Symbiotic N2 Fixation and N Uptake of Yellow and White Lupines Influenced by Spontaneous Rhizobia Infection and Substrate

Abstract

By using soil as substrate, white and yellow lupines (Lupinus albus L., Lupinus luteus L.) assimilated higher N amounts than under quartz sand conditions. This was caused by spontaneous infection of lupines with wild Rhizobia strains and also by an additional N uptake from the soil. In yellow lupines without inoculation in non-sterile soil, only the additional N uptake played a role. Differences in P and K supply as the cause of different N acquisition from soil and quartz sand could be excluded. As compared with white lupines, yellow lupines inoculated with Rhizobia had a high N₂ fixation that exceeded the effect of spontaneous infections. This result as well as the positive effect of spontaneous infections with soil-borne Rhizobia on white lupines indicates insufficient effectiveness of the strains used for inoculation on this plant species.     

Nuklearpharmaka — Ihre Entwicklung,Präparation und Anwendungsmöglichkeiten

Radioaktiv markierte Präparate haben in denletzten Jahren in schnell zunehmendem Maße Eingang in die klinische Medizin gefunden. Sie sind beieiner Reihe von Indikationen schon jetzt außerordentlich wertvolle Hilfsmittel bei der Diagnose, besonders bei der Prüfung von Organfunktionen.     

Evaluation of the Fate of Aldicarb and Its Metabolites in Oranges

Abstract

The accumulation, persistence and fate of systemic pesticide aldicarb was melencholy evaluated in orange crops. The concentration of this pesticide and its two toxic metabolites, aldicarb sulfoxide and aldicarb sulfone was determined in leaves, rind and pulp of three orange varieties (Satsuma, Navelina and Clemetina de Nules) and in the top soil of the orange groves. The groves were located in two different places in the Valencia Community (Spain). The analysis showed that the aldicarb concentration was lower than those of aldicarb sulfoxide and aldicarb sulfone. In all cases, the residues persisted at least 160 days in vegetable samples and between 157 and 227 days in soil samples. Residue concentrations measured in the soil samples were highly variable but a relation with the organic matter content can be observed. The residue levels found in vegetal products were higher in leaves than in rind, and in rind than in pulp. The maximum residue values were obtained between 47 and 70 days after the application. One hundred days after treatment (Security period) the residue levels of total fruit were lower than the maximum residue level of 0.2 mg/kg established by law.     

Anaerobic Degradation of PCB in Soils

Abstract

The anaerobic degradation of PCB in loamy and clayey soils containing indigeneous microflora was studied. The anaerobic conditions were created by an argon atmosphere in the flasks containing soil flooded by a liquid medium with glucose. GC-ECD analysis of soil extracts after 40 day incubation showed, in addition to the concentration changes of the less chlorinated PCB congeners, a significant decrease in the concentration of highly chlorinated congeners in both soils. The results indicate that in both soil types reductive dehalogenation of PCB congeners was encountered.     

Development of Resin Membranes as a Sensitive Indicator of Heavy Metal Toxicity in the Soil Environment

Abstract

Ion exchange resins in contact with soil can act as a sink for metal cations, thereby simulate the action of plant roots. Ion exchange resins in membrane form offer additional advantages in ease of use and handling. A procedure was developed to assess the bioavailability of four heavy metals Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb via direct in soil burial. A growth chamber experiment with three representative crops (oats, radish and lettuce) was set up to determine the phytotoxic levels of the four heavy metals. The critical levels varied widely from crop to crop, and soil to soil. Lettuce was most sensitive to high concentration of metals. The toxic effects are more pronounced on sandier textured soils.     

Dissipation of the plant growth regulator hexanoic acid 2-(diethylamino) ethyl ester in pakchoi and soil

A rapid and simple method for determining the plant growth regulator hexanoic acid 2-(diethylamino) ethyl ester (DA-6) in pakchoi and soil using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been developed. For this purpose, a single step was used to extract DA-6 with dichloromethane from aqueous-acetone extracts of vegetables and soil. Average recoveries of DA-6 in pakchoi and soil were between 85% and 104% at both spiking levels 0.01 and 0.1 mg kg^?1. Relative standard deviations (RSD) were less than 11% for all of the recovery tests. The degradation of DA-6 in pakchoi and soil was studied. The results showed that DA-6 degradation in pakchoi and soil coincided with C = 3.9903 e^{?0.0516 t} , C = 0.3476 e^{?0.0224 t} , respectively; the half-lives were 13.43 h and 30.94 h in pakchoi and soil in Beijing, respectively.     

Influence of Earthworms on the Sulfur Turnover in the Soil

Abstract

The effects of earthworm activity on the concentration and isotopic composition of total sulfur in soils was investigated using batch experiments. Two ecologically different lumbricid species, the anecic Lumbricus terrestris and the endogeic Aporrectodea caliginosa, were used. The earthworms were fed birch leaves, beech leaves, cattle manure or mixed plant litter. All food sources differed isotopically (δ³⁴S) from the soil (Parabraunerde). As a reference, one experiment was carried out without additional food.

The experimental results show, that both earthworm species influence the total S-content and the δ³⁴S-values in the soil by digestion of the different food sources. The differences in the total S-content of the earthworm tissues and in the S-isotopic composition of the casts can be attributed to the ecological differences between the earthworm species.     

WATER MOVEMENT CAUSED BY SPREADING SURFACTANTS IN UNSATURATED SYSTEMS OF PARTICLES OF NONUNIFORM SIZE

The movement of water originated by the spreading of two surfactants was analyzed in glass beads as well as on soil systems, both of particles of nonuniform size

The higher difference of surface tension produced in the system by 1 -hexadecanol compared to that of 1-tetradecanol led therefore to a higher amount of water moved. Decreased proportion of the smaller sized particles in glass beads system produced a decrease in the total water moved by both surfactants.

Organic matter acted in soil as a second surfactant in glass beads. This effect was compared in glass beads systems once 1-hexadecanol was evenly distributed among the particles as continuous film, which played a role alike that of organic matter in soil and then a second surfactant 1-tetradecanol was added. These additional surfactant effect diminished the difference between initial and final surface tension (surface tension depression) of the system and so the total water moved.

The soil organic matter (1.7%) modified the water movement curve in the presence of low (0.2g) content of 1-hexadecanol, whereas for high content of either alcohol (0.4g) or low content of 1-tetradecanol content (0.2g) the water movement curves were the same     

Selenium speciation in soil extracts using LC-ICP-MS

Selenium (Se) speciation in soil affects its bioavailability to crops. An analytical procedure for the determination of inorganic Se species (selenite and selenate) in soil extracts by anion-exchange liquid chromatography (LC) with ICP-MS detection has been developed, with 10-fold higher sensitivity than existing HGAAS-based soil Se measurements. A comparison of phosphate extraction solutions on agricultural soils amended with 20?µg?kg^–1 selenate or selenite was carried out, and a 0.016?M?KH₂PO₄ extraction solution is recommended. Recovery of selenate was >91%; however, selenite recovery ranged between 18.5% and 46.1%, due to rapid binding to the soil. Soil preparation did not have a significant (p?>?0.05) effect on the extractability of the selenate or selenite amendments. The stability of Se species in the phosphate extracts was variable, depending on temperature and storage time. Therefore, immediate (<1?h) analysis of the soil extracts is preferable. The method developed was applied to the determination of extractable Se from six arable soils in the UK. Extractable Se levels in these soils ranged between 6 and 13?µg?kg^–1 consisting of selenite and some soluble organic Se.