available under current net acid addition rate (NAAR) until the soil layer acidifies to a critical pH leading to likely production losses. Accurate values of pHBC can also be used to calculate NAAR from observed changes in soil pH. In spite of its importance, there is a critical shortage of pHBC data, likely due to the long period of time needed for its direct measurement. This work aimed to develop quick, simple and reliable methods of pHBC measurement and to test these methods against a slow (7‐day) titration used as benchmark. The method developed here calculates pHBC directly from the pH buffer capacity of the buffer solution and the increase in soil pH and corresponding decrease in pH of the buffer solution following mixing and equilibration. The pHBC values calculated using Adams and Evans or modified Woodruff buffers were in accord with those measured by slow titration. Buffer methods are easily deployed in commercial and research laboratories as well as in the field. The advantage of using buffer solutions to calculate pHBC instead of lime requirement is the broad application of this soil property. The pHBC of a soil is an intrinsic property that would not be expected to need remeasurement over periods of less than decades. Recurring lime requirement can be calculated from the soil's pHBC, initial and target pH values. A large proportion of the variability in pHBC was explained by the soil organic carbon content. This relationship between pHBC and soil organic carbon content allowed us to develop local pedotransfer functions to estimate pHBC for different regions of Australia.     

Silicon Improves Water Use Efficiency in Maize Plants

Abstract

The influence of silicon (Si) on water use efficiency (WUE) in maize plants (Zea mays L. cv. Nongda108) was investigated and the results showed that plants treated with 2 mmol L^?1 silicic acid (Si) had 20% higher WUE than that of plants without Si application. The WUE was increased up to 35% when the plants were exposed to water stress and this was accounted for by reductions in leaf transpiration and water flow rate in xylem vessels. To examine the effect of silicon on transpiration, changes in stomata opening were compared between Si-treated and nontreated leaves by measuring transpiration rate and leaf resistance. The results showed that the reduction in transpiration following the application of silicon was largely due to a reduction in transpiration rate through stomata, indicating that silicon influences stomata movement. In xylem sap of plants treated with 2 mmol L^?1 silicic acid, the Si concentration was 200-fold higher, while the Ca concentration which is mainly determined by the transpiration rate, was 2.5-fold lower than that of plants grown without Si. Furthermore, the water flow rate in xylem vessels of plants with and without Si was compared. Flow rate in plants with 2 mmol L^?1 Si was 20% lower than that without Si, which was accounted for by the increased affinity for water in xylem vessels induced by silica deposits. These results demonstrated the role of Si in improving WUE in maize plants.     

超声波辅助提取白果粗脂肪

以自制白果粉为原料,分析了提取溶剂、粉料粒度、提取温度、超声波功率、料液比、提取时间及提取次数对白果出油率的影响。结果表明:石油醚(沸程60～90℃)是较适宜的提取溶剂,出油率为3.88%。最佳提取工艺为:白果粉粉碎度80目,提取温度25℃,超声波提取功率200 W,料液比1∶25(g/ml),每次提取时间40 min,提取次数2次。最优工艺条件下,出油率为3.86%,较索氏提取法,该工艺对白果粗脂肪的提取率为98.71%。     

Effects of Kocide 101® on the bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)‐Rhizobium symbiosis

A glasshouse study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the copper fungicide Kocide 101 and its residues in soil on the growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixation of beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The soil used was a sandy clay loam classified as Typic Rhodustalf. The bean variety SUA 90 was used as test crop. The bean rhizobia strains CIAT 899, PV, and a local isolate were used. Kocide 101 applied at the recommended rate (equivalent to 1.7 mg kg^‐1 soil) had no significant negative effects on the growth, nodulation or nitrogen fixation of bean plants. Higher levels of Kocide 101 significantly (P < 0.05) reduced plant growth, nodulation and nitrogen fixation. The bean plants inoculated with the “local isolate”; rhizobia had the highest dry matter weights, nodule numbers and nodule dry weights, and also had more N fixation. They were followed by those inoculated with the PV, strain and, lastly, those inoculated with CIAT 899. The growth and nodulation of bean plants were still curtailed by the Kocide 101 residues four months after the fungicide was first applied to the soil. Therefore, occurrence of high levels of Kocide 101 in soils can have long‐term effects on the performance of the bean‐rhizobia symbiosis.