Impact of Distillery Effluent on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in a Vertisol of Central India

Distilleries produce a huge quantity of effluents, popularly known as spent wash (SW), which when bio-methanated produce post-methanation effluents (PME). A field experiment on soybean–wheat system was conducted for five consecutive years in a Vertisol of central India to evaluate the effect of distillery effluent (DE) on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. Ten treatment combinations consisting of control, 100% NPK + Farmyard Manure (FYM), and graded level of SW and PME were applied. Total carbon content of soil increased significantly with applications of FYM and DE. SW was found superior in enhancing carbon content of soil in comparison to PME. Farmyard Manure contributed more carbon toward the recalcitrant pool, whereas DE contributed more carbon toward the active and slow pool. Nitrogen (N) availability was significantly improved with the application of DE. Balanced application of DE may act as amendment for increasing C and N stocks in Vertisol.     

Lead Toxicity in Cereals and Its Management Strategies: a Critical Review

Cereal grains such as wheat, rice, and maize are widely consumed as a staple food worldwide. Lead (Pb) is one of the non-essential trace elements and its toxicity in crops especially cereals is a widespread problem. The present review highlighted Pb toxicity in cereal and management strategies to reduce its uptake in plants. Lead toxicity reduced the cereal growth, photosynthesis, nutritional value, yield, and grain quality. The response of cereals to excess varies with plant species, levels of Pb in soil, and growth conditions. Reducing Pb bioavailability in the soil is a viable approach due to its non-degradability either by microbes, chemicals, or other means. Cultivation of low Pb-accumulating cultivars may reduce the risk of Pb toxicity in plants and humans via the food chain. Use of plant growth regulators, microbes, organic, and inorganic amendments might be promising techniques for further decreasing Pb contents in shoot and grains. Soil amendments along with selecting low Pb-accumulating cultivars might be a feasible approach to get cereal grains with low Pb concentrations. Furthermore, most of the studies have been conducted under controlled conditions either in hydroponic or pots and less is known about the effects of Pb management approaches under ambient field conditions.     

Influence of improved fallow systems and phosphorus application on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi symbiosis in maize grown in western Kenya

A field study was carried out on a six-year-old on-farm field trial during long-rains season (April–August) 2003 to investigate the effect of improved fallow systems and phosphorus application on arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) symbiosis in maize. The trial comprised of maize rotated with a fast growing leguminous Crotalaria grahamiana fallow and a non-leguminous Tithonia diversifolia fallow for 3 years followed by continuous maize. The experiment was randomized complete block design with three cropping (continuous maize, Crotalaria fallow and Tithonia fallow) systems and two phosphorus levels (0 and 50 kg P/ha). AMF colonization in maize roots, maize yield and macro-nutrients uptake were recorded. Phosphorus applications improved (P < 0.05) early (<8 weeks old maize) AMF colonization, nutrient uptake and maize yield in improved fallow systems. Greater differences due to phosphorus application were noted in maize in Tithonia fallow than in Crotalaria fallow. Following phosphorus application, a positive relationship existed between early AMF colonization and maize yield (r = 0.38), and phosphorus and nitrogen uptake (r = 0.40 and r = 0.43, respectively), demonstrating the importance of phosphorus fertilization in enhancing low-input technologies (improved fallows systems) in phosphorus deficient and acidic soils of western Kenya.     

Introduction and elimination of Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus in a commercial beef herd: a case study

Routine Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV) monitoring of a commercial beef herd in southern New South Wales over a 10-year period provided an opportunity to assess the impact of the introduction of BVDV on that herd. BVDV antibody testing provided strong evidence that the herd was initially free of BVDV (2009–2011). Testing from 2012 suggested BVDV had been introduced into the herd and this was confirmed in 2015 with the identification of persistently infected (PI) animals. Having become established in the herd, the owners then set out to eliminate BVDV from the herd. Antigen testing aimed at identifying PI animals revealed BVDV was already absent from the herd. Subsequent antibody testing confirmed that the herd was now free from BVDV. Despite the incursion of BVDV in this herd, there was little measurable impact on reproductive performance (pregnancy rates), although suspected increased calf losses from birth to calf marking were reported. This is the first time such self-clearance has been documented as part of a longitudinal study under Australian conditions.     

Perspectives of folate biofortification of cereal grains

One sixth of the world’s population is suffering from hidden hunger that indicates a gross malnutrition particularly among children and women of third world countries. The deficiency of micro nutrients, especially iron (Fe) causes a number of ailments such as megaloblastic anemia and neural tube defects in poor population. There is a dire need to supplement iron in the diet. Current efforts implicate fortification of wheat flour and other grains with different iron formulations such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), FeSO₄ and elemental iron. However, all such interventions are not sustainable due to logistic and quality assurance problems in resource-limited settings. For a long term solution, development of crop plants with increased micronutrients and iron bioavailability is essential. Therefore, biofortification of cereal grains using translational genomics approaches for enhancement of folate through genome editing in cereals is inevitable to mitigate the folate deficiency in poor remote population in a cost effective manner.     

Potential of zinc seed treatment in improving stand establishment,phenology, yield and grain biofortification of wheat

Abstract

One of the problems in obtaining high wheat yield is the unavailability of micronutrients in balanced quantities. Zinc is an essential micronutrient due to its involvement in many metabolic processes in plant. In this experiment, seeds of two wheat cultivars (Faisalabad-2008 and Lasani-2008) were subjected to soak in aerated Zn solution of 0.1 and 0.01?M for 12?hr. For the seed coating, Zn was adhered to the wheat seeds by using Arabic gum by using zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄·7H₂O) as a source. Untreated dry seeds were considered as a control. Results indicated that field emergence was improved by Zn seed treatments, maximum numbers of seedlings were observed in seed priming with 0.01?M Zn solution. Seed osmoprimed with 0.01?M Zn solution improved the grain yield, biological yield, and other yield related traits. Grain and straw Zn enrichment were also enhanced in seed osmoprimed with 0.01?M Zn solution.     

Effect of seed rate and nitrogen fertilizer on weed species composition,density and diversity in two sesame varieties

To evaluate the effect of seed and nitrogen rates on weed species composition, density, biomass and diversity in two sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) varieties, a field experiment was conducted in 2009, 2010 and 2011 rainy seasons at Samaru, Nigeria. Four seed rates, 2, 4, 6 and 8 kg ha^?1, four nitrogen rates, 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg N ha^?1 and two sesame varieties NCRIBEN 01M and E8 were arranged as factorial in a split plot design. Weeds with the highest important values in sesame field were Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Ludwigia decurrens, Ageratum conyzoides and Cyperus esculentus. Year had a significant effect on weed density, biomass, diversity, evenness and richness. Weed density, biomass, diversity and richness were lowest in the 2011 trial and weed species evenness in 2009. Variety E8 reduced weed biomass better than NCRIBEN 01M. Averaged over years, weed diversity and evenness were lowest at 4 kg seeds ha^?1. Seed × nitrogen rates effect of 4 kg seed ha^?1 and 30 kg N ha^?1 produced the lowest weed species diversity and evenness. The result suggests that variety E8 at 4 kg seed ha^?1 and 30 kg N ha^?1 with hoe weeding at 3 and 6 WAS may provide better weed control, and it is recommended in sesame production.     

Rice phenolics efflux transporter 2 (PEZ2) plays an important role in solubilizing apoplasmic iron

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for plants; however, despite its abundance in soils it is not readily available in neutral to alkaline soils. Plants secrete phenolics, such as protocatechuic acid (PCA) and caffeic acid (CA), to absorb and utilize precipitated apoplasmic Fe from root surfaces. However, the synthesis and secretion of phenolics have not been well characterized in plants. We have identified and characterized a rice (Oryza sativa L.) mutant with reduced amounts of PCA and CA in xylem sap and root exudates; hence we named it phenolics efflux zero 2 (pez2). PEZ2 localized to the plasma membrane in onion (Allium cepa L.) epidermal cells and transported PCA when expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. PEZ2 expression was observed in whole root near root tips. Similarly, strong expression was observed in leaves. In line with reduced amounts of PCA and CA in xylem sap, the xylem Fe concentration was also low in pez2 plants. These results suggest that PEZ2 is involved in solubilization of apoplasmic Fe in rice.