Plant, Soil and Environment, 2024 (vol. 70), issue 12
Agricultural waste-based lactic acid production by the fungus Rhizopus oryzae: a tool for sustainable polylactic acid production for agricultural use – a reviewReview
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...
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.)Original Paper
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...
Lessons learnt from the use of passive samplers to measure ammonia emissions in multi-plot experimentsOriginal Paper
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...
The effects of long-term rice straw and biochar return on soil humus composition and structure in paddy soilOriginal Paper
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...
Biochar distribution mode in soil affects the vegetative peanut growth, nitrogen uptake and nitrogen-fixing bacteria activityOriginal Paper
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...
Study on the main physicochemical characteristics of different plant cultivation substrates and their effects on standard rosesOriginal Paper
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....