Chemical Composition and Ruminal Dry Matter and Crude Protein Degradability of Spineless Cactus

The objective of this study was to determine ruminal degradability of the dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) of 10 varieties of spineless cactus (Opuntia spp.) grown in north‐eastern Brazil. Two ruminally fistulated steers were used in a randomized complete block design. Ash, CP, acid detergent fiber, and acid detergent lignin levels ranged from 10.4 to 13.3 %, 6.2–7.7 %, 19.8–24.8 % and 3.4–5.4 %, respectively. Relative to the other cactus varieties, Redonda had the highest (P < 0.05) in situ soluble DM fraction and effective DM degradability. No differences in effective DM degradability were observed between the other cactus varieties. In situ soluble CP fraction ranged from 1.7 % of CP for the 69 IPA/UFRPE variety to 11.1 % of CP for the Gigante variety. Slowly degradable CP fraction and its rate of degradation were similar among the cactus varieties (average 90 % of CP and 9 % h^?1, respectively). The cactus variety 69 IP/UFRPE had a lower (P < 0.05) effective ruminal CP degradability (ECPD) than the other varieties, which had a similar ECPD (average 66 % of CP). It was concluded that differences in ruminal degradability exist between cactus varieties, with more variations observed for ruminal DM than for CP degradability.     

Uni- and Multi-Variate Assessment of Drought Response Yield Indices in 10 Wheat Cultivars

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major cereal with its productivity being highly affected by drought. In the current study, 10 wheat cultivars were...     

Equilibrium, Kinetics, and Thermodynamics of Methylene Blue Adsorption by Pine Tree Leaves

The adsorption capacity of pine tree leaves for removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution was investigated in a batch system. The effects of the process variables, such as solution pH, contact time, initial dye concentration, amount of adsorbent, agitation speed, salt concentration, and system temperature on the adsorption process were studied. The extent of methylene blue dye adsorption increased with increase in initial dye concentration, contact time, agitation speed, temperature, and solution pH but decreased with increased in amount of adsorbent and salt concentration. Equilibrium data were best described by both Langmuir isotherm and Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of pine tree leaves biomass was 126.58?mg/g at 30?°C. The value of separation factor, R _L , from Langmuir equation and Freundlich constant, n, both give an indication of favorable adsorption. The intrapartical diffusion model, liquid film diffusion model, double exponential model, pseudo-first and second order model were used to describe the kinetic and mechanism of adsorption process. A single stage bath adsorber design for the MB adsorption onto pine tree leaves has been presented based on the Langmuir isotherm model equation. Thermodynamic parameters such as standard Gibbs free energy (??G ⁰), standard enthalpy (??H ⁰), and standard entropy (??S ⁰) were calculated.     

Management alternatives for improved durum wheat production under supplemental irrigation in Syria

In the Mediterranean zone, efforts to optimize combinations of supplemental irrigation (SI), improved varieties, nitrogen (N) and sowing dates aim to improve and stabilize cereal yields and maintain quality, especially for durum wheat. Thus, a 4 year field study (1992/1993 to 1995/1996) on a deep clay soil in northern Syria assessed the impact of SI (rain-fed, 1/3, 2/3 and full SI) combined with variable N application rates (0, 50, 100, 150 kg ha⁻¹) and sowing date (early, normal, late) for four improved durum wheat varieties adapted to rain-fed and irrigated conditions. As rainfall and evapotranspiration varied over the 4 years, the amount of SI water required also varied. Yields varied with the season, and the main factors, except variety, were significant. Delaying sowing from November to January reduced yields and response to both SI and N. With irrigation, crop responses were generally significant up to 100 N ha⁻¹, whereas the optimum response for rain-fed conditions occurred with 50 kg N ha⁻¹. Limited SI (1/3) significantly increased yields, but almost maximum yields were obtained by 2/3 of full SI. Water- and N-use efficiencies were greatly increased by SI, with little variation among varieties. However, irrigation and delayed sowing decreased grain protein levels, which were partially compensated for by added N. A similar effect was observed for kernel vitreousness. Models developed from the response data can facilitate the potential transfer of these findings. Thus, in most growing seasons, minimum irrigation during the winter growing season, combined with appropriate fertilization, can enhance wheat output and yet maintain grain quality.     

Surface Modification of Sporopollenin with Calixarene Derivative

In this study, p-tert-butylcalix[4]-aza-crown (CAC) immobilized sporopollenin (Sp) was used as a sorbent for the removal of Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous media. Sporopollenin was firstly functionalized with 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane (CPTS) in order to obtain chloro-sporopollenin (Sp-Cl). The Sp-Cl was reacted subsequently with CAC yielding CAC-bonded sporopollenin (Sp-Cl-CAC). The new sorbent was characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal analysis (TG/DTG) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The sorption properties of modified sorbent (Sp-Cl-CAC) are also investigated. The optimum pH values for the separation of metal ions from aqueous solution onto Sp-Cl-CAC were 5.0 for Pb(II) and Cu(II) and 5.5 for Zn(II). The maximum sorption capacities for Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) were 0.07 (4.44?mg?g^?1), 0.07 (4.58?mg?g^?1) and 0.14 (29.00?mg?g^?1) mmol?g^?1, respectively. Sorption thermodynamic parameters of such as free energy (?G ^o), enthalpy (?H ^o), and entropy (?S ^o) were evaluated.     

In vitro propagation of banana (Musa spp.) using thidiazuron and activated charcoal

Abstract

Rapid clonal propagation potential of banana was investigated by using excised shoot tips of Musa spp. Shoot tips isolated from young suckers of ‘Anamur 2’, ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, and ‘Gazipasa 6'genotypes were used. Excised shoot tips were transferred immediately to Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and thidiazuron (TDZ) either alone or with indoleacetic acid (IAA). Rooting was achieved with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) in the presence or absence of activated charcoal (AC). The results showed that shoot proliferation rate was statistically affected by cytokinin types and their concentration. The responses to TDZ were better than to BAP. BAP or TDZ with IAA increased shoot elongation compared with BAP or TDZ alone. An increase in plant height, root numbers and average number of roots per explant was obtained using AC. Hence, for multiplication of ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, the use of MS medium with 2.5 µM TDZ with 1 µM IAA followed by rooting with AC only is recommended. For multiplication of banana genotypes ‘Anamur 2’ and ‘Gazipasa 6’, the use of MS medium with 1 µM TDZ and 1 µM IAA followed by rooting with AC only is recommended.     

Comparison of various potting media for their influence on nutrients supply,germination, and growth of muskmelon (cucumis melo L.) seedlings

Peat moss is used as potting mix for growing muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) seedlings. However, it is not economical for most of the farmers in developing countries. The objectives of the present study were to compare various sources of composts as substitutes for peat moss, evaluate their physicochemical properties, and their effects on germination and growth of muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) seedlings under greenhouse conditions. The treatments included pure peat moss (control), and composts prepared from guar (Cyammopsis tetragonoloba L.), jantar (Sesbania aculeate L.), and wheat (Triticum aestivum L) straw, at three air-filled porosity (AFP) levels (10, 15, and 20%) and rice (Oryza sativa) hulls at 10% AFP level. The second factor was the addition and devoid of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers. The addition of fertilizers in all potting media at 10% AFP level showed a small increase in total nitrogen, extractable phosphorus, and potassium. In the guar and jantar compost at 10% AFP, the values of total N (92.43 and 85.32%), extractable P (68.13 and 76.65%), and K (63.33 and 49%) were higher than in peat moss. It is concluded that composts of guar, jantar, wheat straw, and rice hulls at 10% AFP level can be used as a substitute of peat moss for growing muskmelon seedlings, but the addition of N, P, and K fertilizers is required in wheat straw and rice hulls compost for better nutrition of muskmelon seedlings.     

Giant Piezoelectric Effect in Strontium Titanate at Cryogenic Temperatures

Piezoelectric materials have many applications at cryogenic temperatures. However, the piezoelectric response below 10 kelvin is diminished, making the use of these materials somewhat marginal. Results are presented on strontium titanate (SrTiO3), which exhibits a rapidly increasing piezoelectric response with decreasing temperature below 50 kelvin; the magnitude of its response around 1 kelvin is comparable to that of the best materials at room temperature. This "giant" piezoelectric response may open the way for a broad class of applications including use in ultralow-temperature scanning microscopies and in a magnetic field-insensitive thermometer. These observations, and the possible divergence of the mechanical response to electric fields at even lower temperatures, may arise from an apparent quantum critical point at absolute zero.     

Analyzing dynamic curve widening on forest roads

Forest roads require important design specifications to ensure all-season access for various vehicles. Long and heavy log trucks can face serious maneuvering problems on forest roads due to insufficient amount of area to the left for road widening on horizontal curves. In order to provide safe and continuous shipment and transportation,appropriate curve widening areas should be provided for long vehicles along horizontal curves. In this study, a statistical model was developed to provide curve-widening solutions for long trucks(e.g., those with 18 wheels) considering various curve radius and deflection angles. The dynamic curve widening feature of Plateia 2013 program was employed to calculate curve widening for the specified vehicle. During the solution process, nine different horizontal curve diameters from 10 to 50 m(by 5 m intervals)and 17 different deflection angles from 90° to 170°(by 5°intervals) were evaluated to run horizontal curve-widening analysis. Using a multiple regression model, we made suitable predictions about curve widening. The curvewidening areas decrease as the horizontal curve radius increases, while increasing the deflection angle on horizontal curves increases curve widening areas. Clearly, the computer-based dynamic curve widening model developed in this study can be effectively used in determining optimum widening for horizontal curves by evaluating the number of alternatives that fit geometrical specifications and vehicle types.