A plant‐traits approach to assessing the success of alien weed species in irrigated Mediterranean orchards

In addition to their impact on natural habitats, invasive alien plants can have a significant negative effect on agricultural systems and cause economic losses. Flood‐irrigated orchards in the Mediterranean Basin are vulnerable to the invasion of alien weeds, primarily because of the traditional management practices used in the orchards, which are characterized by high soil moisture during the dry summer period, nutrient availability and high levels of disturbance. This study sought to determine whether their biological traits can explain the success of alien weed species. To answer this question, 408 floristic relevés were conducted in 136 flood‐irrigated orchards on the Plains of Lleida (Catalonia, NE of Spain). Richness and cover of native and alien weeds were compared. Furthermore, a set of biological traits were compared between successful and non‐successful weeds for the whole data and separately between native and alien weeds using logistic regression and classification trees. In flood‐irrigated orchards, alien species covered most of their area, even though the richness of alien species was lower than that of the native species. The most important species were C4 species with seeds dispersed by water, and on the other hand, rosulate and caespitose‐reptant hemicryptophytes with long flowering period. Most of these traits fitted with those of the invasive alien weeds, which were mostly C4 species with seeds dispersed by water. Perennial life form characterized successful native weeds. In this study, we discuss how the traditional management of flood irrigation in fruit‐tree orchards favours invasive alien weeds that have specific traits, acting as a reservoir for the spread of alien weeds into other crops and surrounding riparian habitats. We also propose changing management practices in order to avoid the selection of alien weeds and to promote native species.     

Microbial analysis of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) produced with tap or treated waste water

There is increasing evidence for a significant role of fruits and vegetables in infectious diseases in humans. Their consumption is increasing and environmental factors such as water availability are impacting their production. In this study, adding fertiliser to tap water (TW) increased the microbial load above that found in treated waste water (TWW); coliforms were also introduced. Low numbers of Bacillus spp. were recovered from inside some healthy cucumber fruits. No visible differences were observed between cucumber plants irrigated with TWW or TW or cucumbers with and without endophytic Bacillus spp. This is noteworthy when considering the use of TWW for crop irrigation.     

棉花节水灌溉气象等级指标

干旱是我国棉区主要的气象灾害,构建棉花不同发育期节水灌溉气象等级指标对于优化农田灌溉、指导农业生产具有十分重要的现实意义。论文基于农田水分平衡原理,利用全国347个地面气象观测站1961~2008年逐日气象资料、89个农业气象观测站1993~2008年（其中26个站为1980~2008年）逐旬土壤湿度、灌溉量、逐年作物产量等资料,结合FAO-1979作物产量-水分关系函数,针对全国棉区播种-现蕾、现蕾-开花、开花-吐絮和全生育期的水分亏缺率、水分亏缺量与减产率之间的关系,构建棉花不同发育期和全生育期节水灌溉气象等级指标。除发育时段不同外,其他在研究站点的选择、选取的因素等方面完全一致。结果表明：棉花全生育期节水灌溉气象Ⅰ~Ⅲ级水分亏缺率(D)和水分亏缺量（辅助指标）指标分别为：15%≤D＜30%、30%≤D＜45%、≥45%和1~2水、2~4水、≥4水;播种-现蕾为20%≤D＜40%、40%≤D＜50%、≥50%和0.5水、1水、＞1水;现蕾-开花为20%≤D＜35%、35%≤D＜45%、≥45%和0.5水、1水、＞1水;开花-吐絮为20%≤D＜35%、35%≤D＜50%、≥50%和1水、1~2水、＞2水。     

Is Foraging Time Limited During Winter? – A Feeding Experiment with Tree Sparrows Under Different Predation Risk

Small passerines are faced with a trade‐off when foraging during winter. Increasing energy reserves makes them more vulnerable to predators, while a low level of reserves exposes them to a high risk of starvation. Whether small birds under these circumstances are allowed to reduce their foraging activity under increased predation risk, for example in feeding sites more exposed to predators, remains controversial in former behavioural and ecological researches. In this study, we investigated the foraging activity of free‐living Tree Sparrow Passer montanus flocks feeding on an artificial feeding platform. The predation risk perceived by the sparrows was manipulated by placing the platform either close to or far from a bushy shelter. Foraging activity, assessed as cumulative activity of sparrows per unit time on the platform, did not differ between the low‐risk and the high‐risk conditions and did not significantly change during the day. Feeding efficiency, assessed as pecking rate, was not either reduced under the high‐risk condition. Our results suggest that sparrows were forced to feed almost continuously during the day in order to maintain their preferred level of energy reserves. However, several behavioural changes helped sparrows to adopt a safer foraging policy when feeding far from cover, as we found in another study. Altogether, sparrow flocks feeding far from cover decreased the overall foraging time (the time when any sparrow stayed on the platform) by approximately 20% as compared to the near cover condition. A possible way to maintain the same level of foraging activity despite of the reduction in overall foraging time is discussed.     

Evaluation of groundwater quality using water quality index and its suitability for assessing water for drinking and irrigation purposes: Case study of Sistan and Baluchistan province (Iran)

The present study evaluates the groundwater quality for drinking and agricultural purposes and determines physicochemical characteristics of groundwater in the Sistan and Baluchistan province in Iran. In order to investigate the water quality, sampling was done in 654 open dug wells, the chemical parameters were analyzed, and water quality index was determined. In this regard, Langelier saturation index (LSI), Ryznar Stability index (RSI), Puckorius scaling index (PSI), Larson–Skold index (LS), and Aggressiveness index (AI) were considered to determine water suitability for industrial purposes. Finally, the analytical results were taken to generate the numerical spatial distribution of the parameters using the geographic information system (GIS) environment. According to the results, water sources were less corrosive based on AI and PSI, low and light corrosion according to RSI, and corrosion according to the Larsson–Sckold index. The results of the drinking water quality index showed that 1.2% shared extraction wells were classified as excellent, 52.1% as good, 39% as poor, 6% as very poor, and 1.7% as unsuitable for drinking purpose classes. In addition, irrigating water quality index illustrated that 19.9% and 80.1% wells were placed in the “excellent” and “Good” classes, respectively. Also, the quality of water in this study was categorized as brackish.     

基于DSSAT模型对豫北地区夏玉米灌溉制度的优化模拟

合理的灌溉制度是提高农业水资源利用效率、保证夏玉米高产稳产的前提。采用农业技术转化决策系统(DSSAT,Decision Support System for Agrotechno1ogy Transfer)探究了河南省北部地区夏玉米不同降水年型下的最优灌溉制度。经过参数的校正和验证,归一化均方根误差(nRMSE)、均方根误差(RMSE)和一致性指数(d)均表现出模拟值与实测值的吻合度很好,DSSAT-maize模型可以准确模拟夏玉米物候期、地上部分生物量、产量和土壤水分状况。然后基于模型模拟了不同灌溉处理下的夏玉米生产潜力,从而评估夏玉米缺水量,并对比分析不同生育时期灌水对产量的影响确定最优灌溉时期,综合考虑产量和水分利用效率确定最优灌溉制度。结果表明:夏玉米生长季的缺水量年际间差异显著,多年平均值为38.91 mm,波动范围为0—193.03 mm。在丰水年,不需要灌溉;在平水年,开花期灌水30 mm;在枯水年,开花期和灌浆期灌水50 mm;在特别干旱年,苗期、拔节期和开花期至少灌水180 mm。优化的灌溉制度下丰水年、平水年和枯水年的WUE达到最高且产量分别占其最高产量的100%、99.72%和97.89%,实现了作物高产节水协同提高的目标。     

灌溉方法与施氮对土壤水分、硝态氮和小麦生长发育的调控效应

为探明玉米秸秆还田下小麦的合理灌溉与施肥方法,于田间研究了漫灌(FI)、微喷灌(SI)、滴灌(DI)和灌水施氮模式(N₁, 基施纯N 157.5 kg·hm^-2+拔节期施纯N 67.5 kg·hm^-2; N₂, 基施纯N 157.5 kg·hm^-2+拔节期施纯N 45.0 kg·hm^-2+灌浆期施N 22.5 kg·hm^-2)对土壤水分、硝态氮(NO₃^--N)含量和小麦生长发育的影响.结果表明: 灌溉方法和灌水施氮模式共同影响土壤含水量和贮水量的变化.其中,灌溉方法对越冬期和返青期0～60 cm、孕穗期和灌浆期0～160 cm、成熟期100～160 cm土层含水量影响相对较小,对越冬期和返青期80～160 cm、成熟期0～80 cm土层含水量影响大;FI对含水量和贮水量影响最大,DI次之,SI最小;SI和DI的灌水施氮模式中灌水量多,则土层含水量高、贮水量多,变化大.NO₃^--N含量受灌溉方法和施氮的影响,施氮对0～20 cm土层影响大,SI生育期NO₃^--N含量变化大,DI越冬期至孕穗期NO₃^--N含量变化小,此后变化大,FI与DI相反;生育前中期灌水量对NO₃^--N含量影响大,后期施氮对NO₃^--N含量影响大;SI和DI的2种灌水施氮模式中冬前灌水量多的NO₃^--N含量变化大.灌溉方法中SI越冬期总茎数和单株分蘖高,成穗率高,成穗数多,产量、水分利用效率(WUE)和氮素利用效率最高,滴灌次之,漫灌最低;SI和DI中N₁生育期总茎数、成穗数多,但穗粒数和千粒重低,产量、WUE和氮素利用效率低于N₂.因此,玉米秸秆还田后播种小麦,微喷灌代替漫灌生育期灌4水,施足基肥,拔节期和灌浆期分次追氮,是山西南部小麦-玉米一年两熟区小麦节水高产高效栽培模式.     

加气灌溉对不同施氮水平的设施甜瓜土壤CO2和N2O排放的影响

为探讨不同加气灌溉施氮模式下设施甜瓜土壤CO₂和N₂O排放的动态变化规律及其与土壤温度、湿度的关系,本研究采用密闭静态箱-气相色谱法对加气灌溉不同施氮水平下土壤CO₂和N₂O排放进行监测,并分析了加气灌溉对不同施氮量下土壤CO₂和N₂O排放的影响.试验采用加气灌溉(AI)和不加气灌溉(CK)两种灌溉方式,施氮量设不施氮(N₁)、传统施氮量的2/3(150 kg·hm^-2,N₂)和传统施氮量(225 kg·hm^-2,N₃)3个施氮水平.结果表明:加气灌溉土壤CO₂和N₂O排放量高于不加气灌溉处理,但是差异不显著;相同灌溉模式下,CO₂和N₂O排放量随施氮量的增加而显著增加,施氮量是土壤CO₂和N₂O排放的主要影响因素.加气灌溉条件下,不同施氮处理N₂O排放通量与土壤温度和湿度呈显著正相关,CO₂排放通量与土壤温度呈显著正相关.加气减氮处理在氮肥减少1/3的情况下,甜瓜产量提高了6.9%,温室气体排放引起的增温潜势值从9544.82 kg·hm^-2下降到9340.72 kg·hm^-2.综上,通过加气灌溉减少氮肥施用量来抑制农业生产系统中温室气体排放是可行的.     

水稻幼苗活力性状的低温反应数量性状基因座检测

以籼粳交“密阳23/吉冷1号”的F2：3代200个家系作为作图群体,在12℃冷水胁迫下,进行苗高、苗鲜重和苗干重等水稻幼苗活力性状的低温反应鉴定,并利用由SSR标记构建的分子连锁图谱为基础,对冷水胁迫下苗高、苗鲜重和苗干重以及它们的低温反应指数进行了数量性状基因座（QTLs）检测。研究结果表明,低温胁迫下上述幼苗活力性状在F3家系群中均表现为接近正态的连续分布,表现为由多基因控制的数量性状;在第1、2、7、8和12染色体上,检测到与幼苗活力性状的低温反应相关的QTL共12个,对表型变异的贡献率范围为5．2％-17．9％,其中位于第2染色体RM262-RM263区间和第12染色体RM270-RM17区间的与低温下苗高相关的qCSH2和qCSH12,以及位于第12染色体RM19-RM270区间和第1染色体RM129-RM9区间的分别控制低温下苗干重及其低温反应指数的qSDW12和qCSDW1对表型变异的贡献率较大,分别为16．6％、17．9％、15．9％和16．2％。其增效等位基因均来自吉冷1号,前两者均表现为加性效应,后两者分别表现为显性和超显性。