加气灌溉改善温室番茄根区土壤通气性

为揭示加气灌溉对温室番茄根区土壤通气性的影响,探索加气灌溉下土壤温度、氧气含量、充气孔隙度与土壤呼吸和土壤微生物呼吸的关系,试验设置作物-皿系数为0.6、1.0这2种灌水水平和加气、不加气地下滴灌,共4个处理。结果表明,与地下滴灌相比,加气灌溉下土壤微生物呼吸显著增大了11.5%(P0.05),土壤氧气含量、土壤呼吸、温度、和植物根系呼吸均有所增大。而且作物-皿系数为1.0灌水水平下加气灌溉与不加气相比,土壤和植物根系呼吸显著增大了25.5%和38.8%(P0.05)。因此,加气灌溉通过调控土壤水气配合条件,促进了土壤、土壤微生物和植物根系呼吸,有效改善了土壤通气性。而且相比于不加气地下滴灌和作物-皿系数为0.6水平下加气灌溉,作物-皿系数为1.0时加气灌溉在促进土壤和植物根系呼吸方面的效果更明显。另外,土壤温度、充气孔隙度和氧气含量是土壤和土壤微生物呼吸的重要影响因子。番茄生长前期,土壤呼吸与充气孔隙度和氧气含量显著正相关,与土壤温度显著负相关(P0.05);番茄生长后期,土壤和土壤微生物呼吸与土壤温度显著正相关,与氧气含量显著负相关(P0.05)。     

不同增氧水平对夏玉米生长及氮素利用的影响

为探究有利于夏玉米生长和氮素利用的适宜灌溉水溶解氧浓度,本试验以夏玉米为供试作物,采用地下滴灌供水方式,以地下水灌溉为对照,设置10(OA10)、20(OA20)和40(OA40) mg·L^-1灌溉水溶解氧浓度3个增氧水平,研究不同增氧水平对盆栽夏玉米生长、产量和氮素利用的影响。结果表明,增氧地下滴灌显著提高了土壤溶解氧浓度,与对照相比,OA40、OA20和OA10处理土壤溶解氧浓度平均提高14.83%、9.71%和8.00%,表现为作物生长增强,作物产量和氮素利用效率均显著提高(P<0.05)。与对照相比,OA10处理的株高、叶鲜质量和叶干质量分别增加7.39%、16.30%和12.02%;OA40处理叶干质量和茎鲜质量分别增加15.82%和12.43%;OA10、OA20和OA40根系鲜质量分别增加60.00%、17.66%和52.98%,根系体积分别增加34.03%、14.56%和51.32%;OA10和OA20处理根系活力分别增加272.77%和64.44%;OA10和OA40处理产量分别增加24.46%和21.83%,水分利用效率分别提高19.10%和21.61%,百粒重分别增加17.53%和15.14%。OA10和OA40处理籽粒氮素吸收量较对照分别增加63.90%和35.27%,OA10处理籽粒氮素分配比例和氮素吸收效率分别增加21.57%和33.33%。上述差异均具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。综上,增氧地下滴灌可显著提高作物根区溶解氧浓度,促进作物生长,提高产量及氮素吸收利用,以OA10处理效果最为显著。本研究结果为增氧灌溉技术在实际生产中的合理利用提供了理论依据。     

微纳米增氧水添加对土壤中溶解氧耗散的影响

微纳米增氧灌溉可缓解作物根区氧气限制,促进作物代谢活动和生长发育。为探究微纳米增氧水添加后土壤溶解氧耗散规律及其增氧效果,该研究以初始干旱土壤和初始湿润土壤为研究对象,使用微氧电极技术,监测不同微纳米增氧水平下淹水土壤溶解氧浓度变化规律。结果表明：1)土壤溶解氧浓度随时间呈现快速下降阶段、缓速下降阶段两段式规律,其中快速下降阶段土壤溶解氧耗散以气体扩散为主,耗散曲线符合对数函数规律;缓速下降阶段土壤溶解氧耗散以微生物消耗为主,耗散曲线符合Logistic函数或线性函数规律;2)在初始干旱土壤试验的快速下降阶段,与常规对照处理CK(O₂浓度：8～9 mg/L)相比,O1(O₂浓度：15 mg/L)、O₂(O₂浓度：20 mg/L)处理溶解氧留存时间分别延长了40.11%和189.62%;在初始湿润土壤试验的快速下降阶段,O₁、O₂处理溶解氧耗散时间分别延长了445.16%和2741.94%;3)在微生物活性较低的土壤(初始干旱土壤)中,氧气与底物都是溶解氧消...     

水氮耦合氧灌对温室辣椒土壤肥力及细菌群落的影响

为揭示水氮耦合氧灌对温室辣椒土壤肥力、细菌多样性及群落的影响,该研究设置施氮量(225和300 kg/hm2)、通气量(通气比率为15%和0)和灌水量(0.6和0.9倍作物-蒸发皿系数)3因素2水平试验,采用高通量测序等方法研究土壤细菌群落与土壤通气性指标、土壤肥力因子之间的关系。结果表明,低水量常氮氧灌和高水量常氮氧灌条件下,果实膨大期灌水后3d的土壤溶解氧、土壤呼吸和氧化还原电位分别较不加氧对照组增加16.73%、38.78%、26.04%和18.58%、46.58%、29.09%(P0.05)。低水量低氮氧灌和高水量低氮氧灌条件下,土壤可溶性有机碳、硝态氮含量较不加氧对照组分别增加26.40%、28.22%和19.67%、18.46%(P0.05);低水量常氮氧灌和高水量常氮氧灌条件下,土壤可溶性有机碳、硝态氮含量较不加氧对照组分别增加20.38%、19.25%和17.49%、17.93%(P0.05)。Shannon、Pielou-e指数表明,加氧处理可显著提高细菌群落多样性和均匀性,而高水量和常氮处理只提高细菌群落均匀性(P0.05)。常氮高水量下,加氧处理的硝化螺旋菌属(硝化作用)和芽孢杆菌属(固氮作用)相对丰度较对照增加24.24%和20.11%,而土微菌属(反硝化作用)相对丰度较对照降低22.66%;加氧低水量下,常氮处理的硝化螺旋菌属和芽孢杆菌属相对丰度较对照增加22.95%和34.12%(P0.05)。高水量低氮和常氮条件下,加氧处理的放线菌门相对丰度较对照增加16.84%和13.37%;高水量常氮条件下,加氧处理的γ-变形杆菌较对照降低15.75%(P0.05)。土壤呼吸、Eh与Shannon指数、硝态氮含量、硝化螺旋菌属和芽孢杆菌属呈显著正相关,与γ-变形杆菌呈显著负相关。综上,水氮耦合氧灌能有效改善土壤通气性改变细菌群落结构,提升土壤肥力,为设施蔬菜水肥高效利用提供理论依据。     

增氧型复混肥提高土壤氧化还原电位促进水稻养分吸收

  【目的】   稻田长期淹水所导致的土壤通气性差妨碍水稻的生长。探索增氧型复混肥对改善土壤通气状况的作用,为水稻专用肥研发提供理论依据。   【方法】   在复混肥制造过程中,添加特制的粘结剂和3.6%、4.8%、6.1%的过氧化钙制成具有增氧功能的复混肥OCF1、OCF2、OCF3。以Q681 (全两优681) 和EK1 (鄂科1号) 两种常规中稻品种为试材进行盆栽试验。设淹水 (WL)、增氧灌溉 (MBWI) 和分次增施过氧化钙 (FCP) 为对照,一次性基施OCF1、OCF2、OCF3 3个处理,在水稻主要生育期,测定土壤氧化还原电位、无机氮含量和pH,测定水稻叶片光合作用、水稻产量及氮磷钾养分含量。   【结果】   增氧措施OCF2和OCF3处理均能不同程度地提高移栽期、分蘖期、齐穗期和乳熟期土壤的氧化还原电位。与WL、MBWI和FCP处理相比,OCF1、OCF2和OCF3处理的土壤在分蘖期和齐穗期保持较高的氧化还原电位,其中以OCF2和OCF3的作用最明显;整个生育期,对照和各处理的土壤pH没有显著差异,与WL处理相比增氧型复混肥还可提高齐穗期土壤过氧化氢酶的活性。所有增氧处理均能够保持或显著提高耕层土壤铵态氮含量,其中OCF2和OCF3表现最明显。与WL处理相比,各增氧处理均不同程度地提高水稻叶片的光合速率,其中OCF3处理增幅最大,提高了11%以上,高于或显著高于增氧灌溉和分次增施过氧化钙处理 (MBWI和FCP)。OCF3处理的有效穗数、千粒重和产量比淹水灌溉WL处理分别提高25%、38%和107%,比MBWI和FCP处理提高29%～58%。   【结论】   增氧型复混肥能较长时间提高土壤通气性和土壤的氧化还原电位,有利于水稻对土壤养分的吸收利用。与分次追施过氧化钙和增氧灌溉相比,肥料制作过程中添加过氧化钙制备增氧型复混肥提高水稻土通气性的效果更好,操作更加方便,是提高水稻专用肥效益的有效途径。     

滴灌灌水均匀系数与灌水量对土壤水分分布及温室番茄产量的影响

为探索灌水均匀系数与灌水量对温室番茄产量和土壤水分变化的影响,确定合理的滴灌灌水均匀系数,本研究设置65%、75%和85%3个灌水均匀度水平, 190 mm、220 mm和250 mm 3个灌水量水平,测量番茄生育期内土壤含水率及番茄产量,计算土壤含水率均匀系数和番茄灌溉水利用效率。结果表明,当灌水均匀系数为65%～85%时,土壤水分均匀系数均值(82.57%～93.76%)接近或高于设置的滴灌灌水均匀系数的最大值(85%)。滴灌灌水均匀系数对土壤含水率均匀系数影响权重最大,灌水量、灌水均匀系数、土壤初始含水率均值3个影响因素与土壤含水率均匀系数均值之间呈线性关系(P0.05),决定系数为0.918。当土壤初始含水率占田间持水量比重60%,灌水量低于15mm时,灌水均匀系数与灌水量二者的交互作用与土壤含水率均匀系数为显著线性关系(P0.05),其他情况下均无显著性关系。灌水量对产量为显著影响(P0.05),灌水均匀系数及二者的交互作用对番茄产量无显著影响,考虑产量及灌溉水分利用效率,灌水量220 mm、灌水均匀系数75%组合为最优组合。因此在西北地区,综合考虑经济性和系统的可靠性,建议下调现行滴灌灌水均匀系数标准。     

过氧化氢增氧水的理化特性及其在黏土中入渗分析

地下滴灌的黏土通常伴随着缺氧的特征。过氧化氢增氧灌溉是改善土壤通气性的有效方法。为探讨添加过氧化氢对水的理化特性及其在土壤中入渗的影响,该研究分析了不同浓度的过氧化氢增氧水(H₂O₂浓度分别为0、600、800、1 000 mg/L)的溶解氧浓度、氧气传质系数、表面张力系数、电导率和pH值以及入渗过程。结果表明：溶解氧浓度随H₂O₂添加浓度的增大而增大,表面张力系数则呈现出相反的趋势。溶解氧浓度与表面张力系数存在良好的对数函数关系,二者可以作为过氧化氢增氧水理化特性的定量评价指标。与对照相比,过氧化氢增氧水促进了土壤水分入渗过程,提高了土壤的持水能力。土壤累积入渗量、湿润锋深度以及土壤含水率均随H₂O₂浓度的增加先上升后下降,最大值在800 mg/L处理中获得。Philip入渗模型能够较好地模拟过氧化氢增氧水的入渗过程,吸渗率随H₂O₂浓度的增加先上升后下降,最大值出现在800 mg/L处理。吸渗率与溶解氧浓度之...     

气源及活性剂对曝气滴灌带水气单双向传输均匀性的影响

曝气滴灌过程中水、氧、气传输均匀性是评价曝气灌溉质量的重要指标。活性剂的添加和传输方式的优选对曝气滴灌传输过程中微气泡的存在和溶解氧的保持有重要意义。为提高水气耦合物在滴灌过程中传输的距离和均匀性,该文采用Mazzei 1078文丘里空气射流器进行曝气增氧,以空气和氧气为供试气源,研究活性剂BS1000浓度(0、1、2和4 mg/L)和传输方式(单向和双向)对曝气滴灌下水、氧、气传输特性的影响。结果表明:曝气导致单向传输下流量均匀性略有下降,但可显著提高灌溉水中溶解氧和掺气比例;随着活性剂浓度的增加,掺气比例显著增加(P0.05);活性剂的添加促进了氧气曝气下溶解氧的增加;溶氧均匀性和流量均匀性随着活性剂浓度的增加无显著性变化,但单向传输下4 mg/L BS1000的出气均匀性较未添加活性剂显著降低;双向传输的流量均匀性、溶氧均匀性和出气均匀性分别在95%、96%和67%以上,较单向传输分别平均提高14.00%、4.05%和30.64%(P0.05),是曝气滴灌长程管道传输推荐的布置方式。研究结果为曝气滴灌过程中灌溉技术参数优化和管道的科学布置提供理论依据。     

增氧灌溉对棉花营养特征及土壤肥力的影响

以新陆早41号为材料,通过模拟试验和田间小区试验,研究增氧对灌溉水溶解氧的影响,以及增氧灌溉对棉田土壤养分、土壤微生物数量、棉花养分吸收和产量的影响。增氧灌溉模拟试验设计4个充氧浓度(CK-0%、O_2-21%、O_2-30%、O_2-50%),连续测定主管道和滴灌带不同监测点位灌溉水溶解氧浓度;田间试验设计3种增氧灌溉方式,物理增氧PO、化学增氧CO和常规滴灌CK。结果表明,增氧灌溉能够明显提高灌溉系统内灌溉水的溶解氧浓度,并且随着溶解氧浓度的增加衰变增加,灌溉水溶解氧浓度增加至12~14 mg L~(-1)较为适宜;增氧灌溉显著促进棉花增产,PO、CO棉花产量分别较对照增加11.39%、11.42%;增氧灌溉能促进棉花对土壤养分的吸收,从而降低土壤中养分含量,棉田土壤速效氮、有效磷、速效钾、有机质含量均有所降低,CO处理土壤速效氮、有机质含量与对照之间的差异达到显著水平,分别降低27.23%、9.61%,PO处理速效钾含量与对照之间的差异达到显著水平,较对照降低5.78%;增氧灌溉对棉田土壤细菌、真菌、微生物数量有促进作用,PO、CO处理细菌数分别较对照提高28.38%、21.05%,微生物总量分别提高27.86%、20.63%,处理间差异均达到显著水平。说明棉花根系对氧敏感,增氧灌溉能够进一步挖掘棉花生产潜能,不同增氧措施均能在一定程度上促进棉花生长和促进棉花对土壤养分的吸收,能加速土壤有机质分解和养分释放。     

膜下滴灌对土壤CO2与CH4浓度的影响

在温室进行了马铃薯盆栽试验,采用静态暗箱气相色谱法比较了滴灌(D)和漫灌(F)两种不同灌溉制度对土壤CO2与CH4浓度的影响。在每种灌溉制度下再分设覆膜(M)与不覆膜两种农艺措施处理。覆膜滴灌(MD)下按土壤湿润比(P)不同,再设3个处理,分别为P1(P=25%)、P2(P=33%)、P3(P=50%),共6个处理,即DP1、MDP1、MDP2、MDP3、FC(不覆膜漫灌)和MF(覆膜漫灌),裸土(BS)和覆膜裸土(MBS)为对照。研究结果表明:覆膜的增温保湿作用及薄膜对土壤与大气间气体传输的自然阻隔作用使土壤CO2浓度升高10.4%~94.5%,CH4浓度降低5.1%~47.4%。滴灌的干湿交替现象以及漫灌对土壤通气性的降低使漫灌处理土壤中CO2浓度高于滴灌7.4%~49.7%,CH4浓度降低6.6%~68.2%。而土壤湿度通过影响土壤通气性和土壤溶解性有机质两方面来影响土壤温室气体排放,覆膜滴灌下湿润比越高,土壤中CO2浓度越低,其对CH4浓度的影响不确定。土壤温度是土壤呼吸的主要驱动因子,也会影响CH4的氧化过程。观察DP1处理灌水后土壤中温室气体浓度发现,CO2浓度与温度呈显著正相关关系,CH4浓度与温度呈显著负相关关系,土壤中CO2浓度与CH4浓度呈显著负相关关系。     

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.     

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.     

Genetic similarities among Spanisch populations of Agropyron, Elymus and Thinopyrum, using PCR-based markers

Arbitrary oligonucleotides were used as primers to amplifygenomic DNA of 48 wild Spanish populations of Agropyroncristatum, Elymus hispanicus,E. caninus,E. repens,Thinopyrum curvifolium, Th.junceum and Th.intermedium. Genetic diversity was analysedusing nineteen primers. The number of amplified products ranged from8 to 18 per primer and a total of 240 markers were scored. Differentlevels of intraspecific genetic diversity were found, the allogamousspecies E. repens andTh. intermedium being themost variable. Jaccard's similarity coefficients for internalmeasure within and between populations were used to produce a clusterdiagram. The results demonstrate differences in the degree ofsimilarity between taxonomic units. Interpopulational variability andinterspecific genomic relationships of these species arediscussed.     

Mycorrhizae,biocides, and biocontrol. 4. Response of a mixed culture of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and host plant to three fungicides

The effects of three commonly used fungicides on the colonization and sporulation by a mixture of three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi consisting of Glomus etunicatum (Becker & Gerd.), Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe, and Gigaspora rosea (Nicol. & Schenck) in symbiosis with pea plants and the resulting response of the host-plant were examined. Benomyl, PCNB, and captan were applied as soil drenches at a rate of 20 mg active ingredient kg^-1 soil 2 weeks after transplanting pea seedlings in a silty clay-loam soil containing the mixed inocula of AM fungi (AM plants). Effects of fungicides were compared to untreated plants that were inoculated with fungi (AM control). The effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on plant growth was also examined by including nonmycorrhizal, non-fungicide-treated plants (non-AM control). Fungicides or inoculation with AM fungi had only a small effect on the final shoot weights of pea plants, but had greater effects on root length and seed yield. AM control plants had higher seed yields and lower root lengths than the corresponding non-AM plants, and the fungicide-treated AM plants had intermediate yields and root lengths. Seed N and P contents were likewise highest in AM control plants, lowest in non-AM plants, and intermediate in fungicide-treated AM plants. All three fungicides depressed the proportion (%) of root length colonized by AM fungi, but these differences did not translate to reductions in the total root length that was colonized, since roots were longer in the fungicide-treated AM plants. Pea plants apparently compensated for the reduction in AM-fungal metabolism due to fungicides by increasing root growth. Fungicides affected the population of the three fungi as determined by sporulation at the final harvest. Captan significantly reduced the number, relative abundance, and relative volume of G. rosea spores in the final population relative to the controls. The relative volume of G. etunicatum spores was greater in all the fungicide-treated soils, while G. mosseae relative volumes were only greater in the captan-treated soil. These findings show that fungicides can alter the species composition of an AM-fungal community. The results also show that AM fungi can increase seed yield without enhancing the vegetative shoot growth of host plants.