Soil and foliar phosphorus as indicators of sustainability for Pinus radiata plantation forestry in New Zealand

We investigated how multiple-crop forestry has influenced the magnitude and variability of soil and plant phosphorus (P) fertility and site disturbance. Kinleith Forest, on Mamaku Plateau, covers >100,000 ha and comprises mainly plantation Pinus radiata. Three study areas in the forest were chosen to represent natural state (native forest), first crop of P. radiata (24 years growth), and second crop of P. radiata (4 years growth of second crop). The adjacent areas have similar relief and climate, and the soils are all the same age, being predominantly Andic Haplohumods developed in 1770 calendar-year-old non-welded tephra (Taupo Ignimbrite, ca. 0.5–0.8 m in thickness) and overlying a buried paleosol on earlier tephric material.

Soil properties were compared using a random geometric sampling scheme stratified in a 40-m grid. Soil samples (0–20 cm) were taken at 1.5, 4.5 and 13 m spatial intervals in random directions away from each primary node, providing 192 sample sites for each study area. Additionally at selected sites, samples of the current year's foliage from the upper crowns were collected, the thickness of Taupo Ignimbrite (i.e. depth to buried paleosol) was recorded by augering, and site disturbance was assessed using a new six-point scale based on change relative to a modal soil profile. Geostatistics and geographical information systems (GIS) were used to assess variability and effects of forest management on the measured properties. Soil Bray-2 P concentrations were below guidelines for satisfactory growth (12 mg kg⁻¹) at all sites, and no differences were recorded between the different management areas. However, the amount of within-site variability in Bray-2 P increased with the number of crops. Foliar P concentrations were only marginally deficient in both the first and second crops, indicating that P is currently not significantly limiting growth. The lack of difference in foliar P between first and second crops indicates no crop-to-crop decline in foliar P status and suggests that no site P fertility decline has occurred. The soils have an unusual ability to continue releasing P through successive sequential extractions in the Bray-2 P test, indicating a strong buffering capacity, and this may explain the apparent lack of deficiency even with Bray-2 P values of <12 mg kg⁻¹. The site disturbance index increased and the spatial distribution of P data became increasingly variable with crop rotation.

GIS, inverse-distance weighting and kriging proved useful in illustrating the trends between crops. The spatial variability of results indicated that there was no obvious pattern to the variability and that more site-specific forest management in the region would be difficult. However, there was some evidence that less disturbance during harvesting may minimise variability of soil P supply.     

Effect of crop load on fruiting and leaf photosynthesis of 'Braeburn'/M.26 apple trees

Four-year-old apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) trees cv. 'Braeburn' on M.26 rootstock were thinned at full bloom to establish six crop loads ranging from a heavy crop to a deflowered treatment. At harvest, mean yield per tree varied from 0 to 38 kg and mean fruit weight ranged from 225 g in the heaviest cropping treatment to 385 g in the lightest cropping treatment. Light cropping resulted in a significant advance in fruit maturity as indicated by background color, starch/iodine score and soluble solids. There were small differences in leaf photosynthetic rate among the treatments when shoot growth was active. However, in early January, coincident with cessation of shoot growth and maximum rate of accumulation of fruit weight, leaf assimilation rate was reduced by as much as 65% on the deflowered trees compared to the trees carrying the heaviest crop. Leaf assimilation rate showed a curvilinear response to crop load at this time, with little increase in leaf assimilation when crop load exceeded 12 fruit m(-2) leaf area.     

The action of isolated brown-rot cell-free culture filtrate,H2O2−Fe++, and the combination of both on wood

Summary Transmission electron microscopy observations of hemlock sawdust that had been incubated with concentrated filtrate from Postia placenta showed that wood was degraded despite the absence of weight loss and release of reducing groups. These results are contrary to the prevailing views that enzyme preparation from brown-rot fungi are unable to degrade wood.Maintained at Madison, WI, in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin     

Electron-dense particles in wood decayed by Ganoderma applanatum

Summary Hemlock sawdust samples degraded by Ganoderma applanatum showed no electron-dense particles either in hyphae or in wood cell walls after aldehyde/OsO₄ fixation. After KMnO₄ fixation at early stage of attack, particles were in hyphae, hyphal sheath and wood cell walls. In samples prepared by a cytochemical technique which localizes cellulase activity at the ultrastructural level, particles were in hyphae, hyphal sheath and wood cell walls. The smallest diameter range of the particles lay between 3 and 7 nm which corresponds to the size of cellulases. Larger diameter particles were peresent which are probably aggregates of the smaller units. We believe that particles present in hyphal cytoplasm and hyphal sheath are cellulolytic enzymes. Whether particles present in attacked wood cell walls are enzymes or degradation products cannot be determined by this study. Nevertheles, the particles reveal the decay pattern in wood by the white-rot fungus G. applanatum.     

Influence of corn size distribution on the diastatic power of malted barley and its impact on other malt quality parameters

Detailed studies were carried out on the influence of corn size distribution on the values obtained for diastatic power (DP) of commercially malted barley. Malted barley was screened using a screening box, and the DP activities of the different corns retained on the different compartments of the screening box were determined. The malt samples retained on the 2.8 mm screen had the highest DP activity, whereas the small corns (相似文献   

Adaptation and evaluation of the National Cancer Institute's Diet History Questionnaire and nutrient database for Canadian populations

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Despite assumed similarities in Canadian and US dietary habits, some differences in food availability and nutrient fortification exist. Food-frequency questionnaires designed for the USA may therefore not provide the most accurate estimates of dietary intake in Canadian populations. Hence, we undertook to evaluate and modify the National Cancer Institute's Diet History Questionnaire (DHQ) and nutrient database. METHODS: Of the foods queried on the DHQ, those most likely to differ in nutrient composition were identified. Where possible these foods were matched to comparable foods in the Canadian Nutrient File. Nutrient values were examined and modified to reflect the Canadian content of minerals (calcium, iron, zinc) and vitamins (A, C, D, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, folate and B12). DHQs completed by 13 181 Alberta Cohort Study participants aged 35-69 years were analysed to estimate nutrient intakes using the original US and modified versions of the DHQ databases. Misclassification of intake for meeting the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) was determined following analysis with the US nutrient database. RESULTS: Twenty-five per cent of 2411 foods deemed most likely to differ in nutrient profile were subsequently modified for folate, 11% for vitamin D, 10% for calcium and riboflavin, and between 7 and 10% for the remaining nutrients of interest. Misclassification with respect to meeting the DRI varied but was highest for folate (7%) and vitamin A (7%) among men, and for vitamin D (7%) among women over 50 years of age. CONCLUSIOn: Errors in nutrient intake estimates owing to differences in food fortification between the USA and Canada can be reduced in Canadian populations by using nutrient databases that reflect Canadian fortification practices.     

Protein metabolism during sexual maturation in female Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L)

Body composition and fractional rates of protein synthesis (percentage of the protein mass synthesized per day) were determined in female Atlantic salmon returning to the River Tay, Scotland in July and in October after a 95 day period without food, during which time the animals became sexually mature. During the 95 day period of starvation/sexual maturation the ventricle and red muscle remained as a constant proportion of fresh weight whereas the liver, gill and ovary increased and the stomach and white muscle decreased. Fractional rates of protein synthesis increased markedly in the liver, stomach and ovary during the period of starvation/sexual maturation. In the gill, ventricle and white muscle fractional protein synthesis rates increased slightly or remained constant. From the estimated rates of protein loss or gain in the various tissues it is concluded that there is considerable protein turnover and repartitioning of amino acids during the period of starvation and sexual maturation. The absolute rate of protein synthesis rates in the ovary indicates that this tissue made the largest contribution to the energy and amino acid demands of the fish, whilst most of the amino acids required for maturation of the ovary were derived from white muscle, principally as the result of increased muscle protein degradation.     

Multiple‐Aetiology Enteric Infections Involving Non‐O157 Shiga Toxin‐Producing Escherichia coli – FoodNet, 2001–2010

We describe multiple‐aetiology infections involving non‐O157 Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) identified through laboratory‐based surveillance in nine FoodNet sites from 2001 to 2010. A multiple‐aetiology infection (MEI) was defined as isolation of non‐O157 STEC and laboratory evidence of any of the other nine pathogens under surveillance or isolation of >1 non‐O157 STEC serogroup from the same person within a 7‐day period. We compared exposures of patients with MEI during 2001–2010 with those of patients with single‐aetiology non‐O157 STEC infections (SEI) during 2008–2009 and with those of the FoodNet population from a survey conducted during 2006–2007. In total, 1870 non‐O157 STEC infections were reported; 68 (3.6%) were MEI; 60 included pathogens other than non‐O157 STEC; and eight involved >1 serogroup of non‐O157 STEC. Of the 68 MEI, 21 (31%) were part of six outbreaks. STEC O111 was isolated in 44% of all MEI. Of patients with MEI, 50% had contact with farm animals compared with 29% (P < 0.01) of persons with SEI; this difference was driven by infections involving STEC O111. More patients with non‐outbreak‐associated MEI reported drinking well water (62%) than respondents in a population survey (19%) (P < 0.01). Drinking well water and having contact with animals may be important exposures for MEI, especially those involving STEC O111.