The purpose of the research was to determine the effect of herbicides on winter false flax and to identify the preparation that does not effect negatively on crop plants. The research was carried out ...in 20182020 at V.S. Pustovoit All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops. The experiment scheme included herbicides with active ingredients (a.i.), which effectively decreased the number of weeds on the plots. The effectiveness of the preparations was more than 70% for different types of weeds. However, the variants with the application of preparations with a.i. clopyralid 300 g/l, S-Metolachlor 960 g/l, ethametsulfuronmethyl 750 g/kg significantly decreased the plant density (by 18-32 pcs/m
2
) and seed yield (by 0.33-0.52 t/ha) of false flax in comparison with the control. The oil content of seeds was significantly decreased in the variants with the herbicides with a.i. S-Metolachlor 960 g/l with the application rate of 1.6 l/ha and ethametsulfuron-methyl 750 g/kg (by 1.2-1.5 %). In other variants, the oil content of false flax seeds differed from the control insignificantly (by 0.3-0.4 %). It has been established that the preparation with a.i. quinmerac 83 g/l + metazachlor 333 g/l with the application rate of 2.0 or 2.5 l/ha should be applied to decrease the number of weeds in the sowings of winter false flax in the central zone of the Krasnodar region. This preparation, without having a toxic effect, increases the yield by 0.15-0.17 t/ha and does not decrease the plant density and oil content of false flax seeds.
Aim
Understanding biodiversity–ecosystem function (BEF) relationships in forest systems is crucial for effective forest management and restoration, yet testing these relationships is often limited by ...biased diversity patterns in forestry plantings (biased towards commercially valuable species) and uncontrollable diversity in mature natural forests. Multispecies reforestation plantings present a valuable opportunity to investigate BEF relationships in woody systems, especially across large environmental gradients.
Location
Reforestation plantings across the arable region of Australia.
Time period
1951–2012.
Major taxa studied
Three hundred and sixty‐four woody plant species.
Methods
We examined relationships between productivity and diversity using inventory data from 977 plots in 386 multispecies reforestation plantings. Diversity was estimated using observed species richness and three functional diversity indices calculated from four functional traits: specific leaf area, wood density, seed mass and maximum attainable height. We modelled how plot‐level biomass accumulation (a productivity proxy) correlated with these diversity indices, as well as age since planting, plant density and three environmental variables: solar radiation, moisture availability and soil sand content. These models were fitted across Australia and, separately, within eight groups of plantings with similar environmental conditions.
Results
We found no correlation between diversity and productivity, regardless of the diversity metric or spatial scale used (continent‐wide or within environment groups). Instead, productivity was best explained by local environmental conditions and plant density.
Main conclusions
A positive relationship between diversity and productivity was not evident in planted forests across a wide range of Australian woodland and forest systems, at least in the first few decades of growth. Our findings suggest that the positive relationship between diversity and productivity commonly reported in experimental settings should not be assumed for all systems and conditions.
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•NIR mixture design-fingerprint three-step metabolomic analysis was proposed for coffee.•Statistical design screening of extractor systems optimized metabolic change studies.•PCA of ...NIR separated coffee planting densities and maturation periods.•Metabolic changes of 1680, 1660, and 1090 nm bands were related to management.•Classical analytical quantification of metabolites was guided by PCA exploratory results.
A three-step metabolomics strategy, employing near-infrared transmittance spectroscopy coupled with mixture design-fingerprints, chemometrics, and classical analytical assays, was used to determine metabolite abundances in coffee beans originating from three periods of berry maturation at the same of Coffea arabica plants cultivated at two planting densities. A first step screening showed that ethanol/dichloromethane and ethanol/dichloromethane/acetone extracts contained chemical information permitting classifications of beans cultivated at different planting densities whereas the acetone extract permitted the discrimination of time dependent berry maturation. In the second phase, selected extracts originating from different agronomical management conditions indicated that the 1680, 1660, and 1090 nm bands of the bean fingerprints were associated with these chemical changes. Finally, the third step consisted of classical analytical quantifications of caffeine, carbohydrates, lipids, and chlorogenic acids. This validated most of the conclusions obtained from the PCA score and loading exploratory analysis. The planting density and the harvest period systematic PCA-score patterns indicated gradual changes in the chemical profiles of coffee beans from the first to the third harvest. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis and ANOVA-simultaneous component analysis confirmed the classification and statistical significance of the agronomical management main effects and their interactions.
Context
The habitat amount hypothesis has rarely been tested on plant communities. It remains unclear how habitat amount affect species richness in habitat fragments compared to island effects such ...as isolation and patch size.
Objectives
How do patch size and spatial distribution compared to habitat amount predict plant species richness and grassland specialist plant species in small grassland remnants? How does sampling area affect the prediction of spatial variables on species richness?
Methods
We recorded plant species density and richness on 131 midfield islets (small remnants of semi-natural grassland) situated in 27 landscapes in Sweden. Further, we tested how habitat amount, compared to focal patch size and distance to nearest neighbor predicted species density and richness of plants and of grassland specialists.
Results
A total of 381 plant species were recorded (including 85 grassland specialist species). A combination of patch size and isolation was better in predicting both density and richness of species compared to habitat amount. Almost 45% of species richness and 23% of specialist species were explained by island biogeography parameters compared to 19 and 11% by the amount of habitat. A scaled sampling method increased the explanation level of island biogeography parameters and habitat amount.
Conclusions
Habitat amount as a concept is not as good as island biogeography to predict species richness in small habitats. Priority in landscape planning should be on larger patches rather than several small, even if they are close together. We recommend a sampling area scaled to patch size in small habitats.
Foliar fertilization delivers essential nutrients directly to plant tissues, reducing excessive soil fertilizer applications that can lead to eutrophication following nutrient leaching. Foliar ...nutrient absorption is a dynamic process affected by leaf surface structure and composition, plant nutrient status, and ion physicochemical properties. We applied multiple methods to study the foliar absorption behaviors of manganese (Mn) and phosphorus (P) in nutrient‐deficient spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) at two growth stages. Nutrient‐specific chlorophyll a fluorescence assays were used to visualize leaf nutrient status, while laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) was used to visualize foliar absorption pathways for P and Mn ions. Rapid Mn absorption was facilitated by a relatively thin cuticle with a low abundance of waxes and a higher stomatal density in Mn‐deficient plants. Following absorption, Mn accumulated in epidermal cells and in the photosynthetically active mesophyll, enabling a fast (6 h) restoration of Mn‐dependent photosynthetic processes. Conversely, P‐deficient plants developed thicker cuticles and epidermal cell walls, which reduced the penetration of P across the leaf surface. Foliar‐applied P accumulated in trichomes and fiber cells above leaf veins without reaching the mesophyll and, as a consequence, no restoration of P‐dependent photosynthetic processes was observed. This study reveals new links between leaf surface morphology, foliar‐applied ion absorption pathways, and the restoration of affected physiological processes in nutrient‐deficient leaves. Understanding that ions may have different absorption pathways across the leaf surface is critical for the future development of efficient fertilization strategies for crops in nutrient‐limited soils.
As urban crowding has increased globally, the construction industry has not commensurately focused on environmental sustainability or the quality of urban life. In this study, the use of ecofriendly ...living wall systems (LWSs) and their interactions with acoustic support systems (SSs) were investigated to develop a cost-effective urban greening strategy, emphasizing noise attenuation that promotes environmental sustainability and human health. Jacobaea maritima and recycled-plastic were used to create wood-plastic composites (WPC) for LWS-SSs, and their sound absorption coefficients (αs) were measured in a reverberation room. The results were compared with those of previous studies, indicating the following factors as influences on sound absorption: LWS weight and morphology, SS structure, additional panel absorbers, perforated board design, surface pattern, plant density, plant variety, substrate depth, and greenery coverage. SSs with simple acoustic designs compensated for deficiencies in LWS noise reduction capacity for frequencies under 1,000 Hz. Compared with plants employed in previous studies, J. maritima achieved superior sound absorption and occupied less space. The interactions among factors suggest that weight, which determines the sound absorption capacity of the panels, is the key factor affecting the LWSs. The results also indicated that full greenery coverage is potentially unnecessary, given that slightly less greenery coverage was more cost-effective while still achieving considerable αs and aesthetic charm. To conclude, SS should be carefully considered when designing LWS, and WPC with molding flexibility can help LWS be adapted to diverse topographies. All the aforementioned factors can be adjusted to optimize the effectiveness of urban LWSs.
•Support system (SS) designed for living wall system (LWS) boosts acoustic absorption.•Recycled wood-plastic-composite SSs provide various ecofriendly potential with LWS.•Jacobaea Maritima favorable in improving LWS noise reduction.•To meet desired in situ acoustic effects, full greenery coverage is not necessary.•LWS built effective absorbing sound at frequencies most influential to human.
Cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) yield has plateaued due to reduction in rainfall and rise in temperature. Therefore, its production cycle could not get appropriate water and temperature. It ...becomes important to standardize the sowing time and plant spacing of cluster beans in changing climate scenarios to get higher productivity. Therefore, a field study was conducted in 2019 at the Research area of MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan to evaluate the effect of four sowing times (15th May, 1st June, 15th June, and 1st July) and three plant spacings (10, 12 and 15 cm) on crop growth, yield, and physiological functions of cluster bean genotype BR-2017 under split plot arrangement under randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The sowing times (15th May, 1st June, 15th June, and 1st July) were placed in the main plot, while plant spacing (10, 12 and 15 cm) was maintained in subplots. The significant effect of sowing time and plant spacing was observed on pod plant−1, pod length, grain yield, and 1000-grain weight. Results showed that 1st June sowing performed better over 15th May, 15th June, and 1st July, while plant spacing 15 cm about in all sowing times showed higher results on growth and yield parameters of cluster bean over plant spacing 10, 12, and 15 cm. The 1st June sowing time at 15 cm plant spacing showed 8.0, 22.7, and 28.5% higher grains pod-1 than 15th May, 15th June, and 1st July sowing, respectively. Maximum grain yield was observed on 1st June in all three spacings (10, 12, and 15 cm). The chord diagram indicates that the crop has received optimum environmental conditions when sown 1st June over other sowing times. In conclusion, 1st June sowing with 15 cm plant spacing could be a good option to achieve maximum productivity of cluster bean under changing climate scenario.
Many herbivorous insects die of pathogen infections, though the role of plant traits in promoting the persistence of these pathogens as an indirect interaction is poorly understood. We tested whether ...winter leaf retention of bush lupines (
Lupinus arboreus
) promotes the persistence of a nucleopolyhedroviruses, thereby increasing the infection risk of caterpillars (
Arctia virginalis
) feeding on the foliage during spring. We also investigated whether winter leaf retention reduces viral exposure of younger caterpillars that live on the ground, as leaf retention prevents contaminated leaves from reaching the ground. We surveyed winter leaf retention of 248 lupine bush canopies across twelve sites and examined how it related to caterpillar infection risk, herbivory, and inflorescence density. We also manipulated the amount of lupine litter available to young caterpillars in a feeding experiment to emulate litterfall exposure in the field. Greater retention of contaminated leaves from the previous season increased infection rates of caterpillars in early spring. Higher infection rates reduced herbivory and increased plant inflorescence density by summer. Young caterpillars exposed to less litterfall were more likely to starve to death but less likely to die from infection, further suggesting foliage mediated exposure to viruses. We speculate that longer leaf life span may be an unrecognized trait that indirectly mediates top-down control of herbivores by facilitating epizootics.
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