Mixture Of Peat Research Articles

Characterization of the Morphology, Growth and Fruit Yield of Chilli (Capsicum Annuum L.) Genotypes Collected from the Eastern Black Sea Region of Türkiye

Capsicum annuum, native to Central America, specifically Mexico, is widely cultivated throughout Türkiye for its unripe green or ripe red fruits, known as "biber" in Turkish. In this study, a comprehensive assessment of morphological diversity, encompassing both quantitative and qualitative traits, was conducted. A total of 48 different genotypes of C. annuum, varying in colour shape, and size, were collected from the Pazar district and villages in Rize in 2014 and stored at +4°C. Planting of these C. annuum seeds occurred in May 2015 in trays filled with a mixture of peat and perlite at a 2:1 ratio under greenhouse conditions. When the seedlings reached the stage of having 4-5 leaves, they were transplanted into the field in June 2015. The data obtained on morphological characteristics were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis, and hierarchical clustering analyses. The first six principal component axes accounted for 79% of the variance among the 48 genotypes. Hierarchical clustering revealed four main clusters, whereas ANOVA revealed significant differences in various morphological characteristics of 48 different genotypes of C. annuum. This study revealed substantial morphological variability within the C. annuum genotypes examined and hence provides valuable insights for geneticists and breeders, enabling the identification of populations with desirable characteristics for future integration into pepper breeding programmes

The Impact of an Earthworm Digestion on the Chemical Compositions of Various Clay Minerals from Soils

Aims: The impact of living organisms activities in soils may generate various chemical and mineralogical changes. The objective of this study is to estimate the impact of earthworms on the chemistry of soil minerals such as the clay minerals. Study Design: An experiment was carried out integrating earthworms and clay minerals. The modifications due to this interaction between minerals and organic matter induced by earthworms’ digestion are discussed. Place and Duration of Study: Institut des Sciences de la Terre et de l’Environnement (UdS/CNRS), Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. Eight weeks of experiment for each type of clay. Methodology: The earthworm Lumbricus terrestris was used for digestion of illite and various smectite-type minerals, with or without peat moss, during a laboratory experiment at a constant temperature of 20°C during 8 weeks and under artificial 12 hour-light and 12 hour-dark cycles, for each digestion cycle. Results: The chemical elements extracted from smectites by the earthworm digestion appear to be mineral dependent. The behavior of K and radiogenic 40Ar is more dictated by the type of digested mineral than by the digestion process itself. The 87Sr/86Sr ratio of the acid leachates of the nontronite and peat mixture, before and after digestion, suggests that half of the digested matter corresponds to the digestive action of the earthworms, with the second half resulting from food. Digested clay material represents up to 30% and the peat moss the remainder of the mixtures. Conclusion: This study highlights the role of organic compounds generated by earthworms activities in transfer of elements to surface waters and soil fluids.

The use of mixtures of peat and sapropel in animal husbandry and crop production

The use of mixtures of peat and sapropel in animal husbandry and crop production

In Situ Use of Mining Substrates for Wetland Construction: Results of a Pilot Experiment.

This paper evaluates an experimental wetland as part of a pilot soil reclamation project in a mining area. The wetland was constructed using materials of mining origin from the area; most reactive materials of acid pH were stabilised using limestone filler. The study selected macrophytes that are tolerant to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and resistant to salinity, namely Phragmites australis, Juncus effusus, and Iris pseudacorus. These macrophytes were then placed in pots containing substrates composed of different mixtures of topsoil, peat, and mining waste (black or yellow sand). A thorough analysis of the physicochemical and mineralogical characteristics of the materials included studies of PTE mobilisation. This study emphasises the significance of the rhizosphere in directing the transfer of PTEs to the plant and the correlation between the substrate and the development of plant defence mechanisms, such as the formation of Fe-plates. Scanning electron microscopy was used to highlight these aspects and validate the results of the analytical determinations. These wetlands can be proposed as a phytoremediation strategy for areas affected by mining and maritime influence. They are easy to construct and remain stable, providing important ecosystem services such as the natural attenuation of acid mine drainage, support for vegetation development and fauna, and a clean ecosystem.

Effect of two different base cuts and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) doses on rooting of stem cuttings of wild Silene compacta Fischer

Silene compacta Fisch. ex Hornem., which grows naturally, is a plant species with high ornamental plant potential in the Silene L. genus of the Caryophyllaceae family. Vegetative propagation is one of the important ways to preserve naturally growing and cultivated plant species. In this study, the effect of two different cutting areas of the cutting base (above the node-below the node) and five different indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) doses (control, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 ppm) on the rooting of stem cuttings taken from individuals of the natural S. compacta species were investigated. IBA was applied to the cuttings’ bases in a commercial rooting powder. Perlite+peat mixture at a ratio of 1:1 (v/v) was used in the rooting medium. Survival rate, rooting percentage, blooming rate, root number, root length, seedling height, seedling stem diameter, side shoot number, shoot length and shoot stem diameter were evaluated. The evaluation was made one month after the start of the experiment. As a result, the highest survival rate in cuttings was obtained from above-node control group (100%) and under-node 2000 ppm IBA (95%) application, and the highest rooting percentage was obtained from under-node 2000 ppm IBA (68%) and above-node control group (65%), respectively. Based on the results, it can be concluded that different cuttings of the cutting base and IBA concentrations have different effects on the rooting success of the S. compacta species with stem cuttings.

Revisiting palaeolithic combustion features of Theopetra Cave: A diachronic use of dung and peat as fuel

The chemical diagenesis and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Palaeolithic sequence of Theopetra Cave have been studied extensively, but little information is available regarding the details of its combustion structures. The cave is characterized by extensive beds of multi-sequence combustion layers dated between 140 and 50 ka BP, and thick, often stratigraphically complex bodies of ash and charred remains dated between 16 and 13 ka BP. All combustion features contain large amounts of charred and partially charred fibrous organic matter of non-wood plant material and very little charcoal. The structure, fabric, composition, and chemistry of these remains suggest that a mixture of peat and dung was used as a fuel, occasionally enriched with amounts of wood fuel. The integrity of the sequence of combustion structures precludes the possibility that dung was produced by animals inside the cave as their traffic on its wet substrate would have destroyed the burnt layers and homogenized the sediment. The mixture of peat and dung was most likely collected from peatlands associated with swamps of the former so called Karditsa Lake that probably existed in the area until the beginning of the Holocene. Peat and dung were used as a fuel when wood fuel was not available, during the relatively cold intervals of the glacial periods, but also during the last interglacial when the area close to the cave was wooded. Of great interest is that this same fuel was used during both the Middle and the Upper Palaeolithic, presumably by different human species. Although Theopetra appears to be the first site that peat and dung was used as a fuel during the Middle Palaeolithic, it is suggested that other sites may have used this fuel as well. This has important consequences in understanding the evolution of human pyrotechnology particularly during glacial periods.

Effect of different light intensities on agronomic characteristics and antioxidant compounds of Brassicaceae microgreens in a vertical farm system

Microgreens are vegetable or edible herb shoots harvested in the early stages of development. They have an important number of bioactive compounds and add color, texture, and flavor to dishes and salads. Given their benefits, small size, and high market prices, they can grow in indoor systems, where light is determinant. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different light intensities on agronomic characteristics, color, chlorophylls and carotenoids content, and antioxidant activity represented by total phenolic content (TPC), eliminate, and antioxidant capacity (AC) in four Brassicaceae species in two colors (green and red). The experiment was conducted in a controlled light-emitting diode (LED) environment growth chamber (day/night temperatures of 25/20 ± 1.2°C, 16 h photoperiod, and 79 ± 2% relative humidity). Three light intensities were used for microgreen growth with the same LED light spectrum: low (120 ± 5.1 μmol m−2 s−1), medium (160 ± 3.6 μmol m−2 s−1), and high (210 ± 5.9 μmol m−2 s−1). Eight g of the seeds of green and red cultivars of cabbage, kale, mizuna, and mustard were sown in a plastic tray (64 cm x 35 cm x 6 cm) with a mixture of peat and perlite (1:2 = v: v). Overall, the high intensity increased dry matter percentage and dry weight, except in green and red kale and green cabbage cultivars. In contrast, low intensity promoted a larger hypocotyl in all species than with high intensity; moreover, it enhanced the cotyledon area in green and red mizuna. Cabbage, kale, and mustard green cultivars were greener under medium intensity, whereas the low intensity enhanced the purple color of mizuna. In addition, chlorophyll a and b increased under low intensity in most species except the red kale and mustard cultivars. The high intensity raises the antioxidant activity, promoting a higher TPC and AC. The findings revealed that the light intensity generated variations in agronomic characteristics, color, chlorophyll content, and antioxidant activity of Brassicaceae microgreens, and the changes were based on the specific species and cultivars.

Evaluation of the effect of a novel substrate that is composed of landfill-mined-soil-like-fractions on plant growth and heavy metal accumulation

In the pursuit of a safe, low-cost, and sustainable method for the reuse of landfill-mined-soil-like-fractions (LFMSFs), pot experiments were conducted using seven growth substrates consisting of LFMSFs, tea residue, and peat for the cultivation of Photinia × fraseri. Six of the substrates had 40 %:60 %, 60 %:40 %, and 80 %:20 % volume ratios of LFMSFs to tea residue or peat, and one substrate consisted entirely of LFMSFs. The physicochemical properties of the substrate, growth parameters of the plants, and heavy metal content in the different pots were determined after one year of growth. The results indicated that the physicochemical properties of the substrate, that was composed of a mixture of LFMSFs and tea residue showed a significant improvement in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. However, there was also an increase in the salt and heavy metal contents when compared with those of peat. The plant growth in the LFMSF and tea residue substrate was slightly lower than that in the LFMSF and peat mixture. Notably, the best plant growth and environmentally friendly effects were observed when LFMSFs were added at 40 %. Additionally, most of the heavy metals were primarily removed from the substrate through the leaves of the seedlings, with the heavy metal contents being relatively low. In conclusion, LFMSFs as a cultivation substrate, represent a practical approach for reutilization, which could contribute to the reduction of reliance on traditional resources.

Effect of molybdenum application in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under cold stress conditions

Cold stress (low temperature stress) is one of the abiotic stress factors. It causes many morphological and physiological problems in plants. One of the applications to eliminate and alleviate these negative effects is molybdenum application. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of molybdenum application on cold stress in commercial variety Mazamort pepper. In the experiment, control, 25 ppm molybdenum concentration, 72 hours cold stress and 25 ppm molybdenum +72 hours cold stress applications were included. Pots of 2 L were used to grow the plants and the growing medium was a mixture of peat and perlite in a ratio of 2:1 by volume. Climatic chamber conditions were set to 24±1°C during the day and 18±1°C at night with 16/8 h light/dark photoperiodicity for control conditions and 24±1°C during the day and 5±1°C at night with photoperiodicity for cold stress conditions. The experiment was planned according to the random plots factorial design with 3 replications and 6 plants in each replicate. At the end of the study, plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, plant fresh and dry weight, SPAD, wet basis moisture content, leaf proportional water content and ion leakage parameters were analysed. The highest plant height of Mazamort pepper variety was determined in 25 ppm molybdenum+72 hours cold stress application (44.51 cm). Application of 25 ppm molybdenum was effective in alleviating the negative effect of cold stress on plant stem diameter, plant fresh-dry weight and turgor potential. Moisture content wet basis was lowest in 25 ppm molybdenum +72 hours cold stress application. SPAD value in pepper plants decreased under cold stress conditions. It was observed that 25 ppm molybdenum application was ineffective and the decrease increased under cold stress conditions. Ion leakage in Mazamort pepper variety was highest under 72 hours cold stress and 25 ppm molybdenum +72 hours cold stress conditions. Under cold stress conditions, 25 ppm molybdenum application was ineffective. Molybdenum application under cold stress conditions was found to have positive effects on some parameters in general. In future studies, we believe that the application of different molybdenum concentrations and different cold stress periods will reveal the effects of molybdenum more clearly.

Persistence of Root Exudates of Sorghum bicolor and Solidago canadensis: Impacts on Invasive and Native Species.

Root exudates of the invasive Solidago canadensis and the cereal crop Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench cv. 'Hybridsorgo' were tested for allelopathic interactions against native and invasive plant species in a controlled environment. After the surface was sterilized, the seeds of two invasive species (Bromus sterilis and Veronica persica) and two native species (Youngia japonica and Rumex acetosa) were germinated and transplanted into the soil (1:1 mixture of coco peat and sand) that had been conditioned for one month by the cultivation of Solidago canadensis and Sorghum bicolor, both in combination or as unplanted controls. After an additional eight weeks of growth, morphometric measurements of the shoot and root, including foliar characteristics and above- and below-ground biomass accumulation, were performed. The results revealed significant inhibitory effects of root exudates released by Sorghum bicolor and Solidago canadensis on native species' productivity and physiology. The invasive species exhibited variable growth responses, with Veronica persica showing reduced shoot and root expansion, but Bromus sterilis revealed increased shoot and root biomass allocation and nutrition under the exudate treatments. Exudates from Solidago canadensis and Sorghum bicolor together showed synergistic negative effects on native species, while they promoted growth and nutrition in Veronica persica. Taken together, the differential species responses indicate that the tested native species were more sensitive to the allelopathic compounds than the invasive species, which is in line with the theory of novel weapons. The legacy effects of root exudates of both Sorghum bicolor and Solidago canadensis could promote invasive establishment through imposing allelochemical interference competition against native plant species. Understanding the specific allelopathic mechanisms may help with the development of integrated strategies for managing invasive species.

Farklı Yetiştirme Ortamları ve Hümik Asit Dozlarının Turpta Bitki Gelişimi ve Kalite Üzerine Etkileri

This research was conducted to determine the effects of different growing media and humic acid doses on plant growth parameters and quality properties in cherry-red radish. In the study, 4 different growing media [Soil, Peat:Perlite (1:1), Peat:Perlite (2:1) and Peat:Perlite (3:1)] consisting of soil and mixtures of peat and perlite at different ratios were used. In addition to, 0 (control), 500, 1000 and 2000 ppm doses of humic acid in liquid form named TKİ Hümas were investigated. Rolex F1 cherry-red radish variety (Raphanus sativus L. var. sativus) was used in the study. According to the findings obtained from the research, it was detected that Peat:Perlite (2:1) medium came to the forefront in terms of plant growth parameters and quality properties among the growing media. It was found that humic acid applications (500, 1000 and 2000 ppm) significantly increased tuber fresh weight, tuber diameter and tuber length compared to the control (0 ppm). Among the humic acid doses, the highest tuber fresh weight, tuber diameter and tuber length were obtained from 1000 ppm dose. In general, it was determined that soilless growing media and humic acid had positive effects on plant growth and quality. When the growing media and humic acid doses are evaluated among themselves, it was concluded that especially Peat:Perlite (2:1) medium and 1000 ppm dose were more effective on plant growth and quality and could be used successfully in soilless cherry-red radish cultivation in terms of agricultural sustainability and productivity.

Phenotypic, genomic and in planta characterization of Bacillus sensu lato for their phosphorus biofertilization and plant growth promotion features in soybean

Bacillus sensu lato were screened for their capacity to mineralize organic phosphorus (P) and promote plant growth, improving nitrogen (N) and P nutrition of soybean. Isolates were identified through Type Strain Genome Server (TYGS) and Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI). ILBB95, ILBB510 and ILBB592 were identified as Priestia megaterium, ILBB139 as Bacillus wiedmannii, ILBB44 as a member of a sister clade of B. pumilus, ILBB15 as Peribacillus butanolivorans and ILBB64 as Lysinibacillus sp. These strains were evaluated for their capacity to mineralize sodium phytate as organic P and solubilize inorganic P in liquid medium. These assays ranked ILBB15 and ILBB64 with the highest orthophosphate production from phytate. Rhizocompetence and plant growth promotion traits were evaluated in vitro and in silico. Finally, plant bioassays were conducted to assess the effect of the co-inoculation with rhizobial inoculants on nodulation, N and P nutrition. These bioassays showed that B. pumilus, ILBB44 and P. megaterium ILBB95 increased P-uptake in plants on the poor substrate of sand:vermiculite and also on a more fertile mix. Priestia megaterium ILBB592 increased nodulation and N content in plants on the sand:vermiculite:peat mixture. Peribacillus butanolivorans ILBB15 reduced plant growth and nutrition on both substrates. Genomes of ILBB95 and ILBB592 were characterized by genes related with plant growth and biofertilization, whereas ILBB15 was differentiated by genes related to bioremediation. Priestia megaterium ILBB592 is considered as nodule-enhancing rhizobacteria and together with ILBB95, can be envisaged as prospective PGPR with the capacity to exert positive effects on N and P nutrition of soybean plants.

Clonal micropropagation of some species of the genus Thymus L.

The aim of the work was to study the influence of cultivation factors on the explants development to optimize the protocol of in vitro clonal micropropagation of four species of the genus Thymus L., valuable essential oil and medicinal plants. Conditions that ensure the production of up to 94.2 % of sterile explants were selected. It has been established that, when introduced into in vitro culture, it is advisable to use shoot tips and stem segments with a node (isolated from donor plants) and cultivate them in foil-covered test tubes. The optimal culture media for the first stage of micropropagation were determined: Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 1.0 mg/l benzylaminopurine (BAP) for Thymus serpyllum L. or MS with 1.0 mg/l kinetin and 1.0 mg/l gibberellic acids (GA3) for T. vulgaris L. ‘Gornyy Balzam’, T. × citriodorus (Pers.) Schreb. ‘Doone Valley’, T. caucasicus Willd. ex Ronniger. At the second stage of clonal micropropagation, it is advisable to cultivate T. caucasicus and T. serpyllum explants during 40 days, but T. vulgaris and T. × citriodorus – during 60 days. The maximum multiplication index at the recommended cultivation duration was obtained for T. × citriodorus (9.9) on MS medium without hormones, T. caucasicus (16.1) and T. vulgaris (10.0) – on MS medium with 1.0 mg/l kinetin., and T. serpyllum (6.8) on MS medium with 1.0 mg/l BAP. When comparing different culture vessels (tubes, jars and flasks), the effectiveness of jars was revealed. This type of culture vessels made it possible to increase the multiplication index up to 2.1–5.7 times. It was revealed that when microshoots of four thyme species were cultivated on MS medium with 1.0 mg/l IBA, the rooting rate reached 84.6–98.9 %. The frequency of adaptation ex vitro when using a mixture of peat and perlite (1:1) ranged from 62.8 to 89.5 %.

Технология посадки рогоза узколистного на торфяном грунте для достижения максимального накопления органического углерода в почве

The article presents the results of research on the analysis of carbon accumulation in the soil under moisture-loving crops when using peat soil under conditions of different anthropogenic load. Comparative cultivation of moisture-loving crops in natural and artificial conditions revealed their specificity: the largest volume of organic carbon productivity in the soil (g/kg-1) of narrow-leaved cattail was obtained when grown in a reclamation channel on peat soil and averaged = 21.64 g/kg-1. The lowest volume of organic carbon productivity in the soil of narrow-leaved cattail (g/kg-1) was obtained in the variant grown in vivo and averaged = 6.1 (g/kg-1) (3.5 times lower). The experiment was conducted on the territory of the environmental hospital of the Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow State Agricultural Academy named after K.A. Timiryazev in Moscow during 2019-2022. The study was conducted on moisture-loving crops grown on peat soil (a mixture of peat and wood chips). Keywords: MOISTURE-LOVING CROPS, URBANIZED SOILS, SOIL CARBON, PEAT SOIL

Effects of biochar applications on growth, nutrient content and biochemical properties of Ocimum basilicum L.

This study investigated the effects of biochar treatments on the growth, nutrient content and some biochemical properties of basil. Biochars obtained from two different biomasses, rice husk (RBC) and tomato harvest waste (TBC), were applied at a dose of 2% to the growing medium consisting of a 1 : 1 soil and peat mixture. No biochar-added medium (1 : 1 soil and peat) was used as a control. The experiment was established in a completely randomized design with six replications for each treatment. At the end of the study, the height, number of lateral branches, total herb weight, and leaf weight of the plants were measured. In addition, chlorophyll contents in SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development), different nutrients and total phenolics contents, and antioxidant activities were analyzed. As a result of the study, the effects of biochar treatments differed depending on the biomass source. RBC significantly increased plant height, total herb weight, and leaf weight while negatively affecting the number of lateral branches. TCB did not cause any significant variation in plant height and number of lateral branches. While RBC provided a slight increase in leaf weight compared to the control, it did not cause a significant change in plant height, total herb weight, and the number of lateral branches. Except for a slight increase in K content due to RBC application, both biochar treatments did not cause a significant increase in leaf nutrient content. While RBC treatment did not cause a significant change in total phenol, it caused an increase in antioxidant activity. TBC application decreased the SPAD value from 22.4 in the control to 20.4.

Towards anaerobic digestate valorization to recover fertilizer nutrients: Elaboration of technology and profitability analysis

The study aimed to develop a technology for creating granular fertilizers, containing amino acids, based on food waste digestate. Pork hemoglobin (Ntot: 14.9 ± 1.5%, C: 47.2 ± 4.7%) served as an additional source of nitrogen and organic carbon. The proposed method comprises four unit processes: (1) chemical hydrolysis of raw materials with a mixture of sulfuric (VI) acid and phosphoric (V) acid, (2) neutralization with solid potassium hydroxide and correction of the composition with minerals (sulfate salts of copper, manganese, zinc and iron), (3) granulation with a mixture of biomass combustion, potato starch and peat, and (4) drying the granules. The prepared formulation meets the requirements of European Parliament Regulation 2019/1009 and is classified as PFC 1(B)(I): solid organo-mineral fertilizer (N: 4.49 ± 0.45%, C: 35.0 ± 3.50%, P2O5: 2.83 ± 0.57%, K2O: 4.78 ± 0.96%). The forms of nutrients were determined in accordance with current PN-EN standards. The effect of amino acid fertilizer on cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus, W. Legutko) was studied in 10-day germination tests under normal, salinity and drought conditions. It was noted that a low dose of the preparation under normal conditions had a stimulating effect on root development, while higher supplementation positively affected the aboveground parts of the plants. Under drought conditions, plants accumulated higher amounts of free amino acids, particularly glutamic acid, arginine, glycine, phenylalanine, serine and tryptophan. A significant portion of the study focused on the economic analysis, which included financial calculations for the production of the proposed fertilizer, an evaluation of profitability, and a sensitivity analysis.

Simultaneous molecular fingerprinting of natural organic matter and synthetic polymers (PE, PET, PP, PS and PVC) using analytical pyrolysis

The rapid accumulation of plastics in the environment has created the need for methods that allow to identify synthetic organic matter (SyOM) in sample matrices dominated by natural organic matter (NOM). We investigated the molecular composition of mixtures of peat with several key synthetic polymers –polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC)– using pyrolysis-GC-MS (Py-GC-MS) and thermally assisted hydrolysis and methylation (THM-GC-MS), to determine the capacities of these analytical tools to identify and quantify SyOM accumulation in organic-rich sample matrix without prior elimination of the NOM. The detection limit of Py-GC-MS depends mainly on the pyrolysis yield (signal intensity per unit of mass; PS > PE > PP > PET > PVC) and the specificity of the markers in the NOM matrix (PS > PET > PP > PVC > PE). Py-GC-MS allowed the identification of PET at a concentration of 0.002%, PS at 0.01%, PP at 0.1%, PE at 0.2% and PVC at 2%. Quantification was more problematic, as most markers showed inconsistent trends with SyOM concentration. THM-GC-MS yielded similar results, albeit the products of PP and PE could be more easily distinguished from NOM products because of the protection of the NOM’s fatty acids from decarboxylation, and because THM-GC-MS minimizes PET decarboxylation, enabling the use of the dimethyl terephthalate marker (detection limits: 0.02% for PE, PP and PET, 0.1% for PS and 0.2% for PVC). High-throughput analytical pyrolysis approaches have a clear potential to identify SyOM, but quantification requires NOM removal. In addition, we raise awareness of co-pyrolysis effects in simultaneous NOM-SyOM analysis, such as the influence of HCl formed during pyrolysis of PVC, which inhibits the intramolecular reorganization during cellulose pyrolysis and thus mitigates formation of the key product levoglucosan, and the effect of NOM on the balance between monomer, dimer and trimer products of PS. This study significantly advances on the analysis of widespread plastics polymers in NOM-rich environmental samples by pyrolysis and identify pitfalls in data interpretation.

Using surface soil layer depth for determining soil quality index for evaluating productivity of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Hokkaido, Japan

ABSTRACT A comprehensive quantification of soil quality is necessary for data-driven soil management, and numerous studies have sought to devise methods for determining the soil quality index (SQI) to assess soil productivity. However, most studies have focused on topsoil properties rather than deeper soil properties. Therefore, this study attempted to calculate the SQI by incorporating subsoil properties and surface soil layer depth and topsoil properties, targeting farms cultivating potatoes in Tokachi region, Hokkaido. The soil parent material in this region is primarily composed of a mixture of alluvial deposits, volcanic ash, and peat, which makes the comparison between the various soil properties difficult for evaluation by farmers. Principal component analysis (PCA) and regression analysis were used to select the minimum data set (MDS) representing the variance of the original data set: exchangeable Ca, K, pH, solid phase, and acid-soluble Cu in descending order of weight. Weights were allocated based on the eigenvalues of the principal components. This study selected MDS’s parameters from properties with soil diagnosis criteria based on past research on productivity evaluation. The selected parameters contained both physical and chemical properties, which indicated that the soil quality was evaluated from both aspects. For surface soil layer depth consideration, the corrected SQI was calculated by reducing more when the depth was shallower. SQI considering subsoil properties did not correlate with yield (r = 0.358), but SQI considering surface soil layer depth was significant (r = 0.515–0.518) regardless of the soil type (parent material) and cultivar. Correlations between SQI considering depth and yield were stronger when considering a single cultivar with the greatest number of sites (r = 0.620–0.641). A deeper surface soil layer depth would provide more macropores to plant roots and improve the availability of air, greatly affecting soil quality in the Tokachi region, where precipitation is high during the growth season. Therefore, this study reveals the importance of considering the surface soil layer depth to evaluate soil productivity using the SQI.

Ensuring household food security through enhanced production of pechay (Brassica rapa L.) as influenced by different levels of carbonized rice hull integration

Household gardens have been a staple of many rural areas in the region. However, due to limited space, a need to intensify productivity while maintaining our natural resources has risen to the forefront of research innovativeness. The productivity and economic efficiency of pechay applied with varying rates of carbonized rice hull (CRH) were evaluated from February 2021 to April 2021. The study was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with five (5) growing media as treatments (T1 - garden soil with the recommended rate of NPK; T2 - growing media (GM) consisting of mixtures of garden soil, chicken dung, and coco peat; T3 - GM + 5% CRH; T4 - GM + 10% CRH; and T5 - GM + 15% CRH) with three (3) replications. Results revealed that the integration of 5% CRH with specialized mixed growing media (T3) significantly increased yield attaining 102.13 kg per 100 m2. Utilization of specialized growing media (T2, T3, T4, and T5) either with or without integration of CRH has higher dry matter yield which was significantly higher than plants harvested from plots grown with purely garden soil. Cost and return analysis revealed that pechay production utilizing the specialized growing media with the integration of 10% CRH obtained the highest return of expenses of Php 2.57 which was significantly higher than the rest of the treatments. The study concludes that the addition of 10% CRH to specialized mixed media is promising based on its yield performance and return on cost invested, thus, it is highly recommended.

Влияние состава торфосмесей на биохимические показатели растений мелиссы лекарственной

In the course of a model experiment, the influence of the composition of peat mixtures from sand, lowland peat and soddy-podzolic sandy loamy soil on the content of polyphenols, photosynthetic pigments, the amount of antioxidants and malondialdehyde in the leaves of lemon balm medicinal variety “Limonnyy aromat’’ was studied. It has been established that the most optimal compositions of peat mixtures for growing plants of lemon balm are compositions with the following ratios of components: 1st mixture – soil 1 part + sand 2 parts + peat 2 parts; 2nd mixture – soil 1 part + sand 3 parts + peat 1 part. When growing plants on these mixtures, there is a greater accumulation of biologically active substances (phenolic compounds, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidants), a decrease in the content of the oxidative stress marker – malondialdehyde compared to soil and peat, as well as to a variant with a high content of peat (soil 1 part + sand 1 part + peat 3 parts). The addition of fertilizer “SOLAR UNIVERSAL – 18:18:18 + 3MgO + ME” to 1st peat mixture has proven itself well, especially at a dose of 1 mL per 50 g of substrate (fertilizer concentration 2 g/L). With the introduction of such a dose of fertilizer into peat mixture, the maximum values of the content of photosynthetic pigments and antioxidants in lemon balm leaves were noted. The above variants of peat mixtures can be recommended for use as soils for growing lemon balm both at home and on an industrial scale.