Predicting the response of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to liquid and granular phosphorus fertilisers in Australian soils

Liquid forms of phosphorus (P) have been shown to be more effective than granular P for promoting cereal growth in alkaline soils with high levels of free calcium carbonate on Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. However, the advantage of liquid over granular P forms of fertiliser has not been fully investigated across the wide range of soils used for grain production in Australia. A glasshouse pot experiment tested if liquid P fertilisers were more effective for growing spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) than granular P (monoammonium phosphate) in 28 soils from all over Australia with soil pH (H2O) ranging from 5.2 to 8.9. Application of liquid P resulted in greater shoot biomass, as measured after 4 weeks' growth (mid to late tillering, Feeks growth stage 2-3), than granular P in 3 of the acidic to neutral soils and in 3 alkaline soils. Shoot dry matter responses of spring wheat to applied liquid or granular P were related to soil properties to determine if any of the properties predicted superior yield responses to liquid P. The calcium carbonate content of soil was the only soil property that significantly contributed to predicting when liquid P was more effective than granular P. Five soil P test procedures (Bray, Colwell, resin, isotopically exchangeable P, and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT)) were assessed to determine their ability to measure soil test P on subsamples of soil collected before the experiment started. These soil test values were then related to the dry matter shoot yields to assess their ability to predict wheat yield responses to P applied as liquid or granular P. All 5 soil test procedures provided a reasonable prediction of dry matter responses to applied P as either liquid or granular P, with the resin P test having a slightly greater predictive capacity on the range of soils tested. The findings of this investigation suggest that liquid P fertilisers do have some potential applications in non-calcareous soils and confirm current recommendations for use of liquid P fertiliser to grow cereal crops in highly calcareous soils. Soil P testing procedures require local calibration for response to the P source that is going to be used to amend P deficiency.

Resistance to the root-lesion nematode Pratylenchus thornei of Iranian landrace wheat.

Pratylenchus thornei is widespread throughout the wheat-growing regions in Australia and overseas and can cause yield losses of up to 70% in some intolerant cultivars. The most effective forms of management of P. thornei populations are crop rotation and plant breeding. There have been no wheat accessions identified as completely resistant to P. thornei, therefore breeding programs have used moderately resistant parents. The objective of the present research was to evaluate 274 Iranian landrace wheats for resistance to P. thornei and identify accessions with resistance superior to the current best resistance source (GS50a). Plants were grown in P. thornei inoculated soil under controlled conditions in a glasshouse pot experiment for 16 weeks. Ninety-two accessions found to be resistant or moderately so were retested in a second experiment. From combined analysis of these experiments, 34 accessions were identified as resistant with reproduction factors (final population per kg soil/initial inoculum rate per kg soil) <= 1. In total, 25 accessions were more resistant than GS50a, with AUS28470 significantly (P < 0.05) more resistant. The resistant Iranian landraces identified in the present study are a valuable untapped genetic pool offering improved levels of P. thornei resistance over current parents in Australian wheat-breeding programs.

Effect of biochar amendment on yield and photosynthesis of peanut on two types of soils

Abstract Biochar has significant potential to improve crop performance. This study examined the effect of biochar application on the photosynthesis and yield of peanut crop grown on two soil types. The commercial peanut cultivar Middleton was grown on red ferrosol and redoxi-hydrosol (Queensland, Australia) amended with a peanut shell biochar gradient (0, 0.375, 0.750, 1.50, 3.00 and 6.00 %, w/w, equivalent up to 85 t ha−1) in a glasshouse pot experiment. Biomass and pod yield, photosynthesis-[CO2] response parameters, leaf characteristics and soil properties (carbon, nitrogen (N) and nutrients) were quantified. Biochar significantly improved peanut biomass and pod yield up to 2- and 3-folds respectively in red ferrosol and redoxi-hydrosol. A modest (but significant) biochar-induced improvement of the maximumelectron transport rate and saturating photosynthetic rate was observed for red ferrosol. This response was correlated to increased leaf N and accompanied with improved soil available N and biological N fixation. Biochar application also improved the availability of other soil nutrients, which appeared critical in improving peanut performance, especially on infertile redoxihydrosol. Our study suggests that application of peanut shell derived biochar has strong potential to improve peanut yield on red ferrosol and redoxi-hydrosol. Biochar soil amendment can affect leaf N status and photosynthesis, but the effect varied with soil type.

Below-ground processes in meadow soil under elevated ozone and carbon dioxide : - Greenhouse gas fluxes, N cycling and microbial communities

This thesis focuses on how elevated CO2 and/or O3 affect the below-ground processes in semi-natural vegetation, with an emphasis on greenhouse gases, N cycling and microbial communities. Meadow mesocosms mimicking lowland hay meadows in Jokioinen, SW Finland, were enclosed in open-top chambers and exposed to ambient and elevated levels of O3 (40-50 ppb) and/or CO2 (+100 ppm) for three consecutive growing season, while chamberless plots were used as chamber controls. Chemical and microbiological analyses as well as laboratory incubations of the mesocosm soils under different treatments were used to study the effects of O3 and/or CO2. Artificially constructed mesocosms were also compared with natural meadows with regards to GHG fluxes and soil characteristics. In addition to research conducted at the ecosystem level (i.e. the mesocosm study), soil microbial communities were also examined in a pot experiment with monocultures of individual species. By comparing mesocosms with similar natural plant assemblage, it was possible to demonstrate that artificial mesocosms simulated natural habitats, even though some differences were found in the CH4 oxidation rate, soil mineral N, and total C and N concentrations in the soil. After three growing seasons of fumigations, the fluxes of N2O, CH4, and CO2 were decreased in the NF+O3 treatment, and the soil NH4+-N and mineral N concentrations were lower in the NF+O3 treatment than in the NF control treatment. The mesocosm soil microbial communities were affected negatively by the NF+O3 treatment, as the total, bacterial, actinobacterial, and fungal PLFA biomasses as well as the fungal:bacterial biomass ratio decreased under elevated O3. In the pot survey, O3 decreased the total, bacterial, actinobacterial, and mycorrhizal PLFA biomasses in the bulk soil and affected the microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of L. pratensis, whereas the bulk soil and rhizosphere of the other monoculture, A. capillaris, remained unaffected by O3. Elevated CO2 caused only minor and insignificant changes in the GHG fluxes, N cycling, and the microbial community structure. In the present study, the below-ground processes were modified after three years of moderate O3 enhancement. A tentative conclusion is that a decrease in N availability may have feedback effects on plant growth and competition and affect the N cycling of the whole meadow ecosystem. Ecosystem level changes occur slowly, and multiplication of the responses might be expected in the long run.

Meadow plant growth and competition under elevated ozone and carbon dioxide

The main aim of my thesis project was to assess the impact of elevated ozone (O3) and carbon dioxide (CO2) on the growth, competition and community of meadow plants in northern Europe. The thesis project consisted of three separate O3 and CO2 exposure experiments that were conducted as open-top-chamber (OTC) studies at Jokioinen, SW Finland, and a smaller-scale experiment with different availabilities of resources in greenhouses in Helsinki. The OTC experiments included a competition experiment with two- and three-wise interactions, a mesocosm-scale meadow community with a large number of species, and a pot experiment that assessed intraspecific differences of Centaurea jacea ecotypes. The studied lowland hay meadow proved to be an O3-sensitive biotope, as the O3 concentrations used (40-50 ppb) were moderate, and yet, six out of nine species (Campanula rotundifolia, Centaurea jacea, Fragaria vesca, Ranunculus acris, Trifolium medium, Vicia cracca) showed either significant reductions in biomass or reproductive development, visible O3 injury or any two as a response to elevated O3. The plant species and ecotypes exhibited large intra- and interspecific variation in their response to O3, but O3 and CO2 concentrations did not cause changes in their interspecific competition or in community composition. However, the largest O3-induced growth reductions were seen in the least abundant species (C. rotundifolia and F. vesca), which may indicate O3-induced suppression of weak competitors. The overall effects of CO2 were relatively small and mainly restricted to individual species and several measured variables. Based on the present studies, most of the deleterious effects of tropospheric O3 are not diminished by a moderate increase in CO2 under low N availability, and variation exists between different species and variables. The present study indicates that the growth of several herb species decreases with increasing atmospheric O3 concentrations, and that these changes may pose a threat to the biodiversity of meadows. Ozone-induced reductions in the total community biomass production and N pool are likely to have important consequences for the nutrient cycling of the ecosystem.

Kosteikkosedimentin fosforivarat ja niiden käyttökelpoisuus kasveille

Maatalouden ympäristötukiohjelmalla pyritään vähentämään maatalouden ravinnekuormitusta, sillä valtaosa fosforin hajakuormituksesta on peräisin maataloudesta. Maataloudesta peräisin olevan fosforin rehevöittävää vaikutusta vesistöissä voidaan pyrkiä vähentämään kosteikoilla, joiden päätarkoituksena on saada valumaveden mukana erodoitunut maa-aines sedimentoitumaan kosteikon pohjalle. Kosteikkojen toimivuudesta ja vesiensuojelun merkityksestä on kuitenkin Suomessa tehdyissä tutkimuksissa saatu ristiriitaisia tuloksia. Tämän työn tavoitteena on selvittää maa-analyysien avulla, mitä valuma-alueelta erodoitunut fosforille tapahtuu kosteikon sedimentissä ja kuinka hyvin sedimentoitunut aines soveltuu kasvualustaksi kasvintuotannossa. Valuma-alueen maanäytteitä ja kosteikon sedimenttinäytteitä vertailemalla havaittiin kosteikossa tapahtuvan erodoituneen maa-aineksen lajittumista. Kosteikosta otetussa sedimenttinäytteessä oli 48 % enemmän savesta kuin valumapellon muokkauskerroksen maanäytteissä. Lisäksi havaittiin, että savespitoisuuden lisääntyminen lisäsi sedimentin reaktiivista pinta-alaa, koska sedimentissä oli 45 % enemmän alumiini- ja rautahydroksideja kuin valuma-alueelta otetuissa maanäytteissä. Hydroksidien runsauden takia fosforin sorptiokapasiteetti oli sedimentissä 52 % suurepi kuin valuma-alueelta otetuissa näytteissä. Sedimenttinäytteiden fosforin sorptiokyllästysaste oli kuitenkin samansuuruinen verrattuna valuma-alueelta otettuihin näytteisiin, sillä hapettuneessa sedimentissä oli 50 % enemmän alumiini- ja rautahydroksidien sitomaa fosforia. Näytteenottohetkellä sedimentti oli pelkistyneessä tilassa, jolloin sen vesiuuttoisen fosforin määrä oli huomattavasti suurempi kuin hapettuneessa sedimentissä. Vastaavasti sedimentin hapettuessa fosforin sorptiokyky kasvoi huomattavasti, sillä pelkistyneestä sedimentistä desorboitui fosforia kosteikon veteen. Tämä havaittiin myös astiakokeessa, sillä sedimentissä kasvanut raiheinä kärsi voimakkaasta fosforin puutoksesta niillä lannoitustasoilla, joilla valuma-alueen maanäytteessä kasvaneella raiheinällä ei silmämääräisesti havaittu esiintyvän puutosoireita. Sedimentin toiselle sadolle annetulla kolminkertaisella fosforin lisälannoituksella saavutettiin samansuuruiset sadon kuiva-ainemäärät, fosforipitoisuudet ja fosforin otot kuin valuma-alueen maanäytteissä kasvaneella ensimmäisellä sadolla oli. Astiakokeen tulosten perusteella pelkistyneessä tilassa ollut sedimentti soveltuu heikosti kasvintuotannon kasvualustaksi suuren fosforisorptiokykynsä ansiosta. Parhaiten sedimentti soveltuisi runsaasti helppoliukoista fosforia sisältäville alueille, kuten karjan jalottelutarhan pohjamateriaaliksi, vähentämään ympäristöön kohdistuvaa fosforikuormitusta.

Palladium Catalyzed Coupling of Tosylhydrazones with Aryl and Heteroaryl Halides in the Absence of External Ligands: Synthesis of Substituted Olefins

Palladium catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of hydrazones with aryl halides in the absence of external ligand is reported. The versatility of this coupling reaction is demonstrated in showcasing the selectivity of coupling reaction in the presence of hydroxyl and amine functional groups. This method allows synthesizing a variety of heterocyclic compounds, which are difficult to access from other traditional methods and are not synthesized by employing similar coupling reactions. Application of the present methodology is validated in tandem reaction of ketones to the corresponding substituted olefins in a single pot experiment.

灌浆期干旱对不同倍性小麦光合和产量的影响

为揭示灌浆期水分亏缺对不同倍性小麦光合特性和产量的影响,选用二倍体野生一粒、栽培一粒小麦,四倍体野生二粒、栽培二粒小麦,六倍体小麦"长武134"和"陕253"等6个小麦品种作为供试材料,通过盆栽控水方式,对不同倍性小麦旗叶净光合速率、瞬时水分利用效率和产量进行了研究。结果表明,在正常供水、轻度干旱和严重干旱3种水分处理下,不同倍性小麦旗叶净光合速率、水分利用效率和产量差异极显著。在灌浆过程中,水分亏缺对不同倍性小麦净光合速率变化趋势的影响不明显。而最大净光合速率和水分利用效率随水分胁迫的加重而减小。六倍体小麦平均最大净光合速率为22.03μmol CO2.m-2.s-1),高于二倍体和四倍体小麦。六倍体小麦平均最大水分利用效率约为7.12μmol CO2/mmol H2O,分别是四倍体和二倍体的1.63倍和2.05倍,并且在灌浆开始时就达到最大。因此,小麦长期进化过程中,六倍体小麦花后较强的光合能力和较高的水分利用效率是提高小麦产量的重要生理基础。

低分子有机酸对辣椒生长发育及叶片活性氧代谢的影响

采用盆栽试验与室内分析相结合的方法,研究了6种低分子有机酸和一种有机酸盐对辣椒生长发育和叶片活性氧代谢的影响。结果表明:柠檬酸、乙酰丙酸和有机酸钾处理不仅可显著提高辣椒根系干质量,增加辣椒vC含量,而且提高了辣椒的产量。甲酸、柠檬酸、乙酰丙酸和有机酸钾处理使根系活力比对照分别提高83%、93.8%、96.75%和99.5%。柠檬酸、乙酰丙酸和有机酸钾处理提高了辣椒叶片的SOD和POD活性,降低了膜脂过氧化产物MDA含量,延缓了叶片衰老。但是低分子有机酸处理对CAT活性的影响较小。

保水剂用量对土壤水分的影响

为确定保水剂的合理用量,于2008年5月在陕西米脂县进行保水剂不同用量玉米盆栽试验研究。盆栽试验设置了保水剂不同用量(0、30、40、50、60 g)五个处理及保水剂与风干黄绵土配比用量(0、0.05%、0.10%、0.15%、0.20%、0.30%)6个处理,分别研究了保水剂不同用量与土壤水势、土壤含水量的关系及对土壤持水时间的影响。试验结果表明,土壤含水量高(>18%)时各处理土壤水吸力十分接近,在土壤吸水力相同时,随着保水剂用量的提高其土壤含水量也随着提高;保水剂用量越大的处理玉米存活的时间也越长,0.20%和0.30%处理玉米存活时间较对照长3 d;综合分析表明本试验中保水剂与黄绵土配比0.20%和0.3%应用效果较好。

大豆品种竞争能力和籽粒产量关系研究

盆栽试验方法研究充分供水(W)、适度干旱(M)和严重干旱(D)三种条件下,不同株型的两个大豆品种晋大74和晋豆24在混播和单播时的籽粒产量及生物量构成。结果表明:晋大74品种具有较高的植株生物量和较强竞争能力,在单播时籽粒产量较低,而竞争能力较低的晋豆24品种在单播时籽粒产量却较高,这一结论将对大豆株型设计提供一定的科学依据。

两种高分子保水材料对盆栽甘蓝影响研究

采用盆栽试验,研究了两种高分子化合物聚丙烯酸钠(sodium polyacrylate,SP)与聚丙烯酰胺(Polyacrylamide,PAM)对甘蓝生长的影响。结果表明:在土壤中施入2/1000的两种高分子材料均能抑制土壤蒸发,砂土、粘土蒸发强度分别较对照降低35.5%、22.8%;甘蓝叶绿素受两种材料的影响不显著,受肥料影响较大;两种高分子材料施入土壤中增加了甘蓝产量、降低了根冠比,地上、地下生物量砂土较对照分别增加了61.1%、16.1%,粘土分别增加了55.2%、28.7%,根冠比砂土较对照平均降低了26.9%,粘土降低16%;PAM与SP使砂土容重较对照降低了13.9%,而粘土仅降低了4.1%;单施高分子处理水分利用效率平均较对照增加59.1%,与肥料混合使用时增加77.1%。总体来看,PAM与SP作用效果相近。

夏玉米冠层叶片表观自由空间的差异研究

叶片自由空间在环境与冠层养分交换间具有重要作用,是目前植物营养学研究的重要领域之一。通过盆栽试验,以不同株型夏玉米为试材,研究了不同施氮水平(N 0、0.15和0.30 g/kg)下玉米冠层叶片表观自由空间(AFS)的差异。结果表明,不同生育期叶片AFS差异极显著(P<0.01),表现为随生育期推进,叶片AFS、生物量和全氮含量均逐渐降低;除成熟期,其它各生育期品种与施氮水平对叶片AFS的影响均存在显著的交互作用。施氮对叶片生物量的影响不显著,但施氮后叶片全氮含量显著增加。不同施氮水平下,植株冠层叶片AFS也存在显著差异,中量施氮处理(即N 0.15 g/kg)植株叶片AFS值(9.49)明显高于不施氮处理(9.03),但随施氮量进一步增加,叶片AFS下降,施氮量为N 0.30 g/kg时,叶片AFS为8.62;不同施氮水平各生育期不同叶层间叶片AFS、生物量和全氮含量差异显著(P<0.05)。不同品种间叶片全氮含量和AFS存在显著差异(P<0.05),以紧凑型品种陕单902叶片AFS最大,平均为9.24,显著高于其它品种;中间型品种农大108与平展型品种陕单9号间差异不显著,二者平均分别为9.06和8.85...