Influence of Low Light Irradiance on Grain Filling in Rice (Oryza saliva L.) cultivars

Time course of grain filling pattern in two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars, grown under normal and low light intensities, was studied. The number of spikelets, partially filled grains and high density grains were monitored at a 5 day interval during grain filling period from uniform panicles tagged at anthesis. The low light tolerant cultivar Swarnaprabha had more high density grains and less partially filled grains throughout the grain filling period and at harvest compared to cultivar Ratna under both normal and low light intensities. Further, the opening of spikelets in two flushes in Swarnaprabha seemed to result in a more efficient resource allocation and hence better yield as compared to Ratna, in which the opening of spikelets was in a single flush on day 10.     

Reproductive roles predict sexual dimorphism in internal and external morphology of lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Abstract – The different reproductive roles of the sexes can predict the direction and magnitude of sexual dimorphism of external and internal morphology. Males should have enlarged structures that enhance the acquisition of mating opportunities, whereas females are predicted to have enlarged organs that are associated with the production of eggs. We tested these predictions in male and female lake whitefish, a species in which both sexes have similar overall body size and shape. After controlling for body size, male lake whitefish had significantly longer jaws and pectoral and pelvic fins, larger hearts, and more muscle than females. Sexual dimorphism in relative muscle mass may be one of the most fundamental morphological differences between males and females. Females had relatively heavier livers than males. Because the liver is important for the breakdown of fats and vitellogenesis, selection should favour an enlarged liver in females for the processing of energy and the production of large numbers of eggs.     

Microbial biomass and respiratory activity in soil aggregates of different sizes from three beechwood sites on a basalt hill

We studied the effects of aggregates of different sizes on the soil microbial biomass. The distribution of aggregate size classes (<2, 2–4, 4–10, >10 mm) in the upper mineral soil horizon (A_h layer) was very different in three sites (upper, intermediate, lower) in a beechwood (Fagus sylvatica) on a basalt hill (Germany). Aggregates of different sizes (<2, 2–4, 4–10 mm) contained different amounts of C and N but the C:N ratios were similar. C and N contents were generally higher in smaller aggregates. The maximum initial respiratory response by microorganisms in intact aggregates and in aggregates passed through a 1-mm sieve declined with the aggregate size, but the difference was more pronounced in intact aggregates. Disruption of aggregates generally increased this response, particularly in 4- to 10-mm aggregates in the lower site. Basal respiration differed strongly among sites, but was similar in each of the aggregate size classes. Aggregate size did not significantly affect the specific respiration (g O₂ g^–1 microbial C h^–1) nor the microbial: organic C ratio, but these parameters differed among sites. Microbial growth was increased strongly by passing the soil through a 1-mm sieve in each of the aggregate materials. The growth of microorganisms in disrupted aggregates was similar, and the effect of aggregate disruption depended on the growth of microorganisms in intact aggregates.     

Short term soil priming effects and the mineralisation of biochar following its incorporation to soils of different pH

The aim of this work was to determine the magnitude of the priming effect, i.e. short-term changes in the rate (negative or positive) of mineralisation of native soil organic carbon (C), following addition of biochars. The biochars were made from Miscanthus giganteus, a C4 plant, naturally enriched with ¹³C. The biochars were produced at 350 °C (biochar350) and 700 °C (biochar700) and applied with and without ryegrass as a substrate to a clay-loam soil at pH 3.7 and 7.6. A secondary aim was to determine the effect of ryegrass addition on the mineralisation of the two biochars.After 87 days, biochar350 addition caused priming effects equivalent to 250 and 319 μg CO₂-C g⁻¹ soil, in the low and high pH soil, respectively. The largest priming effects occurred at the start of the incubations. The size of the priming effect was decreased at higher biochar pyrolysis temperatures, which may be a way of controlling priming effects following biochar incorporation to soil, if desired. The priming effect was probably induced by the water soluble components of the biochar. At 87 days of incubation, 0.14% and 0.18% of biochar700 and 0.61% and 0.84% of biochar350 were mineralized in the low and high pH soil, respectively. Ryegrass addition gave an increased biochar350 mineralisation of 33% and 40%, and increased biochar700 at 137% and 70%, in the low and high pH soils, respectively. Certainly, on the basis of our results, if biochar is used to sequester carbon a priming effect may occur, increasing CO₂-C evolved from soil and decreasing soil organic C. However, this will be more than compensated for by the increased soil C caused by biochar incorporation. A similar conclusion holds for accelerated mineralisation of biochar due to incorporation of fresh labile substrates. We consider that our results are the first to unequivocally demonstrate the initiation, progress and termination of a true positive priming effect by biochar on native soil organic C.     

湘中紫色页岩区芦竹生物量及养分分布规律研究

对湘中紫色页岩区芦竹的生物量和养分分布进行初步研究.结果表明:当年生芦竹杆(含叶)养分含量高于多年生,因此不宜砍伐利用当年生芦竹杆;根茎养分含量较高,是系统中良好的养分贮存库.一年生、二年生、五年生、八年生芦竹的生物量分别为293.00、5258.29、6746.87和480.86 kg.hm-2.     

马尾松,大头茶针阔混交林森林结构的研究

典型选样调查测定,分析马尾松、大头茶常绿针阔混交林的森林特征、种群结构、林分结构、生物量结构及生态功能。结果表明:1.该混交林是亚热带常绿阔叶林前一阶段的过渡性森林类型,在干扰状态下保持其相对的稳定性。2.复层、异龄现象是该混交林的主要特征。建群种充分利用了林地空间营养面积,发挥了林地的生产潜力。叶面积指数达6.86～8.83,林分木材蓄积量达160～222m~3/ha,林分总生物量达114～163t/ha。其中,乔木层生物量达105～154t/ha。光照充足的林下,草本层生物量可达2.5t/ha,对庇护地表起到了最直接、最明显的作用,而调节林冠密度,可控制或促进草本层生物量的增长。3.此种混交林改善了森林立地的蓄水功能和贮水方式。林地土壤最大贮水量达2645～4100t/ha,降水贮存量达565～1256t/ha,林地枯枝落叶层饱和持水量达4589～8702kg/ha。该类型达到了生态与经济效益兼顾,可在我国南方亚热带山地各类工程造林中推广应用。     

华北驼绒藜种子发育期各器官间碳水化合物的再分配

对华北驼绒藜种子发育阶段的主要代谢“库”器官根、茎、果实进行了可溶性糖、淀粉和蔗糖酶的动态变化研究分析,确定其营养物质的流向及流量的大小,探索这一阶段碳水化合物的分配是否与种子低结实率有关。结果显示华北驼绒藜种子发育期间,根和茎中可溶性糖和淀粉的含量呈不断下降趋势,其中根中淀粉由盛花期到成熟期下降达48%,茎中下降幅度较小;同时这2个器官中蔗糖酶的活性也逐渐降低。果实中可溶性糖和淀粉含量呈逐渐递增的趋势,蔗糖酶活性也呈增大趋势。表明尽管根、茎通常是代谢的“库”器官,但在种子生长发育期间,根和茎转而成为 “源”器官,其大量同化物流向繁殖器官。但是从同化物的流量来看,多年生的华北驼绒藜根茎中同化物的输出比例远小于一年生的作物。     

一种高寒草地草产量快速测定工具的设计和试验

为解决青藏高原天然草地在草产量测定过程中费时、繁琐、草地破坏严重以及对工作人员的潜在危害较大等问题,利用植物群落草层高度、盖度、密度等综合指标与天然草地草产量间的相关性,建立函数关系,并制作成简易的测草杖进行草产量的快速测定。结果表明,与传统的样方法相比,该测草杖可节约时间75%左右,节省劳动力50%左右,降低50%~80%左右成本,同时也保障了工作人员的健康。     

不同追播处理的Tifway生物量及追播草坪综合质量差异性研究

1998-2000年,选用多花黑麦草、多年生黑麦草、紫羊茅、匍匐翦股颖在四川农业大学草学试验基地的种间杂交狗牙根Tifway(Cynodon dactylon×C.transvaalensis)模拟运动场地进行冬季追播试验.结果表明,未处理Tifway的地上生物量随温度升高而增加,而地下生物量的变化趋势不明显,地上、地下生物量比值保持在一个稳定区间,追播处理下Tifway的地下、地上生物量比值发生明显变化.除用多花黑麦草追播的草坪质量低于Tifway单播外,其余追播处理的草坪质量均优于单播Tifway草坪,其中追播多年生黑麦草后的混合草坪质量评分最高,为7.27分(1999年,98-D-a).另外,追播草坪质量与播种量呈负相关(相关系数为-0.228和-0.212),与播种时间呈正相关(相关系数为0.461).