Variation in oxalic acid production and mycelial compatibility within field populations of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

This study was aimed at detecting mycelial compatibility groups and variations in oxalic acid production in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. For this purpose, 121 isolates of this plant pathogen recovered from lettuce, soybean and sunflower field crops, and grouped in 46 MCGs were tested for their ability to release oxalic acid and other organic acids to the medium. Oxalic acid production on liquid media was measured spectrophotometrically and release of organic acids was estimated by isolate abilities to discolour solid media amended with bromophenol blue. There were significant differences among MCGs in both oxalic acid and organic acids releasing, ranging the mean production of oxalic acid between 18 and 110 μg oxalic acid mg⁻¹ dry wt. When isolates were grouped by their hosts, those obtained from soybean presented the highest release of oxalic acid (71 μg oxalic acid mg⁻¹ dry wt), while those from sunflower showed the highest release of other acids to the medium. Solid medium discoloration was not correlated with oxalic acid concentration in liquid medium (Spearman R=−0.085; P=0.126).     

Weighing the costs and benefits of reduced sampling resolution in biomonitoring studies: Perspectives from the temperate rocky intertidal

Efficiency in biomonitoring studies is essential to maximize return (i.e. useful data) for investment (e.g. time, training, personnel). Here, we test several options for reducing data resolution when streamlining monitoring protocols, and use the results as a framework to discuss the costs and benefits of decreasing information when sampling intertidal assemblages. Specifically, we ask; (1) Is it necessary to collect species abundance data, or is species presence-absence information sufficient to differentiate sites? (2) Is it necessary to sample organismal abundance at the species-level or is coarser (higher taxon or functional group) resolution sufficient to resolve patterns of difference in intertidal community structure? and (3) How general are these patterns across different oceanic regions? We answer these questions using data from Northeast Atlantic, Northwest Atlantic, Northeast Pacific, and Southwest Pacific intertidal monitoring studies. Results show that compared to species-level sampling, genus-level sampling requires knowledge of 25% fewer taxa, but results in only a 5% difference in the ability to discern between-sample similarities. Likewise, family-level sampling involves 50% fewer taxa, and is accompanied by only an 8% difference in between-sample similarities. Species lists and functional groups were variable in performance, working well for some regions, and poorly for others. These findings will assist in the selection of monitoring protocols with the potential for increased geographic scope and temporal frequency of sampling, resulting in longer time series of data collection, and a reduction in the required taxonomic skills for individuals involved in scientifically useful biomonitoring programs.     

A comparative survey of recent results on humic-like fractions in organic amendments and effects on native soil humic substances

The main scope of the wide use of organic amendments of various origin and nature in modern agriculture is to increase and/or restore the organic matter content in organically poor or depleted soils in order to maintain and/or increase crop production and reduce soil exposure to degradation, erosion, desertification and pollution. The agronomically efficient and environmentally safe use of any organic amendment requires, however, an adequate control not only of the chemical quality of the humic substance (HS)-like fractions contained, which is an important indicator of the maturity and stability achieved by organic matter in the amendment, but also of the effects that these HS may have on native soil HS. In this review, the most recent results obtained on this topic by the research groups operating in Bari, Italy, and in Madrid, Spain, are discussed comparatively with results recently published by other research groups. Overall, HS-like components of organic amendments are characterized by higher aliphatic character and molecular heterogeneity, lower contents of O, acidic functional groups and organic free radicals, and lower degrees of aromatic ring polycondensation, polymerization and humification than native soil HS. These differences are less evident for composted materials. The composition, structure and functionalities of HS in amended soils may be affected in different ways and at various extents on dependence of the nature, origin and rate of amendment. In general, these properties are intermediate between those of the unamended soil HS and the HS-like fractions in the amendment, but generally resemble more the former than the latter, especially with increasing time after amendment application.     

华北平原土壤质量与农业生产的关系

Sustainable agricultural production is of vital importance to food supply security. This study aimed to investigate crop yield response to spatial variability of soil quality at a county scale in the North China Plain(NCP) and subsequently derive key soil quality indicators. Soil samples were geo-referenced and taken in 2008 from both surface(0–20 cm) and subsurface(20–40 cm) layers in132 fields throughout the Fengqiu County, located in the centre of the NCP, for subsequent soil properties' analyses. Annual crop yields were obtained from the same fields where soil samples were collected. Soil quality was evaluated based on a fuzzy set with 13 soil properties, and its spatial distributions were investigated by integrating geostatistical analysis and geographic information system(GIS) techniques. Soil quality indices were classified into five grades, and their spatial distributions were mapped within the county.The surface soil qualities were about one to two grades higher than the subsurface soil. The quality indices for surface and subsurface soils were positively associated with the annual crop yields, suggesting the importance of both. Soil organic matter, total nitrogen,available P, and available K contributed 50% of the combined weight to the soil quality index and were identified as key indicators of soil quality status in the area in terms of sustainability.     

番茄抗性砧木对温室根结线虫和土壤自由生活线虫群落结构动态的影响

抗性砧木嫁接是一种有效防治蔬菜根结线虫病的生物方法。研究番茄抗性砧木Beaufort(Lycopersicon ly-copersicum×L.hirsutum)对其靶标生物——根结线虫和非靶标生物——土壤自由生活线虫的种群动态和群落结构影响的结果表明:抗性砧木小区根结线虫2龄幼虫密度显著低于对照小区,根结线虫2龄幼虫取样时间之间变动显著;根据营养来源可将线虫分为4大营养类群,即食细菌、食真菌、食植物、杂食/捕食性,食真菌、食植物线虫密度变动显著,抗性砧木小区食细菌线虫密度高于对照小区,食真菌线虫密度低于对照小区;应用食真菌线虫数量/食细菌线虫数量指数F/B、修改后的F/B指数、多样性指数H′、丰富度指数D、均匀度指数J、优势度指数λ分析比较抗性砧木小区和对照区土壤线虫生物多样性变化规律,F/B、修改后的F/B、丰富度指数H′和均匀度指数J取样时间之间变动显著,F/B、修改后的F/B、优势度指数λ和均匀度J指数能较好地反映抗性砧木嫁接对线虫群落结构的影响。     

治沟骨干工程台阶式泄水建筑物的消能防冲研究

进行了可用于治沟骨干坝的3种不同坡度的台阶式泄水建筑物的模型试验。结果表明,在跌落水流时,消力池跃前断面单位能量随斜坡变陡和相对坝高Hdam/yc增加而增大,但当Hdam/yc增加到某一值后,逐渐趋于平缓。消力池跃前断面底部压力yp与堰上临界水深yc呈现正比线性相关,yp大小与台阶个数N无关。比较跃前断面压力修正系数λ>1和λ=1时的消能率,当Hdam/yc=10左右时,其消能率相对误差可达7%左右,但当Hdam/yc≥70时,其相对误差则降至1%。试验结果也同时显示出λ与yp/y1同样有着很好的线性关系,其相关系数r=0.99999。     

集约经营雷竹林土壤微生物的演变

Phyllostachys praecox C. D. Chu et C. S. Chao, a favored bamboo shoot species, has been widely planted in recent years. Four stands with different historical management practices were selected for this study to understand the evolution of soil microbial ecology by determining the effects of a new mulching and heavy fertilization practice on soil quality using microbiological parameters. Compared with the traditional practice (index 1), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil microbial respiration carbon (MRC) with the new management practice significantly decreased (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively) with 1--2 years of mulching (index 2) and then for continued mulching significantly increased (P < 0.05). The ratios of MBC/TOC (total organic carbon) and MRC/TOC also significantly diminished (P < 0.05) with mulching. The average well color development (AWCD) and Shannon index decreased with mulching time, and the significant decrease (P < 0.05) in Shannon index occurred from index 2 to index 3. The results from a principal components analysis (PCA) showed that the scores of the first principal component for indexes 1 and 2 were significantly larger (P < 0.05) than soils mulched 3--4 years or 5--6 years. Also, the second principal component scores for index 1 were larger than those for index 2, suggesting that the ability of soil microorganisms to utilize soil carbon was decreasing with longer use of the new management practice and causing a deterioration of soil biological properties.     

Colonization of chemical factory wastes by soil nematodes

Soil nematodes were studied in 39- and 49-year-old “red” dumps mainly composed of Fe₂O₃ waste pyrite remnants from production of sulphuric and other acids, and in a 84-year-old “white” dump mainly composed of CaCO₃ material from soda production. The youngest stage of spontaneous biological succession contained moss–lichen patches which were mainly inhabited by bacterivorous nematodes (Acrobeloides nanus, Panagrolaimus rigidus, Rhabditis terricola, Bursilla monhystera) in very low abundance (about 50×10³ ind m⁻²). Invasion of grass resulted in increase of bacterivorous nematodes up to several millions  ind m⁻² but with considerable seasonal fluctuations. Nematode assemblages diversified in sites colonized by various deciduous trees and Paratylenchus straeleni was the dominant plant parasitic nematode. In site with stabilized grass carpet on the “white” dump dominant nematodes were Geocenamus quadrifer and Pungentus engadinensis. Eudorylaimus spp. first appeared in 49-year-old dump but their populations remained very low (1–9×10³ ind m⁻²). Some species found in control deciduous forests on natural soils (e.g. Xenocriconemella macrodora, Cephalenchus hexalineatus, Tylolaimophorus minor, Ogma menzeli, Hoplotylus femina) did not colonize deposits. Natural succession of nematodes on chemical waste materials was very slow and even after about 80 years their communities under deciduous trees showed many differences from those in nearby semi-natural mixed forests.     

基于1:50 000土壤数据库并结合PKB方法估算中国浙江省土壤有机碳储量的研究

Soil organic carbon(SOC) is an important component of farming systems and global carbon cycle. Accurately estimating SOC stock is of great importance for assessing soil productivity and modeling global climate change. A newly built 1:50 000 soil database of Zhejiang Province containing 2 154 geo-referenced soil profiles and a pedological professional knowledge-based(PKB) method were used to estimate SOC stock up to a depth of 100 cm for the Province. The spatial patterns of SOC stocks stratified by soil types,watershed(buffer analysis), topographical factors, and land use types were identified. Results showed that the soils in Zhejiang covered an area of 100 740 km2 with a total SOC stock of 831.49 × 106 t and a mean SOC density of 8.25 kg m-2, excluding water and urban areas. In terms of soil types, red soils had the highest SOC stock(259.10 × 106t), whereas mountain meadow soils contained the lowest(0.15 × 106t). In terms of SOC densities, the lowest value(5.11 kg m-2) was found in skel soils, whereas the highest value(45.30 kg m-2) was observed in mountain meadow soils. Yellow soils, as a dominant soil group, determined the SOC densities of different buffer zones in Qiantang River watershed because of their large area percentage and wide variation of SOC density values.The area percentages of various soil groups significantly varied with increasing elevation or slope when overlaid with digital elevation model data, thus influencing the SOC densities. The highest SOC density was observed under grassland, whereas the lowest SOC density was identified under unutilized land. The map of SOC density(0–100 cm depth) and the spatial patterns of SOC stocks in the Province would be helpful for relevant agencies and communities in Zhejiang Province, China.