Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: C.H. Yang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Arid Land Crop Science in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: Q. Chai Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Arid Land Crop Science in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: G.B. Huang Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Arid Land Crop Science in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Title: Root distribution and yield responses of wheat/maize intercropping to alternate irrigation in the arid areas of northwest China Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of alternate irrigation (AI) on root distribution and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/maize (Zea mays L.) intercropping system during the period of 2007-2009 in an oasis of arid north-west China. Five treatments, i.e. sole wheat with conventional irrigation (W), sole maize with alternate irrigation (AM), sole maize with conventional irrigation (CM), wheat/maize intercropping with alternate irrigation (AW/M), and wheat/maize intercropping with conventional irrigation (CW/M). The results showed that root growth was significantly enhanced by alternate irrigation (AI), root weight density (RWD), root length density (RLD) and root-shoot ratios (R/S) in AI treatments were all higher than those in conventional irrigation (CI) treatments. Moreover, intercropped wheat and maize also had a greater root development at a majority of soil depths than wheat and maize in monoculture. In three years, AW/M always achieved the highest total seed yield under different treatments. Higher yield and reduced irrigation resulted in higher water use efficiency (WUE) for the AW/M treatment. Our results suggest that AI should be a useful water-saving irrigation method on wheat/maize intercropping in arid oasis field where intercropping planting is decreased because of limited water resource. Keywords: intercropping, root growth, irrigation, Triticum aestivum, Zea mays Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 253-262 Volume: 56 Issue: 6 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/251/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/251/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201006-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:6:id:251-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Jain Author-Workplace-Name: School of Biochemistry, Devi Ahilya University, Takshashila Campus, Khandwa Road, Indore, India Author-Name: S. Tiwary Author-Workplace-Name: School of Biochemistry, Devi Ahilya University, Takshashila Campus, Khandwa Road, Indore, India Author-Name: R. Gadre Author-Workplace-Name: School of Biochemistry, Devi Ahilya University, Takshashila Campus, Khandwa Road, Indore, India Title: Sorbitol-induced changes in various growth and biochemici parameters in maize Abstract: Treatment of maize seedlings with different concentrations of sorbitol decreased the rate of germination substantially. Root and shoot length was also reduced by sorbitol treatment, however, decrease in root length was lower than shoot length. Incubation of leaf segments from maize seedlings grown in continuous light with sorbitol decreased the fresh weight and increased the dry weight in a concentration-dependent manner. Sorbitol treatment also reduced the total chlorophylls, chlorophyll a as well as chlorophyll b; the decrease in chlorophyll 'b' being more prominent than chlorophyll 'a', however, carotenoid content was declined marginally. Supply of sorbitol decreased the protein and RNA content; however, proline content and in vivo nitrate reductase activity (NRA) were increased. The results demonstrate an inhibitory effect of sorbitol-induced stress on overall growth in maize. Amongst the biochemical parameters analysed, chlorophyll, protein and RNA contents were declined, while proline content and nitrate reductase activity were enhanced with sorbitol treatment. Keywords: proline-rich glycopeptides, osmotic stress, Zea mays, pigments, abiotic stress, nitrate reductase activity Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 263-267 Volume: 56 Issue: 6 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/233/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/233/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201006-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:6:id:233-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: T. Filep Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Budapest, Hungary Author-Name: T. Szili-Kovács Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute for Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Budapest, Hungary Title: Effect of liming on microbial biomass carbon of acidic arenosols in pot experiments Abstract: In the paper we investigate the effect of liming on the microbial biomass carbon (MBC) in pot experiments during two vegetation periods. There was also another goal to get better understanding of the role of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and its quality on microbial processes. Pot experiments were carried out on two acidic soils. Liming material treatment was 0, 1, 2, 3 g CaCO3/kg soil (corresponding with 0, 1.4, 2.8, 4.1 t CaCO3/ha, respectively). On both soils, 3-3 soil samples were taken for two growing periods and the substrate-induced respiration (SIR), dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen (DOC and DON), and soil pH were determined from the soil samples. The SIR can be used to characterize the active biomass within the total microbial biomass. Liming was found to increase soil respiration and consequently MBC in the first year of the experiment, but at the maximum lime rate these values stagnated or declined in many cases on each soil. In the second year, the effects of treatments were much lower both on Kisvárda and on Nyírlugos soils. Under the given experimental conditions, when the DOC/DON ratio rose to above 30-40, disturbances appeared in N supplies to microorganisms. The N content of the easily mineralisable organic matter in the soil became so low that it inhibited the reproduction of the microorganisms. Keywords: liming, acid soils, microbial biomass carbon, dissolved organic matter, dissolved organic carbon, dissolved organic nitrogen Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 268-273 Volume: 56 Issue: 6 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/174/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/174/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201006-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:6:id:174-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: X.M. Cui Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, P.R. China Author-Name: Y.K. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, P.R. China Author-Name: X.B. Wu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, P.R. China Author-Name: C.S. Liu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, P.R. China Title: The investigation of the alleviated effect of copper toxicity by exogenous nitric oxide in tomato plants Abstract: As a bioactive signal, nitric oxide (NO) is involved in multiple plant physiological responses, especially under some abiotic stress. Here, we investigated the effects of exogenous nitric oxide on both the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging metabolism and regulating functions of plasma membrane and tonoplast in tomato plants treated with 50µM CuCl2. Copper stress induced significant accumulation of H2O2, led to serious lipid peroxidation, and finally markedly decreased shoot height and fresh weight of tomato plants. The application of 100µM sodium nitroprusside (SNP - NO donor) promoted some antioxidant enzymes, reduced accumulation of H2O2, and adjusted the activity of H+-ATPase and H+-PPase in plasma membrane or tonoplast, and significantly alleviated the growth inhibition induced by copper toxicity. On the other hand, the application of sodium ferrocyanide (an analog of SNP) and sodium nitrate or nitrite (the decomposition product of NO or its donor SNP) which did not release NO, did not show the effects of SNP. Furthermore, the effects of SNP were reverted by addition of hemoglobin (an NO scavenger). Therefore, these results indicated that exogenous NO could effectively assuage copper toxicity by physiological and biochemical response so as to maintain normal growth. Keywords: nitric oxide (NO), copper toxicity, tomato, enzyme activity, plasma membrane, tonoplast Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 274-281 Volume: 56 Issue: 6 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/98/2009-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/98/2009-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201006-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:6:id:98-2009-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: C. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi University, Nanning, P.R. China Author-Name: Z. Li Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi University, Nanning, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Karst Dynamics Laboratory, MLR, Institute of Karst Geology, CAGS, Guilin, P.R. China Author-Name: M. Gu Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi University, Nanning, P.R. China Author-Name: C. Deng Author-Workplace-Name: Environmental Monitoring Station of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning, Author-Name: M. Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi University, Nanning, P.R. China Author-Name: L. Li Author-Workplace-Name: Guangxi University, Nanning, P.R. China Title: Spatial and vertical distribution and pollution assessment of soil fluorine in a lead-zinc mining area in the Karst region of Guangxi, China Abstract: Soil pollution of fluorine is a serious environmental problem in the world, and the fluorine pollution evaluation of spatial and vertical distribution study in the Karst region is quite limited. In this study, the farmland around lead-zinc mine in the Karst region was chosen as the study area. Ninety-one upper layer soil samples and two soil profiles (one in paddy field, the other one in aerated field) samples were taken. The average concentration of total fluorine of topsoil in the paddy fields is 378 mg/kg, whereas in the aerated field it is 508 mg/kg. The concentrations of total fluorine in all paddy soil samples and 97.87% aerated field soils are higher than that of the background value of Guangxi. The total fluorine contaminations in all aerated field soils are much higher than in paddy soil samples, so the aerated field is contaminated severely. The vertical distribution of fluorine is different in paddy field and aerated field. In paddy field, the content of fluorine increases from 20 to 40 cm, then it decreases rapidly from 40 to 60 cm in depth, and then increases gradually. However, in the aerated field, the content of fluorine rises gradually with the depth of the sampling point. The results of relative analysis and regression analysis between fluorine in soil and soil properties show that the spatial distribution and vertical variation of fluorine in this region are mainly affected by parent rock. Keywords: soil fluorine, lead-zinc mining area, spatial distribution, vertical variation Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 282-287 Volume: 56 Issue: 6 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/10/2010-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/10/2010-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201006-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:6:id:10-2010-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A. Hani Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: E. Pazira Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: M. Manshouri Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Water Sciences and Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: S. Babaie Kafaky Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author-Name: M. Ghahroudi Tali Author-Workplace-Name: Geography Department, Tarbiat Moalem University, Tehran, Iran Title: Spatial distribution and mapping of risk elements pollution in agricultural soils of southern Tehran, Iran Abstract: In order to evaluate risk elements and their spatial distribution in agricultural fields south of Tehran, statistics, geostatistics and geographic information system (GIS) were used. The content of Hg, As, Pb, Mo, and Be were determined in 106 samples. The results showed that primary inputs of As and Hg were due to anthropogenic sources, while Pb, Mo and Be were associated with pedogenic and anthropogenic factors. Ordinary kriging was carried out to map the spatial patterns of risk elements and disjunctive kriging was used to quantify the probability of risk elements concentrations higher than their guide value. The results show that As, Hg, Mo and Be exhibit pollution risk in the study area. The high pollution sources evaluated were related with usage of urban and industrial wastewater for agricultural practice. The results of this study are helpful for risk assessment of environmental pollution for decision making for vegetable production and ecosystem improving. Keywords: geostatistics, multivariate statistical analysis, risk elements, agricultural soil, Tehran Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 288-296 Volume: 56 Issue: 6 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/16/2010-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/16/2010-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201006-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:6:id:16-2010-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Matula Author-Workplace-Name: Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Differences in available phosphorus evaluated by soil tests in relation to detection by colorimetric and ICP-AES techniques Abstract: Differences in the evaluation of soil phosphorus status by three soil tests (Mehlich 3, extraction with NH4-acetate and water extraction) were tested on 63 agricultural soils with different agrochemical characteristics from the territory of the Czech Republic. Differences between the colorimetric determination of phosphorus and ICP technique were studied. The median of the values of phosphorus supply in soils determined by soil tests was considerably different. Compared to the colorimetric detection of water extraction of soils the median of the NH4-acetate test showed 2.2 times higher values and in Mehlich 3 test the values were 34.8 times higher. The largest difference between the end-point analytical techniques of phosphorus determination, colorimetry and ICP-AES, was observed in the soil test of water extraction. The median of the values determined by ICP-AES was higher by 47%. In NH4-acetate extraction of soils the median of the measured values of phosphorus was higher by 12% and in Mehlich 3 extraction by 7%. Differences in phosphorus concentrations determined by colorimetry and by ICP-AES increased as the phosphorus supply in soils decreased. When the supply of 'available' phosphorus in soil is given, it is always necessary to specify the used soil test including the end-point analytical technique of phosphorus determination to avoid the misleading interpretation of results. The problem of phosphorus in agriculture and in the environment requires thorough revision and methodical standardization. Keywords: Mehlich 3, NH4-acetate extraction, water extraction, phosphorus, colorimetry, ICP-AES technique Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 297-304 Volume: 56 Issue: 6 Year: 2010 DOI: 10.17221/23/2010-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/23/2010-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201006-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:56:y:2010:i:6:id:23-2010-PSE