Mixed Cropping Effects on Yield,Manganese Influx,and Manganese Depletion in the Rhizosphere of Fodder Crops Grown in Manganese-Deficient Soil

To examine the possibility of managing manganese (Mn) deficiency through mixed cropping, berseem was grown as a monoculture and in mixed cropping with oats, ryegrass, or raya in a Mn-deficient soil under screen-house conditions. In no-Mn berseem monoculture treatment, shoot dry weight (SDW) and root length (RL) were, respectively, 33% and 45% of the maximum recorded values obtained with berseem grown in mixed cropping with ryegrass at 60 days of growth. Corresponding values of SDW and RL of berseem when grown with raya were 78% and 76% of the maximum, respectively. Even though berseem grown in mixed cropping with ryegrass and raya had smaller RL/SDW ratio and greater shoot growth rate than berseem grown as monoculture, it acquired a high shoot Mn concentration because of 3.8 times more Mn influx. A high Mn influx was the result of a high concentration gradient that developed because of depletion of Mn at the root surface.     

MANGANESE EFFICIENCY OF WHEAT CULTIVARS AS RELATED TO ROOT GROWTH AND INTERNAL MANGANESE REQUIREMENT

ABSTRACT

Under field conditions, wheat cultivar PBW 343 produced 1.5 times higher grain yield than PDW 233, when grown on low manganese (Mn) soil. To explain the differences in Mn efficiency a pot experiment was conducted using Mn deficient Typic ustochrept loamy sand soil treated with 0, 50, and 100?mg?Mn?kg^?1 soil. In no-Mn treatment, both the wheat cultivars showed Mn deficiency symptoms and cultivar PBW 343 produced 30% of the maximum dry matter yield (DMY) attained at high Mn supply, while PDW 233 produced only 18% of its maximum DMY after 40 days of growth. With application of 50?mg?Mn?kg^?1 soil, the DMY significantly increased to 87% and 50% of the maximum for PBW 343 and PDW 233, respectively. These results indicate that aestivum cultivar PBW 343 was more Mn efficient than durum cultivar PDW 233. Manganese efficient cultivar PBW 343 had a lower internal Mn requirement than PDW 233 because at the same shoot Mn concentration PBW 343 produced more DMY. The root growth of both wheat cultivars was similar at sufficient Mn supply, the root length (RL)?:?DMY ratio being equal. At decreasing Mn supply root growth was depressed more strongly than shoot growth, the inhibition being more severe in Mn inefficient cultivar PDW 233, indicating the importance of root system size for Mn efficiency between these two wheat cultivars. A nutrient uptake model closely described Mn influx in both the cultivars, indicating that calculated concentration profiles were realistic and that chemical mobilization of Mn in the rhizosphere was not responsible for higher Mn efficiency of PBW 343. Calculated concentration profiles showed that in soil not fertilized with Mn, initial soil solution Mn concentration of 0.23?µM decreased to only 0.21?µM at the root surface after 27 days of uptake. This 7.4% decrease in Mn concentration at the root surface indicated that roots could not decrease Mn concentration to a lower value which would have caused higher transport of Mn to root surface and hence resulted in higher Mn influx.     

DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE OF TWO OLIVE CULTIVARS TO EXCESS MANGANESE

The response of three-month-old rooted cuttings of the olive cultivars ‘Picual’ and ‘Koroneiki’ grown in black plastic bags containing perlite as a substrate to excess manganese (Mn) (640 μM) was studied. The rooted cuttings were irrigated with 50% modified Hoagland nutrient solution. At the end of the experimental period, which lasted 130 days, the total fresh and dry weights, as well as the shoot elongation of ‘Picual’ plants were significantly reduced under excess Mn (640 μM), compared to the control plants (2 μM), whereas the growth of ‘Koroneiki’ plants was similar in both Mn treatments. The tolerance index, which is derived from the ratios between the plant growth data of different treatments and the control one, of ‘Picual’ plants to excess Mn was about half of this of ‘Koroneiki’ plants. In both cultivars, the concentrations of Mn in various plant parts (root, basal stem, top stem, basal leaves, top leaves) were significantly increased as Mn concentration in the nutrient solution increased. Furthermore, in the 640 μM Mn treatment, 2 to 2.5-fold greater Mn concentrations were recorded in almost all plant parts of ‘Koroneiki’, than those of ‘Picual’. Similar results were recorded with regard to the total Mn content per plant (‘Koroneiki’ absorbed much more Mn from the nutrient solution than ‘Picual’). On the other hand, excess Mn negatively affected the absorption of iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn), and boron (B), depending on the olive cultivar. In both cultivars, while the Mn use efficiency was significantly decreased under excess Mn conditions, the nutrient use efficiencies of P, Ca, and Fe were significantly increased, compared to the control plants (2 μM Mn). It was also found that excess Mn resulted in a significant increase of stomatal conductance and transpiration rate of both cultivars, whereas the photosynthetic rate was significantly increased only in ‘Koroneiki’. In ‘Picual’, similar photosynthetic rates were recorded in both Mn treatments. The measurement of the various chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, F_v/F_m and F_v/F₀ ratios, revealed that the functional integrity of photosystem II (PSII) of photosynthesis was not affected due to excess Mn, irrespectively of the cultivar. In conclusion, although ‘Koroneiki’ tissues had much higher Mn concentrations than those of ‘Picual’, the parameters related to the growth and photosynthetic performance of plants indicates that the internal tolerance of ‘Koroneiki’ tissues to excess Mn was higher than this of ‘Picual’.     

Effect of root temperature on carob growth: Nitrate versus ammonium nutrition

The response of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) seedlings grown at different root zone temperatures affected by nitrate and ammonium nutrition was studied. When root temperatures ranged from 10 to 35°C, ammonium‐fed plants were significantly larger than nitrate‐fed plants. Ammonium‐fed plants displayed toxicity symptoms and were much smaller at 40°C root temperature in comparison with the nitrate‐fed plants grown at the same root temperature. Root/shoot ratio slightly increase with root temperature in ammonium‐ and nitrate‐fed plants in a similar way, and shoot demand per root unit decreased with root temperature between 15 and 25°C. There was a general increase in net photosynthesis with root temperature, though nitrate‐fed plants were more sensitive to low and ammonium‐fed plants to high temperatures. Increasing the root temperature of ammonium fed plants from 10 to 40°C leads to a 30% increase in the amount of photosynthates sent to the roots. The presence of ammonium resulted in the distribution of newly fixed carbon away from carbohydrates and into nitrogen compounds. Potassium, calcium, and nitrogen content of the plants also increased with increasing root temperature.     

Nitrogen form and the seasonal root and shoot response of creeping bentgrass

Abstract

The form of nitrogen can affect root and shoot growth of plants. This study was conducted to determine the effects of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen on root length and number and shoot color and quality of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds. ‘Penncross'). The study was conducted in the University of Georgia rhizotron facility. Turf was grown in an 80/20 sand/peat rooting medium and maintained under putting green conditions for 12 months. Two forms of nitrogen, ammonium and nitrate, utilizing the nitrogen sources of urea and calcium nitrate, respectively, were applied in the following ammonium: nitrate ratios: 100: 0, 75: 25, 50: 50, 25: 75, and 0: 100. A modified Hoagland's solution provided all other macronutrients and micronutrients. Root length, root number, shoot color, and shoot quality data were collected weekly for 12 months. The 100% nitrate treatment resulted in 30% more roots during the fall compared to the 100% ammonium treatment The 100% ammonium treatment had 26% greater root length in the spring compared to the two highest nitrate treatments. The 50: 50 treatment produced greater root length during the spring and summer compared to the high nitrate treatments (0: 100 and 25: 75) and at least 30% greater root number during the summer compared to all treatments. All treatments resulted in a decrease in root length for the summer compared to the spring. The 50: 50 treatment provided higher ratings for shoot color for each season and higher quality ratings for the winter and spring. A fertilizer program that contains a portion of its nitrogen as nitrate would be more beneficial certain times of the year than one containing ammonium or nitrate alone.     

Physiological Disorder of Rice Associated with High Levels of Iron in Growth Medium

Three rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties viz. ‘CR 683‘, ‘Budumoni’ “Budumoni”, and ‘Akisali’ were grown in sand culture in a greenhouse with three levels of iron (Fe) in nutrient solutions viz., 0.045 (control), 5.34, and 7.12 mM Fe to study the effects of iron on physiology of rice seedling growth. Shoot length, root, and shoot dry weights were reduced significantly by higher levels of Fe in the medium. Results of leaf bronzing have revealed higher bronzing score in the seedlings grown at 7.12 mM Fe in the growth medium. Occurrence of bronzing was severe in varieties ‘CR683’ and ‘Akisali’. Variety ‘Budumoni'maintained higher leaf chlorophyll content, nitrate reductase activity and total soluble protein in the leaves at 5.34 and 7.12 mM Fe. Higher concentration of iron in the nutrient medium exerted an inhibiting effect on the concentration and content of almost all the macro and micronutrients in the root and shoot. Higher Fe and nitrogen (N) contents and lower phosphorus (P), potassium (K), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) were determined in roots and shoots in plants grown in medium supplied with 7.12 mM Fe. The variety ‘Budumoni’ “Budumoni” performed relatively better in comparison to other tested varieties at 7.12 mM Fe in the growth medium. ‘Budumoni’ “Budumoni” can be considered a suitable rice variety to use in the rice-breeding programme for Fe toxicity tolerance in acid soils of Assam.     

Relationship between water and nitrogen uptake in nitrate‐ and ammonium‐supplied Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants

Sole ammonium supply provokes negative effects on dry‐mass formation, leaf growth, and water uptake of ammonium‐sensitive plants. To study the effects of N form on nutrient and water uptake and aquaporin expression, French bean plants were grown in a split‐root system. Five treatments were compared: homogeneous nitrate (NN) and ammonium (AA) supply; spatially separated supply of nitrate and ammonium (NA); and half of the root system supplied with N‐free nutrient solution, the other half with either nitrate (N0) or ammonium (A0). Ten days after onset of treatments, root dry mass (DM) and water‐uptake rate (WUR) were significantly reduced under ammonium compared to nitrate supply. WUR from nitrate‐supplied vessels was 80% higher than that from N‐free nutrient solution, while WUR from N‐free nutrient solution was 130% higher than that from ammonium‐supplied vessels. Potassium uptake was lower under ammonium supply and the ratio of N : K uptake of treatment AA was significantly higher compared to others. High K uptake from N‐free nutrient solution of A0 plants resulted in a ratio of N : K uptake comparable to nitrate‐supplied plants, but shoot growth resembled that to plants under sole ammonium supply. Within 24 h after onset of treatments, expression of aquaporin was lower under ammonium compared to nitrate supply. From these data, it can be concluded that reduced root water transport under ammonium supply is directly related to aquaporin activity.     

Tropical Rice Cultivars from Lowland and Upland Cropping Systems Differ in Iron Plaque Formation

In iron toxic wetlands, ferric hydroxide is commonly deposited on rice roots. This study aims to to evaluate the differences in iron plaque formation in rice cultivars from different cropping systems. Thirty days old seedlings of Brazilian rice cultivars from the lowland cropping system (‘BRS Atalanta’ and ‘Epagri 107’) and upland cropping system (‘Canastra’) or both systems (‘BRSMG Curinga’) and the cultivar ‘Nipponbare’ were exposed to iron excess [4 mM iron sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO₄.7H₂O)] for seven days in nutrient solution. It was observed iron plaque formation and ruptures of the root epidermal cells. The lowland cultivars showed higher Fe content in iron plaque. Iron stain was detected in the root hairs, epidermis, hypodermis, and exodermis. The root exodermis may be contributed to prevent the deposit of iron in the cortex of the lowland cultivars and in the cultivar ‘BRSMG Curinga’. It was observed in plants with iron plaque formation significant reductions in the shoot content of phosphorous, manganese and magnesium due to different causes. The differences in iron plaque formation among the cultivars might be an indicative of variations in exodermis selectivity, root oxidative capacity, and iron nutrition mechanisms.     

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on ‘delicious’ apple trees grown in caliche soil in the greenhouse

Abstract

In a greenhouse study, mono‐ammonium phosphate applications to ‘Delicious’ (Oregon spur cv) apple trees, Malus domestica Borkh., improved a low‐vigor condition associated with a caliche soil. The moderate rate of mono‐ammonium phosphate (6 grams per tree) resulted in trees with greater shoot extension, leaf numbers, a higher percent leaf phosphorus, and less purple leaf margins or spots than other soil treatments or the control. By September, trees treated with the highest rate of mono‐ammonia phosphate (12 grams per tree) had the highest level of leaf phosphorus and significantly higher levels of leaf phosphorus than all forms of nitrogen‐only fertilizer (ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate, and urea). In most cases, applications of the nitrogen‐only fertilizers, reduced leaf phosphorus levels throughout the experiment.     

Effect of potassium on growth and the electrophoretic pattern of leaf proteins of sunflower supplied with ammonium or nitrate

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) was grown on liquid medium containing either nitrate, ammonium or ammonium + nitrate, with or without potassium. The growth of plants supplied with nitrate or ammonium + nitrate in the presence of potassium (5 mmol/l) was comparable. Plants grown on ammonium‐N only showed significantly lower growth. Dry matter and organic nitrogen content in plants supplied with ammonium + nitrate (total nitrogen 10 mmol/1) in the presence of potassium (5 mmol/l) was higher than in nitrate grown plants. Leaf protein pattern on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) was not affected by the nitrogen source provided in the medium.

Potassium deficiency led to reduced growth, necrotic spots on the leaves and specific alterations in leaf protein pattern, expressed by an increase or decrease in several polypeptides. This was common to all the nitrogen forms tested. A most pronounced change was the increased expression of polypeptides of molecular weight 60 and 62 kilodaltons.     

根系高效铵吸收系统是玉米获取氮素的重要补充机制

【目的】本研究旨在通过对植株根系铵吸收特征研究,揭示旱地玉米的氮素营养特征,研究结果为玉米补充氮素营养提供了一定的理论依据。 【方法】以玉米高产品种“郑单 958”为供试材料,采用水培试验模拟了玉米植株生长中的氮素营养环境,研究了玉米幼苗生长对不同氮素形态的反应;采用非损伤微测技术 (NMT),重点研究了不同供氮状况下玉米根系对 NH₄+ 的吸收特征,并与其吸收硝态氮的规律进行了比较;利用实时定量 PCR 技术,初步揭示了玉米根系中的铵吸收蛋白 (AMT) 基因对铵的响应特征。 【结果】单一供应铵态氮条件下,玉米地上部鲜重、全株干重及根系含氮量与纯硝态氮条件下相近,表明铵态氮也可作为玉米的有效氮源。非损伤微测研究结果表明,玉米幼苗根系铵吸收过程呈典型的高亲和吸收特征 (表观 Km 值约为 60 μmol/L),推测这一过程是由高亲和的转运体蛋白介导。氮饥饿预处理使根系的铵吸收速率 Vmax 和 Km 值分别降低了约 3 倍和 1 倍。这一现象与水稻等作物不同,暗示玉米的铵吸收过程可能不存在反馈抑制现象。另外,介质中硝态氮的存在对根系的铵吸收具有显著抑制作用 (抑制效果 > 20%);在供试微摩尔浓度范围内,根系对 NO₃– (100 μmol/L) 的吸收速率显著低于对相同浓度 NH₄+ 的吸收。进一步对主要在玉米根系中表达的铵吸收蛋白基因 ZmAMT1;1a 和 ZmAMT1;3 的定量 PCR 分析表明,上述基因在维持供铵状态下的表达量较缺氮处理均有显著提高,与铵吸收测定结果相符。 【结论】玉米根系中保留着高效铵吸收系统,在低硝态氮浓度下,该系统对铵态氮的高效吸收可作为其获取足够氮源的一个重要的机制。高硝态氮则抑制玉米根系对铵态氮的吸收,以避免氮素吸收利用系统在功能上的冗余。     

Root respiration and bacterial population of roots I. Effect of nitrogen source,potassium nutrition and aeration of roots

Spring wheat was grown in nutrient solution culture to investigate the influence of aeration, different sources of nitrogen and discontinuation of potassium supply on root respiration and on the number of root bacteria. By definition root respiration included oxygen consumption of the excised roots and their microbial colonizers. Root respiration was subject to diurnal variations. It was low towards the end of the dark period and increased within two hours during the light period. Independent of the nutrient supply the respiration rate and bacterial number were considerably higher in unaerated than in aerated nutrient solution. Root respiration was lowest when using nitrate as a source of nitrogen and highest with ammonium nutrition. Intermediate respiration rates were obtained for mixed nitrogen nutrition. Respiration corresponded to the bacterial colonization of the roots. The discontinuation of potassium supply led in plants supplied with nitrate to an insignificant increase in root respiration, whereas a marked increase in respiration was observed in plants with mixed ammonium and nitrate nutrition. In contrast, Root respiration of plants supplied with ammonium declined when potassium was discontinued. Discontinuation of potassium supply caused an increase in root respiration and bacterial numbers in both aerated and unaerated media.     

Significance of Nickel Supply for Growth and Chlorophyll Content of Wheat Supplied with Urea or Ammonium Nitrate

ABSTRACT

Nickel (Ni) is an essential element for activation of urease in higher plants. The effects of Ni as an essential micronutrient on growth and chlorophyll content of wheat plants grew in nutrient solutions supplied either with ammonium nitrate or urea as two different nitrogen (N) sources were investigated. Plants were allowed to grow for six weeks, then leaf chlorophyll content, shoot and root fresh and dry weights, and Ni concentration in shoots and roots were determined. Shoot and root Ni concentration in both urea and ammonium nitrate-fed plants increased significantly with the increase in Ni concentration. Growth and chlorophyll content in leaves of the urea-fed plants increased when Ni concentration in the solution was as high as 0.05 mg L^?1 and decreased at 0.1 mg Ni L^?1. In ammonium nitrate-fed plants, these parameters increased up to 0.01 mg Ni L^?1 and started to decrease with further increase in Ni concentration. Plants that grew in nutrient solutions containing urea had more shoots and roots fresh and dry weight at third and fourth Ni levels (0.05 and 0.1 mg L^?1) than those that grew in media containing ammonium nitrate with similar Ni levels. Total chlorophyll content was also higher in plants supplied with urea plus Ni. The amount of Ni required for optimum wheat growth was dependent on the forms of N used. When supplied with ammonium nitrate or urea, the amount of Ni needed was 0.01 and 0.05 mgL^?1 of nutrient solutions, respectively.     

Der Einfluß variierter Düngergaben von Stickstoff,Kupfer und Magnesium auf den Ertrag von Hafer

The Influence of varying Amounts of Nitrogen, Copper and Magnesium on the Yield of Oat 1. In pot experiments with oat high amounts of copper (500 mg) copper sulfate/pot, comparable to 50 kg (Cu/ha) together with a high nitrogen supply as calcium nitrate led to a remarkable increase in yield of grain in comparison to a normal copper fertilization (50 mg copper sulfate/pot, comparable to 5 kg Cu/ha). When using high amounts of ammonium sulfate the observed effect of high amounts of copper was only small. 2. According to the results and to the copper content and copper uptake of the plant it was concluded, that nitrogen fertilization given as ammonium sulfate increased the availability of soil copper and/or fertilizer copper presumably by affecting the soil reaction. Nitrogen fertilization given as calcium nitrate therefore needs a higher copper level in the root medium either from soil or fertilizers in order to obtain the maximum yield. 3. It was assumed that the form of nitrogen fertilizers was responsible for the different availability of copper in these experiments, as the amount of available copper in the soil increased with the lowering of soil pH due to ammonium sulfate addition. 4. The high copper supply to the soil remarkably reduced the harmful effect of high amounts of nitrogen given as calcium nitrate but not as ammonium sulfate. 5. The nitrogen fertilization with calcium nitrate, especially in combination with a high copper supply, resulted in the reducing effect of a magnesium deficiency. 6. The harmful effect of high amounts of nitrogen, especially in the ammonium sulfate form, upon yield was reduced by an optimal magnesium supply. 7. The results presented suggest that for evaluating the copper status of the soil and for estimating the demands of copper fertilization, soil reaction and its change by the form of nitrogen fertilizers should more be taken in consideration.     

不同供氮形态下油菜幼苗对盐胁迫的响应

为比较不同供氮形态下油菜对盐胁迫的响应,通过供应铵态氮和硝态氮,探讨盐胁迫对油菜幼苗生物量、 光合作用、 离子含量等的效应。结果表明: 非盐胁迫条件下的硝态氮处理的植株生物量和叶片光合参数均显著高于其它处理; 在盐胁迫条件下,两种供氮形态处理油菜的生长和光合均受到明显抑制,其中铵态氮处理表现的抑制效应较显著,且其光合抑制主要来自气孔限制。在两种供氮条件下,盐胁迫使得植株Na+浓度均显著增加,其中铵态氮处理的叶片和叶柄中Na+浓度的增幅大于硝态氮处理,而其根中Na+浓度则小于硝态氮处理。盐胁迫导致两种供氮形态下整株和叶柄中K+浓度均显著降低,而在根中,则只造成硝态氮处理的K+浓度的显著降低。在整株水平上,盐胁迫下铵态氮处理的K+ 、 Na+的选择性比率（SK,Na）要显著低于硝态氮处理。综上,在盐胁迫条件下,硝态氮处理对K+吸收维持较高的相对选择性是其耐盐性高于铵态氮处理的重要原因。     

小麦品种的耐盐性变化：甜菜碱和乙烯的作用

Four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars 711, PBW343, 3765 and WH542 were screened for studying variations in glycinebetaine (GB) content and plant dry mass under 100 mmol L-1 NaCl stress. A tolerance index was calculated using plant dry mass data to select salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive types and find association between tolerance index and GB content. Tolerance index has been used as a good criterion to select the tolerant types under high salinity stress. Further, physiological differences in salt-tolerant cultivar 711 and salt-sensitive cultivar WH542 were examined. The salt-tolerant cultivar exhibited greater GB content, which was found correlative with ethylene. The cultivar also showed higher nitrogen (N) content and nitrate reductase activity, reduced glutathione and higher redox state resulting in maximal protection of plant dry mass than the salt-sensitive type. Thus, the content of GB may be considered as important physiological criteria for selecting salt-tolerant wheat types.     

Ammonium uptake capacity and response of cytosolic glutamine synthetase 1;2 to ammonium supply are key factors for the adaptation of ammonium nutrition in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plant requires nitrogen for the growth, and it use nitrate and ammonium from the environment. Plant suffers from the toxicity when excess ammonium is supplied as a sole nitrogen, although it could be a good nitrogen source for plant growth. We hypothesized that the different responses of ecotypes to ammonium nutrient could partly account for the adaptation of Arabidopsis to an ammonium environment. The purpose of this study is to understand the different responses of ecotypes in ammonium environment. The growth of Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes, Columbia was compared to those of Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes, Landsberg erecta in ammonium nutrient. The ratio of shoot dry weight to root dry weight was compared to evaluate the adaptation of two ecotypes. The shoot:root ratio of Landsberg was significantly higher than that of Columbia. T-DNA insertion in cytosolic glutamine synthetase 1;2, one of the essential ammonium assimilatory enzymes, led a decrease of shoot:root ratio. We also measured the isotope-labeled ammonium uptake and the expression levels of ammonium transporter genes, and also the expression of ammonium assimilatory genes, glutamine synthetase genes and glutamate synthase genes, in roots after ammonium re-supply using real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. We found that (1) ammonium uptake of Landsberg erecta was higher than that of Columbia, when ammonium was supplied at higher concentration, and (2) cytosolic glutamine synthetase 1;2 was highly increased by ammonium supply in the root of Landsberg erecta. The present study suggested the importance of these two factors for adaptation of Arabidopsis to an ammonium-rich environment.     

Effect of N‐form on growth and nutrient content of creeping bentgrass 1

Abstract

The primary nitrogen forms utilized by plants are ammonium and nitrate. Although the importance of nutrients other than nitrogen for proper turfgrass growth is well established, the amounts of these nutrients in the plant tissue in relation to the use of different N‐forms has not been clearly documented. This study was conducted under greenhouse conditions to determine the effect of N‐form and cutting regime on growth, macronutrient, and micronutrient content of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds. ‘Penncross'). Treatments consisted of 100% NO3^? (calcium nitrate), 100% NH₄ ⁺ (ammonium sulfate), and a 50:50 ratio of NH₄ ⁺:NO₃ ^?. Half the turfgrass plants were maintained at a height of 1 cm (cut), while the other half of the plants were not cut until the end of the study (uncut). The uncut 50:50 treatment yielded the highest shoot, verdure, and total plant dry matter, while the uncut NO₃ ^? treatment produced the highest root dry matter. The uncut NH₄ ⁺ treatment yielded the least shoot, root, and total plant dry matter. Plants of the uncut NO₃ ^? treatment had greater accumulation of macronutrients in the shoot and root tissue compared to plants of the NH₄ ⁺ treatment. The uncut NO₃ ^? and 50:50 treatments had higher total accumulation of micronutrients compared to the uncut NH₄ ⁺‐treated plants. The cut NO₃ ^? treatment resulted in the highest macronutrient and micronutrient contents in the root tissue in comparison to other cut treatments. The cut treatments had the highest percentage accumulation of nutrients in the verdure tissue, while the uncut treatments had the highest percentage accumulation of nutrients in the shoot tissue.     

Phosphorus Influx and Root‐Shoot Relations as Indicators of Phosphorus Efficiency of Different Crops

Abstract

The large variation in phosphorus acquisition efficiency of different crops provides opportunities for screening crop species that perform well on low phosphorus (P) soil. To explain the differences in P efficiency of winter maize (Zea mays L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), a green house pot experiment was conducted by using P‐deficient Typic ustochrept loamy sand soil (0.5 M NaHCO₃‐extractable P 4.9 mg kg^?1, pH 7.5, and organic carbon 2.7 g kg^?1) treated with 0, 30, and 60 mg P kg^?1 soil. Under P deficiency conditions, winter maize produced 76% of its maximum shoot dry weight (SDW) with 0.2% P in shoot, whereas chickpea and wheat produced about 30% of their maximum SDW with more than 0.25% P in shoot. Root length (RL) of winter maize, wheat, and chickpea were 83, 48, and 19% of their maximum RL, respectively. Considering relative shoot yield as a measure of efficiency, winter maize was more P efficient than wheat and chickpea. Winter maize had lower RL/SDW ratio than that of wheat, but it was more P efficient because it could maintain 2.2 times higher P influx even under P deficiency conditions. In addition, winter maize had low internal P requirement and 3.3 times higher shoot demand (i.e., higher amount of shoot produced per cm of root per second). Even though chickpea had 1.2 times higher P influx than winter maize, it was less P efficient because of few roots (i.e., less RL per unit SDW). Nutrient uptake model (NST 3.0) calculations satisfactorily predicted P influxes by all the three crops under sufficient P supply conditions (C_Li 48 µM), and the calculated values of P influx were 81–99% of the measured values. However, in no‐P treatment (C_Li 3.9 µM), under prediction of measured P influx indicated the importance of root exudates and/or mycorrhizae that increase P solubility in the rhizosphere. Sensitivity analysis showed that in low P soils, the initial soil solution P concentration (C_Li) was the most sensitive factor controlling P influx in all the three crops.     

Nitrate Reductase,Micronutrients and Upland Rice Development as Influenced by Soil pH and Nitrogen Sources

The average yield of upland rice under no-tillage system (NTS), a sustainable soil management, is lower than in conventional tillage (one plowing and two disking). One of the reasons given for this drop in crop grain yield would be the low-nitrate assimilation capacity of rice seedlings, due to the low activity of the nitrate reductase (NR) enzyme in the early development phase. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of the soil acidic and nitrogen source in the micronutrient concentrations, NR activity and grain yield of upland rice growing under NTS. The soil used in the experiment was an Oxisol. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial 3 × 4. Treatments consisted of three levels of soil acidity (high, medium, and low) combined with four nitrogen sources (nitrate, ammonium, ammonium + nitrification inhibitor, and control – without N fertilization). The reduction of soil acidity reduced the concentration of zinc and manganese in rice plants. Generally, the activity of the NR enzyme was higher in plants grown in soils with low acidity and fertilized with calcium nitrate. There was a greater response in growth and yield in rice plants grown in soils with high acidity. Under medium acidity, rice plants grown with ammonium sulfate were more productive (no differences were detected with the addition of the nitrification inhibitor).