Soil science
T. Valizadeh; A. Lakzian; A. Halajnia; M. Mazhari
Abstract
Introduction: The deficiency of phosphorus has attracted a lot of attention as one of the most important nutrients for agricultural plants especially in calcareous soils. However, in some soils, organic phosphorous containing 80 percent of total phosphorus in some soils but in most cases, that form of ...
Read More
Introduction: The deficiency of phosphorus has attracted a lot of attention as one of the most important nutrients for agricultural plants especially in calcareous soils. However, in some soils, organic phosphorous containing 80 percent of total phosphorus in some soils but in most cases, that form of phosphorus is not available for plant uptake. The availability of phosphorus from both organic and inorganic sources by phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) as bio-inoculants are promising substitutes for chemical fertilizer and other agrochemicals amendments. Both arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) play a key role in providing phosphorus for agricultural plants. Among several phosphate-solubilizing fungal isolates, Aspergillus sp. is able to solubilize calcium phosphates by secreting various organic acids, e.g., oxalic and formic acids, and producing phytase enzyme. The present study aimed to evaluate the ability of different strains of Aspergillus for phytase production. The second aim of this study was the purification and application of purified phytase and its efficiency in the phosphorus availability from hexaphosphorylated inositols.Materials and Methods: Two separate experiments were carried out in two different stages. In the first one phytase was isolated from three strains of Aspergillus (Aspergillus niger provided by the department of plant protection, Agricultural college, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad), Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus fumigatus strains were collected from the Iranian biological resources center, Tehran). All Isolates were recultured on PDA (potato dextrose Agar) medium for 5 days at 30 oC in an incubator. Quality evaluation of phytase production by three strains of Aspergillus tested using hydrolysis of phytate sodium on PSM (phytase screen medium) medium. Solubility index was calculated for all three strains (Solubility index = (Colony diameter + Hallow diameter)/ Colony diameter). Phytase production was carried out on fermentation media (Shieh and Ware 1968) but starch was substituted by dextrin. Fermentation media inoculated by fungal strains for 14 days at 30 oC. Fermentation media was centrifuged (10,000 g) for 30 minutes and supernatant was collected. Purification of phytases was done against Tris-HCl 25mM, pH=7.2 for 12 hours. Phytase activities were evaluated in a completely randomized design with three replications. Then purified phytase from three Aspergillus strains was applied in a pot experiment using a completely randomized design with the factorial arrangement and three replications. The experimental factors included two levels of hexaphosphorylated inositols (and 50 mg/kg) and four types of phytase (Control, phytase isolated from Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus fumigatus. In the greenhouse experiment, the effects of different phytase types on phosphorus availability from sodium phytate (hexaphosphorylated inositols) and phosphorus uptake by maize plant was evaluated. Corn plants (Zea maize 704 single cross) were grown in 5 kg pots at 70 % of water holding capacity for 60 days. Plant height, root dry weight, shoot dry weight, phosphorus concentration in shoot and root were evaluated. Results and Discussion: The results showed that Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus had the highest (4.96) and the lowest (1.23) solubility index among the tested strains, respectively. The results from the laboratory experiment showed that phytase isolated from Aspergillus niger had the maximum amount of phytase activity (16.48 µmol/ min.ml) and phytase isolated from Aspergillus flavus had the minimum phytase activity (4.67 µmol/ min.ml). Aspergillus niger phytase was more effective compared to Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus phytases. The results of the greenhouse experiment represented that the highest amount of phosphorous in the shoot (0.125 percent), root (0.0102 percent), and shoot dry weight (46.08 g/pot) belonged to the maize plants treated by phytase isolated from Aspergillus niger in the presence of 50 mg/kg of sodium phytate. Generally, the results showed that Aspergillus niger strain was more effective than the other two strains in both laboratory and greenhouse experiments. Phytase enzymes isolated from strains had positive effects on phosphorous concentration in a different parts of maize plant and growth characteristics of maize. Phosphatase and phytase generally improve the availability of phosphorus from different phosphorus sources. It should be kept in mind that phytase also increases the bioavailability of other essential minerals such as Ca2+, Mg2+, P, Zn2+, Fe3+, which are bound to phytic acid. Since the phytase production by fungi has been attained by different cultivation methods (solid-state, semisolid, and submerged fermentation) it seems that different cultivation methods can affect the phytase efficiency. Therefore, we suggested that phytates from different cultivation methods can be tested for phosphorus bioavailability from different sources.
S. Sangsefidi; A. Lakzian; A.R. Astaraei; M. Banayan; M. Mazhari
Abstract
Introduction: Nitrification inhibitors are compounds that slow biological oxidation of ammonium to nitrite by reducing the activity of Nitrosomonas bacteria, without affecting the subsequent oxidation of nitrite to nitrate, either by inhibiting or interfering with the metabolism of nitrifying bacteria. ...
Read More
Introduction: Nitrification inhibitors are compounds that slow biological oxidation of ammonium to nitrite by reducing the activity of Nitrosomonas bacteria, without affecting the subsequent oxidation of nitrite to nitrate, either by inhibiting or interfering with the metabolism of nitrifying bacteria. The first step of nitrification is inhibited (i.e., the activity of Nitrosomonas bacteria) by the nitrification inhibitors, while the second step for oxidation of nitrite (NO2-) to nitrate (NO3-) is normally not influenced. In recent years, numerous compounds have been identified and used as nitrification inhibitors, particularly in agricultural soils. They are chemical compounds that slow the nitrification of ammonia, ammonium-containing, or urea-containing fertilizers, which are applied to soil as fertilizers, such as thiourea, carbon Sulfide, thioethers, ethylene, 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, dicyandiamide (DCD), 2-amino-4-chloro-6-methyl pyrimidine, ammonium thiosulphate and 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP). These inhibitors reduce the losses of nitrogen in soil. Some nitrification inhibitors are very effective in the efficiency of the nitrogen fertilizers. Recently, a lot of attention has been paid to nitrification inhibitors from an environmental point of view. Some nitrification inhibitors are very expensive and not economically suitable for land application. Nonetheless, many farmers and researchers apply these compounds for many purposes in some specific places. On the other hand, there are many inexpensive natural nitrification inhibitors such as Artemisia powder, Karanj (Pongamia glabra), neem (Azadrachta indica) and tea (Camellia sinensis) waste which can compete with the artificial nitrification inhibitors such as 3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP), dicyandiamide (DCD) which are very common nitrification inhibitors. Applying 1.5 kg ha-1 of DMPP is sufficient to achieve optimal nitrification inhibition. 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) can significantly shrink nitrate (NO3) leaching. 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) may also decrease N2O emission and the use of DMPP-containing fertilizers can improve yield. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of 3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP), Dicyandiamide (DCD) and powder Artemisia (ART) at the presence of Urea, cow manure and Vermicompost.Material and Methods: Effects of three nitrification inhibitors, (3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP), Dicyandiamide (DCD) and powder Artemisia (ART)) at the presence of three nitrogen sources (Urea, cow manure and Vermicompost) were investigated in a calcareous soil under lettuce cultivation in a greenhouse condition. The changes in the soil mineral nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium), plant nitrogen, nitrate accumulation in leaves and some of growth characteristics such as lettuce chlorophyll content, leaf area index, leaf dry weight and root dry weight were determined. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized factorial design with three replications. Soil ammonium and nitrate concentration were measured during the experiment. The growth characteristics of lettuce were also measured at the end of experiment. Nitrogen and nitrate contents were also determined in lettuce leaves. Results and Discussion: The results of the experiment showed that soil nitrate decreased at the presence of three nitrification inhibitors but the soil nitrogen ammonium increased significantly. Application of nitrification inhibitors also reduced the concentration of nitrate in the lettuce leaves during two harvesting times. Moreover, the nitrogen concentration in the plant increased at the presence of nitrification inhibitors. The application of nitrification inhibitors influenced the plant growth characteristics and changed the lettuce growth characteristics. Chlorophyll content increased significantly in lettuce leaves. Leaf area index, leaf and root dry weight of lettuce increased notably when 3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and powder Artemisia (ART) nitrification inhibitors were applied to the soil samples. These growth characteristics, however, reduced significantly when dicyandiamide nitrification inhibitors was applied to the soil samples. In addition, the symptoms of toxicity were observed in lettuce plant when dicyandiamide nitrification inhibitors were applied to the soil samples. In general, the highest efficiency of nitrification inhibitors was recorded at the presence of urea fertilizer source and the greatest efficiency was observed initially for powder Artemisia (ART) and then for 3, 4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (DMPP) and dicyandiamide, respectively, when urea fertilizer was applied to the soil samples. There was a positive correlation between soil nitrogen content and plant nitrate in the first and second harvest. The correlation between soil ammonium and plant nitrate (in the first and second harvest) and soil nitrate was negative.
