| Center for Agricultural Resources Research has two key laboratories (i.e the Key Laboratory for Agricultural Water Resources of CAS and Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory for Water-saving Agriculture), eleven innovative research groups, and three professors with entitlement to the Hundred Talents Program of CAS. By focusing research on national demands and fundamental sciences, the Center achieved significant results in 2008; mainly in areas of agricultural water resources efficiency, agricultural biotechnology and ecosystem management. Achievements of the Center that worth mentioning are the Second-Level Prize from the Science and Technology Development of China and the Second Prize from the Science and Technology Development of Hebei Province. The Center also published 99 papers; among which 34 are in SCI, 11 in EI and 5 in ISTP. The Center was granted 6 patent rights, 4 nationally registered softwares and a new crop cultivar.
For research on regional agricultural water resources, Prof. Yang’s group investigated the major driving factors of runoff decline in Haihe River Catchment (HRC) in the past 40 years. Significant decline in annual runoff was detected in their research. The study identified increased farmland area and decreased forest and grassland cover as the major driving factors of declining runoff. It was also showed that when farmland cover is over 25% or forest/grassland cover is below 75%, runoff in the catchment dramatically decreased,. Prof. Shen’s group identified a net increase of 3650.6 km2 in built-up area in HRC for 1990 ~ 2000. 91% of the increase is form the conversion of arable land. This is an obvious demonstration of land use change in HRC.
For research on biotechnology, Prof. X. Li’s group cloned HOS3 gene through TAIL-PCR. hos3-1 and hos3-2 mutants alter stress responses of ABA-hypersensitivity, including reduced root growth and germination under ABA treatment and reduced leaf water loss. The wild-type gene of HOS3 functionally complements the sensitivity of elo2 and elo3 yeast mutants to monensin. Both hos3-1 and hos3-2 alleles show increased sensitivity to Metolachlor herbicide, which inhibits acyl chain elongation in the synthesis of VLCFA. Prof. An’s group used EST-STS marker STSWE126 specific to 1RS to confirm 1RS in WR04-32; which is not only resisted to stripe rust and powdery mildew, but is also genetically stable with desirable agronomic traits. Dr. J. Li’s group crossed and limited-backcrossed Chinese Spring (CS) and Ae. biuncialis accessions to develop 131-1 containing one 6U chromosome from Ae. Biuncialis. By significant improvement in water use efficiency, the initial inference is that the chromosome contains genes that are related to drought tolerance.
For research on ecosystem management, Prof. Hu’s group analyzed the influence of long-term tillage and straw mulching on soil organic carbon and respiration. It is shown that that no-tillage operations with residue decrease soil CO2 flux breakdown; a common phenomenon in intensive tillage. The potential to increase C storage with no-tillage is also significant as it increases aboveground biomass. Prof. Liu’s group applied 180 mm of 11 g l-1 saline groundwater in the winter season. After the saline ice melted, the land was mulched by plastic film. Results show that soil salt content in the 0-20 cm soil depth decreased from 0.84% to 0.45% after ice melting. In the control treatment (i.e., without freezing irrigation), soil salt content in the 0-20 cm soil depth increased from 0.71% to 1.33%. Winter irrigation, even with strong salty water, can create low salt zone in shallow soil profile; which is good for plant growth in spring. Prof. Zhang’s group analyzed the relationship between precipitation, soil water and groundwater based on the concentration of water-stable isotopes (18O). The results show that both the slope and intercept of local meteoric water line are lower than global meteoric water line (GMWL), with mean δ18O of –8.11 ± 2.34%. The effect of vegetation on changes in δ18O and δD is not only similar, but also weak. Soil evaporation leads to direct soil water uptake in the 110 cm soil depth.
In 2008, the Laboratory for Agricultural Water Resources confidently passed mid-term appraisal and was elected as one of the Key Laboratories in CAS. In conjunction with China Agricultural University in May 2008, the Center organized the “2008 International conference for Sustainable Nutrient Management” in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. More than 100 foreign and 200 domestic representatives attended the conference. In May 2008, a field workshop was organized by the Center and the River Seed Co., Ltd. of Henan Province to investigate the performance of kenong 199; a nationally recognized new winter wheat variety bred at the Center. More than 250 people from the Science and Education Ministry in the Science and Technology Division, Biology Department of National Fund Committee, Henan province Department of Agriculture, Biology Board of CAS, etc. learned about the good traits, yield and broad environmental suitability of the cultivar.
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