Mitigation of Salinity Stress Effects on Broad Bean Productivity Using Calcium Phosphate Nanoparticles Application

Water salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses, and the use of saline water for the agricultural sector will incur greater demand in the coming decades. Recently, nanoparticles (NPs) have been used for developing numerous plant fertilizers as a smart and powerful form of material with dual action that can alleviate the adverse effects of salinity and provide the plant with more efficient nutrient forms. This study evaluated the influence of calcium phosphate NPs (CaP-NPs) as a soil fertilizer application on the production and bioactive compounds of broad bean plants under salinity stress. Results showed that salinity had deleterious effects on plant yield with 55.9% reduction compared to control. On the other hand, CaP-NPs dramatically improved plant yield by 30% compared to conventional fertilizer under salinity stress. This improvement could be attributed to significantly higher enhancement in total soluble sugars, antioxidant enzymes, proline content, and total phenolics recorded use of nano-fertilizer compared to conventional use under salt stress. Additionally, nano-fertilizer reflected better mitigatory effects on plant growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, and oxidative stress indicators (MDA and H2O2). Therefore, our results support the replacement of traditional fertilizers comprising Ca2+ or P with CaP-nano-fertilizers for higher plant productivity and sustainability under salt stress.

Light-Intercepting Characteristics and Growth of Tomatoes Cultivated in a Greenhouse Using a Movable Bench System

The objective of this study was to investigate the growth and light-intercepting characteristics of tomatoes when movable benches are used in their cultivation. We cultivated tomatoes in a greenhouse (168 m2) during summer (9 July–9 September 2018) under different furrow distances (F1.0 = 1.0 m and F1.6 = 1.6 m) and movable benches (M indicates that the furrow distance = 0.4–0.8 m). Compared to the other treatments, when the movable bench was used to the change furrow distance depending on the plant growth stage (M treatment), the percentage of canopy light interception increased to ~90% at the early stage of plant growth (~20 days after transplanting). The percentage of canopy light interception for different treatments increased in the order of M > F1.0 > F1.6, and it increased towards the end of cultivation. In addition, the yield per unit area exhibited the same trend. Therefore, the solar radiation inside a greenhouse can be efficiently intercepted by plants when movable benches are used. This indicated that it was possible to increase plant yield per unit area using movable benches in plant cultivation.

Elucidation of Genetic Parameters Controlling Yield and Quality Traits in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Background: Forty two crosses involving seven lines and six testers were studied for economically important yield contributing and quality traits to test the magnitude of genetic components and diversity. Formulation of efficient breeding methodology is possible by targeting the genetic architecture of genotypes. Methods: The systematic breeding programme involves generating genetic variability besides sorting off the diverse genotypes and utilizing the extreme phenotypes for producing stable varieties. Genetic diversity helps to achieve the greater continuum of genetic variability in segregating populations to reach for ideal selection of progenies. Heritability and genetic advance are other important selection parameters for retrieving better genotype through selection. Result: Significant differences in analysis of variance were recorded for all the traits. The results signified the greater value of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and environment coefficient of variation (ECV) pertaining to the test traits studied. Among agronomical characters, the GCV and PCV were reported to be in higher estimate for number of productive tillers per plant, number of grains per panicle, single plant yield and among quality characters for gelatinization temperature (GT), length breadth (LB) ratio, gel consistency and amylose content. The present study adverted that among the yield and grain quality characters viz., number of productive tillers, number of grains per panicle, single plant yield, plant height, 1000 grain weight, milling percentage and grain length could be easily inherited to next generation due to high heritability. Whereas breadth elongation ratio and linear elongation ratio are influenced by environmental factors due to their low heritability. Further, the number of productive tillers, number of grains per panicle, single plant yield, plant height, Gel consistency and amylose content exhibited higher PCV, GCV, heritability and genetic advance and hence direct selection can be made for target traits.

Effects of Various Irrigation and Fertilizer on Water Efficiency and Tomato Yield (Solanum lycopersicum) in Alfisols

<p>Investing in irrigation is very important and strategic in the context of water supply for agriculture. Therefore, this study aims to identify the most efficient irrigation technique and type of fertilizer to maximize the yield of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) in Alfisols. This study was a greenhouse pot experiment with a factorial completely randomized design with two factors consisting of four irrigation techniques (pottery, drip, 75% ETc manual, and 100% ETc manual) and types of fertilizers (without, organic, inorganic, mixed fertilizer). The results showed that pottery irrigation had the highest Nitrogen content in the soil and saved up to 50% water compared to 100% ETc. On the other hand, drip irrigation uses water of 75% ETc with similar plant yield results. The pottery irrigation was the most efficient irrigation method for growing tomato than 75% ETc manual irrigation, and 100% ETc manual irrigation with mixed fertilizers (I4P3) was the highest on tomato yield.</p>

Oxyfertigation and Transplanting Conditions of Strawberries

Soilless growing systems can improve water-use efficiency, especially in closed soilless growing systems. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different transplanting conditions, and determine how supplying H2O2 as an oxygen source to the rhizosphere of strawberry plants in a soilless growing system affects plant growth, fruit yield and fruit quality. Strawberry plants (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) cv. ‘Fortuna’ were cultivated in 12 L pots filled with peat substrate, and maintained under conditions of natural light and temperature. Treated plants were supplied with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (H1) and control plants did not receive H2O2 (H0). In terms of the transplanting conditions, the plants were transplanted in October (T1), and either maintained in a culture chamber (T2), or refrigerated (T3), for one month, before being transplanted. A completely randomized block design with two treatment factors (transplanting conditions, and H2O2 treatment) and five replications was established. Then, we determined the fruit per plant, yield per plant (g plant−1), fruit weight (g fruit−1), fruit size (mm), SPAD values, crown number, crown diameter (mm), flower number, firmness (g cm−1), pH, total soluble solid (TSS), titratable acidity (TA) and TSS/TA. During the early crop cycle, there were not significant differences between treatment and the transplanting conditions that significantly affected the fruit weight and fruit size, although T3 produced the highest values. During the late crop cycle, the H2O2 treatment affected fruit per plant, yield per plant (g plant−1), and crown diameter, with H1 producing the highest values. Furthermore, the transplanting conditions affected yield per plant (g plant−1), old SPAD values, crown diameter, firmness, TSS, TA and TSS/TA.

Trichoderma and Nanotechnology in Sustainable Agriculture: A Review

Due to their unique properties and functionalities, nanomaterials can be found in different activities as pharmaceutics, cosmetics, medicine, and agriculture, among others. Nowadays, formulations with nano compounds exist to reduce the application of conventional pesticides and fertilizers. Among the most used are nanoparticles (NPs) of copper, zinc, or silver, which are known because of their cytotoxicity, and their accumulation can change the dynamic of microbes present in the soil. In agriculture, Trichoderma is widely utilized as a safe biocontrol strategy and to promote plant yield, making it susceptible to be in contact with nanomaterials that can interfere with its viability as well as its biocontrol and plant growth promotion effects. It is well-known that strains of Trichoderma can tolerate and uptake heavy metals in their bulk form, but it is poorly understood whether the same occurs with nanomaterials. Interestingly, Trichoderma can synthesize NPs that exhibit antimicrobial activities against various organisms of interest, including plant pathogens. In this study, we summarize the main findings regarding Trichoderma and nanotechnology, including its use to synthesize NPs and the consequence that these compounds might have in this fungus and its associations. Moreover, based on these findings we discuss whether it is feasible to develop agrochemicals that combine NPs and Trichoderma strains to generate more sustainable products or not.

Pemanfaatan Biochar sebagai Pembawa Rhizobium terhadap Pembentukan Bintil Akar dan Hasil Tanaman Kedelai (Glycine max L. Merril)

The Utilization of Biochar as a Carrier of Rhizobium for the formation of root nodules and Yield of Soybean (Glycine max L. Merril). This study aims to determine the effect of the type of raw materials and particle size of biochar as a Rhizobium carrier on the formation of nodules in soybean plants. This research was conducted from September to November 2020 at the Experimental Station and Laboratory of Soil and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Udayana University. The research design used was a randomized block design with nested patterns with 2 factorials and 3 replications. The treatment factors consisted of B1 = bamboo biochar, B2 = albasia wood biochar, B3 = corncob biochar, B4 = young coconut skin biochar, P1 = (0,15-0,50 mm), P2 = (>0,50-1,68 mm), P3 = (>1,68-3,36 mm). The parameters observed included effective nodule, nodule size, total bacterial population, ammonium, nitrate, and plant yield. The result of the analysis showed that the type of biochar raw materials had a very significant effect on the parameters of effective nodules, nodules size, total bacterial population and plant yield, but had no significant effect on soil chemical parameters. The treatment of biochar particle size had a very significant effect on the parameters of effective nodules, total bacterial population, and plant yield, and had a significant effect on the size of nodules, but had no significant effect on soil chemical parameters. The conclusion of this study is that the type of raw material for albasia wood biochar is effective as a Rhizobium carrier, which is indicated by the high number of effective nodules, nodules size and total bacterial population of 0,15-1,68 mm particles.

Mineral Materials as a Neutralizing Agent Used on Soil Contaminated with Copper

The aim of the investigation was to evaluate the response of plants, using black mustard (Brassica nigra L. Koch) as a model plant, to soil contamination with copper (0, 200, 400, 600 mg Cu kg−1 of soil), and to determine the effectiveness of the Cu immobilization with mineral neutralizing materials, such as lime, clay and zeolite. The plant yield depended on soil contamination and mineral amendments. In the series without neutralizing materials, the level of 600 mg Cu kg−1 reduced the yield and increased leaf greenness. Lime alleviated the toxicity of Cu in objects with 200 mg Cu kg−1. Zeolite slightly mitigated the harmful effects of Cu at the level of 400 and 600 mg kg−1. Zeolite lowered the SPAD index. In the chemical composition of plants, the content of Cu, K, Mg, Na and Ca in plants increased to 400 mg Cu kg−1, while the content of P decreased to 600 mg Cu kg−1. Among the materials, lime reduced the Cu accumulation in plants the most, followed by clay. Cu narrowed the majority of ratios and widened the Ca:P and K:Ca ratios in plants. The applied mineral materials, except lime, did not significantly affect the formation of these indicators.

Effect of Organic Fertilization and Mulching on Growth and Yield of Brassica Olerracea L. Var. Capitata

The experiment was carried out at the Research Station of the Department of Horticulture dept. of Tikrit University for the season 2020-2021 to investigate the effect of organic fertilization with treatments (control, poultry manure, and Humobacter fertilizer) and mulching type with four Mulching type (no mulching, black mulch, white mulch, and yellow mulch). A randomized complete blocks (RCBD) design and a split-plot method were used in the experiment, which included three replications. The Humobacter fertilizer treatment considerably outperformed of plant height, and overall plant yield, which were 21.69 cm, and 46.55 tons -1, respectively, compared to 19.03 cm, and 28.10 tons -1, respectively, As for the mulch treatments, the yellow mulch treatments were achieved the best values of number leaves, plant yield for one plant and the total plant yield, 16.81 leaf-1, 50.38 cm, 1.42 kg and 47.31 tons -1, respectively.