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Gum Arabic/Gelatin and Water-Soluble Soy Polysaccharides/Gelatin Blend Films as Carriers of Astaxanthin—A Comparative Study of the Kinetics of Release and Antioxidant Properties
No full textPolymer blending and incorporation of active substances offer a possibility of generation of novel packaging materials with interesting features. Astaxanthin is one of the most powerful antioxidants. Hence, in this study, water-soluble AstaSana astaxanthin (AST) was incorporated into 75/25 gum arabic/gelatin (GAR75/GEL25) and water-soluble soy polysaccharides/gelatin (WSSP75/GEL25) blend films in different concentrations (0, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%). Microscope images showed good compatibility between the polysaccharides and GEL. Basing on time required for 50% release, the WSSP-based film exhibited an approximately four-fold slower release rate (t50% = 65.16–142.80 min) than the GAR-based film (t50% = 14.64–34.02 min). This result was mainly ascribed to the slower dissolution of the WSSP-based carrier. The faster release rate of the GAR-based films resulted in stronger antioxidant activity (quarter-scavenging time (t25%ABTS) = 0.22–7.51 min) in comparison to the WSSP-based films (t25%ABTS = 0.91–12.94 min). The increase in the AST concentration was accompanied by gradually reduced solubility and the release rate. It is possible that the increasing number of starch granules (from the AST formulation) acted as a dissolution blocking agent. In general, the WSSP75/GEL25 film displayed the most linear (the Zero-order similar) release profile. So, this carrier has potential for release of AST at a quasi-constant speed.Polymer blending and incorporation of active substances offer a possibility of generation of novel packaging materials with interesting features. Astaxanthin is one of the most powerful antioxidants. Hence, in this study, water-soluble AstaSana astaxanthin (AST) was incorporated into 75/25 gum arabic/gelatin (GAR75/GEL25) and water-soluble soy polysaccharides/gelatin (WSSP75/GEL25) blend films in different concentrations (0, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%). Microscope images showed good compatibility between the polysaccharides and GEL. Basing on time required for 50% release, the WSSP-based film exhibited an approximately four-fold slower release rate (t50% = 65.16–142.80 min) than the GAR-based film (t50% = 14.64–34.02 min). This result was mainly ascribed to the slower dissolution of the WSSP-based carrier. The faster release rate of the GAR-based films resulted in stronger antioxidant activity (quarter-scavenging time (t25%ABTS) = 0.22–7.51 min) in comparison to the WSSP-based films (t25%ABTS = 0.91–12.94 min). The increase in the AST concentration was accompanied by gradually reduced solubility and the release rate. It is possible that the increasing number of starch granules (from the AST formulation) acted as a dissolution blocking agent. In general, the WSSP75/GEL25 film displayed the most linear (the Zero-order similar) release profile. So, this carrier has potential for release of AST at a quasi-constant speed
Controlled release of water-soluble astaxanthin from carboxymethyl cellulose/gelatin and octenyl succinic anhydride starch/gelatin blend films
No full textThe effect of increasing concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1%) of commercial water-soluble AstaSana astaxanthin (AST) on the physicochemical properties, release kinetics and antioxidant activity of binary 75/25 carboxymethyl cellulose/gelatin (CMC75/GEL25) and octenyl succinic anhydride starch/gelatin (OSA75/GEL25) blend films was investigated. The microscopic observations showed that the obtained blends were phase-separated systems. Regardless of the AST concentration, the CMC-based films were more opaque, stronger, and less stretchable than the OSA-based films. The AST-supplemented films exhibited an intensive red color. The starch granules (from the AST formulation) contributed to high roughness and opacity of the films. The presence of AST contributed to a significant decrease of the puncture strength and oxygen permeability of the CMC-based film. The AST-supplemented films did not differ in terms of the water vapour barrier properties. Due to the low quantity of astaxanthin in the systems, the Fourier-transform infrared spectra of the control and AST-supplemented films were similar. The increase in the AST concentration was accompanied by reduced solubility and increased swelling of the OSA-based films, while an opposite result was observed for the CMC-based films. According to the Korsmeyer-Peppas with time lag model, the AST release kinetics exhibited quasi-Fickian behaviour. Due to their weaker solubility, the OSA75/GEL25 films offered at least 7 times slower release of AST than the CMC-based carrier. The times required for 25% AST release from the CMC75/GEL25 and OSA75/GEL25 films were 1.20–1.74 and 12.60–20.04 min, respectively. A high positive correlation (R2 = 0.78–0.91) was found between the AST release and antiradical activity of the films.The effect of increasing concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1%) of commercial water-soluble AstaSana astaxanthin (AST) on the physicochemical properties, release kinetics and antioxidant activity of binary 75/25 carboxymethyl cellulose/gelatin (CMC75/GEL25) and octenyl succinic anhydride starch/gelatin (OSA75/GEL25) blend films was investigated. The microscopic observations showed that the obtained blends were phase-separated systems. Regardless of the AST concentration, the CMC-based films were more opaque, stronger, and less stretchable than the OSA-based films. The AST-supplemented films exhibited an intensive red color. The starch granules (from the AST formulation) contributed to high roughness and opacity of the films. The presence of AST contributed to a significant decrease of the puncture strength and oxygen permeability of the CMC-based film. The AST-supplemented films did not differ in terms of the water vapour barrier properties. Due to the low quantity of astaxanthin in the systems, the Fourier-transform infrared spectra of the control and AST-supplemented films were similar. The increase in the AST concentration was accompanied by reduced solubility and increased swelling of the OSA-based films, while an opposite result was observed for the CMC-based films. According to the Korsmeyer-Peppas with time lag model, the AST release kinetics exhibited quasi-Fickian behaviour. Due to their weaker solubility, the OSA75/GEL25 films offered at least 7 times slower release of AST than the CMC-based carrier. The times required for 25% AST release from the CMC75/GEL25 and OSA75/GEL25 films were 1.20–1.74 and 12.60–20.04 min, respectively. A high positive correlation (R2 = 0.78–0.91) was found between the AST release and antiradical activity of the films
Mathematical Modeling of Water-Soluble Astaxanthin Release from Binary Polysaccharide/Gelatin Blend Matrices
No full textWater-soluble AstaSana astaxanthin (AST) was loaded into 75/25 blend films made of polysaccharides (carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), gum Arabic (GAR), starch sodium octenyl succinate (OSA), water-soluble soy polysaccharides (WSSP)) and gelatin (GEL) at levels of 0.25, 0.5, and 1%, respectively. Due to the presence of starch granules in the AST formulation, the supplemented films exhibited increased surface roughness as compared to the AST-free films. Apart from the CMC/GEL carrier, the migration of AST to water (25 °C, 32 h) was incomplete. Excluding the CMC-based carrier, the gradual rise in the AST concentration decreased the release rate. The Hopfenberg with time lag model provided the best fit for all release series data. Based on the quarter-release times (t25%), the 0.25% AST-supplemented OSA/GEL film (t25% = 13.34 h) ensured a 1.9, 2.2, and 148.2 slower release compared to the GAR-, WSSP- and CMC-based carriers, respectively. According to the Korsmeyer–Peppas model, the CMC-based films offered a quasi-Fickian release of AST (n 0.5), i.e., controlled at least by Fickian diffusion and the polymer relaxation (erosion) mechanism. The 1% AST-added WSSP/GEL system provided the most linear release profileWater-soluble AstaSana astaxanthin (AST) was loaded into 75/25 blend films made of polysaccharides (carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), gum Arabic (GAR), starch sodium octenyl succinate (OSA), water-soluble soy polysaccharides (WSSP)) and gelatin (GEL) at levels of 0.25, 0.5, and 1%, respectively. Due to the presence of starch granules in the AST formulation, the supplemented films exhibited increased surface roughness as compared to the AST-free films. Apart from the CMC/GEL carrier, the migration of AST to water (25 °C, 32 h) was incomplete. Excluding the CMC-based carrier, the gradual rise in the AST concentration decreased the release rate. The Hopfenberg with time lag model provided the best fit for all release series data. Based on the quarter-release times (t25%), the 0.25% AST-supplemented OSA/GEL film (t25% = 13.34 h) ensured a 1.9, 2.2, and 148.2 slower release compared to the GAR-, WSSP- and CMC-based carriers, respectively. According to the Korsmeyer–Peppas model, the CMC-based films offered a quasi-Fickian release of AST (n 0.5), i.e., controlled at least by Fickian diffusion and the polymer relaxation (erosion) mechanism. The 1% AST-added WSSP/GEL system provided the most linear release profil
Dokumentacja prac konserwatorskich i restauratorskich. Zielnik Johanna Friedricha Zeidlera z 1751 roku ze zbiorów Biblioteki Uniwersytetu Przyrodniczego w Lublinie
No full textResolving compactness index of pores and solid phase elements in sandy and silt loamy soils.
No full textSoil structure is expressed by the size, shape, and arrangement of structural elements.Shape indices of pores and solid phase elements along with the physical soil parameters allowfor thorough evaluation of soil structure. Therefore, the aim of the research was the analysisof properties of an index of shape – a compactness index CMP = (16·area)/perimeter2 – ofpore (“pore c-s”) and solid phase element cross-sections (“solid c-s”) ≥ 100 pix2 (0.045 mm2)of 4 soils. CMP was calculated via image analysis of resin-impregnated soil blocks preparedfrom intact soil specimens. The morphometric parameters of the objects assigned to selectedCMP classes (≤ 0.2, the lowest compactness; 0.201–0.4; 0.401–0.6; 0.601–0.8; 0.801–1;1.001–1.2; > 1.2, the highest compactness) were compared via 2-way ANOVA for twohorizons (A, C) and two textures (sand, silt loam). The usability of CMP in the description ofsoil structure was then tested. Moreover, the relations of the morphometric parameters of theobjects in CMP classes and soil physical and chemical properties (total organic carbon TOC;bulk and particle density; texture; field water capacity FWC; field air capacity FAC; availablewater capacity AWC; air permeability at –15 kPa lgFAP; saturated hydraulic conductivitylgKS) were examined by way of single and multiple linear regressions. For pore and solid c-sof CMP > 0.2 their number, area, and average areas in CMP classes decreased with increasing CMP value. The distributions of pore and solid c-s among CMP classes depended on soiltexture and structure (aggregate, non-aggregate), allowing for the diagnosis of soil structurestatus and change. Number and area of objects in CMP classes showed numerous strongrelations (R2 > 0.7) to the soil physical and chemical parameters for the studied soil texturesand horizons. The relations differed for pore and solid c-s and depended also on the objectshape (spread, compact or very compact). The average areas of the compact and very compactpore and solid c-s increased with the increase of clay and silt content and the decrease of sandcontent. The number of pore c-s of CMP > 0.2 was related to the texture or particle density.On the other hand, the number of solid c-s of CMP > 0.2, and the average area of the mostspread solid c-s were related to TOC and bulk density. FWC and AWC increased with thedecrease of the number of mainly compact and very compact pore c-s by the decrease of theaverage area of the most spread solid c-s. Both water capacities increased with the increasingaverage areas of pore c-s of CMP > 0.2 and the average areas of the compact and verycompact solid c-s. FAC increased with the increase of the number of the compact and verycompact pore c-s. lgKS increased with the increase of the number and area of mostly compactand very compact pore c-s. lgFAP increased with the area and the average area of the majorityof pore classes and some of the relations were also controlled by the number of pore c-s andthe average area of the most spread solid c-s. The study showed moreover that CMP increasedwith the decreasing size of the objects when measured via computer-aided image analysis.Small cross-sections revealed usually larger CMP values, and large cross-sections were moreoften classified as irregular or spread. Therefore the analysis of shape of soil structuralelements should encompass a wide range of element sizes in relation to the image resolutionto obtain the unbiased shape distributions.Soil structure is expressed by the size, shape, and arrangement of structural elements.Shape indices of pores and solid phase elements along with the physical soil parameters allowfor thorough evaluation of soil structure. Therefore, the aim of the research was the analysisof properties of an index of shape – a compactness index CMP = (16·area)/perimeter2 – ofpore (“pore c-s”) and solid phase element cross-sections (“solid c-s”) ≥ 100 pix2 (0.045 mm2)of 4 soils. CMP was calculated via image analysis of resin-impregnated soil blocks preparedfrom intact soil specimens. The morphometric parameters of the objects assigned to selectedCMP classes (≤ 0.2, the lowest compactness; 0.201–0.4; 0.401–0.6; 0.601–0.8; 0.801–1;1.001–1.2; > 1.2, the highest compactness) were compared via 2-way ANOVA for twohorizons (A, C) and two textures (sand, silt loam). The usability of CMP in the description ofsoil structure was then tested. Moreover, the relations of the morphometric parameters of theobjects in CMP classes and soil physical and chemical properties (total organic carbon TOC;bulk and particle density; texture; field water capacity FWC; field air capacity FAC; availablewater capacity AWC; air permeability at –15 kPa lgFAP; saturated hydraulic conductivitylgKS) were examined by way of single and multiple linear regressions. For pore and solid c-sof CMP > 0.2 their number, area, and average areas in CMP classes decreased with increasing CMP value. The distributions of pore and solid c-s among CMP classes depended on soiltexture and structure (aggregate, non-aggregate), allowing for the diagnosis of soil structurestatus and change. Number and area of objects in CMP classes showed numerous strongrelations (R2 > 0.7) to the soil physical and chemical parameters for the studied soil texturesand horizons. The relations differed for pore and solid c-s and depended also on the objectshape (spread, compact or very compact). The average areas of the compact and very compactpore and solid c-s increased with the increase of clay and silt content and the decrease of sandcontent. The number of pore c-s of CMP > 0.2 was related to the texture or particle density.On the other hand, the number of solid c-s of CMP > 0.2, and the average area of the mostspread solid c-s were related to TOC and bulk density. FWC and AWC increased with thedecrease of the number of mainly compact and very compact pore c-s by the decrease of theaverage area of the most spread solid c-s. Both water capacities increased with the increasingaverage areas of pore c-s of CMP > 0.2 and the average areas of the compact and verycompact solid c-s. FAC increased with the increase of the number of the compact and verycompact pore c-s. lgKS increased with the increase of the number and area of mostly compactand very compact pore c-s. lgFAP increased with the area and the average area of the majorityof pore classes and some of the relations were also controlled by the number of pore c-s andthe average area of the most spread solid c-s. The study showed moreover that CMP increasedwith the decreasing size of the objects when measured via computer-aided image analysis.Small cross-sections revealed usually larger CMP values, and large cross-sections were moreoften classified as irregular or spread. Therefore the analysis of shape of soil structuralelements should encompass a wide range of element sizes in relation to the image resolutionto obtain the unbiased shape distributions
Evaluation of soil structure and physical properties influenced by weather conditions during autumn-winter-spring season
No full textPhysical state of the upper soil layer is susceptible to external factors, including weatherconditions. It concerns in particular a soil without plant cover or mulching. Significant soilstructure transformations could arise especially due to the globally observed climate changewhich e.g. increases the possibility of extreme precipitation events. Therefore, we evaluatedthe seasonal changes of structure of the uncovered 0–5 cm soil layer and their effect on otherphysical properties in relation to precipitation and air temperature. Both the direct evaluationof soil structure by quantitative image analysis and the measurements of structure-dependentparameters as water and air contents and permeabilities were conducted to describe soilphysical state in detail. Soil samples were taken on 4 dates during the 2009/2010 season froma Haplic Luvisol developed from loess-like deposits. The largest alterations of soil structurewere detected in spring, after the soil had thawed completely and had been affected by theheavy and long-term precipitation. During the season soil structure transformed fromaggregate into non-aggregate one and the rearrangement of soil pore size distributionoccurred. Soil showed very high available water capacity and mostly medium saturatedhydraulic conductivity, but field air capacity and corresponding air permeability decreasedbelow values required for good plant condition. The total volume of pores correlatednegatively with precipitation and temperature. Actual water content was strongly positivelycorrelated with the precipitation amount shortly before sampling. There was no statisticallyvalid correlation between saturated hydraulic conductivity and precipitation or temperature.Furthermore, air permeabilities for selected groups of pores showed contrasting trends withprecipitation, dependent on the studied span of time. The temperature influenced the intensityof soil drying and freezing-thawing processes. Most of the identified alterations of soilphysical state could be attributed however to mechanical impact of rain which remodelledpores and solid phase in the studied soil layer.Physical state of the upper soil layer is susceptible to external factors, including weatherconditions. It concerns in particular a soil without plant cover or mulching. Significant soilstructure transformations could arise especially due to the globally observed climate changewhich e.g. increases the possibility of extreme precipitation events. Therefore, we evaluatedthe seasonal changes of structure of the uncovered 0–5 cm soil layer and their effect on otherphysical properties in relation to precipitation and air temperature. Both the direct evaluationof soil structure by quantitative image analysis and the measurements of structure-dependentparameters as water and air contents and permeabilities were conducted to describe soilphysical state in detail. Soil samples were taken on 4 dates during the 2009/2010 season froma Haplic Luvisol developed from loess-like deposits. The largest alterations of soil structurewere detected in spring, after the soil had thawed completely and had been affected by theheavy and long-term precipitation. During the season soil structure transformed fromaggregate into non-aggregate one and the rearrangement of soil pore size distributionoccurred. Soil showed very high available water capacity and mostly medium saturatedhydraulic conductivity, but field air capacity and corresponding air permeability decreasedbelow values required for good plant condition. The total volume of pores correlatednegatively with precipitation and temperature. Actual water content was strongly positivelycorrelated with the precipitation amount shortly before sampling. There was no statisticallyvalid correlation between saturated hydraulic conductivity and precipitation or temperature.Furthermore, air permeabilities for selected groups of pores showed contrasting trends withprecipitation, dependent on the studied span of time. The temperature influenced the intensityof soil drying and freezing-thawing processes. Most of the identified alterations of soilphysical state could be attributed however to mechanical impact of rain which remodelledpores and solid phase in the studied soil layer
Soil physical properties of agriculturally reclaimed area after lignite mine: A case study from central Poland
No full textFor the assessment of the extent of post-mine land degradation, arranging managementpractices for sustainable land use, and evaluation of reclamation success research onphysical properties of soil plays significant role. The aim of this study was to quantifyand interpret the effects of varied agricultural reclamation methods in order to assesswhich of the treatments yielded higher soil quality with respect to its physical state.Basic physical and chemical parameters (texture, particle and bulk density, totalporosity, total organic carbon and pH), soil water characteristic curves, water and airpermeability, structure of the soil damaged by mining in the area of internal dumpingground Pątnów (Central Poland) were therefore measured. The soil samples were takenfrom the following 5 different variants of over 30-year-long reclamation: black fallow(BF), monoculture of winter wheat (WW), monoculture of winter wheat with a singleapplication in 1992 of lignite dust (WW+L), monoculture of alfalfa with orchard grassin the proportion of 90/10% (A+G), and spontaneous succession (SS). We collectedfrom each treatment: 12 soil cores for soil water and air properties; 6-kg composite bulksamples for basic physical and chemical properties of soil; 1 undisturbed soil block forstructure analysis. The reclamation methods applied on the post-mining groundsinfluenced in a diverse manner the physical state of the 0–10 cm layer of the developedtechnogenic soil. Bulk density values generally decreased with the increase of numberof factors potentially loosening the soil structure. The studied plots had sandy loam orloamy sand texture which determined their overall air and water properties. The soilswere characterized by high macroporosity and favourable content of water available forplants. Less beneficial conditions of the soil were associated with air and waterpermeability. The present studies indicated that spontaneous succession, with thehighest typological diversity of vegetation, contributed to the most preferred soilphysical state. Remaining variants of reclamation (including black fallow withoutvegetation) also provided sufficient air and water relations in the soils. However, itshould be emphasised that plants play an important role in TOC accumulation andensuring relative stability of soil structure, therefore rehabilitation of post-mininggrounds involving vegetation is recommended.For the assessment of the extent of post-mine land degradation, arranging managementpractices for sustainable land use, and evaluation of reclamation success research onphysical properties of soil plays significant role. The aim of this study was to quantifyand interpret the effects of varied agricultural reclamation methods in order to assesswhich of the treatments yielded higher soil quality with respect to its physical state.Basic physical and chemical parameters (texture, particle and bulk density, totalporosity, total organic carbon and pH), soil water characteristic curves, water and airpermeability, structure of the soil damaged by mining in the area of internal dumpingground Pątnów (Central Poland) were therefore measured. The soil samples were takenfrom the following 5 different variants of over 30-year-long reclamation: black fallow(BF), monoculture of winter wheat (WW), monoculture of winter wheat with a singleapplication in 1992 of lignite dust (WW+L), monoculture of alfalfa with orchard grassin the proportion of 90/10% (A+G), and spontaneous succession (SS). We collectedfrom each treatment: 12 soil cores for soil water and air properties; 6-kg composite bulksamples for basic physical and chemical properties of soil; 1 undisturbed soil block forstructure analysis. The reclamation methods applied on the post-mining groundsinfluenced in a diverse manner the physical state of the 0–10 cm layer of the developedtechnogenic soil. Bulk density values generally decreased with the increase of numberof factors potentially loosening the soil structure. The studied plots had sandy loam orloamy sand texture which determined their overall air and water properties. The soilswere characterized by high macroporosity and favourable content of water available forplants. Less beneficial conditions of the soil were associated with air and waterpermeability. The present studies indicated that spontaneous succession, with thehighest typological diversity of vegetation, contributed to the most preferred soilphysical state. Remaining variants of reclamation (including black fallow withoutvegetation) also provided sufficient air and water relations in the soils. However, itshould be emphasised that plants play an important role in TOC accumulation andensuring relative stability of soil structure, therefore rehabilitation of post-mininggrounds involving vegetation is recommended
Macrostructure of diagnostic B horizons relative to underlying BC and C horizons in Podzols,Luvisol, Cambisol, and Arenosol evaluated by image analysis
No full textFive soils: Albic Ortsteinic Podzol, Albic Podzol, and Dystric Brunic Arenosol developed from sand, and Haplic Luvisol and Eutric Cambisol developed from loess were studied to evaluate morphometric features and selected physico-chemical properties of B horizons in relation to BC and C horizons. By standard laboratory methods soil texture, total organic carbon, the amount of carbonates, pH, particle and bulk density, total porosity were measured. Samples with preserved structure were used to produce for each tested layer 16 resinimpregnated 8×9 cm in size opaque soil blocks for qualitative and quantitative soil structure analysis. Utilizing the scanned images of the opaque blocks, following morphometric parameters were measured: the relative area of pore cross-section (macroporosity), the relative length of pore cross-sections’ perimeter, the relative number of pore and solid phase element cross-sections, the mean area of pore and solid phase element cross-section, fraction of number of horizontally, diagonally and vertically oriented pore cross-sections. The numerical characteristics of each soil structure revealed that the layers of the B horizons differed from the underlying layers, representing BC, C and Ck horizons, in an ambiguous way, depending on soil genesis. The obtained morphometric parameters and morphological analysis showed that in the B horizons the original structure of sand or loess obliterated due tothe processes of enrichment of the B horizons in organic substances, Al and Fe, and the soilfauna and flora activity, and consequently the development of aggregate structure or porescutting the soil groundmass. The morphometric parameters measured by image analysiscorresponded logically with basic soil properties. Namely, the organic carbon content andtotal porosity increased, and the bulk density decreased while the morphometric parametersgrew showing the development of more loose soil arrangement. No characteristic differencesin view of the measured morphometric parameters were found between Bhs, Bs, Bt horizons(illuvial accumulation) and Bwo, Bw horizons (their genesis driven by in situ accumulation).The BC horizons were much more similar than the B horizons to the parent material withrespect to the values of morphometric parameters. It should be stressed that the quantitativeimage analysis exposed visible in the opaque blocks qualitative dissimilarities between soillayers but due to the innate for soil – especially a forest one – high heterogeneity of structurethe observed differences between the average values of morphometric parameters for thelayers were not always validated through statistical tests. The orientation analysis provided nocharacteristic description of soil structure status, it helped however to interpret othermorphometric parameters. Our study demonstrated that the quantitative macrostructureanalysis could be an indirect method for evaluation of pedogenesis intensity because physicochemicalproperties of the developed B horizons controlled the occurrence and extent ofabiotic and biotic factors regulating soil structure.Five soils: Albic Ortsteinic Podzol, Albic Podzol, and Dystric Brunic Arenosol developed from sand, and Haplic Luvisol and Eutric Cambisol developed from loess were studied to evaluate morphometric features and selected physico-chemical properties of B horizons in relation to BC and C horizons. By standard laboratory methods soil texture, total organic carbon, the amount of carbonates, pH, particle and bulk density, total porosity were measured. Samples with preserved structure were used to produce for each tested layer 16 resinimpregnated 8×9 cm in size opaque soil blocks for qualitative and quantitative soil structure analysis. Utilizing the scanned images of the opaque blocks, following morphometric parameters were measured: the relative area of pore cross-section (macroporosity), the relative length of pore cross-sections’ perimeter, the relative number of pore and solid phase element cross-sections, the mean area of pore and solid phase element cross-section, fraction of number of horizontally, diagonally and vertically oriented pore cross-sections. The numerical characteristics of each soil structure revealed that the layers of the B horizons differed from the underlying layers, representing BC, C and Ck horizons, in an ambiguous way, depending on soil genesis. The obtained morphometric parameters and morphological analysis showed that in the B horizons the original structure of sand or loess obliterated due tothe processes of enrichment of the B horizons in organic substances, Al and Fe, and the soilfauna and flora activity, and consequently the development of aggregate structure or porescutting the soil groundmass. The morphometric parameters measured by image analysiscorresponded logically with basic soil properties. Namely, the organic carbon content andtotal porosity increased, and the bulk density decreased while the morphometric parametersgrew showing the development of more loose soil arrangement. No characteristic differencesin view of the measured morphometric parameters were found between Bhs, Bs, Bt horizons(illuvial accumulation) and Bwo, Bw horizons (their genesis driven by in situ accumulation).The BC horizons were much more similar than the B horizons to the parent material withrespect to the values of morphometric parameters. It should be stressed that the quantitativeimage analysis exposed visible in the opaque blocks qualitative dissimilarities between soillayers but due to the innate for soil – especially a forest one – high heterogeneity of structurethe observed differences between the average values of morphometric parameters for thelayers were not always validated through statistical tests. The orientation analysis provided nocharacteristic description of soil structure status, it helped however to interpret othermorphometric parameters. Our study demonstrated that the quantitative macrostructureanalysis could be an indirect method for evaluation of pedogenesis intensity because physicochemicalproperties of the developed B horizons controlled the occurrence and extent ofabiotic and biotic factors regulating soil structure
Plonowanie i jakość ziarna nagoziarnistej formy jęczmienia jarego uprawianego w systemie rolnictwa ekologicznego i konwencjonalnego
No full textil., bibliogr., streszcz., sum
Yield performance of cultivar mixtures of spring triticale
No full textil., bibliogr., streszcz., sum