高粱分泌硝化抑制物对羟基苯丙酸与质子泵的关系研究

硝化作用是导致农田氮素损失的一个重要原因,自然界中一些植物根系能分泌抑制土壤氨氧化细菌的物质,统称为生物硝化抑制剂。高粱根系分泌的对羟基苯丙酸(简称MHPP),具有很好的抑制效果。为了研究MHPP的分泌机制,本实验用铵态氮与硝态氮两种不同氮素形态水培高粱幼苗,在一定时间内收集根系分泌物。将根系分泌物通过高效液相色谱法(HPLC)测定其中的MHPP含量,通过微量滴定法测定氢离子含量。同时,将根系采样后,用两相法分离根系细胞膜,测定质子泵活性。结果表明,在铵态氮营养下,高粱分泌MHPP的速率在3.52μmol g-1 d-1左右,而硝态氮营养下几乎不分泌MHPP。在铵态氮营养下,根系分泌氢离子的速率为16.49μmol g-1 d-1,而硝态氮营养下没有氢离子的分泌。而且,随着根系分泌物收集液中铵离子浓度的增加,也促进了根系分泌MHPP和氢离子的速率。因此,铵态氮营养促进了根系分泌MHPP。进一步研究发现,虽然在表观上MHPP的分泌受氮素形态影响,但是在这一过程中MHPP分泌与氢离子的分泌速率是偶合的。而细胞分泌氢离子是由细胞膜上质子泵活性决定的。因此,本实验结果发现,MHPP的分泌实质上是通过根系细胞膜质子泵活性来调控的:在没有氮源的情况下,只要通过壳梭孢菌素(Fusicoccin)或钒酸盐(Vanadate)改变质子泵活性就可以影响MHPP的分泌。所有实验数据的统计结果发现,MHPP分泌与质子分泌之间的比例大约为1∶4,且相关系数r=0.98。因此,铵态氮营养下高粱根系大量分泌生物硝化抑制剂MHPP在一定程度上是由于铵离子的吸收刺激了质子泵活性提高所引起的,这也是防止根际铵态氮被氧化、提高氮素利用率的一个重要生理机制。     

铵硝营养对高粱根系细胞膜质子泵的影响

【目的】作物选择性吸收铵态氮或硝态氮是导致根际p H发生变化的主要原因,本文探索旱地作物根系细胞膜质子泵对铵硝营养及p H的反应机制。【方法】采用水培方法,分别用NH+4-N和NO-3-N培养高粱幼苗,并控制营养液的p H。高粱生长三周以后,用葡聚糖两相法分离根系细胞膜,测定细胞膜质子泵的水解活性、酶动力学特征,利用免疫杂交方法测定质子泵蛋白浓度。【结果】培养三周后,供给铵态氮的高粱根际p H下降到3,质子泵活性最高,达到Pi 8.81μmol/(mg·min);供给硝态氮的高粱根际p H上升至7,质子泵活性最低,为Pi 3.82μmol/(mg·min)。将铵态氮处理的营养液p H人为上调到7,而将硝态氮处理下调到3后发现,铵态氮培养的高粱根系细胞膜质子泵活性在p H 7时低于p H 3,但仍高于p H 3时硝态氮处理。酶动力学特征的测定结果表明,铵态氮营养(p H3)时,酶反应最大速率最高,亲和性也最高,而硝态氮营养(p H 7)时酶反应最大速率最小,亲和性也最低。质子泵活性与其蛋白浓度之间具有正相关性。【结论】无论是铵还是硝态氮处理,根际p H降低都会导致高粱根系细胞膜质子泵活性升高,这说明,质子泵具有适应根际酸化而提高自身活性的基本功能。但是,在相同的p H下,铵态氮都导致高粱根系细胞膜质子泵活性比硝态氮处理更高,这说明铵态氮在根系细胞中同化产生氢离子,而硝态氮的还原不产生氢离子,因此,吸收铵态氮的细胞需要进一步提高细胞膜质子泵的活性将氢离子排出体外。这很可能是高粱根系在铵态氮营养下的一种反应机制。     

硝/铵营养对香蕉生长及其枯萎病发生的影响

通过水培试验,研究了不同硝/铵配比对香蕉生长及其根际尖孢镰刀菌侵染的影响。结果表明, 1）铵硝混合营养对香蕉生长的效果优于单一营养,尤其是在75%硝态氮+25%铵态氮处理下香蕉生长最好,叶片中氮、磷、钾含量也最高; 2）香蕉根际pH在100%铵态氮处理时最低,随着硝态氮比例的增加,pH逐渐上升; 3）接种尖孢镰刀菌后,根际病原菌数量在100% 铵态氮处理时最多,但是在根系细胞内却没有检测到,相反,随着硝态氮比例的增加,虽然在根际中检测到的病菌数量有所降低,但是在根系内均发现存在病原菌。本研究结果说明,相对于铵硝混合营养,全铵营养会导致香蕉生长受到一定的影响,但是却能够防止香蕉尖孢镰刀菌侵染进植物根系。由于在离体培养时,全铵可以抑制尖孢镰刀菌穿透植物细胞壁的过程,因此全铵培养植物时,其根部质外体及细胞中铵态氮浓度高很可能是抑制病原菌侵染的主要原因。     

铵态氮肥和硝态氮肥施入时期对小麦增产的影响

在陕西永寿和河南洛阳进行2年大田试验,研究铵态和硝态氮肥在小麦不同播期施用和播前15~20天施用的效果。试验设不施氮、施铵态氮和硝态氮各100kg/hm2 3个处理;试验期间分别测定根际与非根际土壤铵、硝态氮和pH变化,以及不同时期植物体内铵态氮、硝态氮和酰胺态氮的含量。试验表明,在硝态氮含量低的土壤上,硝态氮肥效果一般优于铵态氮肥,但效果大小和播期早晚、施氮早晚有关。早期播种硝态氮对籽粒增产量比铵态氮高出0.68倍,晚期播种增产1.75倍;播前15天施氮,硝态氮和铵态氮的增产率分别为10.7%和8.8%,无显著差异,而晚期施氮,分别为10.5%和6.2%,差异显著。施用硝态氮,小麦根际土壤pH有上升而施用铵态氮有下降现象,升降幅度为0.1左右pH单位。非根际土壤向根际土壤的养分传输低于作物吸收速率,根际内土壤的硝态氮有耗竭现象,非根际土壤硝态氮平均浓度为11.7mg/kg,而根际土壤仅为4.4mg/kg,后者仅为前者的38%。硝态氮肥不但能使小麦吸收较多的硝态氮,而且能将吸收的硝态氮较快地转化为铵态氮和酰胺态氮,及时转送到茎叶生长部位,对保证作物氮素营养有更好效果。     

氮素形态对茶树根系释放质子的影响

为探讨茶树根系酸化土壤的机制,利用水培实验和自动电位滴定方法研究了恒定pH条件下铵态氮、硝态氮及其混合液对茶树根系释放质子的影响.结果表明,在氮供应量相同情况下,纯铵态氮处理茶树根系释放质子的量最多,其次为铵/硝比为1∶1处理,在纯硝态氮处理中,茶树根系释放羟基.随着铵初始浓度的增加,茶树根系释放质子数量增加,且茶树根系的质子释放量与其对铵态氮的吸收量呈显著正相关.在pH4.5至5.5范围内,茶树根系在初始pH5.0时质子释放量最大,其次是初始pH5.5的处理,在pH4.5时茶树根系的质子释放量最少.用硝酸铵培养验证了茶树的喜铵特性,发现随着培养时间的延长,茶树对铵态氮和硝态氮的吸收量均增加,且质子释放量也有相同趋势,但在整个培养期内茶树对铵态氮的吸收量均高于对硝态氮的吸收量.因此,茶树对铵态氮的偏好吸收导致其根系释放质子,从而引起根际土壤酸化.     

氮素形态对小麦生长中后期保护酶等生理特性的影响

在水培条件下,探究了氮素形态对小麦营养生殖并进生长时期保护酶的影响。结果表明:铵、硝态氮单供和混合供应对小麦保护酶活性影响不同。在铵、硝态氮混合供应下,叶片SOD、CAT,根系SOD活性最高,同时叶片、根系可溶性蛋白含量最大,根系活力和根系表面K3Fe(CN)6还原活性最高,但MDA含量最高;单供硝态氮时叶片POD活性最高,根系MDA含量最高;单供铵态氮时根系POD、CAT活性最高。单供尿素时叶片仅CAT活性高于铵和硝态氮混合供给,但同时叶片MDA含量也高于铵和硝态氮混合供给。叶片以SOD、CAT和POD为主清除自由基,而根系以SOD和POD为主清除自由基。铵和硝态氮混合供给下,小麦成熟后,地上部干重,籽粒产量最大,根冠比最小。     

生物硝化抑制剂——一种控制农田氮素流失的新策略

农业生产中氮肥的施用是影响全球氮素循环的一个重要因素,在促进作物增产的同时,也对生态环境产生了重要的影响。由于铵态氮肥在旱地中很容易经过硝化作用转变为硝态氮,其中一小部分为植物所吸收,而大量的硝态氮被淋失,或经反硝化作用进入大气,造成土壤氮素严重损失。自然界中一些植物的根系能够分泌抑制硝化作用的物质,被称为生物硝化抑制剂,因而可以显著提高土壤氮素利用率。本文阐述了有关生物硝化抑制剂的由来、分泌调节、作用机制及其应用潜力,并探讨了其在农业生产中氮素高效管理等方面的应用前景。     

南方稀土矿区水土保持植物根际土壤碳氮及pH特征

选取南方稀土矿区芒萁、宽叶雀稗、枫香和木荷四种典型水土保持植物,研究其根际与非根际土壤各种形态氮素和有机碳含量特征以及pH的变化。研究表明,根际较非根际土壤全氮、铵态氮和硝态氮平均分别高出79.7%、34.2%和30.7%,土壤有机碳平均高出164.9%,pH平均高出0.13个单位。除pH外,根际土壤与非根际土壤全氮、铵态氮、硝态氮和有机碳之间均差异显著(p0.05)。四种植物根际土壤全氮、硝态氮、铵态氮和有机碳的含量均较非根际土壤含量高。宽叶雀稗的根际土壤pH大于非根际土壤,而木荷、芒萁和枫香的根际土壤p H与非根际土壤无显著差异。在根际与非根际土壤中,土壤全氮与土壤有机碳之间呈显著正相关,而土壤全氮与土壤铵态氮、土壤全氮与土壤硝态氮之间均无相关性。即稀土矿区四种植物对碳氮主要养分均具有较强的截存效应,可作为稀土矿区生态恢复的主要植物。     

不同硝铵比对霞多丽葡萄幼苗生长和氮素营养的影响

采用沙培试验,设置了等氮条件下5种不同硝铵比营养液处理,探讨了氮形态对霞多丽葡萄幼苗生长和氮素营养的影响。结果表明,霞多丽幼苗的生长量以硝铵比70/30时最大,全铵营养时最低;植株根系氮的平均吸收量在硝铵比为70/30时为最大值,达到70.89%,全铵营养时为最低值;叶片中的氮浓度和总氮量以全硝营养最大,全铵营养最低,后者仅是全硝营养的61.8%和19.46%。霞多丽幼苗根系内NH4+-N浓度与营养液中NH4+-N的浓度成极显著正相关(r=0.9805),且当铵态氮比例超过30%时根系中NH4+浓度显著增加。叶片中硝酸还原酶的活性以硝铵比70/30最高,当铵态氮比例大于30%,再继续增加铵态氮的比例时,显著抑制了叶片中硝酸还原酶的活性;而对根的硝酸还原酶活性无明显影响。试验证明,硝铵比70/30是霞多丽较适宜的氮素形态配比,较高比例的铵态氮增加了植株器官中NH4+的浓度,抑制了霞多丽幼苗的生长及对氮素的吸收积累。     

根系高效铵吸收系统是玉米获取氮素的重要补充机制

【目的】本研究旨在通过对植株根系铵吸收特征研究,揭示旱地玉米的氮素营养特征,研究结果为玉米补充氮素营养提供了一定的理论依据。 【方法】以玉米高产品种“郑单 958”为供试材料,采用水培试验模拟了玉米植株生长中的氮素营养环境,研究了玉米幼苗生长对不同氮素形态的反应;采用非损伤微测技术 (NMT),重点研究了不同供氮状况下玉米根系对 NH₄+ 的吸收特征,并与其吸收硝态氮的规律进行了比较;利用实时定量 PCR 技术,初步揭示了玉米根系中的铵吸收蛋白 (AMT) 基因对铵的响应特征。 【结果】单一供应铵态氮条件下,玉米地上部鲜重、全株干重及根系含氮量与纯硝态氮条件下相近,表明铵态氮也可作为玉米的有效氮源。非损伤微测研究结果表明,玉米幼苗根系铵吸收过程呈典型的高亲和吸收特征 (表观 Km 值约为 60 μmol/L),推测这一过程是由高亲和的转运体蛋白介导。氮饥饿预处理使根系的铵吸收速率 Vmax 和 Km 值分别降低了约 3 倍和 1 倍。这一现象与水稻等作物不同,暗示玉米的铵吸收过程可能不存在反馈抑制现象。另外,介质中硝态氮的存在对根系的铵吸收具有显著抑制作用 (抑制效果 > 20%);在供试微摩尔浓度范围内,根系对 NO₃– (100 μmol/L) 的吸收速率显著低于对相同浓度 NH₄+ 的吸收。进一步对主要在玉米根系中表达的铵吸收蛋白基因 ZmAMT1;1a 和 ZmAMT1;3 的定量 PCR 分析表明,上述基因在维持供铵状态下的表达量较缺氮处理均有显著提高,与铵吸收测定结果相符。 【结论】玉米根系中保留着高效铵吸收系统,在低硝态氮浓度下,该系统对铵态氮的高效吸收可作为其获取足够氮源的一个重要的机制。高硝态氮则抑制玉米根系对铵态氮的吸收,以避免氮素吸收利用系统在功能上的冗余。     

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,     

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.     

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.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

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,     

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,     

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.