Nutritional value of some non-conventional plant foods of India

Thirteen non-conventional foods including fruits, leaves and grains consumed in various parts of the Indian subcontinent were analysed for their nutritional value. Khejri beans (Prsopsis cineria), Pinju (Capparis decidua) and Kachri (Cucumis species) contained considerable amounts of protein (15–18%). Kachri was rich in fat (13%). Bhakri (Tribulus terristris), Gullar (Ficus glomerata) and Peehl (Salvadora oleoides) were found to be rich sources of calcium; Gullar contained about 15 times the amount of calcium present in wheat. Phosphorus content of Santhi (Boernavia diffusa), Khejri beans, Bhakri, Pinju and Lehsora (Cordia dichotoma) were noticeable. Zinc was present in high amounts in Peepalbanti (Ficus religiosa) and Gullar; as was iron in Santhi and Bhakri and manganese in Santhi. Besides iron, zinc and calcium, Pinju contained appreciable amounts of -carotene and vitamin C. However, Santhi contained high amounts of oxalic acid.     

Nutritional significance of amino acids,vitamins and minerals as nutraceuticals in poultry production and health – a comprehensive review

Nutraceuticals have gained immense importance in poultry science recently considering the nutritional and beneficial health effects of their constituents. Besides providing nutritional requirements to birds, nutraceuticals have beneficial pharmacological effects, for example, they help in establishing normal physiological health status, prevent diseases and thereby improve production performance. Nutraceuticals include amino acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, etc. which are important for preventing oxidative stress, regulating the immune response and maintaining normal physiological, biochemical and homeostatic mechanisms. Nutraceuticals help in supplying nutrients in balanced amounts for supporting the optimal growth performance in modern poultry flocks, and as a dietary supplement can reduce the use of antibiotics. The application of antibiotic growth enhancers in poultry leads to the propagation of antibiotic-resistant microbes and drug residues; therefore, they have been restricted in many countries. Thus, there is a demand for natural feed additives that lead to the same growth enhancement without affecting the health. Nutraceuticals substances have an essential role in the development of the animals’ normal physiological functions and in protecting them against infectious diseases. In this review, the uses of amino acids, vitamins and minerals as well as their mode of action in growth promotion and elevation of immune system are discussed.     

ICP－AES测定蔬菜矿物元素的方法

探讨了ＩＣＰ－ＡＥＳ法测定蔬菜中矿物元素的方法。方法快速，灵敏、精确。背景等效浓度在００９～１６１μｇ·ｍＬ－１之内，相对标准偏差在００２％～９４０％之间。     

Forms and solubility of plant nutrient elements in tropical plant waste biochars

Thailand is an agriculture‐based country which produces large amounts of agricultural waste. Making biochar from this waste can reduce pollution, decrease costs of production, and increase C sequestration. The agronomic benefits of biochar are partly derived from the available plant nutrients in biochar. This study investigated the fertilizer value of biochars manufactured by slow pyrolysis. Pyrolysis temperature and feedstock type affect nutrient concentrations and nutrient element speciation in biochar. The physio‐chemical, mineralogical and structural properties of biochars made from 14 agriculture wastes (soybean cake, corncob, lemon peel, sugar palm fibre, durian shell, tamarind wood, coconut fibre, coconut shell, bamboo wood, rice husk, eucalyptus wood, oil palm fruit, coffee waste, and bagasse) were investigated. The plant nutrients in biochar mostly occurred in crystalline minerals which were present on the surface and inside the cell structure of biochar. Most biochars examined in this research contained calcite (CaCO₃). The presence in biochars of several K‐minerals [archerite (KH₂PO₄), chlorocalcite (KCaCl₃), kalicinite (KHCO₃), pyrocoproite (K₂MgP₂O₇), struvite‐K (KMgPO₄ · 6 H₂O), and sylvite (KCl)] encourages the use of biochar as a K‐fertilizer. Fibre, fruit and wood biochars contained considerable amounts of K, Ca, and P. Sugar palm and coconut fibres also contained high level of Na in halite. This study recommends the utilization of biochars manufactured from sugar palm fibre, coconut fibre, durian shell, and oil palm fruit as fertilizers. With their appreciable contents of plant nutrients in highly to moderately soluble compounds these biochars should be effective fertilizers, especially for use by organic farmers who cannot use any chemical fertilizers.     

Mineral and trace element composition in induced mutants of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) millsp.)

In the present investigation several mutants isolated during mutagenic studies of pigeonpea were analysed for Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Ni. The results have revealed changes in the concentrations of macro and micro mineral elements in the mutant seed material. These changes in concentrations are attributed to the altered genetic structure; due to mutations, the plant system might have absorbed and stored more or less amounts of the elements in the seeds.     

Effect of calcareous and siliceous amendments on N2O emissions of a grassland soil

Liming of acidic agricultural soils has been proposed as a strategy to mitigate nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions, as increased soil pH reduces the N₂O/N₂ product ratio of denitrification. The capacity of different calcareous (calcite and dolomite) and siliceous minerals to increase soil pH and reduce N₂O emissions was assessed in a 2-year grassland field experiment. An associated pot experiment was conducted using homogenized field soils for controlling spatial soil variability. Nitrous oxide emissions were highly episodic with emission peaks in response to freezing–thawing and application of NPK fertilizer. Liming with dolomite caused a pH increase from 5.1 to 6.2 and reduced N₂O emissions by 30% and 60% after application of NPK fertilizer and freezing–thawing events, respectively. Over the course of the 2-year field trial, N₂O emissions were significantly lower in dolomite-limed than non-limed soil (p < .05), although this effect was variable over time. Unexpectedly, no significant reduction of N₂O emission was found in the calcite treatment, despite the largest pH increase in all tested minerals. We tentatively attribute this to increased N₂O production by overall increase in nitrogen turnover rates (both nitrification and denitrification) following rapid pH increase in the first year after liming. Siliceous materials showed little pH effect and had no significant effect on N₂O emissions probably because of their lower buffering capacity and lower cation content. In the pot experiment using soils taken from the field plots 3 years after liming and exposing them to natural freezing–thawing, both calcite (p < .01) and dolomite (p < .05) significantly reduced cumulative N₂O emission by 50% and 30%, respectively, relative to the non-limed control. These results demonstrate that the overall effect of liming is to reduce N₂O emission, although high lime doses may lead to a transiently enhanced emission.     

泥沙矿物成分对混凝土材料磨蚀的影响

中国多沙河流居多,水流中泥沙是由不同矿物成分（石英,长石,白云石等）组成,含沙高速水流中泥沙矿物成分对泄洪建筑物混凝土材料磨蚀有何影响令人关注。该研究在自主研发的小型循环式水洞中,对不同含沙量的泥沙矿物成分进行试验研究,以揭示泥沙矿物成分对混凝土材料磨蚀破坏影响的机理。首先在循环式水洞内配制不同矿物成分（石英、长石、白云石、云母、辉石）、不同含沙量（S=2.5,12.0,20.0 kg/m³）的挟沙水流,利用压力数据采集系统（YE6263）实时采集空化区和磨蚀区压力;其次,试验采用强度相同的混凝土试件,在相同粒径、不同含沙量、不同矿物成分工况下,进行历时4 h的磨蚀试验,通过试件每小时的质量损失来表征磨蚀量。试验结果表明：在中值粒径为 0.150 mm,喉部流速为 38.6 m/s的条件下,随着矿物含沙量（2.5～20.0 kg/m³）的增加,空化区压力降低,磨蚀区压力升高,压力降、升幅度随矿物成分而异,空化磨蚀现象严重,试件累积磨蚀量与矿物含沙量呈线性相关。含沙量相同时,空化区测点压力随矿物摩氏（Mohs）硬度（2.5～7.0）的增大而降低,磨蚀区测点压力则随矿物硬度的增大而升高;混凝土试件配合比、龄期不变时,混凝土试件的磨蚀程度随矿物含沙量的增加而加剧,其磨蚀量增加一倍多,与矿物成分有关;当矿物硬度增加时,磨蚀程度也随之加剧,磨蚀量成倍增长。由此得出,泥沙矿物成分随其含沙量的增加和硬度的增大,对水流空化和混凝土磨蚀具有促进作用。该研究可为农业水利工程中泄洪建筑物（溢洪道、泄洪洞、消力池等）及渠系建筑物的设计和维护提供参考。     

生物质结皮制剂在民勤流动沙区恢复植被的作用

利用矿物质材料和生物高分子材料的环境友好和吸湿保水的特性制作形成结皮,对立地条件极端恶劣的流动沙丘进行植被恢复.首先将草籽(黄蒿籽)撒播于目的沙丘表面,然后将与砂土混匀的结皮制剂均匀地撒在沙地表面,最后,洒木质素液使结皮凝固并用围栏封育试验区.通过调查结皮制剂施用后沙丘植物的种类、覆盖度、生长状况等植被恢复指标,分析了生物质结皮制剂在流动沙区植被恢复的效果.研究结果表明:结皮封育区内大量草籽萌发,达1000颗/m2;结皮区植物物种丰富度为13,对照区仅为2,物种多样性和均匀度指数也高于对照区,分别为1.57(Shannon-Weaver index H)、0.41(Simpson index D)和0.81(Pielou index),对照区则分别为0.47、0.40和0.68;结皮区植物生长期较对照延长,2010年早春提前10 d萌发,深秋枯黄延迟约20 d;结皮区植物在干旱季节亦可生长存活;2010年9月,结皮区沙丘植被盖度可达38%,对照区植被盖度仅为4%.研究结果表明该制剂可能在寒区旱区困难立地条件下的植被恢复工作中具有较大的潜在应用价值.     

Studies on the Pathogenesis of Shimao Zheng (Fleece-eating) in Sheep and Goats

Research on the disease called shimao zheng, which had resulted in widespread fleece-eating and shedding by sheep and goats in the Haizi area of Akesa County of Gansu Province of China, was carried out by both laboratory studies and pathological observations. There was a marked deficiency of sulfur in the wool and tissues of the affected animals. The pathological changes were mainly loss of fleece, exposure of the skin, keratinization of the epidermal cells, narrowing and reduced numbers of the fleece follicles, and fewer sebaceous glands and sweat glands. Histologically, there was atrophy of the striated and cardiac muscles and of the epithelium of the convoluted tubules of the kidney, together with a glomerulonephritis. The disease was considered to be a local nutritional and metabolic disorder, probably mainly caused by sulfur deficiency.     

DIETARY VITAMIN D3 INFLUENCE ON SERUM 25-HYDROXY VITAMIN D CONCENTRATIONS IN CAPTIVE SUGAR GLIDERS (PETAURUS BREVICEPS)

A pilot study was performed to investigate the impact of dietary vitamin D on circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) metabolite concentrations in sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps). The study with diets containing 0, 0.2 (low), or 0.4 (moderate) International Units vitamin D₃ per gram of dry matter and fed to adults at 2 locations. Serum 25[OH]D concentrations did not differ between animals fed produce only (no added vitamin D–either D₂ or D₃) for 3 weeks (8.83 ± 0.98 nmol/L), n?=?6, or low dietary levels (7.86 ± 3.80 nmol/L), n?=?7, continuously for multiple years. Conversely, animals consuming diets containing moderate vitamin D₃ levels displayed increased circulating concentrations (15.00 ± 3.59), n?=?8, after 3 weeks. Despite the response to diets supplemented with vitamin D, overall metabolite levels were low and may indicate minimal metabolic dependence on this nutrient in sugar gliders, similar to processes documented in other hindgut fermenters.