外加可溶性碳源对华北典型农田土壤N2O、CO2排放的影响

以华北平原典型农田土壤为对象,运用静态培养系统研究方法,设置室内培养试验,研究添加不同浓度葡萄糖对土壤N2O、CO2排放的影响.结果表明:碳氮配施的外源添加方式明显促进N2O和CO2排放,其排放通量均高于对照组和只添加氮源的处理.在配施碳源葡萄糖浓度为0.5 g/kg时N2O排放通量最高(NH4+组2 500 μg/(kg·d),单位以N计,下同,NO3-组1 500 μg/(kg·d)),4.0 g/kg时N2O排放通量最低(NH4+组500 μg/(kg·d),NO3-组800 μg/(kg·d));葡萄糖浓度为2.0 g/kg时CO2排放通量最高(NH+组500mg/(kg· d)),0.5 g/kg时CO2排放通量最低(NH+组100 mg/(kg,d)).从培养开始到结束,只添加氮源的土壤NH+含量变化不明显,NO3-含量增至29.21 mg/kg(NH4+组)和62.25 mg/kg(NO3-组);而配施葡萄糖的土壤NH+含量降为不足1 mg/kg(NH4+组),NO3-含量明显减少.N2O累积排放通量与葡萄糖浓度呈负相关(NH4+组),CO2累积排放通量与葡萄糖浓度呈正相关.分析结果表明,外加可溶性碳源明显减少土壤中NH4+和NO3-含量,并且促进土壤N2O、CO2排放,其排放通量大小与C/N比有关.     

不同外源氮对石灰性土壤硝化作用的影响及其动力学分析

为了揭示外源氮源对石灰性土壤硝化作用的影响机理,以钙积半干润均腐土（Cal-Ustic Isohumasols）为材料,采用室内培养方法研究了不同添加量和不同氮源对土壤硝化作用的影响,并建立了对应的硝化模型。结果表明,NH4+-N消耗速率和NO3--N增加速率呈S曲线变化,NH4+-N消耗速率高于NO3--N增加速率。氮素添加量与NH4+-N消耗速率和NO3--N增加速率呈正相关,硝化菌外的因子对NH4+-N和NO3--N的吸收与NH4+-N添加量呈正相关;不同氮素添加量对硝化作用影响程度不同,当氮素添加量为N 75 mg /kg,干土时,硝化作用较彻底。SO42-可加快硝化作用速率,同时也可改变其他因子对NH4+-N和NO3--N的利用。     

江苏句容水库农业流域农田土壤反硝化作用的研究

2008年6月、8月、12月和2009年3月,在江苏句容水库农业流域采集农田原状土壤样品,使用乙炔抑制实验室培养法测定土壤的反硝化速率,同时测定土壤的含水率、铵态氮（NH2-N）和硝态氮（NO_3-N）的含量,研究农田土壤反硝化速率变化、影响因素及其对流域氮损失的贡献。结果显示,旱地土壤反硝化速率范围在0．13-51．96kgN·hm^-2a^-1之间,水田土壤的反硝化速率范围在3．16-12．29kgN·hm^-2a^-1之间。相关分析表明,反硝化速率与土壤硝态氮（NO_3-N）浓度、铵态氮（NH2-N）浓度之间不具有显著相关关系;在12月和3月,反硝化速率与土壤含水率之间有显著相关关系,其他月份无显著相关关系。流域内农田土壤反硝化损失的总氮量为31．93tN·a^-1低于流域施氮总量的3．19％,可见,反硝化作用不是该流域氮损失的主要途径。     

季节性冻土融化期小流域尺度面源污染物迁移规律

为更好地认识冻土在融化期面源污染物的析出规律,该文以吉林省长春市黑顶子河流域为研究对象,将流域分为4类典型汇流区,监测了冻土融化期不同汇流区以及小流域尺度的水文特性及面源污染物析出入河过程。采用质量平衡法确定了流域尺度的水量及污染物析出量。第I类汇流区水和污染物析出通量主要受稻田排水汇流过程影响;以玉米种植为主的第II和第III类汇流区,水和污染物析出通量变化范围受到土壤利用信息的影响更为显著;农村居民区(第IV类汇流区)单位面积析出通量显著的超过I~III类汇流区。初始条件、汇流区面积、坡度是影响冻土向河道析出过程的重要因素。冻结过程中,水稻和玉米两种下垫面水和污染物质量显著增加,然而表现出显著不同的再分布过程。冻土融化过程中,第I、II和III类汇流区表层融化区主要影响NH4+的析出入河过程,最大融化区内含水量和NO3-浓度发生显著变化。冻土融化期析出流量和NH4+析出通量的标准差与均值比显著的小于NO3-析出通量标准差与均值比。采用质量平衡方法确定的流域水和污染物析出入河过程与通过不同汇流区析出水量和污染物质量叠加所确定的水和污染物析出入河过程一致。平衡分析表明,单位面积冻土中水、NH4+和NO3-析出量占未融化层以上水、NH4+和NO3-析出量的32.9%~74.6%,96.3%~243%,28.6~182%,占土壤最大冻结深度以上水、NH4+和NO3-析出量的10.6%~59.2%,26.4%~110%以及17.6~76.4%。     

添加脲酶抑制剂NBPT对麦秆还田稻田氨挥发的影响

氨挥发是稻田氮素损失的重要途径,为探明脲酶抑制剂NBPT对小麦秸秆还田稻田中氨挥发的影响,采用密闭室通气法,在太湖地区乌珊土上,研究了脲酶抑制剂n-丁基硫代磷酰三胺(NBPT)对小麦秸秆还田稻田中施肥后尿素水解和氨挥发动态变化的影响。结果表明:稻田氨挥发损失主要集中在基肥和分蘖肥时期。添加NBPT可明显延缓尿素水解,推迟田面水NH4+-N峰值出现的时间,并降低NH4+-N峰值,降低了田面水氨挥发速率和挥发量。NBPT的效果在基肥和分蘖肥施用后尤为明显,不加NBPT时施入的尿素在2~3 d内基本水解彻底,NH4+-N和氨挥发速率在第2 d即达到峰值,两次施肥后NH4+-N峰值分别为132.3 mg·L-1和66.3mg·L-1,氨挥发峰值为15.6 kg·hm-2·d-1和10.4 kg·hm-2·d-1;而添加NBPT后,NH4+-N峰值推迟至施肥后第4 d出现,NH4+-N峰值降至70.7 mg·L-1和51.6 mg·L-1,氨挥发峰值降至4.7 kg·hm-2·d-1和2.6 kg·hm-2·d-1。添加NBPT使稻田氨挥发损失总量从73.3 kg(N)·hm-2(占施氮量的24.4%)降低至34.5 kg(N)·hm-2(占施氮量的11.5%),降低53%。在添加小麦秸秆稻田中添加NBPT通过延缓尿素水解而显著降低了氨挥发损失。     

三种氮肥对红壤硝化作用及酸化过程影响的研究

以安徽郎溪耕地红壤耕层土壤为对象,采用室内恒温培养方法,研究了CO(NH2)2、(NH4)2SO4及NH4HCO3 3种氮肥在不同施用量条件下对土壤硝化作用及酸化过程的影响。结果表明:对照处理土壤的净硝化速率为(NO2-+NO3-)-N 25.7 mol /(kg?d);3种化学氮肥添加到土壤后均显著促进了土壤的硝化作用,CO(NH2)2、NH4HCO3处理土壤的净硝化速率分别为(NO2-+NO3-)-N 51.3～189.6、50.7～149.9 mol /(kg?d),且净硝化速率随氮肥用量增加而增加;(NH4)2SO4处理土壤的净硝化速率为(NO2-+NO3-)-N 60.5～107.9 mol /(kg?d),以施用量N 150 mg /kg时最大。研究同时发现, 3种化学氮肥均导致土壤pH下降,CO(NH2)2、 NH4HCO3处理土壤pH较对照处理分别下降0.11～0.43、0.02～0.36 pH单位,氮肥施用越多,pH下降越大;(NH4)2SO4处理土壤pH较对照处理下降0.08～0.26 pH单位,以施用量N 150 mg /kg时下降最大, N 300 mg /kg时下降最小。统计分析表明,土壤pH与土壤中(NO2-+NO3-)-N含量呈极显著负相关,土壤酸化速率与净硝化速率有显著的线性相关关系,说明氮肥通过硝化作用影响土壤酸度。     

下辽河平原潮棕壤撂荒地和人工林N2O、CH4排放研究

采用静态箱(暗箱)气相色谱法对下辽河平原潮棕壤撂荒地和人工林N2O、CH4排放进行了为期1年的原位测量,同时测量了土壤温湿度、气温,土壤NO3-N、NH4 -N含量等相关因子.结果表明,在观测期间内人工林地土壤的N2O排放通量明显高于撂荒地.撂荒地是大气CH4的源,而人工林则是CH4的汇.对人工林的观测结果表明,N2哦O排放与CH4排放之间存在负相关关系(R2=-0.351,p＜0.05,n=36);而撂荒地两种气体排放之间无明显相关关系.N2O排放通量和温度变化有很好的相关性.当土壤含水量在200 g/kg以上时,土壤含水量与CH4气体排放具有较好的正相关关系.     

华北平原冬小麦/夏玉米轮作田土壤N2O通量特征及影响因素

采用静态箱/气相色谱法对华北平原冬小麦/夏玉米轮作田土壤N2O通量进行周年观测,研究轮作田土壤N2O源的大小及其变化规律,分析土壤温度、水分、有效氮含量对土壤N2O通量的影响。结果表明,土壤N2O通量季节变化明显且变化主要是由施肥引起的。麦田土壤N2O通量变化范围为-36~835μg.m-2.h-1,玉米田为-1~263μg.m-2.h-1,麦季土壤N2O排放强度(80.5μg.m-2.h-1)低于玉米季(90.5μg.m-2.h-1)。轮作田土壤N2O年总排放量为6.9kg.hm-2,麦季(4.2kg.hm-2)高于玉米季(2.7kg.hm-2)。土壤N2O通量随地温升高呈指数增长(通过0.01显著水平检验),季节Q10值为2.2,单日的Q10值在3.8~4.5;作物主要生长季(4-10月)土壤N2O通量随土壤中NH4 -N含量的增加呈线性增长(通过0.05显著水平检验),而与土壤含水量和NO3--N含量均未表现出明显数量关系。在作物主要生长季,上述各因子对土壤N2O通量的综合影响极显著(通过0.01显著水平检验),其中土壤含水量和NH4 -N含量是主导因素。     

污泥及其混合堆肥对番茄土壤性质和N_2O排放的影响

目前关于污泥及其生物质堆肥的土地利用过程中土壤性质变化和温室气体排放数据十分缺乏,难以满足农田土壤氮素保存和温室气体减排的需求。该研究通过在番茄种植过程中添加800 kg/hm2新鲜污泥(S-H)、400 kg/hm2新鲜污泥(S-L)、800 kg/hm2秸秆堆肥(VM-S)和800 kg/hm2猪粪堆肥(VM-M),开展土壤性质、无机氮形态、作物生长以及N2O排放特征的研究。结果表明:堆肥处理显著增加了土壤电导率(electric conductivity,EC)(P0.05),其中猪粪堆肥时土壤EC值最大。添加污泥和堆肥都使土壤p H值显著上升(P0.05),最终趋于中性,且VM-M对土壤酸化的抑制效果略优于VM-S。污泥和堆肥处理时土壤NO3--N浓度显著高于对照,且各处理组NO3--N浓度均随时间逐渐下降,NO3--N主要被番茄吸收,部分NO3--N从土壤上层淋溶至下层;NH4+大多数被氧化为NO3-,部分NH4+被植物吸收。在施入的无机氮量相等情况下,VM-M、VM-S、S-H处理组中番茄地上部分生物量分别为1 515、1 383、1 103 g/株,株高分别为56.8、54.5、51.3 cm,对番茄生长的促进效果为VM-MVM-SS-H,而S-H比S-L多施入的氮肥对番茄生长并未起到明显促进作用(P0.05)。与对照相比,污泥或生物质堆肥都显著提高了土壤N2O的排放(P0.05),各处理组N2O的排放均集中于施肥后的前20天,且土壤N2O的排放通量大小顺序为S-L(0.76 kg/(hm2·a))VM-M(0.95 kg/(hm2·a))VM-S(1.19 kg/(hm2·a))S-H(1.71 kg/(hm2·a))。因此,在进行污泥及其生物质堆肥的土地利用时,应考虑有机肥的种类及其施用量,以在提高作物产量的同时改善土壤并减少温室气体排放,在进行污泥的农田利用时可先将污泥与畜禽粪堆肥。     

亚热带农业小流域水系N2O扩散通量及其影响因素

为研究亚热带丘陵地区农业小流域水系溶存N2O的扩散传输特性,利用双层扩散模型法,研究了一年周期内(2014年4月-2015年4月)脱甲河小流域4级河段N2O浓度和扩散通量的时空变化规律及其与环境变量的相关关系。结果显示:1)脱甲河水体氨态氮(NH4+-N)、硝态氮(NO3--N)、溶解性有机碳(dissolved organic carbon,DOC)和电导率(electrical conductivity,EC)的年变化范围分别是0.004~8.32(均值1.29±1.49)mg/L、0.01~3.05(均值1.43±0.63)mg/L、0.92~6.72(均值2.99±1.25)mg/L和50.36~248.43(均值138.37±47.56)μS/cm,相应的河流N2O浓度和扩散通量的年变化范围分别是0.006~1.38(均值0.15±0.26)μmol/L和-0.88~337.94(均值32.50±56.41)μg/(m2·h);2)除在冬季河流源头区域观测到个别的负通量外,N2O扩散通量在一年时间内几乎持续处于正值,呈现明显的季节变化特征。其季节变化规律为:冬高(70.93±90.89)μg/(m2·h),夏低(12.04±9.02)μg/(m2·h);空间上呈随河流污染负荷梯度的增加通量逐步增加的模式;3)影响脱甲河水体溶存N2O浓度的显著性因子有EC(r=0.45,P0.05)、NH4+-N(r=0.44,P0.05)、NO3--N(r=0.52,P0.05)和DOC(r=0.49,P0.05);水体N2O扩散通量与NH4+-N(r=0.50,p0.05)、NO3--N(r=0.58,P0.05)、DOC(r=0.46,P0.05)和EC(r=0.50,P0.05)呈显著正相关,与水体温度T(r=-0.24,P0.05)呈显著负相关。研究表明,脱甲小流域内,农业面源污染、畜禽养殖以及居民生活废水和污水的排入造成的河流水体污染负荷增大是导致脱甲河水体溶存N2O扩散通量急剧增加的主要原因。该研究可为研究亚热带丘陵地区水系或类似河流N2O扩散特征及影响因素响应机制提供参考。     

Accumulation of copper in soils and leaves of tomato plants in greenhouses in Turkey

Copper (Cu)‐containing fertilizers, fungicides, and bactericides has been used extensively in the greenhouses in the Antalya province in recent decades with the use of such materials tending to increase year by year. The level of DTPA‐extractable Cu was determined in 210 soils (0–20 and 20–40 cm depth) and 105 leaf samples obtained from 105 tomato greenhouses. The DTPA‐extractable Cu contents of the soils taken from the 0–20 depth ranged between 0.76 and 88.03 mg kg^‐1 (mean 7.79 mg kg^‐1). The percentage of soils containing DTPA‐extractable Cu greater than the critical toxicity level (20 mg kg^‐1) was 8.1. The Cu content of tomato leaf samples ranged between 2.4 and 1,490 mg kg^‐1 (mean 166.5 mg kg^‐1). The Cu concentration in leaf samples was very high due to the intensive use of foliar applied Cu‐containing chemicals. As a consequence, 24.8% of the leaf tomato samples analyzed contained over 200 mg Cu kg^‐1, the maximum accepted tolerance level. Therefore, it may be necessary to reduce the use of Cu‐containing pesticides and fertilizers, or at least reduce the amount of Cu‐containing fertilizers being used in those greenhouses where Cu‐containing pesticides have been or are being used.     

Role of selenium in mitigation of cadmium toxicity in pepper grown in hydroponic condition

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for humans but is not considered as essential for plants. However, its beneficial role in improving plant growth and stress tolerances is well established. In order to study the role of Se in cadmium (Cd) toxicity in pepper (Capsicum frutescens cv. Suryankhi Cluster), this experiment was carried out in greenhouse conditions. Treatments comprised Cd [0, 0.25, and 0.5 mM cadmium chloride (CdCl₂)] and Se [0, 3, and 7 µM sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃)] with three replications. The result showed that Cd decreased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids, whereas Se supplementation diminished Cd toxicity on photosynthetic pigment. Selenium at 7 µM significantly increased the leaf area in the plants grown at 0.25 mM Cd. The application of Se at 3 µM with 0.25 mM Cd and Se at 3 µM and Se at 7 µM with 0.5 mM Cd increased the activity of catalase (CAT). Selenium at 7 µM decreased the proline content of pepper leaves exposed to Cd at 0.5 mM (30%). Selenium significantly enhanced the antioxidant activity of leaves, which was diminished by Cd toxicity. In general, Se has a beneficial effect on plant growth and is an antioxidant enzyme of pepper cv. Suryankhi Cluster under Cd stress and non-stress conditions.     

Occurrence of Sexual Hormones in Sediments of Mangrove in Brazil

The presence of sexual hormones (female estrogens) was assessed in sediments of a mangrove located in the urban region of southern Brazil. The estrogens are involved in human sexual reproduction. They act as the chemical messengers, and they are classified as natural and synthetic. The estrogens inputs in the environment are from treated and untreated sewage. The presence of estrogens in sewage is excretion from the female due to natural production and use of contraceptives (synthetic estrogens). With the indiscriminate release of sewage into the environment, estrogens can be found in rivers, lakes, and even in oceans. In this work, the presence of estrone (E1), 17-??-estradiol (E2), and 17-??-ethynilestradiol (EE2) in eight sedimentary stations in Itacorubi mangrove located on Santa Catarina Island, south Brazil, was investigated. Historically, the Itacorubi mangrove has been impacted by anthropogenic activities because the mangrove is inserted in the urban area of the Florianopolis. The estrogen EE2, used as contraceptive, had the highest concentration in mangrove sediment, 129.75?±?3.89 ng/g. E2 was also found, with its concentration ranging from 0.90?±?0.03 to 39.77?±?1.19 ng/g. Following the mechanism, under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, E2 will first be oxidized to E1, which is further oxidized to unknown metabolites and finally to CO₂ and water (mineralized). EE2 is oxidized to unknown metabolites and also finally mineralized. Theoretically, under anaerobic conditions, EE2 can be reduced to E1 even in environments such as mangrove which is essentially anaerobic.     

红壤区不同肥力水稻土根际硝化作用特征

通过根际培养箱(三室)——速冻切片技术研究了红壤地区高、低两种肥力下水稻苗期根表、根际和土体土壤矿质态氮含量和硝化强度,以及水稻生长、氮素积累的差异。结果表明,肥力水平对水稻根表和根际土壤铵态氮(NH4+-N)含量无显著影响,但高肥力显著提高土体土壤NH4+-N含量,以及根表、根际和土体土壤硝态氮(NO3--N)含量及硝化强度。两种肥力水稻土硝化强度最大值均出现在距根表2 mm处,分别为0.20和0.31μmol kg-1 h-1。土体土壤硝化强度随距根表距离增加而降低,低肥力土壤在距根表10～40mm处时硝化强度接近本底值,而高肥力土壤在距根表20～40 mm处时接近本底值。与不种水稻的CK相比,种植水稻显著提高根际土壤硝化强度。高肥力能显著改善水稻生长,增加植株氮素积累量,尤其显著促进根系生长及通气组织发育。由于红壤稻田肥力水平的差异造成水稻根际硝化强度以及水稻吸收NO3-的差异,导致高肥条件下水稻显示出更强的生长势和氮素吸收利用能力。因此,合理提高红壤稻田肥力水平对改善红壤区水稻根际土壤硝化作用及水稻氮素营养具有重要意义。     

自由基在鸡肾病发生中的作用研究

肾病即急性肾小管坏死.鸡肾病在养鸡生产中极为常见,尤其近年来,鸡肾病的发生日益增多,由于其发生机制不清楚,临床治疗鸡肾病的依据不足,致使治疗效果不佳,为此,提出本研究以探讨鸡肾病的发生机制,为本病防治提供理论依据.     

Effect of iron-quercetin complex on reduction of nitrite in in vitro and in vivo systems

This study investigated whether reducing agents such as quercetin and iron(II) facilitate formation of nitric oxide (NO) gas from orally ingested nitrite in an vivo study. When 3 mg/kg Na (15)NO2 was orally administered to rats with or without iron(II) or quercetin, Hb (15)NO, which is indicative of systemic (15)NO, was detected in the blood, with the maximum blood concentration of Hb (15)NO at 15 min after nitrite or nitrite plus quercetin treatment, whereas after administration of nitrite plus iron(II) or nitrite plus iron(II) and quercetin, the time was shortened to 10 min. Interestingly, iron(II), quercetin, or iron(II) plus quercetin did not affect the total amount of Hb (15)NO generated from orally administered Na (15)NO2. However, the systemic nitrite concentration was significantly decreased in the presence of iron(II) or iron(II) plus quercetin. These results may indicate that iron(II) is critical to the generation of NO gas from nitrite, whereas quercetin contributed little under the in vivo experimental conditions.     

旱地果园水肥管理模式研究进展

分析了旱地果园水肥管理模式的研究进展和存在问题,指出水肥胁迫尤其是水钾已成为旱区果树高产稳产优质化的主要限制因子。在系统探讨旱地果园水分管理、养分管理、综合管理以及果树叶营养综合诊断施肥标准的基础上,提出了旱地果园的高效水肥管理模式。     

Meta-analysis in the Selection of Groups in Varieties of Citrus

Brazil is the largest producer of oranges (Citrus sinensis) in the world. The nutrient management of tree orchards is designed from experiments with a limited number of varieties. This knowledge is transferred to other varieties by diagnosing tissue nutrient composition and tree demand. Compositional data analysis has been first applied to tissue analysis of agricultural crops using centered log ratios with compositional nutrient diagnosis (CND-clr). The isometric log ratio (ilr) transformation is a new approach based on binary nutrient ratios and the principle of orthogonality (CND-ilr). We analyzed eleven nutrients: nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), boron (B), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) in leaf tissue samples across 108 commercial plots (thirty-one grow Valencia, twenty-two Hamlim, twenty Pera, and thirty-five Natal). Nutrients were partitioned between macro- and micronutrients as well as anionic and cationic species. The effect size of varieties over Valencia was quantified by the mean and standard deviation of ilr values across ilr coordinates. Specific varietal nutrient profiles and ilr norms were defined. The nutrient profile of orange varieties could be classified into homogeneous groups to take advantage of fertilizer trials conducted on varieties of the same group. The Aitchison distance and a perturbation vector could be instrumental for diagnostic purposes and nutrient management.     

Role of aldehyde oxidase in the hepatic in vitro metabolism of 3-methylindole in pigs

The metabolism of 3-hydroxy-3-methylindolenine (HMI), a recently discovered metabolite of 3-methylindole (3MI, skatole) produced by porcine liver microsomes, was investigated in vitro using porcine liver cytosol. HMI was rapidly metabolized to a single product, 3-hydroxy-3-methyloxindole (HMOI), by porcine cytosol. By the use of the selective inhibitors menadione and quinacrine, it was shown that the enzyme responsible for the oxidation of HMI into HMOI was aldehyde oxidase (AO; aldehyde:oxygen oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.3.1). The activity of AO in the conversion of HMI to HMOI was measured in a population of pigs (n = 30) with a wide range of 3MI levels in back fat (0.07-0.30 mg/kg). AO activity was found to be negatively correlated (r = -0.70; P < 0.001) with the level of 3MI in fat. The results of the present study suggest that AO plays an important role in the metabolism of 3MI in the pig and that its catalytic activity is related to an adequate 3MI clearance.     

Role of hydrocolloids in the creaming of oil in water emulsions

The influence of guar gum and xanthan gum on the creaming of 10% oil in water emulsions has been investigated. The presence of very low concentrations of the polysaccharides (typically < approximately 0.075%) was found to induce depletion flocculation of the emulsion droplets and increased the rate of creaming. However, at higher polysaccharide concentrations (typically > approximately 0.1%) the creaming rate was reduced due to the increased viscosity of the aqueous phase. For most systems a delay period was noted before creaming started, which was found to be dependent on the zero shear viscosity of the continuous phase and independent of polysaccharide type. The delay period increased significantly at zero shear viscosities approaching 1 Pa s. A mathematical model has been used to fit the creaming rate profiles and a simple exponential relationship obtained between delay time and polysaccharide concentration.