Ertragssimulation mit “Ceres Wheat” an Grundwasserböden gemäßigter Klimazonen. Teil 2: Verifizierung des geänderten Modelles “Ceres Wheat”

Calibration of the simulation model “Ceres Wheat” under conditions of soils with shallow watertable and temperate climate. Part 2: Verification of the modified model “Ceres Wheat” The Ceres Wheat yield model has been adopted to soils under wet conditions and to humide climate. The basic assumptions of the modified model have been checked. The simulated results of the soil water balance, the plant development and the nitrate losses by drain discharge give fairly well agreements to field data from a Calcaric Fluvisol (Speicherkoog, Schleswig-Holstein). The modification improves the model and leads to the opportunity to simulate special aspects in agronomical and ecological advices.     

Quartärgeomorphologische untersuchungen im Nordteil der “Tunesischen dorsale”

Seven Quaternary profiles from the Mediterranean region of northern Tunisia are described and their geomorphological significance assessed. Fifteen radiocarbon datings permit the field observations to be arranged in a chronosequence.The results indicate that the Late Pleistocene period witnessed the production and displacement of coarse debris, a process extending down to low altitudes. Until now, however, the only evidence for this has been found in the vicinity of steep slopes or rock walls. The coarse sediments partly overlie slope deposits derived from reddish soils; to some extent they contain fine reddish pedogenic material, and in part they are covered by it.In the Holocene, the displacement of fine alluvial sediments alternated several times with the formation of humic horizons. Anthropogenic influences on landscape evolution must be admitted as a possibility as from at least three thousand years ago.The aeolian sands of the Late Pleistocene and Middle Holocene are correlated with regressions of high sea levels.     

Zur Geschichte des Mineralnamens “Goethit”

The history of the mineral name Goethite (α-FeOOH) In 1806 the mining official J.H. Engels found in Eisenfeld near Siegen (Westphalia) two excellent pieces of a “ruby coloured iron mica”, already known as “Rubinglimmer”. He and his friend H.A. Achenbach, a parson, teacher and hobby mineralogist, proposed to J.G. Lenz, professor for mineralogy at Jena, to dedicate this mineral with the new name “Goethenit” to the famous poet J.W. von Goethe, who was also a great natural scientist. Lenz altered this name according to a proposal of F.W. Riemer, the secretary of Goethe, to “Goethit” and published it 1806 in his tables of minerals (printed as “Göthit”). However some years before the mineral was already described by J.C. Ullmann, professor for mining at Marburg, as “Pyrrhosiderit”. “Rubinglimmer” and the other mentioned names designated at that time the γ-form of FeOOH. In 1901 F.A. Lacroix reported, in order to avoid confusions, that the name “Goethit” was transferred to the α-form of FeOOH and that the γ-form had got the name “Lepidokrokit”.     

Zu Eigenschaften,Horizontaufbau und Gliederung der „Haftnässepseudogleye”︁

Properties, horizons and classification of the “Haftnässepseudogleye” (Stagnosols periodically waterlogged with capillary water) The term “Haftnässe” (soil wetness due to capillary moisture) can be used in describing soils with Sg-horizons in which long-term waterlogging and anaerobic conditions occur in the absence of gravitational water. “Haftnässe” is caused by water held in pores with an equivalent diameter of 0.2–50 μm by soil-water tension (pF) between 1.8 and 4.2, when the air capacity of the horizons is very low. “Haftnässe” moves primarily by capillary forces and is available to plants (available water). In some soils, the horizon below the Sg-horizon contains large pores, is well aerated and tends to impede the movement of capillary water. This type of horizon is often wetter than the overlying and underlying horizons, due to the presence of capillary water in the immediately overlying Sg-horizon. The symbol “So” is proposed for such horizons. In these soils, in the Sg-horizon reduced iron compounds are oxidized and precipitated, forming rusty mottles. The sequence of horizons developed in the “Haft(nässepseudo)-gleye” (Stagnosols periodically waterlogged with capillary water) typically affects the continuity of the pathways along which capillary water normally moves. The “Haft(nässepseudo)gleye” are divided into two subtypes on the basis of the sequence of horizons in the soil profile:

• Typical “Haft(nässepseudo)gley” (Shn) exhibits a sequence Ah/Sg/(II)So and shows transitions to Luvisol and Glossisol,
• Thick “Haft(nässepseudo)gley” (Shm) exhibits a sequence Ah/Sg and shows transitions to “Stau(wasserpseudo)gley” (Gleysol periodically waterlogged due to perched water), Gleysol, Fluvisol and tidal marsh soil.

     

Ertragssimulation mit “Ceres Wheat” an Grundwasserböden gemäßigter Klimazonen. Teil 1: Anwendungsgrenzen des Originalmodelles und Modelländerungen

Calibration of the simulation model “Ceres Wheat” under conditions of soils with shallow watertable and temperate climate. Part 1: Limitations in the applicability of the original model and necessary modifications To apply the yield simulation model “Ceres Wheat” under the specific climate conditions of Schleswig Holstein, the following modifications were necessary:

• Wheat development is strongly influenced by climatic conditions. Therefore the model has been adjusted to the temperate climate of Schleswig Holstein.
• The soil water balance routine of the model was originally designed for soils without oxygen deficiencies due to water logging. Routines for shallow water tables and artificial drainage were formulated.
• Due to modifications of the soil water balance routine, the associated nitrogen routine, especially the leaching of nitrate, has been changed.
• The simulation of yield depressions due to excessive water required the introduction of a trafficability delay function and an additional reduction factor for crop development.

All routines concerning the water and nitrogen balances and the quality of simulations have been tested under conditions of coastal marsh soils in Schleswig Holstein.     

Beziehungen zwischen “verfügbarem” Bodenphosphat und den Phosphatblattgehalten von Tectona grandis (Teak) in Westafrika

Relationships between “available” soil phosphorus and foliar phosphorus content of Tectona grandis (teak) in West-Africa Significant relationships were analysed between the foliar phosphorus content of Tectona grandis L. and the topsoil phosphorus contents on a broad range of soils in West African plantations of Tectona grandis L. (teak), except for soils very poor in clay or organic matter (< 15% T or < 1% C). Of all methods used (P-H₂O, P-Mehlich, P-CAL, P-Bray-1, P-Soltanpour, P-Dabin, P-Resin, P-H₂SO₄, P-550, P-org) the fraction of soil P (P-550) dissolved in 1 n H₂SO₄ after dry ashing at 550 °C (r = 0.548^***, n = 63) and the method of Bray-1 (r = 0.505^***, n = 63) show the best results. The first reflects 80-90% of the organic P content and is recommended for the evaluation of the phosphorus supply. Using multiple correlation analysis we found a highly significant relationship (R = 0.794^***, R² = 0.63, n = 58) between foliar P as depending variable and P-Bray (positive), the soil sand content (negative) as well as soil pH (positive). A sufficient phosphorus supply of teak foliage (0.2% P) occured at soil levels of 300-320 kg P per ha and 15 cm (or more than 150 mg P/kg in topsoils free of stones (P-550)) in the studied area between Benin and Liberia.     

Gefügebildung durch Bodentiere in „konventionell”︁ und „biologisch”︁ bewirtschafteten Ackerböden

Fabric formation by soil animals in “technically farmed” and in “organically farmed” arable land At 4 ecologically different sites in south-western Germany one “organically” and one adjoining “technically” farmed field were investigated. Samples of the Ap horizons of these 4 pairs of comparison were taken before the start of the vegetative period and again after harvest. The fabric formation by earthworms and by Enchytraeid worms (and Collembola) was evaluated on polished blocks by quantitative micromorphologic characteristics. – Significant differences appeared at one pair of comparison only, in part at a second one also. The two pairs of comparison which did not exhibit significant differences were para-brown earthes of loess in somewhat warmer climates. – An increase of Enchytraeid (and Collembola) droppings during the vegetative period was found as a by-result.     

Characterization of a Unique “Super Soft” Kernel Trait in Wheat

Kernel texture in wheat (Triticum sp.) is central to end‐use quality and utilization. Here we report the discovery of a novel soft kernel trait in soft white winter wheat (T. aestivum L.). Two heritable kernel phenotypes were selected among F₃‐derived sibs, hereafter designated “normal soft” (wild‐type) and “super soft.” Normal soft lines exhibited single kernel characterization system (SKCS) hardness index (HI) values typical of soft wheat (HI ≈ 20), whereas the super soft lines were unusually soft (HI ≈ 5). Under some environments, individual super soft lines exhibited HI values as low as HI = –4. The super soft trait was manifested in reduced SKCS kernel texture and higher break flour yields, with some increase in sodium carbonate SRC (solvent retention capacity) values and sponge cake volumes. Straight‐grade flour yield, flour ash, milling score, and cookie diameter were largely unaffected. With the possible exception of the sodium carbonate SRC values, we observed no indication that the super soft trait conferred any negative aspects to commercial soft wheat quality. As such, the super soft trait may provide wheat breeders with new opportunities to modify the end‐use quality of wheat.     

Accumulation soils like “Ockererde”—forgotten soil units in soil‐classification systems

Accumulation soils like those known as “Ockererde” are not yet represented in the German and in international soil‐classification systems, even though they represent important members of catenas found in humid low‐mountain areas influenced by the translocation of interpedon matter. Currently, this soil is referred to as “(Hang‐)Oxigley”, though this does not take into account its water and matter dynamics. Six representative catenas in the Black Forest (SW Germany) will be used to describe the occurrence, extent, and properties of the accumulation‐affected “Ockererde” derived from a variety of parent materials at specific altitudes. On the basis of their morphological, chemical, and physical properties as well as matter dynamics, it is possible to distinguish “Ockererde” clearly from soil units with similar characteristics (“Lockerbraunerde”, Andosols). Finally, suggestions will be given for the classification of “Ockererde”.     

Definition of the “Purity Protocol” for Producing Gluten‐Free Oats

Several oat processors in the United States and Canada operate under what is referred to as a Purity Protocol for the provision of gluten‐free oats. This term is derived from a Health Canada position statement that indicated that pure oats, which they defined as oats that are harvested, transported, stored, processed, and manufactured under good manufacturing practices (GMPs) to minimize the presence of gluten, can safely be consumed by some persons with celiac disease. While proprietary definitions of the appropriate GMPs have been used in industry for many years, no independent definition of the requirements to make a Purity Protocol claim has been published. This paper provides a consensus definition of the Purity Protocol requirements based on input from the four largest Purity Protocol oat processors in North America. This definition provides transparency to gluten‐free consumers and allows for auditing of a Purity Protocol claim.     

“Preferential flow”: Eine Übersicht über den heutigen Kenntnisstand

Preferential flow: A review of current knowledge Despite intensive research neither suitable methods of measurement, nor complete theoretical statements give an adequate account of preferential flow due to the exceptional complexity and variability of the soil system. In particular it is not possible to make predictions of preferential flow for a given soil due to observations and measurements. In this work we describe theoretical and technical problems of preferential flow and initiate ideas for future work in this field.     

Bioaccumulation of mineral elements in grapevine varieties cultivated in “La Mancha”

The capacity of a plant to take up chemical elements is measured as the ratio of the element concentration in the plant and its concentration in the soil. This ratio is called the bioaccumulation index (BAC). The choice of rootstock and variety can differentially affect nutrient uptake of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.). Generally, only slight differences can be observed in the accumulation of N, P, and Zn. In contrast, wide variations are found in the absorption of K, Ca, Mg, and Cl. While studies on plant nutrients and major elements have been carried out in vineyards, very few references concern the trace‐element concentrations in leaves. In the study described here, five varieties (Airén, Cencibel, Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay) grown on a Calcisol Petric or Typic Calcixerept (typical of La Mancha) were compared in terms of leaf trace‐element concentrations. A total of three samples (20 healthy and completely developed leaves from the middle part of the shoot) were collected from three different plants of the same variety. Leaves were dried, milled, and x‐ray fluorescence analysis was performed. It was found that the variety of grapevine influences the uptake of four of the major elements: Al (low in Garnacha, [0.4 ± 0.2] g kg^–1), Ca (high in Cencibel, [32.6 ± 8.1] g kg^–1), P (low in Airén, [0.9 ± 0.4] g kg^–1) and K, which showed significant differences in almost all of the varieties (from [4.7 ± 1.8] g kg^–1 in Cencibel to [8.0 ± 10.1] g kg^–1 in Chardonnay). No statistically significant varietal differences were found for trace elements. The only exception was La, which was present at higher levels in the variety Cencibel ([7.5 ± 0.3] mg kg^–1). This finding allows to assess the geochemical fingerprinting of calcareous soils regardless of the grapevine variety studied.     

Micromorphology of a “welded” Sangamonian to Wisconsinan age paleosol in southwestern Wisconsin

Micromorphological characteristics indicate that in southwestern Wisconsin pedogenesis transgressed the Sangamonian-Wisconsinan chronostratigraphic boundary in conjunction with colluvial and eolian sedimentation. The use of micromorphology helps to distinguish between pedological, colluvial, and eolian components in the paleosol horizon sequence, which can be difficult to resolve and interpret solely from field investigations and from other laboratory analyses. Results show that a basal loess “mixed zone” within the welded paleosol profile contains features that are the products of colluvial reworking processes. We present micromorphology data which support stratigraphic relationships suggesting that colluvial processes were important in the formation of basal loess “mixed zones” in addition to other possible mixing processes such as pedoturbation and bioturbation.     

On the Determination of the Constant Parameters of the “Two-surface” Langmuir Equation

The constant parameters k₁, k₂ (in ml/μg P) and b₁, b₂ (in μg P/g soil) of the two-surface Langmuir Equation for phosphate adsorption were determined by three methods for ten high pH montmorillonitic soils. The techniques included a graphical approach in which a curve is resolved into two straight line components (“Hofstee” method) and two methods utilizing the regression characteristics of the experimental adsorption data. The first regression method obtains estimates of k₁, k₂, b₁ and b₂ indirectly through various relationships resulting from the mathematical representation of the sorption isotherm as a “Stieltjes” transform (“Sposito” method). The second regression method obtains the parameters directly, assuming that k₁ ? k₂ and b₁ ? b₂ (“Approximation” method). Statistical analyses showed that each method yielded significantly different k₁ and k₂ constants compared to the other two. With regard to b₁ and b₂, the “Approximation” method produced significantly higher b₁ and lower b₂ values in all samples, though no difference was found among the three methods for the theoretical adsorption maximum (b_T=b₁+b₂). The relationship between k₁ and k₂ as well as b₁ and b₂, as expressed by their ratios, changed significantly from one method to another. This indicates the need for a more precise arithmetic definition of the condition k₁ ? k₂ and b₁ ? b₂ which is necessary for the “Approximation” method, accepted so far to be valid for k₁ ～ 100 k₂ and b₁ ～ 0,3 b₂ respectively.     

Edaphic interslope and valley bottom differences at “Evolution Canyon”, Lower Nahal Oren, Mount Carmel, Israel

The opposite slopes of lower Nahal Oren, Mount Carmel, Israel, designated “Evolution Canyon”, display physical and biotic contrasts, although both are cut in Upper Cenomanian calcareous limestone. The three-fold greater solar radiation makes the south-facing slope warmer, drier and more variable than the north-facing slope and valley bottom. Consequently, biodiversity is greater. Microclimate (mesic–xeric) is a major force driving adaptive evolution, and causing soil divergence. The soils on both slopes are Terra Rossas in the Israeli classification system (Rhodoxeralfs in US taxonomy). However, selected properties (pH, humus content, NH₄–N content, cation exchange capacity and others) display greater interslope than intraslope differences. The north-facing Terra Rossas have a dark-coloured A1 humic horizon, which is better developed than in south-facing Terra Rossas. Differences in soil morphology, moisture regime and microfabric between the north- and south-facing soils suggest that they belong to different taxonomic classes. These differences probably result in part from the forested ecosystem of the north-facing slope versus the savanna-like ecosystem of the opposite slope.     

Factors influencing patterns of ascomycete sporulation following simulated “burning” of prairie soils

The interaction of elevated soil temperature, ash deposition and biotic factors associated with untreated subsurface soils on the patterns of sporocarp appearance among populations of carbonicolous ascomycetes in a prairie soil was studied in the laboratory. Ash or unheated prairie soil, when separately combined with aerated steam-heated soil, disrupts the biotic associations, affecting both the production of sporocarps and their order of appearance. With either of these treatments, the interval required for sporocarp appearance among several species was extended but never abbreviated. When ash and a subsurface layer of unheated soil were applied together to create a “simulated burn,” the successional pattern was similar to that observed in soil samples collected immediately following prairie burning. The biological causes of this disturbance-mediated heterotrophic succession include: (1) the growth rate and minimal time required for sporulation among individual species populations, and (2) an overall pattern of competitive hierarchy. We suggest that the order of appearance of ascomycetes on recently-burned soils may be the evolutionary outcome of interspecific competition.