Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and Meadow Fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) as Affected by Rhizobacteria

A diverse group of soil bacteria found in the rhizosphere which can colonize plant roots and improve plant growth are designated as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. The aim of this study was isolation and screening of different rhizobacterial strains for plant growth promoting characteristics and their ability to improve growth of two grass species, orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.). The strains investigated, belonging to the genera Azotobacter, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and rhizobial bacteria, showed various plant growth promoting traits, such as phosphate solubilisation, siderophore production, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production. Co-inoculation of meadow fescue with Azotobacter chroococcum A2 and Sinorhizobium meliloti or Pseudomonas sp., and A. chroococcum A5 with S. meliloti, significantly increased shoot dry weight (SDW)(25-33%), as well as total N (26-33%), P (24-31%) and K (26-28%) contents in plants (mg pot-1), compared to uninoculated control. In addition, inoculation of orchardgrass with A. chroococcum strain A1, as well as co-inoculation with B. megaterium and A. chroococcum A1 or A31, significantly increased SDW (51-59%) and total N (54-59%), P (51-74%) and K (49-55%) contents, compared to uninoculated control. Nitrogen percentage in SDW was slightly higher than sufficiency ranges, while K percentage was optimal in all treatments in both species. Phosphorous percentage was lower than sufficiency ranges as a consequence of very low soil P content. The results emphasize the potential of particular rhizobacteria to improve the growth of forage grasses

The effect of the application of complex and mixed fertilizers on wheat yield and soil fertility

Crop productivity and soil fertility of arable lands largely depends on the applied fertilizer, including their composition, dosage and way of application. In the paper, a comparison of the fertilization values of different composite fertilizers was performed. The complex composite and different mixed fertilizers with fillers (lime and zeolite) were used in two experiments on two types of soil, Pseudogley and Cambisol. The grown crops were wheat and corn. The results showed no significant differences between applied fertilizers in terms of crop yield and nutrient uptake. Use of lime and zeolite as filler didn't result in increase of the fertilization effect of the applied fertilizers. The way of distribution of composite fertilizers influenced on the overall fertilization effect. Manual application of mixed fertilizers had better fertilization effect in comparison to mechanical spread, while use of complex fertilizers mechanically had better effect in comparison to blended mixed fertilizers

Soil acidification as a limiting factor to agricultural production in the municipality of Ljubovija

The process of soil acidification means, above all, a reduction of soil solution pH. It can be the result of slow, years-long natural process or considerably accelerated due to a combination of natural processes and anthropogenic influences. Acidification is a very important factor in the permanent degradation of the fertility of soil, as the most important and hardly renewable natural resource. Studies on soil susceptibility to the process of acidification were carried out in the Municipality of Ljubovija, using three methods. Defining of the degree of soil susceptibility to the process of acidification allows timely activities aimed at the reduction of overall soil acidity. Management of agricultural land, in isolated areas, must be focused on a balanced use of fertilizers and agrotechnical measures, using proper planting /crops to achieve the optimum use of resources and sustainable soil fertility

Methods for the assessment of background limits of Cd and Cr in the soil of Moravički district

This paper presents different approaches to background limits assessment of Cr and Cd content in the soil of the Moravički district. The investigated elements have right-skewed asymmetrical distribution, with high dispersion, especially Cr. By using graphical methods (cumulative curve - CDF and boxplot ) the obtained background limits of the natural contents were Cd 1.40 mg kg-1 and Cr 230 mg kg-1. Natural and log-transformed data were used for empirical methods, and significantly higher values were obtained than in the natural simulation. The background limits obtained by empirical methods were different. The maps show that the largest part of the territory has a relatively low concentration of investigated elements, whose values are the most similar to the background limits calculated by [Median+2MAD] methods and below. In parts of the territory with an increased content the most suitable computational methods are [Mean ± 2SD] and boxplot - calculation of the upper threshold. Background limits are given for certain homogenous geochemical wholes. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TP 037006: Proučavanje uticaja kvaliteta zemljišta i voda za navodnjavanje na efikasniju proizvodnju poljoprivrednih kultura i očuvanje životne sredine

DIAGNOSTIC MICROBIOLOGY

A clinical, microbiological and economic analysis of a national service for the rapid molecular diagnosis of tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance i

Characterization and kinetics of thermal decomposition behavior of plum and fig pomace biomass

Redirecting waste biomass back into the economy can reduce their burden on the environment. The use of waste biomass for the production of fuels, value-added materials or natural fillers has significant economic and environmental benefits. Physico-chemical characterization of waste biomass (plum pomace and fig pomace) was done by proximate, elemental, biochemical analysis, FTIR and SEM analysis. The calorific value of both biomasses can be compared with the calorific value of lignite, which rises their potential use as a solid biofuel. The combustion behavior of biomass was investigated by thermal analysis techniques. Based on thermal degradation experiments performed at four heating rates a kinetic analysis of the biomass decomposition process was accomplished. The kinetic study was done using Kissinger method, Ozawa method, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) method, Starink method, and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) method. The value of activation energy obtained by different kinetic methods was ∼210 kJ/mol for plum pomace and ∼162 kJ/mol for fig pomace. Estimated activation energy values were used to calculate thermodynamic parameters. In addition to the fact that the obtained results can serve as a useful reference for the design of pyrolysis reactors, this research has ecological significance because it solves the problem of solid waste disposal

Development of Sustainable Production of Rainfed Winter Wheat with No-Till Technologies in Southern Kazakhstan

The production of rainfed crops in arid regions is an extremely difficult task, especially without tillage. In southern Kazakhstan, in 2020–2021, the approbation of various nutrition regimes for winter wheat grown in conditions of no-tillage rainfed lands has been studied. The effect of different doses and terms of application of growth stimulators, micronutrients, bio-fertilizers and mineral fertilizers, as well as their economic efficiency, was studied in ten variables. The use of a combination of growth stimulators and microfertilizers produced the highest grain yield and was the most cost-effective. The greatest value of the nominal net profit of 223.25 euro and 244.10 euro from one hectare was provided and calculated with the recommended target grain yield of 2.0 t/ha dose of mineral fertilizers, respectively; however, the production cost of one ton of grain in these treatments was also highest. Further research is continuing with a wider range and combination of amendments and various crops in a rainfed no-till winter wheat farm in southern Kazakhstan

Development of Sustainable Production of Rainfed Winter Wheat with No-Till Technologies in Southern Kazakhstan

The production of rainfed crops in arid regions is an extremely difficult task, especially without tillage. In southern Kazakhstan, in 2020–2021, the approbation of various nutrition regimes for winter wheat grown in conditions of no-tillage rainfed lands has been studied. The effect of different doses and terms of application of growth stimulators, micronutrients, bio-fertilizers and mineral fertilizers, as well as their economic efficiency, was studied in ten variables. The use of a combination of growth stimulators and microfertilizers produced the highest grain yield and was the most cost-effective. The greatest value of the nominal net profit of 223.25 euro and 244.10 euro from one hectare was provided and calculated with the recommended target grain yield of 2.0 t/ha dose of mineral fertilizers, respectively; however, the production cost of one ton of grain in these treatments was also highest. Further research is continuing with a wider range and combination of amendments and various crops in a rainfed no-till winter wheat farm in southern Kazakhstan