能源植物斑茅在不同生长时期的产量与组分变化

研究不同时期斑茅产量及其化学组分的变化。结果表明:斑茅生物质产量在11月达到最高,其后开始下降;整个生长发育过程中茎叶生物质产量比呈现上升趋势;含水量随生长发育的进行显著降低;叶片灰分含量全年最低为5月,从10月份开始显著增加,至12月份达到最高。茎秆灰分含量略低于叶片,全年最低为10月,最高为7月,变化幅度不大。叶片中木质素含量全年由高到低排列顺序为12月11月9月10月7月8月6月;茎秆中木质素含量全年由高到低排列顺序为12月11月9月7月8月10月6月。10月份茎秆含水量低,灰分含量最低,热值较高,结合产量和燃料品质考虑其更适于直接燃烧,而9月份叶片则更加适于作为生物转化的材料。     

Wicking properties of polyamide 66 twisted nanofiber yarn by tracing the color alteration in yarn structure

In view of the interest in wicking properties of these flexible structures, analysis of the wicking phenomena in nylon 6.6 nanofiber yarns is carried out by considering the twist rate effects. A novel method is used based on adding a pH-sensitive dye to yarn interstructure and the analysis of color alteration of nanofiber yarn structure, resulting from a shift in pH, during the capillary rise of distilled water. The results show that the addition of pH- sensitive dye has no influence on the average nanofiber diameter and the wicking behavior of yarns. This study shows that in short durations, the kinetic of the capillary rise follows the Lucas-Washburn equation. The Lambertw, a mathematical function, has been incorporated, which helps measure an equivalent structural factor of nanofiber yarns and vertical wicking height at any given time considering the gravitational effects. The statistical results show that the average of equilibrium wicking height and capillary rise rate coefficient tend to decrease with increasing the nanofiber yarn twist, due to the reduction of continuity and size of capillaries.     

Comparison of steady- and unsteady-state drainage equations for determination of subsurface drain spacing in paddy fields: a case study in Northern Iran

In Northern Iran paddy fields, waterlogging is a serious problem. Provision of subsurface drainage seems to be a prerequisite for optimal crop production. Considering specific characteristics of the paddies, application of a suitable equation for planning of subsurface drainage systems is of great importance. In this study, five steady-state equations including Hooghoudt, Kirkham, Dagan, Ernst, and Ernst–Hooghoudt; and three unsteady-state equations including Glover–Dumm, Van-Shilfgard, and De-zeeuw–Hellinga were implemented to compute drain spacing. Required field data were obtained from 52 ha of paddy fields of “Haraz Human-Agriculture Resources Development Center,” located in Mazandaran province of Iran. The computed drain spacings were evaluated using dynamic equilibrium concept and DRAINMOD model. The minimum and maximum drain spacings were found to be 26 and 63 m corresponding to Glover–Dumm and Ernst equations, respectively. Based on the dynamic equilibrium concept, the averages of the computed water table depths for the drain spacings obtained by the unsteady-state equations were 0.5–0.63 m as compared with those obtained by the steady-state methods which were in the range of 0–0.43 m. According to the DRAINMOD model simulations, the maximum relative yield was 80.2 % which was obtained when the drain spacing was 26 m and it reduced to 73.5 % when the drain spacing was increased to 63 m. The computed drain spacings suggested by the unsteady-state equations were found to be more suitable than those obtained from the steady-state equations for the study area.     

Electrically conductive paper of polyaniline modified pineapple leaf fiber

This research work reports new electrically conductive paper made of pineapple leaf fiber and polyaniline (PALF/PANI). The conductive paper shows remarkable preservation of mechanical properties while achieving its conductive state. Also it was found that, the amount of PANI needed to achieve the conductivity transformation is as low as 5 wt.%.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel reactive dyes with simultaneous insect-repellent and anti-bacterial properties

N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) is widely used as an insect-repellent. Sulfonamides are an important class of anti-bacterial drugs. In order to combine the strength of anti-bacterial activities of sulfonamides and insect-repellent property of DEET, three azo reactive dyes were designed and synthesized. To do this, the diazoniom salts of sulfonamides viz. 4-amino-N-(4-methyl-2-pyrimidinyl) benzene sulfonamide, 4-amino-N-(4-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl) benzene sulfonamide and 4-amino-N-(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl) benzene sulfonamide were prepared using HCl and NaNO₂. The resulting diazoniom salts were then coupled to the coupling component containing N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide to produce the novel dyes. The synthesized dyes were filtered off and then purified. To investigate and analyze the dyes, analytical methods such as ¹H-NMR, FTIR, UV-visible spectroscopy, and elemental analysis were used. Consequently, the anti-bacterial activities of dyes were measured with E. coli and P. aeruginosa as a Gram-negative strain and S. aureus and S. mutans as a Gram-positive strain according to MIC method. The insect-repellent efficacy of the dyes was studied using standard methods for Anophle mosquito repellent. The results confirmed anti-bacterial and insect-repellent activity of the dyes.     

Circular Disc Blade Considerations in Soil Force Prediction Modelling

Previous soil-disc force prediction models have considered spherical and concave blades, as used on disc ploughs and harrows, with many simplifying assumptions. This study proposes an approach applying the fundamental equation of earth moving mechanics for calculating the soil passive reaction acting on a rotating fiat disc blade as used on a zero-till single disc seeder. The study considers the effects of disc variable depth of cut, sweep and tilt angles, free rotation and a scrubbing reaction at the beveled edge. This paper outlines the modeling approach and prediction results for a fixed circular blade operating at 90° sweep angle over a range of speeds and at two tilt angles. To account for the varying depth across the circular disc shape width, elemental wide blade force reactions acting on wide blade segments of elemental width were integrated across the disc working width. By including inertia forces due to speed as well as additional bulldozing forces due to the loose soil accumulation in front of the blade the draught and upward vertical forces acting on the vertical disc blade were predicted with a deviation of 6%-19% and 1.5%-14% from measured data, respectively. The model was able to predict the effect of increasing the tilt angle from 0° to 20° on reducing both draught and upward vertical forces. Further development and validation of the model will be described in subsequent papers, reflecting a step by step approach of increasing complexity to model a disc blade as used on a zero-till single disc seeding system.     

Soil Salinization in Some Irrigated Areas of the Kingdom of Bahrain

Monitoring and assessment of agricultural land degradation is of vital importance for better land and water management planning and reclamation. It requires setting baseline information and basic analysis at specific time and space. About 33 geo-referenced soil sampling spots were selected in two agricultural production locations in the Kingdom of Bahrain to assess the status and preliminary causes of land degradation. Soil samples were taken from 13 sites in Diraz location while 19 samples were taken from Budayyi location. The samples were taken to 90 cm depth at 30 cm intervals. Standard procedures were followed to determine soil physiochemical properties. In addition, field observations on farm condition, distance from the sea, method of irrigation and irrigation water source were taken. Some of the soil samples were deliberately taken from outside the irrigated basins among trees compared with samples taken from inside the actively growing area for comparison. The results indicated that the salinity level was significantly （P 〈 0.001） higher at the 0-30 cm soil depth compared with 30-60 cm or 60-90 cm depths in both locations. The distance from the sea did not show clear correlation with surface soil salinity in Budayyi area compared with Diraz. Both locations showed significantly higher salinity levels on samples taken outside the actively growing areas compared with those taken from within. The effect is more prominent at the 0-30 cm depth. The observed variability on salinity levels may be attributed to farm management practices and deteriorating quality of ground water. Thus, agricultural land degradation in Bahrain cannot be attributed to ground water deterioration alone. The use of tertiary treated sewage water （TSE） may ease the pressure on ground water, but the pH of the TSE should be carefully monitored and managed with proper studies on leaching requirements to avoid further salinity complications.     

多倍体连翘外植体初代培养

为了实现多倍体连翘的快速繁殖,以多倍体连翘幼嫩叶片、茎尖、茎段为外植体,开展了初代培养的试验研究.结果表明:茎段比茎尖和叶片更适合作为多倍体连翘芽诱导的培养材料;基本培养基为MS培养基.适合腋芽诱导的培养基配方为MS+ 6-BA 2.0 mg/L+ NAA 0.2 mg/L.诱导产生的新芽生长迅速,而且长势较壮,有利于组织培养的进一步研究.     

Hydromorphological rehabilitation improves channel morphology,instream biotopes,and macroinvertebrate communities,and thus enhances the conservation of an urban river

1. Many river rehabilitation projects have been criticized for failing to meet their goals or for being insufficiently monitored. There is, therefore, an urgent need to develop robust approaches for assessing treatment efficacy and thus guide the increasing investment in rehabilitation.
2. Instream biotopes (formerly called ‘functional habitats’ or ‘mesohabitats’ by different authors) and their macroinvertebrate assemblages were used to assess the effectiveness of entire-channel hydromorphological rehabilitation of a 1.8-km stretch of a lowland stream through the town of Market Harborough, Leicestershire, UK.
3. The project successfully enhanced the physical diversity, measured in the rehabilitated reach as the coefficients of variability for channel water depth and width, wet surface area, number of instream biotopes, and biotope diversity.
4. The project also enhanced the biodiversity conservation value, measured as macroinvertebrate total density, total biomass, richness, diversity, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) richness, EPT diversity, EPT count%, and EPT biomass%, all of which significantly increased following rehabilitation. Chironomidae count% and biomass% significantly decreased following rehabilitation. Rehabilitation was also successful in significantly increasing macroinvertebrate shredder, scraper, and filter-feeder group density.
5. Changes in the macroinvertebrate community metrics in the rehabilitated reach were related significantly to changes in the percentages of cover of instream biotopes and increases in biotope diversity in the rehabilitated reach.
6. Macroinvertebrate structural and functional metrics can provide quantitative data for assessing reach-level rehabilitation outcomes, if samples are collected in a pre-defined sampling protocol stratified at the instream biotope level.
7. The practical implications of this work are that the design of rehabilitation projects, if based upon the recreation of biotope heterogeneity, will succeed in improving biological value and restoring the area to near naturalness if a suitable upstream source of macroinvertebrates for natural recolonization is available. The study shows that the concept of biotopes has an important role to play in river conservation management.

     

Inferring biological soil crust successional stage using combined PLFA, DGGE, physical and biophysiological analyses

Arid areas are highly sensitive to climate change and are ideal model systems to study the potential impact of climate change on species' community structure. Biological soil crust (BSC) formation plays an ecological role in a number of key processes in the development of dry ecosystems. It was hypothesized that BSC succession and function are affected by aridity level and limited by rainfall. Furthermore, it is possible to infer the direction of the BSC succession based on aridity level, and the latter can imitate future climate change scenarios. The objectives of this study were to investigate the microbial biomass and diversity of the BSC structure in three sites differing in aridity level (semiarid, arid and hyper-arid), by combining physical and biophysiological measurements with 16S rRNA gene fragment and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analyses. Physical and biophysiological parameters of the BSC were significantly influenced by aridity level. Total protein and polysaccharide contents were strongly correlated with total PLFA-based microbial biomass. Gram-positive biomarkers and microbial biomass were significantly higher in the wettest (semiarid) site than in the driest (hyper-arid) one. Multivariate-analysis based ordination of the PLFA data segregated the cluster of semiarid data from that of the hyper-arid site, while data from the arid site were dispersed between the two. The phylogenetic distribution of prominent 16S rRNA bacterial gene sequences along the aridity levels was in agreement with the PLFA analysis: the hyper-arid site was dominated by the cyanobacterium Microcoleus vaginatus, while diverse populations of cyanobacteria and soil bacteria were found in the other sites. These complementary tools allowed a simple and sensitive measurement of the influence of aridity levels on BSC successional stage. The results demonstrate that different aridity levels correspond to different BSC successional stages and those differences can be used as parameters for global change scenarios.