Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Stephen YEBOAH Author-Workplace-Name: Gansu Provincial Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Gansu Agricultural University, Author-Name: Reanzhi ZHANG Author-Workplace-Name: Gansu Provincial Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Gansu Agricultural University, Author-Name: Liqun CAI Author-Workplace-Name: Gansu Provincial Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Gansu Agricultural University, Author-Name: Wu JUN Author-Workplace-Name: Gansu Provincial Key Lab of Aridland Crop Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Gansu Agricultural University, Title: Different carbon sources enhance system productivity and reduce greenhouse gas intensity Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of biochar, straw and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on soil properties, crop yield and greenhouse gas intensity in rainfed spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and to produce background dataset to improve nutrient management guidelines for semiarid environments. The two carbon sources (straw and biochar) were applied alone or combined with nitrogen fertilizer (urea, 46% N), whilst the soil without carbon amendment was fertilized by urea in the rates 0, 50 and 100 kg N/ha. The experiments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. The greatest yields were found with 100 kg N/ha under biochar, straw and soils without carbon. Biochar treated soils produced the greatest grain yield at 1906 kg/ha, followed by straw at 1643 kg/ha, and soils without carbon at 1553 kg/ha. This was explained by increased easily oxidizable carbon and total soil nitrogen in the biochar treated soil (P < 0.05). Straw treated soils and soils without carbon increased global warming potential by 13% and 14% compared to biochar amended soils. The biochar amended treatment also improved easily oxidizable carbon and total nitrogen (P < 0.05), which supported the above results. BN100 (15 t/ha biochar + 100 kg N/ha) reduced greenhouse gas intensity by approximately 30% compared to CN100 (100 kg N/ha applied each year) and SN50 (4.5 t/ha straw applied each year + 50 kg N/ha). Based on these results, biochar could be used with N-fertilizer as a soil conditioner to improve yield and reduced greenhouse gas intensity. Keywords: charcoal, semi-arid environment, climate change, fertilization, soil carbon Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 463-469 Volume: 64 Issue: 10 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/83/2018-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/83/2018-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201810-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:10:id:83-2018-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Xiuhong JIA Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Author-Name: Haichuan CAO Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, P.R. China Author-Name: Lanlan JIANG Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, P.R. China Author-Name: Jihong YUAN Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, P.R. China Author-Name: Shixue ZHENG Author-Workplace-Name: State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, P.R. China Title: Comparison of heat output and CO2 respiration to assess soil microbial activity: a case of ultisol soil Abstract: Glucose-induced microcalorimetry and carbon dioxide (CO2) production are two widely applied methods to assess microbial activity in soil. However, the links among them, microbial communities and soil chemical properties based on large number of soil samples are still not fully understood. Seventy-two soil samples of different land uses were collected from an ultisol soil area in south China. The best correlation between the rate of heat output and the rate of CO2 respiration occurred in 8-16 h reaction (R2 = 0.64), followed by 0-8 h (R2 = 0.50) (P < 0.001). However, the correlations decreased sharply after 16 h. The heat output per biomass unit (QT/MBC) was well correlated with the total phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) (R2 = 0.56) and bacterial PLFAs (R2 = 0.53) (P < 0.001). In contrast, these links were not apparent between soil respiratory quotient (qCO2) and the total PLFAs and microbial communities. Redundancy analysis further confirmed that QT/MBC was a more comprehensive indicator to assess soil microbial activity and soil quality than qCO2, showing a good negative correlation to soil organic carbon, total nitrogen (N) and mineral N, and pH. This work is very helpful to better guide the application of calorimetry and CO2 respiration in assessing microbial activity in soils. Keywords: soil microorganism, microbial community, nutrient, calorespirometric ratio, metabolic efficiency Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 470-478 Volume: 64 Issue: 10 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/168/2018-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/168/2018-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201810-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:10:id:168-2018-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Lukáš TICHÝ Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Miroslav JURSÍK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agroecology and Biometeorology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Michaela KOLÁŘOVÁ Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agroecology and Biometeorology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Václav HEJNÁK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jiří ANDR Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agroecology and Biometeorology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jaroslava MARTINKOVÁ Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany and Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Sensitivity of sunflower cultivar PR63E82 to tribenuron and propaquizafop in different weather conditions Abstract: The aim of this work was to verify and assess the tolerance of the PR63E82 (ExpressSun) sunflower cultivar to tribenuron, propaquizafop and their tank-mix combination in two rates under various weather conditions. Three small-plot field trials were carried out on sunflower in Prague, Czech Republic, from 2015 to 2017. High phytotoxicity (25-56%) of tribenuron (TBM) + non-ionic surfactant was observed in 2015 and 2016 when the sunflower was sown in mid-April. In 2017, phytotoxicity was significantly lower (4-6%), probably due to a later sowing of sunflower (May), and hence higher temperatures. The main symptoms of TBM phytotoxicity were leaf chlorosis, necrosis and growth retardation. Propaquizafop (PQF) injury was minimal in 2015 and 2017. A higher phytotoxicity (10-13%) was recorded in 2016, probably due to a hail which occurred 2 days after T2 (second application term (sunflower BBCH 14)) application. Plant injury had puckered leaves and also made more side branches. TBM + PQF damaged sunflower plants most of the tested herbicide treatments (phytotoxicity 3-62%). High phytotoxicity caused stem branching, increased number of sunflower heads and decreased yield. Keywords: Helianthus annuus L., oilseed crop, weed control, pesticide, application date, herbicide tolerant crop Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 479-483 Volume: 64 Issue: 10 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/343/2018-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/343/2018-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201810-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:10:id:343-2018-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Wei YANG Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: LI Pin-Fang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Plant and Soil Interactions, Ministry of Education, Beijing, P.R. China Title: Association of carbon isotope discrimination with leaf gas exchange and water use efficiency in maize following soil amendment with superabsorbent hydrogel Abstract: The correlation of carbon isotope discrimination (△13C) with photosynthetic gas exchange and water use efficiency (WUE) in maize was investigated under low rainfall conditions with or without superabsorbent polymer (SAP). SAP (45 kg/ha) was mixed into the top 10 cm soil layer at sowing in lysimeters. Compared with the control plants not treated with SAP, the application of SAP increased net photosynthesis rate; stomatal conductance (gs); transpiration rate; chlorophyll content (Chl) and intrinsic water use efficiency at leaf level (WUEi), but decreased intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) and leaf △13C. In plants supplied with SAP, leaf △13C was positively correlated with Ci (r = 0.864, P < 0.01) and negatively correlated with gs and WUEi (r = -0.860 and -0.626, P < 0.01, respectively). Leaf △13C was not correlated with Chl with or without SAP. Grain △13C significantly decreased by 12.4% and showed a significant negative correlation with grain WUE under SAP treatments (r = -0.670, P < 0.05). These results suggest that in the presence of SAP, maize leaf and grain △13C could be good indicators for evaluating maize WUE during periods of low rainfall. Keywords: water-saving polymer, Zea mays L., physiological traits, soil moisture, carbon isotope composition Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 484-490 Volume: 64 Issue: 10 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/463/2018-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/463/2018-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201810-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:10:id:463-2018-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ladislav HOLÍK Author-Name: Lukáš HLISNIKOVSKÝ Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition Management, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Eva KUNZOVÁ Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Nutrition Management, Crop Research Institute, Prague, Czech Republic Title: The effect of mineral fertilizers and farmyard manure on winter wheat grain yield and grain quality Abstract: This study evaluated how organic manures and mineral fertilizers affect winter wheat grain and straw yields and grain quality properties. The analysed period of the long-term fertilizer experiment was established in Čáslav, Czech Republic, in 1955 and covers the seasons 2011-2014. The fertilizer treatments were: control; farmyard manure (FYM); FYM + P; FYM + K; FYM + PK; FYM + N1; FYM + N2; FYM + N1PK; FYM + N2PK and FYM + N3PK. The highest grain yields were recorded in the FYM + P and FYM + N3PK treatments (8.9 t/ha). The highest straw yields were recorded in the FYM + N3PK treatment (6.52 t/ha). The lowest yields were provided in the unfertilized control and FYM treatments. Qualitative parameters were evaluated in the control, FYM and FYM + N3PK treatments between the years 2011 and 2013. The best quality of wheat grain was provided by the FYM + N3PK treatment. Combination of the farmyard manure with NPK is the best way to achieve high grain yields with good quality and leads to sustainable food production. Keywords: Triticum aestivum L., yielding parameters, crude protein content, Zeleny's sedimentation test, gluten index Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 491-497 Volume: 64 Issue: 10 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/342/2018-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/342/2018-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201810-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:10:id:342-2018-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Marcel HEROUT Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jan KOUKOLÍČEK Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: David KINCL Author-Workplace-Name: Research Institute for Soil and Water Conservation, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Kateřina PAZDERŮ Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jaroslav TOMÁŠEK Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jaroslav URBAN Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Josef PULKRÁBEK Author-Workplace-Name: Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Impacts of technology and the width of rows on water infiltration and soil loss in the early development of maize on sloping lands Abstract: Soil erosion by water has become an issue in the cultivation of maize (Zea mays L.) on sloping lands in recent years. The following three technologies of tillage have been assessed: disc cultivator, strip-till and no-till (raw land). Seeding machine Kinze 3500 was used for sowing maize cultivar Silvinio FAO 210. The experiments were conducted within the years 2013, 2014 and 2016. Erosion was evaluated under simulated rain in three stages of maize growth. The following parameters of each tested tillage treatment were measured: water infiltration (mm), soil loss (converted to t/ha), dry matter yield of the aboveground biomass and grain yield. The results confirmed that no-till technology reduced water erosion to the value of 0.40 t/ha. This technology along with the row spacing of 0.75 m tended to bring higher yields of aboveground biomass (13.40 t/ha). Tillage and phacelia as a catch crop increased water infiltration in the soil. Keywords: Zea mays L., precipitation, tillage technology, rain simulation, Phacelia tanacetifolia Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 498-503 Volume: 64 Issue: 10 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/544/2018-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/544/2018-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201810-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:10:id:544-2018-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Magdalena JASTRZĘBSKA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agroecosystems, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: Marta KOSTRZEWSKA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agroecosystems, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: Kinga TREDER Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agroecosystems, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: Przemysław MAKOWSKI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agroecosystems, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: Agnieszka SAEID Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Advanced Material Technologies, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wrocław, Poland Author-Name: Wiesław JASTRZĘBSKI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Botany and Nature Protection, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland Author-Name: Adam OKORSKI Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Entomology, Phytopathology and Molecular Diagnostics, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland Title: Fertiliser from sewage sludge ash instead of conventional phosphorus fertilisers? Abstract: Recycling of phosphorus (P) from municipal waste for the use as a fertiliser can be an alternative to the non-renewable resources of this element as well as a method in the management of civilisation by-products that are a burden to the environment. An innovative phosphorus suspension fertiliser, produced on the basis of ash from incineration of sewage sludge and phosphorus solubilising bacteria Bacillus megaterium was compared in field trials with spring wheat conducted in 2014 and 2015 with superphosphate and phosphorite. The new fertiliser was not inferior to the commercial fertilisers in terms of the effect on wheat yield volumes, the uptake of P by wheat and the sanitary condition of the wheat field, especially when grown protected from weeds, pathogens and pests. It is expected that such a fertiliser can be an alternative to fertilisers produced from non-renewable resources, provided it does not deteriorate the quality of agricultural production and will be safe for the environment. Keywords: secondary raw material, agronomic evaluation, yield components, fungal diseases, phosphorus content Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 504-511 Volume: 64 Issue: 10 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/347/2018-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/347/2018-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201810-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:10:id:347-2018-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Adolf RYBKA Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Karel KROFTA Author-Workplace-Name: Hop Research Institute Co., Ltd., Žatec, Czech Republic Author-Name: Petr HEŘMÁNEK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Ivo HONZÍK Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Machines, Faculty of Engineering, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jaroslav POKORNÝ Author-Workplace-Name: Hop Research Institute Co., Ltd., Žatec, Czech Republic Title: Effect of drying temperature on the content and composition of hop oils Abstract: In terms of content, the paper is aimed at analysing and comparing the quality of fresh green hops and hops dried at two drying temperatures - 55°C (in the traditional manner) and 40°C (using the so-called gentle drying), regarding the maximum preservation of hop essential oils. Comparative experiments were carried out in an experimental chamber dryer with two Czech hop cultivars Saaz and Harmonie. The moisture content of hops at the beginning of drying was 75% and at the end of drying it was 9-10%. By lowering the drying temperature from 55°C to 40°C, the drying time in cv. Saaz prolonged from 8 to 10 h and for the cv. Harmonie from 9 h to 12 h. Compared to fresh hops, the amount of hop oils decreased by 10% when dried at 40°C and by 36% (cv. Saaz) and 43% (cv. Harmonie) when dried at 55°C. These losses can be considered significant, especially for hops intended for late and dry beer hopping. However, by drying the hops at different temperatures, the ratios between various components of the essential oils and thus also their sensory character remained approximately unchanged. Due to the reduced amount of essential oils, the drying effect reduces the intensity of hop aroma depending on the drying temperature. Keywords: hop cones, Humulus lupulus L., terpenic hydrocarbons, beer industry, distillation method Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 512-516 Volume: 64 Issue: 10 Year: 2018 DOI: 10.17221/482/2018-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/482/2018-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201810-0008.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:64:y:2018:i:10:id:482-2018-PSE