Fertilizer Samples Research Articles

PEMANFAATAN ZEOLIT ALAM ENDE UNTUK MENINGKATKAN KADAR HARA PUPUK ORGANIK

Indonesia is an agrarian country. Therefore, the method of cultivating agricultural crops needs to be continuously improved through various methods. It starts from land management techniques, the use of pesticides, manufacture of superior seeds, to innovations that produce fertilizers in an effort to increase crop productivity. The use of organic fertilizers are very good in increasing nutrient content and plant growth, but organic fertilizers on the market generally have low nutrient content and slow nutrient supply compared to inorganic fertilizers. Therefore, to increase the nutrient content in organic fertilizers, it is necessary to formulate fertilizers with mineral enrichment into organic fertilizers such as those found in mineral zeolites.
 The Zeolite mineral is broken down. Then, it is ground into a fine powder and is sieved, physically activated through a heating process in an oven at a temperature of 300 - 4000C for 3 hours. Organic fertilizers are sifted and weighed, put into containers with variations in weight, namely 25; 50 and 75 g. Zeolite was mixed with samples of organic fertilizer until it becomes a homogeneous colloid with a weight ratio of 25 g Zeolite: 75 g fertilizer, 50 g Zeolite: 50 g fertilizer and 75 g Zeolite: 25 g fertilizer.
 The results showed that mixing Zeolite into organic fertilizer was able to increase the levels of macro nutrients in organic fertilizers, except for the levels of N nutrients contained in organic fertilizers. The best composition for a mixture of Zeolite and organic fertilizer in regular fertilization is a mixture of x1 (25 g Zeolite and 75 g organic fertilizer or a ratio of 1: 3), to prepare land as a planting medium is a mixture of x2 (50 g Zeolite and 50 g organic fertilizer or a ratio of 1:1), and if it will be used to repair the damage to the physical and chemical properties of the soil, the mixture is x3 (75 g Zeolite and 25 g organic fertilizer or a ratio of 3: 1).

A lack of a definite correlation between male sub-fertility and single nucleotide polymorphisms in sperm mitochondrial genes MT-CO3, MT-ATP6 and MT-ATP8

BackgroundAn inability of a man to conceive a potentially fertile woman after a year of unprotected intercourse is defined as male infertility. It is reported that 30–40% of males in their reproductive years have abnormalities in sperm production, either qualitatively or quantitatively, or both. However, genetic factors result in up to 15% of male infertility cases. The present study aimed to analyze the possible correlations between sub-fertility and polymorphisms in sperm mitochondrial CO3, ATP6 and ATP8 genes in sub-fertile men.Methods and resultsFor 67 sub-fertile and 44 fertile male samples, Sanger sequencing of selected mitochondrial DNA genes was done. A total of twelve SNPs in the MT-CO3 gene: rs2248727, rs7520428, rs3134801, rs9743, rs28358272, rs2853824, rs2856985, rs2854139, rs41347846, rs28380140, rs3902407, and 28,411,821, fourteen SNPs in the MT-ATP6: rs2001031, rs2000975, rs2298011, rs7520428, rs9645429, rs112660509, rs6650105, rs6594033, rs6594034, rs6594035, rs3020563, rs28358887, rs2096044, and rs9283154, and ten SNPs in the MT-ATP8: rs9285835, rs9285836, rs9283154, rs8179289, rs121434446, rs1116906, rs2153588, rs1116905, rs1116907, and rs3020563 were detected in the case and control groups at different nucleotide positions. Only the rs7520428 in the MT-CO3 and MT-ATP6 showed a statistically significant difference between sub-fertile and fertile groups in the genotype’s and allele’s frequency test (P < 0.0001 for both).ConclusionThe results of our study suggest that male sub-fertility is linked with rs7520428 SNP in MT-CO3 and MT-ATP6. The studied polymorphic variations in the MT-ATP8 gene, on the contrary, did not reveal any significant association with male sub-fertility.

Thread-Based Analytical Device for Determination of Phosphorus Content in Fertilizers

A simple microfluidic thread-based analytical device (mTAD) for determination of phosphorus content in fertilizers based on the formation of phosphomolybdenum blue (PMB) complex was proposed. The proposed mTAD was simply fabricated by stitching the 100 % cotton thread to the polyethylene (PE) mesh canvas. A color developing reagent, which are the mixture of sulfuric acid, ammonium molybdate, potassium antimony tartrate, and ascorbic acid, was firstly loaded into the middle of the thread. A sample solution was subsequently introduced into the same position to form PMB. A digital camera and image processing program were employed for evaluating color intensity of PMB. Variable parameters affecting the mTAD efficiencies were optimized i.e., solution volumes, chemical concentrations, and reaction time. The applicability of the proposed mTAD method was evaluated by analyzing fertilizer samples. The accuracy as expressed by percentages of recovery ranged between 83 and 96 %. The method was highly reproducible with the relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.84 % (1 mgP/L), 0.92 % (3 mgP/L) and 1.04 % (10 mgP/L) for 10 replicates. The main features of the system are the used of commonly available materials, simple and rapid fabrication, small scale, reduced chemical waste, less sample consumption, and low-cost.&#x0D; HIGHLIGHTS&#x0D; &#x0D; Simple materials such as 100 % cotton thread and PE mesh canvas can be used for fabricating µTAD&#x0D; The proposed µTAD method was fast analysis and good sensitivity (as low as nmol P level within 6 minutes) by using small amount of reagent and sample solutions&#x0D; The method was successfully determining the phosphorus content in fertilizers&#x0D; &#x0D; GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Raman spectroscopy coupled to high-resolution continuum source flame molecular absorption spectrometry for sequential determination of nitrogen species in fertilizers

Raman spectroscopy (RS) was used to identify and quantify different nitrogen species in fertilizers. This is a fast and inexpensive method that requires no extensive sample preparation. Urea and nitrate were determined at 1000 and 1045cm-1, respectively. Calibration plots obtained for these analytes showed adequate linearity, with regression coefficients (r) of 0.9989 and 0.9976, respectively. Ammonium was determined by difference after total N determination by high-resolution continuum source flame molecular absorption spectrometry (HR-CS FMAS), which provided a calibration plot with r=0.9960. The inline coupling of RS and HR-CS FMAS allowed for a fast sequential determination of ammonium, nitrate, and urea, with limits of detection of 0.03mg/L ammonium, 0.03mg/L nitrate, and 0.01mg/L urea. Relative standard deviations were≤11%, and the external standard calibration method provided accurate results for all analytes determined in certified reference materials, raw materials, and commercial samples of fertilizers. For comparison purposes, all samples were also analyzed by traditional Kjeldahl method. The RS HR-CS FMAS method was further validated by addition and recovery experiments, which provided recoveries in the 93 - 113% range.

Evaluation of real-time nutrient analysis of fertilized raspberry using petiole sap.

The time delay in receiving conventional tissue nutrient analysis results caused red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) growers to be interested in rapid sap tests to provide real-time results to guide immediate nutrient management practices. However, sap analysis has never been conducted in raspberry. The present work aimed to evaluate the relationship of petiole sap nitrate (NO3–), potassium (K+), and calcium (Ca2+) concentrations measured using compact ion meters and leaf tissue total nitrogen (TN), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca) concentrations measured using conventional tissue nutrient analysis. The relationship of petiole sap NO3– and leaf tissue TN concentrations with plant growth and production variables was also explored. Fertilizer treatments of urea were surface applied to raised beds of established “Meeker” floricane red raspberry plots at control, low, medium, and high rates (0, 34, 67, and 101 kg N ha–1, respectively) in 2019 and 2020. The experiment was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Whole leaves were collected from representative primocanes in mid- and late- July and August 2019 and 2020 (i.e., four sampling time points per year). At each sampling time point, a subsample of leaves was used for petiole sap analyses of NO3–, K+, and Ca2+ concentrations using compact ion meters, and conventional tissue testing of leaf tissue TN, K, and Ca concentrations, respectively. There were no interactions between N fertilizer rate and year nor between N fertilizer rate and sampling time. No significant differences were found due to N fertilizer rate for petiole sap NO3–, K+, Ca2+ nor leaf tissue TN, K, Ca concentrations. However, significant year and sampling time effects occurred in measured petiole sap and leaf tissue nutrient concentrations. Overall, the correlations between petiole sap NO3– and leaf tissue TN, petiole sap Ca2+ and leaf tissue Ca, petiole sap K+ and leaf tissue K concentrations were non-strong and inconsistent. Future research is warranted as the interpretation of correlations between raspberry petiole sap and leaf tissue nutrient concentrations were inconclusive.

SPATA16 promoter hypermethylation and downregulation in male infertility.

Spermatogenesis associated 16 (SPATA16) gene plays an important role in acrosome formation. In this study, we analysed SPATA16 promoter methylation in 29 oligozoospermic infertile and 16 normozoospermic fertile sperm samples and in testicular biopsy from 16 non-obstructive azoospermic and 2 obstructive azoospermic individuals. Next, we analysed SPATA16 level in sperm from 8 oligozoospermic infertile, 6 normozoospermic fertile, 9 IVF failed normozoospermic and 10 IVF successful normozoospermic samples by immunoblotting. This was followed by the analysis of SPATA16 expression in testicular biopsy from azoospermic individuals (n=8) in comparison to normozoospermic individuals (n=2). Oligozoospermic infertile sperm samples showed significantly higher methylation in the SPATA16 promoter region. Similarly, testicular biopsy from azoospermic men also showed significantly higher level of DNA methylation. Sub-group analysis of infertile sperm and testicular biopsy samples showed a direct correlation between DNA methylation and the degree of spermatogenic impairment. Oligozoospermic infertile samples and IVF failed samples showed reduced SPATA16 expression in comparison to normozoospermic fertile and IVF successful samples, respectively. Human biopsy analysis showed a significant decrease in SPATA16 expression in hypospermatogenesis, maturation arrest and Sertoli cell only syndrome. In conclusion, hypermethylation in SPATA16 promoter shows a highly significant correlation with infertility, which is consistent with its down-regulation in infertility.

Effect of organic fertilizers based on chicken manure on oat productivity and microbiological indicators of the soil

The results of studying the effect of preparations based on chicken manure on the growth and development of oats are presented. Chicken manure contains valuable substances that are easily used by plants, but because of the large number of pathogens, its use can lead to pollution of the environment. Currently, a promising direction is the use of poultry manure after additional treatment. Recycled chicken manure was used in the research using a cavitation-vortex heat generator by distilling dry manure as a 10% solution in water and obtaining various fertilizer samples. The manure was treated at different thermal regimes - 60 and 75 °C, with or without ozone. The effect of organic fertilizers based on chicken manure on soil biological activity and productivity of oats was studied. Numbers of the main groups of microorganisms were established by the conventional method of seeding on nutrient dense media. Soil phytotoxicity was determined according to the test-object recommendations. Oat growth and development were studied during the vegetation period, evaluating the onset of phenological phases, biometric indicators and elements of yield structure. A negative effect of chicken manure on the microflora (the appearance of conditionally phytopathogenic fungi) and phytotoxicity of soil, as well as on the condition of cultivated plants was revealed. The manure processed by distillation into organic fertilizer improves the environmental situation. A positive effect of organic fertilizers based on poultry manure on the phytosanitary state of the soil and nitrogen-fixing activity of the soil was found. An increase in productivity of oats was noted on the background of the application of organic fertilizers. There was a significant increase in green mass and dry matter in the flowering phase of oats by 6.0-6.2 and 1.1-1.7 tons/ha, respectively. Oat grain yield was higher by 0.7-0.8 t/ha, or 20%, compared to the control.

Determination of phosphorus in water and chemical fertilizer samples using a simple drawing microfluidic paper-based analytical device.

A simple one-step drawing for the cost-effective fabrication of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) for the determination of phosphate content in water and fertilizer samples is presented in this paper. The hydrophobic barrier of µPAD was patterned using a 2-mm tip marker pen using a transparent acrylic sheet template. The molybdenum blue reaction using ascorbic acid as a reducing agent was used. A pre-concentration step of samples is proposed to improve the sensitivity of the measurement. The blue complex produced on the µPADs was recorded using a smartphone camera. The color intensities (red, green, blue and gray) were analyzed using ImageJ program. The proposed µPAD method provides a linear calibration range from 0 to 100mg L-1 P. The limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 0.7mg L-1 P with a precision of 3.1%RSD for 50mg L-1 P (n = 10). The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of phosphorus contents in water and liquid chemical fertilizer samples. The results obtained from µPAD agreed with a spectrophotometric method using paired t test at a 95% confidence level.

Profiling microalgal cultures growing on municipal wastewater and fertilizer media in raceway photobioreactors

Microalgae cultivation is proposed as an effective system for pathogens reduction and wastewater depuration, however, a full characterisation of the risks is still needed. Two raceways were inoculated with Scenedesmus, one using wastewater and the other using a fertilizer medium. Microbial community and pathogen presence were explored by next generation sequencing (NGS), commercial qPCR array and plate counts. These methods proved to be complementary for a full characterization of community structure and potential risks. Media and sampling locations contributed to shape communities and pathogenic loads. The main pathogenic genera detected were Arcobacter and Elizabethkingia (mainly in wastewater) with an important presence of Aeromonas (all samples). A lower presence of pathogens was detected in fertilizer samples, while wastewater showed a reduction from inlet to outlet. Raceways showed potential as an effective biotreatment, with most of the retained pathogens released in the outlet and only a minor part settled in the biomass.

About this Issue

This BrJAC issue starts with an interview with Edenir R. Pereira Filho, an Associate Professor at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar). His research spans multiple sectors, including spectroanalytical methods for direct solid sample analysis, especially electronic waste. He is also an expert in designing experiments using chemometric tools and has a YouTube channel to share his research group´s contributions. He finished his pleasant interview with an important comment: “Treat your students with special care.”. The point of view shows an interesting and relevant discussion on the limit of detection (LOD) and the use of significant digits. The author’s conclusion is clearly stated: “The LOD must be reported with a single digit, which is significant but uncertain”. I completely agree with such a claim and reinforce that as scientists that handle numbers, we have to be aware that all measurements contain some kind of uncertainty, and significant figures show us what that uncertainty is. Nanomaterials have been increasingly studied for medical applications, and one crucial aspect that has drawn attention is the safety concerns of handling and using nanoparticles. Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Accordingly, the letter presents a thorough discussion on nanostructured materials and provides an update on the challenges associated with nanomaterials production with a focus on nanomedicine. Analytical chemistry has always been associated with the needs of society, and two reviews address issues involving environmental analysis. One of them gives an overview of arsenic speciation methods and the challenges represented by contamination in soil, water, and food supplements. The other reports the analysis of compounds using minimal or no sample preparation. Such an approach includes the development of less invasive and more continuous testing, resulting in devices that cover the trend of point-of-care (POC) analysis. Two exciting articles have been included in this BrJAC issue. The first reports on the synthesis, characterization, and application of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks for adsorption processes. The authors have demonstrated that their material presents excellent adsorption capacity and can be successfully employed to remove arsenic species from aquatic environments. The other article describes a thorough study on a cost-effective sorbent (a lignin-based bio-alkyd resin) prepared from the reaction between oxidized lignin with a mixture of palmitic acid and glycerol. Molybdenum (in the form of a Mo/thiocyanate complex) can be selectively extracted from complex samples (mice liver, pharmaceuticals, water, and fertilizer samples) for further spectrophotometric detection with enhanced sensitivity. As for technical notes, the issue presents two attractive studies. The first shows how the combination of threshold QTOF-MS measurements and quantum-chemical calculations allows for the understanding of the increased stability of sodiated sucralose compared to the protonated one. Neodymium and praseodymium can be found in permanent magnets at very low levels, and a method to determine both metals with high accuracy and precision is presented in the other work. It is exciting to see the growing interest of researchers worldwide for BrJAC, as shown in this issue. The articles reveal that analytical chemistry is a long-standing example of an interdisciplinary approach to scientific research, pushing the field into emerging topics of societal importance.

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in organic fertilizers in China

The use of organic fertilizers is becoming a routine measure of soil improvement in China, and therefore organic fertilizers are considered an emerging contributor to microplastic accumulation in farmland soils. However, little is known regarding the microplastic contents in organic fertilizers used across China. Here, we investigated the occurrence and distribution of microplastics in 102 organic fertilizer samples across 22 provincial administrative regions of China to serve as a basis for the development of better microplastic management strategies. Organic fertilizers are made of a wide variety of feedstocks, including livestock manure (chicken, cow, goat, and pig manure) and bacterial residues etc., and are mainly produced via aerobic composting. In present study, microplastics within a 0.1-5 mm range in different types of organic fertilizers were separated using a general sequential density flotation method. Microplastic abundances ranged from undetectable to 2550 items/kg, with an average value of 325 ± 511 items/kg and a detection frequency of 80.4 %. The highest microplastic abundances were detected in Beijing City (758 items/kg) and in compound organic fertilizers (average of 386 items/kg). The microplastics in organic fertilizer were primarily white/transparent (75.9 %), 1-3 mm in size (55 %), and film-shaped (39 %). Interestingly, microplastics were not detected in cow dung fertilizer, suggesting that cow dung-based fertilizers might generally contain lower microplastic levels. Moreover, organic fertilizer microplastics tended to be concentrated in provincial areas with intensive agriculture, and the input flux of microplastics from organic fertilizer into fertilized soils reached an average of 5.07 × 1012 items per year. Collectively, our findings provide key insights into the current state of microplastic levels in organic fertilizers in China and serve as a basis for the creation of novel microplastic mitigation strategies in farmland soils.

Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy for Determination of Toxic Metals in Fertilizers: emphasis on Lead

The present work aims to evaluate the content of some toxic metals in chemical and organic fertilizers purchased from local markets in Baghdad, Iraq. The analysis was performed by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system. The emission spectral lines of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd) and cobalt (Co) have been recorded to determine the best peak representing each element according to the NIST database. The validity of the LIBS procedure was checked by cross-validating the obtained results using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) with a maximum relative error of 5.3%. Moreover, for qualitative analysis, Pb I 296.64 nm emission line was determined to be superior for the evaluation of lead content in terms of three calibration methods: the external standard (ES), the internal standard (IS), and the multiple linear regression (MLR). The linear correlation coefficient values were : 0.94, 0.97 and 0.992, respectively. LIBS results based on the multiple linear regression (MLR) model have demonstrated better performance and were adopted in the assessment of the Pb content in solid fertilizer samples.

P-409 The endometrial transcriptome of infertile women with and without recurrent implantation failure

Abstract Study question Does the endometrial transcriptome profile differ between infertile women with or without a recurrent implantation failure (RIF)? Summary answer Although two different clusters emerged from the endometrial transcriptome data, these were not associated with clinical phenotype (RIF vs non-RIF). What is known already Despite the transfer of morphologically ‘good-quality’ embryos in IVF/ICSI, implantation failure often occurs, which may be explained by impaired endometrial receptivity. In order to guide prognosis and use effective therapeutic interventions, identifying a gene expression profile predictive of endometrial receptivity as well as implantation failure, would be of great value. Additionally, transcriptome analysis may also shed light on alterations in biological processes responsible for the implantation failure. Thousands of potential biomarkers for endometrial receptivity have already been identified by transcriptomic approach, however due to differences in study methodology, there is little overlap of markers between studies. Study design, size, duration Endometrial tissue was obtained from a cohort of 141 infertile women undergoing endometrial scratching within a randomised controlled trial (RCT) (SCRaTCH trial, NL5193/NTR5342). Briefly, women aged 18-44 years with failed implantation after one full IVF/ICSI cycle and planning a subsequent IVF/ICSI cycle, were eligible. Participants were followed-up until 12 months after randomisation, with the primary outcome being live birth, defined as the delivery of at least one live foetus after 24 weeks of gestation. Participants/materials, setting, methods Endometrial tissue was obtained with an endometrial biopsy catheter in the midluteal phase of a natural cycle preceding subsequent IVF/ICSI. Biopsies were snap-frozen and stored at -80 °C until use. After thawing, total RNA isolation, library preparation and paired-end RNA-sequencing were performed. Raw data was preprocessed and mapped to GRCh38. Reads (counts per million) were normalised using library size. Differential gene expression (DGE) analysis was conducted using the EdgeR package with significance threshold FDR &amp;lt;0.05. Main results and the role of chance Out of 141 endometrium samples, 107 were included in the RNA-sequencing based on RNA quality. For DGE analysis, data of two groups were compared: the ‘fertile’ group, women with a live birth after ≤3 good quality embryo(s) transfers (n = 23), and the RIF group, women with no live birth after ≥3 good quality embryo(s) transfers (n = 23). Two clusters were visible in the principle component analysis (PCA) plot showing transcriptome data of the fertile and RIF samples (cluster 1, n = 29; cluster 2, n = 10), which was not explained by clinical phenotype, as both clusters contained samples of both the fertile and RIF group. DGE analysis between the fertile and RIF group resulted in respectively 3 significantly upregulated and 0 significantly downregulated genes, whereas DGE analysis between the two clusters resulted in 2,235 significantly upregulated and 2,162 significantly downregulated genes. Enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes between both clusters demonstrated upregulation of enriched terms mainly annotated to cell migration and downregulation of enriched terms mainly annotated to lipid and mitochondrial metabolism. Limitations, reasons for caution A strength of the study is the large number of samples included. Bulk RNA-sequencing was conducted and there was a variation in LH-based timing of the biopsies (5-8 days after LH surge) for which adjustments of the transcriptome data for tissue cellular composition and menstrual cycle were performed. Wider implications of the findings Future studies investigating underlying biological mechanisms in the endometrium in (in)fertility by a (multi-)omics analysis approach with standardised methodology are required to obtain consistencies in relevant biomarkers/pathways, and in due course create possibilities to improve and personalise care for infertile couples. Trial registration number NL5193/NTR5342

Comparing the use of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Spectrophotometry to measure the amount of chitosan in water-soluble fertilizers

Several analytical techniques, including High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Spectrophotometry, were developed to quantify the chitosan content in water-soluble fertilizers, with a focus on optimizing the hydrolysis conditions for chitosan. The results showed that the optimal hydrolysis was found to occur using a 1+1 hydrochloric acid solution at 100°C for 24 hours. For HPLC, using 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP) as the derivatizing agent, the method exhibited a linear range of 1-200 mg/L, a detection limit of 0.07 mg/L, and a spiked recovery rate of 95%-101%. Spectrophotometry, on the other hand, had a linear range of 0-100 μg, a detection limit of 0.47 μg, and a recovery rate of 94%. The two methods demonstrated good agreement in their determination of chitosan content in water-soluble fertilizer samples, satisfying the analytical requirements for chitosan in such fertilizers. HPLC proved to be more efficient with fewer interference factors. Additionally, the use of methyl fluorene chloroformate (FMOC-Cl) as a derivatizing agent for chitosan hydrolysate, followed by detection with HPLC, yielded results that were essentially consistent with the previous two methods. However, the HPLC and spectrophotometry methods established in this study were not suitable for determining chitosan content in water-soluble fertilizers that contain nitrates.

Evaluation of Natural Radionuclides in Samples of Plant Fertilizers Used in Iraq and Radiation Hazard Indicators

Evaluation of Natural Radionuclides in Samples of Plant Fertilizers Used in Iraq and Radiation Hazard Indicators

Evaluation of a Lignin Bio-alkyd Resin for the Selective Determination of Molybdenum in Biological, Pharmaceutical, Fertilizer and Water Samples

A lignin-based bio-alkyd resin (LA-Resin) was synthesized by the polycondensation reaction of lignin with a mixture of palmitic acid and glycerol. The LA-Resin was characterized using many techniques, including scanning electron microscope, FTIR, X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. LA-Resin was proven to have graphitized structures with enhanced surface functional groups, showing a slightly basic character (pHZCP = 7.8). It has a relatively better cation exchange capacity (0.70 mmol g-1) in addition to the ability for physical adsorption. The performance of LA-Resin was assessed for the uptake of molybdenum (Mo), followed by spectrophotometric determination, applying both batch and column techniques. Elevated sorption percentages of Mo were observed in acidic medium H2SO4 (1.5 mol L-1) in the presence of ascorbic acid (0.050 mol L-1) and NH4SCN (0.10 mol L-1). The method was successfully applied to the separation and determination of Mo in mice liver, pharmaceuticals, water and fertilizer samples. Validation showed good recovery (96.6-99.6%), sensitivity (LOD, 0.9-4.0 μg L-1), repeatability (RSD% ≤1.5%) and linearity (R2 = 0.984), demonstrating a good quantitative performance of the method. Mo in all investigated samples regardless of different matrices were well-separated and detected, indicating that the method is sensitive enough to detect low concentrations of Mo even in small samples such as mice liver.

Method development and validation for the determination of potassium (K2O) in fertilizer samples by flame photometry technique

Fertilizer samples are tested for determining their nutrient contents; however, different methods give varying results. Therefore, the major objective of this study was to develop and validate potassium determination method by flame photometry technique. Flame photometry technique for the quantification of potassium concentration in fertilizer samples was validated in Soil and Water Testing Laboratory (ISO/IEC: 17025), Dera Ghazi Khan. The method validation was done for repeatability, reproducibility, limit of detection, limit of quantification, linearity, recovery, selectivity, and bias. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.87% and 2.88% K 2 O, respectively. The repeatability was 0.33%, and reproducibility (T-calculated was 0.69 which was less than T-tabulated, i.e., 2.06). Linear curve was obtained for concentrations ranging from 5 to 25 ppm (K) exhibiting R 2 of 0.99. The recovery for K in fertilizer sample was 98.8%. The potassium contents were identified with complete recovery without interference of other nutrients in the sample. The Z-score of all the results (Magruder USA, Fertilizer sample check program) were in acceptable range. The correlation coefficient (0.999%) depicts strong relationship between actual K value and observed values. By this relation, we can say that method performance was excellent. Hence, the method can be successfully used for potassium determination in fertilizer samples.

Assessment of Multi-Nutrients and Heavy Metals in Inorganic Fertilizers Widely Used by Indonesian Farmers Using NAA

This research aims to determine the concentration of multi-nutrients and heavy metals and investigate the correlation among them in the seven inorganic fertilizers in Indonesia. Sample analysis was carried out using the NAA method. The highest concentrations of macro-nutrients were K (36.54 %) and Cl (18.09%) found in the KCl sample, while Ca (23.01%) was observed in the TSP sample. In the case of micro-nutrients, the highest concentrations of Se (0.36 mg/kg), Ti (597 mg/kg), Br (1.84%), and Ni (2.46 mg/kg) detected in the NPK sample. Meanwhile, the highest concentrations of Co (19.57 mg/kg) and Na (1.40%) were measured in the ZA sample, while Mg, with the highest concentration of 1.78%, was found in the KMgS sample. The micro-nutrients with the highest concentration detected in the TSP sample were Cr (45.96 mg/kg), Zn (342.6 mg/kg), and Mn (1331 mg/kg). Non-essential elements such as U, V, La, Sb, Sm, Th, Hf, Sr, Cs, Tb, Sc, Rb, Ta, and Eu were also detected in the fertilizer samples with the highest concentrations in the TSP sample. Statistical tests of multi-nutrient and heavy metals concentrations indicated that multi-nutrient and heavy metals in fertilizers are complex.

Coding and regulatory transcriptome comparisons between fertile and infertile spermatozoa identify RNA signatures of male infertility

The aim of the present study was to identify RNA-based signatures of male infertility by sperm transcriptome analysis. In this study, deep sequencing analyses of coding (mRNA) and regulatory (miRNA) transcriptomes were performed by pooling 15 oligo/oligoasthenozoospermic infertile sperm and 9 normozoospermic fertile sperm samples. Furthermore, interesting candidates were selected for validation by real-time PCR. The comparison of miRNAs between cases and controls identified 94 differentially expressed miRNAs, of which at least 38 have known functions in spermatogenesis. In transcriptome (mRNA) data, a total of 60,505 transcripts were obtained. The comparison of coding RNAs between cases and controls revealed 11,688 differentially expressed genes. miRNA-mRNA paired analysis revealed that 94 differentially expressed miRNAs could potentially target 13,573 genes, of which 6419 transcripts were actually differentially expressed in our data. Out of these, 3303 transcripts showed inverse correlation with their corresponding regulatory miRNAs. Moreover, we found that most of the genes of miRNA-mRNA pairs were involved in male germ cell differentiation, apoptosis, meiosis, spermiogenesis and male infertility. In conclusion, we found that a number of sperm transcripts (miRNAs and mRNAs) have a very high potential of serving as infertility/sperm quality markers.

Cadmium and lead transfer factors to kale plants (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) grown in mountain agroecosystem and its risk to human health.

The aim of the present study is to assess soil Cd and Pb contamination in kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) production sites in mountain agroecosystem, as well as its potential risk to human health. The study was carried out within 24 kale-production sites located in mountainous region of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). Soil, plant, and fertilizer samples were collected in all assessed properties. Pseudo-total and bioavailable soil Cd and Pb content and their concentration and amount accumulated in plants were analyzed. The recorded results were used to calculate the pollution index. Risks to human health associated with kale consumption were assessed by comparing the limits set by the Brazilian regulating agency and by calculating estimated daily intake (EDI), noncarcinogenic target hazard quotient (THQ), and carcinogenic risk factor (CRF). Soil Cd and Pb enrichment was observed. Inappropriate management adopted in the assessed sites and terrain slope and the intensive use of mineral (phosphate and potassium) and organic (poultry litter) fertilizers were the main factors contributing to increase soil Cd and Pb pseudo-total and bioavailability contents. Most Cd and Pb contents in leaves, in natura, exceed the maximum values set by the Brazilian regulating agency. The present EDI, THQ, and CRF results recorded for these metals were within the tolerable ranges.