Early Growth Parameters Research Articles

Germination and seedling growth in Afzelia africana Sm. ex. Pers.

This study determined the best pre–treatment regime required for germination of the seeds of Afzelia africana Sm.Ex.Pers. and also provided information on the early growth parameters of the plant seedlings. Seeds of A. africana were collected from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife (Lat 7° 32'N, Long 4° 31'E) and authenticated at the IFE-herbarium. One hundred and twenty five (125) seeds were sown per treatment (n=5 with 5 replicates and 5 repeats). Five (5) seeds each were sown in small petri dishes, without pre–treatment (control), or treated by subjecting to mechanical scarification and chemical scarification using Tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid (H SO ) and Trioxonitrate (V) acid (HNO3 ) for germination studies. Germination counts were made at an interval of 2 days. For the six different pre–treatments, five seedlings per plastic bowl were transferred into soil in a total of twenty plastic bowls laid out in a randomized design and their growth monitored for 40 weeks. Results showed that pre–treatment of seeds with mechanical scarification gave the highest percentage germination. Significant differences (P ˂ 0.05) occurred in the shoot height and in the number of leaves between 4 and 12 weeks of growth. The study established that pre–treatment with mechanical scarification was the best for uniform germination of seeds of the plant. This study has provided alternative means of pretreating A. africana seeds apart from using H2SO4 – the first to subject seeds to mechanical scarification and 2 4 chemical scarification using HNO3 , in addition to providing information on the germination parameters and the seedling growth rate of Afzelia africana.
 Key words: Propagation, Growth, Acid, Scarification

Optimization of indole-3-acetic acid using response surface methodology and its effect on vegetative growth of chickpea

This study investigates the optimization of various environmental and nutritional factors for the best indole acetic acid (IAA) producing isolate using Box-Behnken Design (BBD) with Response Surface Method (RSM) and examines its effects on early plant growth parameters of Cicer arietinum (chickpea). Firstly, the screening of putative Bacillus isolates based on IAA producing capability and analysis of other plant growth promoting attributes was carried out. The highest IAA producing isolate MRN16 was selected to optimize IAA production based on the BBD and a total of 86 sets of experiments were finalized. The incubation temperature of 35 °C, pH of 7.0, incubation time of 8 days, 1.0 g/L tryptophan, 20 g/L starch, 0.5 g/L KNO3, were found the optimal conditions for the maximum IAA production. The extracted or purified IAA was examined by thin layer chromatography (TLC), showed a red colored spot with an 0.75 Rf value. IAA was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and peak was observed at 6.66 min retention time, comparable with the standard IAA. The greenhouse assay confirmed that MRN16 was a significant isolate for enhancing chickpea vegetative growth parameters such as root/shoot length and weight (fresh/dry). Finally, isolate MRN16 was identified as Bacillus altitudinis using 16S rRNA sequencing. The present research establishes successful use of RSM, as an easy and useful tool to determine the optimized parameters for maximum IAA production in bacteria and further the utilization of bacteria to upsurge the plant growth.

Early Growth Parameters as Predictors of Developmental Delay Among Children Conceived During the 2015-2016 Zika Virus Outbreak in Northeastern Brazil.

Background: Identifying infants with congenital infection for early intervention will likely be challenging in future Zika virus outbreaks. We investigated indicators of risk for developmental delay among children born with and without obvious manifestations of congenital Zika virus infection. Methods: We evaluated 120 children conceived during the 2015−2016 Zika virus outbreak in Paraíba, Brazil. We analyzed data from children at birth; ages 1−7 months and approximately 24 months, using medical records (i.e., anthropometric measurements diagnoses), medical evaluation (i.e., Zika/other laboratory tests, dysmorphic features), and parent report (seizures, developmental delay). We used a Bayesian modeling approach to identify predictors of developmental delay. Results: Head circumference (HC) and length at birth and rates of growth for HC and length at follow-up were consistent across domains of developmental delay; (e.g., for every 1 cm per month decrease in HC growth rate; there was a corresponding decrease in the gross motor z-score). Modeling results indicated that HC and length at birth, and follow-up HC and length rates of growth, were predictive of developmental delay. Conclusion: These findings suggest that accurate measurement and frequent monitoring of HC and length, especially in the first few months of life, may be useful for identifying children possibly congenitally exposed to Zika virus who could benefit from early intervention services.

Multifunctional potential of endophytic bacteria from Anacardium othonianum Rizzini in promoting in vitro and ex vitro plant growth

Anacardium othonianum Rizzini, a cashew tree native to the Brazilian Cerrado, is economically important due to its applications in the food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. However, A. othonianum yields a crop with low productivity due to a number of factors, such as nutritionally poor soils, drought and losses due to pests and diseases. Brazil is one of the nine largest cashew nut producers worldwide, and sustainable technologies are needed to increase the productivity of this crop. In this context, the use of endophytic microorganisms could promote plant growth and provide protection against phytopathogens. In this study, the isolation of the root endophytic community of A. othonianum led to the characterization of 22 distinct bacterial strains with multifunctional traits for plant growth promotion. The results of in vitro assays to assess auxin synthesis, phosphate solubilization, phosphatase and siderophore production and biocontrol against Fusarium oxysporum led to the selection of Acinetobacter lwoffii Bac109 and Pantoea agglomerans Bac131 as the most promising strains. The reinoculation of the Bac109 and Bac131 strains onto A. othonianum seeds showed that the treatment containing a mixture of these strains was the most effective in promoting increases in the biometric parameters of early plant growth. Thus, this study highlights the biotechnological potential of a consortium of A. lwoffii Bac109 and P. agglomerans Bac131 for future applications in sustainable cashew cultivation.

English

Series of investigations have been carried out on the effect of sowing depths on seed germination and early seedlings growth of Aframomum citratum and has shown that sowing depth influences germination and early growth of most plant species. Thus, the importance of varying planting depths has received much attention from researchers for some time now. The depths studied in this research were 0, 3 and 6 cm, respectively. Using a split plot complete randomized design (CRD) in a non-mist propagator, a total of 864 seeds (432 fresh and 432 dry) of A. citratum were sown with three replicates for each soil type in prepared polyethylene bags. Germination was monitored daily for a period of six weeks while data for germination parameters was collected. Early growth parameters such as average number of leaves (NL), average leaf surface area (SA) and average height of seedlings, (SH) were measured every week for two months. Results revealed that germination started 2 months after fresh seeds were sown in all soil types. Dried seeds being treated with 50% dilution of concentrated sulphuric acid for 20 min did not germinate during the germination period that ranged from 2 to 7 months. Sowing depths significantly affected the cumulative germination percentage and early growth (p<0.05). Thus, the highest percentage of seedlings was produced at 0 cm sowing depth, followed by 3 cm sowing depth and the least was at 6 cm sowing depth. Germination of A. citratum seeds can be done based on the information given in this study. Key words: Aframomum citratum, seeds, sowing depths, germination, early growth.

The Effect of Single and Combined Use of Gamma Radiation and Ethylmethane Sulfonate on Early Growth Parameters in Sorghum.

Success in inducing genetic variation through mutagenic agents is dependent on the source and dose of application. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum doses of a single and combined use of gamma radiation and ethylmethane sulfonate (EMS) for effective mutation breeding in sorghum. The study involved two concurrent experiments as follows: in experiment I, the seeds of four sorghum genotypes (‘Parbhani Moti’, ‘Parbhani Shakti’, ‘ICSV 15013′, and ‘Macia’) were treated using gamma radiation (0, 300, 400, 500 and 600 Gy), EMS (0, 0.5 and 1.0%), and gamma radiation followed by EMS (0 and 300 Gy and 0.1% EMS; 400 Gy and 0.05% EMS). In experiment II, the seeds of two genotypes (‘Macia’ and ‘Red sorghum’) were treated with seven doses of gamma radiation only (0, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 Gy). Overall, the combined applied doses of gamma radiation and EMS are not recommended due to poor seedling emergence and seedling survival rate below LD50. The best dosage of gamma radiation for genotypes Red sorghum, Parbhani Moti, Macia, ICSV 15013 and Parbhani Shakti ranged between 392 and 419 Gy, 311 and 354 Gy, 256 and 355 Gy, 273 and 304 Gy, and 266 and 297 Gy, respectively. The EMS optimum dosage ranges for genotypes Parbhani Shakti, ICSV 15013, Parbhani Moti and Macia were between 0.41% and 0.60%, 0.48% and 0.58%, 0.46% and 0.51%, and 0.36% and 0.45%, respectively. The above dose rates are useful to induce genetic variation in the tested sorghum genotypes for greater mutation events in sorghum breeding programs.

Bio-Herbicidal Potential of the Essential Oils from Different Rosmarinus officinalis L. Chemotypes in Laboratory Assays

The current study aimed to assess the allelopathic effect of Rosmarinus officinalis L. essential oils (EOs) to define the potent effect against weed species, by exploring distinct chemotypes and their main compounds. The EOs from eight accessions were characterized. Their components were identified by gas chromatography, and four chemotypes were defined; C1 (α-pinene), C2 (camphor), C3 (α-pinene/1,8-cineole), and C4 (α-pinene/1,8-cineole/camphor). Four concentrations of the EOs (400, 800, 1200, and 2400 μL/L) and the main compounds of each chemotype were tested in a laboratory assay against Amaranthus retroflexus L. and Lolium perenne L. in pre- and post-germination. The results showed that the EOs significantly affected all the tested parameters (germination, early growth, and physiological and histological parameters of the weeds under study) in a dose, chemotype, and species dependent manner. A. retroflexus was more sensitive than L. perenne at germination level being significantly inhibited at the lowest dose of all the chemotypes. The latter all exhibited significant effects but with a higher potency of C2 (camphor chemotype) and C3 (α-pinene/1,8-cineole chemotype), as well qualitative differences in the induced damage. Our results thus increase knowledge about the role of the monoterpene composition in bio-herbicidal effect, which can help in the development of EO based bio-herbicides.

ASSESSMENT OF COMPOST QUALITY OF SERICULTURE WASTE ON THE GROWTH OF Anogeissus leiocarpus USING TWO COMPOSTING METHODS

This study investigated the compost quality of sericulture waste on the growth of Anogeissus leiocarpus using two composting methods. The two-method adopted were M1 (pile method) and M2 (bin method). Sericulture waste which includes mulberry leaves and silkworm excreta were air dried for 24hours, measured (1 kg) and set in layers for both methods adopted. Samples of compost from each method were taken before planting to the laboratory for proximate analysis. Descriptive statistics and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze the data obtained. Anogeissus leiocarpus seeds were soaked for 10 minutes at 35oC and at 9.5oC for 24 hours to enhance the breaking of its dormancy. Anogeissus leiocarpus seeds was planted using sericulture compost from both adopted methods. Result shows that M1 had the highest mineral composition. M1 recorded the highest (N %) with the value of 0.93%; (P %) with 0.089%; (K %) with 0.58%; (Ca %) with the value of 1.78% and (Mg %) with the value of 0.72% while M2 had a lower mineral composition. The result obtained for the early growth parameters shows that M1 had a higher plant height and stem girth which was significantly different from M2, the mixture of the two compost had the highest leaf count which was also significant while the control recorded the lowest value for all the parameters assessed. This result suggests that pile composting method is the best method for composting sericulture waste and can be used as a good and preferable alternative for inorganic manure in raising seedlings and trees species. Adopting the use of sericulture waste as compost will help in reducing the waste management problem, enhance economic use of farm waste and also help to ease the low germination rate and germination percentage of Anogeissus leiocarpus.&#x0D; Kambai, C. | Department of Forestry Technology, Federal College of Forestry, Jos, Plateau state, Nigeria

Residue management in double‐crop systems: Impact on soybean growth and yield

AbstractDouble‐crop soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] have the potential to be a productive and profitable system. However, due to delayed planting, double‐crop soybeans frequently experience lower yields and higher stress. Because planting is a major production constraint, a critical practice is the management of previous wheat residue. Trials were established in 2012, 2013, and 2014 in Saint Joseph, LA, and in 2013 and 2014 in Winnsboro, LA. The four residue management treatments investigated included conventionally tilled, planted into burned residue, planted into mowed residue, and planted into standing wheat residue. Vegetative and reproductive growth parameters, as well as yield, were used to evaluate the influence of residue management on productivity. Overall, residue management did not have a significant impact on early season growth parameters, except for plant height in 2012 at St. Joseph; however, it did significantly influence yield at both locations. In Saint Joseph in 2012, yields from planting into wheat residue were significantly lower than burned and mowed plots (1.2 compared with 2.8 and 2.7 Mg ha−1, respectively), and tilled treatments yielded significantly less than all three nontilled treatments in 2013 and 2014. In Winnsboro, planting into residue left on the soil surface resulted in significantly higher yields than when residue was removed. Overall, leaving residue on the soil surface provided stable yields across years and locations; however, not managing the residue can result in diminished yields. Therefore, practices such as mowing of wheat residue prior to planting provide an alternative to traditional no‐till planting.

Effect of low power laser irradiation on bio-physical properties of wheat seeds

The production of quality food is indispensable and essential to overcome its global shortage. In order to exercise the facile route to acquire massive production, a laser irradiation treatment method was established. We have investigated the effects of diode laser irradiation on wheat seeds germination, its early growth and biochemical parameters. The variation in germination parameters, caused by laser treatment were monitored carefully. A comparison study was accomplished to examine the laser irradiation effects on treated and control seeds. The red laser indicated an enhancement of 25% in germination percentage, 4.68 cm in shoot length, and 0.64 cm in root length while green laser showed 6.25% less germination percentage than the untreated seeds. Further green laser showed 9.67 cm increase in shoot length, 5.39 cm in root length as compared to untreated seeds. It was found that the seeds which were irradiated with green laser showed an amount of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD), of 11.9, 10, and 1.53 per mg of protein, respectively as compared to control seeds. Thus, these investigations are promising and suitable for upcoming research on a large scale.

Predictors of early growth failure in preterm, very low birth weight infants during hospitalization

Background Preterm, very low birth weight (VLBW) infants experience intrauterine nutritional deficits and perinatal comorbidities that may impair early growth parameters. Early growth failure has detrimental effects on later growth and neurodevelopment in childhood.&#x0D; Objective To analyze predictors of early growth failure in preterm, VLBW infants and differences in early growth parameters between small-for-gestational age (SGA) and appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) infants.&#x0D; Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted at Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta from 2011 to 2016. Subjects were preterm infants, with birth weights of 1,000-1,499 g. Twins, those who died during hospitalization, were discharged against medical advice, or had incomplete medical records were excluded. Adequate intrauterine growth was determined by the Lubchenco table criteria. Growth parameters and perinatal comorbidities were collected from medical records. Growth failure was defined as discharge weight less than 10th percentile of the Fenton growth curve. Bivariate and multivariate analysis were used to analyze potential predictive factors of early growth failure.&#x0D; Results Of 646 preterm, VLBW infants during the study period, 398 were excluded. Respiratory distress and SGA were predictors of early growth failure (AOR 6.94; 95%CI 2.93 to 16.42 and AOR 34.44; 95%CI 7.79 to 152.4, respectively). Mean weight velocities in SGA and AGA infants were not significantly different [16.5 (SD 5.9) and 17.5 (SD 5.3) g/kg/day, respectively; (P=0.25)]. Median time to regain, time to reach full feeding, and time to reach 120 kcal/kg/day were also not significantly different between SGA and AGA infants.&#x0D; Conclusions SGA and respiratory distress are predictors of early growth failure in preterm, VLBW infants during hospitalization. The SGA infants grow slower than AGA infants.

Exposure–Response of Wheat Cultivars to TiO2 Nanoparticles in Contrasted Soils

ABSTRACTUnprecedent usage of nanoparticles (NPs) over very large scale has raised concerns about their release into agro-environments. The effects of these emerging pollutants on staple food crops and contrasted soils are not very well documented. The main aim of present work was to investigate the exposure–response of 10 wheat cultivars to titanium dioxide (TiO2) NPs (0–1000 mg kg−1) in terms of early growth parameters followed by evaluation of the selected cultivar for complete growth cycle cultivated on contrasted soils in terms of various physicochemical characteristics. Among all the 10 tested wheat cultivars, only Galaxy cultivar sustained to the whole TiO2 NPs exposure range. TiO2 NPs exposure at 1000 mg kg−1 adversely affected the early growth response parameters in MH, Ujala, Uqab, Shafaq and FSD wheat cultivars which clearly indicated the toxic effects induced by NPs. Pot studies were performed using Galaxy cultivar cultivated in different textured soils (loam and sandy loam). At the highest tested concentration of TiO2 NPs, plant growth, biomass and phosphorus (P) concentration along with other tested parameters were not improved in both types of soils compared to their respective control groups. These results suggested the controlled use of NPs to avoid the NPs contamination in soil–plant ecosystems in the longer run.

English

This study aims to evaluate the effects of seed pre-treatments on the germination of Echinops giganteus. The pre-treatments used were partial manual removal of the pappus (T1), total removal of the pappus (T2), roasting for 2 min (T3), roasting for 4 min (T4), roasting for 6 min (T5), soaking in water for 6 h (T6), soaking for 12 h (T7), soaking for 24 h (T8) and the control (T0). The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized design with three replicate and 60 seeds per pre-treatment in March 2016 at IRAD Bambui. Germination was monitored daily for a period of one month and data on latent period, germination percentage and germination speed was collected. Early growth parameters such as shoot height (H), collar diameter (CD) and number of leaves (NL) were measured after every two weeks from the 11th to the 17th week while root length (RL) was measured at 17th week. Germination commenced 5 days after sowing for pre-treatments T1, T2, T6, T7 and T8, respectively while seeds from the control pre-treatment (T0), T3, T4 and T5 germinated 8 days after sowing. Germination was delayed and scanty in pre-treatments T4 and T5. Cumulative germination percentage and germination rate were highest in pre-treatment T1 followed by T2 and T6 while T4 and T5 were the least. Height and collar diameter of seedlings was highest in pre-treatments T6, T7, T2 and T1 respectively. Influence of pre-treatments on number of leaves and root length of seedling was not significant. Germination of E. giganteus seeds can be done based on the information given in this study. Key words: Echinops giganteus, seed germination, pre-treatments, early growth. &nbsp

Assessing the genetic correlations between early growth parameters and bone mineral density: A polygenic risk score analysis.

The relationships between early growth parameters and bone mineral density (BMD) remain elusive now. In this study, we performed a large scale polygenic risk score (PRS) analysis to evaluate the potential impact of early growth parameters on the variations of BMD. We used 2286 Caucasian subjects as cohort 1 and 3404 Framingham Heart Study (FHS) subjects as cohort 2 in this study. BMD at ulna & radius, hip and spine were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. BMD values were adjusted for age, sex, height and weight as covariates. Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping of the 2286 Caucasian subjects was performed using Affymetrix Human SNP Array 6.0. The GWAS datasets of early growth parameters were driven from the Early Growth Genetics Consortium, including birth weight (BW), birth head circumference (BHC), childhood body mass index (CBMI), pubertal height growth related indexes and tanner stage. Polygenic Risk Score (PRSice) and linkage disequilibrium (LD) score regression analysis were conducted to assess the genetic correlation between early growth parameters and BMD. We detected significant genetic correlations in cohort 1, such as total spine BMD vs. CBMI (p value = 1.51 × 10-4, rg = 0.4525), right ulna and radius BMD vs. CBMI (p value = 1.51 × 10-4, rg = 0.4399) and total body BMD vs. tanner stage (p value = 7.00 × 10-4, rg = -0.0721). For cohort 2, significant correlations were observed for total spine BMD vs. height change standard deviation score (SDS) between 8 years and adult (denoted as PGF + PGM) (p value = 3.97 × 10-4, rg = -0.1425), femoral neck BMD vs. the timing of peak height velocity by looking at the height change SDS between age 14 years and adult (denoted as PTF + PTM) (p value = 7.04 × 10-4, rg = -0.2185), and total spine BMD vs. PTF + PTM (p value = 6.86 × 10-4, rg = -0.2180). Our study results suggest that some early growth parameters could affect the variations of BMD.

Effect of Seed Mass on Germination and Seedling Vigour of Parkia Timoriana (DC.) Merr.

Seeds of Parkia tiamoriana show both intra specific and inter specific variation in seed weight. A research was carried out to study the effect of seed mass on germination and early growth parameters of the species. Mature seeds were collected from Sakawrtuchung provenance of Mizoram (India). They were then bulked and grouped into 3 categories as light (lwt), intermediate (mwt) and heavy (hwt), using a predetermines weight method. The grouped seeds are then sown using 1mm sieved garden soil as a medium in poly bags. After germination and from the two leave stage we start counting the seedling length, collar diameter, dry weight, etc., at every 15 days interval and up to 90th day, by using destructive method. Study on the germination and seedling growth parameters conclude that except in mean germination time (MGT) and germination index (GI), all the other parameters are positively correlated with increasing weight. Relative growth rate (RGR) and average growth rate (AGR) that use seedling dry weight also showed a positive relation with seed weight. Apart from this, the distribution pattern of seed weights as calculated from the frequency distribution of 255 seeds did not show lognormal distribution (K-S test: P&lt;0.05, d = 0.163, n = 255). Seed weight (n=255) varied from 0.39g to 0.81g (mean: 0.61g ± 0.01g). Among the weight class, mid weight (0.5 to 0.69g) seeds made up 56.47% of the total population followed by heavy weight (23.14%) and then by light weight (20.39%).

Evaluating Longitudinal Mathematics Achievement Growth

Accurately measuring and modeling academic achievement growth is critical to support educational policy and practice. Using a nationally representative longitudinal data set, this study compared various models of mathematics achievement growth on the basis of both practical utility and optimal statistical fit and explored relationships within and between early and later mathematics growth parameters. Common patterns included a summer lag in achievement between kindergarten and Grade 1 and an association between achievement at kindergarten entry and later achievement. Notably, there were no statistically significant relationships between early and later rates of growth, and there was minimal variability in achievement growth in the late elementary and middle school grades. Challenges related to assessing academic achievement in the middle grades and modeling academic skill development are discussed.

Effects of Different Root Restriction Media on Root Activity and Seedling Quality and Early Growth Parameters of Runner Plantlets of Strawberry After Transplanting

The present study aimed to determine the influence of various root restriction media on seedling quality and early growth of strawberry after transplanting. The root activity of the seedlings, measured 20 days after fixation, was considerably higher (0.096, 0.090, and 0.063 mg·g-1·h-1 at 420, 450, and 480 nm, respectively) in expanded rice hull (ERH) treatment than in the sandy loam and loamy sand treatments. The volumetric water content (VWC) of the root media tested across 3 irrigation regimes (15 d, 30 d, 45 d) in the nursery field was highest in sandy loam (65.0–66.8%), followed by 59.4–61.3% in loamy sand and 38.6–45.3% in ERH. When growth parameters of runner plantlets were compared, ERH treatment was found to result in the highest crown thickness and fresh weights of root and above-ground parts. This had a favorable influence on above-ground tissue growth after transplanting to plastic house soil. As mentioned above, ERH treatment resulted in the highest seedling quality and early growth after transplanting. The results of this study would serve as useful on-site data for the production of high-quality strawberry seedlings.

Effect of seed priming on seed vigor and early seedling growth in maize under optimal and suboptimal temperature conditions

Low temperature has a negative effect on germination parameters and early seedling growth. Seed priming is a beneficial pre-sowing treatment that partially hydrates the seeds to the point of germination process initiation, followed by drying which prevents radicle protrusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different seed priming treatments on some maize seed vigor and early seedlings growth parameters at different temperature conditions. Seeds were primed in water (hydropriming) and KNO3 solution (0,1% and 0,5%) at 25°C for 17 h. Germination was tested at 25°C, 15/25°C and 15°C. Seed priming treatments had more improving effects on studied seed and seedlings traits under suboptimal (15°C and 15/25°C) than at optimal temperature conditions. Seed priming treatment with 0,5% KNO3 had the most beneficial effects and increased the most of studied parameters under suboptimal conditions. Seed priming with KNO3 could be used to achieve higher seed vigor and seedling growth at suboptimal temperature conditions in maize.

Seed Germination and Morphological Behavior of Maize (NAC-6002, NAC-6004 and NAH- 2049) Seedlings under Abiotic Stress (Alachlor) Condition

Herbicides are the most flourishing weed control knowledge eternally developed. To appraise the possessions of herbicides on maize, a study was carried out to evaluate the effect of alachlor on different maize cultivars on germination and early growth parameters. The studies were carried out in hydroponic conditions supplemented with different concentrations (1.0, 2.5 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 ppm) of alachlor. All the three cultivars of maize were found to be significantly affected with increasing herbicide concentration. Percent germination, vigour index, tolerance index, fresh and dry weight, plumule and radicle length were found to be decreased as the herbicide concentration increased, however the dry weight increased slightly at higher concentration when compared to other concentrations. The percent toxicity increased as the concentration of herbicide increased. The current study clearly implies that higher concentration of alachlor is toxic to maize, resulted in a decline in seed germination and early growth parameters.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v9i4.12638

Maize in-Season Growth Response to Organic Acid-Bonded Phosphorus Fertilizer (Carbond P®)

Phosphorus is essential for agriculture, but soil interactions antagonize uptake. An organic acid P fertilizer, Carbond® P (CBP), increases P solubility. One maize (Zea mays L.) glasshouse study on three soils and two field studies were conducted comparing CBP and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) on early season growth. In comparison to maize fertilized with APP, CBP fertilization produced significantly more biomass (in two glasshouse soils and one field study), stem thickness (one glasshouse soil and both field studies), plant height (one field study), and P concentration/uptake (one glasshouse soil and one field study). Although not always resulting in significant increases, CBP never resulted in decreases compared to APP. Increases occurred more commonly in highly calcareous soil (6–12%) low in bicarbonate extractable P (7 mg kg−1). Improvements in early and late season growth parameters using CBP compared to APP warrant its use and further investigation to understand its benefits and limitations.