Pyrolysis-(gas chromatography/) mass spectrometry of agricultural soils and their humic fractions

Curie-point pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and temperature-programmed in-source pyrolysis-field ionization mass spectrometry have been used for the chemical characterization of the organic material in agricultural soils with organic carbon contents between 1 and 1.5%. The results obtained from whole-soil samples, extractable humic substances and nonextractable humin by both techniques indicate for the Ap of a Gleysol thermal degradation products of carbohydrates, intact and/or biodegraded lignin, flavonoids, tannins and/or polyphenols, lipids, aliphatic polymers, and nitrogen-containing compounds. On a qualitative basis similar results have been obtained for the Ap of a Luvisol. The alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalenes, (di)alkylphenols, and alkyltoluenes identified are of special interest because these aryl-alkyl compounds demonstrate covalent linkages between aliphatic chains and aromatic subunits in soil organic matter. This type of linkage between individual subunits of the complex and polydisperse organic material enables the flexibility of rigid aromatic systems.     

Nutritive value of marketable heads and outer leaves of white head cabbage cultivated at different nitrogen rates

The effect of different nitrogen treatments (100–400?kg?N?ha^?1) on yield and quality of marketable cabbage heads and outer green leaves (waste fraction) of two cultivars of Brassica oleracea convar. capitata var. alba L. grown in two years field experiment was studied. During harvest, the marketable cabbage heads and the outer leaves (not adjacent leaves of cabbage) were removed; total and marketable yield of cabbage were evaluated as well as nutritive value was determined based on content of some components, that is, dry matter, ascorbic acid, soluble polyphenols, total flavonoids, nitrates, total nitrogen and antioxidant activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The study showed a significant effect of nitrogen fertilization on the total and marketable yield of the tested cultivars of cabbage. The weight of total cabbage heads was increasing according to higher nitrogen fertilization from 100 up 400?kg?N?ha^?1 for both cultivars. The outer leaves of cabbage characterized by a significantly higher nutritive value compared with marketable head, which is supported by several-fold higher content of total flavonoids, soluble polyphenols and over the 100% increase in ascorbic acid content. Although the outer green leaves of cabbage are discarded after harvesting, they possess high nutritive potential which can be practically used or transformed into an added value product.     

萌芽前叶面喷施硒酸钠提高茶叶含硒量及品质

【目的】探究在茶树不同生育时期叶面喷施不同硒肥对夏茶产量、品质及硒含量的影响,为生产富硒茶提供技术依据。【方法】田间试验在浙江嵊州进行,供试茶树品种为‘中茶108’。试验采用二因素列区设计,主处理为硒肥种类(A因素),副处理为硒肥喷施时期(B因素)。主处理设喷施清水对照(A0)、硒酸钠(A1)、亚硒酸钠(A2)和酵母硒(A3);副处理设夏茶顶芽萌发前(5月12日,B1)与1芽1叶期(5月20日,B2)两个喷施时期。硒肥喷施浓度均为Se 50 mg/L,硒肥溶液喷施量为1.8 L/m2。当茶树蓬面1芽2叶占比达30%左右时,每个小区随机选取30 cm×30 cm茶蓬,调查蓬面新梢总数、1芽2叶数量、1芽2叶长度和百芽重。同时,取1芽2叶新梢样品,测定茶多酚、儿茶素、咖啡碱、游离氨基酸、花青素以及硒含量。【结果】与A0B1处理相比,A3B1处理茶树萌展值显著降低了0.14,但对茶树蓬面新梢总数无明显影响;A2B1处理茶树1芽2叶新梢长度和百芽重分别显著降低了1.04 cm和1.94 g。A1B2和A3B2处理茶树蓬面新梢总数分别显著降低了17.66和22.33,但不影响其萌展值;A1B2显...     

基于代谢组学的湖南典型地方茶树种质资源代谢物差异研究

湖南处于茶树遗传演化的过渡带,茶树种质资源丰富,这些资源不仅在植物学特征上差异显著,而且在茶类适制性、适应性、耐寒性等方面各有特点,然而目前对湖南茶树资源功能成分差异的深度解析尚缺乏深入研究.为了进一步探明湖南典型地方茶树种质资源的功能成分差异,本研究采用超高效液相色谱-串联四极杆质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)分析技术,...     

Contribution of fertilisation,precipitation, and variety to grain yield in winter wheat on the semiarid Loess Plateau of China

Wheat yield is influenced by fertilisation, precipitation and variety, among other factors. There is limited research identifying the most important factors affecting wheat yield and assessing their relative importance in the long run. In this study, we evaluated the contribution of fertilisation, precipitation and variety to wheat yield using a long-term field experiment (1984–2014) on the semiarid Loess Plateau in China. The experiment consisted of six treatments: fertilisation with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), manure (M), NP, NPM, and a control without fertilisation. We monitored the yield of three varieties of winter wheat over time and assessed the changes in grain yield, soil properties, fertiliser-contribution rate (FCR) and precipitation-use efficiency (PUE) with different fertilisation treatments and precipitation patterns. Stepwise multiple linear regression was used to identify the most important factors affecting wheat yield and examine their relative importance. The results showed that fallow-season precipitation and annual precipitation (AnP) positively correlated with wheat yield in the N, M, NP, and NPM treatments. The amount of fertilisation, AnP, and monthly precipitation of February and September were included in the linear regression model; however, the influence of variety on yield could be ignored. With 30 years of fertilisation, soil organic matter, total nitrogen, and available potassium levels with NPM was higher than the control by 70.6%, 70.5%, and 319.2%, respectively. Yield, FCR, and PUE with M increased annually at rates of 89?kg?ha^?1?y^?1, 1.47?kg?kg^?1?y^?1, and 0.13?kg?mm^?1?y^?1, respectively. The yields and FCR, but not PUE, of all fertilised treatments were higher in wet than normal and dry years. The FCR with P was negative in all the three precipitation patterns. This study has implications for maximising the long-term winter yield with various factors in the rain-fed winter wheat cropping system of the Loess Plateau.     

茶园施肥模式对茶叶黄酮类及糖苷类代谢物含量的影响

【目的】研究施肥模式对茶叶生化成分含量和黄酮类及糖苷类代谢物累积的影响,为实现茶叶优质高产提供科学依据。【方法】田间试验设在四川茶树种植典型区域—雅安,试验连续进行了3年,设置不施肥(CK)、常量化肥(N 585 kg/hm2,TF)、有机肥替代25%化肥氮(OF)、减施25%氮肥(SF) 4个处理。分析了不同处理茶叶主要品质成分含量,并基于非靶向代谢组学检测结果分析了黄酮类及糖苷类代谢物累积差异。【结果】与C K处理相比,T F、 O F、 S F处理茶氨酸、游离氨基酸含量分别提高了7.2 2%～1 3.4 0%、23.15%～25.50%,可溶性糖和茶多酚含量分别降低了8.17%～13.86%、6.08%～11.49%,表儿茶素、表没食子儿茶素、芸香苷等10种代谢物累积水平显著下降。与TF处理相比,SF处理茶氨酸、咖啡碱和水浸出物含量分别降低了5.45%、5.97%、8.91%,茶多酚、可溶性糖、游离氨基酸含量和酚氨比无显著差异;芍药素-3-O-葡萄糖苷、肉桂萜醇C1-19-葡萄糖苷、查耳酮樱花素等7种代谢物累积水平显著降低,川陈皮素、牡荆素-4’-O-α-L-吡喃鼠李糖苷、(S)...     

Identification and comparison of phenolic compounds in the preparation of oolong tea manufactured by semifermentation and drying processes

Oolong tea manufactured via a semifermentation process possesses a taste and color somewhere between green and black teas. Alteration of constituents, particularly phenolic compounds, in the infusion of oolong tea resulting from its manufacture, was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. The identified constituents contained 2 alkaloids, 11 flavan-3-ols, 8 organic acids and esters, 11 proanthocyanidin dimers, 3 theaflavins, and 22 flavonoid glycosides, including 6 novel acylated flavonol glycosides. The tentative structures of these 6 novel compounds were depicted according to their mass fragmentation patterns in MS(n) (n = 1-4). In comparison with caffeine as an internal standard, relative contents of the constituents in the infusions of fresh tea shoot and different oolong tea preparations were examined. Approximately, 30% catechins and 20% proanthocyanidins were oxidized during the manufacture of oolong tea from fresh tea shoots, and 20% of total flavonoids were decomposed in a follow-up drying process. Gallocatechin-3-O-gallate and theaflavins putatively produced in the semifermentation process of oolong tea were not detected in fresh tea shoots, and the majority of theaflavins were presumably transformed into thearubigins after drying.     

Tea enhances insulin activity

The most widely known health benefits of tea relate to the polyphenols as the principal active ingredients in protection against oxidative damage and in antibacterial, antiviral, anticarcinogenic, and antimutagenic activities, but polyphenols in tea may also increase insulin activity. The objective of this study was to determine the insulin-enhancing properties of tea and its components. Tea, as normally consumed, was shown to increase insulin activity >15-fold in vitro in an epididymal fat cell assay. Black, green, and oolong teas but not herbal teas, which are not teas in the traditional sense because they do not contain leaves of Camellia senensis, were all shown to increase insulin activity. High-performance liquid chromatography fractionation of tea extracts utilizing a Waters SymmetryPrep C18 column showed that the majority of the insulin-potentiating activity for green and oolong teas was due to epigallocatechin gallate. For black tea, the activity was present in several regions of the chromatogram corresponding to, in addition to epigallocatechin gallate, tannins, theaflavins, and other undefined compounds. Several known compounds found in tea were shown to enhance insulin with the greatest activity due to epigallocatechin gallate followed by epicatechin gallate, tannins, and theaflavins. Caffeine, catechin, and epicatechin displayed insignificant insulin-enhancing activities. Addition of lemon to the tea did not affect the insulin-potentiating activity. Addition of 5 g of 2% milk per cup decreased the insulin-potentiating activity one-third, and addition of 50 g of milk per cup decreased the insulin-potentiating activity approximately 90%. Nondairy creamers and soy milk also decreased the insulin-enhancing activity. These data demonstrate that tea contains in vitro insulin-enhancing activity and the predominant active ingredient is epigallocatechin gallate.     

不同污染方式下铅对茶园土壤氮素转化及其相关微生物和酶活性的影响

为探讨不同污染方式的Pb对茶园土壤氮素转化的影响，采用盆栽试验对累积和一次性添加不同浓度Pb条件下茶园土壤中氮素含量、相关微生物和酶活性进行了研究。结果表明：累积污染处理的土壤中Pb全量和有效态含量高于一次污染处理。Pb污染对土壤、茶苗植株的氮含量影响表现为：增加土壤中全氮和¹⁵N含量，减少茶苗地上部全氮和¹⁵N含量。添加Pb浓度为900 mg/kg时，累积污染处理促进根系全氮和¹⁵N含量，一次污染则显著抑制；累积污染处理的茶苗根和地上部中的氮含量显著高于一次污染(P<0.05)。Pb污染对氮循环相关微生物的影响表现为：氨化细菌、自生固氮菌、亚硝酸细菌和硝酸细菌的数量减少，反硝化细菌的数量增加。Pb的不同污染方式对茶园土壤与氮循环相关微生物数量的影响不显著(P>0.05)。Pb污染抑制脲酶、亚硝化还原酶和硝酸还原酶活性，对蛋白酶活性存在“低促高抑”现象；高浓度Pb(900 mg/kg)污染时，累积处理显著增加土壤羟胺还原酶活性，一次处理则显著抑制。两种污染方式对土壤脲酶、硝酸还原酶和羟胺还原酶活性的影响因Pb...     

Polyphenol content of plasma and litter after the oral administration of green tea and tea polyphenols in chickens

Metabolic profiles of broiler chickens were examined after the ingestion of green tea, tea polyphenols, and (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Solid-phase extraction of serum and litters yielded free catechins and their metabolites, which were then identified and quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In plasma samples, (-)-gallocatechin, (+)-catechin, and EGCG were detected in the green tea group; pyrogallol acid, (epi)catechin-O-sulfate, 4'-O-methyl-(epi)gallocatechin-O-glucuronide, and (epi)catechin-3'-O-glucuronide were detected in the tea polyphenols group; and EGCG, (-)-gallocatechin gallate (GCG), and 4'-O-methyl-(epi)gallocatechin-O-glucuronides were detected in the EGCG group. In litters, gallic acid, EGCG, GCG, and ECG were detected in the green tea and tea polyphenols groups; EGCG and ECG were detected in the EGCG group. The conjugated metabolites, 4'-O-methyl-(epi)gallocatechin-O-glucuronide, (epi)catechin-3'-glucuronide, and 4'-O-methyl-(epi)catechin-O-sulfate, were identified in the green tea group; 4'-O-methyl-(epi)catechin-O-sulfate and 4'-O-methyl-(epi)gallocatechin-O-sulfate were identified in the tea polyphenols group; only 4'-O-methyl-(epi)gallocatechin-O-sulfate was detected in the EGCG group. The excretion of tea catechins was 95.8, 87.7, and 97.7% for the green tea, tea polyphenols, and EGCG groups, respectively.     

Measurement of food flavonoids by high-performance liquid chromatography: A review

The flavonoids are plant polyphenols found frequently in fruits, vegetables, and grains. Divided into several subclasses, they include the anthocyanidins, pigments chiefly responsible for the red and blue colors in fruits, fruit juices, wines, and flowers; the catechins, concentrated in tea; the flavanones and flavanone glycosides, found in citrus and honey; and the flavones, flavonols, and flavonol glycosides, found in tea, fruits, vegetables, and honey. Known for their hydrogen-donating antioxidant activity as well as their ability to complex divalent transition metal cations, flavonoids are propitious to human health. Computer-controlled high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has become the analytical method of choice. Many systems have been developed for the detection and quantification of flavonoids across one, two, or three subclasses. A summary of the various HPLC and sample preparation methods that have been employed to quantify individual flavonoids within a subclass or across several subclasses are tabulated in this review.     

Decomposition of leaves from two indigenous trees of contrasting qualities under shaded-coffee and agricultural land-uses during the dry season at Wondo Genet, Ethiopia

To explore the potential of trees and shrubs on farmlands on traditional systems in southern Ethiopia, mineralization of macronutrients and loss of organics from leaves of Cordia africana and Albizia gummifera were studied under shaded-coffee and agricultural land-uses during the dry season. Leaves in litterbags were incorporated at 15 cm depth in soil under both land uses and residues were recovered after 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks. Contents of macronutrients and organics in initial and recovered residues were measured. Single- or double-exponential decay or quadratic functions were fitted to describe patterns of decay or release of various leaf constituents. The two species differed significantly (P<0.05) with respect to contents of ash, N, P, K, cellulose (CEL), lignin (LG), total soluble polyphenols (PL), and condensed tannins (CT). Cordia had higher content of ash, K, P, CEL, LG and a higher C-to-N ratio while Albizia had higher contents of N, PL, CT and a higher C-to-P ratio. Albizia had significantly greater mass loss, N loss and release of CT than Cordia. N was immobilized for the first 4 weeks in most treatments. Across land uses and species, mass loss rates varied from −0.023 week⁻¹ in Cordia to −0.034 week⁻¹ in Albizia (R²>0.70). Higher rate of release of CT seems to have facilitated decomposition in Albizia despite higher initial PL and CT in the leaves of this species. There was no significant land-use effect on any of the variables considered. It was concluded that under drier conditions, tree cover might not affect decomposition, and that organic residues with high content of polyphenols, particularly condensed tannins could decompose faster than those with lower content. This suggests that indigenous tree species with high concentrations of tannins, supposedly considered to be of ‘poor quality’, might still be quite useful as an organic input for improving soil fertility and productivity in the tropics.     

Response of leguminosae to cadmium exposure

Bush bean and pea plants grown in a sandy substrate and treated daily with nutrient solutions containing either 50 and 125 pM cadmium (Cd), added as cadmium nitrate [Cd(NO₃)2], were analyzed for dry matter production, total Cd content, and extractable Cd. Cadmium depressed dry matter production of both plant species. Bush bean plants accumulated larger amounts of Cd in tissues and displayed lower Cd tolerance than pea plants. The high accumulation of Cd in roots of bush bean does not seem to prevent Cd translocation. Pea plants show a higher exclusion capacity at the root level, suggesting that membrane selectivity rather than apoplastic compartmentation may act as a defence mechanism against Cd toxicity. Gel‐permeation chromatography and voltammetric analyses showed that part of water‐soluble Cd extracted from tissues of pea and bush bean was as free metal ion (Cd²⁺). In addition, Cd into the nutrient solution induced progressively the synthesis of water‐soluble proteins at low molecular weigth in tissues of both plant specie. In root extracts of pea and bush bean, Cd was also associated with “like‐protein”; fraction with apparent molecular weight >30 KDa.     

有机肥与控释复合肥配施对茶叶产量、品质和土壤化学性质的影响

合理施肥对于提高茶叶产量和品质具有重要作用。通过3年田间试验,对比研究了6种施肥模式（常规化肥、控释复合肥、常规化肥 + 有机肥、控释复合肥 + 有机肥、70%常规化肥 + 有机肥、70%控释复合肥 + 有机肥）对茶叶产量、品质和土壤化学性质的影响。结果表明,一次性施用茶树专用控释复合肥能够达到常规化肥1年4次施用的增产效果,并显著提高了夏茶茶叶品质。与单施常规化肥相比,增施有机肥处理的茶叶产量提高10.6% ~ 14.0%,达显著水平（P < 0 .05),净收益增加8.0% ~ 18.3%,并显著提高了茶叶水浸出物和游离氨基酸总量,降低茶多酚含量和酚氨比。与常规化肥增施有机肥相比,控释复合肥增施有机肥茶叶产量提高了3.0%（P < 0.05),净收益增加7.6% ~ 8.5%,夏茶水浸出物含量提高1.34% ~ 1.39%,茶多酚含量降低了2.7% ~ 4.7%,达显著水平（P < 0.05)。70%常规化肥 + 有机肥或70%控释复合肥 + 有机肥处理的茶叶产量及品质与全量施肥增施有机肥处理相比均无显著性差异。在培肥土壤方面,增施有机肥处理显著提高了茶园0 ~ 20?cm土层土壤pH、有机质、全氮和速效氮含量。因此,从施肥方便性、茶叶产量、经济效益、茶叶品质和培肥土壤方面综合考虑,与施用常规化肥相比,控释复合肥减少用量30%并增施有机肥是最优推荐施肥措施。     

Interactions between yeast lees and wine polyphenols during simulation of wine aging. II. Analysis of desorbed polyphenol compounds from yeast lees

In the first part of this work, the analysis of the polyphenolic compounds remaining in the wine after different contact times with yeast lees during simulation of red wine aging was undertaken. To achieve a more precise view of the wine polyphenols adsorbed on lees during red wine aging and to establish a clear balance between adsorbed and remnant polyphenol compounds, the specific analysis of the chemical composition of the adsorbed polyphenolic compounds (condensed tannins and anthocyanins) after their partial desorbtion from yeast lees by denaturation treatments was realized in the second part of the study. The total recovery of polyphenol compounds from yeast lees was not complete, since a rather important part of the initial wine colored polyphenols, especially those with a dominant blue color component, remained strongly adsorbed on yeast lees, as monitored by color tristimulus and reflectance spectra measurements. All anthocyanins were recovered at a rather high percentage (about 62%), and it was demonstrated that they were not adsorbed in relation with their sole polarity. Very few monomeric phenolic compounds were extracted from yeast lees. With the use of drastic denaturing treatments, the total recovery of condensed tannins reached 83%. Such tannins extracted from yeast lees exhibited very high polymeric size and a rather high percentage of galloylated residues by comparison with initial wine tannins, indicating that nonpolar tannins were preferentially desorbed from yeast lees by the extraction treatments.     

施肥模式对茶叶产量、营养累积及土壤肥力的影响

施肥是提高茶叶产量、品质、土壤质量及促进茶园可持续利用最重要的农业措施之一。为了筛选出合理的茶树施肥模式,采用连续4周年的田间定位试验方法,研究了6种不同施肥模式(不施肥、茶树配方化肥、1/2茶树配方化肥+1/2有机肥、有机肥、茶树配方化肥+豆科绿肥、1/2茶树配方化肥+1/2有机肥+豆科绿肥)对茶叶产量,茶叶中氮、磷、钾、茶多酚和水浸出物的累积量及茶园土壤肥力状况的影响。结果表明:与对照(不施肥)模式相比,其他几种不同施肥模式均在一定程度上增加了茶叶产量,促进了茶叶营养物质的累积,并提高了茶园土壤的基本肥力状况;其中,1/2茶树配方化肥+1/2有机肥+豆科绿肥的试验效果最佳,其3年茶叶总产量最高,为5 929 kg.hm?2,比对照提高106.17%;茶叶氮、磷和钾累积量最高,分别为4.962 kg.hm?2、0.48 kg.hm?2和5.966 kg.hm?2,比对照分别提高88.6%、57.41%和98.87%;茶叶茶多酚和水浸出物累积量最高,分别为23.39 kg.hm?2和119.41 kg.hm?2,比对照分别提高73.29%和85.56%;并比对照分别提高茶园土壤有机质1.29倍、全氮1.7倍、全磷2.98倍、速效氮1.59倍、速效磷34.3倍和速效钾3.3倍。1/2茶树配方化肥+1/2有机肥+豆科绿肥施肥模式值得在茶园施肥上进一步推广应用。     

Phenolic composition of litchi fruit pericarp

Litchi (Litchi chinensis, Sapindaceae) is a nonclimacteric subtropical fruit that, once harvested, loses its red pericarp color because of browning reactions probably involving polyphenols. Low-pressure chromatography, high-pressure liquid chromatography, UV-visible spectral analysis, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance studies have allowed the determination and quantification of the polyphenolic composition of litchi pericarp. Litchi skins contain significant amounts of polyphenolic compounds. The principal characteristic of the litchi skin polyphenolic compounds is their ortho-diphenolic structure, which gives them high oxidability. Four major pigments were formally identified as cyanidin 3-rutinoside, cyanidin glucoside, quercetin 3-rutinoside (rutin), and quercetin glucoside. The tannin content was characterized after the depolymerization thiolysis reaction. Tannins (polymeric proanthocyanidins) are mainly constituted with epicatechin units linked by A- and B-type bonds. The different phenolic compounds of litchi cv. Kwai Mi were quantified by HPLC. Condensed tannins were the most abundant (4 mg x g(-1) of fresh skin), followed by epicatechin and procyanidin A2 (1.7 and 0.7 mg x g(-1) of fresh pericarp, respectively). The amount of anthocyanins was found to be comparable to that of flavonols, with a value of approximately 0.4 mg x g(-1) of fresh pericarp.     

Identification and quantification of polyphenols in carob fruits (Ceratonia siliqua L.) and derived products by HPLC-UV-ESI/MSn

The polyphenolic patterns of carob pods (Ceratonia siliqua L.) and derived products were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-UV absorption-electrospray ion trap mass spectrometry after pressurized liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction. In carob fiber, 41 individual phenolic compounds could be identified. In addition, spectrophotometric quantification using the Folin-Ciocalteu and vanillin assays was performed, and the antioxidative activity was determined as the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity. Carob pods contain 448 mg/kg extractable polyphenols comprising gallic acid, hydrolyzable and condensed tannins, flavonol-glycosides, and traces of isoflavonoids. Among the products investigated, carob fiber, a carob pod preparation rich in insoluble dietary fiber (total polyphenol content = 4142 mg/kg), shows the highest concentrations in flavonol-glycosides and hydrolyzable tannins, whereas roasted carob products contain the highest levels of gallic acid. The production process seems to have an important influence on the polyphenolic patterns and quantities in carob products.     

Analysis of agricultural residues on tea using d-SPE sample preparation with GC-NCI-MS and UHPLC-MS/MS

This study presents new sample preparation and analytical procedures for the quantification of pesticides on processed tea leaves. The new method includes tea extraction and dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE) to prepare gas chromatography (GC) and ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-ready samples, providing a fast and cost-effective solution for time-sensitive industrial analysis to fulfill regulatory requirements. Both GC-negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC-NCI-MS) and UHPLC-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) were employed to produce highly sensitive and reproducible data. Excellent limits of detection (typically below 1 μg/kg for GC and 10 μg/kg for UHPLC), wide linearity ranges, and good recoveries (mostly >70%) were achieved on the selected pesticides. Twenty-seven tea samples purchased from local grocery stores were analyzed using the newly developed methods. Among the pesticides analyzed, endosulfan sulfate and kelthane were the most frequently detected by GC-NCI-MS and imidacloprid and acetamiprid by UHPLC-MS/MS in these teas. The samples were found to be relatively clean, with <1 mg/kg of total pesticide residues. The organic-labeled teas were significantly cleaner than nonorganic ones. The cost per gram of tea did not correlate with pesticide residue levels detected.     

Substrate-induced volatile organic compound emissions from compost-amended soils

The agronomic effects of composts, mineral fertiliser and combinations thereof on chemical, biological and physiological soil properties have been studied in an 18-year field experiment. The present study aimed at tracing treatment effects by evaluating the volatile organic compound (VOC) emission of the differently treated soils: non-amended control, nitrogen fertilisation and composts (produced from organic waste and sewage sludge, respectively) in combination with nitrogen fertiliser. Microbial community structure was determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Aerobic and anaerobic soil VOC emission was determined after glucose amendment using proton transfer reaction–mass spectrometry (PTR-MS). After inducing VOC production by substrate (glucose) addition and at the same time reducing oxygen availability to impair degradation of the produced VOCs, we were able to differentiate among the treatments. Organic waste compost did not alter the VOC emissions compared to the untreated control, whilst sewage sludge composts and mineral fertilisation showed distinct effects. This differentiation was supported by DGGE analysis of fungal 18S rDNA fragments and confirms earlier findings on bacterial communities. Three major conclusions can be drawn: (1) VOC patterns are able to discriminate among soil treatments. (2) Sewage sludge compost and mineral fertilisation have not only the strongest impact on microbial community composition but also on VOC emission patterns, but specific tracer VOCs could not be identified. (3) Future efforts should aim at a PTR-MS-linked identification of the detected masses.