The response of seedlings of two dipterocarp species to nutrient additions and ectomycorrhizal infection

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of ectomycorrhizal infection on growth and nutrient uptake, especially of P and K of dipterocarp seedlings.Hopea helferi (Dyer) Blanco andHopea odorata Roxb. seedlings were grown in a sandy loam soil given a basal dressing. Nutrient treatments were unamended soil (NIL), amended soil with the addition of P and K (F), amended soil without P but with K (-P), amended soil without K but with P (-K), amended soil without P or K addition (-PK). Seedlings grown in the amended soil treatments showed foliar symptoms suggestive of calcium deficiency. Ectomycorrhizal infection appeared to improve shoot Ca concentration and relieved the foliar symptoms. Ectomycorrhizal infection inH. odorata plants increased shoot P concentration and increased shoot and total dry weight to the same or greater extent than those of uninfected plants growing on P amended soil.H. helferi showed a positive response to ectomycorrhizal infection in shoot, root and total dry weight in all nutrient treatments but no response to the nutrient treatments themselves.     

Post-Planting Treatments Increase Growth of Oregon White Oak (Quercus garryana Dougl. ex Hook.) Seedlings

The extent of Oregon white oak woodland and savanna ecosystems in the U.S. Pacific Northwest has diminished significantly during the past century due to land use changes and fire suppression. Planting Oregon white oak seedlings is often necessary when restoring these plant communities. Our objective was to determine the efficacy of post‐planting treatments for establishing Oregon white oak seedlings on sites characterized by low growing season precipitation and coarse‐textured soils. We evaluated the effects of control of competing vegetation, tree shelters, fertilization, irrigation, and planting date on growth of planted seedlings. Survival was generally high (90%), but growth rate varied substantially among treatments. Plastic mulch increased soil water content and increased annual seedling height growth by an average of 56% relative to one‐time manual removal of competing vegetation. Solid‐walled tree shelters reduced browse damage and increased mean annual height growth compared to mesh shelters and no shelter by averages of 7.5 and 10.9 cm, respectively. Controlled‐release fertilizer applied at planting did not consistently increase seedling growth. Weekly irrigation (3.8 L/seedling) increased first‐year seedling growth only where mulch also was applied. Seedlings planted by late February had greater root growth by summer than those planted in early April. Soil water management was necessary for best seedling growth, and the improved height growth in solid‐walled tree shelters allowed the terminal shoot to grow more quickly above the height of animal browse. Our results indicate effective methods for establishing Oregon white oak seedlings, but these results may also be applicable to establishment of other tree species on similarly droughty sites.     

EFFECT OF NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY ON THE BIOCHEMICAL AND ELEMENTAL STOICHIOMETRY IN THE FRESHWATER DIATOM STEPHANODISCUS MINUTULUS (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE)*

The objective of this study was to examine the differences in the biochemical and elemental stoichiometry of a freshwater centric diatom, Stephanodiscus minutulus (Grun.), under various nutrient regimes. Stephanodiscus minutulus was grown at μ_max or 22% of μ_max under limitation by silicon, nitrogen, or phosphorus. Cell sizes for nutrient‐limited cultures were significantly smaller than the non‐limited cell sizes, with N‐limited cells being significantly smaller than all other treatments. Compared with the nutrient‐replete treatment, both carbohydrates and lipids increased in Si‐ and P‐limited cells, whereas carbohydrates increased but proteins decreased in N‐limited cells. All of the growth‐limited cells showed an increase of carbohydrate and triglyceride, and a decrease of cell size and polar lipids as a percentage of total lipids. The non‐limited cells also had a significantly higher chl a concentration and galactolipids as a percentage of total lipids than any of the limited treatments, and the low‐Si and low‐P cells had significantly higher values than the low‐N cells. The particulate C concentrations showed significant differences between treatments, with the Si‐ and P‐limited treatments being significantly higher than the N‐ and non‐limited treatments. Particulate Si did not show a strong relationship with any of the parameters measured, and it was the only parameter with no differences between treatments. The low‐Si cells had a significantly higher P content (about two times more) than any other treatment, presumably owing to the luxury consumption of P, and a correspondingly high phospholipid concentration. The elemental data showed that S. minutulus had a high P demand with low optimum N:P (4) and Si:P (10) ratios and a C:N:P ratio of 109:16:2.3. The particulate C showed a positive relationship with POM (r = 0.93), dry weight (r = 0.88), lipid (r = 0.87) and protein (r = 0.84, all P < 0.0001). Particulate N showed a positive relationship with galactolipids (r = 0.95), protein (r = 0.90), dry weight (r = 0.78), lipid (r = 0.75), and cell volume (r = 0.64, all P < 0.0001). It is evident that nutrient limitation in the freshwater diatom S. minutulus has pronounced effects on its biochemical and elemental stoichiometry.     

Effects of Initial Site Treatments on Early Growth and Three-Year Survival of Idaho Fescue

Prairies in the Pacific Northwest have been actively restored for over a decade. Competition from non‐native woody and herbaceous species has been presumed to be a major cause for the failure of restoration projects. In this research, plugs of the native prairie bunchgrass, Festuca idahoensis Elmer var. roemeri (Pavlick), were grown from seed in a nursery and transplanted into a grassland site dominated by non‐native pasture grasses. The growth of the plants was followed for three years, and biomass of all volunteer plants was measured. Before planting, five treatments were applied to the plots: removal of vegetation by burning, removal of vegetation by an herbicide‐and‐till procedure, soil impoverishment by removal of organic matter, fertilizer application, and compost mulch application. Initial growth of Idaho fescue plugs was greatest with fertilizer and compost mulch. Plants grown in mulched plots were also able to photosynthesize later into the dry summer season. After the first year, plots initially fertilized or composted had the lowest survival rate of Idaho fescue. Impoverished and herbicide‐and‐till plots had the greatest 3‐year survival. Mulched plots supported the greatest weed growth after three years. Stressful environments give a competitive advantage to Idaho fescue in prairie restoration projects. As weedy species increase, growth and survival of Idaho fescue decreases.     

翻压山黧豆绿肥与氮肥减施对水稻生长及其养分吸收与产量的影响

为探明种植翻压山黧豆绿肥与减施氮肥下的水稻生产潜力,通过3年田间定位试验,设置冬闲+不施肥(NF)、山黧豆绿肥(GM)、冬闲+常规氮肥(100%N,CK)、山黧豆绿肥+80%常规氮肥(GM+80%N)、山黧豆绿肥+70%常规氮肥(GM+70%N)、山黧豆绿肥+60%常规氮肥(GM+60%N)6个处理,研究不同处理对水稻生长、养分吸收及产量的影响。结果表明：(1)与CK相比,翻压山黧豆绿肥并减施氮肥处理均能够显著提升水稻株高、增加水稻分蘖数、提高水稻干物质积累量,其中以GM+70%N施肥处理提升效果最为明显。(2)GM+70%N施肥处理下,不同生育时期水稻株高、有效分蘖数分别较对照常规施肥(100%N)提升了13.32%~ 15.73%和33.98%~59.47%,水稻干物质积累量提高了23.19%~144.18%,且随着生育时期的推进增加速率依次降低。(3)种植翻压山黧豆绿肥并减施氮肥处理下水稻产量均有所提高,其中GM+70%N和GM+80%N处理显著提高,增产分别达13.84%,7.25%,且GM+70%N处理下水稻植株和籽粒养分吸收更为全面。研究发现,种植翻压山黧豆并适量减施氮肥能有效促进水稻生长和养分的吸收积累,显著提高水稻产量,说明翻压山黧豆绿肥可替代稻田30%~40%的氮肥施入量,并可在避免水稻旺长的同时实现水稻高产,是四川水稻种植较好的耕作措施。     

Soil erosion and deposition effects on surface characteristics and pearl millet growth in the West African Sahel†

It is well known that surface mulched crop residues (CR) lead to large yield increases of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) on acid sandy soils of the West African Sahel. This effect is generally attributed to mulch-induced changes in chemical properties of the surface soil and the protection of millet seedlings from erosive sand storms. However, previous research has failed to separate the anti-erosive effects of CR on plant growth from chemical effects due to the release of nutrients during CR decomposition. To this end a mulching trial with surface applied millet stalks at a rate of 2000 kg ha^-1, an equivalent 10% surface coverage obtained by inert polyethylene (PE) tubes and a bare control treatment was conducted from 1992 to 1994 on an acid sandy soil in southwest Niger. Across treatments, sand flux at 0.1 m height was more than twice as high in the rainy seasons than in the dry months and mulching reduced sand flux by between 25 and 50% during rainy season storms compared with 67% during the dry season. Over the 21 months measurement period, cumulative erosion by wind and water was almost 270 t ha^-1 of soil in unmulched control plots. In mulched plots, in contrast, between 160 and 200 t ha^-1 of soil was deposited. Surface soil temperature at 0.01 m depth reached above 40 °C in bare plots but was up to 4 °C lower with CR. Mulch reduced soil penetration resistance at 0–0.02 m and 0–0.05 depth by more than half and decreased runoff leading to higher water contents at flowering and grain filling in the upper 0.3 m soil layers in 1993 and throughout the entire profile in 1994, a year with particularly high rainfall. Both mulch types were similarly effective in increasing final stand density of millet in the first two years between 5 and 23% compared with bare control plots. Relative to the bare control CR mulch effects on total dry matter of millet at harvest increased from 35% in 1992 and 108% in 1993 to 283% in 1994, whereas PE mulch led to respective relative increases in dry matter of only 6, 44 and 13%. In 1992 and 1993, CR mulch increased total nutrient uptake of millet at harvest by between 34 and 86% for nitrogen (N), between 31 and 162% for P and between 56 and 126% for potassium (K). These differences were mostly the result of differences in total dry matter and only to a smaller part due to changed nutrient concentrations in plants. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

施肥对红豆树苗木生长、根系结瘤和矿质营养的影响

探讨几种市售肥料对红豆树(Ormosia hosiei)苗木各器官生长发育及养分含量的影响,为培育红豆树优质苗木选用肥料提供参考。以红豆树当年生大田苗为试材,采用3种常见肥料(复合肥、缓释肥和尿素)分3个施肥水平进行施肥试验,测定苗高、地径、根系指标、根系结瘤指标、各器官生物量及N、P、K含量,对不同施肥处理苗木质量进行综合评价。不同施肥处理对红豆树苗木生长、结瘤和矿质营养均有显著或极显著影响。施缓释肥和复合肥的处理表现为随施肥量的增加苗木的生长和生理指标均表现出先增后降趋势,施尿素则表现为随施肥量增加呈逐渐递减趋势。通过隶属函数对苗木质量进行综合评价,表明缓释肥30 g·m^-2为最佳施肥处理,其苗高增量、各根系质量指标、各生物量指标、结瘤数量以及根、茎、叶的N、P、K含量均为最大。红豆树当年生苗木密度为50 株·m-2时,施用缓释肥(N-P-K: 30-6-7) 30 g·m^-2可以有效提高红豆树的苗木质量。     

Field nursery inoculation of Hevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg. seedling rootstock with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi

The growth response of Hevea brasiliensis to vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi inoculation was assessed in two field nursery sites containing indigenous mycorrhizal fungi (IMF). Seedling rootstocks were inoculated with mixed VAM-fungal species in a factorial combination with phosphorus (P) fertilizer application, and planted in randomised blocks on sandy (site 1) and clayey (site 2) soils. Plants were harvested after 26 weeks for measurements of shoot dry weight (DW), stem diameter, height, mycorrhizal root colonization and leaf nutrient contents. At site 1, VAM increased shoot DW, stem diameter and plant height only in treatments without P applied. Increases in shoot DW due to VAM were 70% greater than the uninoculated controls although this was reduced to 5% when P was applied. At site 2, VAM inoculation also increased shoot DW and stem diameter but the magnitude of the increases was smaller. Shoot DW response due to VAM was only 29%. At this second site, applying phosphate to uninoculated plants did not increase shoot yields further. Leaf concentrations of all nutrients were unaffected by VAM at both sites, except for copper (Cu) which was increased by VAM in treatments where P was not applied. However, leaf contents of P, potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and Cu were increased by VAM at site 1, and of leaf nitrogen (N) and K at site 2. These experiments demonstrate that VAM-fungi could be introduced into field nursery sites to improve growth and P uptake by H. brasiliensis. The relevance of VAM-fungi to H. brasiliensis seedling rootstock development and the influence of IMF in determining field responses is discussed.     

水肥耦合对油松生态林林木生长的影响

为减少油松定植后的死亡率,在控制成本的基础上促进油松良好生长,该研究采用裂区实验设计方法,选取三个灌溉水平与三个园林废弃物有机肥施用量进行比较试验,通过测定油松树高、胸径、叶绿素及叶片养分含量指标探究灌溉和施用有机肥对油松林木生长的影响。结果表明:灌溉可以显著提高油松在胸径、树高、生理等方面的生长指标,树高和胸径在中水灌溉(A2)下的促进效果甚至高于高水灌溉(A3);试验处理1 a后,施肥对油松的生长影响显著,但三个施肥水平间的差异不显著;灌溉与施用有机肥之间不存在显著交互作用。综上可知,施肥和灌溉对油松的生长会产生显著的促进作用,从施肥和灌溉的效果并综合资源利用效率的角度考虑,少量施用有机肥,并以80 L·(10天·株·次)-1的灌水量在生长季(4月—9月)进行滴灌是较为经济、有效的油松生态林管护措施。     

施用泥炭对风沙土改良及蔬菜生长的影响

通过盆栽试验比较了施用不同剂量的泥炭(0％、2％、5％、8％及10％)对风沙土改良的效果和对白菜生长及产量的影响。结果表明,泥炭能增强风沙土的持水能力,降低土壤的pH值,增加土壤中有机质、全氮、速效氮和速效磷等的含量;白菜根系长度、生物量、高生长和地上部分的生物量均有增加,其中8％泥炭处理为最佳,其根系长度、根鲜重、干重、高生长、地上部分鲜重、干重依次比对照增加71％、402％、464％、107％、847％和1001％;同时施用泥炭还有利于提高白菜干物质的积累及其品质。     

Fish emulsion as a food base for rhizobacteria promoting growth of radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. sativus) in a sandy soil

Commercial fish emulsion was evaluated as a plant growth medium and as a nutrient base to enhance radish (Raphanus sativus L. var. sativus) growth by bacterial and actinomycete isolates. Six bacterial isolates including three actinomycetes were selected from a screening of 54 bacteria (including 23 actinomycetes) based on their ability to produce plant growth regulators (PGRs) and to colonize radish roots. These isolates were tested in the presence and absence of autoclaved or non-autoclaved fish emulsion or inorganic fertilizers. The nutrient contents and types and levels of PGRs in tissues of treated plants were assayed to determine the basis of growth promotion. Fish emulsion was found to support plant growth in a sandy soil as effectively as an applied inorganic fertilizer. The plant growth promotion by bacterial and actinomycete isolates was most pronounced in the presence of autoclaved or non-autoclaved fish emulsion than in the presence of the inorganic fertilizers. The bacterial and actinomycete isolates were capable of producing auxins, gibberellins and cytokinins and appeared to use fish emulsion as a source of nutrients and precursors for PGRs. PGR levels in planta following combined treatments of the bacterial and actinomycete isolates and fish emulsion were found to be significantly enhanced over other treatments. The effect of fish emulsion appears to be more related to its role as a nutrient base for the bacterial and actinomycete isolates rather than to the increased activity of the general microflora of treated soil. This is the first report of fish emulsion as a nutrient base for plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. These results also indicate that the successful treatment can be effective and economical for horticultural production in sandy soils such as those found in the United Arab Emirates where fish emulsion is already in use as a substitute or supplement for inorganic fertilizer.     

Interactions between green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum (Walker)) and Norway and Sitka spruce under high and low nutrient conditions

1 Green spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum) is a serious pest of spruce (Picea spp.) in north‐west Europe, causing defoliation of one‐year‐old and older needles. 2 Relationships between population development of E. abietinum, needle loss and tree growth were compared for five pure genotypes of Sitka spruce and mixed‐genotype material of Sitka and Norway spruce, grown under high and low nutrient conditions. 3 Despite wide differences in flushing date between spruce genotypes, E. abietinum populations peaked on the same date on each genotype and on the mixed‐genotype material, irrespective of nutrient supply. 4 Larger aphid populations developed on trees grown under high nutrient conditions than under low nutrients. However, more needles were lost per aphid in the low nutrient treatment and overall defoliation rates in the two nutrient treatments were similar. 5 Total aphid numbers differed significantly between Sitka spruce genotypes within nutrient treatments, but not in relation to bud‐burst or needle terpene content. Reductions in height growth caused by infestation were greater (15–44%), and related to mean aphid densities and defoliation, in the low nutrient treatment, but were smaller (11–27%) and not related to aphid density and defoliation in the high nutrient treatment. 6 Development of E. abietinum populations was similar on Norway and Sitka spruce, but Norway spruce lost fewer needles. However, the effects of infestation on tree growth were more closely related to aphid density and were similar for Norway and Sitka spruce. 7 Infestation caused a decrease in total root dry weight of Norway and Sitka spruce in proportion to the reductions observed in above‐ground growth.     

养分与水分添加对荒漠草地植物钠猪毛菜功能性状的影响

分析水分与养分添加对植物功能性状的影响, 对揭示植物对环境变化的响应和适应规律至关重要。该文通过施氮与增水(包括增雨、增雪)共6种处理(对照(N₀W₀)、雨添加(N₀W₁)、雪添加(N₀W₂)、氮添加(N₁W₀)、氮雨添加(N₁W₁)、氮雪添加(N₁W₂)), 对荒漠草地进行氮肥添加、水分添加的实验。实验持续了3年, 第4年以荒漠草地建群种植物钠猪毛菜(Salsola nitraria)植物功能性状为研究对象, 量化分析了钠猪毛菜10种植物功能性状对氮素和水分添加的不同响应。得出以下结论: (1)双因素方差分析结果表明, 施氮、增水的交互作用对钠猪毛菜的茎鲜质量、叶鲜质量、叶面积、比叶面积、叶饱和含水量、叶干物质含量存在显著影响(p < 0.05), 而施氮主效应对钠猪毛菜各植物功能性状指标不存在显著影响、增水主效应对钠猪毛菜各植物功能性状指标不存在显著影响。(2)在钠猪毛菜10种植物功能性状指标中, 株高、茎鲜质量、茎干质量、叶饱和鲜质量、叶干质量、叶面积、比叶面积的最大值均出现于N₁W₂处理中(p < 0.05), 其次为N₀W₀处理。叶饱和含水量的最大值出现于N₀W₀中, 其次为N₁W₂处理中。N₁W₀处理显著降低了叶饱和含水量(p < 0.05); 叶干物质含量值在各处理下均高于N₀W₀, 其中N₀W₁处理的叶干物质含量显著高于N₀W₀ (p < 0.05)。(3)各处理下, 叶干物质含量与比叶面积为负相关关系。在准噶尔荒漠草地, 钠猪毛菜植物功能性状在不同处理下的不同表现是适应环境变化的结果。     

Soil nutrients and water availability interact to influence willow growth and chemistry but not leaf beetle performance

We investigated the effects of soil nutrient and water availability on the growth and chemistry of the silky willow (Salix sericea Marshall), and on the performance of the imported willow leaf beetle (Plagiodera versicolora Laichartig). Our major aims were to determine whether there are nutrient–water interactions on plant traits and whether this leads to parallel interactions for herbivore performance. We used a 2 × 3 fully factorial design, which consisted of high and low nutrient treatments crossed with dry, field capacity, and flooded water treatments. We found that nutrient additions increased plant growth, but only in field capacity and flooded conditions (nutrient–water interaction). Leaf nitrogen content also depended on the interaction between soil nutrients and water: nutrient addition resulted in a larger increase in foliar nitrogen in the field capacity treatment than in the flooded and dry treatments. Of the two phenolic glycosides measured, salicortin and 2′‐cinnamoylsalicortin, only one was affected by the treatments. 2′‐cinnamoylsalicortin concentration was lower in the high nutrient–dry treatment compared with the other treatments. In contrast to plant responses, there were no interactions found for larval or pupal weight or development time. Nutrient addition led to an increase in female pupal weight, and foliar N was positively correlated with female pupal weight and negatively correlated with female development time. In addition, leaf water was positively correlated with female development time. The lack of interactions for insect performance may stem from the small absolute differences in foliar nitrogen content associated with the interaction between the nutrients and water. Taken together, our results suggest that nutrient–water interactions influence plant traits that are potentially important for insect performance (leaf nitrogen and water), but these interactions do not produce parallel interactions in beetle performance.     

Time‐dependent effects of fertilization on plant biomass in floating fens

Abstract. A cross‐over fertilization experiment was carried out in Dutch floating fens to investigate effects on biomass production in the same and the following years. In total 16 fertilizer treatments were applied, combining four treatments in 1999 with four treatments in 2000 (addition of 20 g.m^?2 N, 5 g.m^?2 P, both elements and unfertilized control). The above‐ground biomass production of vascular plants was co‐limited by N and P in both years. However, in plots that were only fertilized in 1999 the effects of individual nutrients differed between the two years: N‐fertilization slightly increased the amount of biomass produced in the same year (1999), whereas P‐fertilization did so in the following year (2000). Fertilizer applied in 1999 also influenced the effects of fertilizer applied in 2000. One year after N‐fertilization vascular plant growth was still co‐limited by N and P, but one year after P‐fertilization, vascular plant growth was only limited by N. Bryophyte biomass responded weakly to fertilization. Nutrient concentrations in plant biomass, nutrient standing crops and measurements of N and P availability in the soil indicated that one year after fertilization, the N‐fertilizer had mostly ‘disappeared’ from N‐fertilized plots, whereas the availability of P remained markedly enhanced in P‐fertilized plots. In addition, P‐fertilization enhanced the uptake of N by plants the following year. The time‐dependence of fertilizer effects was probably caused by (1) higher addition of P than of N relative to the requirements of plants; (2) longer retention of P than of N in the system; (3) positive effect of P‐fertilization on the availability of N; (4) contrasting effects of N‐ and P‐fertilization on nutrient losses by plants and/or on their responses to subsequent nutrient addition; (5) changing interactions between vascular plants and mosses (mainly Sphagnum spp.); (6) nutrient export through the repeated harvest of above‐ground biomass. To determine which nutrient limits plant growth fertilization experiments should be short, avoiding that indirect effects of a non‐limiting nutrient influence results. To indicate how changed nutrient supply will affect an ecosystem longer‐term experiments are needed, so that indirect effects have time to develop and be detected.     

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, organic fertilizer and soil sterilization on maize growth

The effects of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, organic fertilizer (F) applications, and soil sterilization on maize growth were evaluated in a pot experiment. The experiment was in a completely randomized factorial design (2 × 4 × 2) with six replicates for each treatment. There were two soil treatments (sterilized soil, SS and unsterilized soil, US), four organic fertilizer treatments (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g kg^?1 soil), and two AM fungi treatments (inoculation with Glomus mosseae, +AM and uninoculated control, ?AM). Inoculated plants generally had greater AM colonization, plant height, dry weight and phosphorus (P) uptake than uninoculated controls, and these parameters were significantly increased as the organic fertilizer application increased up to 0.5 g kg^?1 but decreased or had no significant effect compared to the uninoculated plants at the highest fertilizer rate (2.0 g kg^?1). Plant growth, P uptake and AM colonization of root system were significantly higher in sterilized soil compared to the unsterilized control. Our results indicated that the inoculation of AM fungi in field soil with optimal organic fertilizer application greatly improved maize growth and nutrient uptake, and the effect was greater under sterilized soil condition.     

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, organic fertilizer and soil sterilization on maize growth ☆

The effects of inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, organic fertilizer (F) applications, and soil sterilization on maize growth were evaluated in a pot experiment. The experiment was in a completely randomized factorial design (2 × 4 × 2) with six replicates for each treatment. There were two soil treatments (sterilized soil, SS and unsterilized soil, US), four organic fertilizer treatments (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 g kg^-1 soil), and two AM fungi treatments (inoculation with Glomus mosseae, +AM and uninoculated control, －AM). Inoculated plants generally had greater AM colonization, plant height, dry weight and phosphorus (P) uptake than uninoculated controls, and these parameters were significantly increased as the organic fertilizer application increased up to 0.5 g kg^-1 but decreased or had no significant effect compared to the uninoculated plants at the highest fertilizer rate (2.0 g kg^-1). Plant growth, P uptake and AM colonization of root system were significantly higher in sterilized soil compared to the unsterilized control. Our results indicated that the inoculation of AM fungi in field soil with optimal organic fertilizer application greatly improved maize growth and nutrient uptake, and the effect was greater under sterilized soil condition.     

Application of inorganic carrier-based formulations of fluorescent pseudomonads and Piriformospora indica on tomato plants and evaluation of their efficacy

Aims: Fluorescent pseudomonads are widely used as bioinoculants for improving plant growth and controlling phytopathogenic fungi. Piriformospora indica (Pi), a symbiotic root endophyte, also has beneficial effects on a number of plants. The present study focuses on the improvement of growth yields of tomato plants and control of Fusarium wilt using inorganic carrier‐based formulations of two fluorescent pseudomonad strains (R62 and R81) and Pi. Methods and Results: The inorganic carrier‐based formulations of pseudomonad strains and Pi were tested for plant growth promotion of tomato plants under glass house and field conditions. In controlled glass house experiments, 8·8‐fold increase in dry root weight and 8·6‐fold increase in dry shoot weight were observed with talcum powder‐based consortium formulation of R81 and Pi. Field trial experiments ascertained the glfass house results with a considerable amount of increase in plant growth responses, and amongst all the treatments, R81 + Pi treatment performed consistently well in field conditions with an increase of 2·6‐, 3·1‐ and 3·9‐fold increase in dry root weight, shoot weight and fruit yield, respectively. The fluorescent pseudomonad R81 and Pi also acted as biocontrol agents, as their treatments could control the incidence of wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici in tomato plants under glass house conditions. Conclusions: The culture broths of pseudomonads R62, R81 and Pi were successfully used for development of talcum‐ and vermiculite‐based bioinoculant formulations. In controlled glasshouse experiments, the talcum‐based bioinoculant formulations performed significantly better over vermiculite‐based formulations. In field experiments the talcum‐based consortium formulation of pseudomonad R81 and Pi was most effective. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study suggests that the formulations of pseudomonad strains (R62 and R81) and Pi can be used as bioinoculants for improving the productivity of tomato plants. The application of such formulations is a step forward towards sustainable agriculture.     

不同施肥条件下毛叶苕子的腐解及养分释放特征

利用田间埋袋法,研究不施肥、施氮肥、施石灰3种处理对豫南稻田毛叶苕子腐解及养分释放特征的影响.结果表明:不同施肥处理下毛叶苕子累积腐解率为65.3%~72.5%,腐解过程中呈现前11 d腐解较快、后期腐解缓慢并逐渐趋于平稳的趋势.不同处理养分释放率表现为钾>磷>碳>氮,试验结束时(翻压148 d),碳、氮、磷、钾的累积释放率分别为83.6%~84.6%、78.2%~81.2%、89.8%~91.4%、96.3%~97.0%.在整个腐解期内,毛叶苕子氮释放特征与腐解特征相似,与不施肥相比,施石灰促进毛叶苕子腐解及氮、磷、钾养分释放;施氮肥促进毛叶苕子磷释放,抑制钾释放;施石灰和氮肥对碳释放均无显著影响.施氮肥处理腐解0~11 d促进毛叶苕子腐解及氮释放,腐解11~148 d抑制毛叶苕子腐解及氮释放.采用一级动力学方程及对数函数方程拟合豫南稻区毛叶苕子腐解及碳、氮、磷、钾养分释放特征均达到显著水平,拟合方程的特征参数值与毛叶苕子腐解率及养分释放率呈显著相关.施用石灰促进毛叶苕子腐解及养分释放的效果优于施用氮肥;一级动力学方程及对数函数方程特征参数值可较好地描述毛叶苕子腐解及养分释放能力.     

Establishment of the Woody Grass Arundinaria gigantea for Riparian Restoration

Canebrakes are dense stands of Arundinaria gigantea (Walt.) Muhl. that covered large areas of the southeastern North America. With agricultural development, canebrakes were quickly converted to crop and pastureland and now occur only in small, isolated patches. There is growing interest in the use of A. gigantea and other temperate bamboo species in riparian and floodplain revegetation in North America, but lack of detailed information on propagation and management of woody perennial grasses hinders reestablishment activities. Our study assesses the influence of nutrient and woodchip mulch amendments on survival and growth of A. gigantea transplanted as part of a riparian restoration project in central Kentucky. After two growing seasons, culm number (aboveground stems) increased 4‐fold and extent of transplanted clumps expanded 26‐fold. The survival rate of transplanted cane clumps was 98%. Hardwood chip mulch significantly increased the emergence of new culms, culm height growth, and clump area. Composted manure, applied at a rate that contributed a similar mass of organic matter as the hardwood mulch, also significantly increased new culm number and clump area. Our findings demonstrate that addition of manure or hardwood mulch can significantly enhance aboveground production of A. gigantea transplants. However, survival and initial growth of untreated clumps were also adequate in this study. It appears that careful site selection, transplantation, and site maintenance may be sufficient to ensure A. gigantea establishment on many sites. Practitioners should assess soil drainage, water stress, and fertility along with herbaceous competition and incidence of overbank flooding before determining the necessity of organic amendments to supplement establishment of A. gigantea or other woody grasses for riparian restoration.