Method development and application to determine potential plant uptake of antibiotics and other drugs in irrigated crop production systems

Studies have shown the detection of emerging contaminants (ECs), of which pharmaceuticals are a subset, in surface waters across the United States. The objective of this study was to develop methods, and apply them, to evaluate the potential for food chain transfer when EC-containing waters are used for crop irrigation. Greenhouse experiments were performed in which select food crops were irrigated with water spiked with three antibiotics. Field experiments, at two different sites, were conducted. Select crops were irrigated with wastewater effluent known to contain ECs, EC-free well water, and Colorado River water containing trace-level ECs. The results of the greenhouse studies show the potential for uptake of one or more of the antibiotics evaluated, albeit at very low levels. In those food crops watered with wastewater effluent, only an industrial flavoring agent, N,N'-dimethylphenethylamine (DMPEA), was consistently found. None of the evaluated contaminants were found in crops irrigated with Colorado River water.     

Optimum rate of nitrogen application and seed rate for deteriorated wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

In order to study the effect of seed quality (SQ), seed rate (SR), and nitrogen rate (NR) on yield and yield components of wheat, an experiment was conducted as a factorial-split plot based on the randomized complete block design with four replications in Golestan Province, Iran. Treatments included the combination of SR and NR (recommended rate, 15 and 30% higher than the recommended rate) as the main plots, and SQ (control, 15, 30 and 45?h of accelerated aging) as the subplots. The interaction of NR?×?SR was significant on 1000-seed weight, seed yield, plant height, the number of seeds, biological yield, and harvest index. There was a significant reduction in all traits with an increase in seed aging. Seed yield had a significant and positive correlation with yield components. Using higher density and applying higher nitrogen fertilizer than those of recommended could reduce the negative effects of seed aging in wheat.     

CUMULATIVE AND RESIDUAL EFFECTS OF ZINC SULFATE ON GRAIN YIELD,ZINC, IRON,AND COPPER CONCENTRATION IN CORN AND WHEAT

Re-application of zinc (Zn) sulfate for corn (Zea mays L.) production in rotation of wheat-corn has varied effects on yield of crops grown in Zn deficient soils. Therefore, this study was done as split plots in a complete randomized block design (CRBD) where the main plots were control with and without Zn application in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production. Sub-plots were of control, without Zn fertilizer, base application of 75 kg per hectare (kg Zn ha^?1), 25% and 50% less than base application and as foliar spray in combination with the 4 soil Zn treatments for corn production. Effect of previous Zn application on grain Zn concentration of corn was significant (P < 0.01). Zinc concentrations in treatments of without previous Zn (nil Zn) application and with Zn application were 28.1 and 31.8 mg kg^?1, respectively. Soil application of 75 kg ha^?1 and foliar application of Zn sulfate gave the highest yield (8853 kg ha^?1) showed an increase of 25 percent in compared with nil-Zn. Although re-application of Zn has small effect on yield, but resulted in was the highest grain concentration.     

Phenotypic diversity analysis of grain yield and yellow pigment content in germplasm collected from Iranian durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) landraces

This study was undertaken to compare patterns of agronomic characters and yellow pigment content diversity between Iranian durum landraces and modern varieties. In four field experiments, a collection of 127 accessions of landraces and 23 modern cultivars tetraploid wheat representing Iranian and global genetic diversity were tested under optimum and rain-fed conditions. Across the environments, the yellow pigment concentrations ranged from 1.85 mg kg^?1 to 8.95 mg kg^?1 in the field-grown samples. Multivariate analysis detected five groups, four including landraces and one comprising modern cultivars. As a group, modern cultivars were the most productive and showed high mean values for harvest index, grains per spike and yellow pigment, but they had the lowest plant height. Landraces had the highest mean number of spikes per m² and 1000-kernel weight, but were characterized by low plant height and yellow pigment content. Clustering analysis also showed that, based on yield and yellow pigment content, the accessions in different groups were of different origins, suggesting that there was no clear relationship between accessions and geographical diversity. According to our results, Iranian landraces can be particularly useful as germplasm in breeding programmes to improve spikes per m² and 1000-kernel weights.     

Effects of nickel and PGPBs on growth indices and phytoremediation capability of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)

The effect of bacteria inoculation was studied on sunflower growth and phytoremediation capacity in soils contaminated by different levels of nickel. The experimental treatments consisted of four levels of bacteria inoculation – non-inoculated, inoculated by Bacillus safensis, inoculated by Kocuria rosea, and co-inoculated by B. safensis + K. rosea – and four levels of nickel concentrations in the soil – Ni0, Ni150, Ni300, and Ni450 (0, 150, 300, and 450 mg Ni per kg soil, respectively). The treatments were arranged as factorial structure based on a completely randomized design. Results have shown that growth indices, photosynthetic pigments, shoot Fe concentration, root and shoot Zn concentration, and translocation factor decreased as the Ni concentration in soil increased. Shoot and root Ni concentration were higher at Ni450, whereas, the highest Ni uptake by the plant was observed at Ni300 when the sunflower seed was co-inoculated by B. safensis + K. rosea bacteria. Bacteria inoculation significantly increased the plant growth, photosynthetic pigments, and Ni uptake. By B. safensis inoculation, the Fe concentration significantly increased in shoot, while it decreased in root.     

Iron efficiency of different corn hybrids grown in nutrient solution culture

Growing Fe-efficient genotype(s) could be considered as a preferred genetic approach to tackle the widespread constraint of Fe-deficiency-/lime-induced chlorosis in crop grown on alkaline soil. This study aimed to investigate morphological and physiological traits linked to expression of Fe deficiency among four corn (Zea mays) including sweet (Z. mays sacchrata cvs. H403 and H404) and grain (Z. mays indentata cvs. H500 and H700) hybrids grown in nutrient solution using two Fe concentrations (5 and 50 µM Fe-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (Fe-EDTA)). Significant variation was found among studied hybrids in their tolerance to Fe-deficiency stress. Sweet corn hybrids were more sensitive to Fe deficiency as compared with grain corn hybrids and greater reduction was observed in their shoot dry matter at the 5 µM Fe-EDTA treatment. The greatest decrease in plant height, leaf area, and root and shoot dry matter weight under Fe-deficiency condition was found for H403 hybrid. No significant correlation was found between shoot and root Fe concentration with crop tolerance to Fe deficiency. Furthermore, different response of corn hybrids to Fe deficiency is an important factor, which has to be considered in Fe fertilizer recommendation as well as breeding programs.     

Efficacy of starter N fertilizer and rhizobia inoculant in dry pea (Pisum sativum Linn.) production in a semi-arid temperate environment

ABSTRACT

Uncertainties exist about the importance of rhizobia inoculant and starter nitrogen (N) application in dry pea (Pisum sativum L.) production. Three field experiments were conducted to evaluate how rhizobia inoculant and starter N fertilizer affect pea seed yield and protein concentration in a semi-arid environment in central Montana. Commercial rhizobia inoculant was mixed with seed prior to planting at the manufacturer’s recommended rate. Starter N fertilizers were applied into the same furrow as seed at 0, 22, 44 and 88 kg ha^?1 as urea, slow-release polymer-coated N fertilizer (ESN), and a combination of both. The application of rhizobia inoculant had no or a very small beneficial effect on pea yield in lands with a previous history of peas. In a land without pea history, application of rhizobia increased pea seed yield by 16%. The positive effect of starter N was only pronounced when initial soil N was low (≤ 10 kg ha^?1 nitrate-nitrogen), which increased net return by up to US$ 42 ha^?1. In this condition, application of slow-release N outperformed urea. However, application of starter N (especially with urea) had a negative effect on pea establishment, vigor and seed yield when soil initial N was high (≥ 44 kg ha^?1 NO₃-N). The results indicate that the rate, placement and form of the starter N must be optimized to benefit pea yield and protein without detrimental effects on germination and nodulation. Moreover, application of starter N must be guided by the soil nitrate content.     

Stabilization of lead as affected by various amendments and incubation time in a calcareous soil

The effect of different kinds of amendments including coal fly ash (CFA), municipal solid waste compost (MSWC), rice husk biochars prepared at 300°C (B300) and 600°C (B600), zero valent iron (Fe°) and zero valent manganese (Mn°) were evaluated to determine their ability to stabilize lead (Pb) in Pb-spiked soil. The Pb-spiked soils were separately incubated with amendments at the rates of 2 and 5% (W/W) for 45 and 90 days at 25°C. The efficacy of amendments treatment was evaluated by desorption kinetic experiment and sequential extraction producer. According to the results, with increasing time, considerable changes in distribution of chemical forms of Pb occurred and carbonate-bound fraction significantly decreased, while amorphous Fe-bound fraction significantly increased. The applied treatments efficiently decreased the mobility factor of Pb compared to control treatment. Application of Mn°, Fe°, CFA, MSWC, and B600 in soils significantly decreased Pb desorption rate with respect to control treatment. Biphasic pattern of Pb desorption kinetic was fitted well by the model of two ?rst-order reactions. In general, present study showed that from the practical point of view, all applied amendments (except for B300) were effective in Pb immobilization; however, application of Mn° at 5% (W/W) rate was the best treatment to immobilize Pb, so it can be recommended for the immobilization of Pb in calcareous polluted soil.     

Subcritical soil hydrophobicity in the presence of native and exotic arbuscular mycorrhizal species at different soil salinity levels

Soil salinity and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) influence the soil hydrophobicity. An experiment was performed to determine the effects of soil salinity and AMF species on soil water repellency (SWR) under wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop. Six AMF treatments, including four exotic species (Rhizophagus irregularis, Funneliformis mosseae and Claroideoglomus claroideum, a mix of three species), one mix native AMF species treatment and an AMF-free soil in combination with four salinity levels (1, 5, 10, and 15 dS m^?1) were used. The soil repellency index (RI) increased with salinity increment ranging from 2.4 to 10.5. The mix of three exotic and native AMF treatments enhanced the RI significantly compared to AMF-free soil in all salinity levels with one exception for native treatment at 1 dS m^?1. Among individual AMF species, the C. claroideum treatment at 10 dS m^?1 increased the RI by 67% compared to AMF-free soil. The native AMF treatment was more efficient in root colonization, glomalin production and SWR development at 10 and 15 dS m^?1, compared to exotic species. In addition to the net positive effect of salinity on SWR, the AMF influences on the RI were greatly dependent on salinity levels.