Crop rotation and tillage systems as a proactive strategy in the control of peanut fungal soilborne diseases

Soil management practices can affect the population dynamics of soil microbial communities. Cultural practices can be adequately combined to benefit natural populations of microorganisms that may have a role in biological control (actinomycetes, Trichoderma spp., and Gliocladium spp.), thus contributing to the management of peanut fungal soilborne diseases in a sustainable manner within ecological boundaries. During six agricultural cycles, rhizosphere soil samples were taken from a field subjected to crop rotation (soybean, peanut, and maize), peanut being under two tillage systems (no till, reduced tillage) with the aim of quantifying populations of soil microorganisms. The incidence of diseases caused by soilborne fungi in peanut was determined at harvest. The highest amount of actinomycetes, Trichoderma spp., and Gliocladium spp. were recorded when maize was the preceding crop. Regarding tillage systems, the populations of the three groups of microorganisms were higher in peanut under no tillage than under reduced tillage. Under these conditions, the lowest incidence of peanut blight (Sclerotinia minor) and root rot (strains of Fusarium solani) was observed, suggesting a possible natural control of peanut soilborne pathogens. The quantification of actinomycetes, Trichoderma spp., and Gliocladium spp. was used as a tool to explore the impacts of different management systems on microbial groups that may be involved in the biological control of soilborne diseases, with the aim of combining those practices that improve native populations of possible beneficial microorganisms. This manipulation can provide sustainable management strategies in the control of soilborne diseases, avoiding the use of artificial inoculations of microorganisms, and reducing agrochemical application.     

New agricultural practices in the Loess Plateau of China do not reduce colonisation by arbuscular mycorrhizal or root invading fungi and do not carry a yield penalty

Agricultural practices aimed to reduce soil erosion and improve crop yield have been suggested to influence the activity of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) and root pathogenic fungi. We conducted a two-year field survey to investigate the effect of recently introduced agricultural practices on crop yield, AM colonisation and percentage isolation of root-invading fungi on the heavily eroded Loess Plateau of China. A rotation of maize (Zea mays L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) replaced monoculture of winter wheat. No-tillage (NT), and return of previous crop residues to the field in tilled (CTR) and non-tilled (NTR) systems replaced conventional tillage (CT). Yield, biomass and phosphorus content of the crops showed similar trends. Residue application increased yields of maize and soybean independent of tillage treatment in 2004, but only under CT in 2005. CT slightly increased maize yield. Neither residue application nor tillage treatment affected yield of wheat. None of the treatments influenced total percent isolation of root-invading fungi from wheat roots. The increase of some individual pathogenic fungi in NT did not translate into reduction of yield by disease. Importantly, the recommended practices did not have a penalty on yield while maintaining high levels of AM colonisation.     

Soil greenhouse gas fluxes and global warming potential in four high-yielding maize systems

Crop intensification is often thought to increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but studies in which crop management is optimized to exploit crop yield potential are rare. We conducted a field study in eastern Nebraska, USA to quantify GHG emissions, changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) and the net global warming potential (GWP) in four irrigated systems: continuous maize with recommended best management practices (CC‐rec) or intensive management (CC‐int) and maize–soybean rotation with recommended (CS‐rec) or intensive management (CS‐int). Grain yields of maize and soybean were generally within 80–100% of the estimated site yield potential. Large soil surface carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes were mostly associated with rapid crop growth, high temperature and high soil water content. Within each crop rotation, soil CO₂ efflux under intensive management was not consistently higher than with recommended management. Owing to differences in residue inputs, SOC increased in the two continuous maize systems, but decreased in CS‐rec or remained unchanged in CS‐int. N₂O emission peaks were mainly associated with high temperature and high soil water content resulting from rainfall or irrigation events, but less clearly related to soil NO₃‐N levels. N₂O fluxes in intensively managed systems were only occasionally greater than those measured in the CC‐rec and CS‐rec systems. Fertilizer‐induced N₂O emissions ranged from 1.9% to 3.5% in 2003, from 0.8% to 1.5% in 2004 and from 0.4% to 0.5% in 2005, with no consistent differences among the four systems. All four cropping systems where net sources of GHG. However, due to increased soil C sequestration continuous maize systems had lower GWP than maize–soybean systems and intensive management did not cause a significant increase in GWP. Converting maize grain to ethanol in the two continuous maize systems resulted in a net reduction in life cycle GHG emissions of maize ethanol relative to petrol‐based gasoline by 33–38%. Our study provided evidence that net GHG emissions from agricultural systems can be kept low when management is optimized toward better exploitation of the yield potential. Major components for this included (i) choosing the right combination of adopted varieties, planting date and plant population to maximize crop biomass productivity, (ii) tactical water and nitrogen (N) management decisions that contributed to high N use efficiency and avoided extreme N₂O emissions, and (iii) a deep tillage and residue management approach that favored the build‐up of soil organic matter from large amounts of crop residues returned.     

Acidification of a kaolinitic Alfisol under continuous cropping with nitrogen fertilization in West Africa

Increased use of N fertilizer and more intensive cropping due to the rising food demand in the tropics requires design and evaluation of sustainable cropping systems with minimum soil acidification. The objectives of this study were to quantify acidification of an Oxic Kandiustalf with different types of N fertilizer in two cropping systems under no-tillage and its effect on crop performance. Chemical soil properties in continuous maize (Zea mays L.) and maize-cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) rotation were determined with three N sources (urea (UA), ammonium sulfate (AS) and calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN)) in Nigeria, West Africa, during five years. Chemical soil properties were related to grain yield and diagnostic plant nutrient concentrations. For the three N sources, the rate of decline in soil pH in maize-cowpea rotation was 57±7.5% of that in continuous maize, where double the amount of N fertilizer was applied. The rate of soil acidification during the five years was greater for AS than for UA or CAN in continuous maize, and not different for UA and CAN in both cropping systems. With AS, soil pH decreased from 5.8 to 4.5 during five years of continuous maize cropping. Exchangeable acidity increased with N fertilization, but did not reach levels limiting maize or cowpea growth. Return of residues to the soil surface may have reduced soluble and exchangeable Al levels by providing a source of organic ligands. Soil solution Mn concentrations increased with N fertilization to levels likely detrimental for crop growth. Symptoms of Mn toxicity were observed on cowpea leaves where AS was applied to the preceding maize crop, but not on maize plants. Soil acidification caused significant reductions in exchangeable Ca and effective CEC. Main season maize yield with N fertilization was lower with AS than with UA or CAN, but not different between UA and CAN during the six years of cropping. The lower maize grain yield with AS than with the other N sources was attributed to lower pH and a greater extractable Mn concentration with AS. When kaolinitic Alfisols are used for continuous maize cropping, even under no-tillage with crop residues returned as mulch, the soil may become acidifed to pH values of 5.0 and below after a few years. The no-till cereal-legume rotation with judicial use of urea or CAN as N sources for the cereal crop is a more suitable system for these poorly buffered, kaolinitic soils than continuous maize cropping. The use of AS as N source should be avoided. H Marschner Section editor     

Strategies to reduce DON contamination of wheat with different soil tillage and variety systems

With the focus on minimizingFusarium head blight and the deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination of wheat a three year crop rotation system starting with forage maize and followed by two years of winter wheat was combined with three soil tillage systems and selected plant varieties with varying susceptibility toFusarium infection. Higher DON concentrations were generally observed in wheat grain when the soil was mulched rather than ploughed, depending on the mass of maize residues remaining on the soil surface. Maize residues are the most important source ofFusarium inoculum. Infected maize residues had a main impact on the level of DON contamination in wheat grain particularly in the first year after maize cultivation. When the maize stubble was chopped before mulching, the decomposition of the residues was speeded up and the DON contamination of the wheat grain was lower. In the second year following the maize crop, the decomposition of the maize residues/Fusarium biomass was nearly complete and the infection risk was reduced considerably. An influence of the susceptibility of the maize variety against stem rot on the DON concentration of the succeeding winter wheat crop was not observed. The less susceptible wheat variety was suitable for controlling the higher infection risk deriving from the introduction of maize in wheat rotation and the use of mulching techniques. Presented at the 28^th Mykotoxin-Workshop, Bydgoszcz, Poland, May 29–31, 2006     

攀西高原不同轮作制度下土壤固氮微生物nifH基因多样性与群落结构特征

[背景]关于高原生境轮作制度对土壤固氮微生物群落组成及多样性的影响研究尚少。[目的]深入认识攀西高原不同轮作制度对农田土壤肥力及土壤固氮微生物nifH基因群落结构与多样性的影响,以期建立合理的轮作制度。[方法]以凉山州冕宁县不同作物轮作制度[包括光叶紫花苕-烤烟(分轮作15年和20年两种,分别为G1和G2)、苦荞-烤烟(KQ)、大麦-烤烟(DM)和撂荒(CK)]的土壤为研究对象,通过化学分析和Illumina MiSeq技术,对土壤理化性质、土壤固氮微生物nifH基因多样性及群落组成进行分析。[结果]撂荒土壤全氮、铵态氮、硝态氮、有机碳和含水量最显著(P<0.05)。KQ轮作下土壤有效磷和速效钾分别提高了43.0%和2.60%,而DM轮作下的土壤理化性质均下降。土壤固氮酶活以撂荒土壤最高,G2轮作最低。土壤固氮微生物nifH基因多样性以G1轮作最高、G2轮作最低,门水平上以变形菌门(Proteobacteria)是优势共有nifH基因类群,相对丰度占群落的63.0%-92.4%;属水平上,偶氮氢单胞菌属(Azohydromonas)是不同轮作制度下的优势物种,慢生根瘤属(Brad...     

Nitrogen mineralization and potential nitrification at different depths in acid forest soils

Yield decline of cereals grown in monoculture may be alleviated with alternative crop management strategies. Crop rotation and optimized tillage and fertilizer management can contribute to more sustainable food and fiber production in the long-term by increasing diversity, maintaining soil organic matter (SOM), and reducing adverse effects of excessive N application on water quality. We investigated the effects of crop sequence, tillage, and N fertilization on long-term grain production on an alluvial, silty clay loam soil in southcentral Texas. Crop sequences consisted of monoculture sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench,) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr), wheat/soybean double-crop, and rotation of sorghum with wheat/soybean. Grain yields tended to be lower with no tillage (NT) than with conventional tillage (CT) early in the study and became more similar after 11 years. Nitrogen fertilizer required to produce 95% to maximum sorghum yield was similar for monoculture and rotation upon initiation of the experiment and averaged 16 and 11 mg N g^-1 grain with NT and CT, respectively. After 11 years, however, the N fertilizer requirement became similar for both tillage regimes, but was greater in monoculture (17 mg N g^-1 grain) than in rotation (12 mg N g^-1 grain). Crop sequences with double-cropping resulted in greater land use efficiency because similar or lower amounts of N fertilizer were required to produce equivalent grain than with less intensive monoculture systems. These more intensive crop sequences produced more stover with higher N quality primarily due to the inclusion of soybean in the rotation. Large quantities of stover that remained on the soil surface with NT led to greater SOM content, which increased the internal cycling of nutrients in this soil. In southcentral Texas, where rainfall averages nearly 1000 mm yr^-1, more intensive cropping of sorghum, wheat, and soybean with moderate N fertilization using reduced tillage can increase grain production and potentially decrease N losses to the environment by cycling more N into the crop-SOM system.     

The contribution of nitrogen by promiscuous soybeans to maize based cropping the moist savanna of Nigeria

Agronomic results indicate that maize grain yields generally are higher when the crop is planted following soybean than in continuous maize cultivation in the moist savanna agroecological zones of West Africa. Many factors have been hypothesized to explain this phenomenon, including enhanced N availability and the so-called `rotational effect'. There is, however, hardly any quantitative information on the residual N benefits of promiscuous soybeans to subsequent cereal crops grown in rotation with soybean. Three IITA promiscuous soybean breeding lines and two Brazilian soybean lines were grown in 1994 and 1995 at Mokwa in the southern Guinea savanna, Nigeria, to quantify the nitrogen contribution by soybeans to a succeeding crop of maize grown in rotation with soybean for two consecutive years, 1996 and 1997 using two methods of introducing ¹⁵N into soil (fresh ¹⁵N labelling and its residual ¹⁵N) and three maize cultivars (including one cultivar with high N use efficiency) used as reference plants. The nodulating soybeans fixed between 44 and 103 kg N ha^–1 of their total N and had an estimated net N balance input from fixation following grain harvest ranging from –8 to 43 kg N ha^–1. Results in 1996 and in 1997 showed that maize growing after soybean had significantly higher grain yield (1.2 – 2.3-fold increase compared to maize control) except for maize cultivar Oba super 2 (8644-27) (a N-efficient hybrid). The ¹⁵N isotope dilution method was able to estimate N contribution by promiscuous soybeans to maize only in the first succeeding maize crop grown in 1996 but not in the second maize crop in 1997. The first crop of maize grown after soybean accumulated an average between 10 and 22 kg N ha^–1 from soybean residue, representing 17–33% of the soybean total N ha^–1. The percentage ¹⁵N derived from residue recovery in maize grown after maize was influenced by the maize cultivars. Maize crop grown after the N-efficient hybrid cultivar Oba Super 2 (844-27) had similar ¹⁵N values similar to maize grown after soybeans, confirming the ability of this cultivar to use N efficiently in low N soil due to an efficient N translocation ability. The maize crop in 1997 grown after maize had lower ¹⁵N enrichment than that grown in soybean plots, suggesting that soybean residues contributed a little to soil available N and to crop N uptake by the second maize crop. The differential mineralization and immobilization turnover of maize and soybean residues in these soils may be important and N contribution estimates in longer term rotation involving legumes and cereals may be difficult to quantify using the ¹⁵N labelling approaches. Therefore alternative methods are required to measure N release from organic residues in these cropping systems.     

Conservation agriculture, increased organic carbon in the top-soil macro-aggregates and reduced soil CO2 emissions

Background and aims

Conservation agriculture, the combination of minimal soil movement (zero or reduced tillage), crop residue retention and crop rotation, might have the potential to increase soil organic C content and reduce emissions of CO₂.

Methods

Three management factors were analyzed: (1) tillage (zero tillage (ZT) or conventional tillage (CT)), (2) crop rotation (wheat monoculture (W), maize monoculture (M) and maize-wheat rotation (R)), and (3) residue management (with (+r), or without (?r) crop residues). Samples were taken from the 0–5 and 5–10?cm soil layers and separated in micro-aggregates (< 0.25?mm), small macro-aggregates (0.25 to 1?mm) and large macro-aggregates (1 to 8?mm). The carbon content of each aggregate fraction was determined.

Results

Zero tillage combined with crop rotation and crop residues retention resulted in a higher proportion of macro-aggregates. In the 0–5?cm layer, plots with a crop rotation and monoculture of maize and wheat in ZT+r had the greatest proportion of large stable macro-aggregates (40%) and highest mean weighted diameter (MWD) (1.7?mm). The plots with CT had the largest proportion of micro-aggregates (27%). In the 5–10?cm layer, plots with residue retention in both CT and ZT (maize 1?mm and wheat 1.5?mm) or with monoculture of wheat in plots under ZT without residues (1.4?mm) had the greatest MWD. The 0–10?cm soil layer had a greater proportion of small macroaggregates compared to large macro-aggregates and micro-aggregates. In the 0–10?cm layer of soil with residues retention and maize or wheat, the greatest C content was found in the small and large macro-aggregates. The small macro-aggregates contributed most C to the organic C of the sample. For soil cultivated with maize, the CT treatments had significantly higher CO₂ emissions than the ZT treatments. For soil cultivated with wheat, CTR-r had significantly higher CO₂ emissions than all other treatments.

Conclusion

Reduction in soil disturbance combined with residue retention increased the C retained in the small and large macro-aggregates of the top soil due to greater aggregate stability and reduced the emissions of CO₂ compared with conventional tillage without residues retention and maize monoculture (a cultivation system normally used in the central highlands of Mexico).     

Source of the soybean N credit in maize production

Nitrogen response trials throughout the United States Corn Belt show that economic optimum rates of N fertilization are usually less for maize (Zea mays L.) following soybean (Glycine max L.) than for maize following maize; however, the cause of this rotation effect is not fully understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the source of the apparent N contribution from soybean to maize (soybean N credit) by comparing soil N mineralization rates in field plots of unfertilized maize that had either nodulated soybean, non-nodulated soybean, or maize as the previous crop. Crop yields, plant N accumulation, soil inorganic N, and net soil mineralization were measured. Both grain yield (6.3 vs. 2.8 Mg ha^–1) and above-ground N accumulation (97 vs. 71 kg ha^–1) were greatly increased when maize followed nodulated soybean compared with maize following maize. A partial benefit to yield and N accumulation was also observed for maize following non-nodulated soybean. Cumulative net soil N mineralization following nodulated soybean, non-nodulated soybean, and maize was 112, 92 and 79 kg N ha^–1, respectively. Net mineralization of soil N appeared to be influenced by both quality (C:N ratio) and quantity of residue from the previous crop. In addition to an increase in plant available N from mineralization, the amount of soil inorganic N (especially in soil 5 cm from the row) was greater following nodulated soybean than non-nodulated soybean or maize. Based on these data, the soybean N credit appears to result from a combination of a decrease in net soil mineralization in continuous maize production and an increase in residual soil N from symbiotic fixation.     

Characteristics of a Pythium arrhenomanes with High Frequency in Barley Soils

Soils from two long-term crop rotation experiments were examined for incidence of root pathogens with a test tube method, where a great number (hundreds) of small portions (15–68g) of soil were biotested. There was a 4–5 times higher frequency of a root-infecting Pythium sp. In barley monoculture soil when compared to crop rotation soil, where winter turnip rape was the preceding crop. In pathogenicity tests the isolated pathogen caused severe root rot on barley, wheat and rye, but did not affect growth of oats, maize, peas and winter rape. In all essential morphological characters it resembles P. arrhenomanes and we classify it as belonging to this species.     

Effect of Zero Tillage and Residues Conservation on Continuous Maize Cropping in a Subtropical Environment (Mexico)

The effects of zero tillage and residue conservation in continuous maize-cropping systems are poorly documented, especially in the tropics, and are expected to vary highly with climatic conditions and nitrogen availability. In the present study, maize was cultivated during the wet and dry seasons in central Mexico for three consecutive years, under different treatments combining tillage with residue management techniques and with nitrogen rates. In some treatments, maize was also intercropped with jackbean, Canavalia ensiformis L. (DC). Yield and yield components as well as physiological traits and soil characteristics were assessed during the wet and dry seasons for the third year of cultivation. During the wet season, zero tillage was associated with less biomass and grain yield. Leaf chlorophyll concentration was smaller under zero tillage, suggesting less nitrogen uptake. Both zero tillage and residue conservation reduced early growth and strongly increased ear rot. During the dry season, zero tillage was associated with greater root mass, as measured by electrical capacitance. Residue conservation decreased the anthesis-silking interval, suggesting better water uptake. There was, however, no significant effect of tillage or residue management practices on yield. Zero tillage was found to be associated with increased soil bulk density, nitrogen concentration and microbial biomass organic carbon. Residue conservation increased soil carbon concentration as well as microbial biomass organic carbon. Intercropping with jackbean and conservation of its residues in addition to maize residues increased soil nitrogen concentration. Further investigation may provide more information on the factors related to zero tillage and residue conservation that affect maize early growth, and determine to which extent the observed modifications of soil chemical and physical properties induced by conservation tillage will further affect maize yield.     

Increasing Crop Diversity Mitigates Weather Variations and Improves Yield Stability

Cropping sequence diversification provides a systems approach to reduce yield variations and improve resilience to multiple environmental stresses. Yield advantages of more diverse crop rotations and their synergistic effects with reduced tillage are well documented, but few studies have quantified the impact of these management practices on yields and their stability when soil moisture is limiting or in excess. Using yield and weather data obtained from a 31-year long term rotation and tillage trial in Ontario, we tested whether crop rotation diversity is associated with greater yield stability when abnormal weather conditions occur. We used parametric and non-parametric approaches to quantify the impact of rotation diversity (monocrop, 2-crops, 3-crops without or with one or two legume cover crops) and tillage (conventional or reduced tillage) on yield probabilities and the benefits of crop diversity under different soil moisture and temperature scenarios. Although the magnitude of rotation benefits varied with crops, weather patterns and tillage, yield stability significantly increased when corn and soybean were integrated into more diverse rotations. Introducing small grains into short corn-soybean rotation was enough to provide substantial benefits on long-term soybean yields and their stability while the effects on corn were mostly associated with the temporal niche provided by small grains for underseeded red clover or alfalfa. Crop diversification strategies increased the probability of harnessing favorable growing conditions while decreasing the risk of crop failure. In hot and dry years, diversification of corn-soybean rotations and reduced tillage increased yield by 7% and 22% for corn and soybean respectively. Given the additional advantages associated with cropping system diversification, such a strategy provides a more comprehensive approach to lowering yield variability and improving the resilience of cropping systems to multiple environmental stresses. This could help to sustain future yield levels in challenging production environments.     

Soil management effects on entomopathogenic fungi during the transition to organic agriculture in a feed grain rotation

The growing demand for organic products creates opportunities for farmers. Information on the consequences of management practices can help farmers transition to organic and take advantage of these prospects. We examined the interaction between soil disturbance and initial cover crop on naturally occurring entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) during the 3-year transition to organic production in a feed grain rotation in central Pennsylvania. Our experiment included four systems comprised of a factorial combination of two levels of primary tillage (full vs. reduced) and two types of initial cover crop (timothy/clover vs. rye/vetch). The cropping sequence consisted of an initial cover crop, followed by soybean, and finally, maize. The entire experiment was replicated in time, with the initiation lagged by 1 year. We detected four species of EPF (Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Isaria fumosorosea, and Isaria farinosa) by bioassay of soil samples collected four times during each field season. The latter three species were detected infrequently; therefore, we focused statistical analysis on M. anisopliae. Detection of M. anisopliae varied across sampling date, year in crop sequence, and experimental start, with no consistent trend across the 3-year transition period. M. anisopliae was isolated more frequently in the systems initiated with timothy/clover cover crops and utilizing full tillage; however, we only observed a tillage effect in one temporal replicate. M. anisopliae detection was negatively associated with soil moisture, organic matter, and zinc, sulfur, and copper concentrations in the soil. This study helps to inform farmers about management effects on soil function, specifically conservation biological control.     

Earthworm and enchytraeid activity under different arable farming systems,as exemplified by biogenic structures

A study was conducted in order to compare soil faunal activity in four experimental farming systems using different tillage, chemical input and crop rotation practices: A conventional system with deep-ploughing (CT), an integrated system with reduced tillage and minimum chemical input (IN), a system with reduced tillage and high chemical input (RT) and a system with minimum tillage and high chemical input (MT). In nine experimental fields with two sampling points each, earthworms were sampled and biogenic structures were identified and counted in topsoil profiles (0–14 cm depth). Components of these profiles were identified by morphological features. Quantitative analyses of these morphological features provided information about soil compaction, earthworm and enchytraeid activity and distribution of roots and crop residues in the soil matrix. The dominant species in the earthworm community was the endogeic Aporrectodea rosea. Earthworm densities were unexpectedly lowest under reduced tillage (6 specimens per m²), and highest under deep-ploughing (67 specimen per m²), the reverse effect being observed with enchytraeid worms, as ascertained by deposition of their faecal pellets in topsoil profiles. Strong very fine granular structure (STVFGR) was most frequent in the integrated farming system (IN). We concluded that in the studied site embracing four farming systems, enchytraeids play an important role in creating a stable soil structure and porosity at the low level of earthworm densities found in the integrated system (IN). This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Groundnut pod rot potential in three crop rotations,as indicated by the relative pythium population in soil

Summary The severity of a groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) pod rot caused byPythium spp. was found to depend on crop rotation. In order to evaluate Pythium in the soil, baits ofSorghum vulgare Pers. kernels soaked with Pimaricin were used. Most baited Oomycetes were identified asPythium spp. The relative population density of Oomycetes in the soil, one year before the final groundnut harvest, was indicative of pod rot incidence at that harvest. Part of work toward a Ph. D. thesis carried out at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Thanks are due to I. Wahl for his advice and criticism. Contribution from the Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel; 1971 Series, No.1862-E. Division of Plant Pathology.     

Root rot disease incidence and severity on some legume species grown in Samsun and the fungi isolated from roots and soils

Abstract

Root rot disease is very common in the bean, soybean, faba bean and pea plants growing areas in Samsun province. Disease incidence and severity were detected the highest at 93.8% and 55.4% in the bean growing area, and the lowest at 64.0% and 24.3% in the faba bean growing area respectively. In this study, a total of 2714 fungal isolates were obtained from some legume plants and soil samples. The most common fungi isolated from root and soil samples were Fusarium spp., multinucleate Rhizoctonia (MNR), binucleate Rhizoctonia (BNR) and Pythium spp. respectively. Fusarium spp. were isolated at high rates from all the examined areas. MN Rhizoctonia and BN Rhizoctonia were isolated both from inner and coastal areas of the province, whereas Pythium spp. were isolated in costal areas, except for the Vezirköprü district which is situated in the inner area. When looking at the interactions among pathogens causing root rot, it was found the great majority of the samples (30.4%) isolated both Fusarium spp. and MNR-BNR group fungi, whereas Fusarium spp. and Pythium spp. were isolated together from 10.9% of the samples and MNR-BNR and Pythium spp. from only 1.5% of the samples.     

Dry season groundnut stover management practices determine nitrogen cycling efficiency and subsequent maize yields

It is generally thought that grain legume residues make a substantial net N contribution to soil fertility in crop rotation systems. However, most studies focus on effects of residues on crops immediately sown after the legume crop while in fact in many tropical countries with a prolonged dry season there is a large gap before planting the next crop with potential for nutrient losses. Thus the objectives of this study were* to improve the efficiency of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) stover-N (100 kg N ha ^–1) recycling by evaluating the effect of dry season stover management, i.e. surface application and immediate incorporation after the legume crop or storage of residues until next cropping in the rainy season. N dynamics (litterbags, mineral N, microbial biomass N, N ₂O emissions) were monitored and ¹⁵N labelled residues were applied to assess the fate of residue N in the plant–soil (0–100 cm) system during two subsequent maize crops. Recycling groundnut stover improved yield of the subsequent maize (Zea mays L.) crop compared to treatment without stover. A higher N recycling efficiency was observed when residues were incorporated (i.e. 55% total ¹⁵N recovery after second maize crop) than when surface applied (43% recovery) at the beginning of the dry season. This was despite the faster nitrogen release of incorporated residues, which led to more mineral N movement to lower soil layers. It appears that a proportion of groundnut stover N released during the dry season was effectively captured by the natural weed population (54–70 kg N ha ^–1) and subsequently recycled particularly in the incorporation treatment. Despite the presence of weeds major leaching losses occurred during the onset of the rainy season while N ₂O emissions were relatively small. There was a good correlation between soil microbial biomass N and first crop maize yield. Incorporation of groundnut residues led to small increases in economic yield, i.e., 3120 versus 3528 kg ha ^–1 over two cropping cycles in the surface versus incorporation treatments respectively, with corresponding residue ¹⁵N uptakes of 4 and 8%, while ¹⁵N recovery in water stable aggregates (9–15%) was not significantly different. In contrast, when stover was removed and applied before the first crop, yield benefits were highest with cumulative maize yields of 4350 kg ha ^–1 and residue utilization of 12%. However, N recycling efficiency was not higher than in the early incorporation treatment due to an asynchrony of N release and maize N demand during the first crop.     

The influence of crop rotation and soil fumigation on a mycorrhizal fungal community associated with soybean

Population densities of mycorrhizal fungal propagules in a western Kentucky field highly productive for soybean were measured by bioassay throughout a soybean production season. The primary experimental variables were crop rotation (soybeans in 1985, then 2 years in corn, milo, fescue, or soybean, then soybean in 1988 on all plots when populations of propagules were determined) and soil fumigation with 67% methyl bromide/33% chloropicrin. Of the 20 species in three genera found, Glomus predominated both in terms of number of species and population densities. Most species of Glomus occurred at higher population densities in rotated plots than in continuous soybean plots. In continuous soybean plots, species of Gigaspora made up a much higher proportion of the mycorrhizal fungal community than in rotated crops. Species richness and diversity were lower, and dominance and equitability higher, in nonfumigated continuous soybean plots than in rotated plots early in the season, but the differences were not present at the end of the season. Soil fumigation killed most propagules in the upper 15 cm of soil, but after production of a crop of soybeans, populations of total propagules and most Glomus spp. recovered to prefumigation densities. However, Gigaspora margarita and Gigaspora gigantea did not recover similarly. Fumigation reduced species richness and diversity and increased dominance, but the effects were ameliorated by the end of the season. Colonization of roots was low during vegetative growth but increased rapidly after the onset of soybean reproduction. There was no evidence for mutualism during the early half of the season, perhaps due to high soil P and low dependency of soybean. Fumigation increased soybean yields. A stable mycorrhizal fungal community appeared to become established with continuous soybean production, and both crop rotation and soil fumigation disrupted the community.     

Effect of green manure on Pythium spp. population and microbial communities in intensive cropping systems

Saprophytic soil-borne pathogens can be either actively suppressed by organic amendments or enhanced, depending on soil health conditions. This can be deleterious in the event of selection of a soil-borne population by previous soil management and short crop rotation. Trials were performed in the open field and in pots, using naturally infected soil from intensive crop systems, i.e., soil from fields with 8 years of strawberry cultivation. The aim was to study short-term response of Pythium and soil microbial populations to green manure. The use of green manure in these naturally infested soils, 3–10 weeks after fresh tissue incorporation, caused Pythium populations to increase concurrent with an increase in soil microbial populations, and did not result in the suppression of the pathogen. A more elaborate trial was performed under controlled conditions, amending soil with fresh wheat plant material, air-dried wheat plant material and an organic fertilizer with a high level of humic substances. Although compared to the original soil, all amendments caused a similar increase in organic matter content and small differences in soil respiration, incorporation of fresh, not decomposed, plant material strongly increased Pythium, while the organic fertilizer did not affect the original level of the pathogen population. The increase in total number of fungi and bacteria did not have any suppressive effect on the Pythium population in naturally infested soil used for this study.