Peat Use in Horticulture

Peat is a spongy substance which is an effect of incomplete decomposition of plant residues in different stages of decomposition. Between the several organic matters which are used as substrate for horticultural plants cultivation in soilless conditions, peat is the unabandonable ingredient for mixtures for commercial production of plants. Peat is used in horticulture as a component of garden plant substrates, in agriculture for the production of garden soil and as an organic fertilizer, and in balneology as a material for baths and wraps. The use of peat for agriculture and horticulture is determined by the following quality parameters: the degree of decomposition, ash content, pH, the presence of carbonates, the density of the solid phase, bulk density, and porosity. As an organic material, the peat forms in the acidic, waterlogged, and sterile conditions of fens and bogs. The conditions seem like the development of mosses. The plants do not compose as they die. Instead of this, the organic matter is laid down and accumulates in a slow time as peat due to the oxygen deficiency in the bog. This makes peat a highly productive growing medium. In the present novel review, we discuss the peat use in horticulture

Enzyme Dynamic in Plant Nutrition Uptake and Plant Nutrition

Soil contains enzymes, constantly interacting with soil constituents, e.g. minerals, rhizosphere and numerous nutrients. Enzymes, in turn, catalyse important biochemical reactions for rhizobacteria and plants, stabilize the soil by degrading wastes and mediate nutrient recycling.The available enzymes inside soil could originate from plants, animals or microbes. The enzymes that are produced from these organism could exhibit intracellular activities, at the cell membrane, interacting therefore with soil and its constituents, or extracellularly (so freely available). Therefore, vis-à-vis to plant nutrition, the (extra or sub) cellular localization has a key role. Typical major enzymes available in soil can be listed as dehydrogenases, hydrogenases, oxidases, catalases, peroxidases, phenol o-hydroxylase, dextransucrase, aminotransferase, rhodanese, carboxylesterase, lipase, phosphatase, nuclease, phytase, arylsulphatase, amylase, cellulase, inulase, xylanase, dextranase, levanase, poly-galacturonase, glucosidase, galactosidase, invertase, peptidase, asparaginase, glutaminase, amidase, urease, aspartate decarboxylase, glutamate decarboxylase and aromatic amino acid decarboxylase. An interesting strategy for improving the nutritional quality of the soil would be to inoculate microorganism to soil while giving attention to mineral or other compounds that affect enzyme activity in soil. Since, some elements or compounds could show both activation and inhibitory effect, such as Fe, Na, etc. metals, the regulation of their bioavailability is crucial

Evaluation of effects of water-saving superabsorbent polymer on corn (Zea mays L.) yield and phosphorus fertilizer efficiency

There is growing interest in using a reduced rate of mineral fertilizer along with water-saving superabsorbent polymer (WSAP) for field crop production in arid and semiarid regions of the world. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of hydrogel applications on the phosphorus fertilizer efficiency parameter, yield, and selected physiological properties of corn (Zea mays L.) grown at different levels of water deficiency in greenhouse conditions. The experimental design consisted of 3 completely randomized blocks in a factorial arrangement, with 9 hydrogel doses (0%, 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.04%, 0.08%, 0.12%, 0.2%, 0.4%, and 0.6%), 4 phosphorus fertilizer doses (0, 80, 160, and 240 kg ha(-1)), and 4 water deficiency levels (50%, 65%, 80%, and 100%). Overall, 432 pots were used in this study. We found that the irrigation interval of 0.0% WSAP (control) application treatment at water deficient conditions (WDC 50%) was 6 days, although this value could be increased to 11 days with 0.4% WSAP application treatment. The highest yield was obtained from 0.40% WSAP with 240 kg ha(-1) P application dose at 35% deficient irrigation conditions according to leaf relative water content, the chlorophyll reading value of corn plants, and P fertilizer efficiency parameters such as agronomic efficiency, physiological efficiency, use efficiency, and apparent recovery efficiency values. These findings suggest that the application of 0.40% WSAP with 240 kg ha(-1) P and economic soil management practice could provide an efficient corn production operation in drought-affected regions such as eastern Turkey and other areas with similar ecologies

Effects of Bio-Bor Fertilizer Applications on Fruit Yield, Antioxidant Enzyme Activity and Freeze Injury of Strawberry

Deficiency of Boron (B) is widespread in the many parts of region of Turkey. So, the effects of boron and plant growth promoting bacteria (Bio-B) on the fruit yield, antioxidant enzyme activity and plant freeze injury of strawberry cv. Fern were investigated under field conditions between 2013 and 2014. The experimental plot was a completely randomized design with 4 replicates. Control and Bio-B were used as fertilizer agent in the experiment. Bio-B fertilizer was applied in three methods as soil, foliar and soil + foliar application methods to strawberry plants. Data through 2 years showed that the use of Bio-B significantly increased fruit yield, antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased freeze injury of strawberry leaf. Soil + foliar applications of Bio-B fertilizer increased to fruit yield compared to the control by 55.91 %. However, foliar application of Bio-B fertilizer increased to catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activity compared with the control treatment 41.86 %, 48.99 %, and 26.59 %, respectively and decreased freeze injury of strawberry leaves 27.41 %. Overall, the results of this study suggest that Bio-B fertilizer application have the potential to increase the yield, antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased freeze injury of strawberry plants under field conditions

EFFECTS OF INTERCROPPING SYSTEM AND NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ON LAND EQUIVALENT RATIO, YIELD AND MINERAL CONTENT OF BROCCOLI

To determine effects of intercropping broccoli with onion and their correspondence to different nitrogen concentrations on growth, yield and nutrient contents, field studies were conducted for two years. In intercropping plots, onion sets were planted between broccoli rows. Broccoli and onion plants were also grown as monocrops. Nitrogen (N) was applied at three different rates (160, 200 and 240 kg ha(-1)) in both mono and intercrop plots of broccoli. The overall efficiency of intercropping was evaluated by employing Land Equivalent Ratios (LERs). Cropping systems significantly did not affect chlorophyll reading value, yield and other parameters observed. However, nitrogen application rate had significant effect on these parameters. The highest values of these parameters were generally observed in 240 kg N ha(-1) application. Macro and microelement content of broccoli leaves was affected neither by cropping systems nor by nitrogen fertilization except for N, Mn, Zn and NO3. Intercropping increased plant height but decreased the plant diameter of onion. There wasn't significant decrease in plant weight of intercropped onion at 240 kg N ha(-1) treatment when compared to monocropping. Broccoli intercropped with onion at 240 kg N he had the highest LER values, showing that intercropping practice could be more productive than monocropping especially in case of 240 kg N ha(-1) application

EFFECTS OF PHOSPHOGYPSUM WASTE APPLICATION ON CORN (ZEA MAYS L.) YIELD AND NUTRIENT CONTENTS

The transformation of agro-industrial wastes into value-added commodity is among the best approches to a greener and more sustainable future. The aim of in this study was to examine the effects of phosphogypsum waste (PGW) as fertilizer to improve yield and nutrient content in the grain, stem and leaves of corn (Zea mays L.). A randomized experiment via a complete plot design was applied using four different triplicated doses of PGW (0, 1, 5 and 10 tons ha(-1)). It was shown that improvement in corn yield was proportional to the increase in PGW dose, corresponding to 46.19%, 38.76% and 39.65% for 1, 5, and 10 ton ha(-1) of PGW, respectively. A 5.85 ton ha(-1) PGW dose was optimal in yielding a 8.63 ton ha(-1) of corn despite a 8.26 ton ha(-1) the production yield using 5 ton ha(-1) PGW, as the latter was statistically borderline significant. The approach adopted here also yielded corns with higher macro- and micronutrient contents compared to the control. The analysis of variance data illustrated that the improved contents of N, P, K, Ca, Zn and B per 1 ton ha(-1), and Mg per 5 ton he were also significant (P<0.05). It can be construed that the recommended dose of PGW as fertilizer between 1-5 tons ha(-1) can lead to substantial improvements in yield and nutrient contents in corn

The reuse of reclaimed water for irrigation around the Mediterranean Rim: a step towards a more virtuous cycle?

International audienceClimate change and a growing population around the Mediterranean Rim are increasing the need for water and, consequently, the pressure on resources in terms of both quantity and quality. High-quality water should be primarily reserved to drinking water while reclaimed water is an alternative for other usages. A review of situations in Tunisia, Jordan, France, and Italy involving the use of reclaimed water highlights the disparity in national regulations governing this alternative water resource and in its management. On the first hand, the use of recycled water for irrigation can have an adverse impact on public health and the environment, depending on treatment and irrigation practices. On the other hand, it may also represent a new source of water: wastewater should no longer be considered as waste but, rather, as a new resource to be handled in a circular economy-type loop. Current scientific knowledge in agronomic and environmental sciences, as well as in the economic and social sciences, can be integrated and used to lower the associated risk through the effective management of irrigation using recycled water and to address the following questions: (i) How can the time-varying nutrient needs of crops be managed to operate safe environmental reuse within an adapted risk assessment framework? (ii) What socio-economic models can render this integrated approach sustainable? (iii) What treatment systems and irrigation technology can be used to support these ideas and with what information? (iv) What changes in the regulations are needed