Vegetative Growth Rate Research Articles

Clarifying the impact of climatic parameters on vegetation in Moulvibazar district

In this research, the temporal trends of vegetation from 2000 to 2019 as well as meteorological variables contribution to vegetation change were investigated using the GLAM NDVI, rainfall and temperature data. The MAKESENS revealed that the vegetation growth rate was slow, particularly on a yearly time scale. On the other hand, the rainfall and temperature had a major impact on vegetation growth on a monthly-time scale with a time lag. The lagged effect of rainfall and temperature on vegetation was shown to be a promotion (based on cross-correlation analysis). There was high value of r (0.804) between vegetation and rainfall for a certain lag period, which was significant (P ≤ 0.05) as per the cross-correlation. Rainfall had a 4-month lag effect on vegetation development, while temperature had a 5 (r = 0.74), - 2 (r = 0.84), - 3 (r = 0.68) month lag effect on vegetation growth. This study's findings revealed changes in vegetation and highlighted the importance of rainfall and temperature in regulating vegetation dynamics. Finally, this study recommended that the effect of more climatic variables on vegetation should be investigated in the context of human activities to better conserve the environment.

Heatwaves Significantly Slow the Vegetation Growth Rate on the Tibetan Plateau

In recent years, heatwaves have been reported frequently by literature and the media on the Tibetan Plateau. However, it is unclear how alpine vegetation responds to the heatwaves on the Tibetan Plateau. This study aimed to identify the heatwaves using long-term meteorological data and examine the impact of heatwaves on vegetation growth rate with remote sensing data. The results indicated that heatwaves frequently occur in June, July, and August on the Tibetan Plateau. The average frequency of heatwaves had no statistically significant trends from 2000 to 2020 for the entire Tibetan Plateau. On a monthly scale, the average frequency of heatwaves increased significantly (p < 0.1) in August, while no significant trends were in June and July. The intensity of heatwaves indicated a negative correlation with the vegetation growth rate anomaly (ΔVGR) calculated from the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) (r = −0.74, p < 0.05) and the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) (r = −0.61, p < 0.1) on the Tibetan Plateau, respectively. Both NDVI and EVI consistently demonstrate that the heatwaves slow the vegetation growth rate. This study outlines the importance of heatwaves to vegetation growth to enrich our understanding of alpine vegetation response to increasing extreme weather events under the background of climate change.

DYNAMICS OF SHEET SURFACE AREA OF PEAS DEPENDENCE DEPENDING ON VARIETY FEATURES, SOIL LIMITATION AND NUTRITIONAL SYSTEM

The article presents the results of research on the influence of varietal characteristics, soil liming, fertilizers on the formation of the leaf surface area. The use of microfertilizers Vuxal Extra CoMo for pre-sowing seed treatment, foliar fertilization with microfertilizers Vuxal Microplant during vegetative growth and Vuxal Calcium, Boron during budding provided against the background of control of increasing leaf area by increasing vegetative growth and surface growth rate -37% depending on the stage of plant development in vegetable varieties Skinado and Somerwood. Limeing also helped to increase the leaf surface area of plants from 2.5 to 7.8% depending on the phase of development, in our opinion due to the indirect effect on the reaction of soil solution and improving nitrogen fixation processes in the soil. The highest index of leaf surface of vegetable pea varieties was observed in the experimental variants, where against the background of control pre-sowing treatment of seeds with microfertilizer Vuxal Extra CoMo, foliar fertilization with microfertilizers Vuxal Microplant during vegetative growth and Vuxal Calcium, Boron, which changed from budding 1.15 to 1.17 in the Skinado variety and from 1.19 to 1.22 in the Somerwood variety. This was subsequently reflected in the indicators of the leaf index in the phase of flowering and bean formation. Leaf index in the phase of flowering and bean formation varied in Skinado variety from 1.58 to 1.59 and from 1.60 to 1.64.In the Somerwood variety in these phases, the leaf surface index was higher and varied from 1.64 to 1.68 in the flowering phase, and in the bean formation phase from 1.67 to 1.73. The content of chlorophyll in the leaves of vegetable peas largely depended on the phase of plant development, as well as the action of trace elements during seed treatment, foliar fertilization, and liming.

Hybridization and invasiveness in Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum): is prioritizing hybrids in management justified?

AbstractHybridization can play an important role in the evolution of invasiveness. Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) is a widespread aquatic invasive plant species that hybridizes with native northern watermilfoil (Myriophyllum sibiricum Kom.). Previous studies have found mixed evidence for whether hybrid watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum × sibiricum) and pure M. spicatum differ in vegetative growth rate and herbicide response. While several studies have emphasized variation in these traits among M. spicatum × sibiricum genotypes, variation within M. spicatum has not been considered. Therefore, it is unclear how much genetic variation influences invasive traits and management outcomes within M. spicatum versus between M. spicatum and M. spicatum × sibiricum. If M. spicatum × sibiricum genotypes are always more invasive than M. spicatum genotypes, simply distinguishing taxa may be sufficient for identifying lake management priorities; however, if significant phenotypic overlap is observed between taxa, distinguishing individual genotypes may be important for tailoring management strategies. We performed replicated trials of a vegetative growth and 2,4-D assay to measure clonal variation in growth rate and herbicide response of M. spicatum and M. spicatum × sibiricum. Our results indicate that M. spicatum × sibiricum exhibits higher average vegetative growth than M. spicatum, regardless of whether it was treated with subsurface applications of 2,4-D. We did not observe interactions between taxon and treatment or between genotype and treatment. Despite differences between M. spicatum and M. spicatum × sibiricum in average vegetative growth, there was substantial overlap between taxa. For example, we found that the fastest-growing genotype of pure M. spicatum did not differ significantly in average growth from the fastest-growing M. spicatum × sibiricum genotype. The potential for overlap between these invasive Myriophyllum taxa suggests that distinguishing and characterizing genotypes may be more informative for management than simply distinguishing between M. spicatum and M. spicatum × sibiricum.

Beach narrowing on prograding coasts: Examples from the tropics to subtropics of eastern Australia

Subtropical to tropical sandy beaches are subject to a wide variety of processes that influence shoreline position, though they receive little research attention compared to temperate coastlines. This presents challenges to understanding the drivers of long-term coastal change, particularly in places like the sub/tropical margins of Australia, where there are significant differences in local to regional geologic, oceanographic, and climatic conditions. Here, we investigate changes in beach planform morphology for a number of beaches in Queensland, Australia, over a period of up to 90 years using high resolution (0.5–5 m pixel size) aerial photographs. In total, 945 images were orthorectified and bounding features for the subaerial beach (high water and dune vegetation lines) were digitised to extract shoreline change statistics for 15 beaches ranging from the tropics to subtropics, between 15°S and 28°S. Three beach types were identified, defined based on lateral boundary features and the scale of shoreline/beach width variability. These include low variability beaches with two bounding rocky headlands (type 1); beaches with one headland and one river boundary, with the most significant shoreline adjustment away from the headland (type 2); and highly variable beaches with two river boundaries (type 3). Our change analysis demonstrates overall seaward displacement of the high water and vegetation lines, but also net losses in beach width due to fast rates of seaward vegetation advance in a tropical setting. These changes are largely consistent along this coastline, despite differences in exposure to deep-water waves and large variation in tidal ranges. Long-term accretion persists here despite rising sea levels over the past century. This result suggests a long-term net positive sediment budget along this section of the coast that is likely a reflection of global adjustments to tropical climate, and associated increases in terrestrial sediment generation and dune vegetation growth rates. Overall, this study provides insights into a variety of coastal settings through the subtropics and tropics and highlights the importance of tracking change along both the landward and seaward edges of the subaerial beach, regardless of exposure and associated wave regimes.

ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF BUILT UP AND GREEN SPACES ON LANDSURFACE TEMPERATURE WITH SATELLITE IMAGES IN JALANDHAR SMART CITY

Land use in developing nations is shifting as a result of rapid urbanisation. The ecosystem is being harmed by the unplanned, urban development of cities. Utilizing data from Landsat, the present research examined the spatiotemporal urban growth in Jalandhar City and its impact on variations in land surface temperature (LST). The results indicate that urban regions have increased while urban green spaces have shrunk (UGS). UGS and LST have been found to be inversely correlated. Where there was a low percentage of urban areas and a high percentage of accessible green spaces, it was observed that the LST decreased. The link between spectral variability and changes in vegetation growth rate was studied using the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). It works on tracking the growth of green vegetation and spotting variations in the amount of greenery. Where NDVI value was low, the scatter plots indicate higher surface temperatures. The dense urban regions with little available vegetation cover were linked to the low NDVI number and the NDVI is negative in the urban area of Jalandhar. High NDVI values indicate regions with dense vegetation and low surface temperatures. The research findings of present study could be applied to urban administration, planning, management and research projects.

Water Magnetization and Application of Soil Amendments Enhance Growth and Productivity of Snapdragon Plants

Freshwater resources are being rapidly depleted because of the increased demand resulting from exponential world population growth and the effects of climate change, especially in arid and semiarid regions (e.g., Saudi Arabia). The present study aimed to examine the changes in growth and inflorescence production of snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L.) plants in response to irrigation with saline or magnetized water, in addition to application of inorganic and/or organic soil amendments. Three different water types—tap water, magnetized saline water, and nonmagnetized saline water—were used to irrigate A. majus plants with or without soil amendments consisting of ferrous sulfate (Fe2SO4) and/or peatmoss. Irrigation with magnetized saline water adversely affected vegetative growth, inflorescence production, mineral contents, and survival rates of A. majus plants as compared with irrigation with tap water or magnetized saline water. Nevertheless, compared with unmagnetized saline water treatment, magnetizing nonmagnetized saline water before irrigation significantly improved water characteristics and plant growth and survival. Moreover, the addition of inorganic or organic soil amendments enhanced the growth of A. majus plants regardless of irrigation water type. Interestingly, the combination of irrigating with magnetized saline water and soil amendments (Fe2SO4 and peatmoss) significantly enhanced the growth of A. majus plants to a level that was comparable to that of control plants irrigated with tap water without soil amendments. Magnetization improved water quality and increased plants’ ability to absorb water and nutrients from soil solution. The utilization of magnetized saline water for irrigating food and forage crops either alone or in combination with soil amendments has potential benefits that warrant further research.

Land surface temperature and vegetation cover changes and their relationships in Taiwan from 2000 to 2020

This study reported decadal trends and acceleration patterns of surface temperatures and vegetation conditions in Taiwan from 2000 to 2020. Time series data on Land Surface Temperature (LST), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and Land Cover (LC) types were obtained from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor. Seasonal patterns, decadal trends, and acceleration rates for each LU type were evaluated using the natural cubic spline method and multivariate linear regression. Acceleration patterns were then analyzed using the correlations between derived trends and acceleration rates. Results are provided for the entire island, for sub-regions, and for the smallest area elements of 1 km2. Taiwan has had a significant mean increase in decadal trends of NDVI (95%CI: 0.013–0.025 unit/dec), but not of LST (95%CI: −0.018-0.302 °C/dec). Negative correlation between LST and NDVI was stronger in green coverage areas than in built-up areas. On sub-regional level, a larger increase in surface temperature and tremendous vegetation loss were observed at high elevations in the southern regions of the Central Mountain Range. Meanwhile, the central-western lowlands faced moderately warming temperatures and slight greening. At the pixel level, urbanization and agricultural expansion have caused rising surface temperatures, while afforestation contributes cooling. The rise in temperature in accelerating in the different LC types throughout Taiwan. Despite that, the acceleration patterns of the vegetation index have remained stable in most parts of the island. Although the rates of vegetation growth have not yet declined, practitioners and policymakers need to consider a balanced view of green cities to keep pace with the accelerating temperature conditions.

Differential effect of agricultural matrices on bamboo abundance in forest fragments

ABSTRACT Bamboos, abundant in tropical forests, have high potential to dominate disturbed areas due to their high vegetative growth rate and preference for disturbed habitats. However, there are no studies exploring the influence of forest patch characteristics and anthropogenic land-use on bamboo populations. We investigated the influence of landscape matrix characteristics on the abundance of two bamboo taxa (Merostachys sp. and Parodiolyra micrantha) across two different spatial scales: 600 m (113 ha) and 1000 m (314 ha). We sampled the edge of 15 forest fragments (from 20.3 to 116.5 ha) in a highly disturbed landscape in Alfenas, Brasil. Only P. micrantha abundance was influenced by landscape metrics: positively by the percentage of sugarcane and coffee plantations around a forest fragment at 600 m, and negatively by the percentage of pasture at 1000 m. We suggest that cattle presence and/or the edge effect intensified by the adjacent pasture matrices could explain the negative effect of pasture, and that the disturbance caused by sugarcane and coffee plantations might explain the positive influence on P. micrantha abundance, a generalist and competitive understory species. Our results could help decision makers in their attempts to control bamboo populations and manage the landscape around forest fragments.

Superiority of modified graphene oxide for enhancing the growth, yield, and antioxidant potential of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) under salt stress

Soil salinity is a serious global problem that affects the vegetative growth and photosynthesis rates of plants. Additionally, a high salinity facilitates the accumulation of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which induces an increase in the malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and proline contents, and a decrease in the antioxidant activity of enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and peroxidase, reducing the fodder yield. Owing to limited availability of forage crops, extensive efforts have been devoted to studying the pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) plant, which is employed as a protein-rich fodder crop in its green and dry forms. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to explore the effect of graphene oxide, methionine, lysine, methionine@graphene oxide, and lysine@graphene oxide on the growth, biomass accumulation, photosynthetic pigment content, total protein content, oxidative stress, and antioxidant response of the pearl millet plant. Modified graphene oxide (20 mg L−1) was applied two times to the fresh leaves of pearl millet after 30 and 60 days of cultivation. The salt concentrations in the soil and water in the area under consideration were 3.16 d.Sm−1 and 10.29 d.Sm−1, respectively. The treatments induced a significant improvement in plant growth, biomass accumulation, total protein content, photosynthetic pigment content, and yield. Similarly, the generation of ROS was reduced in the plant cells/tissues compared to the case in the plants grown under saline conditions. The foliar application of both graphene oxide and its modified structures enhanced the salinity stress tolerance of pearl millet by modulating its morphological and biophysical traits. This study offers new possibilities for the application of modified materials in agriculture and provides a valuable basis for improving plant tolerance and adaptability to salinity stress.

Effect of the application of prohexadione-calcium on the growth of ‘Packham’s Triumph’ and ‘Hosui’ pears (Pyrus communis L.)

The necessity of controlling the vegetative growth of fruit trees is a growing concern for farmers since vigorous plants tend to have lower fruit yields. The use of chemicals that inhibit the vegetative growth of plants, such as prohexadione-calcium (PCa), an inhibitor of gibberellins which is currently used as a growth regulator for apple trees, is an agricultural practice aimed to help in reducing pruning time and cost. Pear trees grafted on vigorous rootstocks tend to present high rates of vegetative growth, hindering fruit production. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of the application of different doses of the plant growth regulator PCa on the vegetative growth, pruning time, radiation incidence, and productive and quality parameters of ‘Packham’s Triumph’ and ‘Hosui’ pears grafted on vigorous rootstocks. Two PCa applications were carried out, the first after the falling of petals (2009-10-10), and the second twenty-one days after the first (2009-11-02). The observed results showed a significant effect of PCa in reducing the vegetative growth of the pear trees and the pruning time in both cultivars. The effect on photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) was observed only in the ‘Packham’s Triumph’ variety, not being observed for the ‘Hosui’ pear trees. No statistical difference was observed relative to the quality parameters and yield of the fruits, in both cultivars, showing that PCa application has not caused any deleterious effect on fruit development.

Reinvigoration/Rejuvenation Induced through Micrografting of Tree Species: Signaling through Graft Union.

Trees have a distinctive and generally long juvenile period during which vegetative growth rate is rapid and floral organs do not differentiate. Among trees, the juvenile period can range from 1 year to 15–20 years, although with some forest tree species, it can be longer. Vegetative propagation of trees is usually much easier during the juvenile phase than with mature phase materials. Therefore, reversal of maturity is often necessary in order to obtain materials in which rooting ability has been restored. Micrografting has been developed for trees to address reinvigoration/rejuvenation of elite selections to facilitate vegetative propagation. Generally, shoots obtained after serial grafting have increased rooting competence and develop juvenile traits; in some cases, graft-derived shoots show enhanced in vitro proliferation. Recent advances in graft signaling have shown that several factors, e.g., plant hormones, proteins, and different types of RNA, could be responsible for changes in the scion. The focus of this review includes (1) a discussion of the differences between the juvenile and mature growth phases in trees, (2) successful restoration of juvenile traits through micrografting, and (3) the nature of the different signals passing through the graft union.

Genetic containment in vegetatively propagated forest trees: CRISPR disruption of LEAFY function in Eucalyptus gives sterile indeterminate inflorescences and normal juvenile development.

SummaryEucalyptus is among the most widely planted taxa of forest trees worldwide. However, its spread as an exotic or genetically engineered form can create ecological and social problems. To mitigate gene flow via pollen and seeds, we mutated the Eucalyptus orthologue of LEAFY (LFY) by transforming a Eucalyptus grandis × urophylla wild‐type hybrid and two Flowering Locus T (FT) overexpressing (and flowering) lines with CRISPR Cas9 targeting its LFY orthologue, ELFY. We achieved high rates of elfy biallelic knockouts, often approaching 100% of transgene insertion events. Frameshift mutations and deletions removing conserved amino acids caused strong floral alterations, including indeterminacy in floral development and an absence of male and female gametes. These mutants were otherwise visibly normal and did not differ statistically from transgenic controls in juvenile vegetative growth rate or leaf morphology in greenhouse trials. Genes upstream or near to ELFY in the floral development pathway were overexpressed, whereas floral organ identity genes downstream of ELFY were severely depressed. We conclude that disruption of ELFY function appears to be a useful tool for sexual containment, without causing statistically significant or large adverse effects on juvenile vegetative growth or leaf morphology.

Phenotypic, molecular, and virulence characterization of entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana (Balsam) Vuillemin, and Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschn.) Sorokin from soil samples of Ethiopia for the development of mycoinsecticide

Fungal entomopathogens are the most effective biocontrol agents against insect pests in the natural ecosystem. This study was conducted for phenotypic, molecular, and virulence characterization of locally isolated entomopathogenic fungi from soil samples of six localities in Ethiopia. Entomopathogenic fungi were isolated from 120 soil samples with the galleria baiting method. A total of 65 (54.2%) entomopathogenic fungal isolates belongs to Beauveria spp and Metarhizium spp were identified based on cultural and morphological features. All isolates were pre-screened based on germination, vegetative growth rate, and spore production as fungal in-vitro virulence determinates. Isolate AAUKB-11 displayed the peak germination of 99.67% and isolate AAUMFB-77 achieved the highest radial growth rate of 3.43 mm day−1 with the highest sporulation 4.60 × 108spores/ml. The phylogenetic analysis of ITS-rDNA confirmed that 7 isolates were identified as B. bassiana and 5 isolates were categorized into M. anisopliae. Selected B. bassiana and M. anisopliae strains were evaluated for their pathogenicity efficiency against G. mellonella larvae and caused 86.67%–100% mortality. The mortality rates of G. mellonella larvae peaked at 100% with 4(33.33%) isolates from B. bassiana and 2(16.67%) isolates from M. anisopliae after 10 days of treatments. The high virulent isolate, B. bassiana AAUMB-29 displayed the least LT50 value of 2.36 days followed by isolate B. bassiana AAUMFB-77 with LT50 of 2.53 days. Future studies should be needed to focus on the evaluation of high virulent isolates against other potential insect pests to assess their vigorous role as favorable biological control agents.

Artificial selection for grain yield has increased net CO2 exchange of the ear leaf in maize crops.

Identifying the physiological traits indirectly selected during the search for high-yielding maize hybrids is useful for guiding further improvements. To investigate such traits, in this study we focused on the critical period of kernel formation because kernel number is the main yield component affected by breeding. Our results show that breeding has increased the number of florets per ear and ear growth rate but not the vegetative shoot growth rate, suggesting localised effects around the ear. Consistent with this possibility, breeding has increased the net CO2 exchange of the ear leaf in field-grown crops grown at high population densities. This response is largely accounted for by increased light interception (which increases photosynthesis) and by reduced rates of respiration of the ear leaf in modern hybrids compared to older ones. Modern hybrids show increased ear-leaf area per unit leaf dry matter (specific leaf area), which accounts for the reduced respiratory load per unit leaf area. These observations are consistent with a model where the improved ear leaf CO2 exchange helps the additional florets produced by modern hybrids to survive the critical period of high susceptibility to stress and hence to produce kernels.

Effect of the Different Concentrations of Protective-stimulating Complex (HFC) on the Growth and Development of Grape Seedlings in the Tissue Culture at the Different Nutrient Levels

Background: Humic substances plays a vital role in the plant tissue culture as a growth hormone for in vitro propagation of many plant seedlings. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of added humic-fulvate complex (HFC) at the various concentrations on the growth and development of grape seedlings in in vitro at the different nutrient levels. Methods: The cutting of khasansky grape were cultivated on ¼ Murashige and Skoog medium or ½ Murashige and Skoog medium either alone or supplemented with the humic-fulvate complex at the different concentrations at (0.1, 1 and 10 ml/l). Then, they were cultured for 4 weeks under a controlled environment. Result: The data observed that the low concentration of Murashige and Skoog medium (¼ MS) for in vitro rooting of grape cv. ‘Khasansky’ either alone or combined with HFC at the various concentrations significantly increased the rooting percentages and the total length of roots and stimulating the rate of vegetative growth compared with cultivated in ½ MS medium either alone or with supplemented with HFC. ¼ MS+ 10 ml/l HFC was the best treatment for improving the growth of khasansky grape seedlings.

Soil-vegetation relationships in Mediterranean forests after fire

BackgroundWildfires are one of the major environmental concerns in Mediterranean ecosystems. Thus, many studies have addressed wildfire impacts on soil and vegetation in Mediterranean forests, but the linkages between these ecosystem compartments after fire are not well understood. The aim of this work is to analyze soil-vegetation relationships in Mediterranean burned forests as well as the consistency of these relationships among forests with different environmental conditions, at different times after fire, and among vegetation with different functional traits.ResultsOur results indicate that study site conditions play an important role in mediating soil-vegetation relationships. Likewise, we found that the nature of soil-vegetation relationships may vary over time as fire effects are less dominant in both ecosystem compartments. Despite this, we detected several common soil-vegetation relationships among study sites and times after fire. For instance, our results revealed that available P content and stoichiometry (C:P and N:P) were closely linked to vegetation growth, and particularly to the growth of trees. We found that enzymatic activities and microbial biomass were inversely related to vegetation growth rates, whereas the specific activities of soil enzymes were higher in the areas with more vegetation height and cover. Likewise, our results suggest that resprouters may influence soil properties more than seeders, the growth of seeders being more dependent on soil status.ConclusionsWe provide pioneer insights into how vegetation is influenced by soil, and vice-versa, in Mediterranean burned areas. Our results reflect variability in soil-vegetation relationships among study sites and time after fire, but consistent patterns between soil properties and vegetation were also detected. Our research is highly relevant to advance in forest science and could be useful to achieve efficient post-fire management.

Application of inorganic and liquid organic bio-fertilizers affects the vegetative growth and rhizobacteria populations of eight banana cultivars

Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the fruit crops widely planted and consumed in Indonesia. In the commercial cultivation of bananas, large amounts of inorganic fertilizers are intensively applied to the soil to improve its yields. However, improper continuous application of those inorganic fertilizers can be hazardous to the environment, especially hampering soil fertility. The reduced inorganic fertilizer rate combined with eco-friendly bio-fertilizer has been widely accepted as an alternative approach to ensure sustainable agriculture production and is expected to include banana production. This research evaluated the application of liquid organic bio-fertilizer (LOB) in banana plantations by observing their effects on plant vegetative growth and soil microbial population. The LOB combined with inorganic fertilizer were tested in composition of 1) 100% inorganic fertilizer (NPK), 2) 50% NPK + 100 % LOB, 3) 100% LOB; on eight banana cultivars, i.e., Mas Kirana (AA), Cavendish (AAA), Barangan (AAA), Raja Bulu (AAB), Raja Lido (AAB), Raja Sereh (AAB), Tanduk (AAB), and Kepok (ABB). The results showed that for most of the cultivar tested, liquid bio-fertilizer could be applied in combination with the reduced NPK fertilizer rate to give not significantly different results than 100% inorganic fertilizer vegetative growth rate on the early development of banana. The liquid organic bio-fertilizer application also generally improved soil microbial population, including PGPR with a specific function such as IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) producing activity, phosphate solubilizing, and protease enzyme activity. The application LOB alone was insufficient to support vegetative banana growth to the level incurred by the moderate rate of inorganic fertilizer application.

Analysis of the possibilities for growing hedgehog head (Dactylis glomerata, L.) variety “Dabrava” on cinnamon forest soil. Vegetative development

The soil and climatic conditions of the semi-mountainous regions are specific. One of the most important tasks in creating artificial grasslands for haymaking in such areas is the selection of suitable grass species. The aim of the experiment is to analyze the vegetative potential of hedgehog head from the variety “Dabrava” grow on cinnamon forest soil. To achieve this goal, a section of the foothills of Sakar Mountain was selected. The hedgehog head variety “Dabrava” is grown under natural conditions without irrigation. Every year is fertilization with norm N12P6K6. The analysis of the four-year research shows that the hedgehog head variety “Dabrava” grown on cinnamon forest soil has good adaptability and survival in the conditions of the Sakar region. It’s develops normally, and vegetative development begins in the first ten days of March. In the first year of sowing it develops slowly and the growth rate is the weakest. In the following years the vegetative development has a growth rate, which in ten days reaches 15 cm in the first spring undergrowth and 8.8 cm in the second summer undergrowth. The vegetation period varies in the first spring undergrowth from 60 to 82 days, and in the second summer undergrowth from 51 to 80 days. The height of the grassland in mowing maturity in the first spring undergrowth is from 61.2 to 73.2 cm, and in the second summer undergrowth is from 41.7 - 48.2 cm. The overall vegetative development, growth rate and height of the grassland are directly dependent on climatic factors.

EFEK DEFOLIASI TERHADAP LAJU PERIMBANGAN TANAMAN UBI JALAR

Defoliation of the leaves of sweet potato plants needs to be done to reduce the rate of vegetative growth, because the rate of vegetative growth that is not balanced with generative growth. The section of the sweet potato plant consists mainly of stems and leaves. The purpose of this study is to obtain sweet potato cultivars with criteria of tubers and stover yields through agronomic experiments with different defoliation and cultivars. Factorial Randomized Design by placing Cultivars as the first factor, (C) included: C₁ (Beta-2), C₂ (Kuningan Merah), C₃ (BIS OP-61-OP-22). The second factor of Defoliated (D), namely : D₁ (Defoliation 16 wap), D₂ (Defoliation 12 wap), D₃ (Defoliation 8 wap), with 3 replications. The results showed that: A high RGR value is followed by a large price URLˊ, meaning that the balance of new plant material is related to the ability of plants to carry out photosynthesis. Cultivar value Beta-2 RGR (8-4) = 71 mg.gˉ¹ dayˉ¹, Kuningan Merah URLˊ(8-12) = 65 mg.cmˉ². BIS OP-61-OP-22 cultivars produce large criteria (51.22 tubers/plot) and medium criteria (44.33 tubers/plot). Beta-2 cultivars produce small criteria (45.56 tubers/plot). Ratio F/R from BIS OP-61-OP-22 cultivars (high dual-purpose), cultivars Beta-2 and Kuningan Merah (high root production)