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An analytical RPLC method for sesquiterpene lactones in Arnica montana has been extended to include quantitative analyses of dihydrohelenalin esters. LC-ESI-MS-MS distinguished the isomeric helenalin and dihydrohelenalin esters. The dihydrohelenalin esters have lower response factors for UV detection than do helenalin esters, which must be taken into account for quantitative analyses. Analyses of flowers from 16 different wild populations of A. montana in Spain showed differing proportions of helenalin and dihydrohelenalin esters. For the first time a chemotype with high levels of helenalin esters (total helenalins 5.2-10.3 mg/g dry weight) is reported in Spanish A. montana. These samples were from heath lands at high altitude (1330-1460 m), whereas samples from meadows and peat bogs at lower altitudes were the expected chemotype with high levels of dihydrohelenalin esters (total dihydrohelenalins 10.9-18.2 mg/g). The phenolic compounds, both flavonoid glycosides and caffeoylquinic acids, in Spanish A. montana are reported for the first time. The levels of several of these compounds differed significantly between samples from heath lands and samples from peat bogs or meadows, with the heath land samples being most similar to central European A. montana in their phenolic composition.

Composting may be an effective process for treating fish waste and drift seaweed to recover organic matter and nutrient resources and to produce fertilizers for organic agriculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of this type of compost as a fertilizer in a horticultural crop rotation. A greenhouse trial was carried out to test the effects of the compost on a tomato crop and its residual effects on the succeeding lettuce crop. Different compost rates (C1, C2 and C3: 40 t ha −1 , 50 t ha −1 and 66 t ha −1) were compared to single rates of a mineral fertilizer (M) and of a certified organic fertilizer made from dehydrated broiler litter (BL) as well as to the control treatment, which lacked fertilization (C). Tomato yield increased significantly (5.56 kg plant −1) with the highest rate of compost compared to the mineral and control treatments (4.54 and 4.58 kg plant −1 , respectively). This increased yield was associated with an increase in the diameter and weight of the fruits. Moreover, the lettuce yield improved with compost rates C2 (395 g lettuce −1) and C3 (367 g lettuce −1), showing a strong residual effect of the compost. This compost is suitable as organic soil fertilizer and may be recommended for improving horticultural crop yields.