Clay mineralogy,specific surface area and micromorphology of polygenetic soils from Eastern Kansas

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between clay mineralogy, specific surface area (SSA) and micromorphology in polygenetic Konza soil series. Physical, chemical and mineralogical analyses were performed on disturbed soil samples, and micromorphological investigations of selected horizons were done on undisturbed soil samples. X-ray diffraction indicated that lower part of each parent materials has more mectite and less clay mica content than that of the upper horizons in each parent material. Greater amounts of smectite can be attributed to transformation product of the clay mica in to smectite, eluviation from upper horizons or originated from parent material. Specific surface area of upper horizons in each parent material tended to increase to lower horizons. Clay content gradually increased from surface (21%) to the lower part (～48%) of the solum. Clay in Bt horizons had strong birefrengent, sharp boundary, and strong orientation pattern. SSA, clay content increase, clay mineralogy and oriented clay features agreed to one another. Therefore, this relationship gives opportunity to make predictions on extend of SSA and related soil processes by looking at one of these features.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the families apionidae and nanophyidae (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from Turkey, with new records

Data are presented on the occurrence of 43 species of the family Apionidae and two species of the family Nanophyidae in Turkey based on the material obtained mainly by beating stone-fruit trees in NE Turkey. The identity and information about the three species of Apionidae —Squamapion sp.cf.bifarium (Balfour-Browne),Protapion sp.cf.ruficrus (Germar),Catapion sp.cf.seniculus (Kirby) — must be revised. The faunistic data in the present paper on almost all species add to prior knowledge on their distribution in Turkey.Hypophyes aphyllae (Peyerímhoff),Ceratapion kasbekianum (Gerstaecker),Squamapion ottonis (Wagner),S. samarense (Faust),S. phocopus (Eppelsheim),Taeniapion rufulum (Wencker),Pseudoprotapion astragali (Paykull),P. ergenense (Becker),Stenopterapion intermedium (Eppelsheim) andOxystoma fausti (Desbrochers) are reported for the first time in the Turkish fauna. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 8, 2001.     

Row spacing impacts the critical period for weed control in cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis>)

The knowledge on the critical crop-weed competition period is important for designing an efficient weed management program. Field studies were conducted in 2012 and 2013 at the Agricultural Research Institute, Kahramanmaras, Turkey to determine the effects of three row spacing (50, 70 and 90 cm) on the critical period for weed control (CPWC) in cotton. A four parameter logistic equation was fit to data relating relative crop yield to both increasing duration of weed interference and length of weed-free period. The relative yield of cotton was influenced by the duration of weed-infested or weed-free period, regardless of row spacing. In cotton grown at 50 cm row spacing, the CPWC ranged from 117–526 growing degree days (GDD) (V2–V11 growth stages) in 2012 and 124–508 GDD (V2–V10) in 2013 based on the 5% acceptable yield loss level. At 70 cm row spacing, the CPWC ranged from 98–661 GDD in 2012 (V2–V13) and 144–616 GDD (V2–V12) in 2013. At 90 cm row spacing, the CPWC ranged from 80–771 GDD in 2012 (V1–V14) and 83–755 GDD (V1–V14) in 2013. In order to obtain a 95% weed-free yield, the weed management should start at 16 days after crop emergence (DAE) and continued until 52 DAE (V2–V11) for crops grown in 50 cm row spacing, 15 and 60 DAE (V2–V13) for 70 cm row spacing and 11 and 67 DAE (V1–V14) for crops grown in 90 cm row spacing. This suggests that cotton grown in narrow row spacing (50 cm) had greater competiveness against weeds compared with wider row spacing (70 and 90 cm). Cotton growers can benefit from these results by improving cost of weed control through better timing of weed management.     

The sexually dimorphic adipose fin is an androgen target tissue in the brown trout (Salmo trutta fario)

An investigation has been described on the relationship of body length, age and sex with adipose fin length and the number of androgen receptor (AR)-containing cells in the adipose fin as a secondary sexual characteristic for brown trout (Salmo trutta fario). Firstly, body and adipose fin lengths of 2- to 5-year-old brown trout were measured. Thereafter, these fish were killed by decapitation, then their sexes were determined, and adipose fins were excised. The cellular bases of AR binding activities in the adipose fins were analyzed with an antibody against human/rat AR peptide. Immunocytochemistry and western blotting techniques were performed with this antibody. Analysis of morphological measurements indicated that body length and age had a linear relationship with adipose fin length. The coefficients of determination for the body length and age were 0.92 and 0.85 in the male fish and 0.76 and 0.73 in the female fish against the adipose fin length, respectively. At 2 years of age, cells in the adipose fin did not exhibit AR immunoreactivity. However, AR-immunopositive cells were abundant in the adipose fin of 3- to 5-year-old fish. Moreover, the number of AR-immunopositive cells was significantly (P < 0.05) high in males and increased with age. These observations indicate that the adipose fin in the brown trout is a probable target for androgen action and that tissue function or development may to some extent be androgen dependent. In addition, it is likely that such an effect will be mediated by specific androgen receptors.     

Evaluating the long-term effects of tillage systems on soil structural quality using visual assessment and classical methods

Current agricultural practices and their impacts on the sustainability of crop production can be evaluated by simple and reliable soil structure assessment tools. The study was conducted to determine the effects of long-term (2006–2017) tillage systems on structural quality of a clayey soil using the visual evaluation of soil structure (VESS) and classical field and laboratory measurements. A field experiment with seven tillage systems, representing both traditional and conservation tillage methods, was conducted on a clayey soil in the Cukurova region, Turkey. Soil samples from 0–10, 10–20 and 20–25 cm depths were analysed for mean weight diameter (MWD), porosity and organic carbon. Penetration resistance (PR) was determined in each treatment plot. The VESS scores (<2) of upper 0–5 cm indicated a good structural quality for all tillage systems. The VESS scores were positively related to PR and MWD and negatively to macroporosity (MaP) and total porosity. In reduced and no-till systems, poorer soil structures were observed in subsurface layers where firm platy and angular blocky structures were defined. Mean VESS score (3.29) in 20–25 cm depth where PR was 3.01 MPa under no-till indicated a deterioration of soil structural quality; thus, immediate physical interventions would be needed. Lower VESS scores and PR values under strategic tillage which was created by ploughing half of no-till plots in November 2015 indicated successful correction of compaction caused by long-term no-till. The results suggest that the VESS approach is sensitive and useful in distinguishing compacted layers within the topsoil.     

Effects of apple cider vinegars produced with different techniques on blood lipids in high-cholesterol-fed rats

Red delicious apples were used to produce natural apple cider with and without inclusion of maceration. Traditional surface and industrial submersion methods were then applied to make vinegar from apple ciders. Apple cider vinegar samples produced with inclusion of maceration in the surface method had the highest total phenolic content, chlorogenic acid, ORAC, and TEAC levels. Cholesterol and apple vinegar samples were administered using oral gavage to all groups of rats except the control group. Apple cider vinegars, regardless of the production method, decreased triglyceride and VLDL levels in all groups when compared to animals on high-cholesterol diets without vinegar supplementation. Apple cider vinegars increased total cholesterol and HDL and LDL cholesterol levels and decreased liver function tests when compared to animals on a high-cholesterol diet without vinegar supplementation. A high-cholesterol diet resulted in hepatic steatosis. VSBM and VSB groups significantly decreased steatosis.     

Genetic and Environmental Effects on Dough Mixing Characteristics and Agronomic Performance of Diverse Hard Red Winter Wheat Genotypes

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes with short mixing times usually have low mixing tolerance values, which make them more sensitive to overmixing in commercial bread production. In this study, we evaluated the genotypic and environmental effects on agronomic performance and end‐use quality of 27 experimental genotypes (hereafter referred to as mixing tolerant genotypes) which were identified in an initial screen as having short mixing times and good mixing tolerances to 1) determine whether genotypes identified in a preliminary end‐use quality screen as lines with usually long tolerances but short mixing times were due to their genotype (G), the environment (E), or G × E; and as these results were unusual, 2) determine whether or not our initial screen predicts end‐use quality, and 3) determine the stability of both agronomic and end‐use quality traits. The 27 genotypes and five check cultivars were grown in a randomized complete block design with two replicates in nine environments in 1997 and 1998. All plots were harvested for grain yield. The harvested grain from the first replicate and random genotypes from the second replicate were micromilled to produce flour samples for evaluation of flour yield, protein content, and mixograph mixing time and mixing tolerance values. Seed diameter, thousand kernel weight, and kernel hardness were also measured in three environments. Environment, G, and G × E interaction effects (mainly changes in magnitude) were significant for most agronomic and end‐use quality parameters. Our initial screen, which had identified 27 genotypes, was partially effective in identifying genotypes that have shorter mixing time values compared with their mixing tolerance values. We identified four genotypes (15%) from the mixing tolerant genotypes that had a good mixing tolerance value and relatively shorter mixing time, as did the released cultivars ‘Agate’ and ‘Scout 66’. However, mixing characteristics values of all genotypes fell within the acceptable limits, indicating our screen effectively identified genotypes with acceptable quality. Mixing tolerant genotypes, which had been identified as having short mixing time scores and long mixing tolerance scores, were considered stable across environments.     

Effects of long-term organic and mineral fertilizers on bulk density and penetration resistance in semi-arid Mediterranean soil conditions

Soil aggregation is of great importance in agriculture due to its positive effect on soil physical properties, plant growth and the environment. A long-term (1996-2008) field experiment was performed to investigate the role of mycorrhizal inoculation and organic fertilizers on some of soil properties of Mediterranean soils (Typic Xerofluvent, Menzilat clay-loam soil). We applied a rotation with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and maize (Zea mays L.) as a second crop during the periods of 1996 and 2008. The study consisted of five experimental treatments; control, mineral fertilizer (300-60-150 kg N-P-K ha⁻¹), manure at 25 t ha⁻¹, compost at 25 t ha⁻¹ and mycorrhiza-inoculated compost at 10 t ha⁻¹ with three replicates. The highest organic matter content both at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm soil depths were obtained with manure application, whereas mineral fertilizer application had no effect on organic matter accumulation. Manure, compost and mycorrhizal inoculation + compost application had 69%, 32% and 24% higher organic matter contents at 0-30 cm depth as compared to the control application. Organic applications had varying and important effects on aggregation indexes of soils. The greatest mean weight diameters (MWD) at 15-30 cm depth were obtained with manure, mycorrhiza-inoculated compost and compost applications, respectively. The decline in organic matter content of soils in control plots lead disintegration of aggregates demonstrated on significantly lower MWD values. The compost application resulted in occurring the lowest bulk densities at 0-15 and 15-30 cm soil depths, whereas the highest bulk density values were obtained with mineral fertilizer application. Measurements obtained in 2008 indicated that manure and compost applications did not cause any further increase in MWD at manure and compost receiving plots indicated reaching a steady state. However, compost with mycorrhizae application continued to significant increase (P < 0.05) in MWD values of soils. Organic applications significantly lowered the soil bulk density and penetration resistance. The lowest penetration resistance (PR) at 0-50 cm soil depth was obtained with mycorrhizal inoculated compost, and the highest PR was with control and mineral fertilizer applications. The results clearly revealed that mycorrhiza application along with organic fertilizers resulted in decreased bulk density and penetration resistance associated with an increase in organic matter and greater aggregate stability, indicated an improvement in soil structure.