Appropriate Use of Local Phosphate Rock Increases Phosphorus Use Efficiency and Grain Yield of Sorghum and Cowpea in the Sudan Savanna

Development of local P fertilizers using low-grade phosphate rock (PR) is expected to overcome the low-stagnated crop yield in Sub-Saharan Africa. Calcination and partial acidulation methods have been proposed to increase the phosphate (P) solubility of PRs. However, the effects of fertilization with calcinated PR (CPR) and partially acidulated PR (PAPR) on sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.)] and cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] cultivation are poorly understood. Therefore, we conducted a 2-year field experiment in Burkina Faso to identify the differences in sorghum and cowpea responses to CPR and PAPR application. The following eight treatments were applied with six replicates using a complete randomized block design: control without P fertilization, two types of CP (CPs), triple superphosphate (TSP) as a positive control for CPs, three types of PAPR with different degrees of acidulation (PAPRs), and single superphosphate (SSP) as a positive control for PAPRs. SSP mostly comprised of water-soluble P fraction (WP), TSP and PAPRs of WP and alkaline ammonium citrate-soluble P fraction (SP), and CPRs of SP and 2% citric acid-soluble P fraction (CP). Their solubility was in the order WP > SP > CP. The fertilization effects were evaluated by P use efficiency (PUE). In 2019, the biomass and P uptake of sorghum was decreased by the low available soil water at the early growth stage. On the contrary, cowpea survived the low available soil water because of its shorter growing period compared to sorghum. P fertilization significantly increased the grain yields. However, the effect size differed according to the crop and fertilizer types. The SP, along with WP, significantly contributed to the PUE and grain yield of sorghum, whereas only WP contributed to the PUE of cowpea. Therefore, CPs, mainly consisting of SP and CP, had a disadvantage compared to TSP, especially for cowpea. We thus concluded that PAPRs are effective for sorghum and would be effective for cowpea when the acidulation level is sufficiently high. We also conclude that the long growing period of sorghum is favorable for absorbing slow-release P, but is unfavorable for the variable rainfall often observed in this region.

Bioavailability of Various Phosphorus Fractions and Their Seasonality in a Eutrophic Estuary in the Southern Baltic Sea – A Laboratory Approach

Phosphorus (P) is a major driver of eutrophication, especially in anthropogenically impacted coastal waters, and determining its bioavailability is important for providing a good estimation of the eutrophication potential in aquatic systems. Therefore, we observed the bioavailability of P in four laboratory experiments on water samples collected in March, June, September, and December 2018. In the experiments, all P fractions of the sampled water were investigated in three treatments (“unfiltered” and “10 μm”- and “1.2 μm”-filtered). The bioavailability (utilization by organisms within several days) ranged from 9 to 100% for dissolved P, and 34 to 100% for particulate P. However, one of the particulate P fractions was bound in biomass and therefore was not directly bioavailable. The conditions in the March experiment represented a natural spring bloom with a residual potential for planktonic growth. In June and September, the nutrients needed for growth were depleted in the different treatments. In December, a spring bloom was simulated by the laboratory conditions. Preferential P uptake by a specific group of organisms could not be observed directly, although a trend of higher utilization of dissolved P by heterotrophic bacteria was observed. In conclusion, the bioavailable P (sum of dissolved P fractions and one particulate P fraction) accounted for between 20 and 94% of the total P. Consequently, our experiments demonstrated that the commonly monitored P fractions lead to an underestimation of the bioavailable P and thus of potential for eutrophication in aquatic systems, too.

Sediment Phosphorus Release in Boreal Lakes: The Role of Trophic State and Humic Substances

Coloured lakes are often productive. While their increased productivity can be the consequence of internal recycling of phosphorus (P), the impact of humic substances on these interactions is largely unexplored. Here we elucidated the spatial variations in sediment P release by diffusion in four Finnish lakes with high trophic state. For further insights regarding possible implications of humic substances on sediment P release, we extended our analysis to lakes worldwide using data from the scientific literature. Variations in sediment P release rates (RR) in four Finnish lakes were largely explained by trophic state and mixing state of the water column. P release by diffusion was positively correlated with the iron-bound P fraction, but negatively with the organic-P fraction in surface sediment. Furthermore, the diffusive flux of P correlated positively with the RR predicted from a published model based on total P concentration (positive effect) and organic matter content (negative effect) in surface sediments. Analysis of the worldwide data confirmed the importance of humic substances in internal P recycling. While dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in water correlated positively with RR in oligotrophic lakes, the correlation was negative in lakes of higher trophic state. The implications for internal P loading and primary production, however, are not so straightforward. In a multiple-stressor world (climate change, eutrophication), response of internal P load in boreal lakes to changes in DOC is particularly unpredictable. This is because the variables relevant to internal P loading, i.e. RR and anoxic factor, may be affected in a reverse direction.

Sphingolipid-Induced Programmed Cell Death Is a Salicylic Acid and EDS1-Dependent Phenotype in Arabidopsis

Ceramides and long chain bases (LCBs) are plant sphingolipids involved in the induction of plant programmed cell death (PCD). The fatty acid hydroxylase mutant fah1 fah2 exhibits high ceramide levels and moderately elevated LCB levels. Salicylic acid (SA) is strongly induced in these mutants, but no cell death is visible. To determine the effect of ceramides with different chain lengths, fah1 fah2 was crossed with ceramide synthase mutants longevity assurance gene one homologue1-3 (loh1, loh2 and loh3). Surprisingly, only triple mutants with loh2 show a cell death phenotype under the selected conditions. Sphingolipid profiling revealed that the greatest differences between the triple mutant plants are in the LCB and LCB-phosphate (LCB-P) fraction. fah1 fah2 loh2 plants accumulate LCB d18:0 and LCB-P d18:0. Crossing fah1 fah2 loh2 with the SA synthesis mutant sid2-2, and with the SA signaling mutants enhanced disease susceptibility 1-2 (eds1-2) and phytoalexin deficient 4-1 (pad4-1), revealed that lesions are SA- and EDS1-dependent. These quadruple mutants also suggest that there may be a feedback loop between SA and sphingolipid metabolism as they accumulated less ceramides and LCBs. In conclusion, PCD in fah1 fah2 loh2 is a SA and EDS1-dependent phenotype, which is likely due to accumulation of LCB d18:0.

Spatial distribution of water-mobilizable colloids and phosphorus from dam reservoir sediment

<p>The hydrodynamics of dam reservoirs favor the accumulation of phosphorus (P) in bottom sediments since it has a strong affinity for the sedimentary particles. However mechanical disturbance of sediment (resuspension) may release P back to water column. The load of sedimentary P poses a serious ecological problem related to the maintaining of water eutrophication. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of sediments, accumulated in Champsanglard reservoir (Central France), to release water-mobilizable colloidal and dissolved P. A sampling campaign was carried out at different locations along the main channel of reservoir from riverine to lacustrine area and characterized by different hydrodynamics. The results showed that colloids are intrinsic component of reservoir sediment and contribute up to 2.3% of sediment mass. Colloidal P attributed up to 6% of total sedimentary P and 80% of water-mobilizable P (fraction < 1 µm). The stock of water-mobilizable colloids and associated P varied according to particle size distribution and was strongly dependent to channel morphology, hydrodynamics and inlet of tributary.</p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Dam reservoir, sedimentary colloids, phosphorus form, spatial variability</p>

Polar and non-polar fractions of deep fried edible oils induce differential cytotoxicity and hemolysis

Edible oils are the essential part of diet, however, deep frying process induce oxidative changes in these oils, making them unsuitable for consumption. Deep frying generates various noxious polar and non-polar aldehydes and carbonyls, which may be polar or non-polar in nature. The present study thus evaluated the cytotoxic and hemolytic effects of polar and non-polar fractions of different deep fried edible oils. There observed a significantly elevated level of lipid peroxidation products in the polar fraction of deep fried sunflower (FSO-P) and rice bran oils (FRO-P). The treatment with these fractions induced cytotoxicity in cultured colon epithelial cells, with a higher intensity in FSO-P and FRO-P. Further, an increased TBARS level and catalase activity in RBCs treated with FSO-P and FRO-P led to hemolysis. In comparison, the fried coconut oil (FCO) fractions were less toxic and hemolytic; in addition, the non-polar fraction was more toxic, compared to FCO-P fraction.

Influence of Application of Organic Residues of Different Biochemical Quality on Phosphorus Fractions in a Tropical Sandy Soil

Understanding phosphorus (P) dynamics in tropical sandy soil treated with organic residues of contrasting quality is crucial for P management using organic amendments. This research determined P fractions in a tropical sandy soil under the application of organic residues of different quality, including groundnut stover (GN), tamarind leaf litter (TM), dipterocarp leaf litter (DP), and rice straw (RS). The organic residues were applied at the rate of 10 t DM ha−1 year−1. The P fractions were examined by a sequential extraction procedure. Organic residue application, regardless of residue quality, resulted in P accumulation in soils. For unamended soil, 55% of total P was mainly associated with Al (hydr)oxides. Organic residue application, regardless of residue quality, diminished the NH4F-extractable P (Al-P) fraction, but it had a nonsignificant effect on NaOH-extractable P (Fe-P). The majority of Al-P and Fe-P fractions were associated with crystalline Al and Fe (hydr)oxides. NH4Cl-extractable P (labile P), NaHCO3-extractable P (exchangeable P and mineralizable organic P), HCl-extractable P (Ca-P), and residual P fractions in soil were significantly increased as a result of the incorporation of organic residues. The application of organic residues, particularly those high in ash alkalinity, increase soil pH, labile P, and Ca-P fractions. In contrast, applications of residues high in lignin and polyphenols increase residual P fraction, which is associated with organo-mineral complexes and clay mineral kaolinite.

The influences of historic lake trophy and mixing regime changes on long-term phosphorus fraction retention in sediments of deep eutrophic lakes: a case study from Lake Burgäschi, Switzerland

Hypolimnetic anoxia in eutrophic lakes can delay lake recovery to lower trophic states via the release of sediment phosphorus (P) to surface waters on short timescales in shallow lakes. However, the long-term effects of hypolimnetic redox conditions and trophic state on sedimentary P fraction retention in deep lakes are not clear yet. Hypolimnetic withdrawal of P-rich water is predicted to diminish sedimentary P and seasonal P recycling from the lake hypolimnion. Nevertheless, there is a lack of evidence from well-dated sediment cores, in particular from deep lakes, about the long-term impact of hypolimnetic withdrawal on sedimentary P retention. In this study, long-term sedimentary P fraction data since the early 1900s from Lake Burgäschi provide information on benthic P retention under the influence of increasing lake primary productivity (sedimentary green-pigment proxy), variable hypolimnion oxygenation regimes (Fe∕Mn ratio proxy), and hypolimnetic withdrawal since 1977. Results show that before hypolimnetic withdrawal (during the early 1900s to 1977), the redox-sensitive Fe∕Mn-P fraction comprised ∼50 % of total P (TP) in the sediment profile. Meanwhile, long-term retention of total P and labile P fractions in sediments was predominantly affected by past hypolimnetic redox conditions, and P retention increased in sedimentary Fe- and Mn-enriched layers when the sediment-overlaying water was seasonally oxic. However, from 1977 to 2017, due to eutrophication-induced persistent anoxic conditions in the hypolimnion and to hypolimnetic water withdrawal increasing the P export out of the lake, net burial rates of total and labile P fractions decreased considerably in surface sediments. By contrast, refractory Ca–P fraction retention was primarily related to lake primary production. Due to lake restoration since 1977, the Ca–P fraction became the primary P fraction in sediments (representing ∼39 % of total P), indicating a lower P bioavailability of surface sediments. Our study implies that in seasonally stratified eutrophic deep lakes (like Lake Burgäschi), hypolimnetic withdrawal can effectively reduce P retention in sediments and potential for sediment P release (internal P loads). However, after more than 40 years of hypolimnetic syphoning, the lake trophic state has not improved nor has lake productivity decreased. Furthermore, this restoration has not enhanced water column mixing and oxygenation in hypolimnetic waters. The findings of this study are relevant regarding the management of deep eutrophic lakes with mixing regimes typical for temperate zones.