Effect of phosphorus and zinc on nodulation and nitrogen fixation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

A green house study was conducted on the effect of P and Zn on nodulation and N fixation in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in a loamy sand (Typic Torripsamments) using treatment combinations of five levels of P (0, 25, 50, 100 and 250 ppm), and six levels of Zn (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 100 ppm). The number, dry matter and leghaemoglobin content of nodules, and amount of N fixed generally increased with Zn alone upto 19 ppm and P alone upto 50 ppm, and decreased with their higher levels. Application of 25 to 50 ppm P and 5 to 10 ppm Zn counteracted to a greater extent the adverse effect of 40 and 100 ppm Zn, and 250 ppm P, resp. Maximum nodulation and N fixation (91 to 145% over zero P and Zn, at maturity) was recorded with 25 to 50 ppm P applied along with 5 to 10 ppm Zn. At 64 days, depletion in soil-N was noted, particularly when P was applied, whereas at maturity there was a gain in soil-N, ranging from 10.5 to 44.5 kg/2×10⁶ kg soil depending upon P and Zn treatments. The increase in nodulation and N fixation with balanced P and Zn nutrition might be attributed to an increase in leghaemoglobin, and K and Fe concentration in nodules, and increased plant growth, resulting into enhanced activity of N fixing organisms. The results showed that balanced P and Zn nutrition is essential not only for plant growth but also for maximum activity of Rhizobium for N fixation. Work done at Harvana Agricultural University, Hissar, India.     

Effect of farm yard manure and iron on dry matter yield and nutrients uptake by oats (Avena sativa)

A pot culture experiment was conducted on a loamy sand soil to study the effect of FYM and Fe on dry matter yield and uptake of nutrients by oats (Avena sativa) crop in green-house. Application of Fe @ 5 and 20 ppm increased dry matter yield by 5.11 and 11.55 per cent, respectively. The per cent increase in dry matter yield over control with the application of 0.5 and 1.0 percent FYM was 19.06 and 30.07, respectively. Application of FYM increased concentration and uptake of P significantly. Phosphorus uptake increased by 23.60, 54.38, 91.01 and 134.61 per cent over control with 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 per cent FYM, respectively. Phosphorus concentration decreased at 20 ppm Fe but uptake increased significantly at 5 ppm Fe. Concentration and uptake of Ca increased with increasing amounts of Fe and application of FYM decreased concentration of Ca but uptake increased upto 1.0 per cent FYM over control. The Mg concentration and uptake decreased significantly with increased amount of Fe. Application of FYM also decreased Mg concentration but its uptake increased upto 1.0 per cent FYM and then decreased.Iron concentration and uptake increased upto 2 per cent FYM and then decreased. Whereas concentration of Fe decreased with increased amount of applied Fe but its uptake increased nonsignificantly with increased amount of added Fe.Managenese concentration and uptake decreased significantly with increased amount of applied Fe. Managenese concentration increased upto 0.5 per cent FYM but its uptake continued increasing with increasing amounts of applied FYM.     

Interaction of phosphorus and molybdenum in relation to uptake and utilization of molybdenum,phosphorus, zinc,copper and manganese by rice

Summary The effect of phosphorus and molybdenum alone and combined, on the uptake and utilization of Mo, Mn, Zn, Cu and P by rice (Var. IR-579) was studied in the greenhouse at varying levels of Mo (0, 2.5 and 5.0 ppm) and (0,100 and 200 ppm). Application of P increased the dry matter yield of shoot and root. Combined application of P and Mo increased the dry matter yield of shoot. Application of Mo increased the concentration of Mo and P in shoot. Applied P caused an increase in the concentration of Mo, Zn and P in shoot. Combined application of P and Mo resulted in an increase in concentration and uptake of Mo in shoot.     

Effect of calcium carbonate and iron on the availability and uptake of iron,manganese, phosphorus and calcium in pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Summary The effect of CaCO₃ and iron on the availability of iron, manganese phosphorus and calcium was studied in the greenhouse on pea (Pisum sativum L.) crop on a light textured soil, which was marginal in exchangeable calcium. Addition of calcium carbonate caused significant increase in dry matter yield with no added iron at both the stages of crop growth. But yeild intended to decrease with 8% CaCO₃ at 75 days of crop growth. Dry matter yield also increased with the addition of iron upto 10 ppm at 45 days and upto 5 ppm at 75 days. The iron concentration and uptake decreased with the increase in CaCO₃ and increased with the application of iron at both the stages of crop growth. The application of iron and CaCO₃ decreased concentration and uptake of phosphorus significantly at both the stages.Like phosphorus, concentration and uptake of manganese also decreased with the increase in added CaCO₃ upto 8% and iron upto 20 ppm at 45 and 75 days. The concentration of calcium increased with the addition of CaCO₃ to the extent of 50 and 40% with 8% CaCO₃ at 45 and 75 days, while the uptake of calcium increased more than 3 folds at 45 days and more than 2 folds at 75 days. The concentration of calcium decreased with the application of iron upto 20 ppm but the uptake at 45 days increased upto 10 ppm and at 75 days upto 5 ppm and then decreased.The concentration of Fe, P and Ca decreased at 75 days and that of Mn increased while the uptake of all these nutrients increased at 2nd stage due to higher dry matter.     

Effect of sulphate,phosphate and molybdate application on quality of soybean grain

Summary Effect of S, P and Mo application on quality of soybean grain was studied at Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar (India), in pots. Sulphur was applied at 0, 40, 80 and 120 ppm, P at 0, 40, and 80 ppm and Mo at 0 and 1 ppm. Increasing levels of S upto 120 ppm increased crude protein, cystine, cysteine and methionine contents of grain. However, oil percentage significantly increased only with 40 ppm S and with higher levels of S a decreasing trend was observed. The reducing, non-reducing and total sugars increased with 40 and 80 ppm S and thereafter decreased. Application of 40 ppm P significantly increased reducing total sugar and methionine content of seed whereas Mo application depressed cystine and cysteine. The S concentration in leaves gave positive significant correlation with the percentage of crude protein, oil, total sugar and S containing aminoacids, whereas Mo concentration of leaves was found negatively correlated with cystine and methionine.     

Influence of sulphur on the yield and concentration of copper,manganese, iron and molybdenum in berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) grown on two different soils

A screen-house experiment with 0, 25, 50 and 75 ppm S was conducted to study the effect of S on the yield and, Mn, Cu, Fe and Mo concentrations of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) at three stages of growth in a normal and reclaimed soil. Higher levels of S decreased the yield in both the soils. Yield in normal soil was much higher than in reclaimed soil. Application of S increased Cu, Mn, and Fe concentrations in all cuts in both soils. Molybdenum concentration was lowered following S application in both the soils in all the cuts. Molybdenum content increased with the stage of plant growth.     

Effect of irrigation treatments upon the chemical constituents ofHibiscus sabdariffa L.

Summary The effects of Se and P on the dry matter yield and chemical composition of Raya (Brassica juncea Cos. var. R.L. 18) were studied in the green-house. The dry matter yield in P treated and untreated pots increased with Se application upto 2.5 ppm. With further increase in Se dose upto 10 ppm, dry matter yield decreased. The increase in P dose from 0 to 50 ppm increased dry matter yield in all Se treated and untreated pots but 100 ppm P rather showed decrease in dry matter yield as compared to 50 ppm P.The Se concentration increased by about 100 fold with the application of 10 ppm Se over 0 ppm Se where P was not added whereas increase was 258 and 336 times when 50 ppm and 100 ppm P was added, respectively. Inorganic, organic and total P increased with increasing Se and P. The increase in inorganic P was more than organic and total P. S and N concentration decreased with increasing Se application and increased with P application.Crude protein showed the same behaviour as N. The total sulphur-containing amino acids (which ranged from 39 to 49% of crude protein) and individual sulphur-containing amino acids like methionine (16.9 tot 20%) cysteine (9.8 to 13%) and cystine (12.3 to 15.9%) decreased with the increasing selenium but increased with increasing phosphorus. N/S ratio in the plant showed significant negative correlation with total sulphur-containing amino acids (r=–0.940^**), methionine (r=–0.951^**), cysteine (r=–0.929^**) and cystine (r=–0.920^*) whereas total sulphur in the plant showed positive significant correlation with methionine (r=0.805^**), cysteine (r=0.924^**) and cystine (r=0.821^**).     

Zinc response in pigeon pea as influenced by genotypic variability

Seven improved cultivars of pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill sp.) were evaluated at 0 (original Zn deficient soil), 5 and 50 ppm Zn levels under greenhouse conditions. Plants were harvested at 6 weeks after sowing and at maturity. Responses to 5 ppm Zn in shoot at 6 weeks of growth, and in leaf, stem, pod-hull and grain at maturity ranged from 63 to 387, 37 to 116, 15 to 73,9 to 145 and 51 to 200%, respectively. Application of 50 ppm Zn in most of the cultivars did not markedly affect the yield of different plant parts. Zinc concentration at 0 Zn level in shoot at 6 weeks of growth and in leaf, stem, pod-hull and grain of different genotypes varied from 9.8 to 14.5, 13.7 to 21.2, 10.8 to 16.7, 4.17 to 5.83 and 9.2 to 16.7 ppm, respectively, and the increase in concentration with 5 ppm applied Zn ranged from 28 to 248, 28 to 89, 27 to 85, 20 to 142, and 105 to 254 per cent, respectively. The concentration further increased with an increase in Zn level to 50 ppm. There was less variation in the yield and tissue Zn concentration of different genotypes after Zn application. Phosphorus concentration at 0 Zn level in shoot at 6 weeks of growth, and in leaf, stem, pod-hull and grain of different genotypes varied from 0.50 to 0.71, 0.18 to 0.31, 0.11 to 0.24, 0.15 to 0.20 and 0.43 to 0.58% respectively. Zinc decreased P in all plant parts but relative decrease was more in vegetative parts than in grain. The variability in Zn response among pigeon pea genotypes could partly be attributed to the maintenance of proper P/Zn balance in metabolically active plant parts, such as, leaf, and partly to their capacity to exploit soil Zn and to translocate it to the above-ground parts.Contribution from the Department of Soils, Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar (India).     

Effect of farm yard manure and CaCO3 on the dry matter yield and nutrient uptake by oats (Avena sativa)

A pot culture experiment was conducted in loamy sand soil to study the effect of different levels of FYM and CaCO₃ on the dry matter yield and nutrients uptake by oats. Application of different levels of CaCO₃ (0, 2, 4 and 8%) and FYM (0, 0.5, 1,2%) resulted in significant increase in dry matter yield of oats. But, a little decrease in dry matter yield was obtained at 4% FYM. The interaction of FYM×CaCO₃ was also significant on dry matter yield of oats. There was a significant decrease in the concentration and uptake of P with increased levels of applied CaCO₃. But, application of FYM resulted in a significant increase in concentration and uptake of P. A significant increase in concentration and uptake of Ca was observed with the increasing levels of CaCO₃. The concentration of Ca decreased with the increased application of FYM in the presence as well as in the absence of added CaCO₃. However, at 0.5 and 1.0 percent FYM with 4 per cent CaCO₃ a little increase in Ca concentration was recorded. The Mg concentration in oat decreased significantly with the increasing levels of CaCO₃ and FYM. The effect of CaCO₃ levels was more pronounced in the absence as well as in the presence of FYM. The Mg uptake followed a different pattern. At 0 and 2% CaCO₃ and application of FYM @ 1 per cent the Mg uptake increased but then it decreased with increasing levels of FYM and CaCO₃ both alone as well as in the presence of each other. The concentration and uptake of Mn decreased with increasing levels of applied CaCO₃. However, in the absence of CaCO₃, the application of FYM increased the concentration and uptake of M_n in oats. In the presence of CaCO₃, Mn concentration decreased at all levels of FYM application but at 8 per cent CaCO₃ there was a slight increase in Mn concentration with 0.5, 2 and 4 percent FYM. Iron concentration and uptake was also affected adversely by increasing levels of CaCO₃ but FYM application removed the harmful effect of CaCO₃ to some extent.     

Response of barley and wheat to phosphorus in the presence of chloride and sulphate salinity

Summary The study was conducted in a greenhouse and under field conditions. In the greenoouse, barley was grown to maturity in pots on a sandy soil which contained 80 and 120 meq/l of chloride and sulphate dominant salts in its saturation extract, to which 0, 10, 25 and 50 ppm P were added. In the field study, wheat was grown on loamy sand soils having 0, 25, 50 and 75 kg/ha added P levels and irrigated with either Cl- or SO₄-dominant saline waters (EC=15–19 mmhos/cm). The results of the greenhouse study indicated that at maturity barley straw and grain yield was significantly increased by 50 ppm of added P both on the non-saline control and the Cl-treatments. However, 25 ppm P was optimal on the SO₄-treatments. The Cl content of plants was significantly decreased and S was increased with the increase in the P content of soil. A synergistic relation between the S and P content of barley shoots was observed. In the field study wheat grain yield responded significantly to P applications upto 50 kg/ha level on the Cl-site and there was no response to applied P on the SO₄-site, although the former contained more Olsen's P than the latter. The results suggested that P requirement of wheat and barley was greater on Cl- than on SO₄-salinity.     

Relationship between P and Mn in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

Summary Phosphorus and Mn relationship was studied in chickpea at two stages of growth in pot culture using 0, 7.5, 15 and 30 ppm P and 0, 5, 10 and 15 ppm Mn. The dry matter yield increased with P at both stages of growth. Manganese improved the yield only in the first stage. Initial levels of Mn enhanced while higher levels had a depressing effect on tissue P. Addition of 7.5 ppm P enhanced Mn concentration at first stage and at higher levels a marked reduction in Mn content was observed at both the stages.     

Interaction of phosphorus and molybdenum and the availability of zinc,copper, manganese,molybdenum and phosphorus in waterlogged rice soil

Summary Laboratory incubation experiments were conducted with low-land rice soil to study the effect of applying three different levels of molybdenum (0, 2.5 and 5.0 ppm) and phosphorus (0, 100 and 200 ppm), in all possible combinations, on the changes in available Mo, P, Mn, Zn and Cu in soil. The results showed that application of Mo at both the levels increased the content of extractable Mo and P but decreased those of Cu and Mo in soil whereas application of Mo at higher level only increased the content of extractable Zn in soil. Application of P at both the levels decreased the content of extractable Mo, Mn and Cu but increased that of P whereas it showed an inconsistent effect on the extractable Zn content in soil. The P × Mo interaction effect was found to be beneficial for the content of P, Mo and Zn only. During the initial period of incubation all elements except Cu recorded an increase but with the progress of incubation period the content of all the elements except Mn gradually declined.     

Effect of zinc,phosphorus and nitrogen on tryptophan concentration in rice grains grown on limed and unlimed soils

Summary The effects of Zn, P, N and CaCO₃ on tryptophan concentration in rice grain were studied in greenhouse at Haryana Agricultural University. Zinc application upto 20 ppm increased tryptophan concentration in rice grain. Zn-EDTA gave highest increase followed by ZnSO₄ and then ZnO. Liming at the rate of 4 and 8 per cent decreased tryptophan concentration significantly. Phosphorus application upto 100 ppm also decreased tryptophan significantly but Zn in combination with P increased tryptophan and overcame negative effect of P. Nitrogen application upto 120 ppm increased tryptophan concentration. There was positive interaction between Zn and N. Ammonium sulphate gave highest tryptophan followed by ammonium nitrate and then urea. The tryptophan concentration ranged between 766 ppm and 2011 ppm in paddy grain. The lowest tryptophan concentration was in the plants treated with 8 per cent lime in absence of added Zn and highest with 10 ppm Zn through Zn-EDTA. Department of Soils.     

The influence of heavy metals upon the growth of sitka-spruce in South Wales forests

Summary Experiments on sitka-spruce seedlings grown in acidic peaty gley soils under green-house conditions, where the soils where doped with increasing amounts of Cd, Cu and Pb up to maximum levels of metal added of 16 ppm, 32 ppm and 400 ppm respectively, showed that the levels of Cd and Pb in shoots and roots increased with increasing levels in the soil, whereas levels of copper appeared to be independent. The addition of these three metals to the soils did not influence the uptake of other heavy metals, or of the nutrients potassium or calcium. Increases in the shoot cadmium levels significantly reduced the yields of the plant shoots. However, the plant yields were only affected by the highest level of lead that was added to the soil (400 ppm Pb) and unaffected by all the copper treatments (0–32 ppm Cu in the soil). The lengths of the sitka-spruce roots were reduced when cadmium and lead levels in the soil exceeded certain threshold concentrations (2.5 ppm total Cd, where 0.3 ppm was extractable with 0.5 M acetic acid; and 48 ppm total Pb, where 1.7 ppm was extractable). However, root lengths were not reduced by copper. This was probably related to the fact that copper appears to be relatively unavailable in the type of soil used, as only 1.1. ppm Cu was extractable from a total of 32 ppm Cu added. Root branching was apparently reduced by increases in the soil levels of cadmium, copper and lead. The roots of some control plants had symbiotic mycorrhizal associations (4 out of 19 plants), whereas the roots of all the plants grown in the soils with added heavy metals did not develop these.     

Effect of dietary zinc and copper on peripheral blood plasma cholesterol, testosterone and histomorphology of testes in rats

Total plasma cholesterol (mg/dl) significantly (P less than 0.01) decreased from 70.8 to 54.01 as the dietary Cu levels increased from 2.5 to 5 ppm at 12 pm Zn concentrations in male weanling rats. A similar trend was observed in the blood peripheral testosterone concentration at 12 ppm Zn and 2.5 ppm Cu. Histological examination of testes revealed smaller seminiferous tubules with atrophy of germinal epithelium. Also a marked loss of spermatogenic cells was observed in Zn and Cu deficient rats.     

Interactive effect of salinity,SAR and boron on the germination and growth of seedlings of some paddy (Oryza sativa) varieties

Summary Germination of paddy varieties was significantly decreased with increasing levels of boron (0–100 ppm) with a maximum of 34 per cent. Amongst the treatments of boron (0.5–4.5 ppm): salinity (15–60 mc/l) and SAR (10–50), only the effect of salinity was significant, The interaction of boron × SAR, boron × salinity and salinity × SAR was insignificant in almost all the varieties. Varietal differences in germination and growth of seedlings were observed in relation to salt and boron tolerance. Boron upto 40 ppm did not affect the germination of paddy seeds but growth of seedlings was inhibited above 5 ppm.     

Influence of aluminum in nutrient solutions on chemical composition in upland rice cultivars

Summary Aluminum toxicity is an important growth limiting factor for upland rice production on oxisols of cerrado region in Brazil. Data related to the effect of Al on uptake of nutrients for rice crop are limited. The effect of five Al concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40 and 60 ppm) in culture solution on the chemical composition of 30 upland rice cultivars was studied.Aluminum concentration and content in plant tissues were increased with higher levels of Al in all cultivar. In the roots Al content was higher as compared with the tops. Critical toxic level of Al in the tops of 21 days old plants varied from 100 to 417 ppm depending on the cultivars. Rice cultivars responded differently to Al treatments with respect to nutrients uptake. Increased Al concentrations in the solution exerted an inhibiting effect on the concentrations and contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, B and Cu. Thus the inhibition was more effective for macronutrients in the plant tops in following order: Mg>Ca>P>K>N>S>Na. Whereas for micronutrients it was in the order of Mn>Zn>Fe>Cu>B. Morphological, physiological and biochemical effects of Al, toxicity responsible for the reduction in plant nutrient uptake, are discussed.     

Metabolic interactions between lead and copper in rats ingesting lead acetate

The effects of Pb ingestion with and without concurrent dietary Cu supplementation were determined on parameters associated with Cu deficiency in rats fed a nutritionally adequate diet. Groups of weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a purified (AIN-′76) diet and given Pb (0 or 500 ppm) and Cu (0, 6, or 12 ppm) as the acetate salt in deionized drinking water for 5 wk. A Pb-induced Cu deficiency resulted that was characterized by decreased levels of Cu in tissue and blood, decreased activities of the Cu-dependent enzymes, ceruloplasmin (serum) and Superoxide dismutase (erythocytes), and increased concentration of Fe in liver. These effects of Pb were prevented completely or in part by concurrent Cu supplementation. The Pb-induced decrease in hemoglobin and hematocrit values and the decrease in weight gain were not prevented by Cu supplementation of the diet and can therefore be assumed to be the direct result of a toxic effect of Pb. Although Pb ingestion resulted in decreased concentration of Cu in blood and tissue, additional dietary Cu had no effect on Pb levels.     

Yield, size and bacterial blotch resistance of Pleurotus eryngii grown on cottonseed hulls/oak sawdust supplemented with manganese, copper and whole ground soybean

Experiments were performed to determine effects of supplementation of cottonseed hull/sawdust substrate with Mn, Cu, and ground soybean on yield, mushroom size, and bacterial blotch resistance of two commercial strains of Pleurotus eryngii. A basal formulation (d.w.) of cottonseed hulls (62%), aged red oak sawdust (27%), whole ground soybean (6%), corn distiller's waste (4%) and calcium sulfate (1%) was supplemented to 50, 150 or 250 microg/g Mn or Cu and to 4%, 8% and 12% whole ground soybean. The cottonseed hulls content in the basal substrate was adjusted to compensate for the addition of ground soybean. Formulated substrates were mixed, placed in 1050ml bottles, and sterilized at 121 degrees C for 90min. Mushroom yields were significantly higher from substrates containing Mn at 50 microg/g and soybean at 8% and 12% supplementation compared to the basal substrate. As the level of soybean addition to substrate increased, yield also increased. The addition of Mn at levels of 150 and 250 microg/g significantly enhanced yield as well, although less than did the 50 microg/g treatment. To assess the influence of mushroom strain and substrate composition on blotch disease severity, pilei of P. eryngii were inoculated with Pseudomonas tolaasii. Strain WC888 was more resistant to disease than WC846. Disease severity was greater when substrates were amended with Cu to 150 or 250 microg/g. There was a significant difference in inherent levels of Cu in the basidiomata of different strains, but P. eryngii did not accumulate Cu and disease severity was not correlated with Cu content of the basidiomata.     

Soil quality and barley growth as influenced by the land application of two compost types

Agricultural use of organic residues offers an attractive method for their safe disposal and a valuable source of organic amendments and nutrients. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the influences of 0, 25, 50 and 100 t/ha spent mushroom compost (SMC), forced aeration compost (FAC) and inorganic fertilizer on soil properties and yield of barley (Hordeum vulgare). The considered soil properties (0-15 cm), after a growing season, included pH, EC, available P, Kjeldahl N, available cations, DTPA extractable elements, soil OC content, and bulk density and grain yield was also determined. Application of organic materials increased organic status of the soil and nutrient content. The effectiveness of the two composts on improving the productivity of the soil varied. SMC produced strongest correlations between soil nutrient levels and plant yield. Neither compost raised soil copper and zinc to levels that were of concern and high application rates decreased iron content.