Effects of supplementation of chromium histidinate on glucose,lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in cats

In recent years, two meta‐analyses of chromium (Cr) supplementation have shown beneficial effects on glucose metabolism. Chromium histidinate (CrHis) reduces serum glucose levels in rats fed a high‐fat diet but no study has been conducted on cats until now. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of CrHis on glucose and lipid metabolism in cats. To challenge the glucose metabolism, 16 cats were fed a high‐carbohydrate high‐fat diet for three months. One group (n = 8) received 800 ug CrHis per day for two months, while the other group (n = 8) served as control group. An oral glucose tolerance test was conducted, blood samples were taken, and biochemical parameters and oxidative stress were measured. CrHis serum levels were significantly increased (p = 0.027) in the treatment group, while fructosamine levels were significantly lower (p = 0.029) in the control group. In both groups, glucose (p < 0.01), b‐hydroxy‐butyrate (p = 0.024) and 8‐hydroxy‐deoxyguanosine (p = 0.028) levels decreased significantly and cholesterol levels increased significantly (p < 0.01). In conclusion, CrHis did not improve glucose or lipid metabolism and did not affect oxidative stress in healthy cats.     

Effect of acid modification of biochar on nutrient availability and maize growth in a calcareous soil

The nutritional quality of acid‐modified poultry manure biochar is unclear, so a better understanding of its properties and agronomic potential is needed. The biochar was modified with phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) and nitric acid (HNO₃) and a combination of the two, before and after pyrolysis. After characterization of biochar samples and determination of total and water‐soluble mineral element concentrations, biochars were applied to a calcareous soil at a rate of 0.5% (w/w) to find out their effects on the mineral nutrition and growth of maize. Treatment with H₃PO₄+ HNO₃ enriches the biochar with phosphate, nitro groups and nitrate. The experimental results suggested that biochar modified with HNO₃ and/or HNO₃+H₃PO₄ after pyrolysis increased the water‐soluble phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) concentrations and increased plant‐available nutrients and plant growth by positively affecting the absorption of plant nutrients. The highest plant dry weight was obtained from biochar post‐treated with HNO₃+H₃PO_4, and this was followed by HNO₃‐ and H₃PO₄‐modified biochars. Premodification with HNO₃+H₃PO4 also significantly increased plant dry weights. The results of this study revealed that poultry manure biochar modified with HNO₃ and H₃PO₄ can be used effectively in calcareous soil for the improvement of plant mineral nutrition.     

Fruit Yield and Quality,and Irrigation Water Use Efifciency of Summer Squash Drip-Irrigated with Different Irrigation Quantities in a Semi-Arid Agricultural Area

Fruit yield, yield components, fruit mineral content, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and irrigation water use efifciency （IWUE） of summer squash responses to different irrigation quantities were evaluated with a ifeld study. Irrigations were done when the total evaporated water from a Class A pan was about 30 mm. Different irrigation quantities were adjusted using three different plant-pan coefifcients （Kcp, 100% （Kcp1）, 85% （Kcp2） and 70% （Kcp3））. Results indicated that lower irrigation quantities provided statistically lower yield and yield components. The highest seasonal fruit yield （80.0 t ha-1） was determined in the Kcp1 treatment, which applied the highest volume of irrigation water （452.9 mm）. The highest early fruit yield, average fruit weight and fruit diameter, length and number per plant were also determined in the Kcp1 treatment, with values of 7.25 t ha-1, 264.1 g, 5.49 cm, 19.95 cm and 10.92, respectively. Although the IWUE value was the highest in the Kcp1 treatment （176.6 kg ha-1 mm-1）, it was statistically similar to the value for Kcp3 treatment （157.1 kg ha-1 mm-1）. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of fruits was higher in the Kcp1 （44.27 μg gallic acid equivalents （GAE） mg-1 fresh sample） and in the Kcp2 （84.75%） treatments, respectively. Major （Na, N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S） and trace （Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and B） mineral contents of squash fruits were the highest in the Kcp2 treatment, with the exception of P, Ca and Cu. Mineral contents and total phenolic content were signiifcantly affected by irrigation quantities, but antioxidant activity was not affected. It can be concluded that the Kcp1 treatment was the most suitable for achieving higher yield and IWUE. However, the Kcp2 treatment will be the most suitable due to the high fruit quality and relatively high yield in water shortage conditions.     

Evaluation of parentage testing in the Turkish Holstein population based on 12 microsatellite loci

In the present study, 12 microsatellite loci (ETH10, ETH225, ETH03, TGLA122, TGLA227, BM1824, BM2113, INRA23, SPS115, TGLA126, RM006 and BM1818) were evaluated for their possible use to confirm selected pedigree relationships between 7 bulls, their 21 male offspring, and their 64 second-generation female offspring within the progeny test started in Turkey. The nine loci (BM1824, INRA23, BM2113, SPS115, ETH10, TGLA122, ETH225, TGLA126 and TGLA227) recommended by ISAG displayed high values for the measures of informativeness (allele numbers, heterozygosity, polymorphic information content, frequency of the most common allele, and power of discrimination). When both parents are known calculated combined probability of exclusion was at least 0.999. Range of probability of paternity (POP) values were 0.814–0.9999. Except 3 cases (4.7%), the alleged paternity relationships were confirmed. To have a higher confidence in POP values new loci must be integrated into the set of 9 loci used.     

Transition from endogenous to exogenous nutritional sources in larval Black Sea turbot Psetta maxima

ABSTRACT: Early growth, yolk and oil globule absorption, early morphological development and initial feeding were studied in the Black Sea turbot Psetta maxima . Based on energy transition and morphological development, the nutritional transition process from endogenous to exogenous sources was divided into six phases: (i) primordial phase (from hatching to ≈ 30 h after hatching, HAH); (ii) organogenesis phase (to ≈ 90 HAH); (iii) onset of feeding (to ≈ 110 HAH); (iv) early feeding (to ≈ 190 HAH); (v) intensified feeding (to ≈ 230 HAH); and (vi) completion of oil globule absorption (to beyond 345 HAH). Based on comparisons with early life stage features of other marine species, the turbot larvae were shown to possess the following characteristics: (i) oil globule remaining for a long period, resulting in an extended mixed feeding period; and (ii) feeding rate extremely high in larvae immediately following final absorption of the oil globule. These features in early turbot larvae were regarded as advantageous for survival in a rearing condition, although the coincidence of initial feeding with completion of yolk absorption signaled a period of leveled-off growth rate.     

Determining Crop and Pan Coefficients for Sugar Beet and Potato Crops under Cool Season Semiarid Climatic Conditions

This study was conducted in a region with semiarid cool climatic conditions during the period from May to October in the years 2003 and 2004, respectively. Actual evapotranspiration (ET_c) of sugar beet and potato crops was calculated according to the water balance approach. Reference evapotranspiration (ET_o) was calculated with FAO Penman–Monteith equation. Evaporation (E_pan) was measured by using class A pan. Seasonal mean ET_c was determined as 492.9 mm for sugar beet and 445.2 mm for potato. Seasonal mean pan coefficient (k_p = ET_o/E_pan) was determined as 0.74, and the seasonal mean crop coefficient (k_c = ET_c/ET_o) was determined as 0.65 for sugar beet 0.60 for potato.     

Effects of wastewater irrigation on soil and cabbage‐plant (brassica olerecea var. capitate cv. yalova‐1) chemical properties

The use of wastewater for irrigation is increasingly being considered as a technical solution to minimize soil degradation and to restore nutrient contents of soils. The aim of this study is to increase fertility and minimize degradation of soils irrigated with wastewater exposed to different purification treatments. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of control and irrigation with wastewater, which had undergone different purification treatments, on macro‐ and micronutrient distribution within the soil profile and nutrient contents of cabbage (Brassica olerecea var. Capitate cv. Yalova‐1) in Erzurum, Turkey. Wastewater irrigation and preliminary treatment–wastewater irrigation significantly affected soil chemical properties especially at 0–30 cm soil depth and plant nutrient contents after one year. Application of wastewater increased soil salinity, organic matter, exchangeable Na, K, Ca, Mg, plant‐available P, and micro‐elements and decreased soil pH. Wastewater increased also yield and N, P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, and Mo contents of cabbage plants. Undesirable side effects were not observed in plant heavy‐metal contents, due to salinity and toxic concentrations of metals from the application of wastewater to soil.     

Effect of plant growth-promoting Bacillus sp. on color and clipping yield of three turfgrass species

A two-year irrigated field study was conducted to determine the effects of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR; Bacillus subtilis OSU-142 and Bacillus megaterium M3) as biofertilizer, and in combination with a chemical nitrogen (N) fertilizer, on turf color and clipping yield, and interaction of biofertilizer and chemical N fertilizers in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L. Schreb.), and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). The three turf species were tested separately in split-plot design experiments with three replications. Three fertilizer sources (ammonium nitrate only, ammonium nitrate + B. megaterium M3, and ammonium nitrate + B. subtilis OSU-142) were the main plots. N applications with monthly applications of 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 g N/m² were the subplots. Color ratings and clipping yields increased with increasing chemical N fertilizers in all species. Both Bacillus sp. significantly increased color ratings and clipping yields in perennial ryegrass and tall fescue. However, there were no significant differences among the three fertilizer sources in color and clipping yield of Kentucky bluegrass. The experiments showed that there is a small but significant benefit from applying biofertilizers for turf color, and that N fertilization may be reduced in some turf species when biofertilization are made for this purpose.     

Decrease in Hydraulic Conductivity of Clay Soils with Salinity-Sodicity Problems due to Freezing and Thawing Effect

Abstract

Synergism and antagonism cause interactions between plant nutrients. The sum of equivalents of cations in a soil solution is equal to the sum of soluble anions. Therefore, the amount of cations in a soil solution is maintained by a synergetic effect of anions. The relations between cations are determined by the relation between the exchangeable cations, according to a derived Gapon equation. An over-optimal concentration of a cation acts antagonistically to the effect of other cations on plant nutrient uptake. Sometimes the soil solution reactions are complicated, and antagonism between anions becomes obvious.

When describing interactions between plant nutrients by synergism and antagonism, it is valuable to develop analytical methods to determine activities and concentrations in defined extracts of soils. The theory and procedure are described in this paper.