金沙江支流冲沟侵蚀区四种土地利用方式下土壤入渗特性研究

在保持原有植被条件下,采用野外双环入渗法对金沙江支流安宁河谷冲沟侵蚀发生区4种土地利用条件下(荒草地活动沟、荒草地稳定沟、裸地活动沟、耕地)土壤入渗性进行研究。试验表明,前21．5 min土壤平均渗透率和累计入渗量均以荒草地稳定沟为最大,以裸地活动沟为最小,其余二者居中。4种土地利用条件下的入渗过程相似,并且可以用考斯恰可夫(костяковАН)公式f(t)=at-b得到很好的表达。植被能够有效增加土壤有机质的含量,而后者对改善土壤结构起着显著作用。土壤中>0．25 mm水稳性团聚体,尤其是其中的大粒径团聚体(>3 mm)含量较高,有利于提高土壤入渗性能。根量是能反映入渗性能强弱的重要生物学指标之一。具有良好入渗性的土壤,其地表径流减少,冲沟侵蚀得到有效遏制。     

元阳梯田不同土地利用类型表层土壤的抗冲性

为了研究云南省元阳县梯田核心区土壤的侵蚀特性和保水机制,采用原状土冲刷槽法和实地放水冲刷试验法,结合有林地、灌木林地、荒草地和坡耕地的物理性质等,对元阳梯田核心区上述4种土地利用类型表层土壤抗冲性及其主要影响因素进行研究。结果表明:研究区表层土壤抗冲性由强到弱表现为荒草地>灌木林地>有林地>坡耕地;含沙量随着坡度(15°、30°和45°)和冲刷流量(1.5、2.5和3.0 L/min)的增加而增加,坡耕地具有较弱的抗冲性;土壤中的须根能够增强土壤的抗冲能力,特别是直径<1.0 mm的须根具有较强的固结性;土壤的水稳性团聚体越多土壤的抗冲性也就越好,荒草地和灌木林地表层土壤直径>3 mm的土粒,其结构水稳度为93.33%。     

晋西黄土区不同地类土壤抗冲性分析

为了评价植被对土壤抗冲性的影响,以晋西黄土区蔡家川流域刺槐林、油松林、次生林、退耕荒草地、农地、土质路面为研究对象,采用野外实地放水冲刷法,以侵蚀量为指标,研究不同地类土壤的抗冲性,并分析地被物、根系与土壤抗冲性的相关性.结果表明:不同地类的土壤抗冲性为次生林＞刺槐林＞油松林＞退耕荒草地＞土质路面＞农地;单位面积上枯落物量及其厚度对土壤抗冲性的影响最大;土壤表层根系对土壤抗冲性也具有较大影响,能够有效提高土壤抗冲性的根系结构是0～30 cm土层中的毛根,其中,影响最大的是表层0～10 cm的根系,单位体积土壤内的根系越多,土壤抗冲性越强.     

不同土地利用方式下紫色土结构特性变化研究

基于野外调查、取样和室内实验分析,研究了粤东北不同土地利用方式下紫色土团聚体组成及其结构特性变化.结果表明:(1)各土地利用类型紫色土表层风干团聚体分布以＞5 mm粒径为主,＞0.25 mm团聚体含量均大于91%.湿筛后各土层＞0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量明显减少,平均为54.36%,土地利用方式对紫色土水稳性团聚体影响较大.(2)表土层＞0.25 mm湿筛团聚体含量顺序为:林地＞果园＞茶园＞撂荒地＞旱地,＞5 mm团聚体水稳性与有机质和黏粒含量成正相关.各利用类型团聚体破坏率介于31.12%～47.60%,表现为旱地＞撂荒地＞茶园＞果园＞林地.(3)5种土地利用类型各土层团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)平均值为2.26 mm,除旱地外,其他利用类型土壤团聚体MWD均随土壤深度增加而逐渐减少.各土层总孔隙度介于38.20%～45.28%,表层非毛管孔隙度表现为:林地＞沙田柚果园＞茶园＞撂荒地＞旱地,底层土壤亦有类似变化规律.     

滇中尖山河流域不同土地利用类型土壤抗蚀性

为揭示滇中尖山河小流域不同土地利用类型的侵蚀特性,以滇中尖山河小流域4种不同土地利用类型(坡耕地、裸地、林地、园地)不同土层(0—10,10—20,20—30 cm)土壤为研究对象,通过对土壤抗蚀性15个指标的测定与分析,研究了不同土地利用类型对土壤抗蚀性的影响。结果表明:不同土地利用类型中坡耕地、裸地5 mm土壤水稳性团聚体显著低于林地、园地,5 mm水稳性团聚体含量表现为裸地(12.72%)大于坡耕地(8.93%),且坡耕地0.25 mm团聚体随土层深度的增加而降低;土壤团聚体结构破坏率表现为裸地坡耕地林地园地,土壤有机碳含量与0.25 mm水稳性团聚体含量均达到极显著正相关。不同土地利用类型下园地和林地土壤的抗蚀指数、结构系数、团聚度、土壤结构和稳定性、抗分散强度和保水保肥能力最高,水稳性指数较大,分散系数最小,土壤抗蚀性能最强。不同土地利用类型综合抗蚀指数大小顺序为园地(0.823 6)林地(0.520 4)坡耕地(-0.382 2)裸地(-0.961 8)。综上,实行人工造林能够显著提高原土结构稳定性,园地和林地在增加土壤抗蚀性方面有明显优势,加强人工林建设可作为研究区土壤改良的有效措施。     

广元市不同土地利用类型土壤的分形特征

以8个植被类型、2个农地和2个退耕地的土壤颗粒组成数据为基础，运用分形模型计算这12个土地利用类型土壤颗粒的分形维数，研究了土壤颗粒分形维数与土壤性状的关系。结果表明：（1）12个土地利用类型表层土壤颗粒的分形维数介于2．8185～2．9249之间。与退耕地和玉米地相比，各林地土壤颗粒分形维数小；与1990年的2．8633相比，2006年土壤颗粒分形维数（2．8592）减小；各团聚体分形维数规律不明显。（2）决定土壤颗粒分形维数大小的首先是〈o．002mm的含量，其次是0．05～0．25mm和0．0020．02mm的含量；决定团聚体分形维数大小的粒级含量由大到小的顺序是：2～5mm，0．5～1mm和1～2mm，其余粒级含量对分形维数影响较小。（3）土壤颗粒分形维数与团聚体分形维数可作为侵蚀指标，前者与土壤可蚀性因子相关关系显著，后者也可作为渗透蓄水指标。（4）在坡耕地基础上的退耕地比生态退化后的营林地具有更有利于水土保持的土壤分形特征。     

紫色土丘陵区不同土地利用类型土壤抗蚀性特征研究

对紫色土丘陵区4种典型土地利用类型的土壤抗蚀性进行了研究,结果表明:(1)通过主成分分析,＞0.25 mm和＞0.5 mm水稳性团聚体含量、结构体破坏率能较好地衡量紫色土不同土地利用类型的土壤抗蚀性能;(2)＞0.25 mm和＞0.5 mm水稳性团聚体含量均为竹林地＞园地＞传统农耕地＞农林混作型耕地,结构体破坏率则表现为竹林地＜园地＜传统农耕地＜农林混作型耕地;(3)不同土地利用类型水稳性指数差别明显,其中竹林地为0.868,其次是园地、农林混作型耕地,分别为0.704,0.627,传统农耕地为0.469.     

黄土高原典型流域土壤抗冲特性研究

以黄土高原吕二沟流域为研究对象,采用原状土冲刷水槽法对研究区梯田耕地、坡耕地、草地、梯田果园、刺槐林共5种土地利用类型的土壤进行了抗冲试验。结果表明:(1)研究区不同土地利用类型的土壤抗冲性大小依次为:刺槐林>草地>梯田>果园>坡耕地;(2)根系对土壤抗冲性具有显著影响,有根系土壤相对无根系土壤的抗冲性有明显提高,平均提高了44.02%;(3)研究区土壤随坡度的增大抗冲能力减弱,其中22°～25°减少幅度最大;(4)对研究区不同土地利用类型土壤抗冲指数在流域尺度进行了空间异质性模拟,总体表现出越靠近流域上游和侵蚀沟坡上位置的土壤抗冲性越大的特性,其中刺槐林地和草地表现更为明显。     

晋西黄土区不同植被类型土壤抗冲性及表层根系分布特征

采用原状土冲刷水槽法,以油松林、刺槐林、山杏林、荆条地及荒草地土壤为研究对象,研究了晋西黄土残塬沟壑区蔡家川流域不同植被类型土壤抗冲性能及植物根系对土壤抗冲性的影响。结果表明:(1)在原状土冲刷试验过程中,各植被类型径流量随冲刷时间的变化趋势不明显,含沙量随时间延长先减少后趋于平稳,土壤抗冲指数呈逐渐增加的趋势。(2)各植被类型总根长密度、根表面积密度、根体积密度及根生物量密度均表现为刺槐、油松林地较大,山杏、荆条、荒草地较小且相差不大,总根系参数之间均存在正相关关系。各植被类型不同根径范围(0～0.5,0.5～1.0,1.0～2.0,2.0～5.0,5.0 mm)的根系指标中,0～0.5 mm径级的根长密度均最大,根体积密度总体表现为细根比粗根小。(3)不同植被类型植物根系均能增强土壤的抗冲性,增强效应表现为刺槐林地和油松林地较强,山杏、荆条、荒草地较弱。植物根系指标中1 mm径级的根长密度、根表面积密度、根体积密度与土壤抗冲性增强值呈显著或极显著正相关关系。其他径级根系参数与土壤抗冲性增强值相关性不显著。     

工程扰动对黄土抗蚀性与抗冲性的影响

为研究工程扰动对黄土抗蚀性和抗冲性的影响,以兰州市城关区北山为研究区,选取1年填方样地(T1a)、5年填方样地(T5a)、7年挖方样地(W7a)和天然草地(C)4个样地采集原状土样,在室内使用干筛—湿筛法测定土壤团聚体相关指标研究土壤抗蚀性,用抗冲槽研究土壤抗冲性,并分析了影响土壤抗蚀性和抗冲性的因素。结果表明,各样地表层(0—10 cm)土壤水稳性团聚体的平均质量直径(MWD_w)和0.25 mm团聚体占比(w_((δ0.25)w))表现为CW7aT5aT1a,土壤团聚体破坏率(PAD)表现为T1aT5aW7aC,挖填方样地表层土壤水稳性团聚体颗粒分形维数(D_w)均值为2.82,C样地D_w为2.74,C样地表层土壤的抗蚀性显著强于挖填方样地;T5a和W7a样地中下层土壤(10—20,20—30 cm)MWD_w和w_((δ0.25)w)显著低于表层土壤;各样地表层土壤抗冲系数为W7aCT5aT1a, W7a和C样地的值较为接近。影响土壤抗蚀性与抗冲性的主要因素有土壤电导率、有机质和根系,土壤生物结皮也会影响土壤抗冲性。这些影响因素与挖填方样地搁置年限密切相关,即随着挖填方样地搁置年限增长,这些因素逐渐发生变化,有益于受扰动土壤MWD_w和w_((δ0.25)w)的增加以及PAD的降低,其表层土壤的冲刷强度慢慢接近草地。工程扰动显著降低黄土的抗蚀性和抗冲性,应当做好必要的水土保持措施以降低土壤侵蚀风险。     

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.     

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.     

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.