生物炭和堆肥提高西澳大利亚沙质平原土壤上的作物产量但这种效应是短期的

Sandplain soils on the south coast of Western Australia have low inherent fertility, which is mainly due to poor nutrient retention caused by insufficient clay and organic colloidal material. Previous research has shown the benefits in nutrient levels and retention from adding clay to sandplain soils; however, there is almost no information on the addition of organic amendments. A field experiment was established at the Esperance Downs Research Station, Western Australian, in May 2010, to assess the effects of wheat straw (WS) and chicken manure (CM) biochars and compost with and without phosphorus (P) addition on soil properties and crop production over five growing seasons. The five seasons alternated between winter and summer crops.~The CM and WS biochar and compost treatments significantly increased crop yields and P uptake in 3, 2 and 1 of the five seasons, respectively. The yield increases $(P<0.05)$ were no more than 8\%. By the end of the third season, no differences in crop yields were found that could be attributed to the organic amendments. The addition of P increased crop yields in each winter cropping season. Phosphorus addition explained more than 30\% of the variation in crop yields. Despite marginal P levels and summer drought conditions, arbuscular mycorrhizal root colonisation was not affected by the organic amendments. There were no significant interactions between the organic amendments and P addition in terms of crop yields, P uptake or P uptake efficiency. We conclude that much of the effect of the organic amendments was due to direct nutrient addition which dissipated over time.     

The effect of frequency and height of defoliation on the production and persistence of 'Grasslands Matua' prairie grass

The performance of prairie grass ( Bromus willdenowii Kunth) cv. Grasslands Matua was examined under mowing at five defoliation intervals (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 d) and two defoliation heights (3 cm and 8 cm). Annual and seasonal production of both the total herbage and of Matua, and the proportion of Matua in the sward, increased with less frequent defoliation. To a lesser extent, increasing the height of defoliation increased dry matter yield. Matua tiller numbers were increased by less frequent defoliation and were greater under the 8 cm than the 3 cm defoliation height. To increase prairie grass production and persistence, rest intervals between grazings of 40 to 50 d are recommended, or alternatively, a management involving silage or hay cutting offers scope.     

Bud inhibition of Cyperus rotundus L. tubers by inhibitor β or abscisic acid and the reversal of these effects by N-6-benzyl adenine*

The acidic ether fraction of methanol extracts from Cyperus rotundus L. (purple nutsedge) tubers contained inhibitory substances described hereafter as inhibitor β. Inhibitor β inhibited sprouting of excised C. rotundus buds and also the elongation of wheat coleoptiles. The inhibition of bud sprouting by inhibitor β was reversed by the application of N-6-benzyl adenine (BA). Applications of abscisic acid (ABA) also inhibited sprouting of the excised buds and this was similarly reversed by BA applications. Chromatographic evidence suggested that inhibitor β mainly consisted of phenolic materials and possibly ABA as a minor component. The role of BA in enhancing sprouting of C rotundus tubers is discussed. Inhibition des bourgeons de bulbes de Cyperus rotundus L. par I'inhibiteur β ou l'acide abscissique et réversion de ces effects par la N-6-benzyl adénine La fraction éther acide d'extraits, par le méthanol. de bulbes de Cyperus rotundus L. contient des substances inhibitrices decrites ci-après comme I'inhibiteur β. Cet inhibiteur β a inhibé la germination de bulbes isolés de C. rotundus ainsi que l'élongation de coléoptiles de blé. L'inhibition de la germination des bourgeons par I'inhibiteur βété renversée par l'application de la N-6-benzyl adénine (B.A.). Des applications d'acide abscissique (ABA) ont également inhibé la germination de bourgeons isolés et cet effet a été lui aussi renversé par des applications de B.A. Les chromatogrammes suggèrent que l'inhibiteur β est principalement constitué par des composés phénoliques et peut-être par I'ABA comme composant mineur. Le rôle de la B.A. dans l'inhibition de la germination des bulbes de C. rotundus est discuté. Knospenhemmung der Knollen von Cyperus rotundus L. durch Hemmstoff β oder Abscisinsäure und die Umkehrung dieser Effekte durch N-6-Benzylmlenin Die saure Fraktion aus methanolischen Extrakten von Cyperus rotundus L.-Knollen enthielten Hemmstoffe, die im folgenden als Hemmstoff β bezeichnet werden. Hemmstoff β hemmte das Sprossen isolierter C. rotundus-Knospen und die Streckung von Weizenkoleoptilen. Die Hemmung der Knospensprossung durch Hemmstoff β wurde durch An-wendung von N-6-Benzyladenin (BA) aufgehoben. Abscisinsäure (ABA) hemmte auch das Sprossen isolierter Knospen; durch BA wurde es auf ähnliche Weise aufgehoben. Der chromatographische Befund deutet darauf hin. Daß Hemmstoff β sich hauptsächlich aus phenolischen Verbindungen zusammensetzt und möglicherweise in gering-em Unfang ABA enthält. Die Rolle von BA auf die Förderung der Keimung von C. rotundus-Knollen wird diskutiert.     

Tolerance of adzuki bean to preplant-incorporated, pre-emergence, and post-emergence herbicides in Ontario, Canada

Weed management options for adzuki-bean growers in Ontario, Canada are limited due to few herbicide registrations. Four field trials were conducted at three locations in south-western Ontario in 2007 and 2008 to determine the tolerance of adzuki bean to several preplant-incorporated (PPI), pre-emergence (PRE), and post-emergence (POST) herbicides. All the herbicides were applied at the doses registered for use in soybean. The application of pendimethalin, cloransulam-methyl, and halosulfuron-methyl (PPI), flumetsulam, cloransulam-methyl, and halosulfuron-methyl (PRE), and acifluorfen and fomesafen (POST) caused ≤15% crop injury; however, the injury was transient and did not reduce the adzuki bean yield. The POST application of cloransulam-methyl and imazethapyr caused ≤23% crop injury and reduced the biomass by ≤50%, but did not reduce the plant height or crop yield. Metribuzin, flumetsulam, atrazine, and pyroxasulfone (PPI), metribuzin, linuron, pyroxasulfone, and atrazine (PRE), and bentazon, imazethapyr plus bentazon, halosulfuron-methyl, and thifensulfuron-methyl (POST) caused ≤61% crop injury. These treatments reduced the biomass, plant height, and crop yield. Based on these results, pendimethalin, cloransulam-methyl, and halosulfuron-methyl applied PPI, flumetsulam, cloransulam-methyl, and halosulfuron-methyl applied PRE, and acifluorfen and fomesafen applied POST might be potential weed management options for weed management in adzuki bean. Cloransulam-methyl and imazethapyr applied POST will need further evaluation due to phytotoxicity concerns. Metribuzin, flumetsulam, atrazine, and pyroxasulfone applied PPI, metribuzin, linuron, atrazine, and pyroxasulfone applied PRE, and bentazon, imazethapyr plus bentazon, halosulfuron-methyl, and thifensulfuron-methyl applied POST did not have an adequate margin of safety.