Growth and nitrogen accumulation assessment of banana (Musa acuminata) after exposure to hydroquinone in a charcoal-ultisol mix

The present study investigates plant growth and nitrogen accumulation assessment of young banana plant (Musa acuminata) after exposure to hydroquinone (a mutagen) in a charcoal-ultisol mix. Charcoal was obtained from the wood of Pentaclethra macrophylla aerobically, and was crushed into a smooth powdered form. This was mixed with an ultisol obtained from the University of Benin Botanic garden. Different levels of the soil-charcoal mix were prepared as follows; 100% charcoal, 75% charcoal-25% soil, 50% charcoal-50% soil, 25% charcoal- 75% soil, and 100% sand. The charcoal-ultisol mix was then amended with 5ppm hydroquinone one week before propagating young banana suckers. Results showed that sprouting began fifteen days after propagation. There were also different changes in plant height in the various soil treatments; the lowest was reported in the 75-25 charcoal ultisol mix (10.50cm), compared to 45.83cm in plants sown in 100% charcoals. Foliar yield was lowest in the 75-25 charcoal-ultisol mix (8.55 grams per plant), compared to 29.15 grams per plant in the 100% charcoal. The below ground morphological characteristics test plant revealed that there were significant differences between the growth parameters. Nitrate nitrogen, Ammonia Nitrogen and total nitrogen were significantly accumulated on the leaves of plant. However, higher nitrogen accumulation in the leaves was found in treatment with high charcoal percentage.

The Mediterranean Old-Growth Forests: Anomalies or Relicts? The Contribution of Soil Charcoal Analysis

Old-growth forests are of high interest for biodiversity conservation, especially in the disturbance-prone Mediterranean landscapes. However, it remains unclear whether the survival of patches of old-growth forest in the degraded Mediterranean landscapes results from local anomalies or from past, larger forests. Therefore, in this study, we assessed (1) the origin, (2) the long-term ecological trajectory, and (3) the mechanism(s) that explain the survival of a Mediterranean old-growth forest, the Sainte-Baume forest. To achieve this, we used soil charcoal analysis. We opened fifteen soil profiles in the forest and five in its surrounding areas for soil description and sampling. The soil descriptions enabled us to highlight in situ soil horizon and colluvial layers. A total of 1656 charcoal pieces from different soil samples were taxonomically identified to characterize the composition of past forests. Selected charcoal pieces (n = 34) were dated to obtain chronological data. Our investigations indicate that the survival of the Mediterranean old-growth forest, in the context of the semi-open/open Mediterranean landscapes, is the result of a combination of biotic and abiotic factors, which reduced the influence of past forest disturbances. Thus, the resistance and resilience of the forest areas are preserved over a long-term ecological trajectory. Therefore, the potential of Mediterranean old-growth forests as baseline reference points for the conservation of biodiversity is related to the identification and maintenance of the local biotic and abiotic factors which allowed the survival of the old-growth forest.

Nesting Effects of Climate and Local Drivers on Long-Term Subalpine Fires in the Alps

Background: The present article questions the relative importance of local- and large-scale processes on the long-term dynamics of fire in the subalpine belt in the western Alps. The study is based on soil charcoal dating and identification, several study sites in contrasting environmental conditions, and sampling of soil charcoal along the elevation gradient of each site. Based on local differences in biomass combustion, we hypothesize that local-scale processes have driven the fire history, while combustion homogeneity supports the hypothesis of the importance of large-scale processes, especially the climate. Results: The results show that biomass burning during the Holocene resulted from the nesting effects of climate, land use, and altitude, but was little influenced by topography (slope exposure: north versus south), soil (dryness, pH, depth), and vegetation. The mid-Holocene (6500–2700 cal BP) was an important period for climatic biomass burning in the subalpine ecosystems of the western Alps, while fires from about 2500 years ago appear much more episodic, prompting us to speculate that human society has played a vital role in their occurrence. Conclusion: Our working hypothesis assuming that the strength of mountain natural and local drivers should offset the effects of regional climate is not validated. The homogeneity of the fire regime between sites thus underscore that climate was the main driver during the Holocene of the western Alps. Long-term subalpine fires are controlled by climate at millennial scale. Local conditions count for little in determining variability at the century scale. The mid-Holocene was a chief period for climatic biomass burning in the subalpine zone, while fires during the late Holocene appear much more episodic, prompting the assumption that societal drivers has exercised key roles on their control.

Dating the origins of persistent oak shrubfields in northern New Mexico using soil charcoal and dendrochronology

Megafires in dry conifer forests of the Southwest US are driving transitions to alternative vegetative states, including extensive shrubfields dominated by Gambel oak ( Quercus gambelii). Recent tree-ring research on oak shrubfields that predate the 20th century suggests that these are not a seral stage of conifer succession but are enduring stable states that can persist for centuries. Here we combine soil charcoal radiocarbon dating with tree-ring evidence to refine the fire origin dates for three oak shrubfields (<300 ha) in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico and test three hypotheses that shrubfields were established by tree-killing fires caused by (1) megadrought; (2) forest infilling associated with decadal-scale climate influences on fire spread; or (3) anthropogenic interruptions of fire spread. Integrated tree-ring and radiocarbon evidence indicate that one shrubfield established in 1664 CE, another in 1522 CE, and the third long predated the oldest tree-ring evidence, establishing sometime prior to 1500 CE. Although megadrought alone was insufficient to drive the transitions to shrub-dominated states, a combination of drought and anthropogenic impacts on fire spread may account for the origins of all three shrub patches. Our study shows that these shrubfields can persist >500 years, meaning modern forest-shrub conversion of patches as large as >10,000 ha will likely persist for centuries.

Forest soil charcoal and historical land use

Charcoal deposits in forest soils have been considered mainly in the context of wildfires. However, slash-and-burn cultivation has been widespread in Northern Europe until the beginning of the 20th century and extensive areas of former swiddens are now covered by forests. The study sites were in Karula National Park in Southern Estonia. 19th-century cadastral maps were used to identify the historical land use. Macroscopic (visible) charcoal was studied in 57 soil pits, located in historical slash-and-burn sites, forests, former arable fields, recent forest fire sites, and experimental slash-and-burn fields. The locations of charcoal in the soil profile were recorded. In four sites, the charcoal samples were dated. Charcoal is widespread in boreal forest soils. A considerable proportion of this could originate from historical slash-and-burn cultivation. The charcoal depth was related to agricultural land use duration and methods at different intensities. The location of the charcoal-rich layer reflected the historical cultivation best, though patchy spatial distribution and the evident translocation of charcoal from different fire events complicates the interpretation of the charcoal pattern. Not all translocation mechanisms have yet been explained.

Recent History, Use and Forgetfulness of the Cypress Forest of Fontegreca (Southern Italy)

The cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is characterized by a very ancient history linked to the wide employment for the technological properties of its wood and for its symbolic value. Although this tree was often considered as a species introduced in Italy, the first genetic studies showed, instead, the presence of an autochthonous population of C. sempervirens in the forest of Fontegreca (Matese massif, Southern Italy), which constitutes the unique autochthonous cypress woodland present in Southwestern and Western Europe. Therefore, investigations were carried out in selected (using geomorphological criteria) areas of the forest, through soil chemical analysis, identification and 14C dating of soil charcoals. Indeed, we hypothesize that these analyses allow clarifying the history of this woodland characterized by the dominance of the cypress in the forest cover. Areas at medium-low (17–29°) slope gradient on the eastern and southern slopes of the forest were investigated and sampled, following pedological criteria (soil horizons order). Soil morphological and chemical analysis showed humus-rich surface horizons, thin (15–30 cm) and poorly developed (young) soils, overlapping the bedrock limestones. The first soil charcoal analysis data highlighted the presence of a previous landscape characterized by several species (e.g., Pistacia, Ostrya carpinifolia, Juniperus sp. and Pinus sp.) and, probably, by a different forest structure. Ongoing charcoal identification and 14C dating will likely give a better understanding of both (1) the cypress history and (2) the development of this forest landscape.

Pengaruh berbagai Asal Benih Induk dan Media Tanam terhadap Pertumbuhan Jambu Mete

<p>Common problems in cashew tree development are low plant productivity caused by the use of unqualified seeds and limited knowledge of seed handling. This research was aimed to study the role of the mother tree on the growth of cashew seeds and study the seedling and growth of cashew trees in several planting media. The method used was Completely Randomized Design (CRD), consisting of two treatment factors and 4 replications. The first factor was the planting medium consists of 4 types: soil; soil: manure (2: 1); husk charcoal: manure (2: 1); soil: charcoal husk: manure (1: 1: 1). While the second factor was the origin of the seeds from the parent tree with fruit colors red, green, yellow, pink. The results showed that the planting soil medium was very significantly affected by increasing plant growth, namely plant height, number, and leaf area. The interaction between media and seed origin was not significantly affected plant growth. The best seed growth was found on soil media, plant height reaches 31.750 cm, number of leaves with 19 leaves, with an area of 48.437 cm².</p>

Effet du substrat sur la biomasse et la fixation symbiotique de l’azote par les plants de Acacia mangium willd. (Fabaceae) en pépinière

Acacia mangium Willd est une espèce à croissance rapide, fixatrice d’azote, capable de restituer au sol des éléments minéraux par chute de litière. Elle est actuellement très utilisée dans les programmes de reboisement. L’effet substrat sur la biomasse des plants, à l’âge de plantation, a été estimé dans le but d’optimiser les conditions de production des plants. Un dispositif en blocs complets randomisés comprenant six types de substrats à base de terre noire, charbon et sciure de bois, a été mis en place. Des jeunes plants âgés de trois semaines ont été transplantés dans des plaques alvéolées comprenant différents substrats puis élevés jusqu’à l’âge de plantation. Une dose de 30 g d’engrais NPK dilués dans 10 l d’eau a été apportée quotidiennement aux plants. Les résultats obtenus montrent un effet substrat sur la biomasse et la croissance. Les plants issus des substrats 6 (75% terre+25% charbon) et 4 (50% terre+50% charbon) présentent les meilleures performances de croissance. L’Activité Réductrice d’Acétylène (ARA) réalisée a été influencée par le substrat. La dose de fertilisation apportée n’a pas engendré l’avortement des nodules. Le substrat 5 (50% de terre noire, 25% de charbon et 25% de sciure de bois) offre les conditions optimales de développement des nodules.Mots clés : Substrat, Acacia mangium, biomasse, ARA. English Title: Effect of substrate on the biomass and the symbiotic fixing of nitrogen by Acacia mangium willd. (Fabaceae) seedlings in the nurseryAcacia mangium Willd is a rapid growth species, fixing of nitrogen and able to restore on the ground biogenic salts through the fall of litter. It’s currently very used in the afforestation programs. The effect of substrate on the seedlings biomass at the plantation age was estimated with the aim of optimizing the seedlings production conditions. A randomized complete blocks of six types of substrate containing black soil, charcoal and sawdust, was set up. Seedlings of three weeks old were transplanted in the alveolate plates with various substrates during the education phase until the age of plantation. 30 g of a mineral fertilizer NPK (20-20-20) diluted in 10 l of water was brought daily to the seedlings. The results showed a substrate effect on the biomass and the plants growth. Seeedlings which growed on the substrate 6 (75% black soil + 25% charcoal) and 4 (50% black soil + 50% charcoal) present the best growth performances. The Acetylene Reduction Assay (ARA) realized was significantly influenced by the types of substrate. Mineral fertilizer brought does not generate the abortion of the nodules. The substrate 5 (black soil 50%, charcoal 25% and sawdust 25%) offered the optimum conditions of nodules development.Keywords: Substrate, Acacia mangium, biomass, ARA.

Penggunaan Berbagai Komposisi Media Tanam dan Konsentrasi Pupuk Organik Cair (POC) Terhadap Produksi Tanaman Sawi di Desa Mappesangka, Kec. Ponre, Kab. Bone, Provinsi Sulawesi Selatan

This study aims to determine the effect and prove the composition of the planting media and the concentration of liquid organic fertilizer that can provide growth and yield of mustard plants. The design used was a randomized block design (RCBD) with three replications. The first factor is the composition of the planting medium which is a mixture of soil, charcoal husk, and manure consisting of three compositions, namely 1: 2: 2, 2: 2: 1, 2: 1: 2. The second factor is the concentration of liquid organic fertilizer with a concentration of 2.5 ml / l, 5 ml / l, 7.5 ml / l. The results showed that the interaction between the use of the composition of the planting media and the concentration of liquid organic fertilizer was appropriate, namely a ratio of 1: 2: 2 and the concentration of liquid organic fertilizer of 7.5 ml / l significantly affected the observation parameters of leaf width, leaf length, and weight plant.Keywords: Growing media, liquid organic fertilizer, mustard plant