蚯蚓粪缓解草莓连作土壤障碍的作用

【目的】土壤灭菌处理已成为草莓生产中土传病害综合管理的重要措施,但是土壤灭菌明显抑制了土壤微生物的活性,影响草莓植株的生长。有机肥中含有大量的生物活性物质,尤其是蚯蚓粪。本研究通过观测连作土壤灭菌后施用不同有机肥对草莓植株地上部和地下部的影响,为减缓草莓植株生长的连作障碍提供有机肥选择。【方法】采用温室盆栽草莓模拟试验,首先在去除土壤化感效应影响基础上设置土壤灭菌和正常土壤栽培两个处理,探讨土壤灭菌对草莓植株不同阶段地上部叶片及地下部根系生长影响,在此基础上以相同连作土壤进行另一个盆栽试验,设置不灭菌土壤加无机肥料(LW)、 加牛粪(LN)、 加蚯蚓粪(LQ)处理,灭菌土壤加无机肥料(LMW)、 加牛粪(LMN)、 加蚯蚓粪(LMQ)共6个处理。调查了不同处理开花前苗期草莓植株地上部叶片及地下部根系的生长状况。【结果】土壤灭菌处理较相应未灭菌处理显著抑制了草莓花前幼苗阶段植株地下部的生长(P＜0.05),在果实成熟期、 盛果期及盛果末期植株生长均存在补长效应。土壤灭菌改变了草莓植株地上部和地下部正常的生长发育进程,植株不同发育阶段根冠比发生变化。无论连作土壤灭菌与否,施用无机肥料处理较施用有机肥处理显著抑制了根系生长(P＜0.05)。在不灭菌土壤上,施用蚯蚓粪处理草莓植株根系总长、 根系总表面积、 根尖数及根叉数与施用牛粪处理差异不显著,但灭菌土壤上,施加蚯蚓粪与施加牛粪相比,显著增加了草莓植株根系总长、 根系表面积及根叉数(P＜0.05)。【结论】蚯蚓粪与牛粪和无机肥料相比具有显著的生物活性。在草莓连作土壤灭菌后施用具有生物活性的蚯蚓粪,可以促进根系生长,缓解土壤灭菌对草莓植株生长发育的影响,是值得推荐的有效措施。     

蚯蚓原位堆肥提升番茄连作土壤质量研究

[目的]连作障碍引起的土壤质量劣变是制约种植业可持续发展的瓶颈问题之一.已有研究表明蚯蚓腐熟粪肥能有效提升连作障碍土壤质量.本研究比较了蚯蚓原位腐熟粪肥和使用异地腐熟粪肥对提高土壤理化和生物学性状的效果,以提出高效可行的蚯蚓堆肥施用模式.[方法]田间试验在宁夏连续种植5年番茄的温室内进行,供试番茄品种为'粉宴1号'.试...     

基于专利数据的连作障碍防治技术发展趋势分析

连作障碍严重影响着作物的产量和品质，研发高效的连作障碍防治技术是实现集约化农业可持续生产的关键。基于incoPat科技创新情报平台，检索并分析2000年至2019年期间国内外连作障碍防治技术的专利产出，对专利申请数量、技术构成、区域分布、主要申请人、法律状态等方面分析，揭示国内外作物连作障碍防治技术领域的研发状况、技术发展趋势和产学研情况。近年来，作物连作障碍防治技术领域专利数量急剧增加；结合现代生物和材料等新兴技术发展，新的研发充分考虑了连作障碍生物防治技术产品化和应用的结合；我国在作物连作障碍防治技术领域的专利申请机构多为企业和个人，高校和科研院所申请的专利转化率低，高校/科研院所与企业合作申请的专利数量少。连作障碍防治技术领域的应用成为焦点，生物和材料新技术成果正引入连作障碍生物防治技术的开发；中国在连作障碍防治领域的产学研合作和专利技术质量亟需加强。     

我国设施栽培连作障碍特征与成因及防治措施的研究进展

连作是目前我国设施农业的主要栽培方式,连作障碍是土壤修复的世界性难题。本文系统阐述了国内设施栽培出现的连作障碍特征(如酸化、盐渍化、养分失衡、重金属及其他有害物质积累、土传病害发生严重)与成因,并分别从农艺、生物、化学、物理4个方面简述了各种防治技术在缓解设施连作障碍过程中的作用效果。最后总结了设施连作障碍及防治技术研究中尚待解决的科学问题及研究方向,以为我国设施连作障碍的发生发展机理研究和防治技术提供科学依据。     

矿物基蚯蚓粪表面特征及其对土壤Cd钝化能力的研究

针对农田土壤镉（Cd）活性高的问题,以寻求具有良好重金属钝化特性的原位修复材料为目标,该研究以铁粉、磷矿粉和牛粪混合蚯蚓堆肥所制备的矿物基蚯蚓粪为研究对象,利用系列结构表征手段对其进行基本性质表征,并进一步分析矿物基蚯蚓粪施加下土壤对Cd吸附、有效性和赋存形态的影响,最终筛选出具有良好Cd钝化效果的矿物基蚯蚓粪。结果表明,铁粉及磷矿粉的添加使矿物基蚯蚓粪中的pH值、C/N、有机质含量有所降低,但总养分含量显著增加（P<0.05）。比表面积及孔隙度、扫描电镜分析和X射线能谱分析结果表明,矿物质的添加增大了蚯蚓粪比表面积和孔容,改变了蚯蚓粪中矿物元素的占比。傅立叶变换红外光谱分析表明,矿物基蚯蚓粪中醇或羧酸类、芳香类以及多糖类物质增多,脂类和碳水化合物减少。X射线衍射分析表明,添加铁粉及磷矿粉制备出来的矿物基蚯蚓粪增加了磷酸盐、纳米零价铁等矿物组分。土壤培养和吸附解吸试验表明,施加矿物基蚯蚓粪显著提升了土壤对Cd的吸附强度,降低了对Cd的解吸率,其中以牛粪+20%铁粉+20%磷矿粉（VCFe+P）进行蚯蚓堆肥所获得的矿物基蚯蚓粪处理的土壤对Cd的吸附效果最佳,较施加纯蚯蚓粪的土壤吸附...     

蚯蚓联合生防细菌Bacillus velezensis改善连作百合土壤细菌群落结构及防治枯萎病的效果

【目的】从土壤理化性状和微生物群落结构及多样性角度,研究蚯蚓联合生防细菌改善百合连作障碍的机理和效果,为湖南百合产业化种植提供技术措施。【方法】采用盆栽试验方法,在湖南长沙连续种植了两季百合(Lilium lancifolium Thunb.)。供试土壤为红壤,生防菌为Bacillales velezensis YFB3-1菌液(菌体浓度为10⁹ CFU/mL),蚯蚓为赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)。试验设单施菌液(T1)、只接种蚯蚓(T2)、同时使用菌液和蚯蚓(T3) 3个处理,以不使用菌剂和蚯蚓为对照(CK)。调查了两茬百合产量和枯萎病病情指数,分析了第二茬百合根际土壤理化性质、细菌群落结构和多样性,以及连作百合产量与根际土壤理化性质、细菌群落和枯萎病的相关性。【结果】与第一茬相比,同一处理的第二茬百合产量都显著下降。两年连作百合产量都以同时使用菌液和蚯蚓(T3)处理为最高,分别为16464、15674 kg/hm²,都显著高于同年份其他处理。两年连作百合枯萎病发病率和病情指数都以T3为最低,都显著低于同年份其他处理,T3处理...     

不同含水率蚯蚓粪颗粒物料流动性研究

蚯蚓粪是有机固体废弃物经蚯蚓过腹处理后排出的特殊物料,由于含水率高达40%～60%的同时又能够保持散体细小颗粒的状态,导致流动性参数难以通过常规测试手段得到。为给蚯蚓粪收集、分离、运输等不同阶段机械化作业提供有效的运动摩擦参数,探究含水率变化对蚯蚓粪颗粒流动性参数的影响。研究通过堆积角试验与离散元仿真(Discrete element method,DEM)堆积角虚拟试验相结合的方法,从数值上量化分析了基于牛粪转化后不同含水率25%～65%蚯蚓粪物料的滚动摩擦参数与物料黏结能力。结果表明,显著影响蚯蚓粪堆积角的因素为蚯蚓粪-蚯蚓粪滚动摩擦系数,蚯蚓粪-不锈钢滚动摩擦系数,蚯蚓粪的JKR表面能(Johnson Kendall Roberts surface energy)。随着含水率的增加,蚯蚓粪-蚯蚓粪的滚动摩擦系数由0.135下降至0.110,蚯蚓粪-不锈钢滚动摩擦系数由0.116下降至0.102,两者呈现小幅度下降,内摩擦角由45.81°降至26.10°,而JKR表面能由0.179 J/m~2增加至0.345 J/m~2,增幅显著。含水率低于50%时,随着含水率增加,物料滚动摩擦系数减小,内摩擦角减小,一定程度上有利于物料滚动流动;含水率超过50%时,由于表面能增高,内聚力增大,蚯蚓粪物料之间易发生物料黏结团聚,一定程度上又会阻碍蚯蚓粪的翻滚运动。     

高通量测序技术下连作植烟土壤细菌群落与土壤环境因子的耦合分析

为了揭示连作条件下植烟土壤细菌群落结构及其与土壤环境间的响应关系,本研究采用了Illumina平台Hiseq2500高通量测序技术,对不同施肥处理(常规施肥,蚯蚓粪肥,微生物菌肥以及蚯蚓粪和微生物菌肥混合)的漯河烟区连作植烟土壤细菌进行16S rRNA V4区测序,结合冗余分析(redundancyanalysis,RDA)研究土壤细菌微生物的群落结构组成、多样性以及与土壤环境间的相关关系.结果表明,测序质控后共获得25 203个操作分类单元(operational taxonomic units,OTUs),计1 600 239条读数.分层聚类图显示,不同施肥处理的连作植烟土壤细菌群落有较大差异,但这种差异不体现在结构多样性上.多样性指数分析表明,连作植烟土壤细菌群落易受环境变化的影响,体现出一定的时间差异性;烤烟成熟期土壤丰度指数明显升高,微生物菌肥和蚯蚓粪肥处理下土壤细菌群落丰度变化较大.主成分分析表明,不同土壤环境因子间有很强的相关关系,可以将原有的11个土壤环境因子按照强正相关关系划分为4类;RDA结果表明,土壤pH既影响土壤细菌群落的多样性,又影响土壤细菌群落的丰度;而有机质主要对土壤细菌群落丰度有积极影响.研究结果为在微生物水平上研究连作植烟障碍的形成机理提供了依据.     

蚓粪减轻苹果砧木平邑甜茶幼苗连作障碍的土壤生物学机制

【目的】有害真菌数量的增加是造成苹果连作障碍的主要原因。本文探讨了蚓粪对苹果连作障碍的防控效果以及作用机理。【方法】以苹果常用砧木平邑甜茶 (Malus hupeheusis Rehd.) 为试材进行了盆栽试验,供试土壤为棕壤,取自山东省泰安市25年的红富士老果园。以连作土壤为对照 (CK),设灭菌连作土壤 (TM)、连作土壤施用蚓粪 (YF)、连作土壤施用灭菌蚓粪 (MYF) 共4个处理。幼苗生长一年后,测定平邑甜茶生物量、根系相关指标,分析土壤可培养微生物类群及土壤酶活性。【结果】与连作土壤CK相比,蚓粪(YF)和灭菌蚓粪 (MYF) 处理的平邑甜茶植株干重显著提高了351.1%和348.2%;蚓粪处理 (YF) 和灭菌蚓粪 (MYF) 处理都显著促进了平邑甜茶植株根系的生长,提高了植株根系的抗氧化酶活性和根系呼吸速率,两个处理间无明显差异;YF处理土壤细菌、放线菌数量分别增加了107.8%和97.7%,真菌数量减少了17.1%。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,施入蚓粪后 (YF) 连作土壤中尖孢镰刀菌的数量下降了51.0%,MYF处理的尖孢镰刀菌数量降低了57.6%,YF和MYF两个处理间无显著差异;YF处理的土壤磷酸酶、脲酶、蔗糖酶和过氧化氢酶活性分别比CK提高了97.9%、540.9%、213.1%和109.4%。【结论】在连作土壤上添加蚓粪或灭菌蚓粪,均可显著增加土壤中细菌和放线菌数量,降低真菌特别是尖孢镰刀菌数量,改善连作土壤微生物环境,进而减轻苹果连作障碍带来的危害,提高土壤酶活性,促进植株根系健康生长,提高平邑甜茶幼苗的生物量。     

连作障碍产生机理及防控现状

由于我国人口的迅速增长、耕地资源限制和粮食作物产区相对比较集中等各种因素的共同影响,在农业生产中作物长期连作已经形成了一个较为普遍的发展态势。随着连作年限的增长,作物的生产受到不同程度的影响,因此由连作所引发的一系列连作障碍已成为制约农作物生产可持续发展的一个重要原因,并引起了全球各方的广泛重视。许多作物在长期连作模式中都会发生连作障碍,这主要是由于植物的自毒作用、土壤中致病微生物的增殖、微生物区系失衡和土壤理化性质的劣变所引起的,目前科研工作者们根据连作障碍重要因子研究出了多种绿色有效的生物防控方法,主要通过研制生物菌剂、有机肥、土壤强还原措施以及噬菌体疗法等来防控连作障碍,各项试验证明这些方法都是切实有效的,而且绿色环保,符合我国绿色可持续发展理念。鉴于此,本综述针对目前连作障碍产生的主要因素,以及近年来提出的防控连作障碍的各种措施进行了阐述,并对该领域未来的研究方向进行了展望,为之后的连作障碍研究提供理论依据,以期克服作物连作障碍难题,促进新农业的健康可持续发展。     

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.