Effect of strains of Rhizobium trifolii on the establishment of oversown white clover (Trifolium repens)

Strains of Rhizobium trifolii incorporated into commercial peat inoculants were compared for their effect on the establishment and growth of oversown white clover (Trifolium repens) on soils devoid of infective rhizobia.There were marked differences in numbers of seedlings establishing and clover dry matter production per hectare with the various strains. However, when adjusted to a constant number of established seedlings, dry matter production from all strains, apart from one strain at one site, were similar indicating that the strains did not appear to influence the growth of individual clover plants.The marked differences in establishment of clover inoculated with the various strains could not be accounted for by differences in the number of rhizobia in the peat inoculant.Selecting strains of rhizobia for ability to increase establishment is considered important where clover is oversown onto soils devoid of rhizobia.     

Autotrophic and heterotrophic production of micro-organisms in intensely-manured fish ponds,and related fish yields

Intensely-manured ponds produce 15–30 kg fish ha^?1 day^?1 with cow or chicken manure and nitrogen- and phosphate-rich fertilizers as the only nutritional inputs. The manure as it is supplied to the ponds is not a good fish food and does not produce good fish growth. Quantitative analysis shows that the production of all organisms, autotrophic and heterotrophic, pelagic and benthic, large enough to be used directly by the fish (i.e., larger than 37 microns) is adequate to account for less than half of the measured fish growth. Production within the microbial community that flourishes on and rapidly digests the manure organic matter is adequate to produce the measured fish growth. The fish appear to harvest the microorganisms at the level of bacteria and protozoa, by ingesting the small straw-like particles which comprise much of the manure and serve as the substrate for the microbial growth.     

Volatilization of sulfur from unamended and sulfate-treated soils

Volatilization of sulfur from unamended and sulfate-treated soils was studied by sensitive gas chromatographic techniques using a flame photometric detector fitted with a sulfur filter. The soils employed were surface samples of 25 Iowa soils selected to obtain a wide range in properties. No release of volatile sulfur compounds was detected when 11 of these soils were incubated under aerobic or waterlogged conditions before or after treatment with sulfate (400 μg sulfate S/g soil). Fourteen soils released volatile sulfur compounds when incubated under waterlogged conditions before and after addition of sulfate, but only 4 of these soils released volatile sulfur compounds when incubated under aerobic conditions. Where volatilization of sulfur was observed, the volatile sulfur detected was identified as dimethyl sulfide or as dimethyl sulfide associated with smaller amounts of carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, methyl mercaptan, and (or) dimethyl disulfide. No trace of hydrogen sulfide was detected. Where release of volatile sulfur was observed, the amount of sulfur volatilized at 30°C in 60 days under aerobic or waterlogged conditions was very small and did not account for more than 0–05% of the sulfur in the unamended or sulfate-treated soils studied. It is concluded that gaseous loss of sulfur from unamended or sulfate-treated soils is insignificant under conditions likely to be encountered in the field.     

Decomposition of algal cells and components and their stabilization through complexing with model humic acid-type phenolic polymers

Axenic cultures of Anacystis, Microcoleus, Plectonema and Synechococcus isolated from Greenfield sandy loam and of Anabaena flos-aquae, Nostoc muscorum and Chlorella pyrenoidosa from other sources were cultured under light and constant aeration and with [U-¹⁴C]-glucose in the nutrient medium. Whole cells, cell walls, cytoplasm and extracellular polysaccharides of selected species readily decomposed in the soil and after 22 weeks between 61 and 81% of the added C had evolved as CO₂. Complexing of cell wall and cytoplasmic preparations from A. flos-aquae and N. muscorum with model humic acid-type phenolic polymers reduced decomposition of the cell walls by 40% and of the cytoplasm by 70%. Over 50% of the residual 14C activity in the soil amended with whole algal cells remained in the 0.5% NaOH-extracted soil. With exception of Microcoleus sp. more of the residual ¹⁴C from cell walls, cytoplasm and polysaccharide fractions was present in the humic acid or fulvic acid fractions.     

Determination of altosid insect growth regulator in waters, soils, plants, and animals by gas-liquid chromatography.

Residues of isopropyl (2E,4E)-11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,4-dodecadienoate (Altosid) insect growth regulator are determined in waters, soils, plants, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, poultry and cattle tissues, blood, urine, and feces. Acetonitrile is the primary extraction solvent for all samples. Residues are extracted by high-speed blending followed by vacuum filtration. Fatty extracts are subjected to cold-temperature precipitation and filtration. Samples are cleaned up by petroleum ether partitioning and Florisil and neutral alumina chromatography. The concentrated eluants are analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) on columns of differing polarity, using hydrogen flame ionization detectors. The identity of suspected residues is confirmed by additional GLC and by mass fragmentography. The lower limits of detection were: water samples, 0.0004-0.001 ppm; soils, blood, and urine, 0.001 ppm; forage grasses, forage legumes, and rice foliage, 0.005 ppm; and milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, poultry and cattle tissues, and feces, 0.010 ppm.     

Some genetic characteristics of the freely drained soils of the ettrick association in East Scotland

This paper describes the interrelated characteristics of the freely drained soil series of the Ettrick Association. These soils are extensively developed in the Southern Uplands of Scotland on glacial drift derived from greywacke.At the present day the soils of the Linhope series are acid brown soils whereas the Minchmoor and Dod series include podzols and peaty podzols. Subalpine podzols and alpine soils are included within the Merrick series. It is concluded that the soils of the Linhope, Minchmoor and Dod series were all formerly brown forest soils under deciduous woodland. They have evolved to their present status after forest clearance which gathered momentum after the widespread establishment of monastic institutions in Scotland in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries A.D. The evolutionary outline of profile development is described and discussed.     

Extraction, gas-liquid chromatographic detection, and quantitation of hexachlorophene residues from plant tissues high in lipid content

A method has been developed for the extraction, cleanup, derivatization, detection, and quantitation of hexachlorophene (HCP) residues from 2 types of plant storage tissue high in lipid content. Wet soybean or peanut tissue was homogenized and extracted with ethyl ether and chromatographed on silica gel to remove the neutral lipids. The cleaned up sample was methylated with diazomethane and the dimethoxyhexachlorophene was eluted from a second silical gel column and chromatographed on a 6' glass column packed with 3% OV-1 or 3% SE-30 on Gas-Chrom Q. The instrument detection limit for the 63Ni electron capture detector was less than 0.1 ng for dimethoxyhexachlorophene and about 1 ppb HCP residue in plant issue. Recovery of 10-420 ppb HCP added to tissue averaged 90.9 +/- 5.7%. Interfering substances were removed, column life was increased, peak sharpness was increased, and tailing of the parent compound was decreased by using appropriate column chromatography.     

Diurnal changes in acetylene reduction in field-grown cowpeas and soybeans

The effects of five environmental factors on variation in the rate of C₂H₂ reduction in two cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) and two soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) cultivars were examined at two stages of growth in the field. Diurnal changes in C₂H₂ reduction, estimated as μmoles C₂H₄ produced·g^?1 nodules·h^?1, over a 30 h period were compared with changes in soil, canopy and air temperatures, global radiation, and vapour pressure deficit. Although the environmental factors showed one maximum and one minimum during a diurnal cycle, the C₂H₂ reduction rate in nodulated cowpea roots showed two peaks: one between 0600–1200 and another between 1800–2400 and two minima: one between 1200–1600 and another between 2400–0600. Variation in C₂H₂ reduction in soybean nodules did not show any definite pattern. Vapour pressure deficit appeared the most likely factor influencing the decline in C₂H₂ reduction between 1200–1600.The rate of C₂H₂ reduction in cowpeas was greater at the pre-flower than at the early pod-fill period; the rate in soybeans was not greatly different at early flower or early pod-fill.     

Recovery and reactions of amprolium from poultry manure added to soil

Amprolium, a coccidiostat added to poultry feed, occurs in excreta at concentrations of 204 μ g^?1 and investigations were made of the effect of this quantity of amprolium on the biochemistry of soil to which manure had been applied.Greenhouse experiments showed that 0.8 μg g^?1 amprolium was found in soil pots 80 days after treatment with manure at the equivalent of 56.1 t ha^?1 and was detectable 20 days following treatment at the equivalent of 11.2 t ha^?1.Laboratory experiments indicated that amprolium was differentially adsorbed to two complexing media, soil and manure. Since amprolium was a constituent of treated manure, it was expected that the amprolium manure-soil system would offer various sites for adsorption of amprolium. Mixing amprolium with soil and with soil plus untreated manure yielded approximately the same effect on amprolium adsorption based on recoveries in water solution, and as methanol extractable. However, total recovery of amprolium from treated manure added to soil was only a fraction of the above, indicating the high complexing capacity of the manure.No effect on soil respiration was observed by either pure amprolium or amprolium as a constituent of treated manure. The higher rate of manure application caused greater respiration due to the presence of more readily oxidizable organic matter, but the respiration pattern attributed to the manure component was not unlike the respiration pattern of the Guelph loam soil.