Effect of Soil Organic Matter on Adsorption and Insecticidal Activity of Toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis

With the large-scale cultivation of transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal toxin in the world, the problem of environmental safety caused by these Bt crops has received extensive attention. The effects of soil organic matter (SOM) on the adsorption and insecticidal activity of Bt toxin in variable- and constant-charge soils (red and brown soils, respectively) were studied. Organic carbon in the soils was removed using hydrogen peroxide (H_2O_2). After H_2O_2 treatment, the SOM in the red and brown soils decreased by 71.26% and 82.82%, respectively. Mineral composition of the H_2O_2-treated soils showed no significant changes,but soil texture showed a slight change. After SOM removal, the cation exchange capacity (CEC) and pH decreased, while the specific surface area (SSA), point of zero charge (PZC), and zeta potential increased. The adsorption isotherm experiment showed that the Bt toxin adsorption on the natural and H_2O_2-treated soils fitted both the Langmuir model (R~2≥ 0.985 7) and the Freundlich model (R~2≥ 0.984 1), and the amount of toxin adsorbed on the H_2O_2-treated soils was higher than that on the natural soils. There was a high correlation between the maximum adsorption of Bt toxin and the PZC of soils (R~2= 0.935 7); thus, Bt toxin adsorption was not only influenced by SOM content, but also by soil texture, as well as the SSA, CEC, PZC, and zeta potential. The LC_(50) (lethal concentration required to kill 50% of the larvae) values for Bt toxin in the H_2O_2-treated soils were slightly lower than those in the natural soils, suggesting that the environmental risk from Bt toxin may increase if SOM decreases. As the measurement of insecticidal activity using insects is expensive and time consuming, a rapid and convenient in vitro method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays is recommended for evaluating Bt toxin degradation in soils in future studies.     

基于车载三维激光雷达的玉米点云数据滤波算法

为支持表型参数测量和数字植物相关研究,对车载三维激光雷达获取的玉米点云数据进行分析处理,提出了一种基于统计分析的两次滤波算法。以大喇叭口期的京农科728和农大84玉米为研究对象,使用VLP-16型三维激光雷达采集田间玉米点云数据;对点云数据进行直通滤波预处理,去除无关点后,进行第1次点云数据滤波处理,设置精确率和召回率阈值,选取参数组合;再对点云进行第2次滤波处理,确定精确率和召回率最优组合(110,0. 9)、(6,1. 2),边际组合(100,1. 0)、(6,1. 2)和(110,0. 8)、(5,0. 9),共3组参数组合;以3组验证集数据进行测试,结果表明:最优组合性能最优,可在京农科728和农大84玉米点云数据滤波中通用。     

基于结构光三维点云的棉花幼苗叶片性状解析方法

针对传统的棉花叶片表型测量方法主观、低效,对复杂性状如卷叶程度、黄叶占比等很难量化的问题,提出一种基于结构光三维成像的棉花幼苗叶片性状解析方法。首先,采用结构光扫描仪获取棉花幼苗的三维点云数据;然后,利用直通滤波、超体聚类、条件欧氏距离算法,实现叶片点云的识别与分割;最后,基于分割的叶片点云,采用三角面片化、随机采样一致性、Lab颜色分割等处理,实现叶片面积、周长、生长角度、卷曲度、黄叶占比等参数的快速、准确、无损提取。对40株棉花幼苗进行三维结构光成像试验,结果表明,3D叶片面积、周长测量的平均绝对误差分别为2. 59%、2. 85%,具有较高的测量精度,还证明叶片卷曲度和黄叶占比能显著区分病叶和正常叶。     

Tomato yield, biomass accumulation, root distribution and irrigation water use efficiency on a sandy soil, as affected by nitrogen rate and irrigation scheduling

Florida is the largest producer of fresh-market tomatoes in the United States. Production areas are typically intensively managed with high inputs of fertilizer and irrigation. The objectives of this 3-year field study were to evaluate the interaction between N-fertilizer rates and irrigation scheduling on yield, irrigation water use efficiency (iWUE) and root distribution of tomato cultivated in a plastic mulched/drip irrigated production systems. Experimental treatments included three irrigation scheduling regimes and three N-rates (176, 220 and 230 kg ha⁻¹). Irrigation treatments included were: (1) SUR (surface drip irrigation) both irrigation and fertigation line placed right underneath the plastic mulch; (2) SDI (subsurface drip irrigation) where the irrigation line was placed 0.15 m below the fertigation line which was located on top of the bed; and (3) TIME (conventional control) with irrigation and fertigation lines placed as in SUR and irrigation being applied once a day. Except for the “TIME” treatment all irrigation treatments were controlled by soil moisture sensor (SMS)-based irrigation set at 10% volumetric water content which was allotted five irrigation windows daily and bypassed events if the soil water content exceeded the established threshold. Average marketable fruit yields were 28, 56 and 79 Mg ha⁻¹ for years 1-3, respectively. The SUR treatment required 15-51% less irrigation water when compared to TIME treatments, while the reductions in irrigation water use for SDI were 7-29%. Tomato yield was 11-80% higher for the SUR and SDI treatments than TIME where as N-rate did not affect yield. Root concentration was greatest in the vicinity of the irrigation and fertigation drip lines for all irrigation treatments. At the beginning of reproductive phase about 70-75% of the total root length density (RLD) was concentrated in the 0-15 cm soil layer while 15-20% of the roots were found in the 15-30 cm layer. Corresponding RLD distribution values during the reproductive phase were 68% and 22%, respectively. Root distribution in the soil profile thus appears to be mainly driven by development stage, soil moisture and nutrient availability. It is concluded that use of SDI and SMS-based systems consistently increased tomato yields while greatly improving irrigation water use efficiency and thereby reduced both irrigation water use and potential N leaching.     

Nitrate leaching in a silage maize field under different irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer rates

Quantification of the interactive effects of nitrogen (N) and water on nitrate (NO₃) loss provides an important insight for more effective N and water management. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer levels on nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N) leaching in a silage maize field. The experiment included four irrigation levels (0.7, 0.85, 1.0, and 1.13 of soil moisture depletion, SMD) and three N fertilization levels (0, 142, and 189 kg N ha⁻¹), with three replications. Ceramic suction cups were used to extract soil solution at 30 and 60 cm soil depths for all 36 experimental plots. Soil NO₃-N content of 0-30 and 30-60-cm layers were evaluated at planting and harvest maturity. Total N uptake (NU) by the crop was also determined. Maximum NO₃-N leaching out of the 60-cm soil layer was 8.43 kg N ha⁻¹, for the 142 kg N ha⁻¹ and over irrigation (1.13 SMD) treatment. The minimum and maximum seasonal average NO₃ concentration at the 60 cm depth was 46 and 138 mg l⁻¹, respectively. Based on our findings, it is possible to control NO₃ leaching out of the root zone during the growing season with a proper combination of irrigation and fertilizer management.     

数字化人体模型在车身逆向布置中的应用

以人体参数为依据建立的数字化人体模型能有效的描述人体的形态特性.本文在CATIA人机工程模块中,建立了人群文件,生成自定义的三维数字化人体模型。在此基础上建立了满足不同百分位需求的参数化人体模型。以某汽车为对象,根据SAE标准,综合考虑了踏板行程、汽车视野和上下肢舒适性等因素对驾驶员的影响,最终得到满足各种约束的驾驶员最佳舒适性H点区域。论文研究为针对不同地区人群特性对车型进行逆向开发和逆向布置提供了很好的参考。     

The significance of meandering channel morphology on the diversity and abundance of macroinvertebrates in a lowland river in Japan

• 1. Many rivers and streams across the world have been channelized for various purposes. Channel cross‐sections of meandering rivers are asymmetrical and have cross‐sectional diversity in their physical environment; cross‐sections of a channelized river are typically trapezoidal and have little cross‐sectional diversity, both in physical and ecological conditions. Several programmes to restore stream meanders have been undertaken to improve river ecosystems degraded by channelization. However, the association between diversification in the physical environment due to meander restoration and the macroinvertebrate community structure is poorly known.
• 2. This study of a lowland river in Japan assessed how the cross‐sectional diversity of the physical environment changed with restoration of a meander in a channelized river, and how the macroinvertebrate communities responded to the changes in physical habitat variation. Comparisons were made between the macroinvertebrate communities of a channelized reach, the restored meandering reach, and a natural meandering reach.
• 3. Natural meandering and restored meandering reaches showed higher cross‐sectional diversity in physical variables and total taxon richness across a reach than did the channelized reach. Almost all taxa observed in the natural and restored meandering reaches were concentrated in the shallowest marginal habitats near the banks. Shear velocity increasing with water depth had a negative association with macroinvertebrate density and richness.
• 4. This study demonstrated that the shallow river bed along the inside of bends formed point bars that provided a highly stable substrate, a suitable habitat for macroinvertebrates in a lowland river. It is concluded that meander restoration could be an effective strategy for in‐stream habitat restoration in lowland meandering rivers.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Understanding farmers’ potato production practices and use of improved varieties in Chencha,Ethiopia

This study was carried out to better understand non-adoption of improved varieties of potato (Solanum tuberosum) and associated technologies by smallholder farmers in Chencha, Ethiopia. Data were collected through a survey (n = 47) and in-depth interviews (n = 20). It shows how wealth status was a factor of major importance. Most wealthy and some medium-wealthy farmers adopted improved potato varieties and many of the improved production practices; they had access to seed, associated knowledge and support, and sufficient resources that were necessary to apply the improved practices. Non-adoption was common among many medium-wealthy and most poor farmers: they lacked—next to access to the technologies and knowledge—cash, land, and labor. Results indicated the need to rethink research and intervention efforts. Next to paying attention to differences in the access to technology and the related knowledge, there is a need to consider the variation in technology needs, supporting microcredit services, and room to experiment. As a result, different combinations of improved production practices may be adopted.     

Development of a kompetitive allele‐specific PCR marker for selection of the mutated Wx‐D1d allele in wheat breeding

Waxy (Wx) protein is a key enzyme for synthesis of amylose in endosperm. Amylose content in wheat grain influences the quality of end‐use products. Seven alleles have been described at the Wx‐D1 locus, but only two of them (Wx‐D1b, Wx‐D1e) were genotyped with codominant markers. The waxy wheat line K107Wx1 developed by treating ‘Kanto 107’ seeds with ethyl methanesulphonate carries the Wx‐D1d allele. However, no molecular basis supports this nomenclature. In the present study, DNA sequence analysis confirmed that a single nucleotide polymorphism in the sixth exon of Wx‐D1 changed tryptophan at position 301 into a termination codon. Based on this sequence variation, a PCR‐based KASP marker was developed to detect this point mutation using 68 BC₈F₁ plants and 297 BC₈F₂ lines derived from the cross ‘Ningmai 14’*9/K107Wx1. Combined with codominant markers for the Wx‐A1 and Wx‐B1 alleles, waxy and non‐waxy near‐isogenic lines were distinguished. The KASP marker was efficient in identifying the mutant allele and can be used to transfer waxiness to elite lines.     

长期定位施不同氮源有机肥替代部分含氮化肥对陇东旱塬冬小麦产量和水分利用效率的影响

在陇东黄土旱塬覆盖黑垆土大田,利用陇鉴301进行了连续10年的定位试验,观测长期施用不同氮源有机肥(发酵有机肥、农家肥)或小麦秸秆还田各处理对冬小麦产量相关性状和水分利用效率的影响。结果显示,小麦产量和水分利用效率年际间变化较大,与降雨量有直接关系;不同有机氮源替代部分含氮化肥处理对提高冬小麦产量和水分利用效率具有明显作用。在干旱、平水和丰水年型,较不施肥对照分别增产53.1%~103.7%、40.3%~79.3%和73.1%~94.8%,较单施化肥对照分别增产6.6%~41.8%、7.0%~36.8%和-2.9%~9.3%。以发酵有机肥做替代物处理的产量和水分利用效率最高,增产幅度最大,10年平均产量较不施肥和单施化肥对照分别增加88.9%和25.4%,水分利用效率和边际水分利用率也最高,分别为10.8 kg mm~(-1) hm~(-2)和1.03 kg m~(-3);并且产量构成因素和植株生理指标也优于其他处理。因此,发酵有机肥是陇东半湿润偏旱雨养农业区(年降水量约550 mm)冬小麦生产上替代部分含氮化肥的首选有机氮源。