Dynamics of soil organic phosphorus

The transformations of soil organic phosphorus are described and organized in a conceptual model. Microbial uptake of P and its subsequent release and redistribution play a central role in the soil organic P cycle. Interactions with soil minerals and stabilization of organic matter and associated P in organo-mineral complexes determine the persistence and buildup of organic P through soil development, in different ecosystems and under varying management. An understanding of organic P turnover in soils will greatly aid assessment of P fertility in many agricultural and native systems.Publication No. R294 of the Saskatchewan Institute of Pedology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N OW0.     

Thermophilic aerobic treatment of potato-processing wastewater

Four batches of potato-processing wastewater were collected every two weeks. After sedimentation for 1 h and subsequent decanting, the supernatant had a 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) ranging from 620 to 1743 mg/l and total suspended solids ranging from 0.31 to 0.49 mg/ml. Thermophilic aerobic digestion (55°C, 0.6l air/min) decreased the BOD and total suspended solids of the supernatant by 98% and 75%, respectively, in 96 h.B. Malladi and S.C. Ingham are with the Department of Applied Microbiology and Food Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0W0, Canada.     

Changes in P forms and availability as influenced by management practices

Summary The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in soil phosphorus (P) forms and potential availability that occurred in a grassland soil when it was cultivated and cropped to winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a crop-fallow rotation using three tillage systems: no-till, stubble mulch, and plow (bare fallow). The experiment was located in western Nebraska on a Duroc loam (fine silty, mixed, mesic Pachic Haplustolls). After 14 years, significant differences had developed in the form of soil P as determined by a sequential fractionation procedures between the original control (grass-sod) and the bare fallow treatments. Most of the differences were associated with increases in sand content caused by erosion, accompanied on the bare fallow plots by a mixing of sand from lower horizons throughout the surface 0–15 cm. Contribution R502 from the Saskatchewan Institute of Pedology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 0W0.     

Effects of shading and nitrogen on growth of corn (Zea mays L.) under field conditions

Summary Field studies were performed in the growing seasons of 1967 and 1968 to determine the differential response of vegetative corn growth to three levels of shading (27, 51, and 100% sunlight) and three levels of nitrogen (0, 222, and 444 kg/ha). Ammonium nitrate was used as the N fertilizer. Shades were removed when the unshaded plants started tasselling. Subsequent stover and grain production was determined. During the vegetative period, N increased dry matter yield per plant, and the rate of increase was enhanced at higher light levels. This was consistent in both years. The effect of shading during vegetative period on N use appeared to depend on season, or perhaps on planting date. In 1967, with a late planting date, the N-shading interaction was found in final stover and ear yields. In 1968, with a planting date in early spring shading-N interactions were noted at 8 1/2 weeks of growth but not at maturity. Part of a Ph. D. thesis submitted by the senior author in 1969 to the Graduate Faculty of Studies and Research, McGill University, Canada. Former graduate assistant and associate professor respectively.     

不同氮肥喷涂吡啶对夏玉米田氮素利用及土壤N2O排放的影响

为减少土壤N₂O排放,提高作物氮素利用,采用田间试验法研究了不同氮肥用量喷涂一定比例的吡啶(0、180、270、360 kg N·hm^-2)对夏玉米生育期内土壤N₂O排放和氮素表观损失、籽粒产量及氮素利用的影响.结果表明:不同氮肥用量下喷涂吡啶的土壤N₂O排放主要集中在播种-苗期和拔节-抽雄期,基肥和追肥后均会出现显著的土壤N₂O排放通量高峰.随氮肥用量增加,玉米产量不断增加,但270和360 kg N·hm^-2间无显著差异,2种施氮量下的玉米分别净增收5209和5426元·hm^-2.与不施氮肥比,各施氮处理下的玉米籽粒吸氮量提高幅度为109.6%～134.1%.各处理间的氮肥农学效率和氮肥利用率均以氮肥喷涂吡啶270 kg N·hm^-2较大,而土壤氮素表观损失较小.氮肥喷涂吡啶在270 kg N·hm^-2时玉米增产增收,氮肥利用效率较高,土壤N₂O排放和氮素表观损失较少,是一种较为合理的氮肥调控施用技术.     

A molecular,isozyme and morphological map of the barley (Hordeum vulgare) genome

A map of the barley genome consisting of 295 loci was constructed. These loci include 152 cDNA restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), 114 genomic DNA RFLP, 14 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), five isozyme, two morphological, one disease resistance and seven specific amplicon polymorphism (SAP) markers. The RFLP-identified loci include 63 that were detected using cloned known function genes as probes. The map covers 1,250 centiMorgans (cM) with a 4.2 cM average distance between markers. The genetic lengths of the chromosomes range from 124 to 223 cM and are in approximate agreement with their physical lengths. The centromeres were localized to within a few markers on all of the barley chromosomes except chromosome 5. Telomeric regions were mapped for the short (plus) arms of chromosomes 1, 2 and 3 and the long (minus) arm of chromosomes 7.This research was also supported by other members of the NABGMP: K. Kasha, Department of Crop Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada NIG 2W1; W. Kim, Agriculture Canada Research Station, 195 Dafoe Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3T 2M9; A. Laroche, Agriculture Canada Research Station, P.O. Box 3000 Main, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada,TU 4B1; S. Molnar, Plant Research Centre Agriculture Canada, Central Experimental farm, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0C6; G. Scoles, Department of Crop Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N OWOThis research is part of the North American Barley Genome Mapping Project, R. A. Nilan and K. Kasha, Coordinator and Associate Coordinator, respectively Permanent address: Department of Plant Genetics, NI Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow     

施肥和覆膜垄沟种植对旱地小麦产量及水氮利用的影响

通过大田试验研究了施肥和覆膜垄沟种植对旱地冬小麦群体动态、产量构成及水氮利用的影响。结果表明,覆膜垄沟种植和追肥处理可显著提高旱地冬小麦穗数,追肥处理可减少后期无效分蘖;覆膜垄沟种植和追肥处理产量分别比农户模式提高了11.73%和13.91%,穗数和穗粒数是其产量提高的关键因素;覆膜垄沟种植方式可减少土壤水分损耗,水分利用率为11.60 kg · hm^-2 · mm^-1,显著高于其他处理;追肥处理能有效促进小麦生育中后期对氮素的吸收利用,在基施氮量165 kg/hm²上再追肥30 kg/hm²,地上部分吸氮总量增加15.45 kg/hm²,追肥氮的利用率显著高于底肥氮利用率,为51.5%。     

Malignant mesenchymal tumors in two white-tailed jack rabbits (Lepus townsendii)

Two white-tailed jack rabbits (Lepus townsendii) with proliferative lesions in their internal organs were submitted to the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada) for necropsy because of concern that dogs that had contact with the hares might have been exposed to an infectious disease. In both hares, the primary diagnosis was neoplasia. One hare had metastatic leiomyosarcoma and uterine fibroma, the other had metastatic mesenchymal tumors involving the liver and mesentery. These cases represent the only reports of malignant mesenchymal tumors in white-tailed jack rabbits that we have found in the literature.     

不同氮肥喷涂吡啶对夏玉米田氮素利用及土壤N2O排放的影响

为减少土壤N₂O排放,提高作物氮素利用,采用田间试验法研究了不同氮肥用量喷涂一定比例的吡啶(0、180、270、360 kg N·hm^-2)对夏玉米生育期内土壤N₂O排放和氮素表观损失、籽粒产量及氮素利用的影响.结果表明:不同氮肥用量下喷涂吡啶的土壤N₂O排放主要集中在播种-苗期和拔节-抽雄期,基肥和追肥后均会出现显著的土壤N₂O排放通量高峰.随氮肥用量增加,玉米产量不断增加,但270和360 kg N·hm^-2间无显著差异,2种施氮量下的玉米分别净增收5209和5426元·hm^-2.与不施氮肥比,各施氮处理下的玉米籽粒吸氮量提高幅度为109.6%～134.1%.各处理间的氮肥农学效率和氮肥利用率均以氮肥喷涂吡啶270 kg N·hm^-2较大,而土壤氮素表观损失较小.氮肥喷涂吡啶在270 kg N·hm^-2时玉米增产增收,氮肥利用效率较高,土壤N₂O排放和氮素表观损失较少,是一种较为合理的氮肥调控施用技术.     

Lysine inhibition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: role of repressible L-lysine ε-aminotransferase

Lysine added to grain mashes under nitrogen-limiting conditions (as in most industrial fermentations) inhibited growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This inhibition was relieved by raising the assimilable nitrogen content. Lysine-induced inhibition is not mediated through accumulation of -oxoadipic acid, an intermediate of lysine metabolism which accumulates by a back up of intermediates in de novo synthesis. Lysine degradation is regulated by the synthesis of L-lysine -aminotransferase, an enzyme that catalyses the first step in one of three possible routes of lysine degradation (not previously reported in S. cerevisiae). Synthesis is repressed under nitrogenlimiting conditions, but derepressed when excess assimilable nitrogen is available. Derepression results in degradation of lysine and decreases inhibitory effects on growth. The toxic compound appears to be lysine itself.The authors are with the Department of Applied Microbiology and Food Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0W0. Canada     

Sulfur cycling in grassland and parkland soils

A conceptual diagram of the S cycle in grassland soils is presented as a framework for discussing S cycling process studies. Changes in the mineralization of S and in the redistribution of³⁵S-labeled sulfate among soil organic matter fractions were investigated during incubation of cropped and uncropped soils.Little mineralization or net immobilization of sulfur occurred in closed system incubations where the soils were left undisturbed throughout the incubations. Significantly more S was mineralized in open system incubations where the soils were leached periodically. Net mineralization was significantly greater in cropped soils compared with uncropped soils. The distribution of³⁵S was significantly affected by the addition of various substrates (sulfate, cellulose or a combination of both) and by the presence of plants. Under conditions of high solution sulfate, the majority of³⁵S incorporated was observed in the HI-reducible S fraction. When the solution sulfate concentrations were lower, there was a reduction in the proportion of³⁵S incorporated into the HI-reducible S fraction. The results of these experiment will be discussed in relation to the hypotheses presented by McGill and Cole (1981) and the conceptual diagram of the S cycle in grassland soils.Contribution from a symposium on the role of sulfur in ecosystem processes held August 10, 1983, at the annual meeting of the A.I.B.S., Grand Forks, ND; Myron Mitchell, convenor.Publication No. R 353 of the Saskatchewan Institute of Pedology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N OWO     

福建漳州青花菜栽培钾肥施用技术优选

以青花菜品种‘炎秀’Brassica oleracea var．italica ‘yanxiu’为材料,通过设置钾肥横向与纵向施肥的田间试验,探讨青花菜最佳钾肥用量和最佳钾肥运筹。结果表明,在设定氮、磷肥施用量分别为30.0 kg/667.7 m2、10.0 kg/667.7 m2的条件下,钾肥不同施用量对青花菜的株高、苗期功能叶片数、植株扩展度及全株重（去根）、单球重均有一定的影响,当钾肥施用量为19.1 kg/667.7 m2时,其产量最高,为1763.5 kg/hm2;在同样氮、磷肥的背景条件下,钾肥施用量以15.0 kg/667.7 m2,按基肥/追肥不同比例进行施用,青花菜所表现的株高、苗期功能叶片数、植株扩展度及全株重、单球重等形态及产量指标均有所差异,当基肥∶追肥按0.2∶0.8进行施用时,该产量指标均明显高于其它配比的处理。     

增密减氮对东北水稻产量、氮肥利用效率及温室效应的影响

水稻生产正向资源节约和环境友好的方向转型,常规高产稻作技术亟待创新.本研究以粳稻辽星1号为试材,在2012、2013年研究密度增加、基蘖肥减少、穗肥稳定的“增密减氮”栽培模式对东北水稻产量和氮肥利用效率及温室效应的影响.结果表明： 与常规高产栽培模式相比,在基本苗增加33.3%和基蘖肥施氮量减少20.0%的条件下,氮肥农学效率和氮肥偏生产力两年平均分别提高49.6%(P<0.05)和20.4%(P<0.05),单位面积和单位产量的温室效应两年平均分别下降9.9%和12.7%(P<0.05).虽然水稻有效穗数和总生物量下降,但结实率和收获指数提高,所以产量基本稳定甚至提高.增密减氮降低了土壤NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^--N浓度,提高了氮素回收效率.表明适度增密减氮可兼顾水稻高产、氮肥高效利用和温室气体减排.     

Influence of benzyladenine on condensed tannin formation and callus growth in cultures from sainfoin (Onobrychis viccifolia Scop.) cotyledons

Cotyledons from aseptically grown seedlings of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) were used as explant material to grow callus tissue for periods of 21 and 31 days. The formation of cells containing condensed tannins was induced by adding a range of BAP concentrations to an mB5 culture medium containing 2,4-D. After 21 days the fresh weight of calli treated with BAP was much greater than the control and appeared highest at the 0.6 mg/L level. Fresh weight was reduced at high BAP levels (2 to 8 mg/L) but still remained well above the control. The formation of tannin-filled cells was genotype-specific but occurred in all treatments with BAP. After 21 days in culture, fresh weight and tannin formation increased with the BAP level at the lower BAP concentrations. After 31 days, the growth rate slowed in the control and the lower BAP concentration, but continued at a high rate in the remaining treatments; the number of tannin-filled cells appeared to decline. The results show that in sainfoin callus culture, BAP induces the formation of condensed tannin, a secondary metabolite, and concomitantly produces a high growth rate.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine - KIN kinetin - PAR photosynthetically active radiation Contribution No. 974 of Agriculture Canada, Research Station, 107 Science Cres., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0X2 Canada     

Non-random chloroplast segregation inNicotiana tabacum (+)N. rustica somatic hybrids selected by dual nuclear-encoded resistance

Nicotiana tabacum (+)N. rustica interspecific somatic hybrids were produced by fusion of leaf mesophyll protoplasts of transgenic methotrexate-resistantNicotiana tabacum L. with leaf mesophyll protoplasts of transgenic kanamycin-resistantN. rustica L. Somatic hybrids were selected on the basis of resistance to both methotrexate and kanamycin. Evidence for nuclear hybridization was obtained for 21 hybrids by restriction-fragment-length-polymorphism (RFLP) analysis using a heterologous wheat nuclear ribosomal-DNA (rDNA) probe and by analysis of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) isoenzymes. Chloroplasts segregated non-randomly as 20 of the somatic hybrids possessedN. rustica chloroplasts and only one hadN. tabacum chloroplasts. Patterns of mitochondrial inheritance were examined by hybridization of a heterologous wheat cytochrome oxidase subunit II (coxII) gene with genomic DNA of the somatic hybrids. Four somatic hybrids with hybridization patterns similar toN. rustica and 17 with hybridization patterns consistent with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) rearrangement or recombination were obtained. None of the somatic hybrids had patterns ofcoxll hybridization identical withN. tabacum. Male-fertility levels in the hybrids ranged from undetectable to 87% and only nine hybrids produced a limited amount of viable seed. There was no apparent correlation between the patterns of organelle inheritance in the somatic hybrids and the relative degree of fertility.Contribution No. 1439 Plant Research CentreCurrent address: Plant Biotechnology Institute, National Research Council, 110 Gymmasium Road, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N OW9, Canada     

Physiological changes in soybean (Glycine max) Wuyin9 in response to N and P nutrition

Phosphorus deficiency is a very common problem in the acid soil of central China. Previous research has shown that starter N and N topdressing at the flowering stage (Rl) increased soybean (Glycine max) yield and N₂ fixation (Gan et al, 1997, 2000). However, there is little information available concerning soybean response to P‐fertiliser in soybean production in central China (Gan, 1999). A field experiment was conducted to investigate the response to P (0 kg P ha^?1, 22 kg P ha^?1, 44 kg P ha^?1 before sowing) and N fertiliser application (N1: 0 kg N ha^?1, N2: 25 kg N ha^?1 before sowing, N3: N2 + 50 kg N ha^?1 at the V2 stage and N4: N2 + 50 kg N ha^?1 at the R1 stage) on growth, yield and N₂ fixation of soybean. Both N and P fertiliser increased growth and seed yield of soybean (P < 0.01). Application of basal P fertiliser at 22 kg P ha^?1 or 44 kg P ha^?1 increased total N accumulation by 11% and 10% (P < 0.01) and seed yield by 12% and 13% (P < 0.01), respectively, compared to the zero P treatment. Although application of starter N at 25 kg N ha^?1 had no positive effect on seed yield at any P level (P > 0.05), an application of a topdressing of 50 kg N ha^?1 at the V2 or R1 stage increased total N accumulation by 11% and 14% (P < 0.01) and seed yield by 16% and 21% (P < 0.01), respectively, compared to the zero N treatment. Soybean plants were grown on sterilised Perlite in the greenhouse experiment to study the physiological response to different concentrations of phosphate (P1: 0 mM; P2: 0.05 mM; P3: 0.5 mM; P4:1.0 mN) and nitrate (N1: 0 mM with inoculation, N2: 20 mM with inoculation). The result confirmed that N and P nutrients both had positive effects on growth, nodulation and yield (P < 0.01). The relative importance of growth parameters that contributed to the larger biomass with N and P fertilisation was in decreasing order: (i) total leaf area, (ii) individual leaf area, (iii) shoot/root ratio, (iv) leaf area ratio and (v) specific leaf area. The yield increase at N and P supply was mainly associated with more seeds and a larger pod number per plant, which confirmed the result from the field experiment.     

Incorporation of 5-bromodeoxyuridine into DNA of wild type Escherichia coli and its use for the enrichment of auxotrophic mutants

Summary The effect of deoxyadenosine (AdR) and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR) on the incorporation of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) into DNA of thymine-non requiring cells of Escherichia coli was studied. This incorporation renders the cells sensitive to irradiation at near-UV light. It was found that the combination of AdR and FUdR increases incorporation of BUdR and sensitivity to irradiation.An enrichment of auxotrophs by a factor of 10⁵ was obtained from a mixed population grown in minimal medium containing BUdR, AdR and FUdR and irradiated subsequently.Part of an M.Sc. Thesis in Microbiology submitted by A. Rosner to the Tel-Aviv University.     

Trisomics of ryegrass and their transmission

Summary Primary trisomics of perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne L., were studied for meiotic behaviour, fertility, morphology and trisome transmission. Trisomics differed from each other in mean meiotic association, pollen fertility, seed set and morphology. The combined cytomorphological data suggested that the investigated trisomic plants included trisomes 2 to 7. No pollen transmission of trisomes was detected. Female transmission of trisomes ranged from 12% for tri 3 to 37% for tri 4 with a mean of 24% for the six trisomes. Trisome transmission was not related to either chromosome size or trivalent/univalent frequency, although the larger trisomes formed trivalents more frequently than the smaller trisomes.Part of M.Sc.Agr. Thesis, submitted by senior author to the National University of Ireland, Dublin     

Are “multiple cross-multiple pollen hybrids’ an answer for productive populations in Brassica campestris var. ‘brown sarson’?

Summary A set of complex crosses with multiple crosses as female parents were made using multiple pollen in turnip rape (Brassica campestris L.). These multiple cross — multiple pollen hybrids (mucromphs) were evaluated for a large number of quantitative characters including yield. New methods were proposed to study such genetic material in depth so as to formulate suitable strategies to breed for attractive seed yield.Part of the Ph. D. Thesis of junior author submitted to Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi     

Simulated N and S deposition affected soil chemistry and understory plant communities in a boreal forest in western Canada

Aims We conducted a simulated nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) deposition experiment from 2006 to 2012 to answer the following questions: (i) does chronic N and S deposition decrease cation concentrations in the soil and foliage of understory plant species, and (ii) does chronic N and S deposition decrease plant diversity and alter species composition of the understory plant community in a boreal forest in western Canada where intensifying industrial activities are increasing N and S deposition. Methods Our field site was a mixedwood boreal forest stand located ~100 km southeast of Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. The experiment involved a 2 × 2 factorial design, with two levels each of N (0 and 30 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1; applied as NH₄NO₃) and S addition (0 and 30 kg S ha^-1 yr^-1; applied as Na₂SO₄). Four blocks were established in July 2006, each with four plots of 20 × 20 m randomly assigned to the treatments. Soil and understory vegetation were sampled and cover (%) of individual species of herb (height ≤ 0.5 m) and shrub (height 0.5–1 m) layers was determined in August 2012. Important findings Seven years after the treatments began, N addition increased dissolved organic carbon and N in the mineral soil (P < 0.05), whereas S addition decreased exchangeable cations (P < 0.05) in the forest floor. In the shrub layer, species evenness, and overall diversity were decreased by N addition (P < 0.05) due to increases in abundance of nitrophilous species and S addition (P < 0.01) due to decreased cation concentrations in soils. Total shrub cover decreased with S addition (P < 0.10). Nitrogen and S addition affected neither species richness nor evenness in the herb layer. However, permutational multivariate analysis of variance and non-metric multidimensional scaling analyses (based on plant cover) indicated that the effect of N and S addition on understory plant species composition in the both shrub and herb layers was species-specific. Addition of N decreased foliar phosphorus and potassium concentrations in some species, suggesting potential risk of N-meditated nutrient imbalance in those species. Our results indicate that long-term elevated levels of N and S deposition can negatively impact plant nutrition and decrease the diversity of the understory plant community in boreal forests in northern Alberta, Canada. However, considering that the current N and S deposition rates in northern Alberta are much lower than the rates used in this study, N and S deposition should not negatively affect plant diversity in the near future.