Evaluation of Dry Peas (Pisum sativum L.) Varieties for Seedling Vigor Indices in Eastern Montana

Genetic and environmental factors lead to a variation in yield and protein content of dry pea (Pisum sativum L.) seeds. The quality of seed, particularly seed vigor, also influences the establishment of crop and thus final grain yield. The area and production for dry peas are increasing in the Northern Great Plains but knowledge is lacking on how the pea lines/varieties differ in the seed vigor at seven leaf stage. This field and greenhouse study evaluated the eight dry pea lines/varieties for seedling vigor indices and correlated them with grain yield and protein concentrations. Significant differences were observed among the lines/varieties for nodule number plant^?1 in greenhouse, and grain yield in field conditions. The highest number of nodules plant^?1 was obtained with the line MT632, which were at par with lines MT457, and MT190. The highest Vigor Index I was achieved with line MT632 associated with their more shoot lengths as compared to other lines/varieties. The highest Vigor Index II was obtained by variety Majoret and line MT632. The variety DS Admiral yielded 5205 kg ha^?1, which was 17.4 and 33.3% higher than lines MT460 and MT190, respectively. The highest seed protein content was obtained with variety Majoret (23.4%) having highest Vigor Index II and seed yield (4940 kg ha^?1) at par with variety DS Admiral. The lowest seed protein was found with variety DS Admiral (20.3%). The line named MT190 showed lowest yield potential along with the lower protein contents also. Studies show a positive and significant correlation between biomass and Vigor Index I only. Plant nitrogen uptake was positively and significantly correlated with biomass and Vigor Index I in greenhouse only. The results also indicated that seed vigor indices did not reveal any significant correlations with dry peas yield and protein content, so more efforts are needed to evaluate varieties for higher yield and protein content during initial stages of growth in order to maximize their acreage and productivity.     

Induction of Abortion with Aglepristone in Cats on Day 45 and 46 After Mating

The aim of this study was to test for the efficacy and safety of the use of aglepristone for pregnancy termination on day 45 in cats. Six healthy cats were treated with 10 mg/kg aglepristone sc on day 45 and 46 after mating; six other cats served as untreated controls. The effect of treatment was monitored by general examination, vaginal cytology, ultrasonography and blood sampling for haematology and progesterone determination. Besides, interoestrus interval and next pregnancy including litter size were recorded. The efficacy of treatment was approximately 67% (4/6) with abortion occurring 4–7 days after the first injection and a sanguineous discharge and erythrocytes in vaginal smears for at least 6 days afterwards. The two treated cats that did not abort gave birth to two kittens on day 67 and had a stillbirth of a single kitten on day 71, respectively. As expected enlargement of the mammary glands and lactation were observed in all treated cats. No other treatment‐induced side effects were observed. Progesterone levels at abortion were high (30–140 nmol/l), but were decreased on day 55. Aglepristone treatment did not affect fertility in following cycles. Finally, it can be concluded that late‐term pregnancy termination with aglepristone is possible but due to a success rate of 67% an ultrasonographical examination 7 days after treatment is an inherent necessity to control the effect of treatment.     

Accumulation of phenolic compounds in apple in response to infection by the scab pathogen,Venturia inaequalis

The research dealt with phenolics in healthy versus scab infected apple leaves and fruits. The leaf samples were picked in the period from May to September and the fruit samples at technological maturity. Infection with the Venturia inaequalis fungus enhanced the metabolism of phenolics at the infected sites, especially in the boundary tissue. Tissue infected with Venturia inaequalis showed in comparison to the healthy tissue up to 7.6 times more hydroxycinnamic acids, up to 2.6 times more flavan-3-ols and up to 2.9 times higher values of flavanols. The content level of total phenolics in the infected tissue was 1.3–2.4 times higher than in the healthy leaves and fruit.     

Long-term modelling of reservoir sedimentation with turbid underflows

Purpose

This paper presents the development of a turbid density current module (TDCM) for a one-dimensional quasi-steady reservoir sedimentation model suitable for long-term simulations and an example of its application.

Materials and methods

The module determines the plunging point of a density current based on the criterion of the densimetric Froude number. Following plunging, simulation continues in a supercritical regime as long as the energy of density flow and bed slope are sufficient to support transport in this mode, or until the dam is reached. A muddy pond is then formed. An adapted version of the theory of Toniolo et al. (2007) is used to compute water and sediment balance in a muddy pond. If the level of muddy pond exceeds the lowest level outlet, sediment is vented from the reservoir.

Results and discussion

The model was applied to one of the largest reservoirs in the world, the Nurek reservoir in Tajikistan. Historical data on bed levels and sediment inflow as well as a recent survey from 2015 were used to calibrate and validate the model. The model showed good results both in terms of modelled bed levels and composition of deposited sediment. For comparison purpose, the model was also calibrated without the TDCM module. However, the discrepancy between the observed and modelled data was significantly higher, confirming that the good match in the case of the TDCM module was not achieved solely by calibration, but rather by a more appropriate approach to modelling.

Conclusions

These results support the choice of using the model with TDCM for modelling a general pattern of long-term deposition in the Nurek reservoir, in which turbid density currents play an important role.

     

Using Pyrolyzed Rice Husks as an Adsorbent for Purification of Water Basins Polluted with Diesel Fuel

Black rice husk ash (BRHA) was obtained by means of thermal degradation of raw rice husks (RRH) on a pilot plant fluidized bed reactor. BRHA was characterized using chemical analyses, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The kinetics was studied using batch adsorption technique and on the basis of prior characterization by X-ray diffraction patterns and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption capacities of diesel fuel at 288, 293 and 298?K onto BRHA were determined. Results showed that the material studied has very high adsorption capacity and low cost and may successfully be used as an effective adsorbent to clean up spills of oil products in water basins. The adsorption of diesel fuel onto BRHA proceeds rapidly to reach adsorption equilibrium in about 10?min. The saturated BRHA can be burnt in incinerators, industrial ovens or steam generators, and through this way ecological and economic benefits are attained.