Influence of trees on the spatial structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal communities in a temperate tree-based intercropping system

Tree-based intercropping (TBI) is an ecologically sustainable agricultural practice that may promote a more diverse arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal community compared to conventional systems, but the influence of the dynamics of these systems on AM fungi has not been established. Soil and root samples were collected in the intercropping alleys along transects perpendicular to tree rows occupied by white ash (Fraxinus americana), poplar (Populus deltoids × nigra), Norway spruce (Picea abies), and rows without trees (control). Molecular analysis of the AM fungal community at the TBI site revealed 17 phylotypes belonging to the Glomeraceae. Overall, the AM fungal community in the TBI site was comparable to other conventional agricultural systems; with the majority of phylotypes belonging to Glomus group A. AM fungal phylotype richness and community composition significantly differed among the treatments in the TBI site. AM fungal communities were more diverse in cropping alleys adjacent to trees that associate with AM fungi than trees that do not associate with AM fungi. Norway spruce had a negative influence on the AM fungal community as tree rows and bordering intercropping alleys had a significantly lower phylotype richness and different community composition. These results suggest that to maintain a diverse AM fungal community throughout TBI systems, it may be best to incorporate tree species that associate with AM fungi.     

Spatial and temporal variation of below-ground N transfer from a leguminous tree to an associated grass in an agroforestry system

Nitrogen (N) transfer from leguminous trees can be a major N source for the associated crop in low-input agroforestry systems. The aim of this study was to identify the main climatic and soil factors controlling N transfer from the leguminous tree Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp to the associated grass Dichanthium aristatum (Poir.) C.E. Hubb, in a 16-year-old tropical agroforestry system. Nitrogen transfer was estimated using the natural ¹⁵N abundance method. Before tree pruning, total N transfer represented 57% of the N uptake of the grass, including 31% coming from N₂ fixation. The spatial variation induced by the tree was well described by soil organic N content (ON). In this system, ON is an index of soil available N as well as of tree root density. Rainfall (R) and evapotranspiration (ETP) were the main climatic factors controlling N transfer. Multiple regression analysis indicated that R, ETP and ON explained 79% of the temporal and spatial variation of N transfer. Transferred N cannot be estimated after pruning because of the change in the isotopic signature of the soil N source. This was related to N release from root turnover. The results suggest that grass showed a preferential uptake of N coming from the tree, which could be due to a lower energy cost compared to obtaining absorbed N from the clayey soil used in this work.     

Soil water depletion under various leguminous cover crops in the derived savanna of West Africa

Leguminous cover crops have the potential of making cropping systems in the tropics sustainable if they would not deplete resources such as soil water and nutrients to the detriment of companion crops. Therefore, a study was carried out at Alabata, Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria, to evaluate the effects of leguminous cover crops on soil water suctions in 1993 and 1994 in order to assess the possibility of integrating them into the farming systems of the savanna zone of West Africa. In 1993, 13 leguminous cover crops (Aeschynomene histrix, Centrosema brasilianum, Centrosema pascuorum, Chamaecrista rotundifolia, Cajanus cajan, Crotalaria verrucosa, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Lablab purpureus, Mucuna pruriens, Psophocarpus palustris, Pseudovigna argentea, Pueraria phaseoloides and Stylosanthes hamata) were planted in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Maize and natural fallow (mainly Chromolaena odorata and Imperata cylindrica) were included as comparisons. Only six of the legumes (A. histrix, C. pascuorum, C. cajan, C. ochroleuca, M. pruriens, and P. phaseoloides) were included in the measurements in the 1994 new plots. Soil water suctions at various stages of legume growth were measured at daily or weekly intervals (depending on the frequency of rainfall events) using tensiometers installed at 0–15 and 15–30 cm soil depths. Soil water suctions exceeding 10 kPa (theoretical field capacity) were observed mainly between 6 and 12 weeks after planting (WAP), and by 20 WAP when cover crops had matured and rainfall frequency was very low. Soil water suctions were significantly related (r²>0.80) to dry matter between 8 and 10 WAP. The studied cover crops were classified in three groups which can be used as a guide for choosing the legumes in tropical farming systems. Soil water depletion was markedly influenced by growth characteristics of legumes and distribution of rainfall during the rainy season. Leguminous cover crops conserved soil water after their growth needs were satisfied.     

Above- and below-ground carbon inputs in 19-, 10- and 4-year-old Costa Rican Alley cropping systems

Carbon (C) input from tree prunings and crop residues help to maintain the soil organic C pool in tropical agroforestry systems. This study quantified the C stock of tree roots and C input from tree prunings and crop residues in 19-, 10- and 4-year-old Erythrina poeppigiana and Gliricidia sepium alley cropping systems in Costa Rica. The 19-year-old alley cropping system was studied at two fertilizer levels (tree prunings only [−N], and tree prunings plus chicken manure [+N]), and was compared to a sole crop. The 10- and 4-year-old systems were also studied at two fertilizer levels (tree prunings only [−A], and tree prunings plus Arachis pintoi as a groundcover [+A]), and compared to a sole crop. In the 19-year-old system C input from G. sepium was significantly greater (P < 0.05) compared to E. peoppigiana, but for both tree species there was no significant difference between +N and −N treatments. For the 10- and 4-year-old systems, E. poeppigiana had a significantly higher (P < 0.05) C input from prunings compared to G. sepium, and the presence of A. pintoi increased pruning biomass productivity significantly in these systems. Tree roots of 10- (4527 kg C ha⁻¹) and 4-year-old (3667 kg C ha⁻¹) E. poeppigiana represented 16 and 28% of the total C allocation. Carbon input from maize (Zea mays L.) and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) residues were not significantly different (P < 0.05) between alley crops and sole crops in the 19-year-old system per unit of cropped land. In this system, +N treatments had a significantly greater (P < 0.05) C input from bean residue than in −N treatments, but no such trend was observed for maize residues. Carbon input from maize and bean residues were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in alley crops than the sole crops, but not significantly different (P < 0.05) between +A and −A treatments in the younger system. The greatest input of organic material occurred in the 19-year-old alley crop followed by the 10- and 4-year-old alley crops. This additional input of organic material in alley crops, mostly derived from tree prunings, will help to maintain or increase the level of the soil organic carbon pool.     

Impact of land clearing methods and cropping systems on labile soil C and N pools in the humid zone Forest of Nigeria

Labile soil C and N play vital roles in soil–plant nutrient dynamics, especially in the low input cropping system and are vulnerable to perturbation. Surface (0–0.15 m) soils from three land clearing methods (slash and burn, bulldozed non-windrowed and bulldozed windrowed) and each with two cropping systems (5-and 4-year cropping/2-year cassava fallow) were collected in the humid forest ecosystem of Nigeria.The soils were analysed for total C and N, microbial biomass C and N (SMB C and N), particulate organic matter C and N (POM C and N), water-soluble C, potentially mineralizable N (PMN) and mineral N. The size of the labile C and N and their relative contributions to the organic C and total N differed significantly among land clearing methods, irrespective of the cropping system. Soils under slash and burn had a significantly (p > 0.05) higher particulate organic matter C, N (10.80 and 0.16 g kg⁻¹, respectively) and microbial biomass C and N (1.07 and 0.12 g kg⁻¹) compared to the bulldozed windrow, regardless of the cropping system. Four years cropping/2-year cassava fallow resulted in a significant higher labile C and N, relative to 5-year cropped plots across the land clearing methods. Effect of the treatments on the concentration of PMN and mineral N mirrored the SMB N and POM N. However, the quantity of most of the labile C and N pool and crop yield obtained from the slash and burn and bulldozed non-windrowed treatment did not differ significantly. Hence, bulldozed non-windrowed clearing could be a viable alternative to slash and burn in the case of large-scale farming in ensuring reduced losses of soil organic matter and nutrient during land clearing in the humid tropics.     

木薯和花生间作对Cd吸收及根区速效养分的影响

木薯（Manihot esculenta Crantz）是热带和亚热带广泛种植的大生物量能源植物,在污染土壤上具有较强的生物修复潜力,花生（Arachis hypogaea）对土壤Cd具有很强的富集能力.木薯与花生间作可充分利用光热水资源,具有良好的间作优势,是近年来我国南方红壤坡耕地生态种植模式.为了解木薯与花生间作对土壤Cd吸收及根区速效养分的影响,在重金属Cd污染的小区进行了木薯单作、花生单作、木薯与花生间作的比较试验.结果表明,木薯与花生间作的产量土地当量比（LER）大于1,土地利用率提高了87.0%.与木薯单作相比,间作下木薯茎和叶w（Cd）分别降低了12.24%和19.51%,二者呈显著性差异（P < 0.05）,花生籽粒w（Cd）降低了35.38%,与单作花生差异显著（P < 0.05）.与单作下木薯和花生相比,花生、木薯总富集系数分别降低了16.32%、12.45%,间作系统对每hm2土地上Cd的富集量分别提高了10.72%、113.76%;间作下花生根区土壤w（速效氮）、w（速效磷）分别提高了18.85%、20.36%,木薯根区土壤w（速效氮）提高了21.00%,与单作下花生和木薯相比均呈显著性差异（P < 0.05）.研究显示,木薯与花生间作可提高土壤根区速效养分含量,促进作物生长,在提高作物生物量、降低作物各部位单位Cd含量的同时,可提高间作系统对土壤Cd的富集量,这种间作方式对实现两种能源植物生态修复及经济效益的整合具有重要意义.      

Baseline Carbon Stocks Assessment and Projection of Future Carbon Benefits of a Carbon Sequestration Project in East Timor

Climate change is one of the most pressing environmental problems humanity is facing today. Forest ecosystems serve as a source or sink of greenhouse gases, primarily CO₂. With support from the Canadian Climate Change Fund, the Community-based Natural Resource Management for Carbon Sequestration project in East Timor (CBNRM-ET) was implemented to “maintain carbon (C) stocks and increase C sequestration through the development of community-based resource management systems that will simultaneously improve livelihood security”. Project sites were in the Laclubar and Remexio Sub-districts of the Laclo watershed. The objective of this study was to quantify baseline C stocks and sequestration benefits of project components (reforestation with fast-growing species, primarily Casuarina equisetifolia, and agroforestry involving integration of Paraserianthes falcataria). Field measurements show that mature stands (≥30 years) of P. falcataria and C. equisetifolia contain up to 200 Mg C ha⁻¹ in above ground biomass, indicating the vast potential of project sites to sequester carbon. Baseline C stocks in above ground biomass were very low in both Laclubar (6.2 Mg C ha⁻¹ for reforestation sites and 5.2 Mg C ha⁻¹ for agroforestry sites and Remexio (3.0 Mg C ha⁻¹ for reforestation and 2.5 Mg C ha⁻¹ for agroforestry). Baseline soil organic C levels were much higher reaching up to 160 Mg C ha⁻¹ in Laclubar and 70 Mg C ha⁻¹ in Remexio. For the next 25 years, it is projected that 137 671 Mg C and 84 621 Mg C will be sequestered under high- and low C stock scenarios, respectively.     

Greenhouse gas emissions from rice based cropping systems: Economic and technologic challenges and opportunities

Recent market slump in rice, less rainfall during monsoon, high temperature and scarcity of water during dry season leads to lower grain yield and less profit from rice cultivation in India. Farmers’ grow upland crops like chickpea (Cicer arietinum), greengram (Vigna radiate), mustard (Brassica nigra), corn (Zea maize), pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan), potato (Solanum tuberosum), sunflower (Helianthus annuus) etc. along with rice (Oryza sativa) during the dry season. However, knowledge of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission from these rice based cropping systems is very limited. In the present study four rice based cropping systems was studied along with rice-rice rotation system as control in respect of GHG emission, yield potential and economic feasibility. Conventional plantation and fertilizer application methodology was followed for each crop. Methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) flux from field plots were studied with conventional closed chamber method using gas chromatograph. CH₄ flux was recorded highest from rice-rice rotation plots (304.25 kg ha⁻¹). N₂O flux was recorded 1.02 kg ha⁻¹ from rice-rice rotation system during wet season. However, during wet season, higher N₂O flux (1.93 kg ha⁻¹) was recorded from rice-potato-sesame rotation plots. Annual N₂O flux was also recorded significantly low (3.42 kg ha⁻¹) from rice-rice rotation plots and high (6.19 kg ha⁻¹) from rice-chickpea-greengram rotation plots. Significantly lower annual grain yield was recorded from rice-rice rotation plots (9.25 Mg ha⁻¹) whereas it was 18.84 Mg rice eq ha⁻¹ from rice-potato-sesame rotation system. The global warming potential (GWP) of rice-rice rotation system was recorded significantly high (8.62 Mg CO₂ ha⁻¹) compare to plots with different rice based cropping systems. Computing all C-emission from cradle-to-grave, highest total C-cost was recorded from the rice-rice rotation system ($62.00 ha⁻¹). We have made an attempt to calculate the C-credit of different rice based cropping systems by considering the difference of C-cost with control. The study suggests that the rice-potato-sesame is most sustainable among different cropping system studied in terms of economic profit ($62.00 ha⁻¹). We have made an attempt to calculate the C-credit of different rice based cropping systems by considering the difference of C-cost with control. The study suggests that the rice-potato-sesame is most sustainable among different cropping system studied in terms of economic profit (1248.21 ha⁻¹) and C-credit ($38.60 ha⁻¹). The result of the study may be limited to the study region; however, the study has potential use in respect to the development of agriculture practice for adaptation to climate change.     

Protective shade, tree diversity and soil properties in coffee agroforestry systems in the Atlantic Rainforest biome

Sustainable production and biodiversity conservation can be mutually supportive in providing multiple ecosystem services to farmers and society. This study aimed to determine the contribution of agroforestry systems, as tested by family farmers in the Brazilian Rainforest region since 1993, to tree biodiversity and evaluated farmers’ criteria for tree species selection. In addition, long-term effects on microclimatic temperature conditions for coffee production and chemical and biological soil characteristics at the field scale were compared to full-sun coffee systems. A floristic inventory of 8 agroforests and 4 reference forest sites identified 231 tree species in total. Seventy-eight percent of the tree species found in agroforests were native. The variation in species composition among agroforests contributed to a greater γ-diversity than α-diversity. Monthly average maximum temperatures were approximately 6 °C higher in full-sun coffee than in agroforests and forests. Total soil organic C, N mineralization and soil microbial activity were higher in forests than in coffee systems, whereas the chemical and biological soil quality in agroforests did not differ significantly from full-sun coffee after 13 years. Given its contribution to the conservation of biodiversity and its capacity to adapt coffee production to future climate change, coffee agroforestry offers a promising strategy for the area.     

三峡库区蓄水期和非蓄水期附石藻类群落变化及其影响因子分析

以三峡库区重庆段奉节地区草堂河、梅溪河和大溪河三条支流为研究区域,对蓄水期和非蓄水期库区支流的非回水区和回水区(常年回水区和变动回水区)附石藻类组成及其相关环境因素进行分析.结果表明,3条支流共发现附石藻类103种,隶属4门45属,非回水区67种,隶属3门34属,回水区82种(常年回水区64种,变动回水区41种),隶属4门34属.蓄水期,非回水区优势种为变异直链藻、扁圆卵形藻、普通等片藻、锉刀布纹藻和巨颤藻,回水区优势种为变异直链藻、近缘桥弯藻、普通等片藻、高山立方藻和颗粒直链藻;非蓄水期,非回水区优势种为变异直链藻、近缘桥弯藻和扁圆卵形藻,回水区优势种为巨颤藻、岩栖颤藻、美丽颤藻、尖针杆藻、丝藻、优美平裂藻和小颤藻,表明非蓄水期不同河段优势藻种差异显著,而蓄水期不同河段优势藻种差异较小;非回水区不同时期优势藻种无明显差异,在非蓄水期常年回水区和变动回水区优势种属差异相对较小,而蓄水期差异较大.冗余(RDA)分析表明,附石藻类组成变化是温度、电导率(SPC)、p H、总氮(TN)和总磷浓度(TP)等环境因子共同作用的结果,各样点优势藻种细胞密度变化主要受氮、磷元素浓度变化的影响.这些结果表明库区不同水文情势不仅影响支流水体环境,而且对底栖藻类组成变化起着重要的作用.     

Runoff and sediment losses from 27 upland catchments in Southeast Asia: Impact of rapid land use changes and conservation practices

Rapid changes in upland farming systems in Southeast Asia generated predominantly by increased population pressure and ‘market forces’ have resulted in widespread land degradation that has been well documented at the plot scale. Yet, the links between agricultural activities in the uplands and downstream off-site effects remain largely unknown because of the difficulties in transferring results from plots to a larger scale. Many authors have thus pointed out the need for long-term catchment studies. The objective of this paper is to summarize the results obtained by the Management of Soil Erosion Consortium (MSEC) over the last 5 years from 27 catchments in five countries (Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam). The purpose of the study was to assess the impacts of cultivation practices on annual runoff and erosion rates. Initial surveys in each catchment included topography, soils and land use. Monitoring included climatic, hydrologic and erosion (total sediment yield including bed load and suspended sediment load) data, land use and crop yields, and farmers’ income. In addition, new land management options were introduced through consultations with farmers and evaluated in terms of runoff and erosion. These included tree plantations, fruit trees, improved fallow with legumes, maize intercropped with legumes, planted fodder, native grass strips and agro-ecological practices (direct sowing and mulch-based conservation agriculture). Regressions analyses showed that runoff during the rainy season, and normalized runoff flow coefficient based on erosive rainfall during the rainy season (rainfall with intensity exceeding 25 mm h⁻¹) increase with the percentage of the catchment covered by maize. Both variables decrease with increasing soil depth, standard deviation of catchment slope (that reflects terrain roughness), and the percentages of the catchment covered by fallow (regular and improved), tree plantations and planted fodder. The best predictors of sediment yield were the surface percentages of maize, Job's tears, cassava and footpaths. The main conclusions generated from this study were: (i) soil erosion is predominantly influenced by land use rather than environmental characteristics not only at the plot scale but also at the catchment scale; (ii) slash-and-burn shifting cultivation with sufficiently long rotations (1 year of cultivation, 8 years of fallow) is too often unjustly blamed for degradation; (iii) in its place, continuous cropping of maize and cassava promotes high rates of soil erosion at the catchment scale; (iv) conservation technologies are efficient in reducing runoff and total sediment yield at the catchment scale; (v) the adoption of improved soil management technologies by upland farmers is not a function of the degree of intensification of their farming system and/or of their incomes. The results suggest that if expansion of maize and cassava into already degraded upland systems were to occur due to increased demand for biofuels, there is a risk of higher runoff and sediment generation. A failure to adopt appropriate land use management strategies will result in further rapid resource degradation with negative impacts to downstream communities.     

Shade tree management affects fruit abortion, insect pests and pathogens of cacao

The mortality of cacao fruits caused by early fruit abortion or insect and pathogen attacks was investigated in differently managed agroforestry systems in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Nine agroforestry systems shaded by three different types of tree stands were selected, which represented a decrease in structural heterogeneity: forest remnants, diverse planted trees and one or two species of planted leguminose trees. After standardized manual cross-pollination, the development of 600 fruits on 54 trees (6 trees per agroforest) was followed during 18 weeks of fruit development. In total, 432 of all fruits were lost before maturity, which seriously undermined yields. The proportion of harvested fruits per tree (overall average: 27 ± 4%) was not affected by canopy type. Although shade cover did not have a significant effect, losses due to fruit abortion were most likely under forest shade, where nitrogen-fixing leguminose shade trees were absent. Fruit losses due to pathogenic infections and insect attacks increased with the homogenization of the agroforests, supporting the hypothesis that agricultural homogenization increases risks of pest outbreaks. In conclusion, shade management may be improved to increase yields from cacao using highly diversified natural shade agroforestry systems.     

Competition between maize and pigeonpea in semi-arid Tanzania: Effect on yields and nutrition of crops

Productivity of maize–pigeonpea cropping systems is dependent on facilitative and competitive interactive effects on resource availability. Controlling these interactions may benefit farmers through increased productivity associated with optimized crop yields. Previous research on maize–pigeonpea culture in Sub-Saharan Africa has focused on yield and soil fertility, but provided inadequate information on the mechanisms of possible interspecific competition. We employed a factorial field experiment to examine yield and nutritional responses of maize and pigeonpea to cropping systems (sole maize, intercropping, and improved fallow), N and P fertilizer additions, and cattle manure additions in Dodoma, Tanzania. The study objectives were to assess competition between crops and to determine how manure or fertilizer inputs may mitigate such interactions to improve yields. Intercropping enhanced maize yield over sole maize only when fertilized, reflecting probable nutrient competition. Improved fallows alone or with fertilizers (1.2–1.6 Mg ha⁻¹) increased maize yields over sole maize (0.6 Mg ha⁻¹). These increases were attributed to pigeonpea facilitation through soil nutrient replenishment, reduced competition associated with sequential cropping arrangements, and added nutrients from fertilization. Combined fertilizer and manure applications also improved maize and pigeonpea yields. Plant nutrient diagnosis indicated primary and secondary P and Ca deficiencies, respectively associated with P-fixation and leaching of cations due to high soil acidity and exchangeable Al. Maize competed strongly in mixture suppressing biomass and grain yields of the unfertilized pigeonpea by 60% and 33%, respectively due to limited soil nutrients and/or moisture. These yield reductions suggest that the intercropped pigeonpea did not recover from competition after maize harvesting that reduced competition. Optimizing yields of both maize and pigeonpea would require the addition of prescribed fertilizer when intercropped, but applications can be reduced by half under the improved fallow system due to alleviating interspecific competition.     

镉在3种乔木中的积累及其亚细胞分布和化学形态研究

研究不同镉（Cd）浓度（0、25、50、100、200 mg·kg^-1）处理下,栾树（Koelreuteria paniculata）、臭椿（Ailanthus altissima）、银杏（Ginkgo biloba）3种乔木叶、枝、根中Cd的含量与积累特征,并分析Cd对其叶片超微结构的影响,探讨Cd在3种乔木叶片与根系中的亚细胞分布和化学形态特征.结果表明,3种乔木体内的Cd含量随着土壤Cd处理浓度的增加而增加,且主要积累在根部.栾树和臭椿各器官中的Cd含量显著高于银杏,表明栾树和臭椿对Cd的积累能力强于银杏.高浓度Cd处理下,栾树和臭椿叶片细胞结构损伤明显,细胞内出现大量黑色絮状物,且附着在细胞壁及细胞器的表面.而银杏叶片细胞无明显损伤特征,说明银杏对Cd的耐受性强于栾树和臭椿.3种乔木叶片中的Cd多存在于细胞壁或可溶性组分中,根系中的Cd多存在于细胞壁中,Cd在各组织的叶绿体、线粒体和细胞核等细胞器中分布较少.3种乔木叶片和根系中分别以移动性和毒性相对较低的HAc、NaCl提取态Cd分配比例最大.3种乔木各器官对Cd的积累能力与其叶片细胞中叶绿体与线粒体组分Cd占比有显著负相关关系,与叶片中HAc提取态Cd分配比例呈显著正相关性.     

Understanding yields in alley cropping maize (Zea mays L.) and Cassia siamea Lam. under semi-arid conditions in Machakos, eastern Kenya

ＩｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎＯｎｌｙａｂｏｕｔ 2 0 %ｏｆＫｅｎｙａ’ｓｔｏｔａｌｌａｎｄａｒｅａｈａｓｈｉｇｈｐｏｔｅｎｔｉａｌｆｏｒａｇｒｉｃｕｌｔｕｒａｌｐｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎ ,ｔｈｅｒｅｓｔｂｅｉｎｇａｒｉｄｏｒｓｅｍｉ ａｒｉｄ .ＴｈｅａｎｎｕａｌｐｏｐｕｌａｔｉｏｎｇｒｏｗｔｈｒａｔｅｉｎＫｅｎｙａｏｆｃｌｏｓｅｔｏ 4 %ｉｓｏｎｅｏｆｔｈｅｈｉｇｈｅｓｔｉｎｔｈｅｗｏｒｌｄ (ｅ .ｇ .ＵｎｉｔｅｄＮａｔｉｏｎｓＤｅｖｅｌｏｐｍｅｎｔＰｒｏｇｒａｍｍｅ ,1990 ) .Ｔｈｉｓｓｉｔｕａｔｉｏｎｈａｓｌ…     

Growth,yield and system performance simulation of a sugarcane–eucalyptus interface in a sub-tropical region of Brazil

The sugarcane (Sacharum officinarum) monocropping has had a great socio-economic and environmental impact in Brazil, and agroforestry (AFs) has been considered as an alternative to its sustainable production. However, there is a lack of field experiments results under such conditions. Therefore, yield measurement across transect in the tree–crop interface in on-farm conditions, as well as the use of simulation models, may allow the evaluation of biophysical interactions between trees and crops and system productivity. In this work, plant growth and yield in a sugarcane–eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis) on-farm interface were evaluated. The experimental site had a Chromic Ferralsol soil and it is located in a sub-tropical region of Brazil. Availability of solar radiation for the crop along the transect was estimated and its effect on sugarcane dry matter production was evaluated. Using such relations, two sugarcane–eucalyptus AFs cycles were simulated to estimate system productivity. The field results showed that the trees presented a higher growth in the AFs, while the crop growth and yield were inversely proportional to their distance from the trees. The eucalyptus wood volume increased from 0.15 to 0.29 m³ per tree from monocropping to AFs. The sugarcane dry matter decreased from 35.1 to 8.70 t ha⁻¹ from the furthest to the closest position from tree along the transect. Simulations suggested that light was the main cause of the crop yield reduction, but the importance of competition for water and nutrients increased inversely according to tree distance. However, both simulated AFs provided land equivalent ratio (LER) similar to one (1). Field measurements and simulations indicate that agroforestry systems are a sound alternative for sugarcane cultivation in the studied region. Combination of on-farm studies and simulation models provided conditions to understand tree–crop interactions and to extrapolate field results so that the performance of a new system could be estimated.     

Long-term impact of a gliricidia-maize intercropping system on carbon sequestration in southern Malawi

Tree/crop systems under agroforestry practice are capable of sequestering carbon (C) in the standing biomass and soil. Although studies have been conducted to understand soil organic C increases in some agroforestry technologies, little is known about C sequestered in simultaneous tree/crop intercropping systems. The main objective of this study was to determine the effect of agroforestry practice on C sequestration and CO₂-C efflux in a gliricidia-maize intercropping system. The experiment was conducted at an experimental site located at the Makoka Agricultural Research Station, in Malawi. The studies involved two field plots, 7-year (MZ21) and 10-year (MZ12), two production systems (sole-maize and gliricidia-maize simultaneous intercropping systems). A 7-year-old grass fallow (Grass-F) was also included. Gliricidia prunings were incorporated at each time of tree pruning in the gliricidia-maize. The amount of organic C recycled varied from 0.8 to 4.8 Mg C ha⁻¹ in gliricidia-maize and from 0.4 to 1.0 Mg C ha⁻¹ in sole-maize. In sole-maize, net decreases of soil carbon of 6 Mg C ha⁻¹ at MZ12 and 7 Mg C ha⁻¹ at MZ21 in the topsoil (0–20 cm) relative to the initial soil C were observed. After 10 years of continuous application of tree prunings C was sequestered in the topsoil (0–20 cm) in gliricidia-maize was 1.6 times more than in sole-maize. A total of 123–149 Mg C ha⁻¹ were sequestered in the soil (0–200 cm depth), through root turnover and pruning application in the gliricidia-maize system. Carbon dioxide evolution varied from 10 to 28 kg ha⁻¹ day⁻¹ in sole-maize and 23 to 83 kg ha⁻¹ day⁻¹ in gliricidia-maize. We concluded that gliricidia-maize intercropping system could sequester more C in the soil than sole-maize.     

Occurrence of phytophagous insects on wild Vigna sp. and cultivated cowpea: comparing the relative importance of host-plant resistance and millet intercropping

The effects of host-plant resistance on cowpea phytophagous insects and their natural enemies under pure and mixed crop conditions was evaluated at Minjibir, Kano State, Nigeria, in 1992–1994 crop seasons. Cowpea Vigna unguiculata cv ‘IT86D-715' (susceptible to insect pests) and a wild Vigna line Vigna vexillata ‘TVnu 72' (resistant to most insect species) were planted alone and in mixtures with millet (Pennisetum glaucum) in plots of 25×25 m.Mixed cropping had limited effect on major insects and natural enemies. Colonies of Aphis craccivora were significantly smaller and there were more adults of Maruca vitrata in crop mixtures than in monocultures. However, flower and raceme infestation by larval M. vitrata, Megalurothrips sjostedti, and Sericothrips sp. were similar in crop mixtures and monocultures. Empoasca sp. populations and seedling infestation by beanfly Ophiomyia phaseoli were also similar in mixtures and monocultures as well as pod damage by M. vitrata and populations of Clavigralla tomentosicollis. Parasitization rates of M. vitrata, C. tomentosicollis and O. phaseoli and predator–prey ratios of spiders and Orius sp. were similar across cropping systems. Host-plant resistance in TVnu 72 drastically reduced insect populations and damage. Grain yield per hill was high in cowpea IT86D-715 and was not affected by intercropping with millet. Grain yield of TVnu 72 was poor and reflected the low yield potential of this accession.Host-plant resistance is an effective means of controlling insect pest damage in cowpea and there is no evidence that high levels of resistance reduced natural biological control.     

中国旱作农田一氧化氮排放及减排:Meta分析

农田是大气污染物一氧化氮（NO）的主要排放源之一.与水稻田相比,旱作农田NO排放量和排放系数高,但其异质性及影响因素尚不明确.目前,我国农田NO排放和减排的研究以原位观测为主,缺乏系统的整合（Meta）分析.通过收集文献数据,定量分析玉米-冬小麦、水稻-冬小麦旱地阶段、蔬菜、茶园和果园等旱作体系NO排放量和排放系数的异质性及主要影响因素;定量评价减量施氮、有机肥替代化肥、配施新型增效氮肥和施用生物质炭等管理措施对NO排放量和排放系数的影响.收集相关文献共计49篇（发表于2006~2021年）.结果表明,玉麦轮作、茶园和果园体系年排放量平均值分别为1.44、7.45和0.92 kg ·hm^-2,在这3个体系间有显著性差异（P<0.05）,稻麦轮作旱地阶段和蔬菜季节排放量平均值分别为2.13 kg ·hm^-2和2.09 kg ·hm^-2.在玉麦轮作、稻麦轮作旱地阶段和茶园体系中,NO排放量均与施氮量呈正相关关系（P<0.01）,但在蔬菜和果园体系中二者无显著相关性.玉麦轮作、稻麦轮作旱地阶段、蔬菜、茶园和果园体系排放系数平均值分别为0.31%、0.71%、0.96%、1.74%和0.13%,除玉麦轮作分别与稻麦轮作旱地阶段和蔬菜体系间的差异不显著外（P>0.05）,在其余体系间均有显著性差异（P<0.01）.由于各体系间排放系数差异大,在编制区域或全国农田NO排放清单时,有必要对各作物体系采用不同的排放系数.减量施氮仅在减氮比例高于25%时可显著降低NO排放量（36%）,但对排放系数的影响不显著.由于减氮比例过高可能会造成作物减产,尚需进一步确定既不影响作物产量又降低NO排放的减氮比例.有机肥替代化肥在土壤有机碳含量低［ω（SOC）<15 g ·kg^-1］或酸性（pH<7）条件下以及配施新型增效氮肥在玉麦轮作农田中可显著降低NO排放量（-46%~-38%）和排放系数（-62%~-45%）,施用生物质炭的影响不显著.可为不同田间条件下分别采取有效的NO减排措施提供依据.     

叶用油菜和孔雀草间作对植物生长和镉累积的影响

为揭示镉（Cd）低积累作物与超富集植物间作对Cd污染土壤安全利用和提取修复的作用,通过盆栽试验,将两种Cd累积能力不同的叶用油菜（Brassica chinenesis L.,低积累油菜华骏和普通油菜寒绿）与4种孔雀草（Tagetes patula L.,矮杆红花、矮杆黄花、高杆红花和高杆黄花）间作,研究间作措施对两类植物生长、光合作用参数、Cd累积以及土壤有效态Cd和可溶性有机碳（DOC）含量的影响.结果表明,与单作相比,间作后油菜生物量显著降低,孔雀草生物量显著升高.间作处理中油菜叶片的净光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率较单作均显著降低.华骏与矮杆红花间作时,华骏地上部Cd含量较单作显著降低14.5%,矮秆红花地上部Cd含量显著增加36.5%;其余间作处理下油菜地上部Cd含量均显著升高或无显著变化,而孔雀草地上部Cd含量无显著变化.间作处理下,油菜地上部Cd累积量较单作处理显著降低,孔雀草地上部Cd累积量显著升高.间作处理下土壤Cd提取率与孔雀草单作处理无显著差异.油菜地上部Cd含量与土壤有效态Cd以及DOC含量分别呈极显著和显著的正相关关系.总之,Cd低积累油菜华骏与孔雀草矮杆红花间作组合表现最佳,在Cd污染菜地土壤的修复和安全利用中有较好的应用价值.