Adsorption of “real” dissolved organic matter on the clay and fine silt fractions of a forested Stagnic Gleysol

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) in soils is partially adsorbed when passing through a soil profile. In most adsorption studies, water soluble organic matter extracted by water or dilute salt solutions is used instead of real DOM gained in situ by lysimeters or ceramic suction cups. We investigated the adsorption of DOM gained in situ from three compartments (forest floor leachate and soil solution from 20 cm (Bg horizon) and 60 cm depth (2Bg horizon)) on the corresponding clay and fine silt fractions (< 6.3 μm, separated together from the bulk soil) of the horizons Ah, Bg, and 2Bg of a forested Stagnic Gleysol by batch experiments. An aliquot of each clay and fine silt fraction was treated with H₂O₂ to destroy soil organic matter. Before and after the experiments, the solutions were characterized by ultra‐violet and fluorescence spectroscopy and analyzed for sulfate, chloride, nitrate, and fluoride. The highest affinity for DOM was found for the Ah samples, and the affinity decreased in the sequence Ah > Bg > 2Bg. Dissolved organic matter in the 2Bg horizon can be regarded as slightly reactive, because adsorption was low. Desorption of DOM from the subsoil samples was reflected more realistically with a non‐linear regression approach than with initial mass isotherms. The results show that the extent of DOM adsorption especially in subsoils is controlled by the composition and by the origin of the DOM used as adsorptive rather than by the mineralogical composition of the soil or by contents of soil organic matter. We recommend to use DOM gained in situ when investigating the fate of DOM in subsoils.     

Einfluss der Kaliumdynamik im wurzelnahen Boden auf die Magnesiumaufnahme von Pflanzen

Influence of potassium dynamics at the soil-root interface on magnesium uptake of plants At the soil-root interface potassium concentration of the soil solution can be depleted by potassium uptake of the plant. The influence of this effect on the magnesium uptake of ryegrass, barley, maize and rape was studied in pot experiments with luvisols from loess. The results have shown that the rate of magnesium uptake was doubled when the potassium concentration at the root surface decreased below 20 μmol K/1. Magnesium uptake is therefore inhibited by K concentrations above this limit. Application of potassium fertilizer increases the potassium concentration of the soil solution. However, via exchange of adsorbed Mg ions from the soil matrix, K application also increases magnesium concentration of the soil solution. As a result of K application magnesium uptake increases in this case if K concentration of the soil solution at the root surface is kept below 20 μmol K/1 by K buffering or K uptake. Magnesium uptake decreases however, if K concentration exceeds 20 μmol/1 soil solution because the inhibitory effect of potassium on Mg uptake is stronger than the favourable influence of Mg concentration.     

Rohprotein-Bestimmung durchKjeldahl -Aufschlu? und Indophenoblau-Reaktion

Zusammenfassung Es wird eine Methode zur Bestimmung von Stickstoff in pflanzlichem Material beschrieben. Der schnelle Aufschluß der Proben wird mit Schwefelsäure, Wasserstoffperoxid und einem Katalysator aus Kaliumsulfat und Quecksilberoxid erreicht. Ammoniak wird in aliquoten Teilen der verdünnten Aufschlüsse kolorimetrisch nach Reaktion mit Salicylat und Hypochlorit in alkalischer Lösung gemessen. Das für die Auswertung der Analysen erarbeitete Rechner-Programm wird vorgestellt.

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Determination of crude protein byKjeldahl digest and indophenolblue reaction

Summary A method is described for the determination of nitrogen in plant materials. Rapid digestion of samples is obtained with sulfuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, and a mixture of potassium sulphate and mercuric oxide as a catalyst. The ammonia is determined colorimetrically in aliquots of the diluted digests after reaction with an alkaline solution of sodium salicylate and hypochlorite. The computer program is described for the evaluation of the analytical results.

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Pressure/temperature combined treatments of precursors yield hormone-like peptides with pyroglutamate at the N terminus

Peptides containing the cyclic product of glutamine at the N terminus are usually biologically active. If the cyclization of glutamine was associated with a volume reduction, pressure should displace the equilibrium in the direction of the lower volume. Here, results in model solutions and in whey are discussed, showing that the theorized cyclization of glutamine in Gln-His-ProNH(2) or Gln-Leu-ProNH(2) is significantly accelerated during the application of heat and even more strongly when elevated temperature and pressure combinations are used. The reaction rate depended on the intensity of the pressure treatment, the pH, and the nature of the amino acids adjacent to glutamine. The products of the reaction were identified as thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and [Leu(2)]TRH. The reported reactions could affect the naturally balanced concentration of short-chain peptides in foods and therefore induce unpredictable biological effects.     

Converting or not converting to organic farming in Austria:Farmer types and their rationale

Reasons for converting to organic farming have been studied in a number of instances. However, the underlying rationale that motivates the behavior is not always made clear. This study aims to provide a detailed picture of farmers decision-making and illustrate the choice between organic and conventional farm management. Based on 21 interviews with farmers, a decision-tree highlighting the reasons and constraints involved in the decision of farmers to use, or not to use, organic production techniques was formulated. The accuracy of the decision-tree was tested through a written survey of 65 randomly sampled farmers. The decision-tree permits the identification of decision criteria and examines the decision-making process of farmers in choosing their farming method. It also allows for the characterization of farmer strategies and values, identifying five types of farmers: the committed conventional; the pragmatic conventional; the environment-conscious but not organic; the pragmatic organic; and the committed organic. The importance of taking into account heterogeneity in farmers attitudes, preferences, and goals and their impact on the choice of a farming method is emphasized.Ika Darnhofer is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Economics at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna. She received both her MSc and PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna, working on issues of agricultural development in Africa. Her current research interests include economic and sociological analyses of factors that shape farmers land use decision-making behavior, with a particular focus on organic farming.Walter Schneeberger is a Full Professor of Farm Business Management and Head of the Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Economics at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna. His current research interests include the economics of producing and processing agricultural products and farm business management for both conventional and organic farms.Bernhard Freyer is a Full Professor of Organic Farming and Head of the Institute of Organic Farming of the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences Vienna. His work on organic farming focuses on its agronomic aspects (plant cultivation, crop rotations, and soil fertility) as well as on the analysis of conversion to organic farming (planning process, farm development) and its potential for regional development.     

Professional antigen-presentation function by human gammadelta T Cells

Human gammadelta T cells are considered to play a vital role in protective immunity through cytokine secretion and cytotoxic activity. We report that cells expressing the Vgamma2Vdelta2+-T cell receptor (Vdelta2+ T cells) also display principal characteristics of professional antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells. Thus, when activated, these cells efficiently processed and displayed antigens and provided co-stimulatory signals sufficient for strong induction of na?ve alphabeta T cell proliferation and differentiation. We suggest that, upon microbial activation, Vdelta2+ T cells participate in the induction of adaptive immune responses and that these cells may be a useful tool in vaccine development and immunotherapy.     

Method for estimation of CO2(aq) plus H2CO3°, HCO3− and pH in soil solutions collected under field conditions

A method for the collection of soil solution and the determination of pH, H₂CO₃* (= CO₂(aq) plus H₂CO₃°), HCO₃^? and CO₃^2?, was developed which excluded atmospheric gases during the entire procedure. The soil solution was collected by tension lysimeters without exposure to the atmosphere. Using a closed system, the sample was transferred to a titration beaker for the analysis of pH, H₂CO₃* and HCO₃^?. The analysis of CO₂-acidity was done by titration with 0.0454 N Na₂CO₃ to the end point pH of 8.3. It was immediately followed by an acidimetric titration for the determination of alkalinity using 0.005 N H₂SO₄ under gentle N₂ flow; the equivalence point was determined graphically from the titration curve. In standard solutions, this method gave nearly 100% recovery of H₂CO₃* and HCO₃^?. In soil solutions, the pH markedly increased and H₂CO₃* decreased upon exposure to the atmosphere. The values of the sum of CO₂-acidity and alkalinity in soil solutions at a depth > 5 cm agreed well with the values of total inorganic carbon obtained by CO₂ infrared detection following CO₂ degassing. For solutions obtained from 100 cm and 300 cm depth (limestone) the measured distribution of H₂CO₃* and HCO₃^? was in agreement with the calculated values based on pH-measurement and total inorganic carbon. This comparison was unsatisfactory for the concentration of H₂CO₃* in solutions of the surface (0–15 cm) soil, possibly because the mathematical model as well as the interpretation of the titration curves did not consider any organic compounds in the solution.