Height Growth Research Articles

Reguladores de crescimento influenciam a altura e a partição de biomassa de plantas de mamona

ABSTRACT Castor (Ricinus communis) is a drought-resistant oilseed crop. This study evaluated five plant growth regulators (PGR) on their capacity to influence stem elongation of castor plants growing under shade and measured side effects on the biomass allocation among leaf, stem, and roots. The experiment had 220 castor plants of the cultivar AKB 02, on a completely randomized design and four replicates. The plants were kept under artificial shade and treated with 11 doses of PGR, applied in the first day after emergence. Eight plants were exposed to full sun radiation without PGR treatment. The plant height was measured daily, and the plants were harvested for weighing the final biomass. The data was subjected to multiple linear regression. The shade promoted stem elongation and reduced biomass accumulation in all compartments. The height growth was restricted by trinexapac-ethyl, mepiquat chloride, and chlormequat chloride. Gibberellin promoted stem elongation in addition to the shade effect. Paclobutrazol did not influence stem elongation, but it favored biomass accumulation and increased the stem density. Gibberellin promoted allocation to stem replacing leaf biomass; trinexapac-ethyl promoted root replacing stem and leaf biomass; mepiquat and chlormequat chloride promoted stem in detriment of leaf biomass. In conclusion, plant growth regulators may be effective to restrict height growth of castor plants, but they can also disturb the biomass allocation among root, stem, and leaves.

A UAV-Based Single-Lens Stereoscopic Photography Method for Phenotyping the Architecture Traits of Orchard Trees

This article addresses the challenges of measuring the 3D architecture traits, such as height and volume, of fruit tree canopies, constituting information that is essential for assessing tree growth and informing orchard management. The traditional methods are time-consuming, prompting the need for efficient alternatives. Recent advancements in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, particularly using Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and RGB cameras, have emerged as promising solutions. LiDAR offers precise 3D data but is costly and computationally intensive. RGB and photogrammetry techniques like Structure from Motion and Multi-View Stereo (SfM-MVS) can be a cost-effective alternative to LiDAR, but the computational demands still exist. This paper introduces an innovative approach using UAV-based single-lens stereoscopic photography to overcome these limitations. This method utilizes color variations in canopies and a dual-image-input network to generate a detailed canopy height map (CHM). Additionally, a block structure similarity method is presented to enhance height estimation accuracy in single-lens UAV photography. As a result, the average rates of growth in canopy height (CH), canopy volume (CV), canopy width (CW), and canopy project area (CPA) were 3.296%, 9.067%, 2.772%, and 5.541%, respectively. The r2 values of CH, CV, CW, and CPA were 0.9039, 0.9081, 0.9228, and 0.9303, respectively. In addition, compared to the commonly used SFM-MVS approach, the proposed method reduces the time cost of canopy reconstruction by 95.2% and of the cost of images needed for canopy reconstruction by 88.2%. This approach allows growers and researchers to utilize UAV-based approaches in actual orchard environments without incurring high computation costs.

Facilitation drives tree seedling survival at alpine treelines

Abstract Alpine treelines are considered ecological monitors recording the impacts of climate change on trees and forests. To date, most treeline research has focused on how climate change drives treeline dynamics. However, little is known about how biotic interactions mediate treeline shifts, particularly in the case of tree recruitment, a bottleneck of treeline dynamics. We hypothesized that interspecific and intraspecific facilitation determined the establishment and survival of tree seedlings at alpine treelines. To test this hypothesis, 630 Abies georgei var. smithii seedlings with different ages (4–6, 7–9, and 10–15 years old) were transplanted into three growth habitats (canopy-in, canopy-out, and meadow) across the alpine treeline ecotone (4300–4500 m) in the Sygera Mountains, on the southeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Microclimate, height growth, mortality rates, and leaf functional traits of transplanted seedlings were measured over three years. We found that the variations in leaf functional traits were driven by microclimate. After the transplantation, the leaf concentrations of soluble sugars and starch and C:P ratio increased, whereas leaf size decreased. The resource use of seedlings gradually shifted to a more conservative strategy as indicated by changes in non-structural carbohydrates and nutrient concentrations. Radiation, temperature, and moisture conditions, mediated by plants interactions, influenced seedling mortality and annual growth by affecting leaf morphological traits. Our findings illustrate how facilitation plays a crucial role in altering solar radiation and leaf trait functioning, determining seedling survival and growth at alpine treelines. We provide new insights into the underlying mechanisms for tree establishment and alpine treeline shifts in response to climate change.

Growth in children with nephrotic syndrome: a post hoc analysis of the NEPTUNE study.

Steroids, the mainstay of treatment for nephrotic syndrome in children, have multiple adverse effects including growth suppression. Anthropometric measurements in children < 18years enrolled in the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (NEPTUNE) were collected. The longitudinal association of medication exposure and nephrotic syndrome characteristics with height z-score and growth velocity was determined using adjusted Generalized Estimating Equation regression and linear regression. A total of 318 children (57.2% males) with a baseline age of 7.64 ± 5.04years were analyzed. The cumulative steroid dose was 216.4 (IQR 61.5, 652.7) mg/kg (N = 233). Overall, height z-scores were not significantly different at the last follow-up compared to baseline (- 0.13 ± 1.21 vs. - 0.23 ± 1.71, p = 0.21). In models adjusted for age, sex, and eGFR, greater cumulative steroid exposure (β - 7.5 × 10-6, CI - 1.2 × 10-5, - 3 × 10-6, p = 0.001) and incident cases of NS (vs. prevalent) (β - 1.1, CI - 2.22, - 0.11, p = 0.03) were significantly associated with lower height z-scores over time. Rituximab exposure was associated with higher height z-scores (β 0.16, CI 0.04, 0.29, p = 0.01) over time. Steroid dose was associated with lower height z-score, while rituximab use was associated with higher height z-score.

Height growth of Mexican boys by geographic region: an evaluation based on nationally representative data of ENSANUT 2012 and 2018.

Existing research on human growth in Mexico is regionally focused, creating a gap in the understanding of growth patterns of children and adolescents at national level and regional variation. The objective of the present study was to characterize the height growth curve of the Mexican population by geographic area and to cluster the states of the Mexican Republic according to their somatic maturation characteristics, based on a national representative sample of boys. Data on age, height, socioeconomic level, and geographic area of 18,219 boys were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012 (ENSANUT) and ENSANUT 2018, carried out in 32 Mexican states. Both surveys had representative samples. Preece-Baines 1 model was applied to fit height growth curves. Biological parameters were estimated; principal component analysis and cluster analysis were performed to group Mexican states based on these biological parameters. The estimated age at peak height velocity (PHV) was 12.3 years in the sample. Significant regional differences in the timing and tempo of PHV among Mexican boys were observed. Boys in the northern region experienced PHV at an earlier age and had a shorter duration of growth compared with boys in the central and southern regions. Boys in the central region had a longer duration of growth and a later age of PHV compared with the boys in the southern region. The cluster that included the southern states of the country showed estimated lower adult height and earlier somatic maturation. A lower height was found in the low and low-middle socioeconomic levels compared with the medium-high and high socioeconomic levels. Future research in Mexico should focus on longitudinal studies to analyse the timing and tempo of growth and maturation, considering the impacts of environmental and genetic factors. Public health strategies should account for geographic variations.

Effects of Salt Stress on Physiological and Agronomic Traits of Rice Genotypes with Contrasting Salt Tolerance.

Salinity is one of the major constraints to crop production. Rice is a main staple food and is highly sensitive to salinity. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of salt stress on physiological and agronomic traits of rice genotypes with contrasting salt tolerance. Six contrasting rice genotypes (DJWJ, JFX, NSIC, HKN, XD2H and HHZ), including three salt-tolerant and three salt-sensitive rice genotypes, were grown under two different salt concentrations (0 and 100 mmol L-1 NaCl solution). The results showed that growth, physiological and yield-related traits of both salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant rice were significantly affected by salt stress. In general, plant height, tiller number, dry weight and relative growth rate showed 15.7%, 11.2%, 25.2% and 24.6% more reduction in salt-sensitive rice than in salt-tolerant rice, respectively. On the contrary, antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase), osmotic adjustment substances (proline, soluble protein, malondialdehyde (MDA)) and Na+ content were significantly increased under salt stress, and the increase was far higher in salt-tolerant rice except for MDA. Furthermore, grain yield and yield components significantly decreased under salt stress. Overall, the salt-sensitive rice genotypes showed a 15.3% greater reduction in grain yield, 5.1% reduction in spikelets per panicle, 7.4% reduction in grain-filling percentage and 6.1% reduction in grain weight compared to salt-tolerant genotypes under salt stress. However, a modest gap showed a decline in panicles (22.2% vs. 22.8%) and total spikelets (45.4% vs. 42.1%) between salt-sensitive and salt-tolerant rice under salinity conditions. This study revealed that the yield advantage of salt-tolerant rice was partially caused by more biomass accumulation, growth rate, strong antioxidant capacity and osmotic adjustment ability under salt stress, which contributed to more spikelets per panicle, high grain-filling percentage and grain weight. The results of this study could be helpful in understanding the physiological mechanism of contrasting rice genotypes' responses to salt stress and to the breeding of salt-tolerant rice.

Stretched sapwood, ultra-widening permeability, and ditching da Vinci: revising models of plant form and function.

The mechanisms leading to dieback and death of trees under drought remains unclear. For constructing an understanding of these mechanisms, addressing major empirical gaps regarding tree structure-function relations remains essential. We give reasons to think that a central factor shaping plant form and function is selection favoring both constant leaf specific conductance with height growth and isometric (1:1) scaling between leaf area and the volume of metabolically active sink tissues ("sapwood"). Sapwood volume-leaf area isometry implies that per-leaf area sapwood volumes become transversely narrower with height growth; we call this "stretching." Stretching means that selection must favor increases in permeability above and beyond that afforded by tip-to-base conduit widening (ultra-widening permeability), as via fewer and wider vessels or tracheids with larger pits or larger margo openings. Leaf area-metabolically active sink tissue isometry would mean that it is unlikely that larger trees die during drought because of carbon starvation due to greater sink-source relationships as compared to shorter plants. Instead, increase in permeability is most plausibly associated with greater risk of embolism, and this seems a likelier culprit of the preferential vulnerability of larger trees to climate change-induced drought. Other implications of selection favoring constant per-leaf area sapwood construction and maintenance costs are departure from the da Vinci rule expectation of similar sapwood areas across branching orders, and that extensive conduit furcation in the stem seems unlikely. Because all of these considerations impact the likelihood of vulnerability to hydraulic failure versus carbon starvation, both implicated as key suspects in forest mortality, we suggest that these predictions represent essential priorities for empirical testing.

Scaling of leaf area with biomass in trees reconsidered: constant metabolically active sapwood volume per unit leaf area with height growth.

Hypoallometric (slope<1) scaling between metabolic rate and body mass is often regarded as near-universal across organisms. However, there are compelling reasons to question hypoallometric scaling in woody plants, where metabolic rate=leaf area. This leaf area must provide carbon to the metabolically active sapwood volume (VMASW). Within populations of a species, variants in which VMASW increases per unit leaf area with height growth (e.g. ⅔ or ¾ scaling) would have proportionally less carbon for growth and reproduction as they grow taller. Therefore, selection should favor individuals in which, as they grow taller, leaf area scales isometrically with shoot VMASW (slope=1). Using tetrazolium staining, we measured total VMASW and total leaf area (LAtot) across 22 individuals of Ricinus communis and confirmed that leaf area scales isometrically with VMASW, and that VMASW is much smaller than total sapwood volume. With the potential of the LAtot-VMASW relationship to shape factors as diverse as the crown area-stem diameter relationship, conduit diameter scaling, reproductive output, and drought-induced mortality, our work suggests that the notion that sapwood increases per unit leaf area with height growth requires revision.

Initial Growth of Red Tent Seedlings (Adenanthera Pavonina l.) In Soil Enriched with Different Doses and Nitrogenous Sources

Purpose: To evaluate the initial growth of red tent seedlings in different doses and sources of N.   Theoretical framework: Based on scientific articles found on search engines and books in the area of soil fertility and plant nutrition. This is to support the explanation of how the morphological characteristics of seedlings, which explain their growth, are affected by nitrogen fertilization, depending on the dose and source of fertilizer applied.   Method: The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with five doses of N and five replications, using urea and ammonium sulfate as sources, which were evaluated separately. The doses tested were: T0 – without addition of N; T1 – 50 mg dm-3; T2 – 100 mg dm-3; T3 – 150 mg dm-3; T4 – 200 mg dm-3, for each source tested. At the end of 90 days, the morphological characteristics of the seedlings were evaluated: height, diameter, height/diameter ratio, dry mass of the aerial part, dry mass of the root part, aerial dry mass/root dry mass ratio, height/aerial dry mass ratio and, Dickson quality index.   Results and conclusion: Growth, dry mass production and seedling quality were greater at a dose of 200 mg dm-3 when using urea as a source of N. When the source was ammonium sulfate, the greatest growth in height occurred at a dose of 100 mg dm-3, however, the greatest growth in diameter, the greatest production of dry mass and quality, were observed at a dose of 200 mg dm-3. This is the recommended dose for the species studied.   Research implications: These results indicate that nitrogen fertilization is essential for the quality growth of red seedlings, and the dose to be applied is essential for this to happen, since values lower than this dose may not allow the plant to perform at its maximum. growth potential. Meanwhile, higher doses do not guarantee greater growth and will result in unnecessary expenses and, probably, loss of growth due to toxicity.   Originality/value: Using nitrogen fertilizers, in the correct dose for the species, increases its growth potential and guarantees the production of quality seedlings within the nursery.

The Effect of Moringa Leaf (Moringa oleifera L.) Liquid Organic Fertilizer with Different Concentrations on the Growth of Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

One of the efforts to increase the production of chickpea plants to meet market needs is to optimally utilize the waste of Moringa leaves by converting Moringa leaves into liquid organic fertilizer so that it is easier and more practical to apply and easily absorbed by plants. Liquid organic fertilizer plays a role in improving the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil, which can increase the production of upright bean plants. This study aims to determine the effect of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) of Moringa leaves with different concentrations and to determine the most effective concentration of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) on the growth of green beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The method used is an experimental method with a completely randomized design (CRD). The treatment consisted of a concentration of 16% chicken manure (as a control), POC concentrations of 60%, 65%, 70%, 75% and 80%. The results showed that there was an effect of different concentrations of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) from Moringa oleifera L. on the growth of plant height, number of leaves and wet weight in bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The most effective concentration of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) from Moringa leaves is at a concentration of 80% with an average plant height of 41.2 cm, an average number of leaves of 15.25 leaves and an average wet weight of 3.98 grams. number of leaves and fresh weight on chickpea plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The most effective concentration of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) from Moringa leaves is at a concentration of 80% with an average plant height of 41.2 cm, an average number of leaves of 15.25 leaves and an average wet weight of 3.98 grams. number of leaves and fresh weight on chickpea plants (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The most effective concentration of liquid organic fertilizer (POC) from Moringa leaves is at a concentration of 80% with an average plant height of 41.2 cm, an average number of leaves of 15.25 leaves and an average wet weight of 3.98 grams.

Growth, Yield, and Stem Quality of Tectona grandis Grown with Different Spacings at Longuza Forest Plantation, Tanzania

Spacing is a silvicultural practice that affects the growth of trees in forest plantations. However, the yield depends on growth, which is determined by spacing. In addition, spacing influences the quantity of the final crop available for harvesting, specifically in forest plantations for sawlog production. Spacing is also used as a management practice to control the quality of trees, as dense stands are expected to have trees with good stem quality. However, little has been done to address the effects of spacing on the growth, yield, and stem quality of Tectona grandis until final harvesting age. Teak plantations in Tanzania are grown at a rotation age of 20 years. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effect of spacing on the growth, yield, and stem quality of 24-year-old T. grandis in a Longuza Forest plantation in Muheza, Tanzania. Data were collected from a spacing trial using a randomized complete block design with three treatments: 2 m × 2 m, 3 × 3 m, and 4 m × 4 m, with three replications. The growth and yield parameters assessed were diameter at breast height (dbh) total tree height, and stem quality. Data were analyzed to obtain the basal area, volume, and mean annual increment. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple comparisons among treatment means were performed using Tukey's honest significant difference test (p-value = 0.05). The results showed that spacing did not significantly affect growth and yield parameters. The stem quality was significantly different in some treatments. The highest dbh and height growth were observed at 4 m× 4 m spacing. The highest values of basal area, volume, and mean annual increment were observed at a 3 m× 3 m spacing. Stem quality differed significantly between the 2 m× 2 m and 4 m× 4 m spacings. Because teak plantations in Tanzania are aimed at sawlog production, it is recommended to continue practising a spacing of 3 m× 3 m, which will ensure a higher mean annual increment with a higher volume at the stand level. In addition, a spacing of 3 m × 3 m ensured a higher percentage of trees with good stem quality.

Longitudinal Analysis of Latvian Child Growth: Anthropometric Parameters Dynamics from Birth to Adolescence.

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the physical development patterns from birth to adolescence, utilizing a longitudinal dataset of 70 children monitored from birth until 17 years of age. The research focuses on the variability of growth trajectories, emphasizing the role of genetic and environmental factors in influencing these patterns. Key findings indicate that most children undergo one or two periods of accelerated growth, with significant variability in the timing and magnitude of these growth spurts. The study also highlights the adaptive nature of growth changes over generations, influenced by ecological, nutritional, and socio-economic conditions. The longitudinal approach reveals critical insights into the timing of peak growth velocities, demonstrating that girls reach their growth peak approximately one year earlier than boys. The analysis of intergenerational growth patterns suggests a significant increase in average height over the century, attributed to genetic diversity and changes in lifestyle and nutrition. This study's findings emphasize the importance of updating physical development standards regularly to reflect the changing genetic and environmental landscape. The variability in growth patterns and their correlation with health outcomes in later life highlights the need for targeted public health strategies that address the underlying socio-economic and environmental determinants of health. This research contributes to the understanding of physical development trajectories and provides a foundation for future studies aimed at optimizing health outcomes from early childhood through adolescence. The primary objective of this article is to meticulously analyze the dynamics of height growth and accurately identify the periods of accelerated bodily development within the context of longitudinal research.

The suppression of Ganoderma boninense on oil palm under mixed planting with taro plants

Abstract. Suwandi S, Alesia M, Munandar RP, Fadli R, Suparman S, Irsan C, Muslim A. 2024. The suppression of Ganoderma boninense on oil palm under mixed planting with taro plants. Biodiversitas 25: 1143-1150. Basal stem rot, caused by Ganoderma boninense, is highly destructive in monoculture oil palm plantations. This study evaluated Ganoderma boninense infections and oil palm growth in mixed plantings of oil palm seedlings and taro plants (Japanese, Bogor, and Indralaya taro). Ganoderma, colonizing rubber wood blocks, was inoculated into mixed plants, and the infection was compared to single-inoculated oil palm and taro plants. The interference of mixed planting with taro plants on the growth of oil palm seedlings was compared between inoculated and noninoculated mixed and single planting. Ganoderma inoculation caused simultaneous disease (dual-host infection) in mixed oil palm and taro plants. Ganoderma infection was less severe in taro plants compared to oil palm, whether in single or mixed planting. Over six months, oil palm root necrosis and disease index were reduced by 82% to 96% and 65% to 71%, respectively, while no significant effect was observed at nine months. The decay of Ganoderma-colonized wood improved by 44.1% to 84.0% in mixed planting, with no significant impact on mycelium viability. Taro plants did not inhibit oil palm growth, including plant height, leaf area, and relative growth rate of primary root length, in both the presence and the absence of Ganoderma infection. This study highlights the potential of mixed planting with taro to reduce Ganoderma disease in oil palm.

Quantifying the roles of climate, herbivory, topography, and vegetation on tree establishment in the treeline ecotone

AbstractThe transition zone between the upper forest boundary and the treeless alpine vegetation (i.e., the treeline ecotone) is expected to shift upward in elevation with global warming. Multiple factors in addition to climate are influencing tree establishment, but it is uncertain to what degree. In this study, we took advantage of a unique dataset with field measurements of mountain birch trees acquired from 32 boreal–alpine treeline ecotone sites situated along a 1100‐km latitudinal gradient in Norway to investigate the role of climate, herbivory, topography, and vegetation on the establishment success of trees. To represent tree establishment, we recorded occurrence, survival, and height growth of short juvenile birch trees (stem height ≤1 m) as response variables at each site in 2008, 2012, and 2018. We used already available climate and herbivory data, and airborne laser scanning (ALS) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) surveyed imagery together with field measurements to compute topography and vegetation explanatory variables per site on microsite scale (approx. 1 m2). We observed a clear decrease in short juvenile birch tree establishment due to livestock herbivory, evidenced by lower occurrence, reduced survival rate, and diminished height growth in treeline ecotones with higher livestock densities. Winter precipitation and the two land cover classes, tree‐covered area and lee side vegetation, were also important for tree establishment. However, the direction and magnitude of the relationships depended on the stage of establishment. While winter precipitation can lead to higher tree occurrence, long‐term survival is not necessarily ensured, reflecting diverse requirements for optimal conditions of tree establishment. Thus, our results show that occurrence, survival, and height growth of short juvenile birch trees differ in their requirements to climate, topography, and vegetation, but tree establishment is consistently low with livestock herbivory. Overall, our results suggest that treeline ecotones will shift toward higher elevations in areas with little or no livestock herbivory and close to already established trees and in lee sides. Regarding management and conservation issues, our results suggest that free‐roaming livestock can reduce tree establishment and hinder treeline ecotone shifts into threatened alpine ecosystems, at least for birch‐dominated treelines.

Germination patterns and seedling growth of congeneric native and invasive Mimosa species: Implications for risk assessment.

Comparisons of plant traits between native and invasive congeners are useful approaches for identifying characteristics that promote invasiveness. We compared germination patterns and seedling growth of locally sympatric populations of native Mimosa himalayana and two varieties of invasive M. diplotricha (var. diplotricha and var. inermis) growing in southeastern Nepal. Seeds were germinated under a 12-h photoperiod or complete dark, low (25/15°C day/night) and high (30/20°C) temperatures, different water stress levels (0, -0.1, -0.25, -0.5, -0.75 and -1.0 MPa), and soil depths (0, 2, and 4 cm). Plant height, biomass allocations, and relative growth rate (RGR) of seedlings were measured. Invasive M. diplotricha had higher germination percentage, rate, and shorter germination time compared with the native species. Germination of both congeners declined as water stress increased, but the decline was more pronounced in native species. Seedling emergence declined with increasing depth in all taxa. The seedlings of invasive species were taller with higher leaf number and allocated greater proportion of biomass to shoot, whereas the native congener allocated greater biomass to root. The RGR was nearly twice as high in invasive species as it was in the native congener. Seedling height and number of leaves were always higher in invasive than in native species, and the native-invasive differences increased over time. Better germination and higher growth performance of invasive species than the congeneric native one suggests that seed germination and seedling growth can be useful traits for the prediction of species' invasiveness in their introduced range during risk assessment process.

Postfire reproduction of a serotinous conifer, the giant sequoia, in the Nelder Grove, California.

The giant sequoia, a serotinous conifer naturally occurring in mixed-conifer forests of the southern and central Sierra Nevada, California, USA, is the world's largest tree species. Giant sequoia reproduction has been severely lacking over the past century, due to fire exclusion, creating a significant conservation threat. Previous research on postfire sequoia reproduction in high-severity fire areas, relative to low- and moderate-severity areas, is limited. At 6 years postfire, we investigated giant sequoia reproduction in a high-severity fire area, and nearby low-/mixed-severity fire areas, in the Nelder Grove, which burned in 2017 in the Railroad fire. Postfire giant sequoia reproduction was positively correlated with fire severity in terms of density, height (growth), and proportion (relative to other conifer species), and sequoia seedling/sapling density was positively correlated with percent shrub cover. There was no correlation between distance to live sequoia seed source and density of sequoia reproduction. More research is needed in other mixed-severity fire areas, with larger high-severity fire patches, to determine whether a similar postfire response occurs elsewhere.

Effect of Biochar Using N, P, and K Fertilisers on Growth and Quality of Lithocarpus litseifolius

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of facile combinations of biochar and N, P, and K fertilisers on the growth and physiological characteristics of Lithocarpus litseifolius seedlings, and to optimise the biochar/NPK ratio of Lithocarpus litseifolius. Method: A four-factor three-level orthogonal method was used to conduct a field experiment using 2-year-old Lithocarpus litseifolius. Nine fertiliser treatments and one control treatment (CK, i.e., no fertiliser) were established in a completely randomised block group with six replications of ten treatments. The plants were planted in October 2020 and harvested in November 2021, and fertiliser was applied once in April 2021 and once in July 2021. Results: Rational application could effectively promote the growth of Lithocarpus litseifolius, and T4(C2N1P2K3) produced the highest increase in plant height growth (17.03 cm), diameter growth (5.47 mm), soluble sugar (94.60 mg/g), soluble protein (4.59 mg/g), and phlorizin (old leaf: 16.00%; tender leaf: 15.13%); T8(C3N2P1K3) resulted in the highest chlorophyll a content (1.46 mg/g), chlorophyll b content (0.62 mg/g), and total chlorophyll content (2.08 mg/g), and T1(C1N1P1K1) resulted in the highest contents of starch (11.60 mg/g) and trilobatin (old leaf: 0.29%; tender leaf: 2.28%). The indicators corresponding to the above three treatments were significantly higher than those under the other treatments (p &lt; 0.05). The results as analysed by the affiliation function method show that the highest mean value of the affiliation function was 0.645 after T4(C2N1P2K3) treatment. Conclusions: The combination of biochar and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilisers can effectively increase the biomass and active components of Lithocarpus litseifolius while reducing the amount of chemical fertiliser applied. A comprehensive analysis of the results showed that the T4 treatment (biochar: 20 g/plant; urea: 10 g/plant; superphosphate: 9 g/plant; potassium chloride: 12 g/plant) resulted in the highest comprehensive score, with the highest increase in plant height growth, ground diameter growth, root–crown ratio, soluble sugar, soluble protein, and phlorizin, as well as other indicators.

Plant-growth stimulating bacteria × environments/bio-formulations interactions on the growth-promoting activities of Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas fluorescens on chili

Chile has been used as a spice because of its flavor and zest, which complement the minerals, vitamins, and other elements it contains when cooked. The objective of the current study was to determine how P. fluorescens and S. marcescens promote plant growth in Chili plants. The PGPR's phosphate solubilizing, IAA, NH3, HCN production, and antifungal activities were ascertained using in vitro experiments. During the study period 2020–2022, the experiment was conducted using a completely randomized block design, with three replications of the three treatments for each microorganism, as follows: 1) P. fluorescens: T0 (control, unsterile soil), T1 (P. fluorescens in rice husk), and T2 (P. fluorescens in sawdust); 2) S. marcescens: T0 (control, unsterile soil), T1 (S. marcescens in rice husk), and T2 (S. marcescens in sawdust) with no fertilizer. After seeding, the chili plant's parameters were measured at 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 days and compared to the control using four traits: plant height, root length, shoot length, and the number of leaves per plant. The following bio-formulation, employing T0, enhanced plant height growth after seeding: In rice husk, Days 75 (B2×D5×T2) = 21.20 for S. marcescens>Days 75 (B1×D5×T2) = 20.83 for P. fluorescens>Days 60 (B1×D4×T2) = 19.17 for P. fluorescens Days 75 (B2×D5×T0) for S. marcescens in control, days 60 (B1×D4×T1 (16.43 cm) for P. fluorescens in sawdust, and days 75 (B1×D5×T0) for P. fluorescens in control. The root length (cm) for P. fluorescens in sawdust is 7.23 days (B1×D5×T2), which is more than P. marcescens in sawdust (days 60 B1×D4×T2), P. fluorescens in control (days 75 (B1×D5×T0) = 6.60cm), and S. marcescens in control (days 75 (B2×D5×T0) = 6.60cm), etc. Rice husk and sawdust were used to create the bio-formulations. The maximum plant growth was achieved at 75 days when S. marcescens was grown in a sawdust medium, including sawdust as a carbon source and carboxymethyl cellulose as a carrier source. When the different compositions of the bio-formulation were tested on chili plants, it was found that P. fluorescens and S. marcescens in sawdust bio-formulation were more effective.

Evaluation of the Adequacy Level of Nutritional Substances (Vitamins) with the Incident of Stunting in Children in the Working Area of the Surabaya City Health Center

Stunting is a condition where height growth disorders arise due to malnutrition, so that a child's height does not correspond to his age. The aim of this research is to evaluate the use of vitamins and minerals in stunting cases in several Surabaya Community Health Centers. The results of this research are descriptive with prospective data collection. The number of respondents obtained was 64 stunting child patients who met the inclusion criteria. Based on the results of child demographics according to age, the most stunting child patients were 32 patients aged 48 – 60 months (50%). Based on gender, the results were balanced between women and men. Based on a history of exclusive breastfeeding, the majority had a history of exclusive breastfeeding, 52 patients (81.25%). Based on birth weight, the highest number of patients with a normal weight (&gt;2500) grams was 53 patients (82.82%). Based on disease history, the majority did not have a history of disease, 53 patients (82.82%). The vitamins and minerals used in stunting cases in several Surabaya Community Health Centers are Optima Zinc Syrup, Vitamin and Mineral Powder, Taburia, and Vitamin A Capsules, with the rules and duration of use according to those given. Based on the results of nutritional status assessments at several Surabaya Community Health Centers, it was found that the majority of children were underweight based on Z-Score BW/U, had short status based on Z-Score BH/U, and had good nutritional status based on Z-Score BW/BH. The results of the nutritional status assessment concluded that the majority of children were underweight based on Z-Score BW/U, had short status based on Z-Score BH/U, and had good nutritional status based on Z-Score BW/BH.

Adolescents’ height and cognitive ability in China

Cognitive ability, as an early human capital, has always been an important research object in modern education and labor economics. Despite growing awareness of the importance of height in individual growth and development, there are few empirical studies on height and cognitive ability. Using the data from the China Education Panel Survey, this paper examined the impact of height on the cognitive ability of adolescents and explored the reasons behind the Chinese pursuit of height growth and the potential impact mechanism. In this paper, comprehensive analysis ability was taken as the representative of cognitive ability. The empirical results showed that height was positively correlated with cognitive ability. From the perspective of the influence mechanism, the hypothesis that height reflected self-esteem, health, non-cognitive ability, and other influences on cognitive ability was excluded. To correct the errors that endogenous problems may cause, we used the PSM method and “age at first menstruation " and “age at first wet dream” as instrumental variables to correct them. The results showed that height still affected cognitive ability, with taller people having higher cognitive ability.