Effects of irrigation and fertilizer application methods on Dianthus ‘Telstar™ White’ and ‘Telstar™ Red’

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of fertilizer and irrigation application methods on plant quality of Dianthus ‘Telstar? White’ and ‘Telstar? Red’ grown in the greenhouse. Fertilizer treatments of 0, 10, and 20 g of 16 nitrogen (N)-3.9 phosphorus (P)-10 potassium (K) controlled release fertilizer were topdressed or incorporated. Pots were drip irrigated or hand watered. Irrigation interacted with treatment (P = 0.037) and irrigation interacted with cultivar (P = 0.013) for plant survival. Plant survival was greater for both irrigation treatments using 10 g of fertilizer incorporated. Fewer ‘Telstar? Red’ plants survived with hand irrigation than drip irrigation. ‘Telstar? White’ plants averaged 53% survival regardless of irrigation method. For all treatments drip irrigated plants had greater height, width, and number of flowers than hand watered plants. For fall greenhouse production of dianthus, irrigation and fertilizer application method, cultivar, as well as leaching fraction should be considered.     

Effects of copper on the decomposition of plant residues,microbial biomass,and β-glucosidase activity in soils

Abstract

Two types of soils (Brown Lowland soil and Ando soil), which were artificially enriched with different amounts of Cu, were incubated with or without pulverized orchard grass for 12 weeks at 25°C. For both soils with and without orchard grass amendment, the amount of CO₂ evolved over the 12-week period of incubation decreased by the enrichment with Cu at a concentration exceeding 1,000 mg kg^?1 soil. The decrease of the mineralization of added orchard grass in the Cu-enriched soil was conspicuous especially during the initial period of incubation. The amount of microbial biomass C at the end of the incubation was significantly reduced by the Cu enrichment regardless of the amendment with orchard grass. The relative decrease of the soil microbial biomass was much greater than that of the soil respiration. The amount of biomass C was negatively correlated with the amount of 0.1 M CaCl₂-extractable Cu as a logarithmic function. On the other hand, the β-glucosidase activity at the end of the incubation was not significantly affected by the presence of Cu in the soils without orchard grass amendment and increased with the increase in the amount of enriched Cu in the orchard grass-amended soils.     

Effects of fertilizer timing and placement on grain yield and leaf nutrients of sole‐crop cowpeas (V. unguiculata) in Sierra Leone

Abstract

Effects of fertilizer timing and placement on the grain yield and leaf nutrients of uninoculated sole‐crop cowpeas in two experiments during the minor cropping season on Njala upland soil of Sierra Leone were studied. Timing and placement and their interaction had no significant effects on grain yield. Placement affected highly significantly lamina Mg, Cu and Co and significantly lamina N and Ca. Placement and timing x placement interaction affected highly significantly petiole N and petiole P respectively. Timing affected highly significantly petiole N, which decreased as fertilizer application was delayed. The spectrum of nutrient distribution in both lamina and petiole was decidedly different. Multiple regression studies indicated that variability in only petiole Mg, Cu and Co significantly contributed to grain yield variability. By the introduction of 15 nutrients (6 lamina and 9 petiole) after examining the linear regression coefficients into a composite multiple regression study, lamina Ca, petiole Fe and petiole Co were selected as significant contributors to grain yield variability with marked improvement in R². Removal of the effects of the correlated variables produced significances in the effects of fertilizer placement and timing x placement interaction on grain yields.     

‘Non-exchangeable’ ammonium in soils from Swedish long-term agricultural experiments: Mobilization and effects of fertilizer application

Abstract

In intensive agricultural systems, efficient nutrient use is necessary for high crop yields as well as for sustainable environmental management. Recent studies in temperate regions indicate that non-exchangeable NH₄ ⁺-N (NEA), which is fixed in clay minerals, may affect crop productivity and soil N dynamics more than previously thought. To estimate the quantity and plant availability of NEA in Swedish soils, ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was grown in a pot experiment using 18 soils that were collected (0–20?cm depth) from two long-term agricultural experiment series at five locations. Initial NEA, total N and soil K contents were measured, as well as NEA content 56, 112 and 168?days after planting of ryegrass. The results show that the soils (0–20?cm) contained 21–217?mg?NEA?kg^?1 sieved soil (5–300?kg?NEA?ha^?1) estimated as corresponding to 0.1–5.1% of the total soil N. Long-term application of farmyard manure (FYM) did not increase contents of soil NEA. Long-term application of K fertilizer increased soil contents of AL-extractable K, but there was no significant correlation with NEA content. Concurrent with ryegrass growth, NEA content decreased on average by 16% between day 0 and day 112, indicating that NEA was released from the soil and taken up by the plants.     

Effects of lime and applied Mn on plant Mn,growth and chlorophyll concentration of ‘Tifway II’ bermudagrass

Abstract

A glasshouse study was conducted to determine effects of lime and Mn applied to three Florida soils on plant Mn, growth, and chlorophyll concentration of ‘Tifway II’ bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon x Cynodon transvaalensis). Four replications of three lime rates (0, 1000, and 2000 mg CaCO₃/kg as dolomite and Ca(OH)₂ for Astatula fine sand (Typic Quartzipsamment, hyperthermic, uncoated) and Pompano fine sand (Typic Psammaquent, siliceous, hyperthermic); 0, 2000, and 4000 mg CaCO₃/kg as dolomite and Ca(OH)₂ for Myakka fine sand (Aeric Haplaquod, sandy siliceous, hyperthermic) and three Mn applications (none, 10 mg Mn/kg as MnSO₄, and 5 mg Mn/kg as MnEDTA) were used in a randomized, complete block, factorial design. A wide range of plant Mn concentrations existed across treatments for each soil. Differences in plant Mn concentration did not cause significant differences in growth or chlorophyll concentration. The critical plant Mn concentration was not reached, but it appeared to be below 20 mg Mn kg for bermudagrass. Models for prediction of plant Mn concentration using soil pH and extractable soil Mn (Mehlich I, Mehlich II, DTPA‐TEA) were obtained. The applications of MnSO, and MnEDTA each resulted in increased plant Mn under acidic soil conditions. Neither Mn application resulted in increased plant Mn concentration in grass grown on Pompano fine sand with soil pH values of 7.0 or above.     

Identification of the effects of long-term application of nitrogen fertilizer on the availability of 11 elements in soils and their supply to ‘Jonathan’ apple trees by using simultaneous multi-element analysis

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of long-term application of ammoniacal N fertilizer for 43?years on the availability of 10 essential elements (B, N, Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn) and Al in root-zone soils and their supply to ‘Jonathan’ apple trees. To achieve this objective, we used simultaneous multi-element analysis. To estimate the soil depth from which the apple trees took up these elements, we calculated the ratios of their concentrations in the N fertilized plot (N plot) to those in the no N plot (0?N plot) (N/0N ratio). Long-term N fertilization significantly increased the fruit and leaf N/0N ratios of N and Mn and significantly decreased that of K. These ratios in the fruits and leaves were similar to those in the 20–90?cm soil layer. This result suggests that N, K, and Mn in the fruits and leaves were supplied from the 20–90?cm soil layer. The N/0N ratios of all 11 elements in the fruits and leaves were significantly positively correlated with those in the 20–90?cm soil layer, but not in the 0–20?cm soil layer. Our findings indicate that long-term N fertilization altered the tree nutrition of not only N, but also K and Mn. These changes in the tree nutrition were ascribed to the fertilizer-induced changes in the availability of elements in the subsoils.     

Effects of Foliar Fertilization on Incidence of Berry Shrivel and Bunch Stem Necrosis in Vitis vinifera L. CVS ‘Pinot Blanc’ and ‘Zweigelt’

Berry shrivel and bunch stem necrosis are the economically most important physiological disorders of grapevine. The nutritional status of the plant is considered as one of the main elicitors for the occurrence of these disorders. For foliar fertilization trials, two vineyards that had previously been affected by both diseases were selected in Southwest Germany, one with the variety ‘Zweigelt’ and one with Pinot Blanc. By the use of potassium, magnesium, and calcium foliar fertilizers, a rapid increase of different nutrients in the plants should be caused and the effects on the diseases observed. In 2010, no significant differences in the fertilization treatments were found for both varieties. In ‘Pinot Blanc’, significantly more berries were affected by berry shrivel in 2011 in plots treated with calcium fertilizer compared to those treated with potassium and magnesium. Plots with magnesium fertilizer showed significantly less berries affected by berry shrivel than the untreated control.     

Effects of nitrogen forms and calcium amounts on growth and elemental concentration in Rosa hybrida cv. ‘Vendentta’

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of calcium and nitrogen on quality and quantity of Rosa hybrida in hydroponic culture, using factorial complete randomized design with different levels of ammonium-N (0, 2.5, and 5 mM) and calcium (1.6 and 4.8 mM). The results indicated that ammonium-N concentration of 2 mM increased the number of flowers, length of pedicles, and fresh weight of flower stem per plant. 5 mM of ammonium-N caused a significant decrease in most of the measured characteristics. Increase in calcium concentration enhanced nitrogen, calcium, manganese, and boron; while, potassium, zinc, and copper decreased in the leaf. Flower diameter and fresh weight of flower stems per plant increased significantly. With application of ammonium in the nutrient solution, calcium and potassium concentration in the leaf decreased, whereas phosphorus, zinc, manganese, iron, and boron significantly increased. Therefore, application of 2.5 mM ammonium-N and 4.8 mM calcium are recommended.     

Effects of potassium silicate and nanosilica on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of a commercial strawberry (fragaria × ananassa cv. ‘camarosa’)

Silicon (Si) is considered as a beneficial element to higher plants especially under stress conditions. A factorial experiment, in a completely randomized design with four replications, was used to investigate the effects of two application methods (spraying and soil drenching) and eight levels of Si compounds including 0, 5, 10 and 15 mM of potassium silicate (K₂SiO₃) and 0, 5, 10 and 15 mM of nanosilica (SiO₂). The results indicated that Si application (all or some treatments) decreased transpiration, specific leaf area, petiole length, and promoted the flowering, fruit firmness, leaf/crown number, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root, water use efficiency. They also showed it did not affect the fruit set percentage, yield, chlorophyll index, total soluble solid, leaf area, fresh and dry weight of crown, photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, internal carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration and mesophyll efficiency of strawberry. The results suggest the beneficial effects of Si on growth and development of strawberry.     

Nollywood’s Coverage and Framing of Agriculture in the Transformation Agenda Period (2013–2014) in Nigeria

The study analyzed 108 films released during the transformation agenda period. The proportion, frequency, centrality and framing of agricultural content in the movies were reviewed. Data obtained were described using frequency counts and percentages. One out of three movies screened had agricultural content, which was either one or two scenes in the movie (80.0%). Such content was mostly peripheral (89.0%) to the themes of the films and negatively framed (60.0%). Potentials of the industry for agricultural purposes were poorly utilized by government. Government should partner with Nollywood to portray agriculture in a positive light for improved citizens’ attitude toward agriculture.     

Effects of Nitrogen Deficiency on Leaf Chlorophyll Fluorescence Parameters in Two Olive Tree Cultivars ‘Meski’ and ‘Koroneiki’

Effects of nitrogen (N) deficiency on photosynthetic carbon dioxide (CO₂) assimilation, photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry and photoinhibition were investigated in young trees of two olive cultivars ‘Meski’ and ‘Koroneiki’ grown in a greenhouse under controlled conditions. The trees were subjected to four different levels of N supply. N deficient trees had a significantly smaller CO₂ assimilatory capacity, but showed little changes in maximum quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry. However, modifications in PSII photochemistry induced by N deficiency were observed. This was reflected in decreases in quantum yield of PSII electron transport (Φ_PSII) and efficiency of excitation energy capture by open PSII reaction centres (F_v’/F_m’) and in an increase in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). These results suggest that modifications in PSII photochemistry might be a mechanism to down-regulate photosynthetic electron transport so that production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). would be in equilibrium with the decreased demand in the Calvin cycle in the N deficient trees. Therefore, both CO₂ assimilation rate and total electron flow (J_t) with its compound electron flows devoted to either carboxylation (J_c) or oxygenation (J_o) can be considered as useful tools to assess the N nutrition status of the trees. Clear relationships were found between A_max and the nitrogen nutrition index (NNI) on the one hand, and between J_t and NNI on the other hand. The results demonstrate that ‘Meski’ is more efficient than ‘Koroneiki’ when subjected to N deficiency.     

Effect of aluminum uptake on growth and enzyme activity in Pisum sativum var. ‘Alaska’ and ‘Little Marvel’

It is usually assumed that plant tissue responses to nutritional elements are due to specific genetic differences that may exist either between inbred or closely related species. Little Marvel (dwarf) and Alaska (normal) varieties of 14‐day old pea seedlings were treated with four different concentrations of Al‐containing nutrient solution (0.0mM, 0.2mM, 0.6mM and distilled H₂O), prior to being exposed for 14 days to either DARK, LIGHT, or UV. Selected tissues (root tip, main root, main stem and proximal stem) were bioassayed for peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase enzyme activities, fresh wt vs. dry wt, water uptake and stem growth. The present study suggests that Little Marvel and Alaska pea tissue responds to high toxicity levels of Al by demonstrating an enhancement of enzymic activity. Tissue weight, growth and water uptake also show differential tissue specificity in both Little Marvel and Alaska tissue, in terms of Al toxicity response, given a particular external exposure.     

‘Neodomesticates’ of the Himalayan allium spices (Allium species) in Uttarakhand,India and studies on eco-geography and morphology

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The study on Himalayan allium spices was undertaken with specific reference to commercially important taxa belonging to the genus Allium viz. A. stracheyi...     

Long-term effect of manure and mineral fertilizer application on the distribution of organic nitrogen fractions in soil under a rice–wheat cropping system

A long-term experiment was used to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management on the distribution of soil organic N fractions and their contribution to N nutrition of a rice–wheat system. Continuous application of mineral fertilizers, alone or in combination with organic manures for 7 years, led to a marked increase in total N, hydrolysable N (amino acid-N, amino sugar-N, ammonia-N, hydrolysable unknown-N) and non-hydrolysable N compared with their original status in soil. However, continuous rice–wheat cropping without any fertilization resulted in depletion of total N, hydrolysable N and non-hydrolysable N by 21.3, 23.5 and 15.1% over their initial status in surface soil. The effect of press mud (PM) treatment was more pronounced in increasing total and hydrolysable N compared with farmyard manure (FYM) or green manure (GM) treatment. Incorporation of PM, FYM and GM along with mineral fertilizers increased the total N content by 32.8, 18.3 and 5.1% and that of hydrolysable N by 25.7, 19.6 and 9.5%, respectively, over mineral fertilizer treatment. Among the most important fractions, amino sugar-N, amino acid-N and ammonia-N were found to be most the important fractions contributing to grain yield and nitrogen uptake of rice and wheat crops.     

Effects of the Polish Rootstocks P2 and P22 on Vigour,Yield and Fruit Characteristics of the Apple Cultivar ‘Gravenstein’

Abstract

The performance of the Polish rootstocks P2 and P22 under Norwegian growing conditions was evaluated over 10 years (1983–92). Tree vigour of the apple cultivar ‘Gravenstein’ on P2 and P22 was 64 and 16% of that on M9, respectively. Trees on P2 had the highest yield efficiency, but less total yield per tree than M9. Owing to very dwarfing growth, trees on P22 failed to establish a sufficient canopy and produced significantly smaller apples. P2 and P22 affected apple soluble solids in a favourable way, but did not influence fruit acidity.     

Lectures: Impact of genomics on the study of plant nutrition. 6. Advance in recent QTL studies—basic research toward application for agriculture

(Jpn. J. Soil Sci.Plant Nutr., 77, 337–342, 2006)     

Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on ‘delicious’ apple trees grown in caliche soil in the greenhouse

Abstract

In a greenhouse study, mono‐ammonium phosphate applications to ‘Delicious’ (Oregon spur cv) apple trees, Malus domestica Borkh., improved a low‐vigor condition associated with a caliche soil. The moderate rate of mono‐ammonium phosphate (6 grams per tree) resulted in trees with greater shoot extension, leaf numbers, a higher percent leaf phosphorus, and less purple leaf margins or spots than other soil treatments or the control. By September, trees treated with the highest rate of mono‐ammonia phosphate (12 grams per tree) had the highest level of leaf phosphorus and significantly higher levels of leaf phosphorus than all forms of nitrogen‐only fertilizer (ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, calcium nitrate, and urea). In most cases, applications of the nitrogen‐only fertilizers, reduced leaf phosphorus levels throughout the experiment.     

Effect of Nutrient Solution PH on the Vegetative and Reproductive Growth and Physiological Characteristics of Rose Cv. ‘Grand Gala’ in Hydroponic System

The rose plants were cultivated in the pots containing 75% cocopeat+ 25% perlite and were nourished with ½ Hoagland nutrient solutions with pH of 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, and 8. The results revealed that plant fresh and dry weight, flower bud, and stem diameter increased with the increase in pH from 4.5 to 6.5, but then started to decrease with further increase in pH up to 8. The highest number of buds, chlorophyll content, F_v/F_m, performance index (PI), and leaf phosphorus, iron, manganese, and copper concentrations were obtained at pH 6.5 and the lowest one at pH 8. The highest and lowest zinc concentration was observed at pH 6.5 and 4.5, respectively. According to the results, pH 6.5 was evaluated as optimum for hydroponic culture of rose, which resulted in the higher uptake of elements and better vegetative and reproductive growth and higher quality of rose plants.