Soil Nutrients Effects on the Performance of Durum Wheat Inoculated with Entomopathogenic Fungi

Entomopathogenic fungi (EFs) are widely used as biological control agents. However, some strains of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium brunneum can also promote plant growth and increase nutrient uptake. We examined the effects of soil properties on the performance of Triticum durum inoculated by seed dressing with these EFs and grown on 12 agricultural soils. The plants were supplied with all nutrients except P and Zn (essential for yield and the grain quality of wheat). Fungal inoculation increased the grain yield and harvest index significantly with B. bassiana (17% and 14%, respectively) but not with M. brunneum (6% and 6%, respectively). The increase in grain yield was positively and moderately correlated with the soil available phosphorus (POlsen) in plants inoculated with B. bassiana and with the soil content in poorly crystalline Fe oxides with M. brunneum. In addition, the increase in aerial dry matter resulting from inoculation with B. bassiana was negatively correlated with soil available Zn. Furthermore, the observed increase in grain yields due to fungal inoculation resulted in P and Zn grain dilution (grain nutrient concentrations decrease). Inoculation with B. bassiana increased grain Zn uptake and the proportion of Zn in grain relative to that in aerial dry matter. Success in the mutualistic relationship between EF and wheat plants depends on the fungal strain and soil properties.

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Effects of soil properties on variation in growth, grain yield and nutrient concentration of wheat and barley

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1071/ea04015 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 93 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

G. K. McDonald

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Nutrient Concentration ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Dry Matter Production ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Plant Nutrient ◽

Matter Production

High spatial and temporal variability is an inherent feature of dryland cereal crops over much of the southern cereal zone. The potential limitations to crop growth and yield of the chemical properties of the subsoils in the region have been long recognised, but there is still an incomplete understanding of the relative importance of different traits and how they interact to affect grain yield. Measurements were taken in a paddock at the Minnipa Agriculture Centre, Upper Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, to describe the effects of properties in the topsoil and subsoil on plant dry matter production, grain yield and plant nutrient concentrations in two consecutive years. Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Worrakatta) was grown in the first year and barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Barque) in the second. All soil properties except pH showed a high degree of spatial variability. Variability in plant nutrient concentration, plant growth and grain yield was also high, but less than that of most of the soil properties. Variation in grain yield was more closely related to variation in dry matter at maturity and in harvest index than to dry matter production at tillering and anthesis. Soil properties had a stronger relationship with dry matter production and grain yield in 1999, the drier of the two years. Colwell phosphorus concentration in the topsoil (0–0.15 m) was positively correlated with dry matter production at tillering but was not related to dry matter production at anthesis or with grain yield. Subsoil pH, extractable boron concentration and electrical conductivity (EC) were closely related. The importance of EC and soil extractable boron to grain yield variation increased with depth, but EC had a greater influence than the other soil properties. In a year with above-average rainfall, very little of the variation in yield could be described by any of the measured soil variables. The results suggest that variation in EC was more important to describing variation in yield than variation in pH, extractable boron or other chemical properties.

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Residual effects of superficial liming on tropical soil under no-tillage system

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-204x2016000900063 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 51 (9) ◽

pp. 1633-1642 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Claudio Hideo Martins da Costa ◽

Carlos Alexandre Costa Crusciol ◽

Jayme Ferrari Neto ◽

Gustavo Spadotti Amaral Castro

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Block Design ◽

Residual Effects ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Matter Production ◽

Randomized Complete Block Design ◽

Tillage System

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the long-term effects of the surface application of lime on soil fertility and on the mineral nutrition and grain yield of soybean, and of black oat and sorghum in crop succession. The experiment was carried out on a clayey Oxisol, in a randomized complete block design, with four replicates. Treatments consisted of lime the rates of 0, 1,000, 2,000, and 4,000 kg ha-1, applied in October 2002 and November 2004. Soil samples were collected at five soil layers, down to 0.60-m depth. Surface liming was effective in reducing soil acidity and increasing Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents in the subsurface. Moreover, it increased available phosphorus contents and soil organic matter in the long term (48 to 60 months after the last lime application). Surface liming improved plant nutrition, mainly for N, Ca, and Mg, and increased dry matter production and grain yield of the crops, even in years with regular distribution of rainfall. The greatest productivities of soybean, black oat, and sorghum were obtained with the respective estimated lime doses of 4,000, 2,333, and 3,281 kg ha-1, for shoot dry matter, and of 2,550, 3,555, and over 4,000 kg ha-1, for grain yield.

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Poultry and cattle manure effects on sunflower performance, grain yield and selected soil properties in Limpopo Province, South Africa

South African Journal of Science ◽

10.17159/sajs.2019/6410 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 115 (11/12) ◽

Author(s):

Matome J. Mokgolo ◽

Jestino Mzezewa ◽

Jude J.O. Odhiambo

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Grain Yield ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Plant Height ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Poultry Manure ◽

Organic Manure ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Organic Manures ◽

Cropping Season

The application of organic manures as alternatives to reduce the use of mineral fertilisers is considered a good agricultural practice for smallholder farmers. However, the effect of organic manure on soil properties and crop yield depends upon its application rate and its chemical composition. A field experiment was carried out during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons at the University of Venda experimental farm (Limpopo Province, South Africa) to determine the effect of three organic manures (cattle, poultry and their 1:1 combination, 20 t/ha) on sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) performance, grain yield and selected soil properties under rainfed conditions. Poultry manure produced the highest final infiltration rate and cumulative infiltration followed by cattle manure, their combination and the control in that order. Total nitrogen, calcium, and zinc were significantly different between treatments in the first season while potassium, sodium, and zinc were significantly different in the second season. Manure combination and poultry manure produced the highest organic carbon and available phosphorus, respectively, in both seasons compared to other treatments. Organic manure application had a significant (p less than 0.05) effect on dry matter, plant height and stem girth at all growth stages in the second cropping season but only in the flower bud stage for both parameters in the first season. Manure application in the second season resulted in an increase in the grain yield compared to the first season, except after application of poultry manure whereafter the grain yield decreased significantly by 168% from the first cropping season. The application of organic manure had a significant effect on sunflower grain yield, dry matter, head dry matter, plant height and stem girth throughout all growing stages in the second cropping season with poultry manure producing the best values.

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Effect of different rates of sawdust - piggery compost on soil properties and yield of maize in nutrient depleted soil

World Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology and Sciences ◽

10.30574/wjaets.2021.3.1.0042 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 016-022

Author(s):

Stephen Okhumata Dania ◽

Adebimpe Omowumi Ayegbe ◽

Bright Ehijiele Amenkhienan

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Growth Parameters ◽

Block Design ◽

Organic Fertilizer ◽

Soil Nutrient ◽

University Teaching ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Dry Matter Yield

Compost is an important source of organic fertilizer that can be used to amend degraded soil to improve soil nutrient and crops yield. This experiment was to evaluate the effect of sawdust – piggery compost on soil properties, growth and yield of maize and it was carried out at the Ambrose Alli University Teaching and Research Farm, Emaudo, Ekpoma, Edo State. The experiment was fitted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with seven treatments and three replicates. The treatments were; control (0), 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 tonnes of sawdust – piggery compost per hectares (ha-1). Data collected were analysed using ANOVA and LSD was used to separate means. Soil nutrients were below critical levels and the application of compost improved fertility status of the soil. Growth parameters, dry matter yield, cob weight, grain yield and nutrient uptake were determined. It was observed that application of Sawdust – piggery compost significantly (p 0.05) increased the growth of maize compared to control. The application of 8 to 12 tonnes of sawdust – piggery compost significantly (p 0.05) increased the plant height, leaf area and stem girth of maize compared to other treatments. The application of 8 to 12 tonnes per hectares (ha-1) of sawdust – piggery compost significantly (p 0.05) increased the cob weight, grain and dry matter yield of maize compared to other treatments, however, the application of 10 t ha-1 of compost to maize increased grain yield of maize than others rate of applications with the yield value of 4.60 t ha-1. The uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were higher with application of 12 tonnes of compost. In conclusion, the application rates of 10 t ha-1 of sawdust – piggery compost per hectare on nutrient depleted soils will improve the growth and yield of maize.

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Municipal Sewage Sludge application on cotton cultivations. Effect on yields soil chemical properties and heavy metal concentrations

Global NEST Journal ◽

10.30955/gnj.002665 ◽

2019 ◽

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

Matter Content ◽

Municipal Sewage ◽

Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Cotton Yield

<p>Application of municipal sewage sludge (MSS) to agricultural soils is a current practice in EU. European legislation permits its use in agriculture when concentrations of metals in soil do not exceed the maximum permissible limits. In order to study the influence of MSS on cotton yield and soil properties, a filed experiment was conducted in a soil classified as Typic Xerochrepts located in Lamia area, central Greece, for two consecutive years. The experimental design was complete randomized blocks with four treatments: Control (C ), inorganic fertilization (IF), application of 6000 dry kg ha-1 MSS, and 10000 dry SS kg ha-1, each replicated 4 times. The results showed that MSS application in both rates, increased significantly cotton yield compared to control equally to inorganic fertilization. Soil properties, at the end of the second year of MSS application, were significantly affected by MSS application in a positive way i.e. pH decreased slightly, but organic matter content, available phosphorus, total nitrogen concentrations exchangeable potassium and available zinc and copper increased significantly. The potentially toxic elements lead, chromium, and nickel were not significantly affected by MSS application in both application rates compared to control.</p>

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Soil Available Phosphorus Loss Caused by Periodical Understory Management Reduce Understory Plant Diversity in a Northern Subtropical Pinus massoniana Plantation Chronosequence

Forests ◽

10.3390/f11020231 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 231

Author(s):

Dong Dai ◽

Ashfaq Ali ◽

Xin Huang ◽

Mingjun Teng ◽

Changguang Wu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Plant Diversity ◽

Soil Layer ◽

Pinus Massoniana ◽

Stand Age ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Soil Available Phosphorus ◽

Understory Plants ◽

Understory Diversity ◽

Understory Plant

Clearing of understory plants is a common management method in plantation forests, but its long-term impact on soil properties and understory plant diversity is still poorly understood. In order to uncover the potential relationship between understory diversity and soil properties, we categorized understory plants into herbs and shrubs, and took soil depth into consideration. We measured the soil variables and investigated the understory plant diversity in four stand age-classes (9-year-old for young, 18-year-old for intermediate, 28-year-old for near-mature, and 48-year-old for mature) in a Pinus massoniana plantation. We aimed to examine how the diversity of herbs and shrubs changed with stand succession and to determine which of the three soil depths (0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, 20–40 cm) had the strongest explanation for the understory plant diversity. Furthermore, structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to assess the direct and indirect effect of understory clearing and stand age on understory diversity. We found that understory clearing influenced the trend of diversity of herbs and shrubs with stand age, and understory diversity showed a strong correlation with soil physical properties in all three soil layers. The soil properties in the 10–20 cm soil layer related with the diversity of herbs and shrubs most, while the 20–40 cm soil layer properties related with them the least. Understory clearing reduced soil available phosphorus (AP). Understory clearing and stand age were found to benefit understory plant diversity directly and decreased the understory diversity indirectly via AP. Consequently, to improve our understanding of the impact of understory clearing and stand age on biodiversity, we should take into account its direct and indirect effects.

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Combining Mineral Amendments Improves Wheat Yield and Soil Properties in a Coastal Saline Area

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy9020048 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 48 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jishi Zhang ◽

Xilong Jiang ◽

Qi Miao ◽

Botao Yu ◽

Liming Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Properties ◽

Rock Phosphate ◽

Yellow River ◽

Soil Depth ◽

Wheat Yield ◽

Yellow River Delta ◽

Available Phosphorus ◽

Dry Matter Accumulation ◽

Soil Available Phosphorus ◽

Saline Area

Certain minerals possess structures that convey properties which improve soil quality; however, their application in coastal saline areas has been poorly studied. In this study, we explored the effects of combining mineral amendments on the improvement of wheat yield and soil properties in a two-year field experiment in mildly saline coastal soil areas of the Yellow River Delta, China. Five mineral materials were combined into the following four treatments: zeolite + rock phosphate (ZP), zeolite + silica calcium soil conditioner (ZC), vermiculite + rock phosphate (VP), and vermiculite + medical stone (VS). For all treatments, combined mineral amendments increased wheat yield compared to the control, with similar increases in yield following treatment with VP (45.7%), ZP (43.5%), and ZC (43.6%), and a significantly smaller increase following VS treatment (26.3%). These increases in grain yield were attributed to larger dry matter accumulation and higher grain numbers per ha. Compared to the control, ZP and ZC application substantially reduced soluble magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) contents, electrical conductivity (EC), and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), and increased soil organic carbon (SOC) at a soil depth of 0–20 cm. VP application increased soil available phosphorus (P) by 34.7% and soluble potassium (K) by 69.3% at a soil depth of 0–20 cm. VS application slightly increased the SOC, total nitrogen (N), available P, and soluble K compared to the control. Overall, these results indicate that combining mineral amendments significantly increases wheat yield and improves soil properties in a saline area. Thus, we recommend the use of mineral amendments in saline coastal areas.

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Effects of time of urea application on combine-sown Calrose rice in south-east Australia. I. Crop response and N uptake

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9870101 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 101 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

E Humphreys ◽

WA Muirhead ◽

FM Melhuish ◽

RJG White

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Clay Soil ◽

N Uptake ◽

First Flush ◽

Crop Response ◽

Plant N Uptake ◽

Matter Production ◽

Highly Correlated

Urea (50 kg N ha-1) was applied at one of four times (before the first flush, before permanent flood, after permanent flood and at panicle initiation) to Calrose rice growing on an alkaline grey clay soil. Plant N uptake was highly correlated with dry matter production (r2=0.90) and with grain yield (r2 = 0.95). Efficiency of fertilisation and grain yield were highest when urea was applied either before permanent flood (56 kg grain (kg N) -1, 6.4 t ha-1) or at panicle initiation (47 kg grain (kg N)-1, 6.0 t ha-1), and these efficiencies are among the highest that have been recorded in rice. Significantly lower yields were obtained when the fertiliser was applied at sowing or after permanent flood, largely due to lower panicle densities. Fertilisation at sowing did not produce significantly more grain than the control, despite an early vegetative response. This is in contrast with previous findings on a more fertile acid red-brown earth, and suggests that soil properties may be an important consideration in predicting optimum fertilisation strategies.

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Soil and Plant Nutrient Dynamics in Response to Manuring with Different Organic Wastes under Alkaline Conditions

Annals of Agricultural & Crop Sciences ◽

10.26420/annagriccropsci.2021.1067 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Ashraf M ◽

◽

Aziz MA ◽

Shahzad SM ◽

Aziz A ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Nutrient Dynamics ◽

Farmyard Manure ◽

Organic Wastes ◽

Chicken Manure ◽

Nutrient Concentrations ◽

Maximum Increase ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Alkaline Conditions

Manuring with organic wastes might be an important approach for maintaining soil fertility and crop productivity. However, beneficial effects of manuring may vary depending upon the type of manure and rate of application. The present study was planned to investigate the efficiency of three different manures i.e. pressmud, farmyard manure and chicken manure applied at 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% (w/w) to affect nutrient dynamics in soil and maize (Zea mays L) under alkaline conditions. Results revealed that manuring with organic wastes markedly affected the soil properties, with highest effect in case of chicken manure. Soil nutrient concentrations improved by the use of organic manures and maximum increase was found with pressmud which was 17.83%, 37.60%, 48.33% and 55.29% in phosphorus (P) and 9.82%, 20.54%, 32.14% and 40.18% potassium (K) at 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%, respectively compared to control, while farmyard manure showed superiority for soil nitrogen (N). Soil micronutrients including copper, iron, zinc and manganese were also greatly affected in response to manuring. Nutrient concentrations of maize were also enhanced by the use of manures, with maximum increase in case of pressmud which was 66.96, 77.68, 93.75 and 113.39% in N, 72.73, 154.55, 218.18 and 336.36% P, and 19.75, 30.86, 49.38 and 72.84% K at 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% (w/w), respectively compared to control. Similar trend was found in case of other nutrients. Pressmud again showed its superiority to improve grain yield i.e. 14.85%, 22.19%, 34.02% and 58.25% by the application of 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% (w/w), respectively compared to control. In conclusion, pressmud showed supremacy over other manures in improving soil properties and nutrient dynamics in soil and maize plants with a consequential increase in grain yield. The beneficial effects of manuring increased with increasing the application rate.

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Soil factors influencing growth and yield of narrow-leafed lupin and field pea in Western Australia

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar00083 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

pp. 217 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

R. J. French

Keyword(s):

Grain Yield ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Soil Type ◽

Harvest Index ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Field Capacity ◽

Field Pea ◽

Growth And Yield ◽

Matter Production ◽

Wilting Point

Crop growth and grain yield of narrow-leafed lupin and field pea were compared in 40 field trials in the Western Australian wheatbelt in 1988, 1989, and 1990. Trials were arranged in clusters of 2 or 3 in close proximity, but on contrasting soil types. This enabled seasonal effects on growth and yield to be separated from soil type effects. Soil pH ranged from 4.1 to 5.8 at the surface and from 3.7 to 8.4 at 50 cm, A-horizon depth from 9 cm to >70 cm, and clay content at 50 cm from 0 to 54%. Other soil properties also varied across wide ranges. Some soil properties were closely correlated with one another; pH, electrical conductivity (EC), gravimetric water content (θg) at field capacity and at wilting point, and depth of the A-horizon were all correlated. Narrow-leafed lupin grain yield was 2.6 times as variable between trials within locations as field pea yield, which, on average, was 32% greater than narrow-leafed lupin yield. The pH, EC, θg) at field capacity, and θg) at wilting point each explained a large proportion of lupin yield variability on their own, but because they were closely correlated with one another, it was not possible to determine which had the primary effect on grain yield. I believe, on the basis of other work, that pH is an important factor in its own right. A-horizon depth explained 9% of the lupin trial variance but this was largely due to its correlation with pH and other related soil properties. When the effects of these were removed, depth still reduced the between-trial variance within locations but did not affect species differentially. Bulk density also reduced between-trial variance within locations without affecting species differentially. Altogether soil properties explained 42% of the lupin site variance but none of the pea site variance. The pH and correlated soil properties also explained much of the species site variance in dry matter production at maturity, but not in harvest index. Bulk density and A-horizon depth had small, but significant, effects on harvest index. Therefore, soil type affects grain yield in these species largely through its effect on dry matter production. I conclude that field pea is equally well adapted to the full range of soils in this study. Narrow-leafed lupin does not yield as well on soils with subsoil pH greater than 6.5 as on more acid soils. The depth of the A-horizon is only useful as a criterion for judging the suitability of a soil for growing narrow-leafed lupin insofar as it is correlated with pH.

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