Seasonal changes of mineral nutrients and phenolics in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit

Pomegranate fruit is an important source of potentially healthy bioactive compounds and mineral nutrients. Changes in total phenolic compound, concentrations, and levels of macronutrients (P, K, N, Mg, Ca and Na) and micronutrients (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe and B) in arils and peel of pomegranate fruit were recorded from 10 days after full bloom until harvest. Total phenolics levels increased at early stage of growth both in peel and arils of fruit, but thereafter generally decreased during maturation and reached to 3.70 and 50.22 mg g⁻¹ of dry weight in arils and peel, respectively, at harvest. The amount of total phenolics in peel was markedly higher than arils of pomegranate fruit. The concentration of most elements in arils and peel decreased during fruit growth and development. At harvest the relative order of concentration of macronutrients both in arils and peel was K > N > Ca > P > Mg > Na. The concentration of most micronutrients was greater in the arils than in the peel especially in early season. The relative order of concentration of micronutrients in arils was B > Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn. The accumulation of all the macro- and microelement within the fruit also increased during fruit growth and development. These results provide important data on total phenolics and macro- and micronutrient changes during fruit growth and development, emphasizing that pomegranate fruit can be a good source of bioactive compounds and minerals.     

杉木人工林中微量营养元素的含量、积累和生物循环

微量元素在植物体内参与各种生理生化活动,其作用机制有很强的专一性,是植物正常生长发育所不可缺少和相互替代的。森林生态系统的养分循环中,也包括微量营养元素的循环。本文对杉木林中的微量元素(Fe、Mn、Zn、Cu、B)进行了研究,旨在了解杉木林生态系统中这些元素的含量、积累和分布状况,以及它们在系统中循环的规律,以期进一步完善     

Varietal tolerance to Zinc deficiency in wheat and barley grown in chelatorbuffered nutrient solution and its effect on uptake of Cu,Fe, and Mn

Tolerance to zinc (Zn) deficiency was examined for three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and three barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) varieties grown in chelator‐buffered nutrient solution. Four indices were chosen to characterize tolerance to Zn deficiency: (1) relative shoot weight at low compared to high Zn supply (“Zn efficiency index”), (2) relative shoot to root ratio at low compared to high Zn supply, (3) total shoot uptake of Zn under deficient conditions, and (4) shoot dry weight under deficient conditions. Barley and wheat exhibited different tolerance to Zn deficiency, with barley being consistently more tolerant than wheat as assessed by all four indices. The tolerance to Zn deficiency in the barley varieties was in the order Thule=Tyra>Kinnan, and that of wheat in the order Bastian=Avle>Vinjett. The less tolerant varieties of both species accumulated more P in the shoots than the more tolerant varieties. For all varieties, the concentrations of Mn, Fe, Cu, and P in shoot tissue were negatively correlated with Zn supply. This antagonism was more pronounced for Mn and P than for Cu and Fe. Accumulation of Cu in barley roots was extremely high under Zn‐deficient conditions, an effect not so clearly indicated in wheat.     

氨基酸螯合微肥对旱作水稻苗期生长及生理效应的影响

通过盆栽试验研究氨基酸螯合微肥（AA-Met）对早作水稻苗期生长的影响。结果表明：AA-Met能显著提高早作水稻的株高、根长及生物量。喷施后72h内每24h用SPAD-502测定叶绿素相对含量，发现旱作水稻对螯合态微肥的吸收同化速率显著大于无机微肥，但AA—Met与EDTA—Met（EDTA螫合微肥）间差异不显著。等量施用微量元素下，AA—Met和EDTA—Met处理的生物量、叶绿素和生长素含量均显著高于无机微肥处理，而两螯合态微肥处理间差异不显著。可溶性蛋白含量3种微肥处理间差异显著，表现为AA-Met处理〉ED—TA—Met处理〉无机微肥处理（P〈0．05），表明AA—Met可完全替代EDTA—Met。分别喷施稀释100（AA—Met1）和250（AA—Met2）倍AA—Met的溶液时，作物生物量、叶绿素、生长素及可溶性蛋白含量两处理间差异不显著，但显著高于喷施稀释500（AA—Met）倍的AA—Met溶液的处理。     

氮磷钾及锌配施对旱薄区夏玉米干物质积累、分配和转移的影响

为给旱薄区夏玉米的优质高产栽培提供依据,研究了不同矿质元素N、P、K和Zn对夏玉米生长发育过程中的器官干物质积累、分配和转移的影响效应。结果表明,不同矿质元素及其组合,对于夏玉米的器官干物质积累、分配和转移均有一定影响;NK配合施用,优于单一N肥的施用,NPK配合施用,优于NK配合施用,NKZn配合施用,优于NK及NPK配合施用;NK与微肥Zn配合施用的经济系数最高为(0.56),对于防止后期叶片早衰、促进地上部器官干物质积累、提高籽粒产量,均具有重要作用。     

The Effect of Chloride on Yield and Nutrient Interaction in Greenhouse Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill.) Grown in Rockwool

The effect of increasing chloride content in nutrient solution on nutrient composition in root environment, interaction of nutrients in leaves and yield of greenhouse tomato cv. ‘Grace F₁’ grown in rockwool were searched. In Experiment I (2004–2005) the levels of 15, 30, 60, and 90 mg Cl·L^?1 but in Experiment II (2006) 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg Cl·L^?1 of nutrient solution were tested. The sources of chloride were water (9.6–10.7 mg Cl·L^?1) and calcium chloride (CaCl₂·2H₂O) but the rest of nutrients and sodium in all treatments were on the same levels. It was found that increasing content of chloride from 15 to 60 mg Cl·L^?1 enhanced the total and marketable fruit yield. Within the range of 60 to 90 mg Cl·L^?1 the yield was on the optimum level but the content of 120 mg Cl·L^?1 declined it. Increasing chloride content in the nutrient solutions was reflected in rising of chlorine content in leaves. The concentration of chloride above 60 mg C·L^?1 reduced the content of nitrogen but above 90 mg C·L^?1 declined the content of calcium, sulfur and zinc in leaves. The antagonism between Cl:N, Cl:Ca: Cl:S and Cl:Zn was appeared. More variable interaction were between Cl:K and Cl:B. At the low levels of chloride, from 15 to 60 mg Cl·L^?1, potassium and boron content were decreased but at the higher ones, from 90 to 120 mg·L^?1, these nutrients had increasing course. It was not found out the effect of chloride contents on macro and microelement contents in nutrient solution emitted from drippers however their content upraising in root medium (rockwool). The highest increase was found out for Na 95.1 and 64.9 % (Exp. I and II - respectively), next for Ca (76.0, 70.1 %), Cu (62.5 and 71.0 %), Cl (43.6, 24.4), B (33.3, 21.0 %), N-NO₃ (30.4, 49.6 %), Zn (29.5, 32.8 %), S-SO₄ (25.9, 25.5 %), K (24.5, 24.1 %), Fe (19.8, 19.2 %), Mn (17.5, 21.3 %) and Mg (14.9, 11.7). Advantageous effect of chloride on tomato yield justified the need to introduce for the practice adequate chlorine nutrition, and recommend to maintain 60 to 90 mg Cl·L^?1 in nutrient solution. The best yield appeared when content of chlorine in leaves (8th or 9th leaf from the top) was in the range 0.48-0.60 % of Cl in d. m.     

Novel Fertilizer as an Alternative for Supplying Manganese and Boron to Soybeans

Soybean (Glycine max) commonly experience Mn deficiencies in the coarse-textured soils of Coastal Plain Virginia, especially under high pH conditions. The objective of this study was to investigate the ability of a novel coated fertilizer to provide Mn and B to soybeans in soils where Mn deficiency is common and B deficiency, although far less common than with Mn, is possible. A 60-d greenhouse experiment was conducted with three treatments: control, uncoated KCl, and Mn +B coated KCl applied to Bojac and Dragston sandy loams. Soil and whole plant tissue samples were collected throughout the experiment. Bojac and Dragston soils treated with the coated KCl contained 12.0 mg kg^?1 and 15.8 mg kg^?1 more Mehlich 1 – Mn, 21.7 mg kg^?1 and 23.0 mg kg^?1 more Mehlich 3 Mn, and 4.5 mg kg^?1 and 4.6 mg kg^?1 CaCl₂ – Mn than the control and uncoated KCl, respectively. Coated KCl increased above ground tissue Mn by 42.9 mg kg^?1 compared to the control and the uncoated KCl treatments in the Bojac soil, while the Dragston soil showed no significant differences in Mn tissue concentration between treatments. Above ground tissue, Mn was much lower in the Dragston soil than the Bojac, probably due to greater organic matter which chelates Mn keeping it less plant available. Boron concentrations did not differ in plant tissue or soil, regardless of the extraction method. Results indicate that the coated KCl product could consistently provide increased Mn concentration in acidic sandy soils despite varying levels of organic matter, but is not effective for B.     

Assessment of nickel's sufficiency critical levels in cultivated soils,employing commonly used calibration techniques

Although Ni has been officially recognized as an essential micronutrient for all higher plants since 2004, research on assessing its sufficiency critical levels with different soil tests is missing in the literature. The objective of the study was to determine Ni critical levels in unpolluted cultivated soils utilizing four methods, employing three commonly used calibration techniques. Ten soils with different physical–chemical properties and low Ni content were treated with Ni at rates of 1, 2, 4, and 8 mg kg^?1. After equilibration for one month, the soils were analyzed for extractable Ni by four methods, namely DTPA, AB‐DTPA, AAAc‐EDTA, and Mehlich‐3. Response to soil‐applied Ni was assessed by a greenhouse pot experiment, with the untreated and Ni‐treated soils in three replications, using ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The aboveground biomass of ryegrass was harvested two months after sowing, dry weight of biomass was measured and relative biomass yield was calculated. Nickel's critical levels were determined employing the: (a) graphical technique of Brown and co‐workers, (b) Mitscherlich–Bray equation, and (c) Cate and Nelson graphical technique. According to the first technique, Ni critical levels were ≈ 2 mg kg^?1 for the DTPA and AB‐DTPA methods, and 6.0 and 5.3 mg kg^?1 for the AAAc‐EDTA and Mehlich‐3 methods, respectively. Similar levels were obtained by the Mitscherlich–Bray equation. However, the critical levels assessed by the Cate and Nelson technique were lower and ranged from 0.5 to 1.3 mg kg^?1 for all four methods. Conclusively, Ni sufficiency critical levels for all four methods are expected to range at levels of a few mg Ni kg^?1 of soil. As far as the three calibration techniques are concerned, a distinct boundary between Ni response and non‐response was accomplished by none. However, the fact that 60–74% of the soils were correctly separated into responsive and non‐responsive to added Ni by the graphical technique of Brown and co‐workers suggests that this is the most suitable technique.     

Effect of Citrate Concentration on the Extraction Efficiency of Selected Micronutrients from Soil

This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effect of citrate concentration on the extraction efficiency of some micronutrients from soil. Composite surface soil samples (0–20 cm) were collected from Eastern Harage Zone (Babile and Haramaya Districts), Wolaita Zone (Damot Sore, Boloso Bombe, Damot Pulasa and Humbo Districts) and Dire Dawa Administrative Council in purposive sampling. The treatments were arranged in completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. A greenhouse pot experiment with soybean plant was conducted to determine the correlation between soil test methods and the selected micronutrients, such as iron (Fe), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) in the leaves of the plant. The results showed that, among the different citrate concentrations with strontium chloride (SrCl₂) tested for the determination of available Fe, Mn and Zn, the highest correlation coefficients (r = 0.82, p < 0.05), (r = 0.96, p < 0.001) and (r = 0.98, p < 0.001) were found between the diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) method and 0.02 M strontium chloride (SrCl₂)-0.025 M citric acid extractant, respectively. Therefore, 0.02 M SrCl₂-0.025 M citric acid extractant is considered to be the most effective for the determination of Fe, Mn and Zn in soils of the studied areas. Similarly, high correlation coefficients (r = 0.97, p < 0.001) were found between DTPA and 0.02 M SrCl₂-0.05 M citric acid and (r = 0.88, p < 0.01) between DTPA and 0.02 M SrCl₂-0.025 M citric acid extractants for the determination of available Cu from soils. Hence, the 0.02 M SrCl₂-0.05 M citric acid extractant was shown to be the best for the determination of Cu in soils of the studied areas. However, considering the use of universal extractant, the 0.02 M SrCl₂-0.025 M citric acid extractant could easily be adopted as a procedure for the determination of Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn for both agricultural and environmental purposes. The greenhouse experiment confirmed the result.     

Mycorrhizal (Rhizophagus Intraradices) Symbiosis and Fe and Zn Availability in Calcareous Soil

Greenhouse experiment was conducted to assess the iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) fractionation patterns in soils of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus-inoculated and uninoculated maize plants fertilized with varying levels of Fe and Zn. Soil samples were collected for Fe and Zn fractions and available Fe, Zn and phosphorus (P) contents besides organic and biomass carbon (BMC), soil enzymes and glomalin. Major portion of Fe and Zn fractionations was found to occur in the residual form. Mycorrhizal symbiosis increased the organically bound forms of Fe and Zn while reducing the crystalline oxide, residual Fe and Zn fractions, indicating the transformation of unavailable forms into available forms. Soil enzymes, viz. dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase activities in M+ soils, were significantly higher than M? soil consistently. Overall, the data suggest that mycorrhizal symbiosis enhanced the availability of Fe and Zn as a result of preferential fractionation and biochemical changes that may alleviate micronutrient deficiencies in calcareous soil.

Abbreviations: AM: arbuscular mycorrhiza; Fe: Iron; Zn: Zinc; P: Phosphorous; Amox-Zn: amorphous oxide bound zinc; Cryox-Zn: crystalline oxide bound zinc; DAS: days after sowing; DTPA: diethylene Triamine Penta Acetic Acid; MnO₂-Zn: manganese oxide bound zinc; OC-Zn: organically bound zinc; WSEX: water soluble plus exchangeable zinc; MnO₂ Fe: manganese oxide bound iron; OC-Fe: Organically bound iron; WSEX Fe: water soluble plus exchangeable iron.