EFFECT OF APPLICATION OF FLY ASH, DERIVED FROM LIGNITE FIRED PLANTS, ON SOME PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THREE SOILS AND ON NUTRIENT UPTAKE BY PLANTS.

FLY ASH, A BY - PRODUCT OF COAL FIRED PLANTS, IS PRODUCED IN LARGE QUANTITIES AND ITS DISPOSAL CONSTITUES A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THE USE OF FLY ASH AS A SOIL AMENDMENT MIGHT BE A SOLUTION TO ITS DISPOSAL PROVIDED THAT IT DOES NOT IMPART ADVERSE EFFECTS ON SOILS AND THE ENVIRONMENT. IN THIS STUDY, ALKALINE FLY ASH WAS APPLIED TO THREE SOILS (TWO ACID AND ONE CALCAREOUS) WITH THE OBJECTIVE TOINVESTIGATE THE EFFECTS ON: A) SOIL PH, SALINITY AND BORON LEVELS, B) YIELD AND UPTAKE OF BORON AND PHOSPHOROUS BY RYE - GRASS (LOLIUM PERENNE L.), C) THE ADSORPTION - DESORPTION BEHAVIOUR OF BORON. FLY ASH APPLICATION, AT RATES 0.52 AND 5% INCREASED THE PH (UP TO ABOUT 8.0) AND THE ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY OF THE SATURATION EXTRACT (UP TO ABOUT 2.5 DS/M) OF ALL THREE SOILS, BUT MAINTAINED AVAILABLE B AT ACCEPTABLE LEVELS. YIELD OF RYE - GRASS AND UPTAKE OF BAND P WERE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED UPON FLY ASH APPLICATION, ONLY IN THE TWO ACID SOILS. THE NONLINEAR LANGMUIR ISOTHERMS WERE EQUALLY SUCCESSFUL IN DESCRIBING B SORPTION. FLY ASH APPLICATION RESULTED IN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OF THELANGMUIR ADSORPTION MAXIMA. THE PHENOMENOLOGICAL ISOTHERM OF KEREN AND HIS CO - WORKERS WAS ABLE TO FIT THE BORON ADSORPTION DATA ONLY IN THE TWO ACID SOILS. BORON SEEMED TO BE PHYSICALLY SORBED WITH A RELEASE OF ENERGY LESS THAN 200 KJ/MOL AND THEREFORE IT WOULD BE RATHER EASILY BE RELEASED TO THE SOIL SOLUTION.Η ΙΠΤΑΜΕΝΗ ΤΕΦΡΑ, ΕΝΑ ΥΠΟΠΡΟΙΟΝ ΤΗΣ ΚΑΥΣΗΣ ΤΟΥ ΛΙΓΝΙΤΗ ΣΤΟΥΣ ΣΤΑΘΜΟΥΣ ΠΑΡΑΓΩΓΗΣ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΙΚΟΥ ΡΕΥΜΑΤΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΓΕΤΑΙ ΣΕ ΜΕΓΑΛΕΣ ΠΟΣΟΤΗΤΕΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΟΜΕΝΩΣ ΔΗΜΙΟΥΡΓΕΙΤΑΙ ΤΟ ΠΡΟΒΛΗΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΠΟΜΑΚΡΥΝΣΗΣ ΤΗΣ ΜΕ ΤΗ ΔΙΑΘΕΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΣΕ ΔΙΑΦΟΡΕΣ ΕΦΑΡΜΟΓΕΣ. Η ΧΡΗΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΙΠΤΑΜΕΝΗΣ ΤΕΦΡΑΣ ΩΣ ΕΔΑΦΟΒΕΛΤΙΩΤΙΚΟ ΘΑ ΜΠΟΡΟΥΣΕ ΝΑ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΜΙΑ ΛΥΣΗΣΤΟ ΠΡΟΒΛΗΜΑ ΤΗΣ ΔΙΑΘΕΣΗΣ ΤΗΣ, ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΠΡΟΥΠΟΘΕΣΗ ΟΜΩΣ ΟΤΙ ΔΕΝ ΘΑ ΠΡΟΚΑΛΟΥΝΤΑΙΑΝΕΠΙΘΥΜΗΤΕΣ ΣΥΝΕΠΕΙΕΣ ΣΤΑ ΕΔΑΦΗ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΟ ΠΕΡΙΒΑΛΛΟΝ. ΣΚΟΠΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΑΣ ΗΤΑΝΝΑ ΜΕΛΕΤΗΘΕΙ Η ΕΠΙΔΡΑΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΠΡΟΣΘΗΚΗΣ ΙΠΤΑΜΕΝΗΣ ΤΕΦΡΑΣ ΑΛΚΑΛΙΚΗΣ ΑΝΤΙΔΡΑΣΗΣ:Α) ΣΤΟ PH , ΣΤΗΝ ΑΛΑΤΟΤΗΤΑ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΗ ΣΥΓΚΕΝΤΡΩΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΒΟΡΙΟΥ ΤΡΙΩΝ ΕΔΑΦΩΝ (ΔΥΟ ΟΞΙΝΑ, ΕΝΑ ΑΣΒΕΣΤΟΥΧΟ), Β) ΣΤΗΝ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΞΗ ΦΥΤΩΝ RYE - GRASS (LOLIUM PERENNE L.) ΚΑΙ ΣΤΗΝ ΠΡΟΣΛΗΨΗ ΒΟΡΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΦΩΣΦΟΡΟΥ ΑΠΟ ΤΑ ΦΥΤΑ, Γ) ΣΤΗΝ ΠΡΟΣΡΟΦΗΣΗ - ΕΚΡΟΦΗΣΗ ΒΟΡΙΟΥ ΑΠΟ ΤΑ ΕΔΑΦΗ. ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΠΡΟΣΘΗΚΗ ΤΗΣ ΙΠΤΑΜΕΝΗΣ ΤΕΦΡΑΣ ΑΥΞΗΘΗΚΑΝ ΤΟ PH (ΕΩΣ ΤΗΝ ΤΙΜΗ = 8,2) ΚΑΙ Η ΕΙΔΙΚΗ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΙΚΗ ΑΓΩΓΙΜΟΤΗΤΑ ΤΟΥ ΕΚΧΥΛΙΣΜΑΤΟΣ ΚΟΡΕΣΜΟΥ (ΕΩΣ ΤΗΝ ΤΙΜΗ = 2,5 DS/M) ΚΑΙ ΤΩΝ ΤΡΙΩΝ ΕΔΑΦΩΝ, ΕΝΩ Η ΣΥΓΚΕΝΤΡΩΣΗ ΤΩΝ ΔΙΑΘΕΣΙΜΩΝ ΜΟΡΦΩΝ Β ΠΑΡΕΜΕΙΝΕ ΣΕ ΕΠΙΠΕΔΑ ΑΠΟΔΕΚΤΑ. Η ΑΠΟΔΟΣΗ ΣΕ ΦΥΤΟΜΑΖΑ, Η ΠΡΟΣΛΗΨΗ Β ΚΑΙ Ρ ΑΥΞΗΘΗΚΑΝ ΣΤΑΤΙΣΤΙΚΩΣ ΣΗΜΑΝΤΙΚΑ ΜΟΝΟΝ ΣΤΑ ΔΥΟ ΟΞΙΝΑ ΕΔΑΦΗ. ΟΙ ΜΗ ΓΡΑΜΜΙΚΕΣ ΙΣΟΘΕΡΜΟΙ LANGMUIR ΚΑΙ FREUNDLICH ΠΕΡΙΕΓΡΑΨΑΝ ΕΞΙΣΟΥ ΙΚΑΝΟΠΟΙΗΤΙΚΑ ΤΗΝ ΠΡΟΣΡΟΦΗΣΗ Β. ΤΟ ΜΕΓΙΣΤΟ ΠΡΟΣΡΟΦΗΣΗΣ, ΚΑΤΑ LANGMUIR ΑΥΞΗΘΗΚΕ ΣΤΑΤΙΣΤΙΚΩΣΣΗΜΑΝΤΙΚΑ ΜΕ ΤΗΝ ΠΡΟΣΘΗΚΗ ΤΗΣ ΙΠΤΑΜΕΝΗΣ ΤΕΦΡΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΣΤΑ ΤΡΙΑ ΕΔΑΦΗ. (ΠΕΡΙΚΟΠΗ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗΣ

Soil Application of Sewage Sludge Treated with Clay Minerals or Biochar and Its Effect on Soil Properties and White Clover’s (<i>Trifolium repens</i> L.) Growth and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Root Colonization

From the perspective of finding new, more environmental-friendly methods for the stabilization of sewage sludge to be used in agriculture, sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar was investigated as a soil amendment for white clover (Trifolium repens L.) growth, by means of a pot experiment. The sludge treatments, which were applied to two soils (an acid and an alkaline soil), in three replications, were the addition of 2% (≈80 Mg ha−1) treated sludge with the clay minerals or biochar, as well as limed or untreated (air-dried) sludge (for comparison reasons). Additional treatments with inorganic fertilization or neither organic nor inorganic fertilization (control) were also included. The application of 2% sludge to both soils significantly increased salinity compared to the control, which remained below harmful levels for sensitive crops, except for the case of untreated sludge. Furthermore, it significantly increased the soil-available macronutrients N, P and K, and micronutrients Cu, Zn (several times, especially in the case of untreated sludge) and B (up to three times) compared with the control. Moreover, the pH of the acid soil was improved, except for the case of limed sludge, where an undesirable pH increase close to 8.5 was observed. Addition of the treated sludge with the clay minerals or biochar and untreated sludge to the acid and alkaline soil significantly increased the aboveground biomass yield of white clover by 117–233% and 114–153%, respectively, compared to the control, whereas limed sludge had no effect. Plant nutrient uptake increased as well. In general, the effect of sludge on soil microbiological properties and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal root colonization was ambiguous. It was concluded that 2% soil addition of sewage sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar could improve soil fertility and enhance plant growth; however, caution is needed with respect to potential risks of soil salinization or Zn and B phytotoxicities

Soil Application of Sewage Sludge Treated with Clay Minerals or Biochar and Its Effect on Soil Properties and White Clover&rsquo;s (Trifolium repens L.) Growth and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Root Colonization

From the perspective of finding new, more environmental-friendly methods for the stabilization of sewage sludge to be used in agriculture, sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar was investigated as a soil amendment for white clover (Trifolium repens L.) growth, by means of a pot experiment. The sludge treatments, which were applied to two soils (an acid and an alkaline soil), in three replications, were the addition of 2% (&asymp;80 Mg ha&minus;1) treated sludge with the clay minerals or biochar, as well as limed or untreated (air-dried) sludge (for comparison reasons). Additional treatments with inorganic fertilization or neither organic nor inorganic fertilization (control) were also included. The application of 2% sludge to both soils significantly increased salinity compared to the control, which remained below harmful levels for sensitive crops, except for the case of untreated sludge. Furthermore, it significantly increased the soil-available macronutrients N, P and K, and micronutrients Cu, Zn (several times, especially in the case of untreated sludge) and B (up to three times) compared with the control. Moreover, the pH of the acid soil was improved, except for the case of limed sludge, where an undesirable pH increase close to 8.5 was observed. Addition of the treated sludge with the clay minerals or biochar and untreated sludge to the acid and alkaline soil significantly increased the aboveground biomass yield of white clover by 117&ndash;233% and 114&ndash;153%, respectively, compared to the control, whereas limed sludge had no effect. Plant nutrient uptake increased as well. In general, the effect of sludge on soil microbiological properties and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal root colonization was ambiguous. It was concluded that 2% soil addition of sewage sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar could improve soil fertility and enhance plant growth; however, caution is needed with respect to potential risks of soil salinization or Zn and B phytotoxicities

Greek Tulips: Worldwide Electronic Trade over the Internet, Global Ex Situ Conservation and Current Sustainable Exploitation Challenges

From an ornamental viewpoint, tulips are famous clonally propagated crops. This research focuses on 15 wild-growing Greek tulip species including 11 range-restricted species, i.e., six Greek endemics and five Balkan or Aegean endemics and subendemics, among which seven are currently threatened with extinction (two Critically Endangered, three Endangered and two Vulnerable). An overview of the global electronic trade over the internet is presented herein for these valuable phytogenetic resources in an attempt to define the extent of their commercialization (25 nurseries in three countries, mainly bulb trade at various prices) with concomitant conservation implications. In the frame of the repatriation initiatives launched, their global ex situ conservation is overviewed according to the PlantSearch facility of the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (materials from 15 species stored in 41 botanic gardens of 14 countries). The results of this study on the Greek tulips showed that there are both well-established value chains and gaps in the market regarding the “botanical tulips”; revealed the compromised effectiveness of ex situ conservation for the majority of them; raised conservation concerns related to authorized access to these wild phytogenetic resources; and indicated that their future utilization should comply with the provision of national and international legislation. All these are envisaged and discussed within the framework of the newly launched research project TULIPS.GR which aims to be the pilot establishment of a national collection regarding all Greek tulips (currently holding 38 accessions of 13 species, including almost all of the threatened ones). The project’s scope is to enable the creation of a sustainable value chain for the Greek tulips with authorized collections, sustainable conservation schemes, production of DNA barcoded propagation material, species-specific propagation and cultivation protocols, mycorrhizal investigations, field studies, applying innovative precise soil/foliar fertigation, and investigation of the postharvest treatment of fresh cut flowers, promoting networking and synergies with producers and associations in Greece and abroad

Adaptability of Wild-Growing Tulips of Greece: Uncovering Relationships between Soil Properties, Rhizosphere Fungal Morphotypes and Nutrient Content Profiles

Wild-growing Greek tulips are protected plants but almost nothing is known about their natural nutrient status and rhizosphere fungal morphotypes in the wild, thus no insight is currently available into their growth and adaptation to their natural environment or artificial settings. To this end, several botanical expeditions were conducted with a special collection permit, and 34 tulip and soil samples were collected, representing 13 species from two phytogeographical regions of Greece (North Aegean Islands, Crete Island) and seven regions of mainland Greece. The tulips’ content in essential macro- and micro-nutrients, respective physicochemical soil properties, and rhizosphere fungal morphotypes were assessed across samples, and all parameters were subjected to appropriate statistical analysis to determine their interrelationships. The results showed that soil variables played a significant role in shaping tulips’ nutrient content, explaining up to 67% of the detected variability as in the case of phosphorus (P) in the above-ground plant tissue. In addition, significant correlations were observed (with an r value of up to 0.65, p 0.001) between essential nutrients in the tulips, such as calcium (Ca) and boron (B). The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that between the three spatial units examined, the total variability of tulips’ nutrient content produced a clear distinction among sampled species, while the first two PCA axes managed to explain 44.3% of it. This was further confirmed by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) results which showed corresponding significant differences (at p < 0.05) in both the tulips’ nutrient content and the studied soil properties as well (mean values of N, P, and K in the North Aegean Islands tulips’ nutrient content, up to 53%, 119%, and 54% higher compared to those of the Crete Island, respectively). Our study sheds light on Greek tulips’ adaptability and resilience in their original habitats, facilitating at the same time the undertaken efforts regarding their conservation and potential domestication in artificial settings

Integrated Nutrient Management Boosts Inflorescence Biomass and Antioxidant Profile of <i>Carlina diae</i> (Asteraceae)—An Endangered Local Endemic Plant of Crete with Medicinal and Ornamental Value

Due to the combined climate and biodiversity crisis, the sustainable utilization of phytogenetic resources stands as a one-way alternative, while nutrient management strategies are gaining an increasing role in agriculture. Building on previous studies regarding the Endangered local endemic of Crete (Greece) Carlina diae (Asteraceae), with medicinal and ornamental value, this investigation focused on its pilot cultivation and fertilization (foliar or soil application). Foliar application comprised inorganic fertilization (conventional) or integrated nutrient management (INM). Soil application consisted of conventional inorganic fertilizers, biostimulants, or INM with biostimulants. Above-ground biomass content of nutrients, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence, and color parameters (SPAD meter, DA meter, Chroma Meter) were estimated. The leaf chlorophyll content, three key antioxidant compounds, and nutrient titers were also determined. The fertilization scheme did not influence plant growth and visually perceived quality (leaf color and shape). Notably, foliar INM fertilization increased biomass partitioning to inflorescences (harvestable organs for either medicinal or ornamental purposes) and decreased tissue water content (facilitating processing). Considering all three antioxidants together, INM with biostimulant appeared the optimum scheme, being associated with the highest (carotenoids, phenolics) or the second highest (flavonoid) content. In C. diae, therefore, INM fertilization was optimal for upgrading yield (foliar) and herbal quality in terms of antioxidant profile (INM with biostimulant), which might be embraced as an eco-friendly approach for high-quality yields

Pilot Cultivation of the Vulnerable Cretan Endemic <i>Verbascum arcturus</i> L. (Scrophulariaceae): Effect of Fertilization on Growth and Quality Features

The domestication of wild-growing plants, including cultivation and fertilization protocols, is able to alleviate the ecological risks posed by the uncontrolled harvesting of range-restricted local endemic plants. In this field study focused on Verbascum arcturus, a vulnerable local endemic of Crete (Greece), the effect of two kinds of fertilization applied by two methods (foliar/root) was investigated. The foliar application included conventional or integrated nutrient management (INM) fertilization. Root application included the application of conventional fertilizers, biostimulants, or INM with biostimulants. Several properties of plant growth, physiology and nutrition were determined. The results showed that fertilization treatment affected neither leaf color and shape nor plant growth, morphology, dry mass partitioning or nutrient content. However, both kinds of foliar-applied fertilization enhanced Zn and B in leaves and soil-applied biostimulant increased leaf Ca. Considering both chlorophyll and antioxidant compounds’ content, foliar application of the INM fertilizers, as well as soil application of the conventional fertilizers or biostimulants, could be considered as accepted options. This study reports for the first time an assessment of the total phenolic and flavonoids content evidenced in V. arcturus and encourages the use of fertilization in promoting the herbal antioxidant profile without compromising visual quality or yield. The findings of this study could be considered as a documented contribution toward the sustainable exploitation of V. arcturus