Mirjana Herak Ćustić

Aiuminium tolerance of durum wheat germplasm

SummaryAluminium tolerance of Macedonian durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. conv. durum (Desf.) MacKey) germplasm was evaluated in nutrient solutions containing 0, 74 or 148 μM of total Al. Relative root length (148 μM Al/0 Al) of various genotypes ranged from 41 to 72% (from moderately sensitive to moderately tolerant to Al). No genotype with Al tolerance close to that of very tolerant T. aestivum cultivar Atlas-66 was found. Seed Ca concentration was positively (r=0.64, P≤0.05) and seed Fe concentration negatively (r=−0.71, P≤0.05) related to the relative root growth. Such a significant correlation was not obtained for seed concentrations of other nutrients or seed protein content.

Nitrogen fertilization influences protein nutritional quality in red head chicory.

ABSTRACT Excess nitrogen fertilization of leafy vegetables may cause undesirable accumulation of nitrates and a decrease in essential amino acids, resulting in a decrease in protein nutritional quality. We investigated the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilization (0, 100 or 200 kg N ha−1) on the nutritional quality of red head chicory proteins. Lysine limited biological value of proteins in the control (0 N) as well as fertilized samples. The lysine content and protein biological value according to Mitchell and Block method decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with 100 and 200 kg ha−1 nitrogen applied relative to control. The Osers essential amino acid index and protein biological value were relatively high and did not decrease with increased N fertilization. The correlation between the protein biological value of red head chicory and crude protein levels was negative (p < 0.001). Protein nutritional quality was optimal for adults and lower than optimal for children aged 2–5 and 10–12 years.

LEAF MINERAL CONCENTRATION OF FIVE OLIVE CULTIVARS GROWN ON CALCAREOUS SOIL

There are limited numbers of scientific publication regarding genotypic differences which exist among olive cultivars concerning nutrient uptake and translocation. For that purpose, the object of our study was to determine possible differences between leaf mineral content of five selected olive cultivars since leaf nutrient analysis is consider being the best method for diagnosing olive tree nutritional status. Plant material was obtained from an olive collection, grown on calcareous soil maintained at Institute of Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation, Split, Croatia. The study was conducted with two Croatian autochthonous olive cultivars (“Istarska bjelica”, “Lastovka”), two Italian cultivars (“Pendolino”, “Leccino”) and one Spanish cultivar (“Hojiblanca”). Completely randomized design was applied. This study has shown questionably low Mg concentration in all olive cultivars with exception for “Hojiblanca” cultivar. Also, only Croatian cultivars “Istarska bjelica” and “Lastovka” as well as Spanish cultivar “Hojiblanca” recorded sufficient levels of iron leaf mineral content. Regarding other elements studied (P, K, Ca, Zn, Mn, Cu) all cultivars were above literature cited thresholds for possible deficiencies. Selected olive cultivars in our experiment demonstrated different nutrient leaf concentration, which is of particular importance for fertilization requirements and fertilization practice in Croatian orchards grown on calcareous soil.

Effects of organic and mineral fertilization on NPK status in soil and plant, and yield of red beet ( Beta vulgaris var. conditiva )

Two-year field fertilization trial with red beet (Beta vulgaris var. conditiva) was carried out at two locations in Croatia. The trial was set up according to the Latin square method with four fertilization treatments (5 kg m-2 stable manure, 50 and 100 g m-2 NPK 5-20-30 and unfertilized control). In most cases the highest soil P and K content was obtained in the treatment with stable manure or 100 g m-2 NPK 5-20-30. A similar situation as in the soil was also obtained in plants. The highest N, P, K contents in 2003, and also P and K in 2004 in red beet were determined in the treatment with stable manure. Comparison of yields per fertilization treatment shows that the control treatment gave the lowest yield in both years. The highest yield in 2003 was determined in the treatment with stable manure (0.99 kg m-2) and there was no significant difference in comparison with the 100 g m-2 NPK treatment (0.82 kg m-2). Although there were no significant differences in 2004 between fertilization treatments, the relatively highest yield (4.59 kg m-2) was determined in the treatment with 100 g m-2 NPK. Such wide variations are probably a consequence of weather conditions.

Synthetic Zeolite A as Zinc and Manganese Fertilizer in Calcareous Soil

ABSTRACT The Leccino olive cultivar was grown in pots contained calcareous rendzina soil amended with NPK fertilizer (control treatment) or with further addition of Zeolite A (ZA) containing either zinc (Zn2+) or manganese (Mn2+) (Zn-ZA and Mn-ZA). After one year, vegetative growth and root morphological parameters were measured and elemental analysis was performed on the root, stem, and leaves. Compared to other treatments, the Zn-ZA fertilizer enhanced Zn concentration and total quantity in the root, stem, and leaves, as well as the root diameter. The root volume was greater using Zn-ZA treatment than control treatment. The total quantity of Mn in root and the root length were enhanced when using Mn-ZA compared to control or Zn-ZA treatment. According to the results of this study, it appears that zeolites containing Zn provide favorable conditions for Zn uptake in calcareous soils, while both Zn and Mn zeolites have a positive impact on olive root morphology.

DISTRIBUTION OF CADMIUM AND ZINC IN DIFFERENT FRACTIONS OF GLEY-AMPHIGLEY SOIL

Distribution of Cd and Zn in different soil fractions was determined by the method of sequential partial extraction after Tessier on drained gley-amphigley soil in the period 1997-1999. The trial comprised three treatments with three replications: control (0.0 mg Cd and 0.0 mg Zn kg-1 soil), Cd2Zn4 (2.0 mg Cd and 4.0 mg Zn kg-1 soil) and Cd2Zn0 (2.0 mg Cd and 0.0 mg Zn kg-1 soil). Research results show significant differences in the distribution of Cd and Zn in different fractions in dependence on trial treatments and sampling time. In the control treatment, the largest part of total Cd (> 60%) was bound in the residual fraction and the Fe and Mn oxide fraction, whereas in the treatment with Cd in the exchangeable fraction (30 to 38%) and the Fe and Mn oxide fraction (35 to 41%). The highest concentration of exchangeable Cd (46.9-49.7% of total Cd) was recorded 20 days after treatment and the lowest during the last sampling, 150 days post treatment. Zinc was most abundant in the residual fraction (> 80%) regardless of trial treatments and sampling time.

Manganese soil and foliar fertilization of olive plantlets: the effect on leaf mineral and phenolic content and root mycorrhizal colonization: Manganese soil and foliar fertilization of olive plantlets

BACKGROUND The present study aimed to examine the effect of foliar (Mn_fol) and soil Zeolite-Mn (Mn_ZA) application on leaf mineral, total phenolic and oleuropein content, and mycorrhizae colonization of self-rooted cv. Leccino plantlets grown on calcareous soil. RESULTS The dissolution of zeolite was 97% when citric acid was applied at 0.05 mM dm-3 , suggesting that organic acids excreted by roots can dissolve modified zeolite (Mn_ZA), making Mn available for plant uptake. The leaf Mn concentration was the highest for Mn_fol treatment at 90 days after transplanting (DAT) (172 mg kg-1 ) and 150 DAT (70 mg kg-1 ) compared to other treatments. Mn_ZA soil application increased leaf Mn concentration at 150 DAT compared to control and NPK treatments. The oleuropein leaf content was highest for Mn_fol compared to other treatments at 90 DAT and lowest at 150 DAT. Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization was higher for Mn_fol treatment at 150 DAT compared to all other treatments. CONCLUSION Changes in the arbuscular colonization percentage and oleuropein content may be connected to stress conditions provoked by a high leaf Mn concentration in the Mn_fol treatment at 90 DAT. Mn_ZA application increased leaf Mn concentration at 150 DAT compared to control and NPK treatments. It can be assumed that the dominant mechanism in Mn uptake from modified zeolite is Mn_ZA dissolution through root exudates.

Status of Fe, Mn and Zn in red beet due to fertilization and environment

Soil is a non-renewable resource, so it should be taken care of it. High quality food with sufficient yield for a growing human population can be produced only if plant nutrients are added to the soil by fertilizers to increase soil fertility, but the fertilizers have to be used economically, with the aim of raising the nutrient content available in the soil in order to meet plants’ needs. The goal of the present investigation was to determine the effect of application of organic and mineral fertilizers as well as the effect of research environment on micronutrient content in red beet root. A field trial (2003–2005) was set up in a hilly part of Croatia according to the Latin square method, with four types of fertilization (control, 50 t stable manure*ha-1, 500 and 1,000 kg NPK 5-20-30*ha-1). After digestion of plant material with concentrated HNO3, iron, manganese, and zinc were determined by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The highest average red beet root micronutrient contents (270 mg Fe*kg-1 in dry matter, 96 mg Zn*kg-1 in dry matter, and 53 mg Mn*kg-1 in dry matter) were determined in the first research environment (Brasljevica in 2003) with low potassium soil content. There was a general decreasing trend in contents of the studied micronutrients (Fe, Mn and Zn) with NPK 5-20-30 fertilization (and by application of high doses of potassium), certainly due to antagonistic activity with potassium. It is suggested to fertilize with both 500 kg NPK 5-20-30*ha-1 and microelement fertilizers.

Phosphorus dynamics in grapevine on acid and calcareous soils

Maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes wit It improved nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) are of interest to growers. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the total N uptake in the aboveground biomass and NUE (kg grain per kg of N absorbed in the aboveground biomass). Four commercial hybrids of similar maturity ranking were grown under the high-N (200 kg N ha(-1)) and low-N (1100 kg N ha(-1)) fertilization rates over three years. Growing conditions significantly affected hybrid performance for NUE, which ranged from 42 kg grain kg N-1 in the low-yielding (dry) environment to 55 kg grain kg N-1 under higher yielding environment, When compared to the low-N rate, the average N uptake was by 32% higher at the high-N rate, whereas smaller differences occurred for the aboveground biomass (12%), grain yields (14%), stover N (28%) and grain N (13%) concentrations. Significant differences existed among tested hybrids for grain yield, aboveground biomass, grain and stover N concentration, N uptake and consequently NUE.Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) and crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) were evaluated as cover crops during two vegetation seasons in the Mediterranean and Continental area of Croatia. Better tolerance to low winter temperatures was observed for crimson clover. Higher plants (10 to 3 1 cm) before winter and in spring (67 to 117 cm) were measured for hairy vetch, while crimson clover had higher yields of fresh biomass (33.7 to 113.1 t ha(-1)). Concentrations of N (1.53 to 3.34%), P2O5 (0.55 to 1.04%) and K2O (2.02 to 5.32%) in plant tissue were higher for hairy vetch. However, due to higher yields of dry matter, crimson clover accumulated more N (105 to 239 kg ha(-1)), P2O5 (28 to 83 kg ha(-1)), and K2O (105 to 440 kg ha(-1)) than hairy vetch. According to our results crimson clover could be recommended as a cover crop in Mediterranean and Continental area of Croatia.