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Growth characteristics, water and Nitrogen use efficiencies of spinach in different water and Nitrogen levels

Jinxiu Zhang, Zhigang Bei, Yi Zhang, Linkui Cao

Sains Malaysiana, 2014;43:1665-1671.

Water deficit and environmental pollution owing to excessive nitrogen use have caused considerable attention. In a field experiment, a combination of three water levels (20, 40 and 60 cm) and nitrogen fertilizer rates (0, 85 and 170 kg ha-1) was applied. The main objectives of this study were to optimize water and nitrogen application and exploit their interactive effects on the growth characteristics, yield and water and nitrogen use efficiency of spinach. The results showed that water and nitrogen significantly influenced average plant height and leaf area. Total aboveground biomass (TB) was affected by nitrogen fertilizer and TB decreased in water deficit. Adding nitrogen fertilizer amount resulted in higher leaf chlorophyll content and chlorophyll content obtained the maximum value in N2 treatment, but chlorophyll content was not affected by water deficit. Spinach yield was higher at N1 compared with N0 and N2 at all water levels. Abundant water supply resulted in the highest spinach yield, but yield reduced at lower water level (W3). The correlation analysis between spinach yield and leaf number was relatively weak (R2=0.58). On the contrast, the correlation analysis between spinach yield and leaf weight showed a correlationship (R2=0.91), indicating that leaf weight was the primary reason for yield increase in all treatments. Nitrogen fertilization significantly decreased NUE in all the treatments. WUE of spinach increased with adding nitrogen application in most conditions.
Fulltext Fluid intake, hydration status and its association with cognitive function among adolescents in Petaling Perdana, Selangor, Malaysia

Tung SEH, Ch'ng YZ, Karnan TV, Chong PN, Zubaidah JO, Chin YS

Nutr Res Pract, 2020 Oct;14(5):490-500.
PMID: 33029289 DOI: 10.4162/nrp.2020.14.5.490

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: A cross-sectional study was undertaken to evaluate fluid intake and hydration status in association with cognitive function among 230 adolescents (10-14 years of age) in Petaling Perdana, Selangor, Malaysia.
SUBJECTS/METHODS: Urine color was used to measure hydration status, while fluid intake was assessed using the 15-item beverage intake questionnaire. Cognitive function was assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition.
RESULTS: More than half of the adolescents were mildly or moderately dehydrated (59.6%) and only one-third (33.0%) were well hydrated. Among the daily fluid types, intakes of soft drinks (r = -0.180; P = 0.006), sweetened tea (r = -0.184; P = 0.005) and total sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) (r = -0.199; P = 0.002) were negatively correlated with cognitive function. In terms of hydration status, cognitive function score was significantly higher (F-ratio = 4.102; P = 0.018) among hydrated adolescents (100.38 ± 12.01) than in dehydrated (92.00 ± 13.63) counterparts. Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis, after adjusting for socio-demographic factors, showed that soft drinks (β = -0.009; P < 0.05) and sweetened tea (β = -0.019; P < 0.05) negatively predicted cognitive function (ΔR2 = 0.044). When further control for sources of fluid, hydration status (β = -2.839; P < 0.05) was shown to negatively predict cognitive function (ΔR2 = 0.021). The above variables contributed 20.1% of the variance in cognitive function.
CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the links between fluid intake (soft drinks, sweetened tea, total SSBs) and hydration status with cognitive function in adolescents. Interventions aimed at decreasing the consumption of SSBs and increasing hydration status through healthy fluid choices, such as water, could improve cognitive performance in adolescents.

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