Soil tillage and crop productivity on a Vertisol in Ethiopian highlands

Soil quality deterioration and consequent reduced productivity characterize the Vertisols in the highlands of Ethiopia. The problem is exacerbated by lack of appropriate land preparation alternatives for the major crops in the area. A field experiment was carried out for 6 years (1998–2003) at Caffee Doonsa in the central highlands of Ethiopia to evaluate alternative land preparation methods on the performance of wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), lentil (Lens culinaries Medik L) and tef (Eragrostis tef L) grown in rotation. Four methods of land preparation (broad bed and furrow, green manure, ridge and furrow and reduced tillage) were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications on permanent plots of 22 m by 6 m. Broad bed and furrow significantly increased the grain yield of lentils by 59% (from 1029 to 1632 kg ha⁻¹) as compared to the control. On the other hand, reduced tillage resulted in the highest grain yield of wheat (1862 kg ha⁻¹) and tef (1378 kg ha⁻¹) as compared to 1698 kg ha⁻¹ of wheat and 1274 kg ha⁻¹ of tef for the control although the increase was not statistically significant. A gross margin analysis showed that BBF is the most profitable option for lentil with 65% increase in total gross margin. On the other hand, RT resulted in 11 and 8% increase in gross margin of wheat and tef, respectively as compared to the control. Based on the agronomic and economic performances best combinations of crop and land preparation method were: lentil sown on broad bed and furrow, and wheat and tef sown after reduced tillage.     

Particle size fractionation of fungal and bacterial biomass in subalpine grassland and forest soils

Characterization of soil aggregates according to particle size fractions is a useful tool in process-oriented research into soil organic matter and biological properties. Substrate-induced respiration (SIR) inhibition was used to quantify microbial, fungal and bacterial biomass in particle size fractions of soils ranging from forest to grassland in a subalpine region of central Taiwan. In addition, ergosterol content was determined in the same samples to verify fungal biomass measured by SIR inhibition technique. Surface soil (0–10 cm) was fractionated into four particle size fractions: coarse sand (250–2000 μm), fine sand (53–250 μm), silt (2–53 μm) and clay (0.2–2 μm). The larger sized fractions (>250 μm and 53–250 μm) contained higher levels of fungal ergosterol than the smaller sized ones (2–53 μm and 0.2–2 μm). The largest particle size fraction (250–2000 μm) from all studied habitats showed the highest level of microbial biomass, with no clear trend in microbial biomass level among the other size fractions. SIR-calculated fungal biomass level and ergosterol converted fungal biomass content were positively correlated (r=0.71, p<0.05), and such correlation decreased as biomass levels were high. Ratios of fungi to bacteria ranged between 0.6 and 1.3 in fractions obtained in this study. This study indicates a high variability of microbial (fungal and bacterial) biomass level among particle size fractions in soil, and that the large-sized fractions tend to contain a high level of microbial biomass in a given ecosystem.     

Isothiocyanate concentration in Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea L. Var. gongylodes) plants as influenced by sulfur and nitrogen supply

Glucosinolates (GSss) represent bioactive compounds of Brassica vegetables whose health-promoting effects merely stem from their breakdown products, particularly the isothiocyanates (ITCs), released after hydrolysis of GSs by myrosinase. GSs are occasionally discussed as transient S reservoirs, but little is known concerning the interactive effect of S and N supply on ITC concentrations. Therefore, kohlrabi plants were grown in a pot experiment with varied S (0.00, 0.05, and 0.20 g pot (-1)) and N (1, 2, and 4 g pot (-1)) supplies. Plant growth exhibited a classical nutrient response curve with respect to both S and N. The ITC profile of kohlrabi tubers was dominated by methylthiobutyl ITC (11-1350 micromol (g DM) (-1)), followed by sulforaphan (7-120 micromol (g DM) (-1)), phenylethyl ITC (5-34 micromol (g DM) (-1)), and allyl ITC (5-38 micromol (g DM) (-1)), resulting from the hydrolysis of glucoerucin, glucoraphanin, gluconasturtiin, and sinigrin, respectively. The ITC profile was in agreement with reported data, and concentrations of all ITCs were substantially reduced in response to increasing N and decreasing S supply. A growth-induced dilution effect could be ruled out in most cases, and the results do not support the hypothesis that GS acts as transient reservoir with respect to S.     

A checklist of the cultivated plants of Cuba

Summary Checklists of cultivated plant species of a geographical area have proven to be a very useful tool for the further exploration and collection in this area and for the compilation of local floras of cultivated plants. They contain valuable information for ethnobotanists, plant breeders as well as for other researchers engaged in cultivated plants. A checklist of the cultivated plant species of Cuba compiled from Cuban literature sources and own field studies is presented. It contains 755 taxa belonging to 740 different species, 414 genera and 103 families. These findings are in striking contrast to the opinions of previous foreign investigators about the poverty of plant genetic resources in Cuba. The alphabetically ordered articles for the taxa contain nomenclatural information (accepted name, synonymy and their literature references), the plant family, Cuban folk names, details of plant uses, additional remarks and references to relevant Cuban literature sources, including reports from own explorations. Three appendices provide indexes by families and genera, by synonyms, and by folk names respectively, which allow to locate the information by different ways. The information given in the checklist is maintained in the Database of the Cultivated Plants of Cuba (DBCPC), a microcomputer-based system. Its main purpose is to produce the list and the indexes mentioned from the same set of data, but it allows also to retrieve the information and to check the data for consistency.

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Eine Liste der kubanischen Kulturpflanzen

Zusammenfassung Listen kultivierter Pflanzenarten eines geografischen Gebietes, sog. Checklists, haben sich als nützliches Werkzeug für die weitere Erkundung und Sammlung pflanzlicher genetischer Ressourcen und für die Erarbeitung lokaler Kulturpflanzenfloren erwiesen. Sie enthalten wertvolle Informationen für Ethnobotaniker, Pflanzenzüchter und andere Wissenschaftler, die sich mit Kulturpflanzen befassen. Es wird eine Liste der kultivierten Pflanzenarten Kubas vorgelegt, die auf der Grundlage kubanischer Literaturquellen und eigener Feldforschungen zusammengestellt wurde. Sie enthält 755 Taxa, die 740 verschiedenen Arten, 414 Gattungen und 103 Familien angehören. Diese Ergebnisse stehen in auffälligem Gegensatz zu den Ansichten früherer ausländischer Forscher über die angebliche Armut Kubas an pflanzlichen genetischen Ressourcen. Die alphabetisch angeordneten Artikel über die einzelnen Taxa enthalten nomenklatorische Angaben (akzeptierter Name, Synonymie und zugehörige Literaturzitate), die Pflanzenfamilie, kubanische Volksnamen, Angaben über die Nutzung der Pflanzen, weitere Bemerkungen und Verweise auf kubanische Literaturquellen, einschließlich Berichte über eigene Sammelreisen. Drei Register gestatten das Aufsuchen relevanter Informationen in der Liste nach Pflanzenfamilien und Gattungen, nach Synonymen bzw. nach Volksnamen. Die in der Liste enthaltene Information wird mit Hilfe der Datenbank der Kulturpflanzen Kubas (DBCPC) verwaltet. Dies ist ein mikrocomputer-gestütztes System für die Erzeugung der Liste und der Register auf der Grundlage ein und desselben Datenbestandes; darüberhinaus gestattet es eine Informationsrecherche und unterstützt die Vereinheitlichung der Daten.

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, . , , . . 755 , 740 , 414 103 . . ( , ), , , , , . , . (DBCPC). -; . .

     

Bericht über eine Reise in Kolumbien 1988 zur Sammlung pflanzlicher genetischer Ressourcen

Zusammenfassung Eine Reise zur Sammlung pflanzlicher genetischer Ressourcen und zum Studium der Unkräuter wurde 1988 in Kolumbien durchgeführt. Es war möglich, beide Zielstellungen gut zu verbinden und interessante Ergebnisse hinsichtlich von Kulturpflanze-Unkraut-Aspekten zu erreichen. 112 Proben von Kulturpflanzen und ihren wildwachsenden Verwandten wurden für die Gaterslebener Genbank gesammelt. Zahlreiche Muster von Unkräutern und Wildpflanzen ergänzen die bestehenden Sammlungen des Leipziger Herbariums. Die Generosion ist in der Umgebung von Bogotá schon weit fortgeschritten, aber in entfernteren Regionen können noch Landsorten verschiedener Kulturpflanzenarten gesammelt werden, besonders in den südlichen Landesteilen. Diese Tendenz der in südlicher Richtung zunehmenden Variabilität wurde durch Aufsammlungen aus Peru bestätigt. Hier konnten 40 Muster zahlreicher Kulturpflanzenarten mit hoher Variabilität innerhalb der Fruchtarten gesammelt werden. Besonders erwähnenswert ist eine Form vonVicia faba mit eigenartiger Samenmusterung, über die bisher noch nicht berichtet wurde.

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Report on a mission in colombia 1988 for the collection of plant genetic resources

Summary A mission for the collection of plant genetic resources and for the study of weeds was carried out in Colombia, 1988. It was possible to combine both purposes and to reach interesting results concerning crop-weed-aspects. 112 samples of cultivated plants and their wild relatives were collected for the Gatersleben gene bank. Several accessions of weeds and wild plants could be included into the Leipzig herbarium. Genetic erosion has progressed in the surroundings of Bogotá, but at more distant sites land-races of several crops can still be collected, especially in the southern parts of the country. This tendency of increasing variability to the southern direction was confirmed by collections in Pern. The 40 accessions collected here displayed a high variation in the number of plants under cultivation and within the crops. Worth mentioning is a form ofVicia faba with seed colour patterns which have not been reported, so far.

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1988 . -

- 1988 . . — . 112 . . , , , . . 40 . Vicia faba . .

     

Perspectives of function-based soil evaluation in land-use planning in China

Purpose

The complex and multi-functional body of soil is crucial for land use; therefore, soil evaluation should guide land-use planning. In regard to this, there is an urgent need for function-based soil evaluation, especially in highly developed and fast-growing countries. In China, there is no specified law which may protect soil comprehensively, and due to ignorance of certain soil functions, soil evaluation has not played a prominent role in land-use planning. In addition, soil evaluation must be brought into the practices of land-use planning in China to facilitate rational and sustainable land use.

Materials and methods

In this study, by analyzing the evidence of soil functions and the according algorithms for soil evaluation, the necessity and possibility of combining function-based soil evaluation and land-use planning are found. For this, existing application studies from China and Europe were used. Using the methods of TUSEC (Technique for Soil Evaluation and Categorization for Natural and Anthropogenic Soils), the results of function-based soil evaluation of Zhengzhou City are shown, and tentative suggestions for land-use planning are given. Through the summarization of the previous discussion and a case study of Zhengzhou City, the future possibilities and perspectives for soil evaluation in land-use planning in China are determined.

Results and discussion

At present, China's focus in soil evaluation is on agriculture; thus, a lack of attention toward ecological balances in the environment has been found. In order to satisfy the reasonable planning of different land uses, a function-based framework of soil evaluation is required. TUSEC was found to be a suitable model for the evaluation method of soil functions, which China could adopt in its land-use planning. Function-based soil evaluation is necessary to improve land-use database and mapping to guide overall land-use planning, to optimize local ecological adjustment, and to monitor ecological sensitive areas.

Conclusions

As the awareness of sustainable development grows, the role of soil evaluation in the procedure of land-use planning is becoming increasingly important in China. A function-based soil evaluation may be adapted to this necessity.     

Additional notes to the cheklist of cuban cultivated plants (1)

Summary New information is presented for the checklistof Cuban cultivated plants (Esquivel et al. 1989). 79 new species were included. For another 50 species new items are indicated.

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Ergänzende Notizen zur Liste der kubanischen Kulturpflanzen (1)

Zusammenfassung Neue Informationen zur Liste der kubanischen Kulturpflanzen (Esquivel et al. 1989) werden gegeben. 79 Arten wurden neu aufgenommen. Für weitere 50 Arten werden ergänzende Angaben gebracht.

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(I)

(Esquivel et al. 1989). 79 . 50 .

     

Long-term amendment of four different compost types on a loamy silt Cambisol: impact on soil organic matter,nutrients and yields

This study investigated the long-term effects of different composts (urban organic waste compost (OWC), green waste compost (GWC), cattle manure compost (MC) and sewage sludge compost (SSC)) compared to mineral fertilisation on a loamy silt Cambisol, after a 7-year start-up period. The compost application rate was 175 kg N ha^?1, with 80 kg mineral N ha^?1 and without. Soil characteristics (soil organic carbon (SOC), carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio and soil pH), nutrients (nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K)) and crop yields were investigated between 1998 and 2012. SOC concentrations were increased by compost applications, being highest in the SSC treatments, as for soil pH. N contents were significantly higher with compost amendments compared to mineral fertilisation. The highest calcium-acetate-lactate (CAL)-extractable P concentrations were measured in the SSC treatments, and the highest CAL-extractable K concentrations in the MC treatments. Yields after compost amendment for winter barley and spring wheat were similar to 40 kg mineral N ha^?1 alone, whereas maize had comparable yields to 80 kg mineral N ha^?1 alone. We conclude that compost amendment improves soil quality, but that the overall carbon (C) and N cycling merits more detailed investigation.     

Notes on a mission to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea 1985 for the collection of land-races of cultivated plants

Summary A collecting mission was carried out in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea jointly by staff members of the Institute for Experimental Biology, Pyongyang, and the Zentralinstitut für Genetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung, Gatersleben, in November 1985 for studying and collecting indigenous forms of cultivated plants. 127 samples, mainly of grain legumes, vegetables and medicinal plants were collected. The material represents highly variable old land-races; this is especially true for french beans, soya beans, other grain legumes and some vegetables. Genetic erosion is rather advanced for maize, rice, wheat, radish and the brassicas. Genetic resources of these crops can be expected in more marginal areas. The results of the mission stress the necessity for continuing the explorations.

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Anmerkungen zu einer Exploration von Kulturpflanzen-Landsorten in der Koreanischen Demokratischen Volksrepublik im Jahre 1985

Zusammenfassung Eine Reise wurde im November 1985 in der Koreanischen Demokratischen Volksrepublik gemeinsam von Mitarbeitern des Instituts für Experimentelle Biologie, Pyongyang, und des Zentralinstituts für Genetik und Kulturpflanzenforschung, Gatersleben, unternommen, die dem Studium und der Sammlung indigener Formen von Kulturpflanzen diente. 127 Proben, besonders von Körnerleguminosen, Gemüsen und Arzneipflanzen, wurden gesammelt. Das Material besteht aus hochvariablen alten Landsorten, besonders von Gartenbohnen, Sojabohnen, anderen Körnerleguminosen und einigen Gemüsen. Die Generosion ist bei Mais, Reis, Weizen, Rettich und denBrassica-Arten schon weit fortgeschritten. Genetische Ressourcen dieser Arten können in den abgelegeneren Landesteilen erwartet werden. Die Ergebnisse der Sammelreise unterstreichen die Notwendigkeit weiterer Explorationen.

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- 1985

1985 () () - . 127 , , . , , , . , , Brassica , , ë . .