旋耕刀Fe/WC/CeO2等离子堆焊层制备及其组织性能

针对农业触土部件因耐磨性能差、冲击韧性低而导致刀具寿命短、失效频繁等问题,采用等离子堆焊技术在Q235钢基材上成功制备了Fe/WC/CeO2金属陶瓷复合涂层,分析了CeO2对Fe/WC/CeO2金属陶瓷复合涂层性能的影响及其对涂层的作用机理。以堆焊电流、堆焊速度、送粉速率、堆焊距离为试验因素,磨损量为评价指标,通过正交试验优化了Fe/WC/CeO2等离子堆焊层制备工艺参数：堆焊电流50 A,堆焊距离5 mm,堆焊速度15 cm/min,送粉速率25 g/min。利用扫描电子显微镜、X射线衍射仪、能谱仪分析了堆焊层显微组织、物相组成,采用维氏显微硬度计、摩擦磨损试验机、冲击试验机、土槽试验台等测试了堆焊层显微硬度、耐磨性和冲击韧性,利用电化学工作站分析了堆焊层的耐蚀性。结果表明,堆焊层与基体呈良好的冶金结合,涂层主要有鱼骨状、长杆状、球状、六方形状等组织构成,堆焊层主要由γ-Fe、Fe-Cr-Ni固溶体、WC、M7C3、Cr7C3、Cr23C6、W2C等物相组成。与Fe/WC堆焊层相比,Fe/WC/CeO2堆焊层平均显微硬度提高22%,冲击韧性提高29%,耐蚀性提高15%。土槽试验与田间试验表明,与65Mn旋耕刀相比,Fe/WC/CeO2堆焊层旋耕刀的磨损量分别降低71%和65%;与Fe/WC堆焊层旋耕刀相比,Fe/WC/CeO2堆焊层旋耕刀的磨损量分别降低17%和15%。Fe/WC/CeO2堆焊层具有较好的耐磨、耐蚀和耐冲击综合性能,研究结果可为犁铧、深松铲等农业触土部件强化提供参考。     

喷焊余温淬火改善深松铲尖铁基涂层耐磨性

针对深松铲尖耐磨性能差、失效频繁等问题,采用火焰喷焊技术在45钢基体上制备了铁基合金涂层,并利用喷焊后试件余温对其进行了淬火处理。利用扫描电镜、能谱仪、X射线仪分析了涂层显微组织、元素构成及物相组成,利用显微硬度计、磨损试验机测试了涂层显微硬度及磨损性能。结果表明,涂层与基体呈良好冶金结合,淬火涂层主要由碳化物Cr_(23)C_6、Cr_7C_3,硼化物Fe_2B,复合相(Cr,Fe)_7C_3以及固溶体γ-Fe(Cr,Ni,C,Si)等组成。与未淬火涂层相比,组织得到细化,涂层显微硬度平均为800 HV左右,较未淬火涂层提高了约100 HV。淬火涂层试件(45钢基体)和未淬火涂层试件(45钢基体)平均磨损质量分别为0.30和0.35 g;田间试验的涂层淬火深松铲尖(65Mn基体)磨损质量为32 g,无涂层65Mn铲尖为70 g,涂层深松铲尖具有较好的耐磨性,该研究可为延长深松铲尖使用寿命提供参考。     

反应电火花堆焊修复齿轮轴

利用DZ-1400型电火花堆焊机,以工业纯钛TA2为电极,以工业纯氮为保护气和反应气,在45号钢试件表面上制备了TiN金属陶瓷堆焊层。采用KYKY-2800型扫描电镜观察了堆焊层表面形貌、显微组织和磨损形貌,采用D/max-RA型X射线衍射仪分析了堆焊层物相,采用MH-6型显微硬度计测定了堆焊层显微硬度,采用自制磨损实验机对比了堆焊层与淬火回火65Mn钢的磨损性能,分析了电火花堆焊TiN金属陶瓷层用于轴颈修复的可行性。结果表明:反应电火花堆焊TiN金属陶瓷层与母材之间为冶金结合,堆焊层主要由电极材料钛、反应合成的TiN和基体材料铁组成,堆焊层显微硬度高,耐磨性好。变速箱齿轮轴修复实践表明,反应电火花堆焊TiN金属陶瓷层可用于修复损伤轴类件。     

激光淬火及熔覆技术提高柑橘枝粉碎机65Mn钢锤片耐磨性

为了提高柑橘枝粉碎机锤片的摩擦性能,该文主要通过多面激光淬火及激光熔覆技术强化65Mn钢锤片表面。采用金相显微镜、显微硬度计、摩擦磨损试验机等探究激光处理后65Mn钢组织对其显微硬度及摩擦性能的影响。试验结果表明:经激光淬火处理后65Mn钢主要由完全淬火区、不完全淬火区、热影响区及基体组成,经激光熔覆处理后65Mn钢主要由熔覆区、完全淬火区、不完全淬火区、热影响区及基体组成;65Mn钢经激光淬火处理后,其显微硬度最高可达619.8 HV0.1;65Mn钢经激光熔覆处理后,其显微硬度最高可达1 038.4 HV0.1;65Mn钢经水淬-中温回火处理后,其平均显微硬度为585.6 HV0.1;激光淬火处理后65Mn钢表面出现磨粒磨损机制,平均摩擦系数为0.40;65Mn钢经激光熔覆Ni60+35%WC后熔覆层表面出现磨粒磨损机制,平均摩擦系数为0.36;水淬-中温回火热处理后65Mn钢表面出现粘着磨损机制,平均摩擦系数为0.41;由此可见,65Mn钢锤片经激光熔覆处理后摩擦性能较好。该研究可为锤片耐磨性提升提供参考。     

铝热剂法原位合成农机刀具 Al2O3-Ti(C,N)复合涂层组织结构及性能

为了提高旋耕刀、犁铧等农机触土刀具表面强度,以铝热剂的放热反应提供内在热源、等离子弧作为外在热源,采用反应等离子熔覆技术在Q235钢表面原位合成了Al_2O_3-Ti(C,N)复合材料涂层。利用扫描电镜、能谱仪、X射线衍射仪、显微硬度计、金相显微镜等对复合涂层的微观结构及强质硬化相的成分、组织及性能进行了分析。结果表明:涂层与基体呈冶金结合,涂层主要由网状、嵌套、球状等3种结构组成,硬质相Al_2O_3、Ti(C,N)与粘结相Fe-Ni之间相互包裹、互相嵌套,构形成空间网状骨架结构;涂层硬度最高可达HV_(0.5)2160,平均硬度HV_(0.5)1870,约为基体Q235钢的7.7倍;涂层摩擦系数约为0.372,其磨损量约为65Mn钢及Q235钢的1/7和1/17,与基体相比,复合涂层具有较高的硬度和较好的摩擦磨损性能,可以为农机材料表面强化提供参考。     

适宜碳化钨含量提高Ti(C,N)-WC涂层耐磨耐蚀性

为了提高农机关键部件表面强度,采用反应等离子熔覆技术,在Q235B钢表面制备了不同碳化钨WC含量的Ti(C,N)-WC金属陶瓷复合涂层。利用扫描电镜、X射线衍射仪、显微硬度计、摩擦磨损试验机、电化学工作站对复合涂层的形貌、物相及其耐磨耐蚀性进行了分析,并与Q235B钢进行了硬度、耐磨耐蚀性对比试验。结果表明:涂层组织主要由硬质相、包覆相、粘结相组成,涂层与基体呈冶金结合;在一定范围内,随着WC含量的增加,涂层的显微硬度及耐磨耐蚀性能都有所增强,当WC质量分数为12%时涂层的耐磨耐蚀性能最优,12%WC涂层与Q235B钢基体相比,涂层硬度提高了6倍,摩擦系数为基体的2/5,磨损量为基体的1/16;在5%H2SO4溶液中,12%WC涂层的腐蚀速率为Q235B钢的1/9,在3.5%NaCl溶液中,12%WC涂层的腐蚀速率为Q235B钢的1/4,涂层较基体有更好的耐磨性、耐蚀性,该研究以期为农机材料强化提供参考。     

开沟器铲尖表面等离子熔覆Mo2FeB2涂层制备及其磨损性能

为了解决开沟器铲尖耕作过程中耐磨性差、易失效的问题,利用等离子熔覆技术在开沟器铲尖表面制备Mo₂FeB₂金属陶瓷涂层,并对其微观组织结构、物相组成、显微硬度以及耐磨性能进行研究。通过正交试验得到熔覆层制备的最优工艺参数组合为：熔覆电流80 A,熔覆距离10 mm,熔覆速度20 cm/min,并以此来制备耐磨熔覆层。结果表明,熔覆层与基体呈现良好冶金结合,其组织主要由方形、蝶状、十字镖形、树形以及不规则长条状的硬质相、网状共晶组织和铁基粘结相组成,其主要物相组成为Mo₂FeB₂、M₃B₂(M: Mo, Fe, Cr)、(Cr, Fe)₇C₃、MoB、CrB、Fe₂B以及Fe-Cr固溶体。熔覆层的平均显微硬度为9618 MPa,为开沟器铲尖基体的2.79倍。相同工况下的磨损试验表明熔覆层的平均磨损量（19.20 mg）和平均摩擦系数（0.294）与基体相比分别降低了52.9%和42.4%;不同载荷下的磨损试验表明,随着载荷的增加,熔覆层与基体的摩擦系数呈现逐渐减小的趋势,但熔覆层的整体摩擦系数均低于基体,且其磨损形貌较基体轻微。土槽试验结果表明,熔覆层开沟器铲尖的平均磨损量（4.60 g）比常规开沟器铲尖（15.54 g）降低了70.4%;田间试验结果表明,在实际土壤环境中,开沟器铲尖熔覆层的平均磨损量（34.34 g）仅为常规开沟器铲尖（79.06 g）的43.4%,通过对比磨损形貌发现,熔覆层的存在可以有效抵御土壤磨损,使开沟器铲尖在经过长时间的磨损后能最大程度的保持原貌,从而使其表现出优异的耐磨性能。该研究结果可为提高农机触土部件的耐磨性提供理论参考和可行技术方案。     

渗碳工艺对高速液压翻转犁犁尖部件耐磨性的影响

针对在犁尖部件的局部区域堆焊硬质合金层仍无法解决现有国产犁尖整体耐磨性不足的问题,该研究对高速液压翻转犁犁尖部件整体采用渗碳-淬火-回火处理,并探讨了该工艺对犁尖微观组织与耐磨性的影响机制。研究结果表明,经渗碳-淬火-回火（Carburizing-Quenching-Tempering）工艺处理后的犁尖（CQT态犁尖）近表层最大碳质量分数约为0.70%,渗层深度约为2.5 mm,其表层组织为针状马氏体（高硬度）+残余奥氏体+少量碳化物,芯部组织则以板条马氏体（高强韧性）为主,这与经淬火-回火（Quenching-Tempering）工艺处理后的犁尖（QT态犁尖）中的板条马氏体+先共析铁素体组织明显不同,微观组织的改善使CQT态犁尖近表层的显微硬度较QT态犁尖提高56%。同时,与QT态犁尖相比,CQT态犁尖芯部的屈服强度和抗拉强度分别提升16%和20%。摩擦磨损试验及田间试验表明,CQT态犁尖的平均摩擦系数较QT态犁尖下降约22%,耕作120 hm2后的CQT态犁尖的磨损量较QT态犁尖降低37%,这主要归因于渗碳层中含有高硬度针状马氏体及残余奥氏体的应变诱导马氏体相变的综合强化作用。此外,与QT态犁尖相比,CQT态犁尖的耐磨性更高,使其具有更大的表面积,这有利于通过减小犁尖单位面积上的载荷和摩擦放热量来减轻待磨层材料蠕变软化的倾向,从而提高CQT态犁尖的耐磨性。上述研究结果可望为改善农机触土部件的耐磨性提供可行的技术方案。     

鞭式刀具的失效及火焰喷焊NiWC强化的可行性研究

为解决秸秆根茬切碎还田机鞭式刀具成本高、寿命短的问题，在45#钢基体上制备了火焰喷焊Ni60和NiWC喷焊层。分析了鞭式刀具的失效机理；用金相显微镜观察了刀具的宏观磨损形貌和喷焊层的结合状况；运用能模拟刀具实际工作状况的自制磨损试验机进行了磨损实验，对比了65Mn淬火回火与火焰喷焊Ni60和NiWC喷焊强化刀具的耐磨性能；探讨了火焰喷焊NiWC喷焊层用于鞭式刀具强化的可行性。结果表明，火焰喷焊NiWC喷焊层具有良好的耐磨性，可用于秸秆根茬切碎还田机鞭式刀具的表面强化和修复。     

鼹鼠趾仿生及表面热处理提高齿形开沟刀减阻耐磨性能

为提高农用开沟机械开沟刀的减阻耐磨性能,该文针对课题组前期研制的齿形开沟刀,利用仿生结构和不同表面热处理对原齿形开沟刀进行优化。以鼹鼠前爪第3趾为仿生对象,设计了仿生开沟刀。使用EDEM软件进行模拟仿真试验,通过分析齿形开沟刀和仿生开沟刀的开沟功耗,对比2种刀片的减阻性能;进行台架磨损试验,利用金相显微镜、显微硬度仪、摩擦磨损试验机分析5种表面热处理仿生开沟刀的耐磨性能。单齿仿真试验发现,仿生开沟刀刀齿的整体三维表面结构特征有利于减阻。仿真试验结果表明沟深为150、200、250、300和350 mm时,仿生开沟刀比齿形开沟刀的开沟功耗分别降低9.68%、10.44%、10.22%、10.70%和10.95%,仿生开沟刀的减阻性能更优。台架磨损试验结果表明,渗铬淬火高温回火(Ⅱ型刀)、渗碳淬火低温回火(Ⅲ型刀)、激光熔覆WC/Ni60A粉末合金(Ⅳ型刀)和氧乙炔火焰堆焊铸造WC焊条(Ⅴ型刀)比淬火中温回火(Ⅰ型刀)处理的仿生开沟刀的磨损质量分别降低14.17%、42.05%、66.98%和75.96%,Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ型刀的耐磨性能依次提高,Ⅴ型刀最优。5种刀片组织结构、显微硬度和摩擦系数的分析结果表明,Ⅰ、Ⅱ和Ⅲ型刀的硬化层显微组织主要为淬火和回火马氏体,Ⅳ和Ⅴ型刀主要为WC硬质相,Ⅳ和Ⅴ型刀的组织结构更优;Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ型刀的平均显微硬度为558、700、888、1 195和1 441 HV0.1;平均摩擦系数为0.67、0.57、0.26、0.25和0.22,Ⅴ型刀的显微硬度和摩擦系数最优,与台架磨损试验结果相一致。田间试验结果表明,优化后的Ⅲ型和Ⅴ型刀比原来齿形开沟刀的开沟功耗分别降低11.45%和5.41%,磨损质量分别降低28.26%和82.63%,仿生结构优化与表面热处理能够提高齿形开沟刀的减阻耐磨性能。该研究可为提高开沟刀减阻耐磨性能提供参考。     

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。     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

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.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

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,     

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,     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

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.