不同氮水平下作物养分吸收与利用

玉米与马铃薯间作是重要的间作种植模式,具有较突出的资源利用和产量优势,但养分吸收和利用对作物产量优势的贡献及这种贡献对施氮量的响应机制尚不清楚.本研究采用玉米单作、马铃薯单作和玉米与马铃薯间作3种种植模式,分别设置N₀(0 kg·hm^-2)、N₁(125 kg·hm^-2)、N₂(250 kg·hm^-2)和N₃(375 kg·hm^-2)4个氮水平,通过2年田间小区试验,研究不同氮水平下间作产量优势的营养基础.结果表明: 随着施氮量的增加,氮、磷、钾的单作加权平均吸收量逐渐增加,间作则先增加后减少.间作在N₁水平时具最高的养分吸收优势,分别较单作加权平均值增加氮吸收14.9%、磷吸收38.6%、钾吸收27.8%;间作在N₀和N₃时具有更高的养分利用效率,较单作可提高氮利用效率3.5%～14.3%、磷利用效率3.5%～18.5%、钾利用效率10.6%～31.6%.N₀和N₁时玉米与马铃薯间作具有显著产量优势,其营养基础在N₀时主要是提高了作物养分利用效率,而N₁时则是促进养分吸收的结果.充分发挥间作促进养分吸收对玉米与马铃薯间作产量优势的贡献,需要合理控制氮肥的投入.     

Effects of rhizobial inoculation, cropping systems and growth stages on endophytic bacterial community of soybean roots

Interspecific interactions and soil nitrogen supply levels affect intercropping productivity. We hypothesized that interspecific competition can be alleviated by increasing N application rate and yield advantage can be obtained in competitive systems. A field experiment was conducted in Wuwei, Gansu province in 2007 and 2008 to study intercropping of faba bean/maize, wheat/maize, barley/maize and the corresponding monocultures of faba bean (Vicia faba L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) with N application rates of 0, 75, 150, 225 and 300 kg N ha^?1. Total land equivalent ratios (TLER) were 1.22 for faba bean/maize, 1.16 for wheat/maize, and 1.13 for barley/maize intercropping over the 2-year study period. Maize was overyielding when intercropped with faba bean, but underyielding when intercropped with wheat or barley according to partial land equivalent ratios (PLER) based on grain yields of individual crops in intercropping and sole cropping. There was an interspecific facilitation between intercropped faba bean and maize, and interspecific competition between maize and either wheat or barley. The underyielding of maize was higher when intercropped with barley than with wheat. Fertilizer N alleviated competitive interactions in intercrops with adequate fertilizer N at 225 kg ha^?1. Yield advantage of intercropping can be acquired with adequate nitrogen supply, even in an intensive competitive system such as barley/maize intercropping. This is important when using intercropping to develop intensive farming systems with high inputs and high outputs.     

减量施氮对玉米-大豆套作系统下作物氮素吸收和利用效率的影响

为探索玉米-大豆套作系统中作物对N素吸收的差异特性,揭示减量施N对玉米-大豆套作系统的N高效利用机理。利用15N同位素示踪技术,结合小区套微区多年定位试验,研究了玉米单作(MM)、大豆单作(SS)、玉米-大豆套作(IMS)及不施N(NN)、减量施N(RN:180 kg N/hm2)、常量施N(CN:240 kg N/hm2)下玉米、大豆的生物量、吸N量、N肥利用率及土壤N素含量变化。结果表明,与MM(SS)相比,IMS下玉米茎叶及籽粒的生物量、吸N量降低,15N%丰度及15N吸收量增加,大豆籽粒及植株的生物量、吸N量及15N吸收量显著提高;IMS下玉米、大豆植株的N肥利用率、土壤N贡献率、土壤15N%丰度降低,15N回收率显著增加。施N与不施N相比,显著提高了单、套作下玉米、大豆植株的生物量、吸N量、15N丰度及15N吸收量;RN与CN相比,IMS下,RN的玉米、大豆植株总吸N量提高13.4%和12.4%,N肥利用率提高213.0%和117.5%,土壤总N含量提高12.2%和11.6%,土壤N贡献率降低12.0%和11.2%,玉米植株15N吸收量与15N回收率提高14.4%和52.5%,大豆的则降低57.1%和42.8%,单作与套作的变化规律一致。玉米-大豆套作系统中作物对N素吸收存在数量及形态差异,减量施N有利于玉米-大豆套作系统对N肥的高效吸收与利用,实现作物持续增产与土壤培肥。     

Opposite effects of nitrogen fertilization and plastic film mulching on crop N and P stoichiometry in a temperate agroecosystem

Aims Crop nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry can influence food nutritive quality and many ecosystem processes. However, how and why N and P stoichiometry respond to long-term agricultural management practices (e.g. N fertilization and film mulching) are not clearly understood.     

Time-dependent, species-specific effects of N:P stoichiometry on grassland plant growth

N and P have different eutrophication effects on grassland communities, yet the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. To examine plant growth in response to the varying (relative) supply of N and P, we conducted a two-year greenhouse experiment. Five grasses and three herbs were grown with three N:P supply ratios at two overall nutrient supply levels. During the first year the plant growth was relatively low at both high and low N:P supply ratios, whereas during the second year the growth was especially low at a high N:P supply ratio. This second-year low growth was attributed to the high root death rate, which was influenced by a high N:P supply ratio rather than by the nutrient supply level. Species responded differently, especially in P uptake and loss at a high N:P supply ratio. Each species seemed to have a different strategy for P limitation, e.g. an efficient P uptake or a high P resorption rate. Species typical of P-limited grasslands had neither better P uptake nor better P retention at a high N:P supply ratio. This study quantitatively demonstrates an increased plant root death triggered by strong P limitation. This finding indicates a possible extra effect of N eutrophication on ecosystem functioning via changed N:P stoichiometry.     

Crop nitrogen use and soil mineral nitrogen accumulation under different crop combinations and patterns of strip intercropping in northwest China

Increasing crop nitrogen use efficiency while also simultaneously decreasing nitrogen accumulation in the soil would be key steps in controlling nitrogen pollution from agricultural systems. Long-term field experiments were started in 2003 to study the effects of intercropping on crop N use and soil mineral N accumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv 2014)/maize (Zea mays L. cv Shendan16), wheat/faba bean (Vicia faba L. cv Lincan No. 5) and maize/faba bean intercropping and monocropping systems. Monocropping was compared with two types of strip intercropping: continuous intercropping (two crops intercropped continuously on the same strips of land every year) and rotational intercropping (two crops grown adjacently and rotated to the other crop??s strip every year). Maize/faba bean intercropping had greater crop N uptake than did wheat/faba bean or wheat/maize. Wheat/maize accumulated more mineral N in the top 140 cm of the soil profile during the co-growth stage from maize emergence to maturity of wheat or faba bean. Continuously intercropped maize substantially decreased soil mineral N accumulation under wheat and faba bean rows (60?C100 cm soil depth) at maize harvest. Soil mineral N accumulation under wheat rows increased with rotational intercropping with faba bean. Rotational intercropping may potentially alleviate the adverse effects of wheat on N use by other crops and increase the nitrogen harvest index of wheat, maize and faba bean. Intercropping using species with different maturity dates may be more effective in increasing crop N use efficiency and decreasing soil mineral N accumulation.     

Nitrogen Fixation of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Interacting with a Non-legume in Two Contrasting Intercropping Systems

A field experiment was carried out to quantify biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) using the ¹⁵N isotope natural abundance method in maize (Zea mays L.)/faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/faba bean intercropping systems. Faba bean was yielding more in the maize/faba bean intercropping, but not in the wheat/faba bean intercropping. Biomass, grain yield and N acquisition of faba bean were significantly increased when intercropped with maize, and decreased significantly with wheat, irrespective of N-fertilizer application, indicating that the legume could gain or lose productivity in an intercropping situation. There was yield advantage of maize/faba bean intercropping, but no in wheat/faba bean intercropping. The grain yield of the faba bean intercropped with maize was greater than that of faba bean monoculture due to increases of the stems per plant and the pods per stem of faba bean. N fertilization inhibited N fixation of faba bean in maize/faba bean and wheat/faba bean intercropping and faba bean monoculture. The responses of different cropping systems to N-fertilizer application, however, were not identical, with competitive intercropping (wheat/faba bean) being more sensitive than facilitative intercropping (maize/faba bean). Intercropping increased the percentage of N derived from air (%Ndfa) of the wheat/faba bean system, but not that of the maize/faba bean system when no N fertilizer was applied. When receiving 120 kg N/ha, however, intercropping did not significantly increase %Ndfa either in the wheat/faba bean system or in the maize/faba bean system in comparison with faba bean in monoculture. The amount of shoot N derived from air (Ndfa), however, increased significantly when intercropped with maize, irrespective of N-fertilizer application. Ndfa decreased when intercropped with wheat, albeit not significantly at 120 kg N/ha. Ndfa was correlated more closely with dry matter yield, grain yield and competitive ratio, than with %Ndfa. This indicates that that total dry matter yield (sink strength), not %Ndfa, was more critical for the legume to increase Ndfa. The results suggested that N fixation could be improved by yield maximization in an intercropping system.     

Effect of peanut mixed cropping with gramineous species on micronutrient concentrations and iron chlorosis of peanut plants grown in a calcareous soil

To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms of improvement of iron nutrition of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) intercropped with maize (Zea mays L.) in calcareous soil, both greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to investigate the rhizosphere (phytosiderophores) effects from maize, barley, oats and wheat with different phytosiderophores release rates on iron nutrition and other micronutrients in calcareous soil. Six cropping treatments were examined in a greenhouse experiment: peanut grown separately in monoculture, normal peanut/maize intercropping (two genotypes: Danyu13, Zhongdan12), peanut/barley intercropping, peanut/oats intercropping, and peanut/wheat intercropping. Additionally, we investigated in a field experiment the same five cropping systems as the greenhouse experiment (maize/peanut intercropping not including Zhongdan12). Our results show that the chlorophyll and active Fe concentrations in the young leaves of the peanut in the intercropping system with different gramineous species were much higher than those of the peanut in monoculture. In greenhouse conditions, the Fe concentration in the shoots of peanut plants grown in the intercropping systems of two maize genotypes separately were 1.40–1.44, 1.47–1.64 and 1.15–1.42 times higher respectively than those of peanut plants grown in monocropping at 55, 60 and 70 days. In particular, the Fe concentration in shoots of peanut plants grown in the intercropping systems of barley, oats and wheat were not only higher than those in monocropping but also higher than those in peanut intercropped cropping with maize. In the field, the concentration of Fe in shoot of intercropped peanut plants in rows 1–3 from gramineous species were significantly higher than in monocropping at the flowering stage. Simultaneously with iron nutrition variation in peanut, Zn and Cu concentrations of intercropped grown peanut increased significantly compared to those in monocropping in the greenhouse experiment, and different intercropping treatments generally increased the Zn and Cu content in the shoot of peanut in the field. Systemic mechanisms may be involved in adaptation to nutrient stresses at the whole plant level. The study suggests that a reasonable intercropping system of nutrient efficient species should be considered to prevent or mitigate iron and zinc deficiency of plants in agricultural practice.     

小麦/玉米间作优势及地上部与地下部因素的相对贡献

 明确种间地上部相互作用和地下部相互作用对间作优势的贡献,优化资源配置对提高间作体系产量具有重要意义。该文采用田间微区试验以及地下部种间根系分隔技术研究了玉米(Zea mays)覆膜与不覆膜两种情况下小麦(Triticum aestivum)/玉米间作优势及地上部和地下部因素对间作优势的相对贡献, 以期为间作体系的增产提供理论依据。结果得出,玉米不覆膜时小麦/玉米间作具有明显的产量间作优势(籽粒产量和生物学产量土地当量比(Land equivalent ration, LER)分别为 1.30和1 .29),玉米覆膜能显著增加小麦/玉米间作系统产量间作优势（LER分别为1.41和1.40）;玉米不覆膜时小麦/玉米间作系统具有明显的氮、磷、钾养分吸收优势,玉米覆膜也能显著增加小麦/玉米间作系统养分吸收优势。小麦/玉米间作系统籽粒产量和生物产量间作优势来自地上部种间相互作用和地下部种间相互作用两个方面,但其相对贡献以地上部大于地下部, 当玉米不覆膜时均以地上部占75%、地下部占25%,当玉米覆膜时均为地上部占67%、地下部占33%,玉米覆膜能明显增加小麦/玉米间作系统产量间作优势地下部的相对贡献。地上部和地下部因素对小麦/玉米间作系统养分吸收优势也都具有重要贡献。玉米不覆膜时地上部和地下部因素对氮、磷养分吸收优势的相对贡献均分别为67%与33%,钾则相等（各占50%）;玉米覆膜能显著增加小麦/玉米间作系统氮、磷养分吸收优势地下部贡献率,但对钾养分吸收优势贡献影响不明显。表明,间作优势不仅可以通过作物组合来获得,也可通过地膜覆盖等措施进行调控,玉米覆膜能显著增加小麦/玉米间作系统产量间作优势和养分吸收优势及其地下部的相对贡献。可见,该研究对小麦／玉米间作模式持续增产和发展具有十分重要的指导作用。     

Close linkages between leaf functional traits and soil and leaf C:N:P stoichiometry under altered precipitation in a desert steppe in northwestern China

Leaf functional traits are important for characterizing plant nutrient strategies. The C:N:P stoichiometric balance in soils and plants, which could indicate types of nutrient limitation, is altered under changing precipitation patterns. However, whether such alterations affect leaf functional traits remains unclear. We conducted a three-year simulated precipitation experiment in a desert steppe in northwestern China to determine changes in leaf photosynthetic traits and nutrient conservation traits in five plant species and tested the relationships of these traits with soil and leaf C:N:P stoichiometry. The five species showed few changes in their leaf traits under drought conditions, but they adjusted these traits (especially P traits) under extremely wet conditions (50% increase in precipitation). Improved leaf photosynthetic N and P use, lowered leaf P uptake, and enhanced leaf N resorption might help Lespedeza potaninii to rely less on soil nutrients in extremely wet environments than other species do. Leaf photosynthetic traits were regulated primarily by soil and leaf C:N:P stoichiometry. Leaf nutrient conservation traits were controlled by both leaf C:N:P stoichiometry and soil properties (i.e., enzyme activity and microbial biomass), a condition especially true for P traits. The results suggest that precipitation-induced alteration in the C:N:P stoichiometric balance might have important influences on plant nutrient use strategies and even on the nutrient cycling of desert steppes.

     

Early growth and nutritional response to resource competition in cocoa-shade intercropped systems

Intercropping is often promoted for effective mutualism between species, thus compensating for external inputs. However, for optimal farm design resulting in superior production and nutrition, an accurate assessment of plant inter- and intra-specific competition is required. In predominant shade tree-cocoa (Theobroma cacao) systems, inconclusive evidence remains on species interactions, limitations to resource availability and subsequent growth and nutritional response, particularly in early growth. We examined cocoa biomass and foliar nutrition as well as nutrient supply through rates of decomposition and N mineralization after 1-year growth. Our approach employed fertilization and mixed planting treatments in an additive design of cocoa in monoculture (control), under artificial shade, and intercropped under two separate shade species (Terminalia superba and Newbouldia laevis). Intercropping had no effect on cocoa biomass production in comparison to monoculture cocoa. However, artificial shading stimulated foliage and root production both with and without fertilization, suggesting strong effects of light regulation on growth in the absence of belowground competition. Nutritionally, intercropping suppressed K uptake in cocoa foliage as K concentration was reduced by 20–25%, signifying dilution of this nutrient, presumably due to interspecific competition for mobile elements. Foliar N content under N. laevis was raised, where N concentration kept up with growth under this intercropped species. Intercropping also delayed decomposition rates, suggesting slower but sustained release of available nutrients into the topsoil. Cocoa under artificial shade, both with and without fertilization, exhibited the greatest nutrient responses as compared to unfertilized monoculture cocoa, where P uptake was stimulated most (175 and 112%), followed by K (69 and 71%), and then N (54 and 42%). Intercropping with shade trees failed to increase cocoa biomass, however, nutrient uptake was sustained for N and P, suggesting low interspecific competition. When fertilizers are undesirable or unavailable, intercropping of appropriately selected shade trees will not competitively suppress early growth of cocoa but will improve light regulation and nutritional status of cocoa saplings.     

不同前茬作物条件下烤烟氮磷钾养分平衡

在石林烟区通过田间试验研究了油菜、小麦、大麦和绿肥4种前茬作物对烤烟氮磷钾养分平衡的影响.结果表明:不同前茬处理间土壤氮素有效性、烟株生物量和氮磷钾养分吸收量、土壤氮磷钾养分残留以及氮素表观损失和磷钾表观盈余总体上差异显著.绿肥茬处理烤烟移栽前土壤起始无机氮最高,生长期间土壤净矿化氮最多,烟叶成熟时烟株生物量和氮、钾吸收量最大;油菜茬处理烤烟上述指标均次之;两者上述指标均明显高于大麦茬和小麦茬处理.吸磷量也以绿肥茬和油菜茬处理大于其他两处理.烤烟收获后土壤残留无机氮以绿肥茬处理最高,油菜茬次之,大麦茬和小麦茬最低;而土壤有效磷、钾含量则相反,以绿肥茬最低,大麦茬和小麦茬最高.烤烟生长期间氮素表观损失以绿肥茬处理明显高于其他处理;而磷钾表观盈余则以小麦茬和大麦茬两处理总体明显高于其他两处理.综上,烤烟氮磷钾养分的投入应根据前茬作物不同而适当调整,以绿肥和油菜为前茬时应明显减少氮肥施用量;以大麦和小麦为前茬时可以相对减少磷钾肥施用量.     

不同磷水平下玉米-大豆间作系统根系形态变化

本研究通过盆栽试验,探讨不同磷水平(0、50、100 mg P₂O₅·kg^-1,分别用P₀、P₅₀、P₁₀₀表示)下玉米与大豆间作系统根系形态的变化及其与磷吸收的关系,以明确玉米-大豆间作系统促进磷吸收的作用机制。结果表明: 不同磷水平下,间作显著改变了玉米和大豆的根系形态参数,提高了大豆根冠比。与单作模式相比,间作使玉米和大豆的根长、根表面积、根体积、根系干重分别显著增加25.6%、22.0%、39.2%、34.3%和28.1%、29.7%、37.3%、62.3%,而平均根直径分别显著降低15.2%和11.7%。不同磷水平下,磷素吸收当量比(LER_P)>1,玉米-大豆间作具有明显的磷吸收优势,且LER_P不受磷水平调控。间作诱导根系形态改变与磷吸收增加密切相关,其中玉米根系表面积增大、大豆根系长度增加是驱动玉米-大豆间作系统磷高效吸收的主要机制。根据回归方程,玉米根表面积和大豆根系长度增大10%,磷吸收量提高5%～10%。因此,与中等施磷水平(P₁₀₀)下的单作相比,玉米-大豆间作条件下磷肥减施1/2(P₅₀)并未降低玉米的磷吸收量。综上,玉米-大豆间作体系在减施磷肥条件下具有维持作物磷吸收的潜力。     

Row Ratios of Intercropping Maize and Soybean Can Affect Agronomic Efficiency of the System and Subsequent Wheat

Intercropping is regarded as an important agricultural practice to improve crop production and environmental quality in the regions with intensive agricultural production, e.g., northern China. To optimize agronomic advantage of maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) intercropping system compared to monoculture of maize, two sequential experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 was to screening the optimal cropping system in summer that had the highest yields and economic benefits, and Experiment 2 was to identify the optimum row ratio of the intercrops selected from Experiment 1. Results of Experiment 1 showed that maize intercropping with soybean (maize || soybean) was the optimal cropping system in summer. Compared to conventional monoculture of maize, maize || soybean had significant advantage in yield, economy, land utilization ratio and reducing soil nitrate nitrogen (N) accumulation, as well as better residual effect on the subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. Experiment 2 showed that intercropping systems reduced use of N fertilizer per unit land area and increased relative biomass of intercropped maize, due to promoted photosynthetic efficiency of border rows and N utilization during symbiotic period. Intercropping advantage began to emerge at tasseling stage after N topdressing for maize. Among all treatments with different row ratios, alternating four maize rows with six soybean rows (4M:6S) had the largest land equivalent ratio (1.30), total N accumulation in crops (258 kg ha^-1), and economic benefit (3,408 USD ha^-1). Compared to maize monoculture, 4M:6S had significantly lower nitrate-N accumulation in soil both after harvest of maize and after harvest of the subsequent wheat, but it did not decrease yield of wheat. The most important advantage of 4M:6S was to increase biomass of intercropped maize and soybean, which further led to the increase of total N accumulation by crops as well as economic benefit. In conclusion, alternating four maize rows with six soybean rows was the optimum row ratio in maize || soybean system, though this needs to be further confirmed by pluri-annual trials.     

内蒙古典型草原生态系统中N素添加对羊草和黄囊苔草N:P化学计量学特征的影响

过度放牧是中国典型草原生态系统日趋退化的主要原因.由于养分输入-输出的不均衡,将导致土壤养分库的耗竭,而确定退化草原受何种养分的制约是对其进行恢复的重要途径之一.应用N:P化学计量学的原理和方法,有望代替传统的野外养分添加实验,来研究不同草地受养分限制的状况.本文采用这两种方法在物种水平上研究限制性养分.此外,陆地植物器官中的N:P比相对恒定是植物在地球上生存的重要适应机制,养分添加为验证这一假说提供了一种有效手段.为此,我们采用野外N素添加的方法,研究了内蒙古典型草原两种演替系列样地中(围封22年的样地A和围封2年的样地B)羊草(Leymus chinensis(Ttin.)Tzvel.)和黄囊苔草(Carex korshinskyi Kom)生物量和N:P化学计量学特征的变异.N素添加梯度分别为0、5、15、30、50、80 gNH4NO3·m-2·a-1.研究结果表明,在施肥第一年,两个物种的地上生物量和P含量均不受N素添加的影响;相关分析结果表明,在施肥第二年两种植物的N:P比不受氮素添加的影响;施肥可以显著提高羊草和黄囊苔草地上器官的含N量,P含量只是在第二年有显著增大的趋势;2001年,两块样地中羊草和黄囊苔草的氮磷含量在不同施肥处理下均呈极显著地正相关.这表明,样地A中黄囊苔草缺乏P,样地B中羊草缺乏N,施肥两年后,两个物种器官中的N、P含量具有显著的协同关系,从物种水平上验证了我们提出的假说.同时,两年的实验结果还表明,生态系统中不同物种对添加N素的响应不同,笼统地界定一个生态系统受某种元素的制约是不恰当的.     

Silicon application induces changes C:N:P stoichiometry and enhances stoichiometric homeostasis of sorghum and sunflower plants under salt stress

Beneficial effects of silicon (Si) on growth have been observed in some plant species, reportedly due to stoichiometric changes of C, N, and P. However, little is known about the effects on the stoichiometric relationships between C, N, and P when silicon is supplied via different modes in sorghum and sunflower plants under salt stress conditions. Therefore, the current study was performed to investigate the impact of differing modes of Si supply on shoot biomass production and C:N:P stoichiometry in sorghum and sunflower plants under salt stress. Two experiments were performed in a glass greenhouse using the strong Si-accumulator plant sorghum, as well as the intermediate type Si-accumulator sunflower, both of which were grown in pots filled with washed sand. Plant species were cultivated for 30 days in the absence or presence of salt stress (0 or 100 mM) and supplemented with one of four Si treatments: control plants (without Si), 28.6 mmol Si L⁻¹ via foliar application, 2.0 mmol Si L⁻¹ via nutrient solution, and combined application of foliar and nutrient solution, each group with five replications. The results revealed that supplied Si modified the C, N, and P concentrations, thereby enhancing the C:N:P stoichiometry and shoot dry matter of sorghum and sunflower plants under salt stress. Both application of Si via nutrient solution, as well as combined application via foliar and nutrient solution, increased the C:N ratio in both plant species under salt stress, but in sorghum plants decreased the C:P and N:P ratios and increased the shoot biomass production by 39%, while in sunflower plants increased the C:P and N:P ratios and increased the shoot biomass production by 24%. Our findings suggest that salt stress alleviation by Si impacts C:N:P stoichiometric relationships in a variable manner depending on the ability of the species to accumulate Si, as well as the route of Si administration.     

玉米/花生间作对土壤微生物和土壤养分状况的影响

通过大田试验,研究了玉米/花生间作对玉米和花生根区土壤微生物和土壤养分状况的影响.结果表明：与单作相比,间作能显著提高玉米和花生根区的土壤细菌数量;间作花生根区土壤真菌和放线菌数量与单作无显著差异;间作玉米根区土壤真菌和放线菌数量比单作明显提高;间作作物根区微生物群落功能多样性和代谢活性比单作有所改善.玉米/花生间作不同程度提高了整个间作系统根区的土壤碱解氮、速效磷、有机质含量及EC值,其中,间作玉米根区土壤养分的增加更为明显,说明玉米/花生间作可以较明显地改善两种作物根区的微生物和养分状况,土壤微生态环境的改善又会促进作物地上部的生长.     

The relationship between relative growth rate and whole-plant C:N:P stoichiometry in plant seedlings grown under nutrient-enriched conditions

Aims Recent theories indicate that N is more in demand for plant growth than P; therefore, N concentration and N : C and N : P ratios are predicted to be positively correlated with relative growth rate (RGR) in plants under nutrient-enriched conditions. This prediction was tested in this study.Methods We examined the whole-plant concentrations of C, N and P and RGR, as well as the relationship between RGR and the concentrations and the ratios of N : C, P : C and N : P, for different harvest stages (the days after seed germination) of the seedlings of seven shrub species and four herbaceous species grown in N and P non-limiting conditions. The relationships among plant size, nutrient concentrations and ratios were subsequently determined.Important findings RGR was positively correlated with N concentration and the ratios of N : P and N : C when the data were pooled for all species and for each shrub species, but not for individual herbaceous species. However, the relationship between RGR and P concentration and P : C was not significantly correlated for either shrubs or herbs. The variation of N among harvest stages and species was much greater than that of P, and the variation in N : P ratio was determined primarily by changes in N concentration. The shrub species differed from the herbaceous species in their N and P concentrations, nutrient ratios and in intraspecific relationships between RGR and nutrient ratios. These differences possibly reflect differences in the capacity for P storage and biomass allocation patterns. In general, our data support recent theoretical predictions regarding the relationship between RGR and C : N : P stoichiometry, but they also show that species with different life forms differ in the relationships among RGR and C : N : P stoichimetries.     

Increased N affects P uptake of eight grassland species: the role of root surface phosphatase activity

Increased N deposition may change species composition in grassland communities by shifting them to P limitation. Interspecific differences in P uptake traits might be a crucial yet poorly understood factor in determining the N effects. To test the effects of increased N supply (relative to P), we conducted two greenhouse fertilization experiments with eight species from two functional groups (grasses, herbs), including those common in P and N limited grasslands. We investigated plant growth and P uptake from two P sources, orthophosphate and not‐readily available P (bound‐P), under different N supply levels. Furthermore, to test if the N effects on P uptake was due to N availability alone or altered N:P ratio, we examined several uptake traits (root‐surface phosphatase activity, specific root length (SRL), root mass ratio (RMR)) under varying N:P supply ratios. Only a few species (M. caerulea, A. capillaris, S. pratensis) could take up a similar amount of P from bound‐P to that from orthophosphate. These species had neither higher SRL, RMR, phosphatase activity per unit root (Pase_root), nor higher total phosphatase activity (Pase_tot: Pase_root times root mass), but higher relative phosphatase activity (Pase_rel: Pase_tot divided by biomass) than other species. The species common from P‐limited grasslands had high Pase_rel. P uptake from bound‐P was positively correlated with Pase_tot for grasses. High N supply stimulated phosphatase activity but decreased RMR and SRL, resulting in no increase in P uptake from bound‐P. Pase_root was influenced by N:P supply ratio, rather than by only N or P level, whereas SRL and RMR was not dominantly influenced by N:P ratio. We conclude that increased N stimulates phosphatase activity via N:P stoichiometry effects, which potentially increases plant P uptake in a species‐specific way. N deposition, therefore, may alter plant community structure not only by enhancing productivity, but also by favouring species with traits that enable them to persist better under P limited conditions.     

Ground beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) diversity, activity density, and community structure in a diversified agroecosystem

Diversity and abundance of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) can be enhanced in vegetable and field intercropping systems, but the complexity of polycultures precludes the application of generalized assumptions of effects for novel intercropping combinations. In a field experiment conducted at Lacombe and Ellerslie, Alberta, Canada, in 2005 and 2006, we investigated the effects of intercropping canola (Brassica napus L.) with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) on the diversity and community structure of carabid beetles, and on the activity density responses of individual carabid species. Shannon-Wiener diversity index scores and species evenness increased significantly as the proportion of wheat comprising total crop plant populations increased in one site-year of the study, indicating a positive response to enhanced crop plant species evenness in the intercrops, and in that same site-year, ground beetle communities in intercrops shifted to more closely approximate those in wheat monocultures as the percentage of wheat in the intercrops increased. Individual carabid species activity densities showed differing responses to intercropping, although activity densities of some potential root maggot (Delia spp.) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) predators were greater in intercrops with high proportions of wheat than in canola monocultures. The activity density of Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger), the most abundant species collected, tended to be greater in canola monocultures than high-wheat intercrops or wheat monocultures. We conclude that intercrops of canola and wheat have the potential to enhance populations of some carabid species, therefore possibly exerting increased pressure on some canola insect pests.