The effect of different sowing densities and nutrient levels on leaf area index,production and distribution of dry matter in maize (zea mays l.)

The course of biological curves of accumulation of total (Y_biol), vegetative (Y_veg) and grain dry matter (Y_gr) in maize(Zea mays L.)was investigated in a field experiment. The different population densities from 27 777 to 121 418 plants per ha were tested in interaction with increasing fertilizer rates (NPK) ranging from zero to 780 kg of pure nutrients per ha. The grain yield (F_gr) plotted against the population density shows a parabolic trend with a maximum at densities from 64 000 to 79 000 plants per ha. An asymptotic trend was obtained for the curve of biological yield (F_biol) in relation to the population density. The optimum densities for Y_gr and F_biol were identical in the unfertilized control plot. At optimum and higher population levels the application of optimum rate of pure nutrients was 260 kg per ha. Leaf area index(L) was rising with the increasing stand density. Its value was also increased by increasing mineral nutrition but only at plant densities higher than 64 000 plants per ha. The proportion of Y_gr/ Y_biol showed an optimum atL value within 2.03 and 2.68. Its value declined with further increase of both, stand densities and levels of NPK. The optimumL estimated for Y_gr was within 2.65 and 3.87 and that for Yol in the control variant was 2.65. Tn fertilized plots even the highestL values (5.17) did not influence neither the biological nor the vegetative dry matter yields. Relative photosynthetic potential for dry matter formation (RPP _gr) was decreasing with the increasing stand density.     

基于临界氮浓度的小麦地上部氮亏缺模型

基于3年的大田试验,选择代表性的中蛋白小麦品种（扬麦16）和低蛋白小麦品种（宁麦13）,分别构建了小麦地上部干物质临界氮浓度(N_cnc)稀释曲线模型、氮营养指数（NNI）模型和氮亏缺(N_and)模型.结果表明： 小麦地上部干物质临界氮浓度稀释曲线模型具有明确的生物学意义,小麦临界氮浓度与地上部最大干物质（DM）符合幂函数关系（扬麦16为N_cnc=4.65DM^-0.44;宁麦13为N_cnc=4.33DM^-0.45）;小麦地上部氮营养指数模型可以准确诊断氮素营养状况;小麦地上部氮亏缺模型可以定量调控氮肥管理措施.利用2007-2008年的独立试验资料对小麦地上部干物质临界氮浓度稀释模型、氮营养指数模型和氮亏缺模型进行检验和测试,结果表明模型的准确性较高,普适性较强.本文所构建模型可以直接用于诊断调控小麦氮素营养,为小麦生产中精确施肥管理提供了较好的技术途径和理论基础.     

玉米秸秆还田和耕作方式对小麦养分积累与转运的影响

以冬小麦品种‘烟农19’为材料,于2008～2009年在淮北砂姜黑土区,设置玉米秸秆不还田(CK)和玉米秸秆全量粉碎还田——翻埋还田(HM)、旋耕还田(HX)、覆盖还田(HG)4种处理方式,通过大田试验研究玉米秸秆全量还田和耕作方式对小麦干物质和氮、磷、钾积累与分配的影响。结果显示:(1)小麦成熟期籽粒是干物质和养分的主要积累器官,其次为茎秆和叶片;在成熟期,籽粒积累的干物质、氮、磷、钾素分别占地上部总积累量的43.31%～46.13%、75.14%～76.83%、75.79%～77.99%、12.37%～12.82%。营养器官花前贮藏干物质和养分的转运量以叶片最高,其次为茎秆和颖壳;营养器官转运干物质和氮、磷、钾素对籽粒的贡献率分别为30.40%～36.54%、81.86%～86.10%、65.34%～74.83%、98.91%～125.85%。(2)玉米秸秆全量粉碎还田处理的小麦干物质和养分积累量与营养器官转运量均显著高于玉米秸秆不还田处理;玉米秸秆还田后不同耕作方式中,玉米秸秆全量覆盖还田处理的小麦籽粒干物质积累量和营养器官干物质转运量显著高于其它耕作方式,但氮、磷、钾的积累量和转运量在各耕作方式间差异均不显著。研究表明,在本试验条件下,在砂姜黑土区玉米秸秆全量粉碎覆盖还田处理更有利于小麦群体养分的积累与转运。     

Influence of temperature on yolk utilization by the white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus

The utilization of yolk nutrients by the white sturgeon was investigated at incubation temperatures of 11, 14, 17, and 20° C. The rates of development and dry matter loss are temperature dependent, with an upper critical temperature between 17 and 20° C above which survival is reduced (the temperature range investigated was not sufficient to allow determination of a lower critical temperature). The patterns of yolk utilization are similar to those of other fish. Protein depletion occurs at relatively constant rates throughout yolk nutrition, with the highest rate observed at 20° C. More than 95% of the original lipid levels were still present at hatch, except at 20° C (88%). After hatch, lipid content rapidly decreased at all temperatures, with fish incubated at 11° C possessing higher lipid levels at yolk depletion. The question of why the temperature tolerances of early life stages are more limited than those of older fish is discussed.     

Responses of nervous elements of the visual cortex of the chipmunk Eutamias sibiricus to moving and stationary stimuli]

The receptive field organization of cortical units has been studied in experiments with testing by moving and stationary light spots. The size of the receptive fields varied from 3 degrees to 10 degrees. Receptive fields which were tested by a stationary light spot exhibited various types of organization. Some of the neurons produced extensive excitatory on- and off-responses to stimulation by a light spot. Neuronal excitation evoked by light decreased if the stimulus was near the field boundary. Some of the neurons produced either on- or off-responses in any point of the receptive field. A small part of neurons had receptive fields with on- and off-reactions in the center, and either on- or off-responses at the peripheral zones. Most of the neurons exhibited specialization with respect to high-speed motion.     

Growth and shoot: root ratio of seedlings in relation to nutrient availability

The influence of mineral nutrient availability, light intensity and CO₂ on growth and shoot:root ratio in young plants is reviewed. Special emphasis in this evaluation is given to data from laboratory experiments with small Betula pendula plants, in which the concept of steady-state nutrition has been applied.Three distinctly different dry matter allocation patterns were observed when growth was limited by the availability of mineral nutrients: 1, Root growth was favoured when N, P or S were the major growth constraints. 2, The opposite pattern obtained when K, Mg and Mn restricted growth. 3, Shortage of Ca, Fe and Zn had almost no effect on the shoot:root ratio. The light regime had no effect on dry matter allocation except at very low photon flux densities (< 6.5 mol m^-2 day^-1), in which a small decrease in the root fraction was observed. Shortage of CO₂, on the other hand, strongly decreased root development, while an increase of the atmospheric CO₂ concentration had no influence on dry matter partitioning. An increased allocation of dry matter to below-ground parts was associated with an increased amount of starch in the tissues. Depletion of the carbohydrate stores occurred under all conditions in which root development was inhibited. It is concluded that the internal balance between labile nitrogen and carbon in the root and the shoot system determines how dry matter is being partitioned in the plant. The consistency of this statement with literature data and existing models for shoot:root regulation is examined.     

Growth of the Tops of Sweet Potato and the Translocation of the Nutrients from Leaves

1. Experiments were carried out in Hangchow on the increase of dry matter in the tops of sweet potato plants. The increase can be divided into three periods: (1) slow accumulation of dry matter; (2) rapid increase of accumulation of dry matter, reaching a maximum; (3) decline of accumulation of dry matter, later on account of senility and the dropping of leaves, there was a marked reduction in the dry matter of the tops. The increase in dry matter is in proportion to the leaf area. The amount of fertilizer used is closely related to the increase of dry matter and leaf area. 2. The yield of sweet potato is related to the increase in dry matter of the tops of the plant. To a certain extent, the greater the amount of dry matter, the more rapidly will the tubers enlarge, finally results in a higher yield. Excessive use of fertilizer leads to an abnormal elongation of the plant. During this period an increase in dry matter of the tops not only fails to induce the enlargement of the tubers, but also leads to the consumption of the dry matter, and consequently causes a reduction in yield of sweet potato. From the curve of T/R ratio, the sooner the downward translocation of the tops nutrients occurs, the faster the tubers will form and enlarge. 3. Experiments with p32 show that the various growth conditions of the tops are closely correlated with the translocation of the tubers. With well growing and high yielding plants the nutrients move from the tops to the tubers as soon as the root enlarges. This translocation is even accelerated during the later stage. During the earlier stage of development, much of the plant nutrition is translocated to the stems and leaves, particularly to the latter; then gradually it is diverted to the leaves and the root system, and finally concentrates in the roots. The increase of the area of green leaves and the number of branches during the period of early growth, and the promoting of favourable conditions for the formation and enlargement of the roots, as well as the facilitating of the translocation of nutrients to the roots during the later stage are the determinative factors necessary for obtaining high yield of sweet potato.     

Geographic variation in seed dormancy among populations of Echinochloa crus-galli

In 1991–1993, we investigated the incidence of seed dormancy in 25 local populations of barnyard grass, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P.Beauv., in the western Czech Republic. The percentage of germination after 4 months afterripening of dry seeds at 25°C varied between 0.0 and 83.6%. Although there were significant annual differences in the percentage of germination at some localities, typical proportions of dormant seeds persisted over 3 years at field sites where the seed bank was not disturbed. One-way ANOVA (using data from 14 cultivated or abandoned fields) revealed that 73.0% of variance in seed dormancy incidence could be attributed to the effect of locality (P<0.001). Incidence of dormancy was not correlated with mother plant stature (dry above-ground biomass, number of tillers, maximal stem height) nor seed mass. There was a significant correlation (r ²=0.403, P<0.005) between dormancy incidence at natural localities in 1991 and in F₁ offspring sown at experimental grounds at Praha-Ruzyn in 1992. The results indicate that heredity is important in maintaining local variation in seed dormancy, probably favoured by the self-pollinating reproduction of barnyard grass.     

The partitioning of carbohydrates and the biomass of leaves in Populus tremula L . canopy

 This study was aimed at making a quantitative evaluation of the biomass, carbohydrates and mineral nutrients partitioning in the canopy of aspen (Populus tremula L.) growing in a forest stand. Tree canopy biomass was divided into ten equal horizontal layers and the material for the study was sampled from all canopy layers. The results indicated that the specific leaf mass and the dry matter content increased but the area of leaves decreased toward the top of the canopy. The content of the non-structural carbohydrates depended largely on the position of the leaves in the canopy and the N, P and K contents in the leaves, reaching a maximum in the upper canopy layers better exposed to light. Regression analysis showed a linear relationship between the leaf mass per area and the percentage of dry matter on the one hand and the content of carbohydrates, N, P and K in the canopy on the other. Received: 11 March 1997 / Accepted: 16 June 1997     

Litter and forest-floor dynamics in aPinus resinosa plantation in Wisconsin

Summary Breakdown of dry matter and release of nutrients from decomposing leaf litter and forest-floor material were measured in a 34-year-old red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.) plantation in central Wisconsin using (1) leaf-litter bags (2) litterfall and forest-floor nutrient data and an exponential decay function, and (3) nutrient flux data and a mass balance equation. After one year of decomposition, 77% of the original dry matter in leaf-litter bags remained. The release of macronutrients in decomposing leaf litter was K>Mg>P, S>N>Ca, and the release of micronutrients and aluminum was Mn, B>Al>Cu>Zn. Nitrogen in decomposing leaf litter showed the leaching, accumulation, and final release phases delineated by Berg and Staff⁴. Half-lives of dry matter and nutrients in the forest floor ranged from 0.5 (K) to 39 (Al) yr. Forest-floor turnover rates of the various elements followed the same trends as in leaf-litter bags except that Ca turned over more readily than P, S, and N and Zn turned over more readily than the other micronutrients. A forest-floor nutrient balance sheet confirmed that the macronutrients N and Ca are accumulating most readily in the forest floor. The overall implications of these trends for tree nutrition are discussed.     

Quantitative relationships for the dependence of growth rate of arable crops on their nitrogen content,dry weight and aerial environment

Summary Quantitative relationships for growth rate and its dependence on plant nitrogen concentration are developed from the results of experiments on potatoes, cereals and vegetables. The relationships appear to be of general applicability and most coefficients in them are similar for widely different crops.It is argued that during the main growing period (May–August inclusive) in Western Europe growth of crop dry matter may be limited by self regulatory mechanisms within the plant and is little affected by variations in the aerial environment when there is ample water and nutrients. Under these conditions both growth rate and the critical % N in the dry matter (the minimum % N at which growth rate is maximum) are simple functions of plant dry weight.It is deduced that when account is taken of the effect of plant weight on % N in the dry matter, growth rate is, as a close approximation, linearly related to % N until this reaches the critical value and constant at higher values.A computer simulation model based on these relationships enabled estimates to be made of the influence of measured plant-N concentrations on the increase, throughout the season, in the dry weight of potatoes and cereals grown with different levels of N fertilizer. There was good agreement between the estimates made in this way and the results of numerous field experiments.     

Physiological interaction model of sunflower plant with its nutrient medium during ontogenesis

A study was conducted with sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus, L.) cv. Peredovik in field experiments, one of which included 9 NPK-fertilizer treatments. The intensity of uptake,i.e. the quantity (mg) of nutrient taken up for the accumulation of 1 g dry matter/day, the concentrations of all essential elements in the plant organ tissues and their distribution among above-ground organs, by stages of development, were investigated. The results have revealed the inherent physiological system responsible for the uptake intensity of individual elements, as well as the simultaneous uptake and distribution of all essential elements of the root nutrition by the shoots, throughout the life cycle of the plant.     

Mechanism of application nursery cultivation arbuscular mycorrhizal seedling in watermelon in the field

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonisation of plant root facilitates the absorption of nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and enhances plant biotic and abiotic resistance generally. However, arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) colonisation decreases with application of chemical fertiliser. Here, we investigated whether AMF inoculation in nurseries would facilitate AM colonisation and take physiological and ecological functions in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) in the field. Pot experiments were carried out to study the change of AMF colonised seedling on physiology and gene expression in nursery site. Field experiments were performed to investigate the effect of nursery AMF inoculation on yield, quality and disease resistance of watermelon in the field. The results showed that nursery‐inoculated seedlings produced more dry matter and root surface area than non‐inoculated seedlings. Expression of the secretory purple acid phosphatase (PAP) genes ClaPAP10 and ClaPAP26 was up‐regulated following AMF colonisation. Accordingly, acid phosphatase activities at the root surface and P concentrations in seedling were enhanced. After transplantation to the field, the shoot dry matter and P concentration in old stem were higher in the nursery AMF inoculated seedlings than that in non‐AMF inoculated seedling. AMF inoculation also induced increase of yields and decrease of wilt disease indexes and soluble sugar content. In addition, acid phosphatase activities and AMF spore densities were increased by nursery‐inoculation in watermelon rhizosphere soil in the field. In conclusion, nursery colonisation AMF seedling enhanced watermelon growth and yield by improving the root growth and P acquisition in nursery cultivating stage, as well as optimised soil properties in the field. Nursery cultivation of watermelon seedling with AMF was an effective technique to reduce wilt disease in continuous cropped management in watermelon.     

Reproductive and dietary parameters in wild greater galago populations

Information concerning habitat, body size, reproductive status, and diet was recorded from 348 greater galagos, captured at six different localities in Tanzania and southern Africa between 1953 and 1955. The localities extended from Pemba Island in the north to Chikwawa, Malawi, in the south and varied broadly in the same order in degree of climatic aridity— from well-watered clove and coconut plantations to seasonally very dry woodland. Animals from the three northern localities fell within the geographic range of Galago garnettii,while the rest were assumed to be G. crassicaudatus.Statistical analysis of body size parameters confirmed this allocation. Data on fetal occurrence, vaginal and labial condition, and lactation indicate a restricted breeding season for both species, with peak proportions in estrus in August in G. garnettiiand in May-July in G. crassicaudatus.Gut content data indicate a variety of foods, with a preponderance in the northern localities of soft fruit such as mango, pawpaw, and coconut pulp; gum was a major carbohydrate source in the southernmost localities. Contrary to expectations, tooth damage, in the form of both loss and breakage, was much more prevalent in G. garnettiithan in G. crassicaudatus.The teeth most commonly lost were the upper incisors— perhaps because of the high acid and sugar content of a frugivorous diet. The high incidence of breakage of the lower incisors and upper canines indicates the inclusion of hard-shelled food sources in the diet of G. garnettii.     

TEMPERATURE THRESHOLD AS A BIOGEOGRAPHIC BARRIER IN NORTHERN INDIAN OCEAN MACROALGAE1

The most eastern point of the Arabian Peninsula, Ras Al Hadd, marks the boundary between the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. This geographic landmark coincides with an abrupt floristic turnover, probably one of the sharpest biotic transitions known in marine biogeography. The floras of different Arabian localities across this floristic break were compared using macrophyte distribution data throughout the Indian Ocean and seasonal sea‐surface temperature (SST) data. The localities from the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman differ significantly from those of the Arabian Sea based on their species richness, species composition, average distribution range per species, general temperature affinity of the composing species, and seasonal temperature data of the coastal waters. Pooling the temperature data into two groups (SST_3avg, average SST of the three warmest seasons; SST_min, minimum of the seasonal SSTs) revealed a temperature limit at 28°C using both the temperature affinity data of the floras and the seasonal temperatures recorded for the specific Arabian localities, which significantly separates the Arabian Sea from localities of both Gulfs. Finally, SST data of the Indian Ocean were analyzed using this upper temperature threshold of macrophytes at 28°C and the lower temperature limit of corals at 25°C, revealing general macrophyte diversity patterns.     

Depth of edge influence of the agricultural-forest landscape boundary,Southwestern China

The landscape boundary is an important component of a landscape and often plays an indispensable role in regulating ecological flows. The primary objective of this study was to estimate how far the edge effects on agricultural-forest landscape boundaries can penetrate into the forest and agricultural field. This will serve as a basis for understanding the interaction between forest and agricultural fields in the mountainous area of southwestern China and provide scientific basis for the practice of the policy of “returning agricultural field to forest.” Based on field investigations, three types of boundaries with six sampling transects were selected. We investigated the soil moisture, soil nutrients and vegetation diversity along the transect gradient and explored the depth of edge influence (DEI) with moving split-window techniques for analyzing the data. DEI for soil moisture changed with the seasons, ranging from 6 m in the pepper field to 2 m in the forest during the dry season, and from 12 m in the pepper field to 2 m in the forest after heavy rain. DEI based on soil organic matter ranged from 1.5 to 10 m in the forest field, while it was not detected based on other soil nutrient factors. DEI based on vegetation diversity varied from 4 to 26 m and from 10 to 31 m in the forest and agricultural fields, respectively. These results provide the scientific basis for the policy “returning agricultural field to forest”. Based on these field observations, reducing human disturbance and revegetating with natural shrubs and meadows could be more effective for vegetation conservation in terms of soil moisture and soil nutrient content in the arid valley of the Minjiang River.     

A Definition of Optimum Nutrient Requirements in Birch Seedlings

Birch seedlings (Betula verrucosa Enrh.) were grown in nutrient solutions with pH varied in the range 2.5 to 6.8 or temperature varied in the range 2.5 to 35°C. The criteria for maximum growth previously established for birch seedlings were used and maintained by means of automatic pH and conductivity titrations with stock solutions containing the optimum nutrient proportions. Both nitrogen sources, NH₄ and NO₃, were present in the solutions. Growth rate was maximum or close to maximum between pH 4.0 and 6.8, whether kept at a specific level or allowed to vary between the extremes. At pH 3.5 and lower, the calcium uptake was decreased and root damage was observed. The seedlings has also a high dry matter content and obviously an unsatisfactory water balance. pH 2.5 was rapidly lethal. Growth rate was linearly correlated with solution temperature up to 20°C. Temperatures above 30°C, especially in the range 32.5 to 35°C, resulted in rapid decrease in growth rate. The nutrient contents in the seedlings were strongly affected by solution temperature in the low as well as in the high range when expressed on a dry weight basis. However, this effect was almost entirely attributable to changes in dry matter content. When expressed on a fresh weight basis, nutrient uptake and nutrient status of the seedlings appeared to be optimum throughout, although a variation remained since the varying dry matter content is included in the fresh weight basis. The results indicate, in agreement with the literature, that disturbed water uptake and water balance is the way in which growth is affected by root medium temperature. Similarly, extremely low pH levels in the nutrient solution meant root damage, although birch seedlings appear comparatively insensitive to pH variations. Thus, the growth technique used supplied the seedlings with adequate nutrients, so that the criteria used in the definition of nutrient requirements in birch seedlings are valid within wide ranges of solution pH and temperature; and other factors than nutrition determine growth.     

Differences in Growth and Ontogenetic Development of Plant Raised in Natural and Inverse Orientation Relative to the Earth Gravitational Field

Wheat plants Triticum aestivum L., Apogee cultivar, were grown in natural and inverse orientation relative to the Earth gravitational field. Special vegetation containers with double bottom were used for the cultivation. The upper bottom made of porous titanium served as a hydrophilic porous membrane stabilizing water potential in the root-inhabited zone at a given level. Normal plants yielding viable seeds were obtained in both natural and inverse orientation. In our experiments, the inverse orientation stimulated dry matter accumulation by plants and development of productive tillering shoots, as well as increased the shoot–root dry weight ratio.     

Lower and Upper Critical Zinc Levels in Relation to Cotton Growth and Development

Solution culture experiments in the greenhouse were conducted to determine the lower and upper critical Zn levels relative to early cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) growth and development. Upland cotton ‘Coker 310’ was grown in nutrient solution with fourteen Zn levels ranging from 0 to 10,000 μg/liter. The plants were grown for 31 days, harvested and analyzed for Zn. At Zn levels of less than 20 μg/I, top dry weight, root dry weight, plant height, node number and squares produced were reduced as compared to plants supplied with adequate Zn. Toxicities were induced at 2000 μg/I and higher. Root dry weight was not influenced by Zn levels to 10,000 μg/I. The lower critical Zn levels where Zn is required at a minimum concentration for maximum growth were from 8 to 11 μg/I in blades 1 through 5, respectively. The upper critical Zn levels where maximum Zn concentration in blade tissue can be tolerated for maximum growth were from 130 to 300 μg/g for blades 1 to 5, respectively. Blade 3, the recently matured leaf, was selected as the representative tissue for analysis. The lower and upper critical Zn levels in blade 3 were 11 and 200 μg/g, respectively.