Sectional notes

American Journal of Potato Research -     

Pilzwachstum, Baumwachstum und Autzung der Pilze zu Ern?hrungszwecken

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

A closed ammonia cycle within a plant canopy

Ammonia losses to the atmosphere from a grass-clover pasture were measured by a combined chemical-micrometeorological technique. Losses from the pasture when grazed were quite considerable (~13g N ha^?1 h^?1) but when ungrazed they were comparatively small (2 g N ha^?1 h^?1).Measurements within the canopy of the ungrazed pasture at maturity indicated a large production of NH₃ near the ground surface and almost complete absorption of it by the plant cover. The amounts of NH₃ absorbed appeared to be too large for stomatal uptake alone.This closed NH₃ cycle has important consequences for the field assessment of N₂ fixation and gaseous N losses.     

Photodegradation of sulfa drugs by fluorescent light

Thin layer chromatographic and liquid chromatographic procedures were used to show that sulfonamides containing a heterocyclic amine moiety and free N1 acidic hydrogen will photodegrade under fluorescent light in model systems containing riboflavin. The photodegradation product was characteristic of the drug. In-depth studies on sulfamethazine showed that the drug also photodegraded in the presence of lumichrome and flavin mononucleotide; the rate of photodegradation depended on the photosensitizer and its concentration. Crude polar liver extracts sensitized the photodegradation of sulfamethazine, but to a degree less than expected on the basis of reported riboflavin content of livers. It is recommended that procedures for quantitating sulfa drugs and their metabolites be performed in subdued lighting and/or that amber or low actinic vessels be used to prevent losses due to photochemical reactions.     

Variation in the C:N ratio of substrate mineralized during forest humus decomposition

Laboratory incubations of sieved (<2mm) forest humus were used to study the response of C and N mineralization to perturbation. Considerable variation in the ratio of mineralized C to mineralized N was observed. This ratio widened with increasing temperature. At constant temperature, addition of P stimulated CO₂-C evolution and reduced NH₄⁺-N production, also widening the C:N ratio of substrate mineralized. Addition of weak base stimulated mineralization of N more than C, reducing the C:N ratio of substrate mineralized. Addition of weak acid, mineral-N, or excessive amounts of water inhibited CO₂-C evolution while stimulating production of NH₄⁺-N, resulting in a “negative correlation” between the two, and reducing the C:N ratio of substrate mineralized still further.Results were interpreted in terms of effects on microbial biomass. A relatively benign treatment (P addition) may promote microbial growth and respiration, reducing net N availability. A moderate perturbation (addition of weak base) favors new organisms growing partly at the expense of microbial necromass. These organisms will mineralize some necromass-N, increase net N mineralization, and reduce the C:N ratio of substrate mineralized. Under severe conditions (addition of acid) the C:N ratio of substrate mineralized approaches that of the microbial biomass itself, suggesting that the biomass is the primary substrate mineralized. Microbial mortality is likely to be a significant factor affecting the supply of N in field situations, and should be included in any general model of soil N mineralization processes.     

End-Use Quality of Flour from Rhyzopertha dominica Infested Wheat

The objective of this study was to evaluate how Rhyzopertha dominica infestation of stored wheat grain affects the rheological and baking properties of bread made with the milled flour. Wheat samples were infested with R. dominica and stored for up to 180 days at room temperature. Every 45 days, samples of wheat were collected and evaluated for insect population and flour yield. Flour milled from these wheat samples was evaluated for color reflectance, pH, fat acidity, and rheological properties which were measured by a farinograph. Loaves of bread were baked using a straight-dough procedure. Volume, height, and weight of the loaves were evaluated. None of the analyses performed on the control wheat flours showed any changes during the storage period, and they were similar to the initial wheat. The insect population increased during storage of the wheat up to 90 days, and the flour yield decreased with the storage up to 180 days. Flours from insect-infested wheat absorbed more water than did flours from control wheat. Dough stability and dough development times of infested flours decreased. Bread volume showed a progressive decline throughout the storage experiment. In conclusion, flour from insect-infested wheat exhibited changes in rheological properties such as dough stability, dough development times, water absorption, and mixing stability; bread had an offensive odor; and volume and loaf characteristics were negatively affected.     

The effects of earthworms, botanical diversity and fertiliser type on the vertical distribution of soil nutrients and plant nutrient acquisition

The application of phosphorus (P)-based fertiliser to agricultural soils can result in a skewed vertical distribution of P down the soil profile, since the element tends to accumulate at the soil surface. Such accumulation can have detrimental effects on the environment, as the erosion of surface soil can facilitate the transfer of large quantities of P out of the field into water bodies. Earthworm and plant communities are intricately linked to vertical nutrient distributions in soil, with both communities either facilitating or negating the incorporation of nutrients into the soil matrix. This study aimed to investigate the effect of earthworm presence, plant community structure and fertiliser type to affect the distribution of nutrients in experimental mesocosms; with particular emphasis on the vertical distribution of P. Mesocosms were designed to simulate a soil which has a high P concentration at the surface compared to further down the soil profile. It was hypothesised that the presence of earthworms would facilitate the incorporation of P into the soil matrix and the presence of a more botanically diversity community would assimilate a greater quantity of soil nutrients. After 1 year, mesocosms were deconstructed into five depth ranges, and the distribution of nutrients were modelled and analysed. Results indicated that the presence of earthworms did redistribute soil nutrients from the surface into the matrix beneath. This redistribution was apparent from a reduction in nutrient concentrations in the 0–1 cm depth range. The presence of a more botanically diverse community not only assimilated greater soil nutrient concentrations, but also promoted a less even vertical distribution of soil nutrients, demonstrating the importance of soil biota and plant diversity in the redistribution of soil nutrients.