Smoke alleviates adverse effects induced by stress on rice

Smoke and salinity are environmental hazards. Smoke produced DNA damage, inflammatory, and oxidative stress in humans while salinity reduced plant yield. However, smoke from plants is beneficial towards plant growth. In this study, smoke of two plants, Buhania varegata (1:1000 and 1:5000 dilutions (v/v)) and Cymbopogon jwarancusa (1:500 and 1:1000), were used to determine effects on different physiological and biochemical parameters in rice Basmati-385 (B-385) and Shaheen Basmati under different saline concentrations (control: 50, 100, and 150 mM). With increasing salinity, germination%, seedling growth, K⁺, Ca⁺, cell membrane stability, and total nitrogen and protein contents were decreased while Na⁺ content increased. However, seeds primed with different dilution of smoke significantly diminished the adverse effects of salinity and shown to produce positive responses in all of the above parameters. The most effective dilutions were 1:5000 for Buhania varegata and C-500 for Cymbopogon jwarancusa. It seems that priming with plant smoke solution is a potent stimulant for plant growth exerting a significant role in physiology and biochemistry of rice plants under saline condition.     

Preliminary toxicity evaluation of water from rice fields using cost‐effective microbiotests

A study was performed in a Protected Area (Natural Reserve of Sado Estuary) in 1996, to evaluate the acute toxicity for aquatic life of surface water from rice fields treated with pesticides, particularly with molinate and quinclorac. As a preliminary assessment, the following rapid toxicity tests were used: “Rotoxkit F”;, “Thamnotoxkit F”; and the recently introduced “Daphtoxkit F magna”; and “Algaltoxkit F”;. Water samples were collected from: a water source for irrigating the rice fields, two rice plots, a drainage channel and from Sado river in which the water is discharged. The results showed that samples from the rice plot treated with molinate were more toxic than those obtained from rice plot treated with quinclorac. Water samples from the river were the most toxic, causing 100% of immobility in all organisms and a substantial inhibition in the algal growth. Water collected from the drainage channel in late July, was also found to be quite toxic. The results obtained until now indicate that some characteristics of these microbiotests, like their rapidity, simplicity and relatively low cost, make them a practical tool to evaluate acute effects of pesticides in freshwater ecosystems. They may also contribute to suggest some changes in pesticides use to promote agricultural practices with lower impact to aquatic life.     

稻草和玉米秸秆燃烧烟尘中正构烯烃的组成

在明火燃烧和闷烧条件下对6种稻草和5种玉米秸秆进行了燃烧试验,并对烟尘中的正构烯烃进行了分析.结果表明,在稻草明火烟尘中,正构烯烃由C15~C29组成,其平均总含量为918.7mg/kg,低碳数与高碳数正构烯烃含量比(L/H)的平均值为0.6,碳优势指数(CPI)的平均值为1.2.正构烯烃呈双峰式分布,两个峰碳数主要是C24和C28.在稻草闷烧烟尘中,正构烯烃由C17~C29组成,其总含量、L/H、CPI等的平均值分别是517.0mg/kg、0.7和0.9.正构烯烃同样呈双峰型分布,两个峰碳数主要是C23和C28.在玉米秸秆的明火烟尘中,正构烯烃由C19~C29组成.其总含量、L/H、CPI等的平均值分别为126.0mg/kg、0.7和1.3.正构烯烃呈单峰型分布,主峰碳数主要是C24和C23.在玉米秸秆的闷烧烟尘中,正构烯烃由C17~C29组成,其总含量、L/H、CPI等的平均值分别是198.9mg/kg、1.8和 0.9.正构烯烃呈双峰式分布,其主峰碳数均为C23,次峰碳数主要是C29.在两类秸秆燃烧产生的烟尘之间,正构烯烃的组成存在明显差别.这有助于识别气溶胶中稻草或玉米秆燃烧来源的此类污染物.     

水解液出料和回流对秸秆水解产酸的影响

为了解秸秆两相发酵水解相水解液出料和回流对秸秆水解产酸过程的影响,以打捆麦秸为原料,在中温[(37±1)℃]条件下,采用批次进料方式,进行秸秆水解产酸实验.实验设置水解液出料量为排空、排1/2和排1/3,水解液回流频次为不回流、1d回流1次和3d回流1次.结果表明:水解液出料促进了秸秆有机物的水解溶出,水解液出料后秸秆中有机物大量水解溶出,水解液COD、SCOD浓度迅速回升,pH值迅速降低,TVFAs先增加后降低;水解液大出料量更有利于秸秆有机物水解溶出,水解液排空的处理累积COD获得量、TS损失率、半纤维素损失率和纤维素损失率较排1/3的处理分别提高44.45%、25.97%、30.23%和43.34%,排空的处理单位秸秆水解获得COD质量达0.33g COD/g秸秆;水解液回流对秸秆有机物水解溶出并未表现出明显的促进作用,但在实验后期对日产气量及产气中甲烷含量影响明显,3d回流1次的处理累积产气量和产气中甲烷含量均高于不回流和1d回流1次的处理.     

改进型ABR+复合生物反应器处理糕点残渣废水

介绍了改进型ABR+复合生物反应器在糕点残渣废水处理工程实例中的应用,运行结果表明:该工艺运行稳定、操作简便、运行成本低,处理糕点残渣废水可获得良好的效果,出水水质达GB 8978—1996《污水综合排放标准》中的一级排放标准。     

Efficacy of rapeseed residue and eggshell waste on enzyme activity and soil quality in rice paddy

Addition of plant residue into soils improves soil physiochemical properties and its fertility. Rapeseed residue is an emerging N source to paddy soils via rice-rape double-cropping practice. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of rapeseed residue and eggshell waste on chemical changes and enzyme activity in the rice paddy soil. The powdered eggshells at 0, 1, 3, and 5% were applied once to 7.0 kg paddy repacked soils in each pot treated with the rapeseed residue or the conventional N, P, and K fertilisers. Eight rice seedlings (Oriza sativa L. cv. Ilmibyeo) (40 days after sowing) were transplanted to the treated each pot. The contents of total C (TC) and N (TN), and organic matter (OM) were significantly increased in soils treated with the rapeseed residue compared to the N, P, and K fertilisers. With the addition of eggshell containing ～92% CaCO₃, a considerable increase of soil pH was observed in soils treated with the rapeseed residue and the N, P, and K fertilisers, compared to the untreated soil. Activities of β-glucosidase, urease, and arylsulfatase enzymes were higher in soils treated with the rapeseed residue than soils treated with the N, P, and K fertilisers. The eggshell additions at 1, 3, and 5% into soils treated with the rapeseed residue increased enzyme activity mainly resulting from N mineralisation, whereas no change in enzyme activity was observed in the soils treated with the NPK fertiliser. The combined use of the rapeseed residue and the eggshells can be beneficial to improve soil environment.     

Evaluation of fodder quality of straw of different landraces of rice (Oryza sativa L.) under cultivation in the Kumaun Region of Indian Central Himalaya

Thirty landraces of rice collected from various locations, across an elevational gradient (1150–2400 m asl), in Kumaun, Central Himalaya and VL-206 (a high-yielding variety recommended for rainfed mountain area) have been evaluated, both in terms of quantity and nutritional quality of straw. Data were collected to estimate the percentage share of fodder in the overall biomass produced. The total biomass harvested at maturity was taken as productivity. In view of the severe scarcity of fodder in hill regions, particularly during winter months, straw was also examined for quality-linked biochemical parameters and dry matter digestibility (DMD) of fodder. The Crude Protein (CP) values ranged from 2.21% (Nandhani) to 6.33% (Dalbadal), and in saceo DMD (nylonbag technique) was highest in Kaladur (48.84%) and lowest in Kantolia (32.25%). While the CP in VL206 was within the range recorded for various landraces (3.61%), DMD value (27.29%) was lower than that of all the landraces tested. In saceo DMD data indicate that the fodder quality of landraces is better than that of the introduced variety. The values for neutral detergent fibre (NDF) ranged from 63.64% (Sabhawati) to 78.46% (Chhotiya) among the rainfed landraces, while in the irrigated landraces, Thapchini had more NDF (87.50 %), as compared to Kantolia (73.88%) and VL206 (74.91%). Values for the acid detergent fibre (ADF) varied from 42.70% (Danbasmati) to 54.58% (Nandhani) in the rainfed group; ADF was slightly higher in Thapchini (49.41%) in comparison to Kantolia (47.19) and VL206 had the highest (56.80%) ADF content. The observed differences with respect to straw productivity, chemical composition and in saceo DMD in various landraces, even when grown under similar conditions at one place, clearly indicate the richness of the gene pool of rice being maintained, through cultivation, in the Kumaun hills. It may be mentioned that agriculture in the hills is biomass based, and livestock form an integral component of subsistence farming.     

A critique of ethical and social issues of genetically modified crops

SUMMARY

The ethical and social issues of genetically modified crops as reported by the Nuffield Bioethics Committee are summarised. A critique of their findings is presented. It is argued that the apparent benefits are outweighed by the ecological, social and economic costs, and that the yields of some genetically modified crops are poorer when compared to conventional species. Furthermore, the current regulations are far too lax for consumer protection. There is an urgent need for a critical and disinterested review of the scientific basis of the research.     

保护性耕作土壤线虫成熟度及区系分析

土壤线虫的生活史和功能多样性能够反映土壤健康质量和生态环境的演变,耕作措施的改变可能通过影响土壤环境进而影响土壤线虫的生活史和功能多样性,然而关于保护性耕作条件下土壤线虫成熟度及区系分析的研究,国内外尚鲜见报道。为了深入揭示土壤线虫对保护性耕作土壤生态环境变化的生物指示作用,以辽宁彰武县保护性耕作示范推广基地土壤为研究对象,通过实地调查和取样分析,对比研究了传统犁耕和6年保护性耕作（免耕秸秆覆盖）条件下的土壤线虫成熟度指数及区系分析。研究发现,与犁耕相比,保护性耕作显著降低了表层土壤自由生活线虫成熟指数MI、总成熟指数MMI、c-p值为2~5的自由生活线虫成熟指数MI2–5和总成熟指数MMI2–5,降低幅度分别为11%、9%、9%和10%,然而对植物寄生线虫成熟指数PPI以及PPI/MI比值的影响不明显。线虫区系分析结果表明,保护性耕作土壤线虫的富集指数EI和结构指数SI,比犁耕土壤分别显著降低56%和24%。保护性耕作造成的土壤pH降低和可能带来的土壤农药污染,可能是导致其上述影响的主要原因。简单相关分析和主成分分析结果证明,线虫成熟指数MI、MMI、MI2–5和MMI2–5以及结构指数SI与土壤pH关系密切。综上,土壤线虫生活史多样性和功能多样性对于揭示保护性耕作对土壤环境的影响具有良好的作用。     

水稻基因类型与生长环境对精米中砷积累的影响

砷(As)是动植物非必需的有毒类金属。水稻是对As有较强吸收和富集能力的大宗粮食作物,大米的食用是我国及东南亚地区人体暴露As的最主要途径,严重威胁人体健康。水稻籽粒中As的积累与水稻的基因型及众多环境因子密切相关,而且表现出复杂的交互作用。在浙江省选择了不同土壤砷背景值的5块水稻田,同时在嘉兴市农科院布置了人工添加As的盆栽实验,比较了20个水稻品种在这6个实验点的精米中As含量。结果表明,水稻基因型与环境及其相互作用对水稻籽粒中As的积累均有极显著影响,并且筛选得到了5个精米中As含量较低的基因型:秀水128、秀水09、秀水134、甬粳16和Y-05-8。