Soil organic carbon storage and quality are impacted by corn cob biochar application on a tropical sandy loam

Purpose

Humic substances, which are integral components of total organic carbon (TOC), influence soil quality. The study aimed to investigate whether humic and non-humic fractions exhibit early, consistent, and measurable changes and affect TOC sensitivity and storage in a tropical sandy loam soils amended with corn cob biochar.

Materials and methods

There were four treatments with four replicates established in a randomized complete block design. Composite soil samples were taken from plots without biochar (CT), from plots incorporated with 15 t biochar ha^?1 (BC-15), and 30 t biochar ha^?1 without or with phosphate fertilizer (BC-30 and BC-30+P). The TOC, and humin, humic acid (HA), and fulvic acid (HA) fractions of soil organic carbon were determined for each treatment. The optical densities (400–700 nm) were measured on the soil-free extracts by spectrophotometry; the densities measured at 465 and 665 nm were used to calculate the E₄₆₅/E₆₆₅ ratios.

Results and discussion

The BC-30 and BC-30+P plots recorded the highest TOC, humin, humic acid (HA), and fulvic acid (FA) contents with respect to the lowest in the CT. The total exchangeable carbon stratification was significantly higher in all the biochar-treated plots relative to the CT. Spectral analysis showed higher values of E₄₆₅/E₆₆₅ (5.02 and 5.15) in the CT and BC-15-treated soils, respectively, compared with the BC-30 and BC-30+P-amended soils with E₄₆₅/E₆₆₅ ratios of 2.76 and 2.98, respectively.

Conclusions

Corn cob biochar applied to a tropical sandy loam:

? increased the concentrations of HA and FA and led to increased stratification of TOC, with a stronger effect on HA compared with FA;

? significantly lowered E₄₆₅/E₆₆₅ at the high biochar application rate of 30 t ha^?1, implying the dominance of high molecular weight humic acid-like substances, and increased degree of aromaticity of the TOC.

     

Genetic Advancement of Newly Developed Wheat Populations Under Drought-Stressed and Non-Stressed Conditions

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Genetic variation and heritability estimates in early generations are important in identifying superior families that can be targeted for genetic...     

Field attraction of Cerambyx welensii to fermentation odors and host monoterpenes

Cerambyx welensii Küster is one of the greatest threats to Quercus suber L. and Quercus ilex L. in Spain. Efficient control methods for this species are currently being tested, and the use of traps baited with food-related products for their monitoring and control has been proposed. Cerambyx welensii adults prefer to colonize old or decayed trees, in which cortical exudates frequently release fermentation odors. Fermentation-related compounds, such as ethanol, have been cited as attractants to various hardwood woodborers (as Cerambyx cerdo L.), used either alone or sometimes in combination with other host odors. In this work, we conducted field experiments to ascertain whether chemical blends mimicking fermentation odors were attractive for C. welensii. To this end, we used three types of traps (multiple funnel, cross-vane and single-funnel) baited with six synthetic blends including one or more fermentation-related chemicals (ethanol, ethyl acetate, 3-methyl-1-butanol, acetaldehyde, 2-methyl-1-propanol and 2-methyl-1-butanol), various food-related products (beer, melon and red wine mixed with peach juice) and host monoterpenes (α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, α-phellandrene and camphene). At high release rates (5–11 g/day), various synthetic blends proved attractive irrespective of trap type. Our results contribute to understand the impact of volatile organic compounds in host selection by woodborers infesting deciduous trees. The results hold promise for optimizing trapping strategies to control C. welensii within an integrated pest management framework.     

Combining sub-lethal heating and on-farm wastes: effects on <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> f.sp. <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">cumini</Emphasis> causing wilt of cumin

In a 2-year field study, the effects of four heating regimes established by varying temperature or duration of heating on efficiency of on-farm wastes as soil amendments in controlling Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cumini (Foc) causing wilt on cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), were ascertained. Significant improvement in reduction of Foc propagules was achieved with the increase in duration and amount of heat. In 2000, mild heating under shade (heat level 4), 31.8–65.9% reduction in Foc propagules was estimated in all the amendments at 0–30 cm soil depth, which improved by 75.7–86.5% in the treatment where Foc-infested soil brought from the laboratory was exposed to direct heat (heat level 3) and amendments and irrigation were applied. Foc propagules were reduced by 76.6–88.3% when infested soil was exposed continuously to dry heat for 56 days (heat level 2), improving efficiency of amendments by 0.9–13.5% compared with heat level 3. After 56 days of exposure to dry heat, elevating the temperature by mulching amended soil with a transparent polyethylene film (50 μm thick) for 20 days (heat level 1) augmented reduction by 80.2–95.5%. In the second season, combining 0.04% of onion, Verbisina encelioides or mustard oil-cake with mustard residues (0.18%) improved the reduction in Foc propagules at all heat levels even at the lower soil depth. Maximum reduction (94.9–100%) in Foc propagules at heat levels 1 to 3 was achieved when residues of Verbisina were supplemented with those of mustard. These results suggest a new approach to improve the control of Foc by combining prolonged heating with on-farm wastes such as Verbisina residues and one summer irrigation.     

A rapid assessment of landscape biodiversity using diversity profiles of arthropod morphospecies

Context

The assessment of land-use impacts on biodiversity is one of the central themes of landscape ecology and conservation biology. However, due to the complexity of biodiversity, it is impossible to obtain complete information about the diversity of all species even for small areas, necessitating the selection of individual species or assemblages thereof as species surrogate. In parts of the world where taxonomic expertise is lacking, species identification has hindered progress in biodiversity conservation, and the only practical, relatively-accurate option, is the use of taxonomic minimalism.

Objective

We carried out a rapid biodiversity assessment based on three surrogates—land-use (driver-surrogate), terrestrial arthropods (species-surrogate) and morphospecies (taxonomic-surrogate)—to determine the impacts of land-use on biodiversity of the Western Region (Ghana), an area covering ~4 % of the West African biodiversity hotspot.

Method

We used diversity profiles to visualize the distribution of a total of 8848 arthropod individuals over seven land-use types which define the complete heterogeneity of the landscape.

Results

Here, we present both sample and asymptotic diversity profiles of arthropod morphospecies for each land-use type and the potential of each land-use type for conserving arthropods.

Conclusions

We conclude that (1) the morphospecies approach is useful for detecting differences in species diversity of land-use types; (2) the concept of asymptotic diversity may not be necessary for land-use based biodiversity comparison; and (3) maximum diversity profiles are useful for determining the land-use conservation values in cases where pristine areas are not available.

     

Screening potato varieties for short dormancy

Summary Autumn grown potatoes harvested in December cannot be used for planting in February–March, as they are still dormant at that time. The lengthy dormant period ofUp-to-Date, the main variety cultivated in Israel, was found to be the bottleneck of the problem of supply of locally grown seed tubers. In order to find varieties with a shorter dormant period, 52 varieties from different sources were introduced. The seed material was propagated twice before it was used for the first screening test in spring 1956. The first test has shown that varieties with a short dormant period gave the best results and those with a long one the worst. The second screening in spring 1957, in which a limited number of the most promising varieties were tested, has shown that length of growing period is at least as important as length of dormant period, and that early and medium-early varieties are best. In spite of the results obtained we consider that it will be necessary to breed new varieties more adapted to the specific requirements of growing two crops a year.

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Zusammenfassung Im Herbst ausgepflanzte und im Dezember geerntete Kartoffeln k?nnen nicht zum Auspflanzen im Februar verwendet werden, da sie sich dann noch in der Keimruhe befinden. Die ziemlich lange Keimruhe vonUp-to-Date, der in Israel am meisten angebauten Sorte, erwies sich als die gr?sste Schwierigkeit bei der L?sung des Problems der Versorgung mit einheimischem Saatgut. Um Sorten mit kürzerer Keimruhe zu finden, wurden 52 Sorten verschiedener Herkunft eingeführt. Das Saatgut wurde zweimal fortgezüchtet, bevor es für den ersten Auslesetest im Frühjahr 1956 verwendet wurde. Der erste Versuch zeigte, dass Sorten mit kurzer Keimruhe die besten und Sorten mit langer Keimruhe die schlechtesten Resultate ergaben. Die zweite Auslese im Frühjahr 1957, wobei eine kleinere Anzahl der aussichtsreichsten Sorten geprüft wurde, zeigte, dass die Dauer der Wachstumsperiode mindestens ebenso wichtig ist wie die L?nge der Keimruhe und dass frühe und mittelfrühe Sorten die besten sind. Ungeachtet dieser Ergebnisse halten wir es für angezeigt, neue Sorten zu züchten, die den besonderen Ansprüchen einer zweimaligen Ernte im Jahr besser genügen.

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Résumé Les pommes de terre d'automne récoltées en décembre ne peuvent servir de semence en févriermars, puisqu'elles se trouvent encore à l'état latent à cette époque. La période de latence assez prolongée de l'Up-to-date, la principale variété cultivée en Israel, constitue le majeur obstacle à l'approvisionnement en semences locales. Afin de trouver des variétés à courte période de latence, nous avons introduit 52 variétés de différentes provenances. Celles-ci ont d? être multipliées deux fois avant que nous ayons pu entreprendre le premier essai au printemps 1956. Ce premier essai a permis de constater que les variétés à courte période de latence étaient les meilleures, celles à période de latence prolongée donnant les résultats les moins bons. La seconde sélection fut effectuée au printemps 1957. A cette occasion, un plus petit nombre de variétés particulièrement prometteuses furent étudiées. Il fut constaté que la durée de végétation a une importance au moins égale à celle de la durée de latence. Les variétés précoces et moyennes étaient les meilleures. Malgré les résultats de cette étude, nous en sommes arrivés à cette conclusion qu'il nous faudra sélectionner, des variétés nouvelles, mieux adaptées aux exigences particulières de la culture de la pomme de terre effectuée à deux reprises dans la même année.

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Publication of the National and University Institute of Agriculture, Rehovot, 1960. Series No. 354-E.     

Heterosis and combining ability for yield and resistance to grain mold in tannin-free photoperiod-insensitive sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] in Senegal

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Increasing sorghum production per unit area in the farmer’s field by developing high yielding tannin-free and grain mold tolerant varieties in...