Microbial biomass and mineralization-immobilization of nitrogen in some agricultural soils

Summary The chloroform fumigation-incubation method (CFIM) was used to measure the microbial biomass of 17 agricultural soils from Punjab Pakistan which represented different agricultural soil series. The biomass C was used to calculate biomass N and the changes occurring in NH₄ ⁺-N and NO₃ ^–-N content of soils were studied during the turnover of microbial biomass or added C source. Mineral N released in fumigated-incubated soils and biomass N calculated from biomass C was correlated with some N availability indexes.The soils contained 427–1240 kg C as biomass which represented 1.2%–6.9% of the total organic C in the soils studied. Calculations based on biomass C showed that the soils contained 64–186 kg N ha^–1 as microbial biomass. Immobilization of NCO₃ ^–-N was observed in different soils during the turnover of microbial biomass and any net increase in mineral N content of fumigated incubated soils was attributed entirely to NH₄ ⁺-N.Biomass N calculated from biomass C showed non-significant correlation with different N availability indexes whereas mineral N accumulated in fumigated-incubated soils showed highly significant correlations with other indexes including N uptake by plants.     

Optimizing Koi Carp,Cyprinus carpio var. Koi (Linnaeus, 1758), Stocking Density and Nutrient Recycling With Spinach in an Aquaponic System

Fish waste water nutrient recycling in an aquaponic system was studied under different stocking densities of Koi Carp, Cyprinus carpio var. koi, along with spinach, Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis. Fish growth performance, plant growth, nutrient dynamics, and nutrient removal and their dependence on different stocking densities, namely 1.4, 2.1, and 2.8, were observed, of the different combinations, fish stocked at 1.4 kg/m³ had the best growth. Percent nutrient removal (NO₃–N, PO₄–P, and K) was significantly higher at 1.4 kg/m³. Thus, 1.4 kg/m³ stocking density can be suggested as optimum for Koi Carp production in spinach aquaponic systems.     

Seroprevalence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Toxoplasma gondii</Emphasis> in sheep and goats in Rahim Yar Khan (Punjab), Pakistan

Toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by Toxoplasma (T.) gondii Apicomplexa protozoan, is widespread in humans and other animal species, having already been reported in many countries and different climates. In Pakistan, no data is available on this aspect among food animals. This study was undertaken to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in sheep and goats. A total of 200 serum samples from sheep and goats, were collected from urban area of Rahim Yar Khan (Punjab), Pakistan and tested for Toxoplasmosis with a commercial latex agglutination kit (Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd. Japan). The overall seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis was 19%. Goats had a significantly higher (p < 0.01) prevalence (25.4%) as compared to the sheep (11.2%); and higher (p < 0.01) in the female (24%) than in the males (19%) for both species. In the present study the male (both in sheep and goat) are found less seropositive T. gondii (OR = 0.23; 99% C.I. = 0.01, 1.81) as compared to female sheep and goat. The prevalence was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in adult sheep than younger animals. Among both the sheep and goats the group from 1–1.5 years are highly seropositive (OR = 1.75; 99% C.I. = 0.47, 6.51) as compared to the group less than one year of age followed by the 2–2.5 years age group (OR = 1.63; 99% C.I. = 0.50, 5.74) whereas group with more than 3 years of age least seropositive.     

Soil and plants nutrient status and wheat growth after mycorrhiza inoculation with and without vermicompost

Two vermicompost treatments providing 45 (V1) and 90 (V2) kg P ha^?1 and mycorrhizae (M) inoculation were evaluated alone and in combinations for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and soil fertility status. The treatments included; the Control, nitrogen (N): dipotassium oxide (K₂O) as basal dose (BD; 120:60 kg ha^?1), N: phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅): K₂O as recommended dose (RD; 120:90:60 kg ha^?1), BD+Myccorhiza (BDM), BD+V1 (BDV1), BDM+V1 (BDMV1), BD+V2 (BDV2), and BDM+V2 (BDMV2). Combination of mycorrhizae and vermicompost (BDMV1 and BDMV2) significantly and maximally improved the growth, plant N, phosphorus (P), and micronutrient concentrations over the control, reduced the soil pH by 5 and 6%, increased OM by 25 and 112%, total N by 41%, and extractable P up to 200% while the extent of improvement was directly related to the content of added vermicompost. Results indicated that vermicompost at either level synergistically affected the mycorrhizae in plant nutrition as well as improved soil fertility status and soil chemical properties.     

Identification of cultivars of the forage legume Pueraria phaseoloides by electrophoretic patterns of storage proteins

Summary A polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis procedure was developed for discriminating cultivars of the forage legume Pueraria phaseoloides on the basis of the patterns of cotyledon proteins. The genotypic marker proteins were extracted with 5M acetic acid and electrophoresed at pH 3.1 in aluminum lactate buffer. The procedure gave highly reproducible discrimination of ten selected cultivars.     

Mini review on photosensitization by plants in grazing herbivores

Photosensitization is severe dermatitis or oxidative/chemical changes in the epidermal tissues activated by the light-induced excitation of molecules within the tissue. It is a series of reactions mediated through light receptors and is more common when the plant-produced metabolites are heterocyclic/polyphenols in nature. The areas affected are exposed body parts and mostly non-pigmented areas with least ultraviolet protection. Similarly, cellular alteration also occurs in the affected animal’s dermal tissues and body parts and grazing animals by the accumulation and activation of photodynamic molecules. Photo-oxidation can also occur within the plant due to the generation of reactive oxygen species causing damage and degradation in the form of free radicals and DNA. During the last few decades, many new tropical grass species have been introduced in the grazing lands which are genetically modified, and the animals grazing on them are facing various forms of toxicity including photosensitization. The plant’s secondary metabolites/drugs may cause toxicity when bacteria, viral agents, fungi (Pithomyces chartarum), or neoplasia injures the liver and prevents the phylloerythrin excretion. All these may disturb the liver enzymes and blood profile causing a decrease in weight and production (wool and milk etc.) with severe dermal, digestive, and nervous problems. Recent advancements in OMICS (cellomics, ethomics, metabolomics, metabonomics, and glycomics) have enabled us to detect and identify the plants’ secondary metabolites and changes in the animal’s physiology and histopathology as a causative of photosensitivity. The review focuses on types of photosensitization, reasons, secondary metabolic compounds, chemistry, and environmental effect on plants.     

Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) response to diammonium phosphate and potassium sulphate under saline–sodic conditions

Salinity and sodicity are prime threats to land resources resulting in huge economic and associated social consequences in several countries. Nutrient deficiencies reduce crop productivity in salt‐affected regions. Soil fertility has not been sustainably managed in salt‐affected arid regions. Few researchers investigated the crop responses to phosphorus and potassium interactions especially in saline–sodic soils. A research study was carried out to explore the effect of diammonium phosphorus (DAP) and potassium sulphate (K₂SO₄) on sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) grown in a saline–sodic field located in Kohat district of Pakistan. The crop was irrigated with ground water with EC_iw value of 2.17–3.0 dS/m. Three levels each of K₂O (0, 75 and 150 kg/ha) as K₂SO₄ and P₂O₅ (0, 60 and 120 kg/ha) as DAP were applied. The application of P significantly affected fresh beet and shoot yield while K fertilizers had significant effect on fresh beet yield and ratio of beet:shoot, while non‐significant effects on the fresh shoot were observed. The application of K₁ and K₂ promoted sugar beet shoot yield by 49.2 and 49.2% at P₁ and 64.4 and 59.7% at P₂, respectively over controls. In comparison with controls, fresh beet yield was increased (%) by 15 and 51, 45 and 84, and 50 and 58 for corresponding K₁ and K₂ at P₀, P₁ and P₂, respectively. Addition of P₁ and P₂ increased beet yield by 37 and 47% over control. The shoot [P] (mmol/kg) were achieved as 55.2, 73.6 and 84.3 at P₀, P₁ and P₂, respectively. The shoot [Mg] and [SO₄] tended to decrease with increasing P levels, while [SO₄] was markedly reduced at P₂. The effect of P on leaf [Na] was non‐significant, but increasing levels of K decreased [Na] substantially at P₀ and P₁, but there was no difference in the effect of K level on [Na] at P₂. Consequently, K application reduced leaf Na:K ratios. Fresh shoot yield was weakly associated with leaf [P] (R² = 0.53). The leaf Na:K ratio showed a negative relationship (R² = 0.90) with leaf [K]. A strongly positive relationship (R² = 0.75) was observed between leaf [K] and fresh beet yield. The addition of K₂SO₄ also enhanced [SO₄] and SO₄:P ratios in leaf tissues. The ratio of Na:K in the shoot decreased with increasing K application. These results demonstrated that interactions of K and P could mitigate the adverse effects of salinity and sodicity in soils. This would contribute to the efficient management of soil fertility system in arid‐climate agriculture.     

Pheromone trap catches as a means of predicting damage by pink bollworm larvae in cotton

The male moth catches in gossyplure-baited traps were used to predict larval infestation of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), in cotton fields during 1988 and 1989. The mean moth catches per trap per night were positively correlated with percentage larval infestation. The moth counts in traps and larval infestation in green bolls increased with advance in reproductive stage of the cotton plants. A mean trap catch of 9–12 pink bollworm moths per night was associated with economically damaging infestation. It is, therefore, inferred that insecticidal sprays may be scheduled when 9–12 moths are captured per trap per night.     

Microbial phytase activity and their role in organic P mineralization

Plants respond to their external environment to optimize their nutrition and production potential to minimize the food security issues and support sustainable agriculture system. Phosphorus (P) is an important nutrient for plants and is involved in plant metabolic processes. It is mostly available as orthophosphate and has a tendency to form complexes with cations. It has low mobility in soil, thus becoming unavailable for plant uptake that causes a reduction in plant growth and yield. Besides free P, phytate is the major form of organic P in soil and plant tissues. Phytases obtained from different sources, that is, plants, animals, and microorganisms, catalyze the hydrolysis of phytate and release available forms of inorganic P. The knowledge of mechanisms involved in catalytic activity of phytase obtained from microorganisms in soil is limited. This review summarizes the role of microbial phytase in releasing organic P by hydrolysis of phytate and factors affecting its activity in the soil.     

Subtype analysis of stx1, stx2 and eae genes in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and typical and atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) from lambs in India

Seventy-five Escherichia coli isolates with at least one targeted virulence gene were recovered from 338 lambs with (n=230) and without (n=108) diarrhoea. The isolates belonged to 36 different serogroups. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) was isolated from 9.6% of lambs with and 24.1% of lambs without diarrhoea. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) was isolated from 6.1% of lambs with and 11.1% of lambs without diarrhoea. Of 26 EPEC isolates, seven were typical (positive for bfpA), and, of 34 stx(1) positive isolates, 25 were subtyped as stx(1c). Five of 29 stx(2) positive isolates were subtyped as stx(2d) and two as stx(2c). Seven of 45 eae positive isolates were subtyped as eae subtype zeta (eaezeta). This appears to be the first report of the isolation of typical EPEC from sheep in India.