Vermiculite addition to soil decreases N water pollution by over 30%

The large amounts of nitrogen-containing mineral fertilisers in industrial agriculture are leading to water pollution with effects such as eutrophication and death of aquatic life. There is therefore a need for techniques to keep N in the soil to prevent leaching in waters. Here, we tested the effect of the addition of vermiculite, a phyllosilicate mineral, to the soil, on fertiliser NH₄ ⁺-N retention in laboratory experiments during 14–45 days. The added amount of vermiculite was twice the amount of the nitrogen fertilizer added. Our results show that addition of vermiculite increases NH₄ ⁺-N retention by over 30%, compared to a control. Adding vermiculite is thus a promising technique to control the eutrophication of water systems as well as reducing agriculture cost.     

Assuming a 50% cell occupancy of the lorica overestimates tintinnine ciliate biomass

To estimate biomass and production, the cell volume of tintinnine ciliates has been assumed to be 50% of lorica volume. This assumption was tested using a high-precision digitizing system which measured individuals of 17 tintinnine species in samples taken in two annual studies of biomass and production in both tropical (Kingston, Jamaica in 1986) and temperate (Passamaquoddy Bay, Canada in 1983–1984) regions. Using this assumption, percent occupancies and hence, biovolume estimates, were overestimated by as much as 317% for tropical species and 178% for temperate species. Daily production estimates of the tropical tintinnine assemblage were overestimated by as much as 147%. In studies attempting to estimate biomass and production accurately, it is concluded that cell volume of tintinnines should be measured directly rather than assumed to be 50% of lorica volume.This research was financed by an NSERC Canada operating grant awarded to Dr D. H. Lynn     

运用能量10%定律恢复浑善达克退化生态系统

运用生态系统能量10%定律,在浑善达克沙地退化生态系统,按照高级营养级能量需求,在实验区域1%的土地上建立了高产高效饲料基地,以向上一营养级(草食动物)提供足够的能量。结果表明,牲畜的压力逐步向高效地(小范围的土地)集中,而大面积的退化草地(99%),在围栏保护后借助自然力逐步恢复。群落生物量、平均高度和总盖度2年后均随恢复时间增加而增加(P<0.05)。植被组成方面,恢复前固定沙地以冷蒿(Artemisiafrigida)、糙隐子草(Cleistogenssquarrosa)和寸草苔(Carexduriuscula)等为主,恢复2年后冰草(Agropyronmichnoi)、木地肤(Kochiaprostrata)等占优势;滩地植被中,羊草(Leymuschinensis)、披碱草(Elymusdahuricus)等逐步取代了灰绿藜(Chenopodiumglaucum)和尖头叶藜(Chenopodiumacumi-natum)等,优质牧草比例提高。生态恢复不仅使自然生态系统得以保护,而且带动了社会经济的发展,项目中的正蓝旗巴音胡舒嘎查牧民,在实验示范以前后,由每年每户投入1万元买草养畜转变为每户得到2万斤优质牧草;幼畜成活率约提高10%;产奶量100%,牧民收入提高了32%。实验表明,高产高效基地建成后,生态系统能量流动趋于稳定,占试验区域71%的退化草地得到了恢复,从而带动了该地的可持续发展。     

5%阿维菌素乳油对台湾乳白蚁毒力测定的SPSS分析

台湾乳白蚁(Copotermes formosanus)是海南省危害房屋建筑最为严重的白蚁之一,为此研究防治药剂对台湾乳白蚁的毒力,减轻其对房屋建筑的危害将有重要意义。通过药膜法和毒土穿透法测定了5%阿维菌素乳油对台湾乳白蚁的毒力,用45%毒死蜱乳油做药剂对照,应用SPSS软件中的Probit模块,统计分析了5%阿维菌素乳油对台湾乳白蚁的毒力测定数据,从而得出毒力回归方程,LC_(50)、LC_(95)以及95%置信区间,对数单位与概率单位的关系图。结果表明:5%阿维菌素乳油防治台湾乳白蚁的最低有效浓度为15.625 mg·kg~(-1),与对照药剂45%毒死蜱乳油相近,其LC_(50)、LC_(95)分别为11.58和135.66 mg·kg~(-1)。由于阿维菌素对环境污染小,很可能会取代毒死蜱成为防治台湾乳白蚁的主要灭治药剂。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus algicola</Emphasis> decolourises more than 95% of some textile azo dyes

Textile effluents in natural waters pose environmental health problems if not treated to safe limits. Various bacterial species have the potential to degrade dyes. Here we studied the ability of Bacillus algicola to decolourise red, blue and yellow azo dyes. B. algicola was isolated from soil samples taken from a sanitary landfill site. Isolation and screening were performed using mineral salt medium. Dye-decolourising isolates were assessed in their capacity to decolourise dyes. Experiments were conducted at pH 6, 7 and 8, and 25, 35 and 45 °C. Phytotoxicity of the dyes and biodegradation products was assessed by seed germination tests. Results show that B. algicola gave the highest decolourisation at pH 8.0 and 25 °C in the presence of yeast extract as media supplement. B. algicola degraded the red and blue azo dyes by over 95%. The phytotoxicity results indicated that biodegradation products of the red and blue azo dyes were not toxic. Biodegradation products of the yellow dye were, however, toxic and considerably hindered germination. From these results, we infer that B. algicola has good potential for degrading and decolourising the red and blue test azo dyes.     

Effect of Dimethoate (Rogor 30% EC) on the brain neurosecretory cells of third instar grubs of Oryctes rhinoceros L. (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae)

The brain neurosecretory cells of III instar grubs of Oryctes rhinoceros were exposed to insecticide Dimethoate (Rogor 30% EC) in the laboratory condition. The sublethal doses (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5%) of Rogor at time intervals of 8, 16 and 24 h have produced marked changes in the structure and the secretory activities of medial and lateral neurosecretory cells. Rogor stimulates the synthetic activity of these cells at the initial stages of its action and results in the accumulation of neurosecretory materials (NSM) in the cytoplasm. The decreased neurosecretion at later stages of the action was due to its transportation through the axons before the death of treated grubs. Similarly, vacuolization, shrinking and degeneration of cells were also observed in treated grubs.