Successful creation of species-rich grassland on road verges depend on various methods for seed transfer

This study focused on a suite of vascular plant species (six herbs and two grasses) common to traditionally managed, species-rich grasslands in Western Norway. We assessed the suitability of two species transfer methods (seed sowing and soil seed bank) for restoration of species-rich grassland on a newly established road verge. We compared the species' frequencies one and three years after they were sown on a naked, newly created road verge with their frequencies in aboveground vegetation and soil seed banks of comparable, local grasslands. Species frequencies in the aboveground vegetation differed significantly from those in the seed banks. Moreover, the frequencies in the seed banks differed from those recorded one year after sowing, and the frequencies in the aboveground vegetation differed from those recorded three years after sowing. Avenula pubescens and Knautia arvensis, found in more than 25% of the aboveground grassland plots, did not germinate from any of the seed bank samples. Festuca rubra, Galium verum, Pimpinella saxifraga and Silene vulgaris were more frequent in the aboveground plots than in the seed bank samples. Pimpinella saxifraga, Galium verum and Lychnis viscaria emerged quite well both from sown seeds and from the seed bank. Avenula pubescens was frequent in the aboveground vegetation, but did not germinate from sown seeds. Six species established well from seeds, and most increased in frequency in the sown plots from the first to the third year. No species was found in the sown plots only, but three years after sowing, three species were more frequent in the sown plots than in the aboveground vegetation of donor grassland plots. Our fine-scale, point-to-point study demonstrates that different restoration methods produce widely differing species composition even when the donor material is identical. We propose that different substrates and a combination of establishment methods (sowing and hay transfer) are needed as supplements to seed banks to re-establish species-rich grassland.     

Artificial soil-like bodies of a river valley and their evolution in an urban environment (Based on the example of the Moscow River valley)

Technogenic soil-like bodies and raw soils on technogenic sediments in the valley of the Moscow River in the city territory were investigated. Soil destruction and the accumulation of techogenic sediments, as well as their remediation, result in the formation of soil-like bodies called replantozems. Spontaneous overgrowth and the formation of raw soils that gradually evolve into mature urban soils result in soils called urbanozems. It is shown that the best foundation for replantozems in river valleys is in situ alluvium with relatively favorable physical and physical-chemical properties.     

Screening of field performance of entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes against cabbage root flies (Delia radicum l. and d. floralis (fall.); Diptera,Anthomyiidae)

Finnish isolates of Beauveria bassiana (8 isolates), Metarhizium anisopliae (7), Tolypocladium sp. (2), Paecilomyces farinosus (2), P. fumosoroseus (1), Steinernema feltiae (3) and Bacillus thuringiensis ('Muscabac') were tested for efficacy against mixed populations of Delia radicum and D. floralis under field conditions in 1986–90. All pathogens were applied preventatively, the fungi as aqueous conidial or mycelial suspensions, dry conidia or dry mycelial powder. In only two of the nine experiments did B. bassiana or M. anisopliae give some control. In 1986, B. bassiana SF85–2 and Tolypocladium sp. SF85–4 (both at rate 1.2 x 10⁹ conidia plant‐ 1), and ‘Muscabac’ (25 g 1^?1, 1 dl plant^?1) reduced the number of pupae by 80%, 60% and 50%, respectively, as compared with untreated and chemical (isophenphos) controls. In 1990, M. anisopliae SF86–39 at rate 1.6 x 10⁹conidia plant^?1 and 1.5 x 10⁸ CFU plant^?1 and S. feltiae SFS‐22 (35000 plant^?1), increased the yield of cauliflower 2.2, 1.8, and 2.3‐fold, respectively, as compared with the untreated control, but these yields were only 19%, 15% and 19% of those of the chemical (diazinon) control. Paecilomyces isolates were ineffective in the 1986 experiment in which they were included. Our results suggest that it is difficult to find efficient control agents among the fungal and nematode species tested for use as biopesticides against cabbage root flies, but that the potential of M. anisopliae against these pests deserves further study.     

Systemic View on Heading and Overwintering: Are They Always Opposed?

The study investigated the cultivars of non‐obligatorily requiring vernalization plant Festulolium braunii and assessed the influence of non‐hardy reproductive and hardy vegetative structures on overwintering effect. The study was conducted taking into account systemic relations between these types of structures. The results show the cultivars differ according to the percentage of headed and overwintered plants, when the cultivars with the most abundant heading – ‘Felopa’ and ‘Sulino’ – are also better at overwintering. The positive correlation between heading and overwintering characteristics was also observed, what seemed to be a rather new finding. It can be explained by systemic effect: non‐hardy later reproductive structures induce the post‐generative regrowth of vegetative shoots, which during shorter days halt development and become potentially hardy. More detailed interpretation is also provided including discussion of causal mechanisms of the detected phenomenon. The authors suppose that these mechanisms constitute a survival strategy for such perennial plants. The observed late heading which represents reproductive structures could be applied in plant breeding as a marker of winter‐hardiness among perennial grass plants which non‐obligatorily demand vernalization.     

The effects of applied crop residues on losses of Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn in run-off from a soil prone to crusting

Tillage practices may reduce the organic matter content in near-surface soil horizons causing crust formation. Surface conditions may cause an increase in surface run-off, thus enhancing contaminant transfer of heavy metals or an acceleration in nutrient loss. This study examines the effect of applying crop residues to the surface of tilled soils on heavy metal losses by run-off. Losses in iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were analysed. Run-off and sediment yield were measured on 1 m² plots using a rainfall simulator with a constant 65 mm/h intensity. Four successive rainfall applications were performed, the first three at 25 mm each and the last at 65 mm. Added corn straw varied between 0 and 4 t/ha in the five studied treatments. After 140 mm cumulative rainfall, total heavy metal losses were as follows: Fe from 137 to 950 mg/L, Mn from 2.3 to 12.83 mg/L, Cu from 0.09 to 0.72 mg/L and Zn from 0.31 to 2.46 mg/L. Dissolved fractions were as follows: Fe from 0.014 to 0.229 mg/L, Mn from 0.034 to 1.45 mg/L, Cu from 0.002 to 0.013 mg/L and Zn from 0.02 to 0.12 mg/L. Total concentrations of the studied elements decreased exponentially due to the effect of corn straw on soil loss. However, dissolved contents of Fe and Cu scarcely varied. Significant positive linear correlations were observed between total heavy metal content and soil and sediment loss by run-off. It is concluded that the addition of straw to a soil of low fertility prevents heavy metal loss.     

Determination of styrene content in Gorgonzola PDO cheese by headspace solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) and gas-chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS)

Control of the composition of products that are intended for use as packaging material is essential, particularly when these products come into direct contact with food. It is well known that plastics are not inert and that their residual monomers, starting substances, and additives are able to migrate into the food they contact. Among plastics, styrene is a common compound found in many plastic containers that can also be produced by the oxidation of Penicillium roqueforti used in gorgonzola Protected Denomination of Origin cheese manufacturing. Therefore, solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was applied in the present work to determine the styrene content in packaged and unpackaged gorgonzola cheese samples to understand styrene migration phenomena from plastic containers.