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| ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Science July 2013 | Vol. 8 No.
7 |
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Title: |
Auditing
and characterisation of sisal processing waste: a
bioresource for value addition |
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Author (s): |
Muthangya M., Hashim S. O.,
Amana J. M.,
Mshandete A.M. and Kivaisi A. K |
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Abstract: |
The sisal industry
in Kenya has been among the world leading producer of sisal.
During sisal leaf decortications, only 2.7-7.3% of the leaf
produces the fiber.
Through auditing, in the
year 2010, Kenya generated 611, 875
tonnes and 3, 511, 900 m3
of sisal solid waste and wastewater, respectively.
Total and volatile solids, cellulose and hemicelluloses
contents in the wastes were in the ranges of 12-84%, 67-83%,
55.7-76.7 and 3.7-21.6% on dry weight basis, respectively.
This study has shown anaerobic co-digestion of solid sisal
waste with cow manure is a feasible process with normalised
methane yields of 0.301 and m3/KgVS. |
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Title: |
Antibacterial activity of sophora mollis against escherichia
coli and phytochemical tests of plant |
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Author (s): |
Misbah
Manzoor, Mirfa Manzoor, Sidra Bibi and Zaibunisa |
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Abstract: |
Sophora mollis
has medicinal value. So this work was conducted to check its
antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and
five different phytochemical tests (Reducing sugar,
Flavonoids, Saponins, Alkaloids and Tannins) were done.
Plant material was collected from Hazargangi Chiltan
National Park, Quetta and was dried and grounded for further
use. Leaves and stem were used for antibacterial and
phytochemical tests for antibacterial activity the each
plant part was soaked in 100 ml of aqueous and methanol
extracts (Leaves and Stem) in three different concentrations
(0.5, 1.0 and 1.5g/100ml) with 24 and 48hrs soaking
duration. All concentrations and with all soaking duration
inhibition zones were recorded. The maximum inhibition zone
was in 1.5g concentration with 48hrs in methanol extract. In
case of phytochemical tests all tests were positive. So
because of its medicinal and now antibacterial effect this
plant must consider for further antibacterial activities
against other microorganisms. Underground parts should be
studied. And other phytochemical tests are recommended. |
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Title: |
The
decision making to reduce carbon emission under uncertainty
of herbivore meat production |
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Author (s): |
Prayong
Keeratiurai and Nathawut Thanee |
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Abstract: |
Ox and buffalo are herbivores
that are raised for their meat, however, production of ox
and buffalo produce emission of both CO2 and CH4.
The carbon budget of oxen and buffaloes during meat
production were studied for the decision making to reduce
carbon emission under uncertainty of ox and buffalo meat
production. The decision made under uncertainty of this
study that could analyzed environmental problems from the CO2
and CH4 gases are greenhouse gases which were
emitted from faeces, enteric fermentation and respiration of
ox and buffalo and the energy using of herbivore meat
production at farms and slaughterhouses. The study showed
that the carbon emission factors per unit from ox and
buffalo farms and slaughterhouses in ox and buffalo meat
production were 6.62´10-3
and 5.09´10-3
kg.C/kg.living weight/day, respectively. The carbon fixation
factor in meat and organs, of oxen and buffaloes were 10.22´10-3
and 10.35´10-3
kg.C/kg.living weight/day, respectively and the rate of
carbon massflow from grass and plants to oxen and buffaloes
were 14.76´10-3
and 14.27´10-3
kg.C/kg.living weight/day, respectively. This study also
showed the ratio of the carbon fixation in ox or buffalo
meat and organs to the sum of carbon contents in grass,
which humans cannot use the carbon in grass but herbivores
can, of ox and buffalo were 0.69 and 0.72, respectively. The
ratio of total carbon emitted per unit to total carbon
contents per unit in grass of ox and buffalo meat production
were 0.31 and 0.28, respectively. The ratio of total carbon
emitted per day to carbon fixation per day in meat and
organs of an ox and a buffalo was 0.45 and 0.38,
respectively. Measures to reduce the amount of carbon
emission that could be did another way. The first approach
was prioritizing types of animals that should encourage the
fed to produce meat. The second approach should take into
account the times that farmers took to fed ox and buffalo to
suit the increased weight to reduce unnecessary carbon
emissions from farming with a period inappropriate. The
third approach was the reduction in the number of oxen down
and the increasing the number of buffaloes to compensate for
the amount of meat produced with the same rate. Ox
production produced more environmentally harmful carbon than
buffalo production. For the same quantity of meat production
it could be suggested that decreasing ox meat production and
increasing buffalo meat production could be decrease of the
environmental problems. According to theories and rules
applied such as the pay off the matrix, the laplace rule,
the maximax rules and the minimax regret rule in making the
decision on environmental problems, it could be concluded
that the buffalo meat production was the best alternative
but the ox meat production caused highest environmental
problems among these two alternatives of the herbivore meat
production. Therefore, consumers should reduced emissions
from meat consumption such as chosen buffalo meat
consumption. It was suggested that the ox production should
be reduced because it created the highest carbon emission. |
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Title: |
Properties of engineered oil
palm composite boards from 32 year-old tree stems |
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Author (s): |
Razak Wahab, Mohammed Abdus Salam, Othman Sulaiman,
Mahmud Sudin,
Hashim W. Samsi and Mohd Sukhairi Mat Rasat |
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Abstract: |
The unutilized stems of oil palm trees found
in abundant in Malaysia and considered as an agriculture
waste were investigated as a possible alternative to future
wood. The stems are of no economic important in their
natural form, but once converted into the form of engineered
composite boards their properties improved tremendously.
This paper highlighted properties of the engineered
composite boards made from oil palm stems at four different
height positions comprising two portions height and two
cross-sectional zones. The engineered boards have shown to
have variation in properties when tested for their physical,
mechanical and glue delaminating studies. Testing on all the
composite boards specimens were done in accordance with the
Japanese Agricultural Standard, JAS No. 237: 2003. |
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Title: |
Antioxidant protective effect of vitamin e in penicillin and
streptomycin-induced hepatotoxicity in guinea pig |
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Author (s): |
Mohammed
S.A.Al-Awar, Ateeq M.J. Alarami, Elham A. S. AL- Shaibani,
Elias M.A. Salih and Mohammed A.Y.Al-Eryani |
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Abstract: |
This study was designed to
determine the protective effect of Vitamin E as antioxidant
against Pathological Effects of penicillin and streptomycin
histological Structure and Functions of guinea pigs Liver. A
total of sixty adult male guinea pigs weighting 800-900g
were divided into six groups of ten guinea pigs each, and
the experiment lasted 30 days. Animals in group I served as
control, animals in group 2 were administrated orally with
Vitamin E 100 mg/kg b.w, animals in group 3 were
intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with penicillin 50000 IU/kg
b.w, animals in group 4 in addition penicillin were orally
administrated with Vitamin E 100 mg/kg b.w, animals in group
5 were (i.p.) injected with Streptomycin 50 mg/kg b.w, and
animals in group 6 in addition penicillin were orally
administrated with Vitamin E 100 mg/kg b.w. The result
showed a significant increase in the levels of AST, ALT and
ALP. And a significant decrease in the levels of total
protein and albumin, and addition to histopathological
changes in penicillin and streptomycin treated guinea pigs
when compared to the control guinea pig. The results of
Vitamin E administration decreased these histopathological
changes, the structure of liver and hepatocytes appearance
was more or less similar to control group as well its
function. The present results indicate that Vitamin E may
play an important role as Cytoprotective and pave the way
for further studies on the possible use of Vitamin E. |
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Title: |
Herbicide combinations for the
enhancement of diquat phytotoxicity for hydrilla control |
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Author (s): |
T. F. Chiconela and W. T. Haller |
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Abstract: |
Diquat, a fast-acting contact herbicide, has
been used for weed control in the US for over 45 years. It
was widely recommended for control of hydrilla, often in
combination with copper. Restriction of copper use in public
waters in Florida in the 1980s and recent discovery of
fluridone resistant hydrilla has resulted in renewed
interest in using diquat for hydrilla control. Therefore, a
greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the effect of
five herbicides (carfentrazone, dipotassium and alkylamine
salts of endothall, and flumioxazin) and acibenzolar, a
plant elicitor or systemic acquired resistance inducer in
vegetables and tobacco, when applied alone and in
combination with diquat for hydrilla control as compared to
copper. The efficacy of all tested compounds was determined
using dry weight and total length reduction fourteen-days
after treatment (14 DAT). Diquat was evaluated at the
previously determined EC50 concentration of 10 mg
L-1, while all other compounds were tested at
five different concentrations. The combination of copper,
flumioxazin and endothal salts with diquat gave additive
effect based on dry weight. The interaction of Actigard at
1000.0 and 2000.0 mg L-1 with diquat
was synergistic based on hydrilla dry weight, as was
carfentrazone at rates ranging from 10 to 200 mg L-1
based on hydrilla total length. These results indicate
that all compounds tested can be used to replace copper
where its use is restricted. |
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Title: |
Management measures
for improving an Duong lake water quality for chi Lang Nam stork island
conservation and ecotourism development |
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Author (s): |
Tran Yem, Nguyen Xuan Hai
and Nguyen Manh Khai |
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Abstract: |
An
Duong lake has been selected for the study to its important
role in storks’ and cauldrons’ habitat protection, fishery
and ecotourism of Hai Duong Province and particularly Thanh
Mien District. Qualitative and quantitative methods were
used throughout the research. The overall purpose of this
study is to find out some mitigating measures for improving
water quality of An Duong Lake in order to conserve herein
stork islands and ecotourism development. Specifically, the
objectives of the study are included: (i) To identify An
Duong Lake pollution sources; (ii) To assess An Duong Lake
water quality; (iii) To suggest water pollution mitigating
measures. The main sources of water pollution of An Duong
Lake are: storks’ and cauldrons’ feces, domestic and
livestock waste and run-off. Wastes of all these sources are
discharged directly into the lake without any treatment. In
dry and wet season, concentration of SS, BOD and COD of
almost samples is higher than regulatory levels (Vietnam
National Technical Regulation 08:2008/BTNMT, Class A2 and
B1). pH of all water samples in the range of permissible
level. Concentration of N-NH4+ and
N-NO3- is lower than permissible
level. The pollution of An Duong Lake water is heavier in
dry season than in wet season. Lakeshore water is more
contaminated than the central part of lake. Several
comprehensive methods for improving An Duong Lake water
quality should be conducted such as Water hyacinth (Eichhornia
crassipes) and Reed (Phragmites communis) growing
for water pollutant mitigation, Septic tank toilet for
treatment of domestic waste water; Treatment of livestock
wastes; Combination of filtration with EM for mitigating
pollutant in run-off; Fish farming; Pollution sources
control and An Duong Lake water monitoring. Water hyacinth
and reed growing is found out to be the most effective and
practical method for mitigating An Duong Lake water
contaminants. |
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Title: |
Exploiting the biocontrol activity of tricoderma spp
against root rot causing phytopathogens |
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Author (s): |
T.
Kavitha and R. Nelson |
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Abstract: |
The main aim of this investigation
was to
determine the antagonistic activity of Tricoderma spp
isolated from rhizosphere soil of sunflower. Two species
namely Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma koningii
were isolated. In dual culture method Trichoderma viride
showed maximum growth inhibition of 72.20%
against Fusarium oxysporum whereas, Trichoderma
koningii effectively inhibited Pythium debarianum
(57.42%). The result of volatile assay revealed Pythium
debarianum was effectively inhibited by both antagonists
and in non volatile assay Pythium debarianum was
greatly inhibited followed by Fusarium oxysporum,
Fusarium javanicum, Macrophomina phaseolina. The
Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma koningii were
recorded for their maximum cellulolytic and chitinolytic
activity (3.6U/ml and 0.37IU/ml, 2.75 IU/ml and0.29IU/ml)
respectively. |
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