Plant, Soil and Environment, 2012 (vol. 58), issue 2
Microbial community dynamics and function associated with rhizosphere over periods of rice growth
Q. Hussain, G.X. Pan, Y.Z. Liu, A. Zhang, L.Q. Li, X.H. Zhang, Z.J. Jin
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(2):55-61 | DOI: 10.17221/390/2010-PSE 
A field experiment was conducted to illustrate the different degree and dynamics of microbial community structure and function in the rhizosphere across four growing stages (before plantation and three growth stages) using a combination of biochemical (enzyme assay and microbial biomass carbon) and molecular approaches of qPCR and PCR-DGGE (polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis). Rice plant cultivation promoted higher enzyme activities (invertase and urease), microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), bacterial (16S rRNA) and fungal (ITS rRNA) genes abundances in the rhizosphere compared to unplanted soil. Principal component...
Effects of salt stress on ion balance and nitrogen metabolism in rice
H. Wang, Z. Wu, Y. Zhou, J. Han, D. Shi
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(2):62-67 | DOI: 10.17221/615/2011-PSE
The aim of this study was to test the effects of salt stress on nitrogen metabolism and ion balance in rice plants. The contents of inorganic ions, total amino acids, and NO3- in the stressed seedlings were then measured. The expressions of some critical genes involved in nitrogen metabolism were also assayed to test their roles in the regulation of nitrogen metabolism during adaptation of rice to salt stress. The results showed that when seedlings were subjected to salt stress for 4 h, in roots, salt stress strongly stimulated the accumulations of Na+ and Cl-, and reduced K+ content; however,...
Slit seeded grass-legume mixture improves coal mine reclamation
L. Růžek, M. Růžková, K. Voříšek, J. Vráblíková, P. Vráblík
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(2):68-75 | DOI: 10.17221/397/2011-PSE
Slit seeding (sowing into shallow cuts to the soil surface) was evaluated on coal mine reclamation in the North Bohemian Brown Coal Basin (Czech Republic) between 2001 and 2008, on plots both with and without biodegradable waste enrichment. Prior to experimentation (in 2000, once) were applied dehydrated, anaerobically digested wastewater sludge, 200 (41) t/ha fresh mass (dry mass), together with paper mill waste, 400 (131) t/ha, and bark substrate Envima, 400 (145) t/ha. Spontaneous herbaceous cover was enhanced each end of April from 2001 to 2003 by slit seeded grass-legume mixture containing Festuca pratensis L. (46%); Lotus corniculatus...
The effect of mineral N fertiliser and sewage sludge on yield and nitrogen efficiency of silage maize
J. Černý, J. Balík, M. Kulhánek, F. Vašák, L. Peklová, O. Sedlář
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(2):76-83 | DOI: 10.17221/538/2011-PSE
A field experiment was conducted on a chernozem soil to estimate fertiliser N efficiency of silage maize (Zea mays L.) by the difference method as influenced by the type of N fertiliser (mineral-MF vs. sewage sludge-SS), and N rate. Eight N treatments were included (0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 kg N/ha prior to maize sowing, 60 kg N/ha at planting in MF; 120, and 240 kg N/ha in SS. The average dry mater (DM) yields were 11.2-14.8 t/ha. Average nitrogen uptakes were 88-185 kg N/ha, when the average N contents in DM were 0.8-1.25%. Nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) was a relatively stable value for treatments with MF. The best use of nitrogen...
Testing of Algerian fir zygotic and somatic embryos on defence reactions in vitro
B. Vooková, J. Hřib, V. Adamec
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(2):84-90 | DOI: 10.17221/237/2011-PSE
Defence reactions of desiccated cotyledonary somatic embryos and mature zygotic embryos of Abies numidica were tested by dual cultures with tester, fungus Phaeolus schweinitzii. Both types of embryos expressed defence reactions. Mutual comparisons of zygotic and somatic embryos showed important differences between defence reactions against mycelial growth towards these embryos. Greater defence reactions were observed in zygotic embryos relative to defence found in somatic embryos.
The effect of application of copper fungicides on photosynthesis parameters and level of elementary copper in hops
K. Krofta, J. Pokorný, T. Kudrna, J. Ježek, J. Pulkrábek, J. Křivánek, D. Bečka
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(2):91-97 | DOI: 10.17221/437/2011-PSE
Photosynthesis and transpiration rates in the interval of 30 min before and 30 min after copper fungicide application show an increase from the level of 5.0 to 7.0 µmol CO2/m2/s and 0.75 to 1.00 mmol H20/m2/s. Long-term measurements show that the increase of photosynthesis rate after copper application is temporal and fades away after 10-14 days. No stress response was induced after the application of copper fungicides. Contents of copper in hop cones are up to 500 mg/kg if total amount of applied copper does not exceed 15 kg/ha. Contents of copper on leaves are 2-5 times higher at the same application...
Assessment of single extraction methods for evaluating the immobilization effect of amendments on cadmium in contaminated acidic paddy soil
Q.H. Zhu, D.Y. Huang, S.L. Liu, Z.C. Luo, H.H. Zhu, B. Zhou, M. Lei, Z.X. Rao, X.L. Cao
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(2):98-103 | DOI: 10.17221/358/2011-PSE
Various single extractants (EDTA, DTPA, CaCl2, NaNO3 and NH4NO3) and the first step of Community Bureau of Reference (BCR1) method were used to evaluate the immobilization of Cd in contaminated acidic paddy soil by different amendments. The extractability of Cd in amended soil changed in the following order: EDTA ≈ BCR1 > DTPA > NH4NO3 ≈ CaCl2 > NaNO3. A simple correlation analysis indicated that the BCR1, CaCl2, NH4NO3, and NaNO3 methods are the best suited methods for predicting changes in the phytoavailability...