杭州灯塔养殖总场猪粪污水处理工程的设计与运行

采用厌氧—好氧(UASB—SBR)法处理技术对杭州灯塔养殖总场的高浓度猪粪污水进行处理，COD总去除率达98%，NH₃-N去除率达99%以上，出水COD浓度不大于150 mg/L ，NH₃-N浓度不大于15 mg/L，出水水质达到《污水综合排放标准》(GB8978-1996)的二级排放标准。     

肉鸡屠宰废水及下脚料综合处理的研究

该文利用以UASB和接触氧化法技术为核心的工程处理设施和生物综合治理两项关键技术，分别对肉鸡屠宰场废水及下脚料进行综合治理研究。结果表明：工程处理设施可使屠宰场废水及下脚料的COD、BOD₅、SS和油类去除率分别达96.8%、99.6%、99.6%和99.4%。各项指标均达到GB8978-1996《污水综合排放标准》一级和GB13457-92《肉类加工工业水污染物排放标准》禽类屠宰加工一级标准，减少处理费25%。通过生物综合治理措施处理后的水质也达到上述标准，处理费用可以减少85%。     

规模化养猪场粪污处理工程设计

根据循环经济和可持续发展的理念,以实现资源和能源利用的最大化为原则,提出了以固液分离机与厌氧中温发酵工艺技术相结合的规模化畜禽养殖场污水综合治理方法。结合福建省南平市大横农业生态园区大型养猪场污水治理工程实践,表明该技术可以解决禽畜养殖业的废水污染问题。处理后水质：COD_Cr为367 mg·L^-1、BOD₅为132 mg·L^-1、SS为169 mg·L^-1、NH₃-N为76 mg·L^-1,均符合国家《畜禽养殖业污染物排放标准》规定的要求,而且工程运行效果稳定,经济效益和生态效益显著。     

不同工艺对牛粪堆沤肥过程气体排放的影响

堆沤肥是中国畜禽粪便处理利用的最主要方式。为探究不同堆沤肥方式对温室气体和氨气排放规律和温室效应,在北京市密云区开展了为期71d的堆沤肥试验,以牛粪和玉米秸秆为原料,分析了静态堆沤 (T1)、堆沤+翻抛 (T2)、堆沤+覆膜 (T3)、翻抛+覆膜 (T4)等4种方式对堆沤肥过程中腐熟度、温室气体和氨气等指标的影响。结果表明,4个处理的种子发芽指数分别达到131.33%、134.49%、108.76%和136.24%,均满足堆肥产品的腐熟度要求（≥70%）。翻抛有利于CO₂、N₂O和NH₃的排放,而覆膜抑制了N₂O的生成,T2处理的增温潜势最高,T3处理的增温潜势最低,较对照组T1处理减排20.14%。因此,T3处理在能够保证堆肥产品的腐熟度要求的前提下,还可有效减少增温潜势。该研究可为中小养殖场户堆沤肥的工艺优化实践提供技术指导。     

减氮配施硝化抑制剂与菌剂对温室黄瓜产量品质和土壤氮素损失的影响

通过探究减氮配施硝化抑制剂DMPP与微生物菌剂及二者联合施用对温室黄瓜土壤氮素各主要途径损失及黄瓜对氮素吸收利用的影响,并结合黄瓜产量和品质,旨在筛选出温室黄瓜生产的适宜氮素损失调控措施。以黄瓜品种"津绿20-10"为试验材料进行田间小区试验,设置6个处理,分别为不施氮对照(CK)、常规施氮(CN)、减氮(RN)、减氮+DMPP(RND)、减氮+微生物菌剂(RNM)、减氮+DMPP+微生物菌剂(RND+M)。监测分析了土壤氧化亚氮(N₂O)排放、氨(NH₃)挥发和土壤剖面硝态氮(NO₃^--N)累积量,以及黄瓜对氮素的吸收利用、产量和品质指标。结果表明:(1)与CN相比,RN、RND、RNM和RND+M能够促进黄瓜对氮素的吸收和利用,提高氮素利用率。等氮条件下,RND+M可使黄瓜地上部植株氮素总吸收量增加18.93%,尤其是氮肥表观利用率(REN)和农学效率(AEN),分别达到25.30%和41.16 kg/kg(p<0.05),表现出明显的正协同效应,且优于硝化抑制剂或菌剂单施效果。(2)RN、RND、RNM和RND+M较CN可使土壤N₂O排放显著降低26.38%~41.45%、NH₃挥发明显减少28.82%~37.70%,0—120 cm土壤剖面NO₃^--N累积显著降低13.07%~62.32%;等氮条件下,RNM处理对土壤N₂O排放和NH₃挥发影响不大,但能显著降低90—120 cm土层NO₃^--N累积量,较RN降低27.35%。RND和RND+M可使N₂O排放分别降低20.11%和20.47%,0—120 cm土壤剖面NO₃^--N累积量分别降低30.06%和24.70%,减少氮素在土壤中的累积和淋失风险,但增加NH₃挥发风险(p＞0.05),总体表现为RND≈RND+M≥RNM≈RN。(3)RND+M处理产量为70.32 t/hm²,节本增收较RN增加5 150元/hm²,且其在提高黄瓜果实品质方面效果较明显,可溶性蛋白含量较RN及RNM处理分别提高16.36%与4.01%。综合经济效益和环境效益,尤其是土壤可持续发展角度考虑,试验条件下,追施氮素316 kg/hm²,同时配施2%纯氮量的DMPP与75 L/hm²菌剂,是实现温室黄瓜增产提质、绿色高质量发展的适宜氮素损失调控措施。     

堆放奶牛粪便温室气体排放及影响因子研究

用静态箱—气相色谱法对两种不同堆放方式的奶牛粪便(自然堆放和覆盖玉米秸秆)在4个不同时段的温室气体排放速率进行了观测,结果表明：各个时段两种处理的温室气体排放速率变化趋势基本一致,但各个时段的排放速率有明显差异。两种处理温室气体的排放速率与牛粪温度相关极显著。覆盖玉米秸秆会减少CO₂、N₂O的排放,而且第3时段(2006年5月14日～6月14日)CO₂的排放速率和第4时段(2006年8月2日～8月30日)N₂O的排放速率与自然堆放的均差异显著;不同时段覆盖对CH₄的排放影响不同,第4时段覆盖处理的CH₄排放速率上升,并且与自然堆放的差异显著;其他时段两种处理温室气体的排放速率无显著差异。     

大气CO2 浓度升高对华北夏玉米地温室气体排放的影响

开展大气CO₂ 浓度升高对华北夏玉米地温室气体排放的影响可为未来气候变化下农业温室气体减排提供依据。研究基于已稳定运行10 年的华北典型一年两季自由大气CO₂ 富集平台进行,于 2017 年设置2 个处理,即常规浓度CO₂(aCO₂,平均400 μmol·mol-1)和高浓度CO₂(eCO₂,550 μmol·mol-1),2018 年在不同CO₂ 浓度下增设低氮(LN)和高氮(HN)水平下的不同CO₂ 浓度处理(即aCO₂-LN、aCO₂-HN、eCO₂-LN、eCO₂-HN)开展试验,监测和分析不同处理下土壤CO₂ 及N2O 排放通量特征,结合土壤硝化潜势和反硝化潜势测定解析N2O排放量变化的可能原因。结果表明,eCO₂ 下夏玉米生育期农田N2O 和CO₂ 累积排放量分别比aCO₂ 下显著增加45.5% ～ 65.9% 和16.7% ～ 19.2%;N2O 排放增加主要发生在施肥、灌溉和降雨后,而土壤CO₂ 在玉米营养生长期排放量较高。eCO₂ 条件下土壤硝化潜势和反硝化潜势分别比aCO₂ 下提高了36.4% 和59.0%,对土壤N2O 排放有贡献潜力。eCO₂ 下,N2O 减排需结合排放机理采取合理的田间管理和水肥调控措施。     

1991—2021年广东省农业面源污染源特征分析

广东省是经济强省也是农业大省。为保障粮食安全,近年来农业发展速度加快,化肥、农药、地膜的大量使用以及畜禽养殖业的迅猛发展等,使得广东省农业面源污染问题日渐凸显。为揭示广东省农业面源污染物排放量和排放来源,阐明农业面源污染的主要特征及发展趋势,该研究基于1991—2021年历史统计数据分析,运用排污系数法估算了广东省各农业面源污染物排放负荷,阐明了农业面源污染的主要来源及其随时间发展的变化趋势。结果显示：1）1991—2021年广东省农业源化学需氧量（chemical oxygen demand,COD）、氨氮（ammonia nitrogen,NH₃-N）、总氮（total nitrogen,TN）和总磷（total phosphorus,TP）排放量整体呈现增加趋势,近4年来各污染物排放量出现小幅度降低。与1991年相比,2021年农业源COD、NH₃-N、TN和TP排放量分别增长至1.9、1.9、1.7和2.1倍。2）种植业和畜禽养殖业是广东省农业面源污染的主要来源,种植业对农业源NH₃-N、TN排放量的贡献率最大（占比分别为48%、52%）,而畜禽养殖业对农业源COD、TP排放量的贡献率最大（占比分别为90%、51%）;此外,水产养殖业对农业源各项水污染物排放总量的贡献率在10%~16%之间,但其排放量及贡献率均呈逐年上升趋势。研究客观分析了1991年来广东省农业面源污染特征及变化趋势,结果可以为农业面源污染防治对策提供科学依据。     

不同施肥处理稻田甲烷和氧化亚氮排放特征

采用静态箱－气相色谱法对长期不同施肥处理(NPKS、CK、NPK和NKM)的稻田CH₄和N₂O排放进行了观测。结果表明,稻田CH₄和N₂O排放季节变化规律明显不同,二者排放通量季节变化呈显著负相关(p<0.01)。与单施化肥和CK相比,施用有机肥显著促进CH₄排放,排放量最高的NPKS处理早晚稻田排放量分别是：526.68 kg/hm²和1072.92 kg/hm²。对于N₂O排放,早稻田各处理间差异不显著,NPK处理排放量最大,为1.48 kg/hm²;晚稻田各处理差异极显著(p<0.01),NPKS处理排放量最大,为1.40 kg/hm²。晚稻田CH₄排放通量和10 cm土层温度及土壤pH值相关极显著(p<0.01),并与二者存在显著的指数关系。没发现N₂O排放通量与温度及pH值间存在显著相关。稻田CH₄和N₂O排放受多种因素影响,但对全球变暖的贡献率CH₄远大于N₂O。NPKS处理的增温潜势最大,NPK处理的最小。     

减量施氮与大豆间作对蔗田土壤温室气体排放的影响

采用静态箱 气相色谱法对常规施氮(N2, 525 kg·hm^-2)y和减量施氮(N1, 300 kg·hm^-2)处理下甘蔗与大豆按行数比1∶1(SB1)和1∶2(SB2)间作、甘蔗单作(MS)、大豆单作(MB)种植模式下蔗田土壤CO₂、N₂O、CH₄排放通量及土地当量比(LER)进行观测和对比分析, 以探讨不同间作模式及施氮水平下甘蔗//大豆间作农田土壤温室气体排放的动态变化规律及对作物产量的影响, 为制定农田温室气体减排措施提供合理的依据。研究结果表明, 减量施氮处理甘蔗//大豆(1∶2)间作模式(SB2-N1)农田土壤CO₂排放总量较甘蔗单作(MS)显著降低35.58%, N₂O累积排放总量较甘蔗单作降低56.36%, CH₄累积排放总量较甘蔗单作升高7.02%; 不同种植模式和施氮处理蔗田土壤均表现为CO₂和N₂O的排放源, CH₄吸收汇, 追施氮肥后土壤对CH₄的吸收速率降低, 但CO₂和N₂O的排放速率增加。MS-N1、SB1-N1、SB2-N1、MS-N2、SB1-N2、SB2-N2和MB处理土壤CO₂年累积排放总量(kg·hm^-2·a^-1)分别为5 096.89、6 422.69、3 283.20、4 103.29、4 475.84、4 775.31和4 780.35, 土壤N₂O年累积排放总量(kg·hm^-2·a^-1)分别为4.61、5.11、2.15、3.13、3.72、5.60和3.11, 土壤CH₄年累积排放总量(kg·hm^-2·a^-1)分别为 13.68、 21.78、 12.72、 5.53、 11.36、 4.77和 9.97。甘蔗//大豆间作系统2009-2012年土地当量比(LER)均大于1, 且减量施氮水平下, 甘蔗//大豆(1∶2)间作模式优势最明显。     

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.     

Electron donor and pH relationships for biologically enhanced dissolution of chlorinated solvent DNAPL in groundwater

Biologically enhanced dissolution offers a method to speed removal of chlorinated solvent dense non-aqueous-phase liquid (DNAPL) sources such as tetrachloroethene (PCE) and trichoroethene (TCE) from aquifers. Bioremediation is accomplished by adding an electron donor to the source zone where fermentation to intermediates leading to acetic acid and hydrogen results. The hydrogen and possibly acetic acid are used by dehalogenating bacteria to convert PCE and TCE to ethene and hydrochloric acid. Reductive dehalogenation is thus an acid forming process, and sufficient alkalinity must be present to maintain a near neutral pH. The bicarbonate alkalinity required to maintain pH above 6.5 is a function of the electron donor: 800 mg/L of bicarbonate alkalinity is sufficient to achieve about 1.2 mM TCE dechlorination with glucose, 1.7 mM with lactate, and a much higher 3.3 mM with formate. Laboratory studies indicate that in mixed culture, formate can be used as an electron donor for complete conversion to ethene, contrary to pure cultures studies indicating it cannot. Various strategies can be used to add electron donor to an aquifer for DNAPL dehalogenation while minimizing pH problems and excessive electron donor usage, including use of injection-extraction wells, dual recirculation wells, and nested injection-extraction wells.     

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.     

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.