Availability in Soil and Acquisition by Plants as the Basis for Phosphorus and Potassium supply to Plants

This report summarizes research aimed at describing the processes and quantifying the factors affecting transfer of P and K from soil into plants. Soil properties related to availability and plant properties reflecting nutrient acquisition were determined. Their interactions in the rhizosphere and their importance for nutrient supply of plants were studied by a combination of measurements and calculations using a simulation model. Phosphorus and potassium uptake by roots decreased P and K concentration at the root surface and caused characteristic depletion profiles in the adjacent soil. The shape of the profiles depended on the effective diffusion coefficient, the concentration of the nutrient in soil, morphological properties of the roots and on influx into roots. The degree of depletion at the root surface indicated the proportion of the nutrient potentially available in the soil. The shape of the depletion profiles reflected the amount of the nutrient taken up by a root section. The parameters found to describe nutrient acquisition are (i) influx per unit root length, (ii) root length per unit shoot weight (root/shoot ratio), and (iii) the period of time a root section absorbs nutrients. Plant species differed considerably in these properties. In order to integrate the processes involved and to evaluate the importance of individual factors, the Claassen-Barber model was used. Depletion profiles and nutrient uptake calculated with this model were in good agreement with measured values in a number of cases. However, at low P supply, plants absorbed substantially more P than the model predicted. This indicates that influx in this case is supported by mechanisms not properly taken into account yet. Influx per unit root length depends on morphological properties of and nutrient mobilization by roots. Root hairs increase root surface area per unit root length. In addition, because of their small diameter and geometric arrangement in soil, root hairs are specially apt to gain from diffusion when concentration gradients are small. This applies even more to VA-mycorrhizae. Their hyphae are longer and thinner than root hairs and can thus deplete larger volumes of soil per unit root length. Root-induced changes of soil pH increased the size of P depletion profiles, indicating that roots can mobilize soil P by this mechanism. Both acid and alkaline phosphatase enzyme activities were found to be markedly increased at the soil-root interface suggesting that soil organic P may contribute to the P supply of plants.     

Nitrogenase (C2H2) Activity in Roots of Non-Cultivated and Cereal Plants: Influence of Nitrogen Fertilizer on Populations and Activity of Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria

Root samples of 11 non-cultivated monocotyledonous and 7 dicotyledonous species taken during a wet summer had low mean nitrogenase activities of 10.2 and 7.1 nmol C₂H₄·g^?1 DW·h^?1 after preincubation at pO₂ 0.02, respectively. Maxima of 139–169 nmol·g^?1·h^?1 were observed with Agrostis vulgaris and Agropyron repens on a sandy soil poor in C_org. Three of 6 early, but none of 4 late fodder maize cultivars had a very low activity up to 0.5 nmol·g^?1h^?1. Oat, rye and wheat roots from plots with organic or mineral N fertilizers had activities between 1.3 and 7.3 nmol·g^?1h^?1 at flowering, which were not correlated with their Azospirillum populations (10²-10⁷·g^?1 after preincubation). Winter wheat and barley roots given 0, 40, 80 and 120 kg. ha^?1 NH₄NO₃-N in 0–3 applications had mean activities of 0.08, 4.06, 0.09 and 0.08 nmol or 1.77, 2.67, 0.36 and 0.23 nmol C₂H₄g^?1·h^?1 after flowering, respectively. An appreciable part of this activity could be removed by root washing. In preincubated rhizosphere soil of wheat and barley populations of N₂-fixing, facultative anaerobic Klebsiella and Enterobacter spp. were 10–100 times higher than those of Azospirillum sp., both being higher in O N than in 80 kg N·ha^?1 trials.     

Leaf Potassium Accumulation in Olive Plants Related to Nutritional K Status,Leaf Age,and Foliar Application of Potassium Salts

Four separate experiments were carried out in greenhouse conditions from spring of 2001 to summer of 2003. The aim of this research was to study the effect of factors such as leaf age, salt type and concentration, number of foliar applications, and the nutritional status on the efficiency of foliar applications of potassium (K) in olive plants. In all experiments, mist-rooted ‘Picual’ olive plants growing in 2 L pots containing perlite were fertigated with a complete nutrient solution containing 0.05 mM or 2.5 mM potassium chloride (KCl). In one experiment, plants received two foliar applications with five concentrations of KCl (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, or 8%) at 63 and 84 days after transplanting. Foliar KCl applications at 2% or 4% increased shoot lengths and the K content of plants fertigated with 0.05 mM KCl (poor K nourished), while foliar KCl application did not have any influence on the growth or K content of plants fertigated with 2.5 mM KCl (normal K nourished). When the number of foliar applications was increased, the results showed that two foliar applications were enough to increase leaf K concentration in olive plants above the sufficiency level. Leaf age could influence the efficiency of foliar K application. Leaf K concentration were higher in young leaves than in mature ones. All K-salts studied as foliar sprays [KCl, potassium sulfate (K₂SO₄), potassium nitrate (KNO₃), potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃), and potassium phosphate (KH₂PO₄)] were effective in increasing leaf K concentration. The results obtained in the present study indicate that foliar applications of K effectively increase K content in K-deficient olive plants, and that foliar applications might be more effective on young leaves. Two foliar applications of 4% KCl or the equivalent for other salts are enough to increase leaf K concentration.     

Aluminum Tolerance in Sunflower Plants Is Associated with Phosphorus Content in the Roots

Sunflower is considered one of the most promising crops for agro-industry development. This plant is adaptable to different soil and climate conditions but is very sensitive to aluminum (Al). Considering that the different plant species have developed different mechanisms to cope with Al, this work evaluated the effect of Al stress on plant growth and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) contents in 25 sunflower genotypes. The results showed that Catissol, EXP 11-26, HLA 860 HO, and H 358 were the most Al-tolerant and IAC-Uruguai, AG 960, EXP 44-49, IAC-Iarama, BRS G27, EXP 887, and H 251 were the most Al-sensitive. We also observed that maintenance of P content in roots of stressed plants seems to play an important role in Al-stressed sunflower plants, suggesting that it could be used as a physiological marker during the screening for Al tolerance in this species.     

Effect of Oxidizing Power of Roots on Iodine Uptake by Rice Plants

Although iodine is harmful to plants, rice plants ( Oryza sativa L.) absorbed iodine more selectively than bromine. To explain this selective absorption, the authors proposed the following hypothesis based on the fact that the standard redox potential for (I₂+ 2e = 2I⁻) is lower than that for (Br₂+ 2e = 2Br⁻) and (Fe³⁺+ e = Fe²⁺), and the roots of rice plants are able to oxidize ferrous ion (Fe²⁺) into ferric ion (Fe³⁺), namely rice plants oxidize iodide ion (I⁻) to form molecular iodine (I₂) via the oxidizing power of their roots, and absorb the molecular iodine formed more selectively than iodide ion. Bromine, by contrast, is absorbed by rice plants only in the form of ion (Br⁻). According to this hypothesis, there should be a significant correlation between the oxidizing power of the rice roots and the amount of iodine absorbed. Therefore, the relationship between the oxidizing power of the roots and the concentration of iodine absorbed was studied in a water culture using 8 varieties of rice plants. Rice seedlings, 14 d after germination, were cultured in a solution containing 1 mg L⁻¹ each of iodide and bromide ions for 3 d. The oxidizing power of the rice roots was evaluated based on the amount of 1-naphthylamine oxidized by the roots. A significant correlation (0.78, n = 16, 0.1% significant level) was found between the oxidizing power and the concentration of iodine absorbed by the roots. However, no relationship was found between the oxidizing power of the roots and the amount of bromine absorbed.     

Evaluation of Chemical Extractants for the Determination of Available Potassium

Abstract

Evaluation of nutrient status in soil is important for nutritional, environmental, and economical aspects. This research was carried out to determine the potassium (K) available to corn (Zea mays) in 15 soils from the Hamedan province in the west of Iran. The treatments included two K levels [0 and 200 mg K kg^?1 as potassium sulfate (K₂So₄)] and 15 soils in a factorial experiment in a randomized block design with three replications. The results indicated that K application increased yield, K concentration, and K uptake of corn. According to the mechanism of the extraction, these extractants can be classified into four groups. The first group of extractants, acidic extractants, includes 0.02 M strontium chloride (SrCl₂)+0.05 M citric acid, 0.1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl), and Mehlich 1. The second group includes 0.1 M barium chloride (BaCl₂), 0.01 M calcium chloride (CaCl₂), and 1 M sodium acetate (NaOAc). The third group includes 1 M ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc), ammonium bicarbonate–diethylenetriamine tetraacetic acid (AB‐DTPA), and finally distilled water. The results showed that correlation between extractants in each groups were significantly high. Correlation studies showed that NH₄OAc and AB‐DTPA cannot be used as available K extractants. The correlation of other extractants with relative yield, plant response, and K uptake were significantly high. Therefore, these extracting solutions can be used as available K extractants.

Potassium critical levels by extractants were also determined using the method by Cate and Nelson (1971) Cate, R. B. and Nelson, L. A. 1971. A simple statistical procedure for partitioning soil test correlation into two classes. Soil Science Society of America Proceeding, 35: 658–660. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]. Potassium critical levels for 90% relative yield were 29, 27, 82, 84, 45, 145, and 272 mg kg^?1 for 0.002 M SrCl₂, distilled water, 0.02 M SrCl₂+0.05 M citric acid, 0.1 M HCl, Mehlich 1, 1 M NaOAC, and 0.1 M BaCl₂, respectively.     

Effects of Nitrate and Potassium on Ammonium Toxicity in Cucumber Plants

ABSTRACT

Interactions between nitrate (NO₃ ^?), potassium (K⁺), and ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) were investigated using hydroponically grown cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants. Ammonium as the sole nitrogen (N) source at 10 mM was toxic and led to overall growth suppression, chlorosis, and necrosis of leaves. After 20 days, 50% of the plants were dead. However, when NO₃ ^? was supplied at very low concentration together with high NH₄ ⁺ (only 1% of total 10 mM N) all seedlings survived and their growth was improved. High K⁺ concentration (5 mM) also alleviated NH₄ ⁺ toxicity and increased plant growth several fold compared to intermediate concentration of K⁺ (0.6 mM). Leaf total N and ¹⁵N derived from ¹⁵N-labelled NH₄ ⁺ increased in the presence of NO₃ ^?, but decreased at high K⁺ concentration. High K⁺ supply enhanced total carbon (C) and δ ¹³C and stimulated GS and PEPCase activities in leaves and roots. Nitrate supplementation had no effect on GS or PEPCase activities. It is concluded that K⁺ may alleviate NH₄ ⁺ toxicity, partly by inhibiting NH₄ ⁺ uptake, partly by stimulating C and N assimilation in the roots.     

Supplementary Potassium Nitrate Improves Salt Tolerance in Bell Pepper Plants

Abstract

The effect of supplementary potassium nitrate (KNO₃) on growth and yield of bell pepper (Capsicum annum cv. 11B 14) plants grown in containers under high root‐zone salinity was investigated. Treatments were (1) control, soil only and (2) high salt treatment, as for control plus 3.5 g NaCl kg^?1 soil. Above treatments were combined with or without either 0.5 or 1 g supplementary KNO₃ kg^?1 soil. Plants grown at high NaCl had significantly less dry matter, fruit yield, and chlorophyll than those in the control treatment. Supplementing the high salt soil with 0.5 and 1 g KNO₃ kg^?1 increased plant dry matter, fruit yield, and chlorophyll concentrations as compared to high salt treatment. Membrane permeability increased significantly with high NaCl application, but less so when supplementary KNO₃ was applied. High NaCl resulted in plants with very leaky root systems as measured by high K efflux; rate of leakage was reduced by supplementary KNO₃. These data suggest that NaCl status affect root membrane integrity. Sodium (Na) concentration in plant tissues increased in leaves and roots in the elevated NaCl treatment as compared to control treatment. Concentrations of K and N in leaves were significantly lower in the high salt treatment than in the control. For the high salt treatment, supplementing the soil with KNO₃ at 1 g kg^?1 resulted in K and N levels similar to those of the control. These results support the view that supplementary KNO₃ can overcome the effects of high salinity on fruit yield and whole plant biomass in pepper plants.     

籽粒苋不同富钾基因型根际钾营养与根系特性研究

在缺钾土培和水培条件下,研究了籽粒苋不同基因型根际和非根际土壤速效钾、缓效钾和全钾含量的变化,以及根际微生物数量、根系主要分泌物、根系质子分泌量和根系CEC的变化。结果表明,籽粒苋根际土壤速效钾和缓效钾含量明显高于非根际土壤,且在根际形成钾的相对富集区,富钾基因型R104和K12根际钾的富集能力明显高于一般基因型;籽粒苋根际土壤的全钾含量却低于非根际土壤,富钾基因型的降低幅度大于一般基因型。富钾基因型根际微生物数量和根系分泌能力显著高于一般基因型,且根际细菌和真菌数量与主要根系分泌物的分泌量变化基本保持一致。富钾基因型R104和K12根系CEC和H 分泌量高于一般基因型M9和Cr047,而相同基因型内各品种间的变化不显著。     

4种植物生长旺盛期根系易受损的外力类型研究

在植物生长旺盛期,采用材料试验机测定3~4年生柠条、沙柳、沙棘、白沙蒿在1~4mm径级范围内的侧根分支处、相邻上级直根的抗拉力与抗折力,研究4种植物根系易受损的外力类型。结果表明:同径级条件下,柠条和沙柳的侧根分支处、相邻直根均表现为抗拉力小于抗折力,而沙棘和白沙蒿侧根分支处和相邻直根均表现为抗拉力大于抗折力。侧根分支处抗拉强度和抗折强度分别为:柠条(23.70±3.97)(33.66±7.74)MPa,沙柳(14.86±1.28)(17.31±1.91)MPa,沙棘(10.61±2.40)(3.97±1.23)MPa,白沙蒿(5.07±1.25)(2.18±0.39)MPa;相邻直根的抗拉强度和抗折强度分别为:柠条(28.02±4.40)(47.06±4.41)MPa,沙柳(20.33±1.76)(27.54±3.82)MPa,沙棘(15.86±3.90)(8.75±1.71)MPa,白沙蒿(8.80±1.74)(6.15±1.01)MPa。在生长旺盛期,造成柠条和沙柳根系易损的外力类型为轴向拉力,造成沙棘和白沙蒿根系易损的外力类型为径向折力。同一径级下,4种植物根系的抗拉强度、抗折强度均为侧根分支处小于相邻上级直根。4种植物根系抗拉强度和抗折强度的种间差异均为柠条沙柳沙棘白沙蒿。在4种植物根系固土作用中,1~1.5mm范围内的细根起主导作用。     

2种草本植物根系对崩岗洪积扇土壤分离的影响

为探讨草本植物根系对崩岗洪积扇土壤分离的影响,以宽叶雀稗(Paspalum wettsteinii)和巨菌草(Pennisetumsp.)为研究对象,采用变坡水槽冲刷试验,研究种植草本植物后土壤分离的变化特征及影响因素。结果表明:各土层平均土壤分离速率大小为裸地(69.93g/(s·m2))宽叶雀稗(57.42g/(s·m2))巨菌草(43.28g/(s·m2)),且不同植被土壤分离速率均随着土层的加深呈幂函数增加;根长密度是影响土壤分离最重要的根系指标,宽叶雀稗小区土壤分离速率随各根系参数指标的增大呈对数函数下降,而巨菌草区则表现为幂函数下降,体现了不同植被根系构型对土壤分离效应的差异;2种草地土壤分离速率可以用水流剪切力、土壤抗剪强度和根长密度很好的模拟(NSE≥0.90)。研究结果可为崩岗治理措施的配置提供科学依据。     

Evaluated Potential of Mica Waste to Release Sufficient Potassium to Support the Growth of Plants in Acidic Tea-Growing Soil in Northeast India

Tea (Camellia sinensis L.) is a nutrient-demanding perennial crop and cultivated in typically acidic soil under sub-tropic humid condition. A large amount of fertilizers, especially urea and muriate of potash (MoP), are applied in the soil to sustain tea productivity. However, high potassium (K)-loss from soil under humid conditions suggests the requirement of an alternative K source for supplementing K in the soil during tea cultivation. The objective was to evaluate the possibility of using K-containing minerals, namely, potassium feldspar (K-spar) and mica waste (WM), as alternative K-source for supplementing K in the soil. In this study, application of WM at the recommended dose increased exchangeable K content in soil compared to control (received no K input); however, the value was lower than that of MoP treatment. The WM-treated plants had better growth and higher K uptake than plants with the MoP treatment. Application of WM at half of the recommended dose increased K content in the soil above no K-treated soil and recorded comparable growth and K accumulation by plants as MoP. MW could be used as K amendment in acidic soil, especially during tea cultivation.     

Effect of Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilization on Banana Plants Cultivated in the Humid Tropical Amazon

Banana (Musa spp.) is widely cultivated in tropical regions because of their economic importance for the local market as the source of food for the regional population. In the Amazon region, the banana crop was cultivated in the river basin before the 90th decade of the last century, but after the black sigatoka (Mycosphaerella fijiensis) and the increases of the bacteria wilt (Raostonia solanarum), the crops migrated to upper land soils with low natural fertility where there was no influence of floods for natural fertilization from the regional rivers. Nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) have been the foremost nutrient required by the banana trees and the aim of this study was to evaluate during two growing periods, the influence of the N and dipotassium oxide (K₂O) fertilization in yield and nutritional status of banana. The experimental design was a completely randomized blocks in a factorial 3 × 4 scheme with three replicates. The treatments were three N rates (0, 267, and 533 kg ha^?1) and four K₂O rates (200, 800, 1,600, and 2,400 kg ha^?1). The field plots had seven plants where the useful area had only five plants spaced 3 m × 2 m. The foliar N and sulfur (S) content were significantly influenced by the N rates, while foliar K, magnesium (Mg), and copper (Cu) were significant under the K₂O rates. The N, K₂O, and N × K₂O interaction interfered the foliar zinc (Zn) content. In both crop cycles, the bunch biomass and banana yield were not influenced by the N and K₂O rates.     

Deoxynivalenol Content of Cereal Grain from Naturally Infected and Artificially Inoculated Plants in Field Trials in Norway

The Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-acDON) were determined in grain samples from naturally infected and Fusarium culmorum inoculated plants in field experiments in Norway during 1992–1996. The mean DON content in trials with inoculated plants was 11.8 μg/g in spring oats, 11.3μg/g in winter wheat, 28.9 μg/g in spring wheat and 31.4 μg/g in spring barley. In the natural infection trials the mean DON content was 0.32 μg/g in spring oats, 0.22μg/g in winter wheat, 1.48μg/g in spring wheat and 0.54 μg/g in spring barley. Only small differences in DON content were observed among cultivars, and significant differences were found only in winter wheat in the inoculation trials, and in spring wheat in the natural infection trials. A significant correlation was observed between the 3-acDON and DON contents in the inoculated trials in all grain species, the mean ratio of 3-acDON to DON ranging from 0.011 in wheat to 0.071 in oats.     

鄱阳湖湿地植物根表铁膜形成的影响因素分析

湿地植物为了适应渍水环境,形成了大量的通气组织,植物可以通过通气组织将氧气输送到根系,从而将Fe2+氧化成铁的氧化物或氢氧化物沉积在植物的根表,形成铁膜。淹水土壤中植物根表形成铁膜必须具备两个条件,一是植物根际处于局部氧化状态,二是生长介质中存在大量的Fe2+。通过溶液培养和土-砂联合培养法,研究了Fe2+浓度、植物种类、诱导时间、p H值、水位变化、根系分泌物对根表铁膜形成的影响。结果表明:苔草和虉草根表铁膜的含量随Fe2+浓度的增加而增加,随诱导时间的延长呈上升的趋势,根系分泌物浓度与铁膜的量呈负相关,随水位的增加呈现先升高后降低的趋势,在水位2~3 cm,p H为5.5~6时根表铁膜的生成量达到最大值。     

陕西省渭北、陕北粮食生产态势与定位

该文提出了确定区域粮食产量发展目标的“生产单元长时段产量动态分析法”,并根据黄土主原国家试验示范区粮食产量长期动态资料,提出渭北粮食近期８亿ｋｇ增产潜力。旱作粮食单产指标达到４０５０ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２,其中小麦为３７５０ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２,玉米为６７５０ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２,并指出实现指标的３项指标。     

我国著名水土保持专家张信宝研究员

张信宝研究员,男,1946年生于江苏镇江,1967年南京大学地质系毕业后,分配至中科院、水利部成都山地灾害与环境研究所.1992年被中科院特聘为研究员,现任山地农业与侵蚀研究中心主任,兼任中科院西安黄土与第四纪地质国家重点实验室客座研究员,四川联合大学客座教授,中国水保学会滑坡泥石流专业委员会常委、小流域综合治理专业委员会委员,中国地理学会地貌专业委员会委员,中国土壤学会土壤侵蚀专业委员会委员,<土壤侵蚀与水土保持学报>、<第四纪研究>、<山地研究>和<长江水土保持>诸杂志编委.1983～1986年在新西兰森林研究所工作期间,被聘为一级地学科学家.