Effects of different nitrogen fertilizer management practices on wheat yields and N_2O emissions from wheat fields in North China

Nitrogen（N） is one of the macronutrients required for plant growth, and reasonable application of N fertilizers can increase crop yields and improve their quality. However, excessive application of N fertilizers will decrease N use efficiency and also lead to increases in N2O emissions from agricultural soils and many other environmental issues. Research on the effects of different N fertilizer management practices on wheat yields and N2O emissions will assist the selection of effective N management measures which enable achieving high wheat yields while reducing N2O emissions. To investigate the effects of different N management practices on wheat yields and soil N2O emissions, we conducted field trials with 5 treatments of no N fertilizer（CK）, farmers common N rate（AN）, optimal N rate（ON）, 20% reduction in optimal rate＋dicyandiamide（ON80%＋DCD）, 20% reduction in optimal rate＋nano-carbon（ON80%＋NC）. The static closed chamber gas chromatography method was used to monitor N2O emissions during the wheat growing season. The results showed that there were obvious seasonal characteristics of N2O emissions under each treatment and N2O emissions were mainly concentrated in the sowing-greening stage, accounting for 54.6–68.2% of the overall emissions. Compared with AN, N2O emissions were decreased by 23.1, 45.4 and 33.7%, respectively, under ON, ON80%＋DCD and ON80%＋NC, and emission factors were declined by 22.2, 66.7 and 33.3%, respectively. Wheat yield was increased significantly under ON80%＋DCD and ON80%＋NC by 12.3 and 11.9%, respectively, relative to AN while there was no significant change in yield in the ON treatment. Compared with ON, overall N2O emissions were decreased by 29.1 and 13.9% while wheat yields improved by 18.3 and 17.9% under ON80%＋DCD and ON80%＋NC, respectively. We therefore recommend that ON80%＋DCD and ON80%＋NC be referred as effective N management practices increasing yields while mitigating emissions.

Herbicide resistance: Development of wheat production systems and current status of resistant weeds in wheat cropping systems

Herbicide resistance in crops has extended the scope of herbicide applications to control weeds. The introduction of herbicide resistant crops resulted in a major shift in the way that herbicides are used in many crops, but not necessarily increased the prevalence of herbicide use, especially in wheat. Wheat is one of the most widely grown crops in the world and currently only two major herbicide-resistant wheat groups have been commercialized to manage weeds in a cost-effective manner. However, sustainable wheat production is threatened by the expanding occurrence of herbicide-resistant weed populations with limited efforts to discover new herbicide molecules. Selective control of certain problematic weeds in wheat was impossible until development and introduction of the technologies, Clearfield and Co AXium Production Systems. However, the current limitations of reliance on specific herbicides and evolution of resistant weeds mandate precautions and considerations when using these systems to prevent the loss of existing herbicide resources and continue sustainable wheat production. The focus of this review is to provide an overview of natural pre-existing herbicide resistance and development of herbicide-resistant technologies in wheat. The mechanisms of resistance to herbicides in wheat as well as the weed populations in wheat cropping systems, and implications for weed management are discussed.

Using an Anion Exchange Membrane to Predict Soil Available N and S Supplies and the Impact of N and S Fertilization on Canola and Wheat Growth

A growth chamber study was conducted to determine the relationships between the supply of soil available nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) and canola (Brassica napus) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L. 'Biggar') N and S uptake and yield in three Western Canadian soils. The suitability of one-hour burial with an anion exchange membrane (AEM) was assessed for its utility as a quick test of the available N:S balance in the soil. Canola and wheat were grown on a Luvisolic soil low in available S and on Brown and Black Chernozemic soils low in both available N and S, with different rates and combinations of N and S fertilizers applied. AEM burial was used to assess soil available nitrate and sulfate supply rates after fertilization. Dry matter yield and N and S concentrations in plant tissues were determined after 6 weeks of growth. The soil available N:S ratio determined by AEM burial closely reflected the relative supplies of available N and S as revealed in the N:S ratios of plant tissue dry matter. The highest yields were achieved where the available N:S ratio in soil and plant tissue ranged from 5 to 13. Thus, a one-hour burial of an AEM probe in the field may be a useful tool to quickly test if a balanced N and S supply is present in the soil for optimum crop yield.

Seasonal variations in the energy budget of Elliot's pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti) in cage

This study aimed to discuss the energy budget of Elliot's pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti in different seasons, with life and health, good growth and normal digestion of Elliot's pheasant as the tested objects, The energy budget of Elliot's pheasant was measured by daily collection of the trial pheasants' excrement in the biological garden of Guangxi Normal University from March 2011 to February 2012. The results showed that the gross energy consumption, metabolic energy and excrement energy varied by season, increasing as temperature decreased. There was significant difference in gross energy consumption, metabolic energy, excrement energy between adults and nonages. There was also a trend that food digestibility of pheasants increases as temperature increases. In the same season, the food digestibility of adults was better than that of nonages. Throughout spring, summer, autumn and winter, the metabolic energy of 4-year adults were 305.77±13.40 kJ/d, 263.67±11.89 kJ/d, 357.23±25.49 kJ/d and 403.12±24.91 kJ/d, respectively, and the nonages were 284.86±17.22 kJ/d, 284. 66±15.16 kJ/d, 402. 26±31.46 kJ/d and 420. 30±31.98 kJ/d, respectively. The minimum metabolic energies were 247.65±21.81 g, 265.86±26.53 g, respectively for each group, detected between 4-year adults and 1-year nonages. Further study is needed to determine whether 29.6 C is the optimal temperature for the Elliot's pheasant.

Sub-seasonal to Seasonal Hindcasts of Stratospheric Sudden Warming by BCC_CSM1.1(m):A Comparison with ECMWF

This study focuses on model predictive skill with respect to stratospheric sudden warming(SSW) events by comparing the hindcast results of BCC_CSM1.1(m) with those of the ECMWF's model under the sub-seasonal to seasonal prediction project of the World Weather Research Program and World Climate Research Program. When the hindcasts are initiated less than two weeks before SSW onset, BCC_CSM and ECMWF show comparable predictive skill in terms of the temporal evolution of the stratospheric circumpolar westerlies and polar temperature up to 30 days after SSW onset. However, with earlier hindcast initialization, the predictive skill of BCC_CSM gradually decreases, and the reproduced maximum circulation anomalies in the hindcasts initiated four weeks before SSW onset replicate only 10% of the circulation anomaly intensities in observations. The earliest successful prediction of the breakdown of the stratospheric polar vortex accompanying SSW onset for BCC_CSM(ECMWF) is the hindcast initiated two(three) weeks earlier. The predictive skills of both models during SSW winters are always higher than that during non-SSW winters, in relation to the successfully captured tropospheric precursors and the associated upward propagation of planetary waves by the model initializations. To narrow the gap in SSW predictive skill between BCC_CSM and ECMWF, ensemble forecasts and error corrections are performed with BCC_CSM. The SSW predictive skill in the ensemble hindcasts and the error corrections are improved compared with the previous control forecasts.

Genetic Analysis of Major and Minor Gene(s) Resistant to Stripe Rust in Important Resource Wheat Line Jinghe891-1

Inheritance of line Jinghe891-l resistant to pathotype of Puccinia striiformis in two patterns of temperature (Normal: day 18℃ /night 10℃ , High: day 24℃ /night 15℃ )was studied in this paper. The results showed that there were at least two pairs of dominant major genes and one pair of recessive minor genes in Jinghe 891-1. The two pairs of major genes that conferred resistance to CY31 were allelic or linked closely with resistance gene in Jubilejna Ⅱ , Kangyin655 and T. spelta Album. They were novel resistance genes and were inherited in a repeated or independent mode. The minor genes, which could modify the major genes, were sensitive to temperature and conferred resistance to all pathotypes of Puccinia striiformis in China. It is recommended that this line can be used as an important resource stock.

SSTA SIGNAL CHARACTERISTIC ANALYSIS OVER THE INDIAN OCEAN DURING RAINY SEASON IN CHINA

The teleconnection distribution characteristics of sea surface temperature (SST) over the India Ocean and the precipitation during rainy season in China were studied by using the methods of EOF and CCA. The results indicate that the change of SST field will affect the change of rain belt during rainy seasons in China, and greatly affect the precipitation in northwest and southwest China, the Yangzi and Yellow River downstream basins. Strong signal phenomena of SSTA over India Ocean were revealed that showed the anoma-lous distribution of drought and flood in China. It shows that the precipitation during rainy seasons in China may be forecast by analyzing SST distribution characteristics over the India Ocean.

A Statistical Scheme for the Seasonal Forecasting of North China's Surface Air Temperature during Winter

This paper presents a statistical scheme for the seasonal forecasting of North China's surface air temperature (NCSAT) during winter. Firstly, a prediction model for an decrease or increase of winter NCSAT is established, whose predictors are available for no later than the previous September, as this is the most favorable month for seasonal forecasting up to two months ahead.The predicted NCSAT is then derived as the sum of the predicted increment of NCSAT and the previous NCSAT. The scheme successfully predicts the interannual and the decadal variability of NCSAT. Additionally, the advantages of the prediction scheme are discussed.

Seasonal variation in the onset of acute pancreatitis

AIM:A drcannual variation in the onset of several acute diseases, mostly dealing with cardiovascular system,has been reported. The present study was to verify the possible existence of a seasonal variability in the onset of acute pancreatitis. METHODS:All patients consecutively admitted to the Hospital of Ferrara,Italy,between January 1998 to December 2002, whose discharge diagnosis was acute pancreatitis,were considered.According to the time of admission,cases were categorized into twelve 1-mo intervals and in four periods by season.x^2 test for goodness of fit and partial Fourier series were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS:During the study period,549 cases of acute pancreatitis were observed.A significant peak of higher incidence was found in March-May,both for total population, males and subgroups with and without cholelithiasis or alcoholism.Fourier analysis showed the existence of a circannual rhythmic pattern with its main peak in March(95% CL.:February-April,P=0.005),and a secondary one in September.Death occurred more frequently in December- February,compared to the other periods(P=0.029),and chronobiologic analysis yielded a seasonal peak in November- December(P<0.001). CONCLUSION:This study shows the existence of a circannual variation in the onset of acute pancreatitis,with a significantly higher frequency of events in the spring,especially for patients with cholelithiasis or alcoholism.Moreover,events occurring during the colder months seem to be characterized by a higher mortality rate.

Progress of MJO Prediction at CMA from Phase I to Phase II of the Sub-Seasonal to Seasonal Prediction Project

As one of the participants in the Subseasonal to Seasonal(S2S)Prediction Project,the China Meteorological Administration(CMA)has adopted several model versions to participate in the S2S Project.This study evaluates the models’capability to simulate and predict the Madden-Julian Oscillation(MJO).Three versions of the Beijing Climate Center Climate System Model(BCC-CSM)are used to conduct historical simulations and re-forecast experiments(referred to as EXP1,EXP1-M,and EXP2,respectively).In simulating MJO characteristics,the newly-developed high-resolution BCC-CSM outperforms its predecessors.In terms of MJO prediction,the useful prediction skill of the MJO index is enhanced from 15 days in EXP1 to 22 days in EXP1-M,and further to 24 days in EXP2.Within the first forecast week,the better initial condition in EXP2 largely contributes to the enhancement of MJO prediction skill.However,during forecast weeks 2–3,EXP2 shows little advantage compared with EXP1-M because the increased skill at MJO initial phases 6–7 is largely offset by the degraded skill at MJO initial phases 2–3.Particularly at initial phases 2–3,EXP1-M skillfully captures the wind field and Kelvin-wave response to MJO convection,leading to the highest prediction skill of the MJO.Our results reveal that,during the participation of the CMA models in the S2S Project,both the improved model initialization and updated model physics played positive roles in improving MJO prediction.Future efforts should focus on improving the model physics to better simulate MJO convection over the Maritime Continent and further improve MJO prediction at long lead times.

Winter Wheat Drought Monitoring and Comprehensive Risk Assessment： Case Study of Xingtai Administrative District in North China

Drought monitoring is the base for drought coping and adaptation. Xingtai is located in North China＇s key winter wheat production areas where drought is severe and frequent. The rainfall during winter wheat growing season is just about 1/3 of total demand. Xingtai has typical mountainous, hilly and plain agricultural zones, compound rain-fed and irrigated farming patterns. The winter wheat irrigation has heavily depended on overdraw of groundwater in recent decades. In the study, the MODIS （Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer） images taken at the key winter wheat growing season （Mar. to May） in normal rainfall year （2006） were selected, extracted NDVI （Normalized Difference Vegetation Index） and LST （Land Surface Temperature） data, calculated TVDI （Temperature and Vegetation Drought Index）, classified and mapped winter wheat drought intensity. Further, based on TVDI, a CDRA （Comprehensive Drought Risk Assessment） model for winter wheat drought disaster risk assessment was constructed and zoning was made. Verified by winter wheat yield, the risk zoning by CDRA is consistent with actual crop failure space. This method can be used in drought risk management.

Seasonal Evolution of Dominant Modes in South Pacific SST and Relationship with ENSO

A season-reliant empirical orthogonal function （S-EOF） analysis was applied to the seasonal mean SST anomalies （SSTAs） based on the HadISST1 dataset with linear trend removed at every grid point in the South Pacific （60.5°-19.5°S, 139.5°E-60.5°W） during the period 1979-2009. The spatiotemporal characteristics of the dominant modes and their relationships with ENSO were analyzed. The results show that there are two seasonally evolving dominant modes of SSTAs in the South Pacific with interannual and interdeeadal variations; they account for nearly 40% of the total variance. Although the seasonal evolution of spatial patterns of the first S-EOF mode （S-EOF1） did not show remarkable propagation, it decays with season remarkably. The second S-EOF mode （S-EOF2） showed significant seasonal evolution and intensified with season, with distinct characteristics of eastward propagation of the negative SSTAs in southern New Zealand and positive SSTAs southeast of Australia. Both of these two modes have significant relationships with ENSO. These two modes correspond to the post-ENSO and ENSO turnabout years, respectively. The S- EOF1 mode associated with the decay of the eastern Pacific （EP） and the central Pacific （CP） types of ENSO exhibited a more significant relationship with the EP/CP type of E1 Nifio than that with the EP/CP type of La Nifia. The S-EOF2 mode contacted with the EP type of E1 Nifio changing into the EP/CP type of La Nifia showed a more significant connection with the EP/CP type of La Nifia.

Interannual Variation of the Onset of Yunnan’s Rainy Season and Its Relationships with the Arctic Oscillation of the Preceding Winter

Based on an analysis of the circulation in May associated with the interannual variation of the onset of Yunnan’s rainy season, this study examined the rela-tionship between Arctic Oscillation (AO) and the onset timing of the rainy sea-son by using the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and observational precipitation data for 1961-2010. The results indicated that, on an interannual time scale, intense Asian summer monsoon and an active EU-pattern wave train circulation in its positive phase, associated with a cold cyclonic cell covering the western part of the East Asian subtropical westerly jet (EASWJ), jointly contributed to the onset of the rainy season in May. Otherwise, the onset might be suppressed. The cold cyclonic cell over East Asia likely led to the southward shift and enhancement of EASWJ as well as its secondary circulation around the jet entrance, which could provide a favorable dynamic and thermal condition for rainfalls in Yunnan as was revealed in previous studies on 10 - 30-day time scale. Further examination showed that the preceding wintertime AO played a significant role in the timing of the onset of the rainy season before the mid-1980s’ by mostly modulating the wave-train-like circulation over East Asia in May. During that time period, when the AO index of the previous winter was positive (negative), Yunnan’s rainy season tended to begin earlier (later) than normal. Correspond-ingly, the precipitation in May was also closely linked to wintertime AO.

Seasonal variations in the energy budget of Elliot’s pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti) in cage

This study aimed to discuss the energy budget of Elliot’s pheasant Syrmaticus ellioti in different seasons,with life and health,good growth and normal digestion of Elliot’s pheasant as the tested objects,The energy budget of Elliot’s pheasant was measured by daily collection of the trial pheasants’excrement in the biological garden of Guangxi Normal University from March 2011 to February 2012.The results showed that the gross energy consumption,metabolic energy and excrement energy varied by season,increasing as temperature decreased.There was significant difference in gross energy consumption,metabolic energy,excrement energy between adults and nonages.There was also a trend that food digestibility of pheasants increases as temperature increases.In the same season,the food digestibility of adults was better than that of nonages.Throughout spring,summer,autumn and winter,the metabolic energy of 4-year adults were 305.77±13.40 kJ/d,263.67±11.89 kJ/d,357.23±25.49 kJ/d and 403.12±24.91 kJ/d,respectively,and the nonages were 284.86±17.22 kJ/d,284.66±15.16 kJ/d,402.26±31.46 kJ/d and 420.30±31.98 kJ/d,respectively.The minimum metabolic energies were 247.65±21.81 g,265.86±26.53 g,respectively for each group,detected between 4-year adults and 1-year nonages.Further study is needed to determine whether 29.6 C is the optimal temperature for the Elliot’s pheasant.

The Seasonal Variations of the Climatic Circulation of the Black Sea along the Axis of Divergence Zone

The spatial position, seasonal variability and intensity of the main flow and the cyclonic circulation of the Black Sea waters along the axis of the divergence were identified. Corresponding calculations were done with using of the dynamic method and based on the climate data set of temperature and salinity for the surface and intermediate layers of the Black Sea. The important role of spring floods on the rivers of the northern-western Black Sea in the development of the water circulation features was shown because this river＇s water and main Black Sea current interact with the periphery of the western and eastern cyclonic circulation. This process is dominated at the western part sea surface cyclone： in spring and at eastern, in summer and autumn. The flow rate and nature of seasonal migration cyclonic centers were estimated. The results of research are based on a relatively large scale （40＇ latitude and 60＇ longitude） averaging and we have identified the main area of water divergence. Small, localized areas of convergence and divergence of flow that are presented in the Black Sea were not included into the scope of our research.

Diversity Analysis of Endophytes in Wheat Infected by Powdery Mildew

Common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important food crops. Powdery mildew, caused by Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt), is one of the most serious diseases on wheat. In this study, the changes of endogenous bacteria in root, stem and leaf tissues of wheat infected and uninfected with powdery mildew were measured based on 16S rDNA. Integration, OTU cluster analysis, taxonomic analysis, diversity index, Shannon-Index curve, Rank-Abundance curve and PCoA analysis were carried out for each sample, and the roots, stems and leaves of different tissue parts were classified and summarized. The results showed that the infection of wheat powdery mildew had a certain effect on endophytic bacteria in stem tissue. There are also differences in the control and treatment of leaf tissue and root tissue. This indicated that endophytic bacteria were distributed differently in different parts of wheat.

高温干旱复合胁迫下冬小麦叶片和冠层尺度SIF与光合作用的关联变化特征研究

为探究高温干旱复合胁迫下叶片和冠层尺度日光诱导叶绿素荧光(solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence,SIF)与植物光合作用的关系,开展冬小麦高温干旱复合胁迫田间试验,共设置三种水分条件[严重干旱(50%~60%田间持水量)、轻度干旱(65%~75%田间持水量)和正常供水对照组(80%~90%田间持水量)]和三个温度水平(半包式增温、全包式增温和大田环境温度对照组),分析不同胁迫处理下冠层和叶片尺度SIF、冠层总初级生产力(gross primary productivity,GPP)和叶片净光合速率(net photosynthetic rate,P_(n))的日变化和季节变化特征,探讨小麦叶片SIF与P_(n)和冠层SIF与GPP之间的关联性。结果表明,高温干旱复合胁迫下日尺度和季节尺度叶片和冠层SIF总体均呈现出单峰型变化特征,季节尺度冠层SIF对干旱胁迫的响应比叶片SIF明显,且高温干旱复合胁迫对叶片和冠层SIF的影响均大于单一高温或干旱胁迫。P_(n)和GPP总体分别呈现出双峰型和单峰型变化特征。高温干旱复合胁迫下叶片SIF与P_(n)的相关性(R^(2)=0.42)小于冠层SIF与GPP的相关性(R^(2)=0.52),随着单一胁迫的增强,二者之间的相关性逐渐降低,且干旱胁迫对二者关系以及P_(n)和GPP的影响均大于高温胁迫。此外,环境变量中温度对SIF与P_(n)关系的影响最大,其次是饱和水汽压差(vapor pressure deficit,VPD),光合有效辐射(photosynthetic active radiation,PAR)影响最小,且SIF与P_(n)之间的相关性随温度的增加逐渐降低,随VPD的增大先降后升,随PAR的增加先升后降。高温干旱复合胁迫下冠层和叶片SIF大小与植物光合作用强弱有一定关联性,并受环境变量影响。

Celiac Disease in a Patient with Baker’s Asthma and Wheat Allergy Due to Tri a 14

We describe the case of a patient that developed persistent severe asthma after having started to work in a bakery. The subsequent appearance of gastrointestinal symptoms was diagnosed as celiac disease (CD). She also experienced severe asthma attacks when cooking pasta, and expe-rienced anaphylactic shock a few minutes after wheat flour inhalation. The allergologic workup was positive for several cereal products and Tri a 14 (Tricum aestivum 14), while specific IgE titer to Pru p 3 (Prunus persica 3) was negative. Our patient had no recurrence of these episodes when she avoided cooking wheat flour products and wheat in processed foods. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying CD and IgE-mediated food allergy are different and the coexistence of both diseases seems to be rare. Tri a 14 is the major wheat allergen involved in our case;this allergen can sensitize through the respiratory and the oral route, and can give way to anaphylaxis. A possible role played by interleukin-15 (IL-15) and interleukin-21 (IL-21) in the induction of IgE-mediate hypersensitivity, as well as in the pathogenesis of CD, is prospected and discussed briefly herein.

Modeling Daily Average Temperatures in a Coastal Site of Central Africa: An Analysis of Seasonal Divisions

The seasonality and day-to-day variation of near-surface temperature patterns can greatly control nearly all physical and biological processes though temperature predictions at such scales remain challenging. This paper implements a simple analytical approach in order to generate daily average temperatures which implicitly accounts for surface heating and drivers through a comprehensive representation of station-based temperature records on a universal standard calendar propagated by the earth’s dynamics features. The modeled and observed pattern of daily temperatures exhibits a close agreement with the level of strength agreement exceeding 0.56. The extreme high and low values of the observed temperature patterns are equally well captured although model underestimates the probability of temperatures around the two modal peaks (~25.6℃ and 27.5℃). Additionally, a theoretical thermal-based division led to the identification of six seasons, including two hot and cold periods along with two pairs of mixed hot-cold. The theoretical division proposed here appears to be a good approximation for the understanding of rainfall seasonality in this area.