种植密度对玉米-大豆带状间作下大豆光合、产量及茎秆抗倒的影响

[目的]阐明玉米-大豆带状间作下大豆植株冠层在不同种植密度下的光环境变化规律,明确种植密度对间作大豆叶片光合特性、产量形成及茎秆抗倒的影响,为构建寡日照地区间作大豆合理群体密度提供理论参考.[方法]本研究以大豆(川豆-16)和玉米(正红-505)为试验材料.采用双因素随机区组设计,主因素为种植方式,设玉米-大豆带状间作...     

Nitrogen management improves lodging resistance and production in maize (Zea mays L.) at a high plant density

Lodging in maize leads to yield losses worldwide. In this study, we determined the effects of traditional and optimized nitrogen management strategies on culm morphological characteristics, culm mechanical strength, lignin content,root growth, lodging percentage and production in maize at a high plant density. We compared a traditional nitrogen(N) application rate of 300 kg ha–1(R) and an optimized N application rate of 225 kg ha^–1(O) under four N application modes: 50% of N applied a...     

A serious disease of seedling rambutan caused by Pseudocercospora nephelii sp. nov.

Pseudocercospora nephelii is described from necrotic lesions on leaves of Nephelium lappaceum seedlings in Brunei, sometimes causing complete defoliation and death. The pathogen also occurs in Sabah and Selangor in Malaysia. Recommendations for control include treatment with mancozeb or benomyl.     

Physiological but not morphological adjustments along latitudinal gradients in a human commensal species,the Eurasian tree sparrow

Human commensal species take advantage of anthropogenic conditions that are less likely to be challenged by the selective pressures of natural environments. Their morphological and physiological phenotypes can therefore dissociate from habitat characteristics. Understanding how these species adjust their morphological and physiological traits across latitudinal gradients is fundamental to uncovering the eco-physiological strategies underlying coping mechanisms. Here, we studied morphological traits in breeding Eurasian tree sparrows (ETSs; Passer montanus) among low-latitude (Yunnan and Hunan) and middle-latitude (Hebei) localities in China. We then compared body mass; lengths of bill, tarsometatarsus, wing, total body, and tail feather; and baseline and capture stress-induced levels of plasma corticosterone (CORT) and the metabolites including glucose (Glu), total triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), total protein, and uric acid (UA). None of the measured morphological parameters varied with latitude except in the Hunan population, which demonstrated longer bills than those in other populations. Stress-induced CORT levels significantly exceeded baseline levels and decreased with increasing latitude, but total integrated CORT levels did not vary with latitude. Capture stress-induced significantly increased Glu levels and decreased TG levels, independent of site. However, the Hunan population had significantly higher baseline CORT, baseline and stress-induced FFA levels, but lower UA levels, which differed from other populations. Our results suggest that rather than morphological adjustments, physiological adjustments are mainly involved in coping mechanisms for middle-latitude adaptation in ETSs. It is worth investigating whether other avian species also exhibit such dissociation from external morphological designs while depending on physiological adjustments.     

CRUSTING OF RIVER ESTATE SOIL, TRINIDAD, AND ITS EFFECT ON GASEOUS DIFFUSION, PERCOLATION, AND SEEDLING EMERGENCE

The River Estate Loam in Trinidad is micaceous. It is weakly structured and prone to surface crusting which results in decreased gaseous diffusion, infiltration- percolation, and seedling emergence. Mulching with ‘Encap’ (a liquid petroleum product) increased infiltration but not seedling emergence whereas ‘Krilium’ (sodium polyacrilonitrile) was more effective in improving seedling emergence. Bagasse mulch had a beneficial effect on infiltration but in common with pen manure was not very effective in aiding seedling emergence. Thin section examination showed that the uncrusted soil had an open structure with a large volume of pores, but, on crusting, the particles became densely packed with negligible air-spaces. Soil particles on die surface of the crust showed some degree of orientation but below the surface there was no such tendency, although particles coalesced with negligible air-spaces. The liquid petroleum mulch prevented crust formation and maintained a stable soil structure.     

DISPERSION, MECHANICAL COMPOSITION, AND FRACTIONATION OF WEST INDIAN VOLCANIC YELLOW EARTH SOILS (ANDEPTS)

Methods of dispersion used in Japan and New Zealand for soils formed on recent volcanic ash (Andepts) which involved adjusting the pH of organic matterfree soil suspensions to 4 or 10·5 were not effective on similar soils in the Caribbean. Partial dispersion was obtained by adjusting the pH to between 2 and 3 but lower (down to pH 1) and higher (up to pH 11·1) pH values were ineffective. Substantial amounts of Al dissolved at pH 1–3 probably as a result of some disintegration of the allophanoid minerals. Zirconium nitrate solutions were very efficient in causing dispersion, a concentration of 12 me Zr being necessary for complete dispersion of 20 g samples of soil. Excess Zr did not adversely affect dispersion but resulted in depression of pH of the suspensions. The high ionic charge, small atomic radius, and low ionization potential of Zr apparently resulted in saturation of the cation exchange capacity and some isomorphous substitution of Al leading to a net positive charge of the clay and an increase in anion exchange capacity. This was considered to be responsible for dispersion.     

The effect of fish and rapeseed oils on growth performance,egg fatty acid composition and offspring quality of sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long‐term effects (7‐month experiment) of diets consisting of fish oil (Kilka fish) and vegetable oil (rapeseed) on the reproductive performance of sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) broodstock. Forty‐five broodstock (990.3 ± 20.05 g) were randomly allocated to three different diet treatments. Three experimental diets were formulated with graded levels of fish oil (100% FO), vegetable oil (100% VO), and a combination of fish and vegetable oil (50% FO + 50% VO). At the end of the 7‐month feeding trial period, the weight gain and final weight were changed significantly different between the treatments (p < 0.05). Broodstock fed the FO + VO diet had higher growth than those fed the only FO or VO diets (p < 0.05). The highest germinal vesicle migration percentage was observed in FO + VO treatment (p < 0.05). The DHA/EPA, DHA/ARA and EPA/ARA ratios in oocyte exhibited a significant difference in the different treatments (p < 0.05). This study indicates that nutrition of broodstock with diet including FO + VO (p < 0.05) can positively affect the growth performance of larvae compared with only FO or VO diets. Furthermore, the high levels of 18:1n‐9, AL and ALA contents in oocytes from broodstock fed VO and the lowest ALA content in oocytes from broodstock fed FO underlined the important role of broodstock diets in the reproductive process and embryonic and/or larval developments of sterlet.     

Influence of Storage Environment,Surface Coating,and Individual Shrink Wrapping on Quality Assurance of Guava (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Psidium guajava</Emphasis>) Fruits

Guava (Psidium guajava) fruits of cv. L-49 with individual shrink wrapping using 9 LLDPE film could be successfully stored up to 12 days at ambient and 18 days in evaporative cool chamber with negligible loss in vitamin C content. The untreated fruits lose 25–30% of ascorbic acid within 1week after harvest. Delay in senescence and metabolic activities as supported by less changes in soluble solids, sugars, acidity, respiration, and ethylene evaluation rate was also observed in individual shrink wrapped fruits in cool chamber. The spoilage of fruits by Fusarium rots was significantly less in cool chamber in individually shrink wrapped fruits followed by Sta-fresh treatment. Sta-fresh was more effective in cool chamber than ambient. Individually stored wrapped fruits scored a better value of sensory score than Sta-fresh under both the storage condition.     

Biochar-induced changes in soil properties affected immobilization/mobilization of metals/metalloids in contaminated soils

Purpose

Remediation of metal contaminated soil with biochar is attracting extensive interest in recent years. Understanding the significance of variable biochar properties and soil types helps elucidating the meticulous roles of biochar in immobilizing/mobilizing metals/metalloids in contaminated soils.

Materials and methods

Six biochars were produced from widely available agricultural wastes (i.e., soybean stover, peanut shells and pine needles) at two pyrolysis temperatures of 300 and 700 °C, respectively. The Pb-, Cu-, and Sb-contaminated shooting range soils and Pb-, Zn-, and As-contaminated agricultural soils were amended with the produced biochars. The mobility of metals/metalloids was assessed by the standard batch leaching test, principal component analysis and speciation modeling.

Results and discussion

The changes in soil properties were correlated to feedstock types and pyrolysis temperatures of biochars based on the principal component analysis. Biochars produced at 300 °C were more efficient in decreasing Pb and Cu mobility (>93 %) in alkaline shooting range soil via surface complexation with carboxyl groups and Fe-/Al-minerals of biochars as well as metal-phosphates precipitation. By contrast, biochars produced at 700 °C outperformed their counterparts in decreasing Pb and Zn mobility (100 %) in acidic agricultural soil by metal-hydroxides precipitation due to biochar-induced pH increase. However, Sb and As mobility in both soils was unfavorably increased by biochar amendment, possibly due to the enhanced electrostatic repulsion and competition with phosphate.

Conclusions

It is noteworthy that the application of biochars is not equally effective in immobilizing metals or mobilizing metalloids in different soils. We should apply biochar to multi-metal contaminated soil with great caution and tailor biochar production for achieving desired outcome and avoiding adverse impact on soil ecosystem.

     

Effects of foraging site distances on the intestinal bacterial community compositions of the sympatric wintering Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) and Domestic Duck (Anas platyrhynchos domesticus)

Background: The composition of intestinal microflora in animals is affected by cross-species transmission. In a nature reserve, the foraging sites of waterbirds...