Information extraction and dynamic evaluation of soil salinization with a remote sensing method in a typical county on the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China

Monitoring the dynamics of soil salinization is of great importance for agricultural production. This study selected Yucheng County, a typical county on the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain (HHHP) of China, as the study area and evaluated the spatial and temporal variation of soil salinization. Three methods, consisting of principal component analysis (PCA) transformation, tasseled cap (TC) transformation, and optimal band combination (OBC), were used to extract information from an early Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS) image from 1984, and their advantages were compared. In addition, OBC was used on a thematic mapper (TM) image from 2009. An iteratively self-organizing data analysis algorithm was used together with prior knowledge of likely classifications to interpret the MSS and TM images for data classification. Finally, a transfer matrix method was used to assess the spatial and temporal variability of soil salinization and analyze the driving factors of soil salinization. Compared to PCA transformation and OBC, TC transformation was a more effective method for extracting soil salinization information from the MSS sensor. The results indicate that a soil area of approximately 298 km² was affected by salinity in 1984 in Yucheng County, of which 5.40%, 11.96%, and 12.75% were classified as being subject to slight, moderate, and severe salinization, respectively. In 2009, the saline area was reduced to only 146 km², of which 10.70% and 3.75% were characterized by slight to moderate salinization and no severe salinization, respectively. The saline land decreased at an average rate of 6 km² per year. This decrease was probably a result of lower groundwater depth, increased organic fertilizer or crop straw in soil, changed land use type, and increased vegetation coverage.     

How does water and salt stress affect the germination and initial growth of Brazilian soya bean cultivars?

The effects of water and salt stress on rate of germination and seedling growth were investigated under laboratory conditions in 46 soya bean genotypes from Central-West region of Brazil to verify how these stresses may limit crop establishment during the initial growth stage and also to identify the most tolerant genotypes to drought and salinity. Mild water and salt stresses were imposed by seed exposure to –0.20 MPa iso-osmotic solutions with polyethylene glycol—PEG 6000 (119.57 g/L) or NaCl (2.357 g/L) for 12 days at 25°C. The germination percentage, seedling length and seedling dry matter were measured, and then, salt or drought tolerance indexes were calculated. The “NS 5909 RG,” “NS 7000 IPRO,” “NS 7338IPRO,” “FPS Solimões RR,” “NS 5151 IPRO,” “SYN 13610 IPRO,” “LG 60177 IPRO,” “NS 6909 IPRO” and “BMX Desafio RR” were identified as the most drought-tolerant genotypes, whereas under salinity conditions, the genotypes “5D 615 RR,” “BMX Desafio RR,” “5D 6215 IPRO” and “BMX Ponta IPRO” were identified as tolerant. The “BMX Desafio RR” is the genotype most adapted to both stress conditions and, therefore, should be used under conditions of water shortage and excess salt in the soil at sowing time.     

Comparison of Salt and Drought‐Stress Effects on Maize Growth and Yield Formation with Regard to Acid Invertase Activity in the Kernels

The long‐term effects of salt stress (11 dS m^?1) and drought stress (35 % WHC) were investigated for two maize genotypes, focusing on the relation between metabolic changes around the time of pollination and the impact on yield determinants at maturity. The relatively salt‐resistant hybrid Pioneer 3906 and the relatively drought‐resistant hybrid Fabregas were compared. The experiments were conducted in large plastic containers in a vegetation hall in two consecutive years (2011 and 2012). Plant height and leaf area were significantly reduced under both stress conditions. The transpiration rate was only slightly reduced under drought stress; but under salt stress, a significant reduction occurred 40–53 days after sowing. As a significant increase in sucrose concentrations was observed in the salt‐treated maize kernels 2 days after pollination, the availability of assimilates was not limiting and the plants could afford to save water by reduced stomatal opening. Although under both stress conditions the soluble acid invertase activity was reduced 2 days after pollination, concomitantly, an increase in hexose concentrations was observed. Thus, in these experiments, the delivery of hexoses by acid invertase activity did not limit kernel development. Differences in grain yield at maturity between salt and drought stress were most likely caused by salt‐specific effects (Na⁺ toxicity), Fabregas being more affected than Pioneer 3906.     

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.     

Flash flood simulation and valve behavior of Mytilus galloprovincialis measured with Hall sensors

Mussels close their shell as a protective strategy and the quantification of this behavioral marker may represent an alarm signal when they are exposed to environmental stressors. In the present study, we investigated the ability of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis to recover and then the resilience or inertia of valve activity after a pulsing exposition to diverse levels of salinity (5, 10, 20, and 35 PSU as reference value). The trial simulated an event of drastic and sudden reduction of seawater salinity thus mimicking an event of flash flood from intense rain. Valve gaping and movements were measured in continuous cycle for 10 days using a customized magneto-electric device which uses Hall sensors. Results showed that under normal conditions of salinity (35 PSU), the general pattern of valve movements was a continuously open state with sporadic spikes indicating a closing motion. At salinity of 5, PSU mussels reacted by closing their valves, leading to a 77% mortality on the 4th day. At salinity of 10, PSU animals were observed with closed valves for the entire duration of the exposure and no mortality occurred, they showed a significant reduction in the valve activity once the reference value of salinity was re-established. In contrast, salinity of 20 PSU did not trigger a significant behavioral response. Interestingly, there no define rhythms of valve movements were recorded during salinity challenges.     

Irrigated land retirement

Land retirement is ceasing irrigation withthe goal of reducing load, in general, ofdissolved constituents and, in particular,of trace elements, present in subsurfacedrainage generated from irrigated lands. Retirement is achieved through a process ofgoal setting, strategy development anddetermining effects, developing landselection criteria, implementation, andmonitoring. In this study, effects of landretirement are evaluated using hydrologic,soil and economic models as well as resultsfrom a field demonstration study. From themodeling and field monitoring, a process isdeveloped to meet the goals of a landretirement program in the San JoaquinValley of California.Potential negative effects listed for landretirement included loss of agriculturalproductivity, perhaps permanently, and lossof revenue to surrounding communities. Uncertainties included those associatedwith reuse of retired lands as wildlifehabitat, with retired-land maintenanceincluding dust control, with potentialpreservation of retired lands in reservefor future re-introduction to irrigated ordry-land agriculture, and withinstitutional changes concerning repaymentof federal and state water contracts. Benefits would accrue from economic returnto the landowner from the sale of property,the sale or lease of irrigation watersupply, the reduced cost of handlingdrainage, and allocation of freed-up waterto beneficial uses, and the reduced risk ofselenium exposure to fish and wildlife.A recommended sequential approach to selectand manage retired land is to identifyprimary objectives; formulate and implementarea-specific land retirement scenarios;measure biologic, hydrologic, soils andeconomic consequences in the short term andthe long term and manage and monitorretired lands based on dynamic biologic,hydrologic and soil conditions.     

咸水灌溉下土壤水盐变化的试验研究

2002年在内蒙古河套灌区红卫节水示范园进行了咸水灌溉试验,分析试验结果得出:咸水灌溉下的土壤经过秋浇后含盐量可以降到咸水灌溉前水平。以荷兰Wageningen农业大学等单位开发的土壤水分大气作物系统模拟软件SWAP为工具,应用示范园的土壤、水、盐分试验资料对模型的参数进行了率定和验证,模型模拟结果和田间试验结果符合较好。     

新疆盐碱地长期利用盐水灌溉土壤盐分变化

在地下水位3～5m、壤质土壤条件下,利用盐碱地时用2～5g/L盐化水灌溉,土壤1m剖面均为脱盐状况。灌溉盐化水15年后,1m土壤残留阴离子浓度较小,多点平均为3.709毫克当量/100克土。其中HCO-3相对较多,1m多点平均为0.404毫克当量/100克土。K++Na+浓度很大,1m多点平均为2.492毫克当量/100克土。这时,土壤1m全盐多点平均为0.248%,在灌溉水矿化度不直接危害作物生长时,不影响耕作和作物正常生长。由此可见,盐化水在盐碱地上无排灌溉,是可行的。     

“上膜下秸”措施对温室土壤水热盐调控试验研究

为了明确温室生产中不同耕作措施的水热盐调控效果,采用温室小区试验方法,以翻耕(CK)、翻耕结合地表覆盖地膜(M)、翻耕结合秸秆深埋(J)为对照,研究了翻耕结合地表覆盖地膜结合秸秆深埋(J+M)措施对温室土壤水热盐动态变化的影响。结果表明,与M、J及CK处理相比,J+M处理全生育期平均土壤含水率可分别提高8.96%、5.45%、14.32%,土壤温度分别提高3.35%、5.21%及8.32%,土壤全盐量分别降低24.44%、19.65%、26.64%,这一结果可为宁夏温室种植实施地膜覆盖与秸秆深埋改良措施提供参考。