Root production of a barrel medic (Medicago truncatula) pasture, a barley grass (Hordeum leporinum) pasture, and a faba bean (Vicia faba) crop in southern Australia

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael C. Crawford ◽  
Peter R. Grace ◽  
W. (Bill) D. Bellotti ◽  
J. Malcolm Oades

Total root biomass production of a grazed annual legume pasture (Medicago truncatula), a grazed annual grass pasture (Hordeum leporinum), and a grain legume crop (Vicia faba) was estimated using a sequential coring and summation technique with corrections made for root death and decomposition during the season. Distribution of live root biomass with depth and C: N ratios of roots were also determined. Both in a dry season and in a season of average rainfall, total root biomass production of the 2 pasture species was similar and always greater than the faba beans. Total root biomass production estimated using this technique was 60-200% greater than the maximum live root biomass, suggesting that there was significant root turnover during the season. In the dry season, the ratios of total root production to total shoot production were 0·55, 0·57, and 0·32 for the barrel medic, barley grass, and faba beans, respectively, and in the wetter season, the ratios were 0·40, 0·42, and 0·25, respectively. Potential errors in the technique related to the recovery of root material and the decomposition of dead roots and old organic material are discussed, as are the implications of this information for soil organic matter dynamics.

Author(s):  
Ibrahim Elkhalil Benzohra ◽  
Hakima Belaidi

Background: Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is thirst most important grain legume in the world and the first one in Algeria. The chocolate spot disease caused by Botrytis fabae Sard (BF), is the major constraint of this culture in Algeria when caused a destructive damages.Methods: The aim of this study is to find the sources of resistance for Seven varieties of faba beans (Giza 02, Giza 40, Giza 461, Sakha 02, Sakha 03, Precoce de Seville), by using the detached leaflet inoculation test for resistance to the two isolates from BF represent two different regions of northwest Algeria (Mascara and Relizane). Result: A significant difference (P less than 0.05) was observed in the reaction of the varieties which manifest themselves by a different reaction vis-à-vis the isolates of BF. Total sensitivity was observed in the four (4) varieties Giza02, Sakha01, Sakha02 and Sakha03, two (2) varieties (Giza40 and Ziban), are tolerant, while the variety named ‘Precoce de Seville’ showed significant resistance to both isolates from BF. These results showed a similar pathogenic behavior of two isolates of BF and variability in the level of reactions of the varieties of beans. The variety ‘Precoce de Seville’ showed promising results to be valued and cultivated in order to reduce the damage caused by this disease and reduce the use of chemicals.


1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 613 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Carter ◽  
WK Gardner ◽  
AH Gibson

The response of faba beans (Vicia faba L. cv. Fiord) to seed inoculation with eight strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar. viciae was examined in field experiments at six sites on acid soils in south-west Victoria. At two of the sites, two additional strains were examined, and in 1988, 14 strains were examined at one site. Very low natural populations of R. leguminosarum bv. viciae were found at the experimental sites. Most strains resulted in improved early nodulation and increased grain yield at all sites, when compared to inoculation with the commercial strain of rhizobia (SU391). Plant dry matter production and nitrogen accumulation in the plant shoot tissue was also increased at one site during the flowering period by some strains. Large visual differences between plots inoculated with SU391 and other strains were evident at most sites. Most uninoculated treatments were not nodulated and yielded very poorly. Treatments inoculated with the strain SU391 performed similarly to the uninoculated treatments.


1988 ◽  
Vol 101 (4) ◽  
pp. 277-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Bjerg ◽  
E. Kbmeyer ◽  
B. O. Eggum ◽  
T. Larsen ◽  
G. Robbelen ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1059-1072
Author(s):  
Lin Wei ◽  
Pengwei Yao ◽  
Guanghua Jing ◽  
Xiefeng Ye ◽  
Jimin Cheng

Abstract Aims Clipping or mowing for hay, as a prevalent land-use practice, is considered to be an important component of global change. Root production and turnover in response to clipping have great implications for the plant survival strategy and grassland ecosystem carbon processes. However, our knowledge about the clipping effect on root dynamics is mainly based on root living biomass, and limited by the lack of spatial and temporal observations. The study aim was to investigate the effect of clipping on seasonal variations in root length production and mortality and their distribution patterns in different soil layers in semiarid grassland on the Loess Plateau. Methods Clipping was performed once a year in June to mimic the local spring livestock grazing beginning from 2014. The minirhizotron technique was used to monitor the root production, mortality and turnover rate at various soil depths (0–10, 10–20, 20–30 and 30–50 cm) in 2014 (from 30 May to 29 October) and 2015 (from 22 April to 25 October). Soil temperature and moisture in different soil layers were also measured during the study period. Important Findings Our results showed that: (i) Clipping significantly decreased the cumulative root production (P < 0.05) and increased the cumulative root mortality and turnover rates of the 0–50 cm soil profile for both years. (ii) Clipping induced an immediate and sharp decrease in root length production and an increase in root length mortality in all soil layers. However, with plant regrowth, root production increased and root mortality decreased gradually, with the root production at a depth of 30–50 cm even exceeding the control in September–October 2014 and April–May 2015. (iii) Clipping mainly reduced root length production and increased root length mortality in the upper 0–20 cm soil profile with rapid root turnover. However, roots at deeper soil layers were either little influenced by clipping or exhibited an opposite trend with slower turnover rate compared with the upper soil profile, leading to the downward transport of root production and living root biomass. These findings indicate that roots in deeper soil layers tend to favour higher root biomass and longer fine root life spans to maximize the water absorption efficiency under environmental stress, and also suggest that short-term clipping would reduce the amount of carbon through fine root litter into the soil, especially in the shallow soil profile.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 1109
Author(s):  
Sara Martinez ◽  
Sara Sánchez-Moreno ◽  
Jose Luis Gabriel ◽  
Cristina Álvarez ◽  
Maria del Mar Delgado

The valorization of municipal solid waste (MSW) can serve as an organic amendment in agriculture while reducing solid waste accumulation in the environment. This research aimed to evaluate the valorization of a bio-stabilized MSW amendment for the production of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) crop. For this purpose, biomass production and growth, as well as, seed yield and seed components, seed nutrient accumulation, plant pigments, soil properties, and microorganisms were evaluated in comparison with faba bean mineral fertilization in a greenhouse experiment. The results demonstrated that the bio-stabilized MSW amendment achieved similar biomass production, plant growth, seed yield, nitrogen and protein content, and pigment content as the mineral fertilization treatment. On the other hand, the organic fertilization did not exhibit significant effects on the yield components number of pods per plant, and number of seeds per pod, and nutrient accumulation in seeds with respect to mineral and control treatments in both soils. Sandy and clay soil properties were improved in the organic treatments in comparison with the control soils by increasing soil organic carbon, nitrogen, and other soil nutrients, and providing a suitable pH for faba bean growth. Additionally, biological activity was favored by applying this source of organic fertilizer, enriching the nematode community. Reusing bio-stabilized MSW for agronomical purposes can add value to this waste product, serving as an effective alternative to mineral fertilizers in faba bean cultivation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 249-255
Author(s):  
Aliu Sali ◽  
Dukagjin Zeka ◽  
Shukri Fetahu ◽  
Imer Rusinovci ◽  
Hans-Peter Kaul

Summary The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of selenium (Se) on the biomass production and the contents of photosynthetically active pigments. The pot experiment included two maize genotypes: hybrid 408BC originating from Croatia and a local maize population from Kosovo. The doses of Se applied were 0, 1.30, 6.57, 13, and 26 mg kg−1. The lowest Se dose (1.30 mg Se kg−1) had a positive effect on shoot and root biomass production as well as on the contents of chlorophyll b (Chl-b), total chlorophyll, and carotenoids (just for the hybrid). Chlorophyll a (Chl-a) was reduced with increasing Se doses, whereas chlorophyll b (Chl-b) and total chlorophyll further increased with medium Se doses. The highest Se dose strongly reduced biomass and the contents of photosynthetically active pigments. Chl-a and carotenoids positively correlated with shoot (for both genotypes) and root (for the hybrid) biomass, whereas no correlation was observed between Chl-b and biomass. Low amounts of Se application are favorable for biomass production and chlorophyll and carotenoids contents, whereas high amounts of Se application negatively affect both.


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