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Copyright of Forest Science (0861-007X) is the property of Forest Research Institute (BAS) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The use of intensive chemistry in the agricultural field was a first cause of pollution in the agricultural field. In order to move towards sustainable, environmentally friendly agriculture, farmers took into account the use of alternatives to chemical fertilizers, green, green and non-polluting alternatives. Thus, so-called ecological fertilizers, green fertilizers, soil-friendly, agricultural crops, production and, implicitly, for humans and animals have emerged. The alternative to chemical fertilizers is fertilizer based on bacterial cultures. In agriculture, the main source of nutrition is the nutrients. These are the basis for the growth and development of cultural plants, and they are indispensable to any form of life. On the other hand, the amount of nutrients at some point in time may decrease or increase depending on certain pedo-climatic factors, soil typology, the ability of plants to return some of the nutrients consumed (by the decomposition of crop residues) and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern agriculture is dependent on phosphate rock (PR), which is a nonrenewable resource. Improvement of phosphorus (P) availability for crops in agricultural soils represents a key strategy to slow down the depletion of PR. The aim of this study was to identify potential P biofertilisers among saprotrophic fungal species. We tested 30 fungal strains belonging to 28 taxa (4 Zygomycota and 24 Ascomycota) and with different life strategies. The study showed that many saprotrophic fungi have the ability to mobilise P from insoluble forms according to a variety of mechanisms. Our results expand the pool of P solubilising fungal species, also suggesting a new solubilisation index and shedding light on parameters that could be basic in the selection of efficient soil P-biofertilisers fungi. Rhizopus stolonifer var. stolonifer, Aspergillus niger and Alternaria alternata were found to be the best performing strains in terms of amounts of TCP solubilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Maize, Zea mays is the most important grain crop in South Africa and is a staple food in many African countries. The beneficial effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria on crop growth and yield have been well documented, but obtaining reproducible results under field conditions is often difficult. In the current study, five selected rhizobacterial strains that showed plant growth-promoting activities in pilot studies were evaluated for potential enhancement of maize yield under field conditions. The five strains together with a commercial standard were assessed as seed treatments of maize over three seasons in four different soil types. The strains were identified on the basis of 16S rRNA sequencing as Lysinibacillus sphaericus ( T19), Paenibacillus alvei ( T29), Bacillus safensis ( S7) Bacillus pumilus ( A26) and Brevundimonas vesicularis ( A40). The best yield increases in maize were obtained during the 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 seasons in the Shortlands ecotope with the rhizobacterial strains T19, T29 and S7, resulting in yield increases ranging from 24% to 34%. Strain T19 rendered the most consistent yield increases during the three successive field trials amounting to 33% and 24% in Shortlands ecotope and 12% in Clovalley ecotope, respectively. During 2013/2014 a consortium of three strains, viz. T19, S7 and A26 gave a 32% yield increase in Clovalley ecotope. All the rhizobacterial strains solubilised phosphate in vitro except T19. Strain T29 showed the best nitrogen-fixing activity in vitro, proliferating on a nitrogen-free substrate and also producing ammonia. All the strains tested positive for indole acetic acid production. The current study demonstrates the ability of rhizobacterial strains T19, T29, S7 and A26 applied as seed treatments to significantly enhance maize yield in the field, making development and commercialisation of these strains a viable option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex microbial communities in the plant rhizosphere are responsible for their success in ecosystems. Supplementary inoculation of soil with mycorrhizal fungi and rhizospheric bacteria may act as a plant growth-promoting factor. The present study aims to assess the potential use of biofertilisers on tomato as a way of increasing yield and stability of root exploration area. The experiment was set up in greenhouse, regarding the evaluation of growing dynamics of plants, mycorrhization level and obtained yield. The identification of effective inoculation variants can lead to a standardisation of technologies of growing for local plant genotypes. Data analysis was performed based on the ANOVA test, followed by Tukey HSD, principal component analysis and cluster analysis in order to identify the potential of bioproducts to stimulate the development of tomato plants. Application of bacterial biofertilisers does not stimulate enough the aboveground development of plants. An antagonistic reaction is visible between exogenous mycorrhizas and those specific in soil, acting slightly different for each genotype. Mycorrhizal level in root systems is more dependent on applied biofertilisers than on analyzed genotypes. For the variants without additional fertilisers, a high level of mycorrhization is visible only after 75 days from the transplantation. Based on results we can conclude that microbial active fertilisers may represent viable solutions to increase yield capacity and root exploration area for local tomato genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Catha edulis, commonly called as khat or chat is an evergreen plant cultivated in Ethiopia for its stimulant leaves. The young leaves are chewed as a part of social recreation and the older leaves along with the twigs are discarded. This forms the major part of municipal solid waste that is dumped in large quantity in Harar region. The present study was carried in Haramaya University, Ethiopia to decompose the khat wastes along with crop residues and different animal manures (cow dung, goat manure, poultry manure and swine manure) using the earthworm Eisenia foetida. Methods: The collected khat wastes along with crop residues and different animal manures were vermicomposted and assessed for nutrient contents using standard procedures. Results: The result of the experiment indicated that all the parameters were improved by the decomposition using earthworms and the C/N ratio was within the limits that indicate the maturity of the compost. The organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, phosphorus, copper, iron, zinc and manganese contents were analyzed and found to be improved after decomposition. The added crop residues and animal manures enhanced the decomposition process and manurial value of the khat leaf waste. Conclusion: The nutrient content of the vermicomposts revealed khat to be a suitable substrate for vermicomposting thereby making efficient utilization of solid wastes. This can be an effective technology to reduce the solid waste and the resultant product can be used for improving soil fertility and crop production by the farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the coming years, more sustainable horticultural practices should be developed to guarantee greater yield and yield stability, in order to meet the increasing food global demand. An environmentally-friendly way to achieve the former objectives is represented by the biostimulant functions displayed by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). AMF support plant nutrition by absorbing and translocating mineral nutrients beyond the depletion zones of plant rhizosphere (biofertilisers) and induce changes in secondary metabolism leading to improved nutraceutical compounds. In addition, AMF interfere with the phytohormone balance of host plants, thereby influencing plant development (bioregulators) and inducing tolerance to soil and environmental stresses (bioprotector). Maximum benefits from AMF activity will be achieved by adopting beneficial farming practices (e.g. reduction of chemical fertilisers and biocides), by inoculating efficient AMF strains and also by the appropriate selection of plant host/fungus combinations. This review gives an up to date overview of the recent advances in the production of quality AMF inocula and in the biostimulant properties of AMF on plant health, nutrition and quality of horticultural crops (fruit trees, vegetables, flower crops and ornamentals). The agronomical, physiological and biochemical processes conferring tolerance to drought, salinity, nutrient deficiency, heavy metal contaminations and adverse soil pH in mycorrhizal plants are encompassed. In addition, the influence of bacterial interactions and farm management on AMF is discussed. Finally, the review identifies several future research areas relevant to AMF to exploit and improve the biostimulant effects of AMF in horticulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earthworms harness the microorganisms which are beneficial to the agro-ecosystem, as they synergistically decompose soil organic matter and help in nutrients cycling. Lampito mauritii and Perionyx excavatus are endemic earthworms which dominate the Indian soils, especially in south India. However, the exotic earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae has been harnessed for the formation of compost and organic matter decomposition. Endemic earthworms do not coexist with exotics as they eliminate the former due to competition for food and space. The present study aims to reveal the physical, chemical and biological differences between the different products of the endemic earthworms L. mauritii and P. excavatus and the exotic earthworm E. eugeniae to better understand their contributions to agricultural soil and nutrient management. The three major earthworm products include cast, compost and drilosphere soil of earthworms. Different groups of microorganisms present in earthworm products include major microbial groups, biofertilisers, carbon, and nitrogen mineralizers. The results reveal that the products of endemic earthworms show significant increase in biofertilisers such as nitrogen fixers and phosphate solubilizers, heterotrophic bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes compared to the products from the exotic earthworm. Among the three products studied, vermicompost, especially of the endemic species, shows a balanced C/ N ratio and increased microbial density including biofertilisers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathogenicity tests of twenty-six fungal isolates were tested on peanut plants (Giza 5 cv.) and the results revealed that,Fusarium oxysporumisolate (No. I) followed byF. solani(No. II) thenF. moniliforme(No III) significantly caused highest incidence of root rot disease. Also,F. moniliforme(No III) followed byF. solani(No II) thenF. oxysporum(No I) gave the highest incidence of pod rot disease. The effectiveness of vescular arbuscular-mycorrhiza (VAM) at different application rates on the incidence of root rot, pod rot diseases and plant growth parameters of peanut was studied. All soil treatments with each rate of VAM significantly reduced root and pod rot diseases compared with control (rate 0%). The best reduction in the severity of both diseases with VAM was found at the rate of 3%. Application of rhizobacterin, microbin and cerialin biofertilisers at the different concentrations decreased the severity of both root rot and pod rot severity diseases compared with non-treated seeds. The greatest reduction in both diseases was achieved at a concentration of 8/100 g seeds. The highest number of pods and fresh weight (g) was achieved in seed supplemented with each biofertiliser at concentration of 8/100 g seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Biotecnología is the property of Universidad Nacional de Colombia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)