Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Guangyu ZHU Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China Author-Name: Zhuangsheng TANG Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China Author-Name: Lei CHEN Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China Author-Name: Zhouping SHANGGUAN Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China Author-Name: Lei DENG Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China Title: Overgrazing depresses soil carbon stock through changing plant diversity in temperate grassland of the Loess Plateau Abstract: This study mainly estimates the effect of grazing on plant diversity and soil storages on the northern Loess Plateau of China. Four grazing intensities of ungrazed (UG), light (LG), moderate (MG), and heavy (HG) grassland were selected according to the vegetation utilization across the study area, in which plant diversity, heights, above- and belowground biomass, and soil carbon (C) stock were investigated. The results showed that overgrazing negatively affected plant growth and soil C stock. Plant cover, height, litter, above- and belowground productivity, as well as soil C stock significantly decreased with the increasing grazing intensity. Meanwhile, the UG and LG had higher grasses biomass together with lower forbs (P < 0.01) compared with MG and HG. The abundance of dominating grasses species, such as Stipa bungeana and S. grandis were decreased through long-term grazing as grasses species are palatable for herbivores, and the dominating forbs species, such as Artemisia capillaries and Thymus mongolicus were significantly increased with increasing grazing intensities. The results indicated that grazing exclusion or light grazing had positive effects on the sustainable development of grassland ecosystems. Therefore, a balanced use and a long-term efficient management of grasslands were better measures to counteract their local degradations. Keywords: pasturing, plant productivity, soil carbon storage, vegetation features Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 1-6 Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/610/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/610/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201801-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:1:id:610-2017-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Anna SIKORSKA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture, State Higher School of Vocational Education in Ciechanów, Ciechanów, Poland Author-Name: Marek GUGAŁA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, Poland Author-Name: Krystyna ZARZECKA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, Poland Author-Name: Krzysztof KAPELA Author-Workplace-Name: Department Agrometeorology and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, Poland Title: The effect of biostimulants on the glucosinolate content in winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) seeds Abstract: The objective of the study was to determine the effect of biostimulants on the concentration of harmful sulphuric compounds called glucosinolates in the seed of three winter oilseed rape cultivars. An experiment was arranged as a split-split-plot design with three replications. The following factors were examined: I - three winter oilseed rape morphotypes: a population morphotype (cv. Monolit), a semi-dwarf restored cultivar (PR 44D06) and a standard restored cultivar (PT 205); II - two sowing methods: between-row spacing of 22.5 cm and 45.0 cm; III - four types of biostimulants: control, Tytanit®, Asahi®SL and Silvit®. The lowest concentration of glucosinolates was determined in the population cv. Monolit (on average 8.84 µmol/g) and the highest in the restored semi-dwarf cv. PR 44D06 (on average 9.84 µmol/g). Application of all of the biostimulants contributed to a significant decline in the concentration of harmful sulphuric compounds compared with control, the lowest concentration being recorded following the spraying with Silvit® (on average 8.88 µmol/g). Statistical calculations did not confirm a significant effect of two sowing methods on the characteristics examined. Keywords: seed quality, biologically active compounds, environmental conditions, growth biostimulants Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 7-12 Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/642/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/642/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201801-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:1:id:642-2017-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: DU Qingjie Author-Workplace-Name: College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China Author-Name: Dalong ZHANG Author-Workplace-Name: College of Horticulture Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, P.R. China Author-Name: Xiaocong JIAO Author-Workplace-Name: College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China Author-Name: Xiaoming SONG Author-Workplace-Name: College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China Author-Name: LI Jianming Author-Workplace-Name: College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China Title: Effects of atmospheric and soil water status on photosynthesis and growth in tomato Abstract: The responses of tomato seedlings to different vapour pressure deficit (VPD) under low soil moisture were studied. Plants were grown in greenhouses with low and high VPD, under both well-watered and water stress conditions. Low VPD was effectively maintained below 1.5 kPa with a micro-fog system. Under well-watered conditions, low VPD resulted in reduced transpiration, but this did not affect plant water status or growth. Water stress induced leaf dehydration and inhibition of growth, but the adverse effects were significantly alleviated by a decrease in VPD. Under water stress, no difference in transpiration was observed between plants with or without the VPD regulation, but the whole-plant hydraulic conductance was higher under low VPD. Low VPD increased stomatal conductance in drought-stressed plants because it promoted stomatal development and increased stomatal aperture. Thus, stomatal limitation to photosynthesis was reduced by low VPD under water stress. The reduction in plant growth induced by water stress was moderated by low VPD, partially due to higher photosynthetic rate. These results suggest that decreasing VPD improves plant water status, which ultimately enhances photosynthesis and growth under water stress. Keywords: atmospheric humidity, gas exchange, vegetable, drought stress, stomata, Solanum lycopersicum L Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 13-19 Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/701/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/701/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201801-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:1:id:701-2017-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mateja MURŠEC Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Hoče, Slovenia Author-Name: Jean LEVEQUE Author-Workplace-Name: Biogeosciences, CNRS, University of Burgundy Franche-Comté, Dijon, France Author-Name: Remi CHAUSSOD Author-Workplace-Name: Services and Studies in Soil Microbiology and Environment, Vievigne, France Author-Name: Pierre CURMI Author-Workplace-Name: Biogeosciences, CNRS, University of Burgundy Franche-Comté, Dijon, France Author-Workplace-Name: AgroSup Dijon, France Title: The impact of drip irrigation on soil quality in sloping orchards developed on marl - A case study Abstract: The impact of drip irrigation on structural stability of soil aggregates was studied in soils of an apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) orchard, developed on marl. The field study was carried out in a sloping (20%) terrain in the north-eastern Slovenia at three slope positions (upslope, mid-slope and downslope), involving a comparison of irrigated versus non-irrigated situations after 6 years of drip irrigation practice. Structural stability was studied in three soil layers (0-5, 5-15 and 15-30 cm) at the end of the irrigation season (in September). In the same samples, soil organic carbon, total carbonates and soil moisture contents were determined. Drip irrigation significantly reduced structural stability and soil organic carbon in the surface soil layer (0-5 cm), while total carbonates increased. Based on the whole set of data, structural stability was strongly positively correlated with total carbonates and negatively correlated with soil organic carbon. This means that the effect of higher level of organic matter mineralisation on structural stability, due to irrigation, is counterbalanced by the increase of total carbonates content in the fine textured calcareous soils. Thus, a negative effect of irrigation on soil organic carbon had less destructive consequences on structural stability than expected. Keywords: water, topography, stable soil aggregates, soil organic matter, CaCO3 Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 20-25 Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/623/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/623/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201801-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:1:id:623-2017-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Zlata HOLEČKOVÁ Author-Name: Martin KULHÁNEK Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Josef HAKL Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jiří BALÍK Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Use of active microorganisms of the Pseudomonas genus during cultivation of maize in field conditions Abstract: The aim of this research is to estimate the influence of a bioeffector (BE) application on dry matter yield and nutrient content (P, K, Ca, Mg, S) in maize (Zea mays L.). Between 2014 and 2016, a field experiment with silage maize as a testing plant was realized on sandy loam Cambisol. The application of Pseudomonas sp. in combination with phosphorus (rock phosphate (RP) or triple superphosphate (TSP)) and nitrogen fertilizers (ammonium nitrate with urea, ammonium nitrate with limestone, calcium nitrate or ammonium sulfate with a nitrification inhibitor) and with different application strategies was studied. The effects of a bioeffector application on the increase of dry matter yields were not confirmed. An important influence on the BE application and its activity was probably those of soil and site conditions and competition of the researched microorganisms with other present microorganisms. Higher yields of dry matter were shown in treatments where P fertilizers were applied. There was almost no difference between the application of RP and TSP. This could be caused by the fact that the soil had a slightly acidic pH value. In this case, the RP showed similar results to the TSP. The application of bioeffector significantly increased Mg, K and S contents in maize above-ground biomass. An increase of the Ca content was almost significant and a tendency towards a higher average content of phosphorus was also recorded. Keywords: plant nutrition, bioavailability, biocontrol, bacteria, fungi, organic farming Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 26-31 Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/725/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/725/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201801-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:1:id:725-2017-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: Anna GAJDA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland Author-Name: Karolina FURTAK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland Author-Name: Andrzej KSIĘŻNIAK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agriculture Microbiology, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland Author-Name: Krzysztof JOŃCZYK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Systems and Economics of Crop Production, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation - State Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland Title: Assessment of the glomalins content in the soil under winter wheat in different crop production systems Abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the glomalins content (total glomalin (TG), easily extractable glomalin (EEG) and glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP)) in the soil under winter wheat from different crop production systems. The experiment involved four different cultivation systems: organic, integrated (INT), conventional (CON), monoculture-conventional (MON). The highest content of TG and GRSP proteins were observed in organic system. A strong positive correlation was observed between the total number of glomalins and dehydrogenase activity and organic matter. A strong correlation between TG and GRSP content was observed (r = 0.93) as well as between EEG and GRSP (r = 0.79). The highest yields of winter wheat were observed in CON (9.12 t/ha) and INT (9.04 t/ha) systems, while the lowest in monoculture (4.47 t/ha). Keywords: Triticum aestivum, farming system, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, soil quality Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 32-37 Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/726/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/726/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201801-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:1:id:726-2017-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Mikuláš MADARAS Author-Workplace-Name: Divisionof Crop Management Systems, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Markéta MAYEROVÁ Author-Workplace-Name: Divisionof Crop Management Systems, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jitka KUMHÁLOVÁ Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Machinery Utilization, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jan LIPAVSKÝ Author-Workplace-Name: Divisionof Crop Management Systems, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Title: The influence of mineral fertilisers, farmyard manure, liming and sowing rate on winter wheat grain yields Abstract: The influence of mineral fertilisers, liming, farmyard manure and sowing rate on the winter wheat grain yields was studied in a long-term field experiment at 4 sites under different soil and climatic conditions in the Czech Republic. A total of 135 partial fraction-factorial experiments were performed between 1980 and 2013 and evaluated using a statistical model with linear and quadratic terms for each factor. Yield trends demonstrated remarkable influence of fertilisation at two sites of lower starting productivity. Here, grain yields increased by 50% and 25% since the trial commencement, while the rate of yield increase was low at more productive sites. Yields were the most frequently influenced by nitrogen (N) fertilisation, uniformly at all sites. N response curves were strongly curvilinear, but these differed between sites and were affected by preceding crops. The relative frequency of statistically significant influences decreased in the following order: N (significant at α < 0.05 in 89% of all partial trials) > sowing rate (29%) > phosphorus (22%) > farmyard manure (15%) > potassium (12%) > liming (8%). This order and the frequencies of these influences are discussed with regard to relevant site and soil conditions. Keywords: Triticum aestivum, long-term field trials, seeding density, soil productivity, nutrients Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 38-46 Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/703/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/703/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201801-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:1:id:703-2017-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Boris LAZAREVIĆ Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: Tomáš LOŠÁK Author-Workplace-Name: Faculty of the Regional Development and International Studies, Mendel University in Brno, Brno, Czech Republic Author-Name: Ahmad M. MANSCHADI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Crop Sciences, Division of Agronomy, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Tulln, Austria Title: Arbuscular mycorrhizae modify winter wheat root morphology and alleviate phosphorus deficit stress Abstract: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) root colonization is known to have beneficial effects on plant growth especially under phosphorus (P) deficit conditions. The objectives of present study were: (i) to quantify changes in early wheat root development of AM-inoculated (AMI) and AM-free (AMF) roots under limited P availability; (ii) to assess possible mitigating effect of AM inoculation on photochemical efficiency under P deficit stress. AMI (inoculated with Rhizophagus irregularis) and AMF wheat plants were grown for 20 days in low (1 μmol/L) and high (50 μmol/L)P treatments. AM inoculation affected root morphology and shoot P concentration in low P treatment. AM inoculation alleviated reduction of the total root length in low P treatment, mainly due to an increase of fine roots length(< 0.5 mm). Contrastingly, shoot dry weight was reduced by AM inoculation in low P treatment. P deficiency decreased photochemical efficiency of wheat plants. However, due to increased sink capacity and facilitated nutrient concentrations AM inoculation alleviates phosphorus deficit stress and increased photochemical efficiency. Keywords: plant macronutrient, root system, mutualism, chlorophyll fluorescence, shoot dry weight Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 47-52 Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/678/2017-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/678/2017-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201801-0008.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:1:id:678-2017-PSE