Influence of mineral fertilizers and different soil types on nutrient leaching: Results of lysimeter studies in East Germany

A lysimeter experiment on mineral fertilizer use and soil type was begun in 1985 to study the interrelationships between the level of mineral fertilization and the leaching of nutrients. Increased application of mineral fertilizers brought about not only a significant reduction in effluence build-up, but also a significant increase in yield. The lowest levels of nitrogen leaching were found in clay-sand soil in use as grassland, and the highest in sandy soil used as arable land. Unexpectedly, the study was unable to prove statistically that a reduction in N, P and K leaching follows automatically from a reduction in mineral fertilization. Hence, suboptimal fertilization cannot be the only corrective measure if a noticeable or marked reduction in the adverse impact on water quality due to nutrient leaching is to be achieved. Interim plantings should be integrated in crop rotations. Agricultural crops must be siteadapted and suited to the fertilization regime.     

Warming of the Eurasian landmass is making the Arabian Sea more productive

The recent trend of declining winter and spring snow cover over Eurasia is causing a land-ocean thermal gradient that is particularly favorable to stronger southwest (summer) monsoon winds. Since 1997, sea surface winds have been strengthening over the western Arabian Sea. This escalation in the intensity of summer monsoon winds, accompanied by enhanced upwelling and an increase of more than 350% in average summertime phytoplankton biomass along the coast and over 300% offshore, raises the possibility that the current warming trend of the Eurasian landmass is making the Arabian Sea more productive.     

Microbial biomass phosphorus in soils of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests

Thirty-eight soils from forest sites in central Germany dominated by beech trees (Fagus sylvatica L.) were sampled to a depth of about 10 cm after careful removal of the overlying organic layers. Microbial biomass P was estimated by the fumigation — extraction method, measuring the increase in NaHCO₃-extractable phosphate. The size of the microbial P pool varied between 17.7 and 174.3 g P g^-1 soil and was on average more than seven times larger than NaHCO₃-extractable phosphate. Microbial P was positively correlated with soil organic C and total P, reflecting the importance of soil organic matter as a P source. The mean microbial P concentration was 13.1% of total P, varying in most soils between 6 and 18. Microbial P and microbial C were significantly correlated with each other and had a mean ratio of 14.3. A wide (5.1–26.3) microbial C: P ratio indicates that there is no simple relatinship between these two parameters. The microbial C: P ratio showed strong and positive correlations with soil pH and cation exchange capacity.     

Taxonomy and evolution of cultivated plants: Literature review 1982/1983

Summary Important papers on taxonomy and evolution of cultivated plants published in 1982 and 1983 were compiled and briefly discussed.

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Taxonomie und Evolution der Kulturpflanzen: Literaturübersicht 1982/1983

Zusammenfassung Wichtige Arbeiten über Taxonomie und Evolution der Kulturpflanzen aus den Jahren 1982 und 1983 wurden zusammengestellt und kurz kommentiert.

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: 1982–1983

, 1982 1983 . .

     

Taxonomy and evolution of cultivated plants: Literature review 1977/1978

Summary Important papers on taxonomy and evolution of cultivated plants published in 1977 and 1978 were put together and briefly discussed.

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Taxonomie und Evolution der Kulturpflanzen: Literaturübersicht 1977/1978

Zusammenfassung Wichtige Arbeiten über Taxonomie und Evolution der Kulturpflanzen aus den Jahren 1977–1978 wurden zusammengestellt und kurz kommentiert.

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: 1977 1978

, 1977–1978 . .

     

Structural asymmetry of AcrB trimer suggests a peristaltic pump mechanism

The AcrA/AcrB/TolC complex spans the inner and outer membranes of Escherichia coli and serves as its major drug-resistance pump. Driven by the proton motive force, it mediates the efflux of bile salts, detergents, organic solvents, and many structurally unrelated antibiotics. Here, we report a crystallographic structure of trimeric AcrB determined at 2.9 and 3.0 angstrom resolution in space groups that allow asymmetry of the monomers. This structure reveals three different monomer conformations representing consecutive states in a transport cycle. The structural data imply an alternating access mechanism and a novel peristaltic mode of drug transport by this type of transporter.     

Molecular cloning of an endo-pectate lyase gene from Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica

We report the construction of a clone library of the Erwinia carotovora subsp. atroseptica genome and the isolation of a gene for endo-pectate lyase. The library, inserted into the PstI site of plasmid pBR322, contains approximately 1700 clones. Five of these produce pectolytic enzymes as detected by a plate screening assay. Using a cloned endo-pectate lyase gene from the related bacterium, E. carotovora subsp. carotovora, as a probe, we found that one pectolytic E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica clone had strong homology to the probe. We characterized that clone by restriction endonuclease mapping and studied its pectolytic protein product. The purified enzyme is an endo-pectate lyase with a cofactor preference for Co²⁺. The molecular weight of the protein is 31 000 and it has an isoelectric focusing point of 9·2, corresponding to an endo-pectate lyase produced by E. carotovora subsp. atroseptica, but not to the protein product of the E. carotovora subsp. carotovora probe DNA, which has a pI of 9·5. Restriction endonuclease site polymorphisms in the two cloned endo-pectate lyase genes suggest substantial sequence divergence between these two loci.     

Parapagus Conjoined Twin Calf: A Case Study – Focused on CT and Cardiac Abnormalities

Congenital duplication anomalies occasionally occur in both humans and animals. Although various forms of classification of these conjoined twins exist, each case should be considered as an individual. In the case study presented a Holstein Frisian calf, born alive after 281 days of normal gravidity was investigated by computed tomography (CT) and subsequent dissection. The calf could be classified as a parapagus dicephalus tetrabrachius. It exhibited two heads each of them with a complete cervical spine leading to a complete thoracic and lumbar spine and separate tails. Looking at the point of fusion, the twin was conjoined in the ventrolateral thoracic part of the body. The calf had two thoraces with four forelimbs and two pelvic limbs on a single pelvis. As two heads and thoraces were present, beginning at the oral cavity, two intestinal systems were observable leading to a fusion point at the ascending part of the duodenum been continued caudally as a single system. Within each thorax, two lungs and a heart were present. However, only the heart in the left thorax was normal shape, exhibiting a strong myocardium and increased size. In contrast, the heart within the right thorax was considerably smaller, round shaped, and it appeared to be spongy and not fully developed during the foetal period. Commonly, classification of conjoined twins is only based on the appearance of the skeletal system. However, in the case presented, the point of fusion of the skeletal system did not allow conclusions regarding the intestinal or cardiovascular system.     

Bedeutung und Problematik pflanzlicher Nahrungsmittel in der Säuglings- und Kleinkinderernährung

Zusammenfassung Der mit Kuhmilchmischungen ernährte gesunde Säugling kann, wenn man die derzeitig gültigen Richtmaße zugrunde legt, im 1. Lebensvierteljahr, auch bei Zufütterung pflanzlicher Nahrungsmittel, nicht ausreichend mit allen Vitaminen und Wirkstoffen versorgt werden. Die Gründe werden erörtert. In diesem Zusammenhang wird auf die Ernährung mit industriell hergestellten Milchpräparaten und mit Obst- und Gemüsekonserven eingegangen und die Vorund Nachteile dieser Ernährungsform besprochen. Für das 2. Lebenshalbjahr wird ein Anteil pflanzlicher Nahrungsmittel in der Kost von 50% des Gesamtcaloriengehaltes empfohlen. Die Gefahren einer überwiegenden Milchernährung in diesem Lebensabschnitt für die körperliche und geistige Entwicklung wird dargestellt. Eine Beurteilung des Nahrungsbedarfes im Kleinkindesalter wird dadurch erschwert, daß brauchbare Beobachtungen über den tatsächlichen Nahrungsverzehr und die körperliche und geistige Entwicklung für das Kleinkindesalter fehlen. Aufgrund eigener Ernährungsbeobachtungen wird ein Überblick über die derzeitige Ernährungssituation gesunder Kleinkinder in einer Industriegesellschaft gegeben.

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Summary Healthy infants nourished with mixtures of cowmilk in the first trimenium are not sufficiently provided with vitamins and minerals even when plant food is added. This refers to current guiding principles. The reasons are discussed as regards advantages and disadvantages, in connection with food supply with industrially manufactured milkpreparations and processed products of fruit and vegetables. 50% of total calories in food in form of vegetables are recommended for the second half year. In this part of life danger of a predominating milk supply is obvious for the physical and mental development of infants. Unfortunately, useful observations on the actual food supply are missing as regards physical and mental development of this period. In consequence a critical examination of food supply in this period is rather difficult. A review of the actual situation of food supply of healthy infants in a modern industry society is finally given according to own observations.

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Résumé Le nourrisson sain, nourri avec des aliments à base de lait de vache, ne peut recevoir, au cours des trois premiers mois, une ration adéquate de toutes les vitamines et de tous les facteurs de croissance, même si l'on introduit dans son régime des aliments végétaux, et cela si l'on en juge d'après les règles diététiques présentement adoptées. Les raisons de ces déficiences sont décrites. A cette occasion, est discutée l'alimentation à base de préparations lactées industrielles, et à base de conserves de fruits et légumes; avantages et inconvénients en sont exposés. Au cours du deuxième semestre de l'existence, il est recommandé d'introduire dans le régime les aliments végétaux à un taux représentant 50% de la ration calorique totale. Les dangers d'une alimentation à prédominance lactée à ce stade de l'existence, pour le développement corporel et intellectuel, sont décrits. L'appréciation des besoins nutritionnels du premier âge est rendue difficile par le manque de données utilisables sur la masse d'aliments consommés, et sur le développement corporel et intellectuel des nourrissons. Nos observations personnelles permettent de dresser un tableau de la situation nutritionnelle présente des nourrissons en bonne santé dans une société vivant de l'industrie.

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Vortrag, gehalten am 2.4.1968 auf der Vortragsveranstaltung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Qualitätsforschung (Pflanzliche Nahrungsmittel) DGQ e.V. in Freiburg/Breisgau.

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Die Ernährungsbeobachtungen wurden durchgeführt mit Mitteln des Landesamtes für Forschung des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen.