Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Weijun Yang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, P.R. China Author-Name: Zilong Wang Author-Workplace-Name: Xinjiang Germplasm Resource Center, Urumqi, P.R. China Author-Name: Hongmei Zhao Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, P.R. China Author-Name: Daping Li Author-Workplace-Name: College of Agronomy, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, P.R. China Author-Name: Hongtao Jia Author-Workplace-Name: College of Resources and Environment, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, P.R. China Author-Name: Wanli Xu Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of Soil and Fertiliser and Agricultural Sparing Water, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Urumqi, P.R. China Title: Biochar application influences the stability of soil aggregates and wheat yields Abstract: In the present study, a field establishment was initiated in 2018 with eight treatment conditions using biochar application rates of 0, 10, 20, or 30 t/ha and nitrogen application rates of 0 or 150 kg/ha. After two years, the impact of biochar on carbon-nitrogen distributions, soil aggregate stability, and wheat yields was then assessed. The predominant mechanical aggregates after two years were > 5 mm and 2-5 mm granular aggregates, with notable increases in the amounts of these aggregates following the application of biochar with or without nitrogen that coincided with an increase in soil aggregate mechanical stability. Relative to control conditions, aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD) and geometric weight diameter (GMD) values rose by 17.6% and 24.3% for biochar with nitrogen treatment (N: 150 kg/ha; biochar: 20 t/ha), respectively. Biochar application alone and the application of both biochar and nitrogen fertiliser were associated with 6.4-20.2% and 20.7-42.7% increases in spring wheat yields, respectively. Overall, the results of these analyses highlight the value of applying biochar to improve soil quality and boost crop yields proximal to the study site. This study provided the scientific basis for the rational fertilisation and scientific management of biochar combined with nitrogen fertiliser in the irrigation area of Northern Xinjiang, China. Keywords: soil structure, C/N ratio, sustainable agriculture, carbon fixation Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 125-141 Volume: 70 Issue: 3 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/199/2023-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/199/2023-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202403-0001.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:70:y:2024:i:3:id:199-2023-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Navvab Haji Hassani Asl Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Management, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran Author-Name: Farhad Farah Vash Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Management, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran Author-Name: Mohsen Roshdi Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Khoy Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khoy, Iran Author-Name: Bahram Mir Shekari Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Agricultural Management, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran Author-Name: Mehdi Gaffari Author-Workplace-Name: Agriculture and Natural Resource Research Center of Plant and Seed, Karaj, Iran Title: The effect of exogenous application of salicylic acid and ascorbic acid on forage quality and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) under water deficit conditions Abstract: The effects of the foliar application of plant growth regulators (PGRs), salicylic acid (SA) and ascorbic acid (AA) were studied on yield and some qualitative traits of corn silage under drought stress in a field experiment conducted in the Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center of Khoy in two consecutive years. The experiment was performed in four replications as a split plot in a randomised complete blocks design. Irrigation treatment was in two levels, ir75 and ir150, and the foliar applications of SA and AA at seven levels (100, 200, and 300 ppm, as well as a control treatment). The amount of water consumed in ir75 and ir150 during 10 and 7 times irrigation was 6 000 and 4 200 m3/ha, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was increased over the plant growth period in both ir75 and ir150, but with the difference that its range was 3.72 to 12.9 nmol/g FW (fresh weight) under ir75 and 12.5-109.5 nmol/g FW under water shortage conditions. The results show that ir150 decreased plant height, forage yield, ear weight, and nitrogen uptake versus ir75. In plants treated with SA and AA, nitrogen uptake and chlorophyll content increases (45-33%) were observed compared to the control plants under ir75. In most traits, there was no significant difference between AA and SA levels, but plants treated with SA100 showed higher protein yield, dry forage yield, and ear yield. Keywords: antioxidant, drought tolerance, forage yield, plant hormone, resistance Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 142-153 Volume: 70 Issue: 3 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/181/2023-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/181/2023-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202403-0002.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:70:y:2024:i:3:id:181-2023-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Helong Yang Author-Workplace-Name: College of Grassland Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology of Xinjiang, Urumqi Xinjiang, Urümqi, P.R. China Author-Name: Yiqiang Dong Author-Workplace-Name: College of Grassland Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology of Xinjiang, Urumqi Xinjiang, Urümqi, P.R. China Author-Name: Shazhou An Author-Workplace-Name: College of Grassland Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology of Xinjiang, Urumqi Xinjiang, Urümqi, P.R. China Author-Name: Zongjiu Sun Author-Workplace-Name: College of Grassland Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology of Xinjiang, Urumqi Xinjiang, Urümqi, P.R. China Author-Name: Peiying Li Author-Workplace-Name: College of Grassland Sciences, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Grassland Resources and Ecology of Xinjiang, Urumqi Xinjiang, Urümqi, P.R. China Author-Name: Huixia Liu Author-Workplace-Name: College of Life Sciences, Xinjiang Normal University, Urümqi, P.R. China Title: Effects of temporal variation and grazing intensity on leaf C:N:P stoichiometry in Northwest desert, China Abstract: The Seriphidium transiliense desert pasture is an important spring-autumn pasture in northern Xinjiang, China, and has been subjected to grazing by livestock at different intensities, thus resulting in widespread deterioration of its biodiversity and ecosystem services. To understand the response mechanism of stoichiometric characteristics of desert vegetation to grazing, the leaf carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and C:N:P ratios of S. transiliense were studied under different grazing intensities. The results show that the control S. transiliense leaf C, N and P contents and C:N, C:P and N:P ratios were 458.79 ± 53.5 g/kg, 20.6 ± 7.18 g/kg, 2.83 ± 1.24 g/kg, 25.69 ± 11.08, 190.28 ± 75.65 and 8.21 ± 4.01, respectively. The differences in these characteristics varied with grazing intensity in accordance with sampling time, so both factors need to be considered comprehensively. General linear model (GLM) analysis indicated that grazing intensity had a strong main effect on S. transiliense leaf C, N, and P content, C:N ratio and N:P ratio. As grazing intensity increased, the leaf N content and N:P ratio increased (P < 0.01), and the C:N ratio decreased (P < 0.01). N content was the limiting factor for the growth of S. transiliense, but the grazing intensity, sampling year and growth season each affected the degree of N limitation. Our findings suggest that the remaining moderate stocking rate was essential for sustaining desert stabilisation in Xinjiang, and although S. transiliense could adapt its nutrient content and leaf stoichiometry to the grazing intensity, N was always the limiting element for the growth of S. transiliense. Keywords: plant growth rate, cycling, nutrition, grassland, Artemisia deserts Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 154-163 Volume: 70 Issue: 3 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/356/2023-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/356/2023-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202403-0003.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:70:y:2024:i:3:id:356-2023-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Tingjue Wang Author-Workplace-Name: School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, P.R. China Author-Name: Wei Xiong Author-Workplace-Name: School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, P.R. China Author-Name: Fuming Kuang Author-Workplace-Name: School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, P.R. China Author-Name: Dongdong Sun Author-Workplace-Name: School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, P.R. China Author-Name: Zixuan Geng Author-Workplace-Name: School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, P.R. China Author-Name: Jinnan Que Author-Workplace-Name: School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, P.R. China Author-Name: Ruize Hou Author-Workplace-Name: School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, P.R. China Author-Name: Dequan Zhu Author-Workplace-Name: School of Engineering, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, P.R. China Title: Effects of seedling age and root pruning on root characteristics and dry matter accumulation dynamics in machine-transplanted rice Abstract: To investigate the impact of different seedling transplanting times on rice growth, the present study evaluated seedling age and root pruning using treatments consisting of root pruning (RC20, RC30, and RC40) and no root pruning (CK20, CK30, and CK40). Quantitative analysis using curve fitting of the changes in dry matter accumulation (DMA) during the seedling and field stages was performed, and the changes in root parameters during the re-greening stage were observed. The results showed that the seedling stage could be divided into a gradual increase period, a rapid increase period, and a slow increase period. Transplanting at different time periods resulted in different transplanting shock effects. During the field stage, the DMA exhibited a slow-fast-slow "S" shaped curve as the developmental time progressed. However, significant differences were observed in growth parameters among the different treatments. Root injury promoted early maturity in young seedlings but also prolonged the whole growth period in older seedlings. The inhibitory effect of root pruning on rice root growth increased with young seedling age. The present results provide a theoretical basis for the design of seedling needle structure and the optimisation of rice seedling cultivation practices. Keywords: agronomic productivity, plant physiology, rice yield optimisation, stress adaptation, transplantation techniques Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 164-175 Volume: 70 Issue: 3 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/327/2023-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/327/2023-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202403-0004.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:70:y:2024:i:3:id:327-2023-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Xiaoqing Zhang Author-Workplace-Name: Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, P.R. China Author-Name: Yi Luo Author-Workplace-Name: Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, P.R. China Author-Name: Changjuan Shan Author-Workplace-Name: Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, P.R. China Author-Workplace-Name: Xinxiang Pasture Engineering Technology Research Center, Xinxiang, P.R. China Title: Effects of selenomethionine on the growth and physiological characteristics of Scrophularia ningpoensis seedlings Abstract: In order to provide a theoretical basis for the application of organic selenium (Se) in the production and cultivation of Scrophularia ningpoensis Hemsl. We investigated the effects of selenomethionine (SeMet) on the growth and physiological characteristics of S. ningpoensis seedlings. The results showed that SeMet significantly improved the antioxidant capacity by enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in the leaves of S. ningpoensis, which significantly reduced the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), as compared to the control. SeMet also significantly improved the water metabolism by increasing the transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, water use efficiency (WUE), relative water content, and water saturation deficit of S. ningpoensis leaves. Moreover, SeMet significantly enhanced photosynthetic performance by decreasing non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and increasing the soil and plant analyser development (SPAD) value, net photosynthetic rate, PSII actual photochemical efficiency Y(II), photochemical quenching (qP), PSII photochemical effective quantum yield (Fv'/Fm') and apparent electron transport rate (ETR). Meanwhile, SeMet significantly improved the plant's height, basal diameter, root/shoot ratio and dry weight of shoots and roots in S. ningpoensis. Various SeMet 30 and 60 mg/L SeMet concentrations demonstrated better effects on the growth and physiological characteristics of S. ningpoensis. The above results indicate that appropriate concentrations of SeMet can enhance the growth of S. ningpoensis and can be improved by increasing its antioxidant capacity, water metabolism, and photosynthetic performance. This provides a theoretical foundation for using organic selenium in growing and producing S. ningpoensis. Keywords: trace element, medicinal plant, water physiology, photosynthetic physiology, plant growth Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 176-187 Volume: 70 Issue: 3 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/381/2023-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/381/2023-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202403-0005.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:70:y:2024:i:3:id:381-2023-PSE Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Eva Zusková Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Veronika Konradyová Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Pavel Ryšánek Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Author-Name: Jan Kazda Author-Workplace-Name: Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Title: Bioproducts and their potential in protection of Brassica napus L. against Verticillium longisporum Abstract: The experiments were carried out on 5 different bioproducts for control of Verticillium longisporum in oilseed rape. For in vitro trials, greenhouse trials and field trials, the bioproducts used were based on bacteria (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Pseudomonas veronii) and fungi (Pythium oligandrum, Trichoderma asperellum, Coniothyrium minitans). In in vitro trials, some products (based on Trichoderma asperellum) showed a 100% inhibition effect on the pathogen for a whole trial period of 45 days. The greenhouse trial showed significant differences in bioproducts effectiveness (P < 0.00723) compared to control. Three bioproducts (based on Coniothyrium minitans, Trichoderma asperellum and Pseudomonas veronii) showed a 100% inhibition effect against the pathogen. In field trials conducted in 3 locations, there were some differences in yield, which can be important for growers and practice use. The highest yield (19.1% higher than the control) was achieved with a bioproduct based on Trichoderma asperellum. In trials, it is possible to see that there are promising results that can be used for further testing. Keywords: fungal pathogen, premature ripening, spores, biological control agents Journal: Plant, Soil and Environment Pages: 188-194 Volume: 70 Issue: 3 Year: 2024 DOI: 10.17221/492/2023-PSE File-URL: http://pse.agriculturejournals.cz/doi/10.17221/492/2023-PSE.html File-Format: text/html X-File-Ref: http://agriculturejournals.cz/RePEc/caa/references/pse-202403-0006.txt Handle: RePEc:caa:jnlpse:v:70:y:2024:i:3:id:492-2023-PSE