Search

Amidst the challenges posed by climate change, exploring advanced technologies like nanotechnology is crucial for enhancing agricultural productivity and food security. Consequently, this study investigated the impact of nano SiO 2 (nSiO 2 ), nano TiO 2 (nTiO 2 ) and SiO 2 /TiO 2 nanocomposites (NCs) on 30-day-old Zea mays L. plants and soil health at concentrations of 100 and 200 ppm. Results showed that nSiO 2 and nTiO 2 at 100 ppm and SiO 2 /TiO 2 NCs at both concentrations, positively influenced plant growth, with the best stimulation observed at 200 ppm of SiO 2 /TiO 2 NCs. Improved plant growth was associated with higher chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, rhizospheric N-fixing and phosphate solubilizing bacterial population and plant nutrient uptake. Additionally, treated plants exhibited increased cellulose and starch levels. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was lower or similar to that of the control, except at 200 ppm of nTiO 2 -treated shoots. Antioxidant enzyme activities fluctuated, indicating physiological adjustments. Overall, 100 ppm of nTiO 2 as well as nSiO 2 and 100 and 200 ppm of SiO 2 /TiO 2 NCs improved soil fertility and Z. mays growth, suggesting potential benefits for sustainable agriculture. The findings lay the foundation for more comprehensive investigations into the long-term fate of nanomaterials in soil and their intricate molecular-level interactions with Z. mays., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of an application of different rates of mineral fertilizers and their combination with associative N-fixing Klebsiella planticola and Enterobacter spp., and sampling period on the number of fungi in Cambisol and grain yield of maize. The investigation was conducted on Mladenovac experimental station and in the Laboratory of Institute of Soil Science, Belgrade, during 2006. Unfertilized soil was used as the control soil. Each of the studied variants was carried out in three replications. The effect of the studied fertilizers was determined three times during the maize growing season, the number of fungi being determined by indirect dilution method on Czapek nutritive medium. The results of the study showed that all fertilization variants studied influenced, more or less, fungal growth in the study soil. However, the applied high content of mineral nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as their combination with bacterial inoculants brought about the highest increase in the number of fungi during all studied vegetation periods of maize. The highest increase in the number of soil fungi was registered in the second sampling period. The highest increase in the grain yield of maize was obtained by combined application of microbial inoculants and high rates of mineral NPK fertilizers.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of an application of different rates of mineral fertilizers and their combination with associative N-fixing Klebsiella planticola and Enterobacter spp., and sampling period on the number of fungi in Cambisol and grain yield of maize. The investigation was conducted on Mladenovac experimental station and in the Laboratory of Institute of Soil Science, Belgrade, during 2006. Unfertilized soil was used as the control soil. Each of the studied variants was carried out in three replications. The effect of the studied fertilizers was determined three times during the maize growing season, the number of fungi being determined by indirect dilution method on Czapek nutritive medium. The results of the study showed that all fertilization variants studied influenced, more or less, fungal growth in the study soil. However, the applied high content of mineral nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as their combination with bacterial inoculants brought about the highest increase in the number of fungi during all studied vegetation periods of maize. The highest increase in the number of soil fungi was registered in the second sampling period. The highest increase in the grain yield of maize was obtained by combined application of microbial inoculants and high rates of mineral NPK fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil is an ecological system that shelters various and numerous microorganisms whose enzymes play a central role in soil metabolic activities. The studies conducted from 1996 to this day are summed up in 17 monographs and several hundreds of research papers and reports of national and international significance. A large proportion of these studies dealt with the monitoring of microbiological activity, i.e., population size and enzymatic activity as indicators of application of mineral fertilizers, cultivation practices and pesticides, presence of high contents of heavy metals, and soil disturbances such as compaction, etc. For more than two decades, studies were focused on the effects of N-fixing bacteria on the production and technological characteristics of field and vegetable crops. These theoretical and experimental studies have resulted in the development of several commercial microbiological preparations - patented biological fertilizers and technology of their production. Application of preparations containing Bradyrhizobium/Rhizobium nodular bacteria brings significant increases in grain quality and yield and plant biomass of soybeans, peas, string beans, dry beans and alfalfa. Azotobacter inoculation positively affects the production and technological characteristics of sugarbeet, corn, wheat and other agricultural crops. Microbiological preparations have good prospects because their application is ecologically and economically justified. Namely, it is necessary to further advance the scientific basis of current agriculture because the cost efficiency of mineral fertilization can be improved by combining or correcting the application of mineral fertilizers with microbiological preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]