提高燃油经济性的拖拉机变速控制策略

为实现对液压机械无级变速拖拉机的最佳燃油经济性控制,分析发动机及液压机械无级变速器(hydro-mechanical continuously variable transmission, HMCVT)对拖拉机燃油经济性的影响,研究拖拉机最佳燃油经济性无级变速控制策略,该文针对发动机和HMCVT二元调节无级变速拖拉机,分析了发动机燃油消耗率和变速器的效率变化特性,提出了以发动机有效燃油消耗率g_e与HMCVT传动效率η_b的比值g_e/η_b为指标的最佳燃油经济性无级变速控制策略及拖拉机负载反馈控制原理。采用参数循环算法,求算出拖拉机在负载特性场内任意工作点下的最佳发动机转速、转矩、HMCVT的最佳变速比,保证了二元协同调节下拖拉机最佳燃油经济性变速控制策略的工程实现。计算结果显示:最佳变速比的分布呈现梯田状,平台部分的最佳变速比对应HMCVT纯机械传动时的工作状态,此时HMCVT处于传动效率最高点,并且在变速器传动效率高于0.92的工作区,最佳变速比的分布比例高达72.84%。相比较一元调节下分别以g_e、g_e/η_b为指标、二元调节下以g_e为指标的3种变速控制策略,明显降低了拖拉机燃油消耗率。牵引功率范围内,当拖拉机在某一目标车速下稳定工作时,在基于g_e/η_b最小化的二元调节变速控制策略调控下,拖拉机更可能在较低油耗状态下工作。表明以g_e/η_b为指标的二元调节拖拉机最佳燃油经济性变速控制策略能够提高拖拉机在任意工况下的燃油经济性。     

拖拉机液压机械无级变速传动系统与发动机的合理匹配

利用发动机的试验测试结果，采用多项式拟合的方法建立了发动机模型，给出了关于发动机的最佳动力性和最佳燃油经济性的转速调节特性。在此基础上研究了发动机与无级变速传动系统的匹配机理。根据不同的作业项目，将拖拉机的作业工况分为3种模式，阐述了各种作业模式下发动机与无级变速传动系统匹配的实现方案。该研究对理解和设计拖拉机液压机械无级变速传动系统，提高拖拉机生产率，具有一定的意义。     

基于参数循环算法的HMCVT燃油经济性多参数优化

为了使有液压机械无级变速器的中小型拖拉机获得更高的燃油经济性,使得拖拉机在任意工况下都能工作在整机经济性最佳的工作点上,该研究结合一种行星比连续可变的液压机械无级变速传动系统(hydro-mechanical continuously variable transmission,HMCVT),提出以发动机燃油消耗率g_e与HMCVT传动效率η_b之比为拖拉机整机经济性目标函数,在考虑发动机转速、转矩和HMCVT变速传动系统中变量泵排量比调节的基础上,加入HMCVT变速传动系统中牵引式行星排的行星比这一辅助变量,对发动机工作点和HMCVT工作点进行多参数调节。然后采用参数循环算法对多参数调节中的控制参数进行优化,得到任意负载和目标车速下的最佳发动机转速、转矩和最佳HMCVT变量泵排量比和牵引式行星排的行星比。随后分析了不同作业车速下牵引式行星排的行星比对拖拉机整机经济性的影响,得到低、中、高3种车速工况下的最佳行星比及排量比,最后从HMCVT的传动效率和变速比两个方面验证多参数调控效果。结果表明,具有排量比和行星比双参数可调的液压机械无级变速传动系统能满足中小型拖拉机的犁耕作业,与国标相比牵引式行星排行星比的加入使拖拉机的燃油消耗率降低29.86%;行星比越大,拖拉机整机比油耗越低。本文提出的多参数控制策略能够保证拖拉机在宽速比和高效率区域下工作,且易于实时调控,研究结果可为推动无级变速拖拉机变速器开发应用和进一步改善拖拉机动力性与燃油经济性提供理论参考。     

基于DEM的无人驾驶拖拉机前馈稳速控制

针对农田坡度变化影响无人驾驶农机行驶速度稳定性,进而降低播种均匀性和肥药施用精度等问题,该研究设计了一种基于农田数字高程模型（digital elevation model,DEM）和前馈控制策略的拖拉机稳速控制方法。首先建立坡地干扰补偿模型,基于拖拉机实时位置从农田DEM中提取前方作业路径的坡度信息,计算拖拉机前方目标速度补偿量,实现拖拉机行驶的稳速控制。以DF1204无级变速拖拉机为试验平台,在中国农业大学烟台研究院开展3组不同目标速度的上坡、平地和下坡行驶对比试验。试验结果表明,拖拉机以目标速度4.0、6.0和8.0 km/h行驶时,上坡行驶的实测速度均值分别为4.03、5.94和7.85 km/h,平地行驶的实测速度均值分别为4.04、6.02和8.03 km/h,下坡行驶的实测速度均值分别为4.00、6.10和8.19 km/h,与对照组相比,在上坡、平地和下坡行驶时的速度均方根误差分别降低了46.63%、21.92%和37.15%,试验组上坡和下坡行驶的实测速度均值更接近目标速度。所提方法可有效提高无人驾驶拖拉机在起伏农田的稳速控制精度,有助于提高农机作业质量。     

油电混合机械液压式拖拉机动力系统节能性

针对大马力拖拉机在道路运输与田间作业过程中由于工况复杂、作业环境恶劣导致油耗高、节能效果差的问题,该研究采用油电混合动力匹配液压机械无级变速器（Hydro-Mechanical Continuously Variable Transmission, HMCVT）的方式,设计了一种油电混合-机液复合拖拉机动力系统,探讨了该系统的驱动模式与传动方式的实现原理并得到液压机械无级变速器的调速曲线;建立了动力系统的数学模型。为实现动力系统最佳性能,制定了整车控制架构,在此基础上提出HMCVT经济性速比控制策略、基于规则的工作模式划分策略和基于自适应等效因子的燃油消耗最小功率分配策略。为验证所提控制策略的可行性,在SimulationX仿真软件中建立系统动力学仿真模型,并基于测功机搭建试验台架进行测试,分别对拖拉机在犁耕、收获和运输3个典型工况下进行仿真与试验。结果表明,所设计的控制策略能够兼顾混合动力源的最佳扭矩分配与电池电量平衡,且动力系统能保持较高的系统效率（40%以上）,犁耕、收获和运输3个工况下油耗仿真值（2.59、6.56和1.69 L）与试验值（2.72、6.80和1.77 L）的误差均不超过5%,模型可靠。与德国农业协会公布的相近功率动力换挡拖拉机和无级变速拖拉机油耗数据相对比,本文所提的控制策略在3种工况下节油9%～20%。研究结果可为多工况作业条件下降低拖拉机能耗提供解决方案。     

基于DF2204无级变速拖拉机的农机无人驾驶系统研制

针对农机无人化作业需求,该研究基于DF2204无级变速拖拉机和机器人操作系统（Robot Operating System,ROS）,研发了一种适于田间作业的农机无人驾驶自主作业系统。系统由控制、规划、安全和总线通信等模块组成。对DF2204无级变速拖拉机进行硬件改造与集成,设计满足农机无人驾驶要求的控制器局域网（Controller Area Network,CAN）总线协议和ROS与CAN总线通信的消息结构,包括5类控制帧和2类状态帧;设计了基于比例-积分-微分（Proportion Integration Differentiation,PID）控制器的横向跟踪与纵向速度控制算法。在北京密云试验田开展田间小麦播种实际作业试验。试验结果表明,消息结构满足50 Hz通信负载,横向跟踪平均绝对误差为2.96 cm,纵向速度平均绝对误差0.19 m/s。研究结果可为无级变速拖拉机的无人化升级改造提供参考,提高农机智能化水平和作业效率。     

谷物联合收割机油耗随机森林预测模型

近年来农业机械保有量不断增加,农业机械对化石燃料的消耗也不断增长。该研究以实现沃得4LB-150AA型号谷物联合收割机田间作业时的油耗预测为目的,基于收割机CAN(Controller Area Network)总线及GNSS(Global Navigation Satellite System)终端采集的发动机工况数据、行驶工况数据,构建了发动机平均扭矩、发动机平均转速、平均速度、加速度均值、减速度均值、加速度方差、减速度方差7个指标,探索了7个指标与油耗之间的相关性,分析了收割机在不同区域的油耗差异,建立了基于随机森林的收割机油耗预测模型。结果表明:7个指标都与油耗存在相关性,其中发动机平均扭矩、发动机平均转速、平均速度与油耗的相关性较高,相关系数在0.6以上,其次是加速度均值、减速度均值、加速度方差、减速度方差,相关系数在0.4以上;并且不同区域的收割机作业油耗存在显著差异,其中单位面积产量高的区域油耗也相对较高;同时基于随机森林的油耗预测模型可以实现收割机作业时油耗的准确预测,均方根误差为0.14 L/h,平均绝对误差为0.24 L/h,决定系数为0.84。该研究提出的方法可为农机的工况优化及精准油耗监管提供参考。     

拖拉机链式金属带功率分流无级变速箱换段品质分析

拖拉机链式金属带功率分流无级变速箱具有多个工作区段,带载换段时容易产生冲击甚至引起动力中断,是该类变速箱研发过程中迫切需要解决的问题。目前该领域研究较少,为了揭示各因素对链式金属带功率分流无级变速拖拉机换段品质的影响规律及作用机理,本研究对其换段过程进行了仿真研究。首先,阐述了所研究拖拉机链式金属带功率分流无级变速箱的传动原理,分别从无级调速特性、牵引特性、PTO功率和燃油经济性等方面对其可行性进行了计算分析;其次,构建了链式金属带功率分流无级变速箱换段液压系统的动力学模型并进行了试验验证,以此为基础,进一步构建了变速箱及拖拉机整机换段动力学模型;最后,给出了换段品质的3项评价指标,并对各因素对换段品质的影响规律及机理进行了仿真研究。仿真结果表明:该变速箱的传动特性与传统机械换挡变速箱相当,但燃油经济性优于传统机械换挡变速箱(低速重载工况下小时油耗降低约0.3 kg/h)和传统金属带无级变速箱(系统比油耗降低约20 g/(kW·h))。此外,较低的发动机转速(1 200 r/min)、适中的充油压力(5 MPa)、较高的充油流量(10 L/min)、理想换段点前换段(提前约0.2 s)与重叠时序换段(重叠约0.2 s)均可改善换段品质,而变速箱输出轴转动惯量、拖拉机质量以及负载等因素对换段品质的影响较为复杂,各项指标对其换段品质的评价并不统一,在拖拉机设计阶段需要综合考虑。链式金属带功率分流无级变速箱非常适合中小功率拖拉机传动,不仅经济,而且换段品质具有可控性,具有继续研究的价值,该研究结果可为中小功率无级变速拖拉机传动系统的设计提供理论支撑。     

基于拖拉机整机效率最大化的液压机械无级变速规律

为了实现对拖拉机多段液压机械无级变速传动(hydro-mechanical continuously variable transmission,HMCVT)在任意稳定行驶速度和许可牵引负载下经济性最佳的控制,该文对拖拉机经济性最佳的无级变速规律进行了研究。根据拖拉机能量传递的特点,考虑HMCVT在不同传动比下存在效率差异的特征,把研究拖拉机的经济性最佳转化为对整车效率最大的研究。在分析整机传动系统效率特性的基础上,针对效率最大的目标函数和约束条件,求解了整车效率数值,结果表明在任意目标车速和牵引负载下,优化后拖拉机整车效率在35%~40%之间,并得出了效率最大时HMCVT最佳传动比、发动机转速和转矩,确定了基于整车效率最大的拖拉机HMCVT传动变速原理。研究表明:基于整车效率最大化原则能够实现拖拉机在任意车速和牵引负载下的整车经济性最佳,根据整车效率最大化确定的拖拉机多段HMCVT经济性最佳无级变速规律,为下一步制定装备多段HMCVT的拖拉机的经济性最佳控制策略提供参考。     

无级变速拖拉机智能变速规律的研究

针对无级变速拖拉机经济性和动力性变速规律只能以固定模式控制拖拉机工作状态的局限性问题，以实现拖拉机瞬态过程的动力性和稳态过程的经济性为目标，建立基于驾驶员操作意图模糊推理的智能变速规律，并可实现瞬态动力性到稳态经济性的平稳过渡，使拖拉机获得最佳的综合性能，为开发智能化无级变速拖拉机提供理论依据。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

Increase in auxiliary photoprotective photosynthetic pigments in wheat seedlings induced by Azospirillum brasilense

Inoculation of wheat seedlings with the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Cd was immobilized in alginate microbeads and, without applying any stress, significantly increased the quantity of several photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and the auxiliary photoprotective pigments violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheroxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin, and β-carotene. This resulted in greener plants with no apparent visible stress. After monitoring the quantity of photosynthetic pigments for 4 weeks, we observed that inoculated plants had higher quantities of pigments in shoot and stem. The greatest difference in the quantity of all pigments between inoculated and noninoculated plants occurred in the first week of growth. Regardless of treatment, the quantity of pigments in stems was three to four times less than the quantity of these pigments in shoots. Application of Azospirillum, either as liquid inoculant or as alginate microbeads, did not alter the positive effect of the bacteria on pigment production or the positive response of the plants towards A. brasilense Cd inoculation.     

In-situ enrichment and analysis of atrazine-degrading microbial communities using atrazine-containing porous beads

We examined the community composition of microbes that colonized atrazine-containing beads buried in agricultural soils that differed in atrazine treatment history. Bacterial abundance was 5-40-fold greater in atrazine-fortified beads. In beads containing 20 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ buried in soil with a history of atrazine application (conditioned soil), the abundance of Actinobacteria increased approximately 80-fold whereas in control soil, Actinobacteria were enriched only 10-fold and the gamma-Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes increased by 60- and 25-fold, respectively. The gamma-Proteobacteria were enriched by 120- and 230-fold in beads containing 200 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ in conditioned and control soil, respectively. The results demonstrate that BioSep^® beads are a suitable matrix for recruiting a diverse subset of the bacterial community involved in atrazine degradation.     

Genetic similarities among Spanisch populations of Agropyron, Elymus and Thinopyrum, using PCR-based markers

Arbitrary oligonucleotides were used as primers to amplifygenomic DNA of 48 wild Spanish populations of Agropyroncristatum, Elymus hispanicus,E. caninus,E. repens,Thinopyrum curvifolium, Th.junceum and Th.intermedium. Genetic diversity was analysedusing nineteen primers. The number of amplified products ranged from8 to 18 per primer and a total of 240 markers were scored. Differentlevels of intraspecific genetic diversity were found, the allogamousspecies E. repens andTh. intermedium being themost variable. Jaccard's similarity coefficients for internalmeasure within and between populations were used to produce a clusterdiagram. The results demonstrate differences in the degree ofsimilarity between taxonomic units. Interpopulational variability andinterspecific genomic relationships of these species arediscussed.     

Mycorrhizae,biocides, and biocontrol. 4. Response of a mixed culture of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and host plant to three fungicides

The effects of three commonly used fungicides on the colonization and sporulation by a mixture of three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi consisting of Glomus etunicatum (Becker & Gerd.), Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe, and Gigaspora rosea (Nicol. & Schenck) in symbiosis with pea plants and the resulting response of the host-plant were examined. Benomyl, PCNB, and captan were applied as soil drenches at a rate of 20 mg active ingredient kg^-1 soil 2 weeks after transplanting pea seedlings in a silty clay-loam soil containing the mixed inocula of AM fungi (AM plants). Effects of fungicides were compared to untreated plants that were inoculated with fungi (AM control). The effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on plant growth was also examined by including nonmycorrhizal, non-fungicide-treated plants (non-AM control). Fungicides or inoculation with AM fungi had only a small effect on the final shoot weights of pea plants, but had greater effects on root length and seed yield. AM control plants had higher seed yields and lower root lengths than the corresponding non-AM plants, and the fungicide-treated AM plants had intermediate yields and root lengths. Seed N and P contents were likewise highest in AM control plants, lowest in non-AM plants, and intermediate in fungicide-treated AM plants. All three fungicides depressed the proportion (%) of root length colonized by AM fungi, but these differences did not translate to reductions in the total root length that was colonized, since roots were longer in the fungicide-treated AM plants. Pea plants apparently compensated for the reduction in AM-fungal metabolism due to fungicides by increasing root growth. Fungicides affected the population of the three fungi as determined by sporulation at the final harvest. Captan significantly reduced the number, relative abundance, and relative volume of G. rosea spores in the final population relative to the controls. The relative volume of G. etunicatum spores was greater in all the fungicide-treated soils, while G. mosseae relative volumes were only greater in the captan-treated soil. These findings show that fungicides can alter the species composition of an AM-fungal community. The results also show that AM fungi can increase seed yield without enhancing the vegetative shoot growth of host plants.