SALTIRSOIL: a simulation model for the mid to long‐term prediction of soil salinity in irrigated agriculture

The SALTIRSOIL model predicts soil salinity, sodicity and alkalinity in irrigated land using basic information on soil, climate, crop, irrigation management and water quality. It extends the concept of the WATSUIT model to include irrigation and crop management practices, advances in the calculation of evapotranspiration and new algorithms for the water stress coefficient and calculation of electrical conductivity. SALTIRSOIL calculates the soil water balance and soil solution concentration over the year. A second module, SALSOLCHEM, calculates the inorganic ion composition of the soil solution at equilibrium with soil calcite and gypsum at the soil’s CO₂ partial pressure. Results from comparing predicted and experimentally determined concentrations, observations and predictions of pH, alkalinity and calcium concentration in calcite‐saturated solutions agree to the second significant figure; in gypsum‐saturated solutions the standard difference between observations and predictions is <3% in absolute values. The algorithms in SALTIRSOIL have been verified and SALSOLCHEM validated for the reliable calculation of soil salinity, sodicity and alkalinity at water saturation in well‐drained irrigated lands. In simulations for horticultural crops in southeast Spain, soil solution concentration factors at water saturation, quotients of electrical conductivity (EC₂₅) at saturation to electrical conductivity in the irrigation water, and quotients of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) are very similar to average measured values for the area.     

藏北高原退化高寒草甸土壤团聚体有机碳变化特征

采用湿筛法对藏北高原退化高寒草甸表层(0~10cm)、亚表层(10~20cm)土壤团聚体有机碳及其变化进行了研究。结果表明,高原冷湿环境中退化草地表层、亚表层SAOC的下降幅度随草地退化加剧均趋于显著提高,轻度、严重退化草地表层各粒级SAOC降幅均明显高于亚表层;草地退化缩小了不同土层间SAOC含量的差异,草地退化程度越高则表层、亚表层间SAOC含量的差异越小,退化草地大团聚体(0.25mm)SOC、微团聚体(0.25mm)SOC含量的土层分布亦呈相同趋势。轻度退化草地不同土层大团聚体SOC降幅均较高,严重退化草地不同土层微团聚体SOC降幅则较高;正常草地、轻度退化草地、严重退化草地表层大团聚体SOC/微团聚体SOC比值分别为0.95,0.87,1.55,亚表层分别为0.96,0.72,2.33,表明轻度、严重退化草地中大团聚体SOC含量随土层加深分别更趋下降、更趋提高。退化草地表层、亚表层SAOC贡献率在总体上亦均按2~0.25 mm,2 mm,0.25~0.053mm,0.053mm的顺序依次大幅降低,表明不同土层大团聚体SOC贡献率均较高。土壤团聚体与SAOC、SOC与SAOC间的关系受草地退化程度的影响。     

The Humus Content and Soil Biological Properties as a Function of Organic and Mineral Fertilization

There is a growing recognition for the need to develop sensitive indicators of soil quality that reflect the effects of land management on soil and assist land users in promoting sustainability of agro-ecosystems. Three soil enzymes (dehydrogenase, phosphatase and invertase) microbial biomass as biological variables and soil organic matter content (SOM) were investigated relative to fertilization and soil fertility (estimated by crop yield) at a long-term fertilization trial (Keszthely, Hungary). 0-34.7-69.4-104.1t farmyard manure (FYM) ha m 1 5 yr m 1 and the corresponding amount of mineral fertilizers (NPK) were applied in two different crop rotation systems. There were four straw and/or stalk incorporating treatments in the second crop rotation 'B'. Enzyme activities, microbial biomass and the amount of SOM were generally higher in the fertilized soils than in the unfertilized soils. The type of amendments (mineral, FYM or mixed) had significant effects only on the amount of SOM. The correlations among the biological variables and the crop yield were generally low (r < 0.250. The differences in field management resulted only in the invertase activity.     

The optimal nutrition of maize in the hungarian national long‐term field experimental network

In Hungary, maize is grown on 1 million ha and occupies more than 20% of the arable land. The rich assortment of maize cultivars of different vegetation periods and different responses to nutritional effects, water supply etc. gives the growers the possibility to choose the cultivars suiting best the site characteristics (Jolânkai et al. 1999). Among the cereals maize has the highest genetical potential. To utilize its yield and quality potential, soil types of high nutrient content and regular nutrient supply are required (Gyõrffy, 1979). Both over‐ and under‐fertilization have an unfavourable effect on the yield and quality of maize (Debreczeni, 1985). Crops can be supplied with the appropriate nutrient amounts only with the knowledge of soil characteristics in the different agro‐ecological regions (nutrient content, water supply, soil compactness, pH, nutrient supplying capacity etc.). In Hungary, a network of long‐term field fertilization trials with uniform fertilizer treatments has been maintained at nine experimental sites representing different agro‐ecological regions of the country. This experimental network gives a basis to test the nutrient responses of our main crops and calibrate their optimal nutrient supply (Kismányoky, 1991).     

Level and Timing of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application to Early and Semi-early Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) Grown with Irrigation on Light Soils in Norway

Trials were performed with early and semi-early potatoes to test the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilizer level (0-160 kg N ha^-1) and timing (all at planting versus half then and half either soon after emergence or 3 weeks later). All seven trials with earlies were irrigated as required, whilst different irrigation regimes (moderate versus intensive) were compared in two trials with semi-earlies. No benefit was derived from splitting the N application. Haulm growth and N uptake increased in all cases almost linearly up to the highest N level, but tuber yield did not respond in the same way. The optimum N level was 80 kg N ha^-1 for a yield of 15 Mg ha^-1, rising to 120 kg N ha^-1 for a yield of 40 Mg ha^-1. Tuber quality was lowered by the use of excess N fertilizer, particularly in the case of earlies. The quantity of mineralised N present in the soil after harvest rose sharply with above optimum fertilizer use, and the amount of N present in crop residues also increased. The likely leaching after early potatoes was estimated to be up to 80 kg N ha^-1. The proportion of fertilizer N which was not accounted for in either tuber yield, crop residues or mineral N in soil was 26% in earlies and 38% in semi-earlies.     

Comparison of nuclear and capacitance‐based soil water measuring techniques in salt‐affected soils

A field calibration experiment was carried out on salt‐affected clayey soil in Syria, to compare the sensitivity to soil electrical conductivity (ECe), and bulk density (ρ_b) of two instruments for estimating soil moisture: the neutron probe (NP) and the Diviner 2000 capacitance probe (CP). The results showed that the values of the correlation coefficient of the calibration were decreased when the ECe and ρ_b values increased; this decrease was more pronounced for the Diviner 2000, indicating that it was more sensitive to ρ_b and ECe than the NP. When only scaled frequency was used in the fitted equation, the Diviner 2000 in wet soil underestimated soil water content significantly at all depths, but especially in the top layer, by up to 0.09 cm³/cm³ compared with gravimetric determinations. However, in dry soil, the Diviner 2000 overestimated the volumetric water content by up to 0.05 cm³/cm³ in the top 15 cm, and by 0.03 cm³/cm³ at 30‐45 cm depth. The performance of the neutron probe was better overall; using a factory calibration curve no significant differences were observed between NP estimates and the gravimetric values. Including both ρ_b and ECe in the calibration equations improved the fits, although the regression coefficient (R²) for the Diviner 2000 remained low.     

Abnormal bone mineralization in a puppy fed an imbalanced raw meat homemade diet diagnosed and monitored using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

A 4-month-old male Old English Sheepdog was presented for evaluation of a raw meat-based homemade diet after a 1-month history of progressive lameness. Marked dietary deficiencies were detected, which included calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D. Hypovitaminosis D and hypocalcaemia were diagnosed by serum analysis. Evidence of severe diffuse osteopenia was noted on survey radiographs. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to quantify bone mineral content and density and compare to published reference ranges. The puppy's initial bone mineralization was markedly subnormal, with bone mineral density 66% lower than expected, and bone mineral content 40% lower than expected. Subsequent DEXA scans were performed at intervals during the puppy's recovery to document the rate of bone re-mineralization and guide therapeutic recommendations. Marked improvement was achieved within 4 months through exercise control and feeding of a diet appropriately formulated for large breed puppy growth and development. This report reinforces the necessity of thorough dietary history and highlights the potential for malnutrition in pets fed homemade and raw meat-based diets. Use of DEXA has rarely been reported in clinical cases, yet can be a valuable tool for diagnosing and monitoring cases with abnormal bone mineralization. Further studies using DEXA to track bone mineralization in healthy puppies are encouraged to develop a more robust reference range of bone mineralization in growing dogs of varying sizes, weights and ages.     

黄土高原亚高山草地退化对土壤种子库的影响

本试验对黄土高原亚高山草地不同退化程度下土壤种子库的物种组成、种子密度、分布特征以及影响因素进行了研究。结果表明,研究区地上植物有31种,分属于14科、25属;种子库植物有32种,分属于14科、31属;种子库的83.45%都分布于浅层土壤中（0~5 cm）。随着草地退化程度的加重,地上植被和地下种子库中多年生植物的比例减少,种子库密度与丰富度都显著下降（P<0.001）;极度退化样地的地上一年生植物增多,物种组成与地下种子库相似;轻度和中度干扰的样地中,地上植物与种子库的物种的组成具有显著差异（P<0.01）。总之,亚高山草地退化对土壤种子库产生了较大的影响,其中土壤pH与水分是影响种子库密度与丰富度主要的环境因素。极度退化草地种子库密度极低,地上植被靠自然更新很难恢复,需人工辅助。     

三江源退化高寒草原植物种间亲和性和土壤团聚体特征

为研究三江源地区不同退化程度的高寒草原土壤团聚体和种间亲和性特征,以轻度、中度、重度和极度退化草地为研究对象,对土壤特征和群落特征进行测定。结果表明：随着退化程度的加剧,同一土层相同粒径土壤颗粒的分形维数逐渐减小,>0.5 mm粒径土壤团聚体占比下降、平均重量直径减小,<0.5 mm粒径土壤颗粒的平均重量直径增大,各粒径团聚体分布受土层深度影响较小;中度退化草地物种多样性最高,其种间相关性也最为复杂;随退化程度加剧,正联结种对占比增大,而负联结种对占比下降,种对间的相关性和性质也发生显著变化;退化过程中土壤沙化明显,群落建群种发生变化、杂类草比例显著增加,种对间相关性趋于简单,种间竞争强度逐渐降低。因此,在草地退化过程中维持群落种间亲和性,可有效遏制土壤沙化和草原进一步退化。     

放牧对草甸草原土壤水热状况和地上生物量的影响

本文以呼伦贝尔草甸草原为对象,研究了不同放牧强度对草原群落土壤水热状况和地上生物量的影响,旨在揭示二者之间的相互关系。研究结果表明,随着放牧强度的增加,生长季平均土壤温度呈逐渐上升的趋势;放牧对群落3个组份[羊草（Leymus chinensis）、贝加尔针茅（Stipa baicalensis）、杂类草]生物量和相对优势度产生影响。其中,羊草地上生物量和优势度随着放牧强度的增加显著线性降低,而贝加尔针茅和杂类草的生物量与优势度均在中度放牧处理下最高。土壤含水量与羊草生物量显著正相关,与杂类草生物量负相关,而与贝加尔针茅生物量间的关系极弱。本研究为完善放牧优化理论,揭示放牧在草地生态系统功能过程中的梯度效应提供了一个较为重要的研究线索,为草地放牧优化管理制度的确立提供了一定的科学依据。