PHOSPHORUS NUTRITION AND MYCORRHIZAL GROWTH RESPONSE OF BROADLEAF AND NARROWLEAF BIRDSFOOT TREFOILS

In Argentina narrowleaf trefoil (Lotus glaber) predominates over broadleaf trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Researchers have suggested this predominance occurs because L. glaber grows better at low levels of P availability. I studied the effect of increasing phosphorus (P) nutrition and mycorrhizal growth response of Lotus corniculatus and Lotus glaber in a soil of low available P. L. corniculatus was more efficient in P utilization than L. glaber and produced larger yields of shoot tissue per unit of P. The critical P concentration, measured as a percentage of P in the shoot required to achieve 90% of maximum shoot yield, was 0.22 in L. corniculatus and 0.28 in L. glaber. The roots of both two species were heavily infected by arbuscular micorrhizae (AM), and both mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants responded strongly to added P in soil. This suggests that both species are at no advantage or disadvantage whether mycorrhizal or nonmicorrhizal. The fraction of roots colonized by AM fungi differed between species at low levels of added P but was similar at high levels of added P. The specific root length (cm g^?1) of mycorrhizal plants was greatest in L. corniculatus when P was insufficient to achieve maximum growth. The lower critical P concentration and the higher specific root length at low levels of P nutrition may be why L. corniculatus is superior to L. glaber in soils low in P. Therefore, the predominance of L. glaber compared with L. corniculatus in Argentinean soils is not due to ability of L. glaber to grow better in soil at low levels of P availability.     

Empirical Models of Macronutrient Uptake in Melon Plants Grown in Recirculating Nutrient Solution Culture

Abstract

The article presents a number of empirical models for predicting the macronutrient uptake of melon plants grown in nutrient film technique under environmental conditions of plastic greenhouse in the Mediterranean region. Models were developed according to two statistical procedures: stepwise multiple regression (MR) and canonical correlation (CC). Independent variables considered by the modeling were global radiation and air temperature in the greenhouse, crop age (expressed as number of weeks from planting, growing degree days and photo-thermal units), and the uptake of water as well as of a guide-ion that could be routinely measured manually by means of easy-to-use test-kits or automatically with chemo-sensors. The best models, as selected on the basis of determination coefficient and the correlation coefficient for the relationship between residuals and observations, explained only 36–72% of the variance in the mineral uptake, depending on the considered nutrient. Moreover, the models were conservative, as predicted values tended to be less extreme with respect to the observed values and the residuals were positively correlated to the observations. The results of MR and CC were similar, although the validation of the models derived from CC produced better results compared to MR. The models provided evidence for the close relationship between ion and water uptake and indicated the possibility to predict the crop mineral requirements on the basis of the consumption of a guide-ion (i.e., nitrogen).     

Growth,Biomass Production,and Nutrient Composition of Eucalyptus Seedlings Irrigated with Municipal Effluent in Loamy Sand Soil of Indian Desert

Abstract

An experiment comprised of five treatments [T₁ = municipal effluent @ 1 PET (without plant), T₂ = municipal effluent @ (1/2) PET, T₃ = municipal effluent @ 1PET, T₄ = municipal effluent @ 2 PET, and T₅ = good (canal) water @ 1 PET] was carried out with Eucalyptus camaldulensis. The aim was to utilize sewage water in growing tree plantation and to increase the supply of fuel wood to the growing urban population. Height, collar diameter, and number of branches were monitored periodically. Biomass and leaf and root growth were recorded at 24 months of age. Mineral composition and uptake were monitored to observe their removal from the soil. Increase in rate of municipal effluent application was associated with better tree growth compared to irrigation with canal water. At 24 month age, the T₄ was the best treatment in which E. camaldulensis attained 393 cm height and 6.6 cm collar diameter. Height and collar diameter of T₂ seedlings did not differ (P > 0.05) with respective parameters in T₅ treatment. Collar diameter increased by 1.2 times in T₃ treatment. Number of leaves and biomass increased with increase in quantity of municipal effluent. Modeling of total biomass against quantity of municipal effluent application produced better result with non‐linear fitting than the linear one. Mineral composition and accumulation in different parts of the seedling was high and varied with the quantity and nutrient composition of irrigation water. Concentration of total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) was high in the municipal effluent irrigated seedlings compared to the good water irrigated seedlings. However, sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) were high in the seedlings of T₅ compared to T₂ and T₃ treatments. Municipal effluent did not show any toxicity to the seedlings up to 24 months age. Conclusively, the municipal effluents could be recommended as a good source of water and nutrient for tree biomass production to fulfill the requirement of fuel need in the suburban area.     

Potassium→ammonium exchange of two benchmark soils from Botswana and its implication for nitrogen economy of the soils

Ion exchange preferences for NH₄⁺ and K⁺ by soil exchanger surface can greatly affect the NO₃^? leaching into groundwater and nitrogen-use efficiency in agricultural production. Since NH₄⁺ and K⁺ salts are usually applied together as fertilizers, the binary K→NH₄ exchange of two benchmark Botswana soils, Pellustert and a Haplustalf, was studied to determine the selectivity coefficients and the thermodynamic exchange constant with special reference to N economy. The Vanselow and the Gaines and Thomas coefficients indicated preference for NH₄⁺ by the Pellustert and K by the Haplustalf across the exchanger phase composition. The equilibrium constant (K_ex) was 1.807 for the Pellustert and 0.174 for the Haplustalf. The exchange free energy (ΔG_ex⁰) was ?1.467 kJ mol^?1 for the Pellustert and 4.334 kJ mol^?1 for the Haplustalf. Negative ΔG_ex⁰ for the Pellustert is consistent with preference for NH₄⁺ to K⁺ in contrast to positive ΔG_ex⁰ for the Haplustalf. The greater stability of NH₄X than KX complex in the Pellustert, and KX than NH₄X in the Haplustalf, would mean increased residence time of NH₄⁺ in the Pellustert than the Haplustalf. The implication of short residence time of NH₄⁺ in soil is rapid nitrification, thereby leading to NO₃^??N leaching losses and possible groundwater contamination.     

Establishing sorption isotherm to meet phosphorus requirement for tomato seedling growth 1

An Indiana silt loam soil was equilibrated with various amounts of Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ H₂O and a 0.01 M CaCl₂ solution to construct its phosphorus sorption isotherms. Using the isotherms, the P buffering capacity of the soil was calculated and amounts of fertilizer P necessary to give several levels of P in the soil solution, for experiments conducted over a 2 year period, were determined. Twenty‐four day old tomato seedlings were grown and measured for leaf area, root length, dry weights and P concentrations in leaf, petiole, stem and root.

Phosphorus concentration in soil solution increased slowly with the first increment of P added to the soil. Subsequent P additions increased the P concentrations in solution exponentially. The maximum P absorption by the soil was 324 μg P/g soil and the constant related to P binding energy was 1.37. In addition, the soil buffering capacity decreased with an increase in the amount of P in the soil solution.

Plant shoot dry weight increased linearly with P increase in the concentration range 0.65 to 6.5 μM P in soil solution. However, beyond this level the response was low. The leaf area rate of increase in the 0.65 to 6.5 μM P solution concentration range was 75 times that in the 6.5 to 84 μM P. The root length: shoot dry weight ratio decreased with increasing P supply in the soil solution. P uptake by the plants increased with increased P concentration in soil solution. At soil solution concentrations above 6.5 μMP the rate of P uptake in the shoot was 20 times less than the rate for concentrations below 6.5 μM P. Of the P taken up by tomato seedlings about 65% was in the leaf, 13% in the stem, 13% in the petiole and 9% in the root.     

Ion interactions in calcium‐efficient and calcium‐inefficient tomato lines 1

Two Ca‐efficient and 3 Ca‐inefficient tomato lines selected on the basis of dry matter production, Ca concentrations in tissues, and severity of Ca deficiency symptoms were grown in nutrient solutions containing 6 levels of total Ca ranging from 15 to 365 mg in 70 mg increments. All lines responded to increased Ca supply by increasing in dry weight and by accumulating Ca. The critical Ca concentrations in the shoots were 0.25% and 0.40% on a dry weight basis for the efficient and inefficient lines, respectively. Concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, P, and NO₃ ^‐ were lower in shoots and except for Mg were lower in roots of efficient plants than in the inefficient plants. For all lines as more Ca was available in the media and as Ca increased in the shoots and roots, the concentrations of the nutrients other than Ca declined. The declines in concentrations of K and Mg were not due to dilution by higher dry matter production in the efficient lines relative to the inefficient ones, although the total accumulation of Ca, P, and NO₃ ^‐ did not vary with Ca supplied. Antagonism among cations may account for differences in efficiency among lines of tomato.     

Sorghum genotype differences to leaf “red‐speckling”; induced by phosphorus 1

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] plants grown in nutrient solutions, sand, and soil under greenhouse or growth chamber conditions developed a lower leaf “red‐speckling”; which was induced by phosphorus (P). As P in solution increased, the intensity of the “red‐speckling”; increased. Although the severity of “red‐speckling”; was not directly related to leaf P concentration, leaves with more severe symptoms had higher P concentrations. KS35, ‘Martin’, and ‘Plainsman’ developed severe symptoms, CK60‐Korgi, SC369–3‐1JB, and TX415 developed intermediate symptoms, and NB9040 developed no symptoms when grown at relatively low levels of P (10 to 20 umol per plant). Organic sources of P induced more severe “red‐speckling”; than inorganic sources. The severity of “red‐speckling”; induced by P compounds followed the sequence of gyceryl > ethyl ammonium = phenyl > potassium dihydrogen > calcium meta > calcium dibasic > calcium tribasic > ferric > calcium pyro = ferrous = aluminum phosphates. “Red‐speckling”; on young sorghum leaves may be caused by excess P. This excess or toxic P “red‐speckling”; occurred at P levels lower than had normally been considered or expected.     

Effects of salt stress on nitrogen fixation,oxygen diffusion,and ion distribution in soybean,common bean,and alfalfa

The exposure of legume nodulated‐roots to 100 mM NaCl resulted in a rapid decrease in plant growth associated with a short‐term inhibition of both nodule growth and nitrogenase activity (C₂H₂ reduction=ARA). However, these NaCl effects varied among species, common bean being more sensitive than soybean and alfalfa. The higher sensitivity of common bean was associated with a higher accumulation of sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) in the nodules and only a small difference between salt‐treated and control plants of common bean in their responses of ARA to raising rhizosphere pO₂. By contrast, soybean and alfalfa plants showed a higher stimulation of ARA by pO₂ for the salt‐treatment than for the control. It is concluded that the intraspecific variation in short‐term inhibition of ARA by salt may involve the regulation of O₂ diffusion and the distribution of ions in nodules.     

不同茬口设施番茄栽培的根圈基质中酶活性与养分效应

研究了番茄设施有机基质栽培的正茬、迎茬、连茬根圈生物性状和理化性状的变化, 分析了不同茬口对番茄栽培基质中酶活性、有机质含量和主要养分含量的影响。结果表明, 番茄连茬栽培基质的蛋白酶、磷酸酶、脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性下降, 有机质、全氮、铵态氮、碱解氮、全磷、速效磷、全钾及速效钾等主要养分含量降低, 而正茬栽培对基质酶活性、有机质和主要养分含量的影响较小。基质酶活性与理化性质的相关性分析表明, 番茄有机基质栽培中, 连茬、迎茬和正茬条件下基质的化学性质与生物学性质密切相关, 从而导致了番茄连茬基质微生态环境的改变。所有指标的相关性中, 脲酶与有机质和主要养分含量的相关系数最大, 说明脲酶活性是影响基质有机质含量和主要养分的重要因子。各茬口中, 速效钾、速效磷、全钾和过氧化氢酶活性的可塑性指数均最大, 不同茬口基质各指标的可塑性指数表现为新基质的最大、正茬次之、连茬最小, 说明连茬基质不适宜于番茄生长, 而正茬基质的生物和理化性质与新基质差异不大, 适宜于番茄生长发育。     

河南烟草连作状况调查及连作障碍解决对策研究

河南烤烟连作以4～5年为主。烤烟连作后病虫害加重,烟叶产量和品质下降等问题比较严重。目前研究认为烤烟连作障碍主要因为连作烟田矿质养分、微生物种类和数量、土壤中酶活性及自毒作用等方面发生了恶性变化,加重了烟草生产中病虫害发生,阻碍了烟株的生长发育。文章通过对目前河南烟区连作情况的调查,并结合已有的研究,从连作烟田消毒、种植模式、施肥模式、微生物菌剂修复等方面探讨了缓解乃至解决烟草连作障碍问题的措施。