The nature of organic matter in soil organo-mineral complexes

“The union of mineral and organic matter to form the organo-mineral complex is a synthesis as vital to the continuance of life as, and less understood than, photosynthesis.”(JACKS) (1).     

绿洲区不同苜蓿品种生长特征分析

对5个紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa）品种各茬的株高、干草产量、叶茎比以及营养成分进行分析。结果表明,各苜蓿品种株高和干草产量随着茬次的增加而降低,但品种间各茬次存在差异;生长季内3茬的苜蓿株高和干草产量WL 323和三得利表现最好。各品种中粗蛋白和粗脂肪含量第2、3茬高于第1茬,尤其是第2茬明显高于第1茬、第3茬,而粗纤维含量则相反;而品种间在主要营养物质含量方面则是三得利和WL 323表现最好。综合几项指标,三得利和WL 323在绿洲区表现特征最好,阿尔冈金表现不佳。从不同品种各茬次生产经济性状综合来看,第2茬的效应最好,可见,第2茬苜蓿是获得理想苜蓿干草的重要时期。     

新疆额尔齐斯河大峡谷地衣区系特征的初步研究

根据实地调查并结合已有的文献资料,对新疆额尔齐斯河大峡谷地衣区系进行了初步研究.结果表明:该地区地衣共有72种、1个变种,隶属于6目、16科、30属,其中褐梅属(Melanelia Essl.)、石蕊属(Cladonia Wigg.)、地卷属(Peltigera Willd.)等地衣种类较多,分别占9.33％,10.67％,13.33％.在该地区分布的地衣科目中茶渍目占优势,其科、属、种数分别占该地区地衣总数的68.75％,73.33％,69.33％.根据地衣对环境的适应特征和选择性,将新疆额尔齐斯河大峡谷地衣的地理成分可划分为世界广布成分(20.00％)、环北极成分(26.67％)、温带成分(45.33％)、东亚成分(5.33％)和中国特有种(2.67％)等5个分布类型.其中温带成分和环北极成分占该地区地衣总种数的72.00％,占优势地位.     

新疆不同植被类型土壤有机碳特征

准确评估不同植被类型的土壤有机碳库,对揭示土壤有机碳在陆地生态系统碳循环中的作用具有重要意义。通过分析新疆地区10种植被类型的土壤有机碳密度(SOCD)的分布特征,估算了该地区的土壤有机碳储量。结果表明:在10个植被类型的0~100 cm土壤剖面中,SOCD垂直分布特征明显,呈逐渐降低趋势。新疆SOCD以针叶林最大,其值为63.86 kg·m~(-2),其他植被类型依次为:草甸、阔叶林、沼泽、草原、灌丛、高山植被、栽培植被、荒漠和无植被类型。土壤有机碳储量最大值分布在草甸中,为4.89 Pg,其他植被类型依次为:荒漠、草原、高山植被、无植被(裸地)、针叶林、栽培植被、阔叶林、灌丛、沼泽。在0~100 cm的土壤层,新疆地区土壤有机碳储量为16.4Pg。     

Characterization of Reactive Red-120 Decolorizing Bacterial Strain Acinetobacter junii FA10 Capable of Simultaneous Removal of Azo Dyes and Hexavalent Chromium

Continual discharge of textile wastewaters loaded with a variety of synthetic dyes and metals is considered as a huge threat to surrounding ecosystems. In order to treat these undesirable pollutants, microbial bioremediation is considered as an efficient and economical technique. This study was conducted to evaluate the use of bacterial strains for simultaneous removal of azo dyes and hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]. Fifty-eight bacterial strains were isolated from Paharang drain wastewater and tested for their potential to decolorize reactive red-120 (RR-120) in the presence of 25 mg L^?1 of Cr(VI). Among the tested isolates, FA10 decolorized the RR-120 most efficiently and was identified as Acinetobacter junii strain FA10. Based on quadratic polynomial equation and response surfaces given by the response surface methodology (RSM), Cr concentration and pH were found to be the main factors governing the RR-120 decolorization by FA10. The strain FA10 also exhibited a substantial salt resistance since it showed a considerable decolorization of RR-120 even in the presence of 150 g L^?1 of NaCl. Moreover, the strain FA10 also showed the potential to simultaneously remove the Cr(VI) and the selected azo dyes in the same medium. More than 80 % of the initially added Cr(VI) was removed over 72 h of incubation along with the appreciable decolorization efficiency. The strain FA10 also exhibited good tolerance to considerable levels of different heavy metals. The findings of this study suggest that the strain FA10 might serve as an efficient bioresource to develop the biotechnological approaches for simultaneous removal of different azo dyes and heavy metals including Cr(VI).     

Analytical characterization of Salicornia bigelovii seed oil cultivated in Pakistan

Seeds of Salicornia bigelovii (hybrid variety sos-10) were collected from five coastal areas of Pakistan on the Arabian Sea. Hexane-extracted oil content was 27.2-32.0%. Results of other physical and chemical parameters of the extracted oil were as follows: iodine value, 128.0-130.5; refractive index (40 degrees C), 1.4680-1.4695; unsaponifiable matter, 1.63-2.00%; saponification value, 178.6-189.0; density (30 degrees C), 0.9036-0.9074. Tocopherols (alpha, gamma, and delta) in the oil ranged up to 200 mg/kg. The S. bigelovii seed oil was found to contain high levels of linoleic acid (74.66-79.49%) and less oleic acid (12.33-16.83%). Saturated fatty acids, palmitic and stearic acids, ranged from 7 to 8.50% and from 1.24 to 1.69%, respectively. Linolenic acid (C(18:3) omega-3) was found within the range of 1.50-2.31%. The induction period (Rancimat, 20 L/h, 120 degrees C) of the crude oil was 1.40-1.70 h. Specific extinctions at 232 and 270 nm were 1.90-2.40 and 0.40-0.62, respectively. Many parameters of S. bigelovii seed oil were quite compatible with those of safflower oil.     

Influence of different dates of planting on growth,herb, oil yield and quality of essential oil of menthol mint (Mentha arvensis) in the North Indian Plain

A field experiment was conducted for two years (2007–2008 and 2008–2009) to study the effect of different dates of planting for three menthol mint (Mentha arvensis) cultivars (Saksham, Kushal and Kosi; developed by Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, India) on herb yield, oil yield and oil quality. All the cultivars produced higher herb and oil yields when planted on 18 February, compared with cultivars planted on other dates in both years. Average herb yield for Saksham increased by 12.89, 30.66, 54.01 and 85.71%, average herb yield for Kushal increased by 15.09, 30.57, 71.69 and 104.91%, and average herb yield for Kosi increased by 32.48, 53.28, 87.23 and 109.49% when planted on 4 January, 19 January, 3 February and 18 February, respectively, over cultivars planted on 20 December. Among the cultivars, Kosi produced a higher herb yield than Saksham and Kushal planted on 18 February. Saksham, Kushal and Kosi produced ～89.39, 152.04 and 170.22% higher oil yield, when planted on 18 February over their respective planting date of 20 December. Maximum menthol content was recorded in cultivar Saksham when planted on 18 February and in Kushal and Kosi when planted on 4 March.     

Efficacy,phytotoxicity and economics of different herbicides in aerobic rice

Abstract

Aerobic rice is a potential water-wise rice production system, but high weed infestation has threatened its sustainability, which demands an efficient and cost-effective weed management technique. Eight commercial herbicide products were applied singly or as tank-mix or in sequence to evaluate their efficacy, rice selectivity and cost-effectiveness in aerobic rice. The study was conducted under field conditions in Malaysia during 2010/2011 following a randomized complete block design. Most of the herbicide treatments provided excellent weed control, and produced much higher net benefit than weedy or weed-free check. None of the herbicides caused significant phytotoxicity to rice plants. Among the herbicide treatments, sequential application of Cyhalofop-butyl+Bensulfuron at early growth stage followed by Bentazon/MCPA at mid growth stage provided the highest weed control efficiency, productivity and net benefit. Application of Bispyribac-sodium at early growth stage followed by Bentazon/MCPA at mid growth stage performed very close to the above-mentioned treatments. Sequential application of Pretilachlor/safener just after seeding followed by Propanil/Thiobencarb at early growth stage also provided satisfactory results in terms of efficacy and economic return. Since manual weeding was not economic, herbicide rotation using the above chemicals may be recommended for effective weed management in aerobic rice.