Effects of nitrogen application frequency via subsurface drip irrigation on corn development and grain yield

Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) has not only potential for water conservation, but also for improving nutrient use efficiency. Two nitrogen (N) application frequencies (every week versus every two weeks, via SDI) were compared in 2012 and 2013 on a Cozad silt loam in North Platte, Nebraska. The weekly treatment was fertigated every week for seven weeks in a row; the bi-weekly treatment was fertigated in weeks 1, 3, 5 and 7. Both treatments received the same total amount of N. There was a positive grain yield response to N application, but no advantage was found to a greater frequency of N application. Corn (Zea mays L.) grain yields and other indicators of corn growth and development (canopy-intercepted light, vegetation indices, indicators of chlorophyll content of corn plant leaves) were not affected by N application frequency.     

(Micro)biological, chemical and physical properties of soils subjected to conventional or no-till management: an assessment of their quality status

In order to evaluate the impact of no-tillage (NT) against conventional-tillage (CT), or the effect of different fertilizers and herbicides, soils recently incorporated to agriculture from the El Salado basin river (Buenos Aires, Argentina) under a corn (1996/1998)-pasture (1998-)rotation were monitored for several soil (micro)biological, physical and chemical properties during the second (1997) to fourth (1999) years from the beginning of the experiment (1996). The rates of exchange of O₂ and CO₂ expressed in terms of kg O₂ or CO₂–C per hectare per day, are denoted as qO₂ and qCO₂. They decreased at the end of the corn growth cycle (T2) along with an increase of the respiratory quotient (RQ=qCO₂/qO₂), when compared to the time of land preparation (T0), irrespective of the management system. Both, qO₂ and qCO₂, increased 8 months after the mixed-grass-legume pasture planting (T3) keeping similar RQs with values slightly higher for NT than CT. At T4 (after 20 months of pasture), a 22 and 21% decrease of organic carbon was registered for NT and CT, respectively, with respect to the beginning of the experiment. A 22% (not significative) and a significative 31% diminish of total nitrogen was observed in the NT and CT systems, respectively. The results obtained are discussed in terms of soil function and sustainability in both management systems tested.     

淀粉凝胶与植物组织培养II.玉米淀粉凝胶培养基对苹果砧木组培生根诱导的同步化作用

珠美海棠和M26苹果矮化砧木分别在琼脂培养基和玉米淀粉（corn starch）凝胶培养基上进行生根培养，结果玉米淀粉培养基不但提高了两种植物的生根率，而且对生根诱导具有同步化效应。珠美海棠生根苗游离氨基酸含量的高效液相色谱（HPLC）分析表明，琼脂生根培养基上，吲哚丁酸（IBA）诱导了天冬氨酸、谷氨酸、组氨酸、苏氨酸、色、蛋氨酸和谷氨酰胺、丙、酪氨酸的降低，但却提高了精氨酸、缬氨酸、苯丙氨酸、亮氨酸和鸟氨酸的含量。当玉米淀粉替代琼脂后，玉米淀粉培养基不但进一步促进了上述氨基酸含量的降低，而且抑制了精氨酸、缬氨酸、苯丙氨酸等的升高。     

Tillage effect on nutrient stratification in narrow- and wide-row cropping systems

Recent research has indicated that conservation systems with narrow-rows have potential for higher crop productivity on southeastern USA Coastal Plains Soil. The objective of this study was to determine how surface tillage and subsoiling affect nutrient distribution in the soil profile in narrow- and wide-row systems. A secondary objective was to determine the effect of row position on soil pH and nutrient concentrations in the wide-row system. Soil samples were collected in 1996 from plots that had been growing soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) double cropped with wheat (Tritiucum aestivum L.) for 3 years and then again in 1999 after 3 years of continuous corn (Zea mays L.). Narrow-row spacing was 19 cm for soybean and 38 cm for corn. Wide-row spacing was 76 cm for both soybean and corn. Wheat was grown in 19 cm wide-rows. Soil samples were randomly collected from throughout the plots in the narrow-row culture. In the wide-row culture, separate samples were collected from the row and from between rows. Treatments were surface tillage (disc tillage (DT) and no surface tillage (NT)), with different frequencies of subsoiling. The soil type was Goldsboro loamy sand (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic, Aquic Kandiudult). Soil samples from four depths (the surface 5 cm of the A horizon, the remainder of the A horizon, the E horizon, and the top 7.5 cm of the B horizon) were analyzed for pH, P, K, Ca, and Mg. Nutrient concentrations and pH differed little between row spacings at any depth after either 3 or 6 years. Differences due to subsoiling appeared mainly due to nutrient removal as the treatments with more intense subsoiling had higher yield and lower concentrations of nutrients (except K). Concentrations of P, Mg, and Ca at the soil surface tended to be higher in NT than in DT, especially in the mid-rows of the 76 cm wide-row systems. The data suggest only small differences in soil nutrient stratification can be expected as growers adopt narrow-row crop production systems with intensive subsoiling.     

超声波处理玉米磷酸酯淀粉膜液对膜性能的影响

对玉米磷酸酯淀粉基可食膜液进行超声波处理,并对所成膜的抗拉强度、断裂伸长率、透氧率及膜表面微观结构进行了分析。结果表明:超声波处理使膜的抗拉强度、断裂伸长率及阻氧性能提高,膜面均一性也有了一定的改善。在试验范围内,当超声波功率为80W时,对膜液处理50min,膜的性能较佳:抗拉强度为25.53MPa,断裂伸长率为29.07%,透氧率为5.8×10-6cm3/(m2.d.Pa)。     

利用玉米淀粉生产耐水性无臭胶粘剂的研究

用二元酸与玉米淀粉进行酯化反应，形成半酯化玉米淀粉悬浮液，加入水溶性高聚物作为稳定剂，制成玉米淀粉胶粘剂主剂，调胶时加入工业面粉和异氰酸酯化合物，制得实用玉米淀粉无臭胶粘剂。研究结果表明，用该胶压制的胶合板，符合ＧＢ９８４６.１～１２－８８Ⅱ类胶合板指标要求，并且彻底解决了甲醛公害问题.     

玉米自交系杂交当代母本籽粒百粒重变化的研究

通过2003～2004年两年的试验，初步进行了玉米自交系杂交当代母本籽粒百粒重变化的分析研究。结果表明，多数组合杂交当代的母本籽粒的百粒重高于自交。     

Carbon sequestration in a long-term conventional versus conservation tillage experiment

The impact of conservation tillage practices on carbon sequestration has been of great interest in recent years. Changes in the soil organic carbon (SOC) as influenced by tillage, is more noticeable under long-term rather than short-term tillage practices. This experiment analyzed the organic carbon status of soils sampled at depth increments from 0 to 60 cm after 25 years of five tillage treatments in a silt loam soil. Zero tillage (ZT) treatment was compared to conventional tillage practices of mouldboard and chisel plow operations conducted either during the fall or spring season in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The SOC was calculated on depth and equivalent soil mass bases. Contrast analysis showed a significantly (5%) higher soil bulk density for zero versus fall and zero versus chisel tillage operations at 5–10 cm soil depth. The SOC concentration was dependent on the depth of tillage operation and followed the trend of higher SOC for zero, chisel, and mouldboard tillage at 0–5, 5–10, and 20–40 cm depth, respectively. There were more significant differences in the SOC storage when expressed on depth compared to an equivalent soil mass basis. SOC storage was significantly higher for ZT at the 0–5 cm soil depth compared to conventional tillage practices. Contrast analysis on an equivalent mass basis showed that SOC storage was significantly higher for spring tillage compared to fall tillage at 0–60 cm depth. In conclusion, ZT practices increased SOC concentration and storage compared to conventional tillage operations only for the surface layer but not for the entire soil profile.     

Divisive field-scale associations between corn yields, management, and soil information

For corn crops on soils with fine texture in eastern Canada, research has been ongoing on the relationships between corn grain yields and management practice, soil strength/compaction, and soil nutrient status. However, these variables can operate in a complex manner that may not be detectable via uni-structural models. This study used regression-tree analysis, in an exploratory context, to model corn grain yields over a relatively flat clay to silty loam field on the basis of several soil physical, soil nitrate, and management variables. It was found that corn grain yields were first subdivided by length of time under corn production (1st and 3rd year corn groups). These yield groups were further subdivided by cone penetration resistance, elevation, soil nitrate, and soil texture information. Generally, higher corn grain yields were associated with 1st year corn, lower relative soil strength/compaction, and higher post-growing season soil nitrate levels. The modeled results helped to identify equifinality, context dependent relationships, and spatial continuity in inferred formative mechanisms; issues important in many field and/or landscape studies of spatial processes.