Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Lachman Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: K. Hamouz Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Šulc Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Orsák Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Dvořák Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Crop Production, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Differences in phenolic content and antioxidant activity in yellow and purple-fleshed potatoes grown in the Czech Republic Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the total phenolic (TP) content and antioxidant activity (AA) in yellow (cvs. Impala, Karin, Dita, Saturna) and purple-fleshed (cvs. Valfi, Violette) potatoes grown in the Czech Republic in 2004 in four locations in precise field trials. TP content was determined by Folin-Ciocalteau assay and AA by DPPH assay both in freeze-dried tuber matter. Results showed a statistical significant difference in TP content and AA between yellow and purple-fleshed potatoes. Purple-fleshed cultivars showed higher TP content (by 60%) than yellow-fleshed cultivars; AA in purple-fleshed cultivars was twice as high as in yellow-fleshed potatoes. A medium linear correlation between TP and AA was found ( r2 = 0.747). Average TP content in yellow-fleshed cultivars was 2.96 GAE (g of gallic acid per kg dm); in purple-fleshed cultivars it was 4.68 GAE. Average AA in yellow-fleshed cultivars was 11.26 EAA (mg of ascorbic acid per 100 g dm) and in purple-fleshed cv. 24.79 EAA. Purple-fleshed potatoes showed a lower variation among localities (only 6%). Hence, regarding a relatively high potato intake by Czechs (72 kg per capita a year), contribution of potatoes, especially purple-fleshed, to total antioxidants intake should be considered. Keywords: potato, Solanum tuberosum L., antioxidant activity, phenolics, DPPH assay, Folin-Ciocalteau assay Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 1-6 Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/2779-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2779-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200801-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:54:y:2008:i:1:id:2779-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Krček Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: P. Slamka Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: K. Olšovská Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: M. Brestič Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: M. Benčíková Author-Workplace-Name: Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Title: Reduction of drought stress effect in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) by nitrogen fertilization Abstract: An effect of nitrogen rates (0.0 g, 1.0 g, 2.0 g N per pot) on NRA (nitrate reductase activity) in leaves of spring barley (cultivar Kompakt) was investigated in a pot experiment. Plants were grown under optimum moisture regime and drought stress was induced during the growth stages of tillering, shooting and earing. Before and after respective stress period plants were grown under optimal water regime. In all the fertilized and unfertilized treatments, NRA was significantly higher under optimal water regime than in drought stress conditions. Nitrogen fertilization alleviated adverse effects of drought stress on the yields of grain; the rate of 1 g N per pot increased the grain yield of plants stressed during tillering 3.73 times compared to unfertilized and stressed treatment. When the stress was induced during shooting or earing grain yields declined by over 50% compared to optimal water regime; when compared with stressed and unfertilized treatment, the rate of 1 g N however increased yield by 29% (stress at shooting) and 55% (stress at earing). NRA values were significantly higher when plants were grown under optimum water regime than under stress conditions as well as when fertilized with nitrogen compared to unfertilized control both under optimum water regime and drought stress. Keywords: spring barley, nitrogen fertilization, growth stage, drought stress, nitrate reductase activity (NRA) Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 7-13 Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/2781-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2781-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200801-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:54:y:2008:i:1:id:2781-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: L. Quanqi Author-Workplace-Name: Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Agronomy College of Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an Shandong, P. R. China Author-Name: C. Yuhai Author-Workplace-Name: Agronomy College of Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an Shandong, P. R. China Author-Name: L. Mengyu Author-Workplace-Name: Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China Author-Name: Z. Xunbo Author-Workplace-Name: Agronomy College of Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an Shandong, P. R. China Author-Name: D. Baodi Author-Workplace-Name: Center for Agricultural Resources Research, Institute of Genetic and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shijiazhuang, P. R. China Author-Name: Y. Songlie Author-Workplace-Name: Agronomy College of Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an Shandong, P. R. China Title: Water potential characteristics and yield of summer maize in different planting patterns Abstract: A study was conducted in the Shandong province in North China to investigate the effects of different planting patterns on water potential characteristics of soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC) and yield of summer maize. Three planting patterns were applied, i.e. bed planting (BE), furrow planting (FU) and flat planting (FL). The results showed that although soil moisture content in 0-20 cm soil layer in BE was decreased, soil temperature was increased; as a result, soil water potential in BE was increased. Compared with FL, leaf water potential in BE and FU was enhanced, but water transfer resistance between soil-leaf and leaf-atmosphere was decreased; feasible water supply conditions were thus created for crops colony. Maize yield of BE and FU was significantly (LSD, P < 0.05) higher than that of FL, by 1326.45 and 1243.76 kg/ha, respectively. These results obtained in field crop conditions support the idea that planting patterns affect soil water potential, leaf water potential, water transfer resistance between soil-leaf and leaf-gas of summer maize in North China. Keywords: planting patterns, water potential, water transfer resistance, yield, summer maize Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 14-19 Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/2777-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2777-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200801-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:54:y:2008:i:1:id:2777-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: B. Mostafazadeh-Fard Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Water Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran Author-Name: M. Heidarpour Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Water Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran Author-Name: A. Aghakhani Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Water Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran Author-Name: M. Feizi Author-Workplace-Name: Isfahan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center, Isfahan, Iran Title: Effects of leaching on soil desalinization for wheat crop in an arid region Abstract: Leaching is one of the most practical methods for improvement of saline soils and both the quality and the quantity of leaching water play an important role in desalinization of these soils. To determine the effects of different qualities and quantities of leaching water on salinity of drainage water during the growing season of wheat, pot experiments were conducted with a silty clay loam soil, a typical salt-affected soil in an arid region of central part of Iran. The experiment comprised the treatments of three irrigation water salinities (4, 9 and 12 dS/m) and four leaching levels (3, 20, 29 and 37%), using a factorial design with seven replications for each treatment. The results showed that at the beginning of the growing season the drainage water salinity was highest for all treatments. Then it started to decrease and depending on the quality and quantity of leaching water it became nearly constant or continued to decrease until the end of the growing season. The leaching of salts from the soil profile was more efficient during the first few irrigations and thereafter became less efficient. The increase of leaching level had a significant effect on the decrease of drainage water salinity. The comparison with steady-state mass balance of soil salt, sodium and chloride showed that the simple ratio of chloride in irrigation water to chloride in drainage water can be used to estimate the leaching fraction of saline soils with high accuracy. Keywords: irrigation water quality, drainage water quality, leaching, wheat Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 20-29 Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/2780-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2780-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200801-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:54:y:2008:i:1:id:2780-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D.K. Das Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, India Author-Name: P. Sur Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, India Author-Name: K. Das Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, St. John's Pharmacy College, Title: Mobilisation of arsenic in soils and in rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants affected by organic matter and zinc application in irrigation water contaminated with arsenic Abstract: The experiments were conducted to study the effects of arsenic-contaminated irrigation water, zinc and organic matter on the mobilization of arsenic in an Aeric Endoaquept in relation to rice (cv. IET 4786). The results show that the amount of extractable arsenic increased with the progress of submergence decreased with zinc application. The magnitude of such decrease varied with the Zn amount, being greater (0.70 to 1.08 mg/kg) in the treatment where zinc was applied at the rate of 20 mg/kg. With regards to organic matter application, the arsenic content in soil markedly decreased, especially with farmyard manure application. The results of the greenhouse experiment with exposure of graded doses of arsenic to rice suggest that the upper toxic limit of arsenic in soil was 10 mg/kg for rice. The results of the field experiment show that the grain yield of continuous flooding (4.84 t/ha) and intermittent flooding up to 40 days after transplanting followed by continuous flooding (4.83 t/ha) with the application of ZnSO4 at the rate of 25 kg/ha did not vary significantly. The lowest grain yield (3.65 t/ha) was recorded in the treatment where the intermittent flooding was maintained throughout the growth period without the application of zinc. The amount of arsenic was, however, much lower in the treatment where intermittent flooding was maintained throughout the growing period combined with zinc sulphate application. Keywords: arsenic, interaction, organics, rice, upper toxic limit, zinc Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 30-37 Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/2778-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/2778-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200801-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:54:y:2008:i:1:id:2778-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Vanaja Author-Workplace-Name: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santhoshnagar, India Author-Name: M. Jyothi Author-Workplace-Name: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santhoshnagar, India Author-Name: P. Ratnakumar Author-Workplace-Name: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santhoshnagar, India Author-Name: P. Vagheera Author-Workplace-Name: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santhoshnagar, India Author-Name: P. Raghuram Reddy Author-Workplace-Name: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santhoshnagar, India Author-Name: N. Jyothi Lakshmi Author-Workplace-Name: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santhoshnagar, India Author-Name: S.K. Yadav Author-Workplace-Name: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santhoshnagar, India Author-Name: M. Maheshwari Author-Workplace-Name: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santhoshnagar, India Author-Name: B. Venkateswarlu Author-Workplace-Name: Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Santhoshnagar, India Title: Growth and yield responses of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) at two enhanced CO2 levels Abstract: Growth and yield responses of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) to two elevated CO2 levels (550 and 700 ppm) were evaluated up to the maturity of first order spikes in open top chambers (OTCs). The growth characteristics - root and shoot lengths, root volume, root:shoot ratios, leaf area, dry weights of different plant parts, leaf area duration and crop growth rate increased with 550 and 700 ppm of CO2 levels compared with ambient control. The spike length, pod and seed yield of first order spikes increased under enhanced CO2 levels over ambient control. Elevated CO2 levels significantly increased the total biomass and yield of castor bean, however enhanced CO2 levels per se did not changed the content and quality of the castor oil. A positive response of castor bean to increased CO2 concentrations is a good indication for its future existence in potentially changed climatic conditions. Keywords: castor bean, elevated carbon dioxide, total biomass, yield, quality Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 38-46 Volume: 54 Issue: 1 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/386-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/386-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200801-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:54:y:2008:i:1:id:386-PSE