Adaptation of Nitraria sphaerocarpa to wind-blown sand environments at the edge of a desert oasis

This study addresses the adaptation of Nitraria sphaervcarpa to blown sand at the edge of a desert oasis with regard to the aspects of soil seed banks, seedlings, and population. Horizontally, the total number of seeds per unit area decreased from the shrub canopy center to intershrub areas, and most seeds were found under shrub canopies. Vertically, the highest proportion of seeds was found at depths of 5-10 cm. The emergence percentage, seedling mass, and seedling height, which were significantly affected by both burial depth and seed size, were highest at the optimal burial depth of 2 cm, and decreased with increasing burial depth in each seed size-class. Although seedling mass was usually greatest for large seeds and least for small seeds at each burial depth, little difference was observed in seedling height at shallow burial depths of 0-3 cm. The population shows a patchy and discontinuous distribution pattern. Population height increases with increasing sand depth. Also the density increases with increasing depth of sand in the desert; however, there is a steady decrease when the depth of sand is more than 100 cm. This result indicates that the depth of sand that is most suitable for the growth of Nitraria sphaervcarpa is 100 cm. The size of the population is significantly correlated with the sand depth, which increases with increasing depth in the desert.     

Effects of arsenic on seed germination and physiological activities in wheat seedlings

The effects of arsenic(As)were investigated on seed germination,root and shoot length and their biomass and some other factors to elucidate the toxicity of As.The results showed low concentrations of As(O-1 mg/kg)stimulated seed germination and the growth of root and shoot,however,these factors all decreased gradually at high concentrations of As(5-20 mg/kg).The contents Of O2-,MDA,soluble protein and peroxidase(POD)activity all increased with increasing As concentrations.Soluble sugar content,ascorbate peroxidase(APX),and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activities decreased at low concentrations of As,and increased at high concentrations of As.While acetylsalicylic acid(ASA)and chlorophyll contents,catalase(CAT)activity displayed increasing trend when the concentrations of As was lower than 1 mg/kg,and then decreasing trend.By polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(PAGE).As induced the expression of POD isozymes of wheat seedlings.As induced the expression of CAT isozymes but inhibited the expression of SOD isozymes of wheat seedlings at concentrations lower than 1 mg/kg.However,As inhibited the expression of CAT isozymes but induced the expression of SOD isozymes at concentrations higher than 5 mg/kg.The results indicated As could exert harmfulness in the early development stage of wheat at inappropriate concentrations.     

绿僵菌防治第1代马尾松毛虫的研究

供试的绿僵菌和白僵菌菌种在室内对马尾松毛虫2～3龄幼虫的毒力相当.在25℃条件下,绿僵菌的n (LC50)=1.06×107 L-1, t (LT50) = 7.95～12.04 d (n(spore)=1.0×1011～1.0×107 L-1);白僵菌的n( LC50) =1.37×106 L-1 ,t (LT50) = 7.48～11.27 d ( n(spore) = 1.0×1011～1.0×107 L-1).试验显示与白僵菌相比,绿僵菌具有较强的耐高温和耐旱特性.在高温、低湿的条件下绿僵菌的杀虫效果优于白僵菌.林间防治试验也表明,绿僵菌防治第1代马尾松毛虫的效果显著优于白僵菌,显示出较好的应用前景.表8 参14     

Recovery of Danish coastal dune vegetation after a wildfire

The initial recovery of vegetation after a wildfire in a coastal dune area in NW Jutland, Denmark, was studied over a 5-yr period by means of permanent plots representing various dune communities along a topographical gradient. The impact of the fire varied with the position of the plots. Fens and south-facing dunes were little affected while dune heath plots were severely affected including loss of the O-horizon. Post-fire conditions included presence of remaining soil organic matter, a soil seed bank and surviving below-ground plant parts. The soil surface remained stable during the study period. The initial five years of recovery comprised of an initial three-year recruitment phase during which cover and number of species increased and the quantitative species composition changed markedly, followed by two years of a declining rate of change. 38 species of vascular plants were recorded, 35 are regular components in dune, dune heath and heath fen and were recruited from the seed bank, from locally dispersed seeds and/or by sprouting from surviving vegetative parts. The remaining three species were ‘aliens’, dispersed from sources outside the area. Crustose lichens had an important role in the initial recovery by stabilizing the surface and probably inhibiting seed germination, whereas mosses mostly had a subordinate role. The seral position of the plots, as well as the expected time needed for full recovery of pre-fire vegetation, vary with topography and initial soil conditions. Five years after the fire the fen and the south-facing dune probably need less than a decade for full recovery. The remaining plots are judged to be relatively early seral; their full recovery into mature dry or moist dune heath vegetation and O-horizon is expected to need several centuries.     

The effect of olive mill wastewater on seed germination after various pretreatment techniques

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) management has been a major issue of environmental concern for olive oil producing countries. OMW can be a serious nuisance, when disposed of untreated, due to its significantly high organic load, its phytotoxic properties and its relatively low biodegradability. Field and plant irrigation with raw or pretreated OMW is an easy and relatively inexpensive method to treat and dispose of OMW. Typical pretreatment techniques could be comprised of phase separation through a settling basin, dilution with water, aeration to promote biological degradation and pH neutralization. A full factorial experimental design approach was used here to study the main effects and interactions of the above four pretreatment techniques on the germination of tomato and chicory seeds. Results of the study showed that the most statistically significant technique affecting OMW phytotoxicity is water dilution. The next most significant technique was aeration. In particular, phytotoxicity decreased with increased OMW dilution with water, when OMW was aerated and without pH adjustment. pH neutralization resulted in increased phytotoxicity. Settling did not significantly decrease the phytotoxicity of settled OMW and is therefore not considered necessary in an OMW management system in which plant irrigation is the goal. The interaction of aeration and pH was, marginally, the most significant two-way interaction for tomato seeds, while no interactions were significant when chicory seeds were used.     

Seeds and rights: new approaches to post-war agricultural rehabilitation in Sierra Leone

Based on preliminary findings of ongoing 'action research' in the war zone in central Sierra Leone, this paper shows how more equitable seed distribution could contribute to fostering a culture of human rights as well as to agricultural rehabilitation. Assessment of seeds-and-toosl programmes in 19 villages found that aid agency targeting and distribution modalities channelled inputs through village committees which denied assistance to intended beneficiary groups. Such distribution inequalities constitute violations of fundamental human rights, exacerbate grievance and division and maintain the threat of social disorder. The benefits and disadvantages of an alternative, more inclusive, rights-based approach to seed distribution are discussed, and preliminary results from the pilot phase of CARE's Rights-based Approach to Food Security Project are presented. Under this project, village-level peace and rights days are held to allow villagers to debate the vulnerabilities that facilitated the war and to elaborate on local notions of human rights. In symbolising new beginnings, seed can be seen as a useful medium through which to debate a more inclusive--and ultimately less vulnerable--society.     

如何在红松母树林内实施计划烧除

林口林业局通过对红松母树林下的细小可燃物进行计划烧除实验,证明这种方法不但是预防森林火灾、保护红松母树林安全的有效措施,而且还可消除森林病害虫和增加林木生长量。     

浅析茶油加工企业环境污染防治对策

阐述了茶油加工工艺及生产流程,分析了茶油生产过程中的废水污染源、废气污染源、固废污染源和噪声污染源,结合国外内茶油生产加工和环保实践,针对性地提出了废水、废气、固废、噪声污染防治和资源化对策,分析了环境风险可信事故,并提出了环境风险防范措施,探讨了清洁生产合理化建议,为茶油生产企业的环境影响评价、工程治理和日常环境监管提供了依据。