Compost Amendment to Sandy Soil Affects Soil Properties and Greenhouse Tomato Productivity

Sandy soils, with low productivity, could be improved by compost application to sustain crop production. This study aimed to examine the effect of three compost types (vegetable, fruit and yard waste compost, garden waste compost, and spent mushroom compost) on basic properties of a loamy sand and greenhouse tomato productivity. Disturbed and intact soil samples were taken from a decade-long compost field experiment on loamy sand with three compost types at application rate of 30 m³ ha^?1 yr^?1 (7.5 ton ha^?1 yr^?1). The soils were characterized for chemical and physical properties. Tomato was planted in a greenhouse using soil samples from the field and vegetative and yield parameters (plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, and fruit yield), water productivity, and harvest index were evaluated. All compost types significantly increased soil total carbon, total nitrogen, pH, electrical conductivity and significantly decreased bulk density, with no effect on plant available water compared to the control. Fresh and dry fruit weights were significantly increased after compost addition. Plant height, leaf number, stem diameter, and total biomass did not significantly improve after compost addition. Spent mushroom compost had greater effect in improving tomato productivity. A decade-long application of composts on loamy sand improved basic chemical and physical properties which were reflected in increased fruit yield in tomato. Since no negative effect of compost was observed, we suggest that sandy soils may serve as a safe end use option for these composts and potentially support crop growth.     

牧草干燥太阳能聚焦吸收器机理分析与优化

目前太阳能干燥设备是以非聚焦板式空气集热器为关键工作部件,其干燥效率和生产率均较低。为此,研究了太阳能聚焦吸收器的黑腔功能,利用该功能减少聚焦光线对外二次辐射和能量损失。设计4种结构类型的太阳能聚焦吸收器,进行了性能机理研究和对比分析,其中三角形聚焦吸收器呈现出良好的黑腔效果。进一步对三角形聚焦吸收装置进行优化,得出吸收器内腔深度在4 cm左右时性能最佳。对4种吸收器进行了试验测试,结果表明,三角形优于圆弧形,圆弧形优于方形,性能最差的是半圆形。吸收器开口宽度为5 cm时的黑腔效果低于开口宽度为3 cm时的效果。盖板形状对吸收器性能产生影响,平板优于圆形,V形最差。     

Foraging behaviour and habitat use by Antechinus flavipes and Sminthopsis murina (Marsupialia: Dasyuridae) in response to predation risk in eucalypt woodland

We examined the foraging behaviour and habitat use of two species of small Australian mammal (Antechinus flavipes and Sminthopsis murina) in response to predation risk in remnant eucalypt woodland. Predation risk was manipulated by providing refuge in the form of ground level wire netting to reduce risks from avian and mammalian predators. Giving-up-densities (GUD) using artificial food trays (20 mealworms in 1.5 l vermiculite) quantified the foraging behaviour in response to predation risk, by measuring the quitting harvest rate. Both A. flavipes and S. murina had lower GUDs (number of mealworms remaining) under the netting than in the open, most likely because these areas have lower predation risk. Animals also made greater visits to tracking tunnels under the netting compared to in the open. Tracking animal movements using fluorescent pigments also revealed preference for natural microhabitats that were structurally complex with animals moving most where logs and rock crevices were present. These results suggest that small mammals may use habitat structure to reduce their risks of predation. If future studies are able to demonstrate commensurate population-level responses, manipulation of habitat may be a useful management option to complement the direct control of exotic predators such as foxes and feral cats.     

Aboveground biomass,transpiration and water use efficiency in eucalypt plantation fertilized with KCl,NaCl and phonolite rock powder

Potassium has important physiological functions in eucalypt plantations, increasing their productivity when applied to soil via mineral fertilizers. There is interest in identifying alternative sources to KCl owing to its high cost and limited reserves. The aim of the study was to test the effect of replacing KCl with NaCl and phonolite rock powder. Two comparisons were made: (1) application of 283 kg ha^?1 of KCl compared with that of 2125 kg ha^?1 of phonolite rock powder (equivalent to 170 kg ha^?1 of K₂O in both treatments); (2) application of 139 kg ha^?1 of NaCl compared with that of 183 kg ha^?1 of KCl (equivalent to 2.33 kmol Na and K, respectively). Radial growth, soil water content, leaf water potential (Ψ), accumulated transpiration, stem volume and biomass increment, as well as water use efficiency (WUE) were evaluated. In the first comparison, both fertilizations presented equal values for all characteristics evaluated. In the second, the accumulated transpiration in trees fertilized with KCl was 17% higher than that in plants fertilized with NaCl. In contrast, the WUE was 20% higher in the trees fertilized with NaCl than in those fertilized with KCl, reflecting the lower water consumption for the same increment in stem volume and biomass. We conclude that phonolite rock powder and NaCl are possible substitutes for conventional K fertilization performed with KCl.

     

Proteomic profiles during adventitious rooting of Eucalyptus species relevant to the cellulose industry

New Forests - Adventitious rooting (AR) is an obligatory step for vegetative propagation of commercial woody species. Paper industries have interest in Eucalyptus globulus Labill and its hybrids...     

Co-inoculation of selected nodule endophytic rhizobacterial strains with Rhizobium tropici promotes plant growth and controls damping off in common bean

Production of common bean(Phaseolus vulgaris)is limited by the occurrence of damping off(rhizoctoniosis),which is caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani.However,the co-inoculation of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria(PGPR)involved in biological control along with diatomic nitrogen(N2)-fixing rhizobia can enhance N nutrition and increase production.In this context,finding microorganisms with synergistic effects that perform these two roles is of fundamental importance to ensure adequate yield levels.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of co-inoculation of nodule endophytic strains of the genera Bacillus,Paenibacillus,Burkholderia,and Pseudomonas with Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899,an N2-fixing rhizobial strain,on the biocontrol of damping off and growth promotion in common bean plants.Greenhouse experiments were conducted under axenic conditions using the common bean cultivar Pérola.The first experiment evaluated the potential of the 14 rhizobacterial strains,which were inoculated alone or in combination with CIAT 899,for the control of R.solani.The second experiment evaluated the ability of these 14 rhizobacterial strains to promote plant growth with three manners of N supply:co-inoculation with CIAT 899 at low mineral N supply(5.25 mg N mL^-1),low mineral N supply(5.25 mg N mL^-1),and high mineral N supply(52.5 mg N mL^-1).The use of rhizobacteria combined with rhizobia contributed in a synergistic manner to the promotion of growth and the control of damping off in the common bean.Co-inoculation of the strains UFLA 02-281/03-18(Pseudomonas sp.),UFLA 02-286(Bacillus sp.),and UFLA 04-227(Burkholderia fungorum)together with CIAT 899 effectively controlled damping off.For the common bean,mineral N supply can be replaced by the co-inoculation of CIAT 899 with plant growth-promoting strains UFLA 02-281/02-286/02-290/02-293.Nodule endophytes UFLA02-281/02-286 are promising for co-inoculation with CIAT 899 in the common bean,promoting synergy with rhizobial inoculation and protection against disease.     

Soil organic carbon storage and quality are impacted by corn cob biochar application on a tropical sandy loam

Purpose

Humic substances, which are integral components of total organic carbon (TOC), influence soil quality. The study aimed to investigate whether humic and non-humic fractions exhibit early, consistent, and measurable changes and affect TOC sensitivity and storage in a tropical sandy loam soils amended with corn cob biochar.

Materials and methods

There were four treatments with four replicates established in a randomized complete block design. Composite soil samples were taken from plots without biochar (CT), from plots incorporated with 15 t biochar ha^?1 (BC-15), and 30 t biochar ha^?1 without or with phosphate fertilizer (BC-30 and BC-30+P). The TOC, and humin, humic acid (HA), and fulvic acid (HA) fractions of soil organic carbon were determined for each treatment. The optical densities (400–700 nm) were measured on the soil-free extracts by spectrophotometry; the densities measured at 465 and 665 nm were used to calculate the E₄₆₅/E₆₆₅ ratios.

Results and discussion

The BC-30 and BC-30+P plots recorded the highest TOC, humin, humic acid (HA), and fulvic acid (FA) contents with respect to the lowest in the CT. The total exchangeable carbon stratification was significantly higher in all the biochar-treated plots relative to the CT. Spectral analysis showed higher values of E₄₆₅/E₆₆₅ (5.02 and 5.15) in the CT and BC-15-treated soils, respectively, compared with the BC-30 and BC-30+P-amended soils with E₄₆₅/E₆₆₅ ratios of 2.76 and 2.98, respectively.

Conclusions

Corn cob biochar applied to a tropical sandy loam:

? increased the concentrations of HA and FA and led to increased stratification of TOC, with a stronger effect on HA compared with FA;

? significantly lowered E₄₆₅/E₆₆₅ at the high biochar application rate of 30 t ha^?1, implying the dominance of high molecular weight humic acid-like substances, and increased degree of aromaticity of the TOC.

     

噬菌体复合制剂对肉鸡生长性能、免疫功能、肠道形态及肠道菌群的影响

本试验旨在研究噬菌体复合制剂对肉鸡生长性能、免疫功能、肠道形态及肠道菌群的影响。选取14 000只体重（850±45） g的37日龄青脚麻鸡,随机分为2组,分别是对照组（基础饲粮）和试验组（基础饲粮+109PFU/mL的噬菌体复合制剂）,每组7个重复,每个重复1 000只,试验期27 d。结果表明：1）与对照组相比,试验组的料重比下降2.81%(P>0.05)。2）与对照组相比,43日龄时,试验组肉鸡胸腺指数和脾脏指数分别增加16.80%(P<0.05)和7.14%(P>0.05);52日龄时,肉鸡法氏囊指数和胸腺指数分别增加8.55%(P>0.05)和7.37%(P>0.05);61日龄时,肉鸡法氏囊指数增加39.66%(P>0.05);43、52及61日龄时,试验组肉鸡血清免疫球蛋白G(IgG)含量分别增加15.85%(P>0.05)、29.54%(P>0.05)和1.45%(P>0.05)。3）与对照组相比,43、52及61日龄时,试验组肉鸡十二指肠、空肠、回肠绒毛高度/隐窝深度显著提高（P<0.05）。4）在门水平上,...     

不同含水率对四倍体刺槐抗弯强度及弹性模量的影响

为研究四倍体刺槐在弯曲负荷作用下破裂或折弯的变化规律,用数理统计的方法在万能力学试验机上对不同含水率的四倍体刺槐枝条的弯曲力学特性进行了研究。结果表明,4种含水率水平下,四倍体刺槐在弯曲载荷作用下的抗弯强度为54.12～94.42 MPa、弹性模量为4.81～9.30GPa。四倍体刺槐枝条的最大载荷在各个含水率水平下均随枝条直径的增大呈线性提高。四倍体刺槐的抗弯强度及弹性模量与含水率水平成一元线性相关关系,随含水率水平的降低四倍体刺槐的抗弯强度及弹性模量呈线性增大。