Effect of the Substrates upon the Regeneration of the Engrafted Cuttings and the Yield of Engrafted Rooted Vines

Engrafted cuttings of the variety Rkaciteli on stocks B?×?R Cober 5BB and R?×?R 101-14, having endured open and covered stratification on different substrates, were planted in a polyethylene glasshouse on four artificial substrates after the postplanting preparation. The complex effect of the stock variety was examined, as well as the effects of the stratification methods and the substrates on the yield of engrafted vines. The characteristics of the regeneration of the engrafted cuttings during the stratification were established. The optimal substrates for stratification of the transplants and the growing of engrafted vines in glasshouses were defined.     

以水基钻屑为骨料的人造基质的物理性状与淋洗脱盐效应研究

为研究水基钻屑土壤化利用的可行性,本文通过将西南某页岩气田水基钻屑与当地的腐熟污泥及紫色土按一定配比形成人造基质,利用室内土柱模拟试验进行两次定量淋洗以研究其物理性状与脱盐效应。结果表明:腐熟污泥的混入对人造基质物理性状有明显的影响,随着腐熟污泥配比的提高,人造基质的初始全盐量增大,容重减小;腐熟污泥的加入会显著降低人造基质的平均下渗速率。经过两次淋洗后各人造基质的脱盐率均大于70%,除水基钻屑︰腐熟污泥=10︰2、水基钻屑︰腐熟污泥=10︰4、水基钻屑︰腐熟污泥︰土壤=10︰2︰1外,其余各人造基质的剩余全盐量均低于2 g/kg;pH为8.0～8.6。由平均下渗速率、容重、pH和全盐量等指标可知,经过两次淋洗后以水基钻屑为骨料、辅配腐熟污泥或当地紫色土的人造基质具有良好的关键物理性状。     

栽培基质对小叶榕块根生长的影响

应用正交设计的方法,研究了不同栽培基质对小叶榕(6个月苗龄)块根生长的影响,结果表明,不同栽培基质对小叶榕块根的生长影响差异显著.经过6个多月的种植试验, 6份沙子+2份椰糠+3份草炭+1份豆粕为栽培基质的小叶榕在块根生长上明显高于其他处理.     

Partitioning CO2 Respiration among Soil,Rhizosphere Microorganisms,and Roots of Wheat under Greenhouse Conditions

Abstract

The measurement of soil, root, and rhizomicrobial respiration has become very important in evaluating the role of soil on atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration. The objective of this study was to partition root, rhizosphere, and nonrhizosphere soil respiration during wheat growth. A secondary objective was to compare three techniques for measuring root respiration: without removing shoot of wheat, shading shoot of wheat, and removing shoot of wheat. Soil, root, and rhizomicrobial respiration were determined during wheat growth under greenhouse conditions in a Carwile loam soil (fine, mixed, superactive, thermic Typic Argiaquolls). Total below ground respiration from planted pots increased after planting through early boot stage and then decreased through physiological maturity. Root‐rhizomicrobial respiration was determined by taking the difference in CO₂ flux between planted and unplanted pots. Also, root and rhizomicrobial respirations were directly measured from roots by placing them inside a Mason jar. It was determined that root‐rhizomicrobial respiration accounted for 60% of total CO₂ flux, whereas 40% was from heterotrophic respiration in unplanted pots. Rhizomicrobial respiration accounted for 18 to 25% of total CO₂ flux. Shade and no‐shoot had similar effects on root respiration. The three techniques were not significantly different (p>0.05).     

New organic substrates and boron fertilizing for production of yellow passion fruit seedlings

The identification of alternative substrates suitable for seedling production is very important, while boron nutrition is also relevant due to plant requirement and its difficult management. Thus, four experiments were carried out from October 2012 to April 2013 to evaluate the effect of substrates using decomposed buriti (Mauritia vinifera Mart.) stem (DBS) and boron fertilizing for seedling production of yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims). The experimental design was completely randomized in factorial scheme 6 × 2 + 1, referring to the substrates [S1: DBS, S2: soil and sand 1:1 (20%) + DBS (80%), S3: soil and sand 1:1 (40%) + DBS (60%), S4: soil and sand 1:1 (60%) + DBS (40%), S5: soil and sand 1:1 (80%) + DBS (20%), S6: commercial substrate (additional treatment) and S7: soil, sand and manure 1:1:2] with and without boron. The seedling emergence, emergence rate, plant height, stem diameter, root length, root volume and dry mass of roots and shoots were recorded. The substrates S2 (without B fertilizing) and S4 (B fertilized with 0.5 mg dm^?3) produced seedlings with more than 3.0 g of shoot dry mass and at least 30 cm in height, and can be used for production of high-quality yellow passion fruit seedlings.     

Effects of Sodium Chloride-Induced Salinity on Mineral Nutrients and Soluble Sugars in Three Commercial Cultivars of Pomegranate

Abstract

The effect of sodium chloride (NaCl)-induced salinity on concentration and translocation of ions and soluble sugars in three commercial cultivars, ‘Alak Torsh,’ ‘Malas Torsh,’ ‘Malas Shirin,’ of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) was studied. After rooting of cuttings, they were planted in the plastic pots contained sand:perlite (1:1) medium and irrigated with complete Hoagland^’s solution immediately. After three weeks, plants were treated with different concentration (0, 40, 80, and 120 mM) of NaCl solution. These treatments continued during 80 days with irrigation water. Finally, uptake and transport of ions [Na, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), nitrogen (N), and Cl) and soluble sugars in these three cultivars were measured. With increasing NaCl concentration in irrigation water, the amount of Na, Cl, and K of the tissues increased, but amount of Ca, Mg, and N of the tissues decreased. No cultivar differences were observed in the rate of uptake of tested minerals. Soluble sugars decreased as NaCl concentrations in irrigation water increased.     

Substrate effects on vegetative and reproductive growth of Ornithogalum thyrsoides “Royal Beauty”

The effect of soil amendment with degraded granite or perlite on plant growth of Ornithogalum thyrsoides was investigated in Central Chile. Bulbs were planted in April in raised soil beds under greenhouse. Three different substrates were compared: control (unamended soil), decomposed granite soil (DG) and soil in proportion 1:2, and perlite and soil in proportion 1:2. Soil nutrient availability in all treatments was considered higher than the plant requirements. The plants in the unamended soil had the greatest flower stem diameter, total fresh weight, and aboveground fresh weight. In terms of stem length, inflorescence length, belowground structures fresh weight, and inflorescence fresh weight, perlite with soil had similar results as unamended soil, but never better. Our results indicate that, under the conditions of this experiment, DG or perlite is not recommended for growing O. thyrsoides, since they did not improve either vegetative or reproductive growth.     

Determination of total phosphorus in soil using simple Kjeldahl digestion

Abstract

Following observation of severe chlorosis and dieback of meri‐stem tissue in asparagus seedlings started in the greenhouse in a soilless media, a study was conducted to determine if the growth patterns were associated with one or more of the media components. Asparagus seedling growth using several potting media was compared. Treatments included single component media, washed sand, perlite, peat, Plainfield loamy sand [a local soil (PLS)], plus 1: 1 mixtures of peat/perlite, washed sand/peat, PLS/perlite, washed sand/peat, and PLS/peat. Abnormal growth patterns were observed in several of the media. Chlorosis was associated with high pH which occurred in perlite, washed sand, and their combinations. Chlorotic plants were characterized by low root and fern dry weights and low fern to root ratios. Meristem dieback occurred in several media treatments and did not appear to be pH related. Plants exhibiting dieback had fern to root ratios approaching 1 if they were not also affected by chlorosis. Nutrient availability was suspected to be a cause but this hypothesis was not substantiated by data collected in this experiment. Asparagus growth in a mixture of Plainfield loamy sand and peat was the highest and was similar to that of field grown seedlings.     

Partitioning of Chlorine,Sodium, and Potassium and Shoot Growth of Three Pomegranate Cultivars Under Different Levels of Salinity

Salinity is a major problem in a wide pomegranate-growing area of central Iran. Effects of four levels of salinity on leaf and root chlorine (Cl), sodium (Na), and potassium (K) partitioning and shoot growth in three major commercial cultivars of pomegranate (Punica granatum), namely ‘Alak Torsh,’ ‘Malas Torsh,’ and ‘Malas Shirin,’ under climatic conditions of central Iran were investigated. Pomegranate cuttings were rooted and planted in plastic pots containing 1:1 sand:perlite medium and irrigated immediately with complete Hoagland's solution immediately. Four salinity levels of irrigation water (0, 40, 80, and 120 mM NaCl) were used. Final concentrations of NaCl were achieved after three weeks and continued for 80 d. Growth characteristics (i.e., length of the main stem, length and number of internodes, and leaf surface) were measured during the experiment. At harvest, concentrations of Na, K, and Cl in root and apical and basal leaves of the three cultivars were determined separately. In ‘Malas Torsh’ and ‘Alak Torsh’ cultivars, increasing salinity was proportional to NaCl concentration and reduced the length of stem, the length and number of the internodes, and leaf surface. There was an increase in the growth rate of the ‘Malas Shirin’ cultivar with increasing salinity up to 40 mM, but a decline in growth rate occurred at salinity levels higher than 40 mM. With increasing salinity level, the tissue concentration of Na and Cl increased while the K/Na ratio decreased. No significant differences were observed among the three cultivars in Na, Cl, and K concentrations of roots or apical or basal leaves. These results show that ‘Malas Shirin’ grew better under saline conditions compared with the ‘Malas Torsh’ and ‘Alak Torsh’ cultivars.     

Effects of hardwood sawdust in potting media containing biosolids compost on plant growth,fertilizer needs,and nitrogen leaching

Abstract

Biosolids compost is used in media to grow potted plants. Nitrogen (N) in media leachate may contribute to nitrate (NO₃‐N) contamination of surface or ground water. Addition of sawdust to potting media containing biosolids compost will increase the carbon (C) to nitrogen ratio and could prevent N leaching without adversely affecting plant growth. A control medium containing 0% sawdust (v/v), 30% perlite, 50% municipal biosolids compost, and 20% sand was modified to contain either 10, 20, or 30% (v/v) fresh hardwood sawdust. The sawdust replaced either 1/3, 2/3, or all of the perlite in the control medium. Slow release fertilizer, slow plus quick release fertilizer, or no fertilizer was added to each of the four media to determine how the sawdust affected fertilizer needs. Coreopsis (Coreopsis grandiflora L.) and Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta L. ’Goldstrum') were grown in pots for five months. Leachate was tested for NO₃‐N and ammonium N (NH₄‐N). Increasing amounts of sawdust produced no differences in growth of Coreopsis and few differences in the growth of Rudbeckia. The addition of slow or slow plus quick release fertilizer had little effect on the growth of Coreopsis and a greater effect on the growth of Rudbeckia. Sawdust and fertilizer had no effect on the leaching of N. Nitrogen leached primarily as NH₄‐N during the first four weeks of the experiment.     

Using composted wheat residue as a growth medium in culture of tomato

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of different growing media on some properties of tomato (Lycopersicom esculentum L. cv. Falcato). Four growing media including wheat residue, composted wheat residue, coco peat + perlite, and coco peat + soil were applied in pot experiment with completely randomized design with three replications. The results showed that fruit yield, chlorophyll, and vitamin C contents of tomatoes grown in the composted wheat residue and coco peat + perlite treatments were significantly greater than the other growth media. Fresh weight of root and inflorescence were higher in the tomatoes cultivated in the composted wheat residue pots than the other media. Higher internode length and nutrient concentrations in leaf and fruit at the coco peat + perlite treatment were obtained as compared to the other growth media treatments. According to the results, it can be concluded that the coco peat + perlite can be substituted for by composted wheat residue for the cultivation of tomato.     

Influence of Three Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Phosphorus on Growth and Nutrient Status of Taro

Abstract

Glasshouse and field experiments were conducted with micropropagated (tissue culture) taro plants and germinated corms to determine the arbuscular mycorrhizal dependency of taro. The micropropagated plants (cultivar Laiyu 3) were transplanted in plastic pots (3‐L) containing a mixture of vermiculite:perlite:peat:sand (2:1:1:1) with 0 or 8000 units of inoculum potential (UIP) of Glomus mosseae (Nicol & Gerd) Gerdemann and Trappe, Glomus versiforme (Karsten) Berch or Gigaspora rosea Nicolson & Schenck. Budded corms were planted in clay pots (8.5‐L) containing sterilized sandy loam mixed with 0 or 12,000 UIP of G. mosseae or G. versiforme, and 0 or 5 g Ca₃(PO₄)₂ were added. In a field experiment, budded corms were placed in paper pots (0.5‐L) with sterilized sandy loam mixed with 0 or 4000 UIP of G. mosseae or G. versiforme and then planted directly in the field. Inoculation with AM fungi significantly increased survival rate and growth of tissue culture taro plants, and the contents of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), enhanced the formation of corms, numbers of second and third branch corms and corm yield, and enhanced the contents of crude protein, starch, and amino acids in the corms. Phosphorus fertilizer slightly increased plant yield but reduced plant absorption of Cu and Zn and root colonization by the AM fungi. Relative mycorrhizal dependence (RMD) of micropropagated plants was greater than that of corms.     

Artificial pores attract barley roots and can reduce artifacts of pot experiments

Soil compaction is a severe agricultural problem. It is characterized by an increased resistance to root penetration and by a decreased amount of porosity in the soil. Until today it is not clear whether crop roots are able to actively detect remaining pores in compacted soil. Moreover, little is known about the capability of roots to leave pores again if the mechanical resistance of the bulk soil allows so. The aim of this study was to investigate the root growth response of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Ascona) in different configurations of a compacted loamy soil containing pores. The three‐dimensional configurations of the root systems from three well watered and fertilized treatments were analyzed with X‐ray computed tomography. All soil‐filled cylindrical plastic pots (diameter: 60 mm, height: 210 mm) contained loose topsoil but differed in subsoil structure. In treatment ‘Loose' [L] the pots were entirely filled with loose soil. Treatment ‘Lower part compacted' [C] contained compacted soil in the lower part of the pots. Likewise, treatment ‘Pores' [P] contained compacted soil in the lower part too, but here 16 artificial pores (1 mm diameter) were generated in the central part of the compacted subsoil zone. Comparison of the two treatments with compacted soil [C] and [P] showed that the roots were able to detect pores. However, the roots frequently grew across the pores or left the pores again after having grown into them, leading to a significantly higher fraction of roots exploring the compacted soil in the treatment with pores compared to the treatment without pores. These findings are useful for designing controlled experiments in pots of limited size that can mimic root growth in relatively complex soil structures which are more similar to field situations than usual pot experiments.     

Phospholipid fatty acid composition of microbiota in the percolating water from a rice paddy microcosm

The microbiota in the percolating water from the plow layer soil in paddy fields was studied based on the composition of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) in a pot experiment. The mean concentrations of PLFAs in the percolating water were 17±5 and 11±4 µg L^-1 in the planted and non-planted pots, respectively. The dominant PLFAs in the percolating water were 16: 0, 16: 1ω7c, 18: 1ω7, 18: 1ω9, il5: 0, and ail5: 0 PLFAs in both the planted and non-planted pots. The dominance percentage of 18: 3ω6c and 17: 1ω8 PLFAs increased at the late stage of rice growth in the planted pots. The percolating water from the planted pots contained in a higher percentage of straight mono-unsaturated PLFAs and a lower percentage of branched-chain PLFAs than that from the non-planted pots. Considerable differences in the PLFA composition in the percolating water were observed between the planted and non-planted treatments and with the duration of the growth period. Principal component analysis indicated that the microbiota in the percolating water was derived from the microbiota in the floodwater and in the plow layer soil. Cluster analysis showed that the similarity of the PLFA composition in the percolating water to the PLFA composition in the plow layer soil was higher than that in the floodwater. The stress factor that was estimated from the trans/cis ratio of 16: 1ω7 PLFA was 0.08±0.04 and 0.14±0.05 in the percolating water from the planted and non-planted pots, respectively, which indicated that the degree of stress on the microbiota in the percolating water from the planted pots was low in a similar way to the degree of stress on the microbiota in the floodwater, while the degree in the percolating water from the non-planted pots was similar to that in the plow layer soil, respectively.     

Soil testing of horticultural substrates (i) Evaluation of 1: 1.5 water extract for nitrogen

Abstract

The 1: 1.5 water extraction of horticultural substrates for N was evaluated using N uptake as the criterion. Three crops, tomato (1 trial), chrysanthemum (2 trials) and verbena (2 trials) were grown in a number of substrates including peat, peat + pumice, bark, peat + sawdust + sand and JIP. The number of N application rates varied from 7 in the tomato trial to 20, 22 or 25 in the chrysanthemum and verbena trials. The relationship between soil test value and N uptake was quadratic rather than linear, and was very good, especially for the chrysanthemum and verbena trials (R² nearly always greater than 0.9). The relationship varied among the substrates depending on whether N was retained (e.g. bark) resulting in overestimation of N uptake, or on whether N was released (e.g. JIP) resulting in underestimation.     

生物氢烷工程沼渣用于油菜及菠菜育苗的效果

为探究将生物氢烷工程沼渣应用于蔬菜育苗基质生产的可行性,以油菜品种"华绿四号"、菠菜品种"先锋菠菜"为材料,按不同体积比将生物氢烷工程沼渣与土壤或草炭、蛭石和珍珠岩三者混配作为育苗基质,通过穴盘育苗试验研究生物氢烷工程沼渣对基质理化性质和油菜、菠菜幼苗生长的影响。结果表明:添加生物氢烷工程沼渣可显著改善基质的容重、总孔隙度、有机质含量、pH值和电导率EC(electronical conductivity)值等理化性质;适宜配比的生物氢烷工程沼渣对幼苗生长发育有一定的促进作用,其中T6(生物氢烷工程沼渣20%、草炭30%、蛭石25%、珍珠岩25%)的基质配方较为适宜,T6中油菜出苗率显著高于CK3(草炭50%、蛭石25%、珍珠岩25%)(P0.05),提高了14.3%,菠菜出苗率提高了12.4%,幼苗的株高、茎粗、单株叶面积显著高于或接近CK3(P0.05),幼苗根冠比和壮苗指数与CK3无显著差异;添加生物氢烷工程沼渣可使幼苗地下部生物量显著升高(P0.05),促进根系生长,使幼苗地上部、地下部生物量分配更加均衡。因此,生物氢烷工程沼渣具有一定的肥效,可部分替代草炭用于叶菜育苗基质生产,但使用前可考虑进行好氧堆肥处理进一步腐熟或与氮肥配施以提高肥效。     

Wastewater Re-Use for Croton in Substrates Amended with Zeolitic Tuff

ABSTRACT

Treated wastewater was compared with tap water for irrigation of croton (Codiaeum variegatum Blume cv. ‘Petra’) in substrates consisting of 1 peat moss: 1 perlite (PP) or 1 soil: 1 sand (SS), alone or supplemented with zeolitic tuff at a ratio of 3:1 (PPZ and SSZ). Substrates were allowed to reach 80% of available water before the plants were irrigated with wastewater or tap water. Results indicated that neither water quality nor substrate affected plant width, leaf area, shoot fresh weight, or root length or weight. Wastewater increased stem diameter; node and leaf number; tissue nitrogen (N); sodium (Na); and chloride (Cl); substrate electrical conductivity (EC); phosphorus (P); Na, Cl, and leachate EC; and concentrations of Na, Cl, NO₃ ^?, and NH₄ ⁺. Root count, tissue Na, substrate potassium (K) and Na, and leachate pH were higher for zeolite-containing substrates. Shoot dry weight and tissue contents of N and P were the highest for wastewater-irrigated PP and PPZ. Wastewater-irrigated plants in PP and tap water-irrigated plants in PPZ exhibited the highest K content. The highest level of tissue Cl was recorded for SS. Tap water-irrigated PPZ had the highest pH and K concentration. Wastewater-irrigated PP, PPZ, and SS exhibited the highest contents of N, Na, and Cl, respectively. Based on the results, amendment of the substrate with zeolitic tuff is recommended to offset the adverse effect of salinity associated with wastewater.     

Effect of rotation breaks and organic matter amendments on the capacity of soils to develop biological suppression towards soil organisms associated with yield decline of sugarcane

A plant bioassay was developed to test the capacity of soil to suppress the activity of detrimental soil organisms associated with yield decline (YD) of sugarcane. The bioassay utilised the diseased roots of sugarcane plants growing in soil that had been under continuous sugarcane monoculture for more than 20 years, as the source of soil organisms associated with YD. Single-eye sugarcane setts were planted into pots of fumigated sand containing 2% (w/w) diseased roots and 10% (w/w) of the test soil. Suppression was measured as the capacity of the added test soil to block the detrimental effect of soil organisms associated with YD on plant growth. The bioassay indicated that a soil that had been under a pasture break for 7 years had increased biological suppression towards soil organisms associated with YD compared to a soil that had been under continuous sugarcane. There was little difference in suppression between sugarcane soils that had been under a soybean break for 1 year, a cropped soil that had never grown sugarcane and the soil that had been under continuous sugarcane. In contrast, a rainforest soil was found to have less suppression than the continuous sugarcane soil. Incorporation of organic amendments into a sugarcane soil (including sawdust, cane trash, grass hay, lucerne hay, feedlot manure, poultry manure, chitin and mill mud) initially increased fungal and bacterial populations, microbial activity (FDA hydrolysis) and microbial biomass. Plant bioassay tests of the amended soils 1, 7 and 12 months after the incorporation of the amendments indicated that the amendments generally had only a minor effect on the soils capacity to suppress soil organisms associated with YD.     

Nutrient Concentrations and Leaf Chlorophyll of Yellow Passion Fruit Seedlings as a Function of Substrate Composition and Boron

This study evaluated nutrient accumulation of yellow passion fruit seedlings produced in substrates containing proportions of decomposed buriti (Mauritia vinifera Mart.) stem (DBS) and the boron in this process. Four experiments were conducted in Federal University of Piauí in Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized in factorial scheme 6 × 2 + 1, referring to the substrates [DBS (100%), soil and sand 1:1 (20%) + DBS (80%), soil and sand 1:1 (40%) + DBS (60%), soil and sand 1:1 (60%) + DBS (40%), soil and sand 1:1 (80%) + DBS (20%), commercial substrate (additional treatment without boron) and soil, sand and manure 1:1:2] with (0.5 mg B.dm^?3) and without boron. The following variables were recorded: total nitrogen, total phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium, boron, absorption efficiency index and chlorophyll. No influence concerning the substrate composition was noticed on nutritional status, but boron influenced on K and Mg of yellow passion fruit seedlings.     

Effect of simulated acid rain on the growth of Japanese conifers grown with or without fertilizer

Three-year old cuttings of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) and Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera) were grown in pots with andosol and were exposed to simulated acid rain (SAR) at pH 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 for 23 months. Total precipitation was 2460, 3960, or 5450 mm and SAR contained sulfuric, nitric and chloric acid at equivalent ratio of 5∶2∶3. Deionized water of pH 5.6 was a control. Exposure to SAR at pH 2.0 induced visible foliar injuries, but not any visible symptoms at pH 3.0 or higher. Total dry weights of 3 conifer cuttings grown with fertilizer were about two fold of those in plants grown without fertilizer and they reduced significantly by the exposure to SAR at pH 2.0. However, Cryptomeria japonica without fertilizer increased dry weights even though plants developed reddish-brown necrosis in large parts of tops. These 3 coniferous cuttings did not show any significant growth reduction at pH 3.0 and 4.0. Soil pH after receiving 5450 mm of SAR at pH 2.0 was 4.0 and molar ratio of (K+Ca+Mg)/Al in water and 1M ammonium acetate soluble fraction of the soil was about 0.3 and 0.4. respectively. However, dry weight of root in plants grown without fertilizer did not decrease. This suggested that growth reduction in plants fertilized and exposed to pH 2.0 was due to a reduction in photosynthetic organs associated with visible injuries, but not direct linkage with root growth inhibition due to soil acidification stress.