Nutrient availability and corn growth in a poultry litter biochar‐amended loam soil in a greenhouse experiment

Nutrient‐rich biochar produced from animal wastes, such as poultry litter, may increase plant growth and nutrient uptake although the role of direct and indirect mechanisms, such as stimulation of the activity of mycorrhizal fungi and plant infection, remains unclear. The effects of poultry litter biochar in combination with fertilizer on mycorrhizal infection, soil nutrient availability and corn (Zea mays L.) growth were investigated by growing corn in a loam soil in a greenhouse with biochar (0, 5 and 10 Mg/ha) and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer (0, half and full rates). Biochar did not affect microbial biomass C or N, mycorrhizal infection, or alkaline phosphomonoesterase activities, but acid phosphomonoesterase activities, water‐soluble P, Mehlich‐3 Mg, plant height, aboveground and root biomass, and root diameter were greater with 10 Mg/ha than with no biochar. Root length, volume, root tips and surface area were greatest in the fully fertilized soil receiving 10 Mg/ha biochar compared to all other treatments. The 10 Mg/ha biochar application may have improved plant access to soil nutrients by promoting plant growth and root structural features, rather than by enhancing mycorrhizal infection rates.     

Variation in cooking and eating quality traits in Japanese rice germplasm accessions

The eating quality of cooked rice is important and determines its market price and consumer acceptance. To comprehensively describe the variation of eating quality in 183 rice germplasm accessions, we evaluated 33 eating-quality traits including amylose and protein contents, pasting properties of rice flour, and texture of cooked rice grains. All eating-quality traits varied widely in the germplasm accessions. Principal-components analysis (PCA) revealed that allelic differences in the Wx gene explained the largest proportion of phenotypic variation of the eating-quality traits. In 146 accessions of non-glutinous temperate japonica rice, PCA revealed that protein content and surface texture of the cooked rice grains significantly explained phenotypic variations of the eating-quality traits. An allelic difference based on simple sequence repeats, which was located near a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on the short arm of chromosome 3, was associated with differences in the eating quality of non-glutinous temperate japonica rice. These results suggest that eating quality is controlled by genetic factors, including the Wx gene and the QTL on chromosome 3, in Japanese rice accessions. These genetic factors have been consciously selected for eating quality during rice breeding programs in Japan.     

Assessing spillover from marine protected areas and its drivers: A meta‐analytical approach

Overfishing may seriously impact fish populations and ecosystems. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are key tools for biodiversity conservation and fisheries management, yet the fisheries benefits remain debateable. Many MPAs include a fully protected area (FPA), restricting all activities, within a partially protected area (PPA) where potentially sustainable activities are permitted. An effective tool for biodiversity conservation, FPAs, can sustain local fisheries via spillover, that is the outward export of individuals from FPAs. Spillover refers to both: “ecological spillover”: outward net emigration of juveniles, subadults and/or adults from the FPA; and “fishery spillover”: the fraction of ecological spillover that directly benefits fishery yields and revenues through fishable biomass. Yet, how common is spillover remains controversial. We present a meta‐analysis of a unique global database covering 23 FPAs worldwide, using published literature and purposely collected field data, to assess the capacity of FPAs to export biomass and whether this response was mediated by specific FPA features (e.g. size, age) or species characteristics (e.g. mobility, economic value). Results show fish biomass and abundance outside FPAs was higher: (a) in locations close to FPA borders (<200 m) than further away (>200 m); (b) for species with a high commercial value; and (c) in the presence of PPA surrounding the FPA. Spillover was slightly higher in FPAs that were larger and older and for more mobile species. Based on the broadest data set compiled to date on marine species ecological spillover beyond FPAs' borders, our work highlights elements that could guide strategies to enhance local fishery management using MPAs.     

北美温带玉米杂交种选系的遗传多样性研究

利用SSR标记对北美温带玉米杂交种选育的24个自交系和我国生产应用的10类骨干代表系进行遗传多样性评价。结果表明,54对SSR引物在48份玉米自交系间共检测到290个等位基因变异,每对引物检测出3~9个等位基因,平均为5.4个。每个位点的多态性信息量(PIC)变化于0.29~0.86之间,平均为0.70。标记索引系数(MI)变化范围0.86~7.45,平均为3.86。供试北美温带选系和其他类群的玉米种质均具有较丰富的遗传多样性。3个杂交种选系的遗传相似系数中3号选系最小(0.776),说明3号较其余两个杂交种选系的遗传差异大。根据SSR标记聚类分析、主坐标分析和遗传进化分析结果表明,北美温带选系和其他种质的48份玉米自交系划分为6大类群,分类结果与系谱来源基本一致。     

温带草原区气候变化及其对植被影响的研究进展

为了深入研究温带草原区气候变化及其对自然-社会-经济系统的影响、系统响应及适应,回顾了温带草原区气候主要要素（如温度、降雨）与旱灾的变化及未来区域气候趋势预测等方面的研究进展,重点总结了气候变化对温带草原植被影响的最新研究成果。研究发现,温带草原区呈现总体气温明显升高,降水区域差异显著,干旱年份增多、旱灾增加的变化趋势。受此影响,植物物候、生理特征、生产力、覆盖度等发生明显的变化。最后指出,在气候变化核心要素预测、研究的时空尺度等方面还不完善,今后应重视开展大尺度气候变化的时空格局,微地形下气候变化的时空异质性等方面研究,同时加强气候变化对草原植被的影响与生态系统响应以及气候变化适应等方面的研究。     

耕作措施对温带半干旱地区土壤温室气体(CO2、CH4、N2O)通量的影响

通过设置在甘肃省定西市李家堡镇的不同耕作措施试验, 利用CO₂分析仪、静态箱-气相色谱法对双序列轮作次序下春小麦地、豌豆地生育期内CO₂、CH₄和N₂O通量进行了测定。试验结果表明: 4种耕作措施下春小麦地和豌豆地在生育期内均表现为CO₂源、N₂O源和CH₄汇的功能。传统耕作不覆盖、免耕不覆盖、免耕秸秆覆盖和传统耕作结合秸秆还田下, 春小麦生育期内平均土壤CO₂通量(μmol·m^-2·s^-1)分别为0.203 6、0.221 2、0.241 8、0.224 9, CH₄通量(mg·m^-2·h^-1)分别为-0.041 6、-0.078 0、-0.081 8、-0.053 7, N₂O通量(mg·m^-2·h^-1)分别为0.089 1、0.069 2、0.046 1、0.065 6; 豌豆生育期内平均土壤CO₂通量(μmol·m^-2·s^-1)分别为0.273 6、0.261 6、0.218 1、0.236 0, CH₄通量(mg·m^-2·h^-1)分别为-0.055 0、-0.073 7、-0.066 2、-0.054 5, N₂O通量(mg·m^-2·h^-1)分别为0.123 4、0.084 7、0.080 6、0.035 0。少免耕及小麦秸秆覆盖有利于减少土壤CO₂排放通量, 免耕不覆盖、免耕秸秆覆盖及传统耕作结合秸秆还田均能不同程度地增加CH₄吸收通量、减少N₂O排放通量。综合来看, 免耕不覆盖、免耕秸秆覆盖和传统耕作结合秸秆还田3种保护性耕作措施有助于减少土壤温室气体的排放量。春小麦地CO₂通量随着土壤温度、土壤含水量的逐渐升高而增大; CH₄吸收通量随着土壤含水量的逐渐升高而增大, 而随着土壤温度的逐渐升高而减小。豌豆地CO₂通量的变化与土壤含水量存在极显著正相关关系; 而春小麦地N₂O通量则与平均土壤温度呈显著正相关, 豌豆地则为极显著正相关。     

内蒙古汉玛国家级自然保护区种子植物区系研究

在样地调查和标本采集鉴定的基础上,对内蒙古汉玛自然保护区种子植物的组成、分布区类型和区系特征进行了分析。结果表明:保护区有种子植物57科188属414种,其中裸子植物2科4属5种,被子植物55科184属409种;种子植物区系属于温带性质,且深受东北植物区系的影响,同时有蒙古植物区系成分渗透,因此本区植物区系复杂,区系成分多样性显著,具有交错性质。     

氮素化学形态及添加剂量对温带森林土壤N2O排放的影响

土壤中氮形态和氮剂量的有效性是影响土壤氧化亚氮(N₂O)排放的重要因子。为了提高氮素化学形态及添加剂量对温带森林土壤N₂O排放的影响,本研究在北京林业大学实验林场,以温带油松林土壤为研究对象,通过野外氮添加控制实验,采用静态箱/气相色谱法分析不同水平(对照,CK:0 kg/(hm2·a); 低氮,LN:50 kg/(hm2·a); 中氮,MN:100 kg/(hm2·a); 高氮,HN:150 kg/(hm2·a))和不同形态(混合态氮,AN:NH₄NO₃; 铵态氮,As:(NH₄)₂SO₄; 硝态氮,Na:NaNO₃)的氮添加对温带油松林土壤N₂O排放通量的影响。结果表明:氮添加处理样地N₂O排放表现出明显的季节性变化特征,排放高峰出现在6—8月,其他季节土壤N₂O排放通量相对较低,最小值出现在1月。不同氮添加处理均促进了土壤N₂O的排放:在不同水平的氮添加下,随着氮添加水平的增加,土壤N₂O排放通量也升高,表现为HN＞MN＞LN＞CK。不同形态的氮输入对N₂O排放的促进作用表现为:AN＞As＞Na,As添加与AN和Na添加没有显著差异(P>0.05),但AN添加与Na添加之间差异显著(P＜0.05)。此外,空气温度、土壤温度和土壤孔隙含水量也可以影响土壤N₂O的排放。年度土壤N₂O排放系数范围是0.34%~0.94%,年均排放系数为0.364%,低于联合国政府间气候变化委员会(IPCC)推荐的默认值。      

寒温带兴安落叶松林不同林型土壤微生物群落特征

为了研究不同林型兴安落叶松林土壤微生物生物量和群落结构特征,探讨土壤微生物生物量、群落结构的分布规律以及影响因子,选择了4个典型兴安落叶松林,即藓类兴安落叶松林、杜香兴安落叶松林、草类兴安落叶松林和杜鹃兴安落叶松林,采用磷脂脂肪酸生物标记法分析4个林型的土壤微生物量和群落组成。结果表明:4个林型中共检测出10种类型51种不完全分布的磷脂脂肪酸(PLFAs)生物标记,微生物量由多到少的排序为细菌、真菌、放线菌。4个林型中微生物总生物量、细菌生物量是藓类兴安落叶松林最高,草类兴安落叶松林最低;真菌生物量为杜香兴安落叶松林最高,草类兴安落叶松林最低;放线菌生物量为杜鹃兴安落叶松林最高,草类兴安落叶松林最低。冗余分析显示,土壤含水率对细菌影响最大,全钾、速效钾质量分数对真菌影响最大,土壤有机碳和碱解氮质量分数对放线菌影响最大。从而表明,寒温带兴安落叶松林不同林型的土壤微生物生物量和群落存在差异,土壤微生物群落与土壤性质之间具有相关性。     

欧亚温带草原东缘生态样带研究探讨

为揭示全球变化与欧亚温带草原东缘生态系统的关系,提出沿着从中国长城至俄罗斯贝加尔湖设置一条经向样带,主要表征欧亚大陆东缘经向热量梯度,反映受大陆性气候控制下的草原地带的生态系列.沿样带开展生物地球化学过程、能量交换、植被结构动态、气候—植被、放牧—草地—牧草驯化、土地利用格局与管理、模型模拟等研究工作,对于加深气候变化和人为影响对草原生态系统的发生、发展、利用及演变规律的影响的认识,增强对气候变化的减缓和适应能力,具有非常重要的意义.