不同土地利用类型土壤有机碳各库大小及分解动态

依据三库一级动力学理论,以下蜀黄土为对象,研究了天然林地、新旱地和老旱地土壤不同土层有机碳各库大小和分解动态,探讨了土地利用变更对土壤有机碳的影响。结果表明:下蜀黄土上发育的黄棕壤表层、中层和下层土壤总有机碳库大小分别为7 818.34~9 242.30 m g/kg,3 093.66~3 338.59 m g/kg,2 337.27~3188.40m g/kg。各碳库占总有机碳比例及平均驻留时间为:活性碳库0.41%~3.81%,平均驻留时间3~40天;缓效性碳库23.23%~79.11%,平均驻留时间5~24年;惰性碳库18.11%~74.80%。土地利用类型从天然林地—新旱地—老旱地转变导致各层土壤缓效性碳库减小,中层惰性碳库增大,随着旱地耕作时间增长这种趋势越明显。根据呼吸培养结果发现土壤有机碳分解具有前期快速分解和后期稳定分解两个阶段,快速分解期为活性碳平均驻留时间。研究表明,旱地土壤较之天然林地具有更大的固碳能力,只要合理管理与耕作,旱地将是一个巨大的碳汇。     

成土母质和土地利用方式对土壤有机碳化学组成的影响

土壤有机碳库是陆地生态系统中最重要的碳库之一,土地利用方式和成土母质是影响土壤总有机碳及其组分的重要因素。以湖南省花岗岩和玄武岩分布区的林地、旱地和稻田土壤(0～70 cm)为研究对象,采用H_2SO_4逐级水解法将土壤有机碳分为活性、半活性和惰性三个组分,探究土地利用方式和成土母质对土壤总有机碳及其各组分的影响。结果表明:不同母质和土地利用方式下,土壤活性、半活性、惰性有机碳含量随着土层深度的增加而逐渐降低,且与总有机碳含量均呈极显著正相关关系;土壤活性、半活性和惰性有机碳占总有机碳库的比例分别为31.38%～45.41%、3.68%～12.25%和40.83%～59.29%,且随土层深度的增加占比不发生显著变化;玄武岩地区,表层(0～20 cm)土壤活性、半活性、惰性以及总有机碳的储量在不同土地利用方式间占比不发生显著变化,而底层(20～70 cm)土壤活性、半活性、惰性以及总有机碳在稻田中的储量均显著高于林地;花岗岩地区,除表层土壤半活性有机碳以外,表层和底层土壤中总有机碳及各组分有机碳储量在不同土地利用方式间均无显著性差异。双因素方差分析表明,成土母质显著影响表层土壤总有机碳和惰性有机碳的储量,而土地利用方式则显著影响底层土壤活性、惰性以及总有机碳的储量。综上可见,土壤有机碳主要以惰性有机碳的形式存在,土地利用方式和成土母质对土壤有机碳及其组分剖面分布有不同的影响。     

几种不同类型土壤有机碳库容大小及周转研究

通过土壤样品的室内培养,运用三库一级动力学理论,分析了沼泽土、草甸土、普通黄棕壤和棕色石灰土4种土壤有机碳库容大小、各碳库平均周转时间及分解动态。结果表明,4种土壤剖面表层和中层有机碳含量分别为8.48~24.53 g/kg,4.02~16.77 g/kg;活性碳占总有机碳含量的0.99%~5.01%,1.31%~1.91%,平均周转时间分别为8.8~14.3 d,10.4~16.5 d;缓效性碳占总有机碳含量的15.88%~59.04%,20.43%~48.36%,平均周转时间分别为1.3~29.1 a,3.6~21.3 a;惰性碳占总有机碳含量的39.97%~79.11%,50.31%~77.66%。不同类型土壤三库有机碳含量均是上层明显大于中层,培养3个月,表层和中层土壤有机碳累计分解量分别达到了165.99~2 429.57 mg/kg,108.04~743.02 mg/kg,4种土壤有机碳分解速率大小顺序:沼泽土>草甸土>棕色石灰土>普通黄棕壤,与活性碳的百分比含量成正相关关系。对培养期间土壤有机碳累计释放量进行拟合,发现三次方程(Y=b0 b1x b2x2 b3x3)能很好地描述其变化趋势,相关性均达到极显著水平(P<0.01)。     

名山河流域不同土壤类型和土地利用方式下有机碳的分布特征

以名山河流域不同类型土壤为研究对象,研究了不同土地利用方式下土壤有机碳和团聚体中有机碳含量的分布特征。结果表明:(1)名山河流域3种类型的土壤有机碳含量在17.50~34.70g/kg之间,含量高低表现为水稻土黄壤紫色土,水稻土含量分别是黄壤和紫色土的1.32,1.39倍;从不同的土地利用方式看,水田土壤有机碳及活性有机碳含量显著高于旱地、茶园和果园,土壤活性有机碳与土壤有机碳呈极显著正相关(R2=0.884 6);(2)土壤有机碳含量在土壤剖面中表现出随着土层深度的增加而降低的趋势,表层土壤(0—20cm)有机碳含量由高到低依次为水稻土黄壤紫色土,下层土壤(20—40cm)有机碳含量为水稻土紫色土黄壤,土壤活性有机碳含量的分布具有相似规律;(3)在不同土地利用方式下,表层土壤(0—20cm)有机碳含量大小关系表现为水田旱地果园茶园,下层土壤(20—40cm)有机碳含量表现为水田果园茶园旱地,水田表层、下层土壤活性有机碳含量均极显著地高于旱地、果园、茶园,再次证明活性有机碳是表征有机碳特性的重要指标;(4)3种类型土壤的团聚体在不同的利用方式下的有机碳含量表现出随着土壤剖面加深而降低的趋势,土壤团聚体的单位有机碳含量随着粒径的减小呈现波浪形的变化趋势,各粒径团聚体中的有机碳含量与土壤有机碳含量呈正相关关系。综上可知,土壤类型的差异和土地利用方式的不同会对土壤有机碳及各粒径团聚体中有机碳的含量及分布特征产生一定的影响。     

东北典型黑土区表层土壤有机碳储量及适宜样本容量

为了对典型黑土区土壤碳库有更加清晰与深刻的认识,并为其他地区土壤碳储量调查研究提供参考,利用典型黑土区2003—2004年收集的209个样点的实测数据,估算黑土区表层土壤平均有机碳密度及储量,研究碳密度的影响因素,探讨碳储量估算中的适宜样本容量。结果表明:(1)典型黑土区表层土壤有机碳平均密度为(5.75±0.33)kg/m~2,有机碳储量为(523.82±30.06)Tg。(2)表层土壤有机碳密度受气候、地貌、坡度、土壤类型和土地利用类型的影响。土壤碳密度与气温呈反比,与降水量呈正比;碳密度坡脚坡中下部坡上部坡顶宽谷平地;当坡度≥3°时,碳密度随坡度增加呈减小趋势;黑土、草甸土和黑钙土的碳密度小于暗棕壤和沼泽土;林地和草地碳密度大于农地。(3)在95%的置信度下,本研究对典型黑土区土壤有机碳储量的估算误差约为5%;要使估算误差分别为1%和10%,则所需样本容量分别为5 549和56。     

陕西省土壤有机碳密度空间分布及储量估算

土壤有机碳是反映土壤质量以及土壤缓冲能力的一个重要指标,对于温室效应与全球气候变化具有重要的控制作用。研究以陕西省第二次土壤普查数据为主要资料,结合多年的相关研究数据,对陕西省土壤碳密度及储量进行估算,并分析了陕西省土壤有机碳密度的空间分布特征。结果表明:榆林、延安地区北部以及商洛等地区分布的风沙土、黄绵土、石质土等土壤有机碳密度最小,小于4 kg m-2;陕西南部地区的土壤有机碳密度主要在4~9 kg m-2之间;咸阳地区及渭南地区土壤有机碳密度也较高,主要在9~12 kg m-2之间;关中地区渭河及其两岸、秦岭部分山区土壤有机碳密度最大,最高达30 kg m-2以上;陕西省平均土壤有机碳密度为6.87 kg m-2,在全省的22个土壤类型中,有13个土壤有机碳密度低于全国平均水平,占全省土壤总面积的77.42%,全省土壤有机碳储量约为1.41×1012kg。本研究为我国土壤碳库和碳平衡的研究提供基础数据。     

基于GIS的三江平原表层土壤有机碳储量估算及空间分布研究

[目的]研究三江平原2010年表层(0—30cm)土壤有机碳储量空间分布规律和不同土地利用类型对有机碳空间分布的影响。[方法]采用地统计学和GIS相结合的方法。[结果](1)2010年三江平原表层土壤有机碳总储量为1161.28Tg;(2)表层土壤有机碳空间分布变异性较大,中部和西南地区较低,东北、西北、东南地区较高;(3)不同土地利用类型土壤有机碳密度和储量有所不同,旱地表层土壤有机碳储量最大,为412.10Tg,草地最小,表层土壤有机碳储量为2.31Tg;(4)不同植被类型表层土壤有机碳密度大小顺序为:沼泽湿地林地草地水田旱地,沼泽湿地表层土壤有机碳密度为147.84Mg/hm2。[结论]三江平原土壤有机碳密度空间分布存在较大的分异性,土壤有机碳密度的空间分布特征受土地利用类型分布的影响。     

农业开垦对中国土壤有机碳的影响

以中国土种志资料为基础,分析了耕地和非耕地表层土壤有机碳含量的变异性,以及各大区域土壤有机碳含量在耕地和非耕地、水田和旱地之间的差异;同时结合非耕地有机碳含量和耕地面积数据,估算了由于耕地的开垦而导致的土壤表层有机碳贮量的变化。结果表明,耕地土壤有机碳含量的变异性小于非耕地,水田小于旱地;耕地土壤有机碳含量明显低于非耕地土壤,平均减少了51.5%,水田却明显高于旱地;水田和旱地的开垦分别导致土壤表层有机碳贮量减少了0.67,3.63 Pg,共计4.3 Pg。最后还分析了土壤有机碳库减少量的空间分布格局,探讨了东北和华北这两大区域土壤有机碳贮量下降程度最大的原因,是由于黑土、黑钙土、暗棕壤等富含有机碳的草原草甸和湿地土壤大量开垦以及耕作管理措施粗放所致。     

安徽省几种主要土壤有机碳含量及其组分研究

研究了安徽省4种主要类型土壤(砂姜黑土、潮土、水稻土和红壤)有机碳(SOC)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)和微生物量碳(MBC)的含量剖面分布及其相互关系.结果表明,4种土壤SOC,DOC和MBC含量存在明显差异,但其剖面分布规律基本一致,表层含量较高.随着土壤层次加深而依次递减;表层土壤SOC含量顺序为:水稻土>砂姜黑土>潮土>红壤,DOC含量顺序为:砂姜黑土>潮土>水稻土>红壤,MBC含量顺序为:潮土>砂姜黑土>红壤>水稻土.DOC和MBC分别只占SOC的4.92%～18.97%和1.86%～5.68%.土壤SOC,DOC与MBC之间存在着密切的关系,3者之间的相关性均分别达到了10%,5%或1%的显著或极显著水平.     

不同森林植被下土壤有机碳的分解特征及碳库研究

分析了不同森林植被和同一植被不同林龄的人工杉木林下土壤有机碳的分解特征及土壤有机碳中的活性碳库、缓效性碳库和惰效性碳库的大小和周转时间。结果表明:不同森林植被下土壤有机碳的分解速率不同,总的趋势都是:培养前期分解速度快,后期分解速度慢,土壤剖面A层>剖面B层。在剖面A层中:不同森林植被下分解速率的大小顺序为常绿阔叶林>人工杉木林,不同林龄的人工杉木林为成熟林>中龄林>幼龄林;在剖面B层中:分解速率差异不大。不同森林植被下不同土壤剖面上的土壤活性碳库、缓效性碳库和惰效性碳库的库容和分解速率不同,土壤活性碳库碳含量一般占总有机碳的0 99%～2 89%,田间平均驻留时间为10～23天;土壤缓效性碳一般占总有机碳的17 17%～55 46%,田间平均驻留时间为1 6～24 2年;土壤惰效性碳一般占总有机碳的42 05%～80 66%,田间平均驻留时间为假定的1000年。     

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.     

Responses of native legume desert trees used for reforestation in the Sonoran Desert to plant growth-promoting microorganisms in screen house

Three slow-growing legume trees used for desert reforestation and urban gardening in the Sonoran Desert of Northwestern Mexico and the Southwestern USA were evaluated whether their growth can be promoted by inoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria (Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus pumilus), unidentified arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi (mainly Glomus sp.), and supplementation with common compost under regular screenhouse cultivation common to these trees in nurseries. Mesquite amargo (Prosopis articulata) and yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla) had different positive responses to several of the parameters tested while blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida) did not respond. Survival of all tree species was over 80% and survival of mesquite was almost 100% after 10 months of cultivation. Inoculation with growth-promoting microorganisms induced significant effects on the leaf gas exchange of these trees, measured as transpiration and diffusive resistance, when these trees were cultivated without water restrictions.