Impact of a Soil Conditioner Integrated into Fertilization Scheme on Orange and Lemon Seedling Physiological Performances

Growers in Florida face unique challenges regarding maintaining proper citrus nutrition. Poor draining soils with low fertility, low C.E.C., and high rates of leaching are common in this region. In response to these challenges, interest has grown in products labeled as soil conditioners. Using a completely randomized experimental design, this greenhouse study tested the effects of 5 different combinations of a traditional fertilizer (TF) and a new soil conditioner (SC) on lemon and orange seedling physiology. Eight-month-old ‘Bearss’ lemon and ‘Valencia’ sweet orange grafted on sour orange rootstocks were employed, and five repetitions were used for each treatment. Plant biomass (dry weight), height, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, stomatal conductance and nutrient uptake were analyzed after 120 days of treatment. The results show that SC has a positive impact upon both chlorophyll levels and stomatal conductance values in both orange and lemon seedlings. However, based on dry weight growth data, we can only conclude that the SC was effective for orange seedlings at 50% TF and 0.5% SC. Based on this short 120-day evaluation, the SC achieved positive growth promotion for orange (50% TF) but not for lemon seedlings.

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Isolation, characterization and purification of Rhizobium strain to enrich the productivity of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Open Agriculture ◽

10.1515/opag-2019-0040 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 400-409

Author(s):

Akbar Hossain ◽

Sunil Kumar Gunri ◽

Manashi Barman ◽

Ayman EL Sabagh ◽

Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva

Keyword(s):

Arachis Hypogaea ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Root Nodules ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Low Fertility ◽

N Fixation ◽

Higher Plant ◽

Potential Yield ◽

Wide Range ◽

Microbial Strains

AbstractGroundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important food legume in tropical and subtropical areas because of its ability to adapt to a wide range of agro-climatic regions. Groundnut is usually cultivated in nutrient-poor soil and rain-fed conditions, so average yield tends to be very low relative to potential yield. Even though the nitrogen (N) requirement of groundnut is much higher than cereals due to its high protein content, it has the capacity to meet 60-80% of N-based requirements through symbiotic N fixation via its root nodules. In its symbiotic relationship with legumes, Rhizobium fixes N, thereby positively impacting the content of this nutrient. This study aimed to isolate, characterize and purify microbial strains of Rhizobium specific to groundnut in a bid to increase this legume’s productivity. The research was conducted in the AICRP-Groundnut laboratory and greenhouse of the Directorate of Research, BCKV, in Kalyani, India during October 2016 to March 2017. Two Rhizobium isolates (RhBC and NRA1) were isolated and selected from groundnut pot cultures. After 45 days, NRA1 produced higher plant biomass, longer roots and shoots, more nodules and higher nodule dry weight than RhBC. NRA1 was selected for a future field trial. The two isolated microbial strains will aid in the screening of additional local isolates to test their effectiveness when co-cultured with local groundnut cultivars to increase yield in soil with low fertility.

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Identification of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria That Improve the Performance of Greenhouse-Grown Petunias under Low Fertility Conditions

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10071410 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1410

Author(s):

Kaylee A. South ◽

Nathan P. Nordstedt ◽

Michelle L. Jones

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Growth Promotion ◽

Genomic Analysis ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria ◽

Low Fertility ◽

Plant Performance ◽

Flower Bud ◽

Plant Growth Promoting ◽

Growth Promoting

The production of greenhouse ornamentals relies on high fertilizer inputs to meet scheduling deadlines and quality standards, but overfertilization has negative environmental impacts. The goals of this study were to identify plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that can improve greenhouse ornamental crop performance with reduced fertilizer inputs, and to identify the best measurements of plant performance for assessing the beneficial impact of PGPR on ornamentals. A high-throughput greenhouse trial was used to identify 14 PGPR isolates that improved the flower/bud number and shoot dry weight of Petunia × hybrida ‘Picobella Blue’ grown under low fertility conditions in peat-based media. These 14 PGPR were then applied to petunias grown under low fertility conditions (25 mg L−1 N). PGPR-treated plants were compared to negative (untreated at 25 mg L−1 N) and positive (untreated at 50, 75, 100, and 150 mg L−1 N) controls. Multiple parameters were measured in the categories of flowering, vegetative growth, and vegetative quality to determine the best measurements to assess improvements in ornamental plant performance. Caballeronia zhejiangensis C7B12-treated plants performed better in almost all parameters and were comparable to untreated plants fertilized with 50 mg L−1 N. Genomic analysis identified genes that were potentially involved in plant growth promotion. Our study identified potential PGPR that can be used as biostimulants to produce high-quality greenhouse ornamentals with lower fertilizer inputs.

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Morphological and Physiological Comparisons of Clonal Lines of Eucalyptus camaldulensis. II. Responses to Waterlogging/Salinity and Alkalinity

Functional Plant Biology ◽

10.1071/pp9960509 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 509 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

RCC Farrell ◽

DT Bell ◽

K Akilan ◽

JK Marshall

Keyword(s):

Stomatal Conductance ◽

Water Use ◽

Plant Biomass ◽

Eucalyptus Camaldulensis ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Agricultural Landscapes ◽

Alkaline Soils ◽

Clonal Lines ◽

Eucalyptus Camaldulensis Dehnh ◽

The Impact

Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. has previously been shown to survive and grow in waterlogged, highly saline and highly alkaline soils. The ability of six clones from five provenances of E. camaldulensis to produce biomass and utilise water, and the processes of stomatal conductance and gas exchange under stress conditions was examined under controlled conditions in a glasshouse. A clone originally from Wooramel, Western Australia (M80) produced the largest total plant biomass, the greatest total leaf area and greatest total root dry weight under conditions of waterlogging and gradually increasing salinity. A second clone from Wooramel (M16), however, tended to be among the least productive of the clones under this stress, indicating the wide potential variation in stress tolerance of trees from a single provenance. The response of clones to alkalinity stress was comparable to that measured under waterlogging/salinity stress. Water use was closely related to biomass production. Leaves produced while under salinity and alkalinity stress were comparable in ion content to those produced prior to the test conditions. An ability to control uptake by roots or limit ion transport to leaf tissues were hypothesised as controlling physiological functions resulting in tolerance to severe soil ion imbalances in this species. The impact of solution conductivity on stomatal conductance and water use, secondarily affected photosynthetic rates in these clones of E. camaldulensis. Tolerance of extreme conditions provides the opportunity to use these genotypes to reclaim damaged agricultural landscapes and mine spoils of high soil solution ion concentrations.

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Effect of the endophytic plant growth promoting Enterobacter ludwigii EB4B on tomato growth

Hellenic Plant Protection Journal ◽

10.2478/hppj-2020-0006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 54-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M.E.A. Bendaha ◽

H.A. Belaouni

Keyword(s):

Root Length ◽

Biocontrol Agent ◽

Growth Promotion ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Antagonistic Activity ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Plant Growth Promoting ◽

Enterobacter Ludwigii ◽

Tomato Growth

SummaryThis study aims to develop a biocontrol agent against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici (FORL) in tomato. For this, a set of 23 bacterial endophytic isolates has been screened for their ability to inhibit in vitro the growth of FORL using the dual plate assay. Three isolates with the most sound antagonistic activity to FORL have been qualitatively screened for siderophore production, phosphates solubilization and indolic acetic acid (IAA) synthesis as growth promotion traits. Antagonistic values of the three candidates against FORL were respectively: 51.51 % (EB4B), 51.18 % (EB22K) and 41.40 % (EB2A). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates EB4B and EB22K were closely related to Enterobacter ludwigii EN-119, while the strain EB2A has been assigned to Leclercia adecarboxylata NBRC 102595. The promotion of tomato growth has been assessed in vitro using the strains EB2A, EB4B and EB22K in presence of the phytopathogen FORL. The treatments with the selected isolates increased significantly the root length and dry weight. Best results were observed in isolate EB4B in terms of growth promotion in the absence of FORL, improving 326.60 % of the root length and 142.70 % of plant dry weight if compared with untreated controls. In the presence of FORL, the strain EB4B improved both root length (180.81 %) and plant dry weight (202.15 %). These results encourage further characterization of the observed beneficial effect of Enterobacter sp. EB4B for a possible use as biofertilizer and biocontrol agent against FORL.

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Evaluation of Nurse Crops for Weed Control and Plant Establishment in Prairie Restoration

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.485b ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 485b-485

Author(s):

Lisa M. Barry ◽

Michael N. Dana

Keyword(s):

Plant Biomass ◽

Spring Barley ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Site Quality ◽

Prairie Restoration ◽

Plant Establishment ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Nurse Crops ◽

Partridge Pea ◽

Prairie Plant

Nurse crops are often recommended in prairie restoration planting. This work investigated several alternative nurse crops to determine their utility in prairie planting. Nurse crops were composed of increasing densities (900, 1800, or 2700 seeds/m2) of partridge pea, spring oats, spring barley, Canada wild rye, or equal mixtures of partridge pea and one of the grasses. The experimental design was a randomized complete-block set in two sites with three blocks per site and 48 treatments per block. Each 3 × 3-m plot contained 1 m2 planted in Dec. 1995 or Mar. 1996 with an equal mix of seven prairie species. The nurse crops were sown over each nine square meter area in April 1996. Plots lacking nurse crops served as controls. Evaluated data consisted of weed pressure rankings and weed and prairie plant dry weight. Nurse crop treatments had a significant effect on weed pressure in both sites. Barley (1800 and 2700 seeds/m2) as well as partridge pea + barley (2700 seeds/m2) were most effective at reducing weed pressure. When weed and prairie plant biomass values were compared, a significant difference was observed for site quality and planting season. Prairie plant establishment was significantly greater in the poorly drained, less-fertile site and spring-sown plots in both sites had significantly higher prairie biomass values. Overall, after two seasons, there was no advantage in using nurse crops over the control. Among nurse crop treatments, oats were most effective in reducing weed competition and enhancing prairie plant growth.

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Effects of Leachate Fertigation and the Addition of Hydrogen Peroxide on Growth and Nutrient Balance in Dracaena deremensis Potted Plants

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy11010127 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 127

Author(s):

Pedro García-Caparrós ◽

Cristina Velasquez Espino ◽

María Teresa Lao

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Solution ◽

Soluble Sugar ◽

Nutrient Balance ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Sugar Concentration ◽

Control Treatment ◽

Peat Moss ◽

Clear Trend ◽

Total Soluble Sugar

The reuse of drainages for cultivating more salt tolerant crops can be a useful tool especially in arid regions, where there are severe problems for crops water management. Dracaena deremensis L. plants were cultured in pots with sphagnum peat-moss and were subjected to three fertigation treatments for 8 weeks: control treatment or standard nutrient solution (D0), raw leachates from Chrysalidocarpus lutescens H. Wendl plants (DL) and the same leachate blending with H2O2 (1.2 M) at 1% (v/v) (DL + H2O2). After harvesting, ornamental and biomass parameters, leaf and root proline and total soluble sugar concentration and nutrient balance were assessed in each fertigation treatment. Plant height, leaf and total dry weight had the highest values in plants fertigated with leachates with H2O2, whereas root length, leaf number, RGB values and pigment concentration declined significantly in plants fertigated with leachates from C. lutescens with or without H2O2. The fertigation with leachates, regardless of the presence or absence of H2O2 increased root and leaf proline concentration. Nevertheless, root and leaf total soluble sugar concentration did not show a clear trend under the treatments assessed. Regarding nutrient balance, the addition of H2O2 in the leachate resulted in an increase in plant nutrient uptake and efficiency compared to the control treatment. The fertigation with leachates with or without H2O2 increased nitrogen and potassium leached per plant compared to plants fertigated with the standard nutrient solution. The reuse of drainages is a viable option to produce ornamental plants reducing the problematic associated with the water consumption and the release of nutrients into the environment.

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Microplastic contamination in a conventional wastewater treatment plant in Thailand

Waste Management & Research ◽

10.1177/0734242x20982055 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0734242X2098205

Author(s):

Katekanya Tadsuwan ◽

Sandhya Babel

Keyword(s):

Wastewater Treatment ◽

Wastewater Treatment Plant ◽

Environmental Concern ◽

Liquid Fraction ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Plastic Waste ◽

Sludge Sample ◽

Global Environmental ◽

Urban Wastewater Treatment

Plastic waste has become a global environmental concern. One type of plastic waste is microplastics (MPs), which can spread easily in the environment. Wastewater effluent is one of the land-based sources of MPs. This study investigates the amount of microplastic (MP) pollution in an urban wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Thailand. Water samples were collected and examined to find the types, morphology and sources of MPs. Wastewater was filtered through a set of sieves ranging from 5 mm to 0.05 mm. Sludge samples were also collected to find the potential risk from the application of dried sewage sludge. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to confirm the types of MPs. The amount of MPs in the influent was 26.6 ± 11.8 MPs/L. More than one-third of MP particles were removed after a grit trap, followed by 14.24% removal in the secondary treatment. If the peak flow rate of the WWTP is reached, 2.32 × 109 MP particles can be released daily. The amount of MPs in a sludge sample was 8.12 ± 0.28 × 103 particles/kg dry weight. Dry sludge is one of the potential sources of MP contamination in agricultural soil. Most MPs in the liquid fraction and sludge sample were fibres. Results from FTIR analysis showed that the major types of MPs in the WWTP were polyester fibres, followed by polypropylene, polyethylene, silicone polymer and polystyrene. This finding indicates that a conventional WWTP may act as a path by which MPs enter the environment.

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Dampak Dosis Kompos Kotoran Sapi Terhadap Profil Suhu Tanah di Zona Perakaran dan Produktivitas Tanaman Pakcoy (Brassica rafa L)

Jurnal BETA (Biosistem dan Teknik Pertanian) ◽

10.24843/jbeta.2019.v07.i02.p05 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 253

Author(s):

I Made Andi Purnama Wijaya ◽

Yohanes Setiyo ◽

I Wayan Tika

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Root Zone ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Fertilizer Application ◽

Water Levels ◽

Optimum Dose ◽

Root Zone Temperature ◽

Rooting Zone ◽

Treatment Dose

Suhu tanah adalah salah satu sifat fisik tanah yang secara langsung mempengaruhi pertumbuhan tanaman pakcoy. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah (1) untuk menganalisis suhu di zona perakaran, (2) menganalisis hubungan antara dosis pemupukan mempergunakan kompos dengan suhu di zona perakaran dan (3) untuk menganalis suhu yang optimum untuk produktivitas dan kualitas pakcoy yang dihasilkan saat panen. Rancangan penelitian yang digunakan rancangan acak lengkap, dengan lima perlakuan dan tiga ulangan. Perlakuan tersebut adalah P0 : dosis kompos 0 kg/m2, P1 : dosis kompos 1 kg/m2, P2 : dosis kompos 2 kg/m2, P3 : dosis kompos 3 kg/m2, dan P4 : dosis kompos 4 kg/m2. Parameter yang diamati pada penelitian ini adalah suhu udara, suhulingkungan, kadar air tanah dan produktivitas. Padamalam hari suhu tanah di zona perakaran lebih tinggi 0,59 oC dari pada suhu lingkungan. Suhu tanah di zona perakaran terendah dan tertinggi adalah 18,02 oC dan 21,94 oC. Suhu tanah malam hari dan siang hari untuk dosis 0-5kg/m2 masih toleran pada tanaman pacoy. Berat kering tanaman pakcoy tertinggi pada perlakuan dosis kompos 4kg/m2 denganberat 92,21 gram/tanaman dan terendah pada perlakuan kontrol dengan berat 71,82 gram/tanaman. The temperature of the soil is one of the physical properties of the soil, this soil physical properties direc2tly affect plant growth pakcoy. The purpose of this research are (1) to analyze the temperature at root zone, temperature inside and out of the mini greenhouse, (2) analyze the relationship between temperature at root zone with doses of compost fertilizer application and 3) to analyze the optimum dose of compost based on productivity and quality of the pakcoy is generated when the harvest. The design of the research used randomized complete design, with five treatments and three replicates. The treatment is P0: a dose of compost 0 kg/m, P1: a dose of compost 1 kg/m2, P2: a dose of compost 2 kg/m2, P3: the dose of compost 3 kg/m2, and P4: a dose of compost 4 kg/m2. The parameters observed in this research is the air temperature, the temperature of the environment, ground water levels and productivity. At night the temperature of the soil rooting zone higher at 0.59 ºC than at the temperature of the environment. Soil temperature at root zone the lowest and the highest are 18.02 oC and 21.94 oC. The temperature of the soil the night and during the day for dose 0-5 kg/m2 was still tolerant plants pakcoy. Dry weight of the plant the highest pakcoy on the treatment dose of compost 4 kg/m2 with a weight of 92.21 grams/lowest at the treatment plant and the control by the weight of 71.82 grams/plant.

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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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Isolation and Characterization of Nodule-AssociatedExiguobacterium sp. from the Root Nodules ofFenugreek(Trigonella foenum-graecum) and Their Possible Role in Plant Growth Promotion

International Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1155/2012/693982 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Geetha Rajendran ◽

Maheshwari H. Patel ◽

Sanket J. Joshi

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Plant Growth Promotion ◽

Growth Promotion ◽

Root Nodules ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Gram Positive ◽

Associated Bacteria ◽

Trigonella Foenum Graecum ◽

Isolation And Characterization ◽

Root And Shoot Length

One of the ways to increase the competitive survivability of rhizobial biofertilizers and thus achieve better plant growth under such conditions is by modifying the rhizospheric environment or community by addition of nonrhizobial nodule-associated bacteria (NAB) that cause better nodulation and plant growth when coinoculated with rhizobia. A study was performed to investigate the most commonly associated nodule-associated bacteria and the rhizospheric microorganisms associated with theFenugreek(Trigonella foenum-graecum) plant. Isolation of nonrhizobial isolates from root nodules ofFenugreekwas carried out along with the rhizospheric isolates. About 64.7% isolates obtained fromFenugreeknodules were gram-negative coccobacilli, 29.41% were gram-positive bacilli, and all rhizospheric isolates except one were gram-positive bacilli. All the isolates were characterized for their plant growth promoting (PGP) activities. Two of the NAB isolates M2N2c and B1N2b (Exiguobacterium sp.) showed maximum positive PGP features. Those NAB isolates when coinoculated with rhizobial strain—S. meliloti, showed plant growth promotion with respect to increase in plant’s root and shoot length, chlorophyll content, nodulation efficiency, and nodule dry weight.

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