阳离子交换膜在土壤钾释放及小麦对钾素的反应研究中的应用

A pot experiment was conducted in the growth chamber on Saskatchewan soils with different texture to determine the K release status and wheat K demand.The relationship between K uptake and soil available K extracted by cation exchange membrane(CEM-K) and the effcet of K fertilizer on wheat growth and soil available K was also evaluated.Treatments of 0,60 and 120mg K/kg were applied to sandy,low and high K loamy and clay soils,The highest yields were acieved with the application of 120mg K/kg in sandy soil and 60 mg K/kg in other soils.On the whole,the clay soil contributed K more than other soils from slowly available fraction.Regression revealed a linear relationship between the soil available K extracted by NH4OAc(Ka) and CEM-K in suspensions(r=0.93).Results also showed that CEM-K in burial and in suspensions were different not only in the amount but also in correlation with Ka or K uptake.     

An overview on biochar production, its implications, and mechanisms of biochar-induced amelioration of soil and plant characteristics

The degradation of soil fertility and quality due to rapid industrialization and human activities has stimulated interest in the rehabilitation of low-fertility soils to sustainably improve crop yield. In this regard, biochar has emerged as an effective multi-beneficial additive that can be used as a medium for the amelioration of soil properties and plant growth. The current review highlights the methods and conditions for biochar production and the effects of pyrolysis temperature, feedstock type, and retention time on the physicochemical properties of biochar. We also discuss the impact of biochar as a soil amendment with respect to enhancing soil physical (e.g., surface area, porosity, ion exchange, and water-holding capacity) and chemical (e.g., pH, nutrient exchange,functional groups, and carbon sequestration) properties, improving the soil microbiome for increased plant nutrient uptake and growth, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing infectious diseases in plants, and facilitating the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soils. The possible mechanisms for biochar-induced amelioration of soil and plant characteristics are also described, and we consider the challenges associated with biochar utilization. The findings discussed in this review support the feasibility of expending the application of biochar to improve degraded soils in industrial and saline-alkali regions, thereby increasing the usable amount of cultivated soil. Future research should include long-term field experiments and studies on biochar production and environmental risk management to optimize biochar performance for specific soil remediation purposes.     

石灰与磷肥可以降低华南5种常见蔬菜对镉的吸收量

A pot experiment was conducted in artificially Cd-contaminated (5 mg Cd kg-1) soils to investigate the feasibility of using lime (3 g kg-1) or phosphate (80 mg P kg-1) to mitigate uptake of Cd by vegetables.Five common vegetables in South China,including lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.var.ramosa Hort.),Chinese cabbage [Brassica rapa L.subsp.Chinensis (L.) var.parachinensis (L.H.Bailey) Hanect],Chinese broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.var.albiflora Kuntze),white amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L.) and purslane (Amaranthus viridis L.),were grown in the soils and harvested after 60 d.The results showed that liming significantly reduced Cd uptake by most vegetables by 40%-50% (or a maximum of 70%),mainly due to immobilization of soil Cd.Increased availability of Ca in the soil might also contribute to the Cd uptake reduction as a result of absorption competition between Ca and Cd.Liming caused biomass reduction in white amaranth and purslane,but did not influence growth of the other vegetables.Phosphate decreased Cd uptake by vegetables by 12%-23%.Compared with lime,phosphate decreased,to a smaller extent,the bioavailability of Cd in most cases.Phosphate markedly promoted growth of vegetables.Changes in soil chemistry by adding lime or phosphate did not markedly influence nutrient uptake of vegetables except that lime increased Ca content and phosphate increased P content in shoots of the vegetables.The results suggested that a proper application of lime could be effective in reducing Cd uptake of vegetables,and phosphate could promote growth of the vegetables as well as alleviate the toxicity of Cd.     

轮作体系下冬油菜养分利用效率的区域研究

Fertilization is essential for oilseed rape because it is sensitivity to nutrient deficiency, especially for winter oilseed rape(Brassica napus L.). To investigate regional nutrient efficiency and nutrient uptake-yield relationship of winter oilseed rape in an intensive cropping system, this study used data from 619 site-year on-farm experiments carried out in the winter oilseed rape planting area of the Yangtze River Basin, China from 2005 to 2010, with large yield in the range of 179–4 470 kg ha~(-1). Currently recommended application rates of N, P and K fertilizers increased rapeseed yield at different levels of soil indigenous nutrient supply(INS) in this region. Boundary values of plant nutrient uptake were established to analyze the nutrient uptake-yield relationship of winter oilseed rape(internal nutrient efficiency), i.e., 128 kg N ha~(-1), 24 kg P ha~(-1), and 122 kg K ha~(-1). The internal nutrient efficiency declined by 48.2%–64.1% when nutrient uptake exceeded the boundary value, resulting in excessive nutrient uptake(i.e., low yield response with high nutrient uptake), especially for K. In the intensive cropping system, agronomic efficiencies of N, P, and K were 5.9, 3.4, and3.6 kg kg~(-1), and recovery efficiencies of N, P, and K were 35.6%, 24.1%, and 36.8%, respectively. These findings showed that the fertilization rate should be optimized by considering INS, nutrient status, and nutrient efficiency of winter oilseed rape. In this study,considering the lower yield improvement to high K uptake levels and low K fertilizer efficiency, application rate of K fertilizer should be reduced since soil K deficiency has already been mitigated.     

在受控条件下植物促生菌对扁豆的生长，结瘤和养分积累的效应

Application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) has been shown to increase legume growth and development under field and controlled environmental conditions. The present study was conducted to isolate plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from the root nodules of lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) grown in arid/semi-arid region of Punjab, Pakistan and examined their plant growth-promoting abilities. Five bacterial isolates were isolated, screened in vitro for plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics and their effects on the growth of lentil were assessed under in vitro, hydroponic and greenhouse (pot experiment) conditions. All the isolates were Gram negative, rod-shaped and circular in form and exhibited the plant growth-promoting attributes of phosphate solubilization and auxin (indole acetic acid, IAA) production. The IAA production capacity ranged in 0.5-11.0 μg mL-1 and P solubilization ranged in 3-16 mg L-1 . When tested for their effects on plant growth, the isolated strains had a stimulatory effect on growth, nodulation and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) uptake in plants on nutrient-deficient soil. In the greenhouse pot experiment, application of PGPR significantly increased shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight by 65%, 43% and 63% and the increases in root length, fresh weight and dry weight were 74%, 54% and 92%, respectively, as compared with the uninoculated control. The relative increases in growth characteristics under in vitro and hydroponic conditions were even higher. PGPR also increased the number of pods per plant, 1 000-grain weight, dry matter yield and grain yield by 50%, 13%, 28% and 29%, respectively, over the control. The number of nodules and nodule dry mass increased by 170% and 136%, respectively. After inoculation with effective bacterial strains, the shoot, root and seed N and P contents increased, thereby increasing both N and P uptake in plants. The root elongation showed a positive correlation (R2 = 0.67) with the IAA production and seed yield exhibited a positive correlation (R2 = 0.82) with root nodulation. These indicated that the isolated PGPR rhizobial strains can be best utilized as potential agents or biofertilizers for stimulating the growth and nutrient accumulation of lentil.     

在盐水浇灌条件下堆肥对土壤性质、小麦生长以及作物营养的影响

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to test and compare the suitability of saline compost and saline irrigation water for nutrient status amendment of a slightly productive sandy clay loam soil,to study the macronutrient utilization and dry matter production of wheat(Triticum aestivum c.v.Gemmiza 7) grown in a modified soil environment and to determine the effects of compost and saline irrigation water on soil productivity.The sandy clay loam soil was treated with compost of five rates(0,24,36,48,and 60 m 3 ha-1,equivalent to 0,3,4.5,and 6 g kg-1 soil,respectively) and irrigation water of four salinity levels(0.50(tap water),4.9,6.3,and 8.7 dS m-1).The results indicated that at harvest,the electrical conductivity(EC) of the soil was significantly(P < 0.05) changed by the compost application as compared to the control.In general,the soil salinity significantly increased with increasing application rates of compost.Soluble salts,K,Cl,HCO 3,Na,Ca,and Mg,were significantly increased by the compost treatment.Soil sodium adsorption ratio(SAR) was significantly affected by the salinity levels of the irrigation water,and showed a slight response to the compost application.The soil organic carbon content was also significantly(P < 0.05) affected by application of compost,with a maximum value of 31.03 g kg-1 recorded at the compost rate of 60 m 3 ha-1 and the irrigation water salinity level of 8.7 dS m-1 and a minimum value of 12.05 g kg 1 observed in the control.The compost application produced remarkable increases in wheat shoot dry matter production.The maximum dry matter production(75.11 g pot-1) occurred with 60 m 3 ha-1 compost and normal irrigation water,with a minimum of 19.83 g pot-1 with no addition of compost and irrigation water at a salinity level of 8.70 dS m-1.Significant increases in wheat shoot contents of K,N,P,Na,and Cl were observed with addition of compost.The relatively high shoot N values may be attributed to increases in N availability in the tested soil caused by the compost application.Similarly,significant increases in the shoot contents of Na and Cl may be ascribed to the increase in soil soluble K and Cl.The increases in shoot P,N,and K contributed to the growth stimulation since P supplied by the compost was probably responsible in saline and alkaline soils where P solubility was very low.     

DEHP污染的两种土壤中接种丛枝菌根对豇豆生长和DEHP降解的影响

A 60-day pot experiment was carried out using di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) as a typical organic pollutant phthalic ester and cowpea (Vigna sinensis) as the host plant to determine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation on plant growth and degradation of DEHP in two contaminated soils, a yellow-brown soil and a red soil. The air-dried soils were uniformly sprayed with different concentrations of DEHP, inoculated or left uninoculated with an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus, and planted with cowpea seeds. After 60 days the positive impact of AM inoculation on the growth of cowpea was more pronounced in the red soil than in the yellow-brown soil, with significantly higher (P < 0.01) mycorrhizal colonization rate, shoot dry weight and total P content in shoot tissues for the red soil. Both in the yellow-brown and red soils, AM inoculation significantly (P < 0.01) reduced shoot DEHP content, implying that AM inoculation could inhibit the uptake and translocation of DEHP from roots to the aboveground parts. However, with AM inoculation no positive contribution to the degradation of DEHP was found.     

Phenological Stage, Plant Biomass, and Drought Stress Affect Microbial Biomass and Enzyme Activities in the Rhizosphere of Enteropogon macrostachyus

Indigenous grasses have been effectively used to rehabilitate degraded African drylands. Despite their success, studies examining their effects on soil bioindicators such as microbial biomass carbon(C) and enzyme activities are scarce. This study elucidates the effects of drought stress and phenological stages of a typical indigenous African grass, Enteropogon macrostachyus, on microbial biomass and enzyme activities(β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, and chitinase) in the rhizosphere soil. Enteropogon macrostachyus was grown under controlled conditions. Drought stress(partial watering) was simulated during the last 10 d of plant growth, and data were compared with those from optimum moisture conditions. The rhizosphere soil was sampled after 40 d(seedling stage), 70 d(elongation stage), and 80 d(simulated drought stress). A high root:shoot ratio at seedling stage compared with elongation and reproduction stages demonstrated that E. macrostachyus invested more on root biomass in early development, to maximise the uptake of nutrients and water. Microbial biomass and enzyme activities increased with root biomass during plant growth. Ten-day drought at reproduction stage increased the microbial biomass and enzyme activities, accompanying a decrease in binding affinity and catalytic efficiency. In conclusion, drought stress controls soil organic matter decomposition and nutrient mobilization, as well as the competition between plant and microorganisms for nutrient uptake.     

水培法磷矿石对小麦生长的影响

Screening cultivars to grow under conditions of low phosphorus (P) availability and utilize P efficiently from compounds of low solubility in soils may be beneficial to overcome poor plant growth in P-deficient soils.The growth behavior and P utilization efficiency of seven wheat cultivars grown in hydroponics were studied,using rock phosphate as P source.The wheat cultivars grown for 30 days were significantly different in biomass accumulation,P uptake and P utilization efficiency.The dry matter production of all the cultivars was significantly correlated with P uptake,which in turn correlated to the drop in the root medium pH.The ranking of wheat cultivars on the basis of dry matter yield,P uptake and P utilization efficiency was Zamindar 80 ＞ Yccora ＞ C 271 ＞ WL 711 ＞ Barani 83 ＞ PARI 73 ＞ Rohtas.The cultivar Zamindar 80 appeared to possess the best growth potential in P-deficient soils.     

南佛罗里达州温室条件下番茄生长和养分吸收模型的验证

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool(SWAT) has been widely used throughout the world to model crop growth and nutrient uptake in various types of soils.A greenhouse experiment was performed to validate the process equations embedded in SWAT for describing the growth and nutrient uptake of tomatoes in south Florida.The scaled growth curve of greenhouse-grown tomatoes was in close agreement with the theoretical model for field conditions,with the scaling factors being the maximum canopy height and the potential heat units.Similarly,the scaled leaf area index(LAI) growth curve and the scaled root depth curve for greenhousegrown tomatoes agreed with the SWAT functions,with the scaling factors being the maximum LAI and maximum root depth.The greenhouse experiment confirmed that the growth of biomass is a linear function of the intercepted photosynthetically active radiation.The fractions of nutrients in the plant biomass under greenhouse conditions were found to be on the order of 60% of those fractions observed in the field.Values of the initial P distribution(0.2 mg kg -1),initial ratio of mineral stable P to mineral active P(50:1),and initial ratio of humic N to humic P(2.4:1) were determined from soil measurements and can be used for field simulations.The conventional saturation-excess model for soil-water percolation was used to predict the movement of water in the top 10 cm of the greenhouse containers and the results agreed well with measurements.     

大气CO2浓度的升高、施氮及土壤水分对春小麦干物质积累和氮吸收的影响

Spring wheat (Thiticum aestivum L.cv.Dingxi No.8654) was treated with two concentrations of atmospheric CO2 (350 and 700 μmol mol^-1),two levels of soil moisture (well-watered and drought) and five rates of nitrogen fertilizer(0,50,100,150,and 200 mg kg^-1 soil) to study the atmospheric CO2 concentration effect on dry matter accumulation and N uptake of spring wheat.The effects of CO2 enrichment of the shoot and total mass depended largely on soil nitrogen level,and the shoot and total mass increased significantly in the moderate to high N treatments but did not increase significantly in the low N treatment.Enriched CO2 concentration did not increase more shoot and total mass in the drought treatment than in the well-watered treatment.Thus,elevated CO2 did not ameliorate the depressive effects of drought and nitrogen stress.In addition,root mass decreased slightly and root/shoot ratio decreased significantly due to CO2 enrichment in no N treatment under well-watered condition.Enriched CO2 decreased shoot N content and shoot and total N uptake;but it reduced root N content and uptake slightly.Shoot critical N concentration was lower for spring wheat grown at 700 μmol mol^-1 CO2 than at 350μmol mol^-1 CO2 in both well-watered and drought treatments. The critical N concentrations were 16 and 19 g kg^-1 for the well-watered treatment and drought treatment at elevated CO2 and 21 and 26 g kg^-1 at ambient CO2,respectively. The reductions in the movement of nutrients to the plant roots through mass flow due to the enhancement in WUE (water use efficiency) and the increase in N use efficiency at elevated CO2 could elucidate the reduction of shoot and root N concentrations.     

Effects of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria and N Source on Plant Growth and N and P Uptake by Tomato Grown on Calcareous Soils

Introducing specific microorganisms into the soil ecological system is an important strategy for improving nutrient use efficiency. Two pot experiments were conducted in the greenhouse from December 3, 2012 to January 25, 2013 (Experiment 1) and March 11 to April 23, 2013 (Experiment 2) to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) source and inoculation with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on plant growth and N and phosphorus (P) uptake in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) grown on calcareous soils from South Florida, USA. Treatments included urea, controlled release urea (a controlled release fertilizer, CRF) each at low and high N rates and with or without inoculation of PGPR. A mixture of PGPR strains Bacillus amyloliquefaciens IN937a and Bacillus pumilus T4 was applied to the soil during growing periods of tomato. Treatments with PGPR inoculation increased plant height compared to treatments without PGPR in both experiments. Inoculation with PGPR increased shoot dry weight and shoot N uptake for the same N rate and N source. In both experiments, only at high N rate, CRF and urea treatments with PGPR had significantly (P < 0.05) greater shoot biomass than those without PGPR. Only at high N rate, CRF treatment with PGPR significantly increased shoot N uptake by 39.0% and 10.3% compared to that without PGPR in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Meanwhile, presence of PGPR in the soil increased shoot P uptake for all treatments in Experiment 1 and for most treatments in Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, only at low N rate, CRF treatment with PGPR significantly increased shoot P uptake compared with that without PGPR. In Experiment 2, a significant increase in shoot P uptake by inoculation of PGPR was only observed in CRF treatment at high N rate. Results from this study indicate that inoculation with PGPR may increase plant growth and N and P uptake by tomato grown on calcareous soils. However, the effect of PGPR varied and was influenced by many factors such as N source, N rate, and soil fertility. Further investigations are warranted to confirm the effect of PGPR under different soil conditions.     

Wheat response to combined application of nitrogen and phosphorus in a saline sandy loam soil

Fertilization with nitrogen (N) or phosphorus (P) can improve plant growth in saline soils. This study was undertaken to determine wheat (Triticum aestivum L; cv Krichauff) response to the combined application of N and P fertilizers in the sandy loam under saline conditions. Salinity was induced using sodium (Na⁺) and calcium (Ca²⁺) salts to achieve four levels of electrical conductivity in the extract of the saturated soil paste (EC_e), 2.2, 6.7, 9.2 and 11.8?dS?m^?1, while maintaining a low sodium adsorption ratio (SAR; ≤1). Nitrogen was applied as Ca(NO₃)₂?·?4H₂O at 50 (N50), 100 (N100) and 200 (N200)?mg?N?kg^?1 soil. Phosphorus was applied at 0 (P0), 30 (P30) and 60 (P60)?mg?kg^?1?soil in the form of KH₂PO₄. Results showed that increasing soil salinity had no effect on shoot N or P concentrations, but increased shoot Na⁺ and chlorine ion (Cl^?) concentrations and reduced dry weights of shoot and root in all treatments of N and P. At each salinity and P level, increasing application of N reduced dry weight of shoot. At each salinity and N level P fertilization increased dry weights of shoot and root and shoot P concentration. Addition of greater than N50 contributed to the soil salinity limiting plant growth, but increasing P addition up to 60?mg?P?kg^?1 soil reduced Cl^? absorption and enhanced the plant salt tolerance and thus plant growth. The positive effect of the combined addition of N and P on wheat growth in the saline sandy loam is noticeable, but only to a certain level of soil salinity beyond which salinity effect is dominant.     

Effects of sulfur application and Thiobacillus inoculation on soil nutrient availability,wheat yield and plant nutrient concentration in calcareous soils with different calcium carbonate content

In this research, elemental sulfur was applied at eight rates with and without Thiobacillus inoculation in calcareous soils which had 23%, 17% and 8.5% Total Neutralizing Value(TNV). The highest grain yield, biological yield, plant height, and concentrations of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in shoot were obtained with application of S⁰ at rates which neutralized 2% and 4% of soil TNV, while highest available nutrients and plant-phosphorus (P) were recorded with application of S⁰ at rates which neutralized 16% and 20% of soil TNV. Maximum indices were recorded in soil which had 17% TNV, so that available P, Fe and zinc (Zn) increased by 167.33%, 35.67% and 81.70% compared with control respectively with application of 9.14 g S° g^?1soil. Thiobacillus inoculation increased all of indices (except Fe concentration) compared with non-inoculated control. The results reveal that sulfur application along with Thiobacillus can increase nutrients availability, nutrients uptake and yield of wheat grown in calcareous soils.     

柳枝稷生物炭对来自不同地区的两种土壤上植物生物量和微生物动态的影响

Biochar amendments to soils may alter soil function and fertility in various ways, including through induced changes in the microbial community. We assessed microbial activity and community composition of two distinct clayey soil types, an Aridisol from Colorado (CO) in the U.S. Central Great Plains, and an Alfisol from Virginia (VA) in the southeastern US following the application of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) biochar. The switchgrass biochar was applied at four levels, 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%, approximately equivalent to biochar additions of 0, 25, 50, and 100 t ha^-1, respectively, to the soils grown with wheat (Triticum aestivum) in an eight-week growth chamber experiment. We measured wheat shoot biomass and nitrogen (N) content and soil nutrient availability and N mineralization rates, and characterized the microbial fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles of the soils. Net N mineralization rates decreased in both soils in proportion to an increase in biochar levels, but the effect was more marked in the VA soil, where net N mineralization decreased from -2.1 to -38.4 mg kg^-1. The 10% biochar addition increased soil pH, electrical conductivity, Mehlich- and bicarbonate-extractable phosphorus (P), and extractable potassium (K) in both soil types. The wheat shoot biomass decreased from 17.7 to 9.1 g with incremental additions of biochar in the CO soil, but no difference was noted in plants grown in the VA soil. The FAME recovery assay indicated that the switchgrass biochar addition could introduce artifacts in analysis, so the results needed to be interpreted with caution. Non-corrected total FAME concentrations indicated a decline by 45% and 34% with 10% biochar addition in the CO and VA soils, respectively, though these differences became nonsignificant when the extraction efficiency correction factor was applied. A significant decline in the fungi:bacteria ratio was still evident upon correction in the CO soil with biochar. Switchgrass biochar had the potential to cause short-term negative impacts on plant biomass and alter soil microbial community structure unless measures were taken to add supplemental N and labile carbon (C).     

小麦分泌的有机酸影响钙质土中锌的释放

Rhizosphere drives plant uptake of sparingly soluble soil zinc(Zn).An investigation with three experiments was conducted to study organic acid exudation by two contrasting wheat genotypes(Sehar-06 and Vatan),Zn fractions in 10 different calcareous soils from Punjab,Pakistan,and release of different soil Zn fractions by organic acids.The two genotypes differed significantly in biomass production and Zn accumulation under deficient and optimum Zn levels in nutrient solution.At a deficient Zn level,Sehar-06 released more maleic acid in the rhizosphere than Vatan.Ten soils used in the present study had very different physicochemical properties;their total Zn and Zn distribution among different fractions varied significantly.Zinc release behaviour was determined by extracting the soils with 0.005 mol L-1 citric acid or maleic acid.The parabolic diffusion model best described Zn release as a function of time.Parabolic diffusion model fitting indicated more maleic acid-driven than citric acid-driven soil Zn mobility from different fractions.Cumulative Zn release in six consecutive extractions during 24 h ranged from 1.85 to 13.58 mg kg-1 using maleic acid and from 0.37 to 11.84 mg kg-1 using citric acid.In the selected calcareous soils,the results of stepwise linear regression indicated significant release of Fe-Mn oxide-bounded soil Zn by maleic acid and its availability to the Zn-effcient genotype.Hence,release of maleic acid by plants roots played an important role in phytoavailability of Zn from calcareous soils.     

物种敏感性分布在土壤中镍生态阈值建立中的应用研究

本文利用不同累计概率分布函数拟合了基于中国土壤的17个物种的镍毒理学数据。结果表明,BurrⅢ在X轴（浓度）方向及Y轴的较小累计概率范围内拟合优度较佳。在构建土壤中镍物种敏感性分布曲线时,利用镍生物毒害模型归一化处理能修正土壤性质的影响且可更好地体现物种敏感性差异,相比于未归一化处理的结果更具科学性。在此基础上结合镍的生物毒害模型利用BurrⅢ构建了中国土壤4种典型情景中的物种敏感性分布曲线,同时确定了不同土壤情景下的镍生态阈值,即酸性土壤、中性土壤（包括水稻土）、碱性非石灰性土壤和石灰性土壤的镍生态阈值分别为6.5、47.5、218.8mg.kg-1和120.3mg.kg-（1以土壤中外源镍为单位）。     

The influence of two agricultural biostimulants on nitrogen transformations, microbial activity, and plant growth in soil microcosms

The influence of two experimental soil treatments, Z93 and W91, on nitrogen transformations, microbial activity and plant growth was investigated in soil microcosms. These compounds are commercially marketed fermentation products (Agspectrum) that are sold to be added to field soils in small amounts to promote nitrogen and other nutrient uptake by crops in USA. In laboratory microcosm experiments, soils were amended with finely ground alfalfa-leaves or wheat straw, or left unamended, in an attempt to alter patterns of soil nitrogen mineralization and immobilization. Soils were treated in the microcosms with Z93 and W91 at rates equivalent to the recommended field application rates, that range from 0.2 to 1.1 l ha⁻¹, (0.005-0.03 μl g⁻¹ soil). We measured their effects on soil microbial activity (substrate-induced respiration (SIR), dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and acid phosphatase activity (PHOS)), soil nitrogen pools (microbial biomass N, mineral N, dissolved organic N), and transformations (net N mineralization and nitrification, ¹⁵N dilution of the mineral N pool, and accumulation of mineral N on ion-exchange resins), and on wheat plant germination and growth (shoot and root biomass, shoot length, N uptake and ¹⁵N enrichment of shoot tissues), for up to 56 days after treatment. To follow the movement of nitrogen from inorganic fertilizer into plant biomass we used a ¹⁵N isotopic tracer. Most of the soil and plant responses to treatment with Z93 or W91 differed according to the type of organic amendment that was used. Soil treatment with either Z93 or W91 influenced phosphatase activity strongly but did not have much effect on SIR or DHA. Both chemicals altered the rates of decomposition and mineralization of organic materials in the soil, which was evidenced by significant increases in the rates of the decomposition of buried wheat straw, and by the acceleration of net, rates of N mineralization, relative to those of the controls. Soil nitrate availability increased at the end of the experiment in response to both chemical treatments. In alfalfa-amended soils, the final plant biomass was decreased significantly by treatment with W91. Increased plant growth and N-use efficiency in straw-amended soil, resulting from treatments with Z93 or W91, was linked to increased rates of N mineralization from indigenous soil organic materials. This supports the marketing of these compounds as promoters of N uptake at these low dosage inputs.     

The effect of selenium biofortification in alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

Abstract

Biofortification of agricultural productions is important to enhance the quality of the products. The aims of this research were to investigate the possibility of selenium biofortification of alfalfa in the calcareous and non-calcareous soils by applying fertilizers differently (control, soil application, inoculant of seleno-bacteria, foliar application, combined soil, and foliar applications of selenate). Morpho-physiological properties and nutritional responses, such as shoot dry weight, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, and iron concentration in the plant’s tissue were measured. In all parameters, the use of selenium sources in the calcareous soils had a significant effect compared with the control treatment. Among the methods and sources of selenium, foliar application of sodium selenate gave the best response. By the usage of this treatment, Se concentration was increased up to 112.5% and 182%, respectively, compared with the control treatment in non-calcareous and calcareous soil. According to the results, inoculant of selenium bacteria and sodium selenate are recommended as a natural way to selenium biofortification in alfalfa and to improve the quality of the produced forage. In addition, attention to the biological potential of the soil and the use of native soil bacteria is also recommended.