Phosphorus fertilization and yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.) seed quality

Rapeseed is an important oil crop and is sensitive to phosphorus deficiency. The soil phosphorus supply in the main rapeseed producing areas in China is poor, and phosphorus deficiency often leads to yield reduction of seed. To investigate the effects of phosphorus nutrient supply status on rapeseed yield and quality at the same time, a phosphorus fertilizer rate field experiment was conducted in two seasons of 2019-2021 in the middle reaches of Yangtze River with five treatments of 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg P₂O₅ hm^-2. The results showed that phosphorus application significantly increased the number of pods per plant, seed number, and 1000-seed weight, and thus increasing rapeseed yield. The average yield without phosphorus treatment was only 190 kg hm^-2, and phosphorus application increased the yield by 8.5-12.5 times, and the maximum yields obtained according to yield effects corresponded to phosphorus applications of 51.8-65.0 kg P₂O₅ hm^-2. The response of rapeseed phosphorus content, water content, oil content, protein, glucosinolate, oleic acid, linolenic acid, and stearic acid to phosphorus fertilizer rate reached highly significant levels, while erucic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid showed less response. The oil content of rapeseed tended to increase and then decrease with increasing phosphorus application (highest at 90 kg P₂O₅ hm^-2and 135 kg P₂O₅ hm^-2), protein content tended to increase slowly, and glucosinolate content decreased significantly. Excessive application of phosphorus fertilizer decreased the oleic acid content and increased the linolenic acid content of rapeseed. Path analysis showed that seed phosphorus content, oil content, and linolenic acid content had a greater direct positive effect on yield, water content, protein and linolenic acid had a greater indirect positive effect on yield through seed phosphorus content, and glucosinolate, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and stearic acid had a greater indirect negative effect on yield through seed phosphorus content. The combined results showed that the recommended phosphorus fertilizer rate for targeting rapeseed yield and edible oil quality was 45-90 kg P₂O₅ hm^-2, and for pursuing forage cake meal protein yield, the recommended phosphorus fertilizer rate was 90-135 kg P₂O₅ hm^-2.

The present study aimed to analyze the physical characteristics, seed health, and seedling emergence of nine Ilex paraguariensis mother trees. Physical characterization included determining the thousand-seed weight, number of seeds per kilogram, and moisture content. Viability and embryonic development were determined by the tetrazolium test, using five replications of 20 seeds for each mother tree. Seedling emergence was evaluated under three treatments: non-stratified seeds, seeds stored for 70 days, and seeds stratified for 180 days, using three replications of 2 g, being sown in a commercial substrate. Sanitary analysis was conducted by Blotter-test, using five repetitions of 20 non-disinfested seeds. Significant results were observed among the mother trees for physical and biometric variables. The initial seed viability was 52%, with embryos in the heart and post-heart stages. The most prevalent fungal genera in yerba mate seeds were Trichoderma sp., Aspergillus sp., and Penicillium sp.

Sulfur and phosphorus are important plant nutrients required for potato growth, influencing the synthesis of primary metabolites that serve as the material foundation of potato flavor quality. However, little is known about the effects of sulfur and phosphorus application on potato tuber flavor. This study experimentally compared the effects of the individual and combined application of phosphorus and sulfur fertilizers on the flavor of potato tubers. The research examined the sensory characteristics of flavor under various fertilization methods, investigated changes in the types and contents of volatile flavor compounds, and conducted analyses on flavor precursor compounds. The experimental results showed that the application of phosphorus and sulfur fertilizers, either individually or in combination significantly increased the content of linoleic acid and linolenic acid. After the combined application of phosphorus and sulfur fertilizers, the starch and the reducing sugar content also significantly increased. (E,E)-2,4-Nonadienal and Decanal are closely correlated with fatty acid content. Dimethyl sulfide and Trimethyl sulfide contents are significantly related to methionine content. This also significantly enhances the fatty taste characteristics of the tubers but weakens the potato flavor characteristics. Hence, the application of phosphorus and sulfur can affect the accumulation of primary metabolic products in tubers, thereby affecting flavor quality. Compared with the individual application of phosphorus or sulfur fertilizers, when phosphorus fertilizer is applied at 180 kg·ha-1 and sulfur fertilizer at 90 kg·ha-1 in combination, it can further enrich the roasted flavor characteristics of potatoes and maximize the enhancement of potato flavor quality. This provides valuable theoretical support for achieving high-quality agricultural development.

In garden pea (Pisum sativum L.), several symbiotic genes are known to control the development of mutualistic symbioses with nodule bacteria (NB) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Here, we studied whether the allelic state of the symbiotic genes was associated with the growth parameters of pea plants under single inoculation with NB and under double inoculation with NB + AMF. Using different statistical methods, we analyzed the dataset obtained from a pot experiment that involved 99 pea cultivars, 10 of which were characterized as having shortened internodes due to the presence of the natural mutation p.A229T in the developmental gene Le. The plant’s habitus strongly influenced most of the studied growth and yield parameters and the effectiveness of the symbiotic interactions under NB and NB + AMF inoculation. Double inoculation had different effects on Le+ (normal) and le− (dwarf) plants with regard to nitrogen and phosphorus content in seeds. Regardless of the Le-status of plants, allelic states of the symbiotic gene LykX encoding the putative receptor of Nod factors (bacterial signal molecules) were shown to be associated with seed number, thousand-seed weight, and pod number at the level of FDR < 0.001, whereas associations of allelic states of the other studied symbiotic genes were less significant.

Soil acidity associated with soil fertility problems are the main constraints hindering barley production in most highlands of Ethiopia. Field experiment was conducted to evaluate effects of lime and phosphorus (P) fertilizer application to acid soils on grain yield of barley and soil chemical properties during 2009 to 2013 cropping seasons at Bedi in Western Ethiopia. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. Five levels of lime (0, 0.55, 1.1, 1.65 and 2.2 t/ha) and four levels of P (0, 10, 20, and 30 kg/ha) were combined in a complete factorial arrangement. Lime requirement of the soil was calculated based on its exchangeable acidity. The combined analysis over years showed significant improvement of barley grain yield and soil chemical properties due to the main and interaction effects of lime and phosphorus. Grain yield was progressively increased with incremental levels of lime and Phosphorus application. The highest yield was obtained from 2.2 t/ha lime application coupled with 30 kg/ha phosphorus fertilizer, but on par with 1.65 t/ha lime and 20 kg/ha phosphorus application. Grain yield is increased by 274.0% with 1.65 t/ha lime and 20 kg/ha Phosphorus application in the initial year compared with control; however, this yield increment declined over years and reached 99.5% after five years. This yield reduction after five years of lime application may indicate re-acidification of the soil which warrants re-liming. In this study, lime application was the major source of variation for soil chemical properties. Soil pH was sharply increased by liming with the highest value (5.9) and thereafter slightly declined to 5.3 over five years. Exchangeable acidity decreased significantly with increase in lime application to as low as 0.1 cmol/kg, while available P and exchangeable Ca2+ were noticeably improved. Hence, lime application at the rate of 1.65 t/ha coupled with 20 kg/ha Phosphorus fertilizer could sustainably enhance barley production on acid soils of Bedi and similar areas with likely re-liming of the soils, every five years. Key words: Acid soils, barely, lime application, phosphorus fertilizer, soil properties.

Understanding the interactions and relationships between fertilizer and minerals help to have optimum fertilization practice with the lowest costs. In a split plot field experiment, we studied the effect of some organic substrate (control (soil), spent mushroom compost (SMC), cow manure and vermicompost) and different levels of phosphorus (at 0, 75, 100 and 125 kg h -1 ) to investigate the best treatment for some characters of medicinal pumpkin ( Cucurbita pepo L.) such as: leaf and branch number, plant height, fruit number, fruit weight, seed number, oil percentage, zinc and phosphorus content of seeds. Results showed that vermicompost is the best organic substrate for improving of the most characters. For phosphorus application alone, 100 (kg.h -1 ) was the best treatments for most characters and in combined application of organic substrate and phosphorus, vermicompost with 100 (kg.ha -1 ) was the best treatment to increase the morphological and yield factors.

В длительном полевом опыте СШ-27 (заложен в 1966 г.) на слабоокультуренной сильнокислой тяжелосуглинистой дерново-подзолистой почве проведены исследования по совместному внесению фосфорных и медных удобрений при различной кислотности почвы. Установлена наиболее высокая эффективность применения фосфорных и медных удобрений на слабокислой почве (рНKCl 5,4), урожайность озимой пшеницы сорта Московская 56 повышалась в 3,1 раза в сравнении с урожайностью на фоне NK (2,20 т/га) сильнокислой почвы (рНKCl 4,1). Медные и фосфорные удобрения на среднекислой (рНKCl 4,7) и сильнокислой почвах повышали урожайность в 2,6 и 1,9 раза соответственно. При совместном внесении медных и фосфорных удобрений на слабокислой почве формировалась максимальная урожайность озимой пшеницы (6,82 т/га) и возрастала окупаемость минеральных удобрений (N120P90K90) прибавкой зерна в 3,5 раза, достигая 15,3 кг/кг. Совместное внесение фосфорных и медных удобрений на слабокислой почве приводило к возрастанию выноса элементов питания из удобрений растениями озимой пшеницы: азота – в 2,6; фосфора – в 2,7 и калия – в 2,4 раза по сравнению с выносами на сильнокислой почве. За счёт медных удобрений увеличивался коэффициент использования фосфора от 5,2 до 8,1%. Применение медных удобрений на слабокислой почве увеличивало содержание белка и клейковины в зерне озимой пшеницы по сравнению с их содержанием на фоне NK сильнокислой почвы на 1,0 и 2,9% соответственно. In the long-term field experiment SSH-27 (established in 1966) on weakly cultivated strongly acidic heavy loamy soddy-podzolic soil, studies were carried out on the joint application of phosphorus and copper fertilizers at different acidity. The highest efficiency of the use of phosphorus and copper fertilizers on slightly acidic soil (рНKCl 5.4) has been established, the yield of winter wheat variety Moskovskaya 56 increased by 3.1 times in comparison with the yield on the background of NK (2.20 t/ha) of strongly acidic soil (рНKCl 4.1). Copper and phosphorus fertilizers on moderately acidic (рНKCl 4.7) and strongly acidic soils increased the yield by 2.6 and 1.9 times, respectively. With the joint application of copper and phosphorus fertilizers on slightly acidic soil, the maximum yield of winter wheat (6.82 t/ha) was formed and the payback of mineral fertilizers (N120P90K90) increased by 3.5 times, reaching 15.3 kg/kg. The combined application of phosphorus and copper fertilizers on slightly acidic soil led to an increase in the removal of nutrients from fertilizers by winter wheat plants: nitrogen – by 2.6; phosphorus – by 2.7 and potassium – by 2.4 times compared with the removals on strongly acidic soil. Due to copper fertilizers, the phosphorus utilization factor increased from 5.2 to 8.1%. The use of copper fertilizers on weakly acidic soil increased the content of protein and gluten in winter wheat grain compared to their content against the background of NK strongly acidic soil by 1.0 and 2.9%, respectively.

O fósforo pode contribuir com o aumento de qualidade das sementes produzidas e incrementar a produtividade de grãos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da adubação fosfatada sobre a qualidade, a composição química e a produtividade das sementes de soja e, a produtividade de grãos em lavoura estabelecida partir dessas sementes. Foram realizados dois ensaios. No Ensaio 1 avaliaram-se os seguintes tratamentos: T1 - controle, semeadura sem P2O5; T2 - 50% a menos que a dose de P2O5 recomendada com base na análise do solo; T3 - 100% da dose de P2O5 recomendada; T4 - 50% a mais que a dose de P2O5 recomendada; e, T5 - 100% a mais que dose de P2O5 recomendada. Após a colheita foram determinados o número de sementes e de legumes por planta, a produtividade, a germinação, a viabilidade e o vigor por meio do teste tetrazólio, a composição química e a massa de mil sementes. No Ensaio 2, as sementes colhidas no Ensaio 1 foram semeadas e avaliou-se o número de legumes e o de grãos por planta e a produtividade. O delineamento experimental utilizado nos dois ensaios foi em blocos ao acaso, com cinco repetições. A adubação fosfatada proporciona maior vigor das sementes de soja, além de contribuir para o aumento de fósforo, ferro e zinco nas sementes produzidas. Sementes com maiores concentrações de fósforo em sua constituição contribuem para o aumento de produtividade da soja.

Objetivou-se avaliar a técnica da sobreenxertia em Ilex paraguariensis, visando a substituição de copas. Para tanto, foi avaliada a influência da posição do enxerto na planta matriz, a idade e a matriz, bem como, a definição da melhor época para avaliação do pegamento e vigor dos enxertos. Árvores com 13 anos de idade localizadas em Colombo - PR, foram submetidas ao corte a 10 cm do solo para indução de brotações, sobre as quais foi realizada a enxertia por garfagem no topo em fenda cheia. Os enxertos foram coletados de sete árvores matrizes com idade de 10 anos e sete árvores com idade acima de 80 anos. Das matrizes selecionadas foram retirados enxertos observando-se a posição apical, mediana e basal dentro da planta matriz. O experimento foi instalado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com três repetições e 42 tratamentos, no esquema fatorial hierárquico 2 x 7 x 3 (duas idades; 7 matrizes, para cada idade; e 3 posições de coleta). A variável resposta de interesse foi proporção de pegamentos e número e comprimento de brotos. Obteve-se um comportamento diferenciado das matrizes quando amostradas em diferentes posições de coleta. A herdabilidade individual dos efeitos genotípicos, estimada para o pegamento dos enxertos, foi superior a 74%, para todos os períodos de avaliação, cujo valor é considerado alto. O coeficiente de variação genética foi da ordem de 34%, para os períodos de acompanhamento iguais ou superiores a 90 dias, indicando boas perspectivas de ganho no melhoramento do material genético. O coeficiente de variação experimental, nesse mesmo período, ficou entre 78% e 94%. Não houve diferenças entre os parâmetros genéticos a partir dos 90 dias. Pode-se concluir que a sobreenxertia de erva-mate diretamente a campo é tecnicamente viável; melhores taxas de pegamento são obtidas em árvores mais novas e com brotações apicais; e as matrizes apresentam respostas diferenciadas quanto ao pegamento na enxertia.

Soil acidity and poor soil fertility are regarded as crop productivity limiting factors particularly in south western Ethiopia. Acidic soils limit the productive potential of crops because of low availability of basic cations and excess of hydrogen and aluminium in exchangeable forms. At the study area, soil acidity is a well-known problem limiting crop productivity. This, study was conducted to determine the effect of lime and phosphorus fertilizers on soybean yields and to explore the best treatments that can maximize the productivity of soybean. Factorial combinations of five lime levels (0, 1.41, 2.82, 4.23 and 5.64 t ha^-1) and four P levels (0, 10, 20 and 30kg P ha^-1) were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data on yield and yield components, were collected and analyzed using SAS version 9.3 software. Treatment means were compared at 5% level of significance using List Significant Different Test. The results revealed that Lime x phosphorus interactions were significant (p<0.01) for some yield and yield components. Findings showed that the application of phosphorus (30Kg/ha) significantly increased the plant height (67.03 cm), number of pods per plant (49), number of seeds per plant (77.67) above ground biomass (6160Kg/ha) and the grain yield (1828.44 Kg/ha). A combined application of phosphorous at 30 kg/ha and lime at 5.64 t ha^-1 had good response in reclaiming the soil and fostering the crop productivity, which is statically at pars with 4.23 lime t/ha and 30 P kg/ha. Study concluded that application of lime with phosphorus proved to be superior with respect to grain yield as well as other yield and growth parameters of soybean. The result of this study verified that application of lime and Phosphorus improved yield and yield related traits of soybean crop. In conclusion further study should be conducted to determine the response of different maturity group of soybean varieties to appropriate rates or combination of lime and phosphorus fertilizers which can maximize the productivity of the crop and reduce soil acidity problem in the study area and finally, the study should be conducted across different acid soil and the agricultural extension suggest the farmers as they apply lime based on the concentration of acid saturation cation until the best combination of lime and phosphorus will be determined.

The objective of this study was to investigate fruit and seed formation in Ilex paraguariensis A.St.-Hil. without sexual reproduction in addition to evaluating their viability. This study was based on the hypothesis that the formation of apomictic fruit and seeds occurs, but the seeds are non-viable, contributing to the low germination percentage of the species. Five branches of 20 pistillate mother plants were bagged before anthesis (T1) and five immediately after fruit formation (TC). Once they reach maturity, the fruit were collected and counted. Their seeds were cut lengthwise and classified as intact (with embryo and endosperm) or non-intact (empty and/or deteriorated). The viability of intact seeds was evaluated with the tetrazolium test when they were classified as viable or non-viable. The data were submitted to the Kruskal-Wallis Test. The formation of viable fruit and seeds occurred in smaller numbers in T1, all statistically different from TC (p&lt;0.05). Although in smaller quantities and with a statistical difference, the formation of viable fruit and seeds occurs without sexual reproduction, suggesting that the process responsible for their formation is the facultative apomixis. The higher percentage of viable fruit and seeds in TC is probably a result of the occurrence of both apomixis and sexual reproduction. The percentage of non-viable seeds does not differ between the two treatments, suggesting that apomixis may not be the cause of the low percentage of viable seeds and germination, requiring further studies to understand its causes.

Nitrogen (N) is not only a major regulator of productivity in terrestrial systems but can also be a pollutant. While the effects of fertilizer addition to soil N cycling processes and the associated soil microbial groups have been extensively studied, little attention has been paid to the interaction of fertilizer amendment and the intrinsic fertility of the soil. We conducted a filed study on the Chinese Loess Plateau with soils of two fertility levels (low fertility and high fertility), amended with or without synthetic fertilizer (N and phosphorus, NP). Soil samples were collected three times in a continuous winter wheat cropping system and analyzed for soil potential nitrification (PNA) and denitrification (DEA) rates, nitrifiers and denitrifiers. Populations of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) and the resulting PNA were increased by the NP application regardless of intrinsic soil fertility. The NP application increased DEA by 15–228% in the low fertility soil, but decreased DEA by 18–46% in the high fertility soil. Soil denitrifiers also showed divergent responses to NP application in low and high fertility soils, i.e., the abundance of nirS-nitrite reducers increased in the low fertility soil, while nirS- and nirK-nitrite reducers were unchanged in the high fertility soil. The narG-nitrate reducers, AOB and AOA were more responsive to the NP application in the tillering stage (BBCH 25–26) than in other periods, whereas PNA, DEA and denitrifier gene abundance (nirS and nirK) varied more in the flowering stage (BBCH 65). Our results suggest that the responses of soil nitrification/nitrifiers and denitrification /denitrifiers to NP application varied with intrinsic soil fertility levels. The contrasting responses of nitrification and denitrification to NP application in high fertility soil indicate a decoupling of both processes.

Phosphorus (P) fertilizers are produced from rock phosphate (apatite); however, they are low-mobility in soil for plant nutrient absorption and uptake. In addition, the rock phosphate quantity is a limited source for future P fertilizer. At the same time, high phosphorus fertilization will cause environmental pollution (such as eutrophication in rivers). Also, a great proportion of applied P fertilizer remains in the soil, reducing the viable soil organisms. Therefore, the effect of different doses of P on some properties of soil (physical, chemical, and biological) is not entirely understood in the literature under long-term experiment conditions. Also, phosphorus fertilizer applications indirectly decrease the plant growth and yield. Under long-term experimental conditions, this research aims to understand the effect of increasing P doses on some physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. The hypothesis to be tested is that under long-term field experiment conditions, increasing doses of phosphorus fertilizer negatively affect the soil properties. The field experiment was established in 1998 and has continued uninterruptedly to the present time under maize and wheat rotations. Four doses of P fertilizers were applied; such as 0, 50, 100 and 200 kg P2O5 ha-1 application with three replications. P2105 Maize (Zea mays L.) species seeds were sown in June 2022 and harvested in November 2022. At harvest, the soil samples were taken at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depth in each plot. Soil pH, EC and available P were analyzed as soil chemical properties. The number of mycorrhizal spores and Soil Organic Matter (by walkley-black method) were determined as soil biological properties. Furthermore, soil bulk density (BD), water stable aggregated (WSA) and mean weight diameter (MWD) were analyzed as soil physical properties. Phosphorus application in increasing doses negatively affects the soil physical properties (such as WSA, MWD and BD) under long-term field experiment condition. The research finding showed that depending on increasing P doses application soil WSA and MWD were decreased but BD was increased. While depending on increasing P doses application soil organic carbon is increased, however, the numerical value of mycorrhizal spores and root colonization was decreased. The results are revealed that for sustainable and eco-friendly crop production, 50 and 100 kg P2O5 ha-1 P fertilizer can be used in maize production.

Abstract: The quality of seeds produced is the result of the management practices used and environmental conditions during growing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physiological potential and the health of soybean seeds produced in an organic and conventional system. The genotypes UEL 110 and 122 and BRS 257 and 284 were tested in organic and conventional systems in a randomized block design. The following characteristics were evaluated: moisture content; thousand seed weight (TSW); germination (G) and first count of germination (FCG); tetrazolium (TZ); classification, length, and dry matter of seedlings; and seed health. Analysis of variance was performed separately for the management systems, followed by combined analysis. When significant, the Tukey test (p&lt;0.05) was applied. Multivariate analysis was performed using R software. There was not significance between genotypes and management systems. The conventional management system performed positively for the characteristics TSW, G, TZ, FCG, classification, and length and dry matter of seedling roots, as well as for plant health. The UEL genotypes obtained higher TSW; UEL 110, lower germination; and BRS 257, a smaller number of ungerminated seeds and higher infestation by Cladosporium spp. The seeds produced under the organic system have greater weight and lower infestation by contaminants, whereas the conventional system produces seeds of better physiological quality and lower contamination by Phomopsis and bacteria. The genotype BRS 257 may have seeds multiplied in the organic and conventional management systems.

There has been a decline in soybean production owing to poor adaptable variety and low soil fertility, especially phosphorus among other factors. A field and screen house experiments were conducted in National Center for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), Idofian and Kwara State University, Malete both in southern Guinea savannah environment to evaluate the response of five soybean varieties to different rates (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg SSP/ha) of phosphorus fertilizer application. The field experiment was laid out in a 5 x 4 split-plot arrangement fitted into randomized complete block design (RCBD) with each treatment replicated three times. The screenhouse experiment was arranged in a complete randomized design (CRD) with three replications too. Soil samples were collected from both experimental sites and analyzed for physical and chemical characteristics. Plant data collected on the vegetative and yield component characteristics. The pre-planting soil analysis showed that the soil of the experiential sites was low in soil essential nutrients. Having both studies, the coefficient of variation from the two studies showed that the data from the field study is more reliable due to the low coefficient of variation ranging from (19.33 and 53.09) for hundred seed weight and seed weight per plant compared to the screen house (138.43 and 75.25). Across both studies, variety recorded significant (p&lt;0.05) variation on all yield parameters. Phosphorus application had a significant effect in the number of seeds per plant. While in the field, pair-wise interaction of (variety and phosphorus application) showed a significant difference (p&lt;0.05) in the number of pods, the number of seeds per pod, the number of seeds per plant, pod weight, seed weight per plant, and hundred seed weight. In screen house phosphorus, there was a significant difference in the number of seeds per pod. The interaction between variety and phosphorus, on the other hand, revealed no significant differences in these yield characteristics. The number of pods recorded a highly positive and significant correlation with the number of seeds per plant. TGX 1740-1E performs better under phosphorus application than SOYA with no phosphorus application. The best performance was observed on TGX 1740-1E variety treated with 20kgSSP/ha.