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| ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological
Science July 2015 | Vol. 10 No.
7 |
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Title: |
Effect of
humic acid and sulfur on growth, some biochemical
constituents, yield and yield attributes of flax grown under
newly reclaimed sandy soils |
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Author (s): |
Bakry A.
B., Mervat Sh. Sadak and El-karamany M. F. |
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Abstract: |
A field experiment was carried
out at the experimental Station of National Research Centre,
Nubaria district, El-Behrea Governorate-Egypt, in 2012/2013
and 2013/2014 winter seasons to investigate the influence of
three sulfur fertilizer levels and/or foliar humic acid on
some morphological and biochemical parameters as well as
yield quantity and quality of flax plant grown under newly
reclaimed sandy soil conditions. Results indicated that,
humic acid foliar treatment with 20 mg/l in addition to
sulfur fertilizer at rate of (250 and 500 kg/fed) gave
significant increases in seed, straw and oil yield / fed.
These increases due to the recorded increases in
morphological criteria (plant height and root length, fresh
and dry weight of shoot and root), photosynthetic pigments,
(chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids), carbohydrate
constituents (total carbohydrates, total soluble sugars and
polysaccharides), IAA, phenol, free amino acids and proline
contents. Meanwhile lipid peroxidation decreased
significantly in response to the above mentioned treatment
as compared with control plants.Interaction between humic acid (20 cm/L) with sulfur
at rate of (500 kg/fed) was the most effective treatment as
it gave the highest increases in all morphological criteria,
biochemical parameters, yield and yield attributes compared
with the other treatments. Humic acid and sulfur
fertilizer at all levels caused marked
decreases in total saturated fatty acids accompanied by
marked increases in total unsaturated fatty acids. The
essential fatty acids (Linoleic acid C 18:2 + Linolenic acid
C18:3) were increased by all applied treatments. It is
worthy to mention that, the enhancement effects of humic
acid (20 mg/l) and sulfur fertilizer (500 kg/fed) were the
most pronounced treatment on flax plant. |
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Title: |
On the economical convenience of optimized,
Pico-hydraulic run-the-river, power parks |
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Author (s): |
Luca
Piancastelli, Leonardo Frizziero and Andrea Silvestroni |
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Abstract: |
When at the end of the
19th century the Edison Company had its board of directors
in Milan (Italy), a splendid marble panel showed a
collection of fountains, each one representing a
hydroelectric plant. If water came out from the orifice the
power plant was working and gold was flowing into the bank
account of the Edison Company. The electric power came from
the "potential energy" of "dammed" water driving a "water
turbine" and a "generator”. In this traditional hydraulic power machines, an
electromechanical control system, at an accurately tuned
constant speed, feeds the electric power into the network.
The very expensive and complicated system should deliver the
energy within the tolerances set by the Edison Company. Now,
with electronic, the control system is not more a problem,
especially for powers up to 100 kW, where low-cost
mass-produced integrated circuits deliver the energy within
the prescribed tolerances. These devices cost less than 10 USD. For this reason it is easier to produce many micro or
pico power “plants” than few but very expensive, dammed,
high-power large plants. Many and well distributed micro/pico
plants that can work without maintenance for several years
(typically 20 years) using the energy wasted in rivers. This
is possible due to mass production of micro/pico plants with
extremely reduced installation costs. Electricity can be
delivered as close as a km away to the location where it is
being used with little overload to the distribution network.
Hydro produces a more continuous supply of electrical energy
in comparison to other small-scale renewable technologies
(wind or sun). The power peak is during the wintertime when
large quantities of electricity are required. Pico-hydro can
function as a “run-of-river” or “free-flow” system, meaning
that the water, passing through the generator, is directed
back into the stream with relatively little impact on the
surrounding ecology. The manufacturing of a micro hydro-power
system can cost as little as € 1, 000, depending on the site
electricity requirements and location. Maintenance fees are
relatively small in comparison to other technologies. If
your site produces a large amount of excess energy, some
power companies will buy back your electricity overflow. You
also have the ability to supplement your level of micro
power with intake from the power grid. The environmental
impact of small-scale hydro is minimal; however the
low-level environmental effects must be taken into
consideration before construction begins. Stream water will
be diverted away from a portion of the stream, and proper
caution must be exercised to ensure there will be no
damaging impact on the local ecology or civil
infrastructure. A large number of small, pico hydroelectric
plants can recover the amount of energy wasted in rivers. A
possible geometry of a run-the-river power park and the
economic convenience of the solution is demonstrated in this
paper. |
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Title: |
Genetic
variability among and within wild Teucrium polium L.
populations at Wadi Shueib area in Jordan |
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Author (s): |
Ibrahim
Mohammad Al Rawashdeh |
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Abstract: |
Random amplified polymorphic
DNA (RAPD) technique was used to determine the genetic
relatedness among and within selected Teucrium polium
populations at Wadi Shueib area in Jordan. Ten primers shown
polymorphic bands were used for examining the genetic
variability. A total of 1331 bands were obtained, 230 of
them were polymorphic. Similarity coefficient values among
the studied accessions varied from 0.00 to 0.48. High
similarity values were obtained between two samples
collected from middle area of Wadi Shueib. No similarity
(value = 0.000) was detected between samples collected from
West and middle area. RAPD analysis confirmed the presence
of genetic diversity through tested Teucrium polium
populations. The cluster analysis generated three groups.
Genetic diversity among population was found. The
information obtained through genetic diversity analysis of
wild populations is necessary for conservation and
exploitation of these valuable genetic resources in the
future. |
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Title: |
In-vitro
propagation and Elisa based screening for the development of
banana bunchy top virus free plants |
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Author (s): |
Hira
Yasin, Muhammad Aslam Javed, Shahid Nazir, Rohina Bashir
and Muhammad Arif Khan |
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Abstract: |
Banana (Musa spp.) is
the chief source of carbohydrates and minerals that
cultivated in various parts of the world including Pakistan.
This important food crop is affected by a number of
pathogens including viruses’ especially banana bunchy top
virus which causes banana bunchy top disease and responsible
for major loss of yield annually. The production of disease
free banana plants is therefore the pre-requisite for the
promotion of this crop in Pakistan. A research work was
planned for the production of bunchy top disease free plants
through in-vitro micro-propagation using shoot tip explant.
Variety of hormones at various levels were practiced to
enhance the multiplication rate of banana cv Basrai. MS
medium supplemented with 7.5 mg L-1 BAP and 1.0
mg L-1 NAA was found to be the most suitable for
shoot multiplication and 0.5 mg L-1 of IAA best
for the initiation of roots. The leaf samples of these
in-vitro banana plants were screened against bunchy top
virus through ELISA and found that 90% plantlets were virus
free. Shoot tip derived virus free plantlets then
transferred to pots containing 1:1 of (sand and clay) for
hardening and acclimatization in greenhouse and established
plantlets were exposed to natural environment in field.
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Title: |
Socio-economic aspects of some watershed management projects
in Mateh-Sang watershed, Iran |
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Author (s): |
Ali Akbar Jamali and Navvab
Raeesi |
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Abstract: |
Watershed management plays an
important role in supplying water, especially in arid areas.
Adjust the water flow, exploitation of seasonal flood waters
and reservation of precipitation is one of the ways to solve
water shortage. Objective was study of socio-economic
aspects of some watershed management projects in Mateh-Sang
watershed. The study has been carried out using
questionnaires that their validity were tested by
professionals of watershed management and natural resource
experts. Reliability coefficient was determined using SPSS
software and Cronbach's alpha coefficient was obtained
between 76.0 and 78.0 for different scales. To evaluate the
economic impact of watershed management projects in the
region, the cost-benefit analysis, questionnaire survey and
chi-square test have been used. The benefit to cost ratio of
1.03 is obtained which shows the economic feasibility of the
projects. Chi-square test results in social debate and
evaluation of watershed management project through
questionnaires, representing a decrease of migration, reduce
flooding, reduce unemployment, flood and sedimentation
control, satisfaction of watershed management projects and
participate fully in the projects. Also in the economic
debate, the results of statistical analysis of the
relationship between watershed management projects
(mechanical) and increasing the production and vegetation
cover, increasing the number of livestock, increasing the
amount of water resources and increasing the area of farm
lands and horticultural lands and reducing the area of bare
lands imply a rejection of the null hypothesis and
statistical significance of these relationships. In general,
watershed mechanical projects in this study have
demonstrated the multi-functional positive aspects. |
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Title: |
Using of some wastes in improving water
holding capacity of sandy soil and growth of Conocarpus
lancifolius Engl. seedlings |
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Author (s): |
Basim A. Abd Ali and Hassan A.
Ali |
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Abstract: |
Improving water holding
capacity of Ashraf-Najaf shelterbelt sandy soil was
experienced by mixing root zone soil with three types of
amending materials; palm particles, sponge pieces, and
cardboard slabs. Two quantities of each material were
tested. Six months seedlings of
Conocarpus lancifolius were
planted in large pots filled by soil of the study region. At
the beginning of growing season, plants were subjected to
different water regimes. Agricultural maintaining processes
were daily applied for the whole growing period. Growth
parameters were frequently recorded during hottest summer
months. Results showed that an enhancement in growth was
obtained through the addition of waste materials. Sponge
pieces affected more in case of daily irrigation, while
cardboard slabs revealed improvement for a longer irrigation
interval. Palm waste was the weakest affecting material.
Doubling the quantity of material had a positive influence
on growth parameters. Weight related properties showed a
response similar to that of dimensional ones. Based on
results, daily irrigation in such sandy soil was of a vital
importance in summer months for maintaining healthy, fast
grown seedlings. |
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