Crop Samples Research Articles

Seed germination of wheat, rye and triticale at different storage variants

Germinating ability of winter and winterspring hexaploid triticale seeds, as well as wheat and rye seeds, after nine years of room storage at the temperature of 18-24°C, was studied. The experiment was laid in autumn 2008 and included four repetitions of crop samples within each storage variant: in ears and threshed seeds, in paper and plastic bags. For the experiment, the seeds of the new harvest were dried for 2 months in sheaves. In autumn 2017, the seeds were germinated at the temperature of 24 °C. The most acceptable variants of seed storage (in plastic bags and in ears) as well as differences in seed germinating ability of crops and variety specimens of different development types were revealed. Seed germinating ability of all three crops was satisfactory when stored in ears (68 ± 3%) and in plastic bags (70 ± 3%). Reduced germinating ability (59 ± 2%) was noted after storage in paper bags. When stored in plastic bags, the seeds of winter varieties of triticale, Sears 57 and Cecad 90, showed increased germinating ability: 77 ± 3% and 74 ± 2%, respectively. The seed germinating ability of all winter crops was higher than that of winterspring analogues. Triticale excess averaged 9%, wheat - 4.5%, winter rye - 12%. Among all studied crops and samples, the most late-maturing genotype of winter-spring triticale Cecad 90/5 had the lowest seed germinating ability (45 ± 3%), while winter rye variety Korotkostebelnaya 69 had the highest one (84 ± 4%). The diploid rye had an average seed germination rate by 11% higher than the tetraploid one. Wheat and rye had higher seed germinating ability in all variants of the experiment than triticale genotypes, the germinating ability indices being 72 ± 3%, 68 ± 3% and 61 ± 2%, respectively.

Assessment of Agricultural Practices in Maize Crops (Zea mays) Based on Elemental Profile and Chemometrics Analysis

In this work the effects produced by two treatments on maize crop samples have been studied. Analysis of maize grain based on two types of agronomical conditions was performed on: (a) lots treated with different fertilizers and (b) lots with different crop density. Analysis was carried out by microwave induced plasma with optical emission spectrometry (MIP OES) and included the quantification of 11 elements: Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb and Zn. With the purpose of understand the effect of agricultural practices on elemental profile, principal components analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used as chemometrics tools, finding a correct grouping of each crop based on the type of treatment. The obtained models can be useful to evaluate agricultural strategies, as well as for determining potential yields in maize crops.

Фрактальний аналіз як елемент інтелектуальної експертної системи в селекції рослин

The purpose. To form methodology and procedure of building system of accumulation and analytically verified use of information of matrixes of digital photo for formation of statistical fund of parametric states of selection samples in various conditions of vegetative period for its further complex unified assessment and analysis within the limits of intellectual expert system. Methods. Instrumental-cameral, matrix-digital, fractal, mathematical-statistical. Results. According to innovative scientific concept of the “third” form of variability of plants statistical fund is formed of parameters of ontogenetic states of selection samples of leading crops in the form of regression equations of fractal dimensions of quantity. Conclusions. Methodology is offered of expert assessment of dynamic system of formation of morpho-metric parameters of plants of selection samples of crops in the form of fractal dimensions of quantity of the most valuable productive elements in general plant stand. The verified technique of compression of data of matrix of digital photo of selection object (5-6 mbyte of information) up to the level of generalized analytic function of regression equation is developed. Principle of automation of cameral processing, built on mathematically correct algorithms of programs of segmentation of digital visualized images, and further compression of the gained segments up to the level of invariant fractal initial systems is realized in selection practice. Principles of formation of system of metadata in the form of phase-parametrical portraits, Liapunov’s fractals, cubic splines for building supersystem of description of ontogenetic development of plants in conditions of definite vegetative period are offered as a prospect for further researches. In the given supersystem there is an opportunity of determination emergent-synergetic regularity of formation of productive phenotype under action of epigenetic-trigger mechanisms of VGS. That opens real prospects of long-term forecasting productivity.

Detection of pesticide residues on intact tomatoes by carbon fiber ionization mass spectrometry.

Trace and toxic pesticide residues may still remain on crops after harvest. Thus, maximum residual levels (MRLs) of pesticides on crops have been regulated. To determine whether the remaining pesticide residue level is below MRL, time-consuming sample pretreatment is needed prior to analysis of crop samples by suitable analytical tools. By elimination of sample pretreatment steps, a high-throughput method can be developed to determine the presence of pesticide residues directly on intact crops. Carbon fiber ionization mass spectrometry (CFI-MS) is effective in determining analytes with different polarities in solid, liquid, and vapor phases in open air. Moreover, the vapor derived from solid or liquid samples possessing high vapor pressure can be readily detected by CFI-MS. The setup of CFI-MS is straightforward. A carbon fiber (diameter of ~ 10μm and length of ~ 1cm) is placed close (~ 1mm) to the inlet of the mass spectrometer applied with a high voltage (- 4.5kV). No direct electrical contact applied on the carbon fiber is required. When placing the sample with certain vapor pressure underneath the carbon fiber, analyte ions derived from the sample can be readily detected by the mass spectrometer. Given that most pesticides possess a certain vapor pressure (~ 1.33 × 10-5-~ 1.33 × 10-4Pa), we herein develop a qualitative and quantitative analysis method to determine pesticide residues on intact fruits such as tomato based on CFI-MS without requiring any sample pretreatment. Atrazine, ametryn, carbofuran, chlorpyrifos, isoprocarb, and methomyl were selected as model samples. Low limits of detection (at nM range) were achieved for the model pesticides using the current approach. Moreover, we demonstrated that the precision and accuracy of quantitative analysis of ~ 5% and ~ 2%, respectively, could be achieved using this approach. Graphical Abstract ᅟ.

Multiresidue Determination of Six Pesticide Adjuvants in Characteristic Minor Crops Using QuEChERS Method and Gas Chromatography‐Mass Spectrometry

AbstractA new multiresidue analysis method using a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) procedure for the determination of 6 pesticide adjuvants (toluene, p‐xylene, o‐xylene, m‐xylene, N, N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) in characteristic minor crops was developed via gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Matrices, including lily bulb, millet, and Chinese yam, were extracted with CH3CN/CH3CN‐H2O and then cleaned up by primary secondary amine (PSA), followed by GC‐MS analysis with selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Under the optimal conditions, the established QuEChERS‐GC/MS method showed good linearity (r>0.998) for all targets with limits of detection of 0.001‐0.005 mg kg‐1 for benzene compounds, 0.012‐0.022 mg kg‐1 for DMF, and 0.012‐0.024 mg kg‐1 for DMSO, respectively. The average recoveries in the three characteristic minor crop samples ranged from 72.9% to 94.9% with relative standard deviations from 2.4% to 9.9%. The method is demonstrated to be accurate, sensitive, and convenient and thus could be applied for routinely monitoring multiresidues of pesticide adjuvants in agro‐products.

The determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some foods from industrialized areas in South Eastern Nigeria: human health risk impact

Abstract This study investigated the potential health risk due to dietary exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) for the populace living around selected industrial areas in the south eastern states of Nigeria. The concentrations of PAHs were measured in edible food crops using Gas Chromatography - Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID). The mean concentration of PAHs in food crops collected ranged from < 0.01 to 2.64 ± 0.02, 5.27 ± 0.04, 0.96 ± 0.02, 8.94 ± 0.01 and 1.95 ± 0.06 in mg/kg for Osisioma, Ishiagu, Irete, Akwuuru, and Ngwo respectively. PAHs distributions in food samples analyzed in this study showed vegetables to be significant higher (p ≤ 0.05) in the order vegetables > fruits > nuts > tubers. Total PAHs (ΣPAHs) concentrations in most crop samples had highest values 14.49, 36.29, 4.59, 23.36 and 21.8 mg/kg for Chyrysophyllum albidum, Telferia occidentalis, Vernonia amygdalina, Talinum triangulare and Elaies guinnensis for Osisioma, Akwuuru, Irete, Ishiagu and Ngwo respectively. The low molecular weight-PAHS/high molecular weight-PAHS were < 1 with values 0.76, 0.18, 0.28, 0.91 and 0.12 for Osisioma, Irete, Akwuuru, Ishiagu and Ngwo respectively. 58.3% and 71.7% of ΣB(a)P and ΣPAHs in food samples in the study areas exceeded the permissible limits set by DPR and EU. The estimated daily intake of PAHs via the ingestion of food crops were within the tolerable range. The carcinogenic risk values for the food crops were within the predicted permissible lifetime risks of carcinogen (10−6-10−4) for adults and children in Osisioma, Akwuuru, Ishiagu and Enugu respectively. Therefore, this study suggests that the populace around industrialized areas in South Eastern Nigeria, may be at risk due to PAHs exposure through food consumption.

Venturia crataegi causing scab on Crataegus songarica: Morpho-molecular characterization and a new record from India

A field survey was conducted in the years 2017 to 2019 for the collection of diseased samples of various crops including Crataegus species, from Pulwama and Srinagar districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The leaf and fruit samples of Crataegus songarica showing scab symptoms were collected and brought to the laboratory. During disease monitoring it was noticed that the disease initiated as dark spots on leaves and fruits; and then often covered the entire surface. The mycelium on host was septate, immersed, subcuticular and pale olivaceous; hyphae branched and 2–4 pm wide. On MEA medium the mycelium was septate, branched, interwoven, light pale to olivaceous brown and 3–5 pm wide. The conidia were solitary, fusiform to obclavate having 01 septum (avg. size; 15.64 × 5.76 pm). Based on morphocultural characteristics the fungus was identified as Venturia crataegi. The identity was confirmed by sequencing of ITS region of the pathogen using ITS1 and ITS4 primer. The ITS sequence was submitted to Genbank of NCBI under Accession No. MK478372. For phylogenetic analysis, the sequence was compared with other sequences of Venturia species available at NCBI which showed close relatedness of the present sequence with V. crataegi (Accession No. MH855705.1). The present study forms the first report of crataegus scab caused by Venturia crataegi from India.

СКРИНИНГ МИРОВОЙ КОЛЛЕКЦИИ ЗЕРНОВЫХ КУЛЬТУР В СРЕДНЕМ ПРИАМУРЬЕ С ЦЕЛЬЮ СОЗДАНИЯ СОРТОВ, ТОЛЕРАНТНЫХ К ИНФЕКЦИОННЫМ ЗАБОЛЕВАНИЯМ

The phytosanitary situation in the agro-biogeocenoses of the Middle Amur Region was considerably complicated due to noncompliance of the rules of crop rotation, oversaturation with a monoculture (soybean), instability of the hydrothermal regime, contributing to a large extent to the spread of a whole complex of diseases. Therefore, continuous monitoring of the gene pool of cereal crops for virulence to fungal diseases in the Middle Amur Region is particularly relevant. In this regard, the purpose of research is to screen the world collection of crops in the Middle Amur Region in order to create varieties that are tolerant to infectious diseases. Based on this, the main tasks of breeding work are to screen the world collection of cereals, isolate efficient sources and donors, and create new varieties and lines of grain crops with high resistance to the most harmful diseases. Over the past twenty years, screening of collection samples of grain crops for phytopathological resistance to fungal diseases and against a natural infectious background has been carried out on the experimental and specifically selected fields of the Far Eastern Research Institute of Agriculture. The object of research is spring wheat, spring oats, spring barley. As a result of research, a decrease in the damage of varieties of grain crops by all types of rust diseases and helminthosporium patches was established. By repeated hybridization and individual selections with the inclusion of effective sources and donors, varieties that are resistant to infectious diseases were created: spring oats - Express, Tigroviy, Premier, Marshal; spring wheat - Khabarovsk, Zaryanka, Lira 98, Elizaveta, Priamurskaya; spring barley - Yerofey, Rus', Musson, Kazminsky. The new generation varieties were transferred to the State Varietal Testing - Cardinal oats, Anfeya wheat and Khabarovsk barley with high immunity to pathogens of various etiologies. New lines of spring wheat, oats and barley, combining high productivity with resistance to the local pathogenic complex of diseases, were identified. There are varieties of spring triticale with high resistance to infectious diseases - AC Certa (Canada), Lana (Belarus), Skory (Leningrad region), Lotos (Belarus), Mykola (Ukraine), Yarilo (Krasnodar region), Pamyat’ Merezhko (Vladimir region .).

Plant introduction as a priority direction of scientific and practical activity of the National Centre for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine

The aim of the article is to summarize the results of plant gene pool samples introduction into the National Plant Genebank from different countries and ecological and geographical zones for use in domestic breeding. Results and Discussion. In 2016 – 2018, 5984 samples were introduced to the Centre for Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine using various information sources, including 2093 samples from Ukraine and 3891 from foreign countries. The greatest samples variety was attracted by cereals, leguminous, fodder, medicinal and essential oil, vegetable and melon crops, corn. Seeds of new forms having valuable properties are attached from research and breeding institutions of Ukraine. The samples of foreign origin were most actively introduced through cooperation with research institutions of Russia, Belarus, and Moldova. A significant number of samples came from genebanks in Europe: the Czech Republic, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands; Asia: Kazakhstan Turkey, Israel, China as well as from South (Mexico) and North America - USA, Canada. The ways of pre-adaptation and adaptation of samples from geographically remote regions for use in Ukraine are indicated. To collect local cultural and wild-growing samples of different crops, collecting missions were carried out in the central and southern regions of the forest-steppe and northeastern regions of Ukraine during which 1641 gene pool samples were collected. For the Red Book species of plants and species that are not listed in the Red Book of Ukraine but are rare or are threatened with extinction under natural conditions, a points have been identified for possible arrangement of in situ conservation reserves. A number of objects with a rich genetic diversity of fodder and medicinal plants have been identified, on which it is necessary to monitor coenoses and ensure in situ conservation. The introduced samples were transferred for use in research and breeding programs in Ukraine. Conclusions. The definition of a model of ecologically adapted in Ukraine genotypes of different crops that are carriers of valuable traits from countries with similar climatic conditions as well as from geographically remote regions, has made it possible to increase the efficiency of introduction and to more specifically search and attract to the National Genebank the plant samples with the necessary manifestation levels of economic and biological traits.

A Science of Our Own: Exhibitions and the Rise of Australian Public Science by Peter H. Hoffenberg

Reviewed by: A Science of Our Own: Exhibitions and the Rise of Australian Public Science by Peter H. Hoffenberg Richard Fulton (bio) A Science of Our Own: Exhibitions and the Rise of Australian Public Science by Peter H. Hoffenberg; pp. vii + 196. U of Pittsburgh P, 2019. $45 cloth. Few events fired a Victorian civic booster’s blood like a good local exhibition. Whether they were comprehensive international affairs such as the Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations—the [End Page 328] 1853 Crystal Palace—focused events such as the 1883 International Fisheries Exhibition in London, colonial events such as the Melbourne International Exhibition (1883), or municipal events such as the Jubilee exhibitions in Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham (1887), all of them had in common a desire to astonish the local folks and, perhaps, the rest of the world with a cornucopia of things: machines, plants, minerals, animals, artifacts, art objects, cultural objects, even indigenous people. Sponsors of the fairs, exhibitions, and expositions professed many reasons for the events, but their overriding concerns were to promote the local municipality, provide a stage to exhibit local business and industry, and make money. But what of the countries and colonies participating in these events, particularly the international expositions? How could they justify the expense of shipping an exhibit great distances—in the case of the Australian colonies, halfway around the world—for what purpose? In A Science of Our Own: Exhibitions and the Rise of Australian Public Science, Peter Hoffenberg touches on the varied reasons that the isolated colonies of the Australian continent gave for participation, but the bottom line was invariably to boost their profile among the family of nations, which translated to enhanced familiarity, which translated to increased trade. We send samples of crops, minerals, and refined products, and our audience responds by buying quantities of our crops, minerals, and refined products. But more importantly, he focuses on a little-discussed aspect of exhibition culture: the place of science in the various exhibits. He contends that by emphasizing science in the public offerings at American, European, colonial, and local expositions, Australian scientists, in co-operation with Australian politicians, industrialists, business owners, and agriculturalists, created an Australian public science, what one Sydney public figure called “a science of our own” (7). Hoffenberg examines the growth of Australian public science by first focusing on the many expositions at which the Australian colonies exhibited Australian things scientific: chronometers, timepieces, and scales at the Sydney International; stuffed animals, a compound microscope, and a recording anemometer at the 1886 Colonial and Indian; tree trunks, animal skins, and cases of valuable minerals at the 1873 Vienna International. Fossils, birds, fishes, trees, and coral were common natural history exhibits, as were the ever-popular “native weapons and implements of chase” (read “boomerangs”), in the sciences of man halls. He then profiles the scientists from New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria who selected the exhibitions, judged at various fairs both in Australia and abroad, wrote the scientific papers that popularized science among their fellow citizens, and lobbied civic officials for support of Australian science generally: Ferdinand Mueller, Rev. W.B. Clarke, Joseph Bosisto, and dozens of others crucial to spreading an enthusiasm for science throughout the Australian colonies. He also examines the place of the indigenous Aborigines in the scientific enterprise, and makes it clear that, far from being dismissed [End Page 329] out of hand, the cultures of the indigenous peoples were carefully studied, artifacts were collected, and linguistic dictionaries were developed, all for international and colonial expositions. Hoffenberg concludes that a study of Australian public science “suggests how both science and the public interest were connected and mutually transformative” (133). The various exhibitions, he argues, were key elements in the network that created a sense of scientific collaboration and intersection, and both professionalized and popularized science in the Australian culture. Thus, he says, the various exhibitions provided a venue through which Australians could reveal themselves to the world as well as to themselves. Readers interested in nineteenth-century Australia will find A Science of Their Own a fascinating trip into a little-known aspect of national development. Readers interested in the...

Differential Spread of Grapevine Red Blotch Virus in California and New York Vineyards

Limited information is available on the spread dynamics of grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV, genus Grablovirus, family Geminiviridae) in vineyards. In this study, we investigated red blotch disease progress in three vineyards with a disparate initial inoculum prevalence. Secondary spread was documented in Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet franc vineyards in California, but not in a Merlot vineyard in New York. Increase in annual disease incidence (4.8, 0.13, and 0%) was unrelated to the estimated initial source of inoculum at planting (1, 40, and 40%) in the Cabernet franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot vineyards, respectively. Limited genetic diversity of GRBV populations in newly infected vines supported localized spread in California vineyards, and suggested the planting material as the primary source of inoculum. Among the community of hemipteran insects visiting two of the three study vineyards, populations of Spissistilus festinus, the vector of GRBV, were absent in the Merlot vineyard and low in the Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard. Furthermore, all cover crop samples collected from GRBV-infected California vineyards each spring of 2016 to 2018, particularly legume species which are preferred hosts of S. festinus, tested negative for GRBV, suggesting a minimal role, if any, in GRBV spread as inoculum reservoirs. Together our findings illustrate differential disease progress in distinct vineyard ecosystems, and support the elimination of virus inoculum sources as an actionable disease management strategy across vineyards.

Plant Disease Diagnosis on Vegetable Crops from Different Locations of the Country

Diseases are one of the major constraints on cultivation of crops and reduce production and productivity. Accurate disease diagnosis and proper identification is the first steps of disease management strategy. The activities of carrying out disease diagnosis help to know the distribution of the diseases in the country, explore new disease outbreak and its epidemiology, and provide information for disease management and support in research area prioritization. During fiscal year 2070/71, 252 different disease samples of different vegetable crops were received from various locations and sources for disease diagnosis. Examination of such samples identified 192 samples with fungal infection, 23 with bacterial infection, 28 with viral infection and 9 with nematode infection. In solanaceous crops, 70% disease caused by fungus and 11% by bacteria, 14% by virus and 5% by nematodes respectively. Likewise, in cucurbit crops, occurrence of pathogens is 61% fungal, 26% viral and 13% nematode respectively. The fugal pathogens were dominant in case of crucifer crops as well. The fungal pathogens were found in 79% of samples and followed by bacterial in 14% and viral in 7% respectively. Only fungal pathogen was detected in bulb and root crops. Fungal pathogens (76%) are the common problem in vegetable crops by followed by bacteria (9%) and virus pathogens (11%) and nematode (4%). The study revealed that management of fungal disease is prime concern to minimize the losses due to disease.

Economic Analysis of Perennial Crop Systems in Dak Lak Province, Vietnam

Dak Lak province, Central Highlands, Vietnam presents an interesting case in perennial crop systems, of which coffee and black pepper are the two premier commodities and contribute a large part to economic growth provincially and at the national level. In recent years, in addition to mono-cropping systems, intercropping systems for diversification have developed quickly. This paper focuses on (1) comparing the economic efficiency of mono-coffee systems (MCSes), mono-pepper systems (MPSes), and coffee and pepper intercropping (CPI) by analyzing startup cost, annual cost, and profits; and (2) identifying the main factors affecting farmers’ decisions to convert their crop systems. The study was carried out by investigating 90 perennial crop samples using the three perennial crop systems (MCSes, MPSes, and CPI) in 2017–2018. Additionally, in-depth interviews and focus group discussion (FGD) methods were applied to collect more information about the operations of each system. Another survey with 37 samples (new plantations) was carried out to compute the startup cost. The findings showed evidence that MCSes had the lowest startup and annual costs, whereas MPSes had the highest costs of the three perennial crop systems. MCSes used less manure or compost in the initial setup and overused chemical fertilizer in annual production. Similarly, MPSes had high pesticide-stimulant costs in the production process to sustain crop development. The study indicated that CPI not only had the highest economic efficiency, but also created the best family employment opportunities of the three systems. Additionally, the study found some social factors that strongly influenced farmers’ decisions to shift their cropping system: These included ethnicity, education, training, and crop failure, in addition to economic factors (profits).

Evaluation of the antimicrobial and intestinal integrity properties of boric acid in broiler chickens infected with Salmonella enteritidis: Proof of concept

The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of boric acid (BA) on Salmonella enteritidis colonization, intestinal permeability, total intestinal IgA levels, and cecal microbiota composition in broiler chickens. For this purpose, sixty day-old-chicks were randomly allocated to one of two groups: 1) non-treated control group and 2) 0.1% (w/w) BA in feed. All chicks were challenged with 104 cfu of S. Enteritidis per bird at 1-d old. On day 3 and 10 post-challenge, samples of crop and ceca-cecal tonsils (CCT) were aseptically collected to evaluate overall aerobic and lactic acid bacteria, as well as S. Enteritidis recovery. Blood and intestinal samples were also collected to evaluate intestinal permeability and total intestinal IgA production, respectively. On day 10 post-challenge, the concentration of S. Enteritidis in crop and CCT significantly decreased (P < .05) by 2.60 log10 and 5.26 log10, respectively, in the BA group compared to the control group. Furthermore, chickens treated with 0.1% BA had a significant reduction in serum fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FITC-d) concentration and lower total intestinal IgA levels when compared to the control group. Interestingly, in the microbiota analysis, only the abundance of Actinobacteria phylum was significantly lower in the BA group in comparison with the control group and significant differences in beta diversity were also observed between comparing groups. The results of the present study suggest that BA could maintain intestinal homeostasis, as well as the balance in the microbiota due to its effectiveness in controlling S. Enteritidis infection.

Do we need more drought for better nutrition? The effect of precipitation on nutrient concentration in East African food crops

Soil, inputs, and environmental factors such as weather control plant nutrient availability and nutrient content in food. Drought periods affect nutrient bioavailability. Nutrient transport within the plant and allocation of nutrients within organs of the plant is water dependent and therefore drought susceptible. This study compared Kapchorwa, Uganda and Teso South, Kenya that experienced drought during the second season in 2016. The main research questions were: (i) do droughts have an impact on the nutrient composition of food; (ii) is there a difference in nutrient concentrations in food based on their xylem or phloem mobility?Maize (Zea mays) grain (n = 62) and matooke (Musa acuminata) fruit samples (n = 90) in Kapchorwa, and maize grain (n = 61) and cassava (Manihot esculenta) tuber (n = 64) in Teso South were collected during a normal season (March–July) and drought season (October–December) in 2016. Crop samples were analysed using a pXRF for P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was calculated using TAMSAT database to compare drought intensities.The drought in Kapchorwa (SPI: −1.14 to −0.32) was severer and began 2 months prior to Teso South (SPI: 0.09 to 0.55). Nutrient concentration in Kapchorwa decreased significantly from normal to drought in both crops. In contrast, during the moderate drought in Teso South, nutrient concentrations increased significantly. Lacking nutrient phloem mobility is suggested to play a vital role in mobilisation of micronutrients (Fe, Mn, and Cu) as shown by their decreased concentration under severe drought in the yield. Total nutrients assimilated in crop samples were significantly higher in the normal than the drought for almost all samples.Micronutrients and yields during drought were strongly affected, leading to a double-burden for consumers through affected quantity and quality. Future research considerations should particularly include the focus on potential nutrient increases during mild drought.

Quantitative Analysis of Ra-226 Biomagnification near Fracking Sites: A Research Protocol

Hydraulic fracturing is a controversial method of natural gas extraction that uses high pressure water to release natural gas. Although research has been conducted on the environmental impact of fracking, toxicological and geological re-search concerning naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs) has been scarce. Radionuclides are known to bioaccumulate in the environment and can have toxic effects on humans. This study aims to examine the extent of bi-omagnification of radium-226 from fracking sites to local water (lakes) and agriculture (farmland, livestock pastures). Water samples from areas near fracking sites and homogenized samples of soil and crops will be analyzed by gamma spectroscopy. The data set is expected to be non-normal, therefore, the Mann-Whitney U-test will be used to compare samples between fracking and non-fracking regions. If NORM contamination is significant, it can then be linked to health impacts in humans by assessing carcinogenic risk. If the results show that there are higher levels of Ra-226 in the water near fracking sites and cattle water compared to the control water, as well as progressively higher levels of Ra-226 contamination throughout trophic levels, it can be concluded that fracking poses a potentially radioactive threat to human health. The results of our proposal may indicate tremendous implications on human health as Ra-226 is a chemical that bioaccumulates. Therefore, the results of our study may demonstrate the detrimental impact of radi-um through fracking.

Profiles and potential health risks of heavy metals in soil and crops from the watershed of Xi River in Northeast China

Heavy metal soil contamination is a major environmental concern in China and has drawn significant public attention in recent years. The present study assessed the human health risk of four heavy metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, and zinc) through soil exposure and dietary intake in the watershed of Xi River, west of Shenyang, Liaoning Province, northeast China. Concentrations of Cd, Pb, Hg, and Zn were determined in 411 soil samples and 59 crop samples collected from this area. The health risks of heavy metal exposure via soil ingestion, inhalation, dermal contact, and dietary intake of crops were further estimated; total hazard index values were 1.15, 1.33, and 2.03 for the adult male, adult female, and children, respectively, and the total cancer risk was 3.7 × 10−3 for the local residents. Among the four investigated heavy metals, Cd was the primary pollutant posing health risks. The estimated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks posed by the studied heavy metals were above the acceptable levels proposed by the U.S. EPA. Dietary intake of contaminated crops was identified as the predominant pathway for human heavy metal exposure in this area, suggesting that soil heavy metals can cause more harm when transported to the food chain. Overall, our findings suggest that the Xi River watershed is unsuitable for growing agricultural products, and more effective controls should be taken to curb future heavy metal pollution in the area.

Development and diffusion of practical technologies for pesticide residue analysis.

We often encounter difficulties in analyzing pesticide residues in food, since the residue level to be measured is infinitesimal but the food samples may contain a variety of matrices, including interferences, for chromatographic analysis. Thus it is important to find out the key points to be checked in the extraction, purification, and determination steps of analysis. We have attempted to develop practical technologies for the analysis of pesticide residues in raw agricultural commodities based on the following studies: The effect of processing and cooking on pesticide residue levels in several crop samples (rice, wheat, soybean, and sesame) was investigated. The processing factor is useful to estimate the amount of exposure to each pesticide residue for risk assessment and is helpful in setting the maximum residue limits of processed foods. In addition, residue levels in the peel and pulp of watermelon, melon, and kiwi fruit samples were examined to confirm the differences in the distribution of residues. As a basic study, the effect of water-soaking pretreatment of powdered dry cereal on extraction efficiency was examined, and an optimal time for water-soaking was found. A recent study examined the ability of several new types of solid-phase extraction columns to remove matrices in brown rice samples and verified the effective purification method for each sample.

An apple a day? Assessing gardeners' lead exposure in urban agriculture sites to improve the derivation of soil assessment criteria

Globally, many of our urban agriculture sites (UAS) contain high levels of lead (Pb), a contaminant of toxicological concern to humans. To improve the derivation of soil assessment criteria at UAS, and avoid inappropriate closure of these valuable community spaces, we sampled nearly 280 paired soil and crop samples across 31 UAS gardens. This sampling was coupled with an exposure and food frequency questionnaire and participants blood Pb levels (BLL), (43 gardeners and 29 non-gardening neighbours). In 98% of the sampled soils, Pb concentrations were above the current UK soil guideline for UAS (80 mg/kg), however despite the high soil Pb (geometric mean: 324 mg/kg), and high soil bioaccessible Pb (geometric mean: 58.7%), all participants BLL were <4.1 μg/dL (range: 0.6–4.1 μg/dL). Indeed, there was no statistically significant difference between the BLL of the UAS gardeners and those of their non-gardening neighbours (p = 0.569).Pb uptake, however, varied with crop type and our study highlights the suitability of certain crops for growing at UAS with elevated Pb (e.g. tubers, shrub and tree fruit), whilst limiting the consumption of others (selected root vegetables, such as rhubarb, beetroot, parsnips and carrots, with observed Pb concentrations > 0.1 mg/kg FW).The importance of defining the exposure scenario of a specific sub-population (i.e. UAS gardeners) is highlighted. Our preferred models predict site specific assessment criteria (SSAC) of 722–1634 mg/kg. We found fruit and vegetable consumption rates by all participants, and not just the UAS gardeners, to be considerably higher than those currently used to derive the UK's category 4 screening levels (C4SLs). Furthermore, the soil to plant concentration factors (SPCFs) used to derive the UAS C4SL significantly over predict Pb uptake. Our study indicates it may be appropriate to develop a distinct exposure dataset for UAS. In particular we recommend the derivation of SPCFs that are reflective of urban soils, both in terms of the range of soil Pb concentrations typically observed, but also the sources (and hence human oral bioaccessibility and plant-availability) of this Pb.

Crop Characteristics of Aquatic Macrophytes for Use as a Substrate in Anaerobic Digestion Plants—A Study from Germany

Several thousand metric tonnes of aquatic biomass are removed from water bodies every year, so that these waters can continue to be used for ship and boat traffic and for leisure activities. The mowed material is generally disposed off without any further use. Therefore, the crop properties of samples from 39 weed control measures all over Germany were examined to assess the suitability of aquatic plant biomass as a substrate for anaerobic digestion systems. Analysis of the crop samples consisted of the identification of plant species and the evaluation of sediment contents and concentrations of macroelements. The methane yield was determined for selected aquatic plants. Analysis revealed a carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N) of between 10 and 20 in 74% of samples. The concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous in the samples were comparable to grass silages. With regard to heavy metal concentrations, the threshold values for biowaste for nickel, zinc, and cadmium were exceeded in three samples. There were no significant seasonal differences in substrate characteristics and qualities. The specific methane yields of individual aquatic plants were between 142 and 372 LCH4/kg volatile solids (VS). The results of this study showed that aquatic macrophytes can be used as substrates in anaerobic digestion plants without any restrictions.