Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: S. Syafruddin Author-Workplace-Name: Rhizosphere Ecology and Biogeochemistry Group, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna - BOKU, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: G. Wieshammer Author-Workplace-Name: Rhizosphere Ecology and Biogeochemistry Group, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna - BOKU, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: M. Puschenreiter Author-Workplace-Name: Rhizosphere Ecology and Biogeochemistry Group, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna - BOKU, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: I. Langer Author-Workplace-Name: Rhizosphere Ecology and Biogeochemistry Group, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna - BOKU, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: M. Wieshammer-Zivkovic Author-Workplace-Name: Rhizosphere Ecology and Biogeochemistry Group, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna - BOKU, Vienna, Austria Author-Name: W.W. Wenzel Author-Workplace-Name: Rhizosphere Ecology and Biogeochemistry Group, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna - BOKU, Vienna, Austria Title: Effect of N and P fertilisation and aeration on biodegradation of crude oil in aged hydrocarbon contaminated soils Abstract: We conducted two laboratory experiments to examine the effects of fertilisation and agitation (aeration) on crude oil degradation in two soils with differential nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus) availability. Two soils that had been spiked with crude oil two years before were mixed with nitrogen and/or phosphorus at three different levels and subsequently incubated 28 days (Exp. 1). In experiment 2 we investigated the effect of repeated agitation (manual mixing) on hydrocarbon degradation with and without fertilisation. One of the soils was also freshly spiked to assess the impact of ageing. Heptane-extractable hydrocarbon concentrations were determined in both experiments and substrate-induced respiration in Exp. 2. The generally small changes of hydrocarbon concentrations during 28 days of incubation in Exp. 1 are likely attributed to low bio-accessibility of hydrocarbons as a consequence of long-term ageing. Fertilization of nitrogen, phosphorus or combinations thereof was ineffective in most treatments of Exp. 1, which may be explained by limited oxygen supply due to the high proportions of clay and silt. However, agitation enhanced HC biodegradation in the sandy-loamy soil by about 15% (Exp. 2) compared to non-agitated treatments. In contrast, we observed no effect of agitation in the sandy soil. Keywords: biodegradation, crude oil, hydrocarbon, fertiliser, contaminated soils, incubation Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 149-155 Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/146/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/146/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201004-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:4:id:146-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A.A.S. Sinegani Author-Workplace-Name: Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, Iran Author-Name: A. Hosseinpur Author-Workplace-Name: Shaher-e-Kord University, Shaher-e-Kord, Iran Title: Evaluation of effect of different sterilization methods on soil biomass phosphorus extracted with NaHCO3 Abstract: Soil microbial biomass is a dynamic force driving soil phosphorus cycling in soils. The temperature, time and method for killing soil organisms in soil biomass P determination are so important factors that affect the results. The aim of this study was to compare some methods of soil sterilization and soil microbial P (Pm) release in extraction with NaHCO3. Five samples of calcareous soils in three replicates were incubated in field capacity and 28°C. The texture of soils differed from loamy sand to sandy loam. They had 10-15% equivalent calcium carbonate, 1-3% organic carbon and 40-90 mg/kg available P content. After 1, 10, 30, and 50 days of incubation a portion of each soil was sterilized by five methods (chloroform fumigation, autoclaving at 121°C for 0.5 h, oven drying at 70°C for 48 h, oven drying at 180°C for 2 h, and ultrasonification). Phosphorus of the sterilized and control soils were extracted with 0.5M NaHCO3 (pH 8.5) and determined spectrophotometrically as blue molybdate-phosphate complexes under partial reduction with ascorbic acid. Results showed that the method of soil sterilization and soil type had significant effects on biomass P estimated in soils (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences between extracted biomass P at chloroform fumigation, autoclaving at 121°C for 0.5 h, and oven drying at 70°C for 48 h. However biomass P was significantly more extracted from soil by oven drying at 180°C for 2 h and by ultrasonification. Fixation of Pm in soil during the extraction period can reduce the precision of biomass P estimates. This effect was more obvious in biomass P determination by fumigation and oven drying at 70°C for 48 h. Biomass P determined by these methods and autoclaving had positive and significant correlations with soil sand contents, respectively due to long sterilization period and temperature. Ultrasonification released more P from these calcareous soils especially at the start of soil incubation. It released higher microbial P and reduced P sorption in soils; biomass P determined by this method compared to other methods had relatively higher correlations with fungi, glumales spore and P solubilizing bacteria numbers in soil. Keywords: soil incubation, soil sterilization, biomass P, P extraction Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 156-162 Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/86/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/86/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201004-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:4:id:86-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Š. Matějková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biomathematics and Databases, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Kumhálová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biomathematics and Databases, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Lipavský Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biomathematics and Databases, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Evaluation of crop yield under different nitrogen doses of mineral fertilization Abstract: Yields of winter wheat, winter rape and oats were evaluated in the field; the field was divided into the site-specific zones and treated with variable doses of nitrogen fertilizer in years 2004-2006. Measurements of the yields were carried out with a yield monitor placed in a combine harvester. The measured data were processed into the yield maps by means of ArcGIS 9.2 software. Variable application of fertilizer should balance yield potential of the field. Generally, total yield variability on the field after the application of various doses of experimental fertilizer was similar in the years 2004 (11.3%), 2005 (14.7%) and 2006 (11.7%) in comparison with the year 2003 (25.02%). Variable application of nitrogen in the site-specific zones, created on the basis of the yield levels, decreased the yield variability in comparison with the uniform dose. Different doses of nitrogen fertilizer also enabled to increase utilization of production potential of the experimental field. Keywords: crop yield variability, site-specific zone, variable dose of fertilizer, winter wheat, winter rape, oats Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 163-167 Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/196/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/196/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201004-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:4:id:196-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: T.K. Abramovich Author-Workplace-Name: The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel Author-Name: Y. Zurovsky Author-Workplace-Name: The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel Author-Name: Y. Steinberger Author-Workplace-Name: The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel Title: Effect of inhibitors on Zygophyllum dumosum plant litter decomposition Abstract: The contribution of soil fauna to decomposition processes was studied by elimination of specific biotic elements using chemical inhibitors. Changes in overall activity of the microbial community were studied in Zygophyllum dumosum leaves treated with the inhibitors Nemacur (nematocide), Edigan (biocide), and water (control). At the end of a one-year study, the decomposition of leaves treated with Nemacur or Edigan indicated a loss of about ten percent mass compared to leaves treated with water. The kinetic constant for mass loss exhibited a bi-phasic decomposition process (typical for the Negev Desert) for inhibitor- and water-treated leaves. However, the water-treated leaves exhibited a turnover by 30% higher than the other treatments on a yearly basis. The Shannon-Weaver (H') index of the microbial community in the decomposing leaves was found to be higher in the water-treated leaves only in the first sampling period, after which no differences between inhibitor- and water-treated leaves were observed. This study elucidates the importance of the biotic element in soil to decomposition processes in an arid climate, with focus on microbial communities. Keywords: biocide, microbial functional diversity, nematocide, soil Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 168-175 Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/38/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/38/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201004-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:4:id:38-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A.R. Okhovatian-Ardakani Author-Workplace-Name: Soiland Water Research Division, Yazd Agricultural Research Center, Yazd, Iran Author-Name: M. Mehrabanian Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Water and Soil Engineering, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Author-Name: F. Dehghani Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Water and Soil Engineering, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Author-Name: A. Akbarzadeh Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Science, Faculty of Water and Soil Engineering, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran Title: Salt tolerance evaluation and relative comparison in cuttings of different omegranate cultivar Abstract: A pot experiment was conducted during a two-year period in order to evaluate and compare the salinity tolerance of 10 Iranian commercial cultivars of pomegranate. Pots were arranged in a split plot design with two factors included water salinity as main plot in 3 levels of 4, 7 and 10 dS/m and 10 pomegranate cultivars as sub-plot and 3 replications. The properties concerned during the experiment were vegetative growth, percentage of alive cuttings after 2 month and the necrosis and chlorosis of leaves. In the end of the experiment the vegetative yield and root dry weight were also measured. In addition, irrigation water, drainage water, soil in plots, root, stem and leaves were analyzed for elements such as Na+ and Cl-. The obtained results indicated that the best vegetative growth conditions were related to Voshike -e- Saravan and Tab -o- Larz cultivars at 4 and 7 dS/m salinity levels, respectively. Moreover, the most significant percentage of alive cuttings was related to Voshike -e- Saravan cultivar at each of the three studied salinity levels. Similarly, this cultivar had the minimum values of leaves necrosis and chlorosis at all three levels of salinity. Furthermore, the highest level of fresh yield was related to Zagh cultivar at 4 dS/m salinity level. The highest values of total Na+ and Cl- were observed in shoots and leaves of Zagh and Voshike -e- Saravan cultivars at 10 dS/m salinity level as well. In general, Voshike -e- Saravan is the most salinity-resistant cultivar among 10 studied cultivars. Besides, Malas -e- yazdi and Tab -o- larz can be planted as salinity resistant cultivars in the second hand. Other cultivar cuttings were not resistant in salinity and finally died (even after the second year) and three cultivars of Gabri, Malas -e- Esfahani and Khafri -e- Jahrom were the most sensitive cultivars with the lowest salinity resistance. Keywords: pomegranate, iranian cultivars, saline irrigation water, salinity tolerance Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 176-185 Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/158/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/158/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201004-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:4:id:158-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: X. Zhou Author-Workplace-Name: Forest Inventory and Planning Institute of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Y. Yan Author-Workplace-Name: Forest Inventory and Planning Institute of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Ch. Wan Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA Author-Name: H. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry College of Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: L. Wu Author-Workplace-Name: Forestry College of Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Y. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Jing Tai Station of Desert Control, Gansu province, P.R. China Author-Name: J. Ren Author-Workplace-Name: College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Title: Effects of film-bottomed treatment on seedling emergence and growth of agana korshinskiiarid northwestern China Abstract: A field study was conducted to study the effectiveness of film-bottomed treatment (FBT) on the seed germination and seedling establishment of Caragana korshinskii Kom. in the arid Hexi Corridor of northwestern China in 2007 and 2008. The experiment involved three different depths of film-bottomed treatments (DFBT) (80, 90 and 100 cm) and a control with twelve replications in each treatment. Soil moisture, seedling emergence percentage, leaf characteristics, shoot height, main root length, basal diameter, biomass, biomass allocation, as well as root system distribution, were studied and were found to be significantly higher with FBT in respect to the check (CK) values. Soil moisture content increased with depths of film-bottomed treatments. Our study demonstrates that C. korshinskii can be grown successfully using FBT in arid areas and 90 cm DFBT gives the maximum growth-promoting effect. Keywords: arid area, agana korshinskii., film-bottomed treatment, Hexi corridor, northwestern China Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 186-193 Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/206/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/206/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201004-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:4:id:206-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Kabir Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan Author-Name: M.Z. Iqbal Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan Author-Name: M. Shafiq Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan Author-Name: Z.R. Farooqi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan Title: Effects of lead on seedling growth of spesia populnea Abstract: The effects of lead on root, shoot and seedling length, leaf area, number of leaves, plant circumference, seedling dry weight, root/shoot and leaf area ratios of Thespesia populnea L. were determined in greenhouse under natural environmental conditions with and without phytotoxic metal ions at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 µmol/l. Lead treatments have a strong influence on the growth and development of T. populnea by reducing significantly (P < 0.05) all the above parameters. Lead treatment at 5-25 µmol/l produced significant (P < 0.05) effects on seedling and root length, plant circumference and seedling dry weight of T. populnea, while lead treatment at 10-25 µmol/l produced significant (P < 0.05) effects on shoot length, number of leaves and leaf area as compared to control. Tolerance in T. populnea seedling at 25 µmol/l of lead treatment was lowest as compared to all other treatments. Keywords: lead, lead pollution, spesia populnea icity Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 194-199 Volume: 56 Issue: 4 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/147/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/147/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201004-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:4:id:147-2009-PSE