Hot-water treatment of broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) was developed as an alternative to manual digging out in organic farming. During treatment, the top region of the root was heated so that the plants would die back. The aim of this study was to validate the efficacy of the hot-water treatment of dock roots. The trials were carried out with a commercially available hot-water high-pressure cleaner and a rotating nozzle for water application. The target plant control rate assessed 12 weeks after treatment was set at >80%. The appraisal covered 1330 treated plants of varying size from four sites with three different soil texture classes. Parameters which influenced the control rate were water temperature, amount of water, soil moisture and soil texture. Additional parameters recorded were the amount of fuel oil consumption and working time requirements. A reassessment of the plants 1 year after treatment yielded information concerning the ground cover, the possible germination of new dock plants from buried seeds and the soil structure of the site treated. In order to achieve the target control rate of >80%, it is recommended that the temperature of the water leaving the equipment should exceed 80°C. The amount of water required depends on root size and soil moisture. On average, 131 plants per hour can be treated with no negative effects on regrowth or soil structure. Hot-water treatment is the first functional control alternative to manual digging out R. obtusifolius for organic farming.

In organic farming, the control of broad-leaved dock (Rumex obtusifolius) via hot-water treatment of the upper root region (hypocotyl) is a new alternative to the current standard control method involving manual digging-out of the roots. This comparative study looks at five different hot-water application techniques. The aim is to optimise the control method in terms of water and energy requirement to obtain a mortality rate of the treated plants of at least 80%. The studied parameters were the application, the amount of water, the water temperature, the soil moisture content and the soil type. In total, 813 plants of varying size were treated (120-225 plants per treatment). The success of each treatment was rated 12 weeks after it was applied. Based on the results, the preferred treatment in terms of water and energy requirement was a commercially available rotary nozzle. With this nozzle, for example, at 40 vol.-% soil moisture, 1.6 L of water at a temperature of 90°C was necessary for successful Rumex control. The rotary nozzle could be used as a non-contact system, and was therefore the most user-friendly of the application techniques examined. IntroductionThroughout Europe, grassland areas managed according to organic-farming principles are increasing. The percentage of organically managed areas in the whole of the EU, for example, rose from 5,913,359 hectare (ha) in 2004 to 7,542,604 ha in 20087,542,604 ha in (Köpke et al., 2011. In Switzerland, the percentage of these areas has remained practically constant over the last nine years and, at 116,188 ha in 2011, accounted for 11% of the total agricultural area (Bundesamt für Statistik BfS, 2012).One of the greatest problems in organically managed grassland is posed by broad-leaved dock, Rumex obtusifolius (Zaller, 2004). Broadleaved docks contain high levels of oxalic acid and oxalates, which can cause health problems in large doses (Brune, 1955;Roth et al., 2012). Avoided by grazing animals on account of the substances it contains, the plant causes reduction in livestock performance when present in conserved feed. Oswald and Haggar (1983) reckoned that a ground cover of 20-30% broad-leaved dock would reduce the vegetation volume of valuable fodder plants up to 20%. To avoid these negative effects, the dock stocking on grassland should be minimal.Differing from other weeds, the physical control of broad-leaved dock is difficult because of the growth and the regenerative power of its taproots. The primary taproot of the dock develops in the first year after germination (Bond and Turner, 2003). In the second year, the plant produces secondary taproots (Pino et al., 1995). Thereafter, the taproot system increases and divides. The clonal growth of one plant can affect large weed-covered areas (Bond and Turner, 2003). The regenerative power of R. obtusifolius lies in the hypocotyl. It is about 0.1 m long and located in the first section of the partially very complex underground organs (Roberts and Hughes, 1939). Stored reserve materials enable the plan...

Background Blood transfusions are common medical procedures and every age group requires detailed insights and treatment bundles. The aim of this study was to examine the association of anaemia, co-morbidities, complications, in-hospital mortality, and transfusion according to age groups to identify patient groups who are particularly at risk when undergoing surgery. Methods Data from 21 Hospitals of the Patient Blood Management Network Registry were analysed. Patients were divided into age subgroups. The incidence of preoperative anaemia, co-morbidities, surgical disciplines, hospital length of stay, complications, in-hospital mortality rate, and transfusions were analysed by descriptive and multivariate regression analysis. Results A total of 1 117 919 patients aged 18–108 years were included. With increasing age, the number of co-morbidities and incidence of preoperative anaemia increased. Complications, hospital length of stay, and in-hospital mortality increased with age and were higher in patients with preoperative anaemia. The mean number of transfused red blood cells (RBCs) peaked, whereas the transfusion rate increased continuously. Multivariate regression analysis showed that increasing age, co-morbidities, and preoperative anaemia were independent risk factors for complications, longer hospital length of stay, in-hospital mortality, and the need for RBC transfusion. Conclusion Increasing age, co-morbidities, and preoperative anaemia are independent risk factors for complications, longer hospital length of stay, in-hospital mortality, and the need for RBC transfusion. Anaemia diagnosis and treatment should be established in all patients.

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