I International Symposium on Water Relations in Fruit Crops, 1985
... Cell expansion is one of the most sensitive processes affected by water deficit (Hsiao, 1973)... more ... Cell expansion is one of the most sensitive processes affected by water deficit (Hsiao, 1973), resulting in decreased leaf extension and growth and, although the effects of water deficit on dry matter ■ production and extension growth are well documented for certain Acta ...
Watercress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum), wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia), and spinach (Spin... more Watercress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum), wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia), and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) are commercial crops reported to have high concentrations of antioxidants, possibly contributing to disease prevention following human consumption. Following analysis of supermarket-purchased salad leaves, we report the antioxidant content potential of these species using two comparable techniques assessing the consistency between the assays - by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. The leaves were harvested from both conventionally and organically managed crops, to investigate whether organic agriculture results in improved crop quality. Watercress had the highest FRAP and ability to scavenge free radicals, followed by spinach and rocket. For watercress and rocket, there was no significant effect of organic agriculture on FRAP and ORAC, but for spinach, the antioxidant potential was reduced and this wa...
Trees are used to produce a variety of wood-based products including timber, pulp and paper. More... more Trees are used to produce a variety of wood-based products including timber, pulp and paper. More recently, their use as a source of renewable energy has also been highlighted, as has their value for carbon mitigation within the Kyoto Protocol. Relative to food crops, the domestication of trees has only just begun; the long generation time and complex nature of juvenile and mature growth forms are contributory factors. To accelerate domestication, and to understand further some of the unique processes that occur in woody plants such as dormancy and secondary wood formation, a 'model' tree is needed. Here it is argued that Populus is rapidly becoming accepted as the 'model' woody plant and that such a 'model' tree is necessary to complement the genetic resource being developed in arabidopsis. The genus Populus (poplars, cottonwoods and aspens) contains approx. 30 species of woody plant, all found in the Northern hemisphere and exhibiting some of the fastest gr...
... In tropical and subtropical areas, the oil crop Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) has been ... Anoth... more ... In tropical and subtropical areas, the oil crop Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) has been ... Another concern about bioenergy crop production in a future climate surrounds environmental impacts of bioenergy crop growth particularly in relation to reduced water availability. ...
ABSTRACT As studies on biochar stability in field conditions are very scarce, the carbon sequestr... more ABSTRACT As studies on biochar stability in field conditions are very scarce, the carbon sequestration potential of biochar application to agricultural soils remains uncertain. The present study assessed the stability of biochar in field conditions, the effect of plant roots on biochar stability and the effect of biochar on original soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition in two (Italy and UK) short rotation coppice systems (SRCs), using continuous soil respiration monitoring and periodic isotopic (δ13CO2) measurements. When root growth was excluded, only 7% and 3% of the biochar carbon added was decomposed after 245 and 164 days in Italy and UK sites respectively. In the presence of roots this percentage was increased to 9% and 8%, suggesting a small positive priming effect of roots on biochar decomposition. A decreased decomposition rate of original SOM was observed at both sites after biochar incorporation, suggesting a protective effect of biochar on SOM. This study supports the carbon sequestration potential of biochar and highlights the role of root activity on biochar decomposition, questioning the applicability of laboratory incubation studies to assess biochar stability.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
I International Symposium on Water Relations in Fruit Crops, 1985
... Cell expansion is one of the most sensitive processes affected by water deficit (Hsiao, 1973)... more ... Cell expansion is one of the most sensitive processes affected by water deficit (Hsiao, 1973), resulting in decreased leaf extension and growth and, although the effects of water deficit on dry matter ■ production and extension growth are well documented for certain Acta ...
Watercress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum), wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia), and spinach (Spin... more Watercress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum), wild rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia), and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) are commercial crops reported to have high concentrations of antioxidants, possibly contributing to disease prevention following human consumption. Following analysis of supermarket-purchased salad leaves, we report the antioxidant content potential of these species using two comparable techniques assessing the consistency between the assays - by the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. The leaves were harvested from both conventionally and organically managed crops, to investigate whether organic agriculture results in improved crop quality. Watercress had the highest FRAP and ability to scavenge free radicals, followed by spinach and rocket. For watercress and rocket, there was no significant effect of organic agriculture on FRAP and ORAC, but for spinach, the antioxidant potential was reduced and this wa...
Trees are used to produce a variety of wood-based products including timber, pulp and paper. More... more Trees are used to produce a variety of wood-based products including timber, pulp and paper. More recently, their use as a source of renewable energy has also been highlighted, as has their value for carbon mitigation within the Kyoto Protocol. Relative to food crops, the domestication of trees has only just begun; the long generation time and complex nature of juvenile and mature growth forms are contributory factors. To accelerate domestication, and to understand further some of the unique processes that occur in woody plants such as dormancy and secondary wood formation, a 'model' tree is needed. Here it is argued that Populus is rapidly becoming accepted as the 'model' woody plant and that such a 'model' tree is necessary to complement the genetic resource being developed in arabidopsis. The genus Populus (poplars, cottonwoods and aspens) contains approx. 30 species of woody plant, all found in the Northern hemisphere and exhibiting some of the fastest gr...
... In tropical and subtropical areas, the oil crop Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) has been ... Anoth... more ... In tropical and subtropical areas, the oil crop Jatropha (Jatropha curcas) has been ... Another concern about bioenergy crop production in a future climate surrounds environmental impacts of bioenergy crop growth particularly in relation to reduced water availability. ...
ABSTRACT As studies on biochar stability in field conditions are very scarce, the carbon sequestr... more ABSTRACT As studies on biochar stability in field conditions are very scarce, the carbon sequestration potential of biochar application to agricultural soils remains uncertain. The present study assessed the stability of biochar in field conditions, the effect of plant roots on biochar stability and the effect of biochar on original soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition in two (Italy and UK) short rotation coppice systems (SRCs), using continuous soil respiration monitoring and periodic isotopic (δ13CO2) measurements. When root growth was excluded, only 7% and 3% of the biochar carbon added was decomposed after 245 and 164 days in Italy and UK sites respectively. In the presence of roots this percentage was increased to 9% and 8%, suggesting a small positive priming effect of roots on biochar decomposition. A decreased decomposition rate of original SOM was observed at both sites after biochar incorporation, suggesting a protective effect of biochar on SOM. This study supports the carbon sequestration potential of biochar and highlights the role of root activity on biochar decomposition, questioning the applicability of laboratory incubation studies to assess biochar stability.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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