Assessment of diffusive phosphate supply in soils by microdialysis

Standard procedures to assess P availability in soils are based on batch experiments with various extractants. However, in most soils P nutrition is less limited by bulk stocks but by strong adsorption and transport limitation. The basic principle of root‐phosphate uptake is to strip phosphate locally from the solid phase by forming a radial depletion zone in the soil solution, optionally enhanced by release of mobilizing substances. Microdialysis (MD), a well‐established method in pharmacokinetics, is capable to mimic important characteristics of P root uptake. The sampling is by diffusional exchange through a semipermeable membrane covering the probes with their sub‐mm tubular structure. Additionally, the direct environment of the probe can be chemically modified by adding, e.g ., carboxylates to the perfusate. This study is the first approach to test the applicability of MD in assessing plant available phosphate in soils and to develop a framework for its appropriate use.We used MD in stirred solutions to quantify the effect of pumping rate, concomitant ions, and pH value on phosphate recovery. Furthermore, we measured phosphate yield of top‐soil material from a beech forest, a non‐fertilized grassland, and from a fertilized corn field. Three perfusates have been used based on a 1 mM KNO₃ solution: pure (1), with 0.1 mM citric acid (2), and with 1 mM citric acid (3). Additionally, a radial diffusion model has been parametrized for the stirred solutions and the beech forest soil.Results from the tests in stirred solutions were in good agreement with reported observations obtained for other ionic species. This shows the principal suitability of the experimental setup for phosphate tests. We observed a significant dependency of phosphate uptake into the MD probes on dialysate pumping rate and on ionic strength of the outside solution. In the soils, we observed uptake rates of the probes between 1.5 × 10⁻¹⁵ and 6.7 × 10⁻¹⁴ mol s⁻¹ cm⁻¹ in case of no citrate addition. Surprisingly, median uptake rates were mostly independent of the bulk soil stocks, but the P‐fertilized soil revealed a strong tailing towards higher values. This indicates the occurrence of hot P spots in soils. Citrate addition increased P yields only in the higher concentration but not in the forest soil. The order of magnitude of MD uptake rates from the soil samples matched root‐length related uptake rates from other studies. The micro‐radial citrate release in MD reflects the processes controlling phosphate mobilization in the rhizosphere better than measurements based on “flooding” of soil samples with citric acid in batch experiments. Important challenges in MD with phosphate are small volumes of dialysate with extremely low concentrations and a high variability of results due to soil heterogeneity and between‐probe variability. We conclude that MD is a promising tool to complement existing P‐analytical procedures, especially when spatial aspects or the release of mobilizing substances are in focus.     

Soil S availability in upland pastures of NE Scotland: relationship of extractable soil S and soil respiration to soil and site characteristics

Abstract. The mean extractable sulphur (S) concentration in 315 upland topsoil samples collected in 1988/89 from beneath pasture in NE Scotland was 13 μg S g⁻¹ (range 2–77 μg S g⁻¹). More than two thirds of the samples had S concentrations less than that acceptable for productive soils. Continued decreases in atmospheric S inputs may have increased this proportion subsequently. The analysis of herbage S also indicated that two-thirds of the samples were below 0.2% S. A 'respirometric index', namely CO₂ produced during cellulose decomposition without added S as a percentage of that produced with added S, was significantly less than 100% in a quarter of the soils. Results of three different extraction procedures suggested that sulphate in the soils was present mainly as free plus adsorbed rather than precipitated forms. Soil extraction identified a significant non-sulphate S fraction, presumably organic S. The variability in extractable S stemmed from a combination of geographical, depositional and local site and soil factors. Extractable S was significantly correlated with soil organic matter content and inversely with soil pH and together these factors explained 37% of the variability. While significant differences in mean concentrations between geographical area, soil association and drainage status were evident, no trends could be observed between the major soil subgroups or with altitude.     

Pearl Millet Phenology and Growth in Relation to Thermal Time under Arid Environment

Pearl millet ( Pennisetum glaucum L.R.Br.) hybrid MH 179 was grown under two moisture regimes viz., optimal moisture and rainfed conditions. The field experiment was continued for three consecutive rainy seasons to quantify the pearl millet development with thermal time. The possible influence of variation in natural sowing date on the relationships between crop development and thermal time have been described. At cardinal temperatures of 10°C (base temperature below which pearl millet development ceases), 33°C (optimal temperature for development) and 45°C (maximum temperature at and above which no development takes place), the crop required 1490–1794°Cd thermal time to reach physiological maturity. The thermal time requirement for different developmental stages was influenced by the sowing time and moisture availability during the growing season of the crop.
The leaf tip appearance on the main shoot of pearl millet in relation to thermal time was almost linear under both moisture conditions requiring about 44–50°Cd ± 2.6 °Cd leaf⁻¹, till the appearance of the flag (last) leaf. However, leaf tip appearance on primary tillers was slightly slower and required 53-58°Cd ± 4.7°Cd for each new leaf. Appearance of first primary tiller was later (at 320°Cd after emergence) under the rainfed condition as compared to the crop under the optimal moisture (at 250°Cd).Thereafter, the tiller appearance in relation to thermal time under both moisture conditions was at a linear rate of about 53-56°Cd ± 9.5°Cd tiller⁻¹.
Effect of microclimatic variations, canopy temperature, radiation and photoperiod on the phenology-thermal time relationships have been discussed under both the moisture conditions.     

Decomposition and phosphorus release from organic residues as affected by residue quality and added inorganic phosphorus

The combined use of organic residue and inorganic fertiliser-phosphorus (P) is appropriate in meeting both the short and long-term P requirement of crops. To assess the influence of added inorganic fertiliser-P on the processes of decomposition and P release from the residue and the relationships with quality, prunings of Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephela, Senna siamea, Acacia mangium and Paraserienthus falcataria were incubated without and with added inorganic fertiliser-P for 56 days. Soil was added only as inoculum. Decomposition rate and amounts of acid extractable-P (P release) were in the same order: G. sepium >S. siamea > L. leucocephela >P. falcataria > A. mangium. Unlike the other residues, A. mangium released no P despite the loss of half its mass during the 8 weeks of incubation. The residue P content correlated with P release. However, decomposition rate did not correlate with residue P content but with the lignin, polyphenol and cellulose content, and ratios to P. These ratios were negatively correlated with P release suggesting that lignin and polyphenol contents influence P release more when the residue-P content is low. Results suggest that rate of decomposition influences the release of P. The critical residue P content for P release was estimated to be 0.12% < P < 0.19%. Added P had no effect on decomposition and P release from the residues.     

太行山北部中山幼林地土壤水分的研究

以太行山北部山西五台山中山地区幼林地土壤为研究对象，在阳坡、阴坡和半阳坡三种代表性立地上，从土壤水势、水容量等持水特性和土壤水分季节变化角度，并结合树木抗旱性和生长，研究了该地区土壤水分供应状况及其与造林成活和幼林生长的关系。研究表明，土壤有效水范围为－０．３－－２０ｂａｒ，正常生长水在－０．３－－３ｂａｒ，轻胁迫水－３－－１０ｂａｒ，中胁迫水为－１０－－２０ｂａｒ；土壤持水特性和有效水范围以阳坡最小，半阳坡最大；土壤自然含水率和有效水含量随降水而呈明显的季节变化特征，阴坡全年土壤含水率高，有效水充足，造林成活率高，幼林生长快，半阳坡和阳坡土壤含水率低，有效水较少，林木易于受旱，需选择抗旱树种，采取抗旱造林措施；整地可明显改善土壤水分状况，是抗旱造林和促进幼林生长的良好措施。     

退耕还林还草地区土壤有效水含量及蓄水性能研究--以陕西省吴旗县柴沟流域为例

对陕两省吴旗县黄土丘陵沟壑区退耕还林工程区的乔术（山杏和刺槐）、灌木（荆条、沙棘）及对照农田的土壤水分有效性和蓄水能力进行了比较研究。结果表明，不同植被类型的土壤有效水含量为1．92％～15．73％，林地比农田增加约75．3l％；0～40cm土层土壤蓄水量为228．30～251．07t／hm^2，林地比农田增加约8％；刺槐林地的蓄水性能好于山杏林地。结果对于科学地评价退耕还林工程的土壤改良效益、水源涵养效益具有重要的意义。     

Seasonal variation of inorganic nitrogen and net mineralization in a salt marsh ecosystem

Inorganic nitrogen pools and net mineralization were estimated in three sites of a Tagus estuary salt marsh in Portugal throughout 1 year. Ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) was the major form of inorganic nitrogen found in the salt marsh soil. Extractable NH₄ ⁺ concentrations showed a marked seasonal pattern with a concentration peak during the hotter months of July/August. The great majority (>99%) of the total nitrogen in the soil was found in sedimented organic matter, not readily available for plant uptake. Net nitrogen mineralization, determined using a field incubation method, showed a peak during the months of June/July which resulted in an increase on nitrogen availability. With the exception of the lower salt marsh, estimated rates of in situ net nitrogen mineralization in the soil during summer were well related to the increase in plant aboveground biomass and plant nitrogen pools, indicating that the process is an important source of available nitrogen for plant uptake and growth. Annual net nitrogen mineralization ranged between 2.4 and 4.5gNm^–2yr^{– 1} being significantly higher for the lower salt marsh site. Rates of net nitrogen mineralization were relatively low during most of the year with a particularly active period from June to August, possibly due to an effect of temperature on soil microbial activity.     

不同有机碳水平下塿土磷的有效性及无机磷形态转化

【目的】在土壤Olsen-P和全磷含量基本接近但土壤有机碳水平呈梯度的陕西省关中平原塿土上,研究有机碳对土壤各形态无机磷有效性及其形态转化的影响,为合理培肥土壤,有效利用土壤累积态磷提供理论依据。【方法】采集并选取了陕西省关中平原小麦-玉米种植体系下塿土Olsen-P含量相近（平均含量范围17.41—18.72 mg·kg^-1）,不同有机碳水平（有机碳平均含量分别为6.38、8.34、10.17、11.95、13.64和15.74 g·kg^-1）的土壤样品,采用蒋柏藩-顾益初改进的Chang和Jackson的石灰性土壤无机磷分级方法分别对土壤中各磷组分（二钙磷（Ca₂-P）、八钙磷（Ca₈-P）、铝结合态磷（Al-P）、铁结合态磷（Fe-P）、闭蓄态磷（O-P）和十钙磷（Ca₁₀-P））含量进行测定。【结果】在陕西关中平原小麦-玉米种植区塿土中,有机碳对土壤各形态磷素水平及形态转化起重要作用。随着有机碳含量的增加,土壤中Ca₂-P、Ca₈-P、Al-P、Fe-P、O-P、缓效磷库（Ca₈-P、Al-P和Fe-P）和难利用磷库（O-P和Ca₁₀-P）含量均显著增加（P≤0.05）,Ca₁₀-P相对稳定。有机碳含量与土壤活性磷库（Ca₂-P）、缓效磷库（主要为Al-P）的相对含量（占无机磷总量的比例）呈极显著正相关关系,与难利用磷库（主要是Ca₁₀-P）呈极显著负相关关系。土壤Olsen-P含量与难利用磷库含量呈显著正相关关系。【结论】在Olsen-P相近,全磷也基本相似的条件下,土壤有机碳促进了土壤中难溶态磷酸盐向缓效态磷库和活性态磷库的转化,提高了有效磷源占无机磷总量的比例,从而提高了土壤磷素有效性。研究结果表明可通过合理的措施培肥土壤,从而有效地促进土壤累积态磷的活化利用。     

粤北低山坡地营造梯田对土壤磷组分及有效性的影响

【目的】探明粤北低山坡地营造梯田对土壤磷形态分布特征和有效性的影响。【方法】选择该区域花岗岩发育的自然林地(FL)、旱作梯田(UT)和稻作梯田(PT)土壤为对象,对土壤剖面不同土层理化性质、磷组分含量及有效性进行测定。【结果】与自然林地FL相比,旱作梯田UT和稻作梯田PT土壤0～20 cm土层有效磷和磷活化系数(PAC)明显增加,以PT最高;3种利用方式土壤有机磷(OP)和无机磷(IP)在剖面中总体表现为"C"字型变化趋势,且均以表层土壤含量最高;与FL相比,UT和PT土壤以IP为主,Fe-P和O-P所占比例较高,其中O-P的比例从7.69%～13.58%上升到22.97%～41.96%;通径分析和冗余分析结果显示,OP是该区域土壤磷有效性的敏感磷源,而游离铁和有机碳是驱动土壤磷组分转化的关键性因子。【结论】粤北低山坡地营造梯田改变了磷在土壤剖面中的分配格局,提高了磷的有效性,也增加了土壤无效态磷的比例。     

不同氧气浓度下烟草甲各虫态活性研究

为了减少磷化氢等有毒化学物质在储烟害虫防治中的施用量,为生产上运用低氧技术防治烟草甲等仓贮害虫提供技术参考,本试验研究了低氧环境对烟草甲各虫态致死作用及对烟草甲各虫态历期的影响。结果表明,在气调贮存运用中,可以将垛内氧气浓度调至2%,经历杀虫阶段后可以将垛内氧气浓度回调至4%～6%,这样可以在有效抑制虫害的基础上,最大限度地保证烟叶的醇化质量。