Einfluß der N-Düngung von Apfelkulturen auf Nitratgehalte im Boden,stickstoffhaltige Reservestoffe im Baum und Ertrag

Effect of N-fertilization in apple orchards on soil nitrate contents, nitrogenous reserves in the tree, and crop yield It should be investigated how nitrate supply affects crop yields and incorporation and mobilization of nitrogenous reserves with Golden Delicious' apple trees on M 7 and M 9, and whether N fertilizer needs are influenced by N reserves in the trees. Two trials were carried out in 1981–1983. In the first one on al loess soil increasing N levels (0, 40, 80, 120 kg N/ha) were applied. In the second one, on a podsolic sandy soil, N was applied either in spring and/or in August (0/0, 80/0, 40/40, 0/80 kg N/ha). N fertilizers were applied to the herbicide strips only. Both orchards were in their best cropping age. Soil nitrate contents were mainly influenced by N-fertilization. Precipitation and drip irrigation caused translocation of nitrate and leaching from the soil layer investigated (0–90 cm). Thus, on the sandy soil almost no nitrate was left in spring, whereas on the loess soil various amounts of nitrate were still available in the subsoil depending on N fertilization in the preciding year. In plots where N fertilization was at optimum, the soil nitrate contents varied between 65 and 130 kg N per hectare herbicide strip over the main growing season (May–August). In the bark N reserves were mainly proteins, but almost equal amounts of protein and soluble N were found in the wood. N reserves were incorporated into the bark mainly between October and December, but even earlier than September in the wood. They were mobilized from April through July. Arginine was stored in the wood in considerably higher amounts than in the bark. Asparagine contents showed a sharp increase immediately after blossom time, particularly in the bark. There was almost no significant influence of the different fertilizer patterns on incorporation and mobilization of nitrogenous compounds. The N-reserves had no effect on crop weight. Highest crop yields were obtained whenever at least 40 kg N/ha were applied in spring. Additional N supply in August did neither increase incorporation of N-reserves nor crop yields. The nitrogenous reserves in the trees can be ignored in estimating N-fertilizer needs. On the other hand, the soil nitrate contents at bud break in April should be taken into account.     

Invertebrates in risk assessment development of a test battery and of short term biotests for ecological risk assessment of soil

4 Conclusion  In general, all biotests used in the ring test are applicable for risk assessment of field soil and contaminated or remediated soil material. Of these, the most sensitive tests were selected as a integral part of the test battery [4]. This selection did not consider either the duration of the tests, which is crucial for the acceptance of tests by the remediation industry, and the effects of pollutants on biomarkers, which indicate the departure of an organism from its normal biochemical or physiological status. Therefore, the proposed test battery has to be supplemented with biotests of short duration. The best choice for a short test using the endpoint reproduction is the biotest withCaenorhabditis elegans which characterises the habitat function of soil. The appropriate screening test for the retention function is the ETr (electron transfer) inhibition test with submitochondrial particles, which provides reliable results in less than 15 min. For screening the habitat function, avoidance tests with soil invertebrates like annelids or enchytraeids are optimal, as both annelids are exposed to the bioavailable pollutants in the soil pore water. The effect of environmental chemicals at the individual level and below can be analysed with the Celegans ToxChip, which gives information of the status of biomarkers on the molecular and biochemical level. Preliminary SOPs for these biotests are formulated. They have still to be evaluated by international ring tests.     

The crystal structure of [Fe]-hydrogenase reveals the geometry of the active site

Biological formation and consumption of molecular hydrogen (H2) are catalyzed by hydrogenases, of which three phylogenetically unrelated types are known: [NiFe]-hydrogenases, [FeFe]-hydrogenases, and [Fe]-hydrogenase. We present a crystal structure of [Fe]-hydrogenase at 1.75 angstrom resolution, showing a mononuclear iron coordinated by the sulfur of cysteine 176, two carbon monoxide (CO) molecules, and the sp2-hybridized nitrogen of a 2-pyridinol compound with back-bonding properties similar to those of cyanide. The three-dimensional arrangement of the ligands is similar to that of thiolate, CO, and cyanide ligated to the low-spin iron in binuclear [NiFe]- and [FeFe]-hydrogenases, although the enzymes have evolved independently and the CO and cyanide ligands are not found in any other metalloenzyme. The related iron ligation pattern of hydrogenases exemplifies convergent evolution and presumably plays an essential role in H2 activation. This finding may stimulate the ongoing synthesis of catalysts that could substitute for platinum in applications such as fuel cells.     

Study of PES sewing thread properties

The properties of 100 % PES core-spun threads were studied before and after the sewing process at different stitching speeds, by determination of the threads tensile force during the sewing process and by changes of the mechanical and thermo-mechanical properties after the sewing process. This analytical method is especially advantageous when monitoring contemporary thermal and mechanical effects, as is the case when loading the sewing thread. Loadings during the sewing process cause structural changes in the thread-twisted fibres. This is confirmed by changes in the thermo-mechanical properties after the sewing process. Simultaneously, changes in the threads mechanical properties after sewing were also observed.     

Ecotoxicological effects of benzoxazinone allelochemicals and their metabolites on aquatic nontarget organisms

Before natural plant allelochemicals can be exploited as biological pesticides against weeds and for disease control, more than the effect on target organisms needs to be known. This study presents results of aquatic biotests using four organisms, namely, a water flea, a freshwater alga, a soil alga, and a luminescent bacterium. The tested substances were 10 benzoxazinone derivatives, 3 of them known to be wheat allelochemicals, benzoxazolin-2(3H)-one (BOA), 6-methoxybenzoxazolin-2(3H)-one (MBOA), and 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA), and 7 identified degradation intermediates and metabolites. For comparison, two commercial pesticide formulations (BAS, Betanal) were tested by applying the same set of biotests. The data set produced could be seen as an ecotoxicological evaluation for effects of allelochemicals against nontarget organisms and as a base for further risk assessment.