Use of spectral radiance for correcting nitrogen deficiencies and estimating soil test variability in an established bermudagrass pasture

The use of variable rate technology has become increasingly popular for applying plant nutrient elements. The most widely used method for determining variable fertilizer rates is presently based on soil testing and yield mapping. Three field studies (Bumeyville 1995, Burneyville 1996, and Ardmore 1996) were initiated in established Midland bermudagrass [Cynodon dacrylon (L) Pers.] pastures to determine the relationship between spectral radiance at specific wavelengths with forage nitrogen (N) removal and biomass, and to determine field variability of soil test parameters. Variable N (applied to 1.5 × 2.4 m subplots within 2.4 × 45.7 m main plots), fixed N and check treatments were evaluated at each location. Spectral radiance readings were taken in the red (671±6 nm), green (570±6 nm), and near infrared (NIR) (780±6 nm) wavelengths. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was calculated as NIR‐red/NIR+red. Variable N rates were applied based on NDVI. The highest fixed variable N rate was set at 224, 336, and 672 kg N ha^‐1 for Burneyville, 1995, 1996, and Ardmore, 1996, respectively. At Bumeyville, soil samples were collected in all variable rate plots (1.5 × 2.4 m) and analyzed for various soil test characteristics. NDVI, red, green, and NIR spectral radiance readings were correlated with bermudagrass forage N removal and yield. Correlation of forage yield and N removal with red, NIR, and NDVI were best with maximum forage production, however, when forage production levels were low correlation decreased dramatically for the red wavelength compared with NIR and NDVI. Forage yield and forage N removal in variable rate treatments increased when compared to the check while being equal to the half‐fixed and fixed rates where higher N rates were applied. Also, variability about the mean in variable rate plots was significantly lower than half‐fixed and fixed rates which supports adjusting N rates based on indirect NDVI measurements. Variable N rate plots reduced fertilizer inputs by 60% and produced the same yield as fixed rate plots, while fixed and half‐fixed rates did not increase N content in the forage over that of the variable rate treatment. Soil sample data collected from small consecutive plots (<4 m²) was extremely variable indicating that intense sampling would be needed if variable fertilizer application were to be based on soil test results.     

基于分形插值的三维路面重构与分析

原始精细的路面谱是研究车辆与路面耦合的重要基础,对车辆的通过性和噪声、振动及不平顺性NVH(noise,vibration and harshness)分析有重要的应用价值。为了构建与原始路面相同或相近的路面谱,利用非接触式激光路面不平度仪测量沥青路面、水泥路面、比利时路面和砂石路面的三维路面不平度;基于分形理论,采用迭代函数法重构这四种路面谱;结合路面不平度的统计特性评价指标和分形维数对四种路面的原始谱和重构谱进行评价。研究结果表明:重构前、后路面谱的平均值、标准差、峰度系数以及分形维数变化范围在±5%以内,除水泥路面的偏态系数变化范围均在±9%以内,重构路面谱与原始谱具有一致性;重构路面谱保持了原始路面的结构特性,并具有路面的细微结构。     

Effect of Preharvest Sprays of Calcium on Cracking and ‘Schattenmorelle’ Sour Cherry Fruit Quality Harvested Mechanically

The aim of the study was to examine effect of preharvest sprays of calcium (Ca) in the form of Ca-chloride (CaCl₂), Ca-nitrate [Ca(NO₃)₂], or a mixture of Ca-formate, Ca-acetate, CaCl₂, and Ca(NO₃)₂ on cracking and quality of ‘Schattenmorelle’ sour cherry fruit harvested mechanically. The experiment was conducted in 2008–2009 at a commercial orchard in central Poland. Mature trees grew on a coarse-textured soil poor in organic matter, at a spacing of 4.0 × 1.5 m. The spray treatments of Ca were performed at 7-day intervals, starting 28 days before harvest, at the rates of 5.0–5.6 kg Ca ha^?1 per season. The trees sprayed with water were treated as the control. Fruit were harvested mechanically when peduncle-fruit detachment force dropped below 3 N. The results showed that preharvest Ca sprays caused no leaf damage. This measure did not affect yield, mean fruit weight, soluble solids concentration and titratable acidity of fruit, and weight loss of fruit during 24 h after harvest. Fruit sprayed with Ca had improved status of this nutrient, and were less liable to juicy leakage from the stem scar, rain-induced cracking, and preharvest decay caused by Glomerella cingulata. The above effects of Ca sprays did not depend on the tested material. It was concluded that preharvest sprays of Ca as CaCl₂ and/or Ca(NO₃)₂ should be recommended in ‘Schattenmorelle’ sour cherry orchards to reduce fruit losses resulting from rain-induced cracking, leakage of juice, and the incidence of cherry bitter rot.     

基于Landsat TM影像的半干旱牧区天然打草场面积的遥感监测

天然打草场是中国草地畜牧业的物质基础,也是中国内陆的生态屏障。目前中国打草场分布状况、分布面积、产量高低等信息十分缺乏,严重制约饲草储备和救灾应急功能发挥。为解决这些问题,该文基于2009－2011年的Landsat TM5影像数据,并借助野外调查点和目视解译方法对中国半干旱牧区天然打草场状况进行监测分析。结果表明,中国半干旱牧区天然打草场面积达800.35万hm2,目视解译结果的平均解译精度达到76.78%。其中,内蒙古天然打草场面积居首位,面积为688.04万hm2,其次是松嫩平原草原区,打草场面积为91.80万hm2,河北半干旱农牧交错区的打草场面积最小,为20.51万hm2。在内蒙古,呼伦贝尔草甸草原天然打草场约为180.89万hm2,科尔沁沙化草原天然打草场约为96.44万hm2,锡林郭勒典型草原天然打草场面积约为395.40万hm2。研究区天然打草场的植被类型以温性草原类、温性草甸类、低地草甸类为主,少量分布在山地草甸类和温性荒漠草原类。该研究结果可为进一步分析全国半干旱区域打草场变化提供数据支撑。     

Impact of cultivar, harvesting time, and seasonal variation on the content of biophenols in olive mill waste

Olive mill waste (OMW) contains substantial amounts of valuable antioxidant biophenols that can be recovered for possible applications in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. However, the impact of cultivar, harvesting time, and seasonal variation on the phenolic composition of OMW has not yet been assessed. Total phenols, antioxidant activity, and phenol profiles of OMW extracts from five different Australian-grown cultivars (Barnea, Correggiola, Manzanillo, Mission, and Paragon) were studied at four different harvesting times in the 2004 season. The impact of seasonal variation was assessed by comparing total phenol content, antioxidant activity, and phenol profile of two cultivars (Correggiola and Mission) harvested in the 2004 and 2005 seasons. The phenol content and antioxidant activity at different harvesting times were mainly a function of the olive cultivar. Harvesting time had a quantitative effect rather than a qualitative effect on the phenol profile. Intercultivar and harvesting time variation accounted for a 2-5-fold change in the total phenol and antioxidant capacity, while levels of individual biophenols experienced up to 50-fold change. The phenol content and antioxidant capacity of OMW significantly changed between seasons with different variation patterns for different cultivars.     

Molecular dynamics study on the biophysical interactions of seven green tea catechins with lipid bilayers of cell membranes

Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to study the interactions of bioactive catechins (flavonoids) commonly found in green tea with lipid bilayers, as a model for cell membranes. Previously, multiple experimental studies rationalized catechin's anticarcinogenic, antibacterial, and other beneficial effects in terms of physicochemical molecular interactions with the cell membranes. To contribute toward understanding the molecular role of catechins on the structure of cell membranes, we present simulation results for seven green tea catechins in lipid bilayer systems representative of HepG2 cancer cells. Our simulations show that the seven tea catechins evaluated have a strong affinity for the lipid bilayer via hydrogen bonding to the bilayer surface, with some of the smaller catechins able to penetrate underneath the surface. Epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) showed the strongest interaction with the lipid bilayer based on the number of hydrogen bonds formed with lipid headgroups. The simulations also provide insight into the functional characteristics of the catechins that distinguish them as effective compounds to potentially alter the lipid bilayer properties. The results on the hydrogen-bonding effects, described here for the first time, may contribute to a better understanding of proposed multiple molecular mechanisms of the action of catechins in microorganisms, cancer cells, and tissues.     

Simulating site-specific impacts of climate change on soil erosion and surface hydrology in southern Loess Plateau of China

Proper spatial and temporal treatments of climate change scenarios projected by General Circulation Models (GCMs) are critical to accurate assessment of climatic impacts on natural resources and ecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the site-specific impacts of climate change on soil erosion and surface hydrology at the Changwu station of Shaanxi, China using a new spatiotemporal downscaling method. The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model and climate change scenarios projected by the U.K. Hadley Centre's GCM (HadCM3) under the A2, B2, and GGa emissions scenarios were used in this study. The monthly precipitation and temperature projections were downloaded for the periods of 1900–1999 and 2010–2039 for the grid box containing the Changwu station. Univariate transfer functions were derived by matching probability distributions between station-measured and GCM-projected monthly precipitation and temperature for the 1950–1999 period. The derived functions were used to spatially downscale the GCM monthly projections of 2010–2039 in the grid box to the Changwu station. The downscaled monthly data were further disaggregated to daily weather series using a stochastic weather generator (CLIGEN). The HadCM3 projected that average annual precipitation during 2010–2039 would increase by 4 to 18% at Changwu and that frequency and intensity of large storms would also increase. Under the conventional tillage, simulated percent increases during 2010–2039, compared with the present climate, would be 49–112% for runoff and 31–167% for soil loss. However, simulated soil losses under the conservation tillage during 2010–2039 would be reduced by 39–51% compared with those under the conventional tillage in the present climate. The considerable reduction in soil loss in the conservation tillage indicates the importance of adopting conservation tillage in the region to control soil erosion under climate change.     

Grain Yield,Quality, and Nutrient Concentrations of Feed,Food, and Malt Barley

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a cereal grown for animal feed, human consumption, and malting. Nutrient concentrations are important as they provide information regarding the dietary values of barley consumed by animals or human beings. In addition, grain nutrient removal may be useful for refining fertilizer recommendations. A study was conducted in 2015 and 2016 investigating the cultivar effects on grain yield, quality, and grain nutrient concentrations and removal under irrigated conditions for two-row barley cultivars. Adjunct and feed cultivars produced the highest yields compared with the all-malt and food cultivars. Specific quality and nutrient values were greater than or equal to in the food cultivar compared to the malt or feed cultivars. Variations in nutrient concentrations were measured among the adjunct and all-malt cultivars, which could potentially affect the malting and brewing qualities. Grain yield, quality, nutrient concentrations and nutrient removal varied among cultivars grown under identical environmental conditions, which may influence end-use.     

Biochar-induced changes in soil properties affected immobilization/mobilization of metals/metalloids in contaminated soils

Purpose

Remediation of metal contaminated soil with biochar is attracting extensive interest in recent years. Understanding the significance of variable biochar properties and soil types helps elucidating the meticulous roles of biochar in immobilizing/mobilizing metals/metalloids in contaminated soils.

Materials and methods

Six biochars were produced from widely available agricultural wastes (i.e., soybean stover, peanut shells and pine needles) at two pyrolysis temperatures of 300 and 700 °C, respectively. The Pb-, Cu-, and Sb-contaminated shooting range soils and Pb-, Zn-, and As-contaminated agricultural soils were amended with the produced biochars. The mobility of metals/metalloids was assessed by the standard batch leaching test, principal component analysis and speciation modeling.

Results and discussion

The changes in soil properties were correlated to feedstock types and pyrolysis temperatures of biochars based on the principal component analysis. Biochars produced at 300 °C were more efficient in decreasing Pb and Cu mobility (>93 %) in alkaline shooting range soil via surface complexation with carboxyl groups and Fe-/Al-minerals of biochars as well as metal-phosphates precipitation. By contrast, biochars produced at 700 °C outperformed their counterparts in decreasing Pb and Zn mobility (100 %) in acidic agricultural soil by metal-hydroxides precipitation due to biochar-induced pH increase. However, Sb and As mobility in both soils was unfavorably increased by biochar amendment, possibly due to the enhanced electrostatic repulsion and competition with phosphate.

Conclusions

It is noteworthy that the application of biochars is not equally effective in immobilizing metals or mobilizing metalloids in different soils. We should apply biochar to multi-metal contaminated soil with great caution and tailor biochar production for achieving desired outcome and avoiding adverse impact on soil ecosystem.

     

Evaluating a multi-level subsurface drainage system for improved drainage water quality

This paper describes a multi-level drainage system, designed to improve drainage water quality. Results are presented from a field scale land reclamation experiment implemented in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area of New South Wales, Australia. A traditional single level drainage system and a multi-level drainage system were compared in the experiment in an irrigated field setting. The single level drainage system consisted of 1.8 m deep drains at 20 m spacing. This configuration is typical of subsurface drainage system design used in the area. The multi-level drainage system consisted of shallow closely spaced drains (3.3 m spacing at 0.75 m depth) underlain by deeper widely spaced drains (20 m spacing at 1.8 m depth). Data on drainage flows and salinity, water table regime and soil salinity were collected over a 2-year period.