Dynamic change of mineral nutrient content in different plant organs during the grain filling stage in maize grown under contrasting nitrogen supply

The introduction of new hybrids and integrated crop-soil management has been causing maize grain yield to increase. However, less attention has been paid on the nutrient concentration of the grain; this aspect is of great importance to supplying calories and nutrients in the diets of both humans and animals worldwide. Increasing the retranslocation of nutrients from vegetative organs to grain can effectively increase the nutrient concentration of grain and general nutrient use efficiency. The present study involved monitoring the dynamic change of macro- and micronutrients in different organs of maize during the grain filling stage. In addition, the mobility of different elements and their contribution to grain nutrient content were evaluated in a 2-year experiment under low (LN, no N supplied) and high N (HN, 180 kg N ha⁻¹) supply. Under HN supply, the net remobilization efficiency (RE) of the vegetative organs as a whole (calculated as nutrient remobilization amount divided by nutrient content at silking) of N, P, K, Mn, and Zn were 44%, 60%, 13%, 15%, and 25%, respectively. The other nutrients (Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, and B) showed a net accumulation in the vegetative organs as a whole during the grain filling stage. Among the different organs, N, P, and Zn were remobilized more from the leaves (RE of 44%, 51% and 43%, respectively) and the stalks (including leaf sheaths and tassels) (RE of 48%, 71% and 43%, respectively). K was mainly remobilized from the leaves with RE of 51%. Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, and Cu were mostly remobilized from the stalks with the RE of 23%, 9%, 10%, 42%, and 28%, respectively. However, most of the remobilized Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn were translocated to the husk and cob, which seemingly served as the buffer sink for these nutrients. The REs of all the nutrients except for P, K, and Zn were vulnerable to variations in conditions annually and were reduced when the grain yield and harvest index were lower in 2014 compared with 2013. Under LN stress, the RE was reduced in P and Zn in 2013, increased in Cu and unchanged in other nutrients. The concentration of these nutrients in the grain was either unchanged (P, K, Ca, Zn, and B) or decreased (N, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Cu). It is concluded that grain N, P, K, Mn, and Zn, but not Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, and B concentration, can be improved by increasing their remobilization from vegetative organs. However, enhancing the senescence of maize plant via LN stress seems unable to increase grain mineral nutrient concentration. Genetic improvement aiming to increase nutrient remobilization should take into account the organ-specific remobilization pattern of the target nutrient.     

Indicators and trade-offs of ecosystem services in agricultural soils along a landscape heterogeneity gradient

Soil functions can be classified as supporting (nutrient cycling) and provisioning (crop production) ecosystem services (ES). These services consist of multiple and dynamic functions and are typically assessed using indicators, e.g. microbial biomass as an indicator of supporting services. Agricultural intensification negatively affects indicators of soil functions and is therefore considered to deplete soil ES. It has been suggested that incorporating leys into crop rotations can enhance soil ES. We examined this by comparing indicators of supporting soil services – organic carbon, nitrogen, water holding capacity and available phosphorous (carbon storage and nutrient retention); net nitrogen mineralisation rate and microbial biomass (nutrient cycling and retention) – in barley fields, leys and permanent pastures along a landscape heterogeneity gradient (100, 500 and 1000 m radii). In addition, barley yields (provisioning service) were analysed against these indicators to identify trade-offs among soil services. Levels of most indicators did not differ between barley and ley fields and were consistently lower than in permanent pastures. Leys supported greater microbial biomass than barley fields. Landscape heterogeneity had no effect on the indicators or microbial community composition. However, landscape heterogeneity correlated negatively with yield and soil pH, suggesting that soils in heterogeneous landscapes are less fertile and therefore have lower yields. No trade-offs were found between increasing barley yield and the soil indicators. The results suggest that soil ES are determined at the field level, with little influence from the surrounding landscape, and that greater crop yields do not necessarily come at the expense of supporting soil services.     

Can differences in 15N natural abundance be used to quantify the transfer of nitrogen from legumes to neighbouring non-legume plant species?

Natural variations in the stable isotope ¹⁵N are often exploited in studies of N cycling in ecosystems. Lower ¹⁵N natural abundance in non-legume plants growing in association with legumes, compared with the non-legume grown alone in pure stands have been observed in cropping, forage, and agroforestry systems. Such observations have frequently been attributed to the transfer of biologically-fixed nitrogen (N) from the legume to the companion non-legume, and various methodologies have been employed to calculate the extent of the N transfer. While some of these ¹⁵N natural abundance-based estimates of N transfer were within the range previously reported using equivalent ¹⁵N-enriched techniques (<20% of non-legume plant N and <10 kg N ha⁻¹ derived from fixed N contributed by neighbouring legumes), many of the values obtained using natural abundance were much higher (30%–83% of the non-legume N derived from fixed N representing up to 30–40 kg N ha⁻¹) than generally measured by ¹⁵N-enriched methods; with even greater estimates being determined where data were available to allow N transfer to be re-calculated on the basis of total legume N rather than fixed N (42% to >100%, and up to 110 kg N ha⁻¹ per year). This review raises concerns about the assumptions behind the natural abundance approach, and provides some alternative interpretations for the observed differences in natural ¹⁵N abundance between plants grown in the presence and absence of legumes. It was concluded that simple comparative measures of non-legume δ¹⁵N alone cannot provide a quantitative estimate of N transfer between plant species if the dominant source and the isotopic identity of the transferred N cannot be validated, and if the extent of any isotopic fractionation associated with relevant N transformations occurring during transfer cannot be defined. To date this information is not forthcoming. There is a need to greatly improve our understanding of the transfer processes before the real value of the δ¹⁵N technology can be realized. In the first instance this will primarily be achieved by carefully executed experiments under controlled conditions, and in the field, employing both ¹⁵N natural abundance and enrichment approaches so estimates of transfer can be compared, and the data interrogated using modelling approaches to explore isotopic fractionation.     

Cross‐linked polyacrylates in post‐mining substrates: persistence and effects on plant growth

Application of hydrophilic polymers composed of cross‐linked polyacrylate can improve soil water‐holding capacity and accelerate the restoration of post‐mining substrates. In this work, we studied the persistence of a polyacrylate polymer incorporated into a soil and its impact on plant nutrients at a reclamation site of former lignite mining in Lusatia (Germany). In contrast to autumn application, the incorporation of the polymer enhanced the sequestration of plant‐derived carbon in the soil, which was reflected by a significant increase in the concentration of a lignin marker. Attenuated total reflexion–Fourier transform infrared spectra (ATR‐FTIR) and total elemental contents in the applied polymer suggested an intensive cation exchange between the polymer framework and the soil‐forming substrate. In addition, there was an enrichment of carbonaceous material, which seems to reduce the swelling and thus the water‐holding capacity of the cross‐linked polyacrylate. Conversely, this process protected the polymer structure from rapid decomposition.     

局地尺度高寒草原土壤真菌多样性对地上植物多样性与生产力关系的调控作用

为研究局地尺度高寒草原土壤真菌多样性对地上植物多样性与生产力关系的调控作用，本研究以青海省湟源县局地尺度高寒草原为研究对象，对不同植物多样性梯度的地上生产力、土壤理化性状和土壤真菌多样性等指标进行调查、采样和分析。通过偏回归分析（partial least squares regression，PLSR）、方差分解分析（variance partitioning analysis，VPA）、构建结构方程模型（structural equation model，SEM）等分析手段，分析了土壤真菌多样性对地上植物多样性与生产力关系的调控作用。结果表明，高寒草原植物多样性与地上生产力存在显著线性正相关关系；土壤真菌多样性分别与植物多样性和地上生产力呈显著正相关关系；通过PLSR，VPA，SEM等方法控制土壤非生物因子效应后，真菌多样性与二者的显著正相关关系仍存在。综上所述，局地尺度下青海省湟源县高寒草原土壤真菌多样性是调控地上植物多样性与生产力正向关系的关键生物因子。     

双季稻最佳磷肥和钾肥用量与密度组合研究

【目的】为明确磷肥、钾肥用量和移栽密度对双季稻的施用效果,在田间试验条件下研究了不同磷肥用量、钾肥用量和移栽密度组合对江西双季稻产量、产量构成要素及磷肥和钾肥利用率的影响。【方法】本研究采用裂区试验设计研究了不同施磷量和移栽密度、不同施钾量和移栽密度对双季稻产量、磷肥和钾肥利用率的影响。磷肥用量和移栽密度试验中,设4个施磷水平(P2O5 0、60、90、120 kg/hm2,以P0、P60、P90和P120表示)和4种移栽密度(21×104、27×104、33×104、39×104 穴/hm2,以D21、D27、D33和D39表示)组合。钾肥用量和移栽密度试验中,设4个施钾水平(K2O 0、90、120、150 kg/hm2,以K0、K90、K120和K150表示),密度设置同磷肥试验。在水稻成熟期对产量以及产量构成要素进行测定,并分析其磷素和钾素的吸收量和利用率等指标。【结果】磷肥与密度试验中,同一施磷水平下,早稻产量和地上部磷素吸收量随着移栽密度的增加而增加,当施磷量超过60 kg/hm2时,产量和磷素吸收量不再随密度增加而显著增加,磷素吸收利用率(REP)、磷素农学效率(AEP)和磷素偏生产力(PFPP)逐步降低,以P60D39处理组合的产量和磷素吸收利用率最高,分别为5303.9 kg/hm2和24.4%,AEP为29.4 kg/kg; 晚稻则以施磷量在60 kg/hm2和33×104 穴/hm2密度组合的产量和磷素吸收利用率最高,分别为7246.9 kg/hm2和42.4%,AEP为36.2 kg/kg。钾肥与密度试验中,早稻的钾素吸收量随着施钾量的增加而增加,施钾量在120 kg/hm2和39×104 穴/hm2密度组合的处理产量和钾素吸收利用率(REK)最高,分别为6376.3 kg/hm2和67.2%,此时钾素农学效率(AEK)为15.6 kg/kg; 晚稻则以施钾量在90 kg/hm2和33×104 穴/hm2密度组合的处理产量和REK最佳,分别为7025.6 kg/hm2和74.0%,AEK为21.7 kg/kg。【结论】合理的磷肥、钾肥用量和移栽密度可以显著增加水稻单位面积有效穗数和养分累积量,进而增加水稻产量和肥料利用率,但过高的磷肥和钾肥施用会抑制产量的进一步增加。建议本研究区域的早稻采用施磷量在60 kg/hm2、施钾量120 kg/hm2和39×104穴/hm2的密度组合,而晚稻采用施磷量60 kg/hm2、施钾量90 kg/hm2和33×104 穴/hm2的密度组合。     

添加复合酶对临武鸭瓜尔豆胚芽养分、氨基酸和能量利用率的影响

本试验旨在研究添加复合酶对临武鸭瓜尔豆胚芽养分、氨基酸和能量利用率的影响。试验选用24只体重2.0 kg左右的健康成年临武鸭公鸭,随机分为3组,每组8个重复,每个重复1只鸭。采用绝食强饲-全收粪法进行代谢试验。1、2组试验鸭每只强饲60 g/d饲粮,2组饲粮中添加250 mg/kg的复合酶,3组强饲60 g/d无氮饲粮。测定添加复合酶对临武鸭瓜尔豆胚芽中干物质(DM)、粗蛋白质(CP)、粗脂肪(EE)、粗纤维(CF)和17种氨基酸的表观利用率、真可利用率、表观代谢能(AME)和真代谢能(TME)。结果表明,临武鸭对瓜尔豆胚芽DM、CP、EE、CF和能量的真可利用率分别为67.07%、67.57%、65.52%、82.88%和77.39%,AME和TME分别为11.34和13.31 MJ/kg,17种氨基酸的真可利用率为67.72%~93.70%;添加复合酶使临武鸭的DM、CP、EE、CF和能量的真可利用率分别提高了5.23%、8.02%、5.80%、3.66%和3.31%(P0.05),AME和TME分别提高了3.97%和3.27%(P0.05),17种氨基酸的真可利用率提高了1.73%~11.62%,其中丝氨酸、甘氨酸、亮氨酸、酪氨酸和苯丙氨酸的真可利用率显著提高(P0.05)。由此可知,添加含有蛋白酶和非淀粉多糖酶的复合酶能够提高临武鸭对瓜尔豆胚芽中养分、氨基酸和能量的利用率。     

Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Fructooligosaccharides on Growth Performance,Nutrient Digestibility and Serum Biochemical Indices of Arctic Foxes (Alopex lagopus) during Early Growth Period北大核心CSCD

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of dietary lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and fructooligosaccharides (FOS) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility and serum biochemical indices of Arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) during early growth period. Sixty male post-litter Arctic foxes with the average body weight of (1.16±0.15) kg and at the age of (45±3) days were randomly assigned to 4 groups with 3 replicates per group and 5 foxes per replicate. The foxes were fed the following diets, respectively: basal diet (control group), basal diet+3×109 CFU / kg LAB (LAB group), basal diet+5 g / kg FOS (FOS group) and basal diet+3×109 CFU / kg LAB+5 g / kg FOS (LAB+FOS group). The experiment lasted for 30 days. The results showed as follows: 1) on the days 1 to 15, the diarrhea rate of foxes in the LAB group and LAB+FOS group was significantly lower than that in the control group and FOS group (P<0.05). On the days 16 to 30, the average daily gain of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly higher than that in the control group and FOS group (P<0.05), but had no significant difference with LAB group (P>0.05); the diarrhea rate of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly lower than that in the control group and FOS group (P<0.05), but had no significant difference with LAB group (P>0.05); compared with the FOS group, the feed to gain ratio of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly decreased (P<0.05). 2) The dry matter digestibility of foxes in the LAB + FOS group was significantly higher than that in the control group and FOS group (P < 0.05), but had no significant difference with LAB group (P>0.05). There were no significant differences in nitrogen intake, fecal nitrogen, urine nitrogen, nitrogen deposition, net protein utilization and protein biological value among all groups (P>0.05). 3) Serum total protein (TP) content of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly higher than that in the FOS group (P<0.05), but had no significant difference with control group and LAB group (P>0.05). Serum albumin (ALB) content of foxes in the LAB group was significantly higher than that in the control group and FOS group (P<0.05), but had no significant difference with LAB+ FOS group (P>0.05). Serum urea nitrogen (UN) content of foxes in the LAB+FOS group was significantly decreased compared with the control group (P < 0. 05). In conclusion, the combined supplementation of 3 × 109 CFU / kg LAB and 5 g / kg FOS in the diet is beneficial to reduce diarrhea rate, improve dry matter digestibility, improve body immune level, and promote the growth of Arctic foxes during early growth period. © 2023 Chinese Journal of Urology. All rights reserved.     

饲粮添加硬脂酰乳酸钠对断奶仔猪生长性能、血清生化指标及养分表观消化率的影响

本试验旨在研究硬脂酰乳酸钠(SSL)对断奶仔猪生长性能、血清生化指标及养分表观消化率的影响。试验选择25日龄的断奶仔猪336头,按体重随机分为6组,每组7个重复,每个重复8头猪。各组仔猪饲粮中SSL添加水平分别为0(对照)、250、500、750、1 000和2 000 mg/kg,试验分2个阶段,每阶段21 d。试验测定仔猪生长性能,谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶、总胆固醇等血清生化指标及能量、干物质、氮和粗脂肪表观消化率。结果表明:与对照组相比,1)饲粮中添加500、750和1 000 mg/kg SSL能显著降低仔猪第2阶段料重比(P0.05),添加1000 mg/kg SSL显著降低全期料重比(P0.05);2)饲粮中添加SSL有降低试验第42天仔猪血清谷草转氨酶、谷丙转氨酶活性,增加血清高密度蛋白胆固醇含量及高密度蛋白胆固醇/低密度蛋白胆固醇值的趋势,且当添加水平为2 000 mg/kg时差异达到显著水平(P0.05);3)饲粮中添加SSL能显著提高粗脂肪表观消化率(P0.05),并且有提高氮及能量表观消化率的趋势,当添加水平为2 000 mg/kg时差异达到显著水平(P0.05)。结果提示,饲粮添加SSL能降低仔猪料重比,提高饲料养分尤其是粗脂肪的表观消化率。     

Ecological implications of motor oil pollution: Earthworm survival and soil health

The nontarget effects of fresh and used motor oil were studied in a soil test system involving such criteria as earthworm survival, response of soil dehydrogenase and urease, and nitrification. When earthworms were exposed to motor oil-contaminated soil for 4 weeks, the observed median lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) were 40.33 and 3.88 g kg⁻¹ soil for fresh and used oil, respectively. Only fresh motor oil application increased earthworms' body weight even at the higher dose of 19 g kg⁻¹ soil. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry revealed that used motor oil contained more of aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals than fresh oil. This disparity in the chemical composition might be the factor responsible for the significant toxicity of used motor oil towards earthworms. Activities of soil dehydrogenase and urease were significantly enhanced in presence of both the motor oils, while there was a significant inhibition in nitrification by the used motor oil even at a low concentration of 0.2 g kg⁻¹ soil. This study clearly demonstrated that earthworm survival and nitrification could serve as suitable indices to assess motor oil pollution in soil.