Impacts of rainstorms on soil erosion and organic matter for different cover crop systems in the western coast agricultural region of Syria

More and more cultivated coastal territories of Syria are being affected by increasing land degradation processes, specifically, by soil erosion due to non‐sustainable soil management. The use of cover crops can be considered an ideal solution to reduce the negative impacts of extreme rainfall events on soil erosion. However, there is no enough information about the main cultivated areas of Syria due to the current conflicts and the very few types of research conducted there. Therefore, the main aim of this research was to assess soil erosion (soil loss and sediment concentration) and hydrological response (run‐off and infiltration) considering the impact of different types of cropping systems on soil organic matter. To achieve this goal, using erosion plots, five grouped natural rainfall events and soil samples were collected, and infiltration measurements were performed between November 2012 and April 2013 (rainy season) on three different cropping systems (wheat, vetch, bean and control) with different sloping gradients (8% and 20%) in Tartous governorate (W Syria). Our results showed a cumulative rainfall amount from 68.8 to 201 mm during the study period. The highest sediment yield was generated in the control and wheat plots, registering 0.468 and 0.368 kg m^?2, respectively, with an inclination of 8%. For an inclination of 20%, the control and wheat plots registered 1.145 and 0.967 kg m^?2, respectively. In comparison with the control plots, there was a decrease in the total eroded organic matter, which ranged from 0.0579 (control) to 0.0289 (bean) kg m^?2 year^?1 in the plots with 20% inclination, and from 0.0233 (control) to 0.0069 (bean) kg m^?2 year^?1 with 8% inclination. To sum up, bean and vetch play an effective role to mitigate soil erosion, delay run‐off and reduce sediment yield. The output of this research provides first insights into the impact of different land uses on soil loss. Also, it could help rural inhabitants and farmers to correctly manage their soils against soil erosion processes.     

Influence of Pyrolysis Temperatures on FTIR Analysis,Nutrient Bioavailability,and Agricultural use of Poultry Manure Biochars

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of pyrolysis temperature on chemical properties of poultry manure (PM) biochar over the range of 200–500°C. Chemical properties of biochar produced at 200°C were almost the same as PM, but significant changes were observed in higher-temperature-produced biochars. According to elemental and fourier transformation infrared analyses, the degree of carbonization in biochar was accelerated with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Biochar yield decreased, while its pH, cation exchange capacity, and P, K, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu contents increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature. The biochar produced at 400°C or 500°C was highly alkaline. Also, due to high electrical conductivity, these types of biochars may not be suitable for salt-sensitive crops. It was concluded that the pyrolysis temperature of more than 300°C reduces the quality of PM biochar for use in calcareous soils, although it may be suitable for acidic soils or environmental application.     

Role of Ammonium to Limit Nitrate Accumulation and to Increase Water Economy in Wild Swiss Chard

ABSTRACT

The present study was performed to characterize the interaction between nitrogen (N) form and availability with respect to growth, water relations, and mineral nutrition of wild swiss chard (Beta macrocarpa Guss). Plants were cultured hydroponically with two levels of N concentrations, high-N (2.5 mM) or low-N (0.5 mM), added as nitrate (NO^? ₃) or ammonium (NH⁺ ₄). At high N, growth was affected significantly by N form. If the NO^? ₃ medium was considered as control, the use of NH⁺ ₄ decreased dry matter production and leaf area by ca. 35%. Use of NH⁺ ₄ led to water economy and did not affect the nutrient content of the plant tissues. Compared to growth with high N, plants growth fell in either low- NO^? ₃ or low- NH⁺ ₄ medium. In this case, the difference between the two N sources was not significant. Our results showed that the replacement of NO^? ₃ by NH⁺ ₄ as the N source decreased the NO^? ₃ concentration in consumable leaves and increased the water use efficiency.     

Hydroxytyrosol induces proliferation and cytoprotection against oxidative injury in vascular endothelial cells: role of Nrf2 activation and HO-1 induction

Hydroxytyrosol (HT), a phenolic compound in olive oil and leaves, has been reported to prevent various human pathologies including cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the effects of HT on proliferation and protection against oxidative stress-induced damage in vascular endothelial cells (VECs) and the molecular mechanism(s) involved. Treatment of VECs with HT increased cell proliferation, promoted wound repair, and protected cells against H(2)O(2) cytotoxicity through the activation of Akt and ERK1/2, but not p38 MAPK. HT increased the expression and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2). Nrf2 expression was attenuated by LY294002 and U0126, inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and MEK1/2, respectively. Nrf2 siRNA decreased both proliferative and cytoprotective effects of HT and abrogated HO-1 induction. Moreover, HO-1 inhibition with HO-1 siRNA or zinc protoporphyrin IX significantly prevented HT-induced cell proliferation, cytoprotection, and reduction in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting that HO-1 is involved in these HT functions. The findings demonstrate that HT positively regulates the antioxidant defense system in VECs through the activation of Nrf2 followed by cell proliferation and resistance to vascular injury. The present study provides a molecular basis for the contribution of HT in the Mediterranean diet to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.     

Influence of poultry manure–derived biochars on nutrients bioavailability and chemical properties of a calcareous soil

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of poultry manure (PM) and its derived biochars on chemical properties of a calcareous soil. PM and biochars prepared at 200°C (B200), 300°C (B300) and 400°C (B400) were applied to a calcareous soil at 2% level (w/w) and incubated for 150 days. Selected soil chemical properties and phosphorous, potassium, iron, manganese, zinc and copper availability and recovery were determined at 1, 15, 45 and 150 days of incubation. Soil nutrients availability, organic carbon (OC), electrical conductivity (EC) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) increased by addition of all organic substances. Biochars prepared at higher temperatures were more effective in increasing soil OC with higher durability compared to other treatments. The addition of PM and B200 decreased soil pH, whereas B400 increased it. Although the highest soil EC was observed in B300- and B400-treated samples in the early stages of incubation, the rate of increase in soil EC was higher for PM- and B200-treated soils compared to other treatments. It was concluded that biochar prepared at 300°C had the highest positive effect on nutrients availability and lasts longer in calcareous soil compared to the other produced biochars and PM.     

The effects of diet,slaughter weight and docking on growth,carcass composition and meat quality of fat-tailed Barbarine lambs. A review

This review summarises the main factors that influence meat production and quality in fat-tailed Barbarine (FTB) lambs. As a general feature, FTB lamb's growth is moderate, and the average daily gain ranges between 100 and 350 g. The carcass being relatively fatty, carcass fat content varies from 10% to 32%; white fat and rose meat are often dominant in these carcasses. The meat fatty acid profile of this fat-tailed breed is similar to that of thin-tailed ones, with a prevalence of palmitic, stearic and oleic acids. The order of dissected adipose tissues accumulation, estimated by allometry coefficients, is in agreement with observations in thin-tailed sheep. However, tail fat allometry coefficient is closer to kidney fat values rather than to the subcutaneous one. Concerning effects of feed level, growth of FTB lambs fed silage is higher than those fed oat hay. With moderate concentrate supply, FTB lambs' growth is more pronounced on pasture diet than on the feedlot (FL) diet. Furthermore, at similar slaughter weights, carcasses of lambs fed pasture diet have less tail and carcass fat than those from lambs fed FL diet (5% and 18% vs. 9% and 24% for grazing and FL lambs, respectively). No difference in fat colour, fat firmness or cooked meat flavour is observed between carcasses obtained at different slaughtering weight (i.e. from 25 to 35 kg). The tail docking of FTB improved lambs' growth particularly before weaning. Its effect on carcass composition and fat proportion depends on stage of slaughtering and type of fattening diet. For suckled lambs (4 months), the docking resulted in the lower carcass fat weight (and proportion), while for fattened lambs, carcass composition was similar for all types of lambs. Overall, FTB lambs always grow slower than Noire de Thibar lambs. This is particularly pronounced during the fattening phase. Then, for FTB breed, the possibilities to obtain heavy carcasses are at risks of fat accumulation, 22.8% vs. 14.4% for FTB and Noire de Thibar thin-tailed lambs, respectively. However, the main advantage of FTB breed is that adults are well adapted to food scarcity and may produce lambs even under harsh conditions.     

Proteolytic enzymes reactions on wool yarn and surfactants effects on the enzyme treatment

In this study, the effects of enzymes on wool yarn in the presence of different salts (ammonium sulfate, sodium tetraborate, and di-sodium hydrogen phosphate) were investigated. Alcalase 2,5 LDX and Savinase 16 LEX were selected as proteolytic enzymes. In addition, the effects of surfactants (Sandozin NRW, Irgasol NA, Erkantol NR, and Sandozin EH) on the enzyme treatment of wool yarn were evaluated. The results indicated that the effects of enzymes on wool yarn were greatest in the presence of sodium tetraborate. Furthermore, the properties of wool yarn such as weight loss, strength loss, and hairiness were influenced by these surfactants. The SEM images of the treated samples confirmed the obtained results.     

Genetic analysis of Tunisian fig (Ficus carica L.) cultivars using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers

Genetic diversity of forty fig cultivars collected from five regions in Tunisia was investigated using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). A total of 342 reproducible bands amplified with six AFLP primer combinations were obtained. The high percentage of polymorphic bands (%PB) of 97.5 and the resolving power (Rp) collective rate value of 143 were scored. In addition, the polymorphism information content (PIC) values varied from 0.61 to 0.87 with an average of 0.77. Although cluster (UPGMA) and principal components analyses indicate that the cultivars’ clustering made independently both from the geographical origin, horticultural classifications and/or from the sex of trees. In addition, the observed variation suggests considerable differentiation among fig cultivars. The present data supports the common origin of the fig cultivars. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that average Φ_ST value overall loci was 0.026, and the overall distribution pattern of molecular variation indicated that about 97.43% of the total variance was accounted by the within-region variance component. The remaining 2.5% (P < 0.001) of the variation was founded among cultivars of the prospected regions. Our results proved that AFLP markers are useful for germplasm discrimination as well as for investigation of fig patterns variation. The information may be useful to define conservation management program.     

Genetic diversity and phylogenic relationships in date-palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) as assessed by random amplified microsatellite polymorphism markers (RAMPOs)

Random amplified microsatellite polymorphisms (RAMPOs) were used to assess genetic diversity among 30 date-palm cultivars and 10 male trees. Using 18 primers combinations, 197 bands were scored and 186 were polymorphic suggesting the high level of polymorphism among studied cultivars. Moreover, taking into account the high percentage of polymorphic bands (ppb), the resolving power (R_p) together with the polymorphism information content (PIC) scored values, all the tested primer sets contribute strongly in the discrimination of date-palm genotypes. In addition, the topology of the derived UPGMA dendrogram exhibited cultivars’ clustering made independently both from the geographical origin and/or from the sex of trees. The present data support the Mesopotamian origin of the date-palm domestication. Thus we assume that the used method is efficient to assess genetic diversity within date-palm cultivars. Data are discussed in relation with the opportunity of the RAMPO method to provide additional molecular markers suitable in the improvement of the date-palms germplasm characterisation.