An improved way to determine nitrogen fertiliser requirements of sugarcane crops to meet global environmental challenges

Nitrogen (N) fertiliser management is increasingly important in sugarcane production as imperatives to reduce environmental impacts of N escalate. In this paper we report testing of a new concept for N management in sugarcane, the N Replacement system. This system relies on soil N cycling to ??buffer?? differences in crop N needs and N fertiliser supply to individual crops, and aligns N applications with actual cane production over the longer-term rather than potential production. In 11 experiments, conducted in a wide range of environments over two to five crops, cane and sugar yields in the N Replacement treatment were similar to those achieved with the farmers?? conventional N management, with a trend over successive crops for yields to increase relative to conventional management. At sites where experiments ran for at least 4 years, this trend resulted in cumulative sugar yields being higher in the N Replacement treatment. Average N applications were 35% lower in the N Replacement treatment, and N lost to the environment was estimated to be ??50% lower. Soil N ??buffering?? was adequate to maintain sufficient N supply to crops even when yields were up to 30% greater than expected. Thus, it is not necessary to align fertiliser applications to potential sugarcane yields, which are rarely achieved in practice. Our results show that the ecologically-based N Replacement system has promise to deliver superior environmental outcomes without significantly reducing production of sugarcane, and potentially other semi-perennial crops, in the tropics and subtropics. Further evaluation of the system will be beneficial, and there is scope for determining more site-specific values of parameters in the system. However, care must be taken to evaluate the system over sufficient time frames (e.g. >2 crops) so that productivity improvement trends in the N Replacement system can be expressed.     

Effect of ammonia on the synthesis and function of the N 2 -fixing enzyme system in Clostridium pasteurianum

The N(2)-fixing system of Clostridium pasteurianum operates under regulatory controls; no activity is found in cultures growing on excess NH(3). The conditions which are necessary for the synthesis and function of this system were studied in whole cells by using acetylene reduction as a sensitive assay for the presence of the N(2)-fixing system. Nitrogenase of N(2)-fixing cultures normally can fix twice as much N(2) as is needed to maintain the growth rate. When cultures that have grown for four or more generations on NH(3) exhaust NH(3) from the medium, a diauxic lag of about 90 min ensues before growth is resumed on N(2). Neither N(2)-fixing nor acetylene reduction activity can be detected before growth is resumed on N(2). N(2) is not a necessary requirement for this synthesis since under argon that contains less than 10(-8)m N(2), the N(2)-fixing system is made. If NH(3) is added to N(2)-dependent cultures, synthesis of the enzyme system is abruptly stopped, but the enzyme already present remains stable and functional for at least 6 hr (over three generations). Cultures grown under argon in a chemostat controlled by limiting ammonia have derepressed nitrogenase synthesis. If the argon is removed and replaced by N(2), partial repression of nitrogenase occurs.     

A new approach to determine the total airborne N input into the soil/plant system using 15N isotope dilution (ITNI): results for agricultural areas in Central Germany

The atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) in the environment is of great concern due to its impact on natural ecosystems including affecting vegetation, reducing biodiversity, increasing tree growth in forests, and the eutrophication of aquatic systems. Taking into account the average annual N emission into the atmosphere in Germany of about 2 million t N (ammonia/ammonium, NOx), and assuming homogeneous distribution throughout Germany, an average N deposition of 45 kg/ha x year can be calculated. Such high atmospheric N deposition could be confirmed by N balances from long-term field experiments in Central Germany (e.g., the Static Fertilization Experiment in Bad Lauchstdt). By contrast, estimates by standard methods indicate a deposition of only about 30 kg N/ha x year. This is because the standard methods are using wet-only or bulk collectors, which fail to take into account gaseous deposition and the direct uptake of atmospheric N by aerial plant parts. Therefore, a new system was developed using 15N isotope dilution methodology to measure the actual total atmospheric N input into a soil/plant system (Integrated Total Nitrogen Input, ITNI). A soil/plant system is labeled with [15N]ammonium-[15N]nitrate and the total input of airborne N is calculated from the dilution of this tracer by N from the atmosphere. An average annual deposition of 64 +/- 11 kg/ha x year from 1994-2000 was measured with the ITNI system at the Bad Lauchstdt research farm in the dry belt of Central Germany. Measurements in 1999/2000 at three other sites in Central Germany produced deposition rates of about 60 kg/ha x year. These data clearly show that the total atmospheric N deposition into the soil/plant system determined by the newly developed ITNI system significantly exceeds that obtained from standard wet-only and bulk collectors. The higher atmospheric N depositions found closely match those postulated from the N balances of long-term agricultural field experiments.     

畜牧系统中氮素平衡计算参数的探讨

畜牧系统中N流动与平衡的研究是畜牧业进行养分资源管理的基础,而参数的确定又是研究养分循环与平衡的基础工作.本研究对该系统的N输入、输出项参数进行分析讨论,包括平衡计算中每一个输入和输出项需要的参数种类、参数的选择以及建议采用的数值.讨论过程参考了大量的文献资料和统计数据,初步确定了我国畜牧系统N养分平衡计算参数.     

华北平原种养一体规模化农场氮素流动特征及利用效率——以河北津龙循环农业园区为例

种养一体规模化、集约化是华北平原农业发展的必然趋势,而氮素是连接种植养殖的主要养分资源,以河北津龙循环农业园区为例,采用文献资料、实地调查方法分析农场水平氮素流动特征及利用率,并通过情景分析方法提出农场氮素管理措施,为实现农场水平氮养分资源高效利用、提高农场生产系统生产力和改善华北平原循环农业模式提供技术支撑和科学依据.结果表明: 在农场水平下,化肥和有机肥输入氮量674.6 kg·hm^-2·a^-1,占总输入氮量的88.3%,氮利用率为41.5%,种植系统氮盈余量190.7 kg·hm^-2·a^-1,施氮量过多是造成种植系统氮利用率低和氮素盈余量高的主要原因.养殖系统中外购饲料提供氮量占饲料总输入氮量的83.2%,粪尿排氮量为776.6 t·a^-1,而还田比例仅为36.3%,氮利用率19.7%.农场水平氮总利用率为40.7%.情景分析表明,农田减少化肥施氮量50%(情景1)、增加来自农场内部玉米籽粒产量(情景2)措施,可分别使种植系统氮利用率提高34.6%和15.6%,同时农场水平氮总利用率分别提高18.7%和9.8%;另外,优化养殖系统饲料结构(情景3),可使氮总利用率提高19.1%.因此,减少化肥氮施用量、调整作物种植结构、优化饲料结构等,是提高农场氮生产力和实现环境友好双赢效果的措施和途径.     

A water quality analysis system to evaluate the impact of agricultural activities on N outflow in river basins in Japan

We have developed a personal-computer-based water quality analysis system for river basins. The system estimates potential N outflow by model and calculates actual N outflow from monitoring data. For the former it uses the potential load factor method to estimate annual nitrogen load from various sources and runoff potential from each area of land in a basin. For the latter it analyzes water quality monitoring data in relation to meteorological data. We used the system to analyze N outflow in basins around Lake Kasumigaura and the Yahagi River in central Honshu, Japan. The land around Lake Kasumigaura is rather flat, and about 25% is periodically flooded for rice and lotus cultivation. The land around the Yahagi River is mountainous, and much less land is flooded. In the Yahagi River basin the actual N outflow agreed closely with the potential. However, the actual N outflow in the basin around Lake Kasumigaura was much less than the potential, suggesting that a large part of the N load is denitrified in flooded soils. This further indicates that a sequence of different land uses including flooded rice fields is an important factor determining N outflow in basins in Japan. On the basis of the above analyses, we incorporated a denitrification model into the system that enables us to estimate N balance in a designated basin;this system may be helpful in the formulation of scenarios of land use andsoil management for improving water quality.     

A water quality analysis system to evaluate the impact of agricultural activities on N outflow in river basins in Japan

We have developed a personal-computer-based water quality analysis system for river basins. The system estimates potential N outflow by model and calculates actual N outflow from monitoring data. For the former it uses the potential load factor method to estimate annual nitrogen load from various sources and runoff potential from each area of land in a basin. For the latter it analyzes water quality monitoring data in relation to meteorological data. We used the system to analyze N outflow in basins around Lake Kasumigaura and the Yahagi River in central Honshu, Japan. The land around Lake Kasumigaura is rather flat, and about 25% is periodically flooded for rice and lotus cultivation. The land around the Yahagi River is mountainous, and much less land is flooded. In the Yahagi River basin the actual N outflow agreed closely with the potential. However, the actual N outflow in the basin around Lake Kasumigaura was much less than the potential, suggesting that a large part of the N load is denitrified in flooded soils. This further indicates that a sequence of different land uses including flooded rice fields is an important factor determining N outflow in basins in Japan. On the basis of the above analyses, we incorporated a denitrification model into the system that enables us to estimate N balance in a designated basin; this system may be helpful in the formulation of scenarios of land use and soil management for improving water quality.     

The orphanin FQ/nociceptin gene: structure, tissue distribution of expression and functional implications obtained from knockout mice

Like other neuropeptides, orphanin FQ/nociceptin (OFQ/N) is encoded by a larger precursor protein. The cDNA for the OFQ/N precursor has been cloned from human, rat, mouse and bovine tissue demonstrating that this peptidergic system serves important functions that have been conserved during evolution. The structural organization of the precursor protein is similar to opioid peptide precursors, supporting the view of a common origin for the opioid systems and the OFQ/N system. In addition to OFQ/N, the precursor may encode two other biologically active peptides. Anatomic studies have revealed high levels of expression of the OFQ/N messenger RNA in brain structures involved in sensory, emotional and cognitive processing. In particular, high levels of OFQ/N mRNA were detected in the limbic system, underlining the stress attenuating activities that have been described as an important function of OFQ/N. Recently, mutant mice have been generated that lack the precursor protein of OFQ/N to further define the physiological functions of the OFQ/N system. The OFQ/N-deficient mice are characterized by an increased sensitivity to stressful stimuli and a lack of habituation to chronic and repeated stress. This review will summarize recent findings on the molecular biology of the OFQ/N precursor and relate it to possible physiological functions of this newly discovered neuropeptide system.     

Root and hyphal interactions influence N transfer by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soybean/maize intercropping systems

In maize-soybean intercropping systems, the transfer of N from soybean to maize gives the intercropping system the advantage of improved N utilization and higher yields. Mycorrhiza acts as an important pathway for N transfer, providing a constant supply of N to sustain the growth and development of maize in its early stages. However, it is not clear how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) drive the transfer of N from soybean to maize in the intercropping system. Therefore, we quantified the amount of N transferred from soybean to maize under low and high N levels in the intercropping system, and the abundance and diversity of AMF involved in N transfer (¹⁵N-AMF) under different conditions by ¹⁵N leaf marker and DNA-SIP technology. We found that the interaction between roots and reducing the application of N fertilizer increased the amount of N transfer from soybean to maize. Compared with plastic plate separation (PS), no separation (NS) and mesh separation (MS) significantly increased the N fixation rate (from 14.33% to 39.09%), and the amount of N transfer under NS was 1.95–3.48 times that under MS. N transfer from soybean to maize ranged from 9.7 to 43.42 mg per pot in the no N treatment, while the addition of N fertilizer reduced N transfer by 14.12–66.28%. This is due to root interaction and reduced N fertilization increased the abundance and diversity of the ¹⁵N-AMF community, thereby promoting AMF colonization of maize and soybean roots. AMF colonization in soybean and maize roots under NS treatment was 6.47–17.24% higher than under MS treatment in all three levels of N addition. The increase of mycorrhiza in root system increased the N transfer from soybean to maize significantly. These results suggest that reduced N fertilizer in maize-soybean intercropping systems can increase N transfer by the mycorrhizal pathway, meeting maize N requirements and reducing chemical N fertilizer, which is important for sustainable agricultural development.     

Total nitrogen deposition at key growing stages of maize and wheat as affected by pot surface area and crop variety

Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition is a serious problem on the North China Plain (NCP) because it imposes a considerable nutrient burden on the local environment. However, it also makes a substantial contribution to agricultural crop N requirements. The integrated total N input (ITNI) system is a method to quantify total atmospheric N deposition by using ¹⁵N-labeled monitor plants grown in pots. The effect of pot surface area and variety of indicator plant on the amount of airborne N input quantified by the ITNI system was investigated in this study. Total N deposition to the soil-maize/soil-wheat plant system at key growth stages was also quantified to improve N-fertilizer recommendations. When indicator plants having a high space requirement were used a correction factor was needed and this could be obtained only by simulating commercial field conditions, especially plant density, because the factor depends largely on pot area or the difference in plant density between pot conditions and field conditions. The total airborne N input measured by the ITNI system was not influenced by the variety of monitoring plant. N deposition was 20?C25 kg N ha^?1 during growth from three expanded leaf to ten expanded leaf and also from ten expanded leaf to maturity of maize. N deposition was 29.1 kg N ha^?1 between planting and the jointing stage and 10.1 kg N ha^?1 from jointing to maturity of wheat. This high measured N deposition indicates that N deposition should be taken into account when calculating the N fertilizer requirements of maize and wheat in this region.     

Bacteriophage N3 of Haemophilus influenzae. II. Infection of transformable cells by bacteriophage DNA.

Transfection of H. influenzae with N3 bacteriophage DNA shows a dependence on concentration of DNA and a sigmoidal shape of uptake of DNA. The efficiency of transfection is decreased in the two types of recombination-defective strains of H. influenzae; rec1- and rec2-. The fact that N3 bacteriophage can code for its own recombination system but transfection is dependent on host recombation system allows the conclusion that the primary recombination during transfection with N3 phage DNA is mediated exclusively by the bacterial recombination system.     

基于水量平衡下灌区农田系统中氮素迁移及平衡的分析

本文以于河套灌区典型灌域（前旗北疙堵乡塔布村）为研究对象,通过分析农田系统中水量平衡和氮素平衡,建立农田系统中氮素平衡和水分平衡的联立模型,并用此模型分析典型区域内农田系统中氮素随水分迁移的规律。分析表明：应用水量和氮平衡模型分析灌区农田系统中氮迁移及平衡,可以反映出农业面源污染物（氮）在整个农田系统中的去向,化肥使用量的降低和灌水量的减少,将有效的减少农田系统中氮素的输入量;秋灌—秋浇期间,玉米、番茄和葵花作物对氮的吸收率分别为17%、18%和32%,3种土壤中残留量分别为57%、60%和58%。依据河套灌区年施肥60万t计算,土壤残留量达到17.2万t。在秋灌-秋浇期间从黄河引入的氮总量达到1.21万t,随农田退水进入沟道的量为840 t。     

田间非饱和流条件下土壤硝态氮运移的模拟

运用马尔可夫过程的理论 ,建立了土壤非饱和流条件下 ,模拟硝态氮通过土层运移的随机模型 .模型把时间可变系统假设为由紧密相连的时间均质情况相接而成 ,使得运用马尔可夫过程成为可能 ,在给定土壤水流量及汇源项转移强度的土壤层次中 ,给出了硝态氮溶质的统计分布 .模型将随机过程与确定性过程相结合 ,在计算各土层间的转移概率时考虑了硝态氮的作物吸收、淋洗、硝化和反硝化等主要过程 ,并用相关函数修正 N素转化关系 .在褐土农田土壤非饱和流条件下 ,用微区试验对该模型运行效果进行了验证 ,结果显示模拟计算值与实测值之间吻合性较好 ,说明模型可以用于相似类型区 ,预测和评价土壤 -作物系统中硝态氮溶质的运移行为 .     

The effects of nociceptin peptide (N/OFQ)–receptor (NOP) system activation in the airways

The heptadecapeptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is the endogenous ligand for the N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptor. It is cleaved from a larger precursor identified as prepronociceptin (ppN/OFQ). NOP is a member of the seven transmembrane-spanning G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) family. ppN/OFQ and NOP receptors are widely distributed in different human tissues. Asthma is a complex heterogeneous disease characterized by variable airflow obstruction, bronchial hyper-responsiveness and chronic airway inflammation. Limited therapeutic effectiveness of currently available asthma therapies warrants identification of new drug compounds. Evidence from animal studies suggests that N/OFQ modulates airway contraction and inflammation. Interestingly up regulation of the N/OFQ–NOP system reduces airway hyper-responsiveness. In contrast, inflammatory cells central to the inflammatory response in asthma may be both sources of N/OFQ and respond to NOP activation. Hence paradoxical dysregulation of the N/OFQ–NOP system may potentially play an important role in regulating airway inflammation and airway tone. To date there is no data on N/OFQ–NOP expression in the human airways. Therefore, the potential role of N/OFQ–NOP system in asthma is unknown. This review focuses on its physiological effects within airways and potential value as a novel asthma therapy.     

植物吸收转运无机氮的生理及分子机制

氮是植物生长必需的营养元素。植物从土壤中吸收的氮素主要是NO3-和NH4 等无机氮源。植物吸收NO3-和NH4 的系统均有高亲和转运系统(high-affinity transport system,HATS)和低亲和转运系统(low-affinity transport system,LATS)之分。近10多年的研究已对这些转运系统的分子基础有了较好的理解,本文着重对近年来植物吸收无机氮分子机制的研究进展进行了综述。     

植物吸收转运无机氮的生理及分子机制

氮是植物生长必需的营养元素。植物从土壤中吸收的氮素主要是NO3-和NH4 +等无机氮源。植物吸收NO3-和NH4+的系统均有高亲和转运系统(high-affinity transport system, HATS)和低亲和转运系统(low-affinity transport system, LATS)之分。近10多年的研究已对这些转运系统的分子基础有了较好的理解, 本文着重对近年来植物吸收无机氮分子机制的研究进展进行了综述。     

H7N9感染与神经细胞的血小板活化因子分泌浓度的相关性研究

H7N9病毒感染除引起患者呼吸道症状外,还可能导致中枢神级系统病症。血小板活化因子(Platelet activating factor,PAF)是一种生物活性磷脂,参与神经系统的部分功能。但尚未有研究讨论PAF是否参与H7N9病毒中枢神经系统疾病致病机制。本研究通过H7N9病毒体外感染小鼠小胶质细胞(BV2)和神经母瘤细胞(N2a)发现,H7N9流感病毒可以感染BV2、N2a细胞,引起细胞明显病变并使细胞活性下降;此外H7N9病毒感染BV2细胞后,PAF浓度水平明显上升,PAF乙酰水解酶(Platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase,PAF-AH)基因pafah1b1和pafah2表达水平明显下降。而N2a细胞染毒后PAF-AH基因表达水平明显上升,染毒48h后胞内PAF浓度明显下降。本研究首次将PAF与流感病毒性脑病联系在一起,提示PAF可能参与流感病毒性脑病的致病过程,可作为治疗的药物靶点进行后续研究。     

Redescriptions of Neodiplogaster tropica Cobb and N. pinicola Steiner (Nematoda: Diplogasteridae)

Neodiplogaster tropica is redescribed from syntypes, and N. pinicola from syntypes and newly collected material. Information on the previously undescribed female tail and reproductive system is given for N. tropica, and details of the stoma, female gonad, spicules, gubernaculum, and excretory system are emphasized for N. pinicola. Lectotypes are designated for both species. The predaceous feeding of N. pinicola is described.