植物纤维毯道路边坡防护技术综合效益评价

为系统评价植物纤维毯水土保持作用对不同雨强的响应以及改良土壤的作用,开展了人工模拟降雨试验和野外小区监测,在模拟降雨试验中,设计4个雨强,测试3种植物纤维毯,降雨历时均为60min。在降雨过程中以5min为间隔收集径流泥沙,并测定径流量和侵蚀泥沙量。在野外小区监测中,通过2007,2010,2013年施工的稻草毯小区,以及2014年施工的椰丝毯、椰丝稻草混合毯和稻草毯小区,评价土壤理化性质对植物纤维毯铺设年限和类型的响应差异。结果表明:在47mm/h及以上雨强下,椰丝毯、椰丝稻草混合毯和稻草毯均能有效减少侵蚀和产流,平均减蚀效益分别为94.92%,86.06%,83.42%,平均减流效益分别为31.59%,45.02%,52.44%,减蚀效益显著优于减流效益。3种植物纤维毯均在47mm/h雨强下减蚀效益和减流效益达到最高,其中最高减蚀效益为椰丝毯(97.54%),最高减流效益为椰丝稻草混合毯(88.26%)。随着雨强增大,减蚀效益和减流效益均不同程度降低,且减流效益降低更快。随着植物纤维毯铺设年限延长,土壤理化性质逐渐改善;铺设1年后,椰丝稻草混合毯改土效果最佳。     

模拟降雨条件下弃土堆置体侵蚀产沙试验研究

通过对生产建设项目弃土堆置体的野外调查及抽象概化,将抽象概化出的4类弃土堆置体作为研究对象,在室内模拟降雨条件下对不同弃土堆置类型的侵蚀产沙过程进行试验研究。结果表明:各类型弃土堆置体的入渗率、径流含沙量随降雨时间变化呈波动式减小,径流率随降雨时间变化呈波动式增大,侵蚀速率随降雨时间变化呈平缓型、多峰型2种变化趋势;产流时间与降雨强度呈负幂函数关系,平均入渗率、平均径流率、平均侵蚀速率与降雨强度呈线性关系,平均径流含沙量与降雨强度呈指数函数关系,总产沙量与总径流量呈线性关系。坡顶平台有车辆碾压的倾倒堆置在全部设计降雨强度条件下产流时间最短、平均入渗率均最低;当降雨强度从1.5mm/min提高到2.0mm/min时,总产沙量增大2.58倍,在降雨强度为2.0,2.5mm/min情况下,平均径流含沙量、平均侵蚀速率均明显大于其他堆置类型,且差异达到显著水平(P<0.05)。     

模拟降雨入渗对岷江流域红壤坡面产流产沙的影响

采用室内模拟降雨研究了不同降雨强度和坡度对岷江流域红壤坡面降雨入渗、产流产沙的影响。结果表明:在不同降雨强度下,随坡度的增加,初始产流时间趋于提前;随降雨强度的增大,产流时间提前,降雨强度对初始产沙时间的影响大于坡度变化的影响。在同一坡度条件下,径流强度随降雨强度的增加而增加,平均入渗率随降雨强度的增加表现为先增大后减小的趋势。50mm/h降雨强度下,径流强度和坡面平均入渗率在降雨后20min开始趋于稳定;75mm/h降雨强度下,径流强度和坡面平均入渗率在降雨后15min开始趋于稳定;100mm/h降雨强度下,径流强度和坡面平均入渗率在降雨后10 min开始趋于稳定,径流强度和平均入渗率趋于稳定的时间均随雨强的增大而明显提前,各个时刻的径流强度和入渗率的稳定值在降雨过程中并不稳定,表现为随降雨强度和坡度的增大,波动愈剧烈。坡面产沙量随坡度和降雨强度的增大而增大,当坡度由5°增大到10°时,产沙量急剧增加;当坡度由10°增加到30°时,产沙量增速趋缓,侵蚀产沙量没有出现临界坡度。坡面产流强度和入渗率随时间的变化关系分别服从幂函数和对数函数规律,不同降雨强度下的径流深和产沙量也呈现出显著的正线性关系。     

植被毯覆盖对旱区露天煤矿土壤生态化学计量及酶活性的影响

为阐明不同材质植被毯覆盖对干旱地区露天煤矿土壤养分及酶活性的影响,以宁夏贺兰山自然保护区大峰矿为研究对象,分析秸秆、椰丝及秸秆-椰丝3种不同材质植被毯覆盖后矿区土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、脲酶、蛋白酶、碱性磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶及生态化学计量比特征。结果表明：1）植被毯覆盖增加土壤表层有机碳和总氮含量且最大值为椰丝植被毯覆盖土壤,总磷含量无明显变化,10～20 cm土壤有机碳、总氮、总磷含量无明显变化;2）植被毯覆盖增加C/P、N/P且最大值同样为椰丝植被毯覆盖土壤,C/N无明显变化;3）植被毯覆盖土壤脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性显著高于裸地,且0～10 cm大于10～20 cm,蛋白酶活性无显著变化,过氧化氢酶活性仅有椰丝植被毯的0～10 cm显著高于10～20 cm;4）土壤酶活性与环境因子的相关性和冗余分析结果显示：土壤TP、C/N是制约酶活性的主要影响因子,而N/P、TN是驱动酶活性的主要因子。三种植被毯覆盖后,土壤表层养分含量增加,同时增加了土壤表层的C/P和N/P,且促进表层土壤酶活性。此外,4种酶活性之间也存在显著正相关关系（P<0.01）。相对于秸秆、秸秆-椰丝植被毯,椰丝植被毯...     

南方红壤区坡面次降雨产流产沙特征

研究坡面次降雨土壤入渗及产流产沙特征,对于坡地水土流失防治及水土资源管理利用具有重要意义.基于广东省五华县水土保持试验推广站野外径流场2014年的观测数据,研究不同下垫面条件下坡面入渗及产流产沙特征.次降雨入渗量与地表植被盖度间存在显著相关关系(P ＜0.05,R=0.95).入渗量随降雨强度增加,呈先增后减的变化趋势,存在入渗量达最大值的临界降雨强度;人工林及灌草地临界降雨强度为19.9 ～ 27.8 mm/h,均高于自然撂荒地.次降雨径流深和土壤流失量与地表植被盖度间,存在显著负相关关系(P＜0.05),相关系数超过0.9.土壤侵蚀率随径流系数呈幂函数增加趋势,径流中泥沙浓度随径流系数、降雨侵蚀力呈对数函数增加趋势,土壤流失量随降雨侵蚀力及次降雨径流深均呈线性递增趋势.次降雨径流深20 mm为土壤流失量变化拐点,径流深超过20 mm后,土壤流失量随径流深递增速率较快.     

红壤坡面降雨入渗及产流产沙特征试验研究

采用室内模拟降雨研究了不同降雨强度和坡度对红壤坡面降雨入渗、产流产沙的影响.结果表明:产流时间随降雨强度和坡度的增大而提前.对于入渗率较低的红壤坡面,径流强度主要受坡面承雨强度的影响,径流强度随雨强增大而增大,随坡度增大而减小.坡面入渗率随降雨强度的增大表现为先增大后减小.降雨强度增大能够增加水分入渗,但这种促进作用仅在一定的降雨强度范围内起作用.坡面入渗率随坡度增大表现为先增大后减小.20°左右存在一个坡面入渗率变化的临界坡度.坡面细沟侵蚀发展状况对稳定坡面入渗率有比较大的影响.径流率和入渗率与降雨历时的关系分别可以用幂函数和对数函数描述.在75,100 mm/h降雨强度下,产沙量随坡度的增大而增大,而50 mm/h降雨强度下,产沙量在20°时达到最大值而后出现下降,在20°附近存在一个侵蚀产沙量变化的临界坡度.     

模拟降雨下不同坡度土壤坡面产流产沙特征及磷和钾素流失研究

采用室内模拟降雨研究了不同坡度对土壤坡面产流产沙特征及其养分流失的影响。结果表明:在降雨条件下,初始产流时间随坡度的增加而趋于提前,初始产流时间变化范围为0.63~1.62 min,说明坡面产流时间因坡面坡度的增加而缩短。不同坡度条件下径流强度随降雨历时的增加而增加,在降雨历时前20 min,径流强度急剧增加,降雨历时20 min以后,径流强度增加趋势趋于平稳,径流强度遵循幂函数变化规律;不同坡度条件下入渗强度随降雨历时的增加而降低,在降雨历时前20 min,入渗强度急剧降低,降雨历时20 min以后,入渗强度降低趋势趋于平稳,坡面入渗强度随时间则呈对数函数变化。不同坡度下径流量均随降雨历时呈“增加—稳定”趋势（单峰曲线,抛物线规律）,在整个降雨过程中,径流量随坡度的增加而增加,在0~20 min内,径流量随降雨历时的增加陡然上升趋势,20~40 min,不同坡度条件下土壤泥沙侵蚀量均达到最大值,40 min以后泥沙侵蚀量随降雨历时的增加呈现基本平稳趋势,泥沙侵蚀量中DP,K⁺,SEP和SEK均随着坡度的增加而增加。不同坡度条件下,泥沙量与侵蚀泥沙中养分的含量均存在不同程度的正相关关系,其中坡面坡度为20°,25°和30°时,侵蚀泥沙养分含量与泥沙流失量间的相关性明显优于其他坡度,说明侵蚀泥沙量的增加会引起泥沙中各种类养分含量的增加效应,而随着坡度的增加,侵蚀泥沙量与侵蚀泥沙中养分的含量并非均显示出更进一步的相关性。     

黄土丘陵区不同坡度撂荒草地入渗特征影响因素试验研究

降雨特征和坡度是影响土壤入渗过程的重要因素,在植被恢复过程中,其对土壤入渗特征的影响可能会有所不同。选取黄土丘陵区6个坡度(5°,10°,15°,20°,25°和30°)的撂荒草地(2年)径流小区(5 m×20 m),观测自然降雨条件下(共计34场降雨,产流11场)植被生长旺期(7—9月)土壤入渗特征,研究降雨过程参数(降雨量、平均雨强、降雨历时和I_(30))、坡度和植被盖度对坡面入渗特征的影响。结果表明:(1)11场产流降雨不同坡度土壤入渗量总体变化范围为6.58～70.91 mm,入渗补给系数为0.83～1.00,入渗率为0.22～19.35 mm/h;(2)土壤入渗量随降雨量呈线性增加(R~2=0.99,p0.01),入渗补给系数随I_(30)呈指数降低(R~2=0.91,p0.01),平均入渗率随降雨强度呈线性增加(R~2=0.71,p0.01),随降雨历时呈幂函数降低(R~2=0.99,p0.05);(3)坡度增大使得径流位移增长,导致入渗量、入渗补给系数和平均入渗率整体随坡度增大而呈幂函数增加,但当坡度25°时,因径流势能沿坡面方向分量增加,径流流速加快,上述入渗特征参数略有降低;(4)由于降雨量在植被生长周期内呈下降趋势,很大程度上导致植被对入渗特征的影响受控于降雨量,土壤入渗量表现出随着植被盖度的增加呈幂函数显著下降的趋势。总体而言,降雨特征和坡度是影响土壤入渗的主要因素,且土壤入渗特征参数可表示为降雨过程参数和坡度的综合幂函数方程;在入渗补给系数较高的情况下,植被覆盖对土壤入渗特征的影响减弱。研究结果对于坡面尺度降雨径流调控机制和生态水文过程研究具有重要意义。     

植被毯措施对黑土农田浅沟侵蚀的防护效果研究

为了探究植被毯在植被恢复早期的浅沟侵蚀防护效果,并为黑土农田浅沟治理提供科学依据。以黑土耕作层土壤为研究对象,通过室内模拟汇流冲刷试验,定量分析了植被毯在不同汇流强度下对农田浅沟侵蚀产流产沙的影响。实验结果显示:在小于30 L/min汇流强度时,植被毯措施可减少16.23%的径流和80%以上的产沙。当汇流强度增大到40 L/min时,植被毯措施减沙效益由82.19%下降到26.63%,而减流效益由15.74%减少到1.63%,基本无减流效果。继续增加汇流强度达到50 L/min时,植被毯措施的减沙效果进一步下降,并最终失去防护作用。研究表明植被毯措施在一定汇流强度下能够有较好的减流减沙作用,且其减沙作用明显高于减流作用。因此,一定条件下,可以有效防治浅沟的进一步侵蚀,且对于改善草被前期生长及生态环境有一定帮助。     

贵州喀斯特地区降雨强度对土壤侵蚀特征的影响

降雨对坡面产流、侵蚀过程及养分流失有重要的影响,选取我国西南喀斯特地区作为研究区域,采用人工降雨方法,研究了不同降雨强度对贵州喀斯特地区(裸地和植被覆盖小区)与土壤侵蚀特征的影响。结果表明:(1)在不同降雨强度下,裸地和植被覆盖小区初始产流时间均随降雨强度的增大产流时间提前,并且裸地和植被覆盖小区初始产流时间在不同降雨强度下差异均显著(p0.05)。(2)裸地和植被覆盖小区径流速率在5~6min之后保持稳定,径流速率均随雨强的增大而增大;不同降雨强度下,径流速率均表现为裸地植被覆盖小区。(3)裸地和植被覆盖小区输沙率变化表现为快速增大、迅速减小、缓慢减小和趋于稳定4个阶段,不同降雨强度下,输沙率均表现为裸地植被覆盖小区。(4)裸地和植被覆盖小区总径流量和总侵蚀量随雨强的增大而增大,裸地坡面各降雨强度下坡面总径流量差异均显著(p0.05),25,50mm/h降雨强度下植被覆盖小区坡面总径流量差异不显著(p0.05),相同降雨强度时总径流量表现为裸地植被;25,50mm/h降雨强度下裸地和植被覆盖小区坡面总侵蚀量差异不显著(p0.05),相同降雨强度时总径流量和总侵蚀量均表现为裸地植被覆盖小区。(5)裸地坡面侵蚀养分中DP,K~+,SEP和SEK含量均高于植被覆盖小区,其中裸地坡面侵蚀养分DP,K~+和SEK含量均显著高于植被覆盖小区(p0.05),而SEP含量二者差异不显著(p0.05)。(6)相关性分析表明降雨强度为75,100mm/h时,裸地和植被覆盖小区侵烛泥沙养分含量与泥沙流失量间的相关性明显优于降雨强度为25,50mm/h时,相同降雨条件下裸地侵蚀量与养分含量的相关系数基本高于植被覆盖小区。以上研究结果表明植被覆盖具有减沙减流、减少土壤侵蚀及养分流失等作用。     

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,     

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.     

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.     

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,     

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.