Modelling techniques and computer simulation of agricultural waste treatment processes

Modelling techniques developed for continuous-flow biological waste treatment processes are described. Development of the theory of mathematical representation of continuous-flow, mass-culture biological reactors is taken from the field of chemical reactor engineering. The purpose of this paper is to describe the techniques necessary to use this theory to build models of animal-waste treatment processes. Following the general development of the necessary equations for modelling, specific examples of the technique are illustrated for anaerobic lagoons and anaerobic digestion of a food waste and swine waste.     

The effect of a sandy soil amendment with municipal solid waste (MSW) compost on nitrogen uptake efficiency by plants

The purpose of this work was to determine the influence of municipal solid waste (MSW) compost application on soil properties, nitrogen availability to plants and its uptake efficiency. The paper deals with results of a three-year field experiment where two different MSW composts were non-recurrently applied to sandy soil at rates of 18, 36 and 72 t ha⁻¹ (dry mass). Plots without fertilisation as well as plots fertilised each year with mineral forms of NPK were the controls, and spring triticale was cultivated in a monoculture on all plots as a test plant. Soil properties, plant yield and nitrogen content in grain and straw were determined at harvest, and on this basis the applied nitrogen uptake efficiency was calculated. During the first year, only the plots with the highest dose of the better-quality compost had yields similar to the plots fertilised with mineral NPK. Following the years of the experiment, all the plots treated with compost had distinctly lower yields than the plots fertilised with mineral NPK. That decrease was accompanied by a decrease in the nitrogen content in straw and grain, in spite of the fact that the soil material indicated a similar content of total nitrogen to those fertilised with NPK. This indicates that organic matter brought into the soil with MSW compost was intensively mineralised, releasing a considerable amount of nitrogen. However, the plant response indicated a shortage of the plant-available forms of this element. The efficiency of compost-originated nitrogen uptake by plants was very low, at less than 7% of the applied nitrogen. This indicates that plants can take up only a limited amount of nitrogen released from the compost, while considerable amounts are emitted into the atmosphere.     

Inheritance of spineless leaves in Aechmea (Bromeliaceae)

Bromeliaceae are tropical ornamentals with a variety of colors and inflorescence shapes. Leaves with spined margins are characteristic for the genus Aechmea. Crosses between spineless and spined Aechmea cultivars were attempted in order to obtain a spineless offspring. Crossing spined and spineless genotypes resulted in a progeny with on average 50% spineless plants. The hybrids of two spineless plants had on average 75% spineless leaves. This indicated that the spineless character was dominant. Homozygous plants were selected; these plants are interesting for further breeding and propagation by seed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Analysis of batch formula and optimizing calcination conditions of light-weight aggregates prepared by municipal solid waste

It is an effective technology of recycling organic fractions of municipal solid waste as light-weight aggregates (LWA) fired in trefoil rotary kiln. This paper studies the optimum batch formula and optimal calcination conditions of LWA made from municipal solid waste , clay and coal fly ash.The results indicate that: 1)optimum batch formula (dry mixture ration) is 15.38% of BMW,14.85% of clay,69.77% of coal fly ash; 2)optimal calcination conditions are preheating temperature of kiln:500 ℃, sintering temperature:1190 ℃, holding time of sintering temperature: 4 min. The performance testing indicators of aggregate fired under best experimental parameters shows: bulk density is 605 kg/m3, cylinder compressive strength is 3.0 MPa, 1hr water absorption is 11.0%, apparent density is 0.93, all of the targets meet 700 grade light aggregate of GB/17431.2—1998 standards; the results of leaching test are lower than hazardous constituents concentration limits of GB/T 5085.3—2007 standards, LWA is not hazardous to environment.     

“十三五”时期地市级农业科研院所发展的几点思考

结合“十三五”时期我国农业科技改革发展形势,以漯河市农业科学院为例,分析了地级市农业科研院所新时期下的发展背景,阐述了新时期农业科技发展的新要求,提出了“十三五”农业科研院所发展的目标任务、重点工作及保障措施,为促进地市级农业科研院所进一步发展提供参考.     

桑叶中γ-氨基丁酸含量的测定

γ-氨基丁酸（γ-aminobutyricacid,简称GABA）是动物中枢神经系统中的一种主要的抑制性神经递质,也是广泛地存在于植物体内的一种与逆境胁迫有关的非蛋白氨基酸。实验探索出了适合桑叶的测定方法为比色法,利用AlCl3有效去除桑叶中的水溶性色素后,采用分光光度法准确地测定桑叶中GA-BA的含量。同时,对目前生产上主要栽种的23个桑树品种的GABA的含量进行了测定,其结果显示含量较高的桑树品种为火桑,其新鲜桑叶中GABA的含量为1.224mg/g,为GABA的进一步研究和桑叶中功能性成分的开发利用奠定了试验理论基础。     

4个油桐品种光合特性的日变化研究

利用Li-6400便携式光合测定系统,测定了4个油桐品种光合指标的日变化。结果表明：⑴‘葡萄桐’、‘小米桐’、‘对年桐’的净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)日变化均呈单峰曲线,‘大米桐’的净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)日变化呈双峰曲线;⑵4个品种的胞间CO2浓度(Ci)日变化呈不规则的“V”字型;⑶4个品种净光合速率日变化平均值大小排序为:‘葡萄桐’>‘小米桐’>‘对年桐’>‘大米桐’;⑷影响油桐净光合速率值的主要生态生理指标大小依次为：蒸腾速率>胞间CO2浓度>光合有效辐射>气孔导度。     

重瓣长寿花叶片组织培养及植株再生的研究

摘要:以重瓣长寿花幼嫩叶片为试材,筛选各个培养阶段的培养基配方,研究重瓣长寿花的快速繁殖技术。结果表明: 0.1％升汞灭菌4min,外植体污染率为12.5％,死亡率2.5%,效果最佳;愈伤组织诱导培养基以MS+6-BA1.0 mg／L+NAA0.1～0.3 mg／L最佳,不定芽分化和增殖的最适培养基为MS+6-BA0.5 mg／L+NAA0.1 mg／L,生根培养基用1/2MS+NAA0.5mg／L最好,试管苗移栽成活率达99％。     

Comparative transcriptome analysis of Ts(Resistant genotype)and Ma(Susceptible genotype) marigold(Tagetes erecta L.) leaves in response to Alternaria tagetica

Marigold black spot caused by Alternaria tagetica is a major disease that can decrease marigold production by 40%, resulting in serious economic losses. In this study, we identified many genes responsive to A. tagetica in the resistant and susceptible marigold genotypes. Analyses of differentially expressed genes, expression trends, and a weighted gene co-expression network revealed a series of hub genes with key roles in different A. tagetica infection stages. Additionally, 1 216 unigenes encod...     

Genetic analysis of the antioxidant enzymes,methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) and chlorophyll content in leaves of the short season cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Premature senescence is an important limited factor for the short season cotton (SSC), which decreases yield and declines fiber quality. The activity of antioxidant enzyme, methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) content and chlorophyll content is related with premature senescence. The present study is aimed to investigate the heredity and relationship of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), MDA content and chlorophyll content for breeding high yield and good quality of the SSC varieties. Six parents from two types of senescence varieties (type A, which matures early and displays premature senescence; type B, which matures early but does not display premature senescence) and their F₁, F₂ progenies in a diallel crossing scheme were planted in the experiment field. Phenotypic data on the traits were analyzed according to the Additive–Dominance–Epistasis and Additive–Dominance–Maternal–Paternal effects genetic model. CAT activity of dominant genetic effects were significant and large from 9 to 85 days after planting, the variance components were 34.69, 8.41, 31.93, 19.57 and 27.96 % at 9, 36, 50, 66 and 85 days, respectively. Additive-by-additive epistatic effects on CAT activity were significant and important from 9 to 85 days after planting. POD activity of additive genetic effects was significant and stable. There was not interaction by environment during 24 to 50 days after planting, the variance components were 9.82, 18.86 and 7.87 % at 24, 36 and 50 days, respectively. SOD activity of additive genetic effects was significant and stable. There was not interaction by environment during 66 to 100 days after planting, the variance components were 11.56, 11.80 and 13.84 % at 66, 85 and 100 days, respectively. MDA content of additive genetic effects was significant and stable. There was not interaction by environment during 50 to 100 days after planting, the variance components were 24.81, 13.81, 14.38 and 4.77 % at 50, 66, 85 and 100 days, respectively. Chlorophyll content was mainly controlled by significant dominance effects and main genetic effect from 9 to 66 days after planting, the dominant variance components were over 30 %. Maternal and paternal genetic effects on CAT and chlorophyll content were significant among 36–85 days after planting. Based on these results, it is suggested to selection of POD, SOD and MDA should be undertaken at early generation (F₂, F₃) and selection of chlorophyll and CAT should be undertaken at late generation (F₄, F₅) in SSC breeding programs.     

箬叶提取物的制备及抗氧化活性研究

摘要：采用热水煮提、配比不同浓度的乙醇从箬叶中提取水溶性、醇溶性提取物,正交实验表明：水提箬叶工艺条件为箬叶、水配比15g：200ml,110℃,时间120min,测得的吸光度值高;醇提的工艺条件为时间90min、温度60℃、质量分数为90%乙醇时测得的吸光度值高。箬叶水提取物在浓度0.4～51.2mg/ml之间对超氧阴离子自由基清除能力呈增长趋势,当浓度为51.2mg/ml时,达到33.33%,而乙醇提取物对超氧阴离子的清除能力呈负增长趋势;水提取物对羟基自由基清除能力,在浓度0.4～51.2mg/ml之间呈增长趋势,当浓度为51.2mg/ml时,达到13.88%;而乙醇提取物呈负增长趋势,当提取物浓度超过6.4mg/ml时,呈负增长趋势显著增加,达-93.75%。总的来说,箬叶水提取物具有较强的抗氧化能力,有广泛的应用价值。     

中国颜蜡蝉科一新种

本文记载中国颜蜡蝉科（同翅目）一新种，丽珞颜蜡蝉。附有特征图。模式标本保存中中国科学院上海混虫研究所。     

Nitrogen balance and losses through drainage waters in an agricultural watershed of the Po Valley (Italy)

Sustainable agriculture requires assessments of nitrogen fluxes and monitoring of potential nitrate losses. Watershed studies are particularly valuable to calculate nitrogen balances and quantify the relative importance of different sources of inputs and outputs. A nitrogen balance was calculated from September 2004 to October 2006 in an agricultural watershed named Valle Volta (Northern Italy) located in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone. The area, consisting of 17.4 km² of arable land, with limited presence of urban areas and roads, is entirely below the sea level (3 m b.s.l. in average). Soils are typically Vertic Cambisols and Thionic Fulvisols with fine texture (silty clay or silty clay loam). About 45% of the agricultural soil is pipe-drained. The ground water level is maintained at 4.6 m b.s.l. by the activity of pumps that raise excess waters into a river. Water fluxes in and out from the basin were daily registered, and dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentration (N–NO₃ + N–NH₄) analyzed periodically. Data about fertilizers applications, seeds and crop yield were obtained from farmers’ interviews. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) was estimated on the base of dry matter yield. Major N inputs derived from fertilizers (174–188 Mg watershed⁻¹ year⁻¹), followed by BNF (126–131 Mg watershed⁻¹ year⁻¹). Maize was the crop receiving the highest fertilization rates, accounting for more than 40% of total fertilizer inputs. Saleable products were the main form of N leaving the watershed (317–338 Mg watershed⁻¹ year⁻¹). Nitrate was the main N form in irrigation and efflux water; its concentration was higher from autumn to spring, with peaks of 10–20 mg N L⁻¹ in efflux water, while it was low in summer. Nitrogen losses with efflux water were higher in spring and in autumn. Overall, losses of nitrate by efflux water were limited if compared with literature data. Water balance in the area remained near zero at the beginning and the end of the first year, confirming the suitability of the area for this kind of study. The potential net contribution of each hectare of agricultural soil of Valle Volta basin to the N load toward the Adriatic sea is about 5.5 kg N. Our study demonstrated that in the Valle Volta watershed, total N outputs and inputs are of similar magnitude, indicating that crop management and especially N fertilization techniques has reached good levels of ecological sustainability.     

Inheritance of tree and fruit characters in progenies from crosses of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) cultivars

Summary Approximately 1000 seedlings from 20 combinations crossed in 1979, 1980 and 1981 (Theiler-Hedtrich 1985a) were tested for several characters: fruit set (yield), fruit size, fruit colour, formation of abscission layer and bleeding after fruit removal from fruit stalks, bacterial canker resistance, flowering and harvesting time. From progeny of crosses with Stella as pollinator, 56% (Vittoria × Stella) and 46% (Schüttler × Stella) of the seedlings were self-compatible, of which 14 were high yielding with good fruit size and quality. From the data recorded it can be concluded:fruit set is a recessive character; only 5 to 20% of very good yielding seedlings were obtained in different progeny, even if the parental plants were both very good croppers.Fruit juice and skin colour was in most progenies ‘black’ even if they were from combinations with ‘white’ varieties, e.g., Merton Glory or Schüttler. Only from the combination Schiittler (‘white’) × Stella (‘black’), 50% of the seedlings were ‘white’; Stella therefore is heterozygous for the character of fruit juice and skin colour.Fruit size is evenly distributed in progeny with respect to the fruit size of their parent plants.Abscission layer formation and non-bleeding is a genetically complex character. In combinations where both parent plants formed fruits with complete abscission layers and which were not bleeding after fruit removal from the stalk, this character was inherited only to 50% (Vittoria × Schüttler) or 85% (Vittoria × Frühe von der Weid) in the progeny. For the genetical control of this character further studies are necessary.Bacterial canker susceptibility was evenly distributed in seedlings from all combinations even if the highly resistant cv. Vittoria was used as one parent plant, thereby not confirming the expected results of a higher proportion of resistant seedlings from combinations with Vittoria.Flowering and harvest time of the seedlings from different combinations was within the range of the parent plants. Only in the combination of Vittoria × Stella (mid-to late-ripening season) one seedling out of 99 was found to form ripe fruits two weeks earlier than the parental plants. From the seedlings tested 40 have been chosen for further evaluation or genetical studies.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of fad2 gene from tung tree, Vernicia fordii, a potential biodiesel plant

Tung tree, Vernicia fordii, is an oil-producing plant with multiple uses, especially with its great potential in biodiesel production. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) providing an abundant source of DNA polymorphisms, is essential for developing new cultivars with high yield, good quality, and wide adaptation. However, there are a few reports about the DNA sequence variation in tung tree, especially about the key genes involved in lipid biosynthesis. In the present study, a 1.2-kb coding region of fad2 gene, encoding oleate desaturase, was investigated by sequencing a sample population of 38 nationwide V. fordii accessions. Two SNPs were detected, giving an average SNP frequency of 1/576 bases and average nucleotide diversity of 0.00041 (θw). Although the number of SNPs is small, the two SNPs resulted in changed amino acids. Further analysis of the fatty acid (FA) compositions for the mutant accessions suggested that both of the two SNPs in the fad2 coding region were likely to increase levels of polyunsaturated FAs, especially the content of eleostearic. The fad2 gene is very important and conservative among many plant species, and also among diverse tung tree germplasm accessions. Nonsynonymous mutations could occur in the coding region of this gene, even though the rate is low in tung tree. This characterization of the fad2 gene from tung tree and its possible effect on lipid metabolism should provide new insights into the regulation of seed lipid metabolism. It is feasible to manipulate seed oil composition of tung tree using genetic and genomic approaches for a variety of applications in industry and energy.     

Characteristics of combustion and NOx emission in lowconcentration coal bed methane boiler retrofitted from coal fired boiler

Coal fired chain grate boiler is retrofitted to coal bed methane boiler. The flow, combustion and NOx emission characteristics of low concentrations methane in the boiler furnace are studied by the numerical simulation and experiments. The results show that the axial velocity reaches the maximum at 0.5 m from the nozzle and declines sharply in the range of -0.4~0.4 m on the width direction. With the heat load increases, the position of highest temperature moves to the rear of furnace and the simulation and experimental results agree well. At the front of the furnace, the obvious bimodal distribution of temperature at low heat load along the width direction is found, but it is a single peak distribution at 100% heat load. At the rear of the furnace, the temperature shows bimodal distribution at all kinds of heat loads. Gas temperature at boiler furnace outlet increases linearly with the increasing of heat load but the experimental results are slightly lower than the simulated results. The NOx is mainly produced in the middle and rear of furnace with high temperature, and the position of NOx peak lags far behind that of temperature peak. With the excess air coefficient increases, the highest furnace temperature and NOx generation increases and then decreases.     

元宝枫叶片花色素苷的提取及其稳定性研究

元宝枫（Acer truncatum Bunge）又名华北五角枫、平基槭,属于槭树科(Aceraceae)槭属（Acer.L）。元宝枫叶形秀丽,嫩叶红色,秋叶黄色,红色或紫红色,为优良的秋色叶树种,宜作庭荫树、行道树或风景林树种,元宝枫树冠荫浓,树姿优美,是北方重要的秋色叶树种。 花色素苷(anthocyanin)是一种类黄酮物质,存在于大部分的花和果实及一些植物的茎和叶中,对植物的蓝、紫、红、橙等色泽起主要贡献。虽然元宝枫做为常用红叶绿化树种被广泛应用,但由于元宝枫存在秋季变色株系差异较大,周边环境等因子对元宝枫叶片变色程度产生不同影响;因此通过对元宝枫秋季叶片花色素苷的提取及稳定性的研究,对探索元宝枫秋季叶片变色机理和优良无性系选育,丰富完善园林造景资源具有重要意义。     

Environmental, phenotypic and genetic variation of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) from Israel

Wild relatives of crop plants offer an attractive gene pool for cultivar improvement. We evaluated genetic and phenotypic variation for a set of 72 Israeli accessions of wild barley from 21 populations. These populations were grouped further into four ecotypes. In addition, environmental variables describing the local conditions for the populations were used to infer the environmental divergence. Genetic, phenotypic and environmental distances were estimated from the data and UPGMA dendrograms constructed. The results showed that genetic variation was larger between populations than within them, whereas for phenotypic measurements variation was larger within populations than between them. No significant correlation was found between genetic and phenotypic similarities, or between phenotypic and environmental similarities, whereas a weak correlation between genetic and environmental similarities was detected. Twenty-three AFLP-markers were identified to be ecotype specific. Chromosomal location was known for five of these markers. Four of the five ecotype specific markers were correlated with both phenotypic traits and environmental variables.     

Low irradiance pulses improve postharvest quality of spinach leaves (Spinacia oleraceae L. cv Bison)

The aim of this work is to extend and improve the postharvest life of mature spinach leaves using clean technologies like the use of short pulses of light at low irradiance. After harvest spinach leaves were immediately sealed in polyethylene bags in the laboratory. These bags were placed in a dark chamber at 23 °C under continuous dark or with the application of light pulses (LP) consisting of 15 min each 2–6 h or 7 min each 2 h for 3 d. The chosen irradiance, 30 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD, corresponded to the light compensation point previously measured in spinach plants under greenhouse conditions. After the leaves were treated with LP for 3 d, all the samples were transferred to a chamber at 4 °C under continuous dark for another week. Senescence was triggered in leaves under continuous dark after 3 d of storage and delayed in those receiving LP. In addition ascorbic acid and glutathione contents were kept higher in LP-treated than in untreated spinach. These trends were conserved after storage under continuous dark and refrigeration for another week. When LP was applied in combination with 1-MCP the antioxidant capacity was further improved. These results demonstrate that short LP of low irradiance can be used to extend and to improve postharvest life of mature spinach leaves.