Kinetics of nonexchangeable‐potassium release and plant response in some calcareous soils

Nonexchangeable K⁺ constitutes a slowly available reserve that may significantly influence K⁺ fertility of soils. Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to characterize the K⁺ supply and nonexchangeable K⁺–release kinetics in 10 calcareous soils using 0.01 M CaCl₂ and 0.01 M oxalic acid extractions. Total K⁺ uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown in the greenhouse was used to measure plant‐available K⁺. The release of K⁺ was characterized by an initial fast rate followed by a slower rate. The nonlinear relationship in the early stages of the K⁺ release may be attributed to the edge sites, and release of K⁺ from interlayer exchange sites may be responsible for the second part of the K⁺ release. Kinetics of K⁺ release was described best with power function, which showed the best fit of the four models tested. Parameters of kinetics models in 0.01 M CaCl₂ were significantly related to K⁺ uptake by wheat. Potassium release was also correlated to initial NH₄OAc‐extratable K⁺ and to HNO₃‐extractable K⁺.     

Effects of levamisole,echinacea, and thyme oral administration on growth factors,blood parameters,and immunity in beluga,Huso huso

A total of 180 fish (95.50 g) were fed with 0.1% levamisole, 0.5% thyme, and 0.5% echinacea crude extract for 60 days. The control group received no stimulant. The results of growth parameters indicated a significant positive effect of levamisole in comparison with the control group, though it was not significantly different from echinacea and thyme treatments (P > 0.05). No mortalities were observed in the treatments. Feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio did not differ significantly between the treatments. The highest numbers of white and red blood cells and the greatest amounts of hemoglobin and hematocrit were detected in the levamisole treatment, showing significant differences with the other groups in the percentage of hemoglobin only (P < 0.05). The highest levels of MCH and MCHC were also measured in the levamisole treatment. Differential count of white blood cells revealed no significant differences in neutrophil and lymphocyte levels with the control. There was a significant increase in the percentage of eosinophil in the levamisole treatment alone. No significant differences were recorded in total protein, albumin, and aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase enzymes. Levamisole treatment displayed the highest activities of glutathione peroxidase and lysozyme as well as the greatest amount of immunoglobulin. So 0.1 levamisole yielded better results in the growth, blood, and immunity parameters and can be used as a stimulant without injuring body organs.     

Responses of cucumber (Cucumissativus L.) to ozonated water under varying drought stress intensities

This study explores the effect of drought stress and ozone on cucumber. A factorial experiment with complete randomized design was carried out in a greenhouse. Experimental treatments were drought stress, including three levels 100% (control), 80%, and 60% of the field capacity (FC) and three ozone concentrations of 0, 0.5, and 1 ppm. The drought stress (80% and 60% of the FC) significantly reduced fruit length, weight, and yield, leaf area, and number of fruits. Across the levels of drought stress, the statistical analysis showed significant increments in the fruit weight with the increasing in the ozone concentrations. An enhancement in the total suspended solids values was obtained with the increase in the drought stress level. The height, dry, and fresh weights of plant decreased with the increase in the drought stress level. The highest leaf area, dry, and fresh weights were observed in the 0.5 ppm ozone and 100% FC.     

Leaching behaviour of a sandy soil amended with natural and NH4+ and K+ saturated clinoptilolite and chabazite

Using saturated or enriched zeolites as slow release fertilizers (SRFs) is considered as an environmental-friendly strategy to enhance use of macronutrients in sandy soils. In this paper, two natural zeolites, clinoptilolite (CLI) and chabazite (CHA) were used as mineral precursors to prepare NH₄⁺/K⁺ saturated clinoptilolite (NH₄⁺/K⁺-CLI) and chabazite (NH₄⁺/K⁺-CHA) as zeolitic nutrient sources (ZNSs). Comparison between the nutrient retention capabilities of these ZNSs was one of the main objectives of this study. The NH₄⁺/K⁺-CLI and NH₄⁺/K⁺-CHA were prepared by soaking the zeolites in NH₄Cl and KCl solutions, respectively. Leaching tests were performed on a sandy soil amended with chemical fertilizers (CFs), NH₄⁺/K⁺-CLI and NH₄⁺/K⁺-CHA to evaluate the leaching properties of them. The results indicated that approximately 84% and 88% of the NH₄⁺ and K⁺ of soils fertilized with CFs were lost during the experiment, respectively. While, the NH₄⁺ and K⁺ losses from soils amended with NH₄⁺/K⁺-CLI and NH₄⁺/K⁺-CHA were 29%, 23%, and 14%, 24%, respectively. Despite of drastic changes in leaching behavior of CFs, nutrient losses from ZNSs were more uniform during the experiments. No significant difference was found between the two studied zeolites on reduction of K⁺ loss. However, CHA was more effective in preventing NH₄⁺ loss during leaching.