Search results for: Colin R. Black

Items from 1 to 16 out of 16 results

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Using X-ray Computed Tomography to explore the role of abscisic acid in moderating the impact of soil compaction on root system architecture

Saoirse R. Tracy, Colin R. Black, Jeremy A. Roberts, Ian C. Dodd, more

Environmental and Experimental Botany > 2015 > 110 > Complete > 11-18

Understanding how soil compaction affects root system architecture (RSA) and root deployment within soil is critical to maximise crop growth. This study examined the role of abscisic acid (ABA) in mediating root responses to soil compaction using tomato genotypes with differing endogenous ABA concentrations.Plants of the wild-type tomato genotype (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Ailsa Craig) and its ABA-deficient...

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Soil type influences crop mineral composition in Malawi

Edward J.M. Joy, Martin R. Broadley, Scott D. Young, Colin R. Black, more

Science of the Total Environment > 2015 > 505 > Complete > 587-595

Food supply and composition data can be combined to estimate micronutrient intakes and deficiency risks among populations. These estimates can be improved by using local crop composition data that can capture environmental influences including soil type. This study aimed to provide spatially resolved crop composition data for Malawi, where information is currently limited.Six hundred and fifty-two...

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Dietary mineral supplies in Africa

Edward J. M. Joy, E. Louise Ander, Scott D. Young, Colin R. Black, more

Physiologia Plantarum > 151 > 3 > 208 - 229

Dietary micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) are widespread, yet their prevalence can be difficult to assess. Here, we estimate MND risks due to inadequate intakes for seven minerals in Africa using food supply and composition data, and consider the potential of food‐based and agricultural interventions. Food Balance Sheets (FBSs) for 46 countries were integrated with food composition data to estimate...

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Environmental controls of temporal and spatial variability in CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes in a neotropical peatland

Emma L. Wright, Colin R. Black, Benjamin L. Turner, Sofie Sjögersten

Global Change Biology > 19 > 12 > 3775 - 3789

Tropical peatlands play an important role in the global storage and cycling of carbon (C) but information on carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) fluxes from these systems is sparse, particularly in the Neotropics. We quantified short and long‐term temporal and small scale spatial variation in CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes from three contrasting vegetation communities in a domed ombrotrophic peatland in Panama...

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Exploring the interacting effect of soil texture and bulk density on root system development in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Saoirse R. Tracy, Colin R. Black, Jeremy A. Roberts, Sacha J. Mooney

Environmental and Experimental Botany > 2013 > 91 > Complete > 38-47

Knowledge of the responses of root systems in horizoned heterogeneous soil is vital to optimise uptake of water and nutrients to maximise crop productivity. We explored the interacting effects of soil bulk density and texture on the development of root systems in tomato.Two main techniques were employed, X-ray micro-Computed Tomography (μCT), to provide non-destructive, three-dimensional (3D) images...

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Risk of dietary magnesium deficiency is low in most African countries based on food supply data

Edward J. M. Joy, Scott D. Young, Colin R. Black, E. Louise Ander, more

Plant and Soil > 2013 > 368 > 1-2 > 129-137

Background Dietary mineral deficiencies are widespread in Africa. Our previous studies in Malawi revealed population-level shortfalls in dietary calcium and selenium supply but adequate dietary magnesium (Mg) supply. Here we examine dietary Mg supply throughout Africa. Methods Food supply data from 1961 to 2007 were compiled using Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Food Balance Sheets (FBSs)...

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Assessing residual availability of selenium applied to maize crops in Malawi

Allan D.C. Chilimba, Scott D. Young, Colin R. Black, Mark C. Meacham, more

Field Crops Research > 2012 > 134 > Complete > 11-18

The environmental fate and possible residual effects of applied selenium (Se) are important issues when considering sustainable biofortification of food crops to improve human health. Our objectives were to assess residual effects of Se biofortification of maize in Malawi using a combination of ⁷⁴ Se-labelling studies and measurements of KH ₂ PO ₄ -extractable soil Se. Stable...

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Agronomic biofortification of maize with selenium (Se) in Malawi

Allan D.C. Chilimba, Scott D. Young, Colin R. Black, Mark C. Meacham, more

Field Crops Research > 2012 > 125 > Complete > 118-128

Suboptimal dietary Se intake is widespread in Malawi due to low levels of plant-available Se in most soils and narrow food choices. The aim of this study was to determine the potential for biofortifying maize using Se-enriched fertilisers in Malawi. The response of maize to three forms of selenate-Se fertiliser was determined. Crops were treated with a liquid drench of Na ₂ SeO _4(aq) ...

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Quantifying the effect of soil compaction on three varieties of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using X-ray Micro Computed Tomography (CT)

Saoirse R. Tracy, Colin R. Black, Jeremy A. Roberts, Ann McNeill, more

Plant and Soil > 2012 > 353 > 1-2 > 195-208

Aims X-ray Micro Computed Tomography (CT) enables interactions between roots and soil to be visualised without disturbance. This study examined responses of root growth in three Triticum aestivum L. (wheat) cultivars to different levels of soil compaction (1.1 and 1.5 g cm⁻³). Methods Seedlings were scanned 2, 5 and 12 days after germination (DAG) and the images were analysed using novel root tracking...

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Contribution of subsurface peat to CO₂ and CH₄ fluxes in a neotropical peatland

EMMA L. WRIGHT, COLIN R. BLACK, ALEXANDER W. CHEESMAN, TREVOR DRAGE, more

Global Change Biology > 17 > 9 > 2867 - 2881

Tropical peatlands play an important role in the global carbon cycling but little is known about factors regulating carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) fluxes from these ecosystems. Here, we test the hypotheses that (i) CO₂ and CH₄ are produced mainly from surface peat and (ii) that the contribution of subsurface peat to net C emissions is governed by substrate availability. To achieve this, in situ...

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Soil compaction: a review of past and present techniques for investigating effects on root growth

Saoirse R Tracy, Colin R Black, Jeremy A Roberts, Sacha J Mooney

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture > 91 > 9 > 1528 - 1537

Soil compaction has been known to affect root growth for millennia. Root growth in natural soils is complex and soil compaction induces several stresses which may interact simultaneously, including increased soil strength, decreased aeration and reduced hydraulic conductivity. Yet, moderate soil compaction offers some benefits to growing roots by increasing root–soil contact so they can extract adequate...

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Modelling phytoremediation by the hyperaccumulating fern, Pteris vittata, of soils historically contaminated with arsenic

Paula A. Shelmerdine, Colin R. Black, Steve P. McGrath, Scott D. Young

Environmental Pollution > 2009 > 157 > 5 > 1589-1596

Pteris vittata plants were grown on twenty-one UK soils contaminated with arsenic (As) from a wide range of natural and anthropogenic sources. Arsenic concentration was measured in fern fronds, soil and soil pore water collected with Rhizon samplers. Isotopically exchangeable soil arsenate was determined by equilibration with ⁷³ As ^V . Removal of As from the 21 soils by three sequential...

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Soil water dynamics in cropping systems containing Gliricidia sepium, pigeonpea and maize in southern Malawi

Paxie W. Chirwa, Chin K. Ong, Jumanne Maghembe, Colin R. Black

Agroforestry Systems > 2007 > 69 > 1 > 29-43

The water dynamics of cropping systems containing mixtures of Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp trees with maize (Zea mays L.) and/or pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan L.) were examined during three consecutive cropping seasons. The trees were pruned before and during each cropping season, but were left unpruned after harvesting the maize; prunings were returned to the cropping area in all agroforestry systems...

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Nitrogen Dynamics in Cropping Systems in Southern Malawi Containing Gliricidia sepium, Pigeonpea and Maize

Paxie W. Chirwa, Colin R. Black, Chin K. Ong, Jumanne Maghembe

Agroforestry Systems > 2006 > 67 > 1 > 93-106

This study tested the hypothesis that incorporation of green leaf manure (GLM) from leguminous trees into agroforestry systems may provide a substitute for inorganic N fertilisers to enhance crop growth and yield. Temporal and spatial changes in soil nitrogen availability and use were monitored for various cropping systems in southern Malawi. These included Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. trees intercropped...

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Effects of elevated CO ₂ and O ₃ on tuber quality in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Alison Donnelly, Tracy Lawson, Jim Craigon, Colin R. Black, more

Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment > 2001 > 87 > 3 > 273-285

This study examined the effects of season-long exposure to elevated carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) and/or ozone (O ₃ ) on tuber quality in potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. 'Bintje'). Stands of potato were grown to maturity in open-top chambers (OTCs) in 1998 and 1999 under a factorial combination of three CO ₂ (ambient, 550 and 680μmolmol ^- ¹ ) and two O ₃ levels...

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Photosynthetic responses to elevated CO2and O3 in field-grown potato(Solanum tuberosum)

Tracy Lawson, J.i.m. Craigon, Ann-Marie Tulloch, Colin R. Black, more

Journal of Plant Physiology > 2001 > 158 > 3 > 309-323

Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Bintje) were grown to maturity in open-top chambers under three carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ; ambient and 24 h d ⁻¹ seasonal mean concentrations of 550 and 680 μmol mol ⁻¹ ) and two ozone levels (O ₃ ; ambient and an 8 h d ⁻¹ seasonal mean of 50 nmol mol ⁻¹ ). Chlorophyll content, photosynthetic characteristics, and stomatal...

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