Relationship between the population of viable sclerotia ofSclerotium rolfsii in soil to cropping sequence in the Nigerian savanna

Populations of viable sclerotia ofSclerotium rolfsii were highest in soil in a field in which tomato was planted for three successive years before sampling and in one in which tomato followed groundnut in the 2 years prior to this study. The lowest sclerotial numbers were recorded in fields in which groundnut followed maize or in which maize or sorghum was the last crop before sampling.     

Phosphorus availability under alley cropping and mulched and unmulched sole cropping systems in Costa Rica

Phosphorus availability was measured in soils under five cropping systems: alley cropping with Erythrina poeppigiana, alley cropping with Gliricidia sepium, sole cropping with Erythrina poeppigiana mulch applied, sole cropping with Gliricidia sepium mulch applied, sole cropping with no mulch. The following parameters were measured: 1) plant-available soil P assessed by P uptake of maize and bean bioassay plants; 2) phosphate desorbable by anion exchange resin; 3) adsorption of added P into isotopically exchangeable and non-exchangeable pools.In the bioassay, P uptake of beans declined in the order: mulched sole-cropped>unmulched sole-cropped>alley-cropped soils. For maize the relative uptake was: mulched sole-cropped>unmulched sole-cropped = alley-cropped soils. These results suggest trees had not incorporated a significant quantity of P into the system after seven years and, probably, there was a decrease in available soil P due to the sequestration of P in the tree biomass. Potentially resin-desorbable P was higher in alley-cropped and mulched sole-cropped soils than in unmulched sole-cropped soils. The adsorption and desorption of added P into and from exchangeable and non-exchangeable pools did not differ between alley-cropped and unmulched sole-cropped soils.Crop yield and crop N, P and K uptake were all higher in the alley crops than in the unmulched sole crop. The supply of P to the crop under alley cropping seems to be dependent on P cycled and released from the mulch. The P cycle in alley cropping appears to be self-sustaining at least under conditions of moderate P fertiliser input.     

Simulated and measured nitrogen conditions in a manured and fertilised soil

The governing factors for soil nitrogen dynamics were identified with a simulation model. In addition, the model was used to interpret measurements from a plot fertilisation experiment in southwest Sweden.Simulated moisture and temperature conditions were the driving variables for the simulation of soil nitrogen dynamics and leaching during a 6-year period. The results of the simulation were compared with monthly observations on two plots with grain crops, one with liquid manure and commercial fertilisers applied and one with commercial fertilisers only.Simulated temporal variations of the nitrate and ammonium storages generally agreed with observations. The dominant role of the crops as a determinant of soil nitrogen conditions was demonstrated. A higher leaching loss from the plot with application of commerical fertilisers only occurred both in simulations and measurements compared to the plot with application of both commercial fertilisers and manure. The main reason was the higher N-application in the former treatment.The effect of water flows in macropores was interpreted as a delay of simulated leaching compared to observed leaching on some occasions in summer and early autumn. No direct effect of the macropores on the yearly rates of leaching could be seen.     

Microelectrode-recorded development of the symplasmic autonomy of the sieve element/companion cell complex in the stem phloem of Lupinus luteus L.

From the cambial stage onwards, the symplasmic autonomy of sieve element/companion cell complexes (SE/CC-complexes) was followed in stems of Lupinus luteus L. by microinjection techniques. The membrane potential and the symplasmic autonomy of the mature SE/CC-complex was measured in successive internodes. A microelectrode was inserted into SE/CC-complexes or phloem parenchyma cells (PPs) and, after stabilization of the membrane potential, the membrane-impermeant fluorescent dye Lucifer Yellow CH (LYCH) was injected intracellullary. The plasmodesmata of the cambial SE/ CC precursor were gradually shut off at all interfaces beginning at the walls to be transformed into sieve plates. In the course of maturation, symplasmic discontinuity was maintained at the longitudinal walls of the complex. In the transverse walls of the SE, wide sieve pores were formed giving rise to longitudinal multicellular symplasmic domains of SE/CC-complexes. Symplasmic isolation of the files of mature SE/CC-complexes was demonstrated in several ways: (i) the membrane potential of the SE/CC-complexes (between -100 mV and -130 mV) was consistently more negative than that of the PPs (between-50 and -100 mV), (ii) No exchange of LYCH was observed between SE/CC-complexes and the PPs. Lucifer Yellow CH injected into the SEs exclusively moved to the associated CCs and to other SE/CC-complexes whereas LYCH injected into the PPs was only displaced to other PPs. (iii) The electrical coupling ratio between adjacent PPs was ten times higher than that between SE/CC-complex and PP. A gradient in the membrane potential of the SE/CC-complexes along the stem was not conclusively demonstrated.Abbreviations LYCH Lucifer Yellow CH - membrane potential - PMF proton-motive force - PP phloem parenchyma cell - SE/CC-complex sieve element/companion cell complex - SR-G sulphorhodamine G     

Influence of crucifer cropping system on the parasitism ofPlutella xylostella (Lep., Yponomeutidae) byCotesia plutellae (Hym., Braconidae) andDiadegma semiclausum (Hym., Ichneumonidae)

Field experiments were conducted to study the influence of cabbage monoculture and mixed cropping on the parasitism of diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella (L.), a destructive pest of all crucifers, by 2 larval parasites,Diadegma semiclausum Hellén andCotesia plutellae Kurdjumov. There was no significant difference in parasitism by either species whether cabbage was planted in insecticide-free monoculture or in mixed cropping with 8 noncrucifers which were sprayed twice a week with chemical insecticides mevinphos, methamidophos and permethrin. Population ofP. xylostella increased as the cabbage plants grew older. Parasitism byC. plutellae was higher soon after cabbage transplanting but decreased as the plants grew older. Parasitism byD. semiclausum was very low soon after cabbage planting but increased as the plants grew older. A significant negative correlation was found betwen parasitism byC. plutellae andD. semiclausum. In a caged field study where only one parasite species was used in an individual cage, parasitism ofP. xylostella by both species decreased as theP. xylostella population increased. This is believed to be due to the absence of competition between the two parasites inside the cage. There was no relationship between host-plant age and parasitism ofP. xylostella larvae by either parasite species.     

Effects of Allelochemicals on Root Growth and Pod Yield in Response to Continuous Cropping Obstacle of Peanut

Continuous cropping (CC) obstacle is a major threat in legume crops production; however, the underlying mechanisms concerning the roles allelochemicals play in CC obstacle are poorly understood. The current 2-year study was conducted to investigate the effects of different kinds and concentrations of allelochemicals, p-hydroxybenzoic acid (H), cinnamic acid (C), phthalic acid (P), and their mixtures (M) on peanut root growth and productivity in response to CC obstacle. Treatment with H, C, P, and M significantly decreased the plant height, dry weight of the leaves and stems, number of branches, and length of the lateral stem compared with control. Exogenous application of H, C, P, and M inhibited the peanut root growth as indicated by the decreased root morphological characters. The allelochemicals also induced the cell membrane oxidation even though the antioxidant enzymes activities were significantly increased in peanut roots. Meanwhile, treatment with H, C, P, and M reduced the contents of total soluble sugar and total soluble protein. Analysis of ATPase activity, nitrate reductase activity, and root system activity revealed that the inhibition effects of allelochemicals on peanut roots might be due to the decrease in activities of ATPase and NR, and the inhibition of root system. Consequently, allelochemicals significantly decreased the pod yield of peanut compared with control. Our results demonstrate that allelochemicals play a dominant role in CC obstacle-induced peanut growth inhibition and yield reduction through damaging the root antioxidant system, unbalancing the osmolytes accumulation, and decreasing the activities of root-related enzymes.

     

Effect of legume-based cropping systems on nitrogen mineralization potential of Vertisol

The quantity and patterns of net mineralization of soil nitrogen (N) were studied in Vertisols under different cropping systems in the semi-arid tropical areas. Eight cropping systems were selected; three contained pigeonpea (PP), one contained PP and cowpea (COP), and two contained chickpea (CP) as legume component crops, one included sequence cropping with nonlegumes during the rainy and postrainy seasons, and one system was kept fallow (F) during the rainy season and sown to sorghum (S) during the postrainy season. Cropping systems with PP as a component crop increased mineralizable N(N _o ) content two-fold in the soil compared with fallow + sorghum (F+S)–F+S system. The N mineralization rate constant (k) was not significantly affected by previous cropping history of the soil; however, a numerically higher rate constant was observed in the COP/PP intercrop, followed by sequential S+safflower (SF) system as compared to the other soils. Mineral N accumulation curves for six soils were more accurately described by the exponential model than the linear model. The active N fraction (N _o /N_tot %) varied between 8 and 16% for different systems and a direct relationship was observed between N _o /N_tot and total N for the soils under diverse cropping systems.ICRISAT JA (1638)     

Total nitrogen and phosphorus balance sheet in a typic ustochrept soil under intensive cropping and fertilizer use

Summary Balance sheets were computed for total nitrogen and phosphorus in plough layer (0–15 cm) of a Typic Ustochrept soil under continuous multiple cropping for seven years (1971–72 to 1977–78) with a fixed rotation of pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoideum L.) wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (Vigna sinensis Savi.) The treatments considered of soil test-based rates of N, P and K, applied both singly and in combinations together with farm yard manure, sulphur and zinc superimposed over optimum rates (100%) of NPK. Heavy, losses of N (762–899 kg ha⁻¹) occurred in the plots which received high rates of Nviz. 150% of recommended NPK and 100% NPK plus FYM. Application of N alone accelerated N losses whereas addition of P, PK, PKS to N minimised such losses. Enrichment of P (66 to 198 kg ha⁻¹) occurred in all phosphate-treated plots. A marginal net decrease (29–54 kg ha⁻¹) in P levels was observed in control and N alone treatments.     

Management of Heterodera glycines by Cropping and Cultural Practices

Heterodera glycines was identified in North Carolina in 1954, although symptoms of the disease were noted in the state at least 8 years earlier. Crop rotation experiments designed to develop management systems were initiated in 1956. Two or more years in production of a nonhost crop resulted in decreases of the nematode to low or undetectable levels with acceptable subsequent yields of soybean (Glycine max). Because of almost complete dependence on resistant cultivars and (or) nematicides for nematode control, crop rotation experiments were not conducted from 1962 to 1980. Research on control of H. glycines, beginning in 1981, emphasized biological and ecological aspects of the nematode in order to determine cropping systems that restrict the nematode to nondamaging levels. Mortality during embryogenesis was high at temperatures above 30 C. Hatching of eggs occurs readily in May and June. Postinfection development takes 2-3 weeks at weekly mean temperatures of 22-29 C and is slow above and below those temperatures. Egg production is high during the late growing season. Some cultural practices such as planting early maturing cultivars in mid-to-late June and rotation with a nonhost effectively keeps populations at low levels.     

Development of Meloidogyne arenaria on Peanut and Soybean under Two Temperature Cycles

Florunner peanut and three soybean cultivars, Centennial, Gasoy 17, and Wright, were inoculated with 48-hour age cohorts of Meloidogyne arenari race 1 second-stage juveniles and placed in a growth chamber set to simulate early season (low temperature) and midseason (high temperature) conditions. Percentages of the initial inoculum penetrating roots 4 and 8 days after inoculation were 2-3 times higher in soybean cultivars than in peanut; 25% on susceptible soybean and 9% on peanut. Penetration and early development of M. arenaria were greater in the higher temperature environment. Penetration percentages were expressed as a function of cumulative degree-days by regression models. Development of M. arenaria 10, 20, and 30 days after inoculation was more rapid on peanut than on soybean. The resistant soybean cultivar Wright had slower development rates than did the other two soybean cultivars. Nematode growth and development were dependent on temperature. In greenhouse experiments, production of eggs by M. arenaria was more than 10 times greater on peanut than on susceptible soybean. The reproductive factor for Wright soybean was less than one, but plant growth parameters indicated that this cultivar was intolerant of M. arenavia.