SUMMARY During growth, several cereals store significant amounts of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), which have important prebiotic properties. Cereal forage crops are also essential components of many Mediterranean agricultural systems, although little information is available on their dynamics of accumulation and partitioning of dry matter and FOS during growth. Oat (Avena sativa L., cv. ‘Flavia’ and cv. ‘Genziana’), emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum Schrank, cv. ‘Giovanni Paolo’), barley (Hordeum vulgare L., cv. ‘Diomede’) and triticale (xTriticosecale Wittmack, cv. ‘Rigel’) were investigated for their synthesis of FOS, with a view to development of management approaches for harvesting high-quality forage, and to determine whether these species can be used as natural sources of FOS for commercial use. The study was conducted at Foggia (Italy) and Bella (Potenza, Italy) over two growing seasons (2008‐2009; 2009‐2010). Dry-matter accumulation and FOS contents were determined for plant fractions from heading to kernel-hard stages. There were large variations across these species for dry-matter partitioning and dry-matter yield (greatest for triticale: 1.24 kg m −2 ), and for FOS levels of total plants and plant fractions. Emmer wheat and triticale showed greater FOS production (52.0, 41.1 g m −2 , respectively). Barley, emmer wheat and triticale showed higher FOS levels in total plants (4.11%, 5.93%, 4.33% dry matter, respectively). Barley, emmer wheat and triticale appear to be the most interesting species for production of forage biomass rich in FOS and as natural FOS sources for industrial use.

Dynamics of accumulation and partitioning of dry matter and fructo-oligosaccharides in plant fractions of forage cereals

Photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes in textile wastewater by Polyaniline composite catalyst-a review

Small grain cereal forages are widely adapted and highly versatile, and consequently are important forage crops in California and other dairy areas. Stage of maturity is the most important determinant of yield and quality of small grain forage. Small grain forages include two very distinct types of forage, 1) harvested prior to heading, having high content of both protein and highly digestible fiber, and 2) harvested after pollination and grain development, which is a grain-rich forage like corn silage. When properly grown and harvested, small grain cereal forage can be excellent feed for lactating, dry cows, and growing stock. Matching variety, crop management, and harvest stage to fit field conditions; proper planting date; and careful attention to plant maturity and moisture content for ensiling are key parts of developing and executing a forage crop plan that uses small grains to their maximum advantage.

/pdf/practical-tips-for-growing-harvesting-and-feeding-high-4aa1pnny8t.pdf

Practical tips for growing, harvesting, and feeding high quality small grain cereal silage

ABSTRACT This is an experimental study on the decolorization efficiency and the degradation of organic compounds from textile wastewater by the ozonation process in a batch system. The effects of different sample volumes of textile wastewater over time were investigated. The experiments were performed in a 1 L glass reactor with a magnetic stirrer and a bubble diffuser at the bottom to feed the ozone. The applied cumulative ozone dosage varied at 120 gO3 L−1, 60 gO3 L−1, and 30 gO3 L−1, and the total interaction time for each test was 1 h. To investigate the physicochemical properties of the textile wastewater (solid and liquid phases) before and after the treatment, multiple analytical characterization methods were used: Thermal Gravimetric Analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, and Spectrophotometer. The most perceptive change was observed in the color of the liquid medium, which turned from black to transparent, and a visual color number indicator known as DurchsichtFarbZahl (DFZ) was used for the evaluation of this process. Absorbance values decreased about 3.5 times after 5 min of treatment with a 0.15 L sample volume, and these values differed for tests with larger sample volumes. FTIR spectroscopy demonstrated that the bands’ intensities associated with the C − H, C − N, and C − O decrease during treatment. On the other hand, it was possible to conclude that combining treatment methods to improve the degradation of persistent compounds after the ozonation process is necessary. Finally, the ozonation of the textile wastewater proved to be effective at removing color due to its high reaction capacity. Graphical Abstract

Manuel C. Gomes

Papers

Practical tips for growing, harvesting, and feeding high quality small grain cereal silage

Physicochemical Modifications and Decolorization of Textile Wastewater by Ozonation: Performance Evaluation of a Batch System