Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: B. Zhao Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Tropical and Subtropical Ecology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Ecological Agriculture of Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Agro-ecology and Rural Environment of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: J. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Tropical and Subtropical Ecology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Ecological Agriculture of Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Agro-ecology and Rural Environment of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: X. Lv Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Tropical and Subtropical Ecology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: L. Peng Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Tropical and Subtropical Ecology, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, P.R. China Author-Name: H. Padilla Author-Workplace-Name: Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden, Hongkong, P.R. China Title: Methane oxidation enhancement of rice roots with stimulus to its shoots Abstract: This study aimed to know whether the methane oxidation of rice roots was enhanced when rice shoots was stimulated. Stimulus was applied using a mechanical device which continuously touched the rice shoots with strength of 5, 30 and 60 min/day. In 5 min/day and 30 min/day stimuli treatments, methane oxidation rates of rice roots at 6 h were both significantly improved. Rice height was decreased significantly in 30 min/day stimuli treatment. Root biomass and root activities were significantly improved in 5 min/day and 30 min/day stimuli treatments. Length, surface area and volume of rice roots in 30 min/day stimuli treatment were improved significantly. Stomata areas were found to be significantly higher in 30 min/day and 60 min/day stimuli treatments. Continuous stimuli of 5 min/day and 30 min/day on rice shoots led to methane oxidation capacity enhancement of rice roots and response of rice at the physiological and morphological level. This study ascertained the importance of biological activity in paddy fields on the methane release process. Keywords: Oryza sativa L., morphological traits, roots activity, radial oxygen loss, stomata Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 143-149 Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/530/2012-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/530/2012-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201304-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:59:y:2013:i:4:id:530-2012-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: B. Varga Author-Workplace-Name: Cereal Resistance Breeding Department, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary Author-Name: E. Varga-László Author-Workplace-Name: Cereal Resistance Breeding Department, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary Author-Name: S. Bencze Author-Workplace-Name: Cereal Resistance Breeding Department, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary Author-Name: K. Balla Author-Workplace-Name: Cereal Resistance Breeding Department, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary Author-Name: O. Veisz Author-Workplace-Name: Cereal Resistance Breeding Department, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary Title: Water use of winter cereals under well-watered and drought-stressed conditions Abstract: A reduction in the water available to plants will lend increasing importance to the dynamics of water uptake and to the water use efficiency (WUE) of cereals. The effect of drought on the water use efficiency of winter cereals was investigated in a greenhouse experiment in the Centre for Agricultural Research. The effect of water deficiency on the water use properties was studied by measuring changes in the grain weight, thousand-kernel weight and aboveground biomass. The water use efficiency of wheat varieties generally ranged from 1.5-2.3 kg/m3 and 1.06-2.0 kg/m3 in the case of optimum and limited water supplies, respectively, while these figures were 1.4 kg/m3 and 0.8 kg/m3 for winter barley and 0.8 kg/m3 and 0.5 kg/m3 for winter oat. Investigation on the relationship between harvest index (HI) and WUE was found that the harvest index is only one indicator of drought tolerance; but the stability of HI under non-optimum environmental conditions also needs to be determined. Keywords: water uptake, water use efficiency, harvest index, water shortage Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 150-155 Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/658/2012-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/658/2012-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201304-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:59:y:2013:i:4:id:658-2012-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P. Škarpa Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agrochemistry, Soil Science, Microbiology and Plant Nutrition, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: E. Kunzová Author-Workplace-Name: Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: H. Zukalová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Crop Production, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Foliar fertilization with molybdenum in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Abstract: The objective of the vegetation experiment established in 2008-2011 was to explore the effect of the time and dose of foliar molybdenum (Mo) application on the yield and quality of sunflower. Four treatments were established in the experiment: (1) control - not fertilised with Mo; (2) application of 125 g Mo/ha in the growing stage of 4 developed leaves (V-4); (3) application of 125 g Mo/ha at the beginning of elongation growth (R-1), and (4) split rate of Mo application of 62 g Mo/ha at stage V-4 (4 developed leaves) and 62 g Mo/ha at stage R-1 (terminal bud forms). Foliar application of molybdenum increased the biomass production of sunflower plants and its content in dry matter. A statistically significant effect of molybdenum foliar application on sunflower yields was found. Foliar application of Mo up to a dose of 125 g Mo/ha at the beginning of vegetation (stage V-4) and developmental stage R-1 increased yields of achenes. The relative increase in the oil content after foliar nutrition was not significant and ranged between 1.4% and 2.6%. Oil production increased due to increased yields and stabilised oil content. Foliar application of molybdenum had no effect on the content of oleic acid. Keywords: sunflower nutrition, foliar nutrition, achene yield, oil content, fatty acid Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 156-161 Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/663/2012-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/663/2012-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201304-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:59:y:2013:i:4:id:663-2012-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: F. Wang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, P.R. China Author-Name: Y.A. Tong Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, P.R. China Author-Name: J.S. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, P.R. China Author-Name: P.C. Gao Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, P.R. China Author-Name: J.N. Coffie Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Environmental Science and Technology, University of Maryland, Maryland, USA Title: Effects of various organic materials on soil aggregate stability and soil microbiological properties on the Loess Plateau of China Abstract: A field experiment was conducted to examine the influence of various organic materials on soil aggregate stability and soil microbiological properties on the Loess Plateau of China. The study involved seven treatments: no fertilizer (CK); inorganic N, P, K fertilizer (NPK); low amount of maize stalks plus NPK (LSNPK); medium amount of maize stalks plus NPK (MSNPK); high amount of maize stalks plus NPK (HSNPK); maize stalk compost plus NPK (CNPK); cattle manure plus NPK (MNPK). The organic fertilizer treatments improved soil aggregate stability and soil microbiological properties compared with CK and NPK treatments. Compared with the NPK treatment, soil treated with LSNPK had a significant increase of 27.1% in 5-3 mm dry aggregates. The > 5 mm water stable aggregates treated with CNPK increased by 6.5% compared to the NPK. Soil microbial biomass C and N and urease activity were significantly increased in CNPK by 42.0, 54.6 and 19.8%, respectively. The study indicated that the variation trend in the amount of soil aggregate (0.5-5 mm) for organic fertilizer treatments was similar to the content of soil microbial carbon and nitrogen and soil enzyme activity. Considering the great availability of organic material, especially stalk compost in this region, application of organic materials is recommended to improve soil structure and fertility. Keywords: availability of organic material, maize stalk compost, soil structure and fertility, microbial biomass C, microbial biomass N Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 162-168 Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/702/2012-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/702/2012-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201304-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:59:y:2013:i:4:id:702-2012-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: J. Fan Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, P.R. China Author-Name: X. Xia Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Z. Hu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: N. Ziadi Author-Workplace-Name: Soils and Crops Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food, Quebec, Canada Author-Name: C. Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Agricultural Meteorology, College of Applied Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing, P.R. China Title: Excessive sulfur supply reduces arsenic accumulation in brown rice Abstract: The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of excessive sulfur (S) supply on iron plaque formation and arsenic (As) accumulation in rice plants. A combined soil-sand pot experiment was conducted by using two As levels (0, 20 mg/kg) combined with three S concentrations (0, 60, 120 mg/kg). The results showed that excessive S supply significantly decreased As concentration in brown rice, but As concentration in root increased with increasing rate of S supply. Moreover, bioconcentration factors for leaves and stems were 8-35 fold of that for brown rice, indicating that As was mainly accumulated in rice leaves and stems instead of brown rice. Furthermore, excessive S supply significantly decreased translocation factor of As compared to treatment without S supply. These results indicated that excessive S may reduce As translocation from soils and roots to grain. The mechanism could be ascribed to excessive S that induced the decrease of As availability, the increase of iron plaque formation under As stress, and the increase of glutathione in rice leaves and roots. Therefore, excessive S can reduce As accumulation in brown rice exposed to As contaminated soils though it may result in loss of rice yield. Keywords: arsenic toxicity, glutathione, iron plaque, Oryza sativa L., plant uptake Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 169-174 Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/882/2012-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/882/2012-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201304-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:59:y:2013:i:4:id:882-2012-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M. Jursík Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: M. Kočárek Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: K. Hamouzová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Soukup Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: V. Venclová Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Effect of precipitation on the dissipation, efficacy and selectivity of three chloroacetamide herbicides in sunflower Abstract: The aim was to compare the efficacy, selectivity to sunflower and dissipation of three chloracetamide herbicides (acetochlor, metolachlor and pethoxamid) in dependence on precipitation after application. A small plot field trial was carried out with sunflower in Central Bohemia in 2010 and 2011. The remaining concentration of active ingredient in the soil of all studied herbicides was lower in the year with a higher temperature and a low level of total natural precipitation at the beginning of the growing season. Higher leaching of metolachlor and pethoxamid was recorded in irrigated plots. No leaching was found in the case of acetochlor. The highest leaching was found for metolachlor (9.2-25.5% in soil layer 5-10 cm). The highest phytotoxicity was found for acetochlor (9.8%) > pethox-amid (4.6%) > metolachlor (1.8%). The mean phytotoxicity in the irrigated plots was 6.9%, compared with 3.9% in the non-irrigated plots. The efficacy of the tested herbicide was affected by wet conditions. The highest efficacy on Chenopodium album, Amaranthus retroflexus, Echinochloa crus-galli and Solanum physalifolium was recorded after application of acetochlor and irrigation. Keywords: acetochlor, metolachlor, pethoxamid, weed control, phytotoxicity, leaching, Helianthus annuus Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 175-182 Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/750/2012-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/750/2012-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201304-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:59:y:2013:i:4:id:750-2012-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: K. Zarzecka Author-Workplace-Name: University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce, Siedlce, Poland Author-Name: M. Gugała Author-Workplace-Name: University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce, Siedlce, Poland Author-Name: I. Mystkowska Author-Workplace-Name: University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce, Siedlce, Poland Title: Glycoalkaloid contents in potato leaves and tubers as influenced by insecticide application Abstract: The field experiment was carried out during 2004-2006. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of insecticides (Actara 25 WG - 0.08 kg/ha, Regent 200 SC - 0.1 L/ha, Calypso 480 SC - three rates: 0.05; 0.075;0.1 L/ha), used for controlling Colorado potato beetle, on total glycoalkaloid (TGA) content in potato leaves and tubers of three cultivars (Mors, Wiking, Żagiel). The insecticides significantly increased (Calypso 480 SC) or decreased (Actara 80 WG, Regent 200 SC) the TGA content in potato leaves, and increased TGA in tubers as compared with tubers harvested from the control. Leaves and tubers of cultivar Mors had the highest TGA contents, whereas Żagiel leaves and Wiking tubers had the lowest levels. Keywords: Solanum tuberosum L., TGA, potato cultivars, plant protection chemicals Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 183-188 Volume: 59 Issue: 4 Year: 2013 DOI: 10.17221/763/2012-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/763/2012-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201304-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:59:y:2013:i:4:id:763-2012-PSE