Ammonia and Nitrous Oxide Emissions after Landspreading of Slurry as Influenced by Application Technique and Dry Matter-Reduction. II. Short Term Nitrous Oxide Emissions

Strategies reducing NH₃ volatilisation from slurry include separation of slurry, special application techniques and additives. We studied the impact of manure separation and application technique on N₂O release after manure application. Untreated and separated cattle slurry (dry matter content of 7.1% and 4.4%, respectively) was applied to winter wheat using broadcast and banded application and injection. The N₂O emissions were measured at high frequency for 14 to 20 days after slurry treatment by the closed chamber method. Manured plots showed significantly higher N₂O emissions than the control plots but neither dry matter reduction of slurry nor application technique significantly influenced the N₂O emissions. The variability of N₂O emission was influenced by the application technique and increased in the order: banded application – injection – broadcast application. There was no correlation between NH₃ losses from applied slurry and N₂O emissions. Thus reducing ammonia volatilisation will not necessarily increase N₂O emissions.     

Spatial distribution of earthworms [Lumbricidae] in recultivated soils of the Rhenish lignite‐mining area,Germany

The spatial distribution of earthworms was studied by means of combined formalin expulsion and hand sorting in three arable fields of the Rhenish lignite‐mining area that differed in their recultivation age (6, 12, 24 yr). In addition, pH and the spatial distribution of penetration resistances were measured to see if they are corresponding with the distribution of earthworms. Already the 6 yr old field had a rich population of endogeic, anecic, and epigeic earthworms (119 ind. m^–2, 48 g m^–2, 6 species). This quantity was similar to the 24 yr old site. The 12 yr old field was only sparsely populated by earthworms (5 ind. m^–2, 5 g m^–2, 3 species). In the 6 yr old field, the spatial distribution pattern showed a center of maximal earthworm abundances, corresponding to the distributional pattern of penetration resistances. In the old field (24 yr), the species varied in their spatial distribution, and there was no correspondence with the distribution of penetration resistance. In general, the penetration resistance at the youngest site was clearly lower than at the two older sites. The earthworm population in the 6 yr old field can be explained by cocoons contained in the dumped material. A calculation using literature data on earthworm‐population dynamics shows that a founding population of 400–600 reproductive individuals per hectare and a continuity of favorable growth conditions during the time of soil management is necessary for the development of the situation found at the 6 yr old site in this study.     

Dosis- Wirkungs-Beziehungen zur Erfassung von Chemikalienwirkungen auf die mikrobielle Aktivität von Böden: I. Kurvenverläufe und Auswertungsmöglichkeiten

Dose response curves: their use in soil microbiological research and possibilities of evaluation The relation between different concentrations of a toxicant in soils and the resulting effects on biological parameters can be described with dose response curves. Dose response curves make it possible to determine the concentrations of a chemical that create definite effects (?Effective Doses”?, e.g. ED₁₀ and ED₅₀ for 10- and 50% inhibitory effects) or to evaluate the rate of increase of inhibition with increasing concentrations. Some of the mostly used ways to extract these parameters from dose response curves are presented and examined with regard to their suitability in soil microbiological research. Besides graphical procedures for the evaluation of dose response curves a mathematical model for fitting quantitative dose response curves is introduced. With this model the confidence intervals of effective doses can be computed. By showing eight frequently appearing shapes of dose response curves the advantages and limitations of different ways to calculate effective doses are discussed.     

Analysis of volatile compounds and triglycerides of seed oils extracted from different poppy varieties (Papaver somniferum L.)

Poppy seed oil (Oleum Papaveris Seminis) is used for culinary and pharmaceutical purposes, as well as for making soaps, paints, and varnishes. Astonishingly, hardly anything was yet known about the volatile compounds of this promising comestible. Likewise, there are no current published data about the triglyceride (TAG) composition of poppy seed oils available. In this investigation solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with DVB/Carboxen/PDMS Stable-Flex fiber was applied to the study of volatile compounds of several seed oil samples from Papaver somniferum L. (Papaveraceae). 1-Pentanol (3.3-4.9%), 1-hexanal (10.9-30.9%), 1-hexanol (5.3-33.7%), 2-pentylfuran (7.2-10.0%), and caproic acid (2.9-11.5%) could be identified as the main volatile compounds in all examined poppy seed oil samples. Furthermore, the TAG composition of these oils was analyzed by MALDI-ReTOF- and ESI-IT-MS/MS. The predominant TAG components were found to be composed of linoleic, oleic, and palmitic acid, comprising approximately 70% of the oils. TAG patterns of the different poppy varieties were found to be very homogeneous, showing also no significant differences in terms of the applied pressing method of the plant seeds.     

Irrigation with plant extracts in ecofarming increases biomass production and mineral and organic nitrogen content of plants

Seedlings of alfalfa, rape, spinach, and wheat, potted on sandy soil, were irrigated with an aqueous extract of pea shoot (PE, 9.84 g dry weight l^–1) or a solution of Ca, K, Mg, P, and NO₃‐N salts (SS) in a concentration similar to that in PE, for 31–48 days. In comparison to water‐irrigated controls, both SS and PE treated plants showed nearly equal increases in shoot dry weight (29–40 %), whereas PE‐treated plants had higher fresh weights (38–84 %) due to increased succulence. Treatment with SS did not enhance, but sometimes even reduce, the concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, and several trace elements in shoot tissues. In contrast, PE‐treated plants had higher Ca, K, Mg, and organic N, but lower As and Ni contents and were thus of higher nutritive value. Reduced contents of metals in plant tissue correlated with their reduced solubility in the soil solution, which was not due to changes in pH. Fertilizer components such as K and Mg (metals of lower exchange intensity) were incorporated into the soil to release Ca, Sr, and Ba (metals of higher exchange intensity) and reduce the solubility of most trace elements and metal‐complexing humic substances. In addition, application of Ca precipitated heavy metals and humic complexes directly from the soil solution. This effect was partially overcome by PE. Its carboxylic acids could act as phytochelators of metal ions and as mobilizers of the highly diffusible humic substances which carry metals to roots. It is concluded that continuous PE application replaces the quantities of Ca, K, Mg, P, and organic N, but not of NO₃‐N consumed during plant growth. Using PE does not add any relevant quantities of toxic metals to the plant‐soil system.     

Do summer temperatures trigger spring maturation in Pacific lamprey,Entosphenus tridentatus?

Abstract –  Pacific lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus , return to streams and use somatic energy to fuel maturation. Body size decreases, the lamprey mature, spawn, and then die. We predicted that warm, summer temperatures (>20 °C) would accentuate shrinkage in body size, and expedite sexual maturation and subsequent death. We compared fish reared in the laboratory at diel fluctuating temperatures of 20–24 °C (mean = 21.8 °C) with fish reared at cooler temperatures (13.6 °C). The results confirmed our predictions. Lamprey from the warm water group showed significantly greater proportional decreases in body weight following the summer temperature treatments than fish from the cool water group. A greater proportion of warm water fish sexually matured (100%) and died (97%) the following spring than cool water fish (53% sexually mature, 61% died). Females tended to mature and die earlier than males, most obviously in the warm water group.     

Effects of feed and water restriction and receiving diet crude protein on feeder pig performance

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feed and water restriction and receiving diet crude protein level on feeder pig performance. In Exp. 1, a total of 239 commingled feeder pigs transported over 1,000 km were used in two trials. Pigs given access to feed and water (FW) at the market weighed more (P less than .0001) following marketing and transport than pigs given no feed and water (N) for the comparable 25-h market period (20.7 vs 19.6 kg). While FW pigs weighed less (P less than .02) than N pigs at the conclusion of the trials (93.9 vs 96.6 kg), there was no effect (P greater than .1) on overall average daily gain (.32 vs .35). There were no effects of receiving diets containing 12, 16 or 20% crude protein on daily gain, daily feed intake or feed efficiency for the overall growing-finishing period. Scour scores on d 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 and 14 post-arrival increased (P less than .01) with increased levels of protein in the receiving diets. In Exp. 2, a total of 360 crossbred feeder pigs was mixed and moved from a nursery to grower-finisher facilities in three trials, given feed and water access immediately (FWG) or denied access for 44 h (NG). At the end of the 44-h period, FWG pigs were heavier than NG pigs (P less than .0001; 18.3 vs 16.7 kg). There was no treatment effect on overall pig weight, daily gain or feed efficiency.     

Measurement of temperature generation in the corium of bovine claws during claw trimming with an angle grinder using different grinding and cutting disks

On 80 bovine hindclaws from slaughtered cows a correct functional claw trimming (sole horn thickness 5 mm; group 1) and on further 80 hindclaws a standardised, incorrect claw trimming (sole horn thickness 2 mm; group 2) was performed using 4 different disks (one cutting, three grinding disks). Two thermocouples were inserted into the solar corium and the heat production on the corium was measured during claw trimming. During correct functional claw trimming with each of the 4 disks a temperature increase in the corium with a median of < or = 0.3 degrees C was calculated. During incorrect claw trimming (2 mm sole horn thickness) a temperature increase with a median of < or = 0.3 degrees C for the first three disks was determined. During claw trimming using the abrasive semiflexible plastic disk a median of 1.3 degrees C temperature increase was calculated. Comparison of the temperatures measured in the claws from group 1 and 2 showed a statistically significant difference between all four disks. Comparison of the temperature increase within each group (group 1 and 2) revealed a statistically significant difference between the cutting disk with steel blades and the abrasive, semiflexible plastic disk in both groups. The highest temperatures measured were 41.5 degrees C in group 1 using the disk with 70% amount of fitted hard metal granulate, and 42.2 degrees C in group 2 (temperature increase of 10.6 degrees C) using the abrasive semiflexible plastic disk. Under the experimental conditions of this study, only a very slight thermogenesis was found when a functional and correct claw trimming using the 4 tested disks was performed. This slight thermogenesis should not be able to cause thermic injury of the corium. By trimming the sole horn incorrectly (2 mm) the measured heat generation in the corium was minor, without danger of thermic insult, excepted for using the disk with a 70% amount of fitted hard metal granulate and the abrasive semiflexible plastic disk. Even, it is unlikely that a short term temperature increase of 10.6 degrees C can cause thermic insults of the solar corium.