Transfer of Macronutrients, Micronutrients, and Toxic Elements from Soil to Grapes to White Wines in Uncontaminated Vineyards

Wine is a popular beverage and may be a source of nutrient and toxic elements during human consumption. Here, we explored the variation in nutrient and toxic elements from soils to grape berries and commercial white wines (Chardonnay) at five USA vineyards (New York, Vermont, California, Virginia) with strongly contrasting geology, soils, and climates. Samples were analyzed for macronutrients (Ca, K, and Mg), micronutrients (Mn, Cu, and Zn), and toxic elements (As, Cd, and Pb). Our study showed contrasting macronutrient, micronutrient, and toxic element concentrations in soils and in vines, leaves, and grapes. However, plant tissue concentrations did not correspond with total soil concentrations, suggesting a disconnect governing their accumulation. Bioconcentration factors for soil to grape berry transfer suggest the accumulation of Ca, K and Mg in berries while Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Pb were generally not accumulated in our study or in previous studies. Wines from the five vineyards studied had comparable nutrient, micronutrient, and toxic metal concentrations as wines from Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Czech Republic, and Japan. The transfer of nutrients and toxic elements from grape berries to wine indicated that only Ca, K, and Mg were added or retained while concentrations of all other micronutrients and toxic elements were somewhat to extensively diminished. Thus, there appears to be a substantial effect on the geochemistry of the wine from the grape from either the fermentation process (i.e., flocculation), or a dilution effect. We conclude that soils, geology, and climate do not appear to generate a unique geochemical terroir as the transfer and concentration of inorganic nutrients appear to be comparable across strongly contrasting vineyards. This has several implications for human health. Nutrients in wine have potential impacts for human nutrition, as wine can meet or exceed the recommended dietary requirements of Ca, K, Mg, and Fe, and toxic metals As and Pb concentrations were also non-trivial.

Effects of Combined Abiotic Stresses On Nutrient Content of European Wheat and Implications For Nutritional Security Under Climate Change Scenarios

Climate change is causing problems for agriculture, but the effect of combined environmental stresses on crop nutritional quality is not clear. Here we studied the effect of 10 combinations of climatic conditions (temperature, CO2, O3 and drought) in controlled growth chamber conditions on the protein and mineral content of 3 wheat varieties. Results show that wheat plants under O3 exposure alone concentrated 15-31% more grain N, Fe, Mg, Mn P and Zn, reduced K by 5%, and C did not change. Ozone in the presence of elevated CO2 and higher temperature enhanced the content of Fe, Mn, P and Zn by 2-18%. Water-limited chronic O3 exposure resulted in 9-46% higher concentrations of all the minerals, except K. The effect of climate change could increase the ability of wheat to meet adult daily dietary requirements by 1.06-1.12-fold for Fe, Zn and protein, but decrease those of Mg, Mn and P by 1.03-1.06-fold, and K by 2.78-fold. The role of wheat in future nutrition security is discussed.

Food Security, Conflict, and COVID-19: Perspective from Afghanistan

Afghanistan, a country challenged by war and conflicts, has been in a state of turmoil for several years. The prolonged suffering has brought many challenges to the country’s inhabitants. Among these, food security is one important cause for concern. Food security occurs when people continuously have physical and economic access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary requirements and food preferences for a functional and healthy life. Amid the pandemic, Afghanistan has witnessed a large increase in food shortages due to its dependence on neighboring countries. In light of current circumstances, food insecurity, coupled with political instability and the third wave of the COVID-19, have made it extremely hard for people to access daily provisions. Hence, people are left to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic with economic recession and poverty as the backdrop of the other health crises. To mitigate food security, international attempts are the required at this critical juncture. The aim of this article is to understand the causes leading to food insecurity and its implications in Afghanistan and to propose solutions that will improve the overall food security at the policy and implementation levels.

PSII-14 Inclusion of popcorn and crawfish shells as components in non-feedstock silage production

As the future of agricultural sciences, it is imperative that student scientists seek to investigate alternatives to help improve production by lowering costs while meeting dietary requirements, increasing output, and maintaining sustainability. Anthropogenic waste as potential feedstock, we are engaging in an innovative wave of agricultural research. While previous research in our laboratory has evaluated newspaper, waste popcorn, and crawfish shells as feedstock, their potential for ensiling represents an alternative avenue for upcycling and long-term storage. The objective of this experiment was to determine the optimum concentrations of newspaper, waste popcorn, and crawfish shells for ideal silage fermentation. This experiment was conducted as a Box-Wilson composite design with four replications. Prescribed amounts of shredded newspaper, ground crawfish shells and heads, and waster popcorn were thoroughly mixed, and water and inoculant were added to achieve 25% dry matter. Central points for popcorn were 35.5, 1.3, 35.5, and 1.3% dry matter, respectively, for grain silage, grass silage, high combination, and low combination. Central points for crawfish were 4.0, 6.4, 4.0, and 6.4% dry matter, respectively, for grain silage, grass silage, high combination, and low combination. Samples were sealed using a food-grade sealer and allowed to ferment for 35 d. A subsample was frozen for assay of pH and silage acids. The remaining sample was dried at 55°C, ground, and assayed for NDF, ADF, CP, and IVTD. Across block, there was no effect of crawfish or popcorn inclusion on NDF (P ≥ 0.09; μ = 74%), ADF (P ≥ 0.24; μ = 60%), or IVTD (P ≥ 0.12; μ = 35%). Results are interpreted to mean that these feed ingredients may be used in non-feedstock silage production, but its usefulness to livestock production is questionable.

Sorghum Grain and Stover Nutrient Concentrations as Influenced by Tillage and Soil Amendment in Semi-Arid Burkina Faso

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench) is a major grain crop in Burkina Faso. Two three-year experiments were conducted in the Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian zones to determine how plant nutrient concentrations are affected by tillage methods (T) and soil amendments (SA). In both locations, T and SA had little effect on grain and stover nutrient concentrations with some cases of inconsistency across years. Some nutrient concentrations differed by year. The grain nutrient concentrations of N, P, Mg, S, Zn, and Fe were adequate for human nutrition at both locations, but deficient for K, Ca, Mn and Cu. Sorghum nutrient concentrations for feeding cattle were adequate for K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, and Zn in most cases at both locations but low for N, P, and Cu. The stover N and P concentrations also appeared to be deficient for optimal plant growth. In both agroecological zones, nutrient applications or genetic enhancement to improve deficient nutrient concentrations, or use of diverse foodstuffs, or biofortified sorghum to provide deficient nutrients in human and cattle diets is needed to meet dietary requirements. In addition to grain and stover yield, studies need to evaluate grain nutrient and stover nutrient concentrations to meet human and cattle dietary requirements.

Proximate Composition and Nutritive Value of Some Leafy Vegetables from Faisalabad, Pakistan

The supply of nutrients and proximate matter is insufficient to fulfil the dietary needs of the quickly expanding human population. Green leafy vegetables can prove economical sources of minerals, vitamins and fibers to overcome nutritional deficiencies. Five leafy vegetables (Brassica juncea, Spinacia oleracea, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Chenopodium album and Lactuca sativa) were collected from a horticulture garden and vegetable market for the evaluation of their proximate matter and nutritional composition. Their contents of proximate (moisture, ash, fats, fibers, carbohydrates and protein), minerals (Ca2+, K+ and P+) and anti-nutrients were examined using standard protocols. The contents of fats (0.43 mg g−1f.w.) in S. oleracea; fibers (0.8 mg g−1f.w.) in S. olerace; carbohydrates (0.89 mg g−1f.w.); in B. juncea, proteins (0.91 mg g−1f.w.) in L. sativa; and vitamin A (1.18 mg g−1f.w.) in C. album from the horticulture garden were high enough to meet the daily dietary requirements of adults. Tannins were higher in species collected from the market, which is toxic for human health. It is concluded that vegetables of horticulture garden grown in suitable environmental conditions possess better nutritional composition as compared to vegetables purchased from markets. However, a large-scale research is needed for the analysis of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, anti-nutrients and heavy metals in leafy vegetables. Further research on ethnomedicinal attributes of leafy vegetables is recommended.