Microbiological Conditions Research Articles

Study on Microbiological Condition of Fresh Produce at Different Stages of Packaging Sheds

A total of 223 produce samples and environmental swabs collected from various packaging sheds were examined by enumerating total aerobic plate count, total coliform, Escherichia coli and select bacterial pathogens; Bacillus cereus, E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus. B. cereus isolates were further screened for carbohydrate utilization, antibiotics susceptibility, and presence of pathogenic gene. Total aerobic plate, total coliform, and E. coli counts of fresh produce ranged from 4.6 to 6.6, 1 to 3.0, and less than 1 to 2 log CFU/g, respectively. The prevalence of pathogens for all samples was 21.5%, and 0.89% for B. cereus and S. aureus, respectively. However, no pathogenic E. coli, L. monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. were detected. Most of the B. cereus isolates identified were susceptible to penicillin, polymyxin B, ampicillin, oxacillin, and cefotaxime, whereas none of the isolates were positive for emetic toxin, an indication that cleansing procedure at the packaging sheds was not effective. Thorough sanitation and aseptic handling of fresh produce through out the packaging facilities is accentuated.

Evaluation of environmental quality of Itaguaré river, Bertioga-SP, using toxicity tests and microbiological bathing conditions indexes

According to Resolutions CONAMA N. 274/2000and N. 357/2005, bathing conditions and toxicity must be evaluated in an aquatic receiving body toforesee and prevent adverse effects to human health and aquatic biota. The present work evaluated the quality of waters of Itaguare River (Bertioga - Sao Paulo)in five different points which differ as regards the occupation of its edges. For doing this, we applied eco-toxicological tests, measured the concentration of thermotolerantcoliformis and physical-chemical parameters. We did tests of acute toxicity following ABNT 12713 (2004) and chronic toxicity following ABNT 13373(2005) using cladocera as test-organisms, in addition to measuring thermotolerant coliformis through the technique of multiple pipes (APHA 2005), for detectingand quantificating fecal pollution by homeothermic animals. Results showed acute toxicity in Itaguare River only in the autumn in points 1, 2 and 3, whereas chronictoxicity was observed in all seasons in points 1 and 2; and, in all the points (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) in the spring and autumn. The levels of thermotolerant coliformis had lowconcentrations classified, as regards bathing conditions as excellent or very good cf. CONAMA N. 274/2000. However, there were greater concentrations of coliformisin points 1 and 2 during all months, and toxicity was also observed. These results suggest the presence of domestic effluent causing significant alterations in waterquality in points 1 and 2, located next to Manoel Hypolito do Rego Highway.

Microbiological and safety evaluation of green table olives marketed in Italy

The microbiological and safety conditions of green table olives sold on the Italian market were evaluated on 40 samples, 20 loose and 20 packed in containers, purchased at street markets and supermarkets. The olives were analyzed for microflora and food safety indices, and for aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A occurrence, and the results showed acceptable security. There was wide heterogeneity in the microflora, the numerical values being in relation to the olive type. The microbial population was dominated by the yeasts and lactic bacteria responsible for the fermentation process, and their numbers, together with the metabolic activity, led to conditions unfavorable for the development of pathogenic microflora; hence, such microflora were always absent. However, fecal coliforms were occasionally found in cracked olives. Lactic Acid Bacteria and yeast classification was performed at the species level by molecular techniques. The mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 was detectable in 25% of the olive samples, in the range of 0.40–0.55 μg/kg, while ochratoxin A, present in 58% of the samples, was in the range of 0.20–3.90 μg/kg.

MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY AND PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM ENTERAL FEEDING, FOOD HANDLERS AND ENVIRONMENTS OF TWO PUBLIC BRAZILIAN HOSPITALS

ABSTRACTThis work aimed to evaluate the microbiological conditions of enteral feeding, water, powder module and personnel samples obtained from two public hospitals in Goiânia/GO, Brazil. The Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated were submitted to antibiogram for phenotypic characterization. The S. aureus strains isolated were grouped into six phenotypic profiles (A–F). There was no correlation among strains isolated from diet and handlers samples. The E. coli strains were grouped into four phenotypic profiles (A–D). The E. coli phenotypes A and C showed the same susceptibility profile for microorganisms isolated from handlers and diets, suggesting a relationship among those isolates. Seven S. aureus and 12 E. coli isolates were resistant to two or more antibiotics. The diets presented unsatisfactory sanitary‐hygienic conditions in the hospitals evaluated because 47 samples (58.8%) from the first hospital and 30 samples (37.5%) from the second hospital were above the limits established by Brazilian legislation.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSEnteral nutrition is a very important mechanism to provide support to health‐compromised patients, so the microbiological quality of this product is essential to guarantee its safety. This study emphasizes the importance of monitoring the enteral diet microbiological quality and the factors associated with its contamination. The study highlights the use of antibiogram as an instrument to correlate strains in order to help the identification of the probable origin of final product contamination.

Diagnosis of Cardiac Device–Related Infective Endocarditis After Device Removal

We sought to determine the incidence, diagnostic value, and outcome of intracardiac masses observed by echocardiography after device removal. We hypothesized that these "ghosts" of leads could be associated with the diagnosis of cardiac device-related infective endocarditis (CDRIE). The echocardiographic appearance of residual floating masses in the right atrium after removal of permanent pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators was recently described. However, the significance of these ghosts and their relationship with CDRIE are unknown. The pre-operative clinical, microbiological, and echocardiographic conditions; the indication; and the removal technique were analyzed in a retrospective cohort including all consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous lead removal. Three groups were formed according to the final diagnosis: CDRIE, local device infection, and noninfectious indications. The incidence of ghosts was compared among the 3 groups. All clinical, infectious, and extraction-related factors were studied for their association with ghosts. All patients with ghosts were followed after hospitalization. Two hundred twelve patients underwent lead removal. Ghosts were observed in 17 patients (8% incidence), including 14 (16%) of 88 patients with CDRIE and 3 (5%) of 59 patients with local device infection. Ghosts were never observed among the remaining 65 noninfected patients. A significant association was found between CDRIE and the presence of a ghost (odds ratio: 7.63, 95% confidence interval: 2.12 to 27.45, p = 0.001). At 3 months, 2 patients with ghosts died suddenly, 2 underwent surgery, and 1 had a pulmonary embolism. Ghosts are observed in 8% of patients after percutaneous device extraction. Their presence is suggestive of device infection and seems to be associated with the diagnosis of CDRIE. The prognostic significance of such findings needs further investigation.

Incidence of autochthonous Argentinean mixed starter cultures in ripening of slurry cheese models

The effect of three mixed autochthonous starter cultures in ripening profiles of experimental semihard goat cheeses was evaluated under controlled microbiological conditions. Enterococcus faecium ETC3 and ETC6, Lactobacillus plantarum ETC17 and L. rhamnosus ETC14 were used. Combination of all strains showed the highest level of water soluble nitrogen fraction and total free amino acids (TFAA) at ripening day 1, the lowest level of phosphotungstic acid nitrogen soluble fraction and TFAA at ripening day 64 and the highest global impression. Principal component analyses were performed to establish amino acid profiles relations in the samples.

Natural Attenuation of Oily Sludge Used for the Maintenance of an Unpaved Road in Arauca (Colombia)

ABSTRACT IN this study the biodegradation and leaching of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) during the natural attenuation (NA) processes of the oily sludge used for the maintenance of unpaved roads were evaluated. The study was conducted on a road located in Arauca (Colombia) and simultaneously in a laboratory setting where rain conditions were simulated by using columns. In the in situ study, three depths (5, 50, and 80 cm) were assessed. The degradation of TPH was evaluated by monitoring physicochemical and microbiological conditions in situ and in the columns during 538 and 119 days, respectively. The pH levels observed during the study were relatively constant and ranged between the optimum values for biodegradation (6.2 ± 0.9). Water content in situ was low (< 14%) and observed concentrations of nitrogen (as ammonia and nitrate) were < 30 and < 10 mg/kgdw, respectively, indicating that no mass balance was maintained, both possible factors limiting intrinsic biodegradation. During the in situ study a 95% TPH degradation was observed at 5 cm depth, whereas no degradation was evident at 50 and 80 cm. In the column experiments, TPH concentration in the leachate was < 1 mg/L, indicating that the leaching process did not play a key role in this study.

Quality of sausage elaborated using minced Nile Tilapia submmitted to cold storage

Filleting yield of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (L.) is low (30%) and generates large amount of wastes that may turn into environmental and economic problem. However, these wastes can be used for the extraction of minced fish (MF) which can be used in the preparation of sausages. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of sausages prepared with 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of MF from Nile tilapia filleting waste during storage at 0±0.3ºC. Alterations in the instrumental color (L*, a* and b*), lipid oxidation (TBARS), total volatile nitrogenous bases (TVB-N), pH, microbiological condition (pathogenic bacteria and aerobic psychrotrophic bacteria), and sensory attributes (color, odor, flavor, texture and overall acceptability) were evaluated for up to 40 days. The addition of MF to sausages increased TBARS values and decreases TVB-N, L*, a* and b* values. Acceptability of color attribute decreased with increasing MF; best flavor, texture and overall acceptability scores were registered for sausages containing 40 and 60% MF; best odor was registered for 100% MF. Pathogenic microorganisms were not detected, but decrease in pH and proliferation of aerobic psychrotrophic bacteria which, however, did not compromise sensory evaluation of sausages were registered throughout storage. Sausages prepared with MF from tilapia filleting waste have a shelf-life of 40 days when stored at 0±0.3ºC, and the maximum recommended MF inclusion to maintain good sensory quality is 60%.

Pasteurized Milk: Efficiency of Pasteurization and Its Microbiological Conditions in Brazil

This study aimed to verify the pasteurization efficiency and the microbiological quality of milk sold in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The microbial quality of pasteurized milk samples was assessed by sample testing for the presence of Salmonella spp., coliforms at 35 degrees C, coliforms at 45 degrees C, and mesophilic bacterial counts. In addition, the pasteurization efficiency was verified through tests of neutral phosphatase and peroxidase enzymes. Salmonella spp. were not detected in any (100%) of the analyzed samples. However, 85 (70.8%) and 69 (57.5%) of the samples were noncompliant with current legal standards for coliforms at 35 degrees C and 45 degrees C, respectively. As for the aerobic mesophilic bacteria, 48 (40.0%) of the samples were noncompliant. From the 120 samples of pasteurized milk studied, 100% were negative for neutral phosphatase, whereas 12 (10.0%) were negative for peroxidase. Logistic regression indicated the absence of relationship between present lactoperoxidase and all the microbiological parameters studied, which suggested that the quality of pasteurized milk was associated with factors related to steps before or after heat treatment.

159 Ghost of Infected Leads: A New Criterion Associated with the Diagnosis of Cardiac Device-Related Infective Endocarditis

Objectives We sought to determine the incidence, diagnostic value and outcome of intracardiac masses observed by echocardiography after device removal. We hypothesized that these “ghosts” of leads could be associated with the diagnosis of cardiac device-related infective endocarditis (CDRIE). Background Echocardiographic appearance of residual floating masses in the right atrium has recently been described after removal of permanent pacemakers (PPM) and implantable cardiovertor defibrillators (ICD). Methods The preoperative clinical, microbiological and echocardiographic conditions, the indication and the type of removal technique were analysed in a retrospective cohort including all consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous lead removal at our institution. Three groups were formed according to the final diagnosis: CDRIE, local device infection (LDI), and non-infective indications. Incidence of ghosts was compared between the three groups. All predefined clinical and technical factors were studied for their association with ghosts. All patients with ghost were followed after hospitalization. Results Two hundred and twelve patients underwent lead removal. Ghosts were observed in 17 patients (8% incidence), including 14 (82%) of 88 patients with CDRIE and 3 (5%) of 59 patients with LDI. Ghosts were never observed among the remaining 65 non infected patients. A significant association was found between CDRIE and the presence of ghost (OR=7.63, 95%; CI 2.12-27.45, p=0.001). At three months, 2 patients with ghost died from sudden death, 2 underwent surgery and one had a pulmonary embolism. Conclusions Ghost is a newly described echocardiographic finding observed after percutaneous device extraction. Its presence is highly suggestive of device infection and might represent a new criterion for the diagnosis of CRDIE. The prognostic significance of such finding needs further investigations.

Contaminação microbiológica de alimentos comercializados em restaurantes de auto-serviço de Itumbiara-GO

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microbiological conditions of food served in self-service restaurants in Itumbiara-GO. In total, we studied 23 restaurants and the foods collected were: pasta, tomato and cucumber salad, mayonnaise and meat from the pan. The samples were acquired with the support of the municipality's sanitary inspectors. Our research was focused on total mesophiles, coagulase positive taphylococci and heat tolerant coliforms. The sample preparations and their dilutions were performed according to the technique recommended by the Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods. Non-contamination of food was confi rmed in only one restaurant. In 16 restaurants (69.6%), there were at least three types of food contaminated with scores above the standard allowed by law. All the pathogens studies were detected in at least one type of food. The most commonpathogen was coagulase positive Staphylococcus (86.5%). These results are alarming. The presence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms in the food demonstrates the poor sanitary conditions under which it was prepared.

INFLUENCE OF FROZEN PERIOD ON THE PROXIMATE COMPOSITION AND MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF NILE TILAPIA FISH (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS)

The rationale of the study was to investigate the influence of frozen period on quality of fish fillet. The proximate composition and microbiological analyses were carried out at 15 days interval on tilapia fish fillets during frozen storage. It was found that the protein, moisture and ash contents decreased significantly (P < 0.05) during the entire storage period. However, the fat content increased from 0.37 ± 0.01 to 0.56 ± 0.01 g/100 g of fillet. The total volatile bases nitrogen and pH values also increased significantly The total bacterial load in fresh fillets was reduced from 2.57 × 106 to 8.2 × 105 cfu/g after 90 days of frozen storage. The total coliforms decreased from 460 to 23 MPN/g and the fecal coliforms decreased from 23 MPN/g to undetectable level, respectively. Thus, a significant quality loss was observed for tilapia during storage. However, the present frozen conditions retained the fish material under acceptable microbiological conditions for human consumption. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS The main challenge that fish industries face in developing countries like Ethiopia is to comply with consumer expectations, particularly on product quality. The quality of fresh fish is one of the key factors that govern the shelf life of the final product at low temperature preservation. The Ethiopian fish production and marketing enterprise is vested with the responsibility of inland fisheries processing and marketing. The enterprise, without any scientific basis, labeled the frozen tilapia fish shelf life to be 9 months. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the low-temperature (−18C) preservation technique practiced by the enterprise in order to evaluate the influence of frozen period on quality of a fish fillet. The results on changes in proximate composition and microbial load of Nile tilapia fish fillet enabled to determine the frozen period of a fish fillet that can be fit for human consumption devoid of deterioration. The results can also be used for further investigation and detailed research is required to help commercial processors beyond 90 days of frozen storage.

The microbiological conditions of air- or water-chilled carcasses produced at the same poultry packing plant

Samples of skin were collected from randomly selected sites on broiler chicken carcasses during an occasional commercial process for production of air-chilled carcasses at a plant that produces mainly water-chilled carcasses. The numbers of aerobes, coliforms, Escherichia coli , and presumptive staphylococci were reduced by >0.5 log unit during dressing operations after evisceration, but were not affected by air chilling. When the microbiological conditions of air- or water-chilled carcasses processed on the same days were compared, the numbers of aerobes on both types of carcasses were found to be similar, but the numbers of psychrotrophs, Enterobacteriaceae, pseudomonads, lactic acid bacteria, and Brochothrix thermosphacta recovered from water-chilled carcasses were all ≥0.4 log unit less than the numbers recovered from air-chilled carcasses. Although the total aerobic count data alone would suggest that the microbiological effects of air and water chilling were similar, the findings for other groups of bacteria indicate that substantial fractions of the bacteria on the warm carcasses were injured or inactivated by chilling in water, but not by chilling in air.

Monitoramento de ph, temperatura, OD, DBO e condições microbiológicas das águas do arroio Pampa em Novo Hamburgo (RS)

Streams which pass by urban centers, as a rule, carry domestic sewage and industrial effluents in their waters. Although the Brazilian environmental legislation determines their control and the classifications of these hydric bodies with posterior publication of the obtained results, this fact does not effectively occurs. The Pampa stream, with the major part of its territory in the municipal district of Novo Hamburgo (RS, Brazil), passes by densely inhabited districts. All of the domestic sewage from these districts is flowed off by its waters as a receptor body of industrial effluents. And, in despite of having its mouth about 1,5 km far from the point of water caption for the consume of more than 250,000 people, it is a typical example of this situation. This work monitored the waters of the Pampa stream for a period of one year and the waters of the Sinos River at the upstream of the stream mouth, with sampling seat at intervals of 45 days, searching for the classification according to the CONAMA 357 resolution and the influence of the stream waters in the point of the Sinos River where the caption of water for consume of the municipal district of Novo Hamburgo is located. The determinations of parameters in the sampling points of the Pampa stream and of the located point in the Sinos river at the upstream of the streamlet mouth, were accomplished by the Central Analítica do Centro Universitário FEEVALE. Data from Companhia Municipal de Saneamento (COMUSA) were used to prove the influence of the stream waters in the waters of Sinos river in the point of caption of the company named above, as well as, data from the Fundação Estadual de Proteção Ambiental Henrique Luiz Roessler (RS, FEPAM), entities which monitor that point of withdrawal of water. The Pampa stream waters presented characteristics similar to domestic sewage. The impact caused to the waters of Sinos River by the waters of Pampa stream is related to the domestic sewage. The solution for the currently awful chemical and microbiological conditions of the Pampa waters, necessarily, passes by the construction and operation of waste water treatment systems. Key words: water quality, monitoring, Pampa stream.

MICROBIOLOGICAL SURVEY ON JELLYFISH FOOD PRODUCTS: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

A microbiological survey was performed on ten brined jellyfish products, sampled in Italy from Chinese food markets. In general, the microbiological conditions were good and respected the standards contemplated in the regulations CE 2073/2005 e 1441/2007. The presence of inhibiting substances and the absence of aerobic mesophilic bacteria in two samples suggest a treatment to preserve the product.

The role of organic matter in the removal of emerging trace organic chemicals during managed aquifer recharge

This study explored the effect of different bulk organic carbon matrices on the fate of trace organic chemicals (TOrC) during managed aquifer recharge (MAR). Infiltration through porous media was simulated in biologically active column experiments under aerobic and anoxic recharge conditions. Wastewater effluent derived organic carbon types, differing in hydrophobicity and biodegradability (i. e., hydrophobic acids, hydrophilic carbon, organic colloids), were used as feed substrates in the column experiments. These carbon substrates while fed at the same concentration differed in their ability to support soil biomass growth during porous media infiltration. Removal of degradable TOrC (with the exception of diclofenac and propyphenazone) was equal or better under aerobic versus anoxic porous media infiltration conditions. During the initial phase of infiltration, the presence of biodegradable organic carbon (BDOC) enhanced the decay of degradable TOrC by promoting soil biomass growth, suggesting that BDOC served as a co-substrate in a co-metabolic transformation of these contaminants. However, unexpected high removal efficiencies were observed for all degradable TOrC in the presence of low BDOC concentrations under well adopted oligotrophic conditions. It is hypothesized that removal under these conditions is caused by a specialized microbial community growing on refractory carbon substrates such as hydrophobic acids. Findings of this study reveal that the concentration and character of bulk organic carbon present in effluents affect the degradation efficiency for TOrC during recharge operation. Specifically aerobic, oligotrophic microbiological soil environments present favorable conditions for the transformation of TOrC, including rather recalcitrant compounds such as chlorinated flame retardants.

Effects on the microbiological condition of product of decontaminating treatments routinely applied to carcasses at beef packing plants.

Reports on the microbiological effects of decontaminating treatments routinely applied to carcasses at beef packing plants indicate that washing before skinning may reduce the numbers of enteric bacteria transferred from the hide to meat. Washing skinned carcasses and/or dressed sides can reduce the numbers of aerobes and Escherichia coli by about 1 log unit, and pasteurizing sides with steam or hot water can reduce their numbers by > 1 or > 2 log units, respectively. Spraying with 2% lactic acid, 2% acetic acid, or 200 ppm of peroxyacetic acid can reduce the numbers of aerobes and E. coli by about 1 log, but such treatments can be ineffective if solutions are applied in inadequate quantities or to meat surfaces that are wet after washing. Trimming and vacuum cleaning with or without spraying with hot water may be largely ineffective for improving the microbiological conditions of carcasses. When contamination of meat during carcass dressing is well controlled and carcasses are subjected to effective decontaminating treatments, the numbers of E. coli on dressed carcasses can be < 1 CFU/ 1,000 cm2. However, meat can be recontaminated during carcass breaking with E. coli from detritus that persists in fixed and personal equipment. The adoption at all packing plants of the carcass-dressing procedures and decontaminating treatments used at some plants to obtain carcasses that meet a very high microbiological standard should be encouraged, and means for limiting recontamination of product during carcass breaking and for decontaminating trimmings and other beef products should be considered.

Response of the microbial community to water table variation and nutrient addition and its implications for in situ preservation of organic archaeological remains in wetland soils

Wetland environments can preserve organic archaeological remains because of their anaerobic nature. The ongoing discovery of archaeological sites in wetlands is associated with a lack of funds for excavation and preservation. This situation has led to the consideration of preservation in situ the preferred option for dealing with the majority of waterlogged archaeological remains in England. To expand our understanding of the burial environment, we studied changes in environmental variables along with counts of total bacteria and microbial 14C-leucine assimilation down the soil profile at two wetlands in the North of England. Soil cores were sampled at five depth intervals between 10 and 100 cm. To test whether the addition of nutrients induces bacterial activity in the soil, inorganic phosphate and combined nitrogen were added to soil samples and the rate of 14C-leucine assimilation was recorded. Redox potential readings were positive above the water table and negative below. The total number of bacteria and the 14C-leucine assimilation rates differed among sites, but always decreased with increasing soil depth. Nutrient availability was limiting for the microbial communities in the upper soil horizons, but did not appear to limit those in the lower soil. These results allow a better understanding of the physico-chemical and microbiological conditions that potentially favour or inhibit the decomposition of organic archaeological remains at the studied wetlands.

Beneficial interactions between insects and gut bacteria

Insects are amongst the most successful of animals, both in terms of diversity and in colonizing all ecological niches. Recent studies have highlighted the benefi ciary roles that bacteria play in the success and establishment of insects. By adopting techniques like 16S rRNA sequencing we are now in a position to understand the diversity of bacteria present in insect guts. It has been shown that some of these bacteria, like Wolbachia and Cardinium are involved in manipulating insect populations and distorting their sex ratio. Attempts have been made to culture these bacteria in insect cell lines, as they are recalcitrant to culture under normal microbiological conditions. The diversity of bacteria associated with insects and the functional role played by them in the insect is discussed below.

Mineral concentration in selected native temperate grasses with potential use as biofuel feedstock

Stands of native grasses along roadways, in buffer strips, riparian zones and grass prairies have potential utility as feedstock for bioenergy production. The sustainability of harvesting these stands is reliant, in part, on knowledge of the mineral concentration of the harvested grasses because removal of mineral nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) can impact subsequent biomass production and ecosystem services associated with these stands. Mineral content of biomass, particularly that of silicon (Si), chlorine (Cl), and sulfur (S) also impacts thermochemical conversion approaches that convert grasses into bioproducts. This study quantified Cl, S, Si, P and K in Bromus marginatus, Elymus glaucus, Poa secunda, Pseudoroegneria, Elymus lanceolatus, Elymus trachycaulus, Leymus cinereus, Leymus triticoides, and Pseudoroegneria spicata collected at three growth developmental stages from four plant introduction stations located in the western US. Differences ( P ⩽ 0.05) in mineral concentrations were associated with developmental stage, species, and location. Variability was greatest in Si concentrations which ranged from 1847 to 28620 mg kg −1, similar to those recorded in other grasses. Variability in Cl and S concentrations also occurred, but at less magnitude than that of Si. Concentrations of P and K, two mineral fertilizer components, varied approximately threefold among these grasses. Differences in mineral concentrations among these grasses were not completely dependent upon soil mineral content. Long-term evaluations of available soil mineral concentrations under contrasting management practices are needed to quantify how local conditions impact mineral cycling, and in turn, the sustainability of harvesting these stands. The data presented here establish baselines for these species in locations subject to contrasting environmental and microbiological conditions that affect mineral cycling and availability.