Amaranth nutritional properties assessment based on potassium and nitrate concentration in tissues

The chemical composition of plants of amaranth belonging to various species is determined genetically to a great extent. The concentration of mineral nutrients in amaranth tissues may influence the quality of food and fodder raw stuff. We studied the potassium and nitrate concentration in the tissues of the plants of four amaranth species grown in Western Siberia in similar rainfed conditions. We suggest using the ratio "potassium concentration/nitrate concentration" in the biomass of the plants under study as an additional indicator of their nutritional properties. The content of potassium in A. Hypochondriacus and A. tricolor dry weight was about 900 mEq/kg, in the tissues of A. Retroflexus-600 mEq/kg, in the tissues of A. Cruentus-455 mEq/kg. The maximal value of the mean nitrate content in dry matter for A. Cruentus was 105.9 mEq/kg. The content of nitrates in A. tricolor tissues was 80 mEq/kg, and in A. Retroflexus tissues-40 mEq/kg. The minimal content of nitrates was registered in the sample of the dry matter of the plants of A. Hypochondriacus-about 24 mEq/kg. The ratio "potassium concentration/nitrate concentration" in the plants of A. Hypochondriacus ran up to a multiple of 45, in A. Retroflexsus-16.4, in A. tricolor-10.8, and in A. Cruentus-4.5. A. Hypochondriacus has the highest feeding value compared to other amaranth species, with soil conditions being similar, without watering and fertilizers. The indicator "potassium/nitrate" can be used for express assessment of amaranth nutritional properties

Physicochemical aspects of recycling tree leaf litter in the south of Western Siberia by the Eisenia fetida (Savigny) vermiculture

The utility of the compost worm Eisenia fetida (Savigny) for recycling mixed leaf litter of the tree species characteristic of the forests in the south of Western Siberia and used in the landscaping in the city of Tomsk has been demonstrated. The tree species that are the major contributors to the leaf litter in the examined area include the genera Populus, Salix, and Betula. Two-fraction substrates for leaf litter vermicomposting and conventional composting (decomposition with and without earthworms) were prepared of the harvested and dried leaf litter. The feeding fraction consisted of leaf litter moistened with distilled water and the absorbing fraction, of alluvial river sand. The physicochemical properties of the studied leaf litter were weakly acidic pH of aqueous extracts, a very low content of nitrate nitrogen, and a relatively low K + concentration. The prevalent cation in the assayed leaf litter was Ca 2+ . The leaf litter was partially decomposed on the surface of sand substrates during 35-day incubation under humid conditions; accumulation of inorganic ions in the sand was one of the signs indicating this decomposition. Ca 2+ was also prevalent among these ions

The peculiar physicochemical and agrochemical properties of vermiculture-processed poplar leaf litter

In the vermicompost obtained from horse manure the concentration of K+ and NO3- was, on average, 112.2 and 82.9 milliequivalents/kg of dry weight, respectively. It was significantly higher than in the vermicompost obtained from poplar leaf litter (73 and 5.6 milliequivalents/kg of dry weight, respectively). The pH-values and concentration of calcium ions in the vermicompost from poplar leaf litter were significantly higher than in the vermicompost from horse manure (7.6 vs 6.9 and 112.3 vs 83 milliequivalents/kg of dry weight, respectively). The sprouting of wheat seeds and isolated potato shoots of Nevsky breed using poplar leaf litter vermicompost extractions resulted in a significant increase in the weight of the roots compared to the seeds and shoots grown on tap water. We did not observe the effect in the case with horse manure vermicompost extract

The peculiar physicochemical and agrochemical properties of vermiculture-processed poplar leaf litter

In the vermicompost obtained from horse manure the concentration of K+ and NO3- was, on average, 112.2 and 82.9 milliequivalents/kg of dry weight, respectively. It was significantly higher than in the vermicompost obtained from poplar leaf litter (73 and 5.6 milliequivalents/kg of dry weight, respectively). The pH-values and concentration of calcium ions in the vermicompost from poplar leaf litter were significantly higher than in the vermicompost from horse manure (7.6 vs 6.9 and 112.3 vs 83 milliequivalents/kg of dry weight, respectively). The sprouting of wheat seeds and isolated potato shoots of Nevsky breed using poplar leaf litter vermicompost extractions resulted in a significant increase in the weight of the roots compared to the seeds and shoots grown on tap water. We did not observe the effect in the case with horse manure vermicompost extract

Influence of slaked lime addition on biotechnological specification of vermicultivation

Studies have been conducted to investigate biomass accumulation of earthworms (Eisenia fetida andrei), cultivated in the soil media under various concentrations of the slaked lime. The group, which is cultivated on the media with lime concentration 0.1% is characterized by maximum biomass accumulation (average – 120 %). As a result we have discovered two phase kinetic dependence between biomass accumulation of earthworms and the amount of the slaked lime.</jats:p

Microbial structure of nitrogen utilizers in Populus nigra L. compost and vermicompost

Eisenia fetida worms affecting the amount of bacteria from four trophic groups i

Amaranth nutritional properties assessment based on potassium and nitrate concentration in tissues

The chemical composition of plants of amaranth belonging to various species is determined genetically to a great extent. The concentration of mineral nutrients in amaranth tissues may influence the quality of food and fodder raw stuff. We studied the potassium and nitrate concentration in the tissues of the plants of four amaranth species grown in Western Siberia in similar rainfed conditions. We suggest using the ratio "potassium concentration/nitrate concentration" in the biomass of the plants under study as an additional indicator of their nutritional properties. The content of potassium in A. Hypochondriacus and A. tricolor dry weight was about 900 mEq/kg, in the tissues of A. Retroflexus-600 mEq/kg, in the tissues of A. Cruentus-455 mEq/kg. The maximal value of the mean nitrate content in dry matter for A. Cruentus was 105.9 mEq/kg. The content of nitrates in A. tricolor tissues was 80 mEq/kg, and in A. Retroflexus tissues-40 mEq/kg. The minimal content of nitrates was registered in the sample of the dry matter of the plants of A. Hypochondriacus-about 24 mEq/kg. The ratio "potassium concentration/nitrate concentration" in the plants of A. Hypochondriacus ran up to a multiple of 45, in A. Retroflexsus-16.4, in A. tricolor-10.8, and in A. Cruentus-4.5. A. Hypochondriacus has the highest feeding value compared to other amaranth species, with soil conditions being similar, without watering and fertilizers. The indicator "potassium/nitrate" can be used for express assessment of amaranth nutritional properties