Effects of Soil-Applied Materials on the Dry Weight and Boron Uptake of Maize Shoots (Zea Mays L.) Under High Boron Conditions

High concentrations of boron (B) in the soil, reduces plant growth, crops’ yield and quality. Regarding such problem, synergistic and antagonistic relations between the nutrients can be used to ameliorate the B toxicity. Therefore, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of soil-applied zinc (Zn), nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), lime (CaCO₃), potassium (K), humic acid (HA), and humus on the dry weight and B uptake of maize shoots (Zea mays L.) under high-B containing soil conditions. Increasing doses of B (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg kg^?1 B) were applied to soil as borax (Na₂B₄O₇10H₂O), and boric acid (H₃BO₃). Positive correlations were found between B doses and the uptake amounts (r = 0.934**; – 0.964**). However, the correlations between the dry weight and B doses (r = ?0.314**; – r = ?0.495**) and between the dry weight and the uptake amounts (r = ?0.294*; – r = ?0.497**) were negative. Among the materials, Zn and humus exhibited positive correlations with dry weight values (r = 0.249*; r = 0.525**), and an effective increase (p < 0.01) in the dry weight amounts of maize shoots was observed under toxic B conditions.     

Optimization of a Novel Vegetable Nursery Substrate Using Date Palm Wastes Peat and Indigenous Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Quality of vegetable seedlings is affected by nursery management practices, essentially growing media. For sustainable greenhouse horticulture, it is important to characterize biologically based approaches to improve plantlet quality. Here, we investigate the possibility of developing a biotized growth substrate for nursery production using date palm wastes (DPWs) peat as an alternative to commercial sphagnum peat and indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). A greenhouse experiment was established using different rates of DPWs peat to substitute commercial peat in both conventional and organic nursery production systems. Lettuce seedlings were inoculated or not with native AMF isolated from plots with conventional or organic production system (CM and OM respectively). When lettuce plantlets attained commercial size, a microscopic observation revealed that the establishment of mycorrhizal association was successful in all mixtures of growing media. Significant increase in growth parameters (height shoot, number and area of leaves, shoot and root biomass) were observed on plantlets inoculated with indigenous AMF isolated from organic plot compared to those isolated from conventional plot and to control (without AMF). Commercial peat partial substitution with DPWs peat in proportion of 25–50% improves better lettuce performance than complete-peat use. Consequently, these mixtures seem to be an appropriate formulation for sustainable nursery production.     

Response of Yield and Some Physiological Traits of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) to Topping Height and Application Methods of Zn and Ca Nano-Chelates

Groundnut is an annual legume and important oilseed crop in the world. In order to evaluate the influence of the topping height and application methods of Zinc (Zn) and Calcium (Ca) nano-chelates on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of groundnut, these experiments were carried out during the 2016–2017 cropping seasons on groundnut in Iran. Both foliar and in soil applications of Zn and Ca nano-chelates improved groundnut yield. Foliar application of Zn nano-chelate in combination with topping the main stem 20 cm above the ground produced the highest 100-seed weight (82.19 g), seed yield per unit area (2722.5 kg.h^?1), harvest index (57.53%), biological yield (6540.00 kg.h^?1), oil yield (1486.76 kg.h^?1), protein yield (742.66 kg.h^?1), seed Zn content (12.08 ppm) and Ca content (35.86 ppm). The application of Zn nano-chelate had different positive influences on vegetative and reproductive growth of groundnut plants. Generally, optimizing of the nutritional status in groundnut plants with Ca and Zn supplements is recommended to enhance the quantitative and qualitative yield of groundnut.     

Evaluation of the effects of spores and their heat-treated residues from different Bacillus strains on the initial growth of rice plants

This study evaluated the effects of the spores and their heat-treated residues from different strains of Bacillus species (B. pumilus, B. altitudinis, and B. megaterium) on the early growth of paddy rice cultivars, including Hitomebore (short-grain japonica rice), Takanari (high-yielding indica rice), and two new lines, TULK-143-6 and LTAT-29. The spores of seven Bacillus strains positively affected Hitomebore root growth, while, the root volume of TULK-143-6 with inoculation of B. pumilus TUAT1 and JM52, and root length and root surface area of LTAT-29 with inoculation of B. megaterium MAFF301694 were increased significantly. In contrast with Hitomebore, Takanari root growth was significantly inhibited by the spores of six Bacillus strains. Surprisingly, inoculations with the spore residues from all tested Bacillus strains increased the root dry weight of Hitomebore, with the effects of four bacterial strains being significant. Furthermore, there were more Bacillus spores than vegetative cells at different time points during the initial rice growth stage, and most plant samples mainly consisted of Bacillus spores. Thus, the spores of Bacillus species likely promote rice root development.     

Assessment of Environment-friendly Usage of Spent Wash and its Nutritional Potential for Sugarcane Production

Excessive and inappropriate use of fertilizers is a key factor of low sugarcane yield and degradation of soil. A two-year (2013–14 and 2014–15) field study was conducted to assess the impact of combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers on sugarcane at research farm of Shakarganj Sugar Research Institute, Jhang, Pakistan. Experiment was conducted under randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments were used as control (no exogenous application), spent wash (160 t ha^?1), (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) NPK (168:112:112 kg ha^?1), spent wash (120 t ha^?1) + NPK (42:28:28 kg ha^?1), spent wash (80 t ha^?1) + NPK (84:56:56 kg ha^?1), spent wash (40 t ha^?1) + NPK (126:84:84 kg ha^?1), and spent wash (160 t ha^?1) + NPK (42:28:28 kg ha^?1). Application of spent wash @ 80 t ha^?1 + NPK @ 84:56:56 kg ha^?1 resulted maximum crop growth rate (11.35 g m^?2 d^?1), leaf area index (7.78), and net assimilation rate (2.53 g m^?2 d^?1). Maximum number of millable canes (14), weight per stripped cane (0.90 kg), stripped cane yield (117.60 t ha^?1) and unstripped cane yield (141.25 t ha^?1) were observed with spent wash @ 80 t ha^?1 + NPK @ 84:56:56 kg ha^?1, followed by sole fertilizer application @ 168:112:112 kg NPK ha^?1 and spent wash @160 t ha^?1 + NPK @ 42:28:28 kg ha^?1. Similar trend was observed regarding quality parameters. The maximum benefit–cost ratio (1.80) was achieved with integrated application of spent wash @ 80 t ha^?1 + NPK @ 84:56:56 kg ha^?1.     

大蒜醇提液对小鼠离体小肠平滑肌运动的影响

【目的】 研究大蒜醇提液对胃肠运动的影响,了解其可能的作用机制。【方法】 用生物信号处理系统监测大蒜醇提液对小鼠离体小肠平滑肌运动的影响。【结果】 2倍浓度递增(0.025%-0.4%)的大蒜醇提液剂量依赖性抑制小肠收缩幅度(P < 0.05),但对收缩张力无影响(P> 0.05);大蒜醇提液抑制小肠收缩幅度的最效浓度为0.2%,小肠收缩幅度仅为用药前26%±7%(P< 0.01);0.2%大蒜醇提液与M-受体激动剂氯贝胆碱或KCl联合用药对小肠收缩张力、收缩幅度、峰值和曲线下面积与这两种药物单独用药比差异均不显著(P> 0.05)。【结论】 大蒜醇提液对小鼠离体小肠平滑肌的运动具有抑制作用,且该抑制作用可能同抑制胆碱能M-受体和阻止细胞内钾离子外流减少无关。     

缺氧诱导因子和促红细胞生成素及其受体基因在绵羊各组织中表达量

【目的】研究缺氧诱导因子(HIF)及其下游靶基因促红细胞生成素(EPO)及其受体(EPOR)在绵羊正常生理状况下各组织的表达,为靶向调控或缓解绵羊缺氧应激的研究提供组织学依据。【方法】采用实时荧光定量PCR方法,检测4只新疆细毛羊14种组织中HIF、EPO和EPOR基因的相对表达量。【结果】HIF-1α和HIF-2α基因均在绵羊肺组织的相对表达量最高,且极显著高于其它组织(P<0.01);在肺脏HIF-2α基因的表达量约为HIF-1α表达量的5.2倍。EPO基因在绵羊肾脏的相对表达量最高且显著高于垂体、结肠、脾脏、盲肠、肝脏、肾上腺、瘤胃、下丘脑以及心脏(P<0.05)。EPOR基因在肺脏的表达量最高,肺脏和睾丸的相对表达量显著高于脾脏、下丘脑、肾脏、心脏等组织(P<0.05)。【结论】HIF-1α、HIF-2α和EPO及其受体基因在绵羊的肺部或肾脏的高表达,可能是绵羊缺氧应激感受及其调控的重要器官。     

Equilibrium sediment exchange in the earth’s critical zone: evidence from sediment fingerprinting with stable isotopes and watershed modeling

Journal of Soils and Sediments - The equilibrium sediment exchange process is defined as instantaneous deposition of suspended sediment to the streambed countered by equal erosion of sediment from...     

四川地区玉米/大豆带状套作对大豆形态、叶绿素荧光特征及系统产量的影响

玉米/大豆带状套作可以充分利用光环境,提高单位土地面积物质产出。为探明玉米/大豆带状复合种植模式下不同空间配置对大豆冠层光环境、形态、产量及系统效益的影响,进而为大豆高产优质栽培提供依据,本研究选用半紧凑型（‘川单418’）和紧凑型（‘荣玉1210’）玉米品种与大豆带状套作,固定带宽为200 cm,玉米采用宽窄行种植,玉米窄行距设置3个处理：20 cm、40 cm、60 cm;并以单作大豆（SS）作为对照。分析透光率、形态、光合色素、荧光参数、生物量和系统产量的变化规律。结果表明：套作大豆冠层透光率、红光/远红光（R/FR）比值随玉米窄行距的增大而逐渐降低;套作下大豆茎粗、节数、茎干重和全叶干重均随玉米窄行距增大呈降低趋势,最大值出现在玉米窄行距20 cm处理下;与单作大豆相比,两个玉米品种下大豆茎粗、节数、茎干重和全叶干重均显著降低,而第2节间长和主茎长显著升高。套作下大豆叶片光合色素含量随玉米窄行距的增大而逐渐降低,各行距处理及不同玉米品种下套作的叶片光合色素含量均低于单作大豆。大豆叶片荧光参数F_v/F_m、NPQ、F_q''F_m''和F_q''/F_v''随玉米窄行距的增大均呈先增大后减小的趋势,而F_o变化趋势与之相反。玉米收获后,大豆光环境得到改善并迅速恢复生长,套作大豆形态生理指标与单作差异减小,但由于前期玉米的遮荫,各套作处理间大豆产量差异仍显著。通过系统效益分析,在玉米窄行距40 cm处理下,套作系统综合产量最高,两玉米品种下玉米、大豆产量平均分别为8 559.52 kg·hm^-2、1 717.60 kg·hm^-2,土地当量比平均达1.57。本试验中大豆与两个株型玉米套作,大豆形态生理指标差异影响不显著。因此,选择紧凑或半紧凑玉米品种,适度缩小玉米窄行距可以显著改善带状套作大豆的生长环境,提高其生物量和产量。