Effects of Different Planting Years on Physicochemical Properties and Enzyme Activities in Soil of Rice-Cherry Tomato Rotation

Crop rotation periodicity has always been one of the research focuses currently. In this study, the physicochemical properties, nutrient contents and enzyme activities were investigated in soils from rice-cherry tomato rotation for one year (1a), three years (3a), five years (5a), seven years (7a) and ten years (10a), respectively. The major objective was to analyze the optimal rotation years of rice-cherry tomato from soil perspective, so as to provide theoretical basis for effectively avoiding continuous cropping obstacles of cherry tomato via studying the response characteristics of soil physicochemical properties, nutrient contents and enzyme activities to planting years of rice-cherry tomato rotation system. The results were as follows: 1) Soil pH value was increased year by year during 1a to 5a, reached the highest value 5.32 at 5a. However, soil acidity was sharply enhanced during 7a to 10a (P P •kg-1 at 5a. 3) The content of soil available phosphorus was increased year by year with increasing of crop rotation years, and increased by 110% to 173% during 3a to 10a (P P P < 0.05). In conclusion, long-term single rotation pattern of rice-cherry tomato would aggravate soil acidification, prompt soil nutrient imbalance and reduce soil enzyme activity. 5a to 7a would be the appropriate rotation period for rice-cherry tomato, or else it would reduce soil quality, resulting in a new continuous cropping obstacle of cherry tomato.

The effect of fertilization on early growth of konara oak and Japanese zelkova seedlings planted in a harvested pitch pine plantation

We determined a suitable amount of fertilizer for konara oak（Quercus serrata） and Japanese zelkova（Zelkova serrata） planted in a harvested pitch pine（Pinus rigida） plantation. Two-year-old bare-root seedlings of konara oak and one-year-old containerized seedlings of Japanese zelkova were planted in April 2011. Three plots were established for each tree species to evaluate each of three fertilization applications. Solid compound fertilizer（N：P：K = 3：4：1） was applied yearly in three amounts（control： no fertilization, F1： 180 kg ha-1, and F2：360 kg ha-1）, every May from 2011 to 2013. We measured the root collar diameter and height, and analyzed the compartmental N and P concentrations. Compartmental N concentrations of konara oak and Japanese zelkova were not consistent based on amount of fertilization. However,the compartmental P concentrations of konara oak and Japanese zelkova were significantly different in the order of F2, F1, and control. Although the differences in growth of konara oak appeared after 3 years of fertilization,Japanese zelkova showed differences after only 2 years of fertilization owing to differences in seedling type. Growth of konara oak was affected by fertilization at F1 and F2 in2013. However, growth of Japanese zelkova was affected only at F2. Nutrient demand of Japanese zelkova appeard to be higher than that of konara oak, at least during the early growing period. Results from this study could be practically used in harvested pitch pine plantations to determine appropriate fertilization regimes.

Nutrient Accumulation Characteristics of Facility Soils with Different Planting Years in Lateritic Red Soil Region of Guangxi

[Objectives]To explore the nutrient accumulation characteristics of facility soil in different planting years in the lateritic red soil region of Guangxi.[Methods]The soil samples of facility cultivation and open field cultivation were collected in the lateritic red soil region of Guangxi,and the changes of soil pH,water-soluble salts,organic matter,available nutrients and total nutrients were analyzed.[Results]The acidification of the facility soil in the lateritic red soil region of Guangxi became more obvious with the extension of greenhouse planting years,the soil pH decreased by 0.34 units after continuous planting for 10 years,and the water-soluble content was more than 3 times that of the open field and it increased with the extension of the planting years.In addition,the degree of secondary salinization in facility soil became more serious,mainly moderate and mild salinization.The contents of soil organic matter,alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen,available phosphorus,available potassium,total nitrogen and total phosphorus in the facility soil increased significantly,while total potassium did not change significantly.[Conclusions]This study is expected to provide a scientific basis for facility soil fertilization management,and to promote the sustainable and healthy development of facility cultivation industry.

Chemical Composition and Ruminal Digestibility of Ceratoides, a Salt-tolerant Perennial Plant,at Different Years

It has been proposed that salt-tolerant plant could be used as a feed resource for ruminants whereby salt would be removed from salinized land (Asian -Aust. J. Anim. Sci. (2002) 15:998 -1001). Ceratoides arborescens (Losinsk.) Tsien et C. G. Ma is known as a drought-and salt-tolerant plant,a kind of shrubs, growing in semi-arid land of Inner Mongolia. Because the covering effect of the perennial plant as a mulch over the soil might be expected, the optimum covering effect would be obtained after the growth period.The perennial plant produces seeds around summer and end its growth thereafter. Nutrient value of the perennial salt-tolerant plant, however,had not been reported in flowering period at different year. It is necessary to know the ruminal degradability of the plants of each growing year in order to determine the regimen to diet for ruminants. The present experiment,therefore,was undertaken to analyze the digestibility and chemical composition of Ceratoides arborescens as feed for ruminants.

A Colour TV Documentary Memorable Years——The seven years the Pughs spent in the hydroelectric plant of China

The documentary film is narrated by the first person.

Age Structure and Change Trend of Tobacco Farmers:A Case Study of Shashi Town,Liuyang City,Hunan Province

Taking the tobacco-growing area of Shashi Town,Liuyang City as the object,the number of registered,newly added and resigned tobacco farmers in each year,average age,number and proportion of tobacco farmers of different ages,number and proportion of tobacco farmers born in different eras,as well as planting scale and planting history of flue-cured tobacco in the last 10 years were analyzed statistically.The results showed that the number of tobacco farmers in Shashi Town showed a rapid decline trend from 2012 to 2018,while the average age continuously increased,and the average planting scale rose in a wave like way.From 2019 to 2021,the decline rate of the number of tobacco farmers slowed down,and the average planting scale continuously increased,while the aging of tobacco farmers accelerated.Meantime,the birth years of tobacco farmers were further concentrated in the 1960s,and they were mainly at the age of 50-59.The tobacco industry in Shashi Town of Liuyang City is facing the crisis of aging tobacco farmers and no successor of flue-cured tobacco planting,and it is predicted that the next 5-10 years will continue the change trend from 2019 to 2021.

Bioactive Characteristics of Soil Microorganisms in Different-aged Orange (Citrus reticulate) Plantations

[Objective] The paper was to study the bioactive characteristics of soil microorganisms in different-aged orange plantations. [Method] Taking 010 cm deep soil in 3 orange plantations with different planting years in suburb of Yichang City as the test object, the variation rule of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, soil pH value, microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen, number of 3 main types of soil microbial flora, basal respiration, microbial entropy and metabolic entropy in differentaged orange plantations was studied. [Result] With the increase of planting years, the soil acidification of different-aged orange plantations was aggravating; total organic carbon and total nitrogen content increased first and then decreased; the total number of soil microorganism showed a downtrend, of which the number of bacteria decreased significantly, the number of actinomycetes had small changes, the number of fungi increased significantly, and the ratio of bacteria and fungi in soil （B/F） showed a decreasing trend. Soil microbial biomass carbon was fluctuated within a small range, whereas soil microbial biomass nitrogen decreased significantly; soil microbial entropy decreased significantly, and metabolic entropy showed an increasing trend. This indicated that the decrease of soil pH value affected the changes of soil microbial flora, microbial activity, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen and soil major nutrients, and further affected the normal exertion of soil function. [Conclusion] The study explores soil nutrient characteristics and changes of microbial flora in test area, which will provide scientific basis for further study on orchard soil and orchard management.

60 Years of Development of the Journal of Integrative Plant Biology

In celebration of JIPB＇s 60th anniversary, this paper summarizes and reviews the development process of the journal. To start, we offer our heartfelt thanks to JIPB＇s pioneer Editors-in-Chief who helped get the journal off the ground and make it successful. Academic achievement is the soul of academic journals, and this paper summarizes JIPB＇s course of academic development by analyzing it in four stages： the first two stages are mostly qualitative analyses, and the latter two stages are dedicated to quantitative analyses. Most-cited papers were statistically analyzed. Improvements in editing, pub- lication, distribution and online accessibility--which are detailed in this paper--contribute to JIPB＇s sustainable development. In addition, JIPB＇s evaluation index and awards are provided with accompany- ing pictures. At the end of the paper, JIPB＇s milestones are listed chronologically. We believe that JIPB＇s development, from a national journal to an international one, parallels the development of the Chinese plant sciences.

Variations of soil quality from continuously planting greenhouses in North China

Vegetable greenhouses form a significant land utilisation pattern in China.A case study of the greenhouse soil quality changes and potential risk to humans under a specific long-term environment,which includes high fertilization rates,high temperatures and humidity levels and out-of-season cultivation,is presented in this study.Soil profiles of 72 representative solar greenhouses with various planting years were sampled in Shouguang City,which is the birthplace of winter greenhouse in China.The temporal distribution of soil quality changes were quantitatively evaluated through the application of a correlation analysis and soil quality assessment.The soil was highly enriched with phosphorus and potassium and had low organic matter content.The organic matter,nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium contents increased with the years planted,reached their peak values after 5-10 a,and declined as the soil layer’s depth increased.The infiltration rate of nitrate was relatively high,which poses risks to underground water safety.A comprehensive soil quality assessment revealed that in vegetable greenhouses planted for different periods,the soil quality improved at first and then sharply declined after 10 a.Studying greenhouse soil quality changes will aid in implementing nutrient management strategies to improve the soil quality and sustainable development programs for the vegetable industry.

2008,a Year for Plants to Celebrate

2008 is a special year for the Botanical Society of China (BSC)for two reasons. The first one is for the 75th anniversary of the Society, and the second one is for Prof. Zhengyi Wu who received The State Supreme Science and Technology Award,the country’s highest science honor. This special issue, with a collection of 16 articles, is dedicated to these events.