Recycling nutrient-rich hop leaves by composting with wheat straw and farmyard manure in suitable mixtures.

The harvesting of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) generates large amounts of nutrient-rich leaves that can be used in composting mixtures to add value to other organic resources on the farm. In this study, hop leaves were mixed with cow manure and wheat straw in several combinations with the aim of establishing guidelines on how farmers can manage the raw materials and better use these valuable organic resources. The composting process was monitored and the quality of the composts evaluated in relation to the effects on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) grown in pots over two consecutive cycles. The mixture of hop leaves with cow manure produced a stable compost after nine months of composting which may be used in horticultural crops, irrespective of the proportion of raw materials, due to their low and similar C/N ratios. However, when using mixtures of leaves and straw in proportions of less than 2:1, the composts did not mature properly, showing high C/N ratios. Their application to the soil led to a strong reduction in plant tissue N concentrations, due to biological N immobilization, which significantly reduced lettuce dry matter yield. Thus, to reduce composting time and increase the quality of the compost, the ratio leaves/straw should be as high as possible, at least 2:1. Alternatively, either the composting process should take longer, or the poorly-matured compost be applied far in advance of sowing a crop so that complementary biological processes can take place in the soil, as recorded in the second cycle of lettuce. Ash from hop stems did not benefit the composting process and proved itself not to be worth using in mixtures.

Olive tree physiology and chemical composition of fruits are modulated by different deficit irrigation strategies.

BACKGROUND: Cropping practices focusing on agronomic water use efficiency and their impact on quality parameters must be investigated to overcome constraints affecting olive groves. We evaluated the response of olive trees (Olea europaea, cv. 'Cobrançosa') to different water regimes: full irrigation (FI, 100% crop evapotranspiration (ETc )), and three deficit irrigation strategies (DIS) (regulated (RDI, irrigated with 80% of crop evapotranspiration (ETc ) in phases I and III of fruit growth and 10% of ETc in the pit hardening stage), and two continuous sustained strategies (SDI) - a conventional SDI (27.5% of ETc ), and low-frequency irrigation adopted by the farmer (SDIAF, 21.2% of ETc ). RESULTS: The effects of water regimes on the plant water status, photosynthetic performance, metabolite fluctuations and fruit quality parameters were evaluated. All DIS treatments enhanced leaf tissue density; RDI and SDI generally did not affect leaf water status and maintained photosynthetic machinery working properly, and the SDIAF treatment impaired olive tree physiological indicators. The DIS treatments maintained the levels of primary metabolites in leaves, but SDIAF plants showed signs of oxidative stress. Moreover, DIS treatments led to changes in the secondary metabolism, both in leaves and in fruits, with increased total phenolic compounds, ortho-diphenols, and flavonoid concentration, and higher total antioxidant capacity, as well higher oil content. Phenolic profiles showed the relevance of an early harvest in order to obtain higher oleuropein levels with associated higher health benefits. CONCLUSION: Adequate DIS are essential for sustainable olive growing, as they enhance the competitiveness of the sector in terms of olive production and associated quality parameters. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Multivariate analysis of tronchuda cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC) phenolics: influence of fertilizers.

A field experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of fertilization level on the phenolic composition of tronchuda cabbage ( Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC) external and internal leaves. Eight different plots were constituted: a control without fertilization, one with organic matter, and six experiments with conventional fertilizers (nitrogen, boron, and sulfur, two levels each). The phenolic compounds were analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC-DAD. External and internal leaves revealed distinct qualitative composition. In the internal leaves were found 15 phenolics (5 kaempferol and 10 cinnamic acid derivatives), whereas the external leaves presented 3- p-coumaroylquinic acid and 13 kaempferol derivatives. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to assess the relationships between phenolic compounds, agronomical practices, and harvesting time. Samples obtained with conventional practices were quite effectively separated from organic samples, for both types of leaves. In general, samples developed without any fertilization presented the highest phenolics amounts: external and internal leaves contained 1.4- and 4.6-fold more phenolic compounds than the ones that received conventional fertilizer, respectively, and the internal leaves presented 2.4 times more phenolics than the ones grown with organic amendment. Additionally, samples from organic production exhibited higher total phenolics content than those from conventional practices, collected at the same time. Samples harvested first were revealed to be distinct from the ones collected later. The results show that it is possible to grow tronchuda cabbage without excess fertilizers, with highest amounts of phenolics and reduced environment contamination.

Assessment of the nitrogen fertilization effect on bioactive compounds of frozen fresh and dried samples of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni.

The present study aims to assess the effect of different nitrogen (N) rates on the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of stevia frozen fresh and dried leaves, and to define the best growing conditions to maximize the levels of bioactive compounds. In general, processing affects more significantly the tocopherol and sugar contents than N fertilization. The most abundant sugars were xylose, arabinose + fructose and sucrose, presenting dried samples with higher contents than frozen fresh ones, while the latter better retained tocopherols than dry samples. Regarding phenolic compounds, greater levels were found in dried samples and in those fertilized with 25 kg N ha-1. Leaves from plants fertilized with 25 and 50 kg N ha-1 also evidenced higher antioxidant activity, which seemed to be influenced by the phenolic composition. In general, N fertilization provides an improvement in the chemical composition and bioactive potential of stevia leaves.

Rumex induratus leaves: interesting dietary source of potential bioactive compounds.

The phenolic compounds of Rumex induratus leaves were determined by HPLC-DAD-MS/MS-ESI. The results revealed a profile composed of 19 compounds: caffeoyl-hexoside, two p-coumaroyl-hexoside isomers, feruloyl-hexoside, sinapoyl-hexoside, 6-C-hexosyl-quercetin, 8-C-hexosyl-luteolin, 6-C-hexosyl-luteolin, 6-C-hexosyl-apigenin, 3-O-hexosyl-quercetin, 3-O-rutinosyl-quercetin, 7-O-hexosyl-diosmetin, 3-O-rutinosyl-isorhamnetin, 7-O-(acetyl)-pento-hexosyl-diosmetin, 6-C-hexosyl-genkwanin, and four unidentified O-glycosyl-C-glycosylflavones. The quantification of the identified phenolics by HPLC-DAD showed 6-C-hexosyl-luteolin as the main compound. Organic acid composition was determined by HPLC-UV, revealing a high content of oxalic acid. R. induratus was also investigated for its capacity to act as a scavenger of DPPH and superoxide radicals. Good antioxidative results were obtained against both radicals. Unlike other species of the genus Rumex, R. induratus did not present any anthraquinone derivative.

Targeted metabolite analysis and antioxidant potential of Rumex induratus.

Targeted metabolite analysis of aqueous extract of Rumex induratus leaves, in terms of phenolic compounds and organic acids, and the study of its antioxidant activity against the DPPH(*) radical, a reactive oxygen species, hypochlorous acid, and a reactive nitrogen species, nitric oxide ((*)NO), were performed. The samples were collected in several locations, spontaneously occurring or from greenhouse culture, at different stages of development and seasons. The phenolic composition was achieved by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detection, and four hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and 10 flavonoid glycosides (C- and O-heterosides) were determined. Organic acids composition was established by HPLC-UV, revealing five compounds. The total amount of phenolic compounds and organic acids were affected by growing conditions and developmental phase. The aqueous extract exhibited a dose-related activity against all tested reactive species.