Content Of Different Fractions Research Articles

Divergent changes of carbon and nitrogen in the density fractions of soil organic matter after revegetation in the Tengger Desert, north China

AbstractRevegetation is an effective measure to enhance soil organic carbon (OC) and nitrogen (N) storage in drylands, but the underlying processes remain poorly understood. Based on density fractionation, the free light fraction (fLF), the occluded light fraction (oLF), and a heavy fraction (HF) were extracted from a chronosequence of revegetated sites aged 10, 22, 34, 48, and 65 years. A mobile sand dune (MSD) was used as the reference site (aged 0 years). The OC and N contents of different fractions and the bulk soils were determined to evaluate the impacts of revegetation and clarify post‐revegetation stabilization mechanisms for the OC and N. The results showed that the dry mass of fLF and oLF in established shrublands were 17.16–31.30 and 17.68–44.87 times greater than those in the MSD, respectively, while the amount of HF decreased by 1.09%–2.51% in 65 years. The contents and stocks of OC and N and C:N ratio in each fraction significantly increased over time but decreased with soil depth, and these three variables decreased sequentially from fLF to oLF to HF. The OC and N contents and their ratios in each fraction were positively and linearly correlated with their corresponding values in the bulk soil. The OC and N percentages contained in the fLF and oLF increased significantly, but those in the HF decreased with increasing site age. Despite this, more than 55.08% of OC and 80.59% of N were remained in the HF across all the sites, indicating that the enhancement of OC and N stocks in SOM following revegetation were mainly derived from an increase in OC and N in protected fractions. Biological and physicochemical factors including microbial biomass C and N, the availability of N, P, and K, bulk density, and clay and silt contents, were the key factors regulating the OC and N dynamics in the density fractions. The initial OC and N accumulation after revegetation occurs mainly in the HF, while vegetation development shifts the OC and N from stable to labile pools. The OC and N accumulation in revegetated soils is attributed to the changes in both the LF and HF whereas OC and N in the light fraction become increasingly important over time. Stabilization by forming aggregates and mineral associations may dominate the long‐term OC and N sequestration in restored ecosystems.

Cassia angustifolia Vahl. Leaves: Determination of Total Phenolic and Sennoside Contents of Different Fractions in Comparison with Their α- Glucosidase and Tyrosinase Inhibitory Effects

Background: Cassia angustifolia Vahl. (Senna) is a medicinal plant containing anthraquinone compounds such as sennoside. Senna is primarily valued for its laxative properties. In Persian medicine, this plant has been also used to treat various disorders such as diabetes and skin hyperpigmentation. Previous studies have shown that different species of senna, such as C. articulata, C. alata, C. Siamea, C. Surattensis inhibit alpha-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. To the best of our knowledge, no previous evidence is available on tyrosinase and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects of the extract and different fractions of C. angustifolia leaves. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of the methanol-water extract and different fractions (hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and remaining crude extract) of senna against tyrosinase and α-glucosidase and to investigate their total phenolic and sennoside B contents. Results: Our findings depicted that the methanol-water extract and fractions had no significant anti-tyrosinase activity; however, some fractions were active toward α-glucosidase. The hexane fraction and the remaining crude extract demonstrated the highest inhibition on α-glucosidase compared to acarbose (positive control). In addition, the ethyl acetate fraction contains high phenolic and hydroxy anthraquinone derivatives based on the amount of sennoside B contents equivalent to 382.25 μg/mL of gallic acid and 1.525% of sennoside B, respectively. Moreover, no correlation was observed between the phenolic and sennoside contents of different fractions and their α-glucosidase inhibitory effect. Conclusions: Considering the α-glucosidase inhibition results, the hexane fraction of C. angustifolia can be a valuable fraction for in vitro and in vivo antidiabetic studies as well as further phytochemical studies. Further studies to identify the active substances and the exact mechanism of the bioactive ingredients on the inhibitory effects of α-glucosidase can provide promising results in the future.

Assessment of Antioxidant and Polyphenol Profile of Chrysobalanus icaco from Southern Nigeria

Due to the distinguished medicinal value of Chrysobalanus icaco, it was of great interest to conduct phytochemical and antioxidant investigations on it. In this study, the polyphenol profile and antioxidant activity of C. icaco methanol crude extract and fractions were investigated. The crude extract of C. icaco was subjected to fractionation using methanol, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol as solvents. 2, 2-diphenyl-1picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis-(3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric ion reducing power (FRAP), ascorbate oxidase, total phenolic content, total flavonoids and polyphenol profile was determined using standard methods. A significant increase was observed in the DPPH radical scavenging activity, total flavonoids, total phenol, FRAP, ABTS, TAC and ascorbate oxidase of the crude extract when compared to methanol, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, n-butanol, and aqueous fractions. Polyphenols such as kaempferol, chlorogenic acid, catechin, quercetin, galic acid, pomolic acid, rutin, epicatechin, stigmasterol, sitosterol and caffeic acid were found in the different fractions. The total polyphenols content of different fractions of C icaco extract were as follows; methanol fraction > n-hexane fraction > ethyl acetate fraction > n-butanol fraction > aqueous fraction. The findings revealed that C icaco kernel could be used as a potent source of molecules with positive health attributes.

Long-Term Impact of Boron Addition at Various Dosages to a Groundnut-Cabbage System on Crop Yield and Boron Dynamics in Typic Haplustepts

The addition of boron (B) fertilizers to soils with low B content is required for augmenting crop yield. Therefore, it is imperative to have knowledge about the impact of long-term B addition at various dosages on crop yield and soil-B dynamics. A field experiment of a 6-year duration was carried out at Anand Agricultural University, Gujarat, India to study the influence of long-term B fertilization in the groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)-cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) cropping system in different rates and frequencies on yield of crops and soil-B dynamics. The direct effect of B addition on groundnut yield and the residual effect on succeeding cabbage crop yield was eval-uated. The treatments of the experiment encompassed various combinations of three frequencies and four rates of B application including one control (no B application). The application of B at different rates and frequencies significantly increased groundnut and cabbage yield in comparison to yield attained under the control. The addition of 1.0 kg B ha−1 in alternate years was found op-timum for enhancing the yield of groundnut and cabbage crops grown on study soil. Boron appli-cation enhanced B content in groundnut pod, haulm, cabbage and available B in soil. Optimal available B content in soil was 1.25 mg kg−1 for both groundnut pod and cabbage-head yield. The application of B with different rates and frequencies significantly enhanced B fractions in soil. The content of different fractions improved with the increase in rates of B application. The percentage contribution of various B fractions towards total B content followed the order: readily soluble B (0.43 to 0.55%) < specifically adsorbed B (0.74 to 0.98%) < organically bound B (0.70 to 1.55%) < ox-ide bound B (1.26 to 3.11%) < residual boron B (93 to 96.8%). Path analysis revealed the highest contribution of total boron towards groundnut-pod yield with a coefficient value of 4.30. Whereas oxide-bound boron fraction contributed to the maximum extent with a coefficient value of 0.91 towards cabbage-head yield. This information will be useful for B management in the ground-nut-cabbage cropping system grown on studied soil.

Incubation Studies to Find Out the Transformation of Different Fractions of Boron

An incubation study was conducted in the laboratory of College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Manipur, India, to know the transformation of applied Boron (B) in soils at field capacity. Soil samples was collected periodically at 0, 30, 60 and 90 days after incubation (DAI) and analyzed for different fractions of B. The experiment was carried out under completely randomized block design (CRD). Altogether there were 6 treatment replicated thrice namely, T0= Control, T1= 0.5 mg B kg-1 soil, T2= 1 mg B kg-1 soil, T3= 1.5 mg B kg-1 soil, T4= 2 mg B kg-1 soil and T5= 2.5 mg B kg-1 soil. From the incubation experiment, it was inferred that with applied B, the organically bound B fraction was higher next to residual form when compared to other forms of B. At 30 days of incubation, different fractions of B showed an increasing trend for added levels of B compared to control due to recently applied B into the soil solution. However, at 60 and 90 days different fractions of B in the soil started decreasing due the fact that boron entered into tightly bound state within the soil. In general, B fertilization increased the availability of B content in soil and hence increased its availability to the crop. The sequence of the content of different fractions of B in an acid soils of Imphal-West district was readily soluble-B>organically bound-B>oxide bound-B> specifically adsorbed-B> residual-B.

Фізіологічні та біохімічні маркери посухостійкості сортів та форм винограду

Goal. To ensure sustainable viticulture of Ukraine through the allocation of resistant to lack of moisture supply varieties and forms of the new selection of grapes using physiological and biochemical markers of drought resistance. Methods. Physiological — to determine the content of different fractions of water in the tissues of the leaves; biochemical — to determine the enzyme of peroxidase activity in leaf tissues in the critical phase of the growing season for the grape plant to fix the level of stress reactions. Results. Out of 20 varieties and forms of the table and technical grapes, different levels of manifestation of physiological and biochemical markers of drought resistance were fixed. The most pronounced stress reaction up to the loss of turgor leaves was observed in the arid conditions of 2019 in the variety Persei. The least pronounced reaction to the lack of moisture was in table varieties and forms of Odisei, Tairian, Fontan, and Zahrava, from the group technical the high level of ecological plasticity, confirmed varieties and forms of Zahrei, Aromatnyi, Yarylo, and Idyliya muskatna. The prospects of these genotypes are confirmed by the low activity of the marker of stress reactions of the plant enzyme peroxidase in arid years (2017 and 2019). Conclusions. Varieties and forms of grapes selected by markers of drought resistance can be successfully grown by extensive technology. For the variety Persei (if necessary) it is recommended to use intensive technology, in particular, artificial irrigation in critical periods of the growing season — flowering, ripening berries, and the end of the growing season.

Nanoencapsulation of n-butanol extract of Symphytum kurdicum and Symphytum asperrimum: Focus on phytochemical analysis, anti-oxidant and antibacterial activity.

Objective(s):The current study’s objectives were to obtain different extracts and essential oils of Symphytum kurdicum and Symphytum asperrimum and to determine the chemical composition, as well as to evaluate free radical scavenging activity (IC50) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and the effect of liposomal formulation on antimicrobial properties.Materials and Methods:Air-dried powdered aerial parts of S. kurdicum and S. asperrimum were used. The antioxidant and antibacterial properties, essential oil compositions, total phenol, and flavonoid contents of different fractions were determined by DPPH test, disk diffusion assay, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, Folin-ciocalteu reagent, and colorimetric assay method, respectively. The film hydration method was used to fabricate nanoparticles.Results: GC-MS analysis indicated that hexafarnesyl acetone was a major essential oil component. n-butanol and ethyl acetate extracts of S. kurdicum had the highest anti-oxidant activity. Extracts of both plants showed antimicrobial activity. The extracts’ maximum inhibition zones against Staphylococcus epidermidis were established. A particle size analyzer detected the formulation size of 140 nm. The optimum formulation of liposomes contains the ratio of 75 mg lecithin, 25 mg cholesterol, and 50 mg herbal extract. Despite the nanoparticles’ appropriate particle size, the liposomal extract’s antimicrobial effect was lower than that of the free form.Conclusion:Our findings demonstrated that extracts have significant antibacterial and anti-oxidant activities, attributed to their bioactive constituents.

Long-term effects of grazing intensities on soil aggregation and organic matter in a no-tilled integrated soybean-cattle system

Grazing intensity in integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS) can affect soil aggregation and C stabilization and, consequently, the soil condition and agricultural sustainability. This study evaluate the influence of 13 years of different grazing intensities on (i) soil aggregation, (ii) C content in different aggregate size, and (iii) C and N content in different fractions of soil organic matter (SOM), in a no-tilled with integrated soybean-beef production system on a subtropical Oxisol. Treatments consisted of four steers grazing intensities defined by sward height of 10, 20, 30 and 40 cm on mixed black oat and Italian ryegrass pasture in the winter under continuous stocking, plus an ungrazed treatment, in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Soil aggregation was not affected by grazing intensities. There was no effect of the grazing intensities on organic C content in all aggregate-size fractions and in all soil layers evaluated, being lower in microaggregates than in large and small macroaggregates. The macroaggregates were predominant, representing 97% of the soil mass, of which 74% were large macroaggregates (>2 mm). The high macroaggregates stability contributed to the lack of difference in the C and N content on free light fraction and the light occlusal fraction of SOM. Most of C and N were observed heavy fraction of SOM (53–68%), with greater stock in the no grazing compared to the grazed treatments. Even with the animal trampling in the grazed systems, the soil maintained high stability of aggregates and consequently the labile forms of SOM.

Recovery of phosphorus from eutrophic water using nano zero-valent iron-modified biochar and its utilization

Effective removal and recovery of phosphorus (P) from the aquatic environment was of great significance for eutrophication control and P recovery. This study investigated the effects of different environmental conditions on P adsorption by biochar (BC) and the feasibility of applying the P-laden BC as a fertilizer for plant growth. The nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) modified reeds BC prepared at 700 °C (Fe-700-BC) had the maximum P adsorption capacity of 95.2 mg g−1, which was higher than those prepared at 300, 500, and 900 °C. The addition of Fe-700-BC reduced the concentration of total phosphorus (TP) in the overlying water, in which the soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) almost completely removed, as well as had a certain inhibitory effect on the growth of algae. Simultaneously, Fe-700-BC reduced the contents of different fractions of P (weakly adsorbed inorganic phosphorus (WA-Pi), potential active inorganic phosphorus (PA-Pi), and Fe/Al-bound inorganic phosphorus (Fe/Al-Pi)) by adsorbing the soluble P released from the sediments, especially in the case of disturbance. Fe-700-BC had no significant effect on the diversity and richness of the microbial community in the sediment. Moreover, P-laden BC was safe and environmentally friendly for application in the soil and tended to increase stem and root length, fresh and dry weight at low doses (0.5 wt%) in wheat planting experiments. The present work could provide a reference for solving the problems related to eutrophication and P deficiency.

Depth-wise fractionation of sulphur in cultivated soils of low and mid hills of Himachal Pradesh

The current investigation was conducted to study the fractions of sulphur in nine districts of low and mid hills of Himachal Pradesh. For this purpose 31 representative soil sampling sites were selected from nine districts and the soil samples were analyzed for physicochemical properties and different fractions of sulphur (water soluble sulphur, exchangeable sulphur, available sulphur, non-sulphate sulphur, organic sulphur and total sulphur). The results indicated that the total sulphur in soils varied from 98.2 to 470.1 mg kg-1 in surface soil (0-15 cm) and 67.2 to 370.7 mg kg-1 in sub-surface layer (15-60 cm). The organic sulphur varied from 80.5 to 401.1 mg kg-1 in surface and 44 to 306.1 mg kg-1 in sub-surface layer. The water soluble sulphur, exchangeable sulphur, available sulphur and non-sulphate sulphur varied from 1.7 to 9.2, 2.7 to 18.4, 4.5 to 27.6 and 10.2 to 58.9 mg kg-1 respectively in surface soil and 0.5 to 5.4, 1 to 17.7, 3.7 to 23.5 and 12.5 to 50.2 mg kg-1, respectively in sub-surface soil. It was observed during course of study that with increase in the soil depth the content of different fractions of sulphur decreased. These soils had the major part of their total sulphur content in organic form followed by non-sulphate sulphur, available sulphur, exchangeable sulphur and water soluble sulphur. It can be concluded that the soil texture and organic carbon content played a major role in determining the quantity of different fractions of sulphur in these soils.

Behavior and mechanism of different fraction lead leach with several typical sulfate lixiviants in the weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore.

Recently, some new leaching agents without ammonium, such as magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and aluminum sulfate [Al2(SO4)3], have been developed to eliminate ammonia nitrogen pollution in in situ mining process of the weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore (WCED-REO), but they might cause heavy metal contamination. In this study, characteristics and mechanisms of different fractions of lead (Pb) released by (NH4)2SO4, MgSO4 and Al2(SO4)3 leaching agents were investigated using batch experiments and column leaching tests. The experimental results showed that the amounts of Pb released by the different leaching agents followed the trend of Al2(SO4)3 > (NH4)2SO4 > MgSO4 under the same total cationic charge, and both the acid extractable and reducible fractions of Pb were released. The release of acid extractable fraction Pb was related to the cation hydration radius of NH4+, Mg2+, and Al3+, whereas the release of reducible fraction Pb was mainly influenced by the concentration of H+, especially at pH < 4.0. Furthermore, column leaching tests indicated that pH has little effect on the Pb contents of different fractions released by (NH4)2SO4 and MgSO4 in leaching the WCED-REO. Although Al2(SO4)3 released the largest contents of rare earth and Pb in leachate, the content of residual acid extractable fraction Pb in soil was the most after water injection (simulating the cleaning process after mining). This work can provide a scientific method and theoretical basis for comprehensively assessing the environmental impact of new leaching agents on WCED-REO mining.

Free, soluble-bound and insoluble-bound phenolics and their bioactivity in raspberry pomace

The free, soluble-bound (esterified and glycosylated) and insoluble-bound phenolics from the dry raspberry pomace without seeds (RP) and raspberry seeds (RS) were obtained by acidic and alkali treatment. The total phenolic contents of different phenolic fractions from RP and RS by the Folin method followed the order: free > esterified ≈ insoluble-bound > glycosylated. Then 18 phenolics from RP and RS were quantified by HPLC-MS. Free phenolics had the highest total tested phenolic contents, while glycosylated phenolics were the lowest. Their antioxidant activity was increased by the increasing phenolic contents of different fractions. Free phenolics in raspberry pomace had the highest antioxidant activity by DPPH assay. RS-esterified phenolics had the hightest tyrosinase inhibitory activity (TIA) by enzyme activity analysis, which was equivalent to the TIA of 1.57 mM vitamin C. Among 9 typical phenolics, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid on the TIA showed obvious promoting effects, while catechin, epicatechin, and caffeic acid exhibited a significant background effect. Therefore, p-hydroxybenzoic acid and gallic acid in RS-esterified phenolics were of great significance for the TIA. These results are beneficial to the comprehensive evaluation and utilization of the phenolic compounds in raspberry pomace.

Evaluation of Free Radical Scavenging Potential of Different Bioactive Fractions Present in Boerhavia diffusa Linn. Root Extract: An in-vitro Approach

Aim and Objectives: Boerhavia diffusa (B. diffusa) frequently known as punarnava is specifically used to replenish the body. The present work was designed to evaluate the scavenging potential of its bioactive constituents.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: The different fractions of B. diffusa root methanolic extract were examined for phenolic, flavonoids contents, DPPH free radical and Nitric oxide scavenging activities. Further antioxidant activity was evaluated by ABTS free radical scavenging method and also from the reducing potential scavenging activity. The total phenolic content in different fractions by using various solvent like ethanol, diethyl ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol were carried out to find the antioxidant activities.&#x0D; Results: The phenolic content was highest in ethanolic fraction that was significantly comparable with ascorbic acid. The flavonoid content was highest in ethanol fraction (41.93 ± 3.92 µg/mL) followed by n-butanol fraction (31.68 ± 1.72 µg/mL), then ethyl acetate fraction (29.67 ± 2.83 µg/mL) and least in chloroform fraction (16.91 ± 2.74 µg/mL). The ethanolic fraction of B. diffusa also showed highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (101.29 ± 3.78) when compared with other fractions of same extract using different solvent phases. Moreover the nitric oxide scavenging activity of ethanolic fraction was maximum (82.31 ± 2.83) than different fractions. The ethanolic fraction also showed improved ABTS radical scavenging activity (81.73 ± 2.73 mg/mL) while chloroform fraction showed poor ABTS radical cation scavenging activity (29.51 ± 2.79 mg/mL).&#x0D; Conclusions: The study concludes that Boerhavia diffusa has rich and ample source of phenolic acid and flavonoids. Among all fractions the ethanolic has potent antioxidant activity, which shows its significance for a better novel approach.

Linkages between soil organic carbon fractions and carbon-hydrolyzing enzyme activities across riparian zones in the Three Gorges of China

The effect of flooding on soil enzyme activities and soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics remains a widely debated topic. Here, we investigated spatial variations in C-hydrolyzing enzyme activities, soil C contents in different fractions [i.e. labile and recalcitrant carbon (LC and RC)] from 6 sites with four different elevations at two soil depths (0–10 cm and 10–30 cm) in riparian zones of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. At region scales, the SOC, RC contents, and RC/SOC (RIC) generally showed decreasing tendency from the upstream to the downstream. The C-hydrolyzing enzyme activities were higher in the midstream compared to other sites, which did not correspond well with the changing trend of SOC content, but matched with the spatial variation in LC content. At ecosystem scales, the RC and RIC declined with decreased elevations, but the LC showed opposite trend. Whereas, the four C-hydrolyzing enzyme activities and the specific enzyme activities were corresponded well with the changing trend of LC content. Soil C contents and enzyme activities were generally higher in top soil than deep soil across sites and elevation zones. These results reveal that the LC is the tightest factor in regulating C-hydrolyzing enzyme activities, whereas the soil C quality (i.e. RIC) and flooding collectively drive C-hydrolyzing enzyme activities possibly by affecting decomposition rates of SOC in the riparian zones.

English

Mpenge stream is regarded as one of the most important domestic water resource in Musanze District; Rwanda. The chemical speciation study of selected heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Cd) in sediment samples collected from that stream was carried out by means of an analytical procedure involving sequential chemical extraction method and to determine the heavy metals content in different fractions of sediment. The heavy metals were found in five fractions: exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to Fe-Mn oxides, bound to organic matter and residual fraction. Their levels were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer and the total mean values were in the order Cr> Zn>Cu > Ni=Pb > Co > Cd. In fact the total metal content in mg/kg dry matter (mean values) were for Cr=169.17±8.77; Zn=136.67±2.88; Cu=44.17±1.44; Ni=33.33±5.22; Pb=33.33±14.33; Co=25.00±0.00; and Cd=5.00±0.00. As per United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) guidelines for sediments quality, sediments were moderately polluted for all analyzed elements apart from chromium that showed that the sediments were heavily polluted. Furthermore, the speciation results showed that high levels of these assessed metals (Zn, Cu, Co, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Cd) were associated with exchangeable and carbonate bound fractions for all heavy metals apart from copper, pointing out that they are in potentially available forms and may pose serious problems to water consumption.   Key words: Speciation, sequential chemical extraction, heavy metal, bottom sediment, stream.

The moisture content effect on coal cleaning performance of dry separator in different feed rates

ABSTRACT This research is concerned with the effects of moisture content in different fractions on the coal cleaning performance of dry separator. The lignite samples, coming from Çorum, Muğla and Soma districts, were used in the tests. Whereas the all samples were tested in three different moisture contents and three different feed rates, the other variables, riffle height, table frequency and separator surface slope, have been kept constant at their best values after were tested in three steps. Results were analysed with tromp curves to indicate the parameters’ effects in detail. The relationships, between coal mass recoveries, combustion recoveries and moisture contents in different fractions, were presented. Consequently, the results revealed that the moisture content had a remarkable effect on separation efficiency. The separation efficiency was, however, inversely affected as the moisture content increase, and the best results were obtained in minimum moisture content for all samples tested. The best-obtained Ep values were 0.15 for the Soma, 0.165 for Mugla while it was 0.145 for the Corum sample. The Soma sample was the most affected sample by increasing moisture content.

Shifts in soil organic carbon dynamics under detritus input manipulations in a coniferous forest ecosystem in subtropical China

The underlying mechanism of how shifts in plant detritus input impact soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics is not fully understood. Here we investigated the soil C content in different fractions (aggregates, labile and recalcitrant pool) after two years of detritus input manipulations (i.e. detritus input and removal treatment–DIRT: control, CK; double litter, DL; no litter, NL; no roots, NR; no aboveground litter and no roots, NRNL) in a coniferous forest (Platycladus orientalis (Linn.) Franco) ecosystem in subtropical China. The root exclusion treatments (NR and NRNL) significantly decreased the macro-aggregate (>2000 μm) fraction by 23.4%–27.7% compared to CK after two-year detritus input manipulation, and accordingly decreased the C content in macroaggregates. In contrast, the aboveground litter removal and addition (DL and NL) did not significantly impact those properties. Labile SOC significantly declined in the detritus removal treatments, while recalcitrant SOC remained relatively stable. In addition, root exclusion significantly reduced total microbial biomass and most of the taxonomic biomarkers compared to the CK. Fungal biomass were positively correlated with the proportion of macroaggregates across treatments. Principal component analysis revealed the separation of root exclusion treatments from the other detritus input manipulations was based on lower soil C content and proportion of macroaggregates. Overall, our results suggest that future shifts in plant detritus input, especially decreases in belowground litter inputs, can strongly and rapidly reduce SOC pools by reducing the proportion of macroaggregates and the C content in macroaggregates, highlighting the importance of root in regulating soil C sequestration in response to future climatic scenarios.

Lime Fertilizer with Prolonged Balanced Effect Period

&lt;p&gt;&lt;em&gt;Soil acidification and decalcification are mostly continuous. From the aspect of soil quality maintenance and improvement, the soil requires stable calcium content. The more acidic is the soil and the finer are the lime fertilizer particles, the easier they dissolve, and the soil becomes poor in calcium. In order to modify the rate and duration of lime fertilizer dissolution, this work included investigation of solubility and dissolution rates of various fractions of limestone. Based on the dissolution rates of particles with different sizes, the content of different fractions can be calculated so as to make the solubility of lime fertilizer more stable and long-term. A long-term uniform solubility provides a more stable available calcium content in the soil, which facilitates the formation and development of beneficial soil characteristics. In the field trials, upon liming with a fertiliser with prolonged effect time, the content of available Ca in soil was more stable and remained at optimum level also in 4&lt;sup&gt;rd&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/em&gt;-&lt;em&gt;5&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; year. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Cell wall CSF/WSF ratio value discriminates the cooked texture of lotus rhizome

ABSTRACTIn order to find out the key factors to affect the texture variation and the formation mechanism of different cultivars lotus rhizomes after thermal processing, representative lotus rhizomes harvested in year round with 2 months interval, including Lulinhu, Miancheng, and Elian 5, were chosen to calculate the cause of thermal process texture. The texture (hardness), content of different fractions of alcohol insoluble residue (AIR), and microstructure of the cell wall components of the lotus rhizomes exhibited changes during processing. The changes of three pectin fractions in the three lotus rhizomes cultivars were compared by combining the effect of thermal treatment on the lotus rhizome AIR pectin content degree of esterification (DE) and analysing the texture and microstructure, the cell wall materials were found to be the crucial factor in this process. Another six cultivars lotus rhizomes have been employed to replicate the above mentioned results, the total data were used to calculate the chelator soluble fraction (CSF) to water soluble fraction (WSF) ratio value (0.25), which determines the texture of the lotus rhizomes after thermal-processing. The CSF/WSF ratio values (0.25) will give an index for the lotus rhizome processing food industry.

Antitumor evaluation and multiple analysis on different extracted fractions of the root of Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight.

The root of Cynanchum auriculatum (C. auriculatum) Royle ex Wight has been shown to possess various pharmacological effects and has recently attracted much attention with respect to its potential role in antitumor activity. The C-21 steroidal glycosides are commonly accepted as the major active ingredients of C. auriculatum. In this study, the antitumor abilities of different extracted fractions of the root bark and the root tuber of C. auriculatum were investigated by using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay in human cancer cell lines HepG2 and SMMC-7721. The results showed that thechloroformand ethylacetate fractions of the root tuber suppressed tumor cell growth strongly. To identify and characterize the chemical constituents of different active fractions, an ultra high performance liquid chromatography with triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry method was developed forthe simultaneous quantitation of eight C-21 steroidal glycosides. The analysis revealed that the C-21 steroidal glycosides were concentrated in thechloroformand ethylacetate fractions, and the total contents of different fractions in the root tuber were significantly higher than those of corresponding ones in the root bark. Furthermore, the C-21 steroidal glycosides based on different types of aglucones were prone in different medicinal parts of C. auriculatum.