Re-defining tillage erosion: quantifying intensity–direction relationships for complex terrain

Abstract. Current tillage erosion models account for the influence of tillage direction in the magnitude of the soil (tillage) transport coefficient. It is argued here that this is counter-intuitive and causes significant problems in modelling tillage erosion in areas of complex terrain. This article examines whether a re-modelling of tillage erosion is possible that separates tillage direction (an interaction with the landform) from the soil transport coefficient (a measure of tillage intensity representing the combination of implement erosivity and soil erodibility). Experimental data for mouldboard ploughing upslope, downslope and cross-slope at Coombe Barton Farm, Devon are examined. Integration of data for all directions into a single relationship, which relates translocation in the direction of tillage to slope in the direction of tillage and translocation perpendicular to tillage to slope perpendicular to tillage, is not possible using previously published methods of analysis. However, when total translocation distance is regressed against the tangent of the slope at 45° to the tillage direction (bisecting the tillage direction and the direction of overturning) it is found that a single relationship can be used to describe tillage in all three directions. Therefore, this relationship is used to determine a single value of the soil transport coefficient ( k _fTa) for constant soil and implement conditions but different tillage directions. This redefinition of tillage is important both for true estimation of tillage erosion severity, the adirectional coefficient being 40% larger than the directional coefficient, and for modelling of tillage erosion in complex terrain. These improvements are vital when tillage erosion simulation is used to direct soil conservation strategies.     

退化草地土壤生化活性研究

通过对三种不同退化程度的退化草地土壤生化活性进行测定和相关性分析，结果表明草地退化后其土壤生化活性受到不同程度的影响，表现为土壤生化活性随着退化程度增高而减小，但差异并非都达到统计学上的显著性，而土壤生化活性间的相关性则显著地与草地退化程度有关，说明退化草地土壤微生物间的协调作用受到显著影响，从而影响土壤氮素和碳素代谢途径。     

巨桉纸浆原料林土壤养分与林木生长研究

通过相关分析及回归分析，探讨了巨桉人工林土壤养分与林木生长的关系，结果表明：土壤速效N、速效P、土壤有机质的浓度与林木胸径、树高、材积极显著正相关，土壤全N、全P与林木胸径树高、材积显著正相关。建立了胸径、树高、材积与土壤养分的线形回归方程，最佳数学表达式说明速效N、速效P是影响巨桉林生长的关键土壤养分。     

洋葱型大蒜及其成因分析

洋葱型大蒜为大蒜鳞茎异常生理变态所形成的类似洋葱鳞茎结构的大蒜(原称“面包蒜”),该鳞茎主要由肥厚的叶鞘基部及鳞芽的外层鳞片加厚所构成,无肉质鳞片或肉质鳞片极不发达,可形成蒜薹或无薹分化,无任何食用价值。洋葱型大蒜的形成与N、P、K超量施用且配比不当,追N过多且时间过早,土壤过于粘重并长期处于水分饱和状态等有密切关系。     

加热光纤法同步测定土壤水热参数误差分析

土壤水热参数是研究土壤水热传输的基本物理参数。当前热脉冲探针法（HPP）可同步测定土壤水热参数,但该方法仅限于在点尺度下测定。与其具有相同理论基础的加热光纤法（SPHP-DTS）,可将测定尺度增大至田间千米尺度,但其测定精度尚未得到有效验证。为了探知SPHP-DTS法的误差,本研究进行了SPHP-DTS法与HPP法测定土壤水热参数的对比试验。结果表明,以HPP为标准,加热光纤法测定热导率的精度RMSE为0.13 W?m-1?℃-1。SPHP-DTS法测定的热导率显著高于HPP法,主要原因在于加热光纤时产生的温度效应。通过热导率法测定土壤含水率时,在热导率测定误差的影响下,SPHP-DTS法的测定精度明显低于HPP法。SPHP-DTS法测定土壤水热参数的其他误差来源包括光纤与土壤之间多个界面的接触热阻、光纤的温度敏感性、噪音干扰以及温度梯度驱动下的水分迁移。本研究可为SPHP-DTS法提升土壤水热参数测定精度提供理论参考。     

Stereoselective degradation of ethofumesate in turfgrass and soil

The stereoselective degradation of ethofumesate in turfgrasses and several agricultural soils was investigated to provide details of the fate of this chiral herbicide. Racemic ethofumesate was either foliar applied to two species of turfgrass or fortified into four types of agricultural soils. (+)- and (−)-Enantiomers were extracted and analyzed by a validated chiral HPLC method which involved extraction of samples with organic solvent followed by separation on cellulose-Tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate)-based chiral column and quantification by UV absorbance at 230 nm. Mean recoveries of each enantiomer fortified at 0.5, 5, and 10 μg g⁻¹ ranged from 82.3 ± 5.84 to 92.5 ± 2.87% in turfgrasses and from 86.0 ± 5.09 to 98.1 ± 2.51% in soil. As a measure of this composition, the enantiomeric ratio (ER) was used, defined as the concentration ratio of (+)/(−)-enantiomer. Similarly, preferential degradation of the (−)-enantiomer was observed in both grass species with the largest ER of about 3 and in one of the test soil with ER = 1.65, resulting in residues enriched with (+)-enantiomer. This stereoselective degradation in this soil led to significant difference on half-lives between the two enantiomers. No stereoselective degradation was observed in other soils.     

How to perform transvenous electrical cardioversion in horses with atrial fibrillation

Electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation is a well-established technique for restoration of sinus rhythm in humans. While transthoracic cardioversion is more commonly used, transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC) has been reported as having higher efficacy at substantially lower energy levels. In horses, treatment of atrial fibrillation has essentially been limited to the administration of quinidine salts either orally or intravenously. TVEC provides an alternative to quinidine salts, especially for those animals in which quinidine is neither effective nor tolerated. The present report details this technique in horses, discusses possible complications of the procedure, and provides guidance for successful outcome. Still and video images are used to illustrate details with regard to TVEC techniques in horses. Please view supplemental material for the videos.     

瓜类嫁接栽培技术探讨

从6个瓜类砧木品种中，选出了黄瓜适宜砧木为黑籽南瓜，苦瓜适宜砧木为黑籽南瓜和本地肉丝瓜，西瓜适宜砧木为超丰F1和欣京砧一号。瓜类嫁接方法以顶插接法和劈接法为宜，嫁接时期在3月初为宜。重病地黄瓜嫁接苗比自根苗枯萎病发病率降低95．8％，产量提高34．9％；嫁接苦瓜发病率降低83．7％，增产16．9％；嫁接西瓜发病率降低88．9％，增产13．7％。     

Spatio-temporal modelling of broad scale heterogeneity in soil moisture content: a basis for an ecologically meaningful classification of soil landscapes

We describe the classification of landscapes characterised bymineral soil using a model that calculates soil moisture availability on amonthly basis. Scotland is used as a case study area. The model uses potentialsoil moisture deficit, estimated using broad scale (40 × 40 km)climate patterns, in conjunction with meteorological station measurements toobtain finer scale values of climatic soil moisture deficit. Point estimates ofsoil available water are obtained for soil characteristics using appropriatepedotransfer functions, and geostatistical techniques are used to upscale theresults and interpolate to a 1-km grid. Known heterogeneityin soil physical characteristics is used to provide local corrections to thepotential soil moisture deficit, estimated using the climatic variables above.Temporal profiles of monthly water content are modelled for each1-km location and classified into six classes usingunsupervised cluster analysis. The spatial distribution of these classesreflects regional variations in the availability of moisture and energy, onwhich finer-grained topographic patterns are superimposed. In the case study,the broad scale spatial heterogeneity of heathlands and grasslands on mineralsoils in Scotland is shown to be strongly related to the soil moistureclassification. The results can be used in studies investigating the patternsofdistribution of communities at the landscape and regional scale.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Inconspicuous restraint of rice seedling growth by root-infecting fungi in soil of a rice paddy field

 Rice seedling growth, estimated by plant height and root development and discoloration, was better in pasteurized soil than in unpasteurized soil obtained from a flooded rice field. Rice seedlings also grew better in sterilized soil modified by adding roots harvested from the pasteurized soil than in soil modified by adding roots harvested from the unpasteurized soil. The results demonstrate that seedling growth in the rice field soil was inhibited by soil microorganisms, even though no typical symptoms such as seedling blight or damping-off appeared. Pythium aristosporum is suggested to be involved in the inhibition. Thus, it appears that inconspicuous restraint of rice seedling growth could occur in soils of rice paddy fields. Received: May 20, 2002 / Accepted: October 16, 2002 Acknowledgments The authors thank Dr. T. Ichitani, former professor at Osaka Prefectural University, for providing an isolate of Pythium aristosporum for comparison, and Mr. Mitsuaki Sato of Akita Prefectural College of Agriculture for technical assistance.