Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Xiang LIU Author-Workplace-Name: StateKey Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan Author-Name: QI Zhiming Author-Workplace-Name: StateKey Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang, P.R. China Author-Name: Quan WANG Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka, Japan Author-Name: MA Zhiwen Author-Workplace-Name: StateKey Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: LI Lanhai Author-Workplace-Name: StateKey Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, Xinjiang, P.R. China Title: Effects of biochar addition on CO2 and CH4 emissions from a cultivated sandy loam soil during freeze-thaw cycles Abstract: This study was conducted to examine the effects of biochar additions (0, 2 and 4%, w/w) on soil carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions during freeze-thaw cycles (FTC). The results showed that soil CO2 emissions were stimulated by both FTC and biochar addition. However, the differences in soil CO2 emissions between control (CK) and FTC treatments were not significant when biochar addition rate was 4%, indicating that high biochar addition rate may have stronger effect on stimulating soil CO2 emissions than FTC. The increased soil dissolved organic carbon content, which attributed to the labile carbon in biochar, was the likely reason for the increased CO2 emissions. The negative CH4 emissions were promoted by biochar, especially under FTC conditions; possibly due to the structure of biochar soil aeration increased, which formed a favourable environment for methanotrophs. The results of this study indicate that biochar additions can increase soil CO2 emissions and CH4 uptakes during FTC, and such effects are different from those under CK conditions. Keywords: agricultural soil, greenhouse gas mitigation, soil labile organic carbon, soil amendment, non-vegetation period Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 243-249 Volume: 63 Issue: 6 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/618/2016-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/618/2016-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201706-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:63:y:2017:i:6:id:618-2016-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: LI Zhi Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Silviculture, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: Ling ZHANG Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Silviculture, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: Jing CHEN Author-Workplace-Name: College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Xueling ZHANG Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Silviculture, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: YU Suqin Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Silviculture, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: Wenyuan ZHANG Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Silviculture, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: MA Xiaochi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, USA Author-Name: Xiaomin GUO Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Silviculture, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Author-Name: Dekui NIU Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Silviculture, College of Forestry, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, P.R. China Title: Response of soil sulfur availability to elevation and degradation in the Wugong Mountain meadow, China Abstract: Vegetation restorations of degraded meadows have been widely implemented. The evaluation of soil nutrient changes as affected by degradation is vital for efficient restorations. However, while macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) have been widely investigated, sulfur (S) as one important element correlated tightly with other nutrients has not been thoroughly studied. Two studies were conducted to determine changes of sulfur as affected by degradation and elevation gradients. The results showed that available S (AS) changed non-linearly with elevation and the first principal component based on other soil nutrient variables. Soil AS depended on degradation levels and contributed substantially to the separation of meadows with different degradation levels. Moreover, AS responded stronger to changes in elevation gradients and degradation levels compared with other major nutrients. Thereby, AS could be an important nutrient responding to meadow disturbance, which should be considered in future studies on meadow soil nutrients cycling and vegetation restorations. The findings have implications for ecological restoration of degraded meadows with respect to soil nutrient management and conservations. Keywords: anthropogenic disturbance, cycling process, plant species, stoichiometry Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 250-256 Volume: 63 Issue: 6 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/83/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/83/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201706-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:63:y:2017:i:6:id:83-2017-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Florian FABER Author-Workplace-Name: Education and Research Centre for Viticulture and Pomology Klosterneuburg, Klosterneuburg, Austria Author-Name: Elisabeth WACHTER Author-Workplace-Name: Education and Research Centre for Viticulture and Pomology Klosterneuburg, Klosterneuburg, Austria Author-Name: Johann G. ZALLER Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Zoology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU), Title: Earthworms are little affected by reduced soil tillage methods in vineyards Abstract: Inter-rows in vineyards are commonly tilled in order to control weeds and/or to conserve water. While impacts of tillage on earthworms are well studied in arable systems, very little is known from vineyards. In an experimental vineyard, the impact of four reduced tillage methods on earthworms was examined: rotary hoeing, rotary harrowing, grubbing and no tillage. According to an erosion prevention programme, tillage was applied every other inter-row only while alternating rows retained vegetated. Earthworms were extracted from the treated inter-rows 10, 36, 162 and 188 days after tillage. Across dates, tillage methods had no effect on overall earthworm densities or biomass. Considering each sampling date separately, earthworm densities were affected only at day 36 after tillage leading to lower densities under rotary hoeing (150.7 ± 42.5 worms/m2) and no tillage (117.3 ± 24.8 worms/m2) than under rotary harrowing (340.0 ± 87.4 worms/m2) and grubbing (242.7 ± 43.9 worms/m2). Time since tillage significantly increased earthworm densities or biomass, and affected soil moisture and temperature. Across sampling dates, earthworm densities correlated positively with soil moisture and negatively with soil temperature; individual earthworm mass increased with increasing time since tillage. It was concluded that reduced tillage in vineyards has little impact on earthworms when applied in spring under dry soil conditions. Keywords: agroecosystem, soil cultivation, soil disturbance, soil macrofauna, viticulture Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 257-263 Volume: 63 Issue: 6 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/160/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/160/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201706-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:63:y:2017:i:6:id:160-2017-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Anna GAŁĄZKA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland Author-Name: Karolina GAWRYJOŁEK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland Author-Name: Jarosław GRZĄDZIEL Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland Author-Name: Magdalena FRĄC Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lublin, Poland Author-Name: Jerzy KSIĘŻAK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Forage Crop Production, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland Title: Microbial community diversity and the interaction of soil under maize growth in different cultivation techniques Abstract: Soil microbial functional diversity under maize grown in different agricultural management practices was determined using the Biolog EcoPlates and other microbial and biochemical methods. Comparisons of substrate utilization and the diversity indices showed differences in community composition of microorganisms related to different cultivation techniques and seasons. The soil samples collected in spring were characterized by statistically significant lower indices of biological activity in comparison to the soil collected from the flowering stage of maize. The soils collected in spring from the plots with full tillage had a similarly high biological activity as the soils obtained from maize flowering season. The principal component of PC analysis, showed the strong correlation between the parameters of soil quality and biodiversity indicators. Selected indicators of soil microbial diversity explained 71.51% of biological variability in soils. Based on the PC analysis, two major groups of soils have been indicated. Management practices and seasons were two important factors affecting soil microbial communities. Keywords: Zea mays, monoculture, community level physiological profiles, bioindicators, cultivation practices Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 264-270 Volume: 63 Issue: 6 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/171/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/171/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201706-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:63:y:2017:i:6:id:171-2017-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Carmelina SPANŇ Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy Author-Name: Stefania BOTTEGA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy Author-Name: Monica RUFFINI CASTIGLIONE Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy Author-Name: Hilda Elizabeth PEDRANZANI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Biochemical and Biology, National University of San Luis, San Luis, Argentina Title: Antioxidant response to cold stress in two oil plants of the genus Jatropha Abstract: Jatropha curcas and J. macrocarpa, suitable for production of biodiesel oil from their seeds, are able to live in arid and semi-arid regions, where most crops cannot survive. J. curcas is characterized by higher oil quality and seed yield, but it is not a good candidate for oil production in arid areas with freezing temperatures, due to its sensitivity to chilling in comparison to J. macrocarpa. In this work, for the first time, the effects of cold stress and different mechanisms activated in these conditions have been studied in the two species. Seedlings were treated with low non-freezing temperatures with or without a previous acclimation period. Water status, pigment content, oxidative stress and antioxidant response were studied in acclimated and non-acclimated plants. The key features that differentiate J. macrocarpa from J. curcas were the ability to accumulate, at low temperatures, high concentrations of pigments and glutathione and significantly higher activities of ascorbate peroxidase. These data could explain the greater resistance to low temperatures of J. macrocarpa. A period of acclimation was not able to improve cold tolerance of J. curcas and this confirms its limited adaptability to arid areas with freezing temperatures. Keywords: cold acclimation, damage, enzymes, hydrogen peroxide, liquid bio-fuel, reactive oxygen species Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 271-276 Volume: 63 Issue: 6 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/182/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/182/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201706-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:63:y:2017:i:6:id:182-2017-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Elżbieta PATKOWSKA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Plant Pathology and Mycology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland Author-Name: Marzena BŁAŻEWICZ-WOŹNIAK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Cultivation and Fertilization of Horticultural Plants, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland Author-Name: Dariusz WACH Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Soil Cultivation and Fertilization of Horticultural Plants, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Lublin, Poland Title: Antagonistic activity of selected bacteria of the soil environment of carrot Abstract: The purpose of the present studies was to determine the antagonistic effect of bacteria Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. towards selected fungi from the soil environment of carrot. Oats (Avena sativa L.), tansy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Bentham) and vetch (Vicia satica L.) were used as cover crops in the cultivation of this plant. In the traditional cultivation of carrot the population of bacteria was the smallest, while after the application of oats it was the largest. Laboratory tests showed that cover crops promoted the development of antagonistic Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Irrespective of the experimental treatment, those bacteria were the most effective in limiting the growth and development of Fusarium oxysporum and Thanatephorus cucumeris (syn. Rhizoctonia solani), while being less effective towards Altenaria dauci and Alternaria radicina, and the least towards Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The best total antagonistic effect of Pseudomonas spp. and Bacillus spp. towards the tested fungi was found after using oats and vetch, while the worst - in the traditional cultivation of carrot. Keywords: Daucus carota L., microorganisms, root vegetables, fungal infection Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 277-281 Volume: 63 Issue: 6 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/216/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/216/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201706-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:63:y:2017:i:6:id:216-2017-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Miroslav ŠLOSÁR Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Ivana MEZEYOVÁ Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Alžbeta HEGEDÜSOVÁ Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Alena ANDREJIOVÁ Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Peter KOVÁČIK Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic Author-Name: Tomáš LOŠÁK Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Tomáš KOPTA Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno, Lednice, Czech Republic Author-Name: Anna J. KEUTGEN Author-Workplace-Name: Division of Vegetables and Ornamentals, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria Title: Effect of zinc fertilisation on yield and selected qualitative parameters of broccoli Abstract: Three treatments were used in two-year (2014-2015) field experiments with broccoli cv. Bejo 2914 F1: (1) untreated control; (2) Zn0.75 - Zinkuran SC as foliar fertiliser at the rate of 0.75 L/ha (375 g Zn/ha); (3) Zn1.50 - Zinkuran SC as foliar fertiliser at the rate of 1.50 L/ha (750 g Zn/ha). The statistically significant differences of individual broccoli parameters were found after zinc applications. In both experimental years the yield of broccoli with additional zinc fertilisation was significantly higher by about 8.2-14.4% (Zn0.75) and 12.5-17.5% (Zn1.50), respectively, than in the control. Foliar zinc application significantly increased the sulforaphane content in broccoli florets by about 19.8-32.9% (Zn0.75) and 37.2-49.3% (Zn1.50), respectively, compared to the control. By contrast, the content of total polyphenolics (of about 9.0-12.5% (Zn0.75) and 33.9-35.2% (Zn1.50)) and antioxidant activity (Zn0.75 (3.7-4.2%) and Zn1.50 (5.3-7.0)) decreased as a result of zinc fertilisation. The investigations pointed to zinc as a very important micronutrient with strong influence on the yield and chosen qualitative, health promoting parameters of broccoli. Keywords: foliar application, Brassica oleracea, vegetable, glucoraphanin, polyphenols Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 282-287 Volume: 63 Issue: 6 Year: 2017 DOI: 10.17221/220/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/220/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201706-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:63:y:2017:i:6:id:220-2017-PSE