无人机果树施药旋翼下洗气流场分布特征研究

植保无人机悬停果树施药时的旋翼下洗气流场分布对雾滴空间运动和在冠层内部的附着、穿透有重要影响。该文基于计算流体动力学(computationalfluiddynamic,CFD)方法,结合RNGκ–ε湍流模型、多孔介质模型和滑移网格技术,通过构建虚拟果园,对六旋翼植保无人机悬停果树施药时的下洗气流流场进行数值模拟,分析在无人机不同悬停高度、不同果树生长阶段和不同自然风速下的气流场分布特征,并进行标记点下洗气流速度测试试验。研究结果表明:1)自然风速大于3 m/s时,旋翼下洗气流速度已淹没于环境自然风速中,不再满足植保无人机悬停施药作业条件;2)自然风破坏了旋翼下洗气流的中心对称状态,向下风方向出现后扬,且随着自然风速和悬停高度的增大,后扬距离随之增大;3)与无自然风状态比较,果树生长时期对其喷头处速度分布影响不显著,主要受自然风影响,且竖直向下的z向气流占主体地位,对雾滴的对靶运输起主导作用,应将喷头安装于可使雾滴获得较大z向速度的旋翼正下方0.2 m处附近;4)无人机悬停位置沿逆风方向调整后,冠层内部上、中、下层气流平均速度较调整前分别由1.36、0.80、0.81 m/s增大至3.04、2.37、1.63 m/s;上、下层速度分布变异系数分别由74.26%、35.80%降至45.39%和22.70%,中层略有增大,总体利于实现对靶喷雾。试验结果表明,标记点下洗气流速度测量值和模拟值之间具有较好的一致性。该文可为动态环境条件下植保无人机悬停果树施药的对靶喷雾自适应控制技术研究提供参考。     

航空植保作业用喷头在风洞和飞行条件下的雾滴粒径分布

为了获得GP-81A系列航空喷头的雾滴粒径分布情况,该文针对GP-81A系列航空喷头进行了风洞条件和飞行条件下的雾滴粒径及分布测试,通过高速风洞测试系统模拟飞行时产生的高速气流开展了气流大小对雾滴粒径及分布的影响研究;基于农用航空常用的Y5B飞机开展了不同型号喷嘴航空喷雾时的雾滴粒径及分布研究;同时,比较了相近喷雾压力条件下,相同喷嘴在风洞条件和飞行条件下的雾滴粒径及分布差距。试验结果表明,风洞条件测试时,当风速小于33.8 m/s时,雾滴粒径随气流的增加而增大;而当风速大于33.8 m/s时,雾滴粒径随气流的增加而减小,足够大的气流可以使雾滴进一步雾化。当气流在33.8 m/s时,7#喷嘴雾滴粒径最大,为491.1μm;当气流在84.87 m/s时,2#喷嘴雾滴粒径最小,为202.1μm。该系列喷头的6种不同喷孔的喷头的雾滴粒径均大于150μm,说明该喷头航空喷雾时的飘移损失较小。在喷雾压力基本相同的条件下,风洞条件下的雾滴粒径测试结果略高于飞行试验结果,主要原因是距离喷头出口的测试位置不同。风洞条件和飞行条件下的雾滴谱相对宽度S值均较小,表明雾滴分布较均匀,而飞行条件下的雾滴分布更均匀些。该研究为进一步优化航空喷头的作业参数,开展减少雾滴飘移研究提供参考。     

植保无人机喷施雾滴沉积特性的荧光示踪分析

航空施药雾滴沉积特性的准确检测对施药参数选择和施药质量优化至关重要。该研究以3WQF-80-10型植保无人机为试验对象,选取典型飞行工况,通过水敏纸和基于荧光示踪的航空施药沉积检测系统同步获取展向雾滴沉积覆盖率,研究对比了该机型在典型飞行工况条件下的雾滴沉积离散性和连续性分布,评估基于荧光示踪的沉积检测系统对雾滴沉积检测效果与适用性。试验结果表明:荧光示踪法与水敏纸法所得雾滴沉积率分布曲线整体趋于一致,2种方法的检测结果相关性拟合优度(R2)为0.88~0.96;由于植保无人机旋翼下洗风场胁迫细小雾滴沉降至非水敏纸布样位置,致使荧光示踪法测得的平均雾滴覆盖率曲线出现更多峰值,覆盖率值高于水敏纸法测量结果。植保无人机飞行速度为2 m/s,飞行高度为3 m的作业条件下,与水敏纸离散布样方式相比,荧光示踪连续布样方式测得雾滴覆盖率提高16.92%,当飞行速度为4 m/s,飞行高度为9 m时,后者较前者提高97.77%。植保无人机作业工况对施药雾滴沉积覆盖率影响方面,飞行速度2 m/s,飞行高度3 m的工况下,雾滴沉积覆盖率最高,为8.34%和7.14%;随着植保无人机飞行高度和速度增加,雾滴沉积覆盖率降低。针对植保无人机下洗风场作用下施药雾滴沉积质量检测,与离散布样方式相比,连续性样品采集可获取更丰富的雾滴空间沉积分布细节。该研究可为无人机低空低量施药雾滴沉积检测和无人机下洗风场对雾滴沉积分布影响研究提供方法参考。     

无人植保机施药雾滴空间质量平衡测试方法

为了研究精准作业参数(速度、高度)下的无人植保机施药雾滴空间分布和下旋气流场特性,该文提出了一种无人机施药雾滴空间质量平衡测试试验方法,并且使用该方法对3种无人机进行了田间实际试验研究,结果表明:该方法可以有效获得准确飞行速度和高度下无人机施药雾滴空间分布情况和下旋气流场分布情况,在平均风速1.7 m/s、平均气温31.5℃、平均相对湿度34.1%的条件下,飞行高度2.5 m、速度5.0 m/s时,3WQF80-10型无人机喷雾作业雾滴在上风向部、顶部、下风向部和底部的平均分布比例为4.4%,2.3%,50.4%和43.7%;CG-Q60S型无人机雾滴在4个方向上平均分布比例为2.5%,1.5%,43.2%和52.8%;LXD8-3WD10型无人机雾滴在4个方向上平均分布比例为1.9%,2.0%,21.9%和74.7%。雾滴空间质量平衡分布规律符合下旋气流场分布规律,无人机下旋气流风场的测量是分析雾滴在空间不同部位分布的重要手段。研究结果可为低空低量无人植保机施药技术研究和建立无人植保机低空低量施药田间雾滴沉积与飘失测试标准提供参考。     

基于仿真果园试验台的植保无人机施药雾滴飘移测试方法与试验

植保无人机(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle,UAV)果树飞防植保作业中飞行高度较高并且采用低容量细小雾滴喷雾,飘移风险极高。但是,无人机果园施药雾滴飘移特性研究尚处于初步开展阶段,缺乏全方位综合测试方法以及对不同无人机机型和喷头类型的评价。该研究在前期研究基础上,提出一种基于仿真果园试验台的植保无人机果园施药雾滴飘移测试方法,设计并制作仿真葡萄园试验台和空中飘移收集装置,结合地面飘移收集装置和冠层沉积收集带,首次通过雾滴空间飘移指数ADX定量分析评价不同机型的喷雾过程中农药雾滴空间飘移特性,并采用田间近地飘移测试平台进行无人机喷雾飘移试验,使用荧光示踪法探究4种典型植保无人机(油动单旋翼、电动6旋翼及2种电动8旋翼无人机)分别搭载IDK 120-015空气射流喷头和TR 80-0067空心圆锥喷头喷雾作业的雾滴冠层沉积分布、地面飘移、近地飘移及空中飘移特性,进而对不同喷雾飘移测试收集装置进行评估。结果表明:在侧风速2.2～3.6 m/s,温度29.8～34.3℃,相对湿度10.7%～30.6%的环境条件下,IDK空气射流喷头在作业高度1.5 m、速度2.0 m/s参数下可显著降低无人机喷雾下风向飘移水平,优化沉积分布均匀性,提高农药雾滴利用率;4种机型飘移特性无显著差异,旋翼下洗气流产生的卷扬涡流是影响无人机喷雾飘移的重要因素;葡萄园喷雾作业缓冲区至少应设置为15 m;冠层沉积率越小(P0.05,r0)、沉积分布变异系数越高(P0.01,r0)、田间飘移平台平均均值飘移率和90%累积飘移距离越大(P0.01,r0)以及ADX值越大(P0.01,r0)均表明雾滴飘移风险越高,3种收集装置及其评价指标均可有效评估下风向飘移特性;植保无人机喷雾飘移率与下风向距离满足指数函数关系。研究结果以期为新型果树专用植保无人机研发、植保无人机果园作业喷雾飘移测试方法的标准制定和田间作业参数选择提供参考和数据支持。     

植保无人机航空喷施作业有效喷幅的评定与试验

植保无人机有效喷幅宽度的准确评定是农业航空精准作业的前提,对其作业航线的规划及喷施作业质量的提升均有着重要意义。该文以不同参数的单旋翼植保无人机和多旋翼植保无人机为例,分别通过12架次不同飞行参数下的航空喷施试验及目前国内常用的雾滴密度判定法和50%有效沉积量判定法来评定植保无人机的有效喷幅宽度,并根据雾滴处理软件Deposit Scan对水敏纸等采集卡上的图像处理原理对不同评定方法进行了深入分析。结果表明:50%有效沉积量判定法更适于雾滴粒径相对较大的3WQF120-12型植保无人机有效喷幅宽度的评定,且评定的平均有效喷幅宽度为≥4.44 m;雾滴密度判定法更适于雾滴粒径相对较小的P-20型植保无人机有效喷幅宽度的评定,且评定的平均有效喷幅宽度为≥2.58 m;评定的有效喷幅结果与实际情况相符合。另外,由分析可知,由于当前图像处理技术的限制,不同粒径大小的雾滴斑点图像,软件Deposit Scan所产生的相对误差不同,因此,应根据植保无人机喷施雾滴粒径的范围选择合适的有效喷幅宽度评定方法。该结果为不同参数的植保无人机选择较优的有效喷幅评定方法提供了指导,降低了航空喷施作业的重喷率和漏喷率,提高了植保无人机航空喷施作业质量,可为植保无人机精准喷施作业的实施提供参考。     

无人机旋翼风场作用下雾滴在水稻植株上的黏附量模型构建

为了探究植保无人机旋翼风场对雾滴在水稻植株上黏附量的影响规律,该研究以大疆T30植保无人机为施药平台,分别以清水、1%迈飞和0.5%迈图Target助剂溶液为喷洒溶液,基于航空风洞和粒子图像测速系统（Particle Image Velocimetry,PIV）测量了植保无人机旋翼风场作用下的雾流场、溶液的动态表面张力、黏度和密度以及雾滴在水稻叶片表面的动态接触角,分析了植保无人机旋翼风场对雾滴沉降速度的影响,以及飞防助剂对溶液性质参数、喷嘴雾化性能和雾滴在水稻叶片表面润湿铺展能力的影响规律。在此基础上,结合雾滴拦截模型和雾滴与作物叶片表面碰撞模型,建立了应用于植保无人机施药技术领域的雾滴黏附量预测模型,并对模型计算的准确率进行了田间验证试验。试验结果表明,助剂溶液对溶液性质、喷嘴雾化性能、雾滴在水稻叶片表面的润湿铺展能力以及雾滴在水稻植株上的黏附量方面均有不同程度的影响。与清水溶液相比,添加1%迈飞与0.5%迈图Target助剂溶液后,溶液表面张力分别降低了46.81%、62.21%;喷嘴雾化雾滴的粒径均呈增大趋势,约增大9.3%;雾滴在水稻叶片表面的接触角分别降低了27.74%、46.37%;雾滴在每公顷水稻植株上的黏附量分别增加了800.78%和1 051.49%。无人机旋翼风场对雾滴沉降速度和雾滴在水稻植株上的黏附量均有明显影响,旋翼系统开启后,雾滴沉降速度明显增加,且更快达到稳定运动状态,当无人机旋翼转速由0增加至1 000、1 800 r/min时,雾滴沉降速度分别增加了366.67%、663.67%。与旋翼关闭状态相比,旋翼系统开启后,1%迈飞和0.5%迈图Target助剂溶液在水稻植株上的黏附量分别降低了26.78%和29.75%。本文建立的黏附量模型预测清水、1%迈飞和0.5%迈图Target 3种溶液在水稻植株上黏附量的准确率分别为48.59%、79.07%和79.29%。该研究为植保无人机对水稻进行施药作业时筛选助剂提供理论参考与指导,并提供旋翼风场作用下雾滴在水稻植株上黏附量的预测模型。     

植保无人机旋翼风场模型与雾滴运动机理研究进展

近几年,植保无人机施药技术在中国获得广泛应用,并逐渐发展为国内主要植保技术之一。但由于对植保无人机施药技术基础理论研究不够深入,相关机理尚不明晰,且植保无人机作业平台的稳定性依然有待提高,导致国内植保无人机施药效果不够理想。深入研究植保无人机施药技术的基础理论,理论结合试验结果共同指导植保无人机田间施药是提高其施药效果的关键。该研究综述了植保无人机旋翼风场分布特性、雾滴与无人机旋翼风场交互机理、雾滴沉降与飘移机理、雾滴与叶片表面的交互作用机理及雾滴分散和蒸发特性等植保无人机施药技术基础理论及其模型构建的国内外研究现状,并结合其基础理论与模型构建的国内外研究现状,给出植保无人机施药技术的未来发展建议,以期为植保无人机施药技术的发展提供参考。     

基于空间质量平衡法的植保无人机施药雾滴沉积分布特性测试

为了探究飞行方式、飞行参数及侧风等因素对无人机喷雾雾滴空间质量平衡分布和旋翼下旋气流场分布的影响,该文基于无人机施药雾滴空间质量平衡测试方法,测定了3WQF80-10型单旋翼油动植保无人机在不同飞行方式(前进、倒退)、飞行高度和侧风速条件下的喷雾雾滴空间不同部位的沉积率和下旋气流风速。结果表明:对于该型无人机,在飞行高度(3.0±0.1)m、速度(5.0±0.2)m/s、1.2 m/s侧风速条件下,机头朝前与机尾朝前2种飞行方式对雾滴分布有显著影响,机尾朝前的飞行方式底部沉积比例可达60%,作业效果更佳;在2.0~3.5 m高度、(5.0±0.3)m/s速度和0.8 m/s侧风速条件下,空间质量平衡收集装置底部雾滴沉积率变异系数与高度呈现线性负相关,线性回归方程决定系数为0.9178,即高度越高雾滴分布均匀性越好;在(3.0±0.1)m高度和(5.0±0.3)m/s速度条件下,空间质量平衡收集装置底部雾滴加权平均沉积率与侧风风速呈线性正相关,线性回归方程决定系数为0.9684,即侧风速越大雾滴越集中分布在下风向处;飞行方式、高度和侧风3种因素对单旋翼无人机喷雾雾滴产生的影响都是通过改变其旋翼下旋气流场在垂直于地面向下方向的强度,减弱气流对雾滴的下压作用来实现的。研究结果可以为植保无人机设计定型、田间喷雾作业参数确定和作业条件的选择提供理论参考。     

风幕式静电喷杆喷雾喷头雾化与雾滴沉积性能试验

为了解决传统施药方式药液在植株中下冠层沉积量不足、雾滴粒径分布不均匀等问题,对常规喷杆喷雾扇形喷头设计了一种双平板感应式荷电装置,试验测量了该扇形静电喷头产生的雾滴荷质比、空间上的横向和纵向粒径分布并验证了在风幕和静电作用下雾滴的沉积性能。试验结果表明:荷质比随着静电电压的增大先增大后趋于稳定,随喷雾压力的增大而减小;静电作用能够减小雾滴粒径,并且使雾滴粒径横向分布更加均匀;随着喷头远离测量装置,纵向雾滴粒径逐渐增大;风幕作用能够改善雾滴在冠层中的沉积性能,相同条件下,有风幕时雾滴沉积分布的变异系数为0.645,与无风幕时的0.871降低了25.95%;静电作用能够改善雾滴在冠层中的沉积性能,在静电电压0和6 kV作用下,雾滴沉积分布的变异系数减小了50.2%;荷电条件下,随着喷雾压力的增大,雾滴的沉积分布均匀性反而会减小。该研究可为进一步研究新型喷头荷电装置及风幕式喷杆喷雾机的研发提供参考。     

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.     

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.     

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,     

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.