Experimental evaluation of irrigation methods for soil desalinization

Paddy and Water Environment - Soil salinization has provided a serious threat for global agriculture throughout human history. It is becoming ever more prevalent as human land use intensifies in...     

内蒙古河套灌区耕地与荒地间水盐补排规律的研究

在野外实测资料的基础上,针对内蒙古河套灌区耕地与荒地间水盐补排关系与水盐运移规律,利用水盐平衡原理,对灌区内耕地间隙分布的荒地进行水分和盐分运移平衡研究。研究显示,耕地盐分部分向荒地迁移,荒地对灌区盐分分布具有调节作用。耕地每年平均有28.1%的灌溉水浸入荒地,荒地每年积盐268.5 g/m2,为灌溉水盐分的38.3%。研究为灌区水盐科学及区域水盐管理提供科学依据,对河套灌区可持续发展具有重要意义。     

Estimation of nodulation tendency among Rj-genotype soybeans using the bradyrhizobial community isolated from an Andosol

The nodulation tendency of indigenous soybean bradyrhizobia on Rj -genotype soybean cultivars was investigated using approximately 260 bradyrhizobia isolated from an Andosol with 13 soybean cultivars of five Rj -genotypes (non- Rj , Rj ₂ Rj ₃, Rj ₃, Rj ₄ and Rj ₂ Rj ₃ Rj ₄). A dendrogram was constructed based on restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the polymerase chain reaction products (PCR-RFLP) of the 16S–23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Bradyrhizobium USDA strains were used as a reference. The dendrogram indicated nine clusters based on similarities among the reference strains. The ratio of beta diversity to gamma diversity ( H' _β/ H' _γ), which represents differences in the bradyrhizobial communities by pair-wise comparison between each cultivar, was obtained from Shannon–Wiener diversity indices. The results showed that bradyrhizobial communities among the same Rj -genotype cultivars were similar to each other, whereas bradyrhizobial communities between the Rj ₂-genotype and non- Rj , Rj ₃ or Rj ₄-genotype cultivars were significantly different. These results suggest that the Rj ₂-gene might not only affect the nodulation compatibility between Rj -genotype soybeans and bradyrhizobia, but also the nodulation tendency of the bradyrhizobia.     

Comparison of ratoon yield under high-level cutting in two varieties of forage sugarcane,KRFo93-1, and Shimanoushie

High-level cutting without stubble shaving has been recommended in the cultivation of forage sugarcane, KRFo93-1. However, it is unclear whether this management practice is appropriate for the more recently developed variety Shimanoushie. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the dry matter yield of both varieties to high-level cutting. The study included five ratoon crops (RC1–RC5). In KRFo93-1, dry matter yield was higher in HC plots (high-level cutting without stubble shaving plots) than in Control plots (stubble shaving after high-level cutting plots), and the differences were significant for the first three ratoon crops. A similar trend was observed in Shimanoushie; however, the dry matter yield of HC plots was slightly lower than Control plots in RC4 and RC5 owing to a lower stem number. Although the sum of dry matter yield of five ratoon crops was significantly higher in HC plots of both varieties, the influence of high-level cutting was more effective in KRFo93-1 than in Shimanoushie.     

Effects of plastic-hole mulching on effective rainfall and readily available soil moisture under soybean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Glycine max</Emphasis>) cultivation

Plasticulture is becoming popular to control soil temperature and increase water-use efficiency in rain-fed agriculture. Non-perforated plastic mulching reduces effective rainfall by preventing infiltration, while perforated plastic mulching (plastic-hole mulching) increases effective rainfall by enhancing infiltration; both mulching control soil temperature. The comparative performance of these mulching is not, however, well investigated yet. So, a field experiment was conducted by cultivating soybean (Glycine max) under non-perforated plastic mulching (hereafter denoted by P), plastic-hole mulching (hereafter denoted by PH) and bare soil to investigate soil temperature, effective rainfall, total readily available soil moisture (TRAM), soil-moisture extraction pattern (SMEP) and yield of soybean. The mulching treatments reduced soil temperature by 2 °C at 5 cm depth compared to the bare treatment and created a favorable environment for soybean growth under high air temperature during summer in Japan. The PH treatment increased effective rainfall by as much as 9% of total rainfall compared to the P treatment. The SMEP in the 0- to 30-cm soil profile revealed that soil moisture was consumed, mostly, from the upper soil layer in the bare treatment, while in the P and PH treatments, soil-moisture consumption occurred both from the upper and from the lower soil layers. Consequently, the P and PH treatments provided greater TRAM (57.3 and 54.0 mm) than the bare treatment (48.0 mm), indicating that mulching contributed increasing soil-moisture availability in the root zone. The mulching treatments augmented plant height, number of nodulations per plant, and seed and biomass yields; the PH treatment produced the maximum seed yield.     

Improvements in a simple harmonic analysis of groundwater time series based on error analysis on simulated data of specified lengths

Tidal response method is an efficient technique for investigating hydraulic properties of an aquifer in insular and coastal areas of highly permeable geological settings. The present study extends a simple and straightforward harmonic-analysis technique recently introduced as part of a tidal response method applied to a freshwater-lens aquifer. This simple analysis technique was examined with artificially synthesized time series composed of multiple realistic tidal components. The analysis outputs of major diurnal and semidiurnal components are sufficiently accurate if the analyzed time-series length is appropriately restricted. Limitations of the simple harmonic analysis in the applicable time-series length arise from tidal-component interference that occurs in analyses over a finite length. Definitively recommended simple harmonic-analysis technique with appropriate combinations of time-series lengths and extractable tidal components are convenient for investigating hydraulic properties of an aquifer, such as on a remote island where the freshwater lens is the only freshwater resource.     

季节性冻融土壤水盐动态预测BP网络模型研究

冻融土壤水盐运移模拟预测一直是冻土物理学和土壤水科学研究的热点和难点,而冻土水盐运动的特殊规律与分配特性是影响河套灌区土壤盐渍化发生、发展和演变的重要因素。该文基于内蒙古河套灌区5个冻融期（1994～1999）的水分、盐分和温度的田间实测资料,利用人工神经网络对冻融土壤水盐耦合运移进行了联合预测。结果表明：初冻期地下水埋深、初冻期含水率、初冻期含盐量、秋浇水量、11月到翌年4月的月平均地温等10个影响因子可以有效表征冻融土壤水分和盐分之间的强烈耦合关系,神经网络预测模型具有较好的精度。该研究为冻融条件下土壤水盐动态预报和灌区灌溉管理的研究开辟了新的途径。     

National-scale variations in the stable isotopic compositions of irrigation-pond and spring waters across Japan

Paddy and Water Environment - The national-scale variations and regional characteristics of the stable isotopic compositions of irrigation ponds, which are small reservoirs for irrigating paddy...