去除养殖水体悬浮颗粒的多向流重力沉淀装置设计及性能

为了高效去除循环水养殖系统中的固体悬浮颗粒物,研发了多向流重力沉淀装置,并对其水力特性及相关结构参数进行试验研究。该文以固体悬浮颗粒物去除率为试验指标,设计了5～40 min的水力停留时间（hydraulic retention time,HRT）及斜管填料规格参数的双因素试验。结果显示,随着HRT增加,多向流重力沉淀装置的固体悬浮颗粒物去除率呈显著上升的阶段性变化特征,但以HRT为20 min时沉淀装置的综合处理效果最优,最高平均去除率可达（58.57 %±10.12 %）,其中粒径小于20 μm的微颗粒去除率为19.5%,粒径大于60 μm的微颗粒去除率高达90.3 %;较小的斜管直径可显著提高多向流重力沉淀装置的固体悬浮颗粒物去除率,而斜管高度对去除率无显著影响。多向流重力沉淀装置用于去除循环水养殖系统中的固体悬浮颗粒物,是一种行之有效的方法。     

泡沫分离器去除养殖循环水中不同粒径细微颗粒物的效果

为高效去除循环水养殖中的细微颗粒物,通过试验优化射流式泡沫分离器的水力停留时间和进气量,并结合相关理论研究分析不同粒径区间颗粒物的去除情况。以孔径125μm转鼓式微滤机出水口的水体作为泡沫分离原样进行批处理试验,以颗粒物去除率为指标优化水力停留时间和进气量;以4个粒径区间≤10、(29)10~50、(29)50~90和(29)90μm的颗粒物质量浓度变化率为指标分析各区间的颗粒物去除情况。养殖水中细微颗粒物在泡沫分离时,细化气泡和增加水力停留时间在提高去除率中会达到极值,水力停留时间和进气量对颗粒物去除率有显著影响,水力停留时间为2.0 min和进气量为1.3 L/min时,去除率较高为(34.06%±4.37%);泡沫分离对粒径≤90μm的颗粒物都有较好的去除作用,且对粒径≤10和(29)50~90μm的颗粒物去除率相对较高,而对粒径(29)90μm的颗粒物去除较困难。     

梯级溢流堰对入湖河流水环境的影响

为控制和削减进入受纳水体的径流污染负荷,根据贵州山区河流落差大的特点,开发了山区污染河水梯级溢流堰生态净化技术,并进行了工程示范。结果表明:梯级溢流堰系统对总磷、总氮、氨氮、有机质和悬浮颗粒物的平均去除率分别为76.62%、57.77%、71.96%、61.38%和59.60%,所有水质指标都好于工程实施前,改善的幅度在17%⁷1%。此外,河道梯级溢流堰系统管理简单,建设成本低,基本不需运行费。因此,梯级溢流堰系统是一种适用于贵州喀斯特山区污染河流净化的生态技术,具有重要的推广应用价值。     

用于池塘养殖尾水处理的串联式旋流器水动力特性及分离效率

为了将多级旋流分离技术应用于池塘养殖尾水处理，并解决旋流器的水力停留时间短、分离效率低等问题，根据池塘养殖南美白对虾的尾水特点，结合工业标准150旋流分离器的结构参数，设计了一种串联式旋流分离器。该研究基于欧拉-拉格朗日方法，结合雷诺应力湍流模型与离散相模型，建立了串联式旋流分离器的三维两相内流场数值计算模型。在对比试验数据验证计算方法有效性和流场网格独立性的基础上，分析了进水口流量、锥角、颗粒粒径和密度等参数对旋流器的流场特征和分离效率的影响机制，并提出了多级"旋流+过滤"组合式池塘养殖尾水固液分离技术。研究表明：随着进水口流量在一定范围内增加，两级旋流器内流场的切向速度、轴向速度、分流比、压力降均增大，涡流强度增强，对于粒径为75 μm颗粒物的分离效率明显提高，而对于粒径为5 μm颗粒物的分离效率变化不显著；随着旋流器的锥角减小，水流阻力、压力降和分流比均降低，有助于增加颗粒物在旋流区的停留时间，从而提高其分离效率；随着颗粒物的密度和粒径增大，旋流器的分离效率提高，对粒径为75μm沉淀物的分离效率可达80%，对同粒径悬浮物的分离效率约为60%，但对于粒径为5 μm的2类颗粒物而言，分离效率的差别较小，均低于30%。研究结果可为串联式旋流器的结构优化设计及其在池塘水产养殖尾水处理中的应用提供理论依据。     

柴油机排放颗粒物的热重特性分析

为了解不同粒径颗粒物在特定氛围下的氧化特性,该文利用MOUDI采样器收集到的柴油机颗粒物,在纯N2及纯O2环境下,对0.18～0.32、0.32～0.56、0.56～1.00和1.00～1.80 μm 4个粒径级颗粒分别进行热重分析试验。结果表明,随着粒径级的增大,颗粒物中水分和SOF（soluble organic fraction）的含量下降,而干碳烟（soot）和无机盐的含量增加。在纯N2氛围下,颗粒在SOF挥发阶段随着颗粒物粒径级减小,其SOF含量和失重峰值速率随之增加;但在soot热解阶段不同粒径级的失重速率趋同。程序升温终了时,各粒径级颗粒的热重曲线在纯N2氛围下缓滞停在不同位置,而在纯O2氛围下则渐趋归一。随着颗粒物粒径级的减小,热重曲线呈下降趋势,颗粒越细则越易升温（氧化）失重;而在纯O2氛围下,各粒径级在SOF挥发阶段表现出与纯N2氛围下一致的规律但失重速率峰值明显增加。在soot热解阶段,随着颗粒物粒度减小,比表面积增加使其吸附氧的能力增加,发生化学反应的活性增大,颗粒氧化的起燃温度降低,且起燃时刻对应的失重速率增加;各粒径级颗粒物的失重速率峰值出现在600～640℃之间,随着颗粒物粒径增大其soot所占含量随之增多,热解失重速率峰值亦显著增加。研究结果可为颗粒物处理的技术措施提供基础物性数据,有助于推动颗粒物处理装置的改进和优化。     

菹草对水体悬浮泥沙及氮、磷污染物的净化

利用冬春季沉水植物菹草构建的阶梯式水生植物系统研究了其对水体悬浮泥沙及氮、磷污染物的净化效果。结果表明：由菹草构成的生态物理模型系统对挟沙水体氮、磷负荷以及泥沙含量具有较好的改善作用,菹草系统前后总氮负荷分别为0.746 mg/L和0.622 mg/L,去除率为16.57%,其中菹草净化率占6.67%;停留时间分别为24 h和48 h时,菹草系统对总磷的净化百分率分别为18.52%和22.22%,其中菹草对总磷的净化作用分别占10.83%和6.84%,因此,菹草系统对挟沙水体中氮、磷的净化,包括自身营养需求对氮、磷的吸收利用和菹草促使泥沙沉积和吸附过程中泥沙对氮、磷的携带作用两个方面。菹草系统对经过它的挟沙水体的泥沙含量具有较好的改善效果,并对平均粒径及10～25μm范围泥沙颗粒改善效果较明显。出水口挟沙水体总磷变化与悬浮泥沙含量具有较强的相关一致性（R=0.96）,说明在挟沙水体的总磷净化过程中,泥沙起到了举足轻重的作用。     

水生蔬菜对不同程度富营养化涝池水体的净化作用——以菠菜和水芹为例

[目的] 研究水生蔬菜对富营养化涝池水体的净化效果,为水生蔬菜等经济植物应用于西北农村地区富营养化封闭水体的生态修复提供新的思路和理论参考。[方法] 以菠菜（Spinacia oleracea）和水芹（Oenanthe javanica）为试验材料,采用浮床栽培的方式,探讨水生蔬菜对3种不同程度富营养化涝池水体中的氮（N）、磷（P）的净化效果。[结果] ①2种蔬菜修复富营养化涝池水体过程中各项N,P指标明显下降,试验结束后模拟涝池水体已基本上达到或优于地表水水质标准的Ⅴ类水标准,净化后的水体已经达到国家标准。②菠菜和水芹对水体中NH₄⁺-N,NO₃^--N,PO₄^3--P的平均去除率分别为94.37%,96.66%,88.95%和97.27%,94.64%,83.48%,显著高于对照（p<0.05）,对以上营养元素表现出良好的吸收效率,表明2种蔬菜可以高效净化富营养化涝池水体。③2种蔬菜对TN的去除率和日均去除速率随水体中TN浓度升高而上升,去除率和日均去除速率均为：菠菜<水芹;随TP浓度升高,菠菜对TP去除率降低,水芹对TP去除率升高,去除率和日均去除速率为：菠菜>水芹,说明水芹更适宜含高浓度N的富营养化涝池水体,菠菜更适用于含高浓度P的富营养化涝池水体。[结论] 试验条件下,菠菜和水芹对3种程度富营养化水体中TN,TP的净化效果良好,2种蔬菜的吸收对水体净化起着重要作用。     

荒漠绿洲过渡带飘尘垂直分布特征及其主要气象影响因素

利用激光尘埃粒子计数器,结合气象梯度自动观测系统,于2014年7月植物生长季获取新疆艾比湖湿地国家级自然保护区东大桥管护站附近7个高度（2,3,6,12,15,21,27 m）上6个粒径段（0.3 μm≤x < 0.5 μm,0.5 μm≤x < 1.0 μm,1.0 μm≤x < 3.0 μm,3.0 μm≤x < 5.0 μm,5.0 μm≤x < 10.0 μm,10.0 μm≤x）飘尘浓度和气象数据,探究了该区域内空气飘尘垂直分布特征与主要气象影响因素。结果表明:研究区飘尘各粒径组分中,0.3 μm≤x < 3.0 μm所占比例最高,累计贡献率高达97.6%。飘尘总浓度（0.3 μm≤x）在7个高度上的分异规律为C_3m > C_6m > C_2m > C_21m > C_27m > C_12m > C_15m,表现出中间低两头高的“哑铃效应”。气象—飘尘回归方程反演的飘尘数据与实测数据呈现显著正相关（p < 0.05）,且与实测日变化趋势基本一致。风速对飘尘浓度有极显著（p < 0.01）的双重作用,风速小于临界值有利于飘尘积累,反之促进飘尘稀释,且正反效应的临界值随高度的增加而降低;相对湿度的增加极显著（p < 0.01）地降低飘尘浓度。     

植物–微生物联合对土壤不同粒径组分中 PAHs 的修复作用

采用温室盆栽试验,在种植紫花苜蓿的同时,分别施加木霉菌剂、根瘤菌菌剂以及木霉与根瘤菌复合菌剂,并采用离心分级法将处理后土壤分为4个粒径团聚体,即细黏粒(0.1~1μm)、粗黏粒(1~5μm)、粉粒(5~50μm)以及细砂粒(50~250μm),分析了植物–微生物联合作用对不同粒径土壤中PAHs的去除效应。研究结果表明:紫花苜蓿–根瘤菌联合作用对PAHs污染土壤的修复效果最优,其降解率达60%以上。不同粒径组分中PAHs含量的分布表现为细砂粒粉粒粗黏粒细黏粒,且PAHs在不同粒径团聚体中去除率差异性较大。低环(2、3环)PAHs在各粒径组分中去除率较低(20%以下),并在不同粒径组分间呈非均衡分配状态;4环PAHs的去除主要集中在粉粒和细砂粒中,而5环PAHs的去除主要发生在细黏粒上。可见,PAHs在土壤不同粒径组分中分布特征及降解效应为进一步阐明PAHs污染土壤的生物修复机制提供了科学依据。     

球囊霉素在土壤团聚体中的分布特征及影响因素的Meta分析

为充分认识球囊霉素在维持土壤有机碳平衡和土壤团聚体稳定性中的重要作用,建立改善土壤结构 和提升土壤质量的管理策略,通过收集整理近些年来已发表的19篇文献中的332组数据,定量分析球囊霉素在不同粒径土壤团聚体中的分布特征,系统解析其影响因素,并比较了不同土地利用方式下球囊霉素在土壤团聚体中的分配差异。结果表明：无论是总球囊霉素还是易提取球囊霉素,在大团聚体（>2 000 μm）和小团聚体（2 000~250 μm）中的质量百分比（分别约占30%）均显著高于微团聚体（250~53 μm）和黏粉粒级微团聚体（<53 μm）（分别约占15%）。易提取球囊霉素占总球囊霉素的比例在粉黏粒级微团聚体（<53 μm）中更低,约为20%,其他粒径均在30%以上。球囊霉素中碳占土壤有机碳的比例在各团聚体中无显著差异,不同粒径团聚体中易提取球囊霉素约占有机碳的2%左右,而总球囊霉素约占有机碳的8%左右。大于250 μm团聚体中球囊霉素随温度和降水的增加而增加,而随着pH的增加而降低。在小于250 μm团聚体中未发现显著相关性,但发现球囊霉素随土壤有机碳增加而增加,呈显著正相关。通过比较不同利用方式的土壤,本研究还发现林地土壤各粒径团聚体中的球囊霉素均不低于耕地和草地土壤,这说明林地土壤较其他类型土壤更有利于球囊霉素的积累。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Enhanced establishment and growth of giant cardon cactus in an eroded field in the Sonoran Desert using native legume trees as nurse plants aided by plant growth-promoting microorganisms and compost

To evaluate the feasibility of long-term desert reforestation technology of mixed vegetation, cardon cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) seedlings from indoor and outdoor nurseries were planted in the field adjacent to one seedling of potential legume nurse trees: mesquite amargo (Prosopis articulata), yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla), and blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida). Some of the planting holes were also supplemented with common dairy compost. Additionally, the combinations of legume tree–cactus were inoculated with either a consortium of desert arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB; the diazotroph Azospirillum brasilense Cd, and the phosphate solubilizer Paenibacillus sp.), or a mixture of all. The field experiments were evaluated periodically during 30 months for survival and growth. Cardons reared in an outdoor screen house survived better in the field than those reared in a controlled growth chamber and hardened later outdoors. Association with any legume nurse tree increased survival and enhanced growth of untreated cardons. For cardons growing alone, application of either compost, AM fungi, and all the treatments combined increased survival. For these plants, no treatment affected plant growth during the first 3 months after transplanting. Later, all treatments, except for AM fungi, enhanced plant growth. However, only 2 years after transplanting the enhanced growth effect of AM fungi was also significant. In the presence of the legume nurse trees, transient positive effects on cardon growth were recorded. General evaluation after 30 months of cultivation showed that the treatments positively affected cardon growth when growing alone or in combination only with mesquite amargo but not with the other two legume trees. This study proposes that young legume trees have the capacity to enhance survival and growth of cardon cactus, depending on the legume cactus combination. Additional treatments such as compost or PGPB can either amplify the effect or else attenuate it.     

Karyotypic and genome size variation in Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. (pigeonpea) and some wild relatives

Detailed karyotypes and 4C DNA amounts have been studied in five cultivars of Cajanus cajan and 20 species belonging to Cajanus, Rhynchosia, Dunbaria, Flemingia and Paracalyx. C. cajan shows intraspecific variability and its karyotype is most similar to that of C. cajanifolius (sect. Cajanus) in the morphology and number of satellite chromosomes and the lack of any correlation between chromosome size within the complement and asymmetry. Karyotypes of C. lineatus and C. sericeus belonging to sect. Atylia are similar with respect to maximum r-index and the ratio of longest and shortest chromosomes in their respective complements. C. acutifolius (sect. Frutocosa) is distinct in having a very low ratio (1.44) between the longest and the shortest chromosomes, while in C. albicans, C. goensis, C. scarabaeoides (sect. Cantharospermum) there is no chromosome pair with r-index >2.0. C. mollis and C. volubilis (sect. Volubilis) show similarity with regard to ratio between the longest and the shortest chromosomes and a distinct chromosome pair with an arm ratio of 2.7 and C. platycarpus is distinct (sect. Rhynchosoides) in having the smallest ratio (1.36) between the longest and the shortest chromosomes. 4C DNA amounts in Cajanus and Rhynchosia vary between 3.28 pg to 11.69 pg and 4.92 pg to 11.13 pg respectively, while in Dunbaria, Flemingia and Paracalyx these vary between 4.70 and 7:06 pg. In the genus Cajanus karyotypic features and 4C DNA amounts agree with the sectional classification and bring out a close relationship between C. cajan and C. cajanifolius. This is supported by studies based on seed protein patterns, isozyme analysis, trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor patterns, RFLP and RAPD data and crossability relationships. A clear relation between DNA amount and abnormalities effecting the extent of pairing and recombination in interspecific hybrids shows the importance of this study in developing future breeding programme involving C. cajan and its wild relatives that are of potential value.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.