Effects of Tithonia diversifolia, farmyard manure and urea, and phosphate fertiliser application methods on maize yields in western Kenya

Maize production in western Kenya is often limited by deficiencies of nitrogen and phosphorus. We assessed the effectiveness of Tithonia diversifolia green manure (tithonia), farmyard manure (FYM) and urea as sources of nitrogen (N) for maize when inorganic phosphorus (P) fertiliser was either broadcast (BR) or spot-placed in the planting hole (SP) for two consecutive seasons; October to December of 1998 and April to August of 1999 at two sites; Nyabeda and Khwisero in western Kenya. A randomised complete block design with four replications was used. Maize yields were higher at Nyabeda and responded to P application better than at Khwisero. At the same N rate, tithonia and FYM were as effective as urea in increasing maize yields at both sites. There were no significant differences in maize yields when phosphate fertiliser was either BR or SP regardless of the N source used in the first season. However, in the second season, the residual yields for the BR treatments were consistently higher than those of the SP. Our results suggest that tithonia and FYM can substitute for urea as N sources and that fertiliser P should be broadcast and incorporated together with the organic materials at the time of planting to save on labour costs.

Caracterización del fenómeno de regionalización en zonas de frontera: El caso de la configuración de la región urbana Cúcuta - Ureña en los límites entre Venezuela y Colombia entre los años 1959 y 2010 a raíz del tratado suscrito por ambas partes “Tratado de Tonchalá” (1959)

Este trabajo, es un estudio de caso que pretende caracterizar el proceso de integración binacional en la región fronteriza entre el Departamento de Norte de Santander Colombia y el Estado Táchira Venezuela, más específicamente en la zona de aglomeración humana de San José de Cúcuta (Col) – Pedro María Ureña (Ven), intentando contribuir a la construcción de un modelo explicativo que dé cuenta de la importancia de la participación de los Estados en los procesos de desarrollo e integración de las fronteras.

Página áurea en el libro de Santiago : 15.000 profesores y alumnos en la magna peregrinación de Enseñanza Media.

Acompaña a la crónica diverso material fotográfico que ilustra los actos acontecidos

Effect of organic complexation on the toxicity of Cu to the earthworm Eisenia fetida

The relationship between Cu speciation in solution and mortality and tissue Cu concentrations in Eisenia fetida was investigated. E. fetida were exposed to solutions containing 0.009, 0.049 and 0.125 mg Cu L-1 and 0, 0.15, 0.35 and 50 mg EDTA L-1. Mortalities of 100, 60, 50 and 25% were recorded in the 0.125 mg Cu L-1 solutions containing 0, 0.15, 0.35 and 50 mg EDTA L-1, respectively. Similarly tissue body burden decreased with increasing EDTA concentration. Complexation capacity of the solution increased with EDTA concentration. In the 0.125 mg Cu L-1 solution labile Cu concentration decreased with increasing EDTA concentration. These trends are attributed to complexation of free Cu ions with EDTA molecules, and the non-bioavailable nature of the resultant Cu-EDTA complex. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Complexation of copper by sewage sludge-derived dissolved organic matter: Effects on soil sorption behaviour and plant uptake

The complexation of Cu by sewage sludge-derived dissolved organic matter (SSDOM) is a process by which the environmental significance of the element may become enhanced due to reduced soil sorption and, hence, increased mobility. The work described in this paper used an ion selective electrode procedure to show that SSDOM complexation of Cu was greatest at intermediate pH values because competition between hydrogen ions and Cu for SSDOM binding sites, and between hydroxyl ions and SSDOM as Cu ligands, was lowest at such values. Batch sorption experiments further showed that the process of Cu complexation by SSDOM provided an explanation for enhanced desorption of Cu from the solid phase of a contaminated, organic matter-rich, clay loam soil, and reduced adsorption of Cu onto the solid phase of a sandy loam soil. Complexation of Cu by SSDOM did not affect uptake of Cu by spring barley plants, when compared to free ionic Cu, in a sand-culture pot experiment. However, it did appear to lead to greater biomass yields of the plant; perhaps indicating that the Cu-SSDOM complex had a lower toxicity towards the plant than the free Cu ion.

Presubmergence and green manure affect the transformations of nitrogen-15-labeled urea under lowland soil conditions

The effect of presubmergence and green manuring on various processes involved in [N-15]-urea transformations were studied in a growth chamber after [N-15]-urea application to floodwater. Presubmergence for 14 days increased urea hydrolysis rates and floodwater pH, resulting in higher NH3 volatilization as compared to without presubmergence. Presubmergence also increased nitrification and subsequent denitrification but lower N assimilation by floodwater algae caused higher gaseous losses. Addition of green manure maintained higher NH4+-N concentration in floodwater mainly because of lower nitrification rates but resulted in highest NH3 volatilization losses. Although green manure did not affect the KCl extractable NH4+-N from applied fertilizer, it maintained higher NH4+-N content due to its decomposition and increased mineralization of organic N. After 32 days about 36.9% (T-1), 23.9% (T-2), and 36.4% (T-3) of the applied urea N was incorporated in the pool of soil organic N in treatments. It was evident that the presubmergence has effected the recovery of applied urea N.

The effect of drying and urea treatment on nutritional and anti-nutritional components of browses collected during wet and dry seasons

Fibre, crude protein and tannin concentrations were measured in browse species from the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil during the dry and wet seasons. The effects of oven-, sun- and shade-drying and of urea treatment were also determined. Crude protein (CP) content varied from 103 to 161 g/kg dry matter (DM) and the browses had similar CP content in the two seasons (during 2002) (102-161 and 107-153 g/kg DM in the wet and dry seasons, respectively). Total tannin concentrations ranged from 13 to 201 g/kg DM amongst the browses and were higher in the dry season. A 30-d treatment with urea reduced extractable tannins significantly (P < 0.05). The urea treatment was also most effective at reducing the in vitro effects of tannins compared to the other drying treatments. This was demonstrated by measuring the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on gas production. Addition of PEG increased gas production of oven- (81.4%), sun- (78.5%) and shade-dried (76.7%) samples much more compared to urea treated samples (10.9%). (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Uranyl(VI) and lanthanum(III) thio-diglycolamides complexes: synthesis and structural studies involving nitrate complexation

New tri-functional ligands of the type R2NCCCH2SCH2CCNR2 (where R = iso-propyl, n-butyl or iso-butyl) were prepared and characterized. The coordination chemistry of these ligands with uranyl and lanthanum(III) nitrates was studied by using the IR, (HNMR)-H-1 and elemental analysis methods. Structures for the compounds [UO2(NO3)(2)((Pr2NCOCH2SCH2CONPr2)-Pr-i-Pr-i)] [UO2(NO3)(2)((Bu2NCOCH2SCH2CONBu2)-Bu-i-Bu-i)(2)] [La(NO3)(3)((Pr2NCOCH2SCH2CONPr2)-Pr-i-Pr-i)(2)] and [La(NO3)(3)((Bu2NCOCH2SCH2CONBu2)-Bu-i-Bu-i)(2)] were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. These structures show that the ligand acts as a bidentate chelating ligand and bonds through both the carbamoyl groups to the uranyl and lanthanum(III) nitrate groups. Solvent extraction studies show that the ligand can extract the uranyl ion from the nitric acid medium but does not show any ability to extract the americium (III) ion. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Solvent extraction and lanthanide complexation studies with new terdentate ligands containing two 1,3,5-triazine moieties

The extracting agent 2,6-bis(4,6-di-pivaloylamino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-pyridine (L-5) in n-octanol was found, in synergy with 2-bromodecanoic acid, to give D-Am/D-Eu separation factors (SFs) between 2.4 and 3.7 when used to extract the metal ions from 0.02-0.12 M HNO3. Slightly higher SFs (4-6) were obtained in the absence of the synergist when the ligand was used to extract Am(III) and Eu(III) from 0.98 M HNO3. In order to investigate the possible nature of the extracted species crystal structures of L-5 and the complex formed between Yb(III) with 2,6-bis(4,6-di-amino-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-pyridine (L-4) were also determined. The structure of L-5 shows 3 methanol solvent molecules all of which form 2 or 3 hydrogen bonds with triazine nitrogen atoms, amide nitrogen or oxygen atoms, or pyridine nitrogen atoms. However, L-5 is relatively unstable in metal complexation reactions and loses amide groups to form the parent tetramine L-4. The crystal structure of Yb(L-4)(NO3)(3) shows ytterbium in a 9-coordinate environment being bonded to three donor atoms of the ligand and three bidentate nitrate ions. The solvent extraction properties of L-4 and L-5 are far inferior to those found for the 2,6-bis-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl)-pyridines (L-1) which have SF values of ca. 140 and theoretical calculations have been made to compare the electronic properties of the ligands. The electronic charge distribution in L-4 and L-5 is similar to that found in other terdentate ligands such as terpyridine which have equally poor extraction properties and suggests that the unique properties of L-1 evolve from the presence of two adjacent nitrogen atoms in the triazine rings.

Bis- and tris-(3-aminopropyl) derivatives of 14-membered tetraazamacrocycles containing pyridine: synthesis, protonation and complexation studies

New N-(3-aminopropyl) (L-1, L-2) and (2-cyanoethyl) (L-3, L-4) derivatives of a 14-membered tetraazamacrocycle containing pyridine have been synthesized. The protonation constants of L-1 and L-2 and the stability constants of their complexes with Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Cd2+ metal ions were determined in aqueous solutions by potentiometry, at 298.2 K and ionic strength 0.10 mol dm(-3) in KNO3. Both compounds have high overall basicity due to the presence of the aminopropyl arms. Their copper(II) complexes exhibit very high stability constants, which sharply decrease for the complexes of the other studied metal ions, as usually happens with polyamine ligands. Mono- and dinuclear complexes are formed with L-2 as well as with L-1, but the latter exhibits mononuclear complexes with slightly higher K-ML values while the dinuclear complexes of L-2 are thermodynamically more stable. The presence of these species in solution was supported by UV-VIS-NIR and EPR spectroscopic data. The single crystal structures of [Cu(H2L2)(ClO4)](3+) and [(CoLCl)-Cl-3](+) revealed that the metal centres are surrounded by the four nitrogen atoms of the macrocycle and one monodentate ligand, adopting distorted square pyramidal geometries. In the [(CoLCl)-Cl-3](+) complex, the macrocycle adopts a folded arrangement with the nitrogen atom opposite to the pyridine at the axial position while in the [Cu(H2L2)(ClO4)](3+) complex, the macrocycle adopts a planar conformation with the three aminopropyl arms located at the same side of the macrocyclic plane.

Bis- and tris-(methylphosphonic) acid derivatives of a 14-membered tetraazamacrocycle containing pyridine: synthesis, protonation and complexation studies

Two N-methylphosphonic acid derivatives of a 14-membered tetraazamacrocycle containing pyridine have been synthesized, H4L1 and H6L2. The protonation constants of these compounds and the stability constants of complexes of both ligands with Ni2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ were determined by potentiometric methods at 298 K and ionic strength 0.10 mol dm(-3) in NMe4NO3. The high overall basicity of both compounds is ascribed to the presence of the phosphonate arms. H-1 and P-31 NMR spectroscopic titrations were performed to elucidate the sequence of protonation, which were complemented by conformational analysis studies. The complexes of these ligands have stability constants of the order of or higher than those formed with ligands having the same macrocyclic backbone but acetate arms. At pH = 7 the highest pM values were found for solutions containing the compound with three acetate groups, followed immediately by those of H6L2, however, as expected, the increasing pH favours the complexes of ligands containing phosphonate groups. The single-crystal structure of Na-2[Cu(HL1)]NO3.8H(2)O has shown that the coordination geometry around the copper atom is a distorted square pyramid. Three nitrogen atoms of the macrocyclic backbone and one oxygen atom from one methylphosphonate arm define the basal plane, and the apical coordination is accomplished via the nitrogen atom trans to the pyridine ring of the macrocycle. To achieve this geometric arrangement, the macrocycle adopts a folded conformation. This structure seems consistent with Uv-vis-NIR spectroscopy for the Ni2+ and the Cu2+ complexes and with the EPR for the latter.

Ditopic hexaazamacrocycles containing pyridine: synthesis, protonation and complexation studies

Structural studies of metal complexes of five ditopic hexaazamacrocycles containing two pyridine rings ([n] py(2)N(4) n = 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26) have been carried out. The synthesis of macrocycles [22]- to [26]- py(2)N(4) are also reported. The protonation constants of the last three compounds and the stability constants of their complexes with Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Pb2+ were determined at 25 degreesC in 0.10 mol dm(-3) KNO3 in aqueous solution. Our results with [22] py(2)N(4) show significant differences from those described previously, while [24] py(2)N(4) has not been studied before and [ 26] py2N4 is a new compound. Mononuclear and dinuclear complexes of the divalent metal ions studied with [ 22]- to [26]- py(2)N(4) were found in solution. The stability constants for the ML complexes of the three ligands follow the Irving - Williams order: NiL2+ < CuL2+ >> ZnL2+ > PbL2+, however for the dinuclear complexes the values for Pb2+ complexes are higher than the corresponding values for the Ni2+ and the Zn2+ complexes. The X-ray single crystal structures of the supramolecular aggregates [Cu-2([20] py(2)N(4))(H2O)(4)][Cu(H2O)(6)](SO4)(3) . 3H(2)O ( 1) and [Cu-2([20] py(2)N(4))(CH3CN)(4)][Ni([20] py(2)N(4))](2)(ClO4)(8) . H2O (2), which are composed of homodinuclear [Cu-2([20] py(2)N(4)])(H2O)(4)](4+) ( 1a) and [Cu-2([20] py(2)N(4)])(CH3CN))(4)](4+) (2a), and mononuclear species, [Cu(H2O)(6)](2+) (1b) and [Ni([20] py(2)N(4))](2+) ( 2b), respectively, assembled by an extensive network of hydrogen bonds, are also reported. In both homodinuclear complexes the copper centres are located at the end of the macrocycle and display distorted square pyramidal coordination environments with the basal plane defined by three consecutive nitrogen donors and one solvent molecule, water in 1a and acetonitrile in 2a. The macrocycle adopts a concertina-type conformation leading to the formation of macrocyclic cavities with the two copper centres separated by intramolecular distances of 5.526(1) and 5.508(7) Angstrom in 1a and 2a, respectively. The mononuclear complex [Ni([20] py(2)N(4)])](2+) displays a distorted octahedral co-ordination environment with the macrocycle wrapping the metal centre in a helical shape. EPR spectroscopy of the copper complexes indicated the presence of mono- and dinuclear species.