Reduction of iron (Fe 3+ to Fe 2+ ) by tumorous crown gall cells of sunflower

Tumorous crown gall tissue induced on the stems of sunflower (Helianthus annus L. cv. Mammoth Russian) plants by the soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens strongly reduced Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺ as evidenced by the formation of Fe²⁺ BPDS complex compared to surrounding “normal” stem tissue. Tumorous tissue contained significantly more Fe, Cu, K, and P, and less Zn and Mg than the nontumorous stem tissue. The reducing environment of the tumorous tissue appears to affect the general nutrition and growth of this tissue.     

MONOPOTASSIUM PHOSPHATE AS AN IN-SEASON FERTIGATION OPTION FOR POTATO

Monopotassium phosphate (MKP) is a potential option for fertigating phosphorus (P) in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) when petioles are low in P and high in nitrogen (N); which is a situation where using ammonium polyphosphate (APP) could potentially result in excessive N application. Fertilizer trials were conducted in 2004–2006 with 0 or 56 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1 fertigated as either APP or MKP as a supplement to the pre-plant P (112 or 224 kg P₂O₅ ha^?1) broadcast applied to all plots. Supplemental P fertigation increased petiole P concentration, US No. 1 yield, and total yield over the control not receiving any in-season P fertilizer regardless of source. In addition, MKP increased tuber specific gravity. These results support previous studies showing that fertigated P can be used to increase potato yields when petiole P concentrations are low and that MKP is a viable substitute for APP fertilizer when fertigation is necessary.     

Implications of climate change for grassland in Europe: impacts, adaptations and mitigation options: a review

Climate change associated with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions may have important implications for Europe's grasslands. Projected scenarios indicate that increased temperatures and CO₂ concentrations have the potential to increase herbage growth and to favour legumes more than grasses, but changes in seasonal precipitation would reduce these benefits particularly in areas with low summer rainfall. Further implications for grasslands may arise from increased frequency of droughts, storms and other extreme events. Potential farm-scale adaptive responses to climate change are identified. Grassland agriculture also contributes to GHG emissions, particularly methane and nitrous oxide, and management of grassland affects net carbon balances and carbon sequestration. Management options are identified for mitigating grassland's contribution to GHG emissions which need to be developed in a holistic way that also considers other pressures.     

Priorities towards national-level soil protection: a survey of soil stakeholders in Scotland

Abstract. Soil protection policies are being developed in many countries, particularly those in the European Union where pan-national regulatory frameworks now exist. We report an analysis of a survey of the views of a wide range of stakeholders in the soil resource of Scotland, including representatives of rural and urban land users, public bodies and authorities, non-governmental environmental organizations, and soil scientists based in Scotland. The four soil issues considered of particular importance were soil pollution, soil erosion, loss of soils to development, and loss of biodiversity. Comments were strongly polarized, either strongly promoting issues or indicating lack of awareness, on a set of topics: the loss of valued soils, loss of archaeological sites, and changes in terrestrial carbon store. It is argued that an integrated approach is required to implement any future soil protection strategies, and that special attention should be paid to monitoring long-term changes and to provision of soil survey data from urban areas.