氮肥高效施用在低碳农业中的关键作用

低碳农业是我国集约化农业发展的必然趋势。深入理解氮肥高效施用是实现低碳农业的关键,可以更加明确如何集成优化农业管理措施增加产量、减少农田生态系统碳排放、提高土壤固碳效应,综合实现固碳、减排、增产的低碳农业发展目标。本文概述了低碳农业评价指标的三个阶段性研究特点,从田间温室气体排放的综合温室效应拓展为涵盖固碳效应的净温室效应,再拓展为涵盖生命周期评价碳排放的综合净温室效应以及兼顾作物产量的温室气体强度。提出了如何利用当季作物试验来估算农田生态系统净碳收支、结合生命周期评价当季作物综合净温室效应和单位产品温室气体强度的方法。按照现阶段低碳农业的评价指标,以我国稻–麦轮作生态系统集约化生产的低碳农业模式为案例,解析氮肥施用在低碳农业各组成包括作物产量、固碳效应、CH₄和N₂O排放、农业措施碳排放中的重要作用,明确氮肥高效施用在农田生态系统综合净温室效应和温室气体强度中的关键作用,从而实现低碳农业可持续发展。     

三江平原水稻生产的碳足迹评价

农田作为重要的陆地生态系统,人们在生产过程中为追求产量,往往会使用大量农药、化肥等化学物质,导致农业生产成为温室气体排放的一个重要源头。三江平原位于黑龙江省东北部,水稻作为这一地区的主要农产品,在种植过程中往往释放大量温室气体,对生态环境造成一定影响。本文在稻田温室气体排放观测研究的基础上,应用生命周期评价(LCA)方法,计算了三江平原地区水稻生产的碳足迹。结果表明,三江平原地区水稻全生命周期生产的碳足迹为0.500 8 t(CE)·t^-1,其中CH₄排放量占全部碳足迹的71.8%,N₂O排放量占全部碳足迹的8.68%,温室气体占到了全部碳足迹的80.4%,是最为主要的碳排放源。化肥和农药施用所产生的碳排放占到了总碳排放的15.6%,机械化生产过程中所消耗的柴油碳排放,仅占到了总碳排放的3.99%。因此,三江平原地区水稻生产的碳排放控制应以控制温室气体排放为主体,改变以淹灌为主的传统水稻灌溉模式,大力推广水稻节水减排灌溉新技术,配以合理的施肥技术和田间管理方式,推广低温室气体排放的水稻品种,以达到低碳排放的环境友好型水稻...     

藏北高寒草甸温室气体排放对长期增温的响应

为深入认识高寒草甸温室气体通量对长期气候变暖的响应,利用开顶式生长室（OTC,Open Top Chamber）模拟增温2a（2Y,2015-2016年）和6a（6Y,2011-2016年）对藏北高寒草甸生长季CO₂、CH₄和N₂O通量的影响。结果表明：与对照相比,生长季（6-8月）增温6Y处理和增温2Y处理分别增加和降低高寒草甸土壤CO₂排放通量,其中7月增温6Y处理CO₂排放通量显著高于增温2Y处理;增温6Y和2Y处理增加了高寒草甸CH₄吸收通量,但是处理间差异均不显著;高寒草甸N₂O排放通量表现为增温6Y＞2Y＞CK,处理间无显著差异。环境因子与温室气体排放通量的相关分析表明,CO₂、CH₄和N₂O排放通量与0～5cm土壤温度相关不显著;土壤湿度、植物地上生物量、微生物生物量碳和蔗糖酶是影响高寒草甸CO₂排放通量的关键因子;NO₃--N是影响CH₄吸收通量的关键因素;脲酶和NO₃--N是影响N₂O排放通量的主要因子。因此,增温6Y处理通过增加植物地上部生物量、蔗糖酶活性,从而提高了土壤CO₂排放通量,增温6Y和2Y处理通过增加土壤脲酶和NO₃--N含量,从而促进了土壤N₂O排放和CH₄的吸收通量。     

有机肥和缓控肥替代部分化肥降低双季稻田综合净温室效应

  【目的】  秸秆还田是我国水稻生产中的常规土壤培肥措施，在此背景下，进一步研究有机肥和包膜尿素替代部分普通尿素，以及施用硅肥和微量元素对土壤固碳效应和温室气体排放的影响及机理，为实现稻田“固碳减排”提供依据。  【方法】  江西高安县的双季稻田间定位试验始于2013年。在秸秆全部还田、早稻施N165 kg/hm2和晚稻施N 195 kg/hm2条件下，设置4个氮素处理: 100%普通尿素氮 (CK)；用20%有机肥氮替代普通尿素氮 (N1)；在N1基础上增加Si、Zn和S肥 (N2)；在N2基础上用30%的包膜尿素氮替代普通尿素氮 (N3)。于收获期测定作物产量和地上部生物量，2016年测定了早稻和晚稻生育期温室气体 (CO₂、N₂O和CH₄) 排放量。  【结果】  与早稻季相比，晚稻季温室气体排放总量较高，其中晚稻季CH₄排放量是早稻季的4倍 (P < 0.05)，生态系统呼吸增加了7.5%～9.3% (P > 0.05)。同一季节4个处理间生态系统呼吸没有显著差异；N₂O排放量以CK 最高，其中早稻季CK处理比N1、N2和N3处理分别增加31.7%、27.2%和43.7%，晚稻季分别增加20.0%、31.5%和40.6% (P < 0.05)；与CK处理相比，有机肥替代处理显著增加了CH₄的排放量，其中早稻季N1、N2和N3处理分别增加了13.1%、13.9%和21.4%，晚稻季分别增加了19.4%、12.7%和13.7% (P < 0.05)。利用地上部生物量估计当季/年尺度土壤固碳效应，晚稻季有机肥处理 (N1、N2和N3) 与CK相比增加显著 (P < 0.05)；2016年早稻产量比晚稻提高30%，所以早稻季综合净温室效应是负值 (碳汇)，而晚稻季是正值 (碳源)，全年总计为碳源，这表明稻田产生温室效应。与CK处理相比，有机肥和包膜尿素配施处理 (N3) 显著降低了全年综合净温室效应。  【结论】  连续4年的田间试验结果表明，在秸秆还田基础上，用有机肥部分替代普通尿素可显著增加CH₄排放，但又显著降低N₂O排放且增加土壤固碳效应。综合考虑，有机肥投入会显著降低双季稻田综合净温室效应。使用包膜尿素替代部分普通尿素可有效降低施用有机肥产生的CH₄排放，且通过提高产量进一步降低双季稻生产系统的综合净温室效应。而施用中、微量元素肥料对综合净温室效应没有显著正效应。由于晚稻的温室气体排放量高于早稻，因此，通过优化施肥技术提高早稻产量是降低双季稻年度温室气体排放的有效措施。     

不同灌溉模式和施氮处理下稻田 CH4 和 N2O 排放

【目的】研究不同灌溉模式和施氮处理稻田 CH₄ 和 N₂O 的排放规律、综合增温潜势和综合排放强度,以期获得降低稻田 CH₄ 和 N₂O 排放的灌溉模式和施氮管理。【方法】2015～2016 年在广西南宁市灌溉试验站进行晚稻和早稻大田试验,两次试验均设 3 种灌溉模式:常规灌溉 (CIR)、“薄浅湿晒 ”灌溉 (TIR) 和干湿交替灌溉 (DIR)。 2 种尿素-N 和猪粪-N 比例:100% 尿素-N (FM1),50% 尿素-N + 50% 猪粪-N (FM2)。共设 CIR-FM1、TIR-FM1、DIR-FM1、CIR-FM2、TIR-FM2 和 DIR-FM2 6 个处理,用静态箱–气相色谱法测定了水稻生育期内稻田 CH₄ 和 N₂O 排放通量,分析了早晚稻生育期内 CH₄ 和 N₂O 累积排放量和综合增温潜势,并结合产量分析了 CH₄ 和 N₂O 综合排放强度。【结果】DIR 下 FM2 处理早稻产量和两季总产量比 FM1 处理分别提高 18.8% 和 17.7%,FM2 下 TIR 和 DIR 模式早稻产量分别比 CIR 模式提高 20.9% 和 37.4% 以及 DIR 模式两季总产量比 CIR 模式提高 21.5%。不同处理早晚稻生育前期 CH₄ 排放通量较高,生育中后期 CH₄ 排放通量较低。水稻生育期内 TIR 和 DIR 模式 CH₄ 累积排放量低于 CIR 模式,FM1 处理 CH₄ 累积排放量低于 FM2 处理。不同处理早晚稻生育前期 N₂O 的排放通量为负值或者较低,N₂O 排放主要集中在晒田完成复水之后及成熟期稻田水分落干时,DIR 模式 N₂O 累积排放量显著高于 CIR 模式,FM2 处理 N₂O 累积排放量高于 FM1 处理。不同处理稻田 CH₄ 和 N₂O 的排放彼此间存在消长关系。CH₄ 对综合增温潜势的贡献率达 99% 以上,而 N₂O 的贡献率不足 1%。3 种灌溉模式下 FM1 处理 CH₄ 或 N₂O 增温潜势、CH₄ 和 N₂O 综合增温潜势和排放强度均低于 FM2 处理,2 种施氮处理下 TIR 和 DIR 模式 CH₄ 和 N₂O 综合增温潜势和排放强度低于 CIR 模式。【结论】与常规灌溉相比,“薄浅湿晒”灌溉水稻产量和 N₂O 排放有所提高,但是降低 CH₄ 排放量及 CH₄ 和 N₂O 综合增温潜势和排放强度;干湿交替灌溉增加水稻产量和 N₂O 排放,但是降低 CH₄ 的排放量及 CH₄ 和 N₂O 综合增温潜势和排放强度,因此,“薄浅湿晒”和干湿交替灌溉模式是有效降低稻田 CH₄ 和 N₂O 综合增温潜势和排放强度的两种灌溉模式。在这两种灌溉方式下,与猪粪尿素配施相比,单施尿素显著降低 CH₄ 和 N₂O 综合增温潜势和排放强度。     

有机肥和秸秆炭分别替代部分尿素和秸秆降低黑土温室效应的效果

【目的】 农田条件下研究用有机肥替代部分尿素、用秸秆生物炭替代秸秆对黑土有机质提升和温室气体排放的影响,为秸秆有效还田和“固碳减排”提供理论依据。 【方法】 2013—2015年在东北典型春玉米区进行田间定位试验,所有处理采用相同方法施用同量磷钾化肥,磷肥为磷酸氢二铵 (P₅O₂ 60 kg/hm2),钾肥为硫酸钾 (K₂O 75 kg/hm2),在施用4 t/hm2玉米秸秆前提下,设置:1) 不施尿素氮 (N0);2) 尿素氮100% (N 165 kg/hm2,N1);3) 尿素氮60% + 有机肥氮20% + 缓释氮20% (N2)。另外,处理4) 除了用2 t/hm2玉米秸秆炭替代4 t/hm2玉米秸秆外,其他与N2一致 (N3)。各生育期测定生态系统温室气体 (CO₂、N₂O和CH₄) 排放量,收获期测定作物产量和地上部生物量。 【结果】 N1、N2、N3处理间玉米产量差异不显著。在等氮条件下,N1、N2、N3处理生态系统CO₂排放分别为13170、10521、9994 kg/hm2,N2和N3处理降低CO₂排放的效果显著好于N1,N2和N3处理差异不显著 (P < 0.05),N1、N2、N3处理N ₂O累积排放分别为6.092、6.597、3.604 kg/hm2,N3降低N₂O累积排放的效果显著好于N1和N2处理;N1、N2、N3处理CH₄累积排放分别为0.694、1.652、–2.107 kg/hm2,N3处理降低CH₄累积排放的效果显著好于N1和N2处理。农田系统净碳收支 (NECB,除土壤固碳外,作物?土壤系统产生的碳收支,如作物光合、呼吸和产量移出等),N2处理为C 766.5 kg/hm2,是碳汇,而N1和N3处理是碳源 (C ?621.3 kg/hm 2和?673.3 kg/hm2)。当季作物尺度上用NECB估算的土壤固碳效应N1、N2和N3处理分别为C ?142.9、176.3、1385.1 kg/hm 2,N3处理土壤固碳效应显著好于N2和N1处理。在化肥生产和运输以及农事操作等投入产生的间接碳排放量方面,化肥氮是农业投入的主要碳源,分别占N1、N2和N3处理农业投入的73%、71%和66%。综合考虑农事操作带来的碳排放,化学品投入带来的碳排放,以及农田系统温室气体排放和土壤固碳的收支,综合净温室效应N1、N2、N3处理分别为2535.2、1488.2、–3769.7 CO₂ eq. kg/hm2,只有N3处理是碳汇。 【结论】 在供试黑土条件下,用有机肥替代部分化肥增加生态系统净碳收入;用秸秆生物炭替代秸秆显著增加土壤固碳效应、减少N₂O排放;从综合净温室效应看,有机肥与秸秆生物炭分别替代部分化肥与秸秆“固碳减排”效果最佳。      

生物质炭和腐殖质对稻田土壤CH4和N2O排放的影响

为探讨生物质炭与腐殖质单独施用与配合施用对稻田土壤CH₄和N₂O气体排放以及水稻产量的影响。以浙江临安潜育性水稻土的稻田系统为研究对象,设置2个水稻秸秆生物质炭添加水平(0,20 t/hm²)和3个腐殖质水平(0,0.6,1.2 t/hm²),共6个处理,分别为:(1)B0F0(对照,不添加生物质炭和腐殖质);(2)B0F1(腐殖质用量为0.6 t/hm²);(3)B0F2(腐殖质用量为1.2 t/hm²);(4)B1F0(生物质炭用量为20 t/hm²);(5)B1F1(生物质炭和腐殖质用量分别为20,0.6 t/hm²);(6)B1F2(生物质炭和腐殖质用量分别为20,1.2 t/hm²),研究生物质炭和腐殖质输入对水稻产量、稻田CH₄和N₂O气体排放的影响。结果表明:(1)与B0F0相比,单独施用生物质炭和腐殖质或生物质炭与腐殖质配施均降低了土壤CH₄累积排放量,但增加了土壤N₂O累积排放量;(2)生物质炭处理对GWP(global warming potential)和GHGI(greenhouse gas intensity)没有显著影响(P>0.05),腐殖质处理显著降低了GWP和GHGI(P<0.05),生物质炭和腐殖质对GWP和GHGI存在显著交互作用(P<0.05);(3)与B0F0相比,单独施用生物质炭和腐殖质或者生物质炭与腐殖质配施均能在一定程度上减少单位水稻产量的温室气体排放强度(GHGI),B0F2处理的GHGI最低,表明单施腐殖质处理(腐殖质用量为1.2 t/hm²)稻田土壤的减排效果和环境效应最好。研究结果为进一步探讨稻田土壤固碳减排提供数据支撑和理论依据。     

生物质炭对不同植被类型土壤温室气体排放影响研究进展

土壤生态系统是温室气体排放的主要来源之一，降低土壤温室气体排放对于缓解全球变暖具有重要意义。近年来，生物质炭在改良土壤性质、提高土壤碳汇和影响土壤温室气体排放方面展现出了巨大的潜力。因此，关于施加生物质炭对土壤温室气体排放影响的研究已经成为了环境科学和农业生态领域的研究热点。然而，生物质炭对土壤温室气体净排放的影响是促进还是抑制尚无统一定论。不同植被类型条件下土壤温室气体排放也存在较大差异，故而研究添加生物质炭对不同植被类型土壤温室气体排放的影响至关重要。本文综述了添加生物质炭对林地、农田及设施蔬菜土壤中CO₂、CH₄和N₂O排放的影响，探讨了生物质炭对土壤温室气体排放的作用机制。总结发现，不同植被类型土壤添加生物质炭将降低土壤N2O的排放，并且增加土地对CH4的吸收，而对CO₂排放的影响没有统一定论。结合国内外生物质炭在该领域的研究现状，未来需开展生物质炭在土壤温室气体减排领域的长期系统研究，同时应充分考虑使用生物质炭可能存在的潜在环境风险，以期为生物质炭在土壤温室气体减排中的应用提供可靠的科学依...     

玛纳斯河流域不同灌区棉田土壤CO2和N2O排放通量

为探究石河子灌区、新湖总场灌区、莫索湾灌区之间土壤温室气体排放的差异性,通过长期的野外观测及样品采集,采用静态箱—气相色谱法,于2019年棉花出苗期、花铃期、吐絮期对玛纳斯河流域石河子灌区、新湖总场灌区、莫索湾灌区棉田土壤温室气体进行日观测,应用统计学方法,并结合土壤温度、含水量、pH、有机碳、铵态氮、硝态氮等因素分析。结果表明：(1)土壤CO₂和N₂O具有明显的季节变化和日变化,土壤CO₂和N₂O排放通量的峰值出现在花铃期,分别为527.160,1.713 mg/(m²·h)。同时,CO₂排放通量日变化峰值出现在13:00,N₂O排放通量日变化峰值出现在17:00,表现为单峰曲线。2种土壤温室气体在生育期内的排放通量在不同灌区之间有所差异,呈现出新湖总场灌区>莫索湾灌区>石河子灌区。(2)土壤CO₂和N₂O排放通量受温度影响更为显著,土壤CO₂和N     

添加秸秆及其生物质炭对淹水条件下砖红壤N2O和CH4排放的影响

为探讨添加秸秆及其生物质炭对淹水条件下砖红壤N₂O和CH₄排放的影响,以海南砖红壤为供试土壤,设置了玉米秸秆（Straw）、生物质炭（Biochar）、秸秆 + 生物质炭（Mix）和对照（CK）4个处理,探讨了等秸秆用量条件下添加不同秸秆形态对土壤氧化亚氮（N₂O）和甲烷（CH₄）排放的影响及形成强还原环境的可行性。结果表明:与CK处理相比,三个处理均可显著降低土壤N₂O累计排放量,但仅Straw处理可显著促进土壤CH₄排放、其它两个处理对土壤CH₄排放影响不显著,致使straw处理综合温室效应增加明显。与CK处理相比,与Mix处理5天内土壤氧化还原电位（Eh）显著下降,而Biochar处理土壤Eh变化不显著;三个处理均使土壤pH上升、但Straw与Biochar处理之间差异不显著,Mix处理土壤有机碳、全氮及速效钾含量显著增加。因此,玉米秸秆及其生物质炭的配合施用,既可有效降低淹水条件下海南砖红壤排放CH₄和N₂O的综合温室效应,还能改善土壤养分状况但易于形成强还原条件。     

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.