Alleviation of nickel toxicity and an improvement in zinc bioavailability in sunflower seed with chitosan and biochar application in pH adjusted nickel contaminated soil

This study demonstrates the reduction of nickel (Ni) toxicity and enhancing zinc (Zn) bioavailability from sunflower seed with biochar (BC) and chitosan (CH) application to Ni contaminated soil. The pH of experiment soil was adjusted to value 6.5 prior to its use in a greenhouse experiment. Acidified Ni contaminated soil was amended with Zn (4 mg kg^?1 soil), while BC and CH, both as alone [1% each (w/w)] and in combination [0.5% each (w/w)], were used as immobilizing agents for Ni. Significantly higher concentrations of Zn were found in seed receiving ZnSO₄ treatments. However, these results were more pronounced in the treatment (Zn+CH+BC) where Zn, CH, and BC were together applied. The Zn+CH+BC treatment improved seed quality parameters, phytate/minerals molar ratios, increased seed weight (per pot) up to 75%, Fe 41%, Zn 42% in seed, while reduced Ni concentration up to 17% in seed, over control. Similarly, Zn+CH+BC treatment significantly decreased oxidative stress by improving antioxidant defense system in sunflower. The results of this preliminary study suggest that further studies are obligatory to corroborate the extent of Ni immobilization in soil and enhancing Zn bioavailability from sunflower seed under field conditions with realistic and applicable rates of BC and CH.     

Agro-morphological traits of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer reticulatum</Emphasis> Ladizinsky in comparison to <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. echinospermum</Emphasis> P.H. Davis in terms of potential to improve cultivated chickpea (<Emphasis Type="Italic">C. arietinum</Emphasis> L.)

Germplasm collections of C. reticulatum and C. echinospermum are limited, while both species face threats from over-grazing and habitat change in their natural environments. Recently many new accessions of C. reticulatum and C. echinospermum were collected in east and south-east Anatolia (Turkey) but they have not yet been evaluated for agro-morphological traits. Therefore, the current study investigated agro-morphological traits of new germplasm sources of C. reticulatum and C. echinospermum and evaluated resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses for chickpea improvement. The most attractive agro-morphological traits were canopy width, number of stems and pods per plant and biological yield. The most productive accessions of C. reticulatum and C. echinospermum had 712 and 625 pods per plant, respectively. Two distinct seed, flower and leaf shapes were found in accessions of C. echinospermum. Path analyses indicated that biological yield and harvest index had the most direct influence on seed yield in both species. Factor analyses showed that high seed yield in C. reticulatum depended on high biological yield and number of pods per plant, whereas high seed yield in C. echinospermum depended on harvest index. It was concluded that most accessions of C. reticulatum and C. echinospermum were not only resistant to some biotic and abiotic stresses but also had hidden alleles that could produce transgressive segregation in crosses to cultivated material.     

Growth,physiology, and biochemical activities of plant responses with foliar potassium application under drought stress – a review

Drought stress affects plant growth and ultimately yield is reduced. Potassium (K) is an essential macronutrient that is required to increase the growth and yield under drought. K plays an important role in osmotic adjustment, opening and closing of stomata, and enzymes activation. K is the component of plant structure that optimizes many physiological as well biochemical processes and ultimately improves the plant growth and yield. This review mainly covers the following topics: impact of drought on plant growth, physiological and biochemical characteristics, the role of K in plant growth, and physiology under drought stress. K is also responsible for enhancing the growth as well as yield attributes of crops under drought stress conditions by altering the physiological and biochemical process.     

Comparative effects of compost and NPK fertilizer on vegetative growth,protein, and carbohydrate of Moringa oleifera lam hybrid PKM-1

A field study evaluated the effects of NPK (21:17:17) and compost on vegetative growth, proteins, and carbohydrates of Moringa oleifera. The experimental design was randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six treatments replicated three times. Compost and NPK fertilizers were applied together which include control (without fertilizer) 5 t ha^?1 (Compost), 120 kg ha^?1 (NPK), 50 + 50% ha^?1 (NPK + Compost), 10 + 50% ha^?1 (NPK + Compost), and 50 + 10% ha^?1 (NPK + Compost) per plot. For NPK fertilizer, the rate was 10 and 50% of 120 kg ha^?1 and for compost it was 10 and 50% of 5 t ha^?1. The measured growth parameters were plant height (cm), stem girth (mm), number of leaves, and number of branches per plant. Results showed that 120 kg ha^?1 (NPK) treatment produced plants of more height, stem girth, more number of leaves, maximum number of branches as compared to other treatments at week 8 with higher protein. Carbohydrate content was high in 50 + 50% (NPK + Compost) compared to others.     

面向农业观光服务的无线传感网节点布局优化

[目的]探讨面向农业观光园区分布式服务的无线传感器网络节点布局优化方案,为提高农业观光园区服务质量及提升游客游园体验提供依据.[方法]利用社会力模型结合观光园区规划信息,采用Anylogic行人仿真平台获取游客在园中的空间分布数据,用传统K-means算法和改进K-means算法分别对游客空间分布数据进行聚类分析,并根据节点优化布局评价指标,计算节点最优位置.[结果]采用传统K-means算法和改进K-means算法对选取的12组游客空间分布数据进行单日游客聚类分析得到两组节点位置;改进K-means算法聚类得到的节点最终位置对节点被接入次数的均衡效果均优于传统K-means算法,其节点被接入次数均方差的均值降低约41.8%.因此,改进K-means算法更适合运用于观光园区节点的布局优化,得到的节点最终位置即为该观光园区节点最优位置.[建议]在面向农业观光服务的混合型无线传感器网络建设中,应基于社会力模型预估游客空间分布,实现观光服务优化;通过合理部署节点位置,延长融合智能设备的混合型无线传感器网络生存时间;更好地打造面向游客服务、整合移动智能设备的农业物联网系统.     

Mechanistic study of microstructural deformation and stress in steam-exploded softwood

Steam explosion pretreatment results in the formation of microcracks in the cell walls of wood. In the present study, steam explosion experiments were performed and structural changes in Norway spruce were identified using scanning electron microscopy. The cellular structure of the softwood spruce was simulated using the finite element method, and the effects of pressure generated during the steam explosion pretreatment on the deformation of the cells were investigated. The simulated model included earlywood, latewood, and ray cells. The effects of bordered and cross-field pits on the stresses in the cell wall were studied as well. Many similarities were observed between the microcracks in the steam-exploded wood and the high-stress regions predicted by the model. The experimental and simulation results showed that the radial cell walls in the earlywood cells experienced major deformation. The presence of the pits created stress localization and facilitated the formation of microcracks in the cell walls.     

仿鼹鼠足趾排列的旋耕-秸秆粉碎锯齿刀片设计与试验

随着保护性耕作的不断发展,实际作业中对旋耕刀性能要求愈发严格,该文在国标旋耕刀基础上,将正、侧切削刃上设计成锯齿状,然后考察实际作业过程中功耗、受力以及作业质量,检测仿鼹鼠足趾排列的旋耕-秸秆粉碎锯齿刀片的田间作业功耗和作业质量。针对该锯齿刀片和国标旋耕刀片在有秸秆颗粒和无秸秆颗粒下进行仿真分析,对比可知:在有秸秆颗粒下,由于刀具要与秸秆接触并发生挤压和剪切作用,从而导致受力以及扭矩值较大。结合理论分析,利用扭矩传感器对仿生锯齿刀和国标旋耕刀进行田间试验。根据0.5 m×0.5 m地表设置不同质量秸秆,分别为0、0.375和0.75 kg(0%、50%、100%),测定拖拉机输出扭矩以及功耗,并依照国标测试方法测定作业质量。田间试验得到扭矩与仿真变化趋势一致。当地表无秸秆和地表含50%秸秆时,锯齿刀片扭矩分别为404.05和438.33 N·m;国标旋耕刀片上扭矩分别为389.27和443.79 N·m。当地表秸秆质量分数为100%时,锯齿刀和国标旋耕刀片上扭矩分别为557.92和507.34 N·m。耕作后地表秸秆和土壤评价结果显示:不同质量含量秸秆覆盖下,仿生锯齿刀耕作后的秸秆掩埋率、土壤破碎率、长度≤15 cm秸秆比例等方面都优于国标旋耕刀。田间试验和仿真结果都显示当地表覆盖秸秆量为0%和100%时,仿生锯齿刀的扭矩高于国标旋耕刀。虽然仿生锯齿刀只在秸秆覆盖量为50%时扭矩与功耗优于国标旋耕刀,但在3种秸秆覆盖量下仿生锯齿刀的耕后地表质量都明显优于国标旋耕刀。综上考虑,在实际作业中,可适当收集田间秸秆。该研究为实现只应用一种刀片来完成旋耕和秸秆粉碎2种不同作业目标提供了参考。     

Modulation in growth,development, and yield of Camelina sativa by nitrogen application under water stress conditions

Camelina sativa has rejuvenated as a successful oilseed crop in the recent years. It is a low-input-requiring crop with an unusual fatty acid composition. A pot experiment was conducted in rain-out shelter to investigate the effect of different nitrogen levels (N₀ = 0, N₁ = 50, N₂ = 100, and N₃ = 150 kg ha^?1) on the growth and yield of two C. sativa genotypes (Australian and Canadian) under normal [100% field capacity (FC)] and water stressed (60% FC) conditions. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement having three replicates in the Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The results indicated that nitrogen doses and water stress levels significantly affected the growth and yield of C. sativa. Maximum values for growth indices like leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), leaf area duration (LAD), net assimilation rate (NAR), and yield attributes were observed under N₂ treatment (100 kg ha^?1) followed by the treatment in which nitrogen was applied at the rate of 50 kg ha^?1. However, growth and yield components significantly reduced under water stress conditions (60% FC). Of both the genotypes, Australian Camelina performed better as compared to Canadian Camelina under both non-stress and drought stress conditions.     

Interactive effect of salinity and silver nanoparticles on photosynthetic and biochemical parameters of wheat

The present study investigated the influence of seed priming with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), 0, 2, 5 and 10 mM, on growth and biochemical parameters of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under salt stress. As expected, 150 mM of NaCl decreased the shoot fresh and dry weights and chlorophyll contents and increased the catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) activities. Salinity enhanced the concentration of proline, soluble sugars, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide. Seed priming with Ag NPs increased the shoot fresh and dry weight of normal and salt-stressed plants. Lower concentration of Ag NPs decreased the total soluble sugars and proline contents, while the higher Ag NPs levels increased these contents compared to the control. The combined application of Ag NPs and salt stress increased the soluble sugars and proline contents, while it decreased CAT activity and increased POD activity compared to the respective Ag NPs treatments alone. Overall, our results demonstrated that Ag NPs enhanced the salt tolerance in wheat, but the long-term response of Ag NPs under salt stress needs further investigation.     

Glyphosate hormesis in broad-leaved weeds: a challenge for weed management

Little is known of glyphosate-induced hormesis in weeds and how this might influence weed management. To test the hormetic effect of low doses of glyphosate on broad-leaved weeds, two experiments were conducted, in the laboratory and the screenhouse. The hormetic effects of glyphosate solution in growth media (0, 65, 130, 250, and 500 g acid equivalent (a.e) ha^?1) and foliar spray (0, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 g a.e. ha^?1) were tested on four broad-leaved weeds (Coronopus didymus, Chenopodium album, Rumex dentatus, and Lathyrus aphaca). Glyphosate solution in the range 65–250 g a.e. ha^?1 stimulated the germination and seedling growth of all tested weeds. However, at 500 g a.e. ha^?1 inhibition of germination and growth was observed. Foliarly applied glyphosate in the range 4–32 g a.e. ha^?1 increased root and shoot length, dry biomass, and seed production ability of all four weeds species; however, the stimulatory response was species dependent. These results indicate that glyphosate hormesis could play a significant role in altering crop/weed competition and might influence weed management.