Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Xiaoxia Cao Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Lingyu Bai Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Xibai Zeng Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Junzheng Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin/MIIT Key Laboratory of Critical Materials Technology for New Energy Conversion and Storage, Harbin, P.R. China Author-Name: Yanan Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Cuixia Wu Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Shiming Su Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, P.R. China Title: Is maize suitable for substitution planting in arsenic-contaminated farmlands? Abstract: The efficacy of using maize (Zea mays L.) as a suitable substitute for other crops with high arsenic (As) accumulation in As-contaminated farmlands remains debated. Here, the As uptake capacity and the stability of accumulated As of different maize cultivars were studied using pot and field experiments, outdoor investigations and literature data analysis. When the total and available soil As levels were 238.8 and 8.1 mg/kg, respectively, grain As ranged from 0.03 to 0.07 mg/kg, significantly lower than the acceptable As limit (0.5 mg/kg) for maize in China. The results of field investigations and literature data analysis also supported this observation. Maize is a crop with low grain As, thus, making it suitable for substitution planting in As-contaminated farmlands. Further, grain As concentration varied among different maize cultivars. The planting of normal and waxy maize is prioritized over the sweet maize as the first one has lower available bio-concentration factor (aBCF) of 0.007 for grain and higher accumulated As stability among its cultivars (CV < 10%) than those for sweet maize (aBCF = 0.01 and CV = 35.5%). Arsenic compartmentalization in the roots and low As upward migration into the grain were responsible for the low grain As of maize. Keywords: soil available arsenic, transfer coefficients, safe utilization, pollution Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 425-434 Volume: 65 Issue: 9 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/155/2019-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/155/2019-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201909-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:65:y:2019:i:9:id:155-2019-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Juraj Béreš Author-Name: David Bečka Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agroecology and Crop Production, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jaroslav Tomášek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agroecology and Crop Production, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jan Vašák Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agroecology and Crop Production, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Effect of autumn nitrogen fertilization on winter oilseed rape growth and yield parameters Abstract: Autumn fertilization of winter oilseed rape with nitrogen was monitored in exactly delimited small field experiment in the period of 2013/14-2015/16. The cultivar used was DK Exstorm, sowing amount: 50 seeds/m2 and fertilizer applied in autumn was Ureastabil - granulated urea with urease inhibitor (NBPT). The application period was at the end of October, doses 40 and 80 kg N/ha. Research results confirmed a statistically important effect of autumn fertilization on growth of the above-ground biomass and roots. Statistically important effect on seed yield was confirmed, too. The dose of 40 kg N/ha resulted in the highest seed yield, on average by 10.6% higher than reference (5.7-6.5 t/ha). On the other hand, the dose of 80 kg N/ha increased the seed yield only by 7.4% on average (5.4-6.3 t/ha).Fertilization effects on the oil content and one thousand seeds' weight were statistically insignificant. The results show that considering the given local and weather conditions and low mineral nitrogen content in the soil, the most suitable nitrogen dose for autumn fertilization is 40 kg N/ha. This dose follows the nitrate directive rules, supports oilseed rape strengthening before winter and intensifies it for better seed yield. Keywords: Brassica napus L., oilseed plant, macronutrient, genotype, nitrate fertilizer Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 435-441 Volume: 65 Issue: 9 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/444/2019-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/444/2019-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201909-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:65:y:2019:i:9:id:444-2019-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Igor Bogunović Author-Workplace-Name: Department of General Agronomy, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: Péter Gergő Kovács Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Crop Production, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary Author-Name: Igor Ðekemati Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Crop Production, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary Author-Name: Ivica Kisić Author-Workplace-Name: Department of General Agronomy, Faculty of Agronomy, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia Author-Name: István Balla Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Crop Production, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary Author-Name: Márta Birkás Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Crop Production, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Szent István University, Gödöllő, Hungary Title: Long-term effect of soil conservation tillage on soil water content, penetration resistance, crumb ratio and crusted area Abstract: Conservation tillage harmonizes soil protection with demands of the crop, soil and climate. The continuous conservation tillage improves soil properties and modifies impact of weather extremes. The aim of the paper was to investigate the changes in four soil physical states affected by soil conservation tillage and to evaluate soil water content in a critical period. The study was carried out on Chernozems applying six tillage treatments, that are loosening, ploughing, tine tillage (a deeper, and a shallower), disk tillage and direct drilling. The investigation suggested that soil conservation was the major solution resulting in the balanced water content (SWC) and penetration resistance values in both treatments under peculiar weather conditions. However, the crumb ratio and the crusted area resulted in significant differences between the treatments, presumably due to the level of surface preservation. Soil water content differed significantly between months, with higher contents in spring and lower values in the end of summer. The higher SWC expected at the beginning of the growing season was reliably fulfilled, but the SWC level for workabilty differed from the optimum. Keywords: climate extreme, soil management, water conservation after overwintering, crumb formation, crusting Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 442-448 Volume: 65 Issue: 9 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/249/2019-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/249/2019-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201909-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:65:y:2019:i:9:id:249-2019-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jianning He Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong Province, P.R. China Author-Name: Zhenwen Yu Author-Workplace-Name: Key Laboratory of Crop Ecophysiology and Farming System, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Agronomy, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong Province, P.R. China Author-Name: Yu Shi Title: Effects of strip rotary tillage with subsoiling on soil enzyme activity, soil fertility, and wheat yield Abstract: Inappropriate tillage and soil compaction threaten farmland sustainability in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plains of China. We aimed to explore the impact of plowing tillage, rotary tillage, strip rotary tillage, and strip rotary tillage coupled to a two-year subsoiling interval (STS) on soil quality at various soil depths and on wheat yield. Soil bulk density was substantially lower in the 30-45 cm depth under STS than under any other treatment, resulting in lower soil penetration resistance. Highest soil particle macro-aggregation was observed under STS in the 15-45-cm soil layer.Consistently with greater nutrient availability, key enzymes associated with soil fertility (urease, invertase, phosphatase, and catalase) showed higher activity in STS plots. Concomitantly, highest yields were recorded for STS at 10 451 and 10 074 kg/ha in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016, respectively. STS significantly improved soil physical structure and enhanced soil enzyme activity, thereby stimulating soil nutrient release and increasing winter wheat yield. Keywords: nutrient cycling, soil profile, soil properties, crop productivity, Triticum aestivum L Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 449-455 Volume: 65 Issue: 9 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/240/2019-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/240/2019-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201909-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:65:y:2019:i:9:id:240-2019-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Guohua Lv Author-Workplace-Name: Instituteof Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Wei Han Author-Workplace-Name: Shandong General Station of Agricultural Technology Extension, Jinan, P.R. China Author-Name: Hanbo Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Instituteof Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Wenbo Bai Author-Workplace-Name: Instituteof Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Author-Name: Jiqing Song Author-Workplace-Name: Instituteof Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China Title: Effect of subsoiling on tillers, root density and nitrogen use efficiency of winter wheat in loessal soil Abstract: A 2-year field experiment was carried out in loessal soil in a semi-humid climate to research winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth and nitrogen use efficiency. The result showed that subsoiling increased root penetration and promoted deep soil water absorption, which resulted in high resilience to the adverse dry climate. Soil NO3--N residue throughout the profile was decreased but increased in rotary tillage. Grain yield was significantly increased by 21.9% and 11.3% in 2016 and 2017, respectively, mainly due to the significantly larger spikes per hectare and grains per spike. Nitrogen use efficiency was significantly improved by 26.7% in 2016 and 13.8% in 2017. For loessal soil in semi-humid climate, breaking the plough pan was necessary, and it was useful for the increase of grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency. Keywords: farming system, nitrate nitrogen, profile distribution, root growth, tillage method Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 456-462 Volume: 65 Issue: 9 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/311/2019-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/311/2019-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201909-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:65:y:2019:i:9:id:311-2019-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jane Alexander Ruley Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Production, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Juba, Juba, South-Sudan Author-Name: John Baptist Tumuhairwe Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Production, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda Author-Name: Alice Amoding Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Production, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda Author-Name: Emmanuel Opolot Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Production, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda Author-Name: Hannington Oryem-Origa Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Natural Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda Author-Name: Twaha Basamba Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Production, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda Title: Assessment of plants for phytoremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soils in the Sudd Wetland of South Sudan Abstract: Hydrocarbon contaminants have become a global concern due to their long-term adverse effects on soil ecosystems and human health. Successful implementation of phytoremediation to clean up hydrocarbon contaminants requires the identification of the most effective remediation plant species. Twelve native plant species of the Sudd Wetland in South Sudan were evaluated for their potential application as phytoremediators. The treatments included six total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentrations of 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 g/kg soil. The twelve native plant species tested were: Sorghum arundinaceum Desv., Oryza longistaminata A. Chev. & Roehrich, Hyparrhenia rufa Nees, Abelmoschus ficulneus L., Gossypium barbadense L., Nicotiana tabacum L., Sorghum bicolour L. Moench, Eleusine coracana Gaertn., Capsicum frutescens L., Zea mays L., Tithonia diversifolia Hemsl. and Medicago sativa L. Significant differences in phytoremediation rates were observed amongst the treatments with exception of the 125 g/kg soil concentration of hydrocarbon that was lethal to all the plant species. Over 50% TPH reduction in the 75 g/kg soil concentration was observed in contaminated soil phytoremediation in H. rufa, G. barbadense, O. longistaminata, T. diversifolia and S. arundinaceum, making them potential phytoremediators of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil in the Sudd-Wetland of South-Sudan. Keywords: crude oil, soil contamination, toxicity, seed germination, Sudd native plants Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 463-469 Volume: 65 Issue: 9 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/322/2019-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/322/2019-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201909-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:65:y:2019:i:9:id:322-2019-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Lukáš Praus Author-Name: Jiřina Száková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agroenvironmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Role of sulphate in affecting soil availability of exogenous selenate (SeO42-) under different statuses of soil microbial activity Abstract: We investigated sulphate application, different statuses of soil microbial activity and their joint effects as variables associated with changes in potentially plant-available selenium (Seppa) and soil Se fractionation during the course of an incubation study. The time-resolved behaviour of added selenate (400 µg Se/kg as Na2SeO4) in two agricultural soils was elucidated by means of single extraction (50 mmol/L NH4H2PO4), sequential extraction procedure (SEP) and chemical speciation analysis in phosphate extracts. The decrease in phosphate-extractable Se, a consequence of soil aging, was inhibited by sulphate (by 34% and 29% in Chernozem and Cambisol, respectively) and by gamma-irradiation (by 46% and 20% in Chernozem and Cambisol, respectively) after 72 days of incubation as compared to the control treatments. Glucose amendment dramatically decreased Seppa only in the Chernozem. After 1 year, the initial soil treatment with respect to inhibited or stimulated microbially-mediated processes substantially controlled the distribution pattern of exogenous Se as observed using the SEP. Application of sulphur fertilisers and sources of labile organic matter is thus an essential agronomic practice to correct unfavourable amounts of Seppa. Keywords: micronutrient, soil extraction, immobilisation, bioreduction, anion competition, sterilisation Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 470-476 Volume: 65 Issue: 9 Year: 2019 DOI: 10.17221/397/2019-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/397/2019-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-201909-0007.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:65:y:2019:i:9:id:397-2019-PSE