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To attain the optimal production and quality, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) farming requires a large amount of potassium fertilizers. Due to a lack of K mineral reserves, several nations, including India, import potassic fertilizers, which place additional financial strain on the country's economy. Thus, potassium schoenite produced from sea bittern may present an attractive substitute for potassium nutrition in crop production. The current study examined the relative effect of indigenously produced potassium schoenite (PS) on potato crop. The findings demonstrated that potassium schoenite considerably increased potato growth, yield characteristics, yield, and quality of tuber. With 100% RDK (220 kg/ha K2O) through potassium schoenite + 1% foliar spray of potassium schoenite @ 30 and 45 DAP, the greatest yield attributes, total tuber yield and starch output were achieved which remained at par with 75% RDK (165 kg/ha K2O) through potassium schoenite + 1% foliar spray of potassium schoenite @ 30 and 45 DAP. Furthermore, potassium schoenite saves 25% K2O in potato production as compared to potassium sulfate and muriate of potash. Thus, indigenous potassium sources have been found to be far more effective than imported potassium sulfate and muriate of potash in enhancing potato productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foliar fertilization is an effective way to ensure proper nutrition of crops, and it contributes to higher productivity and crop quality. This study aims to evaluate the cuticular penetration of potassium ions from different K salts (potassium thiocyanate (KSCN), potassium iodate (KIO3), potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4), and potassium sulfate (K2SO4)) and their impact on the co-penetration of selected micronutrients. In the first step, the cuticular penetration of K from the four salts, classified according to the Hofmeister series, was studied using tomato fruit and apple leaf cuticles. Cuticular penetration of potassium salts is given as KSCN > KIO3 > KH2PO4 > K2SO4, thus following the anionic Hofmeister series. In the next step, using KSCN, we analyzed the penetration of Mn or Zn derived from the respective Mn and Zn sulfates. KSCN increased the penetration of Mn compared to the control treatment. In case of Zn, however, we observed antagonistic effects and a slight decrease in penetration. These results point to the potential influence of ions in the treatment solution influencing the penetration of the major fertilizer ions erroneously or systematically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Iraqi Journal of Desert Studies is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Potassium sulfate (K2SO4) or 2,4-Epibrassinolide (EBL) mediated response to cadmium (Cd) stress in plants has been widely reported, but the joint effect both on plants in response to Cd stress remains obscure. Herein, our results showed the combined application of K2SO4 (10 mM) and EBL (0.2 μM) on tobacco plants under Cd stress (CdCl2, 100 μM) relieved Cd toxicity by improving the activities of AOEs and reducing the contents of decreasing superoxide (H2O2 and O2−) and cadmium ion. As a result, the synergetic application of K2SO4 and EBL protected the integrity of chloroplast, which ensured a normal process of photosynthesis without a significant decrease in photosynthetic pigment content. Additionally, the combined application of K2SO4 and EBL also inhibited the expression of the Cd transport-related gene NtNramp1 and enhanced the Cd efflux-related gene NtHMA2. Moreover, the combined treatment of EBL associated with K2SO4 also effectively reduced the Cd accumulation in tobacco leaves under Cd stress compared with the groups treated separately, which implied a potentially synergistic role of EBL and K2SO4 in alleviating Cd toxicity in tobacco plants. This study provides a theoretical reference for the further analysis of the molecular mechanism of K2SO4 and EBL in jointly mediating the response to heavy metals in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Powders with a phase composition including syngenite (K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O) and/or calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum, CaSO4·2H2O) were synthesized from the powder of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and water solutions of potassium hydrosulfate (KHSO4) of various concentrations (0.5 M, 1 M, and 2 M). A molar ratio of starting salts, KHSO4/CaCO3 = 2, was used to provide the formation of syngenite (K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O). But when using a 0.5 M water solution of potassium hydrosulfate (KHSO4), the phase composition of the synthesized powder was presented by calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum, CaSO4·2H2O). When using 1 M and 2 M water solutions of potassium hydrosulfate (KHSO4), the syngenite (K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O) was found as the predominant phase in synthesized powders. According to estimations made from thermal analysis data, powders synthesized using 1.0 M and 2.0 M water solutions of potassium hydrosulfate (KHSO4) contained no more than 7.9 and 1.9 mass % of calcium sulfate dihydrate (gypsum, CaSO4·2H2O), respectively. The phase composition of products isolated from mother liquors via water evaporation consisted of syngenite (K2Ca(SO4)2·H2O) and potassium sulfate (arcanite, K2SO4). Synthesized powders can be used in preparation of biocompatible bioresorbable materials with phase compositions in the K2O-CaO-SO3-H2O system; as matrix of thermo- or photo-luminescent materials; as components reducing the setting time and increasing the strength of sulfate cements; in the fertilizing industry; and also as components of Martian regolith simulants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biuret method is currently recognized as a reference measurement procedure for serum/plasma total protein by the Joint Committee for Traceability in Laboratory Medicine (JCTLM). However, as the reaction involved in this method is highly time-dependent, to ensure identical measurement conditions for calibrator and samples for high accuracy, a fast and simple measurement procedure is critical to ensure the precision and trueness of this method. We measured serum/plasma total protein using a Cary 60 spectrophotometer coupled with a fiber optic probe, which was faster and simpler than the conventional cuvette method. The biuret method utilizing alkaline solutions of copper sulfate and potassium sodium tartrate was added to the sample and calibrator (NIST SRM 927e) incubated for 1 h before measurement. A panel of samples consisting of pooled human serum, single donor serum, and certified reference materials (CRMs) from three sources were measured for method validation. Sixteen native patient samples were measured using the newly developed biuret method and compared against clinical analyzers. Additionally, the results of three cycles of a local External Quality Assessment (EQA) Programme submitted by participating clinical laboratories were compared against the biuret method. Our biuret method using fiber optic probe demonstrated good precision with within-day relative standard deviation (RSD) of 0.04 to 0.23% and between-day RSD of 0.58%. The deviations between the obtained values and the certified values for all three CRMs ranged from −0.38 to 1.60%, indicating good method trueness. The routine methods using clinical analyzers were also found to agree well with the developed biuret method using fiber optic probe for EQA samples and native patient samples. The biuret method using a fiber optic probe represented a convenient and reliable way of measuring serum total protein. It also demonstrated excellent precision and trueness using CRMs and patient samples, which made the method a simpler candidate reference method for serum protein measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aril paleness is a physiological disorder that might be related to genetics, climate, and orchard management, and is progressed to negatively influence the quality of pomegranates in Iran. The final fruits are not economically valuable for costumers and not exportable. Thus, the present research investigated the intensity of aril paleness disorder in different cultivars including Shisheh Kab, Malas-e-Saveh, and Malas-e-Yazdi cultivated in Birjand, Southern Khorasan, Iran. Treatments included spraying potassium sulfate concentrations of 0 (control), 3 and 5% at late summer (exactly at aril color change stage) on trees for two consecutive years. Fruit and aril weight, anthocyanins, and phenols significantly increased on treated fruit compared to control. Comparison among cultivars indicated that the lowest amounts of quality parameters were observed in Shisheh Kab. Considering the multiple variables that affect the severity of the aril paleness, attention to cultivar type, climate, and the use of nutritional elements based on the soil and leaf analysis was recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the activity of copper (Cu) towards electrolytic reduction of nitrate, thin films of magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) were deposited on Cu substrate. For the first time, these films were synthesized by electrochemical deposition in a potassium sulfate bath containing Mg2+ at 70 °C. The effect of various experimental parameters, such as deposition time and potential, on the electrocatalytic activity for the nitrate reduction was investigated. Surface analysis techniques (SEM, EDX and XRD) were used to get information on the morphology, the composition and the structure of the deposits. The activity of the modified electrode was studied by cyclic voltammetry, and amperometric method. The modified Mg(OH)2/Cu sensor exhibited a good electrocatalytic behavior towards the reduction of nitrates with high reproducible reduction peak currents. In addition, the sensor exhibits a linear answer for concentration in nitrate between 0.125 to 7 mM, combined with high sensitivity (24.6 µA mM−1 cm−2) and limit of detection (225.35 µM) values. When common interfering molecules were added to the solution, Mg(OH)2/Cu electrodes have kept their good selectivity. They demonstrated acceptable detection levels for nitrates in tap water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More has yet to be investigated on the physiological and yield responses of barley genotypes to the double stresses of drought and salinity affected by plant growth regulators (PGR) as the objective of the present research. A split split-plot with three replicates testing the main treatments of control (70 mm evaporation from class A pan with salinity of 4 dsm−1), salinity (70 mm evaporation from a class A pan with the salinity of 12 dSm−1) and drought (120 mm evaporation from a class A pan with salinity of 4 dsm−1) was conducted. The foliar application of water (control), zinc sulfate (5 gL−1), potassium sulfate (5 gL−1), salicylic acid (SA, 1.5 mM) and superoxide dismutase (SOD, 3 gL−1) were used as the subplots. The sub-subplots consisted of the three barley genotypes of Goharan, Armaghan and Mehr. Plant relative water, proline and protein contents were higher in salty conditions than drought conditions. There were significant differences among the genotypes in terms of physiological and yield responses. The results indicate the positive effects of Zn, SA and SOD in salt stress and K in drought stress conditions. Different PGR including K (60.7%), followed by SA (61.0%), Zn (63.7%) and SOD (63.7%) resulted in the least EL. The highest grain yield in salt stress was resulted by K (6766 kgha−1) and Zn (6690 kgha−1) and in drought stress by Zn (5262 kgha−1). The results indicate the positive effects of the tested PGR on the alleviation of the double stresses of salt and drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Plant Production is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sodium silicate shell for investment casting is widely used in parts production. However, the key problems with this technique are that the shell has a low green strength, fired strength, and high residual strength in the shell; as well as environmental pollution resulting from toxic gas containing ammonia from the evaporation of ammonia liquor used as a hardener during the hardening process. The former is related to uncontrollable hardening reaction process, while the latter is related to hardener characteristics. In this work, the microfluidic technique was employed to precisely control of the hardening reaction of the shells, and aluminum potassium sulfate solution served as replacement for ammonia liquor. The green, fired, and residual strength of the shell specimens and their high-temperature self-load deformation were investigated. It is found that the hardening reaction can be effectively controlled, and the hardening characteristics of the shells were obviously improved. The bending strength of the shells increases initially and then decreases at the time of micro-droplet spreading. The specimens hardened for 8 min by micro-droplet method reached the highest green strength level of 37.48 MPa, a fired strength of 10.07 MPa, and a lowest high-temperature self-load deformation value of 0.18%, about 150%, 65% higher, and 53% lower than by the current immersion method, respectively. Moreover, the fracture surfaces of the specimens were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results reveal that the number of cracks in the sodium silicate gel film in the shell decreased significantly. The cracking tendency caused by shrinkage stress during hardening was reduced. This is due to the accurate reactant flow control provided a large number of microreactors for sodium silicate hardening. The hardener micro-droplets with an excellent monodispersity dispersed in a small volume on the surface of a continuous phase of water glass film, the volume shrinkage caused by micro-hardening can easily be compensated by the continuous phase of the liquid sodium silicate in the adjacent region and the cracking stress is partially or completely relaxed. The shrinkage trend in the process of dehydration polymerization of sodium silicate decreased and the bending strength of shell specimen improved. Microfluidic technique provides a powerful means for accurate delivery of reactant and control of gel structure during shell hardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brown wheat mite, Petrobia tritici, poses a significant threat to wheat fields. While fertilizers can increase crop productivity, imbalanced application may exacerbate plant susceptibility to pests. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of various NPK fertilization programs on P. tritici infestations over two consecutive cropping seasons. The results revealed significant differences in mite infestation among the treatment groups (p < 0.001). The lowest populations (1.1 and 3.0 mites/leaf) were observed in the treatments sprayed with phosphoric acid (at 0.75 and 1.00 cm/L), where the infestation appeared approximately 120 days after sowing; in contrast, it appeared early at 75 days in the other treatments. Conversely, treatments lacking potassium fertilizer presented the greatest degree of mite injury levels (49.5–57.7 mites/leaf). Although these treatments provided moderate leaf nutrition and crop yield, the highest nutritional content and total yield (10.49 and 9.71 1 t/ha for the two years) were observed in the treatment that received 224:70:100 kg fad−1 commercial fertilizers (=178:25:114 kg ha−1 NPK units) as soil fertilization, which was followed by the treatment with a foliar application of phosphoric acid (1.00 cm/L) with a total yield of 9.34 and 8.53 1 t/ha for the two years. In this treatment, the P. tritici density was moderately high at 9.40 and 6.32 mites/leaf over the two years, respectively. The consistency of P. tritici density and total yield ranking across both years indicated reliable estimates of the impact of fertilization. This study suggests that potassium sulfate application is crucial for reducing P. tritici density and that foliar phosphoric acid application instead of soil application reduces the number of P. tritici and delays its occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objectives: The yield and quality of tobacco depend on three important factors: the genetic potential of the variety, the environmental conditions of growth, and the agricultural practice used to grow the product. The experiments showed that each of the factors mentioned has a role in production efficiency, and it is difficult to determine which factor has more impact. This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of nutrition management and planting arrangement on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of two cultivars of Virginia tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacum L.). Materials and Methods: The split factorial experiment was conducted based on a randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replications in 2018-2019. The main plot includes the use of nitrogen fertilizer (from the source of urea, based on the soil test), and potassium (from the source of potassium sulfate, based on the soil test), planting cultivation in two levels (single row and double row) and two varieties of tobacco Virginia (TC100 and NC100) in subplot were considered. Results: The TC100 cultivar exhibited greater leaf area, plant height, and green yield compared to the NC100 cultivar. The combination of foliar fertilizer and double-row cultivation resulted in higher plant height and SPAD index. Notably, NC100 displayed increased leaf nitrogen in single-row cultivation and higher nicotine percentages in both planting arrangements. In contrast, TC100 had significantly greater leaf potassium and sugar content in the double-row cultivation method. The price of tobacco was influenced solely by the cultivar, with TC100 commanding a higher price per kilogram than NC100. Additionally, TC100 generated greater income than NC100 across all planting and fertilization treatments. Conclusion: Results showed that the TC100 cultivar in two-row cultivation had higher green yield, income, and quality characteristics than the NC100 cultivar. Among studied treatments, fertilization did not significantly affect the quality properties of tobacco leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Menoufia Journal of Plant Production is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Sciences is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Potatoes are regarded very prone to chloride toxicity, and the application of sulfate‐based potassium fertilizers is therefore recommended. However, in several studies, no significant differences between KCl and K2SO4 on tuber yield and starch concentration were found. In addition, plant shoots occasionally showed more pronounced stress symptoms after sulfate compared to chloride treatment. Aims: This study aimed to identify reasons for enhanced stress occurrence of potato plants after K2SO4 instead of KCl fertilization. Methods: We conducted a pot experiment with the potato cultivar Marabel, which showed to be chloride‐resistant in our previous study, and applied 1 g K or 2 g K either as K2SO4 or KCl. Plant shoots were analyzed for nutrients, sugars, and antioxidative capacity shortly before start of flowering (intermediate harvest), and tubers were harvested at physiological maturity and their starch concentration and yield were determined. Results: With sulfate‐based K fertilization, the start of flowering and ripening as well as the achievement of physiological maturity occurred earlier than with KCl supply. However, the accelerated development of K2SO4‐treated plants did not affect shoot fresh and dry mass shortly before flowering and at maturity, showing similar values as in the KCl treatment. With 2 g K as K2SO4, the potato plants produced much larger and less than half the number of tubers compared to 2 g K as KCl, resulting in a significantly reduced tuber fresh mass. Tuber starch concentration as well as starch yield per plant were not significantly affected by the kind of K fertilization. In plant shoots shortly before flowering, calcium and magnesium concentrations were significantly decreased, combined with a significant increase in antioxidative capacity after application of 2 g K as K2SO4 compared to KCl. Sugar concentrations and contents in potato shoots at flowering were mostly unaffected by the kind of K fertilizer. Conclusions: Stronger toxicity symptoms and growth inhibition after sulfate compared to chloride application, combined with a significant increase in antioxidative capacity, provide evidence for sulfate‐induced oxidative stress. A higher production of organic anions such as succinate may be involved in the stress reaction. This needs to be investigated in more detail in further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lacustrine alkenones are increasingly reported in freshwater lakes worldwide, which makes them a very promising proxy to reconstruct past continental temperatures. However, a more systematic understanding of ecological preferences of freshwater alkenone-producers at global scale is lacking, which limits our understanding of alkenones as a proxy in lakes. Here we investigated 56 Swiss freshwater lakes and report Group 1 alkenones in 33 of them. In twelve of the lakes containing alkenones, a mixed Group 1/Group 2 alkenone signature was detected. We used a random forest (RF) model to investigate the influence of 15 environmental variables on alkenone occurrence in Swiss lakes and found sodium (Na[sup +]) concentration and mean annual air temperature (MAAT) to be the most important variables. We also trained a RF model on a database that included Swiss lakes and all freshwater lakes worldwide, which were previously investigated for alkenone presence. Water depth appeared as the most important variable followed by MAAT and Na[sup +], sulfate and potassium concentrations. This is very similar to results found for freshwater and saline lakes, which suggests that Group 1 and Group 2 alkenone occurrence could be controlled by the same variables in freshwater lakes. For each tested variable, we defined the optimal range(s) for the presence of alkenones in freshwater lakes. The similarity of the results for the Swiss and global models suggests that the environmental parameters controlling the occurrence of freshwater alkenone producers could be homogenous worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Phosphogypsum is a by-product of phosphoric acid production, the basis of phosphate fertilizers. Environmental problems of phosphogypsum waste are of concern, including due to the presence of radium-226 and heavy metals. Purpose. To study the effect of molar ratio on the conversion of sodium sulfate and potassium chloride obtained from phosphogypsum. Methodology. Sodium sulfate and potassium chloride solutions were mixed in a molar ratio of 1:4 and stirred at 50°C for 30 min ("MS-H280-Pro"). The temperature was maintained at 50°C. The SO₃ content was determined gravimetrically, K₂O and Na₂O - by flame photometry, Cl⁻ ions - by titrimetric method. Originally: The effect of molar ratio on the conversion of potassium chloride with sodium sulfate was revealed. Findings. Optimal conditions for conversion were found: molar ratio 1:6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a fruit-bearing species with a long history of cultivation in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Pomegranate production in Iran, as the main pomegranate producer in the world, is faced with different challenges. Fruit cracking is one of the serious disorders in pomegranate that cause significant reduction in the quality of fruit and subsequent economic damages to the pomegranate producers annually. Fruit cracking can be controlled to some extent by appropriate orchard management. Proper orchard fertilization is among the influential cases that can lead to the improvement in the physiological state of trees in favor of reducing the fruit cracking. Materials and methods In this study, the effects of silicon and potassium sulfate spraying were investigated on the fruit cracking and some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of pomegranate fruit. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of four levels of silica (0, 100, 300, and 500 ppm) and three levels of potassium sulfate (0, 0.75%, and 1.5%) spraying on the fruit of pomegranate cv. 'Malase-Saveh', one of the most important pomegranate varieties of Iran. The treatments were applied three times during the growing season. The experiment was arranged in a factorial experiment based on the completely randomized block design in three replicates. Data analysis was performed using SAS statistical software and the means were compared using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% level of significance. Results and Discussion The results indicated that most of the qualitative and quantitative traits were influenced by foliar spraying of these substances. Also, the results indicated that foliar application of silica, potassium sulfate, and their interaction significantly affected the fruit cracking. According to the results, the lowest fruit cracking (2.64%) was obtained by spraying 500 ppm silica and 0.75% potassium sulfate, while the highest fruit cracking (27.87%) was recorded from control plants. The highest fruit weight (204 g) was recorded in the treatment of 1.5% potassium sulfate and the lowest fruit weight (144 g) was recorded from untreated plants. Most of the treatments had a positive effect on fruit and aril weight and increased this character compared to the control. Spraying with 500 ppm silica and 1.5% potassium sulfate resulted in the highest (39.69 g) 100 arils weight, while control plants had the lowest (29.14) 100 arils weight. Silica and potassium sulfate treatment also improve the total soluble solid and titratable acidity in the fruit juice of pomegranate. Conclusion The data obtained from this study could provide valuable insights into the effects of proper fertilization in reducing one of the main pomegranate disorders. Overall, the results indicated that combined spraying of silica (500 ppm) with potassium sulfate (1.5%) is more effective than their individual use and results in the higher fruit yield and quality, as well as a lower cracking disorder. These findings suggest that there are synergistic effects between these compounds. According to the results of this investigation simultaneous application of silica and potassium is suggested as a practical strategy in orchard management practices that could be beneficial for improving qualitative and quantitative attributes of pomegranate fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scientific experiment was conducted in a demonstration plantation at the Research Institute of Mountain Stockbreeding and Agriculture of Troyan. A fertilizing scheme was applied to aronia shrubs with various types of fertilizers, as well as combinations among them. The biochemical composition of aronia berries was compared after harvest and after one year of storage at -18°C. High values of dry weight, dry matter by Re, pectin, and total polyphenols were identified in the potassium sulfate fertilizing variant. The combined fertilizing with triple superphosphate, potassium sulfate, and carbamide gave the highest content of total sugars, sucrose and total polyphenols in fruits after the storage period. Statistical differences were proven among fertilizing variants in terms of dry matter by Re, total sugars, sucrose, and ascorbic acid. Organic acids, anthocyanins, and total polyphenols had proven results. The objective of the present study is to analyze the changes in the biochemical composition of aronia berries after the application of various fertilizing variants, after harvest, and one-year storage period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Plant Production is the property of Egyptian National Agricultural Library (ENAL) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Near-natural transformation can convert artificial monoculture forests into mixed forests with diverse ages, multi-layered structures, and enhanced ecological functions. This transformation optimizes stand structure, improves soil physical and chemical properties, and enhances stand productivity and species diversity. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the underground roots and aboveground growth of Pinus tabuliformis and Populus tomentosa under conditions of nutrient heterogeneity, with the goal of advancing plantation transformation. This research focused on 1-year-old Populus tomentosa and 5-year-old Pinus tabuliformis, employing two planting densities (25 cm and 50 cm) and three fertilization levels, low (50 g·m−2), medium (100 g·m−2), and high (200 g·m−2), using Stanley Potassium sulfate complex fertilizer (N:P:K = 15:15:15). Each treatment had three replicates, resulting in a total of nine experimental groups, all planted in circular plots with a radius of 1 m. Standard major axis (SMA) regression was used to analyze the allometric relationship between underground fine root biomass and aboveground organ biomass. This study further explored correlations between fine root length, root surface area, volume, biomass, and aboveground biomass, culminating in a mixed-effects model. The mixed-effects model quantified the relationships between underground roots and aboveground growth in varying soil nutrient environments. The results indicated optimal root growth in Populus tomentosa and Pinus tabuliformis, characterized by maximum root length, surface area, and volume, under conditions of 200 g·m−2 soil nutrient concentration and 50 cm planting distance; Populus tomentosa fine roots had a vertical center at a depth of 8.5 cm, whereas Pinus tabuliformis roots were centered at depths of 5–7.5 cm, indicating differing competitive strategies. Pinus tabuliformis exhibited competitive superiority in the soil's surface layer, in contrast to Populus tomentosa, which thrived in deeper layers. The study of the allometric growth model revealed that under conditions where the nutrient gradient was 200 g·m−2 and the planting distance was 25 cm, Populus tomentosa demonstrated its highest allometric growth index (2.801), indicative of positive allometric growth. Furthermore, there was a notable inclination of resource allocation towards the aboveground, which enhances the accumulation of aboveground biomass. The mixed-effects model equation showed a clear linear relationship between underground roots and aboveground biomass. The final fitting coefficient of the model was high, providing a robust theoretical basis for future management practices. The mixed-effects model revealed the following hierarchy of fixed-effect coefficients for root system characteristics affecting aboveground biomass: fine root volume (132.11) > fine root biomass (6.462) > root surface area (−4.053) > fine root length (0.201). In subsequent plantation reconstruction and forest management, increasing soil fertility and planting distance can promote the growth of underground roots and biomass accumulation. Appropriately increasing soil fertility and reducing planting distance can effectively promote aboveground biomass accumulation, achieving sustainable forest development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the quality of organically grown red clover herbage and silage after being influenced by supplementary mineral fertilization. The experimental treatments were as follows: control treatment without fertilization (group C), treatment where kalimagnesia (Patentkali) was applied (group P), and treatment where potassium sulfate (SOP) was applied (group S). In each year of the experiment, first-cut herbage was harvested at the beginning of flowering and ensiled. The year of the study had a significant (p ≤ 0.05) influence on the analyzed parameters of herbage and silage, excluding the content of calcium (Ca), acetic acid (AA), and ammonia nitrogen (N-NH3). The organic production system exerted a significant (p ≤ 0.05) effect on the concentrations of crude protein (CP), acid detergent lignin (ADL), water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), minerals (P, K, Ca, Na), lactic acid (LA), ethanol, and N-NH3. The pattern of fermentation was affected by both experimental factors. True protein (TP) content was determined at 70–84% CP in herbage and 53–65% CP in silages. The energy value and the protein value of herbage varied significantly across years of the study and in response to the combined effects of both experimental factors (p ≤ 0.05). Red clover grown in organic production systems supplied high-quality forage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit quality depends on many traits including visual, biochemical and mineral characteristics. One of the negative traits is aril whitening (AW) which is a frequently observed disorder in hot and dry climates, that leads to decline in desirable fruit quality. Color, antioxidant, and mineral contents of the arils are of prime importance as quality traits. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of shading and foliar minerals on fruit quality during the fruit development stages of pomegranate. Treatments included shaded (50% green net) and unshaded trees and foliar application of trees with potassium sulfate (K, 1% and 2%) or sodium silicate (Si, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.15%) during two growing seasons. Results showed that the severity of AW at harvest decreased significantly when trees were covered with shading compared to control. The color values of L* and ⁰hue for arils were lower in fruits grown under shading conditions indicating darker red arils. Shading significantly reduced chilling injury in cold storage compared to open field fruits. Shading and Si 0.15% increased superoxide dismutase, and catalase enzymes activity while decreased Polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase. Covering trees with shading and Si 0.15% spray resulted in the highest total anthocyanin, antioxidant activity, and total phenolics content in the arils. Shading as well as Si 0.15% increased macronutrients content of the arils. The study concluded that covering pomegranate trees and spraying with Si in hot climate reduced AW, increased antioxidant traits, and led to higher fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monodispersed spherical particles of γ- and α-alumina were synthesized by urea-based homogeneous precipitation, using potassium sulfate and aluminum nitrate as the precursor and urea as a precipitating agent. The influence of various synthesis parameters like concentration of reactants, temperature, and reaction time, on the morphological features of alumina were investigated. Results showed that all the experimental parameters had a considerable effect on the morphology of the synthesized alumina, and control of these parameters resulted in monodispersed spherical particles with good dispensability and filtering performance. Extensive optimization of the experimental parameters led to produced alumina precursors with spherical morphology and an average particle size of 610 nm. The precipitated solids were characterized by various techniques and it was noted that the as-prepared particles were amorphous. Relatively well-dispersed and crystalline γ- and α-Al2O3 with higher sintering activity were obtained by calcining the as-synthesized precursors at 1000 and 1200 °C, respectively. The crystallographic results showed that crystallite size increased with an increase in annealing temperature. It was observed that the crystallite size of γ-Al2O3 was much smaller (5.71 nm ± 7.21%) than α-Al2O3 (35.40 nm) ± 4.58%. The Scanning electron microscopic analysis of the calcined alumina showed that the particle morphology was retained to a greater extent after calcination. The synthesized alumina particles can be used as a reinforcement filler in the Ni/Al2O3 composite coatings to enhance the tribological and mechanical properties of Ni-composite coating on a steel surface. The incorporated alumina particles in the composite may improve the properties of the coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was conducted to explore the role of potassium nutrition in improving biomass and physio-chemical alterations to reduce the adverse effects of salinity in mungbean. A sand-culture experiment was carried out under different salinity levels (0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl) with two levels of potassium (0 and 50 mM K2SO4) and two mungbean cultivars (NM-92 and Ramzan), and the alterations in mungbean biomass and metabolic activities were investigated. The results suggested that salinity significantly reduced the biomass, nitrate reductase activity (NRA), nitrite reductase activity (NiRA), total soluble proteins, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous contents in both mungbean cultivars in comparison to the control. However, K2SO4 at 50 mM significantly improved all the parameters in both mungbean cultivars except for the sodium content. A significant increase in the total free amino acids, carotenoids, and sodium content in both mungbean cultivars was observed due to salt stress. Moreover, principal component analysis and heatmaps were developed individually for both mungbean cultivars to assess the variability and correlation among the studied attributes under all applied treatments. Under saline conditions, the mungbean 'Ramzan' showed more marked reductions in almost all the growth parameters as compared to 'NM-92'. The results suggest that the application of K2SO4 ameliorates the adverse effects of salinity by regulating osmolyte production, NRA, and NiRA, thus promoting plant growth and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional mapping of surface structures is important in a wide range of biological, technological, healthcare, and research applications. Neutral helium atom beams have been established as a sensitive probe of topography and have already enabled structural information to be obtained from delicate samples where conventional probes would cause damage. Here, we empirically demonstrate, for the first time, a reconstruction of a complete surface profile using measurements from a modified scanning helium microscope using the heliometric stereo method and a single detector instrument geometry. Results for the surface profile of tetrahedral aluminum potassium sulfate crystals demonstrate that the areas of surfaces and facet orientations can be recovered to within 5% of the expected values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit yield and quality in fig (Ficus carica L.) are highly influenced by mineral nutrition, especially Calcium (Ca) and potassium (K). In this study, the impact of soluble potassium sulfate (K2SO4) foliar application on yield, fruit quality, and leaf nutrient content was assessed during three consecutive years (2017-2019) on fig cv. 'Bouhouli' grown in Northwest Tunisia. Potassium sulfate was sprayed at 2% concentration on leaves of 'Bouhouli' trees twice each year during fruit development. This improved fruit weight by 29.5% and 34.9% in the first and second years, respectively, while yield and fruit quality were improved in 2018 only. The fruit ostiole-end cracking, which is one of the fruit quality criteria, was reduced under potassium treatment by 3-fold (17%) compared to the control (53%), in 2018. Also, potassium treatment increased significantly the content of total soluble solids in the fruits during the first two seasons. Besides, K leaf concentration significantly increased after the 2% K2SO4 treatment in 2018 and 2019. These results suggest that potassium sulfate foliar sprays could be used as part of an efficient and sustainable fertilizer program to improve fig tree yield and fruit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective catalytic reduction by methanol (Methanol-SCR) on FER zeolite is a promising technology for the deNOx treatment of flue gas with a high concentration of sulfur. However, the resistance to alkali metal and sulfate ions is crucial for the practical application of Methanol-SCR catalysts. In this study, we investigated the poisoning mechanism of H-FER zeolite by K+ and sulfate ions. It was observed that K+ ions induce deactivation at high temperatures, whereas the decline at low temperatures (< 320 °C) can be attributed mainly to sulfate ions. Furthermore, surface modification of H-FER zeolite with metal oxide nanoparticles, such as alumina, has proved to be an effective method for improving its potassium sulfate resistance performance by preventing the diffusion of sulfate into zeolite pores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

【Objective】The experiment was carried out to study the effects of potassium magnesium sulfate (PMS) on sow performance, plasma biochemical indicators, antioxidant capacity and immune function in late pregnancy. 【Method】By using simple factor design of the experiment, sixty sows (Landrace×Yorkshire) with 3-4 parity, good health and similar expected delivery in the third trimester of pregnancy (85th day of pregnancy) were randomly divided into 4 groups (15 replicates in each group and 1 sow in each replicate). The experimental groups during gestation were supplemented with PMS 0 (CK), 5, 10 and 15 g/d for each sow, respectively. After delivery, all sows during lactation were fed the same commercial lactation feed. The experiment ended on the 18th day of lactation.【Result】(1) Supplemental PMS had no significant effects on litter size, healthy litter size, back fat thickness, labor, body weight, feed intake in sows during lactation, and newborn weight of piglets, number of weaned piglets and number of deaths of lactating piglets. Compared with the control group, the fecal score of sows during late pregnancy after PMS supplementation showed a linear increase (Plinear＜ 0.05) and 10 g/d group had significant effects (PANOVA＜ 0.05); After supplementation with PMS, it showed a linear increase (Plinear＜ 0.05) in newborn litter weight, litter weight of weaned piglets, average litter gain of lactating piglets and daily gain of lactating piglets (PANOVA ＜ 0.05). Compared with the control group, the newborn litter weight, litter weight of weaned piglets, average litter gain of lactating piglets and daily gain of lactating piglets in the 10 g/d group were increased by 16.27%, 24.42%, 35.14% and 31.64%. Except for newborn litter weight, all other indicators showed quadratic effect (PQuadratic ＜ 0.05) and significant differences were found between groups (PANOVA ＜ 0.05) ; (2) It showed a linear increase in the contents of triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CHO), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and insulin (INS) in plasma of sows supplemented with PMS (Plinear＜ 0.05). The contents of TG, CHO, LDL and INS in the 10 g/d group increased by 50.00%, 28.35%, 25.00% and 31.98% compared with the control group; TG and LDL had a quadratic effect (PQuadratic ＜ 0.05). (3) Linear changes were found in contents of immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (Plinear＜ 0.05) in the plasma of sows after supplementation with PMS, and they were increased by 17.10%, 20.34%, 8.00% and 15.04% in the 10 g/d group, compared with the control group. (4) It showed a linear increase (PANOVA ＜ 0.05) in fat content of colostrum of sow with PMS supplementation (Plinear＜ 0.05), with significant increase. Non-fat milk solids, lactose and protein were linearly increased (Plinear＜ 0.05) and had an increasing trend (0.05 ＜ PANOVA ＜ 0.1). The fat content of colostrum supplemented with 10 g/d were increased by 51.42% compared with the control group. 【Conclusion】 PMS supplementation in late preganancy can significantly improve the fecal scores of sows, relieve sow constipation, and improve sow performance and body health, with 10 g/d supplementation as the optimal dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity stress significantly constrains agricultural productivity and vegetation decline worldwide, particularly in Iran. Potassium, the second most prevalent nutrient in plants, is well known to be essential for cell metabolism. Here, the effects of potassium fertilizer in two biogenic nanoparticles (K-NPs) and conventional (potassium sulfate) forms (0.1 mg/ml) on Melissa officinalis L. under salinity (0, 50, 100, and 150 mM) were investigated. The results demonstrated that stress markers (electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide) increased as salinity levels increased. Plant growth parameters (shoot and root length, fresh and dry weight of shoot and root) and physiological and photosynthetic parameters (stomatal conductance, relative water content, chlorophyll fluorescence, and photosynthetic pigments) were reduced in salinized plants. The highest reduction in fresh weight root, dry weight root, fresh weight shoot, dry weight shoot, root length, and shoot length was recorded under 150 mM NaCl by 30.2%, 51.6%, 30.5%, 24.7%, 26.4%, and 21%, respectively. In contrast, bulk potassium sulfate and K-NPs increased these parameters. Furthermore, K-NPs improved M. officinalis tolerance to NaCl toxicity by enhancing the content of osmolytes such as proline, soluble sugars, and antioxidant enzymes, improving antioxidant contents such as phenols, tannins, anthocyanins, and flavonoids; increasing total protein; and lowering stress markers in plant tissues. Given the results of the physiological, biochemical, and phytochemical parameters obtained from this study, it can be stated that K-NPs, in comparison to the conventional form of potassium fertilizer, exhibit a greater potential to mitigate damages caused by salinity stress in M. officinalis plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate how different mixtures of urine and chemical fertilizer impact the quality and characteristics of lettuce, as well as the soil's microbial community, a study was conducted using lettuce as the focus. The study employed potted cultivation to explore the best combination of urine and chemical fertilizer for optimal lettuce growth. The treatments were as CK (no fertilizer), T1 (1.0 g urea + 3.3 g monocalcium phosphate + 0.9 g potassium sulfate), T2 (0.235 gN equivalent of human urine + 0.5 g urea + 3.19 g monocalcium phosphate + 0.75 g potassium sulfate), and T3 (0.47 gN equivalent of human urine + 3.05 g monocalcium phosphate + 0.6 g potassium sulfate). The study also examined the effects of different ratios of urine and chemical fertilizer on soil's physical and chemical properties, soil microbial diversity, and soil microbial community structure. The results indicated that combining urine and chemical fertilizer could boost the weight and height of lettuce. At the T2 level, lettuce has the highest plant height and fresh weight, with a 25.01% and 138.89% increase in plant height compared to T1 and T3, respectively. The fresh weight increased by 48.81% and 67.79% compared to T1 and T3, respectively. Various soil proper ties like total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), available phosphorus (AP), available potassium (AK), ammonium nitrogen (NH4 +-N), soil organic matter (SOM), and electrical conductivity (EC) all showed improvements under different urine fertilizer ratios, with T3 demonstrating the most significant increases. Applying human urine and chemical fertilizer together was found to decrease the abundance of bacteria in the lettuce soil. This effect was more pronounced with higher proportions of urine application, particularly affecting the Proteobacteria phylum. Treatments T1 and T2 increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria by 27.54% and 6.68% respectively, while T3 reduced Proteobacteria abundance by 8.32%. In conclusion, com bining urine and chemical fertilizer can enhance both lettuce quality and soil health. However, excessive use of urine can reduce the abundance of microorganisms in the soil. Under normal phosphorus and potassium fertilizer usage, the best ratio for application is 65 mL of urine combined with 0.5 g of urea (in a 11 ratio based on nitrogen content). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To determine the conversion time of two fertilizers in soil, so as to determine the nutrient supply time and ability, and provide data support for determining the scientific fertilization time. [Method] In this experiment, fertilizers commonly used in potato production were used as treatment, namely potassium sulfate and diammonium phosphate. Three soil moisture treatments were set, respectively 25%, 35% and 45%.Sampling time was set and fertilizer residual amount and fertilizer dissolution amount and dissolution rate were determined. [Result] The dissolved amounts of diammonium phosphate and potassium sulfate exceeded or approached 50% on the 5th and 56th day after fertilization, respectively, and could be labeled as the best nutrient absorption period. After the application of diammonium phosphate for 21 days, the fertilizer did not transform. On the whole, with the increase of soil moisture content, the dissolution capacity of diammonium phosphate was enhanced, and the nutrient supply capacity was increased, but the sustainable support capacity was weakened. The release of potassium sulfate nutrient was relatively average during the experiment period. Under the conditions of 25% and 35% soil water content, the nutrient supply period was efficient within 28 days after fertilization, and the nutrient supply tended to be stable after 28 days. Under the condition of 45% soil moisture content, the nutrient efficient supply period was within 49 days after fertilization. On the whole, 45% water content is more conducive to prolonging the effective feeding time of potassium sulfate. [Conclusion] The solubility of diammonium phosphate and potassium sulfate can be used as the index of nutrient supply of fertilizer, but it can only be applied to mineral element fertilizers. Because organic fertilizers also involve mineralization process after dissolution, it has no guiding significance for organic fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Red-bed mudstone (RBM) has the characteristics of being easily softened and disintegrated under dry and wet cycles. To investigate the weakening and disintegration characteristics of the RBM, typical mudstone from Guangxi highway slope was taken as the research object in this study. Disintegration tests, water chemistry tests, and microscopic tests were performed to investigate the disintegration mechanism of this RBM. The results indicate that the RBM exhibits strong disintegration, releasing soluble salts such as potassium chloride and sulfates during the disintegration process. The hydrolysis of clay minerals is the main cause of changes in ion concentration in the solution. Throughout the dry and wet cycles, the proportion of macro-pores and meso-pores significantly increases, while the percentage of small and micro-pores gradually decreases. Under the influence of dry and wet cycles, the contact area between particles gradually decreases, transitioning from face-to-face contact to face-edge contact and finally to edge-to-edge contact. These research findings provide a basis for the stability analysis and prevention of landslide hazards in the red-bed soft rock areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the crystallization kinetics of potassium sulfate in a stirred bed crystallizer through experimental investigation. Using classical nucleation theory, the homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation mechanisms of potassium sulfate are studied. The induction time and critical nucleation parameters, including surface tension (γ), critical nucleation radius (r*), critical nucleation free energy (ΔG*), and critical nucleation molecule number (i*), are measured under different temperatures and supersaturation ratios. Experimental results show that as temperature and supersaturation ratio increase, induction time, critical nucleation free energy, critical nucleation radius, and critical molecule number decrease while nucleation rate increases. The crystal shape remains relatively unchanged with temperature and supersaturation ratio, but the average particle size increases with increasing supersaturation and temperature. Changes in measured nucleation parameters are consistent with classical nucleation theory. In addition, the kinetic equations of crystal nucleation and growth rate in a stirred crystallization system are fitted using population balance equations, and the results show that the growth rate increases with increasing supersaturation and stirring speed. In addition, the effects of the parameters in the nucleation rate equation suggest that suspension density has the greatest impact, followed by supersaturation ratio and stirring speed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationally adjusting the interface between SnO2 electron transport layer (ETL) and the perovskite (PVK) buried surface plays a key role in achieving efficient and stable PVK solar cells (PSCs). Herein, a cost‐effective organic salt, 5‐bromo‐6‐chloro‐3‐indolyl sulfate potassium salt (SPS), used as an interface modifier is deposited on the SnO2 ETL. SPS has played a multifunctional role in ETL and PVK layer: 1) the highly electronegative SO4− group of SPS can be adsorbed on the surface of SnO2 films, resulting in the energy levels of the PVK layer and SnO2 ETL becomes more compatible. 2) The lower contact angle of the modified SnO2 film is conducive to the formation of pinhole‐free PVK films. 3) The functional groups in SPS are helpful for the decrease of defect density in the PVK films. As a consequence, the defect density reduces from 8.17 × 1015 to 5.57 × 1015 cm−3. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of modified PSCs increases from 19.82% to 21.33%. Furthermore, the unencapsulated modified devices retain 91.7% of the initial PCE after 624 h. These results indicate that using SPS as a multifunctional interface modifier is a promising strategy to achieve efficient and stable PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionFood security is one of the basic needs of any society. Studies have been conducted on the foliar application of elements, especially silicon, calcium, and potassium, to reduce the adverse environmental effects on the physico-mechanical properties of cereals and improve their growth and development in order to maintain food security. Lodging, which is caused by a decrease in the mechanical properties of the plant stem's flexural strength, is characterized by bending or fracture that changes the angle of the grain stem from the vertical position. Due to the important factors involved, an important aspect of performance is directly and indirectly related to the occurrence of fungal diseases and nutrient-related issues affecting the physico-mechanical properties of the plant, such as flexural strength. The efficacy of silicon, calcium, and potassium in addressing these concerns is notable.Materials and MethodsThis research was conducted at the research farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Shahroud University of Technology, located in Bastam. The seeds of the Reyhan cultivar, a high-yielding and early spring-type barley plant suitable for regions with mild winters and short springs, were used in this study. Planting operations followed agricultural principles, and irrigation was carried out using atmospheric and ridge methods. The first irrigation took place after planting, and subsequent irrigations were performed at eight-day intervals. Harvesting was done manually at the end of the growing period, specifically 115 days after planting.The experiment followed a factorial design and utilized a randomized complete block design with three replications. On July 11 (115 days after planting), a harvest sample measuring 50 cm2 was taken from each experimental plot, accounting for the margins, to determine the yield.For the barley stem bending test, a three-point bending test was conducted using a material testing machine. The probe applied a loading speed of 5 mm.min-1. A specially designed jaw was used for the barley stem cutting test, taking into consideration the characteristics of the barley plant. The incision test was performed on the second median, and the loading speed was set at 20 mm.min-1.Results and DiscussionThe main axial stem serves as a storage organ, supporting the filling grains through stock re-transference. A desirable trait is having a higher dry weight in the stem. Among the treatments, foliar application of 6 mM calcium chloride, along with sodium silicate at all three levels and spraying with 12 mM silicon at concentrations of 150 and 300 mg.L-1, showed statistically superior results.Stem diameter is an important attribute related to plant strength, stability, resistance to lodging, and certain fungal diseases. The control plants had a stem diameter of 2.63 mm, which significantly improved with the treatment compounds. Barley stem wall thickness increased significantly with both 150 and 300 mg.L-1 levels of calcium chloride, combined with all three levels of sodium silicate spraying. These factors play a role in determining the ultimate photosynthetic destination, as well as the efficiency and economic production of the target seed cultivar or crop.The results indicated a significant increase in grain yield when simultaneously applying 10 mg.kg-1 silicon with 6 mM calcium chloride, showing a 65% improvement compared to the control. Treatment with three potassium sulfate variations, combined with either 6 or 12 mM calcium chloride, or 12 mM calcium chloride alone, enhanced the flexural strength of the stem by 75%, 60%, and 62%, respectively. Among the treatment compounds studied, the shear strength of barley stems ranged from 2.63 MPa to 5.43 MPa. Plants treated with sodium silicate at concentrations of both 150 and 30 ml.L-1, in conjunction with 6 mM calcium chloride foliar application, exhibited higher shear strength compared to other treatments.ConclusionThis study demonstrated the tripartite effect of the treatments. The treatment composition derived from a surface area of 300 ml.L-1 of sodium, combined with 6 and 12 mM calcium chloride without potassium sulfate, had the greatest impact on flexural strength and stem diameter.

This study was carried out in the green house of the Agricultural-Research and Experiment>Station, College of Agriculture, University of Kirkuk, Sayada area, Kirkuk, Iraq during the season 2021-2022 to study the effect of humic and potassium sulfate spraying on the growth and yield of Rubegym strawberries. The experiment was-included two factors, the first being three levels of sulfate Potassium (0, 1000 and 20000) mg L-1, and the second factor was three concentrations of humic, which is (0, 2 and 4) g L-1, using the randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D.) as a factorial experiment, using 10 seedlings per experimental unit, and the data were analyzed statistically using the (SAS V 9.0) program, and the averages were compared according to Dunkin's multinomial test at the probability level (0.05). Total. Soluble. Solids and vitamin C compared to control treatment.

Modified latex is prepared via the soap-free emulsion polymerization of ethyl acetate (VAc) and vinyl versatate (VeoVa10). DFHMA is used as modified monomers. The composite surfactants of SR-10 and ANPEO-10 are used as the composite emulsifiers. The polymerization is initiated by potassium sulfate (KPS). The structure of latex film was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The latex films were tested by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and contact angle (CA) determinator. The particle size of the latex emulsion particle size is determined by the Zetatrac dynamic light scatter. Results show that the optimum condition of preparing the modified latex can be obtained, i.e. the amount of emulsifier is 4.0%; the mass ratio of SR-10 to ANPEO-10 is 1:1; the amount of initiator is 0.5%; the mass ratio ofVAc to VeoVa10 is 1:1; the amount of DFHMA is 5.0%. The appearance of the latex is blue and translucent with a small particle size. The conversion rate is more than 98%. Compared with the conventional latex, the hydrophobicity and heat resistance of the film have been improved. Moreover, the latex has good chemical stability and mechanical stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the kinetics of the crystallization of potassium sulfate in a stirred bed crystallizer through experimental investigation. Employing classical nucleation theory, the homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation mechanisms of potassium sulfate were investigated. The induction time and critical nucleation parameters, including the surface tension (γ), critical nucleation radius (r*), critical nucleation free energy (ΔG*), and critical nucleation molecule number (i*), were meticulously determined under varying temperatures and supersaturation ratios. The experimental findings revealed that as the temperature and supersaturation ratio increased, the induction time, critical nucleation free energy, critical nucleation radius, and critical molecule number decreased whereas the nucleation rate increased. The crystalline shape remains relatively unaltered with respect to temperature and supersaturation ratio, yet the particle size (D10, D50, D90) increases as the supersaturation and temperature increase. The variations in the measured nucleation parameters align well with the predictions of classical nucleation theory. Furthermore, the kinetic equations of crystal nucleation and the growth rate in a stirred crystallization system were fitted using population balance equations. The results demonstrate that the growth rate increases with increasing supersaturation and stirring rates. Additionally, the effects of the parameters in the nucleation rate equation suggested that the suspension density exerted the greatest influence, followed by the supersaturation ratio and stirring rate. This extensive research provides invaluable theoretical guidance for optimizing the crystallization process and designing industrial crystallizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Aluminum potassium sulfate and tannic acid (ALTA) is an effective sclerosing agent for the treatment of internal hemorrhoids. ALTA therapy with rectal mucopexy (AM) is a new approach for treating hemorrhoidal prolapse. This study investigated the midterm outcomes of AM surgery in patients with hemorrhoids. Methods: Patients with grade III hemorrhoids who underwent AM surgery were enrolled in this retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from a single institution. Cumulative success rates, postoperative symptoms, including pain scores, analgesic requirements, and postoperative complications, and patient satisfaction were assessed. Results: The median number of ALTA injection procedures was 3 (range 1–4), and the median total injection dose was 19 mL (range 7–32 mL). The median number of mucopexy procedures was 2 (range 1–4). The median postoperative pain score (0 = no pain at all, 10 = worst pain imaginable) at rest or during defecation were ≤2. The total dose of analgesics administered during the first two weeks after surgery was 1 (range 0–25). Six patients (5.3%) showed postoperative complications: five showed Clavien–Dindo (C-D) grade I and one showed C-D grade IIIa complications. Cumulative success rates at one, three, and five years were 96.5%, 85.3%, and 85.3%, respectively. Patient satisfaction scores, which were assessed using a 10-point scale, were ≥9 at each postoperative year. Conclusions: AM surgery is an effective non-excisional surgery with satisfactory mid-term results for grade III hemorrhoids, and is associated with lower complication rates, postoperative analgesic requirements, and higher patient satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crystallization is a crucial process in the pharmaceutical industry, usually modeled by Population Balance Models (PBM). This study introduces a novel approach, combining PBM with machine learning techniques, specifically the Universal Differential Equation (UDE), to describe a batch cooling crystallization process. Unlike conventional methods, UDE eliminates the need for defining a supersaturation term and was applied to model the nucleation, growth, and dissolution of potassium sulfate in water. In this study, three UDE models for supersaturated condition and one for undersaturated condition were developed, aiming to predict particle count, length, surface area, volume, and concentration. Initially, these models were trained using all available experimental data from a previous study for the potassium sulfate batch crystallization. They were validated with simulated data generated by the PBM. In a second scenario, the models were trained with a subset of the experimental data and tested with the remainder. The UDE models performed efficiently, exhibiting similar mean squared error and mean absolute error compared to conventional PBMs. Notably, the UDE approach demonstrated an advantage in requiring a smaller training dataset. This innovative coupling of UDE and PBM offers a less complex yet effective model to capture essential aspects of crystallization kinetics and variables' dynamics. Particularly, UDE models excel in predicting nucleation kinetics, making them a valuable alternative to conventional representations. Furthermore, this approach can be easily adapted to various crystallization processes involving different phenomena, enhancing its versatility and potential impact. [Display omitted] • A crystallization process was modeled using Universal Differential Equations (UDE). • The UDE was efficiently developed using only experimental data. • The UDE does not need the definition of a supersaturation term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Drought is the most important limiting factor for the yield and quality of products in the world. Fertilizer application can mitigate drought stress in plants. Most farmers prefer to use inorganic (chemical) fertilizers because of their fast impact on plant growth. The reasonable cost of inorganic fertilizers and their availability are the other reasons. However, the long-term effects of organic fertilizers on plant growth and soil fertility has been proved. The grapevines are one of the most important garden products in the world as well as in Iran. It has been reported that the application of biochar has significant effects on soil fertility as well as plant growth. Biochars have properties such as highly porous structure, high specific surface area, higher water holding capacity of the soil, the long-term stability in the soil. In addition, our previous study indicated that it could decrease the hazard of sodium in soil compared with compost. In Iran, the cultivation area of grapevines was the second grade after the pistachio cultivation area in 2019. According to statistical data on agriculture in 2019, the cultivation area of irrigated and rain-fed grapevines in Kermanshah province was 7710 and 1515 ha, respectively. According to this report, the production of irrigated and rain-fed grapevines in Kermanshah province in 2019 was 82718 and 1763 tons, respectively. The effect of application of some inorganic and organic fertilizers under drought stress on yield, water use efficiency, and some biochemical characteristics of the grapevine leaves cultivar Bidane-Ghermez has been previously studied. In this research, the effect of drought stress and the application of potassium sulfate, compost, and biochar on antioxidant activities of the grapevine leaves cultivar Bidane-Ghermez was investigated. Materials and Methods A greenhouse study with a factorial experiment based on a block of randomized completely design was conducted with fertilizer treatments including control, potassium sulfate (1250 mg kg-1), compost (5% w/w), and biochar (10% w/w) without and with drought stress conditions (80 and 40% FC, respectively) during 2017-2018. For this research, the biochar was produced from apple tree pruning under low oxygen conditions by slow pyrolysis at 400 ◦C. The compost was purchased from the municipal compost factory of Kermanshah province. To evaluate drought stress and inorganic and organic fertilizers' application on antioxidant enzymes activities, the superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities and total soluble protein of grapevine leaves were determined. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and the mean of studied characteristics was compared by Duncan’s test at 5% probability level using SAS software. Results and Discussion the results indicated that the interaction effect of fertilizers treatments and drought stress on the superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activities as well as total soluble protein was significant (P

Water stress poses a significant challenge for carrot cultivation, leading to decreased yield and inefficient water use efficiency. Therefore, it is crucial to provide plants with suitable supplements that enhance their stress resistance. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of humic and potassium applications on carrot growth, yield characteristics, root quality, and water use efficiency under varying irrigation levels. A split-split plot experiment was conducted, with two levels of gross water requirements (GWR) (100% and 80%) assigned to the main plots. The subplots were treated with humic acid through foliar application (Hsp) or soil drenching (Hgd). The sub-subplots were further divided to assess the impact of foliar potassium sources (potassium humate, Kh) and mineral applications (potassium sulfate, K2SO4). The results revealed a substantial reduction in carrot yield under limited irrigation, reaching about 32.2% lower than under GWR100%. Therefore, under limited irrigation conditions, the combined application of Hgd and K2SO4 resulted in a significant yield increase of 78.9% compared to the control under GWR80%. Conversely, under GWR100%, the highest average yield was achieved by applying either Hsp and Kh or Hsp and K2SO4, resulting in yields of 35,833 kg ha−1 and 40,183 kg ha−1, respectively. However, the combination of Hgd and Kh negatively affected the yield under both GWR100% and GWR80%. Nonetheless, applying Kh in combination with Hgd under GWR80% led to improved nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, potassium/sodium ratio, and total sugar concentrations, while reducing sodium content in carrot roots. Based on this study, it is recommended to adopt GWR80% and treat plants with a combination of Hgd and foliar K2SO4. This approach can help plants overcome the negative effects of water stress, improve yield and root quality, and achieve optimal water use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]