Nitrous oxide emission from a transplanted rice field in alluvial soil as influenced by management of nitrogen fertiliser

We investigated nitrous oxide (N₂O) emission from an irrigated rice field over two years to evaluate the management of nitrogenous fertiliser and its effect on reducing emissions. Four forms of nitrogenous fertilisers: NPK at the recommended application rate, starch–urea matrix (SUM) + PK, neem‐coated urea + PK and urea alone (urea without coating) were used. Gas samples were collected from the field at weekly intervals with the static chamber technique. N₂O emissions from different treatments ranged from 11.58 to 215.81 N₂O‐N μg/m²/h, and seasonal N₂O emissions from 2.83 to 3.89 kg N₂O‐N/ha. Compared with other fertilisers, N₂O emissions were greatest after the application of the conventional NPK fertiliser. Moreover, SUM + PK reduced total N₂O emissions by 22.33% (P < 0.05) compared with NPK during the rice‐growing period (P < 0.05). The results indicate a strong correlation between N₂O emissions and soil organic carbon, nitrate, ammonium, above‐ and below‐ground plant biomass and photosynthesis (P < 0.05). The application of SUM + PK in rice fields is suitable as a means of reducing N₂O emissions without affecting grain production.     

Effect of Conditioning Zinc Sulfate Heptahydrate (ZnSHH) with Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Neem Oil on Growth,Productivity, Zinc Biofortification of Grain and Zinc Uptake by Basmati Rice

Commercial grade zinc (Zn) sulfate hepta hydrate (ZnSHH) is the most widely used source of Zn in India and several other countries for amelioration of Zn deficiency in crops. However, it releases water of hydration at temperature above 30°C and forms lumps on storage, which make it difficult to handle it and apply in fields. Therefore, conditioning of ZnSHH with ZnO and neem oil reduces the release of water of hydration and prevents lumps formation and can be well stored. Field experiments were conducted at the research farm of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India during rice growing seasons (July-November) of 2009 and 2010 to study the effect of conditioning ZnSHH with ZnO and neem oil on growth, productivity and Zn fortification of rice (Oryza sativa) grain and uptake by Basmati rice ‘Pusa 1121’. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with 3 replications comprised of 9 treatments of Zn fertilization. The present study shows that when conditioned with 2% ZnO and 4% neem oil ZnSHH improved yield attributes, grain and straw yields, Zn uptake and partial factor productivity (PFP), agronomic efficiency (AE), recovery efficiency (RE), and physiological efficiency (PE) of Zn in Basmati rice ‘Pusa 1121’. In general, ZnO was inferior to ZnSHH. Application of ZnSHH conditioned with 2% ZnO and 4% neem oil can be a better source of Zn for transplanted puddled Basmati rice on Zn deficient soils.     

印楝提取物对光肩星天牛成虫生物活性的影响

为寻求防治光肩星天牛有效的生物农药,本研究测定了不同浓度的印楝素对光肩星天牛成虫生物活性的影响。光肩星天牛取食含印楝素浓度为10、50、100、150和200μg/mL的印楝提取物处理的垂柳枝条,结果表明:印楝提取物对光肩星天牛有不同程度的拒食作用,并且抑制其产卵及卵孵化。提取物的浓度越高,效果越明显。当印楝素浓度为150和200μg/mL时,选择性取食效果均大于100%;每对天牛12 d的产卵量分别为6.11和4.17粒,对照为24.50粒,各处理组与对照组之间的产卵量存在显著差异(P<0.05);孵化率分别为14.63%和0,对照组卵孵化率为98%,各处理组卵孵化率和对照组之间有显著差异(P<0.05),且处理组卵孵化期较对照组延长了5 d。     

The insecticidal and acaricidal actions of compounds fromAzadirachta indica (A. Juss.) and their use in tropical pest management

The pest control potential demonstrated by various extracts and compounds isolated from the kernels and leaves of the neem plant (Azadirachta indica) A. Juss. (Meliaceae) seem to be of tremendous importance for agriculture in developing countries. Laboratory and field trial data have revealed that neem extracts are toxic to over 400 species of insect pests some of which have developed resistance to conventional pesticides, e.g. sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn. Diptera: Aleyrodidae), the diamond back moth (Plutella xylostella L. Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) and cattle ticks (Amblyomma cajennense F. Acarina: Ixodidae andBoophilus microplus Canestrini. Acarina: Ixodidae). The compounds isolated from the neem plant manifest their effects on the test organisms in many ways, e.g. as antifeedants, growth regulators, repellents, toxicants and chemosterilants. This review strives to assess critically the pest control potential of neem extracts and compounds for their use in the tropics. This assessment is based on the information available on the wide range of pests against which neem extracts and compounds have proven to be toxic, toxicity to non-target organisms, e.g. parasitoids, pollinators, mammals and fish, formulations, stability and phytotoxicity.     

印楝提取物防治桑天牛的林间试验

以桑天牛成虫Apriona germari Hope喜食的构树为引诱树6株，选取一块与周围树林相对孤立的杨树林为试验地，试验地面积约为0．13hm^2，设引诱树6株，胸径8～10cm。每年1次将2g含30％印楝素的印楝种核提取物配成制剂，注入构树中，进行防治桑天牛林间试验。结果表明：注药前，对照虫株率(57．50％)与处理虫株率(56．41％)之间差异不显著。注药1a后处理林的虫株率下降至38．46％，对照林的虫株率增加到70．00％；2a后，处理林的虫株率下降到23．08％，对照林的虫株率达82．50％。讨论了应用天然化合物防治林木害虫的优点和前景。     

印楝种源间抗寒能力比较研究

通过组织褐变法、膜脂脂肪酸含量分析和电导法配合Logistic方程求拐点温度的方法,对引种的4个种源抗寒力进行研究评价。结果表明:(1)印楝是一种不耐寒的植物,0℃以下的短暂低温可对其嫩叶造成伤害,低于-1℃保持1h即可造成部分幼苗死亡;(2)印楝种源间抗寒能力差异不显著;(3)叶膜脂脂肪酸组成含量与抗寒力大小无明显相关关系;(4)印楝4种源半致死温度分别为-1 651、-1 675、-1 750、-1 682℃。根据上述试验研究和冷冻处理实验结果,4个印楝种源抗寒力大小排序为IND95003>IND95004>IND95001>IND95002,在我国有低温寒害的地区引种印楝应该慎重,在轻霜地区可选择抗寒力稍强的IND95003种源先行试验性引种。     

Effect of levels and sources of nitrogen on concentration and uptake of nitrogen by a high yielding variety and a hybrid of rice

Field experiments were made on a sandy clay loam soil at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to study the effect of levels and sources of nitrogen on concentration and uptake of nitrogen by a high yielding variety Pusa 834 and a hybrid PRH3 of rice. Nitrogen concentration in hybrid PRH 3 remained lower than in Pusa 834, but N uptake was significantly more in the hybrid PRH 3. Nitrogen fertilization increased N concentration as well as N uptake by rice. At 30 days after transplanting (DAT) N uptake was more in Pusa 834, but at 60 DAT and at harvest hybrid PRH 3 recorded significantly more N uptake than Pusa 834. Use of neem oil blended urea (PNGU) and neem coated urea (NCU) increased N concentration and uptake by rice in both Pusa 834 and hybrid PRH 3. Use of neem coated/blended urea is recommended for rice.     

印楝素强化浸提试验研究

印楝素为热敏性差的物质,印楝种子含油率高达20%,需在低温和强化条件下浸出。试验表明,浸前是否榨油对印楝浸出速度无明显影响,在超声波强化浸出条件下,40min的浸出率相当于常规2h的浸出率。若浸出时间都为2h,应用超声波强化浸出印楝素的浸出率高达95%,而常规浸出印楝素的浸出率只有84%,超声波强化浸出的效果非常显著。     

Breakdown of azadirachtin A in a tropical soil amended with neem leaves and animal manures

A field investigation was conducted to assess the breakdown of azadirachtin A in a tropical coastal savanna soil amended with neem leaves （NL） combined with poultry manure （PM） or cow dung （CD） using gas chromatography. Samples in polythene bags 15 cm long and 4.8 cm in diameter were randomly placed to a depth of 14 cm in the soil, and azadirachtin A concentration was assessed on days 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84. Azadirachtin A degradation in the soil followed first-order reaction kinetics with different half-lives obtained for varying combinations of the amendments. Higher neem amendment levels of 100 g gave shorter half-lives of azadirachtin A than the lower levels of 50 g. Within the 50 g NL group the additions of the poultry manure and the cow dung gave significantly shorter （P 〈0.05） half-lives of azadirachtin A than the sole neem amendment, whereas in the 100 g NL group only additions of 10 g CD and 10 g PM were significantly less （P 〈 0.05） than the sole neem amendment. Different changes resulting from the kind and quantity of animal manure added were observed in the half-lives of azadirachtin A. The 100 g NL group had significantly higher （P 〈0.05） moisture content, which, coupled with the likely differeaces in microbial biomass, could be the major factor responsible for variations in the half-llfe of the compound. Therefore, the quantity of the neem leaves applied and the addition of animal manure affected the breakdown of azadirachtin A in the soil amended with neem leaves.