Tillage – impact on infiltration of the Loess Plateau of China

In arid and semiarid regions, water infiltration is often affected by the soil surface conditions, such as the soil crusts and soil roughness. The objective of this laboratory study was to assess the effects of soil crusts and tillage treatments on soil infiltration in the Loess Plateau of China. A simulated rainfall storm at 80 mm h^?1 rate was applied to soil boxes set to slopes of 5°, 10°, 15° and 20° with two soil surface conditions (crusted and uncrusted) and three tillage treatments (contour tillage [CT], artificial digging [AD] and straight slope [SS]) to investigate the infiltration rates. The results show that the infiltration rate was always lower under the SS treatment than under the CT and AD treatments. The time interval to the steady state was shorter under the SS (10 min) than under the CT and AD treatments (15–20 min). The final infiltration rate was nearly the same under the CT treatment and AD treatment; whereas, the SS treatment resulted in the lowest final infiltration rate. The infiltration rates were always greater in soils without crusts than in soils with crusts. The slopes, soil crusts and tillage treatments had significant (p < 0.001) effects on the cumulative infiltration rates. The combined effects of the slopes and tillage treatments on the cumulative infiltration rates were much more significant (p < 0.01) than the other combined effects (p < 0.05).     

CARBON FIXATION OF CYANOBACTERIAL–ALGAL CRUSTS AFTER DESERT FIXATION AND ITS IMPLICATION TO SOIL ORGANIC CARBON ACCUMULATION IN DESERT

Enhanced carbon fixation in soil crusts may facilitate the restoration of damaged ecosystems, but this requires greater knowledge of carbon fixation patterns and mechanisms. We measured the net photosynthetic rate (P_n) and estimated annual carbon fixation (ACF) in cyanobacterial–algal crusts after desert fixation in the Tengger Desert, northwestern China. The accumulated carbon fixation since the establishment of a restoration site was also calculated. In addition, stepwise regression analysis was used to study the relation between P_n and ACF and the physicochemical properties of crusts. Results showed that P_n was significantly higher at a more established 51‐year‐old restoration site (1·57 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) than at a younger 15‐year‐old site (0·92 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹). The ACF also increased significantly with restoration time, but in two temporal phases, a slower ACF phase between 15 and 26 years of restoration (0·28–0·7 gC m⁻² y⁻¹) and a high ACF phase after 43–51 years of restoration (3·3 gC m⁻² y⁻¹). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that P_n was significantly correlated with chlorophyll a and crust cover, whereas ACF was only correlated with crust cover. Accumulated carbon fixation increased from 2·9 gC m⁻² after 15 years to 35·4 gC m⁻² at 51 years following establishment of the restoration site. The accumulated carbon fixation was positively correlated with soil organic carbon content. This study demonstrated that carbon fixation by cyanobacterial–algal crusts increased progressively after desert fixation. Artificial measures, like the establishment of these restoration zones, can facilitate the colonization and development of biological soil crusts and are an effective biological tool for desert soil restoration. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Peat in the inoculation medium induces fusarium susceptibility in melons

The effect of peat moss on fusarium wilt of melon ( Cucumis melo L.) was studied in order to improve the selection process of resistant melons during breeding programmes. Disease symptoms were evident earlier and disease progress was faster in seedlings that were transplanted to peat following inoculation than in those transplanted to sand. The resistant breeding line used as a control did not show any wilt symptoms in either medium. Mixing the peat with sand or perlite reduced the disease development rate and the final disease incidence. The effects of peat and sand on disease progress were evaluated with two segregating melon populations in which the expected susceptible : resistant ratio was 25 : 75. In both populations, disease incidence was higher in the peat, which enables breeders to identify resistant plants and to lower the risk of using escapees as resistant plants. The mechanism of disease enhancement may include both biotic and abiotic components. There is an indication that peat induces plant susceptibility before inoculation. Melon seedlings germinated in peat and transplanted into sand exhibited significantly greater wilt incidence than those that germinated in sand and were transplanted into sand following the inoculation. Disease progress in sterile peat was significantly slower than that in non-sterile peat, which suggests the possible involvement of microbial activity.     

Effects of Coconut Husk and Sphagnum Moss-Based Media on Growth and Yield of Romaine and Buttercrunch Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa) in a Non-Circulating Hydroponics System

A comparison was made to investigate the effects of two potting methods: coconut husk/ sphagnum moss and a plastic forestry tube with a peat-based medium (Sunshine® mix #1, Sungro Horticulture, Agawam, MA, USA), on the growth and yield of Romaine ‘Ridgeline’ and Buttercrunch ‘UH Manoa’ lettuce (Lactuca sativa) using a non-circulating hydroponics system. Two-week old lettuce seedlings were transplanted into 5 cm holes, 20 × 30 cm apart on polystyrene bead boards fitted on top of a 0.6 m wide, 1.2 m long and 25 cm deep hydroponics tanks. A standard hydroponics nutrient solution was prepared using Chem Gro® (Hydro-Gardens, Colorado Springs, CO) (8-15-36 + micronutrients), calcium nitrate [Ca(NO₃)₂] and magnesium sulfate (MgSO₄). Each tank contained either one lettuce variety, replicated 12 times in completely randomized design. Growth and yields significantly increased in both lettuce varieties grown in coconut husk/sphagnum moss plugs which were attributed by their relatively greater water holding capacities and a more favorable media that allowed better root growth.     

毛乌素沙地苔藓结皮的野外人工培育技术

[目的]探索影响毛乌素沙地人工培育苔藓结皮的关键因子及其最优组合,为该区土地荒漠化的治理提供理论支持。[方法]利用正交试验设计方法,考虑遮阳、覆膜、营养液、浇水频率4个因子,分析不同因子对苔藓结皮株密度和生物量的影响。[结果](1)除Knop营养液外,遮阳、覆膜、浇水频率对苔藓结皮株密度、生物量有显著影响。(2)遮阳、覆膜、营养液、浇水频率4个因素对不同指标的影响顺序不同。(3)就株密度而言,野外培养最优条件为遮阳、不覆膜、Knop营养液和高频率浇水。就生物量而言,苔藓结皮野外培育最优因素组合为遮阳、覆膜、Knop营养液和高频率浇水。[结论](1)在野外苔藓结皮培育过程中遮阳、覆膜、浇水频率对结皮生长都有显著影响。(2)在提供适宜的生长条件的前提下,在干旱半干旱地区进行苔藓结皮人工培育是可行的。     

几种植物生长调节剂对三种苔藓植物生长的影响

为了探索人工栽培苔藓植物技术,初步研究了不同浓度的2,4-D、NAA、KT、GA3 4种植物生长调节剂对大灰藓、大羽藓、金发藓3种藓类植物生长的影响.结果表明,不高于25 mg/L 2,4-D促进3种苔藓新生枝的伸长,对3种苔藓均存在超最适浓度的抑制作用;GA3对大羽藓表现不存在超最适浓度的抑制作用,25 mg/L GA3 促使金发藓假根生芽;KT对大羽藓、金发藓的生长不发挥作用;NAA对大羽藓的生长有显著促进作用,10 mg/L NAA对金发藓生长有显著促进作用,高于100 mg/L NAA抑制其生长;其中大灰藓在无任何生长调节剂时生长最好.     

塔里木沙漠公路防护林土壤盐结皮化学特征及其对土壤蒸发的影响

盐结皮是广泛分布于塔里木沙漠公路防护林土壤表层的一个特殊层次,目前对其化学特征及其对土壤蒸发的影响尚无系统研究。文中对塔克拉玛干沙漠腹地不同定植年限防护林土壤盐结皮有机质含量、全盐量、八大离子含量和pH值进行了分析,并进行了盐结皮抑制土壤蒸发试验,结果表明:土壤盐结皮有机质含量随着防护林定植年限的增加而增加;全盐量、各离子含量、pH值均随着防护林定植年限的增加而逐渐降低。其中,全盐量均远高于流沙地;各离子含量与流沙地相比有不同程度的增加,Cl-、Na+和SO24-增加量最为明显,Mg2+、K+、Ca2+和HCO-3次之,CO23-含量极微且基本没有变化,pH值均呈碱性,定植11年防护林盐结皮pH值甚至低于流沙地;盐结皮可以有效的抑制土壤水分的蒸发。     

菇渣和锯末作为丽格海棠栽培基质的研究

为减少花卉无土栽培对泥炭资源的依赖,同时降低生产成本,该研究以菇渣和锯末两种农林有机废弃物作为基质的主要成分栽培丽格海棠,探讨取代泥炭作为丽格海棠栽培基质的可行性。结果表明,4锯末:1珍珠岩和3锯末:1蛭石两个处理的理化性质的各项指标均在无土栽培基质的理想范围内,用其栽培的丽格海棠根系生长健壮,生长发育综合表现显著优于对照,两个处理的成本分别比对照降低27.61%和27.23%,可作为丽格海棠无土栽培的代用基质。     

黄土丘陵区退耕地生物结皮影响下的土壤腐殖质分异特征

本文对黄土丘陵区退耕地生物结皮影响下的土壤腐殖质分异特征进行了研究。结果表明,①该区生物结皮影响下的土壤腐殖质组分HA、FA和HM含量均有明显的分层特征,土层间均表现出:结皮层0～2cm土层2～5cm土层;不同年限生物结皮土壤腐殖质含量总体表现出:16年8年32年12年,表明退耕地生物结皮影响下的土壤腐殖质含量随时间变化呈非线性变化趋势;HA/FA平均值变化范围为0.34～0.70,低于1,该区生物结皮影响下的土壤腐殖质胡敏酸含量不高,腐殖酸以富啡酸为主;②结皮层土壤腐殖酸E4/E6值随时间变化总体上呈"抛物线"型变化趋势;而0～2cm和2～5cm土层土壤腐殖酸E4/E6值呈缓慢增长的趋势;③腐殖质组分与土壤养分因子的全N、NO3--N、NH4+-N和有效Zn之间存在极显著的线性相关关系(p0.01);④土壤腐殖质组分含量的变化与全N、NO3--N、NH4+-N和有效Zn含量间存在满足二项式的函数回归关系(p0.01),表明生物结皮对土壤C素与N素和有效Zn的影响密切相关。     

4种营养物质对藓结皮形成发育的影响

【目的】研究葡萄糖以及含氮、磷、钾、镁的营养物质对藓结皮形成发育的影响,为黄土丘陵区生物土壤结皮的人工修复提供技术指导。【方法】以陕北黄土丘陵区自然发育的藓结皮为繁殖材料,进行室内人工培养试验,在培养基中分别添加不同质量浓度的葡萄糖(10,20,30,40,50 g/L)、硝酸铵(0.5,1.0,2.0,4.0,8.0 g/L)、磷酸二氢钾(0.5,1.0,2.0,4.0,8.0 g/L)、硫酸镁(0.25,0.5,1.0,2.0,4.0 g/L),以不添加营养物质为空白对照(CK),当藓结皮生长30 d时,测定藓结皮盖度、藓株密度和藓株高,研究以上营养物质对藓结皮形成发育的影响。【结果】1)添加的4种营养物质中,用葡萄糖处理时藓结皮生长最好,藓结皮盖度和藓株密度均最大,分别达到了17.2%和14.6株/cm2;硫酸镁次之;用硝酸铵、磷酸二氢钾处理时,藓结皮盖度、藓株密度、藓株高与CK相比差异均不显著。2)随着葡萄糖质量浓度的增加,藓结皮盖度和藓株密度逐渐增大,且均在葡萄糖质量浓度为50 g/L时达到最大,分别为21.2%和18.9株/cm2。3)随着硝酸铵质量浓度的增加,藓结皮盖度和藓株密度呈先增加后减小的趋势,当硝酸铵质量浓度为1.0 g/L时均达到最大,分别为18.1%和16.3株/cm2。4)随着磷酸二氢钾质量浓度的增加,藓结皮盖度和藓株密度也呈先增加后减小的趋势,在磷酸二氢钾质量浓度为2.0 g/L时,藓结皮盖度和藓株密度均达到最大,磷酸二氢钾质量浓度为8.0 g/L时均降至最小。5)硫酸镁质量浓度为0.25 g/L时,藓结皮盖度和藓株密度均最大,分别达到了17.2%和14.8株/cm2。【结论】在土壤培养基中添加葡萄糖和硫酸镁可以显著提高藓结皮盖度和藓株密度;低质量浓度的硝酸铵对藓结皮的生长有促进作用,高质量浓度反而表现出抑制作用;磷酸二氢钾一次性施入培养基土壤时,其对藓结皮的形成发育没有影响;硫酸镁对藓结皮的形成发育有一定影响,但影响结果因其质量浓度不同而存在较大差异。