Browsing by Subject "Integrated plant production"

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Bio-effectors for improved growth, nutrient acquisition and disease resistance of crops
(2017) Weinmann, Markus; Neumann, Günter
Recent scientific approaches to sustain agricultural production in face of a growing world food demand, limited natural resources, and ecological concerns have been focusing on biological processes to support soil fertility and healthy plant growth. In this context, the use of “bio-effectors”, comprising living (micro-) organisms and active natural compounds, has been receiving increasing attention. In contrast to conventional fertilizers and pesticides, the effectiveness of “bio-effectors” is essentially not based on the substantial direct input of mineral plant nutrients, neither in inorganic nor organic forms, nor of a-priori toxic compounds. Their direct or indirect effects on plant performance are rather based on the functional implementation or activation of biological mechanisms, in particular those interfering with soil-plant-microbe interactions. The general objective of the present research work was to improve the empirical and conceptual understanding concerning the utilization of bio-effectors in agricultural practice, following the principles of plant growth stimulation, bio-fertilization and bio-control. One main aspect of investigation was the application of bio-effectors to improve the efficiency of phosphorus (P) acquisition by the plant. Promising bio-preparations based on microbial inoculants (e.g. Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Trichoderma species) as well as natural compounds (e.g. algae extracts, humic acids) were tested in screening assays, greenhouse, and field experiments to characterize their potential effectiveness under varying environmental conditions. The most significant effects on plants appeared under severely low phosphate availability, but even under controlled conditions, bio-effectors required a narrow range of conductive environmental settings to reveal their potential effectiveness. Another focus of research was the application of bio-effectors to control soil borne pathogens, which typically appear in unsound crop rotations. Emphasis was set on take-all disease in wheat induced by the fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis. While the effectiveness of oat precrops to control take-all in subsequent wheat has been attributed to microbial changes and enhanced manganese (Mn) availability in soils, the take-all fungus is known to decrease the availability of Mn by oxidation. Against this background, the effectiveness of oat precrops and alternative crop management strategies to improve the Mn status and suppress the severity of take-all in wheat was investigated under controlled and field conditions. In conclusion, none of the tested supplemental treatments, such the application of microbial bio-effectors, stabilized ammonium or manganese fertilizers, could fully substitute for the multiple effectiveness of oat precrops, which was further confirmed by the results of a field experiment. Finally, some general conclusions and perspectives are summarized. Selected bio-effectors showed a strong capacity to improve the nutrient acquisition and healthy growth of crop plants under controlled conditions, but not in field experiments. However, even under controlled conditions the strongest effects occurred when plants were exposed to abiotic or biotic stresses, such as severely limited P availability or pathogen infestation of the soil substrate, still restricting plant growth to unproductive levels. Facing this situation, there is no perspective to improve the field efficiency of promising bio-effectors applications as a stand-alone approach. The only chance to develop viable alternatives to the conventional use of fertilizers or pesticides, for an ecological intensification of agriculture that maintains high yield levels, seems to be a reasonable integration of bio-effectors into the whole crop management of sound agricultural practice.
Bio-effectors for improved growth, nutrient acquisition and disease resistance of crops.- 2nd unrevised edition
(2019) Weinmann, Markus; Madora GmbH, Luckestr.1, D-79539 Lörrach; Raupp, Manfred G.
Recent scientific approaches to sustain agricultural production in face of a growing world food demand, limited natural resources, and ecological concerns have been focusing on biological processes to support soil fertility and healthy plant growth. In this context, the use of “bio-effectors”, comprising living (micro-) organisms and active natural compounds, has been receiving increasing attention. In contrast to conventional fertilizers and pesticides, the effectiveness of “bio-effectors” is essentially not based on the substantial direct input of mineral plant nutrients, neither in inorganic nor organic forms, nor of a-priori toxic compounds. Their direct or indirect effects on plant performance are rather based on the functional implementation or activation of biological mechanisms, in particular those interfering with soil-plant-microbe interactions. The general objective of the present research work was to improve the empirical and conceptual understanding concerning the utilization of bio-effectors in agricultural practice, following the principles of plant growth stimulation, bio-fertilization and bio-control. One main aspect of investigation was the application of bio-effectors to improve the efficiency of phosphorus (P) acquisition by the plant. Promising bio-preparations based on microbial inoculants (e.g. Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Trichoderma species) as well as natural compounds (e.g. algae extracts, humic acids) were tested in screening assays, greenhouse, and field experiments to characterize their potential effectiveness under varying environmental conditions. The most significant effects on plants appeared under severely low phosphate availability, but even under controlled conditions, bio-effectors required a narrow range of conductive environmental settings to reveal their potential effectiveness. Another focus of research was the application of bio-effectors to control soil borne pathogens, which typically appear in unsound crop rotations. Emphasis was set on take-all disease in wheat induced by the fungus Gaeumannomyces graminis. While the effectiveness of oat precrops to control take-all in subsequent wheat has been attributed to microbial changes and enhanced manganese (Mn) availability in soils, the take-all fungus is known to decrease the availability of Mn by oxidation. Against this background, the effectiveness of oat precrops and alternative crop management strategies to improve the Mn status and suppress the severity of take-all in wheat was investigated under controlled and field conditions. In conclusion, none of the tested supplemental treatments, such the application of microbial bio-effectors, stabilized ammonium or manganese fertilizers, could fully substitute for the multiple effectiveness of oat precrops, which was further confirmed by the results of a field experiment. Finally, some general conclusions and perspectives are summarized. Selected bio-effectors showed a strong capacity to improve the nutrient acquisition and healthy growth of crop plants under controlled conditions, but not in field experiments. However, even under controlled conditions the strongest effects occurred when plants were exposed to abiotic or biotic stresses, such as severely limited P availability or pathogen infestation of the soil substrate, still restricting plant growth to unproductive levels. Facing this situation, there is no perspective to improve the field efficiency of promising bio-effectors applications as a stand-alone approach. The only chance to develop viable alternatives to the conventional use of fertilizers or pesticides, for an ecological intensification of agriculture that maintains high yield levels, seems to be a reasonable integration of bio-effectors into the whole crop management of sound agricultural practice.