Managing native and legume-fixed nitrogen in lowland rice-based cropping systems

Lowlands comprise 87% of the 145 M ha of world rice area. Lowland rice-based cropping systems are characterized by soil flooding during most of the rice growing season. Rainfall distribution, availability of irrigation water and prevailing temperatures determine when rice or other crops are grown. Nitrogen is the most required nutrient in lowland rice-based cropping systems. Reducing fertilizer N use in these cropping systems, while maintaining or enhancing crop output, is desirable from both environmental and economic perspectives. This may be possible by producing N on the land through legume biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), minimizing soil N losses, and by improved recycling of N through plant residues. At the end of a flooded rice crop, organic- and NH₄-N dominate in the soil, with negligible amounts of NO₃. Subsequent drying of the soil favors aerobic N transformations. Organic N mineralizes to NH₄, which is rapidly nitrified into NO₃. As a result, NO₃ accumulates in soil during the aerobic phase. Recent evidence indicates that large amounts of accumulated soil NO₃ may be lost from rice lowlands upon the flooding of aerobic soil for rice production. Plant uptake during the aerobic phase can conserve soil NO₃ from potential loss. Legumes grown during the aerobic phase additionally capture atmospheric N through BNF. The length of the nonflooded season, water availability, soil properties, and prevailing temperatures determine when and where legumes are, or can be, grown. The amount of N derived by legumes through BNF depends on the interaction of microbial, plant, and environmental determinants. Suitable legumes for lowland rice soils are those that can deplete soil NO₃ while deriving large amounts of N through BNF. Reducing soil N supply to the legume by suitable soil and crop management can increase BNF. Much of the N in legume biomass might be removed from the land in an economic crop produce. As biomass is removed, the likelihood of obtaining a positive soil N balance diminishes. Nonetheless, use of legumes rather than non-legumes is likely to contribute higher quantities of N to a subsequent rice crop. A whole-system approach to N management will be necessary to capture and effectively use soil and atmospheric sources of N in the lowland rice ecosystem.IRRI-NifTAL-IFDC joint contribution.     

Rotation of maize with cowpea improves yield and nutrient use of maize compared to maize monocropping in an alfisol in the northern Guinea Savanna of Ghana

In the northern Guinea Savanna of Ghana (1984–1987) a field experiment was conducted to study the reasons for beneficial effects of rotating maize (Zea mays) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) on yield and N and P use of maize. The treatments included two cropping systems, maize monocropping and maize/cowpea rotation, two levels of nitrogen (0 and 80 kg N ha^-1 as urea) and two levels of phosphorus application (0 and 60 kg ha^-1 P as Volta phosphate rock). Yields and nutrient accumulation of maize were larger in rotation than in monocropping, independent of the N and P level. Fertilizer application (N and P) increased yields of maize in both cropping systems to the same extent. Nitrate contents of the soil after cowpea and after maize monoculture were comparable at the beginning of the cropping period. Also, potential nitrogen mineralization was only slightly larger after cowpea in the unfertilized plots. However, soil nitrate of fertilized plots was similar or even higher under monocropping than under crop rotation, especially in deeper soil layers and at the end of the cropping period. This indicates that in addition to the availability of mineral N, its use by the plants was limiting for the productivity of maize. Root length densities of maize were significant lower in monocropped maize than in maize grown in rotation. Soil physical parameters (infiltration, bulk density, aggregate stability and water capacity) showed a significant deterioration compared to a bush fallow plot, but differed only slightly between the cropping systems. Also in a pot experiment maize growth was much better in the soil from the crop rotation than from the monocropping plots, provided P was eliminated as the main growth-limiting factor. Since this effect persisted in spite of N application and optimization of soil physical properties by mixing the soil with polystyrol it is concluded that the results indicate that yield decline in maize monocropping might be due to allelopathic effects.     

Nitrogen mineralization in a green manure-amended soil as influenced by cropping history and subsequent crop

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the influence of cropping variables on nitrogen dynamics in a soil amended with green manure. Surface soil from various long-term spring wheat rotations was amended with¹⁵N-labelled legume green manure (Lathyrus tingitanus) and subsequently cropped (canola [Brassica napus] and spring wheat [Triticum aestivum]) or incubated without a crop for 56 days in a greenhouse. Nitrogen mineralization from both the indigenous soil N and from green manure was suppressed in cropped soil. Net N mineralization in the uncropped and cropped treatments averaged 73 and 43 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. This difference was attributed, in part, to enhanced biological immobilization in the rhizosphere. Previous cropping practices also had significant effect on N mineralization, largely by their influence on indigenous organic matter quality. These observations suggest that short-term N mineralization is favored by fallowing soil after green manure application whereas N retention in organic matter is favored by immediate cropping. Contribution 3878873     

Monovalent cation transporters; establishing a link between bioinformatics and physiology

Toxic aluminum (Al) ion is a major constraint to plant growth in acid soils. Aluminum tolerance in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is strongly related to the Al-triggered efflux of malate from root apices. A role of the secreted malate has been postulated to be in chelating Al and thus excluding it from root apices (malate hypothesis), but the actual process has yet to be fully elucidated. We measured Al content and root growth during and after Al exposure using seedlings of near-isogenic lines [ET8 (Al tolerant) and ES8 (Al sensitive)] differing in the capacity to induce Al-triggered malate efflux. Aluminum doses that caused 50% root growth inhibition during 24-h exposure to Al in calcium (Ca) solution (0.5 mM CaCl₂, pH 4.5) were 50 μM in ET8 and 5 μM in ES8. Under such conditions, the amount of Al accumulated in root apices was approximately 2-fold higher in ET8 than ES8. Al-treated seedlings were then transferred to the Al-free Ca solution for 24 h. Compared to control roots (no Al pretreatment), root regrowth of Al-treated roots was about 100% in ET8 and about 25% in ES8. The impaired regrowth in ES8 was observed even after 24-h exposure to 2.5 μM Al which had caused only 20% root growth inhibition. The addition of malate (100 μM) during exposure to 50 μM Al in ES8 enhanced root growth 1.6 times and regrowth in Al-free solution 7 times, resulting in similar root growth and regrowth as in ET8. Short-term Al treatments of ES8 for up to 5 h indicated that the Al-caused inhibition of root regrowth started after 1-h exposure to Al. The stimulating effect of malate on root regrowth was observed when malate was present during Al exposure, but not when roots previously exposed to Al were rinsed with malate, although Al accumulation in root apices was similar under these malate treatments. We conclude that the malate secreted from root apices under Al exposure is essential for the apices to commence regrowth in Al-free medium, the trait that is not related to the exclusion of Al from the apices.     

Soil Infiltration Characteristics in Agroforestry Systems and Their Relationships with the Temporal Distribution of Rainfall on the Loess Plateau in China

Many previous studies have shown that land use patterns are the main factors influencing soil infiltration. Thus, increasing soil infiltration and reducing runoff are crucial for soil and water conservation, especially in semi-arid environments. To explore the effects of agroforestry systems on soil infiltration and associated properties in a semi-arid area of the Loess Plateau in China, we compared three plant systems: a walnut (Juglans regia) monoculture system (JRMS), a wheat (Triticum aestivum) monoculture system (TAMS), and a walnut-wheat alley cropping system (JTACS) over a period of 11 years. Our results showed that the JTACS facilitated infiltration, and its infiltration rate temporal distribution showed a stronger relationship coupled with the rainfall temporal distribution compared with the two monoculture systems during the growing season. However, the effect of JTACS on the infiltration capacity was only significant in shallow soil layer, i.e., the 0–40 cm soil depth. Within JTACS, the speed of the wetting front’s downward movement was significantly faster than that in the two monoculture systems when the amount of rainfall and its intensity were higher. The soil infiltration rate was improved, and the two peaks of soil infiltration rate temporal distribution and the rainfall temporal distribution coupled in rainy season in the alley cropping system, which has an important significance in soil and water conservation. The results of this empirical study provide new insights into the sustainability of agroforestry, which may help farmers select rational planting patterns in this region, as well as other regions with similar climatic and environmental characteristics throughout the world.     

天山林区不同群落土壤水分入渗特性的对比分析与模拟

土壤入渗特性是影响森林生态水文过程的一个重要环节。为了比较不同群落类型土壤水分入渗特性的差异,在天山中段北坡林区利用环刀法测定天然林、人工林、林窗草地、草地、林缘灌木林、山前灌木林六种群落类型的森林土壤入渗过程,对比分析有机质含量、毛管孔隙度、容重、含水率等土壤理化性质对入渗过程的影响,用三种常用模型进行入渗过程模拟,分析比较这/min之间,稳定min之间,不同群落类型土壤平均入渗率从大到小的排序为:天然林林缘灌木林窗草地草地人工林山前灌木;(2)六种群落类型土壤入渗性能均具有初渗速率平均入渗速率稳定入渗速率的相同趋势;(3)Kostiakov模型对试验六种群落类型土壤入渗过程的拟合精度比较高,适用于描述本研究区域水源涵养林地土壤入渗特征;(4)土壤有机质含量与土壤入渗速率呈正相关,且与初始入渗率达到显著水平;土壤的含水率、土壤毛管孔隙度和土壤容重与土壤入渗能力呈现显著的负相关。通过观测与模拟不同群落类型的土壤水分运动过程,本文可为天山林区生态水文长期定位观测提供有益借鉴。     

Manipulation of quality and mineralization of tropical legume tree prunings by varying nitrogen supply

The effect of N supply on the quality of Calliandra calothyrsus and Gliricidia sepium prunings was studied in a glasshouse over a 7-month growing period. Increasing the concentration of N supplied from 0.625 to 10.0 mM NO₃-N resulted in increased N concentration but decreased polyphenol concentration, protein-binding capacity and C:N ratio of prunings from both species. Lignin concentration was not consistently altered by the N treatment. Mineralization of N from the prunings was measured over a 14-week period under controlled leaching and non-leaching conditions. The results indicated a strong interaction between legume species and concentration of N supply in their influence on N mineralization of the prunings applied to the soil. Differences in the %N mineralized were dictated by the quality of the prunings. The (lignin + polyphenol):N ratio was the pruning quality factor which could be used most consistently and accurately to predict N mineralization of the legume prunings incubated under leaching conditions, and the relationship was best described by a linear regression. Under non-leaching conditions, however, the protein-binding capacity appeared to be the most important parameter in determining the patterns of N release from the prunings studied. The relationship between the N mineralization rate constant and the protein-binding capacity was best described by a negative exponential function, y=0.078 exp(–0.0083x). The present study also indicated that the release of N from legume prunings containing a relatively high amount of polyphenol could be enhanced by governing the N availability conditions under which the plant is grown, for example whether or not it is actively fixing nitrogen. Estimates of pruning N mineralization after 14 weeks with the difference method averaged 6% (leaching conditions) and 22% (nonleaching conditions) more than with the ¹⁵N method for all legume prunings studied. The recovery of pruning by maize (4–38%) was well correlated with the % pruning N mineralized suggesting that incubation data closely reflect the pruning N value for a given catch crop under non-leaching conditions.     

Prediction of long-term fertilizer nitrogen requirements of maize in the tropics using a nitrogen balance model

A simple N balance model was used to calculate fertilizer requirement for a target N uptake by maize. Nitrogen uptake from soil sources and target uptake of N with fertilizer N additions were obtained from fertilizer trials in Africa and Latin America. Most experiments had data for only one cropping period, although some from Latin America had data for four to six crops. The transfer coefficient of fertilizer N to the crop was adjusted to realize maximum recovery of fertilizer N under best methods of fertilizer application. The time constants of transfer of soil N to the crop were allowed to vary and were affected mainly by soil texture. Where 4 to 6 cropping periods were available good agreement between actual and predicted fertilizer N requirements was obtained. With this approach long-term fertilizer N requirements for 14 sites were predicted using first cropping period N uptake. This study showed that pools of organic N in more coarse-textured soils were usually smaller and declined more rapidly than in fine-textured soils. Labile organic N pools declined with time under all simulations, but approached equilibrium within 10 croppings seasons. Equilibrium N uptake from the soil organic N pool was predicted to be 31 kg ha^–1 for the more coarse-textured soils and 36 kg ha^–1 for the fine-textured soils. Long-term projections of fertilizer requirements using input data of the field experiments were reasonable, and effects of legume green manures and other amendments could be clearly evaluated.     

Nitrogen fixation in annual and perennial legume-grass mixtures across a fertility gradient

Background and aims

The selection of legume species and species mixtures influences agroecosystem nitrogen (N) and carbon cycling. We utilized a fertility gradient to investigate the effects of plant species interactions on biological N fixation of an annual and perennial legume in response to shifting soil resource availability.

Methods

Legume N fixation of annual field pea (Pisum sativum) and perennial red clover (Trifolium pratense) grown in monoculture and mixtures with oats (Avena sativa) or orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) was estimated using the ¹⁵N natural abundance method across 15 farm fields and we measured six soil N pools ranging from labile to more recalcitrant.

Results

Evidence of complementary and facilitative species interactions was stronger for the perennial red clover-orchardgrass mixture than for the annual field pea-oat mixture (N Land Equivalency Ratios were 1.6 and 1.2, respectively). We estimated that the transfer of fixed N from red clover to orchardgrass increased aboveground N fixation estimates by 15% from 33 to 38?kg?N ha^?1. Despite a more than 2-fold range in soil organic matter levels and more than 3-fold range in labile soil N pools across field sites, the N fertility gradient was not a strong predictor of N fixation. While grass N assimilation was positively correlated with soil N pools, we found only weak, inverse correlations between legume N fixation and soil N availability. In grass-legume mixtures, soil N availability indirectly influenced N fixation through plant competition.

Conclusions

These results suggest that increasing diversity of cropping systems, particularly through the incorporation of perennial mixtures into rotations, could improve overall agroecosystem N cycling efficiency.     

Root elongation of seedling peas through layered soil of different penetration resistances

Field soils contain localized zones of larger penetration resistance within peds and compacted layers, while cracks and biopores offer low resistance pathways to roots. Root responses to such localized conditions have not been investigated in detail. This study examined what happens to the root elongation rate when roots grew through a layer of hard soil into a layer of looser soil for a 4 day period. The experiment was performed twice; firstly with the shoot in continuous darkness, and secondly with it exposed to a day-night cycle to prevent etiolation of the shoot. Pea seedlings were grown in columns of a sandy loam soil which was packed to bulk densities of 0.85, 1.1, 1.3 or 1.4 Mg/m³ in the top layer and 0.85 Mg/m³ in the bottom layer. The root elongation rate in the top layer of 1.4 Mg/m³ soil (penetrometer resistance=1.8 MPa) was only 55% of the elongation rate in the top layer of 0.85 Mg/m³ soil (penetrometer resistance=0.06 MPa). The elongation rate of roots that had grown through the top layer of 1.4 Mg/m³ soil into the bottom layer of loose soil was reduced by some residual effect of the mechanical impedance. The root elongation rate in the bottom layer of loose soil decreased as the penetrometer resistance of the top layer of soil increased. The daily elongation rate of the roots in the bottom layer that had grown through the 1.4 Mg/m³ soil averaged only about 65% of the elongation rate of the roots that had grown through the 0.85 Mg/m³ soil. This residual effect of mechanical impedance on root elongation persisted for at least 2 days and was more severe in the day-night cycle experiment than in the dark experiment. These results have important implications for modelling root elongation in any soil in which the soil strength changes with distance or with time.     

Legumes regulate grassland soil N cycling and its response to variation in species diversity and N supply but not CO2

Legumes are an important component of plant diversity that modulate nitrogen (N) cycling in many terrestrial ecosystems. Limited knowledge of legume effects on soil N cycling and its response to global change factors and plant diversity hinders a general understanding of whether and how legumes broadly regulate the response of soil N availability to those factors. In a 17‐year study of perennial grassland species grown under ambient and elevated (+180 ppm) CO₂ and ambient and enriched (+4 g N m^?2 year^?1) N environments, we compared pure legume plots with plots dominated by or including other herbaceous functional groups (and containing one or four species) to assess the effect of legumes on N cycling (net N mineralization rate and inorganic N pools). We also examined the effects of numbers of legume species (from zero to four) in four‐species mixed plots on soil N cycling. We hypothesized that legumes would increase N mineralization rates most in those treatments with the greatest diversity and the greatest relative limitation by and competition for N. Results partially supported these hypotheses. Plots with greater dominance by legumes had greater soil nitrate concentrations and mineralization rates. Higher species richness significantly increased the impact of legumes on soil N metrics, with 349% and 505% higher mineralization rates and nitrate concentrations in four‐species plots containing legumes compared to legume‐free four‐species plots, in contrast to 185% and 129% greater values, respectively, in pure legume than nonlegume monoculture plots. N‐fertilized plots had greater legume effects on soil nitrate, but lower legume effects on net N mineralization. In contrast, neither elevated CO₂ nor its interaction with legumes affected net N mineralization. These results indicate that legumes markedly influence the response of soil N cycling to some, but not all, global change drivers.     

双季稻田改制对土壤剖面构型及性质的影响

利用田间试验方法,研究了红壤区双季稻田改为稻-稻-紫云英、牧草、水旱轮作和旱作4种种植模式对土壤剖面构型及耕层土壤性质的影响.结果表明: 与试验前相比,旱作种植模式下,耕作层厚度增加了4 cm、犁底层厚度减少了2 cm、湿筛>2 mm粒级团粒含量提高了6.94%、湿筛法平均质量粒径增加了0.37 mm、水稳性结构商是试验前的1.78倍,腐殖酸碳和富里酸碳含量分别提高了0.15和0.49 g·kg^-1;水旱轮作种植模式下,土壤水稳性结构商较高(95.86)、养分含量变幅小;稻-稻-紫云英种植模式下,除有机质含量(增加1.3 g·kg^-1)和土壤水稳性结构商(降低8.82)变化较大外,其余指标变化不大;牧草种植模式下,耕作层厚度增加2 cm、过渡层厚度增加9 cm、土壤水稳性结构商增加1.39,而土壤有机质和全钾含量分别下降5.6和2.8 g·kg^-1,在所有处理中变化幅度最大.表明在当前红壤地区对灌溉条件较差的双季稻田进行改制是可行的,建议优先考虑改成旱作或水旱轮作,但无论在何种耕作方式下,均应注意土壤钾素的亏损问题.     

Using coloured roots to study root interaction and competition in intercropped legumes and non-legumes

Aims Root interactions between neighbour plants represent a fundamental aspect of the competitive dynamics in pure stand and mixed cropping systems. The comprehension of such phenomena places big methodological challenges, and still needs clarification. The objectives of this work were (i) to test if a species with coloured roots can be used to examine the interaction in a legume-non-legume intercropping system; (ii) to verify the importance of initial root growth on the successive root development of mixture component plants; (iii) to test if the root interaction in the shallow layers has consequences for deep root growth and (iv) to compare the effect of intraspecific and interspecific competition on root development and biomass growth.Methods A detailed study on root growth and interaction was carried out using rhizotron tubes where two legume species were grown in pure stands or were intercropped with red beet, a variety of Beta vulgaris L. with clear red roots. Within the rhizotrons, the three species were grown either without competitors, with two plants of the same species to measure intraspecific competition or with one legume and one red beet plant to study interspecific competition. The use of mixtures where one component has clearly coloured roots, together with several scalar measurements of root depth and proliferation, allowed the measurement of the root system of each species when grown in the mixtures.Important findings The use of rhizotron tubes coupled with species with coloured roots represented a valuable method to study the belowground interaction in mixed cropping systems. The initial root growth was a very important feature for the subsequent dominance of a species and it was not related to seed dimension. Initial root growth was also important because the root interactions in the shallower soil layers were found to influence the root growth in deeper soil. The root system of the red beet showed much faster and deeper growth than that of the legumes, and made red beet the dominant component in the mixtures while the legume root system was confined to the shallower soil layer. Intraspecific competition was well tolerated by the legumes, but it was limiting for the highly competitive red beet. The outcome of root interaction between neighbour plants was confirmed to be species-specific as it changed according to the intensity of the competitive effect/response of each species of the mixture: both legumes were slightly affected by the intraspecific and highly affected by interspecific competition while red beet was more affected by intraspecific competition but strongly dominant when intercropped with legumes.     

Survival of soft rot coliforms, Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora and E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica in soil in Scotland

An enrichment method was used to monitor Erwinia carotovora in soil or the rhizosphere of different crops and weeds in 17 fields with different cropping histories on three farms. The bacteria were detected in all fields not cropped with potatoes, although not consistently, and the mean annual frequency of detection was generally low (< 10%). Fields in which potatoes were grown were extensively contaminated after harvest in September but contamination declined over the winter to very low levels by early summer in the following year. Contamination level tended to rise in some fields without potatoes regardless of their cropping history but for only a short time during autumn and winter. The bacteria were no more frequent in rhizosphere soil of any of the weeds or crops examined, with the exception of brassicas, than in bare soil. In fields where more than 16 months had elapsed since cropping with potatoes, 91% of erwinia isolates obtained were E. carotovora subsp. carotovora , the remainder being E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica. The bacteria were shortlived in soil and in the rhizospheres of inoculated field and pot grown crop and weed plants. Longevity was greater in dry (10% moisture) than in wet (21% moisture) soil and decreased as temperatures rose, particularly above 25°C. Survival was best in association with brassica plants, moderate on grasses and cereals, and least on potatoes and weeds. E.c. carotovora survived better than E.c. atroseptica. Because survival of the bacteria in soil is apparently restricted, their presence in fields could be attributed to recurrent introductions from different sources.     

Phytoremediation Efficiency of a PCP-Contaminated Soil using Four Plant Species as Mono- and Mixed Cultures

Bioremediation of soil polluted by pentachlorophenol (PCP) is of great importance due to the persistence and carcinogenic properties of PCP. Phytoremediation has long been recognized as a promising approach for removal of PCP from soil. The present study was conducted to investigate the capability of four plant species; white clover, ryegrass, alfalfa, and rapeseed grown alone and in combination to remediate pentachlorophenol contaminated soil. After 60 days cultivation, white clover, raygrass, alfalfa, and rapeseed all significantly enhanced the degradation of PCP in soils. Alfalfa showed highest efficiency for the removal of PCP in single cropping flowed by rapeseed and ryegrass. Mixed cropping significantly enhanced the remediation efficiencies as compared to single cropping; about 89.84% of PCP was removed by mixed cropping of rapeseed and alfalfa, and 72.01% of PCP by mixed cropping of rape and white clover. Mixed cropping of rapeseed with alfalfa was however far better for the remediation of soil PCP than single cropping. An evaluation of soil biological activities as a monitoring mechanism for the bioremediation process of a PCP-contaminated soil was made using measurements of microbial counts and dehydrogenase activity.     

间作对旱地CO2和N2O排放影响的研究进展

农田温室气体排放是近年来科学界的研究热点,采用合适的种植模式是减少农田温室气体排放的有效途径之一.本文综述了作物间作对旱地土壤CO₂和N₂O排放的影响及机理.合理间作能够提高土壤有机碳(SOC)含量、促进不同作物秸秆向SOC转化、降低SOC矿化速率,从而减少CO₂排放.禾本科与豆科作物间作能够在维持作物产量的情况下,减少化学氮肥投入、土壤有效氮残留及还田秸秆产生的无机氮,降低N₂O排放.间作作物的互作、田间小气候环境的改善也是影响土壤温室气体排放的重要因素.今后,要增加土壤温室气体监测时长并对影响因子进行综合、全面的分析,尤其是从分子水平探究间作模式下土壤微生物对温室气体产生过程的作用机理,为构建环境友好型农业模式提供科学依据.     

Legume rotation effects on early growth and rhizosphere microbiology of sorghum in West African soils

Cereal yield increases in legume rotations on west African soils were the subject of much recent research aiming at the development of more productive cropping systems for the mainly subsistence-oriented agriculture in this region. However, little has been done to elucidate the possible contribution of soil microbiological factors to these rotation effects. Therefore a pot trial was conducted using legume rotation and continuous cereal soils each from one site in Burkina Faso and two sites in Togo where cropping system experiments had been conducted over 4 yrs. All soils were planted with seedlings of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). From 21 days after sowing onwards relative growth rates in rotation soils were higher than in the continuous cereal soils, resulting in between 69 and 500% higher shoot dry matter of rotation sorghum compared to sorghum growing in continuous cereal soils. Across sites rotation soils were characterized by higher pH, higher microbial N and a lower microbial biomass C/N ratio and, with the exception of one site, a higher fungal biomass in the rhizosphere. The bacterial and eukaryal community structure in the soil, assessed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), differed between sites. However, only at one site differed the bacterial and the eukaryal community structure in the rotation soil significantly from that in the continuous cereal soil. Although the results of this study confirmed the marked plant-growth differences between sub-Saharan legume-rotation soils and their continuous cereal counterparts they also showed the difficulties to differentiate possible microbiological causes from their effects.     

间作对旱地CO2和N2O排放影响的研究进展

农田温室气体排放是近年来科学界的研究热点,采用合适的种植模式是减少农田温室气体排放的有效途径之一.本文综述了作物间作对旱地土壤CO₂和N₂O排放的影响及机理.合理间作能够提高土壤有机碳(SOC)含量、促进不同作物秸秆向SOC转化、降低SOC矿化速率,从而减少CO₂排放.禾本科与豆科作物间作能够在维持作物产量的情况下,减少化学氮肥投入、土壤有效氮残留及还田秸秆产生的无机氮,降低N₂O排放.间作作物的互作、田间小气候环境的改善也是影响土壤温室气体排放的重要因素.今后,要增加土壤温室气体监测时长并对影响因子进行综合、全面的分析,尤其是从分子水平探究间作模式下土壤微生物对温室气体产生过程的作用机理,为构建环境友好型农业模式提供科学依据.     

黄河三角洲盐碱地花生根层土壤菌群结构多样性

花生属豆科固氮作物,具较强的抗旱耐盐性,土壤微生物在盐碱土生态系统中具有重要的生态功能。以花生平作、花生/棉花间作为对象,通过16S rRNA基因克隆文库技术分析了黄河三角洲滨海盐碱地花生旺盛生长期不同含盐量盐碱地和非盐碱地0—40cm根层非培养土壤微生物群落组成及其多样性,分析了盐碱地花生根层土壤细菌群落与非盐碱地花生根层土壤细菌群落的差异,为揭示盐碱地花生根层土壤微生物的多样性以及土地利用变化与生态环境效应间的关系奠定基础。利用免培养技术直接从土壤样品提取总DNA,针对细菌基因组16S rRNA基因的V3高变区进行PCR扩增;利用焦磷酸测序的方法对V3高变区PCR产物进行高通量测序,并对测序数据进行生物信息学分析。结果表明,(1)黄河三角洲滨海盐碱土较高含盐量土壤中根层土壤微生物种类、优势种群数量和群落功能多样性较非盐碱土壤较为丰富。(2)盐碱土花生平作或花生//棉花间作两种种植方式基本不影响二者0—40cm根层土壤微生物优势类群;不同土壤类型和种植模式下,花生和棉花根层土壤中优势菌群均为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)和酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria) 4种菌群,其总丰度为80%—90%。非盐碱土壤中花生根层的酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)丰度是盐碱土壤中的3倍以上,嗜热油菌纲(Thermoleophilia)和放线菌纲(Actinomycetales)丰度远高于各种盐碱土壤花生平作和花生//棉花间作两种植模式下的花生根层土壤;非盐碱土平作花生0—40cm土层中Rubellimicrobium、Pontibacter和Lamia细菌则显著缺失。(3)土壤类型对土壤微生物菌群类型影响较大,聚类分析表明,10个土壤样本依据土壤含盐量高低和根系分布深度聚为3类,即非盐碱土壤归为1类,盐碱土壤根系密集分布层0—20cm、20—40cm各归为1类。     

生物质炭添加对喀斯特地区坡耕地黄壤水分入渗过程的影响

为探究生物质炭添加对喀斯特地区土壤水分入渗特性的影响,本研究以坡耕地黄壤为对象,采用室内土柱模拟的方法,研究不同添加量(质量分数为0、1%和2%)和不同粒径(粒径大小为<0.25、0.25～1和>1 mm)生物质炭添加下土壤水分累计入渗量、入渗速率及湿润锋进程的变化特征,并对入渗过程进行模拟。结果表明: 在定容重条件下,添加生物质炭后土壤的入渗过程明显受到抑制,添加生物质炭土壤的累计入渗量和入渗速率显著低于未添加生物质炭土壤,生物质炭添加量为1%和2%土壤的累计入渗量和入渗速率无显著差异。不同粒径生物质炭添加下,土壤累计入渗量从大到小依次表现为<0.25、0.25～1和>1 mm。与CK相比,当添加量为1%时,土壤300 min累计入渗量分别下降20.9%、35.2%和45.0%;当添加量为2%时,分别下降21.5%、37.5%和44.2%,说明大粒径生物质炭对土壤入渗的抑制作用显著强于小粒径生物质炭。土壤湿润锋进程对不同含量和不同粒径生物质炭添加的响应趋势与累计入渗量的变化趋势基本一致。Horton和Kostiakov模型能够用于模拟本研究中的土壤水分入渗过程,Horton模型拟合精度高,R²最大(0.91～0.98),均方根误差(RMSE)最小(0.14～0.21),而Kostiakov模型拟合得到的初始入渗速率更接近实测结果。研究结果可为生物质炭的合理施用提供科学依据,也可为喀斯特坡耕地土壤改良和水土保持提供有益参考。