Candidate halophytic grasses for addressing land degradation: Shoot responses of Sporobolus airoides and Paspalum vaginatum to weekly increasing NaCl concentration

In many arid and semiarid regions worldwide, high levels of soil salinity is a key driver of land degradation, as well as a key impediment to re-establishing plant cover. Combating land degradation and erosion associated with soil salinity requires experimental determination of plant species that can grow in soils with high levels of salinity and can be used to re-establish plant cover. Herein, we evaluated the responses of untested candidate cultivars of two halophytic grass species to high soil salinity: alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides Torr.) and seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz). We evaluated the growth responses of both species in a greenhouse under control (no-salt) and various levels of NaCl salinity (EC 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, and 48?dSm^?1) using Hoagland solution in a hydroponics system in a randomized complete block design trial. At all salinity levels, sacaton grass had a greater shoot height, shorter root length, lower shoot fresh and dry weights, and poorer color and general quality compared to seashore paspalum. The shoot fresh and dry weights of both grasses were greatest at the low to medium levels of salinity, with the greatest response observed at EC 16?dSm^?1. At the highest level, salinity significantly reduced shoot fresh and dry weights of both grasses. Because growth of both halophytic species exhibited high tolerance to salinity stress and were stimulated under low to medium levels of salinity, both species could be considered suitable candidates for re-establishing plant cover in drylands to combat desertification and land degradation associated with high levels of soil salinity.     

莫索湾垦区荒漠化土地物理特性研究

荒漠化是通过一种或多种营力过程造成的土地退化过程。本文选取莫索湾垦区风力作用和物理作用所造成的沙质荒漠化,泥质荒漠化和碱化土地为样品,通过土壤的机械组成分析,土壤饱和含水率,容重和田间持水量,以及入渗率的测试,定量地研究了土壤在荒漠化过程中物理性质的变化。     

Soil organic matter amendments in date palm groves of the Middle Eastern and North African region: a mini-review

Countries in the Middle Eastern and North African(MENA) region are among the most water-scarce regions in the world, and their dryland soils are usually poor in organic carbon content(<0.5%). In this study, we summarize examples of how people in the few oases of the MENA region overcome environmental challenges by sustainably managing economically important date production. On the basis of the limited studies found in the existing literature, this mini-review focuses on the role of traditional soil organic matter amendments beneath the soil surface as a key tool in land restoration. We conclude that soil organic matter amendments can be very successful in restoring soil water and preventing the soil from salinization.     

Potato brown rot incidence and severity under different management and amendment regimes in different soil types

Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2, the causative agent of potato brown rot (bacterial wilt), is an economically important disease in tropical, subtropical and temperate regions of the world. In view of previous reports on suppression of the disease by organic amendments, and the expansion of organic agriculture, it was timely to compare the effects of organic and conventional management and various amendments on brown rot development in different soils (type: sand or clay; origin: Egypt or the Netherlands). Brown rot infection was only slightly reduced in organically compared to conventionally managed sandy soils from Egypt, but organic management significantly increased disease incidence and pathogen survival in Dutch sandy and clay soils, which correlated with high DOC contents in the organic Dutch soils. There was no correlation between disease incidence or severity and bacterial diversity in the potato rhizosphere in differently managed soils (as determined by 16S DGGE). NPK fertilization reduced bacterial wilt in conventional Egyptian soils but not in Dutch soils. Cow manure amendment significantly reduced disease incidence in organic Dutch sandy soils, but did not affect the bacterial population. However, cow manure did reduce densities of R. solanacearum in Egyptian sandy soils, most probably by microbial competition as a clear shift in populations was detected with DGGE in these and Dutch sandy soils after manure amendment. Amendment with compost did not have a suppressive effect in any soil type. The absence of a disease suppressive effect of mineral and organic fertilization in Dutch clay soils may be related to the already high availability of inorganic and organic nutrients in these soils. This study shows that the mechanism of disease suppression of soil-borne plant pathogens may vary strongly according to the soil type, especially if quite different types of soil are used.     

宁夏平罗县几种典型土壤修正系数的确定

土壤修正系数是估算一个地区土壤生产潜力的关键。通过小麦盆栽实验,运用最低限制因子律模型对平罗县的盐土、碱土、改良盐碱土和灌淤土进行土壤修正系数的估算,得出盐土、碱土的修正系数分别为0.3045和0.2206,改良盐碱土为0.4806,灌淤土为0.6188。结果表明:灌淤土最适宜于种植,且它的生产潜力最高,改良盐碱土次之,盐土和碱土最小。土壤养分是这四种供试土壤生产潜力的主要限制因素;且土壤结构以及土壤盐分也是当地盐土和碱土生产潜力的主要限制因子,可通过适当的改良措施和合理施肥提高生产潜力。     

神东矿区复垦地土壤酶活性变化和分布特征

土壤酶活性可用于衡量土壤养分供应能力及土壤质量,而其季节变化可反映养分供应与植物需求的耦合关系。以马家塔矿复垦地为研究对象,对不同植物群落下土壤酶活性的季节变化进行了监测,结果表明:复垦土壤的表层过氧化氢酶、脲酶、磷酸酶和蔗糖酶活性均显著高于下层和对照的原状土壤,说明复垦可以提高土壤的酶活性。不同植被下土壤的酶活性大小总体上以苜蓿、油蒿、桧柏和侧柏对土壤质量的贡献较大。4种酶活性的动态变化趋势基本相同,都表现为前期先增加,增加到最大值后又开始下降,总体上均以夏季(7-8月份)活性最高。酶活性的变化和大小可以体现有机质含量的变化和转化方向,也能体现基础氮素的变化方向,复垦后酶活性提高,但是和农田土壤相比还有一定差距,所以复垦工作还需继续开展。     

有机改良剂在防治植物土传病害中的应用

 本文综述了有机改良剂的类型及其在防治作物土传病害的应用情况,包括壳质粗粉、植物残体、绿肥、饼肥、堆肥和粪肥;概括了有机改良剂的防病机制,如直接的抑菌作用、对土壤微生物区系的调节、诱导抗病性、改良土壤结构和促进植物生长等;讨论了当前有机改良剂防治作物土传病害研究存在的一些问题及今后应重点研究的课题,并对有机改良剂防治植物病害在未来的发展前景提出了自己的看法。     

高寒草甸退化对土壤电导率变化影响的研究

土壤电导率是表征土壤水溶性盐的一个重要指标,可反映土壤盐渍化程度.为了研究高寒草甸退化对土壤电导率的影响,以三江源区未退化高寒草甸和退化高寒草甸为研究对象,系统分析了退化高寒草甸的植被特征和土壤特征与土壤电导率的相互关系.结果表明:高寒草甸退化会对土壤电导率产生显著负影响,且土壤电导率与评价高寒草甸的退化指标植被盖度、...     

Effects of cotton field management practices on soil CO2 emission and C balance in an arid region of Northwest China

Changes in both soil organic C storage and soil respiration in farmland ecosystems may affect atmospheric CO2 concentration and global C cycle. The objective of this field experiment was to study the effects of three crop field management practices on soil CO2 emission and C balance in a cotton field in an arid region of Northwest China. The three management practices were irrigation methods（drip and flood）, stubble managements（stubble-incorporated and stubble-removed） and fertilizer amendments（no fertilizer（CK）, chicken manure（OM）, inorganic N, P and K fertilizer（NPK）, and inorganic fertilizer plus chicken manure（NPK＋OM））. The results showed that within the C pool range, soil CO2 emission during the whole growing season was higher in the drip irrigation treatment than in the corresponding flood irrigation treatment, while soil organic C concentration was larger in the flood irrigation treatment than in the corresponding drip irrigation treatment. Furthermore, soil CO2 emission and organic C concentration were all higher in the stubble-incorporated treatment than in the corresponding stubble-removed treatment, and larger in the NPK＋OM treatment than in the other three fertilizer amendments within the C pool range. The combination of flood irrigation, stubble incorporation and application of either NPK＋OM or OM increased soil organic C concentration in the 0-60 cm soil depth. Calculation of net ecosystem productivity（NEP） under different management practices indicated that the combination of drip irrigation, stubble incorporation and NPK＋OM increased the size of the C pool most, followed by the combination of drip irrigation, stubble incorporation and NPK. In conclusion, management practices have significant impacts on soil CO2 emission, organic C concentration and C balance in cotton fields. Consequently, appropriate management practices, such as the combination of drip irrigation, stubble incorporation, and either NPK＋OM or NPK could increase soil C storage in cotton fie     

Organic amendments affecting sorption, leaching and dissipation of fungicides in soils

Metalaxyl and tricyclazole are two fungicides widely used in Spain in vineyard and rice crops respectively. In this study an investigation has been made of the effect of three organic amendments [two commercial amendments, solid fertiormont (SF) and liquid fertiormont (LF), and a residue from the olive oil production industry, alperujo (OW)] on fungicide fate in soils. Changes in soil porosity on amendment were studied by mercury intrusion porosimetry, sorption-desorption studies were performed by the batch equilibration method, dissipation of metalaxyl and tricyclazole in the soil was studied at - 33 kPa moisture content and 20 degrees C and leaching was studied in hand-packed soil columns. Amendments with SF and LF reduced soil porosity, while OW increased porosity through an increase in pore volume in the highest range studied. Tricyclazole sorbed to soils to a much higher extent than metalaxyl. With some exceptions, sorption of both fungicides increased on amendment, especially in the case of SF-amended soils, which rendered the highest K(oc) values. In soils amended with the liquid amendment LF, sorption either remained unaffected or decreased, and this decrease was much higher in the case of metalaxyl and a soil with 70% clay. In this clay soil, amendment with OW, of very high soluble organic matter content, also decreased metalaxyl sorption. Tricyclazole is more persistent in soil than metalaxyl, and both fungicides were found to be more persistent in amended soils than in unamended soils. Leaching of metalaxyl and tricyclazole in soil columns was inversely related to sorption capacity. The low recoveries of tricyclazole in leachates and in soil columns when compared with metalaxyl, a less persistent fungicide, were attributed to diffusion into micropores and to increase in sorption with residence time in the soil, both processes favoured by the low mobility of tricyclazole.     

干旱荒漠区新垦绿洲土壤改良措施对盐分变化的影响研究——以克拉玛依农业开发区为例

针对克拉玛依新垦绿洲土壤粘重、板结、有机质含量低的实际情况,分别以有机肥、粉煤灰、草炭和沙作为土壤改良材料,测定了不同改良措施对土壤盐分动态变化的影响。研究表明:施肥改良措施对土壤盐分的表聚具有明显的抑制作用。其中,粉煤灰对土壤的改良效果最好,在灌溉的条件下可以将表土层盐分充分淋洗到土壤下层,脱盐率达50%;掺沙次之,有机肥在一定程度上也降低了土壤表层的盐分;草炭与对照措施下土壤的盐分变化规律基本相似,脱盐率大致相同。由此表明,草炭对土壤基本上没有改良压盐的作用。     

Sorption/desorption behaviour of sulfonylurea herbicides as affected by the addition of fresh and composted olive cake to soil

The olive industry generates residues which can be applied as amendments to soils in their original form (olive cake) or after composting or vermicomposting processes. The addition, fresh or incubated, of these amendments to soil and of their different organic fractions was studied in relation to the sorption/desorption of three sulfonylurea herbicides, bensulfuron‐methyl, chlorsulfuron and prosulfuron. Herbicide sorption was low or very low, slightly promoted by the addition of the agricultural by‐products, especially olive cake, and mainly affected by pH of the soil solution, with the organic carbon content having no significant effect on herbicide retention. Desorption was only reduced when fresh olive cake was added. The incubation of soil and amendments for 3 months did not modify herbicide sorption, but made desorption reversible except for olive cake. The transformation of the organic matter of the amendments due to humification and maturity processes are likely to be responsible for this behaviour. Different organic fractions were removed to assess the influence of each fraction on sulfonylurea sorption. Only the removal of all studied organic fractions increased herbicide sorption, revealing the role of humin and mineral fractions in this process. Therefore, the use of organic amendments is not useful for reducing the risk of movement of ionisable molecules in soil.     

Available alkalinity and N mineralization are key factors regulating soil pH value of an organically amended Iranian agricultural soil

This study was conducted to evaluate short- and long-term effects of poultry and sheep manures, as well as sunflower, canola, and potato residues, which commonly are being used as organic amendments (OAs) in agricultural soils, on the pH value, buffering capacity, and nitrogen (N) turnover of a sub-alkaline agricultural soil using laboratory incubation. The tested OAs had pH values ranging from alkaline (manures) to acidic (plant residues), and their effects of the short- and log-term on soil pH value were assessed by fractionation of the OAs alkalinity and evaluating the contribution of OA-borne N mineralization to soil acidity. On average, 45% of potential alkalinity in tested OAs was available for acid-base reactions, soluble alkalinity accounted for 58, 80, 32, 50, and 50% of the excess cations for poultry manure, sheep manure, sunflower, canola, and potato residues, respectively. Buffering capacity of the tested OAs was higher for sunflower residues, potato residues, and poultry manure and lower for canola residues and sheep manure. The tested OAs showed different N mineralization potential, and during the 100 days of incubation, soils amended with sheep manure, poultry manure, and potato residues released 107, 118, 129, and 240?mg?N?kg^?1 soil, respectively, more than double than that released from unamended soil. Our results demonstrated that long-term impact of OAs on the soil pH value is not related to the initial OAs pH value and soluble alkalinity and that available alkalinity and N mineralization are key factors regulating the soil pH value on the long-term.     

作物种类对根际土壤中丁草胺降解的影响

研究了根际和非根际土壤中除草剂丁草胺的降解。结果表明,棉花、水稻、小麦和玉米的种植明显促进丁草胺的降解,15 mg/kg丁草胺的降解半衰期缩短26.6%~57.2%,这种促进作用与作物种类有关,玉米、小麦、水稻、棉花依次增强。50 mg/kg丁草胺的降解有所受抑制,但作物种植仍显示良好的促进作用。作物根际丁草胺降解菌的测定结果显示,根际土壤中丁草胺降解菌的数量大于非根际土壤,作物种植对丁草胺降解的促进作用源于根际丰富的降解菌。     

添加有机物对莠去津污染土壤微生物生物量的动态影响

土壤微生物生物量C和N及其C/N比是反映土壤质量的重要生物学指标。研究了除草剂莠去津污染土壤(每kg土壤中含莠去津10 mg)中分别添加3种不同有机物料(腐熟猪粪、水稻秸秆和紫云英,用量均为每1 kg土壤中加入有机物料10 g)对上述生物学指标的动态影响。结果表明,莠去津污染土壤后,土壤微生物生物量C和N及其C/N比率均明显降低;加入有机物料后,土壤微生物生物量C和N及其C/N比率均显著增加,增加幅度与加入有机物料的组成和生物特性有关,依次为腐熟猪粪＞紫云英＞水稻秸秆。     

Organic soil amendments in relation to nematode management with particular reference to India

The addition of organic materials to soil has been used in managing plant-parasitic nematodes and has resulted in increased crop yield. Research on the utilization of waste materials such as oilseed cakes, chitin, compost, livestock and poultry manures, and cellulosic wastes appears promising for reducing populations of plant-parasitic nematodes. Nitrogen based amendments, plant phenolics, nematotoxic chemicals, development of predators and parasites of nematodes and microorganism stimulation have been considered to be promising agents for nematode management. In addition, organic amendments change the physical as well as the trophic structure of soil, which affects the pathogen development and overall plant growth performance. Mechanisms of action of organic soil amendments in relation to nematode management are yet to be fully explored.Plant Protection Division, Institute of Agriculture     

临潼区土地整理中新增耕地土壤养分现状研究

本研究目的在于分析土地整理项目中新增耕地土壤养分含量的特征,明确生产条件改善后影响土地生产能力的重要因素,为更好地发挥土地整理效果提供依据。采集临潼区新丰土地整理项目中道路交通用地、水利设施用地、疏林地和对照样地等4种土地利用类型经整理后的新增耕地17个土壤样品,测定其容重、有机质、全氮、速效磷、速效钾、代换量、pH值和全盐量,运用SPSS统计软件分析土壤养分状况。结果表明:新增耕地土壤养分含量较低,土壤养分中容重、有机质、全氮、速效磷、速效钾、pH值、全盐和代换量含量平均为1.54 g/cm3,5.37 g/kg,0.54 g/kg,5.42 mg/kg,73.23 mg/kg,8.51,573.81 mg/kg和12.41 cmol/kg;原有土地利用类型对养分含量影响较大;土壤中各养分间相关程度较低,容重-有机质、速效钾-代换量和全盐量、代换量-全盐量具有明显相关性,相关系数分别为-0.54,0.58,-0.62和-0.68,其余养分含量之间无明显相关性。可以看出:新增耕地利用时间较短,养分积累不足,土壤有机质含量低是导致肥力较低的主要原因,土壤养分水平成为制约整理后土地生产能力和影响产量差异的的重要因素,应将提高土壤有机质含量作为培肥中心环节。     

The effect of total carbon on microscopic soil properties and implications for crop production

Soil structure is a dynamic property affected by physical, chemical, and microbiological processes. Addition of organic matter to soils and the use of different management practices have been reported to impact soil structure and crop production. Moderation in soil temperature and increases in microbial activity and soil water retention are often suggested as reasons for the rise in crop yield when organic matter is added to the soil. Less is known about the direct effect of changes in soil structure on crop production. A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of summer cover crop and in-season management system on soil structure. The experiment was a nested design with summer cover crop as the main plot and management system as the subplot. Summer cover crop treatments included cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) incorporated into the soil in the fall (CI), cowpea used as mulch in the fall (CM), sudangrass (Sorghum vulgare) incorporated into the soil in the fall (S), and dry fallow or bare ground (B). Management systems were organic (ORG) and conventional (CNV) systems. Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and cantaloupes (Cucumis melo L.) were cultivated in rotation in the plots for three consecutive years using the same cover crops and management systems for each plot. Disturbed and undisturbed soil cores were collected at the end of the third year and used for laboratory experiments to measure physical, chemical, and hydraulic properties. Image analysis was used to quantify soil structure properties using a scanning electron microscope on thin sections prepared from the undisturbed soil cores. We found that total soil carbon was correlated with porosity, saturation percentage, and pore roughness. Pore roughness was correlated with crop production in general and with marketable production in particular. We found that the higher the complexity of the pore space, the more water retained in the soil, which may increase soil water residence and reduce plant water stress.     

Changes in soil organic carbon and nitrogen after 26 years of farmland management on the Loess Plateau of China

Soil carbon(C) and nitrogen(N) play a crucial role in determining the soil and environmental quality. In this study, we investigated the effects of 26 years(from 1984 to 2010) of farmland management on soil organic carbon(SOC) and soil N in abandoned, wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) non-fertilized, wheat fertilized(mineral fertilizer and organic manure) and alfalfa(Medicago Sativa L.) non-fertilized treatments in a semi-arid region of the Loess Plateau, China. Our results showed that SOC and soil total N contents in the 0–20 cm soil layer increased by 4.29(24.4%) and 1.39 Mg/hm2(100%), respectively, after the conversion of farmland to alfalfa land. Compared to the wheat non-fertilized treatment, SOC and soil total N contents in the 0–20 cm soil layer increased by 4.64(26.4%) and 1.18 Mg/hm2(85.5%), respectively, in the wheat fertilized treatment. In addition, we found that the extents of changes in SOC, soil total N and mineral N depended on soil depth were greater in the upper soil layer(0–30 cm) than in the deeper soil layer(30–100 cm) in the alfalfa land or fertilizer-applied wheat land. Fertilizer applied to winter wheat could increase the accumulation rates of SOC and soil total N. SOC concentration had a significant positive correlation with soil total N concentration. Therefore, this study suggested that farmland management, e.g. the conversion of farmland to alfalfa forage land and fertilizer application, could promote the sequestrations of C and N in soils in semi-arid regions.     

黄土高原南部坡地土地生产力衰退过程和恢复途径研究

使用PI模型对黄土高原坡地生产力的自然衰退过程,以及在水土保持和施肥管理措施下土地生产力的变化趋势进行了模拟,结果显示:在自然侵蚀环境中,土地生产力的衰退速度很快,平均每年以0.25%到0.5%的速度衰减,若采取水土保持措施则其衰退速度较自然侵蚀下年均减缓0.07%(水平梯田)、0.15%(坡式梯田)和0.21%(等高带状种植),而采用水土保持措施并结合施肥管理措施则可使土地生产力得到明显恢复;水土保持措施可以减缓土地生产力衰退的速度,但不能使其生产力得到有效恢复,只有采用水土保持措施并结合合理的施肥管理措施才能使土地生产力水平得到恢复和提高.