Root growth and N‐uptake activity of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) cultivars differing in nitrogen efficiency

Nitrate‐N uptake from soil depends on root growth and uptake activity. However, under field conditions N‐uptake activity is difficult to estimate from soil‐N depletion due to different loss pathways. We modified the current mesh‐bag method to estimate nitrate‐N‐uptake activity and root growth of two oilseed‐rape cultivars differing in N‐uptake efficiency. N‐efficient cultivar (cv.) ‘Apex' and N‐inefficient cv. ‘Capitol' were grown in a field experiment on a silty clayey gleyic fluvisol near Göttingen, northern Germany, and fertilized with 0 (N₀) and 227 (N₂₂₇) kg N ha^–1. In February 2002, PVC tubes with a diameter of 50 mm were installed between plant rows at 0–0.3 and 0–0.6 m soil depth with an angle of 45°. At the beginning of shooting, beginning of flowering, and at seed filling, the PVC tubes were substituted by PVC tubes (compartments) of the same diameter, but with an open window at the upper side either at a soil depth of 0–0.3 or 0.3–0.6 m allowing roots to grow into the tubes. Anion‐exchange resin at the bottom of the compartment allowed estimation of nitrate leaching. The compartments were then filled with root‐free soil which was amended with or without 90 mg N (kg soil)^–1. The newly developed roots and nitrate‐N depletion were estimated in the compartments after the installing period (21 d at shooting stage and 16 d both at flowering and grain‐filling stages). Nitrate‐N depletion was estimated from the difference between NO ‐N contents of compartments containing roots and control compartments (windows closed with a membrane) containing no roots. The amount of nitrate leached from the compartments was quantified from the resin and has been taken into consideration in the calculation of the N depletion. The amount of N depleted from the compartments significantly correlated with root‐length density. Suboptimal N application to the crop reduced total biomass and seed‐yield formation substantially (24% and 38% for ‘Apex’ and ‘Capitol’, respectively). At the shooting stage, there were no differences in root production and N depletion from the compartments by the two cultivars between N₀ and N₂₂₇. But at flowering and seed‐filling stages, higher root production and accordingly higher N depletion was observed at N₀ compared to N₂₂₇. Towards later growth stages, the newly developed roots were characterized by a reduction of root diameter and a shift towards the deeper soil layer (0.3–0.6m). At low but not at high N supply, the N‐efficient cv. ‘Apex’ exhibited higher root growth and accordingly depleted nitrate‐N more effectively than the N‐inefficient cv. ‘Capitol’, especially during the reproductive growth phase. The calculated nitrate‐N‐uptake rate per unit root length was maximal at flowering (for the low N supply) but showed no difference between the two cultivars. This indicated that the higher N‐uptake efficiency of cv. ‘Apex’ was due to higher root growth rather than higher uptake per unit of root length.     

Nitrous oxide emissions after incorporation of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) residues under two different tillage treatments

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of crop residues from winter oilseed rape on N₂O emissions from a loamy soil and to determine the effect of different tillage practices on N₂O fluxes. We therefore conducted a field experiment in which crop residues of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L., OSR) were replaced with ¹⁵N labelled OSR residues. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and ¹⁵N abundance in the N₂O were determined for a period of 11 months after harvest of OSR and in the succeeding crop winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivated on a Haplic Luvisol in South Germany. Measurements were carried out with the closed chamber method in a treatment with conventional tillage (CT) and in a treatment with reduced soil tillage (RT). In both tillage treatments we also determined N₂O fluxes in control plots where we completely removed the crop residues. High N₂O fluxes occurred in a short period just after OSR residue replacement in fall and after N‐fertilization to winter wheat in the following spring. Although N₂O emissions differed for distinct treatments and sub‐periods, cumulative N₂O emissions over the whole investigation period (299 days) ranged between 1.7 kg and 2.4 kg N₂O‐N ha^?1 with no significant treatment effects. More than half of the cumulative emissions occurred during the first eight weeks after OSR replacement, highlighting the importance of this post‐harvest period for annual N₂O budgets of OSR. The contribution of residue N to the N₂O emission was low and explained by the high C/N‐ratio fostering immobilization of mineral N. In total only 0.03% of the N₂O‐N emitted in the conventional tillage treatment and 0.06% in the reduced tillage treatment stemmed directly from the crop residues. The ¹⁵N recovery in the treatments with crop residues was 62.8% (CT) and 75.1% (RT) with more than 97% of the recovered ¹⁵N in the top soil. Despite our measurements did not cover an entire year, the low contribution of the OSR residues to the direct N₂O emissions shows, that the current IPCC tier 1 approach, which assumes an EF of 1%, strongly overestimated direct emissions from OSR crop residues. Furthermore, we could not observe any relationship between tillage and crop residues on N₂O emission, only during the winter period were N₂O emissions from reduced tillage significantly higher compared to conventional tillage. Annual N₂O emission from RT and CT did not differ.     

Effects of decreasing soil water content on seminal lateral roots of young maize plants

Soil micropores that contain water at or below field capacity cannot be invaded by seminal or first‐order lateral roots of maize plants because their root diameters are larger than 10 μm. Hence, at soil‐water levels below field capacity plant roots must establish a new pore system by displacement of soil particles in order to access soil water. We investigated how decreasing soil water content (SWC) influences growth and morphology of the root system of young maize plants. Plants were grown in rhizotrons 40 cm wide, 50 cm high, and approximately 0.7 cm thick. Five SWC treatments were established by addition of increasing amounts of water to soil and thorough mixing before filling the rhizotrons. No water was added to treatments 1–4 throughout the experiment. Treatment 5 was watered frequently throughout the experiment to serve as a control. Seminal‐root length and SWC in soil layers 0–10, 10–20, 20–30, 30–40, and 40–50 cm were measured at intervals of 2–3 d on scanner images by image analysis. At 15 d after planting, for treatments 1–4 shoot dry weight and total root length were directly related to the amount of water added to the soil, and for treatments 4 and 5, total root length and shoot dry weights were similar. Length of seminal roots visible at the transparent surface of the rhizotron for all treatments was highest in the uppermost soil layer and decreased with distance from the soil surface. For all layers, seminal‐root elongation rate was at maximum above a SWC of 0.17 cm³ cm^–3, corresponding to a matric potential of –30 kPa. With decreasing SWC, elongation rate decreased, and 20% of maximum seminal root elongation rate was observed below SWC of 0.05 cm³ cm^–3. After destructive harvest for treatment 1–4, number of (root‐) tips per unit length of seminal root was found uninfluenced over the range of initial SWC from 0.10 to 0.26 cm³ cm^–3. However, initial SWC close to the permanent wilting point strongly increased number of tips. Average root length of first‐order lateral (FOL) roots increased as initial SWC increased, and the highest length was found for the frequently watered treatment 5. The results of the study suggest that the ability to produce new FOL roots across a wide range of SWC may give maize an adaptive advantage, because FOL root growth can rapidly adapt to changing soil moisture conditions.     

Effects of seed priming, aggregate size and soil matric potential on emergence of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.)

Poor crop establishment, due to poor land preparation methods and inadequate soil moisture, continues to be a major constraint to crop production for smallholder farmers in the semi-arid tropics. On-farm seed priming (soaking seed in water) has been offered as a solution to this problem, but the ways in which this technology interacts with soil conditions are not well understood. The interactions between seed priming and soil physical conditions on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) emergence and seedling growth were determined in laboratory pot experiments. The treatments included seed treatment (primed and non-primed), initial soil matric potential (−10, −50, −100, −200 and −1500 kPa) and aggregate size (<1, 1–2, 2–4.75 and 4.75–16 mm). Non-sieved soil was used as a control. The soil used (a Chromic Cambisol) was collected from Save Valley Experiment Station in the southeastern lowveld of Zimbabwe. The pots of soil were allowed to dry out after planting, to simulate a deteriorating seedbed. Emergence was subsequently monitored, and plant growth measured 8 days after planting. Final percent emergence and seedling growth decreased with initial matric potential but increased with priming in both crops. Large aggregate sizes generally had an adverse effect on emergence and growth. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that on-farm seed priming can partly compensate for the negative effects of low soil matric potential and large aggregate sizes on crop establishment.     

土壤水分-基质势-温度复合传感器研制

土壤水分、基质势是描述土壤持水特性的重要参数,不同类型土壤的水分特征曲线存在明显差异。目前在野外环境下通常采用传感器分离测量法测定土壤水分特征曲线,但因土壤的空间异质性导致较大的测量误差。为此,该研究设计了一种可同步测量土壤水分、基质势和温度的复合传感器,主要组成部分包括32位MCU主控芯片、继电器切换模块、介电水分/基质势测量模块和温度测量模块,主控芯片通过控制继电器切换实现土壤水分、基质势和温度的同步测定,同时进行温度校正。采用森林土壤、农田壤土和砂土对复合传感器进行性能测试、标定和观测试验,并与商业化仪器的测量结果进行对比。结果表明：在干燥至近饱和范围内,复合传感器测定的土壤水分和基质势均具有良好的单调性,决定系数R2均大于0.98,土壤体积含水率和基质势的测量范围分别为0～40%和-1 500～-15 kPa,水分和基质势的响应时间分别为450 ms和150 s。采用商业化仪器分离测量方法与本文复合传感器分别同步测定森林土壤、农田壤土和砂土的水分特征曲线,2种方法测得的土壤水分特征曲线的皮尔逊相关系数均大于0.96。本文研制的复合传感器可以实现不同类型土壤水分特征曲线的准确测定,为农业生产和环境监测等领域提供可靠的技术支持。     

干旱区盐碱地滴灌土壤基质势对土壤盐分分布的影

该文通过田间试验研究覆膜滴灌条件下土壤基质势对土壤盐分分布的影响。试验设3个水平的土壤基质势处理： -5 kPa (S1),-15 kPa (S2) 和-25 kPa (S3),每个处理重复3次,按随机区组布置。试验结果表明：垄作覆膜滴灌条件下各盐分离子的迁移和分布特性不同。Na+ 和Cl- 易被灌溉水淋洗,主要分布在湿润体的边缘,在滴头附近含量最低,远离滴头含量逐渐增大,土壤基质势越高,淋洗效果越明显,离子含量和土壤总盐量呈线性相关。Mg2+、Ca2+、HCO3-含量受土壤基质势影响较小,在土壤剖面分布相对均匀,离子含量和土壤总盐量之间没有明显相关关系。盐渍化土壤中总盐分的淋洗主要受到作物播种时第一次大水量灌溉和苗期阶段较高土壤基质势控制的灌溉影响,作物生育中后期不同土壤基质势处理对土壤总盐分的淋洗影响较小。该研究结果对盐碱地水盐调控和灌溉制度的制定具有理论意义和应用价值。     

Effects of soil bulk density on seminal and lateral roots of young maize plants (Zea mays L.)

It is well established that increasing soil bulk density (SBD) above some threshold value reduces plant root growth and thus may reduce water and nutrient acquisition. However, formation and elongation of maize seminal roots and first order lateral (FOL) roots in various soil layers under the influence of SBD has not been documented. Two studies were conducted on a loamy sand soil at SBD ranging from 1.25 g cm^–3 to 1.66 g cm^–3. Rhizotrons with a soil layer 7 mm thick were used and pre‐germinated plants were grown for 15 days. Over the range of SBD tested, the shoot growth was not influenced whereas total root length was reduced by 30 % with increasing SBD. Absolute growth rate of seminal roots was highest in the top soil layer and decreased with increasing distance from the surface. Increasing SBD amplified this effect by 20 % and 50 % for the top soil layer and lower soil layers, respectively. At the end of the experiment, total seminal roots attributed to approximately 15 % of the total plant root length. Increasing SBD reduced seminal root growth in the lowest soil layer only, whereas FOL root length decreased with SBD in all but the uppermost soil layer. For FOL, there was a positive interaction of SBD with distance from the soil surface. Both, increasing SBD and soil depth reduced root length by a reduction of number of FOL roots formed while the length of individual FOL roots was not influenced. Hence, increasing SBD may reduce spatial access to nutrients and water by (i) reducing seminal root development in deeper soil layers, aggravated by (ii) the reduction of the number of FOL roots that originate from these seminal roots.     

On-farm trials of site-specific N management for maximum winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) yield

Site-specific nitrogen (N) fertilizer strategy based on soil mineral N (N_min) test is crucial for maintaining high crop yield and high N-use efficiency. A two-year field experiment was conducted to develop a site-specific N fertilizer management for winter oilseed rape in the 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons in Wuhan, central China. In contrast to fixed N fertilizer recommendation (FN), the use of the N_min test could optimize the N fertilizer inputs in time to fulfill crop N uptake during different growth stages and achieve high seed yield. Despite annual variations in seed yields and N fertilizer recommendations, the N recovery efficiency of the site-specific N fertilizer (SN) treatment was higher than that of the FN treatment. Consequently, the soil-based N strategy matches crop N uptake and soil N supply and achieves high yield depending on the site-specific soil-crop conditions.     

稻草还田对油菜生长、土壤温度及湿度的影响

采用盆栽和田间试验相结合的方法,研究了不同稻草还田方式及还田量对油菜出苗及苗情和不同稻草覆盖量对油菜生长、养分吸收、产量及土壤水热状况的影响。盆栽试验结果表明,稻草覆盖和翻埋还田对油菜出苗均有抑制作用,出苗率及出苗速率随稻草还田量的增加均有降低趋势,但覆盖条件下油菜出苗所受抑制更加明显。稻草覆盖还田对油菜苗情影响不大,而稻草翻埋还田则对苗期油菜生长有明显的抑制作用。大田试验结果表明,稻草覆盖可以显著提高油菜苗期干物质积累及氮、磷、钾养分吸收的速率,但进入薹期之后油菜生长基本不受稻草覆盖的影响。稻草覆盖对油菜有显著的增产效果,平均增产幅度为18.1%,但不同覆盖量之间差异不显著。另外,稻草覆盖后,土壤温度日变化趋于缓和,土壤含水率明显提高,且随覆盖量增加稻草的保温保水效果更为明显。     

油菜长效专用配方肥施用效果研究

2012~2013年在冬油菜主产区布置15个田间试验研究油菜长效专用配方肥(N-P2O5-K2O-B:20-7-8-0.2,及5%的其他中、微量元素)的施用效果,为油菜一次性施肥配方的推广及改进提供依据。结果表明,与不施肥处理相比,常规施肥与专用肥均能明显提高油菜籽产量、收入及养分吸收量。与常规施肥相比,在减少总养分用量且肥料一次性施入的情况下,油菜长效专用配方肥在85%以上的试验点表现出增产或稳产效果,平均增产量为133 kg/hm2,增产率为8.1%,增加经济收益1 624元/hm2。施用油菜长效专用配方肥促进了油菜对养分的吸收,N、P2O5、K2O累积量较常规施肥分别增加10.8、2.1、7.9 kg/hm2。研究表明,油菜长效专用配方肥对油菜产量的贡献率平均为51.8%,农学利用率平均为5.5 kg/kg,均高于常规肥料。整体而言,施用油菜长效专用配方肥能提高油菜产量和施肥效益,可作为油菜轻简化施肥技术进行推广应用。     

Effects of humus content,farmyard manuring,and mineral‐N fertilization on yields and soil properties in a long‐term trial

Investigations carried out at Field F3 of the Halle long‐term fertilization trials using data from 1974 to 1983 showed that with adequate supply of mineral N‐fertilizer soil organic matter (SOM) had no significant effects of yield. Similarly enhanced SOM did not justify a reduction of mineral N (Stumpe et al., 2000). The studies presented here examine the effects of the SOM differences existing after the termination of those trials in 1986 up until 1997 (then mainly differences of hardly decomposable SOM) in comparison to farmyard manuring with enhanced mineral N application (3‐factor‐experiment). As with total SOM, hardly decomposable SOM did not directly affect yields. The effects of FYM treatment observed at lower mineral‐N levels were compensated for by enhanced mineral‐N supply. The direct effect of FYM (40 t ha^—1) corresponded to a mineral‐N supply of about 60 kg ha^—1 and the residual effect to about 20 kg ha^—1. The differences of the C‐content in the soil at the beginning of the present studies continued throughout the experimental period of 12 years. In addition, significant differentiation has been caused by FYM and N fertilization in comparison to unfertilized treatments. The major finding is that differences in SOM content do not lead to yield differences on physically good soils (chernozem‐like soils) if appropriate compensation by mineral‐N fertilization takes place.     

Effects of residue location on soil organic matter turnover: results from an incubation experiment with 15N‐maize

Differences in the mechanisms of storage and decomposition of organic matter (OM) between minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT) are generally attributed to differences in the physical impact through tillage, but less is known about the effects of residue location. We conducted an incubation experiment at a water content of 60% of the maximum water‐holding capacity and 15°C with soils from CT (0–25 cm tillage depth) and MT fields (0–5 cm tillage depth) with ¹⁵N‐labeled maize straw incorporated to different depths (CT simulations: 0–15 cm; MT simulations: 0–5 cm) for 28 d in order to determine the effects of the tillage simulation on (1) mineralization of recently added residues, (2) the dynamics of macroaggregate formation and physical protection of OM, and (3) the partitioning of maize‐derived C and N within soil OM fractions. The MT simulations showed lower relative C losses, and the amount of maize‐C mineralized after 28 d of incubation was slightly but significantly lower in the MT simulations with maize added (MT_maize) than in the respective CT (CT_maize) simulations. The formation of new water‐stable macroaggregates occurred during the phase of the highest microbial activity, with a maximum peak 8 d after the start of incubation. The newly formed macroaggregates were an important location for the short‐term stabilization of C and N with a higher importance for MT_maize than for CT_maize simulations. In conclusion, our results suggest that a higher amount of OM in MT surface soils compared with CT surface soils may not only result from decreased macroaggregate destruction under reduced tillage but also from a higher efficiency of C retention due to a more concentrated residue input.     

Effect of cadmium on the chemical composition of xylem exudate from oilseed rape plants (Brassica napus L.)

Abstract

Phytoremediation is a good technique for removing cadmium (Cd) from farmland soils. To remove Cd from these soils effectively, it is necessary for Cd ions to be transported to the shoot organs for later harvest. However, the mechanism of Cd translocation to shoot organs via xylem vessels has not yet been elucidated. We selected oilseed rape plants (Brassica napus L.) and established a method to collect xylem exudates from these plants. After 3 days of Cd treatment (10 µmol L^?1 and 30 µmol L^?1) the Cd concentrations in the xylem exudates were approximately 6.5 µmol L^?1 and 16 µmol L^?1, respectively. The detection of Cd in the xylem exudate indicated that Cd was moving to shoot organs via xylem vessels. The effect of these Cd treatments on the amino acid, organic acid and protein composition of xylem exudates from oilseed rape plants was investigated. The level of amino acids and organic acids detected was enough to bind Cd transported via the xylem. Sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed that proteins with molecular weights of 36 kDa and 45 kDa clearly increased in the exudates with Cd treatment. The possibility that these compounds are binding Cd in the xylem exudates was discussed.     

栽培模式对直播油菜生长、产量和养分吸收利用的影响

发展直播油菜对增加我国油菜种植面积和总产有重要意义,但栽培措施尤其是施肥技术的滞后极大地影响了油菜的产量及施肥效果。2009/2010年度在湖北省油菜主产区设置田间试验,研究栽培模式对直播油菜生长、产量、经济效益和养分吸收利用的影响,探讨适合当前生产的高产高效栽培技术。结果表明,各优化模式比农民习惯栽培模式均有增产增收效果,其中在30104 plant/hm2种植密度、秸秆还田和加强病虫草害防治的基础上进行优化施肥（氮、磷、钾肥用量分别为N 195 kg/hm2、 P2O5 90 kg/hm2、K2O 90 kg/hm2,硼砂用量15 kg/hm2,氮肥和钾肥分次施用）的模式Ⅲ表现最好,比农民习惯施肥增产35.9 %、增收1632 Yuan/hm2,地上部干物质量和养分累积也均较高,氮、钾肥偏生产力分别为N 13.7 kg/kg和K2O 29.8 kg/kg,实现高产高效目标。说明当前直播油菜的栽培模式应结合其生长发育进程和养分吸收规律,适当密植以增库促源,加强植保防治病虫草害,更重要的是积极推行平衡施肥和有机、无机配施,并合理安排施肥时期及比例。     

Effects of soil tillage,canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars and planting date on canola yield,and oil and some biological and physical properties of soil

Determination of different agronomical properties including soil-related parameters for enhanced canola (Brassica napus L.) production can be of great significance. Hence, the objectives were to determine the effects of different tillage systems, canola cultivars and different planting dates on: (i) canola yield and oil, and (ii) soil moisture and microbial carbon (C) and nitrogen (N). Two field experiments were planned as split-plot experiments in three replicates. The main plots were different tillage systems including no-tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT) and conventional tillage (CT), and the subplots were the combination of different canola cultivars (PF and Hyola 401) and different planting dates (PD): 8 and 23 September and 7 October. Soil moisture under CT and PF was significantly less than that of MT and NT, and Hyola 401, respectively. Carbon and N microbial biomass was the highest at NT and on the first PD. The tillage method and planting date also significantly affected canola yield, oil content and the amount, and the number of earthworms. We may conclude that although the amount of yield was the highest at CT, it may be more agronomically sustainable to plant canola under NT or MT earlier during the autumn growing season.     

缓释肥侧位深施及用量对油菜产量和肥料利用率的影响

为明确红壤稻田直播油菜缓释肥(N-P₂O₅-K₂O:25-7-8)侧位深施效果及适宜用量,该研究连续2 a在两熟制和三熟制2种种植模式下开展缓释肥侧位深施效果对比试验(设置不施肥、土表撒施和侧位深施3个施肥方式)和施用量试验(设置0、300、450、600、750和900 kg/hm²共6个施肥水平),研究缓释肥侧位深施及不同用量对油菜产量形成和肥料利用率的影响。结果表明,施肥方式对红壤稻田油菜产量形成和肥料利用率均有显著影响(P<0.05),且对两熟制油菜影响更为显著。相比传统土表撒施,侧位深施显著促进了油菜产量和肥料利用率的提高(P<0.05)。缓释肥侧位深施明显提高了各时期油菜干物质量,尤其是显著增加了初花期至成熟期的干物质积累量(P<0.05),促进了花后根部与地上部干物质同步增长;促进了根系对N、P、K的吸收,提高了油菜产量和肥料利用率。菜籽产量与缓释肥用量呈线性加平台关系,适宜施肥量可保证较大的收获密度,并协同产生较多的每株角果数和每角粒数,从而提高籽粒产量、肥料利用率...     

Effect of Fertilization Systems on Soil Microbial Biomass and Mineral Nitrogen during Canola (Brassica napus L.) Development Stages

The dynamics of microbial biomass and mineral nitrogen (N) during two growth stages were compared in soils under different fertilization treatments. At stem elongation, the fertilizer system had more N in the mineral pools, whereas manure and integrated systems had more N in the microbial biomass, indicating shifts in N pools between the two systems. At the flowering stage, integrated (manure + fertilizer) and manure systems had more N in two pools, indicating release of plant-available N from the microbial biomass. The carbon (C) / N ratio of the microbial biomass was significantly greater in manure and integrated treatments than in fertilizer treatments. Soil mineral N was significantly positively correlated with seed yield at the stem elongation stage, whereas it was positively correlated with soil microbial biomass C at the flowering stage. Stepwise regressions revealed that seed yield was significantly associated with mineral N at stem elongation and microbial biomass N at the flowering stage.     

Influence of B-permeated goethite on soil B fraction and its availability to rape seedlings (brassica napus L.)

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of boron (B)-permeated goethite on soil B fractionation and the availability of this B fraction to rape seedlings (Brassica napus L.). For this purpose, goethite and two kinds of B-permeated goethite were synthesized and their processes in soil were simulated. Plant availability of B adsorbed or occluded on goethite was investigated with rape seedling. Results found that both ad-B-goethite and oc-B-goethite significantly increased the water soluble B (WS-B), specifically adsorbed B (SPA-B), B occluded in amorphous iron (Fe) and aluminum (A1) oxides (AMO-B) and crystalline Fe and Al oxides (CRO-B) content in the soil, compared with ordinary goethite. Also the B-permeated goethites improved B content of the rape seedling and therefore enhanced the rape shoot and root dry weight. Correlation analysis demonstrated that water soluble B (WS-B) plays the most important role in rape B uptake and accumulation, moreover the specifically adsorbed B (SPA-B), nonspecifically adsorbed B (NSA-B), amorphous Fe and A1 oxides (AMO-B) was also significant correlated with the B content or B accumulation of the rape.     

Image analysis for non‐destructive and non‐invasive quantification of root growth and soil water content in rhizotrons

Studies aiming at quantification of roots growing in soil are often constrained by the lack of suitable methods for continuous, non‐destructive measurements. A system is presented in which maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings were grown in acrylic containers — rhizotrons — in a soil layer 6‐mm thick. These thin‐layer soil rhizotrons facilitate homogeneous soil preparation and non‐destructive observation of root growth. Rhizotrons with plants were placed in a growth chamber on a rack slanted to a 45° angle to promote growth of roots along the transparent acrylic sheet. At 2‐ to 3‐day intervals, rhizotrons were placed on a flatbed scanner to collect digital images from which root length and root diameters were measured using RMS software. Images taken during the course of the experiment were also analyzed with QUACOS software that measures average pixel color values. Color readings obtained were converted to soil water content using images of reference soils of known soil water contents. To verify that roots observed at the surface of the rhizotrons were representative of the total root system in the rhizotrons, they were compared with destructive samples of roots that were carefully washed from soil and analyzed for total root length and root diameter. A significant positive relation was found between visible and washed out roots. However, the influence of soil water content and soil bulk density was reflected on seminal roots rather than first order laterals that are responsible for more than 80 % of the total root length. Changes in soil water content during plant growth could be quantitifed in the range of 0.04 to 0.26 cm³ cm^—3 if image areas of 500 x 500 pixel were analyzed and averaged. With spatial resolution of 12 x 12 pixel, however, soil water contents could only be discriminated below 0.09 cm³ cm^—3 due to the spatial variation of color readings. Results show that this thin‐layer soil rhizotron system allows researchers to observe and quantify simultaneously the time courses of seedling root development and soil water content without disturbance to the soil or roots.