Nutrient Content Of Vegetables Research Articles

Vehicle Perturbation Effects upon a Tundra Soil‐Plant System: II. Effects on the Chemical Regime

AbstractChemical regime alterations of a soil‐plant system resulting from tracked‐vehicle perturbation were determined in Tundra soils near Barrow, Alaska. The study was a contribution to the USIBP Tundra Biome Program.Six years following the perturbation, soils within track scars had lower redox potentials (negative) and lower amounts of exchangeable acidity than undisturbed soils. Furthermore, exchangeable bases (Ca, Mg, K and Na) were higher in the track influenced soils. Consequently, soil pH and base saturation were also higher.Soluble nutrient (Ca, Mg, K, Na, and NH4‐N) levels in soil solutions were considerably higher in track‐influenced soils than in undisturbed soils. Correspondingly, soil solution pH was also higher.Plants growing in the altered environment of the track scars were enriched in nutrients and were larger in size. Increased productivity and quality of track‐influenced vegetation was apparently stimulated by an increase in available nutrients in less acid, warmer, nutrient enriched soils. The track perturbation also resulted in changes in floristic composition of the vegetation at different locations within track‐affected soils.The intensity of soil alteration and resulting changes in the soil‐plant chemical regime were related to the degree of scarring of the landscape which, in turn, was related to differences in the natural drainage of soils along the tracks; scarring being greater, the poorer the natural drainage.Results show that a slight amount of disturbance to the tundra surface may be beneficial in terms of increased productivity and nutrient content of vegetation.

Effects of Fire on the Chemical Status of Herbaceous Communities of the Derbyshire Dales

It has previously been demonstrated that sporadic burning is an important influence in determining the nature of some types of limestone grassland in the Derbyshire Dales (Lloyd 1968). There are both short-term effects (seen in the transient abundance of annual and biennial species) and long-term effects (seen in changes in abundance of the dominant grasses and in control of scrub invasion). When a plant community is burned, in addition to the damage to plants and alterations to the physical environment, there are considerable changes in the chemical status of the community. There may be a substantial loss of nutrients in the smoke or in windblown ash and there may also be a release of readily soluble nutrients in the deposited ash. The significance of such chemical changes in herbaceous communities on limestone soils is assessed in this paper. Forest fires usually result in a clear increase in the availability of mineral nutrients (Ahlgren & Ahlgren 1960), but grassland fires are not reported to have so marked an effect, possibly because of the smaller standing crop (Daubenmire 1968). In Britain Allen (1964) and Allen, Evans & Grimshaw (1969) have investigated the chemical aspects of fire in Callunetum, an ericaceous community of acidic, peaty soils. The present study provides a contrast in that the grassland and tall herb communities examined all occur on soils containing free calcium carbonate. Changes in the nutrient status of the plant-soil system after fire have been studied by estimating losses in the smoke, deposition in the ash, retention of soluble nutrients in the soil and by monitoring the nutrient content of vegetation at intervals after a fire.

Ethnobotanical study and nutrient content of local vegetables consumed in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Chotimah HENC, Kresnatita S, Miranda Y. 2013. Ethnobotanical study and nutrient content of local vegetables consumed in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 14: 106-111. People in Central Kalimantan consume vegetables collected from the wild or traditionally cultivated. Documentation effort of them is very important because the diversity of local vegetables is threatened with extinction due to the conversion of peat land and forest fires. This study aimed to determine the diversity of local vegetables in Central Kalimantan, its use as a vegetable and nutrient content of some vegetables. The method used was the exploration and interviews. Exploration was carried out in three districts, namely Palangkaraya, Pulang Pisau, and Seruyan. Sampling of plants was done randomly and selectively. Data analysis was performed descriptively. The results showed that we recorded 42 plant species belonging to 30 families. There were many vegetables processing: stir-fry, make into clear soup, a light coconut milk soup, acidic soup, or just consumed as fresh vegetables. Based on the nutritional value, Helminthostachys zeylanica (L.) Hook had a potential to be developed as vegetables or medicinal plant. It had the highest protein, carbohydrate and minerals, namely P, Fe, Na and K among the vegetables analyzed.