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Background: Manganese is an essential micronutrient that plays a pivotal role in environmental systems, plant physiology, and human health. This review comprehensively examines the manganese cycle in the environment, its absorption and transport mechanisms in plants, and the implications of manganese exposure to human health. Objectives: The objectives of this review are to (i) analyze the environmental cycling of manganese and its bioavailability, (ii) evaluate the role of manganese in plant metabolism and disease resistance, and (iii) assess the impact of manganese toxicity and deficiency on human health. Conclusion: This review highlights that while manganese is crucial for photosynthesis, enzyme activation, and resistance to plant diseases, both its deficiency and toxicity can have severe consequences. In plants, manganese deficiency can lead to impaired growth and reduced crop yields, while toxicity, particularly in acidic soils, can inhibit photosynthesis and stunt development. In humans, manganese is necessary for various physiological processes, but overexposure, especially in occupational settings, can result in neurodegenerative conditions such as manganism. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of managing manganese levels in agriculture and industry to optimize its benefits while minimizing health risks. A multidisciplinary approach is advocated to enhance agricultural productivity and ensure public health safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of toxic elements (TEs) contaminating the root zone of Lupinus angustifolius L. on enzymatic activities, nitrification rate, and changes in the root system was evaluated. Lupine was cultivated in a pot experiment using two types of soil - control and contamination (with a high degree of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) contamination). After harvesting lupine biomass, enzyme activities (β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase, arylsulphatase, lipase, chitinase, cellobiohydrolase, alanine aminopeptidase, and leucine aminopeptidase) in soils were analysed. Enzyme activities decreased with TE soil contamination. According to our results, arylsulphatase was found to be the most sensitive soil enzyme to TEs. The nitrification rate is closely related to soil contamination and plant activity, as it stimulates microbial growth and multiplication through root exudates. The close correlations confirmed this relationship (r = 0.73-0.99). An increasing trend in TE contents in the roots was observed with soil contamination. Plant hormones are crucial in regulating root growth and development under stress conditions. The levels of determined phytohormones in our experiment (auxins, abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and bioactive cytokinins (bCKs)) were lower in the contamination compared to the control. Correlations confirmed a significant negative relationship between the TE content in the roots and the contents of phytohormones (auxins: r = -0.96 to -0.97; ABA: r = -0.83 to -0.86; SA: r = -0.95 to -0.99, bCKs: r = -0.87 to -0.93). The ratios of these hormones (not their absolute values) appear to be the determining factor for regulating root development and protecting plants from oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The glomalin content is generally considered an indicator of the soil organic matter (SOM) quality. The content of easily extractable glomalin (EEG) and the total glomalin (TG) content was investigated across 71 different sites in the Czech Republic with arable soil and crop production (12 chernozems, 30 luvisols, 17 cambisols, and 12 fluvisols). The majority of the crops in the crop rotation were cereals (45.5%—mainly winter wheat, winter barley, and spring barley). The proportion of winter canola within the crop rotation was 15.9%. The contribution of other crops was substantially smaller (alfalfa, clover, potatoes, beet, silage maize, grain maize). The representation of crops in the crop rotation is standard for conventional farming in the Czech Republic. Based on the results of long-term field monitoring at 71 sites in different soil–climate conditions, we can state the following. The TG content was significantly correlated with the soil organic matter carbon content (CSOM), as well as another important indicator of SOM quality (humic and fulvic acid carbon content ratio—CHA/CFA). A significant and positive correlation was also determined for the TG and clay content (size < 0.002 mm), as well as particles smaller than 0.01 mm. The easily extractable glomalin content (EEG) did not differ based on the reference soil group (RSG). On the other hand, the total glomalin content (TG) was significantly higher in the chernozem RSG in comparison with other RSGs (luvisols, cambisols, fluvisols). There was no relationship between the pHCaCl2 and glomalin (EEG; TG). The same can be said about the relationship between glomalin (EEG; TG) and the bulk density and porosity. No link was established between the glomalin content (EEG; TG) and phosphorus plant-available content. There was no relationship between the amount of applied organic matter (carbon inputs) and the soil glomalin content (EEG; TG). This relationship was not influenced by the type of applied organic fertilizer. No significant relationship was found for either straw, manure, or compost. The data on the glomalin content are significantly influenced by the site (soil type and soil texture). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A continuous long-term field experiment with maize monoculture was conducted to evaluate the P availability and balance, DM yield, P uptake, and P sorption parameters in chernozem soil after 27 years. A total of 2 doses of nitrogen (120 and 240 kg ha−1) were applied as mineral nitrogen (N120 and N240) and sewage sludge (SS120 and SS240) and compared with unfertilized control (Con). The aboveground biomass (DM) yields significantly increased in the order of Con < SS120 < SS240 < N120 < N240 treatments and the maximum P uptake was recorded for both N240 and SS240 (25.1 kg P ha−1) according to the nutrient application gradient. The N120 and N240 treatments positively influenced the DM yield but negatively influenced the P balance (−648 and −678 kg P ha−1 27 years−1), gradually bringing a risk of P deficiency in the soil. On the other hand, applications of SS120 and SS240 positively influenced the P availability and pseudototal (PAR) content in the soil, which resulted in a buildup of legacy P or an increase in P saturation greater than the environmental threshold value. Aluminum was found to be a major controlling sorption factor for P in our chernozem soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, sulfur inputs into the soil have greatly diminished due to the significant decrease in SO2 emissions. Plant nutrients, like sulfur, can be released by the mineralisation of soil organic matter (SOM), which is a complicated mixture of substances (or fractions) like glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) and fulvic acids (FA), humic acids (HA), humic substances (HS) and others. GRSP, FA, HA, and HS content, as well as the content of mineral and organic fractions of sulfur, was determined in different mineral and organic fertiliser treatments of the long-term field experiment. Using these results, the sulfur content in GRSP was calculated based on the soil's organic matter carbon and soil's organic bound sulfur (CSOM/SORG) ratio. Sulfur content in GRSP was 4.08-5.46 (easily extractable GRSP), 9.77-15.7 (difficultly extractable (GRSP), and 13.9-21.1 (total GRSP) mg S/kg of soil. Overall, the application of the organic fertiliser caused an increase in S content bound to GRSP. A strong significant relationship was also observed between GRSP fractions and soil organic sulfur. A similar relationship was also observed for the HA and HS with organic sulfur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic matter (SOM) quantity and quality are important factors that significantly influence soil fertility. SOM quality indicators change throughout time. In this study, long—term field experiments (22–50 years in duration) on a Cambisol at four sites in the Czech Republic were selected. Seven crops were successively rotated in the sequence: clover, winter wheat, early potato, winter wheat, spring barley, potato, and spring barley with interseeded clover. Five treatments were investigated, including an unfertilized treatment, farmyard manure, and various combinations of farmyard manure and mineral fertilization. A total of 40 t ha−1 of farmyard manure was applied to the early potato and potato crops. Combining organic and mineral fertilizers increased soil organic matter quality and quantity over unfertilized or organic only treatment. The highest intensity of mineral fertilizers in our trials elevated the mean of carbon sequestration efficiency to 45.6% in comparison to pure manure treatment which reached only 22.9% efficiency. A strong correlation was established between the total glomalin content and soil organic matter carbon, fulvic acid, humic acid, carbon hot water extraction, potential wettability index (PWI), and aromaticity index. The PWI was also strongly correlated with these indicators. The E4/E6 ratio indicator was shown to be a much less sensitive method for reflecting the change in soil organic matter quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur nutrition is a crucial part of proper crop growth. In this study, we investigated the influence of organic fertilizers in a long-term field experiment (23 years) with continuous maize monoculture. We focused on: (a) changes in the soil sulfur fraction pools, (b) the balance of total sulfur inputs and outputs, and (c) sulfur uptake by maize. The following treatments were selected: unfertilized control (Control), urea and ammonium nitrate (UAN), UAN and wheat straw (UAN + St), sewage sludge (SS), farmyard manure (FYM), and slurry (Slurry). Using sequential extraction, we determined water-soluble (SW—in water), adsorbed (Sads—in 0.032 mol L−1 NaH2PO4), and available (Sav = SW + Sads) sulfur content. Microwave-assisted digestion in an Aqua regia solution was used to measure the pseudo-total sulfur content (Spt). Organic-bound sulfur (Sorg) was calculated as a difference between Spt and Sav. We found that average biomass yields responded to a uniform 120 kg N ha−1 year−1 dose, rather than the dose of S in fertilizers, with an increase over the Control by 34–49%. The effect of an additional 33.5 kg N ha−1 year−1 on UAN + St treatment was not significant. Average sulfur uptake responded to increased yields (69-121% higher than Control), rather than the sulfur application, with the exception of SS, where the dose of sulfur was high enough to cause an additional uptake. In the topsoil, we discovered a significant decrease over time (from 1997 to 2019) in water-soluble (SW), adsorbed (Sads), available (Sav), and pseudo-total (Spt) fractions on all treatments to 29, 59, 37, and 82% of their initial values, respectively. For all treatments, the proportion of Sorg in Spt increased over time, which was caused by the decrease in mineral fractions (SW, Sads, Sav). The absolute content of Sorg decreased over time for all treatments except SS and FYM to about 85% of the initial value. Using the simple balancing method, we calculated that UAN + St, SS, FYM, and Slurry treatments annually lost 8.04, 66.1, 21.4, and 26.8 kg of S ha−1, respectively. This loss was attributed to the decrease in atmospheric depositions, as well as the release of sulfur from soil organic matter (for UAN + St and Slurry treatments) and a high proportion of easily mineralizable and inorganic sulfur from the SS treatment. Generally, the FYM fertilizer provided the highest potential for maintaining soil Spt status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents records of 80 species belonging to following five families of the mining moths: Bucculatricidae, Gracillariidae, Lyonetiidae, Nepticulidae and Tischeriidae. All records were collected in three localities in South Bohemia, namely near Zdíkov, Třeboň and Tábor in 2016 -2020. Regionally significant species are commented. Records of Leucoptera malifoliella (Costa, 1839), Parornix petiolella (Frey, 1863), Phyllocnistis extrematrix Martynova, 1955, P. xenia Hering, 1936, Phyllonorycter comparella (Duponchel, 1843), Stigmella carpinella (Heinemann, 1862), S. floslactella (Haworth, 1828), S. lapponica (Wocke, 1862), S. magdalenae (Klimesch, 1950), S. minusculella (Herrrich-Schäffer, 1855) and S. perpygmaeella (Doubleday, 1859) are new for South Bohemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to find an indicator of plant sulfur status correlating most significantly with bioavailable sulfur in soil. The indicators of plant sulfur status in shoot biomass were: sulfur concentration, mass nitrogen to sulfur (N/S) ratio, mass phosphorus to sulfur ratio and sulfur nutrition index (SNI). The bioavailable soil sulfur was determined using water extraction (S-water), Mehlich 3 extractant (S-M3) and anion exchange membranes (S-AEMs). Results cover four years (2015–2018) of on-farm trials in the Czech Republic with winter wheat, winter oilseed rape and maize, and pot experiments including spring wheat and maize. Shoot biomass of plants was sampled at the beginning of stem elongation (winter wheat, winter rape and maize in on-farm trials), during rapid growth (maize in pot experiment) and during flowering (wheat plants, winter rape). Only soils containing 0.5%–1.7% of organic carbon were studied (median 1.31%). Compared to shoot N/S ratio, sulfur concentration in shoot biomass of maize correlated stronger with bioavailable soil sulfur. However, bioavailable sulfur in soil correlated strongest and most significantly with shoot N/S ratio of winter wheat and winter rape grown in on-farm trials. Except for winter rape grown on non-calcareous soils and maize grown in pot experiment, the shoot N/S ratio correlated more significantly with S-M3 compared to S-water and S-AEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of regular application of sewage sludge or farmyard manure on the organic contaminant loads in soil was assessed in a model rhizobox experiment. Two soils originating from a long-term field crop rotation and fertilizer experiment running since 1996 were used. The total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) contents were determined in the rhizosphere and bulk soil. The results showed low but still detectable contents of PCBs and OCPs in the soil, substances which were banned a few decades ago. Among the OCPs, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites reaching up to 18.2 µg kg−1 of the soil even exceeded the preventive levels for these compounds in agricultural soils, i.e. 7.5 µg kg−1 of soil. For PBDEs, PFOA, and PFOS, their contents in the soil significantly increased with sewage sludge application. The enhancement of the potential biodegradability of the POPs in the rhizosphere was confirmed only for hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), where, the level of γ-HCH increased significantly in the rhizosphere soil compared to bulk soil. Thus, natural attenuation of POPs in the soil-plant system seems to be insufficient for most of the investigated compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relation between wheat (Triticum aestivum) nutritional status determined at the beginning of stem elongation and during anthesis, respectively, and available content of phosphorus (P-M3) and zinc (Zn-M3) determined by the Mehlich 3 extractant was studied. Both one-year pot experiment with spring wheat and two-year on-farm trials with winter wheat were run on various calcareous soils (pH values of 7.18-7.94, median 7.80, P-M3 1-289 ppm, median 54, and Zn-M3 2-14 ppm, median 4), in the Czech Republic (Central Europe). Phosphorus nutrition index (ratio of phosphorus concentration in shoot biomass to critical phosphorus concentration - Pc) was calculated using the Belanger et al.'s model: Pc = -0.677 + 0.221N - 0.00292N(2), where both phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations were expressed in g/kg shoot dry matter. Unlike phosphorus concentration in shoot biomass, phosphorus nutrition index significantly correlated with P-M3 content in soil. Optimal values of the phosphorus nutrition index were recorded if P-M3 was 51-68 ppm. Zinc concentration in shoot biomass more strongly correlated with P:Zn ratio (M3) in soil compared to Zn-M3 content in soil. P:Zn ratio in shoot biomass of 130:1 did not lead to phosphorus deficiency and corresponded to P:Zn (M3) ratio in soil of 9.3:1-14.3:1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of nitrogen injection on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield, yield formation, stem lodging, fungal diseases incidence and qualitative parameters of grain was studied. The injection of all nitrogen applied in one dose, so-called CULTAN (Controlled Uptake Long Term Ammonium Nutrition) system, was compared with nitrogen split application during the years 2009-2013 in small-plot field experiments at three experimental sites in the Czech Republic (central Europe). Nitrogen dose applied conventionally on soil surface was split into three partial applications. The CULTAN fertilization was carried out at the beginning of spring vegetation instead of usual term, i.e. the end of tillering (BBCH 29). Grain protein content was significantly lower and grain starch content significantly higher in wheat treated with the CULTAN system compared to the nitrogen split application. Nevertheless, the CULTAN treatment did not lead to significantly higher starch yield in comparison with the nitrogen split application. Plants per m2, number of ears per m2 and thousand grain weight were not significantly different among nitrogen treatments. Significantly lower number of grains per ear was recorded while using the CULTAN system compared to the nitrogen split application when 150kg N/ha was applied, but this had no significant impact on grain yield. No positive effect of the CULTAN system on both stem lodging of winter wheat and incidence of powdery mildew as well as Septoria tritici blotch was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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