Phosphorus Content Research Articles

The Spatiotemporal Variability of Soil Available Phosphorus and Potassium in Karst Region: The Crucial Role of Socio-Geographical Factors

The contents of soil available phosphorus (AVP) and potassium (AVK) in karstic mountainous agricultural areas have changed rapidly in recent decades. This temporal variation displays strong spatial heterogeneity due to these areas’ complex topography and anthropogenic activities. Socio-geographical factors can reflect the changes in the natural environment caused by human beings, and our objective is to enhance understanding of their role in explaining the changes of AVP and AVK. In a typical karst region (611.5 km2) with uniform soil parent material and low climatic variability, 255 topsoil samples (138 in 2012 and 117 in 2021) were collected to quantify the temporal AVP and AVK changes. Random forest (RF) and partial dependence plot analyses were conducted to investigate the responses of these changes to socio-geographical factors (distance from the nearest town center [DFT] and village density [VD]), topography, biology, and landscape pattern indexes. The mean values of AVP (48.25 mg kg−1) and AVK (357.67 mg kg−1) in 2021 were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than those in 2012 (28.84 mg kg−1 and 131.67 mg kg−1, respectively). Semi-variance analysis showed strong spatial autocorrelation for AVP and AVK, ranging from 7.29% to 10.95% and 13.31% to 10.33% from 2012 to 2021, respectively. Adding socio-geographical factors can greatly improve the explanatory power of RF modeling for AVP and AVK changes by 19% and 27%, respectively. DFT and VD emerged as the two most important variables affecting these changes, followed by elevation. These three variables all demonstrated clear nonlinear threshold effects on AVP and AVK changes. A strong accumulation of AVP and AVK was observed at DFT < 5 km and VD > 20. The AVP changes increased dramatically when the elevation ranged between 1298 m and 1390 m, while the AVK changes decreased rapidly when the elevation ranged between 1350 m and 1466 m. The interaction effects of DFT and VD with elevation on these changes were also demonstrated. Overall, this study examined the important role of socio-geographical factors and their nonlinear threshold and interaction effects on AVP and AVK changes. The findings help unravel the complex causes of these changes and thus contribute to the design of optimal soil phosphorus and potassium management strategies.

Effects of dietary glucosamine sulfate sodium on early laying performance and eggshell quality of laying hens

This study was conducted to determine the influence of dietary glucosamine sulfate sodium (GSS) on laying performance, blood profiles, eggshell and inner quality of eggs and relative expression of the genes related to eggshell in laying hens at early stage. A total of 640 twenty-weeks-old Lohmann laying hens were randomly allotted to 4 treatments with 10 replicates of 16 hens each. The experiment lasted for 8 wk, and dietary treatments were: 1) CON, basal diet; 2) G1, CON + 0.2% GSS; 3) G2, CON + 0.4% GSS; 4) G3, CON + 0.6% GSS. The inclusion of GSS increased average daily feed intake, laying rate, and egg mass (P < 0.05) linearly during wk 21 to 25, 25 to 29, and 21 to 29, egg weight during wk 21 to 25 and 25 to 29, and improved (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio linearly during wk 21 to 25. The supplementation of GSS increased (P < 0.05) albumen height quadratically, Haugh unit, calcium content, calcium mass, phosphorus content and phosphorus mass linearly at the end of 25th and 29th wk. At the end of 29th wk, the eggshell strength, eggshell weight, eggshell ratio, and eggshell thickness were increased (P < 0.05) linearly in GSS treatments compared with CON. The addition of GSS increased (P < 0.05) serum calcium, estrogen 2, and calcitonin, while decreased (P < 0.05) serum tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), parathormone, IL-6 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) at the end of 29th wk. The inclusion of GSS increased (P < 0.05) the relative expression of ovocalyxin-32 and ovocalyxin-36 linearly at the end of 29th wk, and ovalbumin, osteopontin, calbindin 1, and ovocleidin-116 linearly at the end of 25th and 29th wk. Quadratic effects were observed (P < 0.05) in the laying rate during wk 21 to 25, serum TRAP and PGE2, the relative expression of ovocleidin-116 at the end of 29th wk. In summary, the inclusion of GSS up-regulated relative expression of osteopontin, ovocleidin-116, ovocalyxin-32 and ovocalyxin-36 in uterus, promoted the serum PGE2 and calcitonin, thus increased the calcium content of eggshell and finally enhanced eggshell quality.

Paleosurface studies of the remains of a building in the Mikhailovsky Cordon settlement

Pedoarchaeological study of the remains of a building on the territory of the Old Slavic site (the settlement of Mik-hailovsky Cordon — the Slavic Borshevo Culture of the late 1st mil. AD) in the Voronezh region were carried out in order to obtain new data on the layout of the settlement, the type of housing building, life sustainability, economy, and residen-tial use. The main purpose of soil research was the identification of the nature of the use of the building and the recon-struction of the economic activities in the adjacent territory. The determination of organic and mineral forms of phos-phates, urease activity, and the quantity of microorganisms of various trophic groups in the ‘natopt’ (trampled soil) at the bottom of the pit and in the soil outside of the building was carried out. It has been established that the most pro-nounced traces of economic activity have been preserved in the soils to the west of the building where the summer stove was located. In this area, the content of phosphates reached 2 mg P2O5/g soil. The soil to the northeast of the construction pit is characterized by the accumulation of organic matter, which is confirmed not only by a high content of organic phosphorus, but also by rather high quantity of saprotrophic bacteria, indicating organic contamination of the soil, which suggests the ingress of organic substrates into the soil (manure, feces, household waste). The values of many indicators of anthropogenic activity inside the building turned out to be unexpectedly low. As such, the low content of phosphates, saprotrophic bacteria and keratinophilic fungi in the analysed ‘natopt’ in the building at the bottom of the pit indicate a low intensity, or periodic use of the premises.

A novel multi-model estimation of phosphorus in coal and its ash using FTIR spectroscopy

The level of phosphorus must be carefully monitored for proper and effective utilization of coal and coal ash. The phosphorus content needs to be assessed to optimize combustion efficiency and maintenance costs of power plants, ensure quality, and minimize the environmental impact of coal and coal ash. The detection of low levels of phosphorus in coal and coal ash is a significant challenge due to its complex chemical composition and low concentration levels. Effective monitoring requires accurate and sensitive equipment for the detection of phosphorus in coal and coal ash. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is a commonly used analytical technique for the determination of phosphorus content in coal and coal ash samples but proves challenging due to their comparatively weak fluorescence intensity. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) emerges as a promising alternative that is simple, rapid, and cost-effective. However, research in this area has been limited. Until now, only a limited number of research studies have outlined the estimation of major elements in coal, predominantly relying on FTIR spectroscopy. In this article, we explore the potential of FTIR spectroscopy combined with machine learning models (piecewise linear regression—PLR, partial least square regression—PLSR, random forest—RF, and support vector regression—SVR) for quantifying the phosphorus content in coal and coal ash. For model development, the methodology employs the mid-infrared absorption peak intensity levels of phosphorus-specific functional groups and anionic groups of phosphate minerals at various working concentration ranges of coal and coal ash. This paper proposes a multi-model estimation (using PLR, PLSR, and RF) approach based on FTIR spectral data to detect and rapidly estimate low levels of phosphorus in coal and its ash (R2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^2$$\\end{document} of 0.836, RMSE of 0.735 ppm, RMSE (%) of 34.801, MBE of − 0.077 ppm, MBE (%) of 5.499, and MAE of 0.528 ppm in coal samples and R2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$^2$$\\end{document} of 0.803, RMSE of 0.676 ppm, RMSE (%) of 38.050, MBE of − 0.118 ppm, MBE (%) of 4.501, and MAE of 0.474 ppm in coal ash samples). Our findings suggest that FTIR combined with the multi-model approach combining PLR, PLSR, and RF regression models is a reliable tool for rapid and near-real-time measurement of phosphorus in coal and coal ash and can be suitably modified to model phosphorus content in other natural samples such as soil, shale, etc.

Efficient removal of phosphate and fluoride from phosphogypsum leachate by lanthanum-modified zeolite: Synchronous adsorption behavior and mechanism

Phosphogypsum is a common large-tonnage by–product in phosphorous chemicals industry, its stacking not only causes severe environmental problems, but also leads to a serious waste of phosphate and fluoride resources. The objective of this study was to tackle the recycling treatment of phosphogypsum leachate by using a highly efficient adsorbent lanthanum hydroxide-modified zeolite (LMZ). The adsorption behaviors of phosphate and fluoride by LMZ in the coexisting system under static and dynamic conditions were studied. And further, the competitive adsorption mechanism involved was analyzed. The results showed that LMZ possessed excellent adsorption performance toward both phosphate and fluoride in the single system, but the fluoride adsorption capacity decreased by 57.9 % in the coexisting system, with no change in phosphate adsorption. In the competitive adsorption process, ligand exchange interaction on La active sites contributed most to phosphate adsorption, while fluoride could be adsorbed onto LMZ via electrostatic attraction, surface precipitation with Al sites, and hydrogen bonds with hydroxyl groups in La−OH and P−OH. In actual phosphogypsum leachate, the removal of phosphate had priority over the removal of fluorine. Under continuous adsorption condition, the concentration of phosphorus and fluoride could be decreased to below 0.5 and 1.0 mg/L, respectively, meeting the safe concentration in drinking water. This study promotes the application of La–based adsorbents in the treatment of phosphogypsum leachate, and provides a green and sustainable strategy toward practical phosphorus and fluorine recovery.

Spatiotemporal investigation of geochemical and hydrological controls on release of soluble reactive phosphorus from the shallow aquifer of a riparian zone.

Phosphorus (P) that accumulates in agricultural riparian zones can be released under certain hydrological and biogeochemical conditions, thereby limiting the effectiveness of these zones in reducing P loads from field to stream. The study objective was to explore factors that may be contributing to, or limiting, high soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentrations in the shallow aquifer of an alluvial upland riparian zone located in a continental climate. Field investigations including porewater sampling from six vertical nests, soil sampling, and continuous soil moisture, groundwater table, and redox measurements were conducted over 19 months. Porewater SRP concentrations were generally low in the aquifer considering all sampling times (median=14.7µg/L; interquartile range [IQR]=11.1µg/L, 287 samples). The overall low SRP may be due to low reducible labile soil P (median=21.1 µgP/g dw, IQR=10.9 µgP/g dw, 21 samples). However, high SRP concentrations(>52µg/L, 95% quartile) did occur intermittently in space and time with no clear spatial or temporal patterns. Analyses indicate that most high concentrations were likely not associated with factors previously reported to influence SRP release in riparian aquifers, including redox conditions, pH, and soil drying and wetting. Further, data indicate that internally released or externally supplied SRP may undergo rapid (re-) sequestration within the aquifer, limiting its vertical or horizontal transport. The study findings highlight the complexity of P behavior in riparian zones and the need for caution when assessing the effectiveness of conservation practices and in interpreting potential impacts of subsurface water quality on stream water quality when monitoring locations are distant from the stream.

Inorganic phosphorous availability and mobility in a manufactured soil

Manufactured soils, created by combining various organic and inorganic waste materials and byproducts, may be tailored to specific applications, providing an alternative to the extraction of natural soils. It is important for them to be capable of supporting plant growth without the need for significant management or fertiliser applications, the over-application of which can have adverse environmental effects.We examined the dynamics of phosphorus (P) transformations within a manufactured soil and the implications for nutrient cycling. A freshly prepared manufactured soil (32.5 % composted green waste, 32.5 % composted bark, 25 % horticultural grit, and 10 % lignite clay) was studied over one year in temperature and moisture controlled mesocosms. Leachate was collected to achieve high-resolution monitoring of leached phosphate concentrations.Initially, leached dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) concentrations were low (0.02 ± 0.01 mg P L−1), before increasing by 160 μg P L−1 d−1 over the first 42 days to 5.57 ± 1.23 mg P L−1. After reaching a maximum concentration, DIP concentrations remained relatively consistent, varying by only 1.67 mg P L−1 until day 270. The increase in leached DIP was likely driven by soil organic matter mineralisation and the cleavage of carbon‑phosphorus bonds by the soil microbes to satisfy carbon demand with mineralogical influences, such as a decrease in apatite content, also contributing. Sorption and desorption from soil particles were the processes behind the P loss from the soil, which was followed by slow diffusion and eventual loss via leaching. The fertiliser application on phosphate dynamics resulted in increased DIP leaching.P concentrations observed in the manufactured soil were within the range considered sufficient to support plant growth. However, the mean leached phosphorus concentrations were higher than reported eutrophication thresholds suggesting that these soils may pose a risk to surface waters in their current form.

Особенности накопления минеральных элементов и азота в ассимиляционном аппарате сосны обыкновенной

The research has been carried out in the Arkhangelsk forestry of the Arkhangelsk Region in a drained shrub-sphagnum pine forest. Census trees of medium diameter and height for the stand have been selected, from which samples of needles, both living and dying yellow ones, and shoots of different ages have been taken on model branches. Soil samples have also been taken from the 3 upper horizons. It has been established that most of all nitrogen and mineral elements accumulate in the living needles – 4.4 % on average, in the dying needles and shoots there are 37–40 % less. Among all the elements, nitrogen, potassium and calcium make up the largest proportion; while the rest of the chemical elements are several time less. In descending order of the share, they are arranged in the following sequence: magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, manganese, silicon, iron and aluminum. The most important mineral elements are derived in significant quantities from the dying yellow needles. The content of sulfur, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese and iron decreases in them by 3.3, 2.1, 8.0, 1.5 and 1.4 times, respectively, compared to the living needles. Data on the presence of nitrogen and mineral elements in the soil horizons A0, T1 and T2 have been obtained. It has been established that some of the essential elements for the life of a tree are concentrated in the living needles in much larger quantities than in the soil: potassium, phosphorus, manganese and calcium – by 12.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 1.9, respectively. The yellow falling needles create a biological cycle of substances. The amount of nitrogen and ash constituents in these needles is proportional to their presence in the soil. In turn, the content of mineral elements in the shoots is close to their amount in the yellow falling needles, on the one hand, and on the other, depends on the age of the shoots. There is a steady trend of decreasing the content of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and sulfur with the age of the shoots.

Associations between caries experience and oral fluid mineral content among patients in Arctic Russia: a study in the Nenets Autonomous Area

The relationship between the intensity of caries and mineral composition of oral fluid in adolescents in the Arctic zone of Russia was investigated using the example of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. This study included 171 healthy boys and girls aged 15–17 years. The intensity of caries was assessed using the index caries + fillings + extracted permanent teeth and its components. Unstimulated oral fluid was collected into sterile tubes. Sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and total and ionized calcium content and pH were examined in the oral fluid. Considering the pronounced right-sided asymmetry of the components of the index caries + fillings + extracted permanent teeth, calculations were performed using Poisson regression models. Results were presented as relative risks with 95% confidence intervals and as tests for trend. The prevalence of caries in the sample population did not differ by sex and was 87.8% for boys and 93.3% for girls (p = 0.221). On average, 1.8 carious teeth per person were detected in boys and 1.4 in girls (p = 0.021). No differences were found in the number of filled (p = 0.167) and extracted (p = 0.981) teeth. Additionally, the total sodium content in oral fluid was directly proportional to the index of caries + fillings + extracted permanent teeth (p = 0.040) and number of carious teeth (p 0.001). The total oral fluid calcium was significantly associated with both the caries + fillings + extracted permanent teeth index (p = 0.019) and number of filled teeth (p = 0.001). Inverse relationships were found between the number of filled teeth and magnesium (p = 0.028) and phosphorus (p = 0.037) content. The study showed the presence of statistically significant relationships between the mineral composition of oral fluid and index of caries + fillings + extracted permanent teeth and its components. Thus, unfavorable living conditions in the Arctic zone provide additional risk factors for the occurrence of dental diseases. The results of the study, if confirmed in other populations, can be used to develop models for predicting the development and progression of caries in adolescents of the Far North. Further studies of the mineral composition of oral fluid are required to obtain more complete clinical and laboratory data, considering confounding factors such as nutrition and type of filling material.

Longitudinal study on the change trend of serum alkaline phosphatase and its possible influencing factors in peritoneal dialysis patients

The aim of the study was to analyze the change trend of serum ALP over time and identify factors influencing its levels in peritoneal dialysis patients. Then to investigate the impact of serum ALP changes on calcium and phosphorus metabolism in single peritoneal dialysis center utilizing repeated measurement data. A retrospective cohort study was conducted with a total follow-up duration of 30 months. Serum ALP and other biomarkers, including calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), 25(OH)D, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), albumin(ALB), and hemoglobin(Hb) were measured every 3 months. The generalized estimation equation (GEE) was utilized to analyze the change trend of serum ALP over time, and to assess whether there were differences in changes over time between different genders and different primary disease groups. Additionally, factors influencing serum ALP levels were analyzed, and the impact of serum ALP changes on calcium and phosphorus metabolism was also explored. A total of 34 patients were included in the study. Serum ALP and other indicators were measured repeatedly, with a maximum of 8 times and a minimum of 4 times. The median of serum ALP values at all measurement times for all selected patients was 89 U/L. The GEE analysis revealed that serum ALP gradually increased with time, and patients in diabetes group increased faster than those in non-diabetes group. A positive correlation was observed between serum ALP and dialysis duration, also between serum ALP and hemoglobin. However, variations in serum ALP did not significantly affect serum corrected calcium, phosphorus, or iPTH concentrations. The serum ALP levels of peritoneal dialysis patients increase gradually over time, and the concentrations are influenced by dialysis duration. The changes in serum ALP values do not have a significant impact on serum calcium, phosphorus, and iPTH levels.

Functionalized Soybean Oil as a Bio-based Flame Retardant for Poly(lactic acid): Role of Phosphorus Content

Functionalized Soybean Oil as a Bio-based Flame Retardant for Poly(lactic acid): Role of Phosphorus Content

Analysis of microbial community composition and diversity in the rhizosphere of Salvia miltiorrhiza at different growth stages.

Salvia miltiorrhiza is a kind of medicinal plant with various pharmacological activities. Few studies on the composition and diversity of rhizosphere microbial communities at different growth stages have been conducted on Salvia miltiorrhiz; in particular, salviorrhiza grows in soil that has been continuously planted for 3 years. The purpose of this study was to understand the changes of soil physicochemical properties of Salvia miltiorrhiza at different growth stages, and to study the composition and diversity of rhizosphere microbial community at different growth stages. Illumina NovaSeq sequencing technology was used to analyze the bacterial 16S rRNA gene and the fungal ITS region in the rhizosphere soil of Salvia miltiorrhiza at different growth stages. The results showed that the dominant bacterial phyla in the Salvia miltiorrhiza rhizosphere were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Chloroflexi. The dominant fungal phyla were Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota, and Rozellomycota. During the growth of Salvia miltiorrhiza, the physical and chemical properties of soil changed. As the Salvia miltiorrhiza grew, the content of available phosphorus, available potassium, pH, nitrate nitrogen, and ammonium nitrogen significantly decreased. Ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen had a greater impact on the bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere than on the fungal community structure. The work was to reveal differences in the rhizosphere bacterial and fungal community structure during different growth stages of Salvia miltiorrhiza, further understand the changes of rhizosphere microbial ecological characteristics and soil physicochemical properties during the cultivation of Salvia miltiorrhiza.

Tree root-mediated soil metabolome in agroforestry enhancing the growth and quality of Panax notoginseng

Abstract Purpose The ecological cultivation of Panax notoginseng under a forest canopy relies on the coupling of the P. notoginseng growth environment and the forest ecosystem Methods In this study, six tree species, such as Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco, were chosen to research the effects of species interactions on the growth, quality, and disease occurrence under intercropping with P. notoginseng, with single P. notoginseng serving as the control. Results Intercropping P. notoginseng with PO (Platycladus orientalis, a coniferous tree species) or with SW (Schima wallichii Choisy, a broad-leaved tree species) promoted the accumulation of P. notoginseng biomass, reduced the occurrence of root rot, improved the contents of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in P. notoginseng, and increased the saponin concentration. Then, 43 differentially abundant metabolites were screened in the P. notoginseng-tree intercropping system by soil metabolism analysis and compared with those in the monocropped system. Indole-3-carboxaldehyde showed a significant negative relationship with the occurrence of root rot disease and inhibited Fusarium oxysporum. In addition, 2-naphthalenesulfonic acid was significantly positively correlated with biomass and increased the dry weight in the underground part of P. notoginseng in the pot experiments. Conclusions Thus, the coniferous tree species PO and the broad-leaved tree species SW are potentially good neighbours of P. notoginseng, and soil metabolic changes may be important mechanisms for the growth and disease resistance benefits observed in the understorey of P. notoginseng.

Effect of Different Planting Density in Cocoa (Theobroma cacao l.) on Leaf Macro and Micronutrient Levels Grown under Coconut Ecosystem

An experiment investigating the impact of different cocoa densities on leaf macro and micronutrient levels within a coconut ecosystem was conducted at the Coconut Farm of the Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The study employed a Randomized Block Design (RBD) comprising eight treatments, each replicated three times. Notably, among the various spacing configurations, T1 (3m x 1.2m) exhibited the highest levels of leaf nitrogen (1.86%), phosphorus (0.084%), potassium (1.39%), and boron (91.33 ppm) content. This suggests that under Tamil Nadu conditions, high-density planting in the T1 treatment not only resulted in elevated nutrient levels but also correlated with a notable increase in revenue. These findings underscore the potential benefits of adopting high-density planting practices in cocoa cultivation within coconut ecosystems. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term implications of spacing configurations and nutrient interactions on crop productivity and profitability.

Physicochemical analysis of deterioration affecting the darkening of rock art in Maros-Pangkep, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

This study investigates the darkening processes affecting Maros-Pangkep rock art through a comprehensive multianalytical approach. We integrate in-situ color index measurements using Nix color Pro 2 with various physicochemical characterization techniques, including optical microscopy, XRF, SEM-EDS, Raman spectroscopy, and FTIR. By examining microbial, geochemical, and anthropogenic factors on rock art pigment samples, we establish a clear correlation between the formation of blackish-gray layers and reduced chromaticity values, indicating a significant darkening process. The shift in pigment color from vibrant red or purple to a prevailing blackish-gray hue is attributed to surface accumulation. Surface morphology analysis reveals distinct blackish deposits and delicate white fibrous structures on darkened rock art. Elemental composition analysis demonstrates heightened blackish deposit formation and increased phosphorus content in darkened samples. SEM-EDS characterization exposes gypsum morphology, with filament-like structures prevailing in heavily darkened samples, highlighting the role of both geochemical and microbial factors in deposit layer formation. FTIR spectra results confirm the presence of gypsum minerals, which are attributed to the substrate minerals and/or mineral weathering product, and unveil the existence of organic compounds, indicating microbial activity. Additionally, Raman spectroscopy reveals the anthropogenic contribution, notably soot deposition produced by human activities, to the darkening of rock art. This study underscores the need for a holistic preservation approach addressing natural, human, and microbial impacts on cultural heritage sites. Further research is also needed to conduct cross-sectional stratigraphical analysis to understand the accurate mechanism of the deterioration process on the rock art. Moreover, excavation measures regarding the possible relationship of soot deposition with human activities are also important to be carried out at the sites.

Extending grazing time during the warm season can reduce P limitation and increase the N cycling rate in arid desert steppes

Ecological stoichiometry serves as a valuable tool for comprehending biogeochemical cycles within grassland ecosystems. The impact of grazing time on the concentration and stoichiometric characteristics of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in desert steppe ecosystems remains ambiguous. This research was carried out in a desert grassland utilizing a completely randomized experimental design. Four distinct grazing time treatments were implemented: fenced grassland (FG, control), delay to start and early to end grazing grassland (DEG), delay to start grazing grassland (DG), and traditional grazing grassland (TG). The patterns of C, N, and P concentrations and their stoichiometry in various components of the ecosystem, as well as their driving factors under different grazing times were examined. The results showed that grazing time positively influenced C and N concentrations in leaves, while negatively affecting N concentrations in roots. TG had a significant positive effect on soil P concentrations but a negative effect on soil C:P and N:P ratios. Plant C:N, C:P, and N: P ratios were mainly influenced by N and P. The soil C:N ratio was primarily influenced by soil N, the soil C:P ratio was affected by both soil C and P, and the soil N:P ratio was influenced by both soil N and P. The growth of plants in desert steppes is mainly limited by P; however, as grazing time increased, P limitation gradually decreased and the N cycling rate increased. C-N, C-P, and N-P in various plant organs and soils demonstrated significant anisotropic growth relationships at different grazing times. Soil organic carbon, pH, and soil total phosphorus were the main driving factors that affected changes in ecological C:N:P stoichiometry. These results will help improve grassland management and anticipate the response of grassland systems to external disturbances with greater accuracy.

A novel integrated approach employing Desertifilum tharense BERC-3 for efficient wastewater valorization and recycling for developing peri-urban algae farming system

Peri-urban environments are significant reservoirs of wastewater, and releasing this untreated wastewater from these resources poses severe environmental and ecological threats. Wastewater mitigation through sustainable approaches is an emerging area of interest. Algae offers a promising strategy for carbon-neutral valorization and recycling of urban wastewater. Aiming to provide a proof-of-concept for complete valorization and recycling of urban wastewater in a peri-urban environment in a closed loop system, a newly isolated biocrust-forming cyanobacterium Desertifilum tharense BERC-3 was evaluated. Here, the highest growth and lipids productivity were achieved in urban wastewater compared to BG11 and synthetic wastewater. D. tharense BERC-3 showed 60–95% resource recovery efficiency and decreased total dissolved solids, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen and total phosphorus contents of the water by 60.37%, 81.11%, 82.75%, 87.91%, 85.13%, 85.41%, 95.87%, respectively, making it fit for agriculture as per WHO's safety limits. Soil supplementation with 2% wastewater-cultivated algae as a soil amender, along with its irrigation with post-treated wastewater, improved the nitrogen content and microbial activity of the soil by 0.3–2.0-fold and 0.5-fold, respectively. Besides, the availability of phosphorus was also improved by 1.66-fold. The complete bioprocessing pipeline offered a complete biomass utilization. This study demonstrated the first proof-of-concept of integrating resource recovery and resource recycling using cyanobacteria to develop a peri-urban algae farming system. This can lead to establishing wastewater-driven algae cultivation systems as novel enterprises for rural migrants moving to urban areas.

A Survey on Nutrition Labeling for Sodium, Potassium, and Phosphorus of Packaged Food and Beverages

Nutrition labeling is important to guide patients with chronic kidney disease to make informed choices. This study aimed to evaluate the extent and accessibility of nutrition labeling for sodium, potassium, and phosphorus on food and beverage products in a supermarket. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a Malaysian supermarket. Information on sodium, potassium, and phosphorus contents was collected from the nutrition fact panel, while information on food additives containing sodium, potassium, and phosphorus was collected from the ingredient list. The survey included 2,577 foods and beverages, and 79.4% of the products included sodium information in nutrition fact panels, but only 11.7% and 2.0% disclosed potassium and phosphorus content, respectively. Sodium-containing additives were found in 78.6% of products; potassium- and phosphorus-containing additives were reported in 28.5% and 46.9% of products, respectively. Sodium-containing additives were typically listed as "salt," potassium-containing additives as "alternative names," and phosphorus-containing additives as "starch" and "E numbers." Imported products were more likely to include sodium (P<.001) and phosphorus (p=.036) contents, while more locally manufactured products reported sodium- (p=.003) and phosphorus- (P=.004) containing additives. There is limited availability of potassium and phosphorus information on nutrition labels in Malaysia food and beverage products, which presents significant challenges for individuals with chronic kidney disease in choosing appropriate products for their dietary needs.

High plasma magnesium and phosphorus levels and their correlation with struvite urolithiasis in buffaloes

BackgroundUrolithiasis is a common urinary tract disease in buffaloes, almost exclusively affects young males, and has significant economic and production impacts. We have investigated hemato-biochemical and urinary changes in an attempt to deduce their correlation with struvite urolithiasis in buffaloes. MethodsTen male buffalo calves with obstructive urolithiasis were used. Blood samples were used for hematology and elemental analysis. Urine samples were used for physico-chemical examination, microscopy, and elemental analysis. Uroliths were subjected to chemical functional group determination using the FTIR spectroscopy. ResultsThe mean neutrophil, leukocyte, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in urolithic buffaloes than in healthy controls. The mean blood calcium and magnesium concentrations were significantly (p < 0.05) lower and higher in urolithic buffaloes than in healthy controls, respectively. Mean blood phosphorus concentration and calcium-phosphorus ratio were found to be non-significantly (p > 0.05) higher and lower in urolithic buffaloes than in healthy controls, respectively. The urine pH was highly alkaline. Multiple prismatic lid-shaped crystals, along with erythrocytes, leukocytes, and epithelial cells, were found in urine. The mean urinary magnesium and phosphorus concentrations were non-significantly (p < 0.05) higher in urolithic buffaloes than in healthy controls. A positive correlation of magnesium (r = 0.864, p = 0.001) and phosphorus (r = 0.849, p = 0.002) concentrations between the blood and urine was observed in urolithic buffaloes. The FTIR spectra of uroliths were similar to those of magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate, MgNH4PO4·6H2O or struvite. ConclusionThe findings suggest that high plasma magnesium and phosphorus concentrations have a positive correlation with struvite urolithiasis in buffaloes.

Effect of Cultivation at Different Altitudes on the Chemical, Functional and Pasting Properties of Starch Medians Cultivar Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

The cultivation elevation of potatoes plays a crucial role that influences starch quality. Little is known on the impact of varying altitudes on starch quality. Therefore, this new study analyzed the starch attributes of the Median?s potato variety (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivated at three distinct altitudinal zones: lowlands, midlands, and highlands. The objective was to elucidate the impact of these varying altitudes on the chemical composition, functional qualities and pasting behavior of starch derived from the Median?s cultivar. Utilizing a randomized block design with quadruplicate trials, the data was subjected to one-way ANOVA and Duncan?s Multiple Range Test, at a 5% significance threshold. The results show that highland and midland plantings yielded a higher starch production. The cultivation altitude had a significant influence (p &lt; 0.05) on several chemical parameters of the starch, including its moisture, protein, lipid content, total starch, amylose, ash and phosphorus contents. The functional properties, such as swelling volume, solubility, water and oil absorption capacities, syneresis, gel strength, and colors (a*, b*, L* values) also exhibited significant variance with altitude. Furthermore, pasting qualities also were altered by the altitude of potatoes cultivation. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), particle size analysis, granule morphology via microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), revealed significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) across starches from different altitudes, confirming the influence of environmental conditions on starch quality and its functional properties. These results provide valuable recommendations for customizing potato farming methods to enhance starch yield and their applications in various food production sectors.. KEYWORDS :Cultivation altitude, Cultivar, Farming methods, Functional properties, Starch quality.