The air-borne distribution of zoonotic agents from livestock waste spreading and microbiological risk to fresh produce from contaminated irrigation sources

Aims:  To assess the risks of zoonotic agents in dissemination of livestock wastes into the environment by airborne distribution. To subsequently assess the survival time of zoonotic agents, introduced in irrigation water, on the phylloplane of produce.
Methods and Results:  An Escherichia coli marker was introduced into pig slurry which was spread using a rain gun sprayer. Air sampling was undertaken to determine the distance reached by the marker. No recoveries were observed at a distance of 250 m. Borehole water, contaminated with zoonotic agents, was used to irrigate field plots sown with lettuce and spinach. Decline in bacterial numbers on the phylloplane was observed with time. After initial rapid decreases, we were unable to detect any pathogen from the phylloplane, 1 month after contamination.
Conclusions:  These preliminary results suggest that the risks to public health from the aerosolized spread of bacteria during slurry spreading by rain gun are low. Although, zoonotic agents on crop phylloplanes perish quickly, the risks of overhead irrigation of fresh produce 3 weeks before harvest should still be considered.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  These preliminary results improve our understanding on the fate of zoonotic agents in the environment. Spreading liquid livestock wastes by an airborne mechanism may not pose a significant public health risk. Detection of zoonotic agents 3 weeks after contamination of lettuce and spinach means that consideration should be given by the farmers until the time of harvest, when irrigating fresh produce with water that may have been directly or indirectly contaminated by livestock wastes.     

Cairo-East Bank effluent re-use study 3 — Effect of field crop irrigation with secondary treated wastewater on biological and chemical properties of soil and groundwater

Large scale field trials were conducted in fertile soil and desert (virgin) soil to evaluate the effect of irrigation with secondary treated wastewater from two wastewater treatment plants in Cairo on biological and chemical properties of soil and groundwater. Soil samples were taken for physical and chemical analysis after crop harvest. Groundwater monitoring wells were installed in and around the experimental soil sites. Considerable amounts of macronutrients (NPK) were applied to the grown crops through the treated wastewater irrigation: N (19–79%), P (23–181%) and K (85–357%) of the recommended fertilizer rates according to the crop and the experimental site. Soil physical and chemical analysis showed that both soils are widely variable in water holding capacity, organic matter, pH value, CaCO₃, salinity, cation exchange capacity, and soil bulk density in the topsoil (0–30 cm). Groundwater samples which were examined for the presence of pathogenic bacteria (salmonella), faecal coliform bacteria and helminth ova. At the virgin soil site, 10–57% of the samples from each well contained salmonella, whereas at the fertile soil, salmonella was not detected in five wells, and the occurrence in the other four wells was 10–20% of the samples. The numbers of faecal coliforms were similar at both sites, in the range 10²–10³ MPN per 100 mL. Small numbers of parasite ova were also found in the majority of wells, with a greater number occurring at the virgin soil. The groundwater in both sites was similar and of poor quality, and would be unsuitable for potable or irrigation purposes.     

Much Improved Irrigation Use Efficiency in an Intensive Wheat-Maize Double Cropping System in the North China Plain

Crop yield and water use efficiency （WUE） in a wheat-maize double cropping system are influenced by short and uneven rainfalls in the North China Plain （NCP）, A 2-year experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of irrigation on soil water balance, crop yield and WUE to improve irrigation use efficiency in the cropping system, Soil water depletion （~SWS） by crop generally decreased with the increase of irrigation and rainfall, while ASWS for the whole rotation was relatively stable among these irrigation treatments, High irrigations in wheat season increased initial soil moisture and ASWS for subsequent maize especially in the drought season, Initial soil water influenced mainly by the irrigation and rainfall in the previous crop season, is essential to high yield in such cropping systems, Grain yield decreased prior to evapotranspiraUon （ET） when ET reached about 300mm for wheat, while maize showed various WUEs with similar seasonal ET, For whole rotation, WUE declined when ET exceeded about 650 mm, These results indicate great potential for improving irrigation use efficiency in such wheat-maize cropping system in the NCP, Based on the present results, reasonable irrigation schedules according to different annual rainfall conditions are presented for such a cropping system.     

Fate of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium on carrots and radishes grown in fields treated with contaminated manure composts or irrigation water

Three different types of compost, PM-5 (poultry manure compost), 338 (dairy cattle manure compost), and NVIRO-4 (alkaline-pH-stabilized dairy cattle manure compost), and irrigation water were inoculated with an avirulent strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium at 10(7) CFU g(-1) and 10(5) CFU ml(-1), respectively, to determine the persistence of salmonellae in soils containing these composts, in irrigation water, and also on carrots and radishes grown in these contaminated soils. A split-plot block design plan was used for each crop, with five treatments (one without compost, three with each of the three composts, and one without compost but with contaminated water applied) and five replicates for a total of 25 plots for each crop, with each plot measuring 1.8 x 4.6 m. Salmonellae persisted for an extended period of time, with the bacteria surviving in soil samples for 203 to 231 days, and were detected after seeds were sown for 84 and 203 days on radishes and carrots, respectively. Salmonella survival was greatest in soil amended with poultry compost and least in soil containing alkaline-pH-stabilized dairy cattle manure compost. Survival profiles of Salmonella on vegetables and soil samples contaminated by irrigation water were similar to those observed when contamination occurred through compost. Hence, both contaminated manure compost and irrigation water can play an important role in contaminating soil and root vegetables with salmonellae for several months.     

High levels of microbial contamination of vegetables irrigated with wastewater by the drip method.

The public health aspects of the use of wastewater in agriculture and the effects of the drip irrigation method on the contamination of vegetables were studied. The method used was to simulate enteric microorganisms' dissemination by contaminated irrigation water in the field. The vegetables were irrigated with an effluent inoculated with a high titer of traceable microorganisms: poliovirus vaccine and a drug-resistant Escherichia coli. The dissemination of the marker organisms in the field was followed, and the effects of certain manipulations of the drip irrigation method on the contamination of the crops by the effluent were examined. It was shown that drip irrigation under plastic sheet cover with the drip lines placed either on the soil surface or buried at a depth of 10 cm significantly reduced crop contamination from inoculated irrigation water even when massive doses of bacteria and viruses were used. The microbial contamination was found to persist in the irrigation pipes and in the soil for at least 8 and 18 days, respectively. The data indicate that the recovery of the marker organisms was affected by soil texture and environmental conditions.     

High levels of microbial contamination of vegetables irrigated with wastewater by the drip method.

The public health aspects of the use of wastewater in agriculture and the effects of the drip irrigation method on the contamination of vegetables were studied. The method used was to simulate enteric microorganisms' dissemination by contaminated irrigation water in the field. The vegetables were irrigated with an effluent inoculated with a high titer of traceable microorganisms: poliovirus vaccine and a drug-resistant Escherichia coli. The dissemination of the marker organisms in the field was followed, and the effects of certain manipulations of the drip irrigation method on the contamination of the crops by the effluent were examined. It was shown that drip irrigation under plastic sheet cover with the drip lines placed either on the soil surface or buried at a depth of 10 cm significantly reduced crop contamination from inoculated irrigation water even when massive doses of bacteria and viruses were used. The microbial contamination was found to persist in the irrigation pipes and in the soil for at least 8 and 18 days, respectively. The data indicate that the recovery of the marker organisms was affected by soil texture and environmental conditions.     

Barley yield under saline water cultivation

Summary In a microplot experiment conducted during the winter seasons of 1979–80 and 1980–81 on a sandy loam soil in the semi-desert tract, the accumulation of salts was found to be highest in March after harvest of the barley crop grown with saline water of EC values ranging from 2.2 to 24 mmhos/cm. The average EC of saturation extract of the surface soil layer (0–15 cm) was 0.79 times that of the applied irrigation water at the time of crop harvest, however, accumulated salts of the winter season were leached by the following monsoon rains. The average SAR of saturation extract of soil was 1.5 times that of the irrigation water in March but quite low in November. Highly significant correlations, (+0.90 to 0.99) at the post irrigated period between ECse of soils and EC of waters and SARse of soils and SAR of waters have been observed. Barley could be grown economically with irrigation water upto EC 16 mmhos/cm; however an average reduction in grain yield or not more than 43.5% compared to the yield under irrigation with tube well water of EC 2.2 mmhos/cm, was obtained. The starch, N and P contents decreased and that of K and Na increased in the grain with the use of saline waters. The performance of DL-85 variety was best and its K/Na ratio was also higher than that of other tested varieties.     

Microbial contamination of vegetable crop and soil profile in arid regions under controlled application of domestic wastewater

Increasing lack of potable water in arid countries leads to the use of treated wastewater for crop production. However, the use of inappropriate irrigation practices could result in a serious contamination risk to plants, soils, and groundwater with sewage water. This research was initiated in view to the increasing danger of vegetable crops and groundwater contamination with pathogenic bacteria due to wastewater land application. The research was designed to study: (1) the effect of treated wastewater irrigation on the yield and microbial contamination of the radish plant under field conditions; (2) contamination of the agricultural soil profile with fecal coliform bacteria. Effluent from a domestic wastewater treatment plant (100%) in Jeddah city, Saudi Arabia, was diluted to 80% and 40% with the groundwater of the experimental site constituting three different water qualities plus groundwater as control. Radish plant was grown in two consecutive seasons under two drip irrigation systems and four irrigation water qualities. Upon harvesting, plant weight per ha, total bacterial, fecal coliform, fecal streptococci were detected per 100 g of dry matter and compared with the control. The soil profile was also sampled at an equal distance of 3 cm from soil surface for fecal coliform detection. The results indicated that the yield increased significantly under the subsurface irrigation system and the control water quality compared to surface irrigation system and other water qualities. There was a considerable drop in the count of all bacteria species under the subsurface irrigation system compared to surface irrigation. The bacterial count/g of the plant shoot system increased as the percentage of wastewater in the irrigation water increased. Most of the fecal coliform bacteria were deposited in the first few centimeters below the column inlet and the profile exponentially decreased with increasing depth.     

Fate of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium on Carrots and Radishes Grown in Fields Treated with Contaminated Manure Composts or Irrigation Water

Three different types of compost, PM-5 (poultry manure compost), 338 (dairy cattle manure compost), and NVIRO-4 (alkaline-pH-stabilized dairy cattle manure compost), and irrigation water were inoculated with an avirulent strain of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium at 10⁷ CFU g⁻¹ and 10⁵ CFU ml⁻¹, respectively, to determine the persistence of salmonellae in soils containing these composts, in irrigation water, and also on carrots and radishes grown in these contaminated soils. A split-plot block design plan was used for each crop, with five treatments (one without compost, three with each of the three composts, and one without compost but with contaminated water applied) and five replicates for a total of 25 plots for each crop, with each plot measuring 1.8 × 4.6 m. Salmonellae persisted for an extended period of time, with the bacteria surviving in soil samples for 203 to 231 days, and were detected after seeds were sown for 84 and 203 days on radishes and carrots, respectively. Salmonella survival was greatest in soil amended with poultry compost and least in soil containing alkaline-pH-stabilized dairy cattle manure compost. Survival profiles of Salmonella on vegetables and soil samples contaminated by irrigation water were similar to those observed when contamination occurred through compost. Hence, both contaminated manure compost and irrigation water can play an important role in contaminating soil and root vegetables with salmonellae for several months.     

引黄灌区土壤有机碳密度剖面特征及固碳速率

为揭示灌溉耕作对土壤有机碳密度剖面(0—100 cm)分布产生的影响,通过在宁夏引黄灌区进行实地调查与采样,以无灌溉耕作的自然土壤作为对照,研究不同灌溉耕作时间序列下灌区土壤有机碳密度的剖面分布特征,并估算其平均固碳速率。结果表明:灌区土壤有机碳含量具有随土层深度增加而下降的剖面分布特征,灌溉耕作对增加表层土壤有机碳含量作用最明显;灌区土壤剖面碳密度与灌溉耕作时间和土壤类型均显著相关(P0.01),相关系数分别为0.63和0.74,且因灌溉耕作时间和土壤类型的不同,土壤有机碳密度差异性显著(P0.05);灌溉耕作影响的土层深度及剖面土壤有机碳密度的增加量因灌溉耕作时间长短的不同而异;引黄灌区5类土壤的平均固碳速率为0.53 MgC·hm-2·a-1。引黄灌溉耕作在增加农田土壤固碳中发挥着重要作用。     

Much Improved Irrigation Use Efficiency in an Intensive Wheat-Maize Double Cropping System in the North China Plain

Crop yield and water use efficiency (WUE) in a wheat-maize double cropping system are influenced by short and uneven rainfalls in the North China Plain (NCP). A 2-year experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of irrigation on soil water balance, crop yield and WUE to improve irrigation use efficiency in the cropping system. Soil water depletion (△SWS)by crop generally decreased with the increase of irrigation and rainfall, while △SWS for the whole rotation was relatively stable among these irrigation treatments. High irrigations in wheat season increased initial soil moisture and △SWS for subsequent maize especially in the drought season. Initial soil water influenced mainly by the irrigation and rainfall in the previous crop season, is essential to high yield in such cropping systems. Grain yield decreased prior to evapotranspiration(ET) when ET reached about 300 mm for wheat, while maize showed various WUEs with similar seasonal ET. For whole rotation, WUE declined when ET exceeded about 650 mm. These results indicate great potential for improving irrigation use efficiency in such wheat-maize cropping system in the NCP. Based on the present results, reasonable irrigation schedules according to different annual rainfall conditions are presented for such a cropping system.     

Effects of soil erosion on crop productivity

Soil erosion and the effects of soil erosion on crop productivity have become emotional issues and have attracted the attention of agriculturists, environmentalists, and the public in general. In spite of heavy investments in research and development, the global rates of accelerated erosion are now presumbly higher than ever before. However, the data from available records obtained by diverse methods are uncomparable, unreliable, confusing, and often vary by several orders of magnitude. Reports of erosion‐caused alterations in crop productivity and soil properties are also contradictory and subjective. In addition to the lack of standardized methodology in evaluating soil erosion and its effects on crops, controversial interpretations are attributed to differences in soil profile characteristics, nutrient status, crops grown, and prevailing climatic conditions. Although erosion is generally associated wtih yield reductions, there are examples of where soil erosion has had no effect or has had a positive effect on crop production. Accelerated erosion affects productivity both directly and indirectly. Directly, the erosion‐induced reduction in crop yields is attributed to loss of rooting depth, degradation of soil structure, decrease in plant‐available water reserves, reduction in organic matter, and nutrient imbalance. Depending on soil properties and the degree of degradation, adverse effects of erosion on crop yields can be mostly compensated for by additional inputs of macronu‐trients (N, P, K) and macronutrients plus organic matter, by supplemental applications of some micronu‐trients, and by irrigation. For some soils, e.g., tropical soils, crop yields from severely eroded soils are significantly lower than those from uneroded lands and are often uneconomic in spite of additional inputs. Specific examples of yield alterations are given in relation to the loss of plant nutrients, soil water reserves, and alterations in soil properties. Criteria for soil‐loss tolerance are discussed, and productivity restoration of eroded soils is reviewed in relation to soil organic matter content and nutrient requirments. Research and development priorities are presented.     

Protein and free amino acids in wheat grain as affected by soil types and salinity levels in irrigation water

Summary The effects of four lysimeter soil series under three salinity levels were evaluated for grain yield, wt/1000 seeds, protein, and amino acids in Mexican dwarf wheat (Triticum aestivum L. var. Cajeme 71). The soil series consisted of: Holtville clay loam, Greenfield sandy loam, San Emigdio sandy loam, and Altamont clay loam. The irrigation water salinity levels were designated: low –2.2 mmho, medium –4.2 mmho, and high –7.1 mmho.No significant differences were found in the amount of grain harvested or wt/1000 seeds in the 1976 crop produced on the differential soil series. The yield of the 1977 crop was significantly affected by the soil types.Effects of soil type on the protein amino acids in the grain in both years were similar. Significantly higher protein amino acid levels of histidine, arginine, aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, cystine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine were found in the grain grown on Altamont clay loam soil than the other types.The free amino acids in grain from the 1976 and 1977 crops were similarly affected by the soil types, except that the quantitative values of the free amino acids were substantially lower in 1977 than in 1976. The free amino acids significantly influenced by soil types were tryptophane, lysine, arginine, aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glycine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. In both years' crops, the sum of the free amino acid fractions was significantly higher in the grain produced on the Altamont soil than on the other soils.Salinity level in the irrigation water did not affect the 1976 crop yield or wt/1000 seeds. Although yields of the 1977 crop were significantly reduced by salinity, the wt/1000 seeds was not. The sum of protein amino acids was significantly higher in the 1976 and 1977 grain crops irrigated with high salinity water than in low salinity irrigated crops.An increased salinity irrigation water significantly reduced the sum of free amino acid fractions in the 1976 grain crop. Since some of the free amino acids in the 1977 grain crop increased while the others decreased due to the salinity level in the irrigation water, the sum of the free amino acid fractions was not significantly influenced.Significant interactions were found between soil types and salinity levels on free arginine, threonine, serine, glutamic acid, and alanine, and also on the sum of the free amino acids in the 1976 wheat grain. In the 1977 wheat grain, there were significant interactions between soil types and salinity levels on the free glutamic acid, valine, leucine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine, and on protein serine, glutamic acid, glycine, alanine, and the sum of the protein amino acids.The amounts of essential amino acids expressed as mg of amino acid/g of protein were not affected by the soil types or salinity levels. With the exception of lysine, and possibly threonine and methionine plus cystine, the essential amino acids were present in the grain at concentrations equal to or greater than recommended by WHO and FAO.     

根区交替控制灌溉条件下玉米根系吸水规律

为了阐明根区交替控制灌溉(CRDAI)条件下玉米根系吸水规律,通过田间试验,在沟灌垄植模式下采用根区交替控制灌溉研究玉米根区不同点位(沟位、坡位和垄位)的根长密度(RLD)及根系吸水动态。研究表明,根区土壤水分的干湿交替引起玉米RLD的空间动态变化,在垄位两侧不对称分布,并存在层间差异;土壤水分和RLD是根区交替控制灌溉下根系吸水速率的主要限制因素。在同一土层,根系吸水贡献率以垄位最大,沟位最低;玉米营养生长阶段,10—30 cm土层的根系吸水速率最大;玉米生殖生长阶段,20—70 cm为根系吸水速率最大的土层,根系吸水贡献率为43.21%—55.48%。研究阐明了交替控制灌溉下根系吸水与土壤水分、RLD间相互作用的动态规律,对控制灌溉下水分调控机理研究具有理论意义。     

Effect of Irrigation Type on Inoculum Density of Macrophomina phaseolina in Melon Fields in Arizona

Charcoal rot, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, has become increasingly problematic for melon growers using subsurface drip irrigation in Arizona; but has rarely been observed in fields with furrow irrigation. Since the relationship between increasing incidence of charcoal rot on melon and irrigation type is unknown, studies were initiated to determine the effects of edaphic factors on inoculum density. Soil samples were collected once from fields irrigated by subsurface drip, with and without plastic mulch, and by furrow at 10, 20 and 30 cm depths. Samples were analysed for percentage soil moisture, pH, salinity and inoculum density. Percentage soil moisture was significantly higher at 20 and 30 cm depths in the furrow‐irrigated field compared with the drip‐irrigated field with plastic mulch, but not in the field without plastic mulch. Average minimum and maximum temperatures and inoculum density were significantly lower at all three depths in the furrow‐irrigated field compared with both types of drip irrigation. pH was significantly higher in the furrow‐irrigated field compared with both types of drip irrigation at 20 and 30 cm depths but not at 10 cm depth. Differences in inoculum densities of M. phaseolina suggest that drip irrigation may contribute to higher disease incidences.     

Effect of varying Mg/Ca ratio and electrolyte concentration in the irrigation water on the soil properties and growth of wheat

This paper discusses the results of a pot experiment conducted to study the effect of irrigation waters having varying Mg/Ca ratio (2, 4, 8 and 16) and electrolyte concentration (20 and 80 meq/l) on the soil properties and growth of wheat crop in two different soils. The development of salinity in the soils generally increased at higher electrolyte concentration of the irrigation water, but it was of a greater magnitude in the heavy-textured black soil dominated by montmorillonite clay mineral than in the light-textured alluvial soil having illite type of clay mineral. The accumulation of soluble salts as a result of saline water irrigation was higher in the surface layer than in the subsurface layer in both soils. The adsorption of Na and Mg in the soils increased with an increase in the Mg/Ca ratio and electrolyte concentration of the irrigation water. These changes in soil properties were adequately reflected by the grain and dry matter yields of wheat crop, which showed a significant reduction with an increase in the Mg/Ca ratio and electrolyte concentration of the irrigation water. However, the effects of these treatments were more pronounced in the heavy black clay soil than in the alluvial soil. Thus, the role of Mg is different from that of Ca under the conditions used in the experiment.     

Microbiological and chemical properties of soil associated with macropores at different depths in a red-duplex soil in NSW Australia

Some agricultural soils in South Eastern Australia with duplex profiles have subsoils with high bulk density, which may limit root penetration, water uptake and crop yield. In these soils, a large proportion (up to 80%) of plant roots maybe preferentially located within the macropores or in the soil within 1–10 mm of the macropores, a zone defined as the macropore sheath (MPS). The chemical and microbiological properties of MPS soil manually dissected from a 1–3 mm wide region surrounding the macropores was compared with that of adjacent bulk soil (>10 mm from macropores) at 4 soil depths (0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, 40–60 cm and 60–80 cm). Compared to the bulk soil, the MPS soil had higher organic C, total N, bicarbonate-extractable P, Ca⁺, Cu, Fe and Mn and supported higher populations of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, Pseudomonas spp., Bacillus spp., cellulolytic bacteria, cellulolytic fungi, nitrifying bacteria and the root pathogen Pythium.In addition, analysis of carbon substrate utilization patterns showed the microbial community associated with the MPS soil to have higher metabolic activity and greater functional diversity than the microbial community associated with the bulk soil at all soil depths. Phospholipid fatty acids associated with bacteria and fungi were also shown to be present in higher relative amounts in the MPS soil compared to the bulk soil. Whilst populations of microbial functional groups in the MPS and the bulk soil declined with increasing soil depth, the differentiation between the two soils in microbiological properties occurred at all soil depths. Soil aggregates (< 0.5 mm diameter) associated with plant roots located within macropores were found to support a microbial community that was quantitatively and functionally different to that in the MPS soil and the bulk soil at all soil depths. The microbial community associated with these soil aggregates thus represented a third recognizable environment for plant roots and microorganisms in the subsoil.     

土壤管理措施及环境因素对土壤微生物多样性影响研究进展

本文综述了土壤管理措施及环境因素对土壤微生物多样性影响的研究进展,并介绍了土壤微生物多样性的研究方法,土壤微生物多样性包括微生物物种多样性、遗传多样性和生态多样性。传统上,土壤微生物群落的分析依赖于培养技术,但使用该技术只能培养和分离出一部分土壤微生物群落。现在国际上普遍使用Biolog分析、磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)分析和核酸分析等多种现代技术研究和表征土壤微生物多样性。土壤微生物多样性受土壤管理措施和多种环境因素的影响。农药可能使土壤微生物多样性减少或改变其结构和功能;施有机肥有利于维持土壤微生物的多样性及活性;但在施用无机肥的影响上目前的报道有矛盾之处。农业土壤减少耕作可能增加微生物多样性和生物量;轮作可能比单一栽培耕作更有利于维持土壤微生物的多样性及活性。土壤微生物多样性也受土壤有机质、植被、季节变化等因素的影响,且通常遭受干旱、过度放牧、营养缺乏等的胁迫作用。     

不同水分条件对冬小麦根系时空分布、土壤水利用和产量的影响

为了明确华北严重缺水区晚播冬小麦灌水对根系时空分布和土壤水分利用规律的影响,以冬小麦石麦15为材料,利用田间定位试验研究了不同灌水处理(春季不灌水W0;春季灌拔节水75mm,W1;春季灌起身水、孕穗水和灌浆水共225mm,W3)对根系干重密度(DRWD)、根长密度(RLD)、体积密度、分枝数等在0—200cm土层的垂直分布、动态变化及其对耗水和产量的影响,结果表明:随着春季灌水量的减少,开花后0—80cm土层的根干重密度、根长度密度、体积密度和分枝数密度均显著减少,80cm—200m土层的根干重密度、根长度密度、体积密度和分枝数密度却显著增加,并且显著增加冬小麦在灌浆期间对100cm以下深层土层水分的利用,总耗水量W1和W0分别比W3减少70.9mm、115.1mm,土壤耗水量分别比W3增加79.1mm、108.9mm,子粒产量W1和W0分别比W3减少653.3kg/hm2、1470kg/hm2,水分利用效率(WUE)则分别比W3提高0.09kg/m3、0.06kg/m3。晚播冬小麦春季灌1水(拔节水)可以促进根系深扎,增加深土层的根系分布量,提高对深层土壤贮水的吸收利用量,有利于实现节水与高产的统一。     

Fibrous carrot root responses to irrigation and compaction of sandy and organic soils

Field experiments were performed in Southern Finland on fine sand and organic soil in 1990 and 1991 to study carrot roots. Fall ploughed land was loosened by rotary harrowing to a depth of 20 cm or compacted under moist conditions to a depth of 25–30 cm by three passes of adjacent wheel tracks with a tractor weighing 3 Mg, in April were contiguously applied across the plot before seed bed preparation. Sprinkler irrigation (30 mm) was applied to fine sand when moisture in the 0–15 cm range of soil depth was 50% of plant-available water capacity. For root sampling, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cylinders (30 × 60 cm) were installed in the rows of experimental plots after sowing, and removed at harvest. Six carrot plants were grown in each of in these soil colums in situ in the field.Fine root length and width were quantified by image analysis. Root length density (RLD) per plant was 0.2–1.0 cm cm^-3 in the 0–30 cm range. The fibrous root system of one carrot had total root lengths of 130–150 m in loose fine sand and 180–200 m in compacted fine sand. More roots were observed in irrigated than non-irrigated soils. In the 0–50 cm range of organic soil, 230–250 m of root length were removed from loosened organic soils and 240–300 m from compacted soils. Specific root surface area (surface area divided by dry root weight) of a carrot fibrous root system averaged 1500–2000 cm² g^-1. Root length to weight ratios of 250–350 m g^-1 effectively compare with the ratios of other species.Fibrous root growth was stimulated by soil compaction or irrigation to a depth of 30 cm, in both the fine sand and organic soils, suggesting better soil water supply in compacted than in loosened soils. Soil compaction increased root diameters more in fine sand than it did in organic soil. Most of the root length in loosened soils (fine sand 90%, organic soil 80%) and compacted soils (fine sand 80%, organic soil 75%) was composed of roots with diameters of approximately 0.15 mm. With respect to dry weight, length, surface area and volume of the fibrous root system, all the measurements gave significant resposes to irrigation and soil compaction. Total root volumes in the 0–50 cm of soil were 4.3 cm³ and 9.8 cm³ in loosened fine sand and organic soils, respectively, and 6.7 cm³ and 13.4 cm³ in compacted sand and organic soils, respectively. In fine sand, irrigation increased the volume from 4.8 to 6.3 cm³.