Effect of soil sodicity on the growth,yield and chemical composition of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea Linn.)

Summary A replicated field experiment was conducted to study the effect of exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) on the yield, chemical composition, protein and oil content and uptake of nutrients by groundnut (Arachis hypogaea Linn.) variety M-13. ESP over 15 delayed germination and emergence of flowers. There was continuous decrease in dry matter yield at 30 and 60 days of growth, grain and straw yield after harvest and protein, oil and kernel percent with increase in soil ESP. A 50 per cent reduction in groundnut yield was observed at an ESP of 20. Increasing soil ESP, increased Na and decreased K, Ca and N contents, but had no effect on the Mg, P, S, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu contents of the plant. Sodium content of the plant increased, while potassium and nitrogen decreased with age of the plant. The uptake of all the nutrients decreased with increase in soil ESP. The results showed that groundnut is a relatively sensitive crop to soil sodicity.     

Characterization ofAzotobacter spp. and effect of Azotobacter and Azospirillum as inoculant on the yield and N-uptake of wheat crop

Out of ten isolates ofAzospirillum spp. isolated from the root and rhizosphere of wheat plant, seven belonged toA. brasilense and three belonged toA. lipoferum. All eight isolates ofAzotobacter spp. belonged toAzotobacter chroococcum. Two strains, one fromA. lipoferum and another fromA. chroococcum having high nitrogen fixing capacity with negative test for denitrification were used as inoculant to supplement the nitrogen need of wheat crop. Significant increases in the yield of wheat grain and uptake of nitrogen by the crop over the control were found in pot tests when the seeds were inoculated either withAzospirillum spp. orAzotobacter spp. or the combination of both the inoculants.     

Influence of different organic waste materials on the transformation of nitrogen in soils

Organic waste materials like crop residues, well-decomposed cow dung, composts, and other rural and urban wastes are considered highly useful resources in enhancing soil fertility and also in build-up of soil organic matter. Organic matter decomposition provides plant nutrients in soil, which in turn increases crop productivity. Availability of nutrients and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus from organic waste materials is dependent upon the nature of organic residues, climatic conditions, and soil moisture activity. Keeping these factors in view, the present investigation was undertaken to study the transformation of N from different organic waste materials in two contrasting soils from an eastern India, subtropical region. The results showed that the amounts of ammoniacal-N (NH4-N), nitrate-N (NO3-N), hydrolysable N (HL-N), and nonhydrolysable (NHL-N) were increased for up to 60 days of soil submergence and increased further with the increase (1% by weight of soil) of organic residue application. Considering the effect of various organic waste materials, it was found that the amounts of NH4-N, NO3-N, HL-N, and NHL-N were higher with the application of groundnut hull as compared to wheat straw and potato skin, which may be due to relatively narrow carbon:N ratio of groundnut (22:43) than that of wheat straw (62:84) and potato skin (71:32); however, the results showed that the release of NH4-N, NO3-N, HL-N, and NHL-N was in the order of groundnut hull > wheat straw > potato skin.     

Growth and patulin formation byPenicillium urticae Bainier in pure and mixed cultures

Penicillium urticae Bainier synthesized patulin in potato-dextrose medium at temperatures ranging from 5 to 30°C. Maximum patulin yield was 2700 μg/ml of culture fluid in 14 days at 25°C. Two distinctive intervals affected patulin formation: 15 to 20°C and 30 to 35°C, the former favorable and the latter detrimental. An incubation period of 11 to 14 days made a nonsterile mixture of weathered wheat straw and soil a favorable medium for patulin formation. Autoclaved weathered wheat straw, inoculated withP. urticae alone, or in combination withTrichoderma sp., was a medium comparable to nonsterile, incubated weathered wheat straw in soil. Both carbon source and accessory growth factors were important for patulin formation. Of seven media tested, potato-dextrose was superior to potatodextrose supplemented with 70 ppm Zn-ions and 16 ppm Fe-ions, potatosucrose, Raulin-Thom, autoclaved weathered wheat straw in pure culture, weathered wheat straw in nonsterile soil, and autoclaved weathered wheat straw in mixed culture, in that order. Patulin production ranged from 337.5 to 0.2 mg/g of C in the medium. Contribution from the Northern Plains Branch, Soil and Water Conservation Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station, Lincoln. Published as Paper No.2621, Journal Series, Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Influence of sodium humate on the crop plants inoculated with bacteria of agricultural importance

Summary The dry-matter yield and nitrogen uptake of berseem (Trifolium alexand-drinum), yield, nitrogen uptake, nodulation and leghaemoglobin content of dhaincha (Sesbania aculeata) inoculated with specific rhizobia were appreciably influenced by the application of sodium humate to soil under green house conditions. Even the application of sodium humate alone without bacterial inoculation had good growth stimulating influence on both the crops, and this effect was further improved by the application of inorganic nitrogen to dhaincha plants. A fair increase in the yield and phosphorus up-take of wheat (Triticum vulgare) inoculated withAzotobacter and/orBacillus spp. was also recorded with the addition of the humic material to the soil. The greatest effect was observed on the plants inoculated withAzotobacter andBacillus spp. together.     

接种蚯蚓对秸秆还田土壤碳、氮动态和作物产量的影响

通过为期 2年的小区 (2 .8m× 1.0m)试验 ,研究了旱作水稻 小麦轮作条件下接种蚯蚓对施用玉米秸秆 (第一季用量 15 0 0g·m-2 ,以后各季为 75 0g·m-2 )农田土壤碳、氮动态和作物产量的影响 .结果表明 ,接种 10条·m-2 或 2 0条·m-2 环毛蚓 (Pheretimasp .)对土壤有机碳和全氮含量无显著影响 ,蚯蚓活动未造成土壤C库的衰减 ,土壤碳、氮基本维持平衡 .接种蚯蚓处理土壤N的矿化作用增强 ,矿质N含量提高 ,NO3 - N含量增加 ,而且稻季比麦季增加更为明显 .接种蚯蚓在稻、麦季均能提高微生物量碳、氮含量 ,蚯蚓具有扩大土壤微生物量N库和促进有机N矿化的双重作用 .这种作用在有效C源供应丰富的作物生长发育旺盛期更为明显 .接种蚯蚓对旱作水稻和小麦有一定的增产作用 ,其中水稻的增产幅度达 9.3% ,小麦为 5 .1% .接种蚯蚓后土壤容重明显降低 ,孔隙度显著增加 .蚯蚓在保持土壤C库平衡的同时 ,对于促进秸秆有机肥N素养分的再循环和作物生产力的提高具有重要的生态学意义 .     

西南喀斯特区坡耕地秸秆覆盖对土壤生态化学计量特征及产量的影响

土壤养分亏缺是限制作物生长的关键因素,同时也是制约作物产量的重要影响因子。为提高西南喀斯特区坡耕地土壤肥力和作物产量,于2018—2019年连续两年在贵州省黔西县开展了野外原位径流小区观测试验。通过该试验探讨不同秸秆覆盖率下土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)、钾(K)含量及其生态化学计量特征,揭示不同秸秆覆盖率下土壤养分状况及土壤改良效果。共设6个秸秆覆盖梯度,玉米单作+秸秆覆盖(SM₀—SM₅,0,1111、2222、3889、5556,6944 kg/hm~2),其中SM₀为对照组(CK)。结果表明：(1)秸秆覆盖不同程度增加了土壤有机碳(SOC)、全氮(TN)及全磷(TP)含量,总体上随覆盖量的增加而增加,尤其是覆盖量较多的情况下(SM₄,SM₅),均显著高于对照(P<0.05),但两者之间差异不显著(P> 0.05),而全钾(TK)则随着覆盖量的增加而减少。(2)在高秸秆覆盖条件下(SM₄,SM₅),除了N∶P外,两...     

Effect of nitrogen management and soil moisture conservation practices on rainfed wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Summary Studies revealed that the application of fertilizer nitrogen brought a significant increase in grain and straw yield of wheat. The significant effect was also noticed on such yield contributing characters like number of effective tillers per metre row length, spike length, and number of grains per spike. The increase of nitrogen level from 40 kg/ha to 80 kg/ha also brought a significant increase in yield and yield contributing characters. The application of entire dose of nitrogen at the time of sowing was as good as its split application. The application of nitrogen also influenced the nitrogen concentration of grains whereas, the other treatments did not influence the nitrogen concentration in grains or straw. The nitrogen treatments did not influence the moisture content of soil. The application of mulch or mulch+Kaolin resulted in significantly higher content of soil moisture in 0–15 cm soil depth as compared to control or Kaolin spray alone which was simultaneously reflected in yield and yield contributing characters.     

油菜秸秆还田对水稻根系、分蘖和产量的影响

采用田间试验与栽培模拟试验相结合的方法,分析了油菜秸秆还田对水稻根系、分蘖和产量的影响.结果表明: 水稻移栽后0～36 d,与秸秆不还田处理相比,油菜秸秆还田处理下水稻分蘖减少1～2个,根系单株伤流量降低1.0～8.6 mg,根系谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)、谷丙转氨酶(GPT)和谷草转氨酶(GOT) 活性分别降低0.10～6.11、0.06～0.31和0.52～0.84 μmol·g^-1·h^-1. 水稻移栽后56 d,与秸秆不还田处理相比,油菜秸秆翻埋还田处理下水稻根系单株伤流量增加3.4～11.7 mg,根系GS、GPT和GOT活性分别增加0.34～0.78、0.13～0.45和0.18～0.20 μmol·g^-1·h^-1;油菜秸秆覆盖还田处理下水稻根系单株伤流量降低19～25 mg,根系GS、GPT和GOT活性分别增加0.16～0.34、0.08～0.21和0.06～0.32 μmol·g^-1·h^-1.油菜秸秆还田处理中,全量还田处理下的水稻产量最高,其中,与全量覆盖还田相比,全量翻埋还田处理下的水稻产量增加0.13～0.48 t·hm^-2.可见,油菜秸秆还田会导致水稻生长前期根系活力下降、氮代谢酶活性降低,从而使水稻根系生长缓慢、返青延迟,但在中后期,随着根系活力和氮代谢酶活性的增强,秸秆还田会促进水稻根系生长;油菜秸秆还田对水稻产量的影响是多因素综合作用的结果,全量翻埋还田更适宜于四川油稻两熟轮作系统.     

油菜秸秆还田对水稻根系、分蘖和产量的影响

采用田间试验与栽培模拟试验相结合的方法,分析了油菜秸秆还田对水稻根系、分蘖和产量的影响.结果表明: 水稻移栽后0～36 d,与秸秆不还田处理相比,油菜秸秆还田处理下水稻分蘖减少1～2个,根系单株伤流量降低1.0～8.6 mg,根系谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)、谷丙转氨酶(GPT)和谷草转氨酶(GOT) 活性分别降低0.10～6.11、0.06～0.31和0.52～0.84 μmol·g^-1·h^-1. 水稻移栽后56 d,与秸秆不还田处理相比,油菜秸秆翻埋还田处理下水稻根系单株伤流量增加3.4～11.7 mg,根系GS、GPT和GOT活性分别增加0.34～0.78、0.13～0.45和0.18～0.20 μmol·g^-1·h^-1;油菜秸秆覆盖还田处理下水稻根系单株伤流量降低19～25 mg,根系GS、GPT和GOT活性分别增加0.16～0.34、0.08～0.21和0.06～0.32 μmol·g^-1·h^-1.油菜秸秆还田处理中,全量还田处理下的水稻产量最高,其中,与全量覆盖还田相比,全量翻埋还田处理下的水稻产量增加0.13～0.48 t·hm^-2.可见,油菜秸秆还田会导致水稻生长前期根系活力下降、氮代谢酶活性降低,从而使水稻根系生长缓慢、返青延迟,但在中后期,随着根系活力和氮代谢酶活性的增强,秸秆还田会促进水稻根系生长;油菜秸秆还田对水稻产量的影响是多因素综合作用的结果,全量翻埋还田更适宜于四川油稻两熟轮作系统.     

Effects of method of straw disposal and depth of cultivation on populations of Fusarium spp. in soil and on brown foot rot in continuous winter wheat

Soil samples (0–10 cm depth) taken from plots of continuous winter wheat at intervals between January 1993 and July 1996 were dilution-plated on PCNB agar to identify and enumerate colony-forming units (cfus) of Fusarium spp. Cfus of the main wheat pathogen, F. culmorum, were more numerous in soil from plots that were shallow-cultivated to 10 cm after each harvest than in those that were ploughed. They were also usually more numerous in plots in which straw had been chopped and incorporated (by shallow cultivation or ploughing) than in those in which straw had been burnt. Increasing amounts of straw tended to increase the number of cfus. Deeper sampling (15–25 cm) showed that ploughing resulted in a more even, but diluted, distribution of cfus down the soil profile. Populations of some commonly found species that are not pathogenic on wheat {F. oxysporum, F. equiseti, F. flocciferum and F. merismoides) were sometimes also affected by straw disposal or cultivation treatments. Alternative methods of estimating population densities (baiting soil with wheat kernels or wheat seedlings, or plating-out straw fragments) showed generally similar effects of treatments on populations of F. culmorum; the relative merits of the methods are considered. Large differences in population densities of all species occurred within and between seasons. The smallest populations were found in January 1995 but, in the case of F. culmorum, they increased to relatively large numbers in July 1995. The summer of 1995 was warm and dry and especially favourable for development of fusarium foot rot. Severe disease occurred only in this year and was less frequent after ploughing than after tine-cultivation but more frequent after straw burning than after straw incorporation. The implications of these observations for understanding the role of propagules of F. culmorum in soil as inoculum for foot rot are discussed.     

长期施肥条件下黄土高原黑垆土作物产量与土壤碳氮的关系

通过设置在黄土高原黑垆土区的长期定位试验系统,研究了长期施肥条件下作物产量与土壤碳氮的互馈关系.试验设不施肥(CK)、单施氮肥(N)、氮磷配施(NP)、秸秆与氮磷配施(SNP)、施有机肥(M)和有机肥与氮磷配施(MNP)6个处理.结果表明: 与对照相比,长期平衡施用化肥、单施有机肥、化肥与有机肥配合施用和秸秆还田配施化肥显著增加了作物产量及其稳定性, NP、SNP、M、MNP处理玉米和小麦产量分别增加92%、97%、93%、141%和147%、164%、139%、214%.NP处理玉米和小麦年均产量与当地常规施肥作物产量相当且稳定,小麦-玉米轮作体系施肥量为N 90 kg·hm^-2、P₂O₅ 75 kg·hm^-2能够满足作物需要.秸秆还田与隔年施磷相配合的SNP处理与NP处理作物产量相似,且可减少磷肥施用量50%.平衡施用化肥、有机肥、化肥与有机肥配施和秸秆还田配施化肥均可显著增加土壤有机碳含量,而施用化肥对土壤全氮含量影响不明显,综合所有处理,土壤有机碳和全氮含量呈显著正相关.不同处理土壤有机碳固存率在15%～41%.SNP处理土壤有机碳累积投入量增加1 t·hm^-2,土壤有机碳含量增加0.06 g·kg^-1,而CK、N、NP、M和MNP处理的增幅在0.12～0.15 g·kg^-1.玉米和小麦产量都与土壤全氮含量呈显著正相关,玉米产量随土壤有机碳含量的增加而增加,但小麦产量随土壤有机碳含量的增加先快速增加后趋于平稳,拐点出现在6.8 g·kg^-1.长期平衡施用化肥、有机肥、有机肥与化肥配合施用及秸秆还田配施化肥可显著增加黄土高原黑垆土土壤有机碳和全氮含量、作物产量和根茬还田量,根茬还田量的增加又进一步增加了土壤有机碳和全氮含量,形成了相互促进的互馈关系.     

Effects of soil fumigation on soil nitrogen and on disease incidence in winter wheat

Winter wheat was grown in soil fumigated with D-D, 85% dazomet dust or formalin, and top-dressed with o or 125 kg nitrogen/ha. Six weeks after fumigation, there was much more ammonium nitrogen in fumigated than in unfumigated soil. Nitrate was also more after fumigation with dazomet, but less after D-D and formalin. After 5 months, only D-D plots had less nitrate and more total mineral nitrogen than unfumigated plots. Take-all (Ophiobolus graminis) was less prevalent in the first crop after dazomet or formalin, but was more prevalent in the second crop than after other treatments. Eyespot (Cercosporella herpotrichoides) was decreased only by formalin and only in the first crop after applying it. Fumigation had little effect on the incidence of other diseases recorded or on grain yield, except that yields were light on D-D plots in the first crop after fumigation, when ears were severely deformed.     

Associative effect of cellulolytic fungi andAzospirillum lipoferum on yield and nitrogen uptake by wheat

The associative effect of cellulolytic fungi, such asAspergillus awamori andA. niger, with the nitrogen fixer,Azospirillum lipoferum was studied in a soil amended with rice straw. All the inoculants gave significantly higher grain and straw yield and nitrogen uptake by wheat crop than did the uninoculated treatment. The doubling of chemical nitrogen dose significantly increased the yield and nitrogen uptake. It was observed thatA awamori performed significantly better followed byA. niger andA. lipoferum. The maximum benefit was obtained with combined inoculation ofA. awamori andA. lipoferum. Another experiment was conducted in the subsequent year in soil amended with and without rice straw using cellulolytic culture eitherA. awamori orSclerotium rolfsii, andA. lipoferum. Application of straw in soil significantly reduced the yield and N-uptake by wheat crop as compared to the controls. All the inoculants exceptS. rolfsii gave significantly higher grain yield. However, N-uptake by grain was significantly increased only by combined inoculation ofA. lipoferum and either one of the cellulolytic fungi. Similar trends on yield and N-uptake of straw due to inoculants were observed. The maximum benefit was obtained with combined inoculation ofA. awamori andA. lipoferum followed byA. awamori alone on grain yield and only combined inoculants on N-uptake by the crop.     

Soil conditions and the take-all disease of wheat; control of the disease under continuous cultivation of a spring-sown cereal

In a field experiment on the control of take-all at the Woburn Experimental Station, winter wheat was followed by two consecutive crops of spring-sown barley. Samples of the barley crop were taken from the forty-eight plots of the experiment in 1945 and 1946, for estimation of root Disease Rating, and grain yields were also recorded. A comparison of six autumn treatments of the stubble has shown that treatments affecting the available nitrogen content of the soil exercised a predominant effect upon incidence of take-all in the following crop. Two effects of nitrogen applied in autumn have been distinguished: (1) an immediate effect, in assisting survival of Ophiobolus graminis in infected root and stubble residues; (2) a deferred effect, in promoting disease escape of the following crop. The ploughing in of straw in autumn was found to increase the incidence of take-all, presumably because the adverse deferred effect of decomposing straw in locking up available nitrogen and withholding it from the following crop. outweighed its beneficial immediate effect in helping to starve out O. graminis , by depriving the fungus of nitrogen. The autumn growth of undersown trefoil ( Medicago lupulina ) on the stubble land seenled to be entirely beneficial; active growth of the legume appeared to assist in starving out O. graminis , and nitrogen was released by decomposition of the trefoil in the soil after spring ploughing in time to benefit the barley crop immediately following.     

Soil and litter respiration rates in different microhabitats of a mixed oak-conifer forest and their control by edaphic conditions and substrate quality

Summary Seven isolates belonged toA. brasilense and 3 belonged toA. lipoferum. Isolates having more denitrifying capacity fixed less nitrogen in nitrogen free semi-solid malate medium. One strain ofA. lipoferum having high nitrogen fixing capacity with negative test for denitrification was tested as inoculant to supplement the nitrogen need of a wheat crop in field condition with different doses of N with and without the inoculant. While control without nitrogen yielded 1260 kg/ha the yield in inoculated treatment was 2070 kg/ha resulting in significant increase. In a treatment receiving 40 kg N/ha the grain yield was 2370 kg/ha as against yield of 3110 kg/ha in a similar treatment receiving fertiliser plus inoculant. Thus increase in yield was about 30%. Further the treatment receiving 80 kg N/ha yielded 2970 kg/ha as against yield of 4150 kg/ha in a treatment receiving inoculant alongwith the above dose of the fertiliser. Thus increase in yield due to application of inoculant was about 36%. Similarly, the uptake of N in different treatments was augmented due to inoculation of seeds with the culture.     

Effect of different Mg/Ca ratios and electrolyte concentrations in irrigation water on the nutrient content of wheat crop

Summary A study conducted in pots to evaluate the effect of different Mg/Ca ratios (2, 4, 8 and 16) and electrolyte concentrations (20 and 80 meq/l) at SAR 10 in irrigation water on the nutrient uptake and yield of wheat crop in two soils revealed that the average grain and dry matter yields of wheat decreased significantly with an increase in Mg/Ca ratio in irrigation water, but the magnitude of decrease was greater at higher electrolyte concentration than at lower electrolyte concentration. The concentration of Na in both straw and grain of wheat increased and that of K decreased with an increase in Mg/Ca ratio and electrolyte concentration of irrigation water, which led to higher Na/Ca and Na/K ratios in the plant. Further, the concentration of Ca and Mg both in straw as well as in grain increased with increasing electrolyte concentration of the irrigation water. An increasing proportion of Mg in saline irrigation water resulted in decreased concentration of Ca and increased concentration of Mg in both straw and grain of wheat crop. It was also noticed that the increasing proportion of Mg over Ca in the poor quality irrigation water increased the P content of both straw and grain of wheat crop.     

Chemical and biological properties of wheat soil in response to paddy straw incorporation and its biodegradation by fungal inoculants

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the relative contribution of organic fertilizers (paddy straw, microbial inoculants and vermicompost) and inorganic fertilizers (urea and superphosphate) in improving pH, C, N, humus, microbial biomass, dehydrogenase, phosphatase, cellulase, β-glucosidase and xylanase activities of soil under wheat crop. Vermicompost fertilization resulted in highest microbial biomass, available phosphorus, and nitrogen content of wheat soil. It was also found effective in minimizing the alkalinity of soil compared to other treatments as indicated by pH change. However incorporation of paddy straw in conjunction with N₆₀P₆₀ and T. reesei inoculation resulted in maximum dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and highest humus content of soil. Mixed inoculation of A. awamori and T. reesei did not prove effective in improving the soil biochemical properties in comparison to single inoculation of T. reesei. Results showed that in situ incorporation of paddy straw in combination with N₆₀P₆₀ and T. reesei inoculation can be used as an effective measure for valuable disposal of paddy straw and to improve the soil health by reducing mineral fertilization.     

A greenhouse study on the effect of inoculation of N-fixing blue-green algae in an alluvial soil treated with P and Mo on the yield of rice and changes in the N-content of soil

Summary The efficiency of the inoculation of three cultures of N-fixing blue-green algaeviz. (i)Aulosira fertilissima (A₁), (ii)Nostoc muscorum (A₂) and (iii) their mixture (A₃) in increasing the grain and straw yield of rice, nitrogen uptake in grain and nitrogen content in soil was studied in a green house experiment with an alluvial soil in presence or absence of urea nitrogen application. Inoculation significantly increased the grain and straw yield of rice and nitrogen uptake in grain, but the efficiency of inoculation gradually decreased with the increase in the levels of urea nitrogen application, the extent of decrease varying with the algal cultures inoculated. The nitrogen content in the soils after the crop harvest recorded a significant increase due to inoculation but after air drying the soil a marker decrease of the same was observed, which indicated that most of the nitrogen added to the soil by blue-green algae through fixation did not persist after air drying the soil.     

Yield response of a common spring wheat cultivar to inoculation withAzospirillum brasilense at various levels of nitrogen fertilization

Summary The yield response of a common spring wheat cultivar,Triticum aestivum, to inoculation withAzospirillum brasilense was studied at four levels of N fertilization. Plant yield increased due to the inoculation treatment only at medium and high levels of N fertilization, with a maximum yield increase of about 8.0 per cent at the highest level (approximately 1.0 g of pure N per plant). Yield increase was mostly due to an increase in the number of grains per spike, and at the highest level of fertilization, also due to a higher number of spikes per plant. At all N levels, the inoculation caused an increase of 0.5–1.4 per cent in the number of fertile spikelets per main spike.Grain protein percentage was unaffected by the inoculation, though significantly increase due to the fertilization treatments.The occurrence of maximum yield response at the highest N level, the response by early-determined yield components, i.e. spikelet number, and the unaffected grain protein content are in accord with the suggestion that the contribution ofAzospirillum brasilense to wheat yield is not through N₂-fixation.