Assessing the sustainability of wheat-based cropping systems using APSIM: Model parameterisation and evaluation

Assessing the sustainability of crop and soil management practices in wheat-based rotations requires a well-tested model with the demonstrated ability to sensibly predict crop productivity and changes in the soil resource. The Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) suite of models was parameterised and subsequently used to predict biomass production, yield, crop water and nitrogen (N) use, as well as long-term soil water and organic matter dynamics in wheat/chickpea systems at Tel Hadya, north-western Syria. The model satisfactorily simulated the productivity and water and N use of wheat and chickpea crops grown under different N and/or water supply levels in the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 experimental seasons. Analysis of soil-water dynamics showed that the 2-stage soil evaporation model in APSIM's cascading water-balance module did not sufficiently explain the actual soil drying following crop harvest under conditions where unused water remained in the soil profile. This might have been related to evaporation from soil cracks in the montmorillonitic clay soil, a process not explicitly simulated by APSIM. Soil-water dynamics in wheat-fallow and wheat-chickpea rotations (1987-98) were nevertheless well simulated when the soil water content in 0-0.45 m soil depth was set to 'air dry' at the end of the growing season each year. The model satisfactorily simulated the amounts of NO3-N in the soil, whereas it underestimated the amounts of NH 4-N. Ammonium fixation might be part of the soil mineral-N dynamics at the study site because montmorillonite is the major clay mineral. This process is not simulated by APSIM's nitrogen module. APSIM was capable of predicting long-term trends (1985-98) in soil organic matter in wheat-fallow and wheat-chickpea rotations at Tel Hadya as reported in literature. Overall, results showed that the model is generic and mature enough to be extended to this set of environmental conditions and can therefore be applied to assess the sustainability of wheat-chickpea rotations at Tel Hadya.

Morphological and developmental comparisons of seven greens quality hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.)Pers.x C transvaalensis Burtt-Davy

Fine-textured hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy] cultivars have been widely used for golf putting greens and lawn bowls greens in warm-climate areas for more than 40 years. During the past decade, the choice of cultivar for professional turfgrass managers has been expanded by a range of secondgeneration hybrid bermudagrasses, which differ from the first-generation cultivars ‘Tifgreen’ and ‘Tifdwarf ’ in their management requirements. In this paper, we present comparative morphological and developmental data for seven cultivars (Champion Dwarf, FloraDwarf, MS-Supreme, Novotek, Tifdwarf, TifEagle, Tifgreen) grown in spaced plant and sward experiments at Cleveland, Australia (27º32’S lat, 153º15’E long, 25 masl). The four ‘ultradwarf ’ cultivars (Champion Dwarf, MS-Supreme, FloraDwarf, TifEagle) showed slower vertical extension and produced fewer inflorescences than Tifdwarf, Tifgreen, and Novotek. However, in terms of the length of stolon internodes and their overall rate of lateral spread, Champion Dwarf, FloraDwarf, and TifEagle were comparable to Tifdwarf; MS-Supreme (with longer internodes) spread faster laterally, though slower than Tifgreen (which had the longest stolon internodes). In unmown swards, the four ultradwarfs produced shorter leaves than Tifgreen, Tifdwarf, and Novotek, but only Champion Dwarf produced significantly narrower leaves than Tifgreen, Tifdwarf, and Novotek, with TifEagle leaves also significantly narrower than those of Tifgreen and Novotek. Minimum threshold temperatures for growth were approximately 9° to 10°C (air temperature) and 15° to 16°C at 10 cm soil depth.

A guide to the process of Mitchell grass recovery

In western Queensland, severe drought conditions began in late 2001 and did not generally ease until the 2008/09 summer. Despite the ability of Mitchell grass plants to become dormant during drought, a large proportion of plants appeared to be dead rather than drought-dormant by the end of the 2002/03 summer. Tillers and remaining leaves were blackened and unpalatable to livestock. The term Mitchell grass dieback was coined by producers and other observers to describe what had occurred, although most were confident that the grass would recover with the breaking of the drought. Mitchell grass plants generally failed to respond to widespread average summer rains in early 2004 (> 250 mm). Observation suggested that moisture had penetrated to a soil depth of about 60 cm and a response from plants was expected. When there was no general response, research into the reasons for this was initiated (NBP.348 'Mitchell grass death in Queensland: extent, economic impact and potential for recovery'; 2005-07). This included an investigation of discrete areas of pasture that had responded to the 2003-04 summer rain. Further declines in condition of Mitchell grasslands occurred between winter 2005 and winter 2006 and, by 2006, field surveys indicated that 53% of this pasture community was in poor (C) condition, primarily due to dieback. Measurements at some sites suggested practices such as wet season spelling and burning can pre-condition Mitchell grass pasture for greater resistance to drought-induced dieback. However, the casual mechanisms and the effective timing and frequency of these practices remained unclear.

Improving management of summer weeds in dryland cropping systems with Cotton

In 2001 a scoping study (phase I) was commissioned to determine and prioritise the weed issues of cropping systems with dryland cotton. The main findings were that the weed flora was diverse, cropping systems complex, and weeds had a major financial and economical impact. Phase II 'Best weed management strategies for dryland cropping systems with cotton' focused on improved management of the key weeds, bladder ketmia, sowthistle, fleabane, barnyard grass and liverseed grass.In Phase III 'Improving management of summer weeds in dryland cropping systems with cotton', more information on the seed-bank dynamics of key weeds was gained in six pot and field studies. The studies found that these characteristics differed between species, and even climate in the case of bladder ketmia. Species such as sowthistle, fleabane and barnyard grass emerged predominately from the surface soil. Sweet summer grass was also in this category but also had a significant proportion emerging from 5 cm depth. Bladder ketmia in central Queensland emerged mainly from the top 2 cm, whereas in southern Queensland it emerged mainly from 5 cm. Liverseed grass had its highest emergence from 5 cm below the surface. In all cases the persistence of seed increased with increasing soil depth. Fleabane was also found to be sensitive to soil type with no seedlings emerging in the self-mulching black vertisol soil. A strategic tillage trial showed that burial of fleabane seed, using a disc or chisel plough, to a depth of greater than 2 cm can significantly reduce subsequent fleabane emergence. In contrast, tillage increased barnyard grass emergence and tended to decrease persistence. This research showed that weed management plans can not be blanketed across all weed species, rather they need to be targeted for each main weed species.This project has also resulted in an increased knowledge of how to manage fleabane from the eight experiments; one in wheat, two in sorghum, one in cotton and three in fallow on double knock. For summer crops, the best option is to apply a highly effective fallow treatment prior to sowing the crops. For winter crops, the strategy is the integration of competitive crops, residual herbicide followed by a knockdown to control survivors. This project explored further the usefulness of the double knock tactic for weed control and preventing seed set. Two field and one pot experiments have shown that this tactic was highly effective for fleabane control. Paraquat products provided good control when followed by glyphosate. When 2, 4-D was added in a tank mix with glyphosate and followed by paraquat products, 99-100% control was achieved in all cases. The ideal follow-up times for paraquat products after glyphosate were 5-7 days. The preferred follow-up times for 2, 4-D after glyphosate were on the same day and one day later. The pot trial, which compared a population from a cropping field with previous glyphosate exposure and a population from a non-cropping area with no previous glyphosate herbicide exposure, showed that the pervious herbicide exposure affected the response of fleabane to herbicidal control measures. The web-based brochure on managing fleabane has been updated.Knowledge on management of summer grasses and safe use of residual herbicides was derived from eight field and pot experiments. Residual grass and broadleaf weed control was excellent with atrazine pre-plant and at-planting treatments, provided rain was received within a short interval after application. Highly effective fallow treatments (cultivation and double knock), not only gave excellent grass control in the fallow, also gave very good control in the following cotton. In the five re-cropping experiments, there were no adverse impacts on cotton from atrazine, metolachlor, metsulfuron and chlorsulfuron residues following use in previous sorghum, wheat and fallows. However, imazapic residues did reduce cotton growth.The development of strategies to reduce the heavy reliance on glyphosate in our cropping systems, and therefore minimise the risk of glyphosate resistance development, was a key factor in the research undertaken. This work included identifying suitable tactics for summer grass control, such as double knock with glyphosate followed by paraquat and tillage. Research on fleabane also concentrated on minimising emergence through tillage, and applying the double knock tactic. Our studies have shown that these strategies can be used to prevent seed set with the goal of driving down the seed bank. Utilisation of the strategies will also reduce the reliance on glyphosate, and therefore reduce the risk of glyphosate resistance developing in our cropping systems.Information from this research, including ecological and management data were collected from an additional eight paddock monitoring sites, was also incorporated into the Weeds CRC seed bank model "Weed Seed Wizard", which will be able to predict the impact of different management options on weed populations in cotton and grain farming systems. Extensive communication activities were undertaken throughout this project to ensure adoption of the new strategies for improved weed management and reduced risk for glyphosate resistance.

Wheat biomass and yield increased when populations of the root-lesion nematode (Pratylenchus thornei) were reduced through sequential rotation of partially resistant winter and summer crops

The root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus thornei, can reduce wheat yields by >50%. Although this nematode has a broad host range, crop rotation can be an effective tool for its management if the host status of crops and cultivars is known. The summer crops grown in the northern grain region of Australia are poorly characterised for their resistance to P. thornei and their role in crop sequencing to improve wheat yields. In a 4-year field experiment, we prepared plots with high or low populations of P. thornei by growing susceptible wheat or partially resistant canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis); after an 11-month, weed-free fallow, several cultivars of eight summer crops were grown. Following another 15-month, weed-free fallow, P. thornei-intolerant wheat cv. Strzelecki was grown. Populations of P. thornei were determined to 150 cm soil depth throughout the experiment. When two partially resistant crops were grown in succession, e.g. canaryseed followed by panicum (Setaria italica), P. thornei populations were <739/kg soil and subsequent wheat yields were 3245 kg/ha. In contrast, after two susceptible crops, e.g. wheat followed by soybean, P. thornei populations were 10 850/kg soil and subsequent wheat yields were just 1383 kg/ha. Regression analysis showed a linear, negative response of wheat biomass and grain yield with increasing P. thornei populations and a predicted loss of 77% for biomass and 62% for grain yield. The best predictor of wheat yield loss was P. thornei populations at 0-90 cm soil depth. Crop rotation can be used to reduce P. thornei populations and increase wheat yield, with greatest gains being made following two partially resistant crops grown sequentially.

Microbiological characterisation of soils : Evaluation of some critical steps in data collection and experimental design

The study of soil microbiota and their activities is central to the understanding of many ecosystem processes such as decomposition and nutrient cycling. The collection of microbiological data from soils generally involves several sequential steps of sampling, pretreatment and laboratory measurements. The reliability of results is dependent on reliable methods in every step. The aim of this thesis was to critically evaluate some central methods and procedures used in soil microbiological studies in order to increase our understanding of the factors that affect the measurement results and to provide guidance and new approaches for the design of experiments. The thesis focuses on four major themes: 1) soil microbiological heterogeneity and sampling, 2) storage of soil samples, 3) DNA extraction from soil, and 4) quantification of specific microbial groups by the most-probable-number (MPN) procedure. Soil heterogeneity and sampling are discussed as a single theme because knowledge on spatial (horizontal and vertical) and temporal variation is crucial when designing sampling procedures. Comparison of adjacent forest, meadow and cropped field plots showed that land use has a strong impact on the degree of horizontal variation of soil enzyme activities and bacterial community structure. However, regardless of the land use, the variation of microbiological characteristics appeared not to have predictable spatial structure at 0.5-10 m. Temporal and soil depth-related patterns were studied in relation to plant growth in cropped soil. The results showed that most enzyme activities and microbial biomass have a clear decreasing trend in the top 40 cm soil profile and a temporal pattern during the growing season. A new procedure for sampling of soil microbiological characteristics based on stratified sampling and pre-characterisation of samples was developed. A practical example demonstrated the potential of the new procedure to reduce the analysis efforts involved in laborious microbiological measurements without loss of precision. The investigation of storage of soil samples revealed that freezing (-20 °C) of small sample aliquots retains the activity of hydrolytic enzymes and the structure of the bacterial community in different soil matrices relatively well whereas air-drying cannot be recommended as a storage method for soil microbiological properties due to large reductions in activity. Freezing below -70 °C was the preferred method of storage for samples with high organic matter content. Comparison of different direct DNA extraction methods showed that the cell lysis treatment has a strong impact on the molecular size of DNA obtained and on the bacterial community structure detected. An improved MPN method for the enumeration of soil naphthalene degraders was introduced as an alternative to more complex MPN protocols or the DNA-based quantification approach. The main advantage of the new method is the simple protocol and the possibility to analyse a large number of samples and replicates simultaneously.

间伐对仁用杏园土壤理化性质及生长结果的影响

为了探讨密闭仁用杏园衰败的原因,采用常规的方法研究了间伐对仁用杏园土壤养分、水分及树体生长等方面的影响。结果表明:间伐减小了土壤容重,略微增加了土壤孔隙度;间伐显著提高了0-40 cm土层土壤有机质、0-20 cm土层土壤全氮,略微提高了0-20 cm土层土壤全磷;间伐显著提高了0-80 cm土层土壤速效氮、0-40 cm土层土壤速效磷和0-60 cm土层土壤速效钾,且间伐强度越大土壤养分越高;间伐显著提高了0-500cm土层土壤水分,在干旱的春季、夏季优为显著,且间伐强度越大,土壤水分越高;间伐显著促进了仁用杏生长,提高了坐果率和杏仁产量。白于山山区仁用杏间伐后密度应为167~222株/hm2。

小麦实时控制灌溉的土壤水分含量探头合理埋设深度研究

利用室内控制试验研究了根据不同深度土壤水分传感器灌溉处理对冬小麦生物学性状及水分利用率等的影响。结果显示,以10 cm探头控制灌溉最为省水,同时冬小麦生物学性状及水分利用率等最佳。由于试验冬小麦处于生育前期,随着小麦生育期延伸,当根系超过30 cm深度时,根系吸水的深度增加,探头的埋设深度需要田间试验进行更详细的研究。

黄土丘陵区土壤基础呼吸对草地植被恢复的响应及其影响因素

为探讨黄土丘陵区草地植被自然恢复过程中土壤微生物活性的变化特征及其影响因素,采用"时空互代"法采集宁夏云雾山自然保护区8个不同植被恢复年限的春、夏两季0～20cm和20～40cm的土样,用室内密闭静态培养—碱液吸收法测定了新鲜和风干土样的基础呼吸。结果表明:土壤基础呼吸随植被恢复年限增加呈增加趋势,土壤呼吸强度和累积呼吸量都表现为植被恢复73年和78年较高,而耕地和植被恢复3年最低。采样季节对呼吸强度测定有较大影响,春季土样能更好地反映土壤微生物活性的变化。风干土样可以通过预培养后测定土壤的呼吸作用,且能更加稳定地反映不同土壤之间的差异。在测定土壤基础呼吸时,利用1d或3d的培养平均值能更稳定地表现不同土壤的特性。累积呼吸量可较呼吸强度更直观地反映不同土壤的微生物活性。土壤有机质和全氮含量与土壤呼吸强度密切相关。

氮施用量对夏玉米土壤水氮动态及水肥利用效率的影响

采用田间小区试验,监测夏玉米不同生长期土壤水分和硝态氮剖面含量变化,研究不同施氮量对其时空变化及籽粒产量、水肥利用效率的影响,探讨氮肥对水肥资源高效利用的调节作用。结果表明:不同施氮处理,土壤剖面水分和硝态氮随土壤深度的变化趋势基本一致,即表层50 cm土壤水分和硝态氮含量较高且呈降低态,50~110 cm相对较低且波动较小,灌浆期二者均达到最低值;各生长期表层50 cm土壤含水量呈不施氮处理均高于施氮处理,50~110 cm土层则相反;施氮能提高土壤硝态氮含量,土壤硝态氮运移受土壤水分状况和含量的影响,含量越高,向下移动越深;施氮能显著提高水分利用效率及籽粒产量,增产效果明显(增产28.52%~37.86%),二者均以施氮240 kg/hm2处理最高;随施氮量的增加籽粒产量及籽粒吸氮量和水分利用效率增幅均表现为先升高后降低之趋势,当施氮量超过240 kg/hm2后,籽粒产量和水分利用效率提高并不显著;不施氮与施氮处理氮素生产力、氮肥利用率之间均存在极显著差异。在本试验条件下,从控制土壤硝态氮积累及取得较高的产量和氮素利用率综合考虑,夏玉米的适宜施氮量范围应控制在120~240 kg/hm2较好。

施磷对夏玉米土壤硝态氮、吸氮特性及产量的影响

研究不同施磷水平对夏玉米生长期土壤硝态氮时空分布、累积量及玉米籽粒产量的影响,为夏玉米合理施肥提供参考依据。【方法】采用田间小区试验,在施磷水平分别为0,60,120和180 kg/hm2时,研究施磷对夏玉米产量及土壤氮素吸收累积的影响。【结果】在0~110 cm土层,随土壤剖面深度的增加,土壤硝态氮含量逐渐降低,0~30 cm土层明显高于30~110 cm土层且变幅较大,施磷肥能显著降低土壤硝态氮含量。随夏玉米生育期推进,0~110 cm土层硝态氮累积量呈先降低后升高的趋势,于灌浆期达到最低值;当施磷水平为120 kg/hm2时,成熟期0~110 cm土层硝态氮累积量低于施磷60和180 kg/hm2的处理;施磷肥能显著增加玉米籽粒产量、籽粒吸氮量及氮收获指数,均以施磷水平为120 kg/hm2时最高。【结论】在施氮基础上施用磷肥,有利于提高玉米籽粒产量,促进作物对氮素的吸收累积,减少土壤中硝态氮的累积及向更深土层中的运移量。

氮磷肥配施对夏玉米土壤含水量及水分利用效率的影响

随土壤剖面深度的增加,土壤含水量逐渐降低,上层土壤含水量变幅大于下层。在同一氮肥水平下,夏玉米各生长期内0~50 cm土层含水量呈施磷处理高于不施磷处理,50~110 cm土层则反之。苗期—拔节—灌浆—收获期0~110 cm土壤蓄水量呈升高—降低—升高趋势;苗期呈氮磷配施处理高于单施氮肥处理,其它生长期氮肥与磷肥水平为120 kg/hm2配施处理最高;表层50 cm土层蓄水量均呈现氮磷配施处理高于单施氮肥处理,50~110 cm土层则反之。氮磷配施能显著提高产量及水分利用效率,二者均以配施磷肥120 kg/hm2处理最高;当施磷量超过120 kg/hm2后,产量和水分利用效率反而有下降趋势。

黄土高原半干旱偏旱区苜蓿-粮食轮作土壤水分恢复效应

该文测定和分析了黄土高原半干旱偏旱区不同生长年限苜蓿草地以及轮作不同年限粮食作物后0～1000cm深层土壤水分变化规律。结果表明:随着苜蓿生长年限的延长,苜蓿草地土壤干层厚度逐渐增加,3年生苜蓿草地土壤干层深度达到760cm,6、7、10年生苜蓿草地土壤干层深度均超过1000cm,6年生苜蓿地1000～1500cm土层仍为干燥层,土壤平均湿度为9.68%;采用草粮轮作能明显减小苜蓿草地干层的厚度和范围,0～1000cm土壤水分较10年生苜蓿草地都有不同程度的恢复,轮作2、6、8、12和18a粮田平均土壤水分恢复速率25.2mm/a,年均累积恢复土层厚度123.1cm,0～300cm土层水分恢复程度较高,且轮作年限愈长,土壤水分恢复效果越好,轮作18a粮食作物后0～660cm土层土壤水分恢复量达到了531.1mm;苜蓿草地适宜翻耕年限为5～6a,且6年生苜蓿草地0～1000cm土壤水分恢复到当地土壤稳定湿度值需要23.8a,该地区适宜的苜蓿-粮食轮作模式为"5～6年生苜蓿→24年粮食作物"。

云雾山不同草地群落土壤活性有机碳分布特征

为探讨黄土高原草地植被演替过程活性有机碳的变化规律,揭示草地退耕后的分布特征,在云雾山草原区采集不同草地群落土壤,采用高锰酸钾氧化法对0~100 cm土层活性有机碳进行分析。结果表明:不同草地群落土壤活性有机碳含量均高于坡耕地,活性有机碳含量大小顺序为:长芒草(Stipa bungeanaTrin.)群落>大针茅(Sti-pa grandisP.Smirn.)群落>铁杆蒿(Artemisia gmeliniiWeb.ex Stechm.)群落>百里香(Thymus mongolicusRonn.)群落>退耕草地>坡耕地,且群落间差异达极显著水平(P<0.01);在恢复初期(坡耕地-退耕草地-百里香)活性有机碳含量增加较多,恢复到长芒草群落活性有机碳含量达到最大值,趋于稳定;活性有机碳的密度与含量表现出相同的变化规律,并随着土层的加深而呈现减小趋势。相关性分析表明,活性有机碳含量与土壤总有机碳含量呈极显著线性正相关关系(r=0.9742),土壤活性有机碳比总有机碳更能反映草地植被恢复初期土壤有机碳库的变化。

长期施用氮、磷和有机肥对不同种植体系土壤有效硫累积的影响

以22年定位试验为基础,研究了长期施用氮、磷和有机肥(NPM)对不同种植体系土壤有效硫在剖面上分布与累积状况。结果表明,在60—80 cm土层各处理出现第一个累积峰,累积峰值为粮饲轮作31.3,玉米连作29.2,小麦连作27.9,粮豆轮作25.6,苜蓿连作24.0 mg/kg;在140—180 cm土层各处理又出现有效硫的第二个累积峰,累积峰值为粮饲轮作44.7,粮豆轮作43.1,小麦连作41.0,玉米连作39.7,苜蓿连作36.5 mg/kg。第二累积峰值均大于第一累积峰值。0—200 cm土层有效硫总累积量粮饲轮作高达746.3 kg/hm~2,其次为玉米连作640.6,粮豆轮作为638.3,小麦连作为622.4,苜蓿连作最小为557.3 kg/hm~2。长期施用磷肥和有机肥是有效硫在土壤中累积的主要因素,有效硫在土壤剖面上有向深层迁移的趋势。不同作物对硫的吸收利用差异和不同种植方式对有效硫的累积与分布产生影响。