Plant, Soil and Environment - Latest articles
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Effects of different mulching measures on soil physicochemical properties and phosphorus fractions in orchards in the southeast hilly region of China
Bangning Zhou, Heming Li, Zuopin Zhuo, Lei Wang, Maojin Yang, Jinshi Lin, Fangshi Jiang, Yanhe Huang, Yue Zhang
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(3):171-184 | DOI: 10.17221/675/2024-PSE 
Soil phosphorus plays an important role in the soil ecological environment and sustainable development of the fruit industry in the soil hilly region of southern China, but the impact of different mulching measures on soil available phosphorus and phosphorus fractions in orchards remains unclear. In this study, soil basic physicochemical properties, available phosphorus, inorganic phosphorus fractions and their interrelationships under natural grass cover (NG), film mulch (FM) and clean tillage (CK) in orchards were explored. Compared to CK treatment, both FM and NG treatments have been shown to increase the contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), total...
Effects of exogenous 2, 4-epibrassinolide and its inhibitors on the seed setting and yield of Tartary buckwheat
Peiuyn He, Huangdanni Ran, Kaifeng Huang
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(3):161-170 | DOI: 10.17221/669/2024-PSE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of exogenous 2, 4-epibrassinolide (EBR) on the yield of Tartary buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn.). A 2-year field experiment was conducted on Tartary buckwheat (cv. Jinqiao 2) with different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/L) of EBR and brassinolide (BRZ, inhibitor of brassinolide synthesis). The seed setting rate, agronomic traits, and yield initially increased and then decreased with an increase in the EBR application rate. The seed setting rate, agronomic traits, and yield decreased gradually with an increase in BRZ concentration, and yield was the lowest at 2.0 mg/L....
Influence of straw, compost, and biochar on soil carbon and aggregates in Chernozem
Yuhan Yuan, Chang Zhang, Yao Liang, Jingchao Yuan, Jianzhao Liu, Hongguang Cai, Jinjing Zhang
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(2):148-160 | DOI: 10.17221/580/2024-PSE
Crop residue management is a major concern in agricultural ecosystems. These residues can be recycled into biochar and compost to efficiently promote soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in farmlands. However, the influences of straw and its derived materials on SOC (especially on humus fractions) in soil aggregates of varying sizes are largely unknown. To understand these effects, a nine-year field experiment was conducted on calcareous black soil, including five treatments: CK – no fertiliser; NPK – mineral nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertiliser; NPKS – NPK + straw; NPKC – NPK + compost, and NPKB – NPK + biochar....
Spermidine mitigates wheat copper toxicity by modulating ascorbate and glutathione metabolism, copper accumulation and photosynthetic performance
Limin Wu, Qiumei Zhang, Ninghai Lu
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(2):136-147 | DOI: 10.17221/309/2024-PSE
The influence of spermidine (Spd) on wheat ascorbate and glutathione metabolism, copper (Cu) accumulation and photosynthetic performance under Cu stress was studied. The findings displayed that Cu stress boosted reduced ascorbate (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) contents by improving ascorbate peroxidase (APX), glutathione reductase (GR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH) and gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-ECS) activities. Nevertheless, Cu stress promoted malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and electrolyte leakage (EL) level, and lowered AsA/dehydroascorbic...
Identification of salt-tolerant cultivars and plant traits in wheat during germination and seedling emergence stages
Lin Zhao, Simeng Li, Xuemei He, Hanyu Liu, Yiran Cheng, Yi Wang, Houyang Kang, Jian Zeng
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(2):123-135 | DOI: 10.17221/449/2024-PSE
In this study, we assessed the salt tolerance of 38 wheat cultivars from primary wheat cultivation regions in China using a membership function value (MFV) during the germination and seedling emergence stages. Based on salt tolerance assessment, three contrasting groups were classified, with 10 tolerant, 23 moderately tolerant and 5 sensitive cultivars under low salt stress, and 4 tolerant, 25 moderately tolerant and 9 sensitive cultivars under high salt stress and in addition to Na+ and K+ homeostasis regulation, nitrogen efficient transfer from seed to plant tissues denoted the significant positive correlation with salt tolerance,...
On-site composting of waste hop biomass: the impact of covering piles on leachate quantity and compost quality
Barbara Čeh, Julija Polanšek, Žan Trošt, Ana Karničnik Klančnik
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(2):109-122 | DOI: 10.17221/197/2024-PSE
Covering hop waste composting piles with semipermeable membrane after the thermophilic phase until spring, when the compost was ready to use, reduced the volume of leachate and leached nutrients amounts significantly; there was a negligible amount of leachate and low amount of leached nutrients during winter and spring at all treatments. At treatments with additives (biochar, preparation effective microorganisms) and larger percent of particles of 2–5 cm, it was indicated that composting pile should probably also be covered in the first months of composting and be opened only when turning/mixing it; on the other hand, the amount of leachate was...
Effect of gypsum and potassium fertilisation on the nutritive value of legume-grass mixture
Waldemar Zielewicz, Barbara Wróbel
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(2):93-108 | DOI: 10.17221/274/2024-PSE
The four-year field trial was conducted at the Rolnicze Gospodarstwo Doświadczalne Brody (Brody Experimental Farm), Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poland. This study aimed to assess how different doses of gypsum and potassium (K) fertilisers influenced the nutritive value of the alfalfa-grass mixture. The following two experimental factors were duplicated: gypsum fertilisation – two levels (0 and 500 kg/ha) and K fertilisation – four levels (0, 30, 60, and 120 kg/ha). The sward was harvested three times at the full budding phase of alfalfa. The content of nutritive components: crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), crude ash (CA) and...
Influences of plants and soil microbes on antibiotics in the rhizosphere: a review
Jingfang Li, Liang Chen, Song Jin, Linxian Huang, Huihua Chen
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(2):67-92 | DOI: 10.17221/350/2024-PSE
The rhizosphere plays an important role in both farmland and urban areas, affecting water quantity and quality during surface water infiltration by increasing the heterogeneity of the aeration zone. The extensive application of antibiotics, their recalcitrance to degradation, and the resultant accumulation of antibiotics in soil-microbe-plant systems represent significant threats to the rhizosphere system, thereby threatening ecological stability and environmental and human health. This review synthesises recent findings on the migration and transformation of typical and common antibiotics within the rhizosphere. The main findings include that the...
Ability of soil microorganisms to degrade aminopyralid and its effect on their growth
Martin Koudela, Miroslava Soukupová, Eva Jablonská, Tereza Šmrhová, Tomas Engl, Jaroslav Matějka, Sebnem Kurhan, Petr Maršík, David Novotný, Čeněk Novotný
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(1):58-65 | DOI: 10.17221/586/2024-PSE
The study aimed at the isolation of microorganisms from aminopyralid (AP)-contaminated soil, evaluation of their ability to degrade AP, and examination of the effects of AP on microbial growth. Geotrichum candidum, Cladosporium herbarum, Candida subhashii, and Paenarthrobacter nicotinovorans were isolated and identified using enrichment. None of those strains were able to degrade 100 ppm AP within 2–3 weeks. In contrast, collection strains Pleurotus ostreatus ‘Spoppo’ and Bacillus velezensis FZB42 reduced AP concentration by 35.1% and 47.8%, respectively. Low sensitivity of growth to AP (400...
Optimising sunflower yields: insights from meta-analysis on fertilisation impact and planting strategies for enhanced crop productivity in China
Shun Li, Zongqing Liu
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(1):48-57 | DOI: 10.17221/303/2024-PSE
Sunflower serves as a valuable rotational crop, suitable for snack processing or sunflower seed oil extraction, proving to be a lucrative cash crop. To address sunflower yield uncertainties, this study employs meta-analysis to examine the impact of fertilisation. Utilising 41 studies and 392 pairs of observations based on four criteria, we found an overall 27% increase in sunflower yield with fertiliser application. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) individually applied raised yield by 23.37, 20.92, and 11.63%, respectively. Combined fertilisers (NP, NK, NP, and NPK) enhanced yield by 29.69, 28.40, 17.35, and 41.91%, respectively. Sunflower...
Dissecting the osmotic and oxidative stress responses in salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive wheat genotypes under saline conditions
Ulkar Ibrahimova, Javanshir Talai, Md. Mahadi Hasan, Irada Huseynova, Vaseem Raja, Anshu Rastogi, Hamideh Ghaffari, Marek Zivcak, Xinghong Yang, Marian Brestic
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(1):36-47 | DOI: 10.17221/459/2024-PSE
Salinity represents a significant abiotic stress that markedly influences plant growth through osmotic stress induction. Plants commonly undergo osmotic adaptation when subjected to prolonged periods of saline stress. The current experiments were conducted on five wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes with contrasting salt tolerance capacities – Mirbashir 128, Gobustan, Gyzyl bughda, Fatima, and Zirva 80 under salinity stress caused by 150 mmol NaCl. The relative water content and osmotic potential were found to decrease significantly in salinity-sensitive genotypes (Fatima and Zirva 80) compared to salinity-tolerant ones (Mirbashir 128,...
Effects of modulating probiotics on greenhouse gas emissions and yield in rice paddies
Shang-Hung Pao, Hewder Wu, Hwey-Lian Hsieh, Chang-Po Chen, Hsing-Juh Lin
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(1):21-35 | DOI: 10.17221/299/2024-PSE
Rice serves as a crucial staple food for nearly half of the world’s population. However, rice paddies contribute remarkably to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Prior studies often showed a trade-off between reducing GHG emissions and impairing rice yield. In this study, we explore the possibility of employing modulating probiotics to develop a win-win strategy for enhancing rice yields while reducing GHG emissions. Three paired plots of rice paddies were used in the field experiment during the spring growing season (from February to July 2022). Each pair of plots was divided into control and probiotic addition paddies to investigate the effects...
Mid-term fertilisers and lime effect on grassland in the hilly-mountain region in Balkan
Vladimir Zornić, Vesna Đurović, Mirjana Petrović, Snežana Babić, Dalibor Tomić, Nedeljko Racić, Jasmina Milenković
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(1):12-20 | DOI: 10.17221/347/2024-PSE
Although the effects of fertiliser addition and liming on semi-natural grassland productivity and biomass quality are well documented, less is known about how fertilisers change plant functional groups and mean ecological values. We researched the effects of liming (no lime and lime with 1 t/ha) and mineral fertilisers (control – no fertilisers, PK-P60K60, N20PK-N20P60K60, N80PK-N80P60K60, and N140PK-N140P60K60) for nine years on the Danthonia alpina Vest. grassland community. Based on Brown-Blanquet cover abundance, we calculated Shannon-Wiener evenness and abundance of plant functional groups (based on height, canopy structure, storage...
Drought tolerance screening of plum rootstocks based on physiological and biochemical traits
Ines Mihaljević, Marija Viljevac Vuletić, Vesna Tomaš, Dominik Vuković, Zvonimir Zdunić
Plant Soil Environ., 2025, 71(1):1-11
Drought-tolerant rootstocks with better performance regarding water deficit is important for sustaining orchard productivity, especially in regions where water availability is unpredictable. By selecting appropriate rootstocks, fruit growers can mitigate the adverse effects of insufficient water on yields. However, the response of specific rootstocks to drought remains unknown. Our study examined the drought tolerance of five plum rootstocks (Wavit, Torinell, Adesoto, Penta, and St. Julien) focusing on their physiological and biochemical responses. To assess their tolerance under drought conditions, we evaluated leaf relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll...
Study on the main physicochemical characteristics of different plant cultivation substrates and their effects on standard roses
Yingguo Wang, Tingting Cao, Juan Li, Hang Zhou, Haiou Zhang
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(12):799-808 | DOI: 10.17221/258/2024-PSE
Standard roses are a widely used ornamental plant in urban landscapes, valued for their attractive flowers and adaptability to various environmental conditions. This study investigated how different substrate types affect the growth and development of standard roses and their potential to improve the ecology of urban landscapes. Nine substrate conditions (rotted corn stover, decomposed shiitake mushroom residue, perlite, and combinations) were compared with field soil as a control treatment. The physical and chemical characteristics of each substrate were analysed, and the growth and development of standard rose plants were observed over six months....
Biochar distribution mode in soil affects the vegetative peanut growth, nitrogen uptake and nitrogen-fixing bacteria activity
Xiangzhu Wang, Man Wu, Chengbin Sun, Miao Liu, Liyu Yang, Haiyan Liang, Qi Wu, Pu Shen
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(12):783-798 | DOI: 10.17221/228/2024-PSE
Biochar plays an important role in agricultural production as it can improve soil fertility, promote nutrient adsorption and enhance plant growth. However, the distribution of biochar in the soil significantly impacts its application effect. In order to investigate the impact of non-uniform biochar distribution on soil nutrient uptake, root shape, peanut development, and the makeup of soil microbial communities, we carried out greenhouse peanut pot studies. This experiment followed a completely randomised design with four treatments, each with three replications. The four treatments were as follows: no biochar application (B0); concentrated biochar...
The effects of long-term rice straw and biochar return on soil humus composition and structure in paddy soil
Jinyue Ying, Xi Zhang, Weixiang Wu, Qiong Nan, Guorong Wang, Da Dong
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(12):772-782 | DOI: 10.17221/179/2024-PSE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of continuous application of rice straw and biochar for 10 years on soil humus composition and structure in paddy soil. A 10-year field experiment was conducted in a paddy field and included three treatments: rice straw biochar (SC); rice straw (RS), no biochar or rice straw. The elemental analyser, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum, and three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy with fluorescence regional integration (FRI) analysis were used to study the soil humus composition and structure under different treatments. The results verified that the incorporation...
Lessons learnt from the use of passive samplers to measure ammonia emissions in multi-plot experiments
Nils Carsten Thomas Ellersiek, Hans-Werner Olfs
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(12):760-771 | DOI: 10.17221/453/2024-PSE
Chemical additives can reduce ammonia emissions from ammonium-containing fertilisers. We aimed to investigate the effect of an additive based on carboxylic acid derivatives on ammonia emissions from slurry. In a randomised multi-plot field trial, three slurry treatments with increasing amounts of the additive based on carboxylic acid derivates were tested in comparison to untreated slurry and mineral fertiliser. Ammonia emissions were measured with so-called passive samplers, a method already used in numerous studies. However, problems arose during the evaluation of the collected data, so we examined the methodology used in more detail. The results...
Evaluation of mechanical and combined chemical with mechanical weeding in maize (Zea mays L.), soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Roland Gerhards, Kerstin Hüsgen, Klaus Gehring
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(12):751-759 | DOI: 10.17221/386/2024-PSE
Joint field experiments were established in Southwestern Germany to investigate the potential of herbicide savings on-farm sites with high densities of problematic weed species. From 2020 until 2024, 21 field studies were conducted in maize, soybean and winter wheat, all realised as randomised complete block designs with four replications. Mechanical weeding and two combined chemical with mechanical weeding methods were compared to conventional broadcast pre- and post-emergence herbicide spraying and an untreated control. Weed density, herbicide savings, greenhouse gas emissions and crop yield were determined for all treatments. On average, 142 weeds/m2...
Agricultural waste-based lactic acid production by the fungus Rhizopus oryzae: a tool for sustainable polylactic acid production for agricultural use – a review
Chandra Sekhar Paul, Luka Stefanovic, Tatiana Robledo-Mahón, Filip Mercl, Jiřina Száková, Pavel Tlustoš
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(12):739-750 | DOI: 10.17221/416/2024-PSE
Lactic acid has gained considerable attention globally due to its multi-purpose application. Commercial lactic acid production uses the fungal species Rhizopus oryzae, which produces other organic acids. A crucial point of effective fungal organic acid production is matching the fungal strains’ requirements, where the carbon source plays a major role. The highest production rate is achieved when glucose is used as a carbon source. Alternatively, we can apply carbon-rich agricultural residues as carbon sources. Using agricultural waste for lactic acid production provides a sustainable and cost-effective feedstock but also helps to reduce greenhouse...
Denitrification and Anammox and Feammox in the Yinchuan Yellow River wetland
Qingsong Guan, Yiqiao Zhou, Shuo Li, Fan Yang, Rentao Liu
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(11):731-738 | DOI: 10.17221/318/2024-PSE
Denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox), and ferric iron reduction coupled with anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Feammox) are the nitrogen removal pathways in natural ecosystems. In this study, the differences between these three nitrogen removal pathways in a Phragmites australis covered site (LW), artificial grassland covered site (CD), poplar covered site (YD), and topsoil tillage after harvesting reed site (GD) in the Yinchuan Yellow River wetland were investigated using isotope tracing, metagenome, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) techniques. No 30N2 accumulation was detected in 15NH4+...
Magnesium deficiency or excess hinders tomato growth, potassium and calcium uptake
Huixia Li, Fang Liu, Xueke Zhang, Jingbo Gao, Ping Chen
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(11):719-730 | DOI: 10.17221/473/2023-PSE
Despite accumulating evidence for the adverse effects of magnesium (Mg) deficiency or excess on grain crops, how Mg imbalance affects plant growth and potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) nutrition in vegetable crops is still unclear. The aim of this study was to ascertain the response of plant growth, nutrient uptake and Mg-K-Ca interactions in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to various levels of Mg supply. The growth parameters and nutrient contents of hydroponic plants were measured under the Mg levels of 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 3.0 mmol/L Mg2+ from seedling to fruit ripening stage. Results showed that both Mg deficiency (0 mmol/L Mg2+)...
Information sources in agriculture
Jan Jarolímek, Jakub Samek, Pavel Šimek, Michal Stočes, Jiří Vaněk, Jan Pavlík
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(11):712-718 | DOI: 10.17221/361/2024-PSE
The aim of this study is to define data sources and propose methods for effective and secure data management in an agricultural enterprise in the context of using data for decision support. Current developments in information and communication technology (ICT) have contributed towards the increase in the amount of generated data in various fields. The main data sources for agricultural enterprises are the farm itself, suppliers, government, market, and research. The use of smart solutions, artificial intelligence, and other innovative practices in agriculture is discussed at many conferences, in various journals, strategies and project plans. Data...
Ferric oxide nano-priming enhances photosynthetic and physicochemical properties of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) microgreens
Aayushi Gupta, Rohit Bharati, Jan Kubes, Pavla Vachova, Daniela Popelkova, Lovely Mahawar, Marek Zivcak, Xinghong Yang, Marian Brestic, Milan Skalicky
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(11):702-711 | DOI: 10.17221/272/2024-PSE
In modern agriculture, nano-priming represents an innovative approach, harnessing the power of nanotechnology to enhance crop yields and nutrition. However, to effectively harness the potential of nanoparticles (NPs) for agriculture applications, understanding their mode of action and optimal application rates for positive effects on microgreen growth and physiology is critical. In this interdisciplinary study, we investigated the priming of sunflower seeds with a range of concentrations (25, 50, and 100 mg/L) of ferric oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles (FeNPs) and compared them with control samples. Our findings revealed a significant...
Effects of mineral/organic fertilisation on the soil organic nitrogen pool in a semi‑arid steppe
Dongqi Jiang, Nan Jiang, Zhuo Wang, Chenran Wu, Lijun Chen, Yulan Zhang, Zhenhua Chen
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(11):695-701 | DOI: 10.17221/160/2024-PSE
Compared to solely mineral fertiliser application, organic fertiliser substitution has been demonstrated to be effective in enhancing nitrogen cycling in cropland, but the relevant research based on grassland is still insufficient. A field experiment was carried out in the grasslands of northern China to examine the impact of mineral/organic fertilisation on soil organic nitrogen fractions, activities of soil N-hydrolysing enzymes and their interrelationships. The results showed that the active soil organic nitrogen pool (hydrolysable NH4+-N + amino sugar-N + amino acid N) increased significantly after fertilisation, and organic...
Anti-diabetic effect of rice extract constituents through the molecular inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity
Subhashini Ramakrishnan, Thomas Jebastin, Sumathy Raj, Ariyamuthu Ramathilaga, Rithik Selvaraj, Najat A. Bukhari A., Ashraf Atef Hatamleh, Anis Ahamed
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(11):683-694 | DOI: 10.17221/150/2024-PSE
Carbohydrate digestive enzymes like α-amylase and α-glucosidase can be used to treat and manage diabetes. By inhibiting these enzymes, carbohydrate digestion slowed down, lowering the level of glucose entry into the bloodstream and preventing postprandial hyperglycemia. However, the effectiveness of current antidiabetic agents is limited due to their adverse effects. Therefore, the current study explored natural inhibitors from the methanol extract of rice to combat this issue. Through an integrated approach, four different rice cultivars were analysed and found that red rice methanol extract compounds stigmasterol and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic...
Prohexadione calcium regulates wheat tolerance to drought stress by maintaining water balance and promoting antioxidant metabolism and photosynthesis
Ziyang Zhang
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(10):673-681 | DOI: 10.17221/247/2024-PSE
This study explored whether and how prohexadione calcium (Pro-Ca) regulated wheat tolerance to drought stress (DS). Findings displayed that DS had significant influence on antioxidant metabolism, water balance and the photosynthesis. DS significantly improved the activity level of enzymatic antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), the contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH), electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the contents of osmotic regulatory substances soluble protein (SP), soluble sugars (SS) and proline (Pro), compared with...
Innovative approach to utilising magnetic fields to enhance wheat yield: evidence from field studies in China
Yinglei Zhang, Hangyu Dou, Liuyang yang, Yihan Zhang, Wei Sun, Yihao Ruan, Jiameng Guo, Yongchao Wang, Ruixin Shao, Qinghua Yang, Hao Wang
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(10):656-672 | DOI: 10.17221/285/2024-PSE
Magnetic fields, as a form of physical energy, exert an influence on biological activities. However, our current understanding of the impact of magnetic fields on wheat yield remains limited. In this study, our objective was to investigate the effects of magnetic field treatment of wheat plants on their yield, root growth, absorption of nitrogen and phosphorus and soil bacterial diversity. The experiments were conducted at two agricultural research stations in China, Zhengzhou and Xuchang. Plants were treated with magnetic fields of 20, 40, 60, and 80 mT induced by permanent magnets for chronic exposure. Untreated plants were considered as controls....
Serendipita indica improve seed germination and seedling growth of Lolium multiflorum Lam. through amelioration of osmotic adjustment, nutrient accumulation and Na+/K+ homoeostasis under salinity conditions
Binghua Liu, Xinghong Liu, Lianjia Yu, Xingjian Dun, Hailin Ma, Fangchun Liu, Lin Peng
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(10):644-655 | DOI: 10.17221/244/2024-PSE
A pot experiment was carried out to determine the effect of Serendipita indica on the salt response of Lolium multiflorum Lam. Although the salinity decreased the root colonisation of S. indica by 28.34%, successful colonisation of S. indica increased the seed germination rate, fresh weight, leaf relative water content and chlorophyll content by 28.09, 59.01, 38.78 and 28.80%, respectively, compared with uncolonised seedlings. Under salinity, leaf malondialdehyde content, leaf relative electrical conductivity, as well as Na+ content and Na+/K+ ratio in leaves and roots of S. indica-colonised...
Enhanced maize yield and nitrogen efficiency with low molecular weight fulvic acid: insights into chlorophyll a/b ratio and nitrogen metabolising enzyme activity
Fugui Li, Shujie Zhang, Longhang Chai, Zhiqiang Guo, Peipei Li, Yanlai Han, Yi Wang
Plant Soil Environ., 2024, 70(10):632-643 | DOI: 10.17221/320/2024-PSE
This study investigates the impact of various molecular weights (MWs) of fulvic acid (FA) on maize growth, grain yield, and nutrient uptake under different nitrogen levels (NLs). A 2 × 3 balanced design was employed, with high (0.2 g N/kg) and low (0.05 g N/kg) NLs, and three FA MW ranges (W1 ≤ 3 000 D, 3 000 < W2 ≤ 10 000 D, W3 > 10 000 D) were applied at 25 mg/kg in soil. Significant interactions between NLs and FA MWs were observed in chlorophyll a/b ratio, nitrate reductase and glutamate dehydrogenase activities, nitrogen content, and nitrogen uptake efficiency. Overall, under different NLs, FA application reduced chlorophyll...