Mineral Fertilization Influences the Growth, Cryptolepine Yield, and Bioefficacy of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schlt.

Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schlt., the main source of cryptolepine alkaloid, is intensively exploited in the wild to treat malaria and Lyme disease. In this study, the influence of four inorganic fertilizers (supplying N, P, K, or NPK) and four growth periods (3, 6, 9, and 12 months after transplanting) on the herb’s root biomass, cryptolepine content and yield, and biological activities were investigated in a pot and field trial. The results showed the application of N (in the form of Urea or NPK) increased root biomass yield, cryptolepine content, and cryptolepine yield compared to unfertilized plants. The 9-month-old plants recorded the maximum cryptolepine content (2.26 mg/100 mg dry root) and cryptolepine yield (304.08 mg/plant), indicating the perfect time to harvest the herb. Plant age at harvest had a more significant influence (50.6–55.7%) on cryptolepine production than fertilizer application (29.2–33.3%). Cryptolepine extracts from 9- to 12-month-old plants had the highest antiplasmodial activity (IC50 = 2.56–4.65 µg/mL) and drug selectivity index (2.15–3.91) against Plasmodium falciparum Dd2. These extracts were also cytotoxic to Jurkat leukaemia cell lines (CC50 < 62.56 µg/mL), indicating the possible use of cryptolepine for cancer management. Growing the herb in the field increased cryptolepine yield 2.5 times compared to growth in a pot, but this did not influence the antiplasmodial activity of the extract. Commercial cultivation of C. sanguinolenta for 9 months combined with N application could be a promising solution to the sustainable use of this threatened medicinal species.

Degradacja próchnicy czarnoziemów ornych na przykładzie Ponidzia

The paper presents the results of research on the degradation of chernozems in part of the Proszowice lobe (near Pińczów). The currently progressing process of degradation of chernozems is showed in the decline of their physical and chemical properties (among others increased predisposition to soaking, changes in the content of organic carbon and nitrogen). The results were analyzed in the context of changes in the technology of farming. For the analysis, samples from areas with different types of use and different history of use (including archaeological sites) were collected. A significant decline of soil properties was found. They were expressed by destruction of the soil structure of humus horizon. It starts increase in the susceptibility of the soil clumping, soaking and erosion. The humus contents in researched samples are low (as content for Chernozem), but there is no different in this parameter determined half century ago. Currently, low values of the C/N coefficient indicate the impact of mineral fertilization (increasing the nitrogen content) and are part of the anthropogenic degradation of the analyzed Chernozems.

Assessment of Traditional Methods of Controlling Striga on Cultivated Crops in Sudanian Agricultural Zone of Chad

The phytoparasite, Striga spp., is a major biotic constraint to cereals production in sub-Saharan Africa. This study was carried out at station of Bébédjia of Chadian Institute of Agronomic Research for the Development in Sudanian agricultural zone of Chad, on traditional methods of controlling Striga spp. This study helped to find out several methods of controlling Striga among which the most important is the agronomic method including organic and or mineral fertilization, associated crops, crop rotation and the use of false hosts and trap crops. Some farmers cultivated resistant varieties and early maturing varieties to control pest attack and some others used shea flour and herbicide treatment to reduce the effect of Striga on the farm. Most of these methods were applied by farmers from generation to generation, without a thorough study to understand their mechanism. Thus, the listed methods will be analysed by research in station to find out scientific explanations for each applied method. Then experiments will be carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of some methods previously identified by extension rural services in farmers’ area after improvement.

The Analysis of Wheat Yield Variability Based on Experimental Data from 2008–2018 to Understand the Yield Gap

Among European countries, Poland has the largest gap in the grain yield of winter wheat, and thus the greatest potential to reduce this yield gap. This paper aims to recognize the main reasons for winter wheat yield variability and shed the light on possible reasons for this gap. We used long-term datasets (2008–2018) from individual commercial farms obtained by the Laboratory of Economics of Seed and Plant Breeding of Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute (IHAR)-National Research Institute (Poland) and the experimental fields with high, close to potential yield, in the Polish Post-Registration Variety Testing System in multi-environmental trials. We took into account environment, management and genetic variables. Environment was considered through soil class representing soil fertility. For the crop management, the rates of mineral fertilization, the use of pesticides and the type of pre-crop were considered. Genotype was represented by the independent variable year of cultivar registration or year of starting its cultivation in Poland. The analysis was performed using the CART (Classification and Regression Trees). The winter wheat yield variability was mostly dependent on the amount of nitrogen fertilization applied, soil quality, and type of pre-crop. Genetic variable was also important, which means that plant breeding has successfully increased genetic yield potential especially during the last several years. In general, changes to management practices are needed to lower the variability of winter wheat yield and possibly to close the yield gap in Poland.

Antioxidant Capacity and Nutritional Value of Potato Tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) as a Dependence of Growing Conditions and Long-Term Storage

The aim of the study was to assess the interactive effect of the use of bio-fertilizer and organic matter brought into the soil, as well as to limit the use of mineral fertilization on the content of bioactive compounds in potato tubers cultivar ‘Satina’. The test results show a positive effect of the applied bio-fertilizer in all tested variants of organic fertilization (straw, fodder pea, manure) on the level of the tested compounds. Comparing the content of crude protein in tubers from plots where half the dose of mineral fertilization was applied, the use of bio-fertilizer increased the content of this component, especially after using straw. After 6 months of storage, organic fertilization had no significant effect on the protein content, while significant differences were found in tubers fertilized with mineral, in favor of the full dose of NPK fertilizers. The storage time increased the content of tyrosine, leucine, lysine, alanine, glutamic acid, and total AA, and also methionine, aspartic acid, and asparagine, while the content of isoleucine and phenyl-alanine decreased. The highest content of total polyphenols was found in tubers where the plots were covered with pea application, a full dose of mineral fertilizer, and the use of bio-fertilizer. Unfortunately, after 6 months of storage, potato tubers from plots fertilized with peas, especially those fertilized with half the dose of mineral fertilization and without the use of biofertilizer, significantly lost the most total polyphenols. Similar relationships were obtained for the level of chlorogenic acid in tubers, which is significantly correlated with the content of polyphenols, but only organic fertilization in the form of peas significantly increased the concentration of chlorogenic acid. On the other hand, the highest post-harvest antioxidant activity was characteristic of tubers from plots fertilized with manure, with a full dose of mineral fertilization and biofertilizer. During the 6-month storage, there was a decrease in the antioxidant capacity, on average 12.4% for the objects. This may indicate the influence of polyphenolic compounds as well as other antioxidants on the assessed trait.

CARACTERIZAÇÃO FÍSICO-HÍDRICA DO SOLO APÓS CULTIVOS FERTIRRIGADOS COM ÁGUA RESIDUÁRIA TRATADA

CARACTERIZAÇÃO FÍSICO-HÍDRICA DO SOLO APÓS CULTIVOS FERTIRRIGADOS COM ÁGUA RESIDUÁRIA TRATADA* FERNANDO LOPES GODINHO1; EDSON FAGNE DOS SANTOS2; SILVANIO RODRIGUES DOS SANTOS1, MARCOS KOITI KONDO1; MARFFÍSIA AMARAL RODRIGUES FERREIRA1 1Departamento de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Rua Reinaldo Viana, 2630, Bico da Pedra, 39440-000, Janaúba, MG, Brasil, [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] 2Departamento de Agronomia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Avenida P.H Rolfs, S/N. CEP: 36570-900, Viçosa – MG, Brasil, email: [email protected] *Artigo proveniente da dissertação de mestrado do primeiro autor. 1 RESUMO Elevadas cargas de esgoto são destinadas aos corpos d'água no Brasil, podendo essa realidade ser mudada com o emprego de tecnologias para o uso agrícola desse resíduo. Assim, objetivou-se quantificar as mudanças no movimento e retenção de água em Latossolo Vermelho Eutrófico, após cultivo sequencial com a aplicação de água residuária sanitária tratada (ART). Para isso, foram utilizados cinco tratamentos (0= água limpa e adubação mineral; 50%; 100%; 150% e 200% da dose de ART limitada pelo elemento referência K+ nos 3 primeiros cultivos e; 0= água limpa e adubação mineral; 100%; 200%; 300% e 400% da dose de ART limitada pelo elemento referência Na+ no abacaxizeiro), no delineamento em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Observou-se uma diminuição linear de 0,0972 mm h-1, 0,0997 mm h-1 e 0,0073 cm h-1 na taxa de infiltração básica, no tempo de 1,5 h e na condutividade hidráulica, respectivamente, para cada mm de efluente adicionado no solo, além de aumentar a porcentagem de sódio trocável nas profundidades avaliadas. No entanto, tais alterações não ultrapassam os limites considerados seguros pela literatura. Palavras-chave: infiltração; retenção de água; fertirrigação; esgoto sanitário. GODINHO, F. L.; SANTOS, E. F.; SANTOS, S. R.; KONDO, M. K.; FERREIRA, M. A. R. PHYSICAL-HYDRICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE SOIL AFTER FERTIRRIGATED CROPS WITH TREATED SANITARY WATER 2 ABSTRACT High sewage loads are still released into water sources in Brazil. This can be changed using technologies that contributes for the use of part of this wastewater in agriculture. This study aimed to evaluate possible changes in the movement and water retention in Eutrophic Red Latosol, after sequential cultivation with the application of treated sanitary wastewater (ART). Five treatments were used (0: clean water and mineral fertilization, 50%, 100%, 150% and 200% of the ART dose limited by the reference element K+ in the first 3 cultivation and 0: clean water and mineral fertilization, 100%, 200%, 300% and 400% of the ART dose, limited by the reference element Na+ in pineapple crops, in a randomized block design with four replications. A linear decrease of 0.0972 mm h-1, 0.0997 mm h-1 and 0.0073 cm h-1, respectively, was observed in the basic infiltration rate, in the time of 1.5 h, and hydraulic conductivity, for each mm effluent increased in the soil; in addition, in the percentage of exchangeable sodium at depths evaluated. However, such changes do not exceed the limits considered safe by the literature. Keywords: infiltration; water retention; fertigation; sanitary sewage; water reuse.

Effect of Soil-Applied L-tryptophan on the Amount of Biomass and Nitrogen and Sulfur Utilization by Maize

As natural plant growth stimulators, amino acids are widely used to improve crop yield and quality. There are numerous studies documenting the influence of amino acids on plants, which is not always positive. This study was conducted to determine the effect of soil-applied L-tryptophan (L-TRP) on the accumulation and utilization of nitrogen and sulfur by maize. The study was carried out under the conditions of a pot experiment. The experimental design included three treatments: soil without fertilization (control), soil with mineral fertilization (NPKS), and soil with mineral fertilization and L-tryptophan addition (NPKS + L-TRP). The application of tryptophan to the soil, supported by mineral fertilization, caused a significant increase in maize biomass. Although no significant differences in nitrogen and sulfur contents in maize biomass were found between treatments without and with the addition of L-tryptophan, significantly higher intakes of both elements were observed in the NPKS + L-TRP treatment. The application of L-tryptophan increased the biosynthesis of Chlorophyll a. Utilization of nitrogen and sulfur by maize in the NPKS + L-TRP treatment was more than 27% and 17% higher, respectively, compared to the NPKS treatment. Maintaining the recommended contents of individual nutrients in the rhizosphere is not a guarantee of optimal quantitative and qualitative intake of nutrients. Problems with maintaining optimal relationships between individual nutrients may be compounded by soil properties.