Growth Medium Of Seedlings Research Articles

Effect of Vermicompost and Isopod (Porcellio laevis) Fertilizers on The Emergence and Seedling Quality of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata cv. Wismar)

A great number of insects play an essential role in stabilizing and sustainability of ecosystems. The terrestrial isopods are also important members of soil macrofauna in many habitats, and they are considered as an integral part of the decomposition process. Although the role of isopod in decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients is very well known, there is no available scientific research or information dealing with the utilization of fertilizer obtained from it as the plant and seedling growing media or soil conditioner in agriculture production. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the usability of fertilizer obtained from a terrestrial isopod (Porcellio laevis) and the effect of vermicompost added into the growing media in the growing of lettuce seedlings. By this purpose, 10 different mixtures containing 1, 5, 10 and 20% of each fertilizer [including agricultural soil (control) and peat] as seedling growth media were used. According to results the differences among growing media in terms of emergence and seedling characteristics were not significant. However, the leaf number, fresh-dry shoot weight, and fresh-dry root weight of seedling in all mixtures were equal or higher than control. Results from the study suggest that the isopod fertilizer for the evaluation of agricultural organic wastes which are sometimes regarded as pollutants could be confidently used.

Contrasting growth responses to aluminium addition among populations of the aluminium accumulator Melastoma malabathricum.

Aluminium (Al) hyper-accumulation is a common trait expressed by tropical woody plants growing on acidic soils. Studies on Al accumulators have suggested that Al addition may enhance plant growth rates, but the functional significance of this trait and the mechanistic basis of the growth response are uncertain. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that differential growth responses to Al among populations of an Al accumulator species are associated with variation in biomass allocation and nutrient uptake. We conducted two experiments to test differential responses to the presence of Al in the growth medium for seedlings of the Al accumulator shrub Melastoma malabathricum collected from 18 populations across Peninsular Malaysia. Total dry mass and relative growth rate of dry mass were significantly greater for seedlings that had received Al in the growth medium than for control plants that did not receive Al, but growth declined in response to 5.0 mM Al addition. The increase in growth rate in response to Al addition was greater for a fast-growing than a slow-growing population. The increase in growth rate in response to Al addition occurred despite a reduction in dry mass allocation to leaves, at the expense of higher allocation to roots and stems, for plants grown with Al. Foliar concentrations of P, K, Mg and Ca increased in response to Al addition and the first axis of a PCA summarizing foliar nutrient concentrations among populations was correlated positively with seedling relative growth rates. Some populations of the Al hyper-accumulator M. malabathricum express a physiological response to Al addition which leads to a stimulation of growth up to an optimum value of Al in the growth medium, beyond which growth declines. This was associated with enhanced nutrient concentrations in leaves, which suggests that Al accumulation functions to optimize elemental stoichiometry and growth rate.

Research on the Possibilities of Using Paper Mill Sewage Sludge as an Alternative Seedling Growth Media to Peat

This research was conducted in order for sewage sludge, which complies with the criteria stated in the last 2010 Sludge Regulation on Soil Pollution and its Control, to be used as a seedling growth media. In this research, peat and soil were used as controls, and peat + sewage sludge + perlite and soil + sewage sludge + perlite were mixed at different rates and 8 growing media were prepared for each. Some quality specifications of the tomato seedlings were investigated by determining their nutrient contents in the growth media. According to the research results, the media mixed with peat was found statistically different at the level of p<0.05 in the seedling quality characteristics except for the cotyledon width, and the media mixed with soil was found statistically different at the level of p<0.05 in all the determined seedling quality characteristics. The growth media prepared by mixing peat and sewage sludge proportionately had a positive effect on seedling formation. The O5 media, which contained 40% peat + 50% sewage sludge + 10% perlite, had the best values of seedling length, seedling root length, shoot fresh weight, and root fresh weight. In the soil-controlled media, the M5 media, which contained 40% soil + 50% sewage sludge + 10% perlite, had the best values of seedling root length and root fresh weight.

Respon Pertumbuhan Bibit Jabon (Anthocephalus Cadamba) Dengan Pemberian Kompos Kotoran Sapi Pada Media Penyapihan

Kadam is one type of fast growing trees species. One of the factors that affect plant growth are nutrients, the use of organic fertilizer such as cow manure compost soil mix additive during planting can increase nutrient substances in the soil that plants need for growth. The purpose of this experiment was to study the growth response of kadam seedling at different mixing ratio betwen soil with cow manure compost at seedling growth media and the best comparison of soil mixed with cow manure compost where gave the best effect on the growth of kadam seedling. The experiment was conducted from March until June 2012 in the nursery PT Subur Anugrah Sejahtera, District of Kaur, Sub District Air Palawan. The method used in this experiment was randomized block design (RBD) with 5 groups and 5 treatments. Treatment of this experiment were growth media consisted of top soil, top soil + compost (1:1), top soil + compost (1:2), top soil + compost (1:3) and top soil + compost (1:4). Each experimental unit consisted of 10 seedlings. Similarity variety tested with Bartlett test, then performed analysis of variance and comparison of average values between treatments with HSD test, all the tests done at 5% significance level. The results showed that composition of soil and cow manure compost significantly affect to height, seedling height, dry weight of root, and seedling quality index. Composition of soil and cow manure compost 1:2 resulted the best of high growth, seedling high, dry weight of root, and the best seedling quality index respectively 42.64 cm, 40.56 cm, 10.22 g, and 8.73 g. For further research recommended to conduct the same study by replacing the type by cow manure compost white chiken manure compost as a growth media seedling so, can obtain new knowledge about the type of compost with for growth media.

Characteristics of wood wastes in British Columbia and their potential suitability as soil amendments and seedling growth media

Venner, K. H, Preston, C. M. and Prescott, C. E. 2011. Characteristics of wood wastes in British Columbia and their potential suitability as soil amendments and seedling growth media. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 95-106. In British Columbia, alternative uses for poor-quality wood-waste fines (approximately 50 mm or less) are being sought to replace traditional methods of disposal, including landfilling and burning without energy recovery. As a complement to associated field trials to assess the potential suitability of woody wastes as soil amendments, we determined chemical, physical and spectroscopic characteristics of a variety of wood wastes, co-composts and wood chips and carried out a plant (Betula papyrifera) bioassay. Chemical properties and 13C NMR spectra indicated similarity to other woody wastes, and suitability for site rehabilitation if applied under conditions to avoid excessive leachate. Seedlings grew poorly in the wood waste materials (final height <4 cm), except for co-composts prepared with mu...

Characteristics of wood wastes in British Columbia and their potential suitability as soil amendments and seedling growth media

Venner, K. H, Preston, C. M. and Prescott, C. E. 2011. Characteristics of wood wastes in British Columbia and their potential suitability as soil amendments and seedling growth media. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 95–106. In British Columbia, alternative uses for poor-quality wood-waste fines (approximately 50 mm or less) are being sought to replace traditional methods of disposal, including landfilling and burning without energy recovery. As a complement to associated field trials to assess the potential suitability of woody wastes as soil amendments, we determined chemical, physical and spectroscopic characteristics of a variety of wood wastes, co-composts and wood chips and carried out a plant (Betula papyrifera) bioassay. Chemical properties and 13C NMR spectra indicated similarity to other woody wastes, and suitability for site rehabilitation if applied under conditions to avoid excessive leachate. Seedlings grew poorly in the wood waste materials (final height &lt;4 cm), except for co-composts prepared with municipal biosolids (final height 93 cm). Seedlings also grew poorly in wood chips unless fertilizer was added, indicating that nutrient deficiencies were the primary cause of the poor growth in wood chips. Even with nutrient addition, seedling growth was low in the finest wood chips (&lt;10 mm), probably as a consequence of retention of excessive moisture. This problem could be overcome by applying larger particles or by incorporating the wood chips into soil rather than leaving them as a surface mulch. In conjunction with results from field trials, these results support the application of woody wastes for site rehabilitation, where in situ mixing with mineral soil should reduce bulk density and improve water-holding capacity, and fertilization can compensate for N immobilization by wastes with high C:N ratios.

Effects of different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) species on some bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars grown in salty conditions

-1 ) of inoculum was placed in the seedling growth medium before the seeds were sown. At the end of the study, some nutrients such as N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, and Zn and plant growth parameters such as shoot height, stem diameter, root length, leaf number, leaf area, and dry and fresh weights of shoots and roots were investigated. Moreover, the plant colonization rates of AMF species were determined. The AMF species had positive effects on the plant growth and nutrient intake. Among the bean cultivars, Onceler and Terzibaba, and among the AMF species, G. mosseae had the best results for plant growth.

The effect of salinity and porosity of sewage sludge compost on the growth of vegetable seedlings

Salinity and porosity of composted sewage sludge (CSS) were studied to evaluate their effect on vegetable seedlings, specifically on vegetable seedling performance and toxicity threshold of soluble salts. For the evaluation, CSS was mixed with different proportions of leached CSS to control the salinity. Soluble salt content of 1.45% or higher in growth media inhibited the growth of cucumber, tomato, and pepper seedlings, while that of 1.1% was relatively safe. Different porosities of CSS media were prepared by mixing CSS (<10 mm) with ground CSS (<1 mm) in different proportions (CSS and ground CSS were leached beforehand to prevent salt stress). The vegetable seedlings grew well in CSS media without showing symptoms of growth inhibition if the total porosity ranged from 66% to 81% and the water holding porosity ranged from 48% to 59%. However, the best seedling performances were achieved with the coarser media with high total porosities. The study indicated that when salt content was appropriate, CSS can be used alone as a vegetable seedling growth medium without the need for grinding or blending with other materials.

Studies on raising and preparation of planting stock of three indigenous forest timber species in Nigeria

Seed germination studies, seedling growth, planting stock preparation and field trial at planting espacement of 3 m x 3 m were evaluated in the study. Soaking seeds in tap water for ten days with daily replacement of water yielded 100% seed germination for A. africana, 100% for A. boonei and 90% for A. lebbeck respectively in light condition. These values were better than those obtained in the control and dark condition. Growth values observed in forest topsoil were significantly different from those from river sand. From Forest Topsoil the total plant heights were 98 ± 16.33 cm for A. africana, 41 ± 6.83 cm for A. lebbeck and 70 ± 11.66 cm for A. boonei while from the river sand, A. Africana had 36 ± 6.0 cm, A. lebbeck had 26.3 ± 4.38 cm and A. boonei had 25.6 ± 4.27 cm. The field trial showed that there is prospect of successful domestication of these species using stumps or seedlings as planting stock. Significant difference was not observed in the trial. The only observed advantage is that more stumps can be transported than the seedlings. For quality planting stock production, soaking the seeds of the species under study for 10 days with daily replacement of water, forest topsoil as seedling growth medium, stumps and seedlings as planting stock are recommended. Keywords: Afzelia africana, Albizia lebbec, Alstonia boonei,Planting stock, agroforestryInternational Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences Vol. 2 (4) 2008: pp. 573-578

The origin of copper-induced medicarpin accumulation and its secretion from roots of young fenugreek seedlings are regulated by copper concentration

Isoflavonoid pterocarpans, like medicarpin (M), are produced by leguminous plants in response to biotic or abiotic elicitation from either their glycosidic conjugate pools or by de novo synthesis. In an attempt to clarify M origin in response to copper elicitation, intact Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seedlings and cell suspension cultures were treated with CuCl 2, and the accumulated isoflavonoid aglycones and their glycosides were determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Our results show that copper induces the de novo synthesis of M in a concentration dependent manner. In roots, where copper accumulated in high amounts, only part of M was formed de novo, while another part was formed at the expense of its malonyl glucoside (MGM). In contrast, when tissue copper concentration was low, like in shoots, or in roots treated with low CuCl 2, M was formed only by de novo synthesis. The increase of phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity (PAL) as well as the accumulation of chalcone synthase ( CHS) and vestitone reductase ( VR) specific transcripts are consistent with the de novo synthesis of M induced by copper. The non-linear negative correlation of the studied copper concentrations to the amount of M excreted in the seedling growth medium suggests the existence of an M secretion process which is regulated by copper concentration. The possible involvement of an ATP-dependent transporter in the copper-induced M excretion is discussed.

Storage effects on indigenous soil microbial communities and PGPR efficacy

We tested the hypothesis that storage-induced changes in the composition of soil microbial communities altered the efficacy of three Bacillus and three Pseudomonas plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) strains on spruce seedlings. Forest soils were collected from near Mackenzie, Salmon Arm and Williams Lake, B.C. Soil microbial population sizes were evaluated using dilution plating. Carbon substrate utilization patterns were determined on fresh forest soils and after 32 weeks of storage at 4°C and −10°C using the Biolog system. Small aliquots of fresh and stored soils comprising <2% of seedling growth medium were also used in PGPR assays. The population sizes of viable soil microorganisms, particularly bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi, declined 10–1000 fold during soil storage at both temperatures. Differences in substrate utilization patterns between soils and after storage treatments were also detected by Shannon's diversity index ( H′), principal component analysis and cluster analysis of BIOLOG data. The three fresh soils formed a distinct cluster when plotted on ordination axes or by Euclidean distance. Williams Lake and Salmon Arm soils maintained a greater degree of substrate utilization diversity when stored frozen, but the opposite was true for Mackenzie soil. In general, the six PGPR strains had similar effects on spruce seedling growth within soil×storage treatments. Pseudomonas root colonization did not differ significantly between strains ( Bacillus colonization was not evaluated), forest soils and storage treatments, but PGPR efficacy depended on the origin and treatment of forest soil. For example, spruce growth promotion was greatest in fresh Williams Lake and Salmon Arm soil, but PGPR efficacy in Mackenzie soil was greatest after storage at −10°C. Our results support the hypothesis that storage-induced changes in soil microflora contribute to variability in PGPR efficacy, but we were unable to identify specific characteristics of these forest soils that related directly to plant growth response variability.

Succinate dehydrogenase activity of external and internal hyphae of a vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, Glomus mosseae (Nicol. &amp; Gerd.) Gerdmann and Trappe, during mycorrhizal colonization of roots of leek (Allium porrum L.), as revealed by in situ histochemical staining

The succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity of hyphae of the vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerdmann and Trappe, in symbiotic association with leek (Allium porrum L.) roots, was investigated by histochemical staining in situ. Leek seedlings were transplanted to sand culture and inoculated with spores of G. mosseae placed just below the base of the stem. At intervals (14, 25, 35 and 60 days) after transplanting, the growth medium of seedlings was flooded with nitro blue tetrazolium chloride solution, thereby displacing the nutrient solution. This allowed sites of SDH activity of external and internal fungal structures of the mycorrhizas to be stained without physically disturbing the symbiotic system. After counterstaining harvested roots and mycelium with acid fuchsin, it was possible to differentiate clearly metabolically active and inactive regions of the fungus. The lengths of external hyphae and infected root both increased nearly exponentially, and were in constant proportion (1.4 m hyphae per cm of infected root) for up to 60 days. The percentage length of external hyphae with SDH activity remained almost constant (80%). In each infected length of root there was a gradation of SDH activity from inactive distal (older) hyphae to uniformly active proximal (younger) hyphae. These findings are discussed in relation to the symbiotic activity of the mycobiont.

Techniques for observing phosphorus mobilization in the rhizosphere

The techniques described here were developed to visualize the dissolution of sparingly soluble calcium phosphate and the presence of root-borne phosphatase in the rhizosphere. Newly formed calcium phosphate precipitate was suspended in agar containing other essential nutrients. The agar was poured into Petri dishes and acrylglass boxes and was used as a growth medium for seedlings of wheat, rape, buckwheat, and rice. With NH 4 + applied as the N source, the precipitate dissolved in the root vicinity and this was attributed to acidification. No dissolution occurred with NO 3 − as the N source. The release of a neutral phosphatase from roots was verified by embedding the roots of young seedlings in agar at pH 7 containing phenolphthalein phosphate. After pH was raised to the alkaline range by adding sodium hydroxide, the agar around the roots turned purple, especially around the roots of P-deprived plants. The most intensive phosphatase activity was found in apical root regions.

Dark Preconditioning, CPPU, and Thidiazuron Promote Shoot Organogenesis on Seedling Node Explants of Common and Faba Beans

Dry seeds from two lines of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and one cultivar of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) were germinated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing B vitamins, 30 g sucrose/liter, and either 2.5, 5.0, or 7.5 μm benzyladenine (BA). Axenic seed cultures were grown at 22 to 24C in darkness and under continuous light from cool-white fluorescent tubes (40 μmol·m-2·s-1). Explant tissues were prepared from cotyledonary nodes (CN) and primary nodes (PN) of 14-day-old seedlings. Explants were cultured on corresponding seedling growth medium and maintained under continuous cool-white light (40 μmol·m-2·s-1). The percentages of CN and PN (in one line of common bean) explants that regenerated shoots and the number of shoots per explant (in all germplasm) were highest when nodal tissues were prepared from seedlings germinated in darkness. These responses were optimal on medium containing 5 μm BA during seedling growth and subsequent culture of explants. The number of shoots per explant was two to five times higher on explants cultured on medium with 0.25 to 1.0 μm forchlorfenuron (CPPU) or thidiazuron (TDZ) than on medium with 5 μm BA. Higher (2.5 and 5 μm) CPPU and TDZ concentrations inhibited shoot elongation and stimulated callus production. Histological analyses indicated that adventitious meristems formed 6 to 8 days after explant culture. Progenies from regenerated plants appeared similar to plants raised from the original seed stocks. Chemical names used: N- (phenylmethyl) -1 H- purin-6-amine (benzyladenine, BA); N- (2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N'- phenylurea (forchlorfenuron, CPPU); N- phenyl -N' -1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-ylurea (thidiazuron, TDZ).

Phospholipid metabolism in roots and microsomes of sunflower seedlings: Inhibition of choline phosphotransferase activity by boron

The action of boron on phospholipid composition and synthesis in roots and microsomes from sunflower seedlings has been studied. The fatty acid composition and relative amounts of individual molecular species of phospholipids in roots and microsomes were very similar. In both the content of phospholipids was decreased and the relative levels of their component fatty acids changed by treatment with 50 ppm of boron. This concentration of boron in the culture medium was found to inhibit the in vivo [1- 14C] acetate incorporation into root lipids and that of [Me- 14C] choline into phosphatidylcholine of root microsomes. Cytidine-5-diphospho (CDP)-[Me- 14C] choline incorporation into phosphatidylcholine of isolated microsomes was also inhibited by 50 ppm of boron when present in the growth medium of seedlings. These results indicate that the decrease in phosphatidylcholine labelling from [ 14C] choline observed when root microsomes were treated with boron would be caused by a decrease in CDP-choline phosphotransferase activity.

Synthesis of Ectomycorrhizae on Container-Grown Oak Seedlings

Abstract Growth and ectomycorrhizal development of container-grown black (Quercus velutina) and white (Q. alba) oak seedlings innoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius were studied in relation to growth-medium moisture, temperature, fertility, and fungal inoculum density. Daily watering of seedling growth medium suppressed ectomycorrhizal development. Colonization of seedling root systems by P. tinctorius increased with increasing growth medium temperature up to 87°F. Weekly fertilization of seedlings with a 375 ppm NPK solution did not adversely affect ectomycorrhizal development, while a 750 ppm NPK solution depressed infection. Ectomycorrhizal colonization success was partially influenced by fungal inoculum density. Results indicate the need to alter seedling cultural practices when producing ectomycorrhizal oaks in an artificial growth medium in containers.1

Effects of a Commercial Nutrient and Evaluation of a Seedling Growth Technique1

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to evaluate Seaquist®,3 a commercial nutrient solution advertised to increase grain and dry matter production and seedling responses of small grains when it is applied either as a foliar spray or as a seed treatment. Grain yield and seedling tests were conducted with ‘Blueboy II’ wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), ‘Yancey’ oats (Avena sativa L.), and ‘Clayton’ barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). A dry matter production test was conducted with Blueboy II wheat and ‘Keowee’ ley. Forage was harvested to simulate grazing and cutting silage. Seaquist treatments for the grain‐yield tests were: 1) seed treatment, 2) foliar application, 3) seed treatment + foliar application, and 4) check. Seaquist treatments for the dry‐matter production test were: 1) seed treatment, 2) seed treatment + three (grazing) or one (silage) foliar spray, 3) one foliar spray, 4) three (grazing) or two (silage) foliar sprays, and 5) check. In four seedling experiments the variables tested included treating seed with Seaquist at the recommended rate (R) and 0, ½R, 2R, 4R, 8R, and 16R; treating seed with Seaquist and a similar compound, Fortified Seaquist; use of the three small grain species; and use of distilled water and modified half‐strength Hoagland's solution as growth media.Except for greater root growth after Seaquist treatment (compared to the check) in one of the four seedling tests, no significant differences attributable to Seaquist were found. However, when distilled water was compared with Hoagland's solution as the growth medium for seedlings, the nutrient solution caused a marked increase (2.13 cm) in top growth and a sizeable decrease (4.68 cm) in root growth.A technique was developed for growing large numbers of seedlings in a relatively small space and measuring root and top growth after 10 days. The precision of this technique was evaluated. Increasing the number of replicates from two to four and increasing the number of seedlings/plot from four to 10 provided the greatest reduction in the size of the least significant difference. The number of replicates had a greater impact upon precision than did the number of seedlings.