Fertilizer requirements for specified yield targets. I. Theoretical derivation of mathematical models for the computation of soil and fertilizer nutrient efficiencies

The conventional deduction procedure of computation of soil () and fertilizer () nutrient efficiencies for the amount of fertilizer required for specified yield targets does not make provision of the amount of soil nutrient derived by crops from the available pool of soil nutrients not accounted for in the amount extracted by a soil test procedure. The derivation of two mathematical models, viz., Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Model I [TNAU Model I] and Model II [TNAU Model II] is reported in this paper which aim at computing the soil () and fertilizer () nutrient efficiencies not accounted for by the conventional method.In the case of TNAU Model I, the relationship between the nutrient uptake (U) and the soil (S) and the fertilizer (F) nutrients was established by assuming a functional relationship of the type U =S +F such that 0 1 and 0 1. In TNAU Model II the same relationship was established as U =S +F + such that 0 1, 0 1 and > 0. The term in the latter model is a measure of the amount of soil nutrient the crop absorbs from a slowly available pool of nutrients not accounted for in the amounts extracted by the soil test procedure employed or applied through fertilizer.The field verification of these models is reported elsewhere.     

Development and evaluation of an improved soil test for phosphorus: 1. The influence of phosphorus fertilizer solubility and soil properties on the extractability of soil P

The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate a soil test suitable for estimating the phosphorus status of soils whether they were fertilized with soluble or sparingly soluble P fertilizers or both. Four New Zealand soils of contrasting P sorption capacity and exchangeable Ca content were incubated alone or with monocalcium phosphate (MCP), reactive North Carolina (NC) phosphate rock or unreactive Florida (FRD) rock, at 240 mg P kg^–1 soil, to allow the P sources of different solubilities to react with each soil and provide soil samples containing different amounts of extractable P, Ca and residual phosphate rock. The phosphorus in the incubated soils was fractionated into alkali soluble and acid soluble P fractions using a sequential extraction procedure to assess the extent of phosphate rock dissolution. Eight soil P tests [three moderately alkaline — Olsen (0.5M NaHCO₃) modified Olsen (pretreatment with 1M NaCl) and Colwell; three acid tests — Bray 1, modified Bray 1 and Truog; and two resin tests — bicarbonate anion exchange resin (AER) and combined AER plus sodium cation exchange resin (CER)] were assessed in their ability to extract P from the incubated soils.The 0.5M NaHCO₃ based alkaline tests could not differentiate between the Control and FRD treatments in any soil nor between the Control, NC and FRD treatments in the high P sorption soils. The acid extractants appeared to be affected by the P sorption capacity of the soil probably because of reabsorption of dissolved P in the acid medium. The AER test gave results similar to Olsen. Only the combined AER + CER test extracted P in amounts related to the solubility of the P sources incubated with each soil. Furthermore, when soil samples were spiked with FRD and NC and extracted immediately, the P extracted by the AER + CER test, over and above the control soils, increased with the amount and chemical reactivity of the rocks. There was no extraction of rock P by any of the alkaline extractions.Increases in the amounts of P extracted (P) by each soil test from the fertilized soils, over and above the control soils were compared with the amounts ofP dissolved from the fertilizers during incubation (measured by P fractionation). Soil P sorption capacity had least influence on the amounts of P extracted by the AER + CER and Colwell tests. However, the Colwell test was unable to differentiate between all P sources in all four soils and suffered from the disadvantage of producing coloured extracts. The AER + CER test appeared to have the potential to assess the available P status of soils better than the other tests used because of its ability to extract a representative portion of residual PR (in accordance with the amount and reactivity) and dissolved P, and thus to differentiate between fertilizer treatments in all four soils.     

Sex pheromone chemistry of the western spruce budwormChoristoneura occidentalis Free

SCOT capillary Chromatographic and SCOT capillary chromatographic-mass spectrometic analyses of gland washes and effluvia of virgin femaleChoristoneura occidentalis Free, have been conducted with both a diapausing and nondiapausing strain of this insect. The following compounds were identified in gland washes and effluvia in both strains:E andZ11–14Ald,E andZ11–14Ac,E andZ11–14OH and 14Ald, 14Ac, and 14OH. The average aldehyde: acetate: alcohol ratio found by analysis of single glands by virgin females (nondiapausing strain) was 170.73. Analysis of virgin female effluvia gave this ratio as 1038 (diapausing strain: %Z=8, 11, 15, respectively) and 1036 (nondiapausing strain: %Z=8, 11, 12, respectively). The saturated components were generally 1–2% of theE isomer in each case. Comparisons of EAG responses of bothC. occidentalis andC. fumiferana toE11–14Ald,E11–14Ac andE11–14OH were made. Correlations with both laboratory and field data previously published were also made betweenC. fumiferana andC. occidentalis.Lepidoptera: Tortricidae.     

Investigation of sex pheromone components of female asian corn borer,Ostrinia furnacalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Taiwan

(E)-12-Tetradecenyl acetate (E12–14OAc), (Z)-12-tetradecenyl acetate (Z12–143nOAc), and tetradecanyl acetate (14OAc) were extracted and identified as major chemical components from female tips of the Asian corn borer,Ostrinia furnacalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Taiwan, with a combined wash ratio of 483715 and an individual female ratio of 453916. The average amount ofE12-,Z12–14OAc and 14OAc in each female gland was 6.6±4.6, 5.8±3.5, and 2.4±1.7 ng/female, respectively. The mixture of these three synthetic chemicals not only gave strong activities in male antennae but also could catch significantly more males than virgin females in field-trapping tests. The field test also showed no significant difference in trapping ability among the three-component Taiwan formulations, the two-component Taiwan formulation (Z12–14OAc andZ1214OAc, 5347), and the Japan formulation (Z12–14 OAc andE 12–14OAc, 3:2).     

Chemical modification of copoly(methylsilylene/1,4-phenylene) by Pt-catalyzed hydrosilation reactions with functionally substituted alkenes

Copoly(methyl-3-biphenoxypropylsilylene 1,4-phenylene), copoly(methyl-3-cyanopropylsilylene 1,4-phenylene), copoly(methyl-3-ethoxypropylsilylene 1,4-phenylene), copoly(methyl-3-phenoxypropylsilylene 1,4-phenylene), and copoly(methyl-4,7,10,13-tetraoxatetradecanylsilylene 1,4-phenylene) have been prepared by platinum-catalyzed hydrosilation graft reactions between poly (methylsilylene 1,4-phenylene) and appropriate functionally substituted alkenes. These polymers have been characterized by¹H,¹³C, and²⁹Si NMR as well as by FT-IR and UV-vis spectroscopy. The molecular weight distribution of these polymers has been determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and their glass transition temperatures (T _e) by DSC.     

Fertilizer requirements for specified yield targets. II. Field verification of mathematical models for the estimation of soil and fertilizer nutrient efficiencies

Sugarcane response data from field experiments conducted between May 1979 and August 1981 on a sandy clay loam soil (Udic Haplustalf) of Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu State, India were used in the present investigation. Soil () and fertilizer () nutrient efficiencies for the amount of fertilizer required for specified cane yield targets were computed from this data by three procedures, viz., conventional deduction procedure, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Model I [TNAU Model I] and Model II [TNAU Model II].In the case of nitrogen, both TNAU Model I and TNAU Model II gave more realistic estimates of and than those determined by the conventional deduction procedure. The differences in the predicted amounts of fertilizer nitrogen required between these two models were well within the permissible limits of variation indicating that both these approaches can be followed for the amount of nitrogen required for specified yield targets.The Olsen's procedure for available phosphorus estimation was inadequate to explain the relationship between soil available phosphorus and sugarcane response as indicated by results obtained using the TNAU Model II. The incorporation of the term in this model caters for the actual situation in the field in respect of the relationship between soil and fertilizer phosphorus availabilities and phosphorus uptake by sugarcane proving usefulness of this model for assessing the amount of phosphorus required for specified cane yield targets.The results indicated that a considerable amount of potassium from the soil reserve was released into the soil available pool due to a priming effect. This fraction was preferentially absorbed by sugarcane compared to the fractions extracted by 0.1 N HNO₃ as indicated by results obtained using the TNAU Model II. In this case too, the actual situation regarding the relationship between soil and fertilizer potassium availabilities and potassium uptake by sugarcane is catered for by this model proving its superiority over the other two procedures for assessing the amount of potassium required for specified yield targets.     

Investigation of the role of diterpenes produced by marine pulmonatesTrimusculus reticulatus andT. conica

The intertidal pulmonate limpetTrimusculus reticulatus, which is found in caves or crevices along the California coast, was previously reported to contain two novel diterpenoids, 6-isovaleroxylabda-8,13-dien-7,15-diol (1) and 2,7-diacetoxy-6-isovaleroxylabda-8,13-dien-15-ol (2). Dissection of the animals prior to extraction revealed that the diterpenoids were concentrated in the mantle, foot, and mucus, but not in the viscera. The presence ofT. reticulatus or its mucus was toxic to veliger larvae of the sabellariid reef-building tube wormPhragmatopoma californica. The major diterpenoid1 was responsible for the observed larvicidal activity. Protection against overgrowth by settling invertebrate larvae is important for the survival of this sessile filter-feeding pulmonate. A related pulmonate,T. conica, which was found in similar intertidal habitats in New Zealand, contained 6-acetoxy-7-isovaleroxylabda-8,13-dien-15-oic acid (3) and 1,7,12,18-tetraacetoxy-cholest-5-en-3-ol (4). The diterpene3 was also localized in the foot, mantle, and mucus ofT. conica but was not larvicidal toP. californica.     

Ethynylene-disilanylene copolymers

Polymers of structure (SiR₂SiR₂-C C-SiR₂SiR₂-C C) _n , in which ethynylene units alternate with disilylene units, have been prepared by two routes: (a) condensation of dichlorodisilanes with dilithium derivatives of 1,2-diethynyldisilanes and (b) ring-opening polymerization of strained cyclic disilanylene-acetylnes, (SiR₂SiR₂C C)₂. The polymers display UV absorption near 240 nm indicative of – conjugation between the Si₂ and the C C moieties. Polymers with R=R=n-Bu or R=n-Bu, R=Ph, undergo solid-state transitions to form liquid crystalline mesophases resembling those observed for many poly(silylenes). Single crystals were obtained for the polymer with R=R=CH₃, by precipitation from dilute cyclohexane solution. The solid-state properties and structures of this family of polymers are discussed.This paper was presented at the Second International Topical Workshop, Advances in Silicon-Based Polymer Science.     

Solutions of the general equations for the radiation dose dependence of the molecular weights of irradiated polymers with an initial Schulz-Zimm distribution

Summary The general equations for the radiation dose dependence of irradiated polymer molecular weights have been solved exactly. For an initial most probable molecular weight distribution (=1), the solutions are analytical and exact. For the general case (1) the solutions are numerical and exact. The present approach has resulted in the solutions for both =1 and 1 being incorporated into a group of FORTRAN computer programs which will solve experimental data for scission and crosslinking yields by both minimization and exact treatments. Simulated data treated using these FORTRAN programs are give. The FORTRAN programs are available from the authors.     

Thermoplastic elastomers by hydrogen bonding

Summary Poly(butadienes) were modified by an ene-reaction using 4-phenyl-1, 2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (1) 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenyl-1, 2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (2) and 4-hydroxyphenyl1, 2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (3). The resulting hydrogen bond complexes between urazole groups act as thermoreversible crosslinks and alter the melt rheological behaviour. While dimeric chelate-like complexes are formed in polymers modified with 1 or 2, a three dimensional structure of hydrogen bond complexes is formed if 3 is used as the modifying agent. The thermorheologically complex behaviour of the latter material is interpreted by structural changes in the three dimensional structure with temperature.     

Comparative effects of two plant secondary metabolites on host-parasitoid association

Two plant-derived allelochemicals, berberine and -terthienyl (- T), were tested for their effects on the European corn borer,Ostrinia nubilalis, and its endoparasitoidDiadegma terebrans. The compounds were administered to the host insect in meridic diets, and the responses of the host larvae and parasitoids reared from treated hosts were measured in terms of growth parameters and survival. InO. nubilalis, survival to pupation and adult emergence were reduced significantly by the inclusion of berberine and -T in larval diets at a concentration of 100 g/g. However, in the parasitoid, adverse effects were much more apparent with the -T treatment than with the berberine treatment. -T and one of its metabolites were found in host larvae and in emerged adult parasitoids and their cocoons. Berberine residues were not detected. The implications of these responses to compounds of widely differing physiological properties are discussed with reference to host-plant resistance and biological control.     

Selective low temperature hydroxylation of isobutane by molecular oxygen catalyzed by an iron perhaloporphyrin complex

Irontetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)-octabromoporphyrinato complexes have been synthesized for the first time and shown to have unprecedented catalytic activity for the reaction of molecular oxygen with isobutane to givetert-butyl alcohol. This is the first report of the use of a perhaloporphyrin complex for mild, selective air-oxidation of an alkane and extends the trend of increased activity with halogen substitution established previously. Replacing the eight -(pyrrolic) hydrogens in Fe(TPPF₂₀) complexes with bromines gives catalysts having twice the room temperature air-oxidation activity of the Fe(TPPF₂₀) complexes. Room temperature reaction of isobutane with oxygen catalyzed by Fe(TPPF₂₀6-Br₈)Cl produces 190 moles product per mole catalyst per hour with over 90% selectivity to the alcohol. The catalyst activity is unchanged after 74 hours.     

Effect of heat treatment on corrosion and electrochemical behaviour of AZ91D magnesium alloy

An AZ91D ingot in the as-cast condition was homogenized by solution treatment and then aged for various periods of time. The microstructures produced were studied in detail and the phase volume fraction was measured quantitatively. The Corrosion resistance of all the different microstructures was studied in 3.5% NaCl solution through weight loss measurement in constant immersion conditions and potentiodynamic polarization experiments. The corroded surfaces were analysed using SEM and XRD. The volume fraction of the phase was found to have a significant influence on the corrosion behaviour. The T4 condition improved the corrosion resistance of AZ91D alloy compared to the T6 heat treatment. The results support the idea of microgalvanic coupling between cathodic phase and anodic matrix.     

Methane oxidation over PdO x : on the mechanism for the hysteresis in activity and oxygen content

A conceptual picture is developed to explain the peculiar kinetic features of methane oxidation over supported Pd catalysts (observed by several investigators), notably the hysteresis in activity accompanying temperature cycles. Experiments were performed with supported Pdcatalysts to illustrate these features. The activity hysteresis is closely coupled with a hysteresis in oxygen content. The latter is in turn attributed to the properties of the PCT-diagram of the involved three-phase system; gas phase O₂ and the two solid phases, Pd and PdO_x. The two main ingredients in the mechanism are: (i) the so-called absorption and decomposition plateau pressures for the O₂-Pd-PdO _x system are different, i.e., show a hysteresis, (ii) these pressures are not independent ofx, but increase with increasing oxygen content. Both features are deviations from the ideal three-phase system and are frequently observed for H₂-metalmetal hydride systems.     

Flow-through and flow-by porous electrodes of nickel foam Part III: theoretical electrode potential distribution in the flow-by configuration

This paper deals with the theoretical potential distribution within a flow-by parallelepipedic porous electrode operating in limiting current conditions in a two-compartment electrolytic cell. The model takes into account the influence of the counter-electrode polarization and of the separator ohmic resistance. The results show that the design of the porous electrode requires the knowledge of the solution potential distribution within the whole cell volume.Nomenclature a _c specific surface area per unit volume of electrode - C ₀ entrance concentration (y=0) - C _s exit concentration (y=y ₀) - E electrode potential (= _M – _S ) - E _o equilibrium electrode potential - F Faraday number - i current density - mean mass transfer coefficient - K parameter [a _ea zFi _oa/(_a RT)]^1/2 - L porous electrode thickness - n number of terms in Fourier serials - P specific productivity - Q volumetric flow-rate - mean flow velocity based on empty channel - V constant potential - V _R electrode volume - x thickness variable - X conversion - y length variable - y ₀ porous electrode length - z number of electrons in the electrochemical reaction Greek symbols parameter - parameter - ionic electrolyte conductivity in pores - _S solution potential - _M matrix potential ( _M = constant) - parameter [=n/y ₀ - parameter [=+K] - overpotential Suffices a anodic - c cathodic - eq equilibrium - s separator - S solution     

Sex pheromone of aPlanotortrix excessana sibling species and reinvestigation of related species

The sex pheromone of aPlanotortrix excessana sibling species was investigated. Females were found to produce eight potential pheromone components: dodecyl acetate, tetradecyl acetate (14OAc). (Z)-5-tetradecenyl acetate (Z5-14OAc), (Z)-7-tetradecenyl acetate (Z7-14OAc), (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, hexadecyl acetate, (Z)-7-hexadecenyl acetate, and (Z)-9-hexadecenyl acetate. When these compounds were bioassayed using field-trapping and wind-tunnel techniques, only 14OAc,Z5-14OAc, andZ7-14OAc were found to be behaviorally active. The sex pheromone glands of females of other species including,Planotortrix MBS,Planotortrix M,P. notophaea, Ctenopseustis servana, and aC. obliquana sibling species, were also found to containZ5-14OAc orZ7-14OAc, singly or in combination. In the case ofPlanotortrix M, the addition ofZ7-14OAc to the previously identified sex pheromone blend ofZ5-14OAc and 14OAc was found to increase trap captures of male moths of this species. Thus in these New Zealand species (and in some Australian species),Z5-14OAc andZ7-14OAc appear to be utilized in combination in pheromonal communication just as (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate and (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate are used by many species of Holarctic Tortricidae in the tribe Archipini.Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Tortricinae.     

Effects of soil nitrogen level on ferulic acid inhibition of cucumber leaf expansion

It has been suggested that the allelopathic activity of phenolic acids should be primarily important in soils of low fertility. If this is true, then plant growth inhibition by phenolic acids may be unimportant in managed agricultural soils. The objective of this study was to determine how soil nitrogen (N) level might modify phenolic acid inhibition of growth. Cucumber seedlings (Cucumis sativus cv Early Green Cluster) grown in containers in growth chambers under varying N levels (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 g N/g soil) in Portsmouth B,-horizon soil material were treated with ferulic acid (0 or 10 g/g soil). Nitrogen and ferulic acid (FA) were applied every other day to the soil surface. The amount of FA in the soil solution declined with depth in the containers. A more rapid disappearance of FA from the soil solution was observed for the last FA treatment (0% recovered after 10 hr on day 23) than the first treatment (44% recovered after 10 hr on day 13). Both low N (5 g N/g soil) and FA treatments reduced shoot dry weight, the mean absolute (AGR) and the mean relative (RGR) rates of leaf expansion, and increased the root-shoot ratio. High N treatments reduced shoot dry weight and the AGR. Ferulic acid inhibited cucumber seedling growth over a range of N concentrations, suggesting that the allelopathic activity of phenolic acids may be important in both nutrient limiting and nonlimiting soils for some species.Paper No. 12219 of the journal series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7601. The use of tradenames in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of products named, nor criticism of similar ones not mentioned.     

Note of the estimation of the Θ temperature and Ψ parameter from the critical temperature data

Summary Critical values of the polymer volume fraction _2,c and the interaction parameter _c have been computed for the case that the equation for the chemical potential of solvent contains terms _{c 2} ³ and _{c 2} ⁴ in addition to ₂ ² . For 0 _c 1/3, the limits for infinite chain length are _2,c = 0 and _c = 0.5. Quite different results are obtained for _c > 1/3, _2,c being finite and _c lower than 1/2. Conclusions for the estimation of the temperature and the entropy-of-dilution parameter are discussed.     

Dewatering deposits formed in purifying effluent from refractory factories by vacuum filtration

Conclusions The residue formed from effluent contaminated with chamotte dust, with coagulation and without coagulation, is thoroughly dewatered on vacuum equipment with concentrations of more than 700 kg/m³ of suspended particles in the residue.Residues obtained from effluent contaminated with mixtures of chamotte and clay dust in the ratio 41, 11, and 14 are dewatered less effectively than chamotte residues. The residue from a mixture of chamotte and clay 41 is dewatered with a minimum concentration of 809 kg/m³; the residue from the mixture of chamotte and clay 11 can be satisfactorily dewatered only with a high vacuum (640 mm Hg) and with a filter cycle time longer than that used in existing equipment. With a filter cycle of 30 min the thickness of the skin of uncoagulated residue was 13 mm. The coagulated residue from a mixture of clay and chamotte 11 even after 14 days holding had too low a concentration, and in practice cannot be dewatered on a vacuum filter. The residue from mixtures of 14 chamotte and clay is dewatered very ineffectively. The thickness of the cake with a filter cycle time of 20 min for uncoagulated residue was only 4 mm.Translated from Ogneupory, No. 6, pp. 17–20, June, 1970.     

Critical solution point and chain dimension of branched-polystyrene solutions

Summary Critical solution point and chain dimension were measured for branched polystyrene(BPS) in solution as a function of molecular weight(M) and compared with those for linear polystyrene(LPS). The critical concentration _c of BPS was quite different from that of LPS at a fixed M, but the same at a fixed overlap-concentration ^*, i.e., plots of _c vs. ^* fall on a single straight line for both BPS and LPS (gf_c ^*). Reduced critical temperature _c defined by gt_c=(–T_c)/ [T_c: critical temperature, : the -temperature] was related to _c as _{c c} ² for BPS, whereas _{c c} for LPS.