Use of a large world soil database for modeling the global soil distribution

The ISRIC WISE Global soil database is used to demonstrate the important role that large, properly established soil databases can play in the understanding and modeling of the global distribution of soils and their properties. This database, which contains 4382 georeferenced soil profiles, was systematically examined with respect to 128 environmental regimes, which exhibited combinations of different parent material, climate, and topography. There was generally good correlation of the WRB soil types and key soil properties with these environmental parameters. While most of the results are in accord with the standard theories of soil formation, there are several unexpected findings and subtle complexities that deserve further examination. The results allow for a reflection on soil genesis relationships and provide a useful base for the development of global soil predictive models.     

Use of wollastonite in the removal of Ni(II) from aqueous solutions

The ability of wollastonite to adsorb Ni (II) from water has been carried out. A removal of 92% of Ni (II) with 20 g L^?1 of adsorbent was observed at 50 mg L^?1 adsorbate concentration, 6.5 pH and 30 °C. The process follows a first order rate kinetics with diffusion controlled nature and the data fits the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Removal of Ni increases from 10 to 92% with the rise of pH from 3.0 to 8.0 and thereafter it remains almost unchanged. This change has been explained on the basis of aqueous-complex formation and the subsequent acid base dissociation at the solid-solution interface.     

Insulin-like biological activity of culinary and medicinal plant aqueous extracts in vitro

To evaluate the possible effects on insulin function, 49 herb, spice, and medicinal plant extracts were tested in the insulin-dependent utilization of glucose using a rat epididymal adipocyte assay. Cinnamon was the most bioactive product followed by witch hazel, green and black teas, allspice, bay leaves, nutmeg, cloves, mushrooms, and brewer's yeast. The glucose oxidation enhancing bioactivity was lost from cinnamon, tea, witch hazel, cloves, bay leaf and allspice by poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) treatment, indicating that the active phytochemicals are likely to be phenolic in nature. The activity of sage, mushrooms, and brewers's yeast was not removed by PVP. Some products such as Korean ginseng, flaxseed meal, and basil have been reported to be effective antidiabetic agents; however, they were only marginally active in our assay. Our technique measures direct stimulation of cellular glucose metabolism, so it may be that the active phytochemicals in these plants improve glucose metabolism via other mechanisms or that this in vitro screening is not a reliable predictor of hypoglycemic effects in vivo for some products. In summary, the positive effects of specific plant extracts on insulin activity suggest a possible role of these plants in improving glucose and insulin metabolism.     

Use of soil color meter for aqueous iron and ammonium measurements

Abstract

In this paper, we proposed a new approach for on-site colorimetric analysis of ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) and ammonium-nitrogen (NH₄ ⁺-N) using a soil color meter as an alternative method to conventional spectrophotometry. The soil color meter we used can express solution color numerically on the basis of L*a*b* color space. After coloring of water by the 1, 10 phenanthroline method and the Indophenol blue method, the color of solution was measured by the soil color meter. A linear relationship between Fe²⁺ and a* or b* values, and systematic change of NH₄ ⁺-N with L* value, enable us to make a calibration curve. The Fe²⁺ and NH₄ ⁺-N concentrations in groundwater samples (Fe²⁺: 0.3–1.3 mg L^?1; NH₄ ⁺-N: 0.02–0.62 mg L^?1) determined by the proposed method agreed well with those determined by conventional spectrophotometry with the difference being ± 0.05 mg L^?1 and ± 0.02 mg L^?1, respectively. Since a similar apparatus is widely used in the soil science field, this technique would facilitate field surveys.     

Use of vermicompost extract as an aluminium inhibitor in aqueous solutions

Abstract

Vermicompost extract (VCE) demonstrated the ability to raise the measured pH level of an acid soil thus showing a potential to limit aluminium toxicity. The relatively high proportion of humic substances (60% of VCE solid matter) suggested the possibility of formation of stable chelates with aluminium ions. A rate‐based colorimetric method was utilised measuring at 585 nm the aluminium‐pyrocatechol violet complex (Al‐PCV₃) after 60 seconds ("toxic”; Al index) and 2 hours ("total”; Al). By artificially altering the pH levels of various VCE:Al solutions, in the absence of soil, the relative and combined effects of pH and chelation on Al level reduction were observed. Inferences were drawn to predict the efficacy of VCE applied to acid soils displaying Al phytotoxicity. These are to be tested in subsequent work. In solutions above pH 6, a 98% reduction of total Al was obtained due to pH effects, whereas at pH 4, a 90% reduction was obtained due to chelation. The trends were similar for “toxic”; Al indices.     

Use of poultry manure and plant cultivation for the reclamation of burnt soils

Annual (Pisum sativum L. and Vicia sativa L.) and perennial (Trifolium repens L. and Lotus corniculatus L.) leguminous species were grown in pots containing samples from the ash layers of two Cambisols under Pinus sylvestris L., which has been affected by high-intensity wildfires 3 and 15 days before the sampling. The gramineous Lolium perenne L. was cultivated as a second plant after Trifolium and Lotus harvesting. Three treatments were compared: soils without fertilization and soils fertilized with two doses of poultry manure (1 and 2 g total N kg^-1 dry soil). The aim of the work was to study the capacity of the ash layer to sustain vegetation and the influence of plants and organic manure on the recovery of vegetation cover, ash layer fixation and soil structure formation to avoid erosion. The ash samples were able to sustain vegetation without fertilization. The organic manure increased the yields of all the plants tested, the lower dose being the optimal for the first crop whereas the higher dose was beneficial for the second crop. The annual legumes grew very quickly. The mixture of Trifolium and Lotus seemed very suitable for reclamation of soil degraded by wildfires because Trifolium produced more phytomass than Lotus in the first growing stages whereas the development of Lotus was higher in the later growing stages. Ash layer conditions did not inhibit nodulation, which was, however, stimulated by the organic manure, particularly in the case of Lotus. Lolium after perennial legumes was the best plant combination because it produced the highest phytomass, particularly root phytomass, and thus improved vegetation cover and ash layer fixation. All the plants tested improved the formation of soil aggregates, particularly the combination of perennial legumes and Lolium. However, wet aggregate stability was higher when plants were grown on soils fertilized with poultry manure than when plants were cropped on unmanured soils, which points to the favourable influence of the organic manure on soil aggregation.     

Use of percentage and milliequivalent expressions in plant composition studies

Abstract

Corn yields and leaf samples vere obtained from experimental plots receiving various rates and combinations of N, P and K. Yields were regressed on leaf N, P, K, Ca and Mg as independent variables expressed in milliequivalents per 100 grams and percentages in three regression models. The fit of two models was shown to be equivalent regardless of method of expressing the independent variables. For the other model the choice of milliequivalents per 100 grams or percentages determines a unique function.     

Use efficiency of nitrogen from biodigested plant material by ryegrass

Apparent nitrogen‐use efficiency of the applied mineral N (NUE_min) in effluent from biodigested plant material (BE; C : N_org ratio 14:1; mineral N–to–total N ratio 0.5:1) and a nitrate‐based inorganic fertilizer (IF), both applied at two rates was investigated in a six‐month pot experiment with Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). Dry‐matter (DM) production was 7% lower and total amount of N in aboveground biomass was 8% lower in BE than in IF at 40 d after sowing (DAS), equal at 81 DAS, and higher in BE than in IF at 136 and 172 DAS. NUE_min calculated on the basis of accumulated N in aboveground biomass of ryegrass in fertilized treatments compared to a control without N application was significantly lower in BE than in IF up to the third cut (136 DAS). Total NUE_min, total N recovery, and amount of foliage DM were similar for both fertilizers at the end of the experiment. Root biomass, total DM produced including roots and stubble, the fraction of root N to total plant N, and soil mineral N at 172 DAS were higher for BE than for IF. Mineral N applied with biogas‐reactor effluent was almost as effective as the nitrate‐based mineral fertilizer used for comparison. Within the six‐month experimental period net N mineralization, estimated at 12% of organic N in effluent, was not substantial. Hence, the organic compounds in the effluent were relatively recalcitrant.     

Mulching effect of plant residues of chemically contrasting compositions on soil organic matter content and cation exchange capacity

Abstract

Effects of five types of plant residues [Acioa, presently Dactyladenia barteri, Gliricidia sepium, and Leucaena lecocephala prunings, maize (Zea mays) stover and rice (Oryza sativa) straw] applied as mulch on soil organic matter (SOM) content and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) were studied on an Alfisol in the humid tropics. Plant residue mulch resulted in a decline in SOM and ECEC during two years of cropping following six years of grass fallow. Rice straw mulch resulted in less and maize stover mulch in a greater decrease of SOM and ECEC than the other mulches. Decrease in SOM and ECEC is attributed to the mulching effect on the soil micro‐climate which enhanced the decomposition of SOM accumulated during the grass fallow prior to the initiation of the experiment. In order to maintain SOM for a tropical soil, plant residues with high lignin, polyphenols, and silica will have to be among residue species when applied in continuous cropping systems.     

Effects of glyphosate on rhizosphere soil microbial communities under two different plant compositions by cultivation-dependent and -independent methodologies

We studied, under two different plant compositions, the short-term effects of glyphosate on rhizosphere soil microbial communities through the utilization of cultivation-dependent and -independent techniques. A short-term pot study was carried out using factorial treatments that included two different compositions of forage plant species (triticale versus a mixture of triticale and pea) and two concentrations of glyphosate (50 and 500 mg active ingredient kg⁻¹ soil, as a commercial formulation, Roundup Plus) arranged in a completely randomized design experiment with four replicates. Control plants (no glyphosate added) were clipped in an attempt to compare two methods of weed control (manual = clipping; chemical = herbicide treatment). Rhizosphere soil was sampled 15 and 30 days after glyphosate treatment and the following soil components were determined: potentially mineralizable nitrogen, ammonium content, community-level physiological profiles using Biolog Ecoplates™, DNA microbial biomass and genotype diversity by means of PCR-DGGE. Fifteen days after herbicide treatment, a glyphosate-induced stimulation of the activity and functional diversity of the cultivable portion of the heterotrophic soil microbial community was observed, most likely due to glyphosate acting as an available source of C, N and P. On the other hand, 30 days after herbicide treatment, both the activity and diversity of the rhizosphere soil microbial communities showed an inconsistent response to glyphosate addition. Apart from its intended effect on plants, glyphosate had non-target effects on the rhizosphere soil microbial community which were, interestingly, more enhanced in triticale than in “triticale + pea” pots. Biolog™ was more sensitive than PCR-DGGE to detect changes in soil microbial communities induced by glyphosate and plant composition.     

Enhancement of plant essential oils' aqueous solubility and stability using alpha and beta cyclodextrin

Sodium benzoate has been shown to produce benzene in combination with ascorbic acid. This has led to research for safe alternatives from plant essential oils and parabens that have shown some antimicrobial activity, but many of these compounds exhibit poor solubility in aqueous solutions. Cyclodextrins can increase the solubility of many compounds. This work aimed to investigate the solubility of 23 plant essential oils and 4 parabens in water and an apple juice medium. Four of these compounds were chosen for their low aqueous solubility to determine if complexing the compound with α- and β-cyclodextrin would increase solubility. Three of the complexes were dissolved in an acidified aqueous solution and then studied in glass and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to determine if storage material would affect the stability. Solubility of the 27 compounds in distilled water ranged from 1.6 mg/L to 2460.6 mg/L and the solubility of 18 of the compounds decreased from 2.5 to 84.7% in apple juice medium (pH = 3.4, 12-13 °Brix). Complexation with cyclodextrin dramatically increased the solubility of the compounds, up to 10-fold. Packaging material had no effect on concentration of compounds present over 7 days. Cyclodextrins were able to increase solubility of these compounds to more suitable concentrations, and may lead to viable natural alternatives to sodium benzoate.     

Use of Ion-Exchange Membrane to Assess Nitrogen-Supply Power of Soils

Soil nitrogen-supply power (NSP), including nitrogen (N) mineralized from organic matter, for crop growth is an important criterion in evaluating soil quality. Ion-exchange membranes in the form of plant root simulator (PRS) probes were used to measure ammonium and nitrate release rates as a measure of NSP in 54 Saskatchewan soils with contrasting pedogenic and management histories. Two incubation systems (aerobic and anaerobic), with ion-exchange membrane probes placed in situ, were conducted to predict NSP. The 54 soil samples were also used in two growth-chamber studies to assess patterns in plant N uptake by canola. Soil type had a profound influence on available N-supply rates, with soils of higher organic-matter content due to climatic conditions, slope position, and past management having higher NSP values. Good relationships (R² = 0.54 and 0.69) between NSP and canola N uptake were observed. The N-supply rate values used as an index of NSP as predicted by two-week aerobic incubation for Brown, Dark Brown, and Black soils in Saskatchewan were 200–550, 550–1100, and > 1100 μg nitrate-N/10cm²/2 wks, respectively, with different management histories producing significant variation within a region.     

Biology of the European bitterling Rhodeus sericeus (pisces: cyprinidae) in the Bronx River,New York,USA: An apparently benign exotic species

Selected aspects of the biology of the European bitterling Rhodeus sericeus in southern New York were investigated as a preliminary determination of the impact of this species on the native ecosystem. There are about 900 bitterlings in the only extant North American population. The oldest specimen was in its fourth summer (III +) and all were mature in their first year. Fecundity is low, less than 60 eggs per female. Bitterlings feed primarily on diatoms and the digestive system is typical of a surface-scraping herbivore. Impact of this exotic species on the ecosystem appears minimal. It is unlikely that the species would cause appreciable negative impact on any habitat in the northeastern United States.     

Color in fruit of the genus actinidia: carotenoid and chlorophyll compositions.

The carotenoid and chlorophyll contents in the fruit of four species of Actinidia were measured to determine the chemical basis of color in kiwifruit and related Actinidia species. The species studied were the two commercial fruits Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward and a yellow-fleshed genotype Actinidia chinensis cv. Hort16A (known commercially as ZESPRI Gold kiwifruit), the yellow fruit of Actinida polygama, and the orange fruit of Actinida macrosperma. As reported previously, ripe fruit of A. deliciosa contain chlorophylls a and b and the carotenoids normally associated with photosynthesis, beta-carotene, lutein, violaxanthin, and 9'-cis-neoxanthin. The carotenoids in A. chinensis were similar to those in A. deliciosa but also contained esterified xanthophylls. Only trace amounts of chlorophyll were present in A. chinensis. The major carotenoid in both A. macrosperma and A. polygama was beta-carotene, with no chlorophyll detected. The yellow color of A. chinensis was mostly due to the reduction of chlorophyll rather than an increase in carotenoid concentration. In contrast to the three yellow/orange species, the green fruit of A. deliciosa retains chlorophyll during maturation and ripening, and esterified xanthophylls are not produced. This suggests that in fruit of A. deliciosa chloroplasts are not converted to chromoplasts as is typical for ripening fruit.     

几种伴生植物水浸液对杉木生长的影响研究

用8种杉木伴生植物及杉木的茎和叶不同浓度水平(水平Ⅰ为166.7g/kg,水平Ⅱ83.3g/kg,水平Ⅲ41.7g/kg·水平Ⅳ20.8g/kg)的水浸液浇灌盆栽杉本幼苗,连续观测6年结果表明8种植物水浸液浇灌后杉木高度与地径比对照Ⅰ(浇灌杉木自身水浸液)和对照Ⅱ(仅浇灌清水)均有不同程度提高。不同浓度水浸液对杉木高度和地径的促进作用依次为水平Ⅰ>水平Ⅱ>水平Ⅲ>水平Ⅳ>对照Ⅱ,不同植物水浸液对杉木株高的促进作用则为木荷>檵木>椤木石楠>狗脊>丝粟栲>赤楠>马尾松>芒萁>杉木(对照Ⅰ)     

应用几种植物物质及化合物抑制土壤脲酶活性和提高植物尿素氮的回收率

Effects of residues of 9 plants, lemon eucalyptus (Eucalyptus citriodora Hook., P1), robust eucalyptus (E. robusta Smith, P2), Nepal camphortree (Cinnamomum glanduliferum (Wall.) Nees, P3), tea (Camellia sinensis (Linn.) O. Ktze. f., P4), oleander (Nerium indicum Mill, P5), rape (Brassica campestris L., P6),Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum L., P7), tung (Vernicia fordii (Hemsl.), P8), and croton (Croton tiglium L., P9), 7 chemicals, boric acid (C1), borax (C2), oxalic acid (C3), sodium oxalite (C4), sodium dihydrogen phosphate (C6), sodium silicate (C7) and sodium citrate (C8), and a natural organic substance,humic acid (C5), on urease activity of a neutral purple soil and recovery of urea nitrogen by maize were studied through incubation and pot experiments. Hydroquinone (HQ) was applied as the reference inhibitor. After incubation at 37 ℃ for 24 h, 7 inhibitors with higher ability to inhibit urease activity were selected and then incubated for 14 days at 25 ℃. Results of the incubation experiments showed that soil urease activity was greatly inhibited by them, and the inhibition effect followed an order of P2＞P4＞C3＞C2＞P3＞C1＞HQ＞P1.The 7 selected materials reduced the accumulative amounts of N released from urea and the maximum urease activity by 11.7%～28.4% and 26.7%～39.7%, respectively, and postponed the N release peak by 2～4 days in the incubation period of 14 days under constant temperature, as compared to the control (no inhibitor).In the pot experiment with the 7 materials at two levels of addition, low (L) and high (H), the C1 (H), C3(H), C1 (L), P4 (L) and C2 (L) treatments could significantly increase the dry weights of the aboveground parts and the total biomass of the maize plants and the apparent recovery rate of urea-N was increased by 6.3%～32.4% as compared to the control (no hibitor).     

Use of lignin extracted from different plant sources as standards in the spectrophotometric acetyl bromide lignin method

A nongravimetric acetyl bromide lignin (ABL) method was evaluated to quantify lignin concentration in a variety of plant materials. The traditional approach to lignin quantification required extraction of lignin with acidic dioxane and its isolation from each plant sample to construct a standard curve via spectrophotometric analysis. Lignin concentration was then measured in pre-extracted plant cell walls. However, this presented a methodological complexity because extraction and isolation procedures are lengthy and tedious, particularly if there are many samples involved. This work was targeted to simplify lignin quantification. Our hypothesis was that any lignin, regardless of its botanical origin, could be used to construct a standard curve for the purpose of determining lignin concentration in a variety of plants. To test our hypothesis, lignins were isolated from a range of diverse plants and, along with three commercial lignins, standard curves were built and compared among them. Slopes and intercepts derived from these standard curves were close enough to allow utilization of a mean extinction coefficient in the regression equation to estimate lignin concentration in any plant, independent of its botanical origin. Lignin quantification by use of a common regression equation obviates the steps of lignin extraction, isolation, and standard curve construction, which substantially expedites the ABL method. Acetyl bromide lignin method is a fast, convenient analytical procedure that may routinely be used to quantify lignin.     

Dietary alkylresorcinols and lignans in the Spanish diet: development of the alignia database

The intake of alkylresorcinols and lignans in Spain is unknown due to the lack of information on the content of these compounds in particular foods. This paper describes the development of the first alkylresorcinol and lignan database adapted to the Spanish diet, including foods items especially relevant for this population. The values of alkylresorcinols and lignans in common foods and beverages were collected from scientific publications in refereed journals, and other foods particularly consumed in Spain, for which values were not available, were analyzed by standardized protocols and included into the database. The Alignia database presents the content of alkylresorcinols in 88 food items and the lignan content of 593 foods and beverages. Using the database, the intake of lignans in Spain, calculated using data from the Food Composition Panel based on household consumption, was estimated to be 0.76 mg/day.     

Three decades of urbanization: Estimating the impact of land-cover change on stream salamander populations

Urbanization has become the dominant form of landscape disturbance in parts of the United States. Small streams in the Piedmont region of the eastern United States support high densities of salamanders and are often the first habitats to be affected by landscape-altering factors such as urbanization. We used US Geological Survey land cover data from 1972 to 2000 and a relation between stream salamanders and land cover, established from recent research, to estimate the impact of contemporary land-cover change on the abundance of stream salamanders near Davidson, North Carolina, a Piedmont locale that has experienced rapid urbanization during this time. Our analysis indicates that southern two-lined salamander (Eurycea cirrigera) populations have decreased from 32% to 44% while northern dusky salamanders (Desmognathus fuscus) have decreased from 21% to 30% over the last three decades. Our results suggest that the widespread conversion of forest to urban land in small catchments has likely resulted in a substantial decline of populations of stream salamanders and could have serious effects on stream ecosystems.