Uptake and Distribution of Soil Applied Zinc by Citrus Trees—Addressing Fertilizer Use Efficiency with 68Zn Labeling

The zinc (Zn) supply increases the fruit yield of Citrus trees that are grown, especially in the highly weathered soils of the tropics due to the inherently low nutrient availability in the soil solution. Leaf sprays containing micronutrients are commonly applied to orchards, even though the nutrient supply via soil could be of practical value. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Zn fertilizers that are applied to the soil surface on absorption and partitioning of the nutrient by citrus trees. A greenhouse experiment was conducted with one-year-old sweet orange trees. The plants were grown in soils with different textures (18.1 or 64.4% clay) that received 1.8 g Zn per plant, in the form of either ZnO or ZnSO₄ enriched with the stable isotope ⁶⁸Zn. Zinc fertilization increased the availability of the nutrient in the soil and the content in the orange trees. Greater responses were obtained when ZnSO₄ was applied to the sandy loam soil due to its lower specific metal adsorption compared to that of the clay soil. The trunk and branches accumulated the most fertilizer-derived Zn (Zn_dff) and thus represent the major reserve organ for this nutrient in the plant. The trees recovered up to 4% of the applied Zn_dff. Despite this relative low recovery, the Zn requirement of the trees was met with the selected treatment based on the total leaf nutrient content and increased Cu/Zn-SOD activity in the leaves. We conclude that the efficiency of Zn fertilizers depends on the fertilizer source and the soil texture, which must be taken into account by guidelines for fruit crop fertilization via soil, in substitution or complementation of traditional foliar sprays.     

Foliar N application reduces soil NO<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>−</Superscript></Stack>-N leaching loss in apple orchards

A comparison of the effects of foliar and soil N application was made in field-grown mature fruiting Gala/M9 apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh) in 2001 and 2002 growing seasons under Pacific Northwest growing conditions in southern British Columbia, Canada. The trees, six years old at the start of the experiment, were treated: (1) with 5 g/l urea sprays supplied every two weeks (7 times) from mid May to mid August (total about 50 g N/tree/year), (2) with the same amount of N applied to the soil with the same timing and quantity as for the foliar treatment, and (3) with no N (control). Leaf color (as SPAD readings) and N concentrations (mg/g), and soil NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–-N were measured periodically throughout the two seasons. Leached NO₃^–-N was monitored monthly via an anion exchange probe from June to October in 2001 and from May to November in 2002. Shoot length was measured in October and N concentration of one-year-old wood and roots was determined in December of each growing s eason. Soil N application significantly increased shoot length relative to control or foliar N application. Leaf color, leaf N, and N concentration of one-year-old wood and roots were similarly increased relative to control by both soil and foliar N application. These treatments also increased fruit yield relative to control. There was no significant difference in yield and fruit quality between soil and foliar N applications. Soil N application increased soil NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^–-N content in the root zone, and also increased the NO₃^– leaching loss below the root zone especially late in the growing season. Our results suggested that tree N status and yield and fruit quality could be maintained by multiple urea sprays during the growing season in apple orchards, and foliar N application will reduce the risk of soil NO₃^–-N leaching.     

Interactions between fungicide, plant growth regulator, nitrogen fertiliser applications, foliar disease and yield of winter barley

Leaf size and foliar disease in winter barley increased with increasing total amounts of nitrogen applied to the crop: flag leaf areas increased at an average of 10% per 35 kg N ha^-1 Nitrogen top dressing applied in mid-March (G.S. 31) resulted in larger leaves, more foliar disease, more straw, delayed ear emergence, fewer grains ear^-1 and less grain yield than nitrogen applied in mid-April (G.S. 31). Application of chlormequat at G.S. 30 gave a variable response, but overall it increased fertile stems m-² and crop yield and decreased crop height but had no significant effect on straw yield. Fungicide treatments suppressed foliar disease and improved yield. Yield responses were greater when plant growth regulator and mid-March nitrogen had been applied at sites where more disease prevailed than with April-applied nitrogen. In one of the field experiments, on cv. Sonja, delaying the main nitrogen application until April, without fungicide treatment, gave a similar yield to that provided by nitrogen in March with two or three fungicide sprays.     

Biostimulant prevents yield loss and reduces oxidative damage in tomato plants grown on reduced NPK nutrition*

Plant biostimulants are substances which have the capacity to modify physiological processes in plants in a way that provides potential benefits to growth, development or stress response. Effects of biostimulant application on two tomato hybrids (Ombeline F1 and Bostina F1) submitted to reduced nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) nutrition aiming at prevention of oxidative stress generation as well as yield and fruit quality loss were investigated in this study. According to obtained results, foliar applied Viva® biostimulant decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1) and peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) activity in tomato leaves even when recommended NPK nutrition was reduced at 40%. Fruit quality parameters (total soluble solids, total acidity, ascorbic acid and lycopene content) and yield were also maintained in reduced macronutrient fertilization when biostimulant was added. Combination of biostimulant with reduced NPK fertilizer enabled stability of cell homeostasis in tomato plants and their better adaptation to stress conditions. The possibility of biostimulant being used as environmental friendly tool in the reduction of mineral fertilizers without negative consequences regarding yield and fruit quality was discussed.     

5种叶面肥对草莓光合特性及品质的影响

为探讨不同叶面肥对大棚草莓光合特性、果实品质及产量的影响,并筛选出适宜的叶面肥,以甘肃省兰州市西固区牟家台草莓温室大棚内栽植的草莓品种‘蒙特瑞’为试材,在施肥充足的情况下,在4个生育期追肥喷施经典750倍液（T1）、花仆1500倍液（T2)、润亮750倍液(T3)、艾德拉果500倍液（T4）及磷酸二氢钾1500倍液（T5）5种叶面肥,清水作为对照（CK）,测定了处理植株光合参数、果实品质、生物量及产量等指标。结果表明：（1）喷施不同叶面肥处理后草莓植株生物量、叶绿素含量显著增加,叶片的净光合速率和蒸腾速率显著上升,喷施叶面肥后的草莓植株胞间二氧化碳浓度均高于CK;（2）对果实品质而言,T2和T3处理能够显著改善草莓果形指数,T1和T5可以显著增大果实体积和重量。其中,T1的平均单果重较CK增加了5.89 g,T5的果实横径和纵径分别较CK增加了1.22 cm和1.15 cm。（3）实硬度、可溶性固形物含量、维生素C含量和还原糖含量有很明显的提高,并以T1施用效果最佳,较CK分别增加了3.3%、17.25 mg/g、2.71%。处理T1和T3可溶性蛋白含量分别较CK提高了0.097 mg/g和0.070 mg/g;（4）喷施叶面肥能够显著提高草莓单位面积产量,且以处理T1处理产量最高,较CK增长了13.65%。可见,施用适宜的叶面肥均能有效改善草莓营养生长状况,提升草莓果实品质,显著提高产量,并以经典750倍液叶面肥施用综合效果最佳。     

Effects of boron fertilization on `Conference' pear tree vigor, nutrition, and fruit yield and storability

The aim of the study was to examine the response of pear (Pyrus communis L.) trees to soil and foliar applications of boron (B). The experiment was carried out during 2000–2001 in a commercial orchard in Central Poland on mature `Conference' pear trees grafted on Pyrus communis var. caucasica seedlings planted at a spacing of 4 × 2.5 m on a sandy loam soil with a low hot water-extractable B status. Annually, foliar sprays with B were applied. (i) before full bloom (at green and white bud stage, and when 1–5% of flowers was at full bloom), (ii) after flowering (at petal fall, and 7 and 14 days after the end of flowering), or (iii) postharvest in fall (approximately 6 weeks before leaf fall). Spray treatments involved application of B at a rate of 0.2 kg ha^–1 in spring or 0.8 kg ha^–1 in fall. Additionally, other trees were supplied with soil-applied B at the bud break stage at a rate of 2 kg ha^–1. Trees untreated with B served as the control. The results revealed that foliar applications of B before full bloom or after harvest increased fruit set and fruit yield. Tree vigor, mean fruit weight, firmness, soluble solids concentration and titratable acidity of fruits at harvest were not affected by B treatments. Foliar B sprays before full bloom or after harvest increased B concentrations in flowers, and both leaves and fruitlets at 40 days after flowering. Only the foliar treatments after flowering and soil fertilization with B increased the content of this microelement in fruit and leaves at 80 and 120 days after full bloom. Foliar B application before full bloom or after harvest increased calcium (Ca) in fruitlets at 40 days after full bloom, in fruit, and in leaves at 80 and 120 days after full bloom. Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) in plant tissues were not affected by B fertilization. After storage, and also after the ripening period, fruits from the trees sprayed with B before full bloom or after harvest had higher firmness and titratable acidity than those from the control trees. After the ripening period, fruits from the trees sprayed with B before full bloom or after harvest had lower membrane permeability and were less sensitive to internal browning than the control fruits. These findings indicate that prebloom and postharvest B sprays are successful in increasing pear tree yielding and in improving fruit storability under the conditions of low B availability in the soil.     

复合叶面肥对油桃和葡萄生长生理及果树品质的影响

我国北方一些地区因土壤pH高,导致其中有效性微量元素含量很低而不能满足果树植物的正常生长发育,进而导致严重的缺素症。通过土壤直接施肥或通过灌溉水将化肥施入土壤,肥料中的微量元素很快会被土壤固定,因而这些方法不能有效地解决缺素症问题。作者用5年时间研制成功了应用果树植物的系列复合叶面肥,这些叶面肥不仅含有植物所需的大量元素,而且含有微量元素、有机营养及植物生长调节剂;叶面肥的配方也因果树植物种类生长习性的不同而异。以油桃和葡萄为试材,喷施复合叶面肥72h后,叶片中叶绿体含量、硝酸还原酶活性、铁和锌含量显著提高;叶面肥还能增进油桃和葡萄果实品质,促进葡萄枝芽增重,但不会引起葡萄树体徙长。整个生长季节喷施复合叶面肥对树体均有益,但喷施间隔时间不应少7-10d。     

CO(2)-Enhanced Yield and Foliar Deformation among Tomato Genotypes in Elevated CO(2) Environments

Yield increases observed among eight genotypes of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) grown at ambient CO₂ (about 350) or 1000 microliters per liter CO₂ were not due to carbon exchange rate increases. Yield varied among genotypes while carbon exchange rate did not. Yield increases were due to a change in partitioning from root to fruit. Tomatoes grown with CO₂ enrichment exhibited nonepinastic foliar deformation similar to nutrient deficiency symptoms. Foliar deformation varied among genotypes, increased throughout the season, and became most severe at elevated CO₂. Foliar deformation was positively related to fruit yield. Foliage from the lower canopy was sampled throughout the growing season and analysed for starch, K, P, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn concentrations. Foliar K and Mn concentrations were the only elements correlated with deformation severity. Foliar K decreased while deformation increased. In another study, foliage of half the plants of one genotype received foliar applications of 7 millimolar KH₂PO₄. Untreated foliage showed significantly greater deformation than treated foliage. Reduced foliar K concentration may cause CO₂-enhanced foliar deformation. Reduced K may occur following decreased nutrient uptake resulting from reduced root mass due to the change in partitioning from root to fruit.     

Biological control of stem canker of greenhouse tomatoes caused by Botrytis cinereal

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of various chemical and biological agents on stem canker caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers.: Fr. on tomato plants grown in sawdust under near-commercial greenhouse conditions. Lesion lengths following treatment with RootShield and strain S33 of Rhodosporidium diobovatum Newell & Hunter, applied as post-inoculation sprays, were significantly smaller than those in inoculated controls. These treatments also increased fruit yield and decreased the number of dead plants compared with inoculated controls. Decree, Prestop, and R. diobovatum S33, applied as sprays, prevented the occurrence of stem canker and increased fruit yield in tomato. The number of dead plants was also smaller with these treatments than with the other treatments and in inoculated controls. These results suggest that, in tomato, post-inoculation sprays of RootShield and R. diobovatum S33 can reduce lesion lengths, and that a preventive spray of Decree, Prestop, and R. diobovatum S33 might prevent stem canker, under near-commercial greenhouse conditions.     

Responses of alfalfa and Barley to foliar application of N and P on a coal mine spoil

Summary To ensure adequate growth of plants on the highly impoverished and erodable surface mined lands, the application of N and P fertilizers by suitable methods is essential. In the present study, five growth chamber experiments were conducted to evaluate the relative efficacy of foliar and spoil application of N and P using alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. var. Erand) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L. var. Manker) as test crops on a freshly exposed coal mine spoil collected from western North Dakota. In general, barley responded to both N and P, but alfalfa mainly to P. Growth responses of barley to foliar or spoil-applied N+P were substantial and similar in magnitude. However, the yields were much higher when the plants received 3–4 sprays of 1.5–2.2% urea, with P supplied through the spoil. Increasing the number of 2.2% urea sprays from 1 to 3 increased the growth response from 40 to 243%. In another study, increasing the concentration of foliar-applied urea from 0 through 1% resulted in further increases in the dry weights of barley at all the levels of spoil-applied (0, 25, 75, 225 g/g) N.Foliar sprays of 0.5–1.0% NaH₂PO₄ increased the dry weights of alfalfa and barley by an average of 366% and 86%, respectively. However, the yield response of alfalfa to spoil-applied P (100 g/g) was as high as 782% compared to only 117% for barley. Alfalfa responded significantly to increasing concentrations of H₃PO₄ (0–0.3%) in foliar sprays only in the absence of spoil-applied P. With increasing rates of spoil-applied P, alfalfa yields increased steadily, but additional supply of P sprays caused leaf burning which intensified as the P concentration in sprays increased.The results of chemical analyses indicated that foliar applications were more effective than soil applications in increasing the concentration of N or P in the plants. Moreover, urea sprays increased the uptake of K, Zn, and Fe in barley, whereas spraying alfalfa with P compounds caused increases in its K and Fe content and decreases in those of Zn and Na. The results of these experiments indicated that the nutritional requirements of plants grown on coal mine spoils can be met through foliar fertilization as effectively as, or better than, through conventional soil fertilization methods.Presented at the Annual Meeting, American Society of Agronomy, Chicago, Illinois, Dec. 3–8, 1978.     

蚓粪和益生菌互作对土壤性状及番茄产量和品质的影响

本试验研究了两株益生细菌(巨大芽孢杆菌BM和解淀粉芽孢杆菌BA)与化肥和蚓粪配施对土壤性状、番茄产量和品质的影响．结果表明:与化肥相比,在等养分条件下蚓粪能够提高番茄产量、果实可溶性糖和蛋白质含量,并提高土壤pH和速效磷含量．与单施蚓粪相比,益生菌与蚓粪配施不仅能提高番茄产量、果实可溶性糖、蛋白质、维生素C含量和糖酸比,降低有机酸和硝态氮含量,而且增加了土壤pH和硝态氮含量,降低了土壤电导率;益生菌与化肥配施的效果不如益生菌与蚓粪配施．BA和BM与化肥或蚓粪配施时,番茄品质无显著差异,但BA配施蚓粪处理的番茄产量显著高于BM配施蚓粪处理;BM与化肥配施处理显著提高了土壤速效磷含量,而BA与蚓粪配施处理则显著提高了土壤速效钾含量．本研究表明,益生菌和蚓粪可替代化肥用于番茄生产和土壤肥力改良.     

Physiological response and yield of paclobutrazol treated tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

Experiments were conducted to study the physiologicaleffect of the plant growth retardant paclobutrazol(PBZ) and its impact on the yield of tomato plants(cv. Precador). Seedlings were treated at the time of prickingout with soil and foliar applications of PBZ atconcentrations of 1.0 and 25.0 mg l^-1respectively. The results established that:-- The reduced height and the increased thickness ofthe young plant stem, as well as the accelerated rootformation are a significant advantage of the PBZtreatment, contributing to the improvement of seedlingquality at planting.-- Soil treatment (1 mg l^-1) and foliar treatment(25 mg l^-1) with PBZ improves the photosyntheticactivity and water balance of tomato cv. Precador.-- PBZ accelerates fruit formation and increases earlyfruit yield.-- The concentrations of the retardant used and themode of its application ensure the production offruits without any residual retardant and harmless tohuman health from a phytosanitary point of view.     

施肥和覆膜垄沟种植对旱地小麦产量及水氮利用的影响

通过大田试验研究了施肥和覆膜垄沟种植对旱地冬小麦群体动态、产量构成及水氮利用的影响。结果表明,覆膜垄沟种植和追肥处理可显著提高旱地冬小麦穗数,追肥处理可减少后期无效分蘖;覆膜垄沟种植和追肥处理产量分别比农户模式提高了11.73%和13.91%,穗数和穗粒数是其产量提高的关键因素;覆膜垄沟种植方式可减少土壤水分损耗,水分利用率为11.60 kg · hm^-2 · mm^-1,显著高于其他处理;追肥处理能有效促进小麦生育中后期对氮素的吸收利用,在基施氮量165 kg/hm²上再追肥30 kg/hm²,地上部分吸氮总量增加15.45 kg/hm²,追肥氮的利用率显著高于底肥氮利用率,为51.5%。     

Biofortification of wheat with iron through soil and foliar application of nitrogen and iron fertilizers

Increasing iron (Fe) concentration in food crops is an important global challenge due to high incidence of Fe deficiency in human populations. Evidence is available showing that nitrogen (N) fertilization increases Fe concentration in wheat grain. This positive impact of N on grain Fe was, however, not studied under varied soil and foliar applications of Fe. Greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate a role of soil- and foliar-applied Fe fertilizers in improving shoot and grain Fe concentration in durum wheat (Triticum durum) grown under increasing N supply as Ca-nitrate. Additionally, an effect of foliar Fe fertilizers on grain Fe was tested with and without urea in the spray solution. Application of various soil or foliar Fe fertilizers had either a little positive effect or remained ineffective on shoot or grain Fe. By contrast, at a given Fe treatment, raising N supply substantially enhanced shoot and grain concentrations of Fe and Zn. Improving N status of plants from low to sufficient resulted in a 3-fold increase in shoot Fe content (e.g., total Fe accumulated), whereas this increase was only 42% for total shoot dry weight. Inclusion of urea in foliar Fe fertilizers had a positive impact on grain Fe concentration. Nitrogen fertilization represents an important agronomic practice in increasing grain Fe. Therefore, the plant N status deserves special attention in biofortification of food crops with Fe.     

Effects of boron foliar applications on vegetative and reproductive growth of sunflower

Foliar application may be used to supply boron (B) to a crop when B demands are higher than can be supplied via the soil. While B foliar sprays have been used to correct B deficiency in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in the field, no studies have determined the amount of B taken up by sunflower plant parts via foliar application. A study was conducted in which sunflower plants were grown at constant B concentration in nutrient solution with adequate B (46 micro m) or with limited B supply (0.24, 0.40 and 1.72 micro m) using Amberlite IRA-743 resin to control B supply. At the late vegetative stage of growth (25 and 35 d after transplanting), two foliar sprays were applied of soluble sodium tetraborate (20.8 % B) each at 0, 28, 65, 120 and 1200 mm (each spray equivalent to 0, 0.03, 0.07, 0.13 and 1.3 kg B ha-1 in 100 L water ha-1). The highest rate of B foliar fertilization resulted in leaf burn but had no other evident detrimental effect on plant growth. Under B-deficient conditions, B foliar application increased the vegetative and reproductive dry mass of plants. Foliar application of 28-1200 mm B increased the total dry mass of the most B-deficient plants by more than three-fold and that of plants grown initially with 1.72 micro m B in solution by 37-49 %. In this latter treatment, the dry mass of the capitulum was similar to that achieved under control conditions, but in no instance was total plant dry mass similar to that of the control. All B foliar spray rates increased the B concentration in various parts of the plant tops, including those that developed after the sprays were applied, but the B concentration in the roots was not increased by B foliar application. The B concentration in the capitulum of the plants sprayed at the highest rate was between 37 and 93 % of that in the control plants. This study showed that B foliar application was of benefit to B-deficient sunflower plants, increasing the B status of plant tops, including that of the capitulum which developed after the B sprays were applied.     

Magnesium deficiency of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa)

Magnesium deficiency was associated with large yield reductions in a five-year-old commercial kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) orchard. The effect on yield resulted primarily from a reduction in fruit numbers, there being no difference in mean fruit weight between fruit harvested from affected and unaffected vines. Magnesium deficiency had no deleterious effect on postharvest storage characteristics of fruit stored at 0.5–1°C for 18 weeks; fruit from deficient vines were firmer but had slightly lower soluble solids than fruit from control vines. Although deficiency symptoms were first observed on the basal leaves of the non-fruiting shoots mid season, indications of the impending deficiency could be established very early in the season using foliar analysis. Magnesium concentrations in youngest fully expanded leaves (YFEL) on the affected vines were less than 2.0 g kg⁻¹ DM four weeks after budbreak and remained below this value for the rest of the season; concentrations in YFEL on unaffected vines did not decrease below this value and gradually increased after fruitset to 4.5 g kg⁻¹ DM at harvest. To avert potential production losses, it is suggested that soluble magnesium fertilizers (containing at least 200 kg ha⁻¹ Mg) should be broadcast early in the season if foliar magnesium concentrations less than 2.0 gkg⁻¹ DM are measured four–six weeks after budbreak.     

Effects of raw and diluted municipal sewage effluent with micronutrient foliar sprays on the growth and nutrient concentration of foxtail millet in southeast Iran

In this study, the effect of irrigation with raw or diluted municipal sewage effluent accompanied by foliar micronutrient fertilizer sprays was examined on the growth, dry matter accumulation, grain yield, and mineral nutrients in foxtail millet plants. The experimental design was a split plot with three irrigation sources: raw sewage, 50% diluted sewage, and well water comprising the main treatments, and four combinations of Mn and Zn foliar sprays as sub-treatments that were applied with four replications. The experiment was conducted in 2009 at the Zabol University research farm in Zabol, south Iran. The applied municipal sewage effluent contained higher levels of micronutrients and macronutrients and exhibited greater degrees of electrical conductivity compared to well water. Because of the small scale of industrial activities in Zabol, the amount of heavy metals in the sewage was negligible (below the limits set for irrigation water in agricultural lands); these contaminants would not be severely detrimental to crop growth. The experimental results indicated that irrigation of plants with raw or diluted sewage stimulates the measured growth and productivity parameters of foxtail millet plants. The concentrations of micronutrients and macronutrients were also positively affected. These stimulations were attributed to the presence of high levels of such essential nutrients as N, P, and organic matter in wastewater. Supplied in sewage water alone, Mn and Zn were not able to raise the productivity of millet to the level obtained using fertilizers at the recommended values; this by itself indicated that additional nutrients from fertilizers are required to obtain higher levels of millet productivity with sewage farming. Despite the differences in nutrient concentrations among the different irrigation water sources, the micronutrient foliar sprays did not affect the concentrations of micronutrients and macronutrients in foxtail millet plants. These results suggested that municipal sewage effluent could be utilized efficiently as an important source of water, and that the nutrients used in growing foxtail millet with sewage water irrigation did not have any significant harmful effect on crop productivity. In contrast, the nutrients proved beneficial to soil fertility and millet productivity and quality.     

The distribution of chromium-51 in lowland rice in relation to the chemical form and to the amount of stable chromium in the nutrient solution

Summary The effect of adding clay, moisture and the compaction on the physical properties of peat as well as the effect on transpiration and growth of tomato plants were investigated during short term laboratory experiments. The effect of 6, 12, and 20 cm peat height in beds with constand water level were investigated in a 5 months tomato crop.Admixture of clay reduced the porosity of the peat. Adding the clay at moderate pressure (10, 100 g cm^-2) decreased the amount of large pores (equivalent to pores emptied at pF 2.0) and to an increase of smaller pores (equivalent to pores emptied in the pF intervals 2.0–4.2). The reduction in the amount of large pores was greater with admixture of montmorillonite than with a soil clay. An increase of the soil clay content from 50 to 70 per cent had an insignificant effect on the amount of large pores. Increasing the moisture content of the peat resulted in that fewer pores were emptied at pF 1.3. At a pressure of 1000 g cm^-2 the decrease of large pores was more marked for pure peat than for mixtures of peat and soil clay. Increasing the pressures from 10 to 100 g cm^-2 had only a slight effect.For a mixture of peat and montmorillonite a linear relationship was found between the clay content and bulk density, while a curvilinear relationship existed for a mixture of peat and soil clay.In short term laboratory experiments with tomato seedlings transpiration and growth rate were at a maximum at a pF equivalent to 20–30 per cent airfilled pores. In a glasshouse experiment with tomatoes an increase was recorded in yield, size of fruit, leaf area and total dry matter production with increasing peat heights above a constant water level.The experimental results showed that porous root media, such as peat, should be treated to counteract the existence of zones having sub-optimal air content by use of sub-irrigation. re]19730227     

Effect of aqueous extract of Sargassum johnstonii Setchell & Gardner on growth, yield and quality of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.

Experiments were conducted on tomato to study the potential of brown alga Sargassum johnstonii as a biofertilizer. Seaweed extract was applied as a foliar spray, soil drench, and soil drench + foliar spray to assess its effect on plant growth, yield, and concentration of lycopene and vitamin C. The main objective of the study was to enhance the biochemical constituents with neutraceutical and antioxidant values in tomato fruit. Different concentrations (0.1%, 0.4%, 0.8%, 2%, 6%, 8%, and 10%; v/v) of seaweed extract were used and growth was observed over a period of 7 months. A total of 14 sprays/drenches were applied at 15-day intervals during the entire vegetative and reproductive phase. A statistically significant increase in vegetative growth (plant height, shoot length, root length, and number of branches), reproductive parameters (flower number, fruit number, and fresh weight), and biochemical constituents (photosynthetic pigments, proteins, total soluble sugars, reducing sugars, starch, phenols, lycopene, and vitamin C) was recorded following all three methods of treatment at higher concentrations of seaweed extract. The study also reports auxin- and cytokinin-like activity, and the presence of macro- (Ca, Mg, Na, and K) and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn), in seaweed extract of S. johnstonii, which makes it a potential biofertilizer.     

Influence of growth regulator treatments on dry matter production,fruit abscission,and14C-assimilate partitioning in citrus

Experiments were performed to monitor (1) uptake and translocation of foliar-applied microdroplets of¹⁴C hormones and (2) effects of multiple growth regulator sprays on foliar and fruit growth variables and photosynthate partitioning in Valencia orange trees (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck). The uptake of¹⁴C-sucrose,¹⁴C-paclobutrazol (PP333), and¹⁴C-napthaleneacetic acid (NAA) in 6-month-old greenhouse-grown trees exceeded that of¹⁴C-abscisic acid (ABA) and¹⁴C-benzyladenine (BA) 48 h after microdroplet application.¹⁴C-sucrose transport from the application site was much greater than any other source, especially¹⁴C-BA. In a second study, 2-year-old Valencia orange trees were maintained under field conditions and were sprayed to foliar runoff (3 × /week for 3 weeks) with BA, NAA, ABA, PP333, and gibberellic acid (GA₃) at 100 M during flowering and early fruit set. Select branches were then briefly exposed to¹⁴CO₂ and harvested 24 h later. Both GA₃ and BA sprays promoted foliar growth. BA also stimulated fruit growth, whereas GA₃ sharply increased fruit dry weight while fruit number decreased. BA and GA₃ enhanced¹⁴C assimilate export by the foliage to the developing fruit, and GA₃ was especially active in promoting fruit sink intensity (¹⁴C/dry wt). The other compounds (NAA, ABA, PP333) restricted foliar and fruit growth. They also inhibited transport of¹⁴C assimilate from the leaves to the fruit. Results indicate that foliar-applied growth regulators can influence source-sink relations in citrus early in reproductive development by manipulating photoassimilate production and partitioning.