Abstracts of nippon Dojyohiryogaku Zasshi

Color change of city refuse during composting process was investigated according to the methods of measurement for color of materials based on the CIE 1931 Standard Colorimetric System. Stimulus value Y (the degree of lightness) and chromaticity coordinates (x, y) were determined with Color Analyzer by measuring relative spectral reflectance. Stimulus value Y of city refuse decreased during composting process, but chromaticity coordinates (x, y) scarcely changed.

Color of various composts, which were produced from city refuse, straw, hog fecal wastes, tree bark, and tree bark mixed with activated sludge, were also investigated by measuring relative spectral reflectance. The shapes of the reflection spectra of city refuse were different from those of the other composts. Colors of the various composts were similar to each other when specified according to their three attributes: value, hue, and chroma (Munsell renotation).

While city refuse was rotting and maturing, stimulus value Yand C/N ratio equally decreased. A positive correlation was found between stimulus value Y and C/N ratio. It was concluded that stimulus value Y can be used as a criterion for determining the degree of maturity of city refuse compost.

The correlation between stimulus value Y and C/N ratio of various composts was also investigated. According to the position on the two coordinates having stimulus value Y and C/N ratio as axe s, various composts were classified into three groups: (i) city refuse compost group, (ii) straw compost group, and (iii) tree bark compost group.     

The oxidation products formed from: Soil organic matter by hydrogen peroxide treatment

The oxidation products formed from soil organic matter during hydrogen peroxide digestion were studied by means of analyses of carbon and nitrogen, thin layer chromatography, infrared Spectroscopy, and redox titration.

The carbon remaining after hydrogen peroxide digestion, as expressed in percentage by WeIght of the original soil was 0.57 to 4.09, corresponding to 17.81 to 29.00 per cent of the carbon fOUnd in the original soil. The nitrogen remaining after the same treatment was 75 to 100 per cent of total nitrogen in the original soil. The greater part of the remaining water soluble nItrogen was NH₃-N. The thin layer chromatography showed the presence of oxalic acid and V.V. light-ahsorbing substances in the oxidation products. No organic matter other than oxalate Was indicated on the infrared spectra. The amount of water soluble oxalate formed from 100 g of soil determined by means of redox titration was 5.7 to 117.0 mmole. Assuming that the ratio of solution: soil is 5:1 at the final stage of per oxidation, the concentration of oxalate in the SUpernatant solution was in the range from 0.011 to 0.234 M.     

Response of differentiated and degenerated spikelets to top-dressing,shading and day/night temperature treatments in rice cultivars with large panicles

The presence of large panicles enables to reach a sufficient number of surviving spikelets per unit area for further increase of rice yield. However, the response of differentiated and degenerated spikelets to environmental factors in terms of number in cultivars with large panicles has not been elucidated. By applying top-dressing at different rates and frequencies, shading, and day/night temperature treatments in pot experiments, we observed the response of the main stem in two cultivars with large panicles: Yangdao 4 (Chinese indica) and Akenohoshi (Japanese japonica-indica hybrid). The results showed that top-dressing increased the number of differentiated spikelets per panicle and decreased the percentage of degenerated spikelets. Consequently, the number of surviving spikelets per panicle increased. Shading increased the percentage of degenerated spikelets, resulting in the decrease of the number of surviving spikelets per panicle. Higher day/night temperature treatments led to a higher percentage of degenerated spikelets. The treatments affected mainly the spikelets on the secondary branches, while the number of spikelets on the primary branches did not change appreciably, irrespective of the presence of differentiated, degenerated, and surviving spikelets. The influence on the number of surviving spikelets per panicle depended on the number of differentiated spikelets. Shading effect on the percentage of degenerated spikelets also depended on the number of differentiated spikelets per panicle. The decrease of the percentage of degenerated spikelets was associated with the increase of the shoot dry weight (SDW) at heading and the ratio of SDW-differentiated spikelets. The SDW and N absorption at heading affected more significantly the number of surviving spikelets compared to the ratio of surviving spikelets-SDW and surviving spikelets-N, respectively. The above results were similar in Akenohoshi and Yangdao 4. In Akenohoshi, the percentage of degenerated spikelets responded much more conspicuously to the change of SDW or the ratio of SDW -differentiated spikelets than that in Yangdao 4. So did the number of surviving spikelets to SDW and N absorption at heading. Akenohoshi showed a higher ratio of surviving spikelets-N than Yangdao 4. These differences may account for the fact that Akenohoshi showed a larger number of surviving spikelets per panicle than Yangdao 4, even at the same levels of SDW and N absorption.     

Sequential transformation rates of soil organic sulfur fractions in two-step mineralization process

To understand the organic sulfur (S) stabilization in volcanic soils, we investigated organic S transformation rates and their relationships to soil properties in incubation experiments using forest soils from the Nikko volcanic region, central Japan. We hypothesized that carbon (C)-bonded S would first be transformed into ester sulfate-S and then into inorganic sulfate-S. We separately calculated the rates of decrease of C-bonded S (velocity 1, v ₁) and ester sulfate-S (velocity 2, v ₂) concentrations. During incubation, the ester sulfate-S concentration increased in two soils characterized by a high concentration of both ammonium oxalate-extractable aluminum (Al_o) and pyrophosphate-extractable Al (Al_p), whereas the C-bonded S concentration decreased in all soils. A large proportion of the S that was lost in the incubation experiments consisted of C-bonded S rather than ester sulfate-S. Velocity 2 was negatively correlated with both of Al_o and Al_p contents when soils were incubated at 20 °C. These results suggest that when C-bonded S is transformed into ester sulfate-S, complete mineralization to inorganic sulfate is inhibited, because ester sulfate-S is stabilized due to organo–mineral association. Incubation temperatures significantly affected v ₂. Thus, production of inorganic sulfate by mineralization of ester sulfate-S appeared to be regulated by soil Al contents and temperatures. Velocity 1 was proportional to soil pH ranging from 4.5 to 5.5, indicating that the degradation of C-bonded S is pH dependent.     

Development of a new high-throughput and small-size method for measuring sediment oxygen demand in lakes

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Sediment oxygen demand (SOD) measurement currently requires a long preparation time and bulky experimental equipment, which represent major obstacles to conducting...     

The causes of soil alkalinization in the Songnen Plain of Northeast China

The causes of soil alkalinization in the Songnen Plain of Northeast China were mainly analyzed from two aspects, natural and anthropogenic. Natural factors of alkalinization are parent materials, topographic positions, freeze-thaw action, wind conveyance, water properties and semi-arid/sub-humid climate. Some of them were always being neglected, such as freeze-thaw action and wind conveyance. Anthropogenic causes are mainly population pressure, overgrazing and improper agricultural and economic policies. In recent decades, overgrazing played a main role in secondary soil alkalinization, which led to the decline of Leymus chinensis grasslands. Now, the alkalinization is very severe, and more than 3.2 × 10⁶ ha area has been affected by salt, which becomes one of the three largest sodic–saline areas in the world.     

The analysis of saltwater intrusion through Komesu underground dam and water quality management for salinity

The Komesu underground dam is the first full-scale underground dam constructed to prevent saltwater intrusion in Japan. Although the cutoff wall of the dam effectively reduces the movement of saltwater into the reservoir area, saltwater masses remained behind the dam at the time of its completion, and saltwater can intrude beneath and diffuse through the wall, particularly when the reservoir level is below the sea level because of high pumping levels during the drought years. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate in advance whether the saltwater concentration in the pumped water is likely to exceed or not the permissible salinity level because of an increase in the residual saltwater mass as a result of saltwater intrusion and to take necessary measures to suitably manage the saltwater level behind the dam. To analyze saltwater intrusion, we first selected the optimal program suitable for the analysis of saltwater intrusion. Second, we examined the longitudinal dispersivity and the effect of the cone of depression around the pumping wells. Then we analyzed saltwater intrusion into the reservoir area in detail by using a two-dimensional convective–dispersive analysis. The results of the analysis make it possible to improve management of saltwater in the reservoir area behind the underground dam.     

Spontaneous adenocarcinoma with giant cell formation in the accessory sex glands in a male Sprague-Dawley rat

In this study, we report the features of an adenocarcinoma with giant cell formation spontaneously occurring in the accessory sex glands of a male 10-month-old Sprague-Dawley rat. A milky white mass was found in the region corresponding to the left seminal vesicle and the left coagulating gland. Histologically, tumor cells exhibited diverse growth patterns, including glandular/trabecular, cystic, and sheet-like growth areas. The tumor cells were pleomorphic, with round- or oval-shaped nuclei and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Mitotic figures were occasionally observed. Giant cells were also prominent in the sheet-like growth area, with intracytoplasmic vacuoles containing eosinophilic material. The stroma was rich in collagen fibers and fibroblasts. Numerous inflammatory cells were observed in the glandular and cystic lumina and stroma. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. In the sheet-like growth area, some of the tumor cells and giant cells were positive for vimentin in the cytoplasm adjacent to the nucleus. Electron microscopy revealed that the tumor cells contained a small number of mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum, and had no basement membrane or desmosome. The giant cells occasionally contained variably sized intracytoplasmic lumina and globular filamentous bodies, probably corresponding to vimentin. Considering these morphological features, the tumor was diagnosed as an adenocarcinoma with the formation of giant tumor cells originating from the male accessory sex glands.     

Growth analysis of the competition–density effect in non-self-thinning Populus deltoides and Populus?×?euramericana plantations

The competition–density (C–D) effect for non-self-thinning Populus deltoides and Populus × euramericana plantations from 3 to 9 years was analyzed using the reciprocal equation of the C–D effect. The C–D effect was well described by the reciprocal equation, and with the progress of time the C–D curve, on logarithmic coordinates, of the P. × euramericana plantations shifted upward faster than that of the P. deltoides plantations. With increasing physical time t, the biological time τ, i.e. the integral from zero to t of the coefficient of growth λ(t) in the general logistic curve with respect to t, increased rapidly during early growth stages and the increases in τ gradually became slow during later growth stages. This trend was more evident in the P. deltoides plantations than in the P. × euramericana plantations. The coefficients A and B included in the reciprocal equation were calculated at each growth stage. With increasing τ, the coefficient A, the reciprocal of which means the asymptote of yield (=wρ) at a given growth stage, increased abruptly to a maximum value and then tended to decrease gradually to a constant level. On the other hand, the coefficient B, the reciprocal of which means the asymptote of mean stem volume at a given growth stage, decreased exponentially and tended to be close to zero with increasing τ. The λ(t) decreased with increasing stand age, whereas the final yield Y(t) defined as W(t) ρ, where W(t) is the asymptote of w in the general logistic growth curve, increased gradually with increasing stand age. The differences in coefficients A, B, and λ(t) between the two species were reported.     

Adsorption,desorption and dissipation of metolachlor in surface and subsurface soils

BACKGROUND: Variations in soil properties with depth influence retention and degradation of pesticides. Understanding how soil properties within a profile affect pesticide retention and degradation will result in more accurate prediction by simulation models of pesticide fate and potential groundwater contamination. Metolachlor is more persistent than other acetanilide herbicides in the soil environment and has the potential to leach into groundwater. Reasonably, information is needed about the dissipation and eventual fate of metolachlor in subsoils. The objectives were to evaluate the adsorption and desorption characteristics and to determine the dissipation rates of metolachlor in both surface and subsurface soil samples. RESULTS: Adsorption of metolachlor was greater in the high‐organic‐matter surface soil than in subsoils. Lower adsorption distribution coefficient (K_ads) values with increasing depth indicated less adsorption at lower depths and greater leaching potential of metolachlor after passage through the surface horizon. Desorption of metolachlor showed hysteresis, indicated by the higher adsorption slope (1/n_ads) compared with the desorption slope (1/n_des). Soils that adsorbed more metolachlor also desorbed less metolachlor. Metolachlor dissipation rates generally decreased with increasing soil depth. The first‐order dissipation rate was highest at the 0–50 cm depth (0.140 week^?1) and lowest at the 350–425 cm depth (0.005 week^?1). Degradation of the herbicide was significantly correlated with microbial activity in soils. CONCLUSION: Metolachlor that has escaped degradation or binding to organic matter at the soil surface might leach into the subsurface soil where it will dissipate slowly and be subject to transport to groundwater. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry