Modeling the water and nitrogen transports in a soil–paddy–atmosphere system using HYDRUS-1D and lysimeter experiment

Efficient water and fertilizer use is of paramount importance both in rain-fed and irrigated rice cultivation systems to tread off between the crop water demand during the dry spell and the fertilizer leaching. This lysimeter study on paddy in a lateritic sandy loam soil of the eastern India, to simulate the water and solute transports using the HYDRUS-1D model, reveals that this model could very well simulate the soil depth-specific variations of water pressure heads and nitrogen (N) concentrations with the efficiency of >86 and 89%, respectively. The change in the level of water ponding depth did not have a significant effect on the time to peak and the temporal variability of N concentration in the bottom soil layer. The lysimeter-scale water balance analysis indicated that the average deep percolation loss and crop water use were 35.01 ± 2.03 and 39.74 ± 1.49% of the total water applied during the crop growth period, respectively. Similarly, the amount of N stored in the plant and lost through soil storage, deep percolation, and other losses (mineralization, denitrification, and gaseous N loss to the atmosphere through plant leaves) were 1.60 ± 0.16, 0.17 ± 0.04, 12.00 ± 0.48, and 86.23 ± 0.41% of the total applied nitrogen, respectively. The simulation results reveal that a constant ponding depth of 3 cm could be maintained in paddy fields to reduce the N leaching loss to 7.5 kgN/ha.     

不同处理方式对蒸谷米复水性的影响

以稻谷为原料,对蒸谷米的复水性进行了研究。通过单因素试验,探讨超高压浸泡工序、蒸煮工序、干燥工序中相关参数的影响规律,并以蒸煮时柠檬酸添加量、蒸煮次数、微波干燥时间为变量,成品复水率为指标,通过响应面分析建立回归方程,得出蒸煮次数对复水性影响最大,柠檬酸添加量次之,干燥时间影响最小。利用模型确定了较佳参数为柠檬酸添加量1.1%,微波干燥时间6.4 min,蒸煮次数3次。     

Characterization and bioactivities of young rice protein hydrolysates

Immature rice was reported to contain higher quantities of bioactive compounds than mature rice. Young rice protein is easy to digest and has hypoallergenic potential, with protein content of 7.2–11.5% compared to rice bran at 9.8%. Few studies have reported on bioactivities and characterization of young rice proteins and their hydrolysates. Bioactivities of native protein and protein hydrolysates of two rice varieties (white rice and colored rice) were characterized and investigated for four development stages (flowery, milky, dough, and mature). Degree of hydrolysis of young rice protein was considerably higher than at the mature stage. Highest DPPH and iron chelating activity were found in alcalase® protein hydrolysate during the flowery-to-milky stage. Iron chelating activity was constant in all development stages because of the low polar amino acid content in rice. The ACE activity of alcalase® protein hydrolysate was higher than native protein at the same development stage, as observed in the milky and dough stages. Inhibitory activity of young rice hydrolysate HepG2 cells was concentration-dependent and not correlated with protein molecular size.     

杨木预水解过程中化学组分的降解行为及P因子调控作用

预水解具有环境友好性,符合生物炼制的理念。前期关于预水解的研究多集中于半纤维素的降解、分离和利用,而有关预水解过程中木质素降解的系统研究鲜有报道。以杨木为原料,在130~210℃条件下保温30~120 min进行预水解,结合P因子研究得率、葡聚糖、木聚糖、酸不溶木质素和酸溶木质素的降解率,揭示P因子对木质素降解行为的调控作用,探讨各化学组分在预水解过程中的相互作用。研究表明,预水解过程中木质素发生了一定程度的碎片化。随温度升高和时间延长,酸不溶木质素降解率均逐渐升高;当温度为190和210℃时,随时间延长,酸溶木质素降解率先升高后降低。试验证明,P因子对杨木木质素的降解具有调控作用。随着P因子增加,酸不溶木质素降解率呈指数上升,且分为快速降解(P因子<1500)和缓慢降解(P因子>1500)两个阶段;酸溶木质素降解率先上升后下降,在P因子为1926时达到最大值45.9%。此外,预水解过程中碳水化合物和木质素的降解具有相互作用关系。碳水化合物的降解为木质素的溶出打开了物理通道,同时木质素的重新吸附阻碍了其进一步降解。     

Process performance of anaerobic co-digestion of waste activated sludge and aquaculture sludge

The mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion (AcD) performances of waste activated sludge (WAS) and aquaculture sludge (AS) were studied. Mixtures of different compositions (0, 30, 50, 70 and 100 % of AS on the volume basis) were used as AcD substrates and tested via biochemical methane potential assay. The results showed that CH₄ production increased with AS/WAS ratio increment, and AS alone used as the substrate showed the maximum CH₄ yield, which was 8% higher than that achieved using WAS alone as the substrate. The CH₄ yield values were well fitted with the modified Gompertz model. The maximum methane potential (P₀) and maximum methane production rate (R₀) increased from 66.8 mL CH₄/g VS_fed to 70.9 mL CH₄/g VS_fed and from 4.40 mL CH₄/g VS_fed·d to 5.59 mL CH₄/g VS_fed·d, respectively, as the AS/WAS ratio increased from 0% to 100 %. In addition, lower levels of free ammonia and non-biodegradable organic matter contributed to the CH₄ production increasing with AS/WAS ratio increased.     

Sublethal effect of avermectin and acetamiprid on the mortality of different life stages of Brontispa longissima (Gestro) (Coleoptera: Hispidae) and its larvae parasitoid Asecodes hispinarum Bouček (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

The beneficial parasitoid Asecodes hispinarum Bouček plays an important role in integrated pest management (IPM) of the coconut leaf beetle, Brontispa longissima (Gestro), in China. A. hispinarum females parasitize 3rd to 4th instars B. longissima larvae. Hatched parasitoid larvae develop within the host, and parasitoid adults emerge through holes that they chew through the cuticle of the host. Although chemicals serve as the main short term control agents, the compatibility of biological and chemical control has never been investigated for this system. This study examined the responses of immature and adult B. longissima and its larval parasitoid A. hispinarum to avermectin and acetamiprid. Avermectin caused complete mortality of 2nd to 4th instar larvae, and of adults of B. longissima at 10, 15 and 2 d after treatment, respectively. However, 26.7% of the 2nd instar larvae, 55.3% of the 4th instar larvae, and 74%, of adult B. longissima were still alive 40 d after acetamiprid application. Following avermectin exposure, 17.5%, 9.2% and 23% of mummified B. longissima larvae contained viable adult parasitoids for the parasitoid egg, larva and pupa treatments, respectively, and the numbers of dead parasitoids per mummy were 3.3, 7.2 and 13.3 for the egg, larva and adult treatments, respectively. However, for acetamiprid treatment, 70–75.9% of mummified B. longissima larvae contained viable adult parasitoids in all three stage treatments, and the number of dead parasitoids per mummy was 2.8, 2 and 3.4 in egg, larva and adult treatments, respectively. This study showed that a sublethal dose of avermectin is more toxic than acetamiprid to B. longissima and A. hispinarum. Therefore, direct contact of the parasitoid with avermectin should be avoided when this insecticide is used to control B. longissima.     

Pythium soft rot of ginger: Detection and identification of the causal pathogens,and their control

Ginger is considered by many people to be the outstanding member among 1400 other species in the family Zingiberaceae. Not only it is a valuable spice used by cooks throughout the world to impart unique flavour to their dishes but it also has a long track record in some Chinese and Indian cultures for treating common human ailments such as colds and headaches. Ginger has recently attracted considerable attention for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal properties. However, ginger as a crop is also susceptible to at least 24 different plant pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, fungi and nematodes. Of these, Pythium spp. (within the kingdom Stramenopila, phyllum Oomycota) are of most concern because various species can cause rotting and yield loss on ginger at any of the growth stages including during postharvest storage. Pythium gracile was the first species in the genus to be reported as a ginger pathogen, causing Pythium soft rot disease in India in 1907. Thereafter, numerous other Pythium spp. have been recorded from ginger growing regions throughout the world. Today, 15 Pythium species have been implicated as pathogens of the soft rot disease. Because accurate identification of a pathogen is the cornerstone of effective disease management programs, this review will focus on how to detect, identify and control Pythium spp. in general, with special emphasis on Pythium spp. associated with soft rot on ginger.     

氧化应激对粗柄羊肚菌菌丝生长和菌核发生的影响

采用平板覆盖玻璃纸培养法,初步探讨了甘露醇、二甲基亚砜(DMSO)、苯甲酸钠和N,N-二甲基对亚硝基苯胺等4种羟基自由基清除剂,L-半胱氨酸、还原型谷胱甘肽和β-巯基乙醇等3种巯基化合物和抗坏血酸对粗柄羊肚菌(Morchella crassipes)菌丝生长和菌核发生的影响。结果表明,作为可以降低真菌胞内氧化应激的活性氧自由基清除剂,测试药剂对菌丝生长和菌核发生具有抑制作用,且该抑制作用随着药剂浓度的增加而增强,较高浓度的添加药剂可完全抑制菌核发生。随着测试药剂的羟基自由基清除能力增强,完全抑制粗柄羊肚菌菌核发生的浓度相应降低,菌丝生长也大致表现出类似的趋势。测试的较强自由基清除剂苯甲酸钠、N,N-二甲基对亚硝基苯胺、3种巯基化合物和抗坏血酸改变了粗柄羊肚菌菌落的色泽,表明打破了粗柄羊肚菌正常的生理活动。     

Above- and belowground biomass measurements in an unthinned stand of Sitka spruce (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea sitchensis</Emphasis> (Bong) Carr.)

Reporting carbon (C) stocks in tree biomass (above- and belowground) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) should be transparent and verifiable. The development of nationally specific data is considered ‘good practice’ to assist in meeting these reporting requirements. From this study, biomass functions were developed for estimating above- and belowground C stock in a 19-year-old stand of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong) Carr.). Our estimates were then tested against current default values used for reporting in Ireland and literature equations. Ten trees were destructively sampled to develop aboveground and tree component biomass equations. The roots were excavated and a root:shoot (R) ratio developed to estimate belowground biomass. Application of the total aboveground biomass function yielded a C stock estimate for the stand of 74 tonnes C ha⁻¹, with an uncertainty of 7%. The R ratio was determined to be 0.23, with an uncertainty of 10%. The C stock estimate of the belowground biomass component was then calculated to be 17 tonnes C ha⁻¹, with an uncertainty of 12%. The equivalent C stock estimate from the biomass expansion factor (BEF) method, applying Ireland’s currently reported default values for BEF (inclusive of belowground biomass), wood density and C concentration and methods for estimating volume, was found to be 60 tonnes C ha⁻¹, with an uncertainty of 26%. We found that volume tables, currently used for determining merchantable timber volume in Irish forestry conditions, underestimated volume since they did not extend to the yield of the forest under investigation. Mean stock values for belowground biomass compared well with that generated using published models.     

Vitamin C in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) flower buds as affected by postharvest light,UV-B irradiation and temperature

In this study, the changes in vitamin C, l-ascorbic acid (AA) and l-dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) levels in broccoli flower buds were examined during pre-storage and storage periods, simulating refrigerated transport with wholesale distribution and retail, respectively. Broccoli heads were pre-stored for 4 or 7 days at 0 °C or 4 °C in the dark and then stored for 3 days at 10 °C or 18 °C. During storage the broccoli heads were exposed for 12 h per day to three different levels of visible light (13, 19 or 25 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) or a combination of visible light (19 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) and UV-B irradiation (20 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹), or they were stored in the dark. The vitamin C content in broccoli flower buds during storage was significantly affected by pre-storage period and temperature. Higher vitamin C levels in flower buds after storage were observed for broccoli heads pre-stored for 4 days or at 0 °C as compared to those pre-stored for 7 days or at 4 °C. Storage temperature also affected vitamin C in broccoli flower buds, with higher levels observed for broccoli stored at 10 °C than at 18 °C. Hence, vitamin C in broccoli flower buds was demonstrated to decrease together with increasing pre-storage period, pre-storage temperature and storage temperature. AA in broccoli flower buds was influenced mainly by storage temperature and to a minor extent by pre-storage temperature. The DHA level and DHA/AA ratio were stable in flower buds of broccoli pre-stored for 7 days, whereas increasing tendencies for both DHA level and ratio were observed after pre-storage for 4 days. These results indicate a shift in the ascorbate metabolism in broccoli flower buds during storage at low temperatures, with its higher rate observed for broccoli pre-stored for shorter time. There were no effects of the light and UV-B irradiation treatments on vitamin C, AA and DHA levels in broccoli flower buds.