Effectiveness of Sulphuric Acid and Gypsum for the Reclamation of a Calcareous Saline-Sodic Soil Under Four Crop Rotations

As a low‐cost strategy, the cultivation of certain salt‐tolerant crop species on calcareous saline‐sodic soils, i.e. phytoreclamation, has enjoyed great attention in recent years. A lysimeter study was carried out to evaluate whether a phytoreclamation approach alone, or in combination with some booster dose of either gypsum or sulphuric acid, is sufficient to reclaim a calcareous, moderately saline‐sodic soil. Four crop rotations, rice (Oryza sativa L.)–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–sesbania (Sesbania aculeata L.); rice–berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.); Kallar grass (Leptochloa fusca L.)–alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and sesbania–berseem were tested against three treatments: (T₁) control, (T₂) sulphuric acid application 25 % of soil gypsum requirement (SGR), and (T₃) application of gypsum 25 % SGR. To decrease the sodium adsorption ratio of the saline‐sodic soil well below the threshold level, especially from deeper depth, a booster dose of gypsum or sulphuric acid 25 % SGR was quite effective. Rice–berseem and Kallar grass–alfalfa rotations were more promising in combination with inorganic amendments than the rest of the rotations. The study also suggests that better yields of wheat and rice crops can be obtained with the application of inorganic amendments like gypsum or sulphuric acid. However, Kallar grass yield was somewhat suppressed with these amendments.     

Mulching Improves Water Productivity,Yield and Quality of Fine Rice under Water‐saving Rice Production Systems

Water‐saving rice production systems are inevitable in the wake of severe water shortage in rice‐growing regions of the world. Mulches can improve water productivity, yield and quality of rice through increase in water retention. Studies were conducted for two consecutive years to assess the potential role of mulches (plastic and straw) in improving the performance of water‐saving rice production systems in comparison with no mulch used and conventionally irrigated transplanted rice. Water‐saving rice production systems in this study comprise aerobic rice and transplanted rice with intermittent irrigation. These systems saved water (18–27 %) with improved water productivity more than the conventional system. However, these systems caused a yield penalty of 22–37 %; nevertheless, these yield losses were compensated with the application of mulches under water‐saving rice production systems. Both plastic and straw mulches were helpful in improving moisture retention and water productivity (0.18–0.25 kg grain m^?3 water) relative to non‐mulch treatments (0.19–0.29 kg grain m^?3 water). Mulch application was also helpful in reducing the number of non‐productive tillers and sterile spikelets, and improving the productive tillers, kernel number and size, and kernel quality. Plastic mulch was more effective than straw mulch in improving water retention, water productivity and reducing spikelet sterility. In conclusion, the mulching improved the soil moisture retention, and thus enhanced the rice water productivity, spikelet fertility, paddy yield and quality of rice. This signifies the importance of mulching in water‐saving rice production systems.     

Agronomic Optimum Seeding Rate for Irrigated Maize in Texas is Concomitant to Growing Season Mean Daily Minimum Temperature

Our study was conducted to determine agronomic optimum seeding rates (AOSR) for irrigated maize under a range of agroecological conditions in Texas. Environmental factors that affect irrigated maize production vary considerably across Texas. This variability imposes region‐specific limitations on statewide maize seeding rate recommendations. Our research examined the efficiency of varying seeding rates on irrigated maize grain yields in five USEPA Level IV Ecoregions that comprise most of the irrigated maize‐producing area of Texas. The selected sites span a distance of 1200 km from south to north Texas and elevations from 20 to 1218 m above mean sea level. We conducted the study over three growing seasons from 2005 through 2007 in two Level IV Ecoregions of the High Plains of North Texas (N), one in the East Central Plains (E), one in the Southern Plains and one in Western Gulf Coastal Plains of South Texas (S). We observed that maximum grain yields and AOSR to achieve maximum maize grain yields vary considerably among ecoregions. In South Texas, we observed grain yield response rates of 125–129, 151 kg 1000 seeds^?1 in E and 163–199 kg 1000 seeds^?1 in N. We show that growing season average daily minimum air temperature (T_MIN) explains most of this variation (r² = 0.98, P‐value < 0.01) and conclude that seeding rate efficiency is concomitant to T_MIN. Maximum grain yields (GY_MAX) determined with seeding rate response analysis also varied among ecoregions and with T_MIN from south to north Texas, from a low of 8.3 Mg ha^?1 in S to a high of 18.4 Mg ha^?1 in N (r² = 0.59, P‐value < 0.01). We conclude that development of agronomic management models by Level IV Ecoregions of Texas combined with site‐specific T_MIN climatological data serve as a valid template for delivering robust and agroecozone‐specific irrigated maize seeding rate recommendations in Texas.     

Evaluation of long-term conservation agriculture and crop intensification in rice-wheat rotation of Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia: Carbon dynamics and productivity

In the context of deteriorating soil health, stagnation of yield in rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) across Indo- Gangetic plains (IGP) and environmental pollution, a long term field experiment was conducted during 2009–2016 taking four crop scenarios with conservation agriculture (CA), crop intensification and diversified cropping as intervening technology aiming to evaluate the sustainability of the systems. Scenario 1 (S1) represented conventional farmers’ practice of growing rice and wheat with summer fallow. In scenario 2 (S2) and scenario 3 (S3), legume crop was taken along with rice and wheat with partial CA and full CA, respectively. Conventional RWCS was replaced with rice-potato + maize- cowpea cropping system with partial CA in scenario 4 (S4). The S3 scenario registered highest total organic carbon (TOC) stock of 47.71 Mg C ha⁻¹ and resulted in significant increase of 14.57% over S1 (Farmer’s practice) in 0–30 cm soil depth after 7 years of field trial. The S4 scenario having intensified cropping systems recorded lowest TOC of 39.33 Mg C ha⁻¹ and resulted in significant depletion of 17.56% in C stock with respect to S3 in 0–30 cm soil depth. The TOC enrichment was higher in S2, S3 and S4 scenario in the surface soil (0–10 cm) compared to S1. At lower depth (20–30 cm), the TOC enrichment was significantly higher in S2 (12.82 Mg C ha⁻¹) and S3 (13.10 Mg C ha⁻¹ soil) over S1 scenario. The S2 and S3 scenario recorded highest increased allocation of TOC (3.55 and 6.13 Mg C ha⁻¹) to passive pool over S1. The S2 (15.72 t ha⁻¹), S3 (16.08 t ha⁻¹) and S4 (16.39 t ha⁻¹) scenarios recorded significantly higher system rice equivalent yield over S1 (10.30 t ha⁻¹). Among the scenarios, S3 scenario had greater amount of total soil organic carbon, passive pool of carbon and higher system rice equivalent yield, thus, is considered the best cropping management practice to maintain soil health and food security in the middle IGP.     

Cropping System Affects Polymer‐Coated Urea Release and Corn Yield Response in Claypan Soils

Preplant‐applied, urea‐based fertilizer management in high‐residue, no‐till (NT) corn (Zea mays L.) is challenging because of potential N loss due to cool, wet conditions in the spring and dry conditions during the summer months. Field research evaluated the effects of polymer‐coated urea (PCU) application timing, placement and cropping system on urea release for corn and determined corn yield response to PCU on claypan soils following wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cropping systems [reduced‐till corn following wheat, no‐till corn following wheat with double‐cropped (DC) soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] and no‐till corn following wheat with a frost‐seeded red clover (FSC) (Trifolium pratense L.) cover crop]. Urea release from PCU was <35 % from fall through winter (November–January) and <20 % for early preplant (February–March) applications until 1 April. By 1 August, less urea was released in some instances from surface applications of PCU following FSC or DC soybean, but release was generally greater than in the absence of soil. No‐till corn following DC soybean or FSC had yields that were 1.01–1.32 Mg ha^?1 greater when grown with PCU compared to urea at 168 kg N ha^?1. Grain yields were similar within no‐till cropping systems with PCU, anhydrous ammonia and sidedressed urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) at 168 kg N ha^?1. Farmers should recognize that high yields may not be obtained if PCU rates are reduced by 50 % (84 kg N ha^?1) in high‐residue (DC soybean or FSC), no‐till production systems. Several N sources such as PCU, anhydrous ammonia and sidedressed UAN worked similarly in high‐residue, no‐till systems, although no differences between N sources were observed in a reduced‐tillage system.     

Effect of Straw on Yield Components of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Under Rice-Rice Cropping System

Field experiments were conducted at the Directorate of Rice Research experimental farm, ICRISAT campus, Patancheru, Hyderabad, during 1998–2000 for five consecutive seasons (three wet and two dry seasons) with five treatments [T1 – 100 % straw incorporation; T2 – 50 % straw incorporation; T3 – 100 % straw + green manure (GM) incorporation; T4 – 100 % straw burning and T5 – 100 % straw removal (control)] along with the recommended dose of fertilizers to evaluate the effect of different crop residue management (CRM) practices on yield components and yield of rice in rice–rice cropping sequence. The ammonium N measured at active tillering was higher in 100 % straw‐added plots over 50 % straw addition and straw removal with maximum values in the straw + GM‐incorporated plots. Among the yield components, tillers, panicles and spikelets were influenced from the second season of residue incorporation with significant increase in 100 % straw‐added treatments. The increase in tiller and panicle number could be attributed to the increased NH₄‐N in these treatments, which is evident from the significant correlation between tiller number and NH₄‐N (r = 0.82**) and panicle number and NH₄‐N (r = 0.87**). The influence of residue treatments on rice grain yield was observed from the third season onwards where incorporation of straw alone or in combination with GM and burning of straw significantly increased grain and straw yields. Grain yield showed significant positive correlation with the number of tillers (r = 0.74*–0.81**) and panicles (r = 0.74*–0.84**) in three treatments (T1, T3 andT4) where grain yields were significantly higher. The regression analysis showed that 57–66 % and 64–75 % of the variation in yield could be explained by tillers and panicles together in these three treatments during wet and dry seasons respectively. Thus, CRM practices such as addition of 100 % straw either alone or with GM and straw burning influenced the yield components (tillers, panicles and spikelets) positively and thereby increased rice grain yields.     

张家界烟区不同海拔高度植烟土壤腐殖质与有机氮组分的特点及其相互关系

为了揭示张家界烟区植烟土壤腐殖质组分及有机氮组分的特点及其与海拔高度之间的关系,采用GPS定位技术采集张家界不同海拔的植烟土壤25个,对土壤进行腐殖质组分及有机氮组分进行分析,结果表明：土壤腐殖质各组分都随海拔升高呈先升高后降低趋势,腐殖质、腐殖酸、胡敏酸均在601～800 m海拔段平均值最高,富里酸在800 m以上海拔段平均值最高,胡敏素及胡富比在400~600 m海拔段最高;氨态氮、氨基酸态氮、未知态氮随海拔高度的升高呈先升高后降低趋势,并在400~600 m海拔段土壤酸解性总氮、酸解性氨态氮和酸解性未知态氮的平均值均最高;土壤有机氮组分与腐殖组分相关性显著,氨基酸态氮与腐殖酸、胡敏酸及胡敏素呈极显著相关性,氨基糖态氮与腐殖酸、富里酸及胡敏素呈极显著相关性。     

Effect of Organic and Inorganic Nutrients for Soil Quality Conservation and Yield of Rainfed Low Land Rice in Sub-tropical Plateau Region

The effect of organic sources of nutrients and inorganic fertilizers, was studied on grain yield of lowland rice and some aspect of soil quality parameters in a field experiment at Agricultural Experimental Farm of Indian Statistical Institute, Giridih, situated at eastern plateau region of India, during consecutive years 1997–2002. Chemical fertilizers and various organic matters were applied to two rice cultivars, Sabita and Subarna. The highest mean grain yield was 3.53 t ha^?1 and maximum agronomic efficiency was 60.3 % with the application of inorganic fertilizer followed by cow dung, where 3.47 t ha^?1 grain yield was recorded with an agronomic efficiency of 57.5 %. Grain yield of rice recorded under organic sources of nutrients was not significantly different from that of inorganic fertilization though there was improvement in soil quality parameters under organic sources. Soil organic carbon (0.72 %), microbial biomass‐C (279.23 μg g^?1 dry soil), urease activity with buffer (33.54 μg urea hydrolyzed g^?1 oven‐dry soil) and non‐buffer (21.97 μg urea hydrolyzed g^?1 of oven‐dry soil) methods and acid phosphatase activity (2.24 μg para‐nitrophenol released g^?1 of oven‐dry soil) analysed following the harvest of the crop were highest under cow dung manure treatment; the most efficient organic source under the experiment. Mean grain yield of rice was significantly higher in Sabita cultivar over Subarna. The regression analyses among the variables have shown that there was linear relationship among soil parameters and grain yield of rice.     

不同种类有机物料对新垦红壤有机碳提升及培肥效果的影响

由荒坡地开垦形成的新垦红壤普遍存在立地条件差、土壤结构不良、保肥保水性差、生产能力低下等诸多问题，提高土壤有机碳被认为是新垦红壤快速熟化的重要途径。为了解不同类型有机物料在促进红壤有机碳提升及培肥效果的差异，选择黄筋泥和红砂土2种新垦土壤，通过室内培养方法比较研究了10种常用有机物料对土壤中各形态有机碳、速效养分及酶活性等的影响。结果表明：不同有机物料中的有机碳的稳定性顺次为：风化煤腐殖酸>50%风化煤腐殖酸+50%猪粪/水稻秸秆堆肥>泥炭>猪粪/水稻秸秆堆肥>生活垃圾堆肥>沼渣>菌菇棒堆肥>猪粪>鸡粪>水稻秸秆>紫云英；在粘质土壤（黄筋泥）中的稳定性高于砂质土壤（红砂土）。施用风化煤腐殖酸、50%风化煤腐殖酸+50%猪粪/水稻秸秆堆肥对提升土壤腐殖质的效果最为显著。有机物施用后残留在新垦园地土壤中的有机碳主要以矿物结合态有机碳存在，游离态有机碳和粗颗粒有机碳占总有机碳的比例较低。施用各类有机物料也可明显提高土壤微生物活性、促进土壤水稳定性团聚体的形成，轻微提高土壤CEC，但效果因有机物料不同有显著的差异。综合评价结果表明，对改良土壤性状效果最佳的是风化煤腐殖酸、50%风化煤腐殖酸+50%猪粪/水稻秸秆堆肥、猪粪/水稻秸秆堆肥，菌菇棒堆肥、水稻秸秆和紫云英的效果相对较差。研究建议，在改良新垦低丘红壤时，宜考虑性状不一的多类有机物料混配施用。     

Genetic analysis and fine mapping of tms9, a novel thermosensitive genic male‐sterile gene in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Two‐line hybrid rice as a novel hybrid breeding method has huge potential for yield increasing and utilization of intersubspecific heterosis, and it is of major significance for the food security of rice‐consuming populations. Zhu1S is a thermosensitive genic male‐sterile line of rice with low critical temperature and excellent combining ability, which has been widely exploited as a female parent in Chinese two‐line hybrid rice breeding. Here, genetic mapping in F₂ populations was used to show that its male sterility is inherited as a single recessive gene and that responsible gene (termed tms9) lies on the short arm of chromosome 2. A high‐resolution linkage analysis which was based on the Zhu1S/R173 F₂ population found that the thermosensitive genic male‐sterile gene tms9 of Zhu1S was fine mapped between insertion–deletion (Indel) markers Indel 37 and Indel 57, and the genetic distance from the tms9 to the two markers was 0.12 and 0.31 cM, respectively. The physical distance between the two markers was about 107.2 kb. Sequence annotation databases showed that the two Indel markers (Indel 37 and Indel 57) were located on two BAC clones (B1307A11 and P0027A02). There are sixteen open reading frames (ORF) present in this region. The results of this study are of great significance for further cloning tms9 and molecular marker–assisted selection.     

Effects of Increasing Salinity Stress and Decreasing Water Availability on Ecophysiological Traits of Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Grown in a Mediterranean‐Type Agroecosystem

Quinoa is a native Andean crop for domestic consumption and market sale, widely investigated due to its nutritional composition and gluten‐free seeds. Leaf water potential (Ψ_leaf) and its components and stomatal conductance (g_s) of quinoa, cultivar Titicaca, were investigated in Southern Italy, in field trials (2009 and 2010). This alternative crop was subjected to irrigation treatments, with the restitution of 100 %, 50 % and 25 % of the water necessary to replenish field capacity, with well water (100 W, 50 W, 25 W) and saline water (100 WS, 50 WS, 25 WS) with an electrical conductivity (EC_w) of 22 dS m^?1. As water and salt stress developed and Ψ_leaf decreased, the leaf osmotic potential (Ψ_π) declined (below ?2.05 MPa) to maintain turgor. Stomatal conductance decreased with the reduction in Ψ_leaf (with a steep drop at Ψ_leaf between ?0.8 and 1.2 MPa) and Ψ_π (with a steep drop at Ψ_π between ?1.2 and ?1.4 MPa). Salt and drought stress, in both years, did not affect markedly the relationship between water potential components, RWC and g_s. Leaf water potentials and g_s were inversely related to water limitation and soil salinity experimentally imposed, showing exponential (Ψ_leaf and turgor pressure, Ψ_p, vs. g_s) or linear (Ψ_leaf and Ψ_p vs. SWC) functions. At the end of the experiment, salt‐irrigated plants showed a severe drop in Ψ_leaf (below ?2 MPa), resulting in stomatal closure through interactive effects of soil water availability and salt excess to control the loss of turgor in leaves. The effects of salinity and drought resulted in strict dependencies between RWC and water potential components, showing that regulating cellular water deficit and volume is a powerful mechanism for conserving cellular hydration under stress, resulting in osmotic adjustment at turgor loss. The extent of osmotic adjustment associated with drought was not reflected in Ψ_π at full turgor. As soil was drying, the association between Ψ_leaf and SWC reflected the ability of quinoa to explore soil volume to continue extracting available water from the soil. However, leaf ABA content did not vary under concomitant salinity and drought stress conditions in 2009, while differing between 100 W and 100 WS in 2010. Quinoa showed good resistance to water and salt stress through stomatal responses and osmotic adjustments that played a role in the maintenance of a leaf turgor favourable to plant growth and preserved crop yield in cropping systems similar to those of Southern Italy.     

张家界不同植烟土壤类型腐殖质的组成研究

采用田间调查、取样及室内分析的方法,研究张家界5种不同植烟土壤类型的腐殖质含量、组成、性质。结果表明：胡敏酸碳含量由高到低为：黄壤>水稻土>黑色石灰土>红壤>紫色土;富里酸碳含量由高到低为：黄壤>水稻土>红壤>黑色石灰土>紫色土;胡敏素碳含量由高到低为：黑色石灰土>黄壤>水稻土>红壤>紫色土;胡敏酸/富里酸（HA/FA）为：黑色石灰土>紫色土>水稻土>红壤>黄壤。松结态腐殖质碳含量为：黄壤>黑色石灰土>水稻土>红壤>紫色土;紧结态腐殖质碳含量为黑色石灰土>黄壤>水稻土>红壤>紫色土;稳结态腐殖质碳含量为:红壤>黑色石灰土>黄壤>水稻土>紫色土;松/紧比值由高到低依次为:紫色土>红壤>水稻土>黄壤>黑色石灰土。这说明5种植烟土壤类型中黄壤的腐殖质含量最为丰富,紫色土的腐殖质品质最好,水稻土和黑色石灰土的腐殖质含量和品质均为中等,红壤最差。各腐殖质组分与有机质之间呈显著或极显著相关,胡敏酸和松结态腐殖质可作为衡量植烟土壤肥力的表征指标。     

Long-Term Effects of Fertilizers on the Soil Fertility and Productivity of a Rice–Wheat System

Rice–wheat cropping system to which graded levels of NPK fertilizers had been applied for 20 years were compared for yield trends, and changes in response function, soil organic-C and available N, P, K and S status. This study of system in which only chemical fertilizers had been used over a long period enabled long-term yield declines of rice and wheat at different levels and combinations of NPK fertilizers to be evaluated. The highest rate of yield decline in both rice and wheat was found when 120 kg ha⁻¹ N was applied alone. The lowest rate of decline was observed when all three nutrients (N, P and K) were applied, at 40, 35 and 33 kg ha⁻¹ for N, P and K, respectively, followed by 120, 35 and 33 kg ha⁻¹ (currently recommended levels). The yield response of rice and wheat to N fertilizer declined over the 20 years, with a higher rate of decline in wheat. In contrast, the response to applied P and K increased with time in both crops, with a higher response rate in wheat. With continuous application of N and P fertilizers, there was a marginal change in available N and K in the soil over time, but an approximately 3-fold increase in available P and an approximately 2-fold increase in available S were obtained by regular dressing of P fertilizer (SSP: 7 % P, 12 % S) over 20 years. The results revealed that balanced, high doses of NPK fertilizers are required to maintain soil fertility and raise grain yields.     

长期定位施肥对水稻土有机质含量及组成的影响

为揭示水稻土有机质的变化规律,通过长期定位施肥试验研究了27 年的不同施肥处理水稻土中有机质含量及其组成。结果表明,长期施肥不同处理的土壤有机质消长呈现明显差异,在等量氮、磷、钾养分的前提下,长期有机-无机肥配施比无肥或单施化肥更有利于稻田土壤有机质的积累;单施化肥、有机-无机肥配施各处理土壤腐殖酸、HA、FA变化趋势基本相同,但有机-无机肥配施土壤腐殖酸、HA、FA一直高于无肥及化肥处理,而且有机-无机肥配施有利于土壤中HA和FA的增加,HA/FA比值随着时间的延伸逐渐减小;有机-无机肥配施可以提高土壤易氧化有机质含量;而且长期施肥土壤有机质与易氧化有机质呈极显著正相关,与全氮、水解氮含量及产量显著正相关。易氧化有机质与土壤全氮、有效磷含量及产量呈显著正相关。其中水稻产量与易氧化有机质的相关性（r=0.8181*）比与有机质（r=0.8020）的相关性较高,说明易氧化有机质对水稻增产有较大的贡献。     

Leguminous Cover Crop Effects on Nitrogen Mineralization Rates and Kinetics in Soils

Soils were collected from an experimental site (initiated in 1991) at which leguminous crops were grown as natural soil cover in the interspaces of a 19‐year‐old coconut plantation. Atylosia scarabaeoides, Centrosema pubescens, Calopogonium mucunoides and Pueraria phaseoloides were grown in separate plots during the rainy season and ploughed into the soil towards the end of the monsoon (in December every year). Soil samples were collected from this site at the end of the 7th year and incubated in PVC columns at 35 ± 1°C and 0.01 MPa moisture content for 36 weeks. The soils were then leached at periodic intervals for up to 36 weeks and nitrogen (N) mineralization rates and kinetics were determined by the double exponential model. The N mineralization rates were highest during the first week and decreased with time in all soils. Soils amended (in situ ploughing) with cover crops leached 191 mg kg^–1 more NO₃^– + NO₂^–‐N than the unamended control. The per cent organic N mineralized (total and net) and the cumulative inorganic N mineralized (NO₃^– + NO₂^–‐N) varied with the amount (biomass) and type of cover crop incorporated into the soil. In general, soils amended with cover crops had greater N mineralization potentials and rate constants than the unamended control. The kinetic parameters N_oS and N_o(1 – S) and their respective rate constants h and k also varied with the amount and type of cover crops incorporated into the soil. The results further indicated that the lignin + polyphenol : N ratio of the cover crops is extremely important in predicting the rate of decomposition and N mineralization in soils.     

Nitrogen fertilization of warm‐season turfgrasses irrigated with saline water from varying irrigation systems. 1. Quality,spring green‐up and fall colour retention

A 3‐year study was conducted at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM, to investigate the effects of different fertilization treatments on turf performance when water conservation strategies are applied. These strategies include the use of non‐potable saline irrigation water and the use of efficient subsurface irrigation systems. Two low water use warm‐season grasses, “Princess 77” bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) and “Sea Spray” seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum O. Swartz), were irrigated with either potable [Electrical Conductivity (EC) = 0.6 dS/m] or saline (EC = 3.1 dS/m) water from either an overhead or a subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) system. Four different fertilizers, liquid slow release, granular slow release, granular urea and liquid urea, were applied at two rates: 10 and 20 g N m^?2 year^?1 for “Sea Spray” and 20 and 30 g N m^?2 year^?1 for “Princess 77.” Spring green‐up, summer quality and fall colour retention were determined using digital image analysis, visual quality ratings and normalized difference vegetation index. Generally, subsurface drip‐irrigated grasses were slower to green‐up than overhead irrigated ones. “Sea Spray” irrigated from the SDI system took 18, 28 and 15 days longer to reach 80% green cover in 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively, than their sprinkler‐irrigated counterparts. The combination of “Princess 77” and overhead irrigation reached 80% green cover 35 (in 2010), 34 (in 2011) and 12 (in 2012) days faster than SDI‐irrigated “Princess 77.” Fertilization rate and type had no effect on summer turfgrass quality of “Princess 77” irrigated from a sprinkler system throughout the research period reaching ratings of greater than 7 during all 3 years. Similar results were observed for “Princess 77” irrigated from a SDI system during 2010 and 2011. Summer quality of sprinkler‐irrigated “Sea Spray” was negatively affected by liquid fertilization. During two of three summers, visual quality of plots fertilized with either liquid slow release or liquid urea was lower than “Sea Spray” fertilized with granular fertilizer. Further research is needed to investigate the effect of fertilization on bermudagrass and seashore paspalum over a wider nitrogen range including both granular and foliar products.     

Effect of Rainfall Collecting with Ridge and Furrow on Soil Moisture and Root Growth of Corn in Semiarid Northwest China

A plastic‐covered ridge and furrow farming of rainfall collecting (RC) system were designed to increase water availability to corn for improving and stabilizing agricultural production in the semiarid Loess region of northwest China. This system comprised two elements: the ridge mulched by plastic film that acts as a rainfall harvesting zone and the furrow as a planting zone. To adopt this system for large‐scale use in the semiarid region and bring it into full play, it is necessary to test the appropriate rainfall range for RC farming. A field study (using corn as an indicator crop) combined with rainfall simulation was conducted to determine the effect of RC on soil moisture, root characteristic parameters and the yield of corn under three different rainfall levels (230, 340 and 440 mm) during the growing seasons of 2006 and 2007. The results indicated that with the rainfalls ranging within 230–440 mm, the soil moisture at 0–100 cm depth for RC system in furrows was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of conventional flat (CF for control) practice. At 100–200 cm soil depth, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between soil moisture in the RC₂₃₀ plots and in the CF₂₃₀ plots during the corn growing seasons, while the soil moisture both in the RC₃₄₀ and RC₄₄₀ plots were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those in the CF₃₄₀ and CF₄₄₀ plots. The root length, root surface area, root volume and root dry weight for RC₂₃₀ and RC₃₄₀ plots all significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared with CF₂₃₀ and CF₃₄₀ plots, but these root characteristic parameters at 440 mm rainfall slightly decreased compared with those of CF practice. Compared with the CF_230–440 pattern, the increasing amplitude of grain yield under the RC_230–440 pattern diminished with the rainfall increase and there was no obvious yield‐incrementing effect (P > 0.05) between two patterns at 440 mm rainfall in 2006. In comparison with these two farming practices, the RC system not only improved soil moisture of dry farmland, but also promoted the development of corn root systems when the rainfall ranged between 230 and 440 mm. Thus, it could be concluded that the optimal upper rainfall limit for the RC system is below 440 mm in the experiment. For corn, the adoption of the RC practice in the 230–440 mm rainfall area will make the system more effective during the whole growth period and offer a sound opportunity for sustainable farming in semiarid areas.     

长期施肥对不同有机质含量农田黑土胡敏酸、富里酸含量的影响

腐殖质是土壤有机质的主体部分,并且在碳截获、土壤结构、养分保持、生物地球化学循环等方面都占有重要的作用。本文以5种不同有机质含量农田黑土为主要研究对象,对比分析了长期施肥对不同有机质含量农田黑土富里酸(FA)、胡敏酸(HA)、胡敏素(HM)的含量的影响。结果表明:5种农田黑土FA、HA、HM的含量随土壤有机质含量的增加而增加,长期施肥可以增加农田黑土FA、HA、HM的含量,5种农田黑土FA含量差异达到了显著水平(P0.05)。相关分析表明:FA、HA含量与土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷呈显著正相关,与土壤pH值呈显著负相关(P0.05),HM含量与土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷含量、土壤p H值之间差异没有达到显著水平(P0.05)。     

腐植酸类肥料浸种及浇灌对燕麦种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响研究

研究腐植酸类肥料浸种及浇灌对燕麦种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。以燕麦种子为材料,在室内采取标准发芽试验法和生境地土壤培养法,测定腐殖酸类肥料浸种和浇灌后种子萌发及幼苗生长指标。各腐植酸类肥料浸种对种子生活力无显著影响,腐植酸钾显著提高了种子出苗速度(P＜0.05),加速了种子萌发,黄腐酸、腐植钠、腐植酸钠降低了出苗速率和活力指数。从幼苗的生长情况来看,腐植酸钾对幼苗生长量,苗高、根长和种子根的发生有积极的促进作用,虽黄腐酸、腐植酸钠、腐植钠对苗高根长有显著促长作用,但因抑制了种子根的发生,对幼苗的存活和抗逆不利。各腐植酸类肥料浇灌燕麦幼苗后,对幼苗鲜重、根数、根干重、根冠比有促进作用,同时增加了植株的成坨性。腐殖酸钾是燕麦种子播前浸种的最佳腐殖酸类肥料,各腐殖酸类肥料都适合燕麦幼苗田浇灌。     

Environmental and Economic Benefits of Saline-Sodic Soil Reclamation Using Low-quality Water and Soil Amendments in Conjunction with a Rice–Wheat Cropping System

A combination of appropriate crop rotation(s) and management interventions has the potential to transform saline‐sodic soil and water resources from an environmental burden into an economic asset. We carried out 2‐year field studies in the Indus Basin of Pakistan to evaluate different irrigation and soil management options of using saline‐sodic waters (SSW) and soils for reclamation and for growing salt‐tolerant cultivars of rice (SSRI‐8) and wheat (SIS‐32). These soils have variable levels of salinity and sodicity (EC_e 9–44 dS m^?1 and SAR 83–319). The treatments on both the sites were the same and consisted of: (1) Irrigation with SSW, (2) Irrigation with freshwater (FW), (3) Soil application of gypsum at 100 % gypsum requirement of soil + SSW (G + SSW), (4) G + one irrigation with SSW and one with FW (G + 1SSW + 1FW), (5) G + two irrigations with SSW and one with FW (G + 2SSW + 1FW), (6) Farm manure at 25 Mg ha^?1 each year before rice + one irrigation with SSW and one with FW (FM + 1SSW + 1FW) and (7) FM + two irrigations with SSW and one with FW (FM + 2SSW + 1FW). Rice was grown as the first crop. After harvesting final wheat crop (fourth in sequence), maximum decrease in bulk density and increase in infiltration rate was observed with G + 1SSW + 1FW while FM + 1SSW + 1FW treatment showed higher decrease in pH_s and EC_e. Significantly the highest decrease in SAR occurred at both sites with G + 1SSW + 1FW. Maximum yields of rice and wheat were generally observed with G + 1SSW + 1FW. The crop yield and economic benefits with treatments showed a positive correlation with that of improvement in soil physical and chemical properties. Overall, the greatest net benefit was obtained from G + 1SSW + 1FW treatment. We also found that the farmers’ management skills were crucial in the overall success in improving crop yields during reclamation of saline‐sodic soils. Based on the results of this study, we propose that SSW could be used to reclaim saline‐sodic soils by using a rice–wheat rotation and a site‐specific combination of soil amendments and water application strategies.