No abstract

The statistical analysis of salinity data from samples collected yearly from genetic soil horizons of 69 points of the Hungarian Soil Information and Monitoring System between 1992 and 2000 showed changes in time. There is a strong atmospheric control over the groundwater level and the resulting soil salinity. Weak statistical association was established between either the pattern of yearly soil salinity changes in the second (10-20 cm) and third (30-40 cm) genetic horizon and the groundwater observation stations or the soil types. In the area of Kecskemét there was a tendency of decreasing soil salinity patterns, while around Békéscsaba a tendency of increasing soil salinity patterns, as illustrated by the correspondence biplot. Regarding soil types, the solonetzic meadow soil showed a tendency of increasing salinity. It was concluded that the statistical analyses of the monitored data must be carefully planned in order to provide the optimal background data as independent data from all those available to accompany the monitored soil data as dependent variable.

No abstract

Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) and other living organisms can help with the challenges of modern agriculture. PGPB offer ever-expanding possibilities for science and commerce, and the scientific results have been very advanced in recent years. In our current work, we collected the scientific results of recent years and the opinions of experts on the subject. Opinions and results on soil–plant relations, as well as the importance of PGPB and the latest related experiences, are important topics of our review work, which highlights the scientific results of the last 3–4 years. Overall, it can be concluded from all these observations that the bacteria that promote plant development are becoming more and more important in agriculture almost all over the world, thus, promoting more sustainable and environmentally conscious agricultural production and avoiding the use of artificial fertilizers and chemicals. Since many mechanisms of action, namely biochemical and operational processes, are still under investigation, a new emerging scientific direction is expected in the coming years with regard to PGPB, microbial, and other plant growth-stimulating substances, in which omics and microbial modulation also play a leading role.