Effects of bark mulch and npk fertilizer on yield,leaf nutrient status and soil mineral nitrogen during three years of strawberry production

The effects of bark mulch and NPK fertilizers on yield and leaf and soil nutrient status of ‘Korona’ strawberry plants (Fragaria×ananassa Duch.), were studied over a period of three years. A significant effect of mulching was found in the first harvest year, but additional fertilizer did not affect total yield. Bark mulch slightly decreased the level of leaf nitrogen, but increased the level of leaf phosphorus and potassium in all years. Bark had a significant, negative effect on soil nitrate and ammonium content in the two first seasons. Mulching increased the soil moisture content in all years.     

How does the landscape context of occurrence data influence models of invasion risk? A comparison of independent datasets in Massachusetts,USA

The spatial distribution of non-native, invasive plants on the landscape is strongly influenced by human action. People introduce non-native species to new landscapes and regions (propagule pressure) as well as increase ecosystem invasibility through disturbance of native ecosystems. However, the relative importance of different landscape drivers of invasion may vary with landscape context (i.e., the types and amounts of surrounding land cover and land use). If so, data collected in one context may not be appropriate for predicting invasion risk across a broader landscape. To test whether independent occurrence datasets suggest similar landscape drivers of invasion, we compared landscape models based on data compiled by the Invasive Plant Atlas of New England (IPANE), which are contributed opportunistically by trained citizen scientists, to models based on Forest Stewardship plans (FSPs), which are located in privately owned and relatively undisturbed forests. We evaluated 16 landscape variables related to propagule pressure and/or disturbance for significant predictors of invasive plant presence based on presence/absence and count regression models. Presence and richness of invasive plants within FSPs was most influenced by proportion of open land and proximity to residential areas, which are both sources of propagules in forest interiors. In contrast, IPANE invasive plant presence and richness for the same area was influenced by distance to roads and streams. These results suggest that landscape drivers of invasion vary considerably depending on landscape context, and the choice of occurrence dataset will strongly influence model results.     

Heterogeneity of bacterial populations and pesticide degradation potentials in the unsaturated zone of loamy and sandy soils

Soil microbial processes play an important role in relation to pesticide pollution of groundwater, and may be strongly influenced by hydrological and geochemical properties. The consequences of such heterogeneous environments on bacterial biomass, enzymatic activities, carbon utilisation patterns, and pesticide mineralisation potentials in the unsaturated zone of a sandy loam and a coarse sandy soil profile were studied. In sandy loam soil profiles the number of bacteria decreased from 10⁹ cells g^-1 in the surface layers to about 10⁷ cells g^-1 at 1.5-5 m depth. Simultaneously, the hydrolysis of fluorescein diacetate and arylsulfatase activity decreased to below the detection limit at about 1.5 m depth, and carbon utilisation patterns showed that bacterial populations from surface soil were significantly different from those from 4 m depth. Bacterial biomass and activity in macropore soil tended to be slightly higher than in matrix soil, and the carbon utilisation patterns of bacterial populations extracted from macropore soil and from matrix soil seemed to be different. Maximally 3% of ¹⁴C-labelled mecoprop and isoproturon was mineralised in soil from the 1-1.5 m depth, and less than 1.5% was mineralised in soil from the 3.5-4 m depth. The macropore soil tended to have a higher degradation potential than the matrix soil. The total number of bacteria in the coarse sandy soil profile decreased from about 10⁸ in the plough layer to 10⁷ cells g^-1 at 0.4-2 m. The enzymatic activities and the degradation potentials of ¹⁴C-labelled mecoprop and isoproturon were significantly correlated (r² >0.79) and showed a distinct decrease at about 0.4 m. In addition to the depth variability, a horizontal heterogeneity in this soil was observed as horizons or compartments that differed in colour, i.e. with different chemical composition and concentrations of Fe and organic matter. Counts of viable bacteria and measurements of fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis and arylsulfatase activity confirmed a high variability of microbial biomass and activity in the sandy soil profile.     

A general model for assessment of the carbon sequestration potential of afforestation projects

Among the objectives of afforestation projects, carbon sequestration is attracting increasing political attention. Therefore, there is a need for understanding the carbon sequestration ??mechanism?? and for ex-ante assessment of the sequestration potential of afforestation projects. Such assessment must be based on parameter estimates that are inherently uncertain, making the basis for applying an advanced sequestration model weak. This paper presents a transparent, simple and general model for quantification of the carbon sequestration in afforestation projects. The model can easily be modified so as to fit specific conditions, and it is held sufficiently reliable when taking into account the ex-ante character of the decision problem. The use of the model is exemplified by application to a yield table for Sitka spruce. Limitations of the model framework and its application in combination with scenarios of climate change are discussed.     

关于内蒙古大兴安岭林区大径材培育的探讨

文章通过对内蒙古大兴安岭林区培育大径材的目的、意义、必要性及方法等方面的分析,论述了大径级材培育是促进林区生态、经济和社会协调发展的有力措施。     

Isotopic fractionation of stratospheric nitrous oxide

We propose an isotopic fractionation mechanism, based on photolytic destruction, to explain the 15N/14N and 18O/16O fractionation of stratospheric nitrous oxide (N2O) and reconcile laboratory experiments with atmospheric observations. The theory predicts that (i) the isotopomers 15N14N16O and 14N15N16O have very different isotopic fractionations in the stratosphere, and (ii) laboratory photolysis experiments conducted at 205 nanometers should better simulate the observed isotopic fractionation of stratospheric N2O. Modeling results indicate that there is no compelling reason to invoke a significant chemical source of N2O in the middle atmosphere and that individual N2O isotopomers might be useful tracers of stratospheric air parcel motion.