广西宜州市蔗田土壤肥力的诊断和数值化综合评价

宜州市位于广西的中北部(2412~2456N,10804~10903E),辖区总面积为3 869km2。甘蔗生产是宜州经济支柱产业,2006年全市甘蔗种植面积为2·9万hm2,上缴税金约占全市财政收入的1/2[1]。但宜州市甘蔗单产一直偏低。2006年平均单产为60 t hm-2,远低于广西近年来的“吨糖田”的平均单产117·9 t hm-2[2]。影响甘蔗单产的因素很多,除气候外,养分需求量高,因此土壤肥力也是影响单产的重要因素[3]。本文依据2007年进行的专门调查,概述了宜州市蔗田土壤肥力的诊断和评价结果。1材料与方法1·1典型蔗田的选取在综合考虑地形、土壤类型、母质、乡镇村蔗田种植面积     

甘蔗根际土壤化感潜力评价及其化感物质分析

以"福农28"和"赣蔗18"的新植、宿根甘蔗根际土壤为材料,以未种植甘蔗的土壤为对照,探讨甘蔗根际土壤水浸提液及不同极性有机溶剂浸提液化感作用潜力及其主要化感物质成分(GC-MS鉴定)。结果表明:甘蔗根际土壤的水浸提液对莴苣幼苗具有化感作用,表现为高抑低促,且宿根甘蔗根际土壤水浸提液对莴苣的抑制作用比新植甘蔗强;有机溶剂浸提液的生物测试结果表明,弱极性的乙醚、石油醚浸提液对莴苣具有一定的促进作用,中极性的氯仿和强极性的甲醇浸提液则相反,且甲醇浸提液对莴苣的抑制作用最强。水浸提液及有机溶剂浸提液的测定结果均表明,"赣蔗18"宿根甘蔗根际土壤的化感潜力高于"福农28"。"赣蔗18"宿根甘蔗根际土壤甲醇浸提液物质成分分析结果表明,"赣蔗18"宿根甘蔗根际土壤中存在与化感作用相关的物质有54个,主要分为5大类:酸类、萜类、酚类、甾类、酯类。     

25年来两类植蔗土壤肥力演变及原因分析——以云南陇川农场为例

通过对2007年农场土壤养分调查和1983年土壤普查资料的比较,研究了25年连续种植甘蔗后两类植蔗土壤肥力的演变及原因。结果表明:25年来旱地和水田土壤的有机质分别减少了12.65%和25%;全N旱地的变化不大,水田比1983年减少了1.42%;碱解N旱地增加了1.53%,水田减少了22.65%;速效P旱地和水田都比1983年有所增加,增加幅度为旱地大于水田,其中旱地和水田分别增加了95.02%和6.02%;速效K旱地比1983年增加了26.36%,但水田减少了47.28%。结合糖厂历史单产、产糖率和农场蔗叶还田的情况,研究得出蔗叶还田能够持续培肥蔗区土壤养分,是蔗区甘蔗持续高产的主要原因。     

不同生态蔗区气候土壤差异对甘蔗生产的影响

通过分析中国主产蔗区甘蔗综合实验站的气候和土壤差异、甘蔗产量和糖分差异,明确影响甘蔗大田生产的关键气候、土壤要素,探讨如何通过土壤改良和水肥优化管理提高甘蔗生产潜力,为促进甘蔗产业提质增效提供依据。通过收集云南、广西和广东3个主产蔗区5个代表站点2018～2019年甘蔗产量和糖分数据,测定土壤指标14项:有机质、碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾、pH、容重、总孔隙度、毛管孔隙度、饱和度、充气孔隙度、初始含水量、饱和含水量、田持含水量、有效含水量,比较耕作层(0～40 cm)、深层(40～80 cm)和底层(80～120 cm)各项土壤指标差异;综合分析不同生态蔗区气候、土壤因子与甘蔗产量和糖分间的相关性,明确影响甘蔗大田生产的关键指标,建立数学模型对甘蔗产量和糖分进行预测。不同生态蔗区站点的昼夜温差、降水量、蒸发量和日照时数年际变异显著,同一站点不同土层的养分指标差异显著,耕作层的有机质和有效氮、磷、钾含量显著高于其它两层;蔗区土壤为红壤,偏酸性(4.50.8的6个关键指标,分别为土壤萎蔫含水量、有效含水量、速效钾含量以及种植地海拔、降水量和蒸发量。上述变量构建的回归预测模型对甘蔗产量、糖分的拟合优度为0.79～0.97,相对误差为4.54%～5.61%。基于偏最小二乘法数学模型,采用种植地海拔、降水量和蒸发量等气候环境关键变量,以及土壤速效钾含量、萎蔫含水量和有效含水量等土壤水肥关键变量,可以对中国主产蔗区甘蔗产量和糖分进行较准确的预测。另外,建议今后除更新甘蔗良种外,还应注重提高蔗区土壤pH,加强中耕培土、合理施肥并提高钾肥比例,有利于实现甘蔗高产高糖。     

基于APSIM模型的低纬高原蔗区甘蔗生产潜力

针对中国(云南)低纬高原蔗区甘蔗产业高质量发展受限于不同生态条件下的甘蔗生产潜力缺乏系统评估的问题,该研究基于低纬高原不同生态蔗区17个代表站点1981–2010年的气象资料,采用大田试验数据统计结合APSIM(agricultural production systems simulator)作物模型模拟的方法,分析了典型播期充分灌溉和雨养条件下甘蔗主栽品种的蔗茎产量和糖分差异,并对不同水平的甘蔗生产潜力进行了系统评估。结果表明,无论在灌溉模式还是雨养模式下,不同生态蔗区的甘蔗生产潜力和产量差均存在差异,特别是半湿润蔗区的灌溉模式与雨养模式之间产量差异显著(P<0.05),增产潜力大;典型春播种植模式下,湿润区的潜在产量为123.1～134.6 t/hm²,半湿润区的潜在产量为99.3～132.7 t/hm²,当前农户平均单产已达72.0 t/hm²,仍有25.2%～45.4%的蔗茎增产潜力,7.4%～11.1%的糖分增产潜力,以及25.5%～49.7%的蔗糖增产潜力。蔗区生态气候、播期水氮管理优化和良种推广是影...     

不同种植模式对甘蔗根际土壤生物学特性的影响

甘蔗多年单一化的宿根栽培导致甘蔗产量下降，而套种豆科作物能较明显地提高宿根蔗产量。本研究以赣蔗18 的新植栽培、 宿根栽培和宿根/大豆套种栽培的甘蔗根际土壤为对象，结合土壤微生物区系、 土壤酶活性，甘蔗基本农艺性状及其产量、 质量指标，揭示宿根蔗套种大豆的增产机制及生物学意义。结果表明，不同种植模式下甘蔗蔗糖含量基本一致，但宿根蔗套种大豆由于茎径粗大而较宿根连作表现出明显的产量优势。不同栽培模式下甘蔗根际土壤酶活性有显著差异，套种明显提高了宿根蔗根际土壤酶活性，尤其是与碳、 氮、 磷循环相关的蔗糖酶、 脲酶、 酸性磷酸单酯酶。不同栽培模式下甘蔗根际土壤微生物总量有显著性差异，单一宿根连作甘蔗根际土壤微生物总量和细菌/真菌比例降低，而宿根蔗套种大豆根际土壤微生物总量和细菌/真菌比例提高，使甘蔗根际土壤微生物从真菌型向细菌型转变。总之，单一的宿根连作可导致根际土壤总微生物量及酶活性下降，引起土壤微生物介导的营养循环受阻，从而使甘蔗产量下降，而宿根蔗套种大豆模式对根际土壤微生物区系具有明显的改善作用，宿根蔗具有明显的产量优势。     

几种甘蔗品种残体量及其养分含量

广西主栽甘蔗品种通过桶栽法研究甘蔗叶、根茬、蔗头、尾梢等残体的量,探讨这些残体与甘蔗茎产量的比例关系以及这些残体所含有的NPK养分.结果表明,甘蔗品种之间其全部残体的量是因品种而异,甘蔗全部残体干重与蔗茎产量鲜重之比为0.167～0.294;甘蔗叶在全部残体中占71.36%,是甘蔗鲜重产量的11.9%～20.7%,叶干重所占单株全部残体的比例最大,根次之,达18.29%,第三为蔗头,占6.37%,而尾梢最低,仅为4.02%;甘蔗收获时干叶、青叶、尾梢、蔗根、蔗头的含N平均值分别为5.92、6.16、7.29、3.87、3.16 g/kg,而磷(P)含量平均值分别为0.65、1.01、2.27、0.59、0.66 g/kg,钾(K)含量平均值分别为6.24、9.11、21.97、5.71、4.92 g/kg;充分利用好这些残体,有助于提高蔗地土壤有机质含量和养分循环利用.     

粉垄耕作提高土壤养分有效性并促进甘蔗维管组织发育和养分吸收

  【目的】  研究粉垄耕作对宿根蔗和新植蔗生长过程中土壤养分含量、甘蔗对养分吸收以及植株解剖形态的影响,为粉垄耕作技术推广提供理论依据。  【方法】  以桂糖42号为供试材料进行田间试验,以常规耕作为对照 (CK,耕作深度 25 cm),粉垄耕作 (垂直旋深40 cm) 为处理,甘蔗种植采用新植甘蔗和宿根两种方法。在甘蔗主要生育期,采集植株和土壤样品,测定土壤中速效氮磷钾含量以及甘蔗对养分的吸收和积累量,同时测定叶中氮代谢酶活性和根系活力,观测根系维管束形态结构,并测定根系活力。  【结果】  与常规耕作相比,粉垄耕作条件下,土壤容重降低了8.6%～16.9%,土壤速效氮、有效磷含量分别提高了8.7%～77.6%和8.2%～25.6%,差异显著;甘蔗叶片氮磷含量提高,增幅分别为11.4%～19.4%和5.3%～34.8%;显著提高了甘蔗出苗率、分蘖率、株高、茎径、有效茎数、产量。粉垄耕作下,甘蔗茎维管束更大,分布更密集,蔗茎维管束数量、维管束面积、后生木质部导管直径、韧皮部面积显著增加,新植蔗和宿根蔗茎维管束面积分别增加了15.2%和16.7%,维管束数量分别增加28.0%和17.8%;后生木质部导管直径分别提高7.8%和7.9%;韧皮部面积分别增加29.7%和30.8%;在苗期、伸长期和成熟期,粉垄耕作的甘蔗根系活力分别比传统耕作处理增加了1.29、1.39和1.25倍,新植蔗叶谷氨酰胺合成酶 (GS) 活性分别增加了149.6%、36.5%和65.6%,宿根蔗叶GS活性分别增加了65.9%、36.0%和93.3% (P < 0.05);在苗期和伸长期,新植蔗叶片谷氨酸合成酶 (GOGAT) 分别显著提高了40.3%和69.1%,宿根蔗分别增加37.9%和42.4%;苗期粉垄耕作宿根蔗亚硝酸还原酶 (NR) 活性显著高于常规耕作甘蔗9.5%。  【结论】  粉垄耕作可改善土壤理化性状,提高速效氮磷含量,改善甘蔗维管组织,提高甘蔗体内氮磷含量,提高根系活力和氮代谢相关酶活性,有利于甘蔗吸收和转运氮素,促进了氮代谢和氨基酸的合成,为蛋白质的合成提供了物质基础,促进甘蔗生长发育,实现甘蔗增产增收。     

广西甘蔗施肥专家系统的验证与应用效果研究

在分析、整理国内外甘蔗施肥经验、研究成果的基础上,运用专家系统的理论方法,设计出甘蔗施肥专家系统,指导农民合理施肥,系统能在多个专家水平级上进行施肥决策。由于我国种蔗面积分布广阔,土壤、气候、品种及耕种水平等差异大,在甘蔗合理施肥方面存在严重不规范问题,甘蔗施肥成果难于应用于生产实际。该项研究在解决这些问题的技术方面有较大突破。     

糖厂酒精生产废液施用对蔗地水分、铜和氯利用及流失的影响

为促进甘蔗酒精生产废液的资源化利用,为农作物提供有效的肥料资源及相关水肥管理模式,对比研究了甘蔗地上施用甘蔗酒精生产废液、化肥及不施肥等处理对水分、铜和氯养分吸收及流失的影响,并对施用甘蔗酒精生产废液的食品安全性和对地表水环境污染的影响进行了评价.结果表明,与化肥处理CK_2相比,甘蔗酒精生产废液的施用提高了土壤的水分利用率,降低了甘蔗中铜的含量及铜的径流流失,提高了甘蔗中氯的含量,但各处理蔗汁或径流水中的铜、氯含量或浓度远低于国家标准值.认为在该试验条件下富含有机质的甘蔗酒精生产废液在蔗地上施用,对蔗糖及地表水环境质量没有不良影响,值得推广应用.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Enhanced establishment and growth of giant cardon cactus in an eroded field in the Sonoran Desert using native legume trees as nurse plants aided by plant growth-promoting microorganisms and compost

To evaluate the feasibility of long-term desert reforestation technology of mixed vegetation, cardon cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) seedlings from indoor and outdoor nurseries were planted in the field adjacent to one seedling of potential legume nurse trees: mesquite amargo (Prosopis articulata), yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla), and blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida). Some of the planting holes were also supplemented with common dairy compost. Additionally, the combinations of legume tree–cactus were inoculated with either a consortium of desert arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB; the diazotroph Azospirillum brasilense Cd, and the phosphate solubilizer Paenibacillus sp.), or a mixture of all. The field experiments were evaluated periodically during 30 months for survival and growth. Cardons reared in an outdoor screen house survived better in the field than those reared in a controlled growth chamber and hardened later outdoors. Association with any legume nurse tree increased survival and enhanced growth of untreated cardons. For cardons growing alone, application of either compost, AM fungi, and all the treatments combined increased survival. For these plants, no treatment affected plant growth during the first 3 months after transplanting. Later, all treatments, except for AM fungi, enhanced plant growth. However, only 2 years after transplanting the enhanced growth effect of AM fungi was also significant. In the presence of the legume nurse trees, transient positive effects on cardon growth were recorded. General evaluation after 30 months of cultivation showed that the treatments positively affected cardon growth when growing alone or in combination only with mesquite amargo but not with the other two legume trees. This study proposes that young legume trees have the capacity to enhance survival and growth of cardon cactus, depending on the legume cactus combination. Additional treatments such as compost or PGPB can either amplify the effect or else attenuate it.     

“绿色革命”以来大气CO2浓度升高对C3作物营养品质的影响

自20世纪60年代"绿色革命"以来,育种技术和农耕技术的发展促进了农作物产量的大幅提升,然而作物的营养品质出现下降趋势。在相似的遗传背景下,大气CO_2浓度升高会使单位体积农作物产品的营养元素含量下降,因此"绿色革命"至今,农作物产品的营养元素下降可能受大气CO_2浓度升高影响。通过植物生长箱模拟"绿色革命"初期和目前的大气CO_2浓度水平(310μmol/mol和400μmol/mol),针对主要C_3作物水稻、小麦和大豆,研究"绿色革命"以来大气CO_2浓度升高对其籽粒的C、N、Fe、Zn元素含量的影响,结果表明:CO_2浓度升高对3种作物籽粒的C元素含量几乎没有影响,变化幅度在±1.5%之间;籽粒的N、Fe、Zn元素含量普遍呈现下降趋势,但均未达到显著水平。     

Potential of wild species for genetic enhancement of some semi-arid food crops

Discovery and incorporation of genes from wild species provide means to sustain crop improvement, particularly when levels of resistance in the cultigens are low and virulent strains of pests and pathogens overcome the host plant resistance. The extent of utilization and the potential of the wild genepool for genetic enhancement were reviewed in five important food crops viz. sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut grown in the semi-arid tropics. Introgression from compatible wild germplasm in the primary gene pool resulted in transfer of new cytoplasmic male sterility systems in pearl millet and pigeonpea, development of high protein, cleistogamous flower and dwarf pigeonpea lines and foliar disease resistant groundnut cultivars. Utilization of wild species in secondary and tertiary gene pools has been generally limited due to sterility, restricted recombination or cross incompatibility. Nevertheless, these species are extremely important as they contain high levels of resistance to several important biotic and abiotic stresses. Several of them, like those belonging to the Parasorghum section and the rhizomatous Arachis species are sources of multiple resistances and hold great promise to sustain crop productivity.     

Karyotypic and genome size variation in Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. (pigeonpea) and some wild relatives

Detailed karyotypes and 4C DNA amounts have been studied in five cultivars of Cajanus cajan and 20 species belonging to Cajanus, Rhynchosia, Dunbaria, Flemingia and Paracalyx. C. cajan shows intraspecific variability and its karyotype is most similar to that of C. cajanifolius (sect. Cajanus) in the morphology and number of satellite chromosomes and the lack of any correlation between chromosome size within the complement and asymmetry. Karyotypes of C. lineatus and C. sericeus belonging to sect. Atylia are similar with respect to maximum r-index and the ratio of longest and shortest chromosomes in their respective complements. C. acutifolius (sect. Frutocosa) is distinct in having a very low ratio (1.44) between the longest and the shortest chromosomes, while in C. albicans, C. goensis, C. scarabaeoides (sect. Cantharospermum) there is no chromosome pair with r-index >2.0. C. mollis and C. volubilis (sect. Volubilis) show similarity with regard to ratio between the longest and the shortest chromosomes and a distinct chromosome pair with an arm ratio of 2.7 and C. platycarpus is distinct (sect. Rhynchosoides) in having the smallest ratio (1.36) between the longest and the shortest chromosomes. 4C DNA amounts in Cajanus and Rhynchosia vary between 3.28 pg to 11.69 pg and 4.92 pg to 11.13 pg respectively, while in Dunbaria, Flemingia and Paracalyx these vary between 4.70 and 7:06 pg. In the genus Cajanus karyotypic features and 4C DNA amounts agree with the sectional classification and bring out a close relationship between C. cajan and C. cajanifolius. This is supported by studies based on seed protein patterns, isozyme analysis, trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor patterns, RFLP and RAPD data and crossability relationships. A clear relation between DNA amount and abnormalities effecting the extent of pairing and recombination in interspecific hybrids shows the importance of this study in developing future breeding programme involving C. cajan and its wild relatives that are of potential value.     

Effect of some fungicide seed treatments on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybean [Glycine max. (L) Merr.]

Several commercial fungicide seed treatments were evaluated for their possible effect on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum on seeds and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans in a greenhouse and a field experiment. quinolate Pro (carbendazim and oxine copper), Vitavax 200FF (carboxin and thiram), and Monceren (pencycuron) had a small effect or no effect on the survival of B. japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans. They can thus be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation. Germipro UFB (carbendazim and iprodione), Apron 35J (metalaxyl), and Tachigaren (hymexazol) decreased B. japonicum survival and the nodulation and yield of soybeans and thus cannot be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications     

Einfluss der düngungsmethoden auf die entwicklung von zuckerrübenkrankheiten

Während neunjähriger (1994-2002) Untersuchungen in der Versuchsanstalt Ba?cyny (Fahlerde, Fall-Gleyboden, ausgebildet aus leichtem Lehmboden) wurde der Befall mit Krankheiten an der Zuckerrübe in Abhängigkeit von der Düngungsmethode bewertet. Folgende Methoden wurden angewendet: A - Mineraldünger, B - Stalldung und Mineraldünger, C - Stroh-, Gründung und Mineraldünger, D - Kompostdünger und Biopräparate (ökologische Düngung). Auf den Objekten A, B, C wurden bei konstanter Phosphor-Kalium-Düngung die Stickstoffgaben von 0 bis 180 kg.ha^?1 differenziert. Auf dem ökologischen Objekt D ohne Mineraldünger wurden statt Stickstoff die Biopräparate P₅₀₀ und P₅₀₁ verabreicht. Der geringste Befall von Krankheiten wurde an der Zuckerrübe auf jenem Objekt festgestellt, das mit Kompost und den Biopräparaten gedüngt worden war. Im Rahmen der konventionellen Düngungsmethoden wurde allgemein die höchste Intensität der Krankheiten an der mit Stroh, Gründung und Mineraldünger gedüngten Zuckerrübe beobachtet. Ausnahmen von dieser Regel bildete das Vorkommen von echtem Mehltau und Keimlingsfäule. Auf den Objekten A, B, C nahm die Intensität der Krankheiten mit der Steigerung der Stickstoffgabe zu. Auch die auf Objekt D verabreichten Biopräparate stimulierten die Entwicklung der Krankheiten. The effect of various fertilization methods on the diseases of sugar beet was estimated on the basis of nine-year studies (1994-2002) conducted in the Experimental Production Farm in Ba?cyny on loess-based, sedimentary-gley, light-clay soil. The following fertilization methods were applied: A - mineral fertilization, B - mineral and manure fertilization, C - straw, green manure and mineral fertilization, D - ecological compost and biodynamic preparations fertilization. In the objects A, B and C fertilized with phosphorus and potassium, various doses of nitrogen ranging from 0 to 180 kg/ha^?1 were used. In the ecological object D, where mineral fertilization was not used, biodynamic preparations P₅₀₀ and P₅₀₁ were applied instead of nitrogen. The lowest ratio of the diseases of sugar beet was observed in the object fertilized with the compost and biodynamic preparations. In view of the conventional fertilization methods, generally the highest incidence of diseases was noted in the sugar beet fertilized with straw, green manure and mineral fertilizers. The exception was the occurrence of powdery mildew and the black leg. In objects A, B and C the incidence of the diseases increased with the increase in nitrogen doses. The applied biodynamical preparations in the object D stimulated the development of diseases too.     

Prospects for control of Pythium damping-off of lettuce with Trichoderma,Gliocladium and Enterobacter spp.

Summary Damping-off of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) caused by Pythium ultimum was studied in pots containing a non-sterile potting mix in the glasshouse. Fifty P. ultimum sporangia g^-1 compost reduced the plant stand to 15% and shoot dry weight to 18%, but this reduction was totally prevented by applying Trichoderma harzianum at 2×10⁵ viable propagules g^-1 potting mix. Gliocladium virens and Enterobacter cloacae also alleviated the damping-off. E. cloacae did not adversely affect the action of the fungal antagonists. The co-existence of the bacterial and fungal antagonists was revealed on the root surface and inner surface of the testa by scanning electron microscopy, indicating the compatibility of the biocontrol agents.