Long term effect of soil solarization on soil properties and cauliflower vigor

The effect of soil solarization on physical, chemical and biological properties of soil was studied, along with the response of cauliflower seedlings following solarization. Nursery beds were covered with transparent polyethylene sheet and soil temperature and moisture were recorded. Soil samples were collected five times for analysis. Three cauliflower nurseries were raised at 30-day intervals; germination was recorded 10 days after sowing and seedling length 30 days after sowing. The maximum temperature in solarized soil ranged from 40.2–47.2°C, with an increase of 5.2° to 9.9°C over non-solarized soil. There was a conservation of 5.48% moisture in solarized soil as compared with non-solarized. Solarization significantly increased electrical conductivity, organic carbon, nitrogen and potassium over pre-solarized soil. The mean pH, EC, Ca, Mg, N, P, K and C recorded in solarized soil was higher than in non-solarized. Soil solarization reduced the population of fungi from 25.68 x 10⁴ to 4.8 x 10⁴, bacteria from 20.28 x 10⁶ to 5.66 x 10⁶, actinomycetes from 31.60 x 10⁵ to 4.40 x 10⁵, and reduction in population was recorded even after 90 days, when compared with non-solarized soil. Solarization effectively reduced (>97%) population of plant parasitic and free living nematodes. Cauliflower seedlings in solarized soil had a better vigor index than non-solarized soil. Present findings reveal that soil solarization could be exploited for nutrient management and soilborne pests control, with a better vigor index of vegetable nursery.     

Valuation of fuelwood from agroforestry systems: a methodological perspective

Agroforestry Systems - This article presents a methodology for the valuation of agroforestry with respect to fuelwood supply for cooking and its opportunity cost. The share of fuelwood consumption...     

Chemical transformation of copper in some sludge-amended soils

In a laboratory incubation study, the periodic changes in different chemical fractions of copper (Cu) in three sludge-amended soil types (acidic sandy clay loam, neutral clay loam and alkaline clay loam) of varying soil reaction were monitored under field capacity and flooding moisture regime over 16 months. The water soluble and exchangeable fraction of Cu was very low (≤1% of total Cu) in all three soil types. At the end of incubation (16 months), the sodium acetate extractable (carbonate sorbed)- and residual-Cu fractions transformed into Fe-Mn oxide fraction, irrespective of moisture regime in all three soil types. However, the extent of transformation varied among soils.     

Predicting Potential Density and Basal Area Development in the Social Forestry Plantations of Acacia nilotica in Gujarat State of India

ABSTRACT

Growth modelling is an important and effective tool for evaluating the effects of a particular management action on the future development of a forest ecosystem. However, such necessary growth models are not available for many indigenous tree species in India. Acacia nilotica is an important multipurpose tree species found in India and growth models are required for proper management of the species in the region. This paper presents equations for estimating potential stand density and predicting basal area in pure even-aged stands of A. nilotica in Gujarat State of India. Although no thinning was suggested, decrease in the number of trees in the stands was observed because of mortality due to overcrowding and some biotic factors. Relationships between quadratic mean diameter and stems per hectare were developed, which was used to establish the limiting density line. Eight different stand level models, belonging to the path invariant algebraic difference form of a non-linear growth function, were compared for projecting basal area. They can be used to predict future basal area as a function of stand variables like dominant height and stem number per hectare and are crucial for evaluating different silvicultural treatment options. The performance of the models was evaluated using different statistical criteria to recommend the suitable model for projecting the basal area in A. nilotica stands.     

A first-approximation simple dynamic growth model for forest teak plantations in Gujarat state of India

Tectona grandis (teak) is one of the most important tropical timber species occurring naturally in India. In India, teak is the single most important commercial timber species. Scientifically sound growth models, based on advanced modelling techniques, are often not available, although they are necessary for the successful management of teak stands in the country. Long-term forest planning requires mathematical models. In this paper, an attempt is made to develop a dynamic growth model based on the limited data, consisting of three annual measurements, collected from 15 teak sample plots in Gujarat state of India. A biologically consistent whole-stand growth model is presented, which uses the state-space approach for modelling rates of change of dominant height, stand density and stand basal area. A simple model containing few free parameters performed well and is particularly well suited to situations where available data are scarce.     

Morphology and physiology of zinc‐stressed mulberry plants

The aim of this study was to induce symptoms of zinc deficiency and Zn excess and to relate the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the altered cellular redox environment to the effects of Zn stress in mulberry (Morus alba L.) cv. Kanva‐2 plants. The antioxidative responses of Zn‐stressed mulberry plants were studied by determining malondialdehyde content (MDA, a measure of lipid peroxidation) as indicator of oxidative damage and the ratio of dehydroascorbate (DHA) to ascorbic acid (AsA) as an index of the cellular redox state. The Zn‐deficiency effects appeared as faint paling and upward cupping of the young emerging leaves. The paling intensified with time, and affected leaves finally developed necrotic spots. At advanced stage of Zn deficiency, newly emerged leaves were spindle‐shaped, pale, and small in size. Apart from their stunted appearance, the plants supplied excess Zn did not show any specific visible symptom. Leaf water status of mulberry plant was affected in Zn‐stressed plants. Deficient leaves had decreased water potential (Ψ) and specific water content (SWC), contained less tissue Zn, less chloroplastic pigments, and high tissue Fe and Mn concentrations. However, excess supply of Zn was found to increase Ψ and decrease tissue Fe. Both hydrogen peroxide and MDA accumulated in leaves of Zn‐stressed plants. While the concentration of DHA did not vary in Zn‐deficient leaves, it was increased in leaves of plants supplied excess Zn. The ratio of the redox couple (DHA to AsA) was increased both in Zn‐deficient or Zn‐excess plants. The activities of superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (EC 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7), and ascorbate peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.11) increased in Zn‐stressed plants. The results suggest that deficiency or excess of Zn aggravates oxidative stress through enhanced generation of ROS and a disturbed redox homeostasis in mulberry plants.     

Inheritance of partial resistance to race 2 of Albugo candida in canola-quality mustard (Brassica juncea) and its role in resistance breeding

The inheritance of partial resistance to race 2 of Albugo candida was studied in a canola-quality line of Brassica juncea . This partially resistant line was crossed with the susceptible B. juncea cultivar Commercial Brown. F₁, F₁(reciprocal), F₂, BC and doubled haploid generations from the cross were inoculated with a zoospore suspension of race 2 to study segregation of partial resistance. The partially resistant phenotype appeared to be controlled by a single dominant gene that has variable expression. This partial resistance can have implications in breeding for disease resistance against white rust, as adult plants did not develop hypertrophic growth or stagheads under greenhouse and field conditions.     

Genetical assessment of diploid progenitors of <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. scabra</Emphasis> by isozyme,RAPD and STS markers: a possible strategy for improvement of drought tolerant allo-tetraploid <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. scabra</Emphasis> species

Assessment of genetic variations of two progenitors of S. scabra was investigated employing isozyme, RAPD and STS markers. Earlier reports have conclusively indicated S. seabrana and S. viscosa as two diploid progenitors of allo-tetraploid S. scabra. A total of 476 RAPD bands generated from 32 primers, 104 STS fragments from 17 primer pairs and 73 isoforms from 14 enzyme systems indicated significant sharing of these bands to S. scabra with that of S. seabrana in comparison to its other progenitor i.e., S. viscosa. High frequencies of isozyme band sharing between S. seabrana and S. scabra (0.125–0.30) as well as high genetic similarities (59%) of it with S. seabrana as reveled from dendrogram analysis indicated impact of close proximity of the occurrence of S. seabrana in the development of S. scabra. The proportion of bands shared by RAPD (40%) and STS (40%) markers were also observed high between S. seabrana and S. scabra. However, the numbers of unique bands were less in all these species. More correspondence and sharing of bands by S. seabrana towards S. scabra suggested using selected lines of S. seabrana the genetic base of allo-tetraploid, drought tolerant S. scabra lines can be broaden.