The response of roots and the rhizosphere environment to integrative cultivation practices in paddy rice

Integrative cultivation practices(ICPs)are essential for enhancing cereal yield and resource use efficiency.However,the effects of ICP on the rhizosphere environment and roots of paddy rice are still poorly understood.In this study,four rice varieties were produced in the field.Each variety was treated with six different cultivation techniques,including zero nitrogen application(0 N),local farmers’practice(LFP),nitrogen reduction(NR),and three progressive ICP techniques comprised of enhanced fertilizer N practice and increased plant density(ICP1),a treatment similar to ICP1 but with alternate wetting and moderate drying instead of continuous flooding(ICP2),and the same practices as ICP2 with the application of organic fertilizer(ICP3).The ICPs had greater grain production and nitrogen use efficiency than the other three methods.Root length,dry weight,root diameter,activity of root oxidation,root bleeding rate,zeatin and zeatin riboside compositions,and total organic acids in root exudates were elevated with the introduction of the successive cultivation practices.ICPs enhanced nitrate nitrogen,the activities of urease and invertase,and the diversity of microbes(bacteria)in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soil,while reducing the ammonium nitrogen content.The nutrient contents(ammonium nitrogen,total nitrogen,total potassium,total phosphorus,nitrate,and available phosphorus)and urease activity in rhizosphere soil were reduced in all treatments in comparison with the non-rhizosphere soil,but the invertase activity and bacterial diversity were greater.The main root morphology and physiology,and the ammonium nitrogen contents in rhizosphere soil at the primary stages were closely correlated with grain yield and internal nitrogen use efficiency.These findings suggest that the coordinated enhancement of the root system and the environment of the rhizosphere under integrative cultivation approaches may lead to higher rice production.

Optimizing integrative cultivation management improves grain quality while increasing yield and nitrogen use efficiency in rice

A major challenge in rice(Oryza sativa L.)production is to cope with increasing grain yield and fertilizer use efficiency without compromising grain quality.This study was designed to determine if optimizing integrative cultivation management in rice could improve grain quality while increase yield and nitrogen use efficiency(NUE).An indica-japonica hybrid rice cultivar and a japonica rice cultivar were grown in the field,with five cultivation managements including no N application(0 N),local farmer's practice(LFP),and three optimizi ng in teg rati ve cultivati on managements,reducing N rate and increasi ng plant density(ND),ND+alternate wetting and moderate soil drying irrigation(NDW),and NDW+applying rapeseed cake fertilizer(NDWR).The results showed that the optimizi ng integrative cultivati on man ageme nts could not only in crease grain yield,but also enhance NUE compared to LFP.Compared to LFP,NDWR sign ifica ntly in creased brow n,milled,head milled rice rate,ratio of the kern el le ngth to breadth and breakdown value of starch,whereas decreased amylose content,gel consiste ncy,prolamin con tent,setback value,perce ntage of chalky kern els,and chalki ness.The three optimizing in tegrative cultivation managements increased con tents of total protei ns,albumin and glutelin,activities of the key enzymes involved in the sucrose-starch con version in grains,root oxidati on activity,and malic and succinic acid concentrations in root exudates during the grain-filling period.The results suggested that optimizing integrative cultivation managements could improve grain quality meanwhile increase grain yield and NUE by enhancing physiological activities of rice plants.

Effects of Phosphorus on Grain Quality of Upland and Paddy Rice under Different Cultivation

We investigated how upland and paddy japonica rice responded to phosphorous （P） fertilizer under two cultivation methods. The upland rice Zhonghan 3 and the paddy rice Yangfujing 8 were both grown under moist cultivation （MC, control） and bare dry cultivation （DC） with three P levels, low （LP, 45 kg/hm2）, normal （NP, 90 kg/hm2） and high （HI：）, 135 kg/hm2）. As P level increased, grain yields of both upland and paddy rice increased under DC. There were no significant differences in grain yields between HP and NP for either rice, although upland rice slightly increased and paddy rice slightly decreased in grain yield. Under DC at LP, Zhonghan 3 showed a higher head milled rice rate and better appearance, cooking and eating qualities than at HP or NP. Yangfujing 8 was similar to Zhonghan 3 except that Yangfujing 8 had better appearance quality at NP. Under MC, Zhonghan 3 had a higher head milled rice rate at LP and better cooking and eating qualities at NP. Yangfujing 8 was similar to Zhonghan 3 except in appearance quality. DC improved head milled rice rate and appearance quality of both upland and paddy rice, and cooking and nutrient qualities of paddy rice. Compared with paddy rice, upland rice had better processing, nutrient and eating qualities. The results suggest that upland and paddy rice respond differently to cultivation method and phosphorus level.

Grain-filling strategies of wheat of contrasting grain sizes under various planting patterns and irrigation levels

In a study comparing grain filling and yield in a large-and a small-grain-size wheat cultivar under two planting patterns and two irrigation regimes,plastic-covered ridge and furrow planting with sprinkler irrigation increased grain filling and yield in both cultivars.The largest contributors to grain yield were an extended active grain-filling period in Shuangda 1 and an increased mean grain-filling rate in XN538.

Growth Characteristics and Yield of Late-Season Rice under No-tillage and Non-flooded Cultivation with Straw Mulching

A long-term field experiment （started at 2003） was conducted to determine the effects of different dce cultivation methods on growth characteristics and grain yield of late-season rice under double-rice cropping system in seasonal drought region of southeast China （Yujiang County, Jiangxi Province）. The rice cultivation methods included no-tillage and flooded rice cultivation （N-F）, no-tillage and non-flooded rice cultivation with straw mulching （N-SM）, and no-tillage and non-flooded rice cultivation without straw mulching （N-ZM）. There was no significant difference in rice grain yield between the N-SM and N-F treatments. However, the rice grain yields in the N-SM and N-F treatments were significantly higher than that in the N-ZM treatment. The late-season rice plants in the N-SM treatment had significantly higher numbers of effective panicles and total grains per hill compared with those in the N-ZM treatment. The above-ground dry matter of late-season rice was similar between the N-SM and N-F treatments. Compared with the N-F treatment, the N-ZM and N-SM treatments significantly decreased the leaf area at the heading stage. Moreover, the N-SM treatment could significantly increase total root length and root tip number at the grain-filling stage compared with the N-ZM treatment.

Effects of Non-flooded Cultivation with Straw Mulching on Rice Agronomic Traits and Water Use Efficiency

A field experiment was conducted to study water use efficiency and agronomic traits in rice cultivated in flooded soil and non-flooded soils with and without straw mulching. The total amount of water used by rice under flooded cultivation （FC） was 2.42 and 3.31 times as much as that by rice under the non-flooded cultivation with and without straw mulching, respectively. The average water seepage was 13 560 m^3/ha under the flooded cultivation, 4 750 m^3/ha under the non-flooded cultivation without straw mulching （ZM） and 4 680 m^3/ha under non-flooded cultivation with straw mulching （SM）. The evapotranspiration in the SM treatment was only 38.2% and 63.6% of the FC treatment and ZM treatment, respectively. Compared with the ZM treatment, straw mulching significantly increased leaf area per plant, main root length, gross root length and root dry weight per plant of rice. The highest grain yield under the SM treatment （6 747 kg/ha） was close to the rice cultivated in flooded soil （6 811.5 kg / ha）. However, the yield under the ZM treatment （4 716 kg/ha） was much lower than that under the FS treatment and SM treatment. The order of water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency were both as follows： SM〉 ZM〉 FC.

Research on the Current Situation and Cultivation of English Learning Motivation of Non-English Majors

English is not only a language,but also a tool.There are many factors that affect students’English learning quality and ef?ficiency,among which the biggest one is learning motivation.At present,some non-English majors in our country lack the motiva?tion of English learning,and the phenomenon of students’grade differentiation becomes more and more obvious,which seriously affects the process and quality of English teaching in the whole class.Analyzing and exploring the present situation and cultivation of English learning motivation of non-English majors can improve the quality and level of English learning of Chinese college stu?dents as a whole.

Analysis of Change of Cultivated Land and Grain Production in Hunan Province

[Objective] This paper aimed at exploring the countermeasures for cultivated land protection and food security assurance and providing references for the formulation of policies related to cultivated land and grain production of the whole province.[Methods] Data of population,cultivated land,grain and others in Hunan Province during 1989 to 2008 were collected by county（district）.The changes of cultivated land and grain production of the whole province were analyzed using Geographical Information System（GIS）.[Results] The population was increasing continuously,the total area of cultivated land was reducing as a whole in spite of increasing in one or two year in one or two county,the total grain production and per capita grain yield was fluctuated within a certain range in recent 20 years of the whole province.The reducing of cultivated land was mainly due to the industrialization and urbanization development.The unbalanced quantity and quality of cultivated land,various natural disasters,readjustment of industry structure and inner readjustment in the agriculture,variety improvement and improvement of cultivated technology mainly affected of the grain production.[Conclusions] The protection of the quantity and quality of cultivated land has to be strengthened to ensure food security.It is important to enhance the ability of resisting drought and flood disasters by improving the construction of agriculture establishment in order to insure the productivity of cultivated land,to increase farmer’s enthusiasm for growing grain with favourable food policy,to improve the per unit area yield of grain by variety improvement and to increase grain sown area by enlarging the double-cropping rice sown area.

Grain quality changes and responses to nitrogen fertilizer of japonica rice cultivars released in the Yangtze River Basin from the 1950s to 2000s

While the yield potential of rice has increased but little is known about the impact of breeding on grain quality, especially under different levels of N availability. In order to investigate the integrated effects of breeding and N levels on rice quality 12 japonica rice cultivars bred in the past60 years in the Yangtze River Basin were used with three levels of N: 0 kg N ha-1, 240 kg N ha-1,and 360 kg N ha-1. During the period, milling quality(brown rice percentage, milled rice percentage, and head rice percentage), appearance quality(chalky kernels percentage, chalky size, and chalkiness), and eating and cooking quality(amylose content, gel consistency, peak viscosity, breakdown, and setback) were significantly improved, but the nutritive value of the grain has declined due to a reduction in protein content. Micronutrients, such as Cu, Mg, and S contents, were decreased, and Fe, Mn, Zn, Na, Ca, K, P, B contents were increased. These changes in grain quality imply that simultaneous improvements in grain yield and grain quality are possible through selection. Overall, application of N fertilizer decreased grain quality, especially in terms of eating and cooking quality. Under higher N levels, higher protein content was the main reason for deterioration of grain quality, although lower amylose content might contribute to improving starch pasting properties. These results suggest that further improvement in grain quality will depend on both breeding and cultivation practices, especially in regard to nitrogen and water management.

Characteristics of Steep Cultivated Land and the Impact of the Grain-for-Green Policy in China

The Grain-for-Green Policy in China could not only improve China＇s ecological quality, but also influence grain supplies for a short term. Based on data from the detailed nationwide land use survey in 1996 and the steep cultivated land survey update in 2000, a regression model for the driving forces affecting steep cultivated lands was developed, and cluster analysis was used to identify seven steep cultivated land types in order to analyze the grain availability impact of the project with land usage estimates for 2010 and 2030. The results suggested that consecutive days with minimum daily temperature over 10 ℃ and the dominant slope in a county constrained the spatial distribution of steep cultivated lands. In terms of socioeconomic factors, steep cultivated land was a complex interaction of population size, gross domestic production level, and the richness and quality of cultivated lands having slopes less then 15°. The trends for steep cultivated land in 2010 and 2030 were forecast using a driving forces model and China＇s grain security criteria and showed that the Grain-for-Green Policy at the national level would not cause a grain shortage or threaten food security criteria. However, if steep sloped lands were to be retired from production, some regions would need grain supplements as early as 2010. Also, assuming that only 60% of the cultivated land at the national level was needed, population and economic development pressures in 2030 would require some steep cultivated lands to be used for grain production.

Current Situation,Problems and Optimization Countermeasures of Rice and Shrimp Cultivation Industry in Hubei Province

In recent years,the scale of rice and shrimp cultivation in Hubei Province is expanding year by year,and cultivation model is innovating continuously,while consumption market is enlarging constantly.It realizes"dual use of one land,win-win of grain and fishery,stable grain production,and efficiency increase",and effectively solves the problems that"benefit of grain planting is low,and it is difficult to increase farmers'income".But there are still many problems at present,such as degeneration of crayfish germplasm,increase of disease incidence,centralized entering in the market affecting breeding efficiency,the benefits of rice not brought into full play,large number of business entities,lack of leading enterprises and sufficient supporting.To realize sustainable development of rice and shrimp cultivation industry,Hubei Province should adhere to the problem orientation,do a good job in supporting and capital guidance,increase effective supply,promote scale operation,cultivate leading enterprises,strengthen production management,and improve product quality.

NON-EQUILIBRIUM SOLUTE SEGREGATION TO AUSTENITIC GRAIN BOUNDARY IN FERRUM-NICKLE ALLOY

The development of non-equilibrium segregation of boron at grain boundaries in Fe-4 0%Ni alloy during continuous cooling process was experimentally observed with boron Particle Tracking Autoradiography (PTA) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM,). The samples with 10ppm boron were cooled at 2℃/s to 1040, 980, 920, 860, 780 and 640℃ respectively after pre-heat treatment of 1150℃ for 15mm with a Gleeble-1500 heat simulating machine, then water quenched to room temperature. The width of segregation layer and boron depletion zone, rich factor and other parameters were measured by a special image analysis system. The experimental results of PTA show that the grain boundary segregation of boron during cooling process is a dynamic process and the development of the non-equilibrium segregation experiences three stages: first increases rapidly from 1150 to 1040℃, then gently from 1040 to 860℃, and rapidly again from 860℃ to 640℃. The width of boron depletion zone increases from about 11μm at 1040℃ to 26μm at 640℃. TEM observation shows that boron precipitates exist at grain boundaries when the samples are cooled to below 860℃. The experimental phenomena are briefly discussed.

Effects of Panicle Nitrogen Fertilization on Non-Structural Carbohydrate and Grain Filling in Indica Rice

Grain filling, a crucial stage of grain yield formation in rice, is usually affected by the panicle nitrogen （N） fertilization. Field and pot culture experiments were conducted to explore the underlying mechanisms of N effect. Two rice cultivars with high lodging resistance were grown in the field and pot. Four panicle N fertilization treatments were conducted in 2006 and repeated in 2007. The result showed that medium level of panicle N fertilization treatment （NM） enhanced the accumulation and translocation of non-structural carbohydrate （NSC） in the stem and sheath. Compared with non-nitrogen treatment （NO）, NM promoted the translocation of labeled ^13C from stem and sheath to grain. But, low level of panicle N fertilization treatment （NL） and high level of panicle N fertilization treatment （NH） showed the negative effect. The endosperm cell, grain length, and grain width of NM increased more quickly than that of NO from 4 to 10 d after anthesis. During the early period of grain filling, sucrose-phosphate synthase （EC 2.4.1.14, SPS） activity were significantly higher for the NM treatment than those of the NL and NH treatments. Sucrose synthase （EC 2.4.1.13, SuSase） activity in the grains was substantially enhanced by NM, with the duration of higher activity being longer than those of the other treatments. At maturing stage, NM significantly increased the filled grain number, the seed-setting rate, and the grain weight compared with NL and NH. The results suggest that NM have a positive effect on the activities of enzymes of physiological importance, thereby increasing the grain size and promoting grain filling.

Development of top high-grade non-grain-oriented silicon steels at Baosteel

The development, production and application of top high-grade non-grain-oriented （NGO） silicon steels at Baosteel were introduced in this paper. Top high grades refer to the highest grades in the intemational silicon steel product standard and above. B35A230 and B50A250 were developed at Baosteel in 2009 and have been used in inverter compressors for air-conditioners, small transformers and big hydropower generators in the Three Gorges project. Small- batch production of B35A210 and B50A230, which exceed the highest grades listed in the intemational silicon steel product standard,began in 2010. That was a breakthrough in the silicon steel making history in China. Presently,Baosteel＇ s high- grade NGO products have passed the strict qualifications of the three major electric power equipment manufacturers in China and the leading international power equipment suppliers like ALSTOM, GE, SIEMENS, VESTAS, etc. These products are characterized by low iron loss, low anisotropy, good punchability and a high lamination factor. They have been used in the 770 MW hydropower generator at Xiluodu Power Station in the three gorges area, 1 000 MW thermal power generators and 2.5 MW wind power generators.

Evaluating Rice Biodiversity and Yields of Upland Rice Landraces Grown in Shifting Cultivation in Bandarban,Bangladesh

Shifting cultivation,popularly known as jhum,is a dominant form of agriculture in the Chattogram Hill Tracts(CHT)of Bangladesh with upland rice being the major component of the system.The region is known for its rice biodiversity,which is under threat.This study was an attempt to explore the extent of rice biodiversity and variation in rice yields observing 81 randomly selected shifting cultivation plots from 26 dispersedly located mountainous villages in four sub-districts of Bandarban,one of three districts of the CHT.A total of 28 landraces of upland rice was grown in shifting cultivation.Highest number of landraces(16)was found in sub-district Thanchi.Three landraces most frequently observed were Gunda,Maemonsing and Sadabinni.Rice grain yield varied between 1.421 t ha-1 and 3.442 t ha-1 across landraces with the highest being recorded for Patobi.Landrace Dilon the lowest yield.Relative performance of landraces Kobrokbinni,Maemonsing,Monthon,Patobi and PD were superior to standard BRRI dhan83 and Gunda in relation to grain yield.Some of these landraces having wider adaptability may be released as varieties.

Changes in Cultivated Land Resources and Grain Potential in China's Mainland between 1996 and 2007

Analysis of recent changes in the amount and nature of cultivated land and grain potential, and the impacts of these changes on grain security in China's Mainland provides vital information for revising and developing strategies regarding protection of cultivated land and national grain security. This study examined changes in the area of cultivated land and in grain potential in agro-ecological zones using the "change rate" method. Agro-ecological subzones were used as the basic units and agro-ecological zones as the research units. We then studied changes for all of China's Mainland using the "gravity centre model" and analyzed the structural change of cultivated lands in each agro-ecological zone to investigate the changes in detail. The results show that both cultivated land and grain potential in China's Mainland decreased from 1996 to 2007. The structural and quantitative changes in each zone have caused the shift of the gravity centres of cultivated land and grain potential in China's Mainland to the northeast. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that natural and economic resources can keep up with this change. Although a large gap remains between the grain potential and the actual grain yield, the rapid loss of grain potential and the direction of change pose great threats to grain security. To ensure comprehensive grain security in China, it is vital to rethink the regional patterns of grain production according to natural conditions without jeopardising cultivated land protection(quantitative and qualitative), and consider the direction of cultivated land use and reconstruction according to local natural conditions, water and soil resources, and the level of economic development, and then work steadily to improve the grain potential.

NON-EQUILIBRIUM SEGREGATION OF SOLUTE TO GRAIN BOUNDARIES

In consideration of the local equilibrium among vacancies,solute atoms and vacancy-solute atom complexes and the influence of equilibrium grain boundary segregation,theoretical dy- namic formulas for non-equilibrium grain boundary segregation of solute have been derived on the basis of the vacancy-dragging mechanism.Theoretical calculation by computer has been carried out for the non-equilibrium segregation of boron to austenitic grain boundaries during isothermal holding and continuous cooling after heating at high temperatures.The re- suits agree well with those obtained from experiments.

Grain Production and Cultivated Land in China

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Dynamic process of trace boron non-equilibrium grain boundary segregation and the effect of cooling rate

The dynamic process of non-equilibrium grain boundary segregation of traceboron in Fe-40 percent Ni alloy during cooling and the effect of cooling rate were investigated byboron tracking autoradiography technique. The results indicate that during cooling process, theamount of segregated boron on grain boundary firstly increases fast, then enters a comparativelyeven increasing stage and increases rapidly again at the third stage. The details of each stagevaried with cooling rate are explained. When the segregation develops to a certain degree, thesegregated boron atoms transform from solute status to precipitate status.

Current Situations and Recommendations for Non-grain Tendency of Farmland in Anhui Province

This paper firstly sorted out current situations of farmland protection and increasingly significant non-grain of farmland in Anhui Province in recent years.Then,it made an in-depth analysis on causes for non-grain problem,and analyzed adverse influence on national grain security.On this basis,it came up with recommendations for alleviating non-grain problem of farmland in Anhui Province:strictly protecting capital farmland,reasonably guiding distribution and scale of grain production;treating non-grain problem of farmland according to specific situations;reforming and improving grain subsidy policy;establishing a new agricultural land circulation mechanism with family farm as subjects,other types as supplements,and access and supervision system as guarantee.