Bt toxin is not taken up from soil or hydroponic culture by corn,carrot, radish,or turnip

The culture of transgenic Bt corn (Zea mays L.) has resulted in concern about the uptake of the Cry1Ab protein toxin by crops subsequently grown in soils in which Bt corn has been grown. The toxin released to soil in root exudates of Bt corn, from the degradation of the biomass of Bt corn, or as purified toxin, was not taken up from soil, where the toxin is bound on surface-active particles (e.g. clays and humic substances), or from hydroponic culture, where the toxin is not bound on particles, by non-Bt corn, carrot (Daucus carota L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), and turnip (Brassica rapa L.). The persistence of the toxin in soil for 90 days after its addition in purified form or for 120–180 days after its release in exudates or from biomass, the longest times evaluated, confirmed that the toxin was bound on surface-active particles in soil, which protected the toxin from biodegradation. The greater toxicity of the toxin in soil amended with 9% montmorillonite or kaolinite than in soil amended with 3% of these clay minerals indicated that the binding and persistence of the toxin increased as the clay concentration was increased.     

Cry3Bb1 protein from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis> in root exudates and biomass of transgenic corn does not persist in soil

The Cry3Bb1 protein, insecticidal to the corn rootworm complex (Diabrotica spp.), of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) subsp. kumamotoensis was released in root exudates of transgenic Bt corn (event MON863) in sterile hydroponic culture (7.5 +/- 1.12 ng/ml after 28 days of growth) and in nonsterile soil throughout growth of the plants (2.2 +/- 0.62 ng/g after 63 days of growth). Kitchawan soil, which contains predominantly kaolinite (K) but not montmorillonite (M), was amended to 3 or 6% (vol./vol.) with K (3K and 6K soils) or M (3M and 6M soils) and with 1, 3, 5, or 10% (wt./wt.) of ground biomass of Bt corn expressing the Cry3Bb1 protein and incubated at 25 +/- 2 degrees C at the -33-kPa water tension for 60 days. Soils were analyzed for the presence of the protein every 7 to 10 days with a western blot assay (ImmunoStrip) and verified by ELISA. Persistence of the protein varied with the type and amount of clay mineral and the pH of the soils and increased as the concentration of K was increased but decreased as the concentration of M was increased. Persistence decreased when the pH of the K-amended soils was increased from ca. 5 to ca. 7 with CaCO(3): the protein was not detected after 14 and 21 days in the pH-adjusted 3K and 6K soils, respectively, whereas it was detected after 40 days in the 3K and 6K soils not adjusted to pH 7. The protein was detected for only 21 days in the 3M soil and for 14 days in the 6M soil, which were not adjusted in pH. These results indicate that the Cry3Bb1 protein does not persist or accumulate in soil and is degraded rapidly.     

Factors Influencing Emergence of Juveniles from Cysts of Heterodera zeae

Several factors were studied to determine their effects on hatch and emergence of second-stage juveniles (J2) from cysts of Heterodera zeae. The optimum temperature for emergence of J2 from cysts of H. zeae was 30 C. No juveniles emerged from cysts at 10 or 40 C. Immersion of cysts in 4 mM zinc chloride solution stimulated 10% greater emergence of J2 than occurred in tap water controls during 28 days. Fresh corn rhizosphere leachates from 25-day and older plants growing in sand or sandy field soil stimulated 22-24% greater emergence of J2 from cysts than occurred in tap water after 28 days. Rhizosphere leachates stored for 30 days at 4 C and leachates of sand, sandy field soil, and silty field soil inhibited emergence of J2 from cysts by 7-12% compared to tap water. Rhizosphere leachates from corn plants aged 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 days growing in sandy field soil stimulated emergence of J2 from cysts. Similar numbers of J2 emerged from cysts regardless of whether the source of cysts was field microplot cultures, greenhouse cultures, or growth chamber cultures. Fertilizing growth chamber cultures of H. zeae on corn plants resulted in a doubling of the numbers of cysts produced in the cultures, and those cysts yielded 2-3 times as many emerged J2 in hatching tests compared to cysts from similar unfertilized cultures.     

Effect of corn plant on survival and phenanthrene degradation capacity of Pseudomonas sp. UG14LR in two soils

A study was undertaken to assess if corn (Zea mays L.) can enhance phenanthrene degradation in two soils inoculated with Pseudomonas sp. UG14Lr. Corn increased the number of UG14Lr cells in both soils, especially in the acidic soiL Phenanthrene was degraded to a greater extent in UG14Lr-inoculated or corn-planted soils than uninoculated and unplanted soils. The spiked phenanthrene was completely removed within 70 days in all the treatments in slightly alkaline soil. However, in acidic soil, complete phenanthrene removal was found only in the corn-planted treatments. The shoot and root lengths of corn grown in UG14Lr-inoculated soils were not different from those in non-inoculated soil between the treatments. The results showed that in unplanted soil, low pH adversely affected the survival and phenanthrene degradation ability of UG14Lr. Planting of corn significantly enhanced the survival of UG14Lr cells in both the bulk and rhizospheric soil, and this in turn significantly improved phenanthrene degradation in acidic soil. Re-inoculation of UG14Lr in the acidic soil increased the number of UG14Lr cells and enhanced phenanthrene degradation in unplanted soil. However, in corn-planted acidic soils, re-inoculation of UG14Lr did not further enhance the already active phenanthrene degradation occurring in both the bulk or rhizospheric soils.     

Effects of a soil conditioner on some physical and biological features of soils: results from a greenhouse study

A soil amendment substance-organic bio-stimulator, Terralyt Plus (TP), was used to observe its impact on the properties of clay loam (CL), sandy clay loam (SCL) and sandy loam (SL) soils and the growth of corn (Zea mays indentata L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp./vulgare Vill. v. lutescens) under greenhouse conditions. The diluted TP solutions (1:500, 1:1000 and 1:2000) were sprayed onto the soil surfaces. The wheat growth increased for CL and SCL with the application of TP at 1:1000. The highest dry weights were detected with 1:500 TP and corn in all the soils. Penetration resistance of CL containing corn increased with increasing TP concentration. TP was also effective in improving the aggregate stability for CL but not for the other soils. Catalase enzyme activity (CEA), soil evolution (SE) and the total aerobic bacterial population (TABP) were significantly increased (P<0.05) by spraying TP at 1:1000 onto CL.     

Remediation of Ammonium-Contaminated Abandoned Animal Waste Lagoon Soil: Physical Properties and Growth of Barley

Remediation of the soil beneath closed animal waste lagoons is an important issue, particularly for lagoons in environmentally sensitive regions. Few studies address the possibility of using plants to remediate these soils. The objectives of this research were to determine whether barley (Hor-deum vulgare L.), a salt-tolerant crop, would grow in lagoon soil and to determine the effect of plant residue amendments on barley growth and soil physical properties. The lagoon soil was collected from a closed swine lagoon. Oat-straw and corn-cob residues were added at rates of 0 (control), 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75?g/kg lagoon soil. Barley grew in all soils, including the soil with no residues. Average grain yield of plants in pots with oat straw was more than twice that of plants in pots with corn cobs (10.7?g/pot and 4.5?g/pot, respectively). Bulk density and oxygen diffusion rate decreased with increasing amounts of residue in the soil. Infiltration was lower in pots with oat straw than in pots with corn cobs. Irrigation water moved rapidly through macropores visible in the soil with corn cobs. The soil amended with corn cobs retained less water, causing poor growth of the barley. The results showed that corn-cob residue created preferential flow paths in the lagoon soil.     

Water and salt movement in soil driven by crop roots: a controlled column study

Water deficit and salt accumulation in soil presents serious problems to crop production in semi-arid regions. These problems depend on the active transpiration stream and the selective absorption of ions by crop roots. In this study, a large sized soil column system was used to examine the dynamics of water and ion transport and salt accumulation in soil layers. Special reference was placed on the effects of the active and selective absorption by roots of different crops (i.e., corn plants, sunflower plants and no plants). The column system was equipped with on-line systems for the control of groundwater level. Soil water content sensors enabled time-course evaluations of the volumetric water content and hence upward flux of the groundwater in the soils at different depths. Furthermore, the distribution and accumulation of ions in soil layers, plant organs and xylem sap were analyzed using ion chromatography. In this column experiment, diurnal and longer term changes in water movement and ion accumulation in soil, affected by root absorption characteristics of plants, were evaluated quantitatively. The results demonstrated that the column system was applicable for the quantitative analysis of the effects of root absorption by different crops on water deficit and salinization in soils.     

The effects of cropping corn on the extractability of zinc added to a calcareous soil

The effects of cropping corn on the decrease in the extractability of Zn added to a calcareous soil were studied by a pot experiment and chemical extractions. The results show that the concentrations of Zn exchangeable with MgCl₂ (EXC-Zn) and extractable with DTPA (DTPA-Zn) in the soils with added Zn decreased with time. The processes associated with the decrease in extractability in DTPA of Zn added to soil can be described aptly by a diffusion equation which gives the proportion of added Zn in the non-DTPA fraction as a function of the square root of incubation time. This result suggests that the diffusion of Zn cations into microporous solids is a rate-limiting reaction. The relative diffusion rate coefficients (D/r²) were found to be 1.95×10^-10 and 3.34×10^-10 sec^-1 in the soils with added Zn of 20 and 60 mg kg^-1, respectively. Compared with uncropped soil, the concentrations of DTPA-Zn in the soils with added Zn were decreased by cropping. The decrease of DTPA-Zn in the soils in the presence of corn can be attributed to both its acquisition by corn and other processes associated with the growing of corn. The activity of plant roots would appear to enhance the process of decrease in the extractability in DTPA of Zn added to the soil. The source of Zn uptake by corn was affected by the loading or activity of Zn in soil. In the soil with low available Zn, the DTPA non-extractable Zn (non-DTPA-Zn) was mobilized and taken up by corn. In the soils with high available Zn, e.g. the recently added Zn, only EXC-Zn and a part of the DTPA-Zn were taken up by corn.     

土壤水分变化对玉米苗期吸收积累镉的影响

采用土壤盆栽试验研究不同土壤水分含量对玉米苗期吸收积累 Cd的影响。试验结果表明 ,玉米生物量及其吸收 Cd量在玉米不同的生长时期差异较大。2 2 d收获时 ,玉米地上部和地下部生物量均随着田间持水量 (35 %～ 85 % )的增加而提高 ;而 16 d收获时 ,玉米生物量在田间持水量为 35 %和 85 %时比在其它水分时低许多。 16 d和 2 2 d收获时 ,玉米地上部 Cd含量在田间持水量 5 5 %时分别达到最大值 ,5 5 .4 1mg/ kg和 39.33mg/ kg;而在田间持水量 85 %时分别达最小值 ,2 7.97mg/ kg和 2 3.5 2 m g/kg。在玉米根系的影响下 ,土壤溶液 Cd含量基本上随着玉米的不断生长而降低。田间持水量为 6 5 %时的土壤溶液 Cd含量比田间持水量为 75 %和 85 %时大。玉米总吸 Cd量与水分蒸腾量之间呈极显著的线性正相关关系     

Alleviation of soil acidity in Ultisol and Oxisol for corn growth

Malaysian Ultisols and Oxisols are characterized by low pH, high soil solution Al concentration and Ca and/or Mg deficiencies, which are limiting to corn growth. An experiment was conducted to determine the changes in solid and soil solution phase properties of a representative Ultisol and Oxisol following applications of ground magnesium limestone (GML), gypsum and their combinations, and their effects on corn growth. A plot of pAl against lime potential (pH-1/2 pCa) showed that the points were mostly positioned between the theoretical lines for kaolinite-quartz and gibbsite equilibrium, reflecting the kaolinitic-oxidic mineralogy of the Ultisol and Oxisol. Gypsum application increased Al concentration in the soil solutions of the Ultisol, but had no significant effect on that of the Oxisol. The increase in Al concentration in the Ultisol was due to an increase in ionic strength. Gypsum application increased soil solution pH of the Oxisol due to release of OH as a result of ligand exchange between SO₄ and OH ions on the oxides of Fe and/or Al. Exchangeable Al in both soils was reduced by gypsum application. The reduction was associated with solid phase immobilization through alunite formation; the soil solutions of soil samples treated with 2 and 4 t gypsum ha⁻¹ were supersaturated with respect to alunite. Application of GML at 2 t ha⁻¹ together with 1–2t gypsum ha⁻¹ gave high top weight of corn. Relative top weight of corn was positively correlated with a soil solution Mg and Ca/Al concentration ratio, but negatively correlated with soil solution Al concentration. Foliar Al corn was positively correlated with soil solution Al concentration. Soil solution Al and Mg concentrations, and Ca/Al concentration ratio can be used as indices of soil acidity in Ultisols and Oxisols. ei]{gnB E}{fnClothier}     

The agroecology of corn production in Tlaxcala,Mexico

The primary components of Tlaxcalan corn agriculture are described, including cropping patterns employed, resource management strategies, and interactions of human and biological factors. Tlaxcalan farmers grow corn in an array of poly-culture and agroforestry designs that result in a series of ecological processes important for insect pest and soil fertility management. Measurements derived from a few selected fields show that trees integrated into cropping systems modify the aerial and soil environment of associated understory corn plants, influencing their growth and yields. With decreasing distance from trees, surface concentrations of most soil nutrients increase. Certain tree species affect corn yields more than others. Arthropod abundance also varies depending on their degree of association with one or more of the vegetational components of the system. Densities of predators and the corn pest Macrodactylussp. depend greatly on the presence and phenology of adjacent alfalfa strips. Although the data were derived from nonreplicated fields, they nevertheless point out some important trends, information that can be used to design new crop associations that will achieve sustained soil fertility and low pest potentials.     

黄淮海平原林网保护区夏玉米生长过程的数值模拟

利用改进了产量生态学模型ＳＵＣＲＯＳ,对黄淮海平原林网保护区夏玉米的生长过程进行了数值模拟,并与田间监测资料做了比较,分析了影响夏玉米生长的各种生理、生态学因子,结果表明,改进后的模型能成功模拟夏玉米的生长过程,考虑病虫害、杂草影响后,模型输出的叶面积指数、器官生物量与生长监测资料十分一致。与单作农田比较,由于林网地区小气候条件的改善,夏玉米单产提高６．８％左右。播种密度、播种日期与籽粒产量关系的     

玉米根际与非根际解磷细菌的分布特点

植物光合作用产物约有 12 %～ 5 0 %通过根系进入根际土壤中 ,不同的植物 ,同一植物不同的生长发育时期 ,不仅根际分泌物的数量有差异 ,而且分泌物的种类也不同[4 ] 。这些分泌物不仅是微生物很好的培养基 ,而且一些分泌物可能抑制或有利于甚至刺激某些微生物的繁殖 ,从而导致根际微生物种群结构的变化。根际微生物的数量、活性和群落结构及其变化 ,直接影响到植物吸收水分、养分 ,也影响植物对恶劣环境的抵抗能力 ,尤其是与病菌的侵入和感染关系非常密切[6] 。Ｐ是植物最重要的营养元素之一 ,大多数土壤都具有很强的固定Ｐ的能力 ,Ｐ肥的利…     

种植Bt玉米及秸秆还田后土壤中Bt蛋白的变化及其对土壤养分的影响

在大棚水泥池内种植两个Bt玉米(5422Bt1和5422CBCL)及其同源常规玉米5422,研究了种植Bt玉米及秸秆还田过程中根际土、根围土、3层根外土(0～20、20～40和40～60 cm)中Bt蛋白含量的时空动态特征及其对土壤养分含量的影响．结果表明： 种植Bt玉米和常规玉米后,根围土(种植后90 d)和3层根外土(种植后30、60和90 d)中均检测到少量的Bt蛋白(含量<0.5 ng·g^-1),在Bt玉米5422Bt1和5422CBCL根际土中则分别检测到1.59和2.78 ng·g^-1的Bt蛋白．玉米秸秆还田后,Bt蛋白能在3 d内快速降解,在还田后第7天只检测到少量的Bt蛋白．与常规玉米5422相比,种植Bt玉米5422Bt1 90 d后根围土和3层根外土中有机质、速效养分(碱解氮、速效磷和速效钾)和全量养分(全氮、全磷和全钾)含量均没有显著差异;5422Bt1秸秆还田60 d后0～20 cm土层的有机质和全氮含量显著升高,速效钾含量显著降低,而其他养分指标则没有显著差异,20～40 cm和40～60 cm土层的所有养分指标均没有明显差异．种植Bt玉米5422CBCL后根围土中仅速效磷含量显著低于种植常规玉米5422,但0～20 cm土层中全磷含量显著提高,其他养分指标均没有差异;还田5422CBCL秸秆后仅0～20 cm土层的速效磷含量显著高于常规玉米5422．研究结果表明,通过玉米根系分泌和秸秆分解进入土壤的Bt蛋白不会在土壤中累积,对养分含量也基本没有显著影响.
     

Using a fine root extraction device to quantify small diameter corn roots (≥0.025 mm) in field soils

The study of fine roots growing under field conditions is limited by the techniques currently available for separating these roots from soil. This study had two objectives: to measure the total root length of field grown corn (Zea mays L.) by root diameter class, and to develop an inexpensive and efficient root washing device that would effectively capture all of the roots in a field soil sample. An inexpensive Fine Root Extraction Device (FRED) was constructed from readily available materials and was successful at extracting all roots, including very fine diameter roots (0.025 mm), from field soil samples. Greater than 99.7% of marked roots introduced to the FRED were recaptured by the device. Soil samples from three depths, and on three dates, from field grown corn were placed in the FRED. We found that more than 56% of total root length occurred in roots whose diameters were smaller than 0.175 mm, and more than 35% of root length occurred in roots smaller than 0.125 mm in diameter. Corn roots of the diameters described here have not been reported in field soils prior to this study. Root researchers who fail to measure these very fine roots will significantly underestimate root length density. Widespread use of the FRED should improve our understanding of root distribution in field soils.     

Nitrogen balance studies for different Egyptian soils cropped with corn

Summary The nitrogen balance for four different Egyptian soils cropped with corn and fertilized with increasing amounts of ammonium sulphate was studied in pot experiments. The tested soils were clay loam, calcareous sandy loam, sandy loam and sand. Nitrogen added as seeds, fertilizers, irrigation water and insecticides, nitrogen removed by the plants including thinned plants and fallen leaves and the nitrogen content of the soils before sowing and after the harvest were determined and used to draw the balance sheet.The obtained results showed that nitrogen loss ranged between 6.8 and 51.5 per cent depending mainly on soil type and to some extent on the rate of applied ammonium sulphate. Nitrogen uptake by the corn plants was lowest from the clay loam soil and highest from the sandy soil. In all cases it increased slightly with the addition of nitrogen fertilizer. re]19720918     

Effect of atrazine in combination with captan or thiram upon fungal and bacterial populations in the soil

Pesticides were added to soil at a rate of 10 mg/kg and then planted with corn, wheat, or bean seeds. Captan and thiram caused an initial decrease in the fungal populations but by 108 days the populations returned to levels found in untreated soils. The bacterial populations fluctuated inversely with the fungal populations. In soil planted with corn, atrazine had no effect on the microbial populations, however, in soil containing wheat and beans, populations of fungi and bacteria increased. Stimulation of the microbial populations in the atrazine-treated soils was attributed to the decay of the dead wheat and bean plants. Atrazine in combination with captan or thiram had neither synergistic nor antagonistic effects on the microbial populations. This study was supported by Public Health Service Research Grant No. CC 00284, from the National Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, Georgia. This study was supported by Public Health Service Research Grant No. CC 00284, from the National Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, Georgia.     

Volume Contents

Distribution of root systems through soils and recolonization of root channels by successive crops are fundamental, though difficult to study, processes of soil ecology. This article reports a minirhizotron (MR) study of corn and alfalfa root systems throughout the soil profile of Kalamazoo loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalf) monolith lysimeters for a three-year succession of corn, alfalfa and corn. Multiple-date comparisons within and between years were conducted to estimate total root densities in each soil horizon. Root recolonization was assessed by comparing every video frame of paired minirhizotrons, from recordings conducted one growing season apart. Distributions of corn root systems were modified by tillage practices. In 1994, root populations of corn in the Bt1 horizon peaked 75–90 days after planting (DAP). Numbers of corn roots per m2 in the Bt1 horizon were consistently higher for no-tillage (NT) than for conventional tillage (CT) lysimeters, in 1994 and 1996. Distribution of alfalfa roots within the soil profile was not significantly modified by tillage. However, alfalfa root decomposition rates responded to conventional and no-tillage practices and were specific for each soil horizon. Corn root systems growing in soils previously cropped with alfalfa presented similar patterns of root distribution by horizons as that of the previous alfalfa crop. Successive corn root systems did not display similar distribution patterns throughout the soil profile from one growing season to the next. Proportions of roots of the current crop recolonizing root induced macropores (RIMs) of the previous crop averaged 18% for corn after corn, 22% for alfalfa after corn and 41% for corn after alfalfa, across Bt horizons and tillage treatments. In conclusion, distribution of corn root systems appeared to be modified by tillage practices and root recolonization of RIMs was controlled by the preceding crop.     

Uptake by corn and chemical extractability of heavy metals from a four year compost treated soil

This paper gives the results from four-year field experiments on compost application, added at the maximum rate allowed by Italian legislation (30 t/ha/y). The purpose of the experiment was to evaluate any eventual heavy metal accumulation in soil and corn plants. Cadmium in corn plants increased particularly in the roots from 0.22 mg kg⁻¹ to 1.31 mg kg⁻¹, concentration of Zn and Cu increased in grains, from 26.8 to 35.8 and from 2.4 to 4.2 mg kg⁻¹ respectively. Relevant increase in the roots was detected for Zn from 34.6 to 146.8 mg kg⁻¹. Only in the 4th year Ni concentration increases in the root portion while the content of Pb and Cr in corn was generally unaffected by the compost application. Heavy metals in the soil determined by a sequential chemical extraction, indicated that extractability changed with time. A certain increase was found from the beginning to the end of the experiment particularly for Zn, from 23.3 mg kg⁻¹ to 45.1 mg kg⁻¹ in extractable forms. Nevertheless the extractable amounts are rather small in respect to the total heavy metal content of compost.     

Using NCSWAP to simulate seasonal nitrogen dynamics in soil and corn

The objective of this study was to determine if a re-calibrated version of the computer model NCSWAP (version 36) could accurately predict corn growth and soil N dynamics in conventionally tilled (CT) and no-till (NT) corn supplied with legume green manure or ammonium nitrate as N sources. We also attempted to ascertain the reasons for limitations in the model's ability to simulate corn growth and soil N dynamics found by our colleagues in a previous study and to propose potential improvements. The model was calibrated to accurately simulate total available N (N in plant above-ground biomass plus soil nitrate in the 0 to 45 cm profile) for a control and a fertilizer CT treatment in the 1992 growing season. To do so, input values defining the quantities of active soil organic N had to be reduced to 19% of the values proposed by the model developers and a solute transport factor defining the mobile vs. immobile fractions of soil nitrate adjusted from 0.8 to 0.2. The discrepancies between the proposed values and the lower values employed in this study might be due to the uncertainties in quantitatively describing soil N mineralization processes and the way they are handled in the model, as well as the lack of a component simulating macroporous-influenced water flow and solute transport in the model. With the current version, until one knows how to predict what these values are, the model needs to be re-calibrated for each experimental site and condition and thus is of limited value as a general model.With no further adjustment of input values, model validation success was mixed. The model accurately predicted total available N for treatments in the second year of the experiment that had the same N source and tillage as the treatments used for the calibration year but with the different weather and growing conditions. However, total available N was underpredicted where legume green manure was the N source and overpredicted with no-till cultivation. The model was accurate in simulating seasonal corn growth for nearly all the treatments, judged by nonsignificant mean difference (MD) values and highly significant correlation coefficients (r). Prediction of seasonal soil nitrate concentration was less accurate compared to total available N and corn growth variables. Potential improvements in the model's simulation of a no-till system as well as for predicting corn harvest yield and seasonal soil nitrate concentration where N deficiency occurs were discussed.