Influence of Y3+ and La3+ ions on the structural, magnetic, electrical, and optical properties of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles.

In the current study, nanocrystalline CoY0.5xLa0.5xFe2-xO4 (where x = 0.00, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, and 0.10) ferrites have been synthesized via a sol-gel auto combustion process. The synthesized powders were pressed into pellet forms and sintered at 900 °C for 4 h in the air. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) confirmed the single-phase cubic spinel structure of the synthesized samples having the mean crystallite domain sizes ranging from 122 and 54 nm. FTIR spectroscopic analyses revealed two strong bands within the range of 600 to 350 cm-1, further confirming the cubic inverse spinel structure of the prepared materials. The surface morphologies and composition were investigated by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) Spectroscopy. The magnetic hysteresis curves recorded at room temperature exhibit ferrimagnetic behavior. The highest coercivity (Hc∼1276 Oe) was found at a high doping (x = 0.10) concentration of Y3+ and La3+ in cobalt ferrite. Dielectric constant increase with increased doping concentration whereas real-impedance and dielectric loss decrease with increased in doping concentration and applied frequency. The band gap energy increased from 1.48 to 1.53 eV with increasing Y3+ and La3+concentrations in the UV-Vis region. The elevated levels of magnetic and dielectric substances in the ferrite nanoparticles suggest that the material could be used for magnetic recording media and high-frequency devices.

Long-Term Adaptation of Acidophilic Archaeal Ammonia Oxidisers Following Different Soil Fertilisation Histories.

Ammonia oxidising archaea (AOA) are ecologically important nitrifiers in acidic agricultural soils. Two AOA phylogenetic clades, belonging to order-level lineages of Nitrososphaerales (clade C11; also classified as NS-Gamma-2.3.2) and family-level lineage of Candidatus Nitrosotaleaceae (clade C14; NT-Alpha-1.1.1), usually dominate AOA population in low pH soils. This study aimed to investigate the effect of different fertilisation histories on community composition and activity of acidophilic AOA in soils. High-throughput sequencing of ammonia monooxygenase gene (amoA) was performed on six low pH agricultural plots originating from the same soil but amended with different types of fertilisers for over 20 years and nitrification rates in those soils were measured. In these fertilised acidic soils, nitrification was likely dominated by Nitrososphaerales AOA and ammonia-oxidising bacteria, while Ca. Nitrosotaleaceae AOA activity was non-significant. Within Nitrososphaerales AOA, community composition differed based on the fertilisation history, with Nitrososphaerales C11 only representing a low proportion of the community. This study revealed that long-term soil fertilisation selects for different acidophilic nitrifier communities, potentially through soil pH change or through direct effect of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Comparative community composition among the differently fertilised soils also highlighted the existence of AOA phylotypes with different levels of stability to environmental changes, contributing to the understanding of high AOA diversity maintenance in terrestrial ecosystems.

Green manuring effects on crop morpho-physiological characters, rice yield and soil properties.

A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of green manure and nitrogen fertilizer on morpho-physiological traits, yield and post-harvest nutrient status of the soil during kharif season of 2017. The experiment was laid out with a randomized complete block design with twelve treatments, and was replicated thrice. The treatments were T1 [Control (no green manure + no fertilizer)], T2 (Sesbania aculeata + N0), T3 (Sesbania aculeata + N15), T4 (Sesbania aculeata + N30), T5 (Sesbania aculeata + N45), T6 (Sesbania aculeata + N60), T7 (Crotalaria juncea + N0), T8 (Crotalaria juncea + N15), T9 (Crotalaria juncea + N30), T10 (Crotalaria juncea + N45), T11 (Crotalaria juncea + N60), and T12 (N60). Incorporation of green manure with nitrogen fertilizer generated consistently positive responses in important morpho-physiological traits such as chlorophyll content (SPAD value), leaf area index (LAI), light interception percent (%LI), and net assimilation rate (NAR), which may result in higher grain yield compared to control, and N60 due to greater contribution of yield determining traits. Treatment comprising green manure with N60 produced significantly the higher grain yield even over the N60. The results of this research indicated that balanced nutrients supply increased leaf chlorophyll content, LAI, %LI, NAR, and finally led to higher dry matter production and yield of rice. Incorporation of green manure also had significantly increased the macro- and micronutrient content of post-harvest soil. These results suggest that continuous use of fertilizer might lead to a yield loses of rice, and that situation could be escaped by a combined application of green manure and judicial nitrogen fertilizer management.

Root exudates of transgenic cotton and their effects on Fusarium oxysporum.

The components of the root exudates from two transgenic insect-resistant cotton lines and their parental cotton lines, and their effects on the growth of Fusarium oxysporum were investigated. The results demonstrated that the resistance of transgenic insect-resistant cotton to F. oxysporum was significantly reduced compared with their parental lines. Likewise, the root exudates from transgenic insect-resistant cotton significantly promoted the spore germination and mycelial growth of cotton F. oxysporum. The types of compounds found in the root exudates of transgenic insect-resistant cotton were similar to those of the parental cotton, but the composition and relative content of the compounds were different. The type and content of the fatty acids and esters were significantly reduced in the root exudates of the transgenic insect-resistant cotton, as were certain specific materials, whereas several alkanes were increased. The inhibition of the soil-borne pathogen F. oxysporum caused by the root exudates from the transgenic insect-resistant cotton was decreased compared with the parental cotton. This result provides a scientific basis for the decline in disease resistance in transgenic insect-resistant cotton.