浅谈丘陵山区在高标准农田建设中应注意的问题

随着我国社会主义市场经济发展水平的不断提高,各项基础设施建设在逐步完善,各个领域行业均取得了亮眼的成绩,农业领域亦不例外。目前,我国正在积极地推进高标准的农田建设项目,以期带动各地区的农业发展。本文以丘陵地区为研究对象,探讨其在高标准农田建设中应注意的问题,望引起技术人员的重视,以求促进我国农业领域的稳步发展。     

Tree allometry, leaf size and adult tree size in old-growth forests of western Oregon

Relationships between tree height and crown dimensions and trunk diameter were determined for shade-tolerant species of old-growth forests of western Oregon. The study included both understory and overstory species, deciduous and evergreen angiosperms and evergreen conifers. A comparison of adult understory species with sapling overstory species of similar height showed greater crown width and trunk diameter in the former, whether the comparison is made among conifers or deciduous trees. Conifer saplings had wider crowns than deciduous saplings, but the crown widths of the two groups converged with increase in tree height. Conifer saplings had thicker trunks than deciduous saplings of similar crown width, possibly because of selection for resistance to stem bending under snow loads. The results suggest that understory species have morphologies that increase light interception and persistence in the understory, whereas overstory species allocate their biomass for efficient height growth, thereby attaining the high-light environment of the canopy. The greater crown widths and the additional strength requirements imposed by snow loads on conifer saplings result in less height growth per biomass increment in conifer saplings than in deciduous saplings. However, the convergence in crown width of the two groups at heights greater than 20 m, and the proportionately smaller effect of snow loads on large trees, may result in older conifers equalling or surpassing deciduous trees in biomass allocation to height growth.     

Variation of sapflow velocity in Eucalyptus globulus with position in sapwood and use of a correction coefficient

Sapflow sensors were used to investigate variation in sapflow velocity at different positions in the sapwood of three-year-old Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus Labill. trees. Sapflow velocity was measured at 5-mm intervals across the sapwood by moving two probe sets simultaneously on two opposite radii. Another probe set placed in a fixed position at right angles to the first two sets acted as a control. A sapflow velocity ratio was defined as the velocity given by each moving sensor divided by that given by the static sensor. Correlation between observations of sapflow velocity at different positions exceeded 95%, and the ratio of velocity between any pair of sensors was constant. We observed radial variation in sapflow velocity across the sapwood with the lowest velocities at the center of the tree. Variation due to sensor position was high implying the need for large numbers of sensors for accurate estimates of sap flux. To overcome this need, we used a correction coefficient, namely a simple weighted average of the sapflow ratios with depth in the sapwood, for each fixed sensor. We recommend the use of three probe sets to estimate the correction coefficient. Subsequently, two probe sets can be placed at two fixed positions for routine measurements of sap flux.     

Controlling growth and chemical composition of saplings by iteratively matching nutrient supply to demand: a bootstrap fertilization technique

We developed a fertilization technique that results in the control, and maintenance at defined rates and levels, of growth and tissue composition of plants of different sizes and developmental stages growing at exponential and nonexponential rates in solid media under naturally fluctuating light and temperature regimes. Clonal cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr.) saplings were grown in sand. Low concentrations of nutrient solution were added daily at different constant exponentially increasing rates for 20-30 days to produce plants with different growth rates and tissue nutrient composition. Matching nutrient supply to measured growth demand by bootstrapping, where bootstrapping is the use of an iterative equation that calculates demand from either actual or desired growth rates, maintained these differences for 20-40 days. Nutrient additions controlled growth of saplings with growth rates between 2.0 and 4.0% day(-1), heights between 13.9 and 37.5 cm, dry weights between 0.70 and 3.90 g, leaf nitrogen contents between 1.2 and 3.9%, and leaf carbon/nitrogen ratios between 42.1 and 12.5. The technique was reproducible in a greenhouse without temperature, humidity, or light control, and is easily modified to suit different plant species, plants of various sizes, and various growing conditions.     

Carbon dioxide enrichment improves growth, water relations and survival of droughted honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) seedlings

Low water availability reduces the establishment of the invasive shrub Prosopis on some grasslands. Water deficit survival and traits that may contribute to the postponement or tolerance of plant dehydration were measured on seedlings of P. glandulosa Torr. var. glandulosa (honey mesquite) grown at CO(2) concentrations of 370 (ambient), 710, and 1050 micro mol mol(-1). Because elevated CO(2) decreases stomatal conductance, the number of seedlings per container in the elevated CO(2) treatments was increased to ensure that soil water content was depleted at similar rates in all treatments. Seedlings grown at elevated CO(2) had a greater root biomass and a higher ratio of lateral root to total root biomass than those grown at ambient CO(2) concentration; however, these seedlings also shed more leaves and retained smaller leaves. These changes, together with a reduced transpiration/leaf area ratio at elevated CO(2), may have contributed to a slight increase in xylem pressure potentials of seedlings in the 1050 micro mol mol(-1) CO(2) treatment during the first 37 days of growth (0.26 to 0.40 MPa). Osmotic potential was not affected by CO(2) treatment. Increasing the CO(2) concentration to 710 and 1050 micro mol mol(-1) more than doubled the percentage survival of seedlings from which water was withheld for 65 days. Carbon dioxide enrichment significantly increased survival from 0% to about 40% among seedlings that experienced the lowest soil water content. By increasing seedling survival of drought, rising atmospheric CO(2) concentration may increase abundance of P. glandulosa on grasslands where low water availability limits its establishment.     

Simulating the dynamic behavior of Douglas-fir trees under applied loads by the finite element method

The finite element method of structural analysis was used to model the dynamic behavior of three 20-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) trees subjected to applied loading. Detailed measurements of stem and branch geometry were made for each tree, enabling the first-order branches of each tree to be represented as individual cantilever beams attached to the stem. Three values for branch modulus of elasticity (E) were assumed: 4, 5 and 6 GPa. For two trees with relatively large crown masses (175 and 250 kg), significantly improved estimates of natural frequency were obtained when the branches were modeled as separate cantilever beams rather than as a series of discrete masses attached to the stem. Closest agreement with the results from field sway tests was found when branch E was 4 GPa. Oscillations of individual branches contributed to the damping of tree oscillations--a phenomenon known as structural damping--with the contribution increasing as branch E decreased. When branch E was 4 GPa, the phase difference between the oscillation of the stem and that of some branches was almost 180 degrees. We applied a series of forces separately to the stem and branches of each tree and determined the mechanical transfer function for each loading case. These transfer functions were similar to the theoretical transfer function for a damped harmonic oscillator, but showed a smaller tree response at higher loading frequencies, particularly when branch E was 4 GPa. Branch structural properties, particularly modulus of elasticity, appear to be important in defining overall tree behavior under applied loading.     

Leaf water relations of Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus and E. nitens: seasonal, drought and species effects

In August 1990, a 2-ha plantation was established in an area where rainfall (about 515 mm year(-1)) was insufficient to meet evaporative demand. On nine occasions between September 1991 and April 1993, pressure-volume curves were constructed for irrigated and rainfed Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus Labill. and E. nitens (Deane and Maiden) Maiden trees. During the experiment, rainfed trees experienced six periods when predawn water potential was significantly lower than that of irrigated trees. In early spring of 1991 and 1992, osmotic potentials at full turgor and turgor loss point in the irrigated E. nitens were significantly lower than at other times of the year, probably because of winter hardening. Water stress reduced osmotic potential and increased bulk elastic modulus in E. nitens, whereas the reverse occurred in E. globulus. However, treatment differences with respect to changes in osmotic and elastic properties were commonly overshadowed by interspecific differences. These were most apparent at the end of the sixth period of water stress when osmotic potentials at full and zero turgor were significantly higher and bulk elastic modulus and relative water content at turgor loss point were significantly lower in E. globulus than in E. nitens. We conclude that the drought-tolerance responses of E. globulus make it a more suitable species than E. nitens for establishment on sites where moderate water stress is experienced.     

Composition, enantiomeric distribution, and antibacterial activity of the essential oil of Achillea ligustica All. from Corsica

The essential oil of Achillea ligustica from Corsica was investigated by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 82 compounds representing 94.0% of the oil were tentatively identified. The main constituents were the camphane derivatives, representing >30% (camphor, 21.3%; borneol, 6.2%; bornyl acetate, 3.5%) of the whole oil, and santolina alcohol (19.3%). The enantiomeric distribution of 8 chiral constituents was determined by GC-MS using two enantioselective stationary phases (DIME-beta-CD and Lipodex-E). Racemic santolina alcohol, required for optimization of the enantioselective GC conditions, was prepared by an original two-step synthesis from 2,5-dimethylhexa-2,4-diene. The whole essential oil was tested for its antibacterial activity against a wide range of bacteria using a paper disk method. The results show a promising activity against Streptomyces species.