Fate of Escherichia coli and Escherichia coli O157 in soils and drainage water following cattle slurry application at 3 sites in southern Scotland

Abstract. Slurry from farm animals may contaminate water supplies, rivers and bathing waters with faecal coliforms, such as Escherichia coli . Where animals harbour the O157 strain the hazard to human health is particularly high, but both the hazard level, and the low incidence and sporadic nature of the excretion of E. coli O157 make it difficult to study this strain under field conditions. The survival of total E. coli and of E. coli O157 were compared in the laboratory for two soils under controlled temperature and moisture. E. coli O157 die-off rate was the same as or quicker than for total E. coli . This result meant that field experiments studying the fate of total E. coli should give a satisfactory evaluation of the risk of water contamination by the O157 strain. In four field experiments at three sites, slurry containing total E. coli numbers of 2.2 × 10⁴ to 5.7 × 10⁵ colony forming units per mL (c.f.u. mL^–1) was applied to drained field plots. Field die-off was faster than expected from laboratory experiments, especially in one experiment where two weeks dry weather followed application. In all but this experiment, the first drain flow events after slurry application led to very high E. coli concentrations in the drains (10³ to 10⁴ c.f.u. mL^–1). E. coli O157 was present in the slurry used for two of the experiments (33 c.f.u. per 100 mL in each case). However the proportion of E.coli O157 was very low (about 1 in 10⁵) and it was not detected in the drainage water. After the first week E. coli drainage water numbers decreased rapidly but they were 1–10 c.f.u. mL^–1 for much of the sampling period after slurry application (1–3 months).     

Physiological Basis of Irrigation Scheduling for Seed Production in Egyptian Clover Syn. Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) Crop

A field experiment was conducted to find out the critical physiological stages of irrigation schedules inducing better growth, physiological efficiency and seed yield potential of berseem ( Trifolium alexandrinum L., Var. S-99-1). For this purpose eight irrigation treatments were made comprised of four treatments of three irrigation (W₁, W₂, W₃ and W₄), three treatments of four irrigation (W₅, W₇ and W₈) and one treatment of five irrigation (W₆) at various physiological stages i. e. regeneration, flower initiation, full bloom, seed initiation and advance seed development stage.
Thus based on the experimental results the physiological role of watering in berseem seed production could be discussed as:
With-holding of irrigation either at regeneration or at full bloom stage developed potential water stress in plants as indicated by high proline content of irrigation treatments — W₄, W₁ and W₇; and further brought out disturbance on the formation of carotene, synthesis of water soluble sugar and translocation of sugar towards reproductive organs during grain development stage. These stresses adversely affected the plant growth and flowering behaviour. The irrigation at seed initiation stage increased the seed yield. Continuous irrigation did not appear to be useful. Thus it can be concluded that irrigation at three critical physiological stages i. e. regeneration, full bloom and seed initiation was found to be essential for obtaining potential seed yield of berseem.     

In situ radiometric mapping of soil erosion and field-moist bulk density on cultivated fields

Abstract. Recent developments in in situγ ray spectrometry offer a new approach to measuring the activity of radionuclides such as ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K in soils, and thus estimating erosion or deposition rates and field moist bulk density (ρ_m). Such estimates would be rapid and involve minimal site disturbance, especially important where archaeological remains are present. This paper presents the results of a pilot investigation of an eroded field in Scotland in which a portable hyper pure germanium (HPGe) detector was used to measure γ ray spectra in situ. The gamma (γ) photon flux observed at the soil surface is a function of the ¹³⁷Cs inventory, its depth distribution characteristics and ρ_m. A coefficient, Q_Cs, derived from the forward scattering of ¹³⁷Cs γ ray photons within the soil profile relative to the ¹³⁷Cs full energy peak (662 keV), was used to correct the in situ calibration for changes in the ¹³⁷Cs vertical distribution in the ploughed field, a function of tillage, soil accumulation and ρ_m. Based on only 8 measurements, the agreement between in situγ ray spectrometry and soil sample measurements of ¹³⁷Cs inventories improved from a non significant r²=0.05 to a significant r²=0.62 (P<0.05). Erosion and deposition rates calculated from the corrected in situ¹³⁷Cs measurements had a similarly good agreement with those calculated from soil cores. Mean soil bulk density was also calculated using a separate coefficient, Q_K, derived from the forward scattering γ photons from ⁴⁰K within the soil relative to the ⁴⁰K full energy peak (1460 keV). Again there was good agreement with soil core measurements (r²=0.64; P<0.05). The precision of the in situ¹³⁷Cs measurement was limited by the precision with which Q_Cs can be estimated, a function of the low ¹³⁷Cs deposition levels associated with the weapons testing fallout and relatively low detector efficiency (35%). In contrast, the precision of the in situ ρ_m determination was only limited by the spatial variability associated with soil sampling.     

供水工程影响下中国北方地区耕地后备资源开发潜力

灌溉水源是北方地区耕地后备资源能否有效开发的关键。当前,中国正在推动国家水网工程规划建设,为北方地区耕地后备资源开发提供了新的机遇。在以往研究基础上,该研究考虑北方地区已建、在建及规划的供水工程,基于自然适宜、利用高效、发展稳定三方面评价准则,结合三维魔方空间分类方法,开展了雨养情景和供水灌溉情景下耕地后备资源开发潜力分析。结果表明：雨养农业情景下,北方地区勉强适宜（Ⅱ级）、中度（Ⅲ级）和高度（Ⅳ级）适宜的耕地后备资源面积分别为2.9万、1.0万和0.6万km²。灌溉农业情景下,耕地后备资源面积明显增加,勉强适宜（Ⅱ级）、中度（Ⅲ级）和高度（Ⅳ级）适宜的耕地后备资源面积将分别达到5.4万、7.6万和6.5万km²,主要集中于新疆、内蒙古和甘肃3省（自治区）。该研究结果可为中国耕地后备资源开发利用及国家水网工程效益发挥提供参考。     

加热光纤法同步测定土壤水热参数误差分析

土壤水热参数是研究土壤水热传输的基本物理参数。当前热脉冲探针法（HPP）可同步测定土壤水热参数,但该方法仅限于在点尺度下测定。与其具有相同理论基础的加热光纤法（SPHP-DTS）,可将测定尺度增大至田间千米尺度,但其测定精度尚未得到有效验证。为了探知SPHP-DTS法的误差,本研究进行了SPHP-DTS法与HPP法测定土壤水热参数的对比试验。结果表明,以HPP为标准,加热光纤法测定热导率的精度RMSE为0.13 W?m-1?℃-1。SPHP-DTS法测定的热导率显著高于HPP法,主要原因在于加热光纤时产生的温度效应。通过热导率法测定土壤含水率时,在热导率测定误差的影响下,SPHP-DTS法的测定精度明显低于HPP法。SPHP-DTS法测定土壤水热参数的其他误差来源包括光纤与土壤之间多个界面的接触热阻、光纤的温度敏感性、噪音干扰以及温度梯度驱动下的水分迁移。本研究可为SPHP-DTS法提升土壤水热参数测定精度提供理论参考。     

三峡水利工程对能源植物资源的影响及可持续利用对策探索

根据三峡库区特有的地理及气候特点,分析了三峡水利工程对能源植物带来的影响,初步提出了三峡库区能源植物可持续利用的对策措施,为库区发展生物能源提供决策依据。     

芽孢杆菌及其胞外多糖对空心菜和茼蒿Cd吸收及土壤团聚体的影响

本研究旨在探究产胞外多糖芽孢杆菌对蔬菜镉(Cd)积累及土壤结构的影响。采用以空心菜和茼蒿为供试材料的盆栽试验,研究了功能菌株Priestia megaterium YG35和Bacillus halodurans G20降低蔬菜吸收Cd的效果和可能作用机制。结果表明,与CK相比,菌株YG35、菌株G20及其胞外多糖处理显著增加空心菜和茼蒿可食用组织干质量(37.8%～115.1%),显著降低可食用组织Cd含量(21.9%～44.2%),并使茼蒿Cd含量(0.057～0.061 mg·kg^-1)达到安全可食用标准,显著降低根际土壤有效态Cd含量(3.7%～11.7%),显著(P<0.05)增加根际土壤多糖含量(35.9%～49.5%)和蔗糖酶活性(15.3%～28.4%),促进根际土壤团聚体向大粒径转化。研究表明,YG35和G20及其胞外多糖能降低蔬菜对Cd的吸收,促进蔬菜生长,改善土壤结构,具有在Cd污染土壤上实现蔬菜安全生产的应用潜力。     

不同水稻种植模式下淹水及排干期土壤性质和微生物的变化

为揭示不同水稻种植模式、不同水分管理时期对稻田土壤性质和微生物的作用效应,利用长期定位监测试验比较分析单季稻不施肥、单季稻单施化肥、烟稻轮作 3种种植模式和淹水期、排干期 2种水分管理条件下稻田土壤理化性质和微生物群落结构的变化。结果表明：烟稻轮作模式稻田土壤有机质、全氮质量分数分别比单季稻模式提高了 32.88%~34.79%和 38.22%~44.39%。淹水期稻田土壤可溶性总氮以可溶性有机氮为主,占 56.06%~62.54%;排干期以硝态氮为主,占 62.34%~74.05%。烟稻轮作模式可显著提高淹水和排干条件下稻田土壤中可溶性有机氮和铵态氮质量分数,但对硝态氮质量分数的影响不明显。相较单季稻处理,烟稻轮作模式提高了稻田细菌Sobs、Shannon和Ace指数。好氧或兼性厌氧的酸杆菌属、黄色杆菌属均是3种水稻种植模式的优势菌属。3种种植模式淹水条件下稻田脱硫弧菌属、互营杆菌属等硫酸盐还原菌类存在显著差异,排干条件下硝化螺旋菌属也存在显著差异。淹水条件下烟稻轮作模式稻田土壤甲烷氧化菌相关的甲烷氧化单加氧酶基因α-亚基（pomA）的绝对丰度比单季稻处理降低了18.45%~18.54%。可见,水稻种植的淹水期和排干期的土壤可溶性氮组成和细菌群落结构存在显著差异;而烟稻轮作模式较单季稻模式可提高土壤肥力,改善微生物群落结构,增加硫酸盐还原菌类细菌丰度,降低产甲烷菌相关的甲基辅酶M还原酶基因丰度。     

城市雨水资源化的探讨

我国水资源短缺,季节性雨水资源比较丰富。城市雨水资源化既能缓解水资源的供需矛盾,又能减少洪涝灾害,具有很大的现实意义。     

基于复杂种植结构多情景分析的灌区多目标多水源优化配置

为改善多水源灌区农业用水供需矛盾,通过合理调整种植结构,优化灌区水资源配置,该研究以河北省邯郸市漳滏河灌区为研究对象,将农业灌溉缺水量最小和农作物经济效益最大作为目标函数,兼顾灌区生态安全约束,构建了基于种植结构优化的多目标多水源优化配置模型,针对作物熟制、作物种类、种植制度以及灌溉方式设置了8种不同的种植结构优化情景,通过自主改进的基于精英策略并协遗传算法（NSGAⅡ-S）对模型求解,获得不同情景下的水资源优化配置方案。结果表明：应用模型进行水资源配置后,各情景配水总量均有所减少,其中水库配水量高于其他水源的配水量,水库水、引黄水和引江水均达到用水总量控制目标,民有分区的各计算单元间的配水量变化明显,总配水量高于滏阳河分区;适当压减主要依靠抽取地下水灌溉的冬小麦的播种面积,变灌溉农业为旱作雨养农业,可以极大地减少地下水用量,增加灌区经济效益;最佳的种植结构优化方案为CS₄（削减冬小麦的种植面积,种植苜蓿,灌溉方式采取管灌或喷灌）,该方案冬小麦播种面积压减17.10%,地下水开采量减少了16.42%,灌区的经济效益增加了26.41%,在保证配水总量最小的同时,具有更高的经济效益。该研究所构建的多目标多水源优化配置模型和作物配水结果可为类似地区的水资源配置提供参考。