基于CT扫描研究灌丛根系对土壤大孔隙的影响

为研究灌丛根系对土壤大孔隙形成的影响,选取青海湖流域的金露梅灌丛和内蒙古的小叶锦鸡儿灌丛作为研究对象,利用CT扫描和Avizo软件解译,实现两种灌丛的根系和土壤大孔隙的三维可视化和定量化。结果表明:金露梅灌丛根系和土壤大孔隙主要分布在0—25 cm土层,土壤中存在较多随机分布的独立大孔隙,大孔隙和根系的相似程度低于小叶锦鸡儿灌丛;小叶锦鸡儿灌丛根系和大孔隙则是在0—50 cm的范围内均有分布,土壤表层大孔隙集中且杂乱,表层以下大孔隙连通性较好,大孔隙和根系结构有较高相似性。内蒙古小叶锦鸡儿灌丛根系对土壤大孔隙的形成影响较大,而青海湖流域的金露梅灌丛根系对土壤大孔隙形成的影响则相对较小,因此,在不同海拔环境中灌丛根系对大孔隙的形成会因环境差异表现出不同的影响程度。     

基于CT的青海湖流域芨芨草草地土壤大孔隙特征分析

为探究青海湖流域芨芨草草地的土壤大孔隙特征,以青海湖流域芨芨草草地为研究对象,在研究区芨芨草斑块处和芨芨草斑块间分别采集原状土柱,每块样地选取3个重复样品,通过对样品进行CT扫描并利用Fiji软件解译的方法分析土壤孔隙的结构特征差异。结果表明:芨芨草斑块土壤平均大孔隙数量、不同深度大孔隙数量、平均大孔隙度以及不同深度大孔隙度均大于芨芨草斑块间土壤。芨芨草斑块土壤大孔隙平均数量是芨芨草斑块之间的2.8倍,平均大孔隙度是芨芨草斑块间的12.1倍,芨芨草斑块的土壤大孔隙度随土壤深度增加呈先增加后减少的趋势,斑块间的大孔隙度呈递减趋势。     

高寒草地灌丛化对土壤团聚体稳定性及其胶结物质的影响

团聚体是土壤有机碳重要的存储单元,其稳定性直接影响有机碳的固存。为探明草地灌丛化是否影响土壤团聚体稳定性及其胶结物质,本文以青藏高原东缘4种典型灌丛化草地(高山绣线菊Spiraea alpina、窄叶鲜卑花Sibiraea angustata、小叶锦鸡儿Caragana microphylla、金露梅Potentilla fruticosa)为研究对象,分析土壤团聚体稳定性(大于0.25 mm团聚体含量、平均重量直径(MWD)和分形维数及其胶结物质(团聚体有机碳、铁铝氧化物、钙键和铁铝键结合的有机碳)的含量,并分析各胶结物质对团聚体稳定性的影响。结果表明,(1)小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化显著降低2～0.25 mm和小于0.002 mm团聚体含量和团聚体稳定性(P<0.05),而其他3种灌丛化草地对土壤团聚体含量和稳定性影响不显著(P>0.05)。(2)小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化和窄叶鲜卑花灌丛化改变了团聚体胶结物质的含量。(3)团聚体胶结物质与MWD的增强回归树分析结果显示,高山绣线菊灌丛化草地土壤团聚体稳定性的主要贡献胶结物质为络合态铁(Fe_p)和无定形态铁铝(Fe     

晋西北黄土丘陵区小叶锦鸡儿人工灌丛土壤水分动态研究

土壤水分是黄土丘陵区植被成活与正常生长的关键因素。对黄土丘陵区不同生长年限小叶锦鸡儿灌丛及其撂荒地土壤水分的动态监测表明,随种植年限延长,小叶锦鸡儿灌丛下土壤水分含量呈持续下降趋势,40年灌丛下土壤含水量明显低于20年和10年的小叶锦鸡儿灌丛,且所有种植年限的灌丛土壤含水量均低于撂荒地。从周年内土壤水分季节变化看,整体呈下降趋势,4~6月不断降低,6~7月达到最低值,8~10月逐渐回升。对0~200cm土体剖面土壤水分分布研究表明,随种植年限增加,小叶锦鸡儿灌丛各深度土层土壤含水量呈递减趋势,在40~80cm土层随种植年限增加土壤含水量减少幅度明显。整个生长季各年限灌丛的土壤水分循环水平不高,40年灌丛只有4.63%,与撂荒地比较相差2.92%,而各年限灌丛土壤水分表观平衡均表现为亏缺状态。表明目前黄土丘陵区人工种植的小叶锦鸡儿灌丛土壤水分环境不容乐观,长期处于水分胁迫状态,不利于其生存生长,存在灌丛衰退甚至死亡的风险。     

黄土高原草地灌丛化对潜在植被截留和土壤蓄水能力的影响

[目的]分析灌丛化后草地生态系统植被截留和土壤蓄水特征，为系统评价灌丛化后草地生态系统的水土保持能力提供参考。[方法]以黄土高原未灌丛化草地和灌丛化草地(包括禾草斑块、半灌木斑块、灌木斑块)为研究对象，系统研究了植被(包括冠层与枯落物)截留量与土壤饱和蓄水量的变化特征。[结果](1)灌丛化通过增加草地地上生物量使植被冠层截留量增加了0.3 mm,通过减少枯落物量使枯落物截留量减少了0.5 mm;(2)草地灌丛化过程中，只有灌木斑块显著增加了0—40 cm土壤饱和蓄水量。而且，灌木斑块与半灌木斑块土壤饱和蓄水能力显著不同，灌木斑块较半灌木斑块土壤饱和蓄水量增加12.8 mm,主要发生在0—20 cm土层。[结论]灌丛化没有降低草地生态系统土壤饱和蓄水能力，但若灌木继续扩张，可能会削弱草地生态系统植被截留能力。     

基于CT扫描研究青海湖流域高寒草甸不同坡位土壤大孔隙结构特征

以青海湖流域的高寒草甸土壤为研究对象,对该高寒草甸的坡上、坡中和坡下土壤分别取原状土柱进行CT扫描,利用Fiji软件分析土壤大孔隙结构特征的差异。结果表明:坡位对土壤的大孔隙结构有较大影响,坡上土壤的大孔隙数量、大孔隙度和大孔隙等效直径均大于坡中土壤,坡中土壤的大孔隙参数大于坡下土壤,坡上土壤的平均大孔隙度是坡中和坡下土壤的15.5和46.5倍。坡上土壤的大孔隙主要分布在150~400 mm土层深度,而坡中土壤的大孔隙主要分布在0~150 mm深度,坡下土壤的大孔隙主要在0~200 mm深度分布。坡上和坡中土壤的大孔隙形成主要是在土壤团聚体的作用下形成,植物根系在坡下土壤的大孔隙形成中占主导作用。     

科尔沁沙地小叶锦鸡儿群落保育土壤作用的研究

以流动沙丘和不同恢复年限的人工和天然小叶锦鸡儿群落为研究对象,从植被重建前后土壤理化性质变化方面分析了小叶锦鸡儿群落保育土壤的作用.结果表明,6 a生、11 a生和22 a生人工小叶锦鸡儿群落对土壤理化性质均有明显的改善作用,且总体上土壤改良效果与恢复年限成正相关.建立人工植被后,土壤中微沙(0.05～0.1 mm)和黏粒(<0.05 mm)的含量增加,表层(0～10 cm)土壤容重减小,孔隙度和饱和含水率增大,土壤持水能力提高;土壤有机碳、全氮、碱解氮、全磷、有效磷和有效钾含量均有不同程度增加,尤以表层增加幅度最大,并且灌丛对养分有明显的富集效应.     

小叶锦鸡儿灌丛对土壤水分下渗及优势流的影响

基于非积水条件下的染色示踪试验,对比分析了小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)灌丛及其斑块间草地的土壤水分下渗差异。灌丛下最大下渗深度(14.67±2.08)~(37.00±2.82)cm比草地(10.00±1.00)~(32.00±1.41)cm更深,但二者间的平均入渗深度差别不大,表明当相同水量分别进入灌丛和草地土壤中时,其总的渲染范围差别不大,不同的是水分向下运移的路径。对灌丛进行地表刈割处理之后,灌丛与草地间的水分下渗差异仍然存在,这是由于灌丛通过根系网络及改变土壤渗透特性等作用促进了水分的下渗。自然组灌丛的最大下渗深度(14.67±2.08)~(19.67±3.06)cm高于刈割组灌丛(12.00±1.73)~(17.00±3.00)cm,说明保留灌丛地表部分有利于增加土壤水分最深入渗深度,这是由于地表灌丛对降雨的再分配作用改变了降雨达到地表时的空间分配。灌丛的优势流比大于草地的,该比值随着降雨量的增加而减小,表明水分在灌丛下入渗的比草地下更深,同时在自然降雨条件下水分在土壤中的运移以均匀下渗为主,优势流下渗为辅,这与在积水条件下进行的染色示踪试验结论有所差异。     

祁连山西水林区亚高山灌丛土壤入渗性能研究

利用双环法对祁连山西水林区的亚高山灌丛植被类型(吉拉柳、箭叶锦鸡儿、金露梅、鲜黄小檗、甘青锦鸡儿)进行了土壤入渗性能试验,分析不同灌丛植被对土壤入渗性能的影响。结果表明,不同灌木林土壤蓄水能力和入渗性能存在较大差异,吉拉柳的蓄水能力和入渗性能均好于其它灌丛类型,甘青锦鸡儿最小;不同灌木林土壤的初渗率在3.80~53.93mm/min,稳渗率在0.95~24.12mm/min,总体上是吉拉柳箭叶锦鸡儿金露梅鲜黄小檗甘青锦鸡儿;Kostiakov公式和Horton公式对土壤入渗过程的拟合精度均高于Philip公式;土壤初渗速率和稳渗速率与土壤有机质含量、自然含水量和孔隙度尤其是非毛管孔隙度呈极显著正相关,与土壤密度呈极显著负相关。     

高寒草地灌丛化对土壤团聚体稳定性及有机碳分布特征的影响

灌丛化是草地生态系统面临的重大生态环境问题之一,是影响高寒草地土壤碳库储量的重要因素。采集青藏高原灌丛化和未灌丛化草地土壤样本,用Cambardella和Elliott湿筛法和沉降虹吸法测定土壤团聚体含量及其稳定性、有机碳(SOC)和全氮(TN)含量,分析了草地灌丛化对土壤团聚体数量及其稳定性的影响。结果表明,灌丛化和未灌丛化草地土壤团聚体以2～0.25 mm粒径为主,但灌丛化草地土壤微团聚体(≤0.053 mm)含量显著低于未灌丛化草地,表明草地灌丛化主要影响土壤微团聚体而对大团聚体含量影响不显著。灌丛化草地土壤团聚体稳定性低于未灌丛化草地土壤,表明草地灌丛化后土壤结构稳定性降低。灌丛化草地土壤SOC和TN含量显著低于未灌丛化草地土壤,说明在气候变化影响下高寒草地灌丛化可能会降低土壤碳库储量。     

Agricultural potential of Mediterranean grain and forage legumes: Key differences between and within Vicia species in terms of phenology, yield, and agronomy give insight into plant adaptation to semi-arid environments

In order to identify key adaptive traits which affect productivity in Mediterranean grain and forage legumes and simultaneously determine the agricultural potential of a wide range of Vicia species, germplasm collected from the wild throughout the eastern Mediterranean was grown under semi-arid conditions in Tel Hadya, Syria (313 mm growing season rainfall). These included species currently in use in Mediterranean agriculture, such as V. sativa L., as well as those more widely used in the past-such as V. ervilia L., but also a broad selection from Section Narbonensis (B. Fedtsch. ex Radzhi) Maxted, including V. narbonensis L, V. johannis Tamamsch., V. hyaeniscyamus Mout., V. serratifolia Jacq., and V. kalakhensis Khattab et al. V. faba, a near relative of the taxa in Section Narbonensis, was included as a domesticated control. Where applicable, a representative range of subspecies was used. Accessions were chosen from a wide range of habitats in terms of latitude (31.02–40.72 decimal^o), longitude (27.1–43.17 decimal^o), altitude (20–1510 m), rainfall (180–1700 mm/yr) and soil depth (5–50 cm) in order to maximise diversity within species. Agricultural potential was determined by measuring seed, hay and biological yield, as well as agronomic traits such as harvest index, standing crop height, and seed size. The comparative influence of phenology and key agronomic traits such as plant habit and seed size on productivity varied tremendously between species, depending on their reproductive strategies. In V. sativa and V. ervilia, the smaller seed species which rely on long vegetative phases and growing seasons to accumulate sufficient biomass to set seed, and in which there was comparatively little agronomic variation, phenology had a large impact on yield. In early emerging taxa such as V. ervilia and V. s. subsp. sativa, with built-in long vegetative phases and growing seasons, seed yield was negatively correlated with flower ing (r = –0.86 to –0.88), whereas the opposite was the case for later emerging taxa such as V. s. subsp. nigra (L.) Ehrh. (r = 0.95). Within V. narbonensis and relatives, the larger seeded Vicia species which rely on more conservative reproductive strategies where high seedling vigour associated with large seeds enables the species to enter reproductive phases relatively early, phenology had a much smaller impact on yield than did variation of key traits such as seed weight, plant habit and pod shattering. Among the undomesticated germplasm harvest indices ranged from 0.09–0.31, hay yields from 0.1–3.4 t/ha, seed yield from 0–2.0 t/ha, and dry matter at maturity from 1.6–6.5 t/ha. Sub-specific taxonomy was crucial in determining agronomic potential. V. narbonensis var. aegyptiaca Kornhuber ex Asch. et Schweinf. showed the most potential, combining an upright habit, large seeds (212 mg) and tendency to retain intact pods after maturity, with the highest yield, harvest index and crop height of all the wild Vicia species. V. sativa subsp. sativa, V. ervilia and V. narbonensis var. narbonensis were less productive, but still showed agricultural potential. The smaller seeded V. narbonensis, var. affinis, var. jordanica H. Schäf. and var. salmonea (Mout.) H. Schäf., and their close relatives V. johannis, V. hyaeniscyamus, V. serratifolia and V. kalakhensis have little to offer Mediterranean agriculture on the basis of poor agronomy.     

On the Taxonomy of the Members of ‘Saccharum Complex’

The difficulty and problems encountered in the study of cultivated plants, in general and sugarcane, in particular has been indicated. In order to understand these problems, a brief review on the taxonomy of Saccharum and closely related taxa, namely, Erianthus, Sclerostachya, Narenga and Miscanthus (generally known as ‘Saccharum complex’) has been given. A short account on the important morphological features that are specific to sugarcane has also been stated as classification is commonly based on such morphological characters. A note has been added on the chromosome number, origin, and distribution of the species of ‘Saccharum complex’ members. Taxonomic keys have been devised for identification of the genera of Saccharinae and for the species of Saccharum and Erianthus occurring in India. A new combination, Sclerostachya fallax (Balansa) Amalraj et Balasundaram, has also been proposed.     

Effect of agroforestry woody species on earthworm activity and physicochemical properties of worm casts

The effects of five agroforestry woody species (Dactyladenia barteri, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Senna siamea andTreculia africana) on the surface aasting activity ofHyperiodrilus africanus were studied in an Alfisol (Oxic Paleustalf) in southwestern Nigeria. Casting activity under the woody species decreased in the following order:Dactyladenia sp. (26.4 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Gliricidia sp. (24.4 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Treculia sp. (22.9 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Leucaena sp. (18.6 Mg ha^-1 year^-1)>Senna sp. (18.3 Mg ha^-1 year^-1). These differences in casting activity were partly explained by microclimatic effects. Irrespective of the woody species, the worm casts were higher in clay and silt contents, bulk density, water-stable aggregates, pH, organic C, exchangeable cations, effective cation exchange capacity, and extractable P levels than the corresponding surface soils. The woody species did affect the physicochemical properties and P sorption of the worm casts. The content of water-stable aggregates of worm casts decreased in the following order:Dactyladenia sp.>Treculia sp.>Senna sp.>Leucaena sp.>Gliricidia sp. Large differences in extractable P levels were observed.Senna sp. was associated with the highest extractable P level (11.5 mg kg^-1) andTreculia sp. the lowest (4.9 mg kg^-1). P sorption was highest on worm casts underDactyladenia sp. and lowest on those underTreculia sp. Without fertilizer application, there were no significant differences in the dry weight of maize grown in the different worm casts. With NPK applications, the dry weight of maize grown in worm casts associated withTreculia sp. was significantly lower than that of maize grown in the other worm casts, mainly due to the low extractable P level. Despite a high organic C and exchangeable K status, maize grown in the worm casts still responded significantly to N and K applications. The N uptake by maize grown in worm casts associated withTreculia sp. was lower than that in the other treatments.     

Genetic diversity of rhizobia associated with indigenous legumes in different regions of Flanders (Belgium)

We investigated the diversity of rhizobia isolated from different indigenous legumes in Flanders (Belgium). A total of 3810 bacterial strains were analysed originating from 43 plant species. Based on rep-PCR clustering, 16S rRNA gene and recA gene sequence analysis, these isolates belonged to Bradyrhizobium, Ensifer (Sinorhizobium), Mesorhizobium and Rhizobium. Of the genera encountered, Rhizobium was the most abundant (62%) and especially the species Rhizobiumleguminosarum, followed by Ensifer (19%), Bradyrhizobium (14%) and finally Mesorhizobium (5%). For two rep-clusters only low similarity values with other genera were found for both the 16S rRNA and recA genes, suggesting that these may represent a new genus with close relationship to Rhodopseudomonas and Bradyrhizobium. Primers for the symbiotic genes nodC and nifH were optimized and a phylogenetic sequence analysis revealed the presence of different symbiovars including genistearum, glycinearum, loti, meliloti, officinalis, trifolii and viciae. Moreover, three new nodC types were assigned to strains originating from Ononis, Robinia and Wisteria, respectively. Discriminant and MANOVA analysis confirmed the correlation of symbiosis genes with certain bacterial genera and less with the host plant. Multiple symbiovars can be present within the same host plant, suggesting the promiscuity of these plants. Moreover, the ecoregion did not contribute to the separation of the bacterial endosymbionts. Our results reveal a large diversity of rhizobia associated with indigenous legumes in Flanders. Most of the legumes harboured more than one rhizobial endosymbiont in their root nodules indicating the importance of including sufficient isolates per plant in diversity studies.     

Diversity of native rice (Oryza Poaceae:) species of Costa Rica

We found several populations of wild Oryza species in the lowlands of Costa Rica. The plants showed extensive morphological variation, suggesting the presence of several species. In the morphologic study, 33 traits were scored for plants of all the species. A principal component analysis revealed the significant morphological separation of the different species. The analyses indicated that there are three species, O. grandi­glumis, O. latifolia and O. glumaepatula. Two putative hybrid types were found, both significantly differing in their morphology from the known species and intermediate at several traits. O. grandi­glumis is a new record for Costa Rican flora. Its main population is located in Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Los Chiles, Alajuela. O. latifolia is distributed throughout the lowlands of the country and the plants of the Atlantic slope are significantly bigger in general habit than those of the Guanacaste area. During this study a population of O. glumaepatula of hundreds of thousands of plants was discovered in the Medio Queso River wetland, Los Chiles, Alajuela. This population is the most important source of genes for cultivar's improvement from the primary gene pool of rice in Costa Rica. The small ligule and the wide flag leaf characteristic of the two CCDD species separated them from the AA diploid O. glumaepatula. Seed size, ligule size, number of branches in the panicle, plant height and sterile lemma length are all bigger in O. grandi­glumis, and influenced the second factor that separated the CCDD species in two discrete clusters. The species found offer great possibilities for the improvement of rice cultivars and they should be thoroughly studied and appropriately protected.     

Powdery Mildew Resistance in a Collection of Chinese Barley Varieties

One hundred and forty-seven Chinese barley varieties maintained at the Gene Bank of the National Barley Improvement Centre, Zhejiang, and 84 progenies from these varieties were tested at the seedling stage for their reaction to 32 selected pathotypes of Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei. Eighteen resistance spectra were identified comprising single or combined resistances from eight known (Ml(Bw), Ml(Ch), Mla7, Mla8, Mla9, Mla13, MlaRu4 and Mlg) and six unknown resistance genes. The most frequent gene was Ml(Bw), which was found in 69 varieties and previously detected in only a few European winter barley varieties. The genes Mla8 and Ml(Ch) were also often present, but other resistance genes were rare. After inoculation, considerably fewer pathogen colonies were observed in ‘Aiganqi’ and one line of ‘Tong5’. Twenty varieties were composed of lines with different resistance genes. China is likely to be a region of origin of the genes Ml(Bw), Mla7, as well as three unknown genes found in original landraces and perhaps another three unknown genes detected in cultivars bred in China. The resistances of varieties from the Zhejiang province and those originating from 11 other Chinese provinces were quite different. Unfortunately, none of the varieties are promising sources of resistance to powdery mildew and China does not seem to be a region suitable for identifying such sources.     

Polymorphism of high molecular weight glutenin subunits in three species of Aegilops

A collection of 136 accessions of Aegilops umbellulata (39), Ae. comosa (75) and Ae. markgrafii (22) was analysed for high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits composition. The homogeneity of the accessions was studied and 55.1% of the collection was homogeneous for HMW glutenin subunits (29 Ae. umbellulata, 33 Ae. comosa and 14 Ae. markgrafii). The HMW glutenin subunits of Ae. umbellulata are encoded by the Glu-U1 locus; in Ae. comosa results showed that this proteins are encoded at the 1M chromosome, and the locus was named Glu-M1. In Ae. markgrafii it was assumed that HMW glutenin subunits were encoded by an homoeologous locus and it was named Glu-C1. All the accessions of Ae. umbellulata and Ae. markgrafii expressed both, x-type and y-type subunits. Among the Ae. comosa accessions, only one expressed an x-type subunit alone. All the accessions of Ae. umbellulata and some of Ae. comosa had x-type glutenins of higher molecular weights than those commonly present in bread wheat. A total of 8 alleles were detected at the Glu-U1 locus, 11 at the Glu-M1 and 4 at the Glu-C1. The new HMW glutenin variation found in this work suggests their possible utilisation in breeding for wheat quality.     

Effect of passage through the intestinal tract of detritivore earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) on the number of selected Gram-negative and total bacteria

Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the fate of bacteria during and after passage through the intestinal tract of detritivore earthworms. Earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) were fed with cattle dung inoculated 7 days previously with one of five different Gram-negative bacteria. Bacterial concentrations were determined 2 days later in dung and soil, and in gut material from different parts of the earthworm intestinal tract. A high percentage (28–82%) of the total bacteria (epifluorescence direct counts) in the earthworm gut content was culturable. The concentration of total heterotrophic aerobic bacteria did not vary significantly among the five different bacterial additions and the non-inoculated control. In earthworm casts the number of total heterotrophs per gram dry matter (2.1×10⁹) was higher than in soil (1.7×10⁸), but lower than in the dung (1.5×10¹⁰). The test-bacteria, however, showed different survival patterns along the earthworm intestinal tract. The concentrations of Escherichia coli BJ 18 and Pseudomonas putida MM 1 and MM 11 in earthworm casts were lower than in the ingested dung, while concentrations of Enterobacter cloacae A 107 and Aeromonas hydrophila DMU 115 in dung and casts were similar. Ent. cloacae, and to aminor extent E. coli, were reduced in numbers by several orders of magnitude in the pharynx and/or crop. In the hind gut, however, the concentration of Ent. cloacae had increased to the same level as in the ingested dung, while the concentration of E. coli remained low. Our observations indicate that the bacterial flora of ingested food materials changes qualitatively and quantitatively during gut transit.