In response to increasing interest in greenhouse production and difficulties imposed by adverse environmental conditions in the southeastern United States, two studies were conducted with green and red-leaf lettuce cultivars. The first study analyzed effects on yield and quality of green and red-leaf lettuce subjected to increasing nutrient solution electroconductivity (EC) across three growing seasons. Results indicated that the interaction between season and cultivar had the greatest effect on growth, flavonoids and phenolics, and leaf mineral content. The second study analyzed effects on yield and quality of increasing solution potassium (K) in red Lollo lettuce at two temperatures. The results suggested that temperature is a stronger regulatory factor than increasing K in the determination of lettuce yield and quality. However, increasing K concentrations to 234.6 mg·L-1 results in higher concentrations of leaf mineral concentrations without compromising lettuce yield and quality.

Работа содержит 71 страницу, 52 рисунка, 8 таблиц, 73 наименования в списке литературы. Ключевые слова: ТВЕРДООКСИДНЫЙ ТОПЛИВНЫЙ ЭЛЕМЕНТ, КАТОДНЫЙ МАТЕРИАЛ, СТРУКТУРА РАДДЛЕСДЕНА-ПОППЕРА, ТЕРМИЧЕСКОЕ РАСШИРЕНИЕ, ЭЛЕКТРОПРОВОДНОСТЬ, ХИМИЧЕСКАЯ СОВМЕСТИМОСТЬ. Методом пиролиза глицерин-нитратных композиций проведен синтез сложных оксидов Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4). Методом рентгеновской дифракции определен фазовый состав порошков Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1 yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4) (ДРОН-6). Методом Ритвелда при использовании программного пакета FullProf Suite уточнены кристаллоструктурные параметры Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.3) при 25 С. Проведены высокотемпературные рентгеновские исследования порошков Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0 - 0.3). Методами термогравиметрии (NETZSCH STA 449F3) и окислительно-восстановительного (потенциометрического) титрования (Аквилон АТП-02) проведено определение абсолютного содержания кислорода в образцах Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1 yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.3) на воздухе. Методом дилатометрии (Netzsch DIL 402C) исследовано термическое расширение спеченных образцов Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.3). Из наклона экспериментальных зависимостей относительного удлинения образцов рассчитаны изобарические линейные коэффициенты термического расширения Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.3). Четырех-зондовым методом на постоянном токе на воздухе с использованием автоматической системы Zirconia-318 получены температурные зависимости проводимости спеченных образцов Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.3). Проведены исследования химической совместимости Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0; 0.2; 0.4) с оксидными материалами для традиционных электролитов ТОТЭ. На анализаторе дисперсности SALD-7101 Shimadzu методом лазерного светорассеяния выполнено определение распределения частиц по размерам в порошках Nd1.6Cа0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4). Величины удельной поверхности Nd1.6Cа0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4) оценивали методом тепловой десорбции азота на автоматическом анализаторе поверхности и пористости SoftSorbi-II ver.1.0. Определение коэффициента диффузии ионов кислорода проводили методом температурно-программируемого изотопного обмена. Электрохимическая активность катодных материалов Nd1.6Cа0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0; 0.1; 0.3) исследована методом импедансной спектроскопии с помощью потенциостата SI 1260 и электрохимического интерфейса SI 1287 (Solartron Industries Inc.). На основе полученных данных сделан вывод о перспективности оксидных материалов Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0 0.4) в качестве катодных материалов для среднетемпературных ТОТЭ. / Present work contains 71 pages, 52 figures, 8 tables, 73 references in the literature list. Keywords: SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS, CATHODE, RUDDLESDEN-POPPER STRUCTURE, THERMAL EXPANSION, ELECTROCONDUCTIVITY, CHEMICAL COMPATIBILITY. Synthesis of the Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4) complex oxides was carried out by the glycerol-nitrate compositions pyrolysis. Phase composition of the Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4) powders was determined by the X-ray diffraction (DRON-6). The crystal structure parameters of the Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4) oxides at 25 °C were refined by the Rietveld method using the FullProf Suite software package. High-temperature X-ray studies were performed on the Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.3) powders. The thermogravimetry (NETZSCH STA 449F3) and redox titration (potentiometric) methods (Aquilon ATP-02) were used for the determination of an absolute oxygen content in the Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4) samples in air. Thermal expansion of the compact Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4) samples were studied using the dilatometry (Netzsch DIL 402C) method. The isobaric linear coefficients of the Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4) thermal expansion were calculated from linearization of the experimental dependencies of samples’ relative elongation. The temperature dependencies of the Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4) compact samples’ conductivity were obtained using the four-probe method at direct current in air with automatic system Zirconia-318. Chemical compatibility of the Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0; 0.2; 0.4) with electrolytes oxide materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) has been studied. Particle size distribution in the Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4) powders was determined by laser light scattering using a SALD-7101 Shimadzu dispersion analyzer. The values of the Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4) specific surface were estimated by the method of nitrogen thermal desorption on an automatic surface and porosity analyzer SoftSorbi-II ver.1.0. The oxygen ion diffusion coefficients were determined by temperature programmed isotope exchange of oxygen. Electrochemical activity of the Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ (y = 0.0-0.4) cathode materials was investigated by impedance spectroscopy using a SI 1260 potentiostat and SI 1287 electrochemical interface (Solartron Industries Inc.). Based on the obtained data, it could be concluded that the Nd1.6Ca0.4Ni1-yCuyO4+δ oxide materials are promising as cathode materials for intermediate-temperature SOFC’s.