Email Newsletter October 2015

Cereal varieties with an inherent low phosphorus concentration in the seed need significant less fertiliser phosphorus than current cultivars. Seedling vigour and yield are not necessarily affected, if such varieties combine a low seed phosphorus level with rapid root growth in the seedling stage. Researchers have demonstrated this in experiments with rice and barley. Read more in the just published 2015-03 issue of the Plant nutrition courier.

Researchers have developed a laboratory scale bioreactor system using nutrient spray technology for in vitro mass production of potato microtubers. Photograph: the researchers.

An experimental method to recovers phosphorus from greenhouse wastewater. The separation process consists in addition of lime and biodegradable flocculants, which reduces the phosphorus content in greenhouse wastewater below 1 mg/l in a settling time of less than 30 minutes.

pH is a very variable soil property. Depending on the soil temperature and the biological activity, soil pH and redox potential substantial change. Photograph: Trier University.

Poplar and willow trees have nitrogen fixing bacteria inside their tissue. Researchers have isolated these endophytes and transferred the microbes to rice plants. The nutritional effects are impressive. The Plant nutrition courier reports about this research.

Application of pig slurry temporarily increases soil pH. After this peak, the pH decreases far below the level before application. It takes many days before the pH reaches a new equilibrium.

Silicon deposition into grass leaves determines the palatability and digestibility of forage. Manipulation of silicon uptake could be a target for plant breeders seeking to produce forage grasses with more accessible nutrients, according British researchers.

Hosta plants fertilised with orthosilicic acid have larger flowers than control plants sprayed with distilled water. The silicon treatments also improved nectar production, sugar mass in nectar, pollen production and pollen viability.

● Indicator for maximizing milk yield per kilogram phosphate
● New fertiliser additives from the family of maleic-itaconic copolymers
● Fertiliser additive knowhow available for license
● Potassium chloride plus sodium tetraborate
● Organic acids enriched potassium carbonate
● Nano-sized elemental sulphur

● Iodine biofortification of vegetables
● Adjusting seed rate on soil fertility
● Melatonin makes maize more cold-tolerant
● Partial root-zone drying can improve potato phosphorus use efficiency
● Elevated CO2 at night inhibits night-time nitrate assimilation
● Vegetable urease and nitrification inhibitors
● Breeding silicon-rich turfgrass for enhanced stress tolerance

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