Integrated Cotton Farming Systems for Central Queensland

This project has delivered outcomes that address major agronomic and crop protection issues closely linked to the profitability and sustainability of cotton production enterprises in CQ. From an agronomic perspective, the CQ environment was always though to support economically viable cotton production in a wide sowing window from the middle of September to early January prior to this research. The ideal positioning of Bollgard II varieties in the CQ planting window was, therefore, critical to the future of the local cotton industry because growers needed baseline information to determine how best to take advantage of the higher yield potential offered by the Bt cotton technology, optimise irrigation water use and fibre characteristics. The project’s outputs include a number of key agronomic findings. Over three growing seasons, Bollgard II crop planted in the traditional sowing window from the middle of September to the end of October consistently produced the highest yields. The project delivers a clear and quantitative assessment of the impacts of planting outside the traditional cropping window - a yield penalty of between 1-4 bales/ha for November and December planted cotton. Whilst yield penalties associated with December-planted crops are clearly linked to declining heat units in the second half of the crop and a cool finish, those associated with November-planted cotton are not consistent with the theoretical yield potential for this sowing date. Further research to understand and minimize the physiological constraints on November-planted cotton would give CQ cotton growers far greater flexibility to develop mixed/double/rotation cropping farming systems that are relevant to the rapidly evolving nature of Agricultural production in Australia. The equivalence of cultivar types with clearly distinguishable, genetically based growth habits, demonstrated in this project, gives growers important information for making varietal choices. The entomological outcomes of this project represent strategic and tactical tools that are highly relevant to the viability and profitability of the cotton industry in Australia. The future of the cotton industry is inextricably linked to the survival and efficacy of GM cotton. Research done in the Callide irrigation area demonstrates the unquestionable potential for development of alternative and highly effective resistance management strategies for Bollgard II using novel technologies and strategies based on products such as Magnet®. Magnet® and similar technologies will be increasingly important in strategies to preserve the shelf life and efficacy of current and future generations of GM technology. However, more research will be required to address logistical and operational issues related to these new technologies before they can be fully exploited in commercial production systems. From an economic perspective, SLW is the sleeping giant in terms of insect nemeses of cotton, particularly from the standpoint of climate change and an increasingly warmer production environment. An effective sampling and management strategy for SLW which has been delivered by this project will go a long way towards minimising production costs in an environment characterised by rapidly rising input costs. SLW has the potential to permanently debilitate the national cotton industry by influencing market sentiment and quality perceptions. Field validation of the SLW population sampling models and management options in the Dawson irrigation area cotton and southern Queensland during 2006-07 documents the robustness of the entomological research outcomes achieved through this project.

Reducing the impact of pulse diseases in the northern region

Diseases remain a significant impediment to the achievement of maximum yield potential of pulses (chickpea, peanut and mungbean) and sunflowers in the GRDC northern region. This project worked closely with public and private breeding programs to identify sources of resistance to the major diseases of pulses and sunflower that dominate in the region. Through varied surveillance activities, a watching brief on pulse and sunflower diseases was maintained and a timely and appropriate response was made to several significant disease outbreaks. Information on the biology and management of diseases was extended to clients in a wide variety of ways.

Regulation of strawberry growth and development

Strawberries (Fragaria sp.) are adapted to diverse environmental conditions from the tropics to about 70ºN, so different responses to environmental conditions can be found. Most genotypes of garden strawberry (F. x ananassa Duch.) and woodland strawberry (F. vesca L.) are short-day (SD) plants that are induced to flowering by photoperiods under a critical limit, but also various photoperiod x temperature interactions can be found. In addition, continuously flowering everbearing (EB) genotypes are found. In addition to flowering, axillary bud differentiation in strawberry is regulated by photoperiod. In SD conditions, axillary buds differentiate to rosette-like structures called "branch crowns", whereas in long-day conditions (LD) they form runners, branches with 2 long internodes followed by a daughter plant (leaf rosette). The number of crown branches determines the yield of the plant, since inflorescences are formed from the apical meristems of the crown. Although axillary bud differentiation is an important developmental process in strawberries, its environmental and hormonal regulation has not been characterized in detail. Moreover, the genetic mechanisms underlying axillary bud differentiation and regulation of flowering time in these species are almost completely unresolved. These topics have been studied in this thesis in order to enhance strawberry research, cultivation and breeding. The results showed that 8-12 SD cycles suppressed runner initiation from the axillary buds of the garden strawberry cv. Korona with the concomitant induction of crown branching, and 3 weeks of SD was sufficient for the induction of flowering in the main crown. Furthermore, a second SD treatment given a few weeks after the first SD period can be used to induce flowering in the primary branch crowns and to induce the formation of secondary branches. Thus, artificial SD treatments effectively stimulate crown branching, providing one means for the increase of cropping (yield) potential in strawberry. It was also shown by growth regulation applications, quantitave hormone analysis and gene expression analysis that gibberellin (GA) is one of the key signals involved in the photoperiod control of shoot differentiation. The results indicate that photoperiod controls GA activity specifically in axillary buds, thereby determining bud fate. It was further shown that chemical control of GA biosynthesis by prohexadione-calcium can be utilized to prevent excessive runner formation and induce crown branching in strawberry fields. Moreover, ProCa increased berry yield up to 50%, showing that it is an easier and more applicable alternative to artificial SD treatments for controlling strawberry crown development and yield. Finally, flowering gene pathways in Fragaria were explored by searching for homologs of 118 Arabidopsis thaliana flowering-time genes. In total, 66 gene homologs were identified, and they distributed to all known flowering pathways, suggesting the presence of these pathways also in strawberry. Expression analysis of selected genes revealed that the mRNA of putative floral identity gene APETALA1 accumulated in the shoot apex of the EB genotype after the induction of flowering, whereas it was absent in vegetative SD genotype, indicating the usefulness of this gene product as the marker of floral initiation. The present data enables the further exploration of strawberry flowering pathways with genetic transformation, gene mapping and transcriptomics methods.

Soil nitrogen—crop response calibration relationships and criteria for winter cereal crops grown in Australia

More than 1200 wheat and 120 barley experiments conducted in Australia to examine yield responses to applied nitrogen (N) fertiliser are contained in a national database of field crops nutrient research (BFDC National Database). The yield responses are accompanied by various pre-plant soil test data to quantify plant-available N and other indicators of soil fertility status or mineralisable N. A web application (BFDC Interrogator), developed to access the database, enables construction of calibrations between relative crop yield ((Y0/Ymax) × 100) and N soil test value. In this paper we report the critical soil test values for 90% RY (CV90) and the associated critical ranges (CR90, defined as the 70% confidence interval around that CV90) derived from analysis of various subsets of these winter cereal experiments. Experimental programs were conducted throughout Australia’s main grain-production regions in different eras, starting from the 1960s in Queensland through to Victoria during 2000s. Improved management practices adopted during the period were reflected in increasing potential yields with research era, increasing from an average Ymax of 2.2 t/ha in Queensland in the 1960s and 1970s, to 3.4 t/ha in South Australia (SA) in the 1980s, to 4.3 t/ha in New South Wales (NSW) in the 1990s, and 4.2 t/ha in Victoria in the 2000s. Various sampling depths (0.1–1.2 m) and methods of quantifying available N (nitrate-N or mineral-N) from pre-planting soil samples were used and provided useful guides to the need for supplementary N. The most regionally consistent relationships were established using nitrate-N (kg/ha) in the top 0.6 m of the soil profile, with regional and seasonal variation in CV90 largely accounted for through impacts on experimental Ymax. The CV90 for nitrate-N within the top 0.6 m of the soil profile for wheat crops increased from 36 to 110 kg nitrate-N/ha as Ymax increased over the range 1 to >5 t/ha. Apparent variation in CV90 with seasonal moisture availability was entirely consistent with impacts on experimental Ymax. Further analyses of wheat trials with available grain protein (~45% of all experiments) established that grain yield and not grain N content was the major driver of crop N demand and CV90. Subsets of data explored the impact of crop management practices such as crop rotation or fallow length on both pre-planting profile mineral-N and CV90. Analyses showed that while management practices influenced profile mineral-N at planting and the likelihood and size of yield response to applied N fertiliser, they had no significant impact on CV90. A level of risk is involved with the use of pre-plant testing to determine the need for supplementary N application in all Australian dryland systems. In southern and western regions, where crop performance is based almost entirely on in-crop rainfall, this risk is offset by the management opportunity to split N applications during crop growth in response to changing crop yield potential. In northern cropping systems, where stored soil moisture at sowing is indicative of minimum yield potential, erratic winter rainfall increases uncertainty about actual yield potential as well as reducing the opportunity for effective in-season applications.

Weeds of Direct-Seeded Rice in Asia: Problems and Opportunities

Rice production symbolizes the single largest land use for food production on the Earth. The significance of this cereal as a source of energy and income seems overwhelming for millions of people in Asia, representing 90% of global rice production and consumption. Estimates indicate that the burgeoning population will need 25% more rice by 2025 than today's consumption. As the demand for rice is increasing, its production in Asia is threatened by a dwindling natural resource base, socioeconomic limitations, and uncertainty of climatic optima. Transplanting in puddled soil with continuous flooding is a common method of rice crop establishment in Asia. There is a dire need to look for rice production technologies that not only cope with existing limitations of transplanted rice but also are viable, economical, and secure for future food demand.Direct seeding of rice has evolved as a potential alternative to the current detrimental practice of puddling and nursery transplanting. The associated benefits include higher water productivity, less labor and energy inputs, less methane emissions, elimination of time and edaphic conflicts in the rice-wheat cropping system, and early crop maturity. Realization of the yield potential and sustainability of this resource-conserving rice production technique lies primarily in sustainable weed management, since weeds have been recognized as the single largest biological constraint in direct-seeded rice (DSR). Weed competition can reduce DSR yield by 30-80% and even complete crop failure can occur under specific conditions. Understanding the dynamics and outcomes of weed-crop competition in DSR requires sound knowledge of weed ecology, besides production factors that influence both rice and weeds, as well as their association. Successful adoption of direct seeding at the farmers' level in Asia will largely depend on whether farmers can control weeds and prevent shifts in weed populations from intractable weeds to more difficult-to-control weeds as a consequence of direct seeding. Sustainable weed management in DSR comprises all the factors that give DSR a competitive edge over weeds regarding acquisition and use of growth resources. This warrants the need to integrate various cultural practices with weed control measures in order to broaden the spectrum of activity against weed flora. A weed control program focusing entirely on herbicides is no longer ecologically sound, economically feasible, and effective against diverse weed flora and may result in the evolution of herbicide-resistant weed biotypes. Rotation of herbicides with contrasting modes of action in conjunction with cultural measures such as the use of weed-competitive rice cultivars, sowing time, stale seedbed technique, seeding rate, crop row spacing, fertilizer and water inputs and their application method/timing, and manual and mechanical hoeing can prove more effective and need to be optimized keeping in view the type and intensity of weed infestation. This chapter tries to unravel the dynamics of weed-crop competition in DSR. Technological issues, limitations associated with DSR, and opportunities to combat the weed menace are also discussed as a pragmatic approach for sustainable DSR production. A realistic approach to secure yield targets against weed competition will combine the abovementioned strategies and tactics in a coordinated manner. This chapter further suggests the need of multifaceted and interdisciplinary research into ecologically based weed management, as DSR seems inevitable in the near future.

Understanding the barriers to the implementation of precision agriculture in the central region

There is an increasing requirement for more astute land resource management through efficiencies in agricultural inputs in a sugar cane production system. A precision agriculture (PA) approach can provide a pathway for a sustainable sugarcane production system. One of the impediments to the adoption of PA practices is access to paddock-scale mapping layers displaying variability in soil properties, crop growth and surface drainage. Variable rate application (VRA) of nutrients is an important component of PA. However, agronomic expertise within PA systems has fallen well behind significant advances in PA technologies. Generally, advisers in the sugar industry have a poor comprehension of the complex interaction of variables that contribute to within-paddock variations in crop growth. This is regarded as a significant impediment to the progression of PA in sugarcane and is one of the reasons for the poor adoption of VRA of nutrients in a PA approach to improved sugar cane production. This project therefore has established a number of key objectives which will contribute to the adoption of PA and the staged progression of VRA supported by relevant and practical agronomic expertise. These objectives include provision of base soils attribute mapping that can be determined using Veris 3100 Electrical Conductivity (EC) and digital elevation datasets using GPS mapping technology for a large sector of the central cane growing region using analysis of archived satellite imagery to determine the location and stability of yield patterns over time and in varying seasonal conditions on selected project study sites. They also include the stablishment of experiments to determine appropriate VRA nitrogen rates on various soil types subjected to extended anaerobic conditions, and the establishment of trials to determine nitrogen rates applicable to a declining yield potential associated with the aging of ratoons in the crop cycle. Preliminary analysis of archived yield estimation data indicates that yield patterns remain relatively stable overtime. Results also indicate the where there is considerable variability in EC values there is also significant variation in yield.

Post-head-emergence frost in wheat and barley: defining the problem, assessing the damage, and identifying resistance

Radiant frost is a significant production constraint to wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), particularly in regions where spring-habit cereals are grown through winter, maturing in spring. However, damage to winter-habit cereals in reproductive stages is also reported. Crops are particularly susceptible to frost once awns or spikes emerge from the protection of the flag leaf sheath. Post-head-emergence frost (PHEF) is a problem distinct from other cold-mediated production constraints. To date, useful increased PHEF resistance in cereals has not been identified. Given the renewed interest in reproductive frost damage in cereals, it is timely to review the problem. Here we update the extent and impacts of PHEF and document current management options to combat this challenge. We clarify terminology useful for discussing PHEF in relation to chilling and other freezing stresses. We discuss problems characterizing radiant frost, the environmental conditions leading to PHEF damage, and the effects of frost at different growth stages. PHEF resistant cultivars would be highly desirable, to both reduce the incidence of direct frost damage and to allow the timing of crop maturity to be managed to maximize yield potential. A framework of potential adaptation mechanisms is outlined. Clarification of these critical issues will sharpen research focus, improving opportunities to identify genetic sources for improved PHEF resistance.

Post-head-emergence frost in wheat and barley: defining the problem, assessing the damage, and identifying resistance

Radiant frost is a significant production constraint to wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), particularly in regions where spring-habit cereals are grown through winter, maturing in spring. However, damage to winter-habit cereals in reproductive stages is also reported. Crops are particularly susceptible to frost once awns or spikes emerge from the protection of the flag leaf sheath. Post-head-emergence frost (PHEF) is a problem distinct from other cold-mediated production constraints. To date, useful increased PHEF resistance in cereals has not been identified. Given the renewed interest in reproductive frost damage in cereals, it is timely to review the problem. Here we update the extent and impacts of PHEF and document current management options to combat this challenge. We clarify terminology useful for discussing PHEF in relation to chilling and other freezing stresses. We discuss problems characterizing radiant frost, the environmental conditions leading to PHEF damage, and the effects of frost at different growth stages. PHEF resistant cultivars would be highly desirable, to both reduce the incidence of direct frost damage and to allow the timing of crop maturity to be managed to maximize yield potential. A framework of potential adaptation mechanisms is outlined. Clarification of these critical issues will sharpen research focus, improving opportunities to identify genetic sources for improved PHEF resistance.

Integrating Rapid Phenotyping and Speed Breeding to Improve Stay-Green and Root Adaptation of Wheat in Changing, Water-Limited, Australian Environments

Temperatures have increased and in-crop rainfall decreased over recent decades in many parts of the Australian wheat cropping region. With these trends set to continue or intensify, improving crop adaptation in the face of climate change is particularly urgent in this, already drought-prone, cropping region. Importantly, improved performance under water-limitation must be achieved while retaining yield potential during more favourable seasons. A multi-trait-based approach to improve wheat yield and yield stability in the face of water-limitation and heat has been instigated in northern Australia using novel phenotyping techniques and a nested association mapping (NAM) approach. An innovative laboratory technique allows rapid root trait screening of hundreds of lines. Using soil grown seedlings, the method offers significant advantages over many other lab-based techniques. Another recently developed method allows novel stay-green traits to be quantified objectively for hundreds of genotypes in standard field trial plots. Field trials in multiple locations and seasons allow evaluation of targeted trait values and identification of superior germplasm. Traits, including yield and yield components are measured for hundreds of NAM lines in rain fed environments under various levels of water-limitation. To rapidly generate lines of interest, the University of Queensland “speed breeding” method is being employed, allowing up to 7 plant generations per annum. A NAM population of over 1000 wheat recombinant inbred lines has been progressed to the F5 generation within 18 months. Genotyping the NAM lines with the genome-wide DArTseq molecular marker system provides up to 40,000 markers. They are now being used for association mapping to validate QTL previously identified in bi-parental populations and to identify novel QTL for stay-green and root traits. We believe that combining the latest techniques in physiology, phenotyping, genetics and breeding will increase genetic progress toward improved adaptation to water-limited environments.

Non-linear response of soil N2O emissions to nitrogen fertiliser in a cotton-fallow rotation in sub-tropical Australia

Nitrogen fertiliser is a major source of atmospheric N2O and over recent years there is growing evidence for a non-linear, exponential relationship between N fertiliser application rate and N2O emissions. However, there is still high uncertainty around the relationship of N fertiliser rate and N2O emissions for many cropping systems. We conducted year-round measurements of N2O emission and lint yield in four N rate treatments (0, 90, 180 and 270 kg N ha-1) in a cotton-fallow rotation on a black vertosol in Australia. We observed a nonlinear exponential response of N2O emissions to increasing N fertiliser rates with cumulative annual N2O emissions of 0.55 kg N ha-1, 0.67kg N ha-1, 1.07 kg N ha-1 and 1.89 kg N ha-1 for the four respective N fertiliser rates while no N response to yield occurred above 180N. The N fertiliser induced annual N2O EF factors increased from 0.13% to 0.29% and 0.50% for the 90N, 180N and 270N treatments respectively, significantly lower than the IPCC Tier 1 default value (1.0 %). This non-linear response suggests that an exponential N2O emissions model may be more appropriate for use in estimating emission of N2O from soils cultivated to cotton in Australia. It also demonstrates that improved agricultural N management practices can be adopted in cotton to substantially reduce N2O emissions without affecting yield potential.

Microfinance, Efficiency and Agricultural Production in Bangladesh

The objectives of this study were to make a detailed and systematic empirical analysis of microfinance borrowers and non-borrowers in Bangladesh and also examine how efficiency measures are influenced by the access to agricultural microfinance. In the empirical analysis, this study used both parametric and non-parametric frontier approaches to investigate differences in efficiency estimates between microfinance borrowers and non-borrowers. This thesis, based on five articles, applied data obtained from a survey of 360 farm households from north-central and north-western regions in Bangladesh. The methods used in this investigation involve stochastic frontier (SFA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) in addition to sample selectivity and limited dependent variable models. In article I, technical efficiency (TE) estimation and identification of its determinants were performed by applying an extended Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function. The results show that farm households had a mean TE of 83% with lower TE scores for the non-borrowers of agricultural microfinance. Addressing institutional policies regarding the consolidation of individual plots into farm units, ensuring access to microfinance, extension education for the farmers with longer farming experience are suggested to improve the TE of the farmers. In article II, the objective was to assess the effects of access to microfinance on household production and cost efficiency (CE) and to determine the efficiency differences between the microfinance participating and non-participating farms. In addition, a non-discretionary DEA model was applied to capture directly the influence of microfinance on farm households production and CE. The results suggested that under both pooled DEA models and non-discretionary DEA models, farmers with access to microfinance were significantly more efficient than their non-borrowing counterparts. Results also revealed that land fragmentation, family size, household wealth, on farm-training and off farm income share are the main determinants of inefficiency after effectively correcting for sample selection bias. In article III, the TE of traditional variety (TV) and high-yielding-variety (HYV) rice producers were estimated in addition to investigating the determinants of adoption rate of HYV rice. Furthermore, the role of TE as a potential determinant to explain the differences of adoption rate of HYV rice among the farmers was assessed. The results indicated that in spite of its much higher yield potential, HYV rice production was associated with lower TE and had a greater variability in yield. It was also found that TE had a significant positive influence on the adoption rates of HYV rice. In article IV, we estimated profit efficiency (PE) and profit-loss between microfinance borrowers and non-borrowers by a sample selection framework, which provided a general framework for testing and taking into account the sample selection in the stochastic (profit) frontier function analysis. After effectively correcting for selectivity bias, the mean PE of the microfinance borrowers and non-borrowers were estimated at 68% and 52% respectively. This suggested that a considerable share of profits were lost due to profit inefficiencies in rice production. The results also demonstrated that access to microfinance contributes significantly to increasing PE and reducing profit-loss per hectare land. In article V, the effects of credit constraints on TE, allocative efficiency (AE) and CE were assessed while adequately controlling for sample selection bias. The confidence intervals were determined by the bootstrap method for both samples. The results indicated that differences in average efficiency scores of credit constrained and unconstrained farms were not statistically significant although the average efficiencies tended to be higher in the group of unconstrained farms. After effectively correcting for selectivity bias, household experience, number of dependents, off-farm income, farm size, access to on farm training and yearly savings were found to be the main determinants of inefficiencies. In general, the results of the study revealed the existence substantial technical, allocative, economic inefficiencies and also considerable profit inefficiencies. The results of the study suggested the need to streamline agricultural microfinance by the microfinance institutions (MFIs), donor agencies and government at all tiers. Moreover, formulating policies that ensure greater access to agricultural microfinance to the smallholder farmers on a sustainable basis in the study areas to enhance productivity and efficiency has been recommended. Key Words: Technical, allocative, economic efficiency, DEA, Non-discretionary DEA, selection bias, bootstrapping, microfinance, Bangladesh.

Algal biofuel from urban wastewater in India: Scope and challenges

Rapidly depleting stocks of fossil fuels and increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have necessitated the exploration of cost effective sustainable energy sources focussing on biofuels through algae. Abundant wastewaters generated in urban localities every day provide the nourishment to nurture algae for biofuel generation. The present communication focuses on the lipid prospects of algae grown in wastewater systems. Euglena sp., Spirogyra sp. and Phormidium sp. were collected from selected locations of sewage fed urban lakes and sewage treatment plants of Bangalore and Mysore. The total lipid content of Euglena sp. was higher (24.6%) compared to Spirogyra sp. (18.4%) followed by Phormidium sp. (8.8%) and their annual lipid yield potential was 6.52, 1.94 and 2.856 t/ha/year, respectively. These species showed higher content of fatty acids (palmitate, stearate followed by oleic and linoleic acids) with the desirable biofuel properties. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Síntese e caracterização de TiO2 puro e modificado para aplicações ambientais

Fotocatalisadores baseados em nanopartículas de dióxido de titânio modificados fornecem soluções em potencial para a mineralização de poluentes orgânicos em meio aquoso. Agentes modificadores têm sido amplamente investigados com o objetivo de promover a fotoativação pela luz visível. Foram estudadas a nível fundamental até aqui, as modificações estruturais, texturais e óticas causadas pela introdução de silício e nitrogênio na rede da titânia. Titânias puras (TiO2) e modificadas nanoestruturadas, particularmente titânias modificadas com silício (TiO2-SiO2), com razões atômicas Si/Ti de 0,1, 0,2 e 0,3 foram sintetizadas pelo método sol-gel a partir da hidrólise ácida de isopropóxido de titânio(IV) e tetraetoxisilano. As metodolo-gias sintéticas desenvolvidas tentaram aderir aos princípios da Química Verde, dispensando o uso de atmosfera inerte e temperatura e pressão elevadas, o que foi alcançado utilizando-se, principalmente, a agitação ultrassônica. Titânias modificadas com silício e dopadas com ni-trogênio (TiO2-SiO2-N) foram obtidas a partir do pré-tratamento de TiO2-SiO2 a 500 C ao ar e então submetidas ao fluxo de amônia (NH3) a 600 C por 1-3 h e, após resfriamento, foram recozidas a 400 C ao ar. Amostras distintas foram caracterizadas, na forma de pó seco e após calcinação entre 400600 C, por difração de raios X, adsorção de nitrogênio, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e espectroscopia de refletância difusa no UV-Visível. As titânias pu-ras, obtidas principalmente variando-se a razão de hidrólise, foram cristalizadas na forma de anatásio como fase predominante até 600 C, além de traços de brookita presente até 500 C. O rutilo foi identificado a partir de 600 C como fase minoritária, embora apresentando tama-nhos de cristal significativamente maiores que os estimados para o cristal de anatásio. As titâ-nias modificadas com até 20% de silício apresentaram notável estabilidade térmica, evidenci-ada pela presença exclusiva de anatásio até 900 C. Foi também observado o aparecimento de macroporos com diâmetro médio em torno de 55 nm após calcinação a 400 C, diferentemente do que se observou nas amostras em geral. A introdução de baixo teor de silício assegurou às titânias calcinadas valores elevados de área específica, atribuído ao efeito de contenção acentuada na taxa de crescimento do cristal. As titânias modificadas com silício e as titânias puras obtidas com taxa de hidrólise 25:1 para a razão H2O : Ti apresentaram mesoporos com diâmetros médios de mesma dimensão do cristal. As titânias modificadas com silício e dopa-das com nitrogênio apresentaram absorção na região visível entre 400-480 nm, com discreta redução da energia de band gap para as transições eletrônicas consideradas. Titânias calcina-das a 300−400 C apresentaram desempenho fotocatalítico semelhante ao TiO2 P25 da De-gussa sob irradiação UV, na degradação do azo corante Reactive Yellow 145 em soluções a-quosas em pH 5 a 20 1C

玉米高产优质生产中若干生理生态问题的研究

玉米（Zea mays L.）是我国十分重要粮食、饲料和工业原料作物，种植区域覆盖我国大部分农业区。随着玉米品种改良和新栽培技术的应用，我国玉米产量大幅度增加。自1950s以来，我国玉米产量递增幅度为126kg/hm2/yr。在玉米产量提高过程中，单叶光合作用与产量之间存在什么样的关系？当代玉米品种的品质和养分利用效率如何？高密度种植条件下是否存在“根系拥挤”及如何调控等。为探讨上述科学问题，本研究选择中国北方常见的大田玉米品种，在高肥力自然光照条件下，探讨玉米高产优质栽培过程中生理生态特征的变化趋势，以指导科学育种和栽培。主要研究结果如下： 　　1）光合与产量的演变我国 1950s、1970s、1990s等不同年代推广的玉米品种中，当代品种叶片光合速率高且高值持续期长，光合色素叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素等的含量高且持续时间长，与光合有关的蒸腾速率（E.）、细胞间隙CO2浓度（Ci.）、气孔导度（gs）等也有较大改良，中下部叶片尤其明显;在生育后期，当代品种具有更高的光合优势。老品种饱和光合速率(Psat)在灌浆期下降，并非RuBPCase 和PEPCase的活性降低，而是由于叶绿素含量和可溶性蛋白含量的降低。在花后期间，由于PS2功能的下降，造成了光合能力下降，而现代品种的PS2 功能在衰老前一致保持旺盛状态。 　　老品种光合特征对缺氮的反应表现更敏感。花后缺氮光合作用下降是非气孔限制的，因为气孔导度和胞间CO2浓度没有发生明显的变化。其主要原因是缺素造成老品种叶片早衰，叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白含量、PEP羧化酶活性下降。现代品种表现较强的抗衰老能力，其N素利用效用高于老品种。我国玉米产量的大幅度提高在很大程度上应归功于叶片光合性能的改良。 　　随玉米品种更替，群体光合速率增强，群体光合衰减率降低，呼吸消耗所占总光合的百分率下降。灌浆期当代品种中下部叶片的群体光合速率明显高于老品种。种植密度是影响玉米群体光合速率的主要因素，在高中低三种密度条件下，当代品种均有较高的群体光合速率，表现出耐密性强、适应性广、源足库大、产量高的特点。 　　2）高油玉米的产量受到叶源大小和叶源活力的双重限制在 1.5 株/m2密度下，与普通玉米相比较，高油玉米单株籽粒产量显著低于普通玉米，产量构成中穗粒数差异不显著，千粒重较低（P＜0.01）;两类型玉米的单株库容量相当，高油玉米籽粒灌浆速率小，籽粒充实度低，单粒重对叶源相对减少（剪叶）或相对增多（疏库）的反应比普通玉米更为敏感，其产量受到同化产物供应（叶源）相对不足的限制。高油玉米授粉后的叶面积、叶面积持续期小，叶片含氮量和光合速率较低，说明高油玉米的产量受到叶源活力（光合速率）小和叶源数量少的双重限制。 　　3）我国北方玉米品种的个体产量潜力、氮素利用效率及籽粒与秸秆粗蛋白质含量在充分发挥个体生产潜力的低密度条件下，我国北方1990s 以来大面积种植的50个玉米主栽品种中，个体产量潜力和氮素利用效率高度正相关(P=0.01)，而子粒千粒重与NUE 呈显著性负相关(P=0.002)。对玉米产量和氮素利用效率进行分层聚类，可将北方玉米品种划分为高产高NUE 型、低产低NUE 型和中间型，高产高NUE 型玉米品种相对较少，仅占24%。籽粒粗蛋白质含量（CPC）与秸秆CPC 相关性不显著（P＞0.05）。对籽粒和秸秆的CPC 进行分层聚类，将北方玉米品种划分为籽粒高秸秆低型、籽粒与秸秆双低型和籽粒与秸秆双高型，CPC 双高型品种相对较少，仅占20%。 　　4）玉米根系拥挤效应对产量影响的生理生态机制及其调控随玉米品种更替根系的空间分布呈“横向紧缩，纵向延伸”的特点。当代三类型玉米根系分布特性与株型、穗型相关。紧凑型品种根系分布深，下层根系所占比率大，适合密植，群体产量潜力大;平展大穗型品种根量多，分布较浅，在低密度下可获得较高的个体生产力，但不适合密植，群体产量潜力小。 　　“根系拥挤”显著影响玉米产量，减小根系横向伸展空间，下层土壤中的根系分配比率增多。在地上部充分生长条件下，紧凑型品种横向空间为30-50cm即可满足要求，平展型品种大于50cm;紧凑型品种对纵向空间受限制的反应更为敏感，平展型品种对横向空间受限制的反应更为敏感。“根系拥挤”影响根系活性、分布、氮素吸收利用和花后光合与14C同化物的分配。 　　在根系受限制条件下，增施肥料产量提高，根系总重增加，增加了根系在深层土壤（60-100cm）中的根系比率，显著增加了根系的TTC 还原量、SOD、CAT、POD活性。土壤加沙，根量减少，但根系TTC 还原量增加、产量提高，提高幅度以大穗型品种更为显著。 　　随种植密度增加耕层根系密度与群体产量同步增大，各类品种均在最高根系密度下获得最高产量。根系负荷的籽粒产量潜力三类型品种存在极大差异，在一定范围内增大种植密度，根系伸展空间减小，群体产量提高，紧凑大穗型品种产量最高，品种的耐密性是限制根系负荷籽粒产量潜力的主导因素。因此，培育株型紧凑、耐密性强、大穗玉米良种，采取有效的调控措施是玉米进一步高产的主攻方向。 　　5）我国夏玉米高产田的培创理论研究与实践相结合，2005 年在我国华北地区的山东莱州培创出籽粒实产21 042.9kg/hm2 （ 14% 含水量， 实收面积=45.7m×15.9m=726.63m2）的夏玉米高产纪录。主要采用以增加密度为保障的“群体结构性挖潜”和以提高整齐度为保障的“个体功能性挖潜”途径，生理生态指标包括：选用紧凑抗倒耐密植品种DH3719，种植密度102 030 株/hm2，收获密度98 610 株/hm2，花后具有较长的叶面积高值持续期，达60d以上，叶面积指数最大为6.53，收获2.59。上部叶片光合值对外界光强度变化敏感，其光合峰值出现时间提前，而后迅速衰减;中部叶片光合值的降低较慢，下部叶片变幅最小，可能是长期处于争光环境表现出的生态适应性。粒叶比0.32，经济系数0.542，单株产量216g，千粒重375.1g。

黄土旱塬Hybrid-Maize模型适应性及春玉米生产潜力估算

通过对Hybrid-Maize玉米高产模型进行田间验证,应用该模型对黄土旱塬春玉米生产潜力进行初步估算。结果表明,Hybrid-Maize模型在黄土旱塬表现出较好模拟效果,总生物量、秸秆生物量和籽粒产量模拟值与实测值间具有极显著线性相关性,其决定系数分别为0.9469、0.8164和0.9650,回归系数分别为1.0198、0.9787和1.1844,接近于1。黄土旱塬区多年光温生产潜力和气候生产潜力因品种不同有所差别,对多年平均光温籽粒和总生物量生产潜力,紧凑型玉米品种分别为13.25和22.45t/hm2,平展型玉米品种分别为12.32和20.62t/hm2,年际变化小;对多年平均气候籽粒和总生物量生产潜力,紧凑型玉米品种分别为11.97和19.94t/hm2,平展型玉米品种分别为11.37和18.63t/hm2,年际波动大。在黄土旱塬区,玉米产量潜力挖掘的主要途径应集中在提高密度和水分限制条件下,Hybrid-Maize玉米模型在指导玉米高产栽培上具有较好应用。