Pál Szakál
13204782400
Publications - 11
Investigation of the Effect of a New Type of Copper–Sucrose Complex Compound on the Yield and Quality Parameters of Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Publication Name: Agronomy
Publication Date: 2025-07-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 7
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
We conducted experiments on winter wheat grown in copper-deficient soil, where soil tests revealed a more pronounced deficiency in the deeper layers. As climate change reduces precipitation, plants increasingly rely on nutrients from these deeper layers. A copper–sucrose complex—previously unused in agriculture—was applied as a foliar spray during the tillering and flowering stages. Across the three-year average, significant increases were observed starting from the 1 kg ha−1 copper dose in yield, from 0.3 kg ha−1 in crude protein content, and from 0.5 kg ha−1 in wet gluten content compared to the untreated control. For all three parameters, the highest values were achieved with the 2 kg ha−1 dose. Yield increased by 1.03 t ha−1, crude protein by 0.9%, and wet gluten by 2.3% relative to the control. In 2019, high humidity and favorable temperatures during flowering led to fungal infections in control plots, with DON toxin concentrations exceeding the regulatory safety threshold. Following copper–sucrose complex application, DON levels dropped below this threshold, demonstrating a measurable protective effect.
Open Access: Yes
Lactose intolerance: The most significant nutritional recommendations of lactose free diet
Publication Name: Bio Web of Conferences
Publication Date: 2024-08-23
Volume: 125
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Background: Milk and dairy products play a key role in healthy diet. In case of lactose intolerance, the digestion of these products becomes difficult. It is associated with stomach and intestinal complaints. Purpose: The purpose of the manuscript is to summarize the literature on lactose, lactose intolerance, lactose-free diet and lactose-free products development opportunities. We hope that we can contribute to a more accurate understanding of the lactose-free diet and reveal connections between consumer expectations and consumption. Methods: Electronic searches were conducted in Google Scholar, Medline, PubMed and Science Direct databases. We used 34 specialist literature and 3 URL to write our conference publication. Results: We summarized the most important characteristics of lactose, the symptoms and treatment options of lactose intolerance, the importance of lactose-free diet and calcium supplementation in the therapy of lactose intolerance and the latest and most informative publications on the development of lactose-free functional foods. Conclusion: Today, the consumption of lactose-free products is an outstanding way to treat the growing number of people with lactose intolerance. The food industry also pays special attention to the application of new technologies and product development. We hope to contribute to a wider understanding of lactose, lactose intolerance, the lactose-free diet and lactose-free product development opportunities with our conference manuscript.
Open Access: Yes
Correction to: A 4‑year study of bovine reproductive hormones that are induced by pharmaceuticals and appear as steroid estrogenic pollutants in the resulting slurry, using in vitro and instrumental analytical methods (Environmental Science and Pollution Research, (2023), 30, 60, (125596-125608), 10.1007/s11356-023-31126-y)
Publication Name: Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Publication Date: 2024-02-01
Volume: 31
Issue: 6
Page Range: 9868
Description:
The correct Author affiliations is shown in this paper.
Open Access: Yes
Foliar Application of Copper-Tetramine-Sulphate from Microelectronic Waste to Improve Yield and Quality Parameters of Winter Wheat
Publication Name: Chemical Engineering Transactions
Publication Date: 2024-01-01
Volume: 114
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: 1069-1074
Description:
The growth of the world's population is an increasing challenge for agricultural production. Improving soil productivity is the key to ensuring the quantity, quality and safety of food for a growing population. In addition to macroelements, microelements also play an important role in the biochemical processes. A large percentage of soils in Hungary show a deficiency in copper. For three years, we treated the leaves of winter wheat with a copper-tetramine-sulphate complex derived from microelectronic waste. Aim to provide an alkaline pH range of 9.3 for effective foliar treatment. Treatments were applied on 10 m2 small plots at 0; 0.1; 0.3; 0.5; 1.0; and 2.0 kg×ha-1 copper dose in the budding and flowering phenological stages with copper-tetramine-sulphate produced from microelectronic waste. After harvesting the crop from the plots, the yield, raw protein, and gluten content were measured. In the copper-deficient soil, a significant increase in yield and protein and gluten levels was observed after treatment with copper foliar fertiliser. The most significant increase in yield was obtained in the treatment at flowering (0.40 t/ha), with a 0.37 % increase in crude protein content and a 1.95 % increase in wet gluten content.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.3303/CET24114179
A 4-year study of bovine reproductive hormones that are induced by pharmaceuticals and appear as steroid estrogenic pollutants in the resulting slurry, using in vitro and instrumental analytical methods
Publication Name: Environmental Science and Pollution Research International
Publication Date: 2023-12-01
Volume: 30
Issue: 60
Page Range: 125596-125608
Description:
The main objective of the research was to study the environmental "price" of the large-scale, milk production from a rarely known perspective, from the mapping of the estrogenic footprint (the amount of oestrus-inducer hormonal products, and the generated endoestrogens) in the resulting slurry in a dairy cow farm. These micropollutants are endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and can be dangerous to the normal reproductive functions even at ng/kg concentration. One of them, 17ß-estradiol, has a 20,000 times stronger estrogenic effect than bisphenol-A, a widely known EDC of industrial origin. While most studies on EDCs are short-term and/or laboratory based, this study is longitudinal and field-based. We sampled the slurry pool on a quarterly basis between 2017 and 2020. Our purpose was testing the estrogenic effects using a dual approach. As an effect-based, holistic method, we developed and used the YES (yeast estrogen screen) test employing the genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae BJ3505 strain which contains human estrogenic receptor. For testing exact molecules, UHPLC-FLD was used. Our study points out that slurry contains a growing amount of EDCs with the risk of penetrating into the soil, crops and the food chain. Considering the Green Chemistry concept, the most benign ways to prevent of the pollution of the slurry is choosing appropriate oestrus-inducing veterinary pharmaceuticals (OIVPs) and the separation of the solid and liquid parts with adequate treatment methods. To our knowledge, this is the first paper on the adaptation of the YES test for medicine and slurry samples, extending its applicability. The adapted YES test turned out to be a sensitive, robust and reliable method for testing samples with potential estrogenic effect. Our dual approach was successful in evaluating the estrogenic effect of the slurry samples.
Open Access: Yes
The effect of complex bacterial treatment of slurry on content and ecotoxicological properties
Publication Name: Agrokemia Es Talajtan
Publication Date: 2022-12-05
Volume: 71
Issue: 2
Page Range: 309-327
Description:
The subject of our research is the comparative ecotoxicological examination of the bacterial slurry treatment system distributed by NCH Magyarorszag Kft. The experiment was carried out on a cattle calf rearing farm, in the 0-6 months age group section. The bacterial strains available in tablet form were multiplied in a container and added weekly to the slurry collected in the shaft. The purpose of bacteria treatment was to promote homogenization of the manure, reduce odors, and break down organic impurities. The ecotoxicological tests were carried out before, during and after the manure treatment at three sampling times. As a result of our research, it has been revealed that during the slurry treatment, the internal content values increased significantly, mostly the nitrogen forms, the biological oxygen demand and the dry matter content. The presence of the estrogenic effect remained considerable even at the end of the treatment. Based on the phytotoxicity test, the fertilizer treatment had a positive effect on the stem and root growth of each plant. The results of the soil toxicity test proved that untreated slurry loses its inhibitory effect on the vital activity of sensitive bacteria at higher dilutions. The common duckweed test revealed that above 150 dilution, the inhibitory effect of the slurry ceases in the samples at all three sampling times. In order to inhibit the growth of algae, the liquid fertilizer showed a stagnant-inhibiting tendency during the treatment. Based on our results, we came to the conclusion that the bacterial slurry treatment system was effective in terms of homogeneity, deodorization and decomposition of organic matter. However, it is recommended to apply it to the fields at a higher dilution rate or with a high soil water content. Further studies are needed regarding the removal of substances with hormonal effects, based on which recommendations can be developed for farmers.
Open Access: Yes
Appearance of on-farm bovine reproductive hormones in the resulting slurry
Publication Name: Agrokemia Es Talajtan
Publication Date: 2022-12-05
Volume: 71
Issue: 2
Page Range: 289-308
Description:
A review of the international literature also found that the amount and the presence in slurry of oestrus inducer hormone preparations used in intensive dairy cattle production has not been investigated. In our study, we followed the path of 5 different sex-inducing drugs (alfaglandin, PGF, dinolytic, gonavet, ovarelin) including three active pharmaceutical ingredients (D-Phe6-Gonadorelin, Kloprostenol and Dinoprost-tromethamine) used in a cattle farm in Pest County from their use until their appearance in the slurry from 2017 to 2020. The study included a review of drug consumption and a seasonal analysis of the hormonal effects of slurry produced on the farm in quarterly cycles each year. We also tested separately the hormonal effects of the hormone preparations used on the farm. For the estrogenic effect tests, the yeast test with the human estrogenic receptor was used according to ISO 19040. Statistical evaluation of the results (Pearson correlation and Principal Component Analysis) was used to identify relationships between the use of sex inducers, the reproductive biology of the colony and the estrogenic effect of the slurry. We found that the estrogenic effects of slurry and sludge are strongly correlated. All three pharmaceuticals tested showed a strong correlation with the estrogenic effect of slurry/sludge. Our investigations confirm that slurry among other reasons due to its hormone and drug content shall be considered as a material that needs to be disposed of by new treatment methods before application to the field, because of its environmental and health risks.
Open Access: Yes
Microinjection based zebrafish embryo test for the detection of estrogenic substances in slurry based irrigation water and its combined application with yeast estrogen screen
Publication Name: Agricultural Water Management
Publication Date: 2022-10-01
Volume: 272
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Waste from livestock farms, including manure, is a significant source of estrogenic pollutants in the environment. These wastes have complex matrices, necessitating the implementation of in vivo and in vitro tests in order to investigate their estrogenic effects. However, most current in vivo methods are limited by the toxic effect of livestock waste due to their high concentrations of organic matter. Here we propose a novel in vivo microinjection method which is able to avoid this limitation. In this study, the estrogen content of slurry-based irrigation water extracts from dairy cattle farms was examined using a classical in vitro and the newly developed in vivo method. The limitations of the in vitro system, with its absence of endogenous steroid hormone receptors and subsequent lack of elucidating complex interactions involving the estrogen receptor (ER), are complemented by the in vivo fish test, which allows for a more complete assessment of estrogenicity and toxicity to vertebrate animals. In vitro screenings were performed with the ISO 19040–1:2018 Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES). The YES test showed estrogenic activity in all 32 tested samples, which ranged from 5 to 50518 ng/L in EEQ (E2-Estradiol equivalents). The in vivo microinjection method was developed using a Tg(vtg1:mCherry) transgenic zebrafish embryo model. This model is able to eliminate secondary symptoms of hypoxia that may occur during normal aqueous exposure to high organic matter extracts. Using the microinjection method, a total of 12 samples, out of the 32 samples examined, presented no observable estrogenic effects in fish embryos based on integrated density values. In samples where the fish test showed no estrogenic effect, the liver of the larvae was significantly damaged due to sample toxicity. Our results clearly show that the combination of these methods provides a highly effective screening tool for samples containing high concentrations of organic matter.
Open Access: Yes
Ecotoxicological investigations of milking cow slurry and changes of oestrogenic compounds in the solid and liquid phase
Publication Name: Energy Ecology and Environment
Publication Date: 2022-04-01
Volume: 7
Issue: 2
Page Range: 97-110
Description:
Due to the appearance of intensive livestock-rearing systems since the 1970s, a vast amount of liquid manure (slurry) has been produced. The application and utilization are partly regulated for this special substance, which contains urine, excrement, process water, and other chemicals, such as insecticides and disinfectants. Our research was conducted on a slurry management system of a dairy cattle farm, focusing on the investigation of the presence of oestrogenic substances and toxicity of slurry before and after using a separator technology. Yeast oestrogen screen shows in this study that the separation of the liquid and solid phases of slurry contributes to the reduction in oestrogenic substances. Based on the toxicological studies, the growth inhibition of algae was 93%, and the inhibition of the germination of higher plant seeds was 25%, without separation. After separation of the phases, growth and germination were comparable with the negative control; moreover, some stimulation was detected. Consequently, harmful substances were removed with the suspended solid phase. From the present study, we can conclude that stakeholders should support separation technology in intensive livestock-rearing systems, and ecotoxicological investigations obviously help the risk management of slurry utilization. To our best knowledge, this is the first paper presenting detailed and complex toxicological study on slurry samples.
Open Access: Yes
Ion exchange with copper-tetraamine on naa (Lta) type synthesised zeolite
Publication Name: Nova Biotechnologica Et Chimica
Publication Date: 2021-06-23
Volume: 20
Issue: 1
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
A crop growing in the right quantity and quality can only be secured if nutrients are provided in an adequate quantity and available form. Copper (Cu) has primary importance among microelements in growing winter wheat. Lack of Cu hinders nitrogen uptake by plants. Therefore, increasing bioavailability is important in crop production. It has been conducted successful foliar fertilisation experiments with Tetraamminecopper(II) sulphate for several years. The efficiency of the applied compound was enhanced by the application of a retarded nutrient-supply. To secure retardation, ion exchange was carried out in NaA type synthesized zeolite with Tetraamminecopper(II) sulphate. Structure of Tetraamminecopper(II) sulphate, and zeolite ion-exchanged by copper-tetraamine was analysed with a derivatograph and X-ray diffraction. Derivatograph analyses revealed heat stability. X-ray diffraction analyses revealed that copper-tetramine ions exchanged a significant part of the sodium ions of zeolite in ion exchange.
Open Access: Yes
DOI: 10.36547/nbc.886
Oestrogens and oestrogenic substances in plant cultivation
Publication Name: Agrokemia Es Talajtan
Publication Date: 2019-01-01
Volume: 68
Issue: 2
Page Range: 385-401
Description:
A compound is oestrogenic, when -even if with low affinity but can bind to oestrogen receptors (ER)- resulting in a biological effect in oestrogen sensitive cells, which are similar to processes caused by the ovarian derived oestrogen hormones. According to literature data, due to slurry irrigation and intensive livestock manure application, due to the direct contact with the land, steroidal oestrogens, including oestrogen E1, oestradiol E2, oestriol E3, and synthetic oestrogen EE2 are ubiquitous in the fertile soil. Plants can accumulate oestrogens in their roots and shoots, which when entering the food chain may have an impact on human health. Slurry can only be applied to agricultural land with the permission of the soil protection authority, which also determines the amount of slurry that can be applied to the area. The different types of slurry differ not only in their nutrient composition but also in their EDC content. Regarding the natural hormone excretion and use of hormonal preparations it is important to consider the sex ratio and age range of livestock in the case of selection. It is important for the future that we carry out toxicological studies and place greater emphasis on the amount and potential effects of hormonal substances released by agricultural side products.
Open Access: Yes
