Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: V. Vaněk Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Balík Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Šilha Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Černý Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Spatial variability of total soil nitrogen and sulphur content at two conventionally managed fields Abstract: Spatial variability of total soil nitrogen and sulphur content has been observed in two plots (I - 54 ha and II - 32 ha). Soil samples were taken from the topsoil in a regular grid, which was localised by GPS (individual sampling points were 80 m apart); subsequently total soil N and S contents were analysed. The average N content in plot I was 0.16%; in plot II it was 0.12%. The content of S in plots I and II was 0.09% and 0.08%, respectively. Spatial variability of total N differed in separate parts of the plots. A higher variability was recorded in plot I, where the coefficient of variation (CV) was 15.7%, whereas in plot II it was only 11.1%. However, sulphur showed only little variability, and thus its coefficient of variation was low (2.5 a 2.3% in plots I and II, respectively). A positive and mostly conclusive relationship has been observed between the N content of soil and the crop yield. This effect was more significant in plot II. The S content in soil showed no correlation with yield. Furthermore, positive correlations were observed between field altitude, soil moisture and crop yield in both plots. Keywords: soil, nitrogen, sulphur, spatial variability, yield Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 413-419 Volume: 54 Issue: 10 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/404-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/404-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200810-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:54:y:2008:i:10:id:404-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Z.M. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, P.R. China Author-Name: B. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, P.R. China Author-Name: K.S. Song Author-Workplace-Name: Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, P.R. China Author-Name: D.W. Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, P.R. China Author-Name: F. Li Author-Workplace-Name: Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, P.R. China Author-Name: Z.X. Guo Author-Workplace-Name: Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, P.R. China Author-Name: S.M. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, P.R. China Title: Soil organic carbon under different landscape attributes in croplands of Northeast China Abstract: Soil organic carbon (SOC) was measured in topsoil samples of agricultural soils from 311 locations of Jiutai County, Northeast China. The spatial characteristics of SOC were studied using the Geographic Information Systems and geostatistics. Effects of other soil physical and chemical properties, elevation, slope, soil type and land use type were explored. SOC concentrations followed a lognormal distribution, with a geometric mean of 1.50%. The experimental variogram of SOC has been fitted with an exponential model. Our results highlighted total nitrogen and pH as the soil properties that have the greatest influence on SOC levels. Upland eroding areas have significantly less SOC than soils in deposition areas. Results showed that, soil type had a significant relationship with SOC, reflecting the effect of soil parent materials. Soil samples from paddy fields and vegetable fields had higher SOC concentrations than those from dry farming land. Keywords: soil organic carbon, geostatistics, GIS, spatial distribution, Jiutai County, Northeast China Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 420-427 Volume: 54 Issue: 10 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/402-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/402-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200810-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:54:y:2008:i:10:id:402-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Çavuşoglu Author-Workplace-Name: Biology Department, Faculty of Arts and Science, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey Author-Name: S. Kiliç Author-Workplace-Name: Biology Department, Faculty of Arts and Science, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey Author-Name: K. Kabar Author-Workplace-Name: Biology Department, Faculty of Arts and Science, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey Title: Effects of some plant growth regulators on stem anatomy of radish seedlings grown under saline (NaCl) conditions Abstract: In this work, effects of gibberellic acid, 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid (ethephon), triacontanol, 24-epibrassinolide and polyamine (cadaverine, putrescine, spermidine, spermine) pretreatments on the stem anatomy of radish seedlings grown under saline conditions were studied. Salt stress decreased the stem diameter, epidermis cell size, cortex zone thickness, vascular bundle width, cambium thickness, xylem width, trachea diameter and phloem width in the seedlings non-pretreated with the growth regulators, in comparison with the control seedlings grown in distilled water medium. In addition, it slightly increased the cuticle thickness. On the other hand, many of the growth regulator pretreatments more or less stimulated the stem diameter, epidermis cell width, cortex zone thickness, vascular bundle width, xylem width, trachea diameter and phloem width in comparison with the control seedlings grown on saline medium. Moreover, they generally reduced the cuticle thickness, epidermis cell length and cambium thickness. Keywords: plant growth regulators, radish, salt stress, stem anatomy Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 428-433 Volume: 54 Issue: 10 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/405-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/405-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200810-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:54:y:2008:i:10:id:405-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A.A. Safari Sinegani Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran Author-Name: F. Khalilikhah Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran Title: Phytoextraction of lead by Helianthus annuus: effect of mobilising agent application time Abstract: Pot experiments were conducted to determine the best time for application of (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) EDTA and sheep manure extract (SME) in phytoremediation of a contaminated soil by Helianthus annuus. The plant was grown in a mine calcareous soil treated with increasing concentrations of EDTA or SME in 30 and 10 days before sowing (T1 and T2) and 10 and 30 days after sowing (T3 and T4). The best time for EDTA application was T4. The EDTA application before seed germination significantly reduced sunflower seedling emergence and dry weight. Soil available Pb and lead concentrations in plant organs increased with EDTA concentration but the actual amount of phytoextracted Pb decreased at high EDTA concentrations significantly, due to severe growth depression. SME application after sowing can increase plant dry weight and Pb concentration in the soil solution, enhancing the accumulated metal concentrations in shoots and roots. However the results showed that the most efficient treatments for Pb phytoextraction by sunflower are applications of 0.5 and 2 g EDTA/kg soil at T3 and T4, respectively. Keywords: lead, phytoextraction, Helianthus annuus, EDTA, sheep manure extract, application time Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 434-440 Volume: 54 Issue: 10 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/400-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/400-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200810-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:54:y:2008:i:10:id:400-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S.X. Yang Author-Workplace-Name: School of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, P.R. China Author-Name: H. Deng Author-Workplace-Name: School of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: M.S. Li Author-Workplace-Name: School of Environment and Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Protection and Assessment, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, P.R. China Title: Manganese uptake and accumulation in a woody hyperaccumulator, Schima superba Abstract: A wide-spread subtropical tree species, Schima superba (Theaceae), occurring in a Mn mine wasteland, was found to contain unusually high Mn content in the leaf tissues. A pot growth experiment with different Mn treatments was conducted to further illustrate its Mn tolerance, accumulation and relocation capacity. Schima saplings grew well and showed no symptoms of Mn toxicity with Mn supply below 60 mmol/l. Total plant biomass decreased with the increase of Mn supply, but Mn contents in tissues increased significantly, and peaked (62 412.3 mg/kg) in stem at 150 mmol/l treatment. Under all treatments, Mn concentrations in the aboveground tissues were constantly greater than those in roots. When the external Mn supply was over 40 mmol/l, the Mn levels in the leaves and stems all exceeded 10 000 mg/kg, the suggested value for Mn hyperaccumulation. Most of the Mn taken from the substrates were transported to the aboveground tissues, e.g. over 86% accumulated in the aboveground parts at 150 mmol/l treatment. These findings confirmed that Schima superba is a Mn hyperaccumulator. Keywords: hyperaccumulator, Schima superba, Mn accumulation, Mn toxicity, phytoremediation Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 441-446 Volume: 54 Issue: 10 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/401-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/401-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200810-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:54:y:2008:i:10:id:401-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: R. Talebi Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran Author-Name: A.M. Naji Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agriculture, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: F. Fayaz Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran Title: Geographical patterns of genetic diversity in cultivated chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) characterized by amplified fragment length polymorphism Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic relationships of 28 chickpea accessions from diverse origin using AFLP markers. On average, 13 polymorphic bands per primer were observed in AFLP analysis. The average polymorphic information content (PIC) was 0.71, ranging from 0.48 to 0.92. The lowest and the highest PIC value were recorded for primer P-GAG/M-GC and P-AT/M-GC, respectively. The average GD, based on Fst values among the 21 accessions was 0.42, ranging from 0.61 to 0.16. From the UPGMA dendrogram, it is discernible that material taken for the analysis can be divided in four clusters. The results indicate that the greatest genetic diversity occurs in Afghanistan, Iran and Lebanon. In many cases, the diversity between individuals of an accession is as great as between individuals of different accessions. Based on DNA markers it is concluded that there are three centers of diversity for chickpea: Pakistan-Afghanistan, Iran-Turkey and Syria-Lebanon. India and Ethiopia, which were previously considered as a secondary center of diversity for chickpea, showed lower diversity than the above regions. Keywords: chickpea, genetic diversity, AFLP, geographical diversity Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 447-452 Volume: 54 Issue: 10 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/399-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/399-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200810-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:54:y:2008:i:10:id:399-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: E. Öztürk Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey Author-Name: H. Özer Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey Author-Name: T. Polat Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Field Crops, Faculty of Agriculture, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey Title: Growth and yield of safflower genotypes grown under irrigated and non-irrigated conditions in a highland environment Abstract: Producers in highland and semiarid regions have difficulty in increasing diversity in crop rotations due to unfavorable conditions imposed by cool temperatures, inadequate rainfall, and shorter growing periods. In such conditions, safflower appears as a promising alternative because it is cold and drought tolerant. The objective of this study was to determine the responses of the hybrid and open-pollinated safflower genotypes to irrigated and non-irrigated conditions in a highland environment. For this reason, the field research was performed during the years of 2001 and 2002 in eastern Anatolia, Turkey. According to the results of the study, safflower genotypes tested were well adapted to the cool and short-season conditions in this region. The response of seed yield to genotype varied depending on the growing seasons. The non-irrigated plants produced nearly the same seed yield as irrigated ones. Average seed yields of safflower genotypes tested were 914.3 and 928.0 kg/ha in 2001, and 1143.6 and 1139.9 kg/ha in 2002 years for irrigated and non-irrigated experiments, respectively. In general, the genotypes differed in all of the investigated traits. In both irrigated and non-irrigated experiments genotype × year interactions were very significant for all parameters. This research shows that in semiarid and highland environments safflower has a big potential value as an oilseed crop under dryland conditions. Keywords: safflower, seed yield, adaptation, irrigation, dryland farming, high altitude Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 453-460 Volume: 54 Issue: 10 Year: 2008 DOI: 10.17221/403-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/403-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-200810-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:54:y:2008:i:10:id:403-PSE