Soil Spray Research Articles

Microbial Inoculants Modify the Functions of Resident Soil Microbes to Expedite the Field Restoration of the Abandoned Mine

ABSTRACTGlobal‐scale mining activities have had significant deleterious impacts on local ecosystems and the overall environment, which will necessitate robust restoration efforts. A practical approach includes combining microbial inoculants with the technology of external soil spray seeding. This approach holds the potential for sustainable abandoned mine site restoration by enhancing plant growth through the modulation of soil nutrients and microbial communities. Nonetheless, the detailed effects of microbial inoculants on specific aspects of soil microbial community functions and their complex interactions with plant growth remain underexplored, particularly in the context of restoration efforts. To bridge this gap, we performed a four‐year field study at an abandoned carbonate mine location, using metagenomic sequencing to evaluate the influence of microbial inoculants on soil microbial functionality. Our research revealed that introducing microbial inoculants greatly enhanced essential soil parameters and notably increased plant biomass. Additionally, these inoculants altered the functional gene makeup of the microbial community, significantly boosting the relative abundance of processes such as nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification, assimilatory nitrate reduction (ANRA), dissimilatory nitrate reduction (DNRA), and organic phosphorus mineralization. Conversely, there was a decrease in the relative abundance of carbon degradation, phosphorus regulation, and transport processes. We observed strong correlations between the abundance of nitrogen and phosphorus cycles and plant biomass. Crucially, microbial inoculants affect plant biomass by initially altering soil properties and subsequently coordinating nitrogen and phosphorus cycles. These findings provide valuable insights into the role of microbial inoculants in mine site restoration and offer a theoretical foundation for their broader practical application.

Evaluation of transplant drench and foliar insecticide applications for wireworm (Coleoptera: Elateridae) management in sweetpotato.

The revocation of chlorpyrifos tolerances in 2022 left sweetpotato growers without their most important tool to combat a complex of soil-borne root pests that includes wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae). Since then, growers have reported increased root damage despite a rapid pivot to pyrethroid-based management systems to replace mechanically incorporated preplant chlorpyrifos broadcast sprays. Our goal was to evaluate the efficacy of alternative insecticide chemistries and application methods to expand the portfolio of management options for wireworms, specifically Conoderus spp. and Melanotus communis (Gyllenhal). We tested (i) insecticidal transplant water drenches and (ii) a foliar spray program targeting adult elaterids. We found that incorporating insecticides into transplant water reduced wireworm damage when compared to untreated transplant water. Our treatments included a recently registered meta-diamide, broflanilide, which represents a promising path to diversify active ingredients and shift away from an overreliance on preplant and post-directed pyrethroid soil sprays. Foliar spray plots had less damage than plots that did not receive foliar sprays. One benefit of adult-focused management is the availability of effective monitoring tools such as sex pheromones and blacklight trapping. Developing a robust adult monitoring program would enable more precise applications of foliar insecticides versus season-long prophylactic soil sprays targeting larvae. Our results demonstrated a significant benefit to both alternative delivery methods. These management alternatives could expand treatment options beyond traditional preplant and post-directed pyrethroid sprays.

Biocontrol potential of endophytic fungi against phytopathogenic nematodes on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) are a vital pest that causes significant yield losses and economic damage to potato plants. The use of chemical pesticides to control these nematodes has led to environmental concerns and the development of resistance in the nematode populations. Endophytic fungi offer an eco-friendly alternative to control these pests and produce secondary metabolites that have nematicidal activity against RKNs. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of Aspergillus flavus (ON146363), an entophyte fungus isolated from Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds, against Meloidogyne incognita in filtered culture broth using GC–MS analysis. Among them, various nematicidal secondary metabolites were produced: Gadoleic acid, Oleic acid di-ethanolamide, Oleic acid, and Palmitic acid. In addition, biochemical compounds such as Gallic acid, Catechin, Protocatechuic acid, Esculatin, Vanillic acid, Pyrocatechol, Coumarine, Cinnamic acid, 4, 3-indol butyl acetic acid and Naphthyl acetic acid by HPLC. The fungus was identified through morphological and molecular analysis, including ITS 1–4 regions of ribosomal DNA. In vitro experiments showed that culture filtrate of A. flavus had a variable effect on reducing the number of egg hatchings and larval mortality, with higher concentrations showing greater efficacy than Abamectin. The fungus inhibited the development and multiplication of M. incognita in potato plants, reducing the number of galls and eggs by 90% and 89%, respectively. A. flavus increased the activity of defense-related enzymes Chitinas, Catalyse, and Peroxidase after 15, 45, and 60 days. Leaching of the concentrated culture significantly reduced the second juveniles’ stage to 97% /250 g soil and decreased the penetration of nematodes into the roots. A. flavus cultural filtrates via soil spraying improved seedling growth and reduced nematode propagation, resulting in systemic resistance to nematode infection. Therefore, A. flavus can be an effective biological control agent for root-knot nematodes in potato plants. This approach provides a sustainable solution for farmers and minimizes the environmental impact.

Recent Jishishan earthquake ripple hazard provides a new explanation for the destruction of the prehistoric Lajia Settlement 4000a B.P.

The Jishishan Ms 6.2 earthquake occurred at 23:59 on December 18, 2023 in Gansu Province, China. We conducted a field survey to assess the hazards and damages caused by the earthquake and its associated geo-activities. Subsequently, we organized a seminar to discuss the possible causes of the destruction of a prehistoric site—Lajia Settlement—dated back to four thousand years B.P. and located only several kilometers away from the epicenter of the Jishishan earthquake. The Jishishan earthquake was unique for its hazard and disaster process, which featured ground shaking and a series of complex geological and geomorphological activities: sediment and soil spray piles, liquefaction, collapse, landslide, and mudflow along water channels. We define this phenomenon as the Jishishan earthquake ripple hazard (JERH). The most recent evidence from the JERH suggests that a prehistoric earthquake similar to the JERH, instead of riverine floods or earthquake-induced landslide dam outburst flood, as previously hypothesized, destroyed the Lajia Settlement.

Effectiveness of Rhodococcus erythropolis strain OPI-01 on the fungal development in winter wheat

Abstract. Behzad A, Diakite S, Astarkhanova TS, Pakina EN, Allen D, Mohammadi PM, Diarra O, Saquee FS. 2024. Effectiveness of Rhodococcus erythropolis strain OPI-01 on the fungal development in winter wheat. Biodiversitas 25: 1063-1070. One of the means of sustainable wheat production is using bacterial pesticides, which can synthesize phytohormonal substances with antibacterial and antifungal action. Therefore, the work aimed to study the effect of different doses of a new growth regulator Restart, ZH (Rhodococcus erythropolis D strain OPI-01) on winter wheat yield. The findings of field experiments on the effect of plant growth regulator R. erythropolis strain OPI-01 method of pre-sowing treatment of seeds (at 0.1 L/t and 0.2 L/t), and soil spraying just before sowing (-0.5 l/ha) revealed that on average, during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons, the number of productive stems increased by a margin of 23-30, the number of grains in 1 ear increased in the experimental units by 16.2-19.4%, and the length of the ear by 0.3-0.7cm, gluten varied from 32.3 to 33.8%, yield increased from 27.8-33.0% relative to the control. Disease severity and incidence of powdery mildew, brown rust and Septoria disease in plots amended withR. erythropolis strain OPI-01 was 2-fold less than in the control plots. Research trials show the efficacy of R. erythropolis strain OPI-01 under field conditions as a plant growth regulator and a potential microbial fungicide against some foliar diseases of winter wheat. It would be exciting to study the mechanism of R. erythropolis on wheat pathogens in vitro and in planta which are still less developed in the literature.

Effects of different ecological restoration methods on the soil physicochemical properties and vegetation community characteristics of the Baotou light rare earth tailings pond in Inner Mongolia, China.

This study investigated the soil physicochemical properties and vegetation community characteristics of the Baotou light rare earth tailings pond after 10years of aggregate spray seeding ecological restoration (S1) and ordinary soil spray seeding ecological restoration (S2), and the naturally restored dam slope area without human intervention (S3). The results showed that the vegetation community of S1 was dominated by Caragana korshinskii Kom, and its importance and abundance values were 0.40 and 38.4, respectively, while the vegetation communities of S2 and S3 mainly comprised herbaceous plants. Additionally, the vegetation biomass of S1 was significantly higher than that of S2 and S3 by 215.20% and 1345.76%, respectively, and the vegetation diversity index of S1 was the highest among the three treatment groups. The soil porosity (SP), water content (W), electrical conductivity (EC), and available K were significantly improved in S1, while soil bulk density (BD) was significantly reduced compared with that of S2 and S3. In addition, redundancy analysis revealed that SP, EC, W, and K positively correlate with the biomass, Shannon, Pielou, Simpson, and Marglef indices. Principal component analysis further showed that the comprehensive score of S1 (0.983) was higher than that of S2 (- 0.261) and S3 (- 0.648). Collectively, these findings indicate that appropriate ecological restoration can improve soil structure and vegetation community characteristics, thereby accelerating vegetation restoration, ultimately increasing the stability of the ecosystem.

Analysis on the Impact of Various Slope Ecological Restoration Techniques on Soil Fertility and Physicochemical Properties During the Summer Drought Period in Red Soil Area of Northeast Jiangxi Province

[Purpose] This study aims to investigate the impacts of three slope restoration techniques, namely, soil spray sowing, vegetation fiber, and vegetation concrete, on soil fertility, pH, and organic matter content during the summer drought period. The study also aims to explore the advantages of these three different restoration techniques, providing a basis for slope restoration in the Northeast Jiangxi region. [Methods] The study used experimental slopes established with three different restoration techniques: soil spray sowing, vegetation fiber, and vegetation concrete. Soil samples were collected during the rainy season in July 2022 and the drought season in September 2022. The changes in hydrolyzable nitrogen, available potassium, available phosphorus content, pH, and organic matter in the soil after restoration were comprehensively investigated. The study relies on the Qi-Wu expressway, and all the experiments are set on the slopes on both sides of the expressway. [Results]①For the soil restored using soil spray sowing during the drought season, the content of hydrolyzable nitrogen and available potassium was higher than that of the original soil, while the content of available phosphorus significantly decreased. The pH changed from acidic to weakly alkaline. ②For the soil restored using vegetation fiber during the drought season, although the content of available phosphorus increased, it was still relatively low. The content of available potassium decreased, but the total amount remained high. The content of hydrolyzable nitrogen was high and showed an increasing trend. The pH slightly decreased from weakly acidic to acidic. ③For the soil restored using vegetation concrete during the drought season, the content of hydrolyzable nitrogen, available potassium, and available phosphorus was high and showed an increasing trend. The pH slightly decreased, but it remained weakly alkaline before and after the drought. [Conclusion] Soil spray sowing, vegetation fiber, and vegetation concrete, all three restoration techniques, could demonstrate good performance during the drought period in the Northeastern Jiangxi region. In terms of their overall performance, the ranking from strong to weak is as follows: vegetation concrete > vegetation fiber > soil spray sowing. Soil spray sowing, as the most convenient and cost-effective slope restoration technique, could in the future incorporate additives that can improve local soil properties according to different regional characteristics. Vegetation fiber not only needs to improve soil acidity-alkalinity but should also appropriately incorporate phosphorus-containing additives. Vegetation concrete needs to address the issue of reducing soil acidity-alkalinity after restoration in the future.

Seed Treatment of Okra with Humic Acid to Control Pathogen of Damping-Off Fusarium Solani.

The study was conducted in the fields of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences for the 2022 season, University of Baghdad / Al-Jadriya. The study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of soaking the okra seeds of the Hissainawya and Batra varieties with 0.05% Humic acid for 12 hours in controlling the disease of rot, damping off, and root rot caused by the fungus Fusarium solani. The results showed the effectiveness of soaking treatment with Humic acid in reducing the disease incidence with damping off and root rot of okra seeds of the Hissainawya variety when planted in soil contaminated with the pathogen. In comparison, it reached 25% compared to the pathogen treatment only, which amounted to 75% in field conditions after 30 days of sowing. The average infection ratio and severity in okra plants after 70 days of sowing the Hissainawya variety in treating soaking with Humic acid. Besides, the soil spraying after 40 days of sowing in soil contaminated with the pathogen was 26.67 and 41.67%, respectively, with a significant difference from the treatment of the pathogen F. solani, which amounted to 55.67 and 58.33%, respectively. Finally, treating okra seeds of Hissainawya and Batra varieties with Humic acid had a significant effect on increasing plant height and dry weight, in general. Moreover, the Hissainawya variety responded more to the treatment of soaking with Humic acid compared to the treatment of soaking seeds for the Batra variety in field conditions. Key words: Fusarium solani, Humic acid, Soaking seeds, okra.

Mineral‐solubilizing microbial inoculants facilitate the rejuvenation of soil multifunctionality and plant growth at abandoned mine sites

AbstractThe mining industry continues to have considerable adverse effects on ecosystems, which necessitates the development of robust and effective strategies for the remediation of abandoned mine sites. One such approach involves the integration of mineral‐solubilizing microorganisms into existing external soil spray seeding technologies. These microorganisms have the capacity to reduce mineral particle sizes, stimulate plant growth, and facilitate the release of essential soil nutrients. Despite the potential benefits of mineral‐solubilizing microbial inoculants, their impacts on overall soil multifunctionality and microbial communities, associations with microbial diversity, soil multifunctionality, and plant growth remain largely unknown. To bridge these knowledge gaps, we conducted a 1‐year greenhouse experiment, which involved a comprehensive assessment of various parameters including soil nutrients, enzyme activities, functional gene copies, and microbial communities. Our findings unveiled that the application of mineral‐solubilizing microbial inoculants led to a significant augmentation of soil multifunctionality. Additionally, the application of microbial inoculants increased the relative abundances of Bacilli (class), Bacillales (order), Bacillaceae (family), and Bacillus (genus). While no significant relationship emerged between microbial alpha diversity and soil multifunctionality, our investigation found positive correlations between the Bacillus groups, keystone ecological cluster, and soil multifunctionality. Furthermore, our results suggested that the indirect impact of microbial inoculants on plant growth was primarily channeled indirectly through their influence on Bacilli, keystone ecological cluster, and soil multifunctionality, as opposed to changes in the overall bacterial or fungal diversity. Overall, our study underscores the significance of mineral‐solubilizing microbial inoculants for the rejuvenation of abandoned mine sites, while providing valuable insights for future research aimed at optimizing the efficacy of external soil spray seeding techniques.

Optimising the Delivery of RHDV to Rabbits for Biocontrol: An Experimental Evaluation of Two Novel Methods of Virus Delivery.

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is established as a landscape-scale biocontrol that assists the management of invasive European rabbits and their impacts in both Australia and New Zealand. In addition to this, it is also available to land managers to augment rabbit control efforts at a local scale. However, current methods of deploying RHDV to rabbits that rely on the consumption of virus-treated baits can be problematic as rabbits are reluctant to consume bait when there is abundant, green, protein-rich feed available. We ran a suite of interrupted time-series experiments to compare the duration of infectivity of two conventional (carrot and oat baits) and two novel (meat bait and soil burrow spray) methods of deploying RHDV to rabbits. All methods effectively killed exposed rabbits. Soil burrow spray and carrot baits resulted in infection and mortality out to 5 days post their deployment in the field, and meat baits caused infection out to 10 days post their deployment. In contrast, oat baits continued to infect and kill exposed rabbits out to 20 days post deployment. Molecular assays demonstrated high viral loads in deployed baits beyond the duration for which they were infectious or lethal to rabbits. Based on our results, we suggest that the drying of meat baits may create a barrier to effective transmission of RHDV by adult flies within 10 days. We therefore hypothesise that fly larvae production and development on infected tissues is critical to prolonged viral transmission from meat baits, and similarly from carcasses of RHDV mortalities, via mechanical fly vectors. Our study demonstrates that meat baits and soil spray could provide additional virus deployment options that remove the need for rabbits to consume baits at times when they are reluctant to do so.

Mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculant positively affects the multifunctionality of anthropogenic soils in abandoned mining areas

The mining industry has a significant negative impact on ecosystems, and the remediation of abandoned mining sites requires effective strategies. One promising approach is the incorporation of mineral-solubilizing microorganisms into current external soil spray seeding technologies. These microorganisms possess the ability to decrease mineral particle sizes, promote plant growth, and enhance the release of vital soil nutrients. However, most previous studies on mineral-solubilizing microorganisms have been conducted in controlled greenhouse environments, and their practical application in field settings remains uncertain. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a four-year field experiment at an abandoned mining site to investigate the efficacy of mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculants in restoring derelict mine ecosystems. We assessed soil nutrients, enzyme activities, functional genes, and soil multifunctionality. We also examined microbial compositions, co-occurrence networks, and community assembly processes. Our results demonstrated that the application of mineral-solubilizing microbial inoculants significantly enhanced soil multifunctionality. Interestingly, certain bacterial phyla or class taxa with low relative abundances were found to be key drivers of multifunctionality. Surprisingly, we observed no significant correlation between microbial alpha diversity and soil multifunctionality, but we did identify positive associations between the relative abundance and biodiversity of keystone ecological clusters (Module #1 and #2) and soil multifunctionality. Co-occurrence network analysis revealed that microbial inoculants reduced network complexity while increasing stability. Additionally, we found that stochastic processes played a predominant role in shaping bacterial and fungal communities, and the inoculants increased the stochastic ratio of microbial communities, particularly bacteria. Moreover, microbial inoculants significantly decreased the relative importance of dispersal limitations and increased the relative importance of drift. High relative abundances of certain bacterial and fungal phyla were identified as major drivers of the microbial community assembly process. In conclusion, our findings highlight the crucial role of mineral-solubilizing microorganisms in soil restoration at abandoned mining sites, shedding light on their significance in future research endeavors focused on optimizing the effectiveness of external soil spray seeding techniques.

A State-of-the-Art Review of Organic Polymer Modifiers for Slope Eco-Engineering.

In slope ecological restoration projects, reinforcing soil and promoting vegetation growth are essential measures. Guest soil spraying technology can be used to backfill modified soil and vegetation seeds onto the slope surface, resulting in successful ecological restoration. The use of organic polymer modifiers to reinforce soil has several benefits, such as high strength, effective results, and low pollution levels. Organic polymer soil modifiers can be divided into two categories: synthetic polymer modifiers and biopolymer modifiers. This paper provides a thorough review of the properties and interaction mechanisms of two types of polymer modifiers in soil consolidation. The properties of organic polymer modifiers make them applicable in soil and vegetation engineering on slopes. These modifiers can enhance soil mechanics, infiltration, and erosion resistance and promote vegetation growth. Therefore, the suitability of organic polymer modifiers for soil and vegetation engineering on slopes is demonstrated by their properties and potential for improvement in key areas. Furthermore, challenges and future prospects for slope protection technology using organic polymer modifiers are suggested.

Ecological restoration of coal mine waste dumps: A case study in Ximing Mine, China

ABSTRACT This study focuses on addressing the issues of spontaneous combustion and slope instability at the coal mine waste (CMW) dump located on the north side of the Yumen River in Ximing Mine, China. We conducted slope restoration and environmental treatment of the CMW dump using shotcrete, deep hole grouting, external soil spray seeding technology with multiple soil fixation measures. The stability of the repaired CMW dump was analysed using LiZheng Slope Stability Analysis Software, and the displacement and stress of high-risk zones were assessed using MIDAS GTS NX Software. Our findings provide valuable insights for slope restoration and evaluation.

Time‐dependent effects of ecological rehabilitation on soil phosphorus fractions on cut slopes in the mountains of Southwest China

AbstractWhen a cut slope is excavated, the ecological environment in the footprint is destroyed. Soil spray seeding technique is used for the ecological rehabilitation of cut slopes in the mountain areas of Southwest China. However, there have been few studies of the temporal variation in soil phosphorus (P) fractions during the rehabilitation of the cut slopes. In this study, time‐dependent changes in soil inorganic P (Pi) and organic P (Po) fractions of the cut slopes were assessed at selected post‐rehabilitation ages (i.e., 1 year, 1a; 3 years, 3a; 5 years, 5a; and 11 years, 11a). The results showed that the amounts of Pi and Po fractions in soils on rehabilitated cut slopes varied with time. The reduction in the total Po (TPo) content was mainly caused by the change in high concentration hydrochloric acid‐soluble Po (HHCl‐Po) in the soil. The reason for the highest TP content in 3a was the addition of inorganic fertilizer and straw in the artificial soil. The analyses of Pearson correlation and multiple stepwise linear regression showed that TPo and N:P were the main factors affecting the availability of soil P. With the increase in the post‐rehabilitation age, the limitation of soil P gradually weakened, but nitrogen became one of the limiting factors for plant growth. Overall, soil nutrient monitoring is very important for vegetation restoration of the cut slopes. Applying organic fertilizer after 5 years of ecological rehabilitation is conducive to long‐term supply of nutrients required for plant growth.

Belonolaimus longicaudatus management using metam potassium and fluensulfone in potato.

Belonolaimus longicaudatus (sting nematode) is an important pest in Florida potato production and is managed primarily by fumigation using 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D). Other effective nematicides are needed for more flexibility in managing this pest. The objective of this study was to evaluate fluensulfone, metam potassium, and mixtures of the two products, relative to 1,3-D and untreated control, for efficacy at managing sting nematode, and for non-target effects on free-living nematodes in potato. To test this objective, a small-plot field experiment was conducted in northeast Florida in 2020 and repeated in 2021. Metam potassium fumigation (390 kg a.i./treated ha)-with or without fluensulfone-managed sting nematode soil abundances but was phytotoxic to potato. Strategies that mitigate metam potassium phytotoxicity, such as reduced application rates, are needed before efficacy of metam potassium in this system can be determined. As a preplant soil spray, fluensulfone alone (403 g a.i./treated ha) did not manage sting nematode abundances and had an inconsistent effect on yield. Fumigation with 1,3-D (88.3 kg a.i./treated ha) was the only treatment that consistently managed sting nematode and increased potato yield. Nematicides did not consistently affect free-living nematodes.

Research on the application of a cement and soil aggregate for the ecological restoration of vegetation in artificial soil.

The construction of high-speed roads has resulted in large amounts of steep and exposed cut slopes, posing more potential hazards in areas with mountains and hills. Vegetation restoration is an effective and environmentally-friendly way to restore exposed slopes using outside soil spray seeding, though it is difficult to establish a vegetation cover. Spraying artificial soil on high and steep slopes is a challenging task as it is difficult to keep the fluid mixture on sloped surfaces. Because of these challenges, this study applied different combinations of cement and soil aggregates in artificial soil, measuring final soil properties after one growing season. Experimental results showed that there were substantial differences in all basic soil parameters and in the soil quality index after different treatments. In particular, adding 5-10% cement content could improve the adhesion of artificial soil without remarkably reducing soil quality; adding 0.09% of soil aggregate was also beneficial to soil nutrient availability. These findings indicate that the combination of cement and soil aggregates could be applied in artificial soils for the ecological restoration of steep slope vegetation. Adding cement to the soil increased the alkaline levels of the soil, so it is important to reduce artificial soil pH in the future. The application of a cement and soil aggregate should be considered in the field for the ecological restoration of slope vegetation, and the impact of this addition on slope stability and vegetation growth should be explored with further research.

Evaluation of coupling coordination relationship between different habitat materials and vegetation system in the engineering disturbed area

In order to explore the coupling coordination relationship between habitat materials and vegetation system in the engineering disturbed area, six different vegetation restoration patterns in Xiangjiaba engineering disturbed region were utilized as research objects. An evaluation system of 14 habitat materials indicators and 10 vegetation indicators was established. The weight of each indicator was determined by Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and the interrelationship between habitat material and vegetation system was investigated using the Partial Least Square Path model (PLS-PM). Finally, a model for the degree of coupling coordination between habitat materials and vegetation system under different vegetation restoration modes was constructed. The results showed that: 1) habitat materials and vegetation system are closely related, and the habitat materials have a stronger impact on ecosystem restoration. Artificial vegetation restoration technologies can effectively improve soil conditions in engineering disturbed areas, allowing for vegetation restoration in a healthy environment. 2) Under different vegetation restoration patterns, the habitat materials and vegetation coupling coordination index of natural forest plots, frame beam filling soil plots, thick layer base material spraying plots, guest external soil spray seeding plots, vegetation concrete plots, and abandon slag slope plots was 0.767, 0.673, 0.669, 0.625, 0.557, and 0.400, respectively. The development of habitat materials and vegetation in guest external soil spray seeding plots was of a synchronous type. The vegetation development lagged behind habitat materials in thick layer base material spraying plots, vegetation concrete plots, and abandon slag slope plots, while habitat materials lagged behind vegetation development in natural forest plots, frame beam filling soil plots. The model for the degree of coupling coordination between habitat materials and vegetation constructed in this study can serve as a scientific reference for evaluating the impact of ecological restoration engineering in other similar projects.

The interaction of different abiotic conditions on the value of the component traits of the technological yield of sugar beet

The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of different date of insecticidal treatment against Noctuinae caterpillars on the technological yield from sugar beet using the additive main effect and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model. The AMMI model is one of the most widely used statistical tools in the analysis of multiple-environment trials. The results of the analysis of the dependence of the components of the sugar beet yield, carried out separately in individual years (2011–2018) of the experiment, indicate a significant and directly proportional impact of the root mass on the technological yield of sugar in all years. The average sugar content per years also varied from 16.22% (2014) to 19.68% (2015). Potassium molasses from the base of the tested protective treatments varied from 27.27 to 61.43 mmol kg−1. The average sodium molasses per years also varied from 1.196 mmol kg−1 (2015) to 6.692 mmol kg−1 (2018). α-amine-nitrogen of the tested protective treatments varied from 6.03 (for phenological criterion in 2011) to 37.95 mmol kg−1 (for intervention criterion in 2018). Technological yield of sugar beet tested protective treatments varied from 171.4 (for phenological criterion in 2015) to 360.0 t ha−1 (for soil spraying of plants—in 2012) throughout the 8 years, with an average of 280.47 t ha−1. The use of the AMMI model to estimate the interaction of conducted insecticidal treatments based on environmental conditions showed the additivity of the effects of the applied treatments on the effectiveness of the obtained quality features of the technological yield of sugar beet.

Effects of Water-Retaining Agent Dosages on Slope-Protection Plants and Soil Nutrients on Rocky Slopes

Rocky slopes lack the necessary conditions for plant growth, i.e., soil and water, making vegetation recovery difficult and necessitating artificial soil conditions for vegetation establishment. Water-retaining agents are essential functional substances for constructing artificial soil on rocky slopes. In this study, the effect of water-retaining agents on the growth of artificial vegetation and soil nutrient loss was investigated by setting different application rates of water-retaining agents (10 g/m2, 20 g/m2, 30 g/m2, 40 g/m2, and 50 g/m2). Artificially simulated rocky slope conditions were achieved using the guest soil spraying technology after hanging the net, which provided support for the application of the water-retaining agent. Results showed that the contents of extractable nitrogen (EN), extractable phosphorus (EP), and extractable potassium (EK) in the soil, the number of plant individuals per unit area, plant height, and ground diameter of the water-retaining agent treatment were significantly higher than those of the control group (set up with no water retention as the control group, hereafter “CK”). By contrast, the nutrient content in the runoff fluid was significantly lower than that of CK. The application of the water-retaining agent significantly enhanced the soil’s ability to retain water and fertilizer, thus improving the growing environment and plant growth. Under the conditions of this experiment, the application rate of a 40 g/m2 water-retaining agent is reasonable from the perspectives of economic cost, soil nutrients, and plant growth.

Wind resistance of southern carbonate and ordinary сhernozems in agroforest landscapes of the steppe zone of Russia

Relevance. The rate of destruction of chernozems in the steppe zone as a result of deflation is very high. There is a threat of their loss of the humus horizon. To optimize the complex of protective measures, it is necessary to establish the regularities of the formation of wind resistance of these soils.Methods. The seasonal dynamics of the structure of the upper layer (0–5 cm) of chernozems of the steppe zone of the Lower Volga region and the Central Pre-Caucasus in the network of forest belts is studied. The aggregate composition was determined by fractionation of an air dry sample. The wind resistance of the soil was assessed by the total content of particles with a diameter of less than 1 mm.Results. It has been established that the open surface of southern carbonate chernozems is deflationary dangerous at any time of the year. Two spraying peaks were revealed — in early spring and before harvesting grain crops. In the first period, the content of particles with a diameter of less than 1 mm was 33–47%, in the second — 60–61%. Shelter forest belts reduced soil spraying in the zone of effective influence. A change in the internal structure of the deflationally dangerous fraction was detected during the year. The disintegration of large aggregates and an increase in the volume of smaller ones were observed. By the harvesting period, the number of particles with a diameter of 0.5–1.0 mm decreased by 1.7–2.6 times compared to the spring. Number of aggregates with a diameter of 0.1–0.5 mm, most strongly blown by the wind, increased by 1.3–1.8 times. The total dispersion of ordinary chernozem is almost two times lower than that of southern chernozem. However, the amount of particles with a diameter of 0.1–0.5 mm in the deflationary dangerous fraction of southern carbonate chernozem in the spring period is 37%, during the harvesting period — 50–56%. And in ordinary chernozem, already since the spring, there are more than 55% of such particles, in the future their number increases to 60%. As a result, by the harvesting period, the danger of a fraction with a diameter of less than 1 mm becomes the same for both subtypes of chernozems. This requires adjusting the complex of protective measures.