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Due to its positive effects, mulching with organic matter is a popular soil conservation tool. However, opinions are divided on the effects of mulching on pests and pathogens. Our research aimed to investigate the effect of organic mulch on potato tuber damage caused by soil-dwelling pests and soil-borne pathogens. Therefore, mulching trials were carried out at four sites over six years, comparing the effects of straw, walnut leaves, mixed leaves, compost and two sowing methods (in soil, on soil surface, and under mulch). The total yield of the mulched plots was equal (2013, 2014) or significantly higher (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018) than the control, while the weight of damaged tubers did not increase. Total yield was higher in plots mulched with compost, walnut leaves and mixed leaves than in control and straw-mulched plots. The seeding method had no effect on yield or tuber damage for any of the cover crops. Mulching potatoes with organic matter, especially compost and leaves, is recommended, as their application positively affected yield but did not increase the number of damaged tubers. Sowing potatoes under mulch can reduce the digging work and cutting damage without reducing the yield.

Soil aggregate stability (SAS) is an important factor for soil quality and fertility. There are limited possibilities to influence this soil property, but one investigated method is the application of additives which have the potential to improve SAS. We established a four-year field experiment on a clay-loam Luvisol with poor soil structure to monitor SAS following the application of additives and grassland revegetation. Treatments included: (1) the untreated control; (2) compost; (3) biochar; (4) liming; (5) cattle manure; (6) woodchips; (7) woodchips + fungi inoculation; (8) pellets; (9) pellets + fungi; (10) hydrogel and (11) the change of arable land to grassland. The lowest 23.39% average SAS value was recorded for the untreated control, and then 23.92% for lime treatment, and the highest 27.69% average value was for hydrogel treatment, followed by woodchips with 27.22% and woodchips + fungi with 27.02%. A significant SAS increase of more than 200% was evident on the grassland two years after the trial’s establishment, and this was also associated with other improved physical and chemical soil properties. Finally, while most of our applied soil additives were relatively ineffective in agricultural practice, grassland revegetation is highly recommended for its rapid increase in soil aggregate stability.

The honey bee is one of the insects that is significantly endangered by the application of pesticides in the cultivation of crops. Not only is acute toxicity dangerous, but the importance of chronic poisoning by low doses of pesticides in hives is growing. The behavior of bees can be affected not only by insecticide residues but also by herbicide and fungicide residues. In 2016-2018, samples of bee bread were analysed for pesticide content at 25 different localities from intensive agricultural production areas of the Czech Republic. Substances were extracted by QuEChERS and determined by liquid chromatography, together with mass spectrometric detection. We detected up to 18 pesticides in one sample. In total, during 2016-2018, we identified 53 active substances. Fifteen substances (31%) were herbicidal, 23 substances (47%) of fungicidal nature and 6 substances (12%) of insecticidal nature. The coefficient of variation showed large differences in the frequency of revealed pesticides between years. For substances sprayed outside period attractive for pollinators (mainly herbicides and some fungicides), the usual methodology cannot reliably determine the degree of contamination, and thus the actual contamination with these substances may be even higher than demonstrated in this study.

Slow-release nitrogen fertiliser can potentially increase crop production and improve fertiliser nitrogen use efficiency. However, it is unclear that are suitable for different regions and crops in the northeast of China. Therefore, according to different soil and climate characteristics, we investigated the synchronised relationships between nitrogen slow release fertiliser and nitrogen maize requirements. Experiments were conducted at Shenyang Agricultural University, Liaoning province, Northeast China, from 2016 to 2017. Stabilised fertiliser treatments increased grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency and nitrogen accumulation at each maize growth stage. Grain yield increased by 2.32% and 11.33% (2016), and 1.55% and 7.87% (2017), respectively, when compared with the urea CK1 (233 kg N/ha) and CK2 (210 kg N/ha) treatments. Additionally, during the growth period of the stabilised fertiliser treatment, the stability of the synchronisation relationship between nitrogen absorption and absorption of spring maize was significantly higher than other treatments, and the effect was the best. Therefore, we conclude that the stabilised fertiliser is the most suitable option for promotion and application in spring maize in Northeast China.

This research had two main aims. First, to analyse the degradation dynamics of herbicides commonly used in carrot (aclonifen, clomazone, flufenacet, linuron, metribuzin, pendimethalin, S-metolachlor). Second, to compare the amount of herbicide residues with the maximum residue level and with requirements of non-residual production. The field experiments were conducted in 2012-2016. All tested herbicides resulted in relatively low concentrations of residues in carrot roots (up to 10 µg/kg) when the recommended withdrawal period was followed between application and harvest. The concentration of S-metolachlor in carrot roots exceeded the maximal residual limit (MRL) if the application was carried out four days before harvest. The measured values of other tested herbicide residues in carrot roots did not exceed the MRL in any of the tested samples. Pre-emergent use of clomazone, linuron and flufenacet could be recommended for non-residue carrot production. Post-emergent use of metribuzin can be used for non-residue carrot production if the interval between application and harvest is at least 80 days. Concentrations of herbicide residues in carrot leaves were many times higher than in roots. All tested herbicides can be applied for safe carrot production if applicators adhere to the requirements for use.

By using jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthetic inhibitor ibuprofen (IBU), we investigated the roles of JA in the process of lanthanum nitrate (La(NO3)3)-regulated ascorbic acid (AsA) content and metabolic enzymes responsible for AsA metabolism in strawberry fruit. Findings demonstrated that La(NO3)3 markedly improved AsA content by enhancing the activities and transcript levels of glutathione reductase (GR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) and L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase (GalLDH), and inhibiting the activities and transcript levels of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO). In comparison with La(NO3)3 alone, all the concentrations of IBU plus La(NO3)3 markedly inhibited the activities and transcript levels of DHAR, MDHAR, GalLDH and AAO, and improved the activities and transcript levels of GR and APX, which further reduced AsA content. Besides, La(NO3)3 increased JA content and IBU decreased JA content induced by La(NO3)3. Meanwhile, the results of Pearson correlation analysis showed that JA content had significant correlations with the activities and transcript levels of DHAR, MDHAR and GalLDH. Above findings implied that La(NO3)3 induced JA production, which further increased AsA content in fruits by mainly up-regulating the activities and transcript levels of DHAR, MDHAR and GalLDH.

Restoration of Arrhenatherion meadows is limited both by the lack of local seed availability in natural habitats for self-restoration purposes and the lack of information on the germination of target species in these meadows. Understanding germination strategies can optimise local seed use. This study aimed to define germination strategies for groups of species based on relevant six germination parameters: germination capacity (GC), fresh ungerminated seed (FUS), median germination time, germination velocity, germination synchrony and germination uniformity. The germination test of 23 meadow species was performed according to ISTA (International Seed Testing Association) rules. The hierarchical clustering method and PCA biplot divided the species into five groups. Based on the Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s test, the evaluation of six parameters in five groups showed that species such as Arrhenatherum elatius, Centaurea jacea, Plantago lanceolata, Tragopogon pratensis and Dianthus deltoides differed significantly in terms of higher GC, lower FUS and faster germination velocity than Lathyrus pratensis, Vicia angustifolia and Geranium pratense. Conversely, these three species had more synchronous germination than species such as Knautia arvensis and Briza media and expressed the shortest peak of germination period among other species. These six parameters potentially describe germination strategies across groups of species.

Intercropping system plays a crucial role in improving crop yield, nitrogen utilisation efficiency (NUE) and economic benefit. The difference in crop yield and interspecific relationship under different bandwidth and row ratio allocation patterns are still unclear. A field experiment was carried out to explore change regularities between crop yield and interspecific relationships under maize soybean intercropping with different bandwidths and row ratios. The results showed that the yield of intercropped crops was lower than that of the sole crop. The nitrogen accumulation (NA), NUE and nitrogen competition ratio was the highest under the intercropping mode with a bandwidth of 2.0 m, which indicated that this mode was more conducive to the N uptake and utilisation in crops. In all intercropping systems, nitrogen equivalent ratio (NER) and land equivalent ratio (LER) were all greater than one, indicating that intercropping systems were conducive to improving land utilisation efficiency and NUE. Under the same bandwidth pattern, expanding the maize soybean row ratio from 2:4 to 3:4 was beneficial to the improvement of LER, NER, NUE, crop group yield. In conclusion, it was preferable in the NA, NUE, crop group yield under the system of bandwidth 2.0 m and row ratio 2:2, which could be a reference for maize soybean intercropping system.

Drought stress severely impairs seed germination and early seedling establishment, and disrupts the uptake and distribution of essential mineral nutrients in plants. This study investigated the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-simulated drought and Na2SeO3 application on the accumulation and redistribution of phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sulphur (S), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) in wheat roots and shoots. Under PEG-simulated drought, increasing PEG concentrations resulted in a progressive decline in nutrient concentrations in both roots and shoots, with significant reductions in K, Ca, S, Zn, and Mn in roots, and K, Ca, Mg, and Mn in shoots. However, Na₂SeO₃ application mitigated these adverse effects by enhancing nutrient redistribution during early seedling growth. Specifically, under 15% PEG-simulated drought stress, Na₂SeO₃ treatments significantly increased shoot K, Mg, Fe, and Cu concentrations, highlighting selenium’s role in facilitating the translocation of these key elements. These results demonstrate that Na₂SeO₃ effectively mitigates drought-related nutrient imbalances and promotes ion remobilisation from germinating seeds to developing roots and shoots under water-deficient conditions.

Immobilisation of lead (Pb) and toxic elements in contaminated soils is of importance due to their persistence in the environment. Herein, we investigated the effects of sugarcane filter cake biochar (SFCB) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) on the extractability of Pb and some toxic and potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cu, and Zn) in polluted mine soil samples from Lower Klity Creek, Thailand. The soil was equilibrated with the SFCB and SBA at the respective rates of 0, 1, and 5% (w/w) for 120 days at field capacity. The results revealed that both SFCB and SBA materials significantly (P < 0.05) decreased Pb extractability in the studied soil, and it stabilised after 56 days of incubation. At 120 days, the SFCB and SBA application at the rates of 5% SFCB, 5% SBA, 1% SFCB, and 1% SBA decreased the extractable Pb contents by 50.35, 40.81, 29.42, and 19.27%, respectively, compared to unamended soil. The SFCB and SBA materials also improved soil chemical properties by increasing the soil pH, available phosphorus, and extractable sulfur. At 5%, SFCB decreased As extractability and increased organic carbon in the studied soil. The Zn availability in the studied soil was also improved by SFCB and SBA addition. This study highlights the potential use of biochar and ash from the sugarcane industry to stabilise Pb and As in contaminated soils.

Foliar nutrients containing macronutrients, micronutrients and a combination of both were applied to Physalis peruviana, P. alkekengi and P. ixocarpa to determine their effect on fruit quality. A randomised complete block design study was conducted in a greenhouse on Madura Island, Indonesia. This study showed significant interactions between Physalis species and foliar nutrition to the physicochemical character of the fruit. Each species responded differently to the given nutrients. The combination of 1 g/L macronutrient (P and K) and 0.0625 g/L micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Cu, B, Mo and Mn) resulted in the highest fruit antioxidant activity, vitamin C, total soluble solids and redness of the three Physalis species. Generally, macronutrients and micronutrients in combination can be recommended to increase the quality of Physalis fruit.

Earthworms dominate the soil biota, and different structural and functional features of their biology and ecology have been studied and exploited to evaluate their contributions as ecosystem services. Due to their feeding ecology, burrowing and casting activity, earthworms are involved in the nutrient cycles, and therefore it is opportune to be considered when the biogeochemical cycles of the terrestrial ecosystems are analysed. All structural, microbiological and biogeochemical impacts of earthworms in soil start with their feeding and digestive functions, which end in casting. The casting activity consisting of the excretion of the ingested soil and organic matter after digestion processes depends on earthworm feeding behaviours and ecology, even described in the current literature as a new ecological feature: the casting ecology. The complexity of the chemical relationships occurring inside earthworm casts between main nutrients (organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium) highlights the complexity of the biogeochemical cycles and the great earthworms’ contribution to these cycles in the ecosystems towards a better understanding of the soil sustainability through the soil biodiversity contribution. Due to this great contribution, the earthworms’ casts should be included as indicators in the integrative conservation management of the ecosystems, as a re-thinking of the concept of ecosystem sustainability.

To evaluate the long-term effects of fertilisation on soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in rice-wheat cropping ecosystems, SOC dynamics, stocks and fractionation were determined. The treatments included no fertiliser, mineral N and P, mineral N, P and K, organic fertiliser (OF), OF plus NP and OF plus NPK. The results showed that the average carbon inputs that derived from crop stubble, root residues and organic fertilisers were between 1.47 and 4.33 t/ha/year over the past 34 years. The average SOC stocks measured in the samples collected in 2011-2013 ranged from 31.20 to 38.52 t/ha. The range of the SOC sequestration rate was 0.11-0.40 t/ha/year with a SOC sequestration efficiency of 6.3%. Overall, organic fertilisation significantly promoted C-input, SOC and the sequestration rate compared to mineral fertilisation. The "active pool" (very labile and labile fractions) and "passive pool" (less labile and recalcitrant fractions) accounted for about 71.0% and 29.0% of the SOC fractions, respectively. Significant positive relationships between C-inputs and SOC fractions indicated that SOC was not saturated in this typical rice-wheat cropping system, and fertilisation, especially organic amendment, is an effective SOC strategy sequestration.

The article describes the use of the recently commercially available technique of microwave induced plasma optical emission spectrometry with plasma gas (nitrogen) generation for the determination of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium in Mehlich 3 extracts. The specifics of the analysis of the agricultural samples for soil fertility assessment mean there are often a great number of samples to analyse in laboratory (the daily throughput of 500 or more samples). The analytical procedures were adapted to special requirements by the use of the new multielemental instrumental techniques. The detection limits were 0.43; 0.86; 0.20 and 0.06 mg/L; the precision for real sample analysis: 4.6; 1.0; 1.8 and 1.0%; the mean accuracy 97; 92; 107 and 100% for P, Ca, Mg and K, respectively, the real throughput reached 100 samples per hour.

Adequate nutrition of sugar beet with magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S) has been assumed to be the key to increase fertiliser nitrogen (N) efficiency. This hypothesis was validated on two soils differing in textural class, i.e., sandy and loamy. The experiment consisted of three factors: (1) in-soil application of Kieserite (0, 24 kg Mg/ha); (2) foliar application of Epsom salt (0.2 kg Mg/ha); (3) N rates (0, 40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 kg N/ha). The following parameters were evaluated: (i) yield of storage roots (TY); (ii) qualitative features of storage roots, and (iii) yield of white sugar (WSY). Both yield characteristics, regardless on soil, were affected to a greater extent by in-soil than foliar MgS application. The highest increments of TY and WSY were obtained in 2016, a year with fewer favourable weather conditions and in soil with a wider Ca:Mg ratio. The greatest effect of Kieserite on TY and WSY was observed under low rates of applied N (up to 80 kg/ha). It can be concluded that the right nutrition of sugar beet with MgS in the early stages of sugar beet growth is the prerequisite of an effective N management on soils rich in mineral N.

In this research cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae, BGA) were isolated, identified, multiplied and used as an inoculum in pot rice experiment. The pH, moisture and algal population were measured in four seasons. The highest and lowest pH (6.7, 6.2), moisture of soil (43%, 34%) and algal population (12, 20 Colony-Forming Units/50 ml on A and B medium and 4, 5 Colony-Forming Units/50 ml on A and B medium) were recorded in spring and winter, respectively. The only heterocystous cyanobacteria were found in soil samples identified as Anabaena with four species (A. spiroides, A. variabilis, A. torulosa and A. osillarioides). The germination of rice seeds treated with cyanobacteria was faster than control. The result of pot experiment were: increase of 53% in plant height; 66% in roots length; 58% in fresh leaf and stem weight; 80% in fresh root weight; 125% in dry leaf and stem weight; 150% in dry root weight; 20% in soil moisture; 28% in soil porosity and a decrease of 9.8% in soil bulk density and 4.8% in soil particle density. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in pot treated with BGA as compared with control.

Cultivating crops influences soil organic matter (SOM), but the effect of different crops remains unclear, particularly under long-term monocropping. The objective of this study was to identify how different crops influence the content and chemical structures of SOM under long-term monocropping. Here, soils were sampled (0-20 cm) under 27-year soybean and maize monocropping and separated into different physical fractions. The content and chemical structures of SOM in all fractions were determined. SOM contents were higher under soybean than maize in bulk soil and macroaggregates and their light-fractions instead of microaggregates and silt and clay. The difference in SOM chemical structure was observed in aggregates and density fractions rather than bulk soils and supported by the result of principal component analysis. The proportion of O-alkyl C in macro- and microaggregates and all free light fractions and that of aromatic C in mineral-associated fractions were higher, while that of carbonyl C was lower under maize than soybean. These results demonstrated that different crops monocropping influences the content and chemical structures of SOM, and the variations were mainly in the light-fraction SOM and highlight a higher sensitivity of physical fractions than bulk soil to different crops.

Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip. is one of the most economically important and yield-reducing weeds in cereals in Europe. Random and systematic monitoring of this weed might provide an early warning for the farmers and slow down the pace of the evolution of herbicide resistance. This study aimed to identify resistant populations of T. inodorum in the Czech Republic and elucidate their possible resistance mechanism/s. Monitoring and screening of T. inodorum for herbicide resistance against acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors and synthetic auxins was carried out. Greenhouse experiments and molecular-genetics studies were conducted to characterize the resistance. While all the tested populations were found to be susceptible to synthetic auxins, two populations (MATIN 2 and MATIN 4) were found to be resistant against tribenuron (ALS inhibitor). However, their cross-resistance to florasulam was not confirmed. The resistance mechanism detected was the target-site substitution of Pro197 at the ALS gene. The two populations carried different point mutations: Pro197Ser (MATIN 2) and Pro197Gln (MATIN 4). This is the first study in the Czech Republic to identify the survival mechanism in T. inodorum for resistance to ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Our results from this research will provide basis for resistance management in T. inodorum in the Czech Republic and other countries.

The water demand for cover crops (CC) should be considered to achieve competitive crop stands for weed control also under unfavorable conditions. This study aims to estimate the weed suppressive ability of winter CC, as Sinapis alba L., Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth., Vicia sativa L. and Avena strigosa Schreb., under a water-limited regime. The water deficit tolerance of different CC was determined in a greenhouse experiment by measuring the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II. Moreover, soil moisture, CC, and weed establishment were measured in field experiments in Southwest-Germany during two contrasting growing seasons in 2016 and 2017. A. strigosa showed a higher water deficit tolerance than S. alba in the greenhouse. In the field, A. strigosa showed the highest weed cover reduction (98%) in the field, along with an increasing effect on the soil moisture compared to the untreated control. S. alba performed most sensitive to water deficit in the greenhouse but reached the significantly highest weed control efficacy (94%) during the dry field season in 2016. Even though the selected CC showed differing sensitivities to water deficit in the greenhouse, their weed suppression ability was independent of the water supply under field conditions.

To assess the response of promising safflower genotypes to late-season drought stress in delayed planting conditions, an experiment was conducted in two years (2016-2017 and 2017-2018) in Iran. The irrigation regime was specified in two levels, including normal irrigation and irrigation cut off in the seed filling stage in main plots, and five safflower genotypes, including Soffe, Goldasht, Golmehr, Padideh, and Parnian were categorized in subplots. Applied drought stress significantly reduced the seed yield and yield components of all genotypes, which accompanied with a substantial decrease in oil content and oil yield of all genotypes. However, the highest seed and oil yield in drought stress conditions obtained in the Parnian genotype by value 2338 and 561 kg/ha, respectively. Moreover, a significant drought-induced increase in palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids, as well as a decrease in linoleic acid content, was observed in all genotypes. Parnian genotype with high unsaturated fatty acids content (90.9%) and the minimum amount of saturated fatty acids (8.7%) might be a promising genotype to starting a formal crop improvement program to achieve more drought-tolerant safflower genotype.

To provide reference for scientific management of nitrogen (N) fertiliser on tartary buckwheat, the effects of the mixed application of controlled-release N fertiliser (a kind of thermoplastic polymer-coated urea types that are characterised by a semi-permeable membrane) and common urea was studied in the main tartary buckwheat production area in China. In 2018 and 2019, a two-year field experiment was conducted a randomised block design with five treatments: (1) no nitrogen fertilisation (CK); (2) 100% N from common urea (T1); (3) 15% N from controlled-released urea fertiliser (plastic coated) + 85% N from common urea (T2); (4) 30% N from controlled-released fertiliser + 70% N from urea (T3); (5) 45% N from controlled-released fertiliser + 55% N of urea (T4). The N fertilisation rate was 90 kg N/ha in all fertilisation treatments. The results showed: (1) the mixed application of controlled-release N fertiliser and common urea was conductive to enhance the yield, dry mass, N uptake and apparent N fertiliser efficiency (NFE), compared with a single application of common urea. In two seasons, NFE was 38.6% (T1), 48.6% (T2), 53.6% (T3) and 53% (T4), separately; (2) the mixed application of controlled-release N fertiliser and common urea could significantly increase the soil inorganic N content in the soil surface layer and decreased the leaching loss of N; (3) with the increasing ration of controlled-release N fertiliser, the tendency of increasing N content of crop uptake and soil residual and decreasing rate of N loss and N surplus was visible. Overall, considered the indicators of grain yield, input cost, N utilisation and N balance, the suitable N fertilisation mode for tartary buckwheat production is the mixed application of 30% controlled-release N fertiliser and 70% common urea when 90 kg N/ha is applied.

Surface mulch is an important factor of soil protection technology in the cultivation of potatoes. Presented herein are the results of three years (2009-2011) of field trials at two sites (Leškovice and Uhříněves), where two cultivars (Finka and Katka) were grown. Three mulching treatments (grass mulch after planting, grass mulch before germination and black polypropylene mulch textile) were used in the study. The weight of marketable tubers (tuber over 40 mm) and tuber size distribution were influenced significantly by mulching. The application of grass mulch on surface of the row ensured a 20.5-24.8% increase of weight of marketable tubers and higher occurrence of tubers over 56 mm (resp. tubers 56-60 mm and over 60 mm). There was no consistent effect of grass mulch on the aboveground biomass of weeds. Higher occurrences of larvae of Colorado potato beetle was found on the plots with black polypropylene textile in warmer site Uhříněves.

Festuca ovina L. is an important ornamental species used in urban landscapes and pastures reclamation. However, low resistance of this species to salt stress has hindered its extended application in low-water and salty regions. To study the effects of calcium on reducing salt stress injuries in seed germination and early growth of this species, a factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with three replications was conducted. The salt levels included NaCl solutions (5, 10, 15 and 20 dS/m). Calcium source was CaCl₂ with concentrations of 0, 10, 20 and 30 mmol₊/L. Germination percentage and mean germination time were significantly affected by interaction of salinity and calcium. As salinity increased, mean germination time increased. However, germination percentage, shootlet length, rootlet length, shootlet fresh and dry weight, rootlet fresh and dry weight and seed vigour index decreased following the increasing salinity. Concentrations of 10 and 20 mmol₊/L CaCl₂ had significant effects on reducing salt injuries on seed germination of Festuca ovina. This finding was even prominent in higher salinity levels of 15 and 20 dS/m. Therefore, to facilitate using this species in urban landscapes or in pastures, pre-treatment of the seeds using 10 and 20 mmol₊/L CaCl₂ is recommended.

Soil degradation caused by water erosion in sloping hop gardens is definitely a serious issue because the space in inter-rows is without plant residues for most of the year in traditional cultivation. Cover crops in inter-rows of hop gardens and their efficiency in soil conservation are assessed in this article. There is only little research available in this area, and our data bring unique information on water erosion in hop gardens. Technologies with different types of cover crops were always compared with the conventional cultivation. The research was conducted within the years 2016-2020. A field rainfall simulator was used to determine the soil conservation effectiveness of selected technologies. The simulated rainfall was performed in two stages of cover crops growth with the main aim to measure the overall soil loss. The outcomes from the measurements confirmed that cover crops in inter-rows of hop gardens protect the soil surface from falling raindrops and significantly (P-value < 0.05) reduce soil loss. It can be concluded that this technology had a soil conservation effect already one month after sowing, and it is a basis for sustainable agricultural management on sloping hop gardens.

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 CO₂ emission more than faba bean when left on the surface whereas no differences among residues were observed when incorporated. In the Cambisol, faba bean emitted more than wheat when left in the surface and less when incorporated. Total CH₄ emissions were higher in faba bean in Cambisol for both management and only when applied in the surface in Vertisol. Total N₂O emission in the Vertisol was higher when faba bean was incorporated, and wheat was left on the surface. In the Cambisol, wheat addition increased total N₂O emissions by 20% compared to faba bean, with no differences between managements. Our study confirmed that contrasting properties among tested soils resulted in significant interactions with residues own degradability and their placement affecting residue decomposition, soil C and N dynamics, and GHGs emission.

Salinity is one of the most widespread stresses responsible for water and soil pollution across the globe. Salicylic acid (SA) has a major role in defence responses against various abiotic stresses. In the current study, SA (0.05 mmol) influences were evaluated in mitigation of the negative impact of salinity (40 and 80 mmol NaCl) in the maize plant. NaCl stress-induced significant accumulation of organic osmolytes (total soluble sugars (TSS), total soluble protein (TSP), and proline) by 35.6, 66.2, and 89.2%, respectively, with 80 mmol NaCl. In addition, salinity is also responsible for the elevated accumulation of inorganic osmolytes (Na⁺ and Na⁺/K⁺ ratio) by 202.4% and 398.8%, respectively, and for the reduction in the K⁺ and Ca²⁺ levels by 48.6% and 58.9%, respectively, with 80 mmol NaCl. Moreover, salinity stress reduced phytohormones (indoleacetic acid (IAA) and gibberellic acid (GA3)) by 48.8% and 59.8%, respectively, with 80 mmol NaCl; however, abscisic acid (ABA) was increased by 340.5% with 80 mmol NaCl. Otherwise, SA application caused an additional enhancement in TSS, TSP, proline, K⁺, Ca²⁺, IAA, and GA3 contents but decreased the Na⁺, Na⁺/K⁺ ratio, and ABA to an appreciable level. In conclusion, SA pre-soaking mitigates the negative impact of NaCl toxicity in maize through the regulation of phytochromes and various organic and inorganic osmolytes, which may ameliorate salinity tolerance in maize.

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of herbicide application with biostimulants on total glycoalkaloid (TGA) content in potato leaves and tubers. The study was based on a two-factor field experiment established in a split-plot arrangement in three replications. The factors were as follows: factor I - two cultivars of edible potato - Oberon and Malaga; factor II - five methods of using herbicide and biostimulants: 1. control object; 2. herbicide clomazone + metribuzin (Avatar 293 ZC); 3. herbicide clomazone + metribuzin and biostimulant PlonoStart; 4. herbicide clomazone + metribuzin and biostimulant Aminoplant; 5. herbicide clomazone + metribuzin and biostimulant Agro-Sorb Folium. The herbicide clomazone + metribuzin significantly increased the concentration of glycoalkaloids in potato leaves, and the herbicide used together with the biostimulant Aminoplant significantly reduced the content of TGA in potato leaves compared to the control. The herbicide whether applied with the biostimulants (PlonoStart, Aminoplant, Agro-Sorb Folium) contributed to a reduction in the concentration of glycoalkaloids in tubers compared to the control. Leaves and tubers of the cultivar Malaga were characterised by a significantly lower TGA content than the cultivar Oberon.

The ability to adapt, survive, and compete with weeds of transgenic plants is the necessary evaluation content to release transgenic lines in target regions. We compared weediness and agronomic traits of transgenic maize lines G1F-8 and G1F-19 carrying the mcry1F gene with their near-isogenic maize inbred line Zheng 58 in the wasteland and cultivated field under natural conditions for two consecutive years. The results showed that there was no significant difference identified in the species, quantity, and relative coverage ratio (RCR) of weeds between fields with G1F-8, G1F-19, and Zheng 58, regardless of the sowing pattern in the wasteland. Compared with the vigour of weeds, none of G1F-8, G1F-19, and Zheng 58 showed survival advantages, and all showed weak growth potential with no final grain yield. Meanwhile, no volunteer seedlings were found upon investigation in the following year. The simulated seed overwintering experiment in the wasteland further showed that the three kinds of maize could not germinate in the second year. In cultivated land, G1F-8 and G1F-19 had the same growth stages, plant height, and RCR as Zheng 58 throughout two years. In conclusion, the transgenic lines G1F-8 and G1F-19 exhibited no adaptability risk in Gongzhuling, Jilin, China.

In potato tubers of four cultivars, the impact of drought and waterlogging stress on total carotenoid content (TCC) and individual carotenoids profile variance and total carotenoids, chlorophylls (a, b, a + b) content in leaves during period 71 days of stress in two-year pot greenhouse experiments were investigated. The different response between potato cultivars was observed after exposure to drought stress (an increase of TCC was in Marabel and Laura cultivars) and after waterlogging stress (in Milva and Marabel cultivars). On average, of all cultivars, both drought and waterlogging stresses caused total carotenoid content to increase with a higher impact of drought stress. In potato tubers, eight carotenoids were identified with the most represented violaxanthin, luteoxanthin, antheroxanthin and lutein. Significant differences in individual carotenoid amounts between cultivars have been determined. On average, drought and waterlogging stresses of all cultivars significantly increased contents of violaxanthin, 9'-(Z)-neoxanthin and luteoxanthin, while antheraxanthin, lutein and zeaxanthin levels decreased. In leaves, both abiotic stresses decreased chlorophyll contents (a, b, a + b) with a very destructive impact of drought stress. While carotenoids accumulated in tubers as a result of stress, the opposite trend was characteristic in leaves, where their content decreased depending on the duration of stress.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of the straw mulch and compost application on the soil losses in potatoes cultivation. The three-year (2016-2018) exact field plot trials with the potato cv. Dicolora was carried out at the experimental station in Prague-Uhříněves. Wheat straw mulch in two doses 2.5 t/ha (SM1) and 4.5 t/ha (SM2) was applied on the soil surface; the compost in a dose of 20 t/ha (CM) was shuffled to the surface soil layer. Both straw mulch and compost application contributed to the significant reduction of the soil losses compared to control untreated (C). In the average of 2016-2018, the lowest soil loss 17.54 g/m² (amount of the soil sediment caught) was found for the variant with the straw mulch treatment (SM2); it means the decrease of soil losses by 71.9% compared to C. Variant SM1 (lower rate of straw mulch in dose 2.5 t/ha) showed the soil loss 18.6 g/m² (the decrease by 70.2% compared to C). The similar results for both variants indicate that for effective soil protection, it is not necessary to use the high doses of the straw mulch. Regarding the distribution of precipitation during the vegetation season, intensive precipitation during the short time, especially when they came after the longer period of drought led to higher soil losses compared to the precipitation distributed regularly.