Amending mine tailing cover with compost and biochar: effects on vegetation establishment and metal bioaccumulation in the Finnish subarctic

AbstractIn the northern boreal zone, revegetation and landscaping of closed mine tailings are challenging due to the high concentrations of potentially toxic elements; the use of nutrient-poor, glacigenic cover material (till); cool temperatures; and short growing period. Recycled waste materials such as biochar (BC) and composted sewage sludge (CSS) have been suggested to improve soil forming process and revegetation success as well as decrease metal bioavailability in closed mine tailing areas. We conducted two field experiments in old iron mine tailings at Rautuvaara, northern Finland, where the native mine soil or transported cover till soil had not supported plant growth since the mining ended in 1989. The impacts of CSS and spruce (Picea abies)–derived BC application to till soil on the survival and growth of selected plant species (Pinus sylvestris, Salix myrsinifolia, and grass mixture containing Festuca rubra, Lolium perenne, and Trifolium repens) were investigated during two growing seasons. In addition, the potential of BC to reduce bioaccumulation of metals in plants was studied. We found that (1) organic amendment like CSS markedly enhanced the plant growth and is therefore needed for vegetation establishment in tailing sites that contained only transported till cover, and (2) BC application to till soil-CSS mixture further facilitated the success of grass mixtures resulting in 71–250% higher plant biomass. On the other hand, (3) no effects on P. sylvestris or S. myrsinifolia were recorded during the first growing seasons, and (4) accumulation of metals in cover plants was negligible and BC application to till further decreased the accumulation of Al, Cr, and Fe in the plant tissues. Graphical abstract

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Acrolein Reduces Biomass and Seed Production of Potamogeton pectinatus in Irrigation Channels

Weed Technology ◽

10.1614/wt-03-101r1 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 605-610 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Diego J. Bentivegna ◽

Osvaldo A. Fernández ◽

María A. Burgos

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Irrigation District ◽

Potamogeton Pectinatus ◽

Individual Plant ◽

Plant Weight ◽

The Third ◽

Irrigation Channels

Chemical weed control with acrolein has been shown to be a lower cost method for reducing submerged plant biomass of sago pondweed in the irrigation district of the Lower Valley of Rio Colorado, Argentina (39°10′S–62°05′W). However, no experimental data exist on the effects of the herbicide on plant growth and its survival structures. Field experiments were conducted during 3 yr to evaluate the effect of acrolein on growth and biomass of sago pondweed and on the source of underground propagules (i.e., rhizomes, tubers, and seeds). Plant biomass samples were collected in irrigation channels before and after several herbicide treatments. The underground propagule bank was evaluated at the end of the third year. Within each treatment, plant biomass was significantly reduced by 40 to 60% in all three study years. Rapid new plant growth occurred after each application; however, it was less vigorous after repeated treatments. At the end of the third year at 3,000 m downstream from the application point, plant biomass at both channels ranged from 34 to 3% of control values. Individual plant weight and height were affected by acrolein treatments, flowering was poor, and seeds did not reach maturity. After 3 yr, acrolein did not reduce the number of tubers. However, they were significantly smaller and lighter. Rhizomes fresh weight decreased by 92%, and seed numbers decreased by 79%. After 3 yr of applications, operational functioning of the channels could be maintained with fewer treatments and lower concentrations of acrolein.

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Nodulation of Legumes in the Sudan III. Response of Haricot Bean to Inoculation

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479700006402 ◽

1974 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 45-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

H. A. Habish ◽

Hassan M. Ishag

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Nitrogen Content ◽

Seed Yield ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Local Strain ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Seed Inoculation ◽

Sudan Iii ◽

The Difference ◽

Better Than

SUMMARYField experiments conducted in two localities in two growing seasons on the effect of inoculating haricot bean showed that a local strain of Rhizobium significantly improved nodulation and usually increased the nitrogen content of plants. In three out of four experiments, increases in seed yield were obtained ranging from 20–145 Per cent (significant in two cases). Inoculation was better than 43 kg. N/ha. of combined nitrogen but not better than 86 kg. N. Soil inoculation gave better early nodulation than seed inoculation, but the difference diminished in the later stages of plant growth.

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Differetial Increase in Efficacy of Azotobacter Chroococcum and Bacillus Subtilis Co-Immobilized with Different Organic Manuares in Relation to Plant Growth, Nutritional Status and Grain Yield of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

International Journal of Science Technology & Society ◽

10.18091/ijsts.v1i2.9515 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Rose P. Minj ◽

Rana Pratap Singh

Keyword(s):

Triticum Aestivum ◽

Bacillus Subtilis ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Azotobacter Chroococcum ◽

Free Form ◽

Cow Dung ◽

Higher Plant ◽

Shoot Height

Present study indicates that the growth, productivity and grain yield of wheat can be enhanced significantly by amending higher dose of <italic>Azotobacter chroococcum</italic> and <italic>Bacillus subtilis</italic> co-immobilized in 45mm diameter granules composed of different organic materials. The biofertilizers were co-immobilized in cow dung/ Farm Yard Manure (FYM) or vermicompost using acacia gum as binder, neem leaf powder and clay soil and applied to the earthen pots in forms of granules of 4-5 mm diameter. The vermicompost containing granules provided higher plant biomass (e.g. shoot height, root length, number of leaves, number of roots, tiller numbers, fresh weight and dry weight of shoot and root than others. FYM and cow dung based granules also enhanced the plant growth with a lower magnitude. The granules released NH4+, NO3-, NO2- and PO43- in the plant's rhizosphere and enhanced availability of essential nutrients to the plants. The co-immobilized form of biofertilizers with vermicompost also increased yield of wheat <italic>(Triticum aestivum</italic> L. cv 502) in terms of grain weight per plant by 13.79%, with FYM by 11.65% and that with cow dung by 10.15% over free form of the chemical fertilizers (Recommended dose of urea; 150 kg/ha and DAP; 75 kg/ha). The studies indicate that the vermicompost is a better carrier for co-immobilization of the microbial biofertilizers <italic>A. chroococcum</italic> and <italic>B. subtilis</italic> to provide the better shelter and nutrient to the microbes and for higher nutrient availability during their application in the earthen pots.

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Nitrogen Demand of Cut Chrysanthemums in Relation to Shoot Height and Planting Date

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.523c ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 523c-523

Author(s):

Siegfried Zerche

Keyword(s):

Dry Matter ◽

Plant Density ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

N Uptake ◽

Planting Date ◽

Dry Matter Accumulation ◽

Planting Dates ◽

Shoot Height ◽

Climate Conditions ◽

Growing Period

Refined nutrient delivery systems are important for environmentally friendly production of cut flowers in both soil and hydroponic culture. They have to be closely orientated at the actual nutrient demand. To solve current problems, express analysis and nutrient uptake models have been developed in horticulture. However, the necessity of relatively laborious analysis or estimation of model input parameters have prevented their commercial use up to now. For this reason, we studied relationships between easily determinable parameters of plant biomass structure as shoot height, plant density and dry matter production as well as amount of nitrogen removal of hydroponically grown year-round cut chrysanthemums. In four experiments (planting dates 5.11.91; 25.3.92; 4.1.93; 1.7.93) with cultivar `Puma white' and a fixed plant density of 64 m2, shoots were harvested every 14 days from planting until flowering, with dry matter, internal N concentration and shoot height being measured. For each planting date, N uptake (y) was closely (r2 = 0.94; 0.93; 0.84; 0.93, respectively) related to shoot height (x) at the time of cutting and could be characterized by the equation y = a * × b. In the soilless cultivation system, dry matter concentrations of N remained constant over the whole growing period, indicating non-limiting nitrogen supply. In agreement with constant internal N concentrations, N uptake was linearly related (r2 = 0.94 to 0.99) to dry matter accumulation. It is concluded that shoot height is a useful parameter to include in a simple model of N uptake. However, in consideration of fluctuating greenhouse climate conditions needs more sophisticated approaches including processes such as water uptake and photosynthetically active radiation.

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Metal Accumulation Profile of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don and Celosia argentea L. with EDTA Co-Application

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9040598 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 598

Author(s):

Muneeba Qurban ◽

Cyrus Raza Mirza ◽

Aqib Hassan Ali Khan ◽

Walid Khalifa ◽

Mustapha Boukendakdji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Catharanthus Roseus ◽

Metal Uptake ◽

Metal Accumulation ◽

Metal Tolerance ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid ◽

Ornamental Plants ◽

Environmental Deterioration ◽

Celosia Argentea

The problem of metal-induced toxicity is proliferating with an increase in industrialization and urbanization. The buildup of metals results in severe environmental deterioration and harmful impacts on plant growth. In this study, we investigated the potential of two ornamental plants, Catharanthus roseus (L.) G.Don and Celosia argentea L., to tolerate and accumulate Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Cu. These ornamental plants were grown in Hoagland’s nutrient solution containing metal loads (50 µM and 100 µM) alone and in combination with a synthetic chelator, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) (2.5 mM). Plant growth and metal tolerance varied in both plant species for Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Cu. C. roseus growth was better in treatments without EDTA, particularly in Ni, Cr, and Pb treatments, and Pb content increased in all parts of the plant. In contrast, Cd content decreased with EDTA addition. In C. argentea, the addition of EDTA resulted in improved plant biomass at both doses of Cu. In contrast, plant biomass reduced significantly in the case of Ni. In C. argentea, without EDTA, root length in Cd and Cu treatments was significantly lower than the control and other treatments. However, the addition of EDTA resulted in improved growth at both doses for Pb and Cu. Metal accumulation in C. argentea enhanced significantly with EDTA addition at both doses of Cu and Cd. Hence, it can be concluded that EDTA addition resulted in improved growth and better metal uptake than treatments without EDTA. Metal accumulation increased with EDTA addition compared to treatments without EDTA, particularly for Pb in C. roseus and Cu and Cd in C. argentea. Based on the present results, C. roseus showed a better ability to phytostabilize Cu, Cd, and Ni, while C. argentea worked better for Ni, Cd, Cu, and Pb.

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Synthesis, Characterization, and Encapsulation of Novel Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) in Biopolymer Matrices

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22041847 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (4) ◽

pp. 1847

Author(s):

Kristina Vlahoviček-Kahlina ◽

Slaven Jurić ◽

Marijan Marijan ◽

Botagoz Mutaliyeva ◽

Svetlana V. Khalus ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Plant Growth Regulators ◽

Growth Regulators ◽

Electrostatic Interactions ◽

Growth Regulation ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Dimethyl Ester ◽

Plant Growth Regulation ◽

Derivatives Of ◽

Growth Regulating Activity

Novel plant growth regulators (PGRs) based on the derivatives of dehydroamino acids 2,3-dehydroaspartic acid dimethyl ester (PGR1), Z-isomer of the potassium salt of 2-amino-3-methoxycarbonylacrylic acid (PGR2) and 1-methyl-3-methylamino-maleimide (PGR3) have been synthesized and their growth-regulating properties investigated. Laboratory testing revealed their plant growth-regulating activity. PGR1 showing the most stimulating activity on all laboratory tested cultures were used in field experiments. Results showed that PGR1 is a highly effective environmentally friendly plant growth regulator with effects on different crops. Biopolymeric microcapsule formulations (chitosan/alginate microcapsule loaded with PGR) suitable for application in agriculture were prepared and characterized. Physicochemical properties and release profiles of PGRs from microcapsule formulations depend on the molecular interactions between microcapsule constituents including mainly electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds. The differences in the microcapsule formulations structure did not affect the mechanism of PGRs release which was identified as diffusion through microcapsules. The obtained results opened a perspective for the future use of microcapsule formulations as new promising agroformulations with a sustained and target release for plant growth regulation.

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Comparative Metabolite Profile, Biological Activity and Overall Quality of Three Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., Asteraceae) Cultivars in Response to Sulfur Nutrition

Pharmaceutics ◽

10.3390/pharmaceutics13050713 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 713

Author(s):

Muna Ali Abdalla ◽

Fengjie Li ◽

Arlette Wenzel-Storjohann ◽

Saad Sulieman ◽

Deniz Tasdemir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Secondary Metabolites ◽

Plant Growth ◽

Sesquiterpene Lactones ◽

Critical Role ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Metabolite Profile ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Radical Scavenger ◽

Higher Plant

The main objective of the present study was to assess the effects of sulfur (S) nutrition on plant growth, overall quality, secondary metabolites, and antibacterial and radical scavenging activities of hydroponically grown lettuce cultivars. Three lettuce cultivars, namely, Pazmanea RZ (green butterhead, V1), Hawking RZ (green multi-leaf lettuce, V2), and Barlach RZ (red multi-leaf, V3) were subjected to two S-treatments in the form of magnesium sulfate (+S) or magnesium chloride (−S). Significant differences were observed under −S treatments, especially among V1 and V2 lettuce cultivars. These responses were reflected in the yield, levels of macro- and micro-nutrients, water-soluble sugars, and free inorganic anions. In comparison with the green cultivars (V1 and V2), the red-V3 cultivar revealed a greater acclimation to S starvation, as evidenced by relative higher plant growth. In contrast, the green cultivars showed higher capabilities in production and superior quality attributes under +S condition. As for secondary metabolites, sixteen compounds (e.g., sesquiterpene lactones, caffeoyl derivatives, caffeic acid hexose, 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-OCQA), quercetin and luteolin glucoside derivatives) were annotated in all three cultivars with the aid of HPLC-DAD-MS-based untargeted metabolomics. Sesquiterpene lactone lactucin and anthocyanin cyanidin 3-O-galactoside were only detected in V1 and V3 cultivars, respectively. Based on the analyses, the V3 cultivar was the most potent radical scavenger, while V1 and V2 cultivars exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus in response to S provision. Our study emphasizes the critical role of S nutrition in plant growth, acclimation, and nutritional quality. The judicious-S application can be adopted as a promising antimicrobial prototype for medical applications.

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Rattail fescue (Vulpia myuros) interference and seed production as affected by sowing time and crop density in winter wheat

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/wsc.2020.84 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Muhammad Javaid Akhter ◽

Per Kudsk ◽

Solvejg Kopp Mathiassen ◽

Bo Melander

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Seed Production ◽

Yield Components ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Growing Season ◽

Sowing Time ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Crop Density ◽

Wide Range

Abstract Field experiments were conducted in the growing seasons of 2017 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019 to evaluate the competitive effects of rattail fescue [Vulpia myuros (L.) C.C. Gmel.] in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and to assess whether delayed crop sowing and increased crop density influence the emergence, competitiveness, and fecundity of V. myuros. Cumulative emergence showed the potential of V. myuros to emerge rapidly and under a wide range of climatic conditions with no effect of crop density and variable effects of sowing time between the two experiments. Grain yield and yield components were negatively affected by increasing V. myuros density. The relationship between grain yield and V. myuros density was not influenced by sowing time or by crop density, but crop–weed competition was strongly influenced by growing conditions. Due to very different weather conditions, grain yield reductions were lower in the growing season of 2017 to 2018 than in 2018 to 2019, with maximum grain yield losses of 22% and 50% in the two growing seasons, respectively. The yield components, number of crop ears per square meter, and 1,000-kernel weight were affected almost equally, reflecting that V. myuros’s competition with winter wheat occurred both early and late in the growing season. Seed production of V. myuros was suppressed by delaying sowing and increasing crop density. The impacts of delayed sowing and increasing crop density on seed production of V. myuros highlight the potential of these cultural weed control tactics in the long-term management programs of this species.

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Protists as main indicators and determinants of plant performance

Microbiome ◽

10.1186/s40168-021-01025-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sai Guo ◽

Wu Xiong ◽

Xinnan Hang ◽

Zhilei Gao ◽

Zixuan Jiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Agricultural Practices ◽

Plant Performance ◽

Organic Fertilization ◽

Plant Yield ◽

Growing Seasons ◽

Beneficial Microorganisms ◽

Plant Growth Promoting ◽

Plant Growth Promoting Microbes

Abstract Background Microbiomes play vital roles in plant health and performance, and the development of plant beneficial microbiomes can be steered by organic fertilizer inputs. Especially well-studied are fertilizer-induced changes on bacteria and fungi and how changes in these groups alter plant performance. However, impacts on protist communities, including their trophic interactions within the microbiome and consequences on plant performance remain largely unknown. Here, we tracked the entire microbiome, including bacteria, fungi, and protists, over six growing seasons of cucumber under different fertilization regimes (conventional, organic, and Trichoderma bio-organic fertilization) and linked microbial data to plant yield to identify plant growth-promoting microbes. Results Yields were higher in the (bio-)organic fertilization treatments. Soil abiotic conditions were altered by the fertilization regime, with the prominent effects coming from the (bio-)organic fertilization treatments. Those treatments also led to the pronounced shifts in protistan communities, especially microbivorous cercozoan protists. We found positive correlations of these protists with plant yield and the density of potentially plant-beneficial microorganisms. We further explored the mechanistic ramifications of these relationships via greenhouse experiments, showing that cercozoan protists can positively impact plant growth, potentially via interactions with plant-beneficial microorganisms including Trichoderma, the biological agent delivered by the bio-fertilizer. Conclusions We show that protists may play central roles in stimulating plant performance through microbiome interactions. Future agricultural practices might aim to specifically enhance plant beneficial protists or apply those protists as novel, sustainable biofertilizers.

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Can repeated soil amendment with biogas digestates increase soil suppressiveness toward non-specific soil-borne pathogens in agricultural lands?

Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems ◽

10.1017/s1742170520000393 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

L. M. Manici ◽

F. Caputo ◽

G. A. Cappelli ◽

E. Ceotto

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Biomass Production ◽

Soil Amendment ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Amended Soils ◽

Soil Suppressiveness ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Soil Borne Pathogens ◽

The Impact ◽

Plant Biomass Production

Abstract Soil suppressiveness which is the natural ability of soil to support optimal plant growth and health is the resultant of multiple soil microbial components; which implies many difficulties when estimating this soil condition. Microbial benefits for plant health from repeated digestate applications were assessed in three experimental sites surrounding anaerobic biogas plants in an intensively cultivated area of northern Italy. A 2-yr trial was performed in 2017 and 2018 by performing an in-pot plant growth assay, using soil samples taken from two fields for each experimental site, of which one had been repeatedly amended with anaerobic biogas digestate and the other had not. These fields were similar in management and crop sequences (maize was the recurrent crop) for the last 10 yr. Plant growth response in the bioassay was expressed as plant biomass production, root colonization frequency by soil-borne fungi were estimated to evaluate the impact of soil-borne pathogens on plant growth, abundance of Pseudomonas and actinomycetes populations in rhizosphere were estimated as beneficial soil microbial indicators. Repeated soil amendment with digestate increased significantly soil capacity to support plant biomass production as compared to unamended control in both the years. Findings supported evidence that this increase was principally attributable to a higher natural ability of digestate-amended soils to reduce root infection by saprophytic soil-borne pathogens whose inoculum was increased by the recurrent maize cultivation. Pseudomonas and actinomycetes were always more abundant in digestate-amended soils suggesting that both these large bacterial groups were involved in the increase of their natural capacity to control soil-borne pathogens (soil suppressiveness).

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