Distribution of Total and DTPA‐Extractable Zinc,Copper, Manganese,and Iron in Vertisols of India

Abstract

Vertisols of India are developed over isohyets of 600 to 1500 mm, and their chemical cycles are set by drainage, landforms, and particle size, which results in variable pedogenic development within the otherwise homogeneous soils. The purpose of this study was to identify pedogenic processes in the distribution of total and DTPA‐extractable zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe). The soils are developed over basaltic parent material of Cretaceous age. Soil samples were drawn from genetic horizons of the 13 benchmark profiles and analyzed by using HF–HClO₄ acid for total and DTPA extraction. Correlation coefficients were calculated taking all samples together. The total concentration varied from 24 to 102 mg kg^?1 for Zn, 21 to 148 mg kg^?1 for Cu, 387 to 1396 mg kg^?1 for Mn, and 2.36 to 9.50% for Fe. Their variability was proisotropic and haplodized, and their concentrations increased with advancing isohyets. Within the isohyets, hindrance in drainage caused retention of Zn and Cu but loss of Fe. The piedmont soils had more Fe than alluvium soils. The spatial distribution of total contents of Zn, Cu, and Fe was influenced by the pedogenic processes associated with Haplusterts but not with provenance materials. Surface concentrations of the elements by biotic lifting and/or harvest removal were negated by the pedoturbation that further contributed to the irregular distribution of the elements in the profiles. Total Zn and total Cu had positive coefficients of correlations with coarse clay, whereas total Mn and total Fe were positively correlated with fine clay. The DTPA‐extractable forms were functions of isohyets and drainage and showed association with organic carbon content and coarse clay.     

Influence of trenching,soil amendments,and mulching on the mineral content,growth, yield,and quality of “Italian” prunes

Abstract

Yields were evaluated three years after applied treatments to determine if responses that were not evident during earlier years eventually occurred. Potassium sulfate was applied to established, non‐irrigated, K deficient trees on fine textured soil by banding, placing in augered holes, adding to the backfilled trenches, and by injecting into the soil. Trenches were dug in the fall beside trees to break roots and ammended during backfilling with K₂SO₄, dolomite lime or combinations of the two. Additional trees received a heavy compost mulch in the early fall. Trenching treatments were generally detrimental. Trenching alone reduced yield and leaf Ca but increased fruit soluble solids content. Trenching plus K₂SO₄, trenching and lime, all soil amendments, and mushroom compost elevated leaf K from deficient or below normal to the normal range, but decreased leaf Mg. Most K application techniques eventually increased yield, but simple surface applications of K₂SO₄ in a narrow band were as effective as other more costly procedures. Mulching treatments appear to be as effective as K additions and produce quicker yield responses. Mushroom composts and alfalfa increased leaf N and yield in two years. Mushroom compost doubled yield even three years after a single application.     

Cultivation of potato – use of plastic mulch and row covers on soil temperature,growth, nutrient status,and yield

Potato is one of the most important crops in the world because of its high nutritional value; however, traditional cultivation in bare soil may render low yields and poor quality. Crop production efficiency can be increased by using plastic mulching and row covers to modify root zone temperature and plant growth, in addition to reduction in pest damage and enhance production in cultivated plants. However, there is little information demonstrating the effect of row covers in combination with plastic mulch on potato. The aim of this study was to assess the change in root zone temperature and its effect on growth, leaf nutrient, and yield of potato using plastic mulch of different colors, in combination with row covers. Seed of cultivar Mondial was planted in May 2012. The study included four plastic films: black, white/black, silver/black, aluminum/black, and a control with bare soil, which were evaluated alone and in combination with row covers removed at 30 days after sowing in a split-plot design. Higher yields were obtained when no row cover (43.2 t ha^?1) and the white/black film (42.2 t ha^?1) were used. Leaf nitrogen, sulfur, and manganese concentration were higher in plants when row cover was used; in contrast, no–row cover plants were higher in Fe and Zn. Mulched plants were higher in Mn concentration than control plants. There was a quadratic relationship between mean soil temperature and total yield (R² = 0.94), and between plant biomass and total yield (R² = 0.98), between leaf area with total yield (R² = 0.98).     

Effects of phosphate,nitrate and chloride on calcium,magnesium and manganese content of cigar‐wrapper tobacco

Abstract

Nutrient solutions containing three levels of phosphate, nitrate, and chloride were applied to cigar‐wrapper tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants growing in sand culture for a period of 18 days. Concentrations of other nutrient elements in the nutrient solutions were held constant and the solutions were applied to pots as needed to maintain favorable moisture conditions for plant growth. Plants were in the two leaf stage when transplanted and were maintained on a single nutrient solution for 38 days before treatments were started. At the end of an eight weeks growing period, plant leaves were harvested and analyzed for Ca, Mg, and Mn. Dry matter yield was significantly (P=0.01) increased when 2 mM/1 of Ca(NO₃)₂ replaced an equivalent amount of Ca(H₂PO₄)₂ or CaCl₂ in the nutrient solution. Nitrate significantly (P=0.05) increased Ca and Mg content and decreased Mn concentration in leaf tissue in comparison to chloride. Calcium and Mg content were significantly (P=0.05) decreased and Mn content of tobacco leaves was increased by phosphate in comparison to nitrate and chloride.     

Pharmacological, structural, and drug delivery properties and applications of 1,3-β-glucans

1,3-β-Glucans are a class of natural polysaccharides with unique pharmacological properties and the ability to form single- and triple-helical structures that can be formed into resilient gels with the application of heat and humidity. The pharmacological capabilities of 1,3-β-glucans include the impartation of tumor inhibition, resistance to infectious disease, and improvements in wound healing. Curdlan is a linear 1,3-β-glucan that has been used extensively to study the nature of these helical structures and gels, and Curdlan sulfates have found ongoing application in the inhibition of HIV infection. 1,3-β-Glucan gels have been used in food science as stabilizers and encapsulating agents, in nanoscience as scaffolds to build nanofibers and nanowires, and in drug delivery to form nanoparticles and create helical micelles encapsulating polynucleotides. 1,3-β-Glucans are beginning to have enormous significance due to their dual nature as structure-forming agents and pharmacological substances, and research is especially focused on the application of these polymers in animal nutrition and drug delivery.     

Influence of different calcium materials and spray timing on mineral composition,yield, fruit quality,and control of fruit disorders of ‘anjou’ pears

During a six‐year period (1980, 1985–1989), 20 different calcium (Ca) materials were sprayed at an early (3X; June to July), late (3X; July to August), and an early plus late (5X; June to August) timing on 25‐year‐old ‘Anjou’ pear (Pyrus communis L.) trees. Calcium chloride (CaCl₂) sprays increased fruit Ca in the cortex by an average of 10.5% greater than in unsprayed controls and cork spot was reduced by an average of six‐fold. Yield from trees sprayed with Ca materials averaged greater than 13% more crop load than the unsprayed control trees. Leaf and fruit injury from CaCl₂ sprays in 1980 were near borderline acceptability, but injury was reduced slightly by halving the spray concentration rate to 681 g CaCl₂ per 379 liters of water in 1985 to 1989. Due to temperatures above 26°C, leaf and fruit injury from Ca sprays, particularly calcium nitrate [Ca(NO₃)₂], were more severe for the late or early plus late sprays than for the early sprays. Fruit size was slightly larger on trees sprayed only three times (early or late sprays) versus trees sprayed five times during the season (early plus late sprays). Best control of cork spot occurred with early plus late sprays. Best control of alfalfa greening and black end occurred with late or early plus late sprays. The importance of fruit Ca for controlling cork spot is illustrated when triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) was sprayed on trees which resulted in reduced fruit Ca and increased incidence of fruit disorders, alfalfa greening, black end, and cork spot. Sprays containing nitrates or sulfates were frequently associated with a higher incidence of fruit disorders. Although fruit quality was not significantly influenced by Ca treatments or spray time, it was related to Ca in fruit peel or cortex due to annual variations in Ca concentrations.     

Effect of sulfur and molybdenum levels on growth,nitrate‐assimilation,and nutrient con‐tent of Phalaris

An experiment was conducted with Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Sirolan under hydroponic conditions in the glasshouse at constant temperature of 25°C and natural sunlight. Plants were grown in double pot system with four sulfur and three molybdenum levels along with all the major‐ and micro‐nutrient elements. There was increase in growth, nitrate‐reductase activity and contents of most of the nutrient elements at all levels of sulfur and 1.68 μ/L molybdenum. Molybdenum at 3.36 μg/L level inhibited growth and nitrate‐reductase activity and decreased concentration of nutrient elements in plant. The inhibitory effect of higher level of molybdenum is perhaps mediated through its role in the nitrate‐reductase.     

Impact of Postharvest Sprays of Nitrogen,Boron and Zinc on Nutrition,Reproductive Response and Fruit Quality of ‘Schattenmorelle’ Tart Cherries

The aim of the study was to examine effects of fall sprays of nitrogen (N), boron (B) and zinc (Zn) on nutrition, reproductive response, and fruit quality of tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L.). The experiment was conducted during 2008–2010 in Poland on mature ‘Schattenmorelle’ sour cherry trees, planted at a spacing of 4.0 × 1.5 m on a coarse-textured soil with low level of organic matter, and adequate reaction and availabilities of macro- and micronutrients. Tart cherries were sprayed with boric acid-B, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-Zn, and urea-N at 40–50 d prior to initiation of leaf fall according to following schema: (i) spray of N at a rate of 23 kg ha^?1; (ii) spray of B and Zn at doses of 1.1 kg ha^?1 and 0.5 kg ha^?1, respectively; and (iii) spray of N, B, and Zn at the same rates as in the above spray combinations. The trees sprayed with water were served as the control. The results showed that postharvest spray treatments had no effect on defoliation, cold damage of flower buds, fruit set, yielding, plant N status, mean fruit weight, and soluble solids concentration in fruit. Postharvest sprays of B and Zn with or without N enhanced status of Zn and B in fall leaves, and B in flowers but had no impact on levels of the above micronutrients in summer leaves. Leaf-absorbed B was withdrawn in the fall, whereas Zn was immobile. It is concluded that postharvest B sprays can be recommended to increase B status in flowers of tart cherry, whereas fall sprays of urea-N and Zn are not able to improve plant nutrition of those nutrients the following season.     

Does Fumigation of Durum Wheat and Semolina with Sulfuryl Fluoride Affect Quality of the Grain,Semolina, and Derived Spaghetti and Bread?

There is no information on the effect of sulfuryl fluoride (SF) on durum wheat technological properties and products made from fumigated durum wheat. Durum wheat and semolina were exposed to a range of SF applications under conditions that might be typically encountered in bulk storage facilities used in many countries. SF greatly reduced the germination percentage of fumigated durum wheat, with increasing impact under higher SF concentration, grain moisture content, and fumigation temperature. SF greatly reduced seed germination percentage, impacting more the higher the SF concentration. SF had little to no effect on grain test weight, 1,000‐grain weight, hardness, protein content, semolina ash content, and mixograph properties. At the highest SF concentration (31.25 mg/L for 48 h) there was a tendency for pasta cooking loss to be increased but still acceptable, and other pasta properties were largely unaffected. Fumigation with SF did not have any impact on the baking properties of a wholemeal durum flour–commercial flour mix. Therefore, SF is not recommended if the grains are to be used as seeds for agricultural production, but for the production of semolina, pasta, and bread, SF used under typical fumigation conditions has little to no impact on technological properties of durum wheat.     

Effect of calcium spray materials,rate, time of spray application,and rootstocks on fruit quality of ‘red’ and ‘golden delicious’ apples

Calcium (Ca) spray materials improved fruit quality as measured by control of bitter pit, fruit finish (appearance), increased red skin color, reduced incidence of scald, increased juiciness, texture, and fruit firmness of ‘Red’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ apples (Malus domestica, Borkh.). Concentrations of Ca in leaf and fruit tissues were increased by Ca sprays, especially calcium chloride (CaCl₂)‐containing spray materials. Improved fruit firmness and control of bitter pit occurred for either standard recommended or high rates of Ca spray materials. At high rates of application, the only significant difference that occurred between early and late applications of Ca spray materials was that less leaf injury occurred with the early applications. Unsprayed ‘Red Delicious’ fruit from M.7 rootstocks had greater fruit peel Ca concentrations and a lower incidence of bitter pit but smaller fruit than fruit from trees on M.26 rootstocks. The above information is strong evidence that Ca sprays are important for the improvement of apple quality.     

Yield,forage quality,and nitrogen recovery rates of double‐cropped millet and ryegrass

Abstract

Pearl millet and annual ryegrass were continually doubled‐cropped on Olivier silt loam soil for seven years at six levels of N, applied as ammonium nitrate in three applications to millet and in two applications to ryegrass. Forage yields increased as N application rates increased. During seven years at the 0 and 448 kg/ha N rate, millet produced 35% and 95%, respectively, as much yield as it produced at the 800 kg/ha N rate, while comparable values for ryegrass were 19% and 83%. At 448 kg/ha of N the two grasses produced a combined yield of over 20 Mg/ha of dry forage per year. Ryegrass yields following millet were consistently lower than yields previously obtained at this site.

Nitrogen applications consistently increased concentrations of N, Ca, and Mg in both forage grasses, while effects on P and K were variable and S concentrations were unaffected. The amounts of all nutrients removed in the forages were increased as yields increased with N application rates. Nitrate‐N levels considered to be toxic to ruminant animals occurred only where N applications exceeded 170 kg/ha at any one time. In vitro digestibility of each grass was consistently increased by N applications.

The percentage of fertilizer N that was removed in the crops ranged from 66% to 68% for millet and from 35 to 52% for ryegrass as N applications increased up to 448 kg/ha. Residual ammonium and nitrate levels in the top 1.2 m of soil were not increased by N rates of 448 kg/ha or lower. At the 800 kg/ha N‐rate, the apparent N recovery rate decreased and residual ammonium and nitrate levels increased throughout the soil profile.     

Effects of Long‐Term Irrigation using Industrial Wastewater on Soil Properties and Elemental Contents of Rice,Spinach, Clover,and Grass

Abstract

Application of industrial wastewater on agricultural lands increased the amounts of elements in soil and plants. To investigate the effects of wastewater on soil properties and element content in soil and plants, wastewaters of three industries (chrome chemical, wood and paper, and textiles) were examined in 2005. At harvest time, the soil samples were taken from depths of 0–15 and 15–30 cm, and the roots and shoots of rice, spinach, clover, and grass and grain of rice in an industrial wastewater–treated area and untreated area were sampled. Results indicated that the concentrations of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and iron (Fe) increased in river water when wastewater was discharged into it. Use of the river water, influenced by industrial wastewater, for irrigation of rice and other plants increased the amounts of organic matter and available Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe in soil. Cation exchange capacity was correlated with available Cu and Fe in soil (+0.431** and +0.499**, respectively). Soil organic matter was correlated with available Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe in soil. However, the clay content in soil did not correlate with these elements. Meanwhile, in roots, shoots, and grains of rice and roots and shoots of spinach, clover, and grasses of agricultural land influenced by industrial wastewater, the amounts of Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe increased. Therefore, by increasing the amount of Mn in the soil, the concentration of Zn in rice grain decreased and the concentration of Cu and Mn increased. Transferred Zn concentrations to rice grain and shoots of spinach, clover, and grass were more than Cu and Mn and increased in rice grain.     

Adsorption of Copper,Zinc, and Cadmium on Goethite,Aluminum‐Substituted Goethite,and a System of Kaolinite–Goethite: Surface Complexation Modeling

Abstract

Goethite, aluminum‐(Al)‐substituted goethite (GA2), and a system of kaolinite–goethite were examined for their ability to adsorb copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) as a function of pH, in two ionic strengths and two different metal concentrations. Specific surface area was determined by BET‐N₂, whereas the charge development on the solid surface was studied in the pH range ～3.5 to ～10.0 by potentiometric titration under continuous flow of argon.

Constant capacitance (CCM) and the double‐layer model (DLM) were used to fit the titration and adsorption data with the help of the least‐square optimization program FITEQL32. In both models, surface site density was fixed at Ns=2.31 sites nm^?2, whereas for CCM capacitance density was set at C=1.06. Alternatively, bibliographic suggestions for these two parameters were examined.

Aluminum‐substituted goethite exhibited higher specific surface area and adsorbed all three metals in lower pH values than the other solids. Moreover, GA2 exhibited point of zero salt effect (PZSE) higher than goethite, approaching that corresponding to Al₂O₃, possibly due to Al‐substitution, and the system exhibited PZSE values much higher than kaolinite, approaching that corresponding to goethite. The adsorption order for all three solids was Cu>Zn>Cd in any case, thus more Cu is adsorbed at a certain pH than Zn and even more than Cd, whereas the increase of metal concentration shifts the adsorption curve toward higher pH values.

Constant capacitance described the titration data satisfactorily, but by altering the Ns and C values, the fit became worse. Adsorption data are described by CCM, by emphasizing the formation of monodentate surface complex. Bidentate complex, in most of the cases, was of no importance in describing the data despite the evidence of its presence in recent spectroscopic studies for Cu and Cd on goethite. Alteration of Ns and C values worsened the fit in any case, and bidentate complex vanished. The DLM exhibited the worse fit in any case.     

Effect of wetting and drying on DTPA‐extractable Fe,Zn, Mn,and Cu in soils

Abstract

The study reported herein was intended to determine the effect of (i) wet‐incubation and subsequent air‐drying, and (ii) oven‐drying on DTPA‐Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu.

Analysis of wet‐incubated soils showed significant decreases in DTPA‐Fe, Mn, and Cu at the 1% and Zn at the 10% level of probability. Air‐drying of these moist‐incubated soils increased the levels of Fe, Zn, and Cu to values close to their original levels. Levels of Mn sharply deviated from their original values after air‐drying of incubated soils. Correlation coefficients (r) between the amounts of extractable nutrients in original air‐dry soils and wet‐incubated soils were 0.54, 0.87, 0.91, and 0.13 for Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn, respectively. Oven‐drying increased the levels of DTPA‐extractable micronutrients from 2 to 6 fold.     

Evaluation of rice–legume–rice cropping system on grain yield,nutrient uptake,nitrogen fixation,and chemical,physical, and biological properties of soil

To achieve higher yields and better soil quality under rice–legume–rice (RLR) rotation in a rainfed production system, we formulated integrated nutrient management (INM) comprised of Azospirillum (Azo), Rhizobium (Rh), and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) with phosphate rock (PR), compost, and muriate of potash (MOP). Performance of bacterial bioinoculants was evaluated by determining grain yield, nitrogenase activity, uptake and balance of N, P, and Zn, changes in water stability and distribution of soil aggregates, soil organic C and pH, fungal/bacterial biomass C ratio, casting activities of earthworms, and bacterial community composition using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting. The performance comparison was made against the prevailing farmers’ nutrient management practices [N/P₂O₅/K₂O at 40:20:20 kg ha⁻¹ for rice and 20:30:20 kg ha⁻¹ for legume as urea/single super-phosphate/MOP (urea/SSP/MOP)]. Cumulative grain yields of crops increased by 7–16% per RLR rotation and removal of N and P by six crops of 2 years rotation increased significantly (P < 0.05) in bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots over that in compost alone or urea/SSP/MOP plots. Apparent loss of soil total N and P at 0–15 cm soil depth was minimum and apparent N gain at 15–30 cm depth was maximum in Azo/Rh plus PSB dual INM plots. Zinc uptake by rice crop and diethylenetriaminepentaacetate-extractable Zn content in soil increased significantly (P < 0.05) in bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots compared to other nutrient management plots. Total organic C content in soil declined at 0–15 cm depth and increased at 15–30 cm depth in all nutrient management plots after a 2-year crop cycle; however, bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots showed minimum loss and maximum gain of total organic C content in the corresponding soil depths. Water-stable aggregation and distribution of soil aggregates in 53–250- and 250–2,000 μm classes increased significantly (P < 0.05) in bacterial bioinoculants-based INM plots compared to other nutrient management plots. Fungal/bacterial biomass C ratio seems to be a more reliable indicator of C and N dynamics in acidic soils than total microbial biomass C. Compost alone or Azo/Rh plus PSB dual INM plots showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher numbers of earthworms’ casts compared to urea/SSP/MOP alone and bacterial bioinoculants with urea or SSP-applied plots. Hierarchical cluster analysis based on similarity matrix of DGGE profiles revealed changes in bacterial community composition in soils due to differences in nutrient management, and these changes were seen to occur according to the states of C and N dynamics in acidic soil under RLR rotation.     

Nitrogen,phosphorus, and potassium effects on pre‐ and post‐transplant growth of salvia and vinca seedlings

Pre‐ and post‐transplant growth of bedding plants is affected by seedling nutrition. However, there is little information available on how seedling nutrition affects the growth of ornamental bedding plants. In this study, we quantified the effects of nitrogen (N) (8 to 32 mM) and phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) concentration (0.25 to 1 mM) of the seedling fertilizer on pre‐ and post‐transplant growth and nutrient element content of salvia (Salvia splendens F. Sellow ex Roem. & Schult.) and vinca (Catharanthus roseus L.) seedlings. Shoot growth of salvia and vinca increased with increasing concentrations of N in the pre‐transplant fertilizer and these differences lasted until the end of the study at 15 days after transplanting. Pre‐transplant root dry mass of these species was not affected by the N concentration of the fertilizer, but root dry mass at 12 days after transplanting was positively correlated with the N concentration of the pre‐transplant fertilizer. Increasing N concentrations in the seedling fertilizer increased tissue N levels of salvia and decreased tissue K level of vinca at transplanting. Increasing P and K concentrations in the pre‐transplant fertilizer increased tissue P level of salvia and P and K levels of vinca, but had little effect on seedling growth. Leaf area and root dry mass at transplanting decreased slightly with increasing P and K concentration in the fertilizer. There were no lasting effects of pre‐transplant P and K concentration of the fertilizer. These results indicate that salvia and vinca seedlings can benefit from high concentrations of N (up to 32 mM) in the fertilizer, while only low concentrations of P and K (0.25 mM) are needed.     

Biotest— and chemistry-based hazard assessment of soils,sediments and solid wastes

Background and Objectives  The current environmental legislation regulating pollution issues is based on total levels of pollutants. This approach is not taking into account the bioavailability of pollutants (that is especially important for an analysis of soils and sediments as heavy metals and hydrophobic organic toxicants tend to sorb to solid matrix) and effects of toxicants in mixtures. Thus, toxicity-based criteria should be added to the currently existing chemical ones for the meaningful evaluation of the environmental hazard. The aim of the current study was 1) to compare the ecotoxicity and chemistry-based environmental evaluations for 27 solid-phase environmental samples (soils, sediments, solid wastes); 2) to suggest the battery of biotests for the screening of water-extracted toxicity. Methods  14 soils, 9 sediments and 4 oil-shale industry solid waste samples from Estonia and Lithuania were analyzed for the concentration of total PAHs, heavy metals, oil products and water-extracted phenols. The pollution level was evaluated by comparison of measured concentrations with Estonian permitted limit values in residential (PLV_r) and industrial (PLV_i) areas for each key pollutant A battery of 8 aquatic toxicity tests was applied for the analysis of aqueous extracts (L/S=3) of samples: tests with microalgaeSelenastrum capricornutum, macroalgaeNitellopsis obtusa, protozoaTetrahymena thermophila, crustaceansDaphnia magna andThamnocephalus platyurus, rotifersBrachionus calyciflorus and photobacteriaVibrio fiscberi. Particle-bound bioavailable toxicity was evaluated using a kinetic photobacterial assay withVibrio fiscberi (Solid-Phase Flash-Assay). The toxicity data were evaluated by MaxTox index (highest toxic signal of the battery). Results  Chemical evaluation and toxicological evaluation pointed to the same direction in half of the cases (13/27): 5 samples (including 2 presumably clean control soils) proved harmless and 8 hazardous to environment in case of both evaluations. However, there was a disagreement between chemical and toxicological evaluations for the rest of the samples (14/27). In two mismatching cases (soils from the territory of former gasoline stations) the level of oil products exceeded the PLV_r, but no toxicity was detected, most probably due to the low bioavailability of aged pollutants. It must be taken as a warning that a majority of mismatching cases (12/14) of the samples proved to be toxic or even very toxic despite the fact that the measured hazardous key pollutant levels were below the PLVr. Within these 12 samples were 2 soils from municipal dumping sites, 2 soils from the territory of military airport, 6 sediments from Curonian lagoon (Lithuania) and 2 oil-shale industry solid wastes (Estonia). Conclusions  The results of this study show the necessity of biotesting in environmental risk assessment to avoid the falsenegative results that may result in harmful effects for the ecosystems and also to human health. The following, reduced test battery was proposed for the ecotoxicological hazard assessment of water-extractable toxicity of solid-phase samples:Tetrahymena thermophila growth inhibition assay,Daphnia magna mortality assay andSelenastrum capricornutum growth inhibition assay. Also, the Microtox test (Vibrio fiscberi luminescence inhibition assay) could be valuable for screening purposes. For the evaluation of particle-bound, bioavailable toxicity of soil suspensions, Solid-Phase Flash-Assay (test organismVibrio fiscberi) is suggested. Compared to the results obtained with the initial battery of 8 tests, the reduced battery detected the toxicity in 85% of the cases.     

Comparison of broiler litter and inorganic nitrogen,phosphorus, and potassium for double‐cropped sweet corn and broccoli

Two rates of broiler litter (20 and 40 mt/ha) were compared to recommended rates of inorganic nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) in a double cropping system of spring sweet corn (Zea mays L. ‘Silverqueen') and fall broccoli (Brassica oleracea L, ‘Southern Comet')‐ Sweet corn matured one week earlier both years when fertilized with 40 mt/ha of broiler litter compared to commercial fertilizer. The early maturity may be due to improved P nutrition. Similar or higher yields of fall broccoli were produced with broiler litter following sweet corn than with commercial fertilizer.     

Impact of Supplemental Calcium Chloride on Yield,Quality, Nutrient Status,and Postharvest Attributes of Tomato

Little is known regarding the impact of calcium chloride applications during growth and development on tomato postharvest quality. This trial investigated supplemental calcium chloride applications on yield, nutrient content, texture, and postharvest quality of tomato fruit. Calcium (Ca) nutrient solution concentrations were: 60, 180, and 360 mg·L^?1 calcium, while foliar applications were (0, 1, and 2% calcium chloride w/v). Plants grown with 60 mg·L^?1 Ca had a high incidence of blossom end rot, which was not affected by calcium chloride sprays. Fruit nutrient concentrations were affected by calcium delivered through the nutrient solution. As fruit cluster position increased, fruit nutrient concentrations significantly decreased. Foliar calcium chloride sprays affected fruit soluble solids content and dry weight, but did not affect texture. Pericarp elasticity increased concomitantly with calcium in the nutrient solution. Postharvest disease incidence was not affected by calcium treatment, though weight loss during storage was negatively affected by calcium chloride sprays.