In vivo adverse effects of alpha‐tocopherol on the semen quality of male bucks

Oxidative stress has detrimental effects on semen quality during spermatogenesis and semen processing for artificial insemination. This work was conducted to study the effect of different levels of vitamin E on the semen traits, oxidative status and trace minerals in Beetal bucks. Thirty‐six bucks of similar body weight and age (1 year) were randomly divided into four groups. One group was kept as control with no supplementation (group 1), and the others were supplemented with 200 (group 2), 400 (group 3) and 800 IU (group 4) vitamin E/animal/day for 2 months. At the end of the experiment, semen samples were collected and evaluated. Seminal plasma was separated to study the concentration of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and trace minerals (Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe). Group 3 showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) semen volume and per cent motility and lower dead sperm percentage compared to control group. Superoxide dismutase, GPx, Zn, Cu and Mn were higher in the same group. The level of AST decreased in group 3 without any change on the concentration of ALT. It is suggested that vitamin E at the rate of 400 IU/buck/day supported higher semen volume, per cent motility, per cent live spermatozoa, antioxidants (SOD, GPx) and trace mineral levels (Zn, Cu, Mn) in the seminal plasma. The increased supplementation from 0 to 400 showed a general increasing trend in improving semen quality. However, the dose of 800 IU/kg had no useful effect in further improving the semen quality.     

Sewage sludge treated with bentonite,vermiculite or biochar can improve soil properties and enhance growth of grasses

Sewage sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar was evaluated as a soil amendment in comparison to limed and untreated sludge. Seven treatments were established to two soils, an acid and an alkaline, in three replications, i.e. 2% addition of sludge treated with bentonite, vermiculite, biochar and lime and application of 2% untreated sludge, inorganic fertilization and no sludge or inorganic fertilizers (control). Then, the soil treatments were used in a pot experiment with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) as a test plant. Sludge treated with the clay minerals or biochar improved pH of the acid soil and significantly increased organic matter and available nutrients of both soils compared to control. Although no salinity or sodicity hazard was evidenced, the initial salinity of acid and alkaline soil increased by four-eight and two-three times, respectively, upon addition of all sludge treatments, especially that of untreated sludge. Moreover, soil available zinc (Zn) increased by four-eight times. Soil application of sludge treated with the clay minerals or biochar increased the total aboveground biomass yield of ryegrass in the acid and alkaline soil by 133%–171% and 72%–88%, respectively, compared to control and enhanced nutrient uptake by plants. Furthermore the microbial metabolic quotient indicated lack of low pH and heavy metal stress with addition of sludge to the acid soil. After three harvests of ryegrass, the residual effect of sludge on pH of acid soil and salinity, available phosphorus (P), Zn and boron (B) of both soils still persisted. Thus sewage sludge treated with 15% bentonite, vermiculite or biochar could be applied to soils at a rate of 2% (≈80 Mg ha⁻¹) to serve as soil amendment and fertilizer for grasses and pasture species; however, caution is needed regarding possible P build-up, Zn phytotoxicity and salinization risks.     

The discovery of the first potash mine and the development of the potash industry since 1861

The birth of potash industry was 1861 in Staßfurt, Duchy of Prussia with commissioning of the first potash plant. During the mining of rock salt in Staßfurt, seams containing potassium had previously only been discovered by chance and initially treated as overburden. Until 1918, potash production was only in the German Empire with a total capacity of about 0.83 million t K. Subsequently, a successful global exploration for further potash deposits began. Large and high-quality potash deposits are found in the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Canada, Russia, and Belarus. From around 1950 onward, the industry began to grow strongly. In 2021, the global production was about 36 million t K. More than 90% is marketed as fertilizer, mainly potassium chloride. Feeding the world's growing population requires a safe and adequate supply of fertilizer. The potash production capacities are correspondingly high and the global supply of potassium fertilizer is secured for centuries to come.     

山东暗色粘性土的特性及发生学研究

本文对山东省主要暗色粘性土进行了形态学、粘土矿物学、物理化学特性以及发生学的研究。结果表明,大部分粘质砂姜黑土和暗色粘质湿潮土具有明显的变性特征,表现为干时开裂、湿时膨胀,剖面上部土体中有大量的滑擦面和明显的土壤翻转现象。土壤微形态以具有因强烈胀缩而产生的光性定向粘粒和裂纹裂隙为主要特征,并有较多铁锰和碳酸盐的浓聚物。土壤粘粒的硅铁铝率较高,粘土矿物以蒙脱石为主,蒙脱石的发生与其所处的地球化学环境密切相关。耕层之下的黑土层粘粒含量最高,且以蒙脱石占绝对优势,因此胀缩性最强,是具有变性特征最明显的层次。土壤的强烈胀缩性是这些暗色粘性土形态发生的内在原因,干湿交替的土壤水分状况则是其形态发生的必要条件。     

A comparison, under controlled environmental conditions, of a Lolium multiflorum selection bred for high dry-matter content and non-structural carbohydrate concentration with a commercial cultivar

Abstract The nutritional value of Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) selection 121, bred for a high dry‐matter content and a high concentration of total non‐structural carbohydrate (TNC), was compared with that of Westerwolds ryegrass (L. multiflorum ssp. Westerwoldicum) cv. Midmar in a controlled environment. The concentration of neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF), acid‐detergent fibre (ADF), acid‐detergent lignin (ADL), nitrogenous compounds, minerals and in vitro digestibility were investigated as characteristics of nutritive value. The anatomical features of selection 121 and the Midmar cultivar were studied to determine possible structural differences. Thirty pots each of selection 121 and Midmar containing four plants per pot were arranged in a randomized block design in a controlled environment chamber. There were two temperature regimes during the study, the first being a warm regime (30 °C/20 °C) for 7 weeks followed by a cold regime(20 °C/7 °C) of a further 7 weeks. In the warm regime, the dry‐matter (DM) content and the TNC concentration of selection 121 were 0·17 and 0·16 higher, respectively, than Midmar. The NDF concentration was significantly (P < 0·01) higher in Midmar than in selection 121. When grown under warm conditions, Midmar had significantly (P < 0·001) higher concentrations of Mg, K, Na and Mn than selection 121. In the cold regime, the DM content and TNC concentration of selection 121 were 0·25 and 0·22 higher, respectively, than Midmar. No significant differences in the anti‐quality factors investigated were found between the two ryegrasses. In the cold regime, Midmar had significantly (P < 0·001 and P < 0·01) higher Ca, Mg, K, Na, Zn, Mn and P concentrations than selection 121. The results from this controlled environment study suggest that selection 121 is superior to Midmar in terms of the quality characteristics DM and TNC, and that these characteristics are not positively linked to anti‐quality factors associated with forage species.     

The biochemical composition and nutritional potential of the tribal pulse,Mucuna monosperma DC. ex Wight

Two germplasms of the tribal pulse,Mucuna monosperma Dc. ex Wight, viz., [1] Thirunelly Reserve Forest, Wynaad District (Kerala) and [2] Siruvani Reserve Forest, Coimbatore District (Tamilnadu), were analysed for proximate composition, total (true) seed proteins, seed protein fractionation, amino acid composition, fatty acids, minerals and antinutritional factors. Crude proteins, crude lipids, ash and nitrogen free extractives constituted 23.10%, 4.36%, 3.80%, 61.74%, respectively, in Tamilnadu germplasm; whereas, in Kerala germplasm they constituted 20.13%, 8.99%, 3.60% and 61.69%, respectively. The calorific values of 100 g dry matter of seed material are 408.19 KCal (Kerala) and 378.60 KCal (Tamilnadu) germplasms. Essential amino acids like methionine, cystine, threonine and valine were found to be limiting in the seed proteins of both the germplasms. The fatty acids like lauric acid and palmitic acid are found to be common in both the germplasm seed samples, while linoleic and oleic acids in Kerala germplasm and stearic acid in Tamilnadu germplasm are present. The Tamilnadu germplasm seems to be a rich source of sodium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper and iron; whereas the Kerala germplasm seems to be a rich source of phosphorus. Antinutritional substances like total free phenols, tannins, L-DOPA, trypsin inhibitor activity and phytohaemagglutinating activity also were investigated.     

Amino Acid, Mineral and Fatty Acid Content of Pumpkin Seeds (Cucurbita spp) and Cyperus esculentus Nuts in the Republic of Niger

Dried seeds and nuts are widely consumed by indigenous populations of the western Sahel, especially those who inhabit rural areas. In light of the need for quantitative information regarding the content of particular nutrients in these plant foods, we collected dried pumpkin (Cucurbita spp) seeds and nuts of Cyperus esculentus in the Republic of Niger and analyzed them for their content of essential amino acids, minerals and trace elements, and fatty acids.On a dry weight basis, pumpkin seed contained 58.8% protein and 29.8% fat. However, the lysine score of the protein was only 65% relative to the FAO/WHO protein standard. The pumpkin seed contained useful amounts of linoleic (92 μg/g dry weight) and the following elements (on a μg per g dry weight basis): potassium (5,790), magnesium (5,690), manganese (49.3), zinc (113), selenium (1.29), copper (15.4), chromium (2.84), and molybdenum (0.81), but low amounts of calcium and iron. Except for potassium (5,573 μg/g dry weight) and chromium (2.88 μg/g dry weight), the C. esculentis nuts contained much less of these same nutrients compared to pumpkin seeds.In conclusion, pumpkin seeds represent a useful source of many nutrients essential to humans. The data in this report should of practical value to public health officials in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa.     

The nutritive quality of sorghum-commonbean tempe

The nutritive quality of sorghum-commonbean (40:60) tempe manufactured byRhizopus oligosporus: Rhizopus oryzae (1:1) mixed culture fermentation was determined. The protein, crude fat and ash content increased slightly while carbohydrates decreased. The dietary fibre of the tempe increased by 10%. Mould fermentation increased the content of reducing sugars, total acid and aminonitrogen 15.3, 6.7 and 4.6-fold, respectively. It decreased the phytate content by 44% and it increased the tannic acid content by 52%.In vivo iron absorption increased from 2.8 to 12.5%. The protein efficiency ratio of tempe was 1.61±0.33; the net protein ratio was 2.39±0.20; thein vitro andin vivo protein digestibility were 88.2 and 80.0±0.05% respectively, while the protein efficiency ratio, net protein ratioin vivo digestibility of skim milk was 2.96±0.17, 3.51±0.17 and 98.0±1.87, respectively. The sorghum-bean tempe could be used for supplementary feeding.     

草酸对土壤和矿物中钾素的释放规律研究

Oxalic acid plays an important role in improving the bioavailability of soil nutrients. Batch experiments were employed to examine the influences of oxalic acid on extraction and release kinetics of potassium （K） from soils and minerals along with the adsorption and desorption of soil K^＋. The soils and minerals used were three typical Chinese soils, black soil （Mollisol）, red soil （Ultisol）, and calcareous alluvial soil （Entisol）, and four K-bearing minerals, biotite, phlogopite, muscovite, and microcline. The results showed that soil K extracted using 0.2 mol L^-1 oxalic acid was similar to that using 1 mol L^-1 boiling HNO3. The relation between K release （y） and concentrations of oxalic acid （c） could be best described logarithmically as y = a ＋ blogc, while the best-fit kinetic equation of K release was y = a ＋ b√t, where a and b are the constants and t is the elapsed time. The K release for minerals was ranked as biotite 〉 phlogopite 〉〉 muscovite 〉 microcline and for soils it was in the order： black soil 〉 calcareous alluvial soil 〉 red soil. An oxalic acid solution with low pH was able to release more K from weathered minerals and alkaline soils. Oxalic acid decreased the soil K^＋ adsorption and increased the soil K^＋ desorption, the effect of which tended to be greater at lower solution pH, especially in the red soil.     

Recycling of isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk.) straw biomass and mineral powder with bio-inoculants as an effective soil amendment for isabgol cultivation

Efficient utilization of isabgol (Plantgo ovata Forsk.) straw biomass through preparation of bio-active organic fertilizer in a natural composting process has not been studied. In this study, phosphate rock and silicate mineral (mica) powder were used as natural sources of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), respectively. Cow dung slurry as a natural decomposer was mixed with the straw biomass at a 10:1 (weight/weight) ratio along with mineral powder. Then, nutrient-mobilizing bio-inoculants were used in the composting process after attaining thermal stabilization. The agronomic effectiveness of the resulting bio-active compost (BAC) as a bio-organic fertilizer was compared with that of conventional organics (farmyard manure and vermicompost) and chemical fertilizer (CF) by growing isabgol under field conditions. Composting with the natural sources of P and K along with the bio-inoculants increased the total nitrogen (13.6 g kg^-1), P (38.7 g kg^-1), and K (31.2 g kg^-1) contents in the final product (i.e., BAC) compared with composting without the mineral powder and bio-inoculants. Application of BAC remarkably improved the seed yield (2.5%) and husk quality of isabgol in comparison with conventional organics and CF. Compared with CF, BAC significantly boosted the economic yield of isabgol by improving the husk recovery (2.5%) and mucilage yield (4.12%). Furthermore, BAC significantly improved the soil quality by increasing organic carbon (C), available nutrients, and microbial biomass C contents, as well as enzyme activity. The positive correlation between soil and plant parameters also highlighted the benefits of BAC for isabgol production through soil quality improvement. Therefore, it can be considered as a zero-waste technology, whereby a large quantity of straw biomass generated from isabgol cultivation, which contains essential nutrients, can be recycled back to the soil. Furthermore, BAC can be effectively used as a bio-active organic fertilizer, particularly in systems where chemical inputs are restricted, such as organic agriculture.