Assessment and up-scaling of CO2 exchange by patches of the herbaceous vegetation mosaic in a Portuguese cork oak woodland

Long-term eddy covariance measurements over a montado oak woodland in southern Portugal have documented a vulnerability to predicted decreases in springtime rainfall, since water availability during spring limits annual CO₂ gain, the growth of fodder for animals, and the production of cork by Quercus suber. The current study examined CO₂ exchange of three different herbaceous vegetation components distributed over montado landscapes and within the footprint of long-term landscape eddy covariance monitoring studies. Simultaneous measurements with eddy covariance at two sites and with manually operated chambers at multiple locations revealed that slow drainage of shallow basins, the onset of drying at higher sites and a high release of CO₂ below tree canopies significantly influenced the overall course of montado ecosystem gas exchange during the spring.Hyperbolic light response models were employed to up-scale and compare herbaceous gas exchange with landscape net ecosystem CO₂ flux. The up-scaling demonstrates the importance of the herbaceous understory in determining annual carbon balance of the montado and suggests a relatively small additional CO₂ uptake by the tree canopies and boles, i.e., by the aboveground tree compartment, during springtime. Annual flux totals obtained during the extremely dry year 2005 and a normal precipitation year 2006 for the oak woodland and a nearby grassland were essentially the same, indicating that both ecosystems similarly exploit available resources. Based on comparisons with additional temperate grasslands, we can visualize the montado herbaceous cover as a typical European grassland canopy, but where temperature fluctuations in winter control uptake, and where total production depends on springtime rainfall as it controls phenological events and eventually dieback of the vegetation. On the other hand, tree canopies remain active longer during late spring and early summer, modifying the montado response from that of grassland. Uncertainties in flux estimates via both chamber and eddy covariance methodologies currently prevent a full understanding of vegetation/atmosphere coupling, of the recycling of CO₂ between the understory communities and trees, and of relationships between exchange rates of individual components of the vegetation mosaic and overall carbon and water balances in montado landscapes.     

Effect of wilting,silage additive,PEG treatment and tannin content on the distribution of N between different fractions after ensiling of three different sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) varieties

Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is a tanniniferous, leguminous plant that has potentially beneficial effects on protein utilization in ruminants. As ensiling causes protein breakdown and elevated levels of buffer soluble N (BSN), we studied the distribution of N before and after ensiling sainfoin. Three varieties of sainfoin were either direct‐cut and frozen directly or wilted and frozen before later ensiling in mini‐silos with and without acidification with Promyr (PM; an acidifying commercial mixture of propionic and formic acid) and with or without polyethylene glycol (PEG). Extractable tannins (ET) and protein‐bound tannins (PBT) were measured with an HCl/butanol method in an attempt to correlate tannin levels to N fractions. The sainfoin silages showed good ensiling characteristics and had relatively high concentrations of undegraded protein. The effect of wilting on BSN levels (g/kg N) was dependent on sainfoin variety (P < 0·001). PEG increased and PM decreased the level of BSN in the silages (P < 0·001). PM treatment also produced less non‐protein N and ammonia‐N (P < 0·05) as compared with no additive. Addition of PEG to the silage increased the BSN‐proportion 1·8‐ and 2·6‐fold for both DM stages. A strong tannin‐protein binding effect is, therefore, confirmed in sainfoin. However, correlations between tannin levels (ET and PBT) and BSN were poor in the (non‐PEG) silages, indicating either that the HCl/butanol method is unsuitable for measuring tannin in silages or that qualitative attributes of tannins are more relevant than quantitative. The HCl/butanol method seems therefore not to be useful to predict degradation of protein in sainfoin silages.     

Decomposition of cattle dung on grazed signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf) pastures in monoculture or intercropped with tree legumes

Livestock excreta is one of the major nutrient sources in natural grasslands. Understanding how livestock diet and season affects the decomposition dynamics is critical to nutrient cycling models. We hypothesised that livestock diet and season of the year affect dung decomposition. This study evaluated the decomposition and release of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Na from faeces of cattle collected in dry and wet seasons. Treatments were signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf) in monoculture or mixed with sabiá (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.) or gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp.). Excreta samples were incubated in nylon bags for 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 and 256 d. The single negative exponential mathematical model was adequate (P < 0.0001) to explain the decomposition. The relative rate of dung decomposition (k) was greater for samples that originated from cattle grazed on signalgrass (k = 0.00284 g g^?1 d^?1), followed by sabiá (k = 0.00233 g g^?1 d^?1), and gliricidia (k = 0.00200 g g^?1 d^?1) pastures. The rate of nutrient release showed a time effect for all variables and interaction between time and season for Ca (P = 0.0042) and Mg (P = 0.0013). Faeces collected from cattle grazing/browsing intercropped pastures tended to have lower decomposition rates.     

Morphological fractions,chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of stover of four common vetch varieties grown on the Tibetan plateau

This study evaluated the varietal variability and interrelationship of the grain and stover yields, and stover quality characteristics of four common vetch varieties (three improved varieties and one local variety) used on the Tibetan Plateau. Stover quality attributes determined included chemical composition, in vitro true digestibility of dry matter (IVTD) and neutral detergent fibre (dNDF). The improved varieties were superior to the local variety in grain yield, harvest index and potential utility index (PUI). The wide ranges in the proportions of leaf (24.3%–34.6%), pod (22.0%–45.6%) and stem (29.5%–44.7%) fractions were observed. Significant varietal differences (p < .001) were observed for the whole‐stover content of crude protein [CP; 78.1–101 g/kg dry matter (DM)], neutral detergent fibre (aNDF; 520–564 g/kg DM), acid detergent fibre (ADF; 520–564 g/kg DM), IVTD (597–658 g/kg DM) and dNDF (305–384 g/kg aNDF). The leaf fraction had the highest levels of CP, IVTD and dNDF, while the highest contents of aNDF and ADF were observed in the stem fraction. Canonical correlation analysis showed that significant (p < .001) correlations between the quality attributes of whole stover and proportions and quality attributes of stover morphological fractions. Pearson correlation between the grain and stover yield was negative and significant (r = ?.295; p = .001), while the correlations between the grain/stover yield and stover quality traits were positive or non‐significant. Ranking of the varieties differed when grain yield, PUI and stover quality scores were investigated. Of the varieties tested, Lanjian No.2 has the best potential for use as a ruminant feed, as indicated by PUI and stover quality.     

大兴安岭北部草本沼泽的基本特征

大兴安岭北部草本沼泽30个群系共含维管植物99种,分属于37科73属。多年生草本占绝对优势,共66种。区系地理成分以北温带种、旧大陆温带种和东亚种占优势。群落类型多样,区系组成单纯,种类贫乏,群落结构简单,生产力高。     

浅谈草本花卉在电解铝污染区的应用

通过在电解铝厂区高、低不同污染区域的草本花卉栽培试验,发现以金盏菊为代表的菊科花卉、以鸢尾为代表的鸢尾科花卉表现出较好的抗污染特性,为今后在重污染区域的绿化美化提供解决问题的方法。     

食用豆类抗性育种研究进展

笔者从食用豆抗性种质资源的筛选与鉴定、抗性机制、抗性遗传规律研究及基因标记3个方面对食用豆抗性育种研究进行了综述,回顾并总结了前人在食用豆抗性育种方面所取得的成果,重点阐述了抗性相关基因(Br)的研究动态,指出今后的研究方向主要集中在抗性相关基因(Br)的定位及功能验证方面,并就目前所遇到的困难进行了讨论与分析,探讨了抗豆象育种的重要性,并对今后的研究方向进行了规划。以期对促进国内食用豆抗性育种研究有所裨益。     

Comparative molybdenum concentrations in some tropical pasture legumes

Abstract

The relation between Mo concentration of several tropical pasture legumes and their growth response to Mo application has been compared. Lotononis had the greatest ability to take up Mo and its growth was least responsive to Mo application. There were no consistent differences between Mo concentrations in Siratro, desmodium and glycine, even though their growth responses differed.

The concentrations of Mo in plant shoots required for maximum growth were about 0.02 ppm or less for all species. By contrast, critical Mo concentrations in shoots of temperate pasture legumes usually exceed 0.1 ppm.

When Mo was annually applied to soil on which no growth response to Mo occured, Mo concentrations in the shoots of plants reached levels that could be toxic to cattle.     

草本植物对铬污染的响应

采用人工模拟盆栽试验研究了重金属Cr6+胁迫对白花三叶草(Trifolium repens)、高羊茅(Festucaarundinacea)、紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativaL.)株高、丙二醛含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化物酶(POD)含量的影响。结果表明,3种草本植物对重金属Cr6+的耐受能力不同,白花三叶草耐性最强,紫花苜蓿的耐性最弱。Cr6+胁迫导致3种植物的生长均受到抑制。随Cr6+污染质量分数增加,3种植物的叶绿素含量和叶绿素a/叶绿素b比值都呈下降的趋势;MDA含量呈递增的趋势;SOD活性普遍降低;POD活性明显低于对照。     

甘肃省白龙江流域豆科植物根瘤菌共生固氮研究

对甘肃省白龙江流域甘南、陇南的大部分地区豆科植物——根瘤菌资源进行了调查 ,共采集 2 1属45种豆科植物 6 9份根瘤样品。从 6 9份样品中获 6 3株根瘤菌 ,对其中 44株根瘤以 13种寄主进行了回接试验 ,31株结瘤 ,结瘤率 70 .5 %。该区根瘤一般带有粉红色 ,形态比较规则。乙炔还原活力测定结果表明 ,88.5 %为有效根瘤。不同种根瘤固氮活性相差不大 ,但高于甘肃省其它地区。对豆科植物在蓄水保土 ,改良土壤状况中的地位进行了讨论。