Modelling dissolved organic nutrients in the Gulf of Finland: eliminating an uncertainty in boundary conditions

<p><span><span>The St. Petersburg model of eutrophication (SPBEM) has been modified with an explicit description of the total amounts of organic nutrients, including both dissolved and particulate forms [1, 2]. This modification allows total nutrient amounts to be fully taken into account as reported in field measurements and presented in environmental documents, thereby eliminating one of the important sources of uncertainty in boundary conditions [3]. </span></span></p><p><span>The SPBEM-2 model was validated and verified in the Gulf of Finland using data from more than 4,000 oceanographic stations for the period from 2009 to 2014. This results showed that the presented version of SPBEM-2 is able to plausibly reproduce all the main large-scale features and phenomena of the dynamics of nutrients in the Gulf of Finland, especially in its productive layer, which, for hypsographic reasons, contains and transforms the main reserves of nutrients.</span></p><p><span>Expansion of SPBEM-2 with dissolved organic nutrients makes it possible to fully take into account the loads on the land in both historical and scenario modelling, thereby reducing the uncertainty of impact.</span></p><p><span><span><strong>Acknowledgements</strong>:</span> <span>The authors A.I. and V.R. conducted the present study within the framework of the state assignment (theme No. </span><span>0128-2021-0014</span><span>).</span><span>The authors O.V. and T.E. were supported by the Government Target Project N FSZU</span>-2020-0009<span> of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. The author O.S. from the Baltic Nest Institute was supported by the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management through their grant 1:11—Measures for the marine and water environment.</span></span></p><p><strong><span>References</span></strong></p><p><span>1. Vladimirova O. M., Eremina T. R., Isaev A. V., Ryabchenko V. A., Savchuk O. P. </span><span>Modelling dissolved organic nutrients in the Gulf of Finland. Fundamentalnaya i Prikladnaya Gidrofizika. 2018, 11, 4, </span><span>90—101. doi: 10.7868/S2073667318040111. </span></p><p><span>2. Isaev A, Vladimirova O, Eremina T, Ryabchenko V, Savchuk O. Accounting for Dissolved Organic Nutrients in an SPBEM-2 Model: Validation and Verification. </span><em><span>Water</span></em><span>. 2020; 12(5):1307. </span></p><p><span>3. Meier H.E.M., Edman M., Eilola K., et al. Assessment of Uncertainties in Scenario Simulations of Biogeochemical Cycles in the Baltic Sea. Front. Mar. Sci., 04 March 2019, Vol.6, Article 46. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2019.00046 </span></p><p> </p>

Diversity in Nutrient Content and Consumer Preferences of Sensory Attributes of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Varieties in Ugandan Agroecosystems

The cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is one of the most widely consumed legumes globally due to its nutrient content, taste, and affordability. Nutrient composition and consumer preference were determined for twenty local farmer (landrace) and commercial peanut varieties grown in the Nakaseke and Nakasongola districts of the central wooded savanna of Uganda through sensory and laboratory evaluation. Significant differences in nutrient content (p < 0.05) among peanut varieties were found within and across sites. A significant relationship between nutrient content and consumer preference for varieties within and across sites was also realized (Wilk’s lambda = 0.05, p = 0.00). The differences in nutrient content influenced key organoleptic characteristics, including taste, crunchiness, appearance, and soup aroma, which contributed to why consumers may prefer certain varieties to others. Gender differences in variety selection were significantly related to consumer preference for the crunchiness of roasted peanut varieties (F = 5.7, p = 0.016). The results imply that selecting different varieties of peanuts enables consumers to receive different nutrient amounts, while experiencing variety uniqueness. The promotion of peanut intraspecific diversity is crucial for improved nutrition, organoleptic appreciation and the livelihood of those engaged in peanut value chains, especially for the actors who specialize in different peanut products. The conservation of peanut diversity will ensure that the present and future generations benefit from the nutritional content and organoleptic enjoyment that is linked to unique peanut varieties.

Kinetic parameters estimation for increasing the efficiency of nutrient absorption in fruit trees

The selection of rootstocks presenting traits of interest, such as resistance to pests and diseases, and compatibility with scion capable of producing fruits attractive to the market, has revolutionized fruit crops worldwide. However, the enormous potential of plants to be selected based on their nutrient uptake efficiency is yet to be properly explored; it can be done based on knowledge about kinetic parameters such as Influx, Maximum uptake velocity, Constant ion affinity with the carrier, and Minimum concentration. The adaptation of a methodology elaborated for annual crops to set kinetic parameters, as well as the Brazilian development of the Influx software, enabled selecting not only peach rootstocks with different nutrient uptake capacities, but also observing the influence the grafting of a particular cultivar crown has on rootstock’s ability to uptake a given nutrient from the soil. Thus, fruit tree rootstocks and cultivars can always be selected based on traits desired by fruit growers and consumers, with emphasis on yield and quality of fruits. They can also be more efficient in taking up nutrients from low natural-fertility soils that require lower nutrient amounts, a fact that increases fertilizer use rationalization and reduces environmental contamination processes resulting from excessive nutrient applications.

The impact of front of package label design on consumer understanding of nutrient amounts among residents of the urban area in Chennai

The producer, selling and utilisation of packed nourishments have supported a preeminent flood lately in India. Food labelling is one of the vital population-based methods that can help customers make beneficial food selections by offering essential information about the food on the packaging. The present study aims to assess the impact of front of package label design on consumer understanding of nutrient amounts among residents of the urban area in Chennai. A cross-sectional study was conducted in an urban area in Chennai. Four hundred participants were studied by convenient sampling method. Participants were from 18 years age and above. The study duration was about three months. A pretested and semi-structured questionnaire was given, and the desired information was elicited. Data was then analysed with the help of statistical package for the social sciences software (SPSS). Chi-square test was done to test the significance (p<0.05). The mean age was of the participants was found to be 27.52 ± 11SD. About 63% of participants preferred packed foods over unpacked foods. And 68% of participants have nutritional knowledge and looked into nutrition facts on the back of the pack. Association of gender and socioeconomic class with knowledge of participants were found to be insignificant. Association of occupation with the frequency of purchasing packed food products was significant. Many people look into the nutrition facts table and do not understand and fail to interpret. It is important to provide front of pack labels for better understanding of the consumers.

Nutrient Allocation to Different Compartments of Age-Sequence Larch Plantations in China

Increased demand for forest-derived biomass has led to more intensive harvesting practices. However, the export of large nutrient quantities with the harvested biomass may lead to the depletion of soil nutrients. Therefore, improved knowledge concerning macronutrient allocation (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) to different components in forests along age sequences is crucial for their sustainable management. In this study, we quantified nutrient allocation to different ecosystem components, including trees, understorey, forest floor, and different soil depths within a chronosequence (6-, 15-, 23-, and 35-year-old) of larch plantations in China. We then assessed the danger of significant nutrient losses from whole tree harvesting (WTH). Nutrient amounts in trees increased with stand age due to an increase in biomass. Stems accounted for 59%–72% of tree biomass and contained 40%–50% of total tree nutrients in the 15- to 35-year-old stands. The forest floor’s nutrient quantities increased from the 6- to 23-year-old stands and then decreased in the 35-year-old plantations. Conversely, most soil indicators initially declined from 15- to 23-year-old stands and then increased in the 35-year-old stand. The total nutrient stocks were greatest in the soil (0–40 cm), which accounted for about 93%–99% of total nutrients in the larch ecosystem. These data indicate that WTH causes nutrient losses about 2.0–2.5 times higher than stem-only harvesting, when thinning 15- or clear-cut harvesting 23- and 35-year-old stands. However, nutrient losses by WTH have little effect on the soil nutrient pools. Prolonging the crop cycle of larch plantations may be beneficial to improve nutrient return through litterfall and allow available soil nutrients to recover.

Nitrogen Application in Arugula Culture

Vegetable development and productivity are influenced by several factors, including the nutrient amounts available. Providing adequate nitrogen favours vegetative growth and promotes increased productivity, in addition to providing greater succulence and improving leaf quality. This work evaluated the effect of nitrogen doses and sources on arugula culture development and productivity. The experiment was conducted on the experimental farm at the State University of Goi&aacute;s, Ipameri campus, in the municipality of Ipameri, Goi&aacute;s state (GO). The experiment used a 2 &times; 5 factorial randomized complete block design, with two sources (normal urea and coated urea), five nitrogen doses (0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 kg ha-1 of N) and four replicates. Plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, fresh shoot matter, dry shoot matter and productivity were evaluated. The results obtained here suggest that nitrogen sources do not influence arugula culture development, but nitrogen doses influence the arugula culture&rsquo;s productive characteristics.

Soil Quality of Tripura State of India

Soil quality can be defined as the fitness of a specific kind of soil to function within its capacity and within natural or managed ecosystem boundaries to sustain plant and animal productivity, maintain or enhance water and air quality, and support human health and habitation. Soil is one of the common factors that bring all agriculture together. It can also be used to describe more complex soil characteristics such as soil organic matter, nutrient amounts, soil structure, etc. The soil quality of Tripura state where ONGC has established numerous exploratory and development wells for exploration of natural gas has been studied and presented in this chapter.

The Impact of Front-of-Package Label Design on Consumer Understanding of Nutrient Amounts

A between-groups experiment examined the salience of front-of-package (FOP) symbols. Adults from Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK completed an online survey (n = 11,617). Respondents were randomized to view cereal boxes displaying one of 11 FOP label conditions for ‘high’ levels of sugar and saturated fat: control (no FOP symbol), red circle, red ‘stop sign’, magnifying glass, magnifying glass + exclamation mark, and ‘caution’ triangle + exclamation mark, plus each of these five conditions accompanied by a ‘high in’ text descriptor. Participants identified the amount of saturated fat and sugar in the product (‘low’/’moderate’/’high’). Participants were more likely to correctly identify the product as ‘high’ in saturated fat or sugar when shown the stop sign, triangle + exclamation mark, red circle, or magnifying glass + exclamation mark symbols incorporating ‘high in’ text (p < 0.01). The magnifying glass was the least effective symbol. The stop sign (37.7%) and triangle + exclamation mark (22.0%) were most frequently selected as the best symbol for indicating high nutrient amounts. Overall, FOP labels with ‘high in’ descriptions, red color and intuitive ‘warning’ symbols (e.g., stop signs, exclamation marks, ‘caution’ triangles) were more effective at communicating high levels of nutrients of public health concern in a time-limited environment.

Variability of acorn nutrient concentrations in pedunculate oak (Quercus roburL.) genotypes

The objective of this study was to determine mineral element concentrations (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu) in various parts of pedunculate oak acorns to estimate variability in the chemical composition of different genotypes. Acorns were collected during the 1998 harvest from seventeen Quercus robur L. genotypes. Trees originated from a vegetative seed plantation Banov Brod, belonging to the Forest Estate Sremska Mitrovica (Srem, Vojvodina, Serbia). The investigation of the nutritional status of acorns revealed significant differences between the studied genotypes. Considering all genotypes, the general sequence of nutrient amounts for the entire embryo was as follows: N &gt; K &gt; Ca &gt; P &gt; Mg &gt; Na &gt; Fe &gt; Zn &gt; Mn &gt; Cu. Concentrations of Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn were higher for the pericarp and seed coat than for the embryo. Pericarp and seed coat nutrient concentrations showed lower variability than in the embryo, with the exception of potassium concentration.