K desorption in an external electric field as related to clay content

Summary The EUF method differs from other soil testing methods in that it not only yields extractable quantities of nutrients but also provides information on the rates with which these quantities are desorbed when an external force is applied. The K desorption can be described by a second-order rate equation. The constants in these equations (maximum desorbable quantity D; halftime t_0.5) are characteristic for a given K-soil system. The K desorption rate depends on clay content and on the buffer power of a soil.     

Preliminary investigations on available and potentially available phosphorus using electro-ultrafiltration (EUF)

Summary Preliminary investigations were carried out on calcareous silty loam (clay content 25%, pH 8.0) at the Cotton Research Institute, Multan to determine the solubility and desorption rates of phosphorus at various soil depths throughout the cotton growing season using the EUF technique. The treatments included two applications of single superphosphate, equivalent to 0, 75, 150, 250 and 350 kg P₂O₅/ha. There was no significant difference in seed cotton yield between the five treatments. EUF-extracted phosphorus decreased with depth in all samples. There was an increase in phosphorus concentration during the growing season, but most of the increase was noted in the slowly available phosphorus fraction (10–30 minutes EUF aliquots). This was attributed to continuous transformation of phosphorus into less soluble calcium phosphate forms. The available phosphorus fraction (0–10 minute EUF aliquots) remained small throughout the growing season. It was concluded that this fraction was in equilibrium with the slowly available phosphorus fraction and was continually being replenished as crop uptake continued. A high level of effectively available phosphorus (0–30 minute EUF aliquots) was recovered in all five treatments and was above the sufficiency level of 12 ppm phosphorus reported by Nemeth and Makhdam⁷. There was therefore no difference between treatments in phosporus concentration nor in phosphorus uptake by plants. This work was carried out under UNDP/FAO Project-PAK 73/026     

Comparative study on EUF and other methods of soil analysis for the determination of available potassium in soils from Northern Greece

Summary Twenty-one representative soils from Northern Greece could be grouped into three categories based on the EUF-K curves which displayed marked differences in the magnitude of K release by the soils employed. The cumulative K desorption by EUF within 35 min and the cumulative K-uptake values of ryegrass (10 cuts) were found to be correlated (r=0.87***). Although this correlation is rather close, the K dynamics of a soil can be better characterized by the course of the K-desorption curves. Because the quotient EUF-K-80°C/EUF-K-20°C can give information on the course of K desorption it is therefore sufficient in routine investigations to know the EUF-K-20°C contents and the numerical values of the quotients EUF-K-80°C/EUF-K-20°C.The EUF procedure does not only indicate the close relationship between K extracted and K uptake by plants, but it can also provide information on other nutrients in the same soil sample. With this extra information it was possible to explain why in some of the analysed soils K uptake was low despite high K availability, the reason being that P availability was not optimal in one of the experimental soils and that the Mn concentration of the soil solution was too high in another. At equal K availability the K uptake was also dependent on the amount of EUF-extractable N.     

Test of the electro-ultrafiltration method's applicability in soil analysis. Reproducibility of the method

Summary The applicability of the Electro-Ultra-Filtration (EUF) method in soil analyses was studied. The reproducibilities of the amounts of soil extracts, of ion concentrations in the extracts and of the distribution of cations and anions over the cathode and anode extracts by use of fully automatic EUF equipment were tested. The degree of variability among replicates was expressed as coefficient of variation (CV) and as the highest percentual divergence of an individual analytical measurement from the mean (L). The extraction volumes of five replicates of six different soils were found to vary between 1.1–7.1% with an average of 3.8%, as CV and between 1.5–11.3% as L. The reproducibility of desorbed P in the anode extract varied between 2.7–31.7% with an average of 8.7%, as CV and between 3.2–37.9% as L. Corresponding values for CV and L of K desorbed varied between 1.3–13.9% and 1.6–23.8%, respectively. Variations among replicates of desorbed P were especially high in the first 1–2 sub-fractions of a total of seven fractions in a single extraction run. Low K concentrations in the extract had a slightly negative influence on the reproducibility of K desorption. Furthermore, it was found that a portion of the cations is collected in the anode extract and a portion of the anions in the cathode extract, especially at the beginning of an extraction run. Pooling of anode and cathode extracts before analysis is therefore recommended.     

Evaluation of Iodide and Iodate for Adsorption–Desorption Characteristics and Bioavailability in Three Types of Soil

Adsorption–desorption of iodine in two forms, viz., iodide (I⁻) and iodate (IO₃⁻), in three types of soil were investigated. The soils were: red soil developed on Quaternary red earths (REQ)— clayey, kaolintic thermic plinthite Aquult, Inceptisol soil (IS) and alluvial soil (AS)—Fluvio-marine yellow loamy soil. The isothermal curves of iodine adsorption on soils were described by Langmuir and Freundlich equation, and the maximum adsorption values (y _m) were obtained from the simple Langmuir model. As compared with the iodide, the iodate was adsorbed in higher amounts by the soils tested. Among three soils, the REQ soil adsorbed more iodine (I⁻ and IO₃⁻) than the IS and AS. The distribution coefficient (K _d) of iodine in the soils decreased exponentially with increasing iodine loading concentration. Desorption of iodine in soil was increased correspondingly with increasing adsorption values. The REQ soil had a greater affinity for iodine than the IS and AS at the same iodine loadings. In the pot experiment cultivated with pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) and added with two exogenous iodine sources, the iodide form was quickly taken up by pakchoi and caused more toxicity to the vegetable. The rate of iodine loss from soil was higher for iodide form as compared with the iodate. The iodine bioavailability was the highest but the persistence was the weakest in AS among the three soils tested, and the REQ soil showed just the opposite trend to that of the AS soil. This study is of theoretical importance to understand the relationship between iodine adsorption–desorption characteristics and their bioavailability in different soils and it also has practical implications for seeking effective alternatives of iodine biofortification to prevent iodine deficiency disorders.     

EUF-K as measure of K availability index for Tamil Nadu soils (India)

Summary Representative soils of Tamil Nadu could be grouped into three categories based on the cumulative EUF desorption K curves which were exponential and displayed marked differences in the magnitude of K release by the soils employed. The cumulative K desorption values and the cumulative K uptake values of rice were found to be closely correlated. When compared with any other method, the cumulative EUF desorption K was found to be a better measure of K availability index.     

Characterisation of the magnesium status of soils by means of the EUF-Mg fractions

Summary On the basis of pot experiments carried out on soils with different Mg contents using ryegrass, it could be established that Mg uptake by ryegrass is closely related to Mg in the EUF extracts. The Mg contents in the EUF extracts are therefore suitable indices of actually and potentially available Mg in soils.The ratio between Mg in the EUF extracts and Mg deposited on the electrode + filter varies. The absolute amount of Mg in the EUF extracts increases with increasing Mg content of the soils. The higher, however, the total desorbable Mg the lower are the Mg contents in the EUF extracts in comparison with the Mg contents deposited on electrode + filter. Besides total desorbable Mg the EUF-Mg fractions are influenced as well by the organic and inorganic CEC and by soil pH. The amount of EUF filtrate flowing through filter and electrode also has an influence on the amount of Mg in the EUF filtrate.Consequently for a proper evaluation of available soil Mg total EUF-Mg (Mg in the EUF filtrate + Mg deposited on electrode + filter) should be used.     

Application of the EUF procedure in grape production

Summary The relationships between the nutrient contents in vine leaves and grape yield on the one hand and the nutrient contents in the soil on the other are described on the basis of results from pot and field experiments conducted over several years. The soils were analysed by means of conventional methods as well as by electro-ultrafiltration (EUF). The following results were obtained: The application of high K and P fertilizer amounts in pot experiments increased the availability of Mg, Mn and Fe. A marked rise in the Mg, Mn and Fe contents was observed in the vine leaves. The exchange processes due to fertilizer addition were well indicated by the EUF method, whereas the results obtained by extraction with ammonium lactate (AL) and CaCl₂ were unsatisfactory. Close and highly significant correlations were found between the EUF-P, EUF-K and EUF-Mg contents on the one hand and the P, K and Mg contents in vine leaves on the other. A close correlation also exists (r=0.91^***) between grape yield and EUF-K contents. Grape yield increases with increasing EUF-K values up to 25 mg/100 g/30 min at 20°C in pot experiments (30 cm rooting depth) and only up to 12 mg/100 g/30 min at 20°C in field experiments. The soil in this field experiment had, however, EUF-K values of 12 mg/100 g in the topsoil as well as in the subsoil. When assessing the limit values, it is therefore important to consider the depth of the horizon in which the nutrients are present. After addition of very high amounts of P fertilizer the P contents in vine leaves markedly decrease after one year, as there is a decline in the availability of phosphates. The EUF-P values measured immediately after the application of high doses of P fertilizer can only characterize the P supply status of a soil for a period of one or two years. The P availability after application of different forms of phosphate fertilizers (superphosphate, hyperphosphate) is well indicated by means of EUF, but not by means of the AL method. When assessing the required K and Mg values in the soil (whatever the method) the vine variety has also to be taken into account, whereas the utilization of soil phosphates depends less on the varietal differences.     

不同施肥模式下稻田土壤微生物生物量磷对土壤有机碳和磷素变化的响应

通过15年的红壤稻田长期定位试验,研究了不同施肥模式下土壤微生物生物量磷(MB-P)对土壤有机碳和磷素变化的响应.结果表明红壤稻田有机碳源的长期投入和土壤有机碳的逐年升高使土壤微生物生物量碳(MB-C)维持在较高水平(＞800 mg·kg-1),是稻田土壤MB-P(＞16.0 mg·kg-1)提高的主要原因.长期不施磷肥条件下,土壤全磷含量与试验前相比显著降低(P＜0.05),而土壤有机磷含量平均提高了29.3%;土壤亏损的磷形态主要是无机磷(Al-P、Fe-P、Ca-P和O-P),其中Al-P含量处于最低水平(平均0.5 mg·kg-1).另外,长期不施磷肥土壤的MB-P远高于Olsen法提取态磷(Olsen-P)(＜7.0 mg·kg-1),而稻田土壤MB-P与Al-P呈显著相关(P＜0.05),表明土壤微生物对稻田土壤Al-P、Fe-P、Ca-P和O-P的利用是促进其向有效磷方向转化的关键途径.磷肥配合有机养分循环利用不仅提高了土壤磷库的积累,而且通过土壤微生物的活化有效地提高了土壤磷的有效性.     

Reversibility of phosphorus sorption by ferruginous nodules

Ferruginous nodules sorb significant amounts of available soil and fertiliser phosphate. The effect of this sorption on phosphorus availability of an agricultural soil was tested by sequential extraction and by exhaustive cropping with millet (Pennisetum typhoides) in a greenhouse trial following fertilisation of the original soil containing 70% nodules and of prepared samples containing various mixes of separated soil fines and nodules. Phosphorus sorption maxima by the soil fines and nodules were 190 mg kg⁻¹ and 380 mg kg⁻¹ respectively. Samples of fines and nodules which had sorbed 110 and 194 mg kg⁻¹ were submitted to 8 successive extractions with 0.01 M KCl, after which P desorption amounted to 117 mg kg⁻¹ and 103 mg kg⁻¹ respectively. Hysteresis between sorption and desorption was negligible for the soil fines and increased with increasing nodule content of the samples. In the greenhouse experiment, P uptake at the first cropping was highest in the soil fines at all levels of phosphorus applied. Subsequent croppings, however, showed higher P uptake in the concretionary soils. These results indicate a higher initial P release from the soil fines with cropping followed by an earlier exhaustion of phosphorus. At the end of the greenhouse experiment, yields were low in spite of the large quantities of P still remaining in the soils. Phosphorus fractionation showed that, of the P left in the soil after cropping 20% was in labile, 29% in Fe or Al-associated, and 51% in low-availability forms.     

Diagnosing P status and P requirement of tea (Camellia sinensis L.) by leaf and soil analysis

In this paper we present a new method for evaluating soil and plant tests for phosphate (P). We apply it to field experiments conducted over 2 years in four widely separated tea gardens of the Terai and the Dooars regions at the Himalayan foothills of India. We applied 5 levels of P to each site and measured yield, P concentration in the leaves, and Bray P values through time. Leaf P concentrations were closely described by a 3-dimensional Mitscherlich equation in which one of the independent variables was the amount of P applied and the other was the initial Bray P value. From this, we calculated the relative effectiveness of the applied P and the Bray P. The effectiveness of the applied P relative to that measured by Bray P, ranged from 0.87 down to 0.55. We added values for applied P and Bray P, with appropriate weighting for relative effectiveness, to calculate an effective level of P for each treatment. The relation between yield and effective P was then closely described by a Mitscherlich equation modified to permit a different maximum for each site. These relationships were used to show that P requirement was greatest on the most productive sites and in the middle of the growing season when growth rates were largest. We also tested the relation between leaf P concentration and yield. Yield was linearly related to leaf P over a concentration range of about 3 to about 4 g P kg^?1. The regression lines for different yield levels were close to parallel but with different intercepts. We propose that leaf P analysis could be used to monitor P status and that soil tests plus the values for relative effectiveness of applied P be used to estimate fertilizer requirement.     

Application of the EUF procedure in sugar beet cultivation

Summary The relationship between the EUF-nutrient fractions in the soil on the one hand and the nutrient uptake of sugar beet as well as root yield and quality (polarization, α-amino N etc.) on the other is described on the basis of results obtained over several years in surveys conducted in farmers' fields (5000–6000 fields under sugar beet per year) and in field experiments (25–35 sites per year). Statistically significant close correlations with the respective parameters were found for the following EUF nutrient fractions: EUF-NO₃, EUF-P, EUF-K, EUF-Na, EUF-B and EUF-Mn. Within five years it was possible to determine the EUF-nutrient values which are required for the production of 9 t sugar/ha. These EUF values are the following: Ca: 65–70 mg/100 g at 20°C K: 11–15 mg/100 g at 20°C (depending on the clay content) Mg: 3–5 mg/100 g at 20°C Na: 2–3 mg/100 g at 20°C P: 1.4–1.6 mg/100 g at 20°C For calculation of the N fertilizer requirements of sugar beet it is suggested to use the sum of the EUF-extractable N amounts. It was found in Austria, Yugoslavia and Denmark over a period of 3 years that the EUF-N value of 1 mg/100 g soil determined between June and September was equivalent to 40 kg N/ha. If, for example, the analysed soil contains 3 mg EUF-N/100 g, 3×40=120 kg N/ha will be available to the sugar beet crop in the following year.     

Effects of Fulvic Acid on TNT Adsorption in Soil

In order to study the effect of fulvic acids (FA) on the migration of TNT in soil, batch experiments in which 2%, 5%, and 10% (w/w) of FA were added to soils were conducted. Adsorption kinetics and adsorption-desorption isotherms of TNT in soils were investigated, with results of the kinetics tests showing that the adsorption process could be divided into a fast and a slow stage and that FA could extend the adsorption time. Kinetic data were fit to pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order, Elovich, and intra-particle diffusion kinetic models. The fitting results showed that a pseudo second-order kinetic model best described the adsorption process, while Elovich and intra-particle diffusion kinetic models could accurately predict the adsorption at higher FA content. The adsorption-desorption isotherms were predicted using Linear, Freundlich, and Langmuir isotherm models. Results showed that the Freundlich model best described the adsorption-desorption process, and that FA increased adsorption capacity and enhanced the adsorption affinity. The hysteresis index suggested that FA could reduce the desorption of TNT in soil.     

Dynamic Model for the Effects of Soil P and Fertilizer P on Crop Growth, P Uptake and Soil P in Arable Cropping: Experimental Test of the Model for Field Vegetables

In a previous paper (Greenwood et al. Annals of Botany88: 279–291,2001), we described a mechanistic model that calculates theeffects of extractable soil P and fertilizer P on daily incrementsin dry matter yield and P uptake of field crops. This paperdescribes the calibration of that model for six different speciesand subsequent tests of the calibrated model against resultsof independent experiments on the same soil type. Calibrationsfor lettuce, carrot and turnip were obtained by altering onlyone parameter, the effective root radius, while for onion, leekand spinach, both this and one of the parameters linking growthrate to % P in the plant were altered. The validity of the calibratedmodel was tested against results of field experiments that wereharvested at the seedling stage and at commercial maturity.The model predictions of the shapes of the responses of dryweight and of % P to both extractable soil P and fertilizerP were generally not significantly different from those measured.The model also gave satisfactory predictions of the time courseof dry weight and plant % P from emergence to commercial harvestof two crops grown with optimum levels of P fertilizer. In anotherexperiment, reasonably good agreement was obtained between simulatedresponses of plant dry weight yield and % P in the dry matterof carrot at commercial maturity and mid-way through the growingseason. Values of the effective root radius and various rootparameters, and calculations of P fluxes through the soil tothe root surfaces during the course of the simulation were,with few exceptions, consistent with information in the literature.Simulated P responsiveness is very sensitive to changes in thevalues of plant parameters affecting the dependence of P uptakeon plant % P as well as those concerned with the ability ofroots to exploit the soil's reserves of P. Reasons for inter-speciesdifferences in P response are elucidated and weaknesses in themodel identified. The model could form the basis of a short-cutapproach to forecasting optimal fertilizer P practices for differentcrops on different soils. It runs interactively on the Internetat: www.qpais.co.uk/phosmod/phos.htm Copyright 2001 Annals ofBotany Company Vegetable crops, model, simulation, plant phosphate, phosphate fertilizer, soil phosphate, crop response, root radius, species comparison     

Impact of synthetic sheep urine on N and P in two pastures in the Scottish uplands

Synthetic sheep urine additions (59 g N m⁻²) were made to pastures on two soils, at Fasset, a semi-natural grassland, and Strathfinella, an improved pasture. Urine was applied to microplots in May and the soil, grass and soil solution analyzed 1, 2, 4, 5, 12 and 23 weeks after the addition. At Fasset, the grass was scorched by urine and the standing biomass decreased compared to the control, increasing only after 5 weeks. The absence of scorching at the Strathfinella site was attributed to a greater biomass of root mat to buffer the roots from exposure to NH₃and a greater rainfall immediately following treatment. Scorching reduced the uptake of N and it was not clear if the greater contents of NH₄ ⁺ and the increases in soil pH at Fasset compared with Strathfinella were the causes or symptoms of the scorch effect. Amounts of extractable organic N (DON) were similar in both soils and increased during the first 4 weeks and then decreased. Urine addition both increased and decreased DON at different times, but the overall mean values were unchanged. Urine application changed the distribution of P in the two soils, increasing the soil solution P at Fasset by 80 mg P m⁻² and raising the P content of herbage at Strathfinella by 600 mg P m⁻². In the soil solution, dissolved forms of molybdate reactive P, organic P and condensed P fractions were all increased by the urine addition. After 23 weeks, condensed P made the greatest contribution to soil solution P in both soils indicating that this fraction was the least available for plant uptake. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evaluation of the electro-ultrafiltration technique (EUF) as a measure of the K supplying power of Quebec soils

The electro-ultrafiltration (EUF) method has been used to evaluate the short-term and long-term supplying power of soils for many essential plant nutrients. The objective of this study was to compare the capacity of EUF with other extraction techniques to predict the plant availability of soil K and K fertilizer responsiveness by 10 cuts of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) growing over a 366-day period. Increasingly higher average concentrations of soil K were extracted by EUF at 50 V and 20°C (29 mg kg^-1), EUF at 200 V and 20°C (48 mg kg^-1), 0.002 M SrCl₂ (55 mg kg^-1), EUF at 200 V and 80°C (85 mg kg^-1), 0.1 M HCl (105 mg kg^-1), Mehlich 3 (119 mg kg^-1), 1 M NH₄OAc (120 mg kg^-1) and boiling 1 M HNO₃ (601 mg kg^-1). The large content of vermiculitic minerals in the silt and clay fractions is responsible for EUF desorbing more K in 55 minutes than NH₄OAc in 29 out of 30 soils. The total amount of K desorbed by EUF at 80°C was as effective as Mehlich 3-extractable K in predicting K uptake for the first three cuts and was best among the extracting procedures after boiling 1 M HNO₃ in predicting the long-term K supply, the uptake of K from non-exchangeable sources and the relative yield of alfalfa over 10 cuts. The desorption of soil K with EUF provides a better evaluation of the K-supplying power of Quebec soils than the extractants currently used, especially on a long-term basis.Contribution no. 396.     

Responses of microbial components of the rhizosphere to plant management strategies in a semiarid rangeland

Summary Easily soluble heavy-metal fractions from different soils, a garbage-sewage sludge compost and peat were extracted by EUF. Blanks were determined by extracting distilled water. As the rubber seal of the extraction chamber contained Zn, the obtained Zn values were not reliable. The relative standard deviations of extracted micronutrients were 29.1% for Fe and 20.5% for Mn, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr were not only found in the filters but also in the extracts.The extraction of CrIII and CrVI solutions showed that CrVI mainly migrated into the anode extract. CrIII was found mainly in the cathode filter and cathode extract, a smaller part however was obviously oxidized to CrVI and migrated into the anode extract. Consequently, CrIII and CrVI in soils could not be distinguished unequivocally by EUF.The amounts of Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd extracted by EUF from various substrates were small compared with the quantities extracted by 2N HCl. The heavy metal contents of the leaves were mostly in the order of those of the EUF extract.Several vineyard soils as well as peat were mixed with increasing quantities of Grünsalz (green salt), a fertilizer consisting mainly of iron sulphate. High amounts of Grünsalz (100–200 g/200 g soil) were necessary to raise soluble Fe in calcareous soils. In peat, however, small Grünsalz additions (1 g/50 g peat) were sufficient. Soluble Mn and Cu increased too when Grünsalz was added to soil or peat. These results give valuable information on how grapevine chlorosis can be reduced by the use of Grünsalz or mixtures of peat and Grünsalz.     

Conditions Under Which Nitrogen Can Limit Steady-State Net Primary Production in a General Class of Ecosystem Models

Human activity is drastically altering global nitrogen (N) availability. The extent to which ecosystems absorb additional N—and with it, additional CO₂—depends on whether net primary production (NPP) is N-limited, so it is important to understand conditions under which N can limit NPP. Here I use a general dynamical model to show that N limitation at steady-state—such as in old-growth forests—depends on the balance of biotically controllable versus uncontrollable N inputs and losses. Steady-state N limitation is only possible when uncontrollable inputs (for example, atmospheric deposition) exceed controllable losses (for example, leaching of plant-available soil N), which is the same as when uncontrollable losses (for example, leaching of plant-unavailable soil N) exceed controllable inputs (biological N fixation). These basic results are robust to many model details, such as the number of plant-unavailable soil N pools and the number and type of N fixers. Empirical data from old-growth tropical (Hawai’i) and temperate (Oregon, Washington, Chile) forests support the model insights. Practically, this means that any N fixer—symbiotic or not—could overcome ecosystem N limitation, so understanding N limitation requires understanding controls on all N fixers. Further, comparing losses of plant-available N to abiotic inputs could offer a rapid diagnosis of whether ecosystems can be N-limited, although the applicability of this result is constrained to ecosystems with a steady-state N cycle such as old-growth forests largely devoid of disturbance.     

Kinetics of zinc desorption from soils

Summary The kinetics of zinc desorption by DTPA were investigated in several soils. The rate of desorption of soil zinc and adsorbed zinc was rapid initially and gradually declined with time. The desorption reaction can be described by a two constant rate equation, C=At^B. The rate of zinc desorption in soil containing freshly adsorbed zinc was considerably higher than soil zinc, possibly due to the higher solubility and zinc concentration on the surfaces of soil particulate matter. The amount of zinc desorbed by DTPA, however, continued to decrease with increasing aging time. Elevated temperature further enhanced zinc aging and reduced zinc extractability. Recrystallization of adsorbed zinc in soil which subsequently increased the bonding strength of adsorbed zinc, could be responsible for the reduction of zinc desorption by DTPA.Contribution from the Department of Agronomy and Range Science, University of California, Davis, Ca.     

The use of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas fluorescens</Emphasis> P13 to control sclerotinia stem rot (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sclerotinia sclerotiorum</Emphasis>) of oilseed rape

Sclerotinia stem rot (SSR) caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum has been an increasing threat to oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) cultivation. Efficient and environment—friendly treatments are much needed. Here we focus on microbial control. The Pseudomonas fluorescens P13 that was isolated from oilseed rape cultivation soil, proved to be a useful biocontrol strain for application. Morphology, physiological and biochemical tests and 16S rDNA analysis demonstrated that it was P. fluorescens P13 and that it had a broad antagonistic spectrum, significantly lessening the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum by 84.4% and suppressing sclerotial formation by 95–100%. Scanning electron microscopy studies attested that P13 deformed S. sclerotiorum mycelia when they were cultured together. P13 did not produce chitinase but did produce hydrogen cyanide (HCN) which was likely one of the antagonistic mechanisms. The density of P13 remained at a high level (≥10⁶ CFU/ml) during 5 weeks in the rhizosphere soil and roots. P13 reduced SSR severity at least by 59% in field studies and also promoted seedling growth (p<0.05) at the seedling stage. From these data, our work provided evidence that P13 could be a good alternative biological resource for biocontrol of S. sclerotiorum.