Microbial enhancement of plant nutrient acquisition

Nutrient availability is a determining factor for crop yield and quality. While fertilization is a major approach for improving plant nutrition, its efficacy can be limited and the production and application of fertilizers frequently bring problems to the environment. A large number of soil microbes are capable of enhancing plant nutrient acquisition and thereby offer environmentally benign solutions to meet the requirements of plant nutrition. Herein we provide summations of how beneficial microbes enhance plant acquisition of macronutrients and micronutrients. We also review recent studies on nutrition-dependent plant-microbe interactions, which highlight the plant’s initiative in establishing or deterring the plant-microbe association. By dissecting complex signaling interactions between microbes within the root microbiome, a greater understanding of microbe-enhanced plant nutrition under specific biotic and abiotic stresses will be possible.

The relationship Between Soil Chemical Properties and Uptake of Tea Plant Nutrient in PTPN VI Jambi

Healthy soil could support plant growth by optimizing the availability of nutrients. The availability of nutrients influences the health of tea plants. Nutrient deficiencies would affect the plant physiology that exhibits the plant withering. This study aimed to define the relationship between soil nutrient availability with plant nutrient uptake. This research was conducted by managing secondary data soil chemical properties, and tea plant nutrients analyzed statistically with Pearson correlation. This study only found a significant correlation between soil pH with P and Mg uptake. Correlation results between soil nutrient and plant nutrient uptake obtained a significantly negative correlation on soil pH with P and Mg nutrients with a correlation value of pH-P (r=-0.52), pH-Mg (r=-0.52). There was no correlation between other soil nutrients and plant nutrient uptake. The results of this study can be used to determine the dose of fertilization and the management recommendation of tea plants.

Effect of magnesium fertilization on yield and nutrient status of rice in kole lands

The field experiments were conducted in farmer's field at five locations each of kole lands to study the effect of Magnesium (Mg) on yield and soil and plant nutrient status of rice during 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The treatments comprised of different levels of Mg viz; 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 kg Magnesium sulphate(MgSO4)/ha along with control. Observations on growth characters yield attributes, yield and soil and plant nutrient status were recorded. The results revealed that application of 100 kg MgSO4 / ha recorded the maximum number of panicles/m2 (419.13), number of grains/panicle (109.36), thousand grain weight (28.78 g), grain (9.27 t/ha) and straw yield (9.04 t/ha) of rice. The results of pooled data on plant and soil nutrient status revealed that application of magnesium had a positive effect on nutrient content and availability of nutrients in soil. A significant positive correlation was also noticed between Mg application, yield attributes, yield and nutrient contents. The study concluded that application of 100 kg MgSO4 / ha was found to be optimum for correcting the deficiency in Mg deficient areas of kole lands under below sea level farming.

Effects of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth and Plant Nutrient Uptake by Terung Asam (Solanum lasiocarpum Dunal)

Terung asam (Solanum lasiocarpum Dunal) is a native fruit vegetable that is gaining interest as a commercial crop in Sarawak and Malaysia. Malaysia is covered by soils that are highly weathered, acidic, and low in fertility and depend on chemical fertilisers to promote good plant growth. Alternative means to reduce dependency on chemical fertiliser, for example arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF), must be sourced. Very few research on terung asam has been documented particularly on nutrients uptake. The objectives of this research were to investigate the effect of indigenous and non-indigenous AMF on nutrient uptake by terung asam. A greenhouse experiment was conducted consisting of three treatments namely control (T1), indigenous AMF (T2), non-indigenous AMF (T3). The treatments were arranged in a complete randomised design with four subsamples and four replicates. Thirty-day-old seedlings were transplanted and measured for their heights and stem diameters for 90 days. Fresh and dry shoot and root weights were taken during harvesting. Plant nutrient analyses were conducted using Kjeldahl method for total N, single ashing for P and single ashing and double acid for K, Ca and Mg. The results revealed the addition of AMF spores at 200 spores per pot, increased plant height by 13 to 33% and stem diameter by 5 to 25% and more leaves were retained by T3 plants at harvesting. T3 recorded higher fresh shoot (11.27%) and dry shoot (14.98%) as well as fresh root (23.67%) and dry root (22.77%) weights than T1 plants. Addition of AMF in treatments T2 and T3 promoted better nutrient uptake by aboveground and belowground biomasses particularly for K, Ca and Mg. T3 was superior in terms of the nutrient uptake for most nutrients. AMF used in T3 showed better results as the AMF spores were proven effective in promoting plant growth while AMF used in T2 were obtained from the field and untested. The findings of this study showed the potential of indigenous and non-indigenous AMF in promoting growth and nutrient uptake by terung asam plants.

Possibilities of plant nutrient recycling in energy grass plantations = Augu barības elementu reciklācijas iespējas enerģētisko zālaugu plantācijās

To develop the scientific work, field trials were performed at the Research Institute of Agronomy of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, in Skriveri in the time period from 2012 to 2016. Hypothesis of the thesis By using by-products of bioenergy production in fertilisation - fermentation residues or digestate and wood ash, it is possible to partially cover the requirements of energy grasses for nutrients, as well as to ensure their reuse. The aim of the thesis To find out the possibilities of growing reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) 'Bamse' and festulolium (× Festulolium pabulare) 'Felina' for energy production by using bioenergy production by-products in fertilisation – fermentation residues or digestate and wood ash, as well as to study possibilities of plant nutrient reuse in the system: soil – plants – digestate / ash – soil – plants. Research tasks 1. To evaluate digestate and wood ash as energy grasses fertilisers. 2. To find out the optimal norm and the regime of use of digestate in reed canary grass fertilisation. 3. To study the nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium circulation cycle in the system: soil – plants – digestate / ash – soil – plants. 4. To perform economic evaluation of reed canary grass and festulolium fertilisation. The structure of the research paper Chapter 1 - The literature review includes five subchapters. The chapter provides a brief overview of bioenergy production technologies, examines perennial grasses in the context of bioenergy production, evaluates agrotechnical measures to ensure adequate grass biomass yield and quality for biogas and fuel feedstock production, examines plant nutrient circulation in bioenergy crop production systems, and provides agronomic assessment of by-product – digestate and ash fertiliser for use in energy grass plantations. Chapter 2 - Materials and Methods includes two subchapters. The chapter describes the methodology of test establishment, the studied material, the observations and analyzes performed, describes the meteorological conditions and describes the statistical analysis of data. Chapter 3 - The results and discussion include six subsections. The chapter analyzes the obtained results on reed canary grass and festulolium yield and changes in yield structure and quality due to the use of different fertilisers, norms and regimes, performing grassland dry matter yield inventory by mowing once and twice a year. The remove of plant nutrients from soil with dry matter yield, as well as changes in soil agrochemical parameters due to fertilisation were evaluated. An economic evaluation of reed canary grass and festulolium fertilisation has been performed. The conclusions include answers to the research tasks. The paper contains 34 tables, 41 figures, 53 annexes and 353 scientific source references.