Estimation of phenotypic variability in symbiotic nitrogen fixation ability of common bean under drought stress using 15N natural abundance in grain

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important food legume, cultivated by small farmers and is usually exposed to unfavorable conditions with minimum use of inputs. Drought and low soil fertility, especially phosphorus and nitrogen (N) deficiencies, are major limitations to bean yield in smallholder systems. Beans can derive part of their required N from the atmosphere through symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF). Drought stress severely limits SNF ability of plants. The main objectives of this study were to: (i) test and validate the use of ¹⁵N natural abundance in grain to quantify phenotypic differences in SNF ability for its implementation in breeding programs of common bean with bush growth habit aiming to improve SNF, and (ii) quantify phenotypic differences in SNF under drought to identify superior genotypes that could serve as parents. Field studies were conducted at CIAT-Palmira, Colombia using a set of 36 bean genotypes belonging to the Middle American gene pool for evaluation in two seasons with two levels of water supply (irrigated and drought stress). We used ¹⁵N natural abundance method to compare SNF ability estimated from shoot tissue sampled at mid-pod filling growth stage vs. grain tissue sampled at harvest. Our results showed positive and significant correlation between nitrogen derived from the atmosphere (%Ndfa) estimated using shoot tissue at mid-pod filling and %Ndfa estimated using grain tissue at harvest. Both methods showed phenotypic variability in SNF ability under both drought and irrigated conditions and a significant reduction in SNF ability was observed under drought stress. We suggest that the method of estimating Ndfa using grain tissue (Ndfa-G) could be applied in bean breeding programs to improve SNF ability. Using this method of Ndfa-G, we identified four bean lines (RCB 593, SEA 15, NCB 226 and BFS 29) that combine greater SNF ability with greater grain yield under drought stress and these could serve as potential parents to further improve SNF ability of common bean.     

太原经济技术开发区用地效益评价

通过对太原经济技术开发区的实际调查和对2002—2011年10 a间的相关统计及国家商务部历年发布的国家级经济技术开发区发展报告的信息进行分析,从开发区土地利用现状、年度建设用地供给、科工贸收入、工业总产值、GDP、税收收入、国内外资金利用等方面,综合评价了太原经济技术开发区的经济效益和用地效益。结果表明,该区独立运行10 a来成绩显著,整体效益逐步提高,在山西所有开发区中经济效益名列前茅,在全省经济技术开发区中每年的综合评价都名列第1;与国内中西部或中部的同类开发区相比,该区经济总量和单位面积产生的效益排名中后;与国内先进经济技术开发区相比,差距较大;该区内部分企业规模大、影响广泛,经济效益和用地效益均好,起到了带头和示范作用,但仍有部分企业规模小、投入水平低、建设周期长、产生效益低,影响了全区整体效益的发挥。建议开发区管委会引导入区企业加大投入,加快建设步伐,及早产生经济效益;尽快实施扩区计划,保证经济快速、健康发展;落实土地供给和退出政策,使有限的土地发挥更大的效益。     

基于最小数据集的喀斯特不同利用方式下土壤质量评价

为了探究贵州喀斯特区域不同土壤利用方式对土壤质量的影响,我们对该地区的林地、人工草地、天然草地、农田、弃耕地5种土地利用方式下的土壤理化性质进行研究。基于最小数据集对该区域的土壤质量进行评价,构建的最小数据集包括：土壤pH值、容重、全盐、阳离子交换量、全氮、有效铜、有效铁等指标。结果表明：全量数据集和最小数据集获得的土壤质量均表现为林地 > 人工草地 > 天然草地 > 农田 > 弃耕地;人工草地、天然草地、农田、林地的土壤质量等级为二级,位于土壤质量分级中的"较高"水平,弃耕地土壤质量为三级,位于"中等"水平。以上结果表明,人为对自然生态系统的开垦降低了土壤的质量。     

基于热力学定律的太阳能利用探究

本文对太阳能的起源、传播、与物质的相互作用以及储存和利用等各个方面所涉及的物理学定律,特别是对太阳能热利用所涉及的热力学定律进行了概括和归纳。根据热力学定律指出太阳能热利用的真正适用范围。     

Carbon Depletion by Plowing and its Restoration by No‐Till Cropping Systems in Oxisols of Subtropical and Tropical Agro‐Ecoregions in Brazil

The continuous use of plowing for grain production has been the principal cause of soil degradation. This project was formulated on the hypothesis that the intensification of cropping systems by increasing biomass‐C input and its biodiversity under no‐till (NT) drives soil restoration of degraded agro‐ecosystem. The present study conducted at subtropical [Ponta Grossa (PG) site] and tropical regions [Lucas do Rio Verde, MT (LRV) site] in Brazil aimed to (i) assess the impact of the continuous plow‐based conventional tillage (CT) on soil organic carbon (SOC) stock vis‐à‐vis native vegetation (NV) as baseline; (ii) compare SOC balance among CT, NT cropping systems, and NV; and (iii) evaluate the redistribution of SOC stock in soil profile in relation to soil resilience. The continuous CT decreased the SOC stock by 0·58 and 0·67 Mg C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ in the 0‐ to 20‐cm depth at the PG and LRV sites, respectively, and the rate of SOC sequestration was 0·59 for the PG site and ranged from 0·48 to 1·30 Mg C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ for the LRV site. The fraction of C input by crop residues converted into SOC stock was ~14·2% at the PG site and ~20·5% at the LRV site. The SOC resilience index ranged from 0·29 to 0·79, and it increased with the increase in the C input among the NT systems and the SOC sequestration rates at the LRV site. These data support the hypothesis that NT cropping systems with high C input have a large potential to reverse the process of soil degradation and SOC decline. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Changes in Physical Properties of Soils with Land Use Time in the Brazilian Savanna Environment

Soils from central Brazil have been intensively used over the last decades because of the rapid conversion of savannas ( Cerrado ) into corn/soybean fields. The objective of this work is to study modifications in the physical properties of soils in the Rio Verde watershed, as a function of the land use time for agriculture, determined from classification of Landsat satellite images between 1980 and 2010. Soil samples were collected at surface (0–20 cm) and subsurface (20–40 cm) horizons for the different classes of land use time (<10, 10–20, 20–30, and >30 years). The following physical properties were measured: bulk density (BD), air permeability (K_a), penetration resistance (PR), microporosity (MI), macroporosity (MA), and total porosity (TP). Results showed a strong expansion with time of agriculture that occupied 35·3% (1980), 37·4% (1990), 51·3% (2000), and 60·9% (2010) of the watershed area. When properties were compared with those from the reference areas (preserved soils under native vegetation), significant differences were observed for all the physical attributes of soils for a land use time higher than 20 years. Overall, BD and PR increased with land use time, and the opposite was verified for K_a, MA, and TP. Some physical properties presented values (e.g., 1·54 g cm⁻³ for BD and 0.06 cm³ cm⁻³ for MA) close to the critical ones reported to affect crop development, but they were not still impacting on local soybean yield. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Organic Carbon Stocks in Mediterranean Soils (1956–2007)

During the last few decades, land use changes have largely affected the global warming process through emissions of CO₂. However, C sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems could contribute to the decrease of atmospheric CO₂ rates. Although Mediterranean areas show a high potential for C sequestration, only a few studies have been carried out in these systems. In this study, we propose a methodology to assess the impact of land use and land cover change dynamics on soil organic C stocks at different depths. Soil C sequestration rates are provided for different land cover changes and soil types in Andalusia (southern Spain). Our research is based on the analysis of detailed soil databases containing data from 1357 soil profiles, the Soil Map of Andalusia and the Land Use and Land Cover Map of Andalusia. Land use and land cover changes between 1956 and 2007 implied soil organic C losses in all soil groups, resulting in a total loss of 16·8 Tg (approximately 0·33 Tg y⁻¹). Afforestation increased soil organic C mostly in the topsoil, and forest contributed to sequestration of 8·62 Mg ha⁻¹ of soil organic C (25·4 per cent). Deforestation processes implied important C losses, particularly in Cambisols, Luvisols and Vertisols. The information generated in this study will be a useful basis for designing management strategies for stabilizing the increasing atmospheric CO₂ concentrations by preservation of C stocks and C sequestration. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Habitat use and home range of black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) on farmlands in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) are an abundant mesopredator on farmlands (croplands and rangelands) across South Africa. Given their adaptability in a changing anthropogenic landscape, knowledge of spatial movements can provide important ecological information on the species. We captured, collared and monitored five black-backed jackals in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal to determine their home range and habitat use in farmlands. The 95% fixed kernel (95% FK) home range sizes were large, showing a marked seasonal variation in movement. One adult male dispersed 150?km over two seasons (winter and spring) and thereafter settled into a home range that it maintained. Transient home ranges of males and juveniles were larger than resident home ranges. The mean resident home ranges (95% FK) across seasons for adult males, adult female and juvenile males were 11.4 ± 4.3 km², 5.6 ± 0.36?km² and 2.15 ± 0.45?km², respectively. The mean transient home ranges (95% FK) of all the seasons for adult and juvenile males were 1 181.93 ± 575.81 km² and 104.27 ± 35.64?km², respectively. Adult jackal preferred croplands in spring, summer and autumn but avoided croplands in winter. Variable habitat use and large home ranges in our study confirmed the species’ ability to adapt to agricultural areas.     

北方农牧交错带土地利用结构的线性规划——以定西县为例

探讨了用线性规划方法优化土地利用结构,并以北方农牧交错带定西县土地利用结构的经济效益作为目标函数,以人口和自然条件作为约束条件,进行优化分析,规划结果为定西县土地利用结构由2005年的农、林、草面积比例54:10:36调整为30:13:57.     

农牧交错带灌溉和旱作模式下马铃薯耗水差异

为揭示北方农牧交错带地区马铃薯“水改旱”种植对其产量和水分利用的影响,选取中国北方农牧交错带地区27个站点,基于站点的气象数据、土壤数据和管理数据驱动充分验证的APSIM-Potato模型,模拟分析农牧交错带地区灌溉和雨养马铃薯的耗水差异。结果表明：北方农牧交错带地区马铃薯种植连续灌溉10、20 a和30 a的产量分别为15 900～35 600、16 400～34 800 kg·hm^-2和16 600～34 800 kg·hm^-2,改为旱作后对应的产量分别为12 800～30 600、13 900～29 100 kg·hm^-2和12 700～25 500 kg·hm^-2;灌溉马铃薯产量均表现为西部较高,旱作马铃薯产量则为东部较高。连续灌溉10、20 a和30 a的播前1 m土层土壤含水量分别为163～388、161～394 mm和154～398 mm,改为旱作后分别下降31.8%、35.3%和36.9%。连续灌溉10、20 a和30 a后的地下水消耗量分别为5 360～21 330、8 910～4...