Increased plant density with reduced nitrogen input can improve nitrogen use efficiency in winter wheat while maintaining grain yield

ABSTRACT

Plant density and nitrogen (N) input level have notable effects on root development, distribution in the soil profile, and in turn, N-uptake of winter wheat. Our study objectives were to identify whether a high yield can be maintained with a reduced N input by increasing plant density. Field studies were conducted during four successive seasons (2014–2015, 2015–2016, 2016–2017, and 2017–2018) using a widely planted cultivar, Tainong18. Two regimes of N fertilization (180 kg ha^?1 and 240 kg ha^?1) and three planting densities (135, 270, and 405 plants per m²) were used. Higher plant density led to increased root length density (RLD) and enhanced N uptake from the whole soil profile. The RLD in the soil profile at 0–1.2 m, 0–0.4 m, and 0.4–0.8 m decreased while in the 0.8–1.2 m layer it increased in response to reduced N input. The combined effects of higher plant density and lower N input resulted in reduced N uptake, a lower nitrogen nutrition index (NNI), unchanged grain yield, and improved N use efficiency. In conclusion, it is possible and sustainable to maintain a high wheat yield with reduced N input by increasing plant density.     

Organic C and N stabilization in a forest soil: Evidence from sequential density fractionation

In mineral soil, organic matter (OM) accumulates mainly on and around surfaces of silt- and clay-size particles. When fractionated according to particle density, C and N concentration (per g fraction) and C/N of these soil organo-mineral particles decrease with increasing particle density across soils of widely divergent texture, mineralogy, location, and management. The variation in particle density is explained potentially by two factors: (1) a decrease in the mass ratio of organic to mineral phase of these particles, and (2) variations in density of the mineral phase. The first explanation implies that the thickness of the organic accumulations decreases with increasing particle density. The decrease in C/N can be explained at least partially by especially stable sorption of nitrogenous N-containing compounds (amine, amide, and pyrrole) directly to mineral surfaces, a phenomenon well documented both empirically and theoretically. These peptidic compounds, along with ligand-exchanged carboxylic compounds, could then form a stable inner organic layer onto which other organics could sorb more readily than onto the unconditioned mineral surfaces (“onion” layering model).To explore mechanisms underlying this trend in C concentration and C/N with particle density, we sequentially density fractionated an Oregon andic soil at 1.65, 1.85, 2.00, 2.28, and 2.55 g cm⁻³ and analyzed the six fractions for measures of organic matter and mineral phase properties.All measures of OM composition showed either: (1) a monotonic change with density, or (2) a monotonic change across the lightest fractions, then little change over the heaviest fractions. Total C, N, and lignin phenol concentration all decreased monotonically with increasing density, and ¹⁴C mean residence time (MRT) increased with particle density from ca. 150 years to >980 years in the four organo-mineral fractions. In contrast, C/N, ¹³C and ¹⁵N concentration all showed the second pattern. All these data are consistent with a general pattern of an increase in extent of microbial processing with increasing organo-mineral particle density, and also with an “onion” layering model.X-ray diffraction before and after separation of magnetic materials showed that the sequential density fractionation (SDF) isolated pools of differing mineralogy, with layer-silicate clays dominating in two of the intermediate fractions and primary minerals in the heaviest two fractions. There was no indication that these differences in mineralogy controlled the differences in density of the organo-mineral particles in this soil. Thus, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that variation in particle density reflects variation in thickness of the organic accumulations and with an “onion” layering model for organic matter accumulation on mineral surfaces. However, the mineralogy differences among fractions made it difficult to test either the layer-thickness or “onion” layering models with this soil. Although SDF isolated pools of distinct mineralogy and organic-matter composition, more work will be needed to understand mechanisms relating the two factors.     

体积置换法直接测量土壤质量含水率及土壤容重

土壤含水率直接测量是相关研究和应用的基础,在土壤力学、作物栽培、农田灌溉、生态环境等研究和实践中十分重要。该文提出了一种与传统烘干称质量法相当的体积置换法直接测量土壤质量含水率及土壤容重。该方法在假设一定土壤颗粒密度的前提下,用一定体积的标准取样环刀取得土样后,通过向待测量土体补充水分使土壤达到饱和,用一定体积的水置换土壤中的充气空隙,直到土样达到饱和状态;再通过测量得到的初始/原始土样质量、饱和后土壤的质量以及已知土壤颗粒密度和水密度,计算得到被置换的充气空隙的体积,进而由此计算得到土壤质量含水率和土壤容重。采用3种不同土壤,即陕西杨凌黏黄土、北京粉壤土和江西黏红土,分别预配制成7种不同初始土壤体积含水率,含水率约为:风干土(含水率2%～3%)、5%、10%、15%、25%、30%和饱和含水率,以及3种不同土壤容重:1.25、1.35和1.45g/cm3进行室内试验。用类似的土样,采用传统方法烘干土样8、12、24、48h后,测量确定土壤的质量含水率,通过延长烘干时间测得数据表明,传统方法烘干8h所测得的质量含水率仍有1%～3.2%的含水率误差。最终试验结果表明体积置换方法测得的土壤含水率比传统烘干土样8h所测得的结果大2%～3%,比烘干土样48h所测得的结果大1%左右。体积置换方法测量操作过程简单,耗时较少,节约能源,测量结果具有较高精度。     

Yield gap and production constraints of mango (Mangifera indica) cropping systems in Tianyang County,China

Mango is an important cash crop in the tropics and subtropics. Determining the yield gap of mango and production constraints can potentially promote the sustainable development of the mango industry. In this study, boundary line analysis based on survey data from 103 smallholder farmers and a yield gap model were used to determine the yield gap and production constraints in mango plantations in the northern mountain, central valley and southern mountains regions of Tianyang County, Guangxi, China. The results indicated that the yield of mango in three representing regions of Tianyang County,Northern Mountains, Central Valley and Southern Mountains, was 18.3, 17.0 and 15.4 t ha~(–1) yr~(–1), with an explainable yield gap of 10.9, 6.1 and 14.8 t ha~(–1) yr~(–1), respectively. Fertilization management, including fertilizer N, P_2O_5 and K_2O application rates, and planting density were the main limiting factors of mango yield in all three regions. In addition, tree age influenced mango yield in the Northern Mountains(11.1%) and Central Valley(11.7%) regions. Irrigation time influenced mango yield in the Northern Mountains(9.9%) and Southern Mountains(12.2%). Based on a scenario analysis, the predicted yield would increase by up to 50%, and fertilizer N use would be reduced by as much as approximately 20%. An improved understanding of production constraints will aid in the development of management strategy measures to increase mango yield.     

渭北旱塬深层土壤水分特征对水分生产效率的影响

采用田间试验和观测方法研究了渭北旱塬东部旱作区的农田土壤水分特征和水分生产效率,结果表明,该区在麦田夏闲蓄水期(7-9月)降水量在212.7mm以下时,1～1.2m深处存在一相对干土层,使小麦生育后期对深层土壤水分利用产生一定影响,并使旱地农田水分生效率降低.研究还看出,旱地农田水分生产效率具有明显地随播前土壤储水量增加而提高的趋势,说明渭北旱塬使东部的土壤水库在旱农条件下作物供水调节中的不可代替作用.     

草地贪夜蛾同类相食特性研究

草地贪夜蛾作为我国一种来势凶猛的入侵害虫,其形态学、生物学和防治措施等近年来研究较多,而关于其同类相食的研究相对较少。本文主要观察了其2-6龄幼虫在1、10、20、30、40头/瓶下的存活情况,统计存活率研究密度对草地贪夜蛾同类相食的影响,继而又通过观察其在恢复0h、24h、48h后的活动路程,分析其健康恢复情况。旨在通过此研究对草地贪夜蛾种群动态监测提供参考。     

陇东旱作区保护性耕作麦田休闲期化学除草试验

在平凉市崆峒区草峰镇长沟村进行了旱作区保护性耕作冬小麦田休闲期化学除草试验.结果表明,74.7％农民乐水溶性粒剂2250、1500 g/hm2,10％草甘膦水剂18000、12000 mL/hm2药后14 d的校正防效和鲜重防效分别达97.5％、99.0％以上,且持效期长,可用于多年生杂草防除;20％百草枯水剂900、...     

水稻无盘旱育免耕抛秧不同密度试验

为了探索水稻无盘旱育免耕抛秧适宜栽培密度和技术,设计了6种不同抛秧密度的试验。结果表明,性状指标变化情况为:株高、穴穗数、穗长、穗总粒数、穗实粒数随抛秧密度的增加而减少,667m2穗数随抛秧密度的增加而增加,够苗期随密度的增加而提前,其他性状指标变化不大。667m2抛秧14 000、17 000和20 000粒谷秧的处理4、5、6产量较高,分别为760.3 kg/667m2、718.2 kg/667m2和712.8 kg/667m2,与其余3个处理间达显著或极显著水平。无盘旱育免耕抛秧适宜的密度范围为1 4 000~20 000粒谷秧/667m2。     

福蔗8710不同密度群体的几个光合特性及产量、品质的比较

根据田间测定和有关生理分析的结果，探讨了福蔗8710在3种不同密度群体[6．3万苗/hm2（D1）、7．2万苗/hm2（D2）、81万苗／hm2（D3）]下的几个光合特性及产量、品质的差异。结果表明：福蔗8710不同密度对其群体光合性状、茎蘖消长及产量均有不同程度的影响，而对其品质性状没有显著影响；在本试验条件下适宜的种植密度为7.2万苗hm2；福蔗8710的分蘖力和群体自动调节能力均比对照种闽糖70一611强，属于中大茎、丰产高糖的中晚熟品种，栽培上应采取相应措施。     

二氧化碳气调防治储粮害虫的试验研究

具体的试验表明,利用二氧化碳气调防治储粮害虫,可取得理想的杀虫效果,而且无污染.