Visual Colour Shades in Pelts from Brown Mink (Mustela vison) Explained Colourimetrically

Microspectrophotometric methods were used to provide objective correlates to the visually judged colour shade (CS) of the underfur in scanbrown mink pelts. The study included 21 scanbrown mink pelts (winter coat), representing a larger group of 87 mink pelts coming from a feeding trial with experimental and control animals. The pelts were visually graded from 1 (blue-greyish) to 5 (reddish), primarily in respect of the CS (in auction classification=clarity of colour) of the underfur seen on the edge of the pelt. Prepared samples of underfur fibres showed in visual inspection a gliding change of colour from paler to darker in a proximal-distal direction and were consequently examined at three levels above the skin surface. The means of the dominant wavelengths (hues) were 589.40, 588.00 and 586.70 nm, respectively, indicating that the variation between levels was small. Investigation of the small pelt material concerned showed that CS was significantly correlated with the measured lightness (L*) and with the yellow chromaticity coordinate (b*) of the underfur samples. In this investigation it was also shown that the underfur fibres with a visually blue-greyish colour shade were relatively dark and less yellow compared with underfur fibres with a reddish colour shade. However, data and the model estimating the colour shade demonstrated that, for the material concerned, visually very reddish underfur colour shades were not found in the lightest coloured pelts.     

Successive legumes tested in a greenhouse crop rotation experiment modify the inoculum potential of soils naturally infested by Aphanomyces euteiches

The consequence of 10 successive monocultural cycles involving different legume species/cultivars on the inoculum potential (IP) of soils naturally infested by Aphanomyces euteiches was investigated under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that the IP of a soil naturally infested by A. euteiches can be significantly modified not only by the non‐host or host status of crop species but also by the level of resistance of the cultivar. Susceptible species/cultivars (pea, lentil and susceptible cultivars of vetch and faba bean) are very favourable to pathogen multiplication, and continuous cultivation of each of these increased the IP values of a soil with a moderate initial IP (from 1·9 to 3·5 after 10 cycles). Conversely, non‐host species and resistant cultivars of vetch or faba bean contributed to reducing the IP values of soils irrespective of the initial IP (from 1·9 to 0·5 and from 4 to 2, respectively, after 10 cycles). Aphanomyces root rot severity values on the resistant legume species/cultivars were not affected by the successive cultural cycles. This study, which showed that the IP of A. euteiches in soil can be reduced by planting appropriate legume species and cultivars in greenhouse conditions, will be useful for defining better crop successions for legumes.     

Evaluation of integrated crop management strategies employed to cope with Striga infestation in permanent land use systems in southern Benin

Striga hermonthica and S. gesnerioides pose serious threats to cereal and cowpea production, endangering peoples' livelihoods on the Abomey plateau, Benin. A 2-year joint experiment was undertaken with farmers in two hamlets to investigate the potential of managing sowing dates of cowpea, sorghum transplanting, and trap cropping as ways of increasing agricultural production and reducing Striga damage. Early sowing of cowpea failed due to dry spells. Late sowing reduced cowpea yield due to water deficiency at the end of the growing season. Transplanting sorghum seedlings raised in fertilised or Striga-free nurseries doubled or tripled cereal yield and substantially reduced S. hermonthica infestation compared to direct early-sown sorghum. Transplanting sorghum from plant hills to fill gaps was unsuccessful. Trap crops such as cowpea and groundnut increased subsequent maize yield. Trap cropping had only a small effect on S. hermonthica infestation. The very poor soils in Somè central were a major constraint upon yield improvement to acceptable levels even after the introduction of the new crop (and Striga) management methods.     

Molybdenum and Copper Uptake by Forage Grasses and Legumes Grown on a Metal‐Contaminated Sludge Site

Abstract

Wastes applied to agricultural land can contain significant concentrations of bioavailable molybdenum (Mo). Because Mo uptake by forage crops could lead to hypocuprosis in ruminants, more knowledge is needed about which crops are most efficient in accumulating Mo. At an old sewage sludge‐amended site, the concentrations of Mo, copper (Cu), and several other trace metals were measured in various grass species. Generally, the grasses grown on the sludge site contained higher Mo concentrations than the same species grown on a nearby control site. However, because Cu concentrations were also higher in the sludge‐grown grasses, Cu:Mo ratios in the grasses were frequently higher on the sludge site. In contrast, all legumes tested (alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, red clover, pea), as well as canola and beets, had lower Cu:Mo ratios when grown on the sludge site. Sulfur concentrations in the two crops analyzed for this element (canola and pea) were higher on the sludge site than the control. It is concluded that Mo, Cu, and sulfur (S) bioavailability remains elevated in the soil several decades after sewage sludge application.     

Kura Clover Response to Potassium Fertilization

Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M.B.) is a persistent perennial forage legume that produces high-quality herbage for grazing, but its response to potassium (K), an essential plant nutrient, is unknown. Our objective was to determine the effect of four dipotassium oxide (K₂O) rates on forage yields and stands of Kura clover compared to birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). There was a significant linear response in Kura clover and alfalfa forage yields to K₂O fertilization each year. Averaged over 4 years, Kura clover forage yield increased by 0.024 Mg ha^–1 per kg of K₂O applied, and the yield response was similar for alfalfa. Birdsfoot trefoil forage yield response to K₂O fertilization was less than those of alfalfa and Kura clover. In the first 2 years after seeding, Kura clover forage yields were consistently less than for alfalfa at all rates of K₂O fertilizer, but in subsequent years Kura clover yields were similar to or exceeded those of alfalfa. Final groundcover values, an estimate of stand density, of unfertilized (0 K₂O rate) Kura clover, birdsfoot trefoil, and alfalfa were 86, 35, and 21%, respectively. Final groundcover of Kura clover and alfalfa was increased by K₂O fertilization. We conclude that Kura clover has good persistence with low soil K fertility but stands and yields can be increased by fertilization.     

Nitrous oxide emissions associated with nitrogen fixation by grain legumes

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and biological nitrogen (N₂) fixation by grain legumes are two major processes of N transformation in agroecosystems. However, the relationship between these two processes is not well understood. The objective of this study was to quantify N₂O emissions associated with N₂ fixation by grain legumes under controlled conditions. The denitrifying capability of two Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae strains, 99A1 and RGP2, was tested in pure culture in the presence of nitrate and in symbiosis with lentil (Lens esculenta Moench) and pea (Pisum sativum L.), respectively, in sterile Leonard jars. Lentil and pea, either inoculated or N-fertilized, were grown in soil boxes under controlled conditions. Profile N₂O concentration and surface N₂O emissions were measured from soil–crop systems, and were compared with that of a cereal – spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ac. Barrie). Results indicated that: 1) neither R. leguminosarum strain, 99A1 or RGP2 was capable of denitrification in pure culture, nor in symbiosis with lentil and pea in sterile Leonard jars, suggesting that introducing these Rhizobium into soils through rhizobial inoculation onto lentil and pea will not increase denitrification or N₂O emissions; 2) soil-emitted N₂O from well-nodulated lentil and pea crops grown under controlled conditions was not significantly different than that from the check treatments, indicating that biological N₂ fixation by lentil and pea was not a direct source of N₂O emissions.     

4种宿根草本花卉的耐盐性

采用盆栽试验法,于2006年7月31日开始,用0.2% NaCl溶液对四季菊、福禄考(Phlox paniculata)、荷兰菊(Aster novi-belgii L.)和大花萱草(Hemerocallis middendorffii)进行盐胁迫处理,每周浇盐液一次,连续浇灌3次,调查试材的盐害情况, 并计算盐害指数.分别于8月7日、8月15日、8月23日测定叶片中脯胺酸、SOD、POD、MDA等生理生化指标的质量分数或质量摩尔浓度,采用频度靠前优先的排序原则进行综合评价.结果表明:在盐胁迫下,4种草本宿根花卉耐盐性强弱为荷兰菊﹥四季菊﹥大花萱草﹥福禄考.     

安康市月河流域塑料大棚草花周年模式化生产技术研究

通过多年的试验,摸索出适合安康月河流域普通塑料大棚周年生产的草花种类和最佳品种,并结合“五一”、“十一”、“春节”3个主要节日花卉旺销时间,合理调节播种、扦插时间以满足节日的需要,从而总结出了在该地区塑料大棚草花周年模式化生产技术。试验结．果显示,在月河流域通过选择适合的草花种类和品种,合理调节播期、扦插时间及通过光照温度的调节完全可以实现草花的模式化周年生产。     

金城山草本层淫羊藿植物群落的稳定性分析

[目的]分析嘉陵江流域金城山草本层淫羊藿植物群落的稳定性.[方法]研究对象是金城山森林群落草本层植物淫羊藿,以及作对照的鸢尾、复叶耳蕨、苔草、卷柏、细柄草.采用随机取样法调查了20个2 m×2 m样方.对每个样方进行草本层主要植物种群的频度、盖度、密度、高度和生物量的测定.最后计算金城山草本层几种主要植物的生态位宽度和生态位重叠.[结果]测定金城山草本层几种主要植物的生态位宽度和生态位重叠结果表明:金城山草本层植物植物群落已经具有了相当的稳定性,但这种稳定性是有限的,还处于动态的变化之中.[结论]对建立农林复合体系,开发淫羊藿中药资源和加强淫羊藿野生资源保护有一定的指导意义.     

密集化学农业下热带变性土中的微生物种群、活性及基因丰度

There are increasing concerns on the environmental impacts of intensive chemical agriculture.The effect of high agrochemical inputs used in intensive chemical farming was assessed on soil microbiological,molecular and biochemical properties in tropical Vertisols in India.Farm field sites under normal cultivation of arable crops using high inputs of fertilizers and pesticides in chili(Capsicum annum L.,5.0× dose for fertilizers and 1.5× dose for pesticides over normal inputs) and black gram(Vigna mungo L.Hepper,2.2x dose for fertilizers and 2.3× dose for pesticides over normal inputs) were compared with adjacent sites using normal recommended doses.Organic carbon and basal respiration showed no response to high inputs of fertilizers and pesticides in soils of both crops.Labile carbon decreased by 10% in chili soils and increased by 24% in black gram soils under high input farming system.The proportion of soil labile carbon as a fraction of soil organic carbon was unaffected by high inputs.The labile carbon mineralization coefficient(qM_(LC)) increased by 50.0% in chili soils,indicating that the soil microorganisms were under stress due to high agochemical inputs,whereas qM_(LC) decreased by 36.4% in black gram soils.Copiotrophs increased due to high inputs in soils of both chili(63.1%) and black gram(47.1%).Oligotrophs increased by 10.8% in black gram soils but not in chili soils.The abundance of amoA gene reduced by 39.3% in chili soils due to high inputs and increased significantly by 110.8% in black gram soils.β-Glucosidase also increased by 27.2% and 325.0%,respectively.Acid phosphatase activity reduced by 29.2% due to high inputs in chili soils and increased by 105.0% in black gram soils.The use of high agrochemical inputs thus had adverse consequences on biological health in chili but not in black gram soils.In soils cultivated with black gram,the moderating effect of cultivating legumes and their beneficial effect on soil health were evident from the increase in soil labile carbon,lower qM_(LC),higher amoA gene and enzyme activities.Overall results showed that cultivation of legumes permits intensive chemical farming without deteriorating soil biological health.