Fermented soybeans, cheonggukjang (CKJ), are considered to be more wholesome than soybeans in Korea. To select the best soybean cultivar for making functional CKJ, a comparison was made between the biological activities of four soybean cultivars in their unfermented soybean (UFS) and CKJ states. Changes in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, total phenolic compounds, total amino acids, and isoflavones were investigated. The levels of DPPH, ABTS, SOD-like activity, and total phenolic compounds increased in CKJ among all cultivars. The isoflavone aglycone and total amino acids showed the highest amount in CKJ prepared from soybean cultivar Aga 3. These results suggest that the improved antioxidant activity of CKJ in all cultivars might occur because of the higher levels of aglycones and total phenolic compounds achieved during fermentation. Moreover, CKJ prepared from soybean cultivar Aga 3 showed higher antioxidant activity than the other cultivars and so can be considered for the commercial production of functional foods in the future.

Field crop fertilizer recommendations for Ohio, Indiana and Michigan are currently based on the Bray P1 extractant for phosphorus (P) and the ammonium acetate extractant (AA) for base cations. The fertilizer recommendations in this Tri-State region are currently being revised and will use the Mehlich-3 soil test extractant as the new basis for P and potassium (K) fertilizer recommendations. The goal of this study was to document the relationships between Mehlich-3, Bray P1, and AA soil test extractants and to provide a comprehensive review of these relationships published in the literature. Soil samples (n = 2,659) were collected across Ohio and Indiana from a diverse range of fields and analyzed for Mehlich-3, Bray P1 and AA extractable nutrients for P, K, calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). Mehlich-3 P values were highly related to, but 35% greater than Bray P1 values. Mehlich-3 values were highly related to AA values, but 14% greater than AA-K, 13% greater than AA-Ca and 20% greater than AA-Mg. Our results are largely consistent with a comprehensively compiled literature review that indicates Mehlich-3 is an efficient and suitable soil test extractant for assessing extractable nutrient levels in the Tri-State region of Ohio, Indiana and Michigan.

Influence of different phosphorus (P) sources on growth, yield and oil quality of linola was evaluated when randomized in complete block design using three replications. Treatments were control (No P), hydropriming, soil phosphorus (50 kg ha⁻¹), seed inoculation with phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB, Bacillus spp.) and seed priming with single super phosphate (2%) alone and combined with reduced soil phosphorus (25 kg P ha⁻¹). Among treatments, hydropriming and seed inoculation reduced seedling 50% and mean emergence time with highest emergence index, seedling fresh and dry weights and chlorophyll contents. Seed inoculation with soil P (25 kg ha⁻¹) produced highest seeds per capsule, 100-seed weight, seed and biological yield, harvest index. Maximum oil percentage, low protein contents and high cost benefit ratio with net economic returns were also found for seed inoculation combined with soil phosphorus. Nonetheless, soil phosphorus application can be reduced when seed inoculation with PSB is employed.

| Soybean is one of the most important legumes rich in high quality protein and oil. Its cultivation in Pakistan is restricted to few areas due to poor germination and low seed viability. The optimum yield and quality of this oil seed crop is noticeably affected by its lower germination rate. To address the problem of poor germination and low seed viability, a field study was conducted at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, during spring 2011. The experiment was composed of two soybean varieties (Faisal Soybean and 95-1) and five priming techniques (control, on-farm priming, hydro priming, hydration inoculation and osmo priming with 0.5% urea solution. Results revealed that hydro priming, on-farm priming and hydration inoculation significantly reduced the time to 50% emergence (E50), mean emergence time (MET) and emergence index (EI) of both soybean varieties. Moreover, osmo priming had no significant effect on E50, MET and EI that was at par with control. On an average, days to maturity (96.42), plant height (25.84 cm), plant population at harvest (25.22), 1000-seed weight (94.97 g), seed yield (1.71 t ha-1) and biological yield (4.37 t ha-1) of both soybean varieties was significantly improved by hydration inoculation and hydro priming techniques. It was concluded that hydration inoculation and hydro priming were best techniques for better stand establishment of soybean and may be recommended for farmers having the problem of less germination and poor stand establishment.

Although maize (Zea mays L.) crop has high production potential for forage and grain, however it requires efficient managerial practices for optimum yield. Adequate nutrients for optimum growth led to good vegetative and reproductive growth. Field studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of two endogenous seed phosphorus (P); i.e. SLP: seed with low endogenous phosphorus (1.5 mg kg ⁻¹ seed dry weight), and SHP: seed with high endogenous phosphorus (3.2 mg kg ⁻¹ seed dry weight). Pre-categorized seeds were tested against five rates of exogenous soil P, namely, (1) control: no P (0 kg P ha ⁻¹); (2) 50 kg P ha ⁻¹; (3) 100 kg P ha ⁻¹; (4) 150 kg P ha ⁻¹; and (5) 200 kg P ha ⁻¹. Seeds having different P contents depicted non-prominent effects on accumulation patterns with few exceptions of P (at physiological maturity (R6) and of potassium (K) (at grain filling (R4) and R6); exogenous P expressed significant effects. Nitrogen (N), P, K, zinc (Zn), and boron (B) exhibited differential accumulation behavior during maize growth. Nitrogen expressed accumulation from tasseling (VT) to R4; however, P, K, Zn, and B depicted remobilization from VT to R6. Maximum accumulation efficiency of P (50.7%), Zn (46.9%), and B (51.4%) was observed from VT to R4 growth, whereas maximum response of K (60.3%) and N (21.8%) was witnessed from R4 to R6, representing variant source-sink capacities. Boron depicted greater remobilization under low exogenous P applications. Results suggest that exogenous P application severely affects nutrient accumulation during pre- and post-grain filling growth.