Plant, Soil and Environment, 2020 (vol. 66), issue 5
Laboratory tests for aerobic bioremediation of the contaminated sites in the Czech RepublicReview
Jana Chumchalová, Martin Kubal
Plant Soil Environ., 2020, 66(5):191-199 | DOI: 10.17221/673/2019-PSE 
Laboratory-scale testing methods applicable to evaluation of contaminated subsurface microbial communities are discussed in relation to their potential in supporting effective site bioremediation. Both culture-dependent and culture-independent techniques are considered here with special emphasis on their capacity to contribute to bioremediation system design, in optimal cases by providing information on contaminant degradation rates. In this regard, microbial soil respiration tests seem to be the most useful tool since microbial soil respiration is a sensitive and easily measurable parameter for determination of metabolic activity within the sample...
The allelopathic properties of decomposing buckwheat residues are not directly related to phenolic compounds in soilOriginal Paper
Magdalena Szwed, Joanna Mitrus, Wies³aw Wiczkowski, Henryk Dêbski, Marcin Horbowicz
Plant Soil Environ., 2020, 66(5):200-206 | DOI: 10.17221/124/2020-PSE
Previous studies have shown that residues of common buckwheat roots (BRR) (but not entire common buckwheat plants, BPR) in the soil inhibited the growth of barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli L.). The objective of the study was to determine how both the residues affect the content of free phenolics, their esters and glycosides in the soil. The aqueous extracts were used to analyse of unbound phenolic compounds, while those bound to the soil were extracted with sodium citrate. Moreover, an in vitro test was used to assess the allelopathic effect of phenolic compounds present in the soil against barnyardgrass. Among the analysed...
Soil phenolic compound variability in two Mediterranean olive grovesOriginal Paper
Eleonora Grilli, Esterina Di Resta, Monica Scognamiglio, Severina Pacifico, Antonio Fiorentino, Thiago Assis Rodrigues Nogueira, Renata Concetta Vigliotti, Antonio Ganga
Plant Soil Environ., 2020, 66(5):207-215 | DOI: 10.17221/165/2020-PSE
Phenolic compounds (PCs) - with special reference to secondary plant metabolites - were characterised in two Mediterranean olive groves (Olea europaea L.). Representative pedological profiles were dug to identify and characterise the pedotype. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were carried out on soil core samples gathered at fixed depths (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm) and olive leaf methanol extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The total PCs content reflected the soil organic carbon distribution, especially carbon of humic and fulvic acids, corroborating their crucial role in humification pathways. Among...
Indole-3-acetic acid synthesizing chromium-resistant bacteria can mitigate chromium toxicity in Helianthus annuus L.Original Paper
Hadia-e-Fatima, Ambreen Ahmed
Plant Soil Environ., 2020, 66(5):216-221 | DOI: 10.17221/581/2019-PSE
Use of microorganisms as heavy metal remediators is an effective approach for chromium reduction in plants. Chromium carcinogenicity (Cr6+) beyond the permissible levels elicits environmental and health problems. To reduce chromium toxicity along with the plant growth improvement, a cost-effective and eco-friendly remediation approach is necessary. In the current study, chromium-resistant bacterial species were evaluated for growth improvement of sunflower. Three auxin-producing bacteria able to tolerate hexavalent chromium, i.e., Sporosarcina saromensis (EI) and two species of Bacillus...
Vertisols and Cambisols had contrasting short term greenhouse gas responses to crop residue managementOriginal Paper
Giuseppe Badagliacca, Robert Martin Rees, Dario Giambalvo, Sergio Saia
Plant Soil Environ., 2020, 66(5):222-233 | DOI: 10.17221/599/2019-PSE
In sustainable agriculture crop residues management should consider the interactions between soil and residue properties, which can affect the decomposition and global greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission. Through a laboratory experiment, we investigated the effect of the management (incorporation and surface placement) of wheat and faba bean residues on their decomposition and CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions from two soils, a Chromic Vertisol and an Eutric Cambisol. In the Vertisol, wheat residues increased the...
Melatonin and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria alleviate the cadmium and arsenic stresses and increase the growth of Spinacia oleracea L.Original Paper
Mahnoor Asif, Arshid Pervez, Usman Irshad, Qaisar Mehmood, Rafiq Ahmad
Plant Soil Environ., 2020, 66(5):234-241 | DOI: 10.17221/135/2020-PSE
Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a recently discovered natural product that helps the plant to cope with environmental stresses. In the same way, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria colonise plant roots and enhance plant stress tolerance. To study the impact of exogenous melatonin and Bacillus licheniformis on the growth of Spinacia oleracea L. seedlings were treated with 100 µmol exogenous melatonin and B. licheniformis under cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) stresses by a pot experiment. Different plant growth parameters, antioxidant enzymes, and lipid peroxidation were studied....
Reaction of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] to seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteriaOriginal Paper
Wac³aw Jarecki
Plant Soil Environ., 2020, 66(5):242-247 | DOI: 10.17221/201/2020-PSE
The aim of the study was to assess soybean response to sowing material inoculation with HiStick® Soy preparation, containing Bradyrhizobium japonicum. Based on the obtained results, it was found that the inoculation significantly increased the number and dry weight of nodules on soybean roots compared to control. The bacterial preparation significantly increased the number of pods per plant. As a result, a significant increase in seed yield (0.58 t/ha) was obtained compared to control. HiStick