Experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) Bacillus megaterium and potassium solubilizing bacteria (KSB) Bacillus mucilaginosus inoculated in nutrient limited soil planted with eggplant. Results showed that rock P and K materials either applied singly or in combination did not significantly enhance soil availability of P and K. PSB increased hi...

The zinc (Zn) supply increases the fruit yield of Citrus trees that are grown, especially in the highly weathered soils of the tropics due to the inherently low nutrient availability in the soil solution. Leaf sprays containing micronutrients are commonly applied to orchards, even though the nutrient supply via soil could be of practical value. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Zn fert...

The objective of this study was to assess the functional response of microbial communities to sulfur amendment in calcareous organic soils of the Everglades Agricultural Area in south Florida. Soils under sugarcane cultivation were amended with elemental S at four rates up to 448 kg S ha to decrease pH and enhance nutrient availability. Soil samples were collected 2, 6, 9, and 13 months after S...

Globally, mediterranean-climate ecosystem vegetation has converged on an evergreen, sclerophyllous and shrubby growth form. The particular aspects of mediterranean-climate regions that contribute to this convergence include summer droughts and relatively nutrient-poor soils. We hypothesised that winter-precipitation implies stressful summer droughts and leaches soils due to greater water availa...

The effect of pastoral management on the standing crop biomass of large ungulates, an index of carrying capacity, is analysed at a regional level by using data compiled from published sources covering east and south Africa. The effect of primary production is controlled for by using two environmental factors, rainfall and soil nutrient availability, and the effect of species richness of the ung...

Recent studies have provided evidence that trade-offs in biomass allocation, resource-use efficiency, and anti-herbivore defense influence seedling performance and distribution across soil types. Our previous research suggested that soil nutrient availability acted as a filter for understory palm community assembly and species coexistence in a lower montane forest in western Panama. Here, we ex...

Exotic plant species impact belowground processes by influencing resource availability through enhanced microbial activity as a consequence of litter inputs. We have little understanding of the impact of microbe-driven nutrient fluctuations on the biomass accumulation of invasive species. Here we attempt to answer the question on whether soil community-driven nitrogen availability influences in...

Manipulation of stomatal density was investigated as a potential tool for enhancing drought tolerance or nutrient uptake. Drought tolerance and soil water retention were assessed using Arabidopsis epidermal patterning factor mutants manipulated to have increased or decreased stomatal density. Root nutrient uptake via mass flow was monitored under differing plant watering regimes using nitrogen-...

sulfur (s) is an essential macronutrient influencing plant growth, nutrient efficiency, quality and health of agricultural crops. the purpose of this research was to study the effects of s rates and sources on growth and fruit quality of apple (malus domestica l.) trees of ‘golden delicious’ at west azerbaijan, iran. experiment was conducted during four seasons (2003-2007), using a factorial ra...

Changes in precipitation can influence soil water and nutrient availability, and thus affect plant nutrient conservation strategies. Better understanding of how nutrient conservation changes with variations in water availability is crucial for predicting the potential influence of global climate change on plant nutrient-use strategy. Here, green-leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentratio...