Microbial properties of soil fertilized by sewage sludge and cultivated with energy crops

The microbial activity of soil enriched with sewage sludge and cultivated with energy crops, is little known. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of sewage sludge fertilization on selected microorganisms in soil cultivated with the following crops: Miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus Greef et Deu), Virginia mallow (Sida hermaphrodita (L.) Rusby) and Common Osier willow (Salix viminalis L.). Sewage sludge was used in two rates 10 and 20 t/ha dry weight (DW). The numbers of total coliforms bacteria, sulphate-reducing spore-forming bacteria, Proteus sp., saprophytic, thermophilic and aerobic spore-forming bacteria were examined. Sewage sludge increased the number of coliforms and sulphate-reducing spore-forming bacteria, and stimulated the growth of saprophytic and thermophilic bacteria. Cultivation of Miscanthus limited the number of coliforms bacteria, while Virginia mallow and Miscanthus reduced the number of sulphate- -reducing spore-forming bacteria. Common Osier willow stimulated the growth of saprophytic bacteria in the soil, while Virginia mallow the number of spore-forming bacteria. Our results revealed that microbial activity of soil expressed as the number of selected bacterial groups, depends not only on the applied rate of sewage sludge fertilizer, but also on the cultivated energy crop

Review: Some physiological indices to be exploited as a crucial tool in plant breeding

This article is mainly addressed to plant physiologists and breeders. Nowadays, the cooperation between these two groups seems to be more important than ever before. Plant physiology offers better understanding of mechanisms and factors responsible for plant yielding. Thus, it might help to find proper traits for plant selection. Plant breeding proposes highly differentiated material for testing

Growth analysis of rape during the binding and formation of pods

Field experiment was conducted to analyze the growth dynamics of the oilseed rape and the filling of pods in two types (cv. Brendy population and cv. Primus F1 hybrid). The variant of quantitative growth analysis for a single plant was chosen. It was found that the hybrid variety has a higher tolerance to biotic stresses that may occur (pests and diseases) and periodic drought (increased water storage capacity). However, it created a lower dry weight and lost the leaves earlier. Population produces more dry matter, earlier it establishes a fixed proportion of each organ within, but is exposed on spill on the seeds. As a result, the difference in the yield of the seed was 0,4 t ha-1 in favor of the hybrid. Hybrid oilseed rape breeding should strive to early establish a rigid proportion of the various organs of the dry weight of the plant

Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements in environmental studies

Celem opracowania jest przybliżenie szerokiemu gronu czytelników zakresu możliwości zastosowania pomiarów fluorescencji chlorofilu w badaniach stanu roślin, poddanych stresom abiotycznym. Zaprezentowano zagadnienia związane z samym zjawiskiem fluorescencji chlorofilu, następnie skupiono się na technice pomiarowej, scharakteryzowano metody pomiaru fluorescencji bezpośredniej i modulowanej (w systemie PAM), a także przybliżono test OJIP stosowany do analizy otrzymywanych wyników. Szczególny nacisk położono na znaczenie parametrów fluorescencji chlorofilu. Omówiono też wpływ wybranych czynników środowiskowych na zmiany fluorescencji chlorofilu. Skupiono się na znaczeniu światła, temperatury, suszy, zasolenia gleby, niedoboru składnika mineralnego oraz toksycznego oddziaływania metali. Zaprezentowano także inne przykłady zastosowania fluorescencji chlorofilu, jak kontrola dojrzałości owoców, wigoru nasion czy monitoringu ekosystemów wodnych, również w systemie NASA-MODIS do wykrywania zagrożeń biologicznych. W podsumowaniu podkreślono, że fluorescencja chlorofilu stanowi uniwersalny i szybki sposób oszacowania oraz narzędzie do wykrywania różnych niesprzyjających warunków środowiska mających wpływ na sprawne funkcjonowanie aparatu fotosynetycznego.The aim of this paper is to inform the readers about some possibilities of applying chlorophyll fluorescence measurements in studies of plants' condition under abiotic stress. We present basic knowledge on chlorophyll fluorescence emission and measuring techniques of prompt fluorescence, pulse amplitude modulated fluorescence, and the OJIP test. Special emphasis is placed on chlorophyll fluorescence parameters obtained from each measuring technique and their relevance to functioning of photosynthetic machinery and the whole process of photosynthesis. The influence of selected abiotic factors on chlorophyll fluorescence is described, focusing on the photosynthetic active radiation, temperature, drought, soil salinity, mineral deficiencies, and heavy metals. The paper presents also some of unusual applications of chlorophyll fluorescence measurements, such as testing of fruit maturity, seed vigor, or monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. In the summary, we highlight that measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence provide an universal tool for a quick evaluation and analysis of the effects of various unfavorable environmental conditions on the efficiency of photosynthesis