High Phosphorus Content Research Articles

A two-step approach to recycling hydroponics waste nutrient solutions using fertiliser drawn forward osmosis and chemical precipitation

Hydroponic waste nutrient solutions (HWNS) present significant environmental and economic challenges due to their high phosphorus content and potential for eutrophication. Addressing these issues requires innovative approaches that mitigate environmental impacts and recover valuable resources. This study introduces a novel two-step approach that combines Fertiliser Drawn Forward Osmosis (FDFO) and chemical precipitation to recycle HWNS effectively.In the first phase, FDFO was employed to concentrate HWNS using a commercial hydroponic fertiliser as the draw solution. This process resulted in a diluted fertiliser solution (potentially suitable for reuse in hydroponics irrigation) and a concentrated HWNS rich in phosphorus. The concentrated HWNS was then subjected to chemical precipitation in the second phase, where phosphorus was recovered as calcium phosphate by adding sodium hydroxide at an optimised pH of 9.5.Bench-scale experiments demonstrated a 93% water recovery rate using FDFO and an impressive 99.5% phosphorus removal efficiency through chemical precipitation. These results indicate that the combined FDFO and chemical precipitation processes effectively recover water and phosphorus from HWNS and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilisers and freshwater in hydroponic systems.The findings of this study demonstrate that the two-step approach not only enhances water and phosphorus recovery but also improves the efficiency of the chemical precipitation process by achieving higher recovery rates resulting in more sustainable hydroponic systems.

Landfill mining: A step forward to reducing CH4 emissions and enhancing CO2 sequestration from landfill

Landfill management is a major challenge for sustainable development in terms of climate change and resource scarcity. Landfill leachate contains high concentrations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), which cause eutrophication if discharged improperly. However, the nutrients can be recovered and reused as fertilizers for agriculture, contributing to resource recovery, circular economy, food security, and net zero emissions. Recent advances in landfill management have transformed landfills into resource recovery facilities that can produce nutrient-energy-material (NEM) products for applications through biological or physico-chemical process. Through a literature survey, this article reviews NEM recovery from landfills such as biogas production and composting. This work also discusses the benefits and challenges of NEM recovery for sustainability transition towards net zero emissions, while analyzes knowledge gaps and future research directions for landfill management and NEM recovery. It was conclusive from 193 articles published between 1993 and 2024 that landfill mining presents a promising solution for mitigating CH4 emissions and enhancing CO2 sequestration, both critical in reducing the overall greenhouse gas footprint of waste management. From landfill leachate and/or landfill gas, engineers can recover and recycle nutrients (for fertilizer), materials (for chemistry), and biogas (for electricity). Through landfill management, roadmaps towards decarbonization can be cost-effective and sustainable so that a maximum value of the waste can be extracted before it is discarded. Key findings reveal that CH4 emissions can be reduced by uncovering buried waste, while soil and residual organic material enhance CO2 sequestration through microbial activity. Additionally, this review highlights the economic and environmental benefits of material recovery from landfills, including metals and plastics. Overall, this work emphasizes landfill mining as a sustainable strategy for improving waste management practices, while contributing to climate change mitigation.

Assessing the nutrient removal performance from rice-crayfish paddy fields by an ecological ditch-wetland system

Agricultural drainage from catchments significantly impacts aquatic ecosystems due to high nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in runoff. While original ecological ditches and wetlands have demonstrated effectiveness in nutrient load removal, the overall impact of an ecological ditch-wetland system (EDWS) on agricultural nutrient removal has received limited attention. This study conducted a field experiment to investigate the physicochemical conditions and nutrient removal efficiency of an EDWS for purifying nutrient discharge from rice-crayfish paddy fields. Variations in water temperature (WT), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and total suspended solids (TSS) within the EDWS were assessed. Nutrient concentrations—including total nitrogen (TN), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), total phosphorus (TP), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP)—were monitored from the tillering to the ripening stage of the rice growth cycle. The evaluation of nutrient removal efficiencies in the EDWS revealed that ecological ditches exhibited higher removal efficiencies compared to wetlands. The average total removal efficiencies for TN, NH4-N, NO3-N, TP, and SRP were 37.50 %, 39.38 %, 38.62 %, 37.94 %, and 39.51 %, respectively, with peak removal efficiencies observed at specific growth stages of the rice crop. Furthermore, the study explored the influence of hydraulic retention time on nutrient removal efficiency in the EDWS, indicating higher nutrient discharge removal efficiencies under low water discharge rates. Linear regression analysis identified water discharge, influent nutrient loads, and TSS as significant factors affecting nutrient removal efficiency in the EDWS. This study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of EDWS in purifying nutrient discharge from rice-crayfish paddy fields, highlighting their potential as sustainable solutions for nutrient management in agricultural landscapes.

Characterization of Oils and Solid Residues Obtained from <i>Bauhinia variegata L.</i> and <i>Pachira glabra pasq.</i> Seeds Through the Solvent Extraction Method

Vegetable oils derived from non-edible seeds are excellent sources for producing biodiesel which serves as an alternative to fossil fuels. In this study, products viz vegetable oils and solid residues obtained from solvent extraction method of <i>Bauhinia variegata</i> and <i>Pachira glabra</i> seeds were characterized according to standard norms to evaluate their energy potential. The oils obtained have a free fatty acid content of 2.31 wt% and 13.6 wt%, a kinematic viscosity of 12.45 and 3.24 mm²/s, an iodine value of 17.26 and 12.37 (g of I<sub>2</sub>/100g of oil), a saponification value of 207.57 and 183.03 (mg of KOH/g of oil), a peroxide value of 10 and 8.06 (meq O<sub>2</sub>/kg of oil), and a calorific value of 40.66 and 65.08 MJ/kg, respectively. Furthermore, the physicochemical analysis of the oils revealed that they are excellent choice for biodiesel production. In addition, the proximate analysis of the solid residues of <i>Bauhinia variegata</i> and <i>Pachira glabra</i> showed high level of protein, fiber, and total carbohydrates with respective values of 34.79 and 30.41 wt%, 10.44 and 15.16 wt%, and 47.50 and 52.92 wt%. Mineral analysis indicated a high concentration of minerals, particularly potassium, sodium, calcium, and phosphorus. The solid residues exhibit anti-nutritional properties, making it suitable for various applications such as bioconversion by black soldier fly larvae, bioelectricity, biogas production, and biofuels among others.

Formation of the quality of champignons using organic additives and biologically active substances

This article provides a summary of the results of research using various additives to improve the yield of mushrooms. To improve the quality of mushrooms mushrooms studies were carried out to increase the yield of mushrooms using organic additives and biologically active substances grown on substrates of soybean seeds, meat and bone meal, powder from buckwheat seeds and millet. Conducted a comparative characterization of the impact of mushrooms mushrooms on quality indicators. In carrying out the study different objectives, such as increasing the composition, the quality of agricultural products, as well as the volume of production, the impact on growth. The article presents current methodological and agro-technical problems of mushroom growing technology. However, they are not enough, in our opinion, studied the effect of organic additives and biologically active products on the formation of not only the yield but also the quality of mushrooms. Vitamins, macro - and microelements and energy value of mushrooms champignons presented in the results of the study. Cultivation of mushrooms is provided to meet the needs of humans and the environment on the basis of increasing their biological value, for therapeutic treatment of various cancers and use as a food, pesticide product, in everyday life for the human body, health, normal daily diet as a product with many benefits from high quality and simple mushrooms. In the study, vitamins C,PP showed higher values than other vitamins, And in the amount of 100 g of macro and trace elements can be noticed high content of potassium and phosphorus. It is worth noting that the calorie content of mushrooms is only 27 kilocalories per one hundred grams of product. The nutritional value of mushrooms is one of the factors affecting their population.

Inter-algal associations and nutrients linked by Scenedesmus and Desmodesmus structure eukaryotic algal communities.

Eutrophication reduces the variability of the community composition of plankton. However, the mechanisms underlying the diversity and restructuring of eukaryotic algal communities remain unknown. This study analysed the diversity and compositional patterns of algal communities in shallow eutrophic lakes. It investigated how these communities were modified by key genera through mediating inter-algal associations under the influence of abiotic factors. Inter-algal associations explained more variance in algal communities than environmental variables, and variation in composition and diversity was primarily derived from Scenedesmus, Desmodesmus and Cryptomonas, rather than nutrients. Scenedesmus and Desmodesmus were positively correlated with the genera of Chlorophyta and formed the hub of the algal association network. When the relative abundance of Scenedesmus and Desmodesmus increased from 0.41% to 13.74%, communities enriched in biomarkers of Bacillariophyta, Chrysophyceae and Cryptophyta transitioned to communities enriched in biomarkers of Chlorophyta. Moreover, negative associations between the Chlorophyta hub genera and other non-Chlorophyta genera increased. High concentrations of total phosphorus altered the composition of algal communities by increasing the abundance of Scenedesmus and Desmodesmus, which in turn had cascading effects through inter-algal associations. Additionally, algal communities with higher abundances of Scenedesmus and Desmodesmus were more susceptible to the effects of total phosphorus. Our study suggested that inter-algal associations, centred on Scenedesmus and Desmodesmus, had a greater influence on algal diversity and community structure than other factors. Nutrient levels were not a direct driver of algal diversity and community structure adjustments, but acted indirectly by enhancing the influence of Scenedesmus and Desmodesmus.

The Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in the Water and Tissues of Invasive Fish Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782) and Non-carcinogenic Health Risk Assessment from Meriç Delta Wetland, Türkiye.

Meriç Delta, which has a wide variety of ecosystems, is an A Class Wetland and the most significant natural stagnant freshwater ecosystem located in the south-western of Thrace Region of Türkiye. In this research, heavy metals (Cr, Ni, As, Cd, and Pb) were investigated in the surface water and Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782) obtained from Meriç Delta lakes (Gala, Pamuklu, Sığırcı, and Dalyan), which are located on an important migration route of water birds. The heavy metals in surface water samples and fish tissues were determined by ICP-MS. Dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation (%), pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, nitrite nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, and total phosphorus parameters were measured in surface waters. High total phosphorus content was detected in the investigated region. The measured As, Cr, and Ni values in water samples were determined to be higher than Türkiye Regulation Standards criteria. Fish were taken from Gala and Sığırcı Lake. The mean concentrations of measured heavy metals were found to be below permissible values in fish muscle and gill. The target hazard quotient (THQ) and total THQ values (HI) of all heavy metals did not exceed the limit value.

Late Ediacaran to Early Cambrian stratigraphic correlation and its geological implications in the northwestern Sichuan Basin: insights from phosphorus, isotopes, and small shelly fossils

The characteristics of elements, isotopes, and small shelly fossils were investigated for Late Ediacaran to Early Cambrian stratigraphy division and to discuss their geological implications in the northwestern Sichuan Basin. The results reveal that small shelly fossils can be detected in the high-phosphorous section, with the concentration of phosphorus mainly ranging from 2% to 8%, suggesting that this interval belongs to the Early Cambrian, which is also consistent with the carbon isotopic composition results. In addition, the Early Cambrian is denudated in the Sichuan Basin due to tectonic movement, and the characteristics of some isotopes and small shell fossils are different from those in other basins. It can be proposed that P content can support the recognition of lithological boundaries, and the high phosphorus content can be used as a reference to identify the top and bottom boundaries of the Maidiping Formation in the study area. According to the elemental compositions in the Ediacaran Dengying Formation, the variations in Si, Al, Fe, and K contents are similar in the platform area and rift area, suggesting that the third and fourth member of the Dengying Formation are also developed in the Deyang–Anyue Rift. The results suggest that both the Deng-4 member and Maidiping Formation feature contemporaneous deposition of different facies in the northwestern Sichuan Basin. The strata consist of shale intercalated with thin carbonate rock deposits in the Deyang–Anyue Rift, while carbonate rock deposits in the platform. The Deyang–Anyue Rift expanded gradually in the Late Ediacaran and eventually filled in the Early Cambrian. The data in this study illustrate that elemental compositions, isotopes, and small shelly fossils can be combined to correlate the Late Ediacaran to Early Cambrian strata and provide new evidence for Deyang–Anyue Rift evolution. The results offer some new insights for deep oil and gas exploration in the Sichuan Basin and for the tectonic–depositional–environmental–biological synergistic evolution in the Late Ediacaran to Early Cambrian transition.

Circular fertilisers combining dehydrated human urine and organic wastes can fulfil the macronutrient demand of 15 major crops

This study evaluated the potential for combining dehydrated human urine with one other form of organic waste to create circular fertilisers tailored to meet the macronutrient demand of 15 major crops cultivated globally. Through a reverse blending modelling approach, data on 359 different organic wastes were used to identify 38 fertiliser blends. Materials found to be particularly suitable as blending materials were various biochars and ashes, due to their low nitrogen and high phosphorus and/or potassium content, and byproduct concentrates, due to their high phosphorus content, since the nitrogen content of human urine is disproportionately higher than its phosphorus content. Several organic wastes were suitable for fertilising more than one crop. The macronutrient content of the simulated fertiliser blends was comparable to that of blended inorganic fertilisers, but only a few blends precisely matched the macronutrient demand of crops. Fertilising crops with some simulated fertilisers would potentially result in excess application of one or more macronutrients, and thus overfertilisation. For organic wastes with data available on their content of six or more heavy metals, it was found that the simulated fertilisers generally met European Union regulations on use of fertilisers of organic origin in agriculture. Overall, these findings suggest that fertiliser blends combining dehydrated human urine and organic wastes, both of which are widely available globally, could replace inorganic blended fertilisers in agriculture. Such recycling would help the global food system and water sector transition to circularity and promote better management of plant-essential nutrients in society.

Toxicity of Moxifloxacin on the Growth, Photosynthesis, Antioxidant System, and Metabolism of Microcystis aeruginosa at Different Phosphorus Levels.

Moxifloxacin (MOX), a widely used novel antibiotic, may pose ecological risks at its actual environmental concentrations, as has been detected in aquatic systems. However, its ecotoxicity to aquatic organisms and regulatory mechanisms of phosphorus in eutrophic aqueous environments are still limited. This study aimed to analyze its physiological and biochemical parameters, including cellular growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic pigments, oxidative stress biomarkers, and metabolomics to elucidate the toxicity induced by environmental concentrations of MOX in Microcystis aeruginosa at different phosphorus levels. The results revealed that the EC50 values of MOX on M. aeruginosa at different phosphorus concentrations were 8.03, 7.84, and 6.91 μg/L, respectively, indicating MOX toxicity was exacerbated with increasing phosphorus levels. High phosphorus intensified the suppression of chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic pigments, while activating the antioxidant enzyme, indicating severe peroxidation damage. Metabolomic analysis showed MOX induced different discriminating metabolites under different phosphorus levels, and perturbed more biological pathways at higher phosphorus concentrations, such as starch and sucrose metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and glycerolipid metabolism. This indicates that phosphorus plays an important role in regulating metabolism in M. aeruginosa exposed to MOX. The findings provide valuable information on the mechanisms involved in cyanobacteria responses to antibiotic stress, and offer a theoretical basis for accurately assessing antibiotic toxicity in eutrophic aqueous environments.

Photosynthetic Response to Phosphorus Fertilization in Drought-Stressed Common Beech and Sessile Oak from Different Provenances.

Increasingly frequent and severe droughts pose significant threats to forest ecosystems, particularly affecting photosynthesis, a crucial physiological process for plant growth and biomass production. This study investigates the impact of phosphorus fertilization on the photosynthesis of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.). In a common garden experiment, saplings originating from two provenances (wetter KA and drier SB provenances) were exposed to regular watering and drought in interaction with moderate and high phosphorus concentrations in the growing substrate. Results indicated that drought significantly reduced pre-dawn leaf water potential (ΨPD), net photosynthesis (Anet), stomatal conductance (gs) and photosynthetic performance index (PIabs) in both species. Phosphorus fertilization had a negative impact on Anet and PIabs, thus exacerbating the negative impact of drought on photosynthetic efficiency, potentially due to excessive phosphorus absorption by saplings. Provenance differences were notable, with the KA provenance showing better drought resilience. This research highlights the complexity of nutrient-drought interactions and underscores the need for cautious application of fertilization strategies in reforestation efforts under changing climatic conditions.

Environmental influences on soil phosphorus dynamics and eutrophication risks in the Three Gorges reservoir Area, Chongqing section

The spatial distribution of soil phosphorus fractions (SPFs) in the Three Gorges Reservoir area (TGRA) is crucial for evaluating water quality and lake eutrophication in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Besides, it is also unclear whether climate change and rising elevation will alter the risk of phosphorus loss in this region. To address this knowledge gap, soil samples were extensively collected in Chongqing section of the TGRA and extracted SPFs using a rapid sequential extraction method. Results indicated that Ustifluvents, Haplustepts, and Kanhaplustults are suitable for cultivation but also prone to the risk of phosphorus leaching due to high labile phosphorus concentration. Increased temperature positively affected labile and medium-stable phosphorus, while increased precipitation accelerated phosphorus leaching. Solar radiation has significant effects on medium-stable and stable phosphorus. Additionally, multivariate and redundancy analysis showed that different SPFs were influenced by various environmental factors, but elevation is the predominant factor affecting most SPFs in the TGRA. Northeastern TGRA and areas with lower elevations on both sides of the Yangtze River were more susceptible to phosphorus leaching. This study is expected to provide decision-makers with references and help manage the regional environment in the context of climate change.

Enhancing maize phosphorus uptake with optimal blends of high and low-concentration phosphorus fertilizers.

High-concentration phosphorus (P) fertilizers are crucial for crop growth. However, fertilizers with lower P concentrations, such as calcium magnesium phosphate (CMP) and single super phosphate (SSP), can also serve as efficient P sources, especially when blended with high-concentration P fertilizers like diammonium phosphate (DAP) or monoammonium phosphate (MAP). In this study, we conducted a 48-day pot experiment to explore how blending low-P fertilizers could optimize maize P utilization, using CMP to replace DAP in acidic soil, and SSP to replace MAP in alkaline soil, with five SSP+MAP and CMP+DAP mixtures tested. Key metrics such as shoot and root biomass, shoot P uptake, root length, and soil P bioavailability were measured. We found that maize biomass and P uptake with 100% DAP were comparable to those with 50% CMP and 50% DAP in acidic soil. Similar results were observed for 100% MAP compared to 50% SSP and 50% DAP in alkaline soil. Root biomass and length were largest with 100% MAP in acidic soil and at 100% DAP in alkaline soil, with no significant differences at 50% SSP or CMP substitutions for MAP and DAP, respectively. Furthermore, 50% SSP or CMP substitutions for MAP and DAP increased the content and proportion of the labile inorganic P (Pi) pool (H2O-Pi and NaHCO3-Pi), had a direct and positive effect on Olsen-P. Our findings reveal that 1:1 blends of SSP and MAP in acidic soil, and CMP and DAP in alkaline soil, effectively meet maize's P requirements without relying solely on high-concentration P fertilizers. This indicates that strategic blending of fertilizers can optimize P use, which is crucial for sustainable agriculture.

Probing Mixed Phase Metallic Ni/Amorphous Nickel Phosphide Nanocatalysts during Oxygen Evolution Reaction Using Operando X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Metal phosphide-containing nanomaterials have demonstrated remarkable efficacy as non-precious metal-based catalysts for the alkaline oxygen evolution reaction (OER). While it is widely acknowledged that various OER catalysts undergo structural reconstruction under applied OER potentials, monitoring these changes is challenging because they are often rapid and require instrumentation not typically found in the typical lab setting. In this study, we utilize operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to determine the structural reconstruction of nickel-based metal phosphide catalysts during OER. We have developed the synthesis of nickel-based phosphide nanoparticles with a range of phosphorus incorporation. These nanoparticles are composed of metallic nickel and amorphous nickel phosphide phases as determined by XRD, TEM and XAS. At low levels of P incorporation, from 2% to 15%, the synthesis results in the mixture of metallic nickel and amorphous phosphide phases. At higher levels of phosphorus incorporation, from 20% to 30%, amorphous nickel phosphide is the predominant phase. Electrochemical characterization of this nickel phosphide series for OER revealed that the catalysts with 20% phosphorus incorporation exhibited superior OER activity. The phosphides with lower phosphorus content, such as 2%, had smaller Ni2+/Ni3+ redox peaks which has been shown to suppress the conversion to Ni(OH)2, leading to lowered OER activity. Increased amorphous nickel phosphide phase led to greater activity, suggesting that the active component in the catalyst comes from the amorphous nickel phosphide phase. Meanwhile, higher phosphorus content (20-30%) where the amorphous phosphide is the predominate phase resulted in larger redox peaks, signifying greater conversion to Ni(OH)2. Operando XAS will be applied to investigate these metallic nickel/nickel phosphide nanocatalysts to elucidate their structural reconstruction during OER

The role of land use on phosphorus release and longitudinal changes of pollution in an agricultural watershed, Bostankar river, Iran

Phosphorus in surface waters accelerate algal growth and eutrophication, considerably influencing water quality. Spatiotemporal changes in phosphorus concentration are crucial for environmental issues. We aimed to study the temporal and spatial changes in water quality in a river and in a drainage water system considering different land uses. To this aim, 15 water samples were collected from the origin of the river to the estuary, in the Bostankar River watershed (N-Iran), during spring and winter. Further samples were collected from agricultural drainage water in rice fields, tea, flower, orange as well as kiwi gardens, and forests during spring and winter. EC, pH, TDS, and three forms of phosphorus (total, particulate, and soluble) were measured in the water samples. The results showed that water quality changes in agricultural drainage water were time-dependent; the average total phosphorus was 0.4 mg l-1 lower in the spring than in the winter. The highest phosphorus concentration (1.29 mg l-1) occurred in the winter in the drainage water of the orange gardens. Temporal and spatial changes of the river showed that water quality reduced from the river upstream (jungles and grasslands) towards the downstream (different agricultural land uses), and the amount of phosphorus increased from 0.25 to 0.5 mg l− 1. The TDS increased from 60 to 220 mg l− 1 in the river in the winter. Finally, the results showed that human activities were the main factor in river water quality reduction due to agricultural activities.

Effects of corn grain processing and phosphorus content in calf starters on intake, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, and urinary purine derivatives

Corn grain with a high phosphorus (P) content (mainly in the form of phytate-P) may need to be processed to improve the digestibility of nutrients for young calves. Processing corn grains can improve the accessibility of phytate-P to the rumen enzymes and increase the bioavailability of P, which benefits the growth and development of calves. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of feeding starter diets with steam-flaked corn (SFC) compared with ground corn (GC) with 2 P contents of 0.4% and 0.7% DM basis on intake, growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites and urinary purine derivatives (PD) in dairy calves. A total of 48 female Holstein dairy calves (3 d old; average initial weight 39.7 ± 3.9 kg) were randomly assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (12 calves/treatment) in a randomized complete block design. The treatment groups were: (1) a starter diet of GC with 0.4% P (GC-0.4P); (2) a starter diet of GC with 0.7% P (GC-0.7P); (3) a starter diet of SFC with 0.4% P (SFC-0.4P); (4) a starter diet of SFC with 0.7% P (SFC-0.7P). Calves received 6 L/d of transition milk on d 2 to 3 and 5 L/d of whole milk on d 4 to 30, which was increased to 7 L/d on d 31 to 45, then decreased to 5 L/d on d 46 to 60 and reduced to a single feeding of 2 L on d 61 to 62. All calves had free access to starter feed and water. All calves were weaned on d 63 and remained in the study until d 83. Rumen fluid samples were collected on d 38 (preweaning) and d 76 (postweaning). Blood samples were collected on d 40 and 80 and urine samples were collected on 4 consecutive days from d 79 to 82 to analyze urinary excretion of PD. The phytate-P content ranged from 0.23 to 0.17 for GC and SFC, respectively. In particular, the interaction between corn processing method and P content showed that the SFC-0.7P diets had a greater intake of starter feed during the pre- and postweaning periods compared with the other experimental groups. In addition, calves fed the SFC-0.7P diet had greater ADG, BW, withers height at weaning, better OM digestibility, higher blood BHB levels, and higher microbial protein synthesis compared with all other groups. Feeding the SFC diet also resulted in improved feed efficiency, improved P digestibility, and a tendency toward a lower rumen pH, albeit with a tendency toward an increase in blood glucose concentration during the preweaning period. In addition, the inclusion of 0.7% P to the starter diet resulted in increased fiber digestibility and a slight improvement in growth performance, which was particularly evident in hip height. Overall, the inclusion of SFC in the calf starter diet, especially in combination with a 0.7% DM basis P supplement, improved growth performance and nutrient utilization in dairy calves compared with GC.

Foliar phosphorus concentration modulates the defensive mutualism of an endophytic fungus in a perennial host grass

Abstract Grasses hosting Epichloë endophytes are protected against herbivores due to the production of various fungal alkaloids. Previous research has found that high foliar phosphorus concentrations reduce the level of the alkaloid ergovaline, thereby reducing the endophyte‐mediated herbivore resistance. Yet, the impact of phosphorus on ergovaline biosynthesis versus its influence on endophyte growth and synthesis of other fungal alkaloids remains unresolved. Our objective was to elucidate these relationships. We grew endophyte‐symbiotic and non‐symbiotic Festuca arundinacea plants and fertilised them with different doses of phosphorus. Later, half of the plants from each treatment were challenged with larvae of the generalist chewing insect Spodoptera frugiperda. We assessed the relationships between foliar phosphorus levels, fungal mycelium and alkaloid concentrations, as well as their impacts on larvae performance, herbivore‐caused damage and plant biomass. Endophyte mycelial biomass in plant tissue was found to be independent of foliar phosphorus concentration. The alkaloids lolines and peramine showed a linear relationship with mycelial biomass but no correlation with foliar phosphorus. Surprisingly, high ergovaline concentrations were positively associated with an interaction between endophyte mycelial biomass and foliar phosphorus concentration. Although herbivory increased loline concentration, only high concentrations of ergovaline and peramine were related to reduced S. frugiperda larvae weight gain. However, endophyte presence did not reduce herbivory damage on plants. Contrary to expectation, we did not find a negative but a positive association between concentrations of foliar phosphorus and ergovaline alkaloid, through its interaction with endophyte mycelial biomass. Alternatively, our findings suggest that phosphorus plays a crucial role in modulating the Epichloë‐mediated defensive mutualism, primarily through its effects on ergovaline rather than on endophyte concentration or production of other alkaloids. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Clustering Methods for the Characterization of Synchrotron Radiation X‐Ray Fluorescence Images of Human Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque

This study employs computational algorithms to automatically identify and classify features in X‐Ray fluorescence (XRF) microscopy images. Principal component analysis (PCA) and unsupervised machine learning algorithms, such as Gaussian mixture (GM) clustering, are implemented to label features on a collection of XRF maps of human atherosclerotic plaque samples. The investigation involves the hard X‐Ray nanoprobe (NanoMAX) at MAX IV synchrotron radiation facility, utilizing scanning transmission X‐Ray microscopy (STXM) and XRF techniques. The analysis covers regions of interest scanned by the beam with a step size of 200 nm, yielding XRF maps of elements like calcium, iron, and zinc. These maps reveal intricate structures unsuitable for manual labeling. However, they can be accurately classified in an automated fashion using GM. Prior to clustering, PCA is used to deal with repeated patterns and background areas. The resulting clusters are associated with different types of features, which can be identified as specific tissues confirmed by histology. Regions of high concentrations of phosphorus, sulfur, calcium, and iron are found in the samples. These regions are also observed in the STXM results as spots of low transmission that typically are associated with calcium deposits only.

Phosphorous recovery from sewage sludge via chemical and thermal technologies

Phosphorus (P) recovery is important to reduce the dependence on natural and limited resources of phosphate rock, which can simultaneously prevent phosphorus discharge into the environment, thereby creating environmental issues such as eutrophication. One of the possible approaches to recycle phosphorus is to directly use sewage sludge as a fertilizer on arable land. Sewage sludge contains a high concentration of phosphorus, which can be suitable and alternative source of phosphate fertilizer. However, purification and removal of trace levels of phosphorus from the sewage sludge is necessary. In this review, information on appropriate strategies to the recovery of phosphorus from the sewage sludge through chemical treatment processes are collected from Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Embase to find the necessary literature on phosphorus recovery from the sludge using thermal or/and chemical treatment methods. The chemical methods such as adding calcium hydrate silicate, sulfuric acid, electrodialysis recovery, burning, hydrothermal and struvite have been explored to recover phosphorus from both sludge and sludge ash obtained from burning. The chemical/thermal methods have high efficiency for phosphorus recovery along with the simultaneous removal of heavy metals; these methods are considered promising for extracting the phosphorus from sewage sludge and ashes.

Crenobacter oryzisoli sp. nov., a novel phosphate-solubilizing bacterium isolated from the paddy soil.

Two Gram-staining-negative, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped and phosphate-solubilizing strains designated SG2303T and SG2305, were isolated from paddy soil in China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that SG2303T and SG2305 represented a member of the genus Crenobacter within the family Neisseriaceae of the phylum Pseudomonadota. Strain SG2303T displayed higher 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with members of the genus Crenobacter ranging from 93.5 to 94.0%. Strains C. luteus YIM 78141T and C. cavernae K1W11S-77T were closest related to the isolated strains and were considered as type strains. Growth of strain SG2303T occurred at 10-55°C (optimum 37°C), pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum pH 6.0-7.0) and 0-1% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0%). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between strain SG2303T and its closely related taxa were 76.1-78.2% and 20.5-22.1%, respectively. The genomic DNA G + C content was 62.2%. The quinone of strain SG2303T was Q-8. The major fatty acids (> 10%) of strain SG2303T were C16:0 (30.6%), summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c) (26.0%) and C12:0 3OH (12.1%). The polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol (PG), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phospholipids (PL), glycolipid (GL) and unidentified lipids (UL). Based on the results of the phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical, and morphological analysis, strain SG2303T is recognized as a novel species of the genus Crenobacter, for which the name Crenobacter oryzisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SG2303T (= GDMCC 1.3970T = JCM 36468T). In addition, SG2303T was also able of phosphorus solubilization and promoting the growth of rice seeds. Strain SG2303T exhibited a relatively high dissolvable phosphorus content of 2.52µg·mL- 1.