Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: T. Spitkó Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary Author-Name: Z. Nagy Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary Author-Name: Z.T. Zsubori Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary Author-Name: C. Szőke Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary Author-Name: T. Berzy Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary Author-Name: J. Pintér Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary Author-Name: C.L. Marton Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Martonvásár, Hungary Title: Connection between normalized difference vegetation index and yield in maize Abstract: The preliminary estimation of expected yields and the accuracy of this evaluation provide information for decisions related to the harvest. The quantification of predictions makes it possible to estimate the accuracy of the prognosis. The yields that can be expected at the end of the vegetation season depend on the intensity of the photosynthetic activity. Numerous devices are now available to measure the quantity of photosynthetically active pigments in leaves, including the instrument GreenSeekerTM used in the present experiments, which records the value of normalized difference vegetation index. The present work attempted to answer the question of whether the yield could be predicted by means of multiple measurements during the vegetation period. Other questions raised were which phenophase was the most suitable for predicting yield, how values recorded at different times correlated with the yield, whether the strength of this correlation increased or decreased as harvest approached, and whether yield could be estimated at flowering, or in even earlier phenophases. Keywords: chlorophyll meter, yield components, yield prediction, Zea mays L Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 293-298 Volume: 62 Issue: 7 Year: 2016 DOI: 10.17221/676/2015-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/676/2015-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201607-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:62:y:2016:i:7:id:676-2015-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: D.Y. Shi Author-Workplace-Name: Agronomy College of the Shandong Agricultural University/State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of maize and oil crops, Yantai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Author-Name: Y.H. Li Author-Workplace-Name: Agronomy College of the Shandong Agricultural University/State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong, P.R. China Author-Name: J.W. Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Agronomy College of the Shandong Agricultural University/State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong, P.R. China Author-Name: P. Liu Author-Workplace-Name: Agronomy College of the Shandong Agricultural University/State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong, P.R. China Author-Name: B. Zhao Author-Workplace-Name: Agronomy College of the Shandong Agricultural University/State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong, P.R. China Author-Name: S.T. Dong Author-Workplace-Name: Agronomy College of the Shandong Agricultural University/State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong, P.R. China Title: Effects of plant density and nitrogen rate on lodging-related stalk traits of summer maize Abstract: Stalk lodging is a major constraint to limit grain yield under increased planting density in modern maize (Zea mays L.) production. A 3-year field experiment was imposed to study the effects of plant density and nitrogen (N) rate on stalk lodging and lodging-related stalk traits of two maize hybrids of contrasting susceptibility to lodging. The results indicated that the stem diameter, rind penetration strength (RPS), bending strength (BS), rind thickness, vascular bundle sheath's thickness (Vbs) and number of vascular bundle (Vb) of both hybrids all significantly decreased at the high density, while ear height and ear ratio clearly increased in Ludan981 (LD981; lodging-susceptible cultivar) with plant density increase. The lower plant height and ear height, stronger RPS and BS, and more Vb at high plant density might be reasons for Zhengdan958 (ZD958, lodging-resistant cultivar) had lower rate of stalk lodging. Meanwhile, N supply can significantly improve the stalk quality and decrease the risk of stalk lodging, however, little effects were observed in cv. LD981. Therefore, using lodging-resistant cultivar, planting at 82 500 plant/ha and supplying 180 kg N/ha can obtain high grain yield and low stalk lodging. Keywords: maize lodging, lodging resistance, mechanical property, microstructure Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 299-306 Volume: 62 Issue: 7 Year: 2016 DOI: 10.17221/720/2015-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/720/2015-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201607-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:62:y:2016:i:7:id:720-2015-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: A.R. Rivelli Author-Workplace-Name: School of Agricultural, Forest, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy Author-Name: F. Lelario Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy Author-Name: R. Agneta Author-Workplace-Name: School of Agricultural, Forest, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy Author-Name: C. Möllers Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Crop Sciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany Author-Name: S. De Maria Author-Workplace-Name: School of Agricultural, Forest, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Potenza, Italy Title: Variation of glucosinolates concentration and root growth of horseradish as affected by nitrogen and sulphur supply Abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate total and individual glucosinolates concentration, root weight and diameters of horseradish accessions (Cor and Mon) grown by adding nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) and harvested at the beginning (late autumn) and towards the end (early spring) of the harvest period. The concentration of the 9 glucosinolates (GLS) quantified in roots varied greatly between accessions (6-fold higher in Cor) and with fertilization (N alone led to an increase of 64% of GLS with an additional enhancement of 65% when S was added to N). Root GLS concentration was significantly higher in early spring compared to the previous harvest in late autumn (12.5 vs 8.9 µmol/g DW (dry weight)); a drastic decline of GLS (2.7 µmol/g DW) occurred in root harvested in the following autumn from plants left ad hoc in the field. The aliphatic sinigrin was the most abundant (80% of total GLS), followed by the aromatic gluconasturtiin and the indolic glucobrassicin (5.8% and 4.7%, respectively). Root diameter and weight increased in plants treated with fertilizers (19% and 61%, respectively) and throughout the harvests with Cor showing values double with respect to Mon (925 vs 476 g/plant). Relationships between GLS concentration and root weight (R2 = 0.61) and diameter (R2 = 0.69) were improved by excluding the roots harvested from plants left ad hoc in the field that showed the worst performances. Keywords: above and below-ground tissues, Armoracia rusticana, medicinal herb, natural preservative, secondary metabolites Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 307-313 Volume: 62 Issue: 7 Year: 2016 DOI: 10.17221/750/2015-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/750/2015-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201607-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:62:y:2016:i:7:id:750-2015-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: M.F. Gu Author-Workplace-Name: Agricultural Experimental Station of Xinyang, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yancheng, P.R. China Author-Name: N. Li Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P.R. China Author-Name: T.Y. Shao Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P.R. China Author-Name: X.H. Long Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, P.R. China Author-Name: M. Brestič Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agro-biotechnology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, P.R. China Author-Name: H.B. Shao Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agro-biotechnology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, P.R. China Author-Name: J.B. Li Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Vegetable Research, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, P.R. China Author-Name: S. Mbarki Author-Workplace-Name: The Laboratory of Plant Extremophiles, Biotechnology Center at the Technopark of Borj-Cedria, Hammam-Lif, Tunisia Title: Accumulation capacity of ions in cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) supplied with sea water Abstract: Cabbage seedlings were grown hydroponically to study the effects of different concentrations of seawater on the seedling growth, ion content under one-fourth strength Hoagland's nutrient solution in the greenhouse. The biomass of various organs of cabbage seedlings as well as the whole plants was significantly higher in the treatments with 1 g and 2 g sea salt/L than the no-salt control, but the treatments with 4, 5 or 6 g sea salt/L caused a decrease in growth. Root/shoot ratio remained at the level of control regardless of the sea salt treatment. Na+ and Cl- concentration in different parts of cabbage seedlings increased significantly, whereas K+ and Ca2+ concentration generally increased at low concentrations of sea salt and then decreased with increasing seawater concentration. Sodium and K+ concentrations were significantly higher in the stems than roots and leaves regardless of the sea salt treatment. The sea salt treatment increased Mg2+ concentration in stems and leaves of cabbage seedlings. An increase in Na+ and Cl- concentration in roots, stems and leaves of cabbage seedlings was the main contributor to declining ratios of K+/Na+, Ca2+/Na+ and Mg2+/Na+. The obtained data suggest that cabbage seedlings have strong ability to sustain seawater stress by the regulation of transport and distribution of ions. Keywords: salinity, Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata, salt tolerance, sea salt stress, ion uptake Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 314-320 Volume: 62 Issue: 7 Year: 2016 DOI: 10.17221/771/2015-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/771/2015-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201607-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:62:y:2016:i:7:id:771-2015-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: C. Pérez-Brandán Author-Workplace-Name: National Agricultural Technology Institute, Salta, Argentina Author-Name: J. Huidobro Author-Workplace-Name: National Agricultural Technology Institute, Salta, Argentina Author-Name: M. Galván Author-Workplace-Name: National Agricultural Technology Institute, Salta, Argentina Author-Name: S. Vargas-Gil Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Plant Pathology, National Agricultural Technology Institute, Córdoba, Argentina Author-Name: J.M. Meriles Author-Workplace-Name: Multidisciplinary Institute of Plant Biology, Institute of Science and Food Technology, Title: Relationship between microbial functions and community structure following agricultural intensification in South American Chaco Abstract: Intensification of agricultural systems through the use of intensive agriculture and the advance of deforestation have led to a decrease of soil biological quality. Soil functional and structural microbiota are sensitive parameters to monitor changes caused by agricultural use. Different sites under soybean monoculture (continuous soybean) and soybean/maize rotation practices were selected. Samples were collected from agricultural soils under different periods of implantation: 4-year rotation; 15-year rotation; 5-year monoculture; and 24-year monoculture (M24). A site of native vegetation recently under agricultural production (RUA) was also sampled. Native vegetation soils (NV) adjacent to agricultural sites were sampled as a control. In general, the results showed that RUA and M24 had lower enzyme activities, less microbial abundance and low physical and chemical soil quality than those subjected to crop rotation. In contrast, both the bacterial and total microbial biomasses were significantly higher in NV and crop rotation than in soils under monoculture systems. Although it was expected that differences in microbial activities would be due to changes in microbial community abundance, the results indicated that changes in soil management produced faster alterations to soil enzyme activities than any modifications induced in the microbial community structure. Consequently, both aspects of microbial diversity, namely function and structure, were affected independently by agricultural intensification. Keywords: soil microbiology, phospholipid fatty acids, soil enzymes, microbial activity, sustainable management Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 321-328 Volume: 62 Issue: 7 Year: 2016 DOI: 10.17221/19/2016-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/19/2016-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201607-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:62:y:2016:i:7:id:19-2016-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: I. Raimanová Author-Workplace-Name: Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: P. Svoboda Author-Workplace-Name: Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: G. Kurešová Author-Workplace-Name: Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: J. Haberle Author-Workplace-Name: Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Title: The effect of different post-anthesis water supply on the carbon isotope discrimination of winter wheat grain Abstract: Isotopic carbon discrimination (Δ13C) of winter wheat grain grown under different water and nitrogen supplies was determined. In two field experiments during years 2004-2007 (A) and 2008-2013 (B), a water shortage was induced from the flowering stage on with a mobile shelter (S), while an optimal water supply was ensured with drip irrigation (I), and a rain-fed crop served as the control treatment (R). Water supply had a statistically significant effect on grain Δ13C values in both experiments (P < 0.01). The average values of grain Δ13C in treatments I, R and S were 19.43, 18.68 and 17.70‰ (A); and 20.36, 19.60 and 18.13‰ (B). Grain Δ13C was in a significant linear relationship (P < 0.01) with the amount of water supplied by precipitation or irrigation. The regressions suggested that grain Δ13C increased by 1.14‰ and 1.16‰ (A), and 0.98‰ or 0.96‰ (B) for every 100 mm of water from January and March, respectively, until the early dough stage (r = 0.79-0.74, P < 0.05). Pooled data for the whole period 2004-2013 showed increases of 1.06‰ and 1.08‰ (r = 0.91 and 0.82, P < 0.05) for 100 mm of water, respectively. The results of the experiment confirmed the stable and predictable effect of water supply on wheat grain Δ13C. Keywords: Triticum aestivum L., rainfall, evapotranspiration, water stress, nitrogen fertilization Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 329-334 Volume: 62 Issue: 7 Year: 2016 DOI: 10.17221/118/2016-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/118/2016-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201607-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:62:y:2016:i:7:id:118-2016-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: P. Pepó Author-Workplace-Name: University of Debrecen, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Crop Science, Debrecen, Hungary Author-Name: A. Novák Author-Workplace-Name: University of Debrecen, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, Institute of Crop Science, Debrecen, Hungary Title: Correlation between photosynthetic traits and yield in sunflower Abstract: The impact of sowing dates (early, normal and late) on the crop physiological parameters (leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll content (SPAD)) and yield of sunflower cultivars (NK Neoma, NK Ferti, PR64H42) was observed in 2012, 2013, and 2014 on chernozem soil in Eastern Hungary. The obtained LAImax values were 5.1-5.3 m2/m2 (early sowing date), 4.5-5.2 m2/m2 (normal sowing date) and 4.4-5.2 m2/m2 (late sowing date). Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a close negative correlation between LAImax and sowing date in 2013 and 2014 (r = -0.920**,r = -0.813**) and an average, non-significant correlation between LAImax and sunflower yield (r = 0.575ns, r = 0.509ns). The relative chlorophyll content was not significantly affected by either growing year, sowing date or genotype in the period between May and July (~40). In the case of high infection index (Ii) values (2012), sunflower cultivars had the highest yield in the late sowing date (4.3-5.3 t/ha). However, average Ii values (2013) were associated with the highest yields in normal sowing date (5.1-5.3 t/ha) and moderate Ii values (2014) showed the highest yields in early sowing dates (4.6-5.1 t/ha). Keywords: Helianthus annuus L., oil crop, pathogens, weather conditions, agrotechnical elements Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 335-340 Volume: 62 Issue: 7 Year: 2016 DOI: 10.17221/202/2016-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/202/2016-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201607-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:62:y:2016:i:7:id:202-2016-PSE