土地利用/覆被变化对鄂尔多斯市草地生态系统净初级生产力的影响

[目的]探究土地利用/覆被变化对鄂尔多斯市草地生态系统净初级生产力(NPP)的影响,为该区退牧还草措施的高效实施和草地资源的合理管理提供理论依据。[方法]基于多源遥感影像数据、多期土地利用/覆被数据和气象数据等,运用光能利用率模型(CASA),模拟鄂尔多斯市草地生态系统净初级生产力(NPP),并进行分析和探讨。[结果](1)鄂尔多斯地区草地NPP总量在2001年(5 700.16Tg)到2015年(7 634.61Tg)间增加了1 934.46Tg;空间分布上存在明显的地域差异性。(2)该市2001—2015年耕地面积持续减少;15a间,林地面积增加了4 593km~2;草地净减少量为786.38km~2,其中草地与未利用地之间的相互转化最大,有大量耕地、林地转变为草地,面积达到376.5km~2。(3)该市2001—2015年草地类型未发生变化地区NPP增长量为1 999.42Tg;草地转为其他土地类型共引起草地NPP减少量为303.98Tg,其中转为耕地、林地和未利用地导致其NPP减少量分别为35.08,69.81和118.28Tg;其他土地类型转化为草地导致NPP的总增加量达128.96Tg,其中由耕地、林地、水域、未利用地转化带来的草地NPP增量分别为36.30,31.39,17.58,151.38Tg。[结论]土地利用/覆被对草地NPP影响较大,耕地和林地向草地的转化、未利用地的重新利用使得草地碳汇总量增加。草地向未利用地、水域、城乡工矿居民用地的转化使得草地生态系统碳汇能力减弱。     

基于地形因子的鄱阳湖地区土地利用格局变化分析

为研究土地利用空间格局变化地形特征,采用1990年、2000年、2010年、2013年4期鄱阳湖地区Landsat TM解译数据及DEM数据,借助地形位、分布指数、地学信息图谱方法,深入探讨了1990—2013年鄱阳湖地区不同地形下土地利用格局的变化特征。结果表明:(1)1990—2013年,鄱阳湖地区土地利用类型以耕地、林地、水域为主,三种类型面积占比均在90%以上,建设用地快速增长,由1990年的1 387.42km~2增加到2013年的2 413.98km~2,增加了1 026.56km~2,耕地、未利用土地、林地面积分别减少513.39km~2,399.04km2,123.75km~2;(2)1990—2013年,土地利用格局变化具有地形效应,低地形范围优势分布耕地、建设用地、水域,高地形范围林地优势分布,未利用土地、草地零散分布对地形变化适宜性较强;(3)1990—2013年,研究区土地利图谱以稳定型和中期型为主,面积分别为48 457.44km~2,2 014.56km~2,稳定型图谱的优势区域位于高、低地形范围,耕地、林地、建设用地变化稳定;低、中高地形范围是中期变换型的优势分布区,主要表现为未利用土地—未利用土地—水域—水域、耕地—耕地—建设用地—建设用地。     

黄河流域景观生态风险分析及预测

[目的] 探究黄河流域近20 a土地利用变化并对2030年土地利用进行预测,分析景观格局指数,揭示生态风险状况,助力黄河流域景观保护修复和规划治理。[方法] 使用FLUS模型,根据2000,2010,2020年土地利用数据,结合社会、经济、地形、气候等因子对该区2030年土地利用状况进行预测,通过景观指数构建景观生态风险指数,并进行深入分析探讨。[结果] ①2000—2020年耕地面积减少12 150 km²,林地面积增加2 514 km²,建设用地面积增加10 620 km²。②黄河流域优势景观为草地和耕地,但优势性逐渐降低,整体景观连通性增加、聚集性减弱,景观多样性呈增长趋势,但整体仍不均衡。③工作区景观生态风险以低、较低风险为主,中风险为辅,共占该区总面积88%以上,各生态风险区在空间上相对稳定,在时间上呈逐步恶化趋势。④预测2030年建设用地面积增速减缓,耕地、草地、未利用地面积继续减少,景观破碎度增加,低、较低生态风险区域增加1.12%,高风险区域增加0.26%,其余风险区域变化较小。[结论] 国家人口增长、城市逐步扩张对土地利用影响巨大,进而导致景观破碎,加之黄河流域环境脆弱,风沙强度大,荒漠化程度高,区域生态风险增高,需要国家更加关注该区域的生态保护和高质量发展。     

2000-2015年四川省南充市土地利用/覆被变化及其驱动因素

[目的]对四川省南充市15 a间土地利用/覆被的时空变化特征及其驱动因素进行分析,为南充市的生态环境建设与可持续发展提供科学依据。[方法]基于南充市2000,2010,2015年3期Landsat影像和QuickBird高精度遥感数据,计算2000—2015年土地利用/覆被转移矩阵和土地利用/覆被状况指数。[结果]①近15 a来,南充市的土地利用/覆被类型以耕地和林地为主,约占研究区面积的80%,但各土地利用/覆被类型间都有不同程度的相互转换。②研究期内,林地面积增加1006.2 km~2,主要由耕地和草地转化而来;建设用地面积增加965.4 km~2,多由水体和耕地转化而来,而耕地、草地和水体面积分别减少了1 549.8,307.9,90.4 km~2。③近15 a来,南充市土地利用/覆被状况指数变化表明,林地和建设用地呈转好趋势(土地利用/覆被状况变化率为正值),耕地呈转差趋势(土地利用/覆被状况变化率为负值)。[结论] 2000—2015年南充市土地利用/覆被变化明显,其中,地形、人口、城市化水平和退耕还林工程等是造成南充市土地利用/覆被变化的主要驱动因素。     

福建省海岸带土地利用/覆盖变化及其驱动力

[目的]研究福建省海岸带土地利用/覆盖变化及其驱动力,促进沿海地区资源环境可持续发展,并为土地利用政策制定提供参考。[方法]基于ArcGIS 10.2软件对研究区域2005—2015年土地利用/覆盖变化(LUCC)数据进行分析,并采用灰色关联度法对其驱动机制进行探讨。[结果](1)2005—2015年福建省海岸带土地利用类型以耕地、林地、水域和城乡、工矿、居民用地为主,草地和未利用土地所占比重较少;研究期间,福建省海岸带林地、水域和未利用土地面积减少,仅耕地和城乡、工矿、居民用地面积增加,草地面积基本不变;2005—2015年土地利用类型主要向城乡、工矿、居民用地转移。(2)福建省海岸带土地利用变化主要受到社会经济发展驱动力的影响,其中社会富裕程度、技术驱动力和人口驱动力是主要因素。[结论]合理确定城市、镇域开发边界,划定大城市周边基本农田保护区域,划定林地、草地和水域等生态空间,是落实土地利用空间管理的有效措施。     

海河上游清水河流域土地利用变化特征

[目的]海河上游清水河流域处于半湿润向半干旱过渡的生态环境脆弱区,研究该地区土地利用时空变化规律,旨在为当地生态环境建设提供一定的决策依据。[方法]基于清水河流域1990—2018年4期Landsat遥感影像解译的土地利用数据,在优选的最佳空间尺度下通过Logistic-CA-Markov模型对清水河流域土地利用变化进行分析和预测。[结果]①近30 a来清水河流域土地结构主要以耕地、林地、草地为主,三者面积之和比例超过总量的96%;其中,建设用地面积持续增加且变化程度最剧烈。②通过对受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线进行拟合优度评价,在100 m×100 m空间尺度下,各个地类ROC值达到最优水平。③2018—2027年间,草地和水域面积预计分别减少42.44,5.43 km~2,耕地、林地和建设用地面积分别增加16.51,16.89,14.67 km~2。[结论]①100 m×100 m是针对具有典型小流域特征的清水河流域进行预测模拟研究的最合适尺度;②因2022冬奥会的筹备促使建设用地的开发力度加大将成为未来清水河流域土地格局变化的主要因素。     

基于FLUS模型的喀斯特地区生态用地时空变化及多情景预测——以湖南省宁远县为例

[目的]分析近2000—2020年喀斯特地区生态用地数量分布特征,预测未来多情景下生态用地变化情况,寻求协调生态保护与发展建设的最优情景,为研究区未来国土空间开发保护,生态空间管控以及区域生态经济可持续发展提供科学参考。[方法]采用土地利用转移矩阵和动态度分析湖南省宁远县土地利用变化特点,基于FLUS模型,模拟预测2030年不同情景下生态用地数量及分布。[结果](1)耕地主要集中在宁远县中部区域,林地、草地原生态用地主要分布在南北两端和西部。2020年,原生态用地中,林地所占比例为56.69%,草地所占比例为12.85%,水域为0.60%,半人工生态用地即耕地所占比例为27.80%。(2)多情景模拟结果显示：生态优先情景下,宁远县原生态用地中林地、草地、水域分别较2020年增加了15.12,37.35,23.67 hm~2。(3)政策对喀斯特地区生态用地变化有着极大的导向作用,社会经济发展对水域的增加有显著影响。[结论]宁远县原生态用地所占比例高达70.14%。生态保护优先情景能够最大程度保障生态用地不被非生态用地侵占。在以建设森林城市为目标导向的情况下,宁远县及同类地区适宜采用该情景...     

滇中城市群土地利用转型及生态系统服务价值交叉敏感性分析

为探清滇中城市群土地利用转型对生态系统服务功能的影响,基于2000年、2010年、2020年3期Landsat TM/OLI遥感土地利用解译数据,运用土地利用动态变化模型、生态系统服务价值计算模型和土地利用转型生态贡献度研究了不同土地利用转型过程和生态系统服务价值的时空演变特征,并结合交叉敏感性系数模型定量评估了土地利用转型对生态系统服务价值的响应程度并划定敏感性分区。结果表明:(1)滇中城市群土地利用类型以林地、草地、耕地为主,建设用地持续扩张及耕地、水域、未利用地面积不断减少,草地和林地经历了“先减少后增加”的变化过程;(2)研究期间生态系统服务价值呈“先减少后增加”的趋势,地均生态系统服务价值高值区主要分布在滇池、抚仙湖和星云湖三大高原湖泊流域;(3)近20 a来,退耕还林、还草、还湖对生态系统服务功能改善的贡献度达49.10%,毁林开荒、围湖造田对林地、草地和水域的占用导致生态系统服务价值减少约2.65亿元;(4)耕地、林地、草地和水域向其他地类转型对生态服务价值的响应较为敏感,耕地、林地和草地与建设用地间转型的高生态敏感区集中在曲靖和楚雄,耕地与林地间转型的高生态敏感区分布较小,林地向草地和水域转型的低生态敏感区空间分布范围最广。综上,该区不同土地利用转型对生态系统服务功能影响显著。     

杭州市土地利用变化及生态风险评价

[目的]分析浙江省杭州市土地利用变化并对其生态风险评价,为保护该地区生态安全,合理开发土地资源和制定科学有效的规划提供理论依据。[方法]基于杭州市土地利用格局变化,构建生态风险指数,分析生态风险的时空变化及生态风险对土地利用的响应特征。[结果](1)土地利用变化主要表现为:耕地减少和建设用地剧增;耕地、林地向建设用地转移,水域、草地向耕地、林地转移;土地利用强度减缓。(2)杭州市生态风险增加,生态风险值与土地利用呈明显正相关;中生态风险区占主导地位,高生态风险区主要分布在市辖区、杭州湾,西南部的淳安县中心,生态风险等级区以此为中心向周围递减。(3)生态风险等级以低—高等级转移为主,生态风险等级上升,年均转换速率呈下降趋势。(4)生态风险对土地利用变化的响应弹性时空分异较大,市区、建德市、桐庐县响应系数下降,其风险源和风险因子趋于多样化;其他单元的响应系数上升,土地利用对区域生态风险呈正响应弹性。[结论]杭州市土地利用格局时空变化明显,土地利用的快速变化加剧了杭州市的生态风险。     

陕北榆林市土地生态价值及生态风险动态分析

以榆林市的遥感影像资料为依据,运用地学信息图谱的理论和方法,在RS和GIS的支持下,生成了榆林市1985-2000年的土地利用及生态价值变化图谱;在此基础上,对该区土地利用及生态价值的时空变化特征进行了分析,并作了土地生态风险动态评估.研究表明,研究期内,榆林市未利用地及水域面积减少,耕地、林地、草地及建设用地面积增加,其中草地增加最多;未利用地向草地流转及草地与耕地的相互转化占了全区土地利用类型总变动量的79.59%,其中,北6县以未利用地向草地及草地向耕地流转为主,南6县以草地向林地及耕地向草地转变为主;土地利用变化使该区生态价值总量增加了3.11%,其中,北6县占总增量的86.74%;榆林市土地生态风险降低,与土地生态价值的变化情况能够相互印证.     

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.