反光膜对舍内温热环境及青年奶牛血液生化指标的影响

针对夏季单彩钢屋顶结构的奶牛棚舍隔热性能差、舍温高的生产难题,该研究对单彩钢屋顶进行改造,彩钢板外侧铺设反光膜（铺膜舍）,未铺设反光膜的相同结构牛舍作为对照舍,每栋舍饲养90头青年奶牛。测定7－8月和9－10月份牛舍温热环境、舍中青年奶牛的生理指标、血液生化指标及生产性能,通过对比分析铺膜舍与对照舍各指标评价铺膜缓解牛热应激的效果。结果表明：1）7-8月份和9-10月份中午时段铺膜舍屋顶内表面温度较对照舍分别降低10.48℃和8.16℃（P<0.01）,且舍温在7-8月份的09:30－13:30降低0.87～1.04℃（P<0.05）;2）7－8月份铺膜舍青年奶牛的呼吸频率较对照舍降低12.51%（P<0.01）,且10:00－14:00躺卧比例增加7.90%～18.77%（P<0.05）,而9－10月份两栋舍未表现出显著性差异（P>0.05）。产犊后铺膜舍的产奶量较对照舍表现出增加趋势,且乳蛋白率提高4.85%（P<0.05）;3）7－8月份铺膜舍青年牛的血清超氧化物歧化酶和总抗氧化能力水平较对照舍分别提高5.71%和10.47%（P<0.05）,血清白细胞介素4及其mRNA水平分别提高24.78%和25.43%（P<0.01）,且血清热应激蛋白HSP60和HSP70含量两栋舍之间也表现出显著性差异（P<0.05）,铺膜舍较对照舍分别降低14.06%和15.87%,且HSP70 mRNA表达量也表现出显著性降低（P<0.05）。综上,单彩钢屋顶进行铺膜改造后,能显著降低牛舍温度降温度（7－8月份）,有效缓解青年奶牛的热应激,提高青年奶牛产犊后的泌乳性能。     

夏季鸡舍屋顶隔热改善舍内热环境及蛋鸡生产性能

鸡舍屋顶夏季所接收辐射热最多,屋顶内表面与舍内空气对流换热作用较强,舍内垂直温差加剧,造成局部热应激影响蛋鸡生产性能。为探究屋顶隔热对蛋鸡舍内热环境及蛋鸡生产性能的影响,该文对比研究试验舍(100 mm保温玻璃棉毡彩钢板屋顶)与对照舍(200 mm加气混凝土屋顶)2种不同材料屋顶对鸡舍内环境及生产性能的影响,并讨论鸡舍屋顶成本与养鸡经济效益的关系。结果表明:1)试验舍内温湿度波动比对照舍内小,试验舍内平均温度比对照鸡舍低2.3℃,对照舍内温度空间上呈垂直分布且温差大于3℃,由地面向屋顶逐渐升高且距离地面3.2 m高度水平面温度与0.8、1.6、2.4 m高度水平面温度差异极显著(P0.01);2)试验舍内热应激程度低于对照舍,对照舍内温湿指标正常水平比试验舍内低15.7%,轻度热应激程度高12.1%,中度热应激程度高1.7%,高度热应激程度高0.9%。对照舍内3.2 m平面上蛋鸡受到不同程度的热应激,高度热应激占2.5%;3)试验舍蛋鸡产蛋率比对照鸡舍高1.5%,平均蛋质量高1.9 g。对照舍3.2 m平面上蛋鸡产蛋率与距离地面0.8、1.6、2.4 m平面蛋鸡产蛋率差异极显著(P0.01),周死淘率差异显著(P0.05);试验舍和对照舍0.8 m平面上蛋鸡平均蛋质量最高,对照舍底层0.8 m平面上蛋鸡平均蛋质量与距离地面1.6、2.4、3.2 m平面蛋鸡的平均蛋质量差异极显著(P0.01),但破蛋率之间差异不显著(P0.05);4)对照舍屋顶的冷负荷峰值是试验舍屋顶冷负荷峰值的2.1倍,对照舍屋顶内表面温度比试验舍高3℃。试验鸡舍采用隔热屋顶1~1.5 a可收回投入成本,维持舍内热环境以提高蛋鸡养殖户的收入。该研究可为集约化密集型饲养模式下蛋鸡舍的环境调控及节能措施提供参考。     

扰流风机降温对奶牛泌乳性能和免疫功能的影响

为研究奶牛舍采用扰流风机降温对奶牛泌乳性能和免疫功能的影响,该研究选择结构和饲养管理相同的两栋泌乳牛舍,检测安装风机（风机舍）和不安装风机（对照舍）对不同时期奶牛泌乳性能、淋巴细胞凋亡率、血液理化指标及免疫相关基因mRNA表达的影响,并分析奶牛泌乳性能、免疫性能指标与等温指数（equivalent temperature index for cattle,ETIC）之间的相关性。结果表明：1）安装风机改善了舍内温热环境,整个试验期风机舍的平均ETIC较对照舍降低了3.52 ℃,有效缓解了奶牛的热应激。2）风机舍的产奶量和4%标准乳在试验中、后期均显著高于对照舍（P<0.05）,且风机舍的乳脂率较对照舍也表现出显著性提高（P<0.05）。3）安装风机改善了热应激条件下奶牛的免疫功能。与对照舍相比,风机舍奶牛血液中淋巴细胞数量在试验中、后期显著增加（P<0.05）,并降低了淋巴细胞的早期凋亡率（P<0.05）,淋巴细胞中促凋亡因子Bax的mRNA表达量及其血清浓度在试验后期均表现出显著性降低（P<0.05）,抗凋亡因子Bcl-xl的mRNA表达量（P<0.01）及其血清浓度（P<0.10）在试验中、后期表现出增加趋势。此外,风机舍的血清白细胞介素-12（Interleukin-12, IL-12）和免疫球蛋白G（Immunoglobulin G, IgG）浓度较对照舍也表现出显著性增加（P<0.05）。4）从各项指标之间的相关分析得出,乳蛋白率、淋巴细胞数量与ETIC均呈显著负相关关系（P<0.05）,淋巴细胞BAK mRNA表达、血清IL-6浓度与ETIC呈显著正相关关系（P<0.05）。 可见,安装扰流风机可改善舍内温热环境,有效缓解夏季奶牛的热应激,提高奶牛生产性能和免疫功能。     

冬季恒温饮水装置和屋顶采光对提高肉牛生长速率的影响

为改善西北地区冬季肉牛养殖的福利状况、提高肉牛生产水平,该研究采用恒温饮水装置和牛舍屋顶采光措施对肉牛每日体质量增加的影响及经济可行性。处理舍利用研制的拴系饲养恒温饮水装置为牛只提供20℃温水,对照舍牛只饮用4℃凉水;2栋牛舍结构样式完全相同,均设屋顶采光带。试验结果表明:恒温饮水试验处理舍与对照舍牛只每日体质量增加分别为1.85和1.63kg/d,差异极显著(P<0.01)。处理舍屋顶采光使舍内接受太阳辐射热量为463.363MJ/d,并使南、北两侧的日平均辐射强度分别达到7和59W/m2,差异极显著(P<0.01);从上午10:00至下午15:00,处理舍南北侧平均温度分别为4.87、5.60℃,对照舍分别为4.92、6.04℃,均差异显著(P<0.05);2栋牛舍的南侧与南侧、北侧与北侧平均温度之间无显著差异(P>0.05)。牛舍南、北两侧的牛体质量增加分别为1.64和1.84kg/d,差异极显著(P<0.01),说明屋顶采光效果明显。恒温饮水装置与牛舍屋顶采光措施均能极显著提高冬季肉牛每日体质量增加,经济可行。     

开放式兔舍水空调技术夏季降温效果

夏季高温严重制约中国兔业生产,蒸发降温方式在高温高湿的家兔主产区难以发挥有效作用。该研究以地下水为循环介质的非蒸发降温系统水空调用于外围护隔热性能不佳的开放式繁殖母兔舍,通过管道实现点对点局部降温,研究其降温效果。试验期内,试验舍兔笼内14:00平均气温较对照舍低2.5～3.3 ℃（P < 0.05）,相对湿度高8%。试验舍风速控制在0.7～1.4 m/s,温湿指数控制在25.5～29.0,较对照舍降低1.4～2.9（P < 0.01）,综合热环境状况较对照舍明显改善。舍内母兔在午后高温时段热性喘息有所缓解。结果表明,在开放式兔舍中夏季采用水空调系统进行局部降温,较为适合中国当前家兔养殖模式,有助于缓解夏季妊娠或哺乳母兔的热应激。     

冬季肉牛加热饮水围栏育肥模式适用性分析

为研究冬季中国西北地区肉牛加热饮水条件下围栏育肥模式的适用性,该研究实测了加热水围栏育肥（平均饮水温度：（20.58±0.91）℃）和常温水舍内育肥（平均饮水温度：（7.20±1.70）℃）2种模式下的相关环境指标,并计算环境温湿指数（Temperature Humidity Index, THI）、风冷指数（Wind Chill Index, WCI）、综合气候指数（Comprehensive Climate Index, CCI）和冷应激指数（Cold Stress Index, CSI）,探究两种育肥模式对肉牛生长性能的影响。结果表明：与常温水舍内育肥相比,加热水围栏育肥的环境温度、湿度和有害气体浓度均显著降低（P<0.05）,风速显著升高（P<0.05）、THI、WCI和CCI显著降低（P<0.05）,CSI显著升高（P<0.05）。此外,加热水围栏育肥肉牛的平均日增质量为（1.40±0.39）kg/d,显著高于常温水舍内育肥组的（1.14±0.47）kg/d（P<0.05）,加热水围栏育肥肉牛的日采食质量与日增质量比为8.83±3.63,显著低于常温水舍内育肥组的12.11±6.34（P<0.05）,且建筑成本较常温水舍内育肥降低37.78%。综上所述,冬季采用加热水围栏育肥模式能够显著提高肉牛生长性能,并节约建筑成本。     

垫料型猪舍春夏育肥季节的氨气和温室气体状况测试

在规模化猪场内选择垫料育肥猪舍作为试验舍,以传统水泥地面育肥猪舍作为对照,利用多气体分析仪对试验舍和对照舍春夏两个育肥季节的NH3、CO2、CH4和N2O含量进行了连续3d的监测。结果表明：试验舍NH3、CO2和N2O的平均含量分别只有对照舍的40%、70%和77%,存在显著性差异（P〈0.05）;夏季由于温度高,垫料易于厌氧发酵,加大了CH4排放,试验舍CH4平均含量高于对照舍,但两者之间无显著差异（P=0.089）,春季试验舍的CH4平均含量低于对照舍,两者之间差异显著（P〈0.05）;试验舍中NH3含量变化在春季和夏季无显著差异（P=0.072）,CO2、CH4和N2O则存在显著性差异（P〈0.05）,夏季试验舍CO2含量低于春季,但NH3、CH4和N2O含量高于春季试验舍。说明垫料型猪舍能够改善舍内环境,减少有害气体排放。     

南方夏季肉牛舍湿帘风机负压通风系统降温效果

为改善南方夏季肉牛舍环境条件,该文对湿帘风机负压通风系统在肉牛舍的降温效果进行了探究。试验以栓系饲养西门塔尔公牛为试验对象,对环境、肉牛生理及增重情况进行测定。结果表明：降温后,试验舍平均温度降低3.2 ℃（P<0.01）,相对湿度增加21.3%（P<0.01）,肉牛附近风速增加0.30 m/s（P<0.01）,肉牛体感温度降低1.8 ℃（P<0.01）;试验牛呼吸频率平均降低13次/min（P<0.01）,皮温降低0.92 ℃（P<0.01）,平均日增质量提高0.13 kg/d（P>0.05）。由此可知,在肉牛舍中采用湿帘风机负压通风系统进行降温,能够有效改善舍内热环境,有助于缓解肉牛热应激,具有技术可行性。     

北京市猪舍节能改造的节能及保温效果

为了寻找北京市猪场节能的途径,对北京市既有供暖猪舍建筑围护结构保温性能进行了调查,并对370 mm厚墙、黏土瓦屋顶猪舍进行了墙体外贴保温板、黏土瓦屋顶上增加彩钢夹芯板保温层等节能改造,对节能潜力进行了估算,然后通过温度实测试验比较了节能改造舍与对照舍冬季的热环境状况。结果表明,北京市猪舍墙体、屋顶、窗户均不够节能;在假设供暖猪舍舍内冬季温度为20℃,供暖期为125 d的情况下,370 mm厚墙、黏土瓦屋顶猪舍1个采暖季的耗煤量为72 kg/m2,经过节能改造后,可节能69%。节能改造的投资回收期约为7.4 a。在舍外日平均温度为2.6~9.3℃情况下,试验节能改造舍舍内日平均温度较对照舍高1~3℃。舍外逐时温度越低,节能改造舍与对照舍内逐时温度差越大。试验期间,舍外逐时温度最低值为-2.3℃时,节能改造舍较对照舍逐时温度提高3.6℃。该文可为北京市既有供暖猪舍改造方案提供参考。     

喷雾与纵向负压通风相结合的封闭牛舍降温效果

喷雾与纵向负压通风相结合的降温方式在猪舍、禽舍应用广泛,但在肉牛舍应用较少,该试验对喷雾与纵向负压通风相结合在封闭肉牛舍的运行模式进行了探究,并与喷雾结合扰流风机在开放肉牛舍的降温效果进行比较。该试验选用栓系饲养平均体质量273.4 kg的锦江黄牛杂交牛作为试验牛。处理舍安装低压两级雾化喷雾,配合卷帘和风机进行纵向负压通风降温;对照舍安装高压喷雾,结合扰流风机进行降温。两舍喷雾降温系统运行30 d,对环境条件、肉牛生理指标进行测定。结果表明低压两级喷雾在封闭牛舍纵向负压通风条件下喷雾与停止最佳时间均为5～10 min;经两舍喷雾系统降温后,处理舍的日平均温度为（30.4±0.1）℃,比对照舍和舍外分别降低了2.2、6.2℃（P＜0.01）,而相对湿度为89.7%±0.9%,较对照舍和舍外分别升高了11.3%、35.2%（P＜0.01）;处理舍试验牛的直肠温度为（38.28±0.03）℃,比对照舍低0.26℃（P＜0.01）;躺卧比为0.87±0.02,比对照舍高12%（P＜0.01）;日平均呼吸频率为（43±1）次/min,与对照舍没有显著差异（P＞0.05）;平均日增质量为（1.38±0.23）kg/d,比对照舍高0.19 kg/d（P＞0.05）;处理舍售牛可获利1042.39元/(月·头),比对照舍高72.67元/(月·头)。可见封闭牛舍喷雾与纵向负压通风相结合降温效果显著,可改善牛舍环境,有效缓解肉牛热应激,提高生产性能。     

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.