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Abstracts: Oral Presentations COMBINED CONGRESS 2013 • GESAMENTLIKE KONGRES 2013 18 EFFECT OF Amaranthus cruentus RESIDUES ON TOMATO (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH J Allemann University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300 E-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION Allelopathic effects have been demonstrated in a number of plant species, including both crops and weeds. These plants secrete chemicals that can either inhibit or stimulate germination, growth and yield of other plants grown together with, or succeeding, the allelopathic species. The detrimental effects of several amaranth species, ranging from growth inhibition to total inhibition of germination, have been reported in a number of crop species. Residues of a number of amaranth species have also been reported to be phytotoxic to a number of plant species, probably due to the allelochemicals being released during decomposition of plant residues. Amaranthus cruentus exudates have been shown to inhibit tomato (Cv Rodade and Floradade) seedling growth. Pilot trials indicated that residues of this species also affected the growth of tomato seedlings, but results differed from those of earlier work. The objective of this trial was, therefore, to test if cultivar differences in sensitivity to amaranth residues occurred. MATERIALS AND METHODS The allelopathic potential of plant residues from three varieties of Amaranthus cruentus (Anna, Arasha and Imbaya) was evaluated in a pot trial conducted in a glasshouse on the main campus of the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Six seeds of four tomato cultivars were planted into soil in which three concentrations (0, 5 and 10 mg kg- 1) of amaranth residue had been incorporated. The trial was laid out using a completely randomised block experimental design with 10 replicates. Pots were irrigated as required and received a full nutrient solution once weekly. Harvesting took place five weeks after planting and the number of plants, plant height and plant mass determined. All data were converted to percentage of the control treatments prior to statistical analysis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Both amaranth variety and the residue concentrations had a significant effect on the dry mass of the tomato seedlings, with those grown in Imbaya residues being significantly heavier than those in Anna residues. Seedlings cultivated in the presence of the residues were heavier than the control plants. Plant height was affected significantly by the interaction between amaranth variety and the residue concentration, with seedlings in 10 mg kg-1 Imbaya residues being significantly shorter than those in the same concentration of Arusha residue. In both cases a stimulatory effect was noted in plants grown in residue treated soils. However, an inhibitory effect due to the amaranth residue was noted in the percentage germination attained in two of the four cultivars tested. In both of these cultivars germination was significantly inhibited at the 5 mg kg-1 residue level. CONCLUSIONS Cultivar differences in sensitivity to amaranth residues occur with respect to seed germination, although seedling growth appears to be stimulated. Imbaya residues appeared to have less of a stimulatory effect than those of the other two varieties. Keywords: Allelopathys, Amaranth, cultivars, germination, seedling growth, tomato COMBINED CONGRESS 2013 • GESAMENTLIKE KONGRES 2013 19 EVALUATION OF SILICON UPTAKE IN CITRUS AND ANALYTICAL METHOD VALIDATION NM Asanzi1, NJ Taylor1 and JT Vahrmeijer2 1Department of Plant and Soil Production, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa; 2Citrus Research International, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa E-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION The importance of silicon as a beneficial element for improving yield and quality of many crops, including citrus, is well-known (Epstein, 1999). Analytical methods for Si determination in plants have been developed mostly for Si-accumulators such as rice, maize, wheat, sugarcane and cucumber. However, information is limited on the analysis and uptake of silicon in citrus. Therefore, experiments were conducted to validate an analytical method for silicon and to assess the uptake of silicon in citrus. MATERIALS AND METHODS A microwave-assisted acid-base hydrolysis method was adapted from Haysom & Ostatek- Boczynski (2006). The Si concentration was determined with an induced couple plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and the results were compared with the results obtained from the standard colorimetric method. The Si uptake experiment was conducted in a glasshouse at the experimental farm of the University of Pretoria from September 2011 to January 2012. Two year-old citrus trees, ‘Delta’ Valencia oranges (Citrus sinensis) and ‘Nules’ Clementine (Citrus reticulata) both grafted onto Carrizo citrange rootstocks were used in this study. Potassium silicate was applied to the roots (0, 75 and 150 mg kg-1 of soil) and as a foliar spray until runoff (0, 100 and 500 mg L-1). The experiment was conducted over two seasons. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A correlation of 98% was found between the results of the ICP-OES and the results from the standard colorimetric method. Results from the uptake study showed that silicon absorption increased significantly (P=0.05) with application rate and silicon content in the leaves was significantly higher (P=0.05) when applied to the roots, than when applied to the leaves. Silicon uptake was also significantly higher during summer than winter. There were no significant differences (P=0.05) in the silicon content of the two citrus varieties. CONCLUSIONS Silicon analysis using ICP-OES correlates with colorimetric analysis. Silicon uptake is influenced by the season and concentrations. Root applied silicon resulted in a higher uptake than foliar applied silicon. REFERENCES EPSTEIN, E. 1999. Silicon. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology 50: 641-664. HAYSOM, M.B. & OSTATEK-BOCZYNSKI, Z.A., 2006. Rapid, wet oxidation procedure for the estimation of silicon in plant tissue. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 37: 2299-2306. Keywords: Citrus, colorimetric, ICP-OES, silicon, uptake COMBINED CONGRESS 2013 • GESAMENTLIKE KONGRES 2013 20 EVAPORATION ESTIMATION OVER SUGARCANE ESN Babikir1 and MJ Savage1 1University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X01, 3209 Scottsville E-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION In sugarcane producing areas, there is continuous pressure on available water resources as a result of the erratic rainfall occurrence, expansion of sugarcane areas and competition with other crops. These aspects have a significant impact on sugarcane production. Therefore, accurate and reliable evaporation data are important for irrigation scheduling and the optimum use of the available water resources so as to obtain maximum sugarcane yields. A simple method for estimating evaporation involves measuring sensible heat (H) from which latent energy (LE) can be calculated as a residual, using the shortened energy balance from measurements of net irradiance (Rn) and soil heat flux (Gsoil). The surface renewal (SR) method allows H = HSR to be estimated using high frequency air temperature data. The aim of this study is to calibrate and validate SR with eddy covariance (EC) estimates of H = HEC which are used for estimating evaporation for dryland sugarcane. MATERIAL AND METHODS A field experiment was conducted at the Baynesfield Estate, KwaZulu-Natal for a year. Unshielded and naturally-ventilated fine-wire thermocouples at 0.20, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.50 m above sugarcane were used to measure 10-Hz air temperature using time lags of 0.4 and 0.8 s from which HSR was estimated. A three-dimensional sonic anemometer was used for obtaining HEC. SR estimates of HSR was calibrated and validated against HEC estimates. Later, a residual LE and hence evaporation was estimated using Rn, Gsoil and H measurements as: LE = Rn – Gsoil – H where H corresponds HSR or HEC. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION SR calibration factor (α) values increased with a decrease in measurement height and with increase in air temperature time lag. The HSR estimates showed reasonable correspondence with HEC estimates, with improved results obtained at a height of 0.50 m using α = 0.91 for a time lag of 0.8 s. Daily and seasonal total evaporation is reported on. The average daily evaporation was 1.76 mm. CONCLUSIONS Evaporation can be estimated using SR if α is known and the other components of the energy balance are measured accurately. Higher daily evaporation values were observed in summer. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank Mrs Jothimala Manickum for assistance and the Baynesfield director and farm manager for the use of their commercial sugarcane field. Keywords: Air temperature, energy balance, structure function COMBINED CONGRESS 2013 • GESAMENTLIKE KONGRES 2013 21 MAIZE EMERGENCE AT FOUR PLANT DENSITIES AND UNDER DIFFERENT TILLAGE PRACTICES AND ROW SPACING TC Baloyi Agricultural Research Council-Grain Crops Institute, P/ Bag X1251, Potchefstroom 2520 E-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION Conservation tillage practices is steadily gaining a global interest as an alternative to reverse trends of soil fertility degradation associated with intensive conventional tillage and crop monoculture practices. However, soil compaction especially under reduced tillage is a subject of concern. Soil compaction leads to an increase in soil strength and bulk density that impede growth of plant roots (Hartge, 1988). In South Africa, many