Minerals Potassium Research Articles

Soil Fertility, N2 Fixation and Yield of Chickpea as Influenced by Long-Term Biochar Application under Mung–Chickpea Cropping System

A research study was established at the research farm of the University of Agriculture, Peshawar during winter 2018–2019. Commercial biochars were given to the experimental site from 2014 to summer 2018 and received 0.95, 130 and 60 tons ha−1 of biochar by various treatments viz., (Biochar1) BC1, (Biochar2) BC2, (Biochar3) BC3 and (Biochar4) BC4, respectively. This piece of work was conducted within the same study to find the long-term influence of biochar on the fertility of the soil, fixation of N2, as well as the yie1d of chickpea under a mung–chickpea cropping system. A split plot arrangement was carried out by RCBD (Randomized Complete Block Design) to evaluate the study. Twenty-five kilograms of N ha−1 were given as a starter dosage to every plot. Phosphorous and potassium were applied at two levels (half (45:30 kg ha−1) and full (90:60 kg ha−1) recommended doses) to each of the four biochar treatments. The chickpea crop parameters measured were the numbers and masses of the nodules, N2 fixation and grain yield. Soil parameters recorded were Soil Organic Matter (SOM), total N and mineral N. The aforementioned soil parameters were recorded after harvesting. The results showed that nodulation in chickpea, grain yield and nutrient uptake were significantly enhanced by phosphorous and potassium mineral fertilizers. The application of biochar 95 tons ha−1 significantly enhanced number of nodules i-e (122), however statistically similar response in terms of nodules number was also noted with treatment of 130 tons ha−1. The results further revealed a significant difference in terms of organic matter (OM) (%) between the half and full mineral fertilizer treatments. With the application of 130 tons ha−1 of biochar, the OM enhanced from 1.67% in the control treatment, to 2.59%. However, total and mineral nitrogen were not statistically enhanced by the mineral fertilizer treatment. With regard to biochar treatments, total and mineral N enhanced when compared with the control treatment. The highest total N of 0.082% and mineral nitrogen of 73 mg kg−1 in the soil were recorded at 130 tons ha−1 of biochar, while the lowest total N (0.049%) and mineral nitrogen (54 mg kg−1) in the soil were recorded in the control treatment. The collaborative influence of mineral fertilizers and biochars was found to be generally non-significant for most of the soil and plant parameters. It could be concluded that the aforementioned parameters were greater for treatments receiving biochar at 95 tons or more per hectare over the last several years, and that the combination of lower doses of mineral fertilizers further improved the performance of biochar.

Edible Nuts for Memory

Nuts hold prime significance throughout the world as they offer multiple health benefits owing to their highly nutritious profile. A number of scientific studies have demonstrated their actions against inflammation, oxidative damage, the aging process, as well as dementia or memory loss. However, only walnuts, followed by almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios, have shown promising results in empirical studies for memory improvements. So, the current review focuses on presenting hypotheses regarding anti-dementia property of nine different nuts: almond, walnut, pistachio, Brazil nut, peanut, pecans, cashew, hazelnut, and chestnut. The nutritious profile of nuts contains essential fats (mostly mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids), proteins (source for arginine, lysine and tryptophan), vitamins (riboflavin, folate, and various tocopherols), fibers, minerals (calcium, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium) and trace elements (copper, zinc, and selenium). Interestingly, the constituents of natural products, nuts being an excellent example, work synergistically and/or in a side-effect neutralizing manner. These latter properties can make nuts an alternate therapy for humankind to fight against memory loss.

Using Vinasse as a Source of Potassium Fertilization for Sugar Beet and a Sandy Soil Amendment

TWO field experiments were conducted in a sandy soil at Al-Hossein Agricultural Farm located at 64thkm, Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Egypt, in 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 seasons, to check the possibility of using cane vinasse as a source of potassium fertilization for sugar beet, and its effect as an amendment on some properties of soil. A randomized complete block design was used. The present work included 13 treatments as follows:- 100% K2O: 48kg K2O/fed “fed = 4200m2” as K2SO4 “48% K2O” (control).- Three treatments represent the sole application of 100% equivalent to 48kg K2O/fed, in the form of raw (V1), photo-chemically (V2) and biologically (V3) treated vinasse, i.e., 707.6, 707.6 and 817.7L/fed, respectively.- Nine treatments, using 75, 50 and 25% of the recommended rate as K2SO4 combined with 25, 50 and 75%, successively, equivalent to 48kg K2O/fed, from each of V1, V2 and V3.The lowest value of hydroxyl methyl furfural (HMF) was recorded with V3 and phenolic compounds with V2. The maximum activity of dehydrogenase enzyme was found with adding (50% K2O+50% V3)/ fed. Adding (50% K2O+50% V3) significantly increased root yield/fed. The different treatments including V3 markedly increased sugar yield/fed, as compared to that gained with 100% K2O/fed, in both seasons.The addition of [50% of the recommended rate of K-fertilizer (24 kg K2O) as K2SO4+50% of the biologically treated vinasse (408.85 liters)/fed] could be recommended to get economical root and sugar yields, which means saving 50% of mineral potassium sulphate required for sugar beet crop.

Kinetics and Mechanism of Leaching Potassium from Biotite in H2SO4 Solution

AbstractBiotite is a potential potassium mineral resource and the dissolution of biotite in H2SO4 solution is a green chemistry approach for recovering potassium. To estimate the efficiency of leaching process and to understand the behavior of leaching reactors, the kinetics and mechanism of leaching potassium from biotite in H2SO4 solution were studied in this work. The leaching experiments show that leached fractions of K2O increase with the increasing of temperatures and H2SO4 concentrations, and yet with the decreasing of biotite particle sizes. According to the shrinking core model, the leached fractions of K2O were fitted better by diffusion through product layer. A kinetics expression of diffusion‐controlled model on three parameters was acquired and it is appropriate to predict the leached fractions of K2O from biotite in H2SO4 solution. The dissolution of biotite in H2SO4 solution was interpreted by electrochemical mechanism coupling with characterization of the acid‐leached residues. This research results can aid in the design of leaching process for recovering potassium sustainably from biotite.

Long-term green manure application improves soil K availability in red paddy soil of subtropical China

Potassium (K) in soil minerals is an important factor affecting rice production in red paddy soil of subtropical China under intensive agricultural production. The long-term application of green manure might affect the soil K availability through accumulative effects of microbial activity on K-bearing minerals. This study aims to investigate the effect of green manure applications (GMs) on soil K availability in relation to soil minerals. The soil mineralogy under 36 years of GMs, including milk vetch application (MV), rape application (RA), and ryegrass application (RY), was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurement, with a winter fallow treatment (WF) as the control. Fast available K (FAK), non-exchangeable K (NEK), and structural K (SK) were extracted with NH4OAc, HNO3, and HF-HClO4 solution, respectively. All the extracted K was determined by flame photometry. The K release or retention was measured by a new method of potassium Q/I curve. The GMs significantly decreased the SK, which was associated with weakened diffraction intensity of feldspar and mica. However, the NEK under GMs increased from 90.9 to 100.1–104.8 mg kg−1 compared with that under WF, which was in line with the higher content of illite under GMs. The soil clays contained much kaolinite and illite, leading to easy leaching of K. The GMs obviously improved K retention in the soil, especially the MV and RY, which could be ascribed to the large amounts of illite with poorly crystallized structure under GMs. Long-term GMs, especially MV and RY, can improve the availability of SK and K retention capacity in the soil in relation to soil mineralogy, and thus can be an effective alternative to enhance soil K availability in red paddy soil.

Chemical composition and rheological properties of Detarium microcarpum and Irvingia gabonensis seed flours

The present study examined the chemical composition and rheological properties of seed flours of Detarium microcarpum and Irvingia gabonensis endosperms used as food ingredients in sub-Saharan Africa especially Nigeria. The proximate composition indicates I. gabonensis seed flour contained higher amounts of crude fat, protein, and ash than D. microcarpum seed flour. The flours were rich in the essential minerals potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) but very low in the micronutrients zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) and therefore would not present any health hazard on consumption. The rheological properties of 5% flour pastes showed that D. microcarpum flour paste (zero shear viscosity (ηo) = 56.69 Pa s) had superior thickening power than I. gabonensis (ηo = 14.8 Pa s) at the same concentration however, the mechanical properties in solution showed that D. microcarpum flour paste contained entangled network of polymers while I. gabonensis was predominantly elastic. From the properties of the flour pastes, I. gabonensis flour would have superior performance as emulsion stabilizer in food systems when compared with D. microcarpum flour.

Response of Cassava Crop Cultivated In Sandy Soil To Different Sources of Potassium Fertilizers

Field experiment was carried out in new reclaimed lands at the experimental Station of National Research Centre in Nubaria Region, Behira Governorate, North of Egypt, during the two growing seasons of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019. This studyaimed to enhance cassava(Indonesian cultivar) productivity by using differentsources of potassium fertilizers treatments. Six treatments, i.e.,potassium sulphate as mineral fertilizer, K feldspar + bio fertilizer as bio fertilizer, compound K, Aloe extract as natural fertilizer and Humic acid as organic fertilizer were compared to non-potassium fertilizerapplication (control). The experiments were carried out in a Complete Randomized Blocks Design in four replicates. The characters of vegetative growth, (plant height, leaves number per plant, main stems number per plant, main stem diameter,leaves dry matter, total chlorophyll content and leaf area) total yield per fed., tuber roots characters (average tuber roots number, average tuber roots diameter, average tuber roots length, average tuber roots weight and tuber roots dry matter) and chemical contents of tuber roots (starch % and potassium %)were evaluated.The increment in vegetative growth and productivity of cassava plants was evident with fertilizered plantsby mineral potassium, Aloe extract and Humic acid. On the other hand, decrement in vegetative growth and productivity of cassava was observed withnon-adding potassium fertilizertreatment (control).

Geochemistry of feldspar and muscovite from pegmatite of the Gatumba area, Karagwe Ankole Belt: implications for Nb–Ta–Sn mineralisation and associated alterations

The studied pegmatites suggest a sodium-dominant pegmatitic melt where micas and albites are dominant over potassium minerals. The mapped pegmatites from the Gatumba area are of interest in Karagwe Ankole Belt for the study of rare-element pegmatites. Previous works on the Gatumba pegmatites included geochemistry and geological mapping; and further studies are required for focused exploration and mine planning. For this reason, field investigation, petrographic and mineral chemistry studies on pegmatites were carried out. Thin sections of the rock samples collected were studied under a transmitted light microscope. Electron Microprobe Analysis and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy were used for mineral chemistry and identification; Back Scattered Electron analysis was used for mineral texture. Major minerals identified in the pegmatite bodies are quartz, plagioclase and micas. Albites (An0.1–0.8; Ab98.7–99.6 and Or0.3–0.5) are found as the dominant-plagioclase minerals in the pegmatites from the Gatumba area. Albites are precursors to kaolinites, and the albitisation and kaolinisation processes altered the primary emplaced pegmatites during the mineralisation of the Nb–Ta, Sn rare metals, which precipitated into columbite-tantalite and cassiterite. Muscovites are the most common mineralogical indicators of strongly peraluminous composition in plutonic rocks. Crystallisation, muscovitisation and kaolinisation accompanied the precipitation of prompted cassiterite and columbite-tantalite in the pegmatites of the study area.

Bacterivorous Nematodes Correlate with Soil Fertility and Improved Crop Production in an Organic Minimum Tillage System

Reduced nutrient mineralization rates under minimum tillage are usually compensated by mineral fertilizer application. These, however, cannot be applied in organic farming systems. We hypothesized that an organic minimum tillage system based on frequent cover cropping and application of dead mulch would improve soil fertility and compensate for the potential negative effects of minimum tillage. Two long-term field experiments were set up in 2010 and 2011 to compare plowing versus minimum tillage including the application of transferred mulch. A second factor, the application of compost versus mineral potassium and phosphorus, was also compared. In 2019, soils were analyzed for soil pH, organic carbon, macro- and micronutrients, microbial biomass, microbial activity, and total nematode abundance. In addition, performance of pea in the same soils was determined under greenhouse conditions. Across both experiments, macronutrients (+52%), micronutrients (+11%), microbial biomass (+51%), microbial activity (+86%), and bacterivorous nematodes (+112%) increased in minimum tillage compared to the plow-based system. In the greenhouse, pea biomass was 45% higher in the soil that had been subjected to minimum tillage compared to the plow. In conclusion, soil fertility can be improved in organic minimum tillage systems, which include intensive cover cropping and the application of dead mulch, over plow-based systems.

Response of Growth and Productivity of Cowpea Plants to Nano Mixture of Micronutrients Under Different Potassium Sulphate Fertilizer Rates

The response of cowpea cv. Cream 7 growth and productivity to potassium fertilization mixed with or without Nano mixture of micronutrients were studied during the summer of 2017 and 2018 seasons at Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Egypt. The experiment aimed to assessed the effect of potassium fertilization levels (0.0, 24, 48 and 72 kg K2O/Fed), Nano mixture of micronutrients rate (0.0, 0.50, 1.0 and 2.0 g/l) and their interactions on growth, seed yield, macronutrients concentration in shoot and seeds and seed quality of cowpea plants. Source of potassium levels was potassium sulphate (48-52% K2O). The used Nano mixture of micronutrients called "Magrow NanoMix" and it contained Fe (6%), Zn (6%), B (2%), Mn (5%), Cu (1%) and Mo (0.1%). These treatments arranged in a split-plot design with three replicates. The results referred to that fertilizing cowpea plants with potassium at 72 kgK2O/Fed. significantly increased cowpea growth (plant height, branch and leaf numbers per plant as well as branch, leaf and total dry weights/plant), yield components(pod diameter and length, hundred seeds weight, pod number/plant and seed yield/ plant and /Fed.) as well as chemical constituents (N, P and K percentages in each leaves and seeds as well as total carbohydrates and protein percentages in seeds, also, total chlorophyll content (SPAD) in cowpea leaves compared with control and the lowest levels under study. The same trend was achieved by using the highest rate of Nano mixture of micronutrients (2g/l) regarding the increase in most of abovementioned parameters of growth, yield and chemical constituents of cowpea compared with unsprayed plants (control). In general, application of potassium fertilization at 72kg K2O/ Fed. as soil application with Nano- mixture of micronutrients at 2g/l rate as foliar spray was recorded the best treatments for increasing all cowpea growth and seed yield components as well as N, P, K and carbohydrates percentage in seeds such as compared with control treatment (without using mineral potassium or Nano mixture of micronutrients) in growing season.

Análises físico-químicas e microbiológicas de amostras de água mineral

A água de abastecimento público do município de Sete Lagoas (MG) é caracterizada como dura devido às características calcárias do subsolo, gerando um sabor desagradável e ocasionando um elevado consumo de água mineral engarrafada. A grande variedade de marcas disponíveis no município gera questionamentos sobre a qualidade das mesmas. Sendo assim, este trabalho objetivou avaliar as características físico-químicas, microbiológicas e verificar as informações de rotulagem em amostras de água mineral envasadas em volume de 20 litros comercializadas no município de Sete Lagoas-MG. Foram em analisadas em triplicata 18 amostras diferentes. A determinação de coliformes totais, termotolerantes, Escherichia coli e Pseudomonas aeruginosa foi realizada através da técnica do Número Mais Provável (NMP) e a contagem de Enterococcus sp. pelo método da membrana filtrante. As análises de dureza e alcalinidade total foram realizadas pelo método volumétrico com indicador visual, a concentração dos minerais (cálcio, magnésio, sódio e potássio) por espectrometria de absorção atômica e a medida de pH utilizando um medidor de pH. Verificou-se que oito amostras apresentaram-se impróprias para o consumo, sendo que, sete apresentaram contaminação por Enterococcus sp. e três por P. aeruginosa. O pH, a dureza e a alcalinidade estavam de acordo com os padrões estabelecidos para águas potáveis. Para a maioria das amostras os valores encontrados para os minerais analisados variaram bastante quando comparados com o declarado no rótulo. Concluiu-se que algumas marcas estavam em desacordo, seja por questão microbiológica ou físico-química. Fiscalização, análises periódicas e aplicação de boas práticas são fundamentais para que sejam fornecidas água mineral de qualidade adequada para o consumo humano.

Bentonite-Based Organic Amendment Enriches Microbial Activity in Agricultural Soils

Bentonite-based organic amendments may have the potential to enhance soil microbial properties. The experiment was carried out from 2014 to 2017 comprising four treatments: NPK fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium mineral fertilizer as a control), NPK + cattle manure, NPK + bentonite, and NPK + combination of manure with bentonite (MB) to verify this hypothesis. The effect of treatments on seven different soil microbial properties was measured: dehydrogenase activity (DHA), bacterial phospholipid fatty acid content, fungal phospholipid fatty acid content, microbial biomass carbon (Cmic), 16S rDNA, 18S rDNA, and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in soil. The results showed that solely bentonite treatment increases the bacterial and fungal biomass, which was further confirmed by the increased 16S rDNA and 18s rDNA gene copy numbers. The only significantly decreased values upon treatment with solely bentonite were recorded for DHA and Cmic. The ammonia-oxidizing bacteria population increased with the sole application of bentonite and reached its maximum value when bentonite was applied with manure. The MB treatment showed the highest value for all seven measured properties. In summary, the application of bentonite solely might increase or decrease the soil activity, but its addition, along with manure, always promotes an abundance of soil microorganisms and their activity. The co-application of bentonite with manure altered the soil microbial properties in a 3-year field experiment in favor of increased microbial biomass, which is beneficial for agriculture and environment and reveals the potential for the restoration of polluted lands.

KECERNAAN MINERAL ESENSIAL NATRIUM DAN KALIUM ANAK KUDA PACU (YEARLING) INDONESIA YANG DIBERI PAKAN LOKAL DAN PAKAN IMPOR

ESSENTIAL SODIUM MINERAL DEMOCRACY (Na) AND POTASSIUM (K) CHILDREN OF PACU HORSE (YEARLING) INDONESIA THAT IS PROVIDED LOCAL FEED AND IMPORT FEED.This study aims to determine the ability of racehorses to digest feed both local and imported feed in Tonsewer and Kanonang villages for 30 days consisting of preparation and data collection. The data collected were the type and amount of feed (Sodium and Potassium) given to race horses and the amount of feces (animal/day), then 10 local feed samples and 10 imported feed samples were taken. The results showed that the average of sodium digestibility for local feed was 67.58% and imported feed was 71.03%, while Potassium digestibility for local feed was 62.26% and imported feed was 66.02%. The conclusion of this study was that the digestibility of imported Sodium and Potassium feeds is better compared to local feed.Keywords: Digestibility, Sodium, Potassium.

La fertilización mineral como complemento a la fertilización con abono orgánico en el cultivo del café.

Con el propósito de evaluar diferentes fuentes potásicas minerales naturales, en mezcla con pulpa de café descompuesta para emplearlas como fertilizantes en el cultivo del café, en la Estación Experimental de Pueblo Bello, ubicada en el municipio de Pueblo Bello, departamento de Cesar, zona cafetera norte de Colombia; se evaluaron dos fuentes de potasio: Sulfato de Potasio (K2SO4) y Sulpomag (K2SO4.2MgSO4), sobre la producción en kilogramos.ha-1 de café pergamino seco; esta producción fue comparada con la obtenida al fertilizar con fertilizantes inorgánicos, con materia orgánica y un testigo sin fertilizar; el café fue establecido a densidades de 3.922, 6.060 y 7.843 plantas/ha en un sistema agroforestal. De los resultados se obtuvo que en la fertilización del café bajo sombrío pueden adoptarse alternativas como la aplicación de materia orgánica en mezcla con fuentes de potasio como el K2SO4.2MgSO4, comercializado como Sulpomag, siempre que se establezcan altas densidades de siembra. El café establecido a densidades inferiores a 6.000 plantas por ha, puede ser fertilizado con fuentes orgánicas o inorgánicas.

Seed Germination and Seedling Vigor Improvement by Chenopodium(common lambs quarters) leaf extract and ChenopodiumSalt Bladders in Rice (Oryzasativa L.)

Chenopodium is a halophyte which absorbs salt from the soil and encrusts inaerial parts particularly in leaves which is known as chenopod salt bladders.Therefore, an experiment was conducted to enhance the seed quality in riceby treating with these bladders. Results showed that significant improvementin seed germination and seedling vigor was recorded in rice. The seedssoaked in Chenopodium leaf extract along with salt bladders @ 0.5 % orsalt bladders alone @ 0.6 % for 16 h at 1:1 (w/v) ratio recorded the highestgermination and seedling vigor. It is analyzed that the Chenopodium leafextract and its salt bladders contains more amount of minerals particularlyphosphorous (0.50%, 0.15%), potassium (0.83%, 1.11%) nitrogen (2.52%,2.21%), calcium (16.00 ppm, 22.40 ppm), magnesium (190.56 ppm,193.40 ppm), sodium (4.14 mg 100 g-1, 6.57 mg 100 g-1), chloride (0.14mol.L-1, 0.17 mol.L-1), total phenol (5.00 mg g-1, 16.12 mg g-1 ) and poly phenoloxidase (0.20 ΔA g-1min-1, 0.10 ΔA g-1min-1), respectively which favoured theenhancement of seed quality in rice.

Magmatic Fluids Implicated in the Formation of Propylitic Alteration: Oxygen, Hydrogen, and Strontium Isotope Constraints from the Northparkes Porphyry Cu-Au District, New South Wales, Australia

AbstractIn porphyry ore deposit models, the propylitic alteration facies is widely interpreted to be caused by convective circulation of meteoric waters. However, recent field-based and geochemical data suggest that magmatic-derived fluids are likely to contribute to development of the propylitic assemblage. In order to test this hypothesis, we determined the oxygen and hydrogen isotope compositions of propylitic mineral separates (epidote, chlorite, and quartz), selected potassic mineral separates (quartz and magnetite), and quartz-hosted fluid inclusions from around the E48 and E26 deposits in the Northparkes porphyry Cu-Au district, New South Wales, Australia. In addition, the strontium isotope composition of epidote was determined to test for the potential contribution of seawater in the Northparkes system given the postulated island-arc setting and submarine character of some country rocks.Oxygen isotope geothermometry calculations indicate potassic alteration occurred between ~600° and 700°C in magmatic/mineralized centers, persisting to ~450°C upon lateral transition into propylitic alteration. Across the propylitic facies, temperature progressively decreased outward to <250°C. These temperature estimates and additional data from chlorite geothermometry were utilized to calculate the oxygen and hydrogen isotope composition of the fluid in equilibrium with the sampled minerals. Results show that propylitic fluids spanned a range of compositions with δ18O between 0.5 and 3.7‰ and δD between –49 and –17‰. Comparison of these results with the modeled compositions of meteoric and/or magmatic fluids during their evolution and isotopic exchange with local country rocks shows that a magmatic fluid component must exist across the propylitic halo during its formation. Strontium isotope data from propylitic epidote provide initial (based on formation at ~450 Ma) 87Sr/86Sr values in the range of 0.704099 to 0.704354, ruling out the presence of seawater as a second fluid in the system. Although we cannot exclude magmatic-meteoric mixing, especially toward the fringes of the system, our results support a model in which magmatic-derived fluid is the primary driver of propylitic alteration as it undergoes cooling and chemical equilibration during outward infiltration into country rocks. This is consistent with chemical mass transfer calculations for Northparkes and published chemical-thermodynamic models that only require a magmatic fluid for the production of propylitic assemblages. In view of this and supporting data from other deposits, we suggest that magmatic fluids are essential drivers of propylitic alteration in porphyry systems.

Mineral Intake Status of Community-Dwelling Elderly from Urban and Rural Areas of South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study Based on Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013~2016

We aimed to evaluate the intake of minerals (calcium, phosphorous, sodium, and potassium) in the urban and rural elderly and explore the adequacy of intake and food sources for each mineral using nationwide big data. The study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) between 2013 and 2016. We analyzed 5292 elderly individuals that were aged 65 years and older (2271 men, 3021 women). Daily calcium, phosphorous, sodium, and potassium intake, and they were analyzed using the 24-h dietary recall method. Additionally, the adequacy of intake and food sources for each mineral was analyzed. Blood triglyceride level was significantly higher in rural elderly than in urban elderly. The intake of calcium and potassium per 1000 kcal of energy intake was significantly lower in the rural elderly, and the proportion of participants with calcium intake below the Estimated Average Requirement was significantly higher in the rural elderly than in the urban elderly. The intake of calcium, phosphorous, and potassium in the rural elderly was lower than that in the urban elderly. These results can be used as basic data when making social and environmental policies for the health of the elderly and when providing targeted dietary education for the management of chronic diseases for the elderly.

Conditions for the salt strata formation of the Upper Pechora Basin (Russia)

It was studied the composition of salt-forming brines, the composition of insoluble salt residue and the sedimentation environment for the Upper Pechora evaporate basin at the halite crystallization stage in the underlying rock salt layer (Lower Permian, Kungur). The results are obtained from studying individual inclusions in halite, chemical composition of primary fluid inclusions brines, the phase composition of salts, and the homogenization temperatures of single-phase liquid inclusions in halite, by their preliminary cooling. The obtained data possible to establish the accumulation of the salt strata of the Upper Pechora potassium-magnesiums basin in shallow-water depositional environments. The brines of the basin belonged to sulfate tipe of the ocean water. The concentration of brines during the crystallization in the underlying rock salt layer was close to the stage of potassium minerals precipitation.

Micronutrient content in the diet of patients in psycho-neurological hospitals in Latvia

Mental health is influenced by a variety of factors, nutrition being one of the most important. Patients in psychiatric hospitals are provided with 24-hour care, including meals, and it is known that nutrition affects the well-being of patients. The intake of micronutrients has been associated with a reduction in depression. The aim of the study was to evaluate patients' diets in Latvian psycho-neurological hospitals according to the micronutrient recommendations provided by the Ministry of Health for the nutritional intake of the Latvian population. All data from the 21 menus provided by three Latvian psycho-neurological hospitals were processed using the Fineli program. Vitamin (B1, B2, B6, B12 and D) and mineral (calcium, iron, iodine, potassium, selenium, and zinc) content was determined for all menus, providing data on the total daily intake of micronutrients. The amount of potassium, selenium and zinc statistically significantly exceeded the recommended intake of trace elements for the population of Latvia. The amount of iron in the menus was found to be higher than that suggested by the national guidelines for men, whereas it was not statistically significantly different than the amount recommended for women. The amount of iodine in the menus was statistically significantly below the recommended level for both men and women. Iodine deficiency was observed in all hospital menus. No significant differences were found in the content of vitamins B2 and B12 for both men and women, whereas vitamins B1 and B6 exceeded Latvian recommendations for women. All hospital menus contained inadequate vitamin D levels in comparison to the established recommendations.

Proximate, Minerals, and Vitamins In Chayote Flour

The composition of biomolecules on the squash is affected by the processing, so that the squash that has been processed into flour has a different composition, so the need for exploration squash flour composition. This study was designed to evaluate composition of proximate, minerals and vitamins in squash flour. Analysis of proximate, vitamins and minerals using AOAC method. The percentage of ash content, carbohydrate, fat and protein respectively are (4.49 ± 0.17), (73.35 ± 0.47), (3.49 ± 0.29) and (15, 10 ± 0.27). The levels of vitamins star from the highest is a vitamin C (11.900 ± 1.072), vitamin A (0.038 ± 0.002) and vitamin E (0.015 ± 0.00007). While the mineral minerals content star from the highest is potassium (2311.90 ± 309.15), calcium (271.5 ± 9.19) and Sodium (21.69 ± 8.53). Chayote is suitable processed into flour that has the highest nutritional value of carbohydrates of 73.35 g/100 g, vitamin C of 11.9 mg/100 mg and potassium mineral of 23.11 g/100 g, so that the processing of squash flour is an innovation in the development of products made from it