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The acidic soils of western Newfoundland require liming for successful production of most crops. Locally sourced paper mill waste wood ash (WA) and paper sludge (SL) have potential as cheaper alternatives to limestone (LIME). Two greenhouse experiments evaluated WA and SL as liming and soil conditioning amendments for annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) production. At 55 days after seeding, soil pH in WA (6.2 and 6.3) and wood ash and paper sludge (WASL) (6.0 and 6.3) were not different from that in LIME (6.0 and 6.5) for Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. However, pH in SL was 0.4 and 0.3 points lower than in LIME. Compared to LIME, WA, SL, and WASL produced 31%–52% and 57%–74% greater biomass yield in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. N uptake was greater in WA (60 and 129 kg N ha−1) and WASL (51 and 97 kg N ha−1) compared to LIME (40 and 85 kg N ha−1), in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. SL did not differ from LIME in Experiment 1, but reduced N uptake by 57% in Experiment 2. The results show significant potential of WA as an alternative amendment for liming and yield improvement of annual ryegrass grown in NL podzolic soils. However, SL has limited potential due to the risk of increasing N immobilization and residual soil mineral N when growing conditions are limiting. Combining SL with WA or biochar seemed to alleviate these risks. Overall, the adoption of these amendments for field production systems warrants serious consideration, following supplemental field studies to determine optimal application rates and timing. Core Ideas: The podzolic soils of Newfoundland have low pH and fertility, hence require liming.Locally sourced wastes, such as paper mill wood ash (WA) and sludge (SL), could be used as liming and nutrient sources.WA was equivalent to limestone (LIME) in improving and sustaining optimal soil pH.WA produced 52% and 74% greater annual ryegrass yield than conventional LIME application in podzolic soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

White chanterelles (Basidiomycota), lacking the orange pigments and apricot-like odour of typical chanterelles, were found recently in the Canadian provinces of Québec (QC) and Newfoundland & Labrador (NL). Our phylogenetic analyses confirmed the identification of all white chanterelles from NL and QC as Cantharellus enelensis; we name these forma acolodorus. We characterized carotenoid pigments, lipids, phenolics, and volatile compounds in these and related chanterelles. White mutants of C. enelensis lacked detectable β-carotene, confirmed to be the primary pigment of wild-type, golden-orange individuals, and could also be distinguished by their profiles of fatty acids and phenolic acids, and by the ketone and terpene composition of their volatiles. We detected single base substitutions in the phytoene desaturase (Al-1) and phytoene synthase (Al-2) genes of the white mutant, which are predicted to result in altered amino acids in their gene products and may be responsible for the loss of β-carotene synthesis in that form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research into biochar, as an amendment to soil, has increased over the last decade. However, there is still much to understand regarding the effects of biochar type and rates on the physicochemical properties of different soil types. This study aimed to investigate the effects of biochar application on the physicochemical properties of podzolic soils. Soil samples were collected from the research site in Pasadena, Newfoundland, Canada. Experimental treatments consisted of three types of soils (topsoil, E-horizon soil and mixed soil (topsoil 2: E-horizon soil 1)), two biochar types (granular and powder) and four biochar application rates (0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% on a weight basis). Ten physicochemical parameters (bulk density (BD), porosity, field capacity (FC), plant available water (PAW), water repellency (WR), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total carbon (TC), and nitrogen (N)) were investigated through a total of 72 experimental units. Biochar morphological structure and pore size distribution were examined using a scanning electron microscope, whereas specific surface area was assessed by the Brunauer−Emmett−Teller method. The result indicated that the E-horizon soil was highly acidic compared to control (topsoil) and mixed soils. A significant difference was observed between the control and 2% biochar amendment in all three soil mixtures tested in this experiment. Biochar amendments significantly reduced the soil BD (E-horizon: 1.40–1.25 > mixed soil: 1.34–1.21 > topsoil: 1.31–1.18 g cm−3), increased the CEC (mixed soil: 2.83–3.61 > topsoil: 2.61–2.70 > E-horizon: 1.40–1.25 cmol kg−1) and total C (topsoil: 2.40–2.41 > mixed soil: 1.74–1.75 > E-horizon: 0.43–0.44%). Water drop penetration tests showed increased WR with increasing biochar doses from 0 to 2% (topsoil: 2.33–4.00 > mixed soil: 2.33–3.33 > E-horizon: 4.00–4.67 s), and all the biochar–soil combinations were classified as slightly-repellent. We found significant effects of biochar application on soil water retention. Porosity increased by 2.8%, FC by 10%, and PAW by 12.9% when the soil was treated with powdered biochar. Additionally, we examined the temporal effect of biochar (0 to 2% doses) on pH and EC and observed an increase in pH (4.3–5.5) and EC (0.0–0.20 dS/m) every day from day 1–day 7. Collectively the study findings suggest 2% powder biochar application rate is the best combination to improve the physicochemical properties of the tested mixed podzolic soil. Granular and powdered biochar was found to be hydrophobic and hydrophilic, respectively. These findings could be helpful to better understand the use of biochar for improving the physicochemical properties of podzolic soils when used for agricultural practices in boreal ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antioxidants are important bio-regulators and suppressors of oxidation and are useful in enhancing the shelf life of consumer products. Formulated natural herbal soaps contain ingredients with antioxidant activities, but it is unknown how this influences shelf life. Herein, we evaluated whether natural additives or wild berry extracts were effective in improving the quality of natural herbal soaps. Three natural soaps, base bar (BB), forest grove (FG), and hibiscus rosehip (HR), were formulated using several wild berry extracts or natural additives and evaluated against similar commercial brands. The total phenolic content (TPC) of BB and FG infused with partridgeberry and HR with rosemary was 35.22, 44.72, and 33.26 µmole quercetin equivalent/g soap, while the total antioxidant activity (TAA) was 125.20, 119.23, and 126.94 µmole Trolox equivalent/g soap, respectively. Conversely, the commercial brand (BSG) with the highest TPC (56.24 µmole) contained lower TAA (59.68 µmole). As expected, the TPC and TAA of natural soaps were strongly correlated, and the majority (55–82%) of the polyunsaturated di/triacylglycerols remained unsaponified. Some extracts were inhibitory, while others promoted microbial growth. The results indicate that natural antioxidants from some Newfoundland wild berries have applications in improving the shelf life of natural herbal soaps, but care must be taken with the choice of berry used in the final soap formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The average fatty acid (FA) composition of canola oil is made up of 62% oleic acid (C18:1n9), 19% linoleic acid (C18:2n6), 9% linolenic acid (C18:3n3) and 7% saturated FA (SFA). We investigated whether boreal climate (7.5-17.2 °C) favorably altered the FA composition of canola. Results indicate that canola cultivated in boreal climatic conditions had approximately twice the levels of omega-3 FA (17-20%) compared to canola from other growing areas (9%). The presence of monoacetyldiacylglycerol (MAcDG), a unique class of triglyceride, is reported for the first time in canola cultivated in a boreal climate, and has the potential to reduce the risk of obesity and other health related diseases. We further demonstrated that a non-solvent based extraction method retained the novel lipid composition without reducing the quality of oil being produced. Our results contribute significantly to the understanding of lipid accumulation in the world's second most important oil crop when cultivated in a boreal or northern climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]