R. Ranjbar; Ebrahim Sepehr; Abbas Samadi; MirHasan Rasouli Sadaghiani; Mohsen Barin; behnam Dovlati
Abstract
Introduction: Potassium (K) is one of the major essential macronutrients for plant growth. Soil has rich reserves of K, among which only 1–2% can be directly absorbed by plants. It may be more economically viable to transform the fixed slow-release K into available K that can be absorbed by plants. ...
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Introduction: Potassium (K) is one of the major essential macronutrients for plant growth. Soil has rich reserves of K, among which only 1–2% can be directly absorbed by plants. It may be more economically viable to transform the fixed slow-release K into available K that can be absorbed by plants. The ability of some microorganisms to dissolve soil K-bearing minerals, such as micas is an important feature for increasing the yield of high-K-demand crops such as tobacco. Also, these microorganisms have both economic and environmental advantage. A large number of saprophytic bacteria such as Bacillus mucilaginosus and fungal strains such as Aspergillus spp. are known for their potential in releasing insoluble native K-source in soil into a plant available nutrient pool. Tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) is one of the most important industrial crops. K plays a vital role in increasing the tobacco yield and controlling quality parameters such as leaf combustibility that is one of the key criteria taken into account by the tobacco industry for assessing quality. Thus, high ranges of K fertilizers are applied in tobacco fields based on plant K requirement to build up soil K in tobacco producing countries. Increasing cost of the fertilizers and environmental risks necessitates alternate means to fertilizers such as application of microorganisms. The use of chemical K fertilizers can be reduced by exploiting the potential of bio-inoculants which are inexpensive and eco-friendly. Information related to K-solubilizing microorganisms in tobacco rhizosphere and their suitability in increasing the available K in tobacco-cultivated soils is not well-documented. Hence, the present study was conducted to screen the KSB isolates from tobacco-cultivated soils and evaluate their potential in dissolving K bearing silicate minerals and increasing soil available potassium.
Materials and Methods: Soil samples were randomly collected from the rhizosphere of tobacco from 25 different locations in northwest of Iran. The serial dilutions of the soil samples were made up to 10-4 and 5 µl of diluted soil suspension plated on Aleksandrov medium plates (on the agar-based culture medium). Aleksandrov medium contained 5.0 g Glucose, 0.5 g MgSO4.7H2O, 0.1g CaCO3, 0.006 g FeCl3, 2.0 g Ca3PO4, 2.0 g insoluble mica powder as potassium source and 20.0 g agar in 1 liter of deionized water. The plates were incubated at 28±2°C in incubator for 10 days. Finally, nine isolates of potassium silicate solubilizing bacteria were isolated and purified. Solid and liquid Aleksandrov media were applied for qualitative (Solubility Index = Diameter of zone of clearance/ Diameter of growth) and quantitative (K content) evaluation, respectively, based on the completely randomized design (CRD) with three replication. Liquid Aleksandrov medium containing 2 g L-1 of mica and feldspar mixture, was inoculated with bacterial isolates. Bacterial isolates creating high solubility index and releasing more K from K-bearing minerals into liquid medium, were selected as effective isolates. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the potent bacterial isolates for increasing soil available K, an experiment was conducted with three replication and eight potent bacterial isolates along with a control (non-inoculated soil). Sterilized soil samples were inoculated with bacterial isolates separately and incubated at 25°C, with 75% field capacity moisture levels for 90 days. After incubation, available K in soil samples were extracted with Ammonium Acetate 1M. Variance of solubility index, K concentration into liquid Aleksandrov medium and soil available K were analyzed using SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences). Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) test comparisons were also used to compare available soil K using SPSS 16.0.
Results and Discussion: Eight KSBs isolates, including KSB20, KSB30, KSB40, KSB22, KSB42, KSB90, KSB92 and KSB10, were isolated and purified as effective isolates for dissolving mica and feldspar minerals. Most isolates were gram-positive, rod-shaped, and white in appearance. The studied isolates, except KSB22, KSB40 and KSB20, had α-amylase enzyme activity. Bacterial isolates, including KSB20, KSB30, KSB42 and KSB10, were significantly superior in sucrose and glucose hydrolysis. The isolate of KSB10 also had fluorescence properties. The highest solubility index (2.8, 2.7 and 2.5) was obtained from the activity of KSB22, KSB42 and KSB10 isolates in solid Aleksandrov medium, respectively. The highest concentration of potassium into liquid Aleksandrov medium was found for the KSB42 and KSB10 isolates (9.40 mg L-1). The KSB42 and KSB10 isolates increased medium K concentration approximately three times more than non-inoculated medium. In addition, KSB42 and KSB10 isolates were more effective in releasing potassium from soil potassium-bearing minerals. The amount of available potassium in soil incubated with KSB42 and KSB10 isolates increased by 44 and 46 mg kg-1 compared to the control, respectively.
Conclusion: Among bacterial isolates purified from the tobacco rhizosphere, the KSB42 and KSB10 isolates increased more significantly the solubility of potassium minerals and potassium availability in soil compared to other isolates. These bacteria isolates increased potassium concentration into Aleksandrov liquid medium by more than three times and also increased soil available potassium by about 44 to 46 mg kg-1 compared with the control. As a result, these isolates (KSB42 and KSB10) can be used as a bio-fertilizer to reduce potassium fertilizer application and increase the quality of tobacco after field experiments.
zahra amirpour; salar rezapour; behnam dovlati
Abstract
Introduction: Multiple biological and physiological processes in the plant, including carbohydrates and proteins formation, activation of 50 enzymes for energy transmission as well as reducing water losses from leaf pores, are mostly affected by the presence of potassium in the plant. In order to test ...
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Introduction: Multiple biological and physiological processes in the plant, including carbohydrates and proteins formation, activation of 50 enzymes for energy transmission as well as reducing water losses from leaf pores, are mostly affected by the presence of potassium in the plant. In order to test this hypothesis, five soil subgroups (TypicCalcixerepts, FluventicHaploxerepts, TypicEndoaquepts, TypicHalaquepts and VerticEndoaquepts) belonging 15 series of gardened and adjoining virgin soils were described and sampled. The studied soils had been influenced under horticultural practices for over five decades.
Materials and Methods: The soil samples were analyzed for different K forms, K adsorption and physico- chemical properties after air drying and grinding to pass through a 2 mm-sieve. The particle-size distribution was determined by the hydrometer method (Bouyoucos, 1962). The total carbonate in the soil expressed as the calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE) was determined by a rapid titration method (Nelson, 1982). Organic matter (OM) was measuredby the Walkley and Black (1934) dichromate oxidation method. The pH of the soil was analyzed in 2:1 CaCl2/soil suspension using glass electrode pH meter (Crockford and Norwell, 1956) and EC was detected in a saturated extract. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) was measured using sodium acetate (1 M NaOAc) at pH 8.2 (Chapman, 1965). Water soluble K was extracted with deionized water (1: 5 w/v) after shaking for 30 minutes on a mechanical shaker and later contents were centrifuged to separate clear extract (Jackson 1973). Exchangeable K was determined by extracting the soil with neutral normal ammonium acetate, Non-exchangeable K was estimated as the difference between boiling 1N HNO3 –K and neutral normal ammonium acetate K (Thomas 1982).
Results and Discussion: The result showed that for most of the studied soils, long-terms horticultural practices decreased the amount of different K forms as a result of changes in soils types, agricultural practices and soil properties. In Comparing to the virgin soils, long-term horticultural and irrigation activities caused a decrease?? in soluble K from 0.05 (a drop of 15% with depletion factor of 0.85) to 1.48 mmol l-1(a drop of 95% with depletion factor of 0.05), potassium absorption ratio (PAR) from 0.08 (a drop of 31% with depletion factor of 0.69) to 1.17 mmol l-1(a drop of 97% with depletion factor of 0.03), exchangeable K from 12.01 (a drop of 3% with depletion factor of 0.97) to 285.98 mg kg-1 (a drop of 97% with depletion factor of 0.43),exchangeable potassium percentage(EPP) from 0.49 (a drop of 12% with depletion factor of 0.88) to 3.47% (a drop of 59% with depletion factor of 0.41), available K from10.42 (a drop of 3% with depletion factor of 0.97) to 180.65 mg kg-1(a drop of 53% with depletion factor of 0.47) and non-exchangeable potassium from 43.05 (a drop of 8% with depletion factor of 0.92) to 114.65 mg kg-1 (a drop of 19% with depletion factor of 0.81). Isotherm studies showed that the uptake of potassium in gardened series were more than virgin soils. The highest adsorption values were observed in VerticEndoaquepts (gottape) subgroup.In this series of soil, amount of available k (potassium soluble + exchangeable K) and expandable clay increased by long-term horticultural practices which can be effective in increasing K buffering capacity.
Conclusion: long-term horticultural practices decreased K in soil solution and potassium adsorption ratio. The main reasons for the decline of soluble K can be explained by possible movement of K into the depths, dense cultivation and harvesting crops as well as high levels of calcium and magnesium in irrigation water of study area.In comparison with adjoining virgin soils, horticultural practices caused significant decrease in the amount of exchangeable K, exchangeable K percentage (EPP) and available K. The most important cause of reduced exchangeable potassium may be related toK uptake by apple trees (The study area is generally under the apple orchard user) which had the great need for K. Consequently, due to lack of fertilizers application and agricultural practices,the amount of available K declined in soils about 80percent. On the other hand, In the Non-exchangeable K amount with long-term horticultural practices non- significant reduction occurred. Since the amount of exchangeable and available k in these soils is high, it seems to be enough to satisfy the needs of the regional products.
Arezoo Taghipour; S. Rezapour; B. Dovlati; Roghaie Hamzenejad
Abstract
Introduction: Intensified agriculture over a long-term is an important factor in soil change phenomena that can cause some unwanted effects on soil properties. To examine this hypothesis, chemical properties of the soils under sunflower cultivation over five decades and adjoining virgin lands were investigated ...
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Introduction: Intensified agriculture over a long-term is an important factor in soil change phenomena that can cause some unwanted effects on soil properties. To examine this hypothesis, chemical properties of the soils under sunflower cultivation over five decades and adjoining virgin lands were investigated in order to monitor changes caused by long-term cropping. The studied soils are influenced by continuous sunflower cultivation along with flooding irrigation and using chemical fertilizers for over five decades
Materials and Methods: This research was undertaken at Khoy area (38o 10′ to 38o 40′ N latitude and 44o 15′ to 45o 10′ E latitude) as the northern part of western-Azarbaijan province in the north-west Iran. The Khoy area is characterized by a semi-arid climate (mean annual rainfall of 300 mm) linked with soil moisture and temperature regimes of xeric and mesic, respectively. Agriculturally, the studied area is cropped continuously by sunflower-wheat or barley rotations for over five decades and has received irrigation water from rainfall, groundwater, or seasonal river water. Forty soil surface samples (0-30 cm) belonging to 10 soil series from the cultivated soils and the adjoining uncultivated soils were samplied and analyzed for the different chemical properties. In each soil serie, the samples (cultivated soil and adjacent virgin land) were selected in similar slope, aspect, drainage condition, and parent materials. Soil analyses were involved soil pH and electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon (SOC), Calcium carbonate equivalent (CCE), cation exchange capacity (CEC), total N, soluble K, exchangeable K, and available K. Potassium absorption ration (PAR) was calculated by the concentration of solution K, Ca, Mg and exchangeable potassium percentage (EPP) was calculated by exchangeable Na and CEC values
Results and Discussion: This study illustrate that long-term continuous sunflower cropping had considerable effects on some soil chemical attributes. Over five decades of cultivation, a depletion face was observed in soil organic carbon, CCE, and some K forms (solution, exchangeable, available K) for most of the studied soils. In contrast, an enrichment aspect was occurred in the values of EC. The results showed that soil pH and calcium carbonate equivalent were increased by 0.09 – 0.39 units and 16 – 26 g.kg-1, respectively, in most of the examined soils after intensive agricultural practice. Increase in the CCE value may be caused by tillage operation because of the calcareous parent material is tilled periodically by farmers to cultivate a certain depth of soil in the studied soils. Compared to the uncultivated soils, the cultivated soils showed a relative enrichment in electrical conductivity (20 – 80%) which could be attributed to the chemistry of the irrigation water used and the interaction between the irrigation water and its receiving soils. A slight decline was observed in soil CEC values (1 – 9%) probably due to destruction of soil organic matter. There was a decreasing pattern in the content of soil organic carbon with cultivation ranging 17 to 39% which could be associated with the environmental conditions and management practices, i.e. (a) in the cultivated soils much of plant residues is removed or burned after harvest, (b) the present of livestock after harvest which can result in a substantial loss of SOC, (c) breaks up, decomposition, and mineralization of organic matter is accelerated by tillage practices, (d) the relatively high temperature in the cultivated soils compared to the uncultivated soils which might enhance oxidation of organic matter and destroying of organic C. A relative depletion was observed in the mean value of soluble K (10 – 330%), exchangeable K (25 -40%), available K (16 – 41%), potassium absorption ratio (16 – 61%), and exchangeable potassium percentage (26 – 40%) following continuous sunflower cropping mainly as removal of most sunflower residues after harvest and high uptake of K by sunflower as a high –K- requiring crop. In spite of the fact that exchangeable and available K declined by cropping for most of the studied soils, the soils were grouped as optimal to high category based on two the K forms. This means that intensive rotation cropping not be able to deplete soil exchangeable and available K below a certain level manly due to the presence of the high levels of K-bearing minerals.
Conclusion: Overall, the chemical properties of different soil series reflected different responses to (both increasing and decreasing pattern) long-term sunflower cultivation. Organic carbon, soluble and exchangeable K along with EC was known to be the most sensitive indicators following long-term continuous sunflower cropping and irrigation practices. In this cause, it seems hat monitoring the chemical characteristics of both the irrigation water and the soil must be considered in order to establish the water –soil-plant management strategies that will help to prevent environmental degradation and to maintain the overall heath of the studied soils.