Potassium efficiency of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The oil crop safflower may have a certain production potential under low‐input conditions (organic farming, developing countries), where the putatively low nutrient requirement is highly welcomed. However, current knowledge regarding the nutrient use efficiency of safflower as compared to similar oil crops is limited. It was thus the aim of this study to determine the potassium (K) use efficiency of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) as compared to sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). Safflower and sunflower were cultivated with increasing K supply in a mixture of equal volumes of sand, nutrient‐poor limed soil, and perlite in 5 L Mitscherlich pots. Both species responded strongly to increasing K supply with respect to growth and yield. Safflower out‐yielded sunflower at low K supply, while at high K level, the opposite was observed. Both species accumulated similar amounts of K in shoots at low K supply. Only at extremely low K supply, safflower took up more K than sunflower. However, achene yield of sunflower exceeded that of safflower at optimal and high K supply. Safflower utilized absorbed K more efficiently than sunflower to produce achene yield at suboptimal K supply in terms of both efficiency ratio and utilization index. The efficiency of a crop to use supplied or accumulated K for dry‐matter and achene production was interpreted in terms of Michaelis‐Menten kinetics, specifically addressing the shape of the yield response curve. Indeed, the efficiency of safflower to use K for growth and yield, analogue to a low K_m in enzyme kinetics, was higher than in sunflower, while the K supply or K accumulation required to initiate yield formation in safflower was significantly lower. Similarly, safflower had a lower external K requirement for achene yield than sunflower at low and optimal K supplies. It can be concluded that safflower represents a low‐input crop and outperforms sunflower on soils low in available K. The data analysis also reveals that using just one efficiency indicator is usually not sufficient to adequately describe the K efficiency of the crop under consideration.     

Genotypic variation for potassium efficiency in wild and domesticated watermelons under ample and limited potassium supply

Potassium (K) is an important nutrient for watermelon (Citrullus lanatus Thunb. Matsum. & Nakai). However, there is little knowledge about genetic variations in K efficiency in watermelon. Sixty‐four watermelon genotypes were grown under conditions of ample (6 mM) and limited (0.1 mM) K supply in a glasshouse. Thirty‐eight wild genotypes (C. lanatus var. citroide) and 26 domesticated genotypes (C. lanatus var. lanatus) were cultivated hydroponically for 30 d. Shoot dry weight, shoot K concentration, K uptake, K‐use index (shoot dry weight / shoot K concentration), relative shoot dry weight (shoot dry weight under limited K / shoot dry weight under ample K), and relative shoot K concentration (shoot K concentration under limited K / shoot K concentration under ample K) were determined. Significant differences were observed among genotypes. The K efficiency was classified based on a medium‐efficiency interval which is equivalent to the 95% confidence interval of the mean relative shoot dry weight and relative shoot K concentration. Genotypic data above or below this interval were classified as either K‐efficient or K‐inefficient. We identified eight K‐efficient genotypes, of which four were wild types. Thus, wild watermelons can be used in breeding programs to improve the K efficiency of domesticated watermelons.     

Oil and meal characteristics of core and non-core safflower accessions from the USDA collection

Germplasm evaluation of ex situ collections is needed to document collection characteristics, enhance utilization, and to determine collection needs. The objectives of this study were to (1) provide oil and meal evaluation information for a major portion of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) collection, (2) compare ranges, variances and means between 203 core and 797 non-core accessions, and (3) determine if region of origin could be differentiated based on accession oil and meal characteristics. Means of the core and non-core accessions differed for % oil, palmitic acid, stearic acid, -tocopherols, and phenolic glucosides (both bitter and cathartic) (P<0.05). Differences between linoleic acid, oleic acid and -tocopherol means were not significant, and the variance between core and non-core accessions differed only for palmitic acid. Thus the core was not fully representative of the non-core accessions, but did capture a large fraction of the diversity in oil and meal factors present. Accessions from the Americas, China, South-West Asia, and South-Central Asia were differentiated using canonical discriminate analysis, but these regions overlapped to varying degrees with the E. European, Mediterranean, and E. African regions. Variation in % oil and fatty acids were generally more important than tocopherols and phenolic glucosides in differentiating accessions on a regional basis. The check cultivars Montola 2001 (high oleic) and Morlin (high linoleic) had oil and fatty acid content comparable to the maximums found in the collection. The ranges for tocopherols and phenolic glucosides among collection accessions, however, exceeded those of the cultivars, suggesting that collection accessions could be useful for genetic manipulation of these factors.     

在施钾条件下灌溉水稻的养分吸收和利用效率研究

Potassium is one of the most important nutrients for rice production in many areas of Asia, especially in southeast China where potassium deficiency in soil is a widespread problem. Field experiments were conducted for four consecutive years in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, to determine utilization of nutrients (N, P and K) by inbred and hybrid rice and rice grain yields as affected by application of potassium fertilizer under irrigated conditions. Grain yield and nutrient harvest index showed a significant response to the NPK treatment as compared to the NP treatment. This suggested that potassium improved transfer of nitrogen and phosphorus from stems and leaves to panicles in rice plants. N and P use efficiencies of rice were not strongly responsive to potassium, but K use efficiency decreased significantly despite the fact that the amount of total K uptake increased. A significant difference between varieties was also observed with respect to nutrient uptake and use efficiency. Hybrid rice exhibited physiological advantage in N and P uptake and use efficiency over inbred rice. Analysis of annual dynamic change of exchangeable K and non-exchangeable K in the test soil indicated that non-exchangeable K was an important K source for rice. Potassium application caused an annual decrease in the concentration of available K in the soil tested, whereas an increase was observed in non-exchangeable K. It could be concluded that K fertilizer application at the rate of 100 kg ha^-1 per season was not high enough to match K output, and efficient K management for rice must be based on the K input/output balance.     

Manganese uptake and Mn efficiency of wheat cultivars are related to Mn‐uptake kinetics and root growth

Wheat cultivars differ widely in manganese (Mn) efficiency. To investigate the reasons for different Mn efficiencies, a pot experiment with soil, a solution‐culture experiment, and model calculations were carried out. The pot experiment was conducted with wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cvs. PBW 373, PBW 154, PBW 343, PBW 138, and Triticum durum L. cvs. PBW 34 and PDW 233) grown in a screen house in India. The soil was a loamy sand with pH 8.1, DTPA‐extractable Mn 1.62 mg (kg soil)^–1, and initial soil solution Mn concentration (C_Li) of 0.19 μM. When fertilized with 50 mg Mn (kg soil)^–1, C_Li increased to 0.32 μM. At C_Li 0.19 μM, wheat cv. PBW 373 produced 74% of its maximum shoot dry weight (SDW) with 64% of its maximum root length (RL), while cv. PDW 233 produced only 25% of its maximum SDW with 11% of its maximum RL. The other wheat cultivars were between these extremes. Manganese deficiency caused a reduction in shoot growth, but more strongly reduced root growth. The low Mn efficiency of T. durum cv. PDW 233 was related to a strong depression of its root growth. Manganese influx was similar for all cultivars. In solution culture below 1 μM Mn, under controlled climate‐chamber conditions, Mn influx was linearly related to Mn concentration. Both the efficient cv. PBW 343 and the inefficient cv. PDW 233 had a similar influx. Uptake kinetic parameters from the solution experiment together with soil and plant parameters from the pot experiment were used in a mechanistic nutrient‐uptake model. Calculated values of Mn influx for wheat grown in soil were 55% to 74% of measured values. A sensitivity analysis showed that increasing C_Li or the slope of the uptake isotherm by about 30% would be enough to reach the observed influx. The results of this research indicate that an increase of Mn solubility by microbial or chemical mobilization would increase Mn uptake. But on the other hand, no chemical mobilization would be required to increase Mn uptake if the plant improved its uptake kinetics. Low Mn efficiency of some wheat cultivars was related to their reduced root growth at low soil Mn supply.     

Genotypic variation of potassium uptake and use efficiency in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

Potassium (K) deficiency is one of the main limiting factors in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production. To study the mechanism of high K‐use efficiency of cotton, a pot experiment was conducted. The experiment consisted of two cotton genotypes differing in K‐use efficiency (H103 and L122) and two K‐application levels (K₀: 0 g (kg soil)^–1; K₁: 0.40 g (kg soil)^–1). Root‐hair density and length, partitioning of biomass and K in various organs, as well as K‐use efficiency of the two cotton genotypes were examined. The results show that there was no significant difference in K uptake between the two genotypes at both treatments, although the genotype H103 (high K‐use efficiency) exhibited markedly higher root‐hair density than genotype L122 in the K₁ treatment. Correlation analysis indicates that neither root‐hair density nor root‐hair length was correlated with plant K uptake. Furthermore, the boll biomass of genotype H103 was significantly higher than that of genotype L122 in both treatments, and the K accumulation in bolls of genotype H103 was 39%–48% higher than that of genotype L122. On the other hand, the litter index (LI) and the litter K‐partitioning index (LKPI) of genotype H103 were 14%–21% and 22%–27% lower than that of genotype L122. Lastly, the K‐use efficiency of total plant (KUE‐P) of genotype H103 was comparable with that of genotype L122 in both treatments, but the K‐use efficiency in boll yield (KUE‐B) of genotype H103 was 24% and 41% higher than that of genotype L122 in K₀ and K₁ treatments. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that KUE‐P was positively correlated with BKPI and negatively correlated with LKPI, while KUE‐B was positively correlated with BKPI and boll‐harvest index (HI_B), and negatively correlated with LKPI. It is concluded that there were no pronounced effects of root‐hair traits on plant K uptake of the two genotypes. The difference in K‐use efficiency was attributed to different patterns of biomass and K partitioning rather than difference in K uptake of the two genotypes.     

不同含钾物料对冬油菜产量及钾素吸收的效应

采用大田试验研究稻草、稻草灰、硅钙钾肥、枸溶性钾肥和氯化钾肥5种含钾物料对冬油菜产量及钾素吸收的影响。结果显示,在施钾(K_2O)120 kg/hm~2时,各含钾物料的施用均可显著增加冬油菜产量和钾素累积量,与不施钾对照相比,含钾物料处理的油菜增产率为14.5%~34.9%,地上部钾素(K)总累积量增幅为71.8%~143.0%。不同含钾物料的施用效果不同,以枸溶性钾肥效果最好,其次是稻草灰和氯化钾肥。5种含钾物料的钾素表观利用率以枸溶性钾肥、稻草灰和氯化钾处理较高,其显著高于硅钙钾肥和稻草处理。各含钾物料的施用对土壤钾素供应的影响不同,油菜收获后的土壤速效钾含量以氯化钾肥和稻草灰较高,土壤缓效钾含量则以枸溶性钾肥处理最高,均显著高于其他处理。综合结果表明,在等量钾肥投入下,稻草灰和枸溶性钾肥表现出与氯化钾肥相同的施用效果。     

钾镁水平对番茄苗期生长、根系形态及钾素吸收和生理利用效率的影响

采用水培方法,研究不同钾、镁水平对"天福冠露"和"毛粉802"两种番茄幼苗生长、根系特征及钾素吸收、利用效率的影响。结果表明,钾、镁水平(8 mmol/L、1 mmol/L)处理的植株鲜重、干重及钾、镁水平(4 mmol/L、4 mmol/L)处理的株高显著高于其他处理。随钾、镁水平升高,两种番茄植株的根长、"天福冠露"植株的根直径、根体积和分根数先减少后增加;番茄植株钾素吸收率显著提高,生理利用效率显著降低。钾、镁水平(8 mmol/L、1 mmol/L)处理的植株根长、根表面积、根直径及根体积显著高于缺钾处理。钾、镁水平(4 mmol/L、4 mmol/L)处理,两种番茄植株根长、根表面积、根体积和分根数均显著高于缺镁处理,"天福冠露"植株钾含量显著高于"毛粉802",而钾素生理利用效率显著低于"毛粉802"。与其它等钾处理相比,缺镁植株钾素积累量最低、生理利用效率最高,镁过量处理的植株钾素生理利用效率显著降低。     

长期定位施肥对夏玉米钾素吸收及土壤钾素动态变化的影响

以长期定位试验为平台,夏玉米品种郑单136为材料,设置CK（不施肥）,NP（施氮、 磷肥）,NPK（施氮、 磷、 钾肥）和1.5MNPK（小麦季施高量氮、 磷、 钾肥+有机肥,玉米季仅施用化肥）4个处理,研究夏玉米钾素吸收规律及生育期内土壤钾素动态变化。结果表明,生育期内施钾与不施钾处理夏玉米干物质积累量均一直增加,在成熟期达到最大值; 在施用氮、 磷肥的基础上增施钾肥不但可以提高夏玉米地上部干物质积累量,同时也可以提高叶片及茎秆中的钾素含量,进而提高夏玉米整个地上部吸钾量;而在氮、 磷、 钾肥基础上增施有机肥,对夏玉米干物质积累无显著影响,但可显著提高茎秆及叶片的钾素含量和地上部钾素吸收总量。夏玉米钾素吸收主要集中在灌浆期之前,在灌浆期达到最大值,之后钾素出现回流现象。夏玉米收获后与播种前相比,土壤水溶性钾和交换性钾含量无明显下降或者略有增加,而非交换性钾明显下降,非交换性钾是夏玉米钾素吸收的主要形式。夏玉米吸钾量与播种前土壤3种形态的钾素含量呈显著正相关。因此,增施钾肥对于改善夏玉米生产,维持土壤钾素平衡及实现农业可持续发展具有深远意义。     

钙信号抑制剂加剧低钾胁迫对烟草幼苗光合特性及钾吸收的影响

  【目的】  研究低钾胁迫抑制钙信号传导对植株幼苗叶片光合特性及钾吸收的影响,为缓解作物的低钾胁迫提供理论依据。  【方法】  以烟草品种K326为试验材料进行了室内水培试验。烟草幼苗先在营养液正常钾(K+ 5 mmol/L)和缺钾(K+ 0.15 mmol/L)营养液中生长8 天,然后在营养液中分别施加钙通道有机阻断剂Vp、钙通道无机阻断剂LaCl₃和钙离子螯合剂(EGTA)钙信号抑制剂,继续生长4天后取样,测定植株干鲜重、电导率、活性氧含量、叶片抗氧化酶活性、叶片光合特性等指标和植株地上、地下部钾素浓度及钾离子吸收相关基因表达量。  【结果】  1)不添加钙通道抑制剂或螯合剂条件下,低钾胁迫的烟株地上部和根系干重较常钾水平显著降低了59.29%、39.82%,鲜重显著降低了51.58%、48.19%,除水汽压饱和亏外的其余5项光合特性指标显著降低,植株地上部和根系钾含量分别显著降低了39.31%和77.05%,而叶中可溶性蛋白、相对电导率、过氧化氢含量则显著增加,NKT2、NtKC1、NtHAK1、NtHAK5基因的相对表达量分别增加了2.09、3.32、3.23、12.34 倍。2)常钾水平下,3个钙抑制剂处理未明显影响地上部和根系干鲜重,而低钾水平下,钙抑制处理的地上部鲜重和干重显著高于无钙抑制剂对照。两个钾水平下,与各自对照相比,3个钙抑制剂处理的叶片相对电导率、活性氧积累量均显著增加,抗氧化酶SOD和POD活性、叶绿素含量显著减少,光合特性指标(除水汽压饱和亏外)明显降低。3)两个钾水平下,3个钙信号抑制剂处理的烟株地上部和根系钾含量均显著低于其对照,低钾胁迫下平均降低幅度分别达到25.54%和53.36%。低钾胁迫下,钾离子通道基因NKT2、NtKC1和转运蛋白基因NtHAK1、NtHAK5在根系中的相对表达量分别平均降低了60.60%、50.62%、38.61%、69.79%,钙通道相关基因NtCNGC1和NtCNGC11在根中的相对表达量分别平均降低了95.36%和87.04%。  【结论】  低钾胁迫明显影响烟株幼苗生长、光合作用及对钾素的吸收和积累。低钾水平下,外施钙通道抑制剂或螯合剂可进一步降低烟草叶片抗氧化酶活性,减弱烟株叶片光合作用,并抑制根中钾吸收相关基因的表达和烟株对钾素的吸收。     

铵对不同作物根系钾高亲和转运系统的影响

为探讨植物苗期根系高亲和转运系统的K+吸收动力学特征及其是否受吸NH4+的影响,采用溶液培养和添加K+通道抑制剂的方法,对低K+浓度下5种植物在有铵和无铵时的K+吸收动力学特征进行了研究。结果表明,植物根细胞K+高亲和系统的吸钾特征曲线符合Michaelich-Menten方程。不同植物K+高亲和系统的Km值之间差异较小,均在50%以内,说明不同植物的载体与K+间的亲和性差异较小;不同植物K+高亲和系统的Vmax值间差异很大,说明不同植物根细胞膜上的K4+载体数量间差异很大,这是导致不同植物在低钾条件下吸钾能力差异较大的主要原因。铵的存在可以明显降低供试植物在低钾条件下对K+的吸收速率。与无NH4+情况比较,NH4+的存在可使大豆K+吸收的Vmax减少80%;但NH4+对不同载体与K+之间亲和性(Km的影响较小,由NH4+所导致的Km的降低率均在10%以内。可见,对高亲和系统而言,NH4+对K+吸收的影响主要是由于铵竞争细胞膜上的钾载体所造成的。     

不同钾硼水平下棉花生长及钾硼利用效率的差异

用鄂抗8号棉花为试验材料,以水培的方法研究了不同钾、硼水平下棉花的生长状况及钾、硼的利用效率。结果表明:与正常处理(K 20 mg/L,B 0.2 mg/L)棉花相比,(1)缺钾(K 2 mg/L,B 0.2 mg/L)阻碍棉花地上部正常生长、干物质的积累,叶绿素合成受阻,但促进了根的伸长,缺钾不利于棉株对硼的吸收和利用,增加钾供应量可以促进硼的吸收利用。(2)缺硼(K 20 mg/L,B 0.002 mg/L)不利于棉株生长,棉株干物质积累量减少,不利于棉花对钾的吸收利用。(3)缺钾缺硼(K 2 mg/L,B 0.002 mg/L)时,棉花的生物量、SPAD值和钾、硼积累量均显著降低,钾的利用效率升高了143%,但对硼的利用受到抑制。研究结果表明,缺钾阻碍棉花对硼的吸收利用,缺硼不利于棉花对钾的吸收利用,而缺钾缺硼时,棉花对钾的利用受到促进,对硼的利用受到抑制。     

The role of root plasma membrane ATPase and rhizosphere acidification in zinc uptake by two different Zn-deficiency-tolerant wheat cultivars in response to zinc and histidine availability

ABSTRACT

We investigated the effect of histidine (His) and Zn deficiency on H⁺-ATPase activity and H⁺ release from wheat roots. Two bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cvs. Kavir and Back Cross Roshan) were grown in a nutrient solution for four weeks before being transferred to treatment solutions consisting of two concentrations of His (0 and 50 µM) and two concentrations of Zn (0 and 10 μM). The Zn-only and the Zn+His treatments were observed to release more H⁺ in the root media than did the control ones, with the highest achieved under the Zn+His treatment which was roughly 2.1 times higher than that under the control conditions. The H⁺ release from wheat roots increased slightly but significantly in the presence of only His when compared with the control solutions. The hydrolytic and transport activities of H⁺-ATPase were affected by both Zn deficiency and His supply. In both cultivars, application of Zn and His resulted in a higher hydrolytic activity of H⁺-ATPase when compared with the control solutions. The highest hydrolytic activity of H⁺-ATPase in the root plasma membrane vesicles was achieved with the Zn+His treatment. The ‘Back Cross Roshan’ exhibited a higher (PM) H⁺-ATPase activity and H⁺ pumping than did ‘Kavir’.     

施钾时期对甘薯产量及钾肥利用率的影响

为了明确不同时期施用钾肥对甘薯块根产量及钾肥利用率的影响,以济徐23为材料,进行大田试验。研究钾肥施用时期对甘薯块根干物质积累特性、干物质分配、钾肥利用率的影响。结果表明,不同时期施用钾肥均可提高块根产量,基施增产幅度最大,为26.09%,封垄期追施次之,高峰期追施最小。与对照处理相比,施用钾肥提高了块根膨大速率,基施和封垄期追施处理块根膨大前期增幅较大,而高峰期追施钾肥块根膨大后期增幅略高;基施处理显著降低全时期甘薯茎叶鲜重与块根鲜重的比值(T/R值),而封垄期追施处理显著降低生长中后期T/R值;施肥处理均可提高收获期块根干物质分配率,基施钾肥处理达到显著水平。基施钾肥处理钾肥产块根效率、钾肥收获指数、钾肥农学利用率和钾肥偏生产力显著高于其他施钾处理。基施钾肥通过提高钾肥农学利用率、偏生产力和钾肥收获指数,降低T/R值,促进块根膨大,最终获得高产。     

小麦-玉米轮作系统下长期施钾对作物产量、钾素利用率和钾素平衡的影响

Sustainable potassium (K) management at different soil sites requires understanding the relationships between crop productivity and long-term K fertilizations on a regional or national scale.We analyzed responses of grain yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.),K efficiency,and partial balance (difference between K input through fertilizer and K output in the aboveground biomass) during 15-(1990-2005) or 18-year (1990-2008) K fertilizations at five distinctive agroecological zones across China.Compared to the inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization,the inorganic NPK fertilization significantly increased grain yields of wheat (21%) and maize (16%-72%) at Qiyang and Changping,where soils have low exchangeable and non-exchangeable K contents,but not at rmqi,Yangling and Zhengzhou,where soils have a high exchangeable and non-exchangeable K and/or low N/K ratio in crop plants.Compared to the inorganic NPK fertilization,the inorganic NPK (30% N) and organic manure (70% N) fertilization (NPKM) increased grain yields of wheat (14%-40%) and maize (9%-61%) at four sites,but not at Zhengzhou.For a productivity of wheat at 2-5 t ha-1 or maize at 3-6 t ha-1,13-26 or 9-17 kg K ha-1 were required to produce 1.0 t wheat or maize.The NP fertilization resulted in the lowest negative partial K balance and accumulated 52 kg K ha-1 year-1 less than the NPK fertilization,which accumulated 28 kg ha-1 year-1 less K than the NPKM fertilization.A re-evaluation of the site-specific fertilization effects on N/K ratio in crop plants and soil K accumulation under current NPK and NPKM fertilization is urgently needed to increase both crop yield and K use efficiency at different agroecological zones across China.     

Evaluation of potassium application on tomato performance and rhizosphere bacterial communities under negative pressure irrigation of greenhouse-grown

Abstract

The study investigated the response to five levels of potassium (K) fertilizer addition on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) performance and soil bacterial communities by negative pressure irrigation (NPI) over two consecutive years. The application of K fertilization positively affected tomato performance under NPI, as indicated by increased yield, quality, growth, and nutrients’ contents of tomato compared with no K addition treatment. High-throughput sequencing of the rhizosphere soil revealed that K additions significantly affected in the bacterial diversity indices according to Chao1, Ace, and Shannon. K addition significantly increased the relative abundance of Gemmatimonadetes and decreased the level of Planctomycetes. There were very prominent increases in the levels of the genus Opitutus, but reduced the content of Sphingomonas and Bdellovibrio compared with no K addition treatment. Furthermore, application of 150?kg K ha^?1 (K150) was considered to be beneficial for plant growth and rhizosphere bacterial diversity of tomato. The tomato yield under K150 was considerably increased by 58% and 47% compared with no K addition treatment in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The K150 showed the highest K fertilizer utilization efficiency compared with other K treatments, with K contribution rate and K agronomic efficiency reaching 36.7 and 62.9 as well as 32.0 and 53.6 in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Therefore, these findings also demonstrate that K application under NPI not only promotes yield and quality of tomato fruits but also positively affects the rhizosphere microbiome.     

Differences in manganese efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and raya (Brassica juncea L.) as related to root‐shoot relations and manganese influx

Manganese efficiency is a term used to describe the ability of plants to obtain higher relative yields at low Mn supply compared to other species. To evaluate Mn efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and raya (Brassica juncea L.), a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted using Mn deficient Typic Ustochrept loamy sand soil, treated with 0, 50, and 100 mg Mn (kg soil)^–1. In the no‐Mn treatment, wheat had produced only 30 % of its maximum dry matter yield (DMY) with a shoot concentration of 10.8 mg Mn (kg DM)^–1 after 51 days of growth, while raya had produced 65 % of its maximum DMY with 13.0 mg Mn (kg DM)^–1. Taking relative shoot yield as a measure of Mn efficiency, raya was more efficient than wheat. Both crops produced the maximum DMY with 50 mg Mn (kg soil)^–1. Even though raya had a lower root length : DMY ratio and a higher shoot growth rate, it acquired higher Mn concentrations in the shoot than wheat under similar soil conditions, because of a 2.5 times higher Mn influx. Model calculations were used to calculate the difference of Mn solution concentration (ΔC_L) between the bulk soil (C_Li) and the root surface (C_L0) that is needed to drive the flux by diffusion equal to the measured influx. The results showed that ΔC_L was smaller than C_Li, which indicates that chemical mobilization of Mn was not needed to explain the observed Mn uptake even for raya. According to these calculations, the higher Mn influx of raya was caused by more efficient uptake kinetics, allowing for a 4.5 times higher Mn influx at the same Mn concentration at the root surface.     

不同铵硝配比下不同硅效应水稻的硅吸收动力学特征

将水稻移植到0.2 mmol/L Ca SO4溶液中饥饿2 d,采用改进耗竭法研究了3种铵硝配比条件下3个不同硅效应水稻(耐低硅的硅高效水稻特优998和不耐低硅的硅高效水稻特优248以及硅不敏感水稻博Ⅱ优15)硅吸收动力学特征。结果表明:作图法和双倒数法动力学方程准确性高,达到极显著水平;不同铵硝配比条件水稻硅吸收动力学曲线均符合Michaelis-Menten酶动力学模型的描述;铵硝配比对不同的硅效应水稻的硅载体数量影响不显著,显著影响水稻对硅的亲和力。本实验条件下铵硝配比50/50有利于水稻特优248对硅的吸收,铵硝比75/25时吸收速率最低;特优998对硅有较高的亲和力,可能是其耐低硅高效的遗传性差别。     

Prospects and challenges in utilization of indigenous rocks and minerals as source of potassium in farming

Potassium (K) is one of the essential nutrients required by crops in large quantities; however, its use in agriculture by farmers is less than required in developing countries. This neglect has led to excess mining of K in soils by crop plants and has resulted in a negative balance of K in soils. This loss necessitates the need of more use of potassium fertilizers in agriculture. Rocks and minerals offer a potential fertilizer to utilize in agriculture as source of K. The crop trials revealed that feldspar, mica, glauconite, nepheline and shoenite are good sources of K for crops, especially in highly weathered acid soils. However, some researchers have reported no agronomic benefit of feldspar or granite rock application to crops. Overall the size modification, acidulation, microbial inoculants and preparation of K-enriched compost are the effective techniques to utilize K-bearing rocks and minerals. Very limited information is available on these aspects. Thus, in this review, an attempt has been to consolidate up-to-date information of indigenous rocks and minerals as possibilities for alternate sources of K for crop plants. Moreover, this area of research needs attention to utilize indigenous K sources, which can aid to limit the import and cost, of the establishment of potash fertilizer-based industries in developing countries.     

Phosphorus uptake and use efficiency in different varieties of bread wheat (Triticum Aestivum L)

Thirty spring wheat varieties were evaluated and classified into eight different groups on the basis of their grain yield performance and phosphorus (P) uptake using Metroglyph analysis. Significant variability was observed for grain and biomass yield, plant height, P content in grain and straw, total P uptake and phosphorus harvest index and P use efficiency traits. Varieties WH 711 and PBW 343 exhibited high grain yield as well as high P uptake (HGY-HP). WH 283 and UP 2425 with high index score of 19 and 16 respectively, constituted the high grain yield-medium P uptake (HGYMP) group. Both these varieties, though had similar grain yield of 5348 kg/ha, but WH 283 (12.64 kg/ha) utilized much lower P as compared to UP 2425 (16.94 kg/ha). Moreover, WH 283 (81.64) also showed higher values for phosphorus harvest index (PHI) than UP 2425 (67.88%). P uptake of WH 283 was comparable with that of Raj 3765 (10.78 kg/ha) and grouped into high grain yield and low P uptake (HGY-LP) group. The grain yield performance of these two varieties with a relatively low P uptake is reflected in their high index score for P use efficiency thus, earmarking them for low P regimes. Variety HW 2006, despite low grain yields of 4665 kg/ha had high index score of 16 due to its higher value for Phosphorus Biological (PBER) and Economic Yield (PEER) Efficiency Ratio as it has effected least (7.18 kg/ha) P mobilization. In addition high P translocation in the grain was also observed for this variety. Inter-mating of genotypes like HW 2006, UP 2338 and HW 2016 with those belonging to HGY-HP (PBW 343 and WH 711) and HGY-LP (Raj 3765 and WH 283) would be an ideal strategy to develop the cultivars for efficient phosphorus use.