shahrzad karami; mehdi zarei; jafar yasrebi; najafali karimian; s.Ali Akbar Moosavi
Abstract
Introduction: Heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) are found naturally in soils, but their amount can be changed by human activities. The study of the uptake and accumulation of heavy metals by plants is done in order to prevent their threats on human and animal’s health.Cadmium is a toxic element for ...
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Introduction: Heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) are found naturally in soils, but their amount can be changed by human activities. The study of the uptake and accumulation of heavy metals by plants is done in order to prevent their threats on human and animal’s health.Cadmium is a toxic element for living organisms. Cadmium competes with many of nutrients to be absorbed by the plant and interferes with their biological roles. Water stress affects the cell structure and the food is diverted from its normal metabolic pathway. It also reduces the availability and uptake of nutrients by the plant. One reason for the reduction of plant growth under drought stress is the accumulation of ethylene in plants. There are ways to mitigate the negative effects of drought stress that one of which is the use of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria(PGPRs) to increasing the availability of nutrients. Soil beneficial bacteria play an important role in the biological cycles and have been used to increase plant health and soil fertility over the past few decades.The aim of this study was to investigate theeffect of PGPRson the concentration and uptake of macro nutrients by corn in a Cd-contaminated calcareous soil under drought stress.
Materials and Methods: A greenhouse factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments were two levels of bacteria (with and without bacteria), four levels of Cd (5, 10, 20, and 40 mg kg-1), and three levels of drought stress (without stress, 80, and 65% of field capacity). The pots were filled with 3 kg of treated soil. Cd was treated as its sulfate salt in amounts of 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg kg-1. The soil was mixed uniformly with 150 mg N kg-1 as urea, 20 mg P kg-1 as Ca (H2PO4)2, 5 mg Fe kg-1 as Fe-EDDHA and 10, 10 and 2.5 mg Zn, Mn and Cu kg-1, respectively as their sulfate salt in order to meet plant needs for these nutrients. Six seeds of Zea mays (var. HIDO) were planted at each pot. Each seed of maize was inoculated with 2 mL (1×108 colony-forming units (cfu) mL-1) of Micrococcus yunnanensis (a gram positive bacterium with the ability of production of sidrophore and phosphate dissolving characteristic). Each pot was irrigated daily with distilled water to near field capacity by weight, until 15 days after corn planting. Then corn was thinned to 3 plants per pot and irrigation was started with different levels of drought stress (without stress (F.C), 80, and 65% of field capacity) by weight. At harvest (8 weeks after planting), the aerial parts of the plants was cut at the soil surface. The harvested plants were washed with distilled water, dried to a constant weight at 65C. Representative samples were dry-ashed and analyzed for macro nutrients.
Results and Discussion: The results indicated that the inoculation of bacteria increased shoot dry weight (DW) and total uptake of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Drought stress decreased DW, total uptake of N, P, and K, concentrations of N and K in corn shoots, and concentration of K in the soil. The application of biological fertilizers, such as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, increase plant growth through increasing microorganism’s activities and population in the soil and so increase macro nutrients uptake by the plant. Phosphate solubilizing rhizobacteria increase plant growth and phosphate availability with production of organic acids and secretion of phosphatase enzymes or protons and conversion of non-soluble phosphates (either organic or inorganic phosphates) to the forms that are more available for the plants and improve their nutrition and increase their growth. Drought stress decreases Dry Matter Weight(DMW) through decreasing relative humidity of the air of plant growth environment and increases evaporation, transpiration, plant temperature and light intensity of the sun. It prevents normal development of roots, water uptake, and plant growth by reducing the moisture content of the soil. It also decreases uptake and availability of Phosphorus in arid soils because plant growth and root activity in arid soils are lower from those of wetlands and as phosphorus is immobile in the soil, its uptake by the plant will decrease. N concentration of plants will increase drought stress conditions through rapid accumulation of amino acids that had not been converted into protein. The combined effects of drought stress and inoculation of bacteria on decomposition of silicates, cause the release of nutrients such as potassium. Increasing levels of cadmium in both cases, with and without bacterial inoculation, decreased DW, N and K uptake by corn because of its toxicity and its competition and interactions with these nutrients.
Conclusion: The inoculation of bacteria mitigated the negative effects of drought stress and cadmium contamination by increasing dry weight of corn and increasing uptake of macronutrients by aerial parts. Drought stress in both cases (with and without bacterial inoculation) reduced shoot dry weight, total uptake of macro nutrients, N and K concentrations in corn shoots and post-harvest potassium concentration in the soil. Cadmium levels decreased shoot dry matter and N and K uptake by the plant. The use of bacteria was more effective at low cadmium and drought stress levels.
hamidreza boostani; mostafa chorom; abdolamir moezzi; najafali karimian; naimeh enayatizamir; mehdi zarei
Abstract
Introduction: Zinc (Zn) is an important nutrient element for humans and plants that controls many biochemical and physiological functions of living organisms. Zinc deficiency is common in high pH, low organic matter, carbonatic, saline and sodic soils. Salinity is a major abiotic environmental stresses ...
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Introduction: Zinc (Zn) is an important nutrient element for humans and plants that controls many biochemical and physiological functions of living organisms. Zinc deficiency is common in high pH, low organic matter, carbonatic, saline and sodic soils. Salinity is a major abiotic environmental stresses that limits growth and production in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Bioavailability of Zn is low in calcareous and saline soils having high levels of pH and calcium. Desorption of Zinc (Zn) from soil as influenced by biological activities is one of the important factors that control Zn bioavailability. Few reports on the effects of salinity on the availability and desorption kinetics of Zn are available. Rupa et al. (2000) reported that increasing the salt concentration led to increase Zn desorption from soil due to ion competition on soil exchangeable sites. Different kinetic equations have been used to describe the release kinetics of nutrients. Reyhanitabar and Gilkes (2010) found that the power function model was the best equation to describe the release of Zn from some calcareous soil of Iran, whereas Baranimotlagh and Gholami (2013) stated that the best model for describing Zn desorption from 15 calcareous soils of Iran was the first-order equation.less attention has been paid to kinetics of Zn release by DTPA extractant over time by inoculation of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria and mycorrhizae fungi in comination with soil salinity.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and mycorrhizae fungi (MF) inoculation on release kinetic of Zn in a calcareous soil at different salinity levels after in cornplantation
Materials and Methods: A composite sample of bulk soil from the surface horizon (0-30 cm) of a calcareous soil from southern part of Iran was collected, air dried, passed through 2 mm sieve, and thoroughly mixed. Routine soil analysis was performed to determine some physical and chemical properties. The experiment was conducted in the greenhouse of agriculture college of Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran. A factorial experiment as a completely randomized design with three replications was conducted in greenhouse conditions. The first factor consisted of salinity levels (0, 15 and 30 cmol(c) kg-1 salt supplied as a 3:2:1 Na:Ca:Mg chloride salts) and the second factor was microbial inoculation (without inoculation, fungi, bacteria, bacteria + fungi).Soil samples were extracted using DTPA extractant for periods of 0.5, 1, 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours. Cumulative Zn released (q) as a function of time (T) was evaluated using seven different kinetic models. A relatively high values of coefficient of determination (r2) and low values of standard error of estimate (SEE) were used as criteria for the selection of the best fitted models. Statistical analysis of data was done using MSTATC package (Mstatc, 1991). Comparison between means was performed using Duncan's multiple range test (DMRT) at the significant level of P < 0.05. Also, charts were drawn by excel computer package.
Results and Discussion: Investigation of Zn release patterns showed that the control and all treated soils had a uniform pattern of Zn release. Overall, Zn release patterns were generally characterized by an initial fast reaction at first two hours, followed by slower continuing reaction. It seems likely that the release of zinc is controlled by two different mechanisms. Two-step process of releases (rapid and subsequent slow) is attributed to the existence of places with different energy. The use of all microbial treatments increased the initial release of Zn compared to control. The most and the least Zn initial release observed in fungi-bacterial and bacterial treatment respectively. By application of all microbial treatments, Zn release rate declined compared to control and the lowest decrease observed in fungal treatment. In general, Zn initial release was increased and Zn desorption rate was decreased by increasing of salinity levels. Also, soluble and exchangeable forms of Zn had the highest influence on Zn release control.
Conclusions: Results showed that simplified Elovich, two constant rate and parabolic diffusion kinetics models showed good description of the Zn release. Based on the highest correlation coefficient and the lowest mean standard error of the estimate, simplified elovich determined as the best kinetic model. So it seems that the main mechanism controlling the Zn release in the tested soil is diffusion phenomena.
abolfazl azadi; M. Baghernejad; N. A. Karimian; S. A. Abtahi
Abstract
Introduction: Phosphorus (P) is the second limiting nutrient in soils for crop production after nitrogen. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient in crop production. Determination of forms of soil phosphorus is important in the evaluation of soil phosphorus status. Various sequential P fractionation procedures ...
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Introduction: Phosphorus (P) is the second limiting nutrient in soils for crop production after nitrogen. Phosphorus is an essential nutrient in crop production. Determination of forms of soil phosphorus is important in the evaluation of soil phosphorus status. Various sequential P fractionation procedures have been used to identify the forms of P and to determine the distribution of P fractions in soils (Chang and Jackson, 1957, Williams et al., 1967; Hedley et al., 1982), but are not particularly sensitive to the various P compounds that may exist in calcareous soils. A Sequential fractionation scheme has been suggested for calcareous soils by which three types of Ca-phosphates i.e. dicalcium phosphate, octacalcium phosphate, and apatite could be identified (Jiang and Gu, 1989). These types of Ca-phosphates were described as Ca2-P (NaHCO3-extractable P), Ca8-P (NH4AC-extractable P) and Ca10-P (apatite type), respectively. In this study, the amount and distribution of soil inorganic phosphorus fractions were examined in 49 soil samples of Fars province according to the method described by Jiang and Gu (1989).
Materials and Methods: Based on the previous soil survey maps of Fars province and According to Soil Moisture and Temperature Regime Map of Iran (Banaei, 1998), three regions (abadeh, eghlid and noorabad) with different Soil Moisture and Temperature Regimes were selected. The soils were comprised Aridic, xeric, and ustic moisture regimes along with mesic, and hyperthemic temperature regimes. 49 representative samples were selected. The soil samples were air-dried and were passed through a 2-mm sieve before analysis. Particle size distribution was determined by hydrometer method (Gee and Bauder 1996). Also, Cation exchange capacity (CEC; Sumner and Miller 1996), calcium carbonate equivalent (Loeppert and Suarez 1996), organic matter content (Nelson and Sommers 1996), and pH by saturated paste method (Thomas 1996) were determined . Inorganic phosphorus sequential fractionation scheme was preformed according to the method described by Jiang and Gu (1989). Olsen-P fraction that was extracted by NaHCO3 (Olsen and Sommers 1982) was regarded as P-availability index. Also, Total-P by perchloric acid (HClO4) digestion (Sparks; 1996) and organic P were determined.. All of the extraction procedures were performed in duplicate and the amounts of P were colorimetrically measured in the supernatants by the ascorbic acid method of Murphy and Riley (1962).The relationships between forms of P and some of the soil properties were established using correlation method.
Results and Discussion: The chemical data of the soils showed that soils were calcareous with CCE range between 9.94 to 74.27 % ( average 51.10%) and pH range between 7.02 to 8.36 (average 7.85). Also, the amounts of CEC were between 5.35 to 29.39 cmol (+) kg-1(average 16.68 cmol (+) kg-1). The results showed a wide range in content of Phosphorus fractions. The amount of total Phosphate ranged from 301.87 to 1458.68 mg kg-1 with an average of 626.63 mg kg-1 . Calcium Phosphate ranged from 147.83 to 666.90 mg kg-1 with an average of 324.79 mg kg-1, that comprised 85 and 52 percent of inorganic and total Phosphorus, respectively. The amount of Fe-P ranged from 0.38 to 59.18 mg kg-1 with an average of 7.56 mg kg-1 that comprised 13.64 and 8.34 percent of inorganic and total Phosphorus, respectively. Also, the amount of Al-P ranged from 20.49 to 123.09 mg kg-1 with an average of 52.28 mg kg-1that comprised 1.97 and 1.21 percent of inorganic and total Phosphorus, respectively. The results of correlation study showed that available Phosphorus was significantly correlated with Ca2-P, Ca8-P, Al-P, Ca10-P, and Pt (total phosphorus). So, in calcareous soils, awareness of soil properties and phosphorus fractions and their relationships are important for evaluation of phosphorous status in soil and understanding of soil chemistry that influence soil fertility.
Conclusion: The relative abundance of inorganic P forms were in order of Ca10 – P > Ca8- P > Al –P> Ca2-P> Fe-P. Among the inorganic P fractions, Ca-P had the highest value and varied from 147.83 to 666.90 mg kg-1, which accounted for 53 percent of the sum of P fractions, occurred in H2SO4 extractable P fraction, which is attributed to primary Ca–P minerals, indicating their weak weathering nature. Also, correlation study showed that available Phosphorus was significantly correlated with Ca2-P, Ca8-P, Al-P, Ca10-P, and Pt. This result indicate that these fractions probably can be used by plant.
S. Abdi; reza ghasemi; N.A. Karimian; M. Feizian
Abstract
Sum of exchangeable and solution forms of soil potassium is widely used to determine potassium availability for plants. Reliability of these methods is not enough in soils that contain 2:1 phyllosilicates. Additional to exchangeable potassium, nonexchamgeable potassium also has an important role in plant ...
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Sum of exchangeable and solution forms of soil potassium is widely used to determine potassium availability for plants. Reliability of these methods is not enough in soils that contain 2:1 phyllosilicates. Additional to exchangeable potassium, nonexchamgeable potassium also has an important role in plant nutrition. Limited information about availability and release kinetics of nonexchangeable potassium in calcareous soils of Fars province is available. For this purpose, some extractants including ammonium acetate, boiling nitric acid, 0.1M nitric acid, 2M sodium chloride and water were evaluated to prediction of potassium availability for corn in 10 calcareous soils of Fars province. Release kinetics of nonexchangeable potassium was studied using 15 successive 15-min extraction with 0.01M calcium chloride. Kinetics models describing nonexchangeable potassium release rate including zero order, first order, second order, third order, parabolic diffusion, power function and ellovich were evaluated. Results showed that 1M neutral amonium acetate, 0.1M aitric acid, water and 2M sodium chloride extractants had high correlation with corn potassium uptake. Amount of potassium released among studied soils was vary in the range of 243 to 814 mg kg-1. According to R2 and SE, kinetics of nonexchangeable potassium release was described with power function, parabolic diffusion and ellovich equations satisfactorily. According to this fact that constant rate of parabolic diffusion and ellovich models had significant correlations with corn potassium uptake, it is recommended that these two models are suitable for use in these studied soils.
M. Zahedifar; N. Karimian; A.M. Ronaghi; J. Yasrebi; Y. Emam
Abstract
Abstract
In order to determine the time of maximum demand of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to phosphorous fertilizers and P and zinc (Zn) distribution in different parts of wheat at various growth stages and study their relation to the contents of these elements in soil P and Zn under field conditions, ...
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Abstract
In order to determine the time of maximum demand of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) to phosphorous fertilizers and P and zinc (Zn) distribution in different parts of wheat at various growth stages and study their relation to the contents of these elements in soil P and Zn under field conditions, samples were collected from different parts of the plants at seven growth stages (i.e., the end of tillering to the complete seed ripening) and analyzed for P and Zn. Soil under the plants were also sampled, simultaneously, and analyzed for the same nutrients. The experimental plots consisted of three 5-ha fields located at Bajgah Experiment Station, College of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran (52 32 E, 29 36 N, 1810 m above mean sea level). Samples were taken during 2007-2008. Shoot P and Zn concentrations decreased as the growth proceeded from the end of tillering to the complete seed ripening stage. Phosphorus and Zn concentrations of flag leaf and stem increased from milk development toward complete seed ripening (stages 7 to 9), whereas those of spickle increased. Certain relation between soil and plant P or Zn was not found in the present study. The similarity of the P and Zn changes in flag leaf and stem suggests that flag leaf concentration of P and Zn (i.e., an almost non destructive analysis) can be used for evaluation of nutritional status of winter wheat plants under the field conditions.
Keywords: Flag leaf analysis, Wheat growth stages, Zadoks decimal codes, Spickle analysis
