Plant, Soil and Environment, 2012 (vol. 58), issue 9
Modeling the phosphorus balance of different soilsusing the 4M crop model
G. Máthé-Gáspár, N. Fodor
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(9):391-398 | DOI: 10.17221/100/2012-PSE 
Our study focuses on the phosphorus (P) balance in two long-term fertilization experiments which were carried out in characteristic soils of Hungary with four fertilization treatments and four main crops. The objectives of this study are: (1) to quantify the P accumulation rate in the upper soil layers and (2) to calibrate and validate the P-balance module of the 4M crop model. The concentration of ammonium-lactate soluble P (AL-P) increased with time in both soils. The mean AL-P accumulation rates in the 0-20, 20-40 and 40-60 cm soil layers were 3.7, 0.7, 0.1 and 3.7, 4.3, 0.6 mg/kg/year in the chernozem and the sandy soil, respectively. The P accumulation...
The effect of different rates and forms of sulfur on seed yield and micronutrient uptake by chickpea
M. Islam
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(9):399-404 | DOI: 10.17221/145/2012-PSE
Field experiments were conducted at two different locations (Barani Agricultural Research Institute Chakwal and farm field Talagang, district Chakwal) for two crop-growing seasons in northern rainfed Punjab, Pakistan to assess the yield and micronutrient uptake of chickpea (Cicer arietinum). The treatments were four combinations of two levels of sulfur (15 and 30 kg/ha) from two sources (gypsum and ammonium sulfate) and a no-sulfur control. Application of sulfur resulted in a significant increase in seed yield up to 17% over control. Ammonium sulfate was a more efficient source of sulfur as compared to gypsum at both the locations. Sulfur...
Phosphate has a differential influence on arsenate adsorption by soils with different properties
X. Zeng, P. Wu, S. Su, L. Bai, Q. Feng
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(9):405-411 | DOI: 10.17221/200/2012-PSE
The adverse effect of the application of phosphorus (P) on arsenic (As) adsorption by soils can result in increasing mobility and availability of As. However, in different soils, P might influence As adsorption differently. In this study, the arsenate [As(V)] adsorption capacities of six soils with different properties and the effects of P application were studied. The results indicated that the adsorbed As(V) contents all increased as a function of the As(V) content in equilibrium. When analysed using the Langmuir and Freundlich equations, the maximum As(V) adsorption capacity of 0.72 mg/g was found for...
Surface activity of salt-tolerant Serratia spp. and crude oil biodegradation in saline soil
T. Wu, W.J. Xie, Y.L. Yi, X.B. Li, H.J. Yang, J. Wang
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(9):412-416 | DOI: 10.17221/217/2012-PSE
An ideal strain for crude oil degradation in saline soils would be one with high salt-tolerance. A novel bacterial strain, Serratia sp. BF40, was isolated from crude oil contaminated saline soils. Its salt-tolerance, surface activity and ability to degrade crude oil in saline soils were evaluated. It can grow in liquid culture with NaCl concentration less than 6.0%. Its surface activity characterized as an efficient surface tension reduction, was significantly affected by salinity above 2.0%. BF40 inoculation could decrease surface tension of soil solutions and facilitate crude oil removal in soils with 0.22-1.20% salinity, but the efficiency...
Salicylic acid mediated changes in growth, photosynthesis, nitrogen metabolism and antioxidant defense system in Cicer arietinum L.
Q. Hayat, S. Hayat, M.N. Alyemeni, A. Ahmad
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(9):417-423 | DOI: 10.17221/232/2012-PSE
The present study reveals that the foliar application of salicylic acid (SA), irrespective of the concentration used, generated an increase of dry mass per plant, nodule dry mass and leghemoglobin content in chickpea plants. The activity of nitrogenase (E.C 1.18.6.1), nitrate reductase (NR) (E.C. 1.6.6.1), glutamine synthetase (GS) (E.C 6.3.1.2), glutamate synthase (GOGAT) (E.C 1.4.7.1) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) (E.C 1.4.1.3) increased as well. Among the three concentrations of SA, the order of response was found to be 10-5 mol/L > 10-6 mol/L > 10-4 mol/L > control.
Nodulation of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) roots: depth distribution and temporal variation
F. Li, T. Kautz, R. Pude, U. Köpke
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(9):424-428 | DOI: 10.17221/314/2012-PSE
This study was undertaken in order to test whether the development of nodule density over the vegetation period is different in lucerne stands grown for 1, 2 or 3 years continuously. For rapidly assessing nodule density in the field, a modified profile wall method was applied. Nodules were counted on a vertical profile wall, after spraying away a 2 cm layer of soil. For validating this method nodule density was determined on roots washed from monolith samples. Field data indicate that there is a shift of nodulation towards deeper soil layers with increasing maturity of lucerne stands. In 1-year lucerne nodulation was limited virtually to the top 15...
Proton release by tea plant (Camellia sinensis L.) roots as affected by nutrient solution concentration and pH
Q. Wan, R.K. Xu, X.H. Li
Plant Soil Environ., 2012, 58(9):429-434 | DOI: 10.17221/326/2012-PSE
Solution culture experiments were conducted and the protons released were measured with an automatic titration system to determine the main factors affecting proton release by tea roots. Results indicated that the higher were the cation concentrations, the more protons were released from the roots, suggesting that tea roots took up a large amount of cations during growth, and then released protons to maintain charge balance of the plant body. The amount of protons released from tea roots at controlled pH was much higher than that in the treatments with uncontrolled pH. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis showed that both NH4+...