Abbreviation (ISO4): Chin Agric Sci Bull
Editor in chief: Yulong YIN
To clarify the differences in yield and quality of high-quality japonica rice varieties cultivated in three distinct ecological zones, namely Northeast China, the Yellow River Basin of China, and Japan, this study used three representative varieties ‘Jijing 81’, ‘Huangjinqing’ and ‘Yueguang’ as experimental materials. Under the conditions of unified water and fertilizer management for high-yield cultivation in the field of Xinxiang, Henan, we systematically investigated the dynamic changes in flag leaf photosynthetic rate during the growth period, as well as the yield and quality characteristics of the test varieties. The results showed that ‘Jijing 81’ achieved the highest yield of 9.50 t/hm2, followed by ‘Yueguang’ (7.83 t/hm2), while ‘Huangjinqing’ had the lowest yield (6.50 t/hm2). The yield advantage of ‘Yueguang’ was attributed to the increase of effective panicle number, with the maximum effective panicle number reaching 414400 panicles/hm2 and the minimum number of 300000 panicles/hm2. This was significantly higher than that of conventional varieties (200000 panicles/hm2) in production, indicating that all three varieties had strong tillering potential. A comprehensive analysis of appearance, processing and eating quality indicators showed that, compared with the other two varieties, ‘Yueguang’ exhibited distinct advantages. It had a low length-width ratio of only 1.77, a chalky grain rate of 14.00%, a chalkiness degree of 5.22% and an amylose content of 14.6%, with all indicators at low levels, demonstrating that this variety had excellent and stable quality. The comparison of flag leaf photosynthetic rate indicated that during the whole grain filling period, the average photosynthetic rate of the three varieties was ranked as ‘Jijing 81’[19.96 μmol/(m2·s)]> ‘Yueguang’ [19.88 μmol/(m2·s)]> ‘Huangjinqing’ [16.95 μmol/(m2·s)], which was completely consistent with the yield ranking. This confirmed that the improvement of rice yield mainly depended on the increase of flag leaf photosynthetic rate, indicating a good coordination between flag leaf photosynthetic rate and yield, and no synergistic relationship was observed between quality and yield. In conclusion, flag leaf photosynthetic rate can be used as a core reference index for high-yield japonica rice breeding. For high-quality japonica rice breeding, the criterion of low chalkiness, low amylose content, and high head rice rate and high eating quality value should be taken as the key breeding direction.
To clarify the genetic correlation and breeding application value among grain yield, biological yield and harvest index of wheat, this study systematically analyzed the relationships among grain yield, biological yield, and harvest index, as well as their genetic variation characteristics, using 30 stable inherited wheat lines. The results showed extremely significant differences among lines for biological yield, grain yield, and harvest index, with variation ranges of 8.79-13.4 g, 4.35-5.90 g, and 0.407-0.539, respectively. Coefficient of variation (CV) analysis revealed the highest genetic variability in biological yield (CV=11.7%), whereas that in harvest index was relatively stable (CV=6.9%). Correlation analysis indicated a highly significant positive correlation between grain yield and biological yield (r=0.7904), indicating that increasing biological yield was the key to promoting grain yield growth. However, there was a highly significant negative correlation between biological yield and harvest index (r=-0.6949), reflecting the inherent trade-off between them. In conclusion, enhancing biological yield with synergistically optimizing harvest index is proposed as an effective strategy for future ultra-high-yield wheat breeding, under the current challenge of limited gains in harvest index. These findings provide a direct theoretical basis and practical guidance for breeders to precisely select lines with coordinated source-sink relationships and efficient assimilate partitioning, thereby holding significant value for shortening the breeding cycle and improving selection efficiency.
This study aims to establish an evaluation method for identifying new maize varieties, selecting those with high and stable yields as well as wide adaptability, to accelerate the promotion and application of new varieties and support the sustainable and stable increase of maize production in Henan Province. 57 summer maize varieties were used as experimental materials. A comprehensive evaluation of varietal performance was conducted by analyzing the growth period, lodging resistance, yield, and related agronomic traits, integrating the high stability coefficient method, the Eberhart-Russell model, and the random forest algorithm. The average growth period of the tested varieties was 107.0 days, the plant height ranged from 225.5 to 280.8 cm, and the sum of lodging and lodging-breaking rates varied from 0.1% to 14.4%. The yield range was 9202.81 to 11093.58 kg/hm2. Among them, ‘Chengyu 668’ had the highest yield, reaching 11093.58 kg/hm2; while ‘Dingyou 221’ had the highest high stability coefficient of 88.65%. Correlation and random forest model analysis showed that yield was significantly positively correlated with traits such as 100-grain weight and ear diameter. Seed yield had the greatest contribution to yield prediction in the random forest model, and the path coefficient of seed rate to yield was also the highest. Through cross-validation of the high stability coefficient method, four-quadrant analysis and Eberhart-Russell model, two varieties, ‘Keteng 918’ and ‘Xianyu 534’, with both high yield and stable yield were screened out, providing a scientific basis for optimizing the maize variety structure in Henan Province.
This study aimed to compare different “rice-ratooning-rapeseed” cropping systems, to provide a theoretical basis for the further promotion and application of this model. Experiments were conducted in the southern part of Hunan Province from 2023 to 2024. Three combinations were established, including the short-growth-period ratoon rice variety ‘Lingliangyou 268’ + the medium-growth-period oilseed rape variety ‘Fengyou 737’, the medium-growth-period ratoon rice variety ‘Hui Liangyou 898’ + short-growth-period oilseed rape variety ‘Yangguang 131’, and medium growth period high-quality ratoon rice variety ‘Yexiangyou Lisi ’ + short-growth-period oilseed rape variety ‘Yangguang 131’. At the same time, two treatments were set, including different stubble heights for ratoon rice and different seeding rates for oilseed rape. The economic and ecological benefits of different combinations were systematically compared. The total annual growth duration of the three combinations ranged from 356 to 362 days, all of which could be normally cultivated in southern Hunan. The combination of short-growth-period ratoon rice variety ‘Lingliangyou 268’ + medium-growth-period oilseed rape variety ‘Fengyou 737’ with a 30 cm stubble height had the shortest total annual growth duration (356 days). In terms of economic benefits, the short-growth-period ratoon rice variety ‘Lingliangyou 268’ + medium-growth-period ‘Fengyou 737’ combination yielded the highest net profit at 26945 yuan/hm2, which was 23.74%-27.47% higher than other combinations. This was primarily attributed to lower input, higher output, and a benefit-cost ratio 11.05%-13.02% higher than other combinations. Regarding the effects of rape seeding rate and rice stubble height, both varieties showed that doubled seeding rate increased total cost but resulted in a higher net profit. The short-growth-period ratoon rice variety ‘Lingliangyou 268’ + medium-growth-period oilseed rape variety ‘Fengyou 737’ combination with a 30 cm stubble height and doubled rape seeding rate achieved the highest net profit of 28357 yuan/hm2, exceeding other treatments by 4.47%-54.47%. Regarding ecological benefits, methane emissions from the main crop of the ratoon rice varieties differed. The short-growth-period ratoon rice variety ‘Lingliangyou 268’ exhibited the lowest total methane emissions during the booting and heading stages. In terms of stubble height, the 30 cm stubble treatment resulted in lower methane emissions compared to the 15 cm stubble treatment, a trend consistent across all three varieties. In conclusion, the combination of short-growth-period ratoon rice variety ‘Lingliangyou 268’ + medium-growth-period oilseed rape variety ‘Fengyou 737’ combination with a 30 cm stubble height and doubled rape seeding rate demonstrated the best integrated economic and ecological performance. For the “rice-ratooning-rapeseed” system in southern Hunan, the optimal combination is the short-growth-duration ratoon rice variety ‘Lingliangyou 268’ paired with the medium-growth-duration oilseed rape variety ‘Fengyou 737’. Implementing a 30 cm stubble height for ratoon rice and a doubled seeding rate for oilseed rape within this combination can achieve high yields for both crops while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is recommended to promote the application of the optimized combination in southern Hunan in order to maximize the comprehensive benefits of the “rice-ratooning-rapeseed” model and promote the sustainable development of agriculture.
The purpose of this study is to investigate the ion absorption characteristics and saline-alkali tolerance differences of different sugar beet varieties in the saline-alkali soil of the Hetao Irrigation District, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for selecting salt-tolerant varieties and utilizing saline-alkali land. Using sugar beet varieties ‘KWS1197’, ‘KWS9899’, ‘H7IM15’, ‘KUHN4092’, and ‘SV1752’ as test materials, a field experiment was conducted in typical saline-alkali soil of the Hetao Irrigation District in Inner Mongolia. Yield, sugar content, biomass, photosynthetic parameters, and the concentration and accumulation of cations such as K+ and Na+ in plant tissues were systematically measured. The results showed that ‘KWS1197’ performed best under saline-alkali stress. Its yield (80102.03 kg/hm2) and sugar yield (14122.35 kg/hm2) were significantly higher than those of other varieties, which were 16.99% and 27.14% higher than the lowest-performing variety ‘KWS9899’. The proportion of its root biomass reached 82.1%, and its net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), and leaf SPAD value were significantly higher than those of other varieties (P<0.05). Ion absorption analysis indicated that ‘KWS1197’ exhibited a capability for sodium exclusion and potassium retention. The Na+ concentration in its roots at the end of the growth period was significantly lower than that in ‘KUHN4092’, while the K+ accumulation in its roots (465.97 g/plant) was significantly higher than that in ‘KWS9899’. In summary, the saline-alkali tolerance of sugar beet is closely related to selective ion absorption, stability of photosynthetic efficiency, and efficient biomass allocation to the roots. ‘KWS1197’ is a superior variety suitable for cultivation in the saline-alkali soil of the Hetao Irrigation District.
This study aims to investigate the comprehensive effects of microbial fertilizer and farmyard manure on the yield, quality, and trace element accumulation of red beets, in order to evaluate the feasibility of replacing chemical fertilizers. A field experiment was conducted from May to October 2022 at the Hulan Experimental Station of Heilongjiang University, using the cultivar ‘ACTION F1’. Three treatments were established: microbial fertilizer (T1), farmyard manure (T2), and chemical fertilizer (CK). Indicators such as plant height, root length, leaf area, yield, betacyanin content, crude fiber, crude protein, and trace elements were measured at different growth stages. In terms of growth indicators, T2 treatment significantly promoted the growth and development of red beets, during the root sugar accumulation period, plant height increased by 7.2% compared to CK, leaf area increased by 43.95%, and root length increased by 37.59%. All these metrics were significantly superior to those of the T1 and CK treatments. Regarding yield and quality, the farmyard manure treatment performed the best, yield reached 87123.70 kg/hm2, representing a significant increase of 12.9% compared to CK; the contents of betacyanin (3.69 mg/mL), crude fiber (0.60%), and crude protein (187.22 g/100 g) were all significantly higher than those of other treatments. Among trace elements, Mn, Co, and Fe showed increases ranging from 14.0% to 40.2%. Principal component analysis revealed that T2 achieved the highest comprehensive score, indicating that T2 performed optimally in terms of red beet yield, quality, and trace element accumulation. Farmyard manure can significantly promote the formation of red beet yield and quality by improving soil conditions and nutrient supply, making it the recommended fertilization strategy for green cultivation of red beets.
Tamarix spp. is a typical salt-secreting halophyte woody plant in arid areas, which is of great value in windbreak and sand fixation and saline-alkali land improvement. However, there is still a lack of systematic measurement of research trends and frontier hotspots at home and abroad. In order to clarify the research context of Tamarix spp. and support vegetation restoration and sustainable utilization of stress-resistant resources in arid areas, based on literatures from China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Web of Science, this paper used CiteSpace 6.1.R6 to perform a bibliometric analysis of publications on Tamarix spp. from 1984 to 2024, to systematically review the domestic and international research contents, stage characteristics and potential trends of Tamarix spp. Results showed that publication output exhibited a steady-increase-steady pattern. China had the highest number of publications, followed by the United States. However, publications from the United States had the highest citation frequency among articles indexed in the Web of Science. Research topics exhibited a high degree of concentration. Domestic research focused on basic biological traits, ecological roles, taxonomy and phylogeny of Tamarix in northwestern arid and semi-arid regions, while studies of the United States emphasized ecological functions, physiological responses and applied potential. Keyword burst and clustering analyses revealed shifts from taxonomy to saline‑alkali land management and ecological value in China, and from taxonomy to invasion control and salt‑tolerance gene research abroad. Future research should resolve taxonomic controversies and clarify evolutionary dynamics, implement large-scale habitat monitoring and precision phenotyping, mine salt-tolerance genes and bioactive compounds for stress-resistant breeding and medical-cosmetic applications, and integrate the aesthetic value of Tamarix into ecological tourism. A multidisciplinary approach can facilitate innovation from basic taxonomy to eco-economic development, offering a paradigm for sustainable utilization and intelligent management of arid-region biological resources.
The study aims to investigate the mechanisms of different bio-fertilizers on soil environment, rhizosphere microbial communities, growth indicators and yield of continuously cropping celery, providing a theoretical basis for alleviating continuous cropping obstacles. A field experiment of fertilizer efficiency was conducted in a greenhouse with celery continuously cropped for three years. Four treatments were established, including self-made cow dung bio-fertilizer (NF), Chinese herbal residue bio-fertilizer (ZYZ), commercial bio-organic fertilizer (DL), and a blank control (CK). Soil chemical indicators and nutrients were analyzed, rhizosphere microbial communities were characterized, and growth traits and yield were measured to reveal the correlations among these variables. The results showed that ZYZ significantly increased the contents of soil organic matter and available iron, manganese and other trace elements. NF showed a distinct advantage in boosting available zinc. Bacterial communities were significantly driven by pH and organic matter, with ZYZ specifically enriching beneficial bacteria such as Bacillaceae, and NF increasing fungal diversity. Fungal communities were more responsive to available phosphorus and potassium. DL treatment resulted in reduction of bacterial diversity. ZYZ increased the stem diameter and plant height of celery, whereas the yield-increasing effects of NF and ZYZ were both superior to that of DL, with NF increasing yield by 12.01% and ZYZ by 10.50%. Self-made bio-fertilizers alleviate continuous cropping obstacles in celery by activating soil nutrients and reshaping the rhizosphere microbiome. NF performed outstandingly in yield increase, while ZYZ supported better vegetative growth, providing practical insights for developing specialized bio-fertilizers for continuous cropping systems.
This research aimed to clarify the effects of crown-decreasing on photosynthetic performance of Juglans regia ‘Yunxingaoyuan’, providing a basis for the industrial popularization and application of the crown-decreasing technology in J. regia cultivation. Crown-decreasing was performed on the J. regia ‘Yunxingaoyuan’ trees entering full fruiting period, the photosynthetic pigment contents of the leaves were determined by using spectrophotometry, the photosynthetic and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of the leaves were measured by using portable photosynthetic apparatus, and the comprehensive ranking of the leaf photosynthetic performance was evaluated by using membership function. The results indicated that the area, chlorophyll a content ([Chl a]), chlorophyll b content ([Chl b]), total chlorophyll content {[Chl (a+b)]}, carotenoid content ([Car]) and the initial fluorescence (F0) of the leaves of the 4.0 m crown height plants were the highest, i.e., about (77.4378±10.7445) cm2, (2.3780±0.1483) mg/(g·FW), (0.9775±0.1091) mg/(g·FW), (3.3565±0.2376) mg/(g·FW), (0.6391±0.0426) mg/(g·FW) and 110.0982±6.5923, respectively, the [Chl a]/[Chl b], maximum fluorescence yield (Fm) and the maximal photochemical efficiency of PSⅡ (Fv/Fm) of the leaves of the check (CK) plants with 8.0-9.0 m crown height were the highest, i.e., approximately 2.8662±0.1448, 917.8035±10.2468 and 0.8928±0.0032, respectively, whereas the [Chl (a+b)]/[Car], net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and transpiration rate (Tr) of the leaves of the 3.6 m crown height plants were the highest, i.e., roughly 5.5542±0.6019, (14.3004±1.8561) μmol/(m2·s), (0.081±0.0064) mol/(m2·s), (719.4092±153.8605) μmol/mol and (2.3070±0.1348) mmol/(m2·s), respectively. The differences of the area, [Chl a], [Chl b], [Car], F0 and Fv/Fm among the plants with different crown heights all reached significant levels, the differences of the [Chl (a+b)], Pn, Gs, Tr and Fm all reached extremely significant levels, but those of the [Chl a]/[Chl b], [Chl (a+b)]/[Car] and Ci did not reach any significant levels. In brief, the comprehensive ranking of the photosynthetic performances of the leaves was as: 3.6 m crown height>4.0 m crown height>4.4 m crown height>CK. Thus, the 3 crown-decreasing treatments can all improve the photosynthetic performance of J. regia ‘Yunxingaoyuan’ leaves, when the crown height is decreased to 3.6 m, the leaf photosynthetic performance is the best.
To detect the floral aroma components of 6 martagon hybrids varieties, SPME/GC-MS technology was used to analyze and identify the volatile components in their flowers. 26 aroma components were detected in the 6 martagon hybrids varieties, including 12 monoterpenes, 5 fatty acid derivatives, 3 alkanes, 3 benzenoids/phenylpropanoids, and 3 heterocycles compounds. ‘Arabian Knight’, ‘Claude Shride’, ‘Peppard Gold’, ‘Alberta Morning’, ‘Pink Morning’, and ‘Snowy Morning’ had 15, 19, 22, 19, 23, and 20 aroma components, respectively. Among them, the main aroma components of ‘Arabian Knight’ and ‘Peppard Gold’ were linalool and eucalyptol; the main aroma components of ‘Claude Shride’ were linalool, nonanal, and 4-terpineol; the main aroma components of ‘Alberta Morning’ were α-thujene and linalool; the main aroma components of ‘Pink Morning’ were linalool, benzaldehyde, and α-thujene; and the main aroma component of ‘Snowy Morning’ was eucalyptol.
Comparing the cold resistance of different introduced mixed-growth bamboo species, the excellent bamboo species were selected for the promotion of southern bamboo introduction to north and afforestation. Using the two-year old transplanted mother bamboos of 11 bamboo species, namely Pleioblastus fortunei, Pl. viridistriatus, Pl. pygmaeus, Shibataea kumasaca, Indocalamus latifolius, S. hispida, I. decorus, I. latifolius f. flavistriatus, Pseudosasa japonica var. tsutsumiana, Ps. japonica, Chimonobambusa sichuanensis, as materials, this study explored their morphological and physiological responses to natural low temperatures for 6 consecutive years after introduction. The cold resistance of different bamboo species was comprehensively evaluated through principal component analysis combined with the membership function method. Under natural low temperature stress, the external morphology of the 11 bamboo species showed significant adaptive changes, mainly manifested as typical cold damage symptoms such as leaf yellowing, death of newly sprouted bamboo and mother bamboo. Photosynthetic physiological indicators showed that natural low temperature significantly inhibited the actual photochemical efficiency Y(Ⅱ) of PSⅡ, the maximum electron transport rate (ETR), the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSⅡ (Fv/Fm), and the effective photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fo) of the 11 bamboo species. With the extension of the introduction time, the variation ranges of the photosynthetic parameters of each bamboo species showed significant differences, reflecting obvious differences in the tolerance levels of different bamboo species to natural low temperature stress. The results of principal component analysis showed that after dimensionality reduction of 7 single indicators, 4 principal components could be extracted, with a cumulative contribution rate of 93.0%. By calculating the comprehensive evaluation value D of cold resistance, the final ranking of the cold resistance abilities of the 11 bamboo species was obtained as follows: I. decorus> I. latifolius f. flavistriatus> Ps. japonica var. tsutsumiana> S. kumasaca> I. latifolius> Pl. viridistriatus> Pl. pygmaeus> C. sichuanensis> S. hispida> Ps. japonica> Pl. fortunei.
This study aimed to investigate the quality characteristics of green tea processed from four albino/ etiolation tea tree varieties in Xinyang area, with the goal of analyzing the differences in quality features of these four types of green tea from the perspective of varieties. Four albino/ etiolation tea tree varieties were selected, and tea samples were prepared according to the traditional Xinyang Maojian tea processing method. Sensory evaluation and biochemical composition data were combined with multivariate analysis (PCA, OPLS-DA), revealing significant quality differences and key indicators attributable to the tea cultivar. The results showed that the sensory quality and +C (catechin) content of the ‘Zhonghuang No.1’ tea sample were superior to other three samples. The caffeine content of the ‘Baiye No.1’ tea sample was the lowest, while the tea polyphenols, amino acids, ECG (epi-catechin-3-gallate), and EGCG (epi-gallocatechin-3-gallate) content of the ‘Zhonghuang No.2’ tea sample were the highest. The water extractable substances, EC (epi-catechin), and EGC (epi-gallocatechin) content of the ‘Suyu Huang’ tea sample were the highest. Correlation analysis indicated that the sensory score of tea was positively correlated with free amino acids, caffeine, ECG, and ester catechins, and negatively correlated with EGC, EC, non-ester catechins, and total catechins (P<0.01). PCA extracted three principal components, and the comprehensive scores from high to low were ‘Zhonghuang No.2’> ‘Suyu Huang’> ‘Zhonghuang No.1’ > ‘Baiye No.1’. The established OPLS-DA model identified three key compounds that distinguished different varieties, namely tea polyphenols, EGC, and EGCG, which could clearly divide the four tea tree varieties into two categories, and the model was reliable. In summary, this study clarified the quality characteristics of green tea processed from four albino/ etiolation tea tree varieties in Xinyang area, providing a reference basis for the introduction direction of specific tea tree varieties.
Aiming to address the lack of a specialized evaluation system for plant-based therapy in rural settings, we constructed a scientific evaluation framework to support plant selection and arrangement practices in therapeutic landscapes. Taking Yuntai Farm in Jiangsu Province as a study site, a seven-dimensional (visual, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, auditory, cultural, and ecological characteristics) evaluation system was established through field surveys of plant resources combined with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Twelve core indicators were selected and weighted, and 52 representative plant species were evaluated through comprehensive quantitative scoring and classification. The results indicate that: (1) visual (weight 0.26), olfactory (0.19), and gustatory characteristics (0.15) contribute most significantly to the therapeutic function of plants; (2) cultural (0.13) and ecological characteristics (0.11) are of secondary importance; (3) tactile (0.09) and auditory characteristics (0.07) play relatively weaker roles; (4) among the 52 plant species, 13.5% were classified as Grade I (excellent), 38.5% as Grade II (good), and 48% as Grade III (potential). This evaluation system can provide a scientific basis for plant selection in rural therapeutic landscapes, thereby promoting the transformation of traditional agricultural spaces into ecological therapeutic environments.
Sinopodophyllum hexandrum is a rare and endangered medicinal plant. This study aimed to compare leaf traits, bioactive components and metabolic profiles in roots between wild population and ex-situ conservation population in Liupan Mountain, providing a theoretical basis for the resource protection and reintroduction of S. hexandrum. Rhizosphere soils, leaves and roots were collected from two-year-old S. hexandrum plants in both environments. Soil physicochemical properties, leaf functional traits, photosynthetic parameters, ecological stoichiometry, nutrient resorption efficiency and the content of medicinal composition and metabolomics in root were assessed. The results showed that soil in wild distribution areas contained significantly more organic carbon, total nitrogen, alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen and available potassium, while pH was lower than in ecological planting area soils. No significant differences were observed in soil water content, total phosphorus or total potassium. The dry matter mass, C/N, C/P and N/P in the leaves and kaempferol content in the roots of two-year-old S. hexandrum in ex-situ conservation population were significantly higher than those of wild population. However, their leaf length, width, surface area, content of C, N and P elements in leaves, nutrient absorption efficiency, content of root podophyllotoxin and 4’-demethylated podophyllotoxin were significantly lower than those of wild population. Photosynthetic indices (net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and intercellular CO2 concentration), leaf relative water content and quercetin content in roots showed no significant difference both populations. There were a total of 3406 metabolites in the roots of S. hexandrum of ex-situ conservation population and wild population, of which 1136 metabolites showed no significant differences, some metabolites related to the synthesis of medicinal ingredients such as podophyllotoxin showed significant differences. The leaf functional traits, ecological stoichiometry characteristics and medicinal ingredient content of S. hexandrum of ex-situ conservation population are different from those of wild population, which may be related to environmental factors such as soil factors, rainfall and temperature in its distribution area. The results of this study can provide a theoretical basis for the optimization of ex-situ conservation habitat, the stable regulation of medicinal components and the regression and reconstruction of wild populations of S. hexandrum.
Native grass species serve as the core germplasm foundation for maintaining the stability of grassland ecosystems and supporting the development of grass-based livestock husbandry. Although China is rich in grass germplasm resources, the development of its native grass seed industry is still lagging behind. There are challenges such as insufficient resource conservation, limited breeding innovation, and low industrialization. This has resulted in long-term dependence on imported seeds for both ecological restoration and industrial use, posing potential risks to national ecological and food security. This paper systematically reviews the current status and bottlenecks of China’s native grass seed industry in the fields of resource collection and conservation, evaluation and breeding, and industrial promotion. The study indicates that the current preservation volume in the national grass germplasm bank accounts for less than 30% of the total amount of our country, with a utilization rate of below 3%. Breeding techniques still rely primarily on conventional methods, with insufficient integration of modern biotechnology, leading to a scarcity of independently developed elite cultivars. Although the grass seed production system has been initially established, but the production capacity is far from meeting the national annual demand of 70000 tons, and the import dependence remains high. To address these issues, this paper proposes a holistic, chain-wide collaborative development framework: strengthening the resource base through systematic collection and precise identification to improve conservation and utilization efficiency; enhancing breeding innovation by integrating genomics and other cutting-edge technologies to establish a high-efficiency breeding system; and promoting industrial upgrading by optimizing regional production layouts and the integrated “breeding, multiplication, and promotion” model. Finally, the study emphasizes that overcoming these industrial bottlenecks requires sustained policy support and the establishment of industry-university-research collaboration platforms. Implementing this pathway is crucial for achieving the strategic goal of 75% domestic self-sufficiency for seeds used in ecological restoration and forage by 2030 and for securing the foundation of national ecological security.
The rational use of sewage sludge as a fertilizer substitute plays an important role in improving the physicochemical and biological properties of farmland soils. Clarifying the research and development trend of agricultural utilization of sewage sludge at home and abroad can provide a reference for realizing the resource utilization of domestic waste and improving farmland fertility. Based on the analysis of domestic and foreign published English literature on the agricultural utilization of sewage sludge during 1990-2025, this study analyzed the development history, hot spots and frontier differences between domestic and foreign research in this field by using literature co-citation, keyword co-occurrence and other bibliometric analysis methods. The results showed that: compared with developed countries such as European countries and the United States, although China published fewer articles in English in the late 1990s and early 21st century, China had become the country with the largest number of publications by 2025, accounting for 15% of the global total, with a betweenness centrality of 0.13. The number of papers published in the United States was slightly lower than that of China, but the betweenness centrality was the highest of 0.26. Among the world’s top 20 highly cited hot papers, 2 were from China. The Chinese Academy of Sciences ranked first in the world in terms of the number of papers published among research institutions. China, European countries and the United States and other developed countries had the greatest influence and played leading roles in this research field. Overall, research in this field both domestically and internationally focused on sewage sludge, soil, heavy metals, etc. Particularly from 2020 to 2025, the research focused in this field was mainly biased toward agriculture, composting, co-digestion, digestate and other technical means. In conclusion, China, European countries and the United States are in the forefront of the world in the field of farmland utilization of sewage sludge, the current domestic and foreign research mainly focus on sewage sludge treatment technology and its reasonable application in farmland. In the future research, attention should be paid to the safety and stability of new sewage sludge products in the field of farmland, with particular attention to the environmental risks posed by emerging contaminants such as microplastics in sewage sludge and its by-products. In addition, in-depth research on the mechanism of sewage sludge on soil microbial form and quantity can be conducted, as well as improving the nutrient recovery and utilization system of sewage sludge. While improving the quality of research papers, we should actively promote the combination of scientific research and production practice, build a development model of multi-disciplinary and multi-field cross-integration, and maximize the promotion of sustainable development of agriculture.
To elucidate the effects of different land use types on soil chemical properties and enzyme activities in the Horqin sandy land, and assess the resulting disparities in ecosystem functions, providing a scientific basis for optimizing land resource management and facilitating ecological restoration in the region. The investigation was conducted within the Horqin sandy land located in Right Wing, Middle Banner of Horqin, Xing’an League, during the maize harvest period, and soil samples were systematically collected from 5 representative land use types: Caragana microphylla shrubland (S), natural grassland (M), Malus ‘Jinxiu’ forest land (D), ground cover flower land (G), and maize farmland (F). Sampling was stratified into depths of 0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm. A comprehensive set of analyses was performed to determine key soil chemical properties, including alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen, available phosphorus, available potassium, pH, electrical conductivity, and exchangeable sodium, as well as the activities of sucrase, urease, cellulase, alkaline phosphatase, and catalase enzymes. The results demonstrated that: land use types significantly altered soil characteristics. In terms of soil fertility, maize farmland (F), benefiting from anthropogenic fertilization, exhibited the highest concentrations of alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen and available potassium, exceeding those in natural grassland (M) by 143.4% and C. microphylla shrubland (S) by 230.5%, respectively. C. microphylla shrubland (S) displayed a pronounced nitrogen-fixing ecological function, with its alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen content surpassing that of natural grassland (M) and ground cover flower land (G) by 140.1% and 99.5%, respectively. Regarding soil enzyme activities, forest land (D) and ground cover flower land (G) showed notably higher activities of enzymes associated with carbon and phosphorus cycling. The average sucrase activity in D and G was 99.1% and 127.6% higher than in maize farmland (F) and C. microphylla shrubland (S), respectively; the alkaline phosphatase activity in ground cover flower land (G) was 138.2% higher than in maize farmland (F). In contrast, maize farmland (F) exhibited the highest nitrogen cycle enzyme activity, with its urease activity exceeding that in natural grassland (M) and C. microphylla shrubland (S) by 459.5% and 314.8%, respectively. In the nutrient-impoverished natural grassland (M), the cellulase activity in the deepest soil layer (M3) increased anomalously, reaching a level of 5.8 times that of the surface layer in maize farmland (F). In conclusion, different land use types in the Horqin sandy land lead to significant differentiation in soil ecological functions. While farmland management can rapidly enhance nitrogen and potassium levels, it remains dependent on external inputs. C. microphylla shrubland demonstrates a superior capacity for maintaining nitrogen under natural conditions, whereas forest land and ground cover flower land are more conducive to foster a healthy and active soil biochemical cycle. Therefore, ecological restoration efforts should prioritize models integrating leguminous shrubs with trees, shrubs, and grasses, while special attention is required for the restoration and management of degraded grasslands.
This study investigated the characteristics of selenium (Se) and physicochemical properties in tobacco-growing soils of Ganzhou and their effects on tobacco yield and quality, aiming to provide a scientific basis for developing Se-enriched tobacco and soil amelioration. Tobacco-growing soil and tobacco leaf samples were collected from eight tobacco-producing counties in Ganzhou. Soil pH, Se, organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), and tobacco leaf Se content were determined. Yield and premium-grade tobacco proportion data of farmers from 2022 to 2024 were integrated. Variance and correlation analyses were employed to identify key soil factors affecting tobacco yield and quality. The results showed that: (1) the mean soil Se content was 0.23 mg/kg, lower than the average level of Ganzhou City, with about 75% of samples at a sufficient Se level. Soil pH averaged 5.5, being slightly acidic. AP content was extremely abundant, with a mean value of 85.57 mg/kg. AK content varied significantly among counties. (2) SOM showed highly significant positive correlations with TN and Se (r=0.54**, r=0.48**, P<0.01). Tobacco leaf Se content was low (middle leaves C3F: 0.05 mg/kg; upper leaves B2F: 0.06 mg/kg), and no significant correlation was found between soil and leaf Se content. (3) AK was probably a key positive factor for yield and grade (2024 yield: r=0.28**; premium-grade tobacco proportion: r=0.32**; P<0.01). In conclusion, low Se bioavailability in tobacco-growing soils may be the core constraint for developing Se-enriched tobacco in Ganzhou, necessitating exogenous Se supplementation. The soil presents the characteristics of ‘excessive phosphorus, potassium differentiation, moderate nitrogen, and moderate acid’. It is suggested to adopt the comprehensive regulation strategy of exogenous selenium supplementation, precise potassium application in different regions, phosphorus control and organic matter increase, so as to provide theoretical basis and technical support for improving the quality and efficiency of selenium-enriched flue-cured tobacco in Ganzhou.
To clarify the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of forest net primary productivity (NPP) in the Greater Khingan Mountains of Inner Mongolia and its response patterns to climate change from 2010 to 2022, this paper quantitatively analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution pattern of forest NPP and the climate-driven effects in this region based on MOD17A3H remote sensing data and meteorological observation data, using methods including trend analysis and partial correlation analysis. The results showed that the interannual variation of forest NPP in the Greater Khingan Mountains of Inner Mongolia exhibited an upward trend, ranging from 331.04 to 456.45 gC/(m2·a), with an annual increasing rate of 12.7 gC/(m2·a). Spatially, it presented an overall decreasing pattern of “high in the north and low in the south”, and the low-value zones were concentrated in the southern forest-steppe ecotone. The air temperature in the Greater Khingan Mountains forest area showed a slowly fluctuating upward trend, while precipitation displayed a slowly fluctuating downward trend; both factors featured significant spatial heterogeneity and exerted complementary regulatory effects on NPP. The spatial distribution of partial correlation coefficients presented a pattern of “high in the south and low in the north”, with precipitation being the dominant factor driving NPP variation. Precipitation therefore acted as the dominant climatic factor for NPP changes in this forest zone, and the synergistic effect of air temperature and precipitation shaped the spatiotemporal differentiation pattern of NPP. The regional forest ecosystem was generally stable and improving, and ecological protection projects had a significant promoting effect on productivity enhancement. The findings can provide a scientific basis for forest carbon sink management, ecological protection and restoration, as well as the formulation of climate change response strategies in the Greater Khingan Mountains of Inner Mongolia.
The study aims to analyze the climate suitability of late rice growth and development, evaluate its suitable sowing date, and provide a theoretical basis for making full use of climate resources for late rice production. Using daily meteorological data from 1980 to 2024 at the Zhaoqing National Meteorological Station, the climatic suitability models of light, temperature and water for each growth period and the whole growth period of late rice were established to evaluate the suitable sowing date for local late rice planting. The results showed that the temperature suitability index was the highest during the entire growth period of late rice, followed by solar radiation suitability, while precipitation suitability was the lowest, which decreased with the delay of sowing date; the temperature and precipitation had significant effects on the growth and development of late rice, and the sunshine had the least effect; in terms of spatial distribution, the climate suitability decreased from south to north, and the high value area of climate suitability gradually decreased with the delay of sowing date; the high value area of climate suitability was the widest in sowing date 1 (July 8), followed by sowing date 2 (July 15). In short, based on the comprehensive climate suitability indices, the moderately suitable sowing period of late rice in Zhaoqing is from July 8 to 29 (from the first ten days of July to the last ten days of July), and the most suitable sowing date is July 8, which is about 7 days earlier than the perennial sowing. If the sowing is delayed, it is recommended that it should not be later than July 22 (in the early ten days of July) in the western and northern mountainous areas, and early sowing is preferred.
This study aims to investigate the volatile components of organic sweet potato leaves and analyze the differences in volatile components and their contents among different organic sweet potato leaves. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to analyze the volatile components of four types of organic sweet potato leaves. The content of each volatile compound was calculated using the area normalization method, and the detected volatiles were analyzed using mathematical statistical methods. The results indicated that a total of 81 volatile flavor compounds were detected in the four samples, including 22 terpenes, 20 aldehydes, 10 ketones, 9 alcohols, 6 ethers, and 14 others. Among these, 74 components were common to all samples. Terpenes had the highest relative content, accounting for 76.50%-86.74% of the total volatiles. Based on similarity calculations, the volatile compounds of the four organic sweet potato leaves exhibited little difference. The findings of this study provide a reference for flavor research and the development and utilization of processed products from organic sweet potato leaves.
To elucidate the influence of various drying methods on the metabolite profiling of fresh tea leaves, Camellia sinensis var. sinensis ‘Xiaoye 1’, C. sinensis var. sinensis ‘Rougui’ and C. sinensis var. assamica ‘Hainandaye 1’ were employed as research subjects. The study findings provided a scientific basis for selecting appropriate drying methods in tea metabolite analysis. Utilizing a non-targeted metabolomics approach facilitated by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS), the metabolites in tea samples subjected to vacuum freeze-drying and oven-drying were both qualitatively and quantitatively assessed. Subsequent analysis revealed disparities in their relative content. In both positive and negative ion detection modes, 3327 distinct metabolite ion peaks were identified, encompassing categories such as polyphenols, alkaloids, amino acids and their derivatives, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, aromatic compounds, sugars, glycosides, and others. Notably, the drying method employed significantly affected the metabolite content determination. For Camellia sinensis var. sinensis ‘Xiaoye 1’ and C. sinensis var. assamica ‘Hainandaye 1’, the vacuum freeze-drying method yielded results more consistent with fresh leaves, whereas for Camellia sinensis var. sinensis ‘Rougui’, oven-drying proved to be more similar. Further analysis revealed that the contents of flavonoids, amino acids and their derivatives, and aromatic substances remained relatively stable across different drying conditions. The contents of flavonoids, amino acids and their derivatives, and aromatic compounds were relatively stable under different drying conditions. Other polyphenols, alkaloids, sugars and glycosides, carboxylic acids and their derivatives were significantly affected by drying methods. The study clarified the basis for the selection of tea metabolomics drying methods. It was suggested that oven-drying should be preferred for large quantities of samples, vacuum freeze-drying should be preferred for accurate quantification, and flexible selection should be made according to the characteristics of target metabolites and varieties.
The current issues concerning the ancient tree resources along Beijing Central Axis include fragmented multi-source data, prominent semantic heterogeneity, insufficient exploration of cultural value, and weak representation of knowledge associations, which hinder the digital preservation and dissemination of ancient tree cultural heritage. To achieve the structured integration and intelligent application of multi-dimensional knowledge related to the nature, history, culture, and ecology of ancient trees, this study focuses on ancient trees along Beijing Central Axis. It integrates multi-source data acquisition methods such as laser scanning, satellite remote sensing, and OCR-based archive recognition. Based on natural language processing (NLP) techniques, entity extraction and relation annotation are carried out, and data cleaning and standardization are performed to address semantic heterogeneity. An extended ontology model comprising eight core concepts (individual tree, protection information, value dimensions, spatiotemporal data, people, institutions, and literature) is constructed. Knowledge storage, visual querying, and semantic reasoning are implemented using the Neo4j graph database. The results show that the constructed knowledge graph can clearly present the association paths of ‘ancient tree-tree species-people-events-locations-value’, demonstrating strong interactive visualization and intuitive cultural expression, effectively supporting precise retrieval of ancient tree resources and mining of implicit knowledge. The study suggests that further integration of multi-source data and optimization of reasoning mechanisms are key pathways to improving the coverage and accuracy of the knowledge graph. It also recommends establishing industry standards for data sharing and strengthening regional cooperation to provide a replicable paradigm for digital projects focused on ancient tree culture.
To explore the phytoplankton community structure of the ponds after the standardization based on tertiary purification technology, from June 2022 to October 2022, the phytoplankton community in the water samples of each purification area of Eriocheir sinensis pond (T1), Litopenaeus vannamei pond (T2), largemouth bass pond (T3) and grass and crucian carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella- Carassius auratus) polyculture pond (T4) after the standardization in Suzhou City were tracked. Plankton community characteristics in different treatment areas were analyzed and studied, and the nutritional status of water was evaluated by phytoplankton dominant functional group. The results showed that the number of phytoplankton species in the T1-T4 experimental area was 85, 65, 59 and 66, respectively, and the number of phytoplankton functional groups was 20, 17, 17 and 18, respectively. The density and biomass size of phytoplankton functional groups were in the order of T4>T3>T2>T1, with the maximum value occurring from September to October. The Shannon Wiener diversity index was in the order of T1>T2>T3>T4, the richness index of Margalef was in the order of T1>T4>T2>T3, and the Pielou evenness index showed that the order of planktonic size was T2>T1>T3>T4. The dominant functional group of phytoplankton was mainly replaced by the M+MP functional group representing nutrient-entrophic/ultra-nutrient-rich water bodies, and the Lo-functional group with wide adaptability and the J-functional group of nutrient-rich water bodies. The environmental factors associated with phytoplankton dominant functional groups were TN and TP. Based on the dominant functional group of phytoplankton, the water environment status can be evaluated and the water quality changes can be analyzed in a timely and accurate manner.
To study the effects of different types of summer high-temperature weather on the growth and development of river crabs, this article mainly focused on the extreme high temperatures in Xinghua during the summer of 2022 and 2024, analyzed the characteristics of high temperature, circulation causes, and specific impacts on the growth and development of river crabs, and studied the specific reasons leading to the yield reduction of river crabs. The results indicated that in 2022, due to the abnormally strong westward shift of the Western Pacific Subtropical High and the abnormally eastward extension of the South Asian High, Xinghua exhibited early occurrence, scattered distribution, strong extremism, and relatively dry characteristics of high temperature in summer. However, the high temperatures were temporarily interrupted in mid to late July, with less and stable precipitation. The overall water environment was stable, and the shedding of river crabs was relatively favorable, resulting in a relatively small loss of final yield; in 2024, influenced by the strengthening of the subtropical high and the warm high pressure of the westerly belt, the high temperature would show characteristics of late occurrence, concentrated distribution, strong extremism, and more extreme precipitation. The high temperature was concentrated in the molting period of river crabs. When the rainstorm was frequent, the water temperature and dissolved oxygen in crab ponds changed violently, so the river crabs were prone to stress reactions; at the same time, the high temperature ended lately, and the food intake in the fattening period before marketing decreased, resulting in a large loss of final yield. Defensive measures such as scientific oxygenation, water level control, water temperature regulation, and strengthening meteorological monitoring and warning can be taken to cope with high-temperature heat damage, reduce or avoid losses, and promote the increase in yield, income, and quality of river crabs.
Based on the production survey data collected from stow net survey in Lanshan Bay in January, April, August, and October of 2025, seasonal variations in the composition and diversity of catches were examined preliminarily using index of relative importance and ecological diversity indices. The results showed that a total of 15 species were captured, belonging to 3 phylums, 3 classes, 8 orders, 12 families, 14 genus. The Decapoda and the Perciformes had the highest number of species, with 4 species each. In winter, the dominant species of catches were Oratosquilla oratoria and Octopus ocellatus, with the common species being Portunus trituberculatus. In spring, the dominant species was Syngnathus acus, with the common species being Engraulis japonicus. In summer, the dominant species were Engraulis japonicus and Loligo japonica, with the common species being Larimichthys polyactis, Exopalamon carincauda, and Portunus trituberculatus. In autumn, the dominant species were Engraulis japonicus and Portunus trituberculatus, with the common species being Trachysalambria curvirostris and Octopus ocellatus. The ranges of Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H’), being highest in autumn and lowest in spring, were from 0.18 to 1.02. The ranges of the Margalef’s species richness index (D), being highest in summer and lowest in winter, were from 0.28 to 0.89. The ranges of Pielou’s evenness index (J), being highest in winter and lowest in spring, were from 0.09 to 0.79. The seasonal variations in the composition, dominant species, and diversity of stow net catches in Lanshan Bay were quite evident. The function of Lanshan Bay as a feeding ground for various fish species should still not be overlooked. It is recommended to strengthen research on the protection and utilization of dominant species, and the effective management of stow net fishing industry.
ISSN 1000-6850 (Print)
Started from 1984
Published by: China Association of Agricultural Science Societies
