Toxicity studies in mice of common spices,Cinnamomum zeylanicum bark and Piper longum fruits

Acute (24 hours) and chronic (90 days) oral toxicity studies on the ethanolic extracts of common spices Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees bark and Piper longum L. fruits were carried out in mice. Acute dosages were 0.5, 1.0 and 3 g/kg while the chronic dosage was 100 mg/kg/day. All external morphological, hematological and spermatogenic changes, in addition to body weight and vital organ weights, were recorded. The extracts of both the plants caused no significant acute or chronic mortality compared to the control during this study. During chronic treatment there was no significant change in the pre- and post treatment body weight of the test animals while the weight gain in the control group was significant. C. zeylanicum treatment caused reduction in liver weight while P. longum caused a significant increase in the weight of the lungs and spleen of the treated animals compared to the control. Hematological studies revealed a significant fall in hemoglobin level of C. zeylanicum treated animals. Both of the extracts induced a significant increase in reproductive organ weights, sperm motility, sperm count and failed to illicit any spermatotoxic effect.     

Chemical composition of indigenous wild herbs,spices, fruits,nuts and leafy vegetables used as food

Thirty wild fruits, nuts, herbs, spices and leafy vegetables were characterized and their chemical composition determined. Some of them were not only used for food, but for medicine in minor aliments by the natives. Results of the proximate analysis showed that on dry weight basis, the crude protein content ranged from 4.6 to 22.1 percent for spices and herbs, 3.2 to 43.1 percent for fruits and nuts, and 15.9 to 35.7 percent for leafy vegetables. The fat (ether extract) ranged from 7.5 to 36.0 percent for spices and herbs, 1.8 to 72.6 percent for fruits and nuts and 10.6 to 22.6 percent for leafy vegetables. Total carbohydrate content ranged from 34.6 to 71.9 percent for spices and herbs, 11.3 to 76.1 percent for fruits and nuts, and 24.6 to 51.4 percent for leafy vegetables. The wild fruits, nuts and leafy vegetables are high in ascorbic acid (Vitamin C.) Ascorbic acid content ranged from 18 mg/100 g dry sample to 113 mg/100 g sample for fruits and nuts, and 23 mg/100 g to 232 mg/100 g sample for leafy vegetables. The levels for peroxide value and free fatty acids (as percent oleic acid) of the spices are generally low indicating good storage stability of these plant materials. The flavour imparting essential oils (as percent oleoresin) content of the spices/herbs were fairly high and ranged from 0.1 to 5.2 percent.     

Topical anti-inflammatory plant species: Bioactivity of Bryonia dioica, Tamus communis and Lonicera periclymenum fruits

The practice of rubbing different plant material juices or extracts into the skin to relieve pain and rheumatic symptoms is deeply rooted in folk medicine and has been used for a long time. Several common species, usually available in agroecosystems of the Iberian Peninsula, were/are used for topical medicinal preparations as reported in recent ethnobotanical surveys. Based on these studies, the fruits of three relevant species (Bryonia dioica or white-bryony, Lonicera periclymenum or common honeysuckle and Tamus communis or black-bryony) were gathered and different analyses and assays were performed in order to characterize their phytochemical composition and to find biologically active compounds for pharmaceutical application. Black-bryony ripened fruits revealed the highest antioxidant properties which are in agreement to its highest concentration in phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, tocopherols and lycopene. The studied fruits revealed interesting antioxidant properties and bioactive phytochemicals that could provide scientific evidence for their folk uses as anti-inflammatory species.     

微型DPSA-1仪-SPCE微分电位溶出法同步快速检测茶叶中的铅、镉、铜

用微型DPSA-1仪结合丝网印刷碳电极(SPCE),以微分电位溶出法对茶叶中的铅、镉、铜进行同步快速检测。优化的试验参数如下:Hg2+浓度为3×10-4 mol/L,支持电解质为1.5 mol/L pH4.0的氯化铵溶液,富集电位-1.1 V,终止电位-0.2 V,富集时间200 s。在此条件下获得的检测结果在20～840μg/L(相当于茶叶中铅含量为1～42 mg/kg)范围内呈现良好的线性关系,铅的相关系数为r=0.99749,检出限为1.12μg/L(S/N=3);镉的相关系数为r=0.99740,检出限为1.09μg/L(S/N=3);铜的相关系数为r=0.99612,检出限为1.23μg/L(S/N=3)。研究了检测过程中存在多种干扰离子对于铅、镉、铜检测的干扰情况。试验所得检测结果与国标检测法进行t检验,无显著差异。比较常规的检测技术,微型DPSA-1型仪结合SPCE微分电位溶出法同步检测茶叶中的铅、镉、铜,是更加经济的一种快速检测方法,可实现样品的高比例筛检,还可推广应用于其他类型食品和环境样品中铅、镉、铜的同步快速检测。     

The geochemical characteristics of sediment in Tondano Lake,Indonesia: heavy metals and organic matter contents,and grain size distribution

Sediment quality of Tondano Lake, Indonesia has been investigated through measuring the geochemical characteristics such as the content of heavy metals, organic matter and grain size distribution; and also the relationship between heavy metals and organic matter, and between heavy metals and grain size distribution. These could be used as preliminary data for the purpose of evaluating lake condition as a part of freshwater ecosystem. The Tondano sediment had contained some heavy metals such as Cr, Cu, Hg, and Zn; where Cr and Zn, both less than the Sediment Quality Guideline (SQG), but Cu and Hg were well within the SQG. Organic matter content was highest at the northern outlet area, with the lowest amount at the southern inlet area. Grain size distribution was mostly dominated by sandy-loam clay (the highest content was at central lake). This was a result of intensive agricultural activities surrounding the lake, which brought sand grain via rivers from all areas to the central lake. The heavy metal contents were not found to be correlated with the organic matter, nor the grain size distribution (clay content).     

茶区叶面降尘的粒径和重金属含量研究

为了解茶区大气降尘物中的重金属状况,以浙江省某市为例,分别收集了城市、工矿、公路、农居点附近和清洁区等不同区域茶叶叶面降尘,采用激光粒径分析仪测定了叶面降尘的粒径分布,应用ICP-AES测定了叶面降尘中的重金属含量,并探讨了茶区叶面降尘中重金属的可能来源。结果表明,茶区叶面降尘中颗粒物粒径集中分布在100 µm以下,粒径累积曲线呈正态单峰分布;平均粒径大小：清洁区<农居点附近<城市附近<公路附近<工矿附近。茶区叶面降尘中Cd、Pb、Ni、Cu、Zn和Hg有明显的富集,其质量分数范围分别为1.76~11.34、87~648、36~154、133~476、165~1121、0.36~4.23 mg/kg。不同茶区叶面降尘中重金属含量差异显著,多数重金属元素的含量以工矿附近茶园降尘中的最高,其次为城市和公路附近,清洁区的最低。研究认为,茶区降尘中Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn和Hg主要来源于人为污染,而Cr、Co、Ni、Al、Fe和Mn主要为自然起源。     

Chemical fractionation of seven heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in selected paddy soils of Iran

The content and fractionation of seven heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined in 28 surface soil samples (0–20 cm) of agricultural topsoil from Isfahan Province in central Iran. The order of abundance of metals in the soils was Fe (1240.4 mg kg^?1) > Mn (95.7 mg kg^?1) > Pb (51.6 mg kg^?1) > Zn (23.8 mg kg^?1) > Ni (13.4 mg kg^?1) > Cu (7.0 mg kg^?1) > Cd (2.8 mg kg^?1). Iron, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn existed in paddy soils mainly in Fe-Mn oxides (53.6 %, 65.2 %, 40.4 %, 40.8 %, 53.3 %, respectively), whereas Cu and Cd occurred essentially as residual mineral phase (41.4 %) and carbonate (36.1 %), respectively. The mobile and bioavailable fractions of Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in paddy soils averaged 48.8, 20.8, 0.79, 29.2, 28.5, 41.1, and 24.8 %, respectively, which suggests that the mobility and bioavailability of the seven metals probably decline in the following order: Cd > Pb > Mn ≥ Ni > Zn > Cu ? Fe, suggesting greater contribution of anthropogenic Cd. As Cd in soil is easily accumulated by plants through the root system, the concentration of Cd in these paddy soils could be a concern to human health.     

Measurement of above-ground plant biomass, forage availability and grazing impact by combining satellite image processing and field survey in a dry area of north-eastern Syria

Field survey and satellite image processing methods were used to estimate the total available forage over an area of 95 034 ha in north‐eastern Syria, and to assess grazing impact on the area. The above‐ground plant biomass was measured by a quadrat method at three sites in each of eight vegetation classes. Available forage was measured by excluding woody parts of shrubs from the whole aerial plant parts. The total above‐ground plant biomass and available forage were estimated by extrapolating the measured point data to the whole target area using classified vegetation data by satellite image processing. Grazing impact was assessed by calculating the differences between the total available forage at the end of growing season and the end of dry season. The values for the estimated total available forage (s.e. of mean) in the area were 55 628 000 (12 920 000) kg DM and 30 007 000 (2 437 000) kg DM at the end of growing season and dry season respectively. Although the area of the cereal fields covered only 0·315 of the area, about 0·69 and 0·82 of the available forage existed in the harvested cereal fields at the ends of growing season and dry season respectively. The integration of cereal fields and rangeland is a normal land use system for livestock management in the area. The higher cover of herbaceous vegetation types showed higher grazing impacts which reduced the total available forage at the end of the growing season by 0·817 (0·199) at the end of the dry season. Although these dense herbaceous vegetation types could possibly produce more available forage, they would incur more intensive grazing impact. On the contrary, lighter grazing impact would occur with a higher cover of shrub vegetation types. The importance of maintaining plant cover over the rangeland area to protect the land against soil erosion is stressed.     

不同花生品种重金属Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Cr富集与转运规律

以青岛市8个主栽花生品种为试材,通过相同土壤条件下大田种植和室内检测分析,对花生植株不同器官中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd和Cr重金属元素的吸收、富集与转运规律进行了研究。结果表明,供试的8个花生品种植株根系中Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd含量存在显著性差异,茎叶中Cu、Zn、Pb和Cr含量存在显著性差异,籽仁中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd和Cr含量均存在显著性差异,果壳中Cu、Zn和Cd含量存在显著性差异;供试的8个花生品种籽仁中Cd含量均超过了农业部无公害花生Cd≤0.05 mg.kg-1的卫生限量标准。花生植株各器官对重金属的平均生物富集量顺序：根系和果壳为Zn〉Cu〉Cr〉Pb〉Cd,茎叶和籽仁为Zn〉Cu〉Pb〉Cr〉Cd。花生植株各器官的平均转运量系数顺序：茎叶为Pb〉Zn〉Cd〉Cr〉Cu,籽仁为Zn〉Cu〉Cd〉Pb〉Cr,果壳为Cr〉Cu〉Zn〉Pb〉Cd。A4为花生籽仁低Pb吸收富集型品种,A3为花生籽仁低Cd吸收富集型品种。     

浙江省典型茶园生态系统中重金属流及其平衡分析

选择浙西北、浙中、浙东和浙南等4个代表性产茶县市（长兴县、兰溪市、绍兴县和龙泉市）,进行了为期一年的茶叶生产过程中有机肥、化肥、大气沉降、茶叶收获物和地表径流中重金属流的定点定量分析,探讨了茶叶生态系统中重金属的年平衡值及其影响因素。结果表明,茶园生态系统中重金属来源物和农产品及排水中重金属流有较大的空间变异性。在施用化肥为主的茶园中,Zn、Cu和Pb输入主要为大气沉降,其次为有机肥施用;As的输入主要为大气沉降,其次为化肥施用;化肥施用对Cd和Hg的输入有较大的影响。在施用有机肥为主的茶园中,Zn、Cu、Cd和Hg的输入主要为有机肥的施用,其次为大气沉降;Pb和As的输入主要为大气沉降,其次为有机肥施用。以地表径流流失的Zn和Cu量高于因茶叶收获带走的Zn和Cu,而Pb、Cd、Hg和As的输出主要是通过茶叶的收获。在施用化肥为主的茶园中,Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd、Hg和As的年平衡值平均分别为313.0、11.8、41.2、2.95、0.22、2.18g/hm²;在施用有机肥为主的茶园中,Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd、Hg和As的年平衡值平均分别为849.3、303.4、66.3、2.59、0.47、7.43g/hm²。茶园系统中重金属的年平衡值有机肥施用为主的茶园高于化肥施用为主的茶园。     

回流环保式消解-GFAAS法高效测定树仔菜样品铅、铬、镉

用环保型高效样品消化器消解树仔菜样品,石墨炉原子吸收光谱仪(GFAAS)测定样品中的铅、铬、镉元素含量。结果表明：该方法消解测定的试验空白值比常规消解方法低,精密度较高;消解时间为0.5～1.0 h,大大提高了分析效率;试验过程可回收35%～75%的硝酸,减少硝酸挥发物质对大气环境的污染;应用该方法对国家标准物质(圆白菜和芹菜)的分析结果均落在标准值范围内,相对标准偏差＜10.0%,分析结果准确可靠。     

不同类型水稻品种产量和氮素吸收利用对大气CO2浓度升高响应的差异

目的 探明不同类型水稻品种产量和氮素吸收利用对FACE(大气CO₂浓度增高)响应的差异。方法 以常规粳稻、杂交籼稻、常规籼稻共6个品种为供试材料,研究FACE对不同类型水稻产量、氮素吸收利用的影响。结果 1）FACE处理极显著提高了水稻产量,平均增加24.17%, 常规籼稻增幅最大,FACE和对照均以杂交籼稻最高;2）FACE处理显著增加了单位面积穗数,常规粳稻增幅最大,并显著增加了杂交籼稻和常规籼稻每穗粒数;3）FACE处理显著提高了成熟期吸氮量和氮素籽粒生产效率,成熟期吸氮量平均增加21.23%,杂交籼稻增幅最大, FACE和对照均以常规籼稻最高;氮素籽粒生产效率平均增加7.33%,杂交籼稻增幅最大,FACE和对照均以杂交籼稻最高。成熟期吸氮量对产量促进作用略大于成熟期氮素籽粒生产效率;4）FACE处理降低了植株含氮率,成熟期平均下降0.105个百分点,常规粳稻降幅最大。FACE处理极显著提高植株干物质量,成熟期平均增加23.95%,常规籼稻增幅最大;FACE处理显著提高常规籼稻和杂交籼稻成熟期单穗吸氮量,分别增加10.79%、13.93%,但常规粳稻下降了9.60%;FACE处理显著提高了成熟期群体吸氮强度,平均增加22.29%,杂交籼稻增幅最大。FACE处理对水稻全生育期天数无显著影响;FACE处理显著提高茎鞘、叶片、穗各器官吸氮量,叶片增幅最大,平均增加51.86%,杂交籼稻增幅最大;FACE处理显著提高了不同生育阶段吸氮量,抽穗-成熟阶段增幅最大,平均增加108.90%,杂交籼稻增幅最大;5）植株干物质量、单穗吸氮量、吸氮强度、穗吸氮量、抽穗-成熟阶段吸氮量对成熟期总吸氮量的促进作用分别大于植株含氮率、单位面积穗数、生育天数、茎鞘叶吸氮量、移栽-分蘖和分蘖-抽穗阶段吸氮量;6）FACE处理显著提高了氮肥偏生产力,降低了每百千克籽粒需氮量,前者平均增加24.16%,常规籼稻增加最多;后者平均降低4.7%,常规籼稻降幅最大。结论 FACE处理可显著提高水稻产量和氮素吸收利用效率,但品种间差异较大。     

Effects of supplemental irrigation based on soil moisture levels on photosynthesis,dry matter accumulation,and remobilization in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars

Two winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, namely Jimai22 (JM22) and Zhouyuan9369 (ZY9369), were used to study the effects of a new irrigation policy, supplemental irrigation (SI) based on soil moisture levels, photosynthesis, dry matter accumulation, and remobilization from 2009 to 2011 in Northern China. Two SI treatments were designed based on relative soil moisture contents in the 0–140 cm soil layer: (1) the target soil relative water contents were 75% of field capacity (FC) at jointing and 65% of FC at anthesis (W1), 75% and 70% (W2) in 2009–2010, and (2) the target soil relative water contents were 75% at jointing and 75% at anthesis (W1′), 75% and 80% (W2′) in 2010–2011. Rain-fed treatment (W0) was used as control. Results showed that SI significantly improved the biomass, grain yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of both wheat cultivars. The biomass and grain yield of W1 and W1’ treatments were higher than those of others. The net photosynthetic rate, the actual photochemical efficiency of flag leaf, the accumulation of dry matter, and its remobilization from the vegetative parts to the grains after anthesis in W1 and W1’ treatments were significantly higher than in the other treatments. By contrast, the WUE and irrigation efficiency of W2 and W2’ were significantly lower than those of W1 and W1’. Under the experimental conditions, ‘JM22’ showed higher photosynthetic rate in the last stage of grain filling, more spike number per ha, more kernels per spike, higher 1000-kernels weight and eventually higher WUE than ‘ZY9369’.     

Studies on the effect of dry Sundakai (solanum torvum) powder supplementation on lipid profile,glycated proteins and amino acids in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients

The effect of dry Sundakai powder supplementation (7 g providing 1.23 g of crude fibre) on glycemic control, lipidemic control, total amino acids and uronic acid was studied on 30 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients. All the patients were on hypoglycemic drugs. The above parameters were monitored at day 1, 15 and 30 days. After one month of fibre supplementation, no significant changes were observed with respect to glucose, lipid profile, glycated proteins, total amino acids and uronic acid levels in these subjects.     

The effect of initial spring grazing date and subsequent stocking rate on the grazing management, grass dry matter intake and milk production of dairy cows in summer

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of an early (February; F) or delayed (April; A) primary spring grazing date and two stocking rates, high (H) and medium (M), on the grazing management, dry matter (DM) intake of grass herbage and milk production of spring‐calving dairy cows grazing a perennial ryegrass sward in the subsequent summer. Sixty‐four Holstein‐Friesian dairy cows (mean of 58 d in milk) were assigned to one of four grazing treatments (n = 16) which were imposed from 12 April to 3 July 2004. Cows on the early spring‐grazing treatment were grazed at 5·5 cows ha^?1 (treatment FH) and 4·5 cows ha^?1 (treatment FM) while cows on the late‐grazing treatment were grazed at 6·4 cows ha^?1 (treatment AH) and 5·5 cows ha^?1 (treatment AM). The organic matter digestibility and crude protein concentration of the grass herbage were higher on the early‐grazing treatment than on the late‐grazing treatment. The cows on the FM treatment had significantly (P < 0·001) higher milk (24·5 kg), solids‐corrected milk (22·5 kg), fat (P < 0·01, 918 g) and protein (831 g) yields than the other three treatments. Cows on the FM treatment had a higher (P < 0·001) DM intake of grass herbage by 2·3 kg DM per cow per day than cows on the AH treatment, which had a DM intake significantly lower than all other treatments (15·2 kg DM per cow per day). The results of the present study showed that grazing in early spring has a positive effect on herbage quality in subsequent grazing rotations. The study also concluded that early spring‐grazed swards stocked at a medium stocking rate (4·5 cows ha^?1; FM) resulted in the highest DM intake of grass herbage and milk production.     

Differences in Response of Grain Yield,Nitrogen Absorption and Utilization to Elevated CO2 Concentration in Different Rice Varieties

【Objective】Our aim is to investigate the differences in response of grain yield, nitrogen absorption and utilization to FACE (atmospheric CO2 concentration increase) of different rice varieties. 【Method】Six rice varieties, including conventional japonica rice, hybrid indica rice, and conventional indica rice, were used to study the effects of free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) (atmospheric CO2 concentration increase) on the nitrogen absorption, utilization, and yield of different types of rice.【Result】 1) FACE treatment dramatically increased rice yield by 24.17% on average and the maximum increment was observed in conventional indica rice. Compared with other types of rice varieties, hybrid indica showed the highest grain yield under both FACE and control (CK) treatments. 2) Panicle number was significantly improved in FACE treatment with conventional japonica rice varieties having the maximum increment. Spikelet number per panicle was significantly improved in hybrid and conventional indica rice varieties in FACE treatment. 3) The nitrogen absorption (NA) and nitrogen use efficiency for grain yield (NUEg) were significantly higher in FACE treatment than those in CK treatment. The average increase of NA was 21.23% with the maximum increment in hybrid indica rice varieties. Compared with other rice varieties, conventional indica rice varieties had the highest NA both in FACE and CK treatments. The average increase of NUEg was 7.33% with hybrid indica rice varieties enjoying the maximum increment. The hybrid indica rice varieties had the highest NUEg in FACE treatment and in CK treatment, respectively. 4) Nitrogen content was decreased in FACE treatment with the average decrease of 0.105%, among which the maximum decrease was observed in conventional japonica rice. Dry matter weight was extremely and significantly increased in FACE treatment. The average increase of dry weight was 23.95% with the maximum increment in conventional indica rice varieties. NA of single panicle was significantly improved in FACE treatment with the average increase of 10.79% in conventional indica rice varieties and 13.93% in hybrid indica rice varieties, but NA of single panicle was decrease by 9.60% in conventional japonica rice. FACE treatment significantly increased rice NA intensity with an average increase of 22.29% and the maximum increment was observed in hybrid indica rice varieties. The growth duration was not influenced by FACE treatment in all rice varieties. NAs of stem, leaf and panicle were significantly higher in FACE treatment than in CK treatment with the highest increase of 51.86% in leaf. The largest increase of NA was observed in hybrid indica rice. NA in different rice growth stages was significantly improved with the maximum increment of 108.90% during heading-maturity. The maximum increment of NA from heading to maturity was observed in hybrid indica rice varieties.5) Effects of dry matter weight, NA per panicle, NA intensity, NA of panicle and NA from heading to maturity on NA at maturity were greater than those of nitrogen content, panicle number, growth duration, NAA of leaf, stem and sheath, NAA during transplanting-tillering and tillering-heading. 6) Partial productivity of nitrogen fertilizer (PFPN) was significantly improved in FACE treatment with an average increase of 24.16% and the maximum increment in conventional indica rice. NAA per 100 kg grains was significantly reduced in FACE treatment with an average decrease of 4.7%. The maximum decrease of NAA per 100 kg grains was observed in conventional indica rice varieties.【Conclusion】The results indicated that FACE could markedly increased both grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency in all rice varieties, but the increases varied with the variety types.     

Effect of plant spacing and nitrogen fertilizer levels on the growth,dry‐matter yield and nutritive quality of Columbus grass (Sorghum almum stapf) in southwest Nigeria

A field experiment was conducted in 2006 and 2007 to determine the agronomic performance and nutritive value of Sorghum almum for introduction in the derived savannah area of Nigeria. The experiment was arranged in a 2 × 4 factorial design with 2 plant spacings (0·5 × 0·5 m and 1·0 × 1·0 m) and 4 nitrogen (N) fertilizer levels (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg N ha^?1). Plant height, tiller number, leaf proportion, biomass yield and nutritive value of the herbage were evaluated as part of the search for alternatives (especially drought tolerant) to local forages for dry season feeding of ruminants. Herbage yield data were tested for linear, quadratic and cubic trends to identify the optimal fertilizer levels for both spacings. Spacing × N interactions (P < 0·05) were observed for plant height and tiller number in both years. Agronomic performance was marginally better in 2007 compared with 2006. The maximum dry‐matter (DM) yield of 3500 and 3740 kg ha^?1 for the more dense row spacing (0·5 × 0·5 m) was achieved at N fertilizer levels of 144 and 149 kg N ha^?1 for 2006 and 2007 respectively. For the less dense (1·0 × 1·0 m) row spacing, the maximum DM yield of 3020 and 3240 kg ha^?1 was achieved at 51 and 97 kg N ha^?1 for 2006 and 2007 respectively. The crude protein content of the grass ranged from 61 to 89 g kg^?1 DM, while the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content ranged from 700 to 734 g kg^?1 DM. The ability of S. almum to persist into the second year in this region is seen as a promising index as persistence is one of the characteristics of a good forage plant. Considering the exorbitant price of N fertilizer, less dense row spacing with N fertilizer rate in the range of 50–100 kg N ha^?1 is hereby recommended for this region.     

Multivariate analysis of relationship between potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) yield,amount of applied elements,their concentrations in tubers and uptake in a long-term fertilizer experiment

The aim of this study was to investigate how potato yield, the concentrations of elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in tubers and their uptake are affected by mineral N, P and K fertilizers, straw and pig slurry application.