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Lichens contain a sufficient amount of plant nutrients for plant growth. Studies have shown that the characteristic secondary metabolites they produce contain significant amounts of organic acids, amino acids, and hormones. This study aims to examine the effects of 10 different lichen species Aspicilia calcarea (A. calcarea), Cetraria islandica (C. islandica), Cladonia furcate (C. furcate), Flavoparmelia caperata (F. caperata), Lobaria pulmonaria (L. pulmonaria), Pseudevernia furfuracea (P. furfuracea), Rhizoplaca chrsoleuca (R. chrsoleuca), Umbilicaria vellea (U. vellaa), Xanthoparmelia somloensis (X. somloensis), Usnea longissima (U. longissima) on metabolic properties and growth parameters of maize plant for possible use as a plant food source in sustainable and organic agriculture. As a result of the research, it was observed that when lichen species were applied as plant nutrients, there were significant increases in plant height, plant weight, dry matter ratio, some nutrient content and amino acid levels of maize compared to the control group. Among the treatments, Lobaria pulmonaria application at 5 g/kg resulted in the highest values for plant height (145.00 cm), plant weight (187.00 g), and dry matter ratio (19.21%). The research shows that different lichen species significantly affect the amino acid content, nutrient content, and growth parameters of the maize plant at various levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil analysis is a crucial component of agricultural production, as it provides information about the nutrient content in soil to recommend fertilizer guidelines and make informed decisions to optimize crop yields and promote sustainable agriculture. Near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy holds great promise as an analytical tool with several advantages, such as rapid, nondestructive, and without the need for chemicals, making it a promising alternative to traditional laboratory methods to determine nutrient contents in soil. This study used two multivariate techniques partial least square regression (PLSR) and locally weighted PLSR (LWPLSR) to construct calibration models to relate NIR spectra to the total nitrogen (total N), available phosphorus (available P), extractable potassium (extractable K) and extractable ammonium (NH4+) contents in soil samples. The results showed that the LWPLSR model outperformed the PLSR model. The best predictions were obtained using LWPLSR model for total N (R2 = 0.87 and RMSEP = 0.133), available P (R2 = 0.68 and RMSEP = 9.013), extractable K (R2 = 0.84 and RMSEP = 15.436) and extractable NH4+ (R2 = 0.73 and RMSEP = 6.789). This work demonstrated the potential of LWPLSR coupled with NIR spectroscopy for efficient soil analysis, providing the geographical neighbors of the test sample present in the calibration database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus (P) is an essential element for soil quality and plant growth. But little is known about P fractions consequent to microbial inoculation in soils amended with inorganic phosphorus. In this regard, the overall soil P fractions after microbial treatments varied as hydrochloric acid – P (HCl-P) > Sodium hydroxide – P (NaOH-P) > Sodium bicarbonate – P (NaHCO3-P) > Water – P (H2O-P) determined through sequential fractionation. Inorganic P amendment of soil increased residual P fractions indicating non-availability of chemical P fertilizers added in soil. Bacterial–fungal co-inoculation, significantly increased NaHCO3-P and H2O-P fractions, as compared to mono inoculations and un-inoculated controls. Inoculated microbial populations increased in numbers contributing to the modification of the soil pH. In soil without TriCalcium Phosphate (TCP), microbial treatments showed a reduced pH compared to the control, with a maximum pH decrease in mono bacterial inoculations. In conclusion, tested bacterial and fungal strains exhibited efficient P solubilization in soil, and thus, have potential to be used as biofertilizers, subject to other necessary trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) - Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GB03 (BamGB03), B. megaterium SNji (BmeSNji), and Azospirillum brasilense 65B (Abr65B) - to enhance growth and nutrient uptake in wheat was evaluated under different mineral N fertilizer rates, in sterile and non-sterile soils, and at different developmental stages. In gnotobiotic conditions, the three strains significantly increased plant biomass irrespective of the N rates. Under greenhouse conditions using non-sterile soil, growth promotion was generally highest at a moderate N rate, followed by a full N dose, while no significant effect was observed for the inoculants in the absence of N fertilizer. At 50N, plant biomass was most significantly increased in roots (up to +45% with Abr65B) at stem-elongation stage and in the ears (+19-23% according to the strains) at flowering stages. For some nutrients (N, P, Mn, and Cu), the biomass increases in roots and ears were paralleled with reduced nutrient concentrations in the same organs. Nevertheless, growth stimulation resulted in a higher total nutrient uptake and higher nutrient uptake efficiency. Furthermore, Abr65B and BmeSNji counteracted the reduction of root development caused by a high N supply. Therefore, combining PGPR with a proper cultivated system, N rate, and plant stage could enhance their biostimulant effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf analysis is a tool for effective fertilizer recommendations in fruit trees. To achieve this goal, a suitable leaf sampling method is a very important step. This study aimed to investigate suitable leaf position and leaf age to establish standardized leaf sampling method, which can collect representative leaf sample for leaf nutrient analysis in rose apple cultivar Tubtimjan. The experiment consisted of 3 leaf positions (1st, 2nd, and 3rd leaf position) from the growing tip and 1-8months leaf age. The results indicated that the suitable leaf position to be the index leaves were 2nd and 3rd leaf position with 6-7months old leaf age due to minimum variation of the leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) concentrations. Moreover, the concentrations of N, P, and K tended to decrease, whereas, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn concentrations tended to increase as leaf age increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted for the purpose of determining the effects of bat guano on plant nutrient contents in the soil and in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) during the spring of both 2014 and 2015 with three replications according to randomized blocks experiment design. Bat guano was applied to the soil in two different forms; According to the results organic matter, P, Cu and Mn amounts in the soil were found to be statistically significant and increased compared to the control. Likewise, in the application of bat guano dust, organic matter, P and Mn amounts in the soil were found to be statistically significant and increased compared to the control. In lettuce, N, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn amounts in the application of bat guano powder and K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn and Mn amounts in the application of bat guano dust were found to be statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased population pressure coupled with unsustainable cropland management has resulted in soil degradation and a decline in crop productivity in China. This study tested the hypothesis that the soil with combined addition of composted green waste (CGW) and carbonized rice hulls (CRHs) as amendments will improve soil properties and increase peanut production. Some selected parameters of soil and peanut plant were measured, which were best if the soil was amended with 35 t ha−1CGW and 10 t ha−1CRH and were worst in the nonamended soil. Relative to the soil without amendment addition, amendment of the soil with 35 t ha−1CGW and 10 t ha−1CRH increased seed yield, total pod yield, root nodule number, and nodule dry weight by 50.0, 52.4, 55.4, and 57.9%, respectively, and increased total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, and total chlorophyll content of plants by 53.2, 54.4, 53.7, and 56.8%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant analysis can be a useful tool in determining the general nutritional status of crops during the growing season. For this reason, a field experiment was conducted in the Fars province of Iran during 2008 season to evaluate the concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in maize leaf as affected by zinc sulfate and boric acid. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with two factors and three replications. Factor one included four levels of B (0, 3 and 6 kg ha−1 B added to the soil and B foliar spray with a 0.3% concentration); factor two consisted of five levels of zinc (Zn) (0, 8, 16 and 24 kg ha−1 Zn added to the soil and Zn foliar spray with a 0.5% concentration). The results of this work showed that the main effect of Zn and B levels and interaction of Zn–B on the leaf N and P concentrations was insignificant. A synergism was seen between Zn and K and also between B and K. The presence of a high amount of Zn or B in the soil prevented from increase of leaf K content, by B or Zn application, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Whiteflies in the Bemisia complex are global pests on numerous horticultural crops. The effect of cultural practices on the population of the B-biotype sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), is only partly understood. A study was conducted to examine the effect of different rates of three common sulfur-containing fertilizers (ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, and superphosphate) on the population of B. tabaci in 10 vegetable crops. Three different rates were tested in the field for each fertilizer, but the specific rates were varied among crops to reflect the general use by growers in comparison with higher and lower rates. Egg, nymph, and adult whitefly counts were generally elevated with increased rates of ammonium sulfate or decreased with increasing rates of potassium sulfate. Conversely, field and laboratory data suggested a reduction in whitefly counts on cabbage and cucumber in response to increased rates of ammonium sulfate. However, whitefly populations within crops were generally the same regardless of rate of the superphosphate. Although each of the three fertilizers provides more than one essential nutrient, the individual role of sulfur, or any other nutrient, on the whitefly population was not identified. Nevertheless, the results from this study support that in certain sulfur-containing fertilizers, populations of the sweetpotato whitefly can be affected in several vegetable crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mature leaves of naturally occurring Jatropha curcas plants and soils samples were collected from four different populations to determine the soil characteristics, soil-available nutrients, and leaf nutrient contents. This study provides a reliable account of the endogenic concentrations of nutrients present in jatropha leaves. Soil manganese [diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)-Mn] was the only soil-available nutrient significantly correlated with its content in the plant. Relationships between soil characteristics, available nutrient in soil, and their content in plant leaves were also attempted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]