Maize harvest index and water use efficiency can be improved by inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis

Possibilities to improve maize harvest index and nutrient utilization efficiency by application of plant growth regulators were investigated. In container experiments, the effects of different growth regulators on the development of the maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars Pioneer 3906 and Fabregas were tested. Paclobutrazol (PAC) and chlorocholine chloride (CCC), two inhibitors of gibberellin biosynthesis, as well as gibberellic acid (GA₃) were applied at growth stage V5. Three weeks after application of PAC, shoot growth of both maize cultivars was strongly affected with a significant decrease in plant height in the PAC treatment by 44% and 36% for Pioneer 3906 and Fabregas, respectively. The growth‐retarded plants had higher leaf areas and reduced transpiration rates. The higher shoot growth after GA₃ application was accompanied by a reduction in leaf area and an increase in transpiration rate during 1 week before anthesis. CCC treatment showed no significant effects on plant height, leaf area and transpiration rate. The PAC‐treated cultivar Pioneer 3906 produced several cobs per plant, which were mainly barren at maturity. However, PAC application to Fabregas resulted in just one cob per plant with good kernel development and a grain yield, which was not significantly reduced in comparison with the control. With this similar grain yield in combination with a straw yield decrease of 32%, the harvest index was significantly improved by 12%. In addition, with PAC‐treated Fabregas plants, a 19% increased water use efficiency of the grain (WUE_grain) during the critical period of kernel setting was achieved. In this maize cultivar, CCC application also improved harvest index by 5%, but no effect on WUE_grain occurred. GA₃ treatment decreased harvest index of both maize cultivars, and it either reduced WUE_grain (Pioneer 3906) or showed no effect (Fabregas). Utilization efficiencies of N, P and K were not increased with growth regulator application, even in the PAC‐treated Fabregas plants with a significantly improved allocation of assimilates to the grain, mirrored by the higher harvest index. The results indicate that fertilizer applications must be adjusted to the reduced demand of growth‐retarded plants, most likely leading to higher nutrient utilization efficiencies.     

Phosphorus bioavailability in ash from straw and sewage sludge processed by low‐temperature biomass gasification

Reuse of phosphorus (P) from waste streams used for bioenergy conversion is desirable to reduce dependence on nonrenewable P resources. Two different ash materials from low‐temperature biomass gasification of wheat straw and sewage sludge, respectively, were investigated with regard to their P bioavailability. A set of pot experiments with spring barley was carried out to compare the ash P fertiliser value with mineral P fertiliser and the sewage sludge feedstock. An indirect radioactive labelling approach with ³³P was used to determine the amount of P taken up from the fertiliser materials. Depending on the application rate, straw gasification ash produced a fertiliser response comparable to mineral P. However, P uptake from the ash was generally less than uptake from equivalent amounts of mineral P, and the calculated relative effectiveness was 44% after 6 weeks of plant growth. In contrast, the P fertiliser value of Fe‐rich sewage sludge after low‐temperature gasification was practically zero. These results suggest that ash from low‐temperature gasification could be developed into alternative P fertilisers; however, as the P bioavailability depends greatly on the feedstock used, a greater emphasis on feedstock composition is required.     

不同施肥措施对灰枣园土壤速效养分含量的影响

为了探讨灰枣生长期内不同施肥处理措施对枣园土壤速效养分含量的影响情况,于2014年3月采用不施肥、常规施肥和施用不同种类生物肥共3大类9种处理进行田间试验,并于同年7~10月在灰枣不同生长期测定了各处理区域土壤中的碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾、有机质这4种养分的含量,研究了不同施肥处理下灰枣不同成熟期土壤各养分的动态变化情况。结果表明,不同处理、不同成熟期土壤各养分含量间均有差异,施用生物肥可以显著提高土壤中各养分的含量。     

基于紫花苜蓿混播草地的全草型肉羊放牧育肥模式案例研究

本研究旨在探讨紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa L.）混播草地放牧利用的生产潜力和集成全草型集约化肉羊放牧育肥技术模式。2017-2018年，在位于河北省廊坊市的中国农业科学院国际农业高新技术产业园内开展了2年羔羊育肥的划区轮牧试验，研究了紫花苜蓿混播草地的地上生物量、育肥羊增重以及羊肉品质的变化规律。结果表明：混播草地地上生物量超过11.2 tDM·hm^-2，5月份紫花苜蓿混播草地的粗蛋白为20.92%，每公顷紫花苜蓿混播草地可满足51只育肥羊、放牧育肥150天，每只增重30 kg所需的干物质、代谢能和粗蛋白三个方面的全部需求。与此同时，紫花苜蓿混播草地还可以显著增加羊肉中欧米伽3型多不饱和脂肪酸的含量，n-6/n-3比例为2.72，羊肉健康品质显著提高。以紫花苜蓿混播草地为基础的全草型肉羊放牧育肥技术具有广阔的应用前景，对我国苜蓿产业以及草地畜牧业发展具有重要意义。     

固态发酵醋糟饲料对育肥猪生长性能、养分表观消化率、血清指标及粪便中挥发性脂肪酸含量的影响

本试验旨在研究固态发酵醋糟饲料(SFVD)对育肥猪生长性能、养分表观消化率、血清指标及粪便中挥发性脂肪酸(VFA)含量的影响。选择体况相近[(59.04±0.33)kg]的健康“杜×长×大”三元杂交生长育肥猪60头,随机分为2个组,每组3个重复,每个重复10头猪。对照组饲喂基础饲粮+150 mg/kg土霉素钙,试验组饲喂基础饲粮+5%的SFVD。预试期6 d,正试期35 d。结果表明:与对照组相比,基础饲粮中添加5%的SFVD对育肥猪平均日采食量(ADFI)具有一定的促进趋势(P=0.056);显著降低了育肥猪饲粮中干物质(DM)、粗蛋白质(CP)、有机物(OM)和总能(GE)的表观消化率(P<0.05),对粗脂肪(EE)表观消化率有一定的促进趋势(P=0.052);显著提高了育肥猪血清谷草转氨酶(AST)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性(P<0.05),血清高密度脂蛋白(HDL)和免疫球蛋白A(IgA)含量也呈现出一定的升高趋势(P=0.055和P=0.077);显著提高了育肥猪粪便中丙酸含量(P<0.05),粪便中甲酸和总挥发性脂肪酸(TVFA)含量也呈现出一定的升高趋势(P=0.071和P=0.054)。由此可见,基础饲粮中添加5%的SFVD对育肥猪生长性能、肠道健康及免疫性能的提高具有潜在的促进作用。     

‘马来西亚1号’菠萝蜜叶片氮磷钾动态的研究

通过对海南省文昌市南阳镇、琼海市大路镇、乐东县黄流镇3个地区‘马来西亚1号’菠萝蜜叶片氮、磷、钾3种营养元素的周年变化规律跟踪调查分析,结果表明：3个地区菠萝蜜叶片营养元素变化规律相似。元素年平均含量表现为氮>钾>磷。根据实际生产中的生育期调研分析,将菠萝蜜的生长周期大致划分为2个批次3个时期：第一批次养树期（11—12月）、花芽分化期（1—2月）、结果期（3—4月）;第二批次养树期（5—6月）、花芽分化期（7—8月）、结果期（9—10月）。生长周期内,氮元素含量年变化呈现“N”字型变化趋势;磷含量在1—4月呈先上升后下降的趋势,随后呈缓慢上升趋势;钾含量变化趋势与氮含量变化相似,但钾元素含量变化没有氮元素变化明显。菠萝蜜叶片中大量元素含量的适宜范围为：全氮21.03~22.15 g/kg,全磷2.86~3.40 g/kg,全钾13.49~14.47 g/kg。在生长发育过程中,菠萝蜜需氮、钾元素较多,特别是在花芽分化期和结果期,应注意增施氮肥与钾肥,磷肥应于养树期施足。     

单宁酸对生长猪胃-小肠仿生消化中消化酶活性及饲粮粗蛋白消化率的影响

本试验旨在探讨单宁酸对生长猪胃、小肠仿生消化中消化酶活性及玉米-豆粕型饲粮干物质和粗蛋白消化率的影响，为评价单宁酸的生物学效应提供参考。试验一采用单因素完全随机设计，考察在无饲粮下2种单宁酸对猪模拟胃液、模拟小肠液消化酶活性的影响。设5个处理，单宁酸添加量分别为0 mg （胃液体积为20 mL，小肠液体积为22 mL）；单宁酸1，10 mg；单宁酸1，20 mg；单宁酸2，10 mg；单宁酸2，20 mg。测定各处理的胃蛋白酶、淀粉酶、胰蛋白酶和糜蛋白酶的活性。试验二考察玉米-豆粕型饲粮添加单宁酸对猪仿生消化中胃、小肠阶段消化酶活性及养分消化率的影响。采用单因素完全随机设计，设5个处理，单宁酸在饲粮中的含量分别为0 mg·（2 g）^-1；单宁酸1，10 mg·（2 g）^-1；单宁酸1，20 mg·（2 g）^-1；单宁酸2，10 mg·（2 g）^-1；单宁酸2，20 mg·（2 g）^-1。测定仿生消化中胃阶段0.5和4 h时胃蛋白酶活性，小肠阶段0.5、4和8 h时淀粉酶、胰蛋白酶和糜蛋白酶活性及生长猪胃-小肠仿生消化测定饲粮的干物质和粗蛋白消化率。结果表明：1）无饲粮的情况下，和空白对照组相比，2种单宁酸对模拟胃液中胃蛋白酶活性无显著影响（P>0.05），单宁酸1比单宁酸2更高地降低了模拟小肠液中淀粉酶、胰蛋白酶和糜蛋白酶的活性（P<0.05）。2）在饲粮进行仿生消化的胃消化0.5～4 h内，除4 h时10 mg·（2 g）^-1添加量外，添加单宁酸1时胃蛋白酶的活性均显著高于添加单宁酸2时的相应值（P<0.05），除单宁酸2在消化0.5 h外，2种单宁酸在添加10 mg·（2 g）^-1时胃蛋白酶活性均显著高于20 mg·（2 g）^-1添加量的相应值（P<0.05）。在小肠仿生消化0.5 h时，饲粮中添加单宁酸1、2的2个水平对消化液中淀粉酶活性无显著影响（P>0.05），但均显著降低了糜蛋白酶的活性（P<0.05）；单宁酸1的消化液中胰蛋白酶活性高于单宁酸2的相应值（P<0.05）。在小肠仿生消化4 h时，除添加水平为20 mg·（2 g）^-1时的糜蛋白酶活性外，饲粮中添加单宁酸1消化液中淀粉酶、糜蛋白酶活性高于添加单宁酸2的相应值，而胰蛋白酶活性低于添加单宁酸2的相应值（P<0.05）。单宁酸1、2的两个添加量均降低了胰蛋白酶和糜蛋白酶的活性（P<0.05）。在小肠仿生消化8 h时，饲粮中单宁酸的添加量影响了淀粉酶的活性，但单宁酸1和单宁酸2各两个添加量在淀粉酶的平均活性上无显著差异（P>0.05）。单宁酸1、2的两个添加量均降低了胰蛋白酶、糜蛋白酶的活性（P<0.05）。3）与对照组相比，两种单宁酸在两种添加水平下均显著降低了饲料粗蛋白消化率（P<0.05），且单宁酸2比单宁酸1更多地降低了饲粮粗蛋白的消化率（P<0.05）。综上所述，在有、无饲粮条件下，单宁酸对消化酶活性呈现不一致影响。单宁酸影响饲粮粗蛋白的消化率可能主要与消化液中糜蛋白酶活性降低以及单宁酸与饲粮中的化学成分形成螯合物降低了小肠消化酶的水解效率有关。     

Effect of the particle size on the ammonia removal rate and the bacterial community composition of bioflocs

The total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) removal efficiency and bacterial community composition of bioflocs with <50-μm particle size, > 50-μm particle size and un-sieved bioflocs were investigated in the current study. The initial ratio of dissolved organic carbon to TAN (DOC/TAN) in the three groups were about 14:1. No significant difference was found in the removal rate of TAN, average concentrations of TAN and nitrite nitrogen among the three groups (P > 0.05). The C/N (w/w) ratio of the > 50-μm bioflocs was significantly higher than those of the other groups. No significant differences were found in the crude protein content in the bioflocs among the three groups. The development of the bacterial community compositions of the bioflocs was analyzed by Illumina MiSeq sequencing analyses. Most OTUs were shared among the three groups at all the sampled time points. With the increase in the relative abundance of phylum Firmicutes, that of phylum Proteobacteria, Chorolexi, and Bacteroidetes decreased in all the three groups. The phylum Firmicutes and genus Bacillus were predominant in all the sampled time points. At the end of the experiment, genus Bacillus accounted for 81% in the < 50-μm group, 82% in the > 50-μm group, and 75% in the un-sieved group.     

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.     

Anthropogenically disturbed potentially toxic elements in roadside topsoils of a suburban region of Bishkek,Central Asia

The ecological environment in Central Asia is vulnerable to pressure from human activity due to the physical geography and climatic fragility of this region. A set of indicators suitable for the future assessment of this pressure needs to be proposed. Thirty‐six topsoil samples (0–5 cm) were collected from roadsides in a suburban region of Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic in Central Asia, and a risk assessment of anthropogenically disturbed potentially toxic elements (PTEs) was systematically conducted with classic statistical methods. The results of detrended correspondence analysis and principal component analysis clearly showed that topsoil samples with high contents of PTEs (Pb, Zn and Cu) were strongly affected by traffic within a distance threshold of 200 m and that anthropogenic effects decreased significantly with increasing distance from the highway. The enrichment factor and anthropogenic contribution for Pb were the highest among the three PTEs, with average values of 2.0% and 47.4%, respectively, suggesting enrichment. However, the results of the human health risk assessment also indicated that noncarcinogenic risks did not occur for any of the anthropogenic PTEs. The reported method provides a new systematic pathway to reveal anthropogenic influences on the geochemical composition of soil. The conclusions of this work will be highly valuable as important guidelines for agriculture, and the results of the PTE contents will provide a scientific basis for soil collection in future studies.