Diversity and function of decomposer fungi from a grassland soil

Despite the substantial interest to ecologists of the relationship between species diversity and ecosystem functioning, little is known about how the high species richness of decomposer (saprotrophic) fungi and their relative frequencies of occurrence influence the decomposition of organic matter. Three experiments were conducted to test the ability of culturable saprotrophic fungal isolates to utilise a range of artificial and more natural substrates that occur in organic matter, with the aims of (1) characterising the functional potential of ‘common’ and ‘occasional’ taxa in an upland grassland soil and (2) determining whether there was a high degree of apparent functional redundancy in these communities. ‘Function’ was defined as the ability of a fungal isolate to utilise broad categories of substrates (e.g. sugars, cellulose, lignin) that occur in organic matter and which change in proportion during decomposition. The terms ‘common/abundant/frequent’ and ‘occasional/infrequent’ usually referred here to the frequencies of occurrence of taxa estimated using Warcup soil plates. Accepting the difficulties of sampling fungi in soil, this appeared to be the most useful isolation method to produce a general picture of the microfungal community with an estimate of frequency of occurrence for every taxon obtained, and to provide cultures for use in function tests. The influence of this technique on the interpretation of the results is discussed.Forty-eight fungal isolates, obtained from an upland grassland in Roxburghshire, UK, were selected to cover the most ‘abundant’ taxa and a range of ‘occasionals’. Pure cultures of anamorphic fungi and members of the Zygomycota, Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were tested. Although there was apparently a high degree of functional redundancy (equivalence) in assemblages of culturable decomposer fungi, with ‘frequent’ and ‘infrequent’ taxa largely utilising the same substrates, the ‘infrequent’ taxa played important roles in decomposition. ‘Infrequent’ microfungi tested were potentially more active in decomposition than the ‘frequent’ taxa, i.e. several had a higher overall activity, were able to utilise a wider range of substrates and were more combative than the ‘abundant’ taxa. When ‘abundant’ and ‘occasional’ taxa from the same putative guild were inoculated together on grass litter, there was slight evidence of ‘positive’ indirect effects on decomposition and cellulose degradation. Some ‘negative’ effects on lignin degradation, probably as a result of combat, were observed.It is possible that the ‘occasional’ taxa increased the temporal resilience of the ecosystem process of decomposition, and were ‘waiting in the wings’ to replace the abundant taxa. Nevertheless, greater functional diversity could be associated with the uncultured taxa not studied here.     

Influence of intercropping systems on soil health,productivity and quality of guava (Psidium guajava l.) in Eastern India

A guava based intercropping systems comprising of nine intercrops such as mango ginger, turmeric, tomato, cowpea, frenchbean, ragi, niger, upland paddy and control (without intercrop) was conducted to study the influence of various intercropping systems on plant and soil health of guava orchard. The results revealed that guava + cowpea system showed significant improvement in bulk density, electrical conductivity, water holding capacity, organic carbon content and pH of orchard soil. The guava + cowpea system also recorded significantly maximum available nitrogen and potassium content in the soil, whereas the maximum available phosphorus content were obtained in guava + mango ginger system. The nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (N, P and K) content of guava leaf were found to be maximum under the guava + cowpea system. The fruit yield of guava was recorded highest in guava +cowpea intercropping system. However, the total soluble solids (TSS) and acidity of fruits were not affected by the intercropping systems.     

北京市八达岭林场森林健康经营研究

应用森林健康理论,分析得出威胁八达岭林场森林健康的主要因素为病虫害、森林火灾、森林组成以及林分结构不合理,森林粗放管理,气候干旱与雪折。提出了保护和恢复八达岭林场森林健康经营的目标与原则。研究认为,八达岭林场应构建地带性森林植被恢复,低质林分结构调整,生态疏伐,近自然化森林健康目标树经营,生态修复5种森林健康经营模式。通过八达岭森林健康项目区监测样地空间数据库、121个小班及其细班空间数据库的建立,结合所构建的具体模式,构建了八达岭森林健康示范区的240个细班经营模式。     

福建省开发生产建设项目水土保持监管情况调查与思考

开展开发生产建设项目水土保持监督管理情况调查,掌握水土保持监督执法对象的基本情况,为各地开展水土保持监督执法和水土保持信息化管理工作提供必要的基础信息,提高水保监督执法工作的针对性和有效性。本文就福建省开发生产建设项目水土保持监管情况调查的基本情况和存在问题,做进一步分析和评价,提出了今后如何提高开发生产建设项目水土保持监督管理的工作思路。     

我国土地资源经济学科体系的建设及其展望

土地资源经济学在我国形成时间虽不长，但该学科发展较快，目前已日趋完善。本文在前人研究的基础上，对我国土地资源经济学科体系建设进行了评述。文中提出了土地资源经济学的概念，评价了土地资源经济学与其它学科之间的关系，探讨了土地资源经济学研究的主要内容和方向，并介绍了我国土地资源经济学的研究重点。     

无定河流域生态环境恶化原因分析及防治对策

通过分析无定河流域生态经济系统的结构、功能和特点及生态环境恶化的原因,指出该流域经济结构不合理,经济系统和生态系统长期不协调是造成巨大经济损失的根源。为了促使生态系统逐渐向良性循环转化,实现生态经济同步提高和协调发展,笔者提出了防治对策。     

农业机械化发展水平的概率-灰色评估方法及应用

在建立农业机械化发展水平评估指标体系的基础上，结合不确定性理论及灰色系统理论，提出了评估农业机械化发展水平的新方法——概率－灰色评估法。并用该方法对河南省农业机械化发展水平进行了评估分析。     

北京地区基本农田土壤环境质量分析与评价

对北京地区基本农田的土壤环境质量和污染状况进行了系统的调研，并对采样区农田土壤的环境质量按照国家标准进行了单因子评价和综合评价。结果表明，重金属的污染程度依次为Cd > Cu > As > Pb > Cr > Hg，Cd，Cu，As高于北京市土壤重金属背景值，Pb、Cr接近或略低于背景值，相比较而言，Cd污染为北京市基本农田中的主要污染元素。土壤中的农药残留的主要成分为滴滴涕。只有1处农田的Cd含量超过了国家二级标准限量，其余指标均低于二级标准。整体而言，北京地区的基本农田土壤环境质量属于清洁和安全范围，符合发展都市型现代农业的要求。     

区域土地资源安全评价初探——以重庆市为例

针对土地资源利用过程中出现的粮食安全问题、土地生态质量问题及土地经济、社会安全问题,参照压力一状态一响应(PRS)评价模式,构建评价指标体系。采用层次分析法确定权重,运用二次函数综合的方法对区域土地资源安全程度作了评价。研究表明,重庆市土地资源处于初步安全状态,从1999年和2004年土地综合安全值来看,土地资源安全整体状况处于好转之中。     

生物入侵对城镇生态系统稳定性影响及防治对策

阐述了生物入侵对城镇生物多样性、居民健康、园林绿地、土壤、河流湖泊和能量平衡的影响。并提出建立生物入侵数据库,健全法律法规,实现依法管理,提高边境检控能力及开展生态评估研究,加强生态学知识的普及与宣传教育是防御生物入侵的有效对策;实施人工或机械防治、化学防治和生物控制以及利用植物化感作用是治理生物入侵的有效手段。