Adverse effects of different humic+fulvic acid levels on biological nitrogen fixation on groundnut

Nitrogen is one of the key components of plant production and the nitrogen requirement of the plant supplied either by mineral nitrogen applications or by biological nitrogen fixation. Although the atmosphere contain huge amount of N2, plants are not able to use that as a nitrogen source. Immediately usable forms of nitrogen are nitrate (NO3-) or ammonium (NH4+). The bonds between two nitrogen atoms are quite strong thus, reducing N2 gas to mineral nitrogen forms needs considerable high amount of energy. However, in biological life, microorganisms may convert N2 to mineral nitrogen sources in ambient temperature and pressure; therefore, biological nitrogen fixation is both environmental friendly and sustainable. Industrial nitrogen fixation and mineral fertilization leads both environmental pollution and economic impact. In this research, the effects of humic+fulvic acid (HFA) on nitrogen fixation were evaluated. For this purpose, a pot experiment in controlled environment was carried out. Peanut seeds were sawn in the hole prepared after dual application of HFA doses and rhizobium bacteria. Two times sampling was realized, one in the flowering and the other in harvest time. Results revealed that HFA application was effective on biologic nitrogen fixation; however, increasing HFA doses were adversely influenced determined parameters. Due to the soybean was cultivated as a forecrop at the field where the experimental soil is collected, nodulation was observed even at non-inoculated pots. Nevertheless, the higher values obtained from inoculated plants. Based on the results presented in the paper, HFA was positively effective on a number of parameters evaluated, yet the lower doses should be recommended

The effects of walnut shell and thyme stalk biochar on pepper: plant parameters

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of biochar that obtained from walnut shell and thyme stalk on yield and biomass development of pepper plant. Biochar obtained by self-constructed oxygen-free reactor at 400°C. According to experimental design, 2 different biochar raw materials (walnut shell and thyme stalk) at 3 different doses (0, 0.1 and 0.2% w/w) were evaluated in either with or without sulphur application (0 and 0.1% w/w). Results revealed that the all parameters tested were greatly influenced from raw material, biochar dose as well as sulphur applications. Significant differences were determined between the raw materials in which the biochar was made. According to mean values the walnut shell biochar provide 38% more shoot dry weight than thyme stalk biochar. These findings clearly indicate that although biochar almost consisted of carbon, all of the biochar are not the same, and depends on the raw material; biochar even can reduce plant growth. The effect of sulfur application was also significant, especially in the pots where biochar and sulfur were applied together. The lowest yield value was determined at control as well as 0.1% thyme stalk biochar applied pots as 34.2 and 33.4 g pot-1, respectively while the highest yield value was determined at 5 g walnut shell biochar and sulphur applied pot as 75.7 g pot-1. It has been determined that dose and efficiency studies should be performed for each raw material to determine optimal biochar source and doses

Precipitation as the most affecting factor on soil–plant environment conditions affects the mycorrhizal spore numbers in three different ecological zones in Turkey

ABSTRACT: Mycorrhizal symbiosis is the one of the most important relationship between microbiota and plants to sustain plant nutrition in relatively unfavourable conditions. Somehow this relation is threatened by time, therefore, definition of the factors effecting mycorrhizal symbiosis has become essential. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in specific mycorrhizal parameters such as sporulation and soil–plant environment conditions in three different regions of Turkey. During 1996-2002, 53 soil series were selected from natural and agricultural plant communities in three different agro-ecological zones of Turkey: Central Anatolia (CA), the Southeastern Anatolian (SA) project area and the Coast of Mediterranean (CM). The arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF), spore numbers and mycorrhizal root colonization were related to the annual average precipitation, soil characteristics and host plant identity. In the CM zone (average annual precipitation of 650 mm), soils found under natural vegetation contained a maximum value of 108 spores g-1, with bare soils containing a minimum number of 0.1 spores g-1. In the CA zone (330 mm annual average precipitation), the maximum number of spores in the soil samples was 46.5 spores g-1 with a minimum of 6.8 spores g-1 and in the SA soil samples (380 mm annual average precipitation), a maximum of 48.4 spores g-1 and a minimum of 14.2 spores g-1 were recorded. The overall mean number of mycorrhizal spores g-1 soil was 15.5 ± 14.4, 22.2 ± 8.6 and 27.9 ± 25.4 for the CA, SA and CM zones, respectively. Mean spore numbers differed in only two of the three zones, with the third zone being intermediate. Precipitation was the most affecting factor on the sporulation of AMF. Also host plant species and certain soil parameters, such as positive correlations with CaCO3 and N-min and a negative correlation with organic matter, have an influence on sporulation. The key finding is that the cropping system has a large impact on spore numbers/abundance. Seventeen standing crops as well as bare soil, fallow and natural areas were compared. There are a large number of factors which can affect mycorrhizal development; in the present work, it seems that soil and crop management, and environmental factors (such as precipitation) affect sporulation and root colonization. Covering land surface with mycorrhiza-dependent cover crop, irrigation and less soil till may increase indigenous mycorrhizal spores. © 2016 Taylor & Francis.Devlet Planlama ÖrgütüThis study was supported by the State Planning Organization (DPT)

Management of manure from livestock housing and its environmental potential impact on water resources

Nowadays the increasing number of animal enterprising depending on the needs of human population growth and nutrition need that was occurred during the production of animal breeding have revealed the manure issue. Manure from animal barn, when not stored properly, causes environmental problems including odour and visual pollution, and could create environmental pollution problems. On the other hand, random storage of manure on the land outside animal barn as a result of climate parameters such as rainfall results in leakage of manure and can cause contamination of water resources. In Turkey, animal manure obtained from animal barns is almost not utilized and is accumulated outside. Manure which is produced in animal barn to be used for agricultural purposes must be stored in the areas which prevent the spread of in the environment . Thus, the loss of minerals in the soil plant available forms are contained in manure, will be prevented. In addition, due to the nutrients and microorganisms, surface and underground water resources can be a factor in polluting and may create a risk to animal health and environmental pollution. The study has been carried out by determining the 4950 cattle breeding enterprises around the Eğirdir, Beyşehir Burdur and Salda lakes in the Lakes Region. About 50000 cattle are bred in the 4950 cattle breeding enterprises in the study area. However, of these animals 43502 are bred for commercial purposes. When the values in literature are taken into account, the daily manure amount that would be put forth has been calculated as 1500 tons. It has been concluded that animal manure which is the output of animal breeding enterprises will result in environmental pollution, water resource pollution as well as posing a threat to life in general by mixing with water resources such as underground water, lakes etc. when deposited haphazardly in stacks that are not well managed. As a result, we believe that our producers should be well informed regarding manure management prior to experiencing such problems

The effect of irrigation interval on temperature distribution in soil profile under solarization applications in greenhouses

The aim of soil solarization is to control soil borne pathogens and weeds heating with solar energy of soil which is sufficiently wetted. Soil water content is the one of the most important factors affecting soil solarization. Humidity level is important to convey temperature from the upper layers to down layers of soil in solarized soil. For this purpose, the study was conducted in plastic greenhouse in Isparta province. Beginning of the study, all plots were irrigated to reach the field capacity, and then the all plots were irrigated in 5 days irrigation interval during the experiment periods. Temperature distribution was measured in 5, 10, 20 and 30 cm of the soil profile along the experiment periods. As a result of this study, increasing of soil temperature and effectiveness of solarization decreased with together the water content of soil in upper layers. However, the soil temperature increased with irrigation in the down layers

Effects of different soil water content on biological nitrogen fixation at soybean

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) is the process that provides organic nitrogenous compounds to the plants by using molecular nitrogen in atmosphere. Higher plants are not capable to use molecular nitrogen in atmosphere as a nitrogen source to generate essential proteins. Therefore plants either should be fertilized by adequate nitrogenous fertilizers or the microorganisms which are capable to produce nitrogenase should provide nitrogen to the plants by BNF. From among a number of factors affecting BNF, soil moisture content and ambient temperatures are considerably effective on the fixation rate. Therefore the global warming would be dramatically defective on BNF, thus effects of soil moisture as well as soil and ambient temperatures on BNF should evaluate prior rising temperature. A pot experiment was carried out to determine the effects of soil water contents on BNF. Four different soil water contents (%25, %50, %75 and %100 of water holding capacity) were adjusted either every 3 days or just after plants indicate wilting point. Non-inoculated pots were added to experiment as a control. The results revealed that BNF is affected by different level of soil water content. The mechanism of this effect would not be the direct effect of water, but the side effect of water on soil oxygen content; therefore, an aeration capability

Denitrification capacity of the widely distributed soil series of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

A laboratory experiment was carried out to determine the denitrification capacity of the Doganci, Geçitkale, Akdeniz, Balikesir, Pamuklu. Zümrütköy and Türkmenköy that are widely distributed soil series of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Soils are placed in anaerobic jars (20 % initial O2, 80 % He) with addition of 300 mg kg-1 NO3-N. Produced gases (CO2, N2 and N2O) along with O2 consumption were determined by gas chromatography. Moreover, ammonium and nitrate concentration of the soils were measured at regular intervals. The measured O2 consumption and CO2 production values as parameters of biological activities revealed considerable differences among the soil series studied. The more rapid O 2 consumption and the higher CO2 production were determined in Balikesir, Zümrütköy and Türkmenköy soil series. Furthermore, O2 level in the anaerobic jar was immediately dropped in early measurement intervals and was about 0 % at the end of the last measurement, particularly above mentioned soil series. The Zümrü tköy soil series has higher CO2 production in all measurement periods than the others and reached 975 µg CO2 g dry soil -1 at the end of experiment where others vary from 257 to 745. The measurements of N2O and N2 gases revealed that the most of the denitrification product consists of N2. Additionally, the highest N2O and N2 productions were determined in the Balikesir series with 251 µg N2O-N g dry soil-1 and 498 µg N2-N g dry soil-1. When all series compared, there were significant differences for the production of N2 and N 2O production. Nitrate and ammonium analyses measured in relation to time, ammonium content was similar in all series, however, nitrate content significantly decreased according to the measurement period

Effects of different fertigation levels on maize yield and nutrient uptake under semi-arid mediterranean conditions

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of four fertigation levels (25, 50, 75 and 100% of fertilizer dose, 240:100:200 kg N:P:K ha-1) and to compare with conventional practices (CP). The fertigation levels F1 25% of total fertilizer (60:25:50 kg N:P:K ha-1) treatments, F2 treatment is 50% of total fertilizer (120:50:100 kg N:P:K ha-1), F3 treatment is 75% of total fertilizer (180:75:150 kg N:P:K ha-1), F4 treatment is 100% of total fertilizer (240:100:200 kg N:P:K ha-1). The experiment was conducted during 2012 summer (from 20 June to 15 September) under the field conditions in the Menzilat soil series (Typic Xerofluvents) which is located in the East Mediterranean coastal part of Turkey. The experiment was designed as a completely randomized-block with three replications. The maize plant (Zea mays L.) was sown as second crop following with wheat cultivation. The maize yield was higher in F3 fertigation level treatment (12.47 Mg ha-1) compared to the other treatments. Lowest yield was recorded in F2 (8.45 Mg ha-1) treatment. The results shown that the half of the fertilizer application with conventional practices and the other half with fertigation are more efficient under Menzilat soil series conditions. For future, it is important to see the long term effect of fertigation on soil nutrients dynamic under the Mediterranean soil conditions

Application of chemical and organic fertilizers and possible effects in the greenhouses of Mediterranean region

A number of survey studies was conducted in 56 villages of Adana, Mersin and Antalya provinces between 2005-2007 with the aim of determining the amounts of chemical and organic fertilizers applied and in order to check their possible effects both on environmental pollution and human health in the Mediterranean region where 83 % of Turkey's greenhouse production is performed. In order to determine the number of farms to be surveyed. Simple random sampling method was used. The number of farms to be surveyed was determined as 223 with a confidence limit of 95 % and a margin of error of 5 %. The relations between the variables were examined with a correlation analysis. The results obtained have demonstrated that 33 % of the farms apply N + P2O5 + K2O more than 50 kg da-1. This fertilizer amount is approximately 7 folds of Turkey's average. It has been seen that producers are not aware of the possible effects of the excessive use of mineral fertilizers and it has been identified that farms which use organic fertilizers, apply less amounts of mineral fertilizers. It has been concluded that agricultural pesticide and fertilizer dealers in the region have a great influence on producers and these people whose commercial aims are of primary importance, make the producers apply fertilizers without considering its necessity. Therefore, it is determined that 76 % of the producers apply fertilizers to their soils without any soil or plant analysis. According to correlation analysis, increasing education level of producer increased the number of producer that applies organic matter while decreased the number of farmers who use higher dose of fertilizer. It has seen that producers, who have knowledge of organic fertilizers, apply more organic fertilizers than the other producers in their greenhouses. Moreover, a negative relationship has been identified between education level and the level of chemical fertilizer application. The organic fertilizer users have mostly preferred the farmyard manure

Mycorrhiza abundance and biological activity of soil under iron-fertilized apple cultivar (Red Chief) grafted on different rootstocks grown on a calcareous soil

The aim of this study was to examine mycorrhizal spore abundance, its infection rate and biological activity of soil depending on different rootstock, Fe sources or Fe doses. A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of rootstocks on mychorizal abundance and root infection as well as CO2 production and dehydrogenase activity of soil. Doses of 25,50 and 75g tree'1 Fe-EDDHA or FeSO4 were applied to apple trees (Red Chief cv.) grafted on dwarf (M9 and M26) and semi-dwarf (MM106) rootstocks. At flowering stages soil and root samples were collected and analyzed for their dehidrogenase activity, CO2 production, microbial biomass-C or mycorrhizal abundance and infection rate. Results revealed that neither rootstock nor Fe applications effect on mycorrhiza number in rhizosphere soil. The higher value was observed in the soil M26 planted and 75 g da-1 Fe-EDDHA applied plot (15 spores per g of soil). Therefore, infection rate showed significant variations related to rootstocks and Fe applications. The most adapted rootstocks was MM106 which 37.1 % of the roots infected by mycorrhiza. Fe-EDDHA was more effective than FeSO4 whereas both of them increased infection rate compared to control. There was no statistical difference between rootstocks in CO2 production; however, Fe-EDDHA is stimulated CO2 formation. The highest CO2 formation (11.55 mg C02 100 g soil1) observed in 50 g of Fe-EDDHA applied MM 106 plot whereas the lowest was in M26 plot where Fe application not realized. Dehydrogenase activity was not affected by Fe sources; however, increased Fe application increased dehydrogenase activity. Rootstock of MM 106 is statistically more effective on dehydrogenase and highest dehydrogenase value was observed in 50 g of Fe-EDDHA applied MM106 plot as 328 µg TPF 10 g soil-1. The highest biomass-C value was observed in 50 g of Fe-EDDHA applied MM106 plot, whereas the lowest was observed in 50 g of FeSO4 applied M9 plot. In general, Fe-EDDHA application was promote biomass-C more than FeSO4. Comparing to rootstocks, the highest effective rootstock was MM106 and followed by M26 and M29, respectively