Evaluation of unconstrained and constrained mathematical functions to model girth growth of rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) using young age measurements

No attempt has been made to date to model growth in girth of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliansis). We evaluated the few widely used growth functions to identify the most parsimonious and biologically reasonable model for describing the girth growth of young rubber trees based on an incomplete set of young age measurements. Monthly data for girth of immature trees (age 2 to 12 years) from two locations were subjected to modelling. Reparameterized, unconstrained and constrained growth functions of Richards (RM), Gompertz (GM) and the monomolecular model (MM) were fitted to data. Duration of growth was the constraint introduced. In the first stage, we attempted a population average (PA) model to capture the trend in growth. The best PA model wasfitted as a subject specific (SS) model. We used appropriate error variance-covariance structure to account for correlation due to repeated measurements over time. Unconstrained functions underestimated the asymptotic maximum that did not reflect the carrying capacity of the locations. Underestimations were attributed to the partial set of measurements made during the early growth phase of the trees. MM proved superior to RM and GM. In the random coefficient models, both Gf and G0 appeared to be influenced by tree level effects. Inclusion of diagonal definite positive matrix removed the correlation between random effects.The results were similar at both locations. In the overall assessment MM appeared as the candidate model for studying the girth-age relationships in Hevea trees. Based on the fitted model we conclude that, in Hevea trees, growth rate is maintained at maximum value at t0, then decreases until the final state at dG/dt ≥ 0, resulting in yield curve with no period of accelerating growth. One physiological explanation is that photosynthetic activity in Hevea trees decreases as girth increases and constructive metabolism is larger than destructive metabolism.     

Short Root Densities and Surface Phosphatase Activities of Ectomycorrhizal Morphotypes in a Slash Pine Plantation

Abstract

Mineralization is the dominant process controlling soil-solution P in the Spodosols of the southeastern United States. Pine trees growing in these soils are typically colonized by ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi that are known to produce phosphatases. Little, however, is known of the dynamics of EM short roots or phosphatase activity in tree plantations. To address this question, short root densities, EM morphotypes, and associated surface acid phosphomonoesterase in a 12-year-old Pinus elliottii plantation in northern Florida were evaluated. The density of total (living and dead) short roots changed little from February through June, with a mean of 7.6 cm³ soil. The majority of the short roots, however, were inactive or dead with only 14 to 38% appearing viable upon visual inspection. The majority of the viable short roots were mycorrhizal. The most abundant morphotypes were formed by Cenococcum and Thelephora but these had low phosphatase activity. In contrast, less frequently observed morphotypes had substantially higher rates of enzyme production and these may play an important role in sustainable P nutrition of plantation trees.     

Pulverizing Soils for Laboratory Analysis

Soil-testing laboratories utilize a range of grinder types to pulverize soils for laboratory analysis. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of soil particle diameter and laboratory subsample size on analysis variability on nitrate, Bray 1 extractable phosphorus (P), extractable potassium (K), and soil organic matter (SOM). Four soils collected for the Agricultural Laboratory Proficiency Program were pulverized using four types of commercial grinders and analyzed for particle-size distribution, P, and K. In a second study, soils were pulverized to pass sieves of 2.0, 1.0, and 0.50 mm and subsampled for P, K, and SOM. Results of the commercial grinders indicate a range in mean particle diameters from 0.15 to 0.60 mm, with the lowest for the grinder utilizing a hammer mill design. Sieve-size analysis results indicate that the coarsest 2.0-mm fraction had the largest variability for all soil analyses evaluated. Analyte variability decreased with decreasing sieve size. Mean Bray P, K, and SOM-LOI (Loss-on-Ignition) mean concentrations were not statistically significantly different across the sieve sizes evaluated. Laboratory analysis variability for extractable Bray P increased as subsample size was reduced.     

基于两层次线性混合效应模型的杉木林单木胸径生长量模型

基于两层次线性混合效应模型方法,建立江西省杉木人工林单木胸径生长量模型.研究所用数据来自于长期观测的固定样地数据,数据库包括82个区域、365个样地、5416株树木共计16248条记录.为了解决不同区域及不同样地之间的差异,本文构建的混合模型分别考虑样地层次、区域层次及两层次的随机参数效应.针对数据存在的重复测量及嵌套结构特性,在模拟时选择合适的异方差和自相关模型矩阵来解决此类问题.最后利用独立的抽样验证数据对模拟结果进行验证.结果表明:林分断面积、对象木胸径、林分内大于对象木的断面积之和与对象木胸径的比值以及海拔对单木胸径生长量有显著影响.与林业中常用的传统最小二乘方法相比,采用混合效应模型方法后模型的模拟精度和验证精度均有提高.选择适合的异方差和自相关函数后,模型比只考虑参数的随机效应有更好的适应性,并体现出了混合效应模型的灵活性和准确性.     

Removal of Vegetative Clippings Reduces Dissolved Phosphorus Loss in Runoff

Rainfall simulation was used to study the vegetative filter strip (VFS) conditions under which losses of total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) leaching occur. Boxes containing silt loam soil were planted with ryegrass and cut at two different intervals prior to simulated rainfall 14 days apart. Grass clippings were either removed or retained. During the second simulated rainfall, runoff TDP and DRP were greater for treatments cut the day before irrigation with clippings retained as compared to treatments cut the same day as irrigation with clippings retained. Removing clippings yielded the lowest mean TDP and DRP concentrations. Increasing the senesced vegetative surface area for contact with water, and the amount of time for leaching to occur, resulted in the greatest DRP loss. The VFS management implications should consider clipping removal or no or reduced mowing during the growing season followed by end-of-season removal to reduce DRP leaching losses.     

32P distribution in white radish roots at various fertilization rates

Abstract

The uptake and distribution of ³²P from labelled monocalcium phosphate by white radish (Raphanus Sativus) roots at five phosphorus fertilization rates were studied.

After on initial period of degradation (approximately 6 weeks), there is a sharp decline of phosphorus uptake. Graphical representation in Tables and Figures of the phosphorus distribution is presented.     

速补钙磷对白唇鹿发病率的影响

对65只白唇鹿在补饲过程中添加速补钙磷,结果表明补饲过程中添加速补钙磷的试验组与对照组相比,对白唇鹿异食癖,提高鹿茸产量、降低鹿软骨病骨质疏松、瘫痪等作用显著。平均每只鹿鹿茸产量增加139.5g。鹿软骨病、瘫痪下降1.48%、异食癖发病率降为零。鹿羔月体重平均增2.5kg。     

Management options to decrease phosphorus and sediment losses from irrigated cropland grazed by cattle and sheep

In southern New Zealand, grazing of forage crops is common practice to satisfy feed requirements of animals in winter when pasture growth is limited. This practice has been shown to cause soil physical damage and increased loss of surface water contaminants sediment and phosphorus (P) to water bodies. Strategies to mitigate the loss of sediment and P were trialled on a Pallic soil type (Aeric Fragiaquept) in the North Otago Rolling Downlands of New Zealand. All sites were irrigated and measurements were made of losses in overland and sub‐surface flow from intensive cattle or sheep grazed, winter forage crops, and sheep grazed pasture. Two mitigations (restricted grazing of crop to three hours and the application of aluminium sulphate) were assessed for their potential to decrease contaminant loss from cropland. Volumes of surface runoff and loss of total P, filterable reactive P and sediment showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between the control treatments (i.e. no mitigation) with cattle crop (88 mm surface runoff) > sheep crop (67 mm) > sheep pasture (33 mm). The contribution of irrigation water to overland flow water, as a result of saturation‐excess conditions, varied between treatments with more loss under cattle crop (20% of total) compared with sheep crop (15%) and sheep pasture (11%). These differences are probably an effect of soil physical condition and highlight the importance of accurate irrigation scheduling to keep soil moisture below field capacity. Restricted winter grazing and alum application after grazing significantly (P < 0.05) decreased P losses in surface runoff under cattle (from 1.4 to 0.9 kg P/ha) and sheep (from 1.0 to 0.7 kg/P/ha) grazed crop plots by about 30%. In cattle grazed plots, restricted grazing also decreased suspended sediments (SS) by 60%. The use of restricted grazing is suggested as a means of decreasing P and SS loss from grazed winter forage crops. The use of alum shows some promise for decreasing P losses, but requires further work to determine its long‐term effectiveness and use in other soils and management regimes.     

施氮与株丛切割对退化新麦草草地的改良效果

本文研究了施氮肥和株丛切割对退化新麦草人草地生产性能的影响，结果表明，施氮肥和株丛切割提高了新麦草草地生产性能和生产力。此外，施氮肥可改善牧草品质及土壤牮氮能力。株丛切割和施氮肥（１２０ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２）相结合与单施氮肥相比，成本较低，对退化新麦草草地的改良效果良好，年均产草量２６７９．５ｋｇＤＭ／ｈｍ＾２。