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Characterization of Natural Biostimulants and Their Effect on Soil Properties
Hanzelková, Kateřina ; Bělonožníková, Kateřina (advisor) ; Smrček, Stanislav (referee)
Biostimulants represent an environmentally friendly way of protecting plants and supporting their growth. Here, fermented nettle was characterized in terms of antioxidant properties, protein content, and activities of selected enzymes. Furthermore, this study focused on the effects of biostimulants (fermented nettle and vermicompost) on soil properties. Fermented nettle showed high content of phenolic compounds and high antioxidant capacity. Activity of proteases, as well as acid and alkaline phosphatases was successfully determined in fermented nettle. Alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly higher than that of acid phosphatase. Protease, endo-β-1,3-glucanase, and total peroxidase activities were determined in soils of plants treated with biostimulants - fermented nettle (N), vermicompost (V) - and compared with control (C). All groups of plants were also exposed to drought stress (D). Application of biostimulants did not affect protease activity in watered groups but D groups showed a significant increase in proteolysis. Endo-β-1,3-glucanase activity was higher in the groups treated with biostimulants and drought did not affect the activity. The group VD showed significantly higher total peroxidase activity than other groups. The protein content in groups treated with biostimulants was...
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Introduction of enzymatic ecotoxicity tests and their use in assessing the quality of the soil ecosystem
Marcinko, Juraj ; Mravcová, Ludmila (referee) ; Zlámalová Gargošová, Helena (advisor)
Assessment of soil quality is possible through a variety of approaches, including the use of ecotoxicological principles, at the organismal or sub-organismal level. It is for this reason that one of the objectives of this thesis was the introduction and implementation of selected enzymatic assays, specifically the evaluation of the enzymatic activities of three enzymes that can represent the microbial activity of the soil. For these purposes, a short-term test was carried out with Lactuca sativa, where pharmacological substances were selected as representatives of xenobiotics with a possible influence on microbial activity in soil and with a potential phytotoxic effect on higher plants. The results obtained indicate a possible inhibitory effect of pharmacological substances on enzymatic activity in soil. In the case of phytotoxicity of pharmacological substances, a significant effect was observed at the organismal level, which was manifested by root elongation. The effect at the sub-organism level was significantly manifested by a disturbance in the ratio of photosynthetic pigment content.
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