Study on Soil and Pine-Seedling Zn and Mn and Predicting-Model Design

Soils were collected from 2-year (2-y) and 3-year (3-y) old red-pine seedling plots in two tree nurseries, Hayward in the north and Wilson in the southwestern part of Wisconsin State respectively, and equilibrated with 0.01 M Ca(NO₃)₂ for soil solution Zn and Mn (solu-Zn and Mn), and with 0.01 M Ca(NO₃)2+0.005 M EDTA for soil adsorbed Zn and Mn (ad-Zn and Mn). Buffering capacity of soil Zn and Mn (b-Zn and Mn) was obtained from the ratio of ad-Zn and Mn to the solu-Zn and Mn. The concerned traces in pine seedling needles (ndls), stems(sts) and roots (rts) were simultaneously measured.     

Mycorrhizal colonization and nutrition of wheat and sweet corn grown in manure‐treated and untreated topsoil and subsoil

Dry bean yields (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were raised to similar levels as the topsoil by manure application to eroded or leveled Portneuf silt loam soil (coarse‐silty mixed mesic Durixerollic Calciorthid). Only soil organic matter and zinc (Zn) content of leaf tissue were correlated with improved yields. Manure application increased mycorrhizal colonization and Zn uptake in pot experiments with dry bean which would explain the increased yields in the field. A field study was conducted to see if similar effects of manure and mycorrhizal colonization could be observed in field grown spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and sweet corn (Zea mays L.). This study was conducted on existing experiments established in the spring of 1991 at the USDA‐ARS farm in Kimberly, Idaho, to study crop rotation/organic matter amendment treatments on exposed subsoils and focused on mycorrhizal colonization as related to topsoils and subsoils treated with conventional fertilizer (untreated) or dairy manure. Mycorrhizal root colonization was higher with untreated than with manure‐treated wheat and sweet corn. Root colonization was also higher in subsoil than in topsoil for wheat, but there were no differences between soils for sweet corn. Shoot Zn and manganese (Mn) concentrations generally increased with increased root colonization for both species (except between soils with corn Mn contents). Wheat shoot potassium (K) concentration was increased by manure application, but the affect declined with time, was the opposite of colonization and was not observed with sweet com. Phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), and copper (Cu) concentrations either were not influenced or were erratically affected by mycorrhizal colonization. Yields of wheat were highest for manure‐treated subsoil and topsoil compared to untreated soils. Mycorrhizal colonization was different between conventional and manure‐treated soils and between topsoil and subsoil and these differences increased Zn and Mn uptake, but they did not explain the improvement in wheat yields obtained with manure application.     

Detection and quantification of apple adulteration in diluted and sulfited strawberry and raspberry purées using visible and near-infrared spectroscopy

Adulteration of sulfited strawberry and raspberry purées by apple is a commercial problem. Strawberry (n = 31) and raspberry (n = 30) purées were prepared from Irish-grown fruit and adulterated at levels of 10-75% w/w using cooking apples. Visible and near-infrared transflectance spectra were recorded using a 0.1 mm sample thickness. Classification and quantification models were developed using raw and scatter-corrected and/or derivatized spectral data. Classification as pure strawberry or raspberry was attempted using soft independent modeling of class analogy. The best models used spectral data in the wavelength ranges 400-1098 nm (strawberry) and 750-1098 nm (raspberry) and produced total correct classification rates of 75% (strawberry) and 95% (raspberry). Quantification of apple content was performed using partial least-squares regression. Lowest predictive errors obtained were 11.3% (raspberry) and 9.0% (strawberry). These results were obtained using spectral data in the wavelength ranges 400-1880 and 1100-1880 nm, respectively. These results suggest minimum detection levels of apple in soft fruit purées of approximately 25 and 20% w/w for raspberry and strawberry, respectively.     

Speciation and biochemical transformations of sulfur and copper in rice rhizosphere and bulk soil—XANES evidence of sulfur and copper associations

Purpose  

Contamination of heavy metals in soil and its subsequent accumulation along the food chain is a potential risk to human health. Cu speciation in soil–plant system, particularly on the availability to plant roots, has obtained great attention. X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy (XANES) provides information about the bonding of Cu soil components at the molecular scale. In paddy soils, changes of redox conditions led to microbially mediated sulfur transformation, thus affecting heavy metal behavior. The objective of this work was to investigate how sulfur transformation in a paddy soil affected Cu biogeochemical processes.     

Crop yield—nitrate‐n and total n and k concentration relationships: Corn and fescuegrass

Abstract

Six greenhouse pot experiments were conducted in which yield and nutrient uptake responses of corn (Zea mays L.) or tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb) to N, P, K, lime, or temperature variables were measured. This paper describes yield—NO₃‐N and total N concentration trends in these experiments. Crop concentrations of total N and NO₃‐N during early growth increased consistently with amount of applied N. These concentrations usually decreased (by dilution and assimilation) with time of growth and yield response to other growth‐limiting nutrients and other factors. Concentrations of K also increased in corn with amount of applied K, and high K was associated with higher concentrations of NO₃‐N during early growth in some experiments. This was usually true only for early crop growth periods during which rates of nutrient uptake exceeded growth rate. High K concentrations may have retarded growth and NO₃‐N reduction and assimilation.     

Seasonal growth and composition and accumulation of N‐P‐K in dryland and irrigated pumpkins

Growth and N‐P‐K uptake in pumpkin (Curcubita moschata Poir.) cv ‘Libby‐Select’ were studied in dryland and irrigated culture. In both moisture regimes, maximum rates of dry matter accumulation occurred between the early and mid‐fruiting developmental stages. Higher total dry matter production with irrigated than dryland culture was primarily associated with increased shoot growth. Concentrations of N, P, and K in foliage generally decreased as pumpkin age increased. Irrigated pumpkins in conjunction with higher total vegetative dry matter accumulated more N, P, and K than dryland pumpkins. Up through early fruit development, N, P, and K accumulation was primarily in leaves and vines and by the late growth stages was almost entirely in the fruit. Total N, P, and K uptake at late fruiting was estimated at 219, 32, and 228 kg/ha in irrigated pumpkins and 180, 21, and 177 kg/ha in dryland pumpkins. Approximately 58% of the N, 52% of the K, and 68% of the P accumulated by late‐fruiting was absorbed by the plant after the early‐fruiting stage in both moisture regimes. Potassium redistribution from vegetative tissues during late fruit development decreased foliar K contents 32% in dryland pumpkins and 21% in irrigated pumpkins.     

Fruit set and yield of Pepino Dulce response to nitrate‐nitrogen and salinity levels and thinning of side branches and trusses 1

Three pepino dulce (Solanum muricatum Ait.) selections were fertigated with nitrate‐nitrogen at 3, 6, or 12 mmol/L, and 0,3, or 6 dS/m chloride ions. Plants treated with nitrate‐nitrogen at 6 mmol/L bore heavier yields of larger fruit than those at 3 mmol/L. Further increase in nitrate‐nitrogen application to 12 mmol/L did not result in yield increase. Salt decreased yield in all cases. Heavy fruit set was recorded in plants trimmed to two main shoots, and thinning to three sets per truss resulted in even fruit distribution between trusses.     

Dissolution and Fractionation of Calcium—Bound and Iron—and Aluminum—Bound Humus in Soils

This paper deals with the development of a sequential extraction method to separate the Ca-bound and Fe-and Al-bound humus from soils.First,comparative analyses were carried out on dissolution of synthetic organo-mineral complexes by different extractants,i.e.0.1M Na4P2O7,0.1M NaOH 0.1M Na4P2O7 mixture,0.1M NaOH,0.5M (NaPO3)6 and 0.5M neutral Na2SO4.Among the five extractants,0.1M NaOH 0.1M Na4P2O7 mixture was the most efficient in extracting humus from various complexes.0.5M Na2SO4 had a better specificity to Ca than 0.5M (NaPO3)6,by only extracting Ca-bound humus without destorying Fe-and Al-bound organo-mineral complexes.Then sequential extractions first with 0.5M Na2SO4 and then with 0.1M NaOH 0.1M Na4P2O7 mixture were applied to a series of soil samples with different degrees of base saturation.The cations were dominated by Ca in the 0.5M Na2SO4 extract and by Al in the 0.1M NaOH 0.1M Na4P2O7 mixture.The sequential extraction method can efficiently separate or isolate Ca-bound and Fe-and Al-bound humus from each other.     

Toxicity of Cu and Cd in Soils and Detoxication by Additives

Results from laboratory experiments indicated that the concentrations and toxicities of both water-soluble and 0.1 M HCl-extractable Cu and Cd from soils were in the order of red soil> yellow brown earth> black earth. The toxicity of soil varied with the concentrations of metals. The form, concentration and toxicity of Cu and Cd in soils were determined by cation exchange capacity, content of organic matter and composition of clay minerals in the soil. Addition of CaCO3 could significantly decrease the concentration and toxicity of water-soluble and 0.1 M HCl-extractable Cu or Cd from the red soil, and could notably transform the Cu and Cd from the water-soluble or exchangeable form into the organic, free oxides-occluded or sulfic form.     

Streamflow and Soil Moisture of Agroforestry and GrassWatersheds in Hilly Area

A study was conducted in a hilly area of Sichuan Province, Southwestern China, to compare the streamflow and soilmoisture in two upland watersheds with different land use patterns. One was an agroforestry watershed, which consistedmainly of trees with alder (Alnus cremastogyne Burkill) and cypress (Cupressus funebris Endl.) planted in belts or stripswith a coverage of about 46%, and the other was a grassland primarily composed of lalang grass (Imperata cylindricavar. major (Nees) C.E.Hubb.), filamentary clematis (Clematis filamentosa Dunn) and common eulaliopsis (Eulaliopsisbinata (Retz.) C. E. Hubb) with a coverage of about 440/o. Streamflow measurement with a hydrograph established atthe watershed outlet showed that the average annual streamflow per 100 mm rainfall from 1983 to 1992 was 0.36 and1.08 L s^-1 km^-2 for the agroforestry watershed and the grass watershed, respectively. This showed that the streamflowof the agroforestry watershed was reduced by 67% when compared to that of the grass watershed. The peak averagemonthly streamflow in the agroforestry watershed was over 5 times lower than that of the grass watershed and lagged byone month. In addition, the peak streamfiow during a typical rainfall event of 38.3 mm in August 1986 was 37% lowerin the agroforestry watershed than in the grass watershed. Results of the moisture contents of the soil samples from 3slope locations (upper, middle and lower slopes) indicated that the agroforestry watershed maintained generally highersoil moisture contents than the grass watershed within 0-20 and 20-80 cm soil depths for the upper slope, especially forthe period from May through July. For the other (middle and lower) slopes, soil moisture contents within 20-80 cm depthin the agroforestry watershed was generally lower than those in the grass watershed, particularly in September, revealingthat water consumption by trees took place mainly below the plow layer. Therefore, agroforestry land use types mightoffer a complimentary model for tree-annual crop water utilization.     

Phosphorus release from vivianite and hydroxyapatite by organic and inorganic compounds

Based on recent mining rates and the exhaustion of global phosphorus(P)reserves,there is a need to mobilize P already stored in soils,and its recovery from secondary resources such as Ca-and Fe-phosphates is important.The Ca-phosphate hydroxyapatite forms a good fertilizer source,while vivianite is formed in waterlogged soils and sediments.During sludge treatment,the formation of vivianite has been identified,being mainly Fe-phosphate.Long-term P release from both hydroxyapatite and vivianite was studied using different inorganic(CaCl2 and CaSO4)and organic(citric and humic acid)reagents during batch experiments.Reagents CaCl2 and CaSO4 represent the soil solution,while citric and humic acids as organic constituents affect P availability in the rhizosphere and during the process of humification.Additionally,the flow-through reactor(FTR)technique with an infinite sink was used to study the long-term P release kinetics.The cumulative P release was higher by organic acids than by inorganic compounds.The cumulative P release rates were higher in the FTR with CaCl2 as compared to the batch technique.The infinite sink application caused a continuously high concentration gradient between the solid and liquid phases,leading to higher desorption rates as compared to the batch technique.The predominant amount of the total P released over time was available for a short term.While inorganic anion exchange occurred at easily available binding sites,organic acids affected the more heavily available binding sites,which could be embedded within the mineral structure.The results showed that organic compounds,especially citric acid,play a superior role as compared to the inorganic constituents of the soil solution during the recovery of already stored P from the tertiary phosphates vivianite and hydroxyapatite.     

Composition and Structural Features of Calcium—Bound and Iron—and Aluminium—Bound Humus in Soils

Calcium-bound and iron-and aluminium-bound humus extracted from different soils collected from north to south of China were characterized by chemical and spectroscopic methods.Meaningful differences in the composition and structure between them were revealed by ^13 C NMR,visible spectroscopy and elemental analysis.Results showed that the contents of carbon,hydrogen and nitrogen were higher in iron-and aluminium-bound humus than in calcium-bound humus while oxygen content in calcium-bound humus was shown to be higher .The calcium-bound humus had higher C/N and O/C ratios than iron-and aluminiumbound humus.The calcium-bound humic acid(HA1) showed higher E4/E6 ratios than iron-and aluminumboud,humic acid(HA2)while iron-and aluminum-bound fulvic acid(FA2) showed higher E4/E6 ratios than calcium-bound fulvic acid(FA1).An inverse relationship between E4/E6 ratios and aromaticity as determined by 13C NMR spectra was observerd for HA and FA from black soil.The 13C NMR spectroscopy revealed that HA2 was more aromatic than HA1.On the other ,FA1 exhibited a higher aromaticity than FA2.     

Soil organisms and carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus mineralisation in Norway spruce and mixed Norway spruce – Birch stands

 We examined how soil organisms and C, N and P mineralisation are affected by admixing deciduous tree species, silver birch (Betula pendula) and woollen birch (B. pubescens), in managed Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands. Pure spruce and mixed spruce–birch stands were examined at four sites in southern and central Sweden. Soil macroarthropods and enchytraeids were sampled in litter and soil. In the uppermost 5 cm of soil humus we determined microbial biomass and microbial respiration; we estimated the rate of C, N and P mineralisation under laboratory conditions. The densities of Coleoptera, Diptera and Collembola were larger in mixed stands than in spruce stands. Soil fauna composition differed between mixed and spruce stands (as revealed by redundancy analysis). Staphyliniidae, Elateridae, Cecidiomyidae larvae and Onychiuridae were the families that increased most strongly in mixed stands. There were no differences in microbial biomass and microbial respiration, nor in the C, N and P mineralisation rates, between mixed and spruce stands. However, within mixed stands microbial biomass, microbial activity and C mineralisation were approximately 15% higher under birch trees than under spruce trees. We propose that the presence of birch leaf litter was likely to be the most important factor causing differences in soil fauna composition. Birch may also influence the quality and the decomposition rate of humus in mixed stands. However, when the proportion of birch trees is low, the short-term (decades) effect of this species on decomposition is likely to be small in mixed stands on acid forest soils. Received: 20 February 1998     

Grape Seed and Tea Extracts and Catechin 3-Gallates Are Potent Inhibitors of α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase Activity

This study evaluated the inhibitory effects of plant-based extracts (grape seed, green tea, and white tea) and their constituent flavan-3-ol monomers (catechins) on α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, two key glucosidases required for starch digestion in humans. To evaluate the relative potency of extracts and catechins, their concentrations required for 50 and 90% inhibition of enzyme activity were determined and compared to the widely used pharmacological glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose. Maximum enzyme inhibition was used to assess relative inhibitory efficacy. Results showed that grape seed extract strongly inhibited both α-amylase and α-glucosidase activity, with equal and much higher potency, respectively, than acarbose. Whereas tea extracts and catechin 3-gallates were less effective inhibitors of α-amylase, they were potent inhibitors of α-glucosidase. Nongallated catechins were ineffective. The data show that plant extracts containing catechin 3-gallates, in particular epigallocatechin gallate, are potent inhibitors of α-glucosidase activity and suggest that procyanidins in grape seed extract strongly inhibit α-amylase activity.     

Comparison of buffet and à la carte serving at worksite canteens on nutrient intake and fruit and vegetable consumption

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nutritional composition of worksite canteen lunches and to examine the impact of two meal serving systems on employee intake, i.e. buffet style with a fixed price for a varied number of dishes and à la carte style with a separate price for each item on the menu. DESIGN: Laboratory technicians observed employees' food selection and collected identical dishes. Food items were weighed separately to calculate the content of fruit and vegetables. The content of protein, fat and ash of each dish was chemically analysed and the carbohydrate and energy content calculated. SETTING: Fifteen randomly chosen worksite canteens in Denmark: eight canteens serving buffet style and seven canteens with an à la carte line. SUBJECTS: one hundred and eighty randomly chosen employees having lunch at the worksite canteens. RESULTS: The average percentage energy from fat was 37 +/- 12 among men and 33 +/- 12 among women. No association was found between the meal serving system and energy intake or macronutrient composition. Eating at canteens serving buffet style, on the other hand, was associated with an increased intake of fruit and vegetables, on average 76 g, and a lower energy density of the food for both genders. CONCLUSION: The results highlight the possibilities of promoting healthy food choices in the catering sector and the need to identify models of healthy catering practice. Serving buffet style appears to be a promising strategy in order to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in food served away from home.     

Antioxidant activity of fresh and processed Jalapeño and Serrano peppers

In this research, total phenols, flavonoids, capsaicinoids, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant activity (ORAC, hydroxyl radical, DPPH, and TEAC assays) of fresh and processed (pickled and chipotle canned) Jalapen?o and Serrano peppers were determined. All fresh and processed peppers contained capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and nordihydrocapsaicin, even though the latter could be quantified only in fresh peppers. Processed peppers contained lower amounts of phytochemicals and had lower antioxidant activity, compared to fresh peppers. Good correlations between total phenols and ascorbic acid with antioxidant activity were observed. Elimination of chlorophylls by silicic acid chromatography reduced the DPPH scavenging activity of the extracts, compared to crude extracts, confirming the antioxidant activity of chlorophylls present in Jalapen?o and Serrano peppers.     

SW—Soil and Water: Climate Change and Water Resources Management in Arid and Semi-arid Regions: Prospective and Challenges for the 21st Century

The overgrowing population and the recent droughts are putting water resources under pressure and calling for new approaches for water planning and management if escalating conflicts are to be avoided and environmental degradation is to be reversed. As countries are using their water resources with growing intensity, poor rainfall increasingly leads to national water crises as water tables fall and reservoirs, wetlands and rivers empty. Global warming could cause further changes, further variability and further uncertainty. The UK Hadley Centre's global climate model was run at a spatial scale of 2·5 by 3·75° (latitude and longitude) grid squares to simulate the global climate according to scenarios of greenhouse gas concentration emission. Runs of the model assuming the emission scenario proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 1995 are analysed here for the 2050s time horizon. Outputs provide estimations of climate variables, such as precipitation and temperature, at a monthly time step. Those results, assumed representative of future climatic conditions, are compared to mean monthly values representative of the current climate and expressed in terms of percentage change. The results show that, for the dry season (April–September), by the 2050s, North Africa and some parts of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, Jordan and Israel, are expected to have reduced rainfall amounts of 20–25% less than the present mean values. This decrease in rainfall is accompanied by a temperature rise in those areas of between 2 and 2·75°C. For the same period, the temperature in the coastal areas of the Mediterranean countries will rise by about 1·5°C. In wintertime, the rainfall will decrease by about 10–15% but would increase over the Sahara by about 25%. Given the low rainfall rate over the Sahara, the increase by 25% will not bring any significant amount of rain to the region. In wintertime, the temperature in the coastal areas will also increase but by only 1·5°C on average, while inside the region it will increase by 1·75–2·5°C.In southern Africa (Angola, Namibia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa), results suggest an increase of the annual average temperature ranging between 1·5 and 2·5°C in the south to between 2·5 and 3°C in the north. The summer range is between 1·75 and 2·25°C in the south, and increases towards the north to between 2·75 and 3·0°C while the winter range is between 1·25 and 2°C in the south, and increases towards the north to between 2·5 and 2·75°C. On the other hand, the annual average will decrease by 10–15% in the south and by 5–10% in the north. The annual average decrease is 10%. However, some places will have an increase i.e. by 5–20% in South Africa in wintertime. In the Taklimakan region (Tarim Basin) west of China, the annual average temperature is shown to increase by 1·75–2·5°C. Annual average rainfall should increase by 5–>25% in most of the region but decrease by 5–10% in some small parts. In summer, an increase by 5–15% is indicated in most of the region, and an increase by up to 25% or more during the wintertime.In the Thar Desert (India–Pakistan–Afghanistan), estimations suggest that the annual average increase in temperature ranges from 1·75 to 2·5°C, ranging from 1·5 to 2·25°C in winter and from 2 to 2·5°C in summer. Annual average precipitation is shown to decrease by 5–25% in the region. The winter will have values closer to the annual average but the summer will have more decrease and most of the region will see a decrease closer to 25%.In the Aral Sea basin (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), estimates suggest an annual average increase in temperature ranging from 1·75 to 2·25°C, higher in summer (between 2 and 2·75°C) than in winter (between 1·5 and 2°C). Rainfall should increase by 5–20% annually, in summer increasing by 5–10% in the north but decreasing by up to 5% in the south, while in wintertime, both south and north should undergo increases of 5–10% and 20–25%, respectively.In Australia, results indicate an increase in the annual average temperature ranges of 1–1·5°C in the south to 2·5–2·75°C in the north, slightly higher during the summer than in the winter. The summer range is between 1 and 2°C in the south and increases towards the north to 2·5–3·0°C while the winter range is between 1 and 1·5°C in the south, and increases towards the north to between 2 and 2·25°C. Rainfall annual average is shown to decrease by 20–25% in the south and by 5–10% in the north.Given the above-mentioned facts, in order to meet the water demands in the next century, some dams and water infrastructure will be built in some countries and a new paradigm by rethinking the water use with the aim of increasing the productive use of water will have to be adopted. Two approaches are needed: increasing the efficiency with which current needs are met and increasing the efficiency with which water is allocated among different uses. In addition, non-conventional sources of water supply such as reclaimed, recycled water and desalinated brackish water or seawater is expected to play an important role.     

Kinetic Characteristics of Nitrate Uptake by Wheat and Rape and Their Determination

15－day old seedlings of wheat and rape were grown in a series of solutions with different concentrations of KNO3 for a definite period of time.The changes in NO3^- concentration of the solutions were determined by the double ion-selective electrode method,and then the amount of NO3^- taken up by the plants was estimated and values of Km and Imax of the Michealis-Mentan equation were calculated.Results show that both the method and conditions of determination affected the values of Km and Imax.For example,the Km value was appreciably reduced when the volume of culture solution was increased or when the duration of nutrient uptake was shortened;the Km value obtained with short-term depletion method was higher than that obtained with long-term one.Similar Variations were found for the values of Imax.There was a considerable difference in the characteristics of uptake kinetics between wheat and rape when determined under the same conditions of determination.The isotherm of NO3^- uptake by wheat could be separated into saturated and unsaturated parts,and when the concentration of NO3^- exceeded 180μM,the relationship between the rate of NO3^- uptake and NO3^- concentration tended to be linear.However,the isotherm of NO3^- uptake by rape was found to fit the Michealis-Menten equation and no linear relationship could be found.