冻融循环老化降低竹粉/聚丙烯发泡复合材料性能

竹粉/聚丙烯(polypropylene,PP)发泡复合材料具有密度低、比强度高等优点,为了探讨期老化规律,该文研究冻融循环对不同竹粉含量(0,20%,33%和42%)的发泡复合材料的材色、物理力学性能、热学性能的影响,并结合环境扫描电镜(environmental scanning electronic microscopy,ESEM)和傅里叶红外光谱(fourier transform infrared spectrum,FTIR)对复合材料的表面形貌及化学结构进行分析。结果表明:随着竹粉含量增加,冻融循环老化对复合材料的材色和物理力学性能影响越明显,且随着冻融循环次数的增加,复合材料产生的色差越大,力学性能降低越多。9次冻融循环后,0、20%、33%和42%竹粉/PP发泡复合材料产生的色差ΔE*分别为0.9、2.4、7.0和9.9,弯曲模量、弯曲强度、拉伸强度和缺口冲击强度的保留率分别为95.2%~99.1%、97.3%~98.9%、94.9%~97.5%和92.0%~95.6%。热重分析(thermogravimetric analysis,TG)结果表明,9次冻融循环老化后,0和33%竹粉/PP发泡复合材料的初始热分解温度分别下降了19和8℃。ESEM显示,老化后复合材料表面出现少量的裂纹以及褶皱,且少量的表层高分子层脱落。FITR测试结果发现,冻融循环过程中复合材料的木材指数减少,表明材料表面的竹粉颗粒损失,且基体PP的基团峰强度减弱。该研究可为进一步探索竹塑发泡复合材料的老化规律,制定产品标准提供试验数据和理论参考。     

抗老化剂改善竹粉/聚丙烯发泡复合材料的自然老化性能

为探索木塑复合材料的老化规律,改善木塑产品的老化性能,该文以化学发泡法制备的竹粉/聚丙烯(polypropylene,PP)发泡复合材料为研究对象,采用户外自然老化方式,研究自然老化对发泡复合材料材色、弯曲蠕变性能、流变性能的影响;同时为改善发泡复合材料的老化性能,研究了抗老化剂对发泡复合材料自然老化性能的影响。结果表明:抗氧化剂B225和抗紫外线剂UV770均可改善复合材料的自然老化变色,减缓复合材料的老化褪色,提高复合材料老化后的弯曲蠕变性能和流变性能。在提高复合材料材色稳定性和初始刚性方面,添加质量分数为0.6%B225的效果较优,其次是添加0.3%B225+0.3%UV770、最后是添加0.6%UV770;而添加0.3%B225+0.3%UV770的复合材料,其流变性能稳定性较佳。自然老化12个月后,未添加抗老化剂的复合材料产生的色差△E*为22.8,而添加0.6%B225、0.6%UV770、0.3%B225+0.3%UV770的复合材料,其△E*分别为14.2、17.6和16.8。自然老化12个月后,添加抗老化剂的复合材料,其产生的蠕变应变减小且弯曲性能保留率增大。动态频率扫描结果显示,自然老化会降低复合材料的储能模量、损耗模量、复数黏度和平均分子量,缩短松弛时间;添加抗老化剂不仅可提高复合材料的初始流变性能,而且可改善复合材料的流变性能稳定性。研究结果为进一步探索木(竹)塑发泡复合材料的老化规律及木塑生产实践提供数据和理论参考。     

竹粉/聚丙烯发泡复合材料的增韧效果

为研发可代替聚丙烯(polypropylene,PP)应用于汽车内饰件的木塑复合材料,减少白色污染,节约化石能源,同时提高木塑复合材料的附加值,拓宽其应用领域。该文以注塑法制备竹粉/聚丙烯发泡复合材料,并分别采用乙烯-1-辛烯共聚物(polyolefin elastomer,POE)和马来酸酐接枝POE(maleic anhydride grafted polyolefin elastomer,POE-g-MAH)增韧复合材料。研究了增韧填料对发泡复合材料力学性能的影响,用环境扫描电镜(environmental scanning electronic microscopy,ESEM)对复合材料的冲击断面进行观察,并进行了频率扫描的动态流变测试。结果表明:添加POE和POE-g-MAH在略微降低材料拉伸和弯曲强度的同时,可明显提高材料的缺口冲击强度,二者最佳用量分别为15%和8%;8%POE-g-MAH增韧的复合材料的缺口冲击强度为8.55kJ/m2,提高了35.7%,可很好地应用于汽车内饰件。ESEM显示,增韧后,复合材料的断裂形式转变为韧性断裂。动态频率扫描结果显示,POE对复合材料流变性能的影响较小,而POE-g-MAH增韧的复合材料的储能模量和复数黏度明显增大,且"第二平台"现象更为明显。     

茶粉/聚丙烯复合材料加速老化性能

为高值化利用茶产业剩余物资源,拓宽木塑复合材料中植物纤维来源,以废弃茶梗(tea stalk,TS)为有机填料,与聚丙烯(Polypropylene,PP)制备了TS/PP复合材料;同时为研究其户外应用和老化机制,考察了冻融循环老化对TS/PP复合材料力学性能、材色及热性能的影响,并用傅里叶红外光谱(Fourier transform infrared spectrum,FTIR)、扫描电镜(scanning electronic microscopy,SEM)等分析了复合材料的化学结构、表面形貌及老化机制。结果表明:在经历12次冻融循环老化后,复合材料的弯曲强度、缺口冲击强度、弯曲模量及硬度值保留率分别为28.9%、40.1%、34.5%和86.5%,复合材料的亮度变化值(△L*)、红绿轴色品指数变化值(△a*)、黄蓝轴色品指数变化值(△b*)及色差值△E分别为16.41、2.80、9.03和18.93;复合材料维卡软化点(vicat softing point,VSP)下降了2.9℃,茶粉组分的最快热降解温度降低了4℃;茶粉中木素苯环结构红外吸收峰强度减弱甚至消失,表明在冻融循环老化中茶粉中木素成分发生了降解。SEM显示随冻融循环次数增加,TS/PP复合材料表面裂纹数量增多,裂纹深度和宽度增大,甚至出现交叉裂纹。该研究结果可为进一步探索茶塑复合材料制备及老化规律,提供试验数据和理论参考。     

适宜共混速度改善低密度聚乙烯/竹粉复合材料力学与流变性能

该文主要研究共混速度对(low density polyethylene,LDPE)/竹粉木塑复合材料、流变性能和吸水率的影响。采用熔融共混方法制备LDPE/竹粉复合材料,通过旋转流变仪、扫描电镜(scanning electron microscope,SEM)和材料试验机等详细研究了共混速度(40,75和100 r/min)对LDPE/竹粉复合材料的复合材料动态力学性能、形态、吸水率和力学性能的影响。在LDPE/竹粉复合材料,LDPE、增容剂马来酸酐接枝聚乙烯(maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene,MAPE)和竹粉的质量比控制在65∶5∶30。共混温度和时间分别设定为170℃和10 min。结果表明,添加竹粉可有效增强LDPE的力学性能。LDPE/竹粉复合材料的拉伸强度和弯曲强度随着共混速度的增加而呈现下降趋势,但是与纯LDPE相比,LDPE/竹粉复合材料(40 r/min)的拉伸强度和弯曲强度分别增加了28%和115%;弯曲模量从48.45 MPa降低到40.75 MPa。与LDPE相比,LDPE/竹粉复合材料(40 r/min)的弯曲模量最高增加了238%;缺口冲击强度则从12.8 k J/m2提高到18.27 k J/m2,但仍低于纯LDPE。在相同频率下(1.0 Hz),随着共混速度的增加,LDPE/竹粉复合材料的储能模量和复数黏度也逐渐下降,加工性能得到了改善;同时复合材料的吸水率也从0.89%(40 r/min)下降至0.59%(100 r/min)。SEM结果表明,竹粉能均匀分布在LDPE中,提高共混速度使得竹粉表面被大量树脂覆盖,改善了界面性能,使得材料断裂面产生大量的塑性形变,提高了材料韧性和冲击强度。试验结果证实共混速度为100 r/min时,LDPE/竹粉复合材料具有较好的冲击强度和较低的吸水率,这为木塑复合材料力学性能和吸水率的改善提供有意借鉴。     

含氢硅油改性稀土荧光竹塑复合材料的耐水性

为提高稀土荧光竹塑复合材料的耐水性能,拓宽其应用范围。利用含氢硅油改性竹粉和铝酸锶荧光粉表面,熔融共混,注塑成型的方法制备稀土荧光竹塑复合材料。通过接触角测量仪、荧光分光光度计、电子万能试验机、扫描电镜等仪器研究含氢硅油改性对复合材料接触角、吸水性能、发光性能和力学性能的影响。结果表明：未改性复合材料表面具有亲水性,改性复合材料表面具有疏水性。相比于未改性复合材料,改性复合材料的吸水率和吸水厚度膨胀率较低。经11 d水浸泡,改性复合材料的相对发光强度下降28.82%显著低于（P＜0.05）未改性复合材料的46.40%,改性复合材料的发光性能耐水性更好。随着浸水时间的延长,复合材料的弯曲强度、弯曲模量、拉伸强度均下降并趋于稳定,冲击强度先增大后减小,然后趋于稳定,与未改性复合材料相比,改性复合材料的弯曲强度、弯曲模量、拉伸强度的下降率较低（P＜0.05）,改性复合材料的力学性能遇水更稳定。扫描电镜显示,改性复合材料中荧光粉和竹粉在基体中分散较均匀、团聚减少、界面黏合强度改善。复合材料经含氢硅油改性后,游离羟基数量减小,羟基吸收峰向低波数移动,在1 387.75 cm-1处出现Si-CH3的特征吸收峰,表明含氢硅油与竹纤维和荧光粉表面羟基发生了化学反应,研究结果对提高稀土荧光竹塑复合材料的耐水性具有实际意义。     

理化预处理麦秸改善其聚丙烯复合材料抗霉菌腐蚀力学性能

为探讨麦秸秆不同处理方法对其制备的聚丙烯（polypropylene,PP）复合材料耐霉菌腐蚀性能影响,采用NaOH、HAc、水热、微波4种方法对麦秸秆纤维进行表面预处理,并对未处理和4种处理麦秸秆制备的复合材料进行霉菌加速腐蚀试验,测试了5种复合材料腐蚀前后的力学性能、颜色变化和吸水性,用傅立叶红外光谱分析其官能团的变化,观察并分析复合材料表面霉菌生长情况及表面微观结构。结果表明：霉菌能腐蚀麦秸秆纤维中的纤维素、半纤维素和木质素,使复合材料表面产生裂纹和孔洞,预处理可改善麦秸秆纤维和PP基体间的界面结合,有效地阻止霉菌腐蚀复合材料中麦秸秆的纤维素、半纤维素和木质素,其中5%NaOH预处理效果最佳,其弯曲强度、拉伸和冲击强度分别比未处理的提高了1.68%、3.67%和75.28%,吸水率和色差值降低12.99%和55.25%,经预处理麦秸秆制备复合材料腐蚀后表面裂纹和较大孔洞减少。该研究结果可为提高木塑复合材料防霉效力提供试验数据和理论参考,有利于延长木塑复合材料使用寿命。     

竹粉/不饱和聚酯复合材料力学性能与断面图像特征

为探明粒径对竹粉/不饱和聚酯复合材料力学性能的影响以及力学性能与拉伸断面图像特征之间的关系,采用平板模压法制备了竹粉/不饱和聚酯复合材料并测试了其力学性能,应用局部二元模式直方图的傅立叶特征算法提取复合材料拉伸断面电子显微镜图像特征。结果表明:与20～30目竹粉比较,>30～40目竹粉/不饱和聚酯复合材料的拉伸强度、弯曲强度与弯曲模量分别提高32.9%、34.4%、25.4%;>100～120目的复合材料拉伸强度、弯曲强度与弯曲模量则比>30～40目的分别降低10.6%、20.8%、12.9%;200目竹粉/不饱和聚酯复合材料的拉伸强度与弯曲强度比>100～120目的分别提高11.7%与18.3%。不同粒径竹粉复合材料拉伸断面图像特征存在差异,具有相似力学性能的复合材料断面图像纹理特征有一定相似性。本文通过拉伸断面图像特征来表征复合材料微观形貌与力学性能的差异,为建立复合材料断面微观形貌与力学性能之间的定量关系提供参考。     

玄武岩纤维改进亚麻纤维/不饱和聚酯复合材料的耐候性

为了研究玄武岩纤维和亚麻纤维增强不饱和聚酯(unsaturated polyester resin,UP)复合材料的耐候性能,通过人工模拟加速气候箱对混杂复合材料(hybrid composite materials,HCM)进行紫外光和喷凝处理,分析了老化前后对HCM的力学性能、动态热机械性能、吸水性能及微观结构变化的影响。力学测试结果表明,随紫外老化时间增加,H1、H2和H3(玄武岩纤维分别占总纤维质量的20.3%、41.5%和63.7%)的弯曲强度和冲击韧性先增大后降低,其中弯曲强度保持率分别为:62.5%、58.1%和57%;冲击韧性保持率分别为:66.8%、66.7%和53.2%。紫外老化时间对H3的弯曲强度影响显著(P0.05),而玄武岩纤维含量对HCM的弯曲强度保持率影响不显著(P0.05)。老化后的HCM的刚性增强,脆性增大,同时界面结合强度变差。老化600 h后,H1、H2和H3的吸水率与未老化相比分别增长了39.1%,44.9%和50.3%。与未老化的HCM相比,老化后亚麻纤维容易脱胶,空隙较多;玄武岩纤维与基体结合紧密,周围出现基体碎片。以上研究结果表明紫外老化使HCM进一步固化,力学性能增强;但随老化时间延长,基体发生不可逆硬度增加,脆性使纤维与基体的界面容易出现微裂纹,从而导致HCM性能下降;水分对亚麻纤维与基体的界面有影响并对破坏界面过程进行初步探索,验证了水分破坏存在的合理性。以上综合分析表明,H1的耐候性更好,而基体UP的降解将严重影响HCM的耐候性能。     

竹粉热处理改善竹粉/聚丙烯复合材料的防霉性能

为改善竹粉/聚丙烯(polypropylene,PP)复合材料的防霉性能,该文通过对竹粉进行热处理,处理温度为150~190℃、处理时间为60~240 min,研究热处理对竹粉化学成分、失重率及吸湿性的影响,测试热处理竹粉对竹粉/PP复合材料颜色、力学性能、表面润湿性及防霉性能的影响。结果表明:随着热处理温度的升高和热处理时间的延长,竹粉综纤维素含量逐渐降低,木质素含量逐渐增加,失重率增大,吸湿性降低;与未热处理的竹粉/PP复合材料相比,热处理复合材料的色差最大值为7.54,弯曲强度和弯曲模量分别下降9.79%和5.37%,但表面润湿性降低,防霉性能增强,防霉被害值由3.75降至2.25,防霉效力为40%。该研究结果可为防霉型竹(木)塑复合材料的研发和应用提供试验数据和理论参考。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.