Effects of plant density and nitrogen rate on cotton yield and nitrogen use in cotton stubble retaining fields

Increasing nitrogen(N)rate could accelerate the decomposition of crop residues,and then improve crop yield by increasing N availability of soil and N uptake of crops.However,it is not clear whether N rate and plant density should be modified after a long period of cotton stubble return with high N rate.This study seeks to assess the effects of N rate and plant density on cotton yield,N use efficiency,leaf senescence,soil inorganic N,and apparent N balance in cotton stubble return fields in Liaocheng,China,in 2016 and 2017.Three plant densities 5.25(D_(5.25)),6.75(D_(6.75))and 8.25(D_(8.25))plants m^(-2) and five N rates 0(N_(0)),105(N_(105)),210(N_(210)),315(N315),and 420(N420)kg ha^(-1) were investigated.Compared to the combination used by local farmers(D_(5.25)N_(315)),a 33.3%N reduction and a 28.6%increase in plant density(D_(6.75)N_(210))can maintain high cotton yield,while a 66.7%N reduction at 6.75 plants m^(-2)(D_(6.75)N_(105))can only achieve high yield in the first year.Biological yield increased with the increase of N rate and plant density,and the highest yield was obtained under 420 kg N ha^(-1) at 8.25 plants m^(-2)(D_(8.25)N_(420))across the two years under investigation.Compared to D5.25N315,N agronomic efficiency(NAE)and N recovery efficiency(NRE)in D_(6.75)N_(210) increased by 30.2 and 54.1%,respectively,and NAE and NRE in D6.75N105 increased by 104.8 and 88.1%,respectively.Soil inorganic N decreased sharply under 105 kg N ha^(-1),but no change was found under 210 kg N ha^(-1) at 6.75 plants m^(-2).N deficit occurred under 105 kg N ha^(-1),but it did not occurr under 210 kg N ha^(-1) at 6.75 plants m^(-2).Net photosynthetic rate and N concentration of leaves under N rate ranging from 210 to 420 kg ha^(-1) were higher than those under N rate of 0 or 105 kg N ha^(-1) at all three densities.The findings suggest that D6.75N210 is a superior combination in cotton stubble retaining fields in the Yellow River Valley and other areas with similar ecologies.

Grafting Enhances Copper Tolerance of Cucumber Through Regulating Nutrient Uptake and Antioxidative System

An experiment was carried out to determine plant growth, mineral uptake, lipid peroxidation, antioxidative enzymes, and antioxidant of cucumber plants （Cucumis sativus L. cv. Xintaimici） under copper stress, either ungrafted or grafted onto the rootstock （Cucurbitaficifolia）. Excess Cu inhibited growth, photosynthesis, and pigment synthesis of grafted and ungrafted cucumber seedlings and significantly increased accumulation of Cu in roots besides reducing mineral uptake. Cu concentration in roots of grafted cucumber plants was significantly higher than that of ungrafted plants and obviously lower in leaves. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species （ROS） significantly increased in cucumber leaves under Cu stress and resulted in lipid peroxidation, and the levels of ROS and lipid peroxidation were greatly decreased by grafting. Activities of protective enzymes （superoxide dismutase, SOD; peroxidase, POD; catalase, CAT; ascorbate peroxidase, APX; dehydroascorbate reductase, DHAR; glutathione reductase, GR） and the contents of ascorbate and glutathione in leaves of grafted plants were significantly higher than those of ungrafted plants under Cu stress. Better performance of grafted cucumber plants were attributed to the higher ability of Cu accumulation in their roots, better nutrient status, and the effective scavenging system of ROS.

Grafting Raises the Cu Tolerance of Cucumber Through Protecting Roots Against Oxidative Stress Induced by Cu Stress

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to determine plant growth, reactive oxygen species （ROS） metabolism in roots and functions of plasma membrane （PM） and tonoplast in cucumber seedlings （Cucumis sativus L. ev. Xintaimici） treated with 40 μmol L^-1 CuSO4·5H2O, which were either ungrafted or grafted onto the rootstock （Cucurbitaficifolia）. Cu treatment inhibited growth, induced significant accumulation of H2O2 and led to serious lipid peroxidation in cucumber roots, and the ROS-scavenging enzymes activities in grafted seedlings roots were significantly higher than that of ungrafted plants, thus less accumulation in grafted cucumber roots induced by Cu. As a result, lipid peroxidation in roots decreased. Furthermore, the activities of H^-ATPase, H＋-PPase and Ca^2＋-ATPase in PM and/or tonoplast in grafted cucumber seedlings under Cu stress were obviously higher than that in ungrafted plants, resulting into higher ability in grafted plants to expulse the excess H＋, promote the cytoplasm alkalinization, regulate the intracellular Ca^2＋ concentration and brought the cytoplasma concentration of free Ca2＋ to extremely low level under Cu stress.

Effects of Copper-based Nutritional Foliar Fertilizers on Photosynthetic Characteristics,Yield and Disease Control Efficiency of Cotton

[Objectives] The effects of copper-based nutrient foliar fertilizer on photosynthetic characteristics,yield,accumulation and distribution of trace elements in various organs,disease prevention effect and soil enzyme activity were studied,so as to provide a theoretical basis for the application of foliar fertilizers in cotton production. [Methods]Through two years of field experiments,six treatments were set in total,namely spraying water( CK),traditional Bordeaux mixture( BDM),Kocide 2000( KCD),copper-based nutrient foliar fertilizer( CF),iron-copper-based nutrient foliar fertilizer( CFFe),and zinc-boron-copper-based nutrient foliar fertilizer( CFZnB). Randomized block arrangement was adopted. Chlorophyll content in leaves was measured at each growth stage of the cotton. Photosynthetic characteristics of leaves were measured at the peak bolling stage. Plants were sampled at initial boll opening stage. The whole plant was divided into root,stem,leaf and cotton boll parts,in which the total copper,total zinc,total iron contents and accumulations were determined. Soil samples were collected from each plot,followed by the determination of soil enzyme activity. Disease index was investigated at bud,flowering and boll-forming and boll opening stage. [Results]( 1) Spraying CFFe,CFZnB,CF and KCD could significantly improve chlorophyll content of cotton leaves,and the CFFe treatment had the highest increase up to13. 30%,followed by the CFZnB treatment,which was 11. 40% higher than the CK; and photosynthetic rate,stomata conductance and transpiration rate could be improved significantly,and the CFFe treatment showed the highest photosynthetic rate,which increased by 26. 35% compared with the CK,followed by the CFZnB treatment,which increased by 17. 96% compared with CK; and intercellular CO2 concentration was significantly reduced.( 2) Spraying BDM,KCD,CF,CFFe and CFZnB can significantly increase total copper content and accumulation in various cotton organs( except the total copper content in the stem part of the CFZnB treatment; the CFZnB and CFFe treatments can significantly increase total zinc content and accumulation in various cotton organs; and spraying CFFe,CFZnB and CF can significantly increase total iron content and accumulation in various cotton organs( except the total iron content in the stem part of the CF treatment).( 3)Spraying CFFe,CFZnB,CF,KCD and BDM greatly reduced the disease index at flowering and boll-forming and boll opening stages.( 4) The CFZnB and CFFe treatments had the highest soil urease activity,which was 7. 14% higher than that of the CK,but the difference from the CK was not significant; the catalase activity of each treatment was significantly higher than that of the BDM treatment; and the sucrase activity of each treatment was significantly higher than that of the CK.( 5) Spraying CFFe,CFZnB,CF and KCD significantly improved lint yield of cotton,and the CFZnB treatment showed the highest yield increase up to 12. 34%,followed by the CFFe treatment,with an increase in the range of 8. 77%-10. 20%. [Conclusions]Copper-based nutrient foliar fertilizers have dual functions of disease control and prevention and plant nutrition and health care,and not only can significantly increase cotton yield,but also has certain disease prevention effect.It is recommended to use copper-based nutrient foliar fertilizers.

Effects of Pleurotus eryngii Residue on Weight Gain of Chick and Duck

In the present study, Pleurotus eryngii residue was added into conventional feed of Chai chicks and meat-type ducks at different ratios to measure its effects on the production performance of chicks and ducks. The results revealed that the growth performance of chicks and ducks was the best when 20% Pleurotus eryngii residue was added into the feed. Under such condition, the daily weight gain of 8 - 11 and 12 - 15-week-old Chai chicks was increased by 6.8% and 13.5%, and that of 8 - 11 and 12 - 15-week-old ducks was increased by 11.5% and 19.3%, respectively.

Effects of Grafting on Root Exudates of Cucumber and Rhizosphere Environment under Copper Stress

Abstract[Objective]This study to aimed to investigate the effects of Cu stress on root exudates and microbial activities in rhizosphere of grafted and ungrafted cucumber seedlings,and therefore to elucidate the microbial mechanism of grafting for increasing cucumber plants tolerance to Cu stress[Method]Four treatments:(1)ungrafted seedlings+test soil(U0);(2)ungrafted seedlings+test soil+CuSO4·5H2O(U1);(3)grafted seedlings+test soil(G0);(4)grafted seedlings+test soil+CuSO4·5H2O(G1)were set in the pot culture experiment.The contents of free amino acids,organic acids,phenolic acid and sugars,microbial population and enzyme activity in the four treatment were measured,respectively.[Result]The secretion of amino acids and organic acids were increased under Cu stress.The amino acids secretions of grafted seedlings roots were obviously higher than ungrafted seedlings except for Phe and Val.At the same time,the secretion of oxalic acid,malic acid,acetic acid,citric acid,cinnamic acid,ρ-hydroxybenzoic acid and benzoic acid of grafted seedlings were significantly higher than ungrafted seedlings as well.Therefore,more Cu2+were restricted in soil by chelating,complexing and precipitation with root exudates,and its toxicity was decreased.The soil microbial biomass C and N in grafted cucumber rhizosphere were significantly higher than those in ungrafted cucumber rhizosphere,whereas basal respiration and metabolic quotient were significantly lower.Under Cu stress,the numbers of actinomyces and nitrogen fixing bacteria decreased and the number of fungi increased significantly,whereas there was no significant difference in amounts of bacteria.The numbers of bacteria,actinomyces,and nitrogen fixing bacteria in grafted cucumber rhizosphere were significantly higher than those in ungrafted cucumber rhizosphere,but the number of fungi was opposite.The activities of soil urease,phosphatase,sucrase and catalase in grafted cucumber rhizosphere were significantly higher than those in ungrafted cucumber rhizosphere.[Conclusion]These indicated that the soil microbial environment and soil enzymes activities were improved by grafting under Cu stress,and as a result,the adaptability of cucumber to Cu stress was improved.

Field resistance to spinosad in western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis(Thysanoptera:Thripidae)

The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, is one of the most destructive sucking pests of vegetables, fruits and ornamental crops in China. Spinosad is one of the most commonly used insecticides to manage thrips. To assess the incidence of spinosad resistance in F. occidentalis field populations in eastern China, survival rates for 24 different populations were compared with those of a susceptible laboratory strain. All populations showed significantly higher resistance to spinosad compared with the control as determined by comparing median lethal concentrations. Two populations from Shouguang and Liaocheng in Shandong Province were classified as having moderate and high levels of resistance to spinosad with a mean resistance ratio of 17.0 and 89.2, respectively. Our research indicates a widespread reduction in spinosad efficacy for controlling F. occidentalis field populations, and that resistance management strategies should be implemented as soon as practicable, to reduce the potential of progressive resistance development and loss of efficacy.