华北平原农田裂缝对硝态氮淋溶的影响

土壤干缩开裂是常见的自然现象。目前关于土壤干缩开裂的研究主要集中于裂缝的最终形态特征,并且以室内试验为主。本研究通过室外大田试验,结合动态计算机图像分析及水氮运移模拟软件WHCNS,研究土壤干缩开裂的动力学过程、特征及其对农田水氮运移的影响。利用原位熔化石蜡浇筑得到了裂缝三维结构形态,借助三维激光扫描仪量化裂缝的几何特征,发现每平米裂缝平均长度为4.58m,裂缝上表面平均宽度为5.72 mm,平均深度为9.06 cm。基于三维扫描仪提取得到的裂缝几何参数,通过WHCNS仿真模拟,发现相较于无裂隙情况,裂隙的存在分别增加了传统施肥和优化施肥情况下97.40%和256.43%的硝态氮淋失量;与优化施肥模式相比,传统施肥模式更容易造成硝态氮的淋失风险。在模拟灌溉模式对硝态氮淋洗情况的影响时,其差异不明显;强降雨的设置同样增加了硝态氮的淋失风险,导致硝态氮的年均淋洗量增加83.61%。裂缝的存在严重影响农田作物对肥料的吸收和利用,通过优化施肥量、更改灌溉模式以及避免强降雨前施肥都可以减少肥料的损失。     

北京昌平区农地土壤优先流影响硝态氮运移的试验分析

为了探讨在优先流影响下农地土壤水分与溶质的运移规律,以昌平农地土壤为研究对象,通过原状土取样和分层填充制备实验土柱,模拟存在优先流和平衡入渗2种水分下渗过程,分析优先流对农地土壤中硝态氮运移的影响。结果表明:相较于平衡入渗,存在优先流的土壤中硝态氮运移的速率更快、数量更多,且其穿透曲线表现出拖尾现象。优先流的存在会使土壤的水分出流速率达到平衡入渗过程的1.48～2.69倍,且波动程度较大;受其影响,硝态氮运移表现出快速、大量下渗的特征,原状土柱中NO3-的穿透时间为12 h,此时的孔隙体积为0.36,相较于填充土柱分别减少了57%和27%。此外,原状土柱中以NO3-标记的优先流占水流总量的43.83%,引起的NO3-累计淋出量占总量的97.60%,这表明有限的优先流流量能够引起绝大部分的硝态氮运移。土壤优先流还使得其穿透曲线表现出拖尾现象,这可能是由于优先流和基质流之间下渗速率的不平衡造成的。     

灌施连续与间歇入渗硝态氮运移与土壤含水量的关系

通过室内土壤灌施间歇入渗试验，研究了灌施条件下波涌灌溉土壤间歇入渗硝态氮的运移与分布特性，分析了硝态氮分布与土壤含水量的关系，并与灌施条件下土壤连续入渗进行了对比，为进一步研究施肥条件下波涌灌溉土壤间歇入渗溶质运移规律奠定了基础。     

利用染色分析法确定农田土壤中硝态氮垂直运移的研究

利用农田土壤剖面染色并结合田间硝态氮示踪的方法,研究了太湖地区典型的水稻土—白土剖面中优势流和硝态氮在土壤剖面中的运移规律。结果表明:染色法可以分析土壤剖面中大孔隙的分布状况和优势流的路径;染色面积越大的土层,表明该土层的大孔隙含量就越高。在白土剖面上,表层的大孔隙含量最高,20~30 cm和55~100 cm土层以下大孔隙含量都很低。在田间条件下,优势流是影响硝态氮迁移的主要因素;白土剖面中优势流直接影响的最大深度为78 cm,对地下水的影响很大。本试验中地下水的硝态氮含量比未试验前增加了10多倍,这对环境安全影响极大。     

施肥方式对土壤水肥分布特征影响

通过室内土柱试验研究,分析了灌溉施肥与不同深度的土壤施肥处理对土壤水力特性及水肥分布的影响。结果表明,土壤施肥处理不同程度地降低了土壤入渗性能,且施肥层越浅对土壤的减渗作用越大。各处理的土壤水分经过24h再分布过程后无显著差异。在灌溉施肥条件下,土壤中的硝态氮分布较均匀,而磷和钾滞留在土壤表层。对于土壤施肥情况,在灌溉结束后硝态氮被淋洗到湿润峰以上10cm附近,P和K的浓度峰值发生在施肥层附近。施肥深度决定了灌溉结束后浓度峰值出现的位置,施肥层越深,养分浓度的峰值出现的位置越深。     

局部根区灌溉水氮耦合对设施黄瓜生长及土壤中硝态氮分布的影响

通过对设施黄瓜进行灌水量、灌溉方式、水氮根区位置的不同耦合,研究了局部根区灌溉下不同水氮耦合措施对设施黄瓜生长、土壤中硝态氮分布及累积的影响.结果表明,灌水量、灌溉方式、水氮根区供应位置对黄瓜地上部生物量及产量存在着不同的交互作用.亏缺灌溉量处理的地上部生物量及产量均低于相应灌溉方式下的正常水量处理.相同灌溉量处理条件下,交替根区灌溉的黄瓜生物量与产量显著高于两侧均水均氮处理,以正常交替水氮异区处理黄瓜地上部生物量及果实产量最大,分别达到1 143kg/hm2(干重)和1.75×105 kg/hm2(鲜重);而固定根区灌溉下,尤其在水氮异区条件下,生物量与产量则下降.在亏缺灌溉量下,交替根区灌溉处理的黄瓜生物量以及产量与常规充足灌溉处理没有显著差异.在正常灌溉量条件下,通过对局部根区灌溉下不同水氮耦合对土壤中硝态氮分布的分析表明,施氮是造成土壤中硝态氮积累的原因,土壤水分的垂向运动是影响硝态氮向下淋洗的一个主要因子.固定水氮同区、交替水氮同区处理硝态氮向下淋洗较强,水氮异区处理硝态氮向下淋洗相对较弱.交替水氮异区处理氮素主要累积在0-110 cm土层,深层累积量显著低于其他水氮耦合处理.综合黄瓜生长、土壤硝态氮淋洗等因素考虑,交替水氮异区处理是最佳的水氮耦合处理方式.     

不同土壤耕作法对作物产量及土壤硝态氮淋失的影响

针对华北平原小麦—玉米两熟区不同土壤耕法下玉米产量及玉米生育期土壤硝态氮迁移进行研究,结果表明,翻耕模式下玉米产量最高,免耕下最低。在0~180 cm土体中,收获期与苗期相比,翻耕硝态氮含量平均减少了66.6%;旋耕平均减少了21.7%;免耕则平均减少了20.9%。累积峰出现的深度与硝态氮淋失有直接关系。对比3种模式,翻耕累积峰最深,硝态氮淋失威胁最大;免耕无明显累积峰。在施肥、灌溉等影响硝态氮淋失的可控因子以外,从耕作模式上研究硝态氮淋失是今后研究的方向。     

土壤初始含水率对浑水膜孔灌肥液自由入渗水氮运移特性影响

为了探究浑水膜孔灌肥液入渗在不同土壤初始含水率下水氮运移特性,通过室内肥液入渗试验,研究了不同土壤初始含水率(6.02%,7.40%,8.23%,10.08%和13.20%)条件下入渗特性、湿润锋运移、土壤水分分布以及铵态氮和硝态氮的运移特性,建立了浑水膜孔灌肥液入渗累积入渗量、各向湿润锋运移距离与土壤初始含水率之间的关系,提出了不同土壤初始含水率的累积入渗量以及各向湿润锋运移距离的经验模型。结果表明:累积入渗量、各向湿润锋运移距离以及湿润体内水分和氮素的分布规律均受到土壤初始含水率的影响;同一入渗时刻,累积入渗量随土壤初始含水率的增大而减小,而湿润锋运移距离却呈现出随时间增大的趋势;土壤初始含水率越大,湿润体体积越大,湿润体内水分、铵态氮以及硝态氮分布范围越广;土壤初始含水率越大,入渗系数K值越小,入渗指数α越大。灌水结束时,湿润体内铵态氮绝大部分分布在湿润体半径r≤5cm范围内,而湿润体半径10cmr5cm范围的土壤铵态氮含量随土层深度的增加而降低,当湿润体半径r≥10cm时,铵态氮含量明显降低;硝态氮主要集中分布在由膜孔中心至半径为10cm范围内,水平方向和垂直方向硝态氮含量均随着膜孔中心距离的增加而降低,距离膜孔中心越近硝态氮含量越高;在同一位置处,铵态氮和硝态氮质量分数均随土壤初始含水率的增大而增大;随土壤水分再分布,湿润锋逐渐下移,湿润体内铵态氮逐渐向下运移且其含量呈现降低趋势;随时间继续运移,上层土壤硝态氮含量逐渐减小,下层新湿润体中硝态氮含量逐渐增加,整个湿润体内硝态氮含量分布趋于均匀。研究成果为进一步研究浑水膜孔灌肥液入渗氮素运移及转化奠定了基础。     

日光温室番茄灌水量与根层硝态氮淋溶特征及渗漏关系研究

针对蔬菜灌溉水肥渗漏问题,采用田间试验和室内分析相结合,研究了番茄膜下沟灌灌水量与土壤硝态氮的根层外渗漏关系,分析了灌水量与不同根层土壤硝态氮的淋溶和保蓄特征,结果表明:灌溉不施肥条件下灌水量与土壤硝态氮淋溶量和淋溶率、灌溉施肥条件下灌水量与土壤施入硝态氮的保蓄率和渗漏率均呈直线关系;灌溉均会引起浅根层(0—20 cm)硝态氮淋溶,灌溉施肥条件下7.5～15 mm灌水量范围硝态氮积累有一个峰值,而22.5～45 mm范围则有两个峰值;灌水量在7.5～15mm之间,灌溉不施肥条件下根层土壤硝态氮淋溶率为0,灌溉施肥条件下土壤硝态氮渗漏率为0～5.19%;灌水量在22.5～45 mm之间,灌溉不施肥土壤硝态氮淋溶率为5.38%～19.08%,灌溉施肥条件下根层土壤硝态氮渗漏率为21.91%～61.96%。日光温室番茄膜下沟灌能减少肥料淋溶与渗漏的节水灌水量为15 mm。     

河北太行山山前平原葡萄园土壤硝态氮累积特征及影响因素

为进一步摸清农户生产实践条件下果园土壤硝态氮分布特征及影响因素,以河北太行山山前平原的保定地区葡萄园为研究对象,调查28个果园生产管理现状,测定分析葡萄园和临近农田共31个样点0—200 cm土壤硝态氮含量、累积量及主要影响因素。结果表明:葡萄生产中氮肥施用量偏高,每季平均为297 kg/hm²,过量的养分投入导致氮素在土壤中累积,0—200 cm土层硝态氮淋洗现象明显,平均累积量高达1 555 kg/hm²。不同树龄、施氮量、灌溉量水平下,土壤硝态氮含量有所不同,但均表现出随土层深度增加而增加的趋势,并且明显高于农田土壤。相关性分析表明,硝态氮累积量与树龄和施氮量均呈极显著正相关,与灌溉量呈显著负相关。通径分析表明,对土壤硝态氮累积量影响最大的因素为施氮量,其次为树龄和施肥次数,最后为灌溉量,施肥次数主要通过影响施氮量来间接影响硝态氮累积量。研究区域葡萄园氮素盈余严重,土壤硝态氮大量累积,并向深层土壤淋洗,影响该地区硝态氮累积的主要因素为施氮量、树龄和灌溉量。     

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.     

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.     

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.