Modelling nitrogen fixation of pea ( Pisum sativum L.)

Abstract

Nitrogen fixation was simulated for a leafless variety (Delta) of pea (Pisum sativum L.) in central Sweden. It is assumed that N₂ fixation is basically proportional to root biomass, but limited by high root N or low substrate carbon concentrations. Input data on root carbon and nitrogen were estimated from observations of above-ground biomass and nitrogen. The simulated N₂ fixation was compared with estimated values from observations using the ¹⁵N labelling technique. Test data were taken from pea monocultures and pea-oat mixtures with varying pea biomass levels during 1999. Simulated within-season accumulated N₂ fixation correlated to the estimated N₂ fixation with a correlation coefficient (R ²) of 0.74. For seasonal simulations, the predictability was higher (R ²=0.93). Two alternative non-dynamic models, estimating seasonal N₂ fixation as proportional to above-ground biomass and above-ground N, respectively, gave lower predictability (R ²=0.83 and 0.80, respectively). The models were also applied to a second year (1998) and two other sites by comparison with accumulated N₂ fixation estimated by the Difference method. A halved specific N₂ fixation rate (expressed per unit of root biomass) in 1999, compared with 1998, corresponded to essentially dryer and warmer soil conditions during 1999. It was indicated that the variations in soil moisture were more important than soil temperature. It was concluded that the abiotic responses might be of great importance for modelling N₂ fixation rate under different soil conditions.     

N-utilization by maize (Zea mays L.) as influenced by crop rotation and field pea (Pisum sativum L.) residue management

Abstract. A five year field experiment was conducted to assess the influence of crop rotation and field pea residue incorporation into the soil on maize yield. The data indicated a 30% increase in maize yield grown in rotation with field pea compared to when it was grown after wheat and a further increase of 35% when field pea residues were incorporated into the soil. The effect of field pea and residue incorporation was greater in the presence of fertilizer nitrogen indicating the enhanced capacity of the crop to utilize N from the residue. Legume residue management in sub-tropical regions of the world, having coarse textured soils low in organic matter, could help to increase the yield of cereals besides saving some of the expensive fertilizer input.     

Carbon costs of nitrate reduction in broad bean (Vicia faba L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants

The present study aimed at the assessment of carbon (C) costs for nitrate reduction by measuring the additional CO₂ amounts released from roots of nitrate‐fed plants in comparison with urea‐fed plants. Only roots were suitable for these determinations, because nitrate reduction in illuminated shoots is fed nearly exclusively by reducing equivalents coming directly from photosynthetic processes. Therefore, in a first experiment, the sites of nitrate reduction were determined in nodule‐free broad bean (Vicia faba L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants grown in pots filled with quartz sand and supplied with KNO₃. The extent of nitrate reduction in the various plant organs was determined by measuring in vitro nitrate reductase activity and in situ ¹⁵NO reduction. Only between 9% and 16% of nitrate were reduced in roots of German pea cultivars, whilst 52% to 65% were reduced in broad bean roots. Therefore, C costs of the process could be determined only in broad bean, using an additional pot experiment. The C costs amounted to about 4.76 mol C (mol N)^–1 or 4 mg C (mg N)^–1, similar to those measured earlier for N₂ fixation. The high proportion of nitrate reduction in shoots of pea plants implies that only very little C is required for this nitrate fraction. This can explain the better root growth of nitrate‐nourished pea plants in comparison with N₂‐fixing organisms, which need C compounds for N₂ reduction in roots. Moreover, a different availability of photosynthates in roots of plant genotypes could explain physiologically the occurrence of “shoot and root reducers” in nature.     

Yield structure components of autumn- and spring-sown pea (Pisum sativum L.)

ABSTRACT

Climate change brings increasing attention to winter sowing of traditionally spring sown crops. Crop stand height, soil coverage, grain yield and yield components of six winter pea varieties and one spring pea variety were compared in eastern Austrian growing conditions in 2014 and 2015. Crop stands of winter pea were taller up to the end of May before they declined and crop stands of spring pea were taller from early June on. Winter pea covered the soil at least partly over winter and showed faster soil coverage in spring. At the end of May, just some weeks before harvest, spring pea attained equal soil coverage. Grain yield of winter pea was almost double that of spring pea due to higher pod density whereas spring pea produced more grains pod^?1 than four out of six winter pea varieties and a higher thousand grain weight than all winter pea varieties. Consequently, grain density was higher for winter pea while the single pod yield was higher for spring pea. Growing winter peas in Central Europe might be a good strategy for increasing grain legume productivity and thereby European feed protein production.     

Nitrate alters the flavonoid profile and nodulation in pea (Pisum sativum L.)

A rhizosphere application of NO _inf3 ^sup- and/or naringenin affected the Pisum sativum — Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae symbiosis. NO _inf3 ^sup- (5 mM) lowered while naringenin raised the nodulation status (nodule numbers and weight) and nodule efficiency (C₂H₂ reduction activity). However, the inhibitory effect of NO _inf3 ^sup- was to some extent alleviated when applied in combination with naringenin. The plant biomass was increased by the application of NO _inf3 ^sup- and naringenin, either alone or in combination, while a higher root: shoot ratio was observed only in the naringenin-treated plants. Root flavonoids are known to regulate the expression of nod genes; their high-performance liquid chromatography profile was influenced in different ways by NO _inf3 ^sup- and naringenin.     

Effect of moisture stress on Nitrate Reductase Activity (NRA) in PEA (Pisum sativum L.) [C3] and sorghum (Sorghum vulgare Pers.) [C4] plants

Nitrate reductase activity (NRA) was studied in pea, a C₃ plant, and sorghum, a C₄ plant, at various stages of growth and development. Influence of moisture stress and nitrogen application was also observed since these factors have profound influence on growth and development.

In pea, NRA was maximum at pod maturity stage and minimum at flowering stage. In sorghum plant there was gradual increase in NRA upto grain formation followed by a fall in activity at maturity.

Nitrogen treatment as nitrate and ammonia significantly increased nitrate reductase activity over control in both pea and sorghum. Treatment with potassium nitrate was found to stimulate more NRA in pea than with ammonium sulphate. In sorghum, both forms of nitrogen did not differ much in their influence on NRA.

Influence of moisture stress in reducing NRA was more clear in sorghum, a C₄ plant than in pea, a C₃ plant. In general, control plants recorded low NRA in both the crops when compared to nitrogen treated plants except at pod formation stage in pea.     

Plant and soil responses to mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobacteria in nodulated or nitrate-fertilized peas (Pisum sativum L.)

Rhizosphere organisms affect plant development and soil stability. This study was conducted to determine the effects of a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungus [Glomus mosseae (Nicol. &>; Gerd.) Gerd. and Trappe] and a rhizobacterium (Bacillus sp.) on nitrate-fertilized or nodulated pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants and on the status of water-stable soil aggregates. The plants were grown in pots in a yellow clay-loam soil, and inoculated with the VAM fungus and the rhizobacterium, with one of the two, or with neither. The Bacillus sp. and G. mosseae did not affect shoot dry mass in nodulated plants. Under N fertilization, the VAM fungus enhanced plant growth, while the rhizobacterium inhibited shoot growth, VAM root colonization, and nodule formation, but enhanced the root:shoot and the seed:shoot ratios. The inhibition of shoot growth and of root colonization appeared to be related. The water stability and pH of the VAM soils were higher than those of the non-VAM soils. The rhizobacterium enhanced the water-stable aggregate status in the non-VAM soils only. Under both N-nutrition regimes, the soils had the greatest proportion of the water-stable aggregates when inoculated with both rhizo-organisms and the lowest when colonized by neither. The two rhizo-organisms affected both plants and soil, and these effects were modified by the source of N input through N₂ fixation or fertilization. Received: 5 April 1995     

Yield potential of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) varieties,and soil properties under organic and integrated nutrient management systems

The identification of suitable crop varieties that respond best to organic management is the key to achieving better crop yields. A field experiment was conducted during the winter season of 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 at Almora (Indian Himalayas) to evaluate the performance of five varieties of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) and changes in the soil properties under organic and integrated nutrient management (INM) systems. The yield reduction under organic management was 14.4% in 2005–2006 and 10.1% in 2006–2007 compared with INM. Among the garden pea varieties ‘Vivek Matar 9’, ‘Vivek Matar 8’ and ‘Azad pea 1’ produced similar but significantly higher pod yield compared to other varieties. The soil pH, organic carbon, and microbial activities in terms of dehydrogenase and phosphatase (acid and alkaline) were higher in the plots under organic management compared to INM. The latter, however, had higher activity of urease, and N, P, and K contents in soil. We conclude that at least 15–20% price premium for organic garden pea may be required to offset the higher cost of cultivation and low yields under organic production system. Among the garden pea varieties, ‘Azad pea 1’, ‘Vivek Matar 8’ and ‘Vivek Matar 9’ were found suitable for organic cultivation.     

不同耕作方式下缓释肥对夏玉米产量及氮素利用效率的影响

【目的】氮肥中氮素的合理释放是提高作物产量及氮素利用效率的重要措施之一,耕作方式也可显著影响氮肥施用效果。本文比较了浅旋、 免耕和深松三种耕作方式下缓释肥和常规施肥对夏玉米干物质积累、 叶面积指数及植株氮素积累的影响,为玉米缓/控释肥的合理应用和耕作方式的选择提供科学依据和技术支撑。【方法】试验于2013年至2014年在河南新乡进行。采用裂区设计,以耕作方式为主区,设浅旋(R)、 免耕(N)和条带深松(S)3种耕作方式; 肥料类型为副区,设不施氮(CK)、 缓释肥(SRF)和常规施肥(CCF)3个处理。【结果】相同耕作方式下,缓释肥处理的夏玉米产量及氮肥利用效率显著高于常规施肥; 相同肥料处理,其条带深松耕作的夏玉米产量及氮肥利用效率显著高于浅旋和免耕直播处理。各处理中,以条带深松下的缓释肥处理产量及氮肥利用效率最高,显著高于其他处理,其中两年产量平均增幅为13.4%~59.2%,氮肥农学利用效率(AEN)增幅为27.9%~72.7%,氮素表观利用率(REN)增长15.1~55.7个百分点。分析表明,干物质积累和氮素积累,尤其是花后干物质和氮素积累的增加是产量提高的主要原因。 在N、 R和S 三种耕作方式下,缓释肥处理的花后干物质积累量较常规施肥分别提高13.0%、 12.7%和18.7%; 花后氮素积累量分别提高14.4%、 16.8%和17.8%,其中条带深松耕作的增幅显著高于浅旋和免耕直播。条带深松下缓释肥处理花后干物质和氮素积累量显著高于其他处理。【结论】与传统耕作方式和施肥方式相比,条带深松耕作和缓释肥的施用均显著提高了夏玉米的产量及氮素利用效率,各处理中以条带深松耕作下缓释肥处理的夏玉米产量及氮素效率最高,因此,条带深松深施缓释肥可作为黄淮海区一项有效的合理耕作与施肥措施。     

The influence of water stress on biomass and N accumulation, N partitioning between above and below ground parts and on N rhizodeposition during reproductive growth of pea (Pisum sativum L.)

In the next few years, grain legumes should be used as a mean of N acquisition in cropping systems due to the depletion of non-renewable sources of energy. However, this requires improvements in the accuracy with which biological N₂ fixation, N balances and the N benefit for following crops are estimated. Moreover, grain legume crops are largely influenced by water stress while the world area exposed to drought periods may increase in the coming years due to global warming. This work aims to quantify biomass and N accumulation, N partitioning between above and below ground parts and N rhizodeposition by a pea (Pisum sativum L.) when influenced by water stress. In a controlled environment, pea plants were exposed to a severe drought or not stressed, either at flowering or during pod filling. N rhizodeposition was measured using the split root method and plants were harvested at the end of flowering (59 days after sowing, DAS 59), at the end of the drought period applied during pod filling (DAS 74) and at maturity (DAS 101). Water stress strongly affected pea dry weight and N accumulation. In both stressed treatments, nodule biomass and N content were reduced by about 65% in the absence of stress. Regardless of the treatment, total below ground plant N (root N + N rhizodeposition; BGN) and N rhizodeposition were correlated with total plant N content and the proportion of BGN to total plant N was similar among treatments at each sampling date. At DAS 59 and 74, the N contained in rhizodeposits represented around 30% of the total BGN and increased to around 60% at maturity though BGN decreased from around 20 to 13% of the total plant N between DAS 74 and maturity. The results suggest that water stress has no specific effect on N partitioning between above and below ground parts.     

Effects of repeated fertilizer and cattle slurry applications over 38 years on N dynamics in a temperate grassland soil

The effects of repeated synthetic fertilizer or cattle slurry applications at annual rates of 50, 100 or 200 m³ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ over a 38 year period were investigated with respect to herbage yield, N uptake and gross soil N dynamics at a permanent grassland site. While synthetic fertilizer had a sustained and constant effect on herbage yield and N uptake, increasing cattle slurry application rates increased the herbage yield and N uptake linearly over the entire observation period. Cattle slurry applications, two and four times the recommended rate (50 m³ ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, 170 kg N ha⁻¹), increased N uptake by 46 and 78%, respectively after 38 years. To explain the long-term effect, a ¹⁵N tracing study was carried out to identify the potential change in N dynamics under the various treatments. The analysis model evaluated process-specific rates, such as mineralization, from two organic-N pools, as well as nitrification from NH₄⁺ and organic-N oxidation. Total mineralization was similar in all treatments. However, while in an unfertilized control treatment more than 90% of NH₄⁺ production was related to mineralization of recalcitrant organic-N, a shift occurred toward a predominance of mineralization from labile organic-N in the cattle slurry treatments and this proportion increased with the increase in slurry application rate. Furthermore, the oxidation of recalcitrant organic-N shifted from a predominant NH₄⁺ production in the control treatment, toward a predominant NO₃⁻ production (heterotrophic nitrification) in the cattle slurry treatments. The concomitant increase in heterotrophic nitrification and NH₄⁺ oxidation with increasing cattle slurry application rate was mainly responsible for the increase in net NO₃⁻ production rate. Thus the increase in N uptake and herbage yield on the cattle slurry treatments could be related to NO₃⁻ rather than NH₄⁺ production. The ¹⁵N tracing study was successful in revealing process-specific changes in the N cycle in relationship to long-term repeated amendments.     

Nutrient availability and response of sago palm (Metroxylon sago Rottb.) to controlled release N fertilizer on coastal lowland peat in the tropics

Sago palms (Metroxylon sagu Rottb.) growing on peat soils were found to grow more slowly and to show a lower production than palms growing on mineral soils. This difference was related to the physical and chemical constraints of peat soils, which include low bulk density, high acidity, and low N, P, K, Ca, Zn, and Cu levels. In coastal lowland peat soils, the distance from the sea has been found to be an important determinant of soil elemental composition. We predicted that a sufficient supply of N at the rosette stage would improve sago palm growth and that the availability of N in soil to which controlled release N fertilizer was applied might be higher than that in soil treated with soluble fertilizer. To investigate the changes in the nutrient composition of peat soils at various distances from the sea and the effect on sago palm growth, we studied sago palm areas in Indonesia and Malaysia. To observe the influence of N on the growth performance, we also conducted a fertilizer experiment on coastal lowland peat soil in Indonesia. Distance from the sea had no significant effect on the cation concentration in the soil solution (with the exception of Mg) or on the levels of soil-exchangeable cations. No significant differences were observed between the concentrations of exchangeable cations in surface peat soils and those in mature leaves. However, the concentrations of K, Na, and Ca in mature leaves increased significantly with their concentrations in the soil solution. This finding implies that the concentrations of cations in sago palm leaves depend directly on the concentrations of cations in the soil solution. No significant effect of N fertilizers on plant height and leaf formation was observed. N fertilizers applied twice a year did not affect appreciably the foliar concentration of N determined in December 1998 (5 months after the initial application) and December 1999. In June 2000, we detected a significantly higher concentration of N (p < 0.01) in young leaves of the palms treated with LP-100 or urea than in control leaves. However, no significant difference was detected between the LP-100 and urea treatments in the concentration of N in both mature and young leaves. This finding indicated that the concentration of N in sago palm leaves increased with the level of soil-applied N, regardless of whether N was applied as controlled release fertilizer or in the soluble form. We anticipate that a significant difference in the effects of these N fertilizers may occur during the next rainy season, when there should be a considerable loss of soluble N.     

Influence of crop residue management, cropping system and N fertilizer on soil N and C dynamics and sustainable wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production

Management of N is the key for sustainable and profitable wheat production in a low N soil. We report results of irrigated crop rotation experiment, conducted in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan, during 1999–2002 to evaluate effects of residue retention, fertilizer N application and mung bean (Vigna radiata) on crop and N yields of wheat and soil organic fertility in a mung bean–wheat sequence. Treatments were (a) crop residue retained (+residue) or (b) removed (−residue), (c) 120 kg N ha⁻¹ applied to wheat, (d) 160 kg N ha⁻¹ to maize or (e) no nitrogen applied. The cropping system was rotation of wheat with maize or wheat with mung bean. The experiment was laid out in a spit plot design. Postharvest incorporation of crop residues significantly (p < 0.05) increased the grain and straw yields of wheat during both years. On average, crop residues incorporation increased the wheat grain yield by 1.31 times and straw yield by 1.39 times. The wheat crop also responded strongly to the previous legume (mung bean) in terms of enhanced grain yield by 2.09 times and straw yield by 2.16 times over the previous cereal (maize) treatment. Application of fertilizer N to previous maize exerted strong carry over effect on grain (1.32 times) and straw yield (1.38 times) of the following wheat. Application of N fertilizer to current wheat produced on average 1.59 times more grain and 1.77 times more straw yield over the 0 N kg ha⁻¹ treatment. The N uptake in wheat grain and straw was increased 1.31 and 1.64 times by residues treatment, 2.08 and 2.49 times by mung bean and 1.71 and 1.86 times by fertilizer N applied to wheat, respectively. The soil mineral N was increased 1.23 times by residues, 1.34 times by mung bean and 2.49 times by the application of fertilizer N to wheat. Similarly, the soil organic C was increased 1.04-fold by residues, 1.08 times by mung bean and 1.00 times by the application of fertilizer N. We concluded that retention of residues, application of fertilizer N and involvement of legumes in crop rotation greatly improves the N economy of the cropping system and enhances crop productivity in low N soils.     

Effect of organic residue amendments and soil moisture on N mineralization,maize (Zea maysL.) dry biomass and nutrient concentration

Greenhouse pot experiments using four tropical soils were conducted to measure the effect of crop residues on nitrogen mineralization/immobilization and the growth of maize plants under two soil moisture regimes (pF2.5 and pF3.5). Nitrogen-rich residues of pigeon pea [PP, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millps, C/N, 18.8] enhanced plant growth and increased the assimilation of mineral elements (N, P and K) at both moisture regimes. Less nitrogen-rich residues of haricot beans [HB, Phaseolus vulgaris (L.), C/N, 28.9] had a slightly negative effect on plant growth and the assimilation of mineral elements, and a stronger negative effect was recorded for the most N-poor plant residue, maize [M, Zea mays (L.), C/N, 33.6]. For PP, we estimated the recovery of residue-nutrients in maize plants (net increase in N, P and K assimilation due to PP incorporation) as 19% for N, 88% for P and 86% for K in the high-moisture regime (pF2.5). The equivalent values for the drought-stress regime (pF3.5) were 10, 34 and 38%, respectively. The results demonstrate the immediate enhancement of plant growth by plant residues with a low C/N ratio, even under drought-stress conditions.     

Influence of Pseudomonas syringae R25 and P. putida R105 on the growth and N2 fixation (acetylene reduction activity) of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and field bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

The effects of inoculating field peas (Pisum sativum L.) with Rhizobium leguminosarum and field beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) with R. phaseoli, alone or in combination with Pseudomonas syringae R25 and/or P. putida R105, were assessed under gnotobiotic conditions in growth pouches and in potted soil in a growth chamber. Inoculation of peas with P. syringae R25 or P. putida R105 alone had no effect on plant growth in pouches. In soil, however, the isolate R25 inhibited nitrogenase activity (as assessed by acetylene reduction assay) of nodules formed by indigenous rhizobia; strain R105 stimulated pea seedling emergence and nodulation. P. syringae R25 inhibited the growth of beans in either plant-growth system. P. putida R105, however, had no effects on beans in pouches, but reduced plant root biomass and nodulation by indigenous rhizobia in soil. Coinoculation of pea seeds with R. leguminosarum and either of the pseudomonads significantly (P<0.01) increased shoot, root, and total plant weight in growth pouches, but had no effect in soil. Co-inoculation of field beans with R. phaseoli and P. putida R105 had no effects on plant biomass in growth pouches or in soil, but the number of nodules and the acetylene reduction activity was significantly (P<0.01) increased in the soil. In contrast, co-inoculation of beans with rhizobia and P. syringae R25 had severe, deleterious effects on seedling mergence, plant biomass, and nodulation in soil and growth pouches. Isolate R25 was responsible for the deleterious effects observed. Although plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria may interact synergistically with root-nodulating rhizobia, the PGPR selected for one crop should be assessed for potential hazardous effects on other crops before being used as inoculants.     

Mitigating nitrous oxide emissions from a maize-cropping black soil in northeast China by a combination of reducing chemical N fertilizer application and applying manure in autumn

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions from agricultural soils, mainly caused by chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer inputs, are major sources of N₂O in Chinese terrestrial ecosystems. Thus, attempts to reduce N₂O emissions from agricultural soils by optimizing N applications are receiving increasing attention. Further, organic fertilizers are being increasingly used in China to improve crop production/quality and prevent or reduce soil degradation. However, organic and chemical fertilizers are often both applied in spring in northeast China, which promotes N₂O emissions and may be sub-optimal. Therefore, we hypothesized that reducing applications of chemical fertilizer N and applying manure in autumn could be an effective strategy for mitigating N₂O emissions from cropped soils in the region. To test this hypothesis, we established a field trial to investigate the effects of different combinations of chemical N fertilizer applications and animal manure in autumn on both N₂O emissions and maize (Zea mays L.) grain yields in northeast China. The treatments, expressed as NxMy (where Nx and My denote the total amounts of chemical fertilizer nitrogen (N) and manure (M) applied in kg N ha^?1 and m³ M ha^?1, respectively), were N₀M₀, N₂₃₀M₀, N₂₇₀M₁₂, N₂₃₀M₁₅, N₃₂₀M₁₈ in 2010 and N₀M₀, N₂₃₀M₀, N₂₀₀M₁₂, N₂₀₀M₁₅, N₂₈₀M₁₈ in 2011. Measurements of the resulting N₂O emissions showed that pulse fluxes occurred after each chemical N fertilizer application, but not after manure inputs in autumn or during soil-thawing periods in the following spring. Emission factors for the chemical fertilizer N were on average 1.07% (1.00?1.10%) and 1.14% (0.49?1.83%) in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Furthermore, by comparing the nine pairs of fertilization treatments, the relative increase in cumulative nitrous oxide-nitrogen (N₂O-N) emissions was found to be proportional to the relative increase in urea application, but independent of the amount of autumn-applied manure. These findings imply that N₂O emissions from fertilized agricultural soils in northeast China could be mitigated by supplying manure in the autumn and reducing the total amount of chemical N fertilizer applied in the following year. Although no significant difference in maize grain yield was found among the fertilization treatments, the grain yield-scaled N₂O emissions for the treatments with a lower chemical N application (e.g., N₂₃₀M₁₅ and N₂₀₀M₁₅ treatments) were significantly lower than those with a higher chemical N application (e.g., N₃₂₀M₁₈ and N₂₈₀M₁₈ treatments). Meanwhile, under the condition of the same application amount of chemical fertilizer N, the grain yield-scaled N₂O emission decreased with the increase of manure application rate. Thus, the results support the hypothesis that combining reductions in chemical N fertilizer and applying manure in autumn could be an effective strategy for mitigating N₂O emissions from N-fertilized soils in northeast China.     

Effect of AM fungi and phosphorus fertilization on P-use efficiency,nutrient acquisition and root morphology in pea (Pisum sativum L.) in an acid Alfisol

Phosphorus (P) availability to plants is a major constraint in acid soils. A study was conducted to determine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) under varying inorganic P and irrigation regimes on P availability and P-use efficiency in garden pea (Pisum sativum L.) in a Himalayan acid Alfisol. The experiment comprised of 14 treatments replicated thrice in a randomized block design. The results revealed that integrated use of AM fungi and inorganic P at either of the two irrigation regimes (IW/CPE_0.6 or IW/CPE_1.0) enhanced the green pea pod weight, green pod productivity and agronomic efficiency of applied P to the extent of 8.4%, 7.2% and 30.7%, respectively, over non-AMF counterparts as well as “generalized recommended NPK dose and irrigations (GRD).” AMF inoculation also led to enhanced nitrogen (N), P and potassium (K) acquisition (uptake) by 16.3%, 18.2% and 6% over non-AMF counterpart treatments. Further, AMF inoculation at varying P and irrigation regimes sharply enhanced the rooting depth (21.4%), root volume (23.5%), root dry weight (14.9%), root weight density (13.7%) as well as N concentration in root nodules (3.4%) over non-AMF counterparts and GRD practice. AMF also enhanced the mycorrhizal root colonization by 3.2 folds at flowering stage in AMF inoculated pea plants. AMF-imbedded treatments did not alter the available soil nutrient status (macronutrients and micronutrients) significantly in comparison to non-AMF counterparts in pea, available P status, however, increased to the extent of 6.5% over initial status. Further, AMF imbedded plots showed a slight build-up in soil organic carbon with nominal decrease in soil bulk density. AMF inoculation in pea also led to fertilizer P economy by about 25% soil-test-based P dose. Overall, AMF holds great potential in enhancing nutrient acquisition especially P besides influencing root morphology in order to harness better crop yields vis-à-vis fertilizer P economy by about 25% soil-test-based P dose in Himalayan acid Alfisol.     

Improvement of phosphorus uptake, phosphorus use efficiency, and grain yield of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) in response to phosphate-solubilizing bacteria blended with phosphorus fertilizer

Phosphorus (P) limitation in soil is a major concern for crop productivity. However, the use of chemical fertilizer is hazardous to the environment and costly. Therefore, the use of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) is an eco-friendly approach for a sustainable agricultural system. In the present study, a field trial was conducted for two consecutive years to study the effects of three PSB strains isolated, Bacillus licheniformis, Pantoea dispersa, and Staphylococcus sp., with different P fertilizer rates on P uptake, P use efficiency (PUE), and grain yield of rice. The activities of soil enzymes were also studied in relation to PSB treatments. Comparative analysis of the yield and biochemical parameters revealed that inoculation of PSB consortium could reduce almost 50% of the recommended P dose in rice cultivation. Three PSB strains in combination with 50% P dose was most effective and showed the highest increases in P uptake and PUE as compared to the uninoculated control. Moreover, the PSB consortium combined with 50% P dose contributed to 50.58% and 35.64% yield increases compared to the uninoculated control for 2018 and 2019, respectively. Significant increases in the activities of soil dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, and acid phosphatase were also recorded under PSB treatment.     

Chemistry of soil organic matter as related to C : N in Norway spruce forest (Picea abies(L.) Karst.) floors and mineral soils

Due to high nitrogen deposition in central Europe, the C : N ratio of litter and the forest floor has narrowed in the past. This may cause changes in the chemical composition of the soil organic matter. Here we investigate the composition of organic matter in Oh and A horizons of 15 Norway spruce soils with a wide range of C : N ratios. Samples are analyzed with solid‐state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, along with chemolytic analyses of lignin, polysaccharides, and amino acid‐N. The data are investigated for functional relationships between C, N contents and C : N ratios by structural analysis. With increasing N content, the concentration of lignin decreases in the Oh horizons, but increases in the A horizons. A negative effect of N on lignin degradation is observed in the mineral soil, but not in the humus layer. In the A horizons non‐phenolic aromatic C compounds accumulate, especially at low N values. At high N levels, N is preferentially incorporated into the amino acid fraction and only to a smaller extent into the non‐hydrolyzable N fraction. High total N concentrations are associated with a higher relative contribution of organic matter of microbial origin.     

Impact of crop rotations on microbial biomass,faunal populations,and plant C and N in a Gray Luvisol (Typic Cryoboralf)

We studied the impact of continous barley and a 4-year rotation consisting of fababean, barley after fababean, barley intercropped with field pea, and barley after the intercrop on the soil biological properties of a Gray Luvisol. The crop rotations were estabilshed in 1988 and fertilizer N was not applied to any plots. The plots were sampled five times over the growing season in 1990. The average size of microbial N over the growing season was 20% greater when barley followed fababean or intercropping than in the fababean and intercropped plots. It was 14.9% greater when barley followed fababean or intercropping than in the continuous barley plots. Protozoa populations were greater when barley followed intercropping than in the continuous barley plots, but an inverse trend was found for nematode populations. Average size of the mineral N over the growing season in the 4-year rotation plots was 32% greater than in the continuous barley plots. It was also 23% greater when barley followed fababean or intercropping than in the fababean and intercropped plots. Plant N in the latter plots was significantly greater than in the former and in continuous barley plots; therefore legumes contributed N to the crop rotation through biological N fixation and addition of N-rich crop residues. Significantly higher mineral N and microbial N in the barley of rotation plots than in continuous barley plots indicate that rotation systems with annual legumes alter soil biological properties and N availability.