Sweet and sour cherry phenolics and their protective effects on neuronal cells

The identification of phenolics from various cultivars of fresh sweet and sour cherries and their protective effects on neuronal cells were comparatively evaluated in this study. Phenolics in cherries of four sweet and four sour cultivars were extracted and analyzed for total phenolics, total anthocyanins, and their antineurodegenerative activities. Total phenolics in sweet and sour cherries per 100 g ranged from 92.1 to 146.8 and from 146.1 to 312.4 mg gallic acid equivalents, respectively. Total anthocyanins of sweet and sour cherries ranged from 30.2 to 76.6 and from 49.1 to 109.2 mg cyanidin 3-glucoside equivalents, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that anthocyanins such as cyanidin and peonidin derivatives were prevalent phenolics. Hydroxycinnamic acids consisted of neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, and p-coumaric acid derivatives. Glycosides of quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin were also found. Generally, sour cherries had higher concentrations of total phenolics than sweet cherries, due to a higher concentration of anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic acids. A positive linear correlation (r2 = 0.985) was revealed between the total anthocyanins measured by summation of individual peaks from HPLC analysis and the total anthocyanins measured by the pH differential method, indicating that there was in a close agreement with two quantifying methods for measuring anthocyanin contents. Cherry phenolics protected neuronal cells (PC 12) from cell-damaging oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner mainly due to anthocyanins. Overall results showed that cherries are rich in phenolics, especially in anthocyanins, with a strong antineurodegenerative activity and that they can serve as a good source of biofunctional phytochemicals in our diet.     

The adoption of annual subsoiling as conservation tillage in dryland maize and wheat cultivation in northern China

Soil compaction caused by random traffic or repetitive tillage has been shown to reduce water use efficiency, and thus crop yield due to reduced porosity, decreased water infiltration and availability of nutrients. Conservation tillage coupled with subsoiling in northern China is widely believed to reduce soil compaction, which was created after many years of no-till. However, limited research has been conducted on the most effective time interval for subsoiling, under conservation tillage. Data from conservation tillage demonstration sites operating for 10 years in northern China were used to conduct a comparative study of subsoiling interval under conservation tillage. Three modes of traditional tillage, subsoiling with soil cover and no-till with soil cover were compared using 10 years of soil bulk density, water content, yield and water use efficiency data. Cost benefit analysis was conducted on subsoiling time interval under conservation tillage. Yield and power consumption were assessed by based on the use of a single pass combine subsoiler and planter. Annual subsoiling was effective in reducing bulk density by only 4.9% compared with no-till treatments on the silty loam soils of the Loess plateau, but provided no extra benefit in terms of soil water loss, yield increase or water utilization. With the exception of bulk density, no-till and subsoiling with cover were vastly superior in increasing water use (+10.5%) efficiency and yield (+12.9%) compared to traditional tillage methods. Four years of no-till followed by one subsoiling reduced mechanical inputs by 62%, providing an economic benefit of 49% for maize and 209% for wheat production compared to traditional tillage. Annual subsoiling reduced inputs by 25% with an increased economic benefit of 23% for maize and 135% for wheat production. Yield and power consumption was improved by 5% and 20%, respectively, by combining subsoiling with the planting operation in one pass compared with multipass operations of subsoiling and planting. A key conclusion from this is that annual subsoiling in dryland areas of northern China is uneconomical and unwarranted. Four years of no-till operations followed by 1 year subsoiling provided some relief from accumulated soil compaction. However, minimum soil disturbance and maximum soil cover are key elements of no-till for saving water and improving yields. Improved yields and reduced farm power consumption could provide a significant base on which to promote combined planter and subsoiling operations throughout northern China. Further research is required to develop a better understanding of the linkages between conservation tillage, soil quality and yield, aimed at designing most appropriate conservation tillage schemes.     

Effects of rake angle of chisel plough on soil cutting factors and power requirements: A computer simulation

A computer simulation was conducted to predict the effects of rake angle of a chisel plough and soil bulk density on angle of soil failure plane, rupture distance, width of side crescent, frictional, overburden, cohesion and adhesion soil cutting factors, draft forces and drawbar power requirements. The experimental work was carried out in two locations. Soil of the first location was sandy clay with the soil bulk densities of 1.75 and 1.70 g/cm³ for firm and loose soil conditions, respectively, with an angle of internal friction of 30° and a surface friction angle of 20°, cohesion of 2.5 kN/m² and adhesion of 1.2 kN/m². Soil of the second location was clay loam with the soil bulk densities of 1.65 and 1.50 g/cm³ for firm and loose soil conditions, respectively, with an angle of internal friction of 34° and a surface friction angle of 23°, cohesion of 2.4 kN/m² and adhesion of 1.14 kN/m². The prediction showed that the angle of failure plane found to decrease with the rake angle. The rupture distance decreased with the rake angle from 15° to 55° and then increased as the rake angle increased over 55°. The width of the side crescent increased as the rake angle increased and the maximum value and the minimum value were recorded at 75° and at 15°. Values of frictional and overburden factors decreased as rake angle increased. The maximum and minimum values were recorded at 15° and 75°, respectively. The values of cohesion factor increased as rake angle increased. The maximum value was recorded at rake angle of 75° and the minimum value was recorded at rake angle of 15°. Adhesion factor was found to change inversely with the rake angle from 15° to 55° and then to change directly with the rake angle over 55°. The draft force decreased with the rake angle and reached its minimum value at 45° rake angle. Over 45°, the draft force increased and reached its maximum value at 75° rake angle. The draft increased with soil bulk density. The power required for moving the plough recorded the maximum value at rake angle of 15°, while the minimum value was recorded at 55° rake angle. The values of power increased with decrease of soil bulk density. The predicted values demonstrated some deviations from the experimental values of the draft force and the drawbar power.     

典型黑土pH值变化对微量元素有效态含量的影响研究

采用室内培养实验的方法 ,控制典型黑土样品的酸碱度值 ,探讨典型黑土中 Cu、Zn和 Mn等微量元素有效态含量与 p H值的关系。结果表明 :p H值变化 0 .5个单位左右 ,有效态铜含量变化约 0 .5～ 1倍 ;有效态锰含量变化约 3～ 5倍 ;有效态锌含量变化 9～ 1 5倍之多。说明精确掌握土壤的酸碱度值对于土壤诊断、微肥的合理施用、提高作物产量和实现土地的可持续利用都具有重要的理论与实践意义     

克拉玛依农业开发区水土性状与荒漠植物多样性的关系

通过分析克拉玛依农业开发区水土性状、荒漠植被演替规律和群落多样性,了解到区内植物的生长更新主要靠大气降水来维系,而土壤理化指标中的有机质、全N和全K含量增加是植物群落发展多样性的胁迫因素。与之相反,一定限度下的较高pH和粒度值,则可促进植物多样性水平的提高。分析结果还表明,土壤的全盐、全P和水分是影响植物多样性的潜在因素。     

粉煤灰施入砂姜黑土对麦田重金属元素分布影响的研究

采用盆栽试验方法 ,研究了粉煤灰施入砂姜黑土的改良效果及Cd、Cr、Pb、Hg和As等重金属元素在小麦各部位的积累与分布。结果表明 :粉煤灰施入砂姜黑土可以降低土壤容重、比重及土壤粘粒含量 ,增加孔隙和土壤渗透系数。被吸收的重金属元素主要分布在根系中 ,其次是叶片 ,在茎杆、叶鞘及籽粒中的分布极少。根系对Cd和As具有富集作用 ;籽粒中Cd、Cr、Pb、As随用灰量的增加而增加 ,Hg则减少 ,但在 3 6× 10 4kg/hm2 的用灰量范围内 ,5种重金属元素在籽粒及土壤中的含量均在安全标准之内     

农用无过载低比转速离心泵的研究

针对农用泵(运行工况多变且出口无流量调节阀)的特点和低比转速离心泵的轴功率在大流量区运行易过载的特性,提出了无过载离心泵的概念。介绍了国内外研究无过载离心泵的历史与现状;总结了有关理论推导和试验研究结果;讨论了其运行特点及水力设计原则;并分析了目前存在的问题与可能的解决途径。     

中国北方13省土地利用景观格局变化分析(1989～1999)

以北方13省为研究区，对该区1989～1999年的宏观土地利用景观格局变化进行了分析。结果表明：决定该区景观格局的主体要素类型为草地、难利用地和林地．其次为耕地。1989～1999年期间，区内景观异质性程度在逐渐提高．土地利用向着多样化和均匀化方向发展。景观空间格局变化特征是：耕地、林地和城镇用地破碎度最大；林地、草地和水域受到人类活动的严重干扰．斑块空间分布不断分散和破碎化．分离度和破碎度指标增加。草地的破碎度增加最为显著，严重影响该区农牧业的正常生产。景观要素之间的转化关系主要表现为林、草地和耕地之间的相互转化．以及草地退化为难利用地。表征了该区生态建设实践和生态破坏活动的相互作用以及草地的严重退化趋势．说明北方13省存在较为严重生态环境问题．急需解决。     

太行山前平原典型灌溉农田深层土壤水分动态

该文针对70年代以来太行山前平原典型灌溉农田地下水位普遍下降的问题,通过分析中国科学院栾城农业生态系统试验站连续3 a的农田土壤水分观测资料,探讨了山前平原典型灌溉农田0~800 cm深土壤水势变化规律和0~1 540 cm深土壤水分含量变化规律。结果表明:土壤水分动态自上向下具有明显的分带性,0~800 cm土壤层水分动态可分为3层:0~200 cm为入渗-蒸发交替变动带(水分增长和消退的较快,土壤含水率变化范围为0.14~0.47 cm3/cm3,基质势变化范围为-628.21~0 cm,200~600 cm为非稳定入渗带(土壤含水率变化范围为0.04~0.41 cm3/cm3,基质势变化范围为-311.79~0 cm,土壤水势梯度有一定变化范围在0.1~5.61 cm/cm之间),600~800 cm为相对稳定入渗带(土壤含水率在0.03~0.35 cm3/cm3之间变化,基质势变化范围为-138.18~-45.57 cm,土壤水势梯度在单位势梯度左右浮动)。在土壤质地和土壤含水率(维持在田间持水量水平)的影响下,深层土壤层的湿润锋运动速率较快(0.13 m/d),表明地下含水层会迅速地响应地表水分输入(降水和灌溉)。结果可为太行山前平原典型灌溉农田地下水分及可持续利用提供科学依据。     

农机用O形密封圈滚子链的耐磨性能

农机用O形密封圈滚子链的台架和道路的对比试验研究表明，铰链磨擦副的润滑状态改善后，其耐磨性能大幅度提高，磨损寿命远高于普通农机滚子链。同时还研究了O形圈链条与普通链条的磨损机制，并微观分析了磨损表面形貌，指出O形圈链条的磨损形式是以疲劳磨损为主，而普通链条因试验工况不同其主要磨损形式有所改变。