Incidencia de la fertilización en amaranto : zona semiárida pampenana (Argentina)

El objetivo fue evaluar la producción y la calidad de biomasa de Amaranthus mantegazzianus Pass. cv. Don Juan, en condiciones de secano, con fertilización de NPK y agregado de urea al momento de los cortes para obtención de materia verde y posterior producción de grano. Se sembró en el Campo Experimental de la Facultad de Agronomía de la Universidad Nacional de La Pampa, Argentina, el 18/11/ 2004 en parcelas con cinco surcos distanciados 0.35 m. Se establecieron dos tratamientos: un testigo sin fertilizar y otro fertilizado con NPK (19-19-19) 50 kg ha-1 como fertilizante base y urea (100 kg ha-1) al momento del corte, en un diseño en bloques al azar con cuatro repeticiones. Las condiciones ambientales adversas solamente permitieron la realización de un corte e imposibilitaron la obtención de grano. Se midió: producción de biomasa, porcentaje de materia seca, tamaño promedio de hojas (largo x ancho), ancho promedio del tallo, largo promedio del pecíolo, número de hojas por planta cortada. Se calculó la relación lámina de la hoja/largo de pecíolo. Se determinó el contenido de proteína cruda y minerales. La fertilización realizada aumenta la relación lámina de la hoja/pecíolo. Las variables medidas y el contenido de nutrientes no presentaron diferencias significativas entre las plantas fertilizadas y sin fertilizar.

Responses of neotropical mangrove seedlings grown in monoculture and mixed culture under treatments of hydroperiod and salinity

We investigated the combined effects of salinity and hydroperiod on seedlings of Rhizophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa grown under experimental conditions of monoculture and mixed culture by using a simulated tidal system. The objective was to test hypotheses relative to species interactions to either tidal or permanent flooding at salinities of 10 or 40 g/l. Four-month-old seedlings were experimentally manipulated under these environmental conditions in two types of species interactions: (1) seedlings of the same species were grown separately in containers from September 2000 to August 2001 to evaluate intraspecific response and (2) seedlings of each species were mixed in containers to evaluate interspecific, competitive responses from August 2002 to April 2003. Overall, L. racemosa was strongly sensitive to treatment combinations while R. mangle showed little effect. Most plant responses of L. racemosa were affected by both salinity and hydroperiod, with hydroperiod inducing more effects than salinity. Compared to R. mangle, L. racemosa in all treatment combinations had higher relative growth rate, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, stem elongation, total length of branches, net primary production, and stem height. Rhizophora mangle had higher biomass allocation to roots. Species growth differentiation was more pronounced at low salinity, with few species differences at high salinity under permanent flooding. These results suggest that under low to mild stress by hydroperiod and salinity, L. racemosa exhibits responses that favor its competitive dominance over R. mangle. This advantage, however, is strongly reduced as stress from salinity and hydroperiod increase.

Growth and gas exchange responses of Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) and native South Florida species to salinity

Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Schinus) is an invasive exotic species widely found in disturbed and native communities of Florida. This species has been shown to displace native species as well as alter community structure and function. The purpose of this study was to determine if the growth and gas exchange patterns of Schinus, under differing salinity conditions, were different from native species. Two native upland glycophytic species (Rapanea punctata and Randia aculeata) and two native mangrove species (Rhizophora mangle and Laguncularia racemosa) were compared with the exotic. Overall, the exotics morphologic changes and gas exchange patterns were most similar to R. mangle. Across treatments, increasing salinity decreased relative growth rate (RGR), leaf area ratio (LAR) and specific leaf area (SLA) but did not affect root/shoot ratios (R:S). Allocation patterns were however significantly different among species. The largest proportion of Schinus biomass was allocated to stems (47%), resulting in plants that were generally taller than the other species. Schinus also had the highest SLA and largest total leaf area of all species. This meant that the exotic, which was taller and had thinner leaves, was potentially able to maintain photosynthetic area comparable to native species. Schinus response patterns show that this exotic exhibits some physiological tolerance for saline conditions. Coupled with its biomass allocation patterns (more stem biomass and large area of thin leaves), the growth traits of this exotic potentially provide this species an advantage over native plants in terms of light acquisition in a brackish forested ecosystem.

Respostas ecofisiológicas de Cybistax antisyphilitica Mart. (Ipê verde) em função das alterações na intensidade de luz

Light varies widely in both time and space in forest formation of “Bioma Cerrado”. Cybistax antisyphilitica occurs in areas typical of this biome, such as cerrado sensu stricto, “cerradões”, and altered areas. The aim of this study was to understand the morphological and physiological responses of C. antisyphilitica to alterations in light intensity. Juvenile plants (5 month of age) were taken to a fragment of semideciduous forest in Uberlândia-MG, and were divided into three treatments: 50 were maintained under the canopy (UC) 20 were kept in small gap (SG) and 20 were maintained under in full sun (FS). The daily courses of chlorophyll a fluorescence were made at the beginning, middle and end of dry season in 2015. At the end of the experiment measurements of chlorophyll content, gas exchange and growth were made. The plants showed dynamic photoinhibition as exhibited by reductions on Fv/Fm close to midday at the end of the dry season. Regarding the effective quantum yield (ΔF/Fm'), plants under FS showed reduced values that coincided with the higher values of electron transport rates (ETR). Plants under FS showed higher values of net CO2 assimilation rates, stomatal conductance, transpiration rates, water use efficiency and chlorophyll content compared to plants under UC. The stem diameter, dry mass of leaves and stem, total dry mass and relative growth rate were higher in plants under FS than plants under UC. On the other hand, plants under UC showed superior values of height, specific leaf area and leaf area ratio. Our results indicate that C. antisyphilitica has plasticity to survive in the contrasting light environments of the semideciduous forests, but this species was able to growth better under full sun conditions.

Variation in ecophysiology and carbon economy of invasive and native woody vines of riparian zones in south-eastern Queensland

Exotic and invasive woody vines are major environmental weeds of riparian areas, rainforest communities and remnant natural vegetation in coastal eastern Australia, where they smother standing vegetation, including large trees, and cause canopy collapse. We investigated, through glasshouse resource manipulative experiments, the ecophysiological traits that might facilitate faster growth, better resource acquisition and/or utilization and thus dominance of four exotic and invasive vines of South East Queensland, Australia, compared with their native counterparts. Relative growth rate was not significantly different between the two groups but water use efficiency (WUE) was higher in the native species while the converse was observed for light use efficiency (quantum efficiency, AQE) and maximum photosynthesis on a mass basis (Amax mass). The invasive species, as a group, also exhibited higher respiration load, higher light compensation point and higher specific leaf area. There were stronger correlations of leaf traits and greater structural (but not physiological) plasticity in invasive species than in their native counterparts. The scaling coefficients of resource use efficiencies (WUE, AQE and respiration efficiency) as well as those of fitness (biomass accumulated) versus many of the performance traits examined did not differ between the two species-origin groups, but there were indications of significant shifts in elevation (intercept values) and shifts along common slopes in many of these relationships – signalling differences in carbon economy (revenue returned per unit energy invested) and/or resource usage. Using ordination and based on 14 ecophysiological attributes, a fair level of separation between the two groups was achieved (51.5% explanatory power), with AQE, light compensation point, respiration load, WUE, specific leaf area and leaf area ratio, in decreasing order, being the main drivers. This study suggests similarity in trait plasticity, especially for physiological traits, but there appear to be fundamental differences in carbon economy and resource conservation between native and invasive vine species.

川西亚高山人工针叶林下11种植物对两种光生境的适应性研究

青藏高原东缘的亚高山针叶林是长江上游重要的生态屏障，经过近六十年的采伐后，取而代之的是大量人工种植的云杉纯林。目前，这些人工林已经表现出树种单一，结构层次简单等生态问题，其物种多样性及生态效益与同地带天然林相比差距较明显。如何丰富该地区物种多样性，完善人工林生态系统的生态功能是一个十分重要的课题。林下植物是人工林群落的重要组成部分，对维持群落的生物多样性及完善生态系统功能具有明显的作用。因此，研究该地区人工针叶林的林下植被对不同生境的适应性对于理解人工林生态系统物种多样性的形成和维持机制都具有重要的意义。 本文以青藏高原东部亚高山针叶林的主要森林类型----云杉人工林为研究对象，选择林下11种具有不同喜光特性的常见植物，分别设置人工林林冠下及成熟林窗为研究样地，通过对各种植物叶片形态与物质分配特征、叶片解剖学特征、叶片光合生理特性、植物自然分布特征等方面的比较分析，研究林下植物对不同光生境的适应策略及其适应能力，揭示不同物种对人工林生境的适应共性，为西南亚高山地区植被恢复及人工林的经营管理提供科学依据。具体研究结果如下： 在叶片形态和物质分配特征方面：在林窗光生境中，11种林下植物叶片比叶重(LMA)显著高于林下光生境的同种植物。同时，林窗下生长的植物叶片叶片厚度及栅栏细胞长度显著增加，这是影响叶片比叶重变化的直接原因。而多数植物叶重比在两种生境中无明显变化。说明在长期适应自然生境之后，植物可能更多地采取调节叶片组织细胞水平（即叶片功能细胞形态）及叶片器官水平（即单个叶片形态）特征的策略来适应各类生境，而非整株水平上的叶片总比重的增减。 在叶片解剖结构特征方面：多数阔叶物种栅栏组织厚度(PT)、栅栏组织厚度/海绵组织厚度(PT/ST)、栅栏细胞层数及近半数种的气孔密度(SD)在林窗生境中更大或更多，而叶片表皮细胞厚度(UET、LET)气孔长径(SL)及海绵组织厚度(ST)受两种生境影响不大。喜光特性相似的物种在生境适应策略上具有一定的趋同性。 在光合生理特征方面：在林窗生境中多数种植物的最大光合速率(Amax)、暗呼吸速率(Rd)及喜光植物光补偿点(LCP)显著或极显著高于林内生境同种植物。且在同一生境条件下，多数深度耐荫植物比喜光及轻度喜光植物有稍低的Rd和LCP。各植物在林内低光生境中具有更大的内禀光能转化效率，并在中午12:00～14:00之间光强最大的时刻发生了的最深程度的光抑制。多数种能通过调节自身某种光合素含量或色素之间的比例来适应不同的光生境，即通过增加叶绿素含量或降低Chla/b值来适应林内弱光生境，通过提高类胡萝卜素含量或单位叶绿素的类胡萝卜素含量降低强光带来的伤害。绝大多数物种并不采取调节叶片C、N含量的策略来适应不同的光生境。总之，植物部分光合参数(Amax、Rd、LCP)受生境的影响与其自身喜光特性有关，但另一些参数（Fv/Fm日变化、色素含量及比例、叶氮相对含量）受生境影响与其自身喜光特性无明显关联。 在表型可塑性方面：在叶片各表型参数中，器官水平及细胞水平的形态特征参数平均可塑性大于整株水平形态和物质分配特征参数可塑性；叶片光合组织的可塑性大于非光合组织可塑性；反映植物光合能力的参数可塑性大于叶片色素含量参数可塑性。植物叶片形态和物质分配、解剖学特征参数平均可塑性大小与其自身喜光特性基本吻合，即喜光种及轻度耐荫种各参数可塑性最高，深度耐荫种可塑性最小，而这种规律并未在光合生理参数的可塑性大小上体现出来。但是叶片形态和物质分配参数、光合生理参数的平均可塑性水平却大于叶片解剖学参数。 在植物自然分布特征方面：喜光物种云杉幼苗及歪头菜在林内生境中分布密度明显降低，深度耐荫种疏花槭却恰恰相反，更多数物种（7种植物）在两种生境中密度变化趋势不明显。从分布格局来看，7种植物在两种生境中均为聚集分布，但聚集强度为林窗>林内；少数物种桦叶荚迷、直穗小檗、冰川茶藨、黄背勾儿茶在林窗中为聚集型，在林内生境中的分布型发生改变而成为随机型，说明光生境的差异能影响到植物种群的分布特征。但这种影响程度与植物自身的喜光特性无关，同时与各物种叶片表型平均可塑性的大小也无明显关联。 The subalpine coniferous forest area in eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is important ecology-barrier of upriver Yangtze. In past sixty years, those forests had been cut down and replaced with a lot of spruce plantations. At now, there are many ecology problems presenting to us such as singleness species, simple configuration, lower species diversity and ecological benefit than natural forests at the same belt. How to restore the species diversity and enhance the eco-function of the plantations is a very important issue. The understory plants are important part of plantation community, which improved the bio-diversity and eco-function distinctly of forests. So, it is very significance to study the adaptation of understory plants to different environment in plantation, and this study would helping us to understand how plantations to develop and remain their biodiversity. This study was conducted in a 60a spruce plantation in Miyaluo located in western Sichuan, China, and spruce plantation is major types of subalpine coniferous forest in eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In this paper, the leaf morphological and biomass-distributed characteristics, the anatomical characteristics, the photosynthetic characteristics and the distribution patterns characteristics of eleven different light-requirement understory species grown in two different environments (forest gaps and underneath close canopy) were studied and compared. The purpose of this study was to analyze the adaptation of this forest understory plants, to show up the commonness of these different light-requirement understory species in light acclimation, and to provide some scientific reference to manage and restore the vegetation of subalpine plantation of southwest China. The results were as follows: The leaf morphological and biomass-distributed characteristics: These eleven species in forest gaps had significantly higher dry weight per leaf area (LMA) than those under close canopy. The palisade parenchyma cells of the broad-leaved species in gaps were significantly longer than those grown under the canopy, which been a directed factor for the change of leaf mass per unit area (LMA) in different environment. But the leaf weight ratio (LWR) of most plants species were not evidently changed by the contrasted environments in our study. It was shown the morphological characteristics changing been adopted as a strategy of light acclimation for plants wasn’t on whole plant level (leaf weight ratio) but cellular level (the function cells morphological characteristics) and organic level (the leaf morphological and biomass-distributed characteristics) mostly. The leaf anatomical characteristics: Most broad-leaved plants in gaps increased palisade parenchyma thickness (PT), the palisade parenchyma cell layers and the ratio of palisade to spongy parenchyma (PT/ST). So did as almost about half species in this study in stomatal density (SD). No significant differences in thickness of leaf epidermal cells (UET, LET), stomatal length (SL) and spongy parenchyma (ST) between two environments of most species were observed. The results suggested that species with light-requirement approximately had convergent evolution on adaptation to light condition. The leaf photosynthetic characteristics: The dark respiration rate (Rd) of most plants species, the light compensation point (LCP) of light-demanding plants species in gaps were significantly increased than under close canopy in this study. In a same habitat, most deep-shade-tolerant plants had lower Rd and LCP than those light-demanding plants and slight-shade-tolerant plants. Each species has bigger inherent electron transport rate under close canopy than in gaps, and the greatest photoinhibition happened during 12 to 14 in the daytime. Most species could adapt different light environment by the way of changing their photosynthetic pigments content or the ratio of pigments content. For example, some plants under close canopy increased chlorophyll (Chl) or reduced the values of the ratio Chla/b to adapted the low light condition, some plants in gaps increased carotenoid (Car) or reduced the weight ratio CarChl to avoid been hurt in high light. For most plants, changing the content of C and N in leaf wasn’t a strategy of light acclimation. In conclusion, the variation of some leaf photosynthetic parameters in different light environment such as Fv/Fm, pigments, C and N in leaf related with the light-requirmnet of species, but the others such as Amax, Rd, LCP did not. The leaf plasticity indexes: Among those leaf plasticity indexes, the leaf morphological and biomass-distributed parameters on cellular and organic level were greater than on whole plant level for same species, and the photosynthetic parenchyma parameters were greater than non-photosynthetic parenchyma parameters in same leaf, and photosynthetic capability parameters were greater than photosynthetic pigments content parameters for same species. The average plasticity indexes of leaf morphological and biomass-distributed and anatomical parameters were accordant with plants’ light-requirement approximately: those light-demanding plants and slight-shade-tolerant plants had bigger plasticity indexes than deep-shade-tolerant plants. But this regular wasn’t observed in physiological plasticity indexes for most plants, though the average leaf plasticity indexes of leaf morphological and biomass-distributed, photosynthetic characteristics parameters was greater than the anatomical characteristics parameters. The distribution patterns characteristics: Oppositely to the deep-shade-tolerant specie Acer laxiflorum Pax., the density of light-demanding species Picea asperata Mast. and Vicia unijuga A. Br. in gaps was bigger than under close canopy. Each of the other species has the approximately density in two different environment. The spatial patterns of seven species were aggregated distribution in two environments, but the trend of aggregation of population under close canopy was decrease from in gaps. A few species such as Viburnum betulifoium Batal., Berberis dasystachya Maxim., Ribes glaciale Wall. and Berchemia flavescens Brongn. were aggregated distribution in gaps while random distribution under close canopy. It was shown that the difference between two light environments could affect the distribution pattern of plant population, and the effect didn’t relate with the light-requirement or plasticity indexes of species.

干旱胁迫与施N条件下白刺花（Sophora davidii）幼苗生长及其适应机制

干旱环境常常由于多变的降水事件和贫瘠土壤的综合作用，表现出较低的生产力和较低的植被覆盖度。全球性的气候变暖和人类干扰必将使得干旱地区缺水现状越来越严竣。贫瘠土壤环境中已经很低的有效养分含量也将会随着干旱的扩大而越来越低。干旱与半干旱系统中不断加剧的水分与养分的缺失将严重限制植物的生长和植被的更新，必然会使得已经恶化的环境恶化速率的加快、恶化范围的加大。如何抑制这种趋势，逐步改善已经恶化的环境是现在和将来干旱系统管理者面临的主要关键问题。了解干旱系统本土植物对未来气候变化的适应机制，不仅是植物生态学研究的重要内容，也对人为调节干旱环境，改善干旱系统植被条件，提高植被覆盖度具有重要的实践意义。 本研究以干旱河谷优势灌木白刺花（Sophora davidii）为研究对象，通过两年大棚水分和施N控制实验和一个生长季野外施N半控制实验，从植物生长－生理－资源利用以及植物生长土壤环境特征入手，系统的研究了白刺花幼苗生长特性对干旱胁迫和施N的响应与适应机制，并试图探讨施N是否可调节干旱系统土壤环境，人工促进干旱条件下幼苗定居，最终贡献于促进植被更新实践。初步研究结论如下： 1）白刺花幼苗生长、生物量积累与分配以及水分利用效率对干旱胁迫和施N处理的适应白刺花幼苗株高、基径、叶片数目、叶面积、根长、生物量生产、相对含水量和水分利用效率随着干旱胁迫程度的增加而明显降低，但地下部分生物量比例和R/S随着干旱胁迫程度的增加而增加。轻度施N处理下幼苗株高、基径、叶片数目、叶片面积和生物量生产有所增加。但重度施N处理下这些生长指标表现出微弱甚至降低的趋势。严重干旱胁迫条件下，幼苗叶面积率、R/S、相对含水量和水分利用效率也以轻度施N处理为最高。 2）白刺花幼苗叶片光合生理特征对干旱胁迫和施N处理的适应叶片光合色素含量和叶片光合效率随着干旱胁迫程度的增加而显著降低，并且PS2系统在干旱胁迫条件下表现出一定程度的光损害。但是比叶面积随着干旱胁迫程度的增加而增加。在相对较好水分条件下幼苗净光合速率的降低可能是因为气孔限制作用，而严重干旱胁迫条件下非气孔限制可能是导致幼苗叶片光合速率下降的主要原因。叶片叶绿素含量、潜在光合能力、羧化效率、光合效率以及RUBP再生能力等在施N处理下得到提高，并因而改善干旱胁迫条件下光合能力和效率。虽然各荧光参数对施N处理并无显著的反应，但是干旱胁迫条件下qN和Fv/Fm在轻度施N处理下维持相对较高的水平，而两年连续处理后在严重干旱胁迫条件下幼苗叶片光合效率受到重度施N处理的抑制，并且Fv/Fm和qN也在重度施N处理下降低。 3）白刺花幼苗C、N和P积累以及N、P利用效率对干旱胁迫和施N处理的适应白刺花幼苗C、N和P的积累，P利用效率以及N和P吸收效率随干旱胁迫程度的增加而显著降低，C、N和P的分配格局也随之改变。在相同水分处理下，C、N和P的积累量、P利用效率以及N和P吸收效率在轻度施N处理下表现为较高的水平。然而，C、N和P的积累量和P利用效率在重度施N处理下不仅没有表现出显著的正效应，而且有降低的趋势。另外，在相同水分条件下白刺花幼苗N利用效率随着施N强度的增加而降低。 4）白刺花幼苗生长土壤化学与微生物特性对干旱胁迫和施N的适应白刺花幼苗生长土壤有机C、有效N和P含量也随干旱胁迫程度的增加而明显降低。干旱胁迫条件下土壤C/N、C/P、转化酶、脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性的降低可能表明较低的N和P矿化速率。尽管微生物生物量C、N和P对一个生长季干旱胁迫处理无显著反应，但微生物生物量C和N在两年连续干旱胁迫后显著降低。土壤有机C和有效P含量在轻度施N处理下大于重度施N处理，但是有效N含量随着施N强度的增加而增加。微生物生物量C和N、碱性磷酸酶和转化酶活性也在轻度施N处理下有所增加。但是碱性磷酸酶活性在重度施N处理下降低。 5）野外条件下白刺花幼苗生长特征及生长土壤生化特性对施N的适应植物生长、生物生产量、C的固定、N、P等资源的吸收和积累、其它受限资源的利用效率（如P）在轻度施N处理下均有所增加，但N利用效率有所降低。幼苗生物生产量及C、N和P等资源的分配格局在轻度施N处理下也没有明显的改变。白刺花幼苗叶片数目、生物生产量和C、N、P的积累量在重度施N处理下虽然也相对于对照有所增加，但幼苗根系长度显著降低。生物量及资源（生物量、C、N、P）在重度施N处理下较多地分配给地上部分（主要是叶片）。另外，土壤有机C、全N和有效N含量随外源施N的增加而显著增加，土壤pH随之降低，但土壤全P含量并无显著反应。其中有机C含量和有效P含量以轻度施N处理最高。微生物生物量C、N和P在轻度施N处理下也显著增加，而微生物生物量C在重度施N处理下显著降低。同时，转化酶、脲酶、碱性磷酸酶和中性磷酸酶活性在施N处理下也明显的提高，但酸性磷酸酶和过氧化氢酶活性显著降低，其中碱性磷酸酶和中性磷酸酶活性以轻度施N处理最高。 综合分析表明，干旱河谷水分和N严重限制了白刺花幼苗的生长。施N不能完全改变干旱胁迫对白刺花幼苗的抑制的作用，但是由于施N增加土壤N有效性，改善土壤一系列生物与化学过程，幼苗的生长特性也对施N表现出强烈的反应，表现为植物结构与资源分配格局的改善，植物叶片光合能力与效率的提高，植物生长以及利用其他受限资源（如水分和P）的效率的增加，致使植物自身生长及其生长环境在干旱环境下得到改善。但是过度施N不仅不能起到改善干旱胁迫下植物生长环境、促进植物生长的作用，反而在土壤过程以及植物生长过程中加重干旱胁迫对植物的伤害。因此，建议在采用白刺花作为先锋种改善干旱河谷系统环境的实践中，可适当施加N以改善土壤环境，调节植物利用与分配资源的效率，促进植物定居，得到人工促进种群更新的目的。但在实践过程中也要避免过度施N。 Arid regions of the world are generally noted for their low primary productivity which is due to a combination of low, unpredictable water supply and low soil nutrient concentrations. The most serious effects of global climate change and human disturbances may well be those which related to increasing drought since drought stress has already been the principal constraint in plant growth. The decline in total rainfall and/or soil water availability expected for the next decades may turn out to be even more drastic under future warmer conditions. Nevertheless, water deficit is not the only limiting factor in arid and semiarid environments. Soils often suffer from nutrient (especially N and P) deficiencies in these ecosystems, which can also be worsened by climate change. How to improve the poor soil quality and enhance the vegetation coverage is always the problem facing ecosystem managers. The adaptive mechanisms of native plant to future climate change is always the focus in plant ecology, it also plays important roles in improving vegetation coverage by manual controlled programmes. Sophora davidii is a native perennial shrub of arid valleys, which is often predominant on eroded slopes and plays a vital role in retaining ecological stability in this region. It has been found that S. davidii was better adapted to dry environment than other shrubs, prompting its use for re-vegetation of arid lands. A two-years greenhouse experiment and a field experiment were conducted in order to understand the adaptation responses of Sophora davidii seedlings to different water and N conditions, and further explore if additional N supply as a modified role could enhance the adaptation ability of S. davidii seedlings to dry and infertile environment. Two-month old seedlings were subjected to a completely randome design with three water (80%, 40% and 20% water field capacity (FC)) and three N supply (N0: 0, Nl: 92 and Nh: 184 mg N kg-1 soil) regimes. Field experiment was arranged only by three N supplies in the dry valley. 1) The growth, biomass partitioning and water-use efficiency of Sophora davidii seedlings in respond to drought stress and N supply Seedlings height, basal diameter, leaf number, leaf area, root length, biomass production, relative water content (RWC) and WUE were decreased with increase of drought stress. An increase in below-ground biomass was observed indicating a higher root/shoot ratio (R/S) under drought stress conditions. Low N supply increased seedlings height, basal diameter, leaf number, leaf area, and biomass production, but decreased root length. In contrast, these growth characteristics showed little or negative effect to high N supply treatment. Leaf percentages increased with increase of N supply, but fine root percentages decreased. In addition, Low N supply rather than the other two N treatments increased leaf area ratio (LAR), leaf/fine root mass ratio (L/FR), R/S and RWC under severe drought stress (20%FC), even though these parameters could increase with the high N supply treatment under well-watered condition (80%FC). Moreover, Low N supply also increased WUE under three water conditions, but high N supply had little effect on WUE under drought stress conditions (40%FC and 20%FC). 2) Leaf gas exchange and fluorescence parameters of Sophora davidii seedlings in respond to drought stress and N supply Leaf area (LA), photosynthetic pigment contents, and photosynthetic efficiency were decreased with increase of drought stress, but specific leaf area (SLA) increased. Photodamage in photosystem 2 (PS2) was also observed under drought stress condition. The decreased net photosynthetic rate (PN) under relative well-watered water conditions might result from stomatal limitations, but the decreased PN under other hand, photosynthetic capacity by increasing LA, photosynthetic chlorophyll contents, Pnmax, CE, Jmax were increased with increase N supply, and photosynthetic efficiency was improved with N supply treatment under water deficit. Although N supply did a little in alleviating photodamages to PS2 caused by drought stress, low N supply enhanced qN and kept relative high Fv/Fm under drought stress condition. However, high N supply inhibited leaf photosynthetic efficiency, and declined Fv/Fm and qN under severe drought stress condition after two year continues drought stress and N supply. 3) Carbon accumulation, nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency of Sophora davidii seedlings in respond to drought stress and N supply C, N and P accumulation, NUE , N and P uptake efficiency (NUtE and NUtE ) P N P were decreased with increase of drought stress regardless of N supply. On the other hand, the S. davidii seedlings exhibited strong responses to N supply, but the responses were inconsistent with the various N supply levels. Low N supply rather than the other two N treatments increased C, N and P accumulation, improved NUEP, NUtE and NUtE under corresponding water condition. In contrast, high N supply N P did few even depressed effects on C, N and P accumulation, and NUEP, although NUtEN and NUtEP could increase with high N supply under corresponding water conditions. Even so, a decrease of NUEN was observed with increase of N supply under corresponding water conditions. 4) Soil microbial and chemical characters in respond to drought stress and N supply The content of soil organic C, available N and P were decreased with increase of drought stress. Decreases in C/N and C/P, and invertase, urea and alkaline phosphatase activity were also observed under drought stress conditions, indicating a lower N and P mineralization rate. Although microbial biomass C, N and P showed slight responses to drought stress after one growth period treatment, microbial biomass C and N were also decreased with increase of drought stress after two year continuous treatment. The content of soil organic C and available P showed the stronger positive responses to low N supply than which to high N supply, although than the other two N treatments increased microbial biomass N and invertase activity under severe drought stress condition, even though invertase activity could increase with high N supply treatment under relative well-water conditions. Moreover, low N supply treatment also increased C/P and alkaline phosphatase activity which might result from higher P mineralization, but high N supply did negative effects on alkaline phosphatase activity. 5) The growth characteristics of Sophora davidii seedlings and soil microbial and chemical characters in respond to N supply under field condition Low N supply facilitated seedlings growth by increasing leaf number, basal diameter, root length, biomass production, C, N and P accumulation and absorption, and enhancing the use efficiency of other limited resources as P. Compared to control, however, low N supply did little effect on altering biomass, C, N and P portioning in seedlings components. On the contrary, high N supply treatment also increased leaf number, biomass and C, N and P accumulation relative to control, but significantly decreased root length, and altered more biomass and resources to above-ground, which strongly reduced the ability of absorbing water under drought condition, and thus which might deep the drought stress. In addition, N supply increased soil C, N and available N content, but declined pH and showed little effects on P content. Low N supply showed higher values of soil C and available P content. Low N supply also increased microbial biomass C, N and P, although high N supply decreased microbial biomass C. N supply significantly enhanced soil invertase, urea, alkaline and neutral phosphratase activity, while declined acid phosphratase and catalase activity. Low N supply exhibited higher alkaline and neutral phosphratase activity compared to the others. The results from this study indicated that both drought and N limited the growth of S. davidii seedlings and their biomass production. Regardless of N supply levels, drought stress dramatically reduced the seedlings growth and biomass production. Although plant growth parameters, including basal diameter, height, leaf number, and biomass and their components were observed to be positive responses to low N supply, N supply alone can not alter the diminishing tendency which is caused by drought. available N content increased with increase N supply. In addition, low N supply rather These findings imply that drought played a primary limitation role and N was only the secondary. Even so, appropriate N supply was seemed to enhance the ability that S. davidii seedlings adapted to the xeric and infertile environment by improving soil processes, stimulating plant growth, increasing recourses accumulation, enhancing use efficiency of other limited resources, and balancing biomass and resources partitioning. Appropriate N supply, therefore, would be recommended to improve S. davidii seedling establishment in this region, but excess N supply should be avoided.

Changes in individual plant traits and biomass allocation in alpine meadow with elevation variation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Plant traits and individual plant biomass allocation of 57 perennial herbaceous species, belonging to three common functional groups (forbs, grasses and sedges) at subalpine (3700 m ASL), alpine (4300 m ASL) and subnival (>= 5000 m ASL) sites were examined to test the hypothesis that at high altitudes, plants reduce the proportion of aboveground parts and allocate more biomass to belowground parts, especially storage organs, as altitude increases, so as to geminate and resist environmental stress. However, results indicate that some divergence in biomass allocation exists among organs. With increasing altitude, the mean fractions of total biomass allocated to aboveground parts decreased. The mean fractions of total biomass allocation to storage organs at the subalpine site (7%+/- 2% S.E.) were distinct from those at the alpine (23%+/- 6%) and subnival (21%+/- 6%) sites, while the proportions of green leaves at all altitudes remained almost constant. At 4300 m and 5000 m, the mean fractions of flower stems decreased by 45% and 41%, respectively, while fine roots increased by 86% and 102%, respectively. Specific leaf areas and leaf areas of forbs and grasses deceased with rising elevation, while sedges showed opposite trends. For all three functional groups, leaf area ratio and leaf area root mass ratio decreased, while fine root biomass increased at higher altitudes. Biomass allocation patterns of alpine plants were characterized by a reduction in aboveground reproductive organs and enlargement of fine roots, while the proportion of leaves remained stable. It was beneficial for high altitude plants to compensate carbon gain and nutrient uptake under low temperature and limited nutrients by stabilizing biomass investment to photosynthetic structures and increasing the absorption surface area of fine roots. In contrast to forbs and grasses that had high mycorrhizal infection, sedges had higher single leaf area and more root fraction, especially fine roots.

Effect of N fertilizer on the productivity and nutritive values of perennial grass mixtures in the alpine region of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

A study was conducted on grass mixtures that included smooth bromegrass (SB) + drooping wild ryegrass (DW), smooth bromegrass + Siberian wild ryegrass (SW) + crested wheatgrass (CW) and smooth bromegrass + Siberian wild ryegrass + drooping wild ryegrass + crested wheatgrass in the alpine region of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The study was conducted from 1998 to 2000 to investigate the effects of N application rates and growing year on herbage dry matter (DM) yield and nutritive values. Herbage DM production increased linearly with N application rates. The effect of N application on DM yields was greater (P < 0.05) in the 2nd and 3rd production years than in the establishment year. Dry matter yields of SB + SW + CW and SB + SW + DW + CW can reach as high as 15 000 kg ha(-1) at 345 kg ha(-1) N rate in the 3rd growing year. With increased N application rates, crude protein (CP) contents and 48 h in sacco DM degradability of grasses increased (P < 0.05). No effect (P > 0.05) of N application was detected on organic matter (OM) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) concentration. It can be concluded that for increased biomass production in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, a minimum of 345 kg N ha(-1) should be applied to grass stands in three split application of 115 kg N ha(-1), in early June, early July and late July

Efeito da luz no crescimento de mudas de Hymenaea parvifolia Huber

Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar o efeito da intensidade de luz no crescimento de mudas de Hymenaea parvifolia Huber., bem como inferir sobre o seu grau de tolerância à sombra. Para tal, foi instalado um experimento em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos (níveis de luz): pleno sol (PS), 50% de sombreamento, 70% de sombreamento e sombreamento natural (SN). Os níveis de 50 e 70% de sombreamento foram obtidos com o uso de telas de polipropileno preto, e o sombreamento natural constituiu a luminosidade natural sob um dossel fechado de floresta. Cada tratamento foi constituído de 10 repetições. Plantas sob sombreamento (50% e 70% de sombreamento) apresentaram maior altura, área foliar e razão de área foliar e poucas diferenças no acúmulo de massa seca quando comparadas com plantas mantidas a pleno sol. Como conseqüência, poucas diferenças foram observadas na taxa de crescimento relativo das mudas desses tratamentos. Todavia, mudas mantidas sob sombreamento natural foram as que exibiram menor taxa de crescimento relativo e taxa assimilatória líquida. em conjunto, os resultados indicaram que Hymenaea parvifolia foi capaz de se ajustar para maximizar a aquisição de luz mesmo em condição muito limitante, como a proporcionada pelo sombreamento natural, e a produção de mudas dessa espécie vegetal pode ser realizada em viveiro desde a pleno sol, como a 50% ou 70% de sombreamento.

Concentração de nitrogênio uréico plasmático (NUP) e produção de leite de vacas mestiças mantidas em gramíneas tropicais sob pastejo rotacionado

O trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de estudar os níveis de nitrogênio uréico plasmático (NUP) de vacas mestiças leiteiras mantidas em duas áreas de pastejo rotacionado, uma de capim-elefante cv. Guaçu (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Guaçu) e outra de capim-Tanzânia (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzânia). Foram avaliadas a produção de forragem e as frações colmo, folha e material morto, com base na matéria seca (MS), bem como os teores de proteína bruta (PB) e fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) nas amostras de forragem. O sangue foi coletado em quatro épocas, utilizando-se 16 vacas por espécie de capim. A média da massa de forragem pré-pastejo foi de 5.321 e 5.384 kg de MS/ha por ciclo de pastejo para o capim-elefante e capim-Tanzânia, respectivamente. A forragem desaparecida pós-pastejo, referente à folha, ao colmo e ao material morto foi de 1.400, 620 e 443 kg de MS/ha para o capim-elefante e de 1.586, 736 e 132 kg de MS/ha para o capim-Tanzânia, por ciclo de pastejo. As médias de quatro ciclos de pastejo de PB e FDN nas amostras da planta inteira, colmo, folha, material morto e resíduo foram de 8,4; 78,5; 6,9; 77,1; 12,5; 76,3; 5,3; 82,6; 6,5; 80,2, respectivamente, para o capim-elefante, e de 9,3; 81,6; 7,4; 82,4; 14,3; 80,4; 6,3; 82,9; 7,6; 81,6, respectivamente, para o capim-Tanzânia. Foi encontrada diferença significativa nos níveis de NUP das vacas alimentadas nas diferentes espécies de capim e por época de amostragem do sangue. As médias de NUP foram 9,8 mg/dL para as vacas mantidas no capim-elefante e 10,6 mg/dL para as vacas mantidas no capim-Tanzânia. Os baixos níveis de NUP encontrados refletem a baixa ingestão de proteína bruta por vacas manejadas em pastagens tropicais.

Características agronômicas e composição química de oito híbridos de sorgo [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

O experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar as características agronômicas, composição química das frações e da planta inteira de oito híbridos de sorgo, semeados em março de 2000, no sentido de contribuir para os programas de seleção de germoplamas resistentes aos efeitos das estiagens prolongadas e, ao mesmo tempo, apropriados ao processo de ensilagem. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos ao acaso com oito tratamentos e três repetições, para avaliar os híbridos AG-2005, BR-700, MASSA-03, 498111, 65E3, 698005, 698007 e 699005. Não houve diferenças significativas entre produção de matéria seca (PMS) e proporção de folhas dos híbridos avaliados. A maior proporção de colmo (41,3%) foi observada no 498111 e a menor no MASSA-03 (28,9%). O híbrido 65E3 apresentou a maior proporção de panícula (43,2%) e o 498111 a menor (28,9%). Quanto à composição química da planta inteira, não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os híbridos quanto aos teores de matéria seca, matéria mineral, hemicelulose, nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente neutro, nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente ácido e nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT). Os teores de proteína bruta variaram de 6,5 a 8,8%, fibra em detergente neutro de 57,0 a 70,3%, fibra em detergente ácido de 29,8 a 36,2%, celulose de 25,3 a 31,2% e lignina de 3,6 a 5,5%, sendo estatisticamente diferentes entre os híbridos. O 699005 apresentou o maior teor de carboidratos solúveis (14,5%), diferindo estatisticamente apenas do híbrido 698007 (9,6%). Os híbridos também mostraram diferenças na composição química das frações folhas, colmo e panícula. de forma geral, todos os híbridos apresentaram teores de matéria seca e carboidratos solúveis adequados ao processo de ensilagem. As produções médias de matéria seca dos híbridos (6,2 t/ha), foram altas considerando-se a baixa precipitação ocorrida durante o período experimental. A análise de Cluster sugeriu o agrupamento dos híbridos de maior PMS e menores porcentagens de panícula e NDT e híbridos de menor PMS, porém com maiores porcentagens de panícula e NDT.

Efeito da deriva de Glyphosate sobre algumas características fisiológicas em plantas de eucalipto

This work aims to evaluate the effects of a simulated drift of glyphosate at different doses on some physiological characteristics of Eucalyptus grandis. A completely randomized design with five replications was used, where each pot contained an eucalyptus plant and was considered as one repetition. The plants received doses of glyphosate corresponding to 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120g.ha(-1), in the Scout (R) commercial formulation: The application was performed in three forms: leaves, stem and whole plant (leaf + stem). For foliar application, the stem was covered with plastic tape to avoid being hit by the solution, and leaves with a plastic bag when the stem was spayed. The application was performed by means of a steady spray gun equipped with four XR 11002 tips, with a pressure of 200Kpa and a volume of 2001 ha(-1). Stomatal conductance, transpiration and leaf temperature were measured at 7 days after application (DAA). The eucalypt plants receiving applications in leaves and whole plant showed, at the highest glyphosate dosis (120g.ha(-1)), a transpiration reduced by 22% and an 18% increase of stomatal resistance at 7 DAA. The lowest dose (30g-ha(-1)) applied to the whole plant caused a transpiration stimulation of 18%, and a leaf to air difference in temperature of -1.66 degrees C, while the difference between the highest and lowest dose used was 3.5 degrees C.

Development of mint (Mentha piperita L.) grown on biosolids: evaluation of productivity and essential oil content

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliações fisiológicas e bioquímicas de plantas de aguapé (Eichhornia crassipes) cultivadas com níveis excessivos de nutrientes

Plantas de aguapé foram cultivadas em solução nutritiva de Hoagland & Arnon n.2, cujo aumento dos níveis de N, P e Cu estabeleceu as diferenças entre os tratamentos. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. As variáveis fisiológicas avaliadas foram área foliar, peso de matéria seca e taxa de crescimento absoluto, taxa de crescimento relativo, taxa assimilatória líquida, razão de área foliar, peso específico de folha, área foliar específica. Foram determinados também os teores de açúcares totais e redutores e de aminoácidos totais e a atividade das enzimas glutationa S-transferase e superóxido dismutase. Os extratos enzimáticos foram obtidos da matéria fresca da parte aérea das plantas. Após a coleta, foram determinados os pesos de material seco de raízes, pecíolos e folhas, que foram utilizados para a determinação de açúcares solúveis totais e redutores e de aminoácidos. O excesso de nitrogênio causou aumento de açúcares nas folhas e de aminoácidos nas raízes. Já o tratamento com excesso de fósforo levou ao aumento de açúcares nas raízes. Os resultados apresentados sugerem que, entre os nutrientes em excesso avaliados, o cobre (0,12 mg L-1) foi o maior indutor da atividade da GST e SOD, sugerindo que este elemento induziu estresse nas plantas de aguapé.