Evaluating the effectiveness of biofertilizer on salt tolerance of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

In the present study, the effectiveness of biofertilizer containing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria was evaluated on growth and physiology of cotton under saline conditions. Cotton plants were exposed to different levels of NPK (50%, 75%, and 100% of recommended levels) along with coating with biofertilizer under saline (15 dS m^?1) and non-saline conditions. It was observed that the biofertilizer seed coating improved growth, physiological (relative water content and chlorophyll content index), and ionic (K⁺/Na⁺) characteristics under saline and non-saline conditions. However, shoot growth (shoot fresh and dry weight) and leaf gas exchange characteristics (CO₂ assimilation rate, A; intercellular CO₂ concentration, C_i; transpiration rate, E; stomatal conductance, g_s) were decreased by biofertilizer coating under saline condition. Increasing levels of NPK fertilizer increased shoot growth, whereas root growth was maximum at 75% NPK level under saline conditions. The results of the study indicate that the biofertilizer application was very effective for cotton plant in non-saline conditions but not very effective in saline conditions.     

RESPONSE OF ORNAMENTAL SUNFLOWER CULTIVARS ‘SUNBEAM’ AND ‘MOONBRIGHT’ TO IRRIGATION WITH SALINE WASTEWATERS

To explore the possibility that saline wastewaters may be used to grow commercially acceptable floriculture crops, a study was initiated to determine the effects of salinity on two pollen-free cultivars of ornamental sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). ‘Moonbright’ and ‘Sunbeam’ were grown in greenhouse sand cultures irrigated with waters prepared to simulate wastewaters commonly present in two inland valley regions of California: 1) San Joaquin Valley (SJV) where saline-sodic drainage waters are dominated by sodium (Na⁺) and sulfate (SO ^2? ₄ ) and 2) Coachella Valley (CV) where major ions in tailwaters are Na⁺, chloride (Cl^?), SO ^2? ₄ , magnesium (Mg²⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), predominating in that order. Ten-day-old seedlings were subjected to five salinity treatments of each water composition, each replicated three times. Electrical conductivities (EC) of the irrigation waters were 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 dS·m^?1. Flowering stems were harvested when about 75% of the ray flowers were nearly horizontal. Stem length and fresh weight, flower and stem diameter were measured. Mineral ion concentrations in upper and lower stems, upper and lower leaves were determined. Sodium was excluded from the young tissues in the upper portions of the shoot and retained in the basal stem tissue. Inasmuch as sunflower is also a strong potassium (K)-accumulator, K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity coefficients were unusually high in the younger shoot organs. Despite a five-fold increase in substrate Ca²⁺ in both solutions, shoot-Ca decreased as salinity increased and this cation was retained in the older leaves. A few of the lower leaves of plants irrigated with ICV waters at EC = 10 dS·m^?1 and higher, exhibited necrotic margins which were undoubtedly caused by high concentrations of Cl^? in the tissues. Flowering stems produced in all treatments met florist quality standards in terms of diameters for stems (0.5 to 1.5 cm) and blooms (8 to 15 cm). Across treatments, stem lengths ranged from 60 to 175 cm. Both ornamental sunflower cultivars proved to be good candidates for production of marketable flowering stems using moderately saline wastewaters.     

Effect of dimethylarsenic acid (DMAA) on growth,tissue arsenic,and photosynthesis of rice plants

The effect of dimethylarsenic acid (DMAA) applied to the root on arsenic (As) uptake and concentration, net photosynthesis (Pn), and growth parameters of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. ‘Mercury') plants was studied. The experiment consisted of four treatments (0, 0.2, 0.8, and 1.6 mg As/L) with four replications in a completely randomized design. The DMAA was applied in nutrient solution as its sodium salt. The solution culture was changed every four days to avoid changes in the As chemical form. Arsenic uptake and concentration in shoot and root increased upon increased DMAA concentration in solution. Upon uptake, DMAA was readily translocated to the shoot. At the two higher rates of DMAA application (0.8 and 1.6 mg As/L), Pn and photosynthetic capacity were significantly decreased in response to tissue As concentration. Leaf area and dry matter production were also significantly reduced at the two higher rates of DMAA. At the lower rate (0.2 mg As/L) of DMAA application, there was no significant reduction in Pn or growth. Dimethylarsenic acid application did not affect nutrient allocation within the rice plant at concentration levels used in this study.     

盐渍和涝渍对棉苗生长和叶片某些生理性状的复合效应

 以陆地棉鲁棉研17和鲁棉研28为材料,以无盐正常供水为对照,研究了在盐渍、涝渍和盐涝复合胁迫14 d后棉苗干物质积累、叶片光合速率、叶绿素荧光参数和叶绿素含量等的变化。结果表明,盐渍、涝渍和盐涝复合胁迫都显著影响两个品种的光合速率和干物质积累。盐渍对棉苗的影响程度小于涝渍,而涝渍又小于盐涝复合胁迫,盐涝双重胁迫对棉苗生长和干物质积累的抑制表现出累加效应。盐渍胁迫下叶绿素含量的下降是光合作用受抑制的重要原因,而涝渍和盐涝胁迫下光合速率下降可能是叶绿体结构和PSⅡ稳定性的下降引起的。     

干旱区大田膜下滴灌对土壤盐分的影响

为研究干旱区大田膜下滴灌土壤盐分运移特征,在新疆石河子炮台试验站进行连续4年的试验研究。结果表明,膜下滴灌条件下,边行盐分偏高,棵间土壤盐分上升;耕作层土壤盐分下降,耕作层以下则增加,但由于滴灌灌水频繁,作物根系分布层内(0～40cm)土壤盐分始终处于较低值;利用膜下滴灌可以明显降低盐荒地土壤盐分,加速盐荒地改良和弃耕地的收复。     

渗水地膜覆盖原生盐碱荒地的土壤盐分运移数值模拟

基于渗水地膜覆盖条件下原生盐碱荒地土壤剖面盐分分布的年度跟踪观测试验,分析了地膜覆盖后土壤盐分的累积与运移特性,并根据土壤盐分运移的基本方程采用Bresler算法对渗水地膜覆盖后土壤盐分运移变化特性进行了数值模拟,经过和实测的对比分析认为该数值模拟方法是可行的。根据模拟结果和实测数据可知覆盖渗水地膜后可明显抑制土壤盐分的累积,另利用雨季的降水叠加可实现上层土壤的逐渐脱盐。     

盐碱地滴灌春小麦光合特性与耐盐指标研究

通过盆栽试验,在非盐化土、轻度盐化土、中度盐化土、强度盐化土、盐土等5种不同的土壤盐分含量(分别为CK:2.0 g/kg、T1:5.0 g/kg、T2:9.0 g/kg、T3:16.5 g/kg、T4:24.5 g/kg)处理条件下,使用美国产CI-340型手持式光合仪于春小麦拔节期(5月20日)、抽穗期(5月28日)和乳熟期(6月11日)测定了光合有效辐射、气温、大气CO2浓度等环境因子指标,以及净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度等光合生理特性指标的变化,根据记录数据计算叶片光合作用的气孔限制值和非气孔限制值,同时观测了春小麦产量和土壤盐分数据,通过线性回归分析计算耐盐指标。结果表明,不同盐分处理下春小麦叶片净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度、胞间CO2浓度日变化规律相近,光合作用午休现象明显。气孔与非气孔因素同时存在限制春小麦叶片光合作用,净光合速率的下降在低盐分土壤处理下主要由气孔因素引起,而在高盐分土壤处理下主要由非气孔因素引起。春小麦在0~40 cm土层耐盐临界值为6.46 g/kg,耐盐极限值为30.72 g/kg;减产10%的耐盐阈值为9.63 g/kg。初步认为滴灌春小麦适宜种植于非盐化土以及轻度盐化土。