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    Enhanced biological N2 fixation and yield of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in an acid soil following biochar addition: dissection of causal mechanisms
    (Springer Nature, 2015-10) Van Zwieten L; Rose T; Herridge D; Kimber S; Rust J; Cowie A; Morris S; Lehman J
    Background and aims: Acid soils constrain legume growth and biochars have been shown to address these constraints and enhance biological N2 fixation in glasshouse studies. A dissection of causal mechanisms from multiple crop field studies is lacking. Methods: In a sub-tropical field study, faba bean (Vicia faba L.) was cultivated in rotation with corn (Zea mays) following amendment of two contrasting biochars, compost and lime in a rhodic ferralsol. Key soil parameters and plant nutrient uptake were investigated alongside stable 15 N isotope methodologies to elucidate the causal mechanisms for enhanced biological N2 fixation and crop productivity. Results: Biological N2 fixation was associated with plant Mo uptake, which was driven by reductions in soil acidity following lime and papermill (PM) biochar amendment. In contrast, crop yield was associated with plant P and B uptake, and amelioration of soil pH constraints. These were most effectively ameliorated by PM biochar as it addressed both pH constraints and low soil nutrient status. Conclusions: While liming resulted in the highest biological N2 fixation, biochars provided greater benefits to faba bean yield by addressing P nutrition and ameliorating Al toxicity.
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    Analytical, geochemical and biogeochemical studies of tungsten and molybdenum : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1974) Quin, Bertram Francis
    Section I : studies were carried out which significantly improved the sensitivity of the colorimetric method for the determination of tungsten in geochemical and plant samples with dithiol. Proton-induced x-ray fluorescence was also investigated to determine its suitability for the detection of nanogram quantities of tungsten. However although it showed considerable potential, the sensitivity of the method could not be developed sufficiently to compare favourably with colorimetry. A rapid method for the determination of tungsten in ores and concentrates by atomic absorption spectrometry was developed which, through the use of an alkaline sample solution, was free of interference and instability problems. Following a careful study of the parameters involved in the colorimetric method for the determination of molybdenum with dithiol, a simple procedure was developed which could be used for the analysis of a wide range of materials. The use of the nitric/hydrofluoric acid mixture for the digestion of soils and rocks was investigated. It was found that the tendency for calcium and magnesium to precipitate as their fluorides could be avoided by the addition of a small quantity of perchloric acid. Section II : Scheelites from several localities in New Zealand were analysed for their trace element content. They were found to contain very low amounts of impurities. Their Sr/Ba ratio was found to be useful for distinguishing between lodes. Section III : An investigation was carried out to compare the relative efficacy of geochemical and biogeochemical exploration for tungsten under a wide range of geological, vegetational, climatic and topographical conditions. It was found that, under most conditions, both soil and plant sampling could be used equally successfully to pinpoint scheelite bearing veins. In areas of high rainfall and rugged topography, soil sampling did not always reveal the presence of reefs and, in these cases, trunk-sampling of trees could provide additional information. It was found that, for the purposes of biogeochemical prospecting, all tree species could be grouped together. Following this investigation, a more intensive study was carried out at Barrytown to test the suitability of trend surface analysis of biogeochemical data for locating rich pockets of scheelite with veins, with promising results. A brief comparison of geochemical and biogeochemical prospecting for molybdenum was carried out at Canaan, Nelson. It was found that plant sampling gave more information where the low soil pH prevented movement of molybdenum into the upper soil. Section IV : Following the results of the biogeochemical exploration in Section IV, which showed the existence of differences in the distribution of tungsten between tree organs from Barrytown and Canaan, the affect of soil sodium and potassium was investigated and was found to be responsible for these differences. As considerable areas containing scheelite mineralisation support pasture, an investigation was carried out to study the effects of applied tungsten on clover growth. Tungsten, applied as tungstate, was found to slightly decrease growth where fixation was the sole nitrogen source. In the presence of combined nitrogen, however, increases were recorded. A comparison of the elemental composition of native tree species was carried out to investigate the effects of substrate composition. It was found that, whereas vegetation analysis can in general be used to indicate the presence of mineralisation within a rock type, it is not a reliable indicator of the composition of different rock types.
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    Copper nutrition in pasture-fed New Zealand thoroughbreds, and its role in developmental orthopaedic disease : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 1997) Pearce, Simon George; Pearce, Simon George
    This thesis reports studies to test the hypothesis that "dietary supplementation of pasture-fed New Zealand Thoroughbreds with copper will reduce the incidence and severity of developmental orthopaedic disease". Thoroughbred foals were raised based on New Zealand Thoroughbred industry standards at AgResearch's Equine Research Stud. Thus the first stage required the development of methods to define indices of copper status and growth plate development. Techniques were developed and evaluated for in vivo sampling of liver from the mare and neonatal foal and the distal radial physis of the neonatal foal. Pregnant Thoroughbred mares (n=24) were divided into either copper supplemented or control groups. Live foals born to each group of mares were also divided into copper supplemented or control groups. Supplementation was administered orally with aqueous copper sulphate at a rate of 0.5 mg Cu/kg liveweight (LW), and controls received a placebo of equivalent fluid volume. Mares were supplemented for the final 13 to 25 weeks of gestation until parturition. Foals were supplemented from 21 days of age with 0.2 mg Cu/kg LW increasing to 0.5 mg Cu/kg LW by 49 days remaining at that level until euthanasia at approximately 150 days. All animals grazed tall fescue pasture containing 4.4 to 8.6 mg Cu/kg dry matter (DM) for the duration of the experiment. This experimental design allowed independent investigation of both the effect of mare treatment during gestation and foal treatment on the evidence of developmental orthopaedic disease in the foals. Randomisation was stratified based on mare age, sire of the foal, last date of service and in the case of the foals only, sex of the foal. Indices of copper status were measured in both the mares and foals throughout the experiment, and at postmortem. The foals were examined regularly for evidence of developmental orthopaedic disease (DOD) which included clinical, conformational and radiological examinations. At euthanasia, an exhaustive postmortem examination was performed which included investigation of all limb and cervical spine articulations, and examination of the physes from the proximal humerus, proximal and distal radius and tibia, and distal femur, third metacarpus and third metatarsus. Physes were examined after cutting bone ends into slabs of approximately 6 mm widths using a bone saw. All abnormalities in cartilage or bone found at postmortem were submitted for histological examination. A histomorphometric study was also performed on the growth plate and metaphyseal primary spongiosa of standard sections cut through the distal radius. Plasma copper concentration of mares declined throughout the final trimester, and was not affected by copper supplementation. There was a trend toward increased copper concentration in the livers of supplemented mares, and a significant increase in the liver copper concentration of foals born to supplemented mares as determined by liver biopsies of mares and foals shortly after parturition,. Plasma and blood cell copper concentration, and plasma caeruloplasmin oxidase activity in the foals were not affected by copper supplementation, but liver copper concentration was significantly greater in copper-supplemented foals compared with controls. There was no effect of copper supplementation on the evidence of DOD in vivo, in the physes examined at postmortem, or on the histomorphometry in the distal radius. However there was an effect of mare supplementation during gestation on indices of physitis in the foals assessed from postmortem radiographs and on mild abnormalities found in the articulations of foal limbs. Copper supplementation of the foal had no effect on these indices. The low incidence and severity of lesions found in foals grazing a pasture based diet containing 4.4 to 8.6 mg Cu/kg DM, combined with the failure to demonstrate an effect of foal copper supplementation on the evidence of DOD is contrary to published and anecdotal reports within New Zealand and internationally. This prompted the investigation of a possible dietary constituents which may affect the requirement for copper. Molybdenum was identified as a possible antagonist which under certain circumstances may be found in high concentrations in a pasture diet. A pasture was prepared containing 8 to 15 mg Mo/kg DM. Weanlings were grazed on this pasture for 70 days and then supplemented with oral copper sulphate at a rate of 1.0 mg Cu/kg DM for a further 14 days (84 days total). There was no effect of high dietary molybdenum on plasma copper, trichloroacetic acid insoluble plasma copper, or blood cell copper concentration, or on the activities of caeruloplasmin oxidase or red blood cell superoxide dismutase. There was also no effect of dietary molybdenum on the liver copper concentration after 70 or 84 days. It was therefore concluded that at concentrations that might be expected in a pasture diet molybdenum is unlikely to increase copper requirements of horses. The possible implications of this work to the New Zealand Thoroughbred industry, and suggestions for further research are discussed.