Growth characteristics of Artemisia sieberi influenced by super absorbent polymers in texturally different soils under water stress condition

The effects of super absorbent polymers (SAPs) on growth characteristics and seedlings survival of Artemisia sieberi (under two soil textures, three irrigation levels and seven hydrogel compositions with three replications) were investigated. The studied traits were shoot height, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, ratio of root/shoot, root length, root perimeter, root area and root volume. SAPs successfully enhanced growth capability of A. sieberi in two soil textures compared to the controls. Ideally, 5 g kg^?1 Aquasorb? (SNF Company, France) with 100% irrigation and 10 g kg^?1 Stockosorb® (Evonik Corporation, Germany) with 75% irrigation in a sandy loam texture and 10 g kg^?1 Boloorab A? (Boloorab Company, Iran) with 75% irrigation in a loamy texture significantly affected all traits, resulting in 100% survival for A. sieberi seedlings. Aquasorb? and Stockosorb® showed the best results in the sandy loam texture and preferable outputs were obtained by Boloorab A? application in the loamy texture. In other words, because of the basic differentiation among soils in terms of mineralogy, temperature and moisture content, different SAPs should be applied. Production of dense root network and root aggregation stimulated by SAPs increased root contact with moisture. Therefore, improving the growth and survival of the plants is accessible using SAPs under water stress condition.     

于田绿洲典型区域土壤盐分空间分异规律研究

应用地统计学方法对于田绿洲典型区域土壤盐分空间分异规律进行了研究。结果表明,于田绿洲土壤盐渍化严重并表现出表聚现象。由于人类活动干扰,表层土壤盐分变幅最大;0—5cm土层土壤盐分表现出强烈的空间相关性,5—30cm土层次之,30—70cm土层土壤盐分的空间相关性很弱。水平方向上,0—30cm土层中土壤盐分从东向西先增大,后减小,再增大,再减小;30—70cm土层中土壤盐分从东向西逐渐减小;研究区南北两侧土壤盐分含量高,中部盐分含量低。垂直方向上,盐碱地和高、中密度草地土壤盐分含量较高,呈现出自上而下逐渐减小的分布趋势。其中盐碱地土壤盐分含量最高,高密度草地土壤盐分的垂直变化幅度大于中密度草地,低密度草地和农田土壤盐分含量较低,且垂直变化不大。不同地形和土地利用带来的土壤水分运动差异,是绿洲土壤盐分空间分异的主导因素。     

Influence of Moisture Content,Variety and Parboiling on Milling Quality of Rice Grains

The effects of moisture content （8%, 10%and 12%）, variety （Tarom and Fajr） and parboiling on milling quality of rice as a function of milling recovery （MR）, head rice yield （HRY）, degree of milling （DOM） and whiteness were investigated. The parboiled grains was prepared with three soaking temperatures of 25 oC, 50 oC and 75 oC and three steaming times of 10, 15 and 20 min. As a result of parboiling, the increasing rates of MR and HRY values were 7.8%and 14.3%for Tarom and 9.8%and 10.0%for Fajr, respectively, and the decreasing rates for DOM and whiteness were 6.6%and 10.8%for Tarom and 6.8% and 10.5% for Fajr, respectively. Moreover, decreasing moisture content to 8%maximized MR （75.8% for Tarom and 74.3% for Fajr） and HRY （65.8% for Tarom and 57.0% for Fajr） while increasing that to 12%revealed maximum values of DOM （6.1%for Tarom and 6.2%for Fajr） and whiteness （24.8%for Tarom and 28.2%for Fajr）.     

Comparison of the Vegetative Growth,Eco-Physiological Characteristics and Mineral Nutrient Content of Basil Plants in Different Irrigation Ratios of Hydroponic:Aquaponic Solutions

Aquaponics is the combined culture of fish and plants in recirculating systems. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the production of basil out of the aquaponic system by irrigation of the plants with different ratios of hydroponic and aquaponic solutions. Basil seedlings were irrigated three times day^?1 with 200 mL aquaponic-aquaponic-aquaponic (AAA), aquaponic-hydroponic-aquaponic (AHA), hydroponic-aquaponic-hydroponic (HAH), and hydroponic-hydroponic-hydroponic (HHH) solutions, respectively. Fresh and dry mass of shoots and roots of basil decreased at AAA treatment significantly. The plants were slightly less green at AHA treatments, and a visible chlorosis appeared in the leaves of AAA-treated plants. This chlorosis resulted lower net carbon dioxide (CO₂) assimilation rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance in AAA treatment. Iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and potassium (K) concentrations in leaves decreased and zinc (Zn) concentration increased in higher ratios of aquaponic:hydroponic solution. Lower Fe, Mn, and K concentrations in aquaponic solution may be a main part of the reason for growth reduction.     

Effect of Drought Stress and Different Levels of Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilizers on the Accumulation of Osmolytes and Chlorophyll in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Gesunde Pflanzen - Management of plant nutrition using fertilizers is an approach to deal with drought and to increase water productivity in paddies. The aim of this study, therefore, was to...     

Role of protease inhibitors and acylation stimulating protein in the adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells

Treatment of AIDS (HIV) and hepatitis C virus needs protease inhibitors (PI) to prevent viral replication. Uses of PI in therapy are usually associated with a decrease in body weight and dyslipidemia. Acylation stimulating protein (ASP) is a protein synthesized in adipocytes to increase triglycerides biosynthesis, for that the relation of PI and ASP to adipogenesis is tested in this work. ASP expression was increased during 3T3-L1 differentiation and reached a peak at day 8 with cell maturation. Addition of PI during adipocytes differentiation dose dependently and significantly (p < 0.5) inhibited the degree of triglycerides (TG) accumulation. Moreover, presence of ASP (450 ng/mL) in media significantly (p < 0.5) stimulated the degree of TG accumulation and there was additive stimulation for ASP when added with insulin (10 µg/mL). Finally, when ASP in different doses (Low, 16.7; Medium, 45 and High, 450 ng/mL) incubated with a dose of ×150 PI, ASP partially inhibited the PI-inhibited adipogenesis and TG accumulation. The results in this study show that PI inhibit lipids accumulation and confirm role of ASP in TG biosynthesis and adipogenesis.     

Stability of performance in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) genotypes in Iran

The development of genotypes, which can be adapted to a wide range of diversified environment, is the ultimate goal of plant breeders in a crop improvement program. In this study, several stability methods were used to evaluate the genotype by environment interaction (GE) in 11 lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) genotypes. The genotypes were evaluated for grain yield at 4 different locations for 3 years in semi arid areas of Iran. The testing locations have different climatic and edaphic conditions providing the conditions necessary for the assessment of stability. A combined analysis of variance, stability statistics, rank correlations among stability statistics and yield stability statistic were determined. Significant differences were detected between genotypes and their GE interactions. Different univariate stability parameters were used to determine stability of the studied genotypes. The level of association among the parameters was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation. The different stability statistics which measured the different aspects of stability was substantiated by rank correlation coefficient. Rank-correlation coefficients between yield and some stability parameters were highly significant. Genotypes mean yield (Mean) was significantly correlated to the Lin and Binns stability parameter PI (r = 0.93^{* *}í) and desirability index Di (r = 0.89^{* *}í). A principal component analysis based on rank correlation matrix was performed for grouping the different stability parameters studied. In conclusion, based on most stability parameters, the genotypes G2, G5 and G9 were found to be the most stable. Results from rank correlation and principal component analysis showed that the stability variance (σ_i ²) was strongly correlated with Wricke's ecovalance, stability parameters of Plaisted and Peterson, and Plaisted.     

Chemical fractions and bioavailability of nickel in a Ni-treated calcareous soil amended with plant residue biochars

ABSTRACT

Recently, the use of biochars for stabilization of soil heavy metals has been expanded due to their adsorption characteristics, low cost and carbon storage potential. A factorial experiment was performed to investigate the effects of two plant residue biochars (licorice root pulp and rice husk biochar each applied at 2.5% (w/w)) produced at two temperatures (350 and 550 °C), and three Ni application rates (0, 150 and 300 mg Ni kg^?1) on bioavailability and chemical fractions of Ni in a calcareous soil after spinach cultivation. Application of all the biochars significantly reduced Ni bioavailability factor (5–15%) and spinach Ni concentration (54–77%) in Ni-treated soil. The biochars produced at 550 °C were more effective at reducing Ni mobility and Ni uptake by spinach than those produced at 350 °C, attributed to higher CaCO₃ and lower acidic functional group content, which resulted in greater enhancement of soil pH. When comparing the biochars produced at the same temperature, the rice husk biochars were the most effective in reducing Ni bioavailability, likely due to their lower acidic functional group content and higher nano-silica content which resulted in higher soil pH values and potentially promoted the formation of Ni-silicates and hydroxides.

Abbreviations : Ni: Nickel; RHB: rice husk biochar; LRB: licorice root pulp biochar; WsEx: water soluble and exchangeable; CARB: carbonate form; RES: residual; MnOx; manganese oxides bound; AFeOx; amorphous iron oxides bound; CFeOx: crystalline iron oxides bound; OM: organic bound.     

Preparation and analysis of cyclotri- and cyclotetraphosphate and their hydrolysis products in soil

Cyclotriphosphate (Na(3)P(3)O(9)) and cyclotetraphosphate (Na(4)P(4)O(12)) are not strongly sorbed by soil constituents. Potential movement and efficient plant utilization of P from these compounds are dependent on the hydrolysis of the cyclophosphate ring structure and their hydrolysis products. The objectives of this study were to prepare pure useable quantities of these cyclophosphates and their hydrolysis products and to extract, separate, and analyze these compounds after application to diverse soils. Cyclophosphates of high purity (>99.0%) were prepared, and improved methods of extraction and analysis by ion chromatography were developed. Cyclophosphates and their hydrolysis products were extracted from soil using a sequential water/0.5 M H(2)SO(4)/1.0 M NaOH extraction that maximized P recovery and minimized hydrolysis of cyclic and linear phosphates during the extraction procedure. Gradient elution chromatography separated cyclic phosphates and their hydrolysis products. Separation and direct quantitative analysis of the applied cyclophosphates and their hydrolysis products were accomplished in <15 min.