Imposed starvation for in vitro maintenance and high regeneration of elite key lime (Citrus aurantifolia)

Preservation of elite key lime (Citrus aurantifolia) genotypes using efficient micropropagation and regeneration protocols is very important for new breeding programmes. The objective of the present study was to develop an efficient protocol for micropropagation and maintenance of elite genotypes of key lime based on slow growth and starvation strategy. To do this, regenerated shoots were starved, and the growth was compromised via avoiding subcultures for 4, 8, 12 and 24 months. The numbers of responsive explants and adventitious shoots per each explant were evaluated in the presence of benzylaminopurine (BAP). The results showed that the 12- and 24-month starved explants treated with 1 mg/l BAP were able to produce four times more shoots than the control. In addition, the influences of horizontal or vertical layering explants over medium were evaluated. The results indicated that all horizontally layered explants significantly produced 25% adventitious shoots more than vertical explants, most likely owing to more contact with the surface medium. Finally, it could be concluded that application of slow growth, starvation strategy and also horizontally layering of the explants could efficiently enhance micropropagation and maintenance of threatened elite key lime genotypes with a low cost.     

The effect of potassium fertilization on iron deficiency

Abstract

Preliminary experiments indicate that potassium fertilization at a rate of 270 mg K/kg soil amel.iorates Iron deficiencies in peanuts grown in an extremely calcareous soil (63% CaCO₃). Amelioration was greater with the application of KCl than with that of KNO₃ or K₂HPO₄, indicating that the cation:anion balance of roct uptake is involved. Potassium chloride application caused a 73% increase in the chlorophyll content; this value is 90% of that of the FeEDDHA treatment. Manipulation of the cation: anion balance of macronutrients may prove to be an effective means of controlling lime‐induced chlorosis.     

Chemistry of soil aluminum

Abstract

Better understanding of soil aluminum has had dramatic effects on the interpretation of many aspects of soil chemistry. Aluminum is a Group III element, metallic in nature, and exhibits both ionic and cuvaient bonding. It is the most plentiful of all metallic cations of the earth's crust. It is released from octahedral coordination with oxygen in minerals by weathering processes. Once released, the trivalent Al ion assumes octahedral coordination with six OH₂ groups each of which dissociates a H ion in sequence as pH increases. The resulting hydroxy‐Al ions are absorbed to the cation exchange capacity of the soil. Here they polymerize on charged surfaces and in the interlayers of the clay minerals obstructing both the contraction of the clay lattice and the exchange of cations. Soluble Al is toxic to most plants, and reacts readily with soluble phosphates converting them to relatively insoluble and plant‐unavailable forms. Adsorbed and polymerized aluminum affects actual lime requirements of soils by its acidic nature and indicated lime requirements by its effect on the buffers of the lime requirement test. The level of exchangeable Al has been suggested as an Index of lime requirement of acid soils, but this may be an adequate Index for liming only on highly weathered soils.     

Impact of Chemical Amendment of Dairy Cattle Slurry on Soil Phosphorus Dynamics Following Application to Five Soils

A 9-month incubation study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of amending dairy cattle slurry with either alum, lime, poly-aluminum chloride (PAC), or ferric chloride (FeCl₃) in reducing water-extractable P (WEP) levels in five soils (four mineral and one organic). Alum, lime, and PAC were the most effective amendments in decreasing WEP (compared to a slurry-control) for the four mineral soils (by an average of 47% at the end the 9-month incubation period). In comparison, FeCl₃ increased WEP (compared to the slurry-control) by an average of 35% at the end the study. None of the amendments examined effectively reduced WEP of the organic soil. No amendment reduced soil-test P [(Morgan’s P (P_m) and Mehlich 3 P (M3P)] compared to the soil-only treatment. Alum maintained the greatest levels of M3P across the four mineral soils with the least risk of P loss to overlying water.     

Site preparation,fertilization, and 10-year yields of hybrid poplar on a clearcut forest site in eastern Maine,USA

Cuttings of two similar hybrid poplar clones were planted on a drum-chopped, chip-harvested clearcut in eastern Maine. The site had never been previously cleared for agriculture. The coarse loamy glacial till soils were acid (pH < 5.0) and moist—moderately well—to somewhat poorly drained. Control, lime (L), L nitrogen (N), L phosphorus (P), LNP, and LNP potassium (K) treatments were established. Competing woody vegetation was mowed once per year for the first three years on half the area. Each mowed treatment produced significantly greater hybrid poplar biomass than the corresponding unmowed treatment. After 10 years, the mowed+LNPK treatment attained the greatest total biomass, 45 Mgha^-1, while the unmowed control attained the least, 2 Mgha^-1. On mowed plots, L produced 4 times the biomass of control: 32 vs 8 Mgha^-1. Unmowed plots with L and N produced about as much hybrid poplar biomass as the mowed control (8 Mgha^-1). Mowing and L each improved survival as well as growth.Deceased     

Application of gypsum and lime to increase cation adsorption of a Geric Ferralsol in the Brazilian Amazon region

A Brazil-nut plantation 140 km east of Manaus was the site of a 3-month field trial, in which a by-product gypsum and a lime were compared. The soil properties in the plantation, 23 years after slash-and-burn, are not basically different from the remaining primary forest. The comparison is impeded by a distinct spatial variability of the soil nutrient content within the plantation. A linkage between Effective Cation Exchange Capacity (ECEC) and sulfate content of the soil is presumed. Gypsum-application increases the exchangeable Ca considerably, which is not an effect of Al-exchange, but of newly created adsorption sites. The potential of gypsum to increase the ECEC corresponds on a 1:1 basis with the potential for sulfate adsorption in the soil. Mg and nitrate are strongly leached after gypsum application. The applied, extremely fine ground lime has almost no effects below 5—10 cm depth. Ca, Mg and, to a lesser extent, K exhibit a much enhanced adsorption when applied as sulfate instead of chloride. All three cations are preferentially adsorbed in the subsoil, where the ECEC is only half the value of the upper soil. For fertilization concepts of those soils, the subsoil deserves much greater attention. The infiltration pattern of an organic dye gives evidence of a strong influence of bypass water flow through macropores in the soil.     

粘土质材料对灰砂硅酸盐制品影响的研究

通过掺入不同的粘土,探讨粘土对灰砂硅酸盐制品的强度,耐水性,抗冻性等的影响,认为粘土参与水化反应并生成了具有一定强度的水化物。研究结果表明：钠质膨润土对灰砂硅酸盐制品的强度,耐水性和抗冻性均有明显危害;高岭土使灰砂硅酸盐制品的强度明显降低,对其含量应严格控制;钙质膨润土对灰涛硅酸盐制品的抗冻性有益,对制品的其他性质无明显危害。     

Carbonation Resistance of High_addition Flyash Concrete

In order to improve carbonation resistance of high_addition flyash concrete,the grinding of flyash and additon of hydrated_lime in flyash concrete have been studied.It is shown that it is possible to improve the carbonation resistance of high_addition flyash concrete by using these methods without reducing its strength.     

生物炭与秸秆添加对砂姜黑土团聚体组成和有机碳分布的影响

【目的】研究生物炭与秸秆添加对砂姜黑土团聚体组成、稳定性以及不同粒级团聚体有机碳分布的影响,为砂姜黑土黏板障碍因子改良和合理培肥制度建立提供科学依据。【方法】在光照培养室内用砂姜黑土进行的培养试验,试验设置4个处理：对照（不施有机物料,CK）、单施生物炭（5%生物炭,B）、单施秸秆（1.5%玉米秸秆,S）和生物炭与秸秆配施（5%生物炭+1.5%的玉米秸秆,BS）。培养6个月后采集土壤样品,利用湿筛法得到不同粒级的土壤水稳性团聚体,测定各粒级土壤团聚体有机碳含量。【结果】不同有机物料处理对＞2 mm团聚体含量影响较大,其中施用秸秆显著提高了该粒级团聚体含量。单施生物炭有利于0.053-0.25 mm粒级团聚体含量的增加;施用秸秆有利于0.5-2 mm团聚体含量的增加,较对照显著增加14%-68%。单施生物炭对平均重量直径（MWD）、几何平均直径（GMD）和大于0.25 mm团聚体含量（R_0.25）无显著影响,单施秸秆和生物炭与秸秆配施则显著提高了MWD、GMD和R_0.25。同时,各有机物料施用都显著降低了团聚体分形维数（D）。与对照相比,各有机物料处理土壤有机碳含量都显著提高,其中生物炭与秸秆配施处理含量最高,较对照提高了160%。各有机物料处理不同粒级团聚体中有机碳含量也显著提高,与对照相比,各粒级有机碳含量提高了54%-353%。随土壤粒径的增大,添加生物炭处理不同粒级团聚体有机碳含量分布呈现“V”型趋势,单施秸秆处理呈逐渐增加趋势。大团聚体有机碳的贡献率为S处理＞BS处理＞CK处理＞B处理,微团聚体则表现出相反的规律。0.5-1 mm粒级团聚体对土壤有机碳的贡献率最大,为6%-33%。【结论】单施生物炭对土壤水稳性大团聚体含量和团聚体稳定性的影响不显著,而生物炭与秸秆配施不仅能提高土壤大团聚体含量,增加土壤团聚体的稳定性,而且提高土壤及不同粒级团聚体的有机碳含量,改善了土壤性状。相比之下,生物炭与秸秆配施是改善砂姜黑土结构和提升碳水平的最佳培肥措施。