China Branch of the European Agrophysical Institute (CBEAI): the first steps of research activity

This manuscript describes the first research activities conducted at CBEAI.  This research includes two parts: a) Soil-agrochemical studies of experimental fields, and b) Spatial analysis of the contiguous heterogeneous of experimental field plots.  An agrochemical survey of experimental fields (a 1.3 hectares field plot and a greenhouse) was carried out.  Soil samples at depths of 0-10 and 10-20 cm were collected and laboratory agrochemical analysis were conducted.  The results of soil analysis of the experimental field plot indicated that the mineral nitrogen content was very high (more than 35 mg/kg), mobile phosphorus content was high (46-60 mg/kg), mobile potassium content was elevated (300 mg/kg), organic matter content was low (1.1-2.0%), and the soil was alkaline.  Spatial analysis showed that there was contiguous heterogeneous of the experimental field plot.  In particular, the content of mobile phosphorus varied markedly across the field, ranging from 20.60 to 121.70 mg/kg P 2 O 5 .