products lixiviated to the combustion of plant material

English translation: substances leached from burnt plant material

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:products lixiviated to the combustion of plant material
Selected answer:substances leached from burnt plant material
Entered by: Rachel Fell

18:44 Oct 17, 2005
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Science - Botany / plant reactions to fire
English term or phrase: products lixiviated to the combustion of plant material
I am proof-reading a text written by a Spaniard in English about the germination capacity of Euphorbia nicaeensis following a fire:

"In Mediterranean ecosystems, fire is a common disturbance (MORENO et al, 1998) and two types of plants have been described according to their response to fire: seeder and resprouter species (KEELEY, 1991). Generally, seeder species die after the fire and the seeds germinate in the first rainy season following the fire, since their dormancy is easily interrupted by a thermal shock or by products lixiviated to the combustion of plant material"

Can anyone tell me what he is trying to say here please?!
thanks
Anna Moorby DipTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:16
substances leached from burnt plant material
Explanation:
maybe?

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Note added at 2 hrs 57 mins (2005-10-17 21:42:35 GMT)
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and thermal shock doesn't need an article, I'd say
Selected response from:

Rachel Fell
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:16
Grading comment
Sounds good, thanks guys
xx
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +5substances leached from burnt plant material
Rachel Fell


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
substances leached from burnt plant material


Explanation:
maybe?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs 57 mins (2005-10-17 21:42:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

and thermal shock doesn't need an article, I'd say

Rachel Fell
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Sounds good, thanks guys
xx

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alfredo Tutino: lixiviate = separate soluble from insoluble part (Concise Oxford Dict.). Rain can solubilize strongly basic material from burnt plant material - for instance, potash lixiviated from wood ashes was and is used in soap manifacture, e.g. for home use
14 mins
  -> Thank you Alfredo - and for the info. (n.b. dissolves)

agree  Henrique Serra: Sounds plausible... and "leach" is definitely better than "lixiviate", even in this scientific context.
18 mins
  -> Thank you Henrique

agree  Will Matter: Merriam-Webster dictionary supports this, "lixiviate" (transitive verb), "to extract a soluble constituent from a solid mixture by washing or percolation". Water percolates through the burnt plant material, dissolves various substances, it's "lixiviation"
35 mins
  -> Thanks willmatter

agree  Richard Benham: Yes, this is doubtless the intention. The original is badly ungrammatical. @Alfredo, rainwater does *not* "solubilize" alkalis, it dissolves them.
1 hr
  -> Thank you Richard - and I agree with your points

agree  Saleh Chowdhury, Ph.D.
2 days 17 hrs
  -> Thank you, Saleh
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