Ni Treatments Research Articles

POD YIELD AND KERNEL SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF PEANUT PRODUCED USING SUBSURFACE DRIP IRRIGATION

Longterm yield data are essential to determine the economic feasibility of installing a subsurface drip irrigation(SDI) system for crop production. However, first year yields and associated economic returns are vital for system paymentthe first year. Vegetable and row crop production has been successful with SDI, but pod yield and kernel size distribution dataon peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) are limited especially during the installation year. Site 1 was established in 1997 on aFaceville sandy loam soil (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Typic Kandiudults) converted from native grass pasture. Site 2 wasestablished in 1998 on a Tifton sandy loam soil (fineloamy, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults) following two yearsof cotton. These SDI systems include two lateral spacings (0.91 and 1.83 m) buried at 0.3 m soil depth. Site 1 had two emitterspacings (46 and 61 cm) and two irrigation levels. Site 2 had one emitter spacing (46 cm) and three irrigation levels. Anonirrigated (NI) control was included at each site. Irrigation water was applied daily based on estimated ETo whereirrigation level one (IL1) was ETo *Kc, and IL2 and IL3 were 75 and 50% of IL1, respectively. Pod yield increased 38% withSDI (5433 kg ha 1 ) compared to NI peanut (3937 kg ha 1 ). When compared to the state average (3012 kg ha 1 ), SDI showeda 81% pod yield increase. The percentage of jumbo kernels increased 39% at Site 1 and 81% at Site 2 compared with NI. SDIpeanut had lower quantity (75% less) of number one sized peanut kernels than NI. Overall, during the installation year, SDIhad higher pod yields and larger kernel size than NI treatments. These yield data can be useful when projecting the economicfeasibility of installing a SDI system and making the first year payment.

Organ compartmentation of zinc and nickel in pigeonpea seedlings in relation to cultivar tolerance

Zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni) accumulation in the seedlings of two pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh] cultivars were studied under different concentrations of Zn and Ni supplied. Significant differences in the seedling growth were observed between the two cultivars of pigeonpea as well as between Zn and Ni treatments. The Zn and Ni treatments decreased dry weights and relative growth indices of the roots and shoots. The Zn and Ni accumulation was greater in the roots of cv. LRG30 than cv. ICPL87. The amount of metal ions allocated to the shoots was more in cv. ICPL87 than in cv. LRG30. The conspicuous compartmentation of Zn and Ni in the roots of the seedlings and the differential responses of the two cultivars of pigeonpea to these heavy metals indicated that cv. LRG30 possesses better root compartmentation of Zn and Ni and therefore resulted in relatively better growth than cv. ICPL87.

Effect of Irrigation and Soil Water Stress on Densities of Macrophomina phaseolina in Soil and Roots of Two Soybean Cultivars.

The effects of irrigation and soil water stress on Macrophomina phaseolina microsclerotial (MS) densities in the soil and roots of soybean were studied in 1988, 1989, and 1990. Soybean cvs. Davis and Lloyd received irrigation until flowering (TAR2), after flowering (IAR2), full season (FSI), or not at all (NI). Soil water matric potentials at 15- and 30-cm depths were recorded throughout the growing season and used to schedule irrigation. Soil MS densities were determined at the beginning of each season. Root MS densities were determined periodically throughout the growing season. Microsclerotia were present in the roots of irrigated as well as nonirrigated soybean within 6 weeks after planting. By vegetative growth stage V13, these densities reached relatively stable levels in the NI and FSI treatments (2.23 to 2.35 and 1.35 to 1.63 log [microsclerotia per gram of dry root], respectively) through reproductive growth stage R6. After R6, irrigation was discontinued and root densities of microsclerotia increased in all treatments. Initiation (IAR2) or termination (TAR2) of irrigation at R2 resulted in significant changes in root MS densities, with densities reaching levels intermediate between those of FSI and NI treatments. Year to year differences in root colonization reflected differences in soil moisture due to rainfall. The rate of root colonization in response to soil moisture stress decreased with plant age. Root colonization was significantly greater in Davis than Lloyd at R5 and R8. This was reflected in a trend toward higher soil densities of M. phaseolina at planting in plots planted with Davis than in plots planted with Lloyd. Although no charcoal rot symptoms in the plant were observed in this study, these results indicated that water management can limit, but not prevent, colonization of soybean by M. phaseolina, that cultivars differ in colonization, and that these differences may affect soil densities of the fungus.

Antioxidative parameters in the seedlings of pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh) in response to Zn and Ni stresses

The zinc (Zn) and nickel (Ni) as oxidative stress factors and associated responses of 6-day-old seedlings of two pigeonpea ( Cajanus cajan (L.) Millspaugh) cultivars namely LRG30 and ICPL87 were studied. Zinc and Ni exposure increased lipid peroxidation in relation to their concentration. Reduction in dry matter accumulation of roots and shoots was noticed in Zn and Ni treatments. The activities of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and glutathione reductase registered higher values and the activity of catalase and the antioxidative substances such as ascorbic acid and total glutathione contents registered lower values in all the Zn and Ni treatments when compared to their controls. The levels of catalase, peroxidase and glutathione reductase and ascorbic acid and total glutathione contents were high in cv. LRG30 than in cv. ICPL87 in response to Zn and Ni treatments. However, the activity of superoxide dismutase, the major scavenger of O 2 − radical registered higher values in cv. ICPL87. The cv. LRG30 is less sensitive to Zn and Ni treatments compared to the cv. ICPL87. Correlation coefficients between the different antioxidant parameters and metal dose level, or dry matter accumulation, were established, assessing for an induced-oxidative stress. Additional evidence was provided by comparing the sensitivity of the two cultivars.

Stress indications in copper- and nickel-exposed Scots pine seedlings

Scots pine nursery seedlings were planted in pots, five seedlings per treatment, and placed in an experimental field at the University of Oulu in northern Finland at the beginning of June 1997. Copper and nickel sulphates were mixed with forest mineral soil before seedling planting. The metal levels ranged from 0 to 25 mg Ni kg −1 dry soil and 0 to 50 mg Cu kg −1 in dry soil and in combinations of both metals. Current year’s needles for element analyses, EDS microanalyses, microscopy and glutathione and peroxidase activity analyses were collected from 1–5 seedlings per treatment in September. Seedling biomass in controls, Cu25 and Cu50 differed significantly from the Ni25Cu50 treatment. The root/shoot ratio was highest in the Ni5 treatment, indicating good root growth, though the roots were visibly healthier in the Cu25 treatment than in the Ni5 treatment. At higher Ni levels, the condition of roots deteriorated. The proportion of plasmolysed mesophyll cells was highest in the Ni25 treatment. Copper-treated seedlings did not suffer from Cu stress, because no severe injuries were seen in either the roots or the needles in Cu-exposed seedlings. The needle concentrations of Cu increased only slightly due to treatments. Ni accumulation in needles increased with increasing concentrations in soil. Needles of Cu-treated seedlings had less oxidized glutathione than those of Ni-treated seedlings, but the roots had higher, not significantly, peroxidase activity levels. Light-colored, swollen thylakoids were occasionally observed in the Ni25Cu50 treatment, indicating some interaction between Ni and Cu. Ni seemed to cause more oxidative stress to the seedlings than copper, which was manifested as a decreased GSH level and an increased proportion of GSSG in the Ni treatments. Copper together with nickel strongly decreased root growth, the root/shoot ratio being lowest in the Ni25Cu50 treatment.

Effect of nickel concentration on tomato plant nutrition and dry matter yield

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of nickel (Ni) on the nutrition of tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum M. cv. Marmande). Dry matter weights of roots, shoots, and fruit were also studied. Plants, receiving 5, 15, and 30 mg Ni L‐1, were grown in nutrient solution, and roots, stems plus branches, leaves, and fruit were analyzed at different developmental stages for essential nutrients. The presence of Ni in nutrient medium affected plant growth, decreasing dramatically dry matter yield compared to control plants. This plant reduction was likely due to the disturbances and imbalances of the different essential mineral elements. The general effect was a decrease in the absorption and accumulation of these nutrients. The nitrogen (N) content in the plant increased significantly with increasing Ni treatments, showing a synergetic effect between Ni and N. A positive interaction between Ni and potassium (K) was also found. In this way, high levels of Ni in solution caused an increase in K uptake and, however, a decrease in sodium (Na) absorption (antagonism Na/K). Since Ni is taken up as Ni2+, its absorption in high concentrations decreased significantly the uptake of other divalent cations, such as Mg2+, Fe2+, Mn2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+, with manganese (Mn) being the nutrient showing the highest restriction in the whole plant (roots and shoots).

Ni(II) induced changes in cell cycle duration and sister-chromatid exchanges in cultured human lymphocytes

Investigations from our laboratory and others have shown that Ni(II) treatments of cultured human lymphocytes produced a relatively small but significant increase in SCE frequency. Based on the known effects of Ni(II) on DNA replication, we evaluated whether Ni(II) produced a cell cycle delay in lymphocytes. Human lymphocytes of three normal subjects were exposed to 5, 10, and 25 μM of NiSO 4 in culture medium and scored for the percent of metaphases in the first (M1), second (M2), and third (M3) cell cycle for harvest times spaced every 4 h from 36 to 72 h after culture initiation. Cell cycle duration was studied using Tice's BISACK method with certain modifications. All three doses of NiSO 4 caused a delay of nearly 1.5 h in the initiation of cell division, but only 25 μM NiSO 4 cused a lengthening in the cell cycle time of nearly 4 h for completion of the first cycle. Only at the highest dose of Ni(II) was there a significant increase in the SCE frequency compared to the control. When the proliferation rate index (PRI) was examined, the effect of 5 or 10 μM Ni(II) was negligible while the 25 μM concentration caused a suppression in the proliferation rate. The effect of Ni(II) on the cell cycle was much more pronounced than on the PRI. A significant increase in SCE frequency was observed only for the concentration of Ni(II) that caused a pronounced cell cycle delay, a result that is consistent with prior studies showing higher SCE responses for chemical treatments that lengthen the cell cycle.

Shoot Growth Rate of Soybean as Affected by Drought Stress1

AbstractShoot size at time of flowering has a strong effect on final yield and can be significantly reduced by drought stress. Studies were performed at the Auburn rhizotron from 1981 through 1983 to investigate the effects of drought stress on daily shoot growth rates of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ‘Braxton’]. Plants were grown in a Marvyn loamy sand (fine‐loamy, siliceous, thermic Plinthic Paleudult) and received only rainfall (NI) or rainfall and supplemental irrigation (IR) during each growing season. Irrigation was controlled by tensiometers installed 0.4 m deep, and water was added when soil water potential (Ψ soil) fell below −15 kPa. Shoot growth patterns, e.g., stem elongation, leaf formation, and leaf area increase, followed characteristic exponential growth curves during early vegetative development when no moisture stress was evident. Sensitivity to water stress (Ψ soil < −15 kPa) increased as total leaf area and resulting transpiration demand increased. Stem elongation and leaf area expansion rates decreased significantly for the NI treatment during periods of water stress. During periods of moisture stress, leaves formed on NI plants were smaller than leaves at comparable nodes on IR plants (0.0075 vs. 0.010 m2). After periods of rainfall, shoots of NI plants grew more rapidly than those of IR plants (0.025 vs. 0.020 m/day), and most of the growth reduction during the previous stress period was regained. Accumulated growth over time, i.e., total leaf area (0.22 m2), number of nodes (17), final internode lengths (e.g., 0.08 m), and mainstem height (1.15 m), was comparable between NI and IR treatments. Thus, no long‐term differences were observed between IR and NI treatments because significant short‐term reductions in shoot growth rate due to drought stress were followed by compensatory growth during periods of rainfall.

Effects of foliar applied nickel on tomato plants

Abstract Shoot‐applied nickel (Ni) treatments produced symptomatology, foliar Ni accumulation, and cytological changes in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) similar to those caused by treatments with root‐applied nickel (Ni). Leaf damage resulting from 100 ug/ml foliar Ni‐treatments consisted of interveinal chlorosis and spotting necrosis which appeared histologically as tissue collapse, cell clumping, and chloroplast disintegration. Shoot‐treated plants accumulated more Ni in leaves than in roots; whereas the reverse was true in root‐treated plants. Interference with root‐to‐shoot manganese translocation was attributed to attenuated vascular tissue and phloem blockage. Evidence of reduced nutrient transport and inhibited meristem activity due to Ni toxicity presents a potential for crop damage from excessive Ni in the atmosphere as well as in the soil environment.

Visible injury and growth responses of tomato and soybean to combinations of nickel, copper and ozone

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants were grown in silica sand in controlled environments. In the first experiment Ni was added as NiSO4 · 6 H2O to the nutrient solution at 0, 1.5, 7.5, or 37.5 mg L−1 for 6 day beginning 14 day from seeding, them plants were exposed to 0, 0.15, or 0.30 μL L−1 O3, and harvested 3 day later. Visible symptoms of Ni injury developed rapidly and there was distinctive O3 injury. Growth variables were markedly reduced by Ni but O3 response depended on Ni level. In the second experiment 0, 0.3, or 1.5 mg L−1 Ni was provided from the 5th or 14th day onward. There was little effect of duration of Ni treatment on growth. Increasing Ni and increasing O3 decreased growth but there was no interaction. In the third experiment 0, 1.5, and 3.0 mg L−1 Ni treatments were combined with 0, 3.0, and 6.0 mg L−1 Cu prior to 0 or 0.25 μL L−1 O3 treatment. There were complex interactive effects of all three factors on plant growth. Soybean (Glycine max Merr.) plants exposed to Ni and O3 were only slightly affected by Ni or O3 and there was no interaction.

Effects of nickel and copper on Acer rubrum, Cornus stolonifera, Lonicera tatarica, and Pinus resinosa

Red maple (Acer rubrum), yellow-stem dogwood (Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea'), and tartarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica) cuttings and red pine (Pinus resinosa) seedlings were grown in a controlled environment in aerated liquid culture with 2 or 10 mg∙L−1 Ni2+ or 4 or 20 mg∙L−1 Cu2+ singly or in combination (2 and 4 mg∙L−1 or 10 and 20 mg∙L−1). Injury symptoms included marginal and interveinal chlorosis, alteration of leaf pigmentation, severe leaf drop, and abnormally small leaves. With increasing metal levels, root tissues became severely discoloured, lateral roots were few in number, stunted, and thickened, and bulbous root tips developed. Growth and development of plants were retarded in most metal treatments compared with control plants. Tissue accumulation of metals generally increased with increasing Ni and Cu concentrations in the nutrient solutions, but tissue concentrations varied according to species, metal, and tissue analyzed. Pine needles did not accumulate added Cu, while roots of all species contained very high concentrations of Cu. In the combination treatments, the presence of elevated levels of Cu reduced Ni accumulation in the root tissues of all four species and pine stems and leaves and stems of dogwood, compared with the single Ni treatments. In contrast, honeysuckle stems and pine needles had greater Ni accumulation from a combined Ni and Cu treatment than from the corresponding single treatment.

Interactions of nitrogen sources and excess nickel on bush beans

Abstract Bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Improved Tendergreen) plants were grown in a glasshouse in 3700 ml nutrient solutions for 15 days with three nitrogen sources and different levels of NiSO4. All NH4 + and urea treatments received CaCO3 (10 g/3700 ml) in the nutrient solution to protect against excess acidity. In general, plants receiving the NH4 + source of N had less growth than those receiving urea or NO3 ‐ and 5 X 10‐4 M Ni treatments greatly inhibited growth. There was, however, no indication of interactions of N source and Ni on yield. Plants receiving NH4 + and urea had higher Ni concentrations than NO3 ‐ plants. Nickel resulted in decreased Fe in trifoliate leaves but not in primary leaves and the reverse occurred in roots. There was no interaction of Ni and Fe in roots but there was a Mh‐Ni‐N‐source interaction in roots.

Untersuchungen zurn Schwermetallhaushalt von Phaseolus vulgaris L. bei Belastung mit NiSO4 bzw. NiEDTA

Bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Saxa) were grown in nutrient solutions containing different levels of NiSO4 and NiEDTA, respectively. With respect to the Ni treatments, Fe was given as FeC13 and FeEDTA, respectively. After 10 days the plants were dissected into leaves, stems, and roots. To remove adsorptively bound cations the roots were washed in 0.1 N HCl and deionized water. After drying, the material was prepared by wet digestion for analysis by atomic absorption spectroscopy. There were 3 replicates. The results indicated that Ni content in all organs increased when the Ni concentration in the nutrient solution increased. This was observed in both cases, when treated either with NiSO4 or NiEDTA. However, there was a significant difference concerning the amount of Ni accumulation. E.g., the highest NiSO4 concentration of 300 µM resulted in values of 606±85 (leaves), 815±73 (stems), and 770±109 (roots) µg Ni g-1 dry matter, whereas equimolar NIEDTA treatments caused Ni contents of only 130±12 (leaves), 115±32 (stems), and 127±21 (roots) Pg Ni gt dry matter. Thus, by chelating agent Ni content was reduced by about 5 times. Furthermore the data prove that within the plant Ni is mobile. The micronutrients Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn were affected by the NiSO4 and NiEDTA treatments in a different manner. Whereas the Fe content of each part of the plant was higher by application of NiEDTA than of NiSO4, Cu content was unaffected in leaves and stems, but lowered in the roots, and Mn and Zn levels were reduced in all organs, especially in the roots. Whereas increasing NiEDTA concentrations in the nutrient solution caused no difference in the level of any micronutrient, increasing N'S04 treatments lowered Mn and Zn content of each organ of the plant, but did not affect significantly Fe or Cu levels. The dissimilar effect of NiSO4 and NiEDTA treatments with respect to the micronutrients seems to be due to the differing Ni accumulation in the NiSO4 and NiEDTA series.

Residual effect of iron-nickel interactions on the availability of nutrients

Residual value of micronutrients pair (Fe × Ni) has been investigated in a Cu-deficient and P-responsive red soil by growing a second crop of maize in which maize had already been grown with factorial combination of 4 levels of Fe and Ni. Dry matter yield (shoots) has been found to be lower (50%) in comparison to first year. Due to combined Fe and Ni treatments the concentration and uptake of Fe by shoots increased significantly while reverse was the case in roots, showing synergistic effect of Ni on Fe absorption and its significant translocation to shoots. Concentration and uptake of Mn by shoots and roots decreased at higher levels of Fe and Ni. Concentration of P in shoots decreased whereas concentration and uptake of Zn by shoots remained unchanged. Under the combined effect of Fe × Ni, maize roots contained more of nutrients as compared to shoots. Thus roots appear to be responsible for the recycling of micro and macronutrients in soils.

Nickel Toxicity in the Young Bovine

Twenty-three male dairy calves were fed a) 0, b) 62.5, c) 250, or d) 1000 ppm elemental nickel (Ni) as NiCO2 in the total diet from 13 to 21 weeks of age. Three animals on each treatment were subjected to digestion and balance trials and killed for tissue histological comparisons, and a like number (two for 62.5 ppm) were fed the basal ration in a 6-week posttreatment recovery period. Feed intake and growth rate were slightly retarded by 250 ppm Ni. Even though the calves fed 1000 ppm Ni had greatly reduced feed intake and lost weight during the 8-week treatment period, they were not emaciated and appeared to be younger than the others. During the posttreatment recovery period, growth rate of those which had been given 1000 ppm Ni was at least equal to that of the others. Digestibility coefficients were not affected by the Ni treatments but nitrogen retention was significantly lowered by 1000 ppm Ni and was associated with reduced feed intake. On a molar percentage basis, propionate was increased and butyrate decreased in rumen fluid from animals on the higher levels of nickel supplementation. Relative to body weight, the fresh weight of lung, heart, spleen, liver, gall bladder, kidney, brain, and testis was unaffected by treatments. Nickel did not affect ruminal, abomasal, duodenal, liver and testicular tissues histologically. Kidneys were nephritic, and the degree of severity increased with nickel level.

EXTRACTABILITY OF NICKEL ADDED TO SOILS AND ITS CONCENTRATION IN PLANTS

The effect of Ni pretreatments on the yield and concentration of Ni in oats and alfalfa grown in four soils in pot tests varied with the rate of added Ni, with lime and phosphate treatments, and with soil properties, notably pH and organic matter content. The concentrations of Ni in the crops showing repressive effects of added Ni were at least 60 ppm in the oat grain, 28 ppm in the oat straw, and 44 ppm in the alfalfa. The amounts of soil-extractable Ni and the concentrations of Ni in the plants were reduced by liming of the acid soils and they tended to be increased by addition of phosphate. The effects of the Ni pretreatments on growth were less severe in a neutral soil and in one containing considerable organic matter than in the others.