Plant, Soil and Environment - Latest articles
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Ecological and human health risk assessment of tungsten and other heavy metal(loid)s in farmland around a typical tungsten mining area in southern Jiangxi, China
Qi Li, Li Tian, Xiaojun Zheng, Weijiang Chen, Buchan Zhou, Ming Chen
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(4):229-244 | DOI: 10.17221/344/2023-PSE 
The ecological and human health risks of heavy metal(loid)s (HMs) in soils around tungsten (W) mining sites have often disregarded the presence of W. In this study, we aimed to investigate the concentrations of 10 HMs (including W and other accompanying elements) in 18 agricultural soil samples obtained around a W mining site in southern Jiangxi, China. Furthermore, we determined the contamination status, source identification, and ecological and health risks of HMs in soils. Our findings revealed that HMs were extensively accumulated in soils within the study area, with the highest mean concentrations of W found. W concentrations were above background...
Effects of combined application of animal slurry and mineral fertiliser on rice yield and soil nitrogen cycle microbes
Pengcheng Wang, Siyuan Jin, Henglin Xiao, Zhi Zhang, Cheng Hu, Yan Qiao, Donghai Liu, Xifa Guo, Xiangrong Peng
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(4):220-228 | DOI: 10.17221/315/2023-PSE
This paper studied the response of rice yield and soil nitrogen (N) cycling microorganisms to the combined application of animal slurry and mineral fertiliser. A pot experiment was conducted on typical yellow-brown paddy soil. There were five treatments: (1) CK – no N fertilisation; (2) S0 – mineral fertilisation; (3) S30 – 30% slurry with 70% mineral fertilisation; (4) S60 – 60% slurry with 40% mineral fertilisation; and (5) S100 – slurry application. Rice yield, yield components, and soil properties were investigated at harvest. The abundance of soil N cycle functional genes abundance was quantified via quantitative...
Characteristic of soil moisture utilisation with different water-sensitive cultivars of summer maize in the North China Plain
Haoze Zhang, Mingliang Gao, Fuying Liu, Huabin Yuan, Zhendong Liu, Mingming Zhang, Quanqi Li, Rui Zong
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(4):210-219 | DOI: 10.17221/401/2023-PSE
Summer maize cultivars are differently sensitive to soil moisture. To better understand the differences in water productivity of summer maize cultivars with different water sensitivity, a field experiment was conducted from 2020 to 2022. Three different water-sensitive summer maize cultivars were selected, including TY808 (high water-sensitive cultivar), DH605 (medium water-sensitive cultivar), and ZD958 (low water-sensitive cultivar). Soil water content (SWC), soil water storage (SWS), water consumption, water use efficiency, and grain yield were determined. The results showed that under rainfed conditions, the SWC of the medium water-sensitive cultivar...
The effects of biochar grain size on radish plants under low water availability
Lenka Botyanszká, Justína Vitková, Natália Botková, Lucia Toková, Ján Gaduš
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(4):203-209 | DOI: 10.17221/414/2023-PSE
Low water availability is a significant constraint on global crop production. Exploration is needed regarding plant responses to drought in interaction with biochar, encompassing optimised water use and carbon allocation strategies. The size of the biochar particles also plays an important role, especially in influencing the dynamics of water and plant growth. This study explored the potential impact of biochar treatment on radish growth and drought tolerance. Finer biochar particles lead to the most substantial available water content for plants, increasing at around 30%, while medium and larger fractions increase by about 22% and 16%, respectively,...
Co-application of biochar and melatonin enhances pea (Pisum sativum L.) performance and alleviates cadmium contamination stress
Yanfang Wang, Jinzhao Liu, Dong Li, Zhengyang Yan, Ling Liu
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(4):195-202 | DOI: 10.17221/462/2023-PSE
Sole biochar addition or exogenous melatonin application can decrease cadmium (Cd) toxicity in polluted soils and improve plant performance and growth. Yet the additive effects of biochar and melatonin application on plant growth, oxidative stress modulation and Cd absorption remain unclear. We conducted a pot experiment to study the combined effects of melatonin, biochar and Cd stress on pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedling growth, antioxidant enzyme activities, photosynthesis parameters and Cd uptake. Results showed that Cd addition significantly decreased pea growth, chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis rate (Pn), transpiration rate...
Bioproducts and their potential in protection of Brassica napus L. against Verticillium longisporum
Eva Zusková, Veronika Konradyová, Pavel Ryšánek, Jan Kazda
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(3):188-194 | DOI: 10.17221/492/2023-PSE
The experiments were carried out on 5 different bioproducts for control of Verticillium longisporum in oilseed rape. For in vitro trials, greenhouse trials and field trials, the bioproducts used were based on bacteria (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Pseudomonas veronii) and fungi (Pythium oligandrum, Trichoderma asperellum, Coniothyrium minitans). In in vitro trials, some products (based on Trichoderma asperellum) showed a 100% inhibition effect on the pathogen for a whole trial period of 45 days. The greenhouse trial showed significant differences in bioproducts effectiveness (P <...
Effects of selenomethionine on the growth and physiological characteristics of Scrophularia ningpoensis seedlings
Xiaoqing Zhang, Yi Luo, Changjuan Shan
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(3):176-187 | DOI: 10.17221/381/2023-PSE
In order to provide a theoretical basis for the application of organic selenium (Se) in the production and cultivation of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. We investigated the effects of selenomethionine (SeMet) on the growth and physiological characteristics of S. ningpoensis seedlings. The results showed that SeMet significantly improved the antioxidant capacity by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in the leaves of S. ningpoensis, which significantly reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide...
Effects of seedling age and root pruning on root characteristics and dry matter accumulation dynamics in machine-transplanted rice
Tingjue Wang, Wei Xiong, Fuming Kuang, Dongdong Sun, Zixuan Geng, Jinnan Que, Ruize Hou, Dequan Zhu
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(3):164-175 | DOI: 10.17221/327/2023-PSE
To investigate the impact of different seedling transplanting times on rice growth, the present study evaluated seedling age and root pruning using treatments consisting of root pruning (RC20, RC30, and RC40) and no root pruning (CK20, CK30, and CK40). Quantitative analysis using curve fitting of the changes in dry matter accumulation (DMA) during the seedling and field stages was performed, and the changes in root parameters during the re-greening stage were observed. The results showed that the seedling stage could be divided into a gradual increase period, a rapid increase period, and a slow increase period. Transplanting at different time periods...
Effects of temporal variation and grazing intensity on leaf C : N : P stoichiometry in Northwest desert, China
Helong Yang, Yiqiang Dong, Shazhou An, Zongjiu Sun, Peiying Li, Huixia Liu
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(3):154-163 | DOI: 10.17221/356/2023-PSE
The Seriphidium transiliense desert pasture is an important spring-autumn pasture in northern Xinjiang, China, and has been subjected to grazing by livestock at different intensities, thus resulting in widespread deterioration of its biodiversity and ecosystem services. To understand the response mechanism of stoichiometric characteristics of desert vegetation to grazing, the leaf carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and C : N : P ratios of S. transiliense were studied under different grazing intensities. The results show that the control S. transiliense leaf C, N and P contents and C : N, C : P...
The effect of exogenous application of salicylic acid and ascorbic acid on forage quality and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) under water deficit conditions
Navvab Haji Hassani Asl, Farhad Farah Vash, Mohsen Roshdi, Bahram Mir Shekari, Mehdi Gaffari
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(3):142-153 | DOI: 10.17221/181/2023-PSE
The effects of the foliar application of plant growth regulators (PGRs), salicylic acid (SA) and ascorbic acid (AA) were studied on yield and some qualitative traits of corn silage under drought stress in a field experiment conducted in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Khoy in two consecutive years. The experiment was performed in four replications as a split plot in a randomised complete blocks design. Irrigation treatment was in two levels, ir75 and ir150, and the foliar applications of SA and AA at seven levels (100, 200, and 300 ppm, as well as a control treatment). The amount of water consumed in ir75 and ir150 during...
Biochar application influences the stability of soil aggregates and wheat yields
Weijun Yang, Zilong Wang, Hongmei Zhao, Daping Li, Hongtao Jia, Wanli Xu
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(3):125-141 | DOI: 10.17221/199/2023-PSE
In the present study, a field establishment was initiated in 2018 with eight treatment conditions using biochar application rates of 0, 10, 20, or 30 t/ha and nitrogen application rates of 0 or 150 kg/ha. After two years, the impact of biochar on carbon-nitrogen distributions, soil aggregate stability, and wheat yields was then assessed. The predominant mechanical aggregates after two years were > 5 mm and 2–5 mm granular aggregates, with notable increases in the amounts of these aggregates following the application of biochar with or without nitrogen that coincided with an increase in soil aggregate mechanical stability. Relative to control...
Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from six lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) cultivars
Sıla Barut Gök, Yasemin Erdoğdu
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(2):111-123 | DOI: 10.17221/438/2023-PSE
The present study aimed to determine the chemical composition and in vitro antimicrobial potential for the first time of essential oils (EOs) from six cultivars (Druzhba, Raya, Hebar, Hemus, Yubileina, Sevtapolis) of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) cultivated in Türkiye (Tekirdağ) against a panel of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms. The chemical composition of EOs, analysed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), revealed 34 different components in the six cultivars. The results indicate that the main major constituents of all EOs were monoterpenoid linalool (47.60–64.13%) and linalyl acetate (12.92–26.08%)....
Effects of biogas residue addition, as cultivation substrate, on ginseng growth
Yan Gui, Meng Suo, Zhijie Qiu, Hao Wu, Zongjun Cui, Hongyan Yang
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(2):101-110 | DOI: 10.17221/430/2023-PSE
The effects of biogas residue as a substrate on ginseng growth and its feasibility for ginseng cultivation are unclear. The present study used biogas residue at different concentrations and maturity levels to cultivate ginseng. The biological characteristics of ginseng, soil physiochemical indices, and ginseng and soil microbial communities were investigated. The results showed that with increasing ginseng content and maturity, the total fresh weight, total length and saponin content significantly increased. The enzyme activities of soil, NO3–-N, and available phosphorus also increased. The microbiome analysis revealed that...
The relationship of soil sulfur with glomalin-related soil protein and humic substances under different mineral and organic fertilisation
Pavel Suran, Jiří Balík, Martin Kulhánek, Ondřej Sedlář, Jindřich Černý
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(2):93-100 | DOI: 10.17221/493/2023-PSE
In recent years, sulfur inputs into the soil have greatly diminished due to the significant decrease in SO2 emissions. Plant nutrients, like sulfur, can be released by the mineralisation of soil organic matter (SOM), which is a complicated mixture of substances (or fractions) like glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) and fulvic acids (FA), humic acids (HA), humic substances (HS) and others. GRSP, FA, HA, and HS content, as well as the content of mineral and organic fractions of sulfur, was determined in different mineral and organic fertiliser treatments of the long-term field experiment. Using these results, the sulfur content in GRSP was...
Effects of spring low-temperature stress on winter wheat seed-setting characteristics of spike
Xiang Chen, lvzhou Liu, Hongmei Cai, Baoqiang Zheng, Jincai Li
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(2):84-92 | DOI: 10.17221/313/2023-PSE
Global climate change leads to frequent occurrence of low-temperature stress (LTS), which poses a serious threat to global food security. Here, environment-control phytotron experiments were conducted on cold-responsive cv. XM26 and cold-tolerant cv. YN19 during the anther differentiation period. Six LTS levels (4, 2, 0, −2, −4, −6 °C) and a control treatment (10 °C) were set to study the effects of different levels of LTS on wheat seed-setting characteristics and yield. LTS significantly decreased grain number per spike, 1 000-grain weight, and grain yield per plant (GYPP) of the two wheat cultivars. Each spike’s grain...
Crude oil induces plant growth and antioxidant production in Leersia hexandra Sw.
Jose Alberto Orocio-Carrillo, Maria del Carmen Rivera-Cruz, Antonio Juárez-Mandonado, Consuelo del Carmen Bautista-Muñoz, Antonio Trujillo-Narcía, Yolanda García-González, Said Cadena-Villegas
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(2):72-83 | DOI: 10.17221/311/2023-PSE
The potential of Leersia hexandra grass in phytoremediation and natural attenuation of three groups of bacteria in soil contaminated with crude oil was evaluated for 180 days. The quantities of new shoots, root and aerial biomass were evaluated; changes in antioxidant concentrations in leaf and root caused by abiotic stress; population densities of Azotobacter, Azospirillum and Pseudomonas; and microbial respiration. The experimental data showed oil-induced increases of 315% and 196% in new shoots and root phytomass, respectively, and a 44% decrease in leaf + stem phytomass. The enzymatic defence in the grass leaf...
Slow-release fertilisers increased microflora and nitrogen use efficiency and thus promoted peanut growth and yield
Cuiping Meng, Man Wu, Xiangzhu Wang, Liyu Yang, Haiyan Liang, Qi Wu, Pu Shen
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(2):61-71 | DOI: 10.17221/266/2023-PSE
The effects of large granular slow-controlled release fertiliser prepared by a double coating of sulfur and sodium alginate on peanut growth, nitrogen fertiliser utilisation, and soil microbial community were investigated through peanut pot experiments, with a view to providing a theoretical and practical basis for the development of large granular slow-controlled release fertiliser. The results showed that the homemade large granular fertiliser could promote the root development of peanuts, and the root volume increased by 45.10% compared with the uncoated fertiliser at the fruiting stage. At the same time, the soil NH4+-N and...
The effects of diverse microbial community structures, driven by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation, on carbon release from a paddy field
Xue Zhang, Xiaodong Yu, Yunxiao Cao, Jiani Yue, Shan Wang, Yunxia Liu
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(1):48-59 | DOI: 10.17221/340/2023-PSE
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a key role in regulating the carbon cycle in terrestrial ecosystems. However, there is little information on how AMF inoculation affects the carbon fluxes of paddy fields, which are major sources of global carbon emissions. We, therefore, designed an experiment to study the effects of AMF inoculation on methane and carbon dioxide emissions from a paddy field. Results showed that: (1) Among the tested factors, the C/N ratio was the main environmental determinant of microbial community structure in the investigated soil; (2) compared with traditional fertilisation (control), the soil C/N ratio increased by 2.1~15.2%...
Responses of soil nutrients, enzyme activities, and maize yield to straw and plastic film mulching in coastal saline-alkaline
Zhen Liu, Mengkun Zhang, Zengjiao Wang, Ying Shen, Deheng Zhang, Shenghao Zhang, Xingchao Qi, Xuepeng Zhang, Tao Sun, Shenzhong Tian, Tangyuan Ning
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(1):40-47 | DOI: 10.17221/284/2023-PSE
To address the issue of low soil nutrients and low crop yields in coastal alkaline salines, a field experiment of straw combined with plastic film mulching in coastal alkaline salines was conducted in this study to explore the effects of different treatments on soil nutrients, enzyme activities and maize yield. Four treatments, including no mulching (NM), straw mulching (SM), plastic film mulching (PM), and straw mulching combined with plastic film mulching (SP), were set up during 2019–2020. In the 0–20 cm soil layer, compared with NM, the soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil catalase activity (SCA) of SM significantly increased by 23.4%...
Sole and combined foliar application of silicon and putrescine alleviates the negative effects of drought stress in maize by modulating the morpho-physiological and antioxidant defence mechanisms
Hossam S. El-Beltagi, Khairiah Mubarak Alwutayd, Umair Rasheed, Abdul Sattar, Qasim Ali, Basmah M. Alharbi, Ghadah Hamad Al-Hawas, Zahid Khorshid Abbas, Doaa Bahaa Eldin Darwish, Samy F. Mahmoud, Manal Abdullah Al-Shaqhaa, Ahmed Abou El-Yazied, Maha M.A. Hamada
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(1):26-39 | DOI: 10.17221/423/2023-PSE
Drought stress is one of the major threats to food security in the climate change scenario. Reducing the deleterious impacts of drought stress on the productivity of cereal crops is crucial. Hence, limited information has been available about the effect of the combined use of plant growth regulators and mineral fertilisers on promoting drought tolerance in maize seedlings. In this study, a pot experiment was carried out to evaluate the potential of sole or combined application of silicon (Si) and putrescine (Put) to mitigate the detrimental effects of drought on maize. The experimental treatments were, i.e. control (CK), water spray, 4.0 mmol Si, 0.5...
Effects of foliar application of amino acid-chelated selenite on photosynthetic characteristics of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) leaves at the podding stage
Ying Wang, Qing Zhu, Zhiwei Wang, Junpei Wang, Zhen Wang, Feiyan Yu, Lianhe Zhang
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(1):17-25 | DOI: 10.17221/406/2023-PSE
Foliar application of selenium (Se) is an effective measure to increase Se concentrations in peanut pods. However, how the foliar application of amino acid-chelated selenite affects the photosynthetic characteristics of peanut leaves at the podding stage is still unclear. Here, the effects of Se on the activities of antioxidant enzymes, the concentrations of chlorophyll, soluble protein, soluble sugar, and reduced glutathione (GSH), photosynthetic parameters, and Se concentration of peanut leaves were investigated by spraying selenite, L-lysine-chelated selenite, and amino acid-chelated selenite solutions, respectively. The results indicated that foliar...
Six-year results on the effect of organic mulching on potato yield and tuber damages
Anikó Südiné Fehér, Mihály Zalai, György Turóczi, Ferenc Tóth
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(1):11-16 | DOI: 10.17221/353/2023-PSE
Due to its positive effects, mulching with organic matter is a popular soil conservation tool. However, opinions are divided on the effects of mulching on pests and pathogens. Our research aimed to investigate the effect of organic mulch on potato tuber damage caused by soil-dwelling pests and soil-borne pathogens. Therefore, mulching trials were carried out at four sites over six years, comparing the effects of straw, walnut leaves, mixed leaves, compost and two sowing methods (in soil, on soil surface, and under mulch). The total yield of the mulched plots was equal (2013, 2014) or significantly higher (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) than the control, while...
Nitrogen losses (N2O and NO3–) from mustard (Brassica juncea L.) cropping applied urea coated bio-charcoal
Elisabeth Srihayu Harsanti, Asep Nugraha Ardiwinata, Sukarjo, Hidayatuz Zu'amah, Asep Kurnia, Mas Teddy Sutriadi, Dedi Nursyamsi, Wahida Annisa Yusuf, Anicetus Wihardjaka
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(1):1-10 | DOI: 10.17221/282/2023-PSE
Most farmers use urea as a nitrogen fertiliser to raise mustard (Brassica juncea L.), although its nitrogen (N) content is quickly lost due to its hygroscopic nature. Nitrogen loss in the form of nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitrates (NO3–) has been causing low nitrogen fertiliser efficiency in vegetable cultivation. This investigation aims to assess the impact of urea fertiliser coated with biochar or activated charcoal on losses of N2O and NO3– concentration in the soil during mustard production. The experiment used a randomised block design with five treatments of urea...