Showing papers in "Journal of Agricultural Chemistry and Environment in 2021"

Studies on Composting Spent Coffee Grounds by Aspergillus sp and Aspergillus sp in Aerobic Static Batch Temperature Control

Abstract: Spent Coffee Ground (SCG) is characterized by high organic content, in the form of insoluble polysaccharides bound and phenol compounds Phenol compounds are toxic to nature and are a cause of environmental pollution Composting method of this study is aerobic static batch composting with temperature control with adding activators of some fungi such as Aspergillus sp, and Penicillium sp The purpose of the research is to fill the research gap from previous studies of spent coffee grounds compost, which requires a long time in composting, so that if it is used directly on the soil and plants, the positive effect also requires a long time The result of composting for 28 days with this method is that mature compost has black crumb and normal pH, with characteristics of C/N ratio below 10: C1 (706), C2 (699) This value is far from the control with a C/N ratio of 833 Decompose rate of macromolecule are above 40% for lignin and 70% for cellulose Implementation of compost in radish plants, resulting Germination Index above 80% which indicates that the compost is ripe: control (9239%), C1 (18388%), C2 (19186%) The results of the analysis with FTIR also showed that the compost was mature and stable, and rich in minerals So, it can be concluded that this composting method can speed up composting time and optimize the results of compost produced

Mitigation Rice Yield Scaled Methane Emission and Soil Salinity Stress with Feasible Soil Amendments

Abstract: Sea level rise and saline water intrusion have been affecting land use and crop production especially rice in the coastal areas of major rice growing countries including Bangladesh. The upward trend in salinity intrusion has been hampering crop production, particularly rice cultivation in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Therefore, an experiment was conducted on rice planted saline soils under the Nethouse at Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to improve the properties of salt affected soils for rice cultivation as well as controlling methane (CH4) emissions with feasible soil organic amendments and recommended inorganic fertilizers. The experimental treatments were arranged under 25 mM NaCl, 50 mM NaCl and 75 mM NaCl salinity levels with different combinations of NPKSZn, biochar, phosphogypsum and Trichocompost. It was found that CH4 emission rates were suppressed with phospho-gypsum and biochar amendments within the salinity level 25 mM to 50 mM, beyond this salinity level (at 75 mM), soil amendments were not effective to control CH4 emissions. From panicle initiation to grain ripening stages treatment T4 (100% NPKSZn + 75 mM NaCl stress) showed the highest CH4 emission rate, while lower CH4 emission rate was recorded in T5 (100% NPKSZn + 25 mM NaCl stress + Phospho-gypsum) and T8 treatment (100% NPKSZn + 50 mM NaCl + Phospho-gypsum). In case of seasonal total CH4 emission, Phospho-gypsum was found most effective to mitigate total CH4 emissions followed by biochar and trichocompost amendments in all salinity levels, probably due to the improved soil redox potential status (Eh), decreased electrical conductivity (EC), increased SO42-, NO3- , Mn4+ etc. in the rice rhizosphere. Rice growth and yield components were badly affected by increasing salinity levels. Phospho-gypsum, biochar and trichocompost amendments increased plant height, panicles number/hill, shoot biomass and grain yield/hill at 25 mM NaCl stress condition. However, salinity stress 50 mM to 75 mM severely affected rice growth and yield components, eventhough phospho-gypsum, biochar and trichocompost were applied. Among the amendments, phosphogypsum and biochar significantly decreased yield scaled CH4 emission (GHGI) in salinity levels 25 mM to 75 mM. After harvesting rice, the overall soil properties such as organic matter content, available P, available S, exchangeable K+ and Ca2+, K+/Na+, Ca2+/Na+ ratios etc. were increased with the biochar, phospho-gypsum and trichocompost amendments. The highest ratios of K+/Na+ and Ca+/Na+ were found in the extract of saline soil at 25 mM with phospho-gypsum amendments followed by biochar and trichocompost amendments. Furthermore, soil SO42-, NO3- , Mn4+ and Fe3+ contents in rice root rhizosphere were increased in the amended saline soils, which caused significant reduction in seasonal methane emissions. Therefore, it could be concluded that the combined application of phospho-gypsum and biochar with the recommended NPKSZn fertilizers in saline soils may be a good practice for increasing tolerance to salinity in rice by increasing K+/Na+, Ca2+/Na+ ratios, while decreasing yield scaled CH4 emission (GHGI) in salinity levels 25 mM to 75 mM.

Response of Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) to Balanced Fertilizer in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract: Tef is grown as an important domestic cereal in Ethiopia. Currently, global attention is given for it particularly as a “health food” due to the absence of gluten and gluten like proteins in its grains. Regardless of its wider adaptation, productivity of tef is low in the country with the national average grain yield of 1.379 tons·ha-1. This is mainly because of low soil fertility and severe organic matter depletion intensified by low rate of chemical fertilizer application. This study was conducted to evaluate effects of balanced fertilizers on the yield, yield components of tef and to determine economic feasibility for tef production in Wolaita. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with sixteen treatments replicated three times. The treatments consist of factorial combinations of four rates of K (Potassium) (0, 25, 50, and 100 kg/ha) and four rates of NPSB (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sulfur and Boron) (0, 50, 100, 200 kg/ha) fertilizers. Fertilizer types such as urea (46-0-0), NPSB (18.9-37.7-6.95-0.1) and K (0-0-60) were used as a source of nutrients. The soil analysis result indicated that, most of the nutrients are below optimum level to support the potential crop production. This may be related with reduced farm management practices and continuous cropping with little or no fertilizers input. In this study, it was found that, the combined application of NPSB and K fertilizers had a significant effect on growth, yield and yield components of tef. Among the treatments studied, NPSB (100 Kg/ha) and K (50 Kg/ha) gave greater grain yield. Furthermore, this treatment enhanced growth and yield related parameters compared to the control treatment. Thus, it is conceivable to recommend each to attain greater grain yield of tef in the study area. However, it is desirable to undertake further research across soil type, years and locations to appeal comprehensive recommendation on a wider scale.

Effects of Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Red and Blue Light on the Growth and Photosynthetic Characteristics of Momordica charantia L.

Abstract: With andromonoecious Momordica charantia L. (bitter gourd) as material, three light qualities (50 μmol·m-2·s-1) including white LED light (WL), blue monochromatic light (B, 465 nm), and red monochromatic light (R, 650 nm) were carried out to investigate their effects on seed germination, physiological and biochemical parameters, sex differentiation and photosynthetic characteristics of bitter gourd. The results showed that compared to the WL treatment, the R treatment significantly promoted seed germination, seedling height elongation and soluble sugar content, the B treatment significantly increased seedling stem diameter, reducing sugar content and soluble protein content, the R and B treatments both significantly reduced sucrose content, but their POD activity showed no significant difference. Compared with the R treatment, the B treatment significantly increased the total female flower number and female flower nod ratio in 30 nods of main stems. The study of photosynthetic characteristics found that the R and B treatments could effectively increase the stomatal conductance (GS) of leaves, significantly improved the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) compared to the WL treatment, and the effect of the B treatment was better. Compared to the R and WL treatments, the B treatment increased the maximum photosynthetic rate (Pmax), apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) and light saturation point (LSP), and reduced the dark respiration rate (Rd) and light compensation point (LCP) of the leaves. Fit light response curves showed that the adaptability and utilization of weak light in bitter gourd were middle or below, but it showed higher adaptability and utilization of strong light. Thus, it suggests that Momordica charantia is a typical sun plan with lower Rd. In summary, it is concluded that blue light has a positive effect on the seed germination, seedling growth, sex differentiation and improving the photosynthetic performance, and this will lay the foundation for artificially regulating optimum photosynthesis using specific LEDs wavelength, and help to elucidate the relationship how light quality influences the sex differentiation of plant.

Agrotechnical Assessment of Struvite Application

Abstract: Agrotechnical assessment of struvite produced by a lab-scale sedimentation unit is performed. As a source of phosphates and ammonia, liquor obtained through dewatering of Мunicipal wastewater treatment plant sludge was in use. The range of phosphates and ammonia was in the range of 130 - 250 and 380 - 560 mg/L, respectively. Seawater brine with a magnesium concentration of around 60 g Mg2+/L was applied as a source of magnesium. The agrotechnical characteristics of struvite obtained were compared to ammonium nitrate and carbamide in regards to the productivity effects on maize hybrid P9241. The results show that the effectiveness of struvite and some commercial fertilizers is quite close. The highest yield in the experiment was achieved with the application of carbamide plus ammonium nitrate (56.64 kg/ha), while in applying struvite solely it is 54.60 kg/ha. The highest protein content of maize (9.7%) was observed in the case of struvite/ammonium nitrate application.

Adsorption of Phosphate and Nitrate Using Modified Spent Coffee Ground and Its Application as an Alternative Nutrient Source for Plant Growth

Abstract: Phosphate (PO43-) and Nitrate (NO3-) are two main nutrients that cause water eutrophication. In the other hand, the presence of PO43- and NO3- is needed for plant growth. The aims of this study are to recycle Spent Coffee Ground (SCG) modified with calcium hydroxide for adsorption PO43- and NO3-. The optimum adsorption capacity for PO43- and NO3- is 36.74 mg/L and 20.21 mg/L, respectively. The Freundlich isotherm model was suitable for PO43- and NO3- adsorption. The kinetic model for adsorption was linear using Pseudo-second order. The application of modified SCG after enrichment with PO43- and NO3- for plant growth (Raphanus sativus) showed optimum growth at a dose of 0.3% with value of germination index was 203%.

Investigation of novel plant Maerua Shrub (Maerua subcordata) for cheap and efficient Bioethanol production in Kenya

Abstract: Bioethanol is an attractive source of energy when compared to fossil fuel. It is renewable and environmentally friendly due to its low toxicity and biodegradability. The first generation bioethanol derived from is limited by the high cost of production of these crops and danger posed to food security. This study investigated the use of wild maerua shrub in production of bioethanol in comparison to cultivated food crops. Fermentation was done using Yeasts Y1, Y2 and Y3. Yeasts Y1 and Y2 were isolated from finger millet malt, while Y3 was the commercial yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Fermented plant samples were distilled, oxidized and analysed at 595nm using UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Statgraphics centurion XVI.I was used for statistical analyses. The concentration (g/L) was obtained from a formula and converted to (g/L).The ethanol concentration (g/L) and productivity (g/L/h) were as follows; cassava (64.052 ± 0.098; 1.334), maize (66.670 ± 0.227; 1.389), sorghum (62.382 ± 2.148b; 1.300) and maerua shrub (61.988 ± 0.160, 1.291) which were significantly higher compared to sugarcane molasses (49.978 g/L, 1.041) when fermented by Y2. Mean ethanol concentration (g/L) and productivity (g/L/h) for plants across all yeasts were comparable (p-value = 0.4239). Maerua Shrub should be used as an alternative sugar source for bioethanol production.

Estimation of Total Phenolic Compounds and Non-Targeted Volatile Metabolomics in Leaf Tissues of American Chestnut (Castanea dentata), Chinese Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) and the Backcross Breeding Generations

Abstract: The American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was once a dominant tree species in the Appalachian Mountains and played a critical role in the ecological system. However, it was nearly eliminated by chestnut blight caused by the Ascomycetous fungus Cryphonectria parasitica. Identification of compounds specific to species and backcross hybrids may help further refine disease resistance breeding and testing. Phenolic compounds produced by plants are significant to their defense mechanisms against fungal pathogens. Therefore, an analytical platform has been developed to estimate the total phenolic content in leaf tissues of the American chestnut, Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima), and their backcross breeding generations (B3F2 and B3F3) using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent assay with UV/Vis spectrophotometry which may be used to predict blight resistance. Adsorption (765 nm) results from leaf tissue extraction in methanol/water (95%:5% v/v) and pH 2, show that the variations among these four tree species are significant (ANOVA p = 2.3 × 10-7). The kinetics of phenolic compound solid-liquid extraction was elaborated using Peleg, second order, Elovich, and power law models. In addition, extensive analysis using headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME) gas chromatography and mass spectrometry was conducted to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the leaf of American chestnut, Chinese chestnut, and their backcross hybrids B3F2 and B3F3. A total of 67 VOCs were identified among all chestnut types. Many of the metabolites associated with the Chinese chestnut have been reported to have antifungal properties, whereas the native and hybrid American chestnut metabolites have not. Most of the antifungal metabolites showed the strongest efficacy towards the Ascomycota phylum. A partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model (R2X = 0.884, R2Y = 0.917, Q2 = 0.584) differentiated chestnut species and hybrids within the first five principal component (PCs).

Water Dynamics under Drip Irrigation to Proper Manage Water Use in Arid Zone

Abstract: The water resources reduction due to climate changes and also population increase, have contributed to increasing the constraint on water disponibility and accessibility. In the agricultural field, we need moderate soil and water resources management. This work aims to simulate water dynamics in soil under drip irrigation system in arid regions to better manage irrigation water. Simulations are done with soil physical properties of Burkina Faso. We assess maize plant water requirements for the whole growing season. With Hydrus 2D, we simulate water supply in the soil column. We assign atmospheric conditions on the top of the domain, zero flux of water on the lateral sides, and free drainage on the bottom boundary domain. We perform many irrigation events to analyze wetting pattern distribution around the emitter, which allowed us to contain the amount of irrigation water applied, only around the area dominated by roots, and then reduce water losses that roots cannot uptake. According to the different growing stages of the maize crop, we choose proper irrigation duration and frequency, and suggest irrigation schedule for the whole growing season.