RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF NUTRIENT ELEMENTS IN FINGERED CITRON LEAF USING NEAR INFRARED REFLECTANCE SPECTROSCOPY

In order to provide references for leaf nutrition diagnosis of fingered citron, the technique of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was introduced to analyze nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) in the dry-leaf samples of fingered citron. The best calibration model for N was developed with high RSQ_CAL (0.90), SD/SECV (2.73) and low SEC (1.06 mg g^?1), good calibration models were obtained for P, K, Fe and Mn, and no significant correlations were found between the spectra and the individual amounts of Zn and Cu. When tested using a validation set (n = 38), N was well predicted with low values of SEP (1.21 mg g^?1) and high RPD (2.5). The values of SEP and RPD were also acceptable for the external validation of P, Fe and Mn. Near-infrared spectroscopy analysis technique shows potential of diagnosing minerals in fingered citron, particularly for N, P, Fe and Mn.     

Response of soil properties and yam yield to Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) and Tithonia diversifolia (Asteraceae) mulches

Plant materials differ in their chemical composition, rate of decomposition and suitability as mulch materials. Experiments were conducted during 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 cropping seasons for early yam cultivation at Owo in the forest–savanna transition zone of southwest Nigeria to study the effect of Chromolaena odorata and Tithonia diversifolia mulches applied at 0.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 t ha^?1 on soil chemical properties, leaf nutrient composition, growth and tuber yield of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir). Both C. odorata and T. diversifolia mulches reduced soil bulk density and temperature; increased concentrations of soil organic matter (SOM), total N, available P, exchangeable K, Ca and Mg, leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg; enhanced growth and yield of yam compared with control. The values of SOM, total N and available P and leaf N and P concentrations increased with increasing mulch rate. C. odorata mulch and T. diversifolia mulch applied at 10.0 and 7.5 t ha^?1, respectively, was found to be suitable for yam production. T. diversifolia mulch compared with C. odorata mulch produced higher values of soil chemical properties, leaf nutrient concentrations, growth and yield of yam. T. diversifolia mulch produced 19% and 18% higher tuber yield compared with C. odorata mulch during 2006–2007 and 2007–2008 cropping seasons, respectively.     

Effect of biofertilizers on the nutrient availability in soil in relation to growth,yield and yield attributes of Stevia rebaudiana

A field experiment was conducted at Rani Chandramma Agricultural University (Arabhavi, Belgaum), Karnataka, India, in basic soil to study the nutrient availability in soil, yield and yield attributes of the medicinal plant stevia (Stevia rebaudiana). The results showed that the availability of nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the soil increased up to the fifth month; and thereafter, decreased by the same amount with the progress of the plant growth up to the sixth month, irrespective of treatments. Results also showed that the fresh and dry biomass yields significantly increased up to the sixth month with different treatments, but the yield attributes like plant height and the number of branches were observed to be varied with various treatments, being highest in the combined application of biofertilizers over that of their corresponding sole applications.     

井冈山国家级自然保护区森林土壤养分含量的空间变化

以井冈山国家级自然保护区为研究区,采集了57个土壤剖面的5个不同深度(0~10、10~20、20~40、40~60、60 cm)的土壤样品,对土壤样品的有机碳、全氮、全磷和全钾等指标进行了测定,并结合森林类型数据和DEM高程数据,对不同森林类型及高程条件下的土壤养分状况进行比较分析。结果表明:①土壤有机碳含量最大,全磷含量最小,各土壤养分含量均随土壤深度的增加而递减;②土壤类型的空间分布呈现海拔梯度特征,黄棕壤的分布海拔最高,依次为黄壤、黄红壤,红壤的分布海拔最低;③全磷、有机碳及C/N随着海拔高度的上升呈增加趋势。全钾含量随着海拔高度的上升呈下降趋势;④不同森林类型土壤养分存在差异,常绿阔叶林、落叶阔叶林和常绿落叶阔叶混交林的各土壤养分含量均较高;山顶矮林和温性针叶林除全氮和全钾含量外,其他土壤养分值显著高于其他林型;竹林及灌木林的土壤养分条件相对较差;⑤不同森林类型土壤养分含量的空间分布规律与其分布的海拔高度范围有关。     

西南山地林下经济模式对土壤养分和土壤微生物数量的影响

为进一步加强农林牧业资源共享,推动生态农业的发展,在重庆市荣昌县6种不同的林下经济模式下,分别对土壤养分和微生物数量的变化及其相互关系进行了研究。结果表明,不同的林下经济模式对土壤养分的影响各有差异,有机质和全钾在麻竹林下养禽模式中增加最多,全磷在桉树林下养禽模式中增加最多,全氮、碱解氮、速效钾含量则在马尾松林下养畜模式中增加最多。从微生物总量来看,土壤中表现为桉树林下禽模式最多,其次为桉树林下种菌模式,最少的是麻竹林下种菌模式;腐殖层中最多的是麻竹林下养禽模式,最少的是桉树林下种菌模式。微生物数量与有机质、有效磷和碱解氮呈正相关关系。由于土壤养分和微生物数量的变化趋势不一致,因此在研究林下经济过程中应将二者结合起来。     

晋西苹果与大豆间作系统土壤养分分布特征

为了研究晋西黄土区果农间作系统中土壤养分分布特征,选取研究区具有典型代表性的4,6和8年生苹果(Malus pumila)+大豆(Glycine max)间作系统为研究对象,对间作系统土壤养分(速效钾、速效磷、有机质、全氮)含量进行了定位、定量监测。结果表明:(1)在垂直方向上,不同树龄苹果+大豆间作系统速效钾、速效磷和有机质含量均随着土层深度增加而减少,而全氮含量表现为先增加再减少;(2)在水平方向上,随着距树行距离的增加,4年生间作系统与6年生间作系统土壤养分总体上呈现"W"型分布,而在8年生间作系统中呈现"M"型分布(全氮除外),极值分别出现在距树行1.5,2.5,3.5m处,且极大值点养分含量与极小值点含量有显著差异(p0.05);(3)随着树龄增长,果树与农作物的养分竞争关系逐渐发生变化,且在8年生间作系统中养分竞争最激烈。基于间作系统土壤养分特征,建议在田间施肥管理时,应以施氮肥为主,且随着树龄的增长应该适时增大复合界面的距离或停止复合经营。     

Utilization of biochar impregnated with anaerobically digested slurry as slow‐release fertilizer

We examined the possibility of an environment‐friendly slow‐release fertilizer (SRF) made of biochar impregnated by anaerobically digested slurry. The biochar materials were produced from three types of feedstocks (orange peel, residual wood, water‐treatment sludge) at different temperatures of 300°C, 500°C, and 700°C via pyrolysis. The release behaviors of the water‐soluble K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺ were similar for all impregnated biochars and the commercial SRF used. The water‐retention capacity was greatly improved by mixing the biochar‐SRF with the soil. The yield of lettuce was lower for the biochar‐SRF applications of 3.7 to 34.2 t ha^–1 than for the commercial SRF application of 51.4 t ha^–1. This might be due to excessive increase of soil pH for the biochar‐SRF application. Based on these results, the authors concluded that the biochar impregnated with nutrients could become an effective slow‐release K⁺ fertilizer.     

AM真菌对田间山银花生长、矿质营养及绿原酸含量的影响

Lonicera confusa, a traditional Chinese medicine herb for treating cold, flu, acute fever, and so forth, is often grown artificially in acidic soils and suffers from phosphorus (P) deficiency. A five-year field experiment was carried out to study the colonization rate, growth, nutrition, and chlorogenic acid content of Lonicera confusa seedlings inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, Glomus etunicatum and Glomus intraradices. Before transplanting into a field, both AM-inoculated and uninoculated control plants were cultured in nursery beds. In the plants inoculated with the AM fungi, the colonization rate decreased linearly with time and a greater decrease was observed in the plants inoculated with G. intraradices than with G. etunicatum, while the AM colonization increased from 0% to 12.1% in the uninoculated control plants 5 years after transplanting. Plant height, crown diameter, number of new branches, and flower yield increased significantly by AM inoculation as compared to the uninoculated control. Phosphorus concentrations in leaves and flowers increased, and plant uptake of nutrients, e.g., nitrogen (N), P, and potassium (K), was also enhanced significantly by AM inoculation. The Lonicera confusa seedlings had a better response to inoculation of G. intraradices than G. etunicatum in both growth and chlorogenic acid content in flowers. In contrast, both plant P uptake and P concentrations in leaves and flowers were similar between two fungal inoculations. The positive responses of Lonicera confusa to AM inoculation in growth, nutrient uptake, flowering, and chlorogenic acid content in flowers suggested that AM inoculation in nursery beds could promote the plant growth and increase chlorogenic acid content in flowers of Lonicera confusa when grown on acidic and P-deficient soils.     

绿色保湿增肥块的土壤保湿效果研究

为了减少土壤水分蒸发和增加土壤养分含量,通过盆装试验,研究了绿色保湿增肥块的保湿效果。绿色保湿增肥块由有机秸秆与保水剂黏合压制而成,吸水后会迅速膨胀分解,在土壤中形成透气层,为植物根的生长提供有利的条件。试验结果表明:绿色保湿增肥块能够有效地减少土壤水分的蒸发,平均蒸发量处理Ⅰ为35.82 g/2d,处理Ⅱ为33.79 g/2d,分别比对照的37.59 g/2d减小了4.94%和11.25%;与对照相比,试验结束时处理Ⅰ和处理Ⅱ的土壤含水量分别提高了14.24%和30.63%。本试验中温度和空气湿度是影响土壤水分蒸发的主要因素,最大蒸发量为145 g/2d,最小蒸发量为0,变化较大。     

Ureolytic Activity of Soybean and Corn Residue Extracts

The enzyme urease is responsible for the rapid hydrolysis of urea in agroecosystems where more than 50% of the applied nitrogen (N) can be lost via ammonia volatilization. The objectives of the study were to (1) extract urease from corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) and (2) compare the urease activity from soybean and corn residues to Jackbean (Canavalia ensiformis) urease using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTI-R). Concentrations of urea and sodium bicarbonate ranging from 0 to 200 mM were analyzed with FTI-R to determine the correlation to peak height. Bicarbonate produced the most responsive peaks to concentration at 1,362 cm^?1. Urease extracted from soybean residue was active, producing a bicarbonate peak at 1362 cm^?1, whereas no urease activity was observed in corn residue. Variation among urease activities in crop residues could suggest a need for more precise nitrogen management in conservation tillage agroecosystems to reduce ammonia volatilization.