Effect of water quality on yield of sugar beet and sweet sorghum

To study the effects of quality of water on soil and plant, an experiment was conducted at Rudashat Drainage and Reclamation Experiment Station in 1999. Four irrigation water salinities (2, 5, 8 and 11 ds m(-1)) and two sugar crops (sugar beet and sweet sorghum) were used in this experiment. The results showed that under the same water quality, sweet sorghum used 2700 cubic meter per hectare less water than sugar beet. As the quality of irrigation water decreased, the soil salinity and exchangeable sodium percent increased which caused yield reduction for both plants. Sugar beet by accumulating Na and Cl in its leaves tolerated salinity but its usage as a forage crop caused some limitations, whereas sweet sorghum by not accumulating Na and Cl escape salinity and it can be used as a forage crop without any limitation.     

Effects of nitrogen treatments and harvesting stages on the aconitic acid, invert sugar and fiber in sweet sorghum cultivars

Sweet sorghum is adapted to the hot and dry climatic conditions and its tolerance to slat is moderately. It can be used for different products such as food, feed, fiber and fuel. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects, three nitrogen treatments, and three harvesting stages on the aconitic acid, fiber and invert sugar of three sweet sorghum cultivars in the experimental station and the results showed that the effects were significant. Among nitrogen treatments, application of 100 kg ha(-1) urea at planting and 200 kg ha(-1) urea at 4 leaf stage had the highest aconitic acid (0.26%) and invert sugar (3.44%). Among sweet sorghum cultivars, IS2325 and Vespa had the highest aconitic acid (0.26%) and invert sugar (3.86%), respectively Plant harvested at 4 leaf stage had the highest aconitic acid (0.26%) and the highest invert sugar (3.85%). Rio had higher fiber content than Vespa and IS2325 and all cultivars had the highest fiber content before chilling harvesting stage. In general, since high invert sugar and high aconitic acid interfere crystallization of sugar so, it is suggested that to plant Vespa, apply urea 100 kg ha(-1) urea at planting, 100 kg ha' urea at 4 leaf stage and 100 kg ha(-1) urea at booting and harvested before chilling that had lowest aconitic acid and invert sugar. Thereby, it is recommended to plant Vespa, apply urea 100 kg ha(-1) urea at planting, 100 kg ha(-1) urea at 4 leaf stage and 100 kg ha(-1) urea at booting and harvested at 4 leaf stage that had the highest aconitic acid.     

Effects of planting date and time of nitrogen application on yield and sugar content of sweet sorghum

This experiment was conducted at Azad University experiment station to evaluate the effects of planting date and time of nitrogen application on yield and sugar content of sweet sorghum in 2003. Four planting dates (May 4, March 19, June 3 and June 18) and three stages of nitrogen application (3-5/8 leaf stage, boot stage and soft dough stage) were assigned to the main and subplots, respectively. Plant height and diameter, fresh stalk yield, total dry weight, brix value (soluble solids), sugar content and grain yield were affected by planting date. For all the characteristics, the maximum value was obtained by the first planting date. Only stem height, diameter and total plant dry weights were affected by time of nitrogen application. In these cases, nitrogen application at (3-5/8) leaf stage was superior to others. According to the results, sweet sorghum should be planted on the beginning of May and nitrogen be applied at (3-5/8) leaf stage.     

Inter-relationship between growth analysis and carbohydrate contents of sweet sorghum cultivars and lines

The carbohydrate contents of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is an important industrial factor for crystal sugar or bioethanol production. In this study the relationship between growth analysis and carbohydrate contents were studied to recognize the best growth stages for sweet sorghum harvesting. Five sweet sorghum cultivars and four sweet sorghum lines were evaluated for leaf area index (LAI), net assimilation rate (NAR), relative growth rate (RGR) and stem crop growth rate (CGR) in relation to sucrose content, invert sugars and total sugar at booting, soft-dough, hard dough and post grain maturity Except at post grain maturitystage, the correlations among LAI, NAR and RGR forsucrose content and total sugar were positive and forinvert sugars were negative. The relationship between invert sugars including glucose, fructose, maltose and xylose athard dough stage regarding LAI, NAR and GRG were negative. As plant grows LAI, NAR and RGR increases which consequently increases sucroses content and decrease invert sugar.     

影响甜菜黑腐丝囊霉的几种生态学和生物学因子

通过对河西灌区甜菜(Beta vulgaris L.)黑腐病(Sugar Beet Black Rot)为期3a的研究，探讨了甜菜栽培品种与病害发病率及病原菌黑腐丝囊霉（Aphanomyces cochlioides)分离频率的关系以及3种环境因子即温度、pH值、不同天然培养基与甜菜黑腐丝囊霉的关系。结果表明：各栽培品种在田间的发病率与室内病原分离频率不同，其中工农2号田间发病率为1．3％，室内分离频率为93％，工农5号分别为1％和7．2％，宁甜301分别为2％和6．1％，工农2号具有更大的耐病性；甜菜黑腐丝囊霉的生长温度范围为5—30℃，最适温度为25—27℃，对高温敏感，33℃为其致死温度；甜菜黑腐丝囊霉可在pH3．5—11范围内生长，最适pH为5—9．9；甜菜黑腐丝囊霉在PDA、玉米粉琼脂、甜菜汁、麦芽糖—胨、麦芽糖酵母汁及燕麦琼脂培养基上均可生长，其中在甜菜汁培养基上生长最好．图4表3参11     

Water management affects arsenic and cadmium accumulation in different rice cultivars

Paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food and one of the major sources of dietary arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in Asia. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of four water management regimes (aerobic, intermittent irrigation, conventional irrigation and flooding) on As and Cd accumulation in seven major rice cultivars grown in Zhejiang province, east China. With increasing irrigation from aerobic to flooded conditions, the soil HCl-extractable As concentrations increased significantly and the HCl-extractable Cd concentrations decreased significantly. These trends were consistent with the As and Cd concentrations in the straw, husk and brown rice. Water management both before and after the full tillering stage affected As and Cd accumulation in the grains. The intermittent and conventional treatments produced higher grain yields than the aerobic and flooded treatments. Cd concentrations in brown rice varied 13.1–40.8 times and As varied 1.75–8.80 times among the four water management regimes. Cd and As accumulation in brown rice varied among the rice cultivars, with Guodao 6 (GD6) was a low Cd but high-As-accumulating cultivar while Indonesia (IR) and Yongyou 9 (YY9) were low As but high-Cd-accumulating cultivars. Brown rice Cd and As concentrations in the 7 cultivars were significantly negatively correlated. The results indicate that As and Cd accumulated in rice grains with opposite trends that were influenced by both water management and rice cultivar. Production of ‘safe’ rice with respect to As and Cd might be possible by balancing water management and rice cultivar according to the severity of soil pollution.     

砷胁迫下水磷耦合对不同磷效率水稻根表铁膜及其各部位砷含量的影响

为探索缓解水稻砷毒害的农艺措施,以耐低磷水稻99011和低磷敏感水稻99012为材料,通过土培试验,研究水分、磷用量及其交互作用对不同砷浓度酸性土壤中水稻根表铁膜以及植物体内砷分配的影响。结果表明,节水灌溉(干湿交替)明显减少水稻根表铁膜量,降低铁膜、根系、秸秆、颖壳和精米中的砷含量。与30mg·kg-1P2O5相比,180mg·kg-1P2O5能明显减少两个品种水稻的根表铁膜量以及根系和秸秆中的砷含量;对耐低磷品种铁膜砷含量影响不大,但显著降低磷敏感品种铁膜砷含量;在50mg·kg-1砷处理中增加磷用量对水稻颖壳砷含量影响不大,在100mg·kg-1砷处理时能显著降低颖壳砷含量;增加磷用量可明显增加耐低磷品种的精米砷含量,降低磷敏感品种的精米砷含量。水、磷交互效应主要受水分效应的影响。加砷处理后,相同处理下耐低磷品种的根表铁膜量和铁膜中的砷含量显著高于磷敏感品种,而根系、秸秆、颖壳和精米中的砷含量则相反。研究表明,可以通过节水灌溉,并根据砷污染程度和植物磷营养特性确定适当的磷肥用量,从而减少砷在水稻体内的累积,提高食品安全。     

Development and test of a crop growth model for application within a Global Change decision support system

When examining potential impacts of Global Change on water resources on the regional scale, spatial and temporal changes in crop water and nitrogen demand are of fundamental significance. State-of-the-art crop growth models are powerful tools to assess the response of crops to altered environmental conditions and cultivation practices. In this paper, the process-based, object-oriented and generic DANUBIA crop growth model is presented. To evaluate the performance of the model, a validation analysis is carried out by comparing modelled data with various field measurements of sugar beet, spring barley, maize, winter wheat and potato crops. Model performance statistics show that crop growth is efficiently simulated. The closest agreement between measured and modelled biomass and leaf area index is achieved for sugar beet and winter wheat. Additionally, the response of the model to changed nitrogen availability caused by cultivation practices is analysed and reveals good results. The results suggest that the model is a suitable tool for numerically assessing the consequences of Global Change on biomass production, water and nitrogen demand, taking into account the complex interplay of water, carbon and nitrogen fluxes in agro-ecosystems.     

NaCl胁迫对甜高粱发芽期生理生化特性的影响

为筛选耐盐甜高粱材料,探讨NaCl胁迫对甜高粱发芽期生理生化特性的影响,研究了0、70、140、210 mmol.L-1NaCl胁迫对吉甜3、BJK156、甜132、凯勒、威利、考利、吉甜2、戴尔等8个甜高粱材料发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数、芽长、根长、芽鲜质量、根鲜质量等8个指标盐害系数的影响,利用系统聚类分类法对甜高粱耐盐性进行聚类可分为3类：耐盐性最强的是甜132,耐盐性中等的是BJK156,耐盐性较敏感的是考利、吉甜3、吉甜2、戴尔、凯勒、威利。进一步研究了盐胁迫对甜高粱芽苗中丙二醛、可溶性蛋白含量及过氧化物酶（POD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性的影响。结果得出：随着盐胁迫的加重丙二醛含量逐渐增加,可溶性蛋白含量逐渐减少。NaCl胁迫不同程度地提高了8个甜高粱材料POD、CAT、SOD活性,受3种NaCl质量浓度胁迫后8个甜高粱材料POD、CAT、SOD活性的变化趋势不同,这可能是它们耐盐差异的生理原因之一。另外,在3种NaCl浓度胁迫后甜132中的丙二醛增加量在8个材料中都是最低的,这与系统聚类分析得出甜132耐盐性最强的结论相吻合。研究认为丙二醛含量的变化可以作为筛选发芽期耐盐甜高粱品种的一个指标。     

Amplifying the benefits of agroecology by using the right cultivars

Tropical soils are particularly vulnerable to fertility losses due to their low capacity to retain organic matter and mineral nutrients. This urges the development of new agricultural practices to manage mineral nutrients and organic matter in a more sustainable way while relying less on fertilizer inputs. Two methods pertaining to ecological engineering and agroecology have been tested with some success: (1) the addition of biochar to the soil, and (2) the maintenance of higher earthworm densities. However, modern crop varieties have been selected to be adapted to agricultural practices and to the soil conditions they lead to and common cultivars might not be adapted to new practices. Using rice as a model plant, we compared the responsiveness to biochar and earthworms of five rice cultivars with contrasted selection histories. These cultivars had contrasted responsivenesses to earthworms, biochar, and the combination of both. The mean relative increase in grain biomass, among all treatments and cultivars, was 94% and 32%, respectively, with and without fertilization. Choosing the best combination of cultivar and treatment led to a more than fourfold increase in this mean benefit (a 437% and a 353% relative increase in grain biomass, respectively, with and without fertilization). Besides, the more rustic cultivar, a local landrace adapted to diverse and difficult conditions, responded the best to earthworms in terms of total biomass, while a modern common cultivar responded the best in term of grain biomass. This suggests that cultivars could be selected to amplify the benefit of biochar- and earthworm-based practices. Overall, selecting new cultivars interacting more closely with soil organisms and soil heterogeneity could increase agriculture sustainability, fostering the positive feedback loop between soils and plants that has evolved in natural ecosystems.     

茄子苗对镉积累和耐性的品种间差异

通过盆栽实验方法研究了13种茄子幼苗对镉(Cd)积累与耐性的品种间差异。结果表明,这些茄子幼苗根及地上部Cd含量均随土壤中外加Cd的量的增加而提高。品种间存在着显著差异(P<0.05),其中Cd含量最高品种根部和地上部的Cd含量分别为Cd含量最低品种的2.1、2.4倍(2mg·kg-1Cd处理组)和1.5、1.6倍(4mg·kg-1Cd处理组)。不同品种幼苗对Cd的富集系数均大于1,表现出较强的富集能力。但转运系数均小于1,Cd从根部向地上部转移能力较弱,大多数品种间差异不大。当Cd添加量为2mg·kg-1时,只有绿龙长茄地上部生物量显著下降(P<0.05)。当Cd添加量提高到4mg·kg-1时,6个品种地上部生物量显著下降(P<0.05),这些品种对Cd的耐性较弱。综合评价,辽茄三号对Cd积累的含量最低,富集系数和转移系数也较低,对Cd具有较强的耐性,具有Cd低积累特征。     

Response of sugar maple to calcium addition to northern hardwood forest

Watershed budget studies at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF), New Hampshire, USA, have demonstrated high calcium depletion of soil during the 20th century due, in part, to acid deposition. Over the past 25 years, tree growth (especially for sugar maple) has declined on the experimental watersheds at the HBEF. In October 1999, 0.85 Mg Ca/ha was added to Watershed 1 (W1) at the HBEF in the form of wollastonite (CaSiO3), a treatment that, by summer 2002, had raised the pH in the Oie horizon from 3.8 to 5.0 and, in the Oa horizon, from 3.9 to 4.2. We measured the response of sugar maple to the calcium fertilization treatment on W1. Foliar calcium concentration of canopy sugar maples in W1 increased markedly beginning the second year after treatment, and foliar manganese declined in years four and five. By 2005, the crown condition of sugar maple was much healthier in the treated watershed as compared with the untreated reference watershed (W6). Following high seed production in 2000 and 2002, the density of sugar maple seedlings increased significantly on W1 in comparison with W6 in 2001 and 2003. Survivorship of the 2003 cohort through July 2005 was much higher on W1 (36.6%) than W6 (10.2%). In 2003, sugar maple germinants on W1 were approximately 50% larger than those in reference plots, and foliar chlorophyll concentrations were significantly greater (0.27 g/m2 vs. 0.23 g/m2 leaf area). Foliage and fine-root calcium concentrations were roughly twice as high, and manganese concentrations twice as low in the treated than the reference seedlings in 2003 and 2004. Mycorrhizal colonization of seedlings was also much greater in the treated (22.4% of root length) than the reference sites (4.4%). A similar, though less dramatic, difference was observed for mycorrhizal colonization of mature sugar maples (56% vs. 35%). These results reinforce and extend other regional observations that sugar maple decline in the northeastern United States and southern Canada is caused in part by anthropogenic effects on soil calcium status, but the causal interactions among inorganic nutrition, physiological stress, mycorrhizal colonization, and seedling growth and health remain to be established.     

不同锰处理对镉胁迫下2种油菜重金属累积和根系形态的影响

采用水培试验,研究Cd胁迫(10μmol·L~(-1))条件下,不同浓度Mn(0,0.1,1,10,100μmol·L~(-1))处理对2种镉累积能力不同的油菜生物量、Cd和Mn含量以及根系形态参数的影响。结果表明,与正常营养处理Mn1相比,缺Mn和Mn过量处理显著降低2种油菜的地上部和镉低积累油菜"华骏"的根部生物量,而对普通油菜"寒绿"的根部生物量没有显著影响。与Mn1处理相比,缺Mn处理下2种油菜的Cd累积总量和"华骏"地上部Cd含量显著降低;Mn过量处理下2种油菜根部和地上部Cd含量均呈升高趋势,2种油菜的Cd累积总量无显著变化或显著降低。随Mn处理浓度升高,2种油菜地上部和根部Mn含量显著升高,缺Mn处理下2种油菜根部的Mn含量低于Mn缺乏的临界值。与Mn1处理相比,缺Mn处理下"华骏"的根长、表面积、体积、平均直径和根尖数显著降低;Mn过量处理下"寒绿"的根长以及"华骏"的根系表面积、体积显著降低;缺Mn处理下2种油菜细根表面积所占的比例增加,粗根表面积比例降低;Mn过量时,"寒绿"的粗根表面积比例增加,细根比例降低,而"华骏"则相反。总的来看,缺Mn处理影响油菜根系和地上部生长,减少地上部Cd含量和植株Cd累积总量;Mn过量处理下油菜生长也受到抑制,但是油菜地上部和根部Cd含量有所升高;2种油菜的根系形态学参数在不同Mn处理下变化规律不同,表现出不同的响应策略。     

Water movement and seasonal algal growth in Hawaii

The biomass distribution of frondose algae on a Hawaiian reef varied from a period of minimum biomass (635 g wet weight m^-2) during July–September to a period of maximum biomass (1,554 g m^-2) during February–May. The pattern of variation had no significant correlation with any of the 4 environmental parameters measured (light intensity, temperature, water movement and salinity), although the decrease in wet biomass in winter was observed at the time of maximum water movement. When the biomass distribution of individual species was correlated with environmental parameters, 4 groups of ecological species emerged. One group had positive correlations with light intensity and negative correlations with water movement, while a second group of species had the opposite trend. Species in a third group had an irregular pattern of distribution throughout the year. Those in the fourth group had a regular annual cycle which did not correlate with any physical parameters, but did correlate negatively with the biomass distribution of another species of the same genus. The horizontal distribution of all species studied changed throughout the year, expanding or retracting across the reef in a manner correlating with the horizontal changes of water movement in many cases.     

Identifying key life-traits for the dynamics and gene flow in a weedy crop relative: Sensitivity analysis of the GeneSys simulation model for weed beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris)

The benefits of genetically modified herbicide-tolerant (GMHT) sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) varieties stem from their presumed ability to improve weed control and reduce its cost, particularly targeting weed beet, a harmful annual weedy form of the genus Beta (i.e. B. vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) frequent in sugar beet fields. As weed beet is totally interfertile with sugar beet, it is thus likely to inherit the herbicide-tolerance transgene through pollen-mediated gene flow. Hence, the foreseeable advent of HT weed beet populations is a serious threat to the sustainability of GM sugar beet cropping systems. For studying and quantifying the long-term effects of cropping system components (crop succession and cultivation techniques) on weed beet population dynamics and gene flow, we developed a biophysical process-based model called GeneSys-Beet in a previous study. In the present paper, the model was employed to identify and rank the weed life-traits as function of their effect on weed beet densities and genotypes, using a global sensitivity analysis to model parameters. Monte Carlo simulations with simultaneous randomization of all life-trait parameters were carried out in three cropping systems contrasting for their risk for infestation by HT weed beets. Simulated weed plants and bolters (i.e. beet plants with flowering and seed-producing stems) were then analysed with regression models as a function of model parameters to rank processes and life-traits and quantify their effects. Key parameters were those determining the timing and success of growth, development, seed maturation and the physiological end of seed production. Timing parameters were usually more important than success parameters, showing for instance that optimal timing of weed management operations is more important than its exact efficacy. The ranking of life-traits though depended on the cropping system and, to a lesser extent, on the target variable (i.e. GM weeds vs. total weed population). For instance, post-emergence parameters were crucial in rotations with frequent sugar beet crops whereas pre-emergence parameters were most important when sugar beet was rare. In the rotations with frequent sugar beet and insufficient weed control, interactions between traits were small, indicating diverse populations with contrasted traits could prosper. Conversely, when sugar beet was rare and weed control optimal, traits had little impact individually, indicating that a small number of optimal combinations of traits would be successful. Based on the analysis of sugar beet parameters and genetic traits, advice for the future selection of sugar beet varieties was also given. In climatic conditions similar to those used here, the priority should be given to limiting the presence of hybrid seeds in seed lots rather than decreasing varietal sensitivity to vernalization.     

Influence of lead on growth and nutrient accumulation in canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars

Canola (Brassica napus L.) is commonly used as a hyper-accumulator for phytoextraction of heavy metals from soil and water. Like many other heavy metals, lead (Pb) contaminates soil, water and air and thus it is a great problem. This study was conducted to investigate toxic effects of Pb on growth and nutrient uptake in four canola cultivars. Each of four cultivars of canola (Con-II, Con-III, Legend and Shiralee) was subjected to four levels of Pb (0, 30, 60 and 90 mg Pb kg(-1) of soil) from lead chloride [PbCl2]. Due to Pb toxicity, plant growth was adversely affected and relatively a severe reduction in root biomass (45.7%) was recorded. The Pb accumulation increased both in shoot and root, the highest being in root. The uptake of different nutrients, i.e., N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu and Mn was reduced (38.4, 32.8, 33.1, 49.6, 7.78, 52.0, 42.6 and 45.9%, respectively) in the shoots and that of N, Fe, Zn, and Cu in the roots (48.5, 33.2, 24.3 and 44.8%, respectively) of all canola cultivars. The root K, P, Zn and Mn and shoot P, Mg and Fe contents were less affected, the concentration of Pb, Ca and Mg in roots of all cultivars. Among canola cultivars Con-II and Con-III performed better than Legend and Shiralee in terms of growth (26.03%) and nutrient accumulation. Overall, plant growth and nutrient accumulation in the canola cultivars was hampered due to the presence of Pb.     

H2O2对抗旱性不同玉米品种愈伤组织抗氧化系统的影响

两个玉米品种愈伤组织经１０－４ｍｏｌＬ－１、１０－３ｍｏｌＬ－１和１０－２ｍｏｌＬ－１Ｈ２Ｏ２处理３ｈ后,电解质泄漏率加大;Ｈ２Ｏ２和ＭＤＡ含量增加;ＡｓＡ和ＣＡＲ含量的减少．１０－４ｍｏｌＬ－１的Ｈ２Ｏ２处理对愈伤组织产生的氧化伤害较小．抗旱性较强品种ＰＡＮ６０４３愈伤组织的抗氧化酶（ＳＯＤ、ＰＯＤ、ＡＰ和ＧＲ）活性高于抗旱性较弱品种ＳＣ７０１,ＡｓＡ和ＣＡＲ含量的下降程度低于ＳＣ７０１．ＰＡＮ６０４３愈伤组织具有较强的抗Ｈ２Ｏ２能力,与含高活力抗氧化系统密切相关     

土霉素对小麦毒性效应的品种间差异

为了研究土霉素对小麦毒性效应的品种间差异,收集了63个小麦品种,根据土霉素对小麦种根影响的试验结果,从中筛选出对土霉素耐性相差最大的两个小麦品种,探讨了土霉素对这两个小麦品种叶片叶绿素含量的影响.结果表明:1)小麦对土霉素的耐性存在品种间差异,在供试的63个小麦品种中,核优1号对土霉素最敏感,而烟农21对土霉素最不敏感,二者的EC50值分别为1.25和54.21mg·L-1;2)土霉素处理能够显著降低小麦叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素b以及总叶绿素的含量,其中对土霉素敏感品种核优1号的抑制显著高于不敏感品种烟农21;3)就同一品种而言,土霉素胁迫条件下,叶片叶绿素a的降低程度明显高于叶绿素b,叶片叶绿素a/b的比值显著降低.土霉素对敏感品种核优1号叶绿素a/b比值的影响显著弱于不敏感品种烟农21.     

Microbial biomass at land water interface and its role in regulating ecosystem properties of a fresh water dry tropical woodland lake

This study was aimed at determining microbial biomass at land water interface and the role it plays in regulating ecosystem properties of a fresh water dry tropical woodland lake. Four microbial variables namely biomass-C (Cmic), fumigated CO2-C, substrate induced respiration (SIR) and basal respiration (BR) were measured in humus samples collected from land water interface over a period of one year Microbial biomass (Cmic) was maximum during February (718 micorg CO2-C g(-1)). Similar was the case of fumigated CO2-C (560 microg CO2-C g(-1) 10 d(-1)), SIR (2900 microg CO2-C g(-1)) and BR (480 microg CO2-C g(-1)). Humus-N appeared maximum (1.60%) during November and phenolics (204 microg g(-1)) during December Gross primary productivity (GPP) was found maximum (3.30 g Cm(-2)d(-1)) during March. Almost similar trend appeared for chlorophyll and phytoplankton density. Variation in microbial biomass at land water interface can be explained by seasonality and the quality of substrate material. Asynchrony in the peaks of microbial variables with phytoplankton pulsation and GPP suggested that the microbial biomass through nutrient mineralization regulates ecosystem functioning of a fresh water woodland lake. This has relevance for evaluating the nature of anthropogenic perturbations and for maintenance of fresh water lakes void of human disturbances.     

Impact of anaerobically treated and untreated (raw) distillery effluent irrigation on soil microflora, growth, total chlorophyll and protein contents of Phaseolus aureus L

Impact of distillery effluent (untreated and treated) irrigation on soil microflora of the pots used for growing Phaseolus aureus L. was investigated. The growth of the P. aureus plants as affected by distillery effluent irrigation was also evaluated. The irrigation of the pots by 1-10% distillery effluent (anaerobically treated) stimulated the growth of the soil microflora (increased number of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes) and P. aureus plants (increased shoot and root lengths, biomass, chlorophyll and protein contents). Further, 15-20% distillery effluent (anaerobically treated) had toxic effect on soil micro flora as indicated by reduced number of bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes. Reduction in shoot, root, lengths, biomass, chlorophyll, protein contents of P. aureus was also observed when irrigated by 15-20% treated distillery effluent. All the concentrations of raw distillery effluent reduced the bacterial population. However, the treated distillery effluent concentrations <10% had stimulatory effect on fungal and actinomycetes population. However, raw effluent concentrations >5% reduced the same. Raw distillery effluent was more toxic to P. aureus than treated distillery effluent as concentrations >5%, had reduced the growth (shoot, root length and biomass) of the test plant. Raw distillery effluent had adverse effect to total chlorophyll contents and all the test concentrations reduced the total chlorophyll level. However, untreated (raw) distillery effluent stimulated the protein content initially. It has been concluded from-present study that lower concentrations of the raw distillery effluent (1-5%) and treated distillery effluent (1-10%) had stimulated the growth of P. aureus and soil microflora except soil bacteria (inhibited by all the concentration of the raw effluent). However, higher concentrations (raw effluent: 10-20%; treated effluent 15-20%) had toxicity to test parameters.