Use of the nitrate‐specific ion electrode for the determination of nitrate nitrogen in surface and ground water

Abstract

The usefulness of the nitrate‐specific ion electrode (NE) for the determination of nitrate nitrogen (NO3‐N) in surface and ground water was determined. The NE method had several advantages that made it superior to the phenoldisulfonic acid (PDS) method in our environmental quality studies. Samples could be analyzed quickly and with a minimum of sample preparation. Sample coloration and soluble salts did not interfere with the performance of the electrode. Range of detection without dilution was much wider than by the PDS method. Also, the values obtained by the NE method, although slightly greater than those obtained by the PDS method, were satisfactory.     

Single and Interactive Effects of Temperature and Light Quality on Four Canola Cultivars

Combined effects of temperature and light quality on plants have received little attention. We investigated the single and interactive effects of temperature and light quality on growth and physiological characteristics of four canola (Brassica napus) cultivars – Clearfield 46A76 (cv₁), Clearfield 45H72 (cv₂), Roundup Ready 45H24 (cv₃) and Roundup Ready 45H21 (cv₄). Plants were grown under lower (24°/20 °C) and higher (30°/26 °C) temperature regimes at low red/far‐red (R/FR), normal R/FR and high R/FR light ratios in environment‐controlled growth chambers (16 h light/8 h dark). Higher temperature reduced stem height and diameter; leaf number and area; dry matter of all plant parts; and specific leaf weight, but increased leaf area ratio; and chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence (Y). Low R/FR increased stem height; Y; and ethylene, but decreased stem diameter; F_v/F_m; Chl a; Chl b; and carotenoids. Among cultivars, plants from cv₄ were tallest with thickest stems and greatest dry matter. None of the main factors affected gas exchange. Higher temperature at high R/FR caused cv₃ to be shortest, whereas lower temperature at low R/FR caused cv₄ to be tallest. We conclude that heat and other stress factors will adversely affect sensitive crops, but tolerant genotypes should perform well under future climate.     

Evaluation of Commercial Fe(III)‐Chelates Using Different Methods

Abstract

A collaborative assay among three laboratories was made in order to compare both the ion (CEN. EN 13368‐2:2001 E. Determination of chelating agents in fertilizers by ion chromatography. Part 2: EDDHA and EDDHMA, 2001a) and the ion‐pair (Lucena, J.J.; Barak, P.; Hernandez‐Apaolaza, L. Isocratic ion‐pair high‐performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of various iron(III) chelates. J. Chromatogr. A 1996, 727, 253–264) high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods as well as the soluble and complexed Fe (CEN. EN 13366:2001 E. Treatment with a cation exchange resin for the determination of the chelated micronutrient content and of the chelated fraction of micronutrients, 2001b) methods. Fifteen and ten samples of commercial fertilizers of Fe‐EDDHA, Fe‐EDDHMA, respectively were analysed by three laboratories using these methods. No significant differences were observed between the results obtained for the Fe‐EDDHA content using the Lucena et al. or CEN method. The first method makes it possible to distinguish between the meso and DL‐racemic diasteroisomers of Fe‐o, o‐EDDHA. For the Fe‐EDDHMA formulations, the CEN method gives higher values than the ion‐pair method, since in the first one Fe‐EDDH4,6MA coelutes with FeEDDHMA. Also the CEN method does not makes it possible to distinguish between Fe‐EDDHMA and Fe‐EDDH5MA products. The variability among laboratories was larger for the CEN method than for the Lucena et al. method.     

The optimal nutrition of maize in the hungarian national long‐term field experimental network

In Hungary, maize is grown on 1 million ha and occupies more than 20% of the arable land. The rich assortment of maize cultivars of different vegetation periods and different responses to nutritional effects, water supply etc. gives the growers the possibility to choose the cultivars suiting best the site characteristics (Jolânkai et al. 1999). Among the cereals maize has the highest genetical potential. To utilize its yield and quality potential, soil types of high nutrient content and regular nutrient supply are required (Gyõrffy, 1979). Both over‐ and under‐fertilization have an unfavourable effect on the yield and quality of maize (Debreczeni, 1985). Crops can be supplied with the appropriate nutrient amounts only with the knowledge of soil characteristics in the different agro‐ecological regions (nutrient content, water supply, soil compactness, pH, nutrient supplying capacity etc.). In Hungary, a network of long‐term field fertilization trials with uniform fertilizer treatments has been maintained at nine experimental sites representing different agro‐ecological regions of the country. This experimental network gives a basis to test the nutrient responses of our main crops and calibrate their optimal nutrient supply (Kismányoky, 1991).     

Comparative pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis by nonlinear mixed‐effects modeling of cefquinome in nonpregnant,pregnant, and lactating goats after intravenous and intramuscular administration

Cefquinome is a fourth‐generation cephalosporin that is used empirically in goats. Different physiologic factors like pregnancy or lactation could determine the pharmacokinetic behavior of drugs in the organism. The objectives of this study are to (a) compare the pharmacokinetics of cefquinome after intravenous and intramuscular administration in adult nonpregnant (n = 6), pregnant (n = 6), and lactating goats (n = 6), at a dose of 2 mg/kg, with rich sampling by nonlinear mixed‐effects modeling, (b) conduct a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic analysis to evaluate the efficacy of the recommended posology in goats with different physiological states, and (c) determine the optimal posology that achieve a PTA value ≥ 90%, taking into account a T > MIC ≥ 60% of a MIC value ≤ 0.25 µg/ml, in the different subpopulations of goats for both routes. Gestation significantly increased Ka and V1, while reduced F0, Cl, and Q. On the other hand, lactation significantly increased V1 and reduced Tk0. Cefquinome concentrations achieved in placental cotyledon, amniotic fluid, and fetal serum indicate a minimal penetration across the placental barrier. Moreover, milk penetration of cefquinome was minimal. The total body clearance of cefquinome for goats was 0.29 L kg^?1 hr^?1, that is apparently higher than the reported for cows (0.13 L kg^?1 hr^?1) and pigs (0.16 L kg^?1 hr^?1). So, the optimal dose regimen for cefquinome after intravenous and intramuscular administration required higher dose and frequency of administration compared with recommendations for cows or pigs. Therefore, 2 mg kg^?1 8 hr^?1 and 5 mg kg^?1 12 hr^?1 could be used for IV and IM routes, respectively, for the treatment of respiratory infections caused by P. multocida and M. haemolytica, but only 5 mg kg^?1 12 hr^?1 by both routes should be recommended for Escherichia coli infections.     

Betaine Alleviates Heat Stress-Induced Hepatic and Mitochondrial Oxidative Damage in Broilers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary betaine (BET) on growth performance, redox state, and related gene expression in broilers under heat stress (HS). A total of 144 21-day-old male broiler chickens with similar body weights were assigned randomly to three treatments with six replicates (eight chickens per replicate cage). Broilers in the control (CON) group were kept at thermoneutral (TN, 22±1°C) conditions and fed a basal diet until they were 42 days of age. Broilers in the other two groups (defined as HS and HS + BET) were exposed to HS (34±1°C, 8 h/day) and fed the basal diet without or with 1000 mg/kg BET, respectively. Rectal and cockscomb temperature of broilers was increased (P<0.05) in HS and HS + BET groups compared with the CON group, whereas there was no difference between HS and HS + BET groups. Dietary BET supplementation restored (P<0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of broilers and reversed (P<0.05) the increase in serum alanine transaminase (ALT) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the liver tissue of broilers under HS. The HS + BET group had higher (P<0.05) activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in the liver tissue and mitochondria than the HS group, and the same pattern was observed for glutathione (GSH) and GSH/glutathione disulphide (GSSG) in the liver tissue. The decreased mRNA levels of GPX1 and uncoupling protein (UCP) in the liver induced by HS were restored by BET supplementation. In conclusion, dietary BET supplementation can alleviate HS-induced hepatic and mitochondrial oxidative damage of broilers by regulating mRNA expressions of GPX1 and UCP.